LDAP System Administration

Book Description

Be more productive and make your life easier. That's what LDAP System Administration is all about. System administrators often spend a great deal of time managing configuration information located on many different machines: usernames, passwords, printer configurations, email client configurations, and network filesystem configurations, to name a few. LDAPv3 provides tools for centralizing all of the configuration information and placing it under your control. Rather than maintaining several administrative databases (NIS, Active Directory, Samba, and NFS configuration files), you can make changes in only one place and have all your systems immediately "see" the updated information. Practically platform independent, this book uses the widely available, open source OpenLDAP 2 directory server as a premise for examples, showing you how to use it to help you manage your configuration information effectively and securely. OpenLDAP 2 ships with most Linux® distributions and Mac OS® X, and can be easily downloaded for most Unix-based systems. After introducing the workings of a directory service and the LDAP protocol, all aspects of building and installing OpenLDAP, plus key ancillary packages like SASL and OpenSSL, this book discusses:

Configuration and access control
Distributed directories; replication and referral
Using OpenLDAP to replace NIS
Using OpenLDAP to manage email configurations
Using LDAP for abstraction with FTP and HTTP servers, Samba, and Radius
Interoperating with different LDAP servers, including Active Directory
Programming using Net::LDAP

If you want to be a master of your domain, LDAP System Administration will help you get up and running quickly regardless of which LDAP version you use. After reading this book, even with no previous LDAP experience, you'll be able to integrate a directory server into essential network services such as mail, DNS, HTTP, and SMB/CIFS.

Customer Reviews:

Pretty good stuff.......2007-09-21

I'm happy with this book. It's a little out of date and the details are getting a bit, shall we say, "off". However, it is a much better set of documentation that rummaging through the RFCs and paltry OpenLDAP README content :)

A book well worth its price.......2007-07-22

This book is written a while ago and it definitely needs update. It frequently refers to RFCs and states "blah blah is not yet accepted as standard" but probably it is accepted as one by now.

The organization of this book is a little chaotic. When I read it from the chapter 1, introduction, it was still not clear what I was getting into. After reading it all, I still think the introduction was not very helpful. I don't think reading this book from cover to cover all through would help a lot.

Nonetheless, after reading through this book with actual practice (installing OpenLDAP and running the examples as the book illustrated), I got good grasp of the concepts of LDAP and understanding how it works.

I like its practical examples and connection to other applications.

In conclusion, I feel I spent my money well on this book.

poorly written, confusing.......2007-02-03

This book borders on being useless for an administrator new to ldap. For instance on page 5 (CHAPTER 1 "Now where did I put that...?", or "What is a directory?")there is a heading "What is LDAP" and then it goes into the RFC's. Then on page 11 (CHAPTER 2 LDAPv3 Overview) thru page 30 he talks more about RFC's and Object Identifiers and authentication. Anyway by page 30 I gave up on the nonsesne and I went back to my SUSE Linux 9 Bible. Do you know what that book says what LDAP is? Well, on page 501 , "...LDAP describes organization of data, access to the data, and the protocol used to talk to an LDAP server." So in the SUSE book it gives an answer in 19 words that Gerald Carter could not do in 28 pages!

One really good thing about this book is that on page 23 he admits to using other documents and you really should too! In particular go to Sun Microsystems and "Search the site for "LDAP schema reference" to locate the most recent versions of the product documentation." In particular you
may want to search for iPlanet and get the the Administrator's Guide, Deployment Guide, Schema Reference. If you are running NT 4.0 you can also get the "Sun ONE Portal Server" which was called iPlanet Web Server before Sun got them.

If you are using SUSE Linux then I would recommend for you to use the openldap and install if from Yast and use the Linux Bible. It has only 17 pages but it will show you what ldap is, how to set up, test, insert data, and integrate ldap into Linux.

The bottom line is that this book is really good for wasting time and not achieving anything productive, but for implementing and using ldap in a working environment it is of no help.

O'reilly books are the best.......2007-01-09

Another great O'reilly book. O'reilly, IMHO are the best technical books.

Best LDAP admin book I have seen.......2006-11-07

This excellent book covers implementing and administering LDAP better than any I have seen. It's apparent to me that a great deal of thought has gone into key paragraphs. Despite some comments to the contrary, the organization is methodical and logical. Throughout the book there are references to other sources to further research related topics.

Chapter 1 LDAP is defined and you are pointed to the appropriate RFC's.

Chapter 2 is an overview of the LDAPv3 and explains very well the format of the LDIF directory data/structure files. Incidentally, I found that this book enhanced my understanding of Microsofts Active Directory which encompasses among other things LDAPv3.

Chapter 3 familiarizes you with the slapd.conf file and the example uses an SSHA hashed rootpw (an OpenSSL algorithm) and introduces you to the use of ACL's in this server config file.

Chapter 4 leads you through building a company white pages using the command line (which you certainly should know how to do even if you are a GUI fan); the chapter concludes with a brief list of GUI editors for the faint of heart.

Chapter 5 explains replicating to a backup LDAP server with slurpd, enhanced backups using generated LDIF files and distributing the directory to maximize network traffic efficiency. Additions, deletions and modifications to the database are illustrated. Searching is briefly, but concisely explained.

Chapter 6 begins Part II, application integration. The Pluggable Authentication module pam_ldap and it's configuration file, ldap.conf are discussed and there is a list of ldap.conf parameters with explanations. Replacing NIS with LDAP is covered in this chapter. Chapter 6 ends with a brief overview of security mechanisms in LDAPv3.

Chapter 7 presents LDAP as a directory storing email addresses and other contact information. Configuration examples for connection 4 popular email clients are included. Integration with 3 popular MTA's (postfix, sendmail and Exim) round out the chapter.

Chapter 8 introduces integration of network services other than authentication and email with LDAP. Among other things, DNS, printing and Samba LDAP integration are discussed.

Chapter 9 has a few valuable pointers in interoperability with other platforms, specifically Windows 2000 Active Directory. Digital certificates and Kerberos authentication on the Windows platform as relating to *nix are very briefly discussed.

Chapter 10, Net::LDAP and Perl gives a mainly informational overview of connecting, binding and searching and contains sample scripts using the Net::LDAP module. It also demonstrates adding, updating and deleting entries using Perl scripts instead of the LDIF methods earlier in the book. Note, however that this is not a book about programming; it is a book about LDAP Administration.

Lastly, this book does need an update. Some modules which were separate entities not so long ago are now symbolic links; for example:

/usr/local/sbin/slapacl -> slapd
/usr/local/sbin/slapadd -> slapd
/usr/local/sbin/slapauth -> slapd
/usr/local/sbin/slapcat -> slapd
/usr/local/sbin/slapd
/usr/local/sbin/slapdn -> slapd
/usr/local/sbin/slapindex -> slapd
/usr/local/sbin/slappasswd -> slapd
/usr/local/sbin/slaptest -> slapd
Even the best needs to be updated; and when it is I will be one of the first to purchase it.

LDAP protocol will very likely solve the complex problem of redundant authentication/authorization data spread across heterogenous networks. However, whether your users access resources through passwords or some other mechanism one thing stands out.

If your security database resides in one place, it must be secured and precautions taken that authentication data traversing the network cannot be sniffed or otherwise compromised. In general, most admins accomplish this by encryption using SSH/SSH2 or OpenSSH.

OpenSSH, in turn uses the encryption libraries of OpenSSL so it's a required dependency.

To summarize, IMHO: LDAP is only 1 part of the solution and this book covers it better than any other I have seen. No single reference will cover all the bases and like any well written book this one keeps the focus on the major subject of LDAP, but offers references to other related topics.

Above my workstation is a wooden shelf containing my most important references; this is one of them. I have found the following volumes very helpful and LDAP plays well with these technologies.

"LDAP System Administration" by Gerald Carter.

"SSH The Secure Shell, The Definitive Guide" by Daniel J. Barrett, Richard E. Silverman & Robert G. Byrnes.

"Network Security with OpenSSL" by John Viega, Matt Messier & Pravir Chandra.

"Kerberos: The Definitive Guide" by Jason Garman

These 4 volumes will help you both in securing your network and making it more productive and accessable to authorized users. These volumes complement each other.

If you need guidance for software development, you might try "Secure Programming Cookbook for C and C++" by John Viega and Matt Messier

Definitely Five stars - even though it does need updating.

This book fills a knowledge void and can make your life a lot easier. It can save you hours of Google searches, searching forums, pumping your friends for tips, trial and error, and grep'ing log files; this one deserves a slot in your special library.

Average customer rating:

Good to start with a Radius
Good overview and reference
Bad copy of RFC
Inaccurate copy of RFCs
Acceptable as an intro, but severly lacking details

Radius
Jonathan Hassell
Manufacturer: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0596003226

Amazon.com

There's far more to information security than usernames and passwords; it's not just a matter of letting legitimate users "in" and keeping bad guys "out." Users who have authority to use certain parts of a system may not be authorized to see everything, and businesses, for billing purposes, often want to track how long users spend in a system. The Remote Access Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) solves all of these engineering challenges, but you have to implement it correctly in order to achieve maximum benefit and keep your systems safe. RADIUS provides an architectural and technical guide to RADIUS implementation, enabling its readers to design RADIUS-secured systems properly and choose products wisely.

Jonathan Hassell's approach is to lay down a foundation of RADIUS protocol theory, then explain how to implement the protocol with a particular product (FreeRADIUS for Linux). He approaches both elements of his book with precision and detail, and provides plenty of tabular information for reference. He's also liberal with examples, which is a welcome trait if you're in a hurry to know how to format a radiusd.conf file or how to configure Cisco IOS to do RADIUS authentication. This is a comprehensive treatment of a complicated subject. --David Wall

Topics covered: How the RADIUS protocol provides authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA services), and how it fits with other elements of network design. The author covers the protocol in theory before digging into its implementation in FreeRADIUS for Linux and the integration of that package with several important networking products.

Book Description

The subject of security never strays far from the minds of IT workers, for good reason. If there is a network with even just one connection to another network, it needs to be secured. RADIUS, or Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service, is a widely deployed protocol that enables companies to authenticate, authorize and account for remote users who want access to a system or service from a central network server. Originally developed for dial-up remote access, RADIUS is now used by virtual private network (VPN) servers, wireless access points, authenticating Ethernet switches, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) access, and other network access types. Extensible, easy to implement, supported, and actively developed, RADIUS is currently the de facto standard for remote authentication. RADIUS provides a complete, detailed guide to the underpinnings of the RADIUS protocol, with particular emphasis on the utility of user accounting. Author Jonathan Hassell draws from his extensive experience in Internet service provider operations to bring practical suggestions and advice for implementing RADIUS. He also provides instructions for using an open-source variation called FreeRADIUS. "RADIUS is an extensible protocol that enjoys the support of a wide range of vendors," says Jonathan Hassell. "Coupled with the amazing efforts of the open source development community to extend RADIUS's capabilities to other applications-Web, calling card security, physical device security, such as RSA's SecureID-RADIUS is possibly the best protocol with which to ensure only the people that need access to a resource indeed gain that access." This unique book covers RADIUS completely, from the history and theory of the architecture around which it was designed, to how the protocol and its ancillaries function on a day-to-day basis, to implementing RADIUS-based security in a variety of corporate and service provider environments. If you are an ISP owner or administrator, corporate IT professional responsible for maintaining mobile user connectivity, or a web presence provider responsible for providing multiple communications resources, you'll want this book to help you master this widely implemented but little understood protocol.

Customer Reviews:

Good to start with a Radius.......2004-04-14

Clear documentation on Radius env but you must read another document, most on freeradius, to build a real solutions.

Good overview and reference.......2004-01-06

I found this book a good reference to RADIUS. While some content is available in the RFCs, it's handy to have it compact and easy to read inside this book. The overview and guide to FreeRADIUS is good to have, especially considering the lack of available documentation from the project. I especially found the security chapter helpful, a candid discussion of where RADIUS fails.

While there could be more coverage in this book, I think it's a great one to have available. Recommended.

Bad copy of RFC.......2004-01-04

Let me just compare one sentence from the book and RFC:

The book, page 20:
Authenticator
... In this field, the most important octet is transmitted before any other ...

RFC 2865, page 15:
Authenticator
... The most significant octet is transmitted first. ...

Inaccurate copy of RFCs.......2003-09-22

This book is an inaccurate and incorrect copy of RFCs with a lot of buzzwords. This should be great only because this is only book about RADIUS protocol in the world. It is better for you to read RFCs if you understand the situation that needs RADIUS.

Acceptable as an intro, but severly lacking details.......2003-08-07

This book may not be bad for someone looking for a brief overview of the RADIUS protocol (perhaps a manager), but is virtually useless for anything beyond that. The book is poorly organized, severly lacks detail, and has its share of errors. Technical readers should look elsewhere.

AAA and Network Security for Mobile Access: Radius, Diameter, EAP, PKI and IP Mobility

Average customer rating:

Expensive, but worth it.
Keeping Wireless Communications Secure

AAA and Network Security for Mobile Access: Radius, Diameter, EAP, PKI and IP Mobility
Madjid Nakhjiri , and Mahsa Nakhjiri
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0470011947

Book Description

AAA and Network Security for Mobile Access is an invaluable guide to the AAA concepts and framework, including its protocols Diameter and Radius. The authors give an overview of established and emerging standards for the provision of secure network access for mobile users while providing the basic design concepts and motivations.

AAA and Network Security for Mobile Access:

Covers trust, i.e., authentication and security key management for fixed and mobile users, and various approaches to trust establishment.
Discusses public key infrastructures and provides practical tips on certificates management.
Introduces Diameter, a state-of-the-art AAA protocol designed to meet today’s reliability, security and robustness requirements, and examines Diameter-Mobile IP interactions.
Explains RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Services) and its latest extensions.
Details EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol) in-depth, giving a protocol overview, and covering EAP-XXX authentication methods as well as use of EAP in 802 networks.
Describes IP mobility protocols including IP level mobility management, its security and optimizations, and latest IETF seamless mobility protocols.
Includes a chapter describing the details of Mobile IP and AAA interaction, illustrating Diameter Mobile IP applications and the process used in CDMA2000.
Contains a section on security and AAA issues to support roaming, discussing a variety of options for operator co-existence, including an overview of Liberty Alliance.

This text will provide researchers in academia and industry, network security engineers, managers, developers and planners, as well as graduate students, with an accessible explanation of the standards fundamental to secure mobile access.

Download Description

AAA (Authentication, Authorization, Accounting) describes a framework for intelligently controlling access to network resources, enforcing policies, and providing the information necessary to bill for services. AAA and Network Security for Mobile Access is an invaluable guide to the AAA concepts and framework, including its protocols Diameter and Radius. The authors give an overview of established and emerging standards for the provision of secure network access for mobile users while providing the basic design concepts and motivations. AAA and Network Security for Mobile Access Covers trust, i.e., authentication and security key management for fixed and mobile users, and various approaches to trust establishment. Discusses public key infrastructures and provides practical tips on certificates management. Introduces Diameter, a state-of-the-art AAA protocol designed to meet today's reliability, security and robustness requirements, and examines Diameter-Mobile IP interactions. Explains RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Services) and its latest extensions. Details EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol) in-depth, giving a protocol overview, and covering EAP-XXX authentication methods as well as use of EAP in 802 networks. Describes IP mobility protocols including IP level mobility management, its security and optimizations, and latest IETF seamless mobility protocols. Includes a chapter describing the details of Mobile IP and AAA interaction, illustrating Diameter Mobile IP applications and the process used in CDMA2000.Contains a section on security and AAA issues to support roaming, discussing a variety of options for operator co-existence, including an overview of Liberty Alliance This text will provide researchers in academia and industry, network security engineers, managers, developers and planners, as well as graduate students, with an accessible explanation of the standards fundamental to secure mobile access.

Customer Reviews:

Expensive, but worth it........2006-05-18

If you're looking for an in depth book on AAA and it's associated algorithms, there's no match for this book. Much as I wish I was wrong and that I could replace the book I borrowed from my friend with a cheaper book, I'm afraid I'm about to be forced to shell out the [...] on AAA. And I'm only going to need it as an intermittent reference. There's no math (at least no Greek), but many of the algorithms used to underpin the subject are explained concisely and clearly. It's simply well written and more informative than anything else on the market. I'm a sales engineer and this book was written on the ideal level for me. Technical enough but also abstract enough. Good work sir!

Keeping Wireless Communications Secure.......2006-03-22

This 'Triple A' set stands for Authentication, Authorization, Accounting, and the theme of this book is maintaining security in a wireless cell-phone network.

Authentication is a three way street. Is the device being used really the correct device to receive the service being requested? And is the network being accessed really the network you want to be on? The third type of authentication is on a message level. Is the message itself legit, or did someone, somehow get in the middle and send a bogus message?

Authorization is rather like the old 'need to know' aspect of security. Is the salesman out in the field that's calling in really authorized to get employee or financial information?

Accounting includes making sure that the client is billed the correct amount of time, but also includes such things as system usage analysis to help define capacity planning.

Each of these subjects is exhaustively treated in this book. Further they are handled with a casual writing style that makes the book more enjoyable to read than most. Well, maybe enjoyable isn't exactly the right word -- how about making it possible to get through it without falling asleep.

Average customer rating:

Understanding Boat Design
Basic but effective
Too detailed, yet not detailed enough
Covers the Basics..
Solid book for basics of boat design

Understanding Boat Design
Ted Brewer
Manufacturer: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0070076944

Book Description

For new boating enthusiasts--even if they've been at it awhile--there are scores of burning questions. If one boat has a round bottom and another's is veed, what difference does it make in the way they perform? What are the advantages of a cutter rig over a sloop? Why does one sailor swear by a full keel, while others won't have anything but a fin keel? Why does one powerboat have more flare in its topsides than another? And what is flare? Why do some hull shapes look "right"? How big an engine and propeller will it take to move that powerboat? What elements make a boat safe, or comfortable?

Understanding Boat Design has been the place to look for quick, uncomplicated answers since 1971. Founder of the Yacht Design Institute, a highly respected designer for more than 30 years, and a frequent contributor to SAIL, Cruising World, and other magazines, Ted Brewer has again revised his classic primer. This new volume has been greatly expanded and contains information on many aspects of design that were not even thought of twenty years ago.

Understanding Boat Design has eased tens of thousands of readers into the complex world of small-craft design. It is the ideal introduction for backyard boatbuilders, students of boat design, or someone looking to buy a first boat.

"This tight little book should be required reading."--Soundings

"A natural for those embarking on a first purchase, or the amateur builder."--Sailing

"One of the cleanest and clearest expositions on the elements of yacht design ever published . . . by a naval architect who knows what he is talking about."--WoodenBoat

Customer Reviews:

Understanding Boat Design.......2007-09-23

An Excellent boat design 101, all the glossary,definitions,explanations , and boat design syntax.
This is the first book u should buy if you are passionate for boats design,buidling, or owning.

Basic but effective.......2005-09-15

If you've been around boats for a while, you've noticed all sorts of shapes and hull designs. This book explains why.
Every design has strengths and weaknesses. Every hull is a compromise. Don't expect design tables or details, just good basic information

Too detailed, yet not detailed enough.......2004-07-30

I was disappointed in this book. I expected a well thought out, easy to understand description. The author starts out defining some terms, but omits others, and then describes things using undefined terms. By his initial definitions, one thinks "Good, this author doesn't assume I understand all the terms he will be using." Yet in the rest of the text he clearly considers that the reader knows a fair amount about boats and the terms used to describe them. Some drawings are missing important labels, and some explainations referring to drawings are missing important details, with a result that one is sometimes left perplexed. The book struck me as a quick gloss over of boat design with too much detail for someone in need of the grand overview. I don't think it had detail for someone actually interested in learning more about boat design. Someone interested in the quick basics would do better with other general sailing texts where simple principles of boat design are covered. Not sure what a better, more detailed text would be.

Covers the Basics.........2003-11-11

This a great book if you are just starting to ponder the mysteries of boat design and its modern, which makes it better for beginners than Chapelle's books. IF, however, you are looking for more scientific/engineering sort of information, then you will be disappointed. Bottom line- it provides a wide survery of yacht designs, but does not delve into specifics enough for those of use who already know the basics. I would recommend it to anyone starting out in the field, but it is less technical than, say, Skene's Elements of Yacht Design.

Solid book for basics of boat design.......2002-11-08

I've have studied a fair number of books about design. This was the first I read and it's a good thing because it's not too hard to follow but it is definitely informative. It helps to understand design terminology and how a boat will perform based on its characteristics. I think I would have been frustrated had I begun somewhere else (such as Chapelle).

The focus is fairly broad. The designs are those most often seen on the water during the last 50 years (no brigatines, viking ships, or submarines). They are both power and sail, and both displacement and planing hulls. The size mostly seems to be boats of the "yacht" size (20 to 100 feet). Topics covered include styles of hull shape, line drawings, keels and rudders, layout, safety, construction materials.

This book will help you understand WHAT characteristics of a boat affect performance (and I don't just mean speed, because there is much more to it) and HOW they affect performance.

After reading and understanding this book, you will be able to better determine what to expect from a boat by just standing next to it and sizing it up. You will also figure out a few of the goofy things production companies do these days because they are focused on making boats that will be easy to sell, and not focused enough on making a boat that sails well. Make sense? Many modern designs have goofy characteristics that make a boat look good on paper and in an advertisement, but detract from performance, seaworthiness, reliability, and practicality when out on the water.

Bottom line: This book includes what I believe it should based on the title and the fact that it is ~150 pages long. It is very useful to someone want to own a boat, or get into boat design.

Average customer rating:
300 Mile Radius (From Nyc) Guide

Manufacturer: Hagstrom Map Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

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ASIN: 0880976144

Book Description

This convenient mileage guide covers a 300 mile radius from Columbus Circle in New York City, covering 13 states of Northeastern U.S. from Maine to Virginia. Guide also shows a table and a map showing road mileage between key cities, and driving distances to over 17,000 places.

Radius of Doubt & Path of Fire (Patterns of Chaos, Omnibus 1)

Average customer rating:

Patterns Pro And Con
Unusually compelling
Not a bad start to a sociological SF series
Enjoyable but imperfect

Radius of Doubt & Path of Fire (Patterns of Chaos, Omnibus 1)
Charles Ingrid
Manufacturer: DAW
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0756400554

Book Description

A galaxy-spanning epic filled with intrigue, adventure-and an array of alien life-forms-Patterns of Chaos follows a race with unique powers which make them the only beings capable of piloting faster than light ships. Caught in the midst of political and economic infighting between a number of sentient species and on the brink of civil war on their home planet, the greatest hope and peril the Choyan people face is a newly met race-humans!

Customer Reviews:

Patterns Pro And Con.......2003-08-10

What we have here is a four-part series consolidated into two volumes. This is the first volume and comprises the first half of the full story. It revolves around an alien race that inhabits a planet called Cho. The Choyans are a leading race in an interstellar compact of races. Their power rests on a monopoly over faster-than-light travel. Any ship that must travel interstellar distances requires a Choyan pilot and his/her little black box. Other races are anxious to acquire the secret of the Choyan technology, but the real secret is that the black box is a red herring. In truth, the Choyan ability to navigate the "patterns of chaos" (that is, the ftl environment) rests on a secret psi power called "bahdur". Moreover, not all Choyans have bahdur. Thus, on one hand the compact has a scarcity of pilots for ftl travel while on the other, Choyan society is two-tiered, with have and have-not castes. Humans are a newly-discovered and lightly-regarded race.

The upside of this book is a plot laden with political intrigue and peopled with engaging characters. It held my interest from start to finish. Unfortunately, the story also has what I consider to be three glaring weaknesses. First (and this is a problem that I find with most sci fi), the aliens aren't very alien. The Choyans, aside from their bahdur, are essentially human. The differences Ingrid puts in are, at best, only superficial. Choyans are basically humanoid in structure, culture, and emotions. Their planet has "insects", "pine trees" and a full range of earthlike characteristics. The chief "bad guys" are little more than humanoid amphibians.

Second, I have never been a fan of stories based on far-reaching (and far-fetched, in my opinion) mental powers. Such powers are typically just a convenient device to allow the author to take liberties with the plot. And that seems very much the case here. Bahdur is a vague and undefined power that allows the possessor to do whatever Ingrid finds useful at any given point in the story. As the events proceed, bahdur allows its possessors to do more and more things besides navigate chaos. Further, though apparently genetically based, it can be stolen by, or transferred to, other characters.

Finally, as noted by other reviewers, Ingrid bypasses some of the potentially most action-packed parts of the story. Major battles are given short shrift in this tale. Admittedly, the story revolves around its personal and political conflicts, but some expanded action sequences wouldn't have hurt.

In sum, this book has some interesting aspects. Plot and characterization are fine. Enough so that I will read the second volume since I've come this far. It is hurt by several shortcomings, however, and these detracted from the experience. It's a mediocre effort and I can't really recommend it. For those who can overlook the problems, it's not a bad tale, but there are lots of better books out there.

Unusually compelling.......2003-07-10

While the book does have its flaws, I found it deeply addictive. It works more as a mystery than anything else, and leaves you constantly wondering. My one complaint is that it is very repetitive when it comes to describing the defining characteristics of the alien races, using nearly the same phrasing several times. Skipping these paragraphs is not difficult however, and overall I would highly recommend it.

Not a bad start to a sociological SF series.......2002-09-04

I picked up this book on a whim while checking out at Fred Meyer. I have never read any Charles Ingrid, and I must say I found the first volume of this two-volume series to be fairly good. Not smashingly good, for it had its problems, but good just the same.

Hard SF fans probably won't like it, as the science behind the book is rubbery at best. The bahdur of the Choyan race seems like nothing so much as magic, and throughout the book there is little to dispell this impression. Like George Lucas's epic Force that dominates the galaxy in Star Wars, the Talent and bahdur of the Choyan race is an unexplainable plot device that allows the Tezar pilots to wield supernatural powers, for good or evil. If you're annoyed by the Science Fanciful, then this book is probably not for you.

Otherwise, the inhabitants of Cho are drawn in gripping, livid detail, and the central character Palaton is sympathetic and engaging, as a hero should be. I was refreshed in that humans, for the most part, remain on the fringes of the central story, though it seems obvious they will take a far greater role in the second volume. The Abdrelik and Ronin adversaries are drawn in convincingly predatory strokes, while the carnivorous politics of the Compact give the reader the impression that the barriers keeping the various races from each others' throats are paper thin.

I think my biggest beef is that Ingrid is not much of a battle scene writer. Several of the most climactic moments focus on what should have been huge battles. The invasion of Arizar and the ultimate showdown between the Abdreliks and the Choyan on Cho itself, are compressed into a few pages, as if they are mere afterthoughts. The events of the Two Day War over Cho should have been the highlight of the book, with whole chapters expended upon them, but are instead are rushed through as if the writer can't be bothered with the hard-hitting prose.

In this sense the book is basically about relationships. The push and pull of duty versus desire, good versus evil, loyalty versus adventure, etc. The meat of the book involves the characters and how they relate to each other.

I picked up the second volume and am reading it now. So Ingrid obviously hooked me in enough to want to read the whole thing through to the conclusion.

Enjoyable but imperfect.......2002-03-15

I liked the book enough to finish the rest of the series. However, the writing was not always clear. Also, I found the Choyan's to be too "human."

Two spies on a rooftop: And other story sermons for children's church

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Wonderful Kids Book

Two spies on a rooftop: And other story sermons for children's church
Marianne Catherine Vos Radius
Manufacturer: Baker Book House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0801076676

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Kids Book.......2003-05-04

This book is a great book for kids to begin learning the stories of the old testament. We are having our first child and I plan to read it to my children every night before they go to bed the way my parents read this book to me every night. This book makes the Old Testament stories come alive for them.

Hagstrom Union/Hudson/Essex Counties & Metropolitan New York: Covering a 75 Mile Radius from Midtown Manhattan (Hagstrom Union, Hudson, Essex New Jersey (Spiral/Laminated))

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Hagstrom Union/Hudson/Essex Counties & Metropolitan New York: Covering a 75 Mile Radius from Midtown Manhattan (Hagstrom Union, Hudson, Essex New Jersey (Spiral/Laminated))

Manufacturer: Hagstrom Map Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

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ASIN: 1592459706

Book Description

All U.S., state and interstate highways; hospitals, cemetaries; golf courses and country clubs: parks and railroad routes. Metropolitan New York 75-mile radius, covering highways and secondary roads; fully indexed; maps of major cities; scenic routes; points of interest and things to do.

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Washington, DC 50-Mile Radius Wall Map
Adc
Manufacturer: ADC The Map People
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Map

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ASIN: 0875304222

Book Description

Folded wall map showing major roads, cities and towns from the Pennsylvania state line to Fredericksburg, VA and from Berryville, VA to Cambridge, MD. Fully indexed, including military and federal features, points of interest, place names and more.

Anatomy of a Guerrilla Film: The Making of RADIUS

Average customer rating:

Great Intro to From the Ground Up Filmmaking
At least it includes the Movie...
Great combination of text from book with film and video from disk.
Well written book on overcoming and anticipating the pains of filmmaking on the cheap
Great Book DVD Combo

Anatomy of a Guerrilla Film: The Making of RADIUS
Helmut Kobler
Manufacturer: Course Technology PTR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1592009107

Book Description

Want to make a guerrilla film of your own? Learn how as first-time director Helmut Kobler takes you through the highs and lows of creating his ambitious film "RADIUS" on a meager budget. Kobler explains how he and his team accomplished each step of the filmmaking process -- from writing the script and financing it with credit cards to completing the final sound mix, marketing the film, and distributing it for others to see. Go behind the scenes as Kobler offers a frank account of what went right and what went wrong. This unique guide is a must-have for all aspiring guerrilla filmmakers.

Customer Reviews:

Great Intro to From the Ground Up Filmmaking.......2005-10-22

There are plenty of filmmaking books on the shelves these days, this is one of the most original, out-of-the-box books I've come across. What makes it unique is that the author has managed to write both a tale of do it yourself style filmmaking and a practical guide which moves beyond the "making of" stage to offer solid advice on Marketing and Distribution.

Kobler should be praised for his incredible energy if anything else. The filmmaker created his 30+ minute film, and then a double-disk DVD with hours of Film School videos for other beginning filmmakers. Then he self distributed the DVD on his own web site, and did press for it; getting it covered in MovieMaker magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, and many other publications and web sites, and he also gathered positive marketing quotes from other well-known filmmaking professionals. Again, what makes this book impressive and different is that Kobler moves beyond the story telling mode and explains how he did all of this on the cheap, in practical and painstaking detail.

I also really appreciated the author's honesty about the whole process. For instance he tried to get a promotional quote for the DVD from Robert Rodriguez, and to do so, he produced an elaborate customized web site (there is a URL in the book so you can see it for yourself) and video just for Rodriguez, before asking the director for a quote. But, Rodriguez never responded. Its nice to see that with all his self made gusto this filmmaker is still willing to let his ego down and detail when things go wrong.

I think if you want a frankly written and fun tale of practical "from the ground up" filmmaking, this book is a great choice.

At least it includes the Movie... .......2005-09-27

I read this book today in a 2 hour sitting. I was aware of the movie from the days of "internet movie" hype, which the author admits was a motivation. The only thing he never addresses is "Why shoot 35mm for something that was hyped as screening on the internet?" So I was always suspicious of this movie because shooting 35mm to project at 320x240 (the best rate going a few years back) across modem lines seemed like overkill professionalism.

All the same, the book is a fast read and has a lot of information. I appreciate that the author owns up to NOT reading books he sugggests for further study. The retail price is a bit high, but for $26 on Amazon, you come out better than other books out there for strict practicality.

If anything, this book is an excellent case study for NOT hiring, and for trying to do as much within your resources as possible. He tells stories of extreme delays in post production that he admits would've been avoided had he actually made a true internet -resolution movie. Your renders and frame rate are that much faster.

So, this work is rooted in his experience making and promoting his movie, so there's a lot of stuff you can learn from his mistakes, and what he did right.

Alas, it always comes down to the movie. I've read some great insight from directors whose work I'm not into. Or I get shocked by the contradiction of written insight and filmic letdown. (Cronenberg is a great interview. All he said about Crash was so much better than the movie itself.) So the movie is what it is, but the book is worth the read at any stage of production you're in. Say what you will about the movie, but he started and finished his movie and sells it on DVD. If you are not yet doing these things, then read this to avoid hassles. And pay attention to how he slowly learned to do-it-himself by the time DVD authoring rolled around. Might as well start DIY from the get go. So you get the book and the movie on DVD for one price. Read the book first, take notes, consider it incase you dismiss everything out of hand due to disliking the movie. Enjoy- Anthony Torres http://www.BarrioBoys.com

Great combination of text from book with film and video from disk........2005-08-23

This book felt a little expensive at $40, but the DVD makes it worth it. Watch the film first, then read whatever production how-to chapters are interesting. The lessons stick because you've seen the film and can truly visualize what the author is talking about. There's also a couple of hours of making of videos, where you can see the crew making each scene of the movie. This is a great feature; the videos are interesting, and usually focus on some struggle that the filmmakers faced, like making costumes from off the shelf materials or shooting major scenes in a kitchen (that's one of the best videos). Combining the film and videos from the disk with the details of the text brings the how-to filmmaking material to life, and really helped me visualize how I might approach some projects I want to do.

Well written book on overcoming and anticipating the pains of filmmaking on the cheap.......2005-08-15

This book comes with a DVD that includes the full RADIUS film with extras including stuff that many DVDs leave out like examples of color correction techniques and FX shots at various stages and tests as well as some raw footage.

The film RADIUS is not perfect (which the director/author admits in the book) but for a low/no budget film it's great. It's tight, the acting is FAR above many of the films you see in this genre and on-line, the camera work is good and the sound (a failing of most low/no budget films) is great with a nice soundtrack.

I enjoyed the film and enjoyed watching it again after reading the book and taking note of some of the things they were able to accomplish not the least of which was even completing this film in the 100+ degrees of death valley. Plus you can see the scenes where things didn't go right and weren't able to accomplish their plan but still made it work.

Helmut Kobler made this film for around $60,000 which to me is a far cry from the guerrilla filmmakers out there that are making films for $2000 but it's a great AND inspiring read and with the DVD it makes it well worth the price of the book for any filmmaker to learn a few tricks and get some ideas and learn.

I would seriously recommend this to anyone interested in a good tale of low/no budget film making because not only is it an enjoyable film and book but there is LOTS to learn from this and you can't help but be inspired or at least learn from his mistakes.

Great Book DVD Combo.......2005-07-05

I got this book a couple of days ago and have gotten a ton out of it. I have bought a few filmmaking books before, but this is the first one that actually shows you a real film (on DVD), and then dissects it piece by piece. And it really does dissect it--the detail it goes into is great, and may be overwhelming or too much unless you are looking to do a film. But it is great for me!

By the way, I'm not new to the movie Radius. I bought the original 2 disk DVD when it came out last year, and thought it was great, especially for $60,000. I bought it because I read an ethusiastic review of it on the filmthreat web site. I think it's really oddd that a previous Amazon reviewer would say the movie is bad and give the book 1 star. That's really strange to me. I found RObert Rodgriguez' 10 Minute Film School very helpful too, but it hardly touches the usefulness of this book and movie for learining about filmmaking in the real world, in my opinion.

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