Product Description
Brandon nyr-Arkad, the Emperor's scapegrace youngest son, defies protocol and evades a ceremonial duty, a defiance punishable by death. Original. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Amazing Series
I couldnt put this book down.Space Opera is by far my favorite flavor of Sci Fi.This is everything a space opera novel should be.The descriptions of space battles from the point of view of the bridge crews is sharp and detailed.Read it!

I just couldn't get into it --
I read 200 pages and then quit - I kept waiting for it to pull me in, but no go. There are just WAY too many characters (99.5% male - the few females tend to die in fewer than 10 pages, so don't get too attached to them).I got the feeling that machines and words were created just to create them, with no real purpose served.
I know others loved this book, but I am glad I only spent $3 on it (and will donate it to the local library).
I usually only give books 100 pages to pull me in, but since it got such good reviews, I read to page 200 (but still not worth reading to me).

3 books stretched out to 5
Let me say right off that my 2-star review is for the series, not for this book alone.This book, and the second book in the series, are both 5-star books.They're tightly plotted, intricate, fast-moving, and impossible to put down.

Books 3 to 5, however, are one good book stretched out to fill three covers.In each, I read on while wondering when something relevant was going to happen.Meaningless subplots and irrelevant characters take over, and we are given hints of excitement to come before being bogged down in more subplots.I must admit that I skimmed 300 pages of the fifth book, finding nothing relevant in them.

But the worst was yet to come.Having built expectation for five books toward the ultimate confrontation between the main protagonist and the main antagonist, the authors betray their readers by denying them that confrontation in order to provide a reason for writing future books.We are expected to be satisfied with the pair trading a few weak phrases before the series ends with a whimper.

I've rarely seen a series start with such promise, only to end in such disappointment.

Best Space Opera EVER
If anyone thinks this series is not well written or thought out, they apparently did not read the books but only skimmed them. I have read all 5 books 4 or 5 times already, and will again I am sure. This is a must have series for any serious science fiction reader. I think most hard core sci fi devotees would love the writing. Some neo-sci fi readers may not enjoy it as much because it is very technical in places, very detailed in others.
I will not delve into the storyline except to say there is intrigue, betrayal and surprise around every corner and with each turn of the page. Yes characters get killed. This is not a happy "up" series. It is very real and hits you hard with the emotions it evokes. I found myself caring greatly for all of the characters in the book, except for Eusabian of course. He is one evil person.
I do agree it is very difficult to find all of the books in one place. I even wrote to Sherwood Smith at one point to find out if the final book was written a number of years back. (He answered my e-mail within a day or two by the way). A re-issue would be great. If more people could find it, more people would fall in love with the series.

Dunnett-style space opera
.... Well this is not young adult fiction but it's the best space opera Ihave ever read : funny, exciting, intelligent.The characterization is very good, and if characters are not exactly what they appear at first sight, there are quite enough clues for the carefull reader, and it's part of what makes the books so vivid and intelligent.

The only problem with this series is how ridiculously difficult it is to get all 5 of these books. A reissue would be nice, a book 6 even nicer - book 5 wrapps up almost everything, but there is definite room for another sequel. ... Read more

Product Description

Nowadays the Internet and the World Wide Web are front-page newsalmost every day, so you know they're important. But if you don'tknow why they're important or what they are -- let alone how touse them -- Internet and World Wide Web Simplified is foryou. This accessible, full-color guide features illustrationsby the renowned maranGraphics team of artists. You see step-by-stepexactly what your computer screen will look like as you followplain-English instructions for what to enter and what to click.With Internet and World Wide Web Simplified, abstractionslike protocols, HTML, e-mail and IP address, and the like arerendered in fun, informative illustrations that anyone can understand(and even gurus can use to understand concepts better).Amazon.com Review
Learning about the Net doesn't get any easier than in thisaddition to the 3-D Visual Series from IDG. With its full-colorillustrations and extremely brief text, Internet and World Wide WebSimplified is perfect for beginners. It starts with anintroduction to the Internet, which explains what the Net has tooffer, who pays for it, how it got started, and how you can getconnected. The book then moves on to discuss the World Wide Web,browsers, plug-ins, security issues, Java, ActiveX, and VRML in simpleterms. Other topics include e-mail, mailing lists, newsgroups,Internet Relay Chat (IRC), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), andmultiplayer games.

Internet and World Wide Web Simplifiedincludes a good beginner's directory to Web sites covering suchsubjects as where to find shareware programs, where to shop online,where to get information on a variety of topics, and more. Thegraphics are cute but never cross over the line to silly. If you knowsomeone who has tried unsuccessfully to learn about the Net from otherbooks, hand them this. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Never will put it down
Super easy format to read. Has many pictures and diagrams that are easier to understand than reading a whole page. Explains everything in plain english. Easy to follow along with. Each page is in full color, and the pictures are whimsical and fun ( unlike the internet for dummies which is in black and white which is so boring). The pictures are funny. Explains everything including:

A brief description on how to set up a website

The History of the internet

how to do research on the internet

how to set up an e-mail address

how to shop online, and why prices are usually lower ( like Amazon!!!)

how the internet works

how to join chatrooms

and how to connect to the internet if you haven't already ( although I guess I shouldn't have mentioned that because if you haven't why would you be on amazon)

Explains so much more!!! Leave right next to your computer because you will always be looking at it!!!

For moms and dads and anyone else new to the Web
Without a doubt, one of the best ways for non-technical folks to learn about the web and the internet. I'm personally opposed to labeling anyone unfamiliar with computers, a dummy. This book teaches by using mostly graphic imagery which clearly illustrates the concepts being discussed. A definate add-on for anyone getting, or giving a new computer, Mac or PC. ... Read more

Product Description
Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Nellie Tayloe Ross, Gale W. Mcgee, Bryan Sharratt, Thomas E. Trowbridge, Gary Trauner, Dave Freudenthal, Nicholas H. Carter, Elton Trowbridge, Teno Roncalio, Mike Sullivan, Guy Padgett, John J. Mcintyre, E. Jayne Mockler, Floyd Esquibel, Kathryn Sessions, Ross Diercks, Rae Lynn Job, Mike Massie, Bill Thompson, Saundra Meyer, Ken Decaria, Bill Vasey, Pete Jorgensen, Mary Meyer Gilmore, John Hastert, Jane Warren, James W. Byrd, Marty Martin, Mary Throne, George Bagby, Debbie Hammons, Ken Esquibel, Lori Millin, Patrick Goggles, Bernadine Craft, Stan Blake, Mary Hales. Excerpt:Bernadine Craft Bernadine L. Craft is a Democratic member of the Wyoming House of Representatives , representing the 17th district since 2007. Websites (URLs online) A hyperlinked version of this chapter is at Bill Thompson Bill Thompson is a Democratic member of the Wyoming House of Representatives , representing the 60th district since 2001. Websites (URLs online) A hyperlinked version of this chapter is at Bill Vasey Bill Vasey is a Democratic member of the Wyoming Senate , representing the 11th district since 1999. Websites (URLs online) A hyperlinked version of this chapter is at Bryan Edwards Sharratt item October 13, 1947(1947-10-13) August 16, 2007 (aged 59) item Place of birth: Bethesda , Maryland , USA item Place of death: Arlington , Virginia item Place of burial: Arlington National Cemetery item Allegiance: United States of America item Service/branch: United States Nav... ... Read more