# Download PDF Alone (Valentino Mysteries), by Loren D. Estleman

Download PDF Alone (Valentino Mysteries), by Loren D. Estleman

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Alone (Valentino Mysteries), by Loren D. Estleman

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The second wacky comedic murder romp for Hollywood film detective Valentino

Valentino wants to keep The Oracle, his beloved run-down movie palace, from being condemned before it even reopens, but murder keeps intruding into his otherwise quiet life. At a gala party held in memory of screen legend Greta Garbo, he’s having fun until the host, a hotshot developer named Matthew Rankin, tells Valentino about a certain letter from Garbo to his late wife. She and Garbo had been…close.

Such a letter is of great interest to a film archivist like Valentino, but the the plot thickens when Rankin tells Val that his assistant, Akers, is using this letter to blackmail him. Val is appalled by the thought of blackmail…but that letter sounds juicier all the time. Returning to Rankin’s mansion after the party, Val finds Rankin sitting at his desk with a pistol in his hand, looking at Akers’s dead body on the floor.

Valentino’s in a quandary. He’d love to see that letter, but he can’t. He’s gotten his girlfriend—who works for the police—in trouble, so his love life is, pardon the expression, shot to hell. Worse yet, the building inspector has kicked him out of his unfinished living space in the Oracle, so he takes his life in his hands and moves in with his eccentric mentor, the elderly, insomniac Professor Broadhead. No love, no sleep, no letter—life isn’t fair!

• Sales Rank: #2352009 in Books
• Brand: Brand: Forge Books
• Published on: 2009-12-08
• Released on: 2009-12-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 8.11" h x 1.03" w x 6.00" l, .78 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 272 pages

Features

• Used Book in Good Condition

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Shamus-winner Estleman's captivating second mystery to feature L.A. film detective Valentino (after 2008's Frames) focuses on legendary screen actress Greta Garbo. In 2005, Matthew Rankin, an elderly department store mogul whose late wife was a close friend of Garbo's, hosts a party honoring the 100th anniversary of Garbo's birth at his Beverly Hills mansion. During the party, Rankin offers to donate a copy of a rare promotional film that Garbo made when she was a salesgirl in Sweden, How Not to Dress, to the UCLA Film Preservation Department if Valentino will dig up dirt on Roger Akers, the tycoon's assistant, who's been blackmailing him. A few days later, Valentino walks into Rankin's study to find the mogul holding a smoking gun and Akers lying dead in front of his desk. Rankin claims he shot Akers in self-defense. Is Rankin telling the truth? Readers will eagerly turn the pages to learn the answer. (Dec.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
The second in the prolific Estleman’s newest series starring UCLA film archivist and sometime sleuth Valentino lives up to the promise of the debut (Frames, 2008). This time out Valentino is trying to save his pet project, remodeling and reopening a run-down movie palace, from being stalled indefinitely, thanks to a corrupt building inspector. Meanwhile, he becomes involved in yet another film-history-inspired murder. An aging business tycoon has shot his assistant, whom the tycoon claims was blackmailing him over what seems to be a love letter from Greta Garbo to his ex-wife. Valentino’s archivist nose is twitching madly at the thought of getting possession of that letter, but to do so means compromising all sorts of things, not the least of which is his relationship with his girlfriend, Harriet, an LAPD forensic analyst. Estleman again ladles on the film history but nicely blends it into the plot. And his supporting cast, including the eccentric Professor Broadbent, supplies delicious comic relief. For anyone with an interest in Hollywood’s golden age, this series is a delight. --Bill Ott

Review
"Shamus-winner Estleman's captivating second mystery to feature L.A. film detective Valentino...Readers will eargly turn the pages."—Publishers Weekly, starred review Praise for the first Valentino mystery, Frames:

“Estleman has laid claim to a fresh new franchise and the turf is all his. My hat’s off to him.” —Sue Grafton, New York Times bestselling author

“Estleman marvelously mixes movies and mayhem in a way sure to please film buffs and mystery fans alike. Frames is another winner from a master.” —John Jakes, New York Times bestselling author

“Frames is gripping entertainment. If you were watching it in a movie theater—a place for which Estleman has a palpable affection —you’d look down in shock to find you’d unconsciously consumed your entire (large-size) popcorn. If you love movies, you’ll love this mystery.” —Lawrence Kasdan, Academy Award–nominated Director and Screenwriter of The Big Chill

Most helpful customer reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
Hollywood Goofiness, Odeon Restoration, Movie History, Film Preservation, Garbo, Murder, Detection, Romance, and Humor
By Donald Mitchell
"Now when evening came, He was alone there." -- Matthew 14:23

Don't start this series with Alone: Go back and read Frames first, the initial book in the Valentino series.

I'm a big fan of Loren D. Estleman and picked up a copy of Alone on the strength of that liking. Utterly charmed by the story, I pulled my reading temporarily to a halt mid-way through and headed out to find Frames. The back story for Alone seemed just too good to be true. I had to find out more. I'm sure glad that I did.

I won't share any details. That will rob the story of its charm. Mr. Estleman can tell Valentino's story much better than I can hope to do.

If you are looking for an action thriller with a hard-boiled detective in a noir style, Alone won't appeal to you. But if you have a fondness for Hollywood, the history of the movies, the silent movie era, and a romantic mystery filled with outrageously good humor, Alone will charm you for sure.

On the surface, Alone can feel like fluff . . . but beneath the almost self-satirical humor lies a delightful plot, a gag environment, and a Keystone Kops-like approach to detection that fits closer to Stephanie Plum than to Sherlock Holmes.

Be warned that the murder mystery is simply there to move the plot along. If you like difficult whodunits, this book also isn't for you.

To me, the humorous mystery is the most difficult kind of book to write. Mr. Estleman carries it off like the pro that he is. He's having so much fun with this story that you cannot help but smile at the plot and in his obvious pleasure in writing the book.

If you have ever been hassled by a building inspector, you'll especially like this book.

Bravo!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
An entertaining mystery for film buffs.
By Rob Mattheu
Valentino is a film detective, a man that tracks down rare and historic films to be preserved and restored. Matthew Rankin is a developer who has a complete copy of a Greta Garbo's rare first film, a commercial entitled "How Not To Dress". When Rankin shoots his assistant dead, he brings Valentino in to explain why he did it. It seems the assistant has blackmailed him with a letter claiming that Garbo and his late wife had a lesbian affair and then became violent, so Rankin shot him. In exchange for Valentino being a witness who can clear his clearing his name, Rankin offers Valentino Garbo's first film.

Like all good mysteries, all is not how it seems, however, and the rest of the book has Valentino fighting with his best friend, his girlfriend, a corrupt building inspector that is keeping him from completing work on his lifelong dream of owning a theater, and a dogged detective who hates people of privilege and believes Rankin actually committed a murder in cold blood, not self defense.

Loren Estleman has crafted an entertaining book that is a must for lovers of film history. The book is not a suspenseful page turner, but the light and breezy tone, well crafted characters, and Estleman's obvious love of the subject matter will keep readers turning pages.

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
One for vintage movie mavens .
By F. J. Harvey
Loren D. Estleman is a noted movie buff and has used his love of vintage movies to good effect in the series about "Valentino" an archivist at UCLA whose job is to track down old movie footage and oversee its restoration..In addition to this he is also the owner of a rundown cinema and is intent on bringing it back to life despite burgeoning expense and an obstructive building inspector whose insistence on precise observation of building regulations is a cover for his venal and grasping nature.

A former associate ,the millionaire "Rankin",is being blackmailed by his secretary "Akers"who claims he has unearthed correspondence proving that "Rankin"'s ;late wife had been involved in a lesbian affair with the legendary Swedish movie star Greta Garbo.."Rankin" proposes a deal-in return for "Valentino"unearthing incriminating information about his secretary he will hand over footage of Garbo's first screen appearance -a promo film for a Swedish department store.Thinks get decidedly murky when "Rankin" shoots "Akers" claiming self-defence and is officially cleared by the police apart from the movie hating and bullish cop "Padilla" who continues to delve into the case aided by the reluctant "Valentino"
The mystery element runs alongside the tale of "Valentino" battling the bureaucratic nightmare that is LA planning regulations and of his ongoing relationship with LAPD employee "Harriet" not to mention the personal and professional life of his mentor ,the respected movie historian "Broadhead" and his romantic entanglement with a younger woman .
The strands are woven together with great dexterity and an enviable lightness of touch which compensates for the actual mystery not being especially hard to solve.As ever with this series there is a useful bibliography and filmography to do with its subject matter at the end of the novel for those wanting to explore the subject further .Like others in the series the book will mostly appeal to those who appreciate lighter mysteries and who like vintage movies .

It is not the best starting point for the series,and readers are advised to begin with the book "Frames" which got the series underway.

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^^ Ebook Download Critical Mass, by Whitley Strieber

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Critical Mass, by Whitley Strieber

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What would we do if a nuclear weapon was detonated in Washington, and the US government suddenly disappeared? What would we do if a terrorist organization announced that it had concealed nuclear weapons in ever major western city and then demanded that the entire planet embrace its twisted brand of Muslin fundamentalism?  In Critcal Mass, nuclear interdiction expert James Deutsh and his tormented Muslim wife, Nabila, struggle to stop an impending nuclear attack on an American city. Along the way, they delve deep into the hidden world of nuclear terrorism and the experts who strive to contain it, and get a compelling look at the titanic battle within Islam over its own future--fundamentalist and rejecting, or compassionate and life-embracing?  Like Whitley Strieber's classics Warday and The Coming Global Superstorm, Critical Mass is torn straight from the dark pages of a very dangerous and very possible future.

• Sales Rank: #2125574 in Books
• Published on: 2009-02-17
• Released on: 2009-02-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 9.55" h x 1.19" w x 6.41" l, 1.15 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 304 pages

From Publishers Weekly
In this overheated thriller about nuclear terrorism from bestseller Strieber (2012: The War for Souls), Jim Deutsch, a CIA contract employee whose expertise is counterproliferation, has the world's fate in his hands as he races to foil the Islamic master-terrorist known as the Madhi. When Deutsch learns that some plutonium has been smuggled over the U.S. border from Mexico, he begins to suspect that America's elaborate homeland security apparatus has been compromised. His valiant efforts, alas, aren't enough to prevent the destruction of Las Vegas. As U.S. president William Fitzgerald ponders whether to launch devastating counterattacks aimed at much of the Muslim world, the tension rises, but the impact is undercut by some uneven prose (She looked back at him as if from another dimension, her gaze resplendent with the unquenchable hope of youth, her mother's proud lips, determined, supremely confident that her dad was the great man she believed him to be). (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Strieber, known for his science fiction and nonfiction speculation about extraterrestrials, tackles the war on terror in a page-turning thriller. James Deutsch, a government agent and expert on nuclear weapons, fears that a terrorist organization has brought a bomb across the Mexican border. While investigating, he finds himself facing roadblocks at every turn, forcing him not to trust anyone. Does someone in the government have inside knowledge? Then the unthinkable happens, and it appears to be only a matter of time before the U.S. collapses. Strieber knows how to create suspense, and he provides a too-realistic-for-comfort scenario that should land him on the talk-show circuit declaiming on terrorism. For thriller readers, though, the important thing to remember is that this novel is less a Vince Flynn–type action romp than it is a rant about the bureaucratic bunglings of government agencies amid the chaos of a terrorist threat, so steer readers accordingly. --Jeff Ayers

Review
"Whitley Strieber's Critical Mass is one hell of a book--a frighteningly plausible conspiracy-thriller that is so real it sometimes feels like an expose. Nuclear killers, lovers on the run, all-knowing, omnipresent listening and seeing devices - Critical Mass conjures up a world that is terrifying in its technological plausibility - if not probability."--Douglas Preston, New York Times bestselling author of Blasphemy  "Nothing less than a certifiable page-turner. As I was reading it, I kept seeing the story unfolding on the big screen, just like The Day After Tomorrow. The threat of a nuclear strike against the U.S. is very real and very chilling, as are the kinds of people Strieber has conjured up in this really exciting yarn."--David Hagberg, USA Today bestselling author of Dance with the Dragon  "Engrossing . . . A first rate exercise in literary paranoia."--Publisher's Weekly on The Grays  "[A] truly spooky sci-fi tale."--People on The Grays

Most helpful customer reviews

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful.
Apocalyptic Terror
By Free2Read
Whitley Streiber's new novel, "Critical Mass," is more than a thriller, more than a spy story, more than science fiction.

It takes on the premise: what if terrorists DID nuke an American city and had devices in place to terminate Western civilization? What if America could counter extremists with an equally devastating weapon of reprisal?

The hero, Jim Deutsch, is equal parts McGyver, Jack Ryan, Indiana Jones, and Bourne. Add in Jim's love, a Moslem woman, Nabila, who works for American security. A cast of characters from the Pope to the American president to a host of foreign extremists completes the page-turning tension.

Streiber is at his best with the small details of horrifying death [the people] "tumbling toward the flame, in the dust, in the chaos," and "The wall exploded inward. . .burying the smoking chucks of . . .bodies in the fiery debris. So each soul started with a question, entered a moment of horror, then knew death."

Moreover, he uses the clarity of the theme of people in power, those who could prevent catastrophe, those who do not act. And he warns that this time is coming, that nuclear proliferation is a threat to life as we know it. As he did in "Nature's End," Streiber presents the facts of environmental and human disaster, using the evidence that is already in front of us, but personalizing it with characters we care about.

Although the narrator states, ". . .nuclear destruction remained something that was really beyond imagination, and its effects were far more terrible than its planners had anticipated," it is clear that Streiber is calling for action NOW to prevent disaster SOON.

This is a terrifying, realistic, absorbing book

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
Mediocre Thriller
By Pangloss
I am big fan of Mr. Strieber but this story just does not hit its mark. The plot is topical and could have been exciting and suspenseful but the story seemed hurried and not really developed. Nor are the characters fleshed out and seem very typical and one diminsionable. In fact, some of the dialogue is quite corny and contrived. Fleshing out the characters and making the book somewhat longer would have helped. This is more of a "book to a movie" type of story. Wait for the paperback.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
A what-if thriller ...
By W. Paul Blakey
As far as pacing goes, this is one of Strieber's better books. The plotting is sharp and filled with enough twists and turns to keep the reader turning the pages until the end.

The downside is that the main characters are so caricatured that it becomes more like a Hollywood "treatment" than a novel, with too many complex motivations left hanging in the wind by the end of the book.

The what-if part is Whitley's concept of what might happen to the US if their own military technology was turned against them.

I think a good idea for his next novel would be to have aliens swoop down, pick up all the politicians, soldiers and religious fanatics and transport them to a barren planet where they could fight each other until only one was left standing, thereby restoring the earth to a state of peace and harmony.

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> Ebook Free Old Soldiers Sometimes Lie, by Richard Hoyt

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What happened to Hirohito's gold?

More than five decades ago, MacArthur permitted General Tomayuki Yamashita, the famed Tiger of Malaya, to be executed for alleged war crimes against the Filipino people. Now, Dr. Tomiko Kobayashi, the general's intrepid granddaughter is determined to clear Yamashita's name, even if it means unraveling a web of deceit and corruption that may stretch back to the Emperor himself-and a secret pact between Hirohito and MacArthur.

Why was Yamashita executed when many other Japanese war criminals, the truly guilty, escaped scot-free? What became of the fabled "Golden Lily," a treasure trove of plundered Asian war booty, including a set of eleven solid-gold dragons weighing more than five thousand pounds? And what might still be hidden beneath a bloodstained hill on the Philippine Island of Negros?

With the help of a disillusioned ex-CIA operative, Tomi is dead-set on exposing the dirty truth behind American intelligence operations in postwar Japan. But, even fifty years later, there are still those who prefer that the past stay buried, even if it means silencing Tomi's voice forever . . . .

Old Soldiers Sometimes Lie is a work of fiction that exposes a scandal that corrupts Japanese and American politics even to today. A former counterintelligence agent, as well as an award-winning author of espionage thrillers, Richard Hoyt pulls together disparate threads of historical fact and rumor to weave a gripping tale of intrigue and conspiracy in high places.

• Sales Rank: #5378542 in Books
• Published on: 2002-10-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 10.86" h x 1.41" w x 4.58" l,
• Binding: Hardcover
• 432 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Hoyt's military/political thrillers (Vivienne; Siege) and his mysteries featuring salty Seattle private detective John Denson (Fish Story; Bigfoot) have won him a loyal readership. But even his fans may have difficulty embracing (or even finishing) this dense and convoluted tale about Gen. Douglas MacArthur's role in a corruption scandal involving Emperor Hirohito of Japan, millions of dollars of looted gold hidden in the Philippines and the controversial execution for war crimes of Gen. Tomayuki Yamashita, the Tiger of Malaya, in 1947. It's General Yamashita's American granddaughter, Tomiko Kobayashi, a historian with a Ph.D. from Yale, who jump-starts the narrative while trying to clear her grandfather's name. When her sister sensibly asks her, "Besides us, who's to care?" Tomi replies, "Defenders and detractors of Douglas MacArthur. Anybody who professes to care about truth. History buffs. Lovers of mysteries and detection. All thoughtful people should care...." Perhaps. But more than 400 pages later, despite Hoyt's obvious insider expertise (he was a counterintelligence agent and lives in the Philippines, lovingly portrayed here), the staggeringly large cast of characters and the cloud of true believer's paranoia that hangs over the entire enterprise will likely have tried the patience of most readers.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"Just when it seems that...the Vietnam war was an impossible subject...Vivienne makes us remember that, for a good writer, any subject is possible."

About the Author
Richard Hoyt, a graduate of the University of Oregon, is a former fellow of the Washington Journalism Center and holds a Ph.D. in American studies from the University of Hawaii. He served as U.S. army counterintelligence agent, wrote for daily newspapers in Honolulu, and was a stringer for Newsweek magazine. He taught journalism at the University of Maryland and at Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Or.

Hoyt is the author of the John Denson mysteries, the James Burlane thrillers and numerous other novels of adventure, espionage and suspense including two under the pseudonym of Nicholas van Pelt. In researching and writing in more than two dozen countries in Europe, Latin America, and Asia, he has ridden trains across the Soviet Union and riverboats down the Amazon. He now lives in the Philippines.

Most helpful customer reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful.
Pssst....hey you! Want to market a few gold bullion?
By Larry Williams
I noticed this book while food shopping at a local market. The cover was sufficiently intriguing that I dropped the book in my basket. Later, when I started reading the book, I found the subject utterly fascinating. Knowing relatively nothing of Hirohito's gold, the mass burying of stolen WWII gold throughout the Philippines, the M Fund, and other facets related to this subject and time period, I was confused as to where the melding of fiction and fact began and ended. But this confusion did not detract from the book-it only served to whet my curiosity and to urge me to continue onward, page after page.
To readers who need constant action in order to keep reading a book, this novel may not be for them, as there are long (but captivating) narrations on the history of Hirohito's gold. But to those who enjoy a blending of historical fact with a snappy plot line, this book will give them a good read. Much of the action, both historical and in the present, is in the Philippines. Having been to the Philippines, I have to admire Mr. Hoyt's descriptions of the country and the people...I was soon sweating from his descriptions of the high heat and thick humidity (even while it was snowing here in Alaska), enjoying again the views of the verdant mountains and turquoise blue ocean waters, and reliving my own wonderful times with the truly unique and joyful Filipino people. In fact, I am now craving a San Miguel beer, and may have to just go back to the Philippines to get one.
As an interesting aside, when I was last in the Philippines (about 4 years ago), I was approached by a supposedly religious organization with a most unusual request: could I help them market an enormous load of gold bars found on a coconut farm in Mindanao? They had pictures of countless gold bars in some sort of bunker that they gave to me. I declined the offer. After reading Mr. Hoyt's account of the lost Japanese golden loot, the difficulties (to put it mildly) encountered by anyone, even former Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, in attempting to market stolen gold, I was relieved and gratified at my decision to have nothing to do with the purported unearthing of Japanese gold.
The three principal characters in the book-a former, disillusioned CIA operative, a history professor and a Filipino farmer-are well rounded and the types of folks that I (and probably you) would like to socialize with (preferably in an open air bar in the Philippines overlooking the sea). You care about them, their quest, and you hope that they come out of this dangerous business in one piece.
This is a good book, and you learn a great deal about an alarming historical deception while you are roundly entertained.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
This Book Is Really Bad
By Michael J. McCarthy
The only reason I actually finished this boring, convoluted, uninteresting book was because I was stuck on an airplane with nothing else to read. I should have just gone to sleep. The plot (if there really is one) centers around the attempt to recover gold stolen by Japanese military leaders and buried in the Philippines during World War II. There is virtually no action or drama in the book--just long, drawn-out explanations of historical activity by the main characters. I completely lost track of why some of the characters were in the book. Most of the activity (not action) is implausible and generally disconnected with the main theme. Don't waste your time or money on this book.

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Never before published, A Partridge in a Pear Tree wasn't intended as a commercial venture. Artist Charley Harper perhaps with his wife, Edie, also an artist created the fun little book for his family. A playful riff on the traditional Yuletide carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas," Partridge is the kind of whimsy an artist dashes off while relaxing around the fireplace and that's the beauty of it. With its pastel sketches and humorous text, this sweet take on a holiday classic provides an intimate look at Harper's fun-loving personality.

• Sales Rank: #972116 in Books
• Published on: 2014-08-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 7.30" h x .40" w x 5.20" l, .0 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 28 pages

About the Author
Charley Harper was an American illustrator who worked from his studio in the woods near Cincinnati, Ohio, until his death in 2007, at the age of eighty-four. He is beloved for his delightful, graphic, and often-humorous illustrations of nature, animals, insects, and people alike. Charley liked to say that when he paints a bird, he doesn't count all the feathers in the wings he just counts the wings. Minimal realism, he called it, and his unique and precise style continue to resonate and inspire his admirers.

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful.
Five Stars
By Carolyn Beck
Clever idea with nice illustrations.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful.
Five Stars
By Pamela Harvey
A perfect Christmas present for a friend to whom I give 12 gifts! I love Charley Harper!!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful.
Five Stars
By Leah L. Sanders
What a fun, witty little book with sweet illustrations!

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* Download City of Death (City Trilogy), by Laurence Yep

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Two-time Newbery Honor Award–winning author Laurence Yep brings his epic City Trilogy to an action-packed and heart-pounding conclusion

Scirye and her loyal companions chase the villainous Mr. Roland for a final showdown at Riye Srukalleyis, the City of Death, located in the heart of the Kushan Empire, along the Silk Road. There, they reunite with old friends, meet new allies, and confront an even more dangerous foe....

This is the thrilling conclusion to the trilogy that began with City of Fire and City of Ice by esteemed storyteller Laurence Yep, who has been one of the preeminent Asian-American authors for children for the past forty years.

• Sales Rank: #379978 in Books
• Published on: 2013-02-05
• Released on: 2013-02-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 8.36" h x 1.27" w x 6.00" l, 1.00 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 384 pages

From School Library Journal
Gr 5-8-If ever a book cried out to be made into a theme-park attraction, it's this one. It moves at a lightening pace and is filled with thrills, chills, a deity or two, seemingly indestructible enemies, magic, mayhem, and surprises around every turn. The heroes have come to Asia to stop the archvillain Roland and the evil dragon Badik from collecting the last of the magical artifacts needed to destroy the world. Scirye is coming back to a home she barely remembers. The good thing is that she is reunited with her parents. The bad thing is that the entire group, including the newest members of the gang-brave but inept teenage magician Maka and her lynx, Tute-are thrust into the middle of nasty royal intrigue. The tender yet sometimes tense familial relationship between Bayang and Leech (and Lee No Cha) continues to evolve; Koko is as amusingly self-involved and smart-alecky as ever; and Scirye proves herself to be intelligent, resourceful, often foolhardy, but indeed heroic, much to her own, though no one else's, surprise. There is a fair amount of violence, but an ultimately happy ending. Fans of the first two books will not be disappointed, and newcomers will have only a little trouble catching up (and will want to read the first two books anyway).-Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Libraryα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist
Scirye and friends have one final opportunity to stop megalomaniac Roland from using magic weapons to conquer the world, but they are imprisoned by corrupt officials in Scirye’s hometown and may miss their chance. Yep deftly drops backstory nuggets throughout this concluding volume of the City Trilogy, so new readers can enjoy the nonstop action and entertaining Silk Road history along with returning fans. There are some didactic moments as Yep ties up many loose ends, but overall this is a strong close to a rousing adventure. Bonus: The whole trilogy makes for an excellent read-aloud. Grades 5-8. --Cindy Welch

Review

“A magnificent adventure, mixing both history and fantasy.... This reader is looking forward to the final book in this most enjoyable trilogy.” ―VOYA on City of Ice

“Yep's second entry in the City Trilogy sings and crackles with as much detail and action as the first.... New readers have enough clues to feel instantly at home. Makes a great read aloud too.” ―Booklist on City of Ice

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
Imaginative and completely enjoyable
By Kathy Trueman
Just for the record, I'm a retiree with a BA, not exactly the demographic for this series. But nevertheless I've enjoyed it hugely. The breadth and clarity of Mr. Yep's imagination leaves me awestruck, even while I'm enjoying the plot and the delightful characters.

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
Five Stars
By julie zirwas
daughter loved it !

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The publication of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final Harry Potter novel, is probably the most eagerly anticipated event in the history of publishing. Even the smallest hints from author J. K. Rowling about what may happen to Harry and his friends have been major news stories.

In The End of Harry Potter?, David Langford―Potter fan and award-winning writer―delves into the many mysteries which remain unsolved. Is Albus Dumbledore really dead? Whose side is Severus Snape really on? What are the remaining horcruxes, where He Who Shall Not Be Named has stashed his soul? Does Harry bear a part of the Dark Lord's soul in his scar, and is this why he understands Parseltongue?

J. K. Rowling is the only person who knows the answers to these questions. But in this highly entertaining book, Langford uses his deep knowledge of the six published Harry Potter novels to explore these and other mysteries, and to present a selection of possible outcomes.

Only the publication of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will lay these questions to rest, but in the meantime, fans of the series will find David Langford's book entertaining and thought-provoking, and a perfect way to refresh their memory of the first six books in readiness for the last.

• Sales Rank: #2136451 in Books
• Published on: 2007-03-20
• Released on: 2007-03-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 8.50" h x .48" w x 5.50" l, .61 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780765319340
• Condition: New
• Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!

About the Author

Onetime nuclear physicist David Langford has been writing about science fiction and fantasy for several decades. He has won the science fiction world's Hugo Award 27 times.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Guns on the Wall

There`s a famous saying by the Russian author and playwright Anton Chekhov, which goes: `If you hang a gun on the wall in Act I, you must use it in Act III.` Sometimes it`s differently translated as: `If you introduce a gun at the beginning of the play, you must use it by the end of the play.`

J.K. Rowling hangs plenty of gun-equivalents on the walls of Hogwarts and elsewhere, but Chekhov`s rule needs to be taken with a large pinch of salt when we`re talking about novels. What he had in mind was the script of a play, where anything that`s important enough to be mentioned in the stage directions should have its part in the action. Suppose, though, that in such-and-such a scene set in a stately home, that gun on the wall of the stage-set wasn`t in the play script but is just a touch of high-class decoration added by the set designer…?

Harry`s Uncle Vernon actually does buy a gun in Chapter Three of Philosopher`s Stone&mdashbut it`s not there to be used, only to underline how desperate he`s getting (and also, when Hagrid so easily takes it away from him, to remind us again of what a wimp Vernon really is). It`s an extra touch of make-up or stage decor, rather than an important piece of plot machinery.

Part of the fun of reading detective stories is the challenge of trying to sort out these ornamental extras from the real `guns on the wall`, the clues which are part of Agatha Christie`s or Dorothy Sayers` or J.K. Rowling`s secret script. As her readers have discovered, Rowling is rather good at inventing smokescreens of comic diversion to help conceal important clues, even when they`re right under our noses. Now you see it, now you don`t.

Chocolate Frog

In Philosopher`s Stone, our author wants to plant the name of Nicolas Flamel&mdashthe wizard who created the Stone itself&mdashin such a way that we barely notice its appearance, and will later kick ourselves for not remembering it. So the brief mention of Flamel is deftly slipped into a mini-biography of Albus Dumbledore, printed on the back of the collectable picture card which Harry finds in his very fi rst Chocolate Frog wrapper.

Meanwhile, during this scene on the Hogwarts Express, there`s a flood of distraction as Harry boggles at new wonders of the wizarding world. It`s the first time he`s met photographs whose subjects wander in and out of the visible picture-frame, and it`s also his first encounter with half a dozen other brands of magical sweeties like the very weird Bertie Bott`s Every Flavour Beans. A subtler distraction for the reader is the nagging thought that perhaps Chocolate Frogs are a little homage to the Crunchy Frog sketch from Monty Python`s Flying Circus&mdashwhose Cockroach Clusters will indeed turn up much later, in the third Harry Potter adventure...
All this inventive stuff is great fun, and it is also a conjuror`s display of dazzling lights and coloured ribbons, designed to lure your eye away from the key reference to Nicolas Flamel. Rowling has a real gift for this kind of misdirection, as perfected by stage magicians who subtly guide you to look in just the wrong place.

Pyrotechnics

Onwards! A bit closer to a literal gun, since they contain real explosive, are the Filibuster Fireworks which appear early in Chamber of Secrets. At first sight these don`t appear to be at all important&mdashjust something to provide entertainment for young wizards and witches, like all those weird sweets. But by writing these fireworks into the story, Rowling is secretly preparing a stage-effect for a much later chapter. When Harry needs to cause a diversion in the Potions class, tossing a Filibuster Firework into a Slytherin student`s cauldron is a perfect way to create total chaos.

Why are they called Filibuster Fireworks, anyway? The most common meaning of `filibuster` is to make long, long speeches in Parliament or Congress, not to convince anyone of anything, but to waste time and prevent unwanted laws from being passed. It`s a tactic of diversion and delay&mdashwhich, of course, is exactly how Harry uses his firework.

Magical Misfires

The most obvious `gun on the wall` in Chamber of Secrets is Ron Weasley`s wand, which gets broken early in the book when the flying car crashes into the Whomping Willow. As a result, the Spellotape-repaired* wand becomes a totally unreliable weapon. Ron tries to curse Malfoy, and the wand backfires, leaving Ron himself burping up great masses of slimy slugs for the rest of the day.

As well as being good entertainment in itself, this magic-gone-wrong comedy lays the groundwork for a much more serious miscarriage of magic. Near the end, Gilderoy Lockhart himself tries to wipe out Harry`s and Ron`s knowledge that he`s a posturing fraud. But it`s the broken wand that he grabs, and his Memory Charm bounces straight back at him. The `gun on the wall` has gone off at last, and&mdashas neatly foreshadowed by those slugs&mdashit backfired.

An interesting side-question: could Lockhart really have got away with it if he`d succeeded in wiping out the boys` memories? This isn`t some remote village in Transylvania or Tibet, but Hogwarts School, where Madam Pomfrey and Dumbledore would work their hardest to cure a couple of dazed and blank-minded pupils. As Voldemort himself knows, and mentions when talking to Wormtail early in Goblet of Fire, the effect of a Memory Charm can be broken by an expert wizard. The most likely explanation is that Lockhart was too ignorant of the higher branches of magic to know this important fact.

Putting Back the Clock

The little mystery of Hermione`s classes, and how on Earth she manages to attend more than one at the same time, runs through the action of Prisoner of Azkaban. Is she using some special charm that allows her to split into two or even three Hermiones, all of whom can go to lessons or take exams simultaneously?

Eventually all this bafflement is explained by the Time-Turner which Professor McGonagall has persuaded the Ministry of Magic to loan to Hermione. Now, with special permission from Dumbledore himself, Harry and his closest friends can save the day by going back in time to do all the things they didn`t achieve in the three hours that had just gone by. If such an amazing gadget had simply appeared when needed, this would have been a totally unconvincing way to save the book`s plot. What makes it satisfying is that the Time-Turner`s effect on Hermione`s timetable has been a running joke, and a source of mild bewilderment, ever since we first found her planning to take three classes at once in Chapter Six.

The Time-Turner is such a powerful plot device, capable of solving so many problems, that Rowling later takes some care to rule out its further use, as we`ll see in the chapter `Awkward Consequences`.

Key to Transport

The introduction of the Portkey in Goblet of Fire is much more straightforward. It`s not a mystery, but just a useful part of the vast magical crowd-control apparatus that`s needed to organise the Quidditch World Cup in a country full of Muggles. As the `port` in the name suggests, this device instantly transports or teleports anyone who`s touching the key (the tip of a finger is enough) when its spell is triggered.

So the Portkey doesn`t seem to be an unused `gun on the wall`&mdashit goes into action almost as soon as it appears. We`re left with the knowledge that just about any object of any shape can be enchanted as a Portkey: a manky old boot, a newspaper, a drinks can, a rubber tyre... Much later, at the very end of the Triwizard Tournament, the Goblet of Fire itself turns out to have become a Portkey that opens the way into a terrible trap.

One of the most puzzling questions in the series is why the Dark Lord`s agent within Hogwarts should go to the trouble of preparing such an incredibly elaborate booby-trap. Wouldn`t it have been so much easier to place the Portkey enchantment on Harry`s toothbrush, or some piece of his broomstick maintenance kit, or one of his school textbooks? If Portkeys are more difficult to make work inside the walls of Hogwarts, why didn`t the villain enchant a piece of Quidditch equipment or some other ordinary object out in the school grounds? Since this Dark impostor gains Harry`s trust almost as soon as he begins to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts, he could have given our hero a wrapped-up Portkey at any time—Secret instructions, my lad!`&mdashand told him to open it in private, out in the woods, or in Hogsmeade village...

Perhaps the best answer to all this is that Voldemort&mdashlike the villain of many a James Bond movie&mdashprefers his foes to be defeated in the most spectacular way possible, just as murders committed by himself and his followers were signalled by the emerald-green glare of the Dark Mark in the sky. By the same logic, Harry must be captured exactly at his greatest moment of triumph, so that he can be thrown from this height into the deepest possible despair, and then gloated over at length before his final end. To a Dark Lord, this probably makes sense.

The Sulks

Rowling introduces a different and much subtler kind of unexploded plot device in Order of the Phoenix. This is Harry`s chronic teenage anger, and we don`t even recognise it as anything special. After all, the boy is now fifteen&mdashof course he`s going to have random fits of sulks, and shout embarrassingly IN CAPITAL LETTERS at even his best friends! Especially when Dumbledore, who could tell Harry all sorts of things, has gone mysteriously reclusive and refuses to talk to him for most of this book. Dumbledore`s reasons for this silence are not entirely convincing, but that`s a different issue.

By giving a bi...

Most helpful customer reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful.
Fun, light preparatory reading
By J.A.
My goodness, this is certainly embarrassing! I'm the first one to review this book, and I'm a spry young lad of 40. Isn't this supposed to be for fanboys and fangirls? (Whatever those are...)

It should be obvious that I'm getting my geek on. With Book 7 coming out in less than three months, and having reread all the books, I found myself craving something "Potter". I don't care much for discussion forums because an awful lot of ridiculous theories get mixed in with intelligent discussion, so I thought this would be fun.

It was.

The author, David Langford, is a 27-time Hugo Award winner. Those are impressive credentials. He's a very bright, funny guy, and knows the Potterverse well enough to be a more than able guide. Some theories I'd seen, others I'd thought of, but he did manage, more than once, to slip something in that took me by surprise. For example, when discussing Dumbledore's trust of Snape, he opined that perhaps Dumbledore does NOT trust Snape in the way we think he does. He discusses Rowling's ability to fool us in depth, like a magician waving a rabbit in front of our faces but convincing us that we can't see it. She's a master at that. What other kind of trust might Dumbledore have? He might trust that Severus Snape will do exactly as he expects him to, play the part Dumbledore wants for him, and go back to Voldemort's side. So, when he says that he trusts Severus completely, he's saying that he trusts him to be untrustworthy.

I'm not sure that I believe that, but it was a new thought, a very valid one, and made me sit up and pay more attention.

If you're tired of discussion forums, this is a terrific place to turn.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful.
Cliff Notes for Harry Potter?
By Steve Marson
While I was in high school, I used Cliff Notes and Monarch Notes as a substitute for reading unsavory literature (i.e. Shakespeare's Julius Caesar in particular). I never understood the purpose of these literary products until I enrolled in college literature classes. The coerced reader can understand symbols and see aspects of literature that would be missed. In fact, Cliff and Monarch Notes enable the coerced reader to be transformed into an engaged reader. THE END OF HARRY POTTER? accomplishes the identical tasks as Cliff and Monarch Notes. One BIG difference; no one is coerced to read Harry Potter. After reading Langford's work, I see important aspects of the series that I missed or didn't get. After I read DEATHLY HOLLOWS, I probably will reread the series. Langford will be responsible for that.

One aspect of THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX I missed was the linkage of Rowling's life and the symbolism of Umbridge's actions. As a single parent living in poverty, Rowling was confronted with well-meaning but overly bureaucratic social workers. Umbridge's character emerged from Rowling's experience with social workers. An extremely important and eye-opening article that Langford cites is Benjamin Barton's article entitled 'Harry Potter and the Half-Crazed Bureaucracy' in THE MICHIGAN LAW REVIEW volume 104, May 2006. I teach a course in community organization and will require my students read Barton's work. The contents will help social work students understand the impact of their actions on clients' capacity to succeed.

I can make two points that will help a person decide whether to read THE END OF HARRY POTTER?. First, if you read this review after the publication of THE DEATHLY HOLLOWS, you're too late. The central theme within Langford's book is connections within the first six novels that lead to the last. Thus, THE END OF HARRY POTTER? will not be enjoyable if THE DEATHLY HOLLOWS is read first. Second, the Rowling's purpose is reminiscent of Roddenberry's. The original STAR TREK was intended to be a morality play made palpable to the general public. The Harry Potter series achieves the identical objective. The easier route in life is succumbing to evil. Harry (or Rowling) shows that the long term consequences of taking the moral path is a self actualizing experience that is more satisfying than any short term pleasure.

Langford is a master of the written word and THE END OF HARRY POTTER? is worthy to read.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful.
Not what I expected, but still highly reccomended
By John R. Kirk
I've been reading quite of few Harry Potter Guides in anticipation of the upcoming 7th and final book in the Harry Potter Series. I wanted to share my thoughts in order to assist those that might also be looking for books to read. I have mixed feelings on reviewing this book. It is not what I expected. With a title like "The End of Harry Potter? An Unauthorized Guide to the Mysteries that Remain", I expected the book to, well, speculate on the mysteries that remained. Oddly enough, it didn't really postulate a lot of theories on how the book/series was going to end. Since this was the primary purpose for buying the book I was, at first, a little dismayed. But as I continued to read the book, I came to like it more and more.

The absence of unbrideded speculaiton was actually a bit of a mercy. Some of these books create massive theories that are nothing but a house of cards. Remove one card and the entire structure tumbles. It annoys me when these several authors go off on these flights of fancy. While these various theories could occur, the chances of them actually occuring are miniscule. I want to see facts and logical inferences - not wild guesswork.

I think author David Langford didn't project as much as I had anticipated because, in truth, almost anything is possible in book 7. Despite writing six preceeding books, Rowlling has done an amazing job of keeping her options open. There is simply a lot of stuff we don't know and that we can't reasonably anticipate until we read the 7th book. Langford follows the clues down their varios paths, then moves on without feeling the need to add unsubstantiated guesswork. The nice thing about this is that it primes us for the upcoming book - gives us the threads to pick up when we identify them in book 7.

As I've said. I bought the book primarily to help me solve some of the upcoming mysteries. I don't think the book did that, yet I still highly reccomend it. It was well written. It flowed and was a good read. It was intelligent and thoughtful. I think the nicest thing I can say about the book is that it will make the reading of book 7 more enjoyable.

I don't want to give the book a 5 star rating because it wasnt' "super de duperdy" great. But it earned a very, very solid 4 stars. I can't imagine anyone who is pondering the mysteries that the 7th Harry Potter Book may contain not enjoying this book.

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? Free PDF Grease Monkey, by Tim Eldred

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Caught in the crossfire of an interstellar war, our Earth was bombed to flinders--and then repaired. The mysterious alien Benefactors who healed the planet also offered "uplift" to our dolphins and gorillas. The dolphins turned them down. The gorillas said yes. As a result, we're now sharing our world with language-using, tool-making simians. Tensions are inevitable, in both directions, but it's gradually working out.

Decades later, teenage cadet Robin Plotnik has been assigned to Fist of Earth, a defense station high above Earth, keeping watch against further attacks by the interstellar Horde. Robin's a spacecraft mechanic-in-training, apprenticed to Chief "Mac" Gimbensky, a cranky but basically benign gorilla with issues of his own.

Fist of Earth is a challenging place to grow up. Robin and Mac maintain fighter craft for the all-woman "Barbarian Squadron", which constantly competes for prestige with the other squadrons based on Fist of Earth. Robin's trying to romance a young librarian, and he's far from sure he knows what he's doing. Most of all, he's constantly struggling to figure out his moody, mercurial boss.

Then he and his best friend become entangled in a burgeoning scandal over betting on the squadrons' standings. And just when things look like they've hit rock bottom, the worst thing imaginable arrives at Fist of Earth: an efficiency expert from Earth, determined to reorganize Robin's hard-won life, and the whole squadron system, out of existence.

Fresh and engaging, crammed with likeable characters and science-fictional inventiveness, Grease Monkey is like a classic "Heinlein juvenile" in sequential-art mode.

Introduction by Kurt Busiek, author of Astro City

• Sales Rank: #2115500 in Books
• Published on: 2008-02-19
• Released on: 2008-02-19
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 10.00" h x .74" w x 7.00" l,
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

From Publishers Weekly
First impressions can be deceiving. This tale, set in a postapocalyptic future, starts out by introducing young space cadet (and science fiction buff) Robin Plotnik as he reports for duty as a mechanic aboard the spaceship Fist of Duty. There he meets his superior, Mac Gimbensky, a talking gorilla who is rumored to eat people, and the Barbarians, a squadron of gorgeous female fighter pilots. It would seem that we are in the realm of juvenile sci-fi, bursting with undiluted adolescent male fantasies. But beneath the fantastic trappings, this is really a coming-of-age story that takes the form of a charming romantic comedy. While learning how to fit into shipboard society, Robin cautiously seeks to court a young librarian named Kara. As for the allegedly fearsome Mac, the gorilla not only becomes Robin's mentor and protector, but is something of an overgrown kid, who has a surprisingly touching romance with a female gorilla space fleet admiral. Eldred's writing is filled with gentle comedy and wise personal insights. His artwork is traditional in the best sense: not flashy but clear, efficient and handsome, and particularly good at conveying his cast's personalities. While swimming in some time-tested waters, this work should appeal to readers who appreciate a universal story and nuanced characterization with their space battles. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up–Cadet Robin Plotnik is assigned to work under Mac Gimbensky, feisty ace mechanic for a crack squadron of pilots preparing for the return of extraterrestrials whose first attack eliminated 60 percent of human life. Mac is a gorilla, one of millions that were accelerated with rapid evolution in order to replenish Earth's defensive numbers, should the attackers return. Through Robin's introduction to Mac, readers learn about the workings of the space station and the future world in which the stories take place. The original comics collected here were published by three different companies over the course of 10 years. What's remarkable is that the presentation retains a focus and a consistency throughout that period. The occasional broad humor lacks punch, and the 12-page stories partially limit the canvas upon which the characters can develop. That said, the short cadence of the chapters does leave readers desiring more, and so the book quickly becomes a compelling, addictive read. The lack of depth with which the high concept of human/gorilla relations and the characters' emotions are explored prevents the story from moving beyond a well-constructed spectacle. However, most teens will be unlikely to notice, as it is both enjoyable and emotionally effective.–Benjamin Russell, The Derryfield School, Manchester, NH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Gr. 9-12. This sizable chunk of a read is a practical lesson in effectively combining such disparate genres as sf, coming-of-age drama, comedy, and romance. Arriving aboard the space station Fist of Earth, Robin Plotnik is apprenticed to Mac, superevolved simian mechanic for the Barbarian Squadron, an all-female team of space-fighter jockeys running combat maneuvers as they await their impending call to war. The evolving story contains trenchant commentary on racism, politics, animal rights, dating, family, loyalty, and the importance of books, and while its length may prove intimidating at first, the identifiable characters and the depth of the insights add up to something greater than the sum of the individual episodes--a rare commodity in graphic novels: wisdom. Eldred's character art serves the lighthearted tone well, while his beautifully designed and detailed spaceships make his obvious interest in aerospace technology absolutely contagious. An occasional burst of adult language ("You son of a . . . .") and a rather unflattering depiction of a librarian may give a few readers pause. Jesse Karp
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Most helpful customer reviews

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
It's all about the Monkey.
By Jessica W.
This lovely work is totally underrated. Grease Monkey is a great look at the life of some amazing characters through an interesting part of their lives. I felt strongly about many of the topics raised in Grease Monkey, and I felt that they were well addressed. The pacing was good, the message was great, the art was nice, the story was fun!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
An Excellent Work of YA Science Fiction
By Jeremy Tolbert
Tim Eldred began work on the Grease Monkey project in 1992 as a project for an audience of one: himself. Thankfully, he found a publisher with Tor in 2004, and now we can all enjoy this wonderfully written and illustrated graphic novel.

The book follows the first year of a tour of duty by Robin, an assistant mechanic assigned to the Barbarian Squadron on the flagship of Earth's space fleet, the Fist of Earth. When Robin first learns that his boss is an uplifted gorilla named Mac, and that Mac's previous assistant departed under supposedly frightening circumstances, he fears for his life. However, Robin soon finds in Mac a kindred spirit--a fellow man with imagination and heart. What follows is a series of short stories of the two's growing friendship set against the larger picture of life aboard The First of Earth, and slowly revealing the backstory of the attack on Earth by aliens and the rebirth and rebuilding with the assistance of the mysterious Benefactors. Throughout it all, Robin grows and matures, experiencing joy and heartbreak.

The storyline is similar to Busiek's Shockrockets, but where Grease Monkey surpasses that book is in heart. This book is bursting with fun and joy. The content is excellently suited for younger readers, and could easily be gifted to a younger relative as a gateway book into non-superhero comics.

On the art, as the project evolved over a decade, the style slowly changes as well. I found this appropriate to the story. As the protagonist of Robin grew up, so too did the artist.

Overall, a highly recommended book, especially for anyone with pre-teens, but enjoyable to adults as well.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
An engrossing surprise
By Amelia S.
One would expect a story set in space to be about Humans verses aliens with epic battles and personal loss. Grease Monkey delivers all of that and more, but not in the way one would expect.

There is, of course, the alien threat, but in stead of it being in your face, it is a constant, set in the background leaving one to wonder what would happen should the big battle occur. Imagination for the reader at it's finest. The epic battles are man's classic struggles; man vs authority, finding one's place in the universe, understanding one's self. Themes subconsciously ingrained in all of us, brought to life in what starts innocently, but culminating into moving, emotional events that everyone, of all ages, can relate to. No one dies a heroic or violent death in this collection, but people move on, whether being forcibly removed or leaving to find a better life, each person and their absence affecting us as if our best friend has moved across the country. We know life will never be the same and we can see this effect on the main characters.

The stories are not entirely devoid of cool action and fights though. Well designed Space Fighters engage in trilling dogfights and the occasional punch is thrown because we are dealing with complex, goal driven characters after all. The artwork is top notch, bring us a full spectrum of emotions and swear words are thankfully absent making this a perfect story for everyone.

Grease Monkey is certainly not what you would expect it to be, it's even better.

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