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.

The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq

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Will Touch Any Bibliophile's Heart
PLEASE!
Agree to disagree
A rare portrayal of a strong Muslim woman
4 1/2 The Woman Who Saved a Library

The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq
Jeanette Winter
Manufacturer: Harcourt Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Military & Wars | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0152054456

Book Description

"In the Koran, the first thing God said to Muhammad was 'Read.'"*
--Alia Muhammad Baker

Alia Muhammad Baker is a librarian in Basra, Iraq. For fourteen years, her library has been a meeting place for those who love books. Until now. Now war has come, and Alia fears that the library--along with the thirty thousand books within it--will be destroyed forever.

In a war-stricken country where civilians--especially women--have little power, this true story about a librarian's struggle to save her community's priceless collection of books reminds us all how, throughout the world, the love of literature and the respect for knowledge know no boundaries.

Includes an author's note.
*From the New York Times, July 27, 2003

Customer Reviews:

Will Touch Any Bibliophile's Heart.......2007-06-08

The courageous story of one dedicated librarian, her friends, and how they saved the majority of books from Basra's Central Library from destruction. I have shared this book with folks from five to 50, and every last one of them was touched. It's simply a must for every classroom, library, and anyone who loves books, libraries, and reading.

PLEASE!.......2007-02-08

My wife and I brought our 5 year old son to an interview at a private school we were interested in. They had a box full of this particular book sitting there in front of us while the head-master was evaluating our son. My wife and I each picked-up a copy and flipped through it. I have no problem with childrens books about what's going on in Iraq if done properly. This isn't one of them. At one point, the iraqi woman (Alia) who saved the books shuttles them to her friends restaurant, and they hide them in sacks and curtains. Here's a sample of the story (and I'm paraphrasing - not for effect or an attempt to exaggerate anything, but only because I don't have the book in front of me): "Soldiers [the illustration depicts an american soldier] came to the door of the restaurant and asked Anis [the owner] why he has a gun. 'To protect my business' he replied. The soldiers didn't enter the restaurant, and so Alia and Anis knew the books would be safe." So that's the "hint of the United States' involvement" that the paid reviewers spoke of: Apparently, the evil americans were prepared to destroy all the books if discovered. Garbage.

Agree to disagree.......2006-06-08

I think this book will always divide its readership. I have worked in the past with a Lady from Iraq. A well educated, literate and articulate woman, who was educated in Iraq by Iraqi's so for those who think the Iraq was liberated rather than invaded and through the actions of George and Tony et al they will always believe that it was only those actions that allowed the people, women in particular a greater amount of freedom. That is not always the case... should we see ourselves as "saviours"? This will always be a matter for debate. As a Librarian myself I agree that given the right set of circumstances I would indeed take and look after the stock from my Library as I believe that information IS the key to power. So to this title's detractors yes, read in isolation it could be misleading, yes the "invasion/liberation" will have done some good and after many a long discussion with my former colleague, it has, HOWEVER for those who fall on the invasion side, I agree does any government have the right to do what ours (and I include the british here) have done? We are not Iraqi - we are not there, we will never PERSONALLY know. But read this book whichever camp you fall into, read it to your children, explain it to them in context. That is what you should do. Remember, BOOKS ARE POWERFUL I'm glad this book is generating so much discussion. This is what books do, the Librarian in the story understood this, that is what THIS book is about.

A rare portrayal of a strong Muslim woman.......2006-05-13

There are many wonderful things about this book which have already been mentioned by 27 of the other reviewers. However, what struck me the most was that Alia Muhammad Baker, the main character of The Librarian of Basra, is a strong Muslim woman who becomes a heroine in her struggle to preserve her faith and country's heritage at her cherished library.

This is very critical considering that most readers of this book probably view Muslim women as oppressed and passive as opposed to strong and committed to their faith.

Anyone who wishes to offer a more balanced presentation of Muslim women in their classroom or to their children should get this book and read it themselves and to kids.

4 1/2 The Woman Who Saved a Library.......2006-03-15

This contemporary story about an Iraqi librarian rescuing 70% of the Basra Central Library's books speaks of both individual courage and the irreplaceable value of books. It's based on actual events: With Allied bombers approaching Basra in April 2003, chief librarian Alia Muhammad Baker asks the local government for permission to move the books. For reasons not explained to the reader, official deny her request, "so Alia takes matters into her own hands." At first, she drives small loads to her home, but when the bombing begins and the library staff flees, she adopts a larger plan to save the books. A network of friends and relatives (most notably neighboring merchant Anis Muhammad) race to hide 30,000 books in Muhammad's nearby restaurant:

"'The books must be saved.' All through the night, Alia, Anis, his brothers, and shopkeepers and neighbors take the books from the library shelves, pass them over the seven-foot wall, and hide them in Anis' restaurant. The books stay hidden as the war rages on. Then, nine days later, a fire burns the library to the ground." As first reported by New York Times journalist Shaila K. Dewan, Baker and her friends waited out the bombs and then moved the thousands of books to the homes of friends, where, presumably, many of them still wait out the violence. An afterward explains that Alia Muhammad Baker suffered a stroke not long after and underwent heart surgery; she is "healing, and despite all, she is determined to see that the library is rebuilt."

The story begins weakly, largely due to some rather conventional pictures that evoke Saturday morning TV shows. Smooth, Western-looking faces speak about the impending war ("Will planes with bombs fill the sky?"), but the multitude of talking heads seems flat. (Older readers might like M. A. Stamaty's 32-page "Alia's Mission : Saving the Books of Iraq" for a more detailed and realistic version of the story.) However, Winter's introduction of the librarian personalizes the story, and her increasingly authentic pictures add realism and a sense of urgency to the rescue. In several dramatic scenes, Winter's bombing planes fill the fiery night sky, tanks shoot long lines of gunfire, and citizens flee against silhouetted minarets, domes, and palm trees. No bloodshed is shown, but Winter convincingly and appropriately shows the ensuing devastation. (There's also a 4-page daydream sequence about a peaceful Iraq, beautifully illustrated with colorful colors and motifs.) The Iraqi people who participated in Baker's "underground" book relocation probably risked their lives to save the books, and I expect that their story will evoke emotion and strong emotions and passionate discussion.

Iraq in Pictures (Visual Geography. Second Series)

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Iraq in Pictures (Visual Geography. Second Series)
Stacy Taus-Bolstad
Manufacturer: Lerner Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Middle East | History | Subjects | Books

Earth Science | Science & Technology | Teens | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0822509342

Average customer rating:

Fantasy Posing as Mockumentary
Good reference material for the DVD
He's Laughing All the Way to the Bank...
reviews for sheep
Moore is better....

The Official Fahrenheit 9/11 Reader
Michael Moore
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0743272927
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Book Description

The Cannes Film Festival jury voted unanimously to award the 2004 Best Picture Award to Michael Moore and Fahrenheit 9/11. Since then it has gone on to smash all box office records for a documentary and created an international discussion about the Bush administration and the war in Iraq. The Official Fahrenheit 9/11 Reader is a powerful and informative book that includes the complete screenplay of the most provocative film of the year. The book also includes extensive sources that back up all facts in the film, as well as articles, letters, photos, and cartoons about the most influential documentary of all time.

Download Description

" THE OFFICIAL GUIDE TO FAHRENHEIT 9/11 The Cannes Film Festival jury voted unanimously to award the 2004 Best Picture Award to Michael Moore and Fahrenheit 9/11. Since then it has gone on to smash all box office records for a documentary and created an international discussion about the Bush administration and the war in Iraq. The Official Fahrenheit 9/11 Reader is a powerful and informative book that includes the complete screenplay of the most provocative film of the year. The book also includes extensive sources that back up all facts in the film, as well as articles, letters, photos, and cartoons about the most influential documentary of all time. "

Customer Reviews:

Fantasy Posing as Mockumentary.......2007-09-03

Darn it's impressive that they loved it in Cannes? But fiction is really their "bag" so of course they would love this piece of ........uh, work. Wonder why Moore is so absent from the Democrat campaign right now. And where is Howard Dean. And what about Cindy Sheehan. Are we hiding the ugly mannered children for awhile?

This was a work of fiction. It's disturbing to see people taking it seriously; I know sensible Democrats who are not. However, they've learned to love anyone ELSE who will trash this administration. It's a sad state of affairs. What happened to adult politics?

Good reference material for the DVD.......2007-08-17

Michael Moore released this book to act as a back-up to his DVD Fahrenheit 9/11, so watch the DVD before reading the book.

The book is the screenplay of the movie followed by articles on the Iraq War and the Bush Administration's handling of it. Needless to say that there are some good articles written here and Bush comes off as someone who has made some mistakes.

Whether the facts presented in the book are true or not, it is still a worthwhile read.

He's Laughing All the Way to the Bank..........2006-01-27

Save your money. Or, if you must read it...and maybe you must!...pass it around to all your friends! Now that I ponder it ,the movie and this book are possibly THE PRIME example of the Freedoms in this country that we take for granted. Where else in the world could you write this garbage and not be beheaded immediately?? It is also a prime example of capitalism at it's core...and the big guy. Michael Moore is no ordinary working man. He's a mulitmillionaire, with the means to promote this garbage and make EVEN more money!! It is a prime example of many of the cultural and social leaps in this country that we have made...and many of us don't call it "progress"...that lies and propaganda and hate spew and disgusting discourse can be embraced by so many Americans...and Usama Bin Laden and that you can enjoy the rights and privileges of America...even abuse them in a trashy way is Michael Moore's trademark PORN....

reviews for sheep.......2005-05-27

Fahrenheit 911 has already been exposed for the collection of lies and misleads that it is. This book constitutes a weak attempt to add legitimacy to Moore's dishonest film (liberals everywhere will now be able to claim "I read it" when regurgitating their vitriol).

Take a look at some of the reviews for this product, and other Moore products. See how often reviews are deemed "useful" when the review in question is nothing more than an unfocused political rant that has nothing to do with the product being "reviewed". Are you liberals such sheep that you deem a review "useful" that has nothing to do with the product, but somehow validates your closed-mindedness by agreeing with you?

I'm sure this book will appeal to fans of the movie. However, do not rely solely on leftist propaganda to become "informed". Get your news from a variety of sources.

Books like Moores distort the truth, and encourages hatred towards all things conservative. When you're pumped up to hate one side without even hearing what they have to say, you have already lost the political debate.

If you insist on being "informed" by this book, don't cheat yourself. Check out contrary opinions and views, or forever wallow in ignorance while padding the fat wallet on Moore's fat ass. Yes, keep throwing money towards the already wealthy person who hates the country and government that allowed him to become rich. He's not one of you, or one of us. He's a pampered elitist who believe in freedom of speech for like-minded people only (case in point...he threatened to sue anyone who criticized his movie).

Moore is better...........2005-03-28

Most people in the good 'ole USA know about the film which is connected to this book. Sadly, fewer are aware of this title. As a film, it was entertaining. However, there were some items that were a bit flimsy in fact. I believe, in the interest of time, that they trimmed the film back a bit. This book,as it was designed to do, fills in the gaps and allows the film viewer to understand just where these conclusions came from. And, while i have to take a party line here, most of the more radical 'Conservatives' will beat this book into oblivion, it is truly the only way to substantiate these facts. And, these points are backed up quite thoroughly. No matter what your political stance, you SHOULD question the facts in the movie. Then, get this book and learn where to get the answers to these questions. An earlier reviewer said that this book was listed as a documentary and then went on using some grandiose language in an attempt to prove how 'smurt' he/she was. This book is in no way listed as a documentary! The movie was. And, if you have the courage to admit it, this book is barely arguable. But, in this nation, where bush has taught us to hate each other for our differences more than we ever have before, we are sure to argue with each other to the point of nausea. Shouldn't we all remember the phrase we were taught before we bought our first car or home? If it SEEMS to good to be true, it probably is? According to Bush, he can do no wrong. That's just too good to be true.

Arab Cinema: History and Cultural Identity

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Arab Cinema: History and Cultural Identity
Viola Shafik
Manufacturer: American University in Cairo Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

History & Criticism | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 9774244753

Book Description

Combining detailed narrative history -- economic, ideological, and esthetic -- with thought-provoking analysis, this study provides extensive coverage of cinema in the Arab world.

Arab Cinema traces the industry's development from colonial times to the present. It analyzes its ambiguous relationship with commercial Western cinema, and the effect of Egyptian market dominance in the region. Covering not only Egyptian but also North African, Syrian, Palestinian, Iraqi, and Lebanese cinema, it traces the influence on the medium of local and regional art forms and modes of thought, both classical and popular, and shows how indigenous and external factors have combined in a dynamic process of "cultural repackaging."

Illustrated throughout with stills from the movies, and backed up by comprehensive documentation, Shafik's study breaks new ground, and will become an indispensable point of reference for all those interested in world cinema.

I Know I'm Not Alone: A Musician's Journey Through War And Occupation in Iraq, Palestine & Israel

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I Know I'm Not Alone: A Musician's Journey Through War And Occupation in Iraq, Palestine & Israel
Michael Franti
Manufacturer: Mandala Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Genre Films | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1932771859

Book Description

Equipped with his guitar, some video cameras, and a few friends, musician Michael Franti set off for Iraq, Palestine, and Israel to experience the human cost of war firsthand. With eloquence and wit, I KNOW I'M NOT ALONE takes us to three war zones to experience the horror, humanity, and resilience he witnessed. Like his documentary of the same name, his book offers a raw and intimate sense of travel, filled with the voices of everyday people living, creating, and surviving in the harsh conditions of war.

National Geographic Magazine (April 2006, Vol. 209, No. 4)

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National Geographic Magazine (April 2006, Vol. 209, No. 4)

Manufacturer: The National Geographic Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Iraq | Middle East | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000FBMDOA

Product Description

A great issue containing the following articles: 'Quake, The Next Big One', 'Inside Chernobyl', 'Nuclear Comeback', 'Glen Canyon Revealed', 'The New Venezuela', 'Dragonflies', 'ZIP USA: It's a Dog's Life', and others. Fully illustrated in color. Includes color map on the world's most quake-prone areas, with illustrated information on how big cities can minimize the effects of an earthquake..

The Beginnings of Cities: Re-Creation in Pictures and Text of Mesopotamian Life from Farming to Early City Building.

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The Beginnings of Cities: Re-Creation in Pictures and Text of Mesopotamian Life from Farming to Early City Building.
Leonard, Weisgard
Manufacturer: Putnam Pub Group (L)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding
ASIN: 069830022X

Desert Storm Diary: An American Soldier's Personal Record of the Gulf War in Words and Pictures

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Not very interesting.
Not what I expected
Gritty and honest, this book is well produced.
A UNIQUE INSIGHT INTO A MIND AS IT ENDURES A WAR.

Desert Storm Diary: An American Soldier's Personal Record of the Gulf War in Words and Pictures
Geoffrey Frankel , and John H. Nielsen
Manufacturer: Morris Lee Pub Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Photo Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

Enter a diary-- and the mind of a soldier who found a way to create beauty in the midst of destruction.

Enter Desert Storm.

Customer Reviews:

Not very interesting........2003-11-26

This book is OK if you want to read about one person's experiences without having those experiences tied into the larger story of what's going on. Basically, "I went here. I did this." Not very interesting at all.

Not what I expected.......2001-08-07

While there are some good quotes in this book, I don't think this book is really about the Gulf War. It is more about a soldier's struggle to deal with his duties. I will not criticize the author for his views on the army and the war itself, but the book really sheds little light on the war. The author is an artist educated at Columbus College of Art and Design, from my reading he is against the war. There a couple of good photographs but most of them are of troops and trucks sitting in the desert. This is not a book for someone looking for a comprehensive look at the Gulf War.

Gritty and honest, this book is well produced........1998-09-22

The excellent photography and open writing of this young man creates a book worthy of any coffee table. This book offers a unique view of the war that is far from the CNN portrayal we recieved on television. Good photography makes it a powerful document of his experience.

A UNIQUE INSIGHT INTO A MIND AS IT ENDURES A WAR........1998-01-11

I WAS AMAZED AT THE INDEPTH LEVEL A HUMAN MIND CAN REACH. GEOFFREY FRANKEL WAS ABLE TO DOCUMENT A UNIQUE, CREATIVE EXPRESSION OF A N EXPERIENCE MOST PEOLE SAW AS A VIDEO GAME. VERY IMPORTANT AS A HISTORIC DOCUMENTATION OF A N IMPORTANT EVENT

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a social history of Sumer
A face to the legend
Gilgamesh the mundane
One of Silverberg's best.
An uplifting, hopeful adventure story

Gilgamesh the King

Manufacturer: Methuen young books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Customer Reviews:

a social history of Sumer.......2004-12-11

The narrator of Gilgamesh the King is the hero of the oldest surviving literary epic. His ruminations about the gods of ancient Sumer paint a picture of a period of history when goddesses had become subservient to male gods but had not yet been totally suppressed.
Gilgamesh the King is categorized as science fiction. In fact all of its fantasy elements constitute the conditioned beliefs of the narrator, who more than once raises the possibility that the true explanation of events he interprets metaphysically could be coincidence or something equally mundane. Even when he travels to an island I identify from the context as Bahrain, to seek immortality from Ziusudra, whose ark later evolved into Noah's ark, he learns that the alleged world-covering flood was a localized thunderstorm, the "ark" was a fairy-tale elaboration, and Ziusudra's immortality was likewise mere myth.
This book will appeal to lovers of science fiction (which it is not), lovers of historical fiction, and persons who like to see ancient myths demythologized into the possible historical events from which the myth evolved. I loved it.

A face to the legend.......2002-02-06

Gilgamesh The King is a thoroughly engrossing retelling of the famous Sumerian myth from the perspective of the figure himself. It creates a plausible blend of superstition, ancient knowledge and characterization as underpinnings of the legend.
In the same way that Mary Stewart's historical tales carry the reader to ancient times through the eyes and thoughts of the main character, Gilgamesh The King brings a profound humanity to such fabled material.

Gilgamesh the mundane.......1999-10-06

Being fond of ancient Sumer in general and the Gilgamesh epic in particular, I found Mr. Silverberg's book a profound disappointment. It appears that the author's intention was to rework the venerable story to remove its fantastic elements. Along the way he practically ignores an interesting milieu, makes the characters boring, and replaces dynamic episodes with confusing ones.

Admittedly, Mr. Silverberg did make an effort to make his characters seem as though they actually are living in a different day and time. However, as historical fiction this book falls flat. (If you want historical fiction set in Sumer check out The Three Brothers of Ur by J.G. Fyson, and forget this book.)

One of Silverberg's best........1999-10-01

An entertaining spin on the myth of Gilgamesh, by one of our foremost living authors. I have read the original (or a translation, anyway) and it is remarkable how he manages to be so faithful to the tone of the book and yet to shore up an often-fragmentary narrative. Definitely, a must-read.

An uplifting, hopeful adventure story.......1999-08-12

This book may be a peculiar exception to what people expect from this author. The book seems to be somewhat maligned in reviews, and by library staff as well - i think that is extremely undeserved.

Silverburg tells the story of the archetypical royal hero Gilgamesh in this book. The story here is stark and sophisticatedly simple versus well developed and textured, maybe analogous to the simple early Middle Eastern figurines, staring hauntingly down through the ages with their exaggeratedly large eyes, versus some busy Bosch painting.

Paintings and such aside, Silverburg's telling of the story has Gilgamesh swashbuckling his masculine way through the times of early Middle Eastern city-states. While the times may have actually been brutal, Silverburg's version makes it seem better characterized as 'passionate', royalty and dominion being established by hubris and warring, and sexuality being an integral part of the society.

In the original story, from the beginnings of history, a rivalry goes unresolved in a contest; Gilgamesh meets his match, and becomes an admirer of the mysterious Enki-du, his proven equal. Silverburg's Gilgamesh has a big heart. Gilgamesh's hearty confidence and gusto, through which the reader sees the events in the story, tempers the impression of the actual time and place. In fact, the warmth and uplifting emotional buoyancy of this character puts a winning and human face on masculinity.

In a culture that has turned to hatefully undermining heterosexual masculinity and destroying fraternity wherever it is found, this book is a hopeful illustration, not only of a distant past, but maintenance of a spirit for the future. Definitely, it is the opposite of one of our contemporary 'chick books'.

This book does not deserve maligning reviews, nor does the author deserve the belittling review. It is a 'must read' for a thinking man, and will only disappoint those who are narrow-minded.

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