Ratner's Star

Average customer rating:

It's science! But not really, or at least not how you think

not DeLillo's best undertaking

typewriters?

Ratner's Star

Not for the faint of heart

Ratner's Star
Don DeLillo
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
DeLillo, Don | ( D ) | Authors, A-Z | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0679722920
Release Date: 1989-07-17

Book Description

One of DeLillo's first novels, Ratner's Star follows Billy, the genius adolescent, who is recruited to live in obscurity, underground, as he tries to help a panel of estranged, demented, and yet lovable scientists communicate with beings from outer space. It is a mix of quirky humor, science, mathematical theories, as well as the complex emotional distance and sadness people feel. Ratner's Star demonstrates both the thematic and prosaic muscularity that typifies DeLillo's later and more recent works, like The Names (which is also available in Vintage Contemporaries).

Customer Reviews:

It's science! But not really, or at least not how you think.......2007-06-30

Early Delillo novels aren't exactly honed affairs. I mean, all the elements are there but the sharpness of his vision wasn't quite in place at the beginning, so you get good ideas and great prose and it doesn't really come together into anything awe-inspiring, even if it reads well and it still way smarter than most other books. Ratner's Star is probably the first one to really feel complete, even if it's not all the way there just yet. Its vastly more esoteric than his other novels, while it deals with the same themes of alienation and loneliness that normally characterizes his work, here he always throw in a bunch of high theory science just to make things more interesting. The plot of the book involves a bunch of scientists working on trying to decipher a message from a distant star. To help, they bring in a child genius, Billy, who has won the Nobel Prize in mathematics. From there he spends the rest of his time bouncing the various eccentric characters off each other and letting them interact over the course of the book. A lot of time people are throwing extremely complex sounding theories back and forth, which may or may not be actual theories (they sound good but I'm not a mathematician, and I have no idea how much research he did for this), some of which are actually useful and some just reflect the personalities of the people coming up with them. As it goes along Billy eventually winds up working on some other project deep in isolation with an even odder group of scientists. If you were reading them chronologically (which I'm not but bear with me) this is the first book that really "feels" like Delillo, it's exploring themes but also trying to puzzle through what all the chatting means, so it feels a bit more focused, instead of vamping on a topic until it reaches the end. The characters don't ever feel totally three dimensional, because they are wacky scientists but he imbues them with enough so that they aren't total stereotypes. The point of it seems to be that the more you know the less you understand, as if you have a whole bunch of people who can't at all relate to each other or the real world. The science project itself is just an excuse to get everything together and bounce them off each other, and the ending basically reflects that. His prose is sharper here, without showing off, keeping what could be an utterly boring story moving along nicely, never getting bogged down in all the science, but not skimping on it either. There are a few passages that are downright brilliant in composition. And when he gets a little experimental toward the end, it feels right, in the sense its a culmination of what's gone before and not "well I feel like doing this now." That said, the book didn't blow me away, but it was surprisingly readable and entertaining given the subject matter. In a way it also pointed toward what was to come in later novels. Probably the first sign that he might be able to hit a stride, and stick with it.

not DeLillo's best undertaking.......2006-12-12

I must admit that this book, even after two stabs at it, didn't thrill me the way other DeLillo novels can, and I did feel as though I were reading something more by Thomas Pynchon. Many of DeLillo's finest work seems to work on the exploration and twisting of its own metaphor, but filtered through extraordinary but still accessible characters, people who feel both rooted in and confused by the complexities of the world behind them. _Ratner's Star_ seems to want to delve in such a way, but through a situation far more absurdist.

Billy Twilling is a young math Nobel laureate who is pulled into a think tank that bombards him on all sides with eccentrics, from fellow mathematicians to the custodians. Yet many of these characters become redundant through their lack of introduction and propensity for monologue. Many moments of the book read like Kafka and Michio Kaku co-writing an episode of _Dragnet_. Twilling's main job is to decipher a coded message received from outer space, but of course his progress is hindered and his job outright disregarded by many in Field Experiment One. Eventually, the book breaks down in plotline and form itself when Twilling is pulled underground into a new project that is off the charts.

There are many delights in this book--Twilling himself is a wonderfully concise and hilariously unhumorous boy. DeLillo shows his skill at even comic timing on the page. The scenes with a mathematic precurser who has banished himself to a hole in the ground and the meeting of the esteemed Ratner himself during a torch ceremony are wonderful, yet I didn't find the book as a whole challenging with its exploration of metaphor as DeLillo does in later books. There is a wide expanse of characters, but the ecentricities become the focus of the book, not the crucial ideas, and the eccentricities become a little formulaic at times, even in their seeming randomness.

typewriters?.......2003-12-10

ratner's star is an excellent look at a period in the life of billy, a boy of (it would seem) unequalled brilliance. he's brought to an institute for advanced study-type place to work on a problem that continually changes in its basic character. between billy's basic adolescent nature and his mental abilities, delillo has put together a thoroughly enjoyable story, and if you are the type to go wild with criticism, the book provides and exceptional playground, replete with swings of exceeding height.

now as a fun-type book, if you enjoyed the "calvinball" in the "calvin and hobbes," you'll love half-ball, and for fans of "deep thought," delillo's "space brain" provides nearly un-endurable humour (oh, wait, space brain's changed it's mind again. . .). the only way in which i'd fault delillo is that he (as many others have done/continue to do) is under the impression that mathematicians desire to win a nobel prize, but the truth is, not-just-a-few mathematicians see the nobel as a cute prize that pales in comparison to the fields medal. other than this (annoying) hindrence, ratner's star is a truly exceptional book. if you want lighter reading, go with "white noise," but ratner's star is most definitely its equal, and in some ways (that are directly related to how much the book demands of the reader and how much work the reader is willing to put into the book-as-art aspects (i.e. going after meanings not plainly displayed on the surface)) i think it exceeds all of the delillo i've read excepting underworld. basically, read this book, it'll make you're life better.

oh, that "typewriters?" things? that's because the book has a remarkable futuristic feel and does an exceptional job of transporting the reader to a pi-in-the-sky/ivory tower research facility, but there are constant mentions of typewriters that do a pretty good job of breaking the flow, but they have the effect of endearing the work rather than trivializing it.

Ratner's Star.......2003-08-18

This book has quickly become one of my favorites. A beautifully written novel about language, mathematics, the fear of death, and an individuals place within the complexity of reality. There are sentences within this book that made me read them six or seven times they were so beautiful. An exceptional work that i cannot wait to read again.

Not for the faint of heart.......2003-03-17

For those looking for a bit of light reading, I would advise against this book. True, very little of DeLillo is easygoing, but this, his fourth novel, makes his others read as easily as the likes of Grisham or King. Ratner's Star can perhaps be best described as DeLillo does Pynchon's "Gravity's Rainbow." It focuses on a group of quirky scientists and mathemeticians trying to decipher what they believe are messages from extraterrestrials, and the crazy "adventures" they have in the process. There are lots of great moments in this book, great humor, and the central message (the more we learn, the less we know) is very cleverly displayed in true DeLillo fashion. However, the writing is so confusing and dense in most places that it hardly seems worth it except for the truly dedicated DeLillo fan.

Book Description

Grundy Golem got no respect. So, to prove himself, he volunteered for a quest to find the long-lost dragon, Stanley Steamer. On the way, he somehow manages to free a damsel in distress-- but not without incurring the wrath of the Sea Hag in the process. And when it comes to avenging herself on Grundy, the Sea Hag will never give up....

Customer Reviews:

It Was Alright.......2005-03-31

I enjoyed the book quite a bit, however, there was one thing I disliked about it. This goes for most of this authors books, but the majority of the characters all have an above average intelligence. It just makes the characters lack diversity, as well as making the book seem less realistic, although it is a fantasy novel.

With the exception of my prior statment, the book was marvelous - I paticuarly liked how they made Grundy golem a main character this time, because in previous books the main characters always seemed to be Bink or some relative of his.

Over all, I think this is a good book if you are a fan of this author or this genere. Its not the best book of his I've read, but it was good.

One of my favorites!.......2004-02-12

I've read all of the books before this one, and I am starting on the next, Vale of the Vole. When Grundy went out in search of Stanley Steamer, I kept wondering if he would shoot his mouth off and get eaten by a neighboring creature. It didn't happen though. He did shoot his mouth off, but that's also what got him out of a whole mess of trouble. It was GREAT!!

I LOVE this book!!.......2003-01-11

Of all the Xanth novels, this one is my favorite. I liked Grundy from his first appearance in the series, and Piers Anthony has a way to make the characters seem very real and human where in many of the fantasy stories I have read, the characters are the steriotypical overly heroic hero and wimpy maiden (Which isn't always bad). I especially liked the romance in it, the Xanth novels turned me into a hopeless romantic when I was 11. This is a great Xanth book, with suspense, excitement, a great villian, and a "little" romance.

Loved it and Hated it!.......2002-01-29

When this book first came out I was really excited. Finally a Xanth book centering in Grundy. The little golem had been there insulting everyone right from the second book. He'd earned it!
But I should've known better than to get too worked up. In my excitement I'd forgotten one very important thing about Peirs Anthony - All his lead characters suck!
No matter what the book or who is leading it, he always manages to make them boring, thick headed and clumsy in every way possible. It's a pity because he has a lot of supporting characters that are great. But as soon as they take the position of main characters, they somehow turn into Bink clones.
I loved Grundy until this book. I loved his rudeness and total disrespect for people's feelings. But in this book he became a hero and it didn't suit him at all.
But there were good points.
The sweet little relationship between Grundy and Repunzel.
The fact that women weren't insulted as much as in the other Xanth books.

Ummm...That's it, I think. I'm all out of good things to say.
This book destroyed my favourite character but still manages to be one of the better Xanth books.

Fun Fantasy!.......2000-08-29

I love the Xanth series and this one remains my personal favorite. Grundy is a great, unlikely hero. The resident lilliputian smart-mouth of earlier Xanth novels, he shows us here us that wise-acres have feelings too, as he goes on a great quest that may or may not bring him true love.

The thing I like about Piers Anthony's Xanth series are the things its detractors hate about it: its pure whimsy and silliness. Modern fantasy can sometimes be grim and self-important, whereas a trip to Xanth is anything-can-happen day.

I know of no books which I digest more easily than Anthony's Xanth series. They are full of silly sexuality, engaging cleverness, emotional frailty and eternal optimism.

Average customer rating:
Golem in The Gears
Piers Anthony
Manufacturer: A Del Rey Book/ Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: B000BP5PGS

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Golem In The Gears
Anthony
Manufacturer: DEL RAY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000G8HZIG

Average customer rating:
Golem in the Gears
Piers Anthony
Manufacturer: Orbit
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000UI1JNY

Average customer rating:
Golem in the Gears
Piers Anthony
Manufacturer: Ballantine
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000O0DQPC

Average customer rating:
Golem in the Gears

Manufacturer: Orbit
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000G9W4VS

Average customer rating:
Golem in the Gears
Piers Anthony
Manufacturer: New York: Ballantine Books, 1987
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NXC7GE

Average customer rating:
Golem in the Gears

Manufacturer: Orbit
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GM4242

Average customer rating:
GOLEM IN THE GEARS (ORBIT BOOKS)
PIERS ANTHONY
Manufacturer: ORBIT
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books | Alternate History | Anthologies | Arthurian | Contemporary | Epic | General | Historical | History & Criticism | Magic & Wizards | Series
ASIN: 0708882129

Average customer rating:
5 Titles By Piers Anthony Xanth Series : A Spell for Chameleon The Source of Magic Centaur Aisle Golem in the Gears Heaven Cent
Piers Anthony
Manufacturer: various
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Magic & Wizards | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Anthony, Piers | ( A ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Paperback | Anthony, Piers | ( A ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000PEKWFY

Product Description

five mmpb books. 5 Titles By Piers Anthony Xanth Series : A Spell for Chameleon The Source of Magic Centaur Aisle Golem in the Gears Heaven Cent

Average customer rating:

Wake up to an enthralling read.

an out-of-body experience you'll never forget!!

BEST SERIES I HAVE EVER READ

The Gandalara Cycle: Volume II
Randall Garrett , and Vicki Ann Heydron
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0553259431
Release Date: 1986-05-01

Customer Reviews:

Wake up to an enthralling read........2002-10-12

How would you feel if you were suddenly asked to live someone else's life? A life where you are being saught by the police, organised crime and an unwanted prospective bride. In The Gandalara Cycle novels, the old and dying Ricardo Carillo find's himself in the body of a young man, in an unfamiliar world, with a large lump on his head and a freakishly large cat stalking him.

There are seven books in this series and each of them is a good read. I particularly like the first novel because Ricardo is seeing everything with fresh eyes. His unique way of dealing with things prompts some interesting reactions from all those who think they know him. In a sense, many believe the problems of others are minor in comparison with their own. This story allows us to explore that theory. Can a complete stranger untangle a young man's life?

All seven novels are tied to a logical plot-line but this structure is only revealed a piece at a time. In this way the narrative is full of enough suspense and action to encourage some very quick reading. There is enough misdirection that we have to turn our personal theories upside-down, several times. This is good value, because each time that happens, you are forced to review everything that has already happened in the new light of new understanding.

The society depicted is not overly different to reality, although the inclusion of a small minority, who posess extrasensory gifts, is pivotal. This concept has been well explored elsewhere but the author uses the subtle variations well, drawing the possibilities into new and interesting directions, both political and metaphysical. These books should interest those who enjoy traditional science fiction as well as the fantasy buffs. Although often out of print, I recommend you try to find secondhand copies somewhere.

an out-of-body experience you'll never forget!!.......1999-09-11

I first read these books back in the 80's when the were still in paper-back singles. Let me tell you I pined and fretted until the next one would be released!! I would finish each book in about 20-30 hours of straight reading! These authors have the uncanny nack to make the story so tangible, you'll feel the heat off the desert foor. The mind link of the hero with his horse-sized ridable cat will have your brain in agony when their telepathy is severed during one of the books.You'll find yourself having a glass of water always at hand to deal with the arid and hostile enviroment described within. I just can't enough good things about this series. Positively the most impact ever made on me by fiction! If you find these gems, never ever lend them out as I so foolishly did.The best part of the whole series is the suprise ending that make you reasses your position on this fragile planet. Great outlining of story line is the key to this series success. Vikki did a great job of finishing for poor Randall, who deteriorated before the completion of the Gandalara Cycle. If you have luck of obtaining this series, you'll never regret the time and trouble incurred!

BEST SERIES I HAVE EVER READ.......1999-04-08

I have the fortune to own all seven of these books. I also own and have read some twenty other sci-fi series. This one is the best out of any of them. The fight scenes and travels of Rikardon suck you into the book. When I first got the first three books (purely by accident) I stayed up all night and read all three. If you can find all seven books, hold on to them. You wont regret reading and then re-reading them.

Customer Reviews:

This Is A Great Book and It's A Keeper!.......2005-10-15

I bought this book and I like it alot but I have to admit that I initially purchased the book The Chiron Dictionary of Greek & Roman Mythology because the TV shows Hercules and Xena with their storylines often being based on the Greek and Roman Myths had me me curious about Greek and Roman Mythology and I think this book was a very good purchase because I have really enjoyed reading it and now I really like the ancient myths and look forward to buying more mythology books and I definitely have to recommend this book to anyone interested in the Greek and Roman myths.

"The Best Greco-Roman Mythological Dictionary Available".......2002-02-27

This exemplary dictionary contains 1,600 entries and 225 vivid illustrations and charts, which describe and depict the famous gods, goddesses, heroes, places, and events of the Greco-Roman world. Foreign gods and goddesses, later adopted into the Greco-Roman cults such as Isis and Osiris are added here as well, along with the poets and playwrights, statesman and philosophers, kings, queens, and emperors of antiquity, making this the most comprehensive reference tool in its class. Adding still more luster yet, to the Chiron edition, is the fact that all this information, compacted into a short, concise, affordable, carry-it-anywhere dictionary, is a remarkable achievement not to be found elsewhere. This dictionary is certainly head and shoulders above all others, and is highly recommended for anyone interested Greco-Roman Mythology.

This Is A Great Resource For Greek and Roman Mythology.......2001-10-28

This book is great, I like the fact that it's in dictionary form because it's easy to read and gives valuable info on Greek and Roman Mythology and is a great source for beginners who may be overwelmed by the longer more detailed books. This amazing book is very highly recommended!

A wonderful book for Ancient Greek/Roman mythology........1999-05-21

I believe that this book is full of valuable information that can be used to understand Greek/Roman mythology. It has useful information and it is somewhat reliable. If you need information for a report, I advise for you to use another book for more thourough points.

Detailed and thorough - an ideal reference.......1999-05-15

This is my favorite reference to Greek and Roman mythology. The dictionary has entries on religious festivals (Volturnalia), places (Pelion), well-known mortals (Odysseus), mortals few have heard of (Halirrhothius), and, of course, the Greek gods and the Roman gods. Each appellation has its own entry, with a reference to one of its other counterparts in different cultures. This also serves to keep the Roman versions of whatever divinity and the Greek versions of the same divinity straight. Definitely worth the money.

THE CHIRON DICTIONARY OF GREEK & ROMAN MYTHOLOGY: GODS AND GODDESSES, HEROES, PLACES, AND EVENTS OF ANTIQUITY.

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THE CHIRON DICTIONARY OF GREEK & ROMAN MYTHOLOGY: GODS AND GODDESSES, HEROES, PLACES, AND EVENTS OF ANTIQUITY.
Elizabeth (translator). Burr
Manufacturer: Chiron Publications,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Geography | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

Book Description

With expertise and wit, the authors create a primer for the home cook and host, be they novice or accomplished chef. From the basic All-American Hanburger to Scampi Alla Griglia, McCullough and Witt provide easy-to-follow, lively directions for preparing and serving the ideal "comfort food" easily and with a mimimum of fuss. BOMC Homestyle Club Selection. 272 pp. 25,000 print.

Customer Reviews:

An Excellent Cookbook For Non-Cooks.......2002-05-02

Speaking as some one who has very few kitchen skills, I find McCullough and Witt's CLASSIC AMERICAN FOOD WITHOUT FUSS an indispensable work, for it offers more than one hundred receipes of foods I always liked but never actually knew how to make--and it offers them in concise, easy to follow, and surprisingly witty prose.

The sections include starters, soups, salads, main dishes, side dishes, breads, and desserts. In addition to such homey items as deviled eggs, chicken soup, pot roast, and macaroni and cheese, McCullough and Witt also include a surprising number of complex ethnic dishes such as moussaka and duck a l'orange, taking care to reduce their more complicated dishes to an essential level that even non-cooks will find unintimidating. The text is also sprinkled with side-bars on everything from roasting garlic to macaroons, and the various receipes invite experimentation.

Truly advanced cooks will no doubt find this particular cookbook basic, but for some one less interested in spending all day in the kitchen than in simply turning out an enjoyable upper-middle-class dinner for four it is a remarkably useful collection, easy to read and easy to use. It is also quite a bit of fun. Recommended.

Favorites Made Easy and Simply.......2002-02-22

Very minimalist describes the approach to this collection of favorites. From Boston Baked Beans to Coq Au Vin, this has the recipes we all enjoy.

Receiving this one free is likely the only way I would have this in my collection. I have others that I turn to for more inspiration on American cooking, such as Sheila Lukens "USA Cooking" which is exceptional, or James Beard's "American Cooking."

This is not worthless or poorly done, it is just too bland for my tastes, such as a simple Meat Loaf with the ketschup smeared on the top. Many will gravitate to this food, so to each his own meatloaf.

No American cook should be without this book.......1999-02-08

If you're pondering again about what to fix for dinner look no further than this cookbook. It is complete unto itself. You no longer have to sift through the pages of over-built cookbooks that are so heavy one could use them for a doorstop. This is a mere 277 pages but it laden with delicious recipes. From carbonara to rice pudding. Everything I have fixed from this book is both pleasing to the eye as well as to the palate. You can quiet even the most finicky eater with this tome. Nicely laid out and easy to read and understand. The classic, that is to say, original recipe for coq a vin is included. Delicious!!! This book easily lays open on your counter or workspace. Don't be afraid to break the binding. It won't matter becase you will be using this book over and over again anyway. It covers the world. Pasta, fish, lamb, desserts, breads. If it is a comfort food brought over by many of the immigrants, it will most likely be here. Greek; mousaka. Italian; lasagne. French; steak au poivre. Jewish; potato pancakes. English; corn pudding. Too many crowd pleasers to name but absolutely one to have in your home.

Average customer rating:

A disappointing book in most aspects....

A Schiffer book!

Informative book on both the range of Cultural Revolution memorabilia available and its meaning and significance at the time

Cultural Revolution Posters & Memorabilia
Victoria Edison , and James Edison
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Political | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | China | Asia | History | Subjects | Books
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Assignment: Shanghai: Photographs on the Eve of Revolution (Series in Contemporary Photography, 2)

ASIN: 0764322362

Book Description

The Cultural Revolution in China was a time of upheaval and change. Millions of lives were disrupted and much effort was spent by the government and the Party to "reeducate" the populace through a great propaganda campaign. Posters, ceramic statues, Red Books, pins, and a myriad of other means were designed to get the message across. Now, after the opening of China to the West, these things are finding their way into the collector's market. In this remarkable volume, the history of an era and the material culture that it generated are shown in over 450 color images. They include 180 posters that set the tone as art and as propaganda. The iconography of the posters was used to rally the people around the programs and personalities of the Maoist regime. In addition there are hundreds of ceramic statues, "Little Red Books," awards, ration coupons, wall hangings, prints, and many other objects included that promoted the Cultural Revolution and sought to influence the Chinese people. For graphic artists, collectors, and Sino-historians, these items have growing importance. With its concise and informative history and beautiful color illustrations, this book provides an introductory guide to the meaning and value of a variety of the most common posters and artifacts to be found in markets in China and the West, along with brief explanations of their historical background and their current value.

Customer Reviews:

A disappointing book in most aspects...........2006-03-09

I fully agree with the comments of "Collector". To be a useful reference/guide book for the general collectors, techniques on how to distinguish authentic and new reproductions are of great importance. But this book obviously fails to do so. Besides, offering a reference price for the collectibles are always misleading in particular for the volatile cultural revolution relics market. A "star" system according to the rarity of the items would be much more useful in this respect. If you are not interested in collecting CR relics, you may still buy this book to enjoy its colorful pictures though. No harm at all but no gain either!

A Schiffer book!.......2006-01-31

Another wonderful book from Schiffer!

Wonderful photos and good printing in a hard cover format. My favorite part of the book was the research of the authors in the communist symbolism of the items, described with a very intelligent and neutral approach and presentation. Their comments make you think, understand and get familiar with many details, peeking inside the party intrigues and describing this difficult and controversial time in Chinas history. A good book about art does exactly that - helps us understand the importance of a time period and how the art fits in.

Additionally, the book gives a general orientation about the price of these CR pieces. Although the subject matter of some of the items is troubling, I take them as a combination of kitsch and historically interesting items (the balance of those two in the eyes of the beholder).

The book has a big value, not only because gives information about the prices from the ex-communistic world, but it reminds us of the value of unique items and shows things from China that are not just mass-produced products offered in Wal-Mart for dirt cheap.

Informative book on both the range of Cultural Revolution memorabilia available and its meaning and significance at the time.......2006-01-31

Over the past few years I have started to see more and more cultural items from China appearing in the United States. The Buddhas and other religious artifacts are familiar to me, but I have noted other items from time to time, such as propaganda posters or statues depicting some sort of Chinese scene that didn't make any sense to me. This book has provided me invaluable information on what those items mean, both in isolation and in the context of Chinese history.

I am glad that I bought the book before I saw the review by "Collector". His/her criticisms suggest that he/she did not read the entire book, or not carefully. The authors are careful to point out that there is a large problem with fake Cultural Revolution items (the Chinese have proven adept and making replicas of Ming vases that fool the large auction houses, so that's no surprise) and that because even the authentic ones are of recent vintage so it is very difficult, and perhaps impossible, to know for certain that a particular item is authentic.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, both the pictures and captions that describe each item and the text that provides historical context on their meaning and contemporaneous events in China. I did not expect the book to be an exhaustive guide to how to determine the authenticity of items, and enjoyed the overview of Chinese history and the item explanations immensely. I finished the book immensely informed, and I will recommend it to my friends and no doubt consult it in the future when new items pique my interest.

Book Description

Even beginning carpenters can build an outbuilding that’s handsome, stylish, and completely functional. Detailed architect’s plans, color photos, instructions, and simple variations are included for two easy-to-build sheds. For non-gardeners, there are pool cabanas, kids’ playhouses, mini-studios, and more.

Customer Reviews:

Great for ideas.......2004-01-03

Pluses to this book:

Photos

Plenty of them on sheds set in backyards everywhere. For the most part, these are not your typical home improvement store shed. Metal roofs, old barn board, stone, earth and more are combined to create interesting designs.

Ideas

Because of the numerous photos you are only limited by your imagination and budget when the time comes to your own little shed retreat. I picked up this book for just this reason. As I get ready to build a shed for a customer I wanted to create a unique shed so I have been browsing many shed books for inspiration.

Details

The book offers a step-by-step detail plan for two sheds. From these sheds you are given other ideas to expand on the main plans to create several other sheds.

Plans

There are plans included in the back of the book.

Material list.

For the basic sheds you are given a shopping list of materials needed to construct the shed.

Minuses to this book:

Details

This is a catch 22. Description of tools and supplies will be of no use for someone with a little background in construction. The details are helpful however they are written as if you have never built anything before. Many people will find this helpful but if you have built something you will be able to skim through these details and move forward. (this is not a big minus)

Overall I enjoyed borrowing this book, but for my carpentry skill level...carpenter by trade, it is not one I will add to my personal collection.

I would suggest Joseph Truini's Building a Shed. (Check out my 5 star review on Truini's book for more information.)

Not a 5 star book........2001-09-07

I can't see why other rated this book 5 stars. Maybe they just looked at the pictures because it does have nice pictures of various old sheds.
The book contains instructions to build one shed. They are very detailed. Too bad they are hard to follow and in some cases just plain wrong. For instance, on page 77, step 68, the author says to set your circular saw to a 45 degree angle and cut a 12' 2X4 into 6 pieces 3' long. This will result in bevel cuts, not the desired angle cuts. The instructions are written in such a way that you expected to follow them blindly without deviation. Also it is difficult to match up the relavant photos with the instructions.
My bigest gripe is the drawings in the appendix. They used brown lines on tan paper with brown stipple. This makes them so hard to read they are almost useless. The full uselessness is rendered by the appendex drawings being incomplete and poorly ordered.

Excellent guide, great ideas.......2000-08-02

There are tons of books out that purport to guide someone through a do-it-yourself project. Many of them are poorly organized, erratically laid out or conceived and incompletely documented. This one shines, for a variety of reasons. The writing is clear and the instructions are designed to foster confidence, even for the beginner. The great thing is that the ideas allow you to consider other ideas, add your own creativity. Truscott has published a handful of craft/do it yourself guides through Lark Books. Highly recommended.

My Choice.......2000-02-11

I checked this book out from the library, along with several others. This is the one I just had to buy. The sheds are creative and the instructions give me confidence to complete my project.

Great for the Do-It-Yourselfer!.......1999-10-25

An excellent manual if you want to build your own shed, it has all the things from start to finish. Great ideas, and the instructions are clear and concise, and well thought out! I highly recommend this book!

Book Description

Creating attractive yet efficient web pages requires an understanding of both design and the many technical issues involved. www.imaging introduces all the tested techniques and proven strategies computer artists need to know to create innovative digital images for the web. Readers will discover a wide range of creative image manipulation techniques, from scanning and basic color correction to advanced retouching tricks; create attractive rollover buttons, animations, videos; and more. They'll also find details on the pros and cons of all the major file formats and tips for assembling effective websites. Finally, a special section displays hundreds of dazzling examples of some of the best imaging currently on the web.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful book, but lacks usefulness.......2002-08-28

This is one of the prettiest web-design books that you'll find, and I wish I could say a lot of positive things about it, but unfortunately it falls amazingly short in its claim to teach "efficient image preparation for the world wide web." You'll be stunned when you get it - and probably be left feeling as though you were greatly mislead by its description - because it's more like a coffee table picture book, something you'd use to entertain friends and family in your living room.

The approach of this book is to tell the reader that there IS such a thing as "image slicing," that there IS such a thing as "image compression," that there IS such a thing as "vector graphics," but beyond being told what these things are, you won't learn much.

Here's one example taken directly from the book (and I promise you that I am not exaggerating what I'm describing here). The section on "image compression" is two pages long. Nearly 3/4 of that space is made up of 6 graphics they generated from photographs, and this entire presentation is used to make two beginner level points: The first point was that image quality is affected when saving jpeg's with high compression. The other point was that complex images will create larger file sizes than simpler images. The remaining 1/4 of the space was a column of text that described - are you ready for this? - storage limitations and recommendations for DIGITAL CAMERAS. Seriously - I'm not kidding (see pages 88-89).

Now, with that warning made clear, I can tell you that the section at the end of the book called "Showcase" will certainly give you some inspiring design ideas, as it "showcases" some of the most beautifully-designed websites I've seen. It's a 44-page section.

I rely a lot on the helpful input from customers who take the time to write up honest reviews of these books, but unfortunately there were no reviews when I purchased this book. I figured I'd take a chance on this one. In the end, I wish I hadn't.

By the way, I'll help you to determine my level of credibility so that you know whether or not to give any weight to my review. I've been designing webpages for 4 years. I prefer coding by hand with a text editor, but rely on FrontPage at times to get things out in a hurry, and though I've dabbled in Photoshop, I do most of my graphics work in Microsoft Image Composer. I have a strong understanding of PHP and dynamic page generation, and currently am transitioning to Macromedia's MX Studio web development package. (As an extra bonus, I've never been institutionalized and never type email messages in all lowercase letters). Hope that helps!

Average customer rating:
www.imaging: Efficient Image Preparation for the World Wide Web.(Book Reviews): An article from: Technical Communication
Tasha Miller
Manufacturer: Society for Technical Communication
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | Classics | Comic | Contemporary | Literary
General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books
ASIN: B00082J9YI
Release Date: 2005-07-31

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Technical Communication, published by Society for Technical Communication on May 1, 2004. The length of the article is 838 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: www.imaging: Efficient Image Preparation for the World Wide Web.(Book Reviews)
Author: Tasha Miller
Publication: Technical Communication (Refereed)
Date: May 1, 2004
Publisher: Society for Technical Communication
Volume: 51 Issue: 2 Page: 313(2)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Customer Reviews:

An exemplary biography of a gifted man.......2001-03-19

In Terence Rattigan: The Man And His Work, biographer Michael Darlow presents the personal history of one of the most successful dramatists of his generation. Despite attempts to declare Rattigan's work unfashionable, his plays were performed both on the stage and in the cinema. His prodigious body of work also included film screenplays, as well as scripts for both radio and television. A well known public figure in his lifetime, Rattigan kept his homosexuality private. Terence Rattigan: The Man And His Work is an exemplary biography of a complex, fascinating, influential, and gifted man who is secure in his recognition as one of the great dramatists of the 20th century.

Average customer rating:

Terence Rattigan: the Man and His Work.
Michael & HODSON, Gillian DARLOW
Manufacturer: see notes for publisher info
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MX5WI0

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