The Approaching Storm (Star Wars)

Book Description

“ENTERTAINING AND INTELLIGENT . . . This book is pure class all the way. . . . The final page is a great climax.”
–Starburst

The Republic is decaying, even under the leadership of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, who was elected to save the galaxy from collapsing under the forces of discontent. On the tiny but strategic planet of Ansion, a powerful faction is on the verge of joining the growing secessionist movement. At the Chancellor’s request, the Jedi Council sends two Jedi Knights, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luminara Unduli, along with their Padawans Anakin Skywalker and Barriss Offee, to stabilize the planet’s population. To succeed, the Jedi will have to fulfill near-impossible tasks, befriend wary strangers, and influence two great armies, stalked all the while by an enemy sworn to see the negotiations collapse and the mission fail. . . .

Customer Reviews:

Wandering the Desert.......2007-08-06

It seems the books in the "Expanded Universe" are either hit or miss. The title of this review should insinuate where this book stands. Rather than engaging in conflict, it seems the Jedi and Padawans spend most of this book wandering the desert while engaging exotic creatures. If this excitement is not enough, the C-Span like political negotiations that are the climax should make readers label this book a "miss".

The Jedi are the peacekeepers of the universe and seem to spend many books in the "Expanded Universe" on strange and new planets brokering peace. The twist that may set this book apart is that the Jedi are attempting to keep the planet Ansion from leaving the empire to join the Separatists. With Soergg of the Hutts economically motivated to prevent the Jedi from accomplishing their mission, several devious plots are hatched. Of these plots, all seem to be different just for that sake of being different rather than actually succeeding.

If you found yourself annoyed by Jar Jar Binks, you are certain to be annoyed by the rodent-like character Tooqui. Just like Jar Jar, he speaks strangely and stupidly stumbles into saving the Jedi. In terms of sequence, this book is near Episode I. In terms of plot, it is also very close to Episode I. The three star average on this book should suggest that readers have had trouble liking this book. There is a good reason for most readers not liking it.

When Animals Attack Jedi: The Approaching Drizzle.......2007-05-20

The Approaching Storm was written by Alan Dean Foster, the ghost author of the A New Hope novelization and writer of the first Star Wars spin-off novel Splinter of the Mind's Eye. This book takes place immediately before Episode II: Attack of the Clones.

This novel was released a few months before Attack of the Clones and billed as a "prologue" to the movie. I was so excited because I thought this book would set up the events of the movie while not revealing too much. Well, it definitely didn't reveal too much! Count Dooku is only mentioned once in the novel. Obi-Wan and Anakin's mission to the planet Ansion is mentioned in Episode II. The two other Jedi, which are the true main characters in the novel, are background characters in the movie. The novel mentions Anakin's issue with his mother. (And it was even intriguing to hear Anakin reflect on Watto as being the closest thing he had to a father figure before the Jedi came into his life.)

Overall, the portrayal of Obi-Wan and Anakin were fairly true to the movie, but we don't really get any insight to the character of Anakin that is not in the movie. And like Rogue Planet, this novel lacked the galactic feel that I love about Star Wars and this time it is even worse because the protagonists' adventures are set exclusively on a backwater planet. In this book, there is not a single mention of Padme, but in the movie Anakin says he has thought about her every day for the last ten years! While incorporating the Secessionist Movement into the basic plot of the novel, it really did nothing to enhance Star Wars II like Cloak of Deception did for Star Wars I.

In the movies, Jedi are portrayed as being able to sense danger right before it happens. One flat-out contradiction in this book is that the Jedi fall for the old smell-the-perfume-with-paralyzing-effects trick that I saw coming a parsec away without the powers of two Jedi Masters and their padawans. Other than that, I can consider this novel to be a part of continuity, just not a very exciting part.

And the movies did have the arena creatures, mynocks, the space slug and the rancor, but this book had countless encounters with wildlife which got old quick.

Instead of this book, I highly recommend the following 5-star novels that are more relevant to the film series:

Cloak of Deception (Star Wars)
Shadow Hunter (Star Wars: Darth Maul)
Labyrinth of Evil (Star Wars, Episode III Prequel Novel)
Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader (Star Wars)
Shadows of the Empire (Star Wars)

The Approaching Storm.......2007-03-29

I liked this book although it was hard to follow at times. While reading more about Obi-Wan was good, I had a hard time really getting into Luminara's character. Bariss was a good character, yet there needs to be more about her. If you want to read Star Wars in order, this a good read!

This book is ridiculously horrible........2006-12-29

Please someone tell me why we have books like this created for the Star Wars universe? I love the Expanded Universe but hate it when I waste hrs. on books like this.

Prequel to AOTC limited in scope.......2006-08-24

Alan Dean Foster's The Approaching Storm is his third entry in the Star Wars universe, but his first in the modern era of EU. He was the ghostwriter for the novelization of A New Hope (credited to George Lucas) and also wrote the vintage Splinter of the Mind's Eye, one of the handful of novels from the days of the original trilogy. The book's front jacket proclaims "An exciting prologue to Star Wars: Attack of the Clones," while the back mentions two Jedi and their apprentices fighting "impossible odds" while "the entire galaxy watches and waits."

Unfortunately, I must charge the dust jacket with over-hyping the scope of this tale. Though the book tries hard to convince us that Ansion is critical to preventing the breakaway of many systems to the Separatists, the story itself just feels too leisurely and the planet too insignificant to carry this weight. Essentially the two Jedi and their apprentices take a long field trip to find some nomads out in the plains of Ansion and convince them to make peace with the city folk, thereby ensuring Ansion's continued loyalty to the Republic. The aspect of this I found most frustrating? After reading in extreme detail about their journey there, Foster totally glosses over the actual negotiations between the two most powerful nomad factions facilitated by the Jedi - there's no payoff! One minute they're about to go to war, the next they've sat down and rapidly become old friends.

I also found the writing to be curiously stilted. Star Wars is certainly not noted for snappy dialogue, but most of the conversations in here don't even read fluidly on the page, let alone if they are read aloud. Like Rogue Planet, this book seemed rather like a non-Star Wars science fiction tale re-skinned with Star Wars trappings and published as such.

Despite the book promising more, I did enjoy seeing the Jedi on a small-scale, personal mission. There aren't many books dealing with Obi-Wan and Anakin's relationship pre-Clone Wars, so it's good to see that explored. Since the book is set immediately before Attack of the Clones, their dynamic is very similar to what we see in the film. Visually, Luminara Unduli and Barriss Offee are a terrific pair, and it's fun to see their personalities fleshed out. Separatist scheming is always welcomed as well, and I have a weakness for Hutts as characters: Soergg's repartee with Barriss in the climax was easy to visualize and quite entertaining. Also, the creatures of Ansion were diverse and well-realized and the planet itself vividly described.

I would have liked to see more from The Approaching Storm; I love Attack of the Clones and was very excited to read a book setting up the events of the film. While it's a fleetingly cool feeling to know all the details of the "mission to Ansion" Mace Windu mentions early in the film, I think this book missed an opportunity to try for something more.

Approaching the Possible: The World of Stargate SG-1

Average customer rating:

The World Of Stargate SG1 Like Never Before!
Follow the episode
Long-winded, but a few good ideas
Tops for space monkeys
Not exactly a "must have"

Approaching the Possible: The World of Stargate SG-1
Jo Storm
Manufacturer: Ecw Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Television | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

History & Criticism | Television | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Experiments & Projects | Experiments, Instruments & Measurement | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 155022705X

Book Description

Stargate SG-1 has been a television hit for eight years (an almost unheard-of run in science-fiction television), with a ninth in production, and boasts a devoted and vocal online community. Based on the feature length movie, the series SG-1 is Sci Fi Channel’s highest rated show. It follows the flagship team, designated SG-1, of a secret military base. Transported instantly by a Stargate to distant planets, Colonel Jack O’Neill (MacGyver star Richard Dean Anderson) and his team race to save the galaxy from ruthless enslaving aliens, the Goa’uld. What is it about this show that has made it so popular? What makes it different from other science fiction series on television today? Approaching the Possible: The World of Stargate SG-1 answers these questions and more. It serves as a comprehensive introduction for those who are just starting to watch SG-1 with an episode guide to the series, examining SG-1 season by season. For the long-time viewer, author Jo Storm explores multi-season storylines and character developments. Interesting facts for each episode and numerous sidebars uncover the mythology and science not only of the stories, but of the writing, directing, and special effects used to tell the stories. Exclusive interviews with cast members such as Teryl Rothery, Alex Zahara, and Christopher Judge, and writer Joseph Mallozzi and special effects supervisor James Tichenor, engage the Stargate universe from multiple angles. Including chapters devoted to the franchise as well as the ‘fanchise’ element of the MGM original series, the book showcases the passion this show inspires in its viewers—from real-life scientists to fan fiction writers. Approaching the Possible offers insight into the multiple reasons for the show’s popularity while tackling everything from the mythology of Ancient Egypt to the series’ evolution as a CGI wunderkind. With no other episode guide on the market that covers every season of the series, this book is a must-have addition to any fan’s library.

Customer Reviews:

The World Of Stargate SG1 Like Never Before! .......2007-05-16

This book has absolutely everything! From info on the SG1 characters, to info on the actors, to a complete guide to all the episodes from season 1 to 8. It also has 16 pages of amazing exclusive colour pictures, which is a definite must-see!

It is a must-have for new fans of SG1, because it gives an in-depth look at what the show is really about and also some vital info that will help you to get the maximum enjoyment out of Stargate SG1.

However, seasoned fans should not think that there is nothing for them. I have been a fan of SG1 from the very first season and, by reading the book, I was surprised at how much I didn't know about the show.

The book also gives you background info about the mythology and science involved in making one of the longest, most successful running shows on television and how the show has inspired from regular viewers to real-life scientists.

Exclusive interviews with various cast and crew also gives you a feeling of what goes on behind the scenes of SG1, and each gives their unique take on the show.

In short, everything you ever wanted to know about anything of Stargate SG1 is thrown into a wonderful mix and bound together in a book that is a must-have for anyone who considers themselves part of the Stargate SG1 'fanchise'.

Follow the episode.......2007-03-14

I am a huge Stargate SG1 fan. This book helps you follow the episode and gives you a better understanding of what is happening to the characters.

Long-winded, but a few good ideas.......2007-01-30

This book was written by an academic, and it shows. It's about as much fun reading as a college textbook. Even the title's pretentious. Most of the book is composed of short essays on each episode through season 8. I agreed with only half of the author's opinions. She was particularly harsh with "Birthright" and "Sacrifices" because they didn't sufficiently promote a feminist agenda. The denseness of some of the essays is just exhausting. After criticizing most aspects of a particular episode, the author concludes: "A Hundred Days is built on moments; like a string of pearls, each follows another, each with a different sheen but forming a whole. Ellipsis is a huge factor in the episode--not only in time, but in what remains unsaid. Each moment has significance, and it's on these increments that a story is constructed." Well, OK, then. The author also snarked on Keith Topping's fun "Beyond the Gate" (another unofficial SG-1 episode guide), which was unnecessary. There's an inadequate table of contents and no index, so it's difficult look up a specific episode. After slogging through descriptions rife with terms like "binary opposition," "tropes," "didactic," and "metonymy," I felt the same frustration Jack does when Sam starts to explain her science--just get to the point already.

Tops for space monkeys.......2007-01-23

While there's an attempt to include other material (brief bios of the lead actors, chapters on Stargate's fan following, etc), essentially this is an episode guide covering seasons 1 to 8 of Stargate SG1.

The unauthorised nature of the book is evidenced by the lack of any photos other than publicity stills of the main actors and candid shots taken at conventions. As a result, the illustrations are not a strong point. The text, however, is extensive and rather meatier than is the case in many "episode guide" publications. First and foremost, each episode receives a short critical essay, almost all of which are interesting, germane and erudite. As well as teasing out the themes, the author critiques whatever features of that particular episode have caught her eye; be it the acting, the scriptwriting, the direction, character development, the sociology, the contribution to the Stargate mythology, pop culture references, or even the actors' appearance (hairstyles get a consistent mention!). She's not afraid to slam weaknesses, or to give praise when it's warranted - and she's not above letting her tongue hang out over any notable eye-candy! I didn't always agree with her opinions, but she certainly prompted me to think again about some episodes, plot points and characters that I'd previously taken at face value.

In addition to the essay, each entry includes notes on any myths that inform the episode; interesting facts; the absolute pick of that episode's dialogue; and comment on what marks each episode out from `run of the mill' science fiction television. Although the original US airdate and writing and directing credits are given for each episode, this book doesn't try to give all the `vital statistics' that many other episode guides thrive on. For the most part this doesn't detract, though the extreme brevity of the plot summaries (one or two sentences at most) is not always helpful.

One major niggle; the lack of an index. Storm frequently references other episodes in her critical essays, but only by title. Readers without an absolutely encyclopaedic knowledge of every Stargate episode are going to want to flip back and check out "exactly what episode is that one she's referring to here", but the lack of an index (or even just the inclusion of an episode number with such references) makes this an exercise in extreme frustration.

All in all though, this is a satisfying and entertaining read (though perhaps for dipping into as you watch and rewatch episodes, rather than for reading cover to cover). The author has clearly put considerable thought into her analysis, and the breadth of her research is impressive, yet the style remains accessible.

Not exactly a "must have".......2006-11-10

"Approaching the Possible" is a nice enough episode guide with some detailed, thoughtfully written extra features on the actors, the mythology and the fandom of Stargate. Yet I found myself in constant disagreement with the author's opinions. Episodes that seem to be generally well-received by the fans (such as season three's "Legacy"), she pans, yet episodes that even the most diehard fans scorned (such as season five's "The Tomb"), she praises. The author also makes some unusual selections when picking memorable quotes from each episode, often snubbing funnier, deeper or just plain more familiar lines for less interesting ones. While all the actors are praised at different times, Ms. Storm seems to have a particular fondness for Amanda Tapping; it seems that hardly a review goes by without Storm gushing over a line delivery or facial expression of Ms. Tapping's. The Sam worship gets a little nauseating in its excessiveness. Finally, while the candid color photos in the center of the book are lovely, the small black and white ones scattered throughout the book, almost exclusively taken at conventions, are a bit boring and repetitious.

Knowing now that this will be the last season of Stargate, I'm wishing I'd waited a year or more and purchased an episode guide featuring all ten seasons of Stargate.

The Approaching Fury: Voices of the Storm, 1820-1861 (Voices of the Storm)

Average customer rating:

Very Good on the politics of ONE of the causes of the WBTS
No Better Way To Read History
Unique approach - very good reading
Excellent Way to Understand What Led Up to the Civil War
Excellent For Teachers

The Approaching Fury: Voices of the Storm, 1820-1861 (Voices of the Storm)
Stephen B. Oates
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ASIN: 0060928859

Amazon.com

Acclaimed and prolific historian Stephen B. Oates looks at the events leading to the American Civil War through the eyes and words of 13 historic figures. Beginning with the Missouri Crisis of 1820 and ending with the outbreak of hostilities, Oates presents the viewpoints of such famous personages as Henry Clay and John Brown. The author blends fact and fiction to bring the people and events to life, and this unique treatment makes the period's complicated history accessible to the general reader.

Book Description

Stephen B. Oates tells the story of the coming of the American Civil War through the voices, and from the viewpoints, of 13 principal players in the drama, including Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Nat Turner, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Frederick Douglass. This unique approach shows the crucial role that perception of events played in the sectional hostilities that bore the United States irreversibly into civil war.

In writing the monologues, Oates draws on the actual words of Ills speakers and simulates how they would describe the crucial events in which they were the principal actors or witnesses. All the events and themes in the monologues adhere to historical record.

The result is an exciting history that brings the personalities and events of the coming of the American Civil War vividly to life.

Customer Reviews:

Very Good on the politics of ONE of the causes of the WBTS.......2004-08-04

I was skeptical of this book when I read in the preface that Oates was going to tell us what the key players said and what "they might have said". However, I was very pleased with the even handedness and accuracy of his content. The style of the book proved refreshing and placed the chronological events into an interesting weave. HOWEVER, he leads the reader to believe that slavery and its politics was the ONLY reason for the eventual conflict. The resulting carnage was a product of many more and very complicated factors of which we should all be aware.

No Better Way To Read History.......2001-12-29

This is an incredible work deserving of the highest awards and accolades for scholarship and literature. What an exhilirating way to read history! The first person narrartives, so skillfully and beautifully written, drew me into the events and emotions in ways that I have never experienced reading other history texts. This is the way to learn and enjoy history and I hope parents and educators take note.

Unique approach - very good reading.......2001-06-24

I first read Oates' Whirlwind of War and enjoyed that so much that I thought I'd give this one a try. My interest in the Civil War was broadened by this book into a desire to better understand the setting prior to 1860. I really liked Oates' "first person" writing technique. It takes an extremely good understanding of the person as well as the historic facts to do this and Oates carries this off well. Read both books!

Excellent Way to Understand What Led Up to the Civil War.......2001-01-18

I thought I knew a lot about this era but this book gave me even greater insight. I hesitated to read it at first because I'm a little skeptical of those "in their own words" treatments.But Oates presents a balanced (for the most part) account, using the speeches, letters, and diaries of the likes of Henry Clay, John Brown, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Jefferson Davis, Mary Boykin Chesnut, Stephen A. Douglas, and Abraham Lincoln rather than creating monologues for them of his own design. He doesn't result to dramatic license, trying to make these folks conform to his idea of what they were like, but presents them as accurately as one can given the sources available. The only quibble I'd put forth is that he has Calhoun refer to his slaves as "niggers," even though there is no documentary evidence that he ever did so (even in private letters he referred to them as "negroes"). Anyone interested in the issues and events that led up to the Civil War must read this book! I recommend it most highly.

Excellent For Teachers.......2000-09-17

I am in the middle of this book currently and I am very impressed with Oates' ingenious writing technique. The only thing I see lacking in this book is the amount of source citing for scholars. Anyone using this book for scholarly purposes should use the bibliography and go from there. As a medium for teaching, this book is unparalleled. By teaching the forces at work through the eyes of the people that lived it students will be much more interested than if they were learning the bare facts. This is an outstanding supporting text for use in a classroom.

Average customer rating:

Star Wars The Approaching Storm

Manufacturer: Del Rey Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0435443003

The Approaching Fury: Voices of the Storm, 1820-1861

Average customer rating:

The Approaching Fury: Voices of the Storm, 1820-1861

Manufacturer: Recorded Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: 0788719963

Product Description

Various narrators.

Approaching Storm (Cresset women's voices)

Average customer rating:

One of the most interesting memoirs I've ever read

Approaching Storm (Cresset women's voices)
Nora Waln
Manufacturer: Ebury Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0091732050

Customer Reviews:

One of the most interesting memoirs I've ever read.......2000-04-08

This memoir provides a unique cross section of life in Nazi Germany before the war. The author presents the stories of the things she saw and the people she met while staying in Germany in an engaging and unbiased manner. The stories are unusual in content, from the life in of forest tenders to an account of how the citizens of one city keep their town green by watering vine roots in their basements.

The author doesn't try to tell you how to think, she merely presents the evidence as she saw it. And that evidence is a valuable clue to understanding how the German people could support a regime that proved to be as violent and hateful as the Nazi government was.

This is one of my favorite accounts of the time period, and is one of the most memorable books I've ever read.

Average customer rating:
Approaching Storm :Star Wars
Alan Dean Foster
Manufacturer: BALLANTINE BOOKS @
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UCRZCE

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From a letter to the author...

The Approaching Storm: U-Boats Off the Virginia Coast During World War II
Alpheus J. Chewning
Manufacturer: Brandylane
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Germany | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
Naval | World War II | Military | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0962763594

Customer Reviews:

From a letter to the author..........1999-01-27

I recently received your book "The Approaching Storm" from Project Liberty Ship and want you to know that I salute you for your six-year effort to tell what the seamen and German submarine crew men endured at sea. I was a member of the SS MARORE which was torpedoed Feb. 26, 1942 and was picked up 11 hours later. You covered it prettty well even though no pictures were shown. Nevertheless your writings are a masterpiece and I will get great pleasure in showing my 4 children and 10 grand-children what I experienced in the lifeboat: I couldn't find shoes to put on when the torpedo slamed into its side and was cold and barefoot and shook like a leaf until I had a hot cup of coffee the next morning on the ill-fated J.D. GILL.

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Israel facing the approaching storm
Dan Betzer
Manufacturer: Revivaltime Media Ministries
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B00071I9YG

Average customer rating:

Star Wars The Approaching Storm
Alan Dean Foster
Manufacturer: Del Rey Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000QBB8CM

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.

The Sacred Journey: A Memoir of Early Days

Average customer rating:

holy goose!
listen to your life
once below a time...
A reflective, honest book
Beautiful language, beautiful message

The Sacred Journey: A Memoir of Early Days
Frederick Buechner
Manufacturer: HarperOne
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Religious | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0060611839

Amazon.com

"A child takes life as it comes because he has no other way of taking it," Frederick Buechner writes in this first of his autobiographical books. With this statement he attempts to explore the event that is at the center of this book, and which forms the (missing) center around which so much of Buechner's fiction and essays take shape: the suicide of his father when he was 10 and his brother 8.

As with much of Buechner's work, there is a movement in this narrative from suffering to grace, a grace that comes in unexpected ways and places. Here it comes through the preacher George Buttrick on a Sunday sermon: Jesus refused Satan's crown, Buttrick said, but "he is crowned in the heart of the people who believe in him. And that inward coronation takes place ... 'among confession, and tears, and great laughter.'" It was when he heard this final statement, Buechner writes, that something turned over for him, and led him to speak to Buttrick and ultimately led him--driven literally by Buttrick--to Union Theological Seminary. Here in this beautiful book this soul-changing journey across Manhattan stands for "the sacred journey" of a life--and of all of our lives. Whether it ends in truth or dream we cannot know, but Buechner sides with King Rinkitink of Oz who says, "Never question the truth of what you fail to understand, for the world is filled with wonders." --Doug Thorpe

Book Description

This memoir reflects on key moments of the author's early life, from childhood to his entering seminary, that reveal how God speaks to us in a variety of ways every moment of every day.

Customer Reviews:

holy goose!.......2006-03-10

check out doug thorpe's comments on this book; he's a Seattle Pacific University muse, so his words must be golden. here's my two cents:

the writing style of the sacred journey seems deceptively simple, even hypnotic, and buechner has done a masterful job at piecing his memories together into a meaningful (and occasionally preachy) message. in fact, he provides a first-rate example of how to do exactly that which he suggests, pour over one's past for surprising glimpses of God's grace-filled touch. if nothing else, buechner sure knows how to write a stirring introduction.

listen to your life.......2003-08-06

I have read The Magnificent Defeat, Godric and the meditation book, Listening to Your Life. I've read other books by Richard Rohr that have blown me away in how they've illuminated Christianity for me but I've never read anything quite so beautiful, so rich with humanity as this slim little volume.

It is rare that words fail me but it seems that anything I could say about this work wouldn't do it any justice at all. It's not about Christianity, it's about looking into your life, listening to all the strangeness, horror and wonder and perchance finding what God might be saying.

and still my words fail. Read this and take the journey yourself. You'll see what I mean.

once below a time..........2002-03-28

The mystery of our lives. The oddity of memory. The things that make us who we are. Frederick Buechner explores all of these topics in the first volume of his autobiographies, "The Sacred Journey."

Slowly--word by word and line by line, Buechner has won my respect as an author. How he unravels the story of his own life, how he makes the past breathe, gives it life...it has all combined to deepen my esteem for him. He is one of the greatest living authors.

Buechner's honest search for something universal in his story has captivated me. We all stand, in one way or another, in the shadows of our own lives. Alone, we cannot even comprehend the whole of our own journeys. The value of Buechner's excavation of his past is that when others view it, it may help them see the importance of their own journey.

In spite of the author's uncertainness about writing them, I have found Buechner's autobiographies to be of great value. I am thankful for the man's openness, courage and skill (they are fun to read).

I give "The Sacred Journey" my wholehearted recommendation.

A reflective, honest book.......2002-02-10

Perhaps the best thing about Rev. Buechner's book is that, in reading about his early journey toward finding Christ, it really will, as so many have noted, help you reflect on your journey. Buechner writes about how our lives are like novels, that they have a structure and a meaning, and indeed, they do, if we take the time to delve into them and try to process them. God, of course, is the Author of that meaning, and as Buechner finds meaning in his life, so too can we find meaning in ours. This is one I am sure I will read again and again. (Fair warning -- the cover photograph will come to haunt you as you read about what happens to Buechner's father!)

Beautiful language, beautiful message.......2000-07-26

Rev. Buechner has an amazing gift for crafting language to portray exactly what he feels and needs to say. He writes this autobiographical and spiritual book, he says, with the hope that the reader will see the threads of his or her story weaving in and out of his own.

Buechner's work is popular, and this book is the perfect introduction, explaining the major events of his childhood, which shape his life, minsitry, and writing. Sacred Journey is certainly not a self-help book, but you will be encouraged toward reflection on your life past and present, and if you let him, Buechner will shape your life.

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