Average customer rating:
- Not Free SF Reader
- Sanctuary and Vashanka
- A Big Improvement
- Great Continuation
- Overall this book is hard to grasp for first time TW readers
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Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn (Thieves' World, Book 2)
Robert Lynn Asprin , and
Lynn Abbey
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Abbey, Lynn
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Asprin, Robert
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Asprin, Robert Lynn
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Similar Items:
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Thieves' World (Thieves' World #1)
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Shadows of Sanctuary
-
The Dead of Winter (Thieves' World, Book 7)
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Blood Ties (Thieves' World, No 9)
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The Face of Chaos (Thieves World, No 5)
ASIN: 0441805906 |
Customer Reviews:
Not Free SF Reader.......2007-08-04
So successful a project was the original idea from Thieves World that they did more, and a game.
Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn : Spiders of the Purple Mage - Philip José Farmer
Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn : Goddess - David Drake
Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn : The Fruit of Enlibar - Lynn Abbey
Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn : The Dream of the Sorceress - A. E. van Vogt
Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn : Vashanka's Minion - Janet Morris
Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn : Shadow's Pawn - Andrew J. Offutt
Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn : To Guard the Guardians - Robert Lynn Asprin
Rats, arachnids, killer monkeys and even bigger octopedal nasties are a lot to put up with.
3 out of 5
Flaming demon midwifery.
3.5 out of 5
Steel secret.
3 out of 5
Some good advice in the middle of a divine disagreement: "Clearly, a human confronted by a god should not rely on force alone."
3.5 out of 5
Storm God sending is painful.
3.5 out of 5
Stone cold thievery.
2.5 out of 5
A spot of killer killing and slaver slaying can be good for a town.
4 out of 5
Sanctuary and Vashanka.......2007-04-02
The Thieves' World anthologies are an interesting concept in the fantasy realm. Unlike normal anthologies which are put together due to some minor thing - like all featuring cats, or swords, or a purple paint - this anthology series features a fully fledged and thought out corner of a fantasy world called Sanctuary. Sanctuary is a city at the far southern corner of the empire which happens to be where all the less-than-law-abiding citizens of the world tend to congregate. As in all real cities, there are various areas that cater to the various socio-economic classes. There is also a hierarchy of gods and of citizens who all answer to the prince and his chief law enforcers known as Hell-Hounds.
The common theme of this second volume in the series is the Rankan god Vashanka and his exploits within the realm of Sanctuary. As you read the seven stories that are part of this collection, you realize that most all of them revolve around Vashanka and his semi-human emissary. Since each of the stories is written by a different author, it is fascinating to see how the same characters appear and act in the various stories. There are some common themes which are the contributions of Robert Asprin. They are mainly the overall structure and idea of Sanctuary and the character of Hakiem. Additionally, Asprin contributes one of the stories and an epilogue. This epilogue contains the only humorous part of the book as it is a purported Chamber of Commerce brochure advertising the "charms" of Sanctuary. Aside from this epilogue, all the other stories in this volume are grim, bloody, and point out the terrible debasement and hopelessness of a place like Sanctuary.
So, all the stories are dark and grim and are definitely a departure from Asprin's normal fare. As an anthology it clearly works and by having so many famous contributors, the anthology is successful and will probably encompass many more volumes. Should you read it is the question? I found the stories repelling yet compelling at the same time. Clearly these were written by masters in the world of fiction and are therefore hard to put down. The premise and the execution are dark and depressing. So, if you can handle the bleakness, you will enjoy the work. If you are expecting a story along the lines of Skeeve, or the Phules, then you will be mightily surprised.
A Big Improvement.......2006-02-10
The first book in this series left me yawning, but "Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn" has convinced me to keep reading. The quality of the tales seemed far better than in the first collection, and they certainly fit well together too. The closing essay was very humurous as well. A contrast to the generally dark tone of stories from Sanctuary.
Great Continuation.......2005-07-31
First and foremost, if you have not yet read Thieve's World, you must in order to understand a lot of what is happening in TFTVU.
That being said, this is a great continuation! I love the fact that we start off with such a vivid story about the purple mage. Masha is introduced here, for the first and last time, but that's okay, she was a strong woman, and one well worth reading about! The effects of this story will also be seen later on in further stories...
In the next story, we learn a little more about the gods and goddesses of Sanctuary. Interesting indeed, but the characters are all pretty much new, and only really belonging to this one chapter.
However, in the following story we are introduced to Illyra again, yipee...and we also learn a little more about the ever powerful god, Vashanka...he is definately a naughtly little god if I ever read about one! Up to no good, for sure! We also learn about his sister Azyuna, and all of this will be very important in chapters to come.
Most importantly, in my eyes, is that we meet up with Hanse again, but not only that, we also meet perhaps the most pivotal character in Tempus. You will love him, you will hate him, but you just cannot turn away from him no matter what. This man will having you thinking, believe me, and if he were real, he would have either your undying love, or your utmost hatred. He is a very specail character, indeed.
This second series was fantastic, and if you loved Thieve's World and want to see what else your favorite people have been up to, please, I urge you to continue on!
Overall this book is hard to grasp for first time TW readers.......1999-01-31
If you are interested in twists, turns and some descriptive writing, this book is for you. If you can stomach some things that you normally wouldn't like then you can enter the marvelous world of Santuary.
Product Description
3 books in one.
Thieves' World
Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn
Shadows of Sanctuary
Customer Reviews:
Inspiring and Contagious!.......2005-07-31
I picked up this little, actually rather large book, at the library and became intrigued at first by its title: Sanctuary. The picture on the front depicted people of a time long ago, in a medievil setting...even more interested, I flipped through a bit. Hmmm...three books in one. I must say, this is the most interesting anthology that I have ever read...you get the feeling as you read along, with all of the different perspectives of so many authors, that the story just came together at the end brilliantly.
Sanctuary is basically a medievil town, as I have stated, and a bad one, at that. Filled with thieves and killers, it is not a place you want to live. However, the people who live there hold a kind of sympathic love for the city, and are very irritated when a young prince comes to rule over their land.
A marvelous first short story introduces us to Enas Yorl, a mighty magician with a terrible curse. Is he good, or evil, or neither...interestingly enough, he is depicted as both sensual, and downright disgusting...if that can make any sense without giving the story away. Anyhow, he is an extremely interesting character who will make many more appearances as you read on. Unfortunately for Jarveena, she kind of falls out of the story, so do not get too attached to her! You will, however, also meet Illyra and Dubro, who are vital occupants of Sanctuary. Again, you get different versions of them from different authors, but they are basically harmless, but still rather important.
This is also the first introduction to the charachter of Molin Torchholder. You will love to hate him, even though he is a supposed man of the cloth. However, the gods in Sanctuary are quite different than the gods that are revered today. Remember, this town is very medievil, and even a bit mythological, as well.
In my opinion, one of the most important, if not the most important, character of this series is introduced in the fourth story, Shadowspawn, or Hanse the thief. A brilliant example of why females love the bad boys! Oh, how we do love their soft and vulnerable sides. Just read about him and you will also fall in love instantly!
Than, of course, their is the mage, Lythande, who holds a heavy secret in order to be a part of the Blue Stars. What will become of him in stories to come?
All in all, I think the authors worked really hard at bringing an illusionary world to life. The characters are all amazing, not to mention the extra twist you get from seeing the other authors points of view on some of the more important characters. A great read, indeed, you will be begging for more of that desolite town!
Tales From the Vulgar Unicorn is is a great continuation! I love the fact that we start off with such a vivid story about the purple mage. Masha is introduced here, for the first and last time, but that's okay, she was a strong woman, and one well worth reading about! The effects of this story will also be seen later on in further stories...
In the next story, we learn a little more about the gods and goddesses of Sanctuary. Interesting indeed, but the characters are all pretty much new, and only really belonging to this one chapter.
However, in the following story we are introduced to Illyra again, yipee...and we also learn a little more about the ever powerful god, Vashanka...he is definately a naughtly little god if I ever read about one! Up to no good, for sure! We also learn about his sister Azyuna, and all of this will be very important in chapters to come.
Most importantly, in my eyes, is that we meet up with Hanse again, but not only that, we also meet perhaps the most pivotal character in Tempus. You will love him, you will hate him, but you just cannot turn away from him no matter what. This man will having you thinking, believe me, and if he were real, he would have either your undying love, or your utmost hatred. He is a very specail character, indeed.
This second series was fantastic, and if you loved Thieve's World and want to see what else your favorite people have been up to, please, I urge you to continue on!
Finally, in Shadows of Sanctuary, all of the loose ends start coming together. All of the great characters we have learned to love will finally allow us to view their inner consciousness, if at all possible. You will revel in them, you will hunger for more, you will wish you had a Hanse or a Tempus in your own life. You will also meet more despicable characters than you ever thought imaginable, but it's all well worth it! Take a walk through Sanctuary and then let your mind soak in all that you have read...it really is like delving through the human pysche!
Average customer rating:
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Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn
Robert Asprin
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Asprin, Robert
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Asprin, Robert Lynn
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ASIN: 0441795773 |
Book Description
Fantasy Anthology sequel to Thieve's World.
Includes: Maps of Sanctuary; Introduction; and:
1. Spiders of the Purple Mage by Philip Jose Farmer;
2. Goddess by David Drake;
3. The Fruit of Enlibar by Lynn Abbey;
4. The Dream of the Sorceress by A. E. van Vogt;
5. Vashanka's Minion by Janet Morris;
6. Shadow's Pawn by Andrew J. Offutt;
7. To Guard the Guardians by Robert Lynn Asprin;
and Essay: The Lighter Side of Sanctuary. 299 pages.
Customer Reviews:
Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03
So successful a project was the original idea from Thieves World that they did more, and a game.Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn : Spiders of the Purple Mage - Philip José FarmerTales from the Vulgar Unicorn : Goddess - David DrakeTales from the Vulgar Unicorn : The Fruit of Enlibar - Lynn AbbeyTales from the Vulgar Unicorn : The Dream of the Sorceress - A. E. van VogtTales from the Vulgar Unicorn : Vashankaââ,¬â¢s Minion - Janet MorrisTales from the Vulgar Unicorn : Shadowââ,¬â¢s Pawn - Andrew J. OffuttTales from the Vulgar Unicorn : To Guard the Guardians - Robert Lynn AsprinRats, arachnids, killer monkeys and even bigger octopedal nasties are a lot to put up with.3 out of 5Flaming demon midwifery.3.5 out of 5Steel secret.3 out of 5Some good advice in the middle of a divine disagreement: "Clearly, a human confronted by a god should not rely on force alone."3.5 out of 5Storm God sending is painful.3.5 out of 5Stone cold thievery.2.5 out of 5A spot of killer killing and slaver slaying can be good for a town.4 out of 5
Average customer rating:
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Phoenix: The Fateful Journey
John Textor
Manufacturer: Sanderling Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
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ASIN: 097737100X |
Book Description
"Who knows what will happen when those journeys end, and we come home again?"asks Camellia York while the dark clouds of the Civil War gather around her South Carolina home.
In this second installment of the popular Southern Tides Trilogy, Camellia confronts the secrets of her startling past while half-brothers Josh Cain and Hampton York grapple with their deepest convictions during these desperate days of national upheaval.
A heart-rendering epic of triumph on the costly road to freedom, Fateful Journeys sweeps readers away to experience the painful consequences of choices, the depth of unwavering love, and the indomitable spirit to rise above oppression.
Advancing the major characters and storylines established in Secret Tides, this novel is a self-seller for fans of the genre as well as an obvious selection for those intrigued by the Civil War.
Customer Reviews:
very very good book.......2006-07-12
very very good book. Thoroughly enjoyed it! Lots of twists and turns in the plot.
Average customer rating:
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Good Germans: A Child's Fateful Journey Through Hitler's Third Reich
Hal Marienthal
Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
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General
| Historical
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Memoirs
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ASIN: 059536859X |
Book Description
“Only rarely does an autobiographical manuscript become a breathtaking thriller However, the novel of American emigrant Hal Marienthal maintains its tension on a high level from the first to the last page and is, at the same time, a time-specific document of a terrifying reality.” —Walter Gruenzweig, Vienna Standard “A soul-riveting, heart-shattering personal account of the Holocaust, from the 1920's to liberation under the Statue of Liberty. Absolutely spell-binding.” —Kenneth Lincoln (UCLA), Men Down West, The Good Red Road, A Writer's China “Hal Marienthal writes with the assured rhythms of a gifted storyteller. This coming-of-age narrative carries us deep into the heart of Nazi Germany, where a wise child leads us through harrowing near-death tunnels into the expanse of a new life. Rich with cinematic vividness and the authenticity of a first-person witness, Good Germans makes a truly important contribution.” —Elizabeth Rosner, The Speed of Light, Blue Nude
Germany 1929: Horst, son of Jewish parents, is six years old when he runs away from an orphanage. For three years the desperate little boy survives by sheer determination and with the help of ordinary citizens. Unintentionally he witnesses the rise of Nazism on its most elemental level.
Germany 1932: When Horst and his widowed father are reunited they accept proposed adoption plans by distant relatives in Chicago. The agonizing mechanism of getting Horst out of the country is the suspenseful core of the novel. Good Germans becomes an electrifying adventure story whose outcome remains uncertain until the book's final page.
Customer Reviews:
great author. great book.......2007-05-08
this is a heartwarming and wrenching story. it takes you inside the experience of nazi germany. something no one should have had to endure.
Product Description
New Edition following the first printing appearing in 1818. Edited by Friedrich Fiechtner. Translated from the German by Theodore C. Wenzlaff. Volume 4 in Publications of the Society for the Promotion of the Literature of the Germans from Bessarabia.
Average customer rating:
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Fateful Journey (Linford Romance Library (Large Print))
Margaret Lovell
Manufacturer: Ulverscroft Large Print
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
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ASIN: 0708972837 |
Average customer rating:
- Excellent account for the general reader
- Tamsen Donner Review
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The Fateful Journey of Tamsen Donner
Frankye Craig
Manufacturer: 21st-Century Publishing, Henderson, Nevada
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0972262466 |
Product Description
The compelling story of the Donner Party comes to life in tragedy and horror in The Fateful Journey of Tamsen Donner. In the spring of 1846, the Donner and Reed families pointed their wagons west and pushed off across the American continent where few white men had gone before. Delayed by impassable canyons, burning deserts, and treacherous Indians, they arrive at the foot of the Sierra Nevada in early November, just as a series of storms closes the mountain passes. Trapped in a tomb of snow, they're subjected to months of unimaginable hardship and suffering. By putting Tamsen Donner at the center of this saga, author Frankye Craig gives an exceptional poignancy to this tale of people pushed to the limits of survival.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent account for the general reader.......2007-05-12
For the general reader, this book is an excellent overview of the tragic events of the Donner Party which have become an American icon. Though a work of fiction, the story is carefully researched and the fictional elements have been kept to a minimum. Since the rescue of the survivors in 1847, the actual events have been sensationalized and mythologized and this book does much in presenting the reader with what is known to be fact. To many, the Donner Party is shorthand for cannibalism but that is but one aspect of the ordeal experienced and not at all the most crucial one. Frankye Craig does an admirable job of filling us in on the day to day miseries and tribulations of the expedition which began even before the fateful mistake that took the Donners and their fellow travelers into the Wasatch Mountains and across the Salt Desert which made for fatal delays in the journey. Aside from the physical hardships along the way, Frankye goes into the social breakdowns which occured as a result of those hardships. Included also is the minutiae of day to day living while traveling with a wagon train on the way to a country that was itself semi-mythological at the time.
With regard to the final days of Tamsen and George Donner at the meadow where they were trapped, archaeologists Kelly Dixon and Julie Schablitsky, have confirmed Frankye Craig's version since this book was written. The one bone recovered among thousands of fragments which was thought to conclusively show evidence of cannibalism at the site turned out to be that of a horse.
There is a reference list at the back of this book for those who wish to pursue this story further but for the casual reader this book contains the basic facts as we know them to be at present.
Tamsen Donner Review.......2006-07-13
The book was wonderful, I could not put it down. I thought about the Donner family during the day at work wondering what thier next adventure was going to be. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.
Average customer rating:
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The Real Deal: Fateful Journeys
McGraw-Hill - Jamestown Education
Manufacturer: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0078616964 |
Book Description
The Real Deal builds on the success of Jamestown's popular Wide Side and Critical Reading series, enticing struggling readers with amazing, strange, and unbelievable nonfiction, now at a lower reading level. Comprehension questions reinforce literal understanding, while critical thinking questions encourage students to speculate about author's purpose, make inferences, identify cause and effect, support conclusions, and make predictions. Best of all, this program is designed to reinforce state reading standards for your most struggling readers.
Book Description
What do "Abu Sindi", "Timothy Sean McCormack", "Saro", and "Commander Avo" all have in common? They were all aliases for Monte Melkonian. But who was Monte Melkonian? In his native California he was once a kid in cut-off jeans, playing baseball and eating snow cones. Europe denounced him as an international terrorist. His adopted homeland of Armenia decorated him as a national hero who led a force of 4000 men to victory in the Armenian enclave of Mountainous Karabagh in Azerbaijan. Why Armenia? Why adopt the cause of a remote corner of the Caucasus whose peoples had scattered throughout the world after the early twentieth century Ottoman genocides? Markar Melkonian spent seven years unraveling the mystery of his brother's road: a journey which began in his ancestor's town in Turkey and led to a blood-splattered square in Tehran, the Kurdish mountains, the bomb-pocked streets of Beirut, and finally, to the Cold War and the unraveling of the Soviet Union. Yet, who really was this man? A terrorist or a hero? My Brother's Road is not just the story of a long journey and a short life --it is an attempt to understand what happens when one man decides that terrible actions speak louder than words.
Customer Reviews:
A great book.......2007-02-22
This is a great book. The book is easy to read and has all the information on Monte from the day he was born all the way to his death. It tells us how Monte gave his life to the Armenian nation. After reading the book I sent a thank you later to his brother for writing the book. This is a must read for anybody who is intereted in Armenian Heroes.
Honest, Moving and Introspective.......2006-04-07
The above title are three words that come to mind after reading My Brother's Road. Markar Melkonian puts a human face on an "American-Armenian" legend, noting not only his brother's amazing accomplishments, but also his failings. Never-the-less, this book confirmed the fact that Monte Melkonian deserves the title of a national hero. His selfless ways and unstoppable drive for a cause bigger than himself are deliniated in the context of historical events. In short, one cannot help but admire Monte Melkonian while reading this book.
I thank Makar Melkonian for producing this fitting text about his brother, a revered son of Armenia.
What a great man, who sacrificed so much for his people.......2006-02-28
I really dont know what else to say. This book details his constant resolve to better the Armenian cause. Though it involves conflicts with other Armenians, his focus is for the Armenian nation (past, during the cold war, present, and future).
He literally gave his life for the Armenian people. Though drawn into political conflicts, he was clearly an apolitical nationalist, and a true hero. May God bless his memory, and his brother, who wrote this book.
I thank Monte and Markar for teaching me so much about Armenian history. Like you, Monte, I am reborn and my spirit will rise up like a phoenix. I am more an Armenian, having learned of your life. You gave yourself for (our) my future, and I will always honor you for it.
It's never as simple as you've been taught.......2006-01-31
In reading My Brother's Road, one can't help being made aware of the inevitable reciprocity of history. Monte, and others like him, were modern-day Maccabees, that cultural paradox of virtue and brutality, ideological fervor and compassion. To his added credit, Markar does not shy away from discussing the hard realities of the NKR conflict. In the end, that kind of honesty is the least his brother would have required.
A MUST READ!.......2005-12-29
Every Armenian and non-Armenian alike should pick up this book and read it.
Books:
- Telzey Amberdon (Telzey Amberdon (Baen))
- Temple of the Winds (Sword of Truth, Book 4)
- The Absolute At Large
- The Alzheimer's Health Care Handbook: How to Get the Best Medical Care for Your Relative with Alzheimer's Disease, in and out of the Hospital
- The Big Book of Flip Charts
- The Big Empty: Dialogues on Politics, Sex, God, Boxing, Morality, Myth, Poker and Bad Conscience in America
- The Birthday of the World: And Other Stories
- The Cosmic Code: Book VI of the Earth Chronicles
- The Darkest Knight
- The Formation of Stars (Physics Textbook)
Books Index
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