The Mercy Rule

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Dismas Hardy, the dart-playing, saloon-keeping lawyer who is one of John Lescroart's most consistently interesting and appealing heroes, faces a dilemma: if he can prove to a jury that Graham Russo helped his father Sal kill himself because the sick old man asked him to, a liberal San Francisco jury will probably vote to acquit Graham of first-degree murder. Hardy would love to plead manslaughter to escape the wrath of the state's attorney general who wants to nail Graham. However, despite the evidence against him, Graham insists he didn't do it. What is a lawyer to do, and who can he believe?

Although Lescroart leads the reader up and down a few blind alleys before the truth comes out, the mystery's not the thing here. It's the characters and their back stories that make this such a good read. Foremost among them is Graham, who washed out of pro baseball and walked out of a promising law career before finding the father who once deserted him long ago. The core of the story is Graham's relationship with Sal, who's losing his mind to Alzheimer's but may still be a threat to a federal judge who was once his closest friend. Then there's Sarah Evans, the homicide cop who falls in love with her suspect. For good measure, there are some changes in the lives of those characters who are familiar to readers from other Dismas Hardy adventures--Abe Glitsky, the half Jewish, half black cop; Drysdale, the D.A. who's been beaten in court by Dismas in previous outings; Frannie, Dismas's wife; Moses, his brother-in-law; and Dismas himself, who becomes more interesting every time Lescroart brings him back. While the pacing is langorous and the denouement not as tight as it might be, The Mercy Rule provides a complex and satisfying reading experience. --Jane Adams

Amazon.com Audio Review

Against his better judgment, Dismas Hardy decides to defend fellow attorney and onetime baseball star Graham Russo, indicted for murder in the death of his ailing father, Sal. At first, Sal's death looks like suicide--his plans to kill himself before his cancer or his Alzheimer's made life unlivable were well known. And Graham admits administering morphine to ease his father's suffering. Was it a mercy killing? Maybe. But then Sal's valuable collection of baseball cards turns up in Graham's safe-deposit box. The stage is set for a confrontation between Graham and his old law-school rival, now assistant state attorney, and between Dismas and his old friend, Homicide Chief Abe Glitsky. But an appealing woman cop who falls in love with her suspect and a senior judge with a personal interest in the trial's outcome keep changing the odds. What lifts this courtroom drama a notch above Lescroart's earlier mysteries featuring the ruminative and appealing Hardy are Dismas's reflections on how out of touch he's become with his family--something he'd vowed to correct until Graham Russo came to him for help. Veteran stage and screen actor John Shea captures Hardy's inner conflicts in a voice soft with the glow of fine Irish whiskey; audio fans are in for a treat. (Running time: six hours, four cassettes) --Jane Adams

Book Description

Justice...

Once Dismas Hardy was a cop. Now he spends his days in a lawyer's suit, billing hours to a corporate client in a downtown San Francisco office. Hardy's wife and kids like it that way. Then one client changes everything.

Compassion...

Graham Russo, a former baseball star, is charged with murdering his dying father. Was it suicide, the last desperate act of a dying man? Was it murder? Or mercy?

Murder...

Now, as a carnival of reporters, activists, cops, lovers, and families throng around the case, Dismas Hardy is going to trial with a client he doesn't trust, a key witness he cannot believe, and a system that almost destroyed him once. For Dismas, this case will challenge everything he believes about the law, about his family, and about himself. Because a chilling truth is beginning to emerge about an old man's lonely death. And what Dismas knows could put him next in line to die. . . .

Customer Reviews:

The Mercy Rule.......2006-07-31

Dismas Hardy, at his best. A regular guy, working hard at his craft, to support his family. The usual Abe Glinsky, Frannie, children and cast of characters. Deep development of the victim, the accused, policemen, politicians and dysfunctional, families. Was it murder or mercy? A question, we may all, at some point, have to answer. Excellent courtroom drama.

Good mystery; good characters.......2003-10-20

The good thing about a Lescroart mystery is not so much the mystery as the characters who intersect the mystery. Murder's the name but the players are the game. Here Lescroart touches on an emotionally charged issue, euthanasia or mercy killing. There's a nice analogy with the game of baseball, perhaps unintentional, which is that in the early levels of the game the adolescent players learn 'the slaughter rule,' allowing a team which has no chance of winning having fallen behind an insurmountable lead, to exit with some self respect intact.

Hence we have Sal Russo, years ago a bright guy married to his sweetheart, knowing all along she is from a different life, years later preparing to die alone, the target of an agonizing tumor complicated by the onset of alzeimers. He is reunited by his oldest son, Graham, who tried his own (and his father's) dream of playing in the big game, only to fall short. Sal dies under mysterious circumstances with a DNR (do not revive) warning in plain view.

That Graham is arrested, then released, then indicted for murder, reflects the indecision the politicians, their constituents and the police have on this painful topic. Do the terminally ill have control over the time that they cross the river, or do we let events rob them of their remaining dignity?

Dismas Hardy is again the reluctant guardian at the gate, not wanting murder as a crime he defends, all the while knowing it's where his true strength . . . and definition lies.

If there is an irritant, it is the tedious relationship he has with his wife, Frannie. So many alter egos of the novelist's heroes love their partner for what they do, yet make life difficult for them because they do it. Kudos as an aside to Lucy Chenier, Elvis Pike's lover, who got up and left.

But with that one comment, a multi-latered book for the reader who wants social issues, murder most foul, great complicated characters and unexpected twists. Not a fast read but a very good job.

OPENING A LESCROAT BOOK IS LIKE MEETING OLD FRIENDS.......2002-10-30

Lescroat has that ability to make his primary characters believeable and earthy. In the "Dismas" books one feels like they are returning to old friends who have encountered some problems along the way. The only problem is that Dismas always seems to get involved in MURDER! And when that happens you can rest assured that Dismas looks under every stone until he finds the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

"The Mercy Rule" was a great 'who dunnit' with quite a few possibilities on the list of suspects but the author holds us in suspense until the enth degree - as we rule out each suspect and turn the pages faster and faster to learn the identity of the true killer.

Even with murder, mystery and mayhem, Lescroat instills a sense of duty, family loyalty and love in his novels and he shows no exception with The Mercy Rule. A great read.

Thoughtful and engrossing legal thriller.......2002-09-25

Lescroart is not an author I recommend to people seeking an easy,lightweight and disposable read.His San Francisco set legal tales tend to be quite complex,and multi-layered with an emphasis on issues and characterization as well as plot.
The Mercy Rule is no exception to the pattern.Its centre piece is the trial of Graham Russo,lawyer turned wanna be baseball player,who is accused of killing Salvatore ,his father and stealing his money and vintage baseball card collection.Salvatore was terminally ill with an inoperable brain tumour as well as in the grip of Alzheimer's.Some -including liberal SF District Attorney,Sharon Pratt,see it as a mercy killing-assissted suicide-and refuse to proseecute.The State of Califirnia takes a different view and put Graham on trial.
His defence is entrusted to Lescroart regular character,Dismas Hardy.The trial ,crisply and dranatically presented,is compelling reading but occupies only around 30%of the book and the verdict is delivered with around 60 pages of the book left.The coda sees Hardy digging into events leading up to Salvatore,s death
The build up to the trial is fascinating with the whole issue of assisted suicide and the conflicting views it gives rise to dealy with fairly and impartially.The investigation is complicated by the developinhg relationship between Graham and the homicide detective Sarah Lee who has been assigned to the case and we identify with Dismas Hardy in his desire to be a defence attorney when the main source of income is in borin but financially rewarding corporate law issues

The downside to the Lescroart method is a certain leisureliness of pace and the book ,nearer 500 than 400 pages,does have its longeurs but overall its rewarding and full of inside information on legal processes and political wheeling and dealing,something which seems to be an inevitable part of the legal process in America

A Terrific and Utterly Enthralling Book.......2002-08-28

As a fan of Lescroart, I would say he has lived up to his usual exceedingly high standard. Graham Russo, a former baseball star, has been charged with the murder of his ailing father, Sal. Graham proclaims his innocence, but it seems like an open and shut case. Sal had Alzheimers, as well as $50000 and some valuable baseball cards, hidden in his home. The prosecution contends that Graham, a paramedic, incapacitated Sal and gave him a fatal injection of morphine, which led to his death. The money and cards are the motive. Meanwhile, the whole of San Francisco believes that Sal was in great pain, and that his dutiful son helped him die out of mercy. As the media decends upon the trial, it is up to Dismas Hardy to get his client a fair trial. Full of surprising twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Although some elements of the story are hard to believe, (such as the Defendant's affair with a hot cop), Lescroart's brilliantly detailed imagery makes it all come alive. Every piece of the puzzle is intricately layed out as Lescroart weaves his tale, leading to a magnificently stunning conclusion

The Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

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The Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
Catherine C. Darcy
Manufacturer: University Press of America
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0819190454

Book Description

On July 20, 1991, the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas came into existence. This study examines the extent to which the development of the proposed governance model of the new Institute remained faithful to the heritage of the Sisters of Mercy as established by the founder, Catherine McAuley. The author devotes considerable attention to the on-going dialogue between the Mercy leadership and the Holy See, the Church authority to effect such restructuring while also discussing the broader challenges ahead for the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. Contents: Introduction; I. Historical and Canonical Context. The Heritage of the Sisters of Mercy; The Expansion of the Sisters of Mercy in the U.S.; II. Formation of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. Movement Toward Restructuring the Sisters of Mercy in the U.S.; The Formal Juridic Preparation for the Formation of a Single Institute; Summary and Conclusions; Appendices.

A case against Dutch euthanasia. (Mercy, Murder, & Morality: Perspectives on Euthanasia): An article from: The Hastings Center Report

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A case against Dutch euthanasia. (Mercy, Murder, & Morality: Perspectives on Euthanasia): An article from: The Hastings Center Report
Richard Fenigsen
Manufacturer: Hastings Center
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Hastings Center Report, published by Hastings Center on January 1, 1989. The length of the article is 8473 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: A case against Dutch euthanasia. (Mercy, Murder, & Morality: Perspectives on Euthanasia)
Author: Richard Fenigsen
Publication: The Hastings Center Report (Refereed)
Date: January 1, 1989
Publisher: Hastings Center
Volume: v19 Issue: n1 Page: pS22(9)

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Federal Indian law and violent crime: Native women and children at the mercy of the State. : An article from: Social Justice

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Federal Indian law and violent crime: Native women and children at the mercy of the State. : An article from: Social Justice
Sarah Deer
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Social Justice, published by Thomson Gale on December 22, 2004. The length of the article is 6081 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Federal Indian law and violent crime: Native women and children at the mercy of the State.
Author: Sarah Deer
Publication: Social Justice (Magazine/Journal)
Date: December 22, 2004
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 31 Issue: 4 Page: 17(14)

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Holding the line on euthanasia. (Mercy, Murder, & Morality: Perspectives on Euthanasia): An article from: The Hastings Center Report

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Holding the line on euthanasia. (Mercy, Murder, & Morality: Perspectives on Euthanasia): An article from: The Hastings Center Report
Susan M. Wolf
Manufacturer: Hastings Center
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Hastings Center Report, published by Hastings Center on January 1, 1989. The length of the article is 3018 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Holding the line on euthanasia. (Mercy, Murder, & Morality: Perspectives on Euthanasia)
Author: Susan M. Wolf
Publication: The Hastings Center Report (Refereed)
Date: January 1, 1989
Publisher: Hastings Center
Volume: v19 Issue: n1 Page: pS13(3)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

The instinct toward mercy: what Hopkins has to teach Darwin.(evolution biology teaching ban cases): An article from: Commonweal

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The instinct toward mercy: what Hopkins has to teach Darwin.(evolution biology teaching ban cases): An article from: Commonweal
Peter Quinn
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Commonweal, published by Thomson Gale on June 17, 2005. The length of the article is 2765 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The instinct toward mercy: what Hopkins has to teach Darwin.(evolution biology teaching ban cases)
Author: Peter Quinn
Publication: Commonweal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 17, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 132 Issue: 12 Page: 15(4)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Mercy and Central Iowa Health extend talks: Focus turns to Washington, where potential anti-trust issues will be sorted out.(Mercy Medical Center): An article from: Business Record (Des Moines)

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Mercy and Central Iowa Health extend talks: Focus turns to Washington, where potential anti-trust issues will be sorted out.(Mercy Medical Center): An article from: Business Record (Des Moines)
Michael Lovell
Manufacturer: Business Publication Corp.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Mercy Blood Bank cited for software validation, error reporting.(Blood/biologics): An article from: Validation Times

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Mercy Blood Bank cited for software validation, error reporting.(Blood/biologics): An article from: Validation Times
Dawn Gould
Manufacturer: Washington Information Source
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Validation Times, published by Washington Information Source on August 1, 2003. The length of the article is 1165 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Mercy Blood Bank cited for software validation, error reporting.(Blood/biologics)
Author: Dawn Gould
Publication: Validation Times (Newsletter)
Date: August 1, 2003
Publisher: Washington Information Source
Volume: 5 Issue: 8 Page: 11

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"The quality of mercy": law, equity and ideology in The Merchant of Venice. (Adversaria: Literature and Law): An article from: Mosaic (Winnipeg)

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"The quality of mercy": law, equity and ideology in The Merchant of Venice. (Adversaria: Literature and Law): An article from: Mosaic (Winnipeg)
Stephen A. Cohen
Manufacturer: University of Manitoba, Mosaic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Mosaic (Winnipeg), published by University of Manitoba, Mosaic on December 1, 1994. The length of the article is 7650 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the supplier: The common law-versus-equity debate featured in the trial scene of the play 'The Merchant of Venice,' which ends with the victory of the character Portia, can be seen as a highly partisan polemical intervention in the dispute between England's ruling class and the independent rising class. In the scene, equity was portrayed as necessarily superior to the common law and as applicable when the enforcement of general rules results in an injustice. The play gives the rising class the ability to use the law to prevent the ruling class from imposing its will at all times.

Citation Details
Title: "The quality of mercy": law, equity and ideology in The Merchant of Venice. (Adversaria: Literature and Law)
Author: Stephen A. Cohen
Publication: Mosaic (Winnipeg) (Refereed)
Date: December 1, 1994
Publisher: University of Manitoba, Mosaic
Volume: v27 Issue: n4 Page: p35(20)

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5 Titles By John Lescroart Dismas Hardy Series : The 13th Juror The Mercy Rule Nothing But the Truth The First Law The Second Chair

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5 Titles By John Lescroart Dismas Hardy Series : The 13th Juror The Mercy Rule Nothing But the Truth The First Law The Second Chair
John Lescroart
Manufacturer: Various
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Product Description

5 Titles By John Lescroart Dismas Hardy Series : The 13th Juror The Mercy Rule Nothing But the Truth The First Law The Second Chair. Five mmpb books.

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a hard slog

Great continuation of the series

Dull

Another great read

the obsidian key book two of the legend of asahiel
The Obsidian Key: Book Two of the Legend of Asahiel
Eldon Thompson
Manufacturer: Eos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 006074152X
Release Date: 2006-07-03

Book Description

The Age of Man, so quickly heralded, is already under siege. Shaken by the catastrophic war with the Demon Queen Spithaera, Pentania wrestles with a new world of possibility and potential disaster: creatures of wonder and nightmare are returning.

And humanity will never be the same.

In his epic battle with the Demon Queen, young Jarom became Torin, King of Alson. Now, with bitter foes on all sides, he must forge his kingdom from the ruins of an empire and begin anew. But it is too soon to forget the past entirely.

For in recklessly reclaiming the Crimson Sword of Asahiel, Torin reopened a dimensional realm no longer sealed by the power of the Obsidian Key. And now from history's darkest hour pour the terrifying Illysp, foul spirits who possess the bodies and enslave the souls of men.

As the enemy advances, Torin must undertake a dangerous voyage to reveal the secrets of an ancient lost people who once overcame these powerful marauders. But both enemies of old and the unknown have different plans for king and country, and even if Torin can return, it may already be too late.

Customer Reviews:

a hard slog.......2007-09-21

I enjoyed the first volume in this series enough to pick up this second volume, but boy I found this one hard to finish. Usually I tear through books like this, staying up late reading, but with this one I forgot that I was even reading it until I found it again on my bedside table! The main problem, I think, was that the action and characters just aren't that compelling and didn't make me eager to know what happens next. The overarching evil dire threat is introduced at the very beginning but then is missing completely throughout the bulk of the rest of the book, as we are forced to endure a double plotline with characters who seem to have had personality transplants since the first book. The actual urgency of the central quest(s) isn't made clear at all, and I often lost the thread of why characters were having to rush here or there or back again. The author does blood and combat well (a little *too* well, sometimes -- as in the cannibalism scene: ick!), but is much less capable when it comes to character development. All the angsty whining from Torin about his love life just made me want to throttle him. People's actions too often seem to occur merely in service of plot and seldom emerge out of some inner sense of character. If you are just looking for a serviceable plot and are willing to overlook annoying character development (or lack thereof), this is fine -- but just don't expect more than that.

Great continuation of the series.......2007-06-20

I thought this book was a great continuation from the first one. Thompson has a definite skill in using detail to paint the scenes as you imagine the story unfolding. I read fantasy mainly for the escapism, so I really appreciate it when an author goes to the trouble to covey the world his story is set in - it makes it that much easier to slip into the world of the characters and let myself get lost in an alternate universe for a while.

I might have gone with 4 1/2 star if it were available, because I can't say it's the level of perfection that five stars implies, but I did really enjoy the book which I think is the most important thing for any fantasy novel, so I'm going ahead and rounding up.

Dull.......2007-05-14

I have a hard time reading this book. The characters are fairly boring, especially Torin. Allion is a pretty bland character, and Raven is beyond cliche. I can't say I entirely understand the character Xarius. He's going through all of this trouble because Kronus got the best of him on one occassion?

The story is a drag and this book is definitely not a page turner. I find I'm forcing myself to read it. Thompson seems to think that throwing in some random twist will take his reader's by surprise, but somehow he even turns those events into a dull affair.

I gave this book 2 stars because the writing isn't too bad. Some of the metaphors and descriptions are pretty good, but it lacks a distinctive character and edge.

I'm not entirely sure why this trilogy was published. Entirely ho-hum.

Another great read.......2007-01-09

If you enjoyed the first book of the series, you will certainly appriciate this one. Eagerly expect the third book in the series!

the obsidian key book two of the legend of asahiel.......2006-10-30

excellent 2nd book of the series, didn't wait for the paperback, went ahead and bought the hardcover.

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Visions of the future

A response to some reviews

The Rainbow Cadenza

A Strange World, Yet Deeply Real: COULD HAPPEN!

Thinly veiled Libertarian propaganda

The Rainbow Cadenza
J. Neil Schulman
Manufacturer: Pulpless.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

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Unintended Consequences

ASIN: 1584451238

Book Description

The world was finally politically correct. The people who care have remade the Earth in their image, and its an Earthly Paradise. Humanity is joined together under a single, popularly-elected world government. Gay marriage is a normal institution, the Libertarian Party rules, and the First Lady is Head of State.

But who are the new underclass called Touchables, and why are they hunted for sport? Why are clones treated as inferior? Why do men outnumber women seven to one? And why are teenage women being drafted into government service for three years?

This 1984 Prometheus Award-winning novel is the story of Joan Darris, a brilliant young artist in the medium of laser concerts. Is it her destiny to play music for men's eyes, or to make herself a plaything for their desires? How does the lingering horror of the murder she witnessed at five threaten to rob her not only of her artistic triumph, but also threaten the life of a man she loves?

Like the novels of Huxley, Burgess, and Rand, The Rainbow Cadenza uses black humor to show you a future you fear but ends with a rainbow of hope.

Customer Reviews:

Visions of the future.......2003-12-26

An exciting look into a dystopian future that both shocks and enlightens. Startling social change coupled with brilliant technological innovations transform society in this troubling vision of the 22nd century.

A response to some reviews.......2002-10-28

I want to add few points because some people here are letting their emotions get better of their brains. One, a young witch was angry at the portrait of Wicca saying that's not how Wicca is supposed to be practiced. That is exactly J. Neil Schulman's point.

In most religions throughout history, the common people who practiced their faith tends to be nice, well-behaved people who just want to live in peace. That includes a lot of Christians. But when the state's power structure decided to adopt such a religion because so many people have high opinion of it it begins to corrupt it. The Wicca in the novel is not the Wicca as is today. First of all, the novel Wicca's is the majority relgion and the one the state use as its mask of violence. When a state decided to support a religion, most people will join it for social status, not out or deep beliefs. That's the case with Christianity 300AD. When that happened Wicca become corrupted and independence are stamped out, much like the Gnostics of Church. Most of evil in Christian history happened when it was the state religion. Same thing will happen to any other religion regardless of its origins. That's was one major theme of this book: how the power to stoap on an individual's life and person can corrupt society as a whole.

People who don't get it are just not really reading it. They're just nitpicking. Now, I think that the author should has bring up some history to make his theme a bit stronger. But that's a small weakness in one incredilbe emotional work.

The Rainbow Cadenza.......2002-10-05

Yes, itýs an interesting, creative, thought provoking book. The problem is that it portrays the Wiccan religion as an authoritarian means of oppression, which is ridiculous to the point I would have laughed out loud if I had not been so disgusted. Iýve been a Wiccan for 18+ years, and I have found Wiccans to be the most independent people I have ever met, who often have a real suspicion of authority, coercion and control. The idea of Wicca as an organized sanctioned ýstate religioný is also silly, as Wiccans tend to prefer small autonomous groups - just getting a couple of these groups to cooperate for a large festival can sometimes be a daunting task because of the level of independence displayed- think of ýherding catsý. Also, sex in the Wiccan view is sacred and should NEVER be forced or coerced. Forced sex is *obscene* and an insult to the Goddess. I donýt care what they did in the ( Patriarchal ) ancient world, modern Wiccans would find the idea of forced prostitution to be appalling. I was present at a gathering where a newcomer voiced a similar view in a discussion, and he was shunned for the rest of the gathering. Wiccans revere females, I cannot concieve of a supposedly Wiccan state religion limited the number of female births and oppressing those who are born!
Iým sorry an otherwise thoughtful and well written book was ruined by this basic lack of understanding of a minority religion- and the author claims to have talked to Witches? Whoever he talked to is probably foaming at the mouth at having their teachings so distorted.

A Strange World, Yet Deeply Real: COULD HAPPEN!.......2002-05-27

J. Neil Schulman has done a masterful job of extrapolating from trends (good, bad, and just plain strange) in our current cultures. If you want to know what the future might feel like - from the inside - THE RAINBOW CADENZA will take you there. Warning: you may never see the present in the same way again!

Thinly veiled Libertarian propaganda.......2001-05-11

A previous reader gave a decent plot synopsis, so I won't repeat that and will get right on to my review:

The point of this book seems to be that any taxation at all is wrong, that any rules by any government are wrong, that all government wants to do is take your money and send you to war, and that everything would be all hunky dory if the government just got out of the way. While the utopian ideal of a society where everyone is equal and gets along well with everyone else and everything works perfectly without any government interference is very nice, it's not practical or realistic. Utopia isn't possible. I forced myself to finish this book despite frustrating propagandizing. Some scenes appeared to be designed just to espouse Libertarian philosophy.

The reason I gave it two stars as opposed to one is the interesting use of laser art as a new art form. Schulman does a great job of describing the way the art is performed and the complex culture that develops around it, from high society performances in auditoriums (much like classical music and symphonies) to pop culture gigs in bars (much like pop music and garage bands).

I also felt that Schulman didn't understand women very well, and his protagonist was two dimensional and unbelievable. Her views are sexist while pretending to be feminist (in that very Heinlein way) and she was completely annoying.

If you're a Libertarian, you probably would like this book, but I don't like books that are thinly veiled propaganda, even when I agree with their point of view. It detracts from the story and is bad literature in my opinion. The award this book won was the Prometheus award solely to acknoweldge Libertarian science fiction. Interestingly, of the 50 or so award winners over the years, only one has been a woman.

Book Description

On the 100th birthday of Horn & Hardart, a look back at one of America’s most beloved institutions

A coin-operated glass-and-chrome wonder, Horn & Hardart’s Automats revolutionized the way Americans ate when they opened up in Philadelphia and New York in the early twentieth century. In a country where the industrial revolution had just taken hold, eating at a restaurant with self-serving vending machines rather than waitresses and Art Deco architecture instead of stuffy dining rooms was an unforgettable experience. The Automat served freshly made food for the price of a few coins, and no one made a better cup of coffee. By the peak of its popularity—from the Great Depression to the post-war years—the Automat was more than an inexpensive place to buy a good meal; it was a culinary treasure, a technical marvel, and an emblem of the times.

The Automat will take readers back to the days of Charles Lindbergh and Babe Ruth, Walter Winchell and Jack Benny, the Brooklyn Dodgers and shows at Radio City. Through beautiful archival photography, candid interviews, delicious recipes, and wonderfully evocative memorabilia, Lorraine Diehl and Marianne Hardart bring to life a time when a handful of nickels and the twist of a wrist bought a good square meal—Macaroni and Cheese, Boston Baked Beans, Chicken Pot Pie, Rice Pudding, and all the other favorites whose recipes are in these pages.

The Automat was a true American treasure, and here is its tribute.

“I have always thought that the Automat in New York has the best scrambled eggs in the world.” —Gregory Peck

“To have your own stack of nickels placed in your tiny hands; to be able to choose your own food, richly on display like museum pieces; to make quick and final decisions at the age of eight; this was a lesson in financial dealings that not even two years at the Wharton School could buy today.” —Neil Simon

“Oh, be still my heart! I used to shine shoes when I was fourteen years old. And when I was a little ahead, I would stop at Horn & Hardart.” —Tony Curtis

“I lived at the Automat. They had the greatest chocolate milk. When I moved to Philadelphia, I apportioned less than two dollars a day to eat on, and the Automat was the only place I could do it.” —Dick Clark

“I went to the Automat all the time. I grew up going to the Automat. The food was delicious. And it was wonderful.” —Woody Allen

“The first time I came to New York, I had a meal at the Automat. I had heard about the Automat, and I had to go see what it was all about.” —Leonard Nimoy

“I had the same lunch every day: three vegetables, a roll, and cocoa. All for twenty-five cents.” —Jerome Robbins

Customer Reviews:

I consider it a cook book.......2007-04-16

Even if you have no interest in the history of the automat whatsoever, the recipes for American comfort food classics contained within are mostly great, and those that aren't are easily modified to taste. Everything is easy to prepare in large batches and it all keeps extremely well in the fridge, so you can cook yourself silly on the weekend and have leftovers throughout the week. Cheaper, better tasting, and healthier than any fast food you're likely to find. It's a darn shame these places went the way of the dodo, but if the economy keeps on crumbling maybe we'll get them back.

Wonderful History of Memories.......2007-04-02

Lots of good memories of the Automats that I visited during my youth. Detailed history with lots of pictures.. Well worth being featured on the coffee table!

Nice book.......2006-09-01

Just what I was looking for. A new Automat opened up in NYC about two weeks after I received the book. Will have to try it out.

The Automat.......2006-03-02

It is easy to be happy with this book. It brings memories of my life in Philadelphia. Especially knowing I was stationed at the firehouse at 10th and Cheery Sts, We were first in to the bakery and warehouse of Horn and Hardart. We went there several times a year for sprinkler alarms. While reading I could taste my favorite Hot Apple Pie with Vanilla sauce. Yum Yum

The Automat: The History, Recipes, and Allure of Horn & Hardart's Masterpiece.......2005-09-12

I have only the fondest memories of Saturday lunches with my Mom at the Automat; Marianne Hardart brought these memories back to life for me. Her book is a wonderful testimonial to two men whose concept on how to feed and treat their customers is worthy of "rebirth" today. It is a "must read." An added bonus is getting the recipes for some of my childhood favorites.

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