SUMMARY:
In a sparkling, fast-paced narrative, esteemed historian John Julius Norwich chronicles the turbulent events of fourteenth- and fifteenth-century England that inspired Shakespeare's history plays. It was a time of uncertainty and incessant warfare, a time during which the crown was constantly contested, alliances were made and broken, and peasants and townsmen alike arose in revolt. This was the raw material of Shakespeare's dramas, and Norwich holds up his work to the light of history to ask: Who was the real Falstaff? How accurate a historian was the playwright? Shakespeare's Kings is a marvelous study of the Bard's method of spinning history into art, and a captivating portrait of the Middle Ages. Views: 51
Obeying a royal command can be hazardous to your health....In a magical world where animals have been given human form and chaos can often be the nature of the day, some universal truths remain. Like the futility of war and the foolishness of leaders. And, of course, the lingering prejudice against the Newlies, the humanized animals.But Master Lizard Maker Finn has no quarrel with creatures of any sort. Just returned from a highly traumatic vacation, he wants nothing more than a period of prolonged peace with his fetching Newlie lover, Letitia, and his greatest creation, a sassy mechanical lizard named Julia Jessica Slagg.But the Fates, in the form of the capricious Prince of Fyxedia, have other plans in store for Finn. Fyxedia’s leader has commissioned Finn to build a fantastical lizard timepiece for his archrival, the mysterious King of Heldessia — an odd enough request since Fyxedia and Heldessia have been at war for 700 years. Worse, Finn has been ordered to deliver the clock himself: a mission that involves flying over the war zone in a rickety and badly patched balloon.Finn can hardly refuse the commission, but the journey is the least of his problems. For Heldessia is a land as odd as any he’s encountered, and he can’t help but wonder what foul plot these monarchs have in store for each other. How can one lone lizard maker, his lover, and his mechanical creation foil a plot they don’t even understand — and still manage to come out of it alive?From BooklistImagine a world like ours, except that among its inhabitants are several species of animals-turned-human, called Newlies, who still bark and growl but also speak and wear breeches and swords. In that world are two warring kings, one nuttier than a fruitcake and the other sane and sound, though a bizarre religious practice requires him to imitate the sleep of the dead for months, which enables an evil sorcerer to plot and scheme unimpeded. On this happy scene arrives Master Lizard-Maker Finn; his prized mechanical lizard, Julia Jessica Slagg, a dangerous and darling creature possessed of needle-sharp teeth, a ferret's brain, and an ironic wit; and Finn's Newlie lady-love, gentle Letitia Louise. Their mission is to deliver a remarkable birthday gift from their king in a hot-air balloon in the middle of a war whose cause no one remembers. A hostile giant is their only companion and guide. Highly entertaining and, in an odd sort of way, quite civilized. Paula LuedtkeCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reservedReviewAlso by Neal Barrett Jr.:The Prophecy Machine Views: 51
Book DescriptionSpirited American stories Gathered together for the first timeFrom the coasts of Brazil to the borders of Tibet to the very heartland of America, May There Be a Road gathers ten previously uncollected stories that capture the magnificent scope and sense of epic adventure that epitomize Louis L'Amour classic fiction.In these vivid settings L’Amour takes us into the pivotal moments when lives are altered forever, when men and women face a deadly enemy, find a kindred spirit, or confront their own mortality. Among the unforgettable characters we meet here are a hard-living, hard-drinking freighter captain whose penchant for flying may change the course of World War II ... A lonely frontiersman who unexpectedly finds himself the protector of two orphans ... A boxer who accepts a gambler’s payoff and then must fight to redeem himself ... A detective willing to believe an unproven story in order to discover a painful truth hidden in a small town. And in the title story L’Amour weaves the powerful tale of a young Tibetan khan who leads a band of horsemen on a daring escape across treacherous mountain terrain. At stake is the survival of a people and an ancient way of life. Evoking the American spirit of bravery, pride, adventure, and self-reliance as few writers have, this extraordinary volume proves once again that L’Amour has set a standard yet to be matched.From the Paperback edition.From Publishers WeeklyTo most readers, Louis L'Amour is the quintessential writer of westerns; few know that among his 118 published volumes are stories set far from sagebrush country. In this volume of 10 previously uncollected short stories written early in his career and issued now, 13 years after his death, with an afterword by his son, Beau, L'Amour's broader interests are on display. Two of the tales, "Red Butte Showdown" and "The Cactus Kid" do indeed evoke the frontier settings L'Amour is best known for, but three of them, "Making It the Hard Way," "Fighter's Fiasco" and "The Ghost Fighter," are about prizefighting and indicate the influence of writers like Jack London and Ernest Hemingway. No less surprising in their modern California settings are "A Friend of a Hero" and "The Vanished Blonde," which echo Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett; Hemingway's themes are again reflected in "May There Be a Road" and "Wings Over Brazil," two yarns set against the volatile backdrop of war and revolution far from the purple mountains of Montana or the desolate plains of the Dakotas. The title story (never before published) unfolds in a rough-riding Tibet. Though influenced by other writers, each story follows L'Amour's patented formula, evident already in this early work. A tense situation is revealed, brief characterization and background follow, then the tale is tied up in a sequence of hard-hitting action sequences. These are professionally written stories, minor gems collected from the dustier corners of L'Amour's oeuvre. (May 8)Forecast: Banking on the enduring appeal of L'Amour, the Book-of-the-Month Club, the Literary Guild and the Doubleday Book Club are making his latest posthumous offering an alternate selection, and sales should be strong. One more volume of stories is yet to come before the well runs dry. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.From BooklistThis is an eminently readable and enjoyable collection of 10 previously unpublished short stories by the late L'Amour. In"The Ghost Fighter," Bat McGowan is the world heavyweight boxing champion. He is also a drinker, womanizer, and carouser. His managers have a chance to make some money off the title by staging matches in small towns, and decide to employ look-alike Barney Malone as a stand-in. As the exhibitions progress, Malone proves that having the title of champ and actually being one are two different things. Other stories feature a detective searching for a missing woman; another fighter who takes a gambler's payoff; and a young Tibetan lord who battles treacherous terrain and the pursuing Red Army to save his love and also the legacy of his people's way of life. Many posthumous collections consist of substandard works that probably should never be blessed with publication, but such is not the case here. Wes LukowskyCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Views: 51
"... I've got to destroy Sandy Lane, once and for all." When Rosie overhears this, her worst suspicions are confirmed. Sandy Lane's owners are abroad and Tom and the regular riders are in charge. All is going well until a mysterious couple arrives, supposedly sent to help. Only Rosie is suspicious. It seems she had every right to be... Views: 51
There is no escape for Ben McKee. For weeks, he's covered the bruises on his body. He's even lied to his teachers and new friends at Bluford High School. But the trouble in Ben's house isn't going away. And if he doesn't act soon, it could swallow him and his mother forever. Views: 51
From Library JournalGeorgia forensic anthropologist Dr. Lindsay Chamberlain (A Rumor of Bones, Cumberland, 1996) identifies the skeletal remains found on a farm as those of a Spanish conquistador, then agrees to investigate the much more recent "accidental" death of a long-missing spelunker. Her subsequent itinerary, though burdened with the bones of slaughtered Indians and animals, puts her in contact with an archaeologist who knew the dead caver. Shortly after they talk, he is murdered. Question is, will Chamberlain ever find the connection? Forensics and stories of conquest add authenticity but slow the plot without enhancing dramatic tension. A leisurely read, then, for larger collections.Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. Review"Connor's style is original and fresh, and her heroine is a woman of the 90s . . . educated, intelligent, independent." -- The Midwest Book Review "The first pages establish Chamberlain's uncanny expertise." -- Chicago Sun-Times
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Haunted by tragedy and scandal, Thea Garrett guards her wounded heart by playing the role of notorious outcast for all it's worth, never giving a second thought to love. Views: 50
Although headstrong Margarita was mesmerized by Carlos Caballero's fearless courage, she wasn't about to bow down to "any" man. But the temptress in her yearned to surrender to her ardent suitor's sizzling seduction. Now, with a murderous band of criminals hot on their trail, the beautiful secret spy struggled with the contradictory emotions Carlos's fierce protectiveness stirred in her. How was she supposed to choose between sworn duty...and unrelenting desire? Views: 50
