Product Description
A wonderful comic / graphic novel ... Read more

Product Description
The 2004 reelection of President George W. Bush came as a shock to many politically liberal American citizens and intellectuals who opposed his first administration and its controversial policies and politics. Aimed at this “amBushed” political constituency, AmBushed, a special issue of SAQ, dares to ask how Bush’s reelection took so many by surprise and—through an analysis of the Bush administration and how it garners political strength and executes its policies—examines the way in which the political Left may regain its footing. The diverse perspectives—from respected intellectuals and scholars from the United States and abroad—reflect a range of opinions within democracy and intend to stimulate a constructive debate, fostering the development of new strategies to strengthen and improve the political agenda and efficacy of the Left.

One essay argues that the Left has ceded its political vision—forgoing active political organization in favor of simply voicing political criticism of the president—allowing its activist sensibilities and abilities to atrophy. Others explore the Bush administration, its masterful machtpolitik (power politics), its strategic feminization of its opposition, its aggressive expansion of executive-branch powers, and its flirtation with what some have labeled American fascism or totalitarianism; still others reflect on how the Left has insulated itself from both reality and politics. A contributor from South Africa draws parallels between apartheid proponents and their tactics and President Bush. Others analyze “Bush II” as the leader of the Christian Right, as a skillful exploiter and manipulator of the mainstream media, as the chief spokesman for “evangelical capitalism,” and as the world’s most powerful lobbyist for corporate interests.

Contributors. Wendell Berry, Michael Bérubé, Timothy Brennan, Sharad Chari, Matthew A. Crenson, Ariel Dorfman, Thomas L. Dumm, Keya Ganguly, Benjamin Ginsberg, Pierre Guerlain, Stephen Hartnett, Dana D. Nelson, Chris Newfield, Melissa A. Orlie, Stanley G. M. Ridge, Larry Schehr, Nikhil Singh, Neil Smith, Laura Ann Stengrim
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Customer Reviews (1)

Worthy
L. Neil Smith is most noted for his libertarian works. This novel is a bit different. It may be a study or lesson in libertarianism but if so I missed the lesson. That is not to say the novel is boring or not worth the read. Far from it. This is an alternate history novel and one done very well.

In L. Neil Smiths future the Europeans and Christians or gone due to a plague which was far more demonstrous then the one encountered in our time line. This is a very similar premise to what Kim Stanley Robinson used 15 years later in his "Years of Rice and Salt". Smith does it better. In this novel the event change had a clear plot purpose where as in Robinson's novel I never quite got the point.

A densely written novel which requires careful reading and can not be skimmed through. If you give the novel the effort is deserving of you will enjoy the encounter. A worthy novel which should come back into print. ... Read more

Product Description
Includes an interview with Smith.6 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Twist On History
This is the book to read for fans of The Bill of Rights.

It examines a society that's built on personal responsibility, and accountability.

Warning:It'll make you think!It'll make authoritatians/politicians/tax collectors angry.Which should be enough to make any rational being want to read it.

I read it in the early eighties.I still recommend it today! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A nice collection of short stories
This is a nice little collection of short stories dealing with alternate history by several different writers including Harry
Turtledove and L. Neil Smith. Some are quite good, others just so-so, none are bad. The best thing about the book is the variety
of different stories, view points, and different writing styles. There is something here for everyone.

a collection of short stories, arthurian-style
This is a collection of short stories, arthurian-style etc..by other authors:
eg: "The Count of the Saxon Shore," , Kalvan Kingmaker," ... Read more

Product Description
A Star Wars novel featuring Lando Calrissian - gambler, rogue and con artiste. Lando travels to the land of plenty, the Oseon solar system, only to find that he has broken the gambler's golden rule: never beat a cop at high-stakes games of chance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

This is an exceptional Star Wars side book
Mr.Smith has a way with the Star Wars theme. The imagery in this is so vivid. Beings, droids, ships and places are discribed with just enough detail so as to keep the reader informed, but not bored with too many details.
Read it for yourself to see what I am writing about. ... Read more

Product Description
Deadly pursuit! A solar system with little more than luxury hotels catering to the underemployed filthy-rich, the Oseon was every gambler's dream come true. And so it was for Lando Calrissian, gambler, rogue, & con-artiste. Until he broke the gambler's cardinal rule: never beat a cop at high-stakes games of chance. Soon Lando & his feckless five-armed robot companion were being stalked by two enemies -- one they knew but could not see, & one they saw but did not recognize . . . until it was too late. ... Read more

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For those who love freedom -- and for those who should. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

To be a jew and a believer in truth and justice
I just received this book this morning, and have finished reading it at 1:46am.

I like so many other jew's have lost our faith, and become weak victim-minded folks..

I hate it, this book I hope to awaken my strength and faith...

I love this book, and it is kind of haunting...

I am not a gun owner, but I wish I was. Because I do believe in the rights of the individual to control and protect their own lives...

Thank you both very much for a very inspiring and powerful book...

Good book & message with a few literary flaws. I recommend it.
Overall, I recommend this book. I liked the story line and, as a libertarian and strong Second Amendment proponent I liked the message. However, there are points in the story line that are simply implausible (such as when virtually everybody the Priest knows, including his adopted mother as well as his secretary, suddenly pull out their firearms to compare notes and discuss their pro-defense philosophies. I would think a man raised by two pro-gun parents would have at least heard about their points of view growing up. If not, they did a lousy job raising and educating their son). But apart from that, I still enjoyed the book and its many references, historical and literary.

While the book is not on par with Unintended Consequences, it is a book I'll pass on and recommend to my liberal Jewish and non-Jewish friends.
I strongly urge all of you to go to Zelman's site jpfo.org and browse around. While you're there, check out L. Neil Smith's collection of essays on the Second Amendment, especially his response to an LEO.

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Entertaining, light read with interesting message
The book is a light easy read. A Catholic priest learns he is an adopted Jewish war orphan. He undertakes to learn about his ancestral heritage, reavaluate his own identity, and reanalyze his views on life and society.

The book is not destined to be a classic of literature, but it does provide an entertaining story with an interesting message in a quick and easy read.

Worthwhile reading in spite of flaws
I enjoyed reading The Mitzvah and found the perspectives offered to be very refreshing and interesting.Sometimes the authors do more "editorializing" through their characters than warranted and don't allow them to act like real people.Nevertheless, there is much food for thought here and, while the plot is fictional, there is a significant historical basis for much of it.My major beef with this book is that while it gives liberals much-deserved criticism for their gun control stance, it leaves the impression that the modern conservative or Republican is a much better guarantor of gun rights in particular or individual rights in general.Anyone paying close attention to the reality of how the U.S. major political parties operate nowadays will realize that this is far from true.Statists of all stripes are the enemies of gun rights and all individual rights.I wish that this message had come across instead of the mere villification of "liberals".

Kind of Corny, but Good Message
This book is good for a guy who hunts ducks or a woman who keeps a .38 in her nightstand but who never really gave thought to practical application of the Second Amendment. It has it's corny spots, but overall a good "message" book for an America that needs to understand the Bill of Rights now more than ever. If you are Libertarian, this is the book for you. If you are Moderate get it, but you might not take it too seriously. If you're a Conservative you'll find yourself smiling alot. If you're Liberal, and anti-gun, be ready for heavy introspection, and headaches because this book questions many assumptions that anti-gun folks of all shades take for granted. ... Read more