Customer Reviews (1)

distinguished catalogue and collection
This catalogue, the first in the ongoing series documenting the Robert Lehman collection housed in the Metropolitan Museum, was published in 1987. It begins with paintings from 14th century Siena and concludes with examples from 18th century Venice. Other major categories feature 14th and 15th century Florence and 15th century Siena. 112 paintings are described, 45 reproduced in excellent quality color, the rest are in good duotone. There is a concluding section of 97 duotone comparative illustrations. About half of the art works were acquired by Robert Lehman, the balance by his father Philip.

The general standard of the paintings, to my inexpert eyes, are good. There are a number of exceptional examples by familiar names such as Simone Martini, Bernado Daddi, Giovanni di Paolo (the renowned Creation of the World and Expulsion from Paradise), Lorenzo Monaco and a beautiful Botticelli Annunciation. The comprehensive descriptions are by the distinguished scholar John Pope-Hennessy; his contribution would be reason enough to acquire this book.

Printing and paper quality is well above average and this book is highly recommended to enthusiasts of Italian painting. ... Read more

Product Description
This short book is a translation of some of the myths of the Yoruba people of Nigeria. It is a history of the creation of the world, the gods, and humanity, and the early days of the sacred city of Ífè, the traditional center of Yoruba culture. The text was recited to the author/translator by the high priests of Ífè, and the book is still cited in some books on traditional Yoruba religion and thought today. It has undeservedly become quite rare, as it can be considered a minor classic in the field. ... Read more

Product Description
Fra Angelico, known to his contemporaries as Fra Giovanni da Fiesole, was probably born at San Michele a Ripecanina, between 1395 and 1400. He is thought to have joined the community of San Domenico between 1418 and 1421. Fra Angelico examines the painter's life and early works, from 1418-32, to his panel paintings and frescoes, including the frescoes at San Marco, through to his year in Rome and late works, until his death in 1455. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Inspiring
If there is one book you buy this year make sure it is this.
It's the account of a man overcoming the life and death ordeals of being a pow of the Japanese, and of the many other subsequent challenges he faced, through the power of prayer. It is a truly inspiring book.

"The Ultimate Freedom" - the ultimate book of life!
I can say only one thing - this magnificent book changed my whole life and made me more religious. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Not Free SF Reader
This is a collection of space exploration into the solar system.

Wyndham divides his book in sections, and in each era there is a member of the Troon family involved in the goings on.

He calls them :

Outward Urge : The Space Race 1994 - John Wyndham
Outward Urge : The Moon 2044 - John Wyndham
Outward Urge : Mars 2094 - John Wyndham
Outward Urge : Venus 2144 - John Wyndham
Outward Urge : The Asteroids 2194 - John Wyndham

A passable book, but nothing particularly interesting, as he chronicles the exploits of a family in this near future history novel.



Getting up the gonads.

3.5 out of 5


Getting closer.

3 out of 5


Red ones go faster.

3 out of 5


Steaming ahead.

3 out of 5


Going all rocky.

3.5 out of 5




3 out of 5

Ideas are fresh, even if the book is not
This is John Wyndham's most "technical" work, such is the reason he involved his alter ego LucasParkes to collaborate on the tech aspects. The idea of Brazil and Australia becoming super powers is interesting, so too the fact that Space exploration has only been motivated due to war and the quest for power. I sometimes wonder whether Wyndham was not confident in taking full credit for this book as it deviates from his usual British flavoured "cosy catastrophes" as such hid behind collaboration, nonetheless he should have been proud of his effort.

Wyndham's wit continues
Told in 5 parts, The Outward Urge is the story of 5 successive eras in the development of space travel and exploration. By now, the topic has covered ad nauseum and books of the sort are left (often with good reason) sitting in the corner or propping up an old table. What differentiates this from those though is that it was written in 1959 when space travel was still a passing dream to most and, as those who have read John Wyndham before will know, the author makes a perfect mix of fact, fiction and philosophy backed by genuinely good story telling to get his point across.

The characters of the novel are very well conceived and all too realistic in their reactions to the circumstances presented to them. I find that John Wyndham has a talent for portraying his characters believably and accurately, which lends his far-out stories an air of realism that many authors lack. In one particular scene of Mars, the third part of the novel, one of two men stranded in a craft on Mars believes the other to be an alien in the man's body; positively bereft of reality, his calm insanity becomes absolutely chilling to one reading in the quiet of the night.

Writing The Outward Urge presented serious obstacles to the author due to the technical nature of writing such a story, solved by consulting Lucas Parkes for the technological details to make it all more believable. Considering the erratic leaps and bounds technology has made since 1959, many predictions weren't so far off- such as the prediction of a space station by 1994 or the use of "narrow radar beams" used for tracking distances (think lasers).

Most important however are the author's suggestions about the other aspects of space travel. While loosely connected, each story part brings its own unique interpretation and representations of the political, social and individual implications of space travel to the tale, with a very clear voice about where the he stands on each. Here too his predictions are eerily accurate. In the fourth part, Venus, he tells of the modern superpower, Brazil, claiming Space as its province, illustrating the absurdity of man's claim to territory. In the first part, The Space Station, man's desire to reach the stars is overshadowed by his government's desire to exploit its tactical possibilities (think STARWARS program) and futher its position in the global rankings. This theme of Government Agenda versus Man carries on throughout and what often begins in personal or technological triumph ends in aggressive positioning and political wrangling, robbing the moment of any victory. Pervasive in each also though is that glimmering possibility that Man will one day overcome his political chains.

As with most of John Wyndham's other novels, The Outward Urge is nothing mind-blowing or particularly overwhelming, but it is a good story and very well written. What he lacks in explosive impact he exceeds in the art of subtlety and intelligence. The book can be read with ease in a day or two and, if you're anything like me, you'll find yourself itching for more and checking out the rest of his works for appeasement. See wwwdotyourwordsdotca for more.

Family Connections
In "The Outward Urge" (1959) John Wyndham writes, along with his alter ego Lucas Parkes, a story describing four generations of a British, space-faring family - the Troons. The title of the book refers to a compulsion felt by this family to leave Earth and head for the stars. In their eyes there is a destiny to be fulfilled: to spread out and conquer ever-widening reaches of space.

The first chapter takes place in 1994, when the first space station is being built and mankind is yet to claim the Moon. (Wyndham never dreamed there would be footprints on the Moon just four months after his death.) The rivalry between the United States and the Soviets is intense. Britain is somewhat neutral. Ticker Troon, 24, is taking part in the construction of the space station when the project is almost sabotaged by an unknown, wandering missile. Ticker's bravery saves the lives of his fellows and the project but he never sees his new-born son Michael...

Fifty years later Michael Troon is the commander of a British station on the Moon. On Earth the northern hemisphere is being pounded in a nuclear bombardment. The extent of the damage can only be guessed at but casualties are known to be in the millions. Shocking statistics for a war that has only been going for ten days. Much of the northern hemisphere is reduced to ash.

After the Great Northern War countries of importance are now in the southern hemisphere. The strongest of these is Brazil. In 2094 Geoffery Trunho, the first man on Mars, becomes stranded after a misadventure with the landing module. He writes an account of what happened, in the hope that someone will find it one day. From his description, Mars is a dreary, desolate place to be marooned.

By 2144, Australians have landed on Venus. (One of the Troons became an Australian citizen.) This causes something of an uproar among the Brazilians, who consider space to be their province. It looks as if their monopoly of space is being challenged and plans are made to save face. Will Australia and Brazil come to blows?

At the time "The Outward Urge" was written space travel was still a dream. The best views of space were in the paintings of Chesley Bonestell, even though they were fanciful. Lucas Parkes wrote the parts of the story detailing the science (such as it was then), in an effort to make the book more believable. In the end you can't help but agree with the Troons - space needs to be colonized, and soon. In the event of an apocalyptic meteor smashing into the Earth it would be comforting to know that other planets are populated. The human race needn't become extinct. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

a very british brand of sci-fi:subtle, off-stage action, heavy with implications
Viewers of the excellent early film version of this may feel disappointed:the pace is slow, there is lots of dialogue, and the characters are hard to grasp.What's more, the children are more of a threatening presence - they cannot even be told apart reliably - than the active individuals of the film.But if the reader sticks with it, there are great rewards to be found.

First, the principal story is about the village, Midwich, which is as normal a place in the English countryside as one can imagine.There is an extraordinary series of events, first a blackout of all residents in a well defined perimeter, and then the realization that all women of child-bearing age are simultaneously pregnant, about 60 women.The full first third of the novel portrays how residents attempt to deal with the pregnancies, how they establish a kind of solidarity between themselves, that will later prove brittle and prone to violence.It is here that the complex characters are estalished in a brilliant way that is imortant later.

Second, there is the enigma of the children, whose attributes are nothing short of extraordinary, in that they appear to have two massminds, one for girls and the other for boys.They are all able to impell the villagers to behave in certain ways, as in disallowing them to leave Midwich in a time of crisis.As they all appear to be clones, no individuals emerge.What is so wonderful is that so little is explained - virtually all of the action takes place off-stage, including what the children are planning beyond their survival.They remain a splendid mystery with cunningly placed details for the reader to piece together; many interpretations are possible, if the reader enjoys that kind of exercise of the imagination.Interestingly, it is never clear whether or not they can read minds, which is only implied obliquely, and there are limits to what they can see.

Third, the reader never gets a clearly defined meaning for it all, beyond the fact that they are alien and constitute a threat, perhaps to humanity as a whole.Instead, the main characters speculate on it and discuss it, with some very unusual ideas floating about.This too can be great fun, but again, it is piecing together hints.I was left with a sense of mystery at the complexity of the universe, which is such a delight to a middle-aged mind!

Finally, there is the action that a village leader decides to take.While there is very little actual violence, it is always a threat of dread to all the villagers.For all appearences out of character, the leader proves decisive and even prescient.But again, unlike the movie, very little of the final struggle is spelled out.

This is a splendid vehicle for the lively imagination.It is also very British, which will put many American readers off, as we explect clear and fast-paced action, unequivocal explanations, and a wrap-up (with the possibiltiy of a sequel).What you get is a large social drama with subtle characters, the recognition of a new "threat of the jungle" that is never defined and whose meaning remains a delicious mystery.Warmly recommended.

Buyer Beware
I should have looked more closely, but I bought this book because it was the only version available new directly from Amazon. I should have noticed that it is a dumbed-down abridgment. It may be good for Middle School children, but it is a shadow of the original classic work by John Wyndham.

A town impregnated by aliens
For those of you familiar with "Village of the Damned" this is the book it was based on. A town is impregnated by Aliens and spawns white haired glowing eyed children who can control people's thoughts and actions.
Another excellent read by John Wyndham.

A Classic of its Kind!
People who expect a horror story à la Stephen King (whom I don't read, by the way, I'm not into the horror genre), simply because the movie based on it, "Village of the Damned" and its remakes are classified as horror movies, are in for a disappointment. I understand how some of them might find it boring, though I find it anything but. This is more "soft" science fiction, more specifically sociology fiction, and as such it is a classic which I've read over and over again. It is by no means a children's book, though the main characters are children. It is well thought-out and thought-provoking.

Like another Wyndham book, "Rebirth" (retitled "The Chrysalids" in the newer version, with a rather ugly and totally inappropriate cover picture), another of my favorites, it's mainly about how an exogenous ("alien" if you prefer) group can (or not) integrate into our society. Zenna Henderson in her "People" series tackles the same theme, though her stories are a lot more upbeat and give a much kinder view of human nature - but then Henderson's "People" are not a threat to human society the way the Midwich Cuckoos are.

Everyone now knows the premise: for 24 hours, a little village in England (and other small communities all around the world, including in what was then the Soviet Union - a fact that is left out in the movies) is isolated and inaccessible. Then 9 months later, every child-bearing age woman is pregnant, a few with really their and their husbands' children, but most with these blond, golden-eyed babies who have the power of compulsion over them and other adults. (The title comes from the parallel with cuckoos, birds that lay their eggs in other birds' nests.) It slowly develops that those children are a real danger to the human race as we know it, and the problem is how to deal with them. Different societies react differently. In primitive societies they are left out to die of exposure. In some cases they don't survive for other reasons. The Russians have a scorched earth reaction that can never fly in England, where it's up to one man to deal with the problem, which he does with great courage and lucidity. He knows exactly what he's doing and why, and his farewell note to his wife is heart-rending.

It's true that the narrative is dry in parts, and the character of the narrator is sometimes maddeningly off-hand about the problem, totally unaware of its seriousness. Here Wyndham is pushing credibility (or his narrator's stupidity) a bit, but I think he was trying to make a point. But if you take this book for what it is, not a horror story but a philosophical view of how to deal with "otherness", about survival of a society and a civilization, about protection of the old order in the face of invasion or mutation, then you'll agree with me that this is a classic. And if you like it, I recommend you also read Rebirth/The Chrysalids.

Writing this has made me want to read it yet again! ... Read more

Product Description
For the fourth edition of this introduction to Italian sculpture, the author has thoroughly revised the text, notes and bibliographies, incorporating all the significant new research and publications since the last major revision in 1970-2. Volume III, ranging from 1500 to the late-17th century, begins and ends with two outstanding personalities: Michelangelo and Bernini. Michelangelo forged a new and ideal style, the development of which is traced in the work of Andrea and Jacopo Sansovino, Benvenuto Cellini, Giambologna, Pietro Tacca, Leone Leoni, Alessandro Vittoria and others. The author also describes the artistic problems presented by the statue, relief, portrait, tomb and fountain in the 16th century, culminating in the dramatic innovations of Bernini which ushered in the Baroque style. The new edition of this work provides an accessible introduction to the subject for scholars, students and all lovers of Italian art. At the same time its scholarly notes make it a valuable reference work. Each volume in the set of three can be enjoyed in its own right. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An Excellent resource for art historians and enthusiasts
Beautifully illustrated with stunning detail photos, Hennessy's book is a useful source for the Renaissance and Baroque scholar.The text is well-written, straightforward, and contains not only biographical information but up-to-date, informative formal discussions of the works.He touches not only on the greatest of the masters but also on their followers.The bibliographical information is endlessly helpful for students. ... Read more

Product Description
This title includes the acclaimed BBC Radio dramatisations of six classic John Wyndham stories, with casts including Bill Nighy, Barbara Shelley and Peter Sallis. John Wyndham is one of Britain's most popular science fiction authors. His quietly menacing post-apocalpytic novels transcended the genre, appealing not only to fans of SF but also to a mainstream audience. "The Day of the Triffids" is set in a world in which most people have been left blind after a meteor shower and lethal carnivorous triffids are roaming the land. "The Kraken Wakes" is a gripping story of monsters from the deep, alien invasion and ecological disaster. "The Chrysalids & Survival" is a double bill dealing with the dark side of human nature. "The Chrysalids" explores the dangers of being different, while "Survival" focuses on the lengths people will go to in order to survive. "The Midwich Cuckoos" is a disturbing tale of a village sealed off from the world for a day, and subsequently taken over by terrifying, inhuman children. "Chocky" is a chilling tale of a boy who appears to be communicating with an invisible friend. Is Chocky more than a figment of Matthew's imagination?With detailed sleeve notes written by Andrew Pixley recounting the making of the radio adaptations, and including Radio Times billings for the original radio broadcasts, this box set is guaranteed to appeal to all fans of thought-provoking, intelligent drama. ... Read more

Product Description
This is nonfiction commentary. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Novels by John Wyndham, Short Stories by John Wyndham, Short Story Collections by John Wyndham, the Day of the Triffids, the Chrysalids, the Midwich Cuckoos, Random Quest, the Kraken Wakes, Web, the Outward Urge, Consider Her Ways, Jizzle, Trouble With Lichen, Chocky, the Best of John Wyndham, the Secret People, No Place Like Earth, the Seeds of Time, Exiles on Asperus, Sleepers of Mars, Stowaway to Mars, Tales of Gooseflesh and Laughter, Wanderers of Time, Foul Play Suspected, the Infinite Moment. Source: Wikipedia. Free updates online. Not illustrated. Excerpt: The Chrysalids (US title: Re-Birth) is a science fiction novel by John Wyndham, first published in 1955 by Michael Joseph. It is the least typical of Wyndham's major novels, but is regarded by some people as his best. The novel was adapted for BBC radio by Barbara Clegg in 1982 and for the theater by playwright David Harrower in 1999. A few thousand years in the future post-apocalypse rural Labrador has become a warmer and more hospitable place than it is at present. The inhabitants of Labrador have vague historical recollections of the "Old People", a technologically advanced civilization which existed long ago and which they believe was destroyed when God sent "Tribulation" to the world to punish their forebears' sins. The society that has survived in Labrador is loosely reminiscent of the American frontier of about the 18th century. The inhabitants practice a form of fundamentalist Christianity with post-apocalyptic prohibitions. They believe that in order to follow God's word and prevent another Tribulation, they need to preserve absolute normality among the surviving humans, plants and animals. Genetic invariance has been elevated to the highest religious principle, and humans with eve...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=267088 ... Read more