Product Description
At the height of the Cold War, American democracy was challenged by the anti-Communist atmosphere of the McCarthy era. IN THE NAME OF SECURITY re-opens the three famous spy cases that rocked America between 1948 and 1954. Each hour-long program combines dramatic re-enactments based on original trial transcripts, archival material, new evidence, the latest assessments of American historians and scientists and the commentaries of relatives and friends of the accused. Three Audio cassettes. ... Read more

Product Description
Three famous spy cases rocked America between 1948 and1954: Alger Hiss; Julius and Ethel Rosenberg; and J. RobertOppenheimer. Each program combines dramatic re-enactments based onarchival material, new evidence, and the latest assessments byAmerican historians, scientists and relatives and friends of theaccused. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

In the name of security
Such bleak times in our history.It brings it to life yet pulls you in and makes you feel like you are actually there. ... Read more

Product Description
In this fully dramatized adaptation of Jules Verne's classic, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Leonard Nimoy, John de Lancie, and cast members from Star Trek® feature films and all four TV series take you on an incredible journey.

Journey to the Center of the Earth is the story of Professor Lindenbrock, his nephew Axel and their quest for the secrets contained at the earth's core.Led by Hans, their Icelandic guide, Lindenbrock and Axel descend deeper into the planet than anyone has ever gone before...but will they make it back to the surface alive?

Featuring virtuoso performaces from the entire cast, riveting sound effects and original music, Alien Voices' production of Journey to the Center of the Earth is an adventure in sound. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (135)

If you are thinking Arlene Dahl, you will be shocked.
I grew up on the James Mason movie, "Journey to the Center of the Earth" (1959), so it was quite a shocker to read the book.You could imagine to my dismay the absents of quite a few characters and the center of the story is Germany not Scotland.

Now for avid readers you could care less about old movies, I can truthfully say that this is one of Jules Verne's best stories and well told.

What you will find more interesting and fun about this tale is the characters and their interaction. One of my favorite parts is when Harry who did not want to go to the center of the earth with his uncle, Professor Hardwigg; he turned to his affianced, Gretchen, and was planning on her to stop him. Her answer is shockingly disappointing to him.

"While there is life there is hope. I beg to assert, Henry, that as long as man's heart beats, as long as man's flesh quivers, I do not allow that being gifted with thought and will can allow himself to despair"

Be prepared as the bulk of the book is really a geological journey back through time and forward again painfully spelled out by Harry whom is the first person narrator.

The Kindle version does not have actual picture of the runes in chapter 1. Moreover, a tad off on pronunciations. Other than that, it is more than worth obtaining along with a hard copy for your library.

Journey to the Center of the Earth

More Fun Than Harrison or Fasier
I've seen both screen versions of Jules Verne's classic book, "Journey to the Center of the Earth", both the Rex Harrison and Brendon Fraiser versions; while both films are enjoyable, neither capture the fun and fantasy contained in the book - although the Rex Harrison version comes closer to achieving this feat.What I particularly like about the book versus the movies are the descriptive elements and dialogue of the main characters using the vivid language captured so well by Verne.The description of Hans, the Icelandic guide, and some of the commoner Icelanders met in the story, are particularly entertaining.There are key differences as well.For instance, the lead characters, Professor Lidenbrock and his nephew Axel, are German - not English or American as the films depict.Read along with "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" and "Around the World in 80 Days", a person can really capture the full wonder that is Verne.

how ifeel about this book
this was the first book i bought using my kindle and i am happy to say the i made a fine choice by buying this book. it made me feel like i would want to do that for a job.

Allegory of man and man's technology vs. nature
Why take a journey into space, when you can take a journey to the most mysterious place on earth.Actually it isn't on earth...but in it.Looking back 100 years, Journey to the Center of the Earth can be seen as an allegory of man and man's technology set against the awesome power of nature.In Jules Verne's 1864 iconic book Journey to the Center of the Earth, an unconventional professor and his nephew find an ancient book and a riddle on parchment that leads them on the strangest expedition.Upon solving theriddle, their findings lead them to a remote mountain in Iceland, where they enter an extinct volcano into the bowels of the earth.When entering the mysterious realm of the earth they are confronted by prehistoric animals and numerous natural hazards produced by the parallel environment.However, the explorers try to overcome their challenges with the use of their technology, which proves to be more useless than beneficial.Do the heroes survive by their own wits or the charity of nature?
Journey to the Center of the Earth, is one of the first of its kind in the genre of modern science fiction, which was revolutionized by Jules Verne.His revolutionary writings brought about many ideas explaining the unknown of the day that has just recently be proven wrong.That being said, this novel is a scientific masterpiece that would be enjoyed by all sci-fi fans young and old."Science, my lad, is made up of mistakes, but they are mistakes which it is useful to make, because they lead little by little to the truth"--Jules Verne.Jules Verne was a product of his times.In the mid-19th century, European civilization believed it could achieve any goal by application of modern technology.

Fast paced, exciting, original and charming
I think that this book is excellent. This story is fast paced, exciting, original and charming. When I read this book I it was very simple for me to imagine the pictures that were describing in this book. As a matter of fact, this book is outstanding because it was written in 1864 and at that time, it was impossible to imagine a journey to the center of the earth, so this book is really cool. Therefore, we can understand how far ahead of his time Jules Verne was in comprehending science.

Before reading this book, I have not ever thought that inside our planet may be something like a hidden world with oceans and ancient animals, but now it is not very hard for me to imagine this. Consequently, this book has changed my imagination and understanding of the world in general.

When I try to place myself on the place of one of the characters and imagine myself deep under the Earth, my heart sinks and I am starting to understand feelings of Harry who was alone in the heart of the planet. And I also think, that this book shows very well the deep knowledge of sciences of the author who wrote this excellent book. When you read it, you learn a lot of new information about geology and physic.

I have a very good impression of this book because I have learn't a lot of new information about world, I read about national traditions of people who live in a mountain of Iceland. And it was also very interesting to read a story that was written more then hundred years ago. Therefore I want to advise everybody to read this book.

There is also a hard cover version of this title: A Journey to the Center of the Earth (AD Classic) ... Read more

Product Description
On Captain Picard's previous missions aboard the "USS Enterprise", he was harassed by the all-powerful being known as Q. Now Q reappears, with Trelane, his own troublesome enemy. Picard must deal with a fight between two superior beings which might have disastrous consequences for the crew. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (89)

Gripping but ridiculous and unsatisfying
The premise is worthwhile and the climax is a real page-turner because it is jammed full of excitement as three universes converge in chaos. That said, the author attempts to do the impossible by trying to explain ultimate realities and ultimate chaos. A genius might be able to do that in a convincing, engaging way. What you get here is mostly gibberish and left me feeling unsatisfied when it was all over. There have been episodes of Trek that have dealt with some of these sublime ideas and they turned out quite good (Yesterday's Enterprise for instance, or All Good Things...), but this is not very good at all. All the stuff about the Chaos at the heart of the universe remains essentially gibberish, as intriguing as the concept is, and the author even resorts to writing stream-of-consciousness nonsense at one point to try to convey it. Impossible-to-comprehend events happen to virtually omnipotent beings and universes collide -- this is exciting! -- but David's attempt to convey this in human writing fails badly. This ends up being glorified fan fiction.

I give it a 3, though, because -- as deplorable as the writing is at times -- the crazy stuff that happens is entertaining enough, so long as you are only looking for a cheap thrill that will quickly be forgotten by you and the rest of the reading world. I don't regret reading it, and I devoured the climax in one sitting, turning the pages furiously, but that doesn't change the fact that it's not a good work of fiction and doesn't leave you feeling satisfied when it's over the way a great novel, or even a great episode of Trek, does.

The "Heart of the Storm" unleashed!
"Q-Squared" is another great Peter David offering that goes above and beyond your average "Star Trek" novel. You can never go wrong with Q, a member of the Q Continuum, a race of godlike beings with omnipotent powers who are nevertheless very annoying. David goes even further and adds parallel universes, a good helping of chaos theory, and Trelane, a bratty child Q who is tired of being told what to do. Apparently, even the all-mighty Continuum can seriously screw up, because some omnipotent genius has put Q in charge of Trelane. Oh, at first it's amusing (Picard even laughs in Q's face) but then Trelane makes Winnie-the-Pooh come to life in the Enterprise school and things rapidly deteriorate.

"Worf looked up from his station and said, 'Captain . . . security reports that they are under assault by . . .' He paused in confusion. '. . . a plush yellow bear.'"

Petulant and upset at being subsequently thrown off the ship, Trelane builds a machine that will allow him to tap into the chaos that holds together the multiverse. The result, of course, is pure anarchy. The story had also been following two other plots in two different Star Trek timelines, including one in which Captain Jack Crusher is still alive and divorced from Beverly (after Wesley's death), who has just entered into a secret relationship with First Office Commander Picard. As the three universes collide together and all hell breaks loose, Jack Crusher's ensuing insanity effectively mirrors the chaos that lurks within all systems, from chemical reactions to planetary weather to ecological population growth and fluid dynamics, to molecular vibrations and plate tectonics, to economics, the multiverse, and the human heart.

The Hype about this book.... is totally deserved!!!!!!!!!
As I am writing this there has been 87 reviews and a remarkable 68 of those reviews are 5 stars.Now it is officially 69 5 stars reviews!!!

This book was excellent.Peter David knows the Star Trek universe better than any other writer of Star Trek.He has 3 different story lines going at once.However he keeps them all seperate, as long as you pay attention you will have no problem keeping them all straight.Universe "B" is the universe that we all know.I would say somewhere right before the conclusion to TNG TV series.Universe "A" seems to be about the same time frame but is very very different.No reason to go over all the differences. If you've read it and just want to see what other people think then you know the differences.If you haven't read the book the fun in reading it is to find out about this universe and seeing the differences.I willtell you that Jack Crusher is Captain of the Enterprise with Jean Luc Picard being his #1.Plus Picard and Beverly, not to mention Riker and Troi's relationships are very different.The 3rd universe is set from the episode of "Yesterdays Enterprise" were the Federation is at war with the klingons.

There is an old enemy that is back.Peter David writes in Trelene from the TOS "Squire of Gothos" as a member of the Q, and it is Q's job to be his guardian.Of course that doesn't go according to plan.Trelene wants to combine all 3 universes and after he gets the upper hand on Q and sends him away it is up to Captain Picard and the rest of the crew or crews of the Enterprises to stop him.

This is easily the best Star Trek book that I have read.A must for any Next Generation fan.

Next for me I am staying with the whole idea of an alternate universe.I am going back to the "Shatnerverse".Avenger is next for me.

Grade: A+

Trelane returns!
Greetings and felectations! It's wonderful to see Trelane back again. The paralles between the Q and Trelane are uncanny. David has done a wonedrful job of bringing together two Trek generations.

Pretty much strictly for Trek nerds
But you knew that already, right?It follows three different alternative timelines.One is the "normal" one, one is an alternative where Jack Crusher is alive, and Picard is his first officer on the Enterprise, and one is the alternate from "Yesterday's Enterprise," in a losing war with the Klingon Empire.Along comes Trelane, of an original-series episode, to mess things up.Turns out that Trelane is a young Q, and Q himself is his guardian, trying (with very limited success) to guide Trelane to adult Q-hood.Trelane becomes petulant (as he was with Kirk), and all hell breaks loose as he crashes the timelines together and sends Q into near-oblivion.Sorting it all out is a fun ride, but this is definitely a book I feel no need to keep after reading it. ... Read more

Product Description
Listen, amazed as actors from television's Star Trek re-create the "eyewitness" report that caused a nationwide panic in 1938 when first performed on the radio by Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre Company. Narrated by Leonard Nimoy of the original Star Trek series, the breathless pace and convincing details of this classic drama are brilliantly reinterpreted in this full-cast production by L.A. Theatre Works. Joining Leonard Nimoy are Star Trek actors Jerry Hardin, Gates McFadden, Dwight Schultz, Armin Shimerman, Brent Spiner and Wil Wheaton. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

war of the worlds CD
I am a trekkie from way back and the cast of Star Trek does the voices on this H.G Wells classic.I love it!I would recommend it to anyone who likes books on CD.

HG Wells by Star Trek Stars
This is a wonderful unique piece of theater performed by accomplished television stars from Star Trek. It is not around a lot but if you get a chance to hear this, you can enjoy the fine work of HG Wells' classic sci- fi story and the talents of the skilled voices of the Trek crew. A keeper for Trekkies and theater buffs.

a fantastic interpretation of the war of the worlds!
in this cassette there is a fantastic interpretation of the war of the worlds, although you can't see anything, the actors are so good that you feel yourself in another strange world...

Glad to buy it once again...
A few years ago I purchased the cassette tape version of this play and enjoyed it a lot. Unfortunately, I lost my copy and have wanted to listen to this play many times since then. I'm glad I purchased this item again and look forward to hearing it again.

Great one hour summary with special sound effects ...
After purchasing this audio novel I was initially upset because it was only an hour long. I much prefer my audio novels to be at least 2 hours long.With a foul mode in place I began to listen to the tape.In a few short minutes I was quickly swept up into the story, recogizing my favorite Star Trek actors as they played their parts.The audio novel although short has an excellant production quality. The story is concise and easy to follow.I would like to thank John DeLancie for directing this project and for the participaction of the other actors. I would not hesitate to recommend this audio novel and look forward to others from John DeLancy, Lenard Nimoy and the rest of the Star Trek gang. (The RAMA science fiction series would be great.) Please make them at least 2 hours though. ... Read more

Product Description
Revisiting a world created for the series episode entitled ""Mirror, Mirror,"" Captain Picard and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise encounter a parallel universe populated by duplicates of themselves. 175,000 first printing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (54)

One of the best Star Trek novels every written
I have long believed that the episode of the Star Trek original series that had the most potential for a sequel was "Mirror Mirror." In that episode, Captain Kirk, Scotty, McCoy and Uhura are beamed to an Enterprise in another universe where the people are vicious barbarians. At the end, after Kirk asks Spock to make a difference and change the evil Empire, Spock replies, "Captain Kirk, I shall consider it."
Although this story is set in the era of "The Next Generation" we learn some of the consequences of Spock's consideration. The Empire has found a way to penetrate the universe of the Federation and has sent a spy to the Enterprise in order to learn the secrets needed for a successful takeover. The plan of the evil Picard and the Empire is to populate the Enterprise with their counterparts from the Empire. This will be the point of the spear of an all-out invasion by the Empire so it must be stopped at all costs.
To learn the secrets of the Empire and their plans, Troi, Geordi and Picard beam over to the Empire Enterprise and take over the positions of their counterparts. It is a difficult task as even the slightest misstep will lead to their being discovered. Furthermore, assassination is a regular tactic used for career advancement in the Empire so that is also a constant secondary threat.
This is an exciting episode, written to take advantage of both the military and emotional tension. The Federation people on the Empire ship are subjected to an extremely tense and emotionally draining experience and Duane does a superb job of presenting this situation. The climactic ending is also tense, full of suspense and the inclusion of the dolphin-like Hwii character was a master stroke of originality. This is one of the best Star Trek novels ever written.

Great vision of the mirror universe, although slow at times
Ah... The Mirror Universe, one of my favorite themes of Star Trek.It all started with Mirror, Mirror, Spock with a beard, Sulu with that big scar, and Uhura looking very attractive in her little uniform.Anyway, safe to say it was one of my favorite episodes.I, within the last month, just started reading Star Trek novels and this one was very high on my list of can't wait to read.

It started out extremely slow for me.Duane is very descriptive sometimes to a fault.Then I read about the dolphin character and I thought I had made a mistake about reading this book.As the enterprise figures out that they are in a different universe and that the federation ship that is off in the distance is also the enterprise.There is a lot of Holodeck, Opera, and "I'll be in my quarters" time at that point.I would say that the first 75 to 100 pages were pretty slow moving.

Then the story picked up a little bit.Picard, Troi, and Geordi are on the other enterprise trying to figure out how to get back to there own universe.My favorite part of the novel is the history of the universe that Duane is describing.From the Shakespear work that is different to the idea that the empire controls all of the surrounding space.Along with the fact thatDuane knows her characters.All the characters that we know and love from TNG. The mirror characters are equally as well written.Great Characters!!!With the exception of that dolphin showing up for time to time and going back to the opera idea a couple of more times the story moves fairly well.That includes a very exciting climax which is first rate.

A lot of criticism about this book is that it was written before the DS9 episode "Crossover" and since it has a very different history than the "canon" version that it is not worth reading.Two things to say about that:First of all, the "Shatnerverse"... enough said.Don't get me wrong Kirk is my favorite character of the Star Trek universe, and I am certainly not complaining that I can read more stories about him.However, one would have to admit that Shatner's book don't exactly follow the traditional Star Trek canon either.Secondly, as we know from the Star Trek TNG episode "Parrells" there are an infinite number of parrelle universies.Maybe Duane was simply writing about a different universe than the one we see in "Crossover".The main difference being that mirror Spock succeeded in making a difference as Kirk suggested in "Mirror, Mirror" Plus maybe Shatnerverse is actually another universe too, were James T Kirk is still alive.

Bottom line:This book is very slow in parts, but overall a very interesting and fun novel to read.If you can get past a lot of description and that damn dolphin then you have a very fascinating story here.

Grade: B

A chore.
This book was a chore to get through.I've read a handful of Trek novels, and this is my least favorite by far.It was dry, boring and difficult to get through.The novel had no structure of any kind (no build up and no climax) and the "suprise ending" was pretty lame.I found a lot of the characters saying and doing things they normally wouldn't do.I know that Duane is no stranger to the Trek franchise, but if I didn't know better I would assume that she didn't know these characters at all.

Yes a Great story and a Good ending
I did read some of the previous reviews, and I do agree that this is one of the best stories to come from the Mirror universe idea that I've ever read.The author really conveys both the good and evil quite well and in a believable way.All the Star Trek characters are well written and you hear their voices clearly.The ending is not that bad, don't be alarmed.I liked everything about this book.

Great story, weak ending
This is a wonderful story--the author really knows the characters and stays true to their personalities. Also the story is solid, and unfolds in a steady pace. But the end doesn't seem satisfying--the outcome almost seems too easy, and the pacing doesn't feel right (things happen too quickly as we get close to the end, and cause the outcome to be almost unbelievable).

I can't say more because I don't want to give away any of the story to those of you who still care to read it. It truly is a great read. Just be prepared for a slightly disappointing ending. ... Read more

Product Description

In this fully-dramatized performance of H.G. Wells' classic, The Invisible Man, Leonard Nimoy, John de Lancie, and cast memebers from Star Trekfeature films and all four TV series take you on an incredible journey.

The Invisible Man tells the story of the demented scientist, Griffin, who crumbles under his own diabolical scheme in this chilling nightmare of believable horror. The result is a masterwork—a dazzling display of unbridled imagination and psychologist insight.

Featuring virtuso performances from the entire cast, riveting sound effects, and original music, Alien Voices' production of The Invisible Man is an adventure in sound. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (141)

Different than I expected
This again reinforces my experience that using movies to get an idea of what classic novels are about does not always work.There have been many Invisible Man movies, but I don't remember any that were like this book.The main character was significantly different than I expected.He was brilliant, but deeply flawed.He would not fall into my list of literatures most likable characters.

I appreciate the kindle freebies, which has given me a chance to easily read many great works and novels.This edition was very readable.As with many freebies, there is no links in the table of contents, but that is not important to me in a novel like this.You can do a search for the word `Chapter' is you want to see how long a chapter is.

I recommend this short book for anyone interested in literature from this period.As an engineer, I was impressed by the author's explanations that made the invisibility sound plausible.

A Classic and A Great Read!


In the beginning of The Invisible Man, by H. G. Wells, attention is brought to a scientist named Griffin who has discovered the means of invisibility with an invisibility serum. Griffin has apparently gone insane in the process. The book is very descriptive and with so much of a scientific background you may think that the serum that the invisible man produced is real. Very frustrated and upset with his situation, Griffin causes a major upset at an inn in rural London which makes him an infamous beast, with London at it's peak of terror already because of the Boer War. When frustrated by failure in his many attempts to restore himself back to visibility, Griffin is determined to embark on a reign of terror upon the world.

H. G. Wells was a very strong writer and it is the situation from which the novel draws most of its power. Invisibility sounds quite enticing, but what if you were to actually become invisible? How would you cope with the ordinary details of every day life? Griffin does not cope well at all, and though Wells suggests that the invisible man's madness had arisen from a number of places and past events, he also implies that it may have arisen from the cold reality of invisibility itself.
Published in 1897, The Invisible Man was one of H. G. Wells's earliest novels. It is an extremely influential novel and it has tremendous energy and style throughout it. It's a very entertaining read and is also quite witty in a sort of way. The sense of realism and scientific explanation creates a story so heart pounding that you will not want to put it down.

What is unseen
Imagine if you were invisible and could come and go as you pleased, with nobody able to see you. Cool, right? Well, not really. H.G. Wells' "The Invisible Man" has the sci-fi master exploring what would happen if a person took an invisibility elixir, and discovered too late that invisibility has some definite downsides. It's possibly Wells' funniest novel, but it also has some wonderfully chilling moments.

A strange man arrives at a hotel in Iping, wrapped up in goggles, bandages, scarves, and heavy clothes. He spends most of his time hidden away in his room, doing odd scientific experiments, and avoiding contact with other people -- while still keeping everything except his nose hidden. Meanwhile, the local vicar and his wife are robbed by a mysterious thief... who is completely invisible.

Well, you can guess what's up with the stranger -- he's an invisible man, and after a blowup with his landlady he reveals his true.... um, lack of appearance to the entire town. After a series of disastrous encounters, the Invisible Man encounters Dr. Kemp, an old friend to whom he reveals how he became invisible, and what he's done since then... as well as his malevolent plans for the future.

H.G. Wells isn't really known for being a funny writer, but the first part of "The Invisible Man" is actually mildly hilarious. He writes the first third or so of the book in a fairly light, humorous style, and there are some fun scenes speckled through the story, like a homeless man dealing with the Invisible Man ("Not a bit of you visible--except-- You 'aven't been eatin' bread and cheese?").

But things get much darker after Mr. Kemp enters the scene, and we find out that the Invisible Man is... well, kind of malevolent and crazy. Very crazy.

And as the plot grows darker and grimmer, Wells also inserts a clever (if far-fetched even by Victorian standards) explanation for how a person could become invisible, using a mix of science and fantasy. The plot hurtles through wild chase scenes and the occasional riot, and some moments of bleak tension ("When dawn came to mingle its pallor with the lamp-light and cigar smoke of the dining-room, Kemp was still pacing...")

The Invisible Man himself (aka Griffin) is a pretty mysterious character for most of the story, since all we know about him is that he's invisible.... and also kind of a jerk. I mean, the guy constantly flies off the handle and even robs a nice little old vicar. And the more we find out about him, the more malignant and insane he turns out to be.

Even if you had a way to become invisible, "The Invisible Man" would be a pretty effective way of dissuading people from using it. A deserving classic.

Invisibility as a Result of Science
H.G. Wells was a scientific man. He wrote this book in the burgeoning scientific society (The book is published in 1897), which was to transform the entire world in the 20.th century. H.G. Wells was acutely curious about the most far reaching possiblities of science. This book actually ponders upon a scientific theory about making matter invisible. According to this theory matter is visible because it is granulated. Wells gives an example with glass: When glass is whole it is transparent and you can look through it. If you break the class and crushes it into a powder, you granulate the glass and makes it into a white powder, which is not transparent. It is the uneven surfaces of the granules which makes them non-transparent. If you can smoothen these surfaces of the granules you can make matter more transparent. Wells gives an example with paper. We can't look through paper because it is made of tiny paper fragments with uneven surfaces. But if you poor oil on the paper it has the effect of smoothening the jagged surfaces of the paper fragments making up the piece of paper, thus the paper is becoming more transparent. This is fundamentals of the theory which the scientist of the novel, Griffin, uses to make himself invisible.

Okay.
Not really what I was expecting but now I can at least say I read it. ... Read more

Product Description
In a comic whirlwind of high style, La Bête tells the story of Elomire, a 17th century French playwright, and his touring acting troupe who have come to lead the high life due to the patronage of the fickle Prince of Conti. Sparks fly when Valere, a swaggering braggert with delusions of artistic grandeur, becomes the Prince's choice to join Elomire's troupe. It is a battle of wits and witticisms as the two face off in this outrageous commentary on the nature of art and the artist in society.

A L.A. Theatre Works full-cast performance featuring: Michael Cumpsty, Jen Dede, Alice Hirson, John de Lancie, Matt Letscher, Robert Machray, Tom McGowen, Amy Pietz, Andre Sogliuzzo, Sarah Zimmerman ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Wonderful.
David Hirson, La Bete (Dramatists Play Service, 1992)

Iambic pentameter in the late eighties on the stage? Yes! And well-done iambic pentameter, at that. La Bete is something special. I'm not sure if the stage had ever seen anything like it before. When you open with a twenty-page monologue, you're most likely breaking new ground.

It's France, 1654. Prince Conti, disappointed at the lack of initiative shown by the players he keeps on retainer, has found a street performer named Valere that he wants to introduce to the company, and has arranged an introductory dinner. The action begins just after the sinner, when Valere, Elomire (the head of the company), and Bejart (Elomire's right hand man) have decamped to another room. Valere seems to hold Elomire in great regard; the feeling is not in the least mutual. After some well-spiced wordplay, Valere launches into his infamous, and quite humorous, monologue, during which Elomire comes up with an idea to make Valere look like the moron he is in front of the prince-- with thoroughly unexpected results.

It's probable that those who have never read an entire play in verse will shy away from this. Don't-- as with all formal poetry worth the name, Hirson writes in such a way that, while you're aware of the rhythm and rhyme, the usual cadences one finds in speech are to the fore most of the time. (When they're not, it's carefully calculated for some effect or other-- in most cases, ludicrous humor.) There is great amusement to be found here, as well as some rather scathing subtext; it's fun stuff that will likely make you feel a bit uncomfortable in places, as well it should. Read it; it's worth your time. *** ½

Lampooning Moliere, with a slice of modern-day editorial
While I would urge everyone to buy a copy of this script, I would especially recommend it to students of theater history (for a good laugh) and to working or studying actors and directors - its classic/modern qualities make it a wonderful bridge to performing and directing classic works, and actors will find PLENTY of first-rate scene and monologue material.

And to be sure, while its humor and satirical nature is its immediate draw, the deeper philosophical question which it (and, of course, "The Wrong Mountain") leaves us with is one which can prove debate-sparking, ideal-shifting, and life-changing. Most Highly Recommended - worth far more than five stars.

...

Hirson is the most innovative new American playwright!
This is an exciting new piece of theater writing.It is brilliantly witty and creative, evocative and lenguistically rich!It is also a delight to read aloud!

amazing
Hirson is a lenguistic god!

The best rhymed verse in literally centuries.
This is excellently-written rhymed verse in an hilarious period play abouta boorish, egotistical actor who takes over a performance company.Theunbelievable 15-page monolog by Valere, "the beast" referred toby the title, is worth the script cost alone.Because of the craftywriting, this script is alive and energetic on paper, even without theactors to give it form.And if seen in performance, the quick, wittydialog can be very informed to the audience member who has the script inhand.I love this play!! ... Read more

Product Description
In this fully dramatized version of H.G. Wells' classic, The Time Machine, Leonard Nimoy, John de Lancie, and cast members from Star Trek® feature films and all four series take you on an incredible journey.

When a time traveler seeks a better world 802,000 years into the future, his optimism is shaken when he discovers that the human race has turned upon itself in a primal display of horror.

Featuring virtuoso performances from the entire cast, riveting sound effects and original music, Alien Voices' production of The Time Machine is an adventure in sound.

Copyright © 1997 Alien Voices, Inc. All Rights reserved.
Performance Copyright 1997 Alien Voices, Inc. All Rights reserved. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (443)

Traveling Into a Dismal Future
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002RKTH14/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_img

H. G. Wells was, among other things, a pessimist. He could not believe that anything could get better than it was, and life as it was then was savagery barely curbed. This book, which has been imitated, plagiarized, made into movies, made into TV shows, parodied, and so forth, is a paean not to human good but to human bad. Neither the Morlocks nor the Eloi were really happy; they existed for each other's benefit, because the Eloi would starve without the supply of food and clothing largely supplied by the Morlocks, and the Morlocks would starve without the Eloi to eat. Such was the prevailing thought among the Socialists of his day, and a Socialist he certainly was. The book should not be assigned for junior high or high school, because the young students lack the proportion that will allow them to see what the book is about. But for an adult, or an advanced teenager, it is a poignant future of what could happen and, in Wells's mind, probably would happen in some way, in some dim future.

This is an adult book, and should be read as such.

Excessively imaginative and thought provoking read!
My review title says it all.
This is a very beautiful piece of Science Fiction.

Glad I gave it a read.

A perfect world crumbles
"A Perfect World Crumbles"
By: Cameron Wright

H. G. Wells, in his novella, The Time Machine, weaves a tale that at first seems like a simple science fiction. However, it contains many symbolisms about the lifestyle choices of mankind today. The main character's name is never given in the story; he is referred to as "The Time Traveler". He invents a machine that can travel back and forth throughout the fourth dimension of time. He successfully travels forward approximately eight-hundred thousand years into a time when humanity has been split into two groups: the Eloi and the Morlocks.


In the author's depicted future, mankind has undergone extreme favoritism of all living things. Plants, animals, food, etc, have all been winnowed into what is considered best. We act this way even in the present day. For instance, we decide which breed of dog is superior amongst the others and preserve and flourish these select. We feel that we have the right to judge and decide what has the right to exist and what does not. After eight-hundred thousand years of this practice, The Time Traveler has stumbled onto the result of a world with only "the perfect fruit" and the "the perfect animals".The Eloi live on the surface of our planet among those that have passed our critique.


The Time Traveler notices wells along the ground spread out from each other. For a time, he does not understand what they are. It seems too primitive that a well should exist in the future. He discovers that the wells lead to the underground world where the Morlocks live. The Morlocks act like slaves for the Eloi underneath the planet. They are only allowed to come onto the surface during the night. Earlier, the Time Traveler had noticed that the Eloi sleep in clumps huddled together during the night. This is because they are afraid of the Morlocks.


After living a life of carefree perfection, the Eloi have become witless and weak. They are unable to fend for themselves and depend on the Morlocks for their sustenance. The Morlocks, on the other hand, have become intelligent and strong. They have worked their entire lives and must fight simply to survive. If they attacked, they would easily be capable of defeating the feeble and delicate Eloi. A rebellion begins, and it is clear that the Morlocks will overtake and kill the Eloi. The Time Traveler is nearly killed, but escapes in his machine before the Morlocks kill him. He goes ahead much further in time and cannot find any human life. We have destroyed ourselves.


I believe that the Eloi and the Morlocks resemble today's society. The Morlocks resemble the poor who must earn their right to live through hard work and determination. Like the Morlocks, those that have to diligently work become capable and strong. The Eloi resemble the rich who are handed everything to them. When a person does not need to put effort into anything it is like the dulling of a blade. A blade cannot penetrate anything if it is not sharpened. Work and effort is our sharpener.

Another aspect found in this book relating to our society is the devaluing of what we do not think is perfect. Ultimately, if a society is made up of only who we believe is "the best-looking" or "the richest" or "the most useful", etc., while all others are diminished, the society will crumble. When the Time Traveler travels into the future, human life does not exist. We have ceased to live because we have lessened the value of life and imperfections.


The Time Machine was and still is a thought provoking novel. It caused me to evaluate the state of modern society. I think that H. G. Wells was ahead of his time. We have begun to see some of his predictions come to pass. The most obvious example would be the cause of World War II, the holocaust. Hitler implemented selective elimination of what he considered to be the weak. Even today, we see our society place value on what we believe is the most beautiful.


Reading this book has caused me to assess how I place my values. I have certainly put more value on what is most beautiful or expensive in my life at times. I do not believe that is the way God wishes for us to live our lives or view each other. In the Bible, 1 Corinthians 1:27 states, "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." This shows to me that we should not cherish only what we believe is best, but instead support the weak and less beautiful as well as the greater.

Classic of victorian science fiction
This wasn't the first time travel story in fiction -- it wasn't even H.G. Wells' first time travel story, that honor going to his short story The Chronic Argonauts -- but it's the first one to popularize the concept, and the single story generally pointed to as the archetype and progenitor of time travel in fiction. It isn't quite as riveting or fast-paced asThe War of the Worlds, but there's still a decently entertaining story here if you don't mind your sci-fi having a more Victorian pace to it.

Despite popularizing the concept of time travel as a story vehicle, it isn't really "about" time travel in the way that, say, Back to the Future is; the Time Traveler never goes into his past, and the future remains unchanged at the end of the story. As with all of Wells' fiction, he was trying to make a sociopolitical point -- here, he's critiquing socioeconomic / class divisions, and pointing out how destructive they could be in the (very long) term. (He made a similar point, with a 200-odd-year-long jump forward, in his later novel The Sleeper Awakes).

Considering that socioeconomic divisions in America are at a higher point currently that at any time since before the Great Depression, modern readers might find this book unusually, well, timely.

Different from movies
I wanted to see how this compared to the two movies.Surprisingly it is quite different.The pace certainly is much slower.The interactions with other charcters and the cause of future events makes it almost a entirely different book.The time traveler's observations and philosphy also makes it a stand alone book.I have always enjoyed the movie and its comination of adventure and peek into a possible future.This is more of a stroll where you have the time to see everything and think about what you saw.I would not say the movies were better...just different.I would say it was less Indiana Jones and more Sherlock Holmes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great book
As their world seems to be unraveling around them, the brothers Owen and Harley Keegan take action. Owen takes his wife and autistic daughter, and flees to the safety of a boat on the ocean. Harley, ever the fighter, decides stay and build a home in this new world. However, neither understands how truly new the world now is. The Earth has moved into a sphere of being, the place where true intelligence exists, and the human mind is coming to grips (or not) with the new reality. Some people gain new powers, but many die. It is a war of all against all...but it's even worse then that, for at the core of the world exists the One. For many cycles, the Earth has belonged to the One, and it has no desire to share it with the upstart newcomers - man.

I must admit to some trepidation when I picked this book up. I read I. Q., also cowritten by John De Lancie, and did not enjoy it. However, what that book tried to be, this book is. Even as the world unravels, the story stays strong and clear. This book keeps you at the edge of your seat, and up all night! I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Dostoyevskys titanic novels are transformed into spellbinding drama. The passionate Karamazov brothers spring to life, led by their rogue of a father, who entertains himself by drinking, womanizing, and pitting his three sons against each other. In The Idiot, meet the childlike Prince Myshkin, as he returns to the decadent social whirl of St. Petersburg. The two most beautiful women in town compete for his affections, in a duel that grows increasingly dangerous.

A L.A. Theatre Works full-cast performance featuring: (The Brothers Karamazov) John de Lancie, Sharon Gless, Arye Gross, Harry Hamlin, Kaitlin Hopkins, Joseph Mascolo, Richard Hoyt Miller, John Randolph, John Rubinstein, Tom Virtue and Ping Wu; (The Idiot) Edward Asner, Kate Asner, Angela Bettis, Arye Gross, John Kapelos, Robert Machray, Jon Matthews, Johanna McKay, Paul Mercier, Laurel Moglen, Michael Rivkin, Peggy Roeder and Douglas Weston. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

It takes long to read but will change your life!
The Brothers Karamozov is an epic yet personal novel that will knock the wind out of you.My favorite character is the vapid Grushenka who bedevils all of the slightly twisted Karamozov brothers and Father.A great bookfor its religious, historic, and lyrical values.

Best novel I've ever read!!
"Brothers Karamozov" is so good right from the first paragraph that I literally could not put it down -- I read it while cooking, during an ultrasound exam (!), even for 5 minutes in church!It's a grand,sweeping epic of a novel, which reads like the latest page-turner on thebest seller list -- the characters are so vivid & real & 3D, themost amazing & appalling things keep happening to them and keep beingcaused by them, & yet at the same time it's a fascinating look at 19thcent. Russian life & mores, at religion, at the psychology offamilies....just a FANTASTIC novel, I've never read a finer one!!

Immense, powerful, thought provoking, difficult, amazing
This amazing epic is a story on four levels.It is a murder mystery and a character study (on a grand scale).It is also a treatise on religion as well as monumental expose of pre Bolshevik Russia. One of the truly greatnovels I have ever read.Enormous in scope, microscopic in detail. Achallengingread that will leave you drained but wanting more. ... Read more

Product Description
# Document Type: Musical Score# Contents: Die Natali ; First symphony ; Intermezzo from "Vanessa" ; Medea's dance of vengeance ; Overture to "The school for scandal" ; Piano concerto ; Violin concerto / Samuel Barber -- Schelomo / Ernest Bloch -- Invocation and dance / Paul Creston -- Symphonie (Mathis der Maler) ; Nobilissima visione ; Symphonic metamorphoses / Paul Hindemtih -- Classical symphony ; Lieutenant Kije ; March and scherzo ; Peter and the wolf ; Romeo and Juliet. Suite no. 1 ; Romeo and Juliet. Suite no. 2 ; Sixth symphony ; Seventh symphony ; First violin concerto ; Second violin concerto / Sergey Prokofiev -- First symphony ; Fifth symphony ; Ninth symphony / Dmitri Shostakovich -- Scenes de ballet ; Symphony in C ; Symphony in three movements / Igor Stravinsky -- Louisiana story / Virgil Thomson. ... Read more

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1983 44 PP 8X11 PHOTOS, TEXT, CHARTS, KINCAID ISSUE ... Read more

Product Description
As conspiracy swirls around Caesar, Shakespeare explores the deep repercussions of political murder on the human heart.A classic tale of duplicity, betrayal and murder, masterfully performed by an all-star, all-American cast in this BBC co-production. ... Read more