Product Description

Customer Reviews (84)

THIS IS NO LESS THAT I WOULD EXPECT FROM BRUCE CAMPBELL
First, if Bruce Campbell is reading this - man, you are a God!!!Not in the "We want to bow down and chant endless prayers." way but in the "If I made a living in Hollywood - I would want to do it just like you.".Yes, you are God-like in that respect.Bruce Campbell is not just a "B List" actor.Bruce Campbell is the King of "B List" Actors.Yes, that is a compliment.I would kill to get a signed copy of any one of his books.

I read this book on my Kindle because after all "It's the coming thing Socrates." to abuse a Brisco County Jr. line.Back to the topic.This book is everything you expect from Campbell before cracking the cover.It is just plain fun to read.I suspect that was all he was really shooting for.He wanted the reader to have fun.Likewise, I suspect that is a metaphor for his career.I get the impression from his books as well as his roles that Bruce Campbell sees no point in doing anything he does not enjoy.These books and his acting roles are all evidence of that.This book is no departure from that goal.Campbell is talented enough as a writer to pen a New York Best Seller.Someday he might - but I suspect he will only do it once realizing the book is not enough fun for him or the reader.Campbell is talented enough as an actor to take on serious "A List" roles and put an Oscar or 2 on his mantle.I suspect he will someday and afterwards he will look back on "Army of Darkness" and "The Adventures of Brisco County Jr." as his defining roles because they were FUN to make and fun to watch.

I would like to depart a bit and comment on something he wrote in "If Chins Could Kill".There was a chapter on the making of Brisco County Jr..In it he says ,and I am paraphrasing, that there comes a point when the ratings are slipping and the suits cannot put their fingers on "why" the ratings are slipping.I can answer that and I would take this to the bank.Brisco County Jr. was one of Campbells more endearing roles.The show as a winner.The show lost some of it's less committed fans when the SciFi aspect of the show was removed.The orbs were gone, cripplingly attractive nude time traveling babes stopped appearing, and arch-villain from the future - Bly was reduced to a pile of ash.The show slipped after that.A comedy cowboy show with Scifi appeal, Elvis impersonators as local Sheriffs that feature Bruce Cambell cannot help but be a hit and it was.But the suits and the writers on the West Coast always screw up a good thing by trying to reengineer a success.They did it to Brisco just like they did it to Cheers and countless other successful shows.They take a winning formula and screw it up everytime.They are so diferentiated mentally from the typical American viewer that they are oblivious to the obvious answers when trying to decide where they went wrong. Make no mistake Bruce - they screwed up your show and they owe you big time.Hell they owe the fans too.You have had great roles - but Brisco was your most endearing role to date.My kid was 8 when the show was cancelled.We watched it together and we loved it.Brisco was a hero to my kid in the way George Reeves (from the old Superman TV Show) was a hero to me when I was his age and I was totally cool with that.And I loved the pure entertainment factor not to mention Kelly Rutherford was Hot!That show would still be on if the execs and writers possessed a small amount of common sense and connection to the American public.

As for the book - you will not split your sides laughing.It's not that kind of book.But you will continuously chuckle and you will not want to put it down.This book is written so vividly and in such a way that you find yourself wondering if many of the scenarios did not actually happen to Campbell at some point in his career.Then you dismiss them saying, "Naaaah, couldn't have happened.It's just to absurd."Then you remember that Campbell is talking about Hollywood where the absurd commonplace.In summation - Just read the bloody book!!!You will love it!!!It will never be read by Oprah and her gaggle of overpriveleged housefraus but then again, who cares what she thinks?Steadman can't even stand her anymore.I've read it.It was a really fun read on the plane from Dubai to Atlanta.I woke a few people up giggling a few times.So I think I sold a few copies for Campbell by intriguing the people watching me try to hold back a laugh a few times.You will love the book.Go for it.

Now Iwill resume my goal of getting Brisco County Jr back on the air where it belongs and acquiring an autographed copy of this or any of Campbells other books.If I get that show back on the air Campbell has to promise me a walk-on part in at least 2 episodes.Deal?C'mon Campbell - don't pretend you don't read these reviews.Is it a deal?

the funniest book I've ever read!
People talk about laughing so hard it hurts.That really happened for me reading this book.

It Knits up the Ravelled Sleeve of Care!
I love Bruce, but I wish I had send my money directly to him instead of buying this book. I found it to be very soperific. Elderly fans may like it, though, because the type is VERY LARGE AND EASY TO READ!

Hang in there, Bruce, and keep trying.

Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way
In his most recent book, Bruce Campbell (the Evil Dead Guy) takes a satirical look at Hollywood. Here he chooses to present himself in the fictional circumstance of becoming an A list movie star, when director Mike Nichols decides he is the perfect choice for the roll of "the doorman" an important character playing opposite Richard Gere and Renee Zellweger, in Mr. Nichols' new movie Let's Make Love.

Mr. Campbell takes the opportunity to satirize A list actors, method actors, big name directors, agents and other Hollywood types. No one is immune from his venomous and humerous pen. Unfortunately, the story appears to be kludged together from a multitude of disparate ideas penned by Campbell during his many years of observing and sometimes dealing with the Hollywood "Brain trust". As in the Evil Dead Trilogy, Bruce milks his "1 Stooges" routine for all it is worth, which here, soon becomes tiresome and tedious. I must admit though,some of the eventual ramifications, his initial improvement suggestions to Mike Nichols gradually change the movie from a 3 character romance to an over budget, Ninja action, special effects extravaganza, are interesting. Also, his personal life is negatively impacted when he mistakenly gets on the Terrorist Watch List, is hunted by Government Agents, and finally is chased by practically everyone in Hollywood.

Personally I found the book to be a bit of a disappointment, when compared to his earlier, If Chins Could Kill. I'm hoping in his next book, that he continues his autobiography by covering the past eight years - Bubba Hotep through Jack of All Trades. He could call it Beyond The Valley of The Evil Dead (or How I Became the Worlds #1 Elvis Impersonator). To paraphrase Ash "Give me some more sugar ... baby!

Classic Bruce Campbell - You can't go wrong with that!
I must have a thing for B-list actors who make schlocky films.Either that, or both Jeffrey Combs and Bruce Campbell are just a heck of a lot of fun to watch in movies and TV shows.Either way, I've been a Campbell fan back since my wife introduced me to the Evil Dead series of films.However, not only is he a famous actor, but he's now an author too!I just finished Make Love! The Bruce Campbell Way, his second book and first novel, and I couldn't stop laughing throughout the whole thing.The only reason this isn't a 5-star review is because of the horrible Elizabeth Taylor chapter, and a couple of odds and ends here and there.

This is a novel using real people.I don't know if all of the people are real, but there are a lot of names in it:Richard Gere, Renee Zellweger, Mike Nichols, Colin Powell, etc.Bruce Campbell's acting credits in the novel are real as well.I don't know if Campbell's "friends" are real or not, but I wouldn't be surprised.The basic story is this.Nichols, a famous director, has decided he wants Campbell in his latest movie, convinced that Campbell can finally make the jump from B-movies to A-lists stardom.The movie is called Let's Make Love!, and it stars Gere and Zellweger as the leads in a romantic comedy.The novel covers the making of the movie, Campbell's research for the part of ever-wise doorman "Foyle," and how it explodes from a romantic comedy to an action flick as Campbell's influence begins to grow.Throw in a seedy Paramount executive who wants to destroy Campbell for some reason and various run-ins with Homeland Security because Campbell can't seem to stay away from Colin Powell, and you've got what amounts to a romp.

The book sounds like it's pure Campbell, with no ghost-writer or assistant in sight.The story's told in Campbell's direct, unpolished style that makes it feel like he's relating the story directly to you over a beer down at the local pub.It's a very quick read, too, with lots of hilariously Photoshopped images illustrating what's happening on each page.The type is also quite large.It's the perfect beach read.

That is, if you don't mind people staring at you when you're laughing loudly at what's going on in the book.Don't get me wrong.If you've seen any of Campbell's movies and found his sense of humor off-putting, then you may not like this novel. If you love that sort of thing, then this will be a breath of fresh air.Ultimately, the novel is split into vignettes where Campbell can just go wild with his imagination, eventually getting back to the story.All of the detours are well worth it, though, and they do tie back to the plot.The chapter where Campbell goes down to the South and impersonates a Southern gentleman's club because "Foyle" is a gentleman from the South (which actually has a twist that will make your eyes bulge out) is classic.

Even better is the chapter where Gere calls Campbell over to his condo to go over some scenes and get a feel for their characters' relationship with each other.There's a scene in Let's Make Love! where Gere's character is mugged and Foyle comes to his rescue.Campbell can't resist adding some B-movie sensibilities to the action in this scene. Gere, who's a peace-loving Buddhist, suddenly gets infected by Campbell's enthusiasm, resulting in a climax that almost made me bust my gut.

Campbell: "Okay, the script says that the guy comes at you from behind.You be you and I'll be the guy.He gets you in a bear hug, so what do you do?"

Gere: "I'd go limp and not resist."

I love the fact that Campbell uses real people in this novel.It's shades of Neil Patrick Harris in the Harold & Kumar movies, except that they didn't agree to do it themselves.He doesn't portray them badly, just very broadly.He has Nichols get so caught up in Campbell's B-movie suggestions that the picture goes way over-budget and turns into a much different movie than what was originally planned.He acknowledges them at the end, saying that he hopes they don't mind, but he did portray them as more intelligent than he was in the novel (which is certainly true).It just added that touch of "realism" to the farce of the novel that we can picture real people doing this stuff.It also made the illustrations a lot easier, because he could use actual images.

The only place where this failed was in the Elizabeth Taylor chapter.Foyle's been divorced and has a lot of insight into romance and the lack of it that causes divorces, but Campbell doesn't want to get divorced again to get insight into how to act.So he goes to Taylor, who is an expert, and who happens to be playing Gere's mom in this picture.He meets her for dinner and talks about all of her husbands and her past romantic life.I read stone-faced through this entire chapter, not laughing once.I don't know if it's Taylor's stature in the movie business or if it's just Campbell's choice of writing, but she comes off horribly in this chapter and my suspension of disbelief just snapped.Thankfully, once this chapter is over, the book goes back to normal and I could ignore it.

Other than that, there aren't really any faults in Make Love! The Bruce Campbell Way that I can point to.If you don't like outlandish novels, then this book isn't for you.However, Campbell's style is quite engaging; his direct approach to language is refreshing (prominently displayed in the scene where he's told by Nichols to go buy a suitable "mid-life crisis" car at a huge Dallas car dealership) and his ability to make fun of his filmography is wonderfully funny.Give the book a shot.Or he may have to take a chainsaw to your front porch.

Originally published on Curled Up With a Good Book. © David Roy, 2009 ... Read more

Product Description
Okay, so at least you're interested enough to pick up this book and look inside. I think you and I are going to get along just fine.

Life is full of choices. Right now, yours is whether or not to buy the autobiography of a mid-grade, kind of hammy actor.

Am I supposed to know this guy? you think to yourself.

No, and that's exactly the point. Bookstores are chock full of household name actors and their high stakes shenanigans. I don't want to be a spoilsport, but we've all been down that road before.

Case in point: look to your left - see that Judy Garland book? You don't need that, you know plenty about her already - great voice, crappy life. Now look to your right at the Charlton Heston book. You don't need to cough up hard-earned dough for that either. You know his story too - great voice, crappy toupee.

The truth is that though you might not have a clue who I am, there are countless working stiffs like me out there, grinding away every day at the wheel of fortune.

If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor is my first book, and I invite you to ride with me through the choppy waters of blue collar Hollywood.

Okay, so buy the damned book already and read like the wind!

Best,
Bruce Campbell

P.S. If the book sucks, at least there are gobs of pictures, and they're not crammed in the middle like all those other actor books.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (225)

A must for Bruce fans
If you love Bruce Campbell (and who doesn't?), this is a great book. It's a fun read about his life and times before and during the movies. If you're an "Evil Dead" fan, you will definitely want to read it just for the behind-the-scenes stories. Apparently Sam Raimi is a nut!

I rate this book: Groovy.

Groovy!
I stumbled across this in a bookstore and flicking through a few pages I was hooked. In fact, I ended up sitting in the garden and reading it that (long) day. A wonderful concept - an autobiography that doesn't take itself too seriouly. Often hysterically funny it takes a fun look at the world of bad - sorry, low-budget - movies and provides critical insights such as exactly which shoulder of a star an actor can be found lurking behind. It answers questions such as 'why would anyone choose to appear in this movie?!'. It provides a handy Kiwi English dictionary (as I Kiwi myself I find this useful for talking to foreigners). It confirms that you made the right choice not becoming an actor. Above all, it provides a highly enjoyable read and if you didn't think Bruce Campbell was a legend before reading it, you certainly will afterwards!

Bruce Campbell is my hero!
I really enjoyed this book.It gets very in-depth concerning the first "Evil Dead" movie - behind the scenes, production, etc.
Good writing style and I enjoyed the viewpoint of a "B Movie Actor".

There's a reason there are so many 5-star reviews
Last week my husband and I were browsing the bookstore, and I stumbled across If Chins Could Kill. The title immediately caught my attention, and as a fan of the Evil Dead films I was intrigued and amused. However, I walked out of the store empty-handed.

The next morning I woke up with the closest thing I've felt to a pregnancy craving for a book. I just had to read If Chins Could Kill, and it wasn't long before I was back at the bookstore, hunting Campbell down.

I was not at all disappointed. Campbell's autobiography, focusing on the development of his performance career, holds all of the charm and charisma that the actor himself can claim. Here is a faithful "behind the scenes look" at a cult-classic B actor, and the development of some of the most beloved B-movies ever created.

The book itself is fast-paced and witty, and was apparently written with a very clear understanding of the intended audience. Bruce Campbell's narrative almost reads like a film as he takes audiences through his mishaps and triumphs.

If Chins Could Kill is a gratifying autobiography which lives up to all reader expectations. I would highly recommend the book to any with an interest in Campbell, B-movies, or even just biographies in general.

review for www.thejaneellen.com
If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor by Bruce Campbell

Yes, I know. I swore off Hollywood-type memoirs a few weeks ago, but this book was a Christmas present and merits consideration if only for the title. It was written a few years back, but is still relevant to people who may actually know who Bruce Campbell is.(One of my, ahem, better-educated friends did not.) Campbell, as anyone with a pop culture awareness knows, is the star of the "Evil Dead" series of movies, those being "Evil Dead," "Evil Dead II," and "Army of Darkness."He's also been in some, quote, Major Motion Pictures, like "Spiderman."But, mostly, his career has been as a B-movie actor, and his recollections of how he and his friends started out making Super 8 films and sort of stumbled into success with the first "Evil Dead" is an intriguing one.Like many memoir writers, Campbell leaves out some of the juicier details of his private life, but that's to be expected, I guess.He also spends more time than necessary describing his early films, while giving short shrift to his later ones.But, to his credit, he does devote substantial verbiage to the whole Hercules-Xena:Warrior Princess phase of his career and talks not quite enough about his one-season wonder, The Adventures of Briscoe County Jr.The book could also have used a better copy editor.There are a few too many misspellings for my taste. (I mean, doesn't everyone know it's George Maharis, not George Maharas?)Still, it's worth your time, especially if you want to know how people who aren't actually movie "stars" make a living. ... Read more

Product Description
In 1963, just weeks before the original publication of this book, the last prisoner was escorted off Devil’s Island and Alcatraz ceased to be a prison. Author J.Campbell Bruce chronicles in spellbinding detail the Rock’s transition from a Spanish fort to the maximum-security penitentiary that housed such infamous inmates as Robert Stroud, aka the Birdman of Alcatraz, and mobster Al Scarface Capone.The chapters describing the daring escape attempts by Frank Morris and two accomplices from this inescapable prison became the basis for the 1979 Clint Eastwood movie. Discover the intriguing and absorbing saga of Alcatraz, whose name is still synonymous with punitive isolation and deprivation, where America’s most violent and notorious prisoners resided in tortuous proximity to one of the world’s favorite cities. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A "Must See" movie
If you ever plan to visit Alcatraz, one of the most famour prisons in the United States, then this movie is a "must see".The prison is not done up to be fancy and painted but remains as it was.The audio tour is chilling.If our prisons were more like alcatraz was, we would have less repeat criminals.After taking the tour, get the movie and relive your experience.It's great and a bargain price for one of Clint Eastwood's great movie!

Brief History of Alcatraz and Its Inhabitants
J. Campbell Bruce tells the story of the famous island in San Francisco Bay from its "discovery" in the late 1700's to its decommissioning in the 1960's.Understandably, the story focuses on the lurid period during which Alcatraz was a brutal prison for America's most difficult prisoners.Given its reputation for inescapability the story of Alcatraz features several daring (and some not-so-daring) attempts to escape.Receiving special attention is the attempt by Frank Morris and two accomplices that may or may not have been the sole successful escape from the Rock.The Frank Morris story, with undoubted debt to this book, later became a legendary motion picture under the same name as this book.

While far from exhaustive, Escape From Alcatraz provides a brief and interesting history of Alcatraz.Some fascinating stories are given only brief mention, e.g. the story of the children of Alcatraz's employees who were raised on the island, most of the relevant players and events are touched upon.The book's special focus on mobster-era prisoners and, especially, possible escapee Frank Morris are understandable and, in fact, quite well done.The narrative of the Morris escape, in particular, reads like a potboiler.Some of the discussion of Alcatraz notables, however, feels a bit gossip columny - more name dropping than content.All in all, a good and quick read for anyone looking for only a brief dip in the frigid waters surrounding Alcatraz.

Not the greatest
Alcatrz is an interesting place but the book didn't excite me that much. I think this is one of the few cases where the movie is better than the book. I think the history part of the book was a little dry.

Rock History
Escape from Alcatraz would be more appropriately named The History of Alcatraz.On most levels, the book is well put together.The number of misspellings is grotesquely unacceptable, but the content is reasonably thorough.

The book begins at the discovery of the San Francisco island by Spanish settlers and continues through the closure of the prison.The book documents each of the attempts to break out of Alcatraz.Unfortunately, no inmate is confirmed to have escaped alive from The Rock.Many of The Rock's most famous inhabitants are discussed including Al Capone.I particularly enjoyed the stories of how the inmates passed their time.Bootlegging took on a new meaning in Alcatraz when inmates made pruno.Pruno often included such exotic combinations as milk and gasoline.

The book is concluded with the closure of the prison.There is no doubt that Alcatraz was a brutal prison that drove some men insane and others to suicide.While it was not a deterrent to crime, it was an effective punishment for crime.Had the condition of Alcatraz not deteriorated so much since the Civil War, it may still be punishing criminals for there crimes.

The history of the Rock
Escape from Alcatraz depicts the full history of this infamous prison stronghold. It reflects how life was on the Rock and details the circumstances when and how 23 convicts attempted or succeeded in escapingfrom the island prison - the latter few never to be ever seen or heard ofagain. If you are interested in Alcatraz you need go no further thanreading this book - it is really that good! ... Read more

Album Description
Bruce is on a 30+ city book tour and will be making appearances at conventions and film-festivals throughout the fall! • Utilizing a special script of the book created specifically for this recording, accompanied by other actors and sound effects, Bruce brings the book to life in a new and totally unique experience on this six CD ‘audio film’! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

I laughed my way through this one
6 hours
6 compact discs

I picked up and looked at the book version of this story several times. But, I quickly snapped up the audibook version because of this quote from the back cover:

"...the prospects of doing a 'regular" audio adaptation weren't very appealling. But then a few things dawned on me:
1. I'm the lead character of the book.
2. As an actor by trade, I could play the part.
3. I'm knee deep in actor pals, why not record the book like a radio play?"

At the point I was sold.

The story revolves around Bruce Campbell's attempt to move from B movie legend to a real A movie star. He gets his chance in "Let's Make Love", a Richard Gere/Rene Zelwegger romantic comedy directed by Mike Nichols. Of course, Bruce messes the whole thing up and that's where all the fun starts!

This is a funny, offbeat story that goes off of the deep end but still drug me there laughing all the way. From Richard Gere learning how to fistfight to Bruce Campbell holding off the FBI with two of his fans in a running gun battle, I loved it! Is it silly! Yes?! Is it stupid! Of course! It's offbeat, ridiculous, over the top and gloriously entertaining.

Highly recommended.

Bruce Campbell delivers like old fashion fun
Bruce Campbell's gun shoe,old time acting attitude, with a voice that could have been on radio, and looks that charm old ladies into believing he is sooo sauve.... and then add on hours of listening to him tell you a story, in a story, in a story, (always referencing the Army of Dead persona)only leads to wanting to hear more. I took this audio tape with me on a 10 hours trip and never once turned it off until then end. It's worth purchasing.

OH MY GOD!!!!
I don't enage in a lot of pleasure reading since I read a lot of technical stuff at work all day. And, I'm not really a Bruce Campbell fanatic (although HE was the reason why I liked "Army of Darkness" and is THE reason why I started watching "Burn Notice"). So in looking for something of which to listen on my new Nano while riding the commuter, after Google-surfing I stumbled upon this audio book. I must say this fictional autobiography is darn near the funniest thing I ever heard! It is narrated by Bruce himself, I can't imagine it any other way. This "B-movie" actor demonstrates a healthy ego by engaging in such self-mockery. I am only saddened by the fact that I could not follow up by watching "Let's Make Love."Get the audio. It will crack you up.

Funniest Audio Book EVER!
Let me just say, I LOVE this audio book.It is really a movie on audio because it is fully acted with sound effects all the way through and the story is worthy of being on film.One day we'll annoy Bruce enough that he'll agree to do it.I have never laughed so hard in my life.This is absurdity and intrigue as only Bruce Campbell could produce.Chin up!And buy this audiobook.

Of Course It's The BC Way
You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll wet your pants.

Make Love is a brilliant comedy written with enough truth to make you think this is really happening to the man that played Ash. However, the greatest gift of all is to have Bruce Campbell read his own words, giving the listener every little nuance and smarmy tone only Campbell can deliver. I found myself laughing out loud many times and by the end of the audio book, I was hoping that they make this into a movie.

Bruce Campbell can write and he can write funny! ... Read more

Product Description
With new forms, techniques, and checklists, this second edition provides 101 strategies for using learners’ prior knowledge. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Packed with concrete applications
The second edition of Linda Campbell and Bruce Campbell's MINDFUL LEARNING packs in over a hundred field-tested strategies for student/teacher interactions. From insuring gender-fair instruction and instigating active learning exercises at different grade levels to teaching diverse students, MINDFUL LEARNING is packed with concrete applications. A key pick for education libraries. ... Read more

Product Description
What do your donors need? How can you win their support? For the nonprofit seeking to improve programs and increase fundraising, this book provides a step-by-step guide to listening to the needs of your donors through effective survey research. Bruce Campbell draws from over fifteen years of professional experience and real-life examples to provide many of the research tools that a nonprofit needs. He explains how to design questionnaires, select sample populations, create focus groups, analyze survey results, and much more. Throughout the book, there are tables, action steps, and sample questionnaires to help tailor your donor research to the organization's mission and goals. With the right approach, your nonprofit can not only build donor relations but also expand its resources. Listening to Your Donors is an essential tool for nonprofit executives involved with fundraising, communications, marketing, or public relations. ... Read more

Product Description
B-movie megastar Bruce Campbell of Evil Dead, Army of Darkness, and Bubba Ho-Tep fame comes to comics with this adaptation of his upcoming feature film. With more talent than you could fit in his freakishly large chin, Campbell not only co-wrote the film with David Goodman, but directed and starred in it as well.However, in order to see his vision realized unadulterated by budgetary constraints, Campbell put the version of the script he wanted to shoot into the hands of artists Rick Remender and Hilary Barta.Man with the Screaming Brain tells the story of a wealthy American businessman determined to exploit the crippled economy of a former Soviet state torn between communist roots and capitalist greed. But when Campbell's character hits on the wrong gypsy girl, he soon finds himself in the grip of a mad scientist with a twisted brain-transplant scheme worthy of Dr. Frankenstein. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

bo
if you like bruce campbell and are a fan of campy, cartoonish
humor, then get it.

Not one of Bruce Campbell's best films
While this movie does have some funny moments. I would have to say that I did not like it as well as I thought I would.I found it hard to follow in some places and the film seemed to drag on for hours. I am a very big fan of Bruce Campbell, but this I feel was not one of his best projects. ... Read more

Product Description
'The Trilogy with No Name' - Twisted Tales of terror by all your favorite authors, including John "Night Train" Goff, John Hopler, and Shane Lacy Hensley scream side by side with tales by bestselling Star Wars (TM) author Michael Stackpole, with forewords by Joe R. Lansdale and Bruce "Evil Dead" Campbell! If you don't have these anthologies, you're wrong! But we'll cut you some slack. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

with Foreword by Bruce Campbell (!!!)
That's right, "with Foreword by Bruce Campbell"I was vacillating back and forth about whether to buy this book, but Bruce Campbell sold me on it.But hey, if Bruce Campbell isn't enough for ya, you can have my take on it forwhat it's worth.

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY is an anthology of stories to support the DEADLANDS game universe.I believe that there is a new DEADLANDS game based on the Savage World system, so let me be clear that all references are to the DEADLANDS of the late '90s .

Gaming fiction has 3 goals:
1. Be worth reading on its own.Most fiction in general has this as a goal, but some gamelines believe their fans will buy any old crap just because the game's name is on the line.Also, a lot of gaming material has the dilemma of being overly self-referential, posing a barrier to being enjoyed except as a game supplement, or rehashing a lot of material already covered in the game manuals, thus alienating the target audience.THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLYis sort of in the middle of this scale.A lot of the stories involve characters meeting famous and important persons from the game line, or using magic based on poker (which is very hard to follow until you've played the game some).On the other hand, the stories that dealt with revenants like "Hate:Part 3" and "Boneyard Train" don't require game knowledge to be understood.

2. Flesh out the core setting.One of the reasons that gamers buy game fiction is to better understand their game.Sometimes developers use the fiction as part of the canon, and sometimes it is non-canonical but representative of the game world.While I learned more about the DEADLANDS world by reading THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY , it's a little light on details.Famous people and places make more of cameo appearances here (especially "Out of the Frying Pan"); I guess it mostly helped me to better grasp the atmosphere of the DEALANDS world rather than learning anything specific about it.

3. Excite people about playing the game.This is the real point of game fiction - to increase sales of the game itself.After reading THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY , I was more interested in playing DEADLANDS (even though it is a dead system) than before.The core book threw a lot of ideas out and spent no time developing them (that's what splatbooks are for), so having some game fiction available makes the rules and tidbits in the game seem more concrete.

In the end, I decided on 4 stars because the stories were decently interesting and made me want to buy more DEADLANDS products.As a stand-alone anthology, I would probably rate it a 3; there a re a lot of in-house references going on and some plots are only interesting if you care about the game.

Since there is no scan of the book stored at Amazon, I'll list the table of contents:
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY
-Foreword by Bruce Campbell
-"Hate:Part Three"
-"Talking Heads"
-"Out of the Frying Pan"
-"Dead to Rights"
-Playing the Game"
-"The Snipe Hunt"
-"Harmony Gap has a Bad Day"
-"No Good Deed"
-"In Search of Mr. Beaseley"
-"Boneyard train"
-"From as Fever" by Shane Lace Hensley

Great Collection from the Weird West
I'm a huge fan of Deadlands. A great horror game with a real tongue-in-cheek attitude like the old Tales From the Crypt comics.This book collects several stories from the Weird West.They range from a card game with Raven, Helstromme, Stone, and the other big bad guys of the Deadlands to a man's first day as a Harrowed.If you're looking for a quick chill or a quick laugh this book has them both if you read the right story.I've used it as a good collection of story ideas for the game as well.

All this and an intro by Bruce "Don't Call Me Ash" Campbell of "Evil Dead" fame.

Buy this book! ... Read more

Product Description
Grab your passport and join us on an enthralling expedition into the high-stakes world of international action and intrigue, courtesy of Abbey Chase - Danger Girl! Adventurer, freebooter and all-round troubleshooter, Abbey Chase's life is a fast and furious series of wild expeditions and hazardous pursuits. Recruited into an elite, all-female secret agent team and thrust headlong into a global conspiracy of epic proportions, Abbey's lifestyle just went from devil-may-care to ballistic! Offbeat, action-packed and bursting with babes, this is Danger Girl's first teeth-clenching, white-knuckle adventure. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Everything You'd Expect
Sometimes something doesn't need to blow you away or break tons of new artistic ground to be good. Sometimes all you want is something to meet up with what you wanted out of it. And that is exactly what you get out of Danger Girl: The Ultimate Collection; if what you want is a action movie plot with over the top scenes and every excuse possible used to show scantily clad female superspies.

That is what I wanted out of the collection and thus I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, I even go back and re-read it from time to time.

However, if that doesn't sound too appealling to you, it would probably be wiser to stay away.

Hard Bodies Hard Cover
This hard cover version of Danger Girl is the one to get, complete with the Campbell issues and lots of extras. If you like good-girl comics then Danger Girl was made for you.

exactly what you think you're getting
It is exactly what it says on the tin.It's a campy, silly, fun adventure, beautifully drawn and well written for what it is.

If you're looking for Proust, you know where to find it.

Oh, but skip the sequels, they don't have the same verve, they're trying too hard, and are drawn very differently (by other artists?).

campy fun
I got this for my fiance--she had a few of the original issues and wanted the whole set. It's a lot of fun if you don't mind the almost idiotic amount of scenes stolen directly from movies and other comics. Nothing original (except maybe in it's frenetic rush to cram every James Bond and Indiana Jones and Captain America story ever all together at once) but it certainly is entertaining. Note: Not recommended for guys with jealous girlfriends (lots of gratuitous eye candy in this thing).

Danger! Explosive fun ahead!
The attitude, dialog, and art in this series truly wins me over in a way that no other graphic novel has.I'll admit to not at all being a comic book junkie, but I do have a collection of close to fifty.I've never read a comic that sucked me in as fast as this one does.The vibrant coloring, extremely cliche and lame one-liners, and incredibly gorgeous women make this a very fun, very enjoyable read for any kid over 13.

I'd definitely rate the content of this book a PG-13 though, because there are a LOT of shots which show off 98% of the girl's bodies.Truth be told, those shots weren't really necessary for me because I enjoyed it for the action and humor, but I suppose there had to be a draw for the average, acne-ridden, comic book reading teenager that they wouldn't get from other comic books.And Abbey and the girls definitely do not disappoint in this area.

As a fan of a like-minded TV show called She Spies, I love this comic and would recommend it to anyone I know to be a fan of light fun reading.The action and humor is none-stop in this book.The only thing I didn't really like was the sub-plot involving "mysterious" male character "Zero".He really WAS a "zero" in my book as I couldn't bring myself to give a crap about him.

Anyway, if you ask me, this series is begging to be turned into a summer blockbuster film.

To me, this graphic novel perfectly embodies what comics are meant to do.It pulls the viewer into a whole other world for the span of about an hour.

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Product Description
HC 12mo. 214pp. Pub 1949. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Rediscovery!
It's so great to rediscover Ken Holt and his buddy. Sandy Allen.I absolutely CONSUMED this series when I was a kid.I think I started them when I was about twelve, and now, 50 years later, I'm reading them again!This is the first in the series, and after a half-century it still holds up as a good read, with amusing little tidbits showing the passage of time, like:convertible cars are "roadsters"; the really powerful ones can reach 90 mph; and the operator interrupts your pay phone call after three minutes.Maybe it is, at least in part, the nostaligia of having read it first when the '57 Chevy was a new car, but it's fun -- let yourself go, and be a 50's kid reading it for the first time.I did; and now i've purchased #2 and #3 in the series, as I once again start through the series! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Provides an overview of preparations for celebrations as well as a survey of basic beliefs
Joining others in the publisher's 'A Family, A Child, A Celebration' series are three new arrivals: HINDUISM IN BALI, ISLAM IN TURKEY and BUDDHISM IN THAILAND. Each offers 32 pages including an index, glossary, and color photos of contemporary children and families, and each provides an overview of preparations for celebrations as well as a survey of basic beliefs.
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Customer Reviews (2)

Deceptive Title: NOT about Christianity!
A better title for this book would be: Catholicism of Mexico.Christianity and Catholicism are NOT the same thing.True christianity is about salvation through Faith in Jesus Christ and his atoning work on the cross which saves FOREVER all who believe in HIM.Catholicism is a watered down version of christianity with alot of pagan practices mixed in.If you want to teach your children about true christianity, look elsewhere: like a good children's bible.If you have forgotten why the martyrs died in the reformation, and want to teach your children about praying to saints and other pagan practices, this may be the book for you.

A highly recommended pick
A highly recommended pick is Frances Hawker and Noemi Paz's CHRISTIANITY IN MEXICO, a survey adding to the 'Families and Their Faiths' series covering Christianity in Mexico through the eyes of a young girl who shows how her village celebrates the festival of their patron Saint Anthony. Her personal, chatty voice is inviting.
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Product Description
"Based on archival research, Campbell’s book offers unusual insight into the lives and careers of the founding fathers of the SA."—Choice

"Campbell’s enlightening portrait of the SA, its history, and its relationship to the overall Nazi movement reveals how the organization’s leaders reshaped the SA over time to adapt to Germany’s changing political concern."—Bulletin of the Arnold and Leona Institute of Holocaust Research

"Author Bruce Campbell offers the first in-depth study in English of men who held the three highest ranks in the SA—men who saw themselves as Germany’s paramilitary saviors."—Library Lane

"Full of useful looks at some of the lesser known Nazi leaders, and provides some valuable insights into some obscurer corners of the history of the Nazi movement."—New York Military Affairs Symposium Newsletter ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

effective like good medicine
I got this book to help with a term paper. It gives a very detailed description of the SA leadership. However, it is a mountain to climb. You don't read this book as much as you survive it. I think I have read more readable phone books. It got to the point where I thought Campbell was going to separate the SA leaders according to height, weight and favorite colour. Having said all of this, it is a gem for the academic. For the serious student it is a must.

"Meine Ehre Heisst Treue, Du Braun Kompanie...."
This is one dry piece of reading, but given the dearth of material available on the SA, it is a necessary excursion for anyone interested in the men who got the Nazi Party into power....and then became its first victims.

It is important to note this is NOT a history of the SA proper: it is an examination of the men who made up the SA's most senior leadership (gruppenfuhrers, obergruppenfuhrers, & stabschefs) during the SA's era of power, roughly 1925 - 1934. Author Campbell divides his terse and somewhat mechanically-written text into sections which divide the SA's leadership into categories based on their background, record of service, and idelogoical motivation. He doesn't go into a biography of all the nearly 200 men who held these senior ranks, but rather picks men who best represent each category.

Although Campbell's writing style is about as dry as oatmeal, he makes some penetrating insights, such as how the SA's decision to use an entirely different system of ranks than the German army reflected Hitler's belief that leadership was not something you inherited by virtue of birth or by commission, but rather something based on merit. He also does a good, if terse, job of examining the backgrounds of the senior SA leaders, men like Rohm, Lutze, and von Salomon, as well as the often strained relationship between the SA and the Nazi Party.

Campbell's book is not a primer; it assumes a fair to good knowledge of Hitler, the Party, and the political situation in Germany following WWI. Of course, if you're reading this, you already have one. "SA Generals" will definetly build on that.

Unlike their progeny, the SS, the story of SA, the real "storm troopers" is largely untold; but without them, there would have been no Hitler. If the SS was the sword with which Hitler maintained his throne, the SA was the billy club that got him there. Campbell deserves praise for shedding some light on the subject.




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Product Description
This book offers hope to the 4 million Americans coping with CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome) and fibromyalgia. Even though there is no cure for either illness, there are many things you can do to take charge of your condition and your life. This manual for personal change offers a framework to help you understand your illness better, as well as many practical tools you can use to control symptoms and create a more stable life. The approach is based on the belief that you can change the effects of your illness and perhaps its course through your efforts. Learn how to: -live within your energy envelope-pace yourself to control the "chronic illness roller coaster"-set realistic short-term goals-reduce stress-manage emotions-improve relationships-minimize relapsesUsing the strategies outlined in the book, you can create an individualized self-help program for managing your illness.This book is the official text of the CFIDS/Fibromyalgia Self-Help course, a solution-oriented self-management program offered over the internet and at several locations in the United States (cfidsselfhelp.org). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Most practical book ever!
I've read lots of books about fibromyalgia. Bruce Campbell does something that most authors don't do. He provides practical helps for those of us suffering from this invisible disease. We may not be able to completely heal ourselves, but with the suggestions from this book, we can learn how to be our best! ... Read more

Product Description
This introduction to the use of radar for remote sensing of natural surfaces provides the reader with a thorough grounding in practical applications, focusing particularly on terrestrial studies that may be extended to other planets. An historical overview of the subject is followed by an introduction to the nomenclature and methodology pertaining to radar data collection, image interpretation and surface roughness analysis.The author presents a summary (illustrated with examples from the natural environment) of theoretical explanations for the backscatter properties of continuous rough surfaces, collections of discrete objects, and layered terrain. ... Read more