Trilogy – Kushiel’s Scion, Kushiel’s Justice, and Kushiel’s Mercy

Title: Kushiel’s Scion
Author: Jacqueline Carey
Publisher: Hachette Book Group USA
Copyright: 2006
ISBN-13: 978-0-446-61002-5
Kushiel's Scion (Kushiel's Legacy)

I highly recommend these three novels.

Kushiel’s Scion and the two follow-on volumes of the trilogy continue the story of the alternate universe containing the land of Terre d’Ange. Phèdre and Joscelin’s foster son has come of age and displaces them as the principle character of this trilogy.

Loved by Phèdre and Joscelin and, because of his traitorous biological mother, despised and feared by many, Imriel de la Courcel carves a place in the world for himself. The obstacles he faces are many and dangerous; a secret spy network, his still traitorous mother, the fear of his mother at the Court of Terre d’Ange, and powerful magic.

He wins through with wit, courage, swordsmanship learned from Joscelin, and love.

The second and third volumes of the trilogy are:

Title: Kushiel’s Justice
Author: Jacqueline Carey
Publisher: Hachette Book Group USA
Copyright: 2007
ISBN-13: 978-0-446-61014-8
Kushiel's Justice (Kushiel's Legacy)

And

Title: Kushiel’s Mercy
Author: Jacqueline Carey
Publisher: Hachette Book Group USA
Copyright: 2009
ISBN-13: 978-0-446-61016-2
Kushiel's Mercy

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Trilogy - Kushiel’s Dart, Kushiel’s Chosen, Kushiel’s Avatar

Title: Kushiel’s Dart
Author: Jacqueline Carey
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
Copyright: 2001
ISBN: 13-978-0-7653-4298-0
Kushiel's Dart

I highly recommend these three novels.

Kushiel’s Dart is the first volume of a trilogy that is part action adventure, part mystery, part romance, but is rightfully found in the science fiction/fantasy department of your book store.

The alternate universe containing the Earth of Terre d’Ange is ruled by Yahweh, the One God. But in this universe a panoply of lesser Gods are worshipped and exert power for good and evil through their worshippers. They are the source of magic.

The principle character, Phèdre, is a young woman indentured as a girl to a House of Pleasure in the land of Terre d’Ange, where the principle religious precept is “Love as thou wilt.” Prostitution is an honored profession in Terre d’Ange and Phèdre is an apprentice.

Her indenture is purchased by a master of intrigue who teachers Phèdre the arts of covertcy and recruits her as a spy. When her master hires a warrior priest, Joscelin, as her bodyguard, the principles are in place for adventure, war, suspense, intrigue, romance, and most of all love.

I read the trilogy is sequence and I was happy to discover that the story of Terre d’Ange continues.

The second and third volumes of this trilogy are:

Title: Kushiel’s Chosen
Author: Jacqueline Carey
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
Copyright: 2002
ISBN-13: 978-0-765-34504-2
Kushiel's Chosen (Kushiel's Legacy)

And

Title: Kushiel’s Avatar
Author: Jacqueline Carey
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
Copyright: 2003
ISBN-13: 978-0-7653-4753-4
Kushiel's Avatar (Kushiel's Legacy)
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Red Phoenix

Title: Red Phoenix
Author: Larry Bond
Publisher: Futura Publications
Copyright: 1989
ISBN: 0-7088-4478-2


I recommend “Red Phoenix”.

This military thriller is set in the late 1980’s and supposes a surprise North Korean invasion of South Korea – a suddenly timely premise.

“Red Phoenix” is an exciting tale of how a North Korean invasion might have come about and how it might have been fought circa 1988.

If you can get past the historical fact of the Soviet Union’s dissolution this is an enjoyable read.

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The Proper Care & Feeding of Marriage

Title: The Proper Care & Feeding of Marriage
Author: Dr Laura Schlessinger
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers
Copyright: 2007
ISBN: 0-06-114284-0


I strongly recommend this book.

Man or woman – if you think your marriage is great or if you think it is hopeless; or anywhere in between - read this book. Dr Laura makes you think about how YOU can make your marriage better. She makes you think about what is important to your spouse and focuses you on positive things under your control.

By considering, thinking about, and answering some of Dr Laura’s questions I developed a personal action plan that I hope and expect will take my marriage to new highs.

I’m confident her insights and questions can help you improve your marriage regardless of its current state.

“The Proper Care & Feeding of Marriage” would make a great wedding present. It’s inexpensive and probably more valuable than anything else the new couple will receive. And that goes for second marriage couples as much as first timers.

I intend to reread “The Proper Care & Feeding of Marriage” at regular intervals. I’ve set up a reminder in Outlook to dust it off and review and renew my care & feeding marriage action plan.

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The Theory of Constraints and its Implications for Management Accounting

Title: The Theory of Constraints and its Implications for Management Accounting
Author: Eric Noreen, Debra Smith, and James T Mackey
Publisher: The North River Press
Copyright: 1995
ISBN: 0-88427-116-1


I recommend this book.

This is a somewhat dated but still very relevant summary of the Theory of Constraints (TOC) first introduced by Eliyahu Goldratt in “The Goal”. The basic concepts reviewed are:

• Throughput Accounting (TA)
• Managing Constraints (Identify, Exploit, Subordinate, Elevate, Reiterate)
• Managing Non-constraints
• Drum-Buffer-Rope (DBR) scheduling
• The Thinking Process (TP)

The “Thinking Process” in particular seems to offer a new and promising problem solving structure. I plan it try it out over the next several months.

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A Boy and His Tank

Title: A Boy and His Tank
Author: Leo Frankowski
Publisher: Baen Publishing Enterprises
Copyright: 1999
ISBN: 0-671-57850-2

I recommend “A Boy and His Tank”.

“A Boy and His Tank” is the first of three science fiction novels in this series. I read them in reverse order not realizing they were a series until I started reading the second volume. One should read them in their proper sequence, but I thoroughly enjoyed them anyway. Each novel stands on its own merits.

Mickolai Derdowski, citizen of New Kashubia, is made an offer he cannot refuse and joins the army. Mark XIX main battle tanks of his day are crewed by a sentient artificial intelligence and one (Mickolai) human.

Mickolai’s training, adventures, and love life are creative, amusing, and always entertaining. These books are not “Great Literature”. They are better than that. They're fun.

The author, Leo Frankowski died in December of 2008 ending the series. It’s worth reading anyway. His web site (link below still operating as of this writing) is amusing in its own right.
http://www.leofrankowski.com/content/

The series in its proper sequence is:

Title: A Boy and His Tank
Author: Leo Frankowski
Publisher: Baen Publishing Enterprises
Copyright: 1999
ISBN: 0-671-57850-2
A Boy And His Tank

The War With Earth
Author: Leo Frankowski
Publisher: Baen Publishing Enterprises
Copyright: 2000
ISBN: 0-7434-9877-1
The War with Earth

Kren of the Mitchegai
Author: Leo Frankowski
Publisher: Baen Publishing Enterprises
Copyright: 2004
ISBN: 0-7434-7182-2
Kren of the Mitchegai (The Boy and His Tank)

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A State of Disobedience

Title: A State of Disobedience
Author: Tom Kratman
Publisher: Baen Publishing Enterprises
Copyright: 2003
ISBN: 0-7434-9920-4


I recommend “A State of Disobedience”.

What if the Democrat Party took control of all branches of government? What if they held strong majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate? What if they won the Presidency? What if they owned the Supreme Court? What if the media would be their mouthpiece regardless of policy or action? What if they decided that all future elections would be rigged so they would never lose power? What if they simply ignored the Constitution?

Who would stand against them? If one state rebelled would the United States Military obey the orders of their Commander-in-Chief or would they obey their oath to defend the Constitution?

This is the world of “A State of Disobedience” where Texas just can’t take it anymore.

This first novel, written in 2003, by Tom Kratman started out a little choppy but in the second chapter he found his rhythm and held my attention through the end.

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Twitter Power

Title: Twitter Power
Author: Joel Comm
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc
Copyright: 2009


I highly recommend “Twitter Power”.

Twitter Power is the best “how to” book I have ever read. Every chapter in my copy has sections that I found useful underlined. Much of it I implemented immediately. Twitter Power changed me from a neophyte into a serious Tweet in a single reading.

You can follow me at www.twitter.com/clarkmel

Joel Comm writes clearly with a style that maintained my interest throughout the book’s 228 pages. The information he presents is both timely and actionable.

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Persuader

Title: Persuader
Author: Lee Child
Publisher: Bantam Dell
Copyright: 2003


I recommend Persuader.

Persuader is an action-thriller featuring Lee Child’s signature protagonist Jack Reacher; a no holds barred ex-military cop who free-lances seemingly without need of money. Reacher is a dark hero with old west ethics and the skill to back them up.

It is a fun read – no politics and little moralizing. Just suspense, action, and satisfaction.

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Max: A Maximum Ride Novel

5th Book in the Maximum Ride Series
Title: Max: A Maximum Ride Novel
Author: James Patterson
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
1st Edition 2009

I recommend “Max: A Maximum Ride Novel”.

I’m not really a James Patterson fan. I’ve read a couple of his Alex Cross detective novels. I enjoyed the first enough to read a second but then he lost me. Nevertheless, I just finished the 5th volume in his Maximum Ride series after reading the other four in order over the past two years. I anxiously await number six.

This series was intended for the young adult audience but I love it. It is science fiction and action adventure with Max, a charming adolescent girl with wings, as the protagonist. Max is the leader of a flock of six genetically engineered bird-kids who finds herself responsible for saving the world.

James Patterson uses this series to pander to the environmental movement. The antagonists are all evil corporations intent on world destruction through environmental devastation. I would normally put down a story with this political intent and setting after reading the back cover.

That I keep reading his Maximum Ride stories is a tribute to the enchanting characters he has created in Max, Fang, Angel, Nudge, Iggy, and Gazzy – the flock of bird kids. They are adorable and confused and fierce and determined.

I recommend reading them in order as shown below:

1st Book in the Maximum Ride Series
Title: Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment
Author: James Patterson
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
1st Mass Market Edition 2006
The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride, Book 1)

2nd Book in the Maximum Ride Series
Title: Maximum Ride: School’s Out Forever
Author: James Patterson
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
1st Mass Market Edition 2007
School's" Out - Forever (Maximum Ride, Book 2)

3rd Book in the Maximum Ride Series
Title: Saving the World and other Extreme Sports
Author: James Patterson
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
1st Mass Market Edition 2008
Saving the World (Maximum Ride, Book 3)

4th Book in the Maximum Ride Series
Title: The Final Warning
Author: James Patterson
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
1st Edition 2008
The Final Warning (Maximum Ride, Book 4)

5th Book in the Maximum Ride Series
Title: Max: A Maximum Ride Novel
Author: James Patterson
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
1st Edition 2009
Max (Maximum Ride, Book 5)

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