Book Description
Since a mysterious childhood illness, Harry Wilkes has experienced horrific visions. Gruesome scenes emerge to replay themselves before his eyes. Triggered by simple sounds, these visions occur anywhere a tragic event has happened. Now in college, Harry feels haunted and turns to alcohol to dull his visionary senses. One night, he sees a fellow drunk easily best three muggers. In this man, Harry finds not only a friend that will help him kick the booze, but also a sensei who will teach him to master his unusual gift. Soon Harry’s childhood crush, Kayla, comes and asks for help solving her father’s murder. Unsure of how it will affect him, Harry finds the strength to confront the dark secrets of the past, only to unveil the horrors of the present.
Customer Reviews:
Darkness on the Edge of Sound.......2007-08-19
Attempting a crime thriller with a supernatural twist is risky literary business, but prolific author Joe Lansdale has the chops to pull it off - barely. This is the story of Harry Wilkes, who thanks to a severe childhood ear infection is given the unwanted gift of hindsight triggered by sounds. Put Harry in the vicinity of a violent death and, if triggered by the right sound, an instant replay of whatever gruesome past event took place. Needless to say, neither a pleasant nor desirable talent, which sentences poor Harry to a life of carefully plotted places and activities in an attempt to prevent the next horror show. But after living a life trying to avoid his "sixth sense", Harry must eventually make the choice of confronting his nightmares in order to help Kayla, former crush of his east-Texas childhood and current rookie cop on the local police force - and still a "hottie". While somewhat reminiscent of M. Night Shyamalan's "Sixth Sense", or more recently, or Tom Piccarilli's bizarre "Headstone City", Lansdale's twist on a second sight is fresh and unique.
"Echoes" starts fast and furious, getting the reader riveted early, but about midway through slows and starts gets a bit muddy. The dialogue is uneven - snappy and darkly humorous at times, dull and uninspired at others. But for me, much of the slowdown can be attributed to Tad Peters, a middle-aged drunk who happens to be a Bruce Lee-class martial artist, independently wealthy, wholly unbelievable, and totally annoying. But we're to believe that the sodden Tad has the mojo to turn Harry's life around, get them both off the sauce, save fair Kayla, and clear her father's good name. But thankfully, just before Tad manages to sink this notable effort, Lansdale recovers and salvages the story with a climax worthy of the crackerjack beginning. All things considered, an off-the-beaten-track-kind of a book that while not without flaws is a worthy read.
Didn't live up to the description.......2007-07-22
This was an OK book, but it did not live up to the description given by Amazon or anyone else. It was old fashioned and slow, the characters were not really engaging enough and the plot never really picked up steam. This is the type of book that always makes me think I can write a better mystery, unfortunately.
Excellent, but not quite up to his usual standards.......2007-07-18
I couldn't grab this book quick enough when I saw it. Lansdale is an amazing writer, and as usual, this book was a joy to read.
As great as it was, it just wasn't quite as good as all of his previous efforts. It felt almost as if he had a deadline he had to meet and rushed through the story. Remember the differences between the short story "Mad Dog Summer" and the novel it eventually became, "The Bottoms?" It's almost a case of that. It feels like there are a lot of details missing from the book, and that we never truly get to meet all of the characters the way we usually do with Lansdale's works.
Now make no mistake - this is an excellent book. I would happily settle down with Lansdale's grocery list if he made it available - he is just that great of a writer. He's got a real way with words, and he isn't afraid to approach the darker territories. His dialogue is stunning - I think anyone who writes fiction could take a page or two from his books.
I did love this book, I would just have liked to see more detail and a more fleshed-out plot.
An unenviable gift spurs Texas thriller.......2007-06-27
An East Texas boy, Harry Wilkes' unenviable "gift" is the ability to experience violent moments, particularly murder, from the victim's point of view. Given Lansdale's vivid prose this makes for some hard going until Harry first deadens his gift with alcohol and then meets a mentor, a drunken martial-arts sensei with his own burden of guilt, who teaches Harry self-control while healing himself.
The story ambles along, spurred by violence, drink, the exertion of control and the nature of friendship until his old childhood love, Kayla, now a cop, asks Harry for help in proving her father was murdered. The pace accelerates as Harry stumbles and bulls his way into a story that grows and twists with every step.
Full of Texas swagger, hard truths and sharp insights, this is a thriller with character, guts and speed.
Sadly, a lesser effort.......2007-06-07
Now, I love Joe, and any new story from him is a cause to celebrate, but I felt that "Lost Echoes" was definitely a lesser effort. The idea of traumatic events trapped in sound is a great hook, but the story is weak and the characters are nowhere near as colorful as his usual cast. Some of the pivitol action is as cliched as old movie serials, but without the sense of over-the-top fun that is Joe's trademark. I've turned a lot of people into fans of Joe's work, but I wouldn't start anyone out by loaning them this one. I'd rank "Lost Echoes" a little higher than "Freezer Burn" but it is nowhere near the wild ride of "Mucho Mojo" or "Two Bear Mambo," nor as thoughtful as "A Fine Dark Line" or "The Bottoms."
Book Description
Popular, authoritative look at the world of archaeoastronomy, the study of ancient peoples' observation of the skies and its role in their cultural evolution.
Contents include The Lights We See, The Skies We Watch, The Gods We Worship, The Tales We Tell, The Dead We Bury, The Vigils We Keep, The Days We Tally, and more. 208 illustrations.
Customer Reviews:
Meticulous research........2000-12-26
The author visited and studied megalithic sites all over Europe, the Near East and North and South Americas. By careful measurement and observation he illustrates astronomical alignments built in to these sites. Black and white photos and drawings abound. This is a clear, thorough and extensive survey of archaeo-astronomy. He misses some alignments that later work has uncovered, such as the Venus alignment at Newgrange (Uriel's Machine by Knight and Lomas), but this book does justice to an interesting field. A must read for people interested in the civilizations of pre-history.
Product Description
All over the world, through countless centuries, people have looked skyward for inspiration and guidance in their lives and activities. How vast this heavenly influence was, and how awesome the human achievements it engendered were, are illuminated in this extraordinary work of investigation and discovery. With hundreds of illustrations and photographs, Echoes of the Ancient Skies is a sweeping look at the world of archaeoastronomy from the prehistoric megaliths of Stonehenge, to the medicine wheels of North America, to the Aztec "Calendar Stone." The intriguing field of archaeoastronomy- the study of ancient peoples' observation of the skies and its role in their cultural evolution- seeks to explore the "universal evidence that people have used astronomy as the model for injecting order and predictability on their behavior and on life." Examining this phenomenon, Dr. E.C. Krupp takes the reader to sites throughout the world (most of which he has personally visited)- from Egypt, China, Babylonia, and Greece, to Turkey, Scotland, Wyoming, and Mexico. He interprets the significance of celestial observation and its relation to the earthly experiences of our ancestors, from practical applications of farming and the measurement of time to philosophical queries into our particular place within the universe. He goes on to cover such fascinating topics as how we see the seasons in the sun and stars, possible ancient and prehistoric observatories such as the megalithic monument at Kintraw in Scotland, and sky gods and myths around the world and throughout history- from the Egyptian goddess Nut to the myth of Phaethon and the golden chariot of his father Helios. This edition also includes a new introduction that brings the research completely up to date. A fascinating and authoritative exploration, this around-the-world survey shows how the sky was woven into virtually every aspect of civilization and opens our eyes to the powers that shaped the human past
Book Description
When Stephen MacKinnon left his career as a homicide detective with San Diego PD to become the Chief of Police of Talmine - a small and peaceful town in tidewater Virginia - he hoped he was leaving the stressful life of murder investigation behind. But then an unidentified dead woman dressed in a Confederate uniform is found at a Civil War reenactment battle held in the town's park. Aided by his wife, Victoria, a former SDPD crime analyst, MacKinnon begins an investigation that soon puts his job and then their lives in danger. Identifying the dead woman, MacKinnon learns she was a former employee of the Library of Congress and may have stolen Robert E. Lee's "Lost Order"-a message found by Union troops that led to an event that changed the course of the Civil War, the bloody battle of Antietam. Over one-hundred-and-forty years have passed since that battle, yet the Lost Order still seems to have an ability to generate death and suffering. The killer will stop at nothing to possess the valuable document - and MacKinnon must place himself in the line of fire to catch the murderer.
John J. Lamb is very happily married to Joyce, a retired police department fingerprint expert. They live with their three golden retrievers and six cats in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting story but lacks punch.......2006-02-24
Take this same plot and put it in the hands of a talent such as James Lee Burke or Earl Emerson and you would have the makings of a masterpiece. Unfortunately this author's skill is not quite up to his imagination. It surely isn't the worst writing I've come across, not by a long stretch; in fact, it's good enough that I would strongly encourage the author to continue working at his craft, with some emphasis on character development, story arc and avoiding cliches. I am not averse to buying another book from this author, particularly if the author works on these issues.
Higly recommended!.......2005-12-17
Steve MacKinnon is a small-town police chief in Virginia. He is also a Civil War reenactor in his spare time.
The dead body of a woman dressed in a confederate uniform is found during a reenactment festival in town, MacKinnon gets to use his experience as a San Diego homicide detective to solve the case in-house, rather than farm it out to the state police as had been done before he was hired.
A mole in the police department, an antagonistic mayor, and several suspects lead MacKinnon up and down the east coast chasing leads.
At the heart of this mystery is a document known as the Lost Order, a Confederate order that made its way into Union hands and led to the battle of Antietam.
Lamb, also a former California homicide detective now living in small-town Virginia, uses his past experience to bring this first novel to life. This book was "stay-up-all-night-to-finish-it" good. Not only did I get a great mystery but I also learned a lot about Civil War battlefields, antiquities, and reenactments.
Armchair Interviews says: A highly recommended read. Several excellent twists and turns leave the reader guessing right up to the end. What more can you ask of a mystery!
Customer Reviews:
Amazing Book on Roman Life and Architecture.......1998-11-29
Amazing Book on Roman Life and Architecture, I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Roman history.
Average customer rating:
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Echoes Of A Lost Industry
Peter Daniels
Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Memoirs
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1425106161 |
Book Description
Born in Greenwich, London in 1940 near the banks of the River Thames, Peter Daniels, coming from a family of watermen and lightermen on his Mothers side of the family, couldn't help drifting into the Thames Lighterage Industry himself.
He was bound apprentice in 1957 and remained in the industry until he retired in 1957, by then a tug skipper. He sincerely hopes that Echoes of a Lost Industry will have captured the atmosphere of the trade and recreated some of the characters employed therein. Also he hopes that this book will be of some value to students when studying recent history.
To see the Thames in its present state many people could be forgiven for not realizing that it ever contained a thriving industry. a
Average customer rating:
- Graphic SF Reader
- Has pros and cons, but still not a great story
- Cements the Joker as Batman's most diabolical archnemesis
- Good Twist on the Joker Origins
- Disturbingly Interesting
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Batman: The Killing Joke
Alan Moore , and
Brian Bolland
Manufacturer: DC Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Superheroes | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Batman | Characters | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
DC Comics | Publishers | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Moore, Alan | ( M ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Batman | Media | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books | Adventure | Alternate History | Anthologies | General | Graphic Novels | High Tech | History & Criticism | Series | Short Stories | Space Opera
Similar Items:
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Batman: Arkham Asylum (15th Anniversary Edition)
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Batman: A Death in the Family
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Batman: The Long Halloween
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Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
ASIN: 0930289455 |
Amazon.com
The Killing Joke, one of my favorite Batman stories ever, stirred a bit of controversy because the story involves the Joker brutally, pointlessly shooting Commissioner Gordon's daughter in the spine. This is a no-holds-barred take on a truly insane criminal mind, masterfully written by British comics writer Alan Moore. The art by Brian Bolland is so appealing that his depiction of the Joker became a standard and was imitated by many artists to follow.
Customer Reviews:
Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-25
The Killing Joke is a pivotal Batman storyline, and a somewhat disturbing one.
Yet again we see what happens when this maniac is on the loose, doing whatever he wants, and the cost of Batman and Commissioner Gordon's refusal to step over the line of the law far enough to kill the Joker, despite several opportunities.
This ends up costing Gordon's daughter a great deal, with is still playing out today.
Has pros and cons, but still not a great story.......2007-07-30
Once again, I cannot imagine a Batman graphic novel getting five star. That would put the writing on the level of Hemmingway, Fitzgerald, ect.
With that said, this graphic novel (how you can call something a novel that has less that 25 words a page is beyond me), there are some really important events in the Batman story. First, you learn the origin of the Joker. Second, you learn the origin of Oracle and the end of the original Batgirl. Both of these events are decent.
The overall story is weak. They try to brush upon the psychological similarities between Batman and the Joker, but they do not do it justice. Really, these types of comparisons cannot be accomplished without some serious words on a page. I guess as readers we are supposed to fill in the gaps as to the psychological similarities, but it really doesn't explain the difference that led them each down the path they chose.
I like the concept, but really, don't spend the money, get the 500 word synopsis somewhere online just to fill in some important events in the batman story.
Cements the Joker as Batman's most diabolical archnemesis.......2007-07-21
It doesn't get much better than this. Forget everything you know about the Joker from depictions in Batman: The Animated Series and other media. Here, the Joker is not a merry prankster - he's a cold, psychotic killer, and I would not have it any other way. Moore has proved time and again that he is the best writer in the business. Why? Because he isn't afraid to make the medium literary. Reading Moore, you'll find figurative language, subtext, and an unwillingness to simply spoon-feed the reader (that old adage "show, don't tell").
But onto the story itself. Batman goes to Arkham Asylum to confront his old nemesis, The Joker. He informs his foe that their battles always end in a stalemate, and the only way their struggle will ever truly end is if one of them dies. Without spoiling too much of the story, Batman discovers that the person with whom he is speaking is not the "real" Joker, and his foe is running lose on the streets.
This doppleganger Joker is actually an important plot device. Through flashbacks, we witness the origin of the Joker - a failed comedian forced into a life of crime, who ultimately falls into a pool of toxic waste while fleeing from the man who will become his archenemy: Batman. But as we learn from the Joker during one of his confrontations with Batman, his memories are buried under so many layers of psychosis that it becomes impossible to tell if this is his real origin story, or just another fake - much like the impostor at Arkham.
This is the brilliance of Moore's story. Repeated readings reward the reader by revealing nuances in the story that weren't immediately apparent. Moore is the writer who introduced me to graphic novels, and, now, he has made me a fan of Batman.
One final note: as with all of Alan Moore's works, The Killing Joke is definitely not meant for children. I don't think they would be able to appreciate the complexity of the story, anyway.
Good Twist on the Joker Origins.......2007-06-29
What with the hype coming for The Dark Knight next year, I was interested in how this comic inspired actor Heath Ledger to take a different stroke on the Joker.
Twisted and sarcastic, Moore's Joker offers a true psychotic version of the infamous Batman villain. He shows no mercy, and the classic drawing of the Joker emerging from the chemical waste for the first time is priceless.
A definite must-read for anyone wanting a twisted and fresh version of the true psychotic Joker.
Disturbingly Interesting.......2007-05-28
I started reading Birds of Prey way before I read The Killing Joke and, I must say, the anticipation only added to my complimenting opinion towards this edition. I have never seen the Joker quite like this and, for some reason, his portrayed insanity seemed to fit even more now than ever before. The things that the Commisioner Gordon had to go through made me shiver. And seeing those naked pictures of Barbara, the intense expressions on his face while they forced him to look, almost made me cry. Those parts alone can emminate anger, sadness, sympathy, and all sorts of other emotions from a reader. If you have weak stomach for corrupt storylines, you shouldn't read this. But, I for one, enjoyed this very dark twist for the Batfamily's very first female member, and one of the initial villains that started it all.
Average customer rating:
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25 Batman Comics (Huge Random mixed lot of 25 Batman comics INSTANT COMIC COLLECTION)
Various
Manufacturer: DC Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic
General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Batman | Characters | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
DC Comics | Publishers | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Batman | Media | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000UMM0O2 |
Product Description
A nice mixed lot of 25 Batman comics. A great way to start a comic collection. Also makes a great gift to any Batman fan!
Average customer rating:
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Arkham Asylum Living Hell # 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 (The Complete Limited Batman Series)
Dan Slott
Manufacturer: DC Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic
General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Batman | Characters | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
DC Comics | Publishers | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Batman | Media | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000UX5OMG |
Product Description
Arkham Asylum the complete Six part Limited Series. Includes Book One: Whole in the Head, Book Two: Bits and Pieces, Book Three: A Stitch in Time; Cracked Up, Book Four: Tic Toc, Book Five: Patterns, and Book Six: Rhyme and Reason. DC Comics 2003.
Product Description
The Dark Knight Strikes Again is Frank Miller's follow-up to his hugely successful Batman: the Dark Knight Returns, one of the few comics that is widely recognized as not only reinventing the genre but also bringing it to a wider audience.Set three years after the events of The Dark Knight Returns, The Dark Knight Strikes Again follows a similar structure: once again, Batman hauls himself out of his self-imposed retirement in order to set things right. However, where DKR was about him cleaning up his home city, Gotham, DKSA has him casting his net much wider: he's out to save the world. The thing is, most of the world doesn't realize that it needs to be saved--least of all Superman and Wonder Woman, who have become little more than superpowered enforcers of the status quo. So, the notoriously solitary Batman is forced to recruit some different superpowered allies. He also has his ever-present trusty sidekick, Robin, except that he is a she, and she is calling herself Catwoman. Together, these super-friends uncover a vast and far-reaching conspiracy that leads to the President of the United States (Lex Luthor) and beyond.
Product Description
First Edition with Green Logo
Product Description
The Penguin Affair Books 1, 2 and 3. The complete three part limited series. Includes Batman No. 448: Pawns, Batman in Detective Comics No. 615: Bird of Ill Omen!, Batman No. 449: Winged Vengeance. DC Comics 1990.
Product Description
Horror master Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) joins painter Scott Hampton (BATMAN: NIGHT CRIES) for a Batman tale that uncovers the secrets of grisly murders outside Batman's usual territory in the Gotham suburbs!
Average customer rating:
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Batman: Harley and Ivy Books # 1, 2 & 3 (The Complete 3 Part Limited Series!)
Paul Dini , and
Bruce Timm
Manufacturer: DC Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic
General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Batman | Characters | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
DC Comics | Publishers | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Antiquarian & Rare Books | Books & Reading | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Batman | Media | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000V5Q6U2 |
Product Description
Batman: Harley and Ivy. The complete three part Limited Series. DC Comics 2004. Includes Book One: Bosom Buddies, Book Two: Jungle Fever, and Book Three: Hooray for Harleywood!
Average customer rating:
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Cinder and Ashe # 1, 2, 3 & 4 (The Complete Four Issue Mini-Series!)
Gerry Conway
Manufacturer: DC Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic
General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
DC Comics | Publishers | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Batman | Media | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000V9JRHM |
Product Description
Cinder and Ashe. The complete four part limited series. 1988 by DC Comics. Includes Book One, Book Two, Book Three and Book Four. Recommended for Mature Readers. Graphic violence and nudity. Special note: The Back cover of Book Two has an advertisement for the "upcoming" new release of "Batman: The Killing Joke". A cult favorite for many years.
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- Monkey Hunting
- No Time to Die
- Not a Good Day to Die: The Untold Story of Operation Anaconda
- Novels of Testimony and Resistance from Central America
- Outside Valentine: A Novel
- Over Her Dead Body
- People Who Don't Know They're Dead: How They Attach Themselves To Unsuspecting bystanders and what to do about it
- Philip Roth: Novels 1967-1972: When She Was Good / Portnoy's Complaint / Our Gang / The Breast (Library of America)
Books Index
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The Watchman: A Joe Pike Novel (Joe Pike Novels)
