Product Description
Missing, Presumed Undead is Elmore Leonard meets Dashiel Hammett meets Terry Pratchett with China Mieville peering through the window (they got along fine until Terry spilt his tea all over Elmore's Italian sports jacket . . .). It has an intriguing mystery-driven plot, dipped in funny syrup and set in a classical fantasy-style world with the mood and magic driven "technology" of a Casablanca-style 30's detective story. It isn't so much hard boiled as char grilled, with a side salad. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fun light-hearted fantasy murder mystery
I bought this book for my Sony Reader, because it was a recommended read if you liked Terry Pratchett.

I wasn't disappointed!

"Missing, Presumed Undead" is a fun fantasy murder mystery, starring detective Franklin Mynos - a Minotaur - and his sentient weapon - Rhysovynn-thael Rhys.

I don't do spoiler reviews, but if you like the comic fantasy of Terry Pratchett, this book is definitely worth a try. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from The Review of Contemporary Fiction, published by Review of Contemporary Fiction on March 22, 2008. The length of the article is 370 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Paul West. Sheer Fiction IV.(Book review)
Author: Jeremy M. Davies
Publication: The Review of Contemporary Fiction (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 22, 2008
Publisher: Review of Contemporary Fiction
Volume: 28Issue: 1Page: 176(2)

Article Type: Book review

Distributed by Gale, a part of Cengage Learning ... Read more

Product Description
"What did the women in Sherlock Holmes' life really think of him?" A dramatic presentation by David Stuart Davies.. Audio Cassette version of the pamphlet (shown) ... ... Read more

Product Description
Missing, Presumed Undead is Elmore Leonard meets Dashiel Hammett meets Terry Pratchett with China Mieville peering through the window (they got along fine until Terry spilt his tea all over Elmores Italian sports jacket . . .). It has an intriguing mystery driven plot, dipped in funny syrup and set in a classical fantasy-style world with the mood and magic driven ""technology"" of a Casablanca-style 30s detective story. It isnt so much hard boiled as char grilled, with a side salad.




... Read more

Product Description
After an earthquake has destroyed much of the planet, an epileptic teenager nicknamed Spaz begins the heroic fight to bring human intelligence back to the Earth of a distant future. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (121)

Truly moving for a young outcast.
I read this book as a 13-year-old, and then re-read it and re-read it until I had it nearly memorized. This was probably one of the most influential books of my young adulthood. Although it is clearly science fiction, certain aspects and concepts are universal, and I found myself able to relate to the characters and the trials they face. The mindprobes, for example, are analogous for substance abuse, which I have seen some of my peers suffer through. Spaz, the outcast, fighting to be accepted, was a character who resonated with me personally. The unhappy ending was moving and appropriate. Had the earth suddenly been magically "fixed" and everyone ended up happy, the book would have been a predictable, pointless waste of paper. Instead, it leaves the reader both mournful and hopeful for a better future.

If you've ever felt different, rejected, or alone, this book might make you feel a little less isolated.

The Last Book in the Universe
Apocalyptic story about life after the Big Shake. The majority of the population live in awful conditions--no running water, no food, no peace--while a small portion live in "Eden."
The main character, Spaz, is epileptic, which is a pretty big weakness, dontchya think?
He is on a quest, which crosses many battle lines, to help someone. He travels with an old man and a young boy. Quite the group. They meet several engrossing characters along the way.
I liked the story. The possibility of good and happiness. And writing your own story.

PG 13:
V: Post apocalyptic fighting
L: Slang
S: No

Voice, baby! It's got voice!
One of my favorite YA/MG books. Philbrick effortlessly lets his characters tell the story with rich new vocabulary for a dystopian society. Gummies and proovs and mindprobes make this story fun to read. The plot is not just for entertainment but offers a glimpse at the dark side of pleasure-seeking through mindprobes as well as discovering an appreciation for what's real.

The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was because the characters "tell" more than "show" quite a bit. I like first person stories but not when it's the protagonist telling me a story. I'd rather see it unfold through the main character's eyes.

Cheers, Rodman.

The Last Book in the Universe
My neice is reading this book. He is enjoying it. Thank you. The seller got it to me in a timely fashion also. I would purchase from seller again.

Class
I bought this for class and loved it so much I bought another copy that I gave to a friend who loved it equally as much. ... Read more

Product Description
Jeremy Brett's portrayal of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective is widely recognised as the best yet seen. Before his untimely death in 1995, Brett had made the part his own, all the time battling against the manic depression which had plagued him for many years. Bending the Willow' examines how this brilliant actor channelled the demons of his debilitating illness into his iridescent portrayal of Sherlock Holmes. In this fascinating and perceptive study, David Stuart Davies draws on the many conversations he had with Jeremy Brett and key people involved with the Granada Television series and the stage play The Secret of Sherlock Holmes'. The result is the first detailed assessment of all of Jeremy Brett's performances as Sherlock Holmes. Fully illustrated with more than fifty photographs, some never before published, Bending the Willow' is an important addition to the libraries of Sherlock Holmes followers, and Jeremy Brett fans alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Required reading for the Jeremy Brett fan....
I was fortunate to be able to get Bending The Willow through my Library as I can't afford the $100 it's being sold for. My review is for fellow fans wondering if this book is worth them shelling out their hard earned money for it:).

As a big fan of both Jeremy Brett the actor as well as his masterful portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, I was anxious to read this book.The book, for the most part, was very well written and informative as to the years the Grenada production was being filmed, as well as Brett, Burke, Hardwicke and co feelings, thoughts and memories on the production. The photos alone are fantastic.

I have a few minor foibles with the book-and they are few. Mainly-the length-166 pages-I feel that it should have been a little bit longer, and more descriptive. I felt the author, like many fans, thought that the last three seasons were inferior and he therefore glossed over them, where as Davies went into quite a bit of depth with season one.

As a biography-Davies one on one insight into Jeremy Bretts personal life and actions were delightful and mostly insightful, but I do feel the author repeatedly kept focusing too much on Jeremy's weight gain.While the weight gain was an issue (for the actor, the show and some fans)-too much is made of it as Mr Brett was such a phenomenal actor that his brilliance shone through-even at his lowest times of illness.

Therefore-I would recommend the book to the diehard Jeremy Brett fan, though I only wish there was a little more for the money.

4.5 stars!

Jeremy Brett & David Stuart Davies....
Ever wonder about the man who portrayed the Great Detective so well on the Granada series of Sherlock Holmes - who was Jeremy Brett?

'Bending the Willow' addresses these questions by telling us about Jeremy Brett - his background and influences - and most particularly by focussing on his years spent on the television series and the difficulties he had then, and throughout his career, with debilitating bouts of manic depression and poor health which continued until his death in 1995.

Jeremy Brett's genius
This book gives the reader an unique perspective into Jeremy Brett's talent and genius. His portrayal of the master sleuth is one of the best in the world even though his own nature was the sort to never "cross the street" to meet Sherlock Holmes if he were a real person.Brett's acting abilities are partially displayed to its true immensity in this book.Finally, a book that gives Jeremy Brett the credit he so rightfully deserved and deserves.

Back in Print in 2001
Calabash Press will be reissuing BENDING THE WILLOW in a new and updated edition in January, 2001. This book is a moving and informative account of the making of the landmark television series and also describes the difficulties of keeping the quality of the series consistent over ten years through management changes (always the bane of film production) and the declining health of star Jeremy Brett.

Television is still considered a 'second class' medium, so this wonderful series has not received the praise it deserves. Not a single one of the filmmakers were ever awarded for their work, an amazing omission. The best episodes of this show are fine films in their own right, and one does not have to be a Sherlock Holmes fan to enjoy them.

BENDING THE WILLOW is well worth adding to any library of film production books and is also of great human interest.

Brett Actually IS Sherlock Holmes!
The author captures Brett as few Sherlockians (people who study the Holmes stories) knew him.His brilliant early performances contrast his later portrayals as his manic depression (and the mis-prescribed medications destroys his body) takes over his mind.The book covers every aspect of Brett as Sherlock Holmes but does not delve into his earlier life or roles.A MUST HAVE for all Sherlockians everywhere, I re-read it often.Photos provide a record of the struggle Jeremy had with his weight, depression and the dangerous drugs used to manage his mental state.More like Holmes than he probably realized in the beginning, the two men became intertwined forever.I HIGHLY recommend this book. ... Read more

Product Description
This pocket-sized comprehensive classic, crammed with useful facts, is back in a fully-updated 13th edition. Ideal for the practising anaesthetist or senior trainee, it covers a vast range of topics in a clear, concise and readable style. Focusing on the practical rather than the theoretical, it discusses both rare and common conditions. General sections cover topics such as preparation, techniques, post-operative care and pain management, whilst other sections discuss anaesthesia for specific operations and situations. * Highly templated approach to each chapter * Pocketbook size retained for the new edition * Dictionary of rare medical diseases (separate lists for adult and paediatric) included in the appendices * Key up-to-date references included at the end of each chapter * Text presented in short, readable ‘chunks’ with frequent use of bullet lists and tables ... Read more

Product Description
Java is a powerful and fast maturing development platform used to create client/server applications on any platform. XML is the most recent markup language, a standard format for the universal sharing of data and an intrinsic part of all major development both on the Web, and in the wider business community. Enterprise web applications are increasingly combining Java and XML technologies to provide more efficient ways to integrate Internet presence with business systems in the world of e-commerce.

This core professional compendium breaks down into three main sections. The first presents the basic XML standards, Java APIs and programming tools for handling XML. The second part presents a selection of Java techniques which make up the building blocks for XML-based applications. The section is Java-centric, and presents the common scenarios for XML data I/O, building on the basic tools presented in part one. The final and largest section of the book shows how XML applications can be built on top of the techniques shown in part two, and demonstrates how XML can be used to solve real programming problems.

If you want a hefty box of XML manipulation tools at your disposal and would like to discover how the language could be used in your Java applications, then this book is for you. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great Resource
I have been working with XML for a while now, and this book offered a great coverage of most aspects of what XML application developers need to know.I am not able to keep up with everything happening in this very broad part of the industry - and this book provided enough coverage of the areas I'm not able to focus on on a regular basis to help me stay current. I'd recommend it for anyone who's working with specific areas within XML and want to stay current with the broader scope of what is going on.I'd also recommend it for anyone who is new to XML and wants to know the various Java APIs out there.

Good Book for Java Developers
This is surely one of the Best Books availale in Market for Java Developers. I have been waiting to read a Book which covers all the latest XML API and how use them using latest Java Tools. Thanks to Wrox Publications for bringing this book to us. It covers how to do XML programming using all the latest Java API line I/O Sockets, Developing Presentation Logic, Developing Configuration and Deployment logic, Using XML in B2B applications. In short no other book in Market provides such a clear understanding of how to develop Java Based XML Applications.

Also it clearly explains how to use the latest Java Based XML Parsers like Xerces, Xalan and more. Friends if you need to get upto date with all the latest Java Based Parsers and different XML API, then this Book is really the Best one.

Good Book For Java Developers
This is really a good book for Java Developers who wish to develop XML based applications. Couple of chapters have good examples and explains concepts in a very clear format. Also the book is upto date with all the latest concepts in XML world.

Wrox, in general, has gone way downhill
As happens with so many technical publishers, WROX is now seemingly cashing in on the reputation they established a few years back by writing excellent, well laid-out technical books that appealed to true programmers.
Now, WROX hastily assembles a team of developers, has each one write a chapter in isolation, then releases all of their chapters back to back with little to zero editing, leading to a redundant, incoherent treatment of the subject, with page after page covering the same introductory material with subtle but insignificant differences. An oh, of course, there is the 250 page XML intro filler in the front, and the 300 page XML reference guide filler in the back, brining the actuall useful content page count down even further.
No thought is placed on the overall coherence of the book or it's educational goals.
It's clear that as WROX has grown, they have not been able to maintain the same level of quality they once had. Their editors are clearly not involved in the process, and arent creating anything that amounts to higher learning.

There is NOTHING in this book on the more complex aspects of the subject matter, just a rehashing of what youll find in tutorials and in other generic XML books. My biggest complaint is the completely surface treatment of SOAP. No real mention is made of custom serialization, no examples exist for this.

Look for books from other publishers on this subject that are still "hungry".

WROX is just cashing in at this point. ... Read more

Product Description
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization turned 50 years old in April of 1999.With the expansion of membership to include Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, the Alliance undertook increased security commitments and affirmed a new post-Cold War role for itself.Despite the US Senate's overwhelming endorsement of this expansion, however, many prominent contributing authors point out that hard questions about the Alliance's scope, mission, size and cost remain, regrettably, unanswered.This book considers a variety of viewpoints, all of which help one to reflect on the feasibility and advisability of a global role for NATO, and to assess the problems ahead for bringing peace, stability and unity to the European continent. ... Read more

Product Description
Covers the evolution, behavior, and health management of the horse. Features the latest procedures and advice. Includes abundant halftone illustrations. For those taking the British Horse Society and Association of British Riding Schools examinations and for those taking college equine courses. Previous edition not cited. Softcover. ... Read more