Tragedy, Rediscovery, and Harmonized Proportion
349771
Having heard fawning comments about the Rumanian's perfection, as well as nasty ones about his reputation being "overblown" by an early death (as if it weren't the other way around), I decided to listen to the man himself.

After considering so many interpretations of Chopin's Waltzes, including that of Rubinstein and Ashkenazy, Lipatti's still remains in a class of its own. His interpretations are the most integrated, logical, and impressionistic, framed by swirls of pianistic colour (no wonder he was hailed by Poulenc in his French debut for "divine spirituality"!) that convey a breathtaking virtuosity. But his pieces are never "pious" or weighty -- nothing is overstated, and there is an element of charm and flamboyance (witness Waltz No. 13) in which he communicates refined emotion from a rich, tonal palette. A beautifully balanced and proportioned sense of structure permeates every piece.

It is difficult to categorize Lipatti. Overall, his style represents a perfect balance between the Classical restraint (Fischer, Schnabel) and Romantic sentiment (Moiseiwitsch, Horowitz) of his time.
2413934
To the prospective biographer, Valaida Snow presents something of a challenge. She was a talented singer, trumpeter, and dancer who toured widely throughout Europe and the Far East, and yet whose career was obscured by myths, many created by Valaida herself. Perhaps as a result, it's taken over 50 years from her death in 1956 for the definitive account of her life to be produced, and what a life it was, as Mark Miller relates it. He has set out to overcome the mythology by returning to contemporary accounts, meticulously annotated, and avoiding new suppositions dressed as fact. He rather disarmingly defines his role as that of spoilsport, although that is not borne out by the result.

The amount of detail which he has uncovered is quite breathtaking in its scope, and yet one never feels overwhelmed by it. Rather, his narrative unfolds at a measured pace, covering Valaida's various roles in revue and vaudeville, her musical and other associates, and the cosmopolitan nature of her career. The several crises in that career, including the true nature of her Danish detention in 1942, are spelt out objectively, and whilst readers may detect where the author's sympathies lie, they are left to draw their own conclusions.

The facts of Valaida's life may have needed scrupulous unravelling, but her recorded output is somewhat more accessible, particularly those 32 sides that she recorded in London for the Parlophone label, which constitute just short of half her recorded output. All are set out in a separate discography, and analysed chronologically within the narrative. In short, this is an indispensable work of scholarship for anyone seeking to broaden their understanding not just of that phenomenon called Valaida Snow, but also of her music and the times in which she lived and played.
534276
We seem to be a culture obsessed with violence, trauma and family turmoil: we love to hear about the tragedies that befall others and the media appears more than happy to fuel this interest. It is rare to find a story about a dysfunctional family that ends in tragedy that is told in a balanced way. And this is sometimes the case with true crime authors as well; they fall into the trap of sensationalizing the stories they present. INTERNAL COMBUSTION, the latest work by Joyce Maynard --- perhaps best known for TO DIE FOR, a fictionalized version of the Pamela Smart story --- could be an exception. She attempts to be non-biased in her telling, but only arguably so because even she admits she was not entirely successful.

Maynard, like many others, was riveted when she saw television coverage of the trial of Nancy Seaman, accused of killing her husband of 32 years. It was hard to imagine the tiny fourth grade teacher committing such a brutal act on the father of her two sons. Seaman claimed self-defense and that she had been a battered woman throughout the marriage. Intrigued, Maynard flew to Detroit to see the end of the trial. But once there, Maynard started to lose the sympathy for Seaman that brought her to Michigan in the first place. Instead, Maynard came to believe that she was witnessing the results of one woman's psychological pathology, not the self-defense that Seaman claimed.

There is no doubt that the Seaman marriage was turbulent, quite troubled even. But as presented by Maynard, the verbal abuse and perhaps some physical abuse went both ways between Nancy and Bob Seaman. The real tragedy, as INTERNAL COMBUSTION points out, is that the two Seaman sons, Greg and Jeff, end up taking different sides and lose their relationship with each other as well as their father to the murder and their mother to prison. Those who knew the Seaman family were divided as well; some strongly supported Nancy to the very end, claiming she was a victim of decades of abuse, while others believed her to be a brutal killer and Bob to be her victim.

What is fascinating about Maynard's book is not just the story of the Seaman family, although that is truly compelling; it is Maynard's method in telling it. She is frank about her feelings toward the family and others, and she lets readers in on how she reached the conclusions she did. She didn't simply follow the trial but also interviewed and spent time with family members, friends, police, lawyers, reporters and experts in order to understand Seaman's motivation for killing her husband and how a marriage could go so horribly wrong. There were several key people who refused to speak with Maynard, namely Nancy Seaman and her son Greg. While the story is not really complete without their input, the absence of their voices adds tension to the drama.

But therein lies some of what readers may find problematic with the book. Besides the fact that Nancy and Greg Seaman, people whom Maynard is ultimately judging (or maybe asking readers to judge), do not get to tell their story, Maynard also didn't witness most of the trial herself and instead relies on transcripts and the accounts of others. Yet the book centers on the evidence presented in the trial. Maynard also admits many personal things about her own marriage and relationships with her children, which drew her to the case to begin with. So, like Capote, whom she credits as an inspiration, she begins to stray over the line between reporting and becoming personally involved or emotionally invested in her story. This may not turn off readers, but it does challenge the limitations and boundaries of traditional true crime writing.

Overall, despite some flaws, INTERNAL COMBUSTION is an engrossing tale of a troubled marriage, a dysfunctional family and a horrible act of violence. It is thoroughly readable and just scary enough for a good winter's fireside read.

  --- Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman
366692
Stephen Kern conducts an innovative examination of the way in which new perceptions of time and space influenced ideas, philosophies, art forms, behavior, politics, and foreign relations.  Kern is able to connect such seemingly unrelated topics as the sinking of the RMS Titanic and Friedrich Nietzche's evaluation of the present (an approach he calls "conceptual distance") to create a better understanding of the changing attitudes concerning time and space at the turn of the twentieth century.  As Kern points out, the study of such an array of diverse cultural elements in terms of temporal and spatial experiences is essential because time and space are universal.  All peoples experience time and space.  Ultimately, he explains how the changing notions of time and space culminated in the diplomatic breakdown which led to the First World War.
This study is very intriguing, but there are weaknesses in his many conclusions.  On the cinema, for example, certainly, it was exciting for viewers to see, for the first time, a man running backwards on the screen; however, it is difficult to take from such experiences the assertion that viewers changed their attitudes regarding time outside the theatre.  Although some memebers of the audience indeed ducked at the sight of an oncoming locomotive on the screen, one must assume that viewers were able to distinguish between what they saw in the theatres and their experiences in real life.  More convincing is Kern's argument that the cinema promoted a sense of temporal world unity (displaying a global sense of time through newsreels, etc.).
His main argument regarding the July crisis is also a little weak.  Briefly, Kerns maintains that the preoccupation with speed (especially with the fast, impersonal telegraph) caused diplomacy to fail due to rapid, ill-considered responses to events (the assassiantion of Archduke Ferdinand) and the short time limit given to the Serbian government to respond to Austria's ultimatum.  Certainly there were failures in diplomacy before the telegraph.  Moreover, it could be argued that the telegraph had the potential of making accidental conflicts less likely than before because it allowed for immediate decisions to be made by governments at home rather than by military officers and soldiers abroad (i.e. the Cuban Missile Crisis, although this was--of course--outside of Kern's period of study).  It is also a little hard to swallow that the wonderful technological, philosophical, cultural advances and changes of this period were steering the world to an irreversible path of destruction.
Despite these weaknesses, this work is a must have for students of this period because it covers such a broad range of topics and links them into an intriguing and ambitious theory.  It really prompted me to think about this period (my favorite period of history) with a very broad brush.
2187605
This is a comprehensive handbook and user guide to human emotions. It has the depth, rigor, and authority of an academic text and the accessibility of a self-help book. It unravels mysteries of human behavior that I wondered about for years.
The book begins with a grand tour of fifteen emotions. Each of these detailed tours begins with a case study followed by a description of the unique dramatic plot, the underlying assessment of personal goals, provocation, personal meaning, and coping strategies for each emotion. The logic underlying each emotion is analyzed. Subtle but useful distinctions are described between related emotions and between emotions and their synonyms. For example, the distinction between envy and jealousy, the difference between anxiety, fright, fear, and horror and the differentiation between embarrassment, shame, shyness, and humiliation is made clear.
A central theory of the book is that emotion and logic ("heart" and "head") cannot be separated. Each emotion begins with our appraisal of how we have been harmed or benefited in a certain way. After this appraisal, we choose a course of action. Knowing the logic of each emotion allows you to decipher peoples' emotional patterns and reconcile them with personal goals.
The book concludes with discussion of several practical implications. These include emotions and their relationship to stress and health as well as descriptions of psychotherapy approaches that can be helpful when coping fails.
I look forward to re-reading and studying this substantial book again and again.
389378
You might think that after working with computers and networks for nearly two decades I might have encountered a similar published history somewhere along the way, but I had to wait this long to finally satisfy my curiosity about many matters related to the Internet.
On another note, you know that you're growing old when such an eventful volume covers your life's exact timeline, and when you've watched over half the volume's events unfold before you in the workplace.
Stephen Segaller deserves credit for compiling an exhaustive background of four decades of Internet-related activity, including the major and minor players, their opinions, their backgrounds, thoughts, related feelings, reactions, plans, failures and successes. As a writer and television producer, Segaller originally created a television program titled "Nerds 2.0.1" during which he took a short break from production and adapted his material for this book.
I was pleasantly surprised to be intimately introduced to people I've either heard of - or read about - over the years. It was fascinating to watch the Internet unfold from behind-the-scenes as if I were closely involved in making historic progress with Frank Heart, Tim Berners-Lee, Norm Abramson, Vint Serf, Bob Metcalfe, Scott McNealy, Bill Joy, or my favorites (since I'm a Cisco fanatic) Len Bosack and Sandy Lerner.
It is easy to see the parallel between the television documentary and the book, as the book contains four neatly divided parts consisting of the decades of the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's, though the book could be divided into parts related more closely to significant events in the development of the Internet. These events would include: the introduction of the modem, the rejection by AT&T, Control Data Corp., and IBM of the original RFP to create a non-modem "Internet", the establishment of ARPAnet via packet switching, the development of routing protocols, the introduction of e-mail and FTP, the international expansion of ARPAnet, the establishment of Ethernet, the start of the continuing proliferation of Intel processors, the entry and exponential growth of microcomputer use, the TCP/IP protocol formally split and defined, the designation of the Domain Name System (.com, .edu, .org, etc.), the replacement of ARPAnet by the World Wide Web, the congressional act to permit commerce on the Web, the unbelievable growth of the Web in the early to mid 90's and thereafter, the continued dominance of Cisco and Microsoft in their related fields, and finally the continued exponential growth of Internet users, sites, traffic and commerce.
In conclusion I would highly recommend this book to anyone with even the slightest curiosity as to how this transforming medium we call the Internet just happened into being. Stephen Segaller's work is comprehensive and written for the reader as an active and interesting novel rather than a dry volume of compiled facts and figures.
1062954
Philbrick, the author of MAYFLOWER, made his initial reputation with this brief but powerful tale of the Nantucket whaleship Essex's disastrous encounter with a sperm whale in the Pacific Ocean in 1820.  The 20-man crew, forced to take to three whaleboats as the Essex sank after it was rammed by the whale, faced a horrific three-month ordeal that included subsistence living on a coral island, hunger and thirst at sea, and ultimately cannibalism.  Remarkably, five men survived, and several of them committed the tale to paper.  Philbrick's account is partially inspired by new details uncovered in the memoirs of Thomas Nickerson, the Essex's cabin boy, which were only published in the 1980s.  It has long been known that Herman Melville's MOBY DICK was inspired, at least in part, by what happened to the Essex.  Philbrick gives us the whys and hows, and much more besides, in these densely packed 240 pages.  (Melville, who was not known for concision in his writing, is probably shaking his head somewhere and wondering how Philbrick was able to accomplish the feat.)

Philbrick takes us through the history of Nantucket Island and the Quaker influences that shaped its culture, a description of the whaling industry of the 19th century, observations on the biology of whales, and, when the time comes, a rather gruesome (but necessary) discussion of the physiology of extreme hunger and thirst.  He also has important observations to make about the state of race relations among the Nantucket whalers (not as charitable as one might expect, given the Quakers' color-blind reputation) and the deep divisions between the "Nantucket men" and the off-islanders, or "coofs," who were brought in to fill out whaling crews as the demand for manpower grew.  These last are not mere sociological digressions; the first victims of the cannibalism were African-American, and the dispensation of the personnel in the whaleboats owed a lot to "in-group" and "out-group" dynamics.  Throughout, Philbrick knows just the right amount of detail to bring into his narrative without bogging it down.

At Stevenson University, we've used this book as a common reading in our Freshman Science Seminar sections.  Despite the somewhat grotesque subject matter and the occasional deployment of technical sailing terms and the like, this book is an excellent way to show students, as well as the general public, how science in the most "general" sense has intersected with other elements of American culture in the past, and is a good jumping-off point to discuss similar interactions of today.
1523162
I made two assumptions about this book before reading it:  a) that it would be a book about spirituality (since a Rabbi wrote it) and b) that it would be about death and mourning.  While there is certainly allusion to  both of these, I found it much more compelling as a work of psychology, an  archaeology of "loss" as an existential proposition rather than  some vacuous "how to cope" cheer.  For those that eschew the  popular self-help canon, this book is a compelling resource as it grounds  its propositions in the wisdom of historical, secular literary figures as  well the usual roll call from the Torah and Talmud, and tempers the  admixture with sensitivity and common sense.  The book's uplifting quality  results not just from the reiteration of the sages, but from its baseline  humanity, the degree to which it addresses the decent human being coming to  terms with mediocrity, foolishness, defects of character, and/or miscarried  hopes that drain the optimism from the average life.  The reconciliation it  ultimately espouses, the "making loss matter" aspect, reinvests  the individual with the perspective necessary to manage not just the  "big deaths," but the more subtle demises, the death-by-papercut  drainage of our happiness, individuality, and sense of connection to  something greater than ourselves.
4611969
I liked this book.

It is, first, well-written in a literary sense, with a simple, functional narrative that is easy to read (while avoiding being dry). Likewise, 'Train Robbery' is substantial in content, and in a rather intelligent, uncommon fashion: by mixing a good, fictional story with a number of equally interesting historical asides regarding Victorian London (along with some impressively perceptive sociological commentaries, I might add). Such "dualistic" books are, in my experience, hit or miss; here, however, the author manages to make it work, and to pleasing effect. In this capacity alone, 'Train Robbery' presents a sound, intelligent, and well-rounded read, with believable characters and a satisfying story.

Additionally, there is a third dimension to the book: a highly relevant human study. Namely, 'Train Robbery' contrasts present-day Western civilization with that of the past, by way of highlighting their many stark differences (and marked similarities). In this manner, the reader is shown a historical mirror, in which much can be learned, from psychology and the roots of human behavior, to the cyclical nature of mankind's evolution in general. Personally, I most enjoyed this aspect of 'Train Robbery,' and it proved a fine compliment to the rest of the book's substance. In the end, I came away from the read feeling both enriched and entertained.

One complaint I had: in my opinion, the author did not make clear enough that the book is only partially nonfiction. In my case, it took me about half the book to realize that there was a fictional element at play, only after reading one after another "deus ex machina" event. Though, this was ultimately a minor issue.

My sincere thanks goes out to this book's author, subjects, and publisher. I am grateful for, and have benefited from, your work and service.
2268732
Time flies when events are happy, but bring on trouble and sadness, then time dawdles and becomes endless.  Notice how  time drags for youth but accelerates for the more mature.  Time is an intangible entity that can be viewed from the past, the present, and the future.  The past resides in memories, the now immediately transitions into the past, and the future relies on imagination.  In this absorbing account of the elusive quality of time, New Yorker staff writer Alan Burdick seeks to understand how time is perceived by different individuals and how the brain intakes stimuli to translate perceptions into our varying clocks.  Beginning with a history of how time is measured from the planetary, global, and atomic levels; the story continues with a survey of the philosophers view of external changes.  Past and current scientific studies exploring the vagaries of the inner time pieces are delightfully detailed.  Some investigators seclude themselves in blackened caves to avoid all external stimuli that might influence their time clock, others use more technological gear trying to probe the brain and find its neuronal dials.  You may be familiar with prediction, but read the book to discover the essence of postdiction.
2557340
This is an unusual book in several ways. It is devoted to neglected but important topics; the rise of statistical analysis and its impacts. It is also the product of not one, but several, authors though this is not a conventional multi-author book with individuals responsible for separate chapters.  The opening sections of the book are interesting narratives of the emergence of statistical and probabilistic knowledge, culminating in the development of inferential statistics in the 20th century.  As the authors point out, this was a hugely consequential development, arguably one of the most impactful intellectual developments of the last 2 centuries.  The authors provide a nice analysis of the practical and theoretical issues that drove the emergence of modern statistical theories, with changing views of probability and the ways in which different strains of probability theory and statistical analysis interacted to produce interesting outcomes.  The founders of statistical mechanics, for example, were clearly influenced by the role of statistics in the emerging social sciences.  These sections also deal with interesting questions concerning the nature of scientific knowledge and determinism, and how these concepts changed over time.  The discussion of the somewhat tangled history of the development of inferential statistics is quite good, revealing the somewhat ad hoc and mechanical way in which inferential methods were disseminated among a variety of scientific communities, the recipients often unaware of the important assumptions embedded in these methods.

The second half of the book is a more topical set of chapters looking at the impacts of statistical thinking in various domains.  There are interesting discussions of the emergence of probabilistic thinking in physics, psychology, broader impacts in many aspects of society, a more philosophical discussion of concepts of determinism, and how statistical thinking has reshaped general standards of scientific conduct.  The sections on psychology, where statistical thinking became a model for how the mind worked, and the general impact on scientific standards are the most interesting.

While published quite a few years ago, this remains an illuminating book and some of the issues discussed, such as the problems related the assumptions hidden in standard methods are currently important.
3335096
All numbers _ all shapes and sizes _ time and space _ all are connected. Such relationships are everywhere at all times. Thus, patterns are created; some tangible; some not so much. Deciphering these connections, determining the general pattern, becomes the task of the mathematician. I discovered this concept when, some sixty plus years ago, my 6th grad teacher spent an entire morning detailing how common shapes (squares, rectangles, triangles, trapezoids, etc) were derived from one another by deriving their area formulas from a single equation. They were, in this way, shown to be all one and the same but simply stretched out into this or that shape or, geometrically, as viewed from various perspectives. This revelation came as a major eye-opener for me and changed my entire direction in life's pursuits. (Now that they 'teach to the test,' such revelations are generally and sadly absent from today's classrooms). Measurement as discussed in this wonderful book is not measurement in the classic sense of the word. In other words, one will not find a ruler with the sq rt of 2 on it. In this case, measurement represents a systematic assignment of a value to some subset of a system such that comparisons can be made between the elements of the system and between systems and (consequently) mathematical links between seemingly unrelated areas of the mathematical universe. The book is divided into two main sections. The first concerns what we used to refer to as "Synthetic" geometry. That is: to build up knowledge based on first principles. Numbers as such are conspicuously absent. Only pure reason is utilized much as it was in "ancient" times. In this manner, the author puts us directly into the mind of the mathematician; solving the riddle with nothing more the the one or two elements at hand. The ancient Greeks did this not so much because they lacked the so-called "brilliance" of the modern day Human but by choice, neglecting the more analytical approach. As such synthesis was more in keeping with their predominantly aesthetic view of nature. The second section adds the coordinate system (ala Descartes), thereby providing an Analytical approach and somewhat greater precision to the solutions (and consequently providing some deeper insights into the connections at large!). This is not a How-To book. It is an argument that is detailed and punctuated with an excellent choice of problems to challenge one's perspective. If the reader has no mathematical background, this book will pose a major challenge for sure. Additionally, if the reader lacks a fair background in both Trig. and The Calculus, this too will make forward motion along the line of comprehension rather tedious. That is not to say that one cannot follow the argument but it will be, at minimum, tough going, especially when the author reveals such links as between the Hyperbolic Integral area (dA = dw/w) and the Natural Log (ln). Calculus is, of course, simply a short cut to solving an infinite series of calculations in a few steps. It's use was initially implemented during the so-called "Kerala" Period in Southern India several centuries before Newton or Leibniz, both of whom systemized the science. It's rules are few but rather messy and often difficult (if not impossible) to apply without extensive practice and a good visual sense. Trig is stymied by its extensive use of the ever so transcendental Sin and Cos, etc. and also requires some fairly able visuals. The ability to convert from the geometric to algebraic represents a major breakthrough in extending Mathematics into further realms of exploration and therefore lends a helping hand to those less able to follow the visual signs so to speak. Again, 'measurement' represents only one area of the whole of Mathematics but this book will give anyone who wishes to tread through the mesmerizing tangle of Mathematical mystery an excellent sense of the Mathematical mind.
2178719
Mr. Gordon's book is a highly-detailed and fascinating recap of this tragic incident.  I hope he continues to update it should new information appear! The book is a well-written investigative analysis, although not  void of the human element, especially the sad plight of the grieving  parents. I might recommend one read it with a good novel on the subject:  Silent Bell, by Gary Drake, which deals heavily with the human element as  its a story about a couple who broke up the day of the shootings and meet  up again at the 25th Anniveray. Both books complement each other.
1762514
Bellos' excursion into the world of numbers sits somewhere between a history book and a pop culture examination. It isn't encompassing enough to be considered a history of mathematics, but what it lacks in sheer breadth, it makes up for in enthusiasm and relatability. Consider this book an introduction to the world of mathematics for people who think they don't like or understand math.

A relatively quick read, but with excellent depth in what subjects it does examine, Bellos' exploration of key mathematical concepts weaves a story about this often dense subject matter that leaves the reader with several concepts per chapter that they will find themselves repeating to friends later that night. Information about base 10 and 12 systems (and evidence for why base 12 might be the better system), origami, the invention of the modern numerals, the concept of zero, pi, how algebra and geometry finally connected (and why exactly we use "x" so much), probability (while looking at gambling), the golden ratio and non-Euclidean geometry all jump out from the pages thanks to historical stories and Bellos' excellent writing style.

The only drawback is that you get so used to Bellos making math subjects interesting that when you hit the few dryer portions of the book, the text seems to drone a bit. This occurs in two particular parts. At the beginning with the overly discussed Munduruku tribe, and at the end with the discussion of multiple infinities. One might even get a bit bored with the examination of distributions in  statistics, but it's still a fascinating concept if you take the time to understand how it has influenced the world.

Mathematics are so important to education, life and the science and technology that influences our lives that it is a shame so many students adopt an attitude of antipathy towards it. Bellos' book, on the other hand, could potentially change that. If freshman math courses offered a marking period on the history of math, it could open up students to a better appreciation for the material. This book does just that.
4968215
Four stars, not five due to repetition. Mass murder of civilians caught between two totalitarian regimes, forced deportation, starvation, shooting, gassing, ..... Etc.
The narratives about individuals tragedies are the highlight.
You could read "Darkness at Midnight" by arthur koestler, or "Death in the Forest"  (about Katyn massacre of Polish Intelligentsia) for another approach. One could feel numb with the umpteenth note about hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands shot, gassed, or starved.
The tragedies in eastern europe match those of east asia, see Gaven Daws " Prisoners of the Japanese", iris Chang " The Rape of Nanking". In sum, this is a worthwhile book for those unfamiliar with the tragic years 1939-1945.
4748268
Howard Goodall has presented important stages in the evolution of classical music in a very lively, entertaining manner.  Particularly fascinating was the evolution of the 12 tone system based on the square root of two.  I had never pondered why the scale of C followed by D E F G then A B C worked mathematically in addition to tonally.

If he went this far, then he should also explain in further detail  how one can play an A major scale on the piano or a wind instrument or better still, F # minor.  He presents the seminal piano work by Bach in which all the keys are played.  But I would like to see and hear how the individual key signatures work.  More importantly, I would have wished for more specific examples of why composers select the keys to convey happy or sad, tragic feelings.  What is the significance of Mahler sketching his last symphony, the 10th in F# minor?  Mahler seems to be handing music over to Berg and Schoenberg by exploring in atonality in bits and pieces.

Also, there are certain pieces that are forward looking in that they inspire a student or other composers in terms of tonality, orchestration.  I refer to Haydn's  "The Creation" which utilized a large orchestra or Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde" which also goes on the fringe of atonality as well.  These should have been discussed more throughly.
2745917
Out of the chaos of a hotel room ejected in splinters from a building by a cleverly designed bomb, Interpol Inspector Poincare' attempts to uncover order. With few clues other than the smoking debris of the room and the charred body of a man ripped asunder and thrown into the streets far below, Poincare' begins his orderly methodical inspection.

While police are quick with their interpretations of the scene, Poincare' is slow, calm, and patient. Initially, he determines that fragment spray from the blast indicates the murdered man was torn apart as he stooped over a hotel sink.

But while examining this explosive crime, Poincare's mind obsesses about another horror scene he investigated. Again and again throughout All Cry Chaos, through Poincare's remembered images, the reader is forced to gaze down into a large earthen pit in Yugoslavia. It is Spring. Sun melts snow away. Poincare' sees only inhuman chaos amid so many ruined bodies lying below--bones--shreds of what once was colorful clothing.

Inspector Poincare' visits the cell of the perpetrator of this heinous crime of genocide wondering why he did not kill the man when he had the chance. The prisoner justifies his actions: "Bad things happen in war!" He wonders if this man deserves the justice of a trial and jail cell after wanton murder. As he leaves the killer, Poincare' hears: "I will put you in my shoes before I die."

The jailed murderer has maintained outside connections. His henchmen wreak chaos on Poincare's family, critically injuring them. Despondent Poincare' must now deal with these threats. Why harm his family instead of killing him? Yet he still must solve the original hotel room explosion. But can he face his own chaotic mind? He examines, but then questions, mathematical proof of the existence of chaos in what first appears to be orderly being.

Can this philosophical inspector continue to work under disabling stress? What will happen to him and family members seriously injured because he lives? Can Poincare' effectively manipulate circumstances to keep loved ones from further harm while continuing to serve Interpol? Is there a political connection between the hotel explosion and the genocide mystery? I will leave the answer to all these intriguing questions to the reader of All Cry Chaos.

I must give this story my highest recommendation. It is for all readers. Its fascinating, conscience-nabbing account at once deals with the philosophical and the mathematical--but then flies directly into the face of disorder, the End Time Raptorial madness, religion and hellish revenge. If All Cry Chaos is the first installment of Inspector Poincare''s brilliant writing, let us hope that Author Leonard Rosen's other novels will be as excellent as this one.

Read All Cry Chaos. It will force you to t-h-i-n-k! You will not be disappointed.

Review written by Regis Schilken, author of Demons of Justice.

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