Book Description
A Door into Ocean is the novel upon which the author's reputation as an important SF writer principally rests. A ground-breaking work both of feminist SF and of world-building hard SF, it concerns the Sharers of Shora, a nation of women on a distant moon in the far future who are pacifists, highly advanced in biological sciences, and who reproduce by parthenogenesis--there are no males--and tells of the conflicts that erupt when a neighboring civilization decides to develop their ocean world, and send in an army.
Customer Reviews:
One Of The Classic Novels of Both Feminist Science Fiction & Space Opera.......2007-05-17
Joan Slonczewski's "A Door Into Ocean" is definitely a masterpiece of science fiction literature, comparable to the best ever written from the likes of Ursula K. Le Guin, Samuel Delany, and Bruce Sterling, to name but a few of our finest American writers of science fiction. In this astonishing, thoughtful novel published originally back in 1986, whose universal themes of environmental awareness and relationships between two distinctly different groups of humanity that see only themselves as human are ones which still resonate strongly today, Slonczewski set out for herself an almost impossible task of creating two memorably different worlds and human societies inhabited by intriguing, three-dimensional characters. Stylistically, Slonczewski's novel can be seen as having been influenced by Samuel Delany's and especially, Ursula Le Guin's classic work from the 1960s, and yet her complex human societies bear more than a passing nod of resemblance to Bruce Sterling's cyberpunk space operas which he was creating at the same time that she was writing "A Door Into Ocean".
Admittedly Slonczewski's tale begins sluggishly, as she deftly portrays the intense personal relationship developing between the young Valan male, Spinel and two female visitors from Shora, the "ocean" moon of the distant world of Valedon, and home to a semi-aquatic female-only human civilization. Eventually the pace does quicken, after Slonczewski has given a memorable depiction of Shoran society, and how it handles a Valan military invasion of their ocean world, primarily via passive, non-violent resistance. Slonczewski's graceful, lyrical prose, and the engaging cast of characters she's introduced, are among the many reasons why I regard this book as a genuine science fiction literary classic; an opinion which is shared by many fellow science fiction fans, critics and writers.
slow pace but very well constructed.......2005-10-16
The characters and the world in which they navigate is very well designed. However it is also a very slow paced book because the characters and the world are so complex. This is unlikely to be a book you can read in a day or two. You'll need to think about what is happening to keep track of it all. A lot of the slow pace is also about the politics in both the Valans and the Shora worlds and not as much as I would have liked about the characters themselves.
Very thought provoking.......2005-07-11
This is what I love about sf/fantasy: the unlimited possibilities in worldbuilding compared to stories that are more "realistic." And yet at the same time, stories like this book can tell us so many things about ourselves and the world around us. What would our own world be like if we weren't "sick" - if we didn't practice death-hastening? Could a world like Shora ever truly exist? Do we have any Spinels among us? Or are we more like Nisi? Like Realgar? The book itself was a little difficult to get into at first and some of the events in the end happened a little too quickly, but overall this was a very good read.
A glorious telling.......2003-12-04
The ocean planet Shora is home to the Sharers, a purple humanoid race of women who reproduce by parthenogensis. As traders from the neighboring planet Valedon interact with the Sharers, the seawomen strive to better understand the Valans and travel to Valedon. Merwen and her lovesharer bring Spinel, a young man, back to Shora to exchange knowledge. All too soon, the armies of Valedon arrive on Shora to bring it under their rule, but how can a people who have no comprehension of war or rule submit to this harsh invasion? Merwen wages a peaceful communication with the Valans, but understanding is tenuous for both sides and this strange war escalates beyond the control of either party. Only through a blending of Valan and Sharer ways can this war be stopped before Shora is damaged irrevocably. "A Door into Ocean" is an expansive ecofeminist feast featuring two radically different cultures trying to find common ground. Not just a dialogue between men and women or between warmongers and peacemongers, this book is a fascinating vision of coexistence in a universe where differences carry more weight than similarities. Rich in philosophy and love, "A Door into Ocean" is a compelling novel beautifully rendered.
A fantastic sci-fi novel about environmentalism and activism.......2003-12-01
The planet Shora is covered completely by water, giving it the name The Ocean Moon. Its inhabitants, all female, have lived peacefully for tens of thousands of years, peacefully co-existing with all the creatures of the planet. That is, until the Valan traders from the neighboring planet of Valedon come, bringing with them pollution and a terrible stonesickness.
To understand the Valans, two Sharers leave for Valedon with the hope of sharing learning with them: Usha the Inconsiderate and her lovesharer, Merwen the Imaptient, who believes deep down that Valans are humans, too, like the Sharers of Shora. For her to prove this, she must teach a Valan the ways of Shora, and after their ordeal on Valedon, they bring home with them a young stonecutter's son, Spinel.
As Spinel's learnsharing begins, the Patriarch, protector of Valedon, wants to bring Shora into its folds in order to make use of its valuable resources such as minerals and fish. His Envoy dispatches a military unit to move relations along, at first with kind words. When that goes nowhere, he resorts to terrorism, both ecological and physical. Undaunted, the Sharers, unaccustomed to useless killing, fight back with pacifism and intelligence, hoping to bring an end to this unwanted presence on their homeworld.
Slonczewski has created two very distinct and intriguing worlds, populated with very human-acting characters. One item I truly liked about this book is the interplay of the contrasting world views of the Sharers and the Valans don't think that the either is human: the Sharers consider Valans nothing more than children who need to learn in order to grow; the Valans think of Sharers as nothing more than catfish. Faced with a problem, one species uses patience and diplomacy, whereas the other immediately resorts to violence. And stuck in the middle is young Spinel, torn between his homeworld and his new-found family.
A fantastic novel full of rich characters and whose themes of environmentalism and activism ring true today. A definite page-turner!
Average customer rating:
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A Door into Ocean
Manufacturer: Arbor House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HNGC2A |
Average customer rating:
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Door into Ocean
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Science Fiction
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| Space Opera
ASIN: 9992232846 |
Average customer rating:
- Where in the Bible Will I Find That?
- Only concordance NIV readers will need!
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NIV Compact Concordance
John R. Kohlenberger III , and
Edward W. Goodrick
Manufacturer: Zondervan
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NIV Compact Dictionary of the Bible
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Zondervan NIV Study Bible, Personal Size
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Zondervan's Compact Bible Dictionary
ASIN: 0310228727 |
Book Description
A concordance is the first thing to reach for when you want to explore the Bible in-depth. Organized alphabetically, it's a word-by-word index of the specific Bible translation you're using. When you can't find a Scripture passage or verse you're looking for, turn to your concordance. It's absolutely essential for doing word studies, and great for topical studies as well. The NIV Compact Concordance was designed with practicality in mind. This streamlined adaptation of the Gold Medallion Award-winning Zondervan NIV Exhaustive Concordance provides essential information for practical and significant study of your NIV Bible. The result is a study tool that is both portable and extremely helpful. The NIV Compact Concordance features: - More than 50,000 references with contexts. - More than 2,000 exhaustive entries - More than 100 frequently occurring phrases, such as "What the Lord says" and "Son of Man", with thousands of references. - Special entries with descriptive phrases for more than 300 Bible characters. - Important persons with the same name are distinguished from each other. - More than 100 important King James Version words are cross-referenced to their New International Version equivalents.
Customer Reviews:
Where in the Bible Will I Find That?.......2005-08-26
A must for any person reading the Bible for the first time to a much read Bible scholar. A helpful tool when a word is mentioned and you need to find where it is located in Scripture. Necessary when you want to do a study of a particular word in the Scriptures. Recently given to friends who don't necessarily use NIV Bibles. They are able to still find what they want by locating the Scripture in their own translation or paraphrase.
Only concordance NIV readers will need!.......2003-03-10
This is a great concordance. I've had it for about 4 years now and find it really helpful. It includes several words on either side of the entry to help establish context, which cuts down on the amount of flipping to verses that don't apply. I definitely recommend this, I'm going to get a copy for my roommate so that I can get mine back!
Book Description
Bestselling NIV Bibles now in a new selection of Italian Duo-Tone™ bindings. This wide array of traditional designs and colors will appeal to customers throughout the year. They’re perfect for carrying to church, taking to a Bible study group, or using for daily devotions.
Book Description
The bestselling NIV Student Bible, now available in three new compact size Italian Duo-Tone™ leather designs.
Ready for the next generation, the NIV Student Bible addresses three common complaints about the Bible: “I can’t understand it,” “I can’t find it,” and “the Bible is too intimidating.” A special Guided Tour of the Bible feature, written by Philip Yancey and Tim Stafford, provides notes and devotional insights and sheds light on the context of the scripture.
All editions of the NIV Student Bible now have a new cover!
Features:
• Guided Tour of the Bible
• 3-Track Reading Plan lets you read at your own pace
• Highlights and Insights explain difficult verses, point out important facts, and encourage reflection
• Book Introductions and Overviews
• Updated Subject Guide points to the Bible’s message on topics of interest
• 100 People You Should Know gives insight into the lives and faith of important biblical people
• Updated Glossary of Non-Biblical People and Places
Customer Reviews:
very pleased.......2007-09-05
I was very pleased with this product. As were my students whom I handed them to.
Not only for "students".......2007-02-08
I am a pastor who's been in ministry for over 15 years. When I first saw this "Student" Bible, I quickly dismissed it as the first of many lines of youth-oriented Bibles. But several years back, I happened to pick this up at our church's Lost & Found (many Bibles can be found there, as you must also know from first hand experience) and was delighted at what I found.
I recommend the bulkier NIV Study Bible or Quest Study Bible for my congregation so that they can study the texts as they read them. But for me, I wanted a Bible that didn't have so much study materials that forced me to glance here and there, but something with small morsels of goodies here and there to make me pause at the important (or most often quoted) passages for a second glance. With this Student Bible, I am able to be free of "study texts" so that I can engage in the text without an external guide, but as I read through the Bible, this Bible makes me stop to read the short sidebars or quick notes here and there that reminds me of some important points. As a person who's read the Bible many times over, I really like this feature -- never overbearing, but in perfect amount.
These days, I recommend this Bible to my congregation.
Good overall.......2006-01-30
-Very good. I like the quality of its leather, and the bookmark and holding box that come with it are the icing on the cake.
-My only complaint would have to be the tendency of the pages to fold inwards. But hey, this is what happens with non-hardback books.
Pleased as Punch!.......2005-08-09
This Bible exceeded our expectations as a great present for our youth. They loved it. We liked the glossy hardcover with the silver accent and the reference guides in every chapter were very effective. We liked the price and the delivery was on time.
I'm a New Christian.......2003-11-16
Hi! I'm a new Christian and a foriegner. When I read this bible with its short description and easy-to understand English, I began to enjoy reading the Word of God. This made me yearn to learn morae and be part of a Christian community.
I believe that it doesnt matter whether the bible is King James (too-difficult English) or New Version, it must convey the message of Christ. Besides we are not saved by how many times and how accurate the bible, even Satan reads it as shown when he was tempting Jesus. Its alla bout love, faith and hope in Lord Jesus. We simply understand Him more by reading His words and obeying His commands. That's the challenge.
I'd give this book a five star because of its presentation, easy-to read English and the various description how and what a Jewish culture means. Sometimes we base the Scriture on ouw own understanding , experience and culture. We forget that Jesus is a Jew and its a good insight what His culture then and how they are made different amoingst all nations.
:)
Average customer rating:
- Handy Helper
- Great Reader/Reference
- A great tool for the new Bible reader
- Helpful but brief...
- Big Punch in Small Book
|
NIV Compact Bible Commentary
Dr. John H. Sailhamer
Manufacturer: Zondervan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Zondervan NIV Study Bible, Personal Size
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Pentateuch as Narrative, The
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NIV Compact Nave's Topical Bible
ASIN: 0310228689 |
Book Description
This readable guide to the Bible is full of facts and pictures about the arts, culture, geography, geology, theologies, philosophies, and lifestyles of biblical times. It contains concise definitions of persons, places, objects and events, and invaluable summaries of the books of the Bible. Included is information about archaeological finds in the Holy Land and maps of the ancient world.
Customer Reviews:
Handy Helper.......2006-08-08
This is a very handy commentary using the NIV. Good and clear introductions, succint comments and a well produced book - white paper and beautiful print. I have found it especially helpful for the Old Testament, to have it with me in study and discussion groups. It gives a sense of the flow of the Bible story and has many useful charts, maps and diagrams - really like these as someone who is taught better by diagrams.
If you are starting out or like me an older believer, this is a worthwhile investment, and good value.
Great Reader/Reference.......2005-08-02
Sailhamer provides concise, sound commentary on the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. My husband and I have read this book for enjoyment as well as used it as a reference for specific passages. We strongly recommend this book to any new Christian reading through the Scriptures for the first time as well as the well-read Bible student.
A great tool for the new Bible reader.......2002-02-23
As a new Bible reader and studier, I have found this book to be very worthwhile for getting an overview of Biblical material. It is easy to get lost while reading a book of the Bible (for us newbies, anyway!), and Sailhamer's book shows the reader the Big Picture so that it is easy to keep on track. There are more in-depth commentaries, but if you are new at this, I recommend this book. I gave it four stars because I think it could be a BIT more detailed.
Helpful but brief..........2001-09-22
A solid introduction to the Bible, this book has some good commentary notes that are informative and insightful. I gave the book only 3 stars simply because it's a little too shy on the commentary, in my opinion. I would've liked more info, but I should've seen it coming since "compact" is in the title.
Big Punch in Small Book.......2001-07-14
I was assigned this book in Seminary and instantly fell in love with it. It gives a good through indepth overview of each of the books of the Bible that will not only help the scholor but the novice and searcher as well. I had the oppertunity to take a class from Dr. Sailheimer and now know why the book is as good as it is. You will be blessed by meeting the man as well as reading his book.
Customer Reviews:
I like it I love it!!!!.......2006-08-06
This Bible is awesome!! It has great study guides. Easy to find index and is so easy to read and understand. I have just ordered another copy of it because my first one got ruined by being out in the rain. But it is well worth the cash.
Average customer rating:
- You won't find a better bible.
|
NIV Study Compact, LTD (New International Version)
Manufacturer: Zondervan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound
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ASIN: 0310929660 |
Book Description
Over the last five years, the editors of the NIV study Bible have painstakingly reviewed, revised, and rewritten the notes of the classic, bestselling NIV Study Bible. Over 80 percent of the notes have been revised and adapted in some way from the 1996 update, and some 30% of the notes in the text have been added, completely rewritten, replaced or deleted. This update reflects the most recent scholarship from a conservative academic perspective, and reflects changes to the text suggested and requested over the last 15 years by students and academics who have studied, used, and loved the NIV SB.
Features:
•Over 20,000 completely revised and updated study notes written specifically for the New International Version by translators of the NIV. Notes are positioned on the text page for easy access.
• Book introductions and outlines.
• In-text maps, charts, diagrams, and illustrations located right where they are needed for easy study.
Customer Reviews:
You won't find a better bible........2006-02-01
The NIV bible needs little introduction, but this NIV Study Compact Bible is indeed very special. First, it looks great with a green/khaki leather cover. Of course the soft leather cover feels great too. The presentation of this bible already gives it a 5-star rating, and as always, the NIV study bible is informative with its comments and explanations. The 'red words' of Jesus offered is to me a highly desired element of a bible. For Christians and non-Christians alike, this book is going is to be valuable for your own or group bible study.
Average customer rating:
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NIV Study Bible Compact SEA
Zondervan
Manufacturer: Zondervan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound
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Zondervan NIV Study Bible, Compact Edition
ASIN: 0310926246 |
Book Description
The best-selling NIV Study Bible in the popular compact size now in classic color combinations and styles for an updated look.
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NIV Compact Concordance Hodder
Zondervan Publishing
Manufacturer: Zondervan Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0340627565 |
Books:
- A Place of Quiet Rest: Finding Intimacy with God Through a Daily Devotional Life
- A World Out of Time
- Aliens: Harvest
- An Actor Prepares...To Live in New York City: How to Live Like a Star Before You Become One
- Best of Robert Jordan: The Shadow Rising; The Fires of Heaven; Lord of Chaos; A Crown of Swords (The Wheel of Time Series)
- Between Darkness and Light (Norman, Lisanne. Sholan Alliance.)
- Blood of Heaven (Fire of Heaven Trilogy, Book 1)
- Bones, Rocks and Stars: The Science of When Things Happened
- Brooklyn Dreams
- Callahan's Crosstime Saloon
Books Index
Books Home
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- The Dragon Can't Dance
- Men in the Sun and Other Palestinian Stories
- Racing Pigeons
- Petra Blaisse: Inside Outside Reveiling
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- The Spell of the Sensuous: Perception and Language in a More-Than-Human World
- Mio, My Son
- Our Last Farewell
The Children Star (Elysium Cycle)
Daughter of Elysium
Brain Plague (Elysium Cycle)
West of Eden
Tunnel in the Sky
