Product Description
The book centres around a young rabbit called Howther in a world of talking animals where he grows up before the readers eyes through a series of adventures. Along the way he meets many other characters, some of whom who are not all that they appear to be and mirroring the same sorts and types that we all meet in real life. It is a story of travel, of overcoming personal fears and self doubt and of understanding that life is what you make it in a world full of personal choices. ... Read more

Product Description
The pop-singer Cliff Richard looks at the reasons why Christians can be plagued with doubt, wonder whether their faith was real and question their very relationship with God. He asserts these problems are not unique and do not invalidate faith. Cliff's previous books are "Mine to Share", "Single-Minded", "Jesus, Me and You", "You, Me and Jesus" and "Which One's Cliff?" ... Read more

Product Description
Sir Cliff Richard was given his knighthood for his charitable work and Steve Chalke is well known as the presenter of GMTV's appeal "Get Up and Give" and for his ten years running Christmas Cracker. Now they combine forces to show how everyone can do something to help others. Packed with ideas, "Get up and Give" shows how to use time and money to make an impact. Campaigning and lifestyle issues are also covered along with a special chapter on how to involve children. All ideas are backed with practical and motivational case studies along with useful addresses and tips. ... Read more

Product Description
Buffy Summers: the dysfunctional teenage vampire slayer whose woes continue in this classic missing chapter from the Buffy mythology that bridges the gap between the film that started it all and the mega-smash hit TV series! Buffy's life continues to implode. Her parents, mired in a loveless marriage, have finally parted, leaving Buffy and sister Dawn devastated. However, Angel, Buffy's vampire admirer, uses black magic to try and ease her pain, accidentally unleashing a Malignancy Spirit that begins to fuel Buffy's growing guilt, pain and rage. Oops...Brought to you by fan-favourites Fabian Nicieza (Spider-Man) and Cliff Richards, Stake to the Heart proves there is no greater horror than real life! ... Read more

Product Description
Enter the mystic world of Aranna in Dungeon Siege II: The River of Souls. Based on the upcoming game Dungeon Siege II from Gas Powered Games, The River of Souls tells the thrilling story of two of Aranna's most influential legends, Zaramoth the Unmaker and Azunai. The magical River of Souls holds the energy used to make magic possible. The evil giant Zaramoth seeks to claim the River for himself. The brave human chieftain Azunai knows that the River's magic belongs to all of Aranna. When Zaramoth and Azunai finally meet on the battlefield Aranna will be changed forever! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Dungeon Siege
I love this game so much.I bought a second copy to give to my nephew.

A comic book not a novel.

Let me say this again. This is a comic book. Not a novel in the paperback text type. It's a dark horse brand comic. Not the traditional comic paper book but a short novel book. Colorful.

I'm playing the Dungeon Siege II game. I haven't played the first game and thought it might be interesting to pick up what was described as a "paperback". You've been warned. ... Read more

Product Description
The gang is off to college and Buffy`s whole world is changing. How much education does a girl who`s destined to kill monsters her whole life really need? To quell her confusion, Buffy throws herself into Slaying with wild abandon and disastrous results. Her killing of Sunnydale`s answer to big foot may just bring about the rising of the demon Ky-Laag, and the end of the world. And the only group who know what`s going on and who want to stop it, the mysterious Blood of Carthage, also want to kill Buffy for starting it all. What`s a gal to do? This trade paperback collects issues #21-25 of the monthly series and is its longest and most involved storyline to date. The events in this story will have repercussions in the Buffy-verse for years to come, so do not miss it! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A Rich, Well-Written Story
Christopher Golden is really an impressive writer.What I've read of his work before this was mostly original short stories and some short Buffy tales, and none of it really worked very well for me.There were a few glimmers of talent here and there, but I was beginning to think that he was overrated."The Blood of Carthage," a five issue story arc set in the fourth season of Buffy, changed that for me.It's a very in-character, textured story that, for the most part, wouldn't feel out of place in the canon of the Buffyverse, which is rare for an early Dark Horse Buffy comic.

Golden writes all of the characters extremely well, though my favorite of his has to be Anya.She's as hilarious here as she is in the show.The overall mood of the comic nicely captures what the characters were going through at the time this takes place, but also adds its own stuff to the story.The Xander/Willow flashbacks were awesome, and though that part of the story and its influence on the present did seem a smidgen forced, it was worth it to get those glimpses back.The Spike flashbacks were also awesome.I really liked that they got different artists for each flashback; that really suited the style of each character.

The book wasn't perfect, and I did think the inclusion of Lucy Hanover was interesting, but also so epic that it kind of highlighted the fact that this book was non-canonical, because such an event would have been referenced in canon.Nevertheless, that was the only real flaw I could think of.There were beats of "meh" throughout the story, but for the most part, it was a very solid tale that wasn't afraid to show that it wasn't just a good Buffy story, it was a great story of its own.

8/10

A poem from me to the world...


Some beach...somewhere
Some city....out there
Some cat....out where?
Some mother...to embrace
Some dad...with a backbrace
Someone...with an empty face
some heart...with no place
Some rocker...with no identity
Some babysitter...without a cent for me
Some boy...becoming a man
Some man...named dan
Some milk....gone sour
Some girl...is a coward
Some whore...left undone
some steak...cooked well done
Some girl...with no soul
Some fish...with a bowl
Some leaf...turning green
some girl...becoming a teen
Some granpda...dying
some hooker...lying

some father...writing a poem
Some people...reading his poem

Even Slayers Make Mistakes
This trade paperback presents a serial story that originally appeared in issues 21 through 25 of the BTVS comics.Officially it occurs at the end of the third season, but is more of a bridge into season four, presenting Buffy as a new freshman in college, desperately trying to balance the pressures of real scholastic work with her night job - slaying.When an old, scary legend of 'Mad Jack' comes back to life, Buffy over-reacts and kills the first suspect demon without a thorough investigation.The result is a major crisis when it turns out that Mad Jack was just the guardian over something much worse.

Originally released during the Roman conquest of Carthage, Ky-Laag is major badness.He was only brought under control at that time by the wiles of Vraka, another demon, who led a cult called 'The Blood of Carthage.'Several thousand years later Buffy has let the rabbit out of the hate, and Vraka heads for Sunnydale to try to stop Ky-Laag and, in his spare time, kill the offending slayer.Buffy feels the same way about Vraka, but, if they don't work something out, they will be dead and the rest of us will be worshipping Ky-Laag.

One of the other key story arcs is Willow's need for emancipation from a Xander who still treats her like a childhood sidekick. As a young woman with significant magical and intellectual skills this has become more than a little irritating.In a series of flashbacks we see the developing relationship between the two as children.One in which Xander often took the lead.The other piece of history is a series of pieces about Vraka and reason for his bad feelings towards Spike.It should be no surprise that these do not paint the vampire with a chip in his head in a very good light.

One has to think of 'The Blood of Carthage' as more than a trade paperback rehashing the contents of a series of comic books.The story itself is larger than its media, and the trade paperback or graphic novel suits it best.Part of this is due to the efforts of Christopher Golden as writer, and the rest is due to editor Scott Allie's decision to deviate from the story telling style in the previous comic series - 'Bad Blood.'This is not intended to be a criticism of Andi Watson's rambling nine-issue series.Instead, Allie decided it was time for a change of pace and then turned to Golden, a proven Buffy novelist, to implement the idea.

Golden's story line is structured much like a novel, with a focused major story arc and rising levels of complexity and intensity.To break up the pacing a bit we are treated with flashbacks to Willow's childhood with Xander and Spike's first encounter with Vraka.Another thing that makes this series special is the carefully managed creative artwork.While Cliff Richards is the artist for the main story,Chynna Clugston-Major and the team of Paul Lee and Brian Horton each get one of the flashback series.This is cleverly orchestrated to provide different moods and contexts.The art really is excellent, and a separate article on what went into it is included in this volume.

If you have been wondering which trade paperback to buy first, this should be high on your list.

Xander and Willow flashbacks. . .a great trade!
I think this trade has issues 21-25 of the series, I can't be sure but the info I got is from the Dark Horse comics website.The issues aren't sectioned in the trade (the blood of carthage), they run together to form a really good story with rather good artwork.We even get to see Xander and Willow as kids!Its a good stand alone trade, I really recommend it.Spike and Dru make an appearance and Giles makes scones!The coolest thing about the trade is the Xander/Willow storyline because it really examines their relationship and who is the sidekick (or not).Christopher Golden is a great Buffy writer, I suggest you pick this one up.

A bloody good read
The only problem with this excellent graphic novel is that it isn't a full length book. A plot so complex and characters so rich they deserve 300 pages. Christopher Golden never disappoints.

The art workis exciting and colorful. I think the actors are well drawn. Their voices are true.

Set in the fourth season, Buffy is at college. The pressures weigh heavy on her slayer duties. Whenshe kills the wrong demon all Hell breaks loose which forces deadly enemies to work together. I recommend this to all Buffy fans ... Read more

Product Description
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is back, expanding the mythos of the wildly popular television series. As Sunnydale becomes an increasingly hazardous place to re-kill the undead, the ante is upped as Buffy must again confront her old enemy Selke. And she`s back with bad blood -- a supernatural brew that can dramatically increase a vampire`s powers! Collecting issues #13-15 of the ongoing series. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

The "Bad Blood" Story Arc Continues
Dark Horse's first run of Buffy (the old non-canonical comics not written by Joss) were uneven as far as quality goes, except with the early issues.The early issues of the comic were consistently bad, and that is mostly the fault of writer Andi Watson, who doesn't have anything resembling a feel for the pace, style, or wit of the show.His earlier issues made people believe he'd never even seen the show, and while it's clear in this book that he's done his homework since then, his writing still lacks the quality that should be attached to the "Buffy" name.

With "Bad Blood," (a nine issue long), Andi Watson attempts to create a longer narrative set in the show's third season.A vampire named Selke from Watson's "Cold Turkey" issue comes back, seeking revenge on Buffy for scarring her face.But first, Selke seeks out a plastic surgeon who resorts to magic AND mayonnaise to try to make Selke think he's successfully helping her.In the end of the first part (which, sad to say for readers wanting to not feel like they missed something while reading this) you get as an import or in the omnibus, which I'll write about later.

This volume, "Crash Test Demons," is made up of three issues that continue the "Bad Blood" story line.Andi Watson tried to give these issues the feel of a 'season' of Buffy by having side-stories happen while the Selke threat builds, but there are two problems with that.The side-stories are incredibly bad, featuring Cordelia wearing a brooch so she could participate in a school Quiz Bowl and Spike and Drusilla stopping into Sunnydale for an extremely unfulfilling three pages (there is one more page with him in Pale Reflections, the concluding volume to this story arc.But don't expect the Spike/Dru 'storyline' to get paid off, as you'll be very disappointed.

A plus about this volume is Cliff Richards' art. From this point on, we see much, much less of the green-skinned and bat-like vampires, which was a huge downer for Dark Horse's run of the older Buffy comics.Cliff isn't as good here as he became later, but I was surprised by how good the art was in this volume.Because, let me be honest, Andi Watson's writing doesn't deserve Cliff's art.

PS: If you don't want to waste your money on these individual trades, the entire nine issues of the "Bad Blood" arc is collected in Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Omnibus, Volume 4.

3/10

Graphic SF Reader
Pretty light, disposable comics fare, with the occasional quip.Perhaps the problem with this is that they are comics aimed at kids, or young readers, or young adult readers, or whatever, without the touch necessary to make them appeal to everybody.If that is the case, they apparently did the job, but adult readers should probably look elsewhere.

AN EARLY BUFFY STORY ARC
This graphic novel collects issues 13 - 15 of the Buffy Comic series and features a story from Buffy's early high school years, probably circa season one.The Story by Andi Watson features the teen vampire villian called Selke.She's a vain, model type who is withering away.With the help of aalchemist/plastic surgeon, Selke is given daily treatments to restore her beauty but also finds a special blood source that makes vampires stronger than ever. Selve proceeds to lead a small army of super-vamps who threaten the Slayer as well as the average vamps.This eventually leads to all out war between the two factions of Vamps with Buffy and Angel caught in the middle.

It's a solid storyline.Watson clearly has a good grasp of the various characters and their mannerisms, speech, befavior, etc, and they fit along very well with their TV counterparts.Nothing here in anyway would upset or contrast with the continuity of the TV show.Cliff Richards' art is very strong and he does a great job of making the characters look true to life, not always easy to do for a comic artist.

Title Shortage
This is one of those special moments when you realize that somebody out there in the world of publishing simply ran out of ideas for a title.I have no clue why Scott Allie (the usual editor for the trade paperbacks) decided that 'Crash Test Demons' was the perfect title.Well, a car is crunched (by Buffy), there is a test (Cordelia's) and, of course, where there is a Buffy there are demons.Fortunately, one does not judge a story by its title.

Now for a little continuity.This graphic trade paperback presents the stories from BTVS comics 13, 14, and 15.They also comprise numbers 4, 5, and 6 of 'Bad Blood,' the story of Buffy's conflict with Selke.It is the sequel to the trade paperback of the same name.

"Delia's Gone" introduces us to an entirely new Cordelia.She is determined to help Willow win the intramural quiz-bowl competition when another contestant is vampirized at a bad time (it there a good time?).Selke has her looks back and does a little partying before hatching a plot to take out The Slayer and turn Sunnydale into a meat market.

"Love Sick Blues" finds Buffy trying to figure out where a sudden run of super vampires is coming from.Fortunately, they seem to spend as much time picking on each other as they do making food runs.Of course, Selke and Doc Flitter know what's cooking, but they are not about to share the information.

Angel and Giles try to track down the source of the strange vampires in "Lost Highway."Buffy is trying to make it to a concert one what was supposed to be her night off, but, as usual, a few 'things' get in her way.Selke and the Doc have gone over the edge cooking up a bit of a surprise for our girl with the stake.

Artwork is by Cliff Richards and Joe Pimentel and is up to their usual high standard.The 'extra' in this book is an interview with Cliff Richards (who lives in Brazil) and includes many of the trial sketches that got him the job.Of all the illustrators that have worked on the comics, Richards seems best at capturing the characters as they appear in the program.

Andi Watson's story line is getting a bit erratic as the series progresses.The individual plots compete with the Selke story arc, creating a profusion of scene shifts.This doesn't seem to work as well in the intense format of a comic story as it does in a media where there is more space to grow the story.Even so, this is another 'must have' for the determined Buffy fan.

Great!
This trade collects issues 13, 14, and 15 of the ongoing series.The cover art for each issue is great, and the interior art is crisp and clean.It makes for easy reading.In "Delia's Gone" Cordelia wants to be a quiz champion so she employs a little magic.Things go awry, and in the meantime Selke continues to plot and plan.This issue has some very funny dialogue, I really enjoyed it.Next is "Love Sick Blues" with everyone's favorite -- Spike and Dru!Also, Selke is trying to make some sort of Buffy clone. . .a very good continuation of the storyline.In "Lost Highway" Selke and co. are trying to make their dark slayer but with a few mess-ups.This trade is well drawn, exciting, and well written.Certainly worthwhile. ... Read more

Product Description
Discusses the Native Americans known as the Anasazi, who migrated to southwestern Colorado in the first century A.D. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Ancient Cliff Dwellers of Mesa Verde
I am fascinated by the Anasazi people and have visited Chaco Canyon in New Mexico in 2005.I visited Mesa Verde in June of 2008.Although the park rangers who led tours provided a lot of information about the people of Mesa Verde, I wanted to know much more.This book provided much useful information.It was written in language that was easy to understand and any archeologist words used were defined.It was illustrated with frequent high quality photographs.

Nothing new here
This book is a quick, interesting read for a grade-school kid, but it's coverage of both the history of Mesa Verde and the Anasazi people who lived there is shallow and sheds little light on the subject. Few of theassertations in the book (for example, that the male members of thecommunity built the cliff dwellings and that the kivas were used forceremonial purposes) are backed up with any documentation or reasoning. Thephotos are just average in quality, and the reader finishes the book notknowing much more about the cliff dwellers than when she started. Even kidswant more info than this! ... Read more