Fade

This collection consists of a new novel and new short story starring "industrial consultant" Steve Madison in both; the other short story from the 1970s contains as its leading light a Madison prototype. All three tales are well written, filled with suspense, and star interesting lead protagonists.

"Fade to Tomorrow". Retired Army Ranger Steve Madison lives in an isolated section of mountainous Colorado with no human contact for weeks on end. He comes out of his roost to do 3-4 jobs a year requiring a special clean-up in which he expedites a musical hotshot from trouble. His client Arn Shapiro knows the ropes of dealing with Steve. Arn hires him to help music superstar Johnny Willow out of a bad spot. Drummer Eddie Chase runs cocaine and has something on Johnny to keep him silent. In St. Louis as Johnny prepares for a comeback, all will come to a head.

"A Hit for the New Age". Arn hires Steve to investigate the locked dressing room murder of agent George Kodopolous. The police lean towards rock star Tony Jardeen, but this case is going to hit home a lot closer to Steve as the musician's travel companion is Carolyn Gentry, a woman that Madison loved, but left behind.

"The Death Blues". Record producer Carl Hensman hires private detective O'Dair to determine whether blues great Stomper Crawford reported dead eight years ago still lives. However, as he searches for the facts, someone wants the truth to remain obfuscated and is willing to stomp on O'Dair to insure that happens.

Harriet Klausner

every time i was down & out or very depressed i would get this book out and read it and it would help me. it would even make me feel as though there was no reason for me to feel the way i was feeling and it lifted my spirits up.

A really enjoyable history of baseball's World Series in the nineteenth century. Sorry it's out of print...

This book has it all. Stories from fans, DeadHeads, personal friends, associates, etc. Touching anecdotes. Humor. Love. Peace. And of course...THE MUSIC! No matter what your story is or how you "got on the bus" you deserve to have the oppurtunity to read this book. I promise you, whatever your connection to the Dead is, there is a story in here expressing your feelings. AMAZING. Please buy it, it is well worth it. All DeadHeads need to read this book (although I feel even someone who didn't even like the Dead would find this book equally amazing). I cannot say enough good things about this book. When I got through with my copy, I gave it to a friend because I was so touched I had to do something generous. Keep the "Unbroke Chain" alive my friends. Peace!

Investors, entrepreneurs, executives, and government policy-makers have all been intrigued by the differences between companies which can sustain strong rates of growth for long periods of time and those which grow fast, but quickly flame out. The underlying question is: What can anyone do to create sustainable growth at the upper end of the scale? What are the high-growth companies doing right -- that so many other companies don't seem to be able to figure out?

Keith Schilit's investigation has covered a wide range of material and many insightful case studies. He has not followed a scientific approach, with well-defined samples, large quantitative datasets, and rigorous statistical analyses, but he has made extensive use of both secondary sources and his own experience and research.

The result is a powerful model with eight primary factors. While an eight-point check-list may seem an overly simplistic response to what is apparently a very complex problem, it is not. When Schilit identifes one success factor as "Valued Customers, Valued Employees," for example, it is apparent that full and proper implementation of a simple slogan will not be a simple matter. Companies that truly value their customers practice many things right. Similarly, really valuing one's employees also requires a myriad of activities and habits.

Schilit's eight-point model has the advantage of an apparently simple list. And it has the profound merit that each one of those simple-to-remember points is based on a very rich and complex set of management practices.

Most of Schilit's examples are drawn from small companies, although he does not shy away from larger firms that have become household names. The result is a comprehensive model that applies well to organizations of all sizes.

My 4th year BBA (Hons) Entrepreneurship majors in the course "Managing Rapid Growth" have consistently found this book to be THE most useful reading material on an extensive syllabus. They return t! o it time and time again, and would probably recommend it even more highly than I do.

Prof. Tom Bryant, Entrepreneurship Program, Brock University, Canada.

I like this book so much. It is the best book i have ever read! It is about this girl called Julie and she wasn't looking forward to spending a month in her grandfather's house while her parents were on holiday. She was expected to help her cousin Brian with his studying, and she thought it would be very, very dull. She was wrong. It began with the sound of footsteps in an empty room....then a series of apparently unconnected accidents...Julie soon finds herself drawn into a horrifying mystery that reaches beyond the limits of time and touches every member of her family, both the living - and the dead. Then the appearance of a glowing, unearthly shape...Julie and Brian become involved in a race against time to discover the identity of the ghost whose presence signifies death.

First and foremost, I do NOT consider myself a reader of mysteries, UNLESS of course, they are written by Harlan Coben. "Fade Away" is a wonderful example of what a writer can do with character development in a book series. With each book, we learn a little more about Myron Bolitar and what makes him tick - and we always like what we learn. This is the third of Coben's "Myron Bolitar" mysteries that I have read and each one just gets better. By now, I have learned to not try to figure out whodunnit before Myron does, because I will fail misrably. Coben tosses you red herrings like you were a performing seal at SeaWorld. And you will gobble each one up, with enthusiasm! Honestly, I resist the urge to read all of the Bolitar novels at once (even tho' I own them all). Coben's books are like Godiva Chocolates. You love them so much you just hate to gulp them down all at once.

When Myron Bolitar, a sports rep and one time first round draft to the NBA, is signed on by the New Jersey Dragons it isn't so that he can make a comeback. In fact, Bolitar has been signed to track down his teammate and former arch-rival Greg Downing. What he doesn't know when he accepts the job is that far from being a simple missing persons case, this becomes a murder hunt. But, who is the victim, who killed her, what is their motive and, why is someone attempting to blackmail not only Greg, and the team but also Myron himself?

Full of twists and turns the third book in Harlan Coben's Myron Bolitar series is also full of the usual witty dialogue. Although Myron is of course the protagonist in this story numerous appearances are made by other familiar characters, Jessica, Esperanza, Big Cyndi, Myron's parents and of course Win, and it's great to follow what's going on with them. Don't think that you have to have read the earlier Bolitar books to get into this though, it's a great stand alone novel but once you've read it I wouldn't be surprised if you wanted to read the rest.

I initially bought this book to pass time on a train journey but still found myself reading it that evening long after I was home and I finished it the following day. I would recommend this to anyone who likes a good mystery novel. If you're new to Coben I'd say read these great books and then don't miss his great thriller Tell No One.

Being a fan of this writer for quite sometime needless to say I have enjoyed all of the 'COBEN' books-- that being said, I'd like to add that quite possibly, FADE AWAY might very well be my favorite story however. Loved the whitty dialogue! You should give it a try!

This short novel is about the life and death of Peter Barton, a very successful entreprenour who lived life fully, yet died early at the age of 51 from stomach cancer.
This book is told in alternative chapters by Barton and Laurence Shames, a writer who befriended Barton at the end of Barton's life in order to help him express his feelings and emotions about his impending death.
This small book contains very big ideas. Barton makes you understand how being wealthy doesn't automatically give you the best medical care, and it certainly doesn't protect you against death. He brings home in this very personal way how health and family are the things that are important, and that the end of life is a complicated, individual experience, full of reflection and introspection.
I thought that it was "gutsy" and generous of Barton to want to share his experiences with the world, and one gets the impression from the book that that is the kind of individual he was.
When you finish the book (you can do it easily in a few hours), you are left appreciative of the things that you normally take for granted, and can briefly try to comprehend the concept of living in the moment.
I say briefly because, alas, I think we are hardwired not to be able to live our lives the way Peter Barton did at the end of his life...living in the here and now and giving up the foolish pursuits that drive us daily. I think that is why books like this are important, so that we can read them and get back to what is important, and try to live our lives thinking about these issues and thus be "ready", when we face the end of our own lives.
Recommended, but I think I would have liked a little more information about Barton's illness and treatment although I understand that it was a conscious decision not to include that in the book.

Peter Barton showed us what a life well lived looks like and serves as an inspiration to us all. Even in death, he was living his best life. I highly recommend this book and Optimal Thinking: How to be your best self, a superlative book which shows you how to bring your best self to every situation and make the absolute most of life.

I first learned of Peter Barton's death in the quarterly alumni news letter that I receive from the Loomis School.I ordered the book when I saw mention of it. I was several years behind Peter, but knew him since it was not a large school.He was an athletic and confident senior, as I remember him, and oddly after all these years I can still recall his face.The book details his life with candor,and I enjoyed reading his story; and I was saddened to learn of his death from a carcinoma.I thought the book was well worth the time. There are a few denigrating reviews in this list at Amazon, but I think they miss the point. He may have been fortunate, or lucky, in many ways, but he appreciated that- many of us do not.I do indeed recommend this book.

Even though I didn't totally agree with everything Judy writes, her no-nonsense attitude is a real delight to read, in a funny and interesting book.

As a male reader of Judge Judy's work, this book really comes out with some excellent points, especially when the judge eloquently talks about young women and the stupid choices they make in the selection of a mate. On her own show, just about every other day, some woman is suing an ex-lover over a credit card bill. I also hear of stories of men who beat up their lovers, cheat on them, and abuse them in countless other ways. It amazes me to see such losers continually find other lovers, while the nice guys in this world sit home alone on Saturday Night. I myself experienced this. I bought my own house at 28 years old, and was too proud to ever ask a woman for money (not that they would have, many rarely even gave me the time of day!) or a credit card. Owning a Harley-Davidson, long hair, and a rebellious attitude(read: can't keep a job) seem to be attributes that many women find "exciting." Here's one I really think is a classic: "Why do you stay with that abusive monster" or "cheating dog?" "Because I love him!" GOD help us! While many other women would sympathize and agree that "men are dogs", Judy is brutally honest by saying, "Smarten Up! quit crying and grow up already!" Thank you Judge Judy for being honest while so many people live in such denial.

This book should be on the reading list of every high school in the country (and Canada, and Mexico, and Europe). Gloria Steinem made us aware of the issues and Judge Judy Sheindlin gives us the details of how to live as women today. This is not the world of our mothers or our grandmothers. We need to know how to financially support ourselves and our children. Women have so much to give and to offer to the world, and we mess it up by waiting and relying upon men. This book tells us how to avoid the common pitfalls that so many of us fall into. A GREAT BOOK WITH VALUABLE LESSONS. READ AND TAKE HEED!!

This book is great! It totally reveals the different aspects people view on certain subjects. We, in our daily lives, would sometimes wonder if we acquired such and such supernatural powers, and what we would do with such and such powers. The truth is, when we actually get these powers, the vicious minds of ours would emerge and the world would fall into chaos. The book Fade pointed this out clearly. Susan and her grandfather's views on the power of fading are also reflected in this world. To believe or not believe, I think every character each of us would interfere this issue. Just like Susan's grandfather, being a detective had surely shaped him into a more logical person. This book Fade stated many situations and thoughts encountered either spiritually physically in our lives and personally I think it¡¦s a must for every readers.

The book fade is about a kid who inherits a power from his uncle Adelard, the power to become invisble. To become invisible is one power everyone would like to have. Imagine moving around a place where no one can see, hear or sense your presence. Robert Cormier takes it to the next level by showing his audience what it's like to be the "invisible man." Cormier tells the story of a kid who uses the power of invisibility to the extent where it takes over his body. The "voice" as Cormier calls it, gets louder and takes over your actions every time the power is used. This book is very interesting because Cormier puts a twist on the fantasy of being invisible by setting consequences every time it is used. I recommend this book to anyone who ever thought of the idea of being invisible.

Although this is the only Robert Cormier book I've read that contains a "fantasy" element, I loved the way he still kept the emphasis on the psycological aspects of the fade. Paul is growing up in 1930's Massachusetts when he first discovers his power to become invisible. While most young adult books would here dwell into tedious fantasy, Cormier focuses on feelings felt within the fade, feelings of isolation and depression that many ignored teen-agers can relate to. Only here, they're multiplied by 100. As the fade is passed from generation to generation, Cormier explores how the fade doesn't create but rather intensifies feelings of guilt and forsakeness in young people. Like almost all of Cormier's writing, this is a dark tale. I was throughly chilled and disturbed from the beginning.