Average customer rating:
- The same things as always from Ken Blanchard
- Very useful!
- Decent information in a really lame story. Nothing new
- What's ethics got to do with it?
- One page of guidance spun into a 100 page story
|
Zap the Gaps! Target Higher Performance and Achieve It!
Kenneth H. Blanchard ,
Dana Gaines Robinson , and
James C. Robinson
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
| Humor
| Movies
| Music
| Performing Arts
| Pop Culture
| Puzzles & Games
| Radio
| Sheet Music & Scores
| Television
General
| Popular Economics
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Human Resources & Personnel Management
| Industries & Professions
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Decision-Making & Problem Solving
| Management & Leadership
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Leadership
| Management & Leadership
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Entrepreneurship
| Small Business & Entrepreneurship
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Reference
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Empowerment Takes More Than a Minute
-
Gung Ho! Turn On the People in Any Organization
-
Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life
-
The Leadership Pill: The Missing Ingredient in Motivating People Today
-
High Five!
ASIN: 0060503009
Release Date: 2002-05-28 |
Amazon.com
Brief, reality-based business fables are all the rage these days, as consultants, strategists, and other savvy professionals seek interesting, reader-friendly ways to present their latest ideas. Zap the Gaps! continues in this genre by weaving a highly practical and easily adaptable program for improving workplace performance into a solidly informative tale--this time about the trials and tribulations at a large computer firm's troubled customer service center--that most corporate denizens will quickly identify with. Ken "The One-Minute Manager" Blanchard teams here with problem-solving specialists Dana Robinson and Jim Robinson to present the enlightening story of Dyad Technology's discovery and implementation of their anachronism-based GAPS approach for finding and resolving the root causes of many common business problems: (G)o for the Shoulds, (A)nalyze the Is, (P)in Down the Causes, and (S)elect the Right Solutions. By demonstrating how an "actual" company might absorb and initiate their strategy, the authors clearly show how it can aggressively bridge the spaces "between what is and what should be" and realize the true meaning behind their emphatically punctuated title. --Howard Rothman
Book Description
Target Higher Performance and Achieve It!
In the bestselling tradition of The One Minute ManagerR, Zap the Gaps combines a fast–moving business parable with step–by–step instructions for implementing the GAPS approach to problem solving.
Customer Reviews:
The same things as always from Ken Blanchard.......2007-04-18
The befuddled manager, the wise old man, some simplistic advice (what is the difference between where you are and where you want to be?). Nothing new, but some good basic reminders.
Very useful!.......2006-07-06
This very short read (thats a good thing) provides an excellent tool for biz problem solving. You can actually use the GAPS approach to solve ANY problem. I am adding the book to my permanent library. I loved it.
Decent information in a really lame story. Nothing new.......2004-08-14
This is a very quick read. 1-2 hours and you're done. It's a cute little story about 2 people trying to improve quality and performance for their company. The story is about the advice they receive from a friend which is simple and presented well. It's really nothing you can't find in just about every other management book out there. Analyze the problem, look for options and choose the best method to fix it. If you're reading this, chances are you've read other management books. There isn't anything groundbreaking here. But there certainly isn't anything bad about it either. I personally would recommend "The Power of Six Sigma" by Subdir Chowdry over this. But you won't go wrong if you do decide to pick this one up.
What's ethics got to do with it?.......2003-03-02
Dr. Blanchard should stop putting his name on books others have written! This is deceptive to those readers who respect and trust his "brand." Has he no shame?!
One page of guidance spun into a 100 page story.......2002-12-09
I read this book in about an hour. I suspect the authors were able to churn this little "fable" out in about three (3) working days. The essential message of the book is quite valid. The delivery is rather problematic.
I do have one question: What was in it for Mike?
Average customer rating:
|
Zap: A Play
Paul Fleischman
Manufacturer: Candlewick
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Plays, Skits & Musicals
| Drama & Theater
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Music
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Fiction
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Music
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Fleischman, Paul
| ( F )
| Authors, A-Z
| Teens
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
All Deals
| Blowout Books
| Stores
| Books
Arts & Photography
| Blowout Books
| Stores
| Books
Children's Books
| Blowout Books
| Stores
| Books
Entertainment
| Blowout Books
| Stores
| Books
Teens
| Blowout Books
| Stores
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Plays, Skits & Musicals
| Drama & Theater
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Music
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Fiction
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Music
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Movies
| Entertainment
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
( F )
| Authors, A-Z
| Teens
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
A Wreath for Emmett Till (Boston Globe-Horn Book Honors (Awards))
-
Things Left Unsaid
-
Teach Me
-
I Will Plant You a Lilac Tree: A Memoir of a Schindler's List Survivor
-
Wrecked
ASIN: 0763632341
Release Date: 2006-08-08 |
Book Description
Aimed at a generation of short attention spans and a taste for razor-sharp comedy, the rapid-fire ZAP is a smart, farcical new play for high-school students that's ready to bring the house down.
When they're not dusting off the old classics — over and over — high-school drama departments are constantly in search of new material. But what play could possibly suit the point-and-click attention spans of kids born with remote controls in their cribs? Cue the lights for ZAP, a nonstop farce that juxtaposes seven different plays — performed simultaneously — with a comic genius reminiscent of masters from Monty Python to the Marx Brothers. Combining spot-on parodies of Anton Chekhov, Agatha Christie, Tennessee Williams, Samuel Beckett, Neil Simon and performance art and throwing in scenes from RICHARD III for good measure, ZAP flicks rapidly back and forth from play to play, with hilarious results. As characters from one play end up on the set of another, their befuddlement, exasperation, and brave attempts at improvisation are truly priceless. A hoot to read, ZAP is a dream to perform — as high schools in California, New York, and Florida have already discovered.
Average customer rating:
- Chess Help
- Poor editing...
- There are much better books out there. Why choose a bad one?
- serves its purpose, but not great
- Two Book Series to Get all of the Opening Covered (lacks detail)
|
Chess Openings: Traps And Zaps (Fireside Chess Library)
Bruce Pandolfini
Manufacturer: Fireside
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Chess
| Board Games
| Puzzles & Games
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Puzzles & Games
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Sports
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
More Chess Openings: Traps and Zaps 2 (Fireside Chess Library)
-
Pandolfini's Endgame Course: Basic Endgame Concepts Explained by America's Leading Chess Teacher (Fireside Chess Library)
-
Weapons of Chess: An Omnibus of Chess Strategies (Fireside Chess Library)
-
Attacking Chess: Aggressive Strategies and Inside Moves from the U.S. Junior Chess Champion (Fireside Chess Library)
-
More Chessercizes: Checkmate: 300 Winning Strategies for Players of All Levels
ASIN: 0671656902 |
Book Description
Fireside Chess Library
In the first completely instructional book ever written on chess openings, National Master Bruce Pandolfini teaches players how to take charge of the game's crucial opening phase.
Of the three traditional phases of chess play -- the opening, the middle-game and the endgame -- the opening is the phase average players confront most often. Unfortunately, though, many openings are not completed successfully, partly because until now most opening instruction has consisted of tables of tournament level moves that offer no explanations for the reasons behind them. Consequently, these classical opening patterns can serve as little more than references to the average player.
In Chess Openings: Traps and Zaps, Bruce Pandolfini uses his unique "crime and punishment" approach to provide all the previously missing explanation, instruction, practical analyses, and much, much more. The book consists of 202 short "openers" typical of average players, arranged according to the classical opening variations and by level of difficulty. Each example includes:
* the name of the overriding tactic
* the name of the opening
* a scenario that sets up the tactic to be learned
* an interpretation that explains why the loser went wrong, how he could have avoided the trap, and what he should have done instead
* a review of important principles and useful guidelines to reinforce each lesson.
Also included are a glossary of openings that lists all the classical "textbook" variations for comparison and reference and a tactical index. Chess Openings: Traps and Zaps is a powerful, pragmatic entry into a heretofore remote area of chess theory that will have a profound influence on every player's game.
Customer Reviews:
Chess Help.......2007-08-28
I just joined GameKnot, a chess site. I got this book because I was losing game after game. This book really helped my games and so did playing with certain ones. Thank you, LINDA
Poor editing..........2007-07-13
It is very hard to appreciate the benefits of this book when one finds at least 5 misses or mistakes (one line does not even match a diagram: Opening 16 line 7 belongs to Opening 17) by page 19. The idea would be great otherwise...Learning openings is easier this way: instead of "3...c3 4. Nxc3 Bb4 5.Qd4 Nc6 would not work because Ng6 would do this and that" you can actually arrive to the discussed positions and see the board, too. You could see what idea tempted one do this or that reasonable appearing move, but then how it all broke down because of missing a pin or a fork. It is a great way to understand the constant threat of tactics stemming from positional weaknesses as well.
There are much better books out there. Why choose a bad one?.......2007-05-06
I have to full-heartedly agree with the review written by Jason D. Enochs "army_tacsat". The title of this book sounds juicy, but there's no substance behind it.
It shows you a few interesting openings, but if you faithfully read the book cover to cover, you don't walk away with a better understanding of the game. You almost certainly don't walk away with anything you can bring to a game. It's trivia, not a teaching book.
There are so many better books than this one. Why settle for something substandard?
I actually disagree with Jason D. Enochs "army_tacsat" on this book:
Chess Traps: Pitfalls And Swindles (Fireside Chess Library)
While I wouldn't give it 5 stars, I certainly wouldn't give it the one star he gave it. This book actually delivers on what its title claims, and after reading it, I DID walk away with things I could bring with me to a game.
serves its purpose, but not great.......2007-04-26
This is a love/hate kind of book. You walk through a couple hundred opening traps and blunderfests. After a while you will find that you are slightly more aware of the ins and outs of opening play.
As a result of this book, I started to watch out for some common problems that occur in the opening. Not necessarily the flashy traps that the book uses more for entertainment than for instruction. But those little problems with threats and bad planning.
Adding it all up, you will improve your feel for opening play, but it will take a lot of time.
Two Book Series to Get all of the Opening Covered (lacks detail).......2006-11-29
I just discovered you need to buy both "Chess Openings: Traps and Zaps" both number one and two to get all of the traps in both 1e4 and 1d4 openings covered. Then I found almost nothing is said about the moves before the trap, most often not where the blundering player went wrong, and even worse, what should have been done!
I think a book on traps should show cover the moves from the beinning to the end of the trap! That is telling you where someone went wrong and then what was correct in its place.
Another problem is lets say a trap happens on move 7 and then all of the same moves are used but the trap then happens on move 12, an entire page is taken up for each. Why not show within one or two pages both? It just uses up more space that is paid for with paper.
The only book I have found that takes my suggestions is "Winning Chess Traps for Juniors". It only has 64 traps shown, but has hundreds of traps when you add the traps on the side variations shown, and is all in one book instead of taking up two books.
I have bought all of the Opening Chess Traps Books. I also like "101 Opening Traps" to get a lot of 1 d4 openings not covered in any of the other books (so if you are a 1 d4 player then I also reocmment this trap book even if it doesn't cover ideas before the actual trap like I have suggested).
Learning Openings should be done by understanding the ideas behind the moves. Not set up "cheap traps", not "memorizing" moves. So books on traps should serve four purposes,
1. Learn the tactics in the openings you want to play.
2. Learn tactics and see how they are set up and used in the first place.
3. Learn when you can use a trap.
4. Learn when to avoid a trap.
Actually, to get it all, you should still actually get this book even though I just give it two stars along with it's "More" book and "Winning Chess Traps for Juniors" and, "101 Opening traps". If for anything, every book on traps if FUN to go over!
Average customer rating:
- Do you want your kids to read? Try this!
- Like rapid mistery and good length to read
- "Zap! I'm a Mind Reader" is a very clever book.
- Horror and humor
- Excllent Book
|
Zack Files 04: Zap! I'm a Mind Reader (Zack Files)
Dan Greenburg , and
Jack E. Davis
Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Humorous
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Spine-Chilling Horror
| Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ages 9-12
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Davis, Jack
| ( D )
| Authors, A-Z
| Horror
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Greenburg, Dan
| ( G )
| Authors, A-Z
| Horror
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Ages 9-12
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Literature
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Humorous
| Literature
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Spine-Chilling Horror
| Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror
| Literature
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
( D )
| Authors, A-Z
| Horror
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
( G )
| Authors, A-Z
| Horror
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Zack Files 03: A Ghost Named Wanda (Zack Files)
-
Zack Files 02: Through the Medicine Cabinet (Zack Files)
-
Zack Files 01: My Great-grandpa's in the Litter Box (Zack Files)
-
Zack Files 05: Dr. Jekyll, Orthodontist (Zack Files)
-
Zack Files 06: I'm out of My Body...Please Leave a Message (Zack Files)
ASIN: 0448412632 |
Customer Reviews:
Do you want your kids to read? Try this!.......2007-05-08
I teach kids with learning problems of one sort or another. They absolutely love the Zack files. I just finished this one with an eight-year-old who ordinarily resists reading, and he not only finished but got angry at me for not getting a new "Zack book" right away!
Like rapid mistery and good length to read .......2006-07-25
In this story Zack get to read other person's mind accidentially. And he listen someone plan to kill someone next day. He ask for help to grownups. But they don't hear him. What Zack have to do?
This story is a kind of a rapid mistery. You can't think what happens next. This may be one of the best stories in this series. You should enjoy this like me.
(I'm not a native English speaker. I'm reading children's books for practicing English.)
"Zap! I'm a Mind Reader" is a very clever book........2003-10-21
This is a book that is normally read by a fifth grader, but since I needed about 17 more pages to complete my required 1000 pages of reading for the quarter, I decided to read a simple book I read a long time ago. It's really clever how Dan Greenburg thinks up a mind reading book. I really enjoyed the quick and easy book that is at the same time interesting. I recommend it to anyone who likes the idea of mind reading.
Horror and humor.......2003-07-17
"Zap! I'm a Mind Reader," by Dan Greenburg, is #4 in the "Zack Files" series of paranormal tales for young readers. The book is illustrated by Jack E. Davis. The series as a whole follows the adventures of New York City schoolboy Zack. In this installment he gains the ability to read minds after receiving an electrical shock. But when Zack begins to telepathically receive some very frightening messages, he begins to fear that his life is in danger.
I found "Zap!" to be darker and scarier than many of the other Zack episodes. The book is enlivened further by the series' characteristic humor. Illustrator Davis does some particularly good character work in this volume. Overall, a suspenseful and enjoyable horror-mystery with a satisfying payoff.
Excllent Book.......2002-03-13
The Zack Files: Zap! I'm A Mind Reader
By Dan Greenburg
I really liked this book because there was a lot of cool stuff happening, like Zack getting electrocuted. After that he could read minds. When he went to the nurse she said in her mind, "What a klutz". That made him feel really angry. Read this book and find out what happens next.
Average customer rating:
- Painfully funny. I laughed till it hurt.
- Very Funny.
- Funny Space Adventure
|
Buck Godot - Zap Gun For Hire, volume 1: Four Short Stories (Buck Godot)
Julie Ann Sczesny
Manufacturer: Studio Foglio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Comics & Graphic Novels
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Graphic Novels
| Comics & Graphic Novels
| Subjects
| Books
Science Fiction
| Graphic Novels
| Comics & Graphic Novels
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| Classics
| Comic
| Contemporary
| Literary
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
jp-unknown3
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Girl Genius Volume 1: Agatha Heterodyne & The Beetleburg Clank (Girl Genius)
-
Girl Genius Volume 2: Agatha Heterodyne & The Airship City (Girl Genius)
-
What's New 1
-
Girl Genius Volume 6: Agatha Heterodyne And The Golden Trilobite (Girl Genius)
-
The XXXenophile Collection Vol. 1
ASIN: 1890856037 |
Book Description
The original four short stories introducing the controlled anarchy of planet New Hong Kong and hero Buck Godot, the futuristic gun-for-hire who is "always available, but never free..."
Customer Reviews:
Painfully funny. I laughed till it hurt........1998-11-24
If you ever saw Star Wars and thought "Han Solo would be much cooler if he were 300+ lbs." This book is for you. If you ever harbored a desire to shoot up an intergalactic saloon & get paid for it... This book is for you. If you've ever considered resigning from your current job and becoming a disciple of the SlagBlah priests... This book is Definitely for you. Phil Foglio was also co-author of 'Illegal Aliens' and is the illustrator of a whole bunch of those 'Magic the Gathering' cards with his wife Kaja. If you can get it, this graphic novel is well worth it.
Very Funny........1998-03-09
Absolutely the funniest author on the planet. No kidding. No, I'm not related to him and I dont work for him. This series involves a large private detective on a planet with no laws. The comic art is first rate (the pictures are funny even without the text) and the dialog is priceless. Foglio also did a graphic novel of the first MythAdventures book which is a real hoot, and is the author/illustrator of XXXenophile, the sweetest natured absolutly filthy comic book you ever saw. The comic book versions of these are available here and there, but they really deserve to be in print. Whom do we petition?
Funny Space Adventure.......1997-12-12
This hard to find graphic novel is worth the read. The one liners used by the characters are repeated by my friends and I to this day, years later. VERY funny book!
Average customer rating:
|
You Know I Wouldn't Say This If I Didn't Love You (How to Defend Yourself Against Verbal Zaps amd Zingers)
Jennifer James
Manufacturer: Newmarket Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Satire, General
| Humor
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Self-Help & Psychology
| Humor
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Self-Help
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| Classics
| Comic
| Contemporary
| Literary
General
| Criticism & Theory
| History & Criticism
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Foreign Languages
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Defending Yourself Against Criticism: The Slug Manual
-
Women and the Blues : Passions That Hurt, Passions That Heal
-
Twenty Steps to Wisdom
-
Visions from the Heart
-
Success Is the Quality of Your Journey
ASIN: 1557040494 |
Book Description
In her wittiest and most insightful book yet, best-selling author, commentator, and lecturer Jennifer James provides us with the tools we need to defend ourselves from-and laugh at-the absurd and harmful things we say to each other. She shows us the difference between "constructive" criticism and real encouragement, and tells how we can break the cycle of being critical of ourselves, our children, relatives, friends, colleagues, and strangers. She gives us a way to handle the relative who zaps us with a "that's a great looking dress, dear, too bad they didn't have your size." Or the co-worker who says, "I really admire your doing the kind of work you do. My pride would get in the way." Filled with nitty-gritty advice for both the giver and getter of criticism, James handily confronts the reality that we are part of a cultural tradition that constantly hands out verbal slugs to people. Her book helps us to develop the skills to evaluate and dispose of those critical remarks that can hurt us so unnecessarily, reminding us at all times that one of the best weapons against criticism is a sense of humor.
Average customer rating:
- Beware -- recycled short stories
- Lighter on the brain than most PKD books
- Very funny, often prescient, look at a different sort of "arms race"
- When Marketing Runs the Military
- A weak spot in the PKD library
|
The Zap Gun
Philip K. Dick
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| 18th Century
| 19th Century
| 20th Century
| African American
| Asian American
| Classics
| Collections & Readers
| Drama
| General
| Hispanic
| History & Criticism
| Humor
| Jewish American
| Letters & Correspondence
| Native American
| Poetry
| Short Stories
| Women Writers
Dick, Philip K.
| ( D )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
The Crack in Space: A Novel
-
Dr. Futurity: A Novel
-
The Game-Players of Titan
-
Deus Irae: A Novel
-
Our Friends from Frolix 8
ASIN: 0375719369
Release Date: 2002-11-12 |
Book Description
Scaldingly sarcastic yet enduringly empathetic,
The Zap Gun is Dick’s remarkable novel depicting the insanity of the arms race. Lars Powderdry and Lilo Topchev are counterpart weapons fashion designers for a world divided into two factions–Wes-bloc and Peep-East. Since the Plowshare Protocols of 2002, their job has been to invent elaborate weapons that only seem massively lethal. But when alien satellites hostile to both sides appear in the sky, the two are brought together in the dire hope that they can create a weapon to save the world, a task made all the more difficult by Lars falling in love with Lilo even as he knows she’s trying to kill him.
Customer Reviews:
Beware -- recycled short stories.......2007-08-15
Much as I love PKD, I have to penalize him on this one for brazenly ripping himself off. While reading this, I recognized elements from (at least) two of his short stories I've read previously. One of them is "War Veteran," and the title of the other (about a toy that teaches empathy) escapes me for the moment; tellingly, I did a quick Google in preperation for this review to try to find it, and while unsuccessfull, I did see a reference to another story of his called "Project Plowshare" which I'm willing to bet is related to Zap Gun, too.
Even if you are not familiar with his vast corpus of works -- and thus are less likely to be bothered by recycled ideas -- I'd recommend skipping this one. The few interesting concepts that come up, such as 'why a pulp comic book writer is telepathically picking up classified blueprints' are hinted at but never explored. Even if I weren't put off by the short-story rehashes, I'd have been frustrated by the unexplored avenues that often were more interesting that the "real" plot.
This book is for PKD completionists only, who cold probably make a game out of recognizing the earlier ideas.
Lighter on the brain than most PKD books.......2007-01-14
I am generally a PKD fan. Most of his books have so many sub texts and paranoia that it takes a little neurosis to understand. This is one his few books where this is a little less intense. The plot and character interactions are straight forward. Themes are reitierated in a concise language. And the book has an unusual optimistic feel in the ending. Which, it being a PKD book, freaked me out.
Very funny, often prescient, look at a different sort of "arms race".......2006-11-21
One of the happy results of Philip K. Dick's posthumous, Hollywood-fed, popularity is that his work is very widely available. The Zap Gun is surely one of his less well-known novels, but here we see it in a brand new large-sized paperback edition. It's not one of his masterworks, but it is a fine, enjoyable, very funny, novel.
Dick's novels very often have a comic aspect, but this is one of the funniest. Curiously enough, it is set at almost the present time -- our present, that is: 2005. The US and allies (Wes-Bloc) and the Soviet Union and allies (Peep-East) have secretly come to an agreement: instead of continuing the ruinous arms race, they will pretend to be constantly developing new weapons, which are then "plowshared": turned into goofy consumer products. The weapon designers are psychics, who dream up their new designs in trance states. The Wes-Bloc designer, Lars Powderdry, or Mr. Lars of Mr. Lars Incorporated (the conceit being that weapons are basically fashion), is the main viewpoint character. He is tortured by the knowledge that he is essentially a fraud -- his designs are useless. He is also obsessed with his opposite number in Peep-East: Lilo Topchev, of whom he knows nothing. This despite his very sexy mistress, Maren Faine, head of the Paris branch of Mr. Lars, Incorporated.
Dick mines this central idea for some comic play, then introduces a slightish plot. Aliens from Sirius invade Earth, looking for slaves. Earth has a problem -- for decades nobody has developed new weapons. In desperation, the two blocs decide to have Lars and Lilo collaborate -- which satisfies Lars's desire to meet Lilo. But Lilo, instead of cooperating, immediately tries to kill Lars. And even when they work together, their designs, though unusual, seem hardly useful. There is a fairly pointless, though also funny, subplot about a paranoid conspiracy theorist and White Supremacist who is elected as an "average man" to the governing body of Wes-Bloc. The eventual solution involves a wild mix of time travel, androids, drugs, toys, and comic books. All of this hardly matters -- Dick was under less control of his plot than usual here -- I think his main concern was to be funny.
Lars is a fairly sympathetic main character. Dick's extrapolations of the future often seem quite prescient -- indeed, the book has hardly dated at all. And he succeeds in being funny, and very entertaining. The Zap Gun isn't a great work, but it is well worth reading.
When Marketing Runs the Military.......2005-12-22
I liked the concept of mass marketing taking over everything, even the military and the problem of what would happen if real weapons were needed but the story didn't move at the compelling pace that Ubik did.
A weak spot in the PKD library.......2004-11-13
Fascinating premise (as usual) but characterizations were subpar.
Average customer rating:
|
Zip Zap: The True Story of a Dog and a Dream
Mike Gaddis
Manufacturer: Stackpole Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Dogs
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Training
| Dogs
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Jenny Willow: A Novel
-
The Tattered Autumn Sky: Bird Hunting in the Heartland
-
A Comfortable Range
-
For the Love of a Dog: Classic Bird Dog Stories
-
A Maine Artist's Garden Journal
ASIN: 0811701964 |
Book Description
On the heels of his highly-acclaimed novel Jenny Willow, Mike Gaddis reaches again into a half-century love affair with pointing dogs and upland birds to retrieve the true-life story of Zip Zap, his greatest English setter. Gaddis swore to be painfully selective in choosing the puppy that would accompany him as he pursued his dream of competing in horseback field trials. He knew the smallest female of the litter was special, but he didn't fully realize her potential until he let her loose in the field. Her lightning speed earned her the name Zip Zap, and she grew to be the most brilliant bird dog Gaddis ever owned. In this absorbing memoir, Gaddis celebrates the dog's indomitable spirit and tells the story of training and developing a superior pointer, from her first unrefined runs in the amateur puppy stakes to victorious performances in major championships. Evocatively told and set against the plantation quail hunting and field trialing legacy of the Old South, here is a rich, powerful memoir, certain to gain favor with anyone who has shared the destiny of a once-in-a-lifetime dog.
Customer Reviews:
zipzap.......2007-02-27
written very well.descriptive,i felt i was there with him at the trials.but it was not as heart felt as jenny willow.i read jenny willow cover to cover.i couldn't put it down.
Average customer rating:
- 4.5* Loads of Fun for the Superhero Fan!
|
Captain Zap (Step into Reading, Step 3, paper)
Susan Schade , and
Jon Buller
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Comics & Graphic Novels
| Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
| Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ages 4-8
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ages 9-12
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Comic Strips
| Comics & Graphic Novels
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Comics & Graphic Novels
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Graphic Novels
| Comics & Graphic Novels
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0679894616
Release Date: 2000-11-28 |
Book Description
Perry and Cosmo love to draw comics starring their very own made-up characters: superhero Captain Zap and his villainous archenemy, the evil Baron von Fishhead. But what happens when the two boys uncover a couple of magic pencils that bring whatever they draw to life? A larger-than-life battle ensues between Captain Zap and Fishhead. Will Perry and Cosmo get control of their creations before truly "comical" disaster results?
Customer Reviews:
4.5* Loads of Fun for the Superhero Fan!.......2002-07-25
The "Booklist" paragraph above describes very well the plot of this book. I'd like to add that it is very cleverly done, and will appeal to those with a sense of humor and imagination. It's great fun! The illustrations are fairly good, but the main appeal is the animation-like creative sense of the author. A definite winner!
Average customer rating:
|
Zap Comix Issue 4 (Issue 4)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic
Similar Items:
-
Zap Comix Issue 3 (Issue 3)
-
Zap Comix Issue 13 (Issue 13)
-
Zap Comix Issue 1 (issue 1)
-
Zap Comic Issue 7 (Issue 7)
-
Zap Comics Issue 6 (Issue 6)
ASIN: 0867191856 |
Books:
- Zolar's Book of Dreams, Numbers, and Lucky Days
- 25 Ways to Win with People: How to Make Others Feel Like a Million Bucks
- A Primer for Policy Analysis
- Aging Gracefully: Ideas to Improve Retirement Security in America
- All I Need to Know About Manufacturing I Learned in Joe's Garage: World Class Manufacturing Made Simple
- Atlas of Novel Tectonics
- Best Practices for 401(k) Plan Investment Committees
- Boeing Versus Airbus: The Inside Story of the Greatest International Competition in Business
- Capitalism at the Crossroads: The Unlimited Business Opportunities in Solving the World's Most Difficult Problems
- Chemical Principles: The Quest for Insight
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Perfect Pitch: The Art of Selling Ideas and Winning New Business
- Clifford The Firehouse Dog
- The Finish Rich Workbook: Creating a Personalized Plan for a Richer Future
- The Complete Guide to Your Real Estate Closing: Answers to All Your Questions - From Opening Escrow,
- Windows Presentation Foundation Unleashed
- Cravings
- Beginner's Chinese with 2 Audio CDs
- MBA Survival Kit--Accounting Interactive
- The production and diffusion of public choice political economy: reflections on the VPI center
- The Restless Kingdom: An Exploration of Animal Movement