AKU-AKU: The Secret of Easter Island

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Solving the mysteries of Easter Island

A must for archeology fans

Mysteries of Easter Island Explored

Great Illustrations and Well Written

AKU-AKU: The Secret of Easter Island
Thor Heyerdahl
Manufacturer: Rand McNally & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Chile | South America | Latin America | Travel | Subjects | Books
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Kon-Tiki: Across the Pacific in a Raft

In the Footsteps of Adam: A Memoir

The Tigris Expedition: In Search of Our Beginnings

Pyramids of Tucume: The Quest for Peru's Forgotten City

The Mystery of Easter Island

ASIN: 0528818104

Customer Reviews:

Solving the mysteries of Easter Island.......2005-07-26

Near the end of "Aku-Aku," one of the archeologists working with Thor Heyerdahl admits to being astonished at yet another unexpected turn of events.

"I never knew archeology could produce so many surprises," he says.

Indeed, anyone who thinks that archeology is just about digging in the dirt will be surprised -- pleasantly -- by "Aku-Aku."

In this account of his 1955-56 expedition to Easter Island and other Polynesian islands, Heyerdahl presents a series of mysteries: Where did the great stone statues on Easter Island come from? Who made them? How did they move them? Where are the hidden caves of Easter Island and what secrets do they hold?

Heyerdahl is not a great writer, but he is usually good enough. His weakness lies in portraying people; even the most prominent character of the book -- Easter Island's mayor -- comes off as just a simplistic caricature. An odd quirk of the author is that he refers to some characters almost solely by their titles -- "the photographer," "the skipper," "the doctor." After awhile you begin to wonder if these people have names.

But Heyerdahl is passionate about his work and his enthusiams shows as he presents -- and, mostly, solves -- mystery after mystery. He is relentless, for instance, in trying to get the natives to reveal their secret caves, even when it means he has to eat a chicken tail, strip to his underwear, and climb down a sheer cliff without a rope.

(The caves are a curious form of secure storage on this island that seems to lack locks. Note to self: Open self-storage franchise on Easter Island.)

A couple ethical issues occur to me, although I can't claim to have the whole picture from just one book. Did Heyerdahl adequately reward the islanders for the artifacts they gave him? He mentions some gifts but it's unclear whether all of them received something and how much. Also, he resorts to some trickery to get the natives to give him things -- is this fair? (I'm sure Heyerdahl would argue that he had to immerse himself in the natives' world of superstition and ghosts to communicate with them successfully.)

The bulk of the book is about Easter Island but the last two chapters discuss the expedition's visits to other islands. The story of the dig on Rapa Iti is particularly good, and I would have enjoyed a bit more on these other islands.

A must for archeology fans.......2000-11-15

Though criticised as commercial and overexposed, Thor Heyerdahl must be considered as one of the first scientists in wide spreading his archeological knowledge in an amusing and understandable way to common readers. And this book is a clear example of his effort. After his scientific expedition to Easter Island in 1957, Thor Heyerdahl wrote this fascinating book of discoveries, new theories and adventures. It was such a pleasure for me reading it that I can only recommend it.

Mysteries of Easter Island Explored.......2000-02-02

A good book if your interested in Easter Island. It was not quite as interesting a read as Heyerdahl's "Kon-Tiki" however. It tends to focus on the natives currently living on the island more than those who created the statues the island is famous for. But, criticisms aside, Heyerdahl proved again to be a very adept writer.

Great Illustrations and Well Written.......1998-10-29

This book was very informative about the expedition to Easter Island by Thor Heyerdahl. While, at times, the writing was characteristic of a journal...it was nevertheless informative and a good read.

Average customer rating:

Blowback
fantastic!
B+
Very Entertaining, great book.
Blowback was a good read if you have an imagination

Blowback: A Thriller
Brad Thor
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 1416505415

Book Description

Scot Harvath's counterterrorism career has just crashed and burned -- thanks in part to a ruthless senator with her sights set on the White House. But when the war on terror takes a chilling turn, the president has no choice but to secretly bring Harvath back inside. Deep beneath an Alpine glacier, an ancient weapon designed to decimate the Roman Empire has been unearthed -- and a shadowy organization intends to use it for America's downfall. Racing across Europe, Harvath must secure the ultimate instrument of destruction before it brings the United States and the rest of the world to its knees.

Download Description

"A weapon designed to decimate the Roman Empire has just become the number one threat to the United States. From the national bestselling author of The Lions of Lucerne, Path of the Assassin, and State of the Union comes the most gripping international thriller yet featuring Navy SEAL turned covert counterterrorism agent Scot Harvath. ""Scot Harvath is the perfect all-American hero for the post-September 11th world."" -- Nelson DeMille When a mystery thousands of years in the making threatens to catapult the enemies of America to a sure and decisive victory, the only person the president can call for help is the man the administration has just fired. Caught live on Al Jazeera in an off-the-books operation, Scot Harvath's career has been terminated and he is forced to go to ground as the president bows to pressure from a ruthless senator with her sights set on the White House. But when the tide in the war on terror suddenly turns against the U.S., the president has no choice but to secretly bring Harvath back inside. Ducking a congressional subpoena, Harvath travels to the Mediterranean, where he learns of a shadowy organization that has been combing the earth for decades in search of the ultimate weapon to use against the United States and her allies. Now, after three summers of record-setting heat across present-day Europe, one steadily melting Alpine glacier has given up an ancient secret--one with the potential to thrust civilization back into the Dark Ages. From Cyprus, London, and Paris, to Italy, Switzerland, and Saudi Arabia, Harvath must race against the clock to stop one of the greatest evils ever to face the United States. With his characteristic high-voltage action, sweeping international locales, and meticulous research, Brad Thor has created another supercharged novel that is sure to thrill. "

Customer Reviews:

Blowback.......2007-10-10

Brad Thor is great. First time I read one of his books was when I was searching for something to read while relative in hospital. The book and another were finished before my relative was out of the hospital.

fantastic!.......2007-10-01

Brad Thor scores again with Blowback, a whipcrack thriller that tackles religious fanaticism and international terrorism with verve and style to spare. His protagonist, Scot Horvath, has been sent out to pasture by a meddling politician, but soon is brought back into the fold to take on a villain with a taste for biological weaponry. Alarmingly prescient and well-researched, it delivers the goods. Definitely check out James Macomber's A Grave Breach if you enjoyed this one.

B+.......2007-09-17

This is a good thriller, that is fast paced, and with interesting characters and dialoged, very entertaining. That's the good news, the bad, is the plot is absurd; the science behind the bio weapon is laughable, a trip down the Jurassic Park style crypto-biology fiction that's a million times less likely. And the main characters is an active duty US Navy SEAL, but who worked for the US Secret Service (can't happen, violation of federal law), then went to work for a supper secret foreign intel/ counter terrorism unit in US Dept. of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Homeland Security has no control over...... WHAT?

BUT, it is entertaining, Thor gets the terrorism thing, and understands modern fascist Islamic radicalism, and his characters are likable. This is not his best book, but it is worth the read.

Very Entertaining, great book........2007-07-08

For a recent trip I ordered both Blowback and Takedown. Both were great books and very entertaining.

Blowback was a good read if you have an imagination.......2007-05-16

I can only imagine the people who didn't like this book, lacked an imagination, or consider themselves superior in some ways; i.e. a book critic. I found the book a real page turner. Maybe it's my background in Medicine, maybe it just clicked with me, I'm not sure. Some of the plot may be a bit far fetched compared to reality, but guess what people, it's FICTION. I don't remember people getting up out of the theater at Star Wars shows in the 1970's saying "bah light speed is impossible, a Wookie absurd, or the Force is a joke". Really, I'm not sure why some people even read fiction. I read it to escape reality, and enjoy the trip. Well, I enjoyed this trip to the extreme. Read the whole book during a slow day at work, and continuing till about midnight that same day until I finished. First book I've read front to back in same day, especially considering I still had to work, and home responsibilities of wife/kids. While you may hear readers complain about stereotypes of Muslims, or the "impossibility" of the plot. I'll just say that stereotypes occur for a reason, and "impossible" is only considered that until it happens. Many things in our history were considered impossible. Man flying for example. Anyway, I liked this book as much as most of my Ludlum collection. A+++++ I think ;)

Knife of Dreams (The Wheel of Time, Book 11)

Average customer rating:

What happens now?
Captivating!
More enjoyable that past few
Stop before you Start
Book 11

Knife of Dreams (The Wheel of Time, Book 11)
Robert Jordan
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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

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

ASIN: 0312873077
Release Date: 2005-10-11

Amazon.com

About the Author
Robert Jordan lives in Charleston, South Carolina. He is a graduate of the Citadel.

Amazon.com Exclusive Content

Amazon.com's Significant Seven
Robert Jordan kindly agreed to take the life quiz we like to give to all our authors: the Amazon.com Significant Seven.

Q: What book has had the most significant impact on your life?
A: The King James version of the Bible. That seems a cliche, but I can't think of any other book that has had as large an impact in shaping who I am.

Q: You are stranded on a desert island with only one book, one CD, and one DVD--what are they?
A: The one book would be whatever book I was currently writing. I mean, I hate falling behind in the work. The one CD would contain the best encyclopedia I could find on desert island survival. The DVD would contain as much of Beethoven, Mozart, and Duke Ellington as I could cram onto it.

Q: What is the worst lie you've ever told?
A: It's hard to think of one since I am genetically incapable of lying to women and that takes out 52% of the population right there.

Q: Describe the perfect writing environment.
A: Any place that has my computer, a CD player for music, a comfortable chair that won't leave me with a backache at the end of a long day, and very little interruption.

Q: If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say?
A: He kept trying to get better at it.

Q: Who is the one person living or dead that you would like to have dinner with?
A: My wife before anybody else on earth living or dead. That's a no-brainer.

Q: If you could have one superpower what would it be?
A: That depends. If I'm feeling altruistic, it would be the ability to heal anything with a touch, if that can be called a superpower. If I'm not feeling very altruistic, it would be the ability to read other people's minds, to finally be able to get to the bottom of what they really mean and what their motivations are.

See all books in the Wheel of Time series.

Book Description

The Wheel of Time turns, and Robert Jordan gives us the eleventh volume of his extraordinary masterwork of fantasy that has captured the imagination of millions.... The dead are walking, men die impossible deaths, and it seems as though reality itself has become unstable: All are signs of the imminence of Tarmon Gai'don, the Last Battle, when Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, must confront the Dark One as humanity's only hope. But Rand dares not fight until he possesses all the surviving seals on the Dark One's prison and has dealt with the Seanchan, who threaten to overrun all nations this side of the Aryth Ocean and increasingly seem too entrenched to be fought off. But his attempt to make a truce with the Seanchan is shadowed by treachery that may cost him everything. Whatever the price, though, he must have that truce. And he faces other dangers. There are those among the Forsaken who will go to any length to see him dead--and the Black Ajah is at his side...... Unbeknownst to Rand, Perrin has made his own truce with the Seanchan. It is a deal made with the Dark One, in his eyes, but he will do whatever is needed to rescue his wife, Faile, and destroy the Shaido who captured her. Among the Shaido, Faile works to free herself while hiding a secret that might give her her freedom or cause her destruction. And at a town called Malden, the Two Rivers longbow will be matched against Shaido spears. Fleeing Ebou Dar through Seanchan-controlled Altara with the kidnapped Daughter of the Nine Moons, Mat attempts to court the woman to whom he is half-married, knowing that she will complete that ceremony eventually. But Tuon coolly leads him on a merry chase as he learns that even a gift can have deep significance among the Seanchan Blood, and what he thinks he knows of women is not enough to save him. For reasons of her own, which she will not reveal until a time of her choosing, she has pledged not to escape, but Mat still sweats whenever there are Seanchan soldiers near. Then he learns that Tuon herself is in deadly danger from those very soldiers. To get her to safety, he must do what he hates worse than work...... In Caemlyn, Elayne fights to gain the Lion Throne while trying to avert what seems a certain civil war should she win the crown...... In the White Tower, Egwene struggles to undermine the sisters loyal to Elaida from within...... The winds of time have become a storm, and things that everyone believes are fixed in place forever are changing before their eyes. Even the White Tower itself is no longer a place of safety. Now Rand, Perrin and Mat, Egwene and Elayne, Nynaeve and Lan, and even Loial, must ride those storm winds, or the Dark One will triumph.

Customer Reviews:

What happens now?.......2007-10-06

Spent the summer deeply immersed in this series. Ran out to buy the next before I finished the last. Really hooked. Now what happens? No more Robert Jordan. This last one may not have been the best, but I'm really disappointed that we may never find out what happens to all those really great characters.....

Captivating!.......2007-10-03

This book as well as all the others in this series are captivating and great beyond an explanation.

More enjoyable that past few.......2007-10-01

It was great to read this book and realize that there is still a lot of life in Robert Jordan's writing. This book reignited the passion with this series that was kind of lost in the last two or three volumes. Clearly, there is a direction in which all the various plot lines are going and you can start seeing the convergence occuring as the world is preparing for "the last battle".

The world of The Wheel of Time was large and complex from the beginning. In this volume there are still many, many events that are going on and many of the various players are present and active. Several sub stories are reaching their climaxes or resolutions. For instance, Perrin succeeds in his attempt to rescue Faile and incidently we learn of the fall of the Shaido and at least one of the Black Ajah. This is accomplished with the help of the Seanchan who are turning in front of our eyes from this nameless, faceless, militaristic society into another group of people and fighters who will ultimately join Rand.

Mat and Tuon continue their bickering engagement and this lines comes to a close with the escape of the party from Seanchan lands and the revelation of Mat's skills as a general. Tuon learns to appreciate more of his qualities while resolving her own position and taking control of her part of the world - in WOT terms, taking off her veil.

Elaine's story is also resolved. She has her own set of complications to deal with and there is a fair amount of humor in how her pregnancy is being depicted. Egwene is given a brief stint in the book and her story continues to evolve, but at least this time she finds outwho her betrayer was and is making solid progress inside the White Tower. And so it goes.

It is clear that threads of the story are being wrapped up. It is also becoming clear how some of the storyline will evolve towards the end and several of the prophecies that get repeated on occasion as they are spoken in a riddle will get resolved.

Even though this is a large book of over 850 pages, there is not enough room for everyone so we see very little of Aviendha, Min, and several others. Hopefully, the twelfth volume will do more of the same and resolve more of the plots.

There were several area that are poorly done, in my opinion. We know that the Last Battle is coming and omens are appearing, but does it really need to be something as hackneyed as someone coughing up beetles as his insides are devoured? Much more original was the scene of the village of dead people, or the changes in the castles... Another poor choice was Rand's lose of his hand. Maybe because Robert Jordan saw Return of the Empire again?

I really enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down until it was completed. I certainly hope the next and final volume will be just as compelling. Unfortunately, there are rumors that Mr. Jordan has recently died so I am not sure who will finish the story and how long it will take to complete. Nonetheless, I will read it when/if it comes out.

Stop before you Start.......2007-09-26

Robert Jordan has passed away, so those of you who have read the 11 books in the series will never see it completed by Mr. Jordan. He was at work on the 12th and not final book of the series when he died. I guess it is possible that another author might take up the mantle to finish up the series. Mr. Jordan seemed unlikely to ever to do it himself. I did not care for this long rambling series, but I did like Jordan's writing and his imagination. This seems to be a rough patch for fantasy writers the past few years, David Gemmell, Angus Wells and Robert Jordan to name a few well known to have passed on.

Book 11.......2007-09-19

The story is still too slow in developing. Maybe the last book will finally clear up all the unanswered questions.

Average customer rating:

Good page-turner, but not his best
I enjoyed it!
Good early Thor
If you like WEB Griffin...
he has promise

The Lions of Lucerne
Brad Thor
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0743436741
Release Date: 2002-10-29

Amazon.com

In this incredibly fast-paced thriller, a conspiracy hatched close to the Oval Office results in the kidnapping of the president and the slaughter of a company of Secret Service agents commanded by ex-Navy SEAL Scot Harvath. The story careers from the ski slopes of Utah to the top of Switzerland's Mount Pilatus and sets Scot on an impossible mission: recover the president, evade renegade Swiss spy Gerhard Miner and his cadre of trained agents, and elude the American conspirators who are hot on his trail. Framed for murder, his reputation in tatters, his former colleagues turned against him, Harvath finds an unlikely ally in a beautiful Swiss prosecutor who's been checkmated by Miner once too often. Together they play a high-stakes game of mixed "doubles" to save the president and uncover the conspiracy. Brad Thor's debut novel is a tightly wound spy tale that makes up in excitement what it lacks in subtlety and character development. Ludlum fans will love it. --Jane Adams

Book Description

On the snow-covered slopes of Utah, the unthinkable has happened: the President of the United States has been kidnapped, and his Secret Service detail massacred. Only one agent has survived -- ex-Navy SEAL Scot Harvath. He doesn't buy the official line that Middle Eastern terrorists are responsible, and begins his own campaign to find the truth -- and exact revenge. But his search makes him a marked man by the sinister cabal behind the attack.

Framed for murder by the conspirators, Harvath goes on the run, taking the fight to the towering mountains of Switzerland. There, he finds an unlikely ally: the beautiful Claudia Mueller of the Swiss Federal Attorney's Office. Together they must brave the subzero temperatures and sheer heights of treacherous Mount Pilatus -- and their only chance for survival is to enter the den of the most lethal team of professional killers the world has ever known....

Download Description

"In a daring and chilling debut, Brad Thor draws us into a sinister labyrinth of political intrigue and international terrorism, serving up an explosive cocktail of unrelenting action -- and a shattering climax -- as one man is pushed to the edge. On the snow-covered slopes of Utah, the unthinkable has just become a nightmarish reality: thirty Secret Service agents have been viciously executed and the vacationing president of the United States is kidnapped by one of the most lethal terrorist organizations in the Middle East -- the dreaded Fatah. But one man, surviving agent and ex?Navy SEAL Scot Harvath, doesn't believe the Fatah is responsible for the attack. Driven by his professional code of duty and honor -- and a solemn vow to avenge his fallen comrades -- Scot creates his own rules to get some answers. But his search for the truth raises the blood pressure of his superiors...and casts his own life in mortal jeopardy. The deadly machinations have been set in motion by a shadowy coalition, comprising some of the highest-ranking officials in government and business -- men who operate above the law, men who realize the threat Scot poses to their hidden agenda...men who will do anything to stop him. Now framed for murder and on the run, Scot goes for broke and takes his own brand of justice to the unlikeliest place of all -- the towering mountains of Switzerland. It is there that he finds an improbable ally in the beautiful Claudia Mueller of the Swiss Federal Attorney's Office. Together they must brave the subzero temperatures and sheer heights of treacherous Mount Pilatus -- and enter the den of the most notorious team of professional killers the world has ever known. "

Customer Reviews:

Good page-turner, but not his best.......2007-09-05

This book is a terrific page-turner -- it is hard to put the book down once you've started reading. I have also read Takedown by the same author, and it is a much better, more mature book. There is a little too much coincidence in this book, and perhaps one or two too many miraculous escapes from impossible situations. It is still very entertaining. One other thing that struck me was the similarity to The Day After Tomorrow by Allan Folsom, down to the role of the Jungfrau in the plot. You should read this book, and read his later works to see the development of an excellent author.

I enjoyed it!.......2007-07-25

Takes some imagination to get past some of the "mental hurdles" you might throw at the plot plausibility. That said, I think if you can imerse yourself in fiction and enjoy it for what it is, this was a good book, and another example of this character kicking arse and taking names.

Good early Thor.......2007-07-07

Although his later writings show more maturity, the pace of this book was shows the beginnings of the good work to come. The easy switch between narrative, dialogue, and just plain "shoot-em-up" scenes was so well done as to be almost transparent; suddenly, you were in a different world.

My main niggling fault was in the gratuitous ending; I found it too much of an afterthought, as it really added nothing.

If you like WEB Griffin..........2007-04-24

...you will like this book.

I compare this book to WEB Griffin's books because it has many of the same type of unlikely coincidences and fortuitous things happening as many of WEB Griffin's books do. I won't ruin it for you by giving away the plot, but if heroes that just happen to end up bumping into old pals that have the exact thing they need at exactly the right moment bother you, you won't like this book.

I really was excited to see this book in the store at the airport because I was headed to Switzerland from Utah and staying in Luzern at the same hotel mentioned in the book! Once I started reading it I thought a lot of the stereotypes that were used in the book were kind of corny, and then the coincidences I mentioned start piling up, and I would have put the book down if I had anything else to read, but since I didn't I finished it.

The book has mildly good action sequences and is fairly clean, with a hero that tries his best to do what he thinks is right; I give the book 3 stars for that.

It might make a good Lifetime movie or something.

he has promise.......2007-04-11

This was the first thriller by a new author I'd read in a long time. I tend to pick one author and read them for broke...Clancy, Follett, Le Carre, Forsyth, Higgins, Robinson....and I picked this one up from the library because the premise sounded suitably geopolitically thrilling. It was not bad. Thor could benefit from a good writer's workshop. The scenes of action are top-notch, but a few things irritated me. Number one, the comic relief SUCKS. Just leave it out. Ludlum did. He'll have this great action scene and then Harvath makes a stupid joke. Also, after a while you get tired of bullets whizzing around our hero's head. There's no cat and mouse. Just lots and lots and lots and LOTS of missed gunshots and superhuman exploits. You get two of those moments per book, not seventeen. Finally, it would be good if "Star Gazer"'s identity were revealed later in the book and his importance to the plot made much more prominent- that's a really great hook but it's revealed too early. The book was leaner than your average Ludlum and less melodramatic but was annoyingly clunky. Keep it up, Brad....ya got promise.

The Fires of Heaven (The Wheel of Time, Book 5)

Average customer rating:

Read it to continue the story, but don't expect much
Not Free SF Reader
A Modern Classic!!!
Mary Sue characters at their worst.
Wheel of time Audio

The Fires of Heaven (The Wheel of Time, Book 5)
Robert Jordan
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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

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

ASIN: 0312854277

Book Description

In this sequel to the phenomenal New York Times bestseller The Shadow Rising, Robert Jordan again plunges us into his extraordinarily rich, totally unforgettable world:...Into the forbidden city of Rhuidean, where Rand al'Thor, now the Dragon Reborn, must conceal his present endeavor from all about him, even Egwene and Moiraine....Into the Amyrlin's study in the White Tower, where the Amyrlin, Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan, is weaving new plans....Into the luxurious hidden chamber where the Forsaken Rahvin is meeting with three of his fellows to ensure their ultimate victory over the Dragon....Into the Queen's court in Caemlyn, where Morgase is curiously in thrall to the handsome Lord Gaebril.For once the dragon walks the land, the fires of heaven fall where they will, until all men's lives are ablaze.And in Shayol Ghul, the Dark One stirs...

Customer Reviews:

Read it to continue the story, but don't expect much.......2007-09-08

It took me a long time to read this book because the story was not very interesting for large spans of the book, and I really dislike the character Nynaeve.

Spoiler Alert Below:
However, the one thing that I really, really resent about the book was Jordan's very poor choices in presenting the story. There were basically three climatic events in the story: Rand chasing down Couladin and the Shaido clan, Nynaeve and Elayne finding the Aes Sedai hideout, and Rand destroying some Forsaken. We spend hundred of pages following Rand's trek out of the wasteland in pursuit of the Shaido. I am looking forward to a big battle with Couladin. HOWEVER, once we finally reach the confrontation with Couladin, it is presented from a Mat's reflection on the events. OMG! All of that time spent building it up, and it is basically blown off in a few sentences and barely described in those - like it did not really even matter. The same thing happened at the other two climatic events: they were built up and basically blown off.
This book is nothing more than a filler in the series. I will continue with book 6, but I am not beginning it with enthusiasm like I did book 5.

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

This fifth Wheel of Time book goes a bit more widescreen.

Mat, now being the general to beat all generals with his Bene Gesserit-general-specific type memory knowledge, is an obvious choice when you have a fairly heavy duty war to be fought.

The only problem is, there is likely to be more than one, and in different places.

Those sneaky Forsaken are still hanging around, too.

A Modern Classic!!!.......2007-07-17

This novel takes everything a step further - another worthy addition to an epic tale.

Mary Sue characters at their worst........2007-06-26

Okay, I like elements of Jordan's books, but this novel jumped the shark for me. Must every one of the main character's have a 'secret power'? No more normal humans, no, Min can predict the future, Egwene can dreamwalk, Nynaive is super powerful (but only when angry), Mat can channel dead Generals, Rands has hordes of nubile women lusting after him, Perrin... I won't even go there about Perrin's super-keen-but-oh-so-silly wolf abilities, which seemed to drop out of the sky. Where are the NORMAL people? I'm all for the super powers *in moderation* but what makes fantasy interesting is the struggles between normal joes and the super powered ones. When Jordan makes every one of his characters super-human the believability goes down the toilet.

Also, Jordan's fantasy race the Aiel seem to be a race of Mary Sues. They can out-fight, out-hunt and out-run normal humans. Their customs are deemed superior they look down their noses at everyone else. The Aiel annoy me to the very core, as Jordan seemed to have created this unbelievable race to serve Jordan's messiah-ish character Rand.

There are some other ick moments in this book for me. Jordan clearly seems to be setting up Rand to become some sort of fantasy Polygamist ala Heinlein. Ick. Also there is a strange element of humiliating powerful women which Heinlein seems to enjoy. Women are often spanked or 'thrashed' and male characters aren't. Also, he creates situations where characters are forced to do humiliating things such as.... The trio of former aes sidai forced to laundry, fetch, and clean for the general as 'punishment.' It seems a bit petty giving the characters lives are in danger.

This was an entertaining novel, but the mary-suism really needs to be dialed down. 3 stars.

Wheel of time Audio.......2007-04-05

I actually was already a big fan of the book series, but these audio versions are extremly well done also, with very good narration and quality. Much better than most audiobooks I have tried in the past. Most importantly they are unabridged, which is very important with a story this complex. I was extremely happy with this product.

Average customer rating:

Utterly forgettable
Take Down
TAKEDOWN
Takedown
A-

Takedown: A Thriller
Brad Thor
Manufacturer: Atria
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0743271181

Book Description

After years without a terrorist attack on American soil, one group has picked the 4th of July weekend to pull out all the stops. In a perfectly executed attack, all of the bridges and tunnels leading into and out of Manhattan are destroyed just as thousands of commuters begin their holiday exodus. With domestic efforts focused on search and rescue, a deadly team of highly trained foreign soldiers methodically makes its way through the city with the singular objective of locating one of their own -- a man so powerful that America will do anything to keep him hidden.

Scot Harvath is now the country's only hope. Fighting his way through the burning streets of Manhattan, he must mount his own operation to locate a man the United States government refuses to admit even exists.

Customer Reviews:

Utterly forgettable.......2007-10-12

This is my first Brad Thor novel and it will be my last. Reads like a shallow action movie - no character development, lots of uninspired run-of-the-mill action, token love interest, etc.
I think one of the review titles here sums the book up nicely "blah blah GUNS blah blah TERROR blah blah COWARDLY LIBERALS blah blah" - not necessarily a bad thing but it doesn't even do that properly!
I have maybe 7 more 3-page chapters to go and you know what, it's not worth my time - it's going straight into the bin.

Take Down.......2007-10-10

Action packed. Well worth reading. Parts of book parallel actions of today's world governments. Frightening at points.

TAKEDOWN.......2007-09-28

Brad Thor is a must read. Fall in love with his characters. Scott Harvath is the perfect hero. Very scary that so many things that happen in Thor's books can and maybe do happen in today's world. Full of intrigue and adventure.

Takedown.......2007-09-26

I like all of Brad books, he is the one that got me started reading again.

A-.......2007-09-17

"Takedown" by Brad Thor, is a very fast paced thriller dealing with Islamic Terrorism and the US's half hearted "War" to defend itself and western civilization from destruction. It deals with RENDITION (using other nations to do the dirty work of interrogation, to keep the US hands clean), and the absurd policies that hinder the west from defending itself.

There is a action pact attack on the United States, things go very wrong, and the US Government is slow to react, and traitors within threaten the integrity of a super secret intelligence program. The hero Scot Harvath, a counterterrorism operative for the Department of Homeland Security, finds himself in the middle of the attack and leads a group of VA patients into battle to stop the terrorist.

OK, the attack on the US city is very exciting, but not very realistic, not in operation, or in the US response to the attack (No US methods and practices given away to the real terrorist possibly reading this novel).

Thor gets the terrorism thing, and understands modern fascist Islamic radicalism!

The Shadow Rising (The Wheel of Time, Book 4)

Average customer rating:

Not Free SF Reader
One of the Best of the Series
Love the series
a good read
Love the books, love the reader on cds.

The Shadow Rising (The Wheel of Time, Book 4)
Robert Jordan
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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

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

ASIN: 0312854315

Book Description

The seals of Shayol Ghul are weak now, and the Dark One reaches out. The Shadow is rising to cover humankind.In Tar Valon, Min sees portents of hideous doom. Will the White Tower itself be broken?In the Two Rivers, the Whitecloaks ride in pursuit of a man with golden eyes, and in pursuit of the Dragon Reborn.In Cantorin, among the Sea Folk, High Lady Suroth plans the return of the Seanchan armies to the mainland.In the Stone of Tear, the Lord Dragon considers his next move. It will be something no one expects, not the Black Ajah, not Tairen nobles, not Aes Sedai, not Egwene or Elayne or Nynaeve.Against the Shadow rising stands the Dragon Reborn.....

Customer Reviews:

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Rand is now super scary guy. Generally, a woman named Selene is going to be super scary girl. In this case, yep. She is one of the Forsaken. Whines quite a bit less than the rest of the women they have to put up with in this story, too.

Perrin and Faile go back home to beastie's town, and the Aes Sedai politics get violent.

One of the Best of the Series.......2007-07-22

This book is one of Robert Jordan's crowning achievements. This is the best book of the series and one of the most important. My favorite character is Perrin and in this book he gives a lot of coverage for Perrin. It is one of the most important because this book has where Perrin becomes a lord and Rand becomes He Who Comes With the Dawn. This has to be the most funny of any of the books (if they can be called funny) because of the Faile-Perrin interactions. (Dry humor maybe). I have read this book ten+ times and every time I get something new out of it. If you are willing to read a longer book this may become one of your favorites. Though I do admit that the parts when the women are in Tanchico are some of the most boring parts in the entire series and I am guilty of skipping over them. If you like Perrin, Rand, Faile, Avienda, Egwene, or Mat, then this is a great book for you.

Love the series.......2007-07-19

This is my cup of tea! I listened to the audio version and am delighted to finally have the book. My imagination is smiling!

a good read.......2007-06-13

I am working to read the entire series. These are well written books that are a joy to read. It does help to read them in order. I have read several of the series and they are all great. The writing is really good and the style remains the same through out the series.

Love the books, love the reader on cds. .......2007-05-27

Have read every book of Robert Jordan's and one by one am collecting the audio cds. So far all the books are read by the same person and it is an easy voice to listen to.

The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time, Book 1)

Average customer rating:

Cool book, feels like you're in another world
Great Book, fast delivery
enjoyable start
An excellent start....
An Epic Fantasy

The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time, Book 1)
Robert Jordan
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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

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

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

ASIN: 0312850093

Book Description

The Wheel of Times turns and Ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. In the Third Age, and Age of Prophecy, the World and Time themselves hang in the balance. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

Customer Reviews:

Cool book, feels like you're in another world.......2007-10-14

At times while reading this book, I felt like I was actually with the heroes. There are some cheesy points though, semi-direct quotes from Star Wars, Shakespeare, and the Bible make Jordan's world seem too close to home. The humor and thrill of the adventure make those semi-quotes much more forgiveable. The writing is so descriptive, that I don't think the screen adaptation is going to be very difficult to write. This novel isn't perfect, but it's worth checking out. I understand why so many fans miss Jordan.

Great Book, fast delivery.......2007-10-11

Just as ordered. The book was well packed and in good shape. Let the reading begin.

enjoyable start.......2007-10-11

Very enjoyable high fantasy story about three boys who are forced to leave their village by the forces of evil which are pursuing them.

When I started 'Eye of the World' and the plot became clear I was rolling my eyes a bit - not another "save the world from the Dark Lord" book -hasn't that been done to death already? But I found myself getting caught up in the story. Jordan has done a good job in world building, although I think he introduces too much backstory too quickly. The first few chapters take a lot of digesting. Also I had heard that Jordan has a problem concluding plots so I was expecting an ending and not a conclusion. The ending was abrupt, but it was satisfying, although obviously setting up for the next in the series. On the merits of "Eye of the World' I am ready to go on to the next book, but I am a little afraid; everything I've heard says that the first few books are good but that they really go downhill after that, and nothing gets resolved (and may never since Jordan recently died).

An excellent start...........2007-10-01

to a captivating series. The audiobook is well done with readings by kate reading and michael kramer.

An Epic Fantasy.......2007-09-20

Robert Jordan's The Eye of the World, part of the Wheel of Time series, is an epic fantasy. He creates a Tolkien-ish world, full of strange creatures. Rand, a simple farm boy from an out-of-the-way village believes most of those creatures to be travelers' tales, until about 100 of them attack his village. With the help of Lady Moiraine and her companion Lan, they defeat the minotaur-like Trollocs, and their leader, and evil Myrddraal. Rand and his two friends are forced to flee the village, with Trollocs hunting them down on the orders of the Dark One. Moiraine reveals herself as an Aes Sedai, with strange and powerful magical abilities. She uses her amazing magic to get them away from the Trollocs, while Lan helps with his own fighting powers. He is her Warder, one of many mythical fighters sworn to protect a certain Aes Sedai. They journey through a land full of perils, to discover why the Dark One is after Rand and his friends.

This book has filled me with delight, as it is so well described. I might as well have been there, pushing my way through the crowded streets of Caemlyn, or riding as fast as I could to get away from the Trollocs. I am already reading the prequel, then I'll move on to the 9+ books that follow The Eye of the World. If you enjoyed Tolkien, or any other typical fantasy book, you will like this one. The traditional band of good guys, pursued by the servants of some evil guy, combined with some of the best wording and use of magic I have ever read, really makes this book hard to put down. I find myself reading late into the night, even when I am drop-dead exhausted, just because I want to know what happens next. This is a must-read for readers who enjoy fantasy.

Ava W.
Grade 6
Ms. Kawatachi

Average customer rating:

Not for beginers
Information overload
An excellent book
Good but with some notable problems
Good as a Novel

Professional JSP 2nd Edition
Simon Brown , Robert Burdick , Jayson Falkner , Ben Galbraith , Rod Johnson , Larry Kim , Casey Kochmer , Thor Kristmundsson , and Sing Li
Manufacturer: Wrox Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1861004958

Book Description

JavaServer Pages, together with the Java Servlet API, provide the dynamic web content presentation layer for the Java 2 Enterprise Edition. JSPs and Servlets integrate tightly to enable scalable and portable applications, and are widely supported. This book extensively covers the next generation of these technologies, JSP 1.2 and Servlets 2.3, which are nearing completion under the Java Community Process and provide major enhancements to Java's web programming model.

This book looks in depth at these core components of the forthcoming J2EE 1.3 platform, preparing you for building the next generation of web solutions. You'll learn about the enhancements to the JSP tag library model; the new filtering and application event facilities; how to architect web applications to ensure clean separation of presentation and logic; and the increasingly popular Jakarta Struts framework. The book also addresses using JSP with XML and XSLT; databases access with JDBC; and how JSP and Servlets fit into the overall J2EE platform alongside Enterprise JavaBeans, JavaMail, and other J2EE technologies.

Customer Reviews:

Not for beginers.......2005-04-06

I thought to learn JSP just by reading this book. I read several review comments on this book and other books. Fairly thougt to buy this one on hope of better explanation.
Though I am new to JSP, but working on programming for 13 years.
1. I did not get a streamline explanation to start the first program. Someplaces exaplanation is too much, I was lost.
2. Explanation on Tomcat installation won't be helpful because of older versions.

Those have already known JSP TAG, Bean etc. it may be helpful for them. But purely it is not for beginners.

Information overload.......2003-01-07

Explains one aproach then rejects it in favor of another then yet another. By the end you discover that you should have bought a book on Jakarta Struts if you want to develop real JSP sites because someone has already done lots of work for you.

An excellent book.......2002-08-30

I have never read such an excellent book before. No wonder the JavaRanch community rates this book 10 horseshoes!

Good but with some notable problems.......2002-08-06

Wrox Press continues their time-honored tradional of piling as many authors into one 1200 page volume that they can in the hopes that they will end up with a definitive treatment of the subject. The authors range from seasoned professionals with real-world experience to people with nothing but a year or two of college computer science courses behind them. I must confess that I am not sure what I was expecting in these chapters but since JSP Tag Libraries seemed to be one of the more challenging and interesting areas of JSPs I was hoping for some more meaningful, 'meaty' content.

The assembly of these 18 (yes, 18!) authors wind up generating a book that essentially could have been put together with more precision and continuity if it had 15 fewer authors. It very much comes off as a rushed effort, without any tightness whatsoever. The writing style of this second edition can only be described as amateurish. This, fortunately, can be a little easier to swallow if you accept the spirit of the book (in Wrox's words 'Programmer to Programmer'). Take the text as quickly put-together material from programmers that have been through it (even if it was brief or only in school) and you should be fine.

Many unnecessary forward references exist throughout the text and, because of the unusually large number of authors, there is a large amount of repetition in the body of most chapters. The book's page count could also have been greatly reduced had the authors not consistently given condensed introduction to material that ends up being the subject matter for entire chapters later in the book. For example, two early chapters describe the basics of Tag Libraries, only to have them surface as the primary topic of chapters 8 - 11.

The code included throughout the book is variable in quality, as you might expect. The book doesn't pretend to be an academic tome of best practices or a showcase for some top-flight, brilliant programming but you end up thinking that many of the examples could have been made much more effective with more thought put into them. As with many other programming books out there, this one is definitely not without its errors. You'd hope, however, that with the 21 technical reviewers and 3 editors that worked on this book that it would have fared better than most.

In summary, if you take the text for what it is and skip over the segments of fluff and numerous poor code examples I think that most professional programmers new to this technology will find enough material to make the hefty price tag almost worth it (especially if you share it with others on your team!).

Good as a Novel.......2002-06-27

This book is awesome. The one thing I truly love about this book is the layout. I had zero experience in JAVA/J2EE and after the first chapter it all made sense. I Actually make time to read this book.

The one thing this book does that no other I have read is tech the low level nuts and bolts along with top level syntax and make it make sense. For instance, the chapter on Servlets rocks. It teaches Servlets on both "Here are Servlets" and "How to use them".

Book Description

Brad Thor's national best-selling debut, The Lions of Lucerne, was hailed as "high-voltage entertainment reminiscent of Robert Ludlum" (Literary Journal). Now, he again delivers a non-stop action as one man's quest for revenge thrusts him into a battle to save his country....

After rescuing the President from kidnappers, Navy SEAL turned Secret Service agent Scot Harvath shifts his attentions to rooting out, capturing, or killing all those responsible for the plot. As he prepares to close out his list, a bloody and twisted trail of clues points toward one man -- the world's most feared, most ruthless terrorist, Hashim Nidal. Having assembled an international league of Islamic terrorist networks in an ingenious plot to topple both Israel and America, Harvath and his CIA-led team must reach Nidal before it's too late. One problem remains -- they have no idea what the man looks like. With no alternative, Harvath is forced to recruit a civilian -- a woman who has survived a brutal hijacking and is now the only person who can positively identify their quarry.

From the burning deserts of North Africa to the winding streets of Rome, Harvath must brave a maelstrom of bloodshed and deception -- before a madman's twisted vision engulfs the world in the fires of all-out war....

Download Description

"When Brad Thor arrived on the scene with his hard-hitting debut novel, The Lions of Lucerne, he was greeted with an enthusiasm rarely seen since John le Carré's heyday. ""A roller-coaster of a debut,"" pronounced Kyle Mills. And Nelson DeMille, the master of the genre himself, welcomed Thor as ""a savvy new novelist"" with a knack for action scenes that ""will give the reader a case of vertigo."" Now, Thor and his indomitable hero Scot Harvath are back, raising the stakes and taking on one of the world's most deadly terrorist organizations bent on stoking a global holy war of apocalyptic proportions. After rescuing the President from kidnappers, Navy SEAL turned Secret Service agent Scot Harvath shifts his attentions to rooting out and capturing or killing all those responsible for the plot. As he prepares to close out his list, a bloody and twisted trail of clues points toward one man -- the world's most feared, most ruthless terrorist, Hashim Nidal, who has assembled an international league of Islamic terrorist networks in an ingenious plot to topple both Israel and America. Harvath and his CIA-led team must reach Nidal before it's too late. One problem remains -- they have no idea what the man looks like. Only one person can positively identify Harvath's quarry -- Meg Cassidy, a beautiful hijacking survivor. Together, Scot and Meg must untangle a maddening web of global intrigue stretching across four continents. From Macau, Jerusalem, and Chicago to Libya, Capri, and Rome, Harvath and Cassidy find themselves locked in a desperate race against time to sort the pieces of a deadly puzzle that will test not only their physical and mental limits, but also the growing bond they feel for each other. "

Customer Reviews:

Brad Thor - be prepared for a lot of good reads.......2007-10-13

I just finished Takedown and I can tell you Path of the Assassin by Brad Thor is not the place to start - but it is definitely a stop along the way that you will not want to miss. The Lions of Lucerne is where it all begins. And thank Glen Beck for the introduction as he had Brad Thor on his show as a guest a few weeks back. A search for Brad's name on Amazon revealed a number of Thor books and I decided to order them all sight unseen. Some risks pay off in dividends. To say Thor weaves a tale that will claim many an evening from your life is an understatement. I know, I bought all six at the same time and began to read them in order, and often finishing one book early in the evening was a blatant invitation to begin the next immediately, and so it went and has gone. Thor takes you quickly and rarely gives you a place to stop for the evening. Like his larger than life hero, Scot Harvath who has few dull moments to rest while hunting down those who would subvert our way of life, you do not want to stop to rest or catch your breath.. Torn from the pages of today's news you find yourself travelling about the globe with Scot in Europe, the Middle East, major US cities, all the while barely on the edge of your seat.

But if at all possible, try to read them in order - and Amazon can make that easy. In addition to The Lions of Lucerne and Path of the Assassin, there is State of the Union, Blowback, Takedown and The First Commandment (which I will begin this evening as soon as I finish this review).

I should have paid attention to the 1 star reviews.......2007-10-05

thankfully, I got the book cheap because otherwise I would be furious. I'm already upset that I wasted some of my life trying to read this book. Finally, after 200 pages, I had to stop. The dialogue is juvenile.Harvath is the only one who can do things correctly; he's the only one among trained agents who can think; he's the only one who can shoot straight (oh, except for the convenient beautiful woman who just happens to take on armed terrorists). Please, don't make the mistake I made: pay attention to those 1 star reviews. Save your money for something that is worth it.

awful.......2007-09-24

true one can glean some interesting information about weaponry,warfare and such but Thor needs a couple of years in writing 1,2,3,4 until he gets it right.
very formulaic and ultimately boring.

Is Thor worth a second chance?.......2007-09-11

I wanted to like this book based on the fact that according to his biography, Mr. Thor seems to be considered a knowledgeable person regarding terrorism. I am therefore willing to give him another chance since this book was one of his earlier releases and the fact that I believe some of the best ways to explore what possible terrorist scenarios we could face as a nation are through novel form.

I am not the type of person who expects Les Miserables or Atlas Shrugged kind of character development and dialogue in thriller and spy novels. That being said however I thought the characters lacked much depth at all and the dialogue was extremely sophomoric throughout most of the book. The overall premise of the story I thought was interesting and could have made for a much better book.

I will give Thor another chance at some point but if I feel the same way about the next book after fifty pages I'll have to give up. There are too many other great thriller/spy novel authors like Daniel Silva and Vince Flynn just to name a couple.

Page-Turning Junk Food for Action Fans.......2007-08-12

This isn't a great book by any stretch of the imagination. But it's a fun book, and sometimes its OK to have some fun while you're reading. If you like James Bond, Die Hard movies, or mid-80s Arnold Schwarzeneggar movies, you're going to like this book. There's lots of chases, guns, macho posturing, and humor. There's an attractive female, too! No sex, but that's OK, because if you like chases, guns, and taking it to the bad guys, this book has it.

What it doesn't have is good writing. It has long, long, chases and fights that are about as suspenseful as an episode of Barney. The reason there is no suspense is that the author never makes us feel as if the protagonists are in actual danger. There were times when I'd skip ahead six pages because that's how long the chase would go on for. Really, I get kind of tired reading about a car chase in which all the roads are named, but nothing happens to the plot. Oh, except the bad guy got away. Again.

Fun, but not something you proudly display on your shelf.

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