Book Description

The Sith Empire has rallied its forces for an all-out battle for control of the galaxy. Its goal: Crush the Republic. And with so many Sith Masters among them, the goal is not unachievable. As Naga Sadow readies his fleet to attack, one lone person threatens to undermine the entire campaign -- Jori Daragon. She isn`t a Jedi. She`s an explorer, a mapper of hyperspace who stumbled on the plans of the Sith. And she just may be the savior of the Republic. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Great Read!
I do not agree with any of the negative past reviews given here. I thought Fall of the Sith Empire was a fitting conclusion to the setup in The Golden Age of the Sith. The information within and its events lead up to other comic and Star Wars storylines. It is told more like a story passed down for generations, a feeling I think the author wanted. In actuallity it is a story told from the events known to a young jedi who is now a master. He is later seen, much older, in the Dark lords of the Sith series (the story of Exar Kun).So there is not great detail in points that do not need more info. You are getting the basic story as to what happened and why, and that is great. No one else has tried to tackle this era in the Star Wars history. Also, i think the art work is justified in its rought style. The setting is in the SW past, and the story is not overly detailed; these characteristics lead to a rough look that was very satisfying. It would not be perfect like the Star Wars present and future time periods. People are entitled to their opinions, but I think some missed the point when actually figuring out why elements of the comic where done in certain ways.

Now we take we back to ancient egypt...
This is the conclusion of the Golden Age of the Sith. The Fall is also set 5,000 years before NEW HOPE. While the art work also improves, yes I said improves, the story seems to disintegrate into itself. Since I like some of KJA's work, I am assuming that he was not the lead writer, just placed first alphabetically. Nothing important happens here so don't feel you need to waste your money buying this book, unless you want to buy mine!

Isn't there supposed to be a point?
Once again, I state that I've never been an Anderson fan. 'Golden Age of the Sith' had some streong points, like a decent plot and beautiful art. Alas, the art quality drops a bit here and the story goes into a nosedive. There's almost no plot, save for a big battle. Granted, it can be pretty visually complex and interesting, drawing back to an old style of combat, but overall its quite lacking.

I've gotten out a fine-toothed comb, but cannot find any cohesive story, unfortunately. Read it only as a conclusion for 'Golden Age', but don't expect a lot.

WoW it is Exar Kun!
This is a cool book that is about the Sith and moast of all Sith Lord Exar Kun.

Action packed conclusion to The Golden Age of the Sith
If you liked The Golden Age of the Sith but wanted much more action, this is the perfect addition for you to read. It concludes the events in its predecessor with great storytelling and it's jam-packed with action. This is one of the best stories in the Star Wars universe, with several conflicts occurring at once. You'll also discover an age where everything was primitive by Star Wars standards and Coruscant looked like a large Egyptian city. This TPB continues Dark Horse's tradition of classic action-packed stories combined with descriptive and entertaining illustrations. A must-have, but make sure you read The Golden Age of the Sith first! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Tom Veitch's original comic strip story traces Luke Skywalker's entrance into the Dark Side in the years after the fall of Darth Vader. The Empire is fragmented, and the Rebels seem on the verge of winning their long struggle when the sinister power of World Devastators emerges from the galactic core. These Devastators chew up worlds and manufacture robotic war machines out of the resources they consume. Luke's dark journey seems the only way to halt the massacre. But despite the importance of Luke in Dark Empire, the portrayal of Leia as an emerging Jedi is really the centerpiece of this volume. Married to Han (who goes flat in Veitch's hands) and with two children, Leia is torn between her role as mother and her role as Jedi warrior. While the story sometimes jumps too quickly between major scenes, Veitch does a good job of capturing the epic feel of George Lucas's masterpiece trilogy. Cam Kennedy's artwork is mixed in quality. Some of his drawings of the Millennium Falcon, hunter-killer probes, and robotic TIE-fighters seem to leap directly from the movie screen, while his human figures (especially of Han and Luke) can appear generic. Also, his style of coloring, using washes of similar colors on each page, is good for capturing moods but tends to obscure details. Despite these occasional shortcoming, this comic is recommended for one simple reason: once you start reading it, you won't be able to put it down. The other two parts of the Dark Empire trilogy include: Dark Empire II and Empire's End.--Patrick O'Kelley ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Luke becomes the apprentice of a ressurected Emporer.
The opening pages of "Dark Empire" gripped me instantly, and I wasn't disappointed by the storyline. The characters are familiar and the technology and diversity of aliens, planets, and vehicles are worthy of the "Star Wars" name. The only drawback is that the artwork can become a bit confusing and sloppy at times, but a true "Star Wars" fan will be able to look past that. In chronology, it and its sequel "Dark Empire II" take place between "The Last Command" and "Jedi Search". It contains a vital chunk of the "Star Ears" saga, although this is a comic book with no novelization. Definately worth a look.

Hold the phone! Let's look at the facts here!
Ok, this isn't a review of Dark Empire, but rather a counterpoint to the people who are blasting a very good peice of Star Wars expanded literature. Quite frankly, the Dark Empire trilogy is not the shipwreck that many people are making it out to be. Ok, the "Galaxy Gun" wasn't a very good name for a superweapon (cannon would have been better), but for the sake of Starwars fans everywhere, I'll just deal with the two biggest problems people seem to be having, the return of the Emperor and Luke's supposed switch to the Darkside. Considering you scrolled down this far, you already know the basic plot.

Yes, Vader's killing of Palpatine was a great ending to Lucas' saga. But the idea in Dark Empire is Palpatine and his empire were an evil so great that no one person could destroy them. It took Vader and his children, Luke and Leia, to finally put an end to Palpatine reign. Eventhough Han, in typical fashion, blows away the emperor's last (weak and genetically unstable) clone in Empire's End, it was stated that by Palpatine's doctor that he would die forever very soon unless he found a jedi to posses after his defeat and loss of aceptable clones in Dark Empire and Dark Empire II. So technically, it was Luke and Leia who "defeated" Palpatine. Luke also does the impossible by defeating the Emperor himself in physical combat (Which I felt was lacking even in the movie trilogy), something no jedi had ever done, and destroyed Palpatines best clones (with a little help from a revolting warrior or two). All these grafical novels do is expand the confict with Palpatine from Vader, down to the next generation, Luke and Leia, which is quite appropreate if one is familer with the Star Wars universe.

There is also a crystal clear explanation which is stated several times why Luke "turned" to the darkside. It was stated that Luke was trying to learn all of Palpatines dark secrets and then use them to destroy him and his empire once and for all. Come on! If Luke really turned to the darkside immediately why would he give the New Republic the codes to beat the invincible world devastators? Later on though, Luke does go too far into the darkside and Leia has to save him, like Luke did with Vader. Luke also did it to understand his father better, he needed to know why his father became Darth Vader. There's also a dozen pages in the back of Dark Empire which runs through the whole plot again! For crying out loud! Did these critics even read the book! Anyway, don't be put off by a few naysayers, the Dark Empire trilogy is better than bad, its great!

Purists, lighten up...Dark Empire is classic Star Wars....
It is a time of peril for the New Republic. Six years after the Battle of Endor, the destruction of the Empire's second Death Star, and the defeat of Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader, the war for control of the galaxy still rages on.

Despite their victory over the infamous Grand Admiral Thrawn a year before, the former Rebels have been forced to evacuate Coruscant after a successful invasion by resurgent Imperial forces. But when the Empire's "leaders" begin to fight over the right to govern, civil war breaks out and gives Luke Skywalker, Lando Calrissian and Alliance troops an opening to carry out a daring raid on Coruscant itself. But the mission goes awry and Skywalker and Calrissian crash-land their captured Star Destroyer at the heart of the Imperial City.

But when Han Solo and his wife Leia, accompanied by Chewbacca and C-3PO, attempt to rescue Luke and Lando, they are taken aback by Luke's refusal to go with them back to the secret Alliance base known as Pinnacle. Instead, he allows himself to be whisked off by a dark side storm, leaving his twin sister and her husband to wonder if the burdens of being a Jedi Master are too heavy for Luke to bear alone.

When this new chapter of the Star Wars Expanded Universe was first published as a six-issue comic book series by Dark Horse, I had mixed feelings. The concept was daring...Luke falls to the dark side of the Force (or does he?), the Emperor, thought to be dead at the end of Return of the Jedi, is back, thanks to the power of cloning technology...heck, even Boba Fett is revealed to having not being found "digestible" by the Sarlacc. All very fascinating, but wasn't Tom Veitch pushing things a bit too far? So even though I read my friend Geno's six issues from cover to cover, I thought, "Nawww....I'm not buying this. It doesn't fit into the Star Wars saga...."

Ah. Silly me. When I read Kevin J. Anderson's Jedi Search, the first installment of the Jedi Academy Trilogy, I noticed certain references to the reconstruction of both Coruscant and Mon Calamari, which had been subjected to battle and siege in Dark Empire. There were also passing references to the reborn Emperor. Later, when I broke down and bought this one volume collection, I read the introduction by Anderson and realized that the changes Veitch made in the Star Wars storyline were just too big to ignore. Even though as a Star Wars fan I know the only "official" version is the six-Episode film saga as written, produced, and/or directed by George Lucas, I lightened up and came to accept Dark Empire and its two sequels as an integral -- and fun -- part of the Expanded Universe.

The story by Veitch (once you get over the "how dare he?" reaction to it) is so well-written that you wish it had been a pure prose novel. The artwork by Cam Kennedy is innovative and at times almost impressionistic....as far as comics art is concerned I prefer the photo-realistic style of the prequel adaptations, but that doesn't take away from its beauty.

An Empire Reborn...
Since Star Wars creator, George Lucas, stated that his original saga only has six parts, it fell to Dark Horse Comics to further the adventures of Luke, Leia, Han, Lando, and the rest after the events in Return Of The Jedi and author Tim Zahn's Thrawn trilogy. The story (fully sanctioned by Lucas) in Dark Empire fits into the Star Wars mythos very nicely.

Six years after Jedi, The ruthless Empire is reborn, under the leadership of a mysterious figure, following the defeat of Grand Admiral Thrawn. This, as the Rebel Alliance restablish order throughout the Galaxy. As the new leader of the empire puts his evil plan into motion, Luke Skywalker, and his allies struggle to figure out what's really going on. Meanwhile, henchmen of Jabba The Hutt, have placed a large bounty on the heads of Han Solo and Leia.

Writer Tom Veich crafted a story that has a Star Wars feel to it. He has captured the escence of these very well known characters on these pages. While Admiral Thrawn is no Vader or Palpatine, he does make a worthy adversary, just the same. The action, humor, and wonder of the first trilogy are for the most part, recreated here.

As for the art, I have to say, I was a bit disappointed with Cam Kennedy's renderings of the Star Wars universe. The character likenesses are ok but not as detailed as the book's cover art by Dave Dorman-great stuff. Kennedy makes everything seem just a bit off. For the most part, abstract color combinations, take over most of the panels---this really detracts from book's fine story. The book also contains the story's original outline

Still, Dark Empire, is a must read for Star Wars fans

This one satisfies your curiosity
OK, your reading the novels and you wonder why Wedge is driving a large recycler in the opening of a book. Then you read references to the Clone Emperor or resurrected emperor and that Luke once went to the dark side and came back. Dark Empire is where those things happen.

It is a pretty good story with above average art work. Some of the art is stunning! It was this comic that got me interested in the art of DAVE DORMAN. DAVE IS AMAZING!

Palpatine gets cloned and has a new super weapon. Luke goes to the dark side to stop the Emperor. Coruscant gets blasted (or is it corresaunt now). Leia, undertrained as she is goes to rescue her brother. The two are never more powerful again.

After surviving and defeating the resurrected emperor, Leia and luke go back to their old selves in future novels ie: Leia is only barely competitent, and Luke is distracted almost to the point of incompetitence at times (one of my big grips in some books).

This is the first of 3 comics on this thread. You can skip the other two, but this one is worthwhile. For an additional treat, do a search of "dave dorman art" and check out where-ever he is. You'll like what you find. ... Read more

Book Description

The Jedi are taught to use the Force for good; to avail themselves only to the light side. But the dark side can be a dangerous temptation to even the strongest Jedi. Set against the backdrop of the Clone Wars, this novel-length adventure is filled with espionage, betrayal, and amazing lightsaber battles. It all begins with a dangerous undercover assignment that leads to...well, we dare not reveal the shocking ending! A story that is sure to have Star Wars fans talking - and wondering whether the fate of the Jedi lies in the light, or the dark. ... Read more

Book Description

Since his childhood in the DeepWoods, young Twig has always longed to soar above the forest canopy and explore the sky. Now a crew member on his father’s sky pirate ship, the Stormchaser, his dream seems fulfilled. But a much higher destiny awaits Twig. The lofty city of Sanctaphrax—built on a giant rock, floating high in the sky—is at the point of disaster. The city’s future is dependent on stormphrax—a valuable substance available only from the heart of a Great Storm. And only the Stormchaser, with Twig onboard, could risk entering a storm. . . . ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent book, though dark.
First, I'd like to say that this isn't a book for early childhood readers... I really wouldn't recommend it for children under twelve or so. There's rampant character death in all manner of gruesome ways.

That aside, I think this is my favorite book in one of my favorite series. The story is interesting, the characters are likeable and believeable (especially Twig!). The world that the author creates is so complex and elegantly detailed, I think that it's actually developed better than Rowling's wizarding world. Very very good book!

Action and Adventure!
This book is a thrilling read-a truly great book. The wierd and wonderful creatures coupled with Chris Riddel's imaginative illustrations are a real asset to a fabulous story-line. However, it is quite sad-a lot of deaths may upset happily-ever-after-lovers; but it is still one of favourite books. Since this is the second in the series I recommend that you read the first: but to sum it up Paul Stewart and Chris Riddel have created a gem! ... Read more

Book Description

A spectacular series, filled with memorable characters from gnokgoblins and banderbears, to the avaricious Mother Horsefeather, the lost knights of the Twilight Woods and the loathsome Screed Toe-taker skulking in the Mire. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

My Favourite Book
The Curse of the Gloamglozer is the best book I've ever read. It is so cool! I have read it almost ten times and it never fails to thrill me. I enjoyed every moment of it. It is happy, heart-rending, funny, scary and disgusting.
I would strongly recommend it and any other Edge Chronicles ... Read more

Book Description

Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with four small children, is faced with a terrible problem. She must move her family to their summer quarters immediately, or face almost certain death. But her youngest son, Timothy, lies ill with pneumonia and must not be moved. Fortunately, she encounters the rats of NIMH, an extraordinary breed of highly intelligent creatures, who come up with a brilliant solution to her dilemma. And Mrs. Frisby in turn renders them a great service. ... Read more

Reviews (182)

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH-- a report by 8th grader
Mrs. Frisby is a widowed, lady mouse caring for four small children. She faces a dilemma, that is that spring is creeping up on them and she needs to move to her summer home immediately before the plow comes to tear up the garden she and her family live in. They must move straight away or face almost certain death. What makes this so difficult is that her youngest son, Timothy, lies dreadfully ill with pneumonia, and he will not be well in time to make the long journey through the woods, to the stream. Fortunately, she is, after many exciting encounters with other wild animals, able to find a solution to her problem. She seeks help from the rats of NIMH and learns a great deal of their history throughout the book.

This book was quite enjoyable; , it is a winner of the John Newbery Medal. Mrs. Frisby and The Rats of NIMH was full of adventure, sadness, and cheerfulness. But most of all, The Rats of NIMH had a wonderful, intriguing storyline. As you read, you wonder, how could someone think up such a creative, charming, and pleasant, plot? Another thing I enjoyed was how each of the characters was so individual, that you can't help but love each and every one of them.

There was not much to dislike about this novel, except for maybe one thing. That factor being, that mostly the whole book is in dialogue, except for the beginning and the end. This meaning, that during most of the book, it is not extraordinarily descriptive. One more thing that is more of a disappointment then a dislike is that, in the end, the author leaves you hanging, you never find out something that is very important. It is meant to make you crave to know the answer, but you can't have it. I think that that is actually just fine because you then get to make up your own ending.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH was one of the absolute greatest books i have ever read. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves adventure and is looking for an exciting book to read. I certainly enjoyed this novel immensely and I hope that I have encouraged you to read it.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
The book I read was "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH". The main charecter is Mrs. Frisby, she has four children. There are two boys and two girls. The two boys are Martin and Timothy, and the two girls are Cynthia and Teresa. Timothy has pneumonia, and in five days it is going to be moving day. Mrs. frisby goes on quest to get the house moved and to get Timothy better.
I liked this book because it was emotional as well as a exciting book. The charecters go on adventures and meet all kinds of talking animals. If you saw the movie, you should still read the book because the movie is so much different then the book. The type of people who would like this bookwould be people who like science fiction,and people that like fun easy reading.
I would give this book **** four star because it is a good book and I have no complants about it. It is more of a fairytale put in 12 year old words. It is all in all a good book and you should read it.

An Interesting Adventure (written by sixth grader)
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a great book. It is interesting, adventurous,and fits my age group. I was assigned this book as a Novel Study project and therefore thought that it would be boring. As I read on I found out that I was very wrong. This book had a lot of adventure, and was very interesting. But this book also has a lot of descriptive detail and sometimes became boring. I do like a bit of detail because it helps me understand the book more. Some people do like a lot of detail, but that is not my style. Therefore I gave the book 4 stars. Though I like animals, this is not why I liked this book, because I am terrified of rats and mice, though some people call them cute. I liked this book because the author used a device call personification on the characters (the animals) which made it interesting because they now posessed human qualities. I like this device because it means the we can relate to the characters though they are animals. I recommend this book to everyone. Try the book out. It may be boring at first but keep reading, it has a lot of adventure. It turns about to be very exciting.

Mrs.Frisby and The Rats of NIMH
This is a a great book for medium size kids. My favorite character is Martin because he is very brave talking at the end.
This is a good book because it keeps you wanting to read more and more. I

had a hard time not going ahead of the schedule.

My Thoughts On Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh
This was a very good book about a widowed mother mouse with a child,Timothy who is sick with pnemonia and gets overcomes many problems and fears because of Timothy. First,Mrs. Frisby runs through the cold and darkness to find some doctor(Mr. Ages)to give advise or medicine needless to say Mr. Ages gives her medicine and now another problem occurs it's the end of the winter and it's moving day I think you'll enjoy finding out what comes of this book. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Great Series
I first read the Immortals series when I borrowed the books from a friend when was in 9th grade. I finished the first book and I had to read the rest right away! The series is about a young woman who discovers she has a very rare power that lets her have a unique bond with animals. During the course of the series she meets new friends (and foes) as her powers continue to blossom. This is a fantastic tale of a girl's memorable journey from childhood into that of a young woman's. The Immortals series is written for young adults, but it is a good read for women (and men!) of all ages. Now I'm a Sophomore in college, and it's been 5 years since I've read the series. I'm buying it so I can read it again. These are four books that will stick with you for the rest of your life.

you get so hooked on these books!!!!
The reason I read the immortals series was because one afternoon I felt like reading and I thought I'd read a horse book or something and so I looked in my sister's room for a good book. And it turns out she was lying on the bed so I asked her for a good book and she pointed out the immortals. and I said ok I'd read them and so I did but once I was halfway down the first page I was hooked I couldn't put it down except for sleep food and the necessary things(just kidding I watched a bit of TV in between). And after I finished that series I had to read the lioness also which was also excellent but I like the immortals better. But what I want to share with the public that this book is wildfire it is the next Harry potter that's how good it is!!!!

the next set of books in the world of Tortall
These books introduce a new heroine named Daine. She has the unusual gift of "wild magic", allowing her to speak with, and eventually, turn into animals. During this time in Tortall (the country where the books take place), Carthaki mages (Tortall's enemy) have opened up a portal to the Realms of the Gods and allowed "immortals", creatures who cannot die unless killed (as in they cannot die of old age) and who inhabited the earth thousands of years ago, to enter the realm of the living (i think thats what its called-just earth). These are Daine's adventures as she learns to control her wild magic, falls in love, and helps save Tortall. This takes place after Song of the Lioness (Alanna and others make appearances) so you should really read those before this quartet. People who love/ just like fantasy will enjoy these books, and people who like animals will love these also. I didnt like them quite as much as Song of the Lioness of Protector of the Small (the next quartet) but I stilled liked them A LOT! They're still up there in my favorite books list. My fav in this series is probably Emperor Mage.

AWESOME!
I first picked Wild Magic up in Borders as a 'filler' while I waited for the next Harry Potter. (I bought it because of the horses on the cover) It sat on my shelf for two months before I decided to read it. Much to my surprise, I found that I liked these books BETTER than Harry Potter! ( And that is saying something comsidering how obsessed I was with those!)

I was immediately hooked when I began the first Chapter and I couldn't put it down. By the time I nearly finished with the last book in the quartet, I was thoroughly depressed at the prospect of finishing Daine's story. I was so obsessed with the need to savor this book, that I wrapped it in several layers of rubber bands and hid it under my mattress. When I actually did finish it, I was depressed for a while knowing that there are no more books written from Daine's perspective. That is, I was depressed until I found Fanfiction.net. I have read every single piece of fanfiction about these books on the site, and I have even written a few of my own!

This book is so real that after a while, you can almost start to believe in Magic. Tamora Pierce creates such vivid, involving characters, that I literally fell in love with everyone; from the dashing Mage Numair, to the feisty pony Cloud.

I would recommend this book to anyone (not just kids) who likes good fantasy/adventure/romance books!!

I read these books first, but I recommend reading The Song of the Lioness first. (Which was also an awesome book!)

HAPPY READING!

they are great
The Immortals Quartet are really good books, but I thought that "Wolfspeaker" was a bit boring. I would definately recommend them. ... Read more

Book Description

George's grouchy grandma needs a taste of her own medicine--and George knows just the right ingredients to put into it!Roald Dahl is one of the most beloved storytellers of all time, and his books have been children's favorites for generations. Puffin is proud to offer a strong new look for nine of our classic Roald Dahl titles. The distinctive cover treatment, with new art by Quentin Blake, will make these books easily recognizable. In addition, Quentin Blake's funny, quirky illustrations now appear in all of the books. So turn the page and you'll be sure to have a Dahl-ectable summer! ... Read more

Reviews (40)

How I rated George¿s Marvelous medicine
Have you ever had a rotten relative that you would like to get rid of? Well this is the book for you.

Hello!

My name is Natasha. I read the book George's Marvelous medicine

This book is written by: Roald Dahl

This book is wonderful. It's about a boy named George. George has a grandma that acts like a wicked witch. Throughout the book George tries to make medicine that would make his nasty grandma be nice.

I really like this book because the author describes the medicine and the characters and what happens to them so well that I could picture it in my mind.

I recommend this book to kids who have wild imaginations and like to make pretend potions.

Georges Marvelous Medicine-Rhoal Dahl-Quentin Blake
George's Marvelous Medicine - Roald Dahl
Illustrated - Quentin Blake Revied by Bonnie F. age8

Did you ever live with a grumpy crazy old grandma? George did.
So...one day when both his parents are out &George has to give his grandma her medicine,
he realizes his grandma's medicine just made her grumpier. So , he decides to make his own
medicine.To make his own medicine, he goes roaming around the house putting in anything
he was allowed to touch. If you want to find out what happens, read the book!! I would recommend this book to children ages five & up who love fiction because this
is some of the best fiction ever written by one of the best fiction writers in the world in my opinion !! I've noticed a silly message: if you're dealing with a grumpy old grandma, you can be a little creative... just like George was!!
I liked when George sang that stupid song because after I read it I laughed my fool head off!! I think this is the perfect book for children that like to laugh!
If you like this book you can read his other books too!!

authors study
We like George's Marvelous Medicine because, George makes a medicine for his grandmother because her other medicine did not work. Also because, how creative he was. He puts in shaving cream, animal pills, and other stuff like that. He gives it to his grandmother and .... Oh you do not want to know what happans nects, but if you do want to know read the book and find out.

Horrible Role Models
George's Marvelous Medicine is full of characters who lack character. George is mistreated by his grandmother, so he resorts to doing something mean to get back at her. When George's parents get home his father is overcome by greed and helps George recreate the medicine. They fail and make a shrinking potion instead. George's father encourages the grandmother to steal and drink it. The obvious theme is revenge. I do not believe that George intended for his grandmother to vanish completely, but he certainly wasn't sorry for what he did and neither were his parents.

Not one person ever demonstrates the qualities we want our children to possess. My children won't be reading the book.

Kari's Highlight Reel on Books
GEORGE'S MAVELOUS MEDICINE

George's Marvelous Medicine is about a boy who has to deal with his old, ugly, skinny, grandmother. George couldn't deal with his grandmother any more. He came up with a plan to make a marvelous medicine. The ingredients he used were horseradish sauce, toothpaste, shaving soap, nail polish, hair remover, shoe cleaner, deodorant spray, lipstick, floor polish, and many other things.
Do you think this medicine will work? If it does work what do you think is going to happen to his grandmother? Well you'll have to read it to find out. ... Read more

Book Description

A spectacular series, filled with memorable characters from gnokgoblins and banderbears, to the avaricious Mother Horsefeather, the lost knights of the Twilight Woods and the loathsome Screed Toe-taker skulking in the Mire. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The best book I ever read!
This book is amazing! before I read the edge chronicles all the books I read were boring, but now I can't wait until the next edge chronicle is out.

the book is about Twig, a young sky pirate captain who has set out to find his lost crew, regain his memory and save the floating city of sanctaphrax.

I would recomend this book to anybody looking for a good read! ... Read more

Amazon.com

He may be an old standby, but he never lets us down. When in doubt, turn to the story of the cat that transformed a dull, rainy afternoon into a magical and just-messy-enough adventure. There's another, hidden adventure, too: this book really will help children learn to read. With his simple and often single-vowel vocabulary, the good Doctor knew what he was doing: hear it, learn it, read it--laughing all the way. The Cat in the Hat is a must for any child's library. ... Read more

Reviews (109)

This Cat's ALL THAT!
"In a world gone horribly wrong,full of giant mutant cats attired in fancy costumes,baring boxes full of horrendous oddities,and overly dictative talking fish...a young boy and his sister Sally,find themselves trapped,and under the spell of the want to do bad things!".....that's how the movie trailer would read anyways. In reality....this is the classic book that nearly every child,and adult should read,or have read to them. Two children left at home by their mother,on a boring rainy day,and told to behave. Enter the Cat In The Hat....who's goal in life,seems to be doing anything but behaving! The childrens goldfish is the voice of reason,but he is easily out voted,by the want to have "fun". But as we learn,fun that is without boundries,is fun that causes trouble! I remember this book as a child,and we all delighted in a Cat in a Hat,but how soon we would wish we were as smart as a fish! A great read for ALL,and a must for any childs library.

One Classic that should be in every parents' collection.
As a parent of a toddler, I occasionally find myself losing interest in some items in our collection, especially in those that my child wants me to read over and over. Not that I won't acquiesce, mind you, but some five-page works that are perhaps less imaginative than others are harder to approach with a high degree of enthusiasm. This book is not one of those.

Thank goodness there is nothing in this book (written decades ago) that can in any way be deemed "politically incorrect." While my experience is solely with a two-and-a-half year old, I assume that this book would be interesting for older children, and is also geared to those learning to read. I can remember the animated feature that used to run on CBS every year (probably thirty years ago), but the book is far better.

It is the tale of a cat who attempts to provide entertainment to a couple of children on a rainy day. A terrible mess is made in the process, but the Cat in the Hat "always picks up his playthings," and I believe parents can get some use out of this desirable character trait evident in the titled feline.

The Suess rhymes and rhythms are terrible fun, and I have have yet to tire of them. It keeps the attention of my two year old, which is pretty good for a book of this length. The pictures, while a bit bland, are amusing. I recommend the purchase of this classic.

Satanic Undertones! Buyer beware!
I cannot believe that there are still parents out there who havent figured out the simple underlying theme to this book! Clearly the "cat in the hat" represents a satanic creature or symbol, whose sole purpose is the corruption and temptation of the children. He is DEMONIZING them! The fish represents reason and sensibility (God), and the author has made the cat satan... so look at this: Cats EAT fish! (...)Suess has basically said in his story that Satan will eventually devour all that is good and will corrupt all of his children while he watches helplessly from his glass prison. Parents BEWARE!

The Cat in the Hat
A book from my childhood - who could forget - it is Dr. Seuss, gang - you will love it I bet!

Cat in the Hat - a hard-hitting novel of prose and poetry
"The Cat in the Hat" is a hard-hitting novel of prose and poetry in which the author re-examines the dynamic rhyming schemes and bold imagery of some of his earlier works, most notably "Green Eggs and Ham", "If I Ran the Zoo", and "Why Can't I Shower With Mommy?" In this novel, Theodore Geisel, writing under the pseudonym Dr. Seuss, pays homage to the great Dr. Sigmund Freud in a nightmarish fantasy of a renegade feline helping two young children understand their own frustrated sexuality.

The story opens with two youngsters, a brother and a sister, abandoned by their mother, staring mournfully through the window of their single-family dwelling. In the foreground, a large tree/phallic symbol dances wildly in the wind, taunting the children and encouraging them to succumb to the sexual yearnings they undoubtedly feel for each other.

Even to the most unlearned reader, the blatant references to the incestuous relationship the two share set the tone for Seuss's probing examination of the satisfaction of primitive needs. The Cat proceeds to charm the wary youths into engaging in what he so innocently refers to as "tricks." At this point, the fish, an obvious Christ figure who represents the prevailing Christian morality, attempts to warn the children, and thus, in effect, warns all of humanity of the dangers associated with the unleashing of the primal urges. In response to this, the cat proceeds to balance the aquatic naysayer on the end of his umbrella, essentially saying, "Down with morality; down with God!"

After pooh-poohing the righteous rantings of the waterlogged Christ figure, the Cat begins to juggle several icons of Western culture, most notably two books, representing the Old and New Testaments, and a saucer of lacteal fluid, an ironic reference to maternal loss the two children experienced when their mother abandoned them "for the afternoon." Our heroic Id adds to this bold gesture a rake and a toy man, and thus completes the Oedipal triangle.

Later in the novel, Seuss introduces the proverbial Pandora's box, a large red crate out of which the Id releases Thing One, or Freud's concept of Ego, the division of the psyche that serves as the conscious mediator between the person and reality, and Thing Two, the Superego, which functions to reward and punish through a system of moral attitudes, conscience, and guilt. Referring to this box, the Cat says, "Now look at this trick. Take a look!" In this, Dr. Seuss uses the children as a brilliant metaphor for the reader, and asks the reader to re-examine his own inner self.

The children, unable to control the Id, Ego, and Superego, allow these creatures to run free and mess up the house, or more symbolically, control their lives. This rampage continues until the fish, or Christ symbol, warns that the mother is returning to reinstate the Oedipal triangle that existed before her abandonment of the children. At this point, Seuss introduces a many-armed cleaning device which represents the psychoanalytic couch, which proceeds to put the two youngsters' lives back in order.

With powerful simplicity, clarity, and drama, Seuss reduces Freud's concepts on the dynamics of the human psyche to an easily understood gesture. Mr. Seuss's poetry and choice of words is equally impressive and serves as a splendid counterpart to his bold symbolism. In all, his writing style is quick and fluid, making "The Cat in the Hat" impossible to put down. While this novel is 61 pages in length, and one can read it in five minutes or less, it is not until after multiple readings that the genius of this modern day master becomes apparent. ... Read more

Book Description

What does it mean to save yourself?

Nina Idi -- a third child in a society where families are allowed only two children -- has been betrayed by the boy she loved, and arrested by the Population Police for exposing other alleged third children. Angry and confused, Nina knows only one thing for sure: She is innocent of the charges. But now she is faced with the most difficult choice of her life: Get three other prisoners to admit they are shadow children and be spared herself, or refuse to cooperate and be killed.

The options are clear. The choice, Nina discovers, is not.... ... Read more

Reviews (23)

this is a great book
You have read the book Among the Betrayed. I think it is the best out of all three in the Among the Hidden series. If you liked the other two you will like this one. If you don't read the other two then you probably be lost through parts of this book. I hope you read this excellent book.
I have been telling you that this is an excellent book but not why so I'm going to tell you why. In the book the main character is Nina. She has been convicted of being a third child in a world where you can only have two. Now she is given a choice. She can betray three children or die. Of course she chooses to betray. As she spends time with these children she finds it hard to betray them. Time starts to run out. She has twenty-four hours. A guard is poisoned and she grabs his keys while nobody is looking. Another man takes her to her cell, but he doesn't have the right key for it so leaves her there and locks there exit door. It is time to make her decision what will she do. I geuss you will have to read the book to find out

Among the Betrayed
Hey! ... this book by Margret Peterson Haddix is a story about love, hatred, betrayal, and surivivsl. the main character is Nina Idi, or is it? Nina ( thats is her fake ID name) is an illegal third child. her real name is Elodie. The setting takes place at a prison. It adds to the mood because everyone acts depressed. It is not a normal jail it is a jail for illegal third children. Unfortunatly Nina was found at Harlow school for girls. I love this book! I would recommed this to anyone! That's why I gave it 5 stars

Among the Betrayed
Aladin Library, 2003, 176pp.,
ISBN 0-440-22672-4
Among the Betrayed
Margaret Peterson Haddix

Everything was going pretty well at Hendricks School for Boys and at Harlow School for Girls, until a boy named Jason slips a note under the door to Harlow School for Girls.
The note was an invitation to meet in the woods, right outside Hendricks, a couple times each week to discuss issues on what's going on at each of the schools. The most popular topic was the discussion about third children, who In this series of books are illegal, because the government is afraid of a food shortage.
Jason is a betrayer and tricks all of them into confessing they have fake I.D. cards. This is a very dangerous for the third child and the family of the third child, if Jason tells the Population Police. The Population Police can kill you if you are an illegal child and for having a fake I.D. card.
Nina is one of the kids who were betrayed and something and might happen to her and maybe even Jason. Luke might be accused too; for being a third child. To find out what happens to Luke, Nina and Jason read Among the Betrayed, a third book in the Shadow Children Series. (It is recommended that you read the first two books.)

Among The Betrayed is a wonderful book!!
This book is great!! It is very exciting and it never leaves you without something to think
about. Margaret Peterson Haddix is an excellent writer and she definitely showed her skills
off in this book. I love how she makes this alternate reality seem so real. When you're
reading it's like a movie is playing inside your head because the story is so awesome! Can
you imagine what would happen if you were an illegal child? What if this was happening
to you? You HAVE to read this book and put yourself in Nina's shoes! What would you
do? Think about it while you read Among The Betrayed for yourself!

Hey, This book is great!
Okay, It's obvious that Margaret Peterson Haddix likes subjects about the Population Police. She's written many books about it. But this one's by far the best one. You might be a bit bored in the beginning because you don't understand. But that feeling doesn't last very long. Okay, so Nina Idi is an illigal 3rd child, hiding with her grandma. Soon enough she is caught. To save her life, she must betray 3 children... or so she thinks. Read the book to find out what happens! ... Read more

Book Description

Dark Horse Comics is proud to present Classic Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... featuring classic Star Wars stories not seen in over twenty years! Originally printed by Marvel Comics, these stories have been recolored and are sure to please Star Wars fans both new and old. Volume 1 contains stories from the original Marvel run like the riveting classics"Eight for Aduba-3," "Star Search," and the smash hit of June 1978 "Doomworld!" ... Read more

Reviews (10)

20 stories all in one hugh book
This is a review of Star Wars - A Long time Ago... Doomworld, also referred to as volume I, which collects issues 1 through 20 of the Marvel comic series Star Wars. This is ISBN 1569717540 published June, 2002; made in China.

First the binding. Because Dark horse has had trouble with the TPB's bindings that are made in China, and because this is 369 pages, my copy has excellent binding. I actually read it without the comic falling apart in my hands!

With the exception of the binding problems, Dark horse has been producing comics that are visually awesome in terms of the inking and reproduction quality. You can still argue about the artwork and pencil work itself, because they use so many people and try different styles. There are those artists whose style I just don't care for. I say that to remind one that these are reproductions of comics that marvel created A LONG TIME AGO... Dark Horse has actually enhanced the original quality.

The quality of the pencil work varies here by story, but generally it was not bad. You'll have little trouble identifying who is who. Generally the artwork is a D to a C when compared to what DH produces today. However the inking is excellent. I recall no story where the color appeared to be washed out.

As for the stories themselves, I read these with my son, and he likes the ones with lots of action and vibrant drawings. You get both here, because with 20 different stories you do get variety.

This is a 2.5 star rounded up to 3 for the effort that DH put into improving the quality of this comics visual elements.

A Blast From the Past (When Comics weren't Just For Adults!)
I was 6 when Star Wars was first unleashed on the public, and I was lucky enough to have a Mom that supported her young son's comic-book reading habit; The biggest problem of any comic reader in those long-forgotten days was spotty newsstand distribution- It was almost impossible to collect EVERY issue of your favorite comic.....for almost 25 years I've been wondering how Luke and company managed to get off of that Water Planet in Star Wars #14....

THANK GOD FOR DARK HORSE! My wondering days are over! Doomworld collects issues 1-20 of Marvel's original Star Wars series in glorious full-color, on beautiful paper with great production values. The book opens with an incredibly faithful adaptation of the movie, then goes off into some surprising territory: Han and Chewie star in an outer-space "Magnificent Seven", where they team with a giant green Rabbit and an old man named "Don-Wan Kihotay" to face off against "Serji-X Arrogantus", a thinly disguised version of Mad Magazine cartoonist Sergio Aragones; Luke and the Droids crash on a Waterworld years before Kevin Costner made that awful movie; Han squares off against a "Gaily" attired pirate and his man-hating female crony; and everyone ends up in the deep-space Las Vegas for the big cliffhanger. The stories are a bit removed from what the films delivered, but I took a bit of umbrage at the back-cover copy which calls the Marvel stories "Kitschy"; Dark Horse has published a few duds themselves ("Union", anyone...?); At least these stories are entertaining!

As a kid, I hated the artists that worked on these stories. As an adult, I can appreciate the draftsmanship and storytelling ability that they brought to the series. Howard Chaykin, Carmine Infantino, Tom Palmer, Terry Austin, Herb Trimpe, Al Milgrom...They're all legends, and with good reason. (The only gaffe, artwise, is the pairing of Chaykin and Frank Springer in chapter seven. Springer's inks are atrocious!) The art looks better than ever, thanks to the vibrant colors and slick paper. And aside from Roy Thomas' propensity for making Han say (OVER and OVER again!) "WELL then there now!", the characters STAY in character. Lucasfilm may have decided that the stories are no longer canonical, but that doesn't mean they're not fun! And the price just can't be beat! Give Doomworld a try if you're looking for something a little bit different. WELL then there now!

Nostalgic and Corny
Before the days of Dark Horse there was: THIS STUFF. On the one hand, this is what we once had. On the other hand, some of it was really corny. Sometimes the art was pretty awful. Other times it was the story line. Yet, through it all it was a lot like a grade B movie in comic book form; fun to read though you could never take it too seriously.

Some of the ideas were pure corn. How about a giant carnivorous rabbit (Jaxxon). The Don Wan Kioti character was right out of "The Man of La Mancha." There are other examples, but these suffice to give you a rough idea.

In spite of all the corn, these things are fun to read. The stories take me back to the days of yore when comics really were oriented towards young boys rather than adults, and we ate these things up. Of course, these were what we had, and we had no comparison to the quality graphics in todays comics. Many people in the industry are loath to call them comics.

While the book is a bit pricey, on the other hand you do get 20 comics. The book is pretty thick and the reproductions are good. You have to be a hard-core Star Wars fan or nostalgic for original Star Wars comics to want these, but for either of those groups, enjoy!

Weak movie adaptation improves afterward
Howard Chaykin is one of my favorite, if not the favorite comic book artists/writers. That is why it is so disappointing to see his work in this compilation. It is incredulous that the man who produced the gorgeous, crisp, clean art of American Flagg was responsible for the sloppy, hurried art presented in his issues. After Carmine Infantino takes over though, the art improves markedly.

The first six issues are an adaptation of the movie, although it bears much more resemblance to the novelization as it includes such things as Luke seeing his friends on Tatooine, Luke being a part of Blue group rather than Red. The first cover features a red-headed Princess Leia and a green Darth Vader in a mistake of galactic proportions. Also editing errors are rife throughout the adaptation with weapons being called different names throughout and not often matching what they were called in the movie. I can only hope they rushed these out 1 a week the quality was so low.

After we get through the movie adaptation things improve, though for a while we get some really bad editing. Names spelled differently in different panels for one thing. Still though, despite the improvement in plotting there are still some laughably bad ideas such as Don-Wan Kihotay(also spelled Don-Wan Kioti) the Man of La Mancha Jedi ripoff.

There is continual improvement though and we eventually get to see some nice, plausible adventures of what may have happened to our heroes after the destruction of the Death Star. Chewbacca though never really looks much like Chewbacca.

Two stars for the beginning, and the continual improvement brings it up to three stars.

Good writing, goofy art. OK extrapolation from original.
Archie Goodwin's plots were great, but the art that accompanies these stories are sometimes painful to look at. The square-jawed, super-muscled look doesn't really match our on-screen versions of Han Solo and Luke Skywalker. The idealized voluptiousness of Leia isn't exactly a dead ringer for Carrie Fisher, either. And if you're looking for Jabba the Hutt, this isn't the place to see him unless you remember him as a yellow, seal-faced humanoid.

Despite the cosmetic differences though, the characters are decently expanded and given interesting things to do. Luke's adventures on a water planet 20 years before Attack of the Clones make us wonder why we didn't see Jango and Obi-Wan riding the serpents in their modern version. The blind, vengeful Baron Tagge provides an interesting side to the Jedi mythology as he seeks to destroy Darth Vader, the man who robbed him of his sight. And assorted background characters like The Starkiller Kid and Valance the Hunter bring some fresh perspective to the events of the galaxy. These were the first looks at Luke and friends from outside the eyes of Rebellion or Empire, decades before the "Tales from the..." anthologies were published. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Fair Book
Golden Age of the Sith is not the best Star Wars comic I have read. I recomend it to any Star Wars fan who wants to learn more about the Sith.

Confusing start for the Old Republic Jedi
On the SW time line this is the first of the OLD REPUBLIC ERA stories released Aug 1997. Written by Kevin j Anderson, author of the JEDI ACADEMY TRILOGY (1994), KJA is one of the more important writers in the SW universe, or at least he was. He wrote the young jedi series, and those kids are now the heart of the jedi in the NJO series of books. He also wrote the Essential chronology with Daniel Wallace released in 2000. These old republic are comics have been criticized as almost unrecognizable from the jedi that luke is training.
It is not my job to defend KJA and his story, but times were different. What I can't explain away is the poor editing. All the ORE comics are confusing as heck. Most of them have no importance to the Skywalker era. The art work that gets a C grade, but Darkhorse has made tremendous strides in later comics. Comics produced in 2002 and 2003 have stunning artwork! I'll give this comic a 3 star review for starting things off.

5,000 years before Anakin and Luke
This is actually the first STAR WARS story in the entire chronology. Although be advised that it was published by Dark Horse Comics later in the TALES OF THE JEDI (TOTJ) run, in 1996-1997, as 5 issues and one #0 issue.

If you're going to read the TOTJ series, I recommend you start with this one. It's a great introduction to the Old Republic and the hidden Sith empire.

Kevin J. Anderson does a good job with the story and the characters. Some backstory on the origin of the Sith is provided. It is very cool to see the Sith and their manipulations, the conflict among themselves. The art is very good, with impressive planets and character designs. There is a nice level of detail and the coloring is above average.

I really like TOTJ because it is so far removed from all other incarnations of SW. There is so much to explore, and the history of the Sith is something that has always been of keen interest to me.

THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE SITH is a fast-paced read that entertains all the way through.

This story is concluded in TALES OF THE JEDI: THE FALL OF THE SITH EMPIRE.

Interesting SW history, but hard to like
'Golden Age of the Sith', as the other Tales of the Jedi books, is a bit of a hard sell for fans and non fans. Fans of Star Wars will buy this book to complete their collections, and just might enjoy it for it's historic tale set in the far past of the Star Wars continuity. However, the tale is so bizarre that it bears almost no resemblance to the current Star Wars universe. For some it might be a drawing point, but I think others will be turned off by this. Non fans will turn away, as the story isn't particularly intriguing and the art is sub-par. The rest of the 'Tales of the jedi' stories are much better.

Hardly the best of Star Wars
I found this to be a mixed package. Once again, I state that I've never been a Kevin J. Anderson fan. His earlier novels and comics were pretty good, but after his first few the quality virtually vanished.

The story of Gav and Jori is a bit of a bore, and even though you're supposed to feel sympathetic toward these two, I just didn't feel it. The Sith, meanwhile, turn out to be a bunch of squabling fools. The only character who is really worth a dime is Naga Shadow.

The art by Carrasco was good, though. His art style is well-fitted for the ancient 'Tales of the Jedi' series. (Any attempts to transplant him into 'modern' Star Wars, though, don't prove very fortunate, as 'Leviathan' proved.) The Sith architecture and garb is well-done, with beautiful vistas and the Egyptian-style tombs and architecture. Even the warships have a certain flair to them.

Overall, the art's about as good as the story is lackluster. Insight into the ancient Sith is unfortunately little. Flip through it, take a look at the nice, old-style art, and then I reccomend putting it back on the shelf. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Nathaniel is a boy magician-in-training, sold to the government by his birth parents at the age of five and sent to live as an apprentice to a master. Powerful magicians rule Britain, and its empire, and Nathaniel is told his is the "ultimate sacrifice" for a "noble destiny." If leaving his parents and erasing his past life isn't tough enough, Nathaniel's master, Arthur Underwood, is a cold, condescending, and cruel middle-ranking magician in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The boy's only saving grace is the master's wife, Martha Underwood, who shows him genuine affection that he rewards with fierce devotion. Nathaniel gets along tolerably well over the years in the Underwood household until the summer before his eleventh birthday. Everything changes when he is publicly humiliated by the ruthless magician Simon Lovelace and betrayed by his cowardly master who does not defend him.

Nathaniel vows revenge. In a Faustian fever, he devours magical texts and hones his magic skills, all the while trying to appear subservient to his master. When he musters the strength to summon the 5,000-year-old djinni Bartimaeus to avenge Lovelace by stealing the powerful Amulet of Samarkand, the boy magician plunges into a situation more dangerous and deadly than anything he could ever imagine. In British author Jonathan Stroud's excellent novel, the first of The Bartimaeus Trilogy, the story switches back and forth from Bartimaeus's first-person point of view to third-person narrative about Nathaniel. Here's the best part: Bartimaeus is absolutely hilarious, with a wit that snaps, crackles, and pops. His dryly sarcastic, irreverent asides spill out into copious footnotes that no one in his or her right mind would skip over. A sophisticated, suspenseful, brilliantly crafted, dead-funny book that will leave readers anxious for more. (Ages 11 to adult) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (81)

The Best of it's kind
I know it's unoriginal to compare children's fantasy to Harry Potter. But when said young wizard is the standard practically all authors in the genre have to live up to it's hard to avoid comparison. The Amulet of Samarkand is the first book in the 'Bartimaeus' trilogy and it's definitely more sophisticated than Harry Potter or Artemis Fowl.

The story is of a 12 year old boy called Nathaniel who is adopted by a sour, strict magician at the age of five to train as magician himself. In this world the Houses of Parliament is full of magicians and they run the country using their own reckless methods, much to the distain of the commoners (Muggles in the Harry Potter world). As a way of getting revenge on his cruel master, Nathaniel summons a cynical, sarcastic djinni called Bartimaeus to steal an apparently ordinary amulet (of Samarkand) from his master's colleague's house to frame him.

But the Amulet of Samarkand is a very special artefact indeed and is the centrepiece of a sinister plot hatched by evil magician Simon Lovelace. Of course Nathaniel realizes this all too late as he's soon in the middle of Lovelace's evil plan. Though he does have Bartimaeus under 'verbal contract' and with the help of this disgruntled djinni he attempts to foil Lovelace.

The story is told from two narrators. Nathaniel's part is typical 3rd person perspective and Bartimaeus is first person. The book regularly switches between them after every three or so chapters. There's a lot of pathos to be had in Nathaniel's side of the story and he's definitely a stronger character than Harry Potter or Artemis Fowl and Bartimaeus's version of events are always interesting especially with his often amusing footnotes at the bottom of every page.

Stroud's world seems much more probable than JK Rowling's too. The word wizard is only mentioned twice in this book (tho it would have made more literal sense to have not been mentioned at all) and no one uses wands (magic is either done with the hands on inside pentacles with incantations instead of spells). Plus Stroud seems to stick to ancient middle-eastern mythology as his source of inspiration rather than just make up silly sounding words to add a bit of light humor (the Harry Potter books are extremely guilty of this). His cold London winter setting and slightly oppressive tone make this harder than normal children's fantasy and (for a first novel in a series) it's a highly detailed world to be immersed in. Giving the impression that Stroud thought about all this beforehand and it's not something he'll develop as he thinks about it over the course of three books.

The Amulet of Samarkand is a long book. And takes some time to get thru. I was a little put off by the middle of the book, which sagged somewhat. For this reason I cannot give the book 5/5. But it's still the most superior and intelligent children's fantasy I've read. I eagerly await 2 and 3. My copy is signed by the author.

clever, original, witty--highly recommended
As I've said in previous reviews, if you're going to set your book in England and have as a main character a young boy learning the art of wizardry, you've guaranteed yourself a comparison to Harry Potter. With The Amulet of Samarkand, Jonathan Stroud can proudly say, "bring him on--wands at 15 paces!".
With so much pallid fantasy out there, Amulet is a breath of fresh air, told in a witty, original voice within a well-constructed plot and structure focused on two complex characters. Amulet is set in an alternate England ruled by magicians whose powers come from their ability to conjure demons. The society is beset within (by a resistance movement of "commoners" as well as by the murderous in-fighting among the ruling class magicians) and without (at war with Prague). Nathaniel is a young magician's apprentice who, after being publicly humiliated, seeks revenge via the demon Bartimaeus and a powerful talisman--the book's namepiece. By the time the book closes, it will involve murder and mayhem, betrayal, the attempted overthrow of the government, ancient (and I mean ancient) grievances, several tense chase scenes, various escape attempts, political commentary, the searing intensity of unassuagable guilt, and more.
Despite all that is crammed in here, the plot moves along briskly for the most part (this despite its complexity and the use of footnotes). Nathaniel is a complex character, giving us easily as many reasons to dislike him as to sympathize with him. He is no paragon of heroism or innocence. The other and much more likable main character (or perhaps more accurately the true main character) is the demon Nathaniel summons and the trilogy's title character. Unlike Nathaniel, whose section is told in 3rd person, Bartimaeus gets to tell his section of the book himself, lending us a more intimate view and thus allowing us to empathize more directly with him. Even better, his is a wry, cynical voice, bitingly funny. He also has the advantage of centuries of experience to call upon for more material with which to sharpen his wit. His sections are simply a pleasure to read. He too is more complex than is typical in these works. For instance, a scene where he somewhat blithely is willing to kill three young teens with little remorse reminds us he is no tame funny pet for either Nathaniel or the reader.
While Nathaniel's main antagonist, an evil wizard whose plots really aren't that out of character for magicians in general it turns out, is perhaps one of the weaker characters--a bit bland in both villainy and dialogue, the various demon antagonists of Bartimaeus are all wonderful creations, especially his two long-running nemeses whom he comes across several times.
The structure moves back and forth skillfully between Bartimaeus's first person narration and the third-person description of what is happening with Nathaniel, pulling away from one to the other at just the right moments to create the greatest suspense. It is all deftly handled with no confusion whatsoever.
The story itself is well-paced and complex enough to keep the reader guessing. It ends independently but with enough loose ends to point to an obvious sequel, which I for one eagerly await. Very highly recommended.

highly original book
I'm a science fiction/fantasy fan and read books like shannara, harry potter, lord of the rings, bartimeaus, and eragon. This book was highly original in the power of magicians. It's not just like using magic to do everything and being in secret from non-magic people. the structure of it is cool because of the way it has two main charaxters and switches views. Since magicians don't actually use magic, (they summon demons and the stronger the demon, the harder he is to control so you need to be a strong magician to control strong demons) Bartimeaus is actually the one with all the power, not Nathaniel (the magician). I loved the ending of the book because of the strategic plans the main characters come up with. BOTTOM LINE-------- if you're a fantasy fan, READ THIS SERIES.

The most fun I've had in years.
"The Amulet Of Samarkand" is a truly great novel, filled with adventure, mystery, mysticism, and... humor! Jonathan Stroud brings his magic touch to a modern-day London run by wizards and over-run by demons. "The Amulet Of Samarkand" is one of those books that truly takes you out of your skin and plants you right in the story, sort of like the "scrying discs" in his book, you feel you're there, going through everything with the characters. Every aspect of this book is great, but it's the little things that make a book great, and Jonathan Stroud clearly understands this.

Firstly, the footnotes inserted in the chapters narrated by Bartimaeus (the leading demon in the story) were genius, witty, and gut-wrenchingly funny. He gave Bartimaeus an attitude filled with wit and wisdom at the same time. What's so great about the characters in this book, is that it feels the two main characters reverse position. The boy, Nathaniel, is actually difficult to like, whereas the demon in the story becomes the most beloved personality.

I can't wait for the next book in "The Bartimaeus Trilogy". Keep it up Jonathan Stroud! You're books are great. I recommend this book for people of all ages (excluding perhaps young children). You won't be disappointed.

Wonderful audio book!!!
I checked the audio version of this book out of the library for my kids to listen to in the car. It is fantastic. The narrator captures the character of Bartemaeus perfectly. Even if you've read the book, I would recommend checking out the audio edition, you won't be disappointed. My son and I were "fighting" over our walkman to see who got to listen to the tapes out of the car. ... Read more

Book Description

Have you got your wits about you?

JK Rowling challenged her fans to use their wits, and now her fans have responded. She's dribbled clues through her interviews, website, and of course the books. Where are the hints and how should we interpret them?

If you're tired of chewing on your quill alone, pondering the possibilities, then join 53 fans from 10 countries, as they investigate cauldronfuls of sly clues, shedding new light on the mysteries hiding within JK Rowling’s pages. Her bubbling brew of characters is becoming thick with suspects:

* What's up with Aunt Petunia?
* Is Gilderoy permanently disabled?
* Is Percy really a git?
* Where is Gran Longbottom’s allegiance?
* How does time travel work?
* Is there still something odd with Mad-Eye?
* Whose side is Snape on?

Through the magic of the Internet community, our authors have been brought together from the Mighty MuggleNet "Chamber of Secrets" and "New Clues" forums to discuss the clues and hints in the Harry Potter septology. Transfigured from Internet posters to new authors, they have written The Plot Thickens...Harry Potter Investigated by Fans for Fans brimming with new thoughts and theories on what may be one of the best-loved literary epics of all time. Just like Wizarding World Press's Ultimate Unofficial Guide to the Mysteries of Harry Potter this new book can be a great starting point for those fans who wish to examine the series in depth.

As the plot begins to truly thicken, these author-sleuths have conjured a collection of discussions, character analyses, and theories that will hook up your fireplace flue to the busiest Brain Room outside of the Department of Mysteries. Read fascinating scrolls that delve below the surface of over 60 topics, and peer ahead to what is yet to come. Share in the bouts of speculation. Investigate with your fellow fans as they weave together the threads of this mystery...worry with them over what tragedies still await our beloved Harry.

Wizarding World Press invites you to come, join our discussion, as from one fan to another we respond to JK Rowling's challenge by using our wits to decipher this great mystery. Here is a unique, fun book, and a unique opportunity to experience the magic.

Note: Major spoilers included! Do not read this unless you have read all five Harry Potter books. The Plot Thickens...Harry Potter Investigated by Fans for Fans is a collection of articles by international authors--it is not the Ultimate Unofficial Guide to Book 5. ...