Sterling Reviews

This is the unofficial guide? It reads like the basic guide to San Francisco. Nothing new or exciting is revealed in this book.

This is a complete guide to visiting the city of San Francisco. The book is well written, very clear, and has a tremendous amount of information. It covers hotels, restaurants, attractions, etc. The authors provide several possible itineraries depending on what kind of trip you want and how long you intend to stay. In short, the book is an excellent tool to help you plan your entire trip.

The only drawback is that there are no pictures at all and SF is a visually exciting and diverse city. When deciding what you want to visit, a picture or two could go a long way in deciding what is a must see and what is not. For example, I had never heard of the Palace of Fine Arts but when I saw a picture of it in another book I knew I had to go there. This is an excellent book but it would be better still if they could add some color photos in the next edition.

Good advice about attractions. I like the way it divides SF into neighborhoods, and filters down to just the essential info, very practical for a single trip. We were pleased with the restaurant advice as well.

fyi s. blake is pen name of science fiction writer
gregory benford.

I enjoyed this book written by an author that I had never heard of before. It surprised me that I hadn't heard about anything of his before. A very well written book and very suspenseful. The characters were very real. It was also a very interesting story I've never read anything like it before.

I have to admit I really did enjoy this book.Blake really coveys this cold hearted apocalyptic god worshiping psycho killer.I Developed a true dislike to this character simply named 'George'.For all of you murder mystery fans this isn't the book for you.But for people who like a big heaping mouthful of suspense-you should read this book.Blake has a nack for putting you write there in the action as he writes from the point of view of all four characters

It is one of those vivid and accurate biographies, which can not become old-fashioned with the years. The book describes the early boyhood and young manhood of Abraham Lincoln. It describes the long and not easy way, which Lincoln had to overcome to stay in history as the great and humane American President of the Civil War Years. I underlined the facts, which impressed me the most. Young Abe was the best wrestler for many miles along the midwestern coast. Several years ago I wondered: why sports should be important for politicians? They should be bright in something else - intellectwise. But now I understand that you have to be either in boxing or in karate or in wrestling like Lincoln when you are young. This will help you to overcome numerous defeats when you become older and go into political fights without any rules. Another fact from Lincoln's biography shocked me. He would walk miles to borrow a book. There was no Internet; there were no even libraries in the area where he lived. Why would he go for miles and I am sure it was not always easy for him. How many of my friends would go for miles to borrow a book? I do not know. In addition, the second thing about it. His parents were illiterate; they could not write or read. How and from whom he would know that you have to read books? I found out that one person influenced Abe a lot. That person was his teacher named Zachariaah Riney. From Riney Lincoln got a habit to read aloud to him and would do it for the rest of his life. The third fact from his biography is amazing. Lincoln read every newspaper, which he could find. I ask myself: do I always read New York Times, which I find at home? Alternatively, I prefer to watch cartoons with my brother Kevin. When I think about all of this I come to a sad conclusion: I will never become the President of the great country. However, I hope that at least I will become the Chief of Justice of the Supreme Court. The will power, this is what comes to my mind when I think about Lincoln while reading Sterling North's book. The life was not easy for him. However, he never gave up. I know that life is not easy for anyone. However, most people give up. In addition, they do not become the great Presidents. I was trying to find out what else influenced Lincoln and helped him to become what he became in the future. I am sure it was the environment of Cucumber Trail. It was a small place but Abe could see a larger world from his cabin. All sorts of travelers were passing by their cabin telling all kinds of stories about their life. Pioneers seeking for new land soldiers and even slaves in chains. It reminds me about the city where I live - New York. You can meet the entire world here and know much more about life if you are willing to talk to all these people like young Lincoln used to do. In addition, the last thing, which determined the future of Lincoln, was that his family moved a bit. This was giving to him an exciting feeling of constant adventure. I am sure that this feeling is extremely important for any politician otherwise he becomes and old and boring mosquito who fly's around and disturbs people with his monotonous songs.

I am 38 years old and my father bought me this book when we visited the Lincoln birthplace when I was approximately 6 years old. I still read it from time to time. This book started me on a lifetime desire to learn more about the man called "Abe". The book is well written and takes you from birth to his assassination (which is taken up by less than a page.) I found it fascinating when I was younger and, as I said, I still read it now and then. I have over 50 books on Lincoln and this is still one of my favorites. If you have a young son or daughter that likes to read, let them try this one, I think they might just do as I did the other day. My father is now 72 and visited and I showed him the book and thanked him again as I recalled the day he bought it for me.

I would heartily recommend this book for anyone, but it is geared toward children. (I would actually say from 9-12) depending on how much they like to read.

While waiting at a train station I was loaned this book by a friend and soon found myself interested in the stories. _Crystal Express_ is a wonderful introduction to the work of Bruce Sterling and I found it good enough to actually convince me to try and reread _Schismatrix Plus_. If you are a fan of the Shaper/Mechanist storyline then you should buy _Schismatrix Plus_ and leave this one behind.

Sterling is actually good in the short story genre whereas, some of his novels may drag a bit and be a bit scanty in character development the stories in this collection hpowever, are quite good in pacing and development.

One of the best moments was reading "Flowers of Edo" while on a train to Nara. The story of Japan's embrace of modern technology and the destruction of its past had a great resonance for me after seeing the hyper buzz of Tokyo. I felt that Sterling also showed more hope and charm of his romantic nature with "Green Days in Brunei".

The most daring work within a standard narrative format were all the Shaper/Mechanist stories. The other stories were interesting in ideas and themes, but nothing outside the scope of regular science fiction or fantasy themes found elsewhere.

Before slapping heavier works on your plate such as, _Global Head_ or _Disctraction_ pick up this book of his early work when he was learning his craft and was willing to dare a little bit more.

Divided into three sections; Shaper/Mechanist, Science-Fiction and Fantasy, Crystal Express provides a series of vignettes for the reader. Sterling's Shaper/Mechanist saga follows the developments of the two parties through war, peace and nervous antebellum. Starting with a story called the Swarm, the allegories are firmly underway; justifications for Caananite slavery in the name of science destroyed by sheer humanity (or entymology). Through a series of characters neurotic about their own societies, the Mechanists and Shapers represent the human need for perfection - with the reptillian Investors acting almost as Greek Chorus - and yet despite their advances we are still filled with horror. Sterling is offering a grim caveat that we need to retain our humanity, no matter what devices become viable to us. The last Shaper/Mechanist, Twenty Evocations, is in itself a series of short stories, encompassing the life of a Shaper and yet with the twist of each sinking deeper to what we conceive to be our souls. So much for the Shaper/Mechanists, then. What of the rest of the book? Amongst them are the romance and beauty of Green Days in Brunei; evocative and rich, though the storyline somewhat askewed; the twist at the end also questions our beliefs of what is beautiful and what should be pursued, and Spook, a delightful thriller-macabre, is essentially Heart of Darkness with an unexpected twist, and a few nods to the inhumanity of medical technology. The Fantasy section reinforces one's conception of Sterling as an iconoclast, his sly yet almost whimsical story of a man who attains eternal life without the expected regret destroys a thousand myths; wise men of an ancient city discuss their eternal reign and; in perhaps the strangest, yet most wildly exotic in its reality, deals with the coming of electricity to Japan. In this last, there are no allegories, aside from a sense that now Japan has lost all its magic and wonder, just human beauty and rich, rich, lovingly-researched detail

This book is a catalogue for an exhibition that was held at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts. The reproductions do not represent the full work of Millet but rather the selection of works that was presented in that exhibition. There are many reproductions of drawings, pastels and watercolors, and only a few paintings. Many of the drawings are preparations for larger scale paintings. I bought the book after a visit to the Musee d'Orsay in Paris and was disappointed not to find many paintings that I remember from that visit - not even "The Angelus", which is probably Millet's most famous work. Still there is a large number of beautiful drawings and paintings, and the introductory text is interesting. I wish the reproductions would be larger - there are only about ten full page reproductions throughout the book.

This is the first quality pyblication I have found on Millet. While I was looking for more of a coffe table type book of his paintings, I was slighlty disappointed that many of his works were not included but the history of his life more than makes up for it.

i had to read it for an assignment, so i didn't really enjoy it. if i had to read it for fun, i probably would have enjoyed it more. it was well spoken.

Sterling Evans' The Green Republic is a fascinating account of the development of the NP of Costa Rica. I've visited most of the parks in CR and after reading The Green Republic I have a greater appreciation for them and high admiration for the Costa Rican individuals and non-natives who through hard work, luck and perserverence have created a system of parks unique to Latin America and the world.

I particularly enjoyed the anecdotes about the indivuduals and also the tremendous amount of facts the book contains--facts that have a purpose as they paint a complex picture of a country struggling to do the right thing despite enormous pressures to cash in for the easy dollar. The book perhaps does read a bit dry at times, but the overall story is well told and worth the time and money. Great book!

This is a simple tale with a tight narrative focus. Being addicted to a rare drug has it's hazards. The main character's drug of choice, flare, is declared illegal so he and an inept junkie friend head out on a dust whale ship in a crater to extract flare from the source.

The characterisation is really very strong for such a short book. The characters are all very different and their interaction is great. The plot is simple, but hangs together extremely well. I found some of the descriptions of the alien life and the sensibilities of the locals and whalers really absorbing. There are quite a number of amusing little scenes in this book. (I think a few may be unintentional). The setting is really fascinating and has a few well chosen details that really add to the immersiveness of the book. I really enjoyed it!.

Sterling's first novel, written almost a decade before cyberpunk became a household word.
The setting is a desolate world with a single habitable crater, which is itself filled with a sea of near-fluid dust. This bleak, deadly place sets the tone for the story, which follows an addict trying to restablish a source for his drug of choice: "Flare," which is distilled from the oil of whale-like creatures which swim in the dust. He signs up for a berth on a whaling boat whose crew includes a captain obsessed with what lies beneath the dust seas, and an insane alien woman.
Somber, gripping, modestly awe-inspring.END

i think the poet writes in showing how the blacks endured through suffering and tragedy.

Written from the perspective of an ex board president. Useful information for prospective buyers and board members

This book for me atleast is a fantastic look at the new collaberation of organized crime on an international level.She starts her investigation with the sicilian clans and their efforts in spearheading the frightening cooperation of a new global mafia.when i started reading this book i couldnt put it down i read it within 10 days claire sterling has taught me things about the russain mafia i could never have known and she has done wonders for my investigations into organized crime. All the major organized crime figures and cans are here with knowledge of what their buisness interests.are in the new internatiional conglomerate that has now become organized crime.also claire tells us in great detail of who is doing what and what their importance is in the brotherhood of inernational organized crime.The pax mafia is no longer mere speculation and with the demise of ussr russia has become a massive breeding ground and a massive target for all the crime organizations throughout the globe and this book gives you a frightening account of what the relationships of the international mafias are to each of the other.A fantastic read and one which opens your eyes to the new world order of organized crime.