Excellent introduction to a variety of asian cooking. Helpfully explains some of the more esoteric foodstuffs, et al. Based on the straightforward presentation I intend to buy more of his books. Also, I found the written forum a much more direct way to learn from Yan than his cooking show.

Even if you find his television show to be over the top, you have to admit that Martin Yan always presents very tasty recipes. This book is an introduction to a variety of Asian cuisines with recipes and helpful hints not just on preparation, but on eating as well.

I've prepared roughly 40% of the dishes included in this book and have yet to find one that wasn't delicious. I was sufficiently impressed to buy his other books as well.

I was a resident of HK for 3 and a half years before the handover. I remember speaking to some obnoxious Australian "journalist" at Christmas time 1996-97 who was absolutely convinced that the Chinese army was going to invade HK and that there would be a Tiananmen Square-style bloodbath. This guy had been sent from Australia to report on the build-up to the hand-over and was simply not interested in hearing any opinions that did not fit into his doomsday nonsense. At the time I was finishing off an MPhil in pol sci at HKU, but this was of no interest to our journo "expert"! I also remember watching the appaling coverage on CNN with some ridiculous American "journalist" making the most innane comments and getting it all wrong. He had obviously been flown in from the States a week before June 30 and was now "the expert" on the handover. I also remember him making continual petty digs at the British. Anyway, what I am saying is that if this book is about exposing the "instant experts" that popular journalism creates and about showing up the pathetic parachute journos (from whom most people get their info from - scary!) then it is an excellent venture and I'm going to buy it!

The book is very attractive for a reader who, like me, did follow the handover of Hong Kong to Communist China by being on the spot. I was one of the reporter mentioned in the book. This work, edited by Alan Knight and Yoshiko Nakano is also due to Barry Lowe, not mentioned on the book cover and who was actually the real motor behind its publication. This is a study on how journalists should not report a complex string of facts and events unfolding under their eyes without adeguate preparation. In few words it speaks against "parachute journalism". During the handover all the televisions and newspapers of the World sent people here to report on facts which they could hardly grasp, because they were too complex, too fast and all interconnected. Most of these parachute journalists ended up interviewing each other and consulting the few residents newsmen. Once a mistake was broadcasted or printed by one of them it was automatically taken up by all and it became the official truth, even if the truth was exactly the contrary. All the awful limitations of the TV are clearly exposed: moving images are good to discribe something spectacular and simple. But for something like the handover the real picture could have been given only by an "old china hand" with a philosophic mind and open eyes. The television created a lot of historical distorsions. It makes a good reading this book and can teach a lot on how not to report facts and news, more than how to report them. Angelo Paratico

This is another superlative police procedural mystery, set in the fictional Hong Bay section of Hong Kong, starring those inimitable Hong Kong police officers, Harry Fieffer (the boss), Christoper O'Yee (Amerasian), and Detectives Auden and Spencer, playing once again their combination of Marx Brothers and NYC's finest. Anyway, in this outing, the boys are challenged by the arrival of a science-fiction convention, with the usual fans dressed up as their favorite aliens, parades, and general mayhem. O'Yee is hunting for...well, we won't spoil it...something REALLY hard to find, while Audena and Spencer are looking for a mugger in a multi-story parking garage. Feiffer is looking for the fiend who is incinerating citizens for no apparent reason.
Marshall once again combines the zany with the suspenseful, and once again my eyebrows are sore from raising them at all the hair-raising (pun intended) hold-your-breath scenes. If you're looking for a great police procedural series, and one that doesn't take itself too seriously, you are in the right place in Hong Bay with Marhall's band of loonies. Long may they reign!

Oh man, this is the funniest book in the whole series. Yes, it's part of a series, and the whole series is funny. It takes place in "Hong Bay" precinct in Hong Kong, pre-Chinese-takeover. (The introduction to each book in the series points out that the Chinese could have taken over Hong Kong years ago just by turning off the water tap.) Let's mention here, in case it is not obvious, that nothing in this book actually IS science fiction; it's murder mystery/police procedural.

The characters in the Hong Bay precinct station are a mixed lot of mostly Europeans and Asian-Europeans, or European-Asians, the inhabitants of the precinct are a complete cross section of would-be capitalist Chinese. There is a little bit of stereotyping, with the wily Chinese frequently outwitting the Europeans. Everyone, cop and civilian alike, is just a tad greedy and eager to get ahead or to get something someone else has.

In this particular book, an all-Asia science fiction convention is taking place. Like any science fiction convention, there are people who insist on attending in costume, and there are people who indulge a bit too much in recreational substances. In the opening chapters, we have a wonderful scene where the police station is trying to figure out where to put yet another costumed arrestee; various cells are already holding The Swarm - all of it - and other familiar sci-fi characters. As the new one is a midget, our lieutenant suggests stuffing him in the fire extinguisher closet, since that's the only space left.

I won't give away too much of the plot; let me just say that in addition to the murders, the side plot involving the little old lady piano player in the hotel is definitely worth following.

For fans of police procedurals, and of any murder mysteries, who have also ever been to any convention in a big hotel with a costume party, this is MUST reading- definitely worth doing an out-of-print search on. We have two copies, ha ha, so I can loan one out to friends without the risk of losing our only copy, because there are scenes I like to re-read when I need a good chuckle. The offbeat world of Hong Bay is reliably funny.

Dalos's 1985 is an intellectual masterpiece of historical parody. Constructed as a series of historical documents by and about the main characters of 1984, it gives the reader a sense of historicism. Also, an entire subplot of the "author's" personal tribulations surrounding his investigation into controversial events takes place in the footnotes, which go from objectively historical to personally cynical as the novel progresses. Dalos fits lots of information into a small novel. A valuable read for any interested in literary parodies, the literature behind Prague Spring (of which Dalos was a part), and Eastern European literature when the Iron Curtain was still hanging over half of Europe.

this book is a good guide for Steel Structures.

The American Express Travel Guide of Amsterdam (1992), written by Derek Blythe, has been re-written by Carol Winkelman and re-published as Travel&Leisure: Amsterdam (1997). Travel&Leisure magazine, in conjunction with Macmillan Travel, designed this new version of the book for a larger audience that includes young travelers, budget travelers, babyboomer travelers, discriminating travelers, and business travelers. The new book is a combination of traditional and offbeat travel guide, helping the reader find his/her way to hotels, restaurants, museums, and historical sites while also taking him/her "inside" Amsterdam to experience its cafe culture, lively arts scene, and famous nightlife. The new book, like The American Express Guide, includes an excursion to Rotterdam that leads the reader from the historic to the ultramodern.

In this handsomely bound and lavishly illustrated book, authors Kevin Sinclair and Nelson Ng provide an eminantly readable and interesting account of the history of the first 150 years the Hong Kong Police Force. Through a lucidly written narrative, which is spiced up from time to time by humorous anecdotes and poignant moments, the authors chart the colourful history of the Hong Kong Police Force from its humble beginnings in the earliest days of the colonial era, through two great wars, riots and scandals up to the well-organised and modern law enforcement agency which it has now become. If one has to carp, perhaps the authors have been a trifle lenient towards the police when discussing some of the darker episodes of its history. Nevertheless, it is a very well written and comprehensive account. Indeed, I believe that it has already become an indispensible source of information for anyone who wishes to delve into the history of the Hong Kong Police Force (as well as the colonial era of Hong Kong in general). In the latter part of the book, the authors also introduce to readers the many facets and divisions of the modern Hong Kong Police Force where interviews and individual accounts from police officers of different rank provide a certain human touch to the articles and prevent them from being a mere parade of strength. Another excellent feature in this book lies in the large number of historical photos that it contains, some of which are quite rare. While one may argue that the book's title may be a hyperbole (although, being a Hong Kong citizen, I would certainly hope that our police force is Asia's finest, or that it is at least always striving to be such), this most informative and perhaps even entertaining chronicle definitely does the Hong Kong Police Force proud. Recommended to all who are interested in the history and development of law enforcement agencies.

Although this is an expensive book, it simply is the best and most definitive work on butterflies of the region. The standard of presentation is excellent. Descriptions are clear and very informative, with plenty of in text illustrations showing identification characters allowing similar species to be identified - particularly useful for the Hesperiidae. Many species are give full ecological write ups, some reared for the first time. Also included in the core text are photographs of many species taken "in the field" (mostly of good to excellent quality). Short chapters also outline Hong Kong's natural environment. The plates (in two sections: adults and immature stages) are absolutely top quality and show dorsal and ventral wing surfaces, male, female and seasonal forms at life size; the immature plates comprise photos of each stage, where known. A few negatives - local distribution data is already out of date and must be regarded as historical (a sad reflection of Hong Kong's general apathy to its natural resources); the list of contacts is also out of date!

Thoroughly recommended (I'm still saving up for my copy!), a wonderful addition to any butterfly bibliophile's portfolio and a must buy option for anyone interested in the butterflies of South-east and East Asia.

I found this slim volume a superior history of an oft overlooked part of Canada's WWII participation. I've had the opportunity to read most everything written in Canada, and a good deal of the British work, on this topic, and while not exhaustive, this book covers most every aspect of the battle and imprisonment of the Canadians quite well. There are the odd errors (and they are very minor,) but otherwise, the book picks up on some important themes in its limited length. The only drawback the its somewhat expensive price, for it is a slim volume.

I've been reading this book aloud to my niece and nephews and they simply love it! They love the mystery and the suspense, but also enjoy hearing about children like themselves who love and trust in the Lord. The first book "Smugglers" is a good intro to the characters and I recommend reading them in order.