The VOYAGE OF THE SPACE BEAGLE

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The first third of this novel, BLACK DESTROYER, appeared in the 7/39 ASTOUNDING as Van Vogt's first science fiction story. It was the basis of the Sigourney Weaver Film, Alien. Van Vogt (1912-2000), named an SFFWA Grandmaster in 1995, was the most influential science fiction writer of his time.

Customer Reviews:

A classic..........2007-09-18

You hear that a lot. This is a classic, that is a classic. But this IS a classic.
The Voyage of the Space Beagle is one of those books that have inspirited many later authors and movies. A. E. Van Vogt is one of the Fathers of modern Sci-Fi. While the Black Destroyer may, or may not, have inspirited the makers of the movie Alien I do know that two of the aliens in the book also show up in Barlowe's Guide to Extraterrestrials along side such great aliens as the Puppeteers, The Thing, the Overlords, the Guild Steersmen and the Old Ones.
The book is four short stories put together. Or a novel that has been cut up into four short stories for other collections. But in the end this is the story of a huge spaceship on a deep space mission to explore and understand. The science is kind of soft, more of a space opera but also reminds me a tad of Star Trek. But remember this was first printed decades before Star Trek.

Classic Sci-Fi and the Basis for Alien.......2007-06-12

The Voyage of the Space Beagle by A. E. van Vogt is a book that could best be described as Classic Sci-Fi. Science Fiction in general is a genre that is very new to me, and I have never read any van Vogt. So I decided to go on a voyage!

This book was originally 4 short stories that were put together in a "fixup" by van Vogt. The stories are all about the crew of the Space Beagle (a Darwin reference) and its intergalactic expedition. The crew is made up of military personnel and scientists that are on board to study alien life in other galaxies. Eliot Grosvenor, is the books protagonist. He is the lone Nexialist aboard the ship. Nexialism is a relatively new science. It is one that encompasses ALL the other sciences and relates them together. It is more generalized than specific, but it also adds an element of hypnotism and mind control. At first, Grosvenor isn't given much thought. He is left to himself until trouble comes aboard and his skills are called into play.

Each story, or section, in the book describes contact with an alien race. In the first story, the crew members explore what they think is a seemingly deserted planet. The stumble across Coeurl, a cat-like creature that has tentacles and an incredible hunger. He pretends to be just another dumb animal, and the crew members "capture" him and take him aboard the ship to study. But Coeurl is hungry and he has an agenda. He quickly escapes and terrorizes the ship.

They also encounter the Riim, a bird-like creature that has great hypnotic power; the Ixtl, a devil-like alien that is keen on breeding, by implanting his eggs in the stomach of the crew members; and Anabis, who is galaxy-wide and is waiting to take over planets.

While the aliens are the main part of the storyline, what appealed to me even more was the relationships of the crew members. If the creatures outside don't get you, the people inside just might! There is a political undertone that reflects the climate on the ship. The military and the scientists always seem to be at odds with each other and underlies the harmony on the ship. It seems to be a pretty accurate assessment of ventures even today that involve the same types of people. While a lot of the "scientific" stuff is really dated, I was intrigued by the politicking going on inside the walls of the Beagle. This was a short, fun read. I can see a lot of present day science fiction that was influenced by this writer. Overall, I highly enjoyed it!!

Interesting and imaginative but dated!.......2007-04-25

With all the benefit of hindsight, it's easy to read Van Vogt's "Voyage of the Space Beagle" with the same clarity and futuristic vision that perhaps inspired Gene Roddenberry to spin off Star Trek vesting the Enterprise with the five year mission to go where no man has gone before. In a style that will remind readers of Bradbury's "The Martian Chronicles" or Asimov's "I, Robot", this quintessential example of early pulp science-fiction and space opera - at once fun-loving, thought-provoking, intense, frightening and entertaining - is actually a series of four short stories joined together by the common theme of inter-stellar exploration and alien first contact.

Each of the four stories is brim full of the stock in trade and requisite hard sci-fi toys and elements of the typical stories of the day - blasters, stun guns, force fields, teleportation, bizarre aliens, hostile landscapes, communicators, travel at near light speeds, and the like. But assessing it from the hard side of the sci-fi spectrum, "Voyage of the Space Beagle" is certainly not unique, has little beyond short-term entertainment value to recommend it and I think most readers would be unlikely to accord it the status of "classic".

But look more closely at the softer side of the sci-fi field of play! Ah, now there's where "Voyage of the Space Beagle" comes into its own with some compelling and imaginative ideas, insights and questions - Elliot Grosvenor as the expert in the newly founded science of Nexialism which purports to be the nexus or bridge between hitherto unrelated fields of scientific endeavour such as physics, chemistry, metallurgy, geography or sociology for example (a means of looking at the "big" scientific picture from a new meta-level, as it were - do you think we're talking about a 1950s version of Science Officer Spock here?); the social difficulties of a population living in the confined quarters of an exploratory vessel for extended periods; the political, command and management clashes between scientific, technical and military personnel with their varying motives, agendas and decision making styles on such a mission; the completely ineffectual nature of democracy as part of a command structure in the context of such an operation; and the unbridgeable philosophical differences and overwhelming communication difficulties that might be encountered in an alien first contact situation.

Clearly Van Vogt was appreciative of our ultimate smallness in the universe. Like Clifford D Simak, he was also openly critical of man's history of violence and the arrogant impression of his own power and importance:

"You assume far too readily that man is a paragon of justice, forgetting, apparently, that he has a long and savage history. He has killed other animals not only for meat but for pleasure; he has enslaved his neighbors, murdered his opponents, and obtained the most unholy sadistical joy from the agony of others. It is not impossible that we shall, in the course of our travels, meet other intelligent creatures far more worthy than man to rule the universe."

I wonder if Van Vogt appreciated the irony in his own writing. Despite the obvious criticism of the human condition inherent in his character's words, Van Vogt persisted in writing stories in which every alien encounter failed to transcend that hostility and savagery and either began or ended with violent confrontation or battle. For the most part, the inhabitants of the Space Beagle barely even tried. Sigh!

"The Voyage of the Space Beagle" is fun to read, entertaining and imaginative to be sure but not truly visionary and capable of lasting other than as a memento of what good space opera was like in the 50s! Recommended for lovers of classic science fiction.

Paul Weiss

Decent but definitely overrated by some reviewers.......2006-10-08

This novel is a collection of four novellas that were originally published independently in various pulp magazines from the 30's to the 50's. This book contains four tales about the adventures of the crew of a star ship named the Space Beagle that travels to the far reaches of our galaxy and beyond. The ship is filled with a wide range of scientist from every major discipline (physicists, astronomers, geologists, chemists, biologists, etc.) as well as soldiers. The main character, Elliot Grosvenor, represents a new science/philosophy of Nexialism. This is a discipline that supposedly brings together all other disciplines but additionally provides a mechanism for viewing the totality of problems (kind of what Scientology purports to be). The science/philosophy of Nexialism is actually fairly well developed and represents one of the strengths of this book in my view. There really isn't a great deal of exploration (or even much voyaging) in these tales, in spite of the title. In each of the stories the ship is assailed by some alien menace that must be defeated. In all cases the threats initially appeared overwhelming, but were then defeated relatively simply. Much of the text is taken up discussing the internal political dynamics of the ship and the maneuverings of individuals and factions. The main interest in this story is, in my opinion, primarily historical. There are many details of the movie `Alien' that are taken directly from one of the novellas in this series. There are definitely some imaginative ideas in this novel, but some of the physics is just nonsense. Overall this is a decent, but far from outstanding, book. This book is far less interesting than even the middlin' works of hard sci-fi greats such as Larry Niven or Arthur C. Clarke. It certainly does not merit some of the 5-star reviews given to it by other reviewers. It is a nice book to buy for $1 from a used book store, but I wouldn't recommend spending much more.

An Amalgamation of Four of Vogt's Novelettes and Short Stories Into One Novel.......2006-05-14

Van Vogt combined four of his shorter stories into one novel, so although the novel publication dates lists 1950, parts were written in 1939 and 1943. A web search has led to the four stories being:
* * Black Destroyer * A. E. van Vogt * nv Astounding Jul '39
* * Discord in Scarlet * A. E. van Vogt * nv Astounding Dec '39
* * War of Nerves * A. E. van Vogt * nv Other Worlds May '50
* * M 33 in Andromeda * A. E. van Vogt * ss Astounding Aug '43

Filler material was written by Vogt to combine the four stories into one novel. The 1939 and 1943 stories are the best part of the book, the filler material is mostly boring. Although a lot has been written about Black Destroyer and it being the seed for the movie Alien, I thought that the creature in the novelette Discord In Scarlet more represented the alien. Maybe people have gotten the two mixed up. At any rate, the high value of this novel, over let's say a short story collection that contains Black Destroyer, is that Discord in Scarlet as well as M33 in Andromeda are included. When you hit these parts of the novel, your just propelled through reading it. Although the aliens are indeed horrific, there isn't as much tension as there is in the movie Alien; it's more that's it's so compellingly written. Sections are also from the aliens point of view which are superb. From what I understand, the alien in Discord in Scarlet is so omnipotent, that when the story was written it was still considered that the Universe may be closed, ie cycles through indefinite Big Bangs and Big Crunches. Well, this alien some how resisted or survived the Universe's previous Big Crunch. In between the stories are discourses on a science called Nexialism which Vogt possibly took from the root word nexus. It's defined as `applied whole-ism'. Yeah, Vogt really packed in a lot of information in that definition. From reading the novel, it appears it's just a basic knowledge of a combination of sciences. A sort of `jack of all trades, master of none.'. Actually Vogt almost seems to say it's `a master of all trades'. Considering the ambition of scientists, which scientists wouldn't want to be an expert in all fields of science instead of being limited by the shear wealth of information of just one small section of one field of science.

A breakdown of the start of the stories are:
Black Destroyer, chap 1-chap 6, Superb
Filler material on Nexialism, chap 7-chap 12, Boring
Discord in Scarlet, chap 13-chap 21, Excellent
War of Nerves, chap 22-chap 27, Mundane
M33 in Andromeda, chap 28 (end, pg 192), Great Finish

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The Voyage of the Space Beagle
A. E. Van Vogt
Manufacturer: Manor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KHRF0Q

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The Voyage of the Space Beagle
A. E. Van Vogt
Manufacturer: Manor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000JQOSFI

Product Description

Description from back cover: The expeditionary ship Space Beagle had been sent to find out. Its crew, eminent scientists from every field of human knowledge, had been specially trained and equipped to overcome and danger they encounter. But their greatest peril was aboard ship - where advanced technical knowledge, in the hands of ruthless men, could become an irresistible force for destruction.

The Voyage of the Space Beagle (Macfadden SF, 60-146)

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The Voyage of the Space Beagle (Macfadden SF, 60-146)
A. E. van Vogt
Manufacturer: Macfadden Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Product Description

*On and on Coeurl prowled.* So began Van Vogt's first published story, and so begins this novel. The saga of the Space Beagle, mankind's first effort to reach another galaxy. And what strange life-forms are encountered!

Mission: Interplanetary (Voyage of the Space Beagle) (Signet #914)

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Mission: Interplanetary (Voyage of the Space Beagle) (Signet #914)
A. E Van Vogt
Manufacturer: New American Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0007ES2T0

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Triad

Manufacturer: Simon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000BQO3UG

Product Description

Three Complete Novels

Triad: Three Complete Science Fiction Novels: The Word of A / The Voyage of Trhe Space Beagle / S I a n

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Triad: Three Complete Science Fiction Novels: The Word of A / The Voyage of Trhe Space Beagle / S I a n
A. E. Van Vogt
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000T49AI0

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The Voyage of the Space Beagle
A. E. Van Vogt
Manufacturer: Macfadden Bartell Corp
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000J5574K

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The Voyage of the Space Beagle
A. E. Van Vogt
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OPHTKA

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The Voyage of the Space Beagle

Manufacturer: Simon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GLJKQ8

Amazon.com

Okay, so the cover is a little hokey, but it's what's inside that counts, right? Well, Silver RavenWolf has stuffed Teen Witch with enough basic material on Wicca to give anyone a good start to understanding the craft. As the title implies, this book is geared for teens, addressing the truths and myths about witchcraft in light of the issues that teens face, from school to parents to peer pressure. Precocious readers may feel that RavenWolf is talking down to them at times, but keep in mind that this book addresses a broad age group, and Mama Silver (as she is often called) does an admirable job of presenting this information in a manner to which younger readers can relate, while still meeting the needs of the high-school senior. Teen Witch may not be the ultimate "How to be a Witch" guide, and anyone who thinks RavenWolf is trying to write one has missed her whole point. No single book could stake a valid claim to that title.

What Teen Witch offers is an easy-to-grasp introduction to the Craft that answers the basic questions about what being a witch is really all about, and RavenWolf provides a long list of follow-up material for anyone who feels that witchcraft might be the path he or she wants to follow. Writing a book for teenagers about any religion is a tricky prospect, but Mama Silver tackles the problem of discussing an ancient path that has suffered a long history of persecution and negative stereotypes in a way that doesn't step on anyone's toes and shouldn't offend the religious sensibilities of anyone with a mind open to the truth. --Brian Patterson

Book Description

Come on, you know you'd look glamorous and powerful in black...that lighting candles and calling spirits would give you an aura of mystery...that life would be better if only you could turn your history teacher into a jiggling mound of orange (or maybe lime) Jell-O. Well, this book is here to tell you that wearing black clothing and threatening people with hexes and curses won't make you a Witch. In fact, neither will joining a coven or being initiated. What Teen Witch will show you is that how you live, how you deal with others, and how you incorporate Wiccan laws into your life determines whether or not you are a true Witch. This handbook presents everything from the Wiccan principles of belief, traditions, symbols, holidays and rituals, to spells for homework and dating.

Customer Reviews:

This was my first book on Wicca in 1999..........2007-09-17

This was my introduction to Wicca. I was very excited to see a religion which had a God and a Goddess, however, the Christian bashing and rediculous amounts of stupid and useless spells turned me off and made me crave more. I do NOT reccommend this book to anyone starting in the Craft. It has been almost ten years and there are books which have stayed on my shelf:
1. The Witches God and the Witches Goddess by Janet and Stewart Farrar
2. The Circle Within by Dianne Sylvan
3. Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practicioner by Scott Cunningham as well as Earth, Air Fire and Water and Earth Power
4. Praise to the Moon, In the Circle, The Sacred Round by Elen Hawke
5. The Spiral Dance by Starhawk (It's a classic)
6. Drawing down the moon by Margot Adler (interviews with real life Wiccans and Pagans - this book is awesome)

Those should get you started. RELIGION is what's important, not just magick or spells. I was seventeen when I picked up this book, I am now twenty five and luckily I wanted more depth and searched for it, I hope the new generation of witches agrees with me.

A "Victim".......2007-07-02

This is a review about all of Silver Ravenwolf's "To Ride a Silver Broomstick" and its sequels and her BOS-Encyclopedia book.

Until today, I never realized the ineffectiveness of Silver Ravenwolf's books. I am 16. I have read/owned her books since I was 11. When my (christian) aunt came into my room about one week ago when I was playing with my cousins, my immediate reaction was "Oh no, she's going to think I'm corrupting her children with what she thinks is a 'Satanic, evil' religion." When I reflected upon my reaction, I realized I was judging my aunt, and Christianity, and that I, I was the one who was being judgmental and persecuting her. Silver Ravenwolf's books do slam Christians. I totally bought into her slander. Who doesn't want to feel better than one third of the world, more enlightened than one third of the world? Everyone wants to feel like they know secrets that other people do not. Everyone wants to be "right." I was/am no exception. If you want tolerance, it is not in these books, although they preach tolerance.

I have also come away with a paranoid attitude toward Wicca/Witchcraft. I feel like it is forbidden, hated by society. Silver Ravenwolf encourages teens to hide their practice from people for fear of persecution. Maybe she is right, but I feel scared to even TALK about it. That is not an attitude that anyone should have about divinity or their chosen religion.

Also, if you asked me to define "Wicca" or "Witchcraft" I would give you a very vague answer. I do not know the difference - what have I been practicing?! I could tell you some stuff about paganism, but not Wicca.

Well, I have begun studying ceremonial magic out of "Modern Magic" by Donald Michael Kraig. I have not read any reviews of the book, but I feel like I finally have an idea what I am supposed to be feeling in the rituals I perform. Kraig is very clear about what is factual history and what is mythical "history." With Ravenwolf, spellcasting techniques were so vague that I felt I had no solid base to work from.

The only way to practice a religion is the way it is meant to be practiced, not any way you feel like it. Even Wicca, a new religion, does have core beliefs that need to be adhered to. You can't just study the occult in general and consider yourself Wiccan or a Witch.

DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A BEGINNER. YOU WILL ONLY GET WRONG AND VAGUE INFORMATION. I WAS MISLED BY HER BOOKS.

allays any fears that might arise.......2007-05-05

What does it mean to be a Witch? Is it wearing wicked clothes or being outrageously "out there"? Does it mean doing something that you know your parents forbid? If it means that to you, then you are not a Witch, nor even close. Wiccan laws contain nothing about what clothing you wear and most certainly don't encourage negative behavior. Wicca is a religion that is shared by many. Many more than you might think. They are ordinary looking people who live ordinary lives. Your neighbor, teacher or best friend might be Wiccan and you wouldn't even know it.

If you are intrigued by the mystique of Witchcraft, you should get all of the information you can. Where do you turn? The internet? While there may be some reliable sources on the web, there are also a lot of false ones. Your girlfriend? Well she might have some good books to share with you, or she might be on the wrong path as well. Mentor witches simply do not advertise in the local paper and chances are your parents would not allow you to become best friends with a 35 year old Witch down the street.

Silver RavenWolf, author of Teen Witch, is a Wiccan Priestess and Director of the International Wiccan/Pagan Press Alliance. She is also the mother of four young Witches. She is one of the most well known Wiccans in the United States today. Teen Witch is a beginners guide to Wicca. It will tell you everything you need to get started, beginning with what Wicca is and isn't. There have always been secrets about Witchcraft that Wiccans keep from the general public. Lots of times, people just don't understand and it may be best to keep secrets, well, secret. But Silver shares them with you. This way you'll be able to understand this path and see if you wish to choose it. If you decide that you do, then there are chapters on various forms of Ritual and all of the different methods of Magick. Later on there are chapters of spells, aimed at teens but ones that would be helpful for any Witch to use.

Silver uses stories of experiences to help the reader to understand exactly what she is talking about. In no way is she telling you what to think and do, but she is giving the reader the information to make informed decisions and demonstrating the numerous options of the Craft. Her stories reflect an understanding of teens and her honest ability to reach out and be the mentor they might be searching for. In an introduction just for parents, Silver shows that she understands the confusion a lot of parents might have when their teen is interested in Wicca, and allays any fears that might arise.

Teen Witch is an abundance of information and guidance from a most reliable and trustworthy source. It is a work that shines a positive light on the image of Wicca, and explains the law of "Harm None" to perfection. It's about time a comprehensive guide is available to counter the false information that may get passed around. Whether you are a teen looking for a decent bit of information on the Craft or a parent, guardian or aunt of a teen interested in Wicca, you would do well to own a copy of this wonderful book.

Great introduction into Wicca.......2007-04-05

for someone who has heard of Wicca in discussions or read about controversies about Wicca and the Military this book will present a brief and very interesting insight into what Wicca really is. It will answer a lot of questions you may have about what a Wiccan in the military may do in practicing his or her religion. Even though it is targeted to Teens it would be helpful to new military recruits wondering about the controversy. It will also be useful for teens in writing reports about Wicca for school.

Teenagers should be reading the book, not adults ;).......2007-03-27

If youre not a teenager who knows little to nothing about Wicca, guess what? youre not going to get anything, not a thing from this book. If you are however a young teenager, whos interested in exploring Wicca, and havent already done so, this is a fine book. There are better, ones that explain more in depth, but then this book's STATED purpose is not to give an indepth presentation of Wicca, but to instead INTRODUCE it, and thats what it does. Adults should not be reading and then writing reviews about it stating "Well this book just isnt indepth for me", "It just doesnt explain anything" bc theyre not a teenager, and so are not the audience the book can help, and one who does do that apparently isnt able to think outside their own minds.

The Goddess in Every Girl: Develop Your Teen Feminine Power

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Up on Ebay after 10 miniutes
not too bad

The Goddess in Every Girl: Develop Your Teen Feminine Power
M. J. Abadie
Manufacturer: Bindu Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Health, Mind & Body | Teens | Subjects | Books

Self-Esteem | Health, Mind & Body | Teens | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Teens | Subjects | Books

Goddesses | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 089281909X
Release Date: 2002-07-01

Book Description

Helps teenage girls make direct contact with their inner Goddess energy.

• Includes guided meditations, visualizations, journaling exercises, Goddess games and rituals.

• Represents a culturally diverse selection of Goddess personifications including Egyptian, Afro-Cuban, Asian, North American, Greek, and Roman.

• Complete astrological tables for Sun, Moon, Venus, and Mars enable girls to find their personal goddess allies.

• Written by the author of Love Planets (more than 50,000 sold) and Teen Astrology.

In The Goddess in Every Girl, M. J. Abadie teaches teens to get in touch with their own personal Goddess energy and allies. To the young woman seeking external inspiration for her journey of self-definition, gaining a "big-picture" perspective from the feminine divine can be an incredibly validating experience. To date, though, no book on the market relates these myths of female power to the teen experience.

In The Goddess in Every Girl, complete astrological tables for Sun, Moon, Venus, and Mars let girls look up their own personal goddess allies in the areas of life purpose, emotions and body awareness, love nature, and energy and passion. With more than 50 activities, such as a guided journey to the Goddess center, directions for keeping a Goddess journal, breathing exercises, meditations, and instructions on how to create a sacred ritual space, The Goddess in Every Girl shows teens how to build a personal pantheon for their own empowerment and self-transformation.

Customer Reviews:

Up on Ebay after 10 miniutes.......2004-05-28

I concider myslef a very well-read Pagan. Over time, I have learned how to distinguish the fact from the author's imagination. And, I have to say, most of this book fell under the latter catogory.

It's so childish, and demening to Paganisam. The author did not even get her facts straight with regaurds to the origin of Goddess Religions. To me, it sounded like she was saying
" Oh, everything went fine and well while we belived in and worshipped the Earth Mother. Everything was about Women. But, then some evil jerks with their One True Man God came along and ruined it all. the end."
Really, the origins of the Earth Mother ("Gaia") are much harder to trace then she made it seem. In fact, most ( if not all) of the aincent people belived in Panthons ( Many Gods). The author also called Panthons something like Paetheons... Odd. Maybe I am just misinformed, but whatever.
It did have a few alright excrsises in the book to get closer to the Goddess, though.. Some of them where just downright perverted. " Get in frount of a mirror, take your clothes off, then with a friend or by yourself, get some body paint, and paint eachother."
But, that's just my oppinion.
So, if you're looking for a misinformitive book, buy this.
If not, I reccomend looking at "Drawing Down the Moon" by Margret Alder to learn the true roots of modern Paganisam and Goddess worship.
Bright Blessings,
~ LadyEowyn

not too bad.......2003-09-13

A book which is full of fancy and interesting things,
yet the cover is not so perfect,looks like
some kind of software(PHOTOSHOP)......
:P

Teen Goddess: How to Look, Love & Live Like a Goddess

Average customer rating:

How I got into Paganism
Highly Creative
Teen Goddess packs in the tips to Wiccan beliefs and ideals
A useful and creative book for all ages
LUV IT

Teen Goddess: How to Look, Love & Live Like a Goddess
Catherine Wishart
Manufacturer: Llewellyn Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Health, Mind & Body | Teens | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Teens | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Goddesses | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0738703923

Amazon.com

Ever since the publication of Silver Ravenwolf's incredibly popular Teen Witch, it seems that books about pagan religion for teens are popping up everywhere. Author Catherine Wishart takes a slightly different approach in her spiritual how-to book by focusing solely on the worship of the Goddess (which many pagan teen practitioners know is at the heart of most earth-centered religions). Wishart's Teen Goddess is divided into two sections. The first, entitled "The Basics" provides the reader with some common concepts of pagan practices, including a short history of goddess worship, mediation exercises, and tips for casting spells. Unfortunately, Wishart's basics are a little too "basic," providing only a superficial coverage of pagan religion, and focusing far too much on using goddess worship as a tool to get "kisses from cute boys," or solve serious problems like anorexia, without mentioning that medical help may also be needed. The second section, entitled "The Goddesses" is by far the better half of the book, giving full mythological profiles of several goddesses from different world religions, discussions of their symbols and strengths, meditations and prayers specific to that goddess, and activities playfully called "Goddess Workouts" that encourage positive thinking and journaling. While Wishart's book may be a nice addition to the growing library of a serious teen pagan, novices might be better off taking a look at SpellCraft for Teens by Gwinevere Rain, or Solitary Witch by Silver Ravenwolf. For a deeper treatment of goddess worship, teens could also try The Goddess Path by Patricia Monaghan. (Ages 12 and older) --Jennifer Hubert

Book Description

2004 COVR AWARD-WINNER!

Work with the power and beauty of fifteen ancient goddesses from around the world. The author, a professional stylist, shows you how to access your inner and outer beauty with makeup tips and tricks, costume ideas, color schemes, and goddess hairstyles, and more. Myths, meditations, and magic combine in this guide to girl power.

Customer Reviews:

How I got into Paganism.......2006-08-09

I absoloutly loved this book.
I found that it brought me well on my way down the path of paganism, and it even introduced me to my patron goddess, Scathach. This book changed my life.
It has very good spells and rituals that have all worked for me before, and is one of the few books I've read where the author doesn't seem a little bit preachy and bothersome.

Highly Creative.......2004-09-22

I believe that Catherine Wishart created a wonderful book to inspired younger woman in their personal search for religion and to better themselves. This was highly creative by using costuming and the like to get in touch with their inner goddess. The only low point is her constant emphasis on getting a boyfriend, body image and the use of Celtic deities. But otherwise a fun study!

Teen Goddess packs in the tips to Wiccan beliefs and ideals.......2004-09-09

Girls ages 12 and older with a prior affinity to metaphysical, spiritual or goddess concepts will find Teen Goddess a wonderful and enthusiastically recommended introduction to accessing 'goddess power'. From learning about goddess mythology and ritual practices, to reading about fifteen powerful goddesses from different cultures and learning 'glamour recipes', Teen Goddess packs in the tips to Wiccan beliefs and ideals from cover to cover.

A useful and creative book for all ages.......2004-07-25

The title of this book is misleading. It's called "Teen Goddess," but I really feel that the material in this book is useful for any woman (of any age) exploring goddess spirituality.

In the first part, Wishart discusses important tools such as prayer, affirmations and the basic ideas behind magic. It should be noted that her explanation of magic covers mostly principles rather than going into a detailed how to explanation (like "sprinkle herbs on altar" or "anoint the candle with ____ oil"). Also, her conceptions of prayer and magic are very similar. Even so, the explanations are all clear and the text is good so long as you're not stuck on the processes explained in all the Wicca 101 books.

The next section of the book introduces the goddesses. There is a chapter for each one. In each goddess chapter, Wishart tells a myth, suggests prayers and rituals to get in touch with the goddess, and tells what situations this goddess can best help you with. Sometimes the spells are tailored for teens, but for the most part, anyone can use them as they are applicable to life situations that adults face as well. What seperates this book from all the other goddess spirituality books is the beauty advice. For each goddess, Wishart suggests ways to dress and do makeup and hair to invoke the goddess's energy. I personally think this is a great way to bring your spirituality into everyday life or just to bring a little extra something to rituals.

Other great features of the book are the exercises, called "Goddess Workout," sprinkled liberally throughout. These allow you to take the material in the book and actually use it in your life. The exercises range from guided meditations to journaling to artwork and more. You're sure to find something to inspire your imagination!

The only thing I might change is the juvenile tone in some places. For example, "magic can help you get cute boys to kiss you." Even if I were a teen, I probably wouldn't like that sort of phrasing. However, the good news is that this sort of writing is very rare so it's only a very minor problem.

Overall, this book gets a huge thumbs up. It's full of wonderful ideas and helpful information.

LUV IT.......2004-06-03

This is the perfect book for the begining teen witch. Even if you are not a witch this book has captivating stories and great makeup tips.

Average customer rating:

Language too racey
Francesca rocks!
The Perfect First Wicca Book for Teens!
*pout, pout* Where's all the other rating stars!?
BUY THIS BOOK For the teens you love

Be A Teen Goddess!
Francesca DeGrandis
Manufacturer: Citadel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Health, Mind & Body | Teens | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Teens | Subjects | Books

Wicca | Earth-Based Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Witchcraft | Earth-Based Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Goddesses | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0806526513

Customer Reviews:

Language too racey.......2007-01-10

The description of the book seemed tame enough. However, I am glad I inspected the book before giving it ot our daughter for Christmas. Subsection headings like "How to Be a B-tch Goddess" with discussion about how to ensalve guys, etc. were not exactly appropriate. I was expecting some uplifting incantations for helping through the trials of teendom. This was truly a case of buyer beware. I would not recommend this book for anyone under 21.

Francesca rocks!.......2005-06-07

Here's another delightful book by my dear friend, Francesca, and an excellent follow-up to her previous "Be a Goddess!" and "The Modern Goddess' Guide to Life."

Francesca brings her conversational style of writing to all the teenage girls who are just discovering themselves, and holds up a looking-glass to reveal their own wondrous divinity. In a culture where "God" is proclaimed only as male, and the self-esteem of teenage girls is routinely devastated by high-school society and popular media, with suicide being the highest cause of teen deaths, this book comes as a welcome antidote, and a great blessing!

Francesca includes basic teachings on Wiccan principles, introduces the God and Goddess, and explains covens. But even though she is practically the poster girl of the Feri Tradition of Witchcraft, this book really isn't about a particular Wiccan or Pagan Tradition. And you'll see that you don't need to join a group to benefit from these ancient wisdoms and techniques.

In fact, this is a very practical book about how to discover and awaken your inner Goddess essence and embrace your own divinity in all aspects of teen life. Its famous author is a knowledgeable, confident, articulate, talented, beautiful, and charismatic Witch. She is not intimidated by the ignorance, bigotry, and small-mindedness of other people, and she teaches her readers the same supreme self-confidence with wisdom, compassion, and a great deal of humor.

And yes, there are spells! Over 42 spells for success, fortune, beauty, love, courage, happiness, justice, protection, self-confidence, and empowerment. Learn about the awesome power of red, the mystery of female cycles, and the magic of a woman's hair. Francesca even addresses the thorny issues of sex, drugs and dangerous cults. And she's one of very few courageous writers who dares to discuss and advocate the use of condoms to teen readers.

Francesca writes with the "girl-talk" intimacy of your very best friend, who's been around. The book reads like it's happening at a slumber party. But understand that even though she occasionally addresses possible male readers, this isn't a book for boys, who would be unlikely in any case to be caught dead with its hot pink cover! And this is just fine--their sisters and girlfriends who read "Be a Teen Goddess!" can enlighten them when necessary.

So if you're a girl--get this book and treasure it!

The Perfect First Wicca Book for Teens!.......2005-05-11

Francesca has done it again! A warm, direct, and fundamentally sound magical book, this time specifically for a teen audience. Francesca's approach to magic is hands on, which is the ideal way to really learn the craft.

If you are a teen looking for a fabulous and wise introduction to Wicca with plenty of substance, great spells, and get-your-hands-dirty magic, this is the book for you. If you're a parent looking for a the best possible introductory Wicca book for your teenager, look no further.

Francesca never talks down to her readers, so that makes this book even more appealing to both teens and adults. I appreciated it as much as my son did!

*pout, pout* Where's all the other rating stars!?.......2005-03-31

I am a teen who loves Francesca's new book. This book is so utterly fabulous and remarkable in every way. I remember when I brought my copy of the book to school and read a page of it I wanted to find Francesca's number and tell her what a great passage that was ((it was called "The Myths That We Are: A Cosmic Pep Talk")).

The spells in this book also work, I found this out when I accidentally ((perfectly accidentally, thank you)) did a love spell and within less than a week I had three guys attracted to me! That shocked me quite a bit and I didn't even realize I did the spell... wow. And if you feel kind of nervous about magick Francesca helps to teach you how to be safe and do magick at the same time.

When my mom got 'Be a Teen Goddess' I was happy, I got to... err... commandeer her copy for a little bit. Though every time she looked for it, it was in front of My eyes. Let's just say that I absolutely loved it!

This book is both funny and serious. It has helped, and is still helping, me with my problems If I was stuck on a desert island and only could bring five things ((including food and water)) this book would be one of them because I could go read it to cheer me up and to comfort me.

Just to let you know this book is so magical that the first publishing date is in April 2005 ((actually April 30th, but who's counting?)) and it is only March 2005!

I also realize that this book can not only help us girl teenagers, it can help boys as well as adults. Don't think that because it says 'Teen' or 'Goddess' that you cannot read it if you are a boy or an adult. I know it can help you as it helped me.

I hope you enjoy this book as I have. I completely trust it to be safe, enjoyable and fun. Wait a second... don't stay here reading my long review! Read the book ((trust me it is soooooo much better)).

BUY THIS BOOK For the teens you love.......2005-03-28

I love Francesca De Grandis's work, and this book is her best yet. I love how her magic is so very real, practical, and wickedly fun.

In this book she really seems to get "it" (whatever that may be!) about what's going on for teens. My teenager keeps taking my copy of this book (her's is on the way) and using it to help her through the day.

As a parent I feel 100% comfortable with her doing any of the spells or rituals in this book. This is IMPORTANT!!!! As a witch and a mom I won't let her work alone with most of the other books aimed at teens. (Note: when I first read Silver Ravenwolf's Teen Witch I thought it was a lot of fun....then I began to realize how dangerously manipulative and unsafe much of her book is.) I actually feel a lot better about some of the issues that my daughter is facing knowing that she's using Be A Teen Goddess as one of the resources for making decisions.

As someone who has worked with the material in Francesca De Grandis's other books, I am looking forward to seeing how this book will effect my daughter's life. (Okay, truth to be told: I am really EXCITED to see what will happen wtih my daughter as she works with this book. And I am also really excited to work with more of this book myself.)

Finally, I was in a lot of trouble as a teenager. It is my deep conviction that if this book had been available to me when I was 14 or 15, that my life would have been very different. Being a teenager is tough; being a magically gifted teen can be a nightmare without support and guidance. And until now, forget it if that magically gifted teen was fey touched. At last we have a resource, a delightfully fun resource, for those teens. And for all those other teen Gods and Goddesses waiting to bloom.

Daughters of the Moon Complete 12 Book Set: Goddess of the Night; Into the Cold Fire; Night Shade; The Secret Scroll; The Sacrifice; The Lost One; Moon Demon; Possession; The Choice; The Talisman; The Prophecy; The Becoming (Daughters of the Moon, 1-12)

Average customer rating:

Daughters of the Moon Complete 12 Book Set: Goddess of the Night; Into the Cold Fire; Night Shade; The Secret Scroll; The Sacrifice; The Lost One; Moon Demon; Possession; The Choice; The Talisman; The Prophecy; The Becoming (Daughters of the Moon, 1-12)
Lynne Ewing
Manufacturer: Volo Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000QW68WQ

Product Description

"Vanessa, Catty, Serena, and Jimena seem like normal girls living in Los Angeles. But they each have a secret. Vanessa can become invisible. Catty travels back in time. Serena reads minds, and Jimena has premonitions. As the girls become friends, they discover what separates them from others will band them together as Daughters of the Moon." This is the complete 12 volume hardcover set of the popular young adult contemporary fantasy series, with themes od time travel, psychokinesis, and the supernatural: Goddess of the Night; Into the Cold Fire; Night Shade; The Secret Scroll; The Sacrifice; The Lost One; Moon Demon; Possession; The Choice; The Talisman; The Prophecy; The Becoming.

Teen Goddess : How to Look, Love and Live Like a Goddess

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Teen Goddess : How to Look, Love and Live Like a Goddess
Catherine Wishart
Manufacturer: Llewellyn Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NPBAAQ

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