Book Description
Fantasy's finest tale-spinners present a brand-new collection of four-legged fiction that will catapult our favorite felines into space, time, and the many realms of the fantastic.

Edited by Denise Little ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

cat lover
This is an enjoyable book that should entertain cat lovers and non cat lovers alike. The stories are well written and fast moving and I did not want to put it down once I had started reading.

A nice collection
Who could resist a book with thirteen short stories all featuring cats?I know I couldn't, and I'm glad.This anthology of short stories has a little something for everyone, from urban fantasy, to pure fantasy, and science fiction.I loved how each story gave the cats within it a unique personality, as those of us with cats know that no two cats are exactly alike.

I'll be honest, and some of the stories I would have liked a bit more fantasy content to the story.A few of them felt rather modern-dayish without the element of urban fantasy (ala Charles DeLint) or any fantasy at all, but more a story about a cat without any real fantasy trappings at all.And, I would have liked a more uniform presentation to the stories.The title implies astrology or stars, and several of the stories tried to hold true to this theme by using stars or constellations in the cat's names or behavior.

But, for a book to while away the hours, I found this collection more than adequate, and some of the stories are real gems.

Stories to make you purr
Cats and fantasy have a long-recognized relationship, and this themed anthology continues the tradition well.Most of the stories are fantasy, set in environments from Ancient Egypt (10,000 temple cats summon the goddess Bastet to help beat off the Persian invaders) to modern times (an inept witch and her two children settle into their new neighborhood with the help of a stray cat), but there's also a science fiction story that takes place on a traders' starship, and a touching, quiet tale that could have been lifted from today's headlines.This book would make an excellent no-occasion gift for a cat-loving friend as well as an addition to your own collection.(And if you like it, I very strongly recommend the five volumes of "Catfantastic," edited by Andre Norton and Martin H. Greenberg.)

13 short stories: 10 fantasy + 2 SF + 1 mundane
Five from the viewpoint of a cat (one in first person).

Haber, Karen: "Under the Sign of the Fish" Timandra has one misguided hope: she'd like her cat to *get along* with her goldfish, not just fantasize about eating him. Her next-door neighbour, the wizard, indulges her wish for the two pets to swap bodies for a day.

Hoffman, Nina Kiriki: "Star Song" follows July's viewpoint during her first week in her new house - she left her commune with her younger children since her soon-to-be-ex was staying. Martin was the serious spellcaster, so the family familiar stayed with him; July and her children need to summon a replacement. But both kids are unhappy, and 10-year-old Orion wanted a dog...

Jocks, Von: "Ecliptic" follows the viewpoint of Magdaleine, a medieval village healer who, having saved a man on the point of death, asked only that the people cease killing cats - bringing a mob down on her, shrieking 'witchcraft!' (She *is* a witch - both Wiccan and magic-user - but not evil.) This is told in a nonlinear, braided fashion - one thread following Magdaleine's flight into the forest, the other her earlier arrest and imprisonment.

Luzier, Pamela: "A Light In the Darkness" Gail, hunting for the cabin where her husband has taken their daughter (and his girlfriend) has a very unrealistically constructed encounter with a Wiccan in a nearby cabin, going along with all his suggestions in an unquestioning manner. The Wiccan persuades her (under the comes-back-on-you-threefold rule) to petition Bastet for what's best for her daughter, rather than for custody outright.

McCay, Bill: "Death Song" Tom has always protected his humans from Banes - those disembodied evil things that seek ever to possess a physical body. But in killing possessed vermin in a new apartment, he has been poisoned by insecticide - weakened before a greater Bane is due to appear.

Norton, Andre: "Three-Inch Trouble" follows the viewpoint of Raven, crew member of the Free Trader _Horus_: the ship's cat. During his combing of a fair for new trade items, the Cargo Master bargains for a sealed collection of Survey artefacts. Unfortunately, they contain live pests...

Nye, Jody Lynn: "Purr Power" Almost SF. Horus-Semnet, the general assigned by Pharaoh to defend the chief temple of Bast from the invading Persians, is frustrated. His forces will be outnumbered 6 to 1. The great festival of Bast is underway, and the priests refuse to evacuate. (Finally, Horus-Semnet doesn't care for cats, although he respects them as a proper son of Egypt.) Why is the high priest so confident that the temple will be safe?

Pack, Janet: "Praxis" is Lucien's cat - and despite the ban on astrologers, they've reentered Athens despite the government's fear of this Egyptian art. The ending's too pat.

Putney, Mary Jo: "The Stargazer's Familiar" actually begins with 'It was a dark and stormy night'. :) Leo, the title character, narrates; he learned the family business from his father, just as the royal astrologer was trained by his. Lord Klothe, threatening death, wants to know the most effective moment at which he can assassinate the king, fulfilling a prophecy that he can reach the highest place in the kingdom - taking the Stargazer's wife hostage to ensure truth in reporting.

Reichert, Mickey Zucker: "Every Life Should Have Nine Cats" After one too many groups of sorcerers attempted to take over part of the country, M-squads are busily seeking out anyone with suspicious signs of magic; this story follows the junior member of one such pair investigating a very nice old lady. On the plus side, the presentation illuminates how easily a profile can be used to trap the innocent; on the minus side, the resolution of the story is too pat.

Rusch, Kristine Kathryn: "Star" was the name of Anna Jarrett's cat in New York City; an attack on Star by Anna's abusive boyfriend was followed by a vicious assault that left Anna hospitalized for months, to learn that Star was dead. Now Neil is in Attica, and appears to have found a target close to Anna for his slimy letters: her next-door neighbour says he's been seeing a cat hanging around her place matching Star's description.

Scarborough, Elizabeth Ann: "Mu Mao and the Court Oracle" See the various volumes of _Catfantastic_ for other Mu Mao stories; this time he's been reborn in an animal shelter. He wants to know why he never seems to be reborn into a nice, cushy life as a pampered pet. :) Great events are afoot - the King of the Cats is dead, and since he never appointed a Court Oracle (and didn't keep track of the kittens he sired), the succession is muddled.

Stuckart, Diane A.S.: "Once, We Were Worshiped" Thomas Moonraker doesn't believe the old cats' tales of witches familiars - *he's* not superstitious. But he's uneasy tonight - his kittenhood companion Selena is attempting to reanimate a long-forgotten mummy from the old professor's collection, to find out how humans got to be in charge. (Thomas isn't keen if it means *he'll* be responsible for his caretaker's wellbeing instead of the other way 'round.) Of course, it's a *cat* mummy... (If you'd like a different treatment of Selena's problem, see 'Dream of a Thousand Cats' in Neil Gaiman's DREAM COUNTRY collection.) ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (10)

Love it!
I just love this book. So easy to read and find stuff your looking for. I had no idea vinegar was so awesome. After reading this I became a vinegar addict and use it for all sorts of stuff. Well worth the money, especially if you are interested in cleaning without using harsh chemicals.

Good book
A very interresting compilation of recipes. I have tried several already and i was extremly pleased with the result.

Nice review of folk wisdom, well presented
To heck with "going green" - Manmade Global Warming is utter nonsense (or explain why the icecaps on Mars are melting, too...) I use the shower-head cleaning technique to make sure I am getting the maximum force out of my environmentally hostile pulsating showers.This is a fun book, and you will be amazed at how versatile the product is. We're fans of apple cider vinegar, by the way.

Helpful book!
Vinegar has long been a very useful item to have in one's kitchen cabinet. This book offers many ways to use Vinegar that you might not have thought of. It lives right alongside my cookbooks! Great book!!

Vinegar: a product for our times
This book will help us toss out expensive chemical products to acheive the same results with less harm to ourselves, our children and our environment. Use it liberally without fear. One thing, you can use a small amount of diluted vinegar as a rinse for washable silks. Silk is a protein, like your hair, both of which benefit from the acid to rebalance their ph. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description
The ninth in a series of books which present great literature in comics and heavily-illustrated format by some of the best artists working today in the fields of comics, book illustration and fine arts. This volume includes comics adaptations of "The Suicide Club," "The Bottle Imp," and a unique two-part interpretation of "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" by Simon Gane and Michael Slack. Plus a story by Fannie Van de Grift Stevenson and a collection of R.L. Stevenson's short fables and poems, with art by Hunt Emerson, Lance Tooks, Maxon Crumb, Shary Flenniken, Johnny Ryan, Michael Manning and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

All the old romance, retold
"Treasure Island" is probably the first thing that springs to mind from hearing the name Robert Louis Stevenson."Kidnapped,""Black Arrow" and other classic tales of high adventure sprung from his pen, leading more than one child to desperately wish for a one-eyed Pirate to stroll into his life. But like his other famous creation, Dr. Jekyll, Stevenson had his darker face, and some tales not so happy.

It is this darker side at play in "Graphic Classics: Robert Louis Stevenson."In the same vein as the Edgar Allen Poe and HP Lovecraft collections, Stevenson is presented in his justifiable role as a master of the weird tale, at play in the fields of the human psyche.Fitting collaborators have been found for each story, lending new elements and insight to the already insightful tales.

Included in this volume are:

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - The key tale of this collection, and a brilliant adaptation.Two artists are given reign, with a transformation of art as Mr. Hyde takes over. The basics of this story are as familiar as Dracula and Frankenstein, but I had never actually read the authentic original until now.

Verses and Fables - Taking from Stevenson's vast collection of poems and short stories, this is a showcase of erotic, fantastic and sometimes brutal fables."The Land of Nod" is a poem I have loved since I was a child, but didn't know it was Stevenson."Now Bare to the Beholders" eye is a seductive poetic striptease, with gorgeous illustrations.

A Brief Literary Life - As in other collections, a brief illustrated biography of Stevenson.Full of witty illustrations and references.

The Suicide Club - A dark tale of bored dilettantes seeking excitement, who wind up with more than they bargained for.An evil game of chance and men who seek death.

The Crumb Brothers on Treasure Island - Maxon Crumb tells the true tale of how Stevenson famously influenced the comic legends Robert and Charles Crumb. Included in Robert Crumbs "Treasure Island Days."

The Nixie - A beautifully illustrated fairy tale.Haunting and poetic.

The Bottle Imp - A sweet and dangerous cautionary tale about the dangers of getting what you wish for, and playing with magic.Illustrated to take full use of the Hawaiian influences of the story.Very enjoyable.

Recommended to the attention of graphic novel enthusiasts
Graphic Classics is a deservedly acclaimed series of graphic novel treatments of famous literary works. Thelatest volume is dedicated to timeless stories by Robert Louis Stevenson and includes graphic novel adaptations of "The Bottle Imp", "The Suicide Club", and an original two-part interpretation of "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde", along with a fantasy by Fannie Van de Grift Stevenson, a specially feature by Maxon Crumb, and a collection of R.L. Stevenson's short fables and poems enriched by some of the best and most provocative artists working today. The Graphics Classics anthology edition of Robert Louis Stevenson is confidently recommended to the attention of graphic novel enthusiasts and underground comix fans.
... Read more

Product Description
For a second time, we take a look at what becomes an immortal, and the blood it must bathe in. Timeless illustrations by such artists as Arantza, Tomas Giorello, Fastner & Larson, Pelaez, Mitch Byrd, Sanjulian, and many others. Cover art by Fastner & Larson. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

There's a Serious Quality-Control Problem Here
This book has 64 inner pages of b&w sketches, usually in pencil, plus front and back covers in color and a b&w pencil sketch inside front cover (total: 67 fantasy pics). Many of these sketches are amateurishly done, with their chief flaws being faulty human anatomy, faulty animal anatomy (especially the snakes), boringly blank faces, cliché walking mummies (many of them apparently copied from old movie posters), and topless women who appear to have really bad silicone implants. These pictures are supposedly all set in Egypt--the majority represent ancient times, but a few show modern-day female tomb raiders. For the most part, the "Egyptian" people do not look at all like Egyptians.

For people who admire the skillful, dramatic, and interesting fantasy art of such greats as Frank Frazetta, Boris, Mike Hoffman, and Rowena, this book will be a disappointment. Many of its pictures look like the pencil drawings done by talented but inexperienced and untrained thirteen-year-olds--such as can be seen posted on the "fan art" bulletin boards of many local comic book stores. Many of the artists in this book could improve their draftsmanship by studying anatomy-for-artists books and could improve the liveliness of their pictures by studying some of the how-to-draw books concerning comic book illustrations.

I am giving brief descriptions and judgments of every picture in this book to help start a kind of "reviewer dialogue" about these pieces. I've made no effort to try to cover all the bases for any of these pictures. I'm just trying to get the ball rolling. In many cases, perhaps we can agree, drawings that are "skillful" are also dull; on the other hand, drawings that are technically defective may sometimes be very interesting in other respects.

Front cover: Fastner & Larson (color): possibly the best picture of the book; it is something of a rip-off of Frank Frazetta but more cartoony and without his legendary sense of dramatic movement; both the human and leopard anatomy are okay, but the spots on the leopard are unrealistically regular.
Inside front cover. Pelaez: this teasing picture of a woman adjusting her clothing is flawed by poor draftsmanship for the woman's body; her face is pretty but is definitely un-Egyptian; the crown on the woman's head is top-heavy.
1. Arantza: a good sketch of a topless pretty woman chained beside Anubis, the jackal-headed god.
2. Pedro Cuevas: a nude woman, with bandages on both feet and one forearm, has set a mummy afire; judged by her unmatched pair of bolt-on breasts, generally a poor job.
3. Daniel Horne: a good sketch of a mummy hugging a nude beauty in the moonlight while two other mummies watch; fairly amusing.
4. Jose Torres: a boring sketch of a topless woman standing near a kind of sofa; poor.
5. Blas Gallego: this picture has an okay leopard, but the three women have preposterous bolt-on breasts; the mummy that restrains one of them seems to have some problem with his spine.
6. Alonso: this drawing tries to use humor with a troll; thanks to faulty draftsmanship, the woman's right hand is in an impossible location relative to her loincloth.
7. Pelaez: somewhat poor draftsmanship for the woman's left arm and body; so-so cobra.
8. Josep Gual: the woman on the right is poorly done; the cobra is very faulty.
9. Tomas Giorello: an excellent and interesting sketch, except for an impossible twist to the woman's hips.
10. Boada: fairly good, but the topless woman on the right does not have a well-matched pair.
11. Daniel Pascarelli: interesting--a muscular mummy carries off a large-busted tomb raider--but the representation of distance is faulty--as are the woman's boots.
12. Garcia: a skillful and amusing picture of a nude woman gathering lilies from a stream; one of the best, although the drawing of the woman's hips is somewhat faulty.
13. Maraschi: skillful, but the mummy grabbing the tomb raider is trite, and the shadows of the lamp are faulty.
14. Pedro Cuevas: an Escher-like impossible landscape and faulty draftsmanship; both the woman and the mummy she punches are pin-heads, courtesy of poor perspective drawing.
15. Ruben Meriggi: an Egyptian nobleman, a surly mummy, and a woman wearing abrass bra are sketched in an interesting style, but the woman's face and head shape seem faulty.
16. J. L. Marin: this sketch shows quite a bit of skill at representing a running figure--except for the bolt-on breasts--and clearly she does not know the proper way to hold on to a large snake when running.
17. Sanjulian: a stoned-looking woman kneels on fallen rocks, holding a knife and a torch--marred by faulty draftsmanship.
18. Parrillo: a large cast of women, some with demon lovers, is an interesting idea--but this picture is flawed by quality-control problems in draftsmanship and by its unbalanced composition.
19. Quintabani: seriously faulty draftsmanship: a woman in a modern bikini panty, holding a mummy's skull, clearly has some serious problems with her back and the position of her right arm.
20. Carrasco: a woman with a brass bra--well done, with two amusingly goofy mummies.
21. Tomas Giorello: a very skillful and somewhat disturbing portrayal of a woman attacked by a Giger-type mummy.
22. Isaac Del Rivero: a skillful but oddly disturbing portrayal of a mummy (who looks like a female bodybuilder) stripping off her bandages.
23. Juan Cano: an interesting composition of an unbandaged female mummy but with some faulty draftsmanship and an unfunny goofy little male mummy goose-stepping in the background.
24. Enric: a fairly good reclining woman with two black panthers.
25. Daniel Pascarelli: three topless women, with a pharaoh-headed snake coiling around the one who is kneeling in the foreground--alas, both the snake-thing and the woman he is wrapped around are poorly drawn.
26. Arantza: a woman carries an implausibly huge clay vessel near the Sphinx; flawed by poor draftsmanship, especially for the woman's excessively lengthened thighs and excessively shortened upper body and lower legs.
27. Pelaez: two mummies grope a nude woman whose mind is elsewhere; fairly skillful.
28. Capdevila: a trite old-movie-still mummy approaches a chained woman whose legs are abnormally long and whose calf muscles are nearly nonexistent.
29. Maraschi: a skillful--and rather humorous--picture about an erotic interlude between a pair of women.
30. Garcia: a weak picture with an interesting style; the draftsmanship of the lion's head and body is totally flawed.
31. Isaac Del Rivero: a competent picture of a mummy carrying a nude blonde through ground fog under a full moon; seems to be a rip-off of a Swamp Thing movie poster featuring Adrienne Barbeau--or about fifty monster films of the 1950s.
32. Ruben Meriggi: a muscular mummy has captured a topless beauty; skillful art with an interesting, dramatic style.
33. Sanjulian: a topless woman ponders while a priest confers with Anubis; alas, this has somewhat faulty draftsmanship for the woman's arms, breasts, and off-center head.
34. Parrillo: as another grouping of women and demons, this sketch is somewhat better than picture 18 by the same artist.
35. Tomas Giorello: an interestingly weird attack by a mummy's floating head, this is skillful for the most part--except for the woman's left hand and fingers.
36. Alonso: the topless woman in this sketch has a pretty face--and a very modern bikini panty--but some faulty distortion to her body; the camel standing on a little cliff behind her has very faulty toes.
37. Blas Gallego: a so-so picture of three mummies and two nude women; one mummy is getting amorous with the standing woman, who has 21st-century bolt-on breasts.
38. Boada: a topless Egyptian queen, who has ordered a nude woman to be flogged, has some faulty draftsmanship marring her upper body; the right foot of the man with the whip is also faulty, and the bleeding back of the victim is disturbing.
39. Pelaez: a skillfully done pretty woman, kneeling toplessly--much better than the same artist's picture printed inside the front cover.
40. Pedro Cuevas: a topless woman battles a giant snake; she is fairly well drawn, but the snake is seriously faulty where its body passes behind her buttock and crosses in front of her belly.
41. Daniel Pascarelli: a muscular mummy embraces a receptive nude woman; some problems with draftsmanship, especially with her upper body and neck.
42. Josep Gual: a fairly skillful sketch of two women, although the left arm of the seated woman seems faulty.
43. Isaac Del Rivero: an amusing cartoon representing a horny tomb-raiding woman getting more erotic attention than she had expected.
44. Enric: a fairly skillful depiction of a woman's see-through clothing, with a lustful mummy caressing her hip.
45. Quintabani: a skillfully drawn picture of a topless woman whipping an oddly passive muscular nude man; I personally find the bleeding wounds on his back and forearm disturbing.
46. Gracia: an amusing sketch of a topless slavegirl winking at an unseen young man; fairly skillfully done, with the young man's shadow visible beside her.
47. Arantza: a skillfully drawn woman enjoying herself in a tomb.
48. Capdevila: a topless falcon-headed goddess (an unknown sister of Horus?) with really bad silicone implants, a badly proportioned right arm, and a faulty left leg walks past a topless woman who is standing against a pillar with her eyes shut; this picture is funny, but probably unintentionally.
49. Tomas Giorello: a skillful drawing of a topless bald woman being blown into the air when she opens a steaming container.
50. Parrillo: a huge array of mummies (plus a few octopus tentacles) attack a nude woman; interesting composition, but the twisting of her waist is quite impossible in real life.
51. Sanjulian: a topless Egyptian stoner girl watches a cobra approach her; fairly skillful.
52.J. L. Marin: a short, chunky topless woman pretends to dance--or engage in kung-fu--with a mummy; he is grimacing, while she is expressionless; both are posed motionless, like people having their photo taken; Frazettaand Hoffman would have given this idea some great sense of movement.
53. Boada: a rather skillful picture of a nude woman with two amiable snakes; her python is draped across her shoulders like a stole, while her little cobra looks at its basket.
54. Maraschi: a skillful and semi-humorous portrayal of a semi-clad pretty woman being approached by four skeletons who are rising up from the desert sands.
55. Tomas Giorello: a skillful drawing of a nude beauty riding a lion-mummy up a cliff.
56. Parillo: a woman wearing a brass bra sits on an octopus tentacle (?) while visions of scary men hover over her head; interesting, but the basic balance of the composition is faulty, as is the draftsmanship of her left breast.
57. Isaac Del Rivero: a woman--Cleopatra?--stares at an asp she is bringing to her poorly installed 21st-century silicone implants; a somewhat faultily drawn slave woman kneels beside her, with two more asps coiling around and climbing up her left wrist and left ankle--something they could not do in real life.
58. Jose Torres: a skillful sketch of a pretty topless woman kneeling ecstatically in front of a grotesque idol that is clearly not Egyptian--perhaps it is Hittite or just bogus.
59. Ruben Meriggi: this picture has an interesting and effective artistic style--a muscular warrior defeats another warrior while a topless pretty woman gazes to the left at some unknown thing; one of the better pictures in this book.
60. Pedro Cuevas: a good looking topless woman with an axe points to some unknown thing to the right, while her faithful mummy companion stares fixedly in that direction; skillfully drawn.
61. Pelaez: in the moonlight, a topless woman stands, holding hands with a female mummy whose form-fitting bandages conceal almost nothing; skillfully done.
62. Arantza: a very skillful drawing of a topless beauty seated with a cheetah.
63. Quintabani: a fairly skillful drawing of a topless woman squatting next to a statue of Bastet (a cat goddess); while accepting the very modern bikini panty she wears, I have just one quibble: the way her left breast is drawn makes it seem a poor match for her right one.
64. Daniel Pascarelli: a well endowed woman pleasures herself with a willing mummy; one slight objection: the curvature of her backside seems faulty to myeyes.
Rear cover. Lucio Parrillo (color): a muscular zombie, perhaps coated in blood, gropes the buttock of a nude Egyptian woman; that buttock and her right thigh seem to become the victims of a zombie skin infection--as well as suffering from faulty draftsmanship.

By the way, for this review I have numbered the pages in my copy by hand--the printed book does not have any page numbers.

SEXY IN ANCIENT EGYPT
One of the things I love about the Gallery Girls collections from SQ Productions is the endless variety of themes they come up with for these fantastic pin-up collections, not to mention the always considerable talent that works on them.Eternal Temptation 2 is the second volume of pin-up art using the mysterious ancient Egypt as the back drop.Intrepid tomb raiders, sexy mummies, and luscious Egyptian queens can all be found in the book that features a painted cover by fan favorites Fastner & Larson, and features artists like Glas Gallego, Arantza, Pedro Cuevas, San Julian, Palaez, and many more into this 64 page book.

While this theme may be a tad bit limiting in its scope, it's the artists who really take ball and run with it to produce some wonderful illustrations.An elaborate piece by Blas Gallego has a nude blonde slave being dragged before an Egyptian queen by a mummy.Daniel Pascarelli shows off another mummy shambling forward carrying the body of a topless pyramid explorer as her comrades look on helpless in the distance.One of my favorites is a 40's inspired piece by Marashi of good girl art showing a lovely and buxom blonde tomb raider surprised by a mummy who grabs her from behind.I love the vintage style hair and bra in this piece that is so reminiscent of old pulp covers.

I also love the rather gory item by Quintabani showing a woman sitting with her back to the reader as she holds a severed mummy head in her hand.Bondage and S & M fans will love the piece by Boada with a nude slave on her knees, fresh from a whipping as evidenced by the marks on her back as the queen sits amused.Palaez and Arantza are always a highlight of any Gallery Girls collections and they do not disappoint here.Palaez draws a beautiful queen being worshipped by a pair of mummies who are on their knees embracing her.Arantza produces a glorious Egyptian woman in gold head dress standing before an ornate sarcophagus.

Quite a different route for this Gallery Girls collection but certainly no less stunning.

Reviewed by Tim Janson
... Read more

Product Description
Tiny creatures who live in the deepest parts of the forest, their magic is not meant to be seen by the eyes of mere mortals, but fairies are a playful lot, and occasionally they let themselves be seen, wearing little more than gossamer wings and a winsome smile! In this second collection of nymphs and elvettes, we get more folklore fairies with artwork by Pelaez, Aldo Perez, Diego Florio, Brian LeBlanc, and many other myth merchants! Outstanding cover painting by Pelaez. ... Read more

Book Description
This Eisner-nominated anthology mini-series brings the best of Clive Barker's Books of Blood short stories to the comics medium. Barker's work is brought to a stunning visual realization by comics' greatest artistic talent: John Bolton, P. Craig Russell, Klaus Janson, Tim Conrad, Bo Hampton, Stan Woch, Hector Gomez, and more. Collected here are such horror classics as "Skins of the Fathers", "Human Remains", "In the Hills, In the Cities", "Down Satan", "How Spoilers Bleed", "The Madonna", "Pig Blood Blues", and "The Midnight Meat Train" . . . just to name a few. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

If you like Clive, then you'll like this one too
Years before Clive Barker wrote The Hellbound Heart which later was brought to the screen and transformed into Hellraiser he already had much experience from the life of a writer. Together with friends in a theatre group Barker had written several scripts for the stage, and in 1984 he published a collection of astonishing short stories, which became known as the Books of Blood. These days Barker is not a horror writer per se, even though his creations still contain supernatural and/or horror-influenced elements.

Books of Blood have been a global success, and many different editions have been published by different publishers. Checker Publishing Group - known for their high-quality editions of new and classical comics - has now released some of Barker's most celebrated stories from, among other, Books of Blood in the shape of a comic.

It's not a very easy task to transform the bizarre world of Clive Barker into a different media, but all in all one must say that Checker has done a great job. The stories are "Human Remains", "Pig Blood Blues", "Skins of the Fathers", "The Midnight Meat Train", "In the Hills, the Cities", "How Spoilers Bleed", "Down, Satan", and "Scape Goats".

However, the read is not a very easy one, despite the illustrations that accompany it, and unfortunately, some of the contributors more or less fail to do their job. For example, John Bolton's drawings for "In the Hills, the Cities" are masterpieces of art, while Klaus Janson's contributions to "Skins of the Fathers" are aeons away from the creepiness of Bolton.

Still, the stories in themselves are all brilliant literature, and in most case the transformation into comics are quite successful, even though it must be said that the reader more or less has to read the stories in their original form before attempting to read the comics. This is the only way to fully understand what's going on (and sometimes you still don't, but that's just the way Barker works). If you've read the stories before and liked them, then this Checker release will not let you down, but if you're new to the world of Clive Barker you'll probably have a hard time understanding some of the stories.

If you like Clive, then you'll like this one too
Years before Clive Barker wrote The Hellbound Heart which later was brought to the screen and transformed into Hellraiser he already had much experience from the life of a writer. Together with friends in a theatre group Barker had written several scripts for the stage, and in 1984 he published a collection of astonishing short stories, which became known as the Books of Blood. These days Barker is not a horror writer per se, even though his creations still contain supernatural and/or horror-influenced elements.

Books of Blood have been a global success, and many different editions have been published by different publishers. Checker Publishing Group - known for their high-quality editions of new and classical comics - has now released some of Barker's most celebrated stories from, among other, Books of Blood in the shape of a comic.

It's not a very easy task to transform the bizarre world of Clive Barker into a different media, but all in all one must say that Checker has done a great job. The stories are "Human Remains", "Pig Blood Blues", "Skins of the Fathers", "The Midnight Meat Train", "In the Hills, the Cities", "How Spoilers Bleed", "Down, Satan", and "Scape Goats".

However, the read is not a very easy one, despite the illustrations that accompany it, and unfortunately, some of the contributors more or less fail to do their job. For example, John Bolton's drawings for "In the Hills, the Cities" are masterpieces of art, while Klaus Janson's contributions to "Skins of the Fathers" are aeons away from the creepiness of Bolton.

Still, the stories in themselves are all brilliant literature, and in most case the transformation into comics are quite successful, even though it must be said that the reader more or less has to read the stories in their original form before attempting to read the comics. This is the only way to fully understand what's going on (and sometimes you still don't, but that's just the way Barker works). If you've read the stories before and liked them, then this Checker release will not let you down, but if you're new to the world of Clive Barker you'll probably have a hard time understanding some of the stories.

tapping the vein
Brillant adaptation of Barkers short tales.
The list of ilustrators include P. Craig Russel,Scott Hampton,Klaus janson,D. Cowan,John Bolton,H. Gomez,Stan Woch,Tim Conrad,Bo Hampton and the colaboration in the adaptation of the stories of Steve Niles and Chuck Wagner among others.

Falls flat frequently !
Originally I was attracted to this title after playing the PC game CLIVE BARKER'S UNDYING. Highly atmospheric in its conversion from text to interactive graphics, the game left most players with a chill, a tingle - that would haunt and could not be shaken off easily. The graphic novel, however, left me with a bland, dull taste - and with an unquenched thirst of the paranormal. The artwork was apt, the ideas provided were original, the premises were even commendable. However, somewhere along the path of story development and conversion, the psychotic-horror tinge misses its mark. There is no cherishable after sensation to savour. Also sometimes, one needs to grope for the ideas for the 'read between the lines'. 'Pig Blood Rules', `Midnight Meat Train' - were the only well-rounded stories I remember with warmth.

Awesome concept, brilliant artistry!!!
This is one of the coolest things I've ever come by. The psychotic stories of Clive Barker transferred to the graphic novel format. Some of the very best Barker tales are chosen for this collection. The artwork completely captures every aspect of the disturbing yet poetic brilliance of Barker's stories. Bravo! A little spendy, but worth every penny. Trust me! As a die-hard Barker fan, I can say that any admirer, passive or devoted, will love this collection. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Amazing
I am currently using Saxons book, and it has greatly increased my understanding about Pre Calculus. I have been using Saxon for three years (since i was in 6th grade) and have failed to find a flaw in their work. The one-star review written doesn't understand their teaching method. By having a wide variety of problems in each problem set, Saxon really gets the lesson in your head. I currently teach myself the material and have a 98 average. If you REALLY want to learn Advanced mathematics, get this book!

Wish I had learned math this way
Outstanding text for homeschoolers. Even though I had excellent teachers, this approach would have been beneficial for me, and is far superior to the jumbled approach recently taught elsewhere....

Saxon in Public schools
I loved this book when I took this Adv. Math in High School. Since I have left, they have changed though. When I was away from the classroom, I could actually excel on my own b/c the book teaches as it goes. I had Saxon from 6th-12th. I got used to the book and then, when I took my last math course, last semester of high school, they gave me a different book...I made a B- in that geometry class.

Excellence in Mathematics
I have been using Saxon mathematics for 15 years, first as a 5th-12th grade student and more recently as a tutor.This program is excellent and like one of the other reviewers I can agree that even my "average" Saxon students have significantly better mathematics skills that those students using other programs.

I began using Saxon math in 5th grade.Prior to that I used a typical "learn and drill" method.A new concept was taught and drilled for 20+ problems and then the instruction moved on to another topic.By the time I reached an end of unit exam I had forgotten the early material.

Then in 5th grade we changed curriculums.I didn't become a "math lover" overnight.In fact, although my math skills improved, I adamently hated math all the way through junior high.Then I began algebra.By the end of Saxon's algebra 2 textbook I loved algebra and was making high A's in my homework.

A couple of years after highschool I was invited to begin tutoring math at a private school.At this point I reviewed my Saxon Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 eventually going on to study Advanced Mathematics for the fun of it.I would spend 2-3 hours a day studying math and loving every minute of it.

This independant study was 2 1/2 years ago.I recently decided to attend college as a math major. Last semester I passed Calculus I near or at the top of all the Cal I classes combined. My Saxon skills gave me the tools I needed to study well and grasp rather abstract concepts.

The one area that has concerned me is trigonometry.The Advanced Mathematics covered the topic quite thoroughly, however Calculus requires a lot of trig and it has been so long since I studied Advanced Math I've been afraid my professors will "spring" something on me I don't remember.

Yesterday my fears were alleviated.The math department held an extra credit exam for the Cal 2 students.The exam was a trig placement exam they would like to implement in the future.Because of my other classes I didn't have time to study so I decided to "wing" it and hope my studies 2 1/2 years ago would award me at least partial credit.

I'm quite pleased to say that thanks to Saxon I knew how to work every single problem on the test even though it has been 2 1/2 years since I studied trigonometry and I have not had any trig students since that time.Saxon works... Excellently.

If you are considering the Saxon texts let me encourage you to read the introductions to the texts.They are quite inspiring, imparting the vision Saxon had for math.

In addition students must work every problem.This is the whole reason Saxon works -- lots and lots of review.What most people fail to realize is that mathematics is like music; practice creates excellence.

Finally for those concerned about Saxon's lack of a dedicated geometry text, after having tutored math for 5 years I am convinced that Saxon's integrated approach is far more effective than traditional methods.Saxon teaches geometry conceptsthroughout the junior high and high school grades allowing for mastery of the ideas long before the formal proofs are introduced in Advanced Mathematics.This is excellent as I believe that older students have a greater capacity to grasp the rather abstract skills required for geometric proofs.

I'm very thankful for the curriculum switch in 5th grade.Because of Saxon I have transformed from a math-hating elementary student to a very succesful math major.

The Best Math Program
Saxon math is the best math program I have seen!The way they explain concepts is very clear and understandable.Sometimes it is tough to do all the review questions, especially if a particular type of problem is difficult.But if you don't practice it, you won't remember it!I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quality math program.It is especially good for homeschool students who want to major in a math-related degree in college.If anyone is looking for more resources on homeschooling and math I would suggest visiting...for some good information.I also recommend finding a good math tutor who can help you with difficult problems. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

DearS in so many different Lights!
Doujin, or Fan-comics are rarely spotted here in the States, due to some nasty copyright issues involved in translated and selling them here.In fact, the fan-comics are technically breaking copyrights in Japan, but most artists give them the nod.

But this book was compiled by Peach-Pit themeselves.(Peach-Pit was originally a fan-comic company, so they have some deep ties with these artists.)So, it allowed TokyoPop to bring it to America.

The stories are all short, but they are by so many different artists.Some stories are full of really interesting mini-storylines, while others have art that is really high-quality.

It's a shame more of these types of books are not published.They are a great supplement to any series. ... Read more

Book Description

"If I'm not the Slayer, I mean...what do I have to offer?"
-- Buffy Summers, "Helpless"

Only in Sunnydale could a new watcher be a harbinger of badness, and only the Hellmouth could offer refuge for a lovelorn vampire. But as Cordelia Chase learns when she wishes otherwise, life in Sunnydale could be a lot worse. Like, if Buffy the Vampire Slayer had never come to town, for example. Buffy has saved her friends -- heck, she's saved the world -- more than once, and even those loath to face the reality of things-that-go-bump-in-the-night are thankful. But Buffy's about to learn one of her most difficult lessons yet: how to beat the baddies as just a "regular girl...."

Now, don't miss a word as Angel's return is uncovered by the Scoobies, and he makes peace with his inner demons, and as Willow and Xander, respectively, grapple with their feelings for one another as well as their place among the group. Complete with production notes, inside jokes, cut dialogue, and more, these scripts will slay you!

Dig into: "Revelations," "Lovers Walk," "The Wish," "Amends," "Gingerbread," "Helpless," and "The Zeppo." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

great!
this is a great addition to a library of any Buffy the vampire slayer fan. It was a good price for a book that is hard to find elsewhere, and it was shipped really fast. Loved it. :)

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" scripts: Season 3, Episodes 7-12
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Script Book, Season Three, Volume 2" gives us episodes 7-12 from the senior year at Sunnydale High School for Buffy and the Scoobies.This is the eighth volume of scripts available to date, the rest dealing with the previous two seasons and the "Once More With Feeling" musical episode of "BtVS."The attraction here for those who are trying to carrying on now Joss Whedon's legions of fans are down to watching "Angel" and waiting for Buffy to make a guest appearance is that these are the shooting scripts for these six episodes.You can look for typos and other mistooks that they failed to corrupt, but the attraction is getting dialogue and even full scenes that were cut before the final version was broadcast on the WB (the idea of deleted scenes out there is as maddening as the smell of fresh blood would be to newly risen vamp).I used to suggest that you could read along with these scripts while you watched the episodes on DVD, but I think most of us know the episodes so well by now that we can easily pick up on what was added, omitted or alterred in the final aired version (e.g., the tree sellers in "Amends," p. 216).Still, you have to admit it is a lot easier to read the script this way than going frame by frame when one of them is available on the DVDs.But even when there are not changes you get Joss Whedon's wacky stage directions, a type of humor that has obviously rubbed off on some of the other writers as well (e.g., "Anya looks deeply perplexed," page 165).

Included in this second volume of Season Three scripts are: "Revelations" by Douglas Petrie, "Lovers Walk" by Dan Vebber, "The Wish" by Marti Noxon, "Amends" by Joss Whedon, "Gingerbread" by Jane Espenson (story by Espenson and Thania St. John), and "Helpless" (previously "18") by David Fury.These half-dozen episodes bring us up to the point where Giles is fired by the Watcher's Council, which means in Volume 3 we will see means the next volume (which should have the next five episodes) will begin Faith's slide toward becoming a rouge slayer.Interesting to note that "Amends" which was the episode submitted by Whedon for Emmy consideration from Season Three, and "Helpless," are both entirely "WHITE" shooting drafts: no revisions as in no "BLUE" pages, no "PINK" pages (I know, you cannot tell by the color of the pages in this book, but they are labeled at the top so you can see what was revised and hazard your guesses as to why).This latest volume reaffirms that "BtVS" was rich series where every script has a few choice morsels on which we can subsist while we wallow in despair that the show is now part of cult television history. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Great collaboration!
This well-traveled genre is complimented with the voices brought together by the Afro-French duo Les Nubians.Knowing a maximum of 10 French words myself, the full meaning of half of this CD/book offering was lost on me, but from a melodic point-of-view it worked wonderfully.The book does represent poems in both English and French, so you can read along to get the full meaning if necessary.The book also has an inviting, artistic layout that features enticing visuals that compliment "lyrics" from each poem.

Subjects have been organized into 4 chapters: Motherland, Urban City Life, Love Stories and Spiritual Human Nature. Look (and listen) out for To The Queen by Jamarhl Crawford, one of several favorites contained in this volume of spoken-word artists discovered on the poetry casting call sponsored by Celia and Helene. The provocative music enhances the spirit of each spoken-word selection making this collaboration an enjoyable addition to any collection.Plus, 4 new selections from this dynamic duo are gratefully included.The vibrant, cool and edgy sounds we expect from Les Nubians are delivered.

Kudos to Les Nubians who continue to expand, explore and engage.
... Read more

Book Description
Good penning and inking comes with knowledge and practice, and this book enlists famous pros to share their wisdom. Includes step-by-step instructions by these industry giants to help budding artists master their craft. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Pen and Ink Manga Start-up Guide
this is an excellent instructional how to book not only for manga but for anything regarding pen and ink.
it is jam packed with how to techniques, materials and supplies. must have for anyone interested in working with pen and ink!

Don't pass this one up!
Anyone who enjoys drawing Manga, wants to improve their skill at inking, or break into the field professionally would like this book. There are informative interviews with three well-established Manga artists- Yasuhiro Nightow, Oh! Great, and Satoshi Shiki. There are also inking tutorials and advice for toning and correcting. The authorshave included a "four week, professional level pen training" chapter to help you work on pen skills, and there is a special appendix with a suvey of 71 manga artists and the tools they use. I have many manga drawing books, and I am most impressed with this one. It is a "grown-up" approach to the artform. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

six fun heated tales
"Learning Procedures" by Hannah Brophy.Since his secretary Liz quit a month ago, Kevin has gone through three temps.His latest is blue haired Katie who proves efficient at the office and effective into luring him into a bondage scene with a Xena mistress out for vengeance one whip at a time.

"Rocky Mountain Rendezvous" by Kimberly Dean.In the Rockies near Denver, Jenna waits for her lover Shane who is late.When he shows up they have the best sex ever until she listens to her voice mail that Shane will be late and his twin Shawn is coming.

"Are We There Yet?" by Portia Da Costa.Mr. Stone drives a blindfolded and handcuffed Ms. Lewis to a special place for their sex game.However this time she will soon realizes how clever her Bobby is.

"Coffee Break" by Alison Tyler.At the café, Danielle may be seeing Marlow, but it is the coffee delivery king Declan who heats her up.

"Private Performance" by Mae Nixon.At the video store Peter the pianist reintroduces himself to Tess who loves music.They play quite a duet together.

"Beautiful Things" by Cal Jago.She loves the thrill of a theft as much as she loves sex with Alex; he loves it even more as he knows when she steals he has his best sex.

Just like the title says these BLACK LACE QUICKIES are six fun heated tales; just leave your morality on the outside the bedroom door.

Harriet Klausner
... Read more

Book Description
The Last Detective:
Elvis Cole's relationship with attorney Lucy Chenier is strained. When she moved from Louisiana to join Elvis in Los Angeles, she never dreamed that violence would so easily touch her life - but then the unthinkable happens. While Lucy is away on business and her ten-year-old son, Ben, is staying with Elvis, Ben disappears without a trace. Desperate to believe that the boy has run away, evidence soon mounts to suggest a much darker scenario.

The Forgotten Man:
Los Angeles, 3:58 a.m.: Elvis Cole receives the phone call he’s been waiting for since childhood. Responding to a gunshot, the LAPD has found an injured man in an alleyway. He has told the officer on the scene that he is looking for his son, Elvis Cole. Minutes later, the man is dead. Elvis turns to the one person who can help him navigate the minefield of his past – his longtime partner and confidant, Joe Pike.

The Watchman:
Larkin Conner Barkley lives like the City of Angels is hers for the taking. She speeds through the city during its loneliest hours, blowing through red after red in her Aston Martin as if running for her life. When she finds herself the sole witness in a secret federal investigation, she becomes the target for a relentless team of killers. Larkin’s wealthy family turns to the one man money can’t buy - Joe Pike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

I HAD 2 read it!
It was for school so I kinda had like absolutely no choice BUT 2 read it ... Read more