Bob the Dragon Slayer

Book Description

Bob, a mere peasant lad, sets off to see a dragon that is terrorizing a village and soon falls in with a wizard named Stephen. Thereafter, his life is filled with adventures that involve dragons, knights, damsels in distress, castles, a fair lady, friendship, true love, an evil king, civil war, and lawyers. This rollicking tale belongs not to history but to legend. Written with wit and humor, this novella will delight readers from teenagers to octogenarians.

Customer Reviews:

A fun, quick read!.......2005-08-28

I read this book, after reading the message boards for the ALAN Review and hearing about it. And let me tell you, this book was VERY amusing and a fun read!

Bob, a poor peasant meets a wizard-in-training and is given a magic sword. He also gets advice on how to kill dragons. Interspersed with humorous dialogue and other zany characters (my favorites being the ladies in distress who refuse his help because he isn't an official knight), the plot takes off and Bob becomes famous throughout the lands.

If you're looking for something light and entertaining, this is the book for you. It was definitely worth the read!

funny legendary fantasy.......2005-07-26

Rebeccasreads highly recommends BOB THE DRAGON SLAYER as a tale filled with all the usual suspects in the telling of a legend -- orphan boy on a quest, fiery dragons, apprentice wizards, magical swords, reneged rewards, lofty knights, fair ladies, evil kings, civil strife, true love &... wow.... true friendship -- all to be found in any classic legend -- except those lawyers, who do, actually, save the day.

Talk about a cracked & garbled modern faux tale -- & like those psychedelic Rock&Roll album covers of yore, BOB THE DRAGON SLAYER may just have a slew of "deeper" meanings -- as in parables & fables. Hey, many a true word's spoken in jest, right?

Whatever your age, this is a gently told tale of courage, honor, deceit, & talking Ravens. If you want to see wrongs being righted, peasants being knighted, & destinies coming true, as well as a story that ends well, BOB THE DRAGON SLAYER's just the ticket!

Have Fun Slaying the Dragon.......2005-07-20

In the short Prologue to his tale, Harry Gilleland, Jr., has the patriarch of the McClair family being arm-twisted into telling one of his legendary stories during a Thanksgiving gathering. "Granddad" then spins a tale of Bob, a "mere peasant lad" who kills dragons, aligns himself with a wizard named Stephen; falls in love with his best friend's fiancée; learns that in reality he is not a peasant, but to the throne born; and, oh yes, rides a gallant steed named Spot and wields a magical sword named Bruce.

Bob the Dragon Slayer brings to mind the now-classic book penned by William Goldman, The Princess Bride (1973), and the 1987 film based on the book. In the film a grumpy grandfather visits his grandson, who is recuperating from an illness. The grandfather reads aloud the "good parts" of a tale of love, romance, sword fighting and such. And the characters have some pretty funny lines. Who can forget: "Have fun storming the castle!"?

In Bob, the hero doesn't storm any castles, but he does overtake the campsites of the bad guys. Gilleland also pares down his story to give us the "good parts" of Bob's adventures - interspersed with some humorous scenarios and quips.

We first meet Bob as a young man, orphaned and seemingly of peasant stock, who comes upon a village that is terrorized by a dragon. Bob seeks to bring a bit of excitement into his life by venturing toward the dragon's lair to see if he can get a glimpse of the creature. Whereupon Bob encounters Stephen, a twenty-something wizard, fresh out of Wizard's School and in search of his first successful wizardry.

Stephen claims to be the cousin of no less than the famous Merlin, and Stephen declares he is in desperate need of finding his own King Arthur to mentor. However, Bob has never heard of Merlin, Arthur, or even the magical sword Excalibur!

Stephen shook his head in disbelief. 'You've not heard of Excalibur, of King Arthur, of the Knights of the Round Table, of my cousin Merlin? Were you raised in a barn? Excalibur was the greatest sword ever known.'

Stephen then offers to Bob the twin of Excalibur and states: "It has no name yet. He who wields it gets to name it." Bob then declares: "All right then! I'm going to call it Bruce. I always liked the name Bruce."

And thus begin the adventures of Bob, the dragon slayer, who uses Bruce to slay dragons and thwart foes. After one of his dragon-slaying jobs, Bob is repaid by townspeople for his bravery, not with gold coins, but a horse that Bob calls "Spot." Bob and Spot then commence to save damsels in distress, including Lady Katherine (Kate), and befriend a knight, Sir Wilfred (Willie), that is, unbeknownst to Bob, betrothed to Katherine, whose father is a nobleman.

It is during Bob's continued encounters with nobility in his quest for righteous treatment of the poor and downtrodden that he eventually learns of his own birthright and his destiny. A ring he has carried with him since childhood seals the deal. Thus Bob accepts his call to greatness and proclaims: "...I have decided. I shall be king."

At one point, Willie announces to the men who will follow Bob into battle: "I give you Robert Monclaur, Duke of Westbury, and rightful heir to the throne."

Once Bob's future is set and their "relationships" are sorted out, Bob, Willie and Kate encounter and triumph over the evil deeds of a dastardly king and his minions. There are of course mishaps along the way for all of our heroes and heroine, including Bob's severe injury, which takes him a hair's breadth away from death while lying in Katherine's arms. But, like any good fantasy story of good versus evil, when all seems lost, there is a way out. In this case it is not a "deus ex machina," but a wizard named Stephen, who pops in throughout the tale and then at the end, to save the life of Bob and thus ensure a happily-ever-after ending for our tale of a dragon slayer who would be king.

WHAT WORKED: The story of Bob is a simple one of desire, destiny and dedication. The author does not try to overload the tale, or make it seem more than it is. By keeping it short and focused on Bob much of the time, the reader doesn't get distracted, and the story flows.

Bob's internal growth as he comes to grips with the many challenges he meets can be measured along the way. But he also draws strength from his friends, the people he hopes to help one day as a good king, and it doesn't hurt to have a wizard on your side, even if he's still in his apprenticeship! Good team-building lessons here! The humor in the story seasons it well. There's just enough to make Bob a bit of a delight to read, but not too much to overwhelm its morality themes of love, friendship, honor and duty.

WHAT DIDN'T: Lose the boobs-so to speak! There are several references to Lady Katherine's apparently ample bosom. OK, we got the message with the first reference. Also, at one point the author all but tells us of how fired up Kate's loins are in thinking about Bob. And Bob has a few fantasies of his own - he prays for a bear or a giant snake to frighten Kate while she is bathing in a stream. Why? Well, of course, if she screams he could come to her rescue and "see her in all her nakedness." So much for chivalry!

These incidents just didn't quite work - not because these human beings are not supposed to have these human feelings, but because the way they are presented and described they seem out of place. Also, in keeping with the author's own mechanism of a fatherly figure telling this tale to family members, small children are listening. I can see a few eyebrows raised among the mothers there!

I would also have a different approach to the Epilogue. Why not bring back the McClair family and the patriarch who ostensibly is relaying the story? Why not have "Grandpa" McClair be the one giving the final details on what did "come to pass" once Bob and Kate are finally joined together.

IN THE END: The beauty about being a self-published author is that one can much more easily re-work, reinvent, or even re-do one's book. Gilleland has a charming story in Bob, which on the book's back seeks to "delight readers from teenagers to octogenarians." How about re-packaging the book as a children's book? The author might want to pair up with an artist who could bring to life some of the descriptive scenes in the book.

Lose the sexual innuendo and get some drawings in it and you have the makings of a tale that children would love to hear and look at, and parents and grandparents would enjoy reading aloud. Say, doesn't that sound like....

delightful read .......2005-07-13

Either he tells the story in verse or in prose, Harry E. Gilleland Jr. is a master of storytelling. The author who entertains and enlightens us with his poems and storoems in poetry collections like Poetry for the Common Man and Gilleland Poetry, does it again-this time with a short novella, Bob the Dragon Slayer, a read for both children and adults.
No matter our age, we all love to hear a good story, especially when it has the magical power of a fairy-tale-to release our minds from the daily frustrations and worries and allow our thoughts the much needed rest, transporting us to a world we can only reach in our imagination. That-and much more-is what Gilleland offers us in his novella. In Bob the Dragon Slayer the author doesn't create only that magical, fairy-tale of world, but he also sets us on our way to that far-far away place and time through the perfect family get-together setting and the loving voice of a grandparent that takes us along to a magic world-Bob's world-of dragons and kingdoms, princesses and true love, and heroes.
Bob the Dragon Slayer is a story to read. Even more, it is a story to listen to, in a campfire-like setting. The magic of the novella doesn't stay only in the author's gift of storytelling or in the world it paints for us, where the truth always win; the real magic resides in the similarities between the fairy-tale and our contemporary reality. The story of Bob the Dragon Slayer gives us a safe, loving feeling as it gathers us together, as friends and family and loved ones, around the story and storyteller.
While the young readers-or listeners, for that matter-follow Bob's story and his adventures as he fights for freedom and true love, the rest of us may see themselves in one or more of the characters in Bob's story. After all, Bob is a modern name. It can be anybody-the boy next door, the neighbor across the street, the classmate, or the new shy colleague who shares our office.
We all have to struggle with today's dragons in pursue of our goals and dreams. Bob's story-of winning his life's battles while pursuing his dreams and making them reality-can happen to every one of us. All we have to do is take the Dragon Slayer's example and never give up... and that we learn by reading Bob the Dragon Slayer's extraordinary story.

Bob The Dragon Slayer.......2005-07-08

"Bob the Dragon Slayer" will tickle your funny bone and intrige your mind. You will not be dissappointed in reading this wonderful tale of "Bob the Dragon Slayer," as he takes on dragons and rescues damsels. Bob is a harty lad that will keep you smiling as you read each page of his story and endless adventures. This is a must read for anyone young, old or inbetween.

(...)

Average customer rating:

You won't want to miss this one!
Goes Down Easy (Harlequin Blaze)
Alison Kent
Manufacturer: Harlequin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0373792298

Customer Reviews:

You won't want to miss this one!.......2006-01-17

PI Jack Montgomery traveled from Texas to New Orleans following leads in his search for a kidnapped corporate executive. Those leads take him to the door of psychic, Della Brazille, touted in a newspaper article as being a consultant with police, namely Detective Book Franklin, in the search for the missing exec. Certain that she is a fraud, Jack intends to convince her to walk away from the case and then get on with his investigation. Jack has no intention of being sucked in by her act, and he certainly doesn't expect to be attracted to Della's niece, Perry, who is one of the most beautiful women he has ever seen. Perry is equally attracted to Jack and her heart aches for his painful past, but she is wary of letting her feelings run away after he has made it clear that he isn't interested in anything more than simple sex between them. Della's visions indicate increasing violence against the kidnapped man and it becomes obvious that they need to find him quickly, making Perry realize that her days remaining with Jack are limited, and making her fear that he won't share her feelings.

Alison Kent wraps up the stories of five characters introduced in previous stories with GOES DOWN EASY. Jack and Perry are fiery together and Della and Book are charming secondary characters who are key to the story. The New Orleans setting is excellently written, as is the violence against the kidnapping victim. The light touches of woo-woo with Della's psychic abilities and a resident ghost, are wonderfully creative.

Alison Kent's name on a book is a guarantee that it will be an excellent read, and GOES DOWN EASY is no exception.

Average customer rating:

it's ellison and it's the size of a brick! :)

Life without Ellison would be dull

Xenogenesis and so much more

I Have No Book, And I Must Read

Superlative Spinner of Dreams

The Essential Ellison: A 50-Year Retrospective
Harlan Ellison
Manufacturer: Morpheus International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Dowling, Terry | ( D ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Ellison, Harlan | ( E ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 1883398622

Book Description

Harlan Ellison is probably best known as a script writer for sci-fi and fantasy movies and TV series such as the original Outer Limits, The Hunger, Logan's Run, and Babylon Five. But his range is much broader than that, encompassing stories, novels, essays, reviews, reminiscences, plays, even fake autobiographies. The Essential Ellison, a special limited edition personally signed and numbered by Ellison, contains 74 unabridged works, including such classics as "A Boy and His Dog," "Xenogenesis," and "Mefisto in Onyx."

Customer Reviews:

it's ellison and it's the size of a brick! :).......2007-10-09

i ordered this book because i just recently discovered the awesomeness of mr. ellison's work, and i wanted more of it. more is what i got! nobody told me how huge a tome this thing is... it weighs at least 5 pounds and it's as thick as one of those dictionaries you get at the public library! portable it's not, but if you want absolutely as much of ellison you can get for the money, look no further.

Life without Ellison would be dull.......2007-09-27

Here it is: 50 years of the splenetic imaginings of Harlan Ellison, who writes like an angel on speed, and doesn't care, God bless him,
if he offends you or not. Read "REPENT HARLEQUIN! Said the Ticktockman,"
and "A Boy and His Dog." Ladies, don't let Ellison's misogynism spook you: you'll be better for having enjoyed the stories of this prolific, disciplined madman.

Xenogenesis and so much more.......2007-02-10

I bought this book initially so I'd have a copy of the essay 'Xenogenesis', which scared seven shades of pea soup out of me when I first read it in IASFM. Further perusal gave me a thorough glimpse of the work of an author I'd been skipping, as I considered him a product of the 'second wave' of science fiction/science fiction-influenced authors (first wave involving Heinlein, E. E. 'Doc' Smith, and so on). Good to have been proven so wrong, and now it's a book I'll recommend to those of my friends who see 'Harlan Ellison' and only think 'that guy from Babylon 5'.

I Have No Book, And I Must Read.......2007-01-28

For the uninitiated or causal reader, "The Essential Ellison" represents the best compilation of the author's works between two covers. With 1400 + stories under his belt, Harlan Ellison is one of the most prolific writers of any genre of fiction. The amazing thing is that all of them are good. Even better, most of them are great. And better yet, a good number of them are some of the best short stories written in the last fifty years. Though classified as a sci-fi author, Ellison writes fierce and barbed tales about the alienation of the individual in modern life, whether it's the guise of sci-fi, fantasy, or non-genre fiction. With defiant tone, Ellison passionately defends the individual against the impersonal machinations of ridged, authoritarian systems and their apathetic leaders. Unrelenting and sincere, Ellison's prose and characters take a stand for those who can't or won't. "The Essential Ellison" contains most of the author's greatest stories. From the spiritual longing of "Grail" to the utter insanity of "I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream"; from the mute hopelessness of "The Whimper of Whipped Dogs" to the phantasmagorical absurdity of "Repent, Harlequin! Said the Ticktock Man"; from the prophetic frustration of "Along the Scenic Route" to the rebellious shriek of "A Boy and His Dog." Mercurial and pointed, purposeful and thought-provoking, Ellison rarely writes for bemusement's sake alone. And like all great authors, the reader leaves a story with more than they started with. So, if you're tired of the same ol' sci-fi/fantasy story of "an ambitious young farm lad who is really of noble birth assembles a cadre of trusted misfit warriors and does battle with the great evil that threatens to envelop the world" rot, then I whole-heartedly suggest you check out the work of Harlan Ellison.

Superlative Spinner of Dreams.......2005-07-21

Taken from the introduction, "Sublime Rebel," by Terry Dowling:

"In Egyptian mythology, Iai is a fascinating character. He is the rebel, the tester, the stubborn resisting force of intellect and insight which donkey-like stands its ground, refusing to budge, and challanges what is accepted and valued and thought to be sensible and true. The same sort of honest irrepressible rebel, in fact, which surfaced in the child who pointed out that the Emperor wore no clothes and in the Fool who told King Lear that he was wrong. Those dear precious rebels(for there are, and have been, many)not only dare to question but for their pains alienate themselves from those who haven't questioned, who didn't think to question, who are now made to look stupid because they didn't."

Throughout the latter half of the twentieth century, author and social critic, Harlan Ellison, was a seminal influence within speculative fiction, fantasy and science fiction. As though from some bygone era, his writing in the field of science fiction is thematically grounded in human dilemma. The emotionally qualitative properties of his stories are vivid and palpable.

Think stubbornly, cantankerously steadfast in personal conviction, artistic craft and vision. A true sort of sui generis, refusing to dillydally or sugarcoat the bitter truth. Appropriately overwrought, humorous, devilish. Dead on and justified, Harlan Ellison was watching.

Time after time, Harlan's words serve as a breaker bar to wrest truth's free from convenient, apathetic confinement. I can think of no other author whose work, be it fiction or otherwise, so diligently rummages the depths of the human condition; all of those secretive, quiescent corners of the collective unconscious, hidden in the shadow of the soul.
From our shameful indifference and distraction to the overwhelming din and pall of homogeneous, race lunacy, no other author was or is more aptly suited to chronicle our perceived time...the approaching the end of a millennium, or, perhaps more likely(and to borrow a title from Ellison) approaching oblivion.

I have some twenty-five books of his, collected over many years. Some purchased new, many found in little hole-in-the-wall used book shops. But those twenty-five or so are merely a drop in the bucket when considering the totality of his work. Most of his books are long out of print, making this comprehensive tome, "The Essential Ellison", a true necessity for those seeking Harlan's work. I've had the old Morpheus addition for fifteen years, however, I'm glad to see this vital compilation of Harlan's writing hasn't disappeared as mankind slowly circles the drain. The revised and expanded retrospective assembles several pieces not found in former additions.
Also noteworthy is the recently re-issued and long sought after "Strange Wine". Next to "Deathbird Stories", it's one of my favorites. However, "The Essential Ellison" is a fine place to start. Harlan's words leave a lasting impression.

Download Description

"When the hearing and telling of stories captures our imaginations, we are enabled at the deepest level to take our lives seriously. By envisioning other worlds, we are rendered capable of listening to God and to ourselves, and of growing in God's image. This is how Roberta Bondi comes to tell stories in this book, stories that were formed in a life of prayer. They reflect on life's turning points and how these are made both more difficult and more open to grace by the Christian understandings of naming God as father and mother; the significance of rationality; and the incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus. Bondi discovered that what she had regarded as her personal, private stories were not really so private or idiosyncratic after all when they were seen in the intersection of her beliefs, family experience, and cultural expectations. We are drawn into thelogical reflection on the stories of one woman only to discover there our own stories, our own memories, all stored in the memory of God"

Customer Reviews:

A good read.......2005-09-07

Assigned to me to be read as before a spirituality seminar, I really enjoyed looking at the theological reflections of this past generation through the eyes of a theologian who is a woman. I was able to relate so much of what she said to experiences I have had with other women who have had a great influence on my own growth of thinking about God in these years.

unpleasant memories of God.......2004-10-22

I tried to like this book but I just couldn't get past the number of accounts Bondi gave to her horrid upbringing. I realize this wasn't her intent but just when I thought she'd celebrate her success in working through her own theological beliefs- Boom! Back she went to retell the sources for her misguided theology from youth.

It is truly remarkable that she had the will to seek answers; I was just hoping she'd give more attention to the life she now leads.

Memories of God: Theological Reflections on a life.......2004-09-27

I would recommend this book to others to read as an exploration into their own personal understanding of God and the impact that relationship has on their relationships with others. It was a very enjoyable and easy book to read but also one that prompted me into greater reflection on my own life.

Bondi describes her own experiences growing up with a less than perfect family structure and how that affected her image of God, her understanding of Christianity, and her relationships. As a woman, I understood what she was saying and found her personal stories to touch deeply my heart and mind. I found that her experiences and growth helped me to explore my own past and to look at how those relationships have affected my own relationship with God, the Christian faith, and others.

For men, I would recommend this book as a means of understanding more fully what it means to be a man of God, what women have suffered over the years in a patriarchical society, and to begin to gain a more full understanding of who God really is, containing both woman and man.

Beautiful and depressing.......2002-04-09

Roberta Bondi is well grounded in theology and church history and she blends wonderfully her personal stories with this knowledge of the faith. What is especially beautiful and moving is her realization of the true meaning of God's love she found in her Aunt Ree and in Mother Jane at the Anglican Benedictine Monastery. Her mother's sacrificial life and valuing of beauty were also ways she began to "know God". The only man who fared well was Richard. What is lacking for me in this book is what we can learn about God from maleness. Her life experiences, especially with teachers, were so cruel. The book becomes bogged down in her depression, and I did too! The repetitiveness of her memories was confusing and unnecessary. Perhaps some editing would help, but then perhaps we do repeat those most memorable stories as we try to make meaning of them!

AN INTEGRATION OF SPIRITUALITY AND THEOLOGY.......1999-02-02

Roberta Bondi has obvious roots in the wisdom of the Early Church Fathers and Mothers. Yet, her engagement of Saints through the centuries is matched only by an equally deep engagement with her life story. She speaks of ordinary times with an extraordinary vision that uncovers the sacred. Her story invites the reader to look with respect at their own journey. Some authors use profound theoretical constructs, some use personal stories: Dr Bondi is one who does both seamlessly and conveys a conviction that we can do the same.

Average customer rating:

A manual for food preparation for those on restricted diets

Just what the doctor ordered: Gourmet recipes developed with Boston's Beth Israel Hospital for low-calorie, diabetic, low fat, low-cholesterol, low-sodium, bland, high-fiber, and renal diets
Harriet Wilinsky Goodman
Manufacturer: Henry Holt
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0805004491

Customer Reviews:

A manual for food preparation for those on restricted diets.......2001-08-10

There should be more cookbooks like this one. This book takes standard recipes and then teaches how to modify those recipes for five types of restricted diets -- bland, diabetic, low cholesterol, low calorie and renal diets. There are some 250 recipes in this book. But its real value is that it teaches the reader basic techniques for modifying ANY recipe to fit a particular restricted diet.

Book Description

Each book in this bestselling series, edited by Hugh Johnson, the world's foremost wine writer, offers a comprehensive and inspirational guide to traveling in one of the world's top wine regions. Evocative descriptions of wine routes are accompanied by detailed maps showing the route and surrounding vineyards. Each title also includes the author's recommendations for hotels, restaurants, and producers.

Customer Reviews:

Great if not on a budget!.......2004-01-19

We came across this book last year as we were planning an early spring visit to France. The maps are great and derived from Hugh Johnson's book "Wine Atlas", and are a good start to planning your driving. They are certainly not going to replace a good Michelin map but they provide good context and highlight the Grand CRu wineries in bold type.

The recommendations are very good if you are not on a budget. The restaurants we visited from the book were top notch, but pricey at 15-20 Euro for prix fix lunch and upwards of 40 Euros for supper.

Once you get there..........1999-08-29

While I would not use this as my sole guide to the area, if you are truly interested in the WINES, it provides much needed maps and information. I, unfortunately, did not find this book unitl the last day of my visit to Bordeaux (in the very large bookstore in the center of the pedestrian zone downtown.) I will be seeking the other books in the series -- Burgundy, Loire, Germany...

great descriptions of wine growers and hotels in the region.......1999-04-22

It makes for easy reading and whets the appetite to go on a wine tasting trip. We were intending on a golfing trip but ended up making sure we visited some of the wine growers.

Average customer rating:
Sacred Geometry Design Sourcebook: Universal Dimensional Patterns

Manufacturer: Elysian Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

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ASIN: 0965640582

Book Description

Lifestyles today are often defined by hectic schedules, and more and more people want a special room in their own home where they can relax and enjoy their leisure time. And with the sophisticated technology and wide range of products -- inlcuding plasma TVs, home theater, game stations, and surround sound -- now available to the general public, any room can be transformed into an incredibly fun and engaging space.

Rooms for Fun contains everything consumers need to know to renovate or convert unused space -- whether it's the garage, the basement, or an extra bedroom -- into a room devoted to enjoyment and tailored to their individual tastes and interests. Full-color photographs will inspire, detailed layouts will aid in construction and decoration, and an extensive resource section will help locate manufacturers.

The fun rooms featured in the book include:

Home Theater: audio visual equipment, including the latest information on plasma screen TVs, DVD players, and other electronic devices; speakers and the different ways of installing them; seating options; and soundproofing.

Entertainment Center: billiard tables, ping pong tables, dart boards, game stations, fun accessories, decor, a home bar, and more.

Sports & Fitness Room: gym equipment, small indoor pools, and even basketball courts.

Home Studio: the ideal set-ups for painting, drawing, sculpting, ceramics, writing, and astronomy.

Music Room: sound systems, CD storage, and more.

Also included is a resource section for more information on the included designs.

Customer Reviews:

Very nice detailed pictures, but this is NOT a how to book.......2006-10-05

When I ordered this book I thought it was going to show me some home theatre and home rec rooms and go into some details in how the rooms were created and put together. Instead it is really a coffee table picture book and NOT what the description above says.

I quote:

"Rooms for Fun contains everything consumers need to know to renovate or convert unused space -- whether it's the garage, the basement, or an extra bedroom -- into a room devoted to enjoyment and tailored to their individual tastes and interests. Full-color photographs will inspire, detailed layouts will aid in construction and decoration, and an extensive resource section will help locate manufacturers."

The big blooper is right in the first line. "Everything consumers need to know". Need to know usually implies SOME kind of instruction. I am sorry, but there are NO instructions here whatsoever. There is a small one paragraph blurb that just describes the room. That is it.

In terms of the book itself the pictures are great and it could be a good source of inspiration and it is a really good coffee table book for the home entertainement enthusiast. But due to the poor description above, I was lead to believe it was one thing, when in fact it was another.

At first I was just going to add the book to my coffee table book collection, but then again, I already have plenty books for that purpose. And what I was looking for is a DIY instruction book. So it is going back to Amazon.

Note to Amazon: Sorry guys, but after countless orders and being satisfied with each and every one (mainly due to your superb descriptions), I am a bit surprised at this description and this is the first time I had to return something to you. The description above looks like it was written without someone actually opening and looking into the book. Ok, I will give the benefit of the doubt if you lifted the description from the publisher, then you have my apologies, but for the sake of your future customers and to prevent this from happening again, the description HAS to be changed.

Thank You.

Book Description

Even when they're working on dream projects, graphic designers often find themselves hampered by tight deadlines and even tighter budgets. This title tells busy professionals how to safeguard their creativity when the odds are stacked against them. Readers will find a host of war stories from fellow designers along with straightforward advice for overcoming such common creativity issues as: Budget limitations Difficult client communications Deadline pressures Artwork limitations They'll also find out how to deal with less frequent—but equally devastating—problems like computer failure and personnel losses. With this book's mix of advice and practical tips, designers of all levels can break out of the handcuffs to wow their clients and peers—no matter what they have to work with.

Pat Knapp has been writing about design for more than a decade. She's a frequent contributor to HOW magazine and the author of Designing Corporate Identity. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.

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