Austin Reviews

Rick Riordan's 'The Devil Went Down to Austin' is a fun little murder mystery, starring PI-cum-lit-prof Tres Nevarre. This isn't the most thought-provoking novel that you'll read this year. But it's a quick and enjoyable whodunnit, with enough plot twists and entertaining characters inside to keep you breezing through the pages. Riordan does a good job of explaining the good guys' and the bad guys' motives. And you'll probably be surprised by the unexpected revelations at the end. 'The Devil Went Down to Austin' is good clean fun. And it's a nice little breather if you've just finished reading something a little bit heavy.

As a mystery writer with my first novel in its initial release, I've been an admirer of Mr. Riordan's work since his first Tres Navarre book appeared in print four novels ago. Tres Navarre is a San Antonio PI and English professor, and this current case involves his brother Garrett as the prime suspect in a homicide. Jimmy Doebler gets murdered a short while after getting divorced from Ruby McBride, one of Garrett's business partners. Garrett has mortgaged the family ranch to start an Internet company. In THE DEVIL WENT DOWN TO AUSTIN, Tres has to solve the murder, clear his brother, and save the homestead. This book is another winner for Rick Riordan. Read it today.

It must be nice to burst on the mystery scene and pick up awards right and left for your books, as Rick Riordan has done. But he's very deserving, if his latest novel is any indication. _The Devil Went Down to Austin_ is the first Riordan book I've read and it was a real stunner. This was an excellent mystery, with an assured authorial voice behind it. I want more.

Riordan's PI, Tres Navarre, somewhat reluctantly gets involved when his older brother, Garrett, becomes suspect number one in the murder of his old friend and business partner in a computer start-up, Jimmy Doebler. Neither Jimmy or Garrett, both skilled programmers, has much in the way of business acumen, and it appears that perhaps there's a sinister scheme underway to undermine their product, a potentially lucrative security system, and get them to sell for peanuts. Tres, sho normally works out of a home base in San Antonio, has been hired to teach a summer school course in British literature at the university, so it is his proximity, in part, which draws him into the investigation. There are also unexplored feelings of guilt regarding his brother and an accident in the past which took Garrett's legs.

There are some excellent things here: very clear, vivid descriptions of scuba diving; a very frightening, psychopathic killer, whose true identity is continually misdirected; and family infighting among the Doebler clan. Tres is a vivid creation, as are his brother, his old girlfriend, Maia Lee, and the local policeman, Victor Lopez. I had a great time with this book and am eagerly looking forward to reading the others in this series. Receives my strongest recommendation!

This is the book I check first when I have a question about an English Rose. The organization is great, the photography is beautiful, and the plants are described by someone who has grown them in the US. This book is therefore best for those growers who live in Southern California, but still, it's better than if it was written by an English grower. This book also describes the negative aspects of varieties, which is one of the most helpful things. One thing that would improve this book is a photo or description of the plant habit so to provide information on where to plant in the garden. E.g. is Abraham Darby staunchly upright, graceful, floppy? This book isn't all-inclusive, and of course there are new roses being released every year, but if you've got to have the latest, does it matter? Check out also 100 Old Roses for the American Garden, by the same author. Also a great book.

This is a great and detailed book about David Austin's roses. It is especially helpful since it gives realistic descriptions of the roses including disease resistance or lack thereof, how long it takes for a plant to establish itself and produce blooms, and what pitfalls exist for each rose. I think these are really important things to know since rose catalogs often only tell good things about roses and are a bit misleading. This book has great photos that are realistic, simple and beautiful, which also make you want to grow each and every variety. The companion to this book, 100 Old Roses for the American Garden is also excellent and features more disease resistant roses. The review below is actually about the 100 Old Roses book (with the cover photo of Austrian Copper) and was mistakenly put under this book about Austin's English Roses.

I stumbled onto this book because it was featured in the Washington Post in a column written by Adrian Higgins (Henry Mitchell's sucessor). A photograph of the Austrian Copper rose accompanied the article (the cover), and I'm a sucker for burnt-orange, so I followed up on the book. I am very pleased with it.

Although the cover is paper, it's a plasticized paper and a sturdy book. I mention this first, because I will refer to the book often, it feels pleasant to hold in the hand, it's easy to carry, and it can get a little moisture on the outside and not crumble.

I'm tired of having my roses eaten alive every spring, so I decided to pull out all the hybrids and fall back and regroup. This book takes me back to the old roses that are a little more hardy and can put up with Washington DC weather patterns.

The book is nicely laid out. A front section entitled, "What Makes an Old Rose" describes how old roses came to be. The next section is a "field guide" to help you distinguish roses at the nursery. This is followed by 168 pages of roses and text from 'Alba Semi-Plena' to 'Zephrine Drouhin.'

What makes this book unique as well as useful is the layout. Each rose is covered in a two-page section. A text description is on the right-hand page, and a closeup photograph of a specimin of the rose showing the bloom, buds, and leaf and branch structure is on the left-hand side. Because it's an actual photo, one can identify the rose in question more easily.

The text is useful. Not only are you provided a nice historical write-up on the rose, you are given the 'demographics' including the uses, fragrance, and suseptibility to diseases. Many of the roses appear to be relatively disease free and fragrant--and I found all of them except the "green" rose beautiful.

The back of the book contains a list of mail-order houses and gardens where the specimins can be viewed. Since I live in the DC area, I have acces to the U.S. National Arboretum and Woodlawn Plantation, but locations for viewing old roses are located in most states.

I attended the University of Texas, and have been a resident of Austin since 1977; this crime has held a tight grip on my psyche for many years. (Currently, I live across the park from the site where Whitman and his wife lived before moving to their last home in south Austin, so Charles Whitman is never far from my thoughts.)

The story and the book that details the mayhem caused by Charles Whitman represent one of the top true crime episodes in the history of America.

This was one of America's first mass murder stories in the era dubbed "The Media Age." The carnal horrors of Vietnam presented on the six o'clock news by the broadcast media closely paralleled the impact felt by the horrified followers of the Tower killings.

Lavergne does a fine job of detailing the early life of Whitman and the events that led to his premeditated madness.

The Kennedy assassination, the Speck murders, and Whitman's killing spree woke and shocked America from its contented and homogenized post-Eisenhower dream. Innocence was truly lost in 1966 that day in Austin, Texas, under a scorching August sun.

I don't believe in the theory of "closure"; any event that must encompass the concept of closure will always be so painful that the person involved will never completely forget that tragic incident. For the people affected by the Whitman murders or any other earth-shattering event, closure is an inane concept.

For 96 minutes in August 1966, Charles Whitman rained death on the University of Texas campus, shooting 45 people from the 28th-floor observation deck of its bell tower. The ex-Marine shot people more than 400 yards away and put two bullets through the fabric of an airplane flying overhead before two Austin police officers killed him. If this sounds like the makings of a great story, it is -- and Gary Lavergne is just the man to tell it. Lavergne's well-researched book delves into Whitman's past to reveal how he evolved into a person who could kill 16 people. The author then cranks the story-telling into high gear by delivering a blow-by-blow account of Whitman's reign of terror. Lavergne's words are accompanied by many interesting photos, including one taken of the tower as Austin residents fired back at Whitman 12 minutes before his death. I read this book in one sitting. My favorite part was the last chapter, which detailed Lavergne's interviews 30 years after the event with the two men who killed Whitman. The literary picture he paints of long, tall Texan Houston McCoy -- whose life since his heroic act has been anything but happy -- was really compelling.

This book is a testament to the heroes that rose to battle the Evil and heartless Charles Whitman. Houston McCoy and Romero Martinez are two long forgotten heros in American History but they should never been forgotten, along with the names of all his victims Like Officer Billy Speed of the Austin Police. Read this book and never let something like this happen again

This is the book for those of us who are carrying a bit extra weight. I bought the book on my 3 year old's birthday and have already lost 4 lbs. This is an easy plan to live by, not just diet. I love the cracker jacks for snacks and the triscuits with cream cheese. I always thought snacks had to be celery sticks or carrots! The meals are simple to prepare and the dinners are not always family adaptable so I substitute a bit. Like another reviewer, I found the diet initially expensive to start but worth it. I think I will actually achieve my goal after 3 years of trying all kinds of other diets that I only could stick to for a day!

My wife came to me and asked me to help her get in shape. Being a workout fanatic most of my life, helping her with the exercise part was easy. But the eating part was tougher. I eat healthy but don't have any set receipes or methodology; so I bought Denise's book and followed it religously for the first three to four weeks, doing all the shopping, cooking etc. She lost more than 12 lbs, looks wonderful and really has liked the food. We still use the book has a guide but mix in receipes from other sources like Cooking Light magazine etc., but we maintain Denise's daily intake of calories (about 1500) and fat -- about 25 percent -- for my wife. Denise is so upbeat, sensible and fun to read and watch. Besides being beautiful, she is full of common sense about eating and exercise. If you want sensible, good food -- not "diet" food, buy this book and follow it. It works. Thanks, Denise. You're the best.

We started this program 6-10-00 and lost 38 lbs at low point of 3-10-01. As of 12-08-01, I have given back 7 lbs but am still down 31 lbs. This program works.

One positive not mentioned in other reviews is that the the meal plan rationalizes grocery shopping. Prior to this meal plan, my wife spent time figuring out what to prepare and went to the grocery store nearly daily and sometimes more than once in a single day.

With Denise's plan, she does the main shopping once a week. I prepare the grocery list. The grocery list is sorted by aisles in the store, an extra bit of work to make up but more than justified by the overall time saving. There is some time (and likely even monetary) savings in the grocery shopping component of your life with this plan.

Most of the menus require preparation, on the order of 2 hours per day. For example, even a trivial breakfast of strawberrys and yogurt requires washing and cutting up strawberrys. The food is generally good and varied.

It is really the meal plan that has the highest time commitment impact, not the exercises.

Anyone who has read much of Lovecraft and his "family" of writers (August Derleth, Lin CArter, Henry Kuttner, Robert Bloch, etc.) is very familiar with the formulaic plot of "inherit/discover something, cross-reference with Abbie Hazred's 'Who's Who of Bad-Moods-With-Tentacles', and end by going mad and die gibbering in an asylum or becoming 'liquiescent horror,'" to the point that it becomes very difficult to surprise the reader any more with the denoument. Mr Spencer, though, has taken the familiar concepts and beasties of the vaunted Cthulhu mythos and woven them into an engaging, truly enjoyable tale. And he does an excellant job of utilizing the old mainstays, such as Yog-Sothoth and ghouls among others, in a way that re-introduces them, rather than re-hashes them. He also does quite well in showing interaction between society at large and one who has come to accept the "truth" of the Old Ones. And while the reading is light, even campy at times (especially the epilogue), it is one of the most intriguing mythos tales I have read. It is this type of writing that is going to keep the mythos fresh and alive.

s book is quite out-standing. I have 2 reasons to be biased. Numbre uno I live in Austin and love the city so anything in this city is good to me and well the book is set in Austin and numbre dos I like little eccentric characters. (by the way the author himself is also from Austin as far as I know.
I have never read Lovecraft or much science fiction (other than few Aurther C Clarke and Orson Scott Card). But this is very different. The plot travels in time and space between reality and fantasy and the author is able to create a tie between the two. At some point the fantasy seems to be true and we are just lost in the world of Love craft. I wish I had read Love craft then I would have enjoyed it more.
The book is about a struggling author who tries to survive the hostile corporate world (the money making machine which I hate) and moves to and fro between reality and dream. His characters in everyday life like his girl friend (Amelia), cohort Monica, employer Ralph all travel with him. Time frames are not of importance but the space frame encompass all the characters in an imaginary world of Lovecraft's characters. Spencer's depiction of the corporate hi-tech world is brilliant and satirical and some of the similes he uses is hilarious as for example "you have to crack some eggs to make an omelets". This may be a little auto-biographical which makes it more realistic. As a whole i enjoyed reading it and so will you.
I have given it 4 stars because I reserve 5 stars for the best of the best like "100 years of solitude" so please do not worry about that.

H.P. Lovecraft always intended his Cthulu mythos to live through other authors' pens. If Lovecraft were alive today he would certainly find William Spencer Browning's treatment most entertaining. In "Resume with Monsters," Browning artfully welds together the infinite horrors of Lovecraft's Old Ones with the modern banalities of life in the corporate world. The result is a book loaded with hilarious dialogue, humorous scenes, and a good deal of light horror.

Philip has a big problem. He sees monsters at work, behind every filing cabinet, around every corner, in the eyes of his fellow co-workers, and in motivational pamphlets handed out in his paycheck envelope. In order to maintain his slipping sanity, Philip spends his free time constantly rewriting his sprawling 2000 page book called "The Despicable Quest," a Lovecraftian tome full of references to Azathoth, Yog-Sathoth, and other unpleasant beings from beyond space and time. Philip is aware that spouting off about monsters from dimensions beyond our own tends to alarm people, which brings in Lily, an aging psychologist who promises Philip she can help him through his troubles.

Philip probably would not have many problems with his demons if he gave up trying to save his ex-girlfriend Amelia. Philip's relentless quest to expose the monsters coupled with the undying devotion to his book infuriated Amelia, spurring a rancorous split. When she moves to Texas Philip follows her, desperate to convince Amelia that he once saved her from eternal doom when the two worked at MicroMeg, a giant international corporation (the details of which can be found in the section of the book hilariously entitled, "The Doom that Came to MicroMeg). Philip drifts from one low paying job to another, always on the lookout for the reemergence of the evil ones. Not only does Philip see potential evil at his own jobs, there seems to be something seriously astray at Pelidyne, a big company where Amelia just started a new job. It looks like Philip will have to return once again into the belly of the beast.

Spencer really has a grasp of Lovecraft's horrific intentions. His style does not reflect Lovecraft's ornate use of the English language, but many of the adventures Philip embarks on mirror a trip through a Lovecraft novel: the weird bending of time and space, the strange rituals of the Old Ones, and the feeling of helplessness one gets when confronting an evil beyond the comprehension of the human mind.

I suspect there is a lot of the author in this story. My copy has a painting on the front cover of a man who looks suspiciously like the picture of Browning on the back cover. The detailed descriptions of corporate stupidity and the shrieking mindlessness of working a low paying job tell me that the author spent many years working in the same type of jobs as Philip does in the novel. Anyone who has ever worked in a boring job with high pressure jerks as bosses will recognize and sympathize with Philip's plight. Ultimately, that is the greatest horror in "Resume with Monsters": the pressures of a job in today's world are worse than seeing monsters with dripping scales falling out of a time rip in the ceiling.

The comical aspects of the book abound throughout the story. Everything from Philip's confessions about the evil ones to the motivational pamphlets is gut bustingly funny. Be sure and pay attention to the group sessions during Philip's stay in the mental hospital. These scenes are some of the funniest in the book.

"Resume with Monsters" is essential reading for Lovecraft fans. Those who are unfamiliar with Lovecraft may want to read at least one collection of his stories before settling into this book because the references to particular entities are meaningless unless you understand the mythos. I am placing Spencer's book in my top five list of books read this year, and I hope you will too.

I bought this book and the video Staying Fit at any age. Both have been great assests for me. So motivating in fact, that I get up at 7am now to do her Fit and Lite and Denise Austin works out on Lifetime. Then I flip open the book and plan goals for the day. She is very motivating. I think it's because she's 'natural' ah..no...'falseness'....if you get what I mean. She's just regular and she treats us that way too. A good buy for the money, I certainly recommend it. The receipes are great

As a fan of Denise Austin's I had to purchase her latest book, Fit and Fabulous After 40 and I was very impressed with her book. I knew it would be good since Densie wrote it. It's so refreshing to have someone teaching realistic and sensible approaches to having and keeping good health. She is my favorite fitness expert and one reason for that is she's believable and real not some Hollywood star who doesn't have the knowledge and dedication that Denise has. I'm still in the process of reading her book and am enjoying every minute of it. I highly recommend it for anyone who really does want to be Fit and Fabulous After 40.

Yours in fitness, Linda Snyder

This was a great book to read. Full of common sense and healthy advice. Denise's approach to a healthy lifestyle is refreshing after all of the don't eat this don't eat that diets today. I am recommending this book to all of my friends.

Caroline, the daughter of slave owners grows to love the slaves. She often turns to them for advice, especially Eli who gently guides her with godly wisdom. He gives her such good direction that I was tempted to highlight his advice to turn back to in my times of trouble.

Caroline is torn between her love for her home state of Virginia, her love for her father and relatives, her love for her fiance - who believe it is right to own black slaves - and the abolition of slavery.

She is asked by a good friend to become involved in "things" that could have her arrested and hanged. Find out whether she concedes to this, follows what she knows is right or what she believes in. Will she risk her life or the lives of those she loves? Whatever she decides, someone will pay the consequences.

I rate this book less than a 5 because of its lack of excitement, however, its subject content was beautiful. If you are interested in historical fiction and the civil war, pick this one up.

I am in the middle of reading it right now, and am enjoying it very much, Just one problem, The author refers to the southern
forces as "the army of the potomac" in fact that was the name of union forces, the southern troops were called the "army of northern virginia" I dont have a problem with poetic license but blantant inacuracy is anoying.
I would have liked the main character to start doing for herself alot sooner, She knew slavery was wrong but didnt undress herself ????but that was who she was, someone growing..

I was very impressed with the entire story!

I thought the characters were fantastic. The spiritual insight given to Eli, particularly, was deep and inspiring. It shows Lynn Austin's understanding of how God works in and through all circumstances, both good and bad.

Although it is a work of fiction, it seemed as if it could well have been a true story. I was even challenged in my own trust in God as I read about Caroline's courage to follow her convictions no matter the cost and surrendering 'Thy will be done' to God, as well as the slaves' deep love for God and their faith in His sovereignty and love for them in spite of very unjust suffering. (Not to mention that I enjoyed the history lesson of the Civil War.)

I thought it was a wonderful book of loyalty, courage, selflessness and forgivenss in a world of injustice, pride, prejudice and bitterness. I really enjoyed this book - so much so that I just purchased another from the same author.

As a fan of Denise Austin, I look forward to reading what she has to say. While I did not buy this book for the eating plans, I found the recipes easy and delicious. The Healthy Spinach Pie rivals any quiche and you won't miss the fat. Some of the stir fry dishes have become staples on our dinner table. In addition to the recipes, I enjoyed the motivational chapters. What makes them so honest is that Denise uses examples from her own life. You will find comfort in her words of wisdom as well as inspirartion. On the whole, the menu plans, recipes, exercises and motivational chapters are easy to adapt to your lifestyle. This book will help you achieve a healthy lifestyle.

I purchased the hard cover version of the 21 day Jump Start program two years ago. I followed it faithfully and lost inches as well as toned up. The program increased my energy. I had to stop because of health reasons, but once my condition was under control, I started again. What you get out of it, is what you put into it. I exercise every morning for 30 minutes and it gives me the energy I need to get me through the day. I really love the recipes. They are quick, easy and satisfying and even my family enjoys them. I don't have to buy "special food" any more and we can all eat the same food and be satisfied. The whole wheat chocolate chip cookies are to die for. No one in my family realizes they are eating healthy food.

Denise places fitness in perspective. I like her bubbly personality. It helps me to get the get up and go. I also use her exercise videos alternating with Kathy Smith. Both are an inspiration to me.

Most weight loss books promise the world with ridiculous foods and bizzare ways of eating (Believe me I tried them all). We need to be healthy and enjoy what we eat. The secret to lasting weight loss is common sense. There is no miracle pill or magic potion. Exercise and eating right is the only way to go, but you don't have to suffer doing it. I never thought I would enjoy exercising, now my body craves it.

My hat is off to Denise Austin and Kathy Smith. Thank you ladies.

Thank you Denise.

I absolutely LOVE Denise Austin. Her workouts are ones that I actually can't wait to do. I've got some of her daily workouts from Lifetime on Tape. She is just so bubbly and energetic.

Self-confidence is an often-overlooked part of the weight loss scheme. It helps you to keep going knowing you can do it, and then you do. I highly recommend her workouts. Get her books on tape if you can (if she reads them), this is a highly motivational woman and you need this positive reinforcement. Soon you will believe it yourself, you'll know you are worth it, and exercising and eating right won't be a chore.

For the person who whined about all the stuff Denise does to stay in shape...has it ever crossed your tiny little brain...that the television workouts she does, contains commercials...so the taped segment may be 15-20 minutes long at best. In addition to this...perhaps she wishes to continue to challenge herself and build her fitness levels. Are you aware that 15-20 minutes of a taped workout program...are NOT going to be that challenging to a woman who is in the shape denise is in?

Following her program DOES work. And I don't think she's obsessed, this is her career, this is what she does...and if she can do double duty to give her more time to spend with her family and friends I say go for it. Some people are just too critical of others.

I have read the content of "Shagadelically Speaking: the Words and World of Austin Powers." I read this extensive glossary in one evening, could not put it down. It is quite amusing. Need to be thrown a bone? Refer to this title. It can answer any questions about me or my archnemesis, Austin Powers. Gravitated too much toward "The Spy Who Shagged Me," though. There really is nothing quite like it, it's breathtaking, I suggest you read it. (bites pinky sadistically) Toodles.

Dr Evil

This is an awesome funny book. Austin Powers is just the best! He's sexy, funny, and can make you very randy indeed! I wish he was my lover!

Loved this volume (and I'm totally not related to the author). The ultimate coffee table/conversation startin'/Mclaughlin Group watchin' person's kind of book.

It is difficult to write a book for a technical as well as a business audience. Tom Austin has accomplished this task in his book PKI. Rather than simply present an in-depth technical discussion, Austin brings the technical arguements to a business audience and, for the technical audience, an overview of PKI technology and the business case for such an approach.

The book has five major sections. Security Basics places PKI within a larger information system security framework, introducing central concepts of cryptography and related functions. PKI Technologies examines the fundamentals of the PKI approach, including certificate authorities and hardware mechanisms. The PKI and Business Issues section cover a range of issues, such as acquiring PKI and enabling legacy applications. Then he presents Case Studies, where he shows how several large organizations (Bank of Bermuda, Perot Systems, Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and Reusch) made their business decisions in support of PKI and the implementation of PKI solutions. In his final chapter, PKI Efforts: Present and Future, the author discusses laws and standards as well as biometrics and PKI.

I plan to recommend this book to my consulting clients and those who wish to better understand the importance of PKI. If Tom Austin's book is an example of the Wiley Tech Brief series, I look forward to reading their other offerings.

Sanford Sherizen, Ph.D., CISSP

Part of my job at an Internet security company is educating prospective customers on the mysteries of Public Key Infrastructure. I know from speaking to hundreds of customers that this is a technology that is foreign to many. In this book, Tom Austin does an excellent job describing, with good examples, each of the fundamental areas of PKI. Along with the well-written text, the book is richly illustrated and will clearly help the reader acquire a firm grasp of PKI. I'd like to leave a copy of this book with each of my prospective customers.

Many times our rookies and our sales peoples have asked me to give them a brief intro to PKI. This book is exactly what they have asked for. Thorough enough to give a complete overview. Simple enough for non-techies to fathom.

This is not a book for those IT professionals who intend to dig deep into the very core of PKI principles and technology - But I don't think that was the target for the book either ;-)