Excellent Illustrated History Of The Vigilante
928809
This book by Steve Ginter fills an important void in the history of naval aviation. While I am a fan of the Powell and Peacock RA-5C books (from the Osprey Combat Aircraft Series), and recommend them highly also, this book not only covers developmental and operational history of the Vigilante, but also has extremely detailed photographs and illustrations (many from original Navy manuals) covering all areas of the aircraft, including the cockpits, an area curiously omitted in the Osprey books.

The strength of this book is not only the illustrations, but the captions that go with them which obviously required quite a bit of research. Historians and modelers alike will love this book for its attention to detail and its ease of use: it has developmental and operational histories of the different variants (though most is focused on the RA-5C), a section detailing every unit that flew the aircraft, a review of model kits of the aircraft (Trumpeter's newest model is not covered as it was coming out as the book went to press), and other relevant information.

I commend this book highly to everyone interested in naval aviation, the Vietnam war, or the history of this remarkable aircraft.
3608677
This is a really well-made book - it will be a nice collectible I think.  The artwork is really good, and the story is interesting.  The art is in full color, and it does contain graphic nudity and violence.  Those things aren't just gratuitously thrown in though, they are vital to the story when they appear. It's a serial killer murder mystery and also a bit of a ghost mystery.  The Spanish architect, Antoni Gaudi is central to the story in both the plot and the settings.  The artwork in the book inspired me to look him up and check out the places that looked so fantastic in the drawings in the book. Jesus Iglesias really captured my imagination with his drawings of the locations designed by Gaudi.

The artwork captures characters quite well too. I kept noticing that. They aren't photo-realistic at all, but they feature attention to detail that makes the characters seem so highly individual and life-like.

The hardback book is wonderfully made.  It's large format and the covers wrap just  and are carefully tucked, just so, around the book, giving it a very special look that's durable too.  In the back of the book there are notes about the making of the book and the story, with some initial sketches of the characters and places.
913691
A masterful compilation of just about every Prohibition gangster in Chicago (and there were a lot) discussed in fine detail.  This is a thick tome since it covers more long-forgotten bad guys, and Binder has researched old newspapers, government documents, and interviews of people who were there.  The writing is academic, but that's okay since this isn't light reading.  This is the book you go to over and over again when you want the facts, so it is highly recommended for mob buffs, serious researchers, historians and libraries.
4230466
Mr. Canfield has written and contributed to a number of books and volumes throughout his career and this is one of the best.  It has become one of the pivital references of those new and old alike in the historical military equipment hobby.  The photos are numerous and highly detailed and the text is descriptive and concise, providing interesting history of the weapon along with facts and numbers where available.  This is an excellent addition to any military library and I highly recommend it.
1576077
I bought this book as a gift for one of my son's. He loved it and has used it as a reference numerous times since receiving it. The photos are high quality. The stats are specific, and there is even a really great story about a letter Clyde Barrow sent to Henry Ford. This book is a must have for anyone interested in firearms and their history.
1091994
A very nicely illustrated history of a few particular squadrons while serving in the Pacific and at home. Lots of B&W photos, it also has color pictures of vintage flight gear being worn by models. It is an excellent visual reference book with good bits of history. The only reason I did not give it a 5 star rating is because he could not cover all the different types of squadrons such as the Wildcats, Helldivers and PBJs in detail. However, what he does cover: the Corsair, SBD and Avenger units are very well done.
3825187
This books first hand accounts of this pivotal era of harley davidson history make it a must read for any harley nostagia buff. The photos alone are worth the purchase price. Mr Wagner has done a fine job of bringing a  bygone era to life. I have enjoyed this volume many times.
2757511
This fascinating document is an account of the notorious "road agents" operating in Montana in the early 1860s during and after the Alder Gulch gold strike.  These men took over the towns of Alder Creek, Virginia City and Bannock and ran them as criminal enterprises.  Eventually groups of ordinary citizens formed secret vigilante organizations to combat the road agents.  Taking the law into their own hands they pursued, shot or hanged as many of the road agents as possible.  On Virginia City's Boot Hill there are presently gravemarkers with the names of a number of the men mentioned in the book who were captured and hanged by the vigilantes. Dimsdale, the author, was born in England and took over editorship of the Virginia City paper.  Some of the events he witnessed, but more he relates from the testimony of those who participated in them.  The accounts are a bit confusing -- they read as newspaper reports and lack a historian's distance and clarity.  But they make up for all faults in the immediacy of their telling.  This is a very valuable document of life in the old west, and gives an extraordinary sense of what life was like in a raw mining town, too new to have any legitimate law enforcement.  Mark Twain cites Dimsdale and quotes him copiously in "Roughing It," his account of his adventures in Carson City, Nevada, and other places in the West.
3147668
Over the decades there has been much incorrect information published on New York crime kingpins such as Frank Costello, Albert Anastasia, Lucky Luciano and Dutch Schultz. Allan May's GANGLAND GOTHAM, NEW YORK'S NOTORIOUS MOB BOSSES is a well-researched, well-written, straight-shooting examination of those men and others that dishes up the straight skinny. After reading GANGLAND GOTHAM, the reader will have a truer picture of the life and crimes of 10 organized crime bosses.

Along with the four men mentioned above, May chronicles Joe Adonis, Louis Buchalter, Carlo Gambino, Vito Genovese, Arnold Rothstein and Abner Zwillman. Crime buffs looking for Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky will be disappointed, May dropping both because they skipped out of the Big Apple early in their careers and found fame - infamy? - elsewhere. The biographical chapters on the 10 bosses make for compelling reading. The chapters range in length from 22 to 34 pages. Each includes a small photograph of the boss in question.

Other criminals of note are covered in a chapter entitled 'Biographies of Other Prominent Figures Mentioned in the Text.' Herein can be found 'Joseph' Florino, Salvatore Marazano, 'Joe the Boss' Masseria, 'Niggy' Rutkin and others. And a final 'Appendix' touches upon various crime-related topics such as the 1957 Appalachin Summit, the 1930-31 Castellammarese War, the Night of Sicilian Vespers, etc.

All in all, GANGLAND GOTHAM is an informative, appealing expose of some Big Apple crime heavyweights. It's also horribly overpriced at $95.00. The price certainly doesn't reflect a wealth of illustrations since GANGLAND GOTHAM is almost totally lacking in photographs aside from the 10 tiny pix mentioned above. The book tops out at 426 pages but does that merit such a stiff price-tag? Methinks not. While I definitely recommend May's book, I'd suggest getting a copy from your local public library or waiting for a paperback edition.
2032886
My first impression after I received this book was how great the graphics and bold coloring looked on the pages. My first time through I enjoyed just looking at the pictures of old covers and comic book hero's.

But the second time through I sat down and read the words. This book discusses the origins and progression of many superhero's, both Marvel and DC as well as a few independent characters. I consider myself having a medium knowledge base when it comes to comics and was pleasantly surprised with what I learned from this book. I enjoyed learning more about my favorite hero's back stories and about superhero's I didn't even know existed.

Overall, this is a very good reference book that showcases the rise of the superhero for anyone interested in the Silver Age of comics (1956 to 1970).
2662983
Documents the history of the mob in America.  Meticulously researched and told with flair.  Would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the history of organized crime or for the casual reader of police stories.
623552
I searched for a long time to try to find a comprehensive book about serial killers, and I finally chose this encyclopedia.  I am very happy with my choice. This book includes entries about serial killers that everyone has heard of, as well as ones that are not well known. The historical serial killer entries, like Belle Gunness and Elizabeth Bathory, are really interesting. There is also information that you won't find in other crime books (or documentaries). For instance, I watched a documentary about Aileen Wuornos, then looked up her entry in The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers and found a lot of facts that weren't covered in the show. I was disappointed that H. H. Holmes did not get his own page--only a mention in the index. His story could have easily taken up five pages. It would also be great if this was updated to include more recent serial killers. Either way, this is a fantastic book!
709296
I can't say enough about Martin and Terry's book. This wonderful volume documents the entire history of the Green Hornet, from an idea that Trendle had to build and modernize a hero similar to the Lone Ranger, all the way up to nearly the last and latest incarnation in the comics. As a Green Hornet radio fan first and foremost the first section of the book is a treasure trove of knowledge. I enjoyed learning about the development and execution of the television show and the production of the movie serials. The pictures, images and concept art were amazing. The book that serves as a text book and reference guide on one of the greatest adventure heroes is quite simply a masterpiece. No Hornet fan should be without it!
2383287
Chris Bird did a great job with this book. The 14 stories are very interesting, instructional, uplifting, and one story, in particular, stands out as I remember the various news stories mentioning that Pizza Hut fired the delivery driver, Mr. Honeycutt, because he defended himself against an armed robber bent on murder. The armed robber was "unsuccessful" because he picked the wrong pizza man to rob AND forgot to "prepare his weapon" (I don't want to spoil the story for you). Mr. Bird's book further reinforces my determination to always carry a defensive weapon at home and in public.

I've read some reviews here complaining that Mr. Bird frequently mentions of the race of the perpetrators. I fail to see why this is a reader complaint as race was certainly a factor in helping the police determine who the bad guys were, therefore, race is certainly part of each story. I find it very annoying to read news articles of unsolved crimes containing a near-complete description of the perp, but race is not mentioned. Such political correctness run amok only aids the perp in further eluding the police and watchful eye of the public.

Buy this book and you won't put it down before you reach the back cover.
551521
The captioned book is extremely well written, detailed, and historically on point. I am a student of 1960-70's left-wing groups, and their involvement in homicide.  This volume offers an insight into a group that could be considered mass murderers, serial killers and bombers, all "in the name of politics".

I think a valuable tip for Homeland Security types, as well as students of multiple murder, is to study the machinations of the groups such as the Japanese Red Army to look for answers.

Kudos to all that take on the challenge.

The Homicidologist
2434242
One of the most important battles of World War 11 was D-Day.  This excellent illustrated graphic novel covers the Normandy invasion in more detail than I expected.  The main generals and other important figures are mentioned in this book.  The decisions that were made which turned the battle for the Allied forces are explained, as well as Hitler's mistake of not listening to his Generals makes this book a great read.  The book is organized into fifteen chapters.  They are as follows:

Chapter (1) Second Front Now. (2) How peaceful the land looked. (3) Hitting the beaches. (4) Blooding Omaha. (5) The skin of their teeth. ((6) The tigers of Villers-Bocage. (7) Death in the Hedgerows. (8) The devil's children. (9) The capital of ruins. (10) Blood and thunder. (11) The cobra strikes. (12) "Come and get us!"  (13) Third army rampage. (14) The killing ground. (15) :Aux barricades!"

In conclusion, this beautifully illustrated graphic novel will be of interest to anyone who desires a brief overview of this important World War 11 battle, which was the turning point in the war.  It may motivate readers to seek out more detailed information on the Normandy invasion.

Rating:  5 Stars.  Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Never Trust a Politician: A critical review of politics and politicians)
4669863
If you like Foxtrot you'll like this book.  Essentially it's a condensed history of the strip, and a wonderful way to get the background to the current strips.  Highly recommended.