Book Description
In 1493 Christopher Columbus led a fleet of seventeen ships and more than twelve hundred men to found a royal trading colony in America. Columbus had high hopes for his settlement, which he named La Isabela after the queen of Spain, but just five years later it was in ruins. It remains important, however, as the first site of European settlement in America and the first place of sustained interaction between Europeans and the indigenous Taínos. Kathleen Deagan and José María Cruxent now tell the story of this historic enterprise. Drawing on their ten-year archaeological investigation of the site of La Isabela, along with research into Columbus-era documents, they contrast Spanish expectations of America with the actual events and living conditions at America's first European town. Deagan and Cruxent argue that La Isabela failed not because Columbus was a poor planner but because his vision of America was grounded in European experience and could not be sustained in the face of the realities of American life. Explaining that the original Spanish economic and social frameworks for colonization had to be altered in America in response to the American landscape and the non-elite Spanish and Taíno people who occupied it, they shed light on larger questions of American colonialism and the development of Euro-American cultural identity
Customer Reviews:
A Tremendous Example of Historical Research.......2004-05-18
I read it in three days.
A must have book for anyone interested in the Conquista and early colonization of the Caribbean and America in General. I also believe that anyone interested in the life and deeds of Christopher Columbus should read this work.
The authors' combination of archaeological excavation with documentary research is excellent and should serve as an example for future research projects. Furthermore, some of the discoveries they made will be quite unexpected and surprising for the general public, and even for those familiar with their work.
Despite the fact that both Deagan and Cruxent are highly regarded experts in Caribbean archaeology, they have written a book that can be enjoyed by the general public.
Book Description
Telling the story of the greatest sailor of them all, "Admiral of the Ocean Sea" is a vivid and definitive biography of Columbus that details all of his voyages that, for better or worse, changed the world. 50 drawings, maps charts; 4 fold-outs.
Customer Reviews:
How Times Have Changed For Cristobal Colon.......2007-10-11
Morison wrote this fine book in honor of the 450'th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America. I think Morison would be surprised at how people's perceptions of the event have changed in the decades since.
First off, let me say that the book is well worth reading. Morison was a man of the sea himself and he sailed in the same waters as Columbus. We see in the book how Columbus was a master seaman as well as being a great salesman, but on the other hand he was a poor geographer and even worse politician. The Portuguese were right in turning down his proposal for the Enterprise of the Indies, their geographers knew that Columbus was way off the mark regarding the distance from Europe to East Asia. In any event, they were making good progress down Africa and they felt it was just a matter of time until they found the bottom of the continent and the entrance to the Indian Ocean.
I would now like to address the change in fortune for Columbus's reputation.
(1) People now like to say that he didn't "discover" America. One reason is because there were already people (the American Indians) there, but that is simply world-games. Of course he "discovered" it, no one in Europe or Asia knew about it, and the Indians didn't know about Europe or Asia either. Secondly, the fact that Columbus wasn't necessarily the first to cross the Atlantic doesn't change anything. The Vikings who reached North America simply viewed it as another Arctic land and had no idea of the geographical relationship of this new continent to the rest of the world. In any event, they didn't exploit their discovery in the long run, only Columbus's voyage led to that. It is also speculated that Portuguese fisherman were crossing the Atlantic before Columbus, after all, they discovered the Azores already in the 1420's (already one-third of the way across the Atlantic) but we don't know if they sighted the continent, and even if they did, they, like the Vikings didn't do anything to exploit their knowledge.
(2) People say that he is responsible for the destruction of the Indian society that existed on Hispaniola. It certainly wasn't his original intention to do this. He wanted to convert the natives to Christianity, so killing them off wouldn't help this mission. Morison himself points out that Columbus did contribute to this tragedy, but even if Columbus had been more careful, I think the Indians would have had the same fate. The settlers that came in the wake of the discovery brought new plants and animals in addition to previously unknown diseases and all these things would have grievously damaged the Indians agricultural system and society. Add to this the Spaniard's missionary religion which no doubt was attractive to at least some of the native population and we see that things could just not remain the same.
(3) Some people claim the pre-Columbian New World was some sort of paradise that the Europeans ruined. This is also knows as the myth of the "noble savage". Unfortunatley it is just a myth because human nature is the same all over the world. Greed, cruelty, avarice and the such are not just European or Western traits. The Carib tribes who inhabited the Caribbean Sea (and gave it its name) were very warlike and fought other, more peaceful tribes. Similarly, the Mexica (also knows as the Aztec) the Hernan Cortes conquered in the wake of Columbus was hated by its Indian neighbors for supressing them and taking prisoners for the human sacrificial system. Thus, we should be more realistic in evaluating the pre-Columbian societies and remove the "politically correct" rose-colored glasses.
(3) While it is true that slaves from Africa were brought over to Hispaniola, it must be remembered that the European slave traders who brought them over to the New World did not land in West Africa and grab natives "off the streets". They bought them from local African chiefs who captured prisoners in their local wars and then sold them to the Europeans. Thus, regarding the cruelty of the slavery system, there is plenty of blame to go around and not just to the white men involved.
All-in-all, this is a very enjoyable book to read about a man, who perhaps more than any other single person, brought about the most massive revolution in human history.
Excellent work.......2007-01-12
Morison's pulitzer prize winning work is an engaging, balanced, well written look at the life of the great explorer. The emphasis of the book is on Columbus, the mariner.(Morrison, a Harvard professor with a sailing background, actually retraced Columbus journeys in his own sailing craft). I was interested in finding a fair and objective historical biography of Columbus (without all the negative, politically correct, anti-European propoganda that permeates the thinking of modern leftist academics).In my opinion, this book provides it. I would highly recommend this work for students of history, who want to gain a better appreciation of the nature and significance of Columbus Voyages.
"Adelante! Adelante!" (Land! Land!).......2006-10-22
"Admiral of the Ocean Sea", Samuel Morison's 1942 Pulitzer Prize winning
biography of Christopher Columbus, is still considered by many to be the
best there is. Morison spent 2 years on a sailboat re-tracing Columbus' voyages bringing a first hand immediacy and perspective that gives it unusual authority on all technical aspects of sailing and navigation. In addition Morison was a Harvard history professor whose research of the written record is impeccable. Even before Columbus died in the early 16th century, there have been countless controversies and debates about many aspects of his life and voyages. Into this maelstrom of legend, myth and folklore - like the discover he writes about - Morison brings order, calm and reliable passage through one of the most fascinating and mythological figures of World History.
Genuinely worthy of five stars.......2005-07-25
I have had this book on my shelf for quite a while, and finally got around to reading it after watching a documentary on Columbus on the Discivery Channel. I got inspired to overcome my intellectual laziness, and how pleased I am I did! This book really deserves its reputation as a timeless classic, and the author, a giant of maritime history, did such a fine job that I now want to read his well known biography of John Paul Jones. The text is gripping and the author's insights abound. This is a fine book.
A colorful narrative, rich in detail........2005-02-22
This book is the definitive work on Columbus. Morison is famous for making the same journey that Columbus made with largely the same equipment in order to prepare for writing this book. His experience shines through in the detail thatMorison lavishes on his subject.
As is the case with any great biography, Morison has become enamored with his subject, highlighting his strengths and successes while downplaying his weaknesses and failures, but you know that going into any biography and can adjust your interpretation accordingly.
The story here is told very well, keeping the reader engaged and turning pages. Additionally, the book dispells many of the myths and common misconceptions about Columbus and really fills in a complete picure of the man.
Well worth reading for any fan of history or biography.
Book Description
This is a revised and expanded edition of a popular 1991 booklet that changed the way "the discovery of America" is taught in classroom and community settings. The new edition has over 100 pp. of new material, including a role-play trial of Columbus, materials on Thanksgiving Day, resources, historical documents, poetry, and more. It will help readers replace murky legends with a better sense of who we are and why we are here -- and celebrates over 500 years of the courageous struggles and lasting wisdom of native peoples.
Customer Reviews:
Indispensible.......2007-08-19
As a history teacher who feels it is my responsibility to teach histories that have been marginalized and to teach truth that has been denied, Rethinking Columbus (and other books put out by Rethinking Schools) is tremendously useful, not only for the practical ideas for lesson plans and activities (which are wonderful), but also for the general message of the importance of critical thinking among students and teachers. I wish curriculum of this sort had been shared with me in my teacher education program.
Excellent resource for teachers.......2007-03-10
Rethinking Columbus provides a variety of resources, includign articles, essays, poems, song lyrics. lesson plan ideas, maps, lists, book reviews, and itnerviews. All around the central theme of finding an accurate interpretation of the Native American experience in the Americas since Columbus landed here in 1492. It is especially useful as a place for alternative resources that might be used in the classroom in the form of copyable pages that could be read to or by students, depending on their reading level. The status quo in our system is to teach about Columbus as a hero who "discovered" America. This book gives us an alternative version, where Columbus's actions instigate mass genocide, the trans-Atlantic slave trade, and issues of opression that Native American's still suffer today.
The book does not contain fully detailed lesson plans, but has several pages of ideas for lessons with appropriate resources. There is an elementary and a secondary section, the secondary section covers mroe modern issues Native Americans face, while the elementary section covers more of the history. The book has two articles that review children's literature surrounding Columbus. The article on traditional literature shows the massive dismissal in a majority of the books of Native People as human beings of worth, only the white people have names, they are heroes, it is told from only their point of view. The second article reviews books that attempt to be more culturally relevant, while all of these also have problems. I was frustrated reading this, because it did not review books that were completely apprppriate, and maybe there aren't many. They did list a few in the back of the book. But by having the reviews of where there could be problems with the literature, teachers can still use the resources and discuss with their students how the author might have gotten it wrong.
Since the book is comprised of a series of articles, it is not one you have to read front to back. You can pick it up and easily read a section, and it could be something you could come to with a specific topic and easily find a resource without dredging through long passages.
The book could go into further detail about connections outside social studies, such as the accomplishments of native peoples in the areas of science, math, and other areas.
drivel...............2006-06-05
Bigelow seeks to shamelessly use the schools as the propaganda arm for his obsolescent pseudo Marxist horse hockey - despite having absoltuely no democratically mandated authority to do so; thus, like a true apparatachik, he boldly goes where no sane person wants to go, onto slef-initiated committees where he and his ilk rhetorically bludgeon their way to exclusive membership and hope to use the mechanism of bureaucratic state coercion to cram their communist agenda deep into the...well, you get the picture. The odd thing about the Bigandlow type is they generally bring with them a trailing retinue of glassy- eyed women who nod stone faced as the Bigandlow Chairman pours forth venom against the perfidious pawns of the profiteers in meatings no sane person would attend more than once.
Photos of Bigelow bending down to help black students smiling at their desks and working earnestly at their studies are eerily similar to pictures of Hitler petting his dogs who have come to sniff his vegetarian meal.
The next 500 years in the title should give you a pretty good idea that this totalitarian millenialism all over again. Will Bigandlow take his case to the voters and run an HONEST campaign as a communist? Of course not. Like any good Stalinist - Leninist, he knows damn well that the capitalists will simply pervert the election and sway the gullible masses with fear. Thus Bigandlow doesn't mind lying about his intentions until he feels the people are ready for communnism. And he and his ilk have annointed themselves the cultural army that will transform consciousness.
Excellent.......2004-03-12
This is a wonderful book about atrocity and genocide. It should be reqiured in every public school in the U.S.
Rethinking All History Books.......2001-11-08
I always thought that there was another story to every history event. They always just told us about the preditures doings and not what happened to the victims. I never knew the whole truth about the Columbus aventure. I also never heard of the way they treated Native Americans when they came into our country. I recommend this book to all school systems. All students and adults should know the truth about their hero. This book also made me look at other events in the past that the regular history books left out. I hope to learn more about the truth from other history events that happened. This is the best book that I read in a long time.
Customer Reviews:
clarke great historian.......2007-06-06
clarke knew his stuff.people can refute his claims but they hold merit
Christopher Columbus and the Afrikan Holocaust.......2007-02-14
Professor John H. Clark has done a amazing analysis with providing the reader with a clear understanding on how the slave trade and genocides was instituted and systematized into what is now identified as capitalism on a gobal scale. This is a must read for anyone exploring the history of the African American history.
Is an "Afrikan" anything like an African?.......2006-03-03
Just another academic making money with half-truths that suit his prejudiced worldview. The deliberate spelling of "African" as "Afrikan" tells you all you need to know: it's the same as oh-so-worldly college sophomores who spell "America" as "Amerika" to prove they're politically aware after taking that popular "African-American/gay/La Raza/womyn's studies" course on how America is evil because it expects people to work for a living and holds them responsible for the results of their decisions.
Myth Crusher!!!.......2006-02-23
Dr. Clarke has again crushed myths of the Atlantic Slave Trade. The number one myth is "Afrikans are just as much to blame for selling slaves as Europeans". If ANYONE has ever said this to you and you didn't tell them that was a pile of buffalo poo poo, than you need this book! If you agreed with that statement you need this book. Dr. Clarke breaks down our ways back before the trade. And the BIG differences between European & Arab slavery to Afrikan slavery. TUA NTR Dr. Clarke!!! In which 99% of the people don't know how Afrikan slave system worked. And yes where are our memorials? And the true nature of the Atlantic Slave traders is exposed in detail. Also what did Afrikans do when they found out what was REALLY going on? That answer reveals our nature and how beautiful, strong and weak we are. This books hits EVERY corner about the Slave Trade. And crushes alot of myths. Again Dr. Clarke provide a slamming bibliography. That is a library listing by itself! Every child should read this book when starting to learn our history in America. And the strategies used by both sides. I could go on & on, this book is just everything about the subject in one book!
"Where's our Memorial".......2006-01-03
Dr. Clarke presents to us an interesting book that asks the question "Where's our Memorial?" The Jews, Irish and Asians remember what happened to them, but somewhere down the line, we forgot. As Dr. Clarke says this was the biggest crime in history. Europeans set in motion a type of slavery that was inhumane and savagelike.
Another misconception is that the Afrikans, and Natives Europeans encountered were brought "civilization." This couldn't be further from the truth because the European just denounced any culture they didn't understand. What is most interesting as well is 700 years earlier the European was enslaved and brought out of the Dark Ages because of the Moors(Afrikans) and Arabs. The Moors introduced chess, public baths, water systems, 70 universities and brought literacy to the kings and queens of Europe. The same Afrikans they enslaved on the Gold Coast(read the book to understand why it is Gold Coast) had been the ones to birth their enlightenmet. Also Europe(who were the only ones) believed the world was flat in their ignorance. Afrikans already knew this wasn't true based on two voyages. One was with the king of Mali, and the other maybe in the time of Ramesees III. For more on this read They Came before Columbus.
Thank You Dr. Clarke
Average customer rating:
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High Voyage, The
Olga Litowinsky
Manufacturer: Yearling
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ASIN: 0440407036
Release Date: 1992-08-01 |
Customer Reviews:
No, the Third Voyage is the best!.......2006-03-16
This book contains primary sources ONLY. (How do I "rate" the letters of Christopher Columbus? :-) You can read about the life and times of an historical character by the very best historians for years, but until you read what that character actually wrote about his own experiences, you're groping in the dark. Nothing compares to getting it from the horse's mouth.
These letters, beautifully translated, free of anyone's opinions, are history's nuclear core. Any gut sense YOU get from these words may well be closer to the truth than what you've read by any scholar. Occasionally you might realize that your favorite historian didn't actually finish reading some of the letters they're basing an argument on! Then you are in a position of knowing more than he/she does.
I do wonder why Penguin doesn't fix the date of Columbus's death. The editor has him dying in 1509 (not a typo since it's repeated) which is a shame. Columbus died 500 years ago this spring, and a quincentenary only happens once. It's "Goodbye, Columbus" May 20th, 2006.
FAVORITE VOYAGE: NO. 3, when he blesses the continent of South America with his tears (red with blood from exposure and illness) and warns the Monarchs that this is the Earthly Paradise and no one may enter without God's leave.
great description of Columbus voyages.......2005-11-02
This book is a great description of the events related to the exploration of the new world made by Columbus. The first two voyages are the most interesting because of the discovery of the caribbean island and the natives inhabitants living there, the arawaks and the caribs. The latter were very particular on account of its cannibalism.
In the third voyage, Columbus finally reach mainland and the fourth voyage was the toughest of all due to huge storms that lasted several days and the attacks of indian while there were repairing. At the end of the book there is an account made by Diego Mendez, a truly survivor and loyal servant of the Admiral who saved the lives of all of them while they were waiting in Jamaica, for a year.
I my opinion Columbus was a great navigator and a brave man. It is sad how the life of the Admiral ends and the poor retribution from the kings of Spain.
Columbus Resurrected.......2004-03-12
J. M. Cohen's translation of various 1st-hand or near first-hand accounts, including that of Columbus' son, Hernando Colon's LIFE OF THE ADMIRAL brings the Columbus story to life.
The Introduction, coming from a translator of literature rather than a historian, is rather uninspiring; however, he does provide a rather thorough rebuttal of the argument, made by many supporters of Bartolome de Las Casas and referred to without explanation by Felipe Fernandez-Armesto in COLUMBUS, that Hernando Colon's work is a forgery. Indeed, since it appeared long before Las Casas' HISTORY was published, the issue of forgery may go in the other direction!
The book, through early Spanish sources, looks at the rumor that Columbus relied on the map of an ailing Portuguese sailor. It makes plain Columbus' error in thinking he was near Japan (Chipangu) and his belief that he would reach Cathay! We see his rather innocent introduction to the potent tobacco plant and how the natives fed his belief that gold, pearl and spices were nearby.
Columbus is shown to be of mixed character: on the one hand, he generally seems to respect the natives he meets and makes an alliance with one chieftain against the 'cannibal' Caribs. On the other, he takes several natives captive (to have them trained in Spanish so that they can serve as translators on future voyages), gives some Carib women to his men (who raped them as in the case of the vile Michele de Cuneo) and discusses conquest and enslavement of idolators [not particularly shocking considering the long history of conflicts and mutual enslavement between the muslim moors of Spain & Northern Africa and the Christians of Spain & Portugal].
Columbus' biggest problem appears to be his tendency to leave his men (39 on the first voyage) as colonies while he explores elsewhere. Whenver he returns, the natives have either killed the colonists or were at war with them - often due to the Spaniards' greed and licentiousness. Indeed, at one point, he leaves his brother in charge and the Spaniards, being forbidden to sleep with the native women revolt and found a rebel colony where the women were supposed to be more accomodating! Columbus ultimately is forced into an accomodation with these Spaniards and eventually conquers the natives. We also see the separate voyage of Ovando to Hispaniola and the beginnings of the gold mines. Columbus, not unlike a number of his successors, suffered arrest and trial and, after his last voyage, was deprive of power and authority.
Columbus' voyages, following in the footsteps of the Henrican discoveries, would likely have eventually been made by someone but Columbus seems especially driven to exploration. It was an unfortunate fact that he was also a very poor (and often absent) governor. His actions, sometimes courageous and thoughtful, sometimes harsh and reflexive probably represent the more civilized men of his time - when the Middle Ages was just ending, slavery and religious wars continued in Spain, Portugal, North Africa and Italy, and people were still being burned at the stake for heresy.
Amazing. An in debt look at Columbus and hislifeBuDdaHlOvAh.......1998-10-29
This book was excellent. It taught me so much more about Columbus and his journey's. Being a school teacher, this book sure will help me while teaching my students. I now have much more knolege on the subject.
Average customer rating:
- Good Starter Book For Learning About Columbus.
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Christopher Columbus (Step-Into-Reading, Step 3)
Stephen Krensky
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
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ASIN: 0679803696
Release Date: 1991-08-20 |
Book Description
Illus. in full color. Youngsters can celebrate the 500th anniversary of Columbus's fateful voyage with this dramatic, easy-to-read account of a pivotal moment in American history. "
Customer Reviews:
Good Starter Book For Learning About Columbus........2002-08-03
Hi!:) This book is nice and informative without being too long and boring. It will most likely appeal to children around 5 or 6 through about 9 or 10. After that, they may want to read another, more in depth biography about this remarkable and fearless sailor and explorer.
The illustrations are realistic and well done.
I, as a parent, felt that the ending was a bit weak, but children will certainly gain a better understanding and clearer picture of the explorer, and his sacrifices, upon reading this book. Wording is simple and uncomplicated. A step 2 book.
Good information, good book!~
Average customer rating:
- Brilliant!!
- Vintage Card
- Never-failing plot
- Extremely good alternative history!
- Pastwatch-The Redemption of Christopher Columbus
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Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus
Orson Scott Card
Manufacturer: Tor
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ASIN: 0812508645 |
Amazon.com
Anyone who's read Lies My Teacher Told Me : Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong knows about the devastating consequences that Columbus's voyage and ensuing colonization had on the native people of the Americas and Africa. In a thought-provoking work that is part science fiction, part historical drama, Orson Scott Card writes about scientists in a fearful future who study that tragic past, then attempt to actually intervene and change it into something better.
Tagiri and Hassan are members of Pastwatch, an academic organization that uses machines to see into the past and record it. Their project focuses on slavery and its dreadful effects, and gradually evolves into a study of Christopher Columbus. They eventually marry and their daughter Diko joins them in their quest to discover what drove Columbus west.
Columbus, with whom readers become acquainted through both images in the Pastwatch machines and personal narrative, is portrayed as a religious man with both strengths and weaknesses, a charismatic leader who sometimes rose above but often fell beneath the mores of his times. As usual, Orson Scott Card uses his formidable writing skills to create likable, complex characters who face gripping problems; he also provides an entertaining and thoughtful history lesson in Pastwatch. --Bonnie Bouman
Book Description
In one of the most powerful and thought-provoking novels of his remarkable career, Orson Scott Card interweaves a compelling portrait of Christopher Columbus with the story of a future scientist who believes she can alter human history from a tragedy of bloodshed and brutality to a world filled with hope and healing.
Customer Reviews:
Brilliant!!.......2007-10-08
I have yet to find a Card novel that hasn't thoroughly impressed me (except possibly Xenocide), but this one is even better than usual. Extremely thought-provoking, this book will capture your imagination from the first page and keep you thinking about the complicated issues it raises for a long time after you close the cover. While not as fast or fun as ENDER'S GAME, this science fiction/historical fiction novel deserves every bit as much acclaim because of its sweeping scope and mind-blowing nature.
As humanity looks to its past for the causes of the problems of the present, the person of Christopher Columbus stands out as being a fulcrum of history. The discovery of the Americas and the subsequent ravishing of the New World by European disease and greed was determined to be the worst calamity in modern history. The plot of PASTWATCH revolves around the possibilities and ramifications of altering the past to create a better future. This book also presents a very realistic look at 14th at 15th century European politics and culture, as well as the person of Columbus. The fictional characters presented here by Card are intriguing and believable, as we've come to expect from Card.
Orson Scott Card is nothing less than genius, and the way he works through the bizarre and insanely complicated issues presented in this book is simply amazing. The amount of research required to put together such a novel must have been outlandish, and for that Card deserves even more respect. This is much more than a science fiction novel. Very highly recommended.
Funny coincidence that I'm publishing this review on Columbus Day...
Vintage Card.......2007-07-17
In the future, remnants of the human race, denizens of a ravaged Earth, seem to live in idyllic peace. Determined not to repeat the mistakes of prior generations, they share resources and work for the common good. Scientific advances result in the creation of the "Tempoview" machine, which enables researchers to study the past firsthand via an unobtrusive video device. Of course, the ability to view the past raises questions of whether the past can be changed, and inevitably, whether it should be.
The members of Pastwatch, while debating this notion, discover that their history (which appears to be ours) has already been tampered with, and that the focal point is the charismatic Christopher Columbus. This discovery, coupled with the dawning realization of their imminent demise, leads them to conclude that they too must intercede and change history. Knowing that they will surely wipe out their own existence, they send three team members back in history to influence events surrounding Columbus' exploration of the New World.
Once again, Card explores the fertile ground of a "first contact" story, but this time it's not humans meeting aliens, it's humans meeting humans. To Columbus, the natives he encounters might as well be animals--it's up to the time travelers to make him see them as human beings, and hopefully avert the wholesale genocide (another prevalent theme in Card's works) that Columbus' journey triggers. Card tells the story with a strong sense of moral certitude, and, as usual, presents us with a cast of thoughtful, appealing heroes.
If you haven't read Card, Pastwatch may be a good place to start. It presents many of his favorite themes and is self-contained (one of Card's faults is that he is overly fond of the multi-book saga). Those familiar with his work can rest assured that this is vintage Card.
Never-failing plot.......2007-02-11
I found this book engrossing from the very first page. I enjoyed the Seventh Son books of Orson Scott Card and decided to give Pastwatch a try. I couldn't put it down. The concepts behind it are original and thought-provoking. I wasn't sure how it was going to end--and I won't ruin it for you. But I have recommended it to several friends, and they have enjoyed it too.
Extremely good alternative history!.......2006-10-26
If you love alternative history and like sci-fi, I highly recommend this book. If you (like me) love sci-fi and like alt. history, I still recommend this book. If you only like sci-fi, this book may not be for you. I found myself totally immersed in this story, as it completely changed my view of plausibility the further I went. At first I couldn't come up with a reason for anyone to want to destroy themselves and their history, and hoped they'd have better sense. As the story went on, I was cheering them on! The depth of character was very good. The sci-fi was simplistic and nothing new. But, the story was so well done and so entertaining, I still have to give this book 4 of 5 stars. Most importantly, unlike some other alt. history writers, this story is exactly the right length: It's ONE book; Card didn't give in to the publishing $$ and drag this out to boredom, and for that, I sincerely thank him. Very very good weekend read, that may have you thinking about it the rest of the week!
Pastwatch-The Redemption of Christopher Columbus.......2006-09-20
This scifi book by Orson Scott Card is a book that's hard to put down, being rich in history and making you wonder:what if...?
The story is about the work of Tagiri, an African woman intent on researching her roots through the Pastwatch program. Using the Pastwatch technology, those chosen for the elite program are allowed to view the past to research what they choose or join a project and try to figure out why certain events occured.After seeing one of her ancestors being captured and forced into a life of slavery, Tagiri tries to determine why and where slavery originated, and where it could have been prevented. That is where she gets caught up in Christopher Colombus and his famous expedition.After years of research, Diko (Tagiri's daughter), Hunahpu, and Kemal are all prepared to be sent back in time. The mathematicians were not surprised when the Pastwatch members asked for help; they had been expecting such a situation for years, and already had a time machine built. Now that the 3 travelers are ready, they are sent back to three different times and three different places...but sending them back will have dire consequences for the people living in the future-they will cease to exist in order to create a better one.
This book is the story of each of those Pastwatch members as they journey back in time to create a better future...or die trying.
I loved the storyline of this book,and how everything flowed. There was never a dull moment- this is the kind of book you just can't bear to put down. I would recommend it to anyone who loves science fiction, history, suspense and action. Every word on the page makes you want to keep reading to find out what will happen next. Not only does the book tell of the time traveler's journies, but of Christopher Colombus and his mysterious motives for sailing west. Full of interesting anddefined characters and a great plot, this book is a must-read.
Customer Reviews:
A must-have for any Columbus scholar.......2000-11-03
This is the largest fragment of Columbus's first voyage log, as abstracted by Bartolome de Las Casas. Of the many editions in print, Dunn & Kelley stands head and shoulders above the rest. The format has a new Spanish transcription on the left-hand pages, exactly as hand-written in the original manuscript by Las Casas: same abbreviations, strike-outs, diacriticals, and marginal notes. The right-hand pages contain an English translation.
But perhaps the most valuable addition for the scholar is the Spanish concordance of the entire text, giving folio and line numbers for every appearance of almost every word. (Common words such as prepositions are given only with word counts, not references.) All in all, a must-have for any serious scholar or afficianado of the Admiral of the Ocean Sea.
Customer Reviews:
Didn't want it to end.......2003-02-07
This book is great. Very informative and well written. I learned a great deal about my cultue, heritage and ancestry. It left me with a thirst for more.
Opus Magnus.......2002-05-11
When writting this book, Dr. Rouse put a lifetime of research and studies on the Indians of the Caribbean into one work.
Since Rouse is considered the "Dean of Caribbean Archaeology", this book is a "must have" for anyone interested in the region and its native inhabitants.
Very few people have worked for so long, in so many locations and with such dedication as Dr. Rouse.
Exceptional Book! A MUST READ!.......2000-05-27
There were so many things of the Taino Indians I didn't know about and this book gives such a wonderful view of their lives and heritage you think they were your neighbors next door! This book makes you realize how important it is to keep your heritage alive.
Este libro es la Biblia del tema taino.......2000-03-28
Irving Rouse, nos presenta un libro muy completo y bien investigado sobre el tema taino. Todos aquellos estudiosos que quieran aprender sobre esta etnia, la etnia amerindia que tuvo el primer fatal encuentro con Cristobal Colon , debe leer este libro.Este libro es la Biblia sobre el tema taino.
Books:
- Cooking in America, 1590-1840 (The Greenwood Press Daily Life Through History Series)
- CPC Coding Exam Review 2007: The Certification Step (CPC Coding Exam Review: Certification Step)
- Cracking the AP U.S. History Exam, 2006-2007 Edition (College Test Prep)
- Crazy '08: How a Cast of Cranks, Rogues, Boneheads, and Magnates Created the Greatest Year in Baseball History
- Cycles of Time and Meaning in the Mexican Books of Fate (Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Series in Latin American and Latino Art and Culture)
- Dereliction of Duty : Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to Vietnam
- Different Voices: Women and the Holocaust
- Down the Great Unknown: John Wesley Powell's 1869 Journey of Discovery and Tragedy Through the Grand Canyon
- Ellis Island: Ghosts of Freedom
- Event Planning : The Ultimate Guide to Successful Meetings, Corporate Events, Fundraising Galas, Conferences, Conventions, Incentives and Other Special Events
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
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- Organizational Behavior Reader, The
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- The morphology of angiosperms: The structure and evolution of flowering plants
The Tainos: Rise and Decline of the People Who Greeted Columbus
Archaeology at La Isabela: Spain:America's First European Town
Taino: Pre-Columbian Art and Culture from the Caribbean
An Account of the Antiquities of the Indians: A New Edition, with an Introductory Study, Notes, and Appendices by José Juan Arrom (Latin America in Translation/En Traducción/Em Tradução)
Cave of the Jagua: The Mythological World of the Tainos
