EC Books

I am a great fan of the Gemstone books and love that they are produced to be very readable in the tradition of the the Russ Cochran library series. I received my copy of WS3 about 2 months ago and it was only after reading the reviews here that I noticed the missing issue 18 cover. I called Gemstone and they indeed had replacement covers, but they could only be obtained from the retailer, in my case AMZN.

So I called AMZN. I tried to explain that the cover 18 was missing and that I only wanted the cover 18 insert, but all the service rep wanted was to send me the whole book as a replacement. She got her supervisor on the line and she assured me that the replacement book would have the new insert cover included. I accepted that and AMZN sent me the replacement WS3 in just a week. I was not surprised to find that the insert was not included and the book still had the missing cover 18. I returned the second book.

AMZN is generally a good place to do business and straight returns are easy. But situations like this seem to be almost impossible to conclude with the AMZN service reps and/or their supervisors. I will now try to go back to Gemstone again for the cover 18 insert Like one of the other reviewers said, Gemstone should let AMZN know that the insert should be shipped with the book.

I ordered mine from COMICSNOW! through Amazon Marketplace. Included with the issue was the cover for issue 18 in a separate bag on a board.
I fully understand that problems happen, but come on now. These books are made by Chinese sweatshop labor for pennies a day. You would think the most expensive part of the publication would be the licensing rights, not the printing.
The least that they could do is proofread it and maybe print the covers at a higher DPI (dots per inch) resolution to eliminate the odd crosshatch patters that show up on them.

The Complete EC Library sets had MUCH higher quality cover printing. I have no problem with the recolored interiors. They really bring out the artwork and look just great. Keep up the good work, and please PROOFREAD before you send the final copy to be printed.

As the other reviewer stated, the cover for issue 18 is indeed missing (they reprinted the cover for 16 instead) but I was able to get a tip in sheet for the missing page from my local comic book shop. It fits perfectly in the book, so I'm happy now!
Wally Wood, Joe Orlando, Al Williamson, and Jack Kamen --if you're an EC lover you can't go wrong here.

I'm not really sure what to think! I just received my copy of the EC Archives Weird Science Vol. 3 and am shocked to find that the cover to issue #16 has been printed twice, the second in place of what is supposed to be the cover for #18. I've been a fan and supporter of Russ Cochran for over twenty-five years, and Gemstone's reputation is second to none. But this is really surprising. The book was dinged up as usual because of Amazon's inadequate packaging, but I was just trying to get over that when I noticed the misprint. What's happening to the quality control? Will there be a recall, a reprint, a separate printing of the cover to #18 sent out to all of us who have purchased the present edition? Am I going to have to wait on the phone for hours to talk to an offshore representative to work it out? I suppose I'll just send the book back and wait for them to sort it out to my satisfaction. Disappointing.

Post Script: I got in touch with Gemstone and they have sent Amazon inserts for the book. Someone needs to let Amazon know to ship the insert with the book!

This book is a fantastic resource (though getting a little dated) concise explanations of "green" techniques coupled with to the point definitions make Green Vitruvius a wonderful primer on sustainable design.

Im a senior in architecture researching for my thesis and i was looking for books to give me an idea of what i could do to accomplish sustainable architecture for my design.
Well, this book was a big let down. Vitruvious was a major influence on architecture but this book falls extremely short. It starts out just stating how to tell a designer or firm that you want a "green design". Then very slowly moves into possible things that can be done but nothing that anyone studying architecture cant figure out on their own.

Hope what this title cover the necesities of comunities what produces solid waste and can aplicated in the region where is necesary, like until now I was beneficied.

I was encouraged at first, but became concerned quickly with his book. Did the editors even look at it? Considering what it cost I would have expected it to be top notch, but if they can't even get the spellings correct, then am I to trust that the answers for the sample exam is correct? I was planning to give the book to my instructor to help other students when I finish, but is it going to help or hurt? I would hope that the powers that be at Amazon would contact the publisher and discuss this with them because based on the number of problems with the book, I did not get any value out of its' purchase. By the way, please tell me what is going on with sample test question 25.

I ordered this book on amazon.com to help me with passing the Special Education Certification Exam. In going through the book, I found lots and lots of miss spelled words and punctuation errors. I feel this book should have been proofread before published. It could be a good study guide if you can get over the errors in the book.

This study guide, along with the free study guide from the state website, were the primary resources I studied for the TExES Special Ed. Exam. I started studying about a week and a half before the test and passed on the first try with a 270/300.

This book wasn't very helpful as a review for this exam. There were LOTS of typographical errors in the book. Also lots of repetious information. I was taking the exam without taking the course work, but I have 30 years experience teaching. The book wasn't that much help. I'd say it wasn't worth the $60 I spent on it.

This study guide was full of grammer errors. There were sentences written where I had to revise in order for them to make any sense. It looks like noone took the time to proofread this study guide. When I was reviewing the practice tests, some of the answers to the questions were wrong. I was worried about memorizing and learning incorrect information. The book did have alot of information in it, but I wouldn't have paid $60 for this item.

Nutshell review - Very poor editorial checking, misnumbered pages, missing pages, etc. Covers the exam topics but badly. Buy something else.

I reviewed michael gregg's book, and mentioned this book in there. Now, I don't really see the problem with this book. While it may be very poor for laying the foundation, it certainly was very descriptive in regards to the technical end of things. This went much further into the detail of actually using the tools and depper into the actual exploits used. It was very similar to the version 4 courseware, which to be honest is almost identical to the version 5 material.

It does have grammar issues, and you know, it really isn't good on the explanation end.. but if you want a better explanation of things like buffer overflows, and sql injection then this book will do the job. I tend to think it fills in the holes that are left by the general books ( Sybex and ExamPrep books are more general).

As far as supplementary reading, there isn't much else other than good old google.

This is not a good primary source, but great supplementary reading


ABOUT THE TEST:

150 questions, you have 4 hours. I took only 2 and scored an 86%. 70% is passing. I studied for only two weeks, but have extensive background in the subject area.

The test is very specific, and you are expected to know the material in detail - NOT just concepts. The test is geared towards people with security experience, and the test questions are true to that purpose. It will be very difficult to pass if you:
1) Don't know linux
2) Don't understand Microsoft's OS and operations
3) never actually used any of the hacking tools

Linux is not a MAJOR part of the test, but there are enough questions on linux command line operations to make a difference.

Keep in mind, just reading alone will not let you pass this test. It is very important that you try out the most popular and important tools (firsthand!). You will be asked about specific commands, and be expected to know them. Know nmap, snort, hping2, tracert and tcpdump down cold. Know the ICMP codes and types. The only way you learn this stuff is to actually practice it.

This really isn't an entry level test at all. Even if you know all your stuff, the test isn't easy to pass. I'd strongly encourage that people take some practice with actual pen testing before they try this test (use vmware to simulate a target if you cant throw a home made lab together). If you don't actually try this stuff out, your odds of passing will plummet.
About 10% of the questions are what I'd consider bad questions - either they are unclear, or ambiguous or poorly word... Without violating the NDA - one of the questions parallel the following examples: can you establish tcp sessions while spoofing. The answer is: it depends - are you sniffing the traffic? Otherwise no. What if the question doesn't specify, and the answer hinges on this? This type of ambiguous situation happened on at least 10 questions. This will lose you points right off the bat, because to no fault of your own you won't be able to determine the valid answers.

Good luck!

Don`t waste your time and money with this book. It is a demonstration of very bad edition, a lot of typo errors.

The book's design is to prepare for the CEH examination, there are other books more worthwhile on the different aspects of security (although in general if its techniques you're seeking, those in a book are outdated soon after their printed). If you're not preparing for the CEH, this is likely not a worth while purchase. I agree with all previous posts, the spelling and grammatical problems in the text are distracting. The book is not organized like a text book, rather a series of slides in a presentation.

All that said, this text and the CEH certification in general are largely misunderstood. The examination itself requires some level of technical knowledge on both the networking and applications side of security. I have read a good deal of critique from people who have not passed or even looked at the exam, and thus post comments that make very little sense in the context of the CEH certification.

Further, I've met few people in security who have experience in all of the areas covered by the CEH materials. If you do, fine, if not it is another reason it might be worth while to review these materials, and seek the certification.

I'm afraid I have to agree with the other reviews presented here: this book is lousy. And at just over $60, it's pretty darn expensive, too.

"Ethical Hacking" is really just a hotch-potch of descriptions of tools that can be found anywhere on the Net. The English is so anguished as to be scarcely recognizable in places - almost as if it's been translated into Lithuanian by Google, and then back into English again. The peculiar typesetting makes it even more difficult to read.

I just gave up trying to read this book. My advice is not to waste your money in the first place.

This is a straightforward, easy to understand, basic primer on the hatching of eggs. However, you are not going to get all the information you need from this 4 page bulletin. For example, it only addresses poultry/fowl, so don't look to it for breeding reptiles. Also, for artificial incubation of birds. there is no species specific information such as temperature requirements. ONE BIG CAVEAT: This is not a book. It is a bulletin that is available to download for free or for purchase @ $.50. Just google the title. That's what I did.

Basically what they did is copy verbatum what is in the code book. They decided what they felt were the most significant topics partaining to motors and condensed it in this little paperback. They then added a few examples, conductor sizing etc. Not nearly enough. I was expecting them to explain the code book in more a laymans terms, which is difficult to understand at times, lawyer dribble. Some portions are interesting like the review of reactance for example. Other then that, I don't really see it geared for engineer, designer, or technician. I guess if you're a 1st year student, you might find it slightly beneficial. However if I were a student, I'd just stick with my text books, they'll be alot more informative. Save your money.

Pervention and treatment of Colic in your horse(EC) is a real rip off, I expected a book, not a $1. reprint from an extension office. This joker sold this for 5.00 and charged 3.99, it came with a .42 stamp. I paid $9.00 for what? I thought Amazon.com put you in touch with real book dealers, not rip off artists.

If people treated animals like Cline treats children, they would be in prison. He likens breaking children to breaking horses, but no one ever breaks horses like he describes. Cline is only about making children unquestioning and gratefully obedient to their parents.

That foster and adopted children are on the receiving end of his "rage reduction" is a scandal. Cline evidently believes whole-heartedly in the long-discredited notion of catharsis, i.e. that these children have infantile rage from being separated from their biological mother at birth, and that forcing children through coercive restraint, knuckling, and threats will get them to express that repressed rage. What bunk! Cline also seems to delight in humiliating and scaring children. His motto is "We disturb the disturbed." I think the ethics of mental health professions never anticipated someone like Cline. But the Nuremberg Code on Acceptable Medical Experimentation did, and we can only hope Cline comes face to face with that code soon.

This is 59 pages complete with 1.5" margins in 12-14 font of generic "BS" pgs. 1-5 are the index! pages 7-22 are boilerplate test taking advice and tips that you've heard a dozen times and the remaining pages are so superficial as to not even measure a millimeter in depth. Do NOT waste your $40+ dollars on this outrages rip-off.