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.

Crusader's Cross: A Dave Robicheaux Novel (Dave Robicheaux Mysteries)

Average customer rating:

Wonderful!!
Jimmy Burke You Are A Damn Fine Writer!
A Master Crime Novel
James Lee Burke strikes again
Can this guy write or what!

Crusader's Cross: A Dave Robicheaux Novel (Dave Robicheaux Mysteries)
James Lee Burke
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0743277198
Release Date: 2005-07-12

Download Description

"Critically acclaimed and bestselling crime writer James Lee Burke returns to Louisiana where his ever-popular hero, Dave Robicheaux, sleuths his way through a hotbed of sin and uncertainty. For Dave Robicheaux, life in Louisiana is filled with haunting memories of the past -- images from Vietnam, the violent streets of New Orleans, and his own troubled youth. In Crusader's Cross, a deathbed confession from an old schoolmate resurrects a story of injustice, the murder of a young woman, and a time in Robicheaux's life he has tried to forget. Her name may or may not have been Ida Durbin. It was back in the innocent days of the 1950s when Robicheaux and his brother, Jimmie, met her on a Galveston beach. She was pretty and Jimmie fell for her hard -- not knowing she was a prostitute on infamous Post Office Street, with ties to the mob. Then Ida was abducted and never seen again. Now, decades later, Robicheaux is asking questions about Ida Durbin, and a couple of redneck deputy sheriffs make it clear that asking questions is a dangerous game. With a series of horrifying murders and the sudden appearance of Valentine Chalons and his sister, Honoria, a disturbed and deeply alluring woman, Robicheaux is soon involved not only with the Chalons family but with the murderous energies of the New Orleans underworld. Also, he meets and finds himself drawn into a scandalous relationship with a remarkable Catholic nun. Brilliant, brooding, and filled with the author's signature lyricism, Jim Burke's latest novel is a darkly suspenseful work of literature. "

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful!!.......2007-10-04

This was my first JLB novel and I really enjoyed it. The writing was very smooth and the story was interesting and engaging the whole time. No slow spots. Which I appreciate big time. I'm off to read another.

Jimmy Burke You Are A Damn Fine Writer!.......2007-09-20

So, I started reading James Lee Burke when I was a sales rep for a publisher and another rep recommended the first "Dave Robicheaux" novel "Neon Rain". Good God! That book gave me the chills and I read each new installment, as they came out. At some point I kept buying the books, but my reading pile got too big and they got buried and I missed a chunk of Dave's life while mine was going on. This summer I got some lake time and brought up "Crusader's Cross" (although I'd missed reading a few prior to to this one) and, like your favorite pair of shoes, just slid right into it, just opened it up and couldn't put it down. Dave and Cletus have aged a bit and are still taking their licks, and handing out their fair share, but Burke has not lost anything over the years, in fact, he just keeps getting better. Get it, read it and pass it on to a friend. Burke is a treasure!

A Master Crime Novel.......2007-09-17

In CRUSADER'S CROSS James Lee Burke's protagonist Dave Robicheaux, along with his brother Jimmy, is saved from a potential shark attack by a mysterious woman named Ida Durbin in 1958. Jimmy falls for her; then she disappears-- perhaps violently, may even be murdered. Burke spends the next 300 or so pages unraveling that mystery with a plot that has more twists and turns than a two-lane mountain highway and is peopled with prostitutes, televangelists, a nun, pimps, hired killers (button men), crooked police officers and bail bondsmen.

Dave is of course an alcoholic-- goes to AA meetings on occasion-- is a little bit crazy--his friend Clete describes him as having "polka dot giraffes running around in his head"-- has read THE GREAT GATSBY, is excited by violence, but has the mind of a poet. It is fascinating to see all the ways he describes the sky: "marbled with yellow and gold clouds," "yellow with rust," "pink with sunrise," "a chemical green," etc. And he has a dozen different ways to describe taking someone out: "boil you in your own grease," "blown out of his socks," you'll be made into a "speed bump," you'll get your ticket punched or your doors blown out. His definition of God-- via Dave's father-- as someone who has a sense of humor and always keeps his word. He, in addition to being a sure shot, is also a philosopher. His description of a visit to a Wal-Mart is right on the money. "The sweeping breadth of the store's interior was crowded with people for whom a Wal-Mart is a gift from God. In my hometown, most of these are poor and uneducated, and assume that the low-paying jobs that define their lives are commonplace throughout the country. The fact that the goods they buy are often shoddily made, the clothes sewn in Third World sweatshops by people not unlike themselves, is an abstraction that seems to have no application to the low price on the item." Mr. Burke strews kernels like this throughout the book.

CRUSADER'S CROSS is a novel you miss when you are not reading it. It you are not careful it will eat up your day.

James Lee Burke strikes again.......2007-09-16

Burke is a wonderful writer. His greatest gift to his readers is his ability to put us in a location and evoke the atmosphere. This second greatest gift is his respect for his characters-they are NEVER one-dimensional. And, finally, he never cheats by offering us cheap or easy outs. Even when we reeeeally don't want Dave to take the drink or spout off or draw the weapon, he has been written to always be Dave, as have Clete and other recurring characters (including the state of Lousiana!)

Crusader's Cross is as dark as the Robicheaux books get, but you'll have a hard time putting it down. It will help if you are familiar with the characters, but probably not essential (can't say for sure because there is no Burke book I won't read, so I am well acquainted with these folks.) The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is that I reserve those for Pulitzer material. Don't let that discourage you. This is an excellent book.

Can this guy write or what! .......2007-07-06

I picked Crusaders Cross up expecting a run of the mill detective novel and was absolutely leveled by Burke's prose. Burke writing literally breathes Louisiana onto the page. Writing of this caliber is rare in the crime fiction genre. Burke elevates a complex but still relatively pedestrian crime novel, into something else entirely. His writing is insightful, perceptive, and lyrical - evoking a sense of time and place that is stunning.

The plot itself is multilayered. A deathbed confession gets our hero Dave Robicheaux to start looking into the disappearance of a prostitute who Dave and his half brother Jimmy met back in 1958. Meanwhile, a serial killer is abducting and brutally murdering women. Before long Dave must content with hit men who have been dispatched to punch his ticket, a budding romance with a nun, trumped up charges of sexual molestation, a mentally unstable woman who handcuffs him to his bed, and a hard fall 'off the wagon' with subsequent memory loss that results in Dave becoming the prime suspect in one of his own murder investigations.

The cast of characters is the literary equivalent of a royal flush. Dave's buddy Clete Purcel stands out though as one of the most entertaining characters I've ever come across.

Crusaders Cross is the first James Lee Burke novel I've read, but it certainly won't be the last. Brilliant writing and a complex multilayered plot. Well worth reading.

The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism

Average customer rating:

Bringing Down the Walls of Communism
Ronald Reagan - The Crusader
Ronald Reagan= One Great American
"The Crusader" One person can make a difference.
Irrefutable evidence

The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism
Paul Kengor
Manufacturer: Harper
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0061136905
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Book Description

Based on extraordinary research: a major reassessment of Ronald Reagan's lifelong crusade to dismantle the Soviet Empire–including shocking revelations about the liberal American politician who tried to collude with USSR to counter Reagan's efforts

Paul Kengor's God and Ronald Reagan made presidential historian Paul Kengor's name as one of the premier chroniclers of the life and career of the 40th president. Now, with The Crusader, Kengor returns with the one book about Reagan that has not been written: The story of his lifelong crusade against communism, and of his dogged–and ultimately triumphant–effort to overthrow the Soviet Union.

Drawing upon reams of newly declassified presidential papers, as well as untapped Soviet media archives and new interviews with key players, Kengor traces Reagan's efforts to target the Soviet Union from his days as governor of California to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of what he famously dubbed the "Evil Empire." The result is a major revision and enhancement of what historians are only beginning to realize: That Reagan not only wished for the collapse of communism, but had a deep and specific understanding of what it would take––and effected dozens of policy shifts that brought the USSR to its heels within a decade of his presidency.

The Crusader makes use of key sources from behind the Iron Curtain, including one key memo that implicates a major American liberal politician–still in office today–in a scheme to enlist Soviet premier Yuri Andropov to help defeat Reagan's 1984 reelection bid. Such new finds make The Crusader not just a work of extraordinary history, but a work of explosive revelation that will be debated as hotly in 2006 as Reagan's policies were in the 1980s.

Customer Reviews:

Bringing Down the Walls of Communism.......2007-09-09

Ronald Reagan is one of the rare figures in history who transcends political ideology. Often portrayed as more communicator than true statesman, The Crusader presents a far different picture. Paul Kengor does a masterful work of combining Reagan's own words with seldom published source material. The picture that develops is of a man who truly believed communism was evil and dedicated the later part of his life to seeing its downfall.

Since President Reagan's death, more and more historians have begun to change their opinion of his effectiveness and influence as leader of the free world. No matter what your political leanings, The Crusader is a fine example of historical writing done right.

Ronald Reagan - The Crusader.......2007-09-09

I have been a supporter of Ronald Reagan since his first run for the Presidency in 1976. I learned things about President Reagan that I did not know before reading this book. Most notably, this book details and documents just how President Reagan was in charge of his agenda, notwithstanding the best efforts of the American left to portray him otherwise, particularly the defeat and destruction of the Soviet Union.

The book is extremely well written and is a page turner from the first chapter on. This is a must read for any fan of the greatest president of the last century. Reagan haters and deniers will want to avoid this book so as not to have to confront real history and all its implications.

Ronald Reagan= One Great American .......2007-07-22

The late President Reagan's crusade against Communism in Russia freed millions of innocent people around the world, and in the end made the world a much better place when he died.

History will record that Reagan was one of the greatest presidents in American history, and we should all take his example in both moral leadership, and courageousness.

All future American leaders should look to Reagan as an example of honesty, sacrifice, and fortitude for taking on the problems of the 21rst century.

God rest the soul of President Ronald Reagan, and may God bless America.

"The Crusader" One person can make a difference........2007-05-18

If there was ever a book showing that one person can make a difference, it is "The Crusader," by Paul Kengor. It is amazing how many times Ronald Reagan went against the advice of most if not all of his advisors, and in the end proved to be correct.(Most advisors did not want Reagan to tell Garbachev to "tear down this wall," during his now famous speech.)
Today, President Bush often gets criticized for unilateral inclinations. The book shows that Ronald Reagan was the unilateralsit of all unilateralists. It was even humorous to read how Reagan would go through the motions during his cabinet meetings and often in press conferences, while at the same time he had this whole separate operation going on to bring down the Soviet Union, that very few, even very few of his cabinet members, knew about. Can anyone say leader? It also shows, that even though Reagan was calling the shots, how important Bill Casey and Bill Clark were to the entire operation.
This is the best book I have read on Ronald Reagan, and the best book that I have read on the process that actually ended the Cold War.
It really does put the final nail in the coffin for those clueless "intellectuals" who say that the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, and even the Berlin Wall would have fallen anyway. The book gives an amazingly detailed step by step account of the economic war against the Soviets and all of the National Security Decision Directives that Reagan virtually single-handedly initiated.
The book shows that Ronald Reagan would often go against conventional wisdom. For example, he had great disdain for the Yalta agreements, and for the policy of containment, and eventually, virtually reversed them.
The book also shows how Reagan's anti-communist passions go way back in his life, and how those sentiments are based on his respect for the human being. It tells of a time when he was in East Germany and saw a lady shopper accosted by an East German guard, and how this incident and others firmed his resolve against the evil of communism. It is pointed out how Reagan was actually motivated to act when others weren't, and how Reagan had an inborn sense of the right thing to do. And the book shows that Reagan's pattern to rescue those in distress goes back to his early days when saved 77 people over 7 summers from the swift currents of the Rock River in Dixon Illinois.
"The Crusader" goes into great detail about the relationship between President Reagan and the great Pope John Paul II, and his role in bringing down communism. And it details Reagan's great admiration for the Polish people, and how they admired him in return, and how Poland's Solidarity Movement was one of the major factors in Reagan's and the Pope's effort to bring down communism. And how the people of Poland, the rest of Eastern Europe, and the Soviet Union gave great credit to Reagan for bringing them freedom.
The book also details how Reagan brought freedom to Central and South America.
Before I read "The Crusader," I thought that President Ronald Reagan was our greatest U.S. President. After reading the book, my opinion of him only improved. In fact, he and Pope John Paul II have to be two of the great men of the millenium.
It was often said that Reagan had very few, if any, close friends, except Nancy. Probably my favorite story in the book was when, in 1989, just before the previously unimaginable free elections in Poland, Reagan welcomed two members of Solidarity and the two Polish Americans who were hosting them, to his office in California. Reagan pointed to a picture of Pope John Paul II on his office wall and said: "He is my best friend. Yes, you know I am a Protestant, but he's still my best friend." If you are going to have a best friend, not a bad on to have. Thankyou.

Mark S.Robertson
Independence, Mo.

Irrefutable evidence.......2007-05-12

5 stars for the research, which includes documents declassified only in recent years, as well as confirmation from Soviet sources and press articles reaffirming what the Soviets feared, and what Reagan knew .. that the USSR could be brought down with economic pressure.
Despite doubters from even within his own administration (and Nancy), Reagan conspired to wage economic war on the Soviet Union, and succeeded. It was very normal during these times to consider the USSR invincible - understandably bringing about the detente of previous administrations both Republican and Democrat. But Reagan had a goal of actually WINNING the Cold War. Who knew it was even possible? Reagan did, that's who.
From conspiring against the USSR's natural gas lines into Western Europe (a major source of the USSR's revenues that even the West did not cooperate with him on), to actually sabotaging one of the lines, to SDI, and Reagan's military backing of the Afghans - all these factors and more contributed to straining the USSR's economy, and forcing the country to use increased funds into these endeavors - an unexpected expense for a government so thin on resources.
My biggest revlation from the book:
In addition, Reagan's friendliness with the Saudis was hugely beneficial to American interests of the day. Both sides' willingness to help one another led to the Saudis going against OPEC and lowering oil prices worldwide - something the Saudis faced huge criticism from Middle Eastern neighbors for.
Think about it: High oil prices in the 70s helped the Soviet (an oil-producing nation, remember) economy and naturally hurt the USA's - which led to increased military spending by the USSR and helped tighten its grip on the Eastern bloc. High oil also helped contribute to Americans' inferiority complex to the Soviets.
Then, low prices in the 80s hurt the Soviet economy drastically, helped the American consumer, which helped bring increased revenues to pay for Reagan's military spending.
Scholars may argue that each president during the Cold War contributed to the USSR's fall, and the USSR economy might have been on the tipping point anyway, but this book gives absolute, irrefutable evidence that Reagan accelerated the USSR's fall before a generation that never thought it would be possible.

Crusader (The Wayfarer Redemption, Book 6)

Average customer rating:

Worst Fantasy Novel in the History of the Universe
More!
Bizarre and terribly disappointing.
Good finish to a solid fantasy series
A Decent, if Somewhat Unsatisfying, Conclusion to the Series

Crusader (The Wayfarer Redemption, Book 6)
Sara Douglass
Manufacturer: Tor Fantasy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0765342804
Release Date: 2007-02-06

Book Description

For countless millennia the Star Dance and the TimeKeeper Demons have battled their way across the universe, destroying innumerable planets, laying waste to civilizations across the cosmos.

Choosing the land of Tencendor as their last battleground, the demons break through the Star Gate. The Gate destroyed, all magic in the world is gone and the three races of Tencendor are plunged into a vortex of chaos, madness, and death.
Caelum SunSoar, son of the near-immortal Starman Axis and beloved ruler of all the land’s peoples, is dead. Leaderless, those not killed outright or driven mad flee to the one place left to them, Sanctuary, a magical place created ages past to shield all who are good from the wrath of the demons.

There is for some one hope left: DragonStar, Axis’s other son. Many believe he is the true StarSon, the only being that can save their world. Others are just as convinced that he is in league with the demons and will be their doom. Only DragonStar knows the truth and as he and his companions go forth to do battle he prays that he may convince all that his motives are pure.

What he does not know is that there is a traitor who plans to hand Sanctuary over to the Demons. A betrayer whose actions could force DragonStar to make a sacrifice so bloody and horrific that it could mean the destruction of everything that he holds dear in this life or the next.

And if he fails, could doom Tecendor to an eternal hell.

Customer Reviews:

Worst Fantasy Novel in the History of the Universe.......2007-09-13

When I read the original 3 books of The Wayfarer Redemption (the Axis Trilogy, as it's sometimes called), I was marginally entertained. They were decent reads, even though the characters were fairly transparent and the ending was entirely predictable. So I decided to read the final 3 books of the series, purportedly the final trilogy.

This was a BAD idea.

Sinner, the first book of the second trilogy, was bad. The plot was just weird, the characters were completely unbelievable, and most notable, the writing was really poor. Foolishly thinking this was an aberration, I went ahead and read the 5th book Pilgrim, which turned out to be even worse. Sara Douglass' creative ability seemed to be regressing to that of a mildly retarded child, and her writing ability was not much better. Still, being the idiot that I am, I decided to finish the series and read Crusader.

Crusader is the worst book I have ever read, of any genre, of any topic, ever.

Reading this novel was physically painful; I literally felt like my brain was melting and pooling at the base of my skull. A baboon with autism could have written a more coherent, more plausible, and more entertaining story. I can't believe anyone with any respect for books or the trees they are printed on would even let this be published.

If you are even considering reading this novel, PLEASE spare yourself the misery and don't do it! You will regret it. Trust me, I do.

More!.......2007-06-06

Although Sara Douglass had her ups and downs, I still enjoyed every piece she has written. The entire Wayfarer Redemption series was excellent, but I feel the need to express my disappointment. Crusader, the sixth book of the series, ended somewhat unresolved. What was you-know-who randomly doing in Coroleas at the end of the book? Does the author plan to write more? Where are Drago and Faraday headed? Is the field of flowers really the 'be all, end all' of things?
Honestly, I want Tencendor back. I want the star dance and my favorite characters back, too. We hardly got to see much of the 'new Tencendor' before it was destroyed by the demons. And now all we get is a field of flowers. Pretty, but a little boring. I also wanted to see Zenith put her stupid prudeness aside and get with StarDrifter. Let the two be happy for once. (What's up with that?)
Will she write MORE that, in the end, gives more closure than the previous conclusion? If so, I,m dying to read it.

Bizarre and terribly disappointing. .......2007-06-06

The Wayfarer Redemption has gone from pure brilliance to utter disappointment with this final installment of the series by Sara Douglass. As a life-long reader and lover of fantasy I have never been so appalled by the conclusion of a fantasy series - especially one that started out so good. I thought hard about whether or not to even write this review, fearing that my negativity might turn off many readers to Sara Douglass' other work. However, I was so stunned by the poor quality of Crusader that I decided that I must let other readers know how I feel.

I found the original Wayfarer Redemption trilogy, books one, two and three of this now six book series, to be absolutely brilliant. The scope of the world, the depth of the characters, the original use of magic and the epic story lines make it one of my favorite fantasy worlds. However, what started out as an amazing series quickly turned sour when Sara Douglass tacked on another three books - Sinner, Pilgrim, and finally Crusader. While it is said that the Wayfarer Redemption was always meant to be a six book series, there is a huge difference in quality between the first and second trilogy.

Everything that was accomplished, fought and struggled for in the original trilogy is quickly and utterly destroyed in this second trilogy and thus makes the original trilogy pointless and trivial. Everything, literally, is wiped out. Tencendor and everything in it - gone. Washed away like the first trilogy was nothing important. This is extremely frustrating for all the readers who spent so much time reading the first trilogy and struggling with the characters as they finally defeat Gorgrael and create peace for Tencendor. Then suddenly the demons come and, poof, all gone.

Crusader is, by far, the worst of the series. The writing becomes erratic and the plot lines start to exceed being fantastical and venture into the realm of ridiculousness. The use of magic in Crusader loses its rules and boundaries and suddenly characters, especially DragonStar, are able to do whatever they want. In all fantasy, magic must have rules and limitations in order to make it meaningful and not omnipotent. The Star Dance used to be the very original and creative way that magic was cast. In Crusader, there are no longer rules. Characters have magic when they need it and it just does whatever is needed to bail them out. DragonStar can practically do anything with his Acharite magic and in many instances it is truly ridiculous. Magic always (pardon the pun) magically appears just at the right time, even though the characters have no prior knowledge or training on how to use it. It simply works - all the time - and all the characters know just how to use it.

One of the low points in Crusader was the sudden and random relationship between Zenith and WolfStar. Out of nowhere, Zenith realizes she is in love with WolfStar and then begins a relationship with him. All this despite the fact that WolfStar raped her and she claims to be truly in love with StarDrifter. This extremely frustrating love triangle never receives any sort of resolution. All three are suddenly eaten alive at the same time. The end. Even worse, Axis barely grieves about this and then its just forgotten.

I don't wish to give away too much for those who actually make it to the end of Crusader without giving up, but believe me when I say the end is terribly disappointing. All the random magic and ridiculous elements come together to culminate in an ending that left me wondering what had happened. I had to reread the last several chapters and I still don't really understand what is supposed to have happened. So much of Crusader turns bizarre that nothing past the middle of the book really makes sense anymore. Poorly constructed connections with the original trilogy mesh with unresolved plot lines and mix together with ridiculous occurrences and last minute magic casting to form a conclusion that is so random it is hard to fathom.

So much of Crusader is bizarre and ridiculous. I really had a hard time believing it was written by the same author. If you are reading this after having finished Crusader, I'm sorry that you also had to endure such a train wreck ending. If you are reading this and haven't started the second trilogy, don't. The first trilogy stands on its own and is better if you never read the second trilogy. I wish I hadn't.

Good finish to a solid fantasy series.......2007-05-31

Some nice twists and turns. A very good read and had a lot of fun with the whole series.

A Decent, if Somewhat Unsatisfying, Conclusion to the Series.......2007-05-06

The actual conflict between the TimeKeeper Demons and Dragonstar is handled very well and for the first time in the series Faraday does not end up as the proverbial punching bag at the end of the book. That said, I felt that Starman (Book Three - and the original conclusion of the series) did a better job of satisfactorily tying up everything that came before it, despite the somewhat tragic outcome of one of the main characters. I hate being so vague about this, but unfortunately going into too great a detail about the conclusion to this book would result in a pretty big spoiler. That said, the book does leave open the possibility of further sequels for at least a few of the characters, which makes me hopeful for the possibility of a more satisfying conclusion in the future.
Bottom line, if you have read the previous books, there is absolutely no reason not to read this one - you will enjoy it. The series as a whole is very well written and I would highly recommend it.

Crusader!: Last of the Gunfighters (Schiffer Military/Aviation History)

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Excellent aircraft history
I Cannot Recommend This Book Highly Enough

Crusader!: Last of the Gunfighters (Schiffer Military/Aviation History)
Paul T. Gillcrist , and John H. Glenn
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0887407668

Book Description

Once known as the "Last of the Gunfighters", the Vought F-8 Crusader has since become a legend in the histories of the U.S. and French navies, as well as a scourge in the skies over North Vietnam in the late 1960s! CRUSADER! is a vital oral history of one of the most controversial fighter planes in carrier aviation. A key to the authenticity of this story are the author's personal interviews with sixteen of the seventeen living Crusader pilots who became MiG killers in the Vietnam air war. His analysis of their aerial engagements over North Vietnam from 1965 to 1973 contains some startling surprises, as well as a validation of many of the tactical lessons learned from World War II and Korea. CRUSADER! also contains personal accounts by F-8 speed record holders such as U.S. Marine Corps Major (now Senator) John Glenn and Captains Bob Dose and "Duke" Windsor. Other aviation records held by the Crusader, (not so enviable) are told, in anecdotal form, for the first time by the author, an F-8 driver and participant in some of them! Colorful, and sometimes humorous, accounts of events involving the F-8 and "Crusader Drivers" abound in this chronicle of carrier aviation covering the three decades when this remarkable airplane was an important element of the U.S. Navy's carrier strike forces. Rear Admiral Paul T. Gillcrist commanded a fleet Crusader squadron, then a carrier air wing and finally, as a flag officer, became wing commander for all Pacific Fleet fighter squadrons. During his fleet squadron command he completed three carrier deployments to the Tonkin Gulf and flew 167 combat missions in the Crusader for which he was awarded seventeen combat decorations. The author of FEET WET, Reflections of a Carrier Pilot (1990) and TOMCAT, The Grumman F-14 Story (1994), Admiral Gillcrist is well qualified to write the story of the Crusader!, over 200 color and b/w photographs, 8 1/2" x 11"

Customer Reviews:

Excellent aircraft history.......2006-08-18

A "must read" for anyone who appreciates the F-8 (or wants to) or just loves military aviation. A thorough history of this amazing airplane and those who flew it through a collection of great first-hand fighter pilot's stories. Some are told from the author's own experience and many more from other Crusader pilots interviewed by the author. For example: John Glenn's record-breaking flight in his own words, along with many accounts of Vietnam MiG encounters. I loved this book and plan on reading much more by this author.

I Cannot Recommend This Book Highly Enough.......1998-09-24

This is a fantastic collection of pilot's stories dealing with the "Last of the Gunfighters" the Vought F-8 Crusader. Rear Admiral Paul T Gillcrist has 2000 hours of Crusader time and his impressive knowledge and affection for the aircraft is very apparent throughout. The first part of the book arms the reader with background knowledge of early jet carrier operations as well as the story of Crusader speed records. The bulk of the book deals with the experiences, both harrowing and amusing, of numerous Crusader pilots including fascinating interviews with each pilot to shoot down a MiG in the aircraft. The final chapters give the author's expert analysis of the air war in Vietnam, and an overview of the use of the aircraft by the French Navy, the Naval Reserve and NASA. The book does not suffer from the shortfall of other books in that it is very skilfully written so that a layman can imagine theirself in the thick of the action. After reading this book you are left with a great respect for the men of the US Navy and Marine Corps who flew and fought in the Crusader and operated the aircraft from small aircraft carriers. As a commercial pilot I can only wonder how I would cope with landing a Mach2 airplane on a small heaving 27C carrier deck at night. To these men it was routine. Anyone who is remotely interested in aviation will find this book a great asset to their collection and I cannot recommend it highly enough

Crusader Art in the Holy Land, From the Third Crusade to the Fall of Acre

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Crusader Art in the Holy Land, From the Third Crusade to the Fall of Acre
Jaroslav Folda
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0521835836

Book Description

This book tells the story of the Architecture and the Figural Art produced for the Crusaders after the battle of Hattin and the fall of Jerusalem in 1187, during the one hundred years that Acre was the capital of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, 1191â€“1291. It is an art sponsored by kings and queens, patriarchs and bishops, clergy, monks, friars, knights and soldiers, aristocrats and merchants, all men and women of means, who came as pilgrims, Crusaders, settlers, and men of commerce to the Holy Land. The artists are Franks and Italians born and/or resident in the Holy Land, Westerners who traveled to the Latin East, Eastern Christians, and even Muslims, who worked for Crusader patrons.

The Crusaders: The Struggle for the Holy Land

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This woman was truly a genius
A thoughtful and unforgettable trip through history
"Don't Confuse Me with Facts"

The Crusaders: The Struggle for the Holy Land
Regine Pernoud
Manufacturer: Ignatius Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0898709490

Book Description

There is no shortage of stories about the crusades, or of biographies of those who played the leading roles in this, the greatest epic of the Middle Ages. But there has been no book in which we could find, recreated, the way of life, the world view, the everyday social organization of those who tempted adventure. They were kings and paupers, barons, clerks, women, and merchants. Some were driven by their faith, others by the spirit of conquest, and some by a hunger for greatness and wealth.

Régine Pernoud presents for us a living picture in which we can view, first hand, the awe of the Christians as they beheld the Muslim world, the myriad ordeals they sustained while traveling for years in unknown lands, and the remarkable way in which they managed to adapt, to colonize, to erect churches and fortresses, and to abide for centuries in the face of an adversary far greater in number. Here, an unrecognized page in our history finally reveals itself. A great historian and writer brings this colorful period alive.

Régine Pernoud, a renowned French archivist and historian, is among the greatest medievalists of our times, and the success of her books has helped to bring the Middle Ages closer to us. Among her numerous works are Those Terrible Middle Ages! and Women in the Days of the Cathedrals.

Customer Reviews:

This woman was truly a genius.......2006-06-09

This book uses the Crusades and the Crusaders to illustrate how feudal society lived and how feudal man thought. This book is not a narrative of the Crusades proper and does assume the reader has some knowledge of the events.

I found surprising that the culture of "Truce of God" (the restrictions on warfare imposed by the Church and observed by most European combatants) was such an obstacle to raising a Crusading army. Also since the Crusades were not a war of conquest, most Crusaders left when they felt they had fulfilled their vow. For example after the 1st Crusade less than 2500 Crusaders remained in the Holy Land. When you add logistic difficulties, Byzantine treachery, and internal rivalries it is amazing the Crusaders accomplished as much as they did. Most important, though she doesn't gloss over when atrocities were committed, she makes irrefutably evident that, overall, the Crusaders made a positive contribution to life in the region: something you are not likely to read about the Crusades from modern American writers.

Regine Pernoud was a historian unlike any I have read. Her ability to present what it was like to live in medieval society and to think like a medieval person in a manner that a modern reader can relate to is nothing short of wondrous. Her description of places and events is almost poetic. Her historical insight is literally jaw-dropping. If, like me, you imagined that it must have been horrible to live in the Middle Ages this book will give you a different picture.

Her translators also need to be congratulated since they have done a great job transmitting her words of genius.

A thoughtful and unforgettable trip through history.......2004-04-05

In The Crusaders: The Struggle For The Holy Land, renowned French archivist and historian Regine Pernoud focuses upon the human aspect by presenting profiles of those who undertook the Crusades ranging from the kings, to the barons, clerks, women, merchants, and paupers. Whether driven by faith, conquest, or greed, their individual and collective perspectives are vividly described, and providing contemporary readers with a detailed and lasting impression of the shock of Christian perspectives created when introduced to the Muslim world. A thoughtful and unforgettable trip through history that virtually puts the reader in this long-ago era, The Crusaders is an ideal introduction for non-specialist general readers.

"Don't Confuse Me with Facts".......2004-02-13

This book is a wonderful corrective for two sets of people: (1) Those who idealize the Crusades, the crusaders, and the culture which surrounded and informed them; (2) Those who uncritically villify everything that the folks in the first category idealize.
Pernoud presents the Crusades in all their considerable glory and all their considerable shame. For example, an entire chapter is devoted to the character of St. Louis, the "perfect crusader", who so well embodied everything that was good in the crusader mentality. Juxtaposed to that, we hear of Frederick II of Hohenstaufen, the "crusader without faith" who broke into the Thirteenth Century like a walking talking preview of the less gentle times to come -- a herald of Machiavelli, Napolean, and LBJ. As an admirer of the Middle Ages, I had always viewed Frederick II was an aberration -- like an intruder from another planet. But no. Pernoud shows (without a soapbox) that it should not be surprising that a Frederick II should arise -- even in the most civilized of centuries.
Pernoud makes these points, as I said, without a soapbox. He writes sober history -- Jack Webb style. And this sober recital of facts is just what ideologues on my side and on the opposite side really need.

Crusader Castles in Cyprus, Greece and the Aegean 1191-1571 (Fortress)

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Crusader Castles in Cyprus, Greece and the Aegean 1191-1571 (Fortress)
David Nicolle
Manufacturer: Osprey Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1841769762
Release Date: 2007-02-27

Book Description

Crusader castles and other fortifications in Cyprus, the south-western coast of Turkey, and Greece are among the best examples of late medieval military architecture to be seen in Europe. These important fortifications, erected by the Hospitallers during the 15th century to face the growing Ottoman Turkish threat, vary considerably from those in the Middle East. Despite there being many visible remains of fortifications in Cyprus, Greece, and the Aegean, few studies exist of these areas compared to the fortifications of the Holy Land.

Providing numerous architectural plans, maps, and color illustrations, this book seeks to redress this imbalance and complement the previous bestselling treatments of Crusader fortifications in the Fortress series.

Wild Women: Crusaders, Curmudgeons, and Completely Corsetless Ladies in the Otherwise Virtuous Victorian Era

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wonderful collection
Adventurous ladies rediscovered.
Witty and Wise!
Humour does not take away from importance of facts
The other side of the Victorian Lady...Terrific reference!

Wild Women: Crusaders, Curmudgeons, and Completely Corsetless Ladies in the Otherwise Virtuous Victorian Era
Autumn Stephens
Manufacturer: Conari Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0943233364

Customer Reviews:

wonderful collection.......2003-11-20

I think this book is great....wonderful photos, interesting facts from ladies from the Victorian Era (which is a time in history, not a place or country) Great buy for fun women and history buffs!

Adventurous ladies rediscovered........2003-11-10

Amusing collection of mini biographies of various American ladies rather strangely described as being from the Victorian era(surely it must be called something else in America, i mean sorry but she wasn't your Queen, you know)Some of the ladies I had heard of, many I hadn't, all were fun to read about. The back of the book proclaims 150 Women gave Queen Victoria fits! even though the book contains at least 2 women whom Queen Victoria greatly admired. One is Annie Oakley,although Ms. Stephens describes the Queen as 'simpering' at her (I am confident that Queen Victoria never simpered in her life). The other is Harriet Beacher Stowe, whose novel Dred she prefered to Uncle Tom's Cabin, saying "how interested she was in Nina, how provoked when she died, and how angry that something dreadful did not happen to Tom Gordon". Queen Victoria was at least as interesting as any of the women in Autumn Stephens' book, and would I am sure have sympathised with at least some of them. She gave her name to an entire age in England (and apparently in America too!)

Witty and Wise!.......2001-06-14

I don't know what I expected but this is an extremely witty book. But it's also a very wise book. Stephens has written dozens and dozens of wonderful essays on some very remarkable women. I loved them all, but somehow I found myself lingering among those Controversial Curers and Ingenious Invalids! I must identify! Oh, dear, but then again, Charlotte Gilman Perkins is there, so what can I say? There are funny details, interesting facts, nice photographs and even quotes that will make your days pass by in sober reflection. Don't let the wit overwhelm the sober. A wonderful edition for ALL collections on women in history. Now if only I could get my hands on one of Lydia Pinkham's cure for PMS! You can find her grave online too. She was a marvel!

Humour does not take away from importance of facts.......2000-04-23

Though written with wit and humour, one can only begin to imagine the amount of research that went into this book. The convictions of the women described within this tome inspire perseverence in those of us who are challenged by our individual goals.

The other side of the Victorian Lady...Terrific reference!.......1999-09-07

I found this book fascinating, a quick sometimes shocking read. A feminist eye-opener with short, readable, to-the-point anecdotes of unconventional women's lives from primary sources. Also if you love historical romance, you will definitely love this book. ~Gaelen Foley, author of PRINCESS

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Crusader Castles and Modern Histories
Ronnie Ellenblum
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0521860830

Book Description

For the last 150 years the historiography of the Crusades has been dominated by nationalist and colonialist discourses in Europe and the Levant. These modern histories have interpreted the Crusades in terms of dichotomous camps, Frankish and Muslim. In this revisionist study, Ronnie Ellenblum presents an interpretation of Crusader historiography that instead defines military and architectural relations between the Franks, local Christians, Muslims and Turks in terms of continuous dialogue and mutual influence. Through close analysis of siege tactics, defensive strategies and the structure and distribution of Crusader castles, Ellenblum relates patterns of crusader settlement to their environment and demonstrates the influence of opposing cultures on tactics and fortifications. He argues that fortifications were often built according to economic and geographic considerations rather than for strategic reasons or to protect illusory 'frontiers', and that Crusader castles are the most evident expression of a cultural dialogue between east and west.

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