Breach of Duty: A J.P. Beaumont Mystery

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In Breach of Duty, after a three year hiatus, J.A. Jance resumes her Seattle-based mystery series featuring homicide detective Jonas Piedmont Beaumont. The novel begins on Lake Chelan (in eastern Washington State) as Beau scatters his grandfather's ashes in the water. The reflective moment offers Jance a perfect opportunity to get new readers up to speed with her hero (and offers a quick refresher course for the many ongoing Jance fans). Beau has struggled through a hard life of alcoholism and two failed marriages, but now, just maybe, he's pulled things together. After his return to Seattle, his new partner, Sue Danielson, bombards him with two cases and a number of leads. A 67-year-old woman named Agnes Ferman burned to death in her bed. After $300,000 was discovered in her garage, the police rightly began to suspect murder. At almost the same time, a group of teenagers discovered the long-dead body of a Native American man--possibly connected to recent hate crime. Sue and Beau plunge into both cases while they begin to learn a bit more about each other.

One of the pleasures of Beau's narrative is his constant, unspoken (and often hilariously sarcastic) asides to the reader. Meanwhile, Beau's sensitivity to Sue and her personal struggles suggest great promise for this couple. In the end, a diverse collection of oddball characters, a comprehensive sense of Seattle and environs, and a strong pairing of mystery plots make this another winning installment in Jance's much-beloved series. The tale of J.P. Beaumont began with Until Proven Guilty in 1985, and has included award-winners Without Due Process and Failure to Appear among its 14 books. --Patrick O'Kelley

Book Description

The Seattle that Beau knew as a young policeman is disappearing. The city is awash in the aromas emanating from a glut of coffee bars, the neighborhood outside his condo building has sprouted gallery upon gallery, and even his long cherished diner has evolved into a trendy eatery for local hipsters. But the glam is strictly surface, for the grit under the city's fingernails is caked with blood. Beau and his new partner Sue Danielson, a struggling single parent, are assigned the murder of an elderly woman torched to death in her bed. As their investigation proceeds, Beau and Sue become embroiled in a perilous series of events that will leave them and their case shattered -- and for Beau nothing will ever be the same again.

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"New York Times bestselling author J.A. Jance presents another extraordinary adventure featuring hard-bitten homicide detective J.P. Beaumont, in the series that earned Jance the American Mystery Award. The Seattle that Beau knew as a young policeman is disappearing. The city is awash in the aromas emanating from a glut of coffee bars; the neighborhood outside his condo building has sprouted gallery upon gallery; and even his long-cherished diner has evolved into a trendy eatery for local hipsters. But the glam is strictly surface, for the grit under the city's fingernails is caked with blood. Beau and his new partner, Sue Danielson, a struggling single parent, are assigned the murder of an elderly woman -- torched to death in her bed. As their investigation proceeds, Beau and Sue become embroiled in a perilous series of events that will leave them and their case shattered. And for Beau, nothing will ever be the same again."

Customer Reviews:

Highly Enjoyable Detective Story.......2006-02-26

While reading this book I would sometimes portray this in my mind as a black and white "Dragnet." Jonas Beaumont (Beau), a tough talking twice divorced, recovering alcoholic (and in my mind, quite handsome) has been a long time detective with the Seattle police department. Even his speech is reminiscent of an old fifties television show: "The whole idea of having him in charge made me want to gag first and shove my fist through a wall of Sheetrock second."

The two mysteries that Beau and his partner must solve were quite interesting and naturally spanned the entire book. But if you are looking for a nice neat ending, this book didn't have it; there was a great tragedy that made me give 4 stars instead of 5. I like happy endings and this book didn't end nicely.

BREACH OF DUTY was given to me by some friends who are BIG J.A. Jance fans. They coincidentally live in Seattle. When I finished this book, I confessed to Susi that I had a little crush on Beau. She said most women do!

Jance does it again!!.......2001-04-10

I began reading the Beaumont series about nine months ago. I started with "Breach of Duty" this was a mistake. When I found out there were 13 books before this one I desided to go back and read them all...in order. I just finished "Breach of Duty" for the second time and this time the book had so much more to offer....I understood the relationships. I have enjoyed each book in its own right but when I finished this one I was sad. I already miss the "J.P. Beaumont" character. Let's hope Jance isn't finished with "beau" yet. Enjoy!!

A GUTCHECK FOR J.P........2000-12-10

This is at the same time the best and worst J.P. Beaumont novel I have read. During the course of trying to untangle two cases at the same time, several things happen which alter his life. I won't go into details, that would ruin the book for you, but this book is a must for Beaumont fans. I have read some reviews which speculate that J.P. won't be back, but I believe differently. He will be back, maybe as a tougher, smarter, changed J.P., but he will be back. I can't wait.

Jance does it again.......2000-10-26

In a word: Wonderful! All of JA Jance's books are page turners all the way up to the end, and this one is no exception. You will find yoruself enthralled with this one. If you haven't read any of her other work, start with the Seattle series, but read them all!

Native American giver........2000-08-02

Breach of duty is the story of a disillusioned police detective named, J.P. Beaumont, a male detective from a squad in the Seattle Police Department. Beaumont, besides being a little on the shop-worn side, has a problem with authority, mostly in the form of a newly appointed squad commander jumped up from below Beaumont in seniority. Beaumont also has a reputation as a jinx whose partners seem to get killed with alarming regularity. Does a lot of this sound slightly over-used in recent day crime fiction?

Jance, in this novel (as well as in this series, no doubt,) undertakes a degree of difficulty that many writers simply shun. She writes a detective series in the first person of a male central character...In the episode titled Breach Of Duty Vance pushes Beaumont through a number of events that have no special intensity, but the plot surrounding two separate investigations and a goodly dose of Native American mumbo jumbo is intriguing enough in itself to allow for continued interest in spite of the lackluster action. The character of the squad commander comes across as woefully one dimensional, This self serving, untalented martinet who badgers Beaumont's every move is a stick figure antagonist created for the purpose of providing conflict...the author, who never gives us a fully developed image at which to aim our righteous indignation.

Beaumont's partner is a woman with two young boys at home and her hostile former husband serves as a wild card in the mix...Breach OF Duty is crime drama for the faithful, but not for the seeker of truly powerful fiction. It does however, manage to keep one reading until one finds out who did what to whom and why. In this fundamental requisite of the mystery genre, Vance does not fail the reader. Even if the events are less than eventful in the story, the author provides the mandatory level of intricacy in the weaving of the plot. I found it quite readable, even though the book lacks depth in places and wants for more engaging action.

Gary Souza

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Breach Of Duty - A J. P. Beaumont Mystery
J. A. Jance
Manufacturer: Avon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JZXHL0

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7 Titles By in J P Beaumont Series : Until Proven Guilty - Minor Posession - Payment in Kind - Lying in Wait- Name Withheld- Breach of Duty -Birds of Prey
J. A. Jance
Manufacturer: various
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Jance, J.A. | ( J ) | Authors, A-Z | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000OM81WS

Product Description

7 Titles By in J P Beaumont Series : Until Proven Guilty - Minor Posession - Payment in Kind - Lying in Wait- Name Withheld- Breach of Duty -Birds of Prey

6 Titles in the J.P. Beaumont Series: (1) Minor in Possession; (2) Without Due Process; (3) Failure to Appear; (4) Lying in Wait; (5) Breach of Duty; (6) Long Time Gone (Set of 6)

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6 Titles in the J.P. Beaumont Series: (1) Minor in Possession; (2) Without Due Process; (3) Failure to Appear; (4) Lying in Wait; (5) Breach of Duty; (6) Long Time Gone (Set of 6)
J. A. Jance
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WWR978

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Funny, believable, refreshingly different "Deal with the Devil" story

well spotted indeed!

A new species of creature

A remarkable meshing of dark satire and humanist pathos
Spotted Lily

Manufacturer: Wildside Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0809544830
Release Date: 2005-08-19

Book Description

Angela Pendergast, escapee from the Australian bush, grew up with the smell of hot mutton fat in her hair, the thought of her teeth crunching a cold Tim Tam chocolate biscuit-the height of decadent frivolity. Now, though her tastes have grown and she knows absolutely what she wants, her life is embarrassingly stuck. So when the Devil drops into her bedroom in her sharehouse in inner-city Sydney with a contract in hand, she signs. He's got only a Hell's week to fulfil his side, but in the meantime he

Customer Reviews:

Funny, believable, refreshingly different "Deal with the Devil" story.......2006-05-14

Anna Tambour's first novel is funny, moving, and true. At the open it seems set to be a satirical account of a somewhat aimless young woman's deal with the devil, and as such it is funny enough. But along the way -- or more probably, from the start, did we but know it -- it becomes an affecting look at an Australian woman's discovery of herself. Oh, and a love story too. With plenty of erotic imagery -- but with most of the actual eroticism suppressed.

Angela Pendergast is a 30ish Australian woman who has moved from her family's ranch in the bush to the big city. She wants to be a Writer, specifically a Bestselling Writer, but she finds it hard to actually get down to writing her Novel. Put simply, she wants to Have Written, not to write. She has a part-time job at a New Age bookstore, and she lives in a house with a few roommates.

Then the Devil shows up. He wants to be the new roomer -- but more than that, he offers her a deal. He'll write her Novel, a guaranteed bestseller. In exchange, of course, for the usual.

So far, so relatively normal. But both Angela and the Devil, whom she names Brett Hartshorn, aren't quite such simple characters. Soon Brett is immersing himself in human literature, trying to decide what makes a bestseller. (Before too long he lights on Barbara Cartland, and who can argue?) Meanwhile Angela is being remade as a glamorous Author, which amounts to accepting her curviness as loveliness, and to abandoning herself to the ministrations of a couple of fashion advisers. Which is a bad description of that portion of the book -- the "advisers" aren't conventionally portrayed at all, and Angela (now called Desir?e Lily) is quite a different "Author".

But the book has further twists and turns. It seems what the Devil wants, and for that matter what Angela wants, isn't quite as clearcut as we might have thought. Never is the next plot development what we expect, as Angela learns more and more about things she has ignored, as she indeed becomes a bestselling author, in a very surprising and funny way, and as the Devil, indeed, is delivered his promised soul.

Inevitably one of the things Angela really needs is to return home, to come to an accommodation with the bush she left, with the parents she left. And, finally, she needs to come to one more accommodation -- another striking surprise!

Spotted Lily is quite an impressive debut. Perhaps most of all it is a very funny book, without being what you would call a comedy. It is also a believable and complete portrait of a woman. It is very surprising, and refreshingly so. I thought perhaps the need to always be original led to a bit of a strain for effect right at the close -- I admit I expected a slightly different, more conventional resolution, and I'm not quite sure the final twist really works -- but it's completely honest to the spirit of the book. Anna Tambour, on the strength of Spotted Lily and her earlier story collection, Monterra's Deliciosa & Other Tales &, is one of the most delightful, original, and varied new writers on hand.

well spotted indeed!.......2006-02-18

Spotted Lily by Anna Tambour is not the sort of book I would normally choose to read. For starters it contains two of my pet literary hates: deals with the devil and writers grappling with their writing... but it was a gift from a friend and so I surpressed the urge to roll my eyes and I did read it. Boy, am I ever glad that I did. I read a lot of stories these days and, more often than not, I've forgotten 90% of what I've just read before I've even put a book down and picked up the next one. Not this book. Spotted Lily is one of those tales crammed with tiny little details that will rattle around in my head for the rest of my life. This book is hysterically funny in some places, revolting in others. Truer to life than not, overall, despite its supernatural content.

A cautionary tale for anyone who reckons they might want to be famous.

A new species of creature.......2005-07-12

Reading SPOTTED LILY is like coming across a new species of creature which is immediately notable for its many unusual features. It has a weird manoeuvrability that occasionally shocks with its sudden bouts of unsightliness. But it is also perfectly adaptable to the terrain it explores, showing a startling tendency to slither and dash and slither again with an impressive elasticity and ease of pace that is wholly mesmerising.

It is a provocative creature, too, and, for this reason, is liable to provoke different responses in different readers. With its sinuous prose, delicious grossness, furious dialogues and unpredictable twists and turns, it is a lesson in extremity. But it is equally, also, a novel that explores the mundane terrors and pleasures of life to tremendous effect.

It is, too, full of a gritty poignancy that tugs at the heart strings with rugged force rather than sentimentality; and its tendency to make the normal seem bizarre and the bizarre seem normal is, by now, a trademark feature of Tambour's work.

This is a book for those who like their details raw and fiction raucous; who are less enthused by the introspective meanderings of more evenly wrought character-based plots -- who prefer, instead, the charm of being suspended in a flux of ambiguities that are the residue of experiences not easily defined.

Forget, also, any hollow reproduction of the Faustian motif, with its moral dialectic of good versus evil, greed versus righteousness, covetousness versus humility. There is no coming to terms in a religious sense but a full concentration on the virtues of the material as opposed to the moral universe; and the consequences are as fascinating as they are extremely funny.

A remarkable meshing of dark satire and humanist pathos.......2005-04-20

SPOTTED LILY is a remarkable novel of dark satire. It is brutal and terrifying. It is painful and beautiful. It is profound and I think it has the makings of a classic. This is far from an easy read, and it is not commercial -- it simply cannot be, not with the nature of themes it explores: god is dead and ultimate ennui.

Herein lies a peculiar, resonant, and bitter combination of Bulgakov's THE MASTER AND MARGARITA, a very adult version of Philip Pullman's HIS DARK MATERIALS, and frequent touches of Kafka and Marquez's ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE.

The satire is dark and biting and yet it is the pathos of Angela that got to me, her humanism and vulnerabily and the subtle nature of the fragile self and self-image hell (on earth!) she wallows in -- it broke my heart.

The novel is steeped in a succession of naturalist and surreal details -- sensual, beautiful/ugly dissonance and erotic fetish, frequently shocking and supremely memorable. There is loss of dignity and the redemption of self, over and over; a dance.

And the Australian heart is there -- I who have never been to Australia feel that now I have; the Bush is IMPRINTED upon me. Her childhood home, the secret place her father wept... flowers placed in ordinary jam jars to bloom in small private wonder.

The journey of Angela is ultimately an amazing piece of pshychological portraiture. And her deal with the Devil is merely the tip of the iceberg.

This is, to me, a work of literary significance, far transcending the boundaries of genre of the fantastic -- Anna Tambour makes an amazing novel debut.

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Things Aren't What They Seem

The Key to It All

It all depends on your point of view

I'm not impressed

Heinlein does it again -- a "juvenile" for the adults too

Star Beast
Robert A. Heinlein
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Heinlein, Robert A. | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Paperback | Heinlein, Robert A. | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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Have Spacesuit, Will Travel

Starman Jones

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The Door into Summer

ASIN: 0345350596
Release Date: 1987-06-12

Book Description

Lummox had been the Stuart family pet for years. Though far from cuddly and rather large, it had always been obedient and docile. Except, that is, for the time it had eaten the secondhand Buick . . .
But now, all of a sudden and without explanation, Lummox had begun chomping down on a variety of things -- not least, a very mean dog and a cage of virtually indestructible steel. Incredible!
John Thomas and Lummox were soon in awfully hot water, and they didn't know how to get out. And neither one really understood just how bad things were -- or how bad the situation could get -- until some space voyagers appeared and turned a far-from-ordinary family problem into an extraordinary confrontation.

Customer Reviews:

Things Aren't What They Seem.......2007-08-16

"The Star Beast" is one of the series of juveniles written by Robert A. Heinlein for Scribners. Over 50 years later, the books are not marketed as "juveniles" and they have never gone out of print. The entire series has always been available in either hard cover or paperback since they were written in the late 1940s and the 1950s.

In this book we are introduced to John Thomas Stuart XI. He's the latest in a long line of `John Thomas Stuarts' who for better or worse have always lead adventurous lives. Occasionally they found themselves in the history books. In this future, humans have settled throughout the solar system and the stars.

John Thomas Stuart VIII had served on the second voyage of the Trailblazer, Earth's first successful interstellar vessel. In his travels he made a pet of one of the local fauna and smuggled "Cuddlepup" back to Earth. Generations later "Cuddlepup" is a whole lot bigger and still in the custody of the Stuarts now known as `Lummox'.

Lummox takes a walk outside the garden one day and becomes a public nuisance. Since Lummox is an extraterrestrial and not classified, the case comes under the jurisdiction of the Department of Spatial Affairs. Now we meet the Right Honorable Henry Gladstone Kiku, Permanent Undersecretary of Spatial Affairs - Earth.

Mr. Kiku is a career beaurocrat, an uncommonly gifted political in-fighter. His department handles Earth's complicated affairs beyond the stratosphere. Laboring in obscurity, Mr. Kiku is effectively the most powerful man on the planet.

Where the story proceeds from here you will have to read for yourself. Heinlein is unusually subtle here. Things are not what they seem.

The book is fun to read and comes to a satisfying conclusion.

The Key to It All.......2007-06-24

Heinlein wrote a series of twelve books for Scribner's that are collectively called Heinlein's Juveniles. Some Heinlein historians include "Podkayne of Mars" as one of the juveniles, but Heinlein himself did not. This 1956 novel was Heinlein's eighth juvenile.

John Thomas Stuart XI had a pet named Lummox. When Lummox was little it was the size of a puppy. However, Lummox was older, generations older by human standards, and was now the size of a small bus. Things would be fine if Lummox would stay in the backyard. Unfortunately, Lummox has a clever way of thinking about things, and sometimes Lummox's logic discovers interesting interpretations of property and what John Thomas Stuart XI has told Lummox to do.

The trouble begins with nearby rose bushes. Lummox enjoys rose bushes, but Lummox also has a basic understanding of property and Lummox knows that John Stuart has forbidden Lummox to eat rose bushes owned by someone. However, these particular rose bushes appear to have no owner.

Things go from bad to worse when Lummox becomes frightened and ends up running from multiple individuals and then the police. Fortunately, Lummox is nearly invincible; bullets bounce off Lummox because of a nearly impervious hide. Unfortunately, a number of people feel that Lummox is a menace to society and want Lummox destroyed. John Thomas Stuart XI has serious issues to resolve.

Under Secretary Kiko has serious issues to resolve. Because his department has responsibilities for extraterrestrials, he sends Sergei Greenberg off to determine whether the Department of Spatial Affairs should become involved. While Greenburg is handling the Lummox situation, Kiko attempts to understand why an arrogant and advanced race called the Hroshii seems to think that their princess is on Earth.

The story that follows from these incidents is exciting and well-written. Somewhere in this story Kiko and Greenburg will discover the key to the Hroshii situation and to the Lummox problem as well, hopefully before the either the Hroshii or Lummox can destroy the Earth. Robert A. Heinlein wrote a novel that has captivated adults and children, and serves as an excellent introduction to science fiction and to the stories of Robert A. Heinlein.

Enjoy!

It all depends on your point of view.......2006-05-04

John Thomas Stuart was a young man with alot of on his mind. He would be going off to college in the fall, his best friend Betty would be at a different school, his mother was still insisting that she knew what was best for him - about everything, and he would be forced to leave behind the pet he had had his entire life. 'Lummox', in fact had also been his father's before that, and his father's before....Lummox was an ET that great grandfather had brought home from one of the first deep space explorations a century before. At that time Lummox had been about the size of a puppy but had grown considerably over the years and now was about the size of a car, which added to John Thomas' problems keeping him out of trouble.

Lummox went out for a walk one afternoon and caused enough destruction that he came to the attention of the Department of Spatial Affairs. As John Thomas and Betty attempt to sort out this mess the situation continued to escalate to truly astonishing situations. Everyone involved had a different point of view about the relationship between John Thomas and Lummox and corresponding opinion on what should be done.

This 1954 entry is one of the 'juvenile' novels that RAH was writing at the time. As always with his work it is an exciting and funny novel that could be thoroughly enjoyed on that level alone. Also as always with RAH's work some rather sophisticated ideas are hidden inside that will stay with the reader long after the book has been put down.

This also marks a change in RAH's portrayal of women. In his earlier works women are usually rarely mentioned and when they are it is in a sexist and/or unsympathetic manner. In his later years women are often the main characters of his works and shown as the equals of men in every way. In THE STAR BEAST this change has begun, Betty is every bit as smart as John Thomas. The two of them are equal partners in taking care of Lummox who has more than a few surprises of his own.

This would be a good place for someone to begin reading RAH's works, it is also a 'must read' for any long time fans.

I'm not impressed.......2005-01-03

In Heinlein's sci-fi classic The Star Beast, an enormous alien creature is smuggled back to Earth, where it lives for over a hundred years and is cared for by several generations of the Thomas family. The story begins when the creature, Lummox, innocently decides to take a stroll through town, and unintentionally wreaks havoc throughout the neighborhood. All though Lummox is one of the friendliest and gentlest characters, his mere appearance frightens and angers the people with whom he comes in contact. The small town's government is unable to decide what to do with the beast, and Earth's department for spatial affairs gets involved. The department must settle on a punishment for the alien in question, along with his teenage owner, John Thomas.
This is an early science fiction novel intended for young adults. As such, very few, hard-core sci-fi ideas are utilized, and the storyline is very simple. However, even as a young adult myself, I found the book to be, simply put, quite dull. The very long hang times between major events can leave readers napping between chapters, and even the big turning points leave much to be desired. I found that very few of the characters were worth paying attention to, and were mostly annoying, wimpy creatures that tend to exaggerate human nature. If you're looking for good science fiction, this is not your book. If you're looking for an easy and somewhat entertaining story, then this is probably worth reading.

Heinlein does it again -- a "juvenile" for the adults too.......2004-01-18

Another juvenile adventure story from the first Grand Master of Science Fiction. As usual, it has a strong appeal for adult readers as well. Heinlein never wrote down to his younger readers or lightened his realistic approach to soceity and politics in his future settings. Sometimes this works against him, and in Star Beast he gets too deep lengthy discussions between bureaucrats sitting in offices talking about intergalactic politics and the workings of the justice system.

The central premise, however, thrills: a teen boy's `pet,' a saurian alien named Lummox, becomes a focal point in negotiations with a powerful alien race, while misguided humans search for a legal loophole to allow them to kill the alien beast. The sequence involving John Thomas's escape with Lummox to avoid an order to destroy the alien is the novel's best.

If you are interested in reading more Heinlein juveniles, _Starman Jones_ and _Have Space Suit-Will Travel_ are even better, with plenty of more action and adventure.

Average customer rating:

Filled with inaccuracies and mistakes

Looking for the worst Voyager book ever?

I thought this was a really good book

STV 10 Bless the Beasts - Fraught with unrealized potential!

Good plot, bad book

Bless the Beasts (Star Trek Voyager, No 10)
Karen Haber
Manufacturer: Star Trek
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Haber, Karen | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0671567802

Book Description

In desperate need of crucial repairs, the Starship VoyagerTM has come to Sardalia, a planet blessed with great natural beauty and apparently friendly inhabitants. The Sardalians welcome Voyager enthusiastically, but Captain Janeway soon grows suspicious. The Sardalians seem almost too eager to help. Janeway fears they are hiding some secret agenda. When Tom Paris and Harry Kim disappear while visiting the planet, the captain and her crew find themselves caught in the middle of a planetary war -- and faced with an agonizing moral dilemma.

Customer Reviews:

Filled with inaccuracies and mistakes.......2007-07-13

This book is filled with inaccuracies and mistakes. From the pervasive swearing (against what Star Trek is all about), to Janeway's impatience, rudeness, and downright nasty behavior (definitely not ST), this book is very disappointing.

Harry Kim doesn't call Tom "Paris," though he does in this book and he acts immature, an insult to Harry Kim fans. What's worse is Janeway is portrayed as a rude, impatient, bully of a captain. There are very corny lines that no character would ever use and most characters act well, completely out of character. I was very disappointed with this book and am glad I borrowed it from the library instead of buying it.

Looking for the worst Voyager book ever? .......2007-04-22

It is a sore spot among many of my Voyager friends and I that I am not a Christie Golden fan. However, compared to Karen Haber, I would be urged to declare Christie Golden the goddess of all Voyager books. In reading a Voyager book I generally only find one or two errors in character traits, terminology, ship logistics, etc. "Bless the Beast" is full of glaring mistakes. After finding five mistakes in the first chapter, I took the initiative to earmark every page with a mistake. There were 79 pages with errors on them, several of them with more than one! That is quite a feat in a book with only 274 pages. Some were small errors such as the over abundance of curse words. Four letter words are used more in this book than probably in all of the seven seasons of Voyager. Others were glaring mistakes such as Janeway spinning her command chair on the bridge around to face the turbolift. I don't feel the need to explain this one since if you've ever seen an episode of Voyager you'd realise the imposibility of that. I also found it highly annoying that Janeway would "give the bridge" to Chakotay when she left her ready room. Clearly if she was in her ready room, Chakotay already had command of the bridge. Ofcourse the best instance of this was when she actually "gave the bridge" to Tuvok when Chakotay was on the bridge. I wonder how the first officer felt about that? The author also failed to realize that Janeway's ready room and the briefing room were two seperate areas. As such, throughout the story, Janeway has a huge conference table in her ready room. I am interested in how this was missed. Janeway is constantly asking someone else to do everything for her. Anyone familiar with Janeway knows that she is a hands on captain and this would never fly. And at one point she participates in an act so cruel and completely out of character that I was shocked. Normally I would say that I am simply being too cruel on the author due to my intense like of Janeway, however, that is not true in this instance. If you are looking to read the worst Voyager book ever written, this is the one for you? Otherwise, I'd avoid it like the plague.

I thought this was a really good book.......2004-04-21

Okay once again into the eye of hurricane I go by liking and enjoying a book that has been panned by so many readers.

Yes, I did really enjoy reading this book, it had a really good and interesting plot and I thought the Voyager characters pretty much matched up with those from the TV series which was a real bonus for me.

The plot is as follows: Captain Janeway and her crew find themselves reluctantly having to ask a pre-warp civilisation for help when they have engine problems. Bang goes the Prime Directive but it is an emergency after all!

The humanoid looking inhabitants of Sardalia are only too eager to help Voyager and are very friendly, too friendly in fact and it soon becomes apparent that there is something going on that is being hidden from the crew.

It turns out that all the inhabitants on Sardalia have a genetic illness called the Gray Plague and the only medicine to keep the symptoms at bay is the blood of a giant sea creature called the Darra but there is a war going on between different factions who want to control this very precious commodity.

But the Darra are sentient beasts, and their distress becomes evident to Harry Kim when he and Tom Paris end up with Marima the daughter of the Sardarlian Leader in a rather sticky situation in the middle of a hostile ocean.

There are a couple of faux pas in the book, but not enough for it to make much difference to the plot and the over all exciting story.

Well worth a read despite what everyone else says!

STV 10 Bless the Beasts - Fraught with unrealized potential!.......2004-01-26

Star Trek Voyager #10 "Bless the Beasts" is author Karen Haber's one and only Star Trek novel. The end result of this novel may be the primary reason that she only visited this genre this one time. Just as with many of the other early novels, this novel is plagued with some of the same tired plot device; Voyager's on her own and in need of supplies and repairs. While the basic premise of Star Trek Voyager itself demands such plot devices, which were used in the episodes quite frequently and too frequently in many Voyager novels, there were many different avenues that could've been taken without consistently focusing on this one.

While the basic premise of "Bless the Beasts" was a very good one, the execution of the story was not. The characterizations are off and the pacing of the novel unfortunately leaves much to be desired, all resulting in a novel that is fraught with unrealized potential and an unsatisfying read. The one minor saving grace is that at far too late in the novel, it does come together for a respectable ending. Just as with many of the other Star Trek Voyager novels from the time when this one was published, the cover art is fairly decent.

The premise:

Captain Janeway and crew find themselves once again in the position of being in desperate need of repairs and they come across a planet they find to be named Sardalia. The inhabitants at first seem to be friendly and are living on a planet blessed with natural beauty. It's not long before Captain Janeway finds that the hospitality being extended by the Sardalians is a bit too generous and then Lieutenant Tom Paris and Ensign Harry Kim disappear. Captain Janeway soon finds that the situation is untenable as they discover the planet is in the midst of a planetary war and that she must face a moral dilemma...

What follows from there is, as stated above, a story that is fraught with potential that quickly becomes unrealized as the author takes the novel in directions that just do not capture the reader. Overall, I would recommend the novel to only those, like myself, that are collector's/completists, not those looking for a Star Trek "starter" novel as this is most certainly not a novel that represents the quality possessed by a majority of the Star Trek novels. {ssintrepid}

Good plot, bad book.......2003-10-18

I'm a big Voyager fan, and I've read many of their books. This book doesn't even compare to the other ones. The auther doesn't seem to know the characters, their moral values, or even the Prime Directive! In this book the part of the delimna is thaat this whole Pre-warp clvilization that they've come in contact with is suffering with this sickness, and Janeway won't help them because it's against the Prime Directive. I have at least two things against that: 1: It is not against the Directive, because they've already come into contact with this civilazation, they know that they exist. From that point on, the Prime Directive doen't say anything about curing an entire planet from a horrible deasise that anyone has. and 2. Even if it actully was against the Prime Directive, Janyway would still help them. I'm sure that every Trekkie reading this would know that. And about the character personalties: They make the Captain mean, they make Neelix manipulative, and they make the Doctor stupid. This book has an interesting plot, but for a while it doesn't go anywhere. Plus, near the end, when they're debating wether thay should give the planet the medicine for this plague, the arguemeant is that if the crew doesn't provide the cure, then these slightly sentient animals called the Darra will be hunted more (they provide a postponement of pain for the victoms of the sickness). Not that I'm against not hunting animals, espically if their setinent, but that was practically the only arguement: "what about the Darra?" "If we don't provide the medicine, the darra will become exctinct". What about the millions of people who need the cure? Also, the auther over exagarates in this book and writes immaturely: I noticed at the first line. If you're a big Star Trek fan, you should read this book, but please don't expect Christie Golden material.
P.S.: I'm not really 12, this form was just easier to fill out.

AWARD SCIENCE FICTION READER: The Dancing Girl of Ganymede; The Last Evolution; The Traveling Crag; Exile of the Eons; Ship of Darkness; You'll Never Go Home Again; The Star Beast

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AWARD SCIENCE FICTION READER: The Dancing Girl of Ganymede; The Last Evolution; The Traveling Crag; Exile of the Eons; Ship of Darkness; You'll Never Go Home Again; The Star Beast
Alden H. (editor) (Sam Moskowitz; Leigh Brackett; John W. Campbell Jr.; Theodore Sturgeon; Arthur C. Clarke; A. E. van Vogt; Clifford Simak; Poul Anderson) Norton
Manufacturer: Award Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GVTSGK

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The Star Beast
Robert A. Heinlein
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Have Spacesuit, Will Travel

ASIN: B0006ATV1S

Five Star First Edition Westerns - The Beast In Canada Diablo: A Western Trio (Five Star First Edition Westerns)

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Five Star First Edition Westerns - The Beast In Canada Diablo: A Western Trio (Five Star First Edition Westerns)
Jr. Les Savage
Manufacturer: Five Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

Book Description

This new trio of short novels opens with The Brand of Señorita Scorpion. When Elgera Douglas is forced to flee her ranch, her way becomes blocked by the smoke and heat of a volcano. In Queen of the Long Rifles, Benjamin Longbit and his gang of thieves announce that all fur trappers will leave the area of the Big Horns within a week or they will be hunted down and killed. The Beast in Cañada Diablo is a gigantic cat-like creature that has killed the last two lawmen who entered the canyon.

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Great Gelato Recipes!

Looking for Gelato Recipes....?

best--ever

best book on the subject

OK, but . . .

The Ultimate Frozen Dessert Book: A Complete Guide to Gelato, Sherbert, Granita, and Semmifreddo, Plus Frozen Cakes, Pies, Mousses, Chiffon Cakes, and ... of Ways to Customize Every Recipe to Your
Bruce Weinstein , and Mark Scarbrough
Manufacturer: William Morrow Cookbooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Desserts | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Ultimate Ice Cream Book: Over 500 Ice Creams, Sorbets, Granitas, Drinks, And More

Gelato!: Italian Ice Cream, Sorbetti & Granite

Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream & Dessert Book

Frozen Desserts: The definitive guide to making ice creams, ices, sorbets, gelati, and other frozen delights

Lello 4070 Gelato Junior

ASIN: 0060597070
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Book Description

Gelato may be Italian for ice cream, but The Ultimate Frozen Dessert Book is American for the sequel to the best-selling Ultimate Ice Cream Book. In the ninth installment of the wildly popular Ultimate series, powerhouse cookbook authors Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough churn out more than 500 recipes and variations for all kinds of frosty treats, including a wide range of gelato, granita, sherbet, and semifreddo. And there's a whole chapter on cakes, pies, and other treats made with ice cream or gelato, whether home-made or store-bought! Bruce and Mark prove that when it comes to frozen desserts, ice cream is only the tip of the iceberg! Together, these two books make the ultimate compendium on frozen treats.

Download Description

Gelato may be Italian for ice cream, but The Ultimate Frozen Dessert Book is American for the sequel to the best-selling Ultimate Ice Cream Book. In the ninth installment of the wildly popular Ultimate series, powerhouse cookbook authors Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough churn out more than 500 recipes and variations for all kinds of frosty treats, including a wide range of gelato, granita, sherbet, and semifreddo. And there's a whole chapter on cakes, pies, and other treats made with ice cream or gelato, whether home-made or store-bought! Bruce and Mark prove that when it comes to frozen desserts, ice cream is only the tip of the iceberg! Together, these two books make the ultimate compendium on frozen treats. "

Customer Reviews:

Great Gelato Recipes!.......2007-06-19

I have purchased several books in search of good gelato recipes, and gelato recipes dominate this book. The author explains the difference between the various frozen delights. The recipes are easy to follow and there are suggestions for many variations. A great book for gelato addicts! A perfect companion for my Gelato Pro (great machine!).

Looking for Gelato Recipes....?.......2006-05-13

...well they've got 'em! I was looking so hard to find an ice cream book that had a lot of gelato recipes, and this one has more basic gelato recipes than any of the other ice cream books or even JUST gelato books that I had looked at. PLUS, he has a number of potential variations for each of the main recipes (for instance 6 variations on the pecan gelato recipe, and 7 for banana gelato). To me, this is worth it JUST for the gelato recipes (100 of the 249 pages are dedicated to Gelato recipes and techniques). While there are also recipes for desserts like sherbert or granita (and even directions for ice cream sandwiches and frozen s'mores pie), there are absolutely no "ice cream" recipes, so if that is what you are looking for look elsewhere. If you are searching (sometimes in vain!) for amazing gelato recipes, look no further.

UPDATE...After actually TRYING these recipes:

The recipes in this book are fabulous! If you are trying to make gelato that actually rivals the kind you can get on the streets in Spain or Italy (and beats the ones you can get in Boston's North End!), as I said before, look no further. Definitely try the Dulce de Leche recipe, its amazingly rich and creamy...but really, just try them ALL!

And just a note on the authors, I was having an issue with the recipe when I first started out (turns out I wasnt cooking the custard long enough), and sent them an email (their contact info is on their website) and Scarbrough (or his representative....I really couldnt care which!) got back to me in a few hours with suggestions of things I could try to improve my product. I really thought that was very thoughtful and helpful. If it wasnt ALREADY getting 5 stars, they would have gotten another star just for that!

best--ever.......2005-11-07

If you've seen my other reviews of these guys books, you know I'm now a fan. I looked up their website and they apparently do teaching classes, so I'm hoping Central Market down here will get their act together and have them in. I made their chocolate gelato. Move over, Giada, that's all I can say. OK, so they're not Italian. But it was the most silky thing I've ever eaten. I actually made a trial run of it one day when my parents were coming over and ended up eating the whole batch by the end of the day. So I served some coffee cake from the store. It was worth every calorie. I haven't told anyone in my family I made that gelato because I don't want them to think I'm nuts. Plus, I want to surprise them with it. I think I'm going to make some gelatos for Thanksgiving and skip the pie.

best book on the subject.......2005-08-27

i bought this book because i have the authors' other book on ice cream (the ultimate ice cream book) and i've used it faithfully for a number of years. then i read a review of this book in the new york times. they said this book had some really great recipes including a frozen lemon souffle. i was surprised by the differences in the gelati recipes in this book and the ice cream recipes in the other book. these have more milk, less cream, and more eggs. they're custard based desserts, not ice cream. so, if you're looking for good old american ice cream i would suggest the ultimate ice cream book for that. but this book also has some interesting frozen desserts i've never tried before, like semifreddo. the chocolate is my favorite so far. what i really like about it is that you don't need an ice cream machine. surely when it comes to frozen desserts other than ice ream, this book is a hands down winner.

OK, but . . ........2005-08-27

This book is OK, but there are others out there that are equally as good or better. LOTS of repitition in the recipes. The recipe for Peach Gelato is pretty much of a bust. No one here liked it.

Of course my negativity may be brought about because I was expecting something similar to American ice cream, while gelato is a whole 'nother thing.

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