Scott, Melissa

They Died With Custer: Soldiers' Bones from the Battle of the Little Bighorn

Average customer rating:

They Died With Custer Forgets Lieutenant Harrington
Digging into the Little Bighorn
Its about the men this time....
Digging into Little Bighorn Battlefield
They died with Custer.

They Died With Custer: Soldiers' Bones from the Battle of the Little Bighorn
Douglas D. Scott , and Melissa A. Connor
Manufacturer: University of Oklahoma Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Military Science | History | Subjects | Books

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Archaeological Perspectives on the Battle of Little Bighorn
Archaeology, History, and Custer's Last Battle: The Little Big Horn Reexamined
Where Custer Fell: Photographs Of The Little Bighorn Battlefield Then And Now
Lakota Noon: The Indian Narrative of Custer's Defeat
The Mystery of E Troop: Custer's Gray Horse Company at the Little Bighorn

ASIN: 0806135077

Customer Reviews:

They Died With Custer Forgets Lieutenant Harrington.......2006-07-01

A very good book and recommended. It does however fall short with its look at Lt. Henry Harrington, commander of Company C during the battle. The forensic reconstruction figure on page 172 is Lt. Harrington, one of the long missing officers whose remains were not found after the battle. The authors are not alone in missing the resemblance to the 1872 West Point graduate whose remains have lain in the Smithsonian Institution for more than a century.

This oversight by historians and anthropologists alike is corrected in the book "Custer's Lost Officer the Search for Lieutenant Henry Moore Harrington, 7th U.S. Cavalry by Walt Cross. I recommend that if you purchase this book you also purchase the Cross book ISBN: 0-9771926-1-X. In "Custer's Lost Officer" Harrington is identified as the soldier the Sioux called "The bravest man the Sioux ever fought."

Digging into the Little Bighorn.......2006-02-21

This book should be a considered a companion book to the others written detailing the results of the numerous battlefield investigations following the 1984 brush fire, particularly "Archaeology, History, and Custer's Last Battle: The Little Big Horn Reexamined."

While this book goes into detail about the individual soldiers and the remains found at numerous marker pairs across the field, the other title gives the new forensic based chronology of the battle. I was a park visitor in 1984, and two time subsequent to that date. It is amazing how the interpretation of the battle has changed since then. The new explanation answers many of the nagging questions that have fed the Custer Myth. Scott's book in particular explodes the myth of the noble fighting bunkmates or suicide pacts, that rose from the apparent grave stone pairs that dot the battlefield, and the apparent mis match between the number of markers and the number of soldiers that were killed. Exhumation of numerous such sites revealed in all cases only the partial remains of one individual. The fact that so many ramains were found at so many of the sites, and that markers intended for the Reno Field were placed on the Custer Field, calls into question the thoroughness of the reburial details subsequent to the battle. Remnants and nearly complete skeletal remains were found. Makes you wonder how many horse bones are under the marker on mis-named Last Stand Hill. Scott makes a valiant attempt to include attributed artifacts and remains previously found on the battlefield to expand his data population. A noble endeavor. Some of the biggest questions regarding the battle may never be known due to the construction of the park visitors center, parking lot and Veterans Cemetary. Scott's book adds new indespensible information to the updated unglorified story of the Little BigHorn. A must read for anyone interested in the Little Bighorn.

Its about the men this time...........2004-03-08

I thought this was a well written, easy to read and utterly interesting book on the archeological research done around the Custer Battlefield (Little Big Horn Battlefield for the politically correct). The book centered around the common soldiers of the Seventh Cavalry instead of its more infamous commander. The study of human remains helped give a "slice of life" look at the regular cavalrymen of the Seventh Cavalry and how the battle went according to archeological finds of bullets, casing and where the men of Seventh fell during the battle. It was also interesting to read about how they tried to identified some of the remains they found. The book should be consider as a mandatory reading material for anyone interested in the battle of Little Bighorn.

Digging into Little Bighorn Battlefield.......2000-08-12

A well-written summary of more than a decade's analysis of battlefield archeology. Fascinating identification of several bodies from a few bones, especially those well-know persons who were found in sites other than where eyewittnesses placed them in written history. The book suffers, however, by a brief and weak synopsis that fails in its attempt to draw too-broad conclussions about the entire frontier population from a few soldiers' bones.

They died with Custer........2000-04-05

This was a superbly written volume outlining the archaeological reclaimation of the battlefield site of the Little Big Horn. A military archeologist (Scott), a forensic archeologist (Conner), and a forensics anthropologist (Willey) combined talents to preserve and identify the material evidence of the events that took place there after a wildfire stripped the scene of vegitation and exposed the site to erosive processes and human curiosity. The book details: 1) the history of the 7th Cavalry, including among other things, the age of the soldiers, their origin, and length of service, 2) the efforts to identify individual soldiers and the location of their fall in battle, 3) the effect of the rigorous life on the frontier on the health of the soldiers, 4) etc. I found particularly interesting the efforts to reconstruct the facial features of some of the skulls in an effort to identify the remains with specific people. This is a good text of archaeology at work.

Archaeological Perspectives on the Battle of Little Bighorn

Average customer rating:

Little Bighorn Overview
Ground Breaking Forensic Archaeology..pun intended.
Great scientific archeological analysis of the battle
Historically Significant
A Great Book

Archaeological Perspectives on the Battle of Little Bighorn
Douglas D. Scott , Richard A. Fox , Melissa A. Connor , and Dick Harmon
Manufacturer: University of Oklahoma Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Look Inside History Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Archaeology, History, and Custer's Last Battle: The Little Big Horn Reexamined
They Died With Custer: Soldiers' Bones from the Battle of the Little Bighorn
Where Custer Fell: Photographs Of The Little Bighorn Battlefield Then And Now
Lakota Noon: The Indian Narrative of Custer's Defeat
Archaeological Insights into the Custer Battle: An Assessment of the 1984 Field Season/With Map

ASIN: 0806132922

Book Description

Ever since the Custer battle on June 25, 1876, the question has been asked: What happened--what REALLY happened--at the Battle of the Little Bighorn? We know some of the answers because half of George Armstong Custer's Seventh Cavalry--the men with Major Marcus Reno and Captain Frederick Benteen--survived the fight, but what of the half that did not, the troopers, civilians, scouts, and journalists who were with Custer?

Now, because a grass fire in August 1983 cleared the terrain of brush and grass and made thorough archaeological examination possible, we have many answers to these important questions. On the basis of the evidence presented in this book, we know more about what kinds of weapons were used against the cavalry. We know exactly where most of the men fought, how they died, and what happened to their bodies at the time of or after death. We know how the troopers were deployed, what kind of clothing they wore, what kind of equipment they used, and how they fought. Through the techniques of historical archaeology and forensic anthropology, the remains and grave of one of Custer's scouts, Mitch Boyer has been identified.

Customer Reviews:

Little Bighorn Overview.......2007-05-28

Custer's Fall: The Native American Side of the Story

I found 'Archaeological Perspectives on the Battle of Little Bighorn' to be a very interesting read indeed, it served to answer many questions that, up to the time of the archaeological investigations, were not known.

An interesting comment in the book referred to the fact that the investigations backed-up the indian's side of events & refuted that of the army's.
Many comments made by various authors over the years have also been negated by the evidence unearthed.

I recommend the book mentioned above, ('Custer's Fall'), which is the indian account of the battle; many people I am sure will be dismayed to discover that; Custer was shot down within a few moments of the first charge across the Little Bighorn to attack the indian camp, that the charge immediately halted mid stream & that shortly afterwards the army, faced with overwhelming numbers of indians, commenced it's futile race to try & find a defensive place on high ground.

Unfortunately Custer's luck on that day was not as good as Reno's.

In my opinion, Custer was an egotistical murdering glory hound, he had the opportunity to save his men's lives & failed to heed the word of his scouts.
He went in with guns blazing & met the fate he truly deserved, there was no last stand, at least not for Custer, that ultimate terror was left for his unfortunate men to face.

My only (minor) criticism of 'Archaeological Perspectives' is that a detailed map of the arenas of battle was not included in the book.

Well done the indians; if only they had overrun Reno & captured his ammunition packs, it could have led to the destruction of the other army detachments closing in upon them, alas... it was not meant to be.

Ground Breaking Forensic Archaeology..pun intended........2005-09-13

I was lucky enough to visit the Battlefield in 1984 shortly after the fire and the first field season. I have visited it twice more since. The last time I was armed with not only Richard Allen Fox's book but this one as well.

Having an abiding interest in the battle for over 30 years it is amazing how the application of good sound science has unraveled many of the "mysteries" and myths associated with what happened on those dusty slopes the day of the battle.

This book delves more into the personal fate of numerous combatants as evidenced by their remains found on the battlefield.

The mere fact that so numerous remains were there to be found after reported exhumation and reburial under the monument, shows that then as now "good enough for government work" still has the same meaning.

If you are interested in the fate of individuals, the nuts and bolts of the recovery of remains, this book is for you. If you are more interested in the unraveling of the mystery of the battle itself. Richard Alan Fox's book Archaeology, History and Custer's Last Battle will appeal to you more. It details the unraveling of the stages of the battle using firearm forensic techniques and puts to bed the notion that Custer died in a glorious last stand.

Rather the famed 7th Cavalry disintegrated into a panic stricken mob, and at the last it was every man for himself, as the last 28 lone survivors on foot and horseback fled Last Stand Hill for the illusion of saftey of the Deep Ravine.

Both books are excellent and both will help final dispel the myths surrounding the battle.

Great scientific archeological analysis of the battle.......2005-07-22

This book goes into great detail about the archeology performed on the battlefield site. It has the feel of being written for an audience of archeologists rather than just a casual reader. If you are an archeologist, the book probably rates a five. If you are really interested in the battle, I also recommend it. If you just want to learn the basics of the battle, howver, other titles are probably more appropriate.

Historically Significant.......2004-11-10

Even though I know all the writers of this book, I'm still NOT biased when I say that Scotts, et al book has changed interpretation dramatically on the Little Bighorn fight. Having worked at the Little Bighorn Battlefield as an interpreter in 1985, I personally know how this interpretation changed, i.e. before the archaeological digs of 1984-85, most of us believed that Custer's men fell mostly to arrows. We now know that the U.S. soldier's were outgunned, thanks to this field work and as reported in the book.

Since Scott's final report, headstones on the battlefield marking where "unknown soldier's" fell have been replaced by actual names, e.g. Mitch Bouyer. This reality came to place thanks to the forensic work of Dr. Clyde Snow (his complete report is included in this book).

Finally, Scott and his team create a vivid picture of where the soldiers and the Indian warriors moved over the battlefield fighting for what they believed was right.

A Great Book.......2002-03-09

Richard Allen Fox has the ability to look at the physical evidence and make his theories about what happened either mesh with history or make us rethink what history says about the event. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to look at the battle from the physical remains left on the site.

Average customer rating:

a pamphlet
Five Genders, One Humanity
Better even than "left-hand side of darkness"
Interesting issues rather than exciting action
Excellent! I read it twice!

Shadow Man
Melissa Scott
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Dreaming Metal
The Jazz
Night Sky Mine
Point of Hopes
The Shapes of their Hearts

ASIN: 0312858000

Amazon.com

In the future, humanity has developed five distinct sexes due to the effects of a drug that allows faster-than-light travel. The Concorde worlds have officially recognized all five sexes, but on the isolated planet Hara those in between male and female are considered mutations who must choose to live as one of the two traditional sexes. When Hara regains contact with the Concorde worlds, it's an opportunity for Warreven--a "herm"--to break the long-standing role society has forced on him. But it will also put him in the center of a political battle that will span the stars. Shadow Man won the 1996 Lambda Award.

Customer Reviews:

a pamphlet.......2005-08-13

(I'm not a native speaker, please overlook my style)

This book truly represents a coming of age but not for the main characters, for the readers.

Ms Scott creates an extended but simple metaphor: in a universe where there are five officially acknowledged and accepted biological sexes and a mathematitian knows how many combinatorial possibilities the law and custom of one single planet deny the biological reality in the name of an undefendible, aggressive, obtuse tradition.
It is easy to recognize our own little Earth and reality (despite intelligent crabs that are as affectionate as lapdogs, purr like kittens and spin useful silk) under this thin disguise; in the struggle of Warreven to be officially, legally recognized as a person despite his/her/who knows sex, one recognize the everyday problems of people who happen to be unlike the majority.

As a political pamphlet, an apologue, this book is a masterpiece and should be read as textbook in any secondary school; as a novel it is less so.
Ms Scott strives to mimic real life and she does it, perfectly, but the result is sometimes quite dull, just as our own petty lives can often be (think about commuting to get to work or boring evenings among collegues and you shall know what I mean).
The characters and situations are fully drawn and believable, and in the end the good does not win over evil, exactly as in our own lives.

Despite an appendix with a glossary, some fictional concepts, such as "trade" or the details of gender behaviour remain utterly unclear. Ms Scott has probably tried to avoid extensive boring explanations but confronted with such an exotic creation the reader must necessarily fill in the voids.

One may wonder, is this still SF? In a sense it is. Do not read this novel if you just want an easy SF pastime. Do it if you welcome food for thought and are in the right mood for it.

A note: sex is necessarily mentioned in such a book, but it is never graphic or vulgar: teens can read it freely provided they have the right attitude toward demanding books.

Five Genders, One Humanity.......2004-02-20

At 18, Warreven was presented with an offer most men would have gladly accepted: Marriage to the only child of the Most Important Man on the planet Hara. The problem was, Warreven wasn't "most men." In fact, he wasn't a man at all, but a herm or, as Haran slang went, a "halving." And Temelathe's only child, Tendelathe, was a man.

For the Most Important Man, Warreven's sex was a non-issue: Warreven would simply classify himself as a woman and become Tendelathe's wife. This was a common arrangement, as herms did not live their lives as herms, but as men or women. It was up to them to choose. Warren would not choose, however; while he would willingly have married his long-time friend, he refused to be forced into declaring himself female. He was comfortable living as a man and that's how he wanted it to stay. He refused the offer. The decision ultimately changed his life.

The story point is one of the keystones in Melissa Scott's 1995 novel Shadow Man, a book which explores human gender and what life might be like if things were not as "simple" as we (perhaps wrongly) view them today.

The planet Hara, where Warreven, the Most Important Man and his son live is one of countless human colonies founded at a point in the future when humans have mastered faster-than-light (FTL) travel and have spread across the galaxy. As the story opens, Hara is in the process of slowly but surely being re-connected with the colonial network, after a few hundred years' separation.

The reason Hara was cut off is the same reason it's now so different from other human colonies. FTL travel, as boundary-breaking as it was, was in large part made possible by the development of specialized drugs, which prevented the side effects of the travel, keeping humans healthy and sane. However, these drugs themselves had a major side effect, one which no one had expected or even noticed under it was too late: The drugs affected human DNA and caused a large upswing (as high as 25%) in intersex births. There were no longer men and women, but men, women... and several other sexes. This discovery was so shocking and devastating to the human space colonization movement that all FTL travel was put on hold. Chaos erupted, arguments ensued, and it was during this time that the group making its way to the planet known as Hara were cut off.

People on hara developed the same genetic"abnormalities" as the rest of those who had taken FTL drugs. Not only their children, but their children's children, and on down the line, were born into one of five gender categories: woman, fem, herm, men, or man. The crucial difference on Hara, as opposed to within the human colonization effort and humanity as a whole (the "Concord"), was that the people on Hara chose to deny that this change had occurred. Almost all Concord humans had finally embraced the sexual differences and all the new sexual orientations and identities that came with it. They "moved on " with the change and re-started FTL travel. Harans were different. Fiercely traditional, they clung to concepts of men and women, and those who did not fit those categories were, officially, made to fit.

Despite the decision he made at 18, Warreven has made a good life for himself. He's got a job as something like an attorney, part of a three-person team. One of his partners is a man, the other a herm, like himself, only more politically outspoken (having fought a court battle to have legal status as "herm," not one sex or the other). Their firm often handles cases involving the "odd-bodied," those Harans who do not conform to Haran sexual standards. Warren is a skilled negotiator, and thanks to his continuing friendship with the Most Important Man (who still talks wistfully of his would-have-been "daughter-in-law"), he has a comfortable life. In his off time, Warreven's life isn't quite the savory life of a lawyer, however. He enjoys going to "wrangwys" bars, where fems, herms and mems mix amongst themselves, along with men and women who come to experiment in ways which are, officially, either forbidden or strongly frowned upon. In these bars, "wrangwys" become "trade"; Warreven has been "trade" himself.

In Shadow Man, we see Warreven's life change from something mostly stable and secure, where he is happy to remain within the status quo, to one in which his entire life is turned upside down and Hara is on the verge of a minor revolution. The story takes off when one day Warreven meets an offworlder named Tatian. The offworlder has come on an assignment from one of the big pharmaceutical companies trading with Hara, and at first he's strictly business. But after he meets Warreven and is introduced to Haran's rather different social set-up, he can't seem to get himself untangled from a budding revolution among society's oppressed. He finds himself encouraging Warreven and eventually assisting him. It's hard for him to believe the "odd-bodied" have allowed themselves to be oppressed at all, and even harder for him as he watches Warreven struggle with his role in the new revolution, especially when things get out of control, with attacks on bars, beatings, and riot police.

One of the things Scott does in Shadow Man is set up an allegory for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights movement, and one of the things that makes the book work is that this allegory isn't done in a heavy-handed way, but one that makes you understand the nature of social movements and those caught in the crossfire. Warreven doesn't want to be a revolutionary. He doesn't want to be a hero. He doesn't really want to be a herm -- not the way humans on Concord are herms. He doesn't know what any of that is about. However, the way events unfold, he has no choice, morally, but to press on and become a revolutionary, become a hero, and eventually, to become a herm. Change has to start somewhere and it just so happens that it starts with him.

Shadow Man is a wonderful, thought-provoking book which, although somewhat dissatisfying in the fact that it doesn't tie up the book's conflicts in a neat bow, makes you wonder about the nature of being human and being part of society, whether accepted or not.

Better even than "left-hand side of darkness".......1999-06-10

An intelligent social scifi-fantasy book, which does not forget action as well. The topic of gender is more earth-life adapted than U.Guin's book and the observations of transgender and intersex and gay problematics highly accurate.

Best book I read last year. Absolutely recomended and I hope they reprint it!

Interesting issues rather than exciting action.......1998-04-30

I found the sexual/ social issues in this book very interesting. Nowadays there is very little SF I can handle- it all seems to be cookie-cutter adventure series. Shadow Man sets itself apart by looking at something I haven't seen before, namely the social issues facing humans who have been split into five sexes rather than two. My interest was also held by the society described in the book, which is an unusual mix of technology and a more primitive lifestyle.

I admit that the plot wasn't the most exciting- it was basically a vehicle for the book's social issues. However, I found the issues discussed in the book more than enough to keep me reading to the end.

I have since read two more by the same author, Trouble And Her Friends and Night Sky Mine, which are more traditional cyberpunk adventures. While they're OK (and are unusual in that their heroines and heroes are mostly gay), they don't center around the same kind of ideas that made me think while reading Shadow Man. It's definitely the most interesting of the three.

Excellent! I read it twice!.......1998-03-18

The ideas explored in this book, centering around gender identity and sexuality, never prevent the characters from being real people. Not for the fans of whiz-bang space opera, but a solidly written page turner, full of social and political intrigue. Once again, Melissa Scott has given us an imaginative yet believable universe with sympathetic multi-dimensional characters. You go girl!

Conceiving the Heavens: Creating the Science Fiction Novel

Average customer rating:

Author is too preoccupied to teach writing
unfortunate waste of money and trees
discusses little that is useful
Start thinking

Conceiving the Heavens: Creating the Science Fiction Novel
Melissa Scott
Manufacturer: Heinemann Drama
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Fiction | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books

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

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 0435070088

Book Description

Aliens, spaceships, life on Mars, other worlds, cloning, coming back from the future, new species - science fiction pervades our imaginations and increasingly ourselves. But how does an author write these stories so that they are believable and meaningful?</p>

Called "one of today's most provocative young writers" by Science Fiction Bookselling, Melissa Scott is clearly a master of writing science fiction. In Conceiving the Heavens, Scott shares her successful techniques and insight to help would-be science fiction writers turn their ideas into workable stories. Topics discussed include: </p> <ul>

the need for good writing - not just good ideas </li>

the specialized techniques necessary for science fiction writing </li>

characterization, settings, invented languages, and research </li>

training to think "what if?" </LI>

exercises and mind games to expand imaginations </li>

artistic intention and responsibility </li>

writing science fiction as a profession and being a pro at it</li>

problems unique to the science fiction field </li>

a glossary of science fiction terms. </li> </ul> Whether you are of this world or some other one, Conceiving the Heavens will help you successfully write about places you could only dream of. </p>

Customer Reviews:

Author is too preoccupied to teach writing.......2003-05-22

This incomplete book is not as much help as it could be. If you are looking for a good book on craft. Look elsewhere. I suggest the books of John Gardner, Gardner Dozois and Damon Knight as better places to start.

unfortunate waste of money and trees.......2003-05-22

The author is more self-possesed of foisting her feminist ideology on would-be writers than she is of helping them to become writers. It is far better to take advice real editors/professionals like Gardner Dozois, Damon Knight or John Gardner (who all have published books on craft) than to read this overly preachy book. The book is condecending and downright insulting to the readers and writers of Science Fiction in that it assumes that we are all lazy, twinkie-munching, television. Don't waste your money on this one. There is so much that is better out there!

discusses little that is useful.......2001-03-01

Although the book has an inspiring title, it hardly ammounts to much of anything. It fails to discuss conflict, plot, and other aspects of narrative that are fundamental to "creating" any novel. There is some broad discussion of how to think about about the physical and the social and political environment of your novel, but this discussion is not deep enough for someone who has not studied in depth subjects like politics, science, history, etc to be able to really think of the issues on his own.

Start thinking.......2000-05-15

Melissa Scott starts the book off with "A brief defense of science fiction, or why does someone who went to Harvard write this stuff anyway?" - and the book takes off. Even though the book is less than 200 pages long she covers important points of world building, characters, research, ideas and provides suggestions for getting published.

Average customer rating:

intricate
Rich and satisfying
Fun read but less engaging then Point of Hopes
A weak little sister to Point of Hopes
Perfect blend of fantasy, mystery, & historical

Point of Dreams (Astreiant)
Melissa Scott , and Lisa A. Barnett
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Point of Hopes
Armor of Light, The
Night Sky Mine
The Fire's Stone
Dreaming Metal

ASIN: 0312867824

Amazon.com

In the alternate Renaissance world of Point of Dreams, the dead return with the ghost-tide to haunt the living, and when a ghost fails to appear, it may mean the person was murdered. Though a dead judge's ghost is missing, the regents of the city of Astreiant forbid Pointsman Nicolas Rathe to investigate. And that's not the detective's only problem. His suddenly homeless partner is moving in with him. The city is in a frenzy over a popular play, "The Drowned Island," and the dangerous spell book it has popularized. His assigned case, an actor's murder, appears unsolvable--the actor drowned in a theater in which there is no water. And another body has just been found in the theater.

Point of Dreams is an accomplished and entertaining fantasy mystery, written with the same rigor as the best nonmagical mysteries. Since Point of Dreams is the sequel to The Armor of Light and Point of Hopes, its early pages may be tough going for some readers unfamiliar with the previous novels, but all readers will find themselves captivated by the novel and unwilling to put it down before they reach the end.

Melissa Scott received the John W. Campbell Award for best new writer and has twice won the Lambda Literary Award for best science fiction novel. --Cynthia Ward

Book Description

The city of Astreiant has gone crazy with enthusiasm for a new play, The Drowned Island, a lurid farrago of melodrama and innuendo. Pointsman Nicolas Rathe is not amused, however, at a real dead body on stage and must investigate. A string of murders follow, perhaps related to the politically important masque that is to play on that same stage. Rathe must once again recruit the help of his soldier lover, Philip Eslingen, whose knowledge of actors and the stage, and of the depths of human perversity and violence, blends well with Rathe's own hard-won experience with human greed and magical mayhem.

Their task is complicated by the season, for it is the time of year when the spirits of the dead haunt the city and influence everyone, and also by the change in their relationship when the loss of Philip's job forces him to move in with Nicolas. Mystery, political intrigue, floral magic, astrology, and romance--both theatrical and personal-- combine to make this a compelling read.

Customer Reviews:

intricate.......2006-11-24

This second episode of the late Renaissance series centred on pointsman (a policeman of sorts) Rathe is similar at first sight to the first but subtly different nonetheless, as if the two plots belonged to one of the two authors each.

The first was more focused on the mistery, on the action that brings to its solving and fleshed out with countless details about the lower class characters' way of life.

In this second one, the mistery seems not to be the focus of the narrative, it rather seems an excuse to examine characters interaction and the ways of upper classes of the same society. This is true to the point that the identity of the murder is quite clear from the first pages, as are his/her (I will not give you any hint though) motives.

In a way the novel suffers from this choice. It also suffers from the understated tone chosen by the author to describe people's feelings. I think it a good idea to let us face the intimate relationship between the two main characters (two men, by the way) as an already given fact, but this choice of understatement runs so far that we face a feeble characterization too: not that it is lacking, it is just superficially attended to, it lacks depth: you cannot really relate to any of them.

Nonetheless this novel deserves in my opinion five stars. The quality of the writing is high, the fastidious attention to details, the original society depicted. They all make this a worthwhile read. I only feel like complaining about a minor detail: that the authors, to make their point about a society ruled by women use "her" and "she" as general pronouns when the sex of the person is not known. This feels quite unnecessary.

Another problem, but I guess it comes from a deliberate choice too, is that even after two novels, the structure of the astreiant's society and even its basic geography are still unclear: the authors never taking the trouble of making clear, e.g. what the regents actually do, what the metropolitan is, etc. Outright explanations are likely to be clumsy, but the authors could have found a way to give us at least the more essential details.

Rich and satisfying.......2004-07-29

I set this aside with a feeling of satisfaction, as if I'd had a good meal. The mystery was well-done, the fantastic elements of the story and the world well-conceived, the backstory well-integrated and relatively easy to pick up once I got into the rhythm of the plot.

Scott and Barnett write with an attention to detail and a richness of atmosphere not often found in fantasy. The story moves along leisurely, over the course of a few days, and (forgive the clumsy metaphor) feels like dark chocolate syrup, rich, bittersweet, and luxurious. The Italian Renaissance atmosphere (to me, the city seems like Venice) and the stylized social structure is fascinating. The behind-the-scenes theatre action seems true-to-life, at least so far as my theatre experience has been.

It seems to me the society is matriarchal, as all the truly powerful positions were held by women, which is a refreshing change from most fantasy. And everyone seemed to have a mother, but I can't recall a mention of anyone's father.

And I rather like the idea of the "ghost-tide," in which our dead appear to us at a particular time of year. I wouldn't mind seeing my paternal grandparents again.

I'll be keeping my eye out for the previous two novels set in this world.

Fun read but less engaging then Point of Hopes.......2003-08-05

***1/2 stars to be more truthful...

For those of you who've read Point of Hopes and are hoping for more romance between Philip and Nico you won't be totally disappointed. Unfortunately, the authors made the odd choice of setting Point of Dreams 6 months after the case of the missing children has been solved and Nico and Philip are already involved physically and are moving quickly toward 'leman' status. There is no sex of any kind in this novel so if you are looking to be titilated and nothing else, look elsewhere. You won't even be allowed to witness a passionate kiss between the lovers. The reader is treated to a few charming and cozy domestic scenes in which Philip's nurturing nature emerges. Perhaps the authors wanted them to be at the more comfortable stage for this story in which case I wish they had saved it for another book so we could have been the voyeurs of the early stages of their romance. You know, the ROMANTIC parts! In the first book we are left hanging with vague feelings of attraction the men feel toward each other but barely acknowledge to themselves beyond vague feelings. The artistic decision to bypass the magical early moments of mutual attraction is questionable.

The mystery wasn't too hard to figure out and it took me awhile to figure out the significance of the flowers and the Alphabet book. I imagine the flowers, which were raised from expensive and delicate corms were based on the violent,intrigue-filled history of tulips in Western culture, albeit with a different twist. In this novel, the flowers are believed to have magic properties when used in conjuction with the book in question. It is Rathe's job to discover if there is any validity to the magic or if it is just a hoax. I would have liked to have seen more of Chresta Aconin, the playwrite responsible for the furor over the Alphabet and the corms. He is obviously based on poet/playwrite Christopher Marlowe, or at least Scott's characterization of him in Armour of Light.

That said, I enjoyed the book for the characters and the setting. I do look forward to another "Point" novel as there is the makings of a very engaging series here.

A weak little sister to Point of Hopes.......2003-04-24

Point of Dreams is the plain little sister of the delightful fantasy/mystery Point of Hopes. Though the books share background, genre, and main characters, Dreams just doesn't shine the way Hopes did.

The plot of Dreams is fairly weak. It's hard to write SF/mystery that obeys all the rules of traditional mysteries, and though Barnett and Scott succeeded in Hopes, they fail here - the mystery is remarkably easy to solve and is transparently clear by the book's midpoint.

Also, the setting, which was easily the best part of Hopes, is in Dreams just a backdrop for a (relatively) normal theater production. Hopes established a fascinating world. Dreams inhabits a tiny portion of it.

The real problem, though, is the further development of the main characters. At the start of Dreams, Rathe and Eslingen are living together, having gone from unexpressed mutual interest to an ongoing, committed relationship between books. Scott and Barnett, in choosing not to show the early stages of the romance, are making an unusual, daring, and ultimately unsuccessful choice. They can't, or won't, write the relationship convincingly without the early bits. (I love Melissa Scott's writing, and I honestly believe she *could* do this right, but that only makes this book's failure worse.)

In Dreams, it's hard to believe that Rathe and Eslingen actually love each other. In the brief interludes they spend together, they show very little affection, let alone romantic love. The strongest emotion they seem to feel is mutual jealousy; that's not exactly proof of true love. And it doesn't help that the one passionate sequence in the book is between Rathe and an ex-lover. The intensity of that bit just underscores the absence of any such feeling between our heroes.

Despite the problems, though, the book is still a good one. Fantasy/mysteries are rare, as I said, and the book would be worth reading for that alone. Add in the marvelous setting and the light, fun writing, and Point of Dreams becomes more than worth the purchase price. I just hope that the third book in the series reveals more kinship with Hopes than with Dreams.

Perfect blend of fantasy, mystery, & historical.......2002-05-26

If you have not read "Point of Dreams" or its prequel, "Point of Hopes," give yourself a treat and do so. A perfect blend of mystery, fantasy, and historical. There's something here to delight just about any reader.

Average customer rating:

Not Quite What I Expected, But Very Enjoyable
Like fantasy? Like Elizabethan England? This is for you!
I still like it!
Historical fantasy as it should be!

The Armor of Light
Melissa Scott , and Lisa A. Barnett
Manufacturer: baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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

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

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Point of Hopes
Point of Dreams (Astreiant)
The Privilege of the Sword
Melusine
Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson Series, Book 2)

ASIN: 0671697838

Book Description

This is the first hardcover edition of the alternate history novel by Scott and Barnett.

Customer Reviews:

Not Quite What I Expected, But Very Enjoyable.......2005-03-18

Well, to be honest, I'm not sure what I expected when I checked this out from the library, but it sounded interesting, so I thought I'd take a look. The story was fairly slow-going at first. In fact, I would say that it wasn't until about 1/2-way through the book that the plot actually got 'moving' so-to-speak. That's not to say that it wasn't interesting, it just seemed like there was lots of information that wasn't really connected to the plot. There were also times where I felt that certain scenes were written just to display the authors' historical knowledge, which isn't something I find particularly appealing in novels.

Also, although touted as a historical fantasy, this book is probably about 80% historical, 15% fantasy and 5% alternate reality. Honestly, if I had known nothing about Elizabethan England when I read this I would have been completely lost and, while reading, I still felt out of the loop occasionally. There were a lot of historical names and places, and it was difficult keeping them straight in my head, especially at the beginning. I can't really recommend this book to anyone who doesn't have at least a little previous knowledge of this time period, but I can say that it would be worth it to do some research for the sole purpose or reading it.

If you don't want to read about the time period, take a look at these two movies: Elizabeth w/ Cate Blanchett and Shakespeare in Love w/ Gwyneth Paltrow. They will give you a historical basis to work off of and both will give you most, if not all, of the names you need to know.

Like fantasy? Like Elizabethan England? This is for you!.......2001-06-20

This is a very well-structured, well-written book set in an alternate version of Queen Elizabeth I's reign. The settings are finely drawn, the characters are engaging, and the plot is gripping. I reread this book about once a year just for the pleasure of it, and I snapped up this hardcover when it came out. If you like alternate history and fantasy, and don't mind them mixed together, read this book. If you just want to read about people living in Elizabethan England, read this book. And if you just have to have any book with Shakespeare as a character... you, too, have some reading ahead of you.

I still like it!.......1999-03-12

I'm the cover illustrator, and I don't always like everything I read. Often, even if I liked a story the first time, I don't like it when I have to read it about the fifth time to check on the color of someone's shirt. Or I start noticing the lapses in historical detail or logic or characterization.

This book I still read for pleasure, even after I finished the cover. I read a lot of alternate history, and this surely ranks among the best.

Historical fantasy as it should be!.......1998-08-23

This is the best work of historical fantasy, and one of the best works of historical fiction, which I have ever read. Although the universe (an alternate history Elizabethan England where magic works and where Sydney and Marlow survived the events which killed them in our time line) is fantasy, the approach is basic science fiction "what if", extrapolated on a magical rather than physcial technology. Rather than overlaying modern concepts of magic onto their characters and history, the authors present magic as it was understood by the various classes of Tudor England, and in so doing create a world that feels like reality and avoid the one-dimensionality common to much contemporary fantasy. All this, and a great read, too.

Average customer rating:

Slow starter, but worth the trouble
Excellent read...
Already been done
Thriller in cyberspace
two strong women, but not much more

Trouble and Her Friends
Melissa Scott
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Dreaming Metal
Dreamships
The Jazz
Burning Bright
Solitaire: A Novel

ASIN: 0312857330

Book Description

Less than a hundred years from now, the forces of law and order crack down on the world of the computer nets. The hip, noir adventurers who get by on wit, bravado, and drugs, and haunt the virtual worlds of the Shadows of cyberspace, are up against the encroachments of civilization. It's time to adapt or die.India Carless, alias Trouble, got out ahead of the feds and settled down to run a small network for an artist's co-op.Now someone has taken her name and begun to use it for criminal hacking. So Trouble returns. Once the fastest gun on the electronic frontier, she had tried to retire-but has been called out for one last fight. And it's a killer.

Customer Reviews:

Slow starter, but worth the trouble.......2005-02-23

This is science fiction of the cyberpunk genre. There is a new technology termed "brainworm" that allows a user to connect to the net and "surf" utilizing only their brain. Think Matrix, but without the robot takeover. Cerise and her ex-lover, Trouble, have to team up in order to stop a copycat hacker from tarnishing Trouble's name. Scott touches on the aspects of new technology, how an older generation can be reluctant to accept it and the problems that can stem from that reluctance and from the new technology itself. The book is somewhat difficult to get into at first, but it quickly comes together and turns into a great page turner.

Excellent read..........2004-01-31

This is a wonderfull book worthy of any Sci-Fi reader's interest. The story moves along well and keeps you guessing until the end. Note the use of neural 'net' precluding 'Strange Days' and 'The Matrix'. I can't wait to read the rest of her books...

Already been done.......2003-01-28

Well, the first thing to mention about this book is the timing. It was published in 1994, I believe, a decade after Neuromancer started the cyberpunk genre. So just about every piece of science and technology Scott uses should be very familiar to readers. (Another similar flaw is that the book is set a century from now, but the computer systems aren't nearly advanced enough).

The story is basically a thriller with some science fiction behind it. Trouble, a retired hacker (a la William Gibson's Case) returns to the business to track down a hacker who is using her name and reputation. She meets up with her ex-girlfriend, and they travel across the country on their mission. This isn't that bad, and Scott's settings and descriptions are vivid and interesting enough, but the whole thing ends up in an action climax and a too-happy ending that doesn't seem real at all.

The virtual reality sequences are another problem. By the time Scott wrote this, personal computers were much more widespread than in Gibson's day, so she's weighed down by reality. Sometimes it's like reading about some guy using a modern computer, which is in no way exciting or interesting. She writes these scenes in present tense, but sometimes forgets and slips into past tense. They are very vivid and dreamlike, so the typographical errors are unfortunate.

The characters weren't bad, except Scott is constantly forcing out feminist and gay issues with absolutely no subtlety. Feminist and gay issues certainly have a place in science fiction, and even in this book, but the symbolism was just too obvious (hackers and homosexuals as the outcasts of society) and at the same time far-fetched (why are all the old hackers gay?). Scott seems very committed to this particular theme, sacrificing the plot of her book, and the scientific believability, to get it out there.

If you've read any book by William Gibson, Neal Stephenson, or Bruce Sterling, Trouble and Her Friends will be too familiar, but remains a solid work in a genre unfairly dominated by men.

Thriller in cyberspace.......2002-04-01

In the not-so-distant future, India Carless, known as Trouble, has left the shadowy world of cyberspace after the American government cracks down on netwalkers like her. A few years later, a new hacker pops up using the name 'Trouble' and begins creating havoc. The original Trouble comes back to clear her name and catch this new upstart, and she reconnects with old friends to do so, including Cerise, the woman she walked out on. Trouble finds a changed cyberworld hiding more dangers than she anticipated. For me the hard sci fi aspects were a bit dry, but Scott compellingly addressed various social issues and created intriguing characters ... that compelled me to continue. And I do agree that it went on too long and the ending is a bit disappointing, but overall I did enjoy the book. I like Melissa Scott's approach, so I'll probably read more by her.

two strong women, but not much more.......2001-12-22

This is the only novel I have read by Scott, so perhaps my take on her intentions is off, but Trouble struck me as a novel very consciously written to flout the conventions of traditional cyberpunk. As such, Scott creates two very strong female main characters who do much to carry the story which takes place as much online as off. However, the story itself is very weak with an almost transparently thin premise and flimsy supporting characters. The novel is fairly slow paced and seems to contain an inappropriately large amount of detail on very minute points (e.g. characters' clothes are described absolutely exhaustively) while major plot points go totally unaddressed or are just steamrolled over with technobabble. The ending is EXTREMELY disappointing. Many of the story's major points go completely unexplained and most of the characters introduced in the first half of the book are subsequently dropped and never returned to. I picked up this book looking for something with a somewhat different take on cyberpunk, which Trouble does provide, but I ultimately found it to be a very disappointing and frustrating read.

Average customer rating:

Very good read.
The birth of AI
Stunning AI!
A tremendous success! I could not put it down!

Dreaming Metal
Melissa Scott
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Trouble and Her Friends
Dreamships
Shadow Man
Burning Bright
Night Sky Mine

ASIN: 0312858760

Amazon.com

In this sequel to Dreamships, Melissa Scott tackles the concept of artificial intelligence and how it will impact society. Not the theoretical society of chess playing and super computing, but the gritty society where coolie laborers struggle for existence, and where political groups fight their battles on the streets through protests, riots, and bombings. Scott uses three characters--a high-tech stage magician, her deaf cousin who plays in a struggling band, and a starship pilot with a deep distrust for the artificial constructs she must work with--to explore her intense, if slow moving, future.

Customer Reviews:

Very good read........2004-06-04

This was the first Melissa Scott book that I have read, and it definitely won't be the last. She is able to draw the reader into her worlds very easily. The atmosphere of this book is very very good. This is seriously one of my favorite books.

The birth of AI.......2001-08-04

This book is excellent. It fits into the cyberpunk genre and runs alongside authors such as Neil Stephenson and William Gibson. The story is set on Persephone, where everyone lives under the planet's surface, except for outcasts and interplanetary cargo ships. Various castes, characters and lifestyles are clearly portrayed. Vivid imagery is presented surrounding the birth of true digital sentience.

Stunning AI!.......2000-04-11

This book was the first I've read by Melissa Scott, and I was not disappointed. I had no idea that it was a sequel to an earlier work, and it read like a new piece. The story follows three characters seperately and does a fine job of keeping you interested in the different aspects of their lives. My favorite was Fortune, the dancer. Celeste was quite a surprise at the end, reminiscient of Arthur C. Clarke's Hal 9000. I recommend this book to any science fiction fan.

A tremendous success! I could not put it down!.......1997-07-15

I truly enjoyed this long awaited sequel to Dreamships. I felt angered and betrayed by Manfred's actions in Dreamships. Reverdy Jian should not have been used and violated that way. I was not disappointed by Dreaming Metal. Once I began this book, I could not put it down. I was intrigued by the changing perspective, with the same event being described by different eyes. Now there are more questions about the enigmatic Red as well as new people to worry about. I am now eagerly waiting to see what becomes of Celeste. Very few authors are able to engage the reader as Melissa Scott. The genre of cyberpunk is full of writers of incoherant technobabble who violate their own universal laws and throw in jargon to cover a weak storyline. Ms Scott does none of this. This is but the latest volume in a wonderful body of work that is enjoyable and inspiring. Now, if only I could get a skinsuit..

Average customer rating:

Scott Peterman
Melissa (FWD) Kuntz
Manufacturer: Channel Photographics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Architectural | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Photo Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Richard Misrach: Chronologies
Robert Polidori: After the Flood
Sze Tsung Leong: History Images
The Photobook: A History - Volume 2
Alec Soth: Niagara

ASIN: 0976670879

Book Description

Over seven years, Scott Peterman has braved the harsh winters of the far Northeast to document the icefishing houses in the lakes region of Maine and New Hampshire. Made with lightweight, windproof materials, their architecture is simple and unrefined, yet ingenious and graceful. With his typological approach and delicate eye, Peterman translates the shacks into art objects. Photographed in the rain, fog, and snow, the houses become mysterious and transcendent. PHOTOGRAPHER: Peterman, Scott

Oonawassee Summer: Something Is Lurking Beneath the Surface

Average customer rating:

An educators view
Oonawassee Summer captured the REAL Florida and my heart!
Oonawassee Summer captured the REAL Florida and my heart!
Enhanced with fascinating details of life in south Florida

Oonawassee Summer: Something Is Lurking Beneath the Surface
Melissa Forney
Manufacturer: Barker Creek Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1928961045

Product Description

Find adventure along the beautiful, yet mysterious waters of the Oonawassee River! There's excitement around every bend when 12-year-old cousins Addie and Tanner visit their Uncle Henry's riverside bait shop. Follow the duo as they delve into the heart of Florida and its culture, learn to crab and pole-fish, encounter alligators, and discover the courage they never knew they had. Full of treasured family values and the special bonds of friendship, this winner of the Ben Franklin and Teacher's Choice awards is a must-have for all young readers.

Customer Reviews:

An educators view.......2001-07-17

Oonawassee Summer is a fabulous book! My fourth grade students simply loved it! It is chalked full of knowledge about Florida and life on the river. My students' related with the book's two young characters,Addie and Tanner. They loved the sense of adventure and all the mystery and suspense. A definite must read for children ages 8-12. You will never feel the same about dangling your feet off a pier into murky river water again.

Oonawassee Summer captured the REAL Florida and my heart!.......2001-06-09

As a Florida native having spent some time on the rivers in the backwoods, I relived the sights, sounds, smells and excitment of discovering Florida's natural treasures with Addie and Tanner at Uncle Henry's bait shop on the Oonawasee! Melissa Forney captures with lucious details the same kinds of people and places I remember from my childhood visits to the river. Her story gives life to the REAL Florida which is rapidly disappearing. Teachers will love the story's vivid descriptions for classroom reading, along with the wonderful illustrated glossary of fabulous Florida facts!

Oonawassee Summer captured the REAL Florida and my heart!.......2001-06-09

As a Florida native having spent some time on the rivers in the backwoods, I re-lived the sights, sounds, smells and excitment of discovering Florida's natural treasures with Addie and Tanner at Uncle Henry's bait shop on the Oonawasee! Melissa Fourney captures with lucious details the same kinds of people and places I remember from my childhood visits to the river. Her story gives life to the REAL Florida which is rapidly disappearing. Teachers will love the story's vivid descriptions for classroom reading, along with the wonderful illustrated glossary of fabulous Florida facts!

Enhanced with fascinating details of life in south Florida.......2001-05-30

In Oonawassee Summer, Addie and Tanner (two twelve-year-old cousins) are spending the summer with their grandma and great-uncle on the backs of the Oonawassee River in Southern Florida. That is where they engage in exploration, discovery, and find intrigue and adventure. Although the river is fictional, Melissa Forney's fun and engaging novel is enhanced with a wealth of factual information about jon boats, river otters, cypress trees, herons, alligators, cast nets, and other fascinating details of life in southern Florida. Highly recommended reading for boys and girls ages 8 to 12.

Authors:

Authors

Authors