History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Average customer rating:

Heraldry... a good place to start
The best book for begginers
Wide ranging survey

The Complete Book of Heraldry
Stephen Slater
Manufacturer: Lorenz Books Childrens
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0754810623

Book Description

Accessible and contemporary in style, this book is a clear introduction to novices and contains much of interest to the expert. It is lavishly illustrated with newly commissioned art.

Customer Reviews:

Heraldry... a good place to start.......2006-05-03

Republished in 2003, this book is one of the most up-to-date reviews of heraldry. It is easier to read than Fox-Davies "Complete Guide to Heraldry" and the graphics used to describe colors, field divisions and ordinaries are excellent teaching tools.

I would like to see more examples of the types of ordinaries used, however those that are in the book are excellent.

This is a good book for those who would like an introduction to heraldry. For anyone beginning heraldry in the SCA (Society of Creative Anachronism), this is an excellent and reliable reference book and recommended throughout the group

The best book for begginers.......2005-10-12

I think this is the best book I could have asked for to get started in heraldry. It is detailed, colourful and very informative, and it covers almost all topics of interest in heraldry. An excellent way to get your foot into heraldry, a must buy.

Wide ranging survey.......2003-01-16

This is a very wide-ranging survey of the heraldry of the world, with some very delightful illustrations.

This book covers both historical and contemporary issues, from the need for coat armour in mediaeval warfare to modern air-force insignia.

It doesn't spend a lot of space on blazon: just enough to get you started. But it does include right up-to-the-minute information about many countries and subfields, from Scandanavia to Japan, and from medical heraldry to armour.

My only criticism: it is very light on coverage of Scotland, which is arguably the country with the best developed and most enforced heraldic code in the world.

Average customer rating:

Superb reference source!

Untainted Excellent Info

Best $50 I've spent

Great Book!

Essential to any WWII historian

Panzer Truppen: The Complete Guide to the Creation & Combat Employment of Germany's Task Force-Formations, Organizations, Tactics, Combat Reports, Unit Strengths, sta (Schiffer Military History Book)
Thomas L. Jentz
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Panzertruppen 2: The Complete Guide to the Creation & Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force ¥ 1943-1945/Formations ¥ Organizations ¥ Tactics Combat Reports ¥ Unit Strengths ¥ Statistics

Tank Combat in North Africa: The Opening Rounds : Operations Sonnenblume, Brevity, Skorpion and Battleaxe February 1941-June 1941 (Schiffer Military History)

Germany's Panther Tank the Quest for Combat Supremacy: Development - Modifications - Rare Variants - Characteristics - Combat Accounts (Schiffer Military/Aviation History)

Sledgehammers: Strengths and Flaws of Tiger Tank Battalions in World War II

Germany's Tiger Tanks: Tiger I & II : Combat Tactics

ASIN: 0887409156

Book Description

In September of 1939, the world was astounded by Germany's ability to defeat Poland in less than a month. With the world still puzzled by the suddenness of this event, Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium, and France fell in rapid succession to the German onslaught, leaving Britain in shock. Greece and Yugoslavia were rapidly over-run during April of 1941, while German-Italian forces advanced rapidly in North Africa. Russia's turn was next, when German forces began pulverizing their forces in June of 1941. How had Germany achieved victory after victory, often against numerically superior enemy forces? The answer came in two words-Panzer and Blitzkrieg. When and how had Germany built its Panzer forces and trained them for the Blitzkrieg? When was each Panzer unit formed? What was their organization? Why were Panzer units disbursed among the Panzer-Divisions. leichte Divisions, and Armee-Korps? When were the various types of Panzers developed? What were their armament, armor protection, capability? How many of each type were produced? What tactics did they use? How successful were they in combat? This is the only book that provides detailed answers to these and other questions related to how German tankers fought in World War II. Tom Jentz found the answers to these questions bu digging through original records for the past tweny-five years. The content os this book is derived solely from these original records consisting of war diaries, reports, and technical and tactical manuals written during the war. The story is told as recorded by those responsible for decisions in developing the Panzertruppen and by those who fought in the Panzers. As work on this book progressed it became apparent that the story of the Panzertruppen was divided into two distinctly separate phases; offensive and defensive. This first volume presents the offensive phase up to October 1942. A second volume is planned that will cover the defensive phase to the end of the war. Tom Jentz is also the author of Germany's Panther Tank: The Quest of Combat Supremacy(available from Schiffer Publishing Ltd.). , over 200 b/w photos, 8 1/2" x 11"

Customer Reviews:

Superb reference source!.......2005-10-17

Thomas Jentz's book proves to be a fantastic source of information regarding the German Panzer forces during World War II. This volume covers the period from the early 1930s to 1942. It uses primary German sources that revealed the evolutionary stages of the German panzer formations, their weapons and numbers as the years rolled by. The book also reflects on German perception of how they did, how their tanks performed and needs for changes.

The book reflects the closeness to the source German material. The author expects the reader to have a fine tune knowledge of the German military prior to reading this book. If you have to look up to see the difference between a Panzer 38(t) to Panzer IVd, this book is probably not for you. The unit organization tables are done in the unfamiliar German symbolism instead of your usual NATO symbols so that can be confusing to the novice.

The book seem to be written for people who wants a greater understanding of the German panzer formations and thier gradual metamorphosis. The second volume covers the second half of the war when the German forces were mostly on the defensive mode.

Overall, highly informative reading material, not for the casual reader since this book don't exactly read like a best seller.

Untainted Excellent Info.......2005-06-10

Fantastic books! The detail and information is great. These are not "spec" books of German tanks. The wonderful inclusion of original correspondence between Beck, Fromm, Guderian, etc is fascinating reading. The extensive usage of original German terminology makes for difficult reading (unless you are fluent in German) but is very much appreciated to avoid errors of translation.

Best $50 I've spent.......2004-08-04

This is perhaps the most usefull book on the German panzer forces in World War II, and anyone interested in the subject needs a copy.

In the first portion of the book, Jentz provides a thorough history of the development and employment of panzer formations. This includes initial formation of the first units, the development of prototypes and early equipment, as well as German armored doctrine and tactics.

The remaining portion of the book covers the employment of the Panzer divisions in war from 1939-1942. In this section, Jentz provides a wealth of information. One very usefull feature is that the organization of panzer companies, battalions, and divisions are tracked (along with the translated text of orders changing the organizations) and presented in tables or figures. Given that the Germans frequently changed the organization of these units, this is very valuable information.

Jentz also presents tank strengths and tank types for each division at the start of major operations as part of orders of battle for the panzer divisions. For example, it is thus possible to quickly look up how many Panzer II tanks were available for the invasion of France, and the amount that each division had.

The end of the book has a number of appendices, which provide data on monthly on-hand strength of each tank as well as technical data on for German and a variety of Allied tanks.

I also strongly recommend Jentz's follow-up to this, which is Panzer Truppen volume II, and covers 1943-1945.

Great Book!.......1999-07-07

I agree with the other reviewers. These two books are excellent! If you have any interest in German panzer, tactics and deployment i strongly recommend you to buy them. The 'combat reports' from the officers writing about there experinence during there fight with the enemy, trying to explain the good and bad how to use there tanks is great and gives you a deeper feeling of the problems they had. A must buy!

Essential to any WWII historian.......1999-05-08

Both this volume and volume 2, are excellent sources of primary documentation. Both use war diary, and after-action reports to describe tactics and weapons evolution. As I said in a review of vol.2, by allowing the crews and their platoon-battalion commanders to speak the book has an immediacy that can't be duplicated in other works of the same subject. The author assumes the reader has at least general familiarity with German operations, and knowledge of German WWII military terms and ranks. Probably not for a general interest reader.

Kafka's Soup: A Complete History of World Literature in 14 Recipes

Average customer rating:

Kafka's Soup
Sophomoric, trite and stupid
Blackjacks and Literary Cuisine
Cook-reader's treat
Original

Kafka's Soup: A Complete History of World Literature in 14 Recipes
Mark Crick
Manufacturer: Harcourt
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0151012830

Book Description

I needed a table at Maxim’s, a hundred bucks, and a gorgeous blonde; what I had was a leg of lamb and no clues. I took hold of the joint. It felt cold and damp, like a coroner’s handshake. I took out a knife and cut the lamb into pieces. Feeling the blade in my hand I sliced an onion, and before I knew what I was doing a carrot lay in pieces on the slab. None of them moved.
—from “LAMB WITH DILL SAUCE
À LA RAYMOND CHANDLER”

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to make dinner with Franz Kafka, Jane Austen, or Raymond Chandler, this is the chance to find out.

Literary ventriloquist Mark Crick presents fourteen recipes in the voices of famous writers, from Homer to Virginia Woolf to Irvine Welsh.

Guaranteed to delight anyone in love with food and books, these witty pastiches will keep you so entertained in the kitchen that you’ll be sorry when the guests arrive.

Customer Reviews:

Kafka's Soup.......2007-10-06

Very happy with the 2 copies of this book. They arrived safely packed and very prompt. Many thanks.

Sophomoric, trite and stupid.......2007-07-26

It is no wonder this $14.95 little book sells new for $3 at Amazon. Once you see how bad it is you couldn't give it away. To anyone who is REALLY interested in authors and their food, this is embarrassingly bad, and a terrible read. It should come with Malox.

Blackjacks and Literary Cuisine.......2007-02-21

Crick has produced a small but rich volume that pays homage to writers from Homer to Raymond Chandler and if there is a false note struck anywhere, I cannot detect it. As an added bonus, the recipes look to be perfectly wonderful all by themselves.

Crick begins with the hilarious Chandler shtick centered on Lamb with Dill Sauce. "It was time to deal with the butter and flour so I mixed them together into a paste and added it to the stock. There wasn't a whisk, so using my blackjack I beat out any lumps until the paste was smooth." Almost makes me sorry I come equipped with three different whisks and not a blackjack in sight.

Speaking in the articulate phrasing of the Marquis de Sade, Crick manages to make fun of politically correct cuisine with its "naive trust in low-fat yogurt" and celebrate the sensuality of food with a story about an innocent maiden forced to observe a hypocritical judge as he lecherously prepares Boned Stuffed Poussins. Makes you quiver, it does.

The Harold Pinter playlet titled "Cheese on Toast" features ciabatta and eggplant and mozzarella and, I swear it, you can taste the results before you've finished reading. My tummy growls in frustration for I have none of the aforementioned ingredients on hand.

So far, my favorite is the gem in the voice of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, titled "Coq au Vin." There is a priest tormented by mosquitos and a mulatta cook who prepares a last meal for a murderer, Fidel Agosto Santiago, and the meal is the tough carcass of the fabled fighting cock, El Jaguaracito, donated by its owner, the Syrian. It's all there -- drama, rich characterization and food so wonderful it will make you weep.

I love to read and I love to cook. It's hard to imagine a single book that combines those two pleasures more perfectly than this one does. This book will hold a place of pride and joy in my cookbook collection. Now -- I wonder if I can find a blackjack on eBay?

Cook-reader's treat.......2007-01-18

this is so much fun for someone who not only loves to read but loves to cook.

Original.......2007-01-16

This is a witty and very clever little book. The author is obviously well read and a smarty pants. This book is a wonderful gift ..hostess, grandma, ma , friends etc.

The Complete Stephen King Universe: A Guide to the Worlds of Stephen King

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Other Books
Great for everyone..
Educational
A must read for Stephen King fans
A few words from Hank Wagner, one of the co-authors of THE COMPLETE STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE

The Complete Stephen King Universe: A Guide to the Worlds of Stephen King
Stanley Wiater , Christopher Golden , and Hank Wagner
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0312324901
Release Date: 2006-05-30

Book Description

The myriad worlds and universes King has created are, in reality, one world, one universe. Here is the guide to that universe.The Complete Stephen King Universe is the only definitive reference work that examines all of Stephen King's novels, short stories, motion pictures, miniseries, and teleplays, and deciphers the threads that exist in all of his work.This ultimate resource includes in-depth story analyses, character breakdowns, little-known facts, and startling revelations on how the plots, themes, characters, and conflicts intertwine.After discovering The Complete Stephen King Universe, you will never read Stephen King the same way again.

Customer Reviews:

Other Books.......2007-09-04

I was mostly interested in this to find out about the whole Dark Tower thing. A series that has never moved high enough up the priority list to get to, given its length. Lots of people seem to approve of it, though. Apparently there are crossover bits here and there in his 'universe' with this series, and Golden explains that. Having never read The Stand, either, was part of it, I think.

From what Golden says about that, it does look interesting.

So, for a look at that sort of thing, a clear and useful book.

Great for everyone.........2007-08-07

This is a great book for everyone interested in Stephen King's works. I have read a great deal of his work, so I imagine that I am one of those that falls under the 'Constant Reader' title, and this book had me noting that I had missed some of the overlaps and complexity of his many books. I look forward to reading his books again, and catching even more, thanks to this book.

However, this is also good for the more casual Stephen King reader, as it guides you through his worlds and his books. The authors give very good analyses of each book and each world, sorting through the myriad of characters and ideas that Stephen King uses (quite deftly, in my opinion).

Educational.......2007-05-14

This is the most helpful book I have read regarding writing. This information has everything from first write to the way to get it published.

The only thing I found missing was a word/page index.

This is a book I would recommend to others.

A must read for Stephen King fans.......2006-09-14

Many fantasists or fantasy authors create their own parallel universes, which stand as back drops for their stories. H. P. Lovecraft did this with his Cthulhu Mythos, creating a pantheon of dark gods who have the ability to slip into our universe from time to time and sunder reality. Cthulhu's theme is to eradicate all humankind from the face of the earth.

Stephen King's parallel universe, however, appears to be a multitude of intertwining dimensions comprising malefic and beneficial cross-over characters and deities whose conflicts influence these various dimensions for good or for evil. According to authors Hank Wagner, Christopher Golden, and Stanley Wiater, in this, their definitive reference entitled THE COMPLETE STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE: A GUIDE TO THE WORLDS OF STEPHEN KING, Mr. King's DARK TOWER series stands as the central and unifying dimension from which his parallel universe emerges and ultimately returns. CSKU defines and describes all of Mr. King's stories and novels to date, tying events and people together in each of the over-lapping tales--but the fun does not stop there, readers. At the end of every chapter, the authors reveal interesting trivia about the characters and events that make-up Stephen King's world, sometimes pointing out that people in our so-called "reality" also have a share in his universe, the most obvious person being author Peter Straub, co-author of THE TALISMAN, one of my favorite novels of all time. (Speaking of Peter Straub, an interesting observation is the creepy character in his novel MR. X, who seems to make a brief appearance--at least in this reader's opinion--in Mr. King's novel FROM A BUICK 8, when he delivers the vintage Buick, then disappears behind the gas station where he abandons the car.)

If you are a fan of Stephen King's work, and the author himself, you will enjoy reading THE COMPLETE STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE. This fascinating and literate guide brought many details of Mr. King's overall work to my attention, details I was not aware of before reading CSKU, and has inspired me to read his stories and novels over again. (No mean feat, I would like to add; although a pleasurable one!) One of the more interesting pieces of information in THE COMPLETE STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE involved the accident in which a drunk driver struck and nearly killed Mr. King in 1999, while he was out jogging alongside a country road near his summer home in Maine--bizarre stuff, life imitating art.

THE COMPLETE STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE is highly recommended reading!

A few words from Hank Wagner, one of the co-authors of THE COMPLETE STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE.......2006-07-28

A little background info for those of you who have happened upon this offering. THE COMPLETE STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE is an updated version of THE STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE, which was published in May 2001. The CSKU features nine new chapters, which cover King's work from approximately early 2000 through mid 2005. The CSKU discusses all of King's work through that period, including books like DREAMCATCHER, FROM A BUICK 8, the final three installments of the Dark Tower series, and television series such as Rose Red and Kingdom Hospital. Basically, it covers all of King's work through the present day, with the exception of books like THE COLORADO KID, CELL, and the upcoming LISEY'S STORY, and a few short stories such as "The Things They Left Behind", which appeared in the 2005 anthology TRANSGRESSIONS.

Besides the inclusion of the new chapters, the book's been rearranged and revised in many ways, mostly to correct the factual errors and typos that crept up in the first edition. Hopefully, we caught most of the glitches in the new edition; the publishing gremlins that plague all books are a diligent bunch, however, so I expect folks will find some errors in this version as well.

If you should find an error or typo and would like to bring it to my attention, or would just like to discuss the book in general, please feel free to write me at HankW26159@aol.com. In the meantime, I hope you're intrigued enough to purchase the book.

Publishers Weekly called the original edition "An indispensable insider's guide to the influences on King, his plots and characters, TV and film adaptations and more..."

The Library Journal said that the SKU "...will appeal to serious King fans...[the STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE] will be an especially useful addition to academic resources on contemporary authors."

My favorite quote came from noted Stephen King scholar Stephen J. Spignesi: "THE STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE is as important a book as Douglas Winter's seminal STEPHEN KING: THE ART OF DARKNESS, which paved the way for the rest of us, we Chroniclers of the King. THE STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE is a major contribution to the field of scholarship about King, and King's fans should be grateful that Stan Wiater, Chris Golden, and Hank Wagner - a truly talented and insightful drawing of the three -- have done the kind of work it took to research and write THE STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE."

Enjoy.

The Mammoth Book of King Arthur: Reality and Legend, the Beginning and the End--The Most Complete Arthurian Sourcebook Ever

Average customer rating:

Title says it all
Not as useful as the author claims
A Whole Lot Of Camelot

The Mammoth Book of King Arthur: Reality and Legend, the Beginning and the End--The Most Complete Arthurian Sourcebook Ever

Manufacturer: Carroll & Graf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0786715669

Book Description

In this truly mammoth guide, Mike Ashley analyzes and explicates the line between the real Arthurian world and the legends that surround it. Ashley gives us a firm identity not only for King Arthur, but also for Merlin, Guinevere, Lancelot, and the Knights of the Round Table—as well as identifying all the major Arthurian sites. He traces the development of each of the legends and shows how they were related to events happening at the time, bringing a new dimension of realism to the magical Arthurian world. Ashley also offers new and little known information on Arthur—including a fascinating link to the present royal family and the likelihood that Arthurian legends arose from the exploits of not just one man but at least four. With over 700 pages, this is the most complete single-volume guide to Arthurian legend and history.

Customer Reviews:

Title says it all.......2007-06-23

A perfect sourcebook for Arthurian lore, ranging from Welsh histories to modern movies and novels. Jammed packed with information, but certainly not boring to read. This book is awesome!

Not as useful as the author claims.......2005-10-17

This huge book spans the length of Arthuriana and is an interesting read. However, I was left questioning way too much. I was constantly asking myself, "from where does Mike Ashley get his information?" I'm not saying it isn't authentic, but he rarely names sources. For instance, though I've read the geneologies available to me, I've never come across certain names or connections Mike Ashley gives. He always says "the geneologies state," without saying which one. As a reader, and Arthurian scholar, I want to be able to authenticate any information given to me.

Also, his "accepted" criteria for a generation (25-30 years) is way too calculated. With women having children at early ages and men fathering children even into old age (which wasn't that old in the Dark Ages), only a few generations could completely throw Ashley's time-scale way off. Just three generations of people having children at age 20 could throw the scale off by up to 30 years!

Finally, the book is written as if definitive, though precious little known about King Arthur and his time period is definitive. In some places, Ashley gives information like it is historically accurate even though such information directly contradicts most Arthurian scholars. For instance, under the entry for "Anna," Ashley says that the "name Morgause is almost certainly derived from Gwyar." Under the entry for Morgause he implies that this name derives from Morcades or Orcades. This later explanation is the one generally accepted by Arthurian scholars, from what I've read. In fact, many of his supposed historic explanations for Arthurian characters contradict the majority of Arthurian scholars.

This might seem small, but compounded over the length of 670 pages, you have a book full of contradictions and theory presented as fact. If only I knew his resources, I might be able to give this book more than 2 stars. As is, I found it almost entirely unuseful.

A Whole Lot Of Camelot.......2005-07-17

I've had spotty luck with the Mammoth series before; some are quite decent, some are obvious hack jobs, and one or two are just loony (the Mammoth Book of Jack the Ripper pops to mind). This one is divided into three rough sections, of unequal size and value.

The first attempts to break down the "historical Arthur," who Ashley defines first as "the war-leader of the Britons at Badon Hill" and only second as "the guy who Geoffrey of Monmouth was talking about." This results in a pretty thorough chase through obscure Breton king-lists, Nennius, the Ten Battles (fifty pages on them alone), the Welsh Triads, and so forth until he gets to a list of twenty, count-em, suspects. These range from Lucius Artorius Castus (the only Roman commander named 'Artorius' known to have served in Britain) to Arthwys ap Meurig (the king, perhaps, of Gwent in the seventh century, unless he wasn't). Ashley quietly plumps for an Arthur based in Gwent or Powys, but argues that Geoffrey's "Arthur" is a composite of five or six British leaders with mythic elements from Alfred and Aethelstan, and constructs a perhaps over-delicate genealogical lattice-work with which to argue that the victory at Badon was a coalition victory under a king of Dyfed named Agricola or Aircol, with one Vortipor/Gwerthefyr as the primary commander and possible "dux bellorum." This is about as good as things get without getting into Deep History. If this section has a flaw, it's probably best highlighted by Ashley's nervous-making habit of citing Laurence Gardner's Bloodline of the Holy Grail without using the words "barking mad." I'm certainly not an expert in post-Roman British chronicles, so for all I know, Gardner's research into the political-military complexities of the Saxon frontier is actually a model of meticulous restraint -- but I doubt it. Ashley does do a good job of highlighting when some fruity speculation is Gardner's and Gardner's alone -- the first time it appears. By contrast, he is politely dismissive of Geoffrey Ashe's various enthusiasms, and wisely so.

That takes us to page 306, where we begin about 200 pages of primer on the Arthurian Cycle, beginning with some potted history of the twelfth century and then into the various versions of the Tristan, Lancelot, Perceval, Galahad, Merlin, and other sub-cycles through the 14th century. This is excellent stuff, well presented; the Grail section is remarkably free of utter crazitude, although again it's no substitute for a specialist work on the topic like Richard Barber's The Holy Grail (the best single book on the topic). Then a short chapter on Malory, and another brings us up to Tennyson and the Pre-Raphaelites. This is all clear and relatively straightforward; it's also stuff I probably could have assembled myself from my bookshelves -- but not in only $13.50 worth of my time. We close up with sixty pages of Arthurian novels, narrowly defined (no That Hideous Strength or Drawing of the Dark), and ten pages of Arthurian movies -- this is all pretty disposable stuff. Its lack of attention to poetry means only tangential discussion of Eliot and (what's worse) none at all of Charles Williams.

Finally, we have about ninety pages of decent Arthurian Cycle "Who's Who" and gazetteer, more historically minded than Phyllis Ann Karr's wonderful (but primarily literary) Arthurian Companion and therefore of some good utility despite its relative brevity. A solid index in microscopic type concludes our program.

Ashley has read, and widely, all across the topic; for example, he cites John Hughes' far from seminal work Arthurian Myths and Alchemy in passing while discussing Malory and the court of Edward IV. Ashley cites Littleton and Malcor fairly, although space (and his inherent charity, perhaps) prevents full attention to their "Sarmatian thesis." He cites both Keys and Baillie on the Catastrophe of 535, and links it (too sketchily) to the discussion of the Waste Land. He even notes the possible ties between Amlawdd Wledig (from "Culhwch and Olwen") and Hamlet, although he (probably rightly) dismisses them. He misses one or two Arthurs from the fringe of the fringe -- there's no discussion, for example, of W.A. Cummins' dotty theory that King Arthur was actually a Bronze Age Wessex Culture monarch who built Stonehenge. (I'm hesitant to consider that particular absence a flaw.) Out there on the edge he does misstep occasionally; his brief discussion of St. Brendan badly confuses Brendan with Bran, both of whose immrama are relevant to the Arthurian mythos.

But on the whole, minor notches in the Sword of Strange Straps aside, this is an excellent one-volume compendium of Res Arthuria. The movie list is by far the weakest section; the various side-by-side comparisons of the various Cycles is probably the strongest, with the Gildas-to-Geoffrey section on "historical Arthurs" a close second. If you're more interested in post-Malory Arthuriana, try Norris Lacy instead. But if you need one good book on King Arthur, with a strong concentration on the pre-Galfridian material and the relevant historical background, this is probably the one to get -- you certainly won't beat the price.

Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens: The Complete Biographical Encyclopedia of the Kings and Queens of Britain (The Mammoth Book Series)

Average customer rating:

EXCELLENT resource for anyone!
BEST GENEALOGY BOOK IN PRINT
more for hobby than work
Mistakes
Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens

Mammoth Book of British Kings & Queens: The Complete Biographical Encyclopedia of the Kings and Queens of Britain (The Mammoth Book Series)
Mike Ashley
Manufacturer: Carroll & Graf Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0786704055

Book Description

Now in paperback, the most complete record of Britain's kings and queens ever compiled.

In one compendious volume, The Mammoth Book of Kings & Queens offers the first royal biographical A-Z, its pages lavish in details on all the rulers of kingdoms within the British Isles, together with their wives or consorts, pretenders, usurpers, and regents. Monarchs from Queen Boadicea of the early Britons to Elizabeth II fill these pages, including various tribal and Saxon rulers prior to 1066, the semi-legendary figures of the Dark Ages, and all those who helped to forge the kingdom of Great Britain.

Author Mike Ashley presents in chronological order all the kings and queens of Britain as well as other powerful nobles and dignitaries; he includes, too, genealogies showing the family descent of all the leading royal families as a further bonus. His resulting superb and authoritative one-volume reference is now available in an affordably priced Trade Paper edition.

Customer Reviews:

EXCELLENT resource for anyone!.......2005-10-08

Ashley gives us a mini-history of Europe as well as a chronological listing of its monarchs. An invaluable resource for history students as well as genealogists!

BEST GENEALOGY BOOK IN PRINT.......2005-09-06

This book contains more Royal genealogy information in one place that you could search for in a lifetime anywhere else. This book is comprehensive and covers a Royal history of thousands of years that includes the ruling dynasties of almost every European country. I have been tracing my Royal ancestors and until I got this book, I was limited. But reading this book revealed not only thousands more names of my great-grandparents, it includes little tid-bits of information that also covers personal tragedies/triumphs, royal reigns and family life. I HIGHLY recommend this book not only as an interseting read, but ESPECIALLY if you are researching Royal ancestors.

more for hobby than work.......2004-06-01

First let me state that I love this book. I read it all the time, though I haven't come close to finishing it due to its size.

I love this book because it is interesting. It has every British ruler you can think of piled in there, from the most recent to the semi-mythological ones of bygone days. And this includes the ruling families of those who came to power in Britain. The most obscure rulers are covered.

The book is incredibly well indexed. I can find any ruler easier than it would be to look his name up alphabetically. Even better than that, I don't have to know the name of a ruler to find him. There are charts, graphs, geneological tables, maps, everything.

However, there is one major flaw with this book. As the "Royal Book of Records" in the beginning might suggest, the book might more be considered gossip than fact. The RBoR is fantastic, listining the Top 10 rulers for all sorts of things...strangest deaths, earliest marriages, most kids, you name it.
But the whole book kind of takes on this theme.

I would not have known that the book isn't the most reliable of sources if I hadn't gone and tried to use it on my papers for university (Dalriada, Pictland, Vikings, Anglo-Saxons mostly).
Which I did, and subsequently got marked off on. Every point that I cited with this book got marked off.
But I still can't help loving it.

Mistakes.......2001-09-28

I have not read this book, but those genealogists I trust have, and they report it to be full of errors. Apparently the author simply used older reference works rather than doing his own full research ... or even being familiar with recent published work. Thus, use the data in it only if you don't care if it is correct.

Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens.......2001-07-21

When I discovered my geneology search led me to the British Royal Line, I began seeking a good historical resource for further details. I was delighted to find detailed facts about members of the Royal line, along with clearly diagramed and written geneology which aided and enriched my search. This book turned out to be a terrific resource.

The Complete Mancala Games Book: How to Play the World's Oldest Board Games

Average customer rating:

Sowing seeds
Superb game of intellect

The Complete Mancala Games Book: How to Play the World's Oldest Board Games
Larry Russ
Manufacturer: Marlowe & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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All About Mancala: Its History and How to Play

ASIN: 1569246831

Customer Reviews:

Sowing seeds.......2001-01-09

A few years ago I was at a friend's game night, and one of the guests pulled out a mancala set, at the same time putting the game down as "mindless". I took issue with her characterization and went on to beat her soundly, so I guess for her the game was mindless.

A couple of years later I read about Russ' book in the excellent book New Rules for Classic Games. Since it was out of print, I immediately went looking for it in used book stores and on used book websites. I couldn't find it anywhere. Finally, this new edition came out. I immediately bought a copy, and I haven't been disappointed.

The most interesting thing to find out is that the rules most mancala sets come with, which some people consider childishly simple and which do have a strong first move advantage, are not even found in this book. Different mancala games feature different rules for movement, capture, and objective, and most mancala sets come with a set of rules combining the simplest features from each of these categories, resulting in a shallow, boring game.

Mancala Games goes a long way toward rectifying that. Not one game, but many different games played on similar boards (think of all the games you can play on a rectangular grid), mancala games vary from children's games to adult games of astonishing complexity. Some are better than others--you won't like every game in this book, but you'll definitely have hours of fun trying them all out before you settle on a few favorites.

The author includes strategy tips for a few of the games, usually when introducing a group of games with a fundamentally different style of play, but for the most part the book is just a catalog of rules. The only reason I didn't give it five stars (and without any competing titles, I'd recommend it to game buffs in any event), is that the games could be catalogued better. Each game could have a standard heading that included the style of capture, the objective, a complexity rating, etc. Or this information could be captured in a table at the end of the book that matrixed each game with its key features.

Also every game is given its own heading, so that a game's description is frequently followed by two or three other games with descriptions that read "This game is played by the So-and-so people of Such-and-such country by the rules just given for the last game." Several entries could profitably be collapsed into one entry, and a rules-and-variations approach (like that found in many games compendiums) would make it easier to see how games are related to each other.

Nonetheless, the rules as they are presented are quite clear. This book is an absolute must for board game fans and families.

Superb game of intellect.......2000-03-25

I've read the older copy, and if this is anything like the original, then every Mancala player should get it. Not too hard to learn the basics, and really easy to get into the harder stragadies. The game itself provides hours of fun. I learned this game from my Philipino friends, and eventually learned 9 different games using the same board. (I'm so good, I beat the philipino grandfathers who has been playing this game for years) The variations are endless. Give it whirl.

The Greatest Minds and Ideas of All Time: Complete and Unabridged (Audio Editions)

Average customer rating:

Inspirational Introduction to Will Durant
Great CD.....full of wonderful historical info!
A place to begin
For all those who slept in their Western Civilzation courses!
hard to follow

The Greatest Minds and Ideas of All Time: Complete and Unabridged (Audio Editions)
Will Durant
Manufacturer: The Audio Partners
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 1572703482

Book Description

Over the course of a legendary career, Will Durant was often asked about the most significant events in history, the best books, the best ideas, and so on. The Greatest Minds and Ideas of All Time draws on Durant's encyclopedic knowledge to present a world history "best of" that hits humanity's high points. Included are "The Ten Greatest Thinkers," "The Ten Greatest Poets," "The Ten Peaks of Human Progress," "Twelve Vital Dates in World History," as well as engaging profiles of pioneers like Darwin, Keats, and Whitman. This audio edition showcases Durant's eloquence, originality, and his ability to compare and contrast an array of historical figures and achievements.

Customer Reviews:

Inspirational Introduction to Will Durant.......2007-09-09

This was my first introduction to Will Durant and it did not dissapoint. It was a very quick and easy read as well as being both a great historical refresher and a great insight into the mind of this legendary figure. The book includes top ten lists of the greatest thinkers, poets, and peaks of human progress among others. Durant's commentary is very insightful and his selection methodology is well reasoned. This has inspired me to read more of his works and texts from his Top 100 Best Books for Education.

Great CD.....full of wonderful historical info!.......2007-07-03

Will Durant and his wife Ariel devoted over 50 years to the study of history and philosophy; creating 11 sage volumes of "The Story of Civilization."

His dedication and hard work ultimately earned him a Pulitzer Prize in literature, followed by the highest award granted by the United States government to civilians, the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ford in 1977.

Durant endeavored to make history more than just dates committed to memory and to bring our human heritage richly alive in the men and women who've walked before us and influenced our lives.

Often called THE GENTLE PHILOSOPHER, his words are laced with warmth and humor as he brings these great thinkers to life!

His lists include the best books for an education, the ten greatest thinkers, the ten greatest poets, twelve vital dates in human history, and the ten peaks of human progress.

I have listened to this in the car and have learned that I have many books and authors with which I have yet to acquaint myself!

It's read with wit, warmth, and wisdom.

Highly recommended!

"The most interesting thing in the world is another human being who wonders, suffers and raises the questions that have bothered him to the last day of his life, knowing he will never get the answers."
Will Durant

A place to begin.......2007-03-29

As the Durant himself acknowledges, all lists have their limitations. This is no exception; it isn't perfect and never claims to be. That said, it's an excellent starting point for anyone looking to educate themselves on the history of philosophy and culture. It has an unquestionable bent on western authors, but within that bent, he made his choices based on solid reasoning.
Bottom line: you will have begun to give yourself an invaluable education if you read any of the books or authors that Durant suggests. Therefore, this slim volume is worth more than whatever you're about to pay for it.

For all those who slept in their Western Civilzation courses!.......2007-01-25

Heard THE GREATEST MINDS AND IDEAS OF ALL TIME by
Will Durant, a best-selling historian and philosopher, who devoted his
life to studying human history . . . his efforts earned him a Pulitzer
Prize.

Although I never read anything by Durant, this work gave me
a feel for his writing . . . in addition, it made me realize that though
I have spent many years in both undergraduate and graduate education,
I should now return to many books that I missed along the way if
I want to attain a true liberal arts education.

This book is actually a summation of Durant's work . . . it presents
a series of somewhat brief essays with titles ranging from
"The One Hundred Best Books for an Education" to "The Ten Greatest
Thinkers" and including "The Ten Greatest Poets," "The Ten Peaks
of Human Progress" and "Twelve Vital Dates in Human History."

I particularly liked those dealing with people . . . the ones dealing
with dates and events were less interesting.

Overall, I'd recommend THE GREATEST MINDS AND IDEAS OF
ALL TIME, particularly if you slept in or never took a course in
Western Civilization . . . Durant makes the material come alive,
particularly when he makes such observations as the following:

Confucius was one of the top thinkers. (He then explains why.)

You might as well not lived until you have heard Bach's work.

Balzac is almost as illuminating as life itself.

Miss not a word of Flaubert's MADAM BOVARY.

You will marvel at the delicacies of Anatole France.

Meander through the 1,700 pages of WAR AND PEACE.

Poe is a little bit overrated.

Whitman is our only American giant.

hard to follow.......2007-01-15

this seems to jump around alot, good information just hard to follow

Average customer rating:

Griffin as a historical novelist
SECOND ONLY TO ALLISTAIR MCLEAN IN KEEPING YOUR INTEREST
Close Combat: A wonderfull book for those wanting action
Any W.E.B. Griffen book is a good book to curl up with
Outstanding all the way around

Griffin: Three Complete Novels
W. E. B. Griffin
Manufacturer: Putnam Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0399140131

Customer Reviews:

Griffin as a historical novelist.......1999-11-27

Griffin has created an action filled and entertaining story against some of the darkest days in the history of this country. His main characters are products of the novel and he strives to keep this obvious. However, the surrounding details of his research and their presentation is most unique in that his facts are very often dead bang on target and demonstrate an understanding of the times and the interaction of the personalities of senior officers in the naval service.

This book is strongly recommended to those who want to get a feeling for these most trying times.

SECOND ONLY TO ALLISTAIR MCLEAN IN KEEPING YOUR INTEREST.......1999-10-13

I HAVE READ ALL OF GRIFFENS BOOKS AND ENJOYED THEM COMPLETELY I WOULD RECOMMEND THEM TO ANYONE.HOWEVER I THINK THAT HIS SERIES "THE CORPS" GETS TOO FAR AWAY FROM THE MAIN CHARACTER FROM THE FIRST VOLUMN. LT McCOY IS NOT MUCH IN EVIDENCE AFTER VOL II. STILL THEY ARE ALL GREAT READING.

Close Combat: A wonderfull book for those wanting action.......1999-03-02

Close Combat is a marvelously writen book, Griffin does a wonderful job keeping uyp the high standards of his previous books. Based on Guadalacannal, as in other books, this book depicts the conditions of living perfectly. The language may be offending to younger readers but is key in character developement. This book is a great choice for anyone who likes millitary fiction or has read any of the other books in the Corps Series.

Any W.E.B. Griffen book is a good book to curl up with.......1998-11-08

I started reading W.E.B. Griffen's novels probably fifteen years ago and I have yet to be disappointed. In addition, I recommend his works to all my friends. A friend of mine that served on the U. S. S. Nimitz loaned the ones I sent him to all his buddies, who are now avid Griffen fans. I am really looking forward to the December 1998 release. Keep up the great work, Mr. Griffen!

Outstanding all the way around.......1998-10-08

This is one of the greatest series I've ever read. Griffin really builds his characters. My only complaint is that I can't get the last book (book 7, Behind The Lines) I'm a member of the USAF, stationed overseas. As soon as I can find and finish book 7, I'll get started on "The Last Heroes". Griffin is as good as Tom Clancy, and he puts them out faster.

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