No comments about Encyclopedia of Cardmaking Techniques (Crafts).

5 comments about The Essential Book of Su Doku: The World's Most Popular Puzzle Game.

1. This is a great book containing 200+ puzzles. However, there are no instructions or hints on how to work the puzzles. If you are new to Su doku and looking for instructions, this is not the book for you. However, once you get the hang of puzzle solving, this is nice sized book to carry around with you. Good variety of easy, medium and difficult puzzles. The pages hold up to eraser marks.



2. 
   The reason I rated this book 4 Stars is that it has 200 puzzles
   of 5 levels of difficulty.;and 40 puzzles of each level.Therefore, a pretty good book for someone looking for more puzzles.
   However,there has been no attempt to give hints or methods for solving.That alone makes this not the book to buy for a novice to solve Sukodos.There is a bit of history on the puzzle but very weak and doesn't give the impression that the puzzle was around in the US in the 70's, picked up by a Japanese puzzle book editor and taken back to Japan.It became a very popular alternative to our Crossword puzzles as their language doesn't lend itself to crosswords.
   The book is a good size,but the puzzle grid could have been larger as it uses only about 2/3 of the page.
   Overall, not my first choice for a novice.For some better choices see my reviews of Aug 3 (2 books),Aug 6,Aug 10,and Sept 30.



3. I like the size of this book - fits easily in my purse and the paper quality is good. There's plenty of scribble room in the margins - I use that a lot. However, it says that there are 5 levels of puzzle and even though I'm fairly new to this addiction, I found that levels 1-4 were very simple and even level 5 is only moderately tricky. If you like puzzles that are quick to solve or are finding other publications too hard, this might be a good choice for you, but if you're looking for a challenge, make another choice.



4. There are no instructions in this book. The puzzles are all fairly easy. Mr. Sinden made an error in the introdoction when he called the Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler the inventor of Sudoku. Sudoku was invented in the late 1970's.



5. I bought the Big Book of Sudoku and stopped using it due to the waffer thin papper.
   
   This book as a nice heavy stock.
   The margins are to big, the puzzles could be expanded.
   Over the puzzles were not that hard (compared to Daily Sudoku's Uk Very Hard one)
   Small size makes it easy to carry.
   
   Nice book for starters or travelling.
   Not good enough if you've done alot of them.

No comments about 101 BIBLE CROSSWORDS VOL 2 (Bible Crosswords).

4 comments about GURPS Martial Arts.

1. Exhaustively researched and painstakingly compiled, this compendium is a must read for both gaming enthusiasts and also martial arts practitioners.



2. GURPS Martial Arts for 4th edition is a mature product that embodies the professionalism and attention to detail found in all GURPS products. This hardbound volume encompasses all previous editions of GURPS Martial Arts, and more than just updating them to 4th edition, matures them by keeping what has worked and cleaning up issues found from previous editions. This places GURPS Martial Arts among the most thoroughly play tested supplements on the market today. I consider this product to be one of the GURPS "core" books in my collection.



3. Well organized, clearly written, and chock full of information.
   
   This book contains a great deal of material any melee character will find useful, regardless of if their preferred kind of combat involves empty hands or a weapon. Unlike the 3rd Edition softcover, this book does not focus on hand-to-hand styles to the exclusion of all else.



4. I can't possibly do this book justice. I've barely skimmed the sections on martial-arts history, campaign ideas, or sample characters: all my time has been spent thinking about tactics with the new combat possibilities. New rules come mostly in the form of new combat techniques and options (Committed Attack, Defensive Grip, etc.) and are nicely modular so you can use only the ones that support the flavour your group is looking for (cinematic, chambara, unarmed, etc.) without an combinatoric increase in complexity. The new techniques are intended primarily as new combat options and only secondarily as something to spend points on--Jeet Kune Do specializes in feints and counterattacks, for instance, but it's made clear that that's as much a combat-roleplaying guideline as a rule for point-allocation (you may choose to just raise Karate instead of Karate/Counterattack technique, and that's fine). The section on Style Perks is really neat, and fixes some GURPS Basic annoyances (in Basic, buying Off-Hand-Weapon technique is crazy because it's always cheaper to buy ambidexterity; in GURPS: MA e.g. Off-Hand-Shortsword is a perk costing 1 point instead of a technique) as well as having some cool new perks (shtick: flicking blood off your sword as a free-action Intimidation attempt). In several cases, GURPS: MA supplies optional rules that let me throw out my house rules by providing the flavour I was looking for but couldn't create with GURPS: Campaigns rules (heroic D&D-style combat, for instance, with Chambara rules + Combinations + Counterattack + Targetted Attack + Multiple Blocks + Special Exercises for extra HP). At the same time, the principled approach toward new rules, such as favoring techniques over ad hoc special abilities for styles, avoids balance problems that plagued the old 3E approach toward martial arts while maintaining the "coolness" factor of super-skilled martial artists. (In 3E, for instance, Combinations were basically a too-cheap Extra Attack; in the new book Combinations are a variant of Rapid Strike which allows you to buy off the -6 penalty but are easier to defend against if used multiple times).
   
   The book is packed with content and even better than the old 3E Martial Arts book by at least a factor of 2. When I put it together with rules from GURPS GULLIVER I have practically everything I want in terms of combat verisimilitude. The best GURPS 4E book I have seen yet.
   
   -Max

5 comments about 2107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings and Expressions from White Elephants to Song Dance.

1. I came across this book at a local bookstore that had a selection of books for word lovers. I perused it while I drank my frappacino, and soon was convinced I had to take it home with me. It is the most intriguing book I have ever read. It is formatted like a dictionary, but for everyone who loves word origin and other trivia, you will come back to it time and again. It is an example of useless knowledge at its best. The history of the word "omelette" is absolutely fascinating, and the evolution in the pronunciation of "one" intrigues me. They still can't decide where "hobo" comes from.

   I should mention one minute drawback--the man who first wrote these books (and his son continues the tradition) lived at the beginning of the twentieth century, so the book isn't as "hip" as the title would seem to indicate. If you aren't already interested in words, this won't get you going.




2. What a fun book! We often pull this one off the shelf when we use an expression and wonder where it comes from. It is a book that invites browsing, and is hard to close once you are into it. We've learned all sorts of great stuff from this book, and since language does not develop in a void, what we have gleaned from this book has led us to research and learning about other areas as well.



3. You know those books that use too many of these. . . 1888 (ci) [belg.] having to do with or related to: (types of) {relative to}. . . Kinda hard to follow with all that jargon. Simple phrases aren't in there. Index doesn't really organize the words or phrases well. It is almost written like a dictionary but not in alphabetical order. The book didn't focus on phrases as much as it did single words like "cannibal" and "catacomb" and so on.
   
   Not what I expected (very big and bulky book). I reccomend Heavens To Betsy & Other Curious Sayings but since the republishing of it (2002) it seems it has changed. Oh well



4. I'm terribly fond of this collection as both a useful resource and an entertaining read. The information contained herein is useful, informative, and written in an engaging, accessible style. If you've ever wondered about the origins of curious expressions or words, here is the place to look.



5. 2107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings, & Expressions / 0-88365-845-3
   
   I picked up this book second-hand, but I didn't get a chance to get around to it until I had my wisdom teeth taken out. Banished to bed by a well-meaning family (it honestly didn't hurt!), I finally got a chance to browse through this large tome.
   
   2107 Curious Word Origins is a fun read, and an even more fun "skim". The expressions are dealt with in plain, straightforward English prose, with the author carefully and engagingly outlining the origins and usage of each unusual word or phrase. Some of the phrases are a bit out-of-date to my ears (or perhaps I live in the wrong area of the country) - "hog on ice" was certainly something I'd never heard before. But other words (juggernaut) were very familiar - so familiar that I was startled to realize that I'd never even bothered to wonder where they had come from before!
   
   It was interesting to see the evolution of common words and terms, and while most of this can probably be found online, you're unlikely to find them all compiled together in an easily browsed source. I will admit that this probably isn't a cover-to-cover read, but it is useful for looking up terms and fun for browsing on a lazy afternoon. I recommend this book, if only because it is so unique and the price on Amazon is so cheap.

No comments about The ChessCafe Puzzle Book 2: Test and Improve Your Positional Intuition (ChessCafe Puzzle Book).

5 comments about Silent Hill 4: The Room Official Strategy Guide (Signature).

1. I recieved the item, quickly and well packaged...The item was in overgood condition as claimed by the description...I was very satisfied...thanks again



2. I found this guide to be very helpfull. I was stuck on several parts, and this guide helped me through. If you need help with this game, get this guide!



3. You must have this book if you wish to do this game like any Silent Hill or Resindet Evil Game you have to have the book or you will be LOST



4. Recieved my purchase really quickly and with no problems. would buy from this person again.



5. Goes into deep detail on the game. So very very worth it. Tells you all about the hidden things in the game. worth it if your a collector or need help in the game.

5 comments about Starting Out: King's Indian Attack (Starting Out - Everyman Chess).

1. Written by British chess Grandmaster John Emms, Starting Out: King's Indian Attack is an in-depth guide for intermediate to advanced chess players to the King's Indian Attack, a favorite chess strategy of the legendary Bobby Fischer, among others including world-class Grandmaster Alexander Morozevich. Starting Out: King's Indian Attack studies the fundamental principles of this tactic and its numerous lines. A wealth of notes, tips, warnings, suggestions, sample games and diagrams serve to enlighten the average player on the strengths and weaknesses of using or defending against this strategy. Highly recommended for any dedicated chess player seeking to improve his or her game against experienced opponents.



2. This is a well organized and easy to understand book for players at all levels. Whether you want to play the KIA or want a better line against an opponent, this volume does the job.



3. This is primarily about the closed French and closed Siclian defenses, from white's perspective, (about 140 pages). The last 60 pages is about the reversed King's Indian opening. If your primary interest is playing 1. Nf3 as white, this is probably not the book you are looking for.
   
   If you like opening with 1. e4, and want a systematic response when your opponent does not reply with 1. ... e5, then this is a good book for you. You will have a system of play that does not require learning the vast variations of the open French and Sicilian defenses.
   
   Also, you will have in hand the 1. Nf3 opening, in case you want to change things up a bit with a secondary opening as white.
   
   The book is well written and illustrated, the level of detail is suitable for the beginning or intermediate player. It assumes a basic knowledge of the game beyond just knowing how the pieces move.



4. I am enjoying the book and I think it is a good mix of theory and real games. I am an expert rated player, but I think the book is accessible to lower rated players that want to learn a new opening family.



5. A good psycological weapons agains people who booked up their Sicilian, French, CaroKan. This book is not recomended because its not organized, play with move order, games from insignificant players, and if there a line that author thinks player likely not play, so he doesn't include it, So its incomplete and doesn;t go more than 12 moves. however i think 1600 will benefit, higher rated player, this book will ruin their game. These days plater buy chess engine with book, nust have for chessplayer, not offered here, its at www.ChessBase.com or the best encyclopedia and informant publication not offered here at www.informant.com

1 comments about Arthur Harry Church:The Anatomy of Flowers.

1. Arthur Harry Church, scientist, painter, and teacher, left an incomparable legacy of botanical illustrations. His work, which has often been compared to that of Georgia O'Keeffe, is to this writer just as visually and emotionally compelling.

   The vibrancy of Church's work may be due, in part, to his disciplines - he saw his subject with a scientist's mind and an artist's eye whether it was an abundant flower from the Oxfordshire country or a rare specimen from South Africa. His cross-sections and diagrams leave no doubt as to his teachery thought processes or his artistic vision.

   This rare volume holds much previously unpublished material from the archives of London's Natural History Museum as well as 100 illustrations, each imbued with a rhythmic vitality.

   Undoubtedly, "The Anatomy Of Flowers" will be appreciated by those with an interest in botanical prints and those who enjoy the striking clarity of the art nouveau.

4 comments about Ancient & Medieval Wargaming.

1. I love this book. I got Neil's earlier more general wargaming book and this has everything he couldn't fit in there. Including rules for each period, scenarios with "special rules" that fit the circumstances of the scenario, background info on the period and its warfare and just great writing!
   
   I intend to do a full review of this book in my next podcast of The Solowargaming Show.
   
   [...]



2. This book is great, I have dumped all my old wargmes rules and now am using this one extensively, it is simple enough for me to remember how to play when I like, unlike all my other sets, which I seem to have to re-read over and over again before being able to play again but not with this book nor his previous book Wargaming and Introduction, which is a very good as well, hope to see some more from Mr. Thomas soon I hope. Get this one if your tired of re-hashing complicated wargames everytime you wanna game.



3. Mr. Thomas Ancient and medieval Wargaming is about as good as it gets in wargames rules. The general period is subdivided into 5 sub-eras, all of which share generally similar mechanical rules. Around this frame the real joy of the book is constructed - period detail that is sensible, and dozens on dozens of army lists. What makes this combination different is that the rules can be easily understood by anyone, and yet there is considerable complexity - a complexity that comes from decision making, not rules generated minutia. You may wonder about what to do next, but you'll have no problems with 'how to' do it next. Likewise the rules make it plain that these are game rules - not simulations. It is refreshing to have a specific and carefully defined victory, not a 'We'll play until we're tired, or until our wives clear their throats one time too many...' In these rules there will be a winner and a loser in about two hours.
   I've been a miniatures wargame for more than thirty years. This is the best twenty bucks I've ever spent!



4. Ancient & Medieval Wargaming
   
   A good all-in-one rules set for miniature gaming in the Ancient and Medieval worlds. Lots of armies included and room for growth.
   
   The rules are a bit dense and the formatting isn't very intuitive, but if you have a background in gaming generally and miniature gaming in particular, Ancient and Medieval Wargaming may well be just for you.