Dictionary Reviews

This is a massive reference work and an obvious labor of love. It covers almost every conceivable aspect of science fiction, from movies to history to criticism. This is the second edition of this work, with large updates to bring the work up to the time of publication (1992), especially new authors and newer works by old hands, and there has also been a good deal of new material added to the thematic sections.

For anyone wanting to develop a good course on science fiction , or anyone interested in how SF came to be what it is today, a perusal of these thematic entries on everything from ANTIGRAVITY to MUTANTS to UTOPIAS will yield a wealth of material concisely presented, profusely cross-referenced, and source material properly indicated. Often within these sections even an experienced long-time fan of the field will find works referenced that he hasn't heard of before but deserve a look.

Within the author entries you will find one of the works most useful features: a listing of all of that author's works that belong within a given series or author created world/universe, often with a good description of the salient features of these author worlds. Also very useful is a listing of all known pseudonyms for each author. Still another useful feature is the indication of every variant title a work has appeared under, which can end up saving the reader money by knowing that he already really has that title under a different name. But these entries are also the most problematic of the information presented in this volume, as the opinion of the writer of the piece (almost all of the author entries were done by John Clute) about the quality of each of the author's works clearly shows. While it is probably impossible to avoid having this type of opinion appear, what I found disappointing was the lack of indication that there are other opinions about some well known works (in some cases these other opinions run to millions of words and many a flame war on the internet), such as Heinlein's Starship Troopers. At the same time, these entries provide a wealth of biographical information and very complete bibliographies for every major and almost every minor writer who has ever written within the field, and this information seems to have been very solidly researched (at least I haven't been able to find any obvious errors, and I've been reading in the field for 40 years).

This is an expensive volume, but it is probably worth every penny of its price when you consider that it collects in one volume such a wealth of diverse information that prior to this work was scattered across hundreds of articles, essays, books, and research papers or had never been written about in any cohesive manner. Highly recommended for any serious student/fan of the field, and highly entertaining and informative reading for just about anyone.

Along with its companion volume, "The Encyclopedia of Fantasy," the editors offer the most comprehensive references currently available on speculative fiction, covering authors both minor and major, discussion of the impact of writers and their works upon the genre, influences both obvious and obscure, as well as erudite observations upon the history and development of imaginative fiction. And this is but a fraction of all this marvelous reference has to offer! Indispensable to either the devotee of the genre or the casual reader, this text, along with its companion, should grace the shelves of anyone seriously interested in science fiction or literature. As with most references of this scope, already it is beginning to become out of date, lacking entries for newer and already significant authors, such as China Mieville, but one can hope a new edition will soon be in the offing. I know I will rush out to buy it, and in the meantime there is more than enough information here to occupy and entrance me for many months to come. If you read science fiction regularly, shame on you if you don't own this book.

This book may not include everything you ever wanted to know about science fiction, but it definitely comes closer than any other work in existence. Long-time fans will enjoy the extensive analytical and bibliographical material. Beginners looking for a useful introduction to the genre are sure to find it here.

It's impossible to completely describe the contents within the space of a short review. However, a summary should be enough to give a general impression. There are (alphabetically-sorted) articles on all different aspects of the genre, from the cinema to the written word.

To start off, there are biographies on every major science fiction writer from the 19th century-1993, and almost all of the minor ones. These biographies, although of varying quality, are almost all of considerable interest. As well as listing all of the writer's major contributions to the genre, they often include analyses of the author's writing styles, including discussions of specific works. Although readers may find themselves disagreeing with some of the contributors, it is nonetheless fascinating to read the opinions of other devotees.

Perhaps just as important, there are many articles on the various science fiction magazines and their editors. Such articles are vital to any comprehensive discussion of the genre; after all science fiction started out in the magazines, and many fine stories are still published there. These articles include detailed and interesting descriptions of the magazines' histories, including editors, major contributors, and high and low points of success.

In addition to written fiction, considerable attention is paid to science fiction movies. There is little information on actors, directors, or screenwriters, but plenty about the movies themselves. Most major science fiction films have their own individual entries, including information on plot, acting, production quality. The authors always make clear whether or not they like each movie; their recommendations have led me to many good rentals!

Finally, there are many articles on the genre itself. Much attention is given to the history of the genre, from it's embryonic period in the 19th century, to it's consolidation in the 1920s, to it's maturation in the '40s, right on up to the '90s. There is also a great deal of information on specific subjects and items of terminology, from "Aliens" to "Cyberpunk" to "Spindizzies".

I can pick this Encyclopedia up any time, and be sure of finding something interesting. It's a surefire winner for anyone interested in random fact-finding. All SF fans, even if they're not "browsing" types, should still keep this tome on hand. Any question concerning the genre is likely to have an answer somewhere between the front and back covers.

German Quickly is simply the best German grammar teaching tool you can buy. April Wilson adroitly steers the student through the intricacies of a grammatically challenging language with finesse and humor, keeping the student's attention and interest by ingeniously chosen examples, and offering extremely clear and concise explanations. Mrs. Wilson assumes no grammatical knowledge, and explains grammar concepts found in the English language when needed for the comprehension of German. From explanations of the articles and the genders of nouns to the German passive and the overloaded adjective construction (including the Subjunctive I and II), this book can be used as a comprehensive introduction to German grammar or a superb grammar review. Forget the dry, cumbersome explanations found in more traditional textbook German grammars such as German for Reading Knowledge, and pick up German Quickly. You will be happy you did.

To start with I didn't have any particularly keen interest in German. While browsing through books in the library I chanced across Ms Wilson's book and started leafing through it. I was really impressed by the flowing, homely style of presentation and I decided to learn the language seriously.

Here are some of the salient features that make the book so helpful for beginners (this is the first foreign language that I have started learning, other than English which I learned as a kid):
1. Well chosen exercises after each chapter. To get the full benefit from the book, one must do all the exercises. I personally found that I could easily manage a chapter a day for the firsr few chapters, and then a chapter per two or three days for the later ones.
2. Sense of humor. Yes, in this regard it is doubtlessly one of the best textbooks that I have ever read in my life. And this is in sharp contrast with some of the other texts that are available in the market (for instance the texts that are used for the beginning German courses at Stanford. Oh, why are those books SO devoid of humor?)
3. Using proverbs to teach German. This is a great idea that should be used in teaching any language. Proverbs are those little simple sentences that somehow stick in our minds more than other things do. That's why they survive so long. Now Ms Wilson smuggles the German vocabulary into the reader's mind in packets of these proverbs.After reading the German for "When there is fire in the heart, there's smoke in the head", it is hard to forget that Rauch means smoke.
4. No language book for beginners can be expected to be full of real examples of great literary value, since those will be above the level of the average reader. But still the author creates the wonderful feeling of "real German" by quoting sentences and passages of famous German authors. This is in sharp contrast with the (popular?) German textbooks ... with examples churned out by machines to show the use of some grammar rule.
5. The book is well worth the money. I don't know why, but some German teachers at US univs prescribe textbooks that are written only to extract money out of student's pockets. The books ... force you to use manuals and workbooks that are sold separately, and are often full of silly pictures that do not help you to learn anything, but only serve to increase the price of the book. Ms Wilson's book, on the contrary, is full of serious information, and acts as a good reference book even after you through with it.
6. Finally, the book does NOT teach you how to speak German or how to comprehend spoken German. For that a good resource would be the book+CDs set from the "Living Language" series.

April Wilson's "German Quickly" is a most enjoyable and practical text for anyone wishing to learn to read German. It unsnarls grammatical knots (especially the "overloaded adjective construction") with humor and diligence and also gives the reader a taste of writers and thinkers, including Wittgenstein, Goethe and Buber, among others. Proverbs, such as "Pfau, schau auf deine Beine!" ("Peacock, look at your legs!") add to the fun of learning German. I heartily recommend it!

I am a computer science graduate student just starting to work on my thesis in Internet security area. I need to read many papers and need a ready reference to clarify and understand the terms used in the papers. This book has been god-send; at one place it gives all the major concepts organized alphabetically so it is east to search and an index is a great help; it has a ready list of references; it is useful I think. The definitions have enough details to understand the concept and figures help.

Since the terms are reviewed by a panel of world-known experts in security I know that I am looking at reliable definitions and descriptions. The language of the book is so easy to understand that my husband who does not work in computer science, has taken to read this book; he just sits and browses through this book. Take the case of the description of a virus; after the definition, the book describes when and how the term virus was used: ¡°the first published use of the word VIRUS was by David Gerrod in his science fiction short stories which were later expanded and published in the book ¡°When Harlie was one¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.¡±, ¡°Fred Cohen first used the term computer virus in a formal way at university of Southern California¡­.¡± It gives three references pointing the reader to further information. This is a masterpiece written in a scholarly style yet is understandable with little computer science knowledge.

It is a technical reference book, perhaps not for a layman or a casual
user
of the Internet. Details and references (and citations for the
references
within the text) make it an excellent resource. If you are taking
security
certification exam or you are consulting, I suggest to keep a copy for
ready
reference.

If you connect to the Internet, then you pose a security risk to others. With the growing dependence of our global economy on computers, it is now a point of civic duty that we all do what we can to implement secure procedures on our computers. It all starts with knowing what the terms and acronyms mean, and they are all found in this book. I consider it an indispensable resource, not only for the definitions but also for the web sites with a focus on computer security.
The contents of the book are also on a CD in searchable PDF form. This is especially helpful, in that you can quickly click your way to an explanation of any term. The dictionary was put together under the guidance of an expert team of computer security professionals, so it is accurate and thorough. It belongs on the reference shelves of every academic and public library.

Ok... I'm still trying to learn British English, so excuse the expression on the title, hehe Get this little book, lots of good phrases and very fun to read. Very helpful for traveling or just to learn the interesting Ryhming Slang, this is for you. Cheers ;)

Nice one! I'm not a native speaker of English, but have learned English as a foreign language. What is the best about this book, the sections on those dialects. Also it's a good fun to sing some football songs like George Best the Superstar! Many more resourceful pages you will find in this book from Mr Blair's way of speaking to how to say "hello" in Welsh. You can always carry this book in your pocket, which is nice, too.

As an ex-pat American living in London, I find this book essential when trying to decipher the large number of different words and phrases that the Brits use: I can honestly tell you that the Phrasebook saved me from the horrors of a zucchini dinner when I found out what 'courgettes' really are. I also finally understood the meanings of 'put paid' and 'punters' and enjoyed the section on British sport: while I still don't fully understand cricket and have absolutely no idea about rugby, I now know a bit more than nothing, which is helpful the next time you're in a pub and a Test Match is on.

The less helpful sections of the book were the bits on more obscure language usage like Cockney rhyming slang and Scots Gaelic: I've never heard any rhyming slang in London and when I was in the Highlands the only time I heard Gaelic was on the radio. However, I'm not complaining: it's a whole lot of fun to be able to know how to say 'caite am bheil an t-amar snamh' ('where's the swimming pool'), even if the Scots themselves don't understand, and now I know that nothing beats a good dinner of Lillian Gish (fish) with gay and frisky (whiskey).

Anyway, the Phrasebook also contains a section for each part of Britain plus sections on pronounciation, accomodation, entertainment and society (how to address the Queen when you meet her) and, most important of all, a mini American-British dictionary.

All in all, highly recommended.

This book has excellent illustrations, and act as a complement to existing materials. However, I found some of the vocabularies to be outdated, such as Fraeulein, which is hardly used. Nonetheless, the book is simple and easy to follow. May be a little too easy for someone who is at the intermediate level.

Agree with all of the positive reviews. I studied German in school 20 years ago, but had forgotten most all of it. This book got me back on track in no time. Gets you reading sentences and paragraphs from page one.

What all the other 5-star reviewers say is true! I am an American who learned German as a second language starting in college, and continuing into time spent studying and working abroad. Back at home now, I am ever interested in, and conscious of, the need to keep up my language skills, and am always scanning German language books and aids. Although this book is meant for a beginner, I couldn't pass it up. It is chock full of approximately 1950's era, quaint illustrations and drawings (all much more helpful, somehow, than modern books' attempt to be "hip"). The illustrations all tie in closely with the readings, and make it easy to stay interested. There is such a variety of different excercises, amusing stories, interesting facts, maps, etc., that it is a pleasure to pick up the book each time. Take it from someone who has been comparing German language learning aids for years - this one is hard to beat!

I am simply beginning my journey with NT Greek, and am loving every minute of it while using this resource. It is very extensive, yet easy to understand. I would highly recomend it.

Great, classic book on NT Greek words and their usage. He gives a good deal of derivation information, which is very valuable. Note to fellow Greek students: even though your book may include all the vocabulary you need, you should still get this book right away. One of the hardest thing about learning languages (at least for me) is memorizing vocabulary, and having the derivations makes it much easier. Example: the word PROSWPON (face). Mounce gives the memorable phrase "Pour soap on" as a mnemonic; but even more helpful to me was Thayer's explanation that PROSWPON is derived from PROS+OPS="what's in front of your eyes." Another one: ENOPION (before). Thayer explains it comes from EN+OPS="in the eyes of". Beautiful.

Another thing I especially like is how he relates many Greek words to words in other languages, not just English. For example, "IDE" could be defined as look, behold, etc; but Thayer would give the helpful hint "Latin: ecce". Where useful, he also lists equivalents for some words in German, French, etc.

The only drawback is that it's an reprint of an old (1880?) text, so some of the print is a little hard to read, and some of the references are hard to figure out and then to find. But, especially for the money, it's a great tool.

A simple but in depth reference book that lets us look up any word in the new testament and find out it's meaning, or meanings, it's pronunciation and Greek spelling, it's roots, and derivations, places it is used in the Bible, and all kind of other interesting thing in a paragraph or so. The only other thing you should know before you do buy this is you have to have a Strong's concordance to work with to know which English Bible words correspond to which Greek word.

As a beginner in Japanese, it feels like everything I can write would sound to a native speaker like, "See Spot. See Spot run." This book will help you to apply the vocabulary you have in new and more interesting ways: "Is that Spot I see? My, Spot can run!"

It is _not_ a good way to improve vocabulary, though. The included list of verbs is somewhat limited. This book is really for helping you apply verbs in new and different ways, not so much about teaching you new verbs.

This book was the single most valuable book for learning japanese that i used during my year long exchange in Japan.

This is not a "user friendly" book for the casual learner of Japanese. This is nothing more or less than a small, pocket-book sized grammar text for using Japanese verbs. "Te" forms, "tara" forms, "hoshii" forms are all covered, along with pretty much every other possible conjugation. This is no dictionary, however, so do not expect to learn any new words. Just expect to make better use of the verbs you already know.

The sections are broken down well, and there are very small practice sections at the end of each chapter. For what it is, it is an excellent resource. I would recommend this book to serious, college level learners of Japanese.

This book rates a 5 not because it is perfect (more on that in a moment) but because its strengths so greatly outweigh its weaknesses. I am a non-Jewish adult self-studying to read the Hebrew scriptures. I tried "Basics of Biblical Hebrew" with its workbook and found it sorely lacking - so much so that I almost gave up on learning Hebrew. Then I found this book and I'm back on track and loving every minute.

Who should use it:
* Beginning students (classroom or self-study) who either already have learned the alef-beth or have a teacher to help them get started. There is a primer by the same authors, but I didn't buy it because I've learned the basics while trying to work through BBH.

What's good:
* Gets you reading full sentences and paragraphs from page 1 - that's the best way to learn a language. I know this as one who has self-learned German, Latin, and Chinese plus taught English as a second language. The book mentioned above (BBH) teaches grammatical rules and vocabulary lists for chapter after chapter before presenting any natural reading.
* While not purely focused on "Biblical" Hebrew, it teaches you what you need to know to start reading real Hebrew, which applies to both Biblical and Modern Hebrew.
* The glossary system (1 for prerequisite words, 1 for chapter vocabulary, and 1 for Jewish cultural words and phrases) is terrific once I figured out how to use it.
* Value: 1 low price for combined workbook and textbook
* It's fun and interesting

What could be better:
* Poor introduction - mostly spent praising the book. It would be much better to explain how to use the book. For example, I like the glossary system as mentioned above, but it took me quite a while to discover it on my own.
* The book is published in the USA and claims to be directed at an American audience, but it is a non-standard size for US books. This matters because I don't want to write in the book, so I make copies for my own use. A combination workbook/textbook like this should be either bigger (so 1 page fits 8 1/2 x 11) or smaller so that 2 facing pages fit.
* The first page of the first lesson begins with several words that are not in the glossaries - proper nouns, etc. Help a beginner out a little, especially since the glossaries are not explained well.

That's my experience - overall extremely satisfied.

Of course I'd prefer to have my yeshiva students study Hebrew language 4 hours a day--but in the real world in the USA, in most of the right of center yeshivot you're lucky if they learn Heberw at all. I have 3 hours a week with my students, and their limudei kodesh classes are not "ivrit be-ivrit."
Ora Band's book is perfect for such students: It is systematic; it explains grammar concepts in English; it is 100% appropriate --no bikini clad babes (a la Hebrew from Scratch) --although I must say that my boys got a naughty chuckle out of the drawing on page 30)--and one book leads into another.

I have found it useful to test the boys using the GWU Hebrew placement test(downloadable). if they score more than 40 out of 88 on that test, I give them the "final Exam" available in Ora Band's Teacher's Edition. Based on that final, I can pinpont at what stage they need to start in her book. The lowest scoring students start at ch. 1 and the other students get supplementary work until the rest of the class catches up with them.

Band's book gives useful vocabulary, and it doesn't make the error of giving too much information too soon.
Suggestions: a cassette tape of audio cd would be a nice compliment to this series, as well as teacher's editions for the 2nd and 3rd volumes.

I used this book when I was a kid and thought that it was the best Hebrew book that I had. I am now using it to teach my own students. It is a very great book because it does not assume that you have outside knowledge. The texts build on each other like you would hope that a language text would. The series is aimed at adults however I would recommend it for any age group.

As anyone knows, the key to learning is repition. The book is straightforward. THere are no cute cartoons, etc. here. Just verbs and worksheets. I even do the work on notebook paper, so I can go back and do the sheets again. After just completing one page of drills, I have learned a lot. She only introduces one skill at a time, so it is not overwhelming. And the added benefit is learning, of course, the meaning of the verbs. I would even suggest this book for teachers of Italian because of the way the book is set up.

I am currently living in Italy. I want to be able to speak with my Italian neighbors, so I bought this book. After just doing the exercises in the first chapter (only -ar verbs), I am able to converse with them better. My Italian neighbors (who speak no English) like the book so much that they asked me to buy one for them so they can learn English. The exercises are excellent. I do them on a separate piece of paper so I can do the exercises over and over again. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn Italian.

This book is great to use a few minutes a day. In no time you'll be much more aware of verb meaning and conjugation. I find verbs to now be one of my strong suits in the language. You can even do it in pencil, then erase it and start over (it's in workbook format). Combine it with a few other sources of Italian learning for the maximum effect.

For dictionaries under $..., this is the best I've seen so far. It's translations are more accurate than some of my $50+ dictionaries. Being in the translating buisness, I can appreciate this.

I have taken too many semesters of Spanish to count and I have used several different Spanish/English; Inglés/Español dictionaries. This one is the best. It not only offers literal translations, but it also offers different phrases, and that can come in handy. I HIGHLY recommend this to anybody!

This dictionary is great with tons of up to date translations and its references to culture. The way that it is set up is also very convenient as it will fit almost anywhere. Whether you are a student learning the language or if you need to brush up before you take a business trip to Spain this book is great.