The New Russia : Transition Gone Awry

Book Description

“This admirable work has contributions from an impressive group of specialists who cover the topic comprehensively. Balanced, reasonable transitions in various economic sectors are urged persuasively and in some cases even eloquently. The book has the potential for making a significant impact.”

—Ralph T. Fisher, Jr.,

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

This book delivers an unpopular message: the West has played a pivotal role in the Russian economic disaster of the 1990s. Western advisors, including the International Monetary Fund and the U.S. Treasury, applied a narrow conception of economics that pushed Russia, after more than seventy years of communism, toward another failed utopia.

The twenty-six contributions to this book are divided into three parts: theory, evidence, and policy. Part One directly challenges orthodox economic theory for obscuring the necessary role of government in creating and sustaining a market system and features essays by three Nobel laureates in economics—Kenneth J. Arrow, Lawrence R. Klein, and James Tobin. Part Two describes the dimensions of the economic crisis in Russia and presents a Russian perspective on the failure of shock therapy. Part Three presents policy recommendations, with special attention given to improving the integrity and administrative competence of the Russian government.

Customer Reviews:

Great!.......2004-09-17

I am not a traditional book reader and this book was found by me accidentally. The book is very interesting even for Russians since in Russia we still have a very strong neoliberal propaganda and everybody who criticises our "reformers" is treated immediately as a communist. For me it was great to find such a book, where highly qualified Russian and American economists including Nobel prize winners criticise so hardly our "market bolsheviks". I also found a very nice web-site containing many articles of Russian and Western economists on this subject. For those of you who can read Russian texts I would like to recommend this web-site:
http://rusref.nm.ru

Engrossing.......2003-11-23

Provides a comprehensive picture of the course of economic transition in Russia under Yeltsin. Explains how the West's push for shock therapy had brutal consequences. Important contributions from a number of prominent Russian and American economists.

a useful collection of essays.......2003-05-01

The book The New Russia: Transition Gone Awry is a collection of twenty-seven essays by noted Russian and American economists and analysts, including Oleg Bogomolov, Leonid Abalkin, Georgi Arbatov, Marshall Pomer, and Lawrence Klein (winner of the 1980 Nobel Prize in economics). The book is divided into three main parts ("Economic Role of Government," "Economic Crisis," and "Policy Agenda") and contains a foreword by Mikhail Gorbachev. This volume resulted from the activities of the Economic Transition Group (ETG), an international network of economists set up in 1994 on the initiative of Marshall Pomer (Macroeconomic Policy Institute, Santa Cruz, California) and Alexander Nekipelov (Institute of International Economic and Political Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences). The purpose of the ETG was to bring together prominent economists, many of them Nobel Prize winners, to reexamine the early Yeltsin years and develop an alternative economic strategy that would strengthen democratic government but also "minimize harm in human terms." The contributors advocate a balanced approach to reform that avoids both unrealistic free-market ideals and excessive government control. The chapters are clearly written and cover a wide range of topics, including the shortcomings of the competitive-equilibrium model, origins and consequences of "shock therapy," privatization, corrupt banking and "pyramid schemes," poverty and social assistance, real estate markets, agriculture, coal industry, energy efficiency, human capital, government leadership, and trade within the Commonwealth of Independent States.
In the first essay, Pomer warns against attributing the failures of Russian economic reform to "bad implementation of good policy." He believes that Russian reformers paid too little attention to government's role and placed too much faith in the free market (p. 21). The Western-oriented competitive-equilibrium model (the "neoclassical paradigm") was unsuitable for the Russian economy. "The proposition that the market would adjust on its own without an activist government proved fallacious in Russia," Pomer writes (p. 23). Russian citizens were not ready for "shock therapy." The foreign competition and radical price liberalization (beginning in January 1992) stunned industry. This led to a sharp drop in living standards.
In their essay on crime and corruption, Svetlana Glinkina, Andrei Grigoriev, and Vakhtang Yakobidze point out that perestroika actually fueled corruption (p. 234). Privatization merely transferred the assets of an inherently wealthy country to a powerful elite ("oligarchs"), a politically connected business elite largely oriented toward plunder. Although individual Russian citizens during the first phase of privatization could purchase "vouchers" that were supposedly redeemable for cash or a share of industry, they soon discovered that the vouchers were useless because dividends were rarely paid and investors had no power in the decision-making process.
Banks run by the "oligarchs" sprang up that promised citizens rates of return over 1,000 percent. Desperate to preserve their savings in the inflationary period of the early 1990s, more than 20 million citizens lost everything in what turned out to be "pyramid" schemes. These banks---for which there were no reporting requirements regarding sources of large deposits---were heavily involved in money laundering and embezzlement on the part of insiders (p. 236). According to the authors, "by delaying payments on government obligations and giving short-term interbank credits at outrageous interest rates, the bankers were able to amass substantial fortunes. At the same time, federal and local governments routinely reneged on paying salaries (p. 237). Five of the largest private banks and their leaders---Inkombank (Vinogradov), SBS-Agro (Smolensky and Berezovsky), Most Bank (Gusinsky), Menatep (Khodorkovsky), and Rossiiskii Kredit (Malkin)---routinely granted loans to their affiliated companies for amounts greater than those of their debts to private depositors (p. 242).
The New Russia contains many more insights than can be covered here. Because the book covers many aspects of the Russian economic system, it would be suitable to assign in courses on comparative economics or Russian politics. The detailed, cogent essays written mostly by Russian economists make this book preferable to more generalized books on Russian economic transition written by Western scholars, such as Stephen Cohen's Failed Crusade: America and the Tragedy of Post-Communist Russia (2001) and Steven Solnick's Stealing the State: Control and Collapse in Soviet Institutions (1998), or those that focus almost exclusively on crime and corruption, such as Paul Khlebnikov's Godfather of the Kremlin: Boris Berezovsky and the Looting of Russia (2000).--Johanna Granville, Ph.D. (Stanford University)

yeah so what.......2001-04-07

Everthing in this book can be found in a dictionary.

Average customer rating:

New Russia Transition Gone Awry
Lawrence R Klein
Manufacturer: STANFORD UNIV + PRESS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000SN7UF2

The New Russia: Transition Gone Awry.(Book Review) : An article from: Canadian Journal of History

Average customer rating:

The New Russia: Transition Gone Awry.(Book Review) : An article from: Canadian Journal of History
Elaine MacKinnon
Manufacturer: University of Saskatchewan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Russia | History | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Canadian Journal of History, published by University of Saskatchewan on April 1, 2004. The length of the article is 1070 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: The New Russia: Transition Gone Awry.(Book Review)
Author: Elaine MacKinnon
Publication: Canadian Journal of History (Refereed)
Date: April 1, 2004
Publisher: University of Saskatchewan
Volume: 39 Issue: 1 Page: 171(3)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

Targeting nonnative English speakers, this workbook combines core legal terminology with helpful and fun learning tools. Crosswords, puzzles, and word games create low-pressure learning opportunities and ways to understand words in new contexts. The legal vocabulary has been updated to include the most current statutes and terminology and is as suitable for law students preparing for the Test of Legal English Skills (TOLES) as it is for trained staff seeking employment in English-speaking countries. A combination of self-study exercises and practical speaking activities are included, making it ideal for study in both the classroom and the home.

Average customer rating:

Check Your English Vocabulary for Law
*
Manufacturer: BLACK A & C
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000K757NS

Check Your Vocabulary for Law (Check Your Vocabulary Workbooks)

Average customer rating:

Check your Vocabulary for Law - a workbook for users
Check your Vocabulary for Law - a workbook for users

Check Your Vocabulary for Law (Check Your Vocabulary Workbooks)
Peter Collin Publishing
Manufacturer: Peter Collin Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Law Practice | Law | Subjects | Books

Reference | Law Practice | Law | Subjects | Books

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0948549629

Customer Reviews:

Check your Vocabulary for Law - a workbook for users.......2000-06-01

This workbook provides ELS students (English as a Second Language) an excellent overview of the most colloquial words related to legal matters, from poltical to criminal issues. A fun book, with interesting and varied exercises, for both self and class study. Excellent material to be used in ESP (English for Specific Purposes) classes, specially with law professionals and students as it enables them to comment on several articles that bring forward law-related matters. It has been a great asset to English teaching.

Check your Vocabulary for Law - a workbook for users.......2000-06-01

Book Description

Learn how to start a census program for terrestrial vertebrates with this handbook. Whether the information you need is for managing a population, surveying environmental impact, or conducting research on a particular species, this handbook has it all. Principles, methods, and calculations are explained. The following information is given for each species: name; range; reasons for census; life history; items of importance, e.g., migration; methods of census; recent and pertinent references; and comments about the various methods. CONTENTS: Introduction. Methods for Species: Amphibians and Reptiles. Methods for Species: Birds. Methods for Species: Mammals. Various Species in a Habitat. Index.

Book Description

This digital document is an article from WWP- Report on Oil Gas & Petrochemicals in the Developing World, published by Worldwide Projects, Inc. on February 1, 2005. The length of the article is 1467 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: EGYPT: Construction plans for proposed $1,100,000,000 polyethylene (PE) plant move ahead, EGYPTIAN PETROCHEMICAL HOLDING CO. (ECHEM) [Egypt] & CHEVRON PHILLIPS CHEMICAL CO. LLC (CPCHEM) [USA] - Order #: 025005.
Publication: WWP- Report on Oil Gas & Petrochemicals in the Developing World (Magazine/Journal)
Date: February 1, 2005
Publisher: Worldwide Projects, Inc.
Volume: 14 Issue: 02

Distributed by Thomson Gale

EGYPT: Construction plans for proposed $1,100,000,000 polyethylene (PE) plant move ahead, EGYPTIAN PETROCHEMICAL HOLDING CO. (ECHEM) [Egypt] & CHEVRON ... Opportunities in Africa & the Middle East

Average customer rating:

EGYPT: Construction plans for proposed $1,100,000,000 polyethylene (PE) plant move ahead, EGYPTIAN PETROCHEMICAL HOLDING CO. (ECHEM) [Egypt] & CHEVRON ... Opportunities in Africa & the Middle East

Manufacturer: Worldwide Projects, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from WWP-Business Opportunities in Africa & the Middle East, published by Worldwide Projects, Inc. on February 1, 2005. The length of the article is 1467 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: EGYPT: Construction plans for proposed $1,100,000,000 polyethylene (PE) plant move ahead, EGYPTIAN PETROCHEMICAL HOLDING CO. (ECHEM) [Egypt] & CHEVRON PHILLIPS CHEMICAL CO. LLC (CPCHEM) [USA] - Order #: 025005.
Publication: WWP-Business Opportunities in Africa & the Middle East (Newsletter)
Date: February 1, 2005
Publisher: Worldwide Projects, Inc.
Volume: 14 Issue: 02

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Average customer rating:

A great scientist explains his work and his life

Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays

EVENT HORIZON

Fascinating and Stimulating

Good, but not up to Hawking's standard

Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays
Stephen W. Hawking
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
General | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books
General | Physics | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Biographies | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

A Brief History of Time

The Nature of Space and Time

The Universe in a Nutshell

Stephen Hawking's Universe: The Cosmos Explained

The Future of Spacetime

ASIN: 0553095234
Release Date: 1993-09-01

Book Description

Readers worldwide have come to know the work of Stephen Hawking through his phenomenal million-copy hardcover best-seller A Brief History of Time. Bantam is proud to present the paperback edition of Dr. Hawking's first new book since that event, a collection of fascinating and illuminating essays, and a remarkable interview broadcast by the BBC on Christmas Day, 1992. These fourteen pieces reveal Hawking variously as the scientist, the man, the concerned world citizen, and-always-the rigorous and imaginative thinker. Hawking's wit, directness of style, and absence of pomp characterize all of them, whether he is remembering his first experience at nursery school; calling for adequate education in science that will enable the public to play its part in making informed decisions on matters such as nuclear disarmament; exploring the origins of the future of the universe; or reflecting on the history of A Brief History of Time. Black Holes and Baby Universes is an important work from one of the greatest minds of the twentieth century.

Customer Reviews:

A great scientist explains his work and his life .......2007-04-01

This book consists in two distinct parts. In one Hawking talks about his life, and in the other about his major areas of interest in his researches. Both parts of the work are written in clear and understandable language, though I admit that when he talks about black holes, singularities, and the real heart of his work my own lack of understanding and knowledge prevents me from feeling I really 'get it'. Hawking's work in these areas is considered foundational and of great importance. I cannot possibly evaluate it.
As for the second simpler section on his life there is the one overwhelming fact. It was only after he contracted AMS that he decided to get down to work, and become a serious researcher. His meeting Jane Wilde was the key here for this gave him hope for his future. She became his wife and the mother of his three children. And though they later divorced he attributes her with having given the hope and belief he needed at that critical time.
Despite his infirmity Hawking went on to make major scientific discoveries. He at one point lost his power his speech and learned to communicate through a special synthesizer. He is a widely appreciated figure whose 'Brief History of Time' won a worldwide readership. He has continued to speak out on issues such as global warming, the nuclear - war danger, the necessity for human population of space.
The book is naturally reticent about many questions regarding Hawking's life which no doubt future biographers will more deeply explore.
One more thought about the 'scientific work'. It seems to me and this is a layman's opinion that a lot of his work is done in areas and ways which are speculative and not as yet verifiable by experimental test. It thus seems to me that comparisons sometimes made of his work with that of Newton and Einstein are probably premature.

Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays.......2007-02-06

Very very interesting. Made my husband very happy+

EVENT HORIZON.......2006-11-14

An event horizon is the boundary of a black hole, defined by the light that can reach out that far and no further. Hawking himself sometimes uses pictorial metaphors to illustrate abstruse mathematical concepts, and this one occurred to me by way of an analogy of the brilliant illumination that I am trying to persuade to shine out far enough to reach my own dim wits hovering hopefully in the outer darkness.

The whole `feel' of Hawking's discourses reminds me of the stories I have read about Einstein at work - placid, orderly and without excitement (or should I say `perturbation'?). Genius of this kind seems to be a kind of glorified knack - such minds just operate naturally with concepts of this kind, and there is no sense of effort or struggle. Sandwiched between some biographical material and a radio interview, the main material in this book is a collection of essays and lectures. They include Hawking's inaugural lecture at Cambridge where he occupies the chair of mathematics once held by Newton, and all are intended in the first place for an audience of his peers. On the other hand, where Newton and Einstein did not try to address the general public, Hawking, like Russell, seeks to do just that, and he does it superbly. The style of writing is both literate and unpretentious, and the occasional jokes are very good. Readers who, like myself, are intensely interested in the subject-matter but entirely lacking in natural aptitude for it, ought to find this book enormously helpful. There is a certain amount of repetition inevitably, but the more of that the better so far as I'm concerned. Any amateur trying to get a handle on mathematical concepts like these has to get into a mathematician's way of thinking as best he can and stop thinking as a layman. We can all understand the basics of gravitation without being Newton, but if we are still struggling with the general idea of the General Theory of Relativity in 2006 it's worth remembering that it was propounded in 1915 and that physics and astronomy have came on a long way since then, so we had better get our minds round it at last.

At least as astounding to me as Hawking's triumph over his physical paralysis is the fact that this professor of mathematics at Cambridge never graduated in that subject. His degree subject was physics, allegedly on the grounds that the Oxford physics course was easy. Not easy enough to tempt me away from Latin and Greek, I must say, but doubtless for him. Mathematics is just a technique that Hawking invokes as a tool in his quest for a grand unified theory of the entire cosmos. This, said he 20 or 30 years ago, is something he hoped and largely expected could be achieved in 20 or 30 years. I'm sure we would have heard if he thought by now that he had got there, but he honours us with his ideas at the time of writing on the origin and future of the universe. The main obstacle to the final resolution of the issue is apparently that no one has yet successfully integrated old Newton's gravitation with the rest of it. However he also helps us with some more `back-at-the-office' theory concerning black holes, on which topic he appears to be the leading thinker, and that gives him the opportunity to remind us of the outlines of the most important advances since Einstein, namely quantum mechanics and Heisenberg's uncertainty principle.

The latter principle enunciates that the better the position of a particle can be predicted the less well its velocity can be predicted, and conversely. Since it is necessary to predict both, all we can do is predict the combination on a `smeared' statistical basis. It seems to come into everything, and Hawking invokes it to try to comfort us with the belief that although everything (and everyone) actually is determined by particle physics, the extent of the unpredictability is such that we might as well consider ourselves to be free agents. For once, I would dare question him. In the first place such a view doesn't seem to require Heisenberg - simply viewing the story of the cosmos as a chain of events constituting causes and effects would surely get us that far, as the permutation of these is incalculably large and therefore only to some extent predictable. Secondly, when we talk about `free will' and `determinism' what are we even talking about? I'm often told in arguments that I can think what I like. On the contrary, I wish I could, but my own observation and reason, such as they are, leave me unable to. When I exercise `free choice', e.g. in choosing from a menu, I can quite understand that my choice might be determined by physical causes (whether that is the truth of it or not). However when I change my mind about something factual or theoretical, which is taken as a sign of free intelligence, I do so because I feel that the evidence leaves me no choice, and evidence is not an `event' or a `cause' or any matter of particles or physics. Where does all this leave `free will'?

Those seeking God or a Creator will find that Hawking hedges his bets, so that any capable by nature of thinking what they would prefer to think remain, I suppose, `free' to do so. The issue is beyond me, and my own quest is for a better understanding of the cosmos I have been born into and will have to leave before too long. May I wish Professor Hawking a long and productive further career. We are much the same age, and his 20-30-year estimate for solving the riddle of the cosmos is up around now. If he finds it, I hope I can recognise it when I see it.

Fascinating and Stimulating.......2005-11-29

Like others who have reviewed this work, I can endorse it as a stimulating and thoughtful book. It is in essence however not a coherent book with a single theme. It is a compilation of articles and as such there is much in the book that is repetitive. Hawking acknowledges this and disclaims it at the outset. Even with the forewarning I found that element to be a tad annoying.

I listened to the audio version of the book while commuting and I found it overall to be a fascinating read. The biographical material about Hawking helped to put a "person" to the personality. Hawking is, without doubt, brilliant. His ability to reduce difficult concepts to listener sound bites speaks to that brilliance. I came away with an appreciation for his brilliance and abilities as well as the field of cosmological science that I did not have before.

Of particular note, I found Hawking's treatment of metaphysics to be interesting but ultimately no more valuable than anyone else's opinions in that area. Physics will never answer the question of why the universe exists or whether God in fact exists and created this universe. Science can only answer how the universe works and what laws govern its behavior. Hawkings admits this himself so I took no offense to his words, I just found it interesting that his position did not make his insights in that regard any more valuable.

The final segment of transcript from a radio show read by the narrator struck me a an opportunity missed to allow Hawking to finish with his own voice and presence. I was disappointed they did not use the original sound feed and chose to read the transcript.

Well worth the read or the listen. Entertaining. Already dated though and perhaps his more recent works would be of more value to most listeners.

Good, but not up to Hawking's standard.......2005-07-08

I immensely enjoyed A Brief History of Time, and had high hopes for this book as well. Unfortunately I was disappointed. Don't get me wrong, it is a good book full of interesting things, but there is far too much repitition, both with A Brief History of Time and withing this book itself. It seemed that he explained his "the only boudary conditition is that there is no boundary" theory in every essay. Good material, but you won't find much in here that you didn't already know if you read A Brief History of Time. I would recommend skipping this and going straight to The Universe in a Nutshell, a more recent Hawking book.

Stephen Hawking: Black Holes & Baby Universes and Other Essays

Average customer rating:

Stephen Hawking: Black Holes & Baby Universes and Other Essays
Stephen Hawking
Manufacturer: BCA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OLJBRI

2 Book Set; a Brief History of Time From the Big Bang to Black Holes; Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays By Stephen Hawking

Average customer rating:

2 Book Set; a Brief History of Time From the Big Bang to Black Holes; Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays By Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VMFGYM

Product Description

2 Book Set; a Brief History of Time From the Big Bang to Black Holes; Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays By Stephen Hawking.

Average customer rating:

Black Holes and Baby Universes - and Other Essays
Stephen Hawking
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O5YYXU

Average customer rating:

Black Holes And Baby Universes And Other Essays
Stephen Hawking
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HFL6CY

Average customer rating:

Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays
Stephen W. Hawking
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OD5H6K

Average customer rating:

Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays
Hawking's
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000QCWOLA

Average customer rating:

Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays
Stephen W. Hawking
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000R0YV5S

Book Description

Master of driving pace, exotic setting, and complex plotting, Harold Lamb was one of Robert E. Howard’s favorite writers. Here at last is every pulse-pounding, action-packed story of Lamb’s greatest hero, the wolf of the steppes, Khlit the Cossack. Journey now with the unsung grandfather of sword and sorcery in search of ancient tombs, gleaming treasure, and thrilling landscapes. Match wits with deadly swordsmen, scheming priests, and evil cults. Rescue lovely damsels, ride with bold comrades, and hazard everything on your brains and skill and a little luck.

Warriors of the Steppes is the second in a four-volume set that collects, for the first time, the complete Cossack stories of Harold Lamb and presents them in order: every adventure of Khlit the Cossack and those of his friends, allies, and fellow Cossacks, many of which have never before appeared between book covers. Compiled and edited by the Harold Lamb scholar Howard Andrew Jones, each volume features never-before reprinted essays Lamb wrote about his stories, informative introductions by popular authors, and a wealth of rare, exciting, swashbuckling fiction.

This second volume collects all five tales of Khlit’s greatest friend, the valorous Abdul Dost, and Dost’s comrade Sir Ralph Weyand. Life across the Roof of the World is more dangerous than ever as Khlit teams up with Abdul to thwart a gang of kidnappers, stamp out a cult of stranglers, save the dazzling Retha, and reluctantly lead an Afghani rebellion against the forces of the Mogul. Contained herein are the three never-before-collected stories of Khlit the Cossack, including the short novel The Curved Sword.

Customer Reviews:

A forgotten master of adventure.......2007-02-06

When your fans include Robert E. Howard, David Drake and SM Stirling, you must be doing something right. Such is the case with Harold Lamb. In this second volume of Lamb's "Cossack" adventures, the stories get better and better as you progress through the book. Considering that the first tale is excellent, you can't go wrong buying this book. If you are a fan of swashbuckling adventure, you owe it to yourself to check out Harold Lamb.

Very, very good........2006-09-27

I bought this book (and the companion volume) after reading some of Lamb's work in the 'Flashing Swords' ezine and anthology from Pitch-Black Press (Sages and Swords). I'd never heard of Lamb before--and now I've read his work, I'm stumped if I know why that is. Everything that's good about adventure fiction is in this book: strong and cunning protagonists, treacherous villains, and exotic locales, and all written in a clean and fast-paced prose style I wish I could emulate.

I read the whole thing in a week, then read the other volume straight after. When I finished, I went back and read them again.

My only caveat about the books has nothing to do with the stories, but the covers. The stock used for the covers is a little thin, and it warps badly if it gets damp. If you do buy a copy (and you should), then keep the cover away from water, otherwise it will curl and start to come apart.

If you're at all interested in adventure fiction, you should buy this book and any others by Lamb you can. Really, they're very, very good.

More Swashbuckling Adventures.......2006-05-15

Warriors of the Steppes is the second in a four-volume set that collects, for the first time, the complete Cossack stories of Harold Lamb and presents them in order: every adventure of Khlit the Cossack and those of his friends, allies, and fellow Cossacks, many of which have never before appeared between book covers. Compiled and edited by the Harold Lamb scholar Howard Andrew Jones, each volume features never-before reprinted essays Lamb wrote about his stories, informative introductions by popular authors, and a wealth of rare, exciting, swashbuckling fiction.

This second volume collects all five tales of Khlit's greatest friend, the valorous Abdul Dost, and Dost's comrade Sir Ralph Weyand. Life across the Roof of the World is more dangerous than ever as Khlit teams up with Abdul to thwart a gang of kidnappers, stamp out a cult of stranglers, save the dazzling Retha, and reluctantly lead an Afghani rebellion against the forces of the Mogul. Contained herein are the THREE NEVER-BEFORE-COLLECTED stories of Khlit the Cossack, including the short novel The Curved Sword.

Average customer rating:

Essence of Wit and Wisdom

The Complete Short Stories, Volume Two
D. H. Lawrence
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Anthologies | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0140042555

Customer Reviews:

Essence of Wit and Wisdom.......2000-06-06

A great collection of short stories that describe the life of simple people, in simple circumstances, yet seen from extraordinary points of view. Stories that make you say, why didn't I see that ? There's a rhythm to the writing that makes it very close to poetry.

ANTHONY TROLLOPE: THE COMPLETE SHORT STORIES; VOLUME TWO, EDITORS AND WRITERS

Average customer rating:

ANTHONY TROLLOPE: THE COMPLETE SHORT STORIES; VOLUME TWO, EDITORS AND WRITERS
Anthony] Breyer, Betty Jane Slemp, ed. Trollope
Manufacturer: Christian University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000REL486

The Complete Short Stories of W.Somerset Maugham in Two Volumes

Average customer rating:

The Complete Short Stories of W.Somerset Maugham in Two Volumes
W. Somerset Maugham
Manufacturer: Doubleday & Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OELOVG

The Portable Dorothy Parker - Complete With Two Volumes Of Short Stories And Three Of Poetry Plus Play Reviews, Revised, Enlarged

Average customer rating:

The Portable Dorothy Parker - Complete With Two Volumes Of Short Stories And Three Of Poetry Plus Play Reviews, Revised, Enlarged
Dorothy; With a new introduction by Gill, Brendan. Afterword by Maugham, W. Somerset Parker
Manufacturer: Viking Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000RIVI60

The Complete Short Stories of W. Somerset Maugham, in Two Volumes entitled: 1. East and West, and 2. The World Over

Average customer rating:

The Complete Short Stories of W. Somerset Maugham, in Two Volumes entitled: 1. East and West, and 2. The World Over
Somerset Maugham
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000T2EXCA

Average customer rating:

The Complete Short Stories: Volume Two
D. H. Lawrence
Manufacturer: Penguin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

D. H. Lawrence The Complete Short Stories - Volume Two

Average customer rating:

D. H. Lawrence The Complete Short Stories - Volume Two
D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OJ4KWQ

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books