Published by Barnes and Noble Books, this comprehensive tome details every aspect of the Vietnam war using first-hand accounts and an extensive amount of photographs and illustrations. NAM is divided into 114 self-contained chapters that cover specific events, groups or phenomena during this period. Additional segments use photographs to show the visual details of a particular experience, and dossiers on weapons and equipment provide in-depth information to make this a book that will please both casual and devoted readers alike.
 
 

This is the essential book for any fan of Deep Space Nine. While giving synopses and cast lists for each episode like other guides, Erdmann makes this 725 page tome most uncommon in the copious amount of insightful behind-the-scenes information he includes for each and every episode. Rather than  a nit-picky, minutia-obsessed sourcebook, the DS9 Companion provides the reader with delightful anecdotes and stories about how the writers and actors and actresses of the show arrived at the final product shown on TV. The interviews with the cast and crew give excellent glimpses into the triumphs, disappointments and struggles of "Deep Space Nine" as it dared to push the envelope and set the bar for quality, inventiveness and craftsmanship higher than any Star Trek series past or present. Rather than the stock photos that have become so familiar on the fandom circuit, this book has wonderful pictures filmed by photographers actually on the sets throughout the 7 years, as well as conceptual art. Additional sidebars focus on aspects of the series that evolved over time and give the book a more complete overview of the show as a whole. One comes away from the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion with another amazing story apart from the drama of the 24th century: the titanic tale of how such talented and dedicated individuals came together to produce a series that will truly stand the test of time.
 
 

In Elvis Cole, Robert Crais has created a private investigator worthy of Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe. With his indomitable wit and his trusty partner Joe Pike, Cole engages in adventures in Los Angeles and elsewhere. The style of the books have their share of pain and emotional drama, but a sense of optimism and fun pervades the series. Especially engaging are the little everyday details that Crais infuses into his writing, which makes the characters seem all the more real.
 
 

This novel defines what has long since become cliches in stereotypical private eye stories - the cynical P.I. with a heart of gold, the dangerous and seductive femme fatale and more gun fights, snooping around and danger than you can shake a .44 at. However, Chandler did it first and did it the best. Even with all the baggage about the genre that has filtered down through the years, The LongGoodbye reads fresher and more vibrant than many contemporary novels. Chandler's prose is terse and economical, yet paints incredibly vivid and mood-filled scenes. The dialogue is snappy and clever, with verbal sparring as frequent as the physical kind. And the plot itself takes the reader on a twisting road into the dark alleys and sordid players that reside under the glittering lights of Hollywood.
 
 

The title doesn't really describe the plot, which is about a part-time private investigator looking into a murder on a self-contained space city. The p.i. is also an artist who creates detailed models of ocean ship disasters which are no larger than the size of a pea and require special tools for their contruction and viewing.The quick pace, the exotic locale and the quirkycharacters all served to make this an enjoyable and memorable experience. One of the most refreshing aspects was the optimistic tone. The surroundings and people of this future are seen through an optimist's viewpoint, although there is enough connection to the realities of life to keep the events and actions believable.
 
 

This book contains incredible writing which truly makes the characters in the novel come alive for the reader. In fact, James Cameron, director of the movie, took the introductory chapters that gave the backstory for each character and gave them to the actors that would eventually play them on the big screen. This rich human drama combined with the tantalizing mystery set in the depths of the sea proves to be a thrilling and riveting experience.
 
 

Chronicling the adventures of Captain Robert April, George Samuel Kirk and his son, the young James T. Kirk (who appears in the second novel), these two books explore the early years of the starship program with the newly-constructed U.S.S.Enterprise as the spearhead of the fleet. Carey manages to create believable characters which the reader cares about and empathizes with. She also explores some insightful philosophical issues that not only determines the policies of Starfleet in the future but does what Star Trek does best: examine the myriad facets of humanity.
 
 

These short stories and novels truly deserve the label "classic". The writing is as fresh and vibrant to readers of today as it was to Doyle's contemporaries. The characters, atmosphere and clever mysteries are all handled with precision and unbridled energy to prove to be endlessly entertaining
 
 

A respectful and charming tale dealing with Sherlock Holmes and his greatest battle: to defeat the demons of addiction to cocaine. Meyer never portrays Holmes as less than the heroic and noble character Doyle originally created him to be, but he adds a vunerable and human side to the seemingly infallible detective which makes the reader root for him all the more.
 
 

A wonderful and eminently readable book which gives great insight into Rockwell's thinking and methods. However, it also is a fascinating journey through time to meet some of the most influential and interesting illustrators and people in the last half-century.
 
 

My favorite humorist whose wit and style depends not on vulgarity, slapstick or extreme exaggerated antics, Shepherd writes with a nostalgic charm that captures the inherent humor that lies in everyday situations and univeral problems that everyone has experienced. One of the only writers who seems to capture the fun, innocence and pain of not only children, but life in general.