Product Description

Poignant, evocative, and unforgettable, The Space Between Us is an intimate portrait of a distant yet familiar world. Set in modern-day India, it is the story of two compelling and achingly real women: Sera Dubash, an upper-middle-class Parsi housewife whose opulent surroundings hide the shame and disappointment of her abusive marriage, and Bhima, a stoic illiterate hardened by a life of despair and loss, who has worked in the Dubash household for more than twenty years. A powerful and perceptive literary masterwork, author Thrity Umrigar's extraordinary novel demonstrates how the lives of the rich and poor are intrinsically connected yet vastly removed from each other, and how the strong bonds of womanhood are eternally opposed by the divisions of class and culture.

Told in a series of flashbacks and present day encounters, The Space Between Us gains strength from both plot and prose. A beautiful tale of tragedy and hope, Umrigar's second novel is sure to linger in readers' minds. --Gisele Toueg ... Read more

Customer Reviews (152)

Poetic Prose and Complex Characters
I picked up "The Space Between Us," because Amazon recommended it to me after I read The Help. Both books are about the relationships between wealthier women and their poorer domestic help. "The Help" takes place in the U.S. and "The Space Between Us" takes place in India. "The Help" tackles race relations in the U.S. head on, whereas "The Space Between Us" touches upon race, in the sense of different ethnic groupings within India, in a much more subtle way. As much as I liked "The Help", I have to say that I enjoyed "The Space Between Us" a lot more.

"The Space Between Us" is elegantly written with a poetic style that isn't overdone. The storytelling has a steady flow that captured my attention from beginning to end. I was definitely engrossed and entertained, but I would not characterize it as a fast-paced, plot-driven book. It has a peaceful flow.

The overarching plot is simple and serves as the backbone of the novel, but it isn't the main focus. The real beauty of the book is in the characters, especially the main ones -Sera and her domestic servant, Bhima. The author weaves in background stories about the lives of the characters, how they came to be, and the relationships between them. The weaving of stories is done in such a way that I never felt lost. I never became confused about whether I was reading the present plotline or a past story. The characters are well-developed and multi-dimensional. No one is cast as simply a "good" character or a "bad" one. My only complaint is that the ending was not as satisfying as I would have liked, but it wasn't bad.

I highly recommend it to people who enjoy novels that explore class and race relations, novels that explore relationships between women, and novels about India. If you appreciate beautiful poetic prose and don't mind the lack of a fast-paced plot, then this is the book for you.

Is "this" how it is today?
The Space Between Us: A Novel ( Deckle Edge ) (P.S.)This book has stayed with me for over a year.I'm about to lead discussion for my book club.These two women have haunted me - and the ending threw me for a loop.Are theliving conditions still so horrible for some,
and the "unseen" caste system in place.The two women so alike in many ways - but could not use the same plates.Is this through their culture, traditions -etc....Very curious - Jersey

Not great
The story was quite predicable -- The author used lots of foreign words with no glossary or explanation.After a while, I didn't care. A B- book at best.

The Space Between Us
The Space Between Us is an engaging, thoughtful and intelligent story. It was such a treat how Dr. Umrigar was able to articulate the feelings and emotions of both working class as well as middle class Indian and Parsi women and the fact that I, a Mexican American, could so deeply understand the emotions, fears and hopes speaks to the fact that this book will be appreciated by those of any culture. At times I felt frustrated with the mistreatment of women, at times I felt anxious to know that the treatment of women throughout the world, despite class, varies greatly, in the end I felt proud to be a member of such a passionate, caring and powerful group. Dr. Umrigar, writes beautifully. Once you become engaged in the story it will be difficult to put down.

The wide gap between two Indian women in close proximity
The space between us narrates the bond and class distinction of two Indian women, Bhima, a domestic help for Sera Dubash, a wealthy Parsi widow in Bombay. Both women are joined together by life's adversities but separated by class distinction in the society. Bhima's adversities has been harsh: Bedeviled by poverty in a slum, she has been a victim of treachery due to her illiteracy. Believing in the power of education, she saw to it that her orphaned granddaughter, Maya would be educated. Unfortunately, Maya has shattered her dreams of an education by becoming pregnant. Her work in the Dubash's household has its own drawbacks. She eats on the floor and is not allowed to share in the family's utensils, a space created by her boss, Sera Dubash, due to their class distinction. Sera Dubash's wealthy as she is, has been a victim of domestic violence in the hands of her husband. And she tries to "bridge" the gap that exists between her and her househelp by providing quite generously to her employee, a superficial gesture through handouts. However the chasm still exists between them, and finally grows wider by the treacherous act of Sera Dubash's son in-law, Viraf, who falsely implicates the faithful Bhima of theft, in an act to conceal his weakness: impregnating Maya. When the truth surfaces, the trust between Sera and Bhima is ultimately shattered by blood and class, and the elderly Bhima is terminated from her job.

The Space between us, as melancholic as it is, is a universal story on class distinction and betrayal. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (19)

Review of The Shape of Inner Space
A really interesting book. While it deals with very high-level mathematics, Yau and Nadis are able to explain it so that it is comprehensible to the average reader who does not have a PhD in mathematics. Much of it also deals with a historical look at the mathematics of the last 20 years or so, and how it has led to advances in string theory. In addition it also explains the interactions between the complex math of high-level geometry and its relationship to string theory, and how the two have worked together to advance each other. Would highly recommend it.

"An Extraordinary Journey"
The "Shape of Inner Space" by Shing-Tung Yau and Steve Nardis is an extraordinary journey of the hidden dimensions of the universe. The authors take us on an exhilarating ride through terrains of mathematics and physics. Calabi-Yau manifolds are topological structures and are central to superstring theory. These compacted multi-dimensional structures are rolled up into small shapes, which are unobservable by humans.

As an artist, I found this book fascinating. My work is interdisciplinary and has bridged the disciplines of mathematics, science and art. It will serve as an inspiration for years to come.
I strongly recommend this book.
Irene Rousseau MFA, Ph.D.

Math Simplified
An immensely complex subject, simplified in every day terms and made readable for non mathematicians like myself.

A Beautiful Book
This book gives a very clear explanation of how geometrical ideas can influence physics.There are almost no math equations in the book, so it is a very good read for anyone who would like to get an idea of some of the core math ideas behind string theory.Lately, there have been a lot of articles and books that would give the lay person the idea that maybe string theory should be ignored.But this book makes it very clear why some of the ideas behind higher dimensional spaces open upfruitful areas which generate a lot of thought.The broken symmetry that we see in the standard model as well as its failure to account for gravity suggest that Calabi-Yau spaces are either a part of the explanation, or are at least a fruitful direction in which to look.

A fantastic journey into mathematics of string theory
This book is not only unique for elegantly explaining complicated concepts of geometry, and its `DNA' imprint on physics via string theory, but it is said from the vantage point of the world renowned geometer who has played a major role in all
these developments.Through
the collaboration of the two authors, the book is very down to earth and has
a style which not only explains how different ideas have unfolded in the past
couple of decades, but how beautifully natural they all fit with one another.
Black holes, curved space, topology and a human struggle to understand the inner
workings of nature through beautiful mathematical reasoning shines very clearly
through the book and provides the reader with a front row seat for an exciting
journey into the interaction of modern physics and mathematics.I strongly recommend this book to all those interested in seeing the power of elegant mathematics
applied to the most enigmatic questions in modern physics. ... Read more

Product Description
Louis is back! And this time, he's learning all about personal space. Louis, a self-taught space expert is delighted to learn that his teacher has sent him to the principal's office to attend personal space camp. Eager to learn more about lunar landings, space suits, and other cosmic concepts, Louis soon discovers that he has much to learn about personal space right here on earth. Written with style, wit, and rhythm, personal space camp addresses the complex issue of respect for another person s physical boundaries. Told from Louis perspective, this story is a must-have resource for parents, teachers, and counselors who want to communicate the idea of personal space in a manner that connects with kids. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Personal Space Camp
This is a wonderful story book introducing children, and adults who never learned, about physical boundries.Fun and full of meaning.

Review from Books That Heal Kids
Julia Cook's books are an absolute hit with our students. I was ecstatic when I found Personal Space Camp. I'd already been using My Mouth Is A Volcano to reinforce school skills like raising your hand and waiting your turn to talk. But what about when kids are in each others space during 'carpet time' or pushing and shoving in the cafeteria line? These behaviors can make instruction difficult and cause a lot of teacher angst. I don't know how many times I've had to say, 'Please, keep your hands to yourself.' Personal Space Camp is a life saver book. Angst will be decreased!

Okay, so in defense of the kids - developmentally it's really difficult to sometimes be in control of yourself. Kids need to move and wiggle around. However, they need extra guidance building awareness of themselves and those around them before the wiggling offends another student. When there are 20 some bodies in a classroom - we have to learn to work and live together. And newsflash - negative reinforcement doesn't build awareness - it just makes kiddos feel bad. I use Personal Space Camp as a social awareness teaching tool because it makes kids feel GOOD about themselves. They love learning about the concept of personal space and how it can affect others positively and negatively. Most importantly, the story is engaging and Louis is a VERY likeable character. We also copy Louis and use the same strategies in the book. The kids love being jammed into a hula hoop and reflection gets those light bulbs flashing about personal space. And here is the best part, author Julia Cook wrote a supplementary activity and idea book!! Activities galore! I got my hands on it this Spring and started integrating the lessons in small groups. The main reason the guide rocks is because the activities provide cool visuals for the students. Yep, your lessons on personal space just got even MORE engaging! Educators, get this one on your shelf. When teaching classroom routines, make this part of your curriculum.

Move over!
This book is a great resource for teachers, guidence counselors, and librarians!Children need to learn the importance of "personal space," and this book explains it very well in a fun way, that can be put into practical use in the classroom!A 5-star salute!

Personal Space Camp
Love experimenting just like the story with my children. This book presents awareness for personal space in an excellent fashion that entices children to want to learn and explore their body space.

Great book about Boundaries
As a counselor, I'm always looking for resources focused on personal space and boundaries. This is the only book I have found that truly addressed the social skill and offers students hands-on ways to deal with the problem. The hula hoop, bubbles, rope for standing in line, etc. are all great tangible ways to teach kids about boundaries. I wish there were more resources out there! ... Read more

Product Description

From the author of the bestselling Anam Cara comes a beautiful collection of blessings to help readers through both the everyday and the extraordinary events of their lives.

John O’Donohue, Irish teacher and poet, has been widely praised for his gift of drawing on Celtic spiritual traditions to create words of inspiration and wisdom for today. In To Bless the Space Between Us, his compelling blend of elegant, poetic language and spiritual insight offers readers comfort and encouragement on their journeys through life. O’Donohue looks at life’s thresholds—getting married, having children, starting a new job—and offers invaluable guidelines for making the transition from a known, familiar world into a new, unmapped territory. Most profoundly, however, O’Donohue explains “blessing” as a way of life, as a lens through which the whole world is transformed.

O’Donohue awakens readers to timeless truths and shows the power they have to answer contemporary dilemmas and ease us through periods of change.

Customer Reviews (46)

To bless the space between us
After reading Anam cara by the same author I found this book lighter and an easier read.
beautiful blessings for every occasion-, thought provoking insights of philosophy between each section.
These are not 'lightweight' quips that you often find in little books of wisdom- each blessing requires thought and time to digest.
I very much enjoy all work by this author- a book of beauty and wisdom.

The Peace That Surpasseth Understanding
John O'Donohue so beautifully puts into words the peace and blessings that are underneath ALL of life's problems and losses.His book can bless us in challenging us to look for them.

To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings
I had only heard of John O'Donohue after his death.I'm a huge fan of NPR's Speaking of Faith, which has his last interview.I have my own copy and have given it many times as a gift for friends or family.

What a wonderful blessing!
I have just purchased another copy as I gave my original to a dear friend. If you have read John's other books, you will feel graced to hold and read this treasure of blessings. There is something for everyday, special occasions and the days to just ponder on the beauty of the words and the way in which John puts them on paper.

Beautiful affirmation of the lost art of benediction
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R255WCV8WHESTU I'm senior minister of Plymouth Congregational UCC in Fort Collins, Colorado, and I love this book! I use it for study groups and in my own spiritual life. ... Read more

Product Description
The classic book on how we experience intimate spaces.

"A magical book. . . . A prism through which all worlds from literary creation to housework to aesthetics to carpentry take on enhanced—and enchanted-significances. Every reader of it will never see ordinary spaces in ordinary ways. Instead the reader will see with the soul of the eye, the glint of Gaston Bachelard."
—from the foreword by John R. Stilgoe

6473-4 / $15.00tx / paperbackAmazon.com Review
This is a deep, magical, densely captivating book about space,our homes, how we live in them, and how dwellings and space affect us;it is as much a book of philosophy as a work of serious literature. Itrequires careful, preferably leisurely reading, with the possibilityof moments to pause and digest and re-read the words. It will changethe way you look at your home and your life, providing a deeper, moreinsightful relationship with the spaces you occupy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Boring and excessively wordy
I had to read this for a class (that was out of my major).So I guess I'm not really in the target audience.If you like reading sentences like:

"In this reverberation, the poetic image will have a sonority of being."

Then you'll probably like this book.By the way, this is from the second page of the book, so the author hasn't really defined what he means by "reverberation" and "sonority of being" yet.As far as I can tell, he never really defined any of these terms (other than in some mushy mashy way invoking a bunch of other weird terms that I didn't understand).

I dunno, maybe I'm too simple a man to enjoy this stuff.I guess if you are considering buying it, you should go read the book preview.The entire book sounds exactly like so if you can stand that style, then I guess there are some insights to be had in there.But to me it all just came off as academic sophistry.

book review
It's a great book and arrived quickly. It's highly recommended for creative artists and book makers

distracting and dreamy(not the good kind)
I purchased this book to further my appreciation of architecture and was disappointed to discover this book only frustrates.I enjoy creative use of language to convey thoughts and ideas, however I feel this book fails to communicate much of anything other than disorganized emotions.I can best comparemy experience reading this book to listening to the logic and argument of a 4 year old -only with bigger words.

English, please
I don't know if the problem is in the content of the book, or in the translation, but the book was almost incomprehensible. Unfortunately, I don't speak French, so I can't read the original and compare them, but I suspect it is the translation, which appeared a bit stilted and unnatural (similar to translations of Frederick Bastiat's The Law, or Pierre Boulle's Planet of the Apes, both of which were oddly worded, although easily readable, and Bastiat wrote more than 150 years ago).

Maybe the translator didn't quite understand the topic, or have a conversational grasp of the English language, either of which would make translating difficult. I almost picked up my Strunk & White's Elements of Style to review their readability formula just to quantify how dense this book was, but restrained myself.

To the reviewers I read before buying this book, now I understand why a number of them wrote things like, "you have to be able to sit back and ponder the book, savoring the words before digesting them." I took this as a sign that there were deep meanings that mesmerized the reader, and looked forward to it. No. To translate that phrase into common English, it means, "the translator has an Oxford English Dictionary and he's going to use it."

Whats the big deal
I don't get why this is the bible of architects.Its boring as hell.Sure people are affected by the spaces they inhabit for various conditioning reasons.OK thats obvious but do I need to read a whole book written in pompous philospeak to learn that.

Honestly I put it down half way.Too boring and too many other things to read.Life is short. ... Read more

Product Description

Does the world make you sick? If the distractions and distortions around you, the jarring colors and sounds, could shake up the healing chemistry of your mind, might your surroundings also have the power to heal you? This is the question Esther Sternberg explores in Healing Spaces, a look at the marvelously rich nexus of mind and body, perception and place.

Sternberg immerses us in the discoveries that have revealed a complicated working relationship between the senses, the emotions, and the immune system. First among these is the story of the researcher who, in the 1980s, found that hospital patients with a view of nature healed faster than those without. How could a pleasant view speed healing? The author pursues this question through a series of places and situations that explore the neurobiology of the senses. The book shows how a Disney theme park or a Frank Gehry concert hall, a labyrinth or a garden can trigger or reduce stress, induce anxiety or instill peace.

If our senses can lead us to a “place of healing,” it is no surprise that our place in nature is of critical importance in Sternberg’s account. The health of the environment is closely linked to personal health. The discoveries this book describes point to possibilities for designing hospitals, communities, and neighborhoods that promote healing and health for all.

Customer Reviews (5)

great for corporate wellness
I am a corporate wellness director who is often asked by superiors to justify health programming for my constituents with the evidence-base (appropriately so). Dr. Sternberg's book is a fantastic review of the impact of environment on health and why everyone should pay more attention to our surroundings as they influence many aspects of overall well-being.

Healing Spaces
Dr. Sternberg makes an excellent case for the powerful role of the mind in promoting healing.I gifted this book to a dear friend who has Multiple Sclerosis and who struggles on a daily basis to cope with her disease.There is no doubt that a positive attitude is foremost in coping with any chronic health problem. Equally important is creating an environment where that positive force can thrive. Enabling ourselves to return to a functioning level depends on our ability to comprehend the advances in research on mind-body-environment integration.To that extent the author has successfully taken complicated research discoveries and simplified them through example and discourse in layman's terms.When we acquire this knowledge and use it in our daily lives, we enhance our ability to rise above being victimized and defined by a disease process. I highly recommend this for people who are living with any chronic disease process and for their caretakers as well.The average healthy individual will find this book useful in building an environment that promotes health in their daily lives.There's no magic or superstition in this book.It's based on solid science.Read it and get on with living a good life.

New studies back old ideas
After listening to a fascinating CBC radio interview with Dr. Sternberg, I bought the book for additional information and was not disappointed. It is interesting to read about new studies that provide empirical evidence supporting both old and new theories.
A great glimpse into evidence based design in healthcare facilities.

Wonderful and Important Reading
Dr. Sternberg's new book is a delight to read.It's one thing to demand of a competent science writer that she decipher and distill complex research and tell lay readers what the findings mean.It's quite another to demand that the writer entertains and inspires her readers at the same time.But Dr. Sternberg does both.I hope its accessibility gains the book wide readership, not only among casually interested readers, but among architects, engineers, builders and building owners.The concepts it puts forth are important--at least as important, in my opinion, as those advocated by followers of the "green building" movement, which seems all the rage right now.

Important lessons will be learned from this book
The world around us has an influence on the quality of our mental and physical health. Being calm, happy, and finding joy in what we do will increase the quality of our health. This book provides a wonderful insight into the influence of what we see and hear on our health. Dr. Sternberg writes in a manner that is not only easy to read and understand but is highly motivating. Adults should share her insight and with children to increase the likelihood that they will grow up being aware of their environment on their health. This book provides important insights and is an important contribution not only for the quality of health of current generations, but for future generations.I recommend it highly for all who are concerned about promoting healthy lifestyles.
... Read more

Product Description
Au revoir, Pluto! In this newly revised, bestselling backlist title, beginning readers and budding astronomers are launched on a wild trip to visit the now eight planets in our solar system (per the International Astronomical Union’s 2006 decision to downgrade Pluto from a planet to a dwarf planet), along with the Cat in the Hat, Thing One, Thing Two, Dick, and Sally. It’s a reading adventure that’s out of this world!Amazon.com Review
The perfect first space book for those almost-readers,There's No Place Like Space takes us on a whirlwind tour of oursolar system, with a few constellations thrown in for goodmeasure. Cat in the Hat (along with beloved Thing One and Thing Two)straps on his space suit and rhymes his way among the nine planets,presenting important facts along the way. Where else could yourpreschooler learn phonics and astronomy at same time? "A planet canhave satellites that surround it.Uranus has lots of these objectsaround it" is just one example. This is a fine addition to the libraryof any young stargazer--few books are written with this many factsfurnished in such an easy-reading manner. (Preschool to early reader)--Jill Lightner ... Read more

Customer Reviews (32)

Learning is fun with the Cat in the Hat.
This book is written in a very kid-friendly and familiar manner. The rhymes are actually mnemonics which assist in learning about our solar system.Information is accurate in that Pluto is no longer included as a planet. Children learn facts about each of the eight planets, plus several constellations, our moon and the sun.The book itself is made of durable, high quality material and should last through many, many readings.

A great book to engage young kids in astronomy
Compared to other books in this Dr. Seuss series, The Cat in the Hat's Learning library, this book is the easiest for early readers to read, and has the most accessible content.Kids can identify with the moon, sun, and stars -- just as we turn the page where you will find it, our daughter says, "moon," and enjoys pointing it out as soon as the page has turned -- and similarly for the earth and the sun.My daughter discovered the moon in the sky before her second birthday, and ever since has always been pleased to find pictures of it in books.Like my daughter, all kids can relate to concepts and images in this book to their experience.It's a fun story to read with delightful pictures.The book tells a few basic things about each object in the night sky.It is not overly detailed, just enough to engage the interest of early readers in astronomy.One goal of the book is clearly to help prepare early readers for the type of reading comprehension skills they will need in school, but it comes across as an enjoyable book to read with some useful base knowledge of space.I was frustrated to learn that Pluto was completely removed from the revised edition.Just because it's no longer technically a planet, I thought it was a bit extreme to remove it all together.I wish they had simply described what Pluto actually is, but left it in the book.(They are also removing Indigo from the rainbow:Roy G. Biv = Roy G. Bv now.Next year we might not have the number 9...)Still, I loved the book very much, and would share it with any child.I highly recommend it.I think it's the best book in the series, and my daughter agrees.
I have a minor critique about the part of the book that shows that the earth is spinning and attempts to explain why we don't feel it spin:The simplified answer given is that we're spinning with the earth each day.I don't think that kids will find this to be satisfactory when they get older:When they ride in circles in amusement parks, they will see that they are spinning with the car, and yet very much feel the spinning, and so will find this contradictory to the explanation given.This is a very minor detail, and by bringing up the issue the book is showing kids to try to reason through ideas which they are curious about.

Great!
The book arrived sooner than it was expected and in very good condition.
Thanks!

VERY USED
I was very surprised when I received this book. It was a used library book that has been extremely used. The spine is broken and it looks like it might have gotten wet before too. I shouldn't complain because it was very inexpensive but the description said it was used but in very good condition. Disappointed

Be aware Pluto and Ceres and Charon are missing from this!
I don't know when this book was revised, but buyers should be aware that Ceres and Pluto are missing. Charon(moon around Pluto)is also not included.

Otherwise, it's a really cute book. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (18)

Altman be... pitied.
Seriously, this book presents a twisted recollection on just how the Church of Unitology get's going. Altman should not be praised, he should be pitied.

Great book all around.

Great book, would be great movie
This is a great book, entertaining, and gives a good back story to how the marker was first extracted...It would be a great live action movie, not a cheap anime rip off like Dead Space Downfall...Downfall was terrible!Anyway this book is a good read and the game is really good, I suggest playing the game then reading this, now!

A good read with some intriguing backstory
This book offers an enormous amount of backstory, including the discovery and excavation of the Black Marker, biographical information about Michael Altman, as well as the truth behind the faith of Unitoligy. Keeping up with Dead Space's legacy of visceral violence, this book delivers hours of blood soaked entertainment for those willing to delve into its pages.

More of a game guide
I guess it's my own fault for not knowing what I was buying.I did not know this was a book based on a vidio game... but boy is it!In fact, I was thinking it was reading like a FPS game about half way through.. go down a hall and kill some bad guys.. they capture you, but you escape... they capture you again... go down a hall and kill some monstors... escape again... get captured again..This was a very tedious book to read with a completely silly ending.

What a downer...
Dead Space: Martyr is about Michael Altman, the religious figure at the heart of the church of Unitology, and his clumsy journey from a lowly computer tech to an unwilling cult legend. Far in the future, Earth's resources are dwindling, and major mining corporations have already wasted thousands of lives and dollars fighting over the surface of the Moon during a war called "the moon skirmishes". Now, they use robots to comb the landscape and ocean floor to dredge up anything left that could be used for energy and ore. One such corporation, known as "DredgerCorp", actually a front for the military, is camped out in the Yucatan Peninsula on the edge of a massive underwater crater known as Chicxulub. Their compound is settled on the edge of a shantytown where the underprivileged locals live. DredgerCorp have contracted out to specialists from many different continents (now called "sectors") to serve as technicians and foremen.

One such technician, Michael Altman, a geophysicist, discovers gravity fluctuations coming from the center of the crater. Then some really strange and spooky things start happening. Something ancient and alien is stirring at the bottom of the ocean, something that may or may not have humanity's best interests in mind, and the world is about to change. Rather than sitting it out like a good little "company man", he decides to dig deeper and spread his findings far and wide, a noble intent but nonetheless a mistake that will probably cost him his life, and cost humanity much more in the long run.

This book is good in some parts, but never really soars. B.K. Evanson describes everything in really streamlined narrative, absent any flair or creative descriptions. He just lays it out very straight-forward, to the point of using the same exact words in adjacent sentences, and sometimes in the same sentences, which is lazy. There isn't even any environmental detail in this book-- not once is there mention of the Yucatan climate, the ocean, the skyline, the horizon, anything-- the characters move in and around vague geographical locations, like "the beach" "the sand" "the ocean", in between all the human-made settings like "the bar" "the lab" "the boat". This feels like kind of a gyp, but on the other hand, it gives the story a simplicity and momentum that makes it very easy to read, especially combined with the super-short chapters. This makes Martyr very fast and digestible, completely stripped of the fluff that normally makes a story colorful and interesting and instead giving you the impression of constant action even when nothing is really happening. Sure, what you take away from it is empty and depressing, but it works absolute wonders for the horror sequences, which are introduced just as casually as everything else in the book.

These are the points where Brian suddenly isn't afraid to go all out with the description, while maintaining the "casual stroll" voice of the narrator. One of the first sequences in the book involves a child finding a not-quite-dead creature washed up on the shore. The whole situation is absolutely petrifying, one of the scariest things I've ever read. More and more townsfolk appear as the monster proceeds to change and grow, morphing it's half-human body into a giant pump as it futilely attempts to terraform the surrounding environment. It's disgusting, it's creepy, and terrifying in its singular focus, and the rest of the book-- including the massacre towards the end-- is a letdown in comparison, barring a great sequence involving the discovery of the artifact at the center of the crater. It's too bad more of the book doesn't have the kind of descriptive fervor and clarity of direction featured in these moments.

Dead Space: Martyr is a really depressing book. You won't realize how depressing until you get to the last page, close the book and go "Really? Is that it? Wow." Evenson uses his talent for stripped narrative to drag us along through a series of build-ups that take us to new locations and new characters but never feels like it's going anywhere, giving the 10 or so sections of the book misleading names like "collapse" "all hell breaks loose" and "the end of the world", even when the events contained in these sections don't quite live up to the titles. Brian does however do a great job of sneaking subtle hints and implications into his storytelling and dialogue that tie into what we already know from the Dead Space universe (assuming you've played the video game, which you should.) He sometimes very cleverly answer questions raised earlier on by having the characters make educated suggestions, then never mentioning it again. I like this style, because it requires the reader to think a little bit, to use their imagination, and create their own fear and tension inside their minds. The writers for the television show LOST used this tactic to "answer" a lot of the mysteries of the series, and a lot of the outcry over "unanswered questions" after the credits rolled showed us that some people weren't paying as much attention as they should have been. So extra points to Evanson for implementing this tactic into his character's dialogue.

This style of writing goes a long way to explaining how the artifact works, what it is trying to do, and why Altman seems immune to most of its effects. This book actually answers a TON of questions about the Dead Space universe, especially in the approach to the cryptic, mystic natives of Chicxulub, who fear the alien artifact and its powers with a kind of cross-generational bitterness. It infects their cultural myths and social attitudes (the artifact is eerily attuned to human nature.) They understand it without really understanding it, and try to keep it contained without really knowing why. The military has other plans for the artifact, and manipulate science for their own fortune and gain. The artifact itself, as we know, operates on multiple levels, causing a host of side-effects from the electromagnetic field it projects, such as paranoia, hallucinations, religious fervor, and other things far, far worse. Which of these elements are manifested by the artifact, and which are a function of our own bodies and souls? Which parts of the artifact are malignant, which benevolent? Both? Neither? How does one rate a wholly alien creation in a human context? I really appreciated the way Evanson plays up the mysterious nature of the Marker and how it plays into, and perhaps is activated by, the strengths and weaknesses of the organisms around it.

Unfortunately, Evanson seemed more interested in filling in these blanks in an interesting way than in writing a captivating story with realistic characters and motivations. For instance, sans a compelling conversation in a bar, we're never told why Altman behaves the way he does, why he even cares, other than he is super bored or inherently rebellious. Wowee. His girlfriend, Ada, is even shallower, thrown in as a token female character that does nothing but worry, give Altman someone to worry about, and conveniently tie one plot thread to another at a critical moment for no other reason than it serves the drive of the story. This lack of depth, ironically, helps to make the bad-guys than much more menacing, if only because their motivations are also unclear, and bad people with unclear motivations are dangerous. You will really hate these bastards by the end of the book. Just don't expect any justice.

Lastly, the story of Martyr is kind of a big fat rip off of Sphere by Michael Crichton, a far superior novel. If you liked that book, but wished it were a hundred pages shorter and with shallower... everything, then Martyr might be to your liking. Which is kind of sad, because the world of Dead Space is ultimately far more interesting than anything Crichton ever dreamed up. During the interview I watched with Evanson at a Dead Space convention, he seemed like a well-spoken, thoughtful writer, and he stated that with Martyr he was exploring the theme of running out of oxygen. So I kept an eye out for it here, and while suffocation plays into the story at several key points, it's nothing to get excited over. If he was trying to create a claustrophobic atmosphere through dry, simplistic descriptions, then he succeeded, and the book is definitely interesting and spooky enough to be worth a read.

I'm also sure his intention to feed the reader as little information about the World of the Future was intentional, and there are enough minor details (that tie into current events of course, an old science-fiction standby) and references in the dialogue to make the world of Martyr seem coherent and lived-in. But just barely. The end result feels minimum and canned, and the payoff, while accomplishing the goal of filling us in as to how Unitology got started and why, never really succeeds in telling us who Altman is or why we should care about him, other than the fact that he is some sorry dupe who was too curious and got martyred for it. But I guess that's the point; history is written by the victors, and legends are created to serve the ruling class. It's all dreary and sad like the rest of the Dead Space universe, but not nearly as rich or compelling.
... Read more

Product Description
Whether you inhabit a studio or a sprawling house with one challenging space, Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, co-founder of the most popular interior design website, Apartment Therapy, will help you transform tiny into totally fabulous.
 
According to Maxwell, size constraints can actually unlock your design creativity and allow you to focus on what’s essential. In this vibrant book, he shares forty small, cool spaces that will change your thinking forever.
 
These apartments and houses demonstrate hundreds of inventive solutions for creating more space in your home, and for making it more comfortable. Leading us through entrances, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms, bedrooms, home offices, and kids’ rooms, Apartment Therapy’s Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces is brimming with ingenious tips and ideas, such as:
 
•   Shifting the sense of scale through contrasting colors
•   Adding airiness by using transparent collections
•   Utilizing the area under a loft bed for a kitchen and mini-bar
•   Tucking an office with chic vintage doors into an unused bedroom corner
 
In each dwelling Maxwell points out what makes the layout work and what adds style. Most of the “therapy” involves minor tweaks that can be accomplished on a limited budget, such as dividing a room with sheer curtains, turning a door into a desk, or disguising electrical boxes with art displays. An extensive resource guide, including Maxwell’s favorite websites for buying desks, open storage solutions, and much more, will help you turn even the tiniest residence into a place you are always happy to come home to. 
  ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

A gift for San Francisco daughter...
Great ideas for those big city studio apartments...she has the idea and is planning her re-do.

Love it !
I love this book, I'm a fan of Apartment Therapy's blog. The book arrived in perfect shape and the delivery time was perfect.

ANOTHER WINNER FROM APARTMENT THERAPY!!!
I have been a fan of this site for a few years.I have the first book and keenly waited for this second one.AT shows us all how small space living does not have to be cramped -or second rate.I have reconsidered what type of apartment I want for my next move.I could save money and have the place of my dreams for the moment, too!!

Wipe the drool, please
I love Apartment Therapy and I love their site. Yes, I'd seen many of these images online but I'm a book person too so it was great to just sit and take them in. Innovative, stylish, affordable spaces with ideas aplenty.

Two thumbs up!

Smaller is Better
This book should appeal to a wide audience as almost everyone has a small space - no matter how large the house. There are many clever and creative solutions included in the book.I also like the size - compact and easy to hold. ... Read more

Product Description
ohn Pawson is an architect and designer whose exceptional work combines an essential simplicity with a keen attention to the details of everyday life and human experience. His pared-down yet luxurious houses and art galleries were his first projects to gain international attention, and his work has since included Calvin Klein's flagship store in New York, airport lounges for Cathay Pacific, and a kitchen for Obumex. In the last decade, the scope of his designs has broadened from objects and interiors to include houses, monasteries, pavilions and boats. This change in scale has given his office the opportunity to refine its minimalist aesthetic and further develop its ideas of a fundamental architecture based on the qualities of space, proportion, light and materials. Frequently these projects intervene in existing conditions to create spaces that are simultaneously simple and complex, timeless and contemporary: in the Novy Dvur Monastery in the Czech Republic, elements of the original baroque complex are combined with entirely new architecture to create a mysterious and beautiful sequence of spaces, and in the Baron House in Sweden the vernacular language of the area is refined and abstracted to create a truly modern home. In Plain Space, author Alison Morris presents both this recent body of work and earlier projects from the perspective of someone who has had unique access to the work and archives of the office. In thematic essays and narrative project descriptions she examines the firm's working processes, relationship with clients, and approach to design. These insights into how Pawson and his office approach all different kinds of projects, including a cricket pavilion, a ballet stage set, apartment and boat interiors, will be of interest to architects, students, and anyone looking to simplify and beautify their own living space. Filled with exquisite photographs and detailed drawings, Plain Space will be the next must-have book for fans of John Pawson and a perfect introduction to his work for anyone interested in the absolute best of contemporary design. ... Read more

Product Description
Mia Winchell seems to be a typical teenager, but she+s keeping a huge secret from everyone who knows her: sounds, numbers, and words appear in color for her. Mia has synesthesia, the mingling of perceptions whereby a person can see sounds, smell colors, or taste shapes. When trouble in school forces Mia to reveal her condition, her friends and family can+t relate to her, and she must look to herself to develop an understanding and appreciation for her gift. Spiced with wit and humor, A Mango-Shaped Space is a poignant coming-of-age novel that will intrigue readers long after they+ve turned the last page. Praised by reviewers and award-winning authors alike, A Mango-Shaped Space has brought renewed attention to the fascinating world of synesthesia, which includes famous artists such as Vincent Van Gogh and Serge Rachmaninoff. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (93)

This book is awesome!
i loved this book one of my favorite books ever. i love Wendy Masses writing! i wish she made a seqal to this book. if u like this book read other by Wendy Mass like Finally, and 11 birthdays!

omg! the best book ever!!! =)
towards the end of the school year, i had to do a book report. but when the original project didn't work out, i was stuck with just the weekend left, and no book. so i turned to my dad's kindle, and bought this book (my local libraries didn't have it, and i didn't know where to buy it, so it worked out for me!) the whole weekend, i was reading fast, and at the end of the two days, i had a superb powerpoint presentation! this book is the best book i have ever read, because it deals with something real people deal with. mia is a girl who discovers herself, and finds out that it's ok to be different. and when she learns that she has synesthesia mia then conferms tha she's not crazy! my favorite character has got to be mango, because he kinda represents change, and that change can sometimes be good, even if it's a hard thing to do. i have told all my friends (adult or kid) about this book, and i am sure that they will love it! thank you wendy mass, for creating the best book in the world!

The Mango-Shaped Space was a waste of space
I'm fourteen years old and in eighth grade, and after hearing some good things about the book from some friends who read it in elementary school, I decided to take it from the class library for a short read. It was certainly a large mistake, considering I could not stand the book in the long run. Although the general concept of the plot including synesthesia is a good idea, overall the execution was not well done. From the very beginning I had no interest in the characters and felt as if they had no depth.And even though the main character, Mia, is supposed to be in eighth grade I thought for a while she was in fifth. I couldn't relate to her or any of her friends for that matter and felt as if Wendy Mass's interpretation of a eighth grade girl was correct, nor realistic. I could not stand this book, although I feel as if I was perhaps two or three years younger it might actually have appealed to me. I would never recommend this for someone my age.

My daughter LOVES this book!!
I wanted to review this book because I have seen my daughter (10) rave to others about it.She rates it the best book she has ever read.It is interesting and heartwarming and very engaging.I loved that she got so involved in a book and recommended it to her friends.It's often so hard to get kids to read good books these days, it's nice to pass on one that is a true gem.Kids know what they like, and this one seems to have passed the test with flying colors!

Mango-Shpaed Space
Mango shape space is a very touching story about a girl who has synesthesia and how it is affecting her life.It helps anyone see how life can be different and hard at the same time.References to a comprehensive Web site and bibliography about synesthesia are included. ... Read more

Product Description
A superb visual reference to the principles of architecture

Now including interactive CD-ROM!

For more than thirty years, the beautifully illustrated Architecture: Form, Space, and Order has been the classic introduction to the basic vocabulary of architectural design. The updated Third Edition features expanded sections on circulation, light, views, and site context, along with new considerations of environmental factors, building codes, and contemporary examples of form, space, and order.

This classic visual reference helps both students and practicing architects understand the basic vocabulary of architectural design by examining how form and space are ordered in the built environment.? Using his trademark meticulous drawing, Professor Ching shows the relationship between fundamental elements of architecture through the ages and across cultural boundaries. By looking at these seminal ideas, Architecture: Form, Space, and Order encourages the reader to look critically at the built environment and promotes a more evocative understanding of architecture.

In addition to updates to content and many of the illustrations, this new edition includes a companion CD-ROM that brings the book's architectural concepts to life through three-dimensional models and animations created by Professor Ching. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (43)

Book review
I needed this book for an architecture class.It arrived quickly and in great condition.

Chingy Ching
what i don't understand is how you can give any book but this book especially, anything below 5 stars. Ching seriously BREAKS it down! I got most of my ching books my freshman year of architecture school and you couldn't pry them from my hands. They are sooo helpful especially architectural graphic along with Form, Space and order. No one pursuing a career in architecture in their right mind, not have ching in their library arsenal.

good review of the basics
This gook is a great value if you are new or just a beginning your career and want to get some nice perspective fast.I know that some reviews here indicate that this book is not the right book for architects.and i can understand their point of view, because they were expecting something the book didn't give.as a matter of face i was dissappionted too when i 1st got the book, but now i know it's a real treasure and definately a must-have for architects and new designers.
This book is the greatest illustrator of buildings throughout time, not in pictures but in beautiful sketches, from different angles and with a brief explaination of the design concept...it helps if u r studying history of arhitecture and u want to know the architects and their works.

Fabulous!
This book is a must for anyone studying drawing, drafting or architecture.Fantastic detail and examples.

A Jewel!
By Jewel I mean, it's worth your time and money.Learn the meaning of structures and a little arch history from the author.
Need to get a quick course in the form and space of architecture.here ya go.Other learning is needed after this.I wanted
to build 3d set extensions.This book gave me a feel for the forms and how they make people feel.

I recommend. ... Read more

Product Description
The most trusted nonfiction series on the market, Eyewitness Books provide an in-depth, comprehensive look at their subjects with a unique integration of words and pictures. Now reissued with a CD and wall chart, Eyewitness Space Exploration is a spectacular and informative guide to the mysteries beyond Earth and its atmosphere, and offers a unique view of the history of space exploration and the daily life of astronauts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Space Exploration (DK Eyewitness books)
This is a nice book. There is a lot of information about the Space Shuttle and it's Missions.
This book has great pictures and is easy to read. Kids will enjoy looking at the pictures.

Sadly, the Shuttle is due to retire in 2011. And America will no longer go to the International Space Station.
The book is interesting and has many facts.

Sara Howard, Author of Something Funny Happened on the Way to the Moon

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Product Description
What is the sun made of? What causes night and day? Why does the moon change shape? Colorful collage illustrations and an easy-to-understand text bring planets, stars, comets, and the wondrous things out there in space right down to earth in a simple introduction to the solar system for young armchair astronauts. Full color. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Very fast and in great condition!
The book arrived really soon and in better condition of what I expected!
Thank you!

a good place to start
Now that space travel is an option, it's important that children today grow up thinking about outer space.Although this book doesn't get into deep scientific detail, it's a good early step toward learning about space, and all the possibilities that space travel has to offer.

Although I do not agree with the heliocentric ideas presented in this book, it is healthy for a child to dream about traveling in outer space.So I feel that any book that can get a child thinking about outer space is worth buying.

What's Out There great read for kids interested in space
Got this for my 3 yr old grandson who is fascinated by space.Great read.

8 Planets
I enjoyed the book . It explains things easily. The only thing I didnt get was on one page, it said "the next 3 planets are the gas giants..." and it has a picture of 4 planets. I dont know if its a typo or what! LOL Then it also confused me because it doesnt consider Pluto a planet. I grew up thinkingit was. Maybe scientists changed that recently but it threw me off a little.

great book
excellent, up to date book about space/solar system.lots of words, but my 2 yo still enjoys it and will grow with it.
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Product Description
The latest title in DK's First Reference series introduces the universe, visiting all the planets of our solar system and their moons, as well as our Sun and other stars, black holes, asteroids, comets, and other galaxies. Up to date with the latest astronomical theories, First Space Encyclopedia includes information about the great Pluto debate and the recent discovery of an Earth-like planet, as well as pictures from the latest voyages by shuttles, rovers, and probes, and the conflicting evidence on aliens and UFOs. And of course, young space enthusiasts will want to know all about the cool technology behind what astronauts wear, what they do to train, and even what they eat. All of this and more is ready to reference in a thorough and accessible hardcover volume just right for young scholars. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

A bit too old for my child
Content is a bit too old for my 5 year old. This is not the books fault as the reading level says 9-12. We have all the DK First reference series and this one will serve her better when she gets a little older. Highly recommend all the DK First reference books. They are wonderful.

So pleased!
My 5 year old son has so much fun with this book. The photos and information is outstanding and I have to admit I have wasted away a few hours reading through it myself!

Slightly Disappointing
After reading the product description and the other reviews, I was expecting this book to be centered around the solar system. When in fact, the section on the solar system is one of the smallest sections, and doesn't really go into much detail about the planets -- least of all other space objects like Ceres, Eris, the Kuiper Belt, etc.

The title is very misleading. This is not an encyclopedia about space itself, but rather space science: astronaut training, satellites, and other space technology. They even put in a mention of stormtroopers from Star Wars (space in pop culture), and gave four pages to UFOs.

There is a tremendous amount of information provided, and this is a nice addition to our homeschool library, but I don't understand why our solar system wasn't given more attention. I noticed that a lot of the science facts found in this book could also be found in the DK First Science Encyclopedia.

Super Space Book
My daughter was so excited when she got this book. It has quite a bit of information about space and the moon. It was in excellent condition. Very pleased with all the books that we have purchased not only from Amazon, but also from private sellers.
Thanks

My Grandson Loved It
My 7 year old granson wants to be an astronaut.This book has kept him interested and he is reading more and more of it by himself with good understanding.The book focuses on specific yet simple explanations of all aspects of space.It's a winner in my book. ... Read more

Product Description
2001: A Space Odyssey is the classic science fiction novel that changed the way we looked at the stars and ourselves....

2001: A Space Odyssey inspired what is perhaps the greatest science fiction film ever made- brilliantly imagined by the late Stanley Kubrick....

2001 is finally here....

"Dazzling...wrenching, eerie, a mind-bender."-Time

"Full of poetry, scientific imagination and typically wry Clarke wit. By standing the universe on its head, he makes us see the ordinary universe in a different light...a complex allegory about the history of the world."-The New Yorker

"Brain-boggling." -Life

"Clark has constructed an effective work of fiction...with the meticulous creation of an extraterrestrial environment...Mr. Clark is a master."--Library Journal

"Breathtaking."-Saturday ReviewAmazon.com Review
When an enigmatic monolith is found buried on the moon,scientists are amazed to discover that it's at least 3 million yearsold.Even more amazing, after it's unearthed the artifact releases apowerful signal aimed at Saturn.What sort of alarm has beentriggered?To find out, a manned spacecraft, the Discovery, issent to investigate.Its crew is highly trained--the best--and theyare assisted by a self-aware computer, the ultra-capable HAL 9000. ButHAL's programming has been patterned after the human mind a little toowell. He is capable of guilt, neurosis, even murder, and he controlsevery single one of Discovery's components.The crew mustoverthrow this digital psychotic if they hope to make their rendezvouswith the entities that are responsible not just for the monolith, butmaybe even for human civilization.

Clarke wrote this novel while Stanley Kubrick created the film, thetwo collaborating on both projects.The novel is much more detailedand intimate, and definitely easier to comprehend. Even though historyhas disproved its "predictions," it's still loaded withexciting and awe-inspiring science fiction. --Brooks Peck ... Read more

Customer Reviews (269)

Reading with Tequila
I didn't love 2001: A Space Odyssey, but space travel in general doesn't really do it for me. The original concept, taking into account when it was written and how far we've come since then, is well beyond anything conceivable and I believe that is one of the main reasons this book is so highly regarded.

Unfortunately, this book is all concept. The pacing is slow and the story drags for the majority of the book. What should have been terrifying never really effected me as it should have. The characters were hard to become emotionally attached to and most of the time I found myself rooting for the "villain" to win so the book would come to an end. Even the actual ending of the book felt like a disappointment.

2001: A Space Odyssey is a classic science fiction novel and hugely loved by most. While I can see why it's been enjoyed by the masses, I just couldn't garner the enthusiasm others have had. I appreciate how imaginative and unique the book would have been considered in the sixties, but given a first time reading in the present day, it failed to impress me.

Classic
I would recommend this book to anyone that would like a proper introduction to science fiction.This book is a classic for many good reasons.

Intelligent Science Fiction at its best!
2001 is a book that I had been planning to read since I had seen the movie 10 years ago.i never got around to reading the book because I figured that it would be just as cryptic as the movie.Nothing could be further from the truth.Having read Clarke's Rama series I expected a hard science fiction story that that was just as enjoyable due to it's mystery and the questions that are left unanswered as much as from the facts that are provided. I was not at all dissappointed.
2001 take on two major themes one is the nature of consciousness and what it means to be consciousness. It could be argued that the first encounter with non human intelligence occured with the HAL 9000 unit and the disaster that ensued was a cautionary tale as to what misunderstandings can lead to.The second half of the book takes up the issue of the ultimae fate of mankind and where we are going as a species.In many way space is the ultimate test as to how far we have advanced as a species because the endevors that are taken up in exploring its depths will have to be measured in lifetimes trancending the experiences of any one or any particular group of individuals. The books does a good job of portraying this as it jumps from several different protagonist in a story that spans 4 millions years.This is one of the best examples of intelligent Science Fiction that I have come across and i highly recommend it.

Truly mind-bending. A book that will stick with me for life
This was another book on the list of books I should have read, but I just haven't. I remember as a kid watching the movie in class, but I was a punk so I didn't really pay attention to it. I should have!

2001 is a book about the progression of man. The book starts by taking us back 3 million years ago to a time when apes were evolving into man (man-apes). This is a time when our ancestors make a significant evolutionary step, the step when we truly become human, we develop an imagination. An alien race has helped us evolve, without the monolith that was discovered by a man-ape dubbed 'Moon Watcher' who knows where we would be, perhaps nowhere.

Well, another alien artifact was discovered, but this one was uncovered on the moon. This time a man named Dr. David Bowman is the center-piece in a new dawning of man.

Like the reviewer just before me said, for some reason this book seems oddly plausible, eerily plausible considering how non-plausible it sounds when you simply summarize the plot. Clarke just writes so well.

This book is absolutely amazing. Clarke writes in a very succinct, accessible prose. Rendezvous With Rama was originally my favorite Clarke novel but 2001: A Space Odyssey has taken that place.

When I find a better space sci-fi book I'll remove this line. Until then, 2001 is now my all-time favorite space sci-fi book.

Transcendent
Recently, I decided to catch up on some older, classic films.One of the first I tried was 2001: A Space Odyssey.While I admit that it gave a great sense of the chilling isolation of space, the ending was too much of a non-sequitur.The special effects (ape-men of the veldt, the final trip) did not age well.However, a friend I watched it with was intrigued enough to read the book.They were very much impressed and recommended it to me.I skeptically decided to check it out.

I'm so glad I did.This is possibly the most important book I have ever read.There is too much that goes on beneath the surface for a film, but it works as a novel perfectly.Many sci-fi books try to be spiritual, but this is the first that I have read, sci-fi or not, to actually pull it off in a profound way.One thing that really sets this book apart is how incredibly plausible it all seems.Yes there are aliens.Yes there are evil computers.But this book is the product of a clearly scientific mind.For as fantastic as the elements are, nothing seemed impossible.

Even knowing (sort of) how it ends, this book has changed my life.It is uplifting and spiritual, and there is simply nothing else like it.

As Clarke says in the forward, "Here is one possible answer to that very reasonable question... The truth, as always, will be stranger."
... Read more

Product Description

The first book in C. S. Lewis's acclaimed Space Trilogy, which continues with Perelandra and That Hideous Strength, Out of the Silent Planet begins the adventures of the remarkable Dr. Ransom. Here, that estimable man is abducted by a megalomaniacal physicist and his accomplice and taken via spaceship to the red planet of Malacandra. The two men are in need of a human sacrifice, and Dr. Ransom would seem to fit the bill. Once on the planet, however, Ransom eludes his captors, risking his life and his chances of returning to Earth, becoming a stranger in a land that is enchanting in its difference from Earth and instructive in its similarity. First published in 1943, Out of the Silent Planet remains a mysterious and suspenseful tour de force. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (176)

Going somewhere? How about to Malacandra!
To start things off I have to say that I love C.S. Lewis. I loved the Screwtape Letters, I loved Mere Christianity and I have read most of the Chronicles of Narnia. But this is a bit of a head scratcher. It's not that the story is bad. Quite the opposite in fact: it is a very interesting story and shares many similarities with the classic sci-fi of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells. The problem for me, and one of the problems I've always had with Lewis, is that he is too smart for his own good. There is hardly any wonder or amazement in the character of Dr. Ransom at being on a new and strange planet. Both the character and the author treat Malacandra and its inhabitants as something to be analyzed and dissected rather than as something to awed about, like what you find in the Narnia tales. Not only that, but the postscript at the end kind of deflates everything as the character writes to the author saying that there were other senses, emotions and tales that the author left out that could have made the story better. Well, if Lewis, who is already a great writer, could have written all of these into the story, why didn't he do that? Certainly it would have made the tale more interesting and boosted the somewhat minuscule page count (158 in my edition). In the end, it's an interesting that tale that is weighed down too much by Lewis' brilliance.

Read All Three Books!
It took me 4 months to read all three books. It astonishes me on how much the average reader has lowered their expectations of writers. CS Lewis challenges the reader to think while they are reading; instead of going into a mind-numbing guide through a series of words prepared by writers who have little to no respect for the minds of their readers.

Every word written by CS Lewis, in his space trilogy, demand the reader to be their own thinker. In the second book, I was somewhat disgusted by the fact that Lewis derides the word "equality" in marriage. But I continued, simply because I wanted to know how the story ended.

In the 3rd book, CS Lewis went further and explained that there is no equality in marriage: No tit-for-tat, it is about sharing and giving your all to the person you have married... Not just women or men. He defined avarice as the reason our world is failing. "Nature is something dead--a machine to be worked, and taken to bits if it won't work the way he pleases." CS Lewis must have known a few oil tycoons in his day... But this can also be applied to any marriage. What is natural, is that we care for each other; and treat each other with respect. We fight this because of our self-centeredness. Our wants are placed above what is natural.

His spirits, in all the books, define the whispers in our ears; which in turn, define our actions.

These books are not for the weak in will; the weak in spirit; or the closed minds. And I must confess that mind slightly closed in the second book, toward the end. Perservere and you will be rewarded at the conclusion of the third book. Even if you are not Christian, I do recommend taking his advice to heart; and cleave unto each other with joy and caring!

CS Lewis Out of the Silent Planet
This science fiction novel written in 1939 by the great cs Lewis, is a great look at some entertaining science fiction with a moral belief system by the author in place.

Read It Again For the First Time
Out of the Silent Planet (Space Trilogy, Book One) One of C.S. Lewis' lesser known and, unfortunately, lesser read works is what is commonly referred to as the Space Trilogy (Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, That Hideous Strength). I might add that many of those that have not read it at least began it but then gave up before they were able to finish the first volume-I believe that is because Out of the Silent Planet is less of a stand alone volume as much as it is setting up the rest of the trilogy-however, it is very well worth reading in it's own right.

The story begins on the planet Thulcandra (Earth, or, the silent planet) where Ransom is taken captive by the sinister Weston and Devine. From there the action quickly moves from the trip to and arriving on the planet Malacandra where the majority of the action takes place. What we gradually learn is that instead of being the dangerous and inhospitable place that Weston and Devine believe it to be, Malacandra is an inviting and wonderful place inhabited by kind and protective species. Lewis presents the Malacandran system as almost a pure society. While there are three classes of beings on this planet, hrossa (the poets), pfifltriggi (the workers), and sorns (ruling class), they are all led by Oyarsa. Even though these classes have separate roles it is clear that they operate with equality and are appreciated for each of the parts they play.

Because of the darkness of their mind and intentions Weston and Devine see the sorns as dangerous and the society very simplistic in comparison to their own. Ransom, even though initially led to believe that attitude of his captors is accurate and thus initially fear the inhabitants of this beautiful planet, he soon befriends and emotionally connects to many of them, especially the hrossa and one in particular by the name of Hyoi who is eventually killed by Weston and Devine. Parallel to the darkness of these two antagonists is the darkness and silence of Thulcandra itself. The evil of Weston and Devine is very perplexing to the people of Malacandra-they cannot understand why somebody would kill someone that has done them no harm.

In true Lewis fashion you begin to know and love both these characters and this place. If you either began reading Out of the Silent Planet long ago and stopped mid-story or found yourself not that interested in beginning at all, I would encourage you to pick it up and try one more time (or maybe the first time). I think you will be glad you did.

out of this world
This novel was written in response to Olaf Stapledon's LAST AND FIRST MEN.Lewis was fascinated with the way Olaf Stapledon was able to fuse philosophy and science fiction, but shocked by an episode where Earthmen wipe out the ecology of another world so that humans can adapt it to their use.He wrote thisnovel as a counterweight. Oddly enough, this may have been the ultimate source of the movie "Avatar": human defending a Utopian alien planet against his own species.

In the story the hero, Ransom, visits the planet "Malacandra"(eventually revealed to be Mars).The details of Mars are of course way out of date from the modern point of view; one can think of it as a Tolkien-like imaginary world.Like Tolkien (who was a friend of Lewis's and may have been the model for Ransom), Lewis gives brilliant descriptions of the world: its people, their languages, the landscape, even the subtle effects of lower gravity.Three very different species (hrossa, sorns, and Pifiltriggi) live in near-perfect harmony.The hrossa specialize in art, the sorns in abstract thought, the pifiltriggi in technology.Ransom learns to admire each species and to think of his own species more critically.

Finally he meets the world's ruler, Oyarsa, who explains the history of the planet.Part of it is that Earth is the misfit planet of the universe and is out of contact with the rest; hence the title "Silent Planet".

Readers who are Christian can interpret the Oyarsa's revelation as a religious allegory.Those who are not can enjoy it as an interesting mythology.The sequels put more emphasis on the religious background and so might not appeal to everybody, but this novel is quite accessible.





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Product Description

Customer Reviews (30)

Not worth the price
Not worth the $25.49 price. I found one new idea in the whole book. Everything else was just repeated instructions to "plan out you room before rearranging." What a concept!

Awesome Book!
Debbie Diller's book Spaces and Places is fantastic. I read it in a weekend and completely changed the layout of my room. After reading her book I also have a new purpose for all of my learning centers! You can't go wrong taking the time to read this book!

Great Book!
Having been a teacher for 29 years, I'm reluctant to buy many more books, but I heard about this book in a teacher workshop and decided to try it.It is full of great organizational ideas and color photos.The book recommends lots of teaching/learning centers and explains how and where to set them up, complete with color photos! Each center also has a reference page of all the materials you need.My husband laughed at me because I kept saying, "I LOVE THIS BOOK!"

classroom teacher's input
Creative strategies in setting up a classroom! I can't wait to give it a try in the fall. I love the photographs and step by step directions in setting up a room.Her strategies don't involve a lot of extra money, just rethinking current supplies and space.

Reality
The color pictures in this book are vivid, detailed and descriptive. They can be a life-saver for the teacher new to Guided Reading and literacy based classrooms. The discussion includes answers to concerns that are real -- things that many teachers worry about in their classrooms.As an administrator, I'm thankful to have it to rely on as well. ... Read more

Product Description

The second book in C. S. Lewis's acclaimed Space Trilogy, which also includes Out of the Silent Planet and That Hideous Strength, Perelandra continues the adventures of the extraordinary Dr. Ransom. Pitted against the most destructive of human weaknesses, temptation, the great man must battle evil on a new planet -- Perelandra -- when it is invaded by a dark force. Will Perelandra succumb to this malevolent being, who strives to create a new world order and who must destroy an old and beautiful civilization to do so? Or will it throw off the yoke of corruption and achieve a spiritual perfection as yet unknown to man? The outcome of Dr. Ransom's mighty struggle alone will determine the fate of this peace-loving planet. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (104)

Adam & Eve in space!
Now here is the C.S. Lewis I remember and love! "Out of the SIlent Planet," the first book in the space trilogy, wasn't nearly as good as it was cracked up to be. But this one was fantastic. It had all of the elements that make up some of Lewis' best fictional work: allegory with a moral purpose and fantasy with a large dose of wonder. In this book, Lewis takes the tale of the downfall of man from the book of Genesis and wonders what would've happened if there had been someone there to challenge the devil before he had fully tempted Eve. Lewis also sheds much of the analytical prose that weighed down the first book and has wonderful elements that could be read straight from a self-improvement book, but still fits snugly into the story. Chapter 11 is absolutely amazing in that respect. Still, this book does make it's allegory a little too obvious as it goes along. In fact, halfway through, Lewis seems to give up on the allegory angle somewhat and actually talks about God and has his main character praying to God. All things considered, this is an amazing story, a vast improvement over the last one, and makes me excited to read the final one.

Perelandra
I have never received the book and I ordered it ~ 5 weeks ago. I have sent a message to the seller, but have received no response. I would not recommend ordering from this seller ever again.

CS Lewis's fiction never disappoints me.
There are so many great things about this book, as with all Lewis's books. I think everyone should read them all, and this one is great especially if you liked Out of the Silent Planet.

Freedom of Will
This is possibly the best allegory I have ever read; Lewis' recreation, and redirection, of the Fall of Man is ingenious.In conjunction with the first book, Out of the Silent Planet, Lewis invents and portrays three radically different ways the Divine Powers order intelligent life on the three planets, Mars, Earth, and Venus.By doing so, he initiates the most brilliant discussion on Freedom of Will I have ever encountered.Though the arguments in the text are mainly philosophical, a background in philosophy is not needed- Lewis' style is straightforward and entertaining, and the plot is exciting and fantastic.I would recommend this book to any Christian as well as anyone who is interested in myth and its implications.Lewis, like Dante and Milton, connects stories from the Bible with other ancient stories, especially Greek, and these play a role in his allegory.Whether religious or not, the questions evoked by this novel are fascinating.Highly recommended.

niche book
This book is disappointing after "Out of the Silent Planet", not because Lewis's skill has become worse in any way, but because this time he is preaching to the choir.The subject is "Original Sin", the notion that humans are inherently sinful because some ancestors disobeyed a basically meaningless command.Now the story is being re-enacted on another planet, Perelandra, and the hero Ransom is trying to keep the new species from making the same mistake.If you believe in Original Sin, you will probably find the story very dramatic.If you believe in some other religious tradition (as I do) or no religious tradition, you will probably find the storyline boring and overwrought. This was not the case in Out of the Silent Planet, where the reader was presented with an inherently interesting situation and the doctrine was saved until the end.

Likewise, the background is less imaginative than in Out of the Silent Planet.Malacandra was wonderfully alien, with the three unusual intelligent species and the wierd but plausible landscape.Perelandra is a stereotypical tropical paradise, with a few extra features like friendly dragons and floating islands.The species is not new but a copy of homo sapiens (doctrinal explanations again).

For once I found myself wishing that a sequel had stuck closer to the original masterpiece.
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Amazon.com Review
Peter Brook's career, beginning in the 1940s with radicalproductions of Shakespeare with a modern experimental sensibility andcontinuing to his recent work in the worlds of opera and epic theater,makes him perhaps the most influential director of the 20thcentury. Cofounder of the Royal Shakespeare Company and director ofthe International Center for Theater Research in Paris, perhapsBrook's greatest legacy will be The Empty Space. His 1968 bookdivides the theatrical landscape, as Brook saw it, into four differenttypes: the Deadly Theater (the conventional theater, formulaic andunsatisfying), the Holy Theater (which seeks to rediscover ritual anddrama's spiritual dimension, best expressed by the writings of Artaudand the work of director Jerzy Grotowski), the Rough Theater (atheater of the people, against pretension and full of noise andaction, best typified by the Elizabethan theater), and the ImmediateTheater, which Brook identifies his own career with, an attempt todiscover a fluid and ever-changing style that emphasizes the joy ofthe theatrical experience. What differentiates Brook's writing from somany other theatrical gurus is its extraordinary clarity. His gentleillumination of the four types of theater is conversational, evenchatty, and though passionately felt, it's entirely lacking in thesort of didactic bombast that flaws many similar texts. --JohnLongenbaugh ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

I guess everybody makes that mistake
The Amazon editorial review by John Longenbaugh says that Peter Brook is a co-founder of the RSC. Uh, no. That would be Peter Hall. Peter Brook became a resident director at the RSC in 1962.

An innovator's ideas about Theatre
I am not very knowledgeable about Theatre and certainly not about Theory of Theatre. I found this book quite abstract and difficult to understand. Its opening sentences sets the tone for the whole work.
"I can take any empty space and call it a bare stage. An actor moves across this space while someone is watching and a piece of theatre is engaged."
This would seem to detach Theatre from local trappings and customs.
The book consists in an effort to define four kinds of Theatre, the Deadly or Conventional commercial theatre: the Holy Theatre based on sacred repetition , the Rough Theatre that of people in the steet, and the Immediate Theatre, the flowing transformative Theatre which Brook himself is trying to do.
As the author is considered one of the most revolutionary and important of modern Theatre directors I believe the book might be of value to those actually involved in 'doing Theatre' more than it is to the general reader.

Required Reading
Before you read anything else on theatre, you should read The Empty Space.

Brook's Genius
What is great about the empty space is that Peter Brook's theory is relevant to all art forms. The four theatres he describes are basically categories in which all art falls into. This seems odd at first until you see what he is describing. What turns most people off is the idea of over-categorizing art. But Brook's theatres tend to be more or less critiques of individual performances, or what the effect of that performance is on the audience. This is also easy to read. Too much theatre philosophy gets bogged down by either melodramatic thespian writers, or rambling philosophies from those who have not trained themselves to ge good writers. With Brook, it is pretty straightforawrd, not always easy to understand mind you, but straightforward. If you are at all interested in the arts then this is a must read.

Peter Brook
This book, along with Uta Hagen's "Respect for Acting" and any Stanaslavski, is the motherload of theater expertise. ... Read more