Wintersmith

Book Description

At 9, Tiffany Aching defeated the cruel Queen of Fairyland.

At 11, she battled an ancient body-stealing evil.

At 13, Tiffany faces a new challenge: a boy. And boys can be a bit of a problem when you're thirteen. . . .

But the Wintersmith isn't exactly a boy. He is Winter itself—snow, gales, icicles—all of it. When he has a crush on Tiffany, he may make her roses out of ice, but his nature is blizzards and avalanches. And he wants Tiffany to stay in his gleaming, frozen world. Forever.

Tiffany will need all her cunning to make it to Spring. She'll also need her friends, from junior witches to the legendary Granny Weatherwax. They—

Crivens! Tiffany will need the Wee Free Men too! She'll have the help of the bravest, toughest, smelliest pictsies ever to be banished from Fairyland—whether she wants it or not.

It's going to be a cold, cold season, because if Tiffany doesn't survive until Spring—

—Spring won't come.

Customer Reviews:

Different twist........2007-06-27

This book was a good change of pace for us. My husband and I both read Pratchett's Disc World series and found this series to be just as enjoyable in its own way. Of course, anything with Granny Weatherwax involved has to be good reading anyway. Tiffany Aching comes into her own in this book and proves herself to be a worthwhile character.

Tiffany is back and even better than before........2007-06-11

Terry Pratchett has continued the wonderful story of Tiffany Aching he began in The Wee Free Men and Hat full of sky with Wintersmith. I can say no wrong about this book. The story is engaging, funny and even though it is a young adult book it is perfect for all ages. I have never been very eloquent, and I always get tongue tied when it comes to writing these reviews. So I hope you will take my word for it and please,first read The Wee Free Men,Hat full of sky and then Wintersmith. The story of Tiffany is one we can all relate to on some level. Losing someone you love very much, bearing great responsibility no matter what your age,learning the difference between being a leader and being a follower, plus there is the Nac Mae Feegle (sp?) that make any day a party!

Great, but not the greatest in the series........2007-06-01

I did like the book (It's Pratchett, how can you not?) but at the same time it took a while to warm up to the characters this time. I'm on my second reading. Although the Feegles are near and dear to my heart (I wish I had a few) the best character other than Tiffany is Miss Treason. I'd love to see her more, but then she... well, you'll have to read it.
Bottom line is, buy it, read it. You won't regret it because you'll want to read it again. The more you read it the more you will like it.
In fact, the whole Tiffany series is completely readable to kids. Mine loved them!

The Wee Kids.......2007-05-24

Most of Pratchett's books have an adult component that is really entertaining. The Wee series not so much. It is an enjoyable romp but kinda loses fantasy creds at the end. Not to say I didn't enjoy it, but his main series on witches is much better

A Hero Despite Himself.......2007-05-13

Wintersmith (2006) is the third fantasy novel in the Discworld for Young Adults series, following A Hat Full of Sky. A glossary of Feegle terms (compiled by Miss Perspicacia Tick) is included in the introduction.

In the previous volume, Esme Weatherwax granted Tiffany Aching the right to call her Granny. After Tiffany showed the hiver the way to die, Miss Weatherwax even presented Tiffany with her hat. Later, Tiffany returned the hat to Granny Weatherwax and was told that a real witch made her own hat. Tiffany then learned something about her Granny Aching and about hats made out of sky.

In this novel, Tiffany is almost thirteen years old and still training to be a witch. For the past three months, she has been living with Miss Eumenides Treason, which is a bit unusual. Other witch trainees have not lasted more than a day with Miss Treason. Such transient behavior generally would be viewed with utmost disapproval by senior witches, but not when Miss Treason is involved. Yet Tiffany finds Miss Treason to be very inspirational.

Miss Treason has a reputation even among witches. Since witches are professionally odd, it is a bit redundant to say that Miss Treason is odd. Yet she goes far beyond the usual witchery oddness.

Miss Treason really likes the color black. She not only wears black clothes -- not unusual for a witch -- but she also likes black walls, floors, ceilings and even black cheese. Moreover, Miss Treason carries a clock around with her that is made of black iron and clanks instead of ticks.

Miss Treason is 113 years old and subject to the usual infirmities of the elderly; for example, she doesn't seem to need sleep. Yet she has an odd way of responding to such problems. When she went blind at age sixty, she started using the eyes of animals, reading sights right out of their minds.

When Miss Treason went deaf at age seventy-five, she likewise Borrowed other ears. Lately Miss Treason has started Borrowing sight from a pair of ravens. Sometimes Miss Treason uses Tiffany's eyes, but Tiffany doesn't like this since it tingles her mind.

In this story, Tiffany has a strange introduction to the Wintersmith. Without any thought, she is impelled by her feet into the middle of a Dark Morris dance in the place reserved for the Wintersmith and the Summer Lady. In the past, the Wintersmith has had only fleeting encounters with his opposite number, but now he has become aware of Tiffany and confuses her with the Summer Lady.

The Wintersmith is determined to dance again with Tiffany. He even tries making himself a human body out of this and that and an iron nail. The Summer Lady also becomes aware of Tiffany as the other woman and really doesn't like her very much, but somehow Tiffany manifests a few of Summer's powers.

The Wintersmith has a strange way of courting the ladies. He shapes each snowflake to look like Tiffany. Even worse, he produces huge icebergs formed like her. Such things can really embarrass a young witch!

Of course, the Feegles become involved in this affair. Since Tiffany had briefly been their felda, the wee free men have been ordered by the current felda, Jeannie, to protect her. With the Wintersmith, the only protection is evasion. After all, the Wintersmith is one of the elemental forces of nature, in charge of the cold winds, snow, ice and other winter weather.

This story also involves Roland, Tiffany's friend (but not boyfriend). They exchange letters, which is not easy since Roland's aunts have him under siege and Tiffany doesn't want his mail delivered to the farmhouse. At one point, Tiffany has an eruption of jealousy when Roland writes about viewing the watercolors of a young lady to whom he has been introduced by his aunts.

The Feegles are training Roland to be a Hero to provide protection for Tiffany. First they have to instill the right attitude. They check out a Romantic Novel for Roland from the traveling librarians.

The story includes the usual informative footnotes -- e.g, "*Werk..." -- and many of Tiffany's friends and associates. It also introduces Anoia, the Goddess of Things That Get Stuck in Drawers. And it tours one section of the Underworld.

Unfortunately, the author must be losing his touch. I had only two fits of uncurbable laughter! His footnotes are also becoming scarcer, but that might have something to do with the intended Young Adult readership. Usually the footnotes are openly subversive of Established Authority.

Highly recommended for Pratchett fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of practical witchcraft, wee blue warriors, and other grand and glorious aspects of the Discworld. Anyone new to this series should read the first installment: The Wee Free Men.

-Arthur W. Jordin

3x An Abstraction: New Methods of Drawing by Hilma af Klint, Emma Kunz, and Agnes Martin

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Opening the Doors of perception

3x An Abstraction: New Methods of Drawing by Hilma af Klint, Emma Kunz, and Agnes Martin

Manufacturer: Yale University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0300108265

Book Description

3x an Abstraction presents the extraordinary work of three important women artists whose innovative ideas and approaches to drawing had a significant impact on the history of modern abstraction. Hilma af Klint (Sweden, 1862–1944), Emma Kunz (Switzerland, 1892–1963), and Agnes Martin (Canada, b. 1912; U.S. citizenship 1950) approached geometric abstraction not as formalism, but as a means of structuring philosophical, scientific, and spiritual ideas. Using line, geometry, and the grid, each of these artists created diagrammatic drawings of their exploration of complex belief systems and restorative practices.

Noteworthy among the 150 illustrations in the volume are a large number of works by Hilma af Klint, reproduced here for the first time in a major publication; Emma Kunz’s drawings, exhibited in the United States for the first time in 2005; and approximately 20 early works by Agnes Martin. The book also includes writings by each of the artists, an introduction by Catherine de Zegher, seven essays by distinguished contributors, and brief statements from five contemporary artists.

By considering collectively the works of these three artists anew, 3x an Abstraction highlights the artistic contributions of af Klint and Kunz and revisits the work of Martin from a new perspective.

Customer Reviews:

Opening the Doors of perception.......2005-11-10

With a few notable exceptions including M.C. Escher, Dali, and a few others, I'd never really thought of drawing or painting in terms of being a means to an end other than self expression. Af Klint, Kunz, and Martin came from three different parts of the world and from three different generations. Each of them had a slightly different approach to drawing. What they had in common was that they used drawing as a means to explore the inner universe of consciousness and perception. In that regard, they were way, way, way, ahead of their time.

It might be a stretch to call Carl Jung an artist, but he did the same thing through the exploration of dreams. Likewise, Timothy Leary, Richard Alpert, and their cohorts aren't usually considered artists, yet they too explored consciousness and the nature of existence (albeit by different means)along the same lines as the three women represented here.

This is a fantastic book for anyone interested in drawing.

There's an extra reward for those who also happen to be interested in the exploration of the mind, perception, and ultimately, a quest for spirituality.

Terry Winters: Paintings, Drawings, Prints, 1994-2004

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Terry Winters: Paintings, Drawings, Prints, 1994-2004

Manufacturer: Yale University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0300104561

Book Description

Terry Winters’s work of the past decade weaves disparate strains of idea, object, and physical operations into the primary logic of his art. His art contains an astonishing array of forms and demonstrates the equally surprising breadth of his artistic language. This retrospective volume continues where the mid-career survey (1992) at the Whitney Museum concluded, presenting the past decade of Winters’s innovative work in paintings, prints, drawings, and artists’ books. Terry Winters presents the ways in which the artist creates sets and subsets of distinctive works that interact with bodies of previous and current work. Also included are images by the artist that have not previously been exhibited or published.
Winters’s work is frequently included in conversations and studies relating to the interplay of art and science, and his recent paintings, drawings, and prints reflect his engagement with scientific and computational systems of thought and presentations of information. For Winters, abstract art has become a vehicle not for “reproducing and inventing form but for harnessing forces.” By utilizing expressive means, “data becomes pictorial and spatial.” This superbly illustrated volume displays the full range of Winters’s newest works and the complex relationships that link them to one another.

Average customer rating:

A powerful struggle full of rich detail
A great read for both teens and adults

The Winter Road
Terry Hokenson
Manufacturer: Front Street
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1932425454

Book Description

Willa Raedl hates the knight?s helmet that she made in shop class. After brooding a moment, she fetches a sledge-hammer and smashes it. Since her brother Ray died, her mother is never around and her father ignores her. She needs to prove herself to them, and to Ray. So when Uncle Jordy's drinking threatens to strand her mother in a remote native village, Willa jumps in his plane and flies the wintry route alone. A storm hits Willa's flight and she crash-lands in the frozen wilderness.

This gritty survival story pits Willa against both arctic temperatures and her own self-doubt. She?ll need more than a good parka and her multi-tool if she ever wants to see home again.

Customer Reviews:

A powerful struggle full of rich detail.......2006-09-18

A compelling story of survival: 17-year-old Willa, feeling estranged from her parents while the family mourns her brother's death, makes a solo flight without telling them to put herself back on their radar. But when mechanical failure brings down the plane in the winter wilderness of northern Ontario, she finds herself in a struggle for her very life. She has to design and apply resourceful solutions to a set of obstacles that, at first, appear hopeless. The dangers of starvation and freezing from the cold are evenly matched by the fear and despair that she must work to overcome; she makes progress as she confronts one problem at a time. Ironically, much of what keeps her going are things she had learned on back country trips with her father; and it is the memories of those good times as well as the knowledge he provided that steer her toward a plan to find rescue.

The detail in this book is extraordinary, from the technical particulars of flying a small plane, through the rich depiction of the bleak and beautiful landscape, to the precise techniques that Willa uses to build a fish trap or to dismantle parts of the plane to make tools. The authentic portrayal evokes chills in the reader when things go wrong and jubilation whenever Willa resolves another dilemma.

It's a great yarn, well worth the read.

A great read for both teens and adults.......2006-07-20

Even though there's essentially just one character in this story, it really pulls you along by totally immersing you in her world as she struggles to survive in a frozen wilderness. The story is very realistic -- the author has clearly done his homework -- so as you read you're convinced: this really could happen exactly as described. At the same time, you get to know Willa very well as you experience her highs and lows: excitement and accomplishment when she manages to devise a fish trap that works, doubt and despair during the long dark nights.

The target audience may be teens, but it's a great read for adults, as well.

A Mighty Fortress (AD&D 2nd Ed. Fantasy Roleplaying, HR4 )

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A good resource
The most modern of D&D sourcebooks

A Mighty Fortress (AD&D 2nd Ed. Fantasy Roleplaying, HR4 )
Steve Winter
Manufacturer: TSR Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1560763728

Customer Reviews:

A good resource.......2002-04-03

This Campaign Sourcebook is an expansion for the AD&D (2nd Edition) system that contains information for running a campaign set in Renaissance Europe (1550-1650). The book contains a vast amount of information on the history of the era, and daily life during it. It then has a list of kits and classes allowed, and goes into depth on military life and the wars of the era. The next two chapters are rather light on detail, the one being on the known world outside of Europe (one page!), and then Folklore and Fantasy. The final chapter gives ideas for three different adventures.

This Campaign Sourcebook is something of a mixed bag. On the downside, it does not contain much information on possible adventures. On the upside, so much general information is provided, that a reasonably competent Dungeon Master will probably have no trouble building a realistic and exciting campaign!

On the further downside, the fantastic is severely limited in this sourcebook, and few recommendations are given to the DM in including it. A good recommendation would be to include elements of the Masque of the Red Death campaign, to add some spice! This is what I did, and it worked great!

So, overall I do like this sourcebook, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in role-playing in this era.

The most modern of D&D sourcebooks.......2001-11-26

Have you ever wanted to be a pilgrim. Or maybe follow in the footsteps of Francis Drake. Then this is the book for you. Although printed for 2nd edition AD&D, this book is still your best source for more modern adventuring. The book does need to be converted for d20, but any good DM should be able to do that. Furthermore, if you wanted to adventure in the 1800's, this is the closest publication yet to that time frame. Simply update the firearms, and much of the work is done.

Book Description

Jonah Hook was a man who had lost everything a man could lose--but the iron will to reclaim what had been taken from him. Now he must confront the fiery religious heretic who has enslaved his wife and the fierce Comanche tribe who has raised his long-lost sons. From Fort Laramie, land of Sioux and Cheyenne, to the empire of the Mormons in the shadow of tall mountains, and on to the Texas panhandle, where he will join the ranks of the Texas Rangers, the journey ahead will test Jonah's courage, cunning, and endurance to the limit. On this bloody trail of rescue and revenge, nothing will stop him save success . . . or death.

Customer Reviews:

Exceedingly Well-Written, Rich in the Flavor of the Period.......1999-06-14

This book, the second in the trilogy of Jonah Hook was in a word outstanding. Any person who's at all interested in "wild west" literature or simply in for a good read would do good to shell out the money to pick up this trio of books. The authenticity of the book literally shines through in every paragraph. It's obvious the book has been exceedingly researched. However, the thing that makes the writing of Terry C. Johnston so exemplary is the depth of the characters he creates. They are three-dimensional characters, real people, and simply quite interesting. The action packed portions of the book are also exciting in that old-fashioned heart thumping sort of way. In short, this book rich in authenticity and the flavor of the period, is well-written in every sense and has well-developed, interesting, real characters and enough emotion in it's pages to keep you reading. Anyone interested in the period or anyone wanting some good reading to chew on for a while would do good to pick up the Jonah Hook trilogy.

Long Winter Gone: Son of the Plains (Sons of the Plains)

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Don't Mess Around
Long Winter Gone is a real winner!

Long Winter Gone: Son of the Plains (Sons of the Plains)
Terry C. Johnston
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0553286218
Release Date: 1990-10-01

Customer Reviews:

Don't Mess Around.......2002-04-09

Custer proves again that his cunning and straightforward approach toward doing his duty make a successful combination when riding into battle. This book includes enough detail to make the reader feel as if the they were sitting aound the fire with Black Kettle, or riding into battle with Custer himself.
A must read if you like very descriptive reading. A bit gory, but it helps to feel the realness of the events.
I could've gone without the love scenes, too.

Long Winter Gone is a real winner!.......2000-02-06

I love everything that Terry C. Johnston writes, but this book is by far the best yet! The story of Genl Custer's winter campaign to find the Indian tribes that had been looting and killing is so realistic....I could almost feel the cold wind and the snow as I read! The love story woven in among the army story was great. I ordered the next book in this series today, and can hardly wait for it to get here!

Terry Winters Prints 1982-1998: A Catalogue Raisonne

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Terry Winters Prints 1982-1998: A Catalogue Raisonne
Terry Winters , Nancy Sojka , Nancy Watson Barr , and Richard H. Axsom
Manufacturer: Hudson Hills Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Terry Winters, a native of Brooklyn, is one of the leading painters and printmakers of his generation.

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Terry Winters: Local Group
Terry Winters
Manufacturer: Pratt Exhibitions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0974038121
Release Date: 2006-01-01

Book Description

The first place the reader encounters text in this book of assertive graphite drawings is its next-to-last page. There's no title, no table of contents, and no introduction--it's all drawings from the front cover straight through to "Afterwords 101, A Short Answer Quiz" by Francine Prose. Prose rises to meet Winters's work with an homage that is art in itself, an unconventional, sweet, funny poem evoking the artist's symbol language and his ideas, and analyzing them even as it mocks that assignment. One question reads "By what signs are the following recognized?" The list, in order, is a blob, a lump, a smudge, a mistake, an intention, and an egg. It's both sharp and mysterious, and it's insightful enough to bring readers back to page one seeking answers.

Average customer rating:

The subject of this book was my college professor

The Nuclear Winter Man (Classified)
Terry Deary
Manufacturer: Kingfisher
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0753458276

Book Description

Fact or fiction? You decide! Classifieds blend a fictional account with fact files, biographies, statements from witnesses, and debriefingsallowing readers to make up their own minds about intriguing unsolved mysteries. Access to classified docu-ments will help unravel the mysteries behind the most intriguing events of recent times. Outspoken scientist Vladi-mir Valentinovich Alexan-drov disappeared in April 1985 during a scientific conference in Spain. Were his theories about nuclear winter so accurate that the CIA want to dispose of him? Young KGB officer Ilya Piankoff investigates the case and learns how high the stakes are.

Customer Reviews:

The subject of this book was my college professor.......2007-09-03

The subject of this book was my college professor Vladimir Alexandrov. He was a physicist that was one of few scientists that predicted so called Nuclear Winter. He disappeared without trace in March of 1985 while in Spain. The book describes his last days and speculates of what might have happened to him.

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