Amazon.com
The Fisher King of the American West, Scott Crane, has been killed, and 14-year-old Koot Hoomie Parganas's perpetually bleeding wound makes him the most likely candidate for a supernatural successor. But the king's body has not yet begun to decay, and as long as there is a chance that he can be restored to the throne, his right-hand man, Archimedes Mavranos, is willing to risk all to revive Crane. But to do that he'll need the help of the woman who killed Crane, plus that of a recently widowed winemaker who has been touched by the god Dionysus, and the cooperation of Parganas's reluctant foster parents. Chances are they'll all die in the process, but unless Crane can be revived they'll probably all die anyway.Book Description
A young woman possessed by a ghost has slain the Fisher King of the West, Scott Crane.Now, temporarily freed from that malevolent spirit, she seeks to restore the King to life. But Crane's body has been taken to the magically protected home of Pete and Angelica Sullivan, and their adopted son, Koot Hoomie. Kootie is destined to be the next Fisher King, but he is only 13 years old - too young, his mother thinks, to perform the rituals to assume the Kingship.But not too young, perhaps, to assist in reuniting Scott Crane's body and spirit, and restoring him to life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (32)

Super Reader
I definitely didn't know when I read this that there were other related books, I just picked it up as the title looked interesting. It didn't leave me too hopelessly lost or anything, as the main plot thrust was having to replace a dead guy as the Fisher King.

The new one is a kid everyone is looking for, complete with supernatural type weirdness around.

An unworthy sequel to Last Call
This novel sucks. That's all I'm going to write about it.

This is NOT for the beginner
I'll say this now, if you're sitting here shopping for new books and you've heard a little bit about this Tim Powers guy and you want to give him a shot because everyone says he's really good (and he is) and this is the book that you want to use as an introduction to him . . . you're doomed.There's just no good way to put it.For the newcomer, unless they're really good at reading between the lines, this book is going to come across as impenetrable.Not that it isn't good, but new readers are going to feel like they've missed something.Powers doesn't do many sequels to his books, most of his stuff is standalone, but this time he decided to merge some threads from other novels.In the novel prior to this Expiration Date, he introduced some urban fantasy stuff about ghost swallowing and the general rules about haunts and so on, as well as introducing Koot Hoomie and his adopted parents, Pete Sullivan and Angelica.Meanwhile in the now classic (and written some time ago) Last Call, Powers told the story of Scott Crane and how he became the Fisher King, the ruler of the West Coast (and so on and so forth).So this novel is basically a sequel to both those novels as Powers rams the two plotlines together.What happens is that Scott Crane is murdered by a woman apparently possessed by ghosts and Kootie is tapped to be the next king.However he's too young and not really prepared for it and so one of the Crane's loyalists, Arky, comes up with a plan to restore him to life.Confused yet?What follows then is a narrative that seems both ponderous and breakneck as new characters start to mingle with old, with two new catalysts for the plot, Janis Plumtree (the murderer) and Sid Cochran, who just lost his wife and has some history with the god Dionysus.Plumtree is supposed to be possessed but is mostly just someone with Multiple Personality Disorder, constantly switching from one to the other (in a way that reminded me of Crazy Jane from Grant Morrison's Doom Patrol run, except that Plumtree's don't have superpowers).The two of them meet in a mental hospital, but escape due to a convenient earthquake and from there hook up with the rest of the cast.It's hard to review this book without describing most of the setup of the plot because if I don't I feel like I'm losing context but at the same time there just seems to be no way around it.Powers' streamlining of the two earlier books is neat and fairly seamless but all the fancy stuff just seems to come at the expense of his normally complex plotting and we're left with something turgid, with the characters lurching from one scene to another.As long as you keep a handle on the main plot, you're all right but once sideplots start getting dragged in things start getting confusing since it's hard to say how relevant they are.Plus, a lot of the plot seems to consist of "plot coupons" where the characters have to gather special objects that will help them for no other reason than the plot requires it.Some of this confusion might be because I haven't read Last Call in years (or Expiration Date, though that was sooner), so that the stuff with the god Dionysus isn't too clear and I really wasn't clear what significance Armentrout had to the plot, except he was somebody to chase the other characters around (and that mannequin thing was weird), and I really don't know who half the other nameless people who were chasing the cast around were, either.Basically this is a book where you just have to "go with it" and hope that it will all make sense by the end and Powers is enough of a professional to keep things moving adequately so that you don't spend too much time worrying about the stuff that just doesn't seem to work.But while his other books felt tighly constructed and taut, this one has a more rambling feel to it and suffers a little bit for it.Not that there aren't bright spots, the relationship between Cochran and Plumtree (and her several personalities) is cute, the constant barrage of nifty ideas about ghosts is always fun, and I like how Powers does urban fantasy effortlessly, so that you could believe all this magic stuff is going on right alongside the "real world".The down side to all of this is that instead of getting a dazzling book (which is what we're used to) we get something that's merely "good".And as an introduction to the world of Tim Powers, it's terrible, but as a nice continuation of the lives of characters we've already met, it does that well and for longtime readers it might be worth it just for that.

good - but I expected more....
I loved his previous two books -- Last Call and Expiration Date -- but found Earthquake Weather, where the ghost gobbling and Fisher King storylines have been merged, heavy going at times. Set in the American West, this book still manages some classic Powers moments and should still be read if you're a fan.

Ensure you read Last Call and Expiration Date first - both are highly recommended. If you don't really enjoy them, you'll probably want to give this one a skip.

Maybe I should have been drunk to read this
If you haven't read the first 2 novels in the series, don't even begin to attempt this one.

"Last Call" and "Expiration Date" were all time classic novels, but this sequel was too complicated (even by Powers' standards) and slow moving for my liking.

However, the story does have its moments, and wading through the book will have some rewards for fans of his previous novels. ... Read more

Book Description

Earthquakes

A small earthquake may just rattle some teacups. But a rare huge quake can bring down cities. Those rumblings are a reminder to pay attention to our earth. Scientists keep careful records of quakes around the world. They try to predict when the next one will happen.

Product Description
Stranded!From the beginning, Jonathan is spooked by the deserted island where his family is camping-and his premonitions come true. After Jonathan's mother breaks her ankle, Jonathan and his younger sister Abby are left alone. Then a devastating earthquake hits. The bridge is destroyed, the trailer is smashed, and there's no food or water. Suddenly, Jonathan and Abby are fighting for their lives... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Kirt's review
The Palmers were going on a family vacation in Northern California to Magpie Island. When Jahnathan and Abby Palmers mother broke her ankle from a drop-off in the lake, they dicided that it would be easier for just Mr. and Mrs.Palmer to go because there daughter Abby is handicaped. A while after the Palmers left an earthqauke struck Magpie Island. They were almost squished by trees falling in every direction. They hid under a giant fallen redwood tree. After the earthquake Johnathan left his dog Moose with Abby, while he went for help. But when he got to the brigde leading off the island in\t was destroyed.He left Abby under the redwood as shelter because the camper they had got squashed. By the time he got back he noticed the water was rising. The earthqauke had shifted the flow of the lake. Mr. and Mrs.Palmer made it off the issland but couldn't gat to town because trees blocked the road. So Mr.Palmer walked to town and had a search and rescue team sent the next morning for Jahnathan and Abby.They found Johnathan on a shore line with his dog Moose lying on top of him to keep him warm. They took Johnathan back to the hospital, when he woke up he told then were Abby had stopped floating on her tree. They went to find her at Fish Head Bay wich thats were she was. Johnathan said he lookes forward to playing the six games of go-fish with his sister. ... Read more

Book Description
The earthquake destroyed Sweet Valley...  and one of the twins' best friends is dead....

Twin sisters Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield have been ripped apart in the chaos following a devastating earthquake.  Through the agony, fear, and despair, they must dig through the rubble to find each other again, hoping against hope that they haven't been separated for good.

But as they search, tragedy surrounds them.  Enid Rollins clings to life by a thread as Devon Whitelaw and Bruce Patman work to save her.  Steven Wakefield risks his life to help his one true love.  Most frightening of all, Todd Wilkins, Lila Fowler, Ken Matthews, and Olivia Davidson are missing and presumed dead.  Can their friends find them before it's too late? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Wowwwwwwwww
I thought this was really good.i hate that oliva died though.she was one of my faves!francine pascal is a great writer and i love all her books

Earthquake in Sweet Valley!!
When a Earthquake hits Sweet Valley on the twins 17th birthday, 2 people are killed one of them is Enid's ex-boyfriend.The other is Olivia Davidson.I didn't care for her because she had no brothers and sisters.I hate that! Jessica tries to save a little girl,Alyssa,who had a party,too but failed. You're a teen,Jess.Not a Superheroine! Steven Does find Ned and Alice ok at The Plaza Theater,and Billie is ok,too at the Shop N Hop.

Earthquake
Earthquake by Francine Pascal is at times touching but overall a very excellent book.As the story starts out, Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield, the twin sisters in Sweet Valley, are having their 17th birthday party. They live in California, along a fault line, and their town is prone to earthquakes.During their party, a devestating earthquake shatters their celebration.They have to look through the rubble of their once standing home to try and find their friends.But who out of their friends survive?Read Earthquake and find out!

I would recommend this book to mainly teens who enjoy drama and love/relationships.

Well done Ms. Pascal!
This is truly an amazing work of art.I wish in a way I could go back in time 45 years, to when I was in high school, and be presented with such an emotionally, charged, well-written novel.I am afraid that in my coddled youth I may not have been up to the task, unfortunately.If I was one of those really hard-nosed high school teachers, like Crazy Joe Clark in "Lean on Me," my students would read nothing but Sweet Valley High.I do not believe there is anything better suited to preparing "real-world" kids to the emotional and physical trials and tribulations of life today.

The context of a devastating earthquake sets a perfect stage.As she lies buried under the rubble, Jessica Wakefield laments her family's tragic history of emotional, and yes, physical, abuse.As I read I could feel the conflicting emotions she experienced as the rubble cleared above her.The light revealed not only a hope of continued life, but also the scowling face of her abusive and perverted father.Meanwhile, just yards away her sister Elizabeth, the "flighty" twin, worries about her missing press-on nail (right ring finger).

I have read nearly 200 novels centering on these characters, but I realize that I never really KNEW many of them until picking up this book and watching the grotesque physical disfigurements many were faced with, and the utter devastation in their lives...

Overall, I must give this book 5 stars.Within the genre of tragic teen drama, "Earthquake (Sweet Valley High Super Edition)" gives "Romeo and Juliet" a run for its money.Only time will tell if this book achieves the cult status of "R&J," but I do believe that "Earthquake (Sweet Valley High Super Edition)" is significantly better written.

I read all 3 and they are all sad scary and thrilling
I really likek these book. I feel soo bad for KEn, Losing Olivia adn being mad at her in the 1st book about the protrait. I would hate to be Jess,havign to hear Alyssa's last scream, that painful scream. And alyssa's brother being angry at her for not being alble to save her. I was worried for Todd and Lila. It was sad ... Read more

Book Description
At 5:12 a.m. on the morning of April 18, 1906, San Francisco was struck by one of the worst earthquakes in history, instantly killing hundreds. The ensuing fires that ravaged the city for days were responsible for the deaths of as many as 3,000 more. In all, 522 blocks and 28,188 buildings were leveled, and some 200,000 people dislocated.

This watershed event in American history has never before been told with the richness of historical detail and insight that our foremost historian of fire, Dennis Smith, brings to it in San Francisco Is Burning. Smith cinematically recounts this terrible tragedy through the stories of the people who lived through those terrible days—from a valiant naval officer who helped save the city’s piers and wharves to Eugene Schmitz, the crooked mayor, to the “debonair scoundrel” Abe Ruef, the most erudite city boss in American history. Throughout, Smith reveals many unknown details about the event, from the city’s great vulnerability to fire—due to its corrupt and hasty building practices—to the widespread racism the quake unleashed and the atrocities committed by national guardsmen. Told with verve and a seasoned firefighter’s knowledge, San Francisco Is Burning is the gripping and definitive account of one of the greatest disasters of the twentieth century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Lessons from 100 Years Ago
Dennis Smith's well-researched account of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and ensuing fires delivers a level of fine detail on a disaster that is all too relevant 100 years later. It is a story of predictable disaster, inadequate preparation, government incompetence and corruption, fear, power, and greed.

But, most of all, it is a story of heroism. Smith, a former New York City firefighter, effectively tells the story of the San Francisco earthquake and fires from street level. He tells us about homeowners - who, despite being ordered out of the city at the point of a gun - tried to save their property (and how, if they'd been allowed to do so, perhaps could have prevented many of the fires from spreading). He tells us about the San Francisco firefighters who left their own homes and families to work for days on end, without rest, relying on an inadequate, low-pressure, underfunded and damaged water system. He tells us about Navy lieutenant Frederick N. Freeman, who, through his own initiative, took heroic action to aid the firefighting and rescue efforts.

Among those who died as a result of the earthquake was San Francisco's most experienced fire chief, Dennis Sullivan. He plunged 40 feet through an unseen hole in his apartment above the firehouse in the minutes after the quake struck, landing in the basement next to a boiler spewing scalding water and steam. He died four days later.

The fires burned for three days. More than 28,000 structures were lost as a result of the twin catastrophes. More than 3,000 people died and 225,000 were left homeless. Property damage has been estimated at $400 million in 1906 dollars.

Although Smith's book is made choppy by an over-reliance on chapter breaks - there are 95 chapters in 277 pages - "San Francisco Is Burning" reminds us, sadly, that we have learned too little in the last hundred years about disaster prevention, control or relief. I recommend it to every first responder, every disaster management official, and to every citizen.

My ancestors experience
My grandparents,their first child (who died of meningitis two months after the quake at age 13 month) great grand parents 2 aunts,and a grand uncle lived in SF during the earthquake, this book gives me some background of what they saw and lived through. My mother was born in 1907 and lived in SF for two years. She just died Sept 6th, 2007 age 100. Anyone wanting to know what it was like day to day would enjoy the pages of this book.

Terrific
Firefighter Smith (FDNY, Ret) is one of my personal heroes and he has not let me down with this book. I now feel I have an intimate and personal connection with the tragedy of 1906. I was unable to put this book down. FF Smith's unique ability to weave the facts among the personal accounts of real people draw you in and grip you with their honesty, bravery and desperation.

Well written - easy read
This book brings the events surrounding the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the resulting fires really come to life.It was a great read - a thriller in its own right.This author makes it easy to see the events in your mind's eye and brings an updated view of historic events based on new information.Very good!

The Katrina and 9-11 of 1906
For this native San Franciscan, the April 1906 earthquake and fire has lurked mysteriously in the background of family history. SAN FRANCISCO IS BURNING has cleared away the cobwebs and although I did not find my own ancestors among those people Dennis Smith animates from letters, journals and newspaper accounts, I now know in incredible detail what they must have experienced.

Smith is a firefighter and a historian of firefighting.He is also a talented writer who decided to write a historical narrative, not an academic tract, and as such the reader is moved breathlessly through the events of April 1906 without tripping over tangled language and footnotes.Smith creates a chronological account, moving back and forth between the close-up stories of a fireman and his family, an unsung Naval hero, noble civic leaders, corrupt politicians, an Army general, a nun shepherding orphans through the streets and a Chinese immigrant searching for his fiance.He only stops long enough to tell back stories of San Francisco's history and provide a gloss on the science of earthquakes and fires.

By far the most important aspect of this book is Smith's fearless analysis of the human error, as well as the human triumphs, that contributed to the magnitude of the tragedy as well as to its eventual solution and the revival of the city.He corrects the long held belief that General Funston was the hero who saved the day.In fact, that's what Funston told everyone as he made decisions that fueled the fires and brought on loss of life, not only in fire but through a chaotically imposed state of martial law that had soldiers and citizens killing people left and right.Funston also suppressed evidence of the heroism of naval Lieutenant Freeman, who fought the fires tirelessly instead of responding to Funston's order for a gofer.
... Read more

Book Description
Earthquakes can destroy whole cities and towns and kill thousands of people. This book covers the causes of earthquakes, the places they usually occur, and what to do if one strikes. ... Read more

Product Description

The book contains the invited keynote and theme lectures presented at the 4th International Conference on Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering (4ICEGE). The conference was held in Thessaloniki, Greece, from 25 to 28 June, 2007, and was organized by the Technical Committee of Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering (TC4) of the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE), the Hellenic Scientific Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering and the Laboratory of Soil Dynamics and Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Book Description
Now available in paperback, James Dalessandro's "riveting account of corruption, greed, and murder in the City by the Bay" (Dallas Morning News) was a best-seller in hardcover and production has begun on a major motion picture. Set during the great San Francisco earthquake and fire, this page-turning historical novel reveals recently uncovered facts that forever change our understanding of what really happened. Narrated by a feisty young reporter, Annalisa Passarelli, the novel paints a vivid picture of the Post-Victorian city, from the mansions of Nob Hill to the underbelly of the Barbary Coast to the arrival of tenor Enrico Caruso and the Metropolitan Opera. Central to the story is the ongoing battle fought even as the city burns that pits incompetent and unscrupulous politicians against a coalition of honest police officers, newspaper editors, citizens, and a lone federal prosecutor. James Dalessandro weaves unforgettable characters and actual events into a compelling epic. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (93)

"1906: A Novel"
This book will have its greatest impact on San Franciscans, and on others who know the history and geography of Shaky Town.Fiction is cleverly woven into the very specific history of the 1906 quake and resulting conflagration.

After reading the book I know I see ghosts at certain of the key intersections prominent on the pages.

Just awful
Wow - what a horrible book!The writing is amateurish to say the least.Dangling participles abound; no noun is left unmodified.James Dalessandro could use a writing 101 class, and an editor.Here's a nice example:

"As I reviewed my handiwork, I tensed at the sounds of footsteps on the hardwood floor above, easing when I recognized Hunter's jaunty stride."

If you can take 350 pages of this, more power to you.

On top of that, the characters are shallow and 100% Hollywood stereotypes.The San Francisco history isn't bad, but it's incompetently presented.A historical map of the city would be a nice touch since our author is capable of describing places using only street names.

To top it all off, Dalessandro uses an awkward mixed perspective plus first person narrative with transitions that read exactly like screenplay scene changes.The afterward acknowledges this as unorthodox, but I think it takes someone with substantially more talent to pull it off.

"1906" A Must Read!
The 1906 Quake really was an eye opener.Many books have told the story but none better than the engrossing tale woven by James Dalessandro in 1906.Dalessandros encyclopedic grasp the historical events, little known facts he dug up, of the heroism, of the descriptions of the local corruption and the beguiling inter related story of A feisty young reporter and those terrifying days are played captivatingly again for us.

The Spirit of San Francisco
James Dalessandro's riveting book about the 1906 San Francisco earthquake is full of the spirit of that great city. Even though the surroundings are very different in the 21st century, the essence of San Francisco lives on in this historically accurate novel. I recommend it to all San Franciscans and future visitors.

Ron Fein, Vesuvio Cafe

A thrilling page turner.
When reading a novel, I want to be entertained, to be swept into the hearts and minds of the characters, and James Dalessandro did just that, catapulting me back in time to relive a moment in history of a city I love--all through the eyes of expertly drawn characters. Shallow? Pul-lease. Almost immediately I felt deep connections with the characters--and there are many--never once feeling as if I needed more depth on any one in particular. Each one is clear and distinct.

The pacing of this novel is brilliant. If you're searching for a story that will hold you captive in the bathtub, pruning away because you keep saying, "just one more chapter," this is the book for you. Each chapter ends with an irresistible hook, leading the reader through the story at lightning speed. If enjoying that is a bad thing, than smack me on the hiney with a birch switch, but don't take away 1906.

Regarding the novel's historical and/or geological accuracy--beats the hell out of me. If I wanted to study, I would've picked up non-fiction. This is FICTION, right? Regardless, I felt by the end that I had learned in greater detail the events of April 18, 1906, and the horrendous corruption leading up to that day, all told in an incredibly entertaining fashion. I don't know about you, but most history books put me to sleep. This novel gave me a greater desire to learn more--and that, is a swell thing.

Although the switch between first person and third threw me at first, I quickly fell in love with the style and his flagrant disregard of "the rules." By using multiple point of view, textures were added that wouldn't exist in a singular format. I eagerly read on, curious to see what perspectives would come next, and always excited when Annalisa seamlessly drifted back in.

Would I recommend this novel? Whole-heartedly. In fact, I already have, to people I respect. And if thinking this novel is brilliantly executed and highly entertaining makes me an ignoramus according to certain high-minded individuals? Then so be it. Heck, even the harshest critics here admitted they couldn't put it down. Take that as a recommendation. BUY THIS BOOK. You won't regret it.
... Read more

Book Description
From the first earthquake David L. Ulin experienced in San Francisco at age eighteen, he was fascinated with the daily lives of Californians, who seem to be going about their business with just an occasional rumbling interruption. But these tectonic shifts could easily wreak cataclysmic havoc, just as they did in the great earthquake of 1906.

In The Myth of Solid Ground, Ulin explores how an unlikely collection of scientists, psychics, and apocalyptics have made startlingly accurate earthquake predictions based on everything from magnetic fields to the behavior of whales. In the end, Ulin uses the world of earthquake prediction to explore the deep fault lines of belief and the human longing to hold control, no matter how misguided, over a mysterious and deadly phenomenon that is as much a part of California as speed, youth, and celebrity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

"... and as always,there is the waiting,all the endless waiting,for the moment that the fault will finally go."
This is a very different,but nonetheless,an excellent book about earthquakes.What is it like to live in an active earthquake zone? Well,the author does, and tells us what it is like and how he rationalizes it all with himself. He shares these personal feelings with us and leaves one( particularly one who does not live there) with the feeling of what it is like to have the threat hanging always over your head;that a big one could happen at any time. You don't know where,when or how powerful;the only thing is, that they are certain to come.Most importantly ;if you do live there....life must go on,and we'll deal with it all when it happens.
David covers a lot of ground in this book. Some reviewers have suggested that it is disjointed and somewhat chaotic
in the way it is written.I can see what they mean,but isn't that appropriate for a book dealing with a subject as disjointed and chaotic as earthquakes?
He gives a ton of details about earthquakes in California and even some idea of how they tie into earthquakes around the world. He fairly extensively covers the whole business of trying to predict earthquakes,why they occur and what is really known about them and why their prediction is so difficult.He covers the many theories and shows that just as some concensus starts to gel,a new earthquake occurs,that completely ignores the theory. Concensus is not science,no matter how many agree. Statements abound throughout the book that fit the study of earthquakes,such as; "heard it somewhere,from someone else along the never-ending daisy chain of myth.", "the unpredictability of earthquake prediction",when it comes to observation,what we look for is what we get","earthquakes will always confound our expectations,no matter what we think we know","and most poignent of all; "To find out,you'd have to ask the San Andreas,and the San Andreas keeps its secrets close."
Another very interesting book about earthquakes is "A Dangerous Place" by Mark Reisner for which I wrote a review on September 9,2004 .These two books complement each other. There is, however, a shortcoming in each book.Reisner's book has maps and many photographs,but lacks an index or any references.Ulin's book lacks maps,illustrations and photos,also no references,but does include an extensive index.
Finally,both books refrain from making any specific predictions,but after reading them,you can understand why.
Ulin does point us to web sites of Berkland (SYZYGZ0 )and Cloud Man.
These men who havefairly accurate recent records of good predictions. Cloud Man predicted the Hector Mine earthquake on the fault Lavic Lake,long considered to be dormant A system that,until 1999,had remained quiet for longer than human civilization existed on earth. It was predicted 2 months before it happened and posted on his web site. It was the forth largest Southern California temblor of the twentieth century,coming in at a magnitude of 7.0.














m

At Times Gripping, At Times Personal
The Myth of Solid Ground is full of many interesting facts and stories.It is also filled with the author's new agey search for meaning in earthquakes.And therein lies the problem in that these two parts do not always mesh well.The reader may become quite fascinated with the X-Files (a group of files at USGS containing predictions of earthquakes sent to them, many of them quite loopy) when the author will interrupt to discuss how these predictions are making him feel.Sometimes this can work and others times, not so much.An author such as Sarah Vowell can often manage to merge dark history with light musings with one consistent voice easily.David L. Ulin has more trouble keeping his authorial voice as even and at times rambles a bit over the same territory.There are many interesting things to learn about earthquake prediction (or, more accurately, the lack thereof) and the reader will definately feel the title of the book.Much of it will ring quite true for anyone who has experienced an earthquake.A pleasant read with many things to recommend it.

Meandering
Although I found the book well written, ultimately I was frustrated with the author's meandering and indirect writing style. If you have a lot of patience, and are interested in the myths people hold about their ability to predict earthquakes, then this book is for you. I do not have either quality. I just wanted an engaging and straight forward account of current research into the science of earthquake prediction. I did not get it.

Living on the Edge of Disaster
This book represents the best in crossover nonfiction, a blend of scientific fact and intuitive speculation. Ulin's style mixes academic science with geopoetic imagery, pulling evidence and anecdote about earthquake predictability from both historic fact and personal experience.

In certain moments when fact and personal intuition collide--or converge--the line is never straight, or predictable."I started to think about the fault that ran beneath this pavement, wondering what would happen if it slipped...All of a sudden, I felt like I'd been given a set of signs, like a trapdoor had opened to expose the real California, the wild and elemental territory of our nightmares and our dreams. I looked around: life went on as normal. Club kids hung out in front of the Rainbow and the Roxy, while traffic moved past on Sunset at a crawl. In my head, though, it was as if reality itself had started to slip, as if somewhere out on the boulevard, I'd been put in touch with some kind of strange, intuitive logic, and it was telling me tonight's the night" (112).

While Californians do, in fact, inhabit shaky ground, the broader question Ulin asksis how any person, anywhere, makes sense out of his or her place in the universe.

Myth and Reality in Earthquake Country
David Ulin, writer and Angelino, has the same needs as anyone else living in southern California, including the need to somehow come to grips with life in earthquake country.The Myth Of Solid Ground is the extended version of his physical and intellectual wanderings on the way to learning to become comfortable with quakes.Early in the book, Mr. Ulin, NOT a science writer, starts to veer into 4 or 3 star review territory when he spends a lot of time interviewing earthquake predictors and shows less skepticism than I usually like to read about, but I hung in with the book and found Ulin's conclusions satisfactory for a layperson.Ulin eventually discusses his meetings with many of the scientists currently involved with earthquake prediction [including telegenic Lucy Jones and hirsute Allan Lindh] and visits Parkfield, California, earthquake capitol of the world, BEFORE it finally had its long-awaited 6.0 earthquake [September 28, 2004 - after the publication of the book].Ultimately, Ulin's son Noah seems to have the best answer for dealing with earthquakes [I won't spoil the end of the book by telling you how Noah deals with a quake, but I will say it's very close to how I deal with quakes].Despite my early misgivings about the book, ultimately all the material hung together as an interesting and informative narrative and I do recommend the book. ... Read more

Book Description
Meet Jim Berkland, a California geologist whose forecast of the famous October 17, 1989 World Series Quake that rumbled through the San Francisco Bay Area was right on the money. This is the first book to document a geologist's uncanny ability to foretell earthquakes around the world. This facinating read includes stories of earthquake survivors, a wealth of details about seismic activity in earthquake prone regions around the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Excellent book
This book causes you to think about the possiblity of an earth quake
and how to handle it.Lots of good advise and information.

Earthquakes are predictable, Jim proves it!
Man who predicts Earthquakes- Jim Berkland, Maverick Geologist -biography
by Cal Orey,Sentient Pub '06 Review - micheal sunandaOness press

This book is charming & dramatic in language, vast in scope, very personal & accurate in reporting.Jim keeps Equake records of his `Syzygy' coorelations being Sun, full & new moon cycles of Equake clusters happening after many cats & dogs run away from homes.That natural data been observed in China for decades, but not reported to US much.Cal explains the politics around Jim & controversy still rejected by most geology now.Jim is open, careful & lucid telling of Equakes recent & historical.Even wild animals act weird or run away before Equakes, as many folks in northern California know.But government people are too worried & afraid about money & reputation to allow such a radical rebel to work for them predicting Equakes, makes'em look dumb, even if it saves damage & lives to know ahead & prepare.
I been hearing Jim on Coast to Coast am radio interview for 5 years now,So here I get to learn the details of his radical lifework around earthquake predictions. He has more honest integrity of any geologist I've ever heard or read.His observing & reporting natures cycles really inspired me to study earth science more about all earth changes causes & effects.Even him getting fired by his agency for publishing earthquake predictions is typical as it is absurd.But he continued his career research in patterns around earthquake wherever they happen & especially the precursors, not causes, but the signs ofit coming soon.His Syzygy is 80-85% accurate predicting earthquakes.Jim's been tracking solunar cycles, ocean tides & animal behaviors & more coorelations to earthquake precursors
We read of other Equake predictors, sensitives to pre-quake rumbles, prophetic dreams & ESP.I've talked with 2 Equake sensitives who feel pre-quake vibrations as aches, pains & stress in their bodies, they've mapped according to body parts & earth regions.Cal probes the depths of the field.I like her referring to Rupert Sheldrake's work on morphic resonance & ESP of animals sensing invisible & farway things.If you want a deeper read on earth-quake dimensions this is it.Reading her is fun & profound at once, to realized how we're all connected with Mother earth.But animals seem more & sensitive & instinctual than most humans are.So we can learn about patterns with them, Like `where'd they go? Why running away?Is quake coming? When?Some causes of Equakes are still a mystery.

James Berkland's Work Deserves Serious Attention!
I wrote the introduction to *The Man Who Predicts Earthquakes* because I believe that James Berkland's work on earthquake prediction deserves serious attention. Cal Orey's book provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of mysterious earthquake precursors and it offers a fascinating overview of James Berkland's colorful career as a maverick geologist. Berkland's adventures and explorations on the frontiers of scientific discovery will haunt conventional seismologists and intrigue open-minded students of unexplained phenomena.

A big thank you to Cal and Jim Berkland !
Jim is one who refuses to follow the "normal" way of doing things, and I love that. Thanks to both of you I have found many more ways to enhance my forecasts at quakeprediction dot com! Not only does Cal cover Jim's ideas in detail, but she also gives the reader a great deal of earthquake information.

The Best Is Yet To Be
I met Jim Berkland in 1998 and Cal Orey's book about him is a comprehensive look at his many years of work combined with earthquake prediction and is simply delightful. Berkland is a great humanitarian, spends much of his time in community events and wears his heart on his sleeves. Orey has brought to the readers of this book the true essence of this man we should all be proud to know. It is easy to forget that he was there for no less than 50 valid site specific predictions, he was there for us before Loma Prieta in October 1989 and Northridge in 1994. And I'm sure before the next moderate to large earthquake he'll be there once again looking out for our safety.
Kudos to author Cal Orey for her great writing. From securing great interviews, explaining the work of Jim Berkland and affording us the opportunity to know him and understand though he has fought long against a hard bitter wind, he has stood the test of time. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to come to know Jim Berkland, an extraordinary person and what earthquake prediction is about and his devotion to this effort.

Petra Challus- Petra Challus Quake Predictions - [..] ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Tapping into the active imaginations of our students
In the four years that I have been teaching Kinder, First and 2nd gradersI have shared many poems with my students; we've memorized some, used themto learn skills to help us to become better readers, and we've collectedthem.Yet despite our weekly poems, I have not felt comfortable enoughwith my own knowledge and understanding of poetry to do much writing ofpoems. Fortunately a new book by poet and educator, JudithTannenbaum, published by Stenhouse, has given me the confidence andguidance to do poetry writing with my students.In Teeth, Wiggly asEarthquakes, Writing Poetry in the Primary Grades, Judith shares a gift,which is her talent and expertise from many years of writing poetry andworking with children. The book focuses on how we as teachers, can tap intothe imaginations, creativity and observations of our children.It is aneasy to follow guide, the lessons building on one another, with ideas andexamples for writing group as well as individual poems. I have triedseveral of the lessons and one of the most important things that I haverealized is that every child shines as a poet.I believe that children arenaturally poetic. I highly recommend Teeth, Wiggly as Earthquakes andI feel that it has come at an especially crucial time.As we are more andmore enveloped in a high-stakes testing hysteria I think that writingpoetry with our students is one important way to keep the humanity andspark in our classrooms, in our schools and in our society as a whole. ... Read more

Book Description
This book takes you to San Francisco, California, shortly before, during, and after April 18, 1906. What would you have done when the quake struck? ... Read more

Book Description

Product Description
A deluxe matching folio to Tori Amos s debut album, Little Earthquakes. Piano/vocal arrangements with complete lyrics, color and black-and-white photos, and notes on the songs by Tori herself. Includes the hit singles Crucify, China, and Winter, plus a complete discography. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Tori Amos is a gifted writer and a rain drop from a cloud of mystery
Sometimes I question whether or not Tori Amos is a genius or not, however when i first listened to this album I was blown away by her sense of pure honesty and profound goodness, her words speak to the soul and hang from the heart and her memorable gentle touch is brilliant. She is a wonderful pianist and her lyrics are vivid, intense and often overwhelming although her music never fails to amaze me. I believe my favorite songs on this Cd are Crucify, Girl, Precious things, and Little Earthquakes. Her ability to use her words to blend the truth together has inspired me.

One of my most prized possessions...
This collection of sheet music, is an absolute godsend. My favorite songs are China and Crucify. When playing, I feel like I am "channeling" Tori. Quite a rush. Anyways, though, the book doesn't stay open unless you rip the pages out. Aside from that, though, it's a great collection of songs.

Great, fun times!
If you like Tori and like to play piano, this book is for you!Some of the songs are pretty hard, but if you really get into them, they will start to dominate your world.Most of the songs are true to the cd versions, with some changes because most of us can't play like Tori.However, you can hear the song you know and love when you play it.Playing the songs helped me understand them on a deeper level.Definitely fun!

Beginners only
I sympathise with the reviewer who reported the faulty binding. Mine fell apart too... I am a trained pianist and like others, I was disappointed somewhat that the arrangements are never 100% faithful to Tori's versions,a trend obvious in all the Tori albums. This is especially puzzling whenoften the excised parts are NOT that technically diffcult. But for peoplewith the skill and a good ear, it is possible to improvise your owncorrections to make the pieces more faithful - change octaves, maintainaccompaniment themes like 'Precious Thing's' famous opening past the intro,as this music *doesn't* do. And what is this thing that publishers *love*to do where they write the melody line into the accompaniment?! It doesn't*exist* in the accompaniment, you *sing* it. This barbaric heresy onperformance practice is a sad fact of music publishing, it seems. Butoverall, it provides good song foundation....but experienced players mustbe prepared to work around some parts.

Great book for Tori fans who want to play the main notes
This is a GREAT book for Tori fans who desire to play her beautiful songs in the basic forms; however, it simply cannot transcribe what Tori actually plays, so it is somewhat toned down. This is at no fault of the editors;Tori is simply too talented. :)It is a great way to play the songshowever, and I highly recommend it for Tori fans.ALSO - I think UpsideDown is worth it alone, as well as Mother, Winter, and Leather. My onlycomplaint is that they cut Mother short... I wanted to play the gorgeouspart when she just sings slowly "Oooh ooh, mother...leave the lighton..." and so on, but that really isn't on there. BUT!!!I love thebook and I think its well worth it. (to address the very first post, someof my pages have started to come out, but I've sort of abused it over the 2years I've had it).Great book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The spectacular New Madrid Earthquake
This book was very informative about the New Madrid Earthquake. It had great detail about the earthquake and is a great resource for term papers.I would highly recommend this book to students who are doing papers for Earthscience courses with there main interest of the New Madrid Earthquake. ... Read more

Book Description

This is the first book to really make sense of the dizzying array of information that has emerged in recent decades about earthquakes. Susan Hough, a research seismologist in one of North America's most active earthquake zones and an expert at communicating this complex science to the public, separates fact from fiction. She fills in many of the blanks that remained after plate tectonics theory, in the 1960s, first gave us a rough idea of just what earthquakes are about. How do earthquakes start? How do they stop? Do earthquakes occur at regular intervals on faults? If not, why not? Are earthquakes predictable? How hard will the ground shake following an earthquake of a given magnitude? How does one quantify future seismic hazard?

As Hough recounts in brisk, jargon-free prose, improvements in earthquake recording capability in the 1960s and 1970s set the stage for a period of rapid development in earthquake science. Although some formidable enigmas have remained, much has been learned on critical issues such as earthquake prediction, seismic hazard assessment, and ground motion prediction. This book addresses those issues.

Because earthquake science is so new, it has rarely been presented outside of technical journals that are all but opaque to nonspecialists. Earthshaking Science changes all this. It tackles the issues at the forefront of modern seismology in a way most readers can understand. In it, an expert conveys not only the facts, but the passion and excitement associated with research at the frontiers of this fascinating field. Hough proves, beyond a doubt, that this passion and excitement is more accessible than one might think.

Customer Reviews (7)

Earthshaking science by Susan Hough
The book is very well organized, clear, easy to read.
It gives the lastest development in the earthquake seismology without getting involved in imperical equations. I recomend this book for everybody intersted in earth science.
Mamdouh R. Gadallah
Houston Texas

Susan Rocks!
Absolutely a marvelous book. Ms. Hough has written a book that deals well with a very complex subject in a way a non-expert can readily fathom.A wonderful package - types of faults, their locations, their history, the key people in the development of the scientific advances, the hazard for particular faults and fault types, the kinds of risks those hazards raise (given the population and building densities near the faults).This is one of those A+ science books for the general pubic with an interest in science.I only come across about one or two every five years.toxon 8/18/2006

A survey of the geology and geologic exploration
The sum of knowledge and mysteries surrounding earthquakes are provided in Susan Hough's Earthshaking Science, a scholarly but highly accessible survey of the geology and geologic exploration in the science of seismology. Susan Hough is a research seismologist in one of North America's most active earthquake zones: her title succeeds in aptly communicating the science of earthquake research to a lay audience, injecting a healthy dose of lively history for those with no prior background in the subject.

I agree, except.....
I agree with all of the above reviews of this book, Earthshaking Science: What We Know, and Don't Know, About Earthquakes by Susan Elizabeth Hough. It is an excellent summary of the many recent advances in seismology and is pertinent to all parts of the U.S. (even the world). However, I must strongly disagree that this book is "jargon-free." The book is loaded with the jargon of seismology (not as much as a seismology textbook). This is okay because in order to be scientifically literate, the public (especially the media!) must learn to understand some of the vocabulary of science. There are very few mathematical formulas in this book, but when they are used they are used effectively.
This book will be a fun read for people that have some scientific (especially earth sciences) background. Those with little or no science background will find this a challenging, but rewarding, read. Anyone living in earthquake-prone regions of the world must read this book.

Earthshaking Science
Earthshaking Science:What We Know (and Don't Know) about Earthquakes written by Susan Elizabeth Hough os a book that tackles the issues at the forefront of modern seismology.

Although earthquarkes have been around for eons, the science of measuring the ground motion has been really around for a few decades.Most of the information about earthquakes has been excellerated by the improvements in earthquake recording capability.This book has a straight forward approach in describing what happens durning and the causal effects of what is entailed by a tectonic event.

This book on seismology addresses earthquake prediction, seismic hazard assessment along with ground motion, magnitude and how earthquakes start.I found this book to be very readable and understandable.Since the science of seismology is so new, not much information is available outside the technical journals, but now in this book the layperson can understand the dynamics of this science.

The book has only seven chapters, but each of them when finished will impart a knowledge of seismology to the reader that you could only piecemeal before.If you want to understand why earthquakes happen where they do, then this is your book.

This book is jargon-free and the author communicates very well to the reader about a complex science in terms that are easily understood.I recommend reading this book if you want to know why the earth shakes, raddles and rolls. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Geologically speaking, 1906 was a violent year: powerful, destructive earthquakes shook the ground from Taiwan to South America, while in Italy, Mount Vesuvius erupted. And in San Francisco, a large earthquake occurred just after five in the morning on April 18--and that was just the beginning. The quake caused a conflagration that raged for the next three days, destroying much of the American West's greatest city. The fire, along with water damage and other indirect acts, proved more destructive than the earthquake itself, but insurance companies tried hard to dispute this fact since few people carried earthquake insurance. It was also the world's first major natural disaster to have been extensively photographed and covered by the media, and as a result, it left "an indelible imprint on the mind of the entire nation."

Though the epicenter of this marvelously constructed book is San Francisco, Winchester covers much more than just the disaster. He discusses how this particular quake led to greater scientific study of quakes in an attempt to understand the movements of the earth. Trained at Oxford University as a geologist, Winchester is well qualified to discuss the subject, and he clearly explains plate tectonics theory (first introduced in 1968) and the creation of the San Andreas Fault, along with the geologic exploration of the American West in the late 19th century and the evolution of technology used to measure and predict earthquakes. He also covers the social and political shifts caused by the disaster, such as the way that Pentecostalists viewed the quake as "a message of divine approval" and used it to recruit new members into the church, and the rise in the local Chinese population. With many records destroyed in the fire, there was no way to distinguish between legal and illegal immigrants, and thus many more Chinese were granted citizenship than would have otherwise been. Filled with eyewitness accounts, vivid descriptions, crisp prose, and many delightful meanderings, A Crack in the Edge of the World is a thoroughly absorbing tale. --Shawn Carkonen ... Read more

Customer Reviews (85)

God Made a Wise Crack
Simon Winchester has written a book for geology hobbyists, thrill-seekers and fortune-tellers.

The first part is heavy into the cracks God put in the world and becomes quite scientific regarding tectonics--the study of how the big plates on the world's surface move and destroy cities.

The second part details the destruction of San Francisco in 1906. This part has anecdotes, insurance scams and brave people. It also shines a light on ineffective city management and eager-beaver businessmen that wanted to rush the rebuilding of the city, losing a chance to make the architecture amazing.

The last part looks to the future of earthquakes and volcanos, predicting some pretty horrific events in California, Alaska and Yellowstone. Yes, Yellowstone is overdue for a huge volcanic eruption that might just destroy the western states as we know them.

The last two parts of the book will enthrall everyone. The first might just be a little too scientific for the average reader.

Larry Rochelle, author of TEN MILE CREEK and BURNT COFFEE.

A good book, but it could have been much better
In this interesting if offbeat book, author and journalist (not to mention Harvard-trained geologist) Simon Winchester looks at the great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906. However, the book is so much more than that...or perhaps less than that, it all kind of depends on your view. You see, instead of being organized as a straightforward history of the quake, Mr. Winchester uses the book as a stream of consciousness exercise, where he discusses all of the interesting things that he learned that are connected with the 1906 quake, traipsing from subject to subject with little seeming organization.

In this book, you learn about plate tectonics, the Gaia theory, San Franciscan architecture, Pentecostalism, the Alaskan Oil Pipeline, Yellowstone National Park, Chinese immigration, Wal-Mart (which he hates, by the way), and so much more. Some of it is quite interesting, and probably deserves a book of its own; while some of it is quite boring or quite ill-informed (for example he obviously knows little about the history of American evangelicalism).

So, I must say that I did enjoy this book, but I would have enjoyed it much more if a serious editor had been used to keep the book organized and on-topic. On the whole, I give this book a guarded recommendation. It is a good book, but it could have been much better.

Interesting and informative but not compelling!
In a fashion similar to his thematic approach in "Krakatoa", Simon Winchester has chosen a specific natural disaster - the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake - as the centerpiece for a multi-course banquet entitled "A Crack in the Edge of the World". But, like the ill-advised chef who has tried to put too much into a single meal, Winchester has made a few culinary mistakes as well - some dishes are overcooked; others with great promise are left underdone; some courses are served in a strange order while others are split into multiple portions and served up in small doses throughout the course of the meal; some tantalizing confections are sampled but the diner is left unsatisfied and sadly wishing for more. As one reviewer very cleverly observed, there is the germ of a great popular science and history book buried in "A Crack in the Edge of the World", but it seriously wants editing and greater organization to clarify Winchester's chosen sub-themes.

Make no mistake though (to stretch the culinary metaphor to its breaking point), Winchester certainly provides lots of meat for his readers to chew on - the current state of seismology and plate tectonics; the history of both sciences; the natural history of the San Andreas and related faults; tsunamis and volcanoes; the shameful treatment of the Chinese in California through the early years of the twentieth century; the surprising relationship between the earthquake and the explosive growth of the Pentecostals in the USA; and the history of California and San Francisco, most notably, how their genesis has been so clearly affected by the 1906 earthquake specifically and the overwhelming probability of a recurrence of a major seismological event in the near geological future.

Certainly a fine book and anyone who enjoys science, history, or the history of science will be pleased to have read it. But, here's the rub ... "Krakatoa" was compelling and mesmerizing whereas "A Crack ..." was merely interesting and informative.

Paul Weiss

A thoroughly informative, highly entertaining read
I'm a relatively new fan of this growing genre some call "creative nonfiction" (a literature professor of mine scoffed at the genre; I'll write that down to his charming eccentric behavior, and the several cups of coffee he probably downed before and during class), and am delighted that I stumbled upon Simon Winchester.It happened when I saw a copy of his "Krakatoa" book in a bookstore; I'd been wanting to learn more about that disaster, so I picked it up.I found the writing engrossing, the author's wit and charm (sometimes scathingly accurately, sometimes amusingly aloof) addictive, and all the facts well-researched, documents, and displayed.So I then searched around and purchased "A Crack in the Edge of the World."

It details the 1906 earthquake/fire that leveled San Francisco.That is the book's primary goal.As with many entries in this genre (and habit that Winchester is suitably good at), you get much more than you bargained for: the earthquake doesn't really come to the fore-front until a couple hundred pages in, and even then, only a handful of chapters are spent on it.The bulk of the book, like the devil, is in the details--a detailed description, in laymen's terms, of plate tectonics; the history of San Francisco and California; the backgrounds of Western migration in America; hell, even the history of the Pentecostal Church. Most of the information flows seemlessly; Winchester's style is friendly and informal, so that you feel as though you are sitting in a leather recliner, listening to the man speak over a glass of brandy and a cigar.There is probably more information in this book than you ever cared to know, which may make some people--such as myself--feel a bit better about ourselves for reading it.Hey, we're all human.

However, it all comes down to this--entertainment.Odds are, you aren't reading this book for a class (though if you are, you are one lucky student).You are reading it to be entertained, to kill some time, to get to know your world a little better--whatever it is that motivates you to be a reader.Well, rest assured, "A Crack in the Edge of the World" is as entertaining as it is informative.It is a rather easy read, though I must admit, my Intro to Geology course came in hand (who could've ever foreseen my having to know what gabbro is outside the classroom?).Still, the basic emphasis is on entertainment, and you won't be let down.Besides, it never hurts to learn a little something.That's what literature is all about--making you a better person for having read it.And while you might not be a greater humanitarian for having read this book (though, with its emphasis upon Chinese/American relations, one can never tell), you will at least be better informed about one of the most tragic natural disasters to strike our nation.

A great read!
Although this book purports to be about the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, it is a great deal more.The bulk of it focuses on what we've learned about plate tectonics in the past 40-50 years and how they shape our world.I enjoyed the book so much that I ordered 4 copies to give as Christmas presents. ... Read more