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Hommage to the great SF authors of the past
One of the most enjoyable aspects of In the Courts of the Crimson Kings is the nearly constant stream of references to past great authors of Martian SF. The first chapter that takes place at a SF convention introduces at least a dozen authors who have written about Mars or sword/adventure SF, and looking for nods to their work is a lot of the fun in this book. Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, L. Sprague DeCamp, Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle, Ray Bradbury, H. Beam Piper, Robert Silverberg,and many others pop up -- along with the near-constant ties back to Burroughs, John Carter, and the sands of Barsoom. If you are the SF equivalent of a "foodie," you will have a wonderful time trying to piece together the references. Aside from that esoteric activity, it's a good book with intriguing characters (particularly now that we can read about interspecies sex - I always wondered about Carter and Deja Thoris ...), a strong if predictable plot, and the somewhat ambiguous and thus interesting villains that are Sterling's hallmark. Highly recommended.

Exciting read
A very exciting read and a great followup to the sky people. I found the underlying technology plausible with a great plot. Of special enjoyment, was identifying the number of SciFi writers put into the book in small chapters by their first name. Nice job all around.

Good, but different from Previous Book
Not as consistently good as the previous novel, 'The Sky People', but an overall more satisfying read. A more interesting alternative society than in the previous novel makes up for some slow areas of the book. As before, many characters are stereotypical, but also as before, this is intentional. Will be appreciated more by individuals who have read a wide range of other sci-fi, especially older stories.

entertaining
Entertaining, good characterization. A bit slow in spots and uses the same plot device as in Conquistador (is this to make it PC?). Not his best but interesting.

Good start ... slow finish 3 and 1/2 stars
This novel began wonderfully. Romantic, political and cultural tension were all racing toward climax... then things sort of petered out. Also, a few unbelievable coincidences and crazy acts (escaping from prison and marching right back into the mess with no plan of action) diminished the second half of the novel. More editorial oversight would have corrected this. Still, I will be watching for the next book from this author in hope that the great start presented in this book will be sustained in her next.

On Cloud 9
This book delivered the goods completely! If you want a Civil War Period work that takes you to places unchartered this is the book for you. KI Thompson as the kid's say "Is the Bomb" as a writer. Her character development in unrivaled along with her research on 1860's Washington, DC during the Civil War and the rifts with family and close friends that kept me reading this book into the early morning until I completed it. I loved the plot twists, the surprises, and reading the growth of the characters - it was a roller coaster ride I would gladly repeat. The romance between the two main characters was expertly done and appropriate for the period. It does not get better than House of Clouds folks. KI Thompson is a giant of a writer. I can't wait for her next work.

Finally
A lesbian saga. Remember the old days when sexual tension existed because people didn' think they were rabbits? This novel was so rich in it's content, that I felt as though I had been given a gift as reader. I loved the characters and I understood them. Trust me, as an African American Woman, I am not inclined to find romanticism or nostalgia in or for the 1800's, in fact, the only time period I acknowledge as "happy" is 1995 on, and that's being generous. But I felt for Laura. I really did. I understood her characters journey. I was able to read this book without prejudice and that's what made it so wonderful.

Midwest Book Review - April 2008
Yankee actress Jordan Colfax and her brother have been raised by her widower father in the North. She's a forward-thinking woman, as modern as she could be in the 1860s. She's got the kind of spunk that Louisa May Alcott's Jo March possessed, so it's no surprise when she takes on the role of undercover spy for the Pinkerton agency.

Laura St. Clair, raised in Virginia, comes from an entirely different world than Jordan. She's been raised on a plantation worked by slaves, her father is an advisor to Jefferson Davis, and she has little choice in the strait-laced life her parents have planned for her. Her brother, Ransom, knows Jordan's brother, Tyler, from West Point, where both young men are cadets, and the two women meet through them. Laura is initially appalled by Jordan's liberal attitudes and freewheeling ways. She immediately judges the young actress to be no better than a harlot. Jordan is appalled by Laura's Confederate sympathies and southern belle status. The dawning attraction between the two comes as a surprise to both.

Laura's coming of age and coming into her own begins with the death of her brother in his first battle and continues because of her association with Jordan. But when Jordan is arrested for spying, all hell breaks loose. How can these two women remain friends, much less lovers, with so much culture, history, and societal difference between them?

Though essentially a love story, the novel very effectively takes on the issues of the mid-to-late 19th Century: slavery, race, culture, class, property, states' rights, relationships between men and women, and the taboos surrounding same-sex love. This epic saga moves along with great energy and clocks in at a delicious 377 pages. The author writes with surety and accomplishment, never allowing the historical events to take over the story. An engaging plot and lively characters keep this dynamic story right on track and full of unexpected twists and turns. Highly recommended for all romance readers, lovers of historical fiction, and anyone who enjoys a fascinating story ably told. ~Lori L. Lake, Midwest Book Review

House of Clouds - don't miss this!
First let me say, I truly loved this book. KI Thompson is a great storyteller who weaves a story that is rich in characters, history, and shares a landscape of the south that I could visualize unfolding before me.

Set during the civil war this is the story of Jordan, a northern actress asked to spy for the Union, and Laura, a southern young woman who is raised on a plantation with slaves. Those slaves are part of the family in many ways, by blood and by familiarity, and at the same time are possessions considered less intelligent that whites and therefore, it is rationalized, in need of being slaves in order to be cared for.

Jordan and Laura are introduced via their brothers, each a cadet at West Point just before the war breaks out. The reader gets a sense of the deep feelings of both the south and the north during the run up to the war, and after the war is begun.

What these two woman learn about themselves and each other during the course of the story keeps the reader on edge. Intrigue, betrayal, sorrow and intense edge-of-your-seat suspense make this a read to remember.

This is a title to add to your collection!

fantastic
This product was exactly as they quoted, and what I was looking for. Quick response and fantastic service.

Staple Remover w/ chrome finish
No other staple remover can even compare to this one. It is very easy to use, does not tear the paper, holds the staples well and can remove even the largest staples with ease. One of our office employees remarked, "I'm going to hang this thing around my neck so I have it everywhere I go".

Best staple remover for bulletin boards!
This is the best tool to use to remove staples from a bulletin board. It will not damage the posters, letters or borders if used correctly. It removes the staples with a flick of the wrist! I have tried other staple removers and I always go back to this particular one. Buy one for yourself and give one to a teacher!

Best Ever!
I was introduced to this staple remover 30 years ago and it's still the best one around. Others have tried to "improve" it with plastic handles and a plastic shield over the slide but it's much better this way. There's a some paper tear if you're removing a staple from 1-3 sheets but overall it's great. And the claw type tears that top sheet no matter what.

very important book
Slim though it is, this is a powerful little book. This insightful study of the biological consequences of the great culture clash that began in 1492 changed the way I think about history and has proved to be a valuable reference. It is a must-read for anyone interested in anthropology, epidemiology, ecology or history.

The 30th anniversary edition of a classic treatise
The Columbian Exchange: Biological And Cultural Consequences Of 1942 by Alfred W. Crosby Jr. (Professor Emeritus of American Studies, History, and Geography, University of Texas - Austin) is the 30th anniversary edition of a classic treatise that shows how the voyages of Columbus caused a sweeping biological change as organisms large and small spread to both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. From the deadly toll of smallpox among the Indians of Mexico, to the introduction of Old World plants and animals to the New World, and so much more, The Columbian Exchange is a seminal, educational, and uniquely insightful contribution to Native American, Medical History, and World History Studies reference collections and reading lists.

Gorgeous!
This product is absolutely beautiful! The pictures do it no justice. It's a lot bigger than you'd expect and its a lot heavier than I expected. It was packaged very carefully so it arrived without any flaws. This is definately a bargain for the price! 20 watches is quite a bit so it's likely we'll remove some of the cloth watch holders and use the compartments for rings.

good buy
Way worth the money

it was a gift and my dad loves it.

Love this chest!
Although this is a chest to store watches, I removed all the individual pads and I use the compartments to store jewelry. I love the finish and love the fact that I can see through the top.

A Case for Beauty
I bought the watch case for my husband, who collects watches. The case was considerably less expensive when I looked else where. The quality of the wood, interior and construction was what impressed me! It will hold twenty watches on seperate pillows. He loves it and I would honestly recommend this for anyone who is looking for excellant quality at an affordable price.

Nice piece.
I have a thing for watches, I will admit it. I have several watch cases or cabinets such as this. For the price this one cannot be beat. It will not hold those great big clunky watches though, but as I don't own or wear any, this case is fine. I like the fact that it has a small lock on it as it keeps my kleptomaniac sister out of my watches when she comes to visit. I have to be honest. For my more expensive watches, I keep them in a wall safe as even a dolt such as my sister can figure out how to open this one. I also have frequent overnight house guest and do no feel that leaving temptation under their noses is a good idea. Some of them I hardly know. I am a trusting person, but I am not a complete idiot. Anyway, this is an attractive little box, stores a lot of watches and you can see them with out digging through the whole mess. The wood is very pretty and polishes nicely.

D&M alphabet
Our 17th month loves these. However, he still is at age of placing objects in his mouth. The color on some letters is beginning to wear due to wetness. Size is good for his some hands. Definitely recommend.

Quality magnetic letters
My 2 year old loves these colorful letters. He is past the stage of putting things in his mouth, so we haven't had the issue that some other reviewers have had with the paper coming off. They stick very well and are of a good size. I highly recommend these over the ones I had as a kid--cheap, lightweight plastic letters with a tiny magnet in the back that popped out and didn't properly hold the letters the right side up.

Grandma Loves M&D Magnetic Wooden Alphabet
My sister takes care of her two grandsons often. At 2 and 3 years of age she had used the magnetic alphabet to teach the boys to spell their names.
The little goobers can recognize and spell their names. Bravo!

Best Value for the Money
Excellent value for the money, my 2year old daughter loves this toy. It's just big enough for her to play and enjoy, but small enough to put in the house if it's cold/raining outside.

The best inflatable toy
This is the best inflatable toy we had. I bought this after reading lot of reviews. As I anticipated, this did not leak air. we drag this all over our yard and it has been almost a month and we didn't have to pump air yet. So I am really happy. But I would recommend you to get more fun balls because kids enjoy that lot.

Good bouncer (and more) for toddlers
Nice bouncer for our 2 and 3.5 yr old toddler girls. I was concerned that it would be difficult for the 2 yr old to climb in and out, but it's very easy to get in (good design).

The girlsl like to pretend it's a fort, so we often put a sheet or blanket on the top to enclose it and it becomes another fun toy to play with!

DO use an electric air pump, it took about 30-45 min. to blow it up with a hand held pump! The electric pumps cost around $[...] at Walmart/Target.

FYI - It didn't come with many balls, so if you want it as a ball pit you'll need to order more.

Highly Recommend
Highly recommend this book for anyone looking to grow anything in dry climates, whether you are a 'newbie' or not. Pictures and write-ups are excellent.

Informative, but a bit daunting
This is one of two gardening books we bought after moving to Arizona two years ago; the other is "Arizona Gardener's Guide" by Mary Irish. Of the two, this is probably the more informative, but the wealth of information it contains is not presented in the most user-friendly way. Plants are listed using their proper botanical names (i.e. in Latin) rather than the common names that most people are likely to be familiar with. The photography is first-rate, and the "how to" explanations are mostly clear and easy to follow. If you live in Arizona, and only want to buy one book, I'd recommend the Arizona Gardener's Guide, as it is AZ-specific. If you live outside Arizona, this is probably the better choice -- although you might want to buy both, as they have different strengths.

plants for dry climates
i live in Arizona, and knowing what kinds of plants to plant here and how they are to be taken care of is important..so that is why i needed this book...and it is very informative..thank...

Great Desert Landscaping
This is a great book for the desert landscaper. I live in the big bend area of Texas and have been looking for something like this for a long time. It's easy to read, lets you know what elevation, rainfall, water needs, sun etc. that particular plant need to thrive. It's written so the lay person can understand it with just the amount of information for gardner/lanscaper needs. Has been a big help in finishing up landscaping projects I've been doing and on the projects I am starting.