The Bookstore

I enjoy reading and quite often recommend the books I read to to folks.  so after awhile I figured what the heck... and I finally decided to set up a bookstore for myself in association with Amazon.com.  I shop with them frequently  and have never been dissatisfied by their products or delivery methods.  Because of that I chose them as my online bookstore.  I hope you enjoy their products as much as I do. Books

A science fiction book that's actually about people.  Sure, I could say that the cast of characters includes an alien designed to destroy the earth, a talking dog, a vampire, and Adolph Hitler... but that's not what Callahan's is about.  It's about people who care for each other and love one another.  The people are folks you feel you could easily be  friends with yourself, and their stories actually move you.  I am deeply grateful I found this book. Most "How To" books give you a dull lecture about the technicalities and 'proper' method of doing something.  This book tells you something much more valuable.  Instead of teaching you how to write, it teaches you how to get IDEAS.  From how a broken boat on the beach can be transformed into a dinosaur to Bradbury's childhood experiences that shaped what he is today, this book is great for teaching you how to look inside yourself and find your muse. This book was my first taste of Bradbury's work.  Sure, we know that martians don't live in Mars, but what if they did?  In a time when most writers have to borrow from other cultures or sci-fi genres to create civilizations, Bradbury created one out of the substance of his mind, and melded them with our own people.  These stories immerse you completely, through sensations and emotions. Most of the Discworld books are hard to find, but this one is still available for sale.  Pratchett's stories always make me laugh.  Discworld is a place that doesn't take itself too seriously and quite often adopts aspects of our own world to twist and adapt to its own.  This particular book is about a druid named Imp who swears to be the greatest musician alive.  It's about sex, drugs, and music with rocks in!  Well, one out of three isn't bad. A really neat collection of short stories focusing on alien contact by Alan Dean Foster.  I originally bought this to read on a long plane flight to California and have read it several  times since then.  This is a great travel book as each of the stories can be read moderately quickly. Although this and the other books in its series are for 'young adults' I still highly recommend these for adult readers as well.  These books chronicle the adventures of a dragon princess named Shimmer and her companion Thorn as Shimmer tries to restore her clan and her homeland. Did you know that the movie 'Willow' by George Lucas was supposed to be a trilogy?  Yes indeedy!  This book continues the adventures of Elora Dannon, Willow, and a cast of brand new  characters.  I really loved how they described casting magic in this book and the nice details and believability of the characters.  A must-read, for sure! I don't like Kevin J. Anderson.  That said, this is still a good book because most of the text in it was not written by Mr. Anderson.  I had originally purchased this book as a reference for my SWRPG game but rather liked some of the stories in it.  Boba Fett's in particular.  This is worth it just for the Boba Fett story.  Anyhow, if you're into Star Wars (like I am!) you'll dig this book. This was loaned to me by a friend and I let it sit on my coffee table for weeks before finally reading it.  When finally I did I couldn't put it down!  This is the first book in a trilogy about the adventures and origins of a very young Han Solo and how he goes from being a slave on a pirate ship to a smuggler for the Hutts.  Most Star Wars books annoy me by being badly written or untrue to the characters.  This is neither.  I hope A. C. Crispin writes more for the SW universe!

	Music

I like soundtrack music better than any other kind.  This one has music that really pounds into my head... which is just the way I like it.  It has instrumentals that make you feel like you're running around in the movie itself as well as techno versions of several metal songs.  This link takes you to the explicit lyrics version of the soundtrack, but  there's an 'edited' version as well. And of course if you like the soundtrack for the Matrix, you'll probably like the score as well.  This CD has all the orchestrations from the movie without the metal music. Yes, I like the Beatles.  Nyeh.  This  is probably one of the coolest albums the Beatles ever came out with.  They did a bunch of highly experimental stuff here and got some very interesting results.  Just buy the durn CD and stop looking at me like I'm some kind of codger... I couldn't find a picture of the CD so you'll have to make due with the video cover that this music is from.  Actually, ignore the video cover -- it doesn't do the music justice.  This is music from a series about a giant flying spaceship bug named the LEXX and its misfit crew which includes a wimpy 4th class security guard, a sex slave that's part brain eating lizard, and a dead assassin who can still move and talk.  The music is as weird and entertaining as the series, I assure you.  Formerly the director of PeeWee's Playhouse, I think it scarred him somewhat.  Either way, sometimes you just need to listen to music that makes you want to run headfirst into walls and cackle maniacally.  This music is perfect.  Isn't Mr. Zombie the happiest looking little guy? Good driving music, good drawing music, good mood music.  Part blues, part folk, part rock.  I love DMB.  The more I listen to them the more I love them. Yes, I bought this.  I'm not ashamed to admit it.  I saw the movie too and I'm not ashamed to admit that either.  If you don't mind lots and lots of foul language you'll probably dig this CD. My latest acquisition.  Danny Elfman has music everywhere, and instead of buying a million different soundtracks to try and get all of it he was nice enough to come out with some compilation CDs.  If you like dramatic soundtrack music you'll love this.

	Graphic Novels

Not since Pogo has there been such a wonderful and whimsical story like Bone.  Drama, adventure, romance, and comedy all rolled up into one.  Bone has a sprinkle of everything without pandering to the lowest common denominator.  Its fun to read without getting bored by a lame story.  A must have for any comic lover. From the creator of Zot! comes this great book that breaks down the psychology and history of comics.  It explains where they came from and what makes for an  entertaining comic.  It's not so much as an instructional book as much as one that explains the mechanics of comics and why people like them so durned much. (I tried to pick a book that was still in stock)  Usagi Yojimbo is a story about a samurai rabbit who roams the countryside.  It's creator tries very hard to stick to honest Japanese history and traditions including clothing and the lifestyles people led back then.  Even the artwork is somewhat reminiscent of Japanese art.  I've always enjoyed Usagi's adventures. From the two people who made Batman: The animated Series what it is today comes 'Mad Love'.  this book gives a history behind Harley Quinn and how she ended up as the Joker's right hand... er... woman.   On a deeper level it's a story about how a person, however strong willed, can allow themselves to be completely taken under by someone's manipulations with just a little bit of pity and affection.  Downright scary in some places.

	Christian Entertainment

I'd read the chronicles of Narnia as a child, and the religious parallels completely went over my head... then I read the Silver chair and it all came to me.  Narnia  is a mystical land inhabited by talking beasts and giants and other mythical beings.  The stories are honest and touching, the characters easy to love, and the messages powerful.  A very good series of books for any household. From the creator of Narnia comes a less whimsical book, but it's no less interesting to read.  It's comprised of letters from a demon named Screwtape to his nephew who is charged with tempting a human on Earth.  It describes (from the demon's perspective) the methods in which a person can be tempted to fall from faith and the dangers to faith that the world  presents to people. This is probably one of the most powerful books I've ever read.  If you buy anything from this page then I ask you to get this book.  It deals with 'vacationing' people from Hell paying a visit to Heaven.  Some of those visitors include a mother who lost her son, a naggy wife that's wanting to get her claws into her husband again, an apostate bishop, an artist who lost sight of why she painted, and quite a few others.  Many of the characters are so familiar that it's chilling. This is a BIG book.  It's very Roman Catholic but if you can deal with that you'll find a very moving book with deep loving characters and heart wrenching moments that will bring you to tears.  Father Elijah, a priest from a small  mission has been charged with meeting a man known only as 'The president' who some think is the antichrist.  As Father Elijah seeks to find the truth and stop him he's hit with tragedies and temptations every step of the way -- yet he also has his triumphs in the most unexpected of places. Who says Christian music has to be lame?!?  The Newsboys disprove that by cranking out some of the best tunes around.  This album is their latest and has a beat you can really dance to.  I like to draw to these guys' music because it just makes me feel happy listening to it. A softer sound with mandolins and gentle harmonies, this album makes you want to close your eyes and fall into the music.  I listen to Jars to relax or to meditate.  The messages in their songs are rather powerful if you just sit and listen, and they speak to you on many different levels.  I highly  recommend this CD to anyone wanting to get into the Christian music scene a bit better as it's not overly preachy or patronizing, but still very strong in God's glory.

BACK