Le Temps Retrouve (Collection Folio)

Book Description

Darker Angels takes the reader from the bloodstained battlefields of Virginia to the slave auctions of Haiti. Walt Whitman, Abraham Lincoln, Lord Byron, and Marie Laveau, the legendary voodoo queen of New Orleans, all have a part to play in the epic tale of a mysterious, one-eyed shaman who dares to raise the dead from the battlefields of the Civil War.

Customer Reviews:

One of Somtow's most accomplished works.......2007-10-05

"Stories within stories within stories! And always, it took another story to explain the one that preceded it."
--Paula Grainger, narrator of Darker Angels

Paula Grainger is the widow of Rev. Aloysius Grainger. Viewing President Lincoln's body as it lies in state, she encounters Walt Whitman, who is also there to pay his respects. A conversation ensues, and Paula invites Whitman to her home for tea the next day. Paula feels something important has just happened, but doesn't realize the tremendous change she is about to undergo--her chance meeting with Whitman will utterly transform her, as secrets are revealed and lives are irrevocably changed.

Whitman arrives the next day accompanied by his lover, former Union soldier Zachary Brown. Brown tells Paula a story about a past encounter with her husband, and unleashes a torrent of related tales, each illuminating mysteries raised by its predecessor. Zach's narrative is composed of several second hand tales, related to him by the Rev. Grainger, the armless Tyler Tyler, faith healer Jimmy Lee Cox, and a wealthy slaver named Bledsoe. These stories are further amplified by letters from the Reverend to Paula, which in turn reference epistles and diaries from Edgar Allan Poe and Lord Byron.

The stories weave a bizarre tapestry of voodoo, slavery, war, death and resurrection. It dawns on Paula that she is being told these stories for a reason; she eventually realizes that they represent a plea from her husband from beyond the grave. Paula needs the information to make an important decision, which, when made, provides an uplifting and quietly appropriate ending to this fine novel. Along the way, Paula sheds her old life, and, like the zombies that populate this dark fantasy, is resurrected, her mind opened, her sexuality awakened, her path made clear.

Somtow is in total control of his material, deftly combining the fantastic and the historic, expertly melding the numerous subplots he sets in motion. The cascade of stories holds the reader spellbound--each story springs from its precursor and leads into its successor, creating a complex labyrinth which the reader explores with Paula. The book is full of intriguing contrasts--the idea of raising the dead is repulsive, but pales next to the atrocities committed by both sides during the Civil War. In Somtow's world, resurrection can be horrible, but also redemptive, as when Jimmy Lee Cox brings his father back to life and reconciles with him, foreshadowing the book's touching climax.

Rich in character and atmosphere, Darker Angels is dark fantasy at its finest, a passionate work that reflects the fierce intelligence of its talented creator.

A Pleasurable Alternate Reality Tale.......2002-10-26

Unexpectedly, I found myself drawn into the tapestry of Somtow's multi-narratated story. One difficulty was trying to keep track of who exactly was telling the story in the "current" time. I believe the furthest remove the narration achieves is four. What's interesting is the entire book essentially takes place in one house. I highly recommend this book for those looking to find fantasy a bit askew from the traditional tales.

Daker Angels Shines Through!.......2002-08-26

I've read MOONDANCE some years ago and was totally capitivated by the story. Now several years later, I come across Darker Angels (though out of print, I got from the used section at Amazon and the service was EXCELLENT!). Here, Somtow weaves another fabulous tapestry of horror, fantasy and history all in one! (Just reading the other better reviews is proof positive.) We even get to see the origin of the most foul Cordwainer Claggett [sic] a villain we met in MOONDANCE. In Darker Angels, the multi-level narration by the different players is fantastic (though at times tricky but works out well in the end). Just a word of warning, this book is not for the faint of heart or the easily offended. I look forward to more from this author. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Historical horror.......2000-10-13

In his earlier novel, MOON DANCE, Somtow created a nightmarish American epic: a tale of the clash between European and Native American werewolves. In DARKER ANGELS he makes a triumphant return to his alternate history where magic and shape-shifters (were-leopards this time around) are real.

At about 200 pages less than MOON DANCE, DARKER ANGELS is in many ways the more successful novel. I must also note that it contains one of the most successful uses of a non-linear narrative I have yet to encounter.

This is not a book for anyone looking for a light and easy horror/dark fantasy read. It deals unflinchingly with war, slavery and homosexuality. But I highly recommend it for readers who aren't afraid to brave the darkness to find the riches therein. DARKER ANGELS may be a work of fiction, but there is more truth in its pages than in many non-fiction history books.

Entertaining historical horror novel.......1999-11-20

In 1865, the corpse of President Lincoln lies in public view in New York. Widow Paula Grainger pays her respect to her country's assassinated leader.

She meets Walt Whitman and his companion Zachary Brown. The two males, along with Paula's servant Phoebe, tell her a strange story starring her late husband, Aloysius and similar beings. Aloysius apparently won the African Phoebe in a card game. The woman is one of the DARKER ANGELS with the ability to change into a leopard. In spite of having attained the mysterious Phoebe, Aloysius failed in his efforts to reanimate Paula's dead children. However, the one-eyed shaman Joseph apparently tasted success as a necromancer who ultimately planned to raise the dead black Civil War soldiers.

DARKER ANGEL is a metaphysical horror tale that takes readers on a dark tour on nineteenth century America. The story line switches narrators, giving it a short story feel inside a featured length novel. This technique will divide readers as some will find it distracting from the main story line while others will feel the subplots have an opportunity to fully develop. The historical side of the tale shows that S.P. Somtow did his homework so that his supernatural creatures fit in a world populated by authentic known people of the era. If you prefer non-stop action, this tale is a bust. If you relish an eerie surreal novel, this tale is a cause to celebrate.

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DARKER ANGELS
S.P. Somtow
Manufacturer: TOR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000P0ZGWC

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Darker Angels
S. P. Somtow
Manufacturer: London Gollancz 1997.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Horror | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | Anthologies | Authors, A-Z | Books on CD | Books on Cassette | British | Dark Fantasy | Erotic | General | Ghosts | Graphic Novels | Occult | Reference | United States | Vampires
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ASIN: 0575061227

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Darker Angels

Manufacturer: Tor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000DCNGME

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Darker Angels
S. P. Somtow
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTNKZE

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Darker Angels
S. P.; Somtoe, S. P. Somtow
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTSEE6

Book Description

The national bestselling author of the Spec Ops Squad series ends the saga of The Lucky 13th...

In book three of Shelley's science fiction-military trilogy, the soldiers of The Lucky 13th are spearheading the assault of the Accord planets. Heavy casualties are expected. But the fighters of the 13th know the odds-and how to beat them...

Customer Reviews:

Bad use of airborne troops.......1999-09-19

Very much the most excellent good guys against the very bad bad guys. Both use troops up badly.

I was hooked.......1998-12-31

This is the first book I read written by Rick Shelley and I was hooked on his style of writing. "Until Relieved" puts human faces and feelings on war no matter if it occurs on a single world or in the vast reaches of space. This story and the other two in the series illustrates the dedication of those who are willing to don the uniform. Mr. Sheeley, I feel, has done an excellent job of developing all the main characters of the 13th Spaceborne. As I said I have read the other two books in the Lucky 13th series, the two books of the Dirigent Mercenary Corps, and "The Buchannan Campaign," which I recommend to all readers of this type of genre.

A not-as charged and less focused Hammer's Slammers.......1997-06-29

Shelley is good. Not a great introduction to the military-sf genre, but certainly a good addition. Definitely worth the read; but I felt like I was reading early David Drake. Certainly worth picking up this and Jump Pay, I figure

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Packed within its pages are decades of baking wisdom competitors can't match for tone, content and insights.

Breadmaking secrets are not that easy to get!

Excellent value

Baking bread

A Tiny Book of Valuable Information

Confessions of a French Baker: Breadmaking Secrets, Tips, and Recipes
Peter Mayle , and Gerard Auzet
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Bread | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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General | Gastronomy | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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Provence A-Z

French Lessons: Adventures with Knife, Fork, and Corkscrew

Encore Provence: New Adventures in the South of France

Hotel Pastis: A Novel of Provence

Toujours Provence

ASIN: 140004474X
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Book Description

Attention bread lovers!

In the first of his famous books about Provence, Peter Mayle shared with us news of a bakery in the town of Cavaillon where the baking and appreciation of breads “had been elevated to the status of a minor religion.” Its name: Chez Auzet.

Now, several hundred visits later, Mayle has joined forces with Gerard Auzet, the proprietor of this most glorious of Provençal bakeries, to tell us about breadmaking at its finest.

Mayle takes us into the baking room to witness the birth of a loaf. We see the master at work–slapping, rolling, squeezing, folding, and twisting dough as he sculpts it into fougasses, bâtards, and boules.

Auzet then gives us precise, beautifully illustrated instructions for making sixteen kinds of bread, from the classic baguette to loaves made with such ingredients as bacon, apricots, hazelnuts, garlic, and green and black olives. There are tips galore, the tricks of the trade are revealed, and along the way Mayle relates the delightful history of four generations of Auzet bakers.

One of Provence’s oldest and most delicious pleasures is now available at a kitchen near you, thanks to this charming guide. Read, bake, and enjoy.

Customer Reviews:

Packed within its pages are decades of baking wisdom competitors can't match for tone, content and insights........2007-01-07

Author Peter Mayle shared news of a beloved local Provence French bakery, Chez Auzet, in a prior coverage: here several hundred visits later he and baker Gerard Auzet collaborate in a celebration of baking, blending recipes for sixteen kinds of bread - all packed with professional insider's baking tips for success - with a history and survey of Azuet bakers and achievements. CONFESSIONS OF A FRENCH BAKER: BREADMAKING SECRETS, TIPS, AND RECIPES may look small and unassuming beside weighty and larger-sized bread cookbooks, but don't let its size fool you: packed within its pages are decades of baking wisdom competitors can't match for tone, content and insights.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Breadmaking secrets are not that easy to get!.......2006-11-05

I was apprehensive from the moment I saw this book. The author and the book description make it as if whoever goes into the Auzet bakery can come out with all sorts of secrets for breadmaking. Anyone who knows french bakers and patissiers, knows that they very rarely if ever give away their secrets, especially not to tourists that come for a visit! And true to my apprehensions I was dissappointed when I received this book. All the recipes,and they are not many, are with the straight method, ie using yeast not a sourdough or ferment, and they take from start to finish approximately two hours! Well this is just not enough time to develop the proper flavour of bread! I am a professional baker/patissier and these recipes are the ones I first learned in baking school. Mix the dough, let it double, shape it , proof it and bake it. Nice looking bland bread. Either Mr Auzet took the author for a ride or the author is taking us! There is no way to produce great tasting artisan bread using these methods. Now if you want to get this book here's a tip from me: Mix the dough as per the recipe, then put it in a shallow plastic container cover it with its cover and place it in the refrigerator overnight. This will give the yeast time to develop the flavour of the dough. In the morning take the dough out of the container and continue with the rest of the recipe method.

Excellent value.......2006-08-25

Book was as described and in perfect condition - buy with confidence from this seller.

Baking bread.......2006-02-06

I purchased this book because I've read Peter Mayle's books & have been to the region he's mentioned & have enjoyed his stories. I also bought this book because I needed some light-hearted reading. I was disappointed at first, having read it in one night. It's mostly about making bread. I thought it would be more substantive. But my husband bought me a KitchenAid mixer as a result of it, thinking it would cheer me up, & that I'd make him some bread! I made the first recipe tonight, the baguettes - I added a some dried herbs to it(no fresh available) & the loaves were absolutely superb! I love bread, and having made it for so many years, I had my doubts about this recipe, & the mixer as well. I've always kneaded by hand. This recipe is a real winner - the texture & flavor is what I've never before been able to achieve. Read the book, make the recipes (well I've only tried one) - you'll feel like you're in Provence, breaking bread with friends, having a glass of wine, enjoying life, with the best bread you can imagine!

A Tiny Book of Valuable Information.......2006-01-05

It is a small volume of explanations to successful breadmaking from an owner of a Provencal bakery, written by an adept enthusiast. The author is witty and the baker is skillful and sharing. Along with useful breadmaking customs are anecdotes on origins, for example, the invention of croissants. Also included are cultural beliefs. A brief lesson in bread-related French words could also be obtained. It concludes with a wine suggestion for each type of bread. The recipes are easy to follow. A lot of practice might be required for best results and this little book proves handy.

Book Description

The philosophy and techniques of the revered Olympic dressage champion.

Customer Reviews:

Great book for theory..........2007-01-14

No one can deny that Klimke was an incredible rider and trainer. The book reflects his experience and opinions about dealing with young horses. He encourages a careful and practiceds application of the aids in order to develop suppleness, throughness, and impulsion. while the book does a good job in describing the "ideal" I was hoping for more "how-to" logistics. The section on longeing does that in discussing the best equipment, how to attach side reins correctly, etc., but the remainder of the book is less "applied" and more "theoretical."

I have to say that I also object to other assumptions in the book about the general horse-owning population. For instance, Klimke says that in the first week at the barn, he only allows the grooms to handle the newly arrived horse and he is careful not to have any interaction during that time. Okkkkkkkk....

Despite some rather elitist assumptions, it's a good reference book for reading about how training for young horses should proceed--but it's short on practicalities and does not offer a very precise training program.

Oldie but Goodie.......2006-12-04

This book, written by the late olympic dressage champion Reiner Klimke, is surely a standard reference. The English translation by Sigrid Young might be a little bit awkward at times (very noticable for a German native who owns the original, too), but the spirit and straightforwardness of Klimke's approach for the basic training of a dressage horse still comes across.

Compact, yet informative........2004-01-12

This compact, informative and economical guide to starting young horses provides an excellent overview of training the young horse, from early ground work to starting over fences. Although the book is dated, the German scale of basic training principles is timeless and very much en vogue in the dressage community today. Based on sound principles and written by an accomplished horseman, this is one to read.
UPDATE - A year since my original review this has been the book I refer back to most of all, I think because of the handy size. Therefore, this book is well worth the money!!!

Basic Training?.......2003-05-20

I thoguht this book was great because it is small and easy to carry to the barn. The pictures help you remember what you read in a "jiffy". Some of the information seems old and maybe a litle out of date but overall I think its a book thats good for anyone with a horse in training.

Basic Training of the Young Horse.......2001-07-04

While Klimke lays the basic foundation of dressage training, he speaks from a perspective that is far removed from most American dressage lovers. Most don't have full time grooms and the ability to turn their horses out to pasture in the summer.

The New Basic Training of the Young Horse: From the Education of the Young Foal to the First Competition

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The New Basic Training of the Young Horse
Great for starting youngsters

The New Basic Training of the Young Horse: From the Education of the Young Foal to the First Competition
Ingrid Klimke , and Reiner Klimke
Manufacturer: Trafalgar Square
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1570763453

Book Description

A revitalized version of the well-known classic by one of the world's most successful riders, now with additional text and all new color photos.

Customer Reviews:

The New Basic Training of the Young Horse.......2007-07-27

I am a huge fan of both Ingrid and her father, however I was a bit disappointed in their book. They seem to talk about general things "you want this and not this", but don't tell you how to do "this" and not teach "this". If I knew how to do it I supposed I'd already know it was correct. I had hoped it was more specific for we riders who have not atttained FEI status. I would like to have seen more step by step on some of the big issues like ground control and how to have masterful hands. Some movements are explained, but not all.
It was interesting to read what they think is correct and how they manage and treat their horses. I'm not sure that this should be in every dressage trainer's library. Some of the other books by other master riders are much more helpful.

Great for starting youngsters.......2007-02-17

I've been riding all my life, but wanted to understand some basic philosophies of getting a young jumper started. I found this book to be very helpful in laying that foundation. If you've never owned/ridden before, then you may want to seek some personalized attention from an experience horseperson. But if you're a good rider already, you'll enjoy this book.

BASIC TRAINING FOR YOUNG HORSES AND PONIES

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BASIC TRAINING FOR YOUNG HORSES AND PONIES
COL & MRS V D S WILLIAMS
Manufacturer: A PONY CLUB ASSOCIATION
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000RZD7TE

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Basic training for young horses and ponies
Col. and Mrs. V. D. S. (Vivian Dunbar Stanley) Williams
Manufacturer: The Pony Club
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000UVXWTU

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Basic training for young horses and ponies
Vivian Dunbar Stanley Williams
Manufacturer: Barron's
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Veterinary Medicine | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Animal Husbandry | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006CP6T2

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Basic Training of the Young Horse
Klimke Reiner
Manufacturer: J. A. Allen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IGGLZ4

Book Description

Finally, a superb reference book on Philco, the leading radio manufacturer during radio's "Golden Age." Philco Radio: 1928-1942 not only shows many of Philco's radio receivers, but provides background on the company as well. Specifications for each model are given. The text is divided into a year-by-year look at Philco's radio line, so that the reader may see what Philco had to offer each year between 1928, when the company began to make radios, and 1942, when World War II put a halt to radio production. Philco Radio is an invaluable source for the radio collector. Anyone who enjoys antiques and collectibles or was lucky enough to remember radio's "Golden Age" will also enjoy taking a nostalgic trip through its pages. This is the first volume to feature Philco's radio products exclusively. The photographs and specifications will prove a valuable aid in identifying a particular Philco model.

Customer Reviews:

A "Must Have" for the serious Philco collector.......2001-08-17

This is one of my favorite reference books. The pictures are great and especially helpful when you are trying to restore an old disgarded Philco to it's former beauty. Packed with interesting history and trivia. Values listed in the book tend to be on the conservative side, but then again most reference books tend to do this. If you love old radios and their history, this is a "Must Have" for your book shelf. (PS. His website is pretty neat too)

This book is a "must-have" for collectors of anitque radios.......1998-11-26

Ron Ramirez (Mr. Philco to radio collectors) has compiled one of the finest books of its type. Focusing solely on Philco radios, he traces the evolution of the Philadelphia Storage Battery Co. from its roots to PHILCO, one of America's leading manufacturers of home radios. The book is organized chronologically by model year and includes a photograph and text explanation for virtually every Philco radio ever manufactured. Each chapter begins with a detailed description of the key features of the new models, how Philco responded to the fierce competion of the day, and the company's marketing strategies for the new year. The photography is outstanding with the vast majority of the pictures representing the best available examples of original or restored radios. The author wraps up the book with a listing by year of all Philco models, their tube configurations, and a "rarity" scale. While an excellent technical reference and history book, it also presents an interesting insight into how the Art Deco school of design influenced even radio cabinetry of the period. Highly recommended!

Book Description

With The Make It Yourself Gift Book you can create the perfect gift from over 100 projects using a variety of crafts and hobbies, needlework to woodworking to cooking. Simple step-by-step instructions, material lists, full-size patterns, and full-color photographs plus a 50-page technique section assure the best results.

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El Libro de los Regalos Hechos a Mano
Reader's Digest Editors
Manufacturer: Readers Digest
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MBXGXK

Book Description

Frank Frazetta's paintings and illustrations have set the standard for fantasy artists for the past 50 years. This collection focuses on his influence in a variety of media and genres and on his place in 20th century art history. Coedited by Hugo Award-winning editor Arnie Fenner, it includes many of Frazetta's most memorable paintings as well as revised and previously unpublished works. The art is accompanied by the artist's own observations and commentary by a number of his contemporaries.

Customer Reviews:

Truly amazing...the Greatest Illustrators work..........2005-05-27

Frazetta was an artist with a different style, yet seemed to capture and captivate so many foreign lands of barbarians and beasts...then bring them end gently place them on the table in front of us. From Conan to Tarzan and so much more, this is a great book. I call it a coffee table book because I had a rougher copy that I kept in the living room. Whenever someone came over they would start looking at it. Many couldn't put it down. Then they start realizing they KNOW Franks work...they see Death Dealer, they see the Conan like images, and they're hooked!

The book is full of colorful images and as an artist and writer myself I ofter find myself referring to it. No artist captured a battle scene, or a scene where a person is in the middle of a motion filled movement, like Frank. Leaping hero's weilding swords to scared to death damsells and wench's cowering before a giant god of epic proportions. The book is not just pictures, there is a ton of text talking about Frank, his life, and his LEGACY. A strong recommendation for anyone who likes art, Conan or Tarzan, or illustration in general. Frazetta was the King!

Comics emphasis, plus more famous paintings. Whoa!.......2002-01-15

This is book 2 of a trilogy. This one seems to have more emphasis on his comic book and comic strip work, than what appears in the other two books of the trilogy, "Icon" and "Testament." This one includes an 8-page romance comic book story by Frank, from 1952.

There are also plenty more Tarzan/Burroughs/John Carter of Mars works, and terrific paintings of Savage Pellucidar.

Frank's work for Warren magazines, like Eerie, Creepy, and Vampirella get shown and discussed in this book (and also in the other two books of this series).

All of the different eras and decades of Frank's life and career are discussed and shown, in all three books, but always with different paintings, drawings, personal photos, and different commentary by different friends and business associates.

I would recommend starting with "Icon" if you're new to Frazetta's work, but "Legacy" is a close second, containing the works that he is best known for. "Testament" has a focus on unpublished, never before seen work.

One thing that is surprising in all three of these books is seeing how Frazetta would often paint over his paintings, to improve them and change major elements, after they were originally published. So, many of his paintings look different than the way they were printed on paperback covers in the 1960's and '70's.

I am very pleased with all three of these books, but "Legacy" is my favorite of the three, if I really had to choose.

The end of an era.......2001-08-08

Frank Frazetta is a once in an era painter. He was as much an inspiration to my own large scale figure art as was Michaelangelo. This book is brimming with lush and lavish color reproductions. Frazetta, a true natural and the father of powerful and darkly and richly, colorful, anatomically creative, fantasy art. He has been imitated by dozenz, surpassed by none of them. One would have to go back to the Renaissance to find anyone more free, comfortable and creative in use of anatomy and composition. He would hold his own with the great painters of the past 700 years. This is a great book for artists and art lovers. I bought several for my grandchildren, it will be a valuable collectible in 5-10 years.

A fine collection of fantastic images.......2001-07-23

"Legacy: Selected Drawings & Paintings by Frank Frazetta" brings together many examples from the career of this distinctive artist. The book has been edited by Arnie Fenner and Cathy Fenner, and includes a foreword by Danton Burroughs.

"Legacy" gives examples of Frazetta's covers for books, magazines, and comic books, as well as movie posters and even comedy album covers. Many memorable characters from pop culture are depicted: King Kong, Dracula, Tarzan, etc. I especially liked the illustrations from Edgar Rice Burroughs' Mars books, with their six-limbed Martian apes and tusked, green-skinned warriors.

Some of Frazetta's illustrations are haunting, even melancholy, and others are exciting and action-packed. A sorcerer summoning a demon, a scuba diver facing a sea monster, and of course, voluptuous maidens will be found in this book. In some cases, alternate versions of the same commission are given (making this book especially useful for art students and cultural historians). I recommend this book to those interested in the visual art of the sci-fi, fantasy, and adventure genres.

Frank Frazetta is leaving a Legacy.......2000-06-08

I bought the book ICON at the same time I bought this book. LEGACY has a slightly different tone than the ICON book. It is a wonderful tone and in complete harmony with the other book. It's kind of like two tubes on a wind chime. I use this analogy in hopes that more chimes, I mean books will come along to complete the symphony.

The ink sketches are great too. I'm partial to the full color oil paintings. What colors, what force, what passion jumps from the pages of this book. These Frazetta books are not only a legacy to the artist but to art in our culture. Imagine Frank painting in the same studio as say... N.C. Wyeth; or even Hal Foster of Prince Valiant fame. I wonder how each artist would influence the other. I bet Mr. Frazetta would set the tone.

Once again, you can't go wrong buying this book. To read more remarks about the Frazetta books, please see my review of the book ICON.

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Legacy : Selected Paintings and Drawings by the Grand Master of Fantastic Art Frank Frazetta
Frank (Fenner, Arnie and Cathy, Editors) Frazetta
Manufacturer: Grass Valley, CA Underwood Books 1999.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J5KRZO

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Legacy: Selected Paintings and Drawings by the Grand Master of Fantastic Art, Frank Frazetta
Cathy Fenner
Manufacturer: Underwood Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OBK1PY

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Legacy: Selected paintings and drawings by the grand master of fantastic art
Frank Frazetta
Manufacturer: Underwood Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Frazetta, Frank | ( F ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006RA0QG

Book Description

A legendary city seen afresh from an expatriate's point of view

In this original and radiant book, George Sarrinikolaou, a native Athenian expatriated to America, strips Athens of its clichés to reveal a city straining under the passions and burdens of early-twenty-first-century life.

Modern Athens exists in the shadow of its ancient past: cradle of civilization, birthplace of democracy, inspiration for the Olympic Games. But as the city prepares to host the 2004 Summer Olympics, it faces challenges quite unlike those depicted in mythology and epic poetry. As Sarrinikolaou walks through the city, striving to face the Athens of his childhood head-on, he encounters people who reveal the demythologized city: newly wealthy Greeks at a Las Vegas-style nightclub; Gypsies building a middle-class house amid their squalid encampment; Kurdish and Eastern European immigrants seeking day labor in Omonia Square; aged Athenians wistfully recalling the past as their neighborhood crumbles around them. In their stories, Sarrinikolaou sees the economic, social, and historical forces that are shaping Athens today.

This is the Athens that even many Athenians see only in passing, and in Facing Athens Sarrinikolaou claims it for himself, a perennial visitor, and also for the reader, who, in effect, visits the city through his gritty, lyrical, unstinting, yet finally affectionate portrait of the place.

Customer Reviews:

flawed charm.......2006-10-19

An exile returns home and these are his musings. Being Greek, he is under no obligation to invoke the ancients at every turn and he provides an unvarnished look at a city that is dysfunctional and charming at all once. He'll speak of Greek racism (the Albanians are blamed for nearly everything, the Gypsies for the rest), the total disaster of traffic through the city center, and the pull of the old neighborhoods now destroyed by callous development that is turning everything into concrete block apartment buildings.

I've been to Athens and seem most of what he is talking about. The magic of Athens is not that it is perfect, but that in its great imperfections it still tugs at something inside you.

Hard to Hide.......2006-06-11

I think the author does a good job of describing and capturing the 'uglier' aspects of today's Athens (which certainly need to be discussed further), but leans towards the dour, missing many of the more positive aspects of life in Athens. As with many large, compact cities, our impressions can change from day to day. With Athens, and Greece in general, the best and the worst of humanity seem to become more apparent and immediate to the senses. I don't know why; maybe it's the close quarters.

The issues that Sarrinikolaou artfully raises can be unsettling to those in the Greek Diaspora and should stir discussion. Our impressions of Greece and what it means to be Greek are based (for myself and for many, I believe) on the rural/island traditions and kinship ties of our parents/grandparents. The problems that face modern Athens are not a part of that inherited image and can be easily overlooked.

But,I find that the more time I spend in the city and settle into its peculiar rhythm, the 'village' is made visible in many of the neighborhoods. From late night group sings in a small apartment and familiarity of corner shops and kiosks, to an entire street helping someone park their car, the city is different from what I expected it, or even may want it to be. But it's also more exciting, unpredictable, provocative, and yes, often comforting.

Not really about Athens.......2006-02-08

This is mostly a book about urban decay and the flight to the suburbs. While the specific examples are from Athens, the same words could describe the Bronx or the French banlieus. Because ownsership of cars spread in Greece later than in the United States its effects start appearing in the 1970s, later than in the US. I lived in Athens between 1940 and 1961 and when I visited the country in the late 1970's what struck me was that the Greeks were repeating all the errors that led to American (and Western European) urban problems. However few people ever learn from the errors of others. Other parts of the book deal with the superficial Greek church attendence, common in any country where there is an established church, and corruption, also common in several countries and certainly in the Middle East. (The heritage of the Ottoman empire of which the Balcans and the Middle East used to be part of.) He describes the contrast between affluent Greeks and the illegal Albanian immigrants who tend their gardens but, again, the same words could also describe American suburbanites and the illegal Latin American immigrants who tend their gardens.

Because the author left Greece when he was only 10 years old, he may have had an idealized image of the place and was disappointed by the reality. I left Greece as an adult (after college and military service) and any time I go back I enjoy the place. Overall it has changed for the better. (I stay away from the blighted urban areas for the same reason I stay away from blighted urban areas anywhere else.)

The best thing I can say about the book is that it short, only 144 pages, so I did not waste too much time reading it.

Don't miss this one.......2005-02-28

When you travel to Cairo, or Beijing, or Athens, you can focus your tourist eyes and attention on Pyramids, the Forbidden City, the Parthenon, and the people of the past. Or you can open your eyes and mind wider and also attempt to understand the cities and the people who live today in the shadows of antiquity. "Facing Athens" is for the latter group of travelers.

George Sarrinikolaou faces Athens with eyes and mind wide open, with the memories of an Athenian child, and with a transplanted heart and soul that he also must open wider to accomplish his search for discovery and rediscovery.

What results is a not only deft portrait of today's realities in a great and changing city, but a study that often can be applied, at least in part, to other cities (and countries). From it, a reader's own mind can formulate glimpses of what the future may hold for Athens and the world.

"Facing Athens" is must-read for any thoughtful traveler who believes she/he is, or wishes to be, a true world citizen...and any armchair traveler who enjoys seeing through the eyes of the beholder.

A love and hate relationship with the city.......2005-02-15

It was the first book I read from one end to the other in a long time. Captivating and realistic it shows parts of Athens that may not be evident to the eye of the first time visitor. While not a travel book it is however a good book for one who tries to understand modern Athens and modern Greece. The glory of the city shines from ancient times till today but this is not where the author puts the strongest accent in the book. The accent is on the modern society according to me. I loved the book and even if you get a bitter taste at times while you get to know the city ....it feels all so real.

Facing Athens Encounters with the modern city

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Facing Athens Encounters with the modern city
Sarrinikolaou George
Manufacturer: North Point Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UF92DQ

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