Retratos: 2,000 Years of Latin American Portraits

Book Description

The tradition of portraiture in Latin America is astonishingly long and rich. For over 2,000 years, portraits have been used to preserve the memory of the deceased, bolster the social standing of the aristocracy, mark the deeds of the mighty, advance the careers of politicians, record rites of passage, and mock symbols of the status quo. This beautiful and wide-ranging book—the first to explore the tradition of portraiture in Latin America from pre-Columbian times to the present day—features some 200 works from fifteen countries.
Retratos (Portraits) presents an engaging variety of works by such well-known figures as Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Fernando Botero, and José Campeche as well as stunning examples by anonymous and obscure artists. Distinguished contributors discuss the significance of portraits in ancient Mayan civilizations, in the world of colonial Iberians, in the political struggles of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and in a remarkable range of other times and locations.
With a wealth of informative details and exquisite color illustrations, Retratos invites readers to appreciate Latin American portraits and their many meanings as never before.

Amazon.com

Something inhuman and lethal is loose in detective Henry Carmaggio's city. It's a monster, all right -- a member of a master race from a parallel Earth, and unless Henry can track it down, it's going to bring its friends.

Customer Reviews:

Nice light follow up to the heavy Stone Dogs.......2006-02-22

4 Stars

I like the Draka series of books. Yes, they are ruthless slavers who subject all of mankind to the whip and then genetically modify the human race out of existence.

However, any group of people who control the killing in the Middle East and Afghanistan can't be all bad. :)

I got "The Stone Dogs" as a free book at an army base years past. After this very alien book I decided to read the whole series of Draka stories.

Drakon is a nice follow up to Stone Dogs and the rest. Gwendolyn Ingolfsson, a first generation new human from the Drakon timeline, is accidentally transported to earth in a machine that sounds a lot like the machine used in "Terminator". A normal human, Kenneth Lafarge, is a secret agent who has a mission to stop Gwendolyn. Ken is part of a group of humans who fled the Sol solar system after the Draka won the final war. His job is to stop Gwendolyn from infecting our Earth's time line.

This book is fast paced and fun. It's a quick read. Kenneth Lafarge is aided in his quest by several New York police. For some reason this book felt like a cross between "Stone Dogs" and "Law and Order". That's not a bad thing. This reviewer likes both and it sort of works.

Gwendolyn Ingolfsson comes to Earth with nothing and quickly builds an empire. The point here is our present prison systems are smart for keeping convicts from the internet.

This novel isn't nothing like the Stone Dogs, Marching through Georgia, or the very depressing Under the Yoke. It's a fairly fast paced novel that's perfect for reading while on the beach improving your sun tan.

I gave this book four stars. It's not original. However, it's a fun forgettable read. It's "Law and Order" meets the Draka. It works well.

If you like the Draka you'll enjoy it.

Nice take on an old theme........2005-11-21

"Person from the present is sent back into the past and proceeds to use his knowledge of technology" is one of speculative fiction's older themes - the best-known early example being Mark Twain's "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" and going on through classics such as L. Sprague de Camp's "Lest Darkness Fall" to a profusion of similar books of varying quality (ranging from excellent down through adequate, poor, drivel and Leo Frankowski) since then.

Drakon uses the same concept, but the "past" is *our* present - i.e. the late 1990s. It's refreshing to see a new take on an old theme, and it's great to see it executed as competently as Stirling does here. In fact, Stirling seems to have steered past his usual flaws in this one; the man's writing at his best, and his best is *very* good.

The bad guys: Stirling has always done bad guys well, to the point where they completely overshadow his generally-uninteresting protagonists. Drakon's antagonist, a four hundred year-old genetically-modified human from another timeline plus about four centuries, isn't incredibly interesting as far as personality goes, but she's drawn well and realistically. Her supporting cast include a couple of thinly-veiled redshirts of modern liberals (damn, I wonder what Stirling's politics are?), and various thugs with enough personality to work.

Very unusually for Stirling, the good guys are just as interesting. A NYPD detective and Vietnam veteran, and an agent sent back through time and space to counter the Drakon, they have personality and character, as do their supporting cast. For once in a Stirling book, I wasn't speedreading through their scenes to see what the bad guys do next; in fact, the ensemble of good guys are probably *more* interesting than the people they're facing.

The future technology is well-researched and interesting; Stirling displays a solid understanding of engineering, R&D and marketing. And the plot moves fast. Stirling's not afraid to shake his world with major events, and the final sequence, in a blacked-out New York City, is among his best writing.

Stirling seems to have an obsession with lesbian sex, and yes, there's some of that in Drakon... but less than I expected from a book whose title character is a bisexual woman. Plot-extraneous "I suffered for my research and you should suffer for it too", another bad trademark of Stirling's, is also lacking- in fact, there's none.

Easily the best not just of Stirling's Draka series, but of all his work to date. Too bad there won't be a sequel.

The Best of the Lot..........2005-04-19

SM Stirling's series on the Draka are a guilty read. He takes a familiar scenerio and pops in his supermen(women)to change everything. Slavery and master racism is the central plot behind them all (plus the what ifs of tech development) Character development is always strong and the technological aspects good. However, this is the only one of the series that gives you fallable Draka. They never really lose, why in hell would anyone soldier against them knowing they will die? In Marching Through Georgia for God's sakes, they are using 70s technologay against German-European forces with late 40s gear. As in all of his other books, the Draka are unbeatable but somehow the societies facing them don't get discouraged?

This book is much better though and one can in some ways sympathise with the 'anti heroine.' The behind the scenes attmpt at conquest will allow the conspiracy types to indulge in many I told you so's while reading a fast paced book.

Warning, Stirling maintains his sex included at all costs for this book too. If that is something that bothers you, skip the series as it is ALL thru the books!

A+, best of the Draka books.......2004-11-04

______________________________________________
Reread, and it's as good as ever: A+, best of the Draka books, and makes my personal Top 20 Ever list. Still Stirling's best book, imo. Compulsively readable, and highly recommended.

Gwen Ingolffson, the titular Drakon, is dumped alone into (almost, [1]) OTL in a failed wormhole experiment. A good Drakon superwoman, she makes First Contact with a mass-murder, and moves smoothly on towards World Domination. Gwen is SF's best female antihero, truly a lovely monster.

The ending is perfunctory [2], with a nice leadin to the planned sequel, _Unto Us a Child_. Which, unfortunately, was never finished: (I'd give you the URL, but Amazon would likely censor it. So Google. Hint: drakasequels.html)

DRAKON is the only standalone Draka book,the sexiest, and the least gory[3], so if you haven't tried the Drakaverse, this is the place to start.

[Pause to read a bunch of old Usenet Drakon discussions. The standout is Jo Walton's thoughtful review; Google Groups.]

Anyway, I can see the point of the various nitpicks, especially the one that sees DRAKON as a Draka fanfic, written by the author -- but none of them mattered, while I was reading or rereading the book. Drakon pushed all my right buttons, and, since this isn't a formal review, I don't have to analyze the book, nyah nyah. It's *terrific*, and I look forward to rereading it again sometime in the 2010's.
________________________
[1] The only argument I came across for this not being OTL, was a comment someone made that all the VN-era fighting was in Cambodia. Note, however, that both the NVA and Viet Cong are specifically mentioned. Did I miss another POD?

[2] --but includes a neat reference to Niven's "All the Myriad Ways".

[3] Even so, there are parts that are not for the squeamish.

Happy reading--
Peter D. Tillman

Good guys win? Come on!.......2002-11-13

Did Mr. Stirling's publisher told him that happy endings sell better than dark, brooding ones? Then the guy (or lady) should be fired. As far as complaints go, this was the only one I had when it came to Drakon. Gwendolyn is just too awesome to lose, too beyond the unaltered humanity's ability to handle.

Even though the plot is fairly predictable - the book reads like a combination of Predator II, Terminator, and Omen - the author implements enough elements from the original trilogy to keep the old fans interested and newbies intrigued. However, I still would have been disappointed with the ending if Stirling did not leave enough room in the end for the possibility of a sequel, and I have a feeling that it is going to be better than the original.

Average customer rating:
Alisa i drakon
K. Bulychev
Manufacturer: EKSMO
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

All Russian Books | Russian | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 5699212663

Product Description

Vpervye v ramkakh odnoj knizhnoj serii vykhodyat vse povesti i rasskazy ob otvazhnoj devochke iz buduschego Alise Seleznevoj i ee druz'yakh. V nastoyaschij tom voshli povesti ("Alisa i chudovische", "Vampir Polumrake", "Alisa i Alisiya" i drugie) i rasskazy, v kotorykh devochke s Zemli predstoyat novye golovokruzhitel'nye priklyucheniya. Soderzhanie Alisa i chudovische Povest' c. 7-111 Sekret chernogo kamnya Povest' c. 112-272 Vampir Polumraks Povest' c. 273-387 Zvezdnyj pes Povest' c. 388-504 Sapfirovyj venets Povest' c. 505-537 Zakoldovannyj korol' Povest' c. 538-593 Alisa i Alisiya Povest' c. 594-623 Koroleva piratov na planete skazok Povest' c. 624-645 Koldun i snegurochka Povest' c. 646-677 Alisa na planete zagadok Povest' c. 678-702 Alisa i drakon Povest' c. 703-731 Alisa i pritvorschiki Povest' c. 732-798 Alisa na zhivoj planete Povest' c. 769-796 Vtorogodniki Rasskaz c. 797-804 Eto ty, Alisa? Rasskaz c. 805-806 Nastoyaschee kino Rasskaz c. 807-812 Klad Napoleona Rasskaz c. 813-818 Chudovische u rodnika Rasskaz c. 819-837 Vokrug sveta za tri chasa Rasskaz c. 838-845 Eto vam ne yablochnyj kompot! Rasskaz c. 846-854 Alisa v guslyare Rasskaz c. 855-867 Urody i krasavtsy Rasskaz c. 868-890

The axones and kyrbeis of Drakon and Solon (University of California publications, classical studies ; v. 19)

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The axones and kyrbeis of Drakon and Solon (University of California publications, classical studies ; v. 19)
Ronald S Stroud
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Greece | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

Belyj drakon-2: Mechi Yamato (Istoricheskaya avantyura)

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Belyj drakon-2: Mechi Yamato (Istoricheskaya avantyura)
A. Logachev
Manufacturer: Krylov
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

All Russian Books | Russian | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 5971702270

Belyj drakon. Kniga I. Po lezviyu katany (Istoricheskaya avantyura)

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Belyj drakon. Kniga I. Po lezviyu katany (Istoricheskaya avantyura)
A. Logachev
Manufacturer: Krylov
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 5971700693

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Chelovek i drakon
V. Ovchinnikov
Manufacturer: AST
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 5170365764

Average customer rating:

The Doom of Drakon (Kosmon Report S.)

Manufacturer: Albatross Books Pty Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Average customer rating:

Drakon
E. Shvarts
Manufacturer: AST
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

All Russian Books | Russian | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 5170253788

Product Description

Pered vami Evgenij Shvarts vo vsem ego mnogoobrazii ot poetichnykh detskikh povestej ''Pervoklassnitsa'' i ''Chuzhaya devochka'' do dissidentskikh, poluzapreschennykh p'es ''Drakon'' i ''Klad'' i stsenariya ''Don-Kikhot''. Pisatel', ch'i knigi voskhischayut chitatelej i segodnya!

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Drakon
S. M. Stirling
Manufacturer: Baen Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000S9HLRS

Average customer rating:

Drakon (Zaklyatye miry)
E. Kondyreva
Manufacturer: AST
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 517039862X

Book Description

Rob Reiner's enormously funny and moving When Harry Met Sally ... -- a romantic comedy about the difficult, frustrating, awful, funny search for happiness in an American city, where the primary emotion is unrequited love -- is delighting audiences everywhere. Now, the complete screenplay is published. Written by Nora Ephron -- author of screenplays for Silkwood and Heartburn (from her own best-selling novel) -- When Harry Met Sally...is as hilarious on the page as it is on the screen. The book includes an introduction by the author.

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic!!!!.......2005-06-19

This is an adorable love movie for anyone. It's witty humor and charming story combine into making it the perfect romantic-comedy! It's great for watching any time, or even when you're feeling blue! It's sure to lift the spirits!!!!

Awesome!.......2003-06-17

I have been a fan of this movie for years and have seen it well over 500 times. Although I found three minor erros in the transcript while I read the book, It was still great.

Buy This Book!.......1999-10-31

As a screenwriting instructor, I'm always looking for material that will help my students understand the language of story. This is it!

This movie is the best of its genre..........1999-04-19

...and will never be surpassed. There's nothing i can add. This simply has to be seen to be believed.

The best transcription of the relationship between M & F.......1998-10-27

I have seen this movie several times, and I still like it. Each time I review this movie, I can gain different thinking. You'll love it if you have it.

Average customer rating:

When Harry Met Sally
Rob - director Reiner
Manufacturer: Nelson Entertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KZB8CO

Rob Reiner untitled: "When Harry met Sally", original screenplay

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Rob Reiner untitled: "When Harry met Sally", original screenplay
Nora Ephron
Manufacturer: Castle Rock Pictures
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Screenplays | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000727N9C

When Harry met Sally --: An original screenplay

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When Harry met Sally --: An original screenplay
Nora Ephron
Manufacturer: Castle Rock Entertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Screenplays | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B00071WJ1A

Average customer rating:

When Harry Met Sally . . .
Meg Ryan Starring Billy Crystal
Manufacturer: MGM. c,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000QMO634

When Harry Met Sally Movie Script Screenplay

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When Harry Met Sally Movie Script Screenplay

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Ring-bound
ASIN: B000FCF09O

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When Harry met Sally: Screenplay
Nora Ephron
Manufacturer: s.n.]
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Screenplays | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0007C62G2

Average customer rating:
Frame Drumming Free Hand Style - The Basics: A Rhythmic Guide for Creative Musical Expression

Manufacturer: Hal Leonard Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Similar Items:

When the Drummers Were Women: A Spiritual History of Rhythm

The Healing Drum Kit

ASIN: 0634004352

Book Description

A revolutionary approach to hand drum techniques, this book is based on world music traditions and is equally relevant to players ranging from weekend drum circle enthusiasts to professional percussionists. The text presents standard rhythm patterns in an easy-to-understand manner that will unlock every player's creative potential. Includes: exercises to develop technique, rhythm and reading; traditional music notation combined with Indian rhythmic syllables; detailed illustrations of hand positions; an index of hand drumming strokes; and more. The accompanying 41-track CD demonstrates many of the exercises and provides play-along examples.

Book Description

The book starts off by giving an in-depth history of the Brazilian art of Capoeira. The last half of the book deals with the movements and techniques of Capoeira, including: offensive and defensive movements, basic kicks, takedowns, advanced kicks and movements, head butts, hand strikes, and knee and elbow strikes. Each of the techniques and maneuvers are vividly depicted by drawings that are very easy to understand and learn from. There is also an explanation of both Angolan and Regional versions of most of the techniques. This book gives a very good description of the history, game, and philosophy of Capoeira. The book contains diagrams showing various positions and movements and discusses attacking and defending strategies and the critical aspects of feinting. Over 100 photographs and illustrations are included.

Customer Reviews:

great for new capoeiristas.......2007-03-29

great read for people new to capoeira that want to have a more comprehensive review of the history, music, and game. also has an interesting review of a conference that discusses capoeira in US and Europe, which is very useful to read to learn about the different trends and mestres around. definitely recommend it!

Discusses and teaches the Game on many levels.......2007-01-05

I found this book to be an entertaining and informative read which discusses the game of capoeira on many levels from the philosophy through to movements and drills. It's a well rounded book and I reccomend that you give it a read if you are interested in capoeira (and even in philosophy).

Love it.......2006-05-24

I grant I'm starting out but this book has amazing insight on the philosophy and moves. Reminding that creativity is as important as learning the moves that have come from those before us. He also gives exersies that can be done when a person can't get to the roda of his instructor/mestre. After this book I'm gonna have to read more books about capoeira as well as from Nestor cause he was able to explain more than I thought could be put in a book.

Newbie and I got it!! .......2006-01-19

This book has been out for quite a while now and even now, in 2006 the book is still helpful. I'm new to the Capoeira lifestyle and reading this book has been extremely helpful in gaining more knowledge about the history as well as the many different movements involved with this awesome martial art.

I definitely recommend this book to newbies and more seasoned capoeristas. I may be a little "slow" but while the illustrations are great, I got a little confused when trying to "flow" through the movements but by reading, you'll figure it out and they'll begin to feel right.

Hope this helps...enjoy!

The Little capoeira book.......2005-09-02

Good synopsis of the bare basics of capoeira. A must for those new to the game and needing to know what all those new moves are called! No substitute for the practical side but a good accompaniment with classes.

Average customer rating:

The Little Capoeira Book , 3rd edition
Nestor Capoeira
Manufacturer: Blue Snake Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1583941983
Release Date: 2007-12-26

Book Description

Nestor Capoeira, a long-time teacher of capoeira and noted mestre (master), begins this revised edition of his bestseller with an in-depth history of the Brazilian art, giving the most popular theories for the origins and purposes of this movement that combines the grace of dance with lethal self-defense techniques in a unique game-song structure. He discusses some of the most famous capoeristas and their influence on the art. In addition, he describes how the two major branches of capoeira (Angola and Regional) came about and the differences between them.

The Little Capoeira Book’s clear descriptions of the game, or jogo, explain the actual application of capoeira, vaguely similar to sparring but very different in purpose and style. The music of capoeira, which is played during all jogo, is also examined, along with its main instrument, the berimbau.

The author includes a how-to guide with photographs showing basic moves for beginners, with offensive and defensive applications for simple kicks, takedowns, advanced kicks and movements, head butts, hand strikes, and knee and elbow strikes. Each technique is vividly depicted with drawings that are easy to understand and learn from, and mestre capoeira includes an explanation of both Angola and Regional versions.

Adventures and lessons await: a selection of children's and teen books that revisit old tales, introduce new characters, impart values and show some new ... An article from: Black Issues Book Review

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Adventures and lessons await: a selection of children's and teen books that revisit old tales, introduce new characters, impart values and show some new ... An article from: Black Issues Book Review
Gale Reference Team
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000UWX7CQ
Release Date: 2007-08-08

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Black Issues Book Review, published by Thomson Gale on May 1, 2007. The length of the article is 673 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Adventures and lessons await: a selection of children's and teen books that revisit old tales, introduce new characters, impart values and show some new moves.(children's bookshelf)(Children's review)(Book review)
Author: Gale Reference Team
Publication: Black Issues Book Review (Magazine/Journal)
Date: May 1, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 9 Issue: 3 Page: 30(2)

Article Type: Book review, Children's review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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