Neverwhere
by Neil Gaiman
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 November, 1998)
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Editorial Review

Neverwhere's protagonist, Richard Mayhew, learns the hard waythat no good deed goes unpunished. He ceases to exist in the ordinary world of London Above, and joins a quest through the dark and dangerous London Below, a shadow city of lost and forgotten people, places, and times. His companions are Door, who is trying to find out who hired the assassins who murdered her family and why; the Marquis of Carabas, a trickster who trades services for very big favors; and Hunter, a mysterious lady who guards bodies and hunts only the biggest game. London Below is a wonderfully realized shadow world, and the story plunges through it like an express passing local stations, with plenty of action and a satisfying conclusion. The story is reminiscent of Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, but Neil Gaiman's humor is much darker and his images sometimes truly horrific. Puns and allusions to everything from Paradise Lost to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz abound, but you can enjoy the book without getting all of them. Gaiman is definitely not just for graphic-novel fans anymore. --Nona Vero ... Read more

Reviews (450)

Unique and Original
A friend gave me three books by Neil Gaimen when she was utterly shocked that I had never read any of his books. The first was Neverwhere, the second Stardust, and the final American Gods. I read them in order of publication, and I have to say that I was shocked that each book seemed to get worse for me.

I thought Neverwhere was great. It was unique and original, and I found myself trying to figure out what was happening and what was going to happen next. If you're looking for a modern-day Alice in Wonderland type of an adventure, then this is definitely for you!

Stardust was also enjoyable. I didn't enjoy it as much as Neverwhere, but I still thought it was enjoyable.

American Gods though, probably tainted me from Gaimen from this point onward. The book itself took me over 2 months to read (and I usually read books in 1-3 days), and I thought it just dragged and dragged and dragged. Sure, the concept was interesting, but if my stubbornness to finish something I started (not to mention read something that was leant to me), I would definitely have stopped reading this. I could hardly bare more than 15 minutes a day dedicated to this book.

No word
I don't know the words to say how i loved this book.... BUY THIS BOOK NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

good stuff
Neverwhere is one of those rare books that you can really get into. The action, the mystery, the society, and the people are all clearly thought out and truelly come to life in this book.i'll get lost in Neverwhere any day. ... Read more

Isbn: 0380789019
Subjects:  1. Fantasy - Contemporary    2. Fantasy - General    3. Fantasy fiction    4. Fiction    5. Fiction - Fantasy    6. Horror - General    7. Fiction / Fantasy / General    8. Reading Group Guide   

Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter)
by Laurell K. Hamilton
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (24 September, 2002)
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Editorial Review

Anita Blake may be small and young, but vampires call her the Executioner. Anita is a necromancer and vampire hunter in a time when vampires are protected by law--as long as they don't get too nasty. Now someone's killing innocent vampires and Anita agrees--with a bit of vampiric arm-twisting--to help figure out who and why.

Trust is a luxury Anita can't afford when her allies aren't human. The city's most powerful vampire, Nikolaos, is 1,000 years old and looks like a 10-year-old girl. The second most powerful vampire, Jean-Claude, is interested in more than just Anita's professional talents, but the feisty necromancer isn't playing along--yet. This popular series has a wild energy and humor, and some very appealing characters--both dead and alive. ... Read more

Reviews (337)

A guilty pleasure
Vampire fiction is a dime a dozen, especially the goofy variety. But Laurell K. Hamilton managed to create something a wee bit out of the ordinary in "Guilty Pleasures," the first book of her Anita Blake series. Vampires, werebeasties and kick-butt policewomen abound, and the result is... yes, I'll say it: A guilty pleasure.

Anita Blake, a petite smart-alecky vampire hunter/necromancer, is known as the "Exterminator," and is feared by the vampires who have been lucky enough not to run into her. But at a bachelorette party, Anita is tricked into going to a vampire strip club, presided over by the sexy French vampire Jean-Claude. Soon a friend of hers is being held hostage. She'll stay alive if Anita works for the vampires.

Jean-Claude takes her to see the master vampire, the malevolent little girl Nikolaos, who tells her that vampires are being brutally killed -- including some of the most powerful in St. Louis. Now Anita is racing against the clock to find the killer, and keep from being killed by the very vampires that she is there to help.

The early books of the Anita Blake series are fun, sort of your typical detective stories with a bloodsucky twist. They also have the advantage of a strong female lead, some weird sidekicks, and a mild "freshening up" of your average dark fantasy/horror staples like vampires and werebeasties.

There's not a lot of actual innovation here -- werecreatures, vampires, and petite heroines who kick their butts. And Jean-Claude and the girl-vampires Nikolaos seem suspiciously close to classic Anne Rice characters. And I can only read so many pages of Anita detailing every outfit and weapon she wears.

However, Hamilton adds plenty of tongue-in-cheek humor; Anita has many of the best one-liners in the book, and there are some entertaining questions, such as whether a person can remarry if their dead spouse becomes a vampire. There are also some darker new twists, such as "freaks" (vampire junkies) and vampire groupies. The content is nothing new, but the handling is.

Despite her nymphomaniacal turns later in the series, Anita is strong, tough and in charge here. Hamilton gave her plenty of insecurities, but also the guts to live and fight despite them. The other compelling character is Jean-Claude, who is the very image of an enigmatic vamp. It's never quite clear what he's thinking, but Hamilton hinted at the actual personality under his suave charm.

Groundbreaking,Original,LOVE IT !
You know throughout my life i have read quite a few books.I was introduced to this series by accident.I started with cerulean sins and realized that this was part of a series and i loved it,so i closed this book and proceeded to but every single book by her that i could find.I read each book as though this were the best written book in the world. Her characters are amazing.Anita is the ultimate badass,strong mother type,dominant,and beautiful.I truly think that if people were more aware of her books they would surpass anne rice in popularity.These books are and forever will be my favorites.All of them including theMerry Gentry fairy series.

Talk About Getting Lucky
I recently began re-reading these books as research. Why? Well, if you've read Incubus Dreams, you might have an inkling why. As an aspiring writer, I'd like to see what I should do to avoid becoming what Hamilton has.

I can't in good faith give this book less than three stars, because I did find it fun to read. However, I can't in good faith give it more, either. Why? Well, because I think Ms. Hamilton just got lucky. Someone at the publishing company thought "This is mindless fun, market it right and we could make a killing!" There's no other explanation as to why this book was bought by a publisher.

You can find work of this quality online. You can even find better than this online. It's a fun book, but it isn't a five star book. Period. ... Read more

Isbn: 051513449X
Subjects:  1. Fantasy - Dark/Horror    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - Horror    4. Horror - General    5. Mystery & Detective - General    6. Mystery/Suspense    7. Fiction / General   

Harry Potter Paperback Boxed Set (Books 1-4)
by J. K. Rowling, Mary GrandPré
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (30 July, 2002)
list price: $30.96
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Editorial Review

Young wizard-in-training Harry Potter has had his hands full during hisfirst four years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As if studyingspells and pleasing professors isn't enough, Harry has heard evil voices in thewalls, rescued petrified students, fended off convicts escaped from wizards'prison, and played elaborate and grueling games of Quidditch. Between schoolsessions, he summers with the horrendous Dursleys, who seem to want nothing morethan to crush our hero's spirit. Only time will tell how Harry will manage thecertain dangers and escapades in store for him over the next few years.

The first four titles of J.K. Rowling's phenomenally popular series are nowavailable--in paperback--in a handy boxed set, perfect for the legions ofchildren whose big brothers and sisters have made off with their copies. Theseadventures are surely on the road to becoming classics; don't wait to collectthem! The set includes Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, HarryPotter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner ofAzkaban, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. (Ages 9 and older) ... Read more

Features

• Box set

Reviews (421)

simply the best...
cant help but to give two thumbs up...it's nice to read a story about a mother's love, great friendship, story with atwist and humor and most especially with a plot and setting that definitely would take your imaginations to the highest level in one package...so hold on to your seats and be ready for the stories that this extraordinaire would leave you spellbound!!!

What can I say?
It's Harry Potter, what can I say?It's the series that got kids reading again.Everyone knows the plot.A boy wizard named Harry grew up with his cruel muggle (non-magic) aunt and uncle after his parents were killed in a car crash. At the age of 11 he's informed that he's a wizard, and that an evil wizard named Lord Voldemort murdered his parents and very nearly killed him.His aunt and uncle dissaproved of the world of magic and tried to keep everything a secret from Harry.He's taken away to live at a castle called Hogwarts, a school for young witches and wizards where he befriends the studious, proper Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasly, a poor boy who lives in the shadow of his brothers Charlie, Percy, Bill, and Fred and George.In book 1, Harry arrives at Hogwarts and finds that someone there is secretly trying to destroy him and is hiding a VERY big secret from the rest of the school.

In book 2, an unknown assailant is attacking students and everyone thinks Harry's doing it.We learn that no less than THREE characters are not what they seem.We are also introduced to Ron's younger sister Ginny, who has a crush on Harry.

In book 3, a murderous madman is on the loose and seems to be coming after Harry. But who, exactly is he?And the very LAST character you'd ever suspect of being evil reveals his true self.

In book 4, Harry is enrolled in the Triwizard Tournament, where three different magical schools select students to compete in daring, dangerous tests of school.Harry also attends the Quidditch world cup with the Weasleys and has a frightening run in with Voldemort and his servant in a graveyard.One character is tragically killed (I actually cried) at Voldemort's hand.

Book 4 is probably my favorite, along with 1, but there's really no such thing as a bad Harry Potter book.The movies are fantastic as well, and the sixth book is due out in a few months.

works of art
These books are the best I've ever read.I'm 25 years old and I find myself anxiously awaiting the next book in the series.After each book you really feel as though you've spent a school year with these characters.They are a must read for any fantasy fan.Surely these books will go down in history as classic works of great fiction.The author truly understands how to develop characters, you will find yourself genuinely caring about what happens to them.Congratulations to the author for creating a series that has been, and I'm sure will continue to be enjoyed by millions around the world. ... Read more

Isbn: 0439434866
Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Fantasy    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Juvenile Fiction    4. Readers - Beginner    5. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic   

Winter Rose
by Patricia A. McKillip
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 June, 2002)
list price: $14.00 -- our price: $11.20
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Editorial Review

Winter Rose begins as the seemingly simple story of Rois and Laurel Melior and their understandable fascination with young Corbet Lynn, returned to rebuild his abandoned ancestral home, Lynn Hall. Laurel is drawn to Corbet's beauty, Rois to the mystery of his past. But the past holds more than one mystery, and as Rois fights her way into the wood around Lynn Hall, seeking answers for herself, Laurel, and Corbet, she risks losing everything, for all of them, forever.

Traces of Christina Rossetti's Goblin Market, of Tam Lin, and of a dozen other legends and tales color Rois's story. Patricia McKillip's consummate mastery of language means that every word counts in a complex, sweetly painful story of human love and timeless, indifferent power. ... Read more

Reviews (57)

A Tapestry of Roses
McKillip has done it again! This is such a beautiful book to read; I couldn't put it down. It is sweet and sad and somewhat unfufilling, but it has that dream-like quality of all of McKillip's books. When you close the book, it's like waking up from a dream that wasn't quite finished yet. This book is a retelling of the ballad of Tam Lin, which I happened to particularly like.

Rois Melior and her sister Laurel live in a small quiet town. Laurel is engaged to Perrin, a neighboring farmer, but Rois feels much happier roaming in the woods, though she has never wondered why... One day, a mysterious stranger moves into the old Lynn Hall. Apparently it is the old master's grandson. Strange rumors of curses surround him and no one is quite sure where he came from. Everyone knows the story of how cruel the old Master Lynn was to his son, until his son was driven mad and ran away leaving a dead father and no tracks. It is common knowledge that with his last breath, the father cursed his son and all the coming generations, however the actual curse is debated.

The stranger reveals himself as Corbet Lynn, and Rois is immediately drawn to him because of his secrets, and because he came out of the wood. She eventually becomes entangled in Corbet's life and the curse. Dream and reality blur and combine in this book so delicately that it is hard to describe it and make any sense. It is so detailed, yet so bare; elegant, but not frilly. Laurel is also drawn to Corbet, and Rois must free her before she is dragged out of this world and into the wood. The rest of the book is about Rois's dreams and experiences in the wood. In order to free Corbet from the curse, she must love him and "hold him fast." It is so beautifully written, but I can't do it justice here. You must read this book if you like fantasy!

Although the ending is not happy, exactly, it has that possibly-a-happy-ending feel that most of her books do. In some ways this is a more realistic ending, but it also feels as if you aren't sure if it was all something the characters dreamed or if it was real. Roses appear over and over in this book, and ivy, though I couldn't really figure out what the significance was. This is definitely a must read, if only to enjoy McKillip's beautiful, graceful writing style, however, the story will probably pull you in once you begin. It is a disappointment to find yourself back in real life after this book!

The quest for erotic and personal truth
Patricia McKillip is one of America's best writers and in this book she returns to a theme dear to her heart - the quest for personal identity.The quest is carried on through language that is so profound and developed one feels like one is hallucinating while reading the story.Wrapped in clouds of glory, beauty, and mystery one follows the narrator Rois who knows that truth is at the bottom of a well.Others fall for the mysterious stranger Corbet Lynn in the most superficial way but Rois seeks to penetrate the glamor to the secret within Corbet's courtesy and personal beauty.This story tells us that the erotic quest is fulfilled in being true to ourselves despite the gnawing logic of the temptations that would seek to mislead us from our chosen path.
Patricia Mckillip began writing of these themes with her epic fantasy classic "The Riddle Master" trilogy. Over time she has transformed herself into a magician of words as good as her contemporaries like Catherynne Valente (The Labyrinth) and Greer Ilene Gilman (Moonwise).These three crowned ladies are the greatest prose stylists since Vladimir Nabokov.
Five stars for Ms. McKillip - each one made of the purest silver!

Rois of Rose
I LOVE this book!! Ms. McKillip is certainly my most fave author!! The language beautifully flowed and the feeling it invoked is very deep, even after you have finished it. Although some would say there were loose ends in this one, I'd say all answers is in the lines, all is there for you to read and feel.

The story itself is a combination of Tam Lin and Winter Queen, with a bit of folklore spices. It didn't give a direct answer for every question but it certainly gave clues for you to figure out the whole picture. Also it rarely gave names to the answers, just a representation, a hint. This is what I like about her books, it always gives me space to build my imagination, to make my own dream along with the story. Excellent!! ... Read more

Isbn: 0441009344
Subjects:  1. Fantasy    2. Fantasy - General    3. Fantasy - Historical    4. Fiction    5. Fiction - Fantasy    6. Fiction / General   

The Blue Sword
by Robin McKinley
Average Customer Review:
Mass Market Paperback (01 April, 1991)
list price: $5.99 -- our price: $5.39
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Reviews (191)

worth 10 stars
I agree with Ms. Abigail wholeheartedly. This Book was interesting in the beginning but the more you got in to it you just couldn't put it down. This is my first Robin McKinley book and my most favorite book of all time. I LOVE IT. I recommend all the Robin McKinley books to everyone who wants to go to imaginary places and likes a touch of love.

Excellent adventure!
Truly outstanding adventure plot that is easy to follow and fun to believe in; a loveable heroine with gumption; a touch of romance and the mystical; and excellent writing!Although this was written before its prequel, The Hero and the Crown, read the prequel first so you can enjoy the flashbacks and references to the prequel.It does move a bit slower than The Hero and the Crown, but stick with it - you'll be glad you did.

Pretty slow, but overall good.
Robin has a very unique writing style that many cannot comprehend and do not like. She tends to bog things down with excessive details, making her books hard to read. Her plot lines, however, are excellent and they make a great story. If you want to read this book, be prepared for a slow beginning and make sure you have the patience to read through this slow moving plot.
I loved Robin's books once I got myself to read them, because at first they were just to boring and confusing to get through the beginning. Once you do, however, they turn very good. ... Read more

Isbn: 0441068804
Sales Rank: 94428
Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Fantasy    2. Fantasy    3. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic   

The Silver Kiss (AFI Film Readers)
by ANNETTE CURTIS KLAUSE
Average Customer Review:
Mass Market Paperback (01 August, 1992)
list price: $5.99 -- our price: $5.50
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Reviews (141)

lacking substance
i found the book to be dreadful. It was too watered down and it didnt flow very well. IT is a light easy read but you'll find your slef terribly disappointed at the end.

Great BooK!
This book was really good. I mean i couldn't put it down, but had to cause of school. It is very well written and I'd like to see if this author has anymore books. I'd recommend this book to anyone. Nothing bad in it and a very excellent book, thanks for tme

This was a lovely book.
Poetic in its own right, with a small, almost-slice-of-life story captured in its pages, this was indeed a lovely book, and a must-read for fans of the darker stories. The two protagonists balance each other, making for an interesting reading experience: lost and lonely Zoe: whose mother fights cancer while she fights her own darkness, and ereatheal Simon, the forever-child. (In other words, the vampire.) Clause takes the world of cliched vampires and molds it into something she can work with, which in the end is more believable than any Bela Lugosi. (Spelling?) And the questions Clause addresses: whether immortality can be greater than a soul--- are handled skillfully. One would have to read it to fully understand why I, among many others, enjoyed it so. And yes, I am thirteen. X3 ... Read more

Isbn: 0440213460
Sales Rank: 16301
Subjects:  1. Children's Books - Young Adult    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    3. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    4. Social Situations - General    5. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / General   

Archangel (Samaria Trilogy, Book 1)
by Sharon Shinn
Average Customer Review:
Mass Market Paperback (01 April, 1997)
list price: $7.50 -- our price: $6.75
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Editorial Review

Set in a society founded as an egalitarian utopia but now tainted with vicesand inequity, Sharon Shinn's love story is plotty and calamitous. Rachel and Gabrielhave nothing in common beyond wishing that the god Jovah had ordained they wedother people, yet they must cooperate in singing a mass to the god on the occasion ofGabriel's elevation to Archangel. Upright Gabriel has enemies among both mortal andangelic peoples who prefer to risk world destruction over his restoration of the oldorder. ... Read more

Reviews (120)

well, i finished it
Eh, this book was okay. I bought it because of all the rave reviews here on Amazon and in a lot of ways, I agree with them. The world and concept are wonderfully interesting but I wish they had been handled better. The two main characters were supposedly "in love" but bickered and were at odds almost constantly. That was the most annoying part of the book and distracted me from the interesting concepts. The musical aspect was handled espcially well and at times I could almost hear the singing. A good book but not a new fantasy classic. I thought about buying the sequel but decided it wasn't worth it.

It's great but be careful
I loved this book and highly recommend it. It is beautifully written and difficult to put down. Word of warning: My sister sent this book to me a while back. She ordered it on Amazon.com. When I got to a very important part of this book PG.295 I found that the publisher had mistakenly put in Chapter twelve from another book. On pg. 329 Archangel resumed in the middle of a chapter. Chapters 18- 19 and 1/2 of 20 are missing. If you order it, check it promptly for this error and return it. It is to late for me to send mine back , so I had to buy another one.

Love it
I thought that this was a wonderful book.
A cupful of suspense...
A tablespoon of action...
A dash of romance to spice things up
And you get the perfect novel! ... Read more

Isbn: 0441004326
Subjects:  1. Fantasy - General    2. Fantasy fiction    3. Fiction    4. Fiction - Fantasy    5. Science Fiction    6. Science Fiction - General   

Good Omens
by Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett
Average Customer Review:
Mass Market Paperback (01 May, 1996)
list price: $6.99 -- our price: $6.99
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Editorial Review

Pratchett (of Discworld fame) and Gaiman (of Sandman fame) may seem an unlikely combination, but the topic (Armageddon) of this fast-paced novel is old hat to both. Pratchett's wackiness collaborates with Gaiman's morbid humor; the result is a humanist delight to be savored and reread again and again.You see, there was a bit of a mixup when the Antichrist was born, due in part to the machinations of Crowley, who did not so much fall as saunterdownwards, and in part to the mysterious ways as manifested in the form of a part-time rare book dealer, an angel named Aziraphale.Like top agents everywhere, they've long had more in common with each other than the sides they represent, or the conflict they are nominally engaged in.The only personwho knows how it will all end is Agnes Nutter, a witch whoseprophecies all come true, if one can only manage to decipher them. The minor characters along the way (Famine makes an appearance as diet crazes, no-calorie food and anorexia epidemics) are as much fun as the story as a whole, which adds up to one of those rare books which is enormous fun to readthe first time, and the second time, and the third time... ... Read more

Reviews (398)

Don't laugh, the Apocalypse is coming...

This story succeeds at being charming, funny, exciting, and outrageous all at once.The action is silly and light-hearted at times, but the characters are compelling.While you're laughing, you will really care about these folks - from Crowly, the well-meaning fallen angel, to Anathema Device, the aspiring witch and Newton Pulsiver, the aspiring witchfinder, and last but not least, Adam (the Antichrist) and his dog, Dog.

Definitely recommended...

really funny
when i first read the back of the book it said this was a really funny book about the end of the world.I thought yea right! but i had some extra cash an i bought it anyway.an hour later i really was laughing out loud at this one.if you're feelin down an need a laugh this is for you.

the funny side of the end of the world
A good read - with little pearls of puns and lots of tongue in the cheek humour. loved it - it is nice to see that humans have a stabilizing influence,,, ... Read more

Isbn: 0441003257
Subjects:  1. Fantasy - General    2. Fiction - Fantasy    3. Science Fiction   

Anthem
by Ayn Rand
Average Customer Review:
Mass Market Paperback (01 August, 1996)
list price: $7.99 -- our price: $7.99
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Reviews (378)

Ayn Rand - The Short Version
This is pretty typical Ayn Rand, except 1/10th the size of her other works (Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged).It's individualist ideology wrapped in slightly better than mediocre short fiction.If you hate the ideology, you'll probably come back here and post a 500-word rant that has nothing to do with the book itself but somehow concludes that Anthem is trash.If you love the ideology, you'll trick yourself into believeing this is one of the greatest books ever written.If YOU are somewhere in between, you'll recognize that this BOOK is somewhere in between.

Novel depicting future in which all men are equal
In line with other novels of this type, Ayn Rand paints a dark picture of a world that all men are equal. The book gives the reader a glimpse into the life of Equality 7-2521 a man that exists in this future world.

Equality 7-2521 lives in a world where men are equal. Mankind's zeal for knowledge has been vanquished, and people exist and work as the "greater good" see fit. For example, individuals (in the book Equality 7-2521 uses "we" or "they" to describe individuals) in this world spend the first 15 years of their life in school. After this time passes, a Council of Vocations picks the job that the person will work unto his death, or placement in the House of the Useless. There is no contact, per se, between human beings. Complete solitude is frowned upon.

The world has turned into a very primitive place where the candle has become the greatest invention. One day, however, Equality 7-2521 makes a discovery that will change his life forever...

After reading this novel, I could not help to think about communism (or maybe even socialism). I will not pretend to be an expert on those forms of governments, but obviously they had a large part to do with this story. The kind of world that is presented in these story paints a dark picture of what could become of such a government. My initial feelings about the author's dislike of communism was confirmed when I read that Ayn Rand had actually took part in protesting the Bolshevik Revolution. This books does exaggerate the system (as far as I can tell), but really paints a good picture of one man's willingness to fight that system.

The only reason I gave the book four stars is due to the length. A diligent reader can finish the book in less than two hours; still the book is a great thought provoking read!

An hour well spent
You can finish it in an hour.It is the beauty of Rand's Anthem.Also, if you ever wanted to learn about Rand's famous philosophy of objectionism, this would be the way to go.You don't have to wade through countless hours and 1,100 pages of Atlas Shrugged, because after reading this novel, you will get the gist of what she believes and stands for,(although if you want a superior story to go along with the philosophy, I recommend The Fountainhead).

The story opens in the cold dreary future.Everyone in society has become part of the great "we".Everyone is taught to think, feel, and act the same.It is basically an accelerated form of communism.If you think on your own or do anything against the will of the Supreme Council, you are beaten and lashed.No one has real names, but are given names like Equality-76512 or Fraternity-67832, and likewise.

In the midst of this dark world, a group of street sweepers (you are also not allowed to choose your occupation in this world) decides to rebel.Every night they secretly tamper with experiments to try and find out new things about the world around them.One day, they learn how to invent electricity.Excited about their new discovery, they take their new invention to the Supreme Council, who is shocked in outrage.They have broken the rules.This band of street sweepers escapes into the un-chartered forest, where no one dares enter.

Alone, in the wilderness, they finally discover who they really are, and what happiness is all about.

This is an original, if not totally profound book.Rand puts her own to spin on ideas than have been presented before.The ending is wonderful as well; it makes the book a lot better and puts down the exclamation mark down on everything Rand had been telling us.It also provides a nice forum for Rand to present her ideas in a non-intimidating manner, unlike Atlas Shrugged did.

Reading this novel, I appreciated even more the range Rand has in her writing.In some of her other works like Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead, she explores with pain staking detail: her characters, situations, and philosophy.However, Anthem is essentially a simple, straight forward tale of the damages of collectivism and the positives of individualism. Yet, the vocabulary, along with the story, is easy to understand, all of which proves that Rand has considerable talent in both the short story and the long, drawn out novel.It also manages to be entertaining.Part of that might be how extraordinary short it is.

This is a creative new vision of the future.Has this idea been explored before?Yes.Does Anthem surpass its predecessors?For the most part it does not.Brave New World and 1984 both do a better job on this same issue of mind control and the future.

Anthem, although not a great novel, is still a very good one.If you haven't read anything by Rand, this would be a good place to begin.Anyway, I can think of a lot worse things you could waste an hour of your time on.Reading Anthem certainly was a more productive use of time then some of the others things I seem to waste time on.

Grade: B+ ... Read more

Isbn: 0451191137
Sales Rank: 3660
Subjects:  1. Classics    2. Fiction    3. General    4. Literary Criticism    5. Literature - Classics / Criticism   

If Chins Could Kill : Confessions of a B Movie Actor
by Bruce Campbell
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (24 August, 2002)
list price: $13.95 -- our price: $11.16
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Reviews (162)

A Groovy ride through the life of a cult icon
The B movie actor Bruce Campbell invites his readers to ride with him through the choppy waters of blue-collar Hollywood. By opening If Chins Could Kill you get exactly what he promises: a glimpse of the crazy world of cinema. Moreover, the centerpiece of the book -and as such of Bruce's "rich" acting career- is the creation of a real low budget cult phenomenon that made the foundations of Hollywood shiver. At the age of 21, Bruce and his friend Sam Raimi started working on their first full-feature movie, assisted by a bunch of naïve, but highly enthusiastic youngsters. That first feature would become know as The Evil Dead. Sam Raimi would turn out to be a really great director who gave birth to films like Spider-man and A Simple Plan. And Bruce? Well, he did what he did best: playing the actor eternally doomed on being on the verge of a major breakthrough... and proud of it!

But Bruce is more than a B-movie actor. He is also a great storyteller. The memoirs he has put down to paper mostly break down to a sum of quite hilarious anecdotes, but at the same time overwhelm you with a feeling of genuineness and admiration for the art of filmmaking. Although quite some of his adventures in that strange celluloid world turn out differently than he had hoped for, Bruce maintains a light-hearted perspective throughout his story. He tells his story in an amusingly self depreciating manner, but never fails to convince the reader that whatever he did, he had an absolutely groovy time!

For everyone who is interested in how movies come to life, If Chins Could Kill is also a very insightful book. But even if the movie business does not tickle your fancy, this book might be one of the funniest autobiographies you'll ever read.

You wanna title? I'll give you a title...
Chins is a fun read plain and simple. The back of the book (or in this case product description) will tell you all you need to know about what you're getting into.

Bruce Campbell is down to earth, and funny. Instead of being boring and clinical or dramatic and wallowing in the things that went wrong, this book is more 'bad things happen, good things happen, and, sometimes, REALLY bizarre things happen: Here's what and how'. This anecdotal approach makes the book easy to either pick up and put down (like breaks and lulls at work) because of the short chapters and stopping points within the chapters, or sit down and read for hours because of it's easy conversational tone.

Want to learn more about Bruce Campbell? Read this book. Independant films? Cult fandom? Television? Ups and downs of acting? Book signings? Cross country traveling? Scurvy? Its all covered.

My only complaint is there's no list of his roles. He speaks about them (including commercials, bless 'im), but it would have been nice to have an actual list in the back somewhere. That's the only thing and, really, that's nitpicking.

Recommended for Bruce fans, movie fans, and people in search of a great read.

Titles are hard to think up...........
I haven't read this book yet, but wanted to throw a little piece of trivia out. Campbell was also the star of the best TV series that nobody has ever seen (IMHO) - The Adventures of Briscoe County, from about 10 years ago, or so. The man is a true character...... ;-) ... Read more

Isbn: 0312291450
Sales Rank: 5095
Subjects:  1. 1958-    2. Actors    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Campbell, Bruce,    8. Entertainment & Performing Arts - Actors & Actresses    9. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    10. Film & Video - History & Criticism    11. Motion picture actors and actr    12. Motion picture actors and actresses    13. United States    14. Performing Arts / Film / General   

Vampire Diaries #1: The Awakening (Vampire Diaries)
by L. J. Smith
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 March, 1999)
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Reviews (123)

I'm still hooked.
I am twenty three years old now, and have loved these books since I stole them from my older sister years ago.They're dark, romantic, and creepy.Now that I'm older I recently reread them, I admit that they sometimes feel like a cheap Anne Rice rip off, but they're still fun.Elena is everything every girl wants to be, brave, beautiful, and smart all rolled into one, she rolls with even the most outlandish punches, and still manages to feel real.Even in the midst of a vampire brother love triangle, you can still relate.She's not always sweet and pure, and the vamp brothers have their issues too but that adds to their charm.This trilogy is totally worth reading, especially if you still find Anne Rice a little tough going.They'll give you the creeps, and make you cry eventually, but always in the best way possible.

I loved this series
When I was a teenager, I absolutely loved this series.I must have read it 5 times over!I am actually thinking of reading it again, just to have that wonderful feeling of a book transporting me to another world, which I sorely miss (I am now a busy mom in her 20's).I have very fond memories of this series, as well as others like it from that point in my life.I would recommend this book to anyone--it is fun and stirs the imagination, which seems to be lacking in younger generations these days.Great read.

Teen Mom loves this Series!
Good -vs- Evil, but the line is blurred... It always keeps you guessing!
True teen horror/romance.
From what I understand, she ended this series only to write one more book later on -- some say they are upset by the ending -- but I love a story that ends on a good note!
... Read more

Isbn: 0061020001
Sales Rank: 172725
Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Horror    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Fiction    4. Horror & Ghost Stories    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Love & Romance    7. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    8. Vampires    9. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Complete Vampire Chronicles (Interview with the Vampire, The Vampire Lestat, The Queen of the Damned, The Tale of the body Thief)
by Anne Rice
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 August, 1993)
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Editorial Review

For the first time you can find all your favorite night-stalking, blood-guzzling undead--Lestat, Claudia, Louis, Akasha, Armand, and Memnoch--all in the same place at the same time.Here, collected in one box-set, are the four bestselling, original titles of Anne Rice's sprawling vampire series. ... Read more

Features

• Box set

Reviews (118)

Chronicles of the vampires
Anne Rice revamped the vampire-horror genre with the publication of "Interview with the Vampire," a supernational drama from the vampire's own mouth. It became an unexpected hit, and spawned a series of sequels that came to be known as the Vampire Chronicles. The first four books of the series are compiled here, although the fourth is not up to the excellent standards of the first three.

"Interview With the Vampire" is the story of Louis, a grieving young widower and plantation owner, whose life is turned upside down when he meets the charming vampire Lestat. Lestat offers him a way out: become a vampire. Louis accepts, but once it's done, he finds that vampirism is more than he bargained for -- especially for his conscience.

"The Vampire Lestat" takes a totally different tack, showing us the world through the enigmatic, charming Lestat's eyes. After years of dormancy, Lestat wakes up in time for the early MTV years of the 1980s, becoming a rock star in the tradition of Ozzy and Black Sabbath. And like Louis, Lestat relates his long life's story -- how he became a vampire, his wanderings over the earth, and his investigations into the origins of vampirism itself...

"Queen of the Damned" builds on that research. Lestat's metal music has caused quite a bit of mayhem -- but not this much before: Akasha, Egyptian queen and mother of all vampires, has reawoken from her comalike sleep. The lesser vampires are having strange dreams, some are being murdered by the ruthless queen. Apparently she wants to kill all men. What is more, Akasha has taken a shine to the roguish Lestat himself...

"The Tale of the Body Thief" opens with lonely anti-hero Lestat deciding that he wants to be mortal again. At least temporarily. So he engages in some corpus-swapping with a con man (Danger! Danger, Will Lestat!), and rediscovers the joys (romance with a nun) and miseries (excretion) of being a human being again. The problem is, said con man is not eager to return Lestat's attractive and immortal body once he has it...

Vampiric autobiography is a given in Anne Rice's bibliography -- she has plenty of bloodsuckers telling us about their lives. But Lestat and Louis's were not just the first ones, but perhaps the most compelling and rich, especially since the two had such radically different viewpoints -- including of one another. Is Lestat a heartless fiend, or a roguish good-craving bad boy? I'd lean towards the latter, to be honest.

Rice does stumble in "Tales of the Body Thief," which seems like too flimsy a plot for Lestat and Co., has an unnecessary nun romance, and which has some very gross moments. However, it does give a stunning look at how a vampire would see the everyday life of a human -- all the problems, discomforts, annoyances and loneliness that we all ignore because we're used to it. It's a more personal story than the epic "Queen of the Damned," which deals with all of vampirekind all through history. (In one book!)

Despite the more controversial recent novels, Anne Rice's first Vampire Chronicles are often reckoned to be modern horror classics. Rich, intriguing and far deeper than you'd think vampire fiction would be.

Queen of Vampire Fiction
What can one say about Anne Rice that has not already been said? Her writing style is amazing, her characters are entirely loveable and detestable at the same time, her settings are rich with the New Orleans atmosphere, and the plots are always original. I am deeply sad that Ms. Rice has decided not to continue this series. Perhaps one day she will revive it. Until then, I will just keep reading The Vampire Chronicles over and over.

Overrated Yet Worthwhile
I don't care much for Anne Rice's writing style. She hones in on particular words - preternatural comes to mind - far too often, and her descriptions of places and things seem clunky and formulaic.

That said, "Interview" was really a breakthrough novel. Written for all of us who watched vampire movies hoping that Dracula would somehow escape at the end, Rice tapped into a vital element of the subconscious: that part that is obsessed with dying or not dying, mortality and immortality.

While I can't recommend her style of writing, as a storyteller, Rice was top notch - especially for the first three books of the Vampire Chronicles. "Interview" and "Lestat" are parts of the same story, told from different points of view, and then "Queen" continues that story.

Rice never shies away from boundaries, stretching her characters as far as her imagination allows her to take them. She brushes on issues of theology, philosophy and society in ways that really resonate with lots of people. One of the reasons her books continue to be so popular.

Were it not for "Body Thief" a story I found so annoyingly cliche and unreadable as to be nearly worthless, I would have given this series four stars, since the plusses of Rice's imagination typically outweigh the shortcomings of her writing. For my money, the series could have stopped after "Queen of the Damned" with the possible exception of "Memnoch the Devil". ... Read more

Isbn: 0345385403
Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - Horror    3. Horror - General   

Sister to the Rain
by Melisa Michaels
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 October, 1998)
list price: $5.99
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Reviews (4)

Unconvincing, poor world-building, a waste of time
My Scale:
1 star--wretched, don't bother;
2 stars-somebody will like it, flawed;
3 stars-pretty darn good with some flaws;
4 stars-great, I'll re-read it;
5 stars-flawless, a classic of the genre.

The World:
Modern San Francisco-with pointy-eared people.Elves have been part of the world for there to have been second or maybe third generation elf-human hybrids (haflings).Elves can do magic. No other changes in human society, economics,technology, or values reported.

The Plot:
Rose Levine is a private investigator is hired to investigate unusual occurances in a mixed (human, elf, Halfling) art colony east of Berkeley. Is it Bigfoot?Another kind of being?Or are mere humans trying to scare the colony off the land, so that it can be developed into a gated, golf course community?

The Review:
This is an uninspired girl P.I. novel, not even as interesting as the previous, *COLD IRON*. Once again, the characterization stinks.The elves come across as just humans with pointy ears stuck on.There's no convincing background framework or explanation: how are elves different from humans in psychology, motivation, elven interpersonal relationships, and so forth-just labels: elves are charming sociopaths.

It also flunks the fantasy test: Elves evidently can do magic, but you don't see that reflected anywhere in the setting--that is, how has the presence of magic changed the worldfrom the way we would perceive it now?

This is too bad.Michaels is a more-than-competent writer (if she hadn't put the elf wrinkle in, these might be better books).Either she should stick to plain mystery fiction, or imagine her worlds much more in depth.

All in all, not worth the time or money.

Second time's the charm.
I must say that I enjoyed this book much more than the first in the series, Cold Iron.Ms. Michael's concept of elves as charming sociopaths is fascinating, but it made the elf rock stars in Cold Iron hard to take and even harder to care about.That concept is ameliorated somewhat in Sister to the Rain.The elves are still incredibly self-involved and lacking in human morality, but they're a lot more likable and a lot less randomly destructive.Plus, Rosie herself is funnier and less self-destructive in this book, and who wouldn't like her beautiful, but occasionally hapless partner, Shannon?All in all, a very enjoyable read.I understand that Ms. Michaels doesn't plan another sequel, which is a shame, because I'd love to read one.

Humorous, riveting in the tradition of Sayers and Paretsky
I've been reading Melisa Michaels' books for years, and have always found the sense of humor she brings to the subject wonderful.When she combines this with a well-told mixture of hard-boiled detective and modern fantasy,the result is excellent.

Readers who have enjoyed Sarah Paretsky orDorothy Sayers in the past may see some pleasing similarities in a few ofthe characters.The client, for example, is a dead ringer for Lord PeterWimsey, seen from the outside world's point of view.

If you're lookingfor fantasy written for someone past adolescence, pick this book up, and besure to share it with a friend.You won't be sorry. ... Read more

Isbn: 0451457307
Sales Rank: 772523
Subjects:  1. Artist colonies    2. California    3. Elves    4. Fantasy    5. Fantasy - Contemporary    6. Fiction    7. Fiction - Fantasy    8. San Francisco    9. Women detectives    10. Science Fiction