Book Description
Praise for Chocolates on the Pillow Aren't Enough
"Jonathan recognizes that in today's Internet-fed, savvy-consumer world, it is the people-to-people connections, regardless of price point, that differentiate a customer's experience. Gimmicks come and go, but without sincere and caring people delivering the overall experience, from start to finish, well, it's true--chocolates on the pillow are not enough. A great read!"
—David Neeleman, founder and CEO, JetBlue Airways Corporation
"If you don't work for your customer, you're not doing your job. Who better to turn to for lessons in great customer experiences than Jonathan Tisch? He has long been one of the most respected leaders in travel and hospitality, and when it comes to treating all customers like guests, to put it simply, he gets it. And then some."
—Millard S. Drexler, Chairman and CEO, J. Crew Group
"What brings customers back to my restaurants? Why do viewers watch my TV show? It's more than Bam! It's delivering a kicked-up customer experience. Tisch is the guy who knows how to do this best. His book gives the inside scoop on how to excite your customers and bring 'em back for more."
—Emeril Lagasse
"Attention to detail, passion, and dedication are a few of the things that made me successful as an athlete. Jonathan knows that by doing the same in business, you maximize the customer's experience and outscore the competition."
—Tiki Barber
Customer Reviews:
Interesting but lacks cohesiveness.......2007-08-28
Jonathon Tisch is Chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels, one of the premier hotel groups in the world. In Chocolates on the pillow aren't enough, he takes us beyond some simplistic (but important) customer centric concepts to show us how to re-invent the customer experience. If you are looking for a book that describes the hotel business, you need to look somewhere else, because Tisch and co-author Karl Weber take us far beyond the walls of Loews Hotels.
Tisch endeavors to show how to engineer the total customer experience by in effect re-imagining the customer experience.
Tisch writes about The Hospitable Organization - Turning customers into guests. Here he shows how Gerry Levin, former CEO of AOL Time Warner is re- imagining health care although it should be noted that his concept is only suitable for extremely wealthy people.
To some extent the book lacks continuity and a real sense of cohesiveness as we are taken through numerous concepts to re-invent the customer experience.
Concepts include;
Home away from Home: The art of welcoming customers
One size does not fit all: The new art of customization
Let me introduce you: Customer communities in an interactive world
Everyone is welcome: The challenges of customer diversity
This is not a standard customer service book but the benefit of this book is that it will help you to think through some potentially new customer centric solutions that may help you grow your business.
ho hum - buy this used. .......2007-07-02
If you have been living under a rock and have no clue about trends in customer service over the past few years - this is a good book. However, if you have ever studied the Dell customer experience and looked at successful retailers, or unless you want to read an infomercial for Loew's hotels, your money is better spent elsewhere. I found the constant references to Loew's hotels annoying given the chain isn't exactly the pinnacle of the customer experience. The anecdotes could have come from any number of fine hotels around the globe. You're better off buying this used or looking elsewhere. This work is neither eye opening nor inspiring. I found myself reading it quickly in order to drop it off in a reading room instead of allowing such garbage to take up room in my carry on bag. You can go to the Villa Andarra in Bali (which in spite of being a small hotel, connects well with its guest) to read my copy for free.
Give Your Best, Then A Little Bit More.......2007-06-05
Jonathan Tisch's "Chocolates On The Pillow Are Not Enough" is a must read for anyone who is in the business of serving people - whether in the private, the non-profit, or the public sectors. (I have extrapolated the application of Tisch's ideas to organizations that are not commercial enterprises). Tisch translates his years of experience and observation as a hotelier to address both the why and the how of "meeting a challenge that never ends." It is the challenge of creating deeper, richer, more satisfying connections to your organization in today's complex, rapidly changing world. While you can get closure on a number of key management tasks, you can never declare "mission accomplished" when connecting with customers,employees, or donors. Like other relationships in life, a relationship with any stakeholder is a long-lasting, evolving, living entity.
Themes and practices in "Chocolates" are drawn from some of the world's smartest and most successful organizations including In-N-Out Burger, McDonalds, Dell, Sephora, Commerce Bank (NJ), Virgin Healthcare, Revolution On-line (Steve Case), Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Target, E-Z Pass, 311 phone exchange, Harley Davidson, and EBay. Any reader is bound to find one, two, or three exciting ideas that can be applied immediately in his/her own organization. Tisch adds "Big Aha's" at the end of each chapter summarizing the key thoughts/actions making the book a useful reference.
Tisch provides the hotelier's secret (people remember the experience not the attributes), and answers to the question "What happened to my customers?"(in world beset by discord, inequality, hyper-partisan politics, and the threat of terror). He helps us to re-imagine the customer experience and focuses our attention on creating customers who are happy to buy.
A most valuable part of the book for all will be the sections on the "The Art of Welcome." This is something most companies (and in particular, non-profits) do not give attention to, whether with customers, new employees, or suppliers. Tisch warns us to pay attention to the decompression zone, where people enter, and THEIR threshold resistance. We must learn to understand what makes people feel welcome, comfortable and relaxed. If we do, they want to buy (the customer), or make a significant contribution (the new employee, supplier, or donor).
"Chocolates" highlights why the art of the welcome is crucial to all organizations. And Tisch chides us to give our best, and then, a little bit more.
Lots of solid customer experience know-how.......2007-05-09
The book has two main sections - a problem/solution statement and a (much longer) section on "Reimagining the Customer Experience". Each chapter has a "Big Ahas" section at the end to summarize the critical points Jonathan is trying to make and the book is generally well-written and an easy read. It is a little hotel- or hospitality-industry centric but not more than you would expect given his background.
The first section lays out why the authors think that customers are more fickle and harder to please than in the past. Arguing that there is no way to turn back the clock, they talk about "getting back to basics" and creating stronger, longer-lasting ties to customers. He quotes the CEO of Proctor and Gamble "People remember experiences. They don't remember [product] attributes." The book talks about engineering the total customer experience as the solution, starting by focusing on the totality of the customers experience across every touchpoint. Among his solution ideas are looking for ways to give your customers both simplicity and flexibility, thinking about all the touchpoints your customers have, linking with customers directly even if you are not selling directly and that customers are a moving target.
The second part has a series of chapters, most of which had some great points. These range from discussion of the power of personalization and customization in making customers feel in control and happy to buy, to the challenges of providing security. He is a big proponent of transparency, arguing that what one customers knows all will soon know and that you can get real benefits out of being more transparent. He argues that even big organizations can think small in terms of welcoming customers that you should build your future with existing customers.
All in all a good and worthwhile read. You might want to consider The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business Is Selling Less of More also.
Great examples of companies that innovative with customer experiences.......2007-04-07
I got off to a slow start reading this book, stopping and restarting several times, but eventually once about 25% through the book it drew me in with its superb examples. It's made me rethink a couple things about my business as well!
This book may be frustrating for people in any kind of customer service at companies where they cannot improve the customer experience because of "rules" and mindset, but may encourage them to leave and go somewhere they'll be appreciated more.
For anyone in a position of any authority at an organization with lots of customers, especially less than very happy customers, this book is a great and insightful read.
Average customer rating:
- Can Someone Say.....Downright Stupid????
- Intriguing Plot kept me reading page after page.
- the first lady
- Great Minds..........
- NOT SO GOOD!!!!
|
The First Lady
Carl Weber
Manufacturer: Dafina
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| African American
| United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
British
| Short Stories
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Mystery
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Fiction Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Mystery & Thriller Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
She Ain't The One
-
Love and Lies
-
Sleeping with Strangers
-
So You Call Yourself A Man
-
When Somebody Loves You Back
ASIN: 0758215754 |
Book Description
The national bestselling author of The Preacher's Son and So You Call Yourself A Man returns with a scandalously spirited new novel about a woman who knows she's her husband's First Lady--but doesn't want to be his last...
Charlene Wilson, First Lady of First Jamaica Ministries, has lived a good life with two wonderful children and her beloved husband, Bishop T.K. Wilson. Now the Lord is calling her home at the age of forty-four. She's ready to go, but what will happen to T.K. after she's gone?
The Bishop may be a man of God, but he's still a man who needs a woman. Trouble is, T.K. is just as naïve as any other man when it comes to women--especially slick-ass, bible-toting, man-hungry church women. That's why Charlene has planned a way to hang around in spirit--to make sure her replacement is a good one.
First in line is Marlene, the mother of T.K.'s illegitimate daughter, Tanisha. Then there's Monique Johnson, First Lady of Plastic Surgery and Implants. The only thing real about Monique is how much she wants T.K. Next is Savannah Dickens, the church's attractive new choir soloist, who's also the daughter of a prominent church elder. And last but not least is Charlene's good friend, Sister Lisa Mae Johnson, widow of Pastor Lee Jones.
With the help of her friend Alison, Charlene anticipates any scenario that might occur in a series of letters addressed to the lucky ladies. Alison has vowed to keep an eye on T.K.'s social life and deliver them as needed. No one else knows about the letters, but rest assured, they will shake up a whole lot of people. Charlene may soon be gone, but her presence will be felt...
Customer Reviews:
Can Someone Say.....Downright Stupid????.......2007-10-07
What would make someone spend ANY TIME sitting in front a computer pounding the keys to spin out such an unbelievable story is beyond me. Mr. Weber come back from la-la land and get back to work. As far as Christian fiction, please leave this genre alone. There was entirely too much offensive language. The title and cover of the book were both deceiving....
Intriguing Plot kept me reading page after page........2007-09-24
When I first started reading "The First Lady" I was about to close the book and forget about it, because it was so boring and tedious to read. I'm glad I didn't, because this story turned out to be a very enjoyable read. By midway, I was getting a good dose of all the spitefulness and scheming that these women of the church could dream up. Cark Weber didn't hold anything back as he unfolded the driving force of these women as they competed to become the new First Lady of Jamaica Ministries. By this time, I was hooked, so I kept reading and wondering which of these women would triumph and be crowned First Lady. There is no need for me to tell you more about the story and spoil it for you. In my opinion, it's a wonderful, entertaining novel and except for the slow start it will keep you turning page after page.
the first lady.......2007-09-14
Carl weber is my number 1 author........ and i read this book in 3 days. this book was a page turner from the first page i could not put it down.... i have not read a book by carl i did not love (smile) i am looking forward to reading his next book someting on the side,I am now reading she ain't the one...... carl is the man, when he writes he keeps you on the edge of your seat and either laughing or guessing what's next. so keep up the great work. god bless u carl!
Great Minds.................2007-09-12
I enjoy this book alot it was something, i tell that CARL has a mind off this world to write all of this stuff and whats funny about it is their people just like that and i think he marry right one because thats were his heart was so good for you Mr.Weber you did it AGAIN.
NOT SO GOOD!!!!.......2007-07-31
I AM A BIG FAN OF CARL WEBER, AND I HAVE READ ALL OF HIS BOOKS. I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE 1ST LADY HAS BEEN MY LEAST FAVORITE. I REALLY COULD NOT GET INTO THIS BOOK. THE PREACHERS SON WAS DEFINITELY A BETTER READ.
Book Description
The Baltic War which began in the novel 1633 is still raging, and the time-lost Americans of Grantville¿the West Virginia town hurled back into the seventeenth century by a mysterious cosmic accident¿are caught in the middle of it. Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden and Emperor of the United States of Europe, prepares a counter-attack on the combined forces of France, Spain, England, and Denmark¿former enemies which have allied in the League of Ostend to destroy the threat to their power that the Americans represent¿which are besieging the German city of Luebeck. Elsewhere in war-torn Europe, several American plans are approaching fruition. Admiral Simpson of Grantville frantically races against time to finish the USE Navy¿s ironclad ships¿desperately needed to break the Ostender blockade of the Baltic ports. A commando unit sent by Mike Stearns to England prepares the rescue the Americans being held in the Tower of London. In Amsterdam, Rebecca Stearns continues three-way negotiations with the Prince of Orange and the Spanish Cardinal-Infante who has conquered most of the Netherlands. And, in Copenhagen, the captured young USE naval officer Eddie Cantrell tries to persuade the King of Denmark to break with the Ostender alliance, all while pursuing a romantic involvement with one of the Danish princesses.
Customer Reviews:
Boring.......2007-09-30
Boring and a waste of valuable time. The characters are not very interesting yet the reader is subjected to consistent examination of their make up and personalities. The whole book just doesn't come across as intelligently constructed. I get the feeling that the authors are trying to overly impress the reader with their "intelligence" and the book seems to constantly fall short.
The epic continues.......2007-08-02
I have been eagerly awaiting the next in this wonderfull series and was not dissapointed. Whether a fan of European history, Alternative history, or adventure with a decidedly American flavor then look no further. While not as gripping as 1633 it did tie together many a thread from the last story and the many side stories from this universe. After the tears and a pain from the losses of the opening gambit of the war started in 1633 the often humerous or stalwart manuevers of the continuing fight endeared me further to the series. The series wont be for everyone but there is so much of a good thing here that it will appeal to most. In short I would recomend this and any of the books in this series to my friends and often do so.
Mostly disappointing addition to powerful series.......2007-07-29
A bit more than two years after the West Virginia town of Grantsville has been pulled into the middle of the 30 years war in what became Germany, the war wages on. The Americans quickly joined up with Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus against the Spanish and their allies, but France under Richelieu, always anxious to provide a counterweight, joined with Spain, England, and Denmark to offset the high-technology the Americans have brought. Meanwhile, French labs have begun to churn out their own technical advances--owing in part to Grantsville leader Mike Stearns's decision to let most information flow freely in his technological-deterministic certainty that modern technology will bring about democracy.
Fortunately for the increasingly united Germany being created by Gustavus Adolphus and Stearns, Their nation can tackle each of its opponents individually. In 1634: THE BALTIC WAR, the major requirements are to break the siege of the Baltic ports, free the Grantsville team being held in the Tower of London, and (mainly for the pleasure of the Swedish King) defeat Denmark so totally that it will agree to become part of a new pan-Scandinavian union.
Readers of David Weber's Honor Harrington series will recognize the familiar pattern of a technological advance by the goodguys (Grantsville or Manticore) being overwhelming despite an apparently offsetting advance made by the enemy (France or Haven). In this case, the overwhelming advance is Grantsville's navy. No contemporary navy, and no coastal fortifications can stand against either the new ironclads, equipped with ten inch guns or even the timberclad battleships. Unfortunately for the French, their breech-loading rifles enabled only a minor raid, eliminating an annoying up-time character.
The Flint and Weber books in this series seem to have taken an unfortunate direction, with more of the characters lecturing one another, and long contemplative passages where Flint and Weber bring the reader up to date on what's happening. In fact, there isn't a lot of action in this entire 700+ page novel. One can imagine Flint and Weber snickering over which Americanisms they'd have the different down-time characters use, but the entire novel could have used some major pruning--and a lot more concentration on what is happening and why we should care. Rescuing the captive ambassarors from the Tower of London is fine, but really, they were in no particular danger and the rescue provides only personal satisfaction to Stearns and some of the other Grantsville types. If Stearns had gone in with the intent to rescue Cromwell, to launch a more sophisticated version of the Glorious Revolution and take England/Scotland out of the war, this would have made sense and been interesting. As it was, who cares. I found the romance between twenty-year-old Eddie Cantrell and 15-year-old Anne Catherine unromantic and again, thought Stearns's and (in this case) Admiral Simpson's willingness to risk an outbreak of war in newly passified Denmark to preserve Eddie from the consequences of his decisions to be unbelievable. The romance between uptime lady in waiting, Caroline Ann Platzer and downtime Sergeant Thorsten Engler seemed to exist only to allow Princess Kristina to insist that Engler be named 'Count of Narnia.' (I imagined Flint and Weber giggling about this--maybe my sense of humor is just different).
The brief scenes with painter Pieter Paul Rubens and the Cardinal-Infante Don Fernando have a lot of potential. Here is a character who's looking to the future, prepared to deal with reality with relatively open eyes, and who may become a worthy opponent to Gustavus Adolphus and Stearns in the future. I had hoped that Prince Ulrick of Denmark and his inventor-friend Baldur Norddahl could play similar roles--perhaps becoming national resistance heroes, demonstrating that the capitulation of a king doesn't necessarily result in the defeat of a nation. Unfortunately, this lesson doesn't seem about to be learned.
One of my problems with this series is that Stearns stands in an ideal position to eliminate the Atlantic slave trade before it really begins. In 1634, slavery was still relatively new, cotton was not king, and a determined effort could have wiped it out. Stearns intends to do this--perhaps that will be the basis of a subsequent novel. For now, it's the ugly secret that no one dare name.
This 163X Series started powerfully with 1632--a time travel with a difference. Stearns and his allies were intent on preserving the democratic ideals of America and making them work, while simultaneously ending a war that convulsed all of Europe for thirty years, depopulated and decentralized Germany (creating hard feelings the Prussians would later exploit in their creation of the German Empire), and impoverishing Spain. The current novel in the series, 1634: THE BALTIC WAR, shows occasional flashes of the excellence that kicked off the series. Overall, though, I found it a disappointment. Much of the action didn't seem aimed at goals that matter to the reader or to the overall development of a democratic society. Characters spent too much time patting each other on the back and discussing things rather than doing things and showing why they deserved those pats. And the romances never really grabbed me at all.
Worth reading; Could have been better........2007-07-21
Baltic War is a grand adventure, with many well-tracked characters and plot twists. It answers a number of questions that we have been waiting on for years, and is filled with interesting developments. I learned a good deal of 17th century history in this book, and Flint really made it come alive in new ways. The book encouraged me to constantly look up Wikipedia entries to understand more of what was really happening at the time. And Flint is to be congratulated for really showing the Downtimers as smart and able to contribute something effective against the Uptimers from the future.
The maps could have been better and more detailed, for those of us who are not experts on 17th century European history. And the book starts off quite slow, as do a number of the 1632 series, and takes a while to get going. Indeed, the writing is rather disjointed, perhaps from being written by two different authors. I felt like there were moments of great writing, alternating with moments written by a beginning author.
I grew tired of nearly every character, whether they had direct contact with the Americans or not, using American colloquial phrases and making an explicit point that they were doing so, on every single phrase. Are there no colloquial phrases in other cultures and languages? Do we truly think that American colloquialisms would spread in 2 years all over the continent, into foreign languages, without modern communications technology? It's simply sloppy writing.
A bit of a surprise, and a nice addition, is the CD at the back of the book, *with every single previous book Flint's every written* on a CD that opens as web browser. I have no idea how he will continue to make money in doing this, but it's like buying one book and getting another 50, including all of the Ring of Fire series.
This is a good addition to the series. Better than some of the other recent ones. It would have been better if 1634: Cannon Law hadn't been out already for a year, and taking place after the events of Baltic War, revealing what had already happened and who had survived. Sometimes I get the impression that Flint is so eager to try out new publishing tricks (multiple authors, amateur web writing, later chronological books being published earlier) that he sacrifices writing quality. You should read this book. Enjoy the excitement of a European war fought before there was nation states, with ironclad ships and repeating rifles. But Flint & Weber can do better. The promise once offered in 1632 does not match what we have today. 3 stars for the writing, an extra one for the publishing idea of adding in 50 books for the price of one.
Running out of steam?.......2007-06-13
I loved the earlier books in the series, but in this one, the action slows down and the character development falters. I thought that it needed a good editing to tighten up the story.
Average customer rating:
- Hell Hath No Fury (Multiverse, Book 2)
- A great series continues
- A very good Rich Weber book
- A great read
- Going From Bad To Worse
|
Hell Hath No Fury (Multiverse, Book 2)
David Weber , and
Linda Evans
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Evans, Linda
| ( E )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Weber, David
| ( W )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Adventure
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
High Tech
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Space Opera
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Fiction Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Hell's Gate (Multiverse, Book 1)
-
Off Armageddon Reef
-
Yellow Eyes (Posleen War Series #8)
-
1634: The Baltic War
-
A Deeper Blue (The Ghost)
ASIN: 1416521011 |
Book Description
It began with two men. They came from very different worlds¿entirely different universes, in fact¿and they met in a virgin forest on a duplicate planet Earth. Neither of them had expected it, both of them realized how important the first contact with any other trans-universal human civilization might be. But something went wrong. Neither side knows who shot first. But both the magic-using civilization of Arcana and steel-and-steam age Sharona, with its psionic Talents, think it was the other side. And it doesn't really matter, now, because the original incident has snowballed. Both sides have additional dead to mourn; both sides have additional wrongs to avenge. Both sides have additional military forces moving towards the front. War between the universes is the last thing responsible leaders on either side want. But the fury of their respective populations, xenophobic fear of the unknown, and cries for "justice" (or vengeance), are all driving both sides towards the brink. The actions of local military commanders and diplomats may well determine the final outcome, and unscrupulous, power-hungry men¿and Arcana and Sharona alike¿have agendas of their own. The fuse has been lit, and a war stretching across the universes, across an endless succession of identical Earths, fought between dragons, spells, and crossbows and repeating rifles, machine guns, and artillery is about to begin in white-hot rage and fury. Where it will end¿and how¿no one knows.
Customer Reviews:
Hell Hath No Fury (Multiverse, Book 2).......2007-07-05
A good follow up though a little weak in maintaining interest at some points. It is still a good read for Weber fans.
A great series continues.......2007-06-11
The conflict between two civilizations that span multiple parallel Earths (Sharona, based on technology and psi, and Arcana, based on magic) that started in Hell's Gate (Multiverse, Book 1) continues, blown into war by a power hungry faction of Arcanans, who are contemptuous of the abilities of barbarians unaware of the use of magic.
Several threads are present to be of later importance - the dolphin alliance with Sharona (from the first book, but not referenced since), the Voice (telepath) from Sharona with her husband and the honorable Arcanans escorting them into Arcana, the newly unified Sharononian government at pseudo-Constantinople and, of course, the soldiers of both civilizations (with a developing conflict between those Arcanans who knowingly fabricated the war and those who are finding out the truth). An additional intriguing occurrence is the gradual discovery by those of each side who've penetrated the other's territory of the nature of their own skills in a vastly different environment (that's a little cryptic, but to say much more would be spoiler). There's also a bit of a cliff-hanger ending each of the books.
There are glossaries that help overcome the sense of disorientation of unfamiliar names for familiar locations (I used a map for book one and wrote names as I read through the book) and to keep track of the large number of characters. The atlas glossary could use some editing - e.g. one region is referred to as being both "west of India" and "containing China" and another area is referred to as belonging to the opposite civilization from what's stated in the text. It is still very useful, despite a little carelessness.
There is so much material that this series should last for several more books. If not, there will be a lot of unhappy fans.
A very good Rich Weber book.......2007-06-01
In a world where trans-dimensional rifts allow movement between parallel universes, two mighty empires have arisen. One uses magic uses a highly-developed magic, while the other is based on steam technology and psionics. And when they came together, conflict was probably inevitable. In this, the second book of the series, war has now come, and Hell hath no fury like this war across the multiverse!
I am a big David Weber fan, and I couldn't wait to get this series. Overall, I like the way that the author handled the two disparate technologies (magic developed to the point of technology and psionics also developed to the point of technology), and the war scenes are pretty realistic and gruesome. Overall, I found this to be a very good Rich Weber book, one that I do not hesitate to recommend.
A great read.......2007-05-17
The first book in the series was good even though confusing with the introduction of all the characters and places. This one really clicked. I could hardly put it down. The action was great, the characters well developed, and the story flowed smoothly. I am so looking forward to the next one.
Top-notch combat action. The usual Weber detailed political intrigue.
Going From Bad To Worse.......2007-05-15
In HELL'S GATE, David Weber and Linda Evans created an interesting new series of universes in which to play and posited a first contact scenario between the two civilizations as a botched effort, rife with misunderstandings on both sides and tragic violence. In this second volume, the situation just gets worse as misunderstandings proliferate and people with ulterior motives and hidden agendas do their best to promote themselves at the expense of their societies.
One of the civilizations under scrutiny is fairly backward from a technological point of view and could best be described as pre-industrial. To make up for this lack, they employ genuine magic, complete with fire breathing dragons. Since the other side has no conception of this, it is difficult to fight.
The other side has a Victorian industrial base but supplements itself with various psionic powers. This too proves formidable for their opponents who have no conception at to how this might operate.
In this installment, the magical side has launched an offensive cloaked by negotiations in an order to gain the military high ground. The campaign is being run by officers in the area and their high command has no idea of what is going on or even that a war has broken out. This book takes us several months into the conflict and the line of communications is so long that the home world has not yet even found out about it. This leaves the in theater commander free to wreak havoc for his own personal agenda and that of his ethnic group.
The opposing side is remote but not as remote from the point of contact. They have been ambushed and are mad. They are mobilizing for total war but again, they are hampered by personal agendas.
We are only a few months into the series and it promises to be a long affair. I look forward to reading about it.
Book Description
Marie Antoinette has always stood as an icon of supreme style, but surprisingly none of her biographers have paid sustained attention to her clothes. In Queen of Fashion, Caroline Weber shows how Marie Antoinette developed her reputation for fashionable excess, and explains through lively, illuminating new research the political controversies that her clothing provoked. Weber surveys Marie Antoinettes "Revolution in Dress," covering each phase of the queens tumultuous life, beginning with the young girl, struggling to survive Versailless rigid traditions of royal glamour (twelve-foot-wide hoopskirts, whalebone corsets that crushed her organs). As queen, Marie Antoinette used stunning, often extreme costumes to project an image of power and wage war against her enemies. Gradually, however, she began to lose her hold on the French when she started to adopt "unqueenly" outfits (the provocative chemise) that, surprisingly, would be adopted by the revolutionaries who executed her. Webers queen is sublime, human, and surprising: a sometimes courageous monarch unwilling to allow others to determine her destiny. The paradox of her tragic story, according to Weber, is that fashion -- the vehicle she used to secure her triumphs -- was also the means of her undoing. Webers book is not only a stylish and original addition to Marie Antoinette scholarship, but also a moving, revelatory reinterpretation of one of historys most controversial figures.
Customer Reviews:
Not sure whether it wants to be a biography or fashion.......2007-08-27
I found queen of fashion to be not enough queen and not enough fashion. It pairs a less than adequate biography of Marie Antionette with a smattering of observations on how her fashion choices both represented her role as well as influenced events around her.
What I found problematic was that the fashion highlights jumped around in terms of time periods. There would be a detailed explanation of a time, then a gap of several years before another touching base. I'm not sure if this was due to a lack of source material for the intervening period, but it made for very choppy reading.
If you've read a lot on Marie Antionette, you can skim this to pick up the fashion pieces. If you haven't read a lot about her, pick up another biography first.
This might have worked better as a series of essays than as an overall biography.
Disappointing -- 2&1/2 stars.
what a great read.......2007-07-26
So I picked this up just because the title intrigued me and what a pleasant suprise! It is very readable, interesting and balanced. You won't regret this purchase.
Queen of Fashion.......2007-06-29
I've found that if you want to get a really good feel for the history of a period, read something like this book that concentrates on some interesting aspect of a major figure. An example (besides this well written book) is A Scented Palace by DeFeydeau, which also has amazing insights and stories that you never read in more biographical type treatments. For instance, an anecdote in this book about how Marie Antionette gave her jeweled fan to a pretty village girl, that I never heard anywhere else, really colors the way I now perceive her. But it's an astonishingly "like-you-are-there" inside look at life at Versailles during a (or the) most interesting period in it's history...
queen of fashion.......2007-06-27
I haven't got a chance to read the entire book yet but it is very good and interesting. It is especially useful if you are a Marie Antoinette fanatic or history buff. This was a package that got lost in shipping and It only took one day to get a replacement one. I was surprised at how fast the costumer service was and very pleased.
Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution.......2007-06-04
This is a well-researched, engaging, and poignant read. When is Weber's next book coming out?! I'll purchase for sure.
Book Description
Introducing the student to the work of a great sociologist, this book opens with a comprehensive biographical essay on Weber's life and work and includes his essays on science and politics, power, religion, and social structures.
Customer Reviews:
Seminal Work By Classic Social Theorist Max Weber .......2004-09-03
What is most curious about the home page for this classic academic work is that Amazon does not explain that this text is the fruit of one the most singularly important academic translations in the 20th century, accomplished by the team of sociologists Hans Gerth and C. Wright Mills (who later became an immensely influential classic sociologist himself). First published after the Second World War, the text provided access at long last to a treasure trove of previously untranslated works by Weber for the American academic community, and thus transformed the nature of the way American social scientists understood modern social theory.
It is no exaggeration to say that Weber's genius was his ability to successfully integrate the critical essence of the Marxian analysis of capitalist society with more functionally-oriented works such that even as stodgy and conservative a theorist as Talcott Parson soon found common analytical purpose with Weber's theoretical views! before long all the academic community was enthralled by the scope and verve of Weber's complex vision of a social theory informed with a comprehensive view of social action, such that all social actions can be meaningfully located within the welter of the purposes, motives, and values of the interacting individuals themselves. This was indeed an intelelctual revolution within social theory, and we can still find bibliophiles and academic devotees still poring over the nuances and variations in themes in Weber's considerable body of works.
After the publication of these essays, much more of his corpus of works was successfully translated and used in American university settings. Yet Weber's prose was never an "easy read", nor was his message about the evolving nature of contemporary bureaucratic society necessarily a heartening one; he was convinced we were turning toward a dark and mechanistic age, what he himself frequently characterized as being the "iron cage" of rationalization. His was the dark vision later shared by intellectuals like Aldous Huxley of a brave new world of petty diversions and a systematic but innocuous autocratic manipulation of everyman. Still, Weber's works stand as a testament to the power of an individual intellect. I recommend this book for anyone interested in better understanding him and his theoretical views. Enjoy!
excellent introduction to Weber's work.......1999-12-04
Gerth and Mills' reader provides an excellent introduction to Weber's life and thought. This edition includes excerpts from _Economy and Society_, the brilliant essays ``Politics as a Vocation'' and ``Science as a Vocation,'' plus a brief critical biography and material from other sources.
Weber had so much to say about so many subjects that any anthology would require a well-considered method of organization; this book has that. It is easy to navigate. When I want to know what Weber said about a particular subject, I look in _From Max Weber_.
Book Description
Over the last few years, Linux has grown both as an operating system and a tool for personal and business use. Simultaneously becoming more user friendly and more powerful as a back-end system, Linux has achieved new plateaus: the newer filesystems have solidified, new commands and tools have appeared and become standard, and the desktop--including new desktop environments--have proved to be viable, stable, and readily accessible to even those who don't consider themselves computer gurus.
Whether you're using Linux for personal software projects, for a small office or home office (often termed the SOHO environment), to provide services to a small group of colleagues, or to administer a site responsible for millions of email and web connections each day, you need quick access to information on a wide range of tools. This book covers all aspects of administering and making effective use of Linux systems. Among its topics are booting, package management, and revision control. But foremost in Linux in a Nutshell are the utilities and commands that make Linux one of the most powerful and flexible systems available.
Now in its fifth edition, Linux in a Nutshell brings users up-to-date with the current state of Linux. Considered by many to be the most complete and authoritative command reference for Linux available, the book covers all substantial user, programming, administration, and networking commands for the most common Linux distributions.
Comprehensive but concise, the fifth edition has been updated to cover new features of major Linux distributions. Configuration information for the rapidly growing commercial network services and community update services is one of the subjects covered for the first time.
But that's just the beginning. The book covers editors, shells, and LILO and GRUB boot options. There's also coverage of Apache, Samba, Postfix, sendmail, CVS, Subversion, Emacs, vi, sed, gawk, and much more. Everything that system administrators, developers, and power users need to know about Linux is referenced here, and they will turn to this book again and again.
Customer Reviews:
Essential Linux Reference.......2007-09-16
This book is a constant companion on my physical desktop....if you deal with Linux in anyway at all this book is a necessity.
A very big nutshell!.......2007-07-23
This book is as it promises, lots of information in a very (relatively) small space. The chapters are organized on topics that the newbie (read: me!) needs to know about and the explanations are thorough and well-written. While the old hand will understand the material covered easily and without much review, the newbie will have to read and re-read to get it all. Chapter 3 lists the most common LINUX commands and details arguments that go with them. The index and the fact that the commands lists are alphabetical make it very easy to look up a specific command or function and find out what you need to know to make it work on the spot. The chapters on Shells and on the VIM Editor are very informative and make two tough topics easy to understand. Reading through the VIM editor chapter as I did a lab practical made the process almost fun. For me, the best part was that I could understand the book, and my way experienced friend also finds it a useful reference for his more advanced work. So, I'll be able to use it while I grow into it as a LINUX user.
It's a Nutshell book. Duh........2007-07-15
If you've been in the tech field for any length of time you own at least one Nutshell book. If you like them, you own several; if you don't, you probably stopped at one.
good Linux desk encyclopedia.......2007-07-14
This is a good paper Linux reference for system administrators and (to some extent) software developers. If you are using Linux as a desktop system this is probably not the book for you, because you will do everything through a GUI and will never need anything in this book.
Despite initial appearances, this is not just a dump of all the Unix man pages. Each command entry is considerably condensed, with less-used options omitted and most of the more verbose option descriptions shrunk to one line. On the other hand it gives lengthier and more useful synopses than the man pages do. Some of the more complicated programs such as gawk and cvs have their own chapters with detailed introductions to the tools.
This is almost totally a reference, with no tutorial information and some scattered examples. The introductory sections on each tool are good. The book has a good functional index which helps find the relevant commands.
I have mixed feelings about the level of coverage in this book. It's perched in an awkward place between a really comprehensive reference (which would have to be multiple volumes) and an overview that alerts you to the capabilities and where to find the commands, without giving you the parameters and options. I think I would like it better if it had less detail, so I could quickly get an overview (without rummaging through 942 pages) and then delve into the man pages for the details. Think of the present book as a desktop encyclopedia: it gives you a good overview, and if you already know an area it can remind you of the parameters, but it's neither a tutorial nor a complete reference.
Excellent Reference Book.......2007-02-25
When you need to know what a Linux command does and all the options you can use with it, this book is the one to buy. I have two other books on how to install and use Linux. They teach you about the integrated software and some of the operating system commands for specific actions. This book details the commands and syntax in depth.
Average customer rating:
- That B@%ch was crazy!!!!!!
- New fan
- Hot and juciy
- EXCELLENT!!!!
- CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
She Ain't The One
Carl Weber , and
Mary Morrison
Manufacturer: Dafina
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| African American
| United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
United States
| Short Stories
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Romantic Suspense
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
Multicultural
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Contemporary
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Fiction Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Romance Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
The First Lady
-
When Somebody Loves You Back
-
So You Call Yourself A Man
-
Love and Lies
-
Sleeping with Strangers
ASIN: 0758207212 |
Book Description
From New York Times bestselling authors Carl Weber and Mary B. Morrison comes this powerful, unforgettable novel about the ultimate player who has finally run into the wrong woman...
After a rocky marriage, irresistibly seductive Jay Crawford is ready for a new woman--and a new challenge. It doesn't take him long to discover both in one fine package: Ashlee Anderson. With a face and body that scream sex, she's just what he's looking for--hard-to-get, feisty, and freaky. But he'd never suspect just how freaky...
Ashlee turns out to be every bit as sexy as Jay suspected. What should've been a one-night stand extends into months of lovemaking that's too hot to give up and designed to burn him like never before. For Ashlee has no intention of letting their relationship ever end. Now Jay is in over his head with a woman who will go to any lengths to possess him. Trouble is, Ashlee's psycho behavior turns him on like nothing else. Maybe they're both crazy. But when Ashlee makes a shocking confession, Jay knows she definitely ain't the one and he's got to get away from her before she completely destroys his life...
"Weber spins a lively, revelation-packed tale deepened by genuine emotion, convincing detail and smart dialogue."--Publishers Weekly on The Preacher's Son
"Morrison delivers a deep, passionate story that holds readers from beginning to end." --Black Issues Book Review on Never Again Once More
Includes a teaser of Carl Weber's Something on the Side and Mary B. Morrison's Sweeter Than Honey
Customer Reviews:
That B@%ch was crazy!!!!!!.......2007-10-16
Jay Crawford meets Ashlee Anderson in the worst way! Jay thinks he's found the woman of his dreams...Ashlee. But Jay doesn't know that Ashlee is a true psychopath!
Carl Weber and Mary B. Morrison do a good job of combining characters from both of their previous novels. Jay's friends Allen, Wil and Kyle (Married Men and Player Haters) make an appearance. Ashlee's ex-lover and step-brother Darius and his wife Fancy (When Somebody Loves You Back) also appear to make the story more interesting. The end brings another interesting character to light also.
New fan.......2007-08-29
I purchased this book because someone told me that Carl Weber was an excellent writer. Not only did I love this book, but I found myself becoming a Mary B. Morrison fan. I love the way she writes. As soon as I finished the book I found myself online looking to see what else she has written. I am eager with anticipation and can't wait to read her next work. I highly recomment this book for everyone to read.
Hot and juciy.......2007-08-19
This book was good. I loved the plot and it definitely was a page turner. Jay should have figured out that Ashlee was unstable and bounced. But, he didn't and ended up screwed. I felt sorry for Ashlee at first but, her behavior mad me hate her. She got Jay back for hurting her but, took it a little to far.
EXCELLENT!!!!.......2007-07-31
MARY B. MORRISON AND CARL WEBER, TOGETHER ARE EXCELLENT. THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD THAT I READ IT IN ONE DAY. ASHLEE IS ONE CRAZY CHICK, SOMEONE REALLY NEEDS TO TEACH HER A LESSON. I HOPE YOU GUYS WRITE A SEQUEL TO THIS BOOK BECAUSE THE ENDING WAS WONDERFUL!!! PLEASE DONT KEEP US WAITING TOO LONG. IF U HAVE NOT READ THIS BOOK, PLEASE GO OUT N BUY IT. TRUST ME, U WILL NOT BE UPSET.
CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-07-30
LEMME START OFF BY SAYING I LOVE BOTH THE AUTHORS. I BEEN WITH MARY SINCE THE WHOLE SOULMATES SERIES SO IF U DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE SERIES U NEED TO GET ON THEM BECAUSE IT WILL GIVE YOU A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW ASHLEY IS THE WAY SHE IS AND WHY SHE KEEP BRINGIN UP HER EX LOVER. ALSO I FOLLOWED CARL SINCE MARRIED MEN AND IF U DO NOT KNOW TO GIVE U A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF JAY'S CHARACTER YOU WOULD HAVE TO READ MARRIED MEN BY CARL WEBER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HE "USED TO BE ABOUT". I FELT BAD FOR JAY B/C IF U KNEW HIM IN MARRIED MEN U WOULD SAY HE DESERVED EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED TO HIM ALMOST. BUT EVERYONE DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE RIGHT???? WELL THIS IS A MIND BLOWING BOOK THAT WILL HAVE U LIKE I KNOW SHE DIDN'T DO THAT. THIS BROAD IS CRAZY SO CRAZY THAT SHE DID SOME OF THE UNTHINKABLE. U DON'T HAVE TO READ THE STORIES I TOLD YOU ABOUT TO UNDERSTAND THE PLOT BUT IT WILL JUST GIVE YOU A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE 2 CHARACTERS IF YOU DID. BUT OVERALL I WOULD SAY AN EXCELLENT BOOK, I LOVED IT LOVED IT!!!! I HOPE THERE IS A PART 2 CUZ THE ENDING IS CRUEL AND UNUSUAL. U GOTTA COP THIS IMMEDIATELY CUZ U MISSIN OUT IF U HAVEN'T
Average customer rating:
- Really brings the heat to the BBQ!
- FINALLY !
- Everything you wanted to know about grilling!
- Must have grill book
- Now I'm in the pro league!
|
Weber's Big Book of Grilling
Jamie Purviance , and
Sandra S. McRae
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
Barbecuing & Grilling
| Outdoor Cooking
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Outdoor Cooking
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
Special Appliances
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
Food Science
| Agricultural Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Food Sciences
| Agricultural Sciences
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Science Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Tools & Accessories
| Outdoor Cooking
| Patio, Lawn & Garden
| Categories
| Home & Garden
| Barbecue Tools
| Chimineas
| Grill Accessories
| Grill Parts
| Outdoor Cooking Burners
| Outdoor Kitchen Accessories
| Outdoor Kitchen Appliances
| Potholders & Cooking Mitts
Patio, Lawn & Garden (286168)
| Refinements
| Home & Garden
| Color (color_map)
| Material (material_browse)
| Style (style_browse-bin)
| Sunlight Exposure (feature_browse-bin)
| USDA Hardiness Zone (feature_two_browse-bin)
Similar Items:
-
Weber's Real Grilling
-
Weber's Art of the Grill: Recipes for Outdoor Living
-
How to Grill: The Complete Illustrated Book of Barbecue Techniques
-
Barbecue! Bible : Sauces, Rubs, and Marinades, Bastes, Butters, and Glazes
-
Weber 6422 18" Grill Brush
Accessories:
-
Weber 6420 3-Piece Stainless-Steel Barbecue Tool Set
Product Features:
- Weber #62542 Big Book of Grilling By Jamie Purviance & Sandra S. McRae
- WEBER-STEPHENS PRODUCT
ASIN: 0811831973 |
Product Description
The grilling experts at Weber share their time honored secrets of cooking wisdom in this ultimate barbecue handbook. Destined to become a sauce stained classic, its packed with more than 365 of the tastiest recipes ever to hit the grill, mouthwatering full color photos, and all the tips and techniques you need to become a certified Backyard Hero. Want to know the secret of perfect ribs or how to grill a 20 pound turkey without letting them see you sweat? Whether youre the neighborhood grilling guru or youve never done much more than flip a burger, youll find tricks of the trade, great advice, and infinite ways to grill up fabulous food thats as red hot as the coals!
416 pages
By Jamie Purviance & Sandra S. McRae
Soft Cover
Amazon.com
Armed with industrial tongs, a basting brush, and over 350 new recipes, chef Jamie Purviance and coauthor Sandra S. McRae (Weber's "corporate poet") step back behind the grill with Weber's Big Book of Grilling, the searing follow-up to the bestselling Weber's Art of the Grill. We open to a brief history of Weber and a few colorful anecdotes about the early days of the company along with a crash course on choosing a grill, featuring a breakdown of grilling with charcoal versus gas and a quiz to help you determine which grill is best for your cooking needs. Each recipe features the requisite cooking method (direct or indirect heat) and temperature level with techniques that leave plenty of room for individual improvisation. James Beard Award-winning photographer Tim Turner returns with artfully styled color photos of hot-off-the-grill dishes that will make you want to stop reading and start grilling.
Search for a favorite recipe or browse through individual chapters and benefit from Weber's grilling history with helpful guides and sidebars about cuts of meats, cooking methods, tips, glossaries, and illustrated instructions. Every barbecue lover has their favorite bottled sauce or over-the-counter rub, but "Sauces, Marinades, & Rubs" will inspire you to make your own (Crazy Cola Barbecue Sauce to an overachieving Type-A Rub) from scratch using common pantry staples. "Starters" includes a helpful chart to match up appetizers with entrées along with a recipe for Chinese Chicken Noodle Soup (yes, on the grill--the Asian marinade for the chicken becomes the base for soup). Meat is covered in chapters on beef, pork, lamb, game, poultry, and fish and seafood. Beer-Bathed Brisket gets a little help from a pint of Guinness while a half-filled can of beer props up (and moistens) Beer-Can Chicken. Baby Back Ribs with Spiced Apple-Cider Mop and Buffalo Burgers with Chipotle Mayonnaise will spice up any party, and Lobster Tails with Champagne Vanilla Sauce is every bit as decadent as it sounds. "Vegetables" includes a handy vegetable grilling chart along with sections on grilling for vegetarians and quick and easy meat substitutes. "Sides & Salads" serves up Couscous-Stuffed Tomatoes and Grilled Garlic Bread while "Desserts" wraps everything up with the basics on grilling fruit (Grilled Figs and Goat Cheese Drizzled with Honey or Peaches with Raspberry Sauce and Lemon Cream) and several different takes on campfire favorite, s'mores. Without a doubt, Weber's Big Book of Grilling will get you through the outdoor cooking season, but it will also inspire you to fire up your grill (rain or shine) all year long. --Brad Thomas Parsons
Customer Reviews:
Really brings the heat to the BBQ!.......2007-10-10
This book, a BBQ grill, and a few good buddies or family members is a match made in heaven. The pictures make me want to grill everything they list as my mouth waters while I read. The directions are easy to understand, filled in with overall useful grilling tips like how to cut and prepare your meats, to prep work and preheating, and even how to dazzle your meal with the perfect grill marks.
If you use to just get by while grilling or were only okay with the meal that you just cooked you need to pick up this book! Also expand your diet because it's so easy to try new recipes from this book.... Pick this up and enjoy every meal!
FINALLY !.......2007-10-06
FINALLY a "cookbook" that speaks to normal people. FINALLY a "cookbook" that is FULL of USEFUL information instead of pictures and recipes for Broasted LLama backstrap with pureed artichoke hearts and frizzled bamboo stalks..... smothered with $20-per-tsp. spices with a shelf life of 12 minutes and grown only on the third ring of Saturn. FINALLY a "cookbook" that actually explains equipment, herbs & spice use, meats, vegetables, and processes. FINALLY a "cookbook" written BY actual people FOR actual people who eat actual FOOD. God Bless Weber!
Everything you wanted to know about grilling!.......2007-09-13
A VERY complete book by the experts at Weber! Good straight forward recipes that are pretty much fail proof!
Must have grill book.......2007-08-16
I have made more recipes from this cookbook than any other book in my collection. Just the chicken recipes alone are worth it. I was never expecting it to be a favorite when I originally purchased it. My sister now owns it too and has given it a pretty good workout also. Relatively easy with plenty of good photos. You will not regret owning it and no I don't work for Weber.
Now I'm in the pro league!.......2007-07-10
This book has revealed the mysteries of grilling in a fun, simple format. Each food type is initially presented with a conceptual explanation and then followed by specific recipes which help solidify your plan for what you want to do. The resulting meals are noticably better. The book can then be referenced to refine your grilling technique even more - the author's have pulled off the ultimate guidebook!
Book Description
Humanity pushed its way to the stars - and encountered the Gbaba, a ruthless alien race that nearly wiped us out. Earth and her colonies are now smoldering ruins, and the few survivors have fled to distant, Earth-like Safehold, to try to rebuild. But the Gbaba can detect the emissions of an industrial civilization, so the human rulers of Safehold have taken extraordinary measures: with mind control and hidden high technology, they've built a religion in which every Safeholdian believes, a religion designed to keep Safehold society medieval forever. 800 years pass. In a hidden chamber on Safehold, an android from the far human past awakens. This "rebirth" was set in motion centuries before, by a faction that opposed shackling humanity with a concocted religion. Via automated recordings, "Nimue" - or, rather, the android with the memories of Lieutenant Commander Nimue Alban - is told her fate: she will emerge into Safeholdian society, suitably disguised, and begin the process of provoking the technological progress which the Church of God Awaiting has worked for centuries to prevent. Nothing about this will be easy. To better deal with a medieval society, "Nimue" takes a new gender and a new name, "Merlin." His formidable powers and access to caches of hidden high technology will need to be carefully concealed. And he'll need to find a base of operations, a Safeholdian country that's just a little more freewheeling, a little less orthodox, a little more open to the new. And thus Merlin comes to Charis, a mid-sized kingdom with a talent for naval warfare. He plans to make the acquaintance of King Haarahld and Crown Prince Cayleb, and maybe, just maybe, kick off a new eraof invention. Which is bound to draw the attention of the Churchand, inevitably, lead to war. It's going to be a long, long process. And it's going to be the can't-miss SF epic of the decade.
Customer Reviews:
OK if you don't think about it.......2007-10-05
This is a good example of a book that reads better than it is. Weber is a fine storyteller at heart, but he has a tendency to over-embellish things. This is just book one of a series that, I would guess, probably should have been shorter than than this book in total.
Weber's commercial success and ability to write quickly has given him the freedom to publish almost an unlimited number of words. But sometimes more is not better.
Is this a story about Merlin and King Arthur? Yes. Is it a Weber treatise on the wonders of benevolant right-wing free-market monarchies? Yes. Is it yet another Weber story about a superhuman woman soldier? Yes. Is it yet another Weber book about the glories of the days of wooden sailing ships? Yes. Does it work to put all those together? No.
The book reads great -- much better than the typical recent Harrington book. But once you put it down and think about it, it falls apart like a house of cards. There's just no depth here.
And his oh so cute idea of shifting the spelling of names is really annoying after even a very short time. In fact, spelling is much harder to shift than pronunciation, so it's not realistic as well as being distracting and confusing. Also, slipping in a description of an Atlanta Braves baseball game or naming the most hideous villian "Clinton" really detracts from the story, since they take the reader out of the moment too much.
Good, but not sf.......2007-09-26
Only the first 20 pages or so is sci fi, the rest reverts to a primitive society (water wheels and galley ships). Weber is always more interested in politics then warfare, and this is no different. However, who hasn't thought about going back in time and pointing out all the blindingly obvious things we know now. And even better if your an immortal ai...The only thing missing is sex....
EXTREMELY BORING AND SLOW MOVING.......2007-09-16
I do not like to write long winded reviews, so I will get straight to the point. This book is 592 pages long. I would estimate that about 40 pages is science fiction. The rest of the book is about political machinations in a medieval, feudalistic society. I found the 40 sci-fi pages interesting. The rest of the book was not bearable- it was boring and had way too much irrelevant detail. It would theorize that the author committed to produce a series of books and therefore needs a huge amount of filler material to meet his commitment.
WEBER IS GETTING REALLY SLOPPY .......2007-09-03
My wife and son and I love David Weber, but this is one of a number of recent very disappointing books that have taken Weber off of my family's "automatic buy" list. Although Weber's action scenes are as good as ever, Armageddon Reef just doesn't work. The plot holes are gaping and intrusive and the stylistic defects are annoying enough to detract seriously from the story.
The worst plot hole is Merlin, the AI/android who is the story's protagonist. We are supposed to believe that mankind has been locked for centuries into a desperate life-and-death struggle against a large, implacably hostile, but only slightly more technologically advanced civilization. Furthermore, these aliens do not innovate at all; their tech base is completely frozen. Obviously, humanity's only hope is to force the pace of science and technology development.
At the same time, we are told that humanity has the ability to produce AIs that duplicate in every way the minds, memories, knowledge, and abilities of specific living humans. Merlin thinks, feels, and acts in every way like the real person he is based on, except that he has superhuman strength, reflexes, and mental processing speed.
So of course, in these desperate circumstances, mankind would use this technology to replicate its leading scientists, engineers, technicians, and military cadres, vastly multiplying the productivity of its R&D efforts and making it much easier to staff its star fleet. Need a dozen Einsteins? You got 'em. Need 20 copies of your greatest fleet Admiral? No problem. Need 600 starship engineers, all with the knowledge and abilities of the greatest starship engineer available? Coming right up! Oh, yes...the copies think and act faster than the originals, never need to eat or sleep, and never get fogged out by fatigue or distracted by bodily aches and pains.
Um, no. Weber tells us that this technology is used ONLY for RECREATIONAL purposes! We are supposed to believe that the human race would let itself be wiped out rather than make use of a technology that could easily multiply its scarcest intellectual resources a hundred-fold. Nor are there any ethical considerations that would explain it. After all, this is the same society that creates a secret colony by MIND-WIPING tens of thousands of colonists. Apparently they have no problem with the idea that desperate times require desperate measures.
I'm as willing as the next SF lover to believe 6 impossible things before breakfast, but the conventions of SF require that the impossibilities at least be logical and internally consistent. This is neither. It's just plain dumb...sloppy, self-indulgent, contemptuous of the reader, and DUMB.
There are other gaping plot holes, but compared with that one they seem trivial.
The worst stylistic problem is Weber's treatment of names. The book is written in early 21st century English. All of the place names are written normally. Yet ALL of the character names (except Merlin's) are bizarrely transliterated, using a pseudo-phonetic spelling. Weber takes normal names, substitutes vowels & consonants at random, adds H's, turns many different vowels into Y's, and changes J's, G's, S's, Ch'sand Sh's into Z's & Zh's.
Coupled with Weber's continued obsession with giving half of his characters "J" names, the result is hopelessly confusing. John becomes Zhan, Gerald becomes Zherald, Jason becomes Zhasyn, Janet becomes Zhanayt, Jennifer becomes Zhenyfyr, Jim becomes Zhym, James becomes Zhames, Jeeves (a valet - I kid you not!) becomes Zheevys, Jasper becomes Zhaspyr, Jack becomes Zhak, Joseph becomes Zohzef, Joshua becomes Zhoshua, Jacob becomes Zhaikeb, Johnson becomes Zhansan, Jepson becomes Zheppsyn, Jessup becomes Zhessyp, Jolson becomes Zhoelsyn, George becomes Zhorzh, Samson becomes Zahmsyn, and so on.
There is absolutely no justification anywhere in the book for the altered spellings. In fact, given that the colony world starts with an absolutely universal culture and language and that writing everywhere remains stable and uniform, the idea that the spelling of names - and ONLY names - would have drifted this far is patently absurd.
In addition, the proliferation of unintelligible but very similar names, loaded with Z's, H's, and Y's, balks the reader at almost ever line, utterly ruining the story continuity. I particularly treasured one section in which two minor characters named Zhaspahr Maysahn and Zhames Makferzahn - or is it Zhames Maysahn and Zhaspahr Makferzahn? - spend 3 pages talking and it is virtually impossible to tell them apart or to remember afterward who was a spy for whom.
Any author who creates a sprawling novel with many major and minor characters needs to give careful thought to naming his characters in ways that help the reader tell them apart. Making it this hard for the reader is either extremely sloppy or arrogantly insulting. The attitude it conveys is, "I'm so great I'm above the rules. I can shove any stupid thing down the reader's throat and get away with it." This attitude was evident in the later Belisarius novels and has become blatant in Armageddon Reef and Hell's Gate. Much as I love some of Weber's books, he's starting to remind me of another beloved author, Robert Heinlein, whose output became increasingly undisciplined, self-indulgent, and forgettable once he reached superstar status.
I would not recommend this book to anyone but a die-hard and completely uncritical Weber fan.
Not Science Fiction.......2007-09-01
This is a well written engaging book.
Nevertheless it is a 500+ page novel of which 44 pages are Science Fiction.
After the 44 pages it is an 18th century war novel with far too many characters with funny names, and muskets,swords, and sea battles.
The book sets a story and never comes back to it.
I am certainly not going to wade through hundreds of pages of sequels to fianlly see the rest of the story.
's just not worth it.
Granted it's a lot better than similar sword and sorcerer books that pretend to be Sci Fi, but not by enough to hold my attention. That is why I have read half of it and now skiped to the end to confirm that it does not take up the originnal story again.
I am well tired of authors stretching out single volume stories into trilogies.
I do not expect this to explode in my brain like Baxterr's Coalescent, Exultant, Transcendant trilogy did, so I am giving it up.
Good writing, good exposition, little regard for expectations of readers of a genre, who expect something different.
Books:
- Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana
- Cuba Diaries: An American Housewife in Havana
- Deadly Persuasion: Why Women And Girls Must Fight The Addictive Power Of Advertising
- Deep Blues: A Musical and Cultural History of the Mississippi Delta
- Duck at the Door
- Everyday Food: Great Food Fast
- Find Me
- Friends: A Love Story
- Garden Junk
- Global Bible Commentary
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Executive Coaching with Backbone and Heart : A Systems Approach to Engaging Leaders with Their Chall
- The Listener's Bible NIV
- Mating: A Novel
- Preparing for a Show
- Photographing on Safari: A Field Guide to Wildlife Photography in East Africa
- The Fokker-Planck Equation: Methods of Solutions and Applications
- Soil Mechanics and Foundations
- Landscape Detailing Volume 1:, Third Edition: Enclosures
- MARRIAGE WITH MY KINGDOM, THE COURTSHIPS OF QUEEN ELIZABETH I
- Annual World Bank Conference on Development Economics 2004: Accelerating Development
Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business
The Power of We: Succeeding Through Partnerships
The Starbucks Experience: 5 Principles for Turning Ordinary Into Extraordinary
Know-How: The 8 Skills That Separate People Who Perform from Those Who Don't
True North: Discover Your Authentic Leadership (J-B Warren Bennis Series)
