Before the Frost

Before the Frost
Average customer rating:

Interesting But Lacks Mystery: Mostly A Compelling and Entertaining Light Read

Great mystery, great characters

A family affair-- the introduction of Linda Wallander

I hope he keeps writing Wallander Thrillers

Like father, like daughter

Before the Frost
Henning Mankell
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Women Sleuths | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Fifth Woman (A Kurt Wallander Mystery)

One Step Behind

Firewall

The Return of the Dancing Master

The Man Who Smiled (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard)

ASIN: 1400095816
Release Date: 2006-02-14

Book Description

In this latest atmospheric thriller, Kurt Wallander and his daughter Linda join forces to search for a religious fanatic on a murder spree. Just graduated from the police academy, Linda Wallander returns to Skane to join the police force, and she already shows all the hallmarks of her father--the maverick approach, the flaring temper. Before she even starts work she becomes embroiled in the case of her childhood friend Anna, who has inexplicably disappeared. As the case her father is working on dovetails with her own, something far more dangerous than either could have imagined begins to emerge. They soon find themselves forced to confront a group of extremists bent on punishing the world's sinners.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting But Lacks Mystery: Mostly A Compelling and Entertaining Light Read.......2007-03-10

As a brief point of reference, I have purchased and read seven of the nine Wallander novels and I am roughly familiar with the plots of the remaining two, i.e.: Firewall and The Fifth Woman.

The present novel is average in that series, i.e.: good entertainment but not a great novel. It is well written and it is a compelling read. It is similar in length to his later novels - about 500 pages - and it is well written with interesting characters. There is a very minor international element to the story. It is interesting to read about Linda but her role and the plot stretches the imagination to the breaking point.

I thank fellow reviewer Leonard Fleisig for bringing this author to my attention. The writing is superb and if for example you like Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks series you will love this book.

In the following comments, I have excluded elements of the plot that would reveal the story.

For Wallander fans, this is novel # 9 where Linda moves onto center stage replacing her father as the protagonist. The story is set in Ystad, in Southern Sweden, and it takes place just days before Linda joins the Ystad police force. In many sections Kurt Wallander plays a secondary role or no role. Linda takes the lead while her father reluctantly follows, often after a few shouting matches and the throwing of objects onto the floor or at each other.

The murder mystery element is minimal because the story is a third party narrative where we follow two parallel stories: the story of the killers, and a second story that follows Detective Kurt Wallander and his daughter Linda. So, the reader follows the crimes as they take place and the reader knows what is happening; there is no mystery with regard to "who did it." The only "mystery" here is when will Wallander and his daughter solve the crime? As we reach the end, the two stories converge and of course we can assume the Wallanders will solve the case. To find out whether they do or not you will have to read the book.

I thought that the novel was good but less than perfect. There are fewer murders than in some prior novels, which are good, and there is a lot written about the thoughts of Linda - including flashbacks to her childhood. If you are not familiar with the Mankell style, the standard Wallander formula is a story set in Southern Sweden, with a series of gruesome murders used to tie the story all together. In the other novels, Wallander works around the clock with other police officers including Chief Holgersson, Högland, Martinsson, and the crime scene investigator Nyberg. Wallander is usually in the station smoking and drinking coffee pulling all night sessions until they find the killers. That is mostly gone here but a bit remains. That technique and all the killing is mostly missing here, although some animals are killed and one person is murdered in the first half of the book. Now it is about Linda and her girl friends and how she solves the murder case almost by instinct.

The novel is not as good as Faceless Killers or as good as One Step Behind. Those two are still the best in the series.

Great mystery, great characters.......2007-02-09

I have read nearly all of Mankell's novels and this is one of the very best - the character development is great and the story consistently surprises you. Mankell is tops and he does not resort to overly detailed descriptions of horrific events, but rather focuses on his characters' reactions which is much more effective. If you are new to his writing, you are in for a treat - read them all.

A family affair-- the introduction of Linda Wallander.......2006-12-02

It is becoming nearly standard to add some life to a detective series by introducing a child of the main character (usually a daughter) as someone to follow in the footsteps of the parent. Most writers are not able to make it work (the failure of Cindy Decker in the Kellerman novels springs to mind) but Mankell makes it looks like an easy thing to do. Before the Frost succeeds remarkably well, and is one of my favorites in the Wallander series.

Mankell has a unique knack of dealing with criminals and subjects that would be too far-fetched in the hands of a lesser writer. In Before the Frost, he explores the subject of religious extremism and cults carried to criminal length. It is an interesting plot, and fits well with the general project that his books seem to have of exploring the changing state of Sweden.

Very highly recommended, either for established series readers or for people new to Kurt Wallander.

I hope he keeps writing Wallander Thrillers.......2006-10-05

I read all of Mankells Mysteries with Inspector Wallander and this one as well is just mesmerizing and fascinating. Mankell spins a net out of actions and hints you just can't wait to find out why and how.... I missed my train stop 3 times because I couldnt stop reading! Love Love Love - please more!!!

Like father, like daughter.......2006-08-12

Chief Inspector Kurt Wallender of the Ystad police force is back, but he's not the protagonist this time. That role goes to his daughter, Linda, who was often in the background of the previous novels in this excellent series. Nearly thirty years old, having attempted careers in furniture restoring and the theater, she's finally settled on becoming a cop. Personality-wise, she's very much like her father -- which isn't always a good thing -- but she also seems to have his basic investigative instincts. However, being just out of the academy -- she doesn't even officially start her job for some weeks yet -- she's also prone to all the rookie errors as she becomes involved in the disappearance of a childhood friend who has only recently come back into her life. Dad is working on the brutal murder by beheading of an inoffensive old lady in a forest shack, and (naturally) the two cases creep closer together until everyone is embroiled in a fundamentalist Christian terrorist plot, the roots of which go back to Jonestown. (Mankell has a nice sense of irony, setting all of this in the weeks preceding 9/11.) Linda is an interesting character and I look forward to watching her professional development. Oh, and Stefan Lindman (from The Return of the Dancing Master) has transferred to Ystad, so you know Linda will be seeing some action in her personal life, too.

Before the Frost: A Linda Wallander Mystery

Average customer rating:

Not Up to Usual High Standards
Not as good as Mankell's others
Linda Wallander's debut
A Cerebral Detective Novel
Wallander Series Jumps a Generation

Before the Frost: A Linda Wallander Mystery
Henning Mankell , and Ebba Segerberg
Manufacturer: New Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

German | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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Women Sleuths | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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Firewall
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ASIN: 1565848357

Book Description

The internationally acclaimed crime writer introduces a new, young heroine with a familiar father.

Linda Wallander is bored. Just graduated from the police academy, she is waiting to start work at the Ystad police station and move into her own apartment. Meantime, she is living with her father and, like fathers and daughters everywhere, they are driving each other crazy. Nor will they be able to escape each other when she moves out. Her father is Inspector Kurt Wallander, a veteran of the Ystad police force, whom she will have to work alongside.

Linda's boredom doesn't last long. Soon she is embroiled in the case of her childhood friend Anna, who has inexplicably disappeared. As the investigation proceeds, she makes a few rookie mistakes. They are understandable, but they are also life-threatening. And as the case her father is working on dovetails with her own, something far more calculated and dangerous than either could have imagined begins to emerge.

Already an international bestseller, Before the Frost inaugurates Henning Mankell's new mystery series about Linda Wallander, and also features Stefan Lindman of The Return of the Dancing Master.

Customer Reviews:

Not Up to Usual High Standards.......2006-07-29

When Henning Mankell is in form, he is one of the best writers working in the crime novel genre. His book, "One Step Behind" is one of the finest crime novels I have ever read. On the surface, Kurt Wallander is not the most appealing of heroes. He is a middle aged Swedish detective with a gloomy disposition. However, his remarkable intelligence and driving energy make him a pleasure to know.

In this novel, the center of gravity switches from Kurt to his daughter, Linda Wallander. Linda is about to join the Ystad Police Force and becomes involved in her own mystery when a childhood friend dissapears. Linda Wallander has a lot of the negative aspects of Wallander's gloomy personality and none of the charm. For a crime novel to really work, the reader needs to sympathize with the protagonist. In the final analysis, I did not like Linda Wallander or her difficult relationship with her father.

Not as good as Mankell's others.......2006-06-16

Having read about eight of Mankell's previous novels, I was anxious to get my hands on this one. First I'll give a plot summary and then I'll explain my disappointment in this book.

Linda Wallander, daughter of Kurt Wallander, is eager to get her police uniform and begin her new position. Having just completed Police Academy she is sensitive to what goes on around her and when she is unable to contact her friend Anna, who has stood her up, she begins to fear for her friend's safety. Her Dad dismisses all of this as poppycock until a second friend, Zeba also goes missing. An event in Zeba's past offers a possible connection to two murders the police are currently investigating. Though she's not officially a police officer, Linda's Dad allows her to participate in the investigation.

And this is where things begin to go awry. Some of Linda's amateur tactics such as peeping through windows and going off on her own in a time of great danger seemed just plain dumb. I kept wondering why Mankell had chosen a plot in which his new heroine was not yet on the police force, and despite her training at the Academy still a rank amateur. And why at this late date make Kurt Wallander out as a complete jerk (in some ways) unless to invite sympathy for his daughter. Didn't work for me. I miss the old Kurt.

The book is very well written as are all of Mankell's earlier works, but this time I felt that the plot dragged a bit. Still, I look forward to Mankell's next book in this new series, and hope it will be better than this inauspicious start.

Linda Wallander's debut.......2006-01-07

Linda, daughter of the infamous Kurt Wallander, star of several Mankell novels, has just graduated from the police academy, and is a few days away from starting her job at the police station her father works at when her friend Anna disappears.

As she tags along with her father on an investigation, it soon becomes obvious that Anna's disappearance and a woman's murder could be linked, but the problem is in figuring out what that link is.

This well written novel is fast-paced and will keep you turning the pages late into the night. It shows us the tensions that exist between father and daughter, as well as the deep love that they have for each other. Also, the reader can see just how similar they really are: stuborn and determined. It is also clear from this book that Linda Wallander is here to stay, and should make an appearance in future Mankell creations.

A Cerebral Detective Novel.......2005-07-12

In this the ninth of Henning Mankell's detective mysteries about Police Office Kurt Wallander, his daughter Linda has just finished policy academy when this extremely-well written novel that appeals equally to both the head and heart begins. It has so much going for it: a very complicated plot but one that is very timely, characters you care about deeply, good writing, thoughtful commentary on relationships, mortality, religious cults, and finally-- without giving away the story-- a tribute to the U. S. and the tragedy of September 11, 2001.

Unlike many detective mysteries, this one is solved by police officers instead of, say, hairdressers or journalists or college English professors, making the story much more realistic. How many hairdressers in real life, for example, take time out from dyeing roots to avenge the dead?

There are beautiful passages here on a variety of subjects including death: "You only have so many races in your life. You just have to try to win a many of them as you can." And "Births and death are going on all around us all the time. But the dying seems more pronounced when you reach the front of the line. Now that my father [Kurt Wallander's] is dead there's no one ahead of me anymore."

This fine novel certainly rises about the genre of detective fiction. It is reminiscent of such first-class novels as Janette Turner Hospital's OYSTER and Margaret Atwood's THE HANDMAID'S TALE, just to name two.

Wallander Series Jumps a Generation.......2005-06-23

This novel begins with a short opening chapter in which a nameless narrator describes how he escaped from the bloodbath that culminated Jim Jones People's Temple cult in Jamestown, Guyana in 1978. The action then switches to southern Sweden in late August 2001. Inspector Wallander has to investigate an odd report of burning swans on a local lake. Soon afterwards in another strange incident a calf is burnt alive. Meanwhile Wallander's daughter, Linda, is in town, recently having completed her training to be a policewoman and now at something of a loose end until she starts up officially as one of her father's colleagues. Her old schoolfriend Anna surprises her with the news that her father, who had disappeared when she was a very small girl, has reappeared. Then Anna herself vanishes and Linda, unable to convince her father to take the matter very seriously, goes off to investigate by herself.

After eight instalments of Wallander Mankell seemed to get a bit fed up and gave us the engaging `Return of the Dancing Master' in which a new protagonist Stefan Lindman goes chasing fascists around rather more northerly parts of Sweden. Here we come back to the familiar territory of Ystad but the focus shifts somewhat to the next generation. Indeed `Dancing Master's apparent departure from the series is now worked in as here is Lindman newly transferred to Ystad after recovering from his cancer and maybe Linda starting to fancy him a bit...

The story resembles `Dancing Master' again in the way the main protagonist's life is complicated by a lack of clear official status. In `Dancing Master' Lindman was on sick leave, away from his home turf, offering the local cops some outside assistance they weren't particularly keen to receive. Here Linda is a rookie whose first day as a proper cop is imminent but hasn't quite arrived.

As we now expect with Mankell, it's a great read, intriguing and beautifully plotted with believable vivid characters. As again is usual for him the story is perhaps a bit to grandiose in its large global political themes to be altogether credibly foisted on this tiny rural police precinct. As always it's all such terrific fun we forgive him instantly and look forward keenly to the next instalment. (Though I did feel that Mankell's studied timing of his story of murderous religious fanaticism to end neatly on September 11th, 2001 was decidedly contrived and most definitely overdoing it.)

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Antes De Que Hiele/before the Frost
Henning Mankell
Manufacturer: Tusquets Editor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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Police Procedurals | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Métodos de la Policía | Misterio | Libros en español | Formats | Books
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Pisando Los Talones / One Step Behind
Asesinos Sin Rostro / Faceless Killers (Coleccion Andanzas) (Coleccion Andanzas)

ASIN: 8483103303

Product Description

Before the Frost is the first of a series of crime novels starring Linda Wallander, Kurt Wallander's daughter. In this volume, Linda will be faced with a worrying phenomenon, all too frequent in today's society: that of religious fanaticism brought to its utmost consequences. Kurt Wallander and Linda will face this new and action-packed case together. In the course of the investigation, Linda will meet agent Stefan Lindman (the protagonist of The Return of the Dance Master) who will leave a very good impression on her. La primera de la serie de novelas policiacas protagonizadas por Linda Wallander, hija del inspector Kurt Wallander. En ella, Linda se las verá con un fenómeno preocupante, frecuente en nuestros días: el del fanatismo religioso llevado hasta sus últimas consecuencias.

Before Adam / Children of the Frost (Two Novels)

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From the Publisher: Jack London, the Adventurer.

Before Adam / Children of the Frost (Two Novels)
Jack London
Manufacturer: Mondial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1595690395

Book Description

Author of more than fifty books, Jack London, born in San Francisco, grew up across the bay in Oakland. Variously a tramp, a fisherman, a longshoreman, and a sailor, London also worked as a gold prospector and a war correspondent. Among his influences are those of Social Darwinism, Nietzsche and Marx. Although his writings suggest a complexity of ideas, he is commonly categorized as a literary naturalist. His adventure stories of Alaska and the Pacific continue to fascinate new generations of readers.--- In Before Adam, the protagonist relives, in his dreams, the pre-stoneage life of one of his proto-human ancestors.--- Children of the Frost is a collection of stories set in the frozen wastes of the Yukon during the "Gold Rush".

Customer Reviews:

From the Publisher: Jack London, the Adventurer........2007-02-16

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Before The Frost
Henning Mankell
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OHHNQS

Boardman Robinson: Featuring intimate recollections and images never before published

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Boardman Robinson: Featuring intimate recollections and images never before published
Hunter S Frost
Manufacturer: Tiverton Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0960357823

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Evidence Before Gabriel
Conrad Frost
Manufacturer: Aldus Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IZ0KW0

A Life Worthwhile: Memories of a Banker's Son Growing Up Across Canada in the Years Before World War II

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A Life Worthwhile: Memories of a Banker's Son Growing Up Across Canada in the Years Before World War II
C. Sydney Frost
Manufacturer: Neptune Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0969221886

The Magazine of History with notes and Queries, Extra Numbers 57-60: Notes and Observations on the Pine Lands of Georgia; Entertainment For A Winter's Evening; Chicago Copperhead Convention; Abraham Lincoln; Death of a Witness of the Tragedy; Before....

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The Magazine of History with notes and Queries, Extra Numbers 57-60: Notes and Observations on the Pine Lands of Georgia; Entertainment For A Winter's Evening; Chicago Copperhead Convention; Abraham Lincoln; Death of a Witness of the Tragedy; Before....
George; Green, Joseph; Frost, William G.; Withers, William; Johns, Jane Martin; Taylor, Bayard; Ash, Thomas; Dean, Jasper; Volek, A.J. Sibbald
Manufacturer: William Abbatt
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000TZ8STG

Asian flare: a Japanese stroll garden inspires an addition that's intimately tied to the outside.(Before + After): An article from: Remodeling

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Asian flare: a Japanese stroll garden inspires an addition that's intimately tied to the outside.(Before + After): An article from: Remodeling

Manufacturer: Hanley-Wood, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Since their takeover of Obernewtyn, the community of Misfits has flourished, protected by their remoteness. Believing they have time to marshal new forces before the confrontation with the totalitarian Council, they work hard to develop their forbidden mental abilities. But it is foreseen by a futureteller that the fate of Obernewtyn is inextricably bound up in their quest.

Customer Reviews:

"There are some things no barrier can hold away".......2006-02-28

This is the second novel in Isobelle Carmody's Obernewtyn series about a post-apocalyptic world thrown back into a middle ages full of fear and doubt. Even before the great battles that brought the world to the brink of disaster, science had begun to investigate the possibilities of humans with enhanced mental powers. But the aftermath of the war triggered a massive increase in skills that the 'normals' saw as a great threat. Labeled misfits, they were healers and coercers, farseers and beast speakers, and hated by those who believed that the way to be safe from the mistakes of the past was to destroy any living reminder.

Hidden in this dangerous world are the misfits of Obernewtyn, led by Rushton and Elspeth Gordie they mark the beginnings of a new force in the paranoid world around them, one that that can stand up to the Herder Priests and the Council. But the challenges are many. Elspeth has sworn to discover and destroy the machines that destroyed the world of the beforetimers, but first she must see to the survival of Obernewtyn. And so a small group of misfits sets out to find an ancient library, and to discover more misfits to help at Obernewtyn.

Posing as a gypsy troupe, they seem to careen from danger to danger. First the camp of the Druid's men, then a rescue from herders, and then the threat of capture by the Council's soldiers - danger lurks everywhere. And the land itself is full of threat, tainted and haunted. But they must succeed. To fail means the end of Obernewtyn, and the very really danger that the old weaponmachines will be found again and bring about a second, and final apocalypse.

Isobelle Carmody's world is both threatening and fascinating. The skills of the misfits, animals that can mindspeak, places of darkness and great power, the story tells as if it was fantasy, but it is much more. Carmody displays considerable skill in blending the worlds together and making what you read immediate and compelling. Elspeth is perfect as hero, adventurer, and young woman facing a daunting task. Highly recommended.

A must read.......2004-09-29

This book explores how life at Obernewtyn is undertaken after Rushton becomes the master. It tells you in more detail about the mind talents the misfits have. It is well written and action packed. The characters have become more mature and you can really relate to them. The ending is fantastic and thought provoking. A must read! However, it is better to read Obenewtyn first (otherwise you have no idea what half of the book is about).

Isobelle Carmody improves with this book.......2004-09-09

I am reading Farseekers now, and have noticed that the characterization and plotting have improved in Farseekers as opposed to Obernewtyn. I still find the grammatical and word choices distracting. Also, I would like to echo what another reviewer mentioned about the heroine, Elspeth having every possible convenience when it comes to her mental powers. It makes the whole premise less believable to me. Also, people come and go with too much convenience to the plot and not enough motivation. All this is very distracting, but the story idea is interesting, and it appeard that the writing level is improving. Hopefully the next book will be even better.

Farseeker!.......2004-04-02

Ok, I have to say that Isobelle Carmody is one of the most talented writes out there. The character Elspeth Gordie, is described well, and I feel I can relate to her. I recommend you read this book (not before Obernewtyn of course) and travel through a world of the future with Elspeth as she discovers the hardships of being a `misfit' and uncovers new talents. Its weird to think, that you never know, some thing like this could be our future Earth. This book, most definitely deserves 5 stars(or more!)

ENGAGING SERIES - COULDN'T PUT EACH BOOK DOWN!.......2003-05-11

This is an unusually well-written series, with unique characters and a fascinating story line. Isobelle Carmody is a gifted writer. I have read a lot of fantasy/scifi, and often the plots or aspects of the plot are similar from one book to another (find a portal, travel to another world/time, etc). This series is not only creatively different, it is thought-provoking. I could not put down each book in the series, reading late into the night (which I usually avoid doing). I will not recapitulate the plot here, because so many others have done so. I do want to contradict one of the reviewers cited above (Publisher's Weekly), who stated that the book was more likely to appeal to adolescent females. I am a 45-year-old woman, and I have found this series to be one of my all-time favorites. There is nothing adolescent about it, except the ages of some of the characters. However, they do not act or think in particularly adolescent ways. Of course, I think the series would ALSO appeal to adolescent females, as well as to advanced pre-teen readers (since the plot is complicated). Order your copy of Obernewtyn today, and set some time aside!

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Obernewtyn ; &, The farseekers
Isobelle Carmody
Manufacturer: SFBC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Ashling (Obernewtyn Chronicles, Book 3)

ASIN: 0739412116

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The Farseekers
Isobelle Carmody
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000UEEV0Q

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The Farseekers
Isobelle Carmody
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTNA5Y

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Obernewtyn Andthe Farseekers
Isobelle Carmody
Manufacturer: SFBC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HN9IWQ

Amazon.com

The short-story collection Gnarl! is a companion volume to Rudy Rucker's nonfiction essay collection, Seek! (The titles come from Rucker's self-professed motto, "Seek ye the gnarl!") Gnarl! collects all of Rucker's short stories from the last quarter of the 20th century--some 36 selections in all--ranging from a 2-page solo effort to a 44-page collaboration with Bruce Sterling. Rucker has arranged the collection chronologically and also provided autobiographical notes about each piece, making this both the definitive volume and an excellent history of his short-story career. And it's certainly been an interesting career. Rucker is a physicist by day who says he has the politics of punks and hippies, was once obsessed by pot and alcohol, and "tends to write as if women were wonderful, fascinating aliens."

Publishers Weekly called Rucker "a mathematician bewitched by the absurdity of the universe," and it shows in almost every sentence he writes. In Rucker's world people have "face holes" instead of mouths or nostrils, wasps remind him of space monsters, and planet X shares more than a few similarities with Earth. And, not coincidentally, almost all of his protagonists are physicists. Also not coincidentally, physics often plays an important role, even making it into the titles of pieces such as "Pi in the Sky," "Schrödinger's Cat," "Inertia," and "Probability Pipeline." But even though Rucker tends to write "hard SF" in the sense that most of his stories rely heavily on science, this is not the usual nuts-and-bolts stuff of, say, Hal Clement. Rather, this is cutting-edge physics extrapolated almost beyond imagination to create fascinating worlds and wonderful stories. Some traditional SF readers may be intimidated by how far off the beaten science fiction path Rucker sometimes strays, but in the end it's almost always a walk worth taking. --Craig E. Engler

Book Description

Though he is also a mathematician, computer scientist, and essayist, Rudy Rucker is best known for his ground-breaking science fiction. The companion volume to Seek!, Rucker's selected nonfiction, Gnarl! brings together three dozen of the writer's best science fiction short stories. His first major story collection in 17 years, the volume includes a number of previously unanthologized stories, including tales cowritten with Marc Laidlaw, Paul Di Filippo, and Bruce Sterling. Classics such as "The Fifty-Seventh Franz Kafka," a timely meditation on the paradoxes of cloning, are side by side with works of pseudomemoir like "The Indian Rope Trick Explained." The Rucker formula - cutting-edge physics, a wild but perversely logical imagination, and a decidedly punk attitude - illuminates this new collection.

Customer Reviews:

Couldn't put it down.......2003-06-12

After being very disapointed by Freeware I decided to give Rudy Rucker another chance. I've very glad I did beucase Gnarl! is a wonderful book that will really get you thinking.

Excellent Range & Depth.......2001-09-24

Initially I was afraid to pick up this collection because I'd read everything of Rudy's still in print, and was afraid there would be duplicates. I needn't have worried.

Everything here is either out-of-print (from "The 57th Franz Kafka") or published in magazines or previously unpublished -- there wasn't a single story I'd read before. There are a wide variety of styles and approaches here, some more successful than others. The best ones (like "The Andy Warhol Sandcastle") are very, VERY good while the worst ("Chaos Surfari") are just kind of silly.

Overall a collection of astonishing variety and imagination. Much better than the companion non-fiction anthology "Seek!"

Truly gnarly.......2001-04-27

"Gnarl!" is the companion volume to "Seek!" and probably one of the best story collections I've ever read. Featuring almost the entirety of Rucker's professional short-story output, "Gnarl!" includes hysterical and visionary pieces reminiscent of authors ranging from Kurt Vonnegut to Bruce Sterling (whose collaborative effort "Big Jelly" is featured here alongside gems co-written with Marc Laidlaw and Paul de Fillipo). As far as collections go, "Gnarl!" is becomingly introspective, and can be read as a transrealist autobiography. Rucker creates grim futures and funny scenarios that cover the spectrum of human emotion. Pac-Man addiction. Religious fervor. Microgravity sex. Beatniks and hydrogen bombs. Time warps and deranged aliens. "Gnarl!'s" got it all. You can't come away from the experience unmoved.

Gnarly!.......2000-08-02

A fantastic collection of short stories by an amazing author.

A unique and entertaining mix of cyberpunk/physics tales........2000-07-04

Three dozen of Rucker's best works range from previously unanthologized stories written in collaboration with others to Rucker's individual, unique mix of cyberpunk/physics tales. Designed as a companion volume to his nonfiction Seek!, this will prove especially pleasing to fans of his hard science fiction stories.

Blender Magazine: Paris Hilton (September 2006)

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Blender Magazine: Paris Hilton (September 2006)

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NUXFM2

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Crazy (Gnarls Barkley)
Callaway
Manufacturer: Alfred Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Sheet music
ASIN: B000MGENHS

Product Description

Original Sheet Music Edition

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GNARLS BARKLEY ST.ELSEWHERE
Gnarls Barkley
Manufacturer: HAL LEONARD CORPORATION
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Songbooks | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

History & Criticism | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1423427432

Book Description

All 14 songs off this soulful Grammy-nominated gem from Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse. Includes the megahit "Crazy," the Violent Femmes cover "Gone Daddy Gone" and: The Boogie Monster * Feng Shui * The Last Time * Necromancer * Online * St. Elsewhere * Smiley Faces * Who Cares * more.

Rolling Storne August 2006 Isuse - Christina Aguilera, Kurt Vonnegut, Gnarls Barkley, Tupac in Baghdad

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Rolling Storne August 2006 Isuse - Christina Aguilera, Kurt Vonnegut, Gnarls Barkley, Tupac in Baghdad

Manufacturer: Rolling Stone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000KSQ9L6

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St. Elsewhere [LIMITED EDITION]
Gnarls Barkley
Manufacturer: Downtown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O2VE5O

Party Receipts from the Charleston Junior League: Hors D'Oeuvres, Savories, Sweets
Average customer rating:

Fantastic Appetizers

Endless Choices for Parties and Gatherings

Excellent Addition to Your Cookbook Library

A True Party Assistant

My Favorite Party Recipes

Party Receipts from the Charleston Junior League: Hors D'Oeuvres, Savories, Sweets

Manufacturer: Algonquin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Plastic Comb

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Appetizers | Meals | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Reference | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
South | U.S. Regional | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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The Junior League at Home: Meals and Menus for Everyday and Special Occasions

What Can I Bring?: Sharing Good Tastes and Times in Northern Virginia

ASIN: 094557584X

Book Description

The third Charleston Junior League cookbook reveals more secrets of the city's legendary hospitality.

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic Appetizers .......2005-01-27

The dozen or more recipes tried from this book have been terrific. I am primarily interested in appetizers that can be made ahead, frozen and re-heated. A large number of the recipes fit this criteria. I have bought several copies as gifts for friends based on the recipes I have tried and I've enjoyed this book as much as I enjoy my new beverage of choice. Made from 100% organic soy, taste just like coffee and no caffeine. Finally, I got rid of that wired up feeling all day and feeling great. Look for it on the net by googling "s o yfee".

A wide variety of outstanding "receipts" from elegant to casual. A collection of recipes that allows the hostess [or host] to theme a party or go eclectic. This book has the original party mix that includes Cheerios. Enjoy!!!

Endless Choices for Parties and Gatherings.......2004-09-01

My mother swears by all the Junior League Cookbooks which she always relies on for parties and gatherings. This was one of the first of many I tried!!!! Filled with endless choices of creative and easy to prepare starters including cold and hot plates and some ample first courses such as shirimp, crab cakes, cheesecakes, quiches and more--All the ingredients are easy to find and common to most well stocked pantries- so you always can find something at the last minute to prepare!! Also, many of these receipes can be made in even less time if you use pre-chopped veggies,pre-cut meats, etc.

The only thing I am not crazy about is that many of the dips and cold startes use commercial cream cheese, sour cream or similar products to create the base of the receipe--just doesn't seem to heart healthy to me...But none the less, they are all yummy in the end if you don't focus on that.

Whether for work gathering, faimly and friends you will be cetain to find one or many starter you can rely on again and again for stress free entertaining!

Excellent Addition to Your Cookbook Library.......2002-07-02

This is by far the best hors d'oeuvres recipe book I've come across. I use it time and again. And like it so much I've given it as gifts many times over!

A True Party Assistant.......2002-02-19

This is geared towards party recipes--- from drinks to demitast soup to finger deserts to all kinds of dips and snack mixes.

Many will find here the ole reliables, and as I can determine, just about all of them--from Party Mix fame to Wassail to many ways of serving crab and shrimp dip.

I particularly am attracted to the unusual, and there is plenty of that here. I enjoy such as Escargots A La San Diego, Goat Cheese Tortillas, and Papaya Stuffed with Curried Crab.

This will assist those looking for some easy but delicious things to serve the party guests that will bring raves.

My Favorite Party Recipes.......2001-11-06

The Party Recipes from the Charleston Junior League is my favorite cookbook. Of all the cookbooks I own I always buy the ones that have lots of pictures. I usually like to see what it looks like first before I make anything. This cookbook was the exception, as it does not have pictures of the food. I looked through the cookbook and immediately saw at least 30 recipes that I knew I wanted to make. I couldn't put it down, as there was such a collection of recipes that I always wanted to try. Whenever I need a recipe for a party or gathering, this cookbook is always the first one that I pick up. I have never seen so many party favorites in one book. I also like the short comments with each recipe from the recipe contributor. The people of Charleston, South Carolina know how to throw a successful party. I'm glad they shared their most popular recipes in this book.

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