In his introduction to "The Territory," the opening story of One Day Closer to Death, author Bradley Denton states:

"The greatest moment in all of American literature occurs in chapter 31 of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn when Huck says--- 'All right then, I'll go to hell.' And he tears up a certain piece of paper." *

*A letter he had written to Jim's owner, Mrs. Watson, revealing Jim's whereabouts.

Later, Denton says that that moment set the "literary high bar" for him as a writer, that henceforth his goal would be to give readers the same kind of epiphany he felt when Huck made his decision.

If you've read Denton's novels, you know that he usually meets this lofty goal. One Day Closer to Death, featuring seven previously published stories and one new novella, proves he also meets this standard in his shorter work. Composed of various milestones from his thirteen-year career, each story contains characters who face personal hells, some forced on them by circumstance, others self created.

The collection's strongest stories are three novellas, "The Territory", "The Calvin Coolidge Home for Dead Comedians", and "Blackburn Bakes Cookies". "The Territory" (an alternate history that will surprise readers who think Howard Waldrop holds exclusive rights to this type of story), relates young Sam Clemens' experiences as a member of Quantrill's raiders, and the choice he is forced to make when that savage band decides to invade the abolitionist stronghold of Lawrence, Kansas. "The Calvin Coolidge Home for Dead Comedians", features the controversial Lenny Bruce, who, after his tawdry death, discovers that the line between heaven and hell is very thin. "Blackburn Bakes Cookies", provides a fitting epitaph to the Jimmy Blackburn saga. Although not physically present (unless you count his ashes), Blackburn's presence pervades this twisted tale of family ties and hero worship.

Rounding out the collection are "Skidmore" (wherein the ghost of a serial killer accompanies the story's narrator on a grim trek), "Killing Weeds" (a story of the continuing ravages of the Vietnam War), "Captain Coyote's Last Hunt" (in which a sadistic hunter gets his comeuppance from the Trickster himself), "We Love Lydia Love", (a tale of obsessive love and self destruction which could have easily come out of Ellison's "Love Ain't Nothing But Sex Misspelled"), and "A Conflagration Artist" (about a woman shares her personal tragedy with others via combustible performance art).

The stories are arranged chronologically, so readers can, in Denton's words, "see his evolution as a writer". They show an author constantly refining his gifts, constantly improving, constantly pushing literary boundaries. At once sad and funny, lyrical and prickly, One Day Closer to Death demonstrates Denton's formidable talent, and attests to the ever increasing depth of his perceptive and beguiling work.

Dentan is one of the great humorists at present working in American letters. He has not published anything (to my knowledge)that is not worth reading. I got this book as a Christmas present and stayed up until the wee hours of Boxing Day to finish it. It is simply super writing. Do yourself a favor and get this book and, while you're at it, check his earlier work out too. You will thank yourself for the treat.

Filled with unique tales, off-beat humor, memorable characters, and skillful writing, "One Day Closer To Death" is a Whitman's Sampler of literary confections. And, though tours of his home will be discouraged, Bradley Denton should be declared a state treasure. (copyright 1998, San Antonio Express-News)

I enjoy reading Kurzweil because he's an adventurous thinker. This book is particularly fun because some other fine minds take him to task. Ray holds up well because he's a reasonable thinker. Although some of his predicitions seem outlandish, they may not be. You can't read this book without engaging in a lot of interesting visualization about the future. Some of it is frightening, but there is hope as well. Will the future runaway on it's own or will we be in charge? I don't know, but I'm sure thinking about it, now.

This is Ray Kurzweil's third book concerning the future of reductionist artificial intelligence design and it's possible effects on us in the decades yet to come. In THE AGE OF SPIRITUAL MACHINES, Kurzweil's previous book, which I enjoyed also, and this volume, he uses technological trends, including Moore's law and other tools, to show that a desktop computer will have achieved human level computational ability around the year 2020. Also, Kurzweil envisions that we will be able, sometime in the next few decades, to scan human brains and download that 'software' into these advanced computers to give them human level reasoning abilities, with the speed of computer neural nets, leaving humans behind, so to speak. Accordingly, it may also be possible to scan individual brains and load that information into an advanced computer (attached to a body of some kind), giving that person a sort of immortality. This is the gist of Kurzweil's argument, I hope I got it essentially correct.

What Kuzweil means by computers someday becoming 'spiritual' is that they may become conscious, and 'strong A.I.' is the view that "any computational process sufficiently capable of altering or organizing itself can produce consciousness." The first part of this book is an introduction to all of the above views by Kurzweil, followed by criticisms by four authors, followed in turn by Kurzweil as he refutes these criticisms.

Personally, I found most of the views expounded by the critics here to be either non-sensical, or 'beside the point'. One critic says that the life support functions of the brain cannot be separated from it's information processing function. Of course it can be, even the effects of hormones can be programmed into a downloaded brain, as well as other chemicals used by brains. Another critic states that possibly evolution is in error, and yet another criticism is that our machines will not be able to contact a divine entity and would thus be inferior.... give me a break, well...perhaps this is all true and maybe pigs will one day fly over the moon unassisted. I could go on and on, but this is the job of Ray Kurzweil and he defends himself admirably in the final chapters of this volume. Kurzweil does mention in this book that brain scanning machines are improving their resolution with each new generation, and eventually will reach a point where they should be able to image individual neurons and synapses in large areas, and allow the brain 'software' to be transferred to a suitable non-biological computing medium, my only criticism of Kurzweil here is that I think he should discuss this technology more, and where it is headed, his next book would be a great place for this.

One final point, it seems to me that when a new idea appears to be difficult and complicated to achieve, the pessimist says: "This is difficult and complicated, and may not work", whereas the optimist says: "This is difficult and complicated, but may work". Only time will tell for sure.

The work, inventions, and opinions of Ray Kurzweil in the field of artificial intelligence have captured media attention and the attention of philosophers and researchers in artificial intelligence. But not only is Kurzweil one of the most brilliant and controversial of all the individuals working in artificial intelligence, he is also the most optimistic. This optimism holds not only for the future technology of artificial intelligence, predicted by Kurzweil to give independent thinking machines in the next three decades, but also for its social impact. Kurzweil believes that artificial intelligence will work for the benefit of humankind, but that this benefit will depend to a great degree on his belief that humans will take on technology that will effectively make them cybernetic.

The controversy behind Kurzweil stems from his recent book "The Age of Spirtual Machines", which is a detailed accounting of his predictions and beliefs regarding artificial intelligence. Many individuals objected to his visions and predictions, and he answers a few of them in this book. In particular, he attempts to counter the arguments against him by the philosopher John Searle, the molecular biologist Michael Denton, the philosopher William A. Dembski, and zoologist Thomas Ray. With only a few minor exceptions, Kurzweil is successful in his refutation of their assertions.

But even if Kurzweil completely refutes the arguments of these individuals, and possibly many more against him, the countering of arguments will not by itself solve the problems in artificial intelligence research. The fact remains that much work still needs to be done before we are priveleged to see the rise of intelligent machines. Kurzweil is well-aware of this, for he acknowledges this many times in this book. He points to reverse engineering of the human brain as one of the most promising strategies to bring in the robotic presence. The success or failure of this strategy will take the mind-body problem out of purely academic circles and bring it to the forefront of practical research in artificial intelligence. The 21st century will thus see the rise of the "industrial philosopher", who works in the laboratory beside the programmers, cognitive scientists, robot engineers, and neurologists.

Each reader of this book will of course have their own opinions on Kurzweil's degree of success in countering the arguments of Searle, Denton, Dembski, and Ray. But one thing is very clear: Kurzweil is no arm-chair philosopher engaging in purely academic debates on the mind-body problem. He is right in the thick of the research and development of artificial intelligence, and if the future turns out as he predicts, he will certainly be one of the individuals contributing to it. He and many others currently working in artificial intelligence are responsible for major advances in this field in just the last few years. Their ingenuity and discipline is admirable in a field that has experienced a roller coaster ride of confidence and disappointment in the preceding decades. All of these individuals have proved themselves to be superb thinking machines.

I first got this book in the 1970's and have never seen such a comprehensive guide to the types, cooking and serving of pasta ever. There are descriptions of the many different types and shapes of pasta given. A basic recipe to make your own pasta dough is included. This book became one of my favorites and the recipes given are easy to follow, authentic, and turn out delicious. My copy has yellowed with age and usage, and friends will ask for recipes but I will never part with this book! There are too many good memories of wonderful meals prepared that fetched oohs and aahs from my guests. Definately a treasure to own!

This is one of my most beloved cookbooks. The lasagne recipe was on of the first I ever made back in college (20 years ago.) It is still one of my favorite recipes!! I desperately need a new copy as this one is held together with paperclips and pasta starch.

I got this book with my first pasta machine over 20 years ago. Making your own fresh pasta is certainly rewarding, but since the book was published decent "fresh" pasta is easily available in most stores. Whether you make your own or let others create the pasta, this book contains hundreds of great basic, as well as exotic Italian Recipes from basic tomato sauce to stewed coot with linguine (duck may be substituted). I went on line to look for this book because I need to replace my 1968 softcover edition which is well-yellowed and on its last legs. The publisher should consider reissuing this classic.

This book is essential for new teachers like myself, who have no idea where to start when planning a new school year. It provides daily lesson outlines for the first 6 weeks of school. As well as the reasoning behind the authors'philosophies. I have learned how to structure my day to cullivate a community of learners. In turn I have faith that my first year will be successful, less stressful, and more productive than I had imagined. This is a great book for any teacher who wants to increase structure and promote community within the classroom

I'm a teacher at the Altoona Area High School and I bun teaching for 3 years I teach 10 and 12 graes and I go votid of the teacher of the year I'm a sartad arachn.And I love to teach kids it is fnu and it is hord to teach the kids but I con herit sume teacher cat teach the kids so I sfeach they huni teach the kids aor. I'm very happy to be a teacher.

First year teachers and experienced teachers alike will gain valuable skills from this richly detailed book. Denton and Kriete provide explict plans for the first six weeks of school which are guaranteed to build a sense of community within any classroom. Activities including games and writing help students become familiar with each other and develop a sense of trust, caring and respect. The book offers teachers a wide variety of games to play with children of all ages. This is a great book for all teachers who wish to start the year on a great note!

Jamie Denton has a special talent for pulling and tugging at the heartstrings inside you. I cried a lot throughout THE BIOLOGICAL BOND. I cried for the heroine, Rebecca Martinson, who lost her baby right after birth without even knowing the sex of the child. I cried for the hero, Sam, who had to take the biggest risk of his life and contact the biological mother of his fourteen year old daughter, Melanie, because she is his last hope for a bone marrow donor to his child. After Rebecca and Sam meet there are sparks everywhere. I cried for the two of them and their inability to recognize and live up to their true feelings and desires. And when they do, it's almost too late. The scenes and obstacles that come between Melanie and Rebecca, Melanie and Sam, and the three of them together are heartbreaking. You sympathize with them and for their respective losses. You feel for them and the things they face and need to overcome. Then there is the absolute love. The love that Sam has for his daughter is stunning and beautiful but most of all, priceless. Jamie Denton did an incredible job with the heartwarming relationships between Melanie and Same. Thank you for the love you give these characters and the happy-ever-after. The love the characters shared and the happily ever after will touch every reader, and make this a keeper book.

Romance At Its Best

Fourteen years ago lawyer Rebecca Martinson unwilling placed her child for adoption. She's never forgotten that haunting first cry of life and the child she never held. Now in family practice, she buries her past in a successful career based on helping families in need. Until one shocking day, that is, when Sam Winslow enters her office and declares himself the father of a dying daughter in need of her biological mother's bone marrow.

Desperate to save his daughter, Sam had the court records opened so he could track down his daughter Melanie's birth mother. Now he faces the adult version of his beloved daughter complete with unexpected and unwanted attraction. When Rebecca demands a month to meet and get to know her daughter, Sam capitulates with the understanding that afterward she will walk away, and Melanie will never know the visitor was her birth mother.

Both Rebecca and Sam know the risk heartbreak by allowing Melanie to meet her mother. They don't realize that they also risk heartbreak by spending time together. Rebecca's family are judges and doctors; Sam owns a farm. Rebecca has a successful career and Sam doesn't see how she could ever trade her power suits for an apron. With all their differences, however, they share a daughter they both love.

THE BIOLOGICAL BOND delivers an unexpected love story with tender empathy. Indeed, author Jamie Denton's flair for creating believable characters and a bond that go beyond blood result in a memorable, beautiful tale. As the biological mother, adoptive father and beloved daughter each reveal their innermost fears, the reader's heart can't resist a flush of understanding. Further, the unique family environment, rich characterization, and revelation of secrets keeps the pages turning. THE BIOLOGICAL BOND comes very highly recommended.

DETECTIVE STORIES is a wonderful compilation of a few of the best detective stories that have ever been written. Some stories, others elaborate, some puzzling, and some rather comical, this wonderful novel includes mysteries written by legendary detective authors such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, Ellery Queen, Raymond Smullyan, Issac Asimov, Italo Calvino, And Tony Fletcher. The first story, THE SPECKLED BAND, is by Arthur Conan Doyle and features everyone's favorite detective: Sherlock Holmes. It's a little bit of a scary story involving a terrified woman who hears the strange, low whistle is the night air that once killed her sister while she was sleeping. The mystery is deep and dangerous, and chilling. Another personal favorite of mine was THE CROSS OF LORRAINE by Isaac Asimov, which elaborately tells the story of a keen magician who met a woman who disappeared as soon as he took a liking in her. Even he can't find her, and when he tells the story of the vanished lady to guests at a dinner, the plot of the mysterious vanishing thickens. Yet another wonderful mystery is that of FINGERPRINTING A GHOST, by Tony Fletcher. It is a frightening tale that involves the obvious supernatural: taking the fingerprints of a mysterious ghost that appears and reappears in an old house in order to solve a mystery. These are just some of the mysteries available in this great novel selected by my favorite author, Philip Pullman, who also wrote the wonderful HIS DARK MATERIALS trilogy and the thrilling Sally Lockhart mystery trilogy. It even has one very silly and comical story just for fun in case the reader has had too many serious reads. Any detective story fan shouldn't miss out on this thrilling read, perfect just before bed when it is at the peak of its fright.

This book was the scariest book I have ever read. All of the characters are deep, and the plots are very complex and twisted. It is a thuroughly enchanting book, all of the books in it, I should say. All of the stories grab you and don't let go. It's a full time thriller, you can't get away.

This is a must read for anyone wanting to empower themselves and create an atmosphere where others are empowered. From personal empowerment to working with or leading a group of any size from couple to family to committee to corporation the concepts are based on finding your purpose and working together using the empowerment cycle. This little book had great meaning for me on both a personal and work level and will for many others.

Tired of the dead-end of perfectionism? Fatigued by the detours of denial? Frustrated with the roadblocks of blame and humiliation? Fed up with the gridlock of unrealistic expectations? Then Denton L. Roberts's newest book, enhanced by the able touch of Frances Thronson, can be an empowering roadmap to new pathways for creative living for you. Plumbing the depths of his experiences as a pastor, counselor, marriage and family therapist, community center leader, and organizational consultant for the past 35 years, Denton Roberts offers the unique concept of "docking" as a new framework for understanding human relations. He provides specific help for individuals and groups and group leaders, especially in the chapters on "the success and distress cycles" and "problem solving." Roberts sprinkles enlivening measures of humor throughout his carefully described conceptual theories and spices his entire effort with real-life examples of creative transformation. He also displays the ecclectic, wide-ranging scope of his thinking with abundant references to poetry, ficiton, social commentary, and psychological literature. Use Denton Roberts' newest book to jump-start your life, to refresh your creative capacities, and to get liberated from the ruts of mere survival; then you'll embrace new possibilities for thriving. You'll learn (or re-learn) the song in your heart, and harmonies aplenty will ensue! -Robert Lee Hill (bobheadrlh@aol.com), Kansas City, MO

This is an excellent story; very well told. Mr. Moore and his wife get it "thrown in their faces" repeatedly and keep coming back for more. Despite circumstances which would have most of us grinding our molars and pulling out fistfulls of hair, Denny tends toward the bright side: Something as essential to any circumnavigator as his/her sextant (GPS),compass or stash of grog. Going "all the way around" is a hell of a big deal. I've read half a dozen books by warriors who've done it, and this is certainly one of the best. An enjoyable read by a likeable guy.

.

This book is indeed, and accidental Odyssey. Denny Moore and his wife decided to break away and do something exciting--buy a boat and cruise. They never planned to sail around the world--what started as a Caribbean cruise turned into a round the world voyage--downwide most of the way.

Denny and his wife Velda made every possible mistake on this trip, but triumphed in achieving what few people have the guts to do. We can learn by the mistakes the made and also by their bravery and courage.

I really enjoyed this book and have read it twice and even traded some email with Denny. I'm pleased to have known him in this way. Thanks Denny for a great book.

This book would be a great gift idea for a nautical man. It has some meat to it. 456 pages. Nice illustrations and photos.

Here is an excerpt to get your interest.

"Perhaps foolishly but understandably, considering how long we had been at sea and how badly we needed to see land and to replenish our stores, I was carrying the full twelve hundred feet of sail in our fore-and-aft rig, trying to keep moving against a northwest breeze and a stiff little chop that was developing.

The boat hit a wave, bigger than others, which stopped her cold. At the same moment, we fell into a deep trough, and rolled violently to port. It was like a slow-motion demolition derby.

I was listening to things tumbling about in the galley, when suddenly I hear a splintering SNAAAP-CRACKKK overhead and looked up in time to see the topmast fall forward, pulled down by the jib topsail, now partly in the water.

Velda came running up the ladder and took the wheel in hurried response to my started cry, trying to hold the bow into the weather, while Sylvia and I went forward to drag the sail out of the water. Almost immediately, we stopped and were rolling in the trough.

Some 12 feet of the topmast was dangling upside down, suspended from its splintered stub by electrical wires and bits of rigging. The boat rolled heavily, and with each roll, the broken mast swung out and back like a huge wooden flail, hammering the complex rigging at the crosstrees 35 feet above our heads. Bits of wood, broken blocks and other debris fell with each blow. I knew I had to go aloft..."

Good reading.

In the definitive 5-volume COMPLETE SAGAS OF ICELANDERS, Grettir's Saga is situated in the volume entitled "Warriors, Outlaws, and Poets." For the story of Grettir Asmundarson, all three are appropriate. From an early age, the gigantic Grettir the Strong allows no man to show him disrespect without challenging him to a duel to the death. After one too many challenges, the combined Icelandic chieftains at the Althing sentence him to outlawry, which means, in essence, that anyone could kill him at any time without being held responsible.

For a period of 19 years, Grettir moves from one part of Iceland to another, living on isolated farms or in the wild -- either alone or together with friends and sympathizers -- while relatives of those whom he had killed follow him around, setting up mostly unsuccessful ambushes. Finally, he settles on the islet of Drangey with his brother Illugi and a servant. One local farmer who owns the islet and the flock of sheep that feed there resorts out of desperation to having a magical spell placed on him that causes him to be injured, making it easy for him to kill the brothers.

But because Christianity has taken root in Iceland, the chieftains are outraged at the use of magic to kill Grettir. The farmer is assailed on all sides until HE is declared an outlaw; and Grettir's half-brother chases him all the way from Norway to Constantinople avenge his death.

Even while an outlaw, Grettir had visited many of the chieftains, including the legendary Snorri Priest of Eyrbyggja Saga fame, and met with sympathy. Had he lived another year, the decree of outlawry would have expired, and he would have been a free man. Grettir had good and bad qualities in abundance, including a ready wit and a meticulous sense of honor. His poems are razor sharp and earthy.

Once you get past the Icelandic genealogies at the beginning, this saga reads more rapidly than any of the others I have read. It one of the most readable -- and loveable -- works of the entire Middle Ages.

Like all Icelandic saga's, a reader must give Grettir's Saga its first few chapters before it takes hold. The opening lightly traces the violent heritage of Grettir's ancestors before coming to him. Naturally this slows the story, but once Grettir is born it turns into a slightly fantastic, darkly ironic story of a man haunted with incredible strength and an uncontrollable temper. Grettir's only true talent is fighting, but the saga does not justify his actions. The application of his ability, even under just circumstances, brings him constant misery. At its resolution, there's a subtle, pro-pacifist message of undying relevance. This is a must read for anyone in need of an engaging adventure with great moral depth.

My daughter loved this book!
From the moment we borrowed it from the library, to the moment we returned it, we had to read it 3-4 times a day to her. (And when we returned it, we had to go buy it to appease her).
Beautiful prose, wonderful illustrations that stirred my daughter's imagination and caused her to stop me on each page and ask questions in delight.
This book is a definite "buy"!

The book is a delightful tale of the wonders of a child's imagination. A unicorn in the tale is a magical dog. In reality, a child's imagination never ceases to amaze an adult or a unicorn. It is a joy to read a simple tale of imagination in today's world of instant gratification.

Kudos to Heidbreder!