Science Fiction Fantasy Books

When I first read this book in 1985, the book cover had the Disney movie poster on it and I was surprised to see how little resemblance there was between the film and the book. The second book in Alexander's superlative series has Taran sitting in a council of men for the first time and being assigned to aid Prince Gwydion in finding and destroying a weapon, the Black Crochan (or cauldron) that gives life to dead warriors and is in the hands of Arawn Death-Lord.

Taran learns more of what being a man entails from the gentle Adaon, son of the Chief Bard of Prydain and the hotheaded Ellidyr, Prince of Pen-Llarcau. Faithful Gurgi also returns, as does Fflewdur Fflam, Dallben, and Coll. Also introduced in this book are three witches named Orddu, Orwen, and Orgoch and they make appearances in other books as well.

The book does get a little darker here, as themes of life and death as well as baser human traits such as haughtiness and pride are seen in the characters and the situations they find themselves in.

Lloyd Alexander was one of my favorite authors as a young adult and his work has really held up now that I'm an adult. The stories and characters are just so well crafted and executed. This is a great book to go back to or to get for someone who is just starting to explore the realms of fantasy.

The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander is an interesting book that I would recommend to people to all ages.The story opens up at their cottage,while they are trying to find or get a counselor.After the meeting they were still trying to get a counselor so after the Prince heard about them talking who is the counselor, he just said that he was the counselor but he really wasn't.One day they realized that something was missing!So they went to go look for it because it wasn't theirs it was theirs it was the three wtches.When they were out looking it started to rain so they had to find some where to stay, so they found this cottage and stayed their.When they were their they ran into the three witches and they said they wanted to turn them into frog/toads.There names were Orwell, Rod, and Orgoch.So will they get the cauldron back???When they found the cauldron they found out that it was the three witches.So they felt bad.After they found that out they gave it to back to the three witches, and they didn't turn them into toads/frogs they were happy about that but sad about the black cauldron.
The setting takes place at two places but it takes place mostly at cottage/outside.The cottage/outside is dark,creepy,and old.The people are scared and frightend because of how dark,creepy,and old it is.
I recommend this book because it is exciting!!!

Pig-boy gets to be a bit princely, but has problems with undead, goddesses, etc.

This is a reasonably diverting kids book, and doesn't take itself too seriously, even with putting in the Celtic legends about magic pots that can bring the dead back to life, and the various deities that are associated with that sort of thing. Your evil witch queen of the undead type person, at least, of sorts. So, a good one for the kids, for sure.

The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander is an adventurous book that I wouldn't recommend to any age. First Taran is trying to find a counselor. They also have problems with the cauldron, it got stolen two different ways. Taran had looked everywhere for it! There are three witches that are mangy and ugly. Their names are Orrwen, Orddu, and Orgoch. These three witches wanted to turn Taran into a toad! The witches also owned the black cauldron but Taran had stole it. Now the the witches want Taran, so they can get to the cauldron and also turn him in to a toad.
Taran is a pig boy that learns that life of a true hero involves painful sacrifices. The three witches are scary and evil. The witches are determined to get cauldron back. The witches want to turn Taran and his people to become toads, then the witches would have their cauldron. The cauldron is an important item to everyone. The cauldron is about half the size of a man, and black.The black cauldron is also very wide, that way all three witches could fit around it and add all the ingredients. The witches want the cauldron back because they want to make a potion to turn Taran in to a toad.
I recommend you don't read this book because its not very exciting. I really don't think you would like this book weather you like books or not! You wont enjoy this book... guarenteed.

The book arrived just a few days after I ordered it and it was in great condition. thank you

This is just the next set of Books in the continuing Saga of Drizzt and his companions. Great books all. Sorry not much of a writer for a full review. I greatly enjoyed this and the others. If you are just starting these, start with Icewind Dale Trilogy.

First and foremost, there are four books in the series and unless you have an idea what these books are, like this particular genre, like what they deal with or play D&D then you probably should start at the beginning. It made several references to the old books and although it didn't annoy me since I read them, another reader might not like it. For the most part, this storyline speaks mostly about Wulfgar, his life and redemption after he returned from Errtu's grasp.

In any case, the four books are listed and summarized below:

The Silent Blade
The Spine of the World
Sea of Swords
Servant of the Shard

The first one dealt with Drizzt and an old grudge a thief named Artemis had with him. The thief was apparently an assassin for Pasha Pook who was the Guildmaster Regis stole his magical gem from. The book was great and although there was some mature content, it wasn't anything near what a teenager sees online at a porn site or on the movie 300 in terms of explicitness of gore. Besides, I believe if you can read then you're entitled to some juicy bits of writing. If you're a DM much like me and play D&D then this might give you an idea or two or a theme. It could even give you several comical or devious characters and scenarios to copy into your own campaign.
The Spine of the World was great. At first it threw me off by introducing the story of some prissy Lord of a no-name town in the backwaters of Faerun but as the book progressed, the author meshed the two distinct storylines together into an intricate web which of course featured Wulfgar. This book is primarily about Wulfgar and his redemption. A daring rescue and a few lies later and Wulfgar found his life changed. I don't want to ruin the book or the ending but it's a strong read in my opinion! There was more drama and storyline than action in this book. There weren't many battles and the few that were in the book were obviously one-sided. There were some good plots there if you are a DM and I strongly encourage you read about how shoddy the fiefdom of Auckney really is. At times DM's make small hamlets too powerful and often their best fighter can take out the heroes in one or two hits. A perfect example is the gnome fighter who claims to be the best fighter in all of Auckney.
The next book is off to a promising read with a couple of guys tracking down Drizzt and they are enlisting magical aid. Apparently from what I gathered in the first few pages I've read Bruenor is going to look for Wulfgar's hammer and the King of Mithral Hall is dying of old age. There is much to read as I am only a few pages shy of the fourth chapter. All his books thus far from the previous series have done his name and his claim justice. Read them all if you wish, but be forewarned, make sure you've got nothing to do as time will fly by!

If you're a fan of Salvatore- this is a must.
If you're a fan of fantasy- this is a must.
If you are a fan of reading- this is... a nice read.

I love the character development in Salvatore's books- and this series easily has the most of that compared to any of his others.

A good place to pick up if you've never read any of Salvatore's Forgotten Realms books- or if you already love the series, as I do.

The Paths of Darkness compendium includes R.A. Salvatore's Forgotten Realms novels published from 1998 to 2001. The principle storyline for this series is the return of Wulfgar from imprisonment by the demon Erttu, and his stuggle to come to grips with his new life. Three of the books included in this one make up the final part of the 'Legend of Drizzt'. One book, Servant of the Shard, seems to have been included in this volume only because of publication order. It is actually the first book of the separate 'Sellswords' trilogy and doesn't really have anything to do with Drizzt and Co.

In The Silent Blade (Forgotten Realms: Paths of Darkness, Book 1), a fresh new adventure for the Companions of the Hall is began. As Drizzt and Co. head out to Spirit Soaring to have Cadderly destroy the (same old) Crystal Shard, monsters hound them at every turn. Wulfgar struggles with inner demons until he finds a place as a bouncer for a rough tavern in Luskan, where he has a great time bashing heads and drinking booze. Artemis Entreri travels back to his roots in Calimport to begin reestablishing his name and fortune. Jarlaxle has ventured out of Menzoberanzan in the search for power and wealth and coaxes Entreri to join his plans. Character development is the primary thing that stands out in this book. Wulfgar, Entreri, and Jarlaxle especially grow as characters. [4-star rating].

The Spine of the World (Forgotten Realms: Paths of Darkness, Book 2) is completely devoted to the continuing struggle of Wulfgar, who cannot seem to overcome his inner demons and allows himself to fall into a rather shameful existence. The story consists of two separate plot-lines that briefly come together near the end of the book. Wulfgar and Morik (who develops nicely here) fight, are framed, get beat, leave Luskan, fight, are framed, get beat, and so on. The other story was actually the more intriguing to me. It involves characters that we've never met before and their emotional wrangling. A hi-bred lord courts a lowly peasant (Meralda), who goes along with it for her family's sake but makes a big mistake in getting knocked up by another man. The two stories come together in an unpredictable way that results in a hugely surprising and satisfying ending. [3-star rating]

The third book in the Paths of Darkness, Servant of the Shard (Forgotten Realms: Paths of Darkness, Book 3), probably shouldn't have been included in this collection. It is really somewhat of a duplicate book, released two different times with different looking covers, the second time as book one of The Sellswords. It is also one of the most enjoyable Salvatore books to date. The Sellswords series follows the adventures of Artemis Enreri and Jarlaxle. This perfect couple is extremely well-developed and are fun to read about. In book 1, the Crystal Shard occupies center stage as the story began in The Silent Blade is continued. The annoyingly pious Cadderly plays a part in the latter parts of the book, but doesn't do too much harm to the story. Excellent fighting scenes and plenty of action make for a fun and exciting read. [5-star rating].

In Sea of Swords (Forgotten Realms: Paths of Darkness), the story of Wulfgar is rejoined for the final book of the Legend of Drizzt. As the Companions of the Hall set out to retrieve Aegis-Fang from the pirate Sheila Kree, it seems nothing could stand in their way. Wulfgar finally comes to terms with his new place in life, and is reunited with his old friends before the final battle. A mysterious elf from Drizzt's past has plotted to slay Drizzt for years and the two meet in an epic clash. Overall, this was a bit disappointing for a Drizzt novel, particularly because of its being the last in the series. [3-star rating].

Overall, these books really start to lose interest as the reader becomes inundated with Drizzt and his friends. The heroes (except Wulfgar ironically) become practically invincible and the stories become predictable. I'm just glad that I'm finally through the Legend of Drizzt (although I probably will read The Hunter's Blades trilogy).

This book rocks. Matheson claims in the introduction that he did hours and hours of research on life after death, and that this story is a very close representation of what actually happens. My question...how do you research such a thing with objectivity? I dunno, but it makes a wonderful story.

This book has changed my entire perception on the possibilities of after-life, and it's a beautifully told love story on top of that...albeit an aggravating one at times. The main character can get on your nerves, but the story doesn't suffer, to me at least, because of it. I loved this book.

Enjoyed the story and its concept. Very thought provoking. Not pleased with the ending, though.

What was most fascinating to me was how well researched (though it's fiction) the book was. People who are familiar with "new age" and scientific discoveries on research into the afterlife from different perspectives won't fail to recognize many influences into this story. In addition, Matheson adds a bibliography of all the books he read before writing this work.

What most find memorable and touching about the story, which is the story of the way people who love each other strongly cope with life after death, what I found more clever was the way that Matheson wove so many theories on the afterlife together to paint a harmonious picture of what life after death could be for one person as he adjusts to what has become of his spirit after his death.

While this book should appeal very much to the romantic at heart, I also see the appeal to anyone interested in a fiction based on a depth of research into the afterlife phenomenon and also it should appeal to anyone who has questioned what the possibilities are in the afterlife. Matheson did well to cover just about every notion that has been presented in written works up until the publication of this novel.

Also, for lovers of this movie, this book should not disappoint as I found it even more beautiful and vivid and more conclusive. The movie made some changes that enhanced the story, though I think that Matheson's original telling of it had some elements (such as the power of prayer) that would have made the movie better if it had also been included in the movie. While there were many differences between the book and the movie, I do believe that anyone who appreciated the movie would appreciate the book equally, if not more.

The movie made from this book is one of the few that makes me cry every time I see it. The line "Your mother's not in there Ian!" makes my chest hitch and tears well up in the corners of my eyes. In the film you see the dynamic of the family, and how tragedy has hit them time and time again, and you feel the hope that in the afterlife, they can be together in love and happiness.

The book, though well written and easy to conceive, does not have the emotional pull that the film does. First there is significantly less tragedy involved and you never really get the sense of the bond and the love that they had for each other. The children are only mentioned and have little to no relevance in the book. Chris's journey through the afterlife reads more as a disembodied manual. First this happened, then this happened then this happened. It's much harder to fell engaged with the book. Also rather than being love lost and feeling the immediate need of the reuniting of Chris and Ann, Chris comes across as a whiner with a puppyish infatuation, rather than a man distraught over the separation from his wife.

On the whole this is a good book, and I believe that in more liberal schools it should be required reading to open up the discussion about the different beliefs of life after death. Matheson was nice enough to include a bibliography in the back so that you can track down the research he did. I believe that this is an enlightening book, but not the emotional story that the film was.

My 7th Grader LOVES these books. It a miracle to get him to read unless its homework and he is almost done the whole set.

19 and still love these books. Book 5 opens great and ends great. Book 6 moves on to more crazy ideas and some twist i never saw coming. And book 7 begins a a whole new adventure that will last till book 9-10.

Book 8 is one of my favorites and well throughout story. If you like 1-4 you'll love 5-8.

Anything that can get my 10-year-old to read is welcome in my house. This series not only has him reading, it has him sneaking a flashlight under the covers so he can read in bed. Hmmmmm ... I'll allow it!

Santa will definitely bring him the rest of the series.

He loves these books, takes them with him to read when every he can!!!! We never thought that day would come ... and so they have now sparked a more general interest in reading ... search for material he thinks he will like. He want to talk about them so I too am reading them ... OK not great adult entertainment but not bad either. Thank you, thank you thank you!!!

MY DAUGHTER LOVES THESE BOOKS THEY KEEP HER VERY ENTERTAINED FROM CHAPTER TO CHAPTER.

Absolutely beautiful, breathtaking romance from Lynn Kurland. I've read all of the Highland historicals from Kurland, and always thought Richard and Jessica's story (The More I See You) was my favorite.
"With Every Breath" now steals the top spot for me. The plot and characters have already been written about in other reviews. I'll only add that I read this in one day, couldn't put it down, and was not disappointed at all. Beautiful, heart-squeezing romance at its finest. One line in particular had me teary-eyed and smiling. I won't give it away, but when Cameron explains why Sunny's doorway makes him ill, I just melted. I hope Ms. Kurland keeps the Highlanders coming. I'm officially an addict.

What a let down after waiting for this new book to come out. I love most of her stories, but this one needs a big improvement.

Why did they have to be separated for so long? One or two years would of been enough.

Too much weeping and the female character is very weak. She's ready to run away and not try to win the man she loves who also loved her before he lost his memory. He seems to be a dud too for a highlander.

I hope the next one (possibly about Zack) will be written better.

I have to admit that my taste in reading material varies and when I want something on the softer side I turn to Lynn Kurland who always delivers!

Others here have already stated more eloquently that I can details about the plot, characters, etc. If you have read anything by LK, you are already familiar with her writing style.

The only criticism I will note is that there did seem to be an unusual amount of "weeping" going on. I could have done without about 50% of it. Still, I highly recommend this as a must read!

I can't wait for her next installment in this series or The Nine Kingdom series (Jan09)!

Sunshine Phillips loved everything about Scotland, even the rain. She had come to be with her sister Madelyn, seeing her through her wedding to Patrick MacLeod (A GARDEN IN THE RAIN) and the birth of their first child. She had even been left a little cottage from the old MacLeod witch and had had the role bestowed upon her by Patrick's brother Jamie (A DANCE THROUGH TIME). She has hopes to be able to stay long enough to realize her dream, a highlander of her own to love.

Strange things have been known to happen on MacLeod land, and considering her new in-laws Sunny should not have been surprised to find a Cameron at her door insisting on her aid, a medieval one at that. Be careful what you wish for.

Robert Francis Cameron mac Cameron had seen one young brother fall at the hands of the conniving Fergusson clan, another lay critically injured. His only hope was the MacLeod witch. He'd ridden two hours to fetch the old crone, the last thing he'd expect to find was a feisty young beauty who seemed more likely to do a body harm than mend one. She had only acquiesced after he had revealed the year of his birth, though somewhat fatalistically. She lived on MacLeod land. She knew what this meant.

Breac could not be saved. Cam's duty now lay in marrying his brother's shrewish wife, and to raise their children as his own. But his heart lies with the beauty from another time, a woman who had the courage to stand up to him and love him as if he were not Laird...the woman of his dreams. She isn't safe here, he isn't safe here. His cousin Giric has turned his clan against him. He no longer has brothers to guard his back. Could he and Sunshine be happy together in another time, another place...her place and time? She had tried to return home alone and had failed. Could they make it there together?

Ah those tricky MacLeod time gates, so mercurial, working only when you least expect it. Unfortunately when you step through one you never know where it will take you...or when. This particular one isn't going to make their lives easy as Ms. Kurland as usual has a few grand surprises up her sleeve.

They say that those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Welcome to Cam's new life. But never fear, the old MacLeod witch, Moraig, knew what she was doing when she offered Sunny her home; and her devious, matchmaking family aren't above keeping a few secrets themselves until the time is just right. But not to worry, even though the suspense will drive you crazy, Sunny and Cam are destined to live happily every after.

Some might ask, why Cam didn't confide more in Sunny; try to work out their problems together? Let's not lose site of the fact that, in spite of his new situation, Cam was born a Medieval Scottish Laird. He is an alpha male through and through, used to fighting his own battles, protecting those who are weaker and those he loves. You may as well ask why Cam didn't file assault charges after Sunny's brother-in-law Patrick MacLeod beat the tar out of him for hurting her. Come on, this is an altogether different breed of men. They don't live that way.

Lynn Kurland is the reigning queen of time travel romance. I love the way she has stayed true to her voice after all these years. In a genre where the current buzz phrase is "sex sells," she continues to write sweet, truly romantic tales that speak to the heart. WITH EVERY BREATH is certainly no exception. Those who yearn for the days of chivalry, honor, and courtly love will find a kindred spirit in Sunshine Phillips.

Alas and alack, poor Zachary Smith has been opening doors for a dozen years now, and still no lover on the other side for him. Surely he isn't still drinking milk out of the bottle? Thanks to Cam, the seasoned modern day time traveler is on his way to Artane as the head architect for his joint restoration project with Gideon de Piaget. We all know what that could mean! I took a peak at the MacLeod genealogy chart and it now says his story is (to come). Praise be, my years of begging may finally bear fruit! An understatement to say, I can't wait! ~Reviewed for PNR Reviews

I won't rehash the story plot here but it was an enjoyable read as I raced to finish it in only one sitting. Though a couple of places where the pace was excruciating slow could have used a tighter edit. However, there were enough twists and turns in the plot to make it an enjoyable read and not too much the typical "Kurland" time travel formula. I especially liked the fact that Sunny's reactions were realistic and wasn't an example of an overbearing strong heroine that seems to be the trend today. If these "strong" heroines are so strong what do they need a man for, they could just use a baster and be done with it. Sunny was a delight because she was vulnerable as was Cameron, wow that steps away from the "romance idea of a typical Highlander. The fealty scene was especially poignant, and though some might say this too has been done before, so what, it still worked here and had this reader chocking up.

Kurland may have taken her numerous families as far as she dare and keep the ideas fresh but she at least provides the readers with a story that has lots of sexual tension but doesn't sell out to the lowest common denominator- sex for sex sake. As for the "Scottishness" thank God we didn't get some silly "canna/dinna" story set in the Highlands where they historically spoke Gaelic not Scots. That alone made this a great read.

A good read well worth the time and money the reader will spend.

A tale of growing up and acceptance with a strong female lead who shows, without being ultra feminist, that girls can accomplish anything that boys can.

Admittedly a huge fan of the "women-warrior, disguised as a man" characters, I have been disappointed time and again by peoples take on them, but not this time. The take on magic, the involvement of the gods, and the world, which holds different morals, gave to a very interesting atmosphere for the books to be set in. Alanna is a character that I couldn't help cheering for, and identifying with.

Granted as others point out, this is very obviously a first novel that will kick-off a series. And while I did enjoy it, I do prefer to have series of novels have the ability to be stand-alones.

A terrific kick-off, to what I hope to be a wonderful series.

My Mom bought me the series 10 years ago when I was 13... Since then I have read them over and over and over... I find them impossible to tire of and once I start reading I don't want to put it back down... although by now I have half the books memorized.
I started reading these books when I was 13 years old and loved them... now at 23 years old- I still love to read this series.
The Immortals series is excellent as well.

I did not realize when I bought these books that they were for young adults, I still thoroughly enjoyed reading about Alanna's adventures, friends and family. Alanna proved to the men again and again that "anything you can do I can do better". A great message to put out there for young girls. And even though it took me 1 day to read each book I just couldn't stop until I was done!

Is no one bothered by the essential lack of values in this book? Getting what you want is more important than honesty or respect for others. The main character threatens others with horrible, supernatural punishment, tricks her father, lies outrightly, and that's just in the first chapter.
What about integrity, justice, truth as foundations of doing right?
Compare this heroine with Jonas in The Giver, Frodo in The Lord of the Rings, Andy in Wolf Rider, or Karana in The Island of the Blue Dolphins.

I'm on page 81 and can't make hide nor hair of it. There is nothing compelling me to continue so will return to library.
Sorry. Borinng book.

I enjoyed the previous 2 books in the series. Although the romance side scarely moved at all, the story plot was intense. The actions and mysteries were captivating.
And then it kind of just flopped over and died in the third book.

I have to admit, I didn't even finish reading the book this time. The story dragged on, and it just didn't seem interesting anymore. Kaylin is doing nothing but running around like a silly child, and no one bothers to explain or ...just do anything.
I remember a fellow reviewer, who commented quite correctly, that Kaylin should seriously be properly fed and given a suitablt salary, as she was suppose to be some famous and important "lady" now.
To carry on a bit further, the story plot was great, however, the author's style and skill on creating and protraying the characters is a tad ineffective. I still have no memory of how characters look like, what their personalities are like etc. A common problem for many authors, its either great plot, non-existent characterization, vice versa.
I really can't read on, and I noticed that the fourth book is also coming out. As a reader who puts equal empasis on both plot and characterization, I believe I won't be able to continue following the series.

There's no more hiding her abilities from authority for Kaylin Neya. With each book her abilities (and reputation) have grown, and now in this third installment, the Hawks (think law enforcement in her world) assign Kaylin to a magical crime. Naturally what presents as a simple theft is much more complicated than it seems. I don't know what author Michelle Sagara has in mind for Kaylin. With each successive story she acquires credentials from more of the various races/species in Elantra. One of the strengths of the series is Sagara's multi-racial/species society where each species has its niche, yet interact daily. But what will Kaylin do with her power and relationships? Will it be like Patricia's McKillip's Riddle-Master series? The species that is the focus of the action in Cast in Secret is the telepathic Tha'alani. The Tha'alani haven't had a high profile in the series to date, but Kaylin has a bias against them from feeling violated when she had her mind read in Cast in Shadow (The Chronicles of Elantra, Book 1).

Although I'm still a big fan, Cast in Secret wasn't as strong as Cast in Courtlight (The Chronicles of Elantra, Book 2), which I thought the best in the series to date. I missed Kaylin's confusion over the sexual tension between her and all those powerful males in Courtlight, and didn't find Kaylin's internal dialogue as snappy in this book. Too, where is Kaylin's relationship with Severn, her brother/friend/adversary/possible lover going? In the first two installments, Severn was integral to Kaylin's heroic challenges. In this one, he's more like holding her coat.

This series is one that has to be begun from the beginning, so if you're reading this review without having read the first two volumes, go back and read them, remembering that the series improves as it goes. If you're wondering whether to keep going, the answer is "Of course!" as long as you like fantasy series with women protagonists. The good news is there's another volume coming, too.

I loved this book and would recommend it to those who enjoy a light but entertaining, amusing and appealing read. This world has a mix of six unique species which you learn about in stages and not in several long pages of detailed history. This style of writing is no way near J.R. Tolkien style, yet there are fascinating underlining elements to this story.

The main character, is young, idealist, obstinate, makes mistakes and yet is willing to learn (well ok..she might do it yelling and screaming all the way) but that is part of the fun. She can use magic but hates to use it in fact she would rather not use it at all. Problem is no one listen to what she wants. Instead she is caught up in political power play, deception, being force into fulfilling a destiny she wants no part of and still do her job, which is to find a child who was abducted.

There are those who will find this book is never going to measure up to their set standards. Come-on no book ever does..all I can say to them is move-on. But I for one thank the writer for putting this story down in print for us to read and enjoy. I am already look forward to the next book and any others that might follow.

Take the book at face value and enjoy the ride.

This continuation of Kaylin's adventures was quite good, but not my favorite of the series. I have to say there was not enough Severn in it, and I particularly like his character. It is also necessary to read the previous books in the series to understand the story. I would highly recommend this book to people who are willing to take a lot of time to read a book in order to understand it completely.

now that I have all the Last of the Jedi books, I can finally read them.

This is the eighth in a series of 10 that is actually one novel.
It is well written and moves well. I believe it is good reading for younger set and not bad for an adult. I have read every Star Wars novel with the exception of Invincible and this rank high on the list of all the stories.
While each story can stand alone it is better if read together book 1 to 10.
By the time you get to this book you want to get to the end that you don't want it to end.
Because of the period it is in there are a lot of threads that are left to be followed. Although a conclusion of a sorts is written it is not as satisfying as it could be.

I loved this series. Just sad to see it end. Jude Watson is a fantastic writer. I have her other 2 series . I hope she has another series of Star Wars soon. Marianne Shinmon Mshinmon@cox.net

These 10 novelettes could have been put together into one normal sized novel. Brilliant to sell them separately. They are all very well written and only get better as the series progressed, culminating with this volume (10). Wonderful story...EXTREMELY well written. I was honestly sad to see the series end. I came to like Ferris and the other Jedi immensely. This series could be made into a feature movie easily. hmmmmmm.

highly recommended.

Now . . . having read all 10 books of Last of the Jedi, I have come to the conclusion that THIS is the best work Jude Watson-san has ever done, really ! ( Um . . . my second favourite is Jedi Quest, by the way. )

Well . . . to be frank, I was already on the verge of tears when I was only half way through the story . . . and . . . I was really crying ( silently ) while I was reading the last 1/3 of it because I vaguely knew exactly what was coming which was inevitable ! *sniffles*

Hmm, I believe this "Reckoning" IS filled to the brim with unconditional love, friendship, hope, betrayal, sacrifice and TRULY unexpected turn of events ! *sobs, facedesky* And I couldn't help but read the very last chapter, playing Princess Leia's Theme in my head because they really do match.

Anyways, I really loved the ways Ferus chose to show his affection and love for Trever at the very end of the story and THAT made me cry some more and more until my nose got completely stuffy !! ; _ ;

Arigatoh SO MUCH for creating all these wonderful characters of LotJ, Watson-san !! *bows*

My 7 year old grandson is a huge Star Wars fan. He loves these books. They seem to be written on a level where he can read by himself with some help from me. The illustrations are great and the stories are just long enough to hold his interest.

The release of Star Wars books for young people has always been related to a theatrical promotion. In a world that has a seen all six films, a new wave of DK Readers is much appreciated. It gives us comfort that even though the movies are finished, the Star Wars experience isn't completely 'done.' "Journey Through Space" isn't actually about space travel. It's about the places one can travel to in the Star Wars universe. It offers a tour of the major planets of the saga. The tour includes visits to the most obvious planets like Corusant, Naboo, and Tatooine. In addition, the books takes the reader to Geonosis, Dagobah and Kashyyyk. The scope is actually broader than planets per se since it includes the forested moons of Endor and Yavin 4. Most locations include a text box that shares a tid-bit of Star Wars trivia. The scope includes the entire saga. The illustrations were mostly lifted from all six films with some additional stills from the Lucas archives. While the pictures are high quality, the writing is also good. This new series has books for most levels of elementary readers. Given that most destinations earn a two page spread with about three sentences, this title is best suited to readers on a second grade level. "Journey Through Space" offers an exciting bibilographic tour of the galaxy's most interesting places.

As a fan of Asimov's I found this a difficult read. I've loved his Robot series and his Foundation series from cover to cover. But this was a collection of experiments for Asimov, put together ultimately I assume due either to their novelty in the time and day or due to his rising star.

I knew before reading the book that the movie had no relation to it. I had seen the movie a year or two prior and had enjoyed it as a fun romp that understood Asimov's "Three Laws of Robotics," while having lots of great action. So, going in to read the book I had no real expectation. But what I found was that Asimov had obviously written this collection of short stories to help him work through concepts and explore how the laws of robotics though great on paper could still experience problems in real life. At times it is amusing and interesting. But the writing is not as consistent as in his later books, including character actions that are not always true to themselves. Ultimately I don't believe he really intended this for print, though of course as most were written back in the 40's I would presume that the novelty of the concept was enough to make it salable, and these may very well have been his first stories published (I'm not sure) so perhaps it was merely a young writer getting his feet wet.

I wouldn't recommend this book beyond a curiosity, even die hard Asimov fans may not find this to be worth their time, though at least it is short.

One of the most important and influential sci-fi books ever, and a prime example of Asimov's best work. You might have seen the film, which draws upon the primary theme of robotic "awakening" and some of the story aspects - but forget about it, and read the book anyway. As a collection of short stories with strong thematic links connecting all of them, the book works wonderfully as a collection and as a fragmented novel.

The three primary recurring characters - Susan Calvin, a "robopsychologist", and two field-testers of new robotic models going by the names Donovan and Powell - create a wonderful frame for the collection, and their career growth and personal development over the years is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the book.

The stories themselves provide an engaging series of surprises and shocks in the best Asimov tradition, probably closer to his books "The Caves of Steel" and "The Naked Sun" than his famed "Foundation" series. They are also supremely chilling, the cumulative precursors to full blown terror building up as the novel continues. The history of robotics begins and ends here, and also includes Asimov's first mention of the "Three Laws of Robotics", which form the keystone of the book. A lot of the stories centre around either the bickering duo Donovan and Powell figuring out why a particular machine is malfunction, or Susan Calvin doing the same. Usually it is through a twist or loophole in the Laws - which provides the biggest chill, knowing that "infallible" machines, fully integrated into human society, might slowly begin to make their own changes as their distorted logic sees fit...

I cannot recommend this book highly enough; an absolute must for any fan of classic or contemporary sci-fi, and 100% necessary for any writer, established or otherwise.

Just about every robot book or movie revolves around the idea robots take over the world and kill off humans. Asimov's "I, Robot" IS NOT one of those books.

Asimov's stories describe the evolution of robots from domestic help, to manual labor, to space travel, and finally "thinking" for humans. But don't think it ends with the cliche idea that robots learned the world is better off without humans. Quite the opposite.

This book is NOTHING like the movie with Wil Smith. The movie follows the Hollywood cliche of robots take over the world. The book is completely different and much better.

Excellent Short stories and especially ones that make you think. The last one is very much a thinking story.

"I, Robot" is a collection of 9 short stories by Isaac Asimov that were originally published in magazines in the1940s, then cobbled together into a loose narrative for this book in 1950. To give the stories some cohesion, they are presented as the recollections of Dr. Susan Calvin, an elderly "robopsychologist" who was responsible for much of the advancement in robots' positronic brains during her long career at U.S. Robot & Mechanical Men Corporation, the premier robot manufacturer and patent-holder. Over the course of several interviews in the mid-21st century, Dr. Calvin tells stories that illustrate the history of robots from before they had the ability to speak until they could be made nearly indistinguishable from humans, though robots are banned on inhabited worlds.

Dr. Calvin's stories deal with the problems in understanding and trouble-shooting robots as their brains become more advanced, their roles more complicated, while their fundamental programming, the Three Laws of Robotics, remains the same. The Three Laws of Robotics are thus: 1. A robot may not injure a human or, through inaction, cause a human to be harmed. 2. A robot must obey the orders of humans, except when in conflict with Rule 1. 3. A robot must protect its own existence, except when in conflict with Rule 1 or 2. The stories are basically intellectual exercises in working out the conundrums that the Three Rules create. Though these rules keep robots safe and humans safe from them, in real life situations, they produce contradictions.

Unfortunately, the stories in "I, Robot" are little more than intellectual exercises in the Three Laws, and not very intellectual at that. The exception is the story "Liar!", in which the predicament of the robot comments on the nature of the humans. The book is written on a level suitable for pre-teen children. Even so, the characters are one-dimensional and the stories not very interesting. Dr. Calvin professes to prefer robots to humans, yet she treats them callously. I suppose that Isaac Asimov was trying to tell his readers that technology is a good thing, and those who fear it are foolish and, indeed, blind to their own reliance upon it. In the 1940s, his new way of portraying robots influenced a lot of sci-fi to come. But reading it now, I found "I, Robot" primarily a series of dubious brainteasers.