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Reaper
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Twice Dying
House of Lords
About the Author
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Turncoat: A Novel of Suspense
Blood and Guile
The Burglar on the Prowl
The Sky is Falling
Oyster
Buried at Sea: A Novel of Suspense
Moving Target
Running Scared
Close to Home: A Novel of Suspense
By a Spider's Thread
Fatal Flaw
Tropic of Night
Tropic of Night
A World of Thieves
Cryptonomicon

Average customer rating:

A nice little book
JAGPN
Pratchett
Quite Possibly, Pratchett's Best
Good, but not great.

Reaper Man
Terry Pratchett
Manufacturer: HarperTorch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Eric
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ASIN: 0061020621
Release Date: 2002-07-30

Book Description

They say there are only two things you can count on ...

But that was before DEATH started pondering the existential. Of course, the last thing anyone needs is a squeamish Grim Reaper and soon his Discworld bosses have sent him off with best wishes and a well-earned gold watch. Now DEATH is having the time of his life, finding greener pastures where he can put his scythe to a whole new use.

But like every cutback in an important public service, DEATH's demise soon leads to chaos and unrest -- literally, for those whose time was supposed to be up, like Windle Poons. The oldest geezer in the entire faculty of Unseen University -- home of magic, wizardry, and big dinners -- Windle was looking forward to a wonderful afterlife, not this boring been-there-done-that routine. To get the fresh start he deserves, Windle and the rest of Ankh-Morpork's undead and underemployed set off to find DEATH and save the world for the living (and everybody else, of course).

Customer Reviews:

A nice little book.......2007-06-28

_Reaper Man_ by Terry Pratchett is a Discworld novel, and a very nice way to pass an afternoon.

There are a number of plots and subplots going on within _Reaper Man_, but the title plot (if you want to call it that) concerns the death of Death. The universal auditors decide that it is entirely unacceptable that Death has started to acquire his own personality, since personalities tend to create chaos and unexpected events, which is completely against the order of the universe.

Therefore, Death is given his very own hourglass showing the sands of his life, and is sent out to live his last few days in retirement. This story arc is very well done, and we follow death as he begins to understand what it is like to be human and to know that no matter what you do, one day there won't be any time left.

On a separate (but related) story arc, we meet Windle Poons, a wizard at the university of Ankh-Morpork, who is approaching his last days. However, with Death having been put into involuntary retirement, and the auditors having not hired his replacement yet, Windle finds that he cannot die. He and his colleagues try mightily to kill him, but without success. Along the way, Windle Poons discovers how to actually LIVE, and finds that being Windle Poons is quite a bit more meaningful and fun than he realized while he was still alive.

One of the amazing things about Pratchett's books are his asides on philosophy and sociology that are woven into his books, which you don't even expect until you come across them. In _Reaper Man_, we are treated to a meditation on the nature of belief, and belief being capable of creating the thing it believes in out of sheer need to exist; a question about what happens when you have too much life floating around and what things might come alive when Death isn't there to take care of making sure everything dies; a clear criticism of malls and a (probably true) metaphor of malls as parasites that kill cities; and a couple of discreet pokes at managerial and bureaucratic types that take themselves and their positions too seriously.

All in all, a very good book, but I am only giving it four stars as I thought the whole snowglobe-as-eggs story arc took way too long to develop and the end of that arc felt a bit rushed. Still, a very good book, and one I'd recommend to almost anyone.

JAGPN.......2007-06-15

Just Another Great Pratchett Novel. As always, if you like the discworld, you'll like this.

Pratchett.......2007-06-14

What can I say, it is Terry Pratchett. As with all things written or produced by this strange man: It is outstanding.

Quite Possibly, Pratchett's Best.......2007-06-12

While the concept of the character is not unique to Pratchett, Pratchett's most entertaining character may be DEATH. In those books that have dealt with the character, DEATH consistently delivers the best lines and often seems to be the closest link between Discworld and our world.

In "Reaper Man", DEATH retires to a life in a rural area. While the tools of his previous job come in handy, he has some trouble adjusting to the new life. Particularly in socializing with the locals, Death endures some awkwardly humorous situations. While DEATH is down on the farm, nobody is doing the job of DEATH. As a result, the dead are not dying. And when retired wizard Windle Poons refuses to take death properly, the less than competent wizards of Unseen University must try to solve the problem. The Dean's swearing problems steal the show in the scenes with the faculty. In an apparent dig at rights movements, Poons joins a society for the rights of dead people called the "Fresh Start Club". One need not be dead to be a member.

Pratchett is razor sharp in his satire and social musing in "Reaper Man". The books in the Discworld series that center around Death are the best. Perhaps this is because what is funny is usually not far from reality. And the reality is that we all must face death.

Good, but not great. .......2007-04-01

Terry Pratchett takes on the concept of what would happen if Death took a holiday and stopped taking dead people to wherever it is they go when they die. Since this is a Discworld novel, Death is personified as a robed, skeletal figure WHO ALWAYS SPEAKS IN CAPITAL LETTERS. The plot follows Windle Poons, an extremely old wizard who is ready to die and get on with the afterlife. When his appointed time comes (and every wizard knows exactly when he's going to die) Death doesn't show up and Windle discovers that in addition to still being dead, his mind is now more alert than ever and his body is stronger than it has been in decades. Still, it's no picnic being dead and still hanging around so Windle decides to find out what has happened. Meanwhile, Death decides to see what it's like being a human and takes on a job as a farmhand for a widow. (He's very handy with a scythe during harvest time.) In addition, the wizards at Unseen University must deal with some very strange occurrences as a living city (more on that later) tries to take over the town of Ankh-Morpork.

Reaper Man contains the usual assortment of wacky characters, puns, and jokes one would expect in a Discworld novel. I liked the self-help group of the recently Undead and the wizards were funny too. Unfortunately, the book isn't as hilarious as the last two Discworld novels I read, Guards Guards and Wyrd Sisters. The plot of a strange threat about to take over the Disc is too similar. Also, the explanation for why a city is somehow evolving and taking the form of snow globes and shopping carts is convoluted and murky. Similarly, the philosophical reasons behind how Death works and the idea of "life force" are too abstract to make much sense.

Overall, this is an average Pratchett novel. If you've never read one of his books, I recommend starting with Guards Guards. Reaper Man is best saved for later when you're trying to complete your collection.

The Reaper's Line: Life and Death on the Mexican Border

Average customer rating:

A Great Read
told the way it happened
Scary Reading
Awesome Book!
Did Kitty Kelly write this under a pen name?

The Reaper's Line: Life and Death on the Mexican Border
Lee Morgan
Manufacturer: Rio Nuevo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 188789697X

Book Description

A true story of violence, drugs, human smuggling and dirty politicians along the Mexican/American border.

When he was 14, Lee Morgan learned to shoot a rifle from a young Marine who later became the "Texas Tower Sniper." Four years later, Lee was conducting CIA assassination missions in Vietnam. Then he spent the next 31 years on the U.S.-Mexico border as a federal agent, where the struggle against smugglers of drugs and starving human beings is as harrowing as anything Lee encountered in Vietnam.

The Reaper's Line is a non-fiction account of unparalleled official corruption, mass murders, gunfights, treason, betrayal, and government wrongdoing.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Read.......2007-06-08

What an incredible real life adventure story. I couldn't put it down.

told the way it happened.......2007-01-25

As a 19 year veteran of the Border Patrol, with my first 10 years in Douglas, AZ I can say for a fact that the book is completely true. I was there! For the Record I do know Mr. Morgan very well. These events actually happened, occasionaly I was involved also. Other reviewers may doubt the authencity I don't. As for putting the USBP in a bad light, maybe maybe not. We get what we deserve. I find no fault with Lee on this. He did not portray all BP agents as inept nor did he portray all Customs agents saintly. The truth is the truth.
Great Book

Scary Reading.......2007-01-14

I am retired from the California Department of Corrections and could write my own book about the flow of illegal aliens. I can attest that there are prison gangs that require that the potential member is illegal. As a nurse, I can also attest to where California Tax dollars are spent on illegals. I enjoyed the humourous and factual content. This book should be required reading for all law enforcement that will be dealing with the illegal alien problems.

Awesome Book!.......2007-01-11

Very real to life from a man who spent many years trying to make our country safe. He has very good and true notions about drugs and immigration. As a law enforcement officer, everything he says about the administration is true of every government agency. Seems the ones in the carpeted office who have never been there (or havent in so long they forgot how it was) can make all the decisions about what is best for you and how best to do your job. I admire the author for his many years of dedication and service, and the care and concern he shows for his "kids". Too bad that instead of being pushed out, he wasn't pushed up, could have made a world of difference for our future, our country, and our agents. I am sure that the REMF's see it as "sour grapes", but believe me, the attitude and beliefs are TRUE! Thank you Lee Morgan!

Did Kitty Kelly write this under a pen name?.......2007-01-10

As a professional researcher I often look for "true life" stories for material... and the US Border being a topical Hot-Spot like this is an important one at the moment. I guess the author thought he capitalize on that currency by publishing this book. Upon reading this I was like "Incredible" but after researching the matter further I found it to be an unverfiable anecdotal garbage.
I would like to see more than a Kitty Kelly approach to this subject as it is important issue as our borders security. The right wing Lou Dobb's CNN Broken Borders Conspiracy, while having valid issues, does not need the flames fanned by this incindiary piece any more than UFO Researchers need more area 51 stories. If you are thinking of buying this book, please, find something else more professionally written and post it here so that those of us who want the truth can get to it.

The Reapers Song (Red River of the North #4)

Average customer rating:

The Reapers Song
Great book, great series...Period.
Another great book!
Enter southern drawlin' Zeb McCallister
very good!

The Reapers Song (Red River of the North #4)
Lauraine Snelling
Manufacturer: Bethany House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0764201948
Release Date: 2006-09-01

Book Description

Ever so slowly Dakota Territory is being transformed from a vast prairie into rich farmland. With the coming of the railroad, the small town of Blessing begins to prosper, and the Bjorklund family is reaping the promised harvest that had lured them from their beloved home in Norway. But for Ingeborg and Haakan, realizing their dreams will not come without a struggle. After their own fields are harvested, Haakan and the neighboring men take the steam engine and the separator on the road, threshing for other homesteaders in return for a portion of their grain. With Haakan away and the fields standing idle, Ingeborg frets over work yet to be done. Fearing an early change of seasons, she takes matters into her own hands. Has the land become more important to Ingeborg than her own family?

Customer Reviews:

The Reapers Song.......2005-08-16

Very good book. I love this series. Lauraine Snelling moves the characters lives along in each book, while adding new ones as well. She makes you care for the Bjorklund family and worry about their future.

Great book, great series...Period........2003-05-24

I have read all the books in this series and all the books in the sequel series. Ms. Snelling is one of my favorite authors and this is one of my favorite books. I have rad every book numerous times and would recommend them for anyone. Ms. Snelling knows real-life situations that pertained to the late 1800s and writes about them. I personally believe "A reader from Alberta, Canada" must have only skimmed the book and I suggest that she get her facts straight.

Another great book!.......2003-04-08

This is a sad book at times, but it brings out the truths of life for the homesteaders. Although I wish Ingeborg would get her baby, I also know that her situation was very real for many women. Alberta, Canada hasn't read this book because she doesn't know what she is talking about at all. It's a great book in a great series, I love them all.

Enter southern drawlin' Zeb McCallister.......2001-05-19

Even though I felt book 4 was just a bit dragging at times, it kept my interest because it built on the life of Hjelmer. There is finally a blacksmith and a merchantile in town. Penny's only known relative comes to join her. Haaken contracts mumps as they spread throughout the families, and the Bjorkland matriarch arrives with 4 others for vacationing -or is it a move?

A very dramatic incident occurs when Anner, an angry farmer, has a farm accident.

During a 6 wk absence of her husband and against all advise including his, Ingeborg returns to her britches and plowing and has a freak though serious accident. Zeb MacCallister, a fugitive caring for orphans Manda and Deborah, joins the prairie families. Manda talks too much.

Blessing women are discussing the possibility of women's votes and the fact their area is about to become a state. Katy and Zeb are extremely attracted but speak completely different languages.

A bank is opening, several weddings take place, and near the end of the book Zeb sees his siter momentarily and gets a painful scare which forces him into an even more painful decision.

Despite a slight discrepancy in timeframes by the author, I am glad I already have purchased book 5 in this series.

very good!.......2000-10-21

After reading the review by "A reader from Alberta, Canada," I am appalled by the misinformation this person provides. Just to make sure, I went home and read the entire series, and there is NO instance where they laugh at Andrew for being naughty, and there is at least one spanking, where Andrew let the sheep out when he knew better. "Alberta, Canada" obviously has this book mixed up with something else.

Everworld #04: Realm Of The Reaper (Everworld)

Average customer rating:

Fabulous!
The Way of the Dead
The Vampires Assistant
W.T.H?! Welcome to Hel
Lit Log #5

Everworld #04: Realm Of The Reaper (Everworld)
K.A. Applegate
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0590877607

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous!.......2007-03-29

I would have to say that so far, this is my favorite book out of the Everworld series (I still have 8 more to go). April, Jalil, David and Christopher have escaped Loki only to be in a never ending forest with not much to eat or drink. They finally come to what looks like a town and the smell of baking bread drives them closer to it. They find that it is more a prison than a town. Mostly everyone in town in male and terrified of "she". Who is this she and why is everyone so scared of her?

The Way of the Dead.......2003-04-04

A Review by Jonathan

The group Jalil, April, David, and Christopher are still searching for the witch Senna. They stumble upon a village of men. The need for food and rest drove them to an inn. They cannot leave this village unless a dredded "She" of which people speak, lets them. They learn of Loki's daughter Hel, and that she plans to torture them for the end of eternity. If they can't escape her clutches, they will certainly die.

I liked the feel of the environment of this book. It envelopes and immerses the reader. It creates an atmosphere that helps the reader along. It also creates a sense of emotion such as fear. Another point of liking is that it is very easy to get into. The book has a clean, crisp plot that is easily readable, yet enjoyable. One more point of interest is the problems that the characters face. This adds to the intensity of the book. I like the fact that most of their problems are god related. This makes it interesting because they also have to survive. They don't know what will happen to them in the real world if they die in Everworld. Sometimes the concept of their consciousness traveling between universes can be confusing, but I get it. This is a semi- easy book.

I recommend this book to people that take a liking to thrills and adventure. Also, there is a lot of action in this book. I think this book is excellent, I think the same about the entire series. This is a semi-easy book to read.

The Vampires Assistant.......2002-06-01

I loved this book because of its extreme intesity. It made you excited and anxious to see what happens next. It is unpredictable and builds up tension while you read. I would reccomend this book for anyone between the ages of 12-and up.

W.T.H?! Welcome to Hel.......2002-03-26

Jalil, David, April, and Christopher have landed in one of the worst places yet. They are fed and well taken care, Until they find out about a cave that could take them home. But instead they have entered the realm of Hel. Loki's half dead daughter. She can get all mens attention (Mortal, Immortal, and Gods). She has a beauty to her that no one can resist. David, Christopher and Jalil do not have a will of their own. When Hel is about toss them to her snake, Jalil comes upon Senna. This reunion was not good at all. Better yet, all of them are about to fall to Hel's giant snake that is miles long! W.T.E

Lit Log #5.......2001-09-19

WOAH, this book is the best book that you will ever read (unless the other books that you read are in the Everworld series). In this book you will be the character Jalil and will go through many different journeys and will encounter many different foes. Many people who you will think who and what they are, but really aren't. Overall this book will blow your mind with the amazing descriptions of friends and enemies. I hope that you will enjoy reading this book!!! :-)

Warhammer: Reaper of Souls (Darkblade, No. 3)

Average customer rating:

Reaping a Whirlwind of a Read
Fantastic
Many, many shocking surprises but the weakest of the three
Malus Darkblade continues the hunt for his soul
Book 3

Warhammer: Reaper of Souls (Darkblade, No. 3)
Dan Abnett , and Mike Lee
Manufacturer: Games Workshop
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 1844161935

Book Description

In the world of Warhammer, dark elves reign supreme for their sophisticated savagery, and no member of this race is more infamous than Malus Darkblade. Possessed by a daemon, Malus has but a year to find five magical artefacts before his soul becomes forfeit.

Customer Reviews:

Reaping a Whirlwind of a Read.......2007-02-15

Dan Abnett and Mike Lee's 3rd book in the Darkblade series once again takes readers down a dark and gothic fantasy adventure that spills gallons of blood and gore.

The cover art in these books are utterly cool and fantastic, giving the reader a clear picture of the look and feel to this dark, medieval world full of daemons and dark elves that ride neat prehistoric beasts into battle.

Although I give this series overall a 3.5 star rating, it is still a fun read full of intrigue and action. I always feel the first half of the books are always better than the overall latter half of the novels. I don't know if that is a penchant for a specific author, or just that I feel the steam kinda runs out halfway through.

I still look forward to the next installment: WARPSWORD, coming out in February or March 2007. The cover art on that book is amazing as well.

Fantastic.......2006-11-08

Once again Dan Abnett kept me hooked. I love the dark writing style and the sick sense of humor of the dark elves in general..... Great Book

Many, many shocking surprises but the weakest of the three.......2006-09-08

As you may have already read from previous reviews of this book, yes there are more twists and surprises, that is a given if you are familiar with the series. But it's the kind of surprises towards the end that were shocking and in the case of Hacluir and the retainers, were sad.

The first book, Daemon's Curse, felt like a new adventure to the unknown with Malus' devious character at its worst. Paranoid and not a care in the world, driven purely by greed and ambition. Great insite into his mind and how little worth other people's lives are to him. They encounter wood elves, barbarians and beastmen. The end of the book is just the beginning of his quest. Great adventure book, shocking ending.

The second book, Blood Storm so far is considered the most superior. It starts with pure torture and carnage at the hands of his own father, followed by an extravagant party full of sex, drugs and people dying from overindulgence, only to realise that the expensive party thrown for him did not come without a steep price and expectations. Shortly it is followed by a fast chase from another brother only to be tortured again. All this and more in just the first few chapters before the real adventure and betrayals begin aboard a warship in the high seas in a campaign against the diseased Skinriders.

This third book, Reaper of Souls starts off excellent. Malus barely makes it too land in a battered ship where dead bodies are found every morning, and the gloom morale of the salors along with boat load of gold taken from the Skinriders defeat keeps Malus from torturing people for clues and answers. The docking in Clar Karond is where the fast fun chasing and begins. Unfortunatly it is in Clar Karondalso where the fun ends and fast.
While this book indeed has more twists than the previous two, I felt that it failed to maintain the energy and anticipation unlike the previous two books. The hunt for him never stops and I doubt it will ever for Malus (that's good). One of the last twists has him commanding a vast army against Hag Graef his home and one of the most feared cities. The shock value comes from the characters who die, those involved in his curse, and those along with himself that are left in the end with nothing.

Fun note: In this book Malus is the pawn and only Nagaira and Malus' mother really know how evil yet great a warrior Malus truly is, with Nagaira finding out the hard way. The dagger thrown perfectly at the chest of an important character was a pleasant read and remeniscent of Indiana Jones shooting a blade wielding show-off, even Nagaira was impressed with his throw.

Malus Darkblade continues the hunt for his soul.......2006-08-09

'Reaper Of Souls' is the third installment of the Malus Darkblade books. Read 'The Daemon's Curse' and then 'Bloodstorm' to catch the full story. Otherwise, you might be a little lost in this installment.

Betrayed by kin and foe, not to mention his own greed, Malus has been possessed by the daemon Tz'arkan. In order to free his soul from the daemon, he must find five relics in one year or suffer the daemon forever. Already in possession of the Octagon Of Praan and the Idol Of Kolkuth, 'Reaper Of Souls' continues to follow Malus Darkblade as he seeks out the Dagger Of Torxus. The dagger is said to be resting at the tomb of Eleuril The Damned in a dark crypt-city called the houses of the dead.

From the first page to the last, 'Reaper Of Souls' is a long bloody battle interspersed with deceit, betrayal, vengeance, sorcery, vicious sibling rivalry, and furious bloodthirstiness. Just another day in the life of a dark elf.

The Dagger Of Torxus is the most dangerous relic Malus has sought so far. With his brother Bruglir dead, Urial has claimed Yasmir, disappearing with her after he takes possession of her. To get the dagger, Malus must face the Shades and conquer a vicious warlord. After the face of the warlord is revealed, Malus is labeled Kinslayer and flees for his life to his uncle Balneth Bale. Bale is a witch lord, residing over the vast Black Ark Of Naggor. But uncle Bale has a surprise for Malus. Bale's vile son, Fuerlan, has a new betrothed: none other than Malus's sister Nagaira who disappeared in a violent storm and was thought to be dead.

Have I revealed too much? No, indeed, by this time the plots and twists are so thick you won't know who is dealing for what favor. Malus has his work cut out for him now. With every person he's ever known out to use him or cut his throat, he must find a way to retrieve his relics and stay alive in the process. There's a big surprise at the ending that will leave you breathless as you wait for the fourth installment.

Some series slow down around the third book, but not this one. You don't have to be a fan of the Warhammer game to enjoy this bloody dark elf adventure, but it would help to be a fan of dark elves. The 'Tale Of Malus Darkblade' series is action-packed, fast-faced, bloody, seriously deviant and wicked, and a treat for fans of either fantasy or horror. Enjoy!

Book 3.......2006-08-01

Malus Darkblade's soul is still under ransom to the ancient daemon Tz'arkan. Two of the five cursed relics have been retrieved. Now Malus goes after the Dagger of Torkus. The dagger is sealed within Prince Eleuril's crypt, which resides in the Houses of the Dead. Malus must not only find the secret entrance, but survive the booby traps and magical traps that lay within. You'd think that would be enough to overcome. Malus is already called a warrior, betrayer, and monster. Yet in order to claim the dagger, he must gain a new title: kinslayer. With this new title, Malus's life is worth nothing. No one will give him safe harbor. No one will claim him as friend or their dread lord. Malus must somehow stay ahead of the warriors that hunt him, and they are very close. His only hope is to reach his uncle, Balneth Bale. Bale's realm is in the icy wastes and the Black Ark of Naggor.

Balneth Bale is the Witch Lord. He accepts Malus into his service. Malus learns that he is not the only family member that has betrayed his home and kin. Nagaira, his sorceress sister, seems to have survived the previous explosion. Bale has gathered his allies and devised a devious strategy to overtake Hag Graef and crown his own deformed son as king of the newly conquered realm.

***** That is but half of the plot in this, the third within a savage series of blood and mayhem. Prophecies are being fulfilled, no one is even a tad honest, all betray on multiple levels. Twists and surprises abound throughout the novel. No, you will not be bored at all with this installment. As usual, I could bang my head in frustration that I must wait for the next tale in order to see which relic this dark elf will slaughter for next. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Average customer rating:

Great Read !!!
An Unusual Start
1700s brought back to life
Reading is FUNdamental
First-Rate Sailing Adventure

The Reaper
Michael Aye
Manufacturer: Pisgah Review
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0972630341

Book Description

Captain Gilbert Anthony has a lot on his mind. He has just been decorated for extraordinary bravery under fire, been given command of the fourth-rate Drakkar, learned from his father's deathbed that he has a fully-grown illegimate brother and will soon be dispatched on a special mission chasing pirates in the Carribbean ... and that's just in the first fifteen pages! Honoring his dying father, the eponymous 'Fighting James Anthony,' Vice Admiral of the Blue, Gil takes his half-brother Gabriel into the ship's company as a senior midshipman. As Drakkar sails Captain Anthony soon realizes having his brother aboard might not be the family reunion he hoped for when he encounters the resentment of one of his officers, Lieutenant Witzenfeld. But the real conflict lies ahead with the menacing pirate raiders who must be captured to cease the depradations against peaceful English merchants. There Drakkar will find the feared pirate frigate Reaper and have her entire crew tested in savage combat. VOLUME 1 IN THE FIGHTING ANTHONYS SERIES!

Customer Reviews:

Great Read !!!.......2007-04-26

I've just finished this book in two days and really enjoyed it. It is written in the fashion of Dudley Pope, Alexander Kent and Charles White.

Plenty of action and romance for the "Fighting Anthonys", two (half-)brothers chasing pirates in the Caribean at the eve of the American Revolution.

I am glad I purchased this and the second book " The Sea Wolf" together, so I can continue with the story of Gil and Gabe without interuption.

Can we expect book three + ? I hope so...

An Unusual Start.......2006-08-02

Most people who start a series of naval fiction in the age of sail take as their protagonist a young midshipman or lieutenant. Then, over the course of the development of the series, we see the protagonist develop into a better officer and rise in the ranks. Michael Aye has done something different. His character starts as a post captain fresh from a major victory. There would seem to be little room for upward mobility with a start like that but the book is worth reading.

Captain Anthony is assigned to suppress piracy in the Caribbean. He does so at a time when the stage is being set for the American Revolution. Tensions are running high but conflict has not yet broken out. The pirates are everyone's enemies and the captain proves to be an effective suppressor of their trade.

The book is extremely fast paced and enjoyable to read. Some to the situation and solutions seem to reek too much of coincidence but it is a fun read. I look forward to more.

1700s brought back to life.......2006-03-29

Reviewed by Ellen Hogan for Reader Views (3/06)

Captain Gilbert Anthony gets word that his father is very ill. When he goes to see him, Gil learns that he has a grown half brother. Their father asks Gil to teach Gabe how to be a good seaman.

Meanwhile a pirate ship called The Reaper is preying on any ship that comes in its path. The Drakkar, captained by Gil is sent out to find and take care of The Reaper. The story is full of battles with pirates, a damsel in distress, salty sailors, and the new relationship between Gil and Gabe.

Captain Anthony and his crew are able to capture The Reaper after a fierce battle. Gil is then promoted to the rank of rear Admiral, while Gabe, having reached the rank of Lieutenant, gets his own command.

The characters are very believable and very colorful. Dagan the gypsy, Lady Deborah the damsel and Silas and Bart the servants of Captain Anthony all have their place and fill it well.

This is not the type of book that I usually read, but it was very enjoyable and I did not want it to end. Anyone with a love of history, pirates and good triumphing over evil will want to read this book.

The Reaper brings adventures of the 1700's to life.

Reading is FUNdamental.......2006-03-25

During my high school years, among my favorite reads were Don Pendleton's The Executioner series and all of those yellow-spined sci-fi/fantasy novels published by DAW. The two things all of those novels had in common were that they rarely topped two-hundred pages, and they were fun. In the breadth of a weekend of reading, Mack Bolan could clean the Mafia out of Memphis or Elric of Melnibone could recover the runesword Stormbringer. As time went on, it seemed like the likes of Tom Clancy ousted Pendleton and Elric's throne was usurped by Robert Jordan megabooks.

However, much to my delight, the short adventure novel isn't dead. One fine example that reminded me of when reading was fun is The Reaper, the first book of the Fighting Anthonys series by Michael Aye. It is the tale of British naval officer Gilbert Anthony and his war against West Indian piracy just prior to the American Revolution. Along with the assistance of his loyal crew, including his half-brother Gabriel and the mysterious Dagan, Anthony cleans out the Caribbean.

Published by Broadsides Press, the book has been likened to "if Louis L'Amour had written an Age of Sail novel." While the genre lies within the straits of Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester, the author's style reminds me of Glen Cook with an occassional squall of Flashmanesque humor and a gust of supernatural thrown in for good measure.

If you're the type of person who thinks Talk-Like-A-Pirate Day should be a year round event, The Reaper should definitely be on your reading list.

First-Rate Sailing Adventure.......2006-02-25

This is a rip roaring, sea going adventure yarn that takes place just prior to the revolutionary war. I was captured by Captain Gilbert Anthony on the first page and stayed with him and the book for a whole day, reveling in another time, another place.

The books starts out in England. Captain Anthony's father is dying. He tells his son he has a half brother, puts Anthony in charge of seeing to the young lad's future in the Navy. Anthony inherits the old man's title when he passes and he accepts willingly the charge his father had given him.

Lord Anthony is given command of the Drakkar and ordered to the Caribbean to fight pirates. His young half-brother is under his command. So to is a cruel lieutenant, who is overly abusive to Anthony's brother, knowing the captain cannot interfere. However, Anthony's help isn't needed, because somehow this hard headed lieutenant falls overboard and is lost at sea.

Anthony arrives in the Caribbean, but not before engaging pirates and rescuing a bountiful lass, who later becomes his mistress. But all is not going to be roses for Captain Anthony in the sunny Caribbean for there is a daring and daunting pirate frigate called the Reaper which is busy raiding and pillaging. It's up to Anthony to find it and stop it. Will he be up to the challenge?

This book is written in a straight forward, easy to understand way that seems to gradually make you a part of the life in the Caribbean three centuries ago. I must say I enjoyed it immensely and I think you will too.

Reviewed by Stephanie Sane

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A far cry from what Batman fans expect
Flawed, especially when compared to Year One
Not the best bat-collection, but there are certainly worse ones
Joe Chill ?????
A perfectly decent Batman adventure

Batman: Year Two: Fear The Reaper
Mike W Barr
Manufacturer: DC Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1563899671

Customer Reviews:

A far cry from what Batman fans expect.......2007-03-07

Let me start off by saying, Year Two was not high on my list of must read Batman novels. But at this point I've read a fair share of them, and I eventually got around to it. It will never be considered one of the great groundbreaking Batman storylines, but that's not to say that it is unreadable.

What enticed me to read this was the fact that Mask of the Phantasm, one of the best Batman movies ever made, is loosely based on this. I believe MOTP not only improves upon this story in many ways, but helps me appreciate Phantasm even more for adding a better twist and a well executed finale.

The worst part about Year Two is Batman carries a gun. When I opened it up for the first time and I saw on the inside cover an illustration of him wearing a gun holster, it really threw me off. I don't think the way they rationalized it either (the Reaper utilizes a gun, so I'll fight him with his own weapon) was very convincing. It made Batman feel very out of character for a lot of it. And I won't even bother telling you who Bats teams up with and how much that bothered me.

Overall, not the worst, but it will never stand shoulder to shoulder with Year One, The Long Halloween, Dark Knight Returns, or any of the other defining Batman stories we've come to admire over the years.

Flawed, especially when compared to Year One.......2006-08-02

While the Batman: Year Two storyline from 1987 is not tied to Batman: Year One in any way other than chronologically, it is hard not to compare it to Year One. Released earlier that year, Frank Miller and David Mazzuchelli's Year One storyline was nothing short of a masterpiece, and redefined the origin of the Batman. Following in those footsteps could not have been easy for the folks behind Year Two.

Writer Mike Barr crafts a tale in which a young Batman encounters the Reaper, a vigilante killer who terrorized Gotham's criminals decades earlier. Meanwhile Bruce Wayne begins a romantic relationship with a woman who turns out to be the Reaper's daughter. In his quest to end the Reaper's comeback, Batman chooses to work with the mafia, who assign one of their top hitmen to work with Batman. The man is none other than Joe Chill, the mugger who killed Bruce Wayne's parents!

There's enough going for the story that it could have been a real winner. Unfortunately the handling is a bit sloppy. The dialogue is over the top at times, even by comic book standards, and coming so soon after Year One, Batman fans couldn't help but expect better. There are also some plot points that defy logic. Batman resorting to using the very gun that killed his parents is perhaps believable, but to do so after a single loss to the Reaper? Is Batman that much of a quitter? Since when does a single loss make the most driven character in all of comics take the easy way out? Bruce Wayne's sudden willingness to abandon his war on crime in favor of marriage to a woman he just met also stretches belief.

The artwork is better than average, and helps redeem Year Two somewhat. The first part was drawn by Alan Davis, who would go on to successful runs on Excalibur and Uncanny X-Men. The final three issues feature artwork from a young Todd McFarlane. Remember way back when he used to draw comic books? His work here isn't as good as his later Spider-Man work, but it is still pretty dynamic, particularly when it comes to Batman and the Reaper's huge flowing capes. Unfortunately his pencils were hampered by sub-par inking until the final issue, when he inked his own work. Still, when compared to David Mazzuchelli's unique take on Batman and Gotham City, both artists fall short.

In 1991, Barr and Davis revisited the Year Two storyline in a prestige format one-shot called Full Circle, which is also included in this trade paperback. The story took a look at the legacy left by the events of Year Two. It suffered from many of the same weaknesses as the original story, but Alan Davis's more mature artwork was a big improvement.

On its own merits, Batman: Year Two is a decent Batman story. The problem is that it brings to mind Batman: Year One, which is superior in every possible way.

NOTE: While Year Two was something of a disappointment, some of the better elements of the story were incorporated into the excellent Batman animated movie Mask of the Phantasm.

Not the best bat-collection, but there are certainly worse ones.......2005-08-24

This trade paperback collects two related storylines: BATMAN YEAR TWO, from DETECTIVE COMICS #575 - 578, and the one-shot BATMAN: FULL CIRCLE. While it may seem natural to combine these into one book, they don't go together very well in terms of story quality.

The unfortunately named BATMAN YEAR TWO immediately invites comparisons with Miller and Mazuchelli's BATMAN YEAR ONE, and in this regard, it doesn't hold up; however, it is a fairly engaging story. In the second year of Bruce Wayne's war on crime, he is confronted with the return of The Reaper, a crime fighter from Gotham's past. The problem is, this Reaper is little different from the criminal element in Gotham City, and so Batman works both with and without the police department to bring him in. The quest to bring down the Reaper causes no small share of problems in the life of Bruce Wayne, and by the end of the story, Batman has been put through the ringer. While Mike Barr is not my favorite Batman writer, he does a good job of keeping the plot focused. The art chores for BATMAN YEAR TWO begin with Alan Davis, one of the best in the biz, doing only one issue, with justly-maligned Todd McFarlane picking up parts 2 - 4. Artwise, the first two parts of McFarlane's work are actually pretty good, but this is due more to the skilled inking of Alfredo Alcala than to any talent of Mr. McFarlane. This can be clearly seen in part 4, where McFarlane flies solo - trust me, it shows. If I have any complaint story-wise, I'd say that Batman seems far too capable and confident. Even after a year on the job, I wouldn't expect him to be this resourceful.

Next is BATMAN: FULL CIRCLE, a completely unworthy follow-up prestige format tale by Barr & Davis. In this story, the Reaper has again returned, spreading fear throughout Gotham and playing with Batman Batman must confront the secrets of his parents' murders once again - at the risk of his own sanity (yawn!). This story was by no means up to par with Year Two; in fact, it was very trite and boring, with all kinds of inexplicable developments that were conveniently explained as having happened either during or as a result of YEAR TWO.

So, this trade collection starts with a bang and ends with a whimper. You may be better off if you can find the original trade collection of BATMAN YEAR TWO, which omits the FULL CIRCLE story. It certainly works better that way.

Joe Chill ?????.......2005-08-12

I am a huge fan of Batman. However, this is one of the worst Batman stories I have ever read. Year One was a tough act to follow and year two could not fill those shoes. In this story, Batman is still in his infancy of being the Batman. I can understand his lack of skill dealing with other more experienced vigilantes but not to the point where an 80 year old can kick his @$$ without even breaking a sweat. The main problem I have with this story is that Batman TEAMS UP with Joe Chill, the man who murdered his parents. With Joe Chill alive and walking free, Batman wouldn't have the need for vengence as much as he does. Why the heck couldn't the world's greatest detective find Joe Chill and kick his @$$ all these years? And to team up with him is the ultimate insult to the myth of Batman. He is a man out for vengence because he could never take his vengence out on the man who killed his parents, that is what drives the Batman to do what he does. Alfred is also treated like a dog in this story arc. Bruce Wayne talks to Alfred with no compassion and bosses him around like he was only a butler and nothing more. The only thing saving this story is the art by a young Todd Mcfarlane, later more famous for his work on Spider-Man and Spawn.

A perfectly decent Batman adventure.......2005-06-08

The main problem with 'Batman: Year Two', it was clear to me from the start, is its title. Once a book is defined as a sequel, it demands a comparison to the original, and if anything is to be compared to 'Batman: Year One', there's no chance it won't disappoint.

The fact of the matter is, other than the events depicted being more or less a chronological follower, 'Fear The Reaper' has absolutely nothing to do with Frank Miller's masterpiece. Quite frankly, there's no reason it should be expected to. The 'artistic revolution' DC Comics were having during the late 80s has become so famous, that it's easy to forget that most comics released by mainstream publishers at the time was not in the level of Frank Miller, Alan Moore or Grant Morrison; they were extremely exceptional individuals within the field at the time.

It's important to remember that 'Year Two', unlike classics like 'The Dark Knight Returns', 'Year One', 'The Killing Joke' and even Barr's own 'Son of the Demon', was released not as an individual publication but as part of the regular monthly run of 'Detective Comics'. Bear in mind that the monthly publications were much more limited than a one-time release; first and foremost, those publications were still under the constraints of the Comic Book Code, gradually losing its grip though it was. Compare 'Year Two' to 'Son of the Demon', written by the same writer in the very same year; it's easy to see how much more restrained he had to be for 'Year Two'.

That's not the only clear difference you can find in comparing the two: with no computers, the art in the monthly issues in that time couldn't have possibly looked as good as a graphic novel like 'Son of the Demon', which was months at work. Making that comparison would be like comparing 'The Killing Joke' to its chronological follow-up, 'A Death in the Family'. Instead, 'Year Two' should be compared to monthly Batman comics published in the same period of time, by writers like Danny O'Neil and Jim Starlin. In that light, you can get a whole different perspective on it.

This means, if you're only looking for truly deep quality comics, you won't find it here; in fact, you won't find it in any monthly publication by DC Comics and Marvel up to the early 90s, and even then it's rare. 'Year One' is a classic and a masterpiece; 'Year Two' is far from it. If, however, you're a fan of the superhero genre by its own right, and of Batman in particular, 'Year Two' is well worth picking up. It's a classic Batman adventure, with good writing, some excellent action scenes, and well-written villains, and it also fills some important holes in the Batman history, which makes it important for anyone truly interested in the Dark Knight (the conclusion for the Joe Chill story suggests a somewhat different outcome then the one given in Batman #47 - 'The Origin of the Batman' - but it's close enough in principle). For the true comics buff, it might also be interesting to see early samples of artwork by Todd McFarlane - creator of Spawn and one of the originators of Image Comics - some years before he achieved fame and fortune.

'Year Two', as said before, is certainly not an essential on any shelf, but it's a worthy addition to any respectable collection of Batman comics, and a fun bit of action and adventure. Check it out.

Average customer rating:

The Reaper of Love and Other Stories
Berni Wrightson
Manufacturer: Fantagraphics Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Average customer rating:

Can Death die?

Reaper Man. A Discworld Novel.
Terry. Pratchett
Manufacturer: A ROC Book.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: B000I3707U

Customer Reviews:

Can Death die?.......2007-02-05

Picture an enormous room chock-full of hour glasses (one with your name on it):

"...Add the sharp clicking of bone on stone, getting closer.

"A dark shape crosses the field of vision and moves up the endless shelves of sibilant glassware. Click, click. Here's a glass with the top bulb nearly empty. Bone fingers rise and reach out. Select. And another. Select. And more. Many, many more. Select, select. [Whew, the dark shape passed by the one with your name on it!]

"It's all in a day's work. Or it would be, if days existed here.

"Click, click, as the dark shape moves patiently along the rows.

"And stops.

"And hesitates.

"Because here's a small gold timer, not much bigger than a watch.

"It wasn't there yesterday, or wouldn't have been if yesterdays existed here.

"Bony fingers close around it and hold it up to the light.

"It's got a name on it, in small capital letters.

"The name is DEATH."

So, now that Death of Discworld, old Mr. Bones himself discovers he's about to shuffle off this immortal coil, bite the Big One, cease to exist, dissolve and leave not a rack of ribs behind---what's he going to do?

He decides to Hell with it (or to It with hell) and goes on vacation.

No Death means no one on Discworld can truly die, including a one-hundred-and-three year-old wizard named Windle Poons, oldest faculty member of the Unseen University. He is scheduled to pass over into the Great Beyond at 9:30 P.M., in the midst of a 'going-away' party that his fellow wizards are throwing for him.

A few seconds past the appointed half hour, Windle swigs his last rum and dies--sort of. But the Big Guy with the scythe doesn't show up, so Windle finally climbs back into his one-hundred-and-three year-old body. He's neither alive nor dead and what's worse, another faculty member has already moved into his room.

Read "Reaper Man" to find out how its two unlikely heroes, Death and Windle are finally reconciled.

P. S. I'd like know how Terry Pratchett keeps coming up with all of these wacky Discworld stories. In "Reaper Man," one character says nothing but 'SQUEAK' and another says nothing but 'Oook,' and yet I understand them--and really like them. Death also seems like an okay sort of dude, although I wouldn't invite him to my going-away party.

P. P. S Don't take that personally, Mr. Bones!

Reaper Leader: The Life of Jimmy Flatley

Average customer rating:

The fighter who saved naval aviation

Reaper Leader: The Life of Jimmy Flatley
Steve Ewing
Manufacturer: US Naval Institute Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1557502056

Book Description

Although Jimmy Flatley had much to do with the U.S. victory over Japan, few outside the close-knit naval aviation community have heard his colorful story. A naval hero in every sense of the word according to former Chief of Naval Operations Admiral James L. Holloway III, Flatley was a formidable fighter pilot in combat, an inspiring leader, and a gifted operational planner. Flatley's combination of talents are fully examined in this biography and reveal why he was so vital to the war effort. Known to his squadron mates at Guadalcanal as "Reaper Leader," Flatley--with Jimmy Thach and Butch O'Hare--was instrumental in communicating tactical advice throughout naval aviation and changing the perception that the supposedly inferior F4F Wildcat fighter was actually superior to the Japanese Zero when properly utilized. His biographer, Steve Ewing, also explains how Flatley's combat experience established the credibility necessary for a middle grade officer to initiate sweeping changes in naval aviation both at the front and with the entrenched naval establishment.

The author credits Flatley's persistence and credibility for successes at Guadalcanal, Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. In post-war years these same qualities helped him make naval aviation what it is today by again challenging the status quo and effecting sweeping and significant changes in naval aviation safety. This biography is the second in a planned naval aviation trilogy that when complete will include the three notable carrier fighter tacticians in the Pacific war--Thach, O'Hare, and Flatley.

Customer Reviews:

The fighter who saved naval aviation.......2006-11-22

After six decades as a superpower, it may be hard for Americans to remember what a terribly small band of warriors stood between the United States and those wishing to do us harm in 1941.
The entire Navy then had fewer than a thousand fighter planes, some of them useless in modern combat, and only a cadre of pilots. Fortunately, although the military had been starved of men, machines and money, the American system was flexible, expandable and resilient. Among its few superb leaders was Jimmy Flatley.
He didn't look intimidating. Overwork and cigarettes kept his weight down to 120 pounds for most of World War II. But he was a thinker, a fighter, a teacher and a leader. When he led his aviators into combat -- his most famous group was the Grim Reapers -- they were a team.
Though outnumbered, in the early days, by the superbly trained and greatly experienced Japanese aviators, the Americans proved superior overall, in large part because of their political and moral system.
While the Japanese created difficulties for themselves, the Americans were notable for working their way around difficulties placed in the way by others. In Flatley's career, the notable example was his debate with the other great fighter leader of the Pacific war, Jimmie Thach, over the four-plane or six-plane interceptor division.
Although the difference may appear to be trivial, aerial combat was a matter of thin advantages, and Thach's idea -- the famous "Thach weave" -- proved vital, especially during the period when the Americans flew slower, less handy planes.
Flatley initially doubted Thach, but, in what biographer Steve Ewing says was characteristic of his moral courage, once persuaded, he admitted he had been wrong -- very publicly wrong -- and worked to educate the rest of the Navy.
Flatley was a positive man in every way. He once wrote a friend that he had "some very definite ideas and . . . the confidence of my own convictions."
He was right more than he was wrong, but his promotion to admiral was delayed because some brass hats thought he talked too much.
In the early '50s, when the Navy was struggling to adapt to the jet age, it was Flatley who changed the Navy's attitude to aviation safety. As a result, deaths dropped from one every 18 hours to one every 18 weeks.
Ewing says some other officers considered Flatley had saved naval aviation and that his peacetime safety leadership was even more important than his wartime heroics.
At every turn, Ewing emphasizes not Flatley's exciting battles but the qualities that allowed Flatley to lead his men successfully through them.
Flatley's outlook was conventional, a walking version of the Boy Scout oath. He was intelligent but not much of a standout in the classroom, steady, honorable. Nobody ever thought him profound.
To the public, he was one of the best-known naval aviators, a tireless speaker and writer.
His career as a publicist portrayed the defects of his virtues. A sort of premature McCarthyite, his frequent lectures on geopolitics were half-baked. Ewing attributes his opinions to "reading prominent newspapers," but he must have picked up many of his ideas from Roman Catholic sermons, more bellicose in those days than what we hear today. Flatley was a Holy Joe, and Ewing says his men, even if not religiously inclined themselves, respected him for his forthright preaching.
Flatley made an appealing personality -- tireless, a genuine war hero, a faithful and sober family man, he was what the bishops were looking for but didn't get when they adopted Joe McCarthy. There is little doubt that he would have been offered help to a national political career after retirement from the Navy -- which would have placed him on the stage at the height of John Kennedy's popularity -- but the cigarettes caught up with him when he was only 52.
A gentle man personally, and adopted as a surrogate father by many sailors when he rose to command ranks, Flatley never flinched from the violence of his calling. He was the ultimate professional, at a time when his country needed professionals more than anything else.
As Ewing says in summing up, "Anyone who knew Jimmy recognized he was always at war."

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