Book Description
"Thousands and thousands of people will love this book!"
THE BOSTON GLOBE
A lyrical, engrossing tale, by the author of WATERSHIP DOWN, Richard Adams creates a lyrical and engrossing tale, a remarkable journey into the hearts and minds of two canine heroes, Snitter and Rowf, fugitives from the horrors of an animal research center who escape into the isolation--and terror--of the wilderness.


From the Paperback edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (62)

Oh Snitter & Rowf!!!
I cried several times while reading this book, and I didn't want it to end.

I guess it is pretty hard to get into, and sometimes it's a little tiresome, but I think it's well worth it. I loved this book. Makes me want to go out and adopt a cute little Snitter and make sure nothing bad ever happens to him.

Also, I was so thankful for the ending. I was dreading the end because I thought it would be terribly tragic,

P.S. poor tod.

Fun Book
It was kind of hard for me to start this book but found it gets better the more you read as the dogs progress in their journey across the countryside.In a way I almost liked it better than Adams's Watership Down as you really feel so sad for the dogs in how mankind has turned against them (I am sure dog owners will really understand this).
I have an edition that was printed in Great Britain so it was hard to understand some of the dialect without explanation (as Adams explains it a bit in the American printed version's preface).It wasn't until the middle of the book while looking at one of the map pictures that I found out "the tod" is a fox.Great book!

Not Free SF Reader
Prefer experiments on rodents, thanks.


Like in Watership Down, the animals are the main characters from a point of view perspective in this novel.For a recent techno take on this see We3, for example.Here, the dogs are just being experimented on, not being made into weapons.

When they escape, they have to forage to survive, and get help from a fox.One of the animals is a bit brain damaged from what has been done to him at the vivisection lab.

The title comes from the fact that a reporter of the less than ethical variety spreads the story that the animals are infected, as a cover.

Misunderstood: Victim of Amateur Readers
**DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IF YOU EXPECT AN EASY-CHILD DEVELOPED SCHEME**
**DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT ANALYSIS AND ATTENTION MEAN**

I think many people that have reviewed about this book (and that have obviously read it) in a negative way started reading "The Plague Dogs" when they saw "Watership Down successor" in the cover page. That was their first mistake. The Plague Dogs is ANOTHER book, nothing to do with bunnies and not as a real attempt of a classic or a "successor", those words are an editorial strategy to summon people to read the book.
Second mistake: You read Watership Down BEFORE The Plague Dogs, thus, you were expecting something similar or you were making up your own story before even starting to read the book, just because you thought you knew the author's style. Once again: IT'S ANOTHER BOOK. Flush the bunnies out of your mind and start from 0 again.
In reality, this is one of the best books I have ever read, and I can't say the same of 'Watership Down'. "The Pague Dogs" is usually seen under the fake idea (besides the ones I already wrote) of having an "animal protection" or "no animal testing" goal. It doesn't. Of course it promotes not harming animals, and the very same stroy makes you hate all scientists that mess with doggies, but it is not the author's goal, there are many more EASIER ways to stand against animal abuse without taking the time to do a story like this one, specially not as deep and profound.
People usually think it's tedious and boring, with complex words and a lot of poetic sense, so they don't really pay attention to what they're actually reading. They don't notice that "The Plague Dogs" is about many "human" issues, and it plays with very serious situations BESIDES animal abuse and testing. It touches very sensitive spots of psychology, such as guilt, trauma, suicide, family ethics and even racism. It also contains social weak spots, such as sensationalist media, panic disorder and poor government efficiency.
Whoever read this book and didn't notice anything special besides a "no animal testing" message, should go back and read it again, but with a more open mind about the details and other "unnecessary" information. You should also try to read beyond the letters: try to read it under a strict eye and ask yourself questions. Everything in the story, even the first pages that don't seem so special, have a lot to do with what comes next.
About the ending... It is a masterpiece of language, poetry and sintaxis: it is perfect in that way, but I do have to accept that it kinda' broke all the tragedy of the book, and I don't mean the "invasion" of characters in the last pages. That was fine, actually, it was in those pages where racism is handled in a very sutile way, as well as other important topics. But the END, the happily ever after end. Yeah, it might be open to opinions, but it didn't really left a door open to a sad ending.
I was happy, though, to see that the movie (the uncut movie) had a better ending, in fact, I saw the movie before reading the book. I think that if the book had the movie ending, it would have been an EXCELENT-EXCELENT book, but sadly it is just EXCELENT. I also highly recommend the uncut movie to adults, NO CHILDREN.

AWESOME BOOK
Wow! I love this book! I am thirteen and I picked this book to do for a book report at school.Yes, the beginning is a bit hard to read through, and he does write a lot of seemingly useless, long, boring paragraphs, but it is so worth it to get this book.The characters are great.Gotta love that Snitter.. The language used is a little hard to understand, but you'll get the basic idea if you try a little.oh, and don't listen to those review-ers who are saying that it is too boring to read.Most of them said they only read about 10 pages! Perservere!! (haha) I look forward to watching the movie, although I hear its pretty depressing. Ah well. READ THIS BOOK! ... Read more

Book Description
In his major new novel, The Friends of Meager Fortune, Richards explores the dying days of the lumber industry in the mid-twentieth century. This is a transfixing love story of betrayal, envy, and sexual jealousy, which builds to a tragically inevitable climax. It is also a devastating portrait of a pre-mechanized time, and a brilliant commemoration of the passing of a world.Rich with all the passion, ambition and almost mythic vision that defines David Adams Richards' work, The Friends of Meager Fortune is a profound and important book about the hands and the heart; about true greatness and true weakness; about the relentlessness of fate and the evil that men and women do. Wise, stark, and without a false word in it, it cements David Adams Richards' claim to be the finest novelist at work in Canada today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Friends of Meager Fortune
David Adams Richards has done a terrific job of describing the mid-twentieth century Canadian lumber industry. He has provided the reader with a wonderful cast of characters who are all affected by a vicious rumor. I wanted to reach inside the book and shake the characters, who not only believed the rumor, but did nothing to find the truth. Two soldiers become involved with a woman married to one, but attracted to the hero. When her husband disappears, the rumor spreads through the small town.

In the meantime, the logging goes on, the loggers endure the treacherous terrain to get the logs to the river, the valiant horses perform their duties, and the Canadian winter provides unbearably harsh conditions for the loggers. The story includes a faux murder that gets tied into the original rumor, the hero of the story is accused of the murder on the basis of the discovery of a mutilated and unidentified body. All the while, Meager Fortune, who does not appear until well into the story, is taking care of the loggers on the mountain. He is the one who discovers the betrayal of one of the loggers who is tagging the logs with a competitor's stamp. But he does not report this betrayal. In the end, the hero dies an heroic death, and the long-lost husband reappears, putting an end to the long-running rumor that had virtually destroyed reputations and resulted in the conviction of an innocent man for the death of another man, who never died.

This book was so well written. The characters were well described, and I (and I hope other readers) was able to empathize with the rumor victims. I cried real tears when Owen died, breathed a sigh of relief when Reggie reappeared, and wanted to give Meager Fortune a hug for his undying dedication to his logging buddies.

Kudos, Mr. Richards. I loved your book.

"A man like many here would not live in the world to come."


Mid-twentieth century Canada is a time of vast change in the lumber industry, although few can see the decline of the old ways that looms on the horizon, massive amounts of timber moved by the grueling labor of men who have defined their lives in the felling and harvesting of trees. Will Jameson, who takes over his family's business upon the death of his father, is only sixteen when he achieves the status of legend. But Will's untimely death, though prophesied by a palm-reader, throws younger brother Owen into the breech, Owen forever fighting the long shadow of his more accomplished and manly sibling. Even though he has returned from the war a hero, Owen cannot measure up in the eyes of the town. It is never Owen's intent to save his family's fortune, but he feels obligated to aid his widowed mother, the stoic and gullible Mary.

Owen's problems emerge through the power of gossip and innuendo. His war hero status deteriorates as the town whispers of his obsession with Camellia, wife of Reggie Glidden, Will's best friend. Undeniably attracted to Camellia, Owen's affection remains innocent, Camellia the unwary manipulator of the situation as she encourages Owen to take over the company and help her locate the now-missing Reggie. Soon the rumors reach a deafening roar; with Reggie's mysterious disappearance, it is assumed that the couple has done away with the man who stands in their way. That this is mere supposition carries no weight in the world of public opinion, especially when a story is circulated by Lula Brower, a vain young woman set to appropriate Owen for her fiancé until felled by a stroke that alters her fortune as a marriageable woman.

Meanwhile, Own throws himself into the lumber business, desperately harvesting the timber in one of the most dangerous areas of growth, his men held barely in check with their internal feuding and petty grievances. While some, like Meager Fortune, remain loyal to Owen, others allow themselves to be seduced by Owen's rivals, further complicating an already dangerous endeavor to save the Jameson's interests. When an unidentified body is found floating in the river, despite the fact that it is too decayed to be recognizable, the town assumes the worst, pointing the finger of guilt at the suspected miscreants, Owen and Camellia.

As the industry is doomed in its present incarnation, so too are the innocent lovers, tried by public opinion, rumors flying from mouth to mouth in lieu of facts with amazing speed. The locals gather gossip, embellishing it at will, passing it along to strangers until no semblance of the truth remains, the town seething with rancor at an assumed crime. In a rapidly changing century, where mechanization is on the rise, this sad drama plays out against the majesty of the great wooded forests providing sustenance for families who spend their time spilling lies to alleviate their uncertainty. Seen through the telescope of time, the history of an era is rendered insignificant compared to the gratuitous evil of careless and vicious words. Luan Gaines/2007.
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Customer Reviews (2)

Good reading..........
I have read a great deal of Mr. Adams works he is a lost treasure and I hope that you will find him and enjoy his brillance.
The Outlandish Knight is the story of a minstrel who is traveling to find himself and to serve his Master. The book which is broken down in three parts. Each part pertains to a different family memeber of Raymonds.
There are great folk songs through out the book which adds to Mr Adams great writing. I enjoyed the first two parts very much following along with Raymonds son as he to follows in his father footsteps. The second part of the story is told by Raymond the son, and it gives a different feel to the book.
The third part is about Raymond's daughter Honor Mary and about her story which is told by the Author. This is where the story slows down a little. Honor does not follow in their footsteps. It is still a wonderful book and it brings a very different look to Mr Adams works.It is an enjoyable book and any Richard Adams fan will enjoy it.I only wished that he would have given more feel and more color to the characters.

The best Richard Adams novel since Watership Down
Richard Adams set the bar pretty high when hepublished his first novel, Watership Down, over 25 years ago.His novels since then (Shardik, Plague Dogs, Girl in the Swing, Maia, and Traveler) have not lived up to thepromise of that first book,which ranks among the most beloved novels ofthe 20th century and will surely be among the handful of books to survivethe century.

It is with great pleasure, therefore, to note that with TheOutlandish Knight Adams has crafted a lyrical novel rich in historicaldetail.It follows the fortunes of 3 generations of "common"folk in England and their relationships with the Tudor aristocrats.

Thenovel opens in the year 1485, the action concentrating on the Battle ofBosworth Field, where Henry VII, the first of the Tudor dynasty, brought anend to the Wars of the Roses.The central narrative focuses on HenryVIII's divorce from Katherine of Aragon, while the third portion isconcerned with the fate of those implicated in a plot in support of Mary,Queen of Scots, during Elizabeth's reign.

The overriding theme is one ofunwavering loyalty and devotion in the face of intense pressure.WhileAdams is faithful to the historical detail the reader cannot help but getcaught up in the events as if they were happening today. Most impressively,Adams' characters speak the English of their day, not 20th centuryvernacular, a device which other writers of historical fiction would dowell to employ.The historical figures that appear as characters arebelievable, as well.

Adams' first foray into historical fiction came withhis last novel, Traveler, but here he is on surer ground, writing about hisnative England.As a special bonus, the text is sprinkled liberally withexcerpts of English folk song, including the actual musicalnotation.

Although lacking an animal protagonist, this is Adams' bestnovel since Watership Down. Readers should also check out his twocollections of tales, The Unbroken Web and Tales from Watership Down.Alsoin a similar vein is a historical novel by Alan Garner, Strandloper, andvarious works of history of this period, such as Antonia Fraser's Faith andTreason.

The words "based on a true story" have become all tooautomatic in this visually-oriented age, but it is comforting to know thatthere are still instances when the phrase actually has meaning. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

A delightful blend of fun and poignancy
The Civil War from the viewpoint of - General Robert E. Lee's horse??? Traveller, still a colt when his first owner sets off for a place called the War, can't wait to get there because surely anywhere young men seek so eagerly must be just like heaven. A horse's version of heaven, that is! So where is it that he winds up instead? A place of noise and blood, exhaustion and starvation, and death for horses as well as for men. His new master, "Marse Robert," wins Traveller's heart so wholly that the lively young horse soon decides he'd never prefer to be elsewhere. Yet still, Traveller never stops wishng he might have made it to the War at last...and that's just one of the seriocomic differences between a horse's perspective and that of the humans who surround and control him.

A delightful blend of fun and poignancy, complete with Traveller-coined nicknames for Marse Robert's fellow generals that had me in stitches. Anthropomorphic animals aren't usually favorites with me, and I sometimes found the use of dialect distracting; but I thoroughly enjoyed this book just the same.

Traveler
Horrible, horses speak plain english, just like we do. Forced myself to read the first 100 pages, the slang is just dreadful and can't get past that enough to bother reading anything more! love Richard Adams other books terribly dissapointed in this one!

The Civil War From A Different Viewpoint.
This is an account of the Civil War from a strange perspective, one no one else could have thought up -- but clever just the same.I loved Richard Adams' WATERSHIP DOWN, and praised it to others because of the its moral value.Here, we have two cats, Baxter and Tom the Nipper who were the pets of Robert E. Lee's daughter, which he took on maneuvers to kill the rats and mice and other field vermin.Mainly, it is the first-person account of the war as seen through the eyes of General Lee's horse, Traveller.

In the barn there in Lexington, Virginia, where Mr. Lee is now the president of Washington College and sometimes spends time laying in the straw with his trusty stallion.He has nightmares of the War and awakens to gentility and Traveller's soothing presence.Tom cat comes around to visit and Traveller relates what happened on the battlefield at different times as he conversed with the other horses.Jefferson Davis' horse was named Thunder.He criticizes the felines saying, "You cats don't really make friends...you just can't see them off fast enough.Now horses -- horses need friends."He gives names to the other animals, like Joker and Lucy Lee, the mare.

He describes his master as being 'grave and solitary,' a lonely man trying to be 'simple and plain.'Horses make special friends with other horses and stick with them.He tells about the time Jeb Stuart visited General Lee.On August 19, 1862, seven weeks since the remarkable campaign known as the Seven Days, General McClellan's armydemolished the Southern hopes for a speedy end to this danged war.Traveller used a kind of dialect some Southerners might have used back then.The Federal forces (he calls them the Blue Boys) were defeated by Stonewall Jacksonand General Burnsides brought reinforcements.The battle of Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862, was a costly mistake for Burnside and General Hooker took over.In April, 1863, there were skirmishes between Lee's Confederates and Hooker's Union soldiers.On April 9, 1865, Robert E. Lee surrendered the Confederate Army of Norther Virginia to Ulysses S. Grant.

Lee never got over the humiliation of this defeat and withered away with heartsickness, sad in his thoughts with all his bad memories.Lee died in October, 1870, and a black covering was put over Traveller's back under the empty saddle and he pulled the glass-enclosed cart carrying the coffin.He did not know that his master was in that 'box.'He told Tom that Marse Lee was away and would eventually come home.He died in June, 1871, grieving for his lost master. He has visions of going off on trips into the woods with General Lee. The strange things is that Traveller (and perhaps Thunder, too) thought that the South had won the Civil War.Quite a different account of a historic event.Only Richard Adams would have the imagination to put things into animals' mouths in such a way.

It's too bad you can't see the cover as he is a splendid horse, and the photograph on the back cover of both show a beautiful pair who fit together in looks and dignity.

From the Horse's Mouth
I frequently recommend this book to just about anyone I run across with even half an interest in the American Civil War. It is a wonderful new way to see some of the significant events of the civil war as seen from a horse's perspective. And what better horse than "Traveller".

I will agree that it helps to have some knowledge of the comings and goings of the Army of Northern Virginia, or you will not have much idea of where you are and at what point during the war. Of course this is perfectly accurate as our horse narrator has no idea of place names. For those readers familiar with the Civil War, you will find yourself recognizing the events described by Traveller and come away with a unique perspective of these campaigns. Antietam and Wilderness will come quickly to the informed reader's mind as Traveller remembers the events of those dark days.

This story is unabashedly told from a Southern perspective (not in a revisionist way as the opening editorial review suggests). It is after all told by a Southern Horse.

Richard Adams will capture your imagination as you dwell at length on the relationship that a man and his horse shared during one of the most momentous times in our nation's history.

After reading the book, take a road trip to Lexington, VA and to the chapel at Washington and Lee College. Outside the entrance you will find a grave stone covered with coins and carrots. There you will find Traveller.

Get down and dirty with the army of Northern Virginia
This book is a sleeper in two ways.Yes, it may put you to sleep.It's a little hard slogging through the rain and the mud with Traveller.You may really feel like you, too, are in the Army of Northern Virginia, wondering what all the loud banging noise and cloth on sticks are about, just like the narrator, Robert E. Lee's horse.

It is a sleeper, too, in the sense that the whole idea of a talking, thinking horse will creep up on you.

By the end of the book, it will make you sad to have to say goodbye to old Traveller, the old soldier who still believes his guys won the war, doesn't know his beloved master has passed on, and is still telling long war stories to his friend, the Lee's pet cat, Tom.

You may get a pretty accurate sense of what the Civil War looked like from General Lee's horse's perspective.Traveller is certainly eloquent, in a down home kind of way.Even though, as one of his fellow horses noted, he may not be too smart in the ways of the human world, he does have a lot of horse sense.He's 100% loyal to his master, who, Traveller believes, may have lived a previous life as a horse himself.

We don't learn a whole lot about General Lee, compared to what we learn about Traveller.Lee does seem to be unafraid of dying, he's always good to animals and to his troops, but it is clear he doesn't have the manpower and material tools needed to win the war.

Adams has inserted excerpts from a "human" writer, apparently a contemporary Southern historian or journalist, throughout the text.These excerpts help the reader to understand what all the slogging around in the mud in rain mean, in terms of battles and locations.

For someone who knows little about the Civil War (me), many more of these explanatory inserts into Traveller's narration would have been helpful to understand what exactly was going on and where the battlefields actually were.The historical relevance of Traveller's travels would have been made more clear.Civil War buffs would have no problem knowing all that.

I recommend this book, although it is not easy reading and it may take you a while to finish the book.Take your time.It's worth it.Diximus.


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Product Description
Richard Adams, author of the best-selling novel Watership Down, has specially chosen this outstanding collection of animal storiesby well-known writers. Enchanting, amusing, and memorable, this book will delight readers of all ages. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Watership Down has been a staple of high-school English classes for years. Despite the fact that it's often a hard sell at first (what teenager wouldn't cringe at the thought of 400-plus pages of talking rabbits?), Richard Adams's bunny-centric epic rarely fails to win the love and respect of anyone who reads it, regardless of age. Like most great novels, Watership Down is a rich story that can be read (and reread) on many different levels. The book is often praised as an allegory, with its analogs between human and rabbit culture (a fact sometimes used to goad skeptical teens, who resent the challenge that they won't "get" it, into reading it), but it's equally praiseworthy as just a corking good adventure.

The story follows a warren of Berkshire rabbits fleeing the destruction of their home by a land developer. As they search for a safe haven, skirting danger at every turn, we become acquainted with the band and its compelling culture and mythos. Adams has crafted a touching, involving world in the dirt and scrub of the English countryside, complete with its own folk history and language (the book comes with a "lapine" glossary, a guide to rabbitese). As much about freedom, ethics, and human nature as it is about a bunch of bunnies looking for a warm hidey-hole and some mates, Watership Down will continue to make the transition from classroom desk to bedside table for many generations to come. --Paul Hughes Book Description
A phenomenal worldwide bestseller for over thirty years, Richard Adams's Watership Down is a timeless classic and one of the most beloved novels of all time. Set in England's Downs, a once idyllic rural landscape, this stirring tale of adventure, courage and survival follows a band of very special creatures on their flight from the intrusion of man and the certain destruction of their home. Led by a stouthearted pair of brothers, they journey forth from their native Sandleford Warren through the harrowing trials posed by predators and adversaries, to a mysterious promised land and a more perfect society.

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Customer Reviews (919)

A Powerful Story of Survival, Loyalty, Love, & Hope
I can remember years ago as a teenager seeing this paperback in a local bookstore and being intrigued by its warm, lovely cover art.Picking it up, I read the plot synopsis on the back cover, but couldn't at the time fathom from the description that the characters in the book were all rabbits.I didn't think much about reading it until a guy I had a crush on did a book report for it in our 8th grade English class.Upon hearing his praise and high recommendation, I bought it soon afterwards.... and was immediately entranced/blown away by a masterful, powerful tale of a band of brave rabbits who leave their endangered home in search of a new residence safe from harm and untouched by humans. I couldn't put the novel down if I'd tried!!"Watership Down" remains to this day one of my all time favorite books, and I would have to add that Richard Adams is one author who I have held in the highest regard for 20+ years.Few other authors have left such a huge impression upon me as he has with this amazing tale of love, hope, sheer terror, survival, loyalty, tenacity, intelligence, wit, and trust.Each character is distinct in the way they think, act, etc., that after a time, I nearly forgot that I was reading about rabbits.Adams really fleshes out their personalities brilliantly and makes you genuinely care about their struggles and triumphs.There was an animated movie that came out in the 1980's that was quite good and followed the book for the most part (the film is also accompanied by a breathtakingly beautiful soundtrack that fits the feel/themes of the story perfectly).However, I would very much recommend readling the book first as it is still superior, and also goes into quite a bit more detail regarding the rabbits' own unique language, folklore, and religion (of sorts).The book (and movie) both moved me to tears when I reached the ending, but I was left with a great feeling afterwards nonetheless."Watership Down" is a fantastic portrayal of spirit, determination in the wake of adversity/destruction/death.I love this book immensely and it effected me in ways that few reads rarely have.It will always have a special place in my book collection, and most importantly, my heart.

Highly Recommend This Book
This book has outlasted many favourite-books-of-the-moment in my life. I continually come back to it, rereading it with great pleasure each time. It's the kind of book where you suddenly feel the need to read passages aloud.
On the surface, a simple tale of talking rabbits. Yet I would never classify it as children's literature. An adventure with heroes and villians, peril and friendship, but it's even more than that. There is a subtext that can be interpreted to represent issues about government and society.
Yet at the same time, the rabbits seem very realistic. Not just humans in rabbit form. Most have trouble with complicated concepts, ie. when they need to cross a river and two of the rabbits are too tired to swim, only one rabbit understands the concept of hitching a ride on a piece of wood to float across. They also encounter a rabbit warren that is more intellectually advanced, having created art and poetry. The main characters have trouble grasping these concepts.
The characters are well-developed, as is the rabbit culture they come from. They are very much like primitive people, with an oral tradition of mythology but little concept of anything outside their own life. They see everything; other animals, plants, structures, etc as how it relates to themselves.
It's a book that can be read on many levels. Adventure or allegory, everyone can take something from this story. I highly recommend it.

Timeless
It has been almost 4 years since I read this book and the memory of its magical story is still as fresh in my mind as it was when I read the last page - sadly, knowing that no book could ever duplicate its splendor for me.The tales within took me on a journey with new friends who seemingly had been in my life forever.

A classic revisited.
This book is timeless. Grabbed me as it did so many decades ago. A great read for young and old and - getting rare these days - offers plenty to chew on. Long may these rabbits live!

Warning, there are no girl bunnies in this book!
We are reading this book together as a family. My husband reads aloud, the kids listen, and I struggle not to leave the room. My 9-yr old daughter has repeatedly asked: "why are all the rabbits boys? Are there going to be any girls soon?" Yeah... This is a fantasy, so one imagines the author had a fair amount of room to add talking rabbit females to the plot -- if he wanted to. But for most of the book the female rabbits are relegated to anonymous "doe" status, as in "the does are raising the young and if they get nervous, they might not give birth to as many young." The male characters are developed in much detail. At this point in the book, the protagonist rabbits are getting ready to wage war with a rival tribe, which includes "taking their does." In other word, "to rape and pillage." Wonderful! In general, I see very little merit to this book. It is rather protactracted and dull, as other readers have noted, and I don't like the message it is sending to my kids, girl or boys. We will finish the book, as a matter or principle, but I can't wait. In my opinion, a piece of "hraka." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (53)

Bollocks to B.S.
I appreciate David Bryson's articulate review, Brits tend to have that gift. Couldn't disagree more with his B.S. conclusion. Perhaps Adams took himself too seriously. Yes, Adams plays with the S&M elements a bit too much for my taste. Yes it is too long. But Adam's way with words -his ability to use words almost as though they were paint, to create a rich and decadent world, is quite lovely. And then to couch a fine grained -if not predictable- epic within this environment, is exquisite. And this work is far better than "Shardik," which had some very shoddy conclusions to various sections of the narrative.

Bryson also whines about whether a 15 year old girl could realistically endure the trauma that Maia experienced, and still come out with her wits. Yes, most children that age would be in pieces if they were traumatized like Maia. There are exceptions though, and Bryson may be ignorant of what psychologists have long described as "resiliency" in children, or the ability to undergo trauma and emerge relatively unscathed.

Perhaps I identify with Maia, and perhaps envy her for the "resiliency" she displayed. This is a unoriginal (who is ever original?) yet no less powerful literary device in other myths and stories. A powerful hero or heroine, who undergoes great physical, mental, social, and political trials, and emerges scarred but victorious.

It is with sadness that I concede to Bryson's thesis that this story has several noticeable flaws. But "B.S." is far too vulgar an epitaph to leave in memory of this yarn, and not nearly as well thought out as the rest of Bryson's review.

A Complete Disappointment
After reading and really enjoying Watership Down, I was delighted to find out that Adams had written a fantasy work.

Imagine my disgust, when, only a few chapters into Maia, I discovered that it was tedious, slow, overwrought, and overlong.Adams indulges in his worldbuilding far too much.Large parts of the book are needlessly obscene - nevermind his idea of making up his own "fantasy" terms for sexual matters.He beats us over the head with characterization (I lost count how many times we are reminded, in detail, that Maia is the sort of person who lives in the moment), and lets long chapters drag without any real action.In fact, a good 90% of the book's action occurs offscreen, including, inexplicably, the death of the principle villain.

The really sad thing is, there's a real story here.Queen Fornis is genuinely terrifying, and the love story between Maia and Zen-Kurel isn't half bad.I suppose if you dug around for a bit you could find a decent plot, maybe polish it up a bit, with leaner prose and a faster pace, and you'd have something worth reading.As it is, it's about as satisfying as finding a silver dollar in a dungheap.

I found my first edition copy of this book cheap at a used bookstore.I now understand why.

A 1000+ Page Epic about a Hot Young Girl
A short synopsis of the story : Beautiful underage slave girl becomes a whore and uses her sexual charms to get whoever she wants to. In the end she gives it all up for a hot, yet simple guy. All before shes 20.

If you consider things like this `science fiction' or `fantasy', then good for you. I didn't. I loved the book as a generic story with a few fancy place names thrown in, though I couldn't take much of it seriously. The main problem is that the lead character Maia is portrayed in a very unflattering light, ranging from manic-depressive to hormonally overwhelmed (I said that in the nicest way possible). Maia doesn't do things, things just happen to her. At times, her woe-is-me act is a bit much to take, but in minutes she is up and about ready to seduce somebody new with her god-given charms.

The opening sequence alone seems like its out of some failed Bollywood script, as Maia frolics in the lake near her house, gleefully letting passers-by a sight of her stupendous body. This is fantasy writing? I don't know about Richard Adams on this one. Perhaps he should stick to rabbits and bears. The most unintentionally hilarious part is Maia's names for `private parts'. The alternatives suggested are so ridiculous, I wish they had stuck with the original names instead. She also has a friend, Occula, whom I could only imagine as a black version of Angelina Jolie's character in `Alexander'. And not in a good way.

Heres the thing - this is a big, big book. I first read it when I was in ninth grade, and then recently in 2003. There are obviously better fantasy books out there, but if you like underage female leads, I can't think ofa book that has this much goofy fun. It is camp, does not take itself too seriously, and speaks solely of sex and lust without exactly using `that sort' of language. I took a while to finish this, but that's to be expected.

Get this one while you can though - its officially out of print and considering its 1000+ page size, I don't think they're gonna publish this one again.

Not Free SF Reader
Girl sold into sex slavery by mum to dodgy lecher guy, uses laterfound hotness for politics.Becomes happy.


Yeah, you are right, that doesn't sound that interesting.This book doesn't work too well as a fantasy, and it isn't an erotic novel, either, and is just way, way too long.However, I suppose you could use it for a paperweight.It is set in the same world that the considerably better Shardik is, but earlier in time.

provocative book by a great writer and social theorist
I read this book as a kid and it made a huge impression on me, so I've often thought of finding a copy, but when I came on Amazon a few years ago and saw all the bad reviews I changed my mind about re-reading it. Big mistake! I've just finished it and thought it was a wonderful fantasy-adventure saga, if you like sexy, plotty stuff about innocent young girls being sold into slavery and then saving the empire. And who doesn't like that? characters are well drawn, cloak-and-dagger politics well done, storyline original.

There's been some complaint that it's sexist and, well, Richard Adams was a man born in 1920. His vision of a peasant girl with very natural pride in her body and beauty who doesn't mind at all the life of a bed-slave and considers it better than farm-work isn't for idealogues. but i remember finding Maia's sex-positive attiude empowering when I read it as a young girl, and wasn't unduly offended second time around, either. she's an archetype, and with her connection to nature & peasant origins & such reminded me of a happy Tess of the D'Urbervilles.

I think Richard Adams took a risk with this, and I, for one, appreciated it. Liked it much better than the talking bunnies, too. ... Read more

Book Description
"Shardik is a powerful work, dipping deep into old forms-allegory, epic, myth-resonating in the caverns of the readers' unconscious . . . It is an exciting story, the adventures compelling." (Los Angeles Times)

"Grips with suspense, haunts with mystery . . . a memorable work, not to be read once only but to be reread as loved books are . . . a human saga." (The Wall Street Journal)

Richard Adams's Watership Down was a number one bestseller, a stunning work of the imagination, and an acknowledged modern classic. In Shardik Adams sets a different yet equally compelling tale in a far-off fantasy world.

Shardik is a fantasy of tragic character, centered on the long-awaited reincarnation of the gigantic bear Shardik and his appearance among the half-barbaric Ortelgan people.Mighty, ferocious, and unpredictable, Shardik changes the life of every person in the story.His advent commences a momentous chain of events.Kelderek the hunter, who loves and trusts the great bear, is swept on by destiny to become first devotee and then prophet, then victorious soldier, then ruler of an empire and priest-king of Lord Shardik-Messenger of God-only to discover ever-deeper layers of meaning implicit in his passionate belief in the bear's divinity.

A gripping tale of war, adventure, horror and romance, Shardik, on a deeper level, is a remarkable exploration of mankind's universal desire for divine incarnation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (33)

Not Free SF Reader
Ursine avatars can be a bit tedious.


Shardik being that avatar in the religion of the native people, and more particularly, the native character that this book is about.He convinces people of this really big bear's religious significance.This gets him a position of religious power, and what do people often do with that?Yep, want to go and do a bit of that large scale killing war stuff.

It isn't all quite that simple though for the main guy as his attitude changes throughout.

Another Excellent Adventure from Richard Adams
Finally finished this the other day. The third book by Richard Adams I've read. The other two: Watership Down and Plague Dogs, and my second favorite of the three behind WD (yeah, yeah, yeah - it's hard to shake the nostalgia of this one going way back to my youth). I read somewhere that Richard Adams considers Shardik his best work, and I can see that, as it is a rousing and well-rounded adventure that covers all the bases. The third act was superb, always the sign of a great anything - the 'third act', I couldn't put it down at that point.

It's an adventure/journey type story that takes a person from humble beginnings and then throws him to the wind and powers much greater than himself and he travels across the world and experiences great highs and lows and then in the end it all comes together to make sense and the effect of which gives his life meaning, his purpose, much from the past transgressions that in turn shape his view of the future to come. In a way, the hero comes full circle through his trials and deeds. Great book, better even than Salmond Rushdie's Midnight's Children which I read before this - although it is a powerful and visionary book as well.

A Gripping, Provocative Book
Richard Adams' "Shardik" is less well-known than "Plague Dogs" or "Watership Down," but undeservedly so, in my opinion. It's a well-told story that is one of the most satisfying books I've read.

Shardik is the enormous and allegedly divine bear that is the title and center of the story. With the exception of the first chapter, the reader never gets a glimpse into Shardik's mind; only into the minds of those affected by Shardik's actions. The first person we meet is Kelderk, a lowly hunter from Ortelga, and nicknamed "play-with-children" by his peers. One day when Kelderek is hunting, a leopard corners him, and he's certain that he's dead. But out of nowhere, a huge bear comes and kills the leopard with one swipe of his paw. After towering over him for a moment, the bear vanishes. Kelderek feels certain that this is Shardik, the Power of God, who is believed will return some day and restore greatness to the Ortelgans. Eventually, Kelderek goes to the island of Quiso, where the leader of the Cult of Shardik, the Tuginda, resides. (The Tuginda and all of those on Quiso, are women; an interesting plot feature.) The Tuginda, some women from Quiso, Kelderek, and a few others from Ortelga go in search of Shardik, and eventually find him. Unfortunately, things take a turn for the worse when Ta-Kominion, an Ortelgan leader, insists on drugging and capturing Shardik to use him in conquering neighboring Bekla and building an empire. The Tuginda wants nothing to do with it, and Ta-Kominion effectively puts her under house arrest on Quiso. Ta-Kominion eventually catches a fever and dies. However, in the battle with the Beklans, Shardik breaks out of his cage at a crucial battle and kills several Beklans, including many soldiers and a key general. The Ortelgans go on to conquer Bekla and much of the neighboring provinces, since there's no longer anyone to stand in their way. Kelderek eventually becomes the Priest-King of Bekla, and is re-named Crendrik.

Three years later, the Beklan Empire is engaged in a war against the forces of the neighboring provinces and the Beklans who managed to flee before the Ortelgan takeover, led primarily by General Santil-kè-Erketlis. To finance the war, the Ortelgan generals revive the slave trade, to which Kelderek consents. Nonetheless, Kelderek is not portrayed as the villain, and he is dismayed by the corrupt military regime that he supervises. He is always more concerned about Shardik than the goings-on of the empire.

Kelderek's world falls apart when Elleroth, a leader in the rebellion against the Beklan Empire, tries to burn down Kelderek's house with Shardik inside. Elleroth is captured, but both he and Shardik escape (I will not reveal now). Kelderek then follows Shardik alone. And here I will stop the plot summary, leaving it to the readers to discover and enjoy the rest for themselves.

"Shardik" is a provocative book that has something for fans of many genres. Religous fiction fans will be gripped by the exploration of the issues of sin and atonement in the book; the author of the introduction says that "Shardik" is a Christian story with no Christian apparatus, and I would agree. Philosophy buffs will enjoy the ambiguous characters of Shardik- is Shardik really a divine incarnation, or just a big dumb bear who's alleged divinity is just an invention by his followers? Furthermore, it's not entirely clear how the Cult of Shardik developed in the first place. Of course, fantasy fans will love this, even though there's no swords and sorcery type stuff. Plus, there's plenty of battle scenes and suspense for action/thriller fans. There's even some romance, although it doesn't come into play until near the end. In conclusion, anyone who appreciate good literature and a good yarn will love this. 5 out of 5.

Vividly Descriptive and a Real Thrill
In Richard Adams' book SHARDIK, we start with a city with lost power and glory.After being oppressed by neighboring powers, the people of Ortelga hear news of a gigantic bear (lord Shardik) spotted near their city. They take this as an omen of the return of their long awaited lord incarnate.

Kelderek, the hunter who spotted Shardik, gets swept up in the events and is deemed a priest who can control and understand the bear. The people of Ortlega wage battle against the neighboring oppressors using the massive bear to inspire the fighters.

Adams presents us with questions of morality and uses his fantasy world in a juxtaposition of reality. Both these tools help to spark the critical thinkers interest. The bear Shardik is the perfect metaphor for how fickle life can be. A bear is dangerously unpredictable and uncontrollable as life is.

Richard Adams has created a dynamic epic, which is nothing short of a masterpiece. I would suggest this book to anyone ready for a thrill-ride tale and vividly descriptive read.

Gritty and perhaps a little strange, but more believable than most fantasy titles.
This book touches at the spirit. At the heart of the book's theme, is the question: "how much are we willing to do for the sake of our beliefs?". The prose is excellent, the pacing is good and most importantly, the writing seems natural and fluid. Adams seems to have that rare talent of letting a story run seemingly, on its own free will. Adam has created great characters like Shardik and Kelderek, without settling for predictable character building.

It's a great book that I recommend to anyone. ... Read more

Amazon.com
The original Watership Down is one of those wonderful works that appeals to readers both young and old. The story of a group of rabbits on an adventure into unfamiliar yards, farms, and fields made for an imaginative, captivating journey. This latest work follows the aftermath of the original's climactic ending and includes the rabbits' retelling of various myths associated with their rabbit-hood, plus some new twists and developments.This is a captivating introduction to Adams's warren for first-time visitors, and those who loved the original Watership Down won't be disappointed. Book Description

Return Again to the Warren for
the All-New Adventures of Fiver,
Hazel, BigWig, Dandelion, and
The Legendary El-Ahrairah.

Customer Reviews (94)

Worst. Sequel. Ever.
Unbelievably tedious PC hackwork -- I had just finished reading the original"Watership Down" out loud to my son when I read this and the contrast was horrifying. "Watership Down" is an all-time classic great novel, but "Tales from Watership Down" has absolutely none of the magic of its predecessor and is proof of a shocking decline in the author's powers (Richard Adams was born in 1920 and wrote "Watership Down" and several other good novels in the 1970's and 1980's, but in this 1996 work he is unrecognizable).

I guess Mr. Adams had a mortgage payment due.
What an awful, shallow, boring money grad.Tales from Watership Down is a pale ghost of the original book.On its own, it is a bad read; next to the original Watership Down, it is a steaming pile of garbage.

Secret Underground River.Are you kidding me?

"I love it more than bunnies!"; )
I haven't read the first book yet, but since everybody else says this book is worse than the first, gosh, I'm going to love the first book. If there's the one greatest thing in this book I must capitalize upon, it would be Speedwell's Story. If you haven't read the book, and want someone to spoil for you, here are three words: sky-blue horse (Or is that two?) I like the El-Thingummy stories best. You should try this book if you like rabbits. I like rabbits!

Delightful
This is a great sequel to Watership Down. In some places its tone is a little darker than the original. The orginal was male dominated. A female chief rabbit and a female oswala are introduced in this book. It is a worthy successor to the original.

Worthwhile Read, but Much Different than Original Novel
This book is not very similar to the original novel, which is what I think makes it so interesting and worthwhile to read. I definitely prefer the original, but I believe this work has something important to say. Each of the tales is worthy of the telling and the reading.

I probably will not re-read this as I have the original work, but I don't think I should be comparing this novel to the original one in this review. This is good storytelling in-and-of itself and does not need to be put side-by-side with Watership Down.

The shorter tales are excellent quick reading, and make this an easier book to pick up and put down in our busy lives. Much of what the author is saying in these tales is incredibly fascinating. I was particularly drawn to the paradox that the man-smell, which the rabbits would generally use as a reason to outcast one of their own, is actually what saves the warren. The wisdom of the characters to recognize this is nicely woven into the tale. As with his other works, Richard Adams shows incredible insight into our natural world, especially that of community living animals. It is nice to see humanity in these creatures; or rather, theirs reflected in us. (I am not sure which is more accurate.)

This is a nice collection of touching tales that definitely have something significant to say. As long as readers are not expecting a repeat of the original book, I believe this will be an enjoyable experience. Just don't expect it to read like a sequel.

J.H. Sweet, author of The Fairy Chronicles ... Read more

Book Description

From Amazon.ca
Set in a small town on a river in New Brunswick, River of the Brokenhearted, David Adams Richards's first novel since his Giller Prize-winning Mercy Among the Children, is told by Wendell King, son of Miles King and grandson of the feisty, willful Janie McLeary King, who made her fortune running the town's first cinema. Set against this trio is the lower-class family of the Drukens, especially Rebecca Druken and her uncle, Joey Elias, bitter because their own early cinema failed. Established early on, the feud plays out across three generations, spanning successes, failures, murder, and dissolution. Yet despite the somewhat bleak subject matter, tremendous humour and vitality persist in this story. The characters leap off the page, and in the person of Miles King, Richards has imagined a fully human soul of stunning believability. Miles is fatally flawed, committing slow suicide by gin as his cinema too begins to fail in the face of the TV's small screen. A sensitive eccentric, a target of small-town narrowness, he is subtly tortured psychically, for years, by Elias and the vicious Rebecca, who have made the downfall of the Kings their life's ambition. Miles King is a character of great loneliness, pathos, humor, and compassion, one of the finest creations not only of Canadian writing but any literature.

River of the Brokenhearted is the story of a river, the Miramichi, but it is mostly about the river of time that passes through Miles King, his mother, his son, and their enemies, carrying all to their ultimate fates: "She had left a river in New Brunswick that would swallow you with its life, shout in its rapids, laugh in its eddies, create industry in its currents, a river of Irish and Scottish myth, wedded to the soil." An outstanding work of fiction. --Mark FrutkinBook Description
In the 1920s, Janie McLeary and George King run one of the first movie theatres in the Maritimes. The marriage of the young Irish Catholic woman to an older English man is thought scandalous, but they work happily together, playing music to accompany the films. When George succumbs to illness and dies, leaving Janie with one young child and another on the way, the unscrupulous Joey Elias tries to take over the business. But Janie guards the theatre with a shotgun, and still in mourning, re-opens it herself. “If there was no real bliss in Janie’s life,” recounts her grandson, “there were moments of triumph.”

One night, deceived by the bank manager and Elias into believing she will lose her mortgage, Janie resolves to go and ask for money from the Catholic houses. Elias has sent out men to stop her, so she leaps out the back window and with a broken rib she swims in the dark across the icy Miramichi River, doubting her own sanity. Yet, seeing these people swayed into immoral actions because of their desire to please others and their fear of being outcast, she thinks to herself that “…all her life she had been forced to act in a way uncommon with others… Was sanity doing what they did?And if it was, was it moral or justified to be sane?”

Astonishingly, she finds herself face to face that night with influential Lord Beaverbrook, who sees in her tremendous character and saves her business. Not only does she survive, she prospers; she becomes wealthy, but ostracized. Even her own father helps Elias plot against her. Yet Janie McLeary King thwarts them and brings first-run talking pictures to the town.

Meanwhile, she employs Rebecca from the rival Druken family to look after her children. Jealous, and a protégé of Elias, Rebecca mistreats her young charges. The boy Miles longs to be a performer, but Rebecca convinces him he is hated, and he inherits his mother’s enemies. The only person who truly loves her, he is kept under his mother’s influence until, eventually, he takes a job as the theatre’s projectionist. He drinks heavily all his life, tends his flowers, and talks of things no-one believes, until the mystery at the heart of the novel finally unravels.

“At six I began to realize that my father was somewhat different,” says Miles King’s son Wendell, who narrates the saga in an attempt to find answers in the past and understand “how I was damned.” It is a many-layered epic of rivalries, misunderstandings, rumours; the abuse of power, what weak people will do for love, and the true power of doing right; of a pioneer and her legacy in the lives of her son and grandchildren.

“David Adams Richards is perhaps the greatest Canadian writer alive,” wrote Lynn Coady in the Vancouver Sun.From this winner of the Giller Prize and the Governor General’s Award comes a story of a woman’s determined struggle against small town prejudice, and her son’s long battle against deceit. Richards’ own family ran Newcastle’s Uptown Theatre from 1911 to 1980, and Janie is based on his grandmother. Cast upon this history is a drama that explores morality and “the question of how one should live,” as The Atlantic Monthly said of Mercy Among the Children, his previous novel.

Reviewers agree that Richards’ fiction sits firmly in the tradition of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky by concerning itself explicitly with good and evil and the human freedom to choose between them. Once again, in River of the Brokenhearted, his twelfth novel, Richards has created a work of compassion and assured, poetic sophistication which finds in the hearts of its characters venality and goodwill, cruelty and love. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Unraveling the Laws of Human Morality...
This is the best book that I have read in a long time. David Adams Richards writes about dichotomous themes--good and evil, love and hate--in a world that seems to have lost its sense of distinction between such binary oppositions. Richards's novel spans four generations and tells the story of two families--the Drukens and the Mclearys--and their conflict-ridden estrangement from themselves and from each other. Janie Mcleary, the protagonist, is an assertive and successful business woman who is left widowed by her husband. She and her children are tormented by the Druken family. Her daughter, Georgina, is murdered and her son, Miles, grows up to be ghosted by his past. Characters in this novel are haunted by memories and stuggle with their faith, morality and integrity. Richard's capacity as an author, stems, in part, from his astute perception into the nature of human greed and faith. River of the Brokenhearted is not a sensuous romance novel; it is a journey into the moral struggles of humanity. Richards conveys the notion that the "good" people and the "bad" people are not always cut in black and white colors; some seemingly "immoral" characters (i.e. Miles the alcoholic) emerge as the unsaid heroes of this text.Past wrongs are translated into bodily ailments that afflict the characters on a physical level, but these wrongs are erasable. Characters are given the chance of redemption. This book resonates with spiritual undertones. It may increase your faith... ... Read more

Book Description
There has never been another writer quite like Douglas Adams;witty, funny and brilliantly eloquent on a gargantuan number of topics.The Salmon of Doubt brims with the Adams trademarks:thought-provoking, silly and insanely original writings in an all-new never-before-published collection.For the millions of readers who expressed their grief and shock at his untimely death, this is it: his final book and our last chance to see new work from an acknowledged comic genius of our time.

This work includes the title novella, essays on subjects near and dear to his heart, including perception, computers, and Bach's Brandenburg concertos;laugh-out-loud short pieces, and transcripts of Hitchhikers Guide to the future radio scripts.One last glimpse of Douglas Adams before we go. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (108)

A mixed bag of goodies
An interesting little volume filled with Adams' musings about a wide-ranging array of topics.Some of the essays and articles here are quite good, and others are, well, not quite so good.But they are all written with Adams' trademark zany wit, and you certainly won't be bored.

The good:
As usual, his observations about the foibles of life, whether it's his mortification about having to wear short pants to school because they didn't make long trousers his size, or the story about the stranger stealing his cookies, are hilarious.And his passionate enthusiasm for his personal values, whether it's technology or the Beatles, shines through in every line and is therefore quite contagious.He has a way of turning a phrase to bring an abstract point down to earth, especially when it comes to his criticism of theism.And some of his analogies between evolution and computer science are quite illuminating, particularly his observation that computer code is analogous to the genetic code in showing how evolution operates by performing simple operations millions of times over.

The bad:
As an amateur biologist, however, Adams does tend to get carried away with the computer analogies--no, Douglas, your baby is not "rebooting."Combine this tendency with his otherwise virtuous enthusiasm, and, like many computer scientists, he carries it to the point of assuming that we are on the verge of creating "artificial intelligence," i.e., that in the near future there will be conscious computers.This failure to distinguish between the biological and the man-made plays right into the theists' hands--after all, that's the basic fallacy behind the argument from design (the Celestial Watchmaker and all that), Adams has just kind of done it in reverse.And his playing at being a naturalist is at times almost embarrassing--like when he wants to ride a manta ray, which would probably be pretty cool, and then feels all stupid when told he can't, or when he hikes to Mount Kilimanjaro in a ridiculous rhino suit (although he does recognize the pretension of telling developing nations that they preserve the resources that Western nations "exploited" during their own development).

As for "The Salmon of Doubt" itself, I haven't read either of the previous Dirk Gently novels yet, but I thought this one was shaping up to be, with more polishing, an interesting book.Of course, in its rough form, and with no ending, it is a bit unsatisfying.Overall, however, this collection is well worth reading, but unless you're an Adams collector you can probably stick with the mass market version (or visit your local library).

Sorry, Douglas, I was disappointed...
Likely never intended for publication, but published anyway (as every famous writer's memoirs and journals are), this is a collection of ideas that Douglas had.I was incredibly disappointed, as it was toted to me as his fragmentary final book.BOO!

Spend your money more wisely, buy Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency series by Douglas or his books about endangered animals.You will get way more out of them.Sorry, Douglas, rest in peace.

If you loved this Douglas Adams you are gonna love this !
I was so glad that there was more Douglas Adams to read, thank god for this book. But now that I have found a book that you will love to read as it is cut from the same laugh riot ilk as any great DA.

It is not science fiction by any means, but if you like Douglas Adams, you are gonna love Pete McCarthy's book "McCarthy's Bar A Journey of Discovery in Ireland".

This is a little known book and I even had to post the photo of this book on Amazon and afterwards came across to post a review of this book for any other Douglas Adams fans as they will be glad that I have shared.

Kind Regards,
Randall

McCarthy's Bar: A Journey of Discovery In Ireland

A look into life in his galaxy
For even a part time Adams fan, this book is golden. Assembled after his death, this book compiles many years or writings and musings, and throws them in with some unfinished works Adams left when he left this galaxy of ours. The book does take some getting used to, as many of the parts are unpolished, and largely in the state the left his mind from, which can be unorganized. Once youget past this, you really can begin to enjoy this. It reveals a deep and complex thought process, and also gives new depth to your views on Adams. I for one was amazed he could write a rather lengthy excerpt about his feelings on his own nose, to a point where I enjoyed reading it. After learning so much of his thought process, the criminal part of this work is that the man himself is gone, and now that you have insight into his life, he has departed.

If you are an Adams fan, this is a must have, no doubt about it.

A river of tears awaits any real Douglas Adams fan
A close friend of Douglas Adams once stated that, when one is reading a book by the author, one feels as if what was written was penned especially for him or her.Douglas Adams' mischievous and insightful humor has caused millions of guffaws, billions of knee-slaps, trillions of snorts, and quadrillions of smiles.Any real fan of Mr. Adams' works will find it hard to keep a dry eye throughout this beautifully arranged ode to the memory of the great author.

A collection of memorial speeches, past writings, short stories, interviews, and one incomplete fiction novel await the listener of this collection.At approximately 8 hours, this collection, narrated by Simon Jones, Christopher Cerf, Richard Dawkins, and Stephen Fry, will make you laugh, cry, think, and remember.

The eulogies will unleash your sadness.The short stories will, however briefly, trigger a newfound appreciation for certain simple things.The interviews will inspire your pursuit of clear thinking.The presentations will take your mind on a, hopefully permanent, tour of the wonders of original thinking.The incomplete novel (whether a new "Hitchhiker" or "Dirk Gentley" book, none can tell) will wake up that seldom-used "intelligent-humor" area of the brain.The overall experience will, however temporarily, change your thinking about life in general.

The only criticism I would levy against this production is its relative brevity.The addition of "Young Zaphod Plays it Safe", although an entertaining short story, feels like a cheap way to extend the book somehow."Young Zaphod" was included in previous collections of the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", and was thus an unusual addition to this book.However, this is a minor complaint, and is of insufficient import to justify not buying this very moving collection.

REGARDING THE UNABRIDGED AUDIO EDITION:Simon Jones' narration is appropriate on all counts.His erudite enunciation and perfect emphasis would surely earn the approval of this collection's muse--if only he were alive to hear it.Douglas Adams' humor is channeled through the talents of this remarkable voice actor:his skills make even more memorable the sad experience of remembering this genius author, comic, technophile, and luminary.

Fans of DNA:listen to on a good day, or just when you're enjoying a fantastic cup of tea.
DNA newbies who love humor, silliness, and wit:pick up the "Complete Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" first; otherwise, you'll miss many references.
DNA newbies who hate humor, silliness, and wit:please leave your genes in the wastebasket by the door on your way out of this life. ... Read more

Amazon.com
The core of Richard North Patterson's legal thrillers is characterization, andDegree of Guilt, the novel that relaunched his career in 1993, features twocaptivating individuals: Christopher Paget and Mary Carelli.Paget, the upstart heroof Patterson's 1979 Edgar-winningThe Lasko Tangent, is now a sophisticated trial lawyer doing his best to raise a teenage son in San Francisco.He's a man to be admired: famous for bringing down the president in a financial scandal, he has settled into the comfortable life of a successful attorney.His life is transformed, however, when his former lover (and mother of his son), Mary Carelli, pays a visit.

The novel begins in a San Francisco hotel room as Mary, now an NBC journalist, surveys the torn landscape of author Mark Ransom's apartment. Ransom is, or was,America's most eminent writer. As she tells the police, Ransom had uncovered new recorded evidence of an affair between a long-dead starlet and a now-sainted senator (shades of Marilyn Monroe and JFK).While Ransom andMary were listening to the tapes, she claims, he tried to rape her and she killed him inself-defense. Mary turns to Paget to defend her in what becomes a complex case of missing and conflicting evidence.Old emotions are stirred between the two just as Paget begins to doubt Mary's innocence.

The suspense of Degree of Guilt is grounded in the twists and turns of the trial at the novel's center, but just as compelling is the emerging history of Mary and Paget, and Paget's struggles to keep his son out of the media frenzy surrounding his mother's case. As well, Patterson addresses thedeeper ethical questions that face many lawyers as they decide which cases to take and which evidence to use.Capturing archetypal characters and situations, Degree of Guilt becomes a parable of American law. --Patrick O'KelleyBook Description
Christopher Paget is a trial lawyer with a famous past. As a young investigator he brought down a president. It cost him his relationship with Mary Carelli. Fifteen years have passed while Paget raises their son, seeking privacy. Until a murder changes everything.

Now a television journalist, Mary is charged in an eminent novelist's death. Her defense is attempted rape and she wants Paget to defend her. But a fateful question remains: was it self-defense. . .or murder? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (42)

Good Characters and Courtroom Drama, but Lots of Explicit Sexual Assault
This book started out extremely well, carried on strongly through the middle and then, though it tailed off significantly in the last section, concluded satisfactorily.Had the final portion been as good as the start and the middle, it would rate five stars.

The strengths here are the development of the main characters and the care of the presentation of the legal machinations.While not at the level of a Scott Turow book in these categories, it is infinitely better in these respects than John Grisham's books or most others in this crowded field.At the same time, the characters' self-examination avoids the brooding length that Turow's characters indulge in, which preserves this book's proper place in the "page turner" realm.

The book unfolds gradually and events are not revealed in chronological order, so there is a steady stream of revelations, and a constant change in the appearance of events (realistic, in this sense, to an actual criminal case) that is highly engaging, until the revelations peter out about two-thirds of the way through.The last portion of the book is less realistic in its courtroom aspects and less interesting in the way it reveals what is going on.Basically, you are just waiting to see what happens.Patterson does skillfully add interest to the book by including thinly veiled, but fictionally altered, versions of real-life people--Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, and Jane Fonda to name three.

I do have one significant reservation.The book involves an allegation of rape and, in the litigation of that allegation, discusses a broad array of sexual assaults and sexual abuses of women repeatedly and in detail.Patterson's discussion of them is uniformly "politically correct," which I mean in a good way.He emphasizes the seriousness of sexual assault, the challenges of prosecuting it, presents the detail much the way it would actually be presented in court, and offers no excuses for it.Nonetheless, at various points it crossed my mind thatthe detailed recounting of the sexual abuse was exploitive.While presented in a facially appropriate way, there is a lot of it presented in the book, so much that one suspects it is being used in part on the principle that sex sells--even abusive sex.Whether or not that is the case, I would warn readers, especially female readers: there is a lot of sexual abuse of women in this book--rape, pretend rape, extorted sex.It is certainly not approved of, but it is there, and if reading those words makes you cringe, or you can't read about such conduct abstractly, you probably want to skip this one.

The Search For Truth
I recently completed this witer"s newest work, Exile, and wanted to back and read some of his earliest work. The book is well thought out and its characters are extremely well developed. In many ways, I found similarities to his recently published work. In both cases, one finds an idealistic attotney who takes a case that is high profile in nature with little upside existing for him. He is a staunch defender of finding the truth, even it will lead to personal harm or harm to the case that is being tried. This book also features a strong woman who is extrmely well developed. The cortroom scenes are compelling and this makes for an exceptionally satisfying read. The only flaws are in his idealistic appproach, yet these are minor when the totality of this work is taken into account.

The Best Legal Thriller Ever.Period.
Over the years, whenever I've gotten into a discussion of books with people, the topic always comes to legal thrillers.Without hesitation I have recommended this book to every single person who likes the genre, and there has never been a person that's been disappointed by their experience reading this.

Patterson's story and delivery are pitch-perfect, and the courtroom scenese and investigation prior to the trial are top notch.Unlike many of the modern legal thrillers, a great deal of this book takes place in the courtroom.The mystery of the book in regards to who is guilty and who isn't, will leave readers guessing until the final 20 pages.There is plenty of action, and some fairly erotic love scenes as well.

This is destined to be a classic, if it isn't already.

Great plot,flabby ending
This is a paramount plot, one of a kind for smart guys, where the reader is forced to think deeply in order to medidate about all the offered scattered events so as to understand how the situations unfold and relate

Characters are very well created and developed and some of them relate to RNP other books.

As we approach the ending, we expect Judge Masters ruling with total anxiety, however this is solved fast paced in just one chapter leaving a bitter taste after 500 pages of legal wrangling

Mr. Patterson, if you could made such a great plot you could have worked better not in the outcome but in the way the ending reveals in this book, I did not like it and that is why I take one star away. Next time do a step by step approach instead of letting loose the whole stuff in the nick of time

8stars please !!!
Fantastic!!!!. This book is going to go into my top 100 paperback reads of my life. I mean this is a book that has a basic plot which is kind of steered in such a manner to make it really look more complicated. The beauty of the book is the mixing of the flashbacks with the present. I mean few authors given this basic plot line could have told a story which is pushed forward by such amount of sheer relentless tension and suspense for over 500 odd pages. Mr paget is a attorney acting as defence for an alleged murderer who happens to be his divorced wife who in turn claims that she shot the man she is accused of killing in self defence in the process of avoiding getting raped. The whole book unravels chapter by chapter where Mr Paget and ourselves dont know whether to believe the story of the accused story or the evidence of the prosecutor. Evidence doesnt support the theory of the defendant and we keep hurtling through the pages as Mr paget battles it out in the courtroom trying to convince the court that there isnt full and incontrovertible evidence pointing to his clients guilt. The twists and turns, the lies and deception will thrill you and the emotional aspect of the book has been delt superbly. This book is legal drama thriller interspersed with emotional family drama. Enjoy... ... Read more