Having read almost all of the Darkover series, and being a firm fan of it, I'd like to be just a little more critical.

First let's get one thing out of the way: this is an important book, and for anyone interested in Darkover, this two-novel volume is a must-have.

The two stories are two of the best. But having read most of MZB's love stories, I'm beginning to wonder whether her heroines are not a mite too precious. Yet, one wonders whether it is possible to make Callista and her sister more real, without risking losing the reader's positive disposition towards them. Perhaps the risk would be worth it.

One tries to see what must be going through the author's mind; what is she thinking when she writes these stories? There is a sense that she is trying too hard to create a heroine, and creates a goddess instead.

Andrew Carr, the poor earthman who plays second-fiddle to Callista Lanart finds himself teleported psycho-kinetically to where Callista is held prisoner at one time. This occurence is sort of glossed-over; IMO the pseudo-reality of the genre demands a little more attention to that sort of detail. Andrew Carr is also an example of how hard it was for MZB to get inside the mind of her male characters. She has partially succeeded, but if only she had done it fully!

Arch

Putting together -The Spell Sword- and -The Forbidden Tower- was a great idea, & this edition fills the bill. This classic entry in the saga of Darkover -- a lost [in time as well as space] colony of Humans who interbred with the alien cheryi, evolved into a feudal society with the addition of "magic" as laran psi-powers, then were rediscovered by humans from Earth [Terrans] -- is an especially good 'textbook' for people learning to use their own inner strengths.

Watching the almost-typical fairytale romance of Keeper Callista Lanart and Terran spacer Andrew Carr bloom into something else is magical in the best sense of the word. Damon Ridenow -- outcast from his beloved Arilinn Tower because he's actually more than just a Matrix technician -- and his love Ellemir [sister to Callista] are not just pretty people filling a need for extra faces in -The Spell Sword-. The four craft a friendship that becomes more than just friendship ... and will have a crucial effect on Darkovan history.

The action really kicks in as the tale progresses in -The Forbidden Tower-. Callista discovers -- painfully -- that the heritage she thought she had left behind as virginal Keeper of Arilinn Tower is almost more than she can bear to shatter [the fact that it nearly kills Andrew isn't just peripheral, either]. Ellimir discovers that she actually is gifted with the power of laran, and Damon takes centre stage as he discovers that he is a Keeper himself ... Keeper of what leronis Leonie Hastur scornfully calls "the Forbidden Tower". As the four individuals become more than just two married couples, they uncover vital knowledge lost in the millenia known as the Ages of Chaos.

The tragic denoument is kept away, which perhaps is just as well. If you truly want to be depressed, pick up -The Bloody Sun- to learn the fates of the four and their children. Although not quite as tragic as the hinted ending of another group of similar people, hinted at in -Sharra's Exile-, it can be a true 'downer' after the triumphant ending of -The Forbidden Tower-.

At least the knowledge is kept, however. It seems that no one can truly vanquish Varzil the Good! Although even *that* might be up for re-examination with -The Fall of Neskaya-...

....intro to Jung's work, with some interesting biographical info sprinkled here and there throughout these essays.

If I might raise two objections: describing Jung's spectrum model of mind, where the "red" end represents instinct and the "violet" end the archetypal psyche, Hannah says it is from the violet end that the "new consciousness" is to be formed. This sounds to me like the Christianistic bias toward spirit and against embodiment that Jung beat up on so often in his writings and seminars.

Speaking of Jung, Hannah mentions his rudeness and irritability toward her, then justifies it by saying it did her some kind of individuative good. This common Jungian excuse for being mean to people needs to be shelved in favor of taking personal responsibility for one's bad temper; in a fit of idealization, too many followers have passed off Jung's as though it were some sort of profound emanation from the unconscious. For more on this dynamic read up on Anna Freud's description of the defense known as "identification with the aggressor."

While most of the material is standard Jung and none of it is particularly deep or detailed, it's clearly written and to be recommended as a very basic introduction to classic Jungian thought.

Barbara Hannah (1891-1986) was active during the "golden years" of Jungian psychology. The Inner Journey is a compendium of the best of her writings, a legacy to future generations showcasing Hannah's insightful mind, compassionate heart, original thinking, psychological integrity, and abiding faith in the healing power of the unconscious. The essays include: Some Glimpses of the Individuation Process in Jung Himself; On Active Imagination; Regression or Renewal in Later Life; Ego and Shadow; The Religious Function of the Animus in the Book of Tobit; and The Problem of Contact with Animus. The Inner Journey will introduce an influential Jungian psychologist to a new generation of students and researchers. Also highly recommended are two of her earlier works: Jung, His Life And Work: A Biographical Memoir (1976); and Encounters With The Soul: Active Imagination As Developed By C. G. Jung (1981).

I also have an original copy of this book. I am unsure of the exact publication date but this is a portion of the front inside page: "Eastern District of Pennslyvania, to wit; Be it remembered, that on the twenty-fifth day of September in the forty-ninth year of dependance of the United States of America, A.D. 1824, H.C. Carey and I. Lea, of the said district, have depositied in this office the title of the book, the right whereof they claim as proprietors, in the words following, to wit; The Life of Gen. Francis Marion" I would also like to know the value of this book. The book condition is fair to poor.

I would like info on it's valu

Anybody with a serious interest in aliens should take a look at this book. It does a good job exploring the shady, often ambiguous connection between alien abductees and the US military. This is something other abduction books don't deal with much, but the authors present enough evidence to convince me something's going on.

I came away reasonably sure that a monitoring program is in place, whereby the military re-abducts people soon after aliens have taken them (a kind of forced debriefing to find out all they can about the Greys).

There are dark hints that covert research is being done into exotic mind-control and genetic management/manipulation. You get the creepy feeling from this book that no matter how wild X-FILES may get, it's not as wild as reality! It's as if there's a new Manhattan Project underway, only now it's about aliens. Very Kafkaesque. I wonder now if I want to be around the day this all comes out into the public - could get pretty ugly.

MILABS is a real tour-de-force. The Lammers have convincingly argued that the United States military is very covertly kidnapping a select group of people for reasons that are very obscure. We live in a world of dark illusion, and the Lammers have shone the light of their research into a dark corner where the Pentagon's clandestine operations scuttle and scurry. This is virtually the only book of its kind on this topic, and really rips the shroud of secrecy. The relationship between mind control, covert military operations targeted against civilians and the UFO and alleged alien abduction phenomena is a strange one -- but the Lammers have made an informative and enlightening opening into this secretive arena. I give MILABS five stars and two thumbs up.

In my opinion, Marion Chesney is the best of all regency authors.
Her books aren't more sugary than treacle syrup, nor are they
ever so proper like some regencies are. And best of all she
doesn't pull out every darn regency slang word that ever existed
and put it all in one novel like some do. She educates about the
Regency Era and at the same time amuses with her quirky humor
and good romance between the hero and heroine.
The Six Sisters is my favorite of her six book series and Minerva
is my favorite of all her 80 to 90 novels. (99% of which I have
read.

Being the oldest in the family, Minerva has many responsibilites, not only she has to take care of the house, she has to be a mother also. Her dad was addicted to hunting; therefore, he sent her to London to have her season, so she can marry a rich guy and he can use that money for hunting and sending the 2 boys to school. The story takes place when the most handsome,exotic Lord Sylvester Comfrey came in, and make her life turn upside down.
I suggest you read this book cuz it's really really good! and funny too I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!

The plot of this book begins with a murder and Soviet espionage during the cold war, however, as the story develops it really becomes a historical romance novel. There is lots of conversation in addition to descriptions of the setting in the Scottish Highlands. Horse lovers will enjoy the accurate depictions of the protagonist's relationship with his rogue stallion named "Dante."

Prospective readers should not be daunted by the size of the book, as it it quick, easy reading. A great book to read on vacation.

I really enjoyed this book. It was an interesting story, that holds your attention to the end. There is adventure, mystery, and romance in this book. The characters are very interesting, so try it you'll like it.

Star of Danger is a Darkover novel wich present us to Larry Montray, a terran, who comes to " The Blood Sun Planet" with his father and meet Kennard Alton, a darkovan, sun of Valdir Alton - member of th Comyn. The story will tell the adventure of these two boys, in the midle of a blood war, trying to scape to Larrys capture in the snow mountains of Darkover and fighting for survival. They need to join force and learn from each other, looking for their weakness and discovering new habilities to survive all the way back to Thendara. Their action would change all the future in the relationship between these two culture. An special note to readers, the darkovers novel are independent books, but you will enjoy discovering their sequence by paying atention to the caracthers, many of then, appear in different ages, so we can imagine time going by Darkover.

I don't think this was MZB's best book but it was definitely a great book to read!!!

Larry, a Terran ... Kennard, a Darkover native ... They meet when Larry gets into a fight and soon become friends. Larry's father does not exactly approve of their friendship but when Kennard invites Larry to go with him to his estates Larry's father is forced to agree, not wanting to insult them. But more is in for Kennard and Larry when they are forced to work together ... to survive. An enemy has been attacking villages on Darkover and the two of them are separated from those they know. While the tension to prove who's best between them builds soon they have to put that all aside and work together, combining ideas and their own technology together so they can get back to their families ... alive.

A great book for anyone who loves reading about adventure and defeating the bad guys!

I have had this cookbook for a few years and increase my use of it each year. The recipies are simple, not in the American "convenient" way, but in their appeal to the simple tases one associates with a true supper. That said, they are usually easy to prepare as well. I appreciate the author's suggestions for the entire meal, as her choices for go along with recipies are superb. Particular favorites are Avacado and Bacon Salad, Cream of Scallop Soup, Orzo with Fresh Dill, and Almond Cookies.

Marion Cunningham's "The Supper Book" is an old friend in our kitchen. My best friend gave me a copy years ago for my birthday, and it is probably one of the most-used cookbooks of the many that crowd my pantry shelf.

The recipes are, as you might imagine, simple, delicious, and easy to prepare. Yet there's none of the frantic "Dinner in Ten Minutes!" or "Gourmet Meals from Just Five Ingredients!" tone that you see in cookbooks that are trying to make a fabulous meal appear on the table in less time than it takes to read this review. Cunningham slyly makes most of the recipes easy and with minimal ingredients, but she lets you discover this happy news on your own. Her emphasis is, instead, on taste and freshness of ingredients.

The Crabcakes are absolutely delicious and the soul of simplicity. The Celery Soup is a revelation, and a dish in which celery gets to stand up and take a bow instead of being an afterthought as it is in so many other recipes. Speed Steaks is an intriguing idea--you slice the steaks very thin, freeze them, and then fry them while still frozen. The result is a beautifully cooked steak with a lovely pink center. And now that Fish Tacos are all the culinary rage, let it be known that Marion Cunningham first featured them in a cookbook way back in 1992!

Cunningham extols the virtues of calmness and solitude at supper. In fact, she writes, "Sometimes eating supper alone feels private, quiet, and blessedly liberating. You may eat anything you want; you needn't be conventional. I liked a baked potato with olive oil and coarse salt and pepper followed by vanilla ice cream, which proves to me that money doesn't buy a good meal. One night not long ago I had freshly baked cookies and milk, and found that uplifting."

Donnie Cameron's handsome, spare line drawings do much to underscore the overall feeling of calmness and simplicity that Cunningham gives the reader. It's a nice match of author and illustrator, as each heightens the impact of the other's work. This really is a valuable kitchen friend, whether you live alone or cook for a crowd each night.

I really enjoyed reading this book and getting design ideas from it. There are some really interesting color combinations and patterns that are displayed throughout the book, and instructions are given for making Tibetan-style crafts. I especially liked the idea of painted chair-guards along the walls, the hanging lanterns, and the prayer-flag curtains. The instructions are detailed, but not hard to follow. While some of the craft ideas are more basic, they do leave room for you to create your own interpretations of them. There is some drawing involved for some of the projects, but there are templates in the back of the book for those who aren't so inclined.

Part of the 'global crafts' series, Marion Elliot's Tibet deserves ongoing recommendation as an excellent blend of projects, instructions, and insights on world design. These projects are centered around Tibetan culture and provide full-page color photos to reveal Tibetan interior design.