Deep Down Things: The Breathtaking Beauty of Particle Physics

Book Description

A useful scientific theory, claimed Einstein, must be explicable to any intelligent person. In Deep Down Things, experimental particle physicist Bruce Schumm has taken this dictum to heart, providing in clear, straightforward prose an elucidation of the Standard Model of particle physics -- a theory that stands as one of the crowning achievements of twentieth-century science. In this one-of-a-kind book, the work of many of the past century's most notable physicists, including Einstein, Schrodinger, Heisenberg, Dirac, Feynman, Gell-Mann, and Weinberg, is knit together in a thorough and accessible exposition of the revolutionary notions that underlie our current view of the fundamental nature of the physical world. Schumm, who has spent much of his life emmersed in the subatomic world, goes far beyond a mere presentation of the "building blocks" of matter, bringing to life the remarkable connection between the ivory tower world of the abstract mathematician and the day-to-day, life-enabling properties of the natural world. Schumm leaves us with an insight into the profound open questions of particle physics, setting the stage for understanding the progress the field is poised to make over the next decade or two.

Introducing readers to the world of particle physics, Deep Down Things opens new realms within which are many clues to unraveling the mysteries of the universe.

Customer Reviews:

Particle Physics Made Easy.......2007-03-02

This book should be a must read for anyone that tries to understand particle physics. I've been looking for something like this for a long time. The Standard Model is explained with great skill and clarity, and with minimal use of math. This is not a mathematical book, but where minimal mathematics becomes necessary (group theory), it is introduced with the assumption that the reader knows next to nothing (which was my case) and developed to the point where, combined with physics, it makes sense. Most of the math only requires logic, not computations, and all you are required to memorize are a few rules -- conventions -- that only take a couple of lines. Beautiful.
The author limits himself to what is known and generally agreed about particle physics. The limits of the theory are also very well explained, but no significant steps into the unknown are made, which I think it is a good thing for once.
If you like Brian Greene, Michio Kaku, Lisa Randall, and others like them, do them, and yourself, a favor: read "Deep Down Things". It will open new horizons in the way you see, and appreciate, their work. These more popular authors cross into the unknown with beautiful, breathtaking constructs, but none explains the basics as Bruce Schumm does.

A Review From a Non-Physicist.......2007-01-01

Two items set this lay physics book apart: clarity of writing and minimum of speculation. It covers only material amenable to experimentation. This rules out both string theory and multiple universes - each mentioned only briefly. Nor does it dwell on Einstein's theories of special or general relativity - the gravitational physics of the large. "Deep Down Things" is like an introductory text on quantum phenomenon and particle physics without the explicit math and with more explicit wordage.

Particle physics studies the smallest units of matter and how they interact with each other. This led to ever larger particle accelerators during the last 68 years of the 20th century. More than 150 exotic particles have been discovered - every one having differing combinations of properties that boggle the mind. An exotic particle that results from the collision of two protons may exist for only 10 to the minus 12 seconds before it decays into something else. Traveling at close to the speed of light, this is just enough time to leave a (highly sought after) 1 mm mark on a recorder, documenting the brief life of that particle. The Particle Data Group from Berkeley exists just to keep physicists updated on these particles.

For something so fleeting, why do we bother? Because this research is centerstage in explaining the Big Bang and all of cosmology. As by-products, we achieved huge gains in any industry you can name. Unless you live like a Mennonite or are on a boy scout camp-out, these technologies effect the way you live your daily life - ground floor activity on the internet itself came about because physicists desired a more immediate way to share research with each other.

The use of common sense was not a factor in the investigations of particle physics. Instead, knowledge was and is gained through particle accelerators, predictions from abstract mathematical models, and meticulous use of the scientific method by thousands of physicists. The author mentions frequently that the math works out, predicts something, disproves something, needs a cheat factor, etc. This made me want to see the math, but I'm at least a couple of college courses from there, so I guess I'll have to take his word for it. For non-physics, non-math majors, consider reading on despite lack of total understanding or you might bog down in details. As the point of view changes, concepts are restated and you'll get another stab at it. The author starts a sentence on page 187, "If you've understood, even vaguely..." and ends it with "it gets even better (or worse...) as we move on to other properties of elementary particles."

On page 351, he closes with congratulations to anyone who made it to the end - then inserts a joke about the Higgs field that only an "insider" (a physicist or one who read the book) would understand. This is a great book that I highly recommend for any physicist who wants to brush up on particle physics, any undergrad or grad student in physics, or any other scientist types who are persistent enough to want a better handle on this fascinating but difficult subject.

It really is "Breathtaking".......2006-11-30

This is a book about quantum mechanics, and gauge theory in particular. It's essentially non-mathematical, having just a few equations, and requires little mathematical expertise. For readers with math anxiety, or those unfamiliar with partial differential equations, the few equations in the book can be skipped without missing much, as Schumm focuses almost exclusively on providing a qualitative understanding of what's at the heart of the Standard Model of quantum mechanics.

This isn't your typical book on quantum mechanics, aimed at your typical armchair scientists. There's virtually no discussion about various speculative macroscopic aspects of QM, such as freewill. God doesn't come into the picture except as a non-personal synonym for "the universe." Schrödinger's cat isn't discussed. Neither is tunneling, time travel, teleportation, or Bell's inequality. This text is what I'd describe as a nuts-and-bolts qualitative look or introduction to the Standard model. I think it would be excellent reading for anyone contemplating a class in QM, before taking a quantitative and detailed course on the subject. Of course, I'd also recommend it for casual yet serious readers who want to know the basis for modern quantum theory.

The first half of the book lays the groundwork with a discussion of forces of nature, patterns, the building blocks of nature, and symmetry. I particularly liked Schumm's explanation of how symmetry relates to conserved quantities. I think he does an especially nice job of describing Lie groups and segueing the topic into the heart of this book, which is gauge theory.

The gauge principle says that objects within a system are subject to precise laws of interaction. It also says that the wave equation is invariant with respect to local changes in phase. The connection between these two notions (phase invariance and laws of interaction) provides a quantitative theory for causation, known as the gauge principle. [pp. 276-277] I commend Schumm for presenting the basic principles and arguments of gauge theory in a way that can be clearly understood at a qualitative level. Here's a summary of how he does it.

Start with the Schrödinger wave equation. Next, apply the condition that information cannot be instantaneously transmitted or transmitted with arbitrary speed over arbitrary distances. This is a principle that seems deeply ingrained in Einstein's relativity, that no object with non-zero mass energy can travel faster than the speed of light, and is the position taken by Yang and Mills in their 1954 paper in the Physical Review, where they argue the following:

"As usually conceived, however, this arbitrariness is subject to the following limitations: once one chooses [the phase of the wave function] at one space-time point, one is then not free to make any choices at other space-time points. It seems that this is not consistent with the localized filed concept that underlies the usual physical theories. In the present paper we wish to explore the possibility of requiring all interactions to be invariant under independent [choices of phase] at all space-time points. [p. 217-218]

Back to the Schrödinger wave equation, Schumm considers the case of an isolated electron (no potential). To make the wave function invariant with respect to local changes in phase, Schumm describes a trick used by Yang and Mills, in which they added a new term to the wave equation, a so-called "cheating" term, A(x). A(x) changes when the phase of the wave function changes, in just the right way so that the overall wave function is unaltered by local changes in the wave function's phase. This might seem like an obvious and trivial thing to do, but interestingly, when you do this you find that the cheating function, A(x), represents the quantum of the electromagnetic field - the photon. As Schumm explains:

"The inclusion of A(x) thus incorporates, within the field-theoretical description of the particle's behavior, the possibility that the particle emits or absorbs a photon, that is, the possibility that the particle emits or absorbs a quantum of the electromagnetic field."

This is a nifty trick. Start with the Schrödinger equation for an isolated particle, apply the relativity principle by insisting on invariance of local phase shifts, add a "cheating" factor to make phase invariant, and the "cheating factor" ends up being the quantum force mediator of the particle described by the Schrödinger equation. The nature of the cheating term depends on the symmetry of possible changes to the wave function. That's where Lie groups come in, and that's why it's so helpful the way Schumm lays the conceptual foundation with his chapter on Lie groups.

Mathematically, the symmetry of a quantum particle is described by the Lie group that describes possible changes to the particle's wave equation. If the group has only simple phase-change symmetry we end up with quantum electrodynamics, or the quantum theory of the electromagnetic force. For wave functions described by more complicated Lie groups (wave equations that have rotational symmetry in some internal symmetry space), we must add different cheating terms, as many as there are generators of the Lie group. This is the basic idea behind the gauge principle, which is at the heart of the Standard model of quantum mechanics. Of the four known forces of nature, three (electromagnetic, weak nuclear, and the strong nuclear interactions) are explainable from the well-established methods of gauge theory.

This was one of the best books I've read this year. It's long (just short of 360 pages) with lots of material between the covers. You'll want to read the Appendix and notes, and you'll most likely find yourself reading over parts of the book several times, digesting the meaning behind the words. In the end, I think you'll agree with the author's assessment that quantum mechanics - the study of "deep down things" really does reveal a breathtaking beauty of the natural world.

A 'big-picture' conceptual guide to the Standard Model.......2006-08-28

Fed up with useless metaphors which equate the Higgs particle with hangers-on at a party slowing a celebrity's passage? Exasperated at continual references to Lie algebras and gauge theories, which are never explained?

In Peter Woit's recent book `Not Even Wrong', he comments (p. 205) that relativistic quantum field theory is not even studied until the second or third year of graduate school. For the rest of us, there is `Deep Down Things'.

Schumm's objective is to take us on a conceptual tour of the Standard Model of quantum mechanics, without requiring a mastery of the technical apparatus. The first half of the book introduces the four fundamental forces, wave-particle duality and the wave function itself. The approach is historical and visual - plenty of Feynman diagrams - and Schumm assumes the reader is happy with complex exponentials. By chapter 5 we are deep in the eightfold way, and the classification of quarks, leptons (electrons, muons, neutrinos) and bosons (the force quanta).

Chapter 6 begins the process of diving deeper with a discussion of Lie groups and Lie Algebra, motivated by plenty of examples. A Lie group is defined via: (i) a continuous set (i.e. a real or complex manifold such as R^n or C^n) with (ii) operators which are continuous functions over the manifold. Chapter 7 introduces Noether's theorem: `To every differentiable symmetry generated by local actions, there corresponds a conserved quality' and this is linked with symmetries under transformations by the Lie group operators (such as rotations in isospin space which interchange protons and neutrons).

Introductory quantum mechanics courses talk about the physical irrelevance of the phase of the wave function when it comes to the calculation of probabilities of observables. We thus have the concept of global phase invariance. However, this is unphysical - we cannot have the universe adjusting phase by the same amount everywhere at the same time. Yang and Mills in the mid-50s proposed to force the wave function to be invariant under local changes of phase: it turns out the only way to achieve this is to add a new term of the form gA(x)psi(x) where g is a charge parameter associated with the particle, psi(x) is the wave function and A(x) is a new term which turns out to be the field potential function for the relevant force field (electromagnetic in chapter 8). The freedom of choice in choosing the function A is called a gauge freedom, hence gauge theory.

Choose a fundamental particle. Write down its wave function. Identify the spaces in which the particle participates (space-time, isospin, ...). Identify the Lie group which rotates the wave function (state vector) in each of these spaces - U(1), SU(2), SU(3). By the principle of local phase invariance, adjust the original wave function with gauge terms gA(x)psi(x) as above. From making this work mathematically, out pop the corresponding force quanta (= the number of generators of the corresponding Lie algebra above). As the chapter heading puts it: `Physics by Pure Thought'!

Chapter 9 explains how the standard model assigns a mass of zero to all force-field quanta. Any attempt to add mass destroys the local phase invariance that we just discussed. The only way to retrieve the situation is to assume the existence of a new field (the Higgs field) which somehow pervades the universe and which interacts with non-zero-mass force quanta (via the weak force) in a `screening' way which gives them mass. The Higgs field is also responsible for the masses of quarks and leptons. If this is true, there should be a Higgs particle within reach of CERN's Large Hadron Collider in 2007.

This is a really excellent book. If you dimly recall how to solve a differential equation, and are unfazed by the notion of an abelian group, then this book is accessible. By book-end you have the sense that you `get' the big picture of the standard model and its remaining conceptual weaknesses. I would say that if you were an undergraduate interested in theoretical physics and wanted a tour d'horizon, this is the one book which will give it (Penrose's `The Road To Reality' is still too difficult for this purpose).

Best popular particle/quantum physics books I have read.......2006-05-02

Bottom line: Buy it.

If you are tired of books that throw out words like "symmetry" and "gauge theory" without ever explaining (at least conceptually) what these terms mean and how these concepts relate to a deep understanding of particle physics then this is the book to buy.

The author explains the mathematical concepts quite simply and in such a way that if you can read ANY popular book on physics then you can understand how Lie Algebras and Gauge Theories help derive the eightfold way, the charges on some bosons, the probability of the Higgs field/particle, and therefore lead to the Standard Model of particle physics.

Imagine a book which covers these topics (Lie Groups, Lie Algebras and Gauge Theories) without ever seeming mathematically challenging or complex. Here it is.

My only disappointed? It doesn't cover more, because this is the best exposition -- real teaching at a world class level -- of the subjects it does cover. If Schumm ever writes another book I will buy it, sight unseen.

If you have read, or wanted to read "The Road to Reality" by Penrose (which I highly recommend if you have the determination to read it), this will make several sections of that book much easier to understand -- were all of Penrose's explanations as high quality as "Deep Down Things" there would likely never be a better book on these subjects.

For anyone considering this book, the answer is simple: buy it and enjoy reading it.

Average customer rating:

Not bad, not great.
awesome ending
A New Season of DS9
Really the launching of Season 8 DS9. No ending!
opens up more questions than answers

Avatar Book Two of Two (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
S.D. Perry
Manufacturer: Star Trek
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Avatar Book One of Two (Star Trek Deep Space Nine)
A Stitch in Time (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
Rising Son (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
This Gray Spirit (Star Trek Deep Space Nine: Mission Gamma, Book 2)
Lesser Evil (Star Trek Deep Space Nine: Mission Gamma, Book 4)

ASIN: 0743400518
Release Date: 2001-05-01

Book Description

RETURN TO THE EDGE OF THE FINAL FRONTIER.

As the Federation prepares to launch a counterstrike against the Dominion, Colonel Kira Nerys searches for a way to prevent another galactic holocaust. But when a newly discovered prophecy propels Jake Sisko on an impossible quest and threatens to plunge all of Bajor into chaos, Kira is forced to choose between being true to her faith...and being true to herself.

Meanwhile, as the combined crews of Deep Space 9™ and the Starship Enterprise™ struggle to stop a terrorist plot to destroy the station and the ship, lives change, new friendships are forged, and the shocking truth behind a grisly murder is revealed.

THE ASTONISHING RENEWAL OF THE EPIC ADVENTURE.

Customer Reviews:

Not bad, not great........2007-06-12

This book was well-wriiten, with interesting characters placed in interesting situations. Unfortunately, not only does it not have a beginning (as one might expect from a book labelled "Book 2 of 2") but it doesn't even have much of an ending (which is the LEAST that one can expect from a "2 of 2"). It seems that it is actually book 2 of...umm...some undefined number GREATER than 2. ("Book 2 of 2" should NOT end on a cliffhanger!)

Enjoyable, but ultimately frustrating.

awesome ending.......2007-06-06

This was a great ending to this 2 series storyline and I can't wait to read future stories. We are introduced to new characters and I finally feel that the series is off to a new beginning! excellent read! fantastic!

A New Season of DS9.......2007-02-12

I loved the Avatar books, they make an impressive addition to the DS9 universe. The characters are expanded, Ezri finally truly begins to come into her own after the continuing confusion, throughout the 7th season, due to her joining. Ro Laren is a welcome addition (I've always liked her character) and the recovery from the Dominion War provides a good backdrop for the story. These books, as well as their sequels, have proven that S.D. Perry is one of the best Star Trek authors.
This seems to be a "two-hour" kickoff for a new season of DS9. Not everything is tied up neatly, I'm hoping the "relaunch" of TNG is just as addictive. I just wish there were more stars with which to rate these books.

I made the same mistake as some people--I bought one book and the other sold out before I could get to it--save yourself some stress, buy them both together!

Really the launching of Season 8 DS9. No ending!.......2004-01-30

I loved the way this book ended. It did not wrap everything up in a neat little package, but rather ends with the words: The Beginning. Since that is what these books are. They are the beginning of the DS9 relaunch, and are set up as an introduction to new characters who have replaced those gone on (Worf, O'Brien, Garak and Rom make no appearances at all. Odo is talked about and briefly seen in action, and Sisko...well there's mystery surrounding that guy!).

Other people have had problems with the way the book ends, but I loved it. A reviewer said that Book 1 could have been the opening episode of DS9's eighth season, and I completely agree! Book 2 would be the continuation of the season premiere, and WHAT A CONTINUATION! Book 2 is much better than the necessary Book 1. All the new characters are well flushed out and relationships are solidified (Ro and Kira; Dax and Bashir; Vaughn and everyone; ch'Thane and Nog; etc.). The plot quickens and the truth behind Kitana'klan's statements is revealed... with a neat twist.

I can say for sure that I want to keep reading the rest of the "episodes" in the DS9 relaunch. The way they are set up (the other books that is) is that they flow from Avatar in a sequence so that there's great continuity! "Abyss", Bashir's section 31 romp continues where Avatar left off, and it's good to see that it doesn't bother reintroducing everyone, but assumes you've read Avatar and know the deal. For this reason, I love that Avatar does not get wrapped up, but leaves itself open for plenty more books (which were subsequently written). I especially like the manner in which the idea of exploring the Gamma Quadrant opens up.

Problems: One will have to ignore the Dominion Books (1&3) since it contradicts Ro and Picard's relationship. Personally I liked how it was dealt with in this book (and I liked how it clears up why Ro didn't got to a Federation penal colony). However, it cheapens the Dominion Books which saw some great action for Ro and Picard... so you be the judge if you can deal with the HUGE discrepancy.

Missed Opportunities: Seeing the TNG crew in action!!! Riker does virtually nothing, when so much could have been done, especially considering the Thomas Riker incident! Crusher does a good job filling in as CMO. Troi does a little. But a real disappointment was the lack of any Data dialogue with Bashir (common, seeing an android and genetically engineered human interact would have been brilliant) or even ch'Thane or Dax or others who are curious about Data.
The biggest mistake I think was the lack of seeing Geordi LaForge work on DS9's repairs! We learn that O'Brien has kept in touch with Geordi and told him all about DS9's screw ups... so how cool would it have been to see Geordi trying to tackle some of those problems... and seeing the Chief's innovations... and commenting on them and whatnot! That was definetely a missed opportunity.

But, ignoring what wasn't in the book, what was in it was excellent. It was good to see a Federation-Klingon-Romulan task force and hear them lectured from a Jem'Hadar supposedly sent from Odo... really good stuff.
The Avatar prophecy sort of gets shoved aside quickly, but resurfaces in an interesting way indeed! It was good to see the interaction between Ro, Kira, Vedek Yevir and Kassidy. Their heated debate was excellent and I was just screaming for someone to say what I was thinking when finally Kass lets it loose! Oh baby that was excellent! Good religious/spiritual (maybe philosophical?) and conformist/orthodox interplay!
Everything else was really interesting, and the scene at the central core was very intense!
It was good to see th'Chane's character explained a bit more, and you can tell a lot more will revolve around this young ensign in the future!
The job Perry does with setting up Vaughn as a guy you have to like deserves kudos. I love this guy already and keep hoping Sisko won't return so he can stay as XO! Seriously, he's THAT cool! He's only a Commander but with Admiral-type knowledge and secrets. I can't wait to hear some of them in later books!

Book 1 was good; Book 2 is much better! Although it would have been better to have the books in one set, it takes nothing away from them to have them alone. Though I absolutely recommend reading Book 1 before reading Book 2.

If you plan to read any of the DS9 relaunch books, I highly recommend reading Avatar first, for otherwise characters in the later novels won't be as flushed out as they are here. If you haven't read Garak's "A Stitch in Time" novel, which takes place after he returns to Cardassia in ruins, I highly recommend reading that novel first. Avatar makes quick mention of Bashir reading Garak's communique (which is the book).
Also, if you haven't read the Reeves-Stevenses' Millenium trilogy (available as 3 separate books, or in an Omnibus version) I highly recommend reading that as well. So far those two novels are the best of the DS9 series, though Avatar came close in many instances.

I look forward with enthusiasm to reading the rest of the DS9 relaunch novels. Look for my next review for Section 31: Abyss.

opens up more questions than answers.......2003-12-24

Eagarly reading this book to find answers to certain questions and plot resolutions, I was sorely mistaken. It advances some plots, but others are left dangling. One of the most disappointing things about the book was the fact that "Avatar" has not happened yet and the plot involving Jake has not gone anywhere. The mystery involving the mysterious Jemhadar soldier "Kitana'klan" was resolved to my satisfaction and opens up some interesting possibilities for future novels. There is one good fire fight and I'll add that S.D Perry describes them well.

Book Description

RETURN TO THE EDGE OF THE FINAL FRONTIER.

In the aftermath of a war that brought the Alpha Quadrant to the brink of destruction, Starbase Deep Space 9™ -- the galaxy's nexus of scientific and military intrigue -- is once more the flashpoint of impending Armageddon as a surprise attack cripples the station, killing hundreds and threatening the fragile new peace.

Colonel Kira Nerys and the survivors -- together with several controversial new officers -- are all who stand against the outbreak of a new war and a terrible doom tied to the unborn child of Captain Benjamin Sisko.

Elsewhere, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the Starship Enterprise™ make a startling discovery...one that will affect the destiny of an entire civilization and forever change the lives of those aboard Deep Space 9.

A BOLD NEW BEGINNING FOR ONE OF THE MOST COMPELLING STAR TREK® SAGAS OF ALL.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent novel........2007-03-08

Set in the time period after the end of the series, this is a very fine Deep Space Nine novel, with excellent characterizations and a fine plot. As nearly as I can tell, this book and its sequel immediately precede "Demons of Air & Darkness", the Deep Space Nine entry in the "Gateways" miniseries; some of the characters that were seen in that novel, that I wasn't immediately familiar with, seem to have come to it from this book. It would be nice if such timelines were made immediately clear to people approaching the books at a late enough date not to have seen them when they came out; presumably, had I been keeping up at that time, I would have known that this series came out before that one did, but without knowing that the plots would overlap, just checking the copyright dates wouldn't have let me know to read them in sequence; MOST of the books do not overlap plots like that, especially since they're by different authors.

Also, my usual complaint with books of this sort: it ends on a cliffhanger, so is missing an ending, something I consider essential to giving a book five stars.

Absolutely, buy both books together!.......2007-02-12

4 Stars for Avatar? Did you read the same book I did? This was horrible! And Sexist!.......2006-09-08

To start off I loved all of the Trek series on tv. I think DS9 was my favorite because of the story arcs and what an excellent job the actors did with making the characters their own. I mean Shimmerman made a Ferengi likable. Vistor as Kira, Siddig as Bashir I loved the depth they brought to each part. Knowing how the series ended its a given that some new characters had to be brought in and I'm glad to see Kira is still the commander of DS9 in this book. However I was struck by an odd sense as I continued to read past the first 20 pages or so. This feeling only intensified as I read. There seemed to be particular emphasis on the leadership and skills of all the female characters while all of the male characters where lacking in some sort. It seemed as though the author had a sexist slant to both books. There were so many instances of it that it ruined the books for me. Kira is strong in the book as she should be and so is Ezri. It seemed the authored took pleasure in marginalizing all the male characters. Nog is portrayed as capable but immature and harboring ill feelings over the Jem'Hadar in holding on the station. Ya think? He lost a leg in battle with them and he doesn't trust them. No different than how O'Brien and Kira felt about the Cardassians, Picard and Sisko of the Borg, or Kirk of the Klingons. The author spends time on showing how Nogs fear consumes him. Ironically his fears are not misplaced as I found at the end of the book. One new character, and Andorian, lives under the shadow of his famous mother on the High Council. Bashir is described in one part as being a "silly Doctor". Ok, the same Bashir that survived a Dominion prison, was recruited because of his intellect by Section 31 and has to stand twice as far from the dart board from O'Brien because of his genetic enhancements? The same Bashir of the Abyss novel by David Weddle and Jeff Lang? Bashir may be naive with romance but he's not silly. If you read the account of him in the Avatar books he's a twit. He also adds nothing to the plot except as being used as a device to show what emotional trauma Ezri is going through. There is a point where Ezri says something rather callous and insensitive to Julian but for some reason he is the immature one. Ezri is growing after all(being newly joined), she's allowed to say anything she wants and get away with it. The author also likes to depict the female leads as looking through or completely ignoring input or comments for the males. The plot is bad too. I thought there would be some resolution at the end but there wasn't. I don't have a problem with strong female leads. I loved Captain Janeway, Colonel Kira, and Lt. Commander Dax in the series. And though the majority of the males were depicted as peons Picard is described as I remember from the series. And another new addition Commander Elias Vaughn fares well though he is over a hundred years old. I couldn't help but think how much better this book would have fit in the Xena universe with the sexism and low and behold the author wrote a novel based on the series. The addition of a Jem'Hadar is also interesting but there is no real development with the character until the next book The Abyss.

I thought the Avatar series was a waste of time and money. They were the first 2 ST novels I read. I was happy with next one, the Abyss. Though it probably will have little effect on sales I felt compelled to write this review. If I can just save one persons money I'll be happy.

Buy both books at the same time.......2004-11-09

I made the mistake of only purchasing Book 1 and had to wait before I could put another order to get book 2. As an avid DS9'er, I was thrilled to discover the series is continued in books and I was not disappointed. Quark lovers will definately enjoy this book.

Necessary for DS9 Relaunch. Really a Buildup for Book 2........2004-01-27

I found that much of this book was a buildup for Book 2. Not that that's a bad thing, but it was what I deem a "necessary introduction" for the DS9 Relaunch. The characterization is good, but not as complete or rounded as in the Reeves-Stevenses' Millenium trilogy (a must read!).

The book starts with a recap of important events from pre-DS9 (ie Occupation of Bajor, Orbs) to the finale where Odo, Worf (and Martok), Garak, O'Brien, Rom AND Sisko have all left DS9. I must say at first I wondered how a show (book, whatever) could proceed with a) Kira in charge; b) only Ezri, Bashir, Kira, Jake and Nog and Quark (who is spot on perfect btw) left from the original cast (oh and Yates). But surprisingly it works very well. The main reason for this is the introduction of some new characters. However, I deeply missed the interplays with Worf and especially Garak. And without O'Brien, Bashir is demeaned to the position of the relationship character with Ezri...

The best part about the book I found is the solid character development for the new characters, but also Ezri and to some degree Kira (though she's still arrogant).

Andorian Ensign ch'Thane is probably the most refreshing character. To delve into a new race is great fun, and Book 2 offers a lot more intrigue (and I'm assuming the Gamma books).

Elias Vaughn. This guy rocks, I can't wait to read more about him. This 101 year old Starfleet veteran is going through a change of mindset and his introspection is fascinating.

Lt. Ro Laren. She's there to take over Odo's position (which is funny cuz Kira loves Odo but dislikes Ro). Ro's arrivial bugged me for several reasons. Understand I think it is brilliant to have her on DS9, but she's very poorly introduced. First, the information in the two Avatar books contradicts the Dominion War books and totally discredits all the awesome work she did with Picard during that time.. which WOULD have made sense as to why she was instated on DS9. Instead, some lame excuse about terrorist attacks against Dominion is given, and despite the Federation's (or Starfleet's) qualms about Ro and requests NOT to let her on DS9, Bajor goes against their wishes (which *should* harm their chances at Federation membership but surprise, doesn't) and puts her there anyways, for no real reason. But ignoring that, Ro has always been one of those characters you just love to get more of, and she's her typical rebellious self here, and it's grand!

The Plot is very good. I especially like the idea surrounding the Jem'Hadar soldier. Jake loves his father as much as he did in "The Visitor", yet it seemed obvious to me that from his first reading of the Prophecy that he had probably misinterpretated it. If the author thought she was being sneaky, she was wrong. It was quite clear that Jake was being naive... or was he?

The attack on the station is quite wonderful, and provides the bulk of the action. The murder investigation is nowhere as indepth as that from the Millenium trilogy.
The religious talk is nowhere as deep as that from the Millenium trilogy, but is still interesting. It really picks up more in Book 2 where Ro loses it. It is good to see why Ro opposes the Bajoran faith (which IS well explained).

Also, don't let the cover fool you, this is a DS9 book, not a TNG book. Though Picard is in this book, he and the TNG crew do little, though Book 2 is a different story.

Overall this book is a good read! I definetely had some problems with it, but once I forgave them reading it became quite interesting. I definetely wanted to read Book 2 right after (which I am doing) and am sure it will lead me to read all the Gamma books and subsequent Perry novels. All in all a good start for Season 8 of DS9!

The Left Hand of Destiny, Book 1 (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
Average customer rating:

The Left hand should slap the producers and make this the film!

Left Hand of Destiny - A Favorite!

"a new day must dawn for our people..."

Klingon action!

Spectacular novel!

The Left Hand of Destiny, Book 1 (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
J. G. Hertzler , and Jeffrey Lang
Manufacturer: Star Trek
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0671784935

Book Description

"The Klingon Empire is dying...and I think it deserves to die."

With those words, Lieutenant Ezri Dax propelled Lieutenant Commander Worf to the most fateful decision of his life -- to vanquish Klingon leader Gowron in honorable combat and install in his place a low-born, one-eyed soldier of the empire who might lead their people back to the path of honor.

Under the weighty mantle of chancellor, General Martok led the forces of the empire to victory in the final Allied assault against the Dominion. Now, with Worf at his side as the newly appointed Federation ambassador to Qo'noS, Martok at last is coming home, bringing with him the hope of a bright new future for his people.

But the new chancellor's triumphant return to the Klingon homeworld is met by treachery and upheaval. As the demons of the general's past rise up, so too does a usurper to the Imperial Throne, one who knows exactly how to crush Martok and all who stand with him -- and who won't be satisfied until they are ashes under the foundation of a new Klingon Empire.

Download Description

""The Klingon Empire is dying...and I think it deserves to die."" With those words, Lieutenant Ezri Dax propelled Lieutenant Commander Worf to the most fateful decision of his life -- to vanquish Klingon leader Gowron in honorable combat and install in his place a low-born, one-eyed soldier of the empire who might lead their people back to the path of honor. Under the weighty mantle of chancellor, General Martok led the forces of the empire to victory in the final Allied assault against the Dominion. Now, with Worf at his side as the newly appointed Federation ambassador to Qo'noS, Martok at last is coming home, bringing with him the hope of a bright new future for his people. But the new chancellor's triumphant return to the Klingon homeworld is met by treachery and upheaval. As the demons of the general's past rise up, so too does a usurper to the Imperial Throne, one who knows exactly how to crush Martok and all who stand with him -- and who won't be satisfied until they are ashes under the foundation of a new Klingon Empire.

Customer Reviews:

The Left hand should slap the producers and make this the film!.......2007-05-04

Why production giants always seek to move backwards in order to tell a story will always baffle me. After reading book one of "The Left Hand of Destiny" I must say I was taken into the world of Klingon and I did not want to come back. Believe me when I state this, There is no better person to capture the soul of the Klingon character Mar'tok then the actor who gave years to his creation! I am the type of person who wishes not to ruin any part of the story in my mini review. Therefore take my words to year eyes, and store them in your brain as you read this. This is by far the greatest trek book and would due the Star Trek Universe justice if brought to the big screen.

The developments which move forward in this novel truly delve into the aspects of Klingons in ways we have yet seen. I can not wait to read Book 2, and wish I would have seen this when it was first released!

FANTASTIC NOVEL!!!

Left Hand of Destiny - A Favorite!.......2006-10-05

The Left Hand of Destiny Book I and II have been some of my favorites of the continuing stories of DS9. I think this was the most exciting set of books so far. There were many references to the DS9 episodes, and quite a few characters were pulled in for this set of books. It's sometimes shocking yet strangely satisfying when some of the characters are killed off and "put to rest" in the relaunch. It kind of brings a finality to that part of the series and story.

The action in this LHoD was superb. I stayed up very late at night reading these books - I could not put them down.

"a new day must dawn for our people...".......2005-04-05

In perhaps the most dramatic and memorable scene ever made in the television history of "Star Trek Deep Space Nine", Worf defeated Gowran in a duel during the dominion war and installed General Martok as the new chancellor of the Klingon Empire. Martok reluctantly accepted the position.

This book starts off where the final television episode left off. We join Martok and Worf as they head to Qo'noS to have a meeting with the Emperor and to be officially installed as chancellor and ambasidor respectively. Chaos then erupts as the Great Hall is attacked and thousands of innocent civilians are killed. Not long after, they discover that there is a mutinizer who has an entourage and considers it his duty kill Martok and Worf. Not only are Martok and Worf considered federation puppets, but they are "low born". Much of the story focuses on how Martok, Worf, Sirella (Martok's wife) and Alexander (Worf's son) struggle for survival in a world that seems to be rapidly turning against them.

This first book starts things off well with compelling characters and good action. Some of the fights and battles are quite graphic.

Klingon action!.......2003-10-05

Wouldn't it be great if the next Star Trek incarnation was a Klingon series, and the premier episode this story! This is great Klingon action. One of the best things I liked about it, the Klingon women get a lot more respect than on the past TV series. Besides the evil Gothmara, Martok's wife is much better written here than the TV script. On DS9, she was such a, LOL, how do you say "female targ" in klingonase? IThe novel is a two part, and the second one is great too. I deduct a point, because parts of it seem a copy of John Ford's "The Final Reflection", and others seem word for word out of Kat Ramo's "Citizen Of The Empire". Not that that would be a disappointment to true fans of the Klingons! I recommend this highly!

Spectacular novel!.......2003-09-05

J.G. Hertzler and Jeffrey Lang have crafted a true Star Trek epic in every sense of the word. Rich in detail, it is the story of Martok's quest to learn what it really means to be a Klingon. Think "Star Trek meets King Arthur by way of John Eldredge (Wild at Heart)", and you have the essence of "The Left Hand of Destiny". If it's possible to give this 2-part story a sixth star, I would do it in a heartbeat, it is that excellent! :)

Mechwarrior: Dark Age #12: Hunters of the Deep(A BattleTech Novel) (Mechwarrior Dark Ages)

Average customer rating:

Disappointing in terms of both story and Mech action
really a battletech novel?
I agree with the guy above...Don't waste your money
Don't waste your time

Mechwarrior: Dark Age #12: Hunters of the Deep(A BattleTech Novel) (Mechwarrior Dark Ages)
Randall N. Bills
Manufacturer: Roc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451460057
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Book Description

The MechWarrior saga continues

The Clan Sea Fox is about to be torn asunder. ovKhan Sha Clarke wants to rule his own faction of warriors, and take his rightful share of wealth, glory, and power. But ovKhan Petr Kalasa knows Sha is plotting a rebellion, and will stop him at any cost.

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"The MechWarrior saga continues The Clan Sea Fox is about to be torn asunder. ovKhan Sha Clarke wants to rule his own faction of warriors, and take his rightful share of wealth, glory, and power. But ovKhan Petr Kalasa knows Sha is plotting a rebellion, and will stop him at any cost."

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing in terms of both story and Mech action.......2005-09-24

Many Battletech fans have yet to embrace the new Mechwarrior Dark Age series, and - unfortunately - Randall N. Bills' Hunters of the Deep isn't going to help matters in this regard. Bills is something of an expert when it comes to Battletech technology and hardware, which makes it all the more disappointing that there is so little actual Mechwarrior action in this novel. Most Battletech fans want battle action, and plenty of it. Hunters of the Deep consists predominantly of politics inside Clan Sea Fox, and there's really not much of a tie-in with events taking place throughout the Dark Age universe as a whole. There is talk of an invasion of the Republic by House Marik, but that invasion is given exceedingly short shrift in these pages. To put it mildly, I found the politics of this novel somewhat confusing. Worst of all, there is really no one to admire in this story; indeed, I wasn't even sure who I should be pulling for until I got about halfway through the book. You basically have two ovKhans of Clan Sea Fox pitted against one another; one, ovKhan Sha Clarke, seeks to break away his Spina Khanate from Clan Sea Fox, a most un-clan-like thing to do, while the other, ovKhan Petr Kalasa, is a weak leader with a history of loss and defeat at the hands of Sha. Petr's only saving grace is his loyalty to Clan Sea Fox, but I couldn't help but wonder throughout the novel how such a tainted, rash leader who allows his primary aide to endlessly bait him for his past failures has managed to hold on to his position for so long.

Clan Sea Fox should be an interesting clan, for its members spend almost all of their time on naval vessels, wandering from one world to another making trade deals by negotiation and/or intimidation. As space naval men, though, they spend comparatively little time inside 'Mechs practicing or waging battle. As such, they are not exactly experts at battle maneuvers or strategy - Petr certainly isn't. His rashness has allowed Sha to best him more than once in the past, and there's no reason to think that things will change when his current negotiations with the merchants of Adhafera are disrupted by Sha's own bid for trade rights with the planet (for such disputes are generally settled with a duel between ovKhans). Sha is up to something, though, and Petr finds the most unusual of information sources in a female assassin named Snow. Their clandestine meetings become exceedingly tiresome because they always consist of little more than bizarre flirting sessions, made all the more unbearable by the frequent descriptions of Snow's exceeding ugliness of features and perpetual filthy, smelly state. Still, Snow, who seems to be linked to the Republic in some way and certainly knows more about Sha's plans than Petr's intelligence agents even suspect, makes it possible for Petr to try and protect Clan Sea Fox (and the Khan) from Sha's traitorous power play.

Bliss has the annoying habit of starting at the end and working backward when it comes to describing important events - such as the one-on-one duel between Sha and Petr in the Rituals of Combat surrounding a Trial of Bloodright. Sometimes, I found little explanation of any kind for certain major happenings. In the end, I can't help but feel that Hunters of the Deep represents the Mechwarrior Dark Age series at its least appealing, as it seems to specialize in the very things many classic Battletech fans like least about the new series.

really a battletech novel?.......2005-09-19

I have read numerous sci-fi novels and all of the current mechwarrior novels. This one is not an easy read or an intriguing story. As the other reviewers noted, the typographical errors and the name transpositions are distracting. In addition, Mechwarrior and Battletech novels usually feature the behemoth machines that give the series its name, but this novel falls short in this regard. In addition, the novel doesn't advance the plot of the the series overall. I am 140 odd pages into the novel and that is as far as I will get. This is only a good purchase if you feel the need to complete a set of novels; it is not a worthwhile read.

I agree with the guy above...Don't waste your money.......2005-05-12

Randall Bills is the BattleTech God who keeps the Classic BT world together. He's written and edited countless tech manuals and resource guides that all us BT fans love. Unfortunately, all that skill and knowledge doesn't translate well into his story telling. From what I understand this is Randall's first novel, ever. And it painfully shows. I didn't make it past the first three pages of the Prolog before putting this book down. The hard to follow conversations and rough descriptions made the prolog very tough to follow. Essentially, this book needed more attention and assistance from the rest of the writing staff than it got. Too bad really because I really respect Randall Bill's other works. Unfortunately I think he needs to spend more time perfecting his story telling before releasing another book. If he wasn't already part of the BattleTech and Mechwarrior Dark Age communities he would never have gotten this first book published without a lot more spit and polish.

Don't waste your time.......2005-01-10

At best this book is an awkward read with numerous typos and some name transpositions. What kills it are the countless inconsistant pieces of story and illogical plot functions. The story is summarized here: Two rival Sea Fox ov-khans conflict with each other and the unappealing protagonist ov-khan wins at the end. (He is so unappealing that his aid and friend for years treacherously abandons him at the end of the book to side with the apparently more appealing Antagonist who of course promptly loses) Almost a sidenote is that House Marik launches an invasion of the Republic and fails (In the book this part of the story takes up less space than my review).

Unless you want to read some hundred odd pages about meaningless Clan Sea Fox politics and their leaders acting like dishonorable Spheroids (while thinking about how Clanly they are), then don't waste your time reading this book.

The Clans are becoming less and less Clanly. Without the plentiful Quiaffs and Affs these Clanners would be difficult to distinguish as such since their conduct is very unClanny. Kerensky would not be proud.

The Left Hand of Destiny, Book 2 (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

Average customer rating:

Left Hand of Destiny - A Favorite!
good read
solid characters and a good story
Klingon action!
I'll have a little Klingon mumbo-jumbo to go please

The Left Hand of Destiny, Book 2 (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
J. G. Hertzler , and Jeffrey Lang
Manufacturer: Star Trek
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0671784943

Book Description

"The true test of a warrior is not without...it is within."

Sins of the past collide with hopes for the future as Martok fights for the right to lead the Klingon Empire. With the secret of his usurper exposed, the ousted chancellor and his ragtag band of followers embark on a desperate plan to retake the empire.

But while Worf, Ezri Dax, and the crew of the IKS Rotarran go in search of the Klingons' most revered icon of power, Martok is dealt the most crushing blow of all -- driving him to make his final stand on the ice-strewn cliffs of sacred Boreth. As that frozen world reverberates with the song of armies and bat'leths clashing, the mystery of Martok's past, and the future of the Klingon Empire, is revealed.

Customer Reviews:

Left Hand of Destiny - A Favorite!.......2006-10-05

good read.......2006-07-24

Great book and well-written characters(especjally :Worf and Martok, plus Pchar)and relationships beetwen them.I think that the writters tried to tell something more
about Martok's family,Drex and Sirella than we got to know from the tv,and make Drex a litte smarter,than he was in tv:).
I also like Alexander -It's look like he can find his own path among Klingons,althrough having still human attitudes.

solid characters and a good story.......2005-07-21

Everyone knows what has to happen in this miniseries, but the question is how will Martok get his planet back and who will have to die in the process? It was a bit surprising if not shocking who was killed in this installment. I just thought that the Star Trek authors would find some other interesting things to do with those characters. I never knew that Martok had any children, so that was interesting to read. I found the story of Pharh (the Klingon raised Faringi) rather touching and his relationship with Martok was one of the best parts of the whole book.

I don't know, but I thought that Klingons never smiled. If Kingons aren't supposed to smile, then this book isn't consistent with the Kilingon personality.

In a nutshell this was a good book, but not all that engaging or maybe I just wasn't that interested in it out of the anticipation of the next book in the series "Unity".

Klingon action!.......2003-10-05

This is the second part to the two part series. It's a great Klingon action story! BTW, I thought the spiritual aspects were just great! One of the most interesting things about the Klingons, they are like the Samurai of ancient Japan, with their spirituality and warrior culture! This story would make a great series premier for a new Star Trek TV series! The female characters get a lot of respect, unlike on the past TV series, where they are either sex maniacs or frigid housewives. Martok's wife gets a chance to show some real heroism here! As a female fan of the Klingons, I was surprised and pleased by this two part novel! Thank you, Mr. Lang and Hertzler! I recommend the book highly. I deducted a point only because in many paqrts it seems copied directly from John Ford's "The Final Reflection" and Kat Ramo's "Citizen Of The Empire."

I'll have a little Klingon mumbo-jumbo to go please.......2003-08-09

The Left Hand of Destiny: Book 2 continues almost exactly where Book 1 left off. Unfortunately, while the quality of the book is still high, it's marred by some heavy mystical content that overpowers the book and brings it almost to a standstill at times.

Martok, the new chancellor of the Klingon Empire, has been deposed and is on the run. The secret behind the usurper has been revealed to be a woman from Martok's past, a woman who Martok spurned when she tried to get him to join her and her father in their genetic manipulation schemes. Using her genetic talents, she has reincarnated the Hur'q, the bane of the Klingon existence hundreds of years ago. Now that she and the usurper have gained control of the Empire, what's next? Is there a more personal slant to all of this?

Ezri Dax goes on personal leave from space station Deep Space 9 in order to help, and finds herself caught in a the middle of a lot of Klingon claptrap that she spoke out against earlier. She does her duty to the Martok family anyway, aiding Worf and the crew of the Rotarran find an ancient Klingon weapon that will give Martok the power to wrest control of the Empire back from its thief.

Culminating in a final battle on the monastery planet Boreth, Martok's victory or defeat will result in major changes to the Empire. Martok will have to win if he wants to guide the new Empire during its first baby steps. If he doesn't, the Empire will crumble.

The writing in this book is almost better than the first book, as none of the mishaps that occurred in the first book present themselves. There are no continuity errors (whether Trek-related or internal) and the prose seems to be tightened considerably. The pacing at the start is very nice. However, when things get to Boreth, the book takes a major nosedive.

The main problem with the book is the overpowering mysticism. I do not have any problem with visions, dreams, fantasy figures, etc. There has always been a small mystic undercurrent in some Trek stories that doesn't detract from them at all. However, this time it drags the book to a screeching halt as Martok has yet more visions. I have to admit I started losing track of things at this point, and just wanted the book to get moving again. This mainly becomes a problem on Boreth, as I have no problems with the few times it happens to Martok before.

The mysticism, combined with the seemingly endless battle on the snow-clad plains makes the last third of the book a real struggle to get through. Every time it seemed like the battle was going to end, something else happened to continue it. It got very monotonous very quickly, and turned me right off. The climax was is stunning yet a little too abrupt. After the monotony of the final sequence, the climax suddenly happens and then it's over, with just a small epilogue taking place two months later. While the pacing of earlier sections of the book is fine, the pacing of the ending really stinks.

All is not lost, however. The fact that the television show is over gives Hertzler and Lang free reign with most of the characters, and some surprising fates await them. I liked the fact that, for the most part, the reader has no idea whether or not danger will be fatal for a character. It makes the book more suspenseful and it does help make the final battle a little more palatable. If none of the characters were in any danger, this sequence would have been even more boring. What's even better is that the fates of the characters are logical and believable.

The characterization is still strong and is one of the high points of the book (and its predecessor). Martok has visibly grown into his role and he slowly begins to accept that he is what the Empire needs. Kahless, the cloned Klingon emperor, also comes full circle and realizes what his place is in Klingon society. Worf, Dax, and Worf's son Alexander are also in character, and interesting characters to boot. The characterization of the villains isn't quite as good, but it's not as bad as the first book, where they were ciphers. There were a few "I'm so evil" moments, especially for the female villain, but they weren't too bad. I found the usurper extremely dull, though. He gets more face-time in the book, but in this case it's a bad thing. He rarely does anything but rant about his mother or Martok.

Pharh, though, is the breakthrough original character. He grows away from his Ferengi heritage of commerce and business to become a very well-rounded character, so much so that Martok comes to respect him as he never would any other Ferengi. Unfortunately, his is the one fate that is most predictable, but he's still interesting to read about. While one would expect Hertzler to have Martok's characterization down pat (since he played Martok on the show), it's Pharh who shows that Hertzler is a very talented writer.

It's just the pacing that needs work. If that improves, Hertzler will continue to be a fine Trek writer (assuming that's what he wants to do). Still, this opening 2-book series is a wonderful step in the right direction and shows a lot of promise. I wish I knew who was responsible for what in the book, because if it's Lang's fault, I'll apologize to Hertzler. The problems just strike me as "new-writer syndrome" that will hopefully go away in time. If you're a DS9 fan, you owe it to yourself to check out these two books. Just try not to fall asleep getting to the end of the second one.

Customer Reviews:

Terrific ethnographic work on a much ignored region.......1998-11-06

Do not let the stale title fool you here. Foley employs some wonderful ethnographic, qualitative research methods in this piece of work. Foley disobeys the old, archaic rules of the social sciences, in that he leaves his objectivitiy behind and immerses himself into the city of North Town (a mythical name). Texas is much more than Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. The author shows us another side of the state. Foley focuses on the South Texas region and its much too often ignored Mexican American population. Many people do not realize the old, colonized treatment that Mexican Americans are still subjugated to and Foley makes a point of writing about this in his text. In addition to being an ethnographic account of the socially inequities that exist between the dominant Anglo population and the subordinate Mexican American population in North Town, this book is also an analysis and critique of an educational system. Foley demonstrates how the educational system in North Town perpetuates inequality and tracks its young people to take their assigned role in society according to their socioeconomic status and their ethnic background. Learning Capitalist Culture is a book for those not only interested in the social sciences, but those of us interested in research techniques and methodological approaches that are new, exciting, and part of a new kind of social science model.

Very Good.......1998-09-27

Doug Foley wrote a very food account of a small town in this book. It is an ethnographic, and fuliflls that part. Mostyl the book discusess the race relation of the poor town, and delves into the politics that make such a racial divide possible. I highly recommend it!

Joe Kaufman's About the big sky, about the high hills, about the rich earth ... and the deep sea

Average customer rating:

Great science book for kids (and adults!)

Joe Kaufman's About the big sky, about the high hills, about the rich earth ... and the deep sea
Joe Kaufman
Manufacturer: Golden Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Customer Reviews:

Great science book for kids (and adults!).......2007-06-20

I had this book as a child and was quite fascinated by it. It presents a wide array of earth science information in a simple way that is easy for kids to understand, and it has LOTS of great illustrations. I have been reading it to my daughter now and she too is finding it very enjoyable.

Buried Deep (Retrieval Artist Novels, No. 4)

Average customer rating:

A terrifyingly plausible tale
Where is the SciFi?
Dynamite Combo - Mystery and Science Fiction
Simple Reader's Opinion of Buried Deep
"We are not alone..."

Buried Deep (Retrieval Artist Novels, No. 4)
Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Manufacturer: Roc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Retrieval Artist and Other Stories

ASIN: 0451460219

Book Description

The skeletal remains of a human woman missing for twenty years is discovered on Mars. To determine what happened to her, Retrieval Artist Miles Flint must locate the woman's children-who disappeared with her and have remained in hiding ever since. REVIEW; Ms. Rusch has a knack for creating...a future that moves and breathes. (Philadelphia Weekly Press)

Customer Reviews:

A terrifyingly plausible tale.......2007-10-19

Dead bodies terrify the aliens called Disty, who have settled the domed cities of Mars so thoroughly that they now control what used to be a strictly human colony planet. When a human skeleton turns up in a Disty area of Sahara Dome, the residents of that area flee. A forensic anthropologist brought from Earth to help the local (human) medical examiner investigate can't believe it when she's told that if she and the local team fail to identify the deceased's killer, they will have to take the blame and pay the penalty for "contaminating" that part of the city. Disty purification rituals never end well for humans forced to undergo them - the humans invariably die. So Aisha Costard decides to locate the dead woman's descendants, getting special permission from the Disty to travel from Mars to the Moon so she can interview Retrieval Artists. Once there, she persuades a reluctant Miles Flint - hero of other Rusch Retrieval Artist novels - to take the case. This isn't a usual Retrieval Artist's job, because the "disappeared" person is already dead.

Soon, so is Aisha Costard. That should be the end of Flint's case, but the former police detective can't leave it alone because the Disty on Mars have apparently gone insane. Underneath the single skeleton that's already caused so much uproar, and cost one human her life, the Sahara Dome police have discovered at least a hundred more bodies. The panicked Disty are fleeing their Martian homes any way they can, and "contaminating" everywhere they go in the process. Which is why Miles Flint's former partner from his detective days, who's now the newly appointed head of security for the entire Moon, realizes she must close every dome's ports to the swarming Disty refugee ships - to the consternation of her politician superiors, and to the delight of a muckraking reporter who believes she can make her career by bringing Noelle DeRicci down.

Rusch spins a terrifyingly plausible tale of cultures colliding in a future where humans and aliens attempt to share worlds without grasping fully the cost this can entail. In Miles Flint she creates a classic reluctant hero, a man whom life has battered into outward cynicism; but whose fundamental decency won't allow him to walk away from a wrong he has the power to right. Not even when letting himself become involved puts him at mortal risk. Despite some editing embarrassments not typical of Roc, this one's almost as great a read as the book preceding it (Consequences) in the Retrieval Artist series. The extent to which humans bow to the Disty stretched credibility almost to the breaking point for me, is the only reason I say that it's "almost" as good. Otherwise it's another winner through and through.

Where is the SciFi?.......2006-07-31

This book is a perfect example of psychobabble. There is a plot, albeit a weak one. The author is a good wordsmith and should have written a better book. That is why I gave it 3 stars.

Dynamite Combo - Mystery and Science Fiction.......2006-04-07

The story takes place at a time when humans have colonized the solar system and have made contact with intelligent alien species. In Sahara Dome on Mars a human skeleton has been discovered under the dwelling of the Disty - a race with intricate often brutal, rituals and a powerful aversion to death. The Disty dwellers evacuate their homes in great haste. They have suffered a major contamination. The only way to satisfy the Disty is to find family members of the human victim and convince them to take part in an alien ritual. The search to identify the body leads forensic anthropologist Aisha Costard to Armstrong Dome on the Moon where she hopes to convince Retrieval Artist Miles Flint to help her find the relatives.
The Disty hold her responsible for the contamination of their brethren. If the relatives are not found within a few days the alien will legally take their savage revenge on her.

A terrific blend of science fiction and murder mystery. I have read one other book in the Retrieval Artist series - The Disappeared (Roc, 2002) and enjoyed every word of it. Rusch tells a great story but also tackles the notion of what justice means when more than one species is involved. The answers can be unnerving for those who must make very difficult choices. Buried Deep is Book 4 in the series

Simple Reader's Opinion of Buried Deep.......2006-03-13

In science fiction I look for original premise, good story, believable science (within the universe described) and interesting characters. I want to be entertained but not confused by inconsistencies. KKR does an outstanding job of entertaining me. The world she has created and its characters are consistent, sensible to that world, and unique. I have read all four books and this is one of the best. The reactions of the Disty is both unfathomable and logical--just as some human cultures are to me.

"We are not alone...".......2005-10-21

I, like another reviewer, had this book for several months before reading it due to other books on my to-do list but once I read it, enjoyed it immenseley. I'm a little puzzled by the negative reviews as they seemed to be based on either the fact that the reviewer has not read the entire series and thus, doesn't understand the characters' motivations (there's a rational reason for Miles Flint's coldness and objectivity - it was part of his tutelage from his mentor in order to survive in the RA business).

The other negative reviews appear to be based on the belief that humans will always be the dominant species in the universe. This latter premise isn't a requirement in the sci-fi genre and frankly, doesn't fly even in the Star Trek universe where species liked the Romulans, the Borg and the Klingons kicked humanity's ass on occasion. To believe that we as humans would not play in a game where the rules are draconian to us assumes that we have the option of (a) thriving in said universe without cooperating or (b) that we are not vastly outnumbered and overwhelmed by other species. I happen to think Rusch's universe is closer to what might become our reality; after all, suppose extraterresterial contact arrives on our planet first (rather than us arriving on their planet), thus demonstrating their technological superiority?

Regardless, for those readers who have read the other books in the series and are wondering about a let-down - have no fear. This installment, like others, is rich in plot, suspense, and characters and Rusch continues to paint a vivid picture as to interspecies conflict. If you haven't read any of the RA books, read the series in order - they are not standalone books. Highly recommended for the sci-fi enthusiast.

The Deep River Collection - High Voice: High Voice (Vocal Library)

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The Deep River Collection - High Voice: High Voice (Vocal Library)
Moses Hogan
Manufacturer: Hal Leonard Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Songbooks | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

The Oxford Book of Spirituals
Famous Negro Spirituals
The Books of the American Negro Spirituals
Give Me Jesus | Spirituals by Barbara Hendricks and The Moses Hogan Singers
Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit: 101 Best-Loved Psalms, Gospel Hymns & Spiritual Songs of the African-American Church

ASIN: 063402115X

Product Description

Features 10 spirituals as interpreted by acclaimed conductor and arranger Moses Hogan: Deep River Never Said a Mumblin' Word (Crucifixion) Give Me Jesus He's Got the Whole World in His Hands Let Us Break Bread Together My Good Lord's Done Been Here Somebody's Knockin' at Yo' Door Sometimes I Feel like a Motherless Child Walk Together Children Were You There?. Includes a biography of Hogan and a foreword on the history of the spiritual.

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