Product Description

35th Anniversary Editon with new Text and a New Preface by the Author!

Long ago, the Tripods -- huge, three-legged machines -- descended upon Earth and took control. Now people unquestioningly accept the Tripods' power. They have no control over their thoughts or their lives.

But for a brief time in each persson's life -- in childhood -- he is not a slave. For Will his time of freedom is about to end -- unless he can escape to the White Mountains, where the possibility of freedom still exists. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (116)

Hope for Mankind
This opening book in the fantastic Sci Fi series, THE TRIPODS, captivates readers at the outset.Standing on its own the book effortlessly hooks readers to continue the brilliant trilogy with The City of Gold and Lead, and The Pool of Fire. For those who can not get enough of the Tripods, the author generously provided a subsequent Prequel, to explain in detail how this alien race managed to dominate Earth with relatively little bloodshed.

The book opens in England, where mankind has been enslaved by "benevolent" alien dictators.Will, the teenage protagonist (whose name indicates something about his character) is now mature enough to be Capped--a ceremony which is considered a great honor--but which in reality consists of glorified mind control.Those who would resist their enslavement by the Tripods (slug-like beings who roam the Earth by the use of three mechanical legs when not flying in their saucerish vehicles) learn lessons of excruciating pain if they do not obey and think proper thoughts for a submissive society.

Set in the distant future the book reveals the technology of the Ancients (20th century civilization) and their desperate attempts to resist alien invasion.The three unlikely heroes undertake a dangerous odyssey to reach the White Mountains (the Alps) and to locate the secret headquarters of a determined band of human resistors who refused to be Capped (made docile).To trust or not to trust is always a challenge for our heroes.

The entire series is a masterpiece of creativity and ingenious plotting, with the theme of uplifting the spirit of survival innate in mankind.Thanks to brave youths like Will, Henry and French Beanpole, there is still hope for the human race!For kids of all ages! Plunge in and Indulge your sci fi fantasies!

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Centuries ago, the Tripodstook over Earth and enslaved mankind. Every human wears a helmet made of metal that makes it so they are controlled by the Tripods. There is a period of time in one's childhood, however, where one is free to think for oneself.

When thirteen-year-old Will is told that there is a place in the mountains where there are people free of the Tripods, he decides he doesn't want to be capped and runs away. Along the way, he is joined by a childhood friend and an old man. Their journey goes fairly well, until Will becomes really sick and the three have to seek shelter in a medieval-like town.

Will meets the town's princess and her family and is invited to become part of their group. He becomes torn between becoming capped and finding acceptance or following his friends to the mountains. Will Will make it to the mountains to freedom, or will he sacrifice that freedom for a life of luxury?

A compelling adventure story filled with action and suspense.Readers will like this science fiction story splashed with a medieval times feel as well as the well-developed plot and characters. A fast-paced story that keeps you at the edge of your seat, WHITE MOUNTAINS is a great start to the TRIPODS series (and don't forget to check out the companion novel,WHEN THE TRIPODS CAME).

Readers who like science fiction and adventure will enjoy reading this book, as well as the others in the series.

Reviewed by:Kira M

Tripod Rule and Capping as a metaphor for the Matrix
I finished reading "The White Mountains" last night by John Christopher. It is a young adult novel and quite moving in many ways. The White Mountains was one of the better books I have read in a long time mostly because its dealing (on a underneath level) of slavery of the mind and of fighting the institution.

The story is about a boy who is about to be "capped". Aliens called "tripods" have taken over the earth. They don't really interfere much with most people but they have a overarching reach into everyone's lives (like the "system" or "matrix" we are all a part of).

In the story, at maturity, all people get "capped". This is a ritual of the tripods placing a metal cap on your head and the cap makes you docile, compliant, and "safe". It is the equivalent to the maturity of "growing up", following the rules, and being a good credit card user who pays on time, follows the system, pays their taxes, doesn't cause trouble, and is a good slave. Capping doesn't do much to you as a person physically, but your thinking is "capped" in many ways. You lose your creativity and life-force in some measure. You don't revolt or even think of it. The system wins and you are just a puny speck in it. You can still complain, but you carry on in their system. You stay tame and docile and sheep like. The corrupt corporations and corrupt politicians run the world and you do nothing about it. The unquestioning of the tripods is the unquestioning of the institutions that have power over us. The book is full of such metaphors if you look closer at it. And as such, the book is brilliantly subversive. I find it funny that most reviews on here see the book as a silly little alien adventure story.

The story itself concerns young Will and two other boys who don't want to be "capped". They fear it. See how others become once they became capped and run away to prevent their own capping. They head for a place called the White Mountains where free people live who are planning a revolt against the tripods.

They go through many adventures in the story and at one point end up in a feudal region where Will is tempted by the lords there to join up with them as an adopted son. Even in the tripod dominated world, there are rich people and poor people. These people are all "sheep" but some sheep have more advantages than others by birth or luck. The more wealth one has in the tripod world, the more status quo they are for the tripod rule as it benefits them. Some charactors willingly look forward to their capping, embracing their future slavery with joy.

At one point in the story, Will is tempted to give in to the capping since he will gain so much by joining the wealthy/noble set of "capped", but faces a hard choice from this easy way of life or the other path of freedom. Ultimately he makes his choice. He escapes and continues onward to the White Mountains where he has hope and freedom and will remian uncapped.

This is a wonderful book for those who have questions, who don't believe the advertising, who know there is something wrong with the way things are.
--------------------------------------------

Some lines from the book:

"was I to abandon my hope of freedom, surrender the mastery of my mind, for the sake of wearing jeweled leather and having other men touch their caps to me? The notion was absurd. Whatever privileges I would be given, I would still be a sheep among sheep. But was it so bad to be a sheep?......

They were capped, true, and accepted the tripods for all they stood for, but that did not prevent them from being warm-hearted, generous, and brave. And happy.....

And that was the crux of it. Before the capping there might have been doubts and uncertainties, and revulsion, but once the cap was put on, these thoughts vanished. How great a loss was that? Was it a loss at all?

Besides, the tripods, outside of the act of capping itself, did not seem to much interfere with people intheir daily lives. Sure, there may have been the incidents Ozymides spoke of and those unpleasant things, but they all happened so far away. It didn't affect them here. None of that touched this secure and pleasant life...

But I thought still that nothing mattered, nothing was of value, without a mind that challenged and inquired.......

But the tripods had conquered so much, taken away the sprit of all people. Their massive power, the machine itself seemed unstoppable. And if our ancestors had failed, how pitiful was the defiance of a handful of people clinging to the barren slopes of a mountain trying? And if there was really no hope of defeating them, what were the true alternatives? To live wretchedly, like a hunted animal, suffering hardship and despair-or this life, with its fullness and security and happiness?.....


------------------------------------------------------------------
There were many kinds of horror. Horror at what happened to them. Horror at the creatures who could do this thing to others. Horror, at above all, how close I came to falling-no, to throwing myself-into something beside which suicide was clean and good. What had happened to her was not her fault. She had accepted capping as the countless others had done, not understanding and knowing no alternative. But I knew the difference. I knew. And I was ashamed to even think I could ever be one of them.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
We ate what we wanted and stole what we needed. We did not follow the rules and did what we had to to get by to reach the white mountains. We were outlaws. Outside of the law.

In our pitifully puny way, we were at war. Essentially with the tripods, but indirectly with all those who, for whatever reason, supported them. We must live by our wits and resources: none of their rules apply.

-------------------------------------------------------------

There are viewing points where one can look out from the side of the mountain. Sometimes I go down and stare at the green sunlit valley far below. There are villages, tiny roads, cattle, and specks of people living their daily lives. Life looks warm there,and easy, compared to the harshness of the rock and ice by which I am surrounded. But I do not envy the valley people and their ease.

For it is not quite true to say that we have no luxuries. We have two: freedom and hope. We live among people whose minds are their own, who do not accept the dominion of the tripods, and who, having endured in patience for long enough, are even now preparing to carry the war to the enemy.

We keep our council. We may not yet know our parts. But we know we shall have a part, that is certain. And another thing is certain too: we shall destroy the tripods. And free humans will enjoy the goodness of the earth."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

When I read stories like this, when I know writers have thought of such words, when I know children have read such things, it makes me glow with hope. I fully reccomend this novel.

The discovery is one that can spark the imagination of any boy
Story overview:

Thirteen-year-old Will and his cousin, Henry (one month younger than Will) live in a small English village. Will's other cousin and best friend, Jack Leeper, is "of age" to receive what's called a "cap"-the boy is raised up into a three-legged alien ship (thus, Tripod) and has a metal cap placed on his head, which is used to control his thoughts. The villagers understand this celebration as a coming of age ceremony. It's considered a great honor.

Once Jack received his cap, Will became horrified to discover that his friend was no longer what he once was. Being only a year behind "of age" himself, Will happens across a mysterious vagrant who goes by the name of "Ozymandias" (vagrants are supposedly people who had a capping go wrong). He convinces Will to escape to a place where there are "Free Men" living in seclusion at the "White Mountains" (actually the Swiss Alps, literally translated from the French Mont Blanc).

Henry learns of this, but rather than turn Will in, he demands to go along. Even though the two boys never really got along in the past, they go together with a common goal. Sailing to France they meet up with a boy named Beanpole, who becomes the third member of their party. Rummaging through the remains of Paris, hiding from Tripods, getting side tracked at a manor owned by a wealthy French count; they follow through many adventures on their way to the "White Mountains."

My thoughts:

I had acquired a fondness for these stories ever since I was a kid. The TV show was never completed, but thankfully the books were. The idea of our world in the future, gone downward rather than forward due to aliens enslaving mankind by controlling their thoughts, is one of both intrigue and wonder. The discovery, adventure, and fight for freedom are ones that can spark the imagination of any boy.

James D. Maxon

Author of, "The Cat That Made Nothing Something Again"
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1440485275

Manga and speculative fiction reviewer:
http://booksforyouth.com/

great sf
read this as a kid in the dead of night ,one of the best alien invasion novels i have had the pleasure of perusing ,will parker beanpole and henry all feel like real individuals escaping from a mind controlled society via capping to the white mountains and freedom ,half the fun of this novel was them getting there searching an old dead city and then killing a tripod with the hand grenade they found there not just for kids a great story highly recommend ... Read more

Product Description
Christopher Publications is proud to offer this 25thAnniversary Edition of School of Natural Healing.Over the years,beginners and herbal practiioners have trusted School of NaturalHealing to provide expert instruction on herbal therapy.Theworldwide distribution and use of Dr. Christopher's formulas confirmsthe success and safety of his methods.If you have ever used anherbal combination, it was most likely one of Dr. Christophers's.This text combines his methods and famous formulas in an easy-to-usevolume for personal and classroom study.Expanded and revised, wepresent this work, assured that it will enhance your efforts innatural healing.

This edition offers:

In depth study of over 110 including:
Latin and Common Names
Botanical Descriptions
Medicinal Usage and Therapeutic Action
Preparation, Dosage, and Administration
Multiple Formulationsfor Each Herb
Case Histories
Horticulture and StorageInformation

Other features include:
Symptoms, Causes, and Natural Treatmentfor Over 80 Disease Conditions
Nutrition and Recipes for Vitality
Internal Cleansing and Purification
Therapeutics for Over 1000Herbs

Simplified and comprehensive index listing:
Latin and Common Names
All Herbal Formulas
Health Conditions, Etc.

Features new to this edition include:
Recipes for All ofDr. Christopher's Formulas
A Bography of Dr. Christopher from AnHerbal Legacy of Courage
Quick-To Find Herb and Medicinal ActionHeading on Each Page ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

healing herbs
This book is amazing for anyone into herbs and wants to learn how to take control of their health.A great reference tool for every health condition.I love it :)

Simply the best herbal book there is.
This book is known as the bible for natural herbal healing for good reason. It is the book most professionals use on a daily basis. I have used it for years because my Doctor used it and I have found it to be very accurate and in depth. Just get it. My preference is for one of the original editions.

a must
a little difficult to use but once you get used to it it has a wealth of info. a must have.

Wonderful guide for families or professionals
I have had this book for the last 10 years, and I find it indispensable for diagnosis and treatment.My daughter has diabetes, and has improved greatly when she has followed Dr. Christopher's diet and herbal formulae. You will not be disappointed.

One caveat is that the index can be a little confusing.Sometimes browsing is the best way to glean information.

A very good information book
I have had this book for years and it has a lot of information in it that is useful for people needing healing and wanting health. It is not organized in a way that I would like it to be (I'd like it to be organized by herbs and by health problems - it is organized by types of herbs), but it has useful info in it. ... Read more

Product Description

35th Anniversary Editon with New Text and a New Preface by the Author!

Will Parker has managed to escape from the City of Gold and Lead, where he served as a slave to one of the Masters who rule the modern world. And he has not only discovered what lies behind the Tripods' power, but also how the Masters heartlessly plan to destroy the Earth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
After discovering the Tripods' plot to destroy mankind, Will rushes back to the White Mountains to tell the other uncapped humans. With a race against time to overthrow the Tripods, Will and his friends must go across the globe recruiting massive amounts of youth to deal the final blow to the aliens.

After capturing a Tripod, they discover that alcohol has a sleep-inducing effect on the aliens.Armed with this new knowledge, will the resistance be able to take back Earth. What will happen if the Tripods catch on to the humans' plan?

This is an adventure filled with action, suspense, and right vs. wrong. The well-developed characters seem to step up to the plate and shine in this book, and the plot is fast-paced. Readers who like fantasy, science fiction, adventure, and action-filled books will enjoy reading THE POOL OF FIRE.

Reviewed by:Kira M

My son loved it
For a capable 8 year old reader this series hasn't lost any of its appeal.After we picked up "The Witch Mountains" at a second hand sale, he just had to have the others in the series.

Great books for kids
My nine year old son devoured these books(a trilogy) in just a few days.Your kids will love adventure and science fiction after these.

Sci-fi story that stands the test of time...
This is the final book in the Tripods trilogy by John Christopher.It does a great job of wrapping up the story and explaining how the free men take on the Tripods in their golden cities.

In this book the rebel faction of free humans works to recruit others to their cause; they also spend time learning some of the technologies of the ancient people.A plan is put together to infiltrate the Tripod cities and destroys the Masters.

Fast paced and intriguing, this book is a great conclusion to the series.Will still struggles with his brashness and lack of foresight; Beanpole is as clever as ever.A quick read and a great series conclusion; this book really stands the test of time.

The "worst" of the trilogy
The other two books are better. This one is still good though.
But the plot is pretty much straight forward except quite few minor turns.
The tension mostly came from the thought "How will this all finally end?".
... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

mature, questioning sf from a master
I am an american reader who read Christopher's early work years ago. Christopher has matured as a writer, and I was very impressed by the complexity of this novel, both politically and in terms of character development. Here is a character far from a Hollywood hero; a thoughtful, doubting man living in a web of personal hiistory and family relationships who must come to grips with a horrifying secret. The novel is set against a not too distant future that is a bleak vision of Britain's place in the EU, vividly imagined by Christopher. A book that would be an excellent choice for reading groups, there's a lot to think about here, issues of technology, freedom, and resposiblility the West must face soon.

Subtle,horrifying look at near future Virtual Reality
Veteran British science fiction writer John Christopher tells a subtle, lyrically poignant saga on the potential dangers of Virtual Reality in his latest novel "Bad Dream". In its understated way, it shares much of the same themes echoed in such classic cyberpunk fiction as William Gibson's "Neuromancer, without resorting to much of the rich detail found in Gibson's literary debut. Instead, it works as a tranquil psychological thriller about an unlikely hero, Michael Frodsham, a minor British government healthcare bureaucrat, dealing with a dangerous Virtual Reality technique designed by the German half of his family, and Great Britain's domination by a coercive, almost tyrannical, European Federation. Christopher's villains are intriguing, three-dimensional characters whose motivations are easily understood - if not appreciated - by the reader. This is yet another fine work of science fiction by the author of classics such as "No Blade of Grass" and the Tripods trilogy. ... Read more

Product Description
With research and compilation by Lotus Bailey ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Dr. Christopher is the King of Cayenne!
If I had to choose only one herb that I could take for the rest of my life, it would be cayenne.Read this book and you'll see why!It addresses the miraculous results people can be sure to experience withailments such as high blood pressure, cardiovacular concerns, digestion andmany more.I had read this book years ago and took it to heart, I havejust reread it and decided to send copies to everyone I love, it is themost important thing a person can do for their health I think.Dr.Christopher's formulas are clear and so simple to make.And you get aneducation about every process, not just the instructions; he tells youwhat's happening and why it's happening.I think this material should bein everyone's home!Learn how a tsp. of cayenne stirred into a cup of warmwater can stop a heart attack in it's tracks.We carry cayenne in ourcar's glove box as part of a first aid kit. ... Read more

Product Description
The School of Natural Healing, this book was published in 2010. New updates include formula name updates, complex index update and much more. ... Read more

Product Description
This booklet outlines the procedures used historically byDr. Christopher for ailments deemed incurable by modern medicine.TheIncurables Program is effective in it's simplicity through acombination of cleansing, massage, diet, excerise, sunshine, andherbs.It has given hew hope, health and happiness to those who havebeen left to die by their doctors. ... Read more

Product Description

35th Anniversary Edition with New Text and a New Preface by the Author!

Will, Beanpole, and Henry have managed to escape the Tripods. But instead of living in safety, in the small community of free people, they have chosen to embark upon a mission that may cost them their lives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (37)

Excellent book
The City of Gold and Lead is an interesting book full of mystery and suspense. It is the third book of the Tripods series written by John Christopher. The other books in this series are When the Tripods Came, The White Mountains, and The Pool of Fire.
If you have read The White Mountains you have probably noticed that there are many questions that have been left unanswered. This book will answer many of these questions but will also produce more questions that are left for the last book in this series, The Pool of Fire. After you have read the whole series you will find that all of these books go very well together.
What this book is really about is aliens that invade the earth. They are in giant tripods that are currently ruling the world. They give anyone over the age of 14 a cap which makes their minds controlled by the tripods. One problem about the earth, to these aliens, is that the earth's air is poisonous to them. Because of this they have to live in cities built for them, in a tripod, or wearing a mask. Right now only their cities are filled with the air that they can breath, but they plan to eventually do this to the rest of the world which would kill the human race and any other living thing on earth.
As you would probably assume, there is a group of people who are fighting against these aliens. They have to defeat them before they take over the whole world. Two people from this group, Will and Fritz, were sent into the City of Gold and Lead to find out more about these aliens, but they have to get out and escape before they are too weak and die.
I'll leave the rest of the book for you to figure out. However, I would like to say this is a great book and I highly recommend reading it. Enjoy!

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
When Will and his friend, Beanpole, are able to infiltrate the Tripods' city, they get more than they bargained for.

With inhospitable living conditions, Beanpole's cruel master, a threat from the Tripods that will extinguish the human race, and no sure escape route, things start to look hopeless. When Will accidentally kills his master, the two, however, must fight against all odds to escape or risk being captured by the Tripods.

Will they be able to escape the City of Gold and Lead? Can Will and Beanpole save the human race?

An intriguing science fiction adventure. The line between good and evil is grayed and the author does a great job of developing not only the main characters, but the enemies, as well. The plot is slower moving than the first book, but provides a lot of intrigue and mystery that will interest avid and reluctant readers alike.

Readers who like science fiction, adventure, mystery, and the TRIPODS series will enjoy reading THE CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD.

Reviewed by:Kira M

Simply Wonderful
I read this book years ago, and everytime I am in need of a good book, I come back to it and read it over and over again. You simply cannot put it down, and when you come to the end, you cant wait to read the next part.
I wish someone would make this series into a movie. Because we all know this book is far better than war of the worlds.

My favorite book of the series, truly withstands the test of time
This is the second installment in the Tripods trilogy.It is my favorite book of the trilogy and is still as much fun 20 years from when I first read it.

Will, Beanpole, and Henry are training for the games in hopes that one of them will make it into a city of the Tripods and be able to escape to provide vital intelligence to the human resistance.

The description of what happens in the Tripods city is amazing and interesting.I remember reading this when I was younger and finding it absolutely fascinating.The end of the book leaves you hanging and wondering what will happen. It is a fast-paced book with amazing detail as to the Tripod race

This is a wonderful creative series; that still inspires curiosity of the unknown.It is a trilogy that seems to withstand time.I can't wait to read the last book in the series.

Wicked Awesome Science
If you are interested in books that contain action/adventure, then this book is perfect for you. Every page contains a good sense of action and even a touch of mystery. You'll be on the edge of your seat dying to know what will happen next. Will the humans finally defeat the tripods? After reading this book, you'll be scratching your head with mystery to what is to come in the third book of the series. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Indispensable Resource for Understanding Assurance in 1 John
Christopher D. Bass presents an original, insightful, and excellent resource for biblical studies in 1 John.The book, originally Bass' doctoral dissertation, specifically deals with the issue of assurance of salvation in 1 John (a book well-known for its "tests" of salvation).

As expected, Bass has read and interacts with every major writer/commentator concerning the Johannine epistles written up until his time (in English and beyond), gives in-depth analysis and consideration of the Greek text with lexical analysis and discussion of significant textual variants, and wrestles with some of the thorny theological issues such as the "Sin unto Death" in 1 John 5).Amazingly, Bass still writes with unmatched clarity, conciseness, and verve.Bass couldn't be boring if he tried in this book.

There are places where Bass quotes the Greek or Hebrew, but almost always provides an English gloss (which is helpful for readers like me who don't always possess the requisite language skills!).

I personally read the book for pleasure and for greater knowledge about one of my favorite books of the Bible.While the book is obviously aimed at clergy, scholars, and the alike, a determined layman could read and benefit from this book greatly.

I cannot recommend it enough! ... Read more

Product Description

New Edition with a Preface by the Author!

When it comes to alien invasions, bad things come in threes.

Three landings: one in England one in Russia, and one in the United States.

Three long legs, crushing everything in their paths, with three metallic arms, snaking out to embrace -- and then discard -- their helpless victims.

Three evil beings, called Tripods, which will change life on this planet forever. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (38)

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Something is not right in England.

Laurie's little sister recently started watching a show called Trippies. One day, she disappears. When they bring her back, all she can talk about is peace and Tripods, an alien race bent on bringing peace to Earth. Although they manage to dehypnotize her, people all over start disappearing and showing up with helmets that allow the Tripods to control their brains.

Soon the whole world is conquered by this strange alien race, and Laurie and his family are driven into hiding underneath a hotel in the mountains. Can they find a way to take back Earth with the odds stacked against them?

WHEN THE TRIPODS CAME is a book well worth the read. The suspense and adventure in the story draw the reader in and make them want to keep reading. The characters are believable and the author does a great job of capturing why humanity is the way it is.

Readers who like science fiction, continuing series, and adventure books will all enjoy this read and the others that follow.

Reviewed by:Kira M

Not sure..
This is a great book, don't get me wrong but I find it ruins the other three books. I mean, it adds mystery to the trilogy to not have it. It almost ruins the trilogy if it is read first. Keyword here is FIRST. Like many other people have said, read it after the Trilogy! or just dont read it. The Tripods could do without the this book. It is not the first book, but is only a prequel.

Essential? No. Enjoyable? Yes!
I discovered Christopher's Tripod Trilogy in the early 80s and it moved up the list of my all-time favorite series. As a preteen, it challenged my thinking, entertaining while also stirring abstract ideas. The overwhelming presence of the Tripods was matched only by the ingenuity of the children fighting them for free will and free thought.

Recently, I went back to reread this series (from a much older perspective), and found out a prequel had been written. Intrigued, I ordered a copy and dove in, flying through the story in an hour and a half. This is the same character-rich, yet fast-paced writing that drew me into the original stories. The book opens with the appearance of a Tripod in rural England, and then leads us through the adventures of young Laurence as he unravels the truth behind the failed alien invasion and the follow-up TV show that uses the same Tripods as likable cartoon icons. John Christopher explains in the introduction that he wanted to make clear the mind-control that was central to the Tripods' takeover, and I think he does an admirable job of setting up the rest of the series, with Laurence and family escaping to their grandparents' homeland of Switzerland--and the now famous "White Mountains."

Is this essential to understanding or appreciating the original trilogy? No. The trilogy has stood up well on its own. It is very enjoyable, though, and gives an actual story without feeling like a mere footnote. Long-time fans will appreciate the extra detail, and, in light of new technologies and new readers, "When the Tripods Came" gives new readers a great prequel to a classic series while never losing the tone that made the originals resonate so strongly.

Interesting filler to read, after you have read the trilogy.
The original tripods trilogy was one of my favorite reads as a young adult.This book is a prequel to that trilogy; I have owned it forever and have never read it.So when I found the trilogy (along with this prequel) sitting on my bookshelf I decided to give it another read.

This is a short book but I found it was not as engaging as I remember the trilogy to be.It is a book that basically tells how the tripods came to our world.Overall I agree with the other reviewers that say read the trilogy first and then come back to this prequel for filler if you want to.

It was well written but seemed to be more a quick telling of events leading to the invasion than a really gripping story.It is a quick read at 150 pages or so.It was interesting to find out the before but this book doesn't really fit in that well with the other books of the trilogy.

I am on to read the trilogy now to see if those books are as excellent as I remember them being.I hope they are!

Decent prequel
Good forward to the trilogy, although lacking some of the urgency of the original novels, as we know what is going to happen. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Would you be a hero?
Neil Miller is a teenager much like any other. He has a reasonably loving family, and while they are not rich, they are also not poor.Then one day the Millers set out on a short trip down the motorway to visit Neil's grandparents in the small village of Winchelsea.Suddenly a lorry jack-knifes across the road and the Miller's car smashes full-pelt into it.Everyone, except Neil, is killed.Neil goes to live with his grandparents in Winchelsea.He starts school again in the nearby town of Rye.He and his grandfather return to the Miller's house to collect a few essentials and mementoes, then leave never to return again.Life seems to go on for Neil but really he lives in a numb, empty world.He cannot make new friends at school.He does his schoolwork as a distraction, to fill up the time, rather than out of interest.If anything Neil becomes more cynical about life and people, though perhaps more realistic. Then one day on the news Neil hears about the Calcutta Plague.It strikes the elderly, seeming to make them even older overnight.Quickly the disease spreads to other places and alarmingly begins to infect younger and younger people.Surely Neil and his grandparents will be safe in England, in little Winchelsea?But swiftly, mercilessly the plague rushes closer and closer.Who will survive and how many?Is the end of civilization near?

The theme of apocalypse and survival is common in science fiction and this novel could have been just one more, a basically run-of-the-mill story.Christopher, however, turns the standard formula on its head.His tale is not one of heroism and endurance against all odds; rather, it is a catalog of not-coping, bad-luck and misadventure.In real disasters there are certainly those who shine as examples to us of the heights the human spirit can reach to, but how would most of us ordinary people react?Christopher thinks not well.Even Neil, the main character of the story, is able to go on because he has already been numbed by personal tragedy.The events of the cataclysm drift by him as a fog of meaningless happenings.Certainly Neil is upset by further deaths, but not really upset, as we might realistically expect.Interestingly the reader does not dislike Neil for his callousness.Instead we understand him and sympathize.

Christopher's succeeds in creating memorable characters and Clive, for one example, stands out as an amiably eccentric, but strangely threatening individual.Clive is slightly mad and Christopher has captured this illness and irrationality well.Neil, however, is the only character who develops as he gradually thaws from his numbness.

The story proceeds at an interesting pace and as soon as the details of one circumstance have been adequately explored we move on to a new occurrence or new character. This means that the story is to a certain extent episodic and that some of the characters remain cameos.Each episode receives at least two chapters though, so we do not feel that any incident is treated trivially.

As we have noted above apocalyptic plots are common in science fiction and indeed can be traced back as for as Mary Shelley's (1826), where civilization is also whipped out by a plague.We are also reminded of Richard Jefferies' (1885) with the vegetation covering the remains of lost culture.H. G. Wells' (1898) with its maladaptive Preacher and Engineer episodes can also be quoted.Robert O'Brien's (1976) is an example of a good, contemporaneous teen-novel with a similar theme, although in that book the disaster is nuclear holocaust.

All in all is not a bad effort and will certainly entertain the intended audience (who may not have read the many look alike works).Christopher's extended exploration of the psychology of disaster (maladaptation and anti-heroism) make his book different from the rest.
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Product Description
This excellent reference volume lists diseases inconvenient alphabetical order with concise definitions, symptomdiscriptions, causes, and herbal aids, other natural treatments, theincurables program, detoxificaion and the mucusless diet.A book forevery family. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Herbal Home Healthcare
I found this book a bit outdated and Dr. Christopher's description of "human functions" a bit on the primitive side.Would probably be of more help and interest to someone in the homeopathic field.

Good Herbal Medicine Book
I really like this book.I wish though that the ingredients had the amounts of each written with it.It is difficult to find how much of each ingredient you use in the formulation. I do have a great deal of respect for the Doctor.

Excellent information
This is a very good, informative book. The only problem I had was that it often didn't have the ratios of the herbal combinations so I couldn't make them myself without just guessing at the amounts.

Great book for beginers
This is a wonderful book for parents who would like to use herbal remedies, but don't know where to start. Dr. Christopher's book is simple and interesting to read.He offers information on cause of disease and howto avoid it, wonderful information on nutrition, an alphabetical list ofcommon childhood aliments with herbal remedies, and a section on how to'si.e. how to make an herbal tea, a fomentation, and a poltice and more.Ilove this book, I find myself turning to it time and time again!

An Essential enlightening book for every parent
This is an excellent reference volume of natural health care for both children and adults. It lists diseases inconvenient alphabetical orderwith consise definitions, symptom desscriptions, causes and herbalaids. Othernatural tratments are outlined, including the coldsheet treatment, the incurables program, detoxification and the mucusless diet. A book for every family. ... Read more

Product Description
Reflective practice has been widely adopted as a successful method for developing nursing. The second edition of Transforming Nursing through Reflective Practice provides a wealth of new insights from practitioners actively involved in reflective practice in nursing research, education, clinical practice and practice development.

This invaluable book enables nurses to continually evaluate their own practice in order to inform their approaches to reflection; critique, develop and monitor their professional practice; and thereby improve the quality of their patient care. There is a greater emphasis in the new edition on transforming practice, the research base for reflective practice and grounding the reflective process in clinical practice.

* Examines the contribution of reflective practice to nursing
* Enables nurses to continually develop their practice and improve patient care
* Includes insights from many areas of clinical practice
* Explores the role of reflection in clinical supervision and research studies
* Examines the role of narrative and reflective dialogue in reflective practice ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Transforming Nursing Through Reflective Practice by Christopher Johns
Johns is a true nurse whose works I have used as it supports transformation and vocation in nursing. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the first treatise published byDr. Christopher. In it he expounds upon his personal and religiousbeliefs of why herbs and a healthy diet should be administered tobuild a person's body or "temple" ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (6)

Beautiful! Just beautiful!
Images in this book are frame worthy. Form and light in his work are the reasons for viewing art.

new jersey art lover
This book is well worth the cover price of $27.00. Nearly every page is filled with large color plates of very high quality. If you want a high quality collection of Palencar's work this book delivers. Many of the color plates also have smaller versions of the pencil study for the work next to them. This is a great book for artists and art lovers. Palencar has extraordinary talent in drawing, painting and composition.Some of the book is devoted to some bazaar and creative fantasy work, but what I like most are his extraordinary figurative paintings. This is one book that can be judged by it's cover. If you like the cover then you'll find much inside to like.

not just fantasy art
This is a fabulous collection of work, I have never come across this artist before and am thrilled to dicover him. Do not make the mistake of thinking of Mr Palencar as a Fantasy artist, although there are some fantasy elements in some of his work, he is an Aritist period. His work has an exceptionally strong figurative element and calls to mind the work of Odd Nerdrum.

The other great thing about this book, is the inclusion of many of the preliminary drawing the Artist has produced for each of the final works, this is a great aid to anyone who has also embarked apon the path of learning to paint and draw. I have no hesitation in recommending this book

Glorious reproductions of many works by a brilliant artist
I enjoyed Palencar's surrealistic cover art for years without knowing his name. I think the first may have been for Connie Willis (both her collections of short fiction). I remember stopping and studying the cover and thinking, "Wow, this is really, really something." I saw more work, recognizably "that artist's" work, on other covers--Octavia Butler novels, Charles de Lint books. Oh, "The Onion Girl", that's another one that made me pick up the book. He makes you do that-- stop, look. He makes you stare. He does things to your insides with this amazing unreal reality he presents.

Look at the cover of FOUR AND TWENTY BLACKBIRDS? I remember being stopped cold in the bookstore for that one. "What does this mean?" It's eerily beautiful. Startling. It's something special.

And he is that. Really, really something special. There is a moodiness, a sort of solitude and mysticism, that you can feel in the artwork. I've gotten this same feeling enjoying the work of Remedios Varo--though without the consistent weight of Varo's symbolism, I gather-- that dazzling surrealist obsessed with alchemy. Palencar seems to be interested in the isolation of the humans in his worlds of wonder or terror. (The Lovecraft cover art paintings are very difficult to behold. Chilling, nauseating, as they should be.) (Then again, I could be totally wrong. This is, after all, just my impression, and I am neither an artist nor an art historian. I'm merely someone who loves SF novels and enjoys SF art.)

So, after years of enjoying cover art by JJP, I was delighted to discover that this book was out there. I have it, I've perused it, I sigh over it, and it will sit next to my other books on SF art, including my Richard Powers one. I'll be enjoying it for years.

What's inside? Well, open it and get to a fabulous two-page title page spread with a robed angel, all soft pale colors and that gorgeous face. (Palencar does faces with marvelous skill. Beautiful, dreamy, thoughtful, inward-looking, trance-y, aesthetically superb faces. And hands and feet, too. I love studying his painted feet and faces. He makes them beautiful.) ORIGINS: The art of John Jude Palencar. Turn the page for another two-page spread with the copyright info. A brunette woman with an exquisite upper back, bared by the robe that's fallen off her shoulders. Slim-fingered hands reaching out to the left, up to the right, strands meticulously painted at her nape. Again, pale colors, greys and whites,and the browns of the woman.That texture that you associate with Palencar--a graininess, like wood or granite or some other natural object with a FEEL to it. Turn one more page and you get to the painting used in ELDEST by CHristopher Paolini, and it is Paolini who pens the foreword, which he ends with, "Welcome, then, to this collection of one man's visions. You may find them thought provoking, you may find them awe-inspiring, but if nothing else, I hope you find them memorable."

I think they are memorable.

Turn the page again and you find the painting "Angelica", painted for the Sharon Shinn novel of that title. A brunette, eyes closed, face turned up, seemingly in prayer, a subtle moon to the right, unattached wings flying off to the left, and a dawn (or maybe dusk) palette of pale lavenders/grays/charcoal, and the soft and pale wings. Note the fingers and that exquisite bone structure. Opposite this painting is "Burning the Midnight Oil" : A biography of the artist, complete with photos.

After several pages of insight into the life and work of the man, the great stuff parades for you: sketches, fully realized works, titles. Page after page of the subtly painted, gorgeously executed, profoundly pleasurable art. Don't expect commentary. This is the only thing lacking in the book, although some may say it's not needed. Me, I love when works are commented on by the artist. What does it mean to him? Why that object? Why these colors?

But sans commentary, you still have paintings that speak well for themselves of wonder and the fictional or theatrical works they relate to.

Palencar just got nominated for a Hugo award for his art. I, for one, hope he wins. These paintings say he's already a winner, just by having this grand talent.

Buy ORIGINS and just abandon yourselves to his art. It's not a bad way to spend a few hours. Not bad at all.
[...]

A LONG OVERDUE COLLECTION
John Jude Palencar's art is beautiful and horrifying. Contradictory descriptions perhaps, but thoroughly fitting.Origins:The Art of John Jude Palencar, is the first collection of the artist's work.Palencar's work has been seen on hundreds of book covers as well as in the pages of magazines such as TIME, National Geographic, and Smithsonian.Even if you didn't know him by name, you've probably seen his work, and been mesmerized, just as I was.

The first Palencar cover I recall seeing was for the cover of the H.P. Lovecraft collection "Dreams of Terror and Death" back in 1995.This cover is included in the book and never has a title had a more fitting cover painting than Palencar's disturbing images of death and madness.He would also provide the covers for other Lovecraft collections: "The Road to Madness", "Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos", and "Shadows over Innsmouth."All of these covers capture the essence of Lovecraft's work superbly.These are some of the most disturbing Lovecraft images ever seen!

What is striking about Palencar's work is the strong feelings of isolation they convey, although not necessarily loneliness.A perfect example is the two-page spread of his painting "The Forest House" for the Marion Zimmer Bradley book of the same name.This painting depicts a Celtic woman, wandering in the moonlight of the foggy moorland with a Stonehenge-like ring of stones in the background.

Palencar has also tried his hand at the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, producing covers for each of the books of the trilogy for the Houghton Mifflin published editions.The most striking is his cover for "The Two Towers" showing one of the hobbits riding on top of Treebeard the Ent. The face of Treebeard was based on a photo of Tolkien himself.

One of the most simple, but effective pieces is Palencar's "Macbeth" depicting a horned, and skull-headed figure wearing a spiked crown with several small men impaled on the spikes.It's a gorgeous piece...

In all, the book features some 200 illustration in the 128 pages.Thank the good people at Underwood books for giving Palencar fans a long-overdue collection of his work.

Reviewed by Tim Janson
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Product Description
Dr. Christopher's pioneering work in natural health, and his simple, no nonsense approach to disease has helped thousands of people become healthy.

Like generations of herbalists before him, Dr. Christopher realized that the key to great health is a clean colon.

This informative book provides a comprehensive look at the colon, digestive diseases, and herbal therapies that both heal and cleanse the digestive system. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Glad to read a classic.
Interesting...but not what I was expecting at all, considering the premise of the book.I thought the book would be more about the circumstances that led to the premise of the story than that 85% of the book was the group traveling from London to the farm and the situations they came across along the way.And I didn't really get the end....

A good read, a good story, and definitely a classic.

the second half is quite good
This is now out of print:cheap paperback editions from the 60's are now selling for forty or fifty bucks.Most of John Christopher's stuff (actual name:Samuel Youd) is for pre-teens, but this novel is for adults -- though it is a short one.

This book manages to be both gripping and depressing, but it's not without its problems:

1.It seems to take forever to get started.

2.I would say that characterization in this novel is a minus.Christopher throws too many characters at you too fast.Since he doesn't bother to distinguish them much, it's a bit hard to tell them apart until the middle of the novel.But once the middle of the novel hits, even more come along.

The one thing I liked about this novel was that our heroes, in an attempt to survive, resort to murdering innocent people using an "either us or them" philosophy.Since you don't see that very often in the post-Apocalyptic genre, I would recommend it in that respect.

British style survivalism
Interesting book. A world-wide crop disease starves most of the world causing widespread famine and the associated breakdown in law and orders.
A small band makes their way from London to a safe place in the country.
It didn't go as far as I would have liked; it never showed them dealing with the challenges of maintaining their refuge.
I would recommend it.
John Severson

Good apocalypticnovel
I found this book at the library.I had heard of it. My father told me it was published as a serialized novel in the Saturday Evening Post when he was a teenager, which caused a lot of controversy.Many people found the novel upsetting.Though somewhat tame by today's standards it is still a potent look at civilization crumbling after a plague wipes out all grass, wheat, oats, and other plants destroying most of the world's food supply.It is great in showing how quickly civilized people very well could resort to violence once civilization no longer exists.The characters and well drawn and intriguing, especially the gun expert.I recommend it.

Excellent Story
This was and is a great book, and needs to be made available again.
A post apocalypse classic.
Doc ... Read more

Product Description
It all started when a group of British vacations was cut off by an avalanche. The skiing chalet up in the mountains seemed a good place to hold out for a hwile, but then the little boy mysteriously died...or appeared to. And in the impenetrable Swiss Alps something alien stirred... "A science fiction novel that is really frightening. First-rate entertainment." —The Spectator ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A terrific 'body snatching' scare
yes yes I know i rate a lot of stuff highly. The thing is I bought these BECAUSE I had already read them and loved them. This one gave me gooseflesh. I think of this book whenever I see snow now. Fun stuff.

cold comfort
This novel creeps up on you. It's rather a take on Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and has somewhat the feel of an sf B-movie. In other words, it's flawed but frightful fun. Some of the usual tropes: a snowed-in group of ski vacationers; a kid who finds something in the snow, drops dead, then miraculously revives... but changed; the one-by-one recruitment of individuals from the group into becoming like the boy; the slow realization of what is happening; the siege mentality and the need to save the world from this encroachment. Sounds like a lot of sf movies you've seen, doesn't it? Paranoia mixed with an undue confidence in man's ingenuity and resilience. And this book pulls it off with some real chills (pun intended). That's its best characteristic. But the major flaw comes from the characters. First off, the story shifts across the perspective of four of the main characters, thereby losing some of its force. Does it thereby gain in scope? I don't think so. Douglas, the first person we meet, is an utter bore who never rises to the crisis in any meaningful way. As it turns out, none of the characters is very gripping. Rather a dull lot, really. We get inside their heads alright, but yawning all the way. This is a major weakness in the story. I can see that the author may have been correlating the emotional deadness of the people with the total depersonalization effected by the "possessors." There's some art in that. But not much excitement.

Amazing.
I can't understand why John Christopher isn't better known. Since discovering him in the last few months, I've searched for and read everything I could find. His best books should have made him as well-known as some of his contemporaries like Richard Matheson and Ray Bradbury.

This book is one of his best. A group of people snowed in to a small resort while something alien takes them, one by one. There are moments that frighten as well as a movie. The story builds with a quiet suspense, just under the surface, and pays off with a plausible, strong ending.

I like gory, flashy Stephen King novels a lot. But John Christopher's English, stoic, thoughtful horror/science fiction is a great change of pace. This one will stay with me for a long time.

Other great John Christopher books include No Blade of Grass, if you can find it, and Wrinkle in the Skin.

Exciting!
An exciting and well written novel even if you're not a fan of science fiction. I really felt like I was holed up in the chalet in the middle of an avalanche with the characters.

Unforgettable!
I read this book for the first time when I was a teenager and I have been looking for a copy of my own ever since (I had forgotten the title and finally tracked it down).The story with its vivid characters has stayed with me for thirty years.The author made me feel as though I was in the lodge with the trapped guests and staff, feeling the dread they feel, sharing their helplessness. Find this book and read it!! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

A Good Read
My friend, Science Fiction writer K.D. Kragen recommended this to me when we were discussing what a seabed might look like were the water to suddenly disappear. This is a very good read by British author John Christopher. It may seem a little dated to some, given when it was written, and the very "British" style of writing, but make no mistake, it is tense and hard to put down. It leaves just enough for speculation that the imagination is indeed exercised. Which is good.

A fair read with almost something more...
To be fair this is a good book.On the other hand I did not find it action packed.I do want to however recommend this book to the reader looking for a more REALISTIC point of view of a great disaster or your Armageddon.
Set in modern times, a number of great earthquakes destroy modern earth and change the landscapes.Seas are gone, new lands appear, etc.The author does a good job of painting a picture of victums in the ruins of houses and buildings during the disaster and I liked this best about the story.If you are from the islands neer or on England you will really love this book as it describes the small islands near England and will probably move you more that someone land locked here in the middle of farm land USA.

Timeless
The age on this story doesn't show a bit, I find myself thinking about these characters and what happened to them.Did they survive the winter?Are they still dealing with bandits, rapists and thieves?What type of new world are they creating?This is the sign of a good book, continues to make you think and wonder.I'm off to buy another one from this great author.....

I and my students loved the book.
This novel is wonderful for teaching students to think about what could happen in a natural or man-made disaster.I think pairing this book with Alas, Babylon is a wonderful idea.I am also thinking of including in the unit Lord of the Flies.How do people handle natural disasters, man-made disasters, and war?Discussions will be great!

Great story but needed a better ending
To start let me say that the author is one of my favorites and that is why I purchased this book.I am also a fan of this genre too.I found the book very entertaining and interesting.The thought of earthquakes so bad that the world reverts back to it infancy is terrifying and believable.In this case the people do horrible things to survive because they know no better way to survive in such a bleak world were there are no more supermarkets and drive thru windows.The only weak part, I thought, was the end.Christopher usually has some very good endings that make you really take a step back and look at yourself and the world a little differently.This ending was a little more "happy" but also abrupt and i felt i needed a little more explanation or closure.Something explain what eventually happens to the main character and his boy companion.

Overall it was a good read, but also check out the Sword of the Spirits Trilogy and the Tripods Trilogy by the same author.Very good books, geared for young readers, but good at any age.You'll be glad you did.


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