History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

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Not Free SF Reader
Intelligent Science Fiction with Action and Adventure to Boot
The Engines of God
Plodding First of a Series
"God on Quraqua: The Temple Mission"

The Engines of God
Jack McDevitt
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Adventure | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0441002846

Customer Reviews:

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

An xenoarchaeological team on the planet Quraqu is investigating why the alien race died out there. They do so under severe time pressure as the planet they are working on is due to soon be terraformed to let it be used for more pragmatic reasons.

Later on there is a bit of Lost in Space, a bit of Revelation Space.

Definitely No Deities to be found.

Intelligent Science Fiction with Action and Adventure to Boot.......2007-08-27

Jack McDevitt is a thinking man's science fiction writer. With *Engines of God*, he introduces a new series and universe and a new hero in superluminal pilot Priscilla "Hutch" Hutchins. In the second space age for mankind, exploration of our Solar System found little of interest - especially, it found no life on other planets or moons - Mars was lifeless with no evidence of eve having any, no life was found on the ice moons of Jupiter and Saturn - nothing. Just when humanity was about to turn inward again and abandon the cost of space travel, a shocking discovery was made: an ice sculpture of a strange, alien, winged creature on a pedestal with an indecipherable inscription was found on Saturn's moon Iapetus; and a single alien foot print in the dirt. The space age was back on schedule as everyone wanted to know who the Monument-Makers (as they were dubbed) were. Soon after, FTL travel was made possible with the invention of the Hazeltine Drive that allowed the transition into another dimension where 1 light year could be covered in a little over an hour of time.

At the dawn of the 23rd century, human exploration of the Orion Arm of the Milky Way has discovered a total of twelve monuments, all built by the enigmatic Monument-Makers. Also discovered are a few dead civilizations and some false cities built on the moons of these now empty worlds that are constructed entirely of right angles with signs heavy bombardment. Also, Earth is struggling with centuries of environmental damage and there is a push to expand onto new worlds. On the planet Quraqua, all of these factors collide. It is a planet with one of these dead civilization, it has a monument, and one of the mysterious moon-bound fake cities that has been dubbed Oz; it has also been selected as a perfect candidate for terraforming and a new home to humans.

While the terraforming effort proceeds indifferently, the last archaeological expedition to the planet works feverously to extract what knowledge it can about the long dead alien world and the Monument-Makers who had obviously been there at the end. Hutch, the superluminal pilot sent by the Academy of Space and Technology to extract the expedition, must come to the rescue as the team of archaeologists struggle past the point no return to extract a large artifact trapped under the sea. Through her Herculean effort, she is able to save the team while also being the one to see the connection between the Monument-Makers and the false cities.

This discovery leads Hutch and the Archaeology team on a trek across light years as they piece together who the Monument-Makers were, where they came from, and the discovery of the reason for these false cities and dead civilizations that accompany them.

With equal parts adventure and intellectual thinking, *Engines of God* and the rest of the series (*Deepsix*, *Chindi*, *Omega*, *Odyssey*, and the soon to be released *Cauldron*) breathe fresh life into science fiction and take space exploration beyond mere space opera.

The Engines of God.......2007-08-19

If McDevitt's name is on it, it's a MUST read. McDevitt tells the stories that need to be told about man in space, about the mistakes we make again and again, about the priorities that don't seem to shift, about the human spirit that keeps us striving against the odds.

McDevitt doesn't slap you in the face with research or bore you to death with narrative, yet his stories are fully developed and his universe as believable as the one we live intoday. He has a knack for describing a character with three or four words that tell you all you need to know, thus saving his word count for meaningful action which show the reader all there is to see.

Are there accolades enough for this writer? His awards are richly deserved.

Plodding First of a Series.......2007-05-15

OK. I liked "Polaris" and really enjoyed "Seeker", but this one didn't really do much for me. Rather plodding pacing and not much of a resolution at the end.

"God on Quraqua: The Temple Mission".......2007-04-09

The Engines of God is an interesting and engaging work of speculative fiction with a strong emphasis on alien species and the corresponding human response to same. Instead of assuming that other civilizations are contemporary, McDevitt puts the other worlds largely in the past-- placing the emphasis on archeology and linguistics. This is an interesting approach, and a gentle reminder that policy of the future is best off informed by the past.

Strong points of the book:
Alien species development
Focus on archeology
Stress on finite resources (something that often gets overlooked in speculative fiction)
Well-developed plotting skills. Engines of God kept me reading.

Less strong points:

Character development-- Hutch somehow is the only character in the book who is at all memorable or interesting. The other characters feel like cutouts whose job is to hold up the plotline.

The ending-- a tad disappointing. Unfortunately this is a drawback with books that play on a secret to be discovered. The chase is all too often much better than the kill.

This was the first McDevitt book that I have read. On the strength of the work, I am going to be seeking out other novels. I would recommend it with very little hesitation to speculative fiction readers who enjoy a focus on alien life.

5 JACK McDEVITT Books - 1) - The Engines of God / 2 - Chindi / 3 - Omega / 4 - Seeker / 5 - Ancient Shores (Unboxed Set of Books, Some part of the Priscilla Hutch/Hutchins Series)

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5 JACK McDEVITT Books - 1) - The Engines of God / 2 - Chindi / 3 - Omega / 4 - Seeker / 5 - Ancient Shores (Unboxed Set of Books, Some part of the Priscilla Hutch/Hutchins Series)
Jack McDevitt
Manufacturer: various
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WB50HK

Product Description

5 JACK McDEVITT Books - 1) - The Engines of God / 2 - Chindi / 3 - Omega / 4 - Seeker / 5 - Ancient Shores (Unboxed Set of Books, Some part of the Priscilla Hutch/Hutchins Series), Shipped in one package to save on shipping costs.

Engine truths: The Spirit-filled life of God-dependence for Spirit-enabling

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Engine truths: The Spirit-filled life of God-dependence for Spirit-enabling
John R Van Gelderen
Manufacturer: Preach the Word Ministries
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Product Description

What is the locomotive power for the railroad train of the Christian life and how do you connect your life to this "engine?" This book seeks to answer these questions scripturally and spiritually to apply "engine truths."

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The Engines of God

Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000GTAMY4

God speed the plow;: The coming of steam cultivation to Great Britain

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God speed the plow;: The coming of steam cultivation to Great Britain
Clark C Spence
Manufacturer: University of Illinois Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Applied | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0007DOWCW

God's steam engine: The John Pattee story (Understanding Christian mission)

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God's steam engine: The John Pattee story (Understanding Christian mission)
Roy Stults
Manufacturer: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Messenger Gods of Battle: Radio, Radar, Sonar : The Story of Electronics in War

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Messenger Gods of Battle: Radio, Radar, Sonar : The Story of Electronics in War
Tony Devereux
Manufacturer: Brassey's (UK) Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0080358292

7- JACK MCDEVITT - POLARIS - INFINITY BEACH - DEEPSIX - CHINDI - MOON FALL - ANCIENT SHORES - THE ENGINES OF GOD

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7- JACK MCDEVITT - POLARIS - INFINITY BEACH - DEEPSIX - CHINDI - MOON FALL - ANCIENT SHORES - THE ENGINES OF GOD
JACK MCDEVITT
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000U3HZB4

Product Description

**** ($3.99 USA POSTAGE FOR ALL 7 BOOKS, WHICH WILL BE MAILED AT THE MEDIA - BOOK RATE WHICH IS SLOW SURFACE MAIL AND FREQUENTLY HAS A SLOW DELIVERY TIME BY THE USA POST OFFICE).

Set 4 Engines of God Series : The Engines of God Deepsix Chindi Omega

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Set 4 Engines of God Series : The Engines of God Deepsix Chindi Omega
Jack McDevitt
Manufacturer: ACE EOS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000JM2FE8

Product Description

Set 4 Engines of God Series : The Engines of God Deepsix Chindi Omega

Book Description

The nude male body lay on the embalming table, battered beyond recognition. Gingerly, Summer McAfee, chairman, CEO, and sole employee of Daisy Fresh cleaning service, reached out to touch an arm to reassure herself that she hadn't just seen the corpse move. Suddenly, shockingly, her hand was in the viselike grip of a man very much alive and desperate enough to take her captive on a no-holds-barred run from cops, killers, and his own decidedly complicated past...

Summer's former life as a New York lingerie model had gone south with her marriage, leaving her, at thirty-six, single and back home in Tennessee, on her hands and knees scrubbing other people's bathrooms. But the drab present vanishes in a flash as she's forced to flee into the Tennessee wilds with the stranger she calls Frankenstein, first as his captive, then his companion, as they run from the enemies determined to destroy them both--straight into a raging passion that could only be the last laugh of fate...

Customer Reviews:

Really 4 1/2 stars.......2007-04-28

I've had this book for some time but kept putting it aside because the reviews were so lousy. Well, thanks to a weekend 'bug' I was homebound and bored and decided to pick up the book and read. I am SO glad I did. I kept all the negatives I read in the back of my mind and one by one, eliminated them. Yes, Steve (alias Frankenstein) was rude to our heroine but as the story develops and their love bloomed, their interaction greatly improved.

I'm not much for ghost stories and that's the only negative comment I'll make. It had a great ending and everyone got what they deserved.

Walking After Midnight vs. Wild Orchids.......2006-07-03

I loved both these books, and it's no wonder, because they're the same book!! The same plot lines, the same characters, the same story line, etc, etc. Both books keep you on the edge of your seat, you love the romance and the action, even though they're scene for scene the exact same thing. Buy them both, they're both worth the read!!!

This story should be a compelling romantic suspense to keep readers on the edges of their seats, but never quite delivers.......2006-04-20

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

Summer is a divorced young woman, formerly a model, who now cleans toilets for a living to make ends meet. Her biggest contract is with a local funeral parlor. When her cleaning crew bails on her, she is left to do the job herself. As if a funeral parlor in the middle of the night isn't creepy enough, finding a dead man who isn't really dead, and who takes her prisoner, is a terrifying experience for the young woman.

Steve is local hero, fallen on hard times as a result of one bad decision that tears his life apart. Now he is on the run from drug lords, dirty cops, and then some when he is attacked and left for dead in the funeral home. Believing Summer to be an accomplice to his assailants, he takes her hostage to make his escape. On the run from more bad guys than one can count, they take to the woods where staying hidden until the case is solved can mean their lives. Neither Summer nor Steve expect that in the middle of it all, a passion would blossom between them that they are unable to fight.

Walking After Midnight is a dark tale, filled with violence and conflict, but tempered with softer moments. Muffy the dog steals the show on more than one occasion, as does a certain ghost who pops up frequently. The plot is strong, with multiple threads seemingly unrelated that when woven together provide a surprisingly complex story. The romance however, doesn't quite live up to the expectations of readers. There is not enough development of Steve and Summer's relationship to make their new love feel believable, when all they do is whine and snipe at each other

This story should be a compelling romantic suspense to keep readers on the edges of their seats, but never quite delivers. Perhaps that is due to the medium here in which it was presented, and the narrator of the tale. Ms. Williams' performance left something to be desired. Summer's role is much better portrayed, and the narrative portions are very well done. However, the narrator seemed unable to master the masculine portions of the dialogue, making Steve sound rude and domineering, and completely full of himself.

However, loyal fans of Karen Robards will be sure to snap this book up and enjoy adding it to their collection.

? Kelley A. Hartsell, February 2006. All rights reserved.

If I ha to read the lyrics to another song, I think I would have thrown the book out the window!.......2005-08-26

Okay, first of all, this was my first Karen Robards book and I have a hard time thinking I might read another one. I was so incrdibly disappointed with this story!

1. Why do we have to read the lyrics to songs over and over again? that was ridiculous! I don't need to read entire paragraphs of the lyrics to "Ghostbusters"!
2. I got really annoyed with the fact that she referred to him - even after they had slept together - as Frankenstein!!! What was up with that?
3. The ghost that kept appearing was a really silly side plot, especially the ending! (Although, I liked the part with the Mother and Aunt.)

This book took me days and days to read! I couldn't stay interested in it long enough!

Exciting, but not engrossing.......2004-09-10

Karen Robards was recommended highly and I have read two of her books. I am not sure whether to give her another chance. On the positive side I did read the whole book and cared about the main characters. The plot moves quickly. I liked the descriptions of the outdoors in the woods and mountains of Tennessee. The dog is great.

On the negative side I found myself annoyed with the writing style, possibly because there were too many times when we were told rather than shown how the characters felt. I had trouble believing in the romance, at least in the depth of the romance, developing so quickly, even given the incredible stress that they were undergoing together. The motivations for people being in/continuing relationships often made no sense to me.

Probably the predictability of bad guys appearing around every corner also got to me, but then I am not really a big fan of this type of suspense novel. Finally it bugged me that she had to put a homophobic twist regarding the main bad guy in at the end.

This book is great for folks who really like a sort of light hearted romantic suspense novel featuring a woman-next -door heroine, a semi-hunk alpha male type and a dog with a lot of character. I'm just not quite there.

Walking After Midnight: One Woman's Journey Through Murder, Justice & Forgiveness

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A popular pick for any public lending library.
Walking after Midnight
A Powerful Story but the Writing Could be Better

Walking After Midnight: One Woman's Journey Through Murder, Justice & Forgiveness
Katy Hutchison
Manufacturer: New Harbinger Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1572245034

Book Description

"Many people who have been harmed or wronged often feel that to respond with non-violence and forgiveness is to be weak. As Katy Hutchison reveals here, to forgive and seek reconciliation not only requires even more strength than a resort to force or retaliation, but also ensures deeper, more far-reaching beneficial consequences for all concerned. I am sure her remarkable story will serve as an inspiration to others by beset by grief and loss as she was." -The Dalai Lama

On New Year's Eve, 1997, Bob McIntosh left his family and friends at the dinner table to check on a disturbance at a neighbor's house. He never came home. Savagely beaten by an unknown assailant, McIntosh died that night at a local hospital, leaving behind his wife and twin four-year olds.

While authorities searched for McIntosh's killer, his wife, author Katy Hutchison, began the slow process of rebuilding a life for her children and herself. Refusing to be defined by her husband's murder, she moved to a different town, pursued a new career, and eventually remarried-but, with questions about her husband's death still unanswered, the healing Hutchison longed for was slow in coming.

In the spring of 2002, authorities arrested a young man named Ryan Aldrigde for the murder of Bob McIntosh. On hearing the news, Hutchison startled investigators by asking to meet the man who had killed her husband. She didn't take satisfaction in seeing Aldridge in custody, nor did she want to rail against him for the harm he had inflicted on her and her family. Instead, she wanted to learn from him why he had attacked McIntosh and what she could do to help stop incidents like it from happening again. In a letter she sent to Aldridge after his arrest, Hutchison offered this remarkable sentiment:

"All I want for you is what you took from Bob-a happy and productive life."

Walking After Midnight tells a story at turns devastating and triumphant, a unique exploration of one woman's courageous response to tragedy that challenges our expectations about grief and loss. It's an inspiring account of the power of forgiveness, compassion, and a different kind of justice.

"An excellent primer for handling loss with intelligence and dignity…an antidote to the endless cycles of violence that consume too many lives and too many countries." -Frederic Luskin, Ph.D., author of Forgive for Good and director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Projects

"A remarkable story of tragedy and transcendence. Not everyone who walks this road will make the choices Hutchison did, but all will recognize the intersections and obstacles she encounters along the way. And no one who reads this story can dismiss the authenticity and passion with which it is told." -Howard Zehr, founding theorist of restorative justice, professor of restorative justice at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding of Eastern Mennonite University and author of Changing Lenses

Customer Reviews:

A popular pick for any public lending library........2007-03-12

On New Year's Eve in 1997 a father left his dinner table to check on a disturbance at a neighbor's house - and never came back. He was killed by an unknown assailant and left behind his wife - author Katy Hutchison - and twin four-year-olds. Katy moved to a different town, made a life for herself, remarried - but always lived with questions about her husband's murder, until in 2002 police arrested a suspect. Her decision to meet with the man who had killed her husband led to new revelations and makes WALKING AFTER MIDNIGHT a powerful autobiography of true crime and redemption that will be a popular pick for any public lending library.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Walking after Midnight.......2007-01-08

Katy shares her poignant story about the murder of her husband and the reconciliation with Ryan, the young adult responsible for her husbands' death. Together, Katy and Ryan now speak to international audiences about the positive affect reconciliation and forgiveness has on their lives and those around them; and the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse. Katy's work introduces and supports victim/perpetrator reconciliation programs in prisons.

The book underscores one of the most important messages to humans today: that the power found in forgiveness and reconciliation removes emotional turmoil and the pain of hurt from our lives and is a guiding path to personal growth. Katy also shows us how responsible ownership for behavior releases us from self-guilt, giving freedom to embrace every day.

Without a doubt, the book illuminates how forgiveness from within can and does have the power to change our attitude and impact those around us.

A Powerful Story but the Writing Could be Better.......2006-12-03

In a world where an "eye for an eye," and a "tooth for a tooth" is often the law of the land, it is a welcomed relief to read a book about forgiveness and reconciliation, especially after a horrendous act of murder. A young man who was drunk at the time brutally and senselessly murdered Katy Hutchinson's first husband, Bob, on New Year's Eve in 1997. No one could have faulted the author had she called for the full force of the law to come down on the killer and send him away to prison for life. Instead, she reaches out to him and through numerous personal contacts seeks to understand what led him to kill her husband, helps him to come to grips with his past, make amends, and begin his life anew in a productive manner. Her basic philosophy is that it is senseless to destroy another life over this incident; there has already been enough hurt on the part of her husband, her, and her children. Mrs. Hutchinson shows that forgiveness while not easy is possible after tragic and painful events, and that it is possible for a young man who killed to begin reconstructing his life in a positive way. It is worth the time to read the book to realize that the way to end violence is not with more violence, but with redemptive love.

My criticisms of the book lie not with Mrs. Hutchinson's experience or motivations but with the way in which it was written. The great Russian writer, Franz Kafka, said that if you are going to put a gun on the mantle piece in the beginning of your story, someone has got to use the gun before the end of the story. He was referring to the fact that you don't introduce ideas or characters and then not deal with them. "Walking After Midnight" introduces many situations that never are fully dealt with or resolved. As a reader who does not know the author, I am left wondering why she said some of the things she did.

For example, shortly after her husband's murder she moves from Squamish, British Columbia to Vancouver Island with her children. Her first husband's law partner recommends an attorney, Michael Hutchison, in Vancouver to handle her legal matters. In the course of their meetings, they fall love and are married nine months after her husband is killed. The author indicates that some of her friends and her mother feel uneasy over her relationship with and subsequent marriage to Michael. She says on page 103, "...those who know me well will assuage their fears by reflecting on my history of good decision making. The rest of the world will not see it that way. I don't care..." What she is doing here is bringing to the reader's attention that the people who know her the best are not embracing this relationship. However, she does not show the reader how that reaction is affecting her. Does it make her angry or does it create doubts in her own mind about her impending wedding? How does she resolve this lack of enthusiasm? She says that her friends should trust her knowing her good decision making in the past and for the rest of us, she doesn't care. That does not resolve the issue. Good decision making in the past is no guarantee of future good decisions, and it tells the reader to mind his or her own business, which I find to be disrespectful of the reader.

The other issue this raises is why bring Michael into the memoir at all. The memoir is really about her husband's murder, her grief, her need to take care of her five-year old twins, and the reconciliation with Ryan Aldridge, the young man who killed her husband. Why not just stay with that story? A memoir does not have to tell the whole story. I'm sure she wanted to bring Michael in because of the love they have for each other and she wanted to honor him. However, from a purely literary point of view, it gets in the way of the real story and raises too many questions that act as a distraction to the main story. Her relationship with Michael could be another memoir.

Lastly, I never quite understand why restorative justice is so important to the author. She mentions that her father before he left a room would look around to see if anything needed doing. She says that that behavior instilled in her a sense of responsibility to clean up after herself and those around her. She then transfers that learning to cleaning up after her husband's murder, which involves the reconciliation with Ryan. But is that all there is to it? Why is cleaning up so important? Why does she have clean up other peoples' messes? Can't they take care of themselves? In her own life and work did she see the awful affects that hate can have on people? Perhaps she was a victim of that hate herself, which made her determined never to hate another person. Or maybe she was the recipient of love and forgiveness for something that she had done wrong and wanted others to experience the same. In other words, what in her life led her to value restorative justice? Was it just her father picking up things in a room? That sounds simplistic for a complex and counterintuitive idea such as restorative justice. I think that if we knew more about how this attitude developed in her, it could be used to help develop it in others.

In spite of my critique (and please remember I am only dealing with the method and style of writing), I think it is a powerful story, and my only wish for the author, her family, and Ryan Aldridge is for peace, happiness, and fulfillment in life.

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Personal Stories of Reincarnation

Walking After Midnight
J. Kay , and Eileen Kernaghan
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Movie Tie-Ins | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0425124525

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Personal Stories of Reincarnation.......2006-09-26

From the cover: Based on years of research and in-depth interviews, Walking After Midnight is a startling exploration of the emotional and spiritual dimensions of reincarnation - unfolded through the true personal experiences of today's well-known personalities such as Martin Sheen, Willie Nelson, Rae DAwn Chong, Dennis Weaver, Catherine Oxenberg, the Dalai Lama, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, k.d. land, James Coburn, et al. Taken from the movie of the same name.

Walking After Midnight (Silhouette Intimate Moments, No 466)

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Walking After Midnight (Silhouette Intimate Moments, No 466)
Alicia Scott
Manufacturer: Silhouette
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

Silhouette Intimate Moments | Series | Romance | Subjects | Books

Regency | Romance | Subjects | Books
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Avon ANEW CLINICAL 2-Step Facial Peel

ASIN: 0373074662

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Amazing, Moving book

Walking After Midnight
Maureen McCoy
Manufacturer: Pocket Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 067162301X

Customer Reviews:

Amazing, Moving book.......2006-06-20

I read this book years ago and, though I rarely save books, this is one I have saved throughout the years. I liked Lotti Jay right from the beginning of the book and identified with so many of her feelings, and wished I had the strength and guts she has.

I have lent this out to friends as well, and they all loved it. I would love to read more from Maureen McCoy!!!!

I highly recommend this book.

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Walking After Midnight
Karen ROBARDS
Manufacturer: Dell Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000G9TOFM

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Walking After Midnight
Hall Carpenter Archives
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Gay & Lesbian | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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Walking After Midnight
Karen Robards
Manufacturer: Delecorte
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GLQPC0

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Walking After Midnight
Richard Nusser
Manufacturer: Avon Books (Mm)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0380709392

Walking After Midnight: One Woman Journey Through Murder, Justice and Forgiveness

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Walking After Midnight: One Woman Journey Through Murder, Justice and Forgiveness
Katy Hutchison
Manufacturer: Raincoast Book Dist Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Women | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1551929414

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