To the Edge (The Bodyguards, Book 1)

Book Description

The daughter of a wealthy businessman, Jillian Kincaid grew up with bodyguards shadowing her every move-and she hated it. Now a TV anchorwoman, she refuses to let another hired thug follow her around. Not even when she begins to receive terrifying death threats. Not even when the bodyguard is the darkly seductive Nolan Garrett.... Trained in Special Ops, bodyguard Nolan Garrett has been hired by Jillian's father to keep her out of danger. But it's clear from the start that Jillian isn't going to make his job easy. Far from the spoiled princess he expected, Jillian is tough, independent, and totally sexy. And she's fighting him every step of the way.As Jillian's stalker raises the stakes, Nolan must keep her close if he wants to keep her alive. But being so close can only turn up the heat that's been simmering between them-a heat that could explode into passion at any moment....

Customer Reviews:

Book #1 in the EDEN Series.......2007-08-14

This book, LOL, almost caused me to fail one of my classes. I read this when I decided to return to school (what was I thinking?).

It was SO good that I couldn't put it down. LOL

My professor, caught me reading this in the hallway just before a test--yeah, I should have been studying--and then asked me to pass it to him when I finished. I did. He got and read the whole series from me and he liked them too.

This is Jillian and Nolan's story. Jillian comes up in the rest of the books because of her father's wealth, etc.

Jillian was a journalist and anchorwoman.

This was such a wonderful read, obviously. LOL

All in this series were AWESOME, fun to read and very well written. Once again, because of this author, the bar for "good" writing was raised for me.

This is one of my favorite authors that I routinely check her website for new releases. LOL

Well done.

Great reading.......2007-08-07

This is the first book I've read by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters were believeable and the story held my interest. I finished reading the book in 2 days. I'm on to the second in the series.

FULL OF SEXUAL TENSION!!.......2007-07-16

This is one of those love/hate books where the characters are drawn to each other. This is the most satisfying romance I have ever read, full of electric sexual tension between the two main protagonists. I truly loved this book, it's my all-time favorte, but now nothing seems to compare!!

Excellent 1st book!!.......2007-07-11

This book is awesome!! I could not put it down! From start to finish, it was excellent! I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series!! I highly recommend this! In fact, I am giving this series to my sister-in-law once I am finished.

Pretty decent.......2007-06-18

Jillian a TV anchorwoman has been receiving death threats and her father calls in Nolan Garrett to be her bodyguard. The beginning of the book started out great. Then the book slid into mainly centering on the attraction between the two characters. It took most of the book before the two main characters decided whether or not they wanted to get involved. There wasn't a lot of action and most of the book centered around the romance. I expected the book to contain more suspense and on the edge of your seat action, but unfortunaltely it did not. However, for the most part it kept my attention and I would be willing to read the next in the series.

Edge Chronicles 1: Beyond the Deepwoods (Edge Chronicles, The)

Average customer rating:

A fun, fast moving adventure story
It's Bound to be Good!
Not much substance
The Deepwoods have been entered
The Deepwoods have been entered

Edge Chronicles 1: Beyond the Deepwoods (Edge Chronicles, The)
Paul Stewart
Manufacturer: David Fickling Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0385750684
Release Date: 2004-06-22

Amazon.com

The U.S. gets a tremendous treat with the introduction of the Edge Chronicles, a fantastic boy-meets-world saga from British author-illustrator team Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell.

An un-traditional coming-of-age story, the Edge Chronicles begins with Beyond the Deepwoods, in which our put-upon protagonist, Twig (a misplaced human boy who's being raised by woodtrolls) gets a hint of his true heritage, sheds his Deepwoods upbringing, and does the unthinkable: He strays from the path. Alone for the first time and surviving by his wits, Twig must surmount all manner of perils to pursue a destiny that is whisperingly, mysteriously promised to him "beyond the Deepwoods." From one frying pan to the next (but never quite into the fire) Twig either bests or befriends a ferocious, Carroll-esque menagerie of Deepwoods denizens--from foul-mouthed halitoads and red-faced slaughterers to galumphing banderbears and piranha-Tribble wig-wigs.

Paul Stewart lays the foundation for some pretty terrific storytelling in this first book--only hinting at what lies ahead in this world where rocks float and sky pirates ride the sky above--but the contribution of illustrator Chris Riddell can't be overstated. Whether in the jowly cheeks of the gyle goblins' Grossmother or the menacing gaze of the supra-evil Gloazgomer, Riddell (an accomplished political cartoonist) manages to match Stewart's descriptions blow-for-blow in evocative pen-and-ink. Grownups and kids alike will rush to the store to pick up the second adventure, the tantalizingly titled Stormchaser . (Ages 9 to 12) --Paul Hughes

Book Description

Young Twig lives in the Deepwoods, among the Woodtrolls, but he isn’t one of them. In a brave attempt to find out where he belongs, Twig wanders into the mysterious, dangerous world beyond the Deepwoods. He meets a collection of odd companions, such as his wise guardian, the Caterbird; the Slaughterers, a peaceful race who butcher animals for their livelihood; and the vicious, bile-swilling Rotsucker. Always watching out for the horrible Gloamglozer, whose presence haunts the thoughts of all the inhabitants of The Edge, Twig steadfastly pursues his quest until he discovers his roots, not among the trees, but in the skies. . . .

Customer Reviews:

A fun, fast moving adventure story.......2007-08-06

This is a fun read with great detailed illustrations. The story of Twig and his adventures as he leaves his adopted Wood Troll family and travels through the Deepwoods is jam packed with unusual creatures and characters. There is some angst as Twig feels deserted by everyone, but do not expect much meditation here. There is just too many predicaments to get out of.

It's Bound to be Good!.......2007-07-28

There's something about the binding of certain books that leads one to judge a book by its cover. Something tactile in the unequally sized pages that - instead of shouting "sloppy, shoddy workmanship!" as one would if odds and ends of scrap material lined every ridge of a brand new automobile, one tends to rifle through the slightly mismatched pages for the sheer enjoyment of that feeling. Something of mystery, enigma, and power in the ragged edges of the page - as if one was uncovering a secret tome with deep wisdoms hidden within, and certainly not browsing through a commercial publication at a well-stocked bookshop.

Before a word has been read, you're already wandering into a fantasy land.

I could not imagine reading Lemony Snicket without just such a binding - the words would be the same and would still have their considerable charm, but the work would still seem diminished in a paperback format.

I actually think Beyond the Deepwoods would stand up to that challenge marginally better - but that's not a decision I would like to have to make.

I was absorbed in this work from the moment I first picked it up, caught and bound by the binding as it were, and no less ensnared by Chris Riddell's artwork. As everyone knows, it is not wise to judge a book by its cover, and so I skimmed through the book itself (the uneven pages demanded this, of course.) Line drawings abound, and really help bring you into the Edgelands. Certainly, when reading the actual words, the spell that has been cast thus far is not broken.

It is a simple work at its core - a boy on the verge of becoming a young man, in search of his parentage - but that does not detract. It is not that key plot that I focus on, it is the trappings and wonder of the world itself that is fascinating. I could visualize the flora and the fauna, and found myself enjoying the environment through which the aforementioned boy travelled more than anything else. Perhaps that could be explained by my own interest in things natural that surround me, but I tend to think a good part of that came from the style of writing itself. Like the binding itself, and like the light comic touch to the illustrators pen, the words helped to build the world and allow me to immerse myself in it.

And that, I believe, is the point of any work of art.

Not much substance.......2007-05-17

I can't speak for the entire series, only the first book. It starts great, introducing a strange new world filled with dangerous creatures and flying ships. Unfortunately, the strange new world is about all this book has to offer. The main character ("Twig") is interesting, and has a lot of potential, but doesn't develop at all over the course of the book. Twig's journey has a great beginning, but much of what happens doesn't amount to anything beyond a series of oddly patched together action sequences. Even then, it's difficult to understand how the world is connected geographically. Possibly these have a larger meaning in the scope of the series, but for this book, they seemed like a tiring substitute for an actual plot. There's no progression - Twig stumbles from one random danger into the next. The reader could literally skip all but the first and last chapter and still get the main plot of the book (which in itself is a fairly tired, somewhat hackneyd feeling cliche for this genre).

Hopefully the series gets better, but why spend time on something that appears so thrown together when there are other great series out there that have wonderful character development and plot substance?

The Deepwoods have been entered.......2007-04-01

This book is very surprising, and leaves you on the edge of your seat. This story is about a boy named Twig, who learns that he was droped off in a village, and has to go through the Deepwoods before the Gloomglazer comes and kills him. There is alot of action in this story , but the main setting is in the Deepwoods. While in the deepwoods Twig strays from the path and meets strange and scary people he has never known about like the Goblins, wig wigs, and huge spiders. While he gets droped down a well, and get chased by unwelcome guests. But in between all this my favorite part is when Twig meets a Bander bear, and they become friends. That is until a very bad accident. There are alot of problems in this story but, the biggest problem is trying to make it out of the Deepwoods,by watching and making sure not to get attacked by Gloomglzers. In the end Twig gets tricked by a Gloomglazer, and also Twig gets help by an old friend. Yhe end of this book keeps you guessing. I reccomend this book to kids who like adveture.

The Deepwoods have been entered.......2007-04-01

It Only Takes 1% to Have a Competitive Edge in Sales

Average customer rating:

The Winning Edge
A resounding endorsement .....
It's that little extra that makes the difference

It Only Takes 1% to Have a Competitive Edge in Sales
Thomas A Freese
Manufacturer: QBS Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ASIN: 1891892118

Book Description

Life is not fair. Selling is not fair either. Look around and you will see that the salesperson with the best product doesn't always win the sale. It's because every salesperson out there claims to have the best service, the highest quality, and the best deal. As a result, customers are quick to commoditize these similiar-sounding claims of greatness, and they instead gravitate toward products, companies, and salespersons who can differentiate themselves in some way.

Fortunately, you don't need a huge advantage. Most sales are won or lost by very small margins. That means you simply need an edge--a differentiable advantage that will set you apart from everyone else. That's what you will find in this book--100 chapters, each designed to give salespeople a one-percent advantage over their competitors. After all, it only takes 1% to have a competitive edge in sales.

Customer Reviews:

The Winning Edge.......2007-08-19

In this book Mr. Freese drives home the point that sales are most often won and lost by very small margins of victory. He teaches his lessons through a series of fun and inspiring stories that illustrate how little things often make a big difference. This is the kind of book I like - short chapters, fun stories, and excellent writing. This is a perfect book for sales managers who want to augment their sales meetings and newsletters with quick and powerful lessons on sales excellence.

Jeb Blount, Author of PowerPrinciples: Do You Have The Winning Edge?

A resounding endorsement ............2001-07-28

..... ..... of Tom Freese's book - "It Only Takes 1%".

As a salesman, have you ever inquired of yourself:

1) why would the president invite me into his office ? 2) once in the president's office, how does one add value causing the president to openly discuss corporate issues? 3) how does one control the sale's process through the entire cycle - cold call, first meeting, beating the competition, adding value to the sale, looking for additional opportunities to sell, closing the deal? 4) have you ever witnessed your prospect assume a blank facial expression during your elevator pitch? Could this be because your pitch sounds like blah....blah....blah (the same as every other competitor's pitch of adding value, speed, functionality, scalability, etc)? 5) well then, how do you differentiate yourself?

Tom's book challenges all traditional sales methodology that I have been taught throughout my 15 year sales career. I have used several of Tom's techniques in my technical sales job. The customer response is phenomenal.

There is a lot to learn from this book!!!!

It's that little extra that makes the difference.......2001-07-26

Whether you're new to sales or a seasoned veteran this book provides simple and effective ways to improve your sales efforts. By applying these common sense (but many times forgotten) lessons you too will have a competitive edge in sales. This is a great book that is a quick and easy read. I highly recommend it. Good selling...

Fast Forward 1: Future Fiction from the Cutting Edge

Average customer rating:

Not Free SF Reader
Pretty good collection, with two standout stories. 3.4 stars
fine collection forecasting technology vs people
...from the Cutting Edge
Great Anthology...a must for SF readers and writers...

Fast Forward 1: Future Fiction from the Cutting Edge

Manufacturer: Pyr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Anthologies | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Anthologies | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1591024862

Book Description

Science Fiction is the genre that looks at the implications of technology on society, which in this age of exponential technological growth makes it the most relevant branch of literature going. This is only the start, and the close of the 21st century will look absolutely nothing like its inception.

It has been said that science fiction is an ongoing dialogue about the future, and the front line of that dialogue is the short story. The field has a long history of producing famous anthologies to showcase its distinguished short fiction, but it has been several years since there has been a prestigious all-original science fiction anthology series.

Fast Forward is offered in the tradition of Damon Knight's prestigious and influential anthology series, Orbit, and Frederik Pohl's landmark Star SF. Fast Forward marks the start of a new hard science fiction anthology series, dedicated to presenting the vanguard of the genre and charting the undiscovered country that is the future.

Contributors scheduled for the first volume include: Paolo Bacigalupi, Kage Baker, Tony Ballantyne, Stephen Baxter, Elizabeth Bear (Sarah B.E. Kindred), A.M. Dellamonica, Paul Di Filippo, Robyn Hitchcock, Louise Marley, Ken MacLeod, Ian McDonald, John Meaney, Larry Niven & Brenda Cooper, Mike Resnick & Nancy Kress, Justina Robson, Pamela Sargent, Mary A. Turzillo, Robert Charles Wilson, Gene Wolfe, George Zebrowski.

Customer Reviews:

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-28

It is pretty cool to new a good old fashioned )in series terms at least, not in contest) sf anthology series.

The book starts well with a good introduction by Anders as to why he wants to do it, and some of his inspirations, including a quote from Pohl.

There are also a couple of poems included for those that like them.

The stories are good, the average rating being 3.53, which is a bit over what you hope for from a book, and is rather well done in a new original project as opposed to some sort of reprint.

The standout is Di Filippo's Wikiworld, but Pride and Kage Baker's Plotters and Shooters were also excellent.

In fact, only called three of these '3' or average, so it is a book that is well worth looking at.

The one quibble I would have is the format, being the considerably more expensive trade paperback compared to the recently seen competitor the Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, being the good old paperback. I wonder if this will affect the success of either.

Wouldn't mind seeing an electronic version for easier obtainability, either.

Otherwise, I definitely recommend having a look. In fact, at the moment I would suggest that anything Pyr puts out is worth a look at, presuming you like fantasy as well, of course.

A fine opening effort, I was pleasantly surprised.

Fast Forward 1 : YFL-500 - Robert Charles Wilson
Fast Forward 1 : The Girl Hero's Mirror Says He's Not the One - Justina Robson
Fast Forward 1 : Small Offerings - Paolo Bacigalupi
Fast Forward 1 : They Came From the Future - Robyn Hitchcock
Fast Forward 1 : Plotters and Shooters - Kage Baker
Fast Forward 1 : Aristotle OS - Tony Ballantyne
Fast Forward 1 : The Something-Dreaming Game [SS] - Elizabeth Bear
Fast Forward 1 : No More Stories - Stephen Baxter
Fast Forward 1 : Time of the Snake - A.M. Dellamonica
Fast Forward 1 : The Terror Bard - Larry Niven and Brenda Cooper
Fast Forward 1 : p dolce - Louise Marley
Fast Forward 1 : Jesus Christ Reanimator - Ken MacLeod
Fast Forward 1 : Solomon's Choice - Mike Resnick and Nancy Kress
Fast Forward 1 : Sanjeev and Robotwallah - Ian McDonald
Fast Forward 1 : A Smaller Government - Pamela Sargent
Fast Forward 1 : Pride - Mary A. Turzillo
Fast Forward 1 : I Caught Intelligence - Robyn Hitchcock
Fast Forward 1 : Settlements - George Zebrowski
Fast Forward 1 : The Hour of the Sheep - Gene Wolfe
Fast Forward 1 : Sideways from Now - John Meaney
Fast Forward 1 : Wikiworld - Paul Di Filippo

Dream deal.

3.5 out of 5

Wild for not to hold.

3.5 out of 5

Prenatal drug dose.

4 out of 5

Deathlok defense defeat predicted, Avenger!

4.5 out of 5

Philosophy of upgrades is of arguable effectiveness.

3 out of 5

Autoasphyxiation communicates alien information preservation.

4 out of 5

Interbreeding expansion remnant conversation.

3.5 out of 5

Tinker, tailor, soldier, squid.

4 out of 5

Planet pool is tough on the artificial eight ball.

3 out of 5

Past master possession discovery preemption.

3.5 out of 5

Second coming, blogging, shooting.

3 out of 5

Matriarchal memory madness or many mutant men? Stealing space shuttle solution at least requires no sea severing.

3.5 out of 5

Battletech comes and goes, but pizza always popular.

4 out of 5

Peewee politics could be smooshed.

3.5 out of 5

Sabretoothed green-eyed monster.

4.5 out of 5

Future or past, advice not taken well by greedy power mongers.

3.5 out of 5

Trust the lightsabre Luke, not the woman.

3.5 out of 5

A quantum of solace.

3.5 out of 5

Dickieworld, with groups the Coodabeens could definitely love. Trade cybernetwarstylin'.

4.5 out of 5

Pretty good collection, with two standout stories. 3.4 stars.......2007-07-24

This is the first volume of a projected annual series of original SF stories. It has a couple of standout stories, and is pretty good overall (though not as good as the hype).

The standout story is Ken MacLeod's amazing "Jesus Christ, Reanimator". It takes place in
present-day Israel (in part at Meggido) and opens: "The Second Coming was something of a washout, if you remember." Truly a KILLER story, MacLeod's best short to date, I'd say. Enthusiastically recommended. Look for it on the awards ballots.

My second-favorite story is Paul Di Filippo's very amusing (if slight) "Wikiworld," conveniently available online at pyrsf[dot]com . It's pretty much what you'd expect, but *very* nicely done. Recommended.

Past this we get into good, pretty-good, and "eh" stories. Here's the TOC, with comments:

"YFL-500", Robert Charles Wilson. Eh. Can't remember a thing, two weeks later.
"The Girl Hero's Mirror Says He's Not the One", Justina Robson. Pretty good, if very slight.
"Small Offerings", Paolo Bacigalupi. Unpleasantly gory, but a decent story.
"They Came From the Future", Robyn Hitchcock. Poem, sorta kinda. Eh.
"Plotters and Shooters", Kage Baker. Gamers in Spaaaace! Pretty good, really, if slight.
"Aristotle OS," Tony Ballantyne. OK but very slight.
"The Something-Dreaming Game", Elizabeth Bear. Pediatric autoerotic asphyxiation. Well-written but icky.
"No More Stories," Stephen Baxter. Forgotten already.
"Time of the Snake", A.M. Dellamonica. Violent, nihilistic and slight.
"The Terror Bard", Larry Niven & Brenda Cooper. Sequel to "Kath & Quicksilver"; pretty good.
"p dolce", Louise Marley. Channeling into Brahms; good.
"Jesus Christ, Reanimator," Ken MacLeod. KILLER story, best by far.
"Solomon's Choice", Mike Resnick & Nancy Kress. Weird aliens, except they're not. Good.
"Sanjeev and Robotwallah", Ian McDonald. Exotic violence & fashion in a future India. Good.
"A Smaller Government," Pamela Sargent. Literally so, and very amusing
"Pride", Mary A. Turzillo. Bringing up a sabertooth kitten. Very good.
"I Caught Intelligence", Robyn Hitchcock. Poem. Eh.
"Settlements", George Zebrowski. "Helpful" aliens; a downer (what a surprise!). Eh.
"The Hour of the Sheep", Gene Wolfe. I just don't get Wolfe.
"Sideways from Now", John Meaney. Interesting novella from the Nulapeiron guy.
"Wikiworld, Paul Di Filippo". Second-best, and available online, too.

Bottom line: worth checking out for the standouts, but not really worth your $15, in my opinion. Too many "read once & forget" stories. YMMV.

Happy reading--
Peter D. Tillman

fine collection forecasting technology vs people.......2007-03-10

In his introduction to what he plans as being a continual science fiction anthology containing all new stories, Lou Anders explains the premise is "making sense of a changing world" as "the implications of technology on society ... makes it (SF) the most relevant branch of literature". Bias aside, the contributions of nineteen original shorts and two poems (by Robyn Hitchcock) live up to Mr. Anders' prime objective. The tales focus on people struggling with an exponentially changing world that leaves many behind. The contributors are a who's who of Sci Fi or fantasy to include Larry Niven (with Brenda Cooper), Justina Robson, Stephen Baxter and Louise Marley. All the entries are strong with the best being those concentrating on everyday people dealing with commonplace technology like Paul Di Filippo's Wikiworld" and Justina Robson' The Girl Hero's Mirror Says He's Not the One" (in Mappa Mundi world) and those bringing the past into the future such as Tony Ballantyne's "Aristotle OS and Ken McLeod's "Jesus Christ, Reanimator". This is a fun collection that forecasts where technology will take humans including those left behind struggling with yesterday's artifacts.

Harriet Klausner

...from the Cutting Edge.......2007-03-01

Fast Forward 1 once again demonstrates Lou Anders' editing prowess (his Live Without a Net and Futureshocks are also excellent). The tagline identifies the collection as "future fiction from the cutting edge," and almost every story offers up an intriguing view of the future from some of the field's best writers.

Robert Charles Wilson's "YFL 500" opens the anthology with a gripping character tale regarding intellectual property, art, and theft in a post-scarcity world. Paolo Bacigalupi's "Small Offerings" is a chilling tale of sacrifice on an ecologically damned Earth. "Plotters and Shooters," by Kage Baker, is a lighthearted "Lord of the Flies"-esque chronicle of the rise of hackers and geeks as the defenders of mankind in a new age.

Indeed, in a collection of 19 short stories and 2 poems (the latter a refreshing addition courtesy of Robyn Hitchcock), only 4 stories don't seem to belong. Elizabeth Bear's "The Something-Dreaming Game" and Louise Marley's "p dolce," while well-written, deal in concepts already well-traversed throughout the genre. Pamela Sargent's "A Smaller Government," while an entertaining satire, is more of a political fantasy than a work of science fiction. And George Zebrowski's "Settlements" is too trite and rife with tropes to be considered "cutting edge" - a story of mysterious aliens with advanced technology imposing peace on a violent, adolescent humanity.

Where the collection truly shines, though, are in the off-kilter stories. Tony Ballantyne's "Aristotle OS" is a comedic, philosophical view of the world through one of the most pervasive, defining facets of our society: the computer operating system. "Jesus Christ, Reanimator" is Ken MacLeod's rational look at the possible second coming of the Christ - charming in its grounded outlook amidst a momentous religious event. Mary A. Turzillo's "Pride" is the endearing tale of a boy and his sabretooth kitten. Finally, the perfect capstone to the anthology is Paul Di Filippo's "Wikiworld" - one of the most brilliant short stories I've read - an adventure through a foreign but realistic near-future, where political lines are drawn between usergroups and power, prestige, and popularity ebb and flow organically between the real world and the virtual.

While the writing and stories are excellent, it is the variety of worlds and tales that makes the anthology truly compelling. Having enjoyed the majority of the book, I can safely say that Fast Forward holds something for everyone. One can only hope that Fast Forward 2 is future fact.

Great Anthology...a must for SF readers and writers..........2007-02-14

I was able to read the ARC of this book prior to its release, and I was very, very pleased with the selections. I enjoyed 14/21 stories in this, with Robert Charles Wilson's, Paolo Bacigalupi's, Elizabeth Bear's, Louise Marley's, and the Mike Resnick/Nancy Kress piece being my personal faves for their "wow" factor. I recognized some of the stories in this anthology were not to my particular SF taste (and some stories I wished were written a bit differently, but that's me), but most of these pieces had good/fun premises, and it was nice to see a variety of stories in this anthology.

I'd definitely recommend this anthology to anyone reading (or writing) science fiction, and I'm not just saying that because I got the ARC: I think I'll pick up the actual copy myself, when I get the chance. Some of these stories really blew me away, and while I would've bought the anthology solely for Bacigalupi's work, I wouldn't have minded paying for the rest of it either, if that makes sense. In other words, there's something in here for everyone, and there's some really, really good stories here.

Also, an interesting stat that some people won't care about: 9/21 stories are penned by women (though two of those nine are co-written by men). The reason this stat jumps out at me is the fact that I've heard several women complain about how when you pick up an anthology of SF stories, there are few to no women featured. It's something I've noticed myself, so a big shout-out to Lou Anders for both sampling a variety of SF and not limiting anthology slots to the male population of the SF community.

Great anthology. Check it out.

Average customer rating:

A must-read for any guitarist looking to take it to the next level

Creative Guitar 1: Cutting Edge Tech
Sanctuary Press
Manufacturer: Sanctuary
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1860744621
Release Date: 2004-01-01

Book Description

The aim of Creative Guitar 1 is to help any rock guitarist who feels stuck in a rut. The book focuses on refining playing techniques, explaining the nuts and bolts of theory in an accessible manner, as well as how to practice efficiently, and even demonstrates lots of new licks. This book promotes a self-sufficient approach to learning that will give guitarists new artistic directions in every aspect of their playing. The accompanying CD features detailed examples of penatonic patterns, minor arpeggios and backing tracks so the guitarist can apply these instructions to their individual style of playing, helping them to become more creative musicians.

Customer Reviews:

A must-read for any guitarist looking to take it to the next level.......2007-07-21

Guthrie Govan proves not only to be an amazing guitarist, but also an excellent teacher. This book will have you feeling inspired to say the least. After reading many of the sections in this book I felt as excited to touch the guitar as I did the first time years ago. Guthrie's love for music and especially the guitar is inspirational. This is by far the best guitar book I have ever read. Not only does it provide excellent technical strategies, but it also gives great insight on how and why certain sounds are produced. The book maintains a light-hearted approach and will not leave you disappointed pick it up if you want to play better.

Covering the New Yorker: Cutting-Edge Covers from a Literary Institution

Average customer rating:

the most important one is missing...
A family heirloom
A fitting supplement to The Complete Book of Covers of NYer
"Magazines Are All About Aspirations." -- Francoise Mouly

Covering the New Yorker: Cutting-Edge Covers from a Literary Institution
Francoise Mouly , and Lawrence Weschler
Manufacturer: Abbeville Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Drawing | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Drawing | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Cartooning | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Satire, General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Journalism | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books

Media Studies | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Reference Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Complete Book Of Covers From The New Yorker: 1925-1989

ASIN: 0789206579

Book Description

For seventy-five years The New Yorker has been entertaining and enlightening its loyal readers (two-thirds of whom live outside the city). Its peerless covers--created by a large stable of extraordinarliy talented artists and cartoonists--have mirrored the magazine's feisty spirit from the beginning, becoming even more pungently topical in recent years. No noteworthy subject or scandal has escaped their scrutiny, from Broadway flappers and the eternal Eustace Tilley to dishonest pols and the gigahertz speed of contemporary life. Inexhaustibly varied in mood and style, the covers are united by their visual sophistication, their imaginative wit, and their high pleasure-giving quotient.

This stylish compendium presents not only the best of The New Yorker's covers--selected by art editor Francoise Mouly and organized into such classic themes as The Big City, Arts and Music, and The Buzz-- but also a behind-the-scenes peek at the sketches that lead up to them, as well as a look at the controversy that sometimes follows in their wake. A "Conversation" between Ms. Mouly and Lawrence Weschler--a noted New Yorker writer and art critic--illuminates the history of the magazine's covers and how they have changed over the past decade. In addition, several "Sketchbooks" highlight the work of especially evocative cover artists, including Sempe, Spiegelman, and Steinberg, these portfolios are complemented by six detachable full-size covers, suitable for framing, bound into the back of the book.

Customer Reviews:

the most important one is missing..........2003-04-22

this book is really well done, apart from the fact that there are a lot of covers shown from saul steinberg, but his MOST IMPORTANT one, the view from 9th ave westwards, is missing. this is a clear draw back of this book, and hence, since it's title is "cutting-edge covers", i think it only deseverves two stars.

A family heirloom.......2001-03-24

I,m very much an avid fan and collector of New Yorker cartoon and illustrator art. Whilst this may bias my opinion it also, I think, makes me nerdishly critical. However, I have been completely won over by the beauty of this book. The quality of the reproduction is first class. It does focus on the 90s covers. However, I now have a renewed respect for Tina Brown et al for introducing a sharper commentry edge to the cover. I also like the rather individualistic choice of covers and the personal perspective of Francoise Mouly. I think we can allow her a little bias towards Art Speigelman - her partner (also he did after all produce the most profound cartoon book of all time in Maus). This is one of those books which raises a paradox - it will be thumbed through by old and young alike. There will be debates around its coffee table home about the relevant merits of this cover or that. But it is also a book which its owner (me!) wants to keep in pristine condition. A family heirloom indeed.

A fitting supplement to The Complete Book of Covers of NYer.......2001-01-21

This is a fitting supplement to the granddaddy of New Yorker cover books: The Complete Book of Covers of the New Yorker, put out by Knopf, which covers the NYer through 1989. This new volume mostly includes covers from the 90s, and many of the reproductions are big, sharp, and colorful. Covers are often grouped thematically (say, New Years covers), which lets you ponder the NYer's evolving style over the decades. There's even a section with a half dozen pull out covers, suitable for framing.

Some quibbles: editor Francoise Mouly is a bit precious in her introduction and conversation with Lawrence Weschler. Her take on the history of the NYer is a bit off in places; the book omits listing the arrival of EB White and Katherine White in its timeline(!), and she gives perhaps too much play to her husband/artist Art Spiegelman. One interesting aside, noted by others who have this volume: the old covers (mostly from the 30s) that she prints side-by-side with the work she commissioned in the 90s is almost always superior to these newer covers. A few new artists, such as Sempe and Spiegelman stand out; but most run a distant second to the likes of Arno, Thurber, and Steig from an earlier era. --robert luhn

"Magazines Are All About Aspirations." -- Francoise Mouly.......2000-11-04

This book deserves more than five stars. It's wonderful!

This beautiful volume would be rewarding simply as art. Realizing its connection to The New Yorker makes it seem both more familiar and more interesting.

Francoise Mouly, art editor since 1993, has done a remarkable job of improving the covers during her tenure and has used that same remarkable eye to select these covers from all of the New Yorker's 75 years, as well. The book is greatly enriched by her introduction, and a conversation with Lawrence Weschler, who is a New Yorker writer. You will also enjoy "sketchbook" features on the artists Sempe, Spiegelman and Steinberg. You will be further rewarded with 6 ready-to-frame prints of covers. What a great deal! I encourage you to buy a copy for yourself, and as a gift for everyone you know who loves The New Yorker.

Magazine covers have enormous impact on whether we buy or read a particular issue. Princess Diana would draw more people to the inside of a book than anyone else in history. If you are The New Yorker, what kind of covers suit best? This remarkable collection of 75 years worth of covers will undoubtedly change your mind about what a cover can and should be. To me, these covers are a more profound communication at many levels than what I see on Time, Newsweek, People or Fortune.

I have a somewhat unusual background for reviewing this book. I have often done assignments for magazines to help them determine a policy for selecting their covers. This perspective made me appreciate this book in unusual ways that I would like to share with you.

Magazine publishers want covers that sell, but they also don't want to spend much money. Editors want covers to convey their vision of the editorial content. That sets off an institutional dynamic that normally results in dramatic photography of the familiar in new settings on covers, but kept within a tiny budget.

The most expensive and difficult (and dangerous) route is to feature original art on the cover. The New Yorker started with and has maintained that approach to its identity, which makes it special -- even if the art itself was not as remarkable as it is. The fact that the covers work so well both aesthetically and commerically is a great accomplishment that we should all honor.

The cover for the book is aptly chosen. This "effete looking dandy" has graced the covers almost every February for the 75 years of the magazine's existence, beginning with the first issue. In fact, the image is so familiar that many will swear that it is always on the cover. You will enjoy the satires of this cover that are in the book. This image also sets a tone for The New Yorker that connects us both to the magazine and our reactions to it.

As Ms. Mouly points out, "You can't judge a book by its cover." A magazine's " . . . personality is defined by its cover, and the rest of the magazine has to stand behind it." If you are like me, what will impress you is how much richer, deeper, and more interesting the covers are under Ms. Mouly's editorship. One of my favorites is "Life at the Top" by Eric Drooker in 1994. This features men and women standing near the tops of skyscrapers on very thin stilts looking harried and concerned.

Perhaps no magazine's cover has ever made fun of the elite in such a consistent and effective way as has The New Yorker. There were several covers that were new to me that really made an impression in this way. One was of Monica Lewinsky as Mona Lisa. That image connects to so many levels of L'Affaire Lewsinsky that they are almost inexpressable, yet there they all are in one glance. "Putting drawings on the cover . . . keeps artists at the center of the cultural dialogue . . . where they should be."

You will also see many controversial covers such as the famous one from 1993 which had a Jewish Hassidic male kissing a black woman.

The covers are loosely organized into sections: The Big City, Catching the Moment, A Year at The New Yorker, The Arts, Sports, and The Timeless Moment. Most of my favorite covers were in the sections on The Big City, Mother's Day, Taxes, Christmas, and Sports. One of my other favorites has a lone cyclist in the Tour de France trailing the pack by a wide margin in he beautiful French countryside while everyone else is bunched together. How wonderful!

After you have finished enjoying these wonderful images and the commentaries on them, I suggest that you think about where else art would make a more profound part of our dialogue. How about Presidential debates about the candidates' favorite artists and paintings or sculptures? Or having fine art on packages of the products we buy and use to help indicate their quality and contents? Or stand-up comedians doing routines about art displayed on easels?

Let art lead your mind everywhere!

Customer Reviews:

Good Anthology !!!.......2004-04-11

On The Edge:3 Novels in1 by Heather Graham was a really good anthology. I enjoy books like this one. I am such a bookworm! The characters were great !!!

3 enjoyable stories........2003-08-24

These 3 stories were fairly short but readers are not left feeling short changed. The characters felt real and the action was fast paced.
I recommend reading this book. It has romance and mystery, and a cast of secondary characters that makes me feel like perhaps there will be a sequel to some of the stories.

Fun for the sun........2003-07-05

This book contains three (not two) enchanting tales of romantic suspense that are just perfect for light summer reading.

In the first entry by Heather Graham, Kit Delaney returns to the home she was born in and the family she is estranged from after the untimely death of her beloved father. There she begins a relationship with David Moore an enigmatic member of the household whose purposes are not entirely clear to her. She also engenders the enmity of at least one of her relatives -all of whom are afraid she will cheat them out of their rightful inheritance. The question is how far they will go to get Kit out of the picture and wether David can or will come to her rescue.

In "Shelter Island" the second tale, by Carla Neggers, Dr.Antonia Winter believes she is being stalked. She is afraid to ask for help because of the repercussions that a false alarm might have on her medical career and on the political aspirations of her new suitor, Hank Callahan. When she secretly retreats to an old cottage, belonging to a friend, on Shelter Island she is followed by Hank and by her stalker. Who will get to her first?

The last story, bySharon Sala, "Capsized",is myfavorite. Kelly Sloan is a DEA agent in an undercover operation that goes sour when a released prisoner whom she put away recognizes her. After three days of torture she manages to escape and swim to shore in Texas where she is rescued by Quinn McCord, a Texas Ranger with problems of his own. Together they must outwit the drug kingpin who has offered a two million dollar reward for Kelly's murder, in time for Kelly to testify against Dominic Ortega. The sparks fly in this tale of love and revenge.

These three tales are a good value for light, fun summer reading.

Absolutely great romantic suspense anthology.......2003-07-03

"Bougainvillea" by Heather Graham. Almost two decades ago her mother drowned. Her father never explained why, but he left their Bougainvillea home and never returned. With his recent death, his daughter Katherine "Kit" Delaney goes back to the family home. There she meets David Moore, a friend from her childhood. As they fall in love, Kit's tragic past catches up to her present fueled further by her doubts about whose side her beloved is on.

"Shelter Island" by Carla Neggers. Dr. Antonia Winter feels someone is stalking her. Not wanting to hurt her boyfriend's run for the senate with unsubstantiated stories, Antonia decides to leave for Shelter Island for awhile. However, Hank Callahan would rather not be a politician if he must give up his beloved Antonia. With a hurricane coming and a stalker following Antonia, Hank has his work cut out for him if he wants to keep her safe.

"Capsized" by Sharon Sala. In Mexico, DEA Agent Kelly Sloan realizes her cover is blown, which means she needs to escape before Ortega disposes of her in his malevolent manner. She manages to get to the sea, but drifts for three days before being found by Texas Ranger Quinn McCord. As she recovers her strength she and her male nurse fall in love, but Ortega and his in-law Gruber need her dead.

All three tales are taut romantic suspense thrillers that will please sub-genre fans except for the fact that readers will know each one could have been a stand-alone full-length novel.

Book Description

At 21, Julie Jones is convinced that life is passing her by. Her mothers death four years ago left her in charge of caring for her father and five siblings, and dashed her hopes of meeting that special someone who would whisk her away to the glamorous big city. Then all at once, Julies predictable existence is overturned when her father finds love with an attractive widow, and Evan Johnson, the mysterious son of the town drunkard returns home and starts courting her. With his arrival, however, comes a series of devastating tragedies as Evans father is found murdered, and a series of brutal rapes rocks the town. In a rush to judgment, the townsfolk are all pointing to Evan as the guilty party, except for one person. Amid growing tensions, Julie Jones has been hiding a dark personal secretand falling desperately in love. There is growing demand for original hardcover novels by established romance writers. Jane Feather, Julie Garwood, Nora Roberts, and Kristin Hannah are just a few of the authors enjoying significant sales in the cross-over from mass market to hardcover format. Dorothy Garlocks previous novel, After the Parade (Warner mass market, 4/00), was a USA Today bestseller and a Featured Alternate of Doubleday Book Club. It had a first printing of 325,000 copies, and included a preview announcement for The Edge of Town. With over 12 million copies of her novels in print worldwide, and translated into 15 languages, Dorothy Garlocks books reach a huge audience to which this new hardcover will immediately appeal.

Download Description

Dorothy Garlock's novels have won her acclaim from the Chicago Sun-Times as a "gifted storyteller" and praise from readers as a truth-teller about America and its people. Now in her hardcover debut, the USA Today bestselling author begins her new saga of the Midwest in the 1920s with the heartwarming story of the Jones family, who meet life's incredible challenges with bravery, humor, and zest. Julie Jones knows what she is: a country girl, not beautiful but presentable, in skirts too long to be fashionable. A responsible young woman who has been raising her brothers and sisters since her mother's death and helping her father on their hardscrabble farm. She's not exactly the free, giggly flapper the town boys fancy. Secretly, she wishes someone she could love would find her special enough to come courting. But as the country roars into the Jazz Age, neither her family nor the town of Fertile, Missouri, can remain untouched. Veterans have returned from the Great War, among them big, quiet Evan Johnson, the enigmatic son of the town bully. Crime has risen enough to warrant the town's hiring Corbin Appleby as police chief, a stranger on a manhunt of his own. And, via the train from points south, comes flirty Birdie Stuart, looking for a new man to take care of her. Before the summer fades into golden autumn, tensions explode. A series of rapes sends fear rippling through the town, and Birdie's schemes threaten to tear Julie's family apart. Then Evan Johnson, who has been trying to win Julie's heart, is suddenly charged with murder. Packed with dynamic tension, and textured by Garlock's inimitable "grit-between-the-toes feel for time and place" (Minneapolis Star), The Edge of Town will touch your heart with its realism, warmth, and honest depiction of a young woman's awakening to the power of love.

Customer Reviews:

Very enjoyable book...........2007-08-30

I really liked this book. I loved the characters, especially the Jones children. They were very lovable and believable characters. I liked the 'Birdie' drama and was anxious to see how that would play out. It was a very refreshing book about life on a farm in the 1920's. Then there was the mystery of the serial rapist. It gave the book a hint of the darker side of life. Julie and Evan were very likable and I am glad they fell in love. I would recommend this for an easy, enjoyable read.

My First Garlock but Definitely Not Last.............2007-02-18

This was my first Dorothy Garlock book but I have now read about 15. This book is the beginning of four books that share characters. I love how Garlock doesn't abandon her characters and we see how their lives continue. Unlike other authors, she changes the setting and creates a whole new world for subsequent books. They can be read in order or they are wonderful stand alone stories. Here are the ones in this series:
Edge of Town
High on a Hill
A Place Called Rainwater
River Rising

I would recommend all of them!!

Enjoy!

A page-turner that I couldn't put down........2005-02-28

As with other Dorothy Garlock Americana romance-mysteries, I loved this book! It had a warm and cozy "Little House on the Prairie" feeling to it, and was very realistic and believeable. I loved the countrified descriptions of Sunday afternoon baseball gatherings at the Jones' farm, the town setup, the harvest, the meal preparation, the sightseeing drives and the dances at the lake - it gave the reader a true feeling of what life was like in that time and place in the heartland of America.

Both Julie and Evan were likeable heros, and I certainly was routing for their love to conquer all that threatened to come between them, especially Birdie. What they say about a woman scorned rang true here - when Evan saw through Birdie and rejected her advances, she moved onto Julie's father Jethro, but not without cruelly trying to discredit and slander both Evan and Julie, and to selfishly break up the Jones family so she could be the center of Jethro's attention.

It was nice to see the good-hearted children in this poor and motherless family find happiness despite their hardluck circumstances, such as when Jack became the hero of the local baseball team. I was cheering for sassy middle-sister Jill to find love, perhaps with Corbin the police chief, although in the end there were hints that something might go on to develop between her and another nice young character. I also would have like to see the characters of Joe and Jack fleshed out more too. (Maybe a sequel is in order??? lol). The theme of not judging a man (Evan) based upon the actions of his father was refreshing too.

I figured out Julie's secret early on, but Evan's secret came as a shocking surprise. So did Birdie's. I agree with the other reviewers that the rape-pedophilia subplot was sickening, and seemed wrong for such a wholesome story, (although it was an integrel part to the secrets).

My only criticism of this book was that there were too many minor characters, and too many similar names to keep track of. I found myself confused at times. Even after I finshed the book, Joe and Jack are all mixed up in my mind, and I'm not sure I know which people belong to which neighborhood family.

Pleasant Surprise!!!.......2004-04-08

I just happened to pick up this book on a discount shelf at the airport, and I'm really glad I did! I'd never heard of this author before, but it sounded like a nice book, and it definitely was. This is a great story about family, love, and the circumstances that test both of them.

There is a large cast (there's 7 people in the Jones family alone) and it took me about half-way through the book to finally quit mixing up the boys (Jason, Jack, and Joe)!!...but they were all wonderful to read about.

This book really covers a lot, and I think almost anyone could enjoy it... from family and true-love, to rape, murder, and mystery, it has it all. This was truly a great find and I'll certainly read much more by this author!!

I'll read another..........2003-02-23

The Edge of Town is the first book by Dorothy Garlock that I've read, but it will not be the last. Set in the 1920's in Fertile, Missouri young Julie Jones cares for her five siblings after her mothers passing four years previous from a flu epidemic. Julie is feeling her life passing her by, caring for her siblings. Meanwhile, Evan Johnson, son of the lewd drunkard, Walter, returns home after the war to take care of the family farm. He was away many years, having lived with his grandparents, then going to war. Evan is nothing like his horrific father, and when he rescues Julie from his fathers assault you know its true love.

Too bad there is something (or rather, someone) evil in Fertile. There have been brutal (and graphic) series of rapes that coincide with Evan's return. The townspeople can only assume that it is he, and the only person who stands by his side is Julie.

What I liked...and disliked....

The descriptive writing in this book brings the time frame and the characters to life. You feel yourself slipping in the past, of a youthful sweet love story and all the represents America. Except for the rape, who wants to think of that? I know it's a part of the story, but the graphic nature of it, dragged the story down. But, any other writer couldn't have pulled off two ends of the spectrum, love and brutal hate, so perfectly.

In Short...