The Adventures of Guy Noir: Radio Private Eye

Book Description

"A dark night in a city that knows how to keep its secrets. . . . But on the 12th Floor of the Acme Building, one man is still trying to find the answers to life's persistent quetions: Guy Noir, Private eye." This all-new collection of Guy Noir episodes follows the intrepid detective as he solves cases no other gumshoe would touch. A Grammy Award Nominee

Customer Reviews:

Guy Noir Rules!.......2007-03-26

I am a long time listener of A Prairie Home Companion. I always look forward to Saturday evenings at 6, when my local station airs APHC. The show is great and pokes fun at politics, headline news, and just old funnies in a non-threatening way.

Guy Noir is my second favorite part of the show, following Garrison Keillor's "News from Lake Wobegon." Each week the theme song is played and Guy Noir is involved in a wonderful sketch filled to the brim with laughs as he goes and solves mysteries, for he is Private Eye.

hilarious, well written, with excellent sound effects and music.......2007-03-15

This collection of "Guy Noir" routines, lifted from A Praire Home Companion, are very funny. Garrison Keillor and his merry band of actors give a sense of the old time radio drama? with these. The sound effects are excellent and the theme is pretty cool. Both series are great.

Not As Funny As The Original.......2007-01-19

The FIRST Guy Noir release was more faithful to the original conceit of Noir - as a hard-boiled detective talking tough with his clients, his friends and his women.

Here, you get something else: Guy's much more self-conscious. While interacting with PHC guest stars would normally promise some greater variety, it is honestly not too forthcoming. He has become fussy and self-absorbed, and a lot of the great tough talk present in earlier episodes is missing here.

It's a good listen - and I love PHC, too. It's just not as good as the very first release...

GOOD, SMILE-PROVOKING LISTENING.......2006-01-03

What great, good, smile provoking fun! Fans of Garrison Keillor and a Prairie Home Companion will thoroughly enjoy this 11 episode collection of detective stories originally heard in live broadcast.

If you missed these sketches on the radio, not to worry - now you can meet Guy, the intrepid gumshoe who chases crime from St. Paul. Sam Spade and Hercule Poirot would duck their heads in shame to learn of Guy's exploits. After all, he never knows whether the knock on his door means a fish has been filched or Henry Kissinger needs help.

In this parody on the old-time private eyes, we can't resist the guy or Guy who keeps his vigil on "A dark night in a city that knows how to keep its secrets but high above the empty streets, on the 12th floor of the Acme building, one man is still trying to find the answers to life's persistent questions."

Keillor is supported by members of the Prairie Home companion cast, thus "Guy Noir" is a terrific ensemble performance. Among the sketches are

Gotham Gets The Girl
Operator
Bad Grits
Gotta Go
Bad Blood
Picnic Plaid
Movie Shoot
Hotdish Hangover
Renata Flambe
Snow Job
Missing Fish.

Very highly recommended - don't miss it!

- Gail Cooke

The Adventures of Guy Noir - Radio private eye.......2005-10-30

I am a professional truck driver from Quebec and I discovered the wonderful world of Garrison Keillor two years ago while listening to NPR Radio. It took me several months to find out who he was and finally found Prairie Home Companion via the Internet and listened to many of the programs from the archives. Since then I have religiously tuned in to its weekly program with News from Lake Wobegon and Guy Noir, Private Eye. When I bought the CD "The Adventures of Guy Noir" about the famous Private Eye; my wife and children all fell in love with its hilarious stories. I regularly listen to his adventures in my truck while travelling all over Canada and the USA. Guy Noir a.k.a Garrison Keillor, you are the best. I can't wait to get "the rest of the stories."

Book Description

No son of Cimmeria ever spent much time mourning what was gone forever....but Conan has never before lost a woman such as Belit, the fierce pirate queen. So great is his grief that the mighty barbarian disappears into the wild green depths of the Black Coast. But Conan cannot hide himself from an adventure for long!Along with a fearsome band of Bamula tribesman, Conan is transported by the Demon's Gate to the distant Pictish Wilderness, where he must lead the Bamula warriors against warring clans of savage Picts, a deadly living statue, and a powerful sorcerer bent on revenge!

Customer Reviews:

Super Reader.......2007-08-02

After the death of Belit, Conan is trying to get somewhere else, but ends up leading some Bamulas through Pictish wilderness to try and get to safety.

A sorcerer, a sorcerer's comely daughter, and an otherworldly portal get in the way. So does a great big life sucking statue.

Sounds better than it actually is.

The Old Walking Statue Trick.......2005-08-16

The story starts out with a framing story set after the reign of King Conan when one of his sons is in danger. It moves to the time after the death of Belit when Conan wanders the Black Kingdoms and encounters the Bamula tribe. The initial jungle adventure is done well and I was reminded of Burroughs early tales of Tarzan. However, after this promising start, Green moves the story and all of its characters to Pictland where a Pictish wizard is working on the task of animating a statue of an ancient warrior. REH and his pastichers have done the animated statue several times and this adads nothing new to the mix. In a ridiculous plot thread which explains the transportation of Conan and the Bamulas, the statue can be animated by the blood of a loved one ... or 20 total strangers.
Green is and excelent fantasy author but this Conan adventure falls short.

Horrible Conan novel........2005-02-14

In "Conan at the Demon's Gate", Conan is in mourning for his lover pirate Beliet. While he is in the Black Kingdoms, he becomes involved in tribal intrige. Then he is thrust into a battle with Picts and an insane wizard as he is transported to the distant North. I was really looking forward to this book. I really wanted to know more about Howard's Picts (I had no illusions I was going to learn about the real ones). But this book was awful. The characters are one demintional, very flat and dull; the sort we've seen a million times before. The girls are almost as bad, although the wizard's daughter is alright, sometimes. The depiction of the Picts' tribe are stereotyped from Indians from old John Ford westerns; they are savage and evil, no act of terror is too base for them. Conan is establishing himself as a real leader, but the rag tag group of African tribsman he is leading is not fleshed out, except for the young cheif who is Conan's annoying protege, and the man who wants to rule the tribes. The style is over long and very long on details we really do not need. Just a wasted effort all the way around.

An Odd Conan Interlude.......2004-06-05

So Conan is out in the jungle, just crushed over the death of Belit, living solo off the land. He runs into a band of Bamula, rises to a tenuous position of prominence in the tribe via their ongoing conflict with a rival tribe, and suddenly weird animals start getting teleported into his front yard. He kills a dragon, then a polar bear, then he and a gaggle of his adopted tribe get teleported to the Pictish wilderness. There he encounters an exiled sorcerer who's using The Demon's Gate to wormhole things around the world to his own nefarious ends. Enter the Picts and things get ugly quick. Conan fights, slays, suffers a setback or three, but ultimately calls on deep reserves of barbarian tenacity and subtle craftiness to win the day.
This is an odd one, but good. It moves really fast, but is not stretched thin. Conan makes a few friends here and there, does a big-brother bit with a young tribesman, gets a couple of girls, and is generally The Man. If you like Conan, but want something off the beaten path, give it a shot. Three stars for originality, plot and chracter development. It does get a little hectic and could have been edited a bit better, but all in all a good homage...enjoy.

Swashbuckling Sword&Sorcery.......1998-08-25

A fast-moving Sword&Sorcery adventure that, chronologically, falls between "Queen of the Black Coast" and "The Vale of Lost Women" (both from "Conan of Cimmeria"). The plot, not being bogged down with either gorgeous or gory detail, and also interspersed with subtle humor, almost made this a Conan "Lite". The ease with which the Cimmerian extricates himself from one impossible situation after another makes the story line somewhat simplistic, although the flash-backs and flash-forwards do add some otherwise-needed depth. This is escapist fun nearly at its best!

Average customer rating:

Conan at the Demon's Gate
Roland Green
Manufacturer: Tor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KOHY14

Customer Reviews:

ROTF funny.......2007-09-07

If you don't mind having to put it down regularly because you are laughing too hard to hold it, then this is the book for you. This, along with the earlier book Hoka! Hoka! Hoka! are must reads for anyone who likes to just get down and laugh. My only other recommendation would be to pick up a copy of The Sound and the Furry, which brings the entire collection of Hoka stories together.

Hilarious!.......2004-11-07

Orbiting the G2 star, Brackney's Star III, is the earthlike planet Toka. And, inhabiting the world of Toka are the Hoka, a small, teddy bear-looking race, who are surprisingly strong for their size. Unfortunately their longsuffering human plenipotentiary, Alexander Jones, the Hoka are the most imaginative race in the galaxy, as soon as they discover a new book of fiction, they adopt the roles and live the story...invariably with comedic results!

This book is a collection of three Hoka novellas. The first story is "Full Pack (Hokas Wild)", which was first presented in the book Hoka!, and describes what happens when the Hokas discover the Jungle Books, and meet up with a group of aliens that look like a tiger, a gorilla and a snake (or should I say Shere Khan, the Banderlog, and Kaa?). In the second story, The Napoleon of Crime, also from Hoka!, Hokas across the planet are suddenly introduced to military history with potentially disastrous consequences; can Jones save the day yet again?

The third story, Star Prince Charlie, which is longer that the other two combined, takes the action off planet. When young Charles Stuart and his Hoka tutor visit the planet New Lemuria, he finds it a world on the edge, waiting only the prince of prophecy who will overthrow the hated tyrannical king. And then, Charlie's Hoka notices how close everything is to the story of Scotland's Bonnie Prince Charlie. Once this ride begins, all Charlie can do is hang on to his hat...and his head!

Each of these stories is literally laugh out loud funny, with lots of action thrown in. Most story collection out there are a mix good and not-so-good stories, but that is not the case with this book, all three are hilarious! This is a great book, one that I highly recommend to everyone! (If you like this book, and you will, check out the books Hoka! and Hoka Hoka Hoka.)

They're back..........2001-02-27

That's right, the Hokas are back. This is the second book with the teddy bears running awok. Watch them act out both childern's books and history, come right to the edge of doom and than pull back with little or no help from humans. Funny AND a delight to read.

The "Demon Teddy Bears" are back! Hooray!.......2000-02-01

With the earlier publication of "Hokas, Hokas, Hokas" by Baen, all of Anderson and Dickson's wonderful "Hoka" stories are back in print. This volume includes "Full Pack", "The Napoleon Crime", and the novel "Star Prince Charlie." There's an awful lot of humor and joy in these books, along with the usual taps on my "think" button that these authors can't help but hit. If I'm very very good in *this* incarnation, I hope to reincarnate as a Hoka.

Average customer rating:

A must-buy
I died laughing
Teddy Bears Rule!
A hilarous look at the Insane
A wonderful story!

Hoka! Hoka! Hoka!
Gordon Dickson , and Poul Anderson
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0671577743

Customer Reviews:

A must-buy.......2004-03-22

This book is a collection of short stories about the Hoka and the unfortunate Alexander Jones. Each story is literally laugh-out-loud funny, the authors having found a perfect medium for their talents! This book is a sequel to the hilarious book Hoka!, and like it is a must-buy.

In case you are curious, there are eight stories in this book. #1) The Sheriff of Canyon Gulch tells the story of Alexander Jones arrival on Toka, and his rescue of the cowboy Hokas from the dreaded greenskins. #2) In Don Jones, Jones's visit to Earth with a delegation of Hokas takes a nearly disastrous spin, when they are introduced to Mozart's opera, Don Giovanni! #3) In Hoka Signo Vinces, finds the Hokas in a new craze - space opera, and when they get word that a neighboring system is building a space-dreadnought, it's (the unwilling) Alexander Jones and Space Patrol to the rescue! #4) The Adventure of the Misplaced Hound is side-splittingly funny, telling the story of Alexander Jones and the Hoka Sherlock Holmes on the trail of a space dope smuggler...or the Hound of the Baskervilles (it's hard to tell which). #5) Yo Ho Hoka finds Jones trying to head off a planned attack on Bermuda by pirates, only to find himself press ganged into the British Navy! #6) When Jones's wife crash-lands on a nearby alien world, Jones needs some help to go rescue her, but who can he take? Why, the French Foreign Legion, of course! #7) Joy in Mudville tells the story of the Hoka baseball team (the Teddies), and their quest for the Sector Pennant. (No one can stand before the Mighty Casey, right?) #8) Undiplomatic Immunity finds Alexander Jones and a delegation of Hokas on Earth to request that Toka's status be upgraded. Unfortunately for Jones his Hokas have discovered the spy novel!

[Don't forget, if you like this book (and you will), get Hoka!, also by Poul Anderson and Gordon Dickson.]

I died laughing.......2001-05-21

One of the funniest book I ever read. I (almost) died laughing - but decided to write a review first. So if you are a veeery serious person who doesn't want to be caught smiling - avoid this book. All others: enjoy.

Teddy Bears Rule!.......2001-02-27

Hoka are a alien race, who look very much like Teddy Bears. Their only problem is they become the characters in the books they read. Cowboys, pirates, space rangers, spies and more, they truly believe in what they become and it drives humans nutty! Yet, in the end, the Hoka always get out of the trouble they have started and sometimes even win something out of it.

Loved the cover. Lets hope the Hoka NEVER read the Man-Kzin Wars series. Look for HOKAS POKAS! - the second book is also short stories.

A hilarous look at the Insane.......1999-09-21

Submitted for your approval. A planet populated by teddy bears. Cute, Cuddly, and friendly. Tooo friendly! I'd give the book 5 stars if it wasn't for the fact that it is several short stories put together(don't like that format). I was rolling in the aisle during most of the book. The writers made one slight mistake though. No human being could live with the Hoka's for so long and not go permamently insane, or die of alcohol poisoning. :) Truely a unique book and the author(s) should be congratulated.

A wonderful story!.......1998-12-07

This is one of the most entertaining books ive read in a long time!I personally liked Don Jones. The Hoka seem to have the natural ability in this story mostly to skew your sence of reality! I just wish they would write a sequal!

The Sound and the Furry (The Complete Hoka Stories)

Average customer rating:

Unique and Humorous SciFi
A great book!

The Sound and the Furry (The Complete Hoka Stories)
Poul Anderson , and Gordon R. Dickson
Manufacturer: Science Fiction Book Club
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Product Description

A complete and unabridged collection of Anderson's Hoka stories.

Customer Reviews:

Unique and Humorous SciFi.......2006-03-24

THE SOUND AND THE FURRY(2001) is an SFBC omnibus, comprised of two sometimes hilarirous short story collections (which are still published separately by Baen): Hoka! Hoka! Hoka! (1998), and Hokas Pokas! (2000). It is about the escapades of a newly-discovered alien race called the Hokas, who look much like small bears (or large teddy bears), and act bizarrely - having trouble sorting out fact from fiction.

Following are brief reviews of each of the short stories:

Hoka! Hoka! Hoka! 1998.
--Prologue, 1983. (Hoka! 1983.)
--The Sheriff of Canyon Gulch, 1951. (as Heroes Are Made, in Other Worlds, May, 1951.) Our wayward hero Ensign Alex Jones gets his first taste of Hoka culture, when he is forced to crash land in the backwaters of the Planet Toka.
--Interlude I, 1998. These short Interludes appear as highly beauraucratic interstellar memorandums, and provide a descriptive backdrop that binds the short stories together.
--Don Jones, 1957. (novelette) (Earthman's Burden, 1957.) Alex Jones, now back on Earth with his fiance Tanni, and is enlisted to act as a guide to the first Hoka ambassadorial party sent to Earth - but reluctantly finds himself thrust into the role of Don Juan.
--Interlude II, 1998. Alex, along with his new wife Tanni, is assigned as the plenipentatiary to the Planet Toka. His job: slowly introduce modern culture and technology to the backward and "inventive" Hokas.
--In Hoka Signo Vinces, 1953. (Other Worlds, June, 1953.) Hilarious tale of the voyage of "The Space Patrol" spaceship "Fearless".
--Interlude III, 1998.
--The Adventure of the Misplaced Hound, 1953. (novelette) (Universe, December, 1953.) Decent "Sherlock Holmes" tale.
--Interlude IV, 1998.
--Yo Ho Hoka! 1955. (novelette) (F & SF, #46, March, 1955.) Sub-par tale of "piracy".
--Interlude V, 1998.
--The Tiddlywink Warriors, 1955. (novelette) (F & SF, #51, August, 1955.) Alex "enlists" in the Hoka version of the French Foreign Legion.
--Interlude VI, 1998.
--Joy in Mudville, 1955. (novelette) (F & SF, #54, November, 1955.) "Alien Baseball", and "Casey" gets a 2nd chance to win the big game.
--Undiplomatic Immunity, 1957. (novelette) (F & SF, May, 1957.) Subpar "Cloak and Dagger" story.
--Mysterious Message, 1998.

Hokas Pokas! 2000.
--Full Pack (Hokas Wild), 1957. (novelette) (F & SF, October, 1957.) Uninteresting tale, based on "Jungle Book".
--The Napolean Crime, 1983. (novelette) (Analog, March, 1983.) Average story involving Hokas incited to the point to armed conflict.
--Star Prince Charlie, 1983. (novel) (Star Prince Charlie, 1983.) Decent full-length story, with different main character than previous tales.

A great book!.......2005-11-05

Crazy Horse Hoka Hey! It Is a Good Time to Die!: It Is a Good Time to Die! : The Story of Crazy Horse, Legendary Mystic and Warrior

Average customer rating:

A new Look!
A HALF-BAKED REWRITE OF MARI SANDOZ'S BOOK

Crazy Horse Hoka Hey! It Is a Good Time to Die!: It Is a Good Time to Die! : The Story of Crazy Horse, Legendary Mystic and Warrior
Vinson Brown
Manufacturer: Naturegraph Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Journey Of Crazy Horse: A Lakota History

ASIN: 0879611731

Book Description

This book is a personal study of Crazy Horse, whose nobility and purity of spirit have stood as an inspiration for generations.

Customer Reviews:

A new Look!.......2000-12-23

Wonderful and inspiring. Easy read of what might have been.

A HALF-BAKED REWRITE OF MARI SANDOZ'S BOOK.......1999-10-07

The Author says he was inspired from Mari Sandoz's book on Crazy Horse which is all fine and good but this has to be considered fiction--yet it is constantly cataloged as non-fiction. Please, researching this era is already tough enough. If you want a good book on Crazy Horse get Mari Sandoz's and if you want to balance another opinion on it get Larry McMurtry's book--who is critical of Sandoz. But if you still want to get it, you've been warned.

Crazy Horse: Hoka Hey! (American Cavalcade)

Average customer rating:

Crazy Horse: Hoka Hey! (American Cavalcade)
Vinson Brown
Manufacturer: Grey Castle Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 1559050772

Average customer rating:

Hokey!
silly, but yes, mildly enjoyable
Hilariously funny!
Teddy bears and SF

Hoka
Poul Anderson , Gordon R. Dickson , Nicola Cuti , Lela Dowling , and Phil Foglio
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0812535677

Customer Reviews:

Hokey!.......2006-05-24

Light as air fluff contains vignettes about an alien world of sentient teddy bears who enjoy American popular culture. Not as entertaining as it sounds, and even the opportunity for parable style social criticism is wasted.

silly, but yes, mildly enjoyable.......2004-12-16

Hoka is a silly book about an alien race, the Hoka. Their unique characteristics are that they resemble our Earth teddy bears, and they have an absolutely wild and hypnotic imagination. Upon discovery by Earthlings, the Hokas are unwittingly exposed to and greatly influenced by human culture. This often leads to humerous results.

I found myself initially turned off by the unsophisticated and simple short story format. I was expecting more development. These stories just kinda dive right in. But, the book grew on me and I got a few good chuckles from it. For big science fiction fans, it probably won't satisfy your craving for a good sci-fi book. But, for anyone wanting to kill some time reading something a little off the wall, you won't be dissapointed. Probably a good book for kids. It's a quick read, too.

Hilariously funny!.......2002-09-06

Orbiting the G2 star, Brackney's Star III, is the earthlike planet Toka. And, inhabiting the world of Toka are the Hoka, a small, teddy bear-looking race, who are surprisingly strong for their size. Unfortunately their longsuffering human plenipotentiary, Alexander Jones, the Hoka are the most imaginative race in the galaxy, as soon as they discover a new book of fiction, they adopt the roles and live the story...invariably with comedic results!

This book is a collection of short stories about the Hoka and the unfortunate Alexander Jones. Each story is literally laugh-out funny, and the illustrations peppered throughout add a lot to the humor of this wonderful book. With most short story collection there are good and not-so good stories, well that is not the case with this book, they are all hilarious. This is a great book, one that I highly recommend to everyone!

In case you are curious, there are 5 stories in this book. #1) Joy in Mudville tells the story of the Hoka baseball team (the Teddies), and their quest for the Sector Pennant. (No one can stand before the Mighty Casey, right?) #2) Undiplomatic Immunity finds Alexander Jones and a delegation of Hokas on Earth to request that Toka's status be upgraded. Unfortunately for Jones his Hokas have discovered the spy novel! #3) Full Pack (Hokas Wild) describes what happens when the Hokas discover the Jungle Books, and meet up with a group of aliens that look like a tiger, a gorilla and a snake (or should I say Shere Khan, the Banderlog, and Kaa?). #4) In the Napoleon Crime, Hokas across the planet are suddenly introduced to military history with potentially disastrous consequences; can Jones save the day yet again? #5) The Bear That Walks Like a Man is not a Hoka story per se, but a faux-leftist intellectual's look at the Hoka.

Teddy bears and SF.......1999-05-14

If you like teddy bears and science fiction you will love "Hoka". Hoka is a planet discovered by Earth explorers whose inhabtants look exactly like teddy bears. Anderson and Dickson use this premise to expound on human legends and tall tales with hilarious results. A must read.

Hoka! Hoka! Hoka! Prepack (Hardy Boys Casefiles)

Average customer rating:

Hoka! Hoka! Hoka! Prepack (Hardy Boys Casefiles)
Poul Anderson
Manufacturer: Baen Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0671716328

The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction November, 1955: Joy in Mudville (a Hoka novelet)

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The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction November, 1955: Joy in Mudville (a Hoka novelet)
Poul; Dickson, Gordon R. Anderson
Manufacturer: Fantasy House, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KP5MOE

Average customer rating:

The old way of the Lakota today
Bruce Hoka Burkhart
Manufacturer: The Old Way-Today
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

'89 kokuji Shin gakushu shido yoryo to kaisets: Tsuketari, shinkyu taishohyo, iko sochi kokuji zenbun, sengo kyoiku katei no ayumi, hoka

Average customer rating:

'89 kokuji Shin gakushu shido yoryo to kaisets: Tsuketari, shinkyu taishohyo, iko sochi kokuji zenbun, sengo kyoiku katei no ayumi, hoka

Manufacturer: Nihon Kyoiku Shinbunsha Shuppankyoku
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: 4890550283

Susanna Foo Fresh Inspiration: New Approaches to Chinese Cuisine
Average customer rating:

Superior celebrity chef cookbook. Good tips. Luscious recipes.

Chinese with a French/American Slant

Susanna Foo Fresh Inspiration: New Approaches to Chinese Cuisine
Susanna Foo , and Hermie Kranzdorf
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Nobu Now

ASIN: 0618393307

Book Description

Susanna Foo, the leading Chinese chef in America, has been hailed as an innovator by Gourmet, Food then in her award-winning book Susanna Foo Chinese Cuisine, which thrust Chinese cooking into mainstream kitchens; and most recently at Suilan by Susanna Foo, her acclaimed restaurant in an exclusive resort in Atlantic City. In Susanna Foo Fresh Inspiration, she takes an even more revolutionary approach. Rather than recreating the Chinese dishes of the past, she redefines Chinese cooking. "My primary goal is to preserve the natural flavor and integrity of the ingredients," she writes. Freshness and simplicity are the twin hallmarks of the more than 150 recipes, including Crispy Tuna Spring Rolls with Fresh Herb Salad, Ten-Vegetable Hot-and-Sour Soup, Braised Salmon with Soy and Ginger, Seared Scallops with Fresh Mushrooms, Corn Cakes with Cilantro and Chives, Roast Chicken with Peppercorn Rub, and Coconut Panna Cotta. Strikingly illustrated, Susanna Foo Fresh Inspiration is both more accessible and more authentic than usual Chinese cookbooks, issuing a fresh invitation to cooks at all levels to roll up their sleeves and head to the kitchen.

Customer Reviews:

Superior celebrity chef cookbook. Good tips. Luscious recipes........2005-12-10

`Susanna Foo Fresh Inspiration' is the second book by Chinese-American Restaurateur / Chef Susanna Foo who has some James Beard awards to her credit plus the usual celebrity chef endorsement blurbs on the back of her book from the likes of Charlie Trotter, Daniel Boulud, Jacques Pepin, and Lidia Bastianich. One thing which impressed me is that in spite of the oversize format, the book's list price is no more than the standard $35.

As the author makes clear in her introduction, this is not a book on standard Chinese cooking technique. And, her suggestions on wok cooking early in the book also make it clear this is not traditional fiery hot carbon steel wok cooking. Rather, it is adapted to the familiar western flat bottomed wok which I suspect most purely Chinese cooks would consider not a wok at all.

It took me no more than reading two recipes to sense that this book is mostly a fusion of Chinese and Mediterranean ingredients and techniques. The very first `dim sum' recipe had western ingredients portobello mushrooms, extra virgin olive oil, shallots, Parmesan cheese, and truffle oil paired up with Oriental ingredients shiitake mushrooms, dumpling skins, soy sauce, and cellophane noodles. This dish could be billed just as accurately as a ravioli or empanada dish as a dish of dumplings.

Except for the terms `Dim Sum' and `Tofu' in the chapter titles, this would look for the entire world like a typical western cookbook. All the chapters are:

Dim Sum and first Courses - Not too much different from antipasto dishes.
Soups and Stocks - Oddly, no chicken stock, but just about every other kind, plus tofu recipes.
Salads and Cold Vegetable Dishes - Again, evenly divided between Asian and European ingredients.
Fish and Shellfish - Mostly worldwide ingredients such as shrimp, scallops, salmon, and black sea bass.
Poultry - Finally a primarily oriental recipe selection of duck and chicken, plus roasted Poussin.
Meats - Primarily oriental dishes, including Korean grilled dishes.
Noodles, Rice, and Other Side Dishes - Total mix of east and west with soba noodles to chestnuts.
Tofu and Eggs - this may be the most oriental chapter of all, as most of the recipes involve frying or braising tofu.
Vegetables - A very western group of recipes.
Condiments and Relishes - More western pickling than Korean or Chinese fermented preparations.
Desserts - Very, very western selection.

The placement of recipes in chapters is sometimes illogical, but you will hardly notice or be annoyed by the fact.

The value to people with few cookbooks is that for a standard price, you get a very nice selection of recipes from around the world. The value to people with lots of cookbooks is that this is a better than average read as `celebrity chef ` cookbooks go, and it has several excellent refinements on tips which are not shortcuts but the kind which arise from a monomaniacal devotion to doing the very best cooking you can possibly do. While many of the tips may be just a bit too excessive, they can lead you in the right direction when you need just a little extra effort. For example, Ms. Foo suggests freshening salad greens by preparing a water bath by adding ice cubes to cold water until the ice cubes no longer melt. Then, remove the ice cubes and use the freezing temperature water to refresh the greens.

Overall, this is a slightly better than average celebrity cookbook with a slightly misleading concept. It may have been better to bill it as a Chinese / Mediterranean fusion cookbook.

Chinese with a French/American Slant.......2005-10-31

One trouble with a lot of Chinese (or other ethnic for that matter) cookbooks have is that they often call for items that might be readily available in Hong Kong but which are very difficult to find in you local supermarket -- expecially if you live in a small town like I do. Susanna Foo on the other hand is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and had developed a series of dishes that:

taste better to American palates
use commonly found ingredients
are simple to make.

The resulting dishes are lighter, fresher tasting and all around better than you find in other Chinese cookbooks. She even adds that you don't have to be a slave to her recipies. Cooking should be fun and it should please your and your families tastes.

This is a large cookbook. 352 pages and the book is of large format. There are a lot of recipies, a lot of things to try that are different that what you've seen before, a combination of Chinese with French, molded to fit America. Maybe that's why her two restaurants have been such a success.

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