Customer Reviews (1)

The Female of the Species - More Deadly than the Male
The Horseclans novels are like olives -- you either acquire a taste for them or you don't. They're not great literature, but if you get caught up in the saga, it won't matter. You'll want more, and there are a lot of them! The Coming of the Horseclans is a good place to start. As Adams continued writing, he started revisiting the same adventures from the point of view of different characters, which results in some redundancy. That's why I gve this book a rating of only 2. It's more valuable for filling in details of the apocalyptic world and its characters than as a great story.

The tale is set in precataclysmic North America, approximately 600 years after nuclear war, man-induced plagues, and worldwide seismic disturbances have thrown humanity into a brutal pre-industrial age. Much of California and the East Coast have sunk into the sea. What remains of the eastern states, from Canada to Georgia, has been settled by waves of dark-skinned and dark-haired adventurers from Europe (Spaniards, Greeks, Armenians, etc.) called the Ehleenee. While these early settlers were initially rugged fighters in the mold of Athenians and Spartans, over the centuries they became little more than decadent dictators ruling over downtrodden peasant farmers.

As background (see The Coming of the Horseclans), Milo of Morai, a mutant immortal from the 20th century, has led the nomadic horseclan tribes from the high plains of North America to the Atlantic Ocean. Since, unbeknownst to the clanspeople, earthquakes long ago sent their original home, Ehlai (Los Angeles), to the bottom of the ocean, he has convinced them that an ancient prophecy commands them to travel east, rather than west. After a migration that consumes nearly 20 years and many fierce battles with Ehleenee, they have formed a loose confederation and settled near the sea.

This ninth book in the series details the adventures of Erica Arenstein and her small party of pre-Holocaust scientists, who are trying to retrieve a 20th century technological treasure trove. They are part of a group of humans who have survived the centuries by repeatedly stealing new bodies to house their minds and who have their own designs for ruling existing civilization. Erica is pitted agains another key character in the series, Bili of Morguhn, one of the stalwart leaders of the horseclans' light cavalry. To complicate the hostilities, Erica has become unwillingly allied with a degenerate group of cannibals, the Ganics, actually the remnants of 20th century organic farmers. (Think ecologist mixed with interbred hillbilly.)

These books are primarily military science fiction and not for the faint of heart. There are lots of vivid descriptions of battles, torture and ghastly wounds. The prose is spare and very action-oriented. While not a fan of military fiction in general, I was sucked in by the animal component of the series. The clanspeople have the ability to communicate telepathically with their specially bred war horses and with a mutant wild cat, the "prairie cat," which sounds like a blend of puma, sabertooth, and cheetah. I'm also obssessed with translating the terminology of the time -- it becomes a kind of game -- figuring out what words like Ehlai (LA), Pitzburk (Pittsburg), Karaleenos (Carolinas), Neekohl (Nicole), Kuk (Cook), Hwallis (Wallace) all mean. If you like Larry Niven's Man-Kzinn Wars series, you might enjoy the horseclans saga. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

This sequel is a weak link in the series.
The Seven Magical Jewels of Ireland is the second book in Robert Adams' series Castaways in Time and returns the reader to a 17th century parallel world wherein the Holy Church has declared a Crusade against the England sovereignty. The sequel picks up not too long after the concluding events of Castaways in Time. The siege of the City of London, the last English bastion of the Catholic papacy, continues. Bass Foster, time traveller from our present, Duke of Norfolk and current Lord Commander of the Royal Horse under King Arthur III, has been soldiering for some time now and would like nothing better than to lay down his arms and settle down with his increasingly discontented wife Krystal and their toddler Joe. The book's opening finds him bemusedly engaged in privateering. Bass is well on his way to starting his own flotilla when he is summoned by the Archbishop Harold of York. Harold is also a time traveller, but from a further future, and he fears his time machine has been re-activated and might imminently bring forth an invading force from his corrupt timeline. Bass must contend with that task, as well as another mission tasked him by King Arthur - to make his way to Ireland and aid in whatever manner Arthur's ally, the beleaguered King Brian. *Sigh*There's just no rest for the weary.

A familiarity with the first book is helpful here as Adams weaves in a multitude of storylines and refers quite a bit to prior goings-on (the return of the madman William Collier, the coming of Colonel Dr. Jane Stone, etc). The author fragments the book confusingly in his jumbled introduction of new characters, his narrative bouncing back and forth from various 17th century locales and told from varying viewpoints,and even detailing to extreme one new time traveller's backstory. The Seven Magical Jewels of Ireland never really jells. Adams has too many irons in the fire and the sense I get is that this book is nothing more than a set-up for the third installment. The author once again, though, displays adeep knowledge of medieval lore and of things antiquarian. There's one indulgent scene in which Adams uses a full two-page breakdown to lovingly detail the process of Bass donning his numerous accoutrements of war before engaging in a sea battle.

One question I have is how is the title relevant to the contents of this novel? There was no mention of Seven Magical Jewels of Ireland anywhere. And though he was directed by King Arthur to Ireland, Bass never does get there in this book. And Duce Timoteo di Bolgia, Bass's possibly projected lead foe, arrives there just in time for the book to be over. And on a side note, just how accomplished is Nugai, Bass' Asian bodyguard? This guy can seemingly do anything, and do it exceedingly well.

Here's hoping the third book's an improvement.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Grand Overview
I consider this book, a good way to begin to appreciate, Mr Adams' life and work. It hashelped to strengthen my understanding of the images that Mr Adams makes, and helped me focus on my own journey with my cameras for the last 18 years or so. If you only buy one Robert Adams book this is the one to have. ... Read more

Book Description
This classic revision of Adams' Lameness in Horses represents a detailed, comprehensive review of the development, cause, diagnosis, and treatment of lameness in horses. The book includes descriptions of the anatomy, physical features, and radiographic examination procedures, as well as nutrition, and the development of diseases. ... Read more

Book Description
The Printis the third and final book in The Ansel Adams Photography Series--the seminal guides fully revised by Ansel Adams shortly before his death in 1984.The Print, now available in paperback like the other volumes in the series, belongs on every photographer's shelf. It covers the entire printmaking process, from designing and furnishing a darkroom and experimenting with your first print, to mastering advanced techniques such as developer modifications, toning, and bleaching, and burning and dodging. This thorough guide is filled with indispensable darkroom techniques and tips, and amply illustrated with photographs and technical drawings. It is an indispensable tool for mastering the complex art of photographic printmaking. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

with great knowledge comes great responsibility
Ansel Adams is the master of photography, black and white, but still photographic principles and concepts have been throughly tried and tested by him and he teaches you so much in his series starting with "The Camera" and ending up with this book which focuses more on the final piece.The 2nd book in the series is also so very crucial because it outlines and describes his "Zone System" in great detail.A must have for any avid photographer and a great shelf reference for any professional.Now go out and shoot.. waste some film for crying out loud and get some awesome shots :)

A great reference book for almost any photographer
In this third part of Adams' technical writings, you'll find a guide to go from what a camera recorded (it talks about a negative, but can be well applied to a digital raw file) to a fine print delivering "what you saw and felt" to the viewer.

Even if it applies to B&W, I find that much of the content can be applied to color work if you think a bit more about it - mostly now, in the digital age with separated luminance and chrominance controls.

You'll also read some good ol' kitchen recipes about developers and toning... These will be less and less useful, but can bring back the smell of the darkroom to your memory ;o)... And quite often, the principle that based the recipe can be applied to another media.

A reference, whether shooting film, digital or glass plates (and of invaluable interest for the two former).

content excellent, one little remark for the publisher.
The book is excellent. Although these techniques are not widely applied today, with appropriate experience and thinking this knowledge can be applied and transferred to modern software like Adobe Photoshop. It can help relate modern and classic photography printing processes (traditional vs computerized).

One little remark would be for the publisher. The paper the book is printed is gloss with quite a high reflectance index. This results in making reading the book at certain angles quite impossible for your eyes.

This is great book
In this book, Adams said Expression is more important than reality, idea more important than fact, the print more important than its subject. For it is only in the print that such magnificence can be unfailingly orchestrated. Those words made me think that what is good photograph. The book opens with a thoroughly enjoyable, albeit brief, history of photography before getting down to explain printing techniques.

The majority of the text concentrates it's efforts in educating the reader in the art of B&W photography. This book tells readers that what are good prints making techniques. After reading this book you will feel like that your printing skills are very improved. The reader will see many wonderful pictures as examples, that will surely create a better impression as to what type of pictures Adams takes.

Excellent Book for any Serious B&W Photographer
This is one of a few books in this Ansel Adams series. He discusses a number of aspects of the print, it's limitations, and many techniques that can be used to exploit print characteristics. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is at all serious about B&W photography whether developing your own prints or not. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

"A True Classic"
"A classic is a book everyone wants to have read, but no one wants to read." Mark Twain

Yes, this book is tedious. Yes, it's economics (boring). However, you'll take so much knowledge away from this book that it'll have been more than worth it. Smith, who I knew practically nothing of, aside from his cold and distopian connotaions in the US, offers us an insight into his personality that'll break all stereotypes you (if you're like me) have of the man. Through his examples, you'll come to see his wonderful character. However, more than likely you're not going to pick up this 800+ page book (condensed down into 400 pages in this edition - all original print is there, it's just on Bible-esch size font and thin pages) to read about Smith's character. So his economics... are brilliant. Some things don't change with time, and this book's economic philosophy is as relevant to an economic understanding today as it was in 1776. I would like to add though, that the general consensual BELIEF that most economists have followed since Smith is that since at no time in history has a completely free market existed, then "the freer the better." Recent developments in game theory has shown that such a (pragmatic) premise isn't always correct. Regardless, I'd recommend this book to everyone.

As for this particular edition of the book:
Nothing is missing from the author's original masterpiece... including the original language (as you can imagine English sounds a little different today than it did in the 18th century). Although this can make for some difficult reading, it's only at parts; and at no part is it Shakespearean - the language is always non-ambiguous and clear. The text is so small that sometimes it can feel demoralizing. Like after an hour's worth of reading you've only gotten a few pages further. But, take the book slowly and remember, there's plenty of knowledge jammed packed into each page! ... Read more

Book Description
One of the 1960s counterculture's most fascinating characters was Kerry Wendell Thornley -- a writer, philosopher, Zen dishwasher, enlightened prankster, and, possibly, an Oswald double with disturbing ties to the Kennedy assassination. A lifelong provocateur, Thornley was linked to many of the fringe elements of the time. He helped create the spoof religion called the Discordian Society and its tract, the Principia Discordia. He coined the term "paganism" to describe various nature religions. And he befriended Robert Anton Wilson, inspired the Illuminatus, and gave his anarchic support to the Bavarian Illuminati, a brilliant prank. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Malaclyptic masterpiece
This book is an amazing look at the life of this prankster brought low by the weight of his own paranoid but not entirely unbelievable fantasies. I met Thornley in his final days in Atlanta and found him to be warm & congenial but was unaware that he was living in the storage room of the used bookstore in Little Five Points or I would have attempted to offer him what meager assistance I could have. Despite his own problems he still managed to reach out and help others in need in the community and he is sorely missed.

Excellent, but unexpectedly melancholy
This is a fantastic book, but it left me kind of sad.Prior to reading this, everything I knew about Thornley was filtered through Robert Anton Wilson, and it was all positive (or at least all humorous).This book made me acutely aware that Wilson's Thornley is not unlike Plato's Socrates - an idealized character who reveals more about his biographer than his or her actual self.Unlike Wilson, Gorightly declines the invitation to treat Thornley as a discordian saint/superhero.He depicts a man who was a philosophical and comic genius, but also a raving lunatic (and -perhaps more importantly- an unhappy one).

More alarmingly, Gorightly recounts allegations that Thornley commited acts of sexual abuse against children.Gorightly's case here is pretty slim, and basically amounts to two instances of hearsay, but the allegation changes the character of this story substantially.It is disheartening to learn that the man who you thought was a bodhisattva may just have been a homeless, schizophrenic, child molester with very good PR.(Of course, the same could be said of Socrates...)

Of course, none of this should detract from the appeal of the book, which is very well-written and downright fascinating.Especially interesting are the parts about "brother-in-law," the shadowy CIA/neo-nazi/cowboy who Thornley came to believe had brainwashed him into assisting Lee Harvey Oswald.Did he exist?Was he really E. Howard Hunt?Was Thornley insane, brainwashed by the CIA, or both?With this discussion Gorightly masterfully brings the reader to the threshold of Chapel Perilous and, by the end of the book, the reader may question his or her own sanity.

As the title suggests, The "Prankster and the Conspiracy" is primarily about the nexus between Thornley and the Kennedy assassination, and does not purport to be a full biography of Thornley the man.Still, it is remarkably insightful into his personal character and is based on information from people who were close to him.

This is also maybe the first book to be written about Discordianism (rather than simply being a discordian holy text) which purports to be historically accurate.Anyone interested in Our Lady of Chaos will be interested to hear the backstory to Thornley and Hill's revelations...

A great read!
Adam Gorightly has assembled a truly fascinating story of the life of Kerry Thornley.Yes, he knew Lee Harvey Oswald.Yes, he hated Kennedy.But, was he unknowingly part of the conspiracy?Well, you are gonna have to read the book to make up your own mind!

This book takes so many twists and turns that you are afraid to put it down - you might miss something.I guess that is the sign of a really good book.At times it reads like a cheap spy novel - but the bizarre thing is...all the events are TRUE!

This has to be one of my fave books of 2003!

Kerry the Sin Eater
If there ever was a perennial scapegoat of the 60's counterculture it would have to be Kerry Thornley,one of the founding members of the patently anarchist Discordian Society.With a kind ofinsurrectionary bravado, he took it upon himself to sponge up the sordid projections of the Military Industrial Mafia Complex as well those from the plethora of intelligence revenants who trailed and taunted him for years, under various disturbing guises.He managed to keep ahead of the archetypal game by purging himself, from time to time, through various prankster like stunts,self published underground 'zines and the writing of fiction.However the Fool ended up occupying the Hanged Man's place in a Tarot deck that had been stacked against him from day one.As a result of such discouraging and divinatory odds, his self imposed role as Sin Eater freely dining at the table of the conspiracy funeral banquet is what probably turned him upside down and killed him in the end.

In Adam Gorightly's The Prankster and the Conspiracy: The Story of Kerry Thornley and How He met Oswald and Inspired the Counterculture,a most intriguing and vivid portrait of this essential and vital anarchist spirit is effectively painted.Kerry freely ranged about in the JFK/MLK/RFK assassination matrixes like a conspiratorial version of Diogenes, the ancient Greek who loved to mock the philosophers and statesmen of his day. In this case, KT was mocking the real assassins at large without anyone really knowing it, since he was drawing so much attention to himself.The author suggests that KT may very well have been an MKULTRA prodigy along with Lee Harvey Oswald himself since they were both in the marines together and stationed in Japan prior to 1963.Maybe KT's Discordian strategy was an attempt to break free of his handlers.It seems that both he and Oswald ended up being double crossed, the latter by some very real forces at work,namely in the form of a mind controlled entity named Jack Ruby, and KT by his ever snowballing delusions which genuinely got out of hand as the author so convincingly points out, thanks to his wide ranging, unbiased, thorough research and interviews with key players such as Robert Anton Wilson.Gorightly maintains a wonderful balance between compelling factoids surrounding the JFK hit, its aftermath and Thornley's proximity to it all and the elusive yet intriguing metaphysics of the Discordian Society he helped to create and promote. It certainly makes for a compelling and very hard to put down book, I can assure you of that. If you are looking to get a bead on the Thornley universe and how you may obtain a key enabling you to enter into it, The Prankster and the Conspiracy will certainly do it for you.

In spite ofThornley's Discordian extremism, mass consumption of LSD and being a target of intelligence forces, within and without, up to the time of his death,I tend to think that it was his early dabblings into Ayn Rand's so called 'Objectivism' that ultimately cracked him in the end.Aynny'sI've-got-the-Hots-for-Capitalism philosophy served to malignantly magnetize the ever mutating vortex of KT's psyche and attracted some kind of negative free market investment forces into its realm.No amount of Discordian meme subterfuge could have de-railed the Rand dogma (or catma) from rapidly self replicating within the brain of this errant pixie who seemed to be able to defy everything else and get away with it. Not even the electronic dissolution of memory could neutralize these Objectivist toxins within him, no matter how many times his handlers kept pushing the button to keep him raving.I realize that I'm merely speculating in a possibly communist/socialist manner, but Gorightly's fertile biography is triggering my synapses to bridge so rapidly that I cannot help but entertain such cabals.Your own synapses will be triggered/bridged (and entertained too) when you order your own copy of this excellent proto- biography of an anarchist archetype gone delightfully awry.

While reading the final chapters of this sad, wonderful, tragic, inspiring/electrifying book, I flashed that the `evil' Goddess Eris, who brought a well known apple to a banquet on Mount Olympus celebrating the wedding of King Peleus and the Sea Nymph Thetis, decided to jump ahead a few thousand years into the 1960's and toss another solid, golden fruit into the chaos heart of a Discordian party, a fruit upon which was engraved, 'Who is the most paranoid of all?' No telling what kind of Trojan war her question would have caused if she had chosen to roll it into the mix at the time. Who amongst the group would have fought for the title? Fortunately Gorightly`s keen portrayal of Kerry Thornley gives us a sufficient starting place wherewe can all freely witness the scapegoat himself stepping forth from the shadowed margins and taking the full honors of the title, in the limelight.

Biography of Long-Overlooked Counterculture Figure
Gorightly set quite a task for himself--wading through the plethora of contradictions that the late Kerry Thornley wove around himself.He also had the uphill battle of sifting the truth from the lies and legends surrounding Thornley.
And this book is the result!Tracking the life of Kerry W. Thornley was quite difficult, even for Thornley.And yet Gorightly made excellent use of letters, interviews, court transcripts, and social history to present a well written biography of a talented, verbose, and iconoclastic man, much overlooked by the JFK assassination community and social historians.
Gorightly also explores fairly Thornley's descent into mental illness and the resultant irrational Kennedy assassination "facts" which Thornley spoke to friends and A CURRENT AFFAIR viewers ("I am a Nazi breeding experiment" is perhaps the best well known.) ... Read more

Book Description
"The politics are convincing, the depiction of a near-futureworld where war is only declared once the planners know victory is assuredis a credible development of the present, and the notions of a legal systemthat institutionalizes war, and that the practicalities of winning the waronce victory is declared are the problematic thing, are finepresent-into-future SF. Oh, and the digs at Dick Cheney are biting andfunny. On the hard SF/mythic side, Roberts's use of Scandinavian legend asan allegory to the magnetic boost technologies he uses to put planes intoorbit has the smack of an SF trope that'll become a universal cliché in afew years."--Starburst

Gradisil is an epic space opera of family revenge and the birth of anation.

Not very long from now, if you are wealthy, space can be yours, space togrow. New technology has seeded a rebirth of the pioneer spirit. A newbreed of adventurer has slipped the bonds of gravity and begun a fresh lifein orbit, free from interference by government, free from the pettyconcerns of earth.

Who wouldn't want such freedom? Who wouldn't want to escape from society'stangles--from the claws of the corporations, from the stifling love offamily?

But tradition, fear, and revenge carry a murderous weight, a gravity thatis not so easy to escape. The death of Gradisil's grandfather, floatinghigh in the uplands above earth, was only the beginning. And now the USgovernment is looking up at the new nation above our heads with jealouseyes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

alien-less, humanistic sci-fi
It's a sad vision of the future, that being that humans have not yet ventured far out of earth's lonely orbit. However, some humans make good use of the orbit space and set up a loosely knit community free from the governance of law. This is merely a journey which follows the struggle of this community and the lineage of one of its founders.

Some parts are wonderful twists of your perception of the plot. Other parts tend to drag, like you just want the solution to jump out at you to reveal its nature. Oddly enough this does happen - as part of the story drags and you find yourself wishing for its ending, it'll manifest itself in a blaze of glory. Quite striking!

It's lengthy indeed. I don't dock star or points or whatever you grade a book as being worthwhile, just as long as the plot and keep me buzzing. Gradisil didn't fail entirely at this, proof of this is the book is still on my bookshelf, waiting to be read again in the future. If I was so bored by its scope and thickness I would have sold it.

An acquired taste: Bold yet flawed.
This is a book that will be very appealing to some people, but quite unappealing to others. A problem is that it has been poorly marketed.

The first thing that should be stressed is that Gradisil is NOT a space opera, however hard it may pretend to be. It would be more accurate to say it is a political thriller, with a techno-futuristic bent similar to the work of Michael Chrichton. It is NOT an action-thriller like the works of Tom Clancy or Matthew Reilly. Bear this in mind before purchasing Gradisil, since disappointment is virtually guaranteed if you expect it to be something different from what it is.

The book opens strongly with a fast-paced story and an engaging narrator in the form of Klara. Indeed, if the entire book had just been focused on Klara's story I would say it would have been better. Unfortunately, things begin to go gradually downhill once the second part begins.

Firstly, the pace of the story slows to a relative crawl. Secondly, the engaging narrator of Klara is replaced by the wimpy, self-pitying and largely unsympathetic figure of Paul. Also, a major plot point is revealed almost immediately at the beginning of the second part. As a result it's nearly impossible to spoil the plot of the book because it spoils itself! However it is not revealed until the very end of the book why Paul's section is written in such a mawkish and self-pitying way.

The third and final part of the story feels like an afterthought. It does tie up many loose ends, but does so far more slowly than necessary, because it spends so much time introducing even more new characters with their own issues which go unresolved.

There is a sense that Adam Roberts went to great effort to create the world which exists in Gradisil and that he is very keen to show it off to the reader. Indeed, the book and its narrative can seem like a an excuse to show off as many details of this intricately crafted world as possible. I suspect this is at the core of the flaws inherent to Gradisil and its story structure, he's attempting to do in a book something which would work much better as a wiki.

That said, the quality of prose in Gradisil is extremely good (aside from irritating attempts to synthesise 'futuristic' grammar). The novel is well researched and I was not able to spot any obvious mistakes in terms of physical science, social science, economics or continuity. The plot has no major holes and suspension of disbelief is very easy. The main problems lie in terms of the style in which it is written and how that may interfere with its enjoyment. I trust that after reading this review, you should be well equipped to make the judgement for yourself as to whether you would be likely to enjoy it.

Not Free SF Reader
Gradisil follows three generations of a family closely connected with the establishment of the 'Uplands'.This is a colony in orbit.Most of the book is about the middle generation, and the daughter, Gradisil.

The backdrop is a short US-EU mostly unbloody war, and political tensions due to the fact that the people in the Uplands are mostly very very wealthy and hence pay no taxes to anyone.

This brings the US and the Uplands into military conflict.

Given some of the plodding in the first two parts and the start of the Gradisil section, the ending is a bit rushed.

A waste of time and money
I love good, well written sci-fi and the key here folks is 'well written'. Gradisil starts well and is an interesting, if slow moving, story. However, after the first section the author inexplicably loses the ability to write in English. Irritating misspellings and idiotic 'txt-spk' word substitutes find their way into the book. After the first four or five examples I lost the will to continue, my ability to concentrate on the story, and eventually my temper.

This is one of the few books I have started and then willingly thrown away without finishing. I find the deliberate abuse of English hateful and pointless. It hurts all the more coming from a professional author, someone who makes their living from the very words they corrupt.

The short version - the way the story is written detracts from the story itself, and (at least for me) made the act of reading it a chore. It is a great shame as I have enjoyed some of Adam Roberts' earlier works, but I couldn't recomend Gradisil under any circumstances.

A worthy tale of revenge
Adam Roberts's "Gradisil" is a worthy entry in the new space opera coming from Britain, depicting three generations of the Gyeroffy family and the brutal legacy of revenge in a near-future tale of the birth of a new nation.

The overarching plot in "Gradisil" involves the creation of a nation in Earth's orbit, known as the Uplands; beginning as a playground for eccentric billionaires, it develops into a symbol for freedom, eventually standing up against the US, the world's sole superpower.This epic tale is divided into three sections, detailing the narratives of Klara Gyeroffy, her daughter Gradisil, and Gradisil's two sons, Hope and Sol.Each section is a story of revenge, but on a broader sense also encompasses the three stages of the Uplands' rise to nationhood.

Characters are where this novel really shines.All the main characters are brilliantly crafted, spanning from the nation-building Gradisil to the dedicated American soldier Slater, who is planning the war against her fledgling nation.Roberts does an excellent job of making these characters feel like real people, and does not pander to black and white lines of clearly defined good and evil; every character is a varying shade of gray, usually shifting in moral rightness through the course of their stories.Most of them do horrible things, but the reader can understand, if not forgive, those actions.

Roberts's narrative style helps greatly with this characterization; it's very interesting that he portrays each of the main characters through the eyes of another character at at least some point in the novel.This adds perspective that the reader can't always get from a narrative that stays inside a character's head for the whole book.The language used also helps underscore the passage of time; silent letters are gradually dropped from segment to segment, and references to cultural changes help flesh out the world of "Gradisil."

Typos do seem to be more commonplace in this novel than in others from different companies; perhaps this is a result of Pyr's being a smaller publisher.Considering the quality of their material, that is a small complaint.My greatest criticism of the novel is that the third section, detailing the story of Gradisil's sons, seems too short and tacked-on; it is important in finishing the overarching tale of the Uplands, and in giving some of the characters a bit of closure (in the literary sense, not in any emotional sense for them), but it simply wasn't developed enough--the book needs another 50 or 100 pages to do it justice.

Ultimately, "Gradisil" is a book that's both intelligent and entertaining, grounded in the past literature but with a unique spin that leaves its mark on the genre.This tragedy of the harmful saga of vengeance will probably be widely immitated in years to come, and is certainly worth reading. ... Read more

Book Description
The Camera, together with The Negativeand The Print,comprise The Ansel Adams Photography Series, a legendary triad of books about photographic technique that has become the most influential "how-to"series on photography ever written. The first edition of this series was completed in the 1950s.Adams completely revised and updated it just a few years before his death, making it his last word on the technical mastery of his medium. Three generations of photographers have learned how to approach the artistic possibilities of their art form through this seminal series. Now available in paperback, it remains as vital today as when it was first published. The Cameracovers 35 mm, medium format, and large-format view cameras and offers detailed advice on camera components such as lenses, shutters, and light meters.Adams' concepts of"visualization" and "image management" are the philosophical cornerstones of the book. Extensively illustrated with photographs by Adams as well as instructive line drawings, this classic manual belongs on every serious photographer's bookshelf ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

The FIRST BOOK YOU SHOULD READ!
I got into photography about 3 years ago (digital) and read through about 2 dozen glossy "authoritative" books.None of which could explain the basics to relate ISO/fStop/Speed in a way that didn't assume you already knew what they were.

Most of the book relates to Large Format which may at first seem a bit off-putting to a novice, but after a few pages you'll see how it doesn't matter whether you're using an 8x10 antique or a digital point and shoot.The way they work is the same.

Ansel does an EXCELLENT job explaining the mechanics of light and photography while assuming the reader has some intelligence, makes it very accessible to everyone.

Get this book.Recommend it to all your photography friends.Get the next book "The Negative".You won't need to buy any other books. period.

The master of photography loves to teach...
...and even with a DSLR, you can learn a lot from Adams.One can only wonder how much fun he'd have using a nice DSLR and Photoshop!I read this book in Photography class 12 years ago and I'm happy I bought it again.A must for all serious, student, amateur, professional, hobbyist photographers!

What more needs to be said....
The Master giving us his own perspective and insight, in his own words.Get it and enjoy.:)

Photography in the pure sense
Adams' collection is a necessity for anyone who loves photography, either amateur or professional.We must understand the process of black and white photography in this intimate sense first and foremost.

A Must Read
I've taken pictures for years - many of them very good.But after reading this book and understanding what happens after you click the shutter - the quality of my photographs has improved dramatically.Now I spend a little more time thinking about what I'm doing and knowing what I'm going to get before I click.An absolute must read for anyone that wants to move beyond recording life's moments to creating life's memories. ... Read more

Book Description
This authoritative edition was originally published in the acclaimed Oxford Authors series under the general editorship of Frank Kermode.It brings together a unique combination of Browning's poetry and prose chosen from the whole range of his career to give the essence of his work and thinking.Browning's work ranges from the beguiling magic of 'The Pied Piper of Hamelin' to the epic book-length poem The Ring and the Book.This comprehensive selection includes over eighty of his shorter poems, amongst them his most famous and best-loved dramatic monologues, as well as the complete text of many of his longer poems (Pauline, Pippa Passes, 'Bishop Blougram's Apology').It contains three books from The Ring and the Book and Browning's only significant piece of critical writing (the 'Essay on Shelley'). This edition also selects generously from the love letters between Browning and Elizabeth Barrett, as well as from Browning's more general correspondence - letters which cast a unique light upon the poems themselves, and poetry in general. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Synthesis Bible
This book is an excellent overview of the essentials of music synthesis and sound design. Don't be fooled by the title either, this is not baby stuff, though it still explains it well to the newcomer to synthesis sodon't be afraid to pick this book up without a prerequisite. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Excellent read for the alternate history fan
Mr Adams writes like he was a seasoned cavalry officer and puts you in the saddle with his character of Bass Foster.A little dated (1978) but still a great read from one of the original progenitors of the alternative or future history genre.His years of soldiering shine through the pages.

A stirring, gritty time travel story: three and a half stars
In the aftermath of the storm to end all storms, Bass Foster's house is swept back in time to a war-torn medieval England that never was. Bass and five unexpected guests find themselves embroiled in a contentious holy war ignited by the Church against the rightful throne of 17th century England. Quickly, for survival's sake, the castaways in time must choose sides and adapt themselves to the turbulent socio-political climate of this parallel earth, harnessing their cumulative knowledge of science and technology and putting into use Bass's modest arsenal of modern weaponry- thusly significantly influencing the temporal tide of history.

Before S. M. Stirling, Harry Turtledove, and Eric Flint first dabbled in time travel and alternate histories, Robert Adams' blood-and-guts six-book series Castaways in Time thrilled readers a generation past. This novel, titled Castaways in Time, is the opener to that series and is one of the better, more fully-realized time travel adventure stories I have read. It certainly is the best of the six installments. Robert Adams was a history and military buff and it shows in his detailed minutae of life and war in not so jolly, bloody old England. He narrates his medieval military campaigns with vivid authority and easy familiarity. There's a visceral feel conveyed by Adams which impacts the reader and places him or her right there in the heat of the skirmishes, on that wartorn battlefield.

Bass Foster, our lead character, is a man in his mid-forties who has let the world pass him by. But it's a good thing he knows quite a bit about the art of war because his martial expertise comes in very handy in a savage world where "might makes right." It's not long before his consummate soldiering is recognized and hailed by his 17th century peers. His fellow temporally-challenged travellers also contribute greatly and are accordingly elevated in status, notably Pete Fairley (an innovative jack-of-all-trades), Bud Webster (a huge bear of a man and himself an accomplished soldier) and the initially meek Professor William Collier. In fact, the professor, whose hobby is studying military history, has a knack for strategy and tactics, as well as being an ace at firearms and the sword. Very early on, he becomes a trusted adviser to the king and is granted an earldom - which, it turns out, is a bad thing. His resulting enmity with Bass Foster provides a subplot that further ratchets up the action-packed storyline. Also, keep an eye out for Nugai, a taciturn but deadly local whom I grew to liked.

The pace of this book is certainly frenetic. Lots of things transpire in a very short time. Events are described in brief but all-encompassing passages. There is no shortage of military action. One minor quibble I have is that Robert Adams chooses to minimize scenes of the moderns initially coping with their very odd situation. They get transported back into time; then, next thing you know, two weeks pass and they've already acclimated. But, I guess, the refutation to that is that in times of battle, you adapt or you die. Still, the narrative is a bit disjointed; there are abrupt transitions in continuity in the first third of the book which might ruffle the reader's sensibilities. I got used to it; hope you do too.

During the course of the tale, several questions beg for answers. Why does Bass' house continue to have electric power in the 17th century? Who exactly was that slain enemy soldier with the exquisite armament and a gold class ring from the future? And what's up with the elderly Archbishop Harold of York, who claims he was born in 1968? Hmmm...

If you enjoy this one, then, by all means, check out the rest of the series (though they aren't as good as this one):

#2 The Seven Magical Jewels of Ireland (1984)
#3 Of Quests and Kings (1986)
#4 Of Chiefs and Champions (1987)
#5 Of Myths and Monsters (1988)
#6 Of Beginnings and Endings (1989)

Also recommended are his Horseclan and Stairway to Heaven series. They're good stuff.

Confused and poorly edited
I hope that Robert Adams's narrative voice got clearer and more organized with his later books.This one is full of illogical jumps, cuts, and lacks of transition.I keep getting confused while reading, because he suddenly changes place or time without the slightest attempt to let the reader know what's happening.

SUPERB STORY- GREAT SUBPLOTS
The what-ifs presented by the author are great. The books have multilple plots and charactors that always keep you interested.I was led to this series by Adams Horseclans series and have proceded to try to acquire allthe books in both. I have most of them but would like to obtain a checklist for both series. If anyone has one, please let me know. ... Read more

Book Description
The Negativeis the second volume in the acclaimed and highly influential The Ansel Adams Photography Series.This second volume is anchored by a detailed discussion of Adams' Zone System and his seminal concept of visualization. It presents detailed discussion ofartificial and natural light, film and exposure, and darkroom equipment and techniques. Numerous examples of Adams' work clarify the principles discussed. Handsomely illustrated with photographs by Adams as well as instructive line drawings, this classic manual can dramatically improve your photography. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

Excellent information
I am new to large format photography. This book is extremly informative and focuses just on negative construction, manipulation and b&w processing. An excellent and timeless resource! Excellent for all formats!

A Must!!!
If film shooting is interesting to you (and you should; I'm 26 and grew up with cameras, then I move to digital, and recentlly, I discovered the wonders of a darkroom and BW prints) then this book is a MUST Well, the whole series)!!! there aren't enough words to emphasize my feelings over the 3 books of Ansel Adams (camera, negative & print)

If you don't believe me, then please take a deep look at Ansel's master BW work... that should convince you!!!

learn the zone system
Ansel Adams was a master of photography but not the most exciting storyteller , in my opinion.

This book is one that you should read as part of a complete education in photography, but there are some long sections in it.The parts of the book explaining Adams' zone system are very worthwhile and great stuff.Much of the rest of the book is only interesting if you are shooting film (not digital), as it deals specifically with darkroom processing.

Read about the zone system here or somewhere else, but learn it.If you are a film photog, read this whole book.For digital shooters, you might want to read only the sections of interest.

a great classic, one little remark for the publisher.
This is an excellent book that will help experienced and newcomers in photography.Pay attention to the Zone system that Adams has devised. It will realy help you take total control over your pictures with a helpfull and very creative perspective. The last part of the book (developing negatives) might be ommited by the person who is into digital, although it helped me comprehend a lot about the various Adobe Photoshop features and relate them to classic photography.

One little remark I have to make is for the publisher. The book is printed into gloss paper (all the three books in the series) with a high reflectance index. This results in dificulty reading the book at certain angles.

Outstanding companion to The Camera
A must read.The explanation of the zone system is outstanding.I had taken a number of skyline photographs of Austin which when reviewed by professional photographers got 2 thumbs up.After looking at them with a critical eye on exposure and armed with my new understanding of the zone - I retook those same pictures and WOW.What an amazing ability to move your camera off of matrixed metering and know how to really set the exposure for what you want to show.Also helps you understand the tradeoffs the camera is making in it's exposure settings so you can be more purposeful in changes you might make.A critical read if you also intend to ever move into large format photography. ... Read more