![]() ![]() In Ambrose's hands, this enterprise, with its huge expenditure of brainpower, muscle, and sweat, comes vibrantly to life. Among his New York Times bestsellers are Nothing Like It in the World, Citizen Soldiers, Band of Brothers, D-Day - June 6, 1944, and Undaunted Courage. Locomotives, rails, and spikes were shipped from the East through Panama or around South America to the West or lugged across the country to the Plains. government pitted two companies-the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific Railroads-against each other in a race for funding, encouraging speed over caution. It is the story of the men who built the transcontinental railroad-the investors who risked their businesses and money the enlightened politicians who understood its importance the engineers and surveyors who risked, and sometimes lost, their lives and the Irish and Chinese immigrants, the defeated Confederate soldiers, and the other laborers who did the backbreaking and dangerous work on the tracks. Nothing Like It in the World gives the account of an unprecedented feat of engineering, vision, and courage. ![]() In this New York Times bestseller, Stephen Ambrose brings to life the story of the building of the transcontinental railroad, from the men who financed it to the engineers and surveyors who risked their lives to the workers who signed on for the dangerous job. ![]()
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![]() ![]() Now, however, CLOCKWORK ANGELS has come out from Anderson’s WordFire Press as THE COMIC SCRIPTS. These six issues, of course, will be released in graphic-novel form in the spring (April 2015) with, I’m guessing, an intro or conclusion by Peart. Then, it came out from BOOM! Studios in comic book form, illustrated by the extremely talented Nick Robles, over six issues. Then, it was a huge worldwide rock concert tour, a live album, and a live concert DVD. Then, it was a best-selling novel by Kevin J. In the beginning, CLOCKWORK ANGELS was an album by Rush (remember, though, the first two songs came out almost two full years before the album itself). And, why not? What a fascinating history. Well, ok, let me put this in active form, before my students yell “foul!” I, Brad, need to state two things before getting into this review.įirst, one could write a long and interesting article just about the convoluted and circuitous publishing history of CLOCKWORK ANGELS. Two things need to be stated before I even get into the heart of this review. Anderson, CLOCKWORK ANGELS: THE COMIC SCRIPTS (Monument, CO: Wordfire Press, 2014) from a story and lyrics by Neil Peart.īirzer rating: 10/10. ![]() ![]() ![]() While none of the characters seem original at first glace, the mangaka's disturbing and inevitable logic transforms each one into a horrifying harbinger of events to come.Unlike Gyo, where the visuals and unoriginal plot escalate the camp of the series, Uzumaki's mystery and increasingly strange events draw the reader deeper into the world of Kurozu-cho like the grip of the almighty spiral that dominates the work. Nearly all of Itou's little stories could be considered fables, as each one focuses on a few central people affected by the spiral phenomenon slowly engulfing the town. One of the delicious differences between Japanese and American tales of this type is the pervasion of atmosphere so integral to the Asian concepts of fear, and Junji Itou brings it in spades.Through its escalating set of vignettes, Uzumaki paints a picture of a town and population descending into madness. On sothis' recommendation, I picked up Uzumaki and could not stop until I reached the grim, grim end. Story 7.5/10Now, I haven't read all that much manga in comparison to the anime I've watched, but I love horror in all its forms. ![]() ![]() ![]() When I spoke with Julia about this, I asked her if she thought it was hard to write “about” climate change, and she said: ![]() I read about the novel in Michigan Daily, where writer Emily Yang spent the first paragraph talking about novels about climate change and the difficulty of writing about them. Disappearing Earth was a finalist for the National Book Award in 2019 and a national bestseller, among other accolades. It was a pleasure to chat with Julia Phillips about her debut novel Disappearing Earth, the first edition of which was published by Knopf in May 2019. ![]() This month’s spotlight goes to a country not showcased before in the world eco-fiction series: Russia, specifically the Kamchatka peninsula, which dips down from the far eastern coastline of the country and lies between the Sea of Okhotsk and the Bering Sea. Adam Kirsch, The Global Novel: Writing the World in the 21st Century The local gains dignity, and significance, insofar as it can be seen as a part of a worldwide phenomenon. Life lived here is experienced in its profound and often unsettling connections with life lived elsewhere, and everywhere. In this way, it is faithful to the way the global is actually lived–not through the abolition of place, but as a theme by which place is mediated. The global novel exists, not as a genre separated from and opposed to other kinds of fiction, but as a perspective that governs the interpretation of experience. ![]() ![]() Environmental factors also play a role in development, as does the superstructure of human society, defined by Rodney as “social relations, forms of government, patterns of behavior, and systems of belief” (9), all of which are interrelated. Different societies developed at different rates. ![]() Not all societies, however, followed Europe’s pattern of development. Violence sometimes accompanied these revolutionary shifts. The change from one mode of production to another occurred when existing social relations could no longer effectively promote advance. Karl Marx divided European development into four stages: communalism, slavery, feudalism, and capitalism. In many parts of the world, specialization and the division of labor helped spur the development of political states, the unequal distribution of goods, and the emergence of social codes to govern the behavior of different groups. Developments in science and technology, however, lead not only to increases in production but also to societal changes. The term is now used exclusively in an economic sense to describe how well a society deals with the environment through its understanding of science and development of technology. It evaluates the European slave trace as a dominant factor in African underdevelopment, all in the interest of European capitalism. ![]() ![]() Historically, development has referred to the increased ability of social groups to guard their independence and infringe upon the freedom of others. Walter Rodney’s How Europe Underdeveloped Africa Part 4-6 The fourth chapter is entitled Europe and the Roots of African underdevelopment to 1885. ![]() Chapter 1 begins by defining development. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() "The Years of Lyndon Johnson" is my "Game of Thrones," the thing I jabber on about at the office water cooler. All things being equal, short is better than long, and I'm sure Caro could have trimmed plenty from his saga without weakening his case.īut to me, this is one of those rare instances where too much is not enough. ![]() Time is precious, and attention is limited. It's as if the 76-year-old author has made a deal for immortality, as long as he can just tease the reader into waiting another 10 years for him to get on with it. "At the same time, he wants to make sure that the reader is panting for the next installment to arrive, hence a lengthy tease to the next work-in-long-progress. Caro assumes the reader has not read any of the others in the series, so endlessly recounts what he wrote in them," Nelson wrote. ![]() ![]() ![]() References to Einstein’s and Gödel’s theorems are a little bit explained but you have to figure out connections by yourself. So, it will be a slow read and second read might bring even new dimensions of insights – though I won’t re-read it. Even for those with the necessary background, it’s more fun having a wikipedia nearby to search all the catchwords. This isn’t for readers who don’t know Orpheus and Eurydice. But the archaic touch doesn’t matter at all – the concepts are important, and probably won over the Nebula Award and nearly made the Hugo. So, there are clumsy computers, 33′ and 45′ records, there are Beatles, Bob Dylan references etc. ![]() Delany wrote this brainfood with humanistic background in 1965. ![]() ![]() Maps a time line of historical events comprehensive indexes and other features to aid reading ![]() The Study Quran is a historic and groundbreaking work produced by a distinguished team of Islamic studies scholars led by Seyyed Hossein Nasr which offers:Ī new English translation of the Quran that is accurate accessible and reliable in how it renders this sacred textĪ wide-ranging verse-by-verse commentary that brings together the most respected and distinguished traditions of metaphysical spiritual theological and legal interpretation of the Quran within IslamĪ helpful introduction to each su¯rah that provides an overview and background of its teachingsĮssays by fifteen internationally renowned scholars on how to read and understand the Quran and its role in shaping Islamic civilizationĪ beautiful two-color two-column design that presents the sacred text and commentary in the spirit of traditional Quran manuscripts Publisher: HarperOne Tra edition (November 17 2015) ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Alec would fall for the 'straight' guy and pine for him and the unfairness of it all. I thought this book would be a regular GFY trope. Unfortunately, playing the backup boyfriend is starting to feel way too real…ĬONTENT WARNING: This book contains Man-on-Man action, adult situations, and language. Alec can’t afford to get attached, and Dylan’s learned everyone eventually leaves. But watching Alec flounder in his ex's company throws Dylan into protector mode, and the confirmed hetero introduces himself as Alec's new boyfriend.Īnd Dylan’s not sure he can fake being gay.īut he’s a master bullshitter, and the phony PDA soon turns ultra-hot. Having spent his teen years on the streets, and losing his best friend to HIV, Dylan decides teaching the do-gooder how to ride is the least he can do. ![]() Clueless and his fickle 1964 Harley, but the cocky mechanic can’t say no to the request for help. In an attempt to lift his mood and break out of his rut, Alec purchases a motorcycle he has no idea how to start.ĭylan Booth doesn't have time for Dr. Unfortunately, his personal life sucks because now he has to attend several events alongside Tyler-with his ex’s new boyfriend in tow. Tyler Hall, Alec’s work with the homeless is about to be recognized. As this year’s recipient of a humanitarian award with his ex, Dr. Alec Johnson has almost reached his goals. ![]() ![]() ![]() Pia and Stefan suspect that Katharina has been spirited away by the supernatural. But, this being real life, she doesn’t return. Then, like a character in a Grimm’s fairy tale, she disappears. Katharina was last seen on a float in a parade, dressed as Snow White. The only one who still wants to be her friend is StinkStefan, the most unpopular child in school.īut then something else captures the community’s attention: the vanishing of Katharina Linden. ![]() But tell that to the citizens of Pia’s little German hometown of Bad Münstereifel, or to the classmates who shun her. ![]() It isn’t ten-year-old Pia’s fault that her grandmother dies in a freak accident. The Vanishing of Katharina Linden is an unforgettable debut - at once chilling and endearing, haunting and richly insightful - the story of one girl’s big heart and even bigger imagination, and of a world full of mystery, good, and evil. Not since The Elegance of the Hedgehog has a book arrived in America from Europe on such wings of critical praise and popularity. ![]() |