Dearly Devoted Dexter: A Novel

Book Description

He’s a charming monster . . .

A macabre hero . . .

A serial killer who only kills bad people

Dexter Morgan has been under considerable pressure. It’s just not easy being an ethical serial killer—especially while trying to avoid the unshakable suspicions of the dangerous Sergeant Doakes (who believes Dexter is a homicidal maniac . . . which, of course, he is). In an attempt to throw Doakes off his trail, Dexter has had to slip deep into his foolproof disguise. While not working as a blood-spatter analyst for the Miami Police Department, he now spends nearly all his time with his cheerful girlfriend, Rita, and her two children, sipping light beer and slowly becoming the world’s first serial couch potato. But how long can Dexter play Kick the Can instead of Slice the Slasher? How long before his Dark Passenger forces him to drop the charade and let his inner monster run free?

In trying times, opportunity knocks. A particularly nasty psychopath is cutting a trail through Miami—a man whose twisted technique leaves even Dexter speechless. As Dexter’s dark appetite is revived, his sister, Deborah (a newly minted, tough-as-nails Miami detective) is drawn headlong into the case. It quickly becomes clear that it will take a monster to catch a monster—but it isn’t until his archnemesis is abducted that Dex can finally throw himself into the search for a new plaything. Unless, of course, his plaything finds him first . . .

With the incredible wit and freshness that drew widespread acclaim to Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Jeff Lindsay now takes Dexter Morgan to a new level of macabre appeal and gives us one of the most original, colorful narrators in years.

Download Description

JEFF LINDSAY is the author of Darkly Dreaming Dexter. He lives in South Florida with his wife and three daughters.

Customer Reviews:

Goosebumps CITY!.......2007-10-04

Love Jeff Lindsay! He's my new favorite...used to be David Wiltse & Thomas Harris...no more! But try David Wiltse if you haven't - I recommend starting with Close to the Bone :) Dexter books are a very quick read, but that's okay...with this being a new show on Showtime I'm sure he's gonna be cranking these out @ warp speed, but the quality will not suffer, no doubt. Like Wiltse he's one of those authors that grab you with the first paragraph and you can't put it down until your finished! AAAAA+++++

Mesmerizing.......2007-09-30

I'm new to recorded books. Previously, I've thought recorded books are for people who can't read... just kidding. All seriousness though, Nick Landrum, the narrator for the Dexter series by Jeff Lindsay is a great choice. He doesn't over animate the voices nor does he just read in a monotone fashion. I've read the first book and I'm a fan of the Showtime series. I purchased the Dearly Devoted Dexter but managed only to get to 5 chapters due to my hectic schedule. My work kept my eyes planted on a computer screen so I thought recorded books as an option to continue "reading" the book while I worked. It's been really convenient for me. I actually just purchased the new Dexter In The Dark recorded book so I can continue slaving on the computer while I entertain myself with Jeff Linday's amazing work.

I can't get enough of Dexter........2007-09-16

It read just like the series, and was almost impossible to put down! Great way to get you through until the next enstallment or the second season!

so damn funny.......2007-09-08

I read the first one and loved it for it's campy sarcasm... the secone one is even better in this respect. I wish he could write one every week! The show is great as a way to keep going as I jones for more books.

"WOW".......2007-09-02

Dexter is a serial killer who only kills bad people
Morgan has been under considerable pressure. It's just not easy being an ethical serial killer--especially while trying to avoid the unshakable suspicions of the dangerous Sergeant Doakes (who believes Dexter is a homicidal maniac . . . which, of course, he is). In an attempt to throw Doakes off his trail, Dexter has had to slip deep into his foolproof disguise. While not working as a blood-spatter analyst for the Miami Police Department, he now spends nearly all his time with his cheerful girlfriend, Rita, and her two children, sipping light beer and slowly becoming the world's first serial couch potato. But how long can Dexter play Kick the Can instead of Slice the Slasher? How long before his Dark Passenger forces him to drop the charade and let his inner monster run free?
In trying times, opportunity knocks. A particularly nasty psychopath is cutting a trail through Miami--a man whose twisted technique leaves even Dexter speechless. As Dexter's dark appetite is revived, his sister, Deborah (a newly minted, tough-as-nails Miami detective) is drawn headlong into the case. It quickly becomes clear that it will take a monster to catch a monster--but it isn't until his archnemesis is abducted that Dex can finally throw himself into the search for a new plaything. Unless, of course, his plaything finds him first . . .
With the incredible wit and freshness that drew widespread acclaim to Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Jeff Lindsay now takes Dexter Morgan to a new level of macabre appeal and gives us one of the most original, colorful narrators in years.

Average customer rating:

"the Rand McNally approach to self-discovery"

A wonderful adventure

mea culpa, mea culpa

Possibly the most self-absorbed book I have ever read

A dreadful read
Beyond the House of the False Lama: Travels with Monks, Nomads, and Outlaws
George Crane
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Similar Items:

Bones of the Master: A Journey to Secret Mongolia

The Gods Drink Whiskey: Stumbling Toward Enlightenment in the Land of the Tattered Buddha (Plus)

Rude Awakenings: Two Englishmen on Foot in Buddhism's Holy Land

Blazing Splendor: The Memoirs of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

The Heart of the World: A Journey to Tibet's Lost Paradise

ASIN: B000J3EH2K

Customer Reviews:

"the Rand McNally approach to self-discovery".......2007-06-23

After the tremendous impressions Crane left us with in his first book "Bones of the Master", on this offering we're left asking: "What happened George?"

This book starts off in disappointment mode - yet, if you work with George as he tries to shake off the wreckage of his 3rd marriage; if you stick with him as he tries to shake off his accumulated neurosis and persistant self-flagellating; if you cut him some major slack as he goes through his "Rand McNally approach to self-discovery" (Thomas McGuane) - then, just maybe, the value of his story begins to emerge.

Fleeing the disintegration of that 3rd marriage, Crane and a buddy end up crewing a boat off the Florida Keys - until the hurricane hits. Then he's like Forrest Gump and that other guy riding out that storm in the middle of the Caribbean. Surviving that, he goes to Paris where we endure his wound-licking and self-indulgent whining. And somehow towards the middle of the book, he makes it back to Mongolia, on a vaguely defined quest to find . . . what?

It is clear that George is adrift without his monk-friend Tsang Tsai from the first book. This narrative may very well be written for fellow mid-lifers who are in either pre- or post- crisis modes: tough to say.

Anyway, like "Journey to Ixtlan", this roller coaster (or perhaps a bronco ride) of a narrative is a metaphor for what is found in the search and the journey; the destination may yet be only a mirage.

As a writer, George Crane is still working out his Mojo - like a burner on the stove, one gets the feeling that he's just turned down the heat.

Although the leaping around in this book is formidible, if you perservere with the guy to the end, it is a pretty decent book.

Extracts: A Field Guide for Iconoclasts

A wonderful adventure.......2007-05-13

I see that some reviewers were not impressed with Crane's eagerly anticipated sequel. I must confess that I was! For one thing, the absence of Tsung-Tsai is not as glaring as some have suggested. His spirit is still very much with Crane; it's simply that Crane has, in some sense, moved on from being a disciple to becoming his own man. I, for one, think the title reflects this. Secondly, the prose in the sequel is far superior to that of the original. Is Crane self-indulgent? Of course! But that's the point! Crane, like a true Zen master, is detached from his own behaviour, and views it with an ironic sort of amusement. Above all, Crane's novel serves as an indictment of the holier-than-thou Buddhists and other saints who are incapable of simply appreciating life for what it is. And for that, we ought to be grateful.

mea culpa, mea culpa.......2007-05-07

George Crane spends a lot of time whining about the person he is not, rather than examining the person he is. Some interesting story telling, but the self-involvement frequently gets in the way.

Possibly the most self-absorbed book I have ever read.......2007-04-09

It is difficult to believe this is the same George Crane that penned "Bones of the Master." I can only believe the Fox has taken his soul along with his ability to tell a compelling story.

If you want to read about sex and drugs, I suggest Hunter S. Thompson or Charles Bukoski. If you want to read about Zen, see Robert Pirsig.

If you want to be bored, buy this book.

Sorry, I loved "Bones of the Master," but this author has lost his muse and seems proud of it.

A dreadful read.......2007-03-19

I really enjoyed Bones of the Master, but I regret to say that this book is awful. It reads like a 16 year old's diary--unbearably self-centered and self-absorbed, given to inane philosophizing and adolescent romanticism. It is somewhat astonishing that a sixty-something year old man has managed to abide at such a stage of arrested development. He may have inadvertently succeeded in his quest for literary recognition by writing what will one day be considered the definitive document of baby boomer narcissism and selfishness. I suppose it was the presence of Tsung Tsai that made Bones of the Master engaging, because without it the author is adrift.

Average customer rating:

Inferior sequel to the High House
Another great one
Stoddard is today's Tolkein!
A great sequel to a great first novel!
A real charmer!

The False House
James Stoddard
Manufacturer: Aspect
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

The High House (Aspect Fantasy)

ASIN: 0446607010

Amazon.com

The False House is the sequel to The High House, which received the Compton Crook/Stephen Tall Award for Best First Novel. These books are recommended to all readers who enjoyed C.S. Lewis's Narnia books or lamented the passing of the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series. --Cynthia Ward

Book Description

The mysterious manor Evenmere, the High House, contains and preserves all Creation--until the Cornerstone is stolen and a False House raised around it in the Outer Darkness. Now all the worlds will be destroyed, unless Carter Anderson, the new Lord of Evenmere, can discover the location of the Cornerstone and defeat both the armies of anarchy and the nightmares of a stolen child. The False House is the sequel to The High House, which received the Compton Crook/Stephen Tall Award for Best First Novel. These books are recommended to all readers who enjoyed C.S. Lewis's Narnia books or lamented the passing of the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series. --Cynthia Ward

Customer Reviews:

Inferior sequel to the High House.......2004-03-11

The False House, by James Stoddard

Sequel to The High House, the book continues the story of Evermere, the House that makes up worlds, and its Lord, Carter Anderson.

Whereas the first book both showed the growth of Carter into the role of Lord, and gave us an overview of the weird world of the House, this second book presents him in the full of his power.

Not quite knowing what to do with this, we are presented with a kidnapping of the Lord's soon to be bride's sister, and a trip to a strange, twisted, growing replica of the original House. If you might guess that his powers, gained at cost in the first book do not work well once he reaches this second, false House, well you would be right.

This book itself feels like the False House to the real one does. Instead of the wonder and magic of the first book, this one feels darker and tastes fouller. There is extensive reference to Wuthering Heights, a novel which I have not read. Characterization is strangely stilted and nowhere near as smooth and interesting as the first. The alienness and creepiness of the more powerful beings, Lady Order, the Lord of Chaos, and Jormungandr are diminished here.

The whole book feels like an unnecessary exercise which diminishes the first.

Definitely not recommended.

Another great one.......2002-10-08

"The False House" is a little bit disappointing, because it doesn't have much of the amazing creativity and beautiful descriptions that filled Stoddard's earlier work, "The High House". However, it is still a well-written and tightly-plotted book, much better than most of the formulaic nonsense that passes for fantasy literature these days. The author avoids spending large amounts of time explaining events from the original work, and he doesn't have the characters dwell excessively on things that happened earlier.

My biggest complaint about "The False House" is that it has almost exactly the same plot as "The High House". The Society of Anarchists has once again stolen some magic object from Evenmere. In this case, it's the cornerstone from underneath Innman Tor, and they plan to use it to build a new house in the outer darkness, an empty wasteland that lies beyond the borders of the high house. Once again, Carter Anderson must go marching off to bring it back in order to protect Evenmere and all of creation from evil. I would have hoped for a little bit of variation, but the sequence of events proceeds with remarkable predictability.

Other than that, there aren't any really glaring flaws in "The False House". The cast of characters remains strong. Stoddard brings back all the important people from "The High House" and also adds some colorful newcomers, although none of them have a background quite as original as Enoch and Chant. As one other reviewer mentioned, there are a couple of female characters who are positively displayed in this volume, which corrects one minor annoyance from the previous work. There are also a few of Stoddard's amazing visual descriptions of rooms and other locations, although not as many as there were in "The High House". All in all, a solid and entertaining read, though slightly inferior to the original.

Stoddard is today's Tolkein!.......2000-07-22

Stoddard's second novel establishes him as the best contemporary writer of high fantasy (a subgenre that normally fails to attract writers of this caliber). In this sequel, Evenmere is once again threatened by the Anarchists, but Stoddard is able to spend his time fleshing out his characters, and his writing is much more powerful than in his earlier novel; when his bad guys threaten a young kidnap victim, it's hard not to hate them and feel her fear and anger. Sarah Carter is given a much more significant role than in the previous novel, and the rest supporting cast is a delight! This is the best novel I've read this year, and a series I hope will continue.

A great sequel to a great first novel!.......2000-07-13

I have had the pleasure of reading the High House, and this was a great sequel to his first novel. I loved it, and can't wait for another.

A real charmer!.......2000-06-27

This book is an absolute gem. The characters are incredibly delightful and very likable replete with all sorts of odd quirks in their personalities. The setting, The High House (Evenmere) and the multiple brilliant and varied countries within the White Circle, and the False House, a bizarre ordered counterpart to Evenmere,were absolutely fascinating! I was riveted by the details of my(imaginary)surroundings and found this book as full of charm and quaintness as its predecessor, The High House. Yet James Stoddard has outdone himself. While I found the first book vastly original and entertaining, this second one is evidently superior, with a wider cast of lovable main characters(I adore Carter's wife, Sarah)and a plot more driven and un-put-down-able! This is an irresistable book, and that's "a scientific fact, like osmosis and steam engines" to quote my fave character! So read this book for it is well worth it, and buy this book for it is much deserved, and I don't doubt that you will enjoy it quite as much as I did.

Falsa Memoria / False Memory (Best Seller)

Average customer rating:

Falsa Memoria / False Memory (Best Seller)
Dean R. Koontz
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Psychological & Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Average customer rating:

one of the greatest writers of all time..seriously!
A Former-Agoraphobe's Review
Tedious and not worth the time.
The Nora Roberts of horror/thrillers strikes again
Long but enthralling & worth it!

False Memory (Random House Large Print)
Dean Koontz
Manufacturer: Random House Large Print
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Literature & Fiction | Large Print | Formats | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 037540970X
Release Date: 2000-01-04

Amazon.com

Not a continuation of the Moonlight Bay series (Seize the Night and Fear Nothing) as many fans were expecting, False Memory is nonetheless just as powerful and compulsive as anything Koontz has written before.

Martie Rhodes is a successful young computer games designer with a loving husband, Dusty, and a seemingly normal life. Her best friend, Susan, however, suffers from agoraphobia, or a fear of open spaces, and relies on Martie to take her to weekly therapy sessions. Suddenly and inexplicably, Martie herself begins exhibiting worrying signs of a mental disorder, fearing herself capable of inflicting great harm on her loved ones. At the same time, Dusty's brother Skeet also succumbs to irrational mental behavior and tries to throw himself from a roof. It soon becomes clear that these four characters are involved in something much more than a sinister coincidence.

Koontz's great skill, as he demonstrates so well in this novel, is creating believable characters and thrusting them into seemingly impossible but--for the period of the story--completely plausible situations. The plot is as carefully layered as the most intricate orchestral compositions, and Koontz conducts the proceedings with almost unbearable tension. One of his greatest abilities as a writer, however, is tapping into the dark paranoia of society. As we approach the Millennium, and an age in which we are becoming increasingly desensitized to death and violence, Martie's fear of herself, known as autophobia, seems a terrifying warning that soon the only thing we will have left to fear is ourselves.

Deeper meanings aside, this is easily one of his best thrillers. The prose moves at a breakneck speed, and the denouement will leave you with a pounding heart and chills up and down your spine. Koontz delivers exciting, boundary-breaking fiction better than anyone else in the game, and False Memory (though at times shocking and disturbing) is a perfect example of a master author in top form. --Jonathan Weir, Amazon.co.uk

Book Description

On the heels of his critically acclaimed New York Times bestsellers Fear Nothing and Seize the Night, "America's most popular suspense novelist"* will stun readers with a deeply sinister and endlessly surprising tale of a rare and terrifying phobia: autophobia - fear of oneself.

Martie Rhodes is a young wife (happily married to Dustin for three years), a video game designer, and a compassionate woman who takes her agoraphobic friend Carol to therapy sessions. Carol is so afraid of leaving her apartment that the trips are grim ordeals for both women - but bonding experiences as well.

Then one morning Martie experiences a sudden fear of her own, a brief but disquieting terror of...her shadow. The episode it over quickly. It leaves her shaken but amused. Then, as she is about to check her makeup, she realizes she is terrified to look in the mirror and confront her own face.

As the episodes of this traumatic condition - autophobia - build, the lives of Martie and her husband change drastically. Frantic to discover the trigger for her descent into hell, Dustin begins to look into the background of a respected therapist. As he comes closer to the truth about this strange and troubled "healer," Dustin finds himself afflicted with a condition even more bizarre and terrifying than Martie's.

No fan of psychological suspense will want to miss this extraordinary novel of the human mind's capacity to torment - and destroy. Dean Koontz once more reveals why he has, as People put it, the "power to scare the daylights out of us."

Customer Reviews:

one of the greatest writers of all time..seriously!.......2007-10-01

i got tired reading my lecture notes that i went to the bookstore to pick up a book and i chose this book because the synopsis was so interesting..i know i should've picked a book with less pages but my heart was set on this book..
and it did not disappoint!! the synopsis at the back of the book didn't give away anything.. you just don;t know what's coming..
there's a lot of element in this book : heroism, power, love, family etc..
i think it's one of the greatest book to read and i'm going to keep reading his books and recommend it to anyone who's willing to listen. amazing, can't say that enough!

A Former-Agoraphobe's Review.......2007-08-04

Wow, very cool, this one! And it even had a character with agoraphobia!! I could relate to a degree--though her case is MUCH more severe than mine was. Mine lasted about 3 months; hers lasted 16 months. I was able to go outside and even drive a mile or two on my good days; the character was unable to even LOOK out the window without having a panic attack. It really makes me appreciate the fact that I was able to overcome mine in a relatively short amount of time.

On the subject of agoraphobia--since I have personal experience with it--I'd like to point out that Koontz did a good job depicting it. Though the "what if, what if, what if" questions are usually kept inside a person's head, the fact that Susan did go through "what if" phases when her anxiety level was high shows that Koontz did his homework. Also, fear of going crazy, fear of never overcoming the agoraphobia, and great sadness and a feeling of loss at being unable to experience the world are also very accurate. (However, unlike most phobias, agoraphobia usually stems from an anxiety disorder--it's usually a fear of "what if I have a panic attack and can't get home?" rather than a true fear of open places or, as "agora" translates, the market place. There is a small percentage, though, of agoraphobic conditions that do not stem from an underlying panic disorder, and it is this rarer type that I think Susan has.)

There did seem to be a point where the storyline lulled a bit... but that could just as easily been because I was tired (I got through the book in just a couple days). But the characters more than make up for any lull in plot. Fig and Skeet are great! And Martie and Dusty are just as wonderful, so is their fluffy-butt golden retriever. ^_^ And the family scene near the end makes me glad that my family isn't quite that bad. I still want to get the hell away from them as soon as I can, but at least they're not as bad as Dusty's family.

A very intriguing read, full of action and wonderful characters.

Tedious and not worth the time........2007-07-20

I have tried 3 times to get through this book and now I'm chunking it in the trash can. Other reviewers have commented on the excessive LENGTH of this book. The detail and repetitiveness make this book a huge waste of time. I made it a third of the way through and, after reading the other reviews, I realize it's just a big waste of time and energy plowing through this tome. I've always enjoyed Koontz, but this thing is stupid.

The Nora Roberts of horror/thrillers strikes again.......2007-07-08

I have been trying and trying to like Dean Koontz. I've read about 6 of his books as I search for what everyone else seems to see in him. I am seriously coming to think that it just isn't there.

This book was overly long and the plot was laughable in parts. Honestly, I laughed out loud at some of the more ridiculous scenes. The book was extremely detailed, which, in a better writer, I usually like. However, the details here were just unnecessary, boring, and repetitive, as we saw the main characters doing the same things over and over again. So the villian is an egomaniac who likes to eat sugar - let's write the same scene with small varying details a thousand times! The heroine is scared of hurting her husband - ok, I get it already! I also had the basic plot figured out far before anything was revealed, so for those of you who are good at that, it won't be a secret.

And yes, I get that Koontz likes golden retrievers, as yet another one was in this book.

This book just drove me nuts, I honestly can't believe I finished it, but I kept hoping something amazing would happen that would justify the few days it took me to finish it.

If you are a die hard Koontz fan, I imagine you would probably like this book. If, however, you are trying him for the first time, don't waste your time/money on this one. If you want to read some good horror or thrillers, try Ray Garton, F. Paul Wilson, Richard Matheson, Bentley Little, even Edward Lee - all are much better!

Long but enthralling & worth it!.......2007-07-07

Yes, the book is long and almost too detailed in spots but there are so many twists and turns that make this arduous journey worth it! It's classic Dean Koontz with an evil, sociopathic villian, a gentle yet smart dog, a couple that loves each other without question and sticks together through it all, with good overcoming evil. People who are against psychobabble will love this book!

Average customer rating:

Can it be false?
John Forde House
Manufacturer: Pub. house of the M.E. church, South
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Defense vaccines: Force protection or false security : hearing before the Committee on Government Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixth Congress, first session, October 12, 1999

Average customer rating:

Defense vaccines: Force protection or false security : hearing before the Committee on Government Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixth Congress, first session, October 12, 1999
United States
Manufacturer: For sale by the U.S. G.P.O., Supt. of Docs., Congressional Sales Office
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: 0160610672

False Colours (Severn House Large Print)

Average customer rating:

False Colours (Severn House Large Print)
Judith Saxton
Manufacturer: Severn House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books

Literature & Fiction | Large Print | Formats | Books

Romance | Large Print | Formats | Books
ASIN: 0727871374

Average customer rating:

The False House
James Stoddard
Manufacturer: Earthlight
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000M635N6

Average customer rating:

False Knight (Severn House Large Print)
Peter Turnbull
Manufacturer: Severn House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Police Procedurals | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Literature & Fiction | Large Print | Formats | Books

Mystery & Thrillers | Large Print | Formats | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 072787652X

Book Description

Hennessy and Yellich face a grisly crime - Mary Golightly was not a happy woman: she and her husband were known throughout the neighbourhood for their violent fights. But in the last few weeks before she vanished, she seemed almost joyful, as if something wonderful had come into her life. That was before a bin man found her thigh in a refuse sack. Her husband makes no pretence of grief but does that mean he killed her?

Average customer rating:

House of False Faces
Dorothy (aka Helen Gray Weston) Daniels
Manufacturer: Warner Paperback Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000UZXCEQ

Customer Reviews:

A Good Premise.......2007-05-12

The book started off a little slow , but I like the premise of becoming an alien, even though the other aliens know the posers are different. I think Reed is an excellent writer, having read Marrow, The Well of Stars and The Cuckoo's Boys.

Fascinating, mature Sci-FI.......2004-07-28

Mr. Reed is one of the better "new" sci-fi writers in the field... if you like original ideas, shape-shifter plots, or that "high lonesome" feeling of old Bradbury novels, this might be for you.

Don't bother applying if you feel sci-fi is best as a "blaster wielding, green alien slug fest"... this novel and its follow up will make you ~think~, and perhaps dream, of alternate realities.

After reading both books in this (so far short) series, I have been completely haunted, and have re-read both books numerous times since. Quite original - devastatingly believable.

Posing as SF.......2002-01-10

This novel did not work for me. The plot was built around a silly premise, and several idiotic notions. Cornell, as a character, seemed like a two-dimensional cardboard cut-out, and gave me absolutely no sense of feeling for him. At the end, I felt like I had been stuffed full of too much Sweet 'n' Low - the book had a few good ideas and themes stuffed in behind the rest, but not nearly enough to constitute anything of any real worth. However, out of everything bad I've said about the book, it earns an extra star because of the author's writing style. While I didn't enjoy the book, I did like the style of writing the author used to elaborate on those ideas. Unfortunately, this is one of Reed's better novels. Which isn't saying much.

Great characters no surprises.......1999-07-07

Good writing and characterization but not much on plot and definitely no action. Don't be fooled by the interesting looking cover. The surprises didn't surprise. It's like a 1st contact story that condenses the contact to 10 pages after 300 pages of setup and then ends abruptly with nothing happening in between.

makes the reader think about his real purpose in reality.......1998-02-18

"beyond the veil of star" a book solely for those who haven't forgotten what dreaming was all about. The world of dreams has no defined landscape exept the mind which is limitless, robert reed takes me back to a childlike state in the nostalgia of this book.

Beneath The Gated Sky (Beyond the Veil of Stars)

Average customer rating:

Reed's best book yet. A superlative sequel to Veil of Stars

Beneath The Gated Sky (Beyond the Veil of Stars)
Robert Reed
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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

ASIN: 0312864779

Customer Reviews:

Reed's best book yet. A superlative sequel to Veil of Stars.......1997-09-05

Beneath the Gated Sky is a wonderfully conceived and joyously written followup to the New York Times Notable Book of the Year, Beyond the Veil of Stars.

In this outing, Reed seems to concentrate more on the character of Porsche. I found Porsche to be a rather one-dimensional, predictable character in Beyond the Veil of Stars. In this book, however, a great deal is told from Porsche's point of view. As such we get a greater glimpse into her psyche, which makes for a much more rewarding read.

Perhaps Robert Reed's greatest strength as an author is his ability to introduce stunning scientific ideas while still maintaining believable situations and believable, likeable characters. Beneath the Gated Sky is no exception. Reed expands greatly upon the ideas first put forth in Beyond the Veil of Stars. To go into any detail about his extensions would be to take away the thrill of discovery, so suffice it to say that Beyond the Veil of Stars is just the tip of the iceberg.

Average customer rating:
Beyond the Veil of Stars,
Robert Reed
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTP4C6

Average customer rating:

I STILL love it

Saw it on Food Network... bought it

Stacks, The Art of Vertical Food

How to Wow your guests!

Learn How to Serve Up EyeAppealing Dishes

Stacks: The Art of Vertical Food
Deborah Fabricant
Manufacturer: Ten Speed Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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

Dishing with Style: Secrets to Great Tastes and Beautiful Presentations

Food Art: Garnishing Made Easy

Working the Plate: The Art of Food Presentation

The Book of Garnishes (Book of...)

Amuse-Bouche: Little Bites That Delight Before the Meal Begins

ASIN: 1580080626

Book Description

Former restaurateur Deborah Fabricant takes food to new heights with her stacks of delicious, dramatic edible towers. The over 50 recipes are illustrated with full-color photography and step-by-step photo instructions that make these dishes easy to prepare, yet oh-so-impressive.

Customer Reviews:

I STILL love it.......2006-08-19

I bought this in 2003. Is vertical food out of fashion? Not so trendy anymore? Who cares. I think everyone likes a beautiful presentation and the recipes in this book are not only lovely to look at, they are actually good. The recipes would be good even if they weren't "stacked". Plus, the book inspires you to be creative and think of variations. I still love this book and refer to it often. I wish there was Volume II.

Saw it on Food Network... bought it.......2006-07-13

This book has some fantastic ideas to give your food life. I loved it!! I first saw this book on Food Network's "Top Five" vertical foods. After seeing what the book was about, I bought it right away!

Stacks, The Art of Vertical Food.......2004-02-08

I bought this book about a year ago and have had more fun than anything making these wonderful "tall food" dishes. My friends think I've taken some kind of a chef's cooking class or something and can't figure out how I became such a good cook in such a short time! It is just a wonderfully fun and exciting book for anyone who loves to entertain!!
Now...here is the problem...I have been looking ALL OVER THE PLACE for a copy of this book and can't find it!!! I want to give it as a gift. What is the problem? Does the publisher have any? Where can I get it? Why have such a fun book on the market and not have it available on Amazon?? Doesn't make any sense. Please, please, please let me know where I can find a few copies other than "used" ones. thanks so much!!!
Big fan of "Stacks"

How to Wow your guests!.......2001-09-08

When I first saw a picture of a "stack", I was drawn to it immediately. I had to buy the kit and soon realized I needed more ideas, so I bought the cookbook. If you are a "foodie" who likes to experiment and make more than meatloaf and mashed potatoes for dinner guests, this is a great tool. The ingredients are fresh (and the author offers alternatives if you are just too busy to make your own pesto!), colorful and flavorful. This book is a great value, as well. You can use the recipes as a guide to being creative. Enjoy

Learn How to Serve Up EyeAppealing Dishes.......2001-02-02

This cookbook delivers the home chef who want to spice up the appearance of food with this new vertical style.

Fabricant has done all the trial work for us and now gives recipes for each entree plus has available from her web site and others all the necessary "stacks" etc., you'll need.

This is also supplamanted in most cases with great color photogrpahy that show the recipe served, which is so helpful in this case.

I've not tried all, but several main dishes and desserts and my guests and I found them so appealing visually, but the portions were large and the food rich. So, who can complain!

Unique and wonderful for us fledgling gourmets!

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books