Denys Brunsden J. Malcolm Wagstaff Caroline Burgess 338 New York 1st American DK Publishing, Inc. 1999 Well thought out color scheme with highlights and shadows conveying the 3D topography. Excellent selection of maps from world to local maps, from physical to political to specialty maps, with copious amounts of background information and data. Wise use of big maps for core topics, extensively supplemented with smaller maps and diagrams for extra topics. Beautiful and informative, in every way one of the best books compiled by DK, perhaps the best publisher in the world of non-fiction books with graphics. 5 * Chroniclemaster1 2005/6/27 Geography Michael D. Coe 304 New York 1st US paperback Thames and Hudson, Inc. 1992 A basic background to language decipherments and pre-Columbian American history. Well-written and packed with details, but quickly and clearly sets forth the requirements for any decipherment and then dives into all the details of the tortuous road that Mayan scholars took to get there. 4 G Chroniclemaster1 2005/6/27 Languages The Marcus Didius Falco series Marcus Didius Falco 16 Lindsey Davis The tales of Marcus Didius Falco, an ex-Roman Legionaire and low-life informer (ie, a classic tough detective in the mold of Sam Spade). Marcus solves 1st century AD crimes in Rome and across the Empire with his loyal buddy in the police force, Petronius, and his elegant dame, Helena, a nobly-born Senator's daughter. Every novel is dressed with a delicious look at some aspect of Roman history or culture as seen from the inside by the Romans. But what truly sets this series apart is its beautifully developed relationship between Marcus and Helena and Lindsey Davis's marvelous wry wit. 4 G Chroniclemaster1 2005/9/23 Fiction Historical Mystery Marcus Didius Falco 1 Lindsey Davis 241 New York Ballantine Books 1991 Begins the adventures of Marcus Didius Falco as he travels to Britain to break a plot to overthrow the new emperor, Vespasian. The chapters in the mines will haunt you, but the story is necessarily bogged down in exposition and introducing characters. A good series openner, but better is to come. 4 G Chroniclemaster1 2005/9/23 Marcus Didius Falco 2 Lindsey Davis 384 New York 1st American Crown-Random House 1990 Marcus must track down loose ends, as a mysterious stranger is trying to resurrect the plot against Vespasian. The first great book in the series, boasting a clever well-ploted mystery and vivid characters whose relationships hit their stride in a way they never quite managed in Silver Pigs. Davis has a perfect turn of phrase and a beautiful sense of dramatic timing that builds to a riveting climax. 5 * Chroniclemaster1 2005/6/27 Marcus Didius Falco 3 Lindsey Davis 288 New York 1st American Crown-Random House 1991 Suffers by comparison coming after one of the best books of the series. This novel explores Roman tenement life, an interesting social issue often ignored historically, but perhaps one which should have been ignored by Davis. The book drags for significant sections as Marcus looks for a new place to lives. 3 G Chroniclemaster1 2005/6/27 Marcus Didius Falco 4 Lindsey Davis 320 New York 1st Ballantine Books Ballantine Books 1992 If Roman tenements were boring to read about, then the dreaded German frontier is the perfect topic to bring the series back. If there's a book where the Roman history lesson overshadows the vivid characters, Iron Hand of Mars is it. From the sheer scale of a gigantic Roman frontier fortress laid out with its main streets, to the fate of the three legions destroyed by the Germans, Davis brings alive the horror of the German frontier for civilized Romans circa 100AD. The rich background provides the perfect setting for Marcus to investigate reports of a new revolt by the Germanic tribes. 5 * Chroniclemaster1 2005/6/27 Marcus Didius Falco 5 Lindsey Davis 352 New York 1st American Crown-Random House 1994 Where Iron Hand of Mars succeeds by reveling in exotic parts unknown, Poseidon's Gold is equally brilliant by staying close to Rome sweet Rome. Marcus and his estranged father delve into the shady past of the perfect older brother whom Marcus has always felt inadequate next to. Marcus is vulnerable and authentic with his male relatives (and their memory) in ways that make for utterly compelling reading. A fabulous book. 5 * Chroniclemaster1 2005/6/27 Marcus Didius Falco 6 Lindsey Davis 432 New York 1st Ballantine Books Warner Books 1997 If Germania made for gripping reading, how can the Roman Middle East be so uninteresting. The wandering acting troupe goes down with the Roman tenements as a good history lecture, but lousy reading. I did not follow Marcus and Helena, now expecting parents, all the way to exotic Palmyra just to see the inside of the theater. After beginning with international intrigue in the city of Petra, chiseled into the Arabian cliffs, this story was disappointing. At least compared to Davis's usual quality. 3 G Chroniclemaster1 2005/6/27 Marcus Didius Falco 7 Lindsey Davis 432 New York 1st US Mysterious Press 1997 Back to Rome, back to basics, back to the sleazy underlife of the city. Davis's sense of dramatic tension building to the climax is exceeded only in Shadows in Bronze. Davis introduces a series of underworld characters important to later books who create havoc at Rome when their boss is exiled. Naturally, Marcus won't leave his policeman friend, Petronius, in the lurch and investigates. 5 * Chroniclemaster1 2005/6/27 Marcus Didius Falco 8 Lindsey Davis 464 New York 1st US Mysterious Press 1998 Davis finally seems understand the value of the supporting characters shes developed in Rome. While this book explores corruption in the forgettable olive oil production of Roman Spain, Marcus and a now VERY pregnant Helena, split time with Rome, which saves us from an otherwise uninteresting plot. 4 G Chroniclemaster1 2005/6/27 Marcus Didius Falco 9 Lindsey Davis 432 New York 1st US Mysterious Press 1999 Marcus must track a nondescript serial killer. His grisly habit of cutting up his victims lead Marcus down into the gargantuan and creepy Roman sewers. Even better, Marcus and Helena's transformation into parents adds a new twist to the series. 4 G Chroniclemaster1 2005/6/27 Marcus Didius Falco 10 Lindsey Davis 464 New York 1st US Mysterious Press 1999 Marcus Didius Falco 11 Lindsey Davis 368 New York 1st US Mysterious Press 2000 Marcus Didius Falco 12 Lindsey Davis 384 New York 1st US Mysterious Press 2001 Marcus Didius Falco 13 Lindsey Davis 304 New York 1st US Mysterious Press 2002 Marcus Didius Falco 14 Lindsey Davis 336 New York 1st US Mysterious Press 2002 A funny thing happened on the way home... Marcus is still stuck in Britain to solve another murder and break a crime syndicate. The supporting cast is especially strong. His friend, Petronius is both poignant and realistic struggling to build a romance with Marcus's sister, Maia. And his wife, Helena, is forced by the case to consort with Marcus's sleaziest and most infamous old girlfriend. 4 G Chroniclemaster1 2005/9/23 Marcus Didius Falco 15 Lindsey Davis 320 New York Century 2004 Marcus Didius Falco 16 Lindsey Davis 384 New York 1st US Mysterious Press 2004 Craig Grannell 389 New York 1st American Friends of ED Co. 2005 Excellent reference that includes a great deal of explanation and is well organized even for someone seeking to learn XHTML and CSS. It definitely helps to have an understanding of HTML first, but no background in XHTML and CSS are required. Lots of code side by side with the graphical output it creates. Lots of tips for executing particular elements with real world experience. Lots of workarounds for getting visual CSS to do things it doesnt necessarily do well, and get them all the way done so they look nice. 5 * Chroniclemaster1 2006/01/03 Computers John Haywood 121 New York Barnes & Noble Books 1998 Excellent resource with over 120 detailed full-color maps. Topical maps highlight key empires and/or historical periods with accompanying essay that provides an excellent historical summary, similar to other high-quality historical atlases. However, almost unique among history books, Haywood includes 26 world maps stretching from 2000BC to 1999AD. You can use one map to place nations in context to one another, e.g. 800AD shows that when Charlemagne ruled the Holy Roman Empire, the Abbasid Caliphs ruled the Middle East, and the Tang Dynasty ruled China, or you can trace from one world map to the next, e.g. see how China's Han Dynasty expanded from 200BC to 1BC and then fragmented by 400AD. This is invaluable when trying to keep the Mongols straight from the Mughals and stay sane, especially if you're a visual learner. Chroniclemaster1's favorite historical desk reference. Limited edition book, usually hard to find. 6 * Chroniclemaster1 2005/6/27 History Sas Jacobs 272 Korea Youngjin Singapore Pte. Ltd. 2006 An excellent resource to take a new Flash user and lesson by lesson build on what you've learned to turn you into a solid intermediate user by the end of the book. Wonderful full color pictures let you see exactly how everything looks. Each chapter lays out the theory and tools behind a topic and then drops into two to four exercises that lead you step by step to give you hands on practice. This also results in an extensive portfolio of work, and hands on learners may want to start with the exercises first. 5 * Chroniclemaster1 2005/6/27 Computers Peter Kentie 436 Berkeley, CA 2nd Peachpit Press 2002 Divided into beginning, intermediate, and advanced web design. Well put together, but its strength is also its disadvantage. Aside from the beginners section where pictures appear next to HTML, the book explains how web designers really do things using the tools web designers really use. So, if you dont have all those specialty programs to help you build a website, large sections of the book may be useless to you. If you have one or two of the more important, and you may at least have something similar, it is helpful. I found it interesting just to glean general information about the world of web design, especially the section on XML. 3 Chroniclemaster1 2006/01/03 Computers Robin Kerrod 192 Buffalo, NY 1st US Firefly Books (U.S.) Inc. 2003 The ultimate coffee table books for nerds. The text is interesting, is logically laid out and does a decent job (3/4 rating by itself) of both explaining fundamental background information and discussing some of the latest discoveries in very general terms. The entire book is laid out with a general audience in mind. However, all the information is just an excuse to drape page after page with dazzling, eye-popping images of stars, galaxies, and nebulas. Often well hear in a newspaper about some amazing picture from the Hubble Space Telescope, with a grainy newspaper image next to it and a blurb with the link to the actual picture at NASAs website. But most of us have not really seen many of the actual images. You will probably never read this book, but its more than worth the time to check it out of your local library or buy it yourself for the amazing vistas. 5 * Chroniclemaster1 2005/6/27 Science Astronomy C.S. Lewis 324 San Diego 1st HBJ 1956 Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1980 A very difficult read, but tremendously rich adaptation of the Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche. Lewiss story presents the depth, difficulty, power, and obscurity of great myths in a narrative form. Elements of surrealism are the most instrumental way that the story both transcends and loses itself. However, it is very beautifully written, almost poetic, and it gets better and better the more times you read it (but it still rates a good 3 the first time through). 3 * Chroniclemaster1 2005/6/27 Fiction Fantasy Amin Maalouf Jon Rothschild 352 New York Schocken Books 1984 Interesting and well-written book for a lay audience. Full of good information but it's arranged first and foremost so that Maalouf can tell the stories of the Crusades. Presenting a clear and understandable history takes a back seat as he jumps around geographically and chronologically to follow the threads of his accounts. As Arabic scholarship and documents are being translated in a woefully slow manner, this is still a valuable book. European records of the Crusades are nowhere near the scholarly caliber (or credibility) of the Arabic sources, so this book fills an important gap in English-language Medieval history. Consider Maalouf a good read (and your only choice) while we wait for a history book on this topic to be written in English. 3 G Chroniclemaster1 2005/6/27 History Margaret MacMillan 608 New York 1st US Random House 2002 Tells the story of the conference and of the many fascinating personalities behind the monumental 1919 Treaty of Versaille that ended World War I. One of the few books to be both entertaining reading and a truly excellent history of its topic. The story of the conference is interspersed throughout the book to enliven the historical narrative of each nations portion of the treaty and how it developed. MacMillans country by country arrangement makes clear and understandable sense of the mammoth conference that becomes a confusing hodge podge in so many other accounts. Paris 1919 is in clear lucid prose with astute observations and demonstrates a clear understanding of the successes and failures, impact and limits of the peacemakers of 1919. Spiced with the flavor of what it was actually like to be there in Paris after the war, this is the quintessential comprehensive history of the end of World War I. 5 * Chroniclemaster1 2005/6/27 History James L. Mohler 575 Clifton Park, NY Delmar Learning 2006 Walks a user through from the basics of Flash to the elements of ActionScript and how to create animations. It's well laid out for teaching yourself Flash and recommends exercises to complete after each topic in the chapter. This may be as simple as telling you to play with a new tool which is better learned hands on, or step by step instructions to walk you through a complex task. Some images and tables in the book are too small but the content is very good. 4 Chroniclemaster1 2005/6/27 Computers The Byzantium series Byzantium 3 John Julius Norwich Well-written for a lay audience and a good read for history buffs, Norwich sets forth the oft ignored history of the Eastern Roman Empire which survived until Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453AD. Follows a generally chronological account, but told in stories so it back tracks on occasion. Extensive history of military, politics, and the royal family life of an empire thats generally neglected in English-language scholarship. 4 G Chroniclemaster1 2005/6/27 History Byzantium 1 John Julius Norwich 416 New York 1st American Knopf 1996 Traces the origins of what would become the Eastern Roman Empire, when Constantine refounded the greek colony of Byzantium in his own honor, as the city of Constantinople. Follows Constantine's emergence in the reign of Diocletian. Continues through the fits and starts of Christianization, and collapse of Rome, to Christmas 800AD when Charlemagne was crowned as a rival to the emperors of Constantinople. 4 G Chroniclemaster1 2005/9/23 Byzantium 2 John Julius Norwich 416 New York 1st American Knopf 1992 Traces the histories and the accounts, some competant some suspect, that are all we have left of the resurgence of the Eastern Roman Empire around 1000AD. The most important volume in the series, because it deals with history that is almost wholly untaught in Western Europe. Also traces the cultural accomplishments of an empire that gave much to the Islamic Middle East at a time when Western Europe used stencils so kings could sign their own names. Fills a major gap in European history. 4 G Chroniclemaster1 2005/9/23 Byzantium 3 John Julius Norwich 461 New York 1st American Knopf 1995 Follows the political collapse of East Roman government that allowed the Turks to consolidate their crushing victory at Manizert. However, the Fall of Constantinople in 1453AD, is revealed in all its ironic detail to be the work of fratricidal wars between the Christians states of Europe. Follows the devastation wreaked by the 4th Crusade which sacked Constantinople, (and marked the end of the East Romans as a major power) and the numerous other adventurers who spread devastation and slaughter in the Balkans in pursuit of the title of emperor. 4 G Chroniclemaster1 2005/9/23 The US Civil War series US Civil War 3 Michael Shaara Jeff Shaara Excellent, well-researched historical fiction trilogy on the American Civil War. Written by father, Michael who won the Pulitzer Prize for The Killer Angels, but then passed away. His son, Jeff, completed the other two books in his fathers style as a tribute, but created perhaps the most powerful historical fiction trilogy ever written. Each chapter follows an eye-witness to the unfolding carnage of the US Civil War, complete with their feelings, ideas, and impressions drawn from diaries and research. Like watching history as it happened. 5 * Chroniclemaster1 2005/9/23 Historical Fiction US Civil War 1 Jeff Shaara 512 New York Ballantine Books 1996 Robert E. Lee and Thomas Stonewall Jackson dominate this tale of the opening battles of the US Civil War. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain gives perspective to the conflict both in contrast of his view from behind the Northern lines, and in the similarities between these dedicated, driven soldiers. Shaara does an admirable job following in his father's footsteps. 5 * Chroniclemaster1 2005/9/23 US Civil War 2 Michael Shaara 384 New York Ballantine Books 1996 James Pete Longstreet's wisdom collides with Robert E. Lee's faith. Behind the Northern lines, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain wages a desperate struggle to hold Little Round Top, the exploit for which the North's most decorated soldier is best remembered. Shaara's style is both simple and revolutionary, hopping from character to character giving the reader a front row seat for all the important events of the three days of the Battle of Gettysburg. Shaara's gripping prose, vivid characters, and careful research earned him the Pulitzer Prize. The very best in historical fiction writing. 6 E Chroniclemaster1 2005/9/23 US Civil War 3 Jeff Shaara 640 New York Ballantine Books 1998 Jeff Shaara's second book, completing the transformation of his father's novel on the Battle of Gettysburg into a sweeping trilogy of the entire US Civil War. Follows the two senior commanders Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee. Melded with views of the battles on the front lines, Shaara starkly contrasts the ineptitude and heroism of commanders with the bloody brutality of the final battles of the war; leading to the mournful finale at Appamattox Courthouse. 5 * Chroniclemaster1 2005/9/23 Jeff Shaara 512 New York Ballantine Books 1996 A prequel to the US Civil War Trilogy, it traces the future commanders as they see combat for the first time. Follows General Winfield Scott on his daring invasion of Mexico that ended the Mexican-American War in 1848. Well-written and interesting but unquestionably the weakest book hes written. It is quite possible that this is because Shaara is all too accurately representing the character of the Mexican-American War. Shaara's other series on the US Civil War and the US Revolution are charged with the driving moral force of those conflicts, the clash of dedicated, deadly soldiers and the ideals they will kill and die for. Gone for Soldiers fails to live up to Shaara's standards because the subject has no such ideals or passions at stake. 3 G Chroniclemaster1 2005/6/27 The US Revolution series US Revolution 2 Jeff Shaara Excellent two volume recreation of the figures of the American Revolution and their impact on the defining moment of North American history. We are party to their ideas and impressions as they watch the events unfold making for moving biographical portraits and riveting history. From the fields of Lexington and Concord, to the halls of the 2nd Continental Congress, to the all important campaigns in the South, Shaara illuminates history in human terms. 5 * Chroniclemaster1 2005/6/27 Historical Fiction US Revolution 1 Jeff Shaara 512 New York Ballantine Books 1996 Shaara returns to top form after the readable but disappointing Gone for Soldiers. We see history unfold from the eyes of the Ben Franklin on diplomatic assignment in London and Paris, John Adams giving shape to American politics and government, and George Washington as he faces off against General Gage for control of Boston. 6 E Chroniclemaster1 2005/9/22 US Revolution 2 Jeff Shaara 512 New York Ballantine Books 1996 The action loses a touch of its edge as it dives into battle after battle, but is engaging and brilliantly written. Like riding at the side of George Washington at the Battle of Brandywine, or General Greene on his march through the Carolinas. General Washington and his subordinates fight campaign after deadly campaign against General Cornwallis to determine the fate of the fledgling United States. 5 * Chroniclemaster1 2005/9/22 Rich Shupe Robert Hoekman Jr. 340 Sebastopol, CA 1st ed O'Reilly Media Inc. 2006 Includes a thorough run down of all the Flash features and tools for a beginner, with large clear pictures. For more advanced users it provides a lot of more technical detail including programming concepts and techniques. Anyone wanting to really learn how to use ActionScript will find this a much more sensible approach. It gives you a solid introduction to how real Flash developers make their pages tick. 4 G Chroniclemaster1 2005/6/27 Computers Jason Cranford Teague 424 Berkeley, CA Peachpit Press 2005 Well written guide for intermediate and advanced users of CSS and Javascript. Writing is very clear and professional, but with enough personality that it avoids being overly dry. (For example, Teague uses text and illustrations from the gorgeous original editions of Alice and Wonderland (1865) and Through the Looking-Glass (1872).) Focuses on specific tasks or ideas to add to a website or use. Consistently puts complete code (with important lines highlighted in red) next to the graphical output, with explanations interspersed throughout as necessary. 5* resource if you want to perform any of the tasks included. 4 * Chroniclemaster1 2006/01/03 Computers The Lord of the Rings series Lord of the Rings 3 J.R.R. Tolkien For a treat there's the beautiful Alan Lee illustrated edition: Tolkien, J.R.R. The Lord of the Rings. Illustrated ed. Illus. Alan Lee. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1991. 1198pp. (50pp. of illustrations). The quintessential fantasy trilogy, and still one of the best series ever. For Tolkien, he was exploring ancient mythic tradition to tell stories that he, as a scholar, found interesting. For the rest of the world, he was pioneering an entirely new genre, fantasy, that flared into life following in his footsteps. The settings are amazing, the story telling rich and deep, and the writing is deliciously and poetically readable. However, it is still the characters and their tremendously meaningful human relationships that elevate this series to the status of one of the all-time classics. The somewhat tainted reputation that the fantasy genre has acquired since then, is a testament to how difficult it is to do it well, and attests to the phenomenal talent of this quiet Oxford professor. 6 E Chroniclemaster1 2005/6/27 Fiction Fantasy Lord of the Rings 1 J.R.R. Tolkien 432 Boston 2nd ed 1954 Houghton Mifflin 1987 In some ways the best book in the trilogy, Fellowship of the Ring is both the most intimate of the books and the most non-traditional. Setting aside epic scope, the story follows the story "before" the quest of the Ring for almost half the book. Then ratchets up the dramatic tension with the flight from the Nazgul, the path through Moria, and the clash between Gandalf the wizard and the demonic Balrog. The most personal of the books and the the most beautiful, packed with twice the poetry of the other volumes. 6 E Chroniclemaster1 2005/9/22 Lord of the Rings 2 J.R.R. Tolkien 352 Boston 2nd ed 1965 Houghton Mifflin 1988 The most gripping book of the series, Two Towers follows the Fellowship as it breaks in three and scatters across the lands of the South. Frodo and Sam meet Gollum a twisted creature of the Ring, while the rest of the company converge on Isengard to battle Sauruman, a treasonous white wizard. A tense tale of high adventure that climbs to the pinnacle of Cirith Ungol where Frodo falls before the dark spider, Shelob. 6 E Chroniclemaster1 2005/9/22 Lord of the Rings 3 J.R.R. Tolkien 448 Boston 2nd ed 1965 Houghton Mifflin 1988 The promise of the first two volumes, at last give way to the epic grandeur, and mythic imagination of the Return of the King. Like tales of ancient legend, The War of the Ring unfolds in the vivid clash of good against evil, the few against the many, and fate of the Ring & the world hangs in the balance as Frodo plunges into the nightmare land of Mordor. 6 E Chroniclemaster1 2005/9/22 Henriette Anne Klauser 143 New York Harper Collins Publishers 1979 Here is a book that's both useful and a treat. Imagine reading a book about how to write that practices what it preaches. Klauser's prose is soft and instructive, engaging and personal. It is also highly valuable. Whether you're writing the next War and Peace or just writing a memo, Klauser gives many concrete tips for how you should write. For those looking to write long or detailed pieces Klauser gives great writing techniques and exercises. Even better, Klauser has a light yet masterful touch in explaining how to approach writing. Other books tell you not to stress out. Klauser's ability to enjoy writing and communicate how she does it are the most valuable lessons in her book. 5 * Chroniclemaster1 2007/09/19 Writing