Whisper of Evil (Evil Trilogy) (Hooper, Kay. Evil Trilogy.)

Book Description

Someone is stalking the little town of Silence. Three victims have fallen to a killer’s savage vengeance. Each of the dead men was a successful and respected member of the community—yet each also harbored a dark secret discovered only after his murder. Were their deaths the ultimate punishment for those secrets? Or something even more sinister? Nell Gallagher has come home to Silence more than a decade after leaving one dark night with her own painful secrets. Forced now by family duty to return, she has also come home to settle with the past. But past and present tangle in a murderer’s vicious attacks, and to find the answers she needs, Nell must call on the psychic skills that drove her away years before. She must risk her own life and sanity, and regain the trust of the man she left behind so long ago. For the killer she seeks is seeking her, watching her every move, preying upon her every vulnerability—and already so close she’ll never see death coming . . .

Customer Reviews:

Lacks imagination.......2007-08-22

I read this book and it was kind of interesting, however the more I read the more it seemed as if this author was having difficulty putting a real plot together. Instead of giving the reader clues to the killer's identity and having the characters solve the mystery, she just endowed her characters with more and more super powers to give them the ability to get to the next situation. The psychic angle was kind of fun for a bit but it got to the point of being silly. Also, the book was 392 pages long and close to 200 of those pages probably dealt with Nell explaining to Max why it wasn't his fault she left town and why they couldn't be together. That became tiresome. Also "Nell chose her words carefully" was used soooo many times. Okay, I got the point. Shelby and Justin seemed to be a story line that had some potential, but nothing ever developed as far as importance to the plot was concerned. They got together as a couple. Great, but once Shelby took the picture with the aura looming over Nell, the rest of her time in the book was just filing pages. And what kind of a sheriff's office was Ethan running? Undercover FBI agents get hired as deputies using faked backgrounds from police offcers who are off duty and private investigators get hired without the sheriff knowing they are private investigators hired to investigate him. How convenient. And do they really hire deputies with just a paper application, not an extensive background check, no face to face interviews, no verification of identity and without some kind of training in the ways of the local department for more than say an hour or so? There was also the sense of impending danger. I guess in the last few pages, Nell was in a dangerous situation but at no time did any of the main characters seem to actually be in danger. In fact, the identity of the killer is kept a total secret until right up to the very end of the book and there is not a single clue in the book that points to his identity. In fact, the killer turns out to be a very minor character in the plot who is hardly mentioned in the first 300 pages. I was very disapointed in this book, yet I did kind of enjoy the writing and I believe I will read more by this author. This is the first book I have read by Kay Hooper. I was hoping for more of a Tami Hoag or Lisa Gardner type work here but, sorry to say, this is absolutely not a thriller.

I enjoy Kay Hooper books.......2007-01-05

This is the 7th Kay Hooper book I have read. I enjoyed this book as much as any of the others.

Intriguing and Suspenseful!.......2006-06-16

I might have read other Kay Hooper books before because it sounds so familiar ~~ at least the Bishop (the main character, Nell Gallagher's boss) sounds familiar, and the whole plot using the paranormal sounds familiar too. It doesn't matter really because it was a fun and intriguing read that has kept me guessing till the end. When I picked this book up, I was recovering from the flu and wanted something to distract me from being sick ~~ and this book did the trick.

Nell Gallagher returns home after twelve years to settle her father's estate and as an undercover FBI agent to discover who was murdering prominent citizens. There were four and each of them had a secret past that came to light after their deaths. It was mystifying and the local sheriff was getting desperate to find out who is stalking the townsfolks. Suspect after suspect have been eliminated but still, mysteriously, men were turning up dead and somehow it all links back to Nell's mysterious past. And with the paranormal stuff thrown in there ~~ it definitely makes it dark and intriguing.

It's a fast and entertaining read. It's not one of the more predictable reading either which makes it nice for those lazy summer afternoons. If you want to be entertained, I wouldn't hesitate to read this one!

6-15-06

Gotta read all Kay's Trilogy's.......2005-10-01

While the supernatural senses is consistent throughout each book, the story, theme and/or plot are so different you never solve the mystery til the end. Suspense, and literally heartpounding spookiness.

Evil.......2005-05-02

"Three victims have fallen to a killer's savage vengeance." In the book Whisper of Evil, you will find out exactly what happens in a small town where everybody knows everyone else in Silence. I'm going to let you know exactly what is going on there. Nell Gallagher has returned to Silence to find out who the killer is in the last 8 months there have been 4 murders on men, all men, no women. The FBI was brought in on the case undercover without the local police knowing. Nell has psychic abilities that help her find clues that no one could possibly image.

Nell goes back to Silence pretending to be there to settle her father's estate because her father had died a year earlier. When she gets to Silence she runs into Max Tanner her old boyfriend in which she ran away from home at 17 the night of her prom leaving him behind with no explanation on why she was leaving. However, she confides in him because he knows her abilities and what she can do.

In this book, it is up to Nell to find the killer and stop him before he kills anyone else. She is sure that there is going to be another murder. Nell can see into the future, also the past she can be in a place and concentrate hard, and she can tap into what has happened in that place at a certain time.

In addition, in this book whenever someone is murdered a secret that they didn't want anyone else knowing comes out into the open and everyone begins to know the truth about that certain person. So, try to find out why they are letting the secrets out into the open.

In this book, Nell is brought back to Silence to figure out murders and you will be shocked to find out who the killer really is. Therefore, read this book and try to see if you can figure out who it is and exactly why they are killing men.

This book is a great mystery novel that anyone would like to read that is if you are into mystery novels that will surprise you and make you guess at just who the killer might be. This book is good for high school students as well as anyone else. This book I think makes you accept that not everyone's perfect and that everyone is special in there own way.

Average customer rating:

Owl Goingback Really Knows How To Bring A Story To Life
Not the best but a good read nonetheless
I am going to try again
Gory Fun about a Voodoo Spirit
What an Imagination Owl has.

Evil Whispers
Owl Goingback
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0451202910
Release Date: 2001-05-08

Book Description

A family searches for the perfect vacation spot-and finds perfect horror-when their daughter's disappearance is attributed to a legendary creature who lives in the woods.

Praise for Owl Goingback...

The suspense of a Clive Barker or Dean Koontz. (Kirkus Reviews)

Not to be read late at night. (San Francisco Examiner)

Goingback understands what makes horror fiction tick. (The Arizona Republic)

Goingback has a talent for creating heart-stopping scenes....frightening. (Sun-Sentinel - Fort Lauderdale)

Owl Goingback is a natural storyteller who will be spinning his tales for a long time to come. (Martin H. Greenberg)

Goingback writes the elemental scare, the campfire tale, that's all too rare these days. (Gothic.net)

Customer Reviews:

Owl Goingback Really Knows How To Bring A Story To Life.......2005-02-12

Evil Whispers enlightens the very soul with the beauty, wisdom, pride and nobility of the Native American culture, while driving the mind into a spine-tingling state of terror as it ponders images of black magic, blood sacrifices,an evil, flesh eating voodoo sorcerer,and profoundly hopes Mansa Du Paul is nothing more than a creation of Mr. Goingbacks imagination. One thing is for sure, my home is very near the Wekiva River, and after having read this book, I don't think I will ever be able to stroll down its banks again without bringing to mind the name Mansa Du Paul and this horrifying,fascinating tale...Frabrication of the imagination or not...it kind of gives one the tendancy to cast a cautious glance over the shoulder every now and then...just in case.

Not the best but a good read nonetheless.......2003-09-15

I can't pinpoint what I didn't like about this book. Maybe it was the lack of shocking in-your-face horror events (see Laymon, Clark, etc). Or maybe it was the character of Krissy. Whatever the case was I didn't enjoy this book as much as I'd hoped. On the up side the Indian lore makes this book worth reading. Owl obviously knows and thrives in Indian lore and illustrates this quite well in this book. This book is not as scary as other reviews made it out to be. I'd be interested in reading Crota or Darker than Night. I hear Darker than Night is supposed to be super scary but you never know until the read it right? If I could give this book 3.5 stars I would.

I am going to try again.......2003-08-18

I didn't particularly enjoy this book. The writing was great, and the plot was interesting, but the character of 'Krissy' was not to my liking.
The Patterson family goes on vacation in rural, swampy, Florida to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. When their daughter, Krissy, disappears the action of the book picks up.
It seems Krissy is the naive participant in the resurrection of an ancient voodoo priest who died in the swamp 200 years ago. The evil spirit of the voodoo priest, known only to Krissy and a Seminole Indian by the name of Jimmy Cypress, has been waiting patiently for his bones to be discovered, so that he can become flesh and continue his reign of terror.
I would have really liked this book, except for Krissy. I found her character to be tedious and exhausting. At times I was actually hoping that the voodoo priest would win the battle.
I will however read another of Mr.Goingback's books.

Gory Fun about a Voodoo Spirit.......2003-07-30

Owl Goingback doesn't have very many books to his credit, but already he has won a Bram Stoker Award for his novel "Crota." I have only read two of his books, but I must say I like his voice. Owl is a Choctaw/Cherokee Indian, a background that sets him apart from the mass of writers who usually pen horror novels. Ever since I read "Ghost Singer" by Anna Lee Walters, I have wondered why more Indians aren't writing horror books. Nearly every Indian tribe has a distinct set of religious rituals and stories, and many of these tales recognize the evil side of the natural world as often as they encompass the good aspects of life. In "Breed," Goingback wrote about an otherworldly creature called a Shiru set loose in a modern city. "Evil Whispers" tells about a visit to this world by another evil spirit, this one by a deceased voodoo practitioner named Mansa Du Paul.

"Evil Whispers" begins with a description of the demise of Mansa Du Paul, a man who built a village of ex-slaves out in the Florida boonies in the early part of the 19th century. Du Paul's appetite for warped rituals involving children leads him to kidnapping white and Indian youngsters in the area. The local band of Seminoles quickly tires of Du Paul's activities, and after the disappearance of the local chief's child the Indians launch a raid on the evil settlement. Du Paul's followers, those not killed outright, flee forever into the surrounding area. The Seminole warriors capture and execute Du Paul in a particularly painful way, then scatter his remains in an attempt to dissipate his power in the spirit world. Moreover, the Indians forever after post a man trained in the ways of medicine in the area as a sentinel against the return of this powerful voodoo priest.

Flash forward to the present day. The region once inhabited by Du Paul and his followers now houses a resort serving tourists and local fishermen. Robert and Janet Patterson, with daughter Krissy in tow, decide to stop off at the small resort in order to take in some of the local wildlife. The proprietors of the motel are friendly, river trips in canoes are fun, and with the exception of warnings about a bellicose Indian named Jimmy Cypress living in the area, it seems like a few days in the wild will do the family good before they set out for Disney World. It isn't long before Robert has a run in with Jimmy, who wants to keep people away from the site of Mansa Du Paul's old village. Then Krissy mysteriously disappears, sparking a huge manhunt and an increasingly dangerous series of encounters between this world and the realm of the spirits. Fortunately for the horror fan, bloody carnage ensues as Jimmy and Robert join forces in a race against time and a powerful evil spirit.

The standout scene in "Evil Whispers" isn't the background concerning Mansa Du Paul, or the disappearance of Krissy, or even the eventual emergence of the evil voodoo priest. The best sequence in this novel is the lengthy and enormously bloody massacre in the local tavern. Goingback strings this incident out for dozens of pages, and its great fun for gorehounds. One by one, bodies hit the floor as Du Paul wreaks havoc amongst the local population. There's a reason why so many minor characters die in this event, but it still seems delightfully gratuitous. This section of the novel must have been enormously fun to write, which probably explains why Goingback spends so much time wallowing in excess here. Ultimately, "Evil Whispers" is all done in good fun. It's not high literature by any means, just a good way to spend a few hours.

What an Imagination Owl has........2003-04-25

This is an excellent horror novel! It has you out in the woods near a swap, hearing voices, an evil child (always scary) and you even get to hear a dogs thoughts. This book and all of Owl Goingback's books are excellent reads. This book moves really fast and is very easy to read and follow, so if you want an easy, quick and SCARY book, then this is the book for you. Oh yea, it also has plenty of Indian lore. You know what? I think I'll read it again.

Average customer rating:

Whisper of Evil

Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0739420283

Product Description

Spine chilling suspense. Someone is stalking the little town of silence. Three successful and respectable have fallen to a killer's vengeance. Each harbor dark secrets only exposed after their deaths.

The Evil Trilogy: Touching Evil, Whisper of Evil, Sense of Evil (Set of 3 Suspense Novels)

Average customer rating:

The Evil Trilogy: Touching Evil, Whisper of Evil, Sense of Evil (Set of 3 Suspense Novels)
Kay Hooper
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000J4IHCA

Product Description

Set 3 Evil Series - Touching Evil Whisper of Evil Sense of Evil

4 Titles by Kay Hooper (Amanda - Finding Laura - Sense of Evil - Whisper)

Average customer rating:

4 Titles by Kay Hooper (Amanda - Finding Laura - Sense of Evil - Whisper)
Kay Hooper
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000TNLGKQ

Average customer rating:

The Dark Curse of Whispers
Matthew Alan Pierce
Manufacturer: PublishAmerica
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1424164214
Release Date: 2007-04-23

Book Description

A former angel, punished by God, chained in darkness, is rising from the dark depths below an old Victorian house. An ancient evil is whispering a dark curse into the shadows, bent on vengeance against God. The conversion of mankind into an army of shadow demons is the first step to its evil reckoning. It is now a commander of the whispering darkness. It is relentless. It is unstoppable. Patty Wilson turns the town eyesore into an orphanage, hoping to turn the house everyone thought haunted, into something good hearted and very positive. Nevertheless, evil is whispering amid the shadows, and it is growing stronger every moment. Turning humans into shadow demons to defy God is only the beginning to its evil plan. Now Patty, and an oddball group, just may be the only hope for stopping evil and saving the world from a shadowy Armageddon.

Whisper His Sin / The Evil Friendship (Stark House Suspense Classics)

Average customer rating:

Whisper His Sin / The Evil Friendship (Stark House Suspense Classics)
Vin Packer
Manufacturer: Stark House Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

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

ASIN: 1933586052

Product Description

WHISPER HIS SIN When Ferris Sullivan first meets Paul Lasher at Jackson University, he hates him. A loner, on the odd side, Sullivan needs his privacy. But Lasher, the senior in charge of the dorm, assigns him a room with roommates, and keeps the private room for himself. Still, Lasher takes a liking to Sullivan, and a gradual if begrudging friendship develops. During a break, they go to New York together, where Lasher introduces Sullivan to a few of his flamboyant friends. Lasher has never considered himself gayafter all, he has a girlfriend, doesn't he? But that weekend he falls in love with young Sullivan. They begin to make plans together. If only Sullivan's mother hadn't found out. Horrified, she threatens to expose them. What they need is an escape plan. Leave it to Lasher to come up with the perfect solution. Whisper His Sin is a fictionalized version of a real early-50's New York crime, the Fredan-Wepman Champagne Murders. THE EVIL FRIENDSHIP Mary Drew Edlin never had any friends until her family moves to Weerdale and enrolls her in an expensive boarding school, Chillam. There she meets the beautiful and mysterious dark-haired Martha Kent. Together they create an eccentric and erotic fantasy life, stealing into the forbidden forest and creating solemn ceremonies, writing stories together, and becoming lovers in various disguises. Although Rush, one of Chillams star boarders, wants Martha for her own special friend, no one can break the pair up. What these two devoted girls do not count on is Mrs. Edlin, the fretful mother of Mary Drew. Based on the Parker-Hulme case in New Zealand, The Evil Friendship describes what drastic step the girls take to keep from being separated. Peter Jackson filmed this story in 1994 as Heavenly Creatures.

Average customer rating:

Whisper of Evil
Kay Hooper
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NXWZ0W

Average customer rating:

Whisper of Evil
J. H. Rhodes
Manufacturer: Avalon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0803485190

Average customer rating:

Whisper Of Evil
Rosemary Gatenby
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0425046737

Amazon.com

It's one of the most anticipated movies ever, and now you can see for yourself how the magic of Tolkien's fantasy masterpiece was created on screen in The Lord of the Rings: Official Movie Guide. Brian Sibley's straightforward approach takes the reader from the initial conception of the movie as it was developed and passed around studios (it initially started life as a two-hour condensed version of the three novels) to the months of complicated special-effects work necessary to do justice to Tolkien's extraordinary imagination. The book features interviews with all the key cast and production members and is liberally decorated with full-color photographs and behind-the-scenes images from the film itself. Sibley manages to document perfectly the filmmakers' painstaking attention to detail, much of which will be missed by many moviegoers, but he also captures a sense of camaraderie from all involved who wanted to make the best movie possible.

If it's facts and background trivia you are after, then this is the best place to be--the perfect starting point for those new to Tolkien or eager to find out more about how epic movies are put together. Dedicated Lord of the Rings fans who have been following the epic moviemaking process via the Internet won't find anything here they didn't already know, but this is still a very good companion no matter what level of knowledge or understanding you have of the greatest work of fantastic fiction ever written. --Jonathan Weir, Amazon.co.uk

Book Description

An introduction to the talented actors and filmmakers who have labored for years to bring Tolkien's work to the screen.

For several years, a huge team of dedicated moviemakers has been transforming the exotic landscapes of New Zealand into the Middle-earth of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic masterwork, The Lord of the Rings. It is a massive production by fans of Tolkien's work for fans of Tolkien's work.
This fully authorized Official Movie Guide is the perfect introduction to the total immersion in Tolkien's world that filmgoers will experience. In full color throughout, including lavish, full-bleed production stills, and with exclusive biographies of the stars and filmmakers, this book gives readers a privileged access to behind-the-scenes material found nowhere else.
Featuring color photos of the cast, locations, sets, costumes, and creatures of the films, the book also includes an entertaining overview of the conception, design, and logistical challenges of a film project of this epic scale and grandeur.

Customer Reviews:

Hobbits rule.......2004-02-29

For even though this is an informative book, and I am Tolkien/LOTR fanatic, I don't think I'd pay eighteen bucks for it. Yet, now I'll focus on the book's qualities. First of all, it has interesting overveiws of the actors' careers and lives
and has quotes made by the cast and crew scattered throughout.
Overall, the book has good content, and Brian Sibley is quite a good author, overveiwing the pruduction of the movie, and some parts are somewhat humorous. One thing that was very strange was in the 'workshop of the fantastic' chapter, they labeled a picture of a uruk-hai, as the uruk-hai chieftan Lurtz, though if you look at the picture you can see it is not Lurtz, for he does not have Lurtz's trademark top knot or his specific downwards pointing hand print on his forehead. Overall, this book is somewhat of a disapointment.

A Great Buy.......2003-12-11

The first thing I would like to say is a slight warning. This book is focused on The Fellowship of the Ring and contains basically no information concerning the last two films. Do not be deceived by the title. If you are interested in the other films, there are visual guides for each seperate one, including The Fellowship...

Other than that, this is an incredible book, with STUNNING pictures and lots of information concerning the actors and the process involved in making the film. The paperback copy is extremely sturdy, and unless you are going to read it to death, I would purchase it instead of the hardcover.

Although my two young siblings (ages 7 and 9) love to look through the book at all the incredible pictures, it isn't a children's book and would probably interest only those who are really interested in the process of making such a film. For me, reading books like this increases my appreciation of the film itself--how much work goes into these things for only three hours of entertainment.

In summary--a great buy!

Excellent!.......2003-08-02

This gives you beautiful pictures of the movie and tells you a bit about the actors who played the characters in the movie. It is a great edition to any fans collection!

Gives lots of details on the making of the FOTR film........2002-12-17

This book was informative and all but i don't really think it is worth the money. Well it really depends, if your a lord of the rings fanatic, then it's for you. Mostly gives the introduction of actors and how the movie was set up. Costume design and so on.

They give detailed explanation on how they made the movie, how they got Hobbits look 1/2 size of humans. How they made the movie sites, used the elvish language, and so on... Also, the actors get to speak. They talk about how they came upon making of this movie, what they've learned, the fun they had, and basically they just share something.

This book is in a way interesting, and when your watching the film, you can try to pick out all the fake stuff knowing what the book said. it's interesting to read, but after you've read everything... there's nothing left to do but put it in your self and never look at it again. It is worth reading the first time around but i don't think it would be something you would want to come back too again in the future. maybe when you've forgotten everything, but then... who knows?

Fan.......2002-12-05

I am a die hard fan of the trilogy, long before the movie came out. The information in the book is brief but enough to make it worthwhile. The pictures, however, are hardly in focus.

The "Lord of the Rings" Official Movie Guide

Average customer rating:

The "Lord of the Rings" Official Movie Guide
Brian Sibley
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Entertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8RB3C

Average customer rating:

Totally worth it.

Not That Great, You Guys (a review by CYD)

The Frieza Saga

Vast improvement on the first book

Dragon Ball Z Book 2: The Frieza Saga: Intergalactic Space Pirates Threaten the Dragonball Z Universe!
Mike Pondsmith
Manufacturer: Talsorian Games, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Dragonball Z | TV | Series | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Dragon Ball | By Series | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Dragonball Z The Garlic Jr., Trunks and Android Sagas Role Playing Game

Dragonball Z: The Anime Adventure Game

ASIN: 1891933043

Customer Reviews:

Totally worth it........2006-03-21

I recently got this book and at first intended to write a fairly sized review, but then I realised I won't have to do that. If I were to sum up this book I would say it's pretty good; worth every penny. But keep in mind that's just me.

The book is filled with new rules, features and powers to keep your games going with that fast paced Dragonball Z feel. I'm not saying it's perfect, not even close, but it's definitely worth giving a try if you have the first book. This new book also corrects a few faults in the rules from the first book, while adding new content at the same time. Also like the previous book it includes a variety of information on a range of things from the series (such as planets, characters etc).

The book is enough to keep your games going for a long time, or at least until you can get your hands on the next book. Either way it's worth checking out and totally worth the time, money and effort of getting it.

I would recommend this to just about anyone, keen role-players looking for something new, even general people interested in starting role-playing and of course to any Dragonball Z fans.

Not That Great, You Guys (a review by CYD).......2004-10-06

As all of you know, I am the Dragon Ball guru. Yeah, I'll admit this book has some good stuff in it, but a way better book is Pojo's Total Dragonball Z. It's way better, and it helped my understanding of Dragon Ball. For those of you who go for the extra fanciness, there is an updated second edition of the Pojo guide. (...)

The Frieza Saga.......2003-03-02

This is a cool book showing how to go super sayien 1, the rules for sayian rage, near death expirences, all of freza's forms and how to make your own character with different forms. All the z fighters chacters have impoved, and there are loads more new moves

Vast improvement on the first book.......2002-09-23

This book for the DBZ RPG continues the game through the Namek and Frieza Saga eras. Most notably, it includes some rule tweaks and clarifications that fix some of the flaws in the first book. Of course, it also includes useful new rules for DBZ fans like Namekian Fusion, multiple forms, Saiyan Rage and the Super Saiyan form. Note that if you heavily disliked the first book, this doesn't improve the system THAT significantly; but if you liked the rules aside from their flaws, you should be well pleased.

Average customer rating:

Surprisingly good, unsettling, and allows the reader to...
standard - but intelligent - post-apocalyptic sci-fi
Pretty typical post-apocolypse sci-fi
Long on ideas; short on consistency; confused & poor style
Still In Possession of a Full Complement of Ten Toes...

Pirates of the Universe
Terry Bisson
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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

The Pickup Artist

ASIN: 0312862954

Book Description

In the shabby, war-torn, depleted Earth of the twenty-first century, Gunther Glenn wants to live in the utopian theme park "Pirates of the Universe." He only needs one more mission as a Space ranger--hunting the enigmatic Peteys, 1200-kilometer voids in space whose "skins" can be harvested and processed into a substance more valuable than gold--to get his chance. But the arrival of a mysterious package and the disappearance of another Ranger ship into the Petey void sends Gun on a mission through the bureaucratic maze of the mother corporation, the virtual-reality maze of the Dogg, and the Escher-like multidimensional maze of the Tangle for the key to his future.

Customer Reviews:

Surprisingly good, unsettling, and allows the reader to..........2004-05-13

fill in some of the blanks.

I appreciate an author or director who allows the audience to make some sense of their world rather than spelling everything out in black and white. Bisson dips you into the world in a way that seems very natural, never heavy-handed. He's a writer who has some flair...in a subtle, sparse way. Odd combination, I know.

Hmm...hard book to describe...it's uncomfortable in spots, I can't say I'd want to live in this world, it's depressing...and yet I felt oddly bouyant. Its a rare near-future book that seems plausible, but this is one.

I'm not a huge P.K. Dick fan, but this remninded me of the things I like best about him.

Definitely worth a read.

standard - but intelligent - post-apocalyptic sci-fi.......2002-07-26

It seems every writer of science fiction has to publish at least one novel set in the not-too-distant future, in which the Earth has been largely destroyed by wars or environmental disasters, currently commonplace amenities such as electricity and personal freedom are rare, and the future is just as hopeless as the present. "Pirates of the Universe" is typical of that sub-genre. The main character begins in a position of status that insulates him from the difficulties of his world. His privileges are stripped from him without explanation, and he embarks on a journey to discover unexpected truths about his family, his society, and the universe.

There are positive aspects of this book that set it apart from most other works of its type. The plot is uncommonly complex, and there are a number of unusual, interesting details - it's clear that Bisson has devoted a lot of thought to the world he's created, and it makes for an engaging and stimulating read. But these strengths are marred by the book's essential weakness, which is - not surprisingly - its post-apocalyptic setting and tone. Bisson is often preoccupied by impressing upon his readers the unpleasantness of the book's universe, and this makes the book awkward and unpleasant to read at times.

Overall, "Pirates of the Universe" is an interesting and enjoyable book. The author has some good ideas, and he has the ability to write a plot that strings them together engagingly. However, readers who can't tolerate the preachiness that seems inherent to the genre will probably not want to subject themselves to the dose Bisson metes out.

Pretty typical post-apocolypse sci-fi.......2001-08-22

I'm not a big fan of post-apocalypse sci-fi books and this one is pretty typical for the genre. The writing and plot are pretty average and there aren't too many big surprises even though the book is set up as a sort of mystery of what's in the package. We follow the central character Glenn as he goes about trying to deliver the package. Some weird sci-fi stuff happens in the process and sets up the ending.

Long on ideas; short on consistency; confused & poor style.......2000-12-22

Many of the ideas here are fascinating, but unfortunately I found the world depicted to be an inconsistent melange of future tech: nanotech and VR and non-Euclidean geometries and genetic engineering and ...

Chunks of heavy-handed satire stick out like sore digits, adding to the feelings of inconsistency.

What was most annoying was the overuse of the trademark symbol, formulaic references to National Geographic, and the description of Tiffany as "copy-protected"; products of laziness, or perhaps the author's prolonged enjoyment of jokes which tired very quickly.

Still In Possession of a Full Complement of Ten Toes..........2000-03-14

The Washington Post Book World states on the back cover of Pirates of the Universe, "It is the Bissons of the field... upon whom the future of science fiction depends." If this is true, than sci-fi is in a world of trouble. Pirate's plot is intriguing and Bisson's story telling is vaguely reminiscent of the old grand master, Alfred Bester. However, make no mistake, Bisson is no Alfred Bester. There is much more to good sci-fi, indeed, much more to good fiction, than an intriguing plot. It is a writer's responsibility to his readers to build credibility and trust through, among other things, attention to detail, and this is something at which Bisson utterly fails. A good book, like a good movie, should never draw attention to itself through its flaws. In sci-fi, the reader must be willing to suspend his disbelief in concepts of time travel, parallel universes, faster than light travel, etc. But when a writer's poor grammar and inability to construct sound sentences begins to detract from the story, then he is in trouble.

Use of a phrase repetitively can be an effective technique, but Bisson's choice to use the phrase "In the old days..." no less than eight times over a span of one page is not only ineffective but downright annoying. Oldsmobile, Buick and Toyota all find themselves properly noted as proper names in Pirates; yet Chevrolet is conspicuously left with a lowercase `C' throughout the novel, save for one instance. Marlboro (as in cigarettes) appears as a proper name throughout, save for one chapter, when twice the `M' is mysteriously lowercase. Bisson's protagonist, Gunther, "had only hugged his brother once before..." Surely Bisson had intended that Gun had hugged his brother only once before. Small potatoes, perhaps, but together with the host of other inconsistencies and poor choices Bisson makes in relating his tale, it becomes too great an obstacle to overcome. An argument could be made perhaps that Bisson needs a better editor, but ultimately these choices, this attention to detail, must fall on the shoulders of the author.

A 1996 New York Times Notable Book of the Year, one can only wonder what other sci-fi titles might have been Pirates' competition that year. The front cover of Pirates quotes The Washington Post Book World as claiming "Bisson can charm your toes off." Well, this is one reader of Pirates who can still lay claim to a full complement of ten.

Average customer rating:
Captured by Pirates (Graphic Universe)
Ron Fontes , and Justine Fontes
Manufacturer: Graphic Universe
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

Comics & Graphic Novels | Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0822562014

Average customer rating:
Pirates of the Universe
Terry Bisson
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OU0IOY

Average customer rating:
PIRATES OF THE UNIVERSE.
Terry. Bisson
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTIB7G

Book Description

Winner of the Louis Roederer International Champagne Writer of the Year Award 2005

4000 Champagnes, unprecedented in scope, plunges readers into the culture, history, and potential of this treasured beverage. Rich in description and practical in its application, 4000 Champagnes is divided into two main sections. The first is a passionate and comprehensive account of the Champagne region and its wines. It includes chapters on champagne's history, winemaking methodology, growing conditions, food matches, labels, a tour of the towns and villages of the French region, and sparkling wines from across the globe. In the book's groundbreaking and expansive section of tasting notes, Richard Juhlin provides the reader with practical information culled from his personal experiences at over 4000 tastings. A detailed portrait of each champagne house precedes a rating and description of each of the wines tasted there. Such depth of insight from a single source has never before been available. Written in Juhlin's authoritative and often humorous voice, 4000 Champagnes is an indispensable buying and tasting tool and an entertaining account of the history of champagne. The book includes several "best champagnes" lists, champagne statistics, telephone numbers and addresses of thousands of champagne producers, and a glossary. 4000 Champagnes is the supreme guide to a drink that has come to epitomize luxury and elegance.

Customer Reviews:

Come quickly, I'm seeing stars!!!.......2005-10-24

Hard to imagine a more hedonistic pursuit than sampling--and rating--4000 champagnes. This book is encyclopedic, well written and easy to use. Some of the tasting notes on small grower's special blends that aren't available to the general public are superfluous but fun to read in any event. If you are into Champagne, this is a book you should have. I enjoyed it thoroughly. The author seems to favor Chardonnay dominated blends and BdB Champagnes. If you like more PN dominated Champagne (as I do) then his ratings may not be all that useful. Nonetheless, I was in general agreement with most of the ratings. The printing stock, layout and pictures/graphics are amazing. However, my first copy had a bad binding that fell apart after a couple of weeks.

Best overview about Champagne.......2005-09-07

Great overview about the history, wine-making, etc. Tasting notes are also very useful as a reference when buying champagne in the region (most small champagne shops in Reims and Epernay have this book available). In addition (and I must admit I haven't had the opportunity to taste 4000 champagnes), I do agree with 85% of the notes for the wines I have tasted! Strong buy!!!!!

Average customer rating:

4000 Champagnes
Richard Juhlin
Manufacturer: Thames & Hudson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000K4CLYY

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books