A Monstrous Regiment of Women

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In The Beekeeper's Apprentice, Laurie R. King came up with a completely original story that had Sherlock Holmes as one of its principal characters but was in no way part of the Holmes canon. The focus of that book was a young woman, Mary Russell. Now in A Monstrous Regiment of Women, Mary Russell's adventures as a student of the famous detective continue. A series of murders claims members of a strange suffrage organization's wealthy young female volunteers, and Mary, with Holmes in the background, investigates, little knowing what danger she personally faces.

Laurie R. King is also the author of the Edgar Award-winning novel A Grave Talent.

Book Description

The dawn of 1921 finds Mary Russell, Sherlock Holmes’s brilliant young apprentice, about to come into a considerable inheritance. Nevertheless, she still enjoys her nighttime prowls in disguise through London’s grimy streets, where one night she encounters an old friend, now a charity worker among the poor. Veronica
Beaconsfield introduces Russell to the New Temple of God, led by the enigmatic, electrifying Margery Childe. Part suffragette, part mystic, she lives quite well for a woman of God from supposedly humble origins.

Despite herself, Russell is drawn ever deeper into Childe’s circle. When Veronica has a near-fatal accident–and turns out to be the fourth bluestocking in the group to meet with misadventure after changing her will–Russell and Holmes launch a quiet investigation. But the Temple may bring the newly rich Russell far closer to heaven than she would like.…

Customer Reviews:

The primary sex organ is the brain. . ........2007-03-27

This is the thoroughly satisfying second book in King's Mary Russell series. Mary is Sherlock Holmes protege--a young orphan who lives the life of the mind much as Holmes does. She has now graduated from Oxford and is about to receive her considerable inheritance. In addition Holmes has created considerable tension into their relationship by suggesting that Mary will propose marriage.

Russell retreats from Holmes in confusion and absorbs herself in a mystery surrounding a charismatic female cult leader who seems to be the genuine article--a mystic with healing powers and a genuine mission to help women. Yet Mary connects mysterious deaths of rich women to this cult leader. Ultimately Holmes and Mary unite in a perilous pursuit of a malefactor.

King crafts an absorbing mystery with appealing characters and with considerable suspense. Despite the considerable age difference between Mary and Holmes, they are clearly soul-mates and could never be happy with anyone else. The ending is gratifying with the mystery solved and Russell and Holmes negotiating a satisfactory relationship based upon their sharp wit and passionate souls. Highly recommended!

Like many sequels, not as satisfying as the original........2007-03-23

This followup to The Beekeeper's Apprentice was an enjoyable read and held my interest all the way through. It touches expertly on some very engrossing subjects, such as love between friends, and also explores the very dark elements of abduction and drug use. However the author seems to get bogged down in discussion of religious topics. Understandable, because King has a degree in theology and the topic definitely relates to the story, but it seemed to be a little too much in a "less is more" situation.
The climax of the story was also somewhat of a dissapointment; it had sort of a rushed-to-the-end feeling. The buildup to this was quite good, though, and if you loved the first in the series, you will definitely enjoy this.

Shades of Gaudy Night.......2007-01-03

I tried hard to enjoy A Monstrous Regiment of Women, and it actually wasn't so bad, but I kept having the feeling that the author was recreating for her characters, Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, the scenes and sentiments of Dorothy L. Sayers's materpiece, Gaudy Night, also set in Oxford and London between the wars. If you like King's book, please try the original. It is much better written!

A note (referring to the original hardcover edition: This book is full of typos. The worst two that I found were a reference to "chairwomen" instead of "charwomen" and the assertion that Abigail Adams was born in 1774. I gather there wasn't an awful lot of proofreading going on when this one was in production ...

The Apprenticeship is over; Mary comes of age.......2006-08-18

Mary Russell is more or less on her own in this second adventure. At the ripe age of 21, Mary comes into her inheritance and through a friend, is introduced to the New Temple of God and its mystical leader, Margery Childe. Her feminism and theology fascinate Mary, but when a series of murders claim the lives of some of the Temple's wealthy young women, Mary begins to suspect something more is afoot. With Holmes' aid, Mary confronts a cunning and vicious killer. Nevertheless, the mystery plot is really secondary to story of Mary's coming of age after the events in King's superb Beekeepers' Apprentice. Mary must come to grips not only with her academic aspirations, but her relationship with Holmes. I can't help but be enthralled with King's smart writing and the unique voice of Mary Russell. But what I like most is that King knows when to make her heroine take charge, without making her an unrealistic action hero.

Satisfying.......2006-03-27

A monstrous Regiment of Women is the follow up, and indeed it is a hard act to follow, of the Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King. I enjoyed this story but at the same time must admit that the poignancy and enthusiam I felt during the reading of the Beekeeper's Apprentice was missing. I chalk this up to two factors. The relationship between Holmes and Mary Russell takes a backseat in this story and at the same time comes to the forefront but in a romantic way. So there is less personal interaction during the story but the nature of the relationship changes. Romance blossoms which at times picturing Mary and Sherlock in an intimate embrace was awkward to say the least. The second factor in is the lack of personal intorspection on the part of Russell. She is a less likeable character and often appears more like a tantrum throwing, head strong brat. With that said the plot is entertaining. The reader is introduced to New Agey mystic Margery Childe and her "congregation" of the New Temple making for an interesting mystery . The end is riveting and graphic and as much as the beginning and middle move slowly the conclusion of the novel is a page turner. All in all well done.

Monstrous Regiment: A Novel of Discworld

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Cliché and so predictable it made me want to cry
female heroes
Discworld
On the absurdity of war...but a bit too predictable..
Great story - whats up ahead, some of what is behind also.

Monstrous Regiment: A Novel of Discworld
Terry Pratchett
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 006001315X
Release Date: 2003-09-30

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What do you get when you cross a vampire, a troll, Igor, a collection of misfits, and a young woman who shoves a pair of socks down her pants to join the army? The answer's simple. You have Monstrous Regiment, the characteristically charming novel by Terry Pratchett.

Polly becomes Private Oliver Perks, who is on a quest to find her older brother, who's recently MIA in one of the innumerable wars the tiny nation of Borogravia has a habit of starting with its neighbors. This peevish tendency has all but expended Borogravia's ranks of cannon fodder. Whether Sergeant Jackrum knows her secret or not, he can't afford to be choosy, as Perks and her/his comrades are among the last able-bodied recruits left in Borogravia. This collection of misfits includes the aforementioned vampire (reformed and off the blood, thank you), troll, and macabre Igor, who is only too happy to sew you a new leg if you aren't too particular about previous ownership. Off to war, Polly/Oliver learns that having a pair of, um, socks is a good way to open up doors in this man's army.

For those who haven't made this underrated author's acquaintance, Monstrous Regiment is as good a place to start as any. Readers will encounter Pratchett's subtle and disarming wit, his trademark footnoted asides along with a not-too-shabby tale of honor, courage, and duty in the face of absurd circumstances. --Jeremy Pugh

Book Description

War has come to Discworld . . . again.

And, to no one's great surprise, the conflict centers on the small, insufferably arrogant, strictly fundamentalist duchy of Borogravia, which has long prided itself on it's ability to beat up on its neighbors for even the tiniest imagined slight. This time, however, it's Borogravia that's getting its long overdue comeuppance, which has left the country severely drained of young men.

Ever since her brother Paul marched off to battle a year ago, Polly Perks has been running The Duchess,her family's inn -- even though the revered national deity Nuggan has decreed that female ownership of a business is an Abomination (with, among others, oysters, rocks, and the color blue). To keep The Duchess in the family, Polly must find her missing sibling. So she cuts off her hair, dons masculine garb, and sets out to join him in this man's army.

Despite her rapid mastery of belching, scratching, and other macho habits (and aided by a well-placed pair of socks), Polly is afraid that someone will immediately see through her disguise; a fear that proves groundless when the recruiting officer, the legendary and seemingly ageless Sergeant Jackrum, accepts her without question. Or perhaps the sergeant is simply too desperate for fresh cannon fodder to discriminate -- which would explain why a vampire, a troll, a zombie, a religious fanatic, and two uncommonly close "friends" are also eagerly welcomed into the fighting fold. But marching off with little (read: no) training, Polly (now called "Oliver") finds herself wondering about the myriad peculiarities of her new brothers-in-arms. It would appear that Polly "Ozzer" Perks is not the only grunt with a secret. There is no time to dwell on such matters, however.Duty calls. The battlefield beckons. There's a tide to be turned.

And sometimes -- in war as in everything else -- the best man for the job is a woman.

Customer Reviews:

Cliché and so predictable it made me want to cry.......2007-04-07

This book seems perfect for a light read. It has catchy characters and an okay plot.

Actually, don't read this even as a light read unless you enjoy the "guilty pleasure" of reading novels with way too many adverbs. Monstrous Regiment is completely formulaic, and seems to be written by a machine and not a person. It is so shallow and badly thought out that it's nauseating.

I liked Pratchett's the Wee Free Men better. That was easily funny, whereas Monstrous Regiment is trying too hard. Don't read it unless you're a diehard Terry Pratchett fan. Or a masochist, that too.

SPOILER:
By the end of the book, it's revealed that everyone is a woman. This annoys me no end- it's predictable and yet so stupid that you have to wonder whether Pratchett was conscious when he wrote it.

female heroes.......2007-01-10

In the face of a stupid, horrible war, Pratchett addresses the limitations and assumptions of gender identity with fresh wisdom and humor.

Discworld.......2006-08-27

I've decided he's too good and too prolific for me to write a brand new review every single time I read one of his books. Discworld currently has 34 titles and every one of them will probably knock your socks off. His mind bubbles and flashes like a boiling pot of electric eels, and I simply can't get enough of his writing.

A reviewer has compared him to Geoffrey Chaucer. He reminds me more of Douglas Adams, or perhaps S Morgenstern. Great company, isn't it? He's an extremely skillful and imaginative writer, damn funny, clever and observant to boot. He's also very easy to read. A master of characterization, and if there's anything else you like about reading that I didn't mention here, assume I simply forgot. He's awesome.

Another reviewer mentioned Jonathan Swift and PG Wodehouse. Why such hallowed company? Because Pratchett belongs there! Truly, I'm enjoying my quest to read every book in the series. You should do the same, and begin your quest at the library because he's got to be there. He's awesome!

Yet another reviewer said Jerome K Jerome meets Lord of the Rings. Yeah, that works too.

Why do we, as reviewers, compare authors to other authors? Because it's easier than thinking. In the case of Terry Pratchett, it's probably because we'd otherwise wind up quoting the guy. He's so unique that we just don't know how else to cope with his greatness. Even this paragraph sounds like foamy drool raving, doesn't it? That's how all readers react to Pratchett. Reviewers simply don't have the good sense to keep it to themselves.

I could call his writing fantasy, but I could likewise call what Douglas Adams wrote science fiction. In both cases, I wouldn't be wrong, but I'd be neglecting so much and just totally missing the point. A rare few authors transcend a genre to such a degree that you know they're shouting out, loud and proud, a big fat "Bite me!"

I love Terry Pratchett's writing, and I completely understand why some folks refer to him as their favorite author. Or favourite, I should say, since we're being British. He's one of those authors that makes you want to grab whoever's in hearing range and start reading passages aloud. I'm simply thrilled that there's such an extremely talented and prolific author who's been working for years without me being aware of him. Now I have much catching up to do, and I will love it.

On the absurdity of war...but a bit too predictable.........2006-07-07

This trip to Discworld takes us into Borogravia, home of constant warfare that generally stem from the most ridiculous reasons imaginable. Into the conflict comes young Polly Perks, a barmaid who needs to find her brother before the family loses the family tavern. As women are not permitted to be soldiers as it is "an abomination unto Nuggan." the deity whose concerns are constantly becoming more and more outrageous, Polly pretends to be a man and joins up with a ragtag group that include a vampire, a troll, and an "Igor." Everyone has their own secrets and the troop goes off to war.
This episode of Discworld is a bit predictable. The conflicts and concerns of war are ample fodder for farce and Pratchett makes the most of the setting, but the storyline and the "surprises" within are far too predictable. Pratchett does have an opportunity to give some more depth to his world, but I found myself missing Ankh-Morpock and its denizens (although a few make an appearance). An departure from the norm and still enjoyable, but hopefully Borogravia will only make an occasional appearance.

Great story - whats up ahead, some of what is behind also........2006-07-02

SPOILER AHEAD DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU ALREADY KNOW THE ENDING

This installment of a new set of characters within the Discworld sets us in a parallel universe to the recent Bosnian Conflict. We follow a group of females willing to join the ranks to go find their men, or to escape a bitter past. Generally I love Terry Pratchett books. This one seemed a bit predictable. From the moment Private Oliver Perks "Polly" joins I had hopes she was the one female in the ranks of the men. Within a few pages you find out she is not alone. About 100 pages from the end the real dissapointment comes out. All in all it is a great book and the story is decent. I was just a little dissapointed with the end.

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A Monstrous Regiment Of Women
Laurie King
Manufacturer: London HarperCollins 1997.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0002326108

The First Blast Of The Trumpet Against The Monstrous Regiment Of Women

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The First Blast Of The Trumpet Against The Monstrous Regiment Of Women
John Knox
Manufacturer: Kessinger Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1419162322

Monstrous Regiment: Women Rulers in Men's Worlds

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Monstrous Regiment: Women Rulers in Men's Worlds
Betty Millan
Manufacturer: Olympic Marketing Corp
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0946041016

The Monstrous Regiment of Women: Female Rulers in Early Modern Europe

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The Monstrous Regiment of Women: Female Rulers in Early Modern Europe
Sharon L. Jansen
Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0312213417

Book Description

When Mary Tudor became queen of England, the succession of a woman to the throne horrified many, including the Protestant reformer John Knox. His blistering condemnation of female rule, The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women, was followed in print by a series of pamphlets that echoed and expanded his argument that female rule was unnatural, unlawful, and contrary to scripture. In her own variation on this "monstrous regiment," Sharon Jansen contributes to the debate about female rulers. She explores the relationships among the many women whose lives occupy a place in and perpetuate a continuing, though largely unrecognized, tradition of political rule. The "story" of early modern European political history looks very different if we focus on successive generations of powerful women and view the shifting political alliances of the period from their perspective.

Colonel Barker's Monstrous Regiment: A Tale of Female Husbandry

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Absorbing and sad
Thought provoking

Colonel Barker's Monstrous Regiment: A Tale of Female Husbandry
Rose Collis
Manufacturer: Virago Press, Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

The astonishing true story of a consummate gentleman… who just happened to be a woman.

Customer Reviews:

Absorbing and sad.......2004-06-27

I had never heard of Col. Barker until I stumbled across this book at a sale. I was fascinated -- since I literally couldn't put it down, I read it in a day -- and deeply moved. I admired the skill with which Collis interwove her various stories and times; the "subplots" added resonance to the main tale. At the same time, however, I was slightly uncomfortable with the cumulative image created by the stories of the other 'man-women': they had all, or almost all, committed crimes, from petty theft to murder. Collis, I'm sure, never intended to imply a link between criminal behavior and alternative gender behavior. I assume that the majority of 'man-women' lived and died undetected, or at least without mass notoriety. Presumably, the only ones who were publicly exposed were the ones who came under the scrutiny of the authorities, hence the prevalence of criminals in Collis's book. I wish she had addressed that issue at some point. Also, there are times when she implies injustice to a criminal 'man-woman' without much apparent foundation. I am thinking in particular of the case of Margaret Bill Allen, who murdered a neighbor in "one of her moods." Western justice has certainly changed in the 50 or so years since Allen was executed; there would be a slew of medical and other factors to consider in his/her case today. Nevertheless, there does not seem to be compelling evidence, as far as Collis tells us, to support the implication that Bill's gender was a major issue in the case. A brutal, unmotivated murder and attempt to cover it up seems to have been what the authorities took exception to. These are quibbles, though, with what was an exceptional account of a gripping and saddening story.

Thought provoking.......2004-06-04

A well researched, factual novel, found by chance in a bookstore in Yarragon. Whilst I was aware of the cases of "man-woman" phenomenon around the world, I had not heard of Colonel Victor Barker before. The pain and humiliation he/she has had to suffer has been momentous, and the dedication shown to his/her son made me cry.

Rose Collis makes an excellent point in her thanks at the end of her book, being that non-fiction writers are often overlooked for grants. These writers are neglected when they should be applauded and assisted and I for one agree heartily with her views!

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First Blast of the Trumpet: Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women
Eric McCormack
Manufacturer: Penguin Global
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0143016075

Book Description

First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women is the story of Andrew Halfnight, whose life-part dream, part nightmare-begins with a mother's tragic choice and ends with a lover's understanding. In between he experiences tempests at sea, relatives who kill for love and lovers who sacrifice their bodies, all the while unknowingly moving ever closer to the central mystery of his, and all existence.

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A Monstrous Regiment of Women
LAURIE R KING
Manufacturer: London HarperCollins 1997.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8SB18

A Monstrous Regiment of Women - Sequel to The Beekeeper's Apprentice

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A Monstrous Regiment of Women - Sequel to The Beekeeper's Apprentice

Manufacturer: Recorded Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: 0788704931

Product Description

9 Cassettes/12 hours....Followers of the New Temple of Godall well-bred, well-heeled young womenare becoming targets for murder. With Sherlock Holmes at her side, Mary Russell plunges headlong into a dangerous investigation of life behind the sinister temple walls.

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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A wonderful world!
Couldn't make it through 60 pages without nodding off
Good fantasy that makes you stretch a bit
Gets better as it goes on
above average fantasy with a twist

Fire Logic
Laurie J. Marks
Manufacturer: Tor Fantasy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 081256653X
Release Date: 2004-03-02

Amazon.com

In the wake of the successful movie adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, bookstores have been flooded with new high fantasy. Much of it is derivative and badly written; some is well written and singular. Among the rare and glorious successes is Laurie J. Marks's Fire Logic, an original, skillfully written, powerfully imagined novel of war and intrigue, a high fantasy that owes little to Tolkien's trilogy, though both are intelligent, adult works that may also be enjoyed by younger readers.

In the world of Fire Logic, the rare individuals born with magic talent are known as elementals, because they possess the power of fire, earth, air, or water. The fire elemental Emil is a Paladin, a Shaftali soldier-scholar who is about to embark on his most desired studies when the invading Sainnites capture the capitol and kill the wizard ruler, leaving no heir; now Emil must become a war commander in the remnants of the Shaftali army. Another fire elemental, Zanja na'Tarwein, is the Ashawala'i Speaker, but she cannot convince her own people of the full danger of the Sainnites. Karis, a half-giant blacksmith, has tremendous earth powers that might defeat the Sainnites--if she weren't addicted to a potent, deadly drug that steals her will. Her guardian, Norina the Truthken, is an air elemental able to see through any lie, yet she is blind to dangerous truths about both her half-giant charge and Paladin treachery. --Cynthia Ward

Book Description

Earth * Air * Water * FireThese elements have sustained the peaceful people of Shaftal for generations, with their subtle powers of healing, truth, joy, and intuition.But now, Shaftal is dying.The earth witch who ruled Shaftal is dead, leaving no heir. Shaftal's ruling house has been scattered by the invading Sainnites. The Shaftali have mobilized a guerrilla army against these marauders, but every year the cost of resistance grows, leaving Shaftal's fate in the hands of three people: Emil, scholar and reluctant warrior; Zanja, the sole survivor of a slaughtered tribe; and Karis the metalsmith, a half-blood giant whose earth powers can heal, but only when she can muster the strength to hold off her addiction to a deadly drug.Separately, all they can do is watch as Shaftal falls from prosperity into lawlessness and famine. But if they can find a way to work together, they just may change the course of history.

Customer Reviews:

A wonderful world!.......2006-09-29

Just re-read Laurie J. Mark's "Fire Logic" and finally read her sequel "Earth Logic." I've read "Fire Logic" at least twice before and it's never really hit me before that barring more humor she writes worlds like Tanya Huff! Her people are bi- and when I say that now a days I'm not JUST talking about their sexual preferences but equality between the sexes! A background character described as a "farmer" or "soldier" or "merchant" will be a female half the time! THAT is equality. Women aren't strange, hidden away creatures only there to be the love interest to a male character as written in soo many fantasy or sci-fi books- they are people in their own right! And wheather these equal men or women chose to love a husband or wife- it is not looked down upon or cause for hatred! In these well written worlds the only thing a woman can do that a man can't is have a baby and the only thing a man can do that a woman can't is have an erection.
I feel strangely like I've been overlooking Laurie Marks and my eyes have been opened up!
Her story and characters are of coarse exciting and detailed. Zanja, the cool tormented main character who must find her way in a world that is suddenly without purpose. Karis, the talented but degraded woman that must overcome so much to truly realize her own power. Medric, the seer raised an enemy that comes to realize through his visions there is a better way. Emil, the scholar forced to be a soldier.. And all following their own elemental "logic" and precog-like powers to lead them together.
It's really a great story and I wonder if there will be more in this world, a 3rd book perhaps? Though they are pretty settled at the end of 2!

Couldn't make it through 60 pages without nodding off.......2006-06-21

Fire Logic by Laurie Marks is the first in the Elemental Logic series that received decent (4 to 4 1/2 stars) by numerous reviewers. I liked the title, and since I had no other books on my nightstand (gasp!) I picked it and the sequel Earth Logic up too. I force-fed myself the first 60 pages or so and finally gave up and would only give it two stars. I say two because it wasn't offensive or stupid, just uninteresting.

It was so boring that I can't really explain much about it, other than it's shamelessly derivative of the Lord of the Rings writing style (which I hated in its original form). There is one main race that occupies a land, with some fringe races living on the outskirts who are the magic-wielders. Then a big bad war-like race comes in and takes over as the evil oppressors. One of the magic-wielder women is like a shaman or something. Blah blah blah.

Don't waste your time.

Good fantasy that makes you stretch a bit.......2006-01-28

I had the distinct impression that the author first wrote the book, then went back and flipped a coin to determine the gender of each of the characters; rewriting the gender-specific pronouns as needed.

Reading the novels caught me offguard numerous times and made me realize just how much I think in stereotypes. An example is when a group is struggling along in a harsh winter and come to a small farm. They are met by the farmer who lets them sleep in the barn. It is casually revealed that the farmer is female. I had to erase and rewrite the pictures in my head!

Within the books, gender does not determine strength of body or character, nor does it determine roles in society. Very refreshing.

Similarly, some characters have dark skin, some light. Neither gender nor skin color is of any significance whatsoever to the characters in the novel. Yes, there is some reference to sexuality in the books. However, it is never either salacious or explicit. Some is casual and friendly, some is committed. Nothing much is made of it in either instance. Sexual contact is presented as an extension of friendship with never a hint of exploitation, dominance, or control entering into it. Yes, a lot of the sex is between same-gender persons, but so what?

Another dominant theme is that of "family." In the books a family is a committed group of friends who share purpose and share parenting of any children in the group. All women are Mother, all men are Father.

A good read with careful plotting and very well developed characters.

Gets better as it goes on.......2005-09-05

For the first 100 or so pages I was having a lot of trouble getting into the story because it seemed a bit detached, like the author was describing it all from a distance and wasn't really involved in the story. But soon I started to enjoy it and was finally able to get lost in the story.

The big thing you should know, and other reviewers have noted this as well, is there are a lot of homosexual relationships in this book. I mean practically everyone is gay, and it's very casual and accepted. There are never any "hateful" comments by any bigoted characters. This is just the way it is there. But there don't seem to be many heterosexual families, and as another reviewer said, you have to wonder where the kids come from. For most of the book the sexual relationships aren't really an issue, but near the end they become a major focus.

Overall, I could have done without the weird gender relationships, but the story was interesting enough that I will read the next book in the series.

above average fantasy with a twist.......2005-04-06

It is a great thing when a book makes you see the world from a new angle. Fire Logic did this to me. I am an avid reader of fantasy novels and I have always enjoyed the strong female characters in a lot of the new fantasy. This novel showed me that those characters can be taken up several notches. As I started to read I had to keep reminding myself that the burly blacksmith was a woman. It took this novel to really knock me upside the head and realize that women are still denied a lot of traditionally male character roles in fantasy.

I think it is great how nontraditional relationships are really highlighted, but I do somewhat agree with other reviewers who felt that it was a bit too much. Writing a queer oriented fantasy is great but if you do not include any meaningful hetero relationships, the work is just as biased as the damsel in distress novels of the past.

All that aside, the novel is exceedingly original and kept me interested to the end. While not up to the standards of some of the greats like George RR Martin, it is above average for the genre and gets an extra star for originality. I just started the next novel, hopefully it will keep up the pace.

Fire and Ice: Human-Centered and Mechanistic Paradigms in Software Design

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Fire and Ice: Human-Centered and Mechanistic Paradigms in Software Design
Derek Kelly
Manufacturer: Writers Club Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Design & Architecture | Hardware | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0595205488

Book Description

Battling for the soul of software designers today are two incompatible philosophies. One philosophy, which dominates today’s industry, is absolutistic, hierarchical, mechanistic, a-temporal, abstract, atomistic, and centered on machines. The other philosophy is de-centralized, non-hierarchic, non-mechanical, temporal, concrete, organic, and human-centered. Which one will produce the software for your children and grandchildren?

A fuzzy expert system for computing workers' compensation insurance premiums in construction: a conceptual framework.: An article from: Architectural Science Review

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A fuzzy expert system for computing workers' compensation insurance premiums in construction: a conceptual framework.: An article from: Architectural Science Review
K. Imriyas , Low Sui Pheng , Teo Ai Lin , and Chan Swee Lean
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Architectural Science Review, published by Thomson Gale on September 1, 2006. The length of the article is 10307 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: A fuzzy expert system for computing workers' compensation insurance premiums in construction: a conceptual framework.
Author: K. Imriyas
Publication: Architectural Science Review (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 1, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 49 Issue: 3 Page: 270(15)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Tool Logic SL3 Fire multitool.(Gear Head): An article from: Camping Life

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Tool Logic SL3 Fire multitool.(Gear Head): An article from: Camping Life
Rich Johnson
Manufacturer: Ehlert Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Home & Garden | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books

General | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000974ZG4
Release Date: 2005-04-19

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Camping Life, published by Ehlert Publishing Group on March 1, 2005. The length of the article is 384 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Tool Logic SL3 Fire multitool.(Gear Head)
Author: Rich Johnson
Publication: Camping Life (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 1, 2005
Publisher: Ehlert Publishing Group
Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Page: 23(2)

Distributed by Thompson Gale

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Adding Logic to Fire Prevention Systems
John A. Campbell
Manufacturer: Society of Fire Protection
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0686376692

Free land and fire from the altar; or, The four great earthly powers, the laws, logic, sentiments and physical works of men overtaken by the scorching truth and light of divine revelation

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Free land and fire from the altar; or, The four great earthly powers, the laws, logic, sentiments and physical works of men overtaken by the scorching truth and light of divine revelation
James Harvey Jenkins
Manufacturer: Davis & Cox, Printers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Sociology | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000895TIQ

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