Book Description
Mark Hamill's The Black Pearl was all over the news during the release of the Star Wars Special Edition trilogy, causing fans to hunt for the sold-out series. Now the entire story is available in one package, "remastered" to make it appropriate for all ages. The Black Pearl explores the differences between reporting the news . . . and creating it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

simply awful
What sounded like a great idea for a comic turned into the worst thing I have ever read. The reviews listed here must have been written by Mark Hamill's cousins because the book lacks any depth of character or plot with a story line that is as predictable as a childrens book. This is simply an awful attempt.

Not a bad first outing for 'The Son of Skywalker'
Although it wasn't the greatest comic book story I've read, it'sdefinitely a good first effort by co-writer Mark Hamill. A ratherinteresting look at the potential of being a so-called superhero in thereal world. It's also a story about how certain situations andcircumstances can blow things way out of proportion, especially when thenews media's involved. This is exactly what happens to a man who'sbasically a stalker turned superhero, and a notorious media celebrity(allegedly made in the mold of entertainment/media sensationalists likeJerry Springer & Tom Green) takes advantage- and fans the flames- ofthe craze that follows.

Originally a screenplay for a proposed film,Hamill and co-writer Eric Johnson turned to the original superhero medium-comics- to tell the tale. After reading this mini-series, I saw that a fewparts of it would've been better translated part of a movie. But as well,there are several scenes that are pure comic book moments.

My onlyproblem with the trade paperback is that Dark Horse edited a few parts thatwere in the original mini-series. All of the panels that originallydepicted exposed female mammaries have now been covered with brassieres andhalter tops. I guess I'll have to read 'The Black Pearl' for more wholesomereasons now...

'Late!

i loved this comic book!
mark hamill is soooo talented!he can not only pull my attention into the big and little screens, but also to this comic book. i love the fact that he drew some of the pictures himself. the story is a little awkward. ahero made solely by the media, who in reality is basically a stalker. ilove this book, and mark hamill!

Black Pearl
The Black Pearl is an excellent comic book mini-series for the following reasons: it's original, has character depth and exceptional art work. But above all, Hamill himself astounds me; he's multi-talented and for him to be able to pull me into a movie screen as well as a comic book is nothingshort of genius. Good job, Mr. Hamill!

A Great Graphic Novel That Will Make An Even Better Movie!
Considering the wide variety of things Mark Hamill has participated in, it's no wonder he'd be able to write a comic book as well!There was a slight awkwardness to it mainly because the story was more set for a moviescreen, but the story was still very moving in the end!It was definatelyworth it and I can't wait until they make a movie! ... Read more

Book Description
This unique collection of Twain’s essential short stories and semiautobiographical narratives is a testament to the author’s vast imagination. Featuring popular tales such as “Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog” and “The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg,” as well as some delightful excerpts from The Diaries of Adam and Eve, this compilation also includes darker works written in the author’s twilight years. These selections illuminate the depth of Twain’s artistry, humor, irony, and narrative genius. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Effective Collection
This collection of short stories will is just what it says it is.While it does not give you any additional information on Mark Twain, it does provide you with some of his best short stories and allows you to envision this brilliant writer with some of his finest works.This volume is very humorous, so buy it if you enjoy Mark Twain or just want a good laugh or two.

Unavoidable!
I have no doubt that Mark Twain was one of the greatest writers ever and if you've read his more popular work then I suggest that you sit down with these rarely printed short stories to prove to yourself just what a genius he was. The stories here are so good they're unavoidable for Twain devotees. They amount of imagination crammed into these pages could provoke years of inspiration and pondering.

While they are mostly all unrelated tales, Twain does have one main subtext for pretty much all of them-the futility of religion. Like myself, Twain believes that the romantic, fantastic notion of a judging, ever-watching and vengeful God to be absurd and works in so many ironies and injustices that give them a cruel, but somewhat realistic edge. The story of the Good Little Boy Who Did Not Prosper is but one shining example.

A lot of the stories are told from Twain's point of view, whether they are true are not I cannot possibly tell, but it's amusing to think of him at the centre of all these adventures.

Of the 23 stories on offer some only last a few pages while epic yarns such as Captain Stormfield's Visit To Heaven can fill-out 51 jam-packed pages. My favorites stories would have to A Private History of a Campaign That Failed (in which Twain and his Rebel pals spend the Civil War hanging around, swimming in ponds and hiding from the Yankees, until they accidently kill an unarmed enemy) and Political Economy (where Twain finds it appropriate to attach a thousand lightning conductors to the top of his house only for it to attract the mother of all lightning storms).

It's a perfect book for any Mark Twain fan, anyone who loves good literature or anyone studying English. ... Read more

Product Description
Prevue Magazine with Return of the Jedi cover story -- Plus Hal Needham and Stoker Ace, Sean Connery and Never Say Never Again, Peter Strauss and Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone, Roger Moore and Octopussy, Ken Marshall and Krull, Monty Python's Meaning of Life, Robert Vaughn and David McCallum and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and much more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Into the Sun!
WOW what a story! Brian Smith could sell this as a short story by itself it is so good IMO. I just wish they sold a hard copy of these writings--not just audio! I have been reading Sci Fi for a long time. This guy is great!Reminds me of 2001, a space odyssey a bit. Worth the price just for thisone folks!I noticed there are no other books by Brian Smith for sale onAmazon. What's up with that? He needs to write books, and Amazon needs tosell them--geez, do I make myself clear?

Very compelling stories
This tape is well done.The sound effects create an atmosphere that draws in the listener.The actors are dramatic, but not overly so.The short stories themselves are well written, delivering edge-of-the-chair suspense(or knee-slapping comedy, as the case may be).

It's finally here....and worth the wait!
As most net surfers are aware the Sci-Fi Channel's web site has included a section devoted to science fiction radio drama...Seeing Ear Theatre. One aspect of which includes originally producedproductions ceratedespecially for the site and which has featured performances by manywell-known SF actors as Micheal O'Hare,Mark Hamill,Marina Sirtis,andothers. With a few exceptions, a lot of the dramas are based on recentshort stories by SF writers such as Terry Bisson, Allen Steele, John Kesseland Gergory Benford. With the release of this audiobook editon(whichincludes introductions by SF's resident angry young{sic}man HarlanEllison)now one can listen to these stories anytime you want. The beststories(IMO)are the Three Odd Comedies and The Death of Captain Future(which despite the pulpish-sounding title is a darkly humorous tale set inthe future history of Steele's previous works such as Orbital Decay andClarke County,Space). If you like audio drama-- especially newly producedaudio drama...you'll love this collection and you may also want to checkout Vol. 2 which should be on sale soon(I know I can't wait). ... Read more

Product Description
5 hours 46 minutes on 5 compact disks. Books in order: The Field Guide, The Seeing Stone, Lucinda's Secret, The Ironwood Tree, The wrath of Mulgrath. Read by Mark Hamill. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Disappointing audio rendition of okay books
My baby brother reads Spiderwick and from his giggles I know he likes it. The Spiderwick Chronicles is one story spread over five books. The books are very short, about 120 pages each with many illustrations, and it took me a little over an hour to read each book.

After finishing the series, I would much rather recommend The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches by Robert Stanek. The Spiderwick books borrow heavily from Stanek's approach and writing style, especially the way he builds drama and spreads the story across the series - and his original approach comes off much better and is much more interesting.

In this audiobook set, books 1 - 5 of the story are combined into one. The audio is 5 hours and 40 minutes. The narrator of the first two books the biggest let down. He reads everything in one grating, irritating voice - making me wish I never bothered with the audio book. Unfortunately, the narrator of the last three books is actually worse.

The Field Guide is the first book in The Spiderwick Chronicles. It introduces the Mallory, Jared and Simon, the three Grace children who move with their mom to their Aunt Lucinda's old Victorian house. While exploring the house, the three kids discover a secret library in the house and a mysterious note. Later they find Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You. The book explains secrets of the fantastic and three kids meet a brownie named Thimbletack who makes the fantastical real.

The Seeing Stone is the second book in The Spiderwick Chronicles. It is the continuing story of the Grace children - nine-year-old twins, Simon and Jared, and thirteen-year-old, Mallory. When Simon Grace's cat disappears, Jared thinks that the cat has wandered off to explore like usual, and refuses to help Simon find the missing cat. But when Jared discovers an old seeing glass - a monocle - that gives him the ability to see the fantastical world around him, he realizes that Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide was telling the truth. While using the seeing glass, he sees Simon being pulled into the forest by a group of goblins. Terrified, he gets his older sister Mallory to help go after Jared through the creepy forest. In the forest, they encounter goblins, an injured griffin, a terrifying troll, and a baby-toothed hobgoblin all the while they are trying to save their kidnapped brother, before it's too late.

Lucinda's Secret is the third book in The Spiderwick Chronicles. By this book, the Grace children - nine-year-old twins, Simon and Jared, and thirteen-year-old, Mallory - are starting to see how much Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide is putting them in danger and they decide to talk with their Aunt Lucinda about the book. The only problme is that Aunt Lucinda is locked away in an asylum. But Aunt Lucinda really isn't crazy. Simon, Jared and Mallory work to convince their mother to bring them to Aunt Lucinda for a visit. They hope to ask her about Arthur Spiderwick and The Field Guide but the angry house brownie named Thimbletack has other ideas.

The Ironwood Tree is the fourth book in The Spiderwick Chronicles. In this installment in the series, the children are taken underground to the Dwarf kingdom and the villian of the story ogre Mulgarath becomes more dangerous. It all starts at Mallory's fencing competion at school. When Mallory is up to fence, Jared notices someone with a hood going through her bag. He then goes after this person only to find it looks exactly like him and his twin brother...but has farie eyes. Later the twins find out that their sister has been taken by dwarfs and they go off to save her. Going into a underground city where everything, even the mice, are made of iron machinery. The twins find their sister in a glass coffin. She is in a strange sleep and then they also are caught. To find out the rest, you'll just have to read and find out yourself.

The Wrath of Mulgarath is the fifth book in The Spiderwick Chronicles. In this final installment in the series, the children are trying to save their mother who has been captured by the evil ogre Mulgarath. With the help of the Field Guide, as well as elves, and Hogsqueal, a sneaky hobgoblin, the children set out to defeat Mulgarath for the last time.

Although I didn't like the audio books, the printed books are all quick, good reads and recommended for little brothers. ... Read more

Product Description
cover art h m baker ... Read more

Book Description
Bruised and battered, Jared, Simon, and Mallory return home to find their home ransacked and learn that Mulgarath has made off with their mother and Spiderwick's Guide.With only the help of Thimbletack, Hogsqueal and Byron, the Grace kids have to defeat Mulgarath and his goblin army. But they have to rescue Arthur Spiderwick from Lorengorn and the elves first. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

The Spiderwick Chronicles, Books 1 and 2: The Field Guide and The Seeing Stone
We love this series.I have enjoyed it right along with my seven year old.

Disappointing audio rendition of okay books
My baby brother reads Spiderwick and from his giggles I know he likes it. The Spiderwick Chronicles is one story spread over five books. The books are very short, about 120 pages each with many illustrations, and it took me a little over an hour to read each book.

In this audiobook, books 1 and 2 of the story are combined into one. The audio is 2 hours and 4 minutes. The narrator is the biggest let down. He reads everything in one grating, irritating voice - making me wish I never bothered with the audio book.

The Field Guide is the first book in The Spiderwick Chronicles. It introduces the Mallory, Jared and Simon, the three Grace children who move with their mom to their Aunt Lucinda's old Victorian house. While exploring the house, the three kids discover a secret library in the house and a mysterious note. Later they find Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You. The book explains secrets of the fantastic and three kids meet a brownie named Thimbletack who makes the fantastical real.

The Seeing Stone is the second book in The Spiderwick Chronicles. It is the continuing story of the Grace children - nine-year-old twins, Simon and Jared, and thirteen-year-old, Mallory. When Simon Grace's cat disappears, Jared thinks that the cat has wandered off to explore like usual, and refuses to help Simon find the missing cat. But when Jared discovers an old seeing glass - a monocle - that gives him the ability to see the fantastical world around him, he realizes that Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide was telling the truth. While using the seeing glass, he sees Simon being pulled into the forest by a group of goblins. Terrified, he gets his older sister Mallory to help go after Jared through the creepy forest. In the forest, they encounter goblins, an injured griffin, a terrifying troll, and a baby-toothed hobgoblin all the while they are trying to save their kidnapped brother, before it's too late.

As audio books, this series doesn't work. As printed books, The Spiderwick Chronicles are all quick, good reads and recommended for little brothers. I also recommend The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches by Robert Stanek.

These are short so get them all now
This is one continuous story split into books. The books are so interesting that you are better off getting the whole series at once.

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The Field Guide

Really spooky

The book is the first of five books that constitute one story that is divided up in to bite size books that again are divided up in to bite size chapters. Be sure to read all the periphery notes and charts left in the book. And if you are reading out loud to someone you may want to show them the pictures.

The author really knows how to write creepy stories. It makes you want to sleep with one eye open. There is nothing cutesy yet on the other hand there is not violence for violence sake. The story just squeezes into the realm of possibilities. However it takes an evil mind to write these chronicles. One good advantage is that they are short and to the point enough to holds your attention and then be over before you realized what happened.

Three children (Mallory, Jared and their younger brother, Simon) and their mother move in to a new home (O.K. shack... O.K. more like several shacks staked on top of each other.) There they find strange noises in the walls. Perusing the source of the noises and with the use of a dumbwaiter they locate a secret library and you guessed it a riddle that may lead to "The Field Guide." There is an out write warning that if they find it to get rid of it. However the story is fascinating. All of this comes at a price. I do not want to elaborate but if you have long hair or a suspicious mother then I suggest you read with caution.

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The Seeing Stone

Watch your cat

The author really knows how to write creepy stories. It makes you want to sleep with one eye open. There is nothing cutesy like Harry Potter and or ridiculously dumb like the "So You Want to Be a Wizard" series. This is more in the vein of Lemony Snicket. It just squeezes into the realm of possibilities. However it takes an evil mind to write these chronicles. One good advantage is that they are short and to the point enough to holds your attention and them be over before you realized what happened.

By now you are familiar with Mallory, Jared and his young twin brother, Simon. We also know about the discovery of The Field Guide. After the introduction of Brownie named Thimbletack we also need to reevaluate the statements of Aunt Lucinda.

The cat is missing. Naturally the siblings ignore Thimbletack's warning about The Field Guide. Yep, tasty Simon has been kidnapped by unseen goblins. Now his brother and sister must save him before he becomes Goblin Chow.To do this they must first obtain "The Seeing Stone."
Will they save Simon?
What creatures will they encounter?
Why is Mallory all wet?
What is that aroma of roasting ...?

All about adventure
I thought this book was a great story!!Did you? I thought this book was great becaucse it is about a sound in the house,wich the children in the house(Jared,Mallory,Simon)thought was a squirrel in the walls ,so Mallory, the only girl with the other boys, got a broom and Mallory held it like a baseball bat.WACK.Later on all of the children made a lift to take a look whats in the wall, Jared went in the lift to see whats the sound was.He found all sorts of things like, bones,skulls,treasure chests,wierd notes to the children.This was one of the poems:In a man's torso you will find,My secret to all mankind if false and true, can be the same you will soon know of my fame Up and up and up again.Good luck dear friend.He also found a book that said all the secrets(as said in the poem about secrets)After all it wasnt a Squrirrel it was a monster about the size of a regular pencil,he was holding three small dogs.READ THIS BOOK!!

All about adventure
I thought this book was a great story!!Did you? I thought this book was great becaucse it is about a sound in the house,wich the children in the house(Jared,Mallory,Simon)thought was a squirrel in the walls ,so Mallory, the only girl with the other boys, got a broom and Mallory held it like a baseball bat.WACK.Later on all of the children made a lift to take a look whats in the wall, Jared went in the lift to see whats the sound was.He found all sorts of things like, bones,skulls,treasure chests,wierd notes to the children.This was one of the poems:In a man's torso you will find,My secret to all mankind if false and true, can be the same you will soon know of my fame Up and up and up again.Good luck dear friend.He also found a book that said all the secrets(as said in the poem about secrets)After all it wasnt a Squrirrel it was a monster about the size of a regular pencil,he was holding three small dogs.READ THIS BOOK!!
... Read more

Book Description
It all started with a mysterious letter left at a tiny bookstore for authors Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. Its closing lines: “We just want people to know about this. The stuff that has happened to us could happen to anyone.” Little could they imagine the remarkable adventure that awaited them as they followed Jared, Simon, and Mallory Grace and a strange old book into a world filled with elves, goblins, dwarves, trolls, and a fantastical menagerie of other creatures. The oddest part is in entering that world, they didn’t leave this one!

Five captivating books!
One thrilling adventure!
The Spiderwick Chronicles ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Much better having a story read to you ;-0
Bought this set for my daughter to listen to and ended up listening myself. Very good set of books that gets the imagination going and makes you want to be young and live in an old house.
Brilliant way to get ready for the film that's about to hit the big screen.
Most enjoyable.

chronicals of spiderwick
The audio book is great, I may never read again.Mark reads it very well and different voices for all the people in the book.Only draw back is that some of the disc skip a word or two.But worth the money.Will give to my grandchildren to listen to since they are little and do not read well.

Perfect Gift!!!
I got this audio cd as a prelude to watching the movie that is supposed to come out.If the movie is anything close to what this material is, then it would be a sure hit.

nice and enchanting
i really liked these books for I have the whole set. I was a fun listen and one I am doing again.

Spiderwick Chronicles
I enjoyed the storyline and the whimsical way that it tied all the characters together. Not a Harry potter adventure, but one that holds your interest. Quick, easy read that should be enjoyed by all who read it.

Characters remain constant throughout all five books, and the storyline is easy to follow. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great on a Saturday Afternoon
My 7 year old (and of course mee too) loves all three of these.He'll actually sit still for hours and listen to them, and race to the CD player waiting for me to change discs. It was dissapointong to see these broadcasts get progressivly smaller with each movie. From 7 in the first, to 5 in the second, and the Return only three CD's long.The last is almost nothing but the movie, with very little additional material.It's still good, but after lstening to A New Hope, The Return of The Jedi feels very short.I would highly reccommend these.They're great for those cold or raining Saturday acfternoons. ... Read more