Heroine: curvaceous

Pampered playboy Prince Ché Vedla of the planet Eiryea is caught in the middle of conflicting royal intrigues. His family is in danger of losing face in the Federation because his betrothed has thrown him over for another man, whom Ché's brother Klark is under house arrest for trying to murder. Ché's advisors decide the best way around the situation would be for him to marry before his former fiancée does. But Ché, though willing to do what duty and honor requires of him, doesn't want to stick around through the process of finding himself the correct bride. So he hightails it to Earth--and meets with none other than the sister of the man who stole his fiancée!

To the world at large, independent filmmaker Ilana Hamilton looks like a strong woman. But deep down she is afraid. Afraid of flying. Afraid of commitment. Afraid of having her heart broken. But one thing she is not afraid of is Prince Ché Vedla. He's simply the arrogant, annoying, uninvited houseguest (and soon-to-be-brother-in-law) who turned up on her doorstep unannounced in the dead of night. Clearly, it's not her fault she doused a Prince of the galaxy with pepper spray!

But sparks are soon flying between the two and before long it looks like things will be getting spicier than the contents of the canister Ilana erroneously emptied on Ché.

If only he wasn't bound by eleven thousand years of tradition to marry a Vash Nadah woman who is his equal!

What worked for me:

Ilana and the ultra-Alpha male Ché were great characters and the culture clash that resulted from their interactions was very amusing at times.

I loved the fact that the Conan-type bodyguard in the story (named Muffin of all things!) really dug thick chicks.

And hopefully Ms. Grant's vision of the future comes true in at least one respect: all the cars on the CA freeways in her story are electric.

Size-wise Ilana was barely described and would have been considered an "everywoman" character but for the briefest of references to her strong, shapely figure.

What didn't work for me:

Dropping into the middle of this series wasn't a problem for me as I felt I got a fairly good background on what was happening in this universe. But those who have already read "The Star Prince" and "The Star King" may possibly find themselves scanning past the background passages so they can find out what's new in the Star world.

Overall:

I'd recommend this sexy, enjoyable story to fans of futuristic romances, but it's not for sci-fi addicts looking for a book with hard science between its pages.

Warning: The Prince has a brief steamy dalliance with one of his courtesans in the beginning of the story, and there are some other spicy passages later on in the book as well.

If you liked "The Star Princess" you might also enjoy "Ascendant Sun", "StarKissed", "Star-Crossed Lovers", "Oracle", the "Darkover" series, "Channeling Cleopatra", "Cosm", "HomeGoing", "A Civil Campaign", "Memory", "Mirror Dance", or "Time Pressure".

Vash Nadah Prince Che Vedla seems adjusted to the fact that his former betrothed Princess Tee'ah broke her vows to him and pledged to wed earthling Ian Hamilton. Che's adaptation is quite remarkable because he lost more than a bride; he lost his place as heir to the crown to the newcomer. Che's advisors believe he must restore pride in the monarchy by marrying a suitable princess though much of the recent scandal was caused by others including his house arrested brother Klark for trying to assassinate Ian.

Knowing he has six months left as a bachelor, Che decides to use it wisely by chasing skirts on earth. He visits Ian's film making sister Ilana, but finds he is very attracted to her and she fells the same although she is in denial. However, with scandals rocking the royals and some people feeling their time has passed, can Che risk causing another mess by wooing the woman he loves, the totally unsuitable Ilana; who detests the concept of being in front of the camera as a royal always is.

THE STAR PRINCESS is a strong science fiction romance that focuses on the complex conflict between the obligation to one's country vs. duty to one's self and loved ones. The star-crossed lead couple with a strong support cast makes Susan Grant's galaxy seem real and the dilemma that Che faces plausible. Though the previous two tales (THE STAR KING and THE STAR PRINCE) were powerful entries, THE STAR PRINCESS is the best of the series due to the hero's attitude and quandary.

Harriet Klausner

Positively enchanting! Susan Grant has done it again! She has incorporated old fashion romance and sensitivity with "out of this world male sexuality"! What could be better? Not much, when it comes to Prince Che'. Especially for Ilana, when she receives a surprise visit from the handsome Prince, who claims to be seeking to sow his wild oats before he commits to an arranged marriage to someone he has never met! And he can't understand why her brother, "The Crown Prince" did not alert her to his impending arrival. (Hummm?) As their relationship as "bodyguard" and "tour guide" develop into an unexpected, intense, love story, Che's emotional support helps Ilana overcome her fear of flying (and falling in love), while Ilana's free spirit and love of life breaks down all of the deep rooted, ancient values and perceptions of what a traditional Vedla Prince's wife should be, awakening his heart to an everlasting love. It was great to revist old friends, Jas and Rom and an interesting sub-plot of murder and betrayal will keep you on the edge. I couldn't put this book down, and I was saddened when I had finished. I wanted this book to go on and on...It was such a fun read. If you have read the two previous stories of The Star King and The Star Prince, you are going to love this one! Hey, SG...how about a sequal about the dark and mysterious Klark! This whole series is definately a keeper!

The best fiction, we are told, imitates reality. _Through the Heart_, however, imitates reality in a very oblique manner- disguisedly- and this reality is far more bleak, and poisoned, than our own. It is also the only novel of Grant's that truly qualifies as 'science fiction'- the others include too much fantasy, or mystery, or mainstream, or delicately drawn parody- and thereby are difficult for a publisher to categorize. As usual, Grant's writing is like a steady stream of lucid clarity; also as usual, he's taking on a theme from which a genre novelist would be expected to shy away. A word of warning- the theme of this novel is very grim: moreso than his other works. It's a profoundly affecting work on an emotional level- however, as a 'Science Fiction' novel, it falls a bit short of the mark (which is probably why it's out of print): there is less of the frantic energy of invention and 'what-if' that characterizes the genre than in any of the author's novels. Still- It's a Richard Grant novel, and nobody writes like Richard Grant.

Reviewer: Rich Barnett. Coming-of-age story set in a post-disaster USA, with good character detail and enough mystery to keep the pages turning. Great for Philip Dick or Harlan Ellison fans. I found a copy at the local library -- hurray for it! Contains sexual situations that may offend some

This book was a marvelous read. The author kept my interest throughout the first two-thirds of the book. However, he does deal blandly with Grant's political career. Overall though, quite touching and well done.

Bruce Catton was the man who salvaged Ulysses Grant's flagging reputation in the 1950's and 60's, and restored him to his deserved place in the pantheon of America's greats. Catton wrote a marvelous trilogy of Grant's military career and also wrote this little gem which is, by a wide margin, the best introductory work ever written on Grant. This isn't intended for people who are civil war historians or who have a vast knowledge of Grant. It's meant for those who know little about Grant and are curious to learn more. Look no further than the pages of this book.

Catton understands Grant nearly to perfection, and this is a hard task given his subject's inscrutible nature. He admires him tremendously and the reader will undoubtedly share his feelings by the end of the book. Grant was an immensely likeable, honest and decent man; he loved his wife, his children and his country and sacrficied immensely for them all. One weakness here is that Catton gives very short shrift to Grant's Presidency; he seems to run out of gas a trifle after Appomattox.

If you are new to Grant and want to learn more, this is *the* book to purchase. You won't be sorry.

I had a few more comments on this book.

I think the author may be onto something here, something even more important than the idea of using Grant's life as a way to help business managers, perhaps.

I like history and have read my share of it, but I'd never been able to really get into the history of the Civil War, or even early American history in general, despite having had childhood friends who were into Civil War history, and even Civil war reenactments. The author's using an important figure of the time as a sympathetic character, a focus around which to build an interesting account of his contributions, also meant that he needed to present much of the historical context and discuss a lot of the actual history of the period. In the process he really wrote a mini-history of the events during this time that was much more engaging and absorbing than your typical history that I have read. As a result, I learned much more than I ever had before about this important phase of our history.

I think this approach would be equally applicable to other important figures and times. It might seem that this is just re-inventing the idea of a biography, but again, I've read my share of biographies too and this book was much more interesting the way Barnes did it. Much of that is because the author makes you feel like you are right in the center of the action with Grant during this critical time as he makes many of these difficult, life-and-death decisions. So if we are to call it biography at all, Barnes's approach is a much more interesting way to do it.

I hope the author may do other books like this as I would be very interested in reading them, too.

I usually approach these "on Leadership" series and most business biographies with a bit of skepticism, but I was really blown away by this book. Although I'm not a civil war buff, the author's narrative and vivid descriptions of Grant's triumphs and hardships kept me riveted and I couldn't put this book down once I started. The personal accounts of the challenges facing Grant and his tenacious ability to overcome them, are simply amazing. The author's contrasts of Grant vs. McClellan (the incompetent General which Grant replaced) lay the foundation for learning what not to do as well. Each chapter feels as if your grandfather is telling you these stories from firsthand experience, making them lessons you won't soon forget as you manage and lead in your business or organization. And in case you need a refresher, the author summarizes the leadership lessons at the end of each chapter. This is also a great book for teenagers who need a leadership training. It's easy to identify with Grant, and the way the author draws you into our history makes it even more valuable.

Robert Skimin's novel on the incredible life of Ulysses S. Grant is a fascinating read. Mr. Skimin has faithfully told Ulys's story from his early days at the hallowed grounds of West Point; his activities in the Mexican War; his struggles in pre-Civil War America; and his triumphs during that most turbulent time in our history. Grant in Skimin's eyes is neither smart or dumb...he is an everyman, trying to do what he feels is the right course he should follow. Skimin aptly illustrates Grant's struggle with the bottle...a lifelong battle that Ulysses sometimes won and sometimes lost. Many of us who have awoke with the effects of a night of drinking still fresh in our body, can appreciate Mr. Skimin's accurate description of the torment Grant went through. The major asset of the book deals with General Grant's long-standing friendship and partnership with John Rawlins....He describes their relationship in a very familial way...as that of two "brothers", who have found each other in Galena, Illinois just before the war, and who shared the highs and the lows of four years of brutal war that they shared together. Ulysses is a very interesting fictional account of this great man, U.S. Grant... For those of you who enjoy great historical fiction, you can not go wrong with Mr.Skimin's work....One can only hope for a companion novel on the life of W.T. Sherman!

Grant was a gentle character with self doubts that led to alcholism. Rawlins, friend from home town, becomes staff chief and insists bottle be banished. Grant blossoms inspite of his character flaws many past failures and becomes tremendous leader. Grant is an inspiration to all of us who battle the demons of self destructive behavior binding oneself with our unsolveable failures. Grant's virtues emerge in the crucible of war displaying that he is not an incompetent failure: an embarassment to family, friends, and Army reputation. Rawlings is the conscience for Grant, fanatically believing in Grant's greatness if alcohol and dishonest hanger-ons can be avoided. When Rawlings dies Grant is alone and betrayed by those in his circle. Sherman also give Grant blunt truth and stays away from the Washington political cess pool. Grant's love for wife Julia is rendered tenderly and gently. Grant dies having left her with his finished journal Mark Twain promises will earn enough to provide a life time income. Son Fred was involved in shameful, shocking and disgusting hazing of black cadets at West Point. Blame has never really been properly adjudged on Fred Grant for this terrible deed. The role Samuel Clemons plays in Grant's life is very important; writing as Mark Twain, he publishes and inspires Grant's autobiography and helps assure Julia be provided for, allowing Grant, dieing of throat and mouth cancer, to conquer the pain of his final days by finishing the final pages of his manuscript. I say that Grant died victorious, enduring terrible agony, discomfort and pain, to finish what he always wanted to do; prove himself and take care of his family.

The War Game, by Charles Grant, is a detailed set of miniature gaming rules for the 18th century. Using 30 mm figures, the author walks you through the rules and illustrates several different battles, including Bunker Hill and Mollwitz (Seven Years War). One of the charms of the book is the extensive research done (and explained) in order to arrive at the final rules. This makes the book valuable as a resource as well as a miniature game.

This is a delightful book of wargame rules for 54mm figures in the black powder era of the Seven Years War. Grant provides excellent maps, schematics and photographs to illustrate his principles. He also enlivens his subject with entertaining accounts of battles fought against fellow devotees over the years on many a hotly contested field.

With the rise of computerized wargaming on home PCs, few may be willing to extend what H.G. Wells referred to as, "groveling devotion," towards toy soldiers, but for those who cannot escape the childhood allure of lead or plastic troops, this book is an excellent primary source. The "canister cone" (which I believe is an invention original to Grant) has enhanced many of this reviewer's games.

Together with H.G. Wells', _Little Wars_, this is a wonderful addition to any wargamer's library.

A colorfully attractive picture book for children to help them cope with a mother's illness and hospitalization. It's written by a pediatric nurse and mother who has Crohn's disease. On the CCFA's book list

A colorfully attractive picture book for children to help them cope with a mother's illness and hospitalization. It's written by a pediatric nurse and mother who has Crohn's disease. On CCFA's book list.

Donald and Mary Grant, two well paid journalists living in New York City, decide to do a career change in their late 50's. They purchase a cottage sitting on three or four acres, later to become 11 acres, and live off the land. They visit the local Irish Pub on Saturday nights, chat about farm animals, and throughout the year entertain friends from their previous life who thought them totally "bunkers". Donald for added income writes a column for an American newspaper describing their new life. At a time when Americans have had to make career changes late in life, I would highly recommend this book. I think they added to the success of their endeavor by choosing Ireland, for it is definitely a country where nature has it's way. Untamed, perhaps, but also unspoiled. I believe in my heart that the troubles in Ireland should not be and Great Britian should give Northern Ireland it's freedom just as Donald Grant felt after living there. The Irish are unique, pleasantly unique, and should remain so

I may be guilty of a little bit of nepetism (Mary Grant being an aunt, a bit removed and seldom seen), but this book has been a family treasure around the house for years. Anyone looking for an inspiring story about a simpler life should look into this one for sure.

Hildebrand really puts you into a selection of Wright's built spaces; you can imagine what it is like to move through and experience the changing spaces (height, length, turns) in several of Wright's famous houses, even if you've not visited in person. Hildebrand's extended discussion --and demonstration through stunning "3D" exploded diagrams-- of the primordial concepts of Refuge/shelter (those dark fireplace cores and inglenooks) and Prospect/outlook (distant elevated windows) applied to buildings dating to different stages of Wright's practice is most original and convincing. Author's scholarly prose is serviceable rather than equally soaring. Highly useful small plans (newly corrected and with compass indications!) and evocative B/W photographs supplement those amazing diagrams by Wm. Hook.

Wright's buildings are some of the most appealing in history. Why?

Hildebrand applies a landscape theory developed by Jay Appleton (books also available on Amazon.com) - our early ancestors sought homesites high in the qualities of PROSPECT (ability to survey the surroundings) and REFUGE (protection from environmental and other threats), and thus we are programmed to find these qualities appealing.

Wright's large windows, sheltering eaves, solid stone, welcoming hearth, etc., are rich in Prospect and Refuge which give the subconscious signal "This is a great homesite!"

(Also see A PATTERN LANGUAGE, by Alexander, for more patterns underlying architectural appeal).

This book consists of two parts. The first is a collection of short letters by Spare and Kenneth & Steffie Grant, and also bits of Kenneth Grants diaries, all written between 1949 and 1956 common era. This gives explainations of Spares magical philosophy and his art in a less enigmatic way then his writings do. The second part is The Book of Zos vel Thanatos, containing The Logomachy, The Zoëtic Grimoire: The Formulae of Zos vel Thanatos and The Living Word, all later material by Spare published here for the first time.

The book is filled to the brim with Spare's art, including some beautyful colour pictures. Spare was a major influence on contemporary magick and this book deepens one's understanding of him greatly.

Zos Speaks! is the nicest book I own. The color plates are amazing. I have never seen a book with so many plates. This book is written so well.