Spare Parts for People

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Discusses current accomplishments in the field of replacing parts in the human body, including organ transplants, artificial organs and implants, and artificial joints and limbs.
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Spare Key

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Rachel was cursed. She was sure of it. She always seemed to get the fruitcake neighbours. No matter where she went, they were always the same: selfish and inconsiderate people who had no respect for anyone else. And she was sure her last one had been the worst of all: rude and obnoxious, fond of loud music and endless parties, he'd made her life a living hell. Once he disappeared, she was certain that nobody would ever be that bad again.

But she was wrong.

After two months of peace, a new tenant is moving in next door and Rachel is about to discover just how bad a neighbour can be. Because even though her new neighbour is supposed to be starting a fresh life. Even though he is planning to take the pills just like the doctor told him to... Ben Fowler has a Red Room in his mind. A special, secret place he built where he can take revenge on the lady responsible for the horrors of his childhood.

It's just unfortunate that Rachel looks exactly like her... And that a neighbourly gesture of good will years earlier could provide Ben with all the temptation he needs to slip back into his old habits.

The debut novella by R. Frederick Hamilton is a graphic and disturbing story of urban horror that is not for the faint of heart. Included in the volume are two short stories guaranteed to leave a bad taste in your mouth. The Filmmakers: a horrific portrayal of teens degenerating into sadism, and Writer's Block: a surreal trip into the world of a boy held captive by his body-building mother.
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 "up-chuck 'n' over-the-top from the land down under" 2009-06-30
By Jason Wuchenich (Sacramento, CA United States)
Ben just got out of the loony bin and moved into a hideous lime-green apartment. The lime green perhaps an attempt to subdue the encroaching red. He needed his pills, especially with the pretty neighbor next door, Rachel. Rachel has had her share of wack-job neighbors and naturally is apprehensive about this one as well - and for good reason.

The story takes you into the depths of psychosis, obsession, deranged fantasy, and finally relief...but not the kind you would expect. "Spare Key" spares no detail on the depravities taking place. The book also includes two shorter stories - "The Filmmakers" and "Writer's Block" - both fun reads, almost like icky aftershocks from the main story.

It's gooey, warped and will leave you feeling sticky. Now buy it and shower.

 "An exhilerating trip through hell" 2009-06-30
By The Lamp
It's hard to assess a book like `Spare Key' without addressing the intensely graphic and disturbing nature of the content. Up front I'd have to say that this isn't for everyone. Most people of sound mind would actively seek to avoid such content and I certainly wouldn't blame them. The word that keeps popping up again and again while reading `Spare Key' is `disturbing'. The graphic (often sexualized) violence is gut churning and the taste left in your mouth afterward is foul.



So why read this book? Simply put, `Spare Key' is a wonderfully realized story that completely reverberates within you. It's not often that I have such a visceral reaction to a book. The story itself follows a fairly standard formula and concerns a mentally disturbed man named Ben who is released from care earlier than advisable. He moves next door to a seemingly "average" woman named Rachel. Ben soon proceeds to form an obsession with Rachel who, according to his warped mind, looks just like the mother who abused him during childhood. Ben has concocted a "red room" in his mind wherein he performs the most vulgar acts of violence upon facsimiles of his childhood tormentor. Rachel is the perfect facsimile.



Using this framework, R. Frederick Hamilton proceeds to decimate everything in his path with the raw power of his disturbing prose. I winced on numerous occasions throughout.



This book is topped off with two short stories that if anything, leave an even more unpleasant taste. The first of these, `The Filmmakers' may rate as the most unpleasant story I've ever read. It's a story about a group of teens who (as the product description says) "degenerate into sadism" and an omnipotent being who watches over the teens as they perform their vile acts. There's no reason to linger on the details of the sadism, suffice to say it involves snuff-like home movies starring local children. I read a review of this book recently that wrote this story off as exploitation but I think that's a little too simplistic. This story is a (much) more extreme version of events that occur daily thanks to the ubiquity of recording devices and bored teens. Just check youtube and you'll be bombarded with footage of teens terrorizing people for the camera. If anything, `The Filmmakers' is a statement against a genuine problem that exists today.



The final story here is `Writer's Block' which is a supremely surreal, uncomfortable story about a son held hostage by his bodybuilding mother. The mother is convinced her son will write a masterpiece and the torment she hurls his way is just a part of the process. `Writer's Block' is about as unpleasant as a story concerning a mother kidnapping her own son should be. There is something pathetically amusing about the narrator's plight and it's certainly nice to get a reprieve from the sickening events of the earlier stories.



All in all, `Spare Key; is highly recommended for fans of extreme fiction. However, there's a strong warning: it's not a nice book; it's not a happy book. Quite simply put, It's sickening. Proceed with caution.

 "Disturbingly brilliant!" 2009-03-14
By Romana Vora
I hadn't heard of this book before a couple of weeks ago. I was lucky enough to accompany a friend to a local signing where I got the meet the author behind Spare Key.



First thing's first; this book is a nasty piece of work in the best possible way! Many scenes leave you wanting to take a shower but for whatever reason, you're unable to put the devious thing down. I walked away as sickened as I was exhilarated.



Also of note are the two short stories that close this book out. 'The Filmmakers' is repulsively brilliant. Then there's 'Writer's Block', which enters into the realm of the surreal. A kid's kept hostage by his body building mother for christsake!



Spare Key is an amazingly written and conceived slab of true horror for anyone who prefers their fiction especially nasty. I'll definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for any future books by R. Frederick Hamilton. Highest recommendation.


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I Lost Jesus In the Washing Machine With My Spare Socks

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Merrow M-44-1

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Other codes for the m-44-1 are m441 or 76801167.
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- Designed by Merrow
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Soviet Armaments Industry

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Current developments such as the policy of perestroika are assessed and although the future remains uncertain in the current phase of transition, a prognosis is given as to which sectors of the armaments industry will actually be covered by the reforms, and the nature and extent of the changes that we might come to expect from their implementation.
This book discusses the development of the Soviet armaments industry and provides a detailed analysis of the Soviet armaments sector within the context of its industrial base. It aims to fill the current research gap in studies of Soviet military-industrial complex by providing a comprehensive survey of Soviet armaments development in the pre-Gorbachev period. Case studies of projects such as the MiG, naval armaments and arms export are examined in the wider context of the Soviet economy and the decision making process. Within this framework, the author explores issues such as the role of Stalin, the links between party and industry and the role of the
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Urban Transportation Systems

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Urban Transportation Systems is a complete guide to the types of transportation available to communities together with the technical tools needed to evaluate each for given circumstances.
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The Rough Guide to Scotland 8 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)

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Make the most of your time with The Rough Guide to Scotland, your ultimate companion to this stunning country. The full-colour section introduces Scotland’s highlights, from the spectacular wildlife of the Hebrides to the deserted golden beaches in South Harris. Explore the cultural quarters of Glasgow and Edinburgh as well as the open spaces of remote glens, windswept Hebridean beaches and architectural masterpieces. The guide takes a detailed look at Scotland’s history, literature, politics and cultural life with expert background on everything from Mackintosh masterpieces in Glasgow to Munro-bagging in the Glan Shiel Mountains. There''s plenty of practical advice for experiencing the great Scottish outdoors, from whale-watching to mountain biking, sea kayaking, hill-walking and surfing; information on all the best accommodation, transportation and restaurants plus lively reviews of hundreds of shops, bars and clubs. Explore every corner of Scotland with the clearest maps of any guide.

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 "The rough guide to Scotland" 2009-08-11
By Roy Sinclair (New Zealand, Christchurch)
I have a lot of faith in The Rough Guides having relied on them for several countries I have cycled through. This one is up to expectations with interesting sections on the Orkney and Shetland Isles plus the expected titbits on whisky and other items associated with the culture of the Scots.



Scotland delightfully complicates the often confusing English language. for example a hill can be a ben, a mount, a brae or if high enough, a Munro...Munro bagging and other outdoor pursuits are included. Maps a good and so are the selected illustrations. As with all Rough Guides I like the Things not to Miss near the start of the guide. The Rough Guide importantly also helps with the environmental issues of travelling.



Roy Sinclair

 "Very Helpful" 2008-12-29
By Lighting Guy (Las Vegas)
Overall, this helped me and my wife plan ahead tremendously! My only gripe was the small font b/c of sooo much information in the guide. Because of this guide we went and saw Glamis Castle and had one of the best days of our trip! I will be returning again soon to revisit family, but hopefully to get a chance to see more of the highlands and northern Scotland. This guide is coming with me again!

 "Texan loves the Rough Guide/Scotland" 2008-11-17
By S. Palmer (texas, USA)
Not pocket size but not atlas sized either. No travel to Scotttt-land can do without this guide! Here's a glass ta ya.

--DFW

 "The High Road to Scotland..." 2008-06-15
By D. S. Thurlow (Alaska)
"The Rough Guide to Scotland 8" is the very latest edition (June 2008) of a compact and highly informative planning resource for one of the world's great travel destinations. Scotland manages to combine modern, dynamic cities with some of the best-preserved heritage sites of the British Isles and some of the most outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities in Europe.



"The Rough Guide to Scotland" is nicely organized into sections to facilitate vacation planning. An introductory section provides the first-time visitor with some welcome hints on when and where to go, including some can't-miss sites. Next, the guide covers the basics of travel to and within Scotland, accomodation, food, and other travel essentials.



The heart of the guide is a series of 17 regional sections, covering everything from the big cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow to the Central Highlands, remote Northwest Scotland, and the major island groups of Skye, the Hebrides, the Orkneys, and the Shetlands. Each regional section identifies visitor highlights, backed by narrative, maps, graphics, and black and white photographs to assist in putting together itineraries. Information on individual attractions usually includes operating hours and website addresses. Regional information on accomodation and dining are included.



Scotland may offer something for everyone. The cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow have the latest in shopping and modern culture. The famed Scottish Highlands are easily accessible by road or train, yet offer a broad choice of challenge from the afternoon stroll to the week-long backpacking expedition. Edinburgh has a fascinating array of excellent museums, while large numbers of castles, whether intact or ruined, are open to inspection by the tourist. Even the little border town of Gretna Green offers some interest; it was once England's favorite place for quicky marriages, based on a difference between Scottish and English law, for which it drew mention in a Jane Austen novel.



A concluding section in the guide provides essays on history, music, and books about Scotland. Special color sections scattered through the guide address Scotland's unique architecture, festivals, and outdoor recreation. The quality of maps and city graphics should enable the average tourist to do detailed planning. Those planning to drive and/or hike may wish a driving map or detailed Ordnance Survey charts in addition to what is provided in the guide.



"The Rough Guide to Scotland" is written in standard Rough Guide language, addressed to the average traveler and not shy about expressing opinions on which sights are worthwhile and what to expect in the way of manners and customs. This guide is very highly recommended to those interested in planning a fascinating vacation in Scotland, and as an orientation guide to those fascinated by Scottish culture.

 "A great choice" 2007-02-15
By Julie Fox (SF, CA USA)
Their histories are never as entertaining as Rick Steves', but everything else about them is great for a traveler looking for economic options.


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Night Comes to the Cumberlands: A Biography of a Depressed Area

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At the time it was first published in 1962, it framed such an urgent appeal to the American conscience that it actually prompted the creation of the Appalachian Regional Commission, an agency that has pumped millions of dollars into Appalachia.

Caudill's study begins in the violence of the Indian wars and ends in the economic despair of the 1950s and 1960s. Two hundred years ago, the Cumberland Plateau was a land of great promise. Its deep, twisting valleys contained rich bottomlands. The surrounding mountains were teeming with game and covered with valuable timber. The people who came into this land scratched out a living by farming, hunting, and making all the things they need-including whiskey.

The quality of life in Appalachia declined during the Civil War and Appalachia remained "in a bad way" for the next century. By the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, Appalachia had become an island of poverty in a national sea of plenty and prosperity. Caudill's book alerted the mainstream world to our problems and their causes. Since then the ARC has provided millions of dollars to strengthen the brick and mortar infrastructure of Appalachia and to help us recover from a century of economic problems that had greatly undermined our quality of life.
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 "A Classic that has stood the test of time" 2009-08-06
By James Denny (Catonsville, Maryland)
Harry Caudill's "Night Comes to the Cumberlands" was written in the early 1960's. Over his life, Harry Caudill wrote many books, both fiction and non-fiction but this is his masterpiece. This enduring historical work on southern Appalachia still sells well and is the work for which he is best known.



With the benefit of 45 years of hindsight, "Night Comes to the Cumberlands" was prescient in its vision. Harry Caudill was a man of this land and knew its history, its people, its economy, its culture and its spirit. Writing for a 300-year span of time, he does not spare the rough, the crude, the greedy and the mean. He uses an historical approach combining the historical with the economic, the politicial, the sociological, the psychological and the anthropological. There is much anecdotal information that only a native like Caudill himself could have gathered from family, friends and the hills themselves.



A fine lawyer by profession, he was even better as a storyteller. If instead, he were a doctor, he would have been exceptional at diagnosis. Where some fault can be found with "Night Comes to the Cumberland" is in the prescriptive. Caudill knew as much about the problems of this part of Appalachia as anyone and could accurately describe its symptoms. However, in terms of corrective measures, his prescriptions for cure fall largely off the mark.



Solutions to the chronic, severe and long-standing problems in this region of the country are not easy and not fast. The coal counties in southern Appalachians are still losing population. Mountain top removal and valley fills, a type of coal mining just starting when Caudill completed his book are destroying tens of thousands of acres of southern hardwood forest. The landscape is permanently altered and will never recover after this type of mining has taken place.



Caudill is sometimes faulted by some critics for a reliance on certain stereotypes. However, the gentle reader of the 21st century should recall that Caudill was writing almost 50 years ago. His use of sterotypes was typical of the time. However, there is little evidence to suggest that Caudill was a prejudicical man. Instead, he had considerable evidence and experience that supported his characterization of mountain people and aspects of mountain culture that today come across as heavy-handed.



"Night Comes to the Cumberlands" is a great and enduring work. It is a touchstone work for any serious student or historian interested in this region of the country.

 "A mostly accurate Classic that describes the coal mining in Eastern Kentucky" 2009-07-22
By Scott Redding (Florence, Kentucky)
For anyone who wants to learn the history of Appalachia (i.e. Eastern Kentucky) as well as the history of coal mining in this part of the country, this book is a must. After reading this book I have spent a great deal of time reading other books on coal mining in this part of the country as well as visiting old coal towns and old coal mines. This experience, as well as discussions I have had with many locals who lived through this time, have convinced me that most of what is in this book is an accurate depiction.



There have been two criticisms of this book that I think one must respond too. Some in the academic community seem to dismiss the book because of the lack of documentation (foot notes etc.). They seem to feel that book was not well researched and that most of the book is simply the opinions of the author. I believe this is an unfair criticism. Caudill spent his entire life in this region. The book consists of his own life experiences, observations and conversations with those in this region. I don't think he needed to research the ideas in this book because he lived them. First hand experience is often times the best source for anything. Later generations intent on writing on this topic, folks who were not there and who did not live through this time in this region of the country, should probably be expected to do more research on their own before writing on these topics.



Others believe Caudill perpetuated the stereotypes of Appalachians. In defense of these critics, to some extent he does perpetuate the stereotypes of mountain folk by his harsh comments towards them, especially later in the book, and his primary focus on the negative attributes of people in this region, particularly in regards to their dependence on public assistance. However, if you take the work as a whole, it is apparent that Caudill loves this region, loves these people, and really focused on the negative aspects of many of these people because he wanted to show what had happened to a once proud and self-sufficient people. I also never got the impression that Caudill thought all people in the mountains were lazy, unmotivated and simply waiting for a hand out. Caudill also goes to great lengths to explain how many of these folks acquired these attributes and how Eastern Kentucky became a "welfare state". He did not like what many of these people had become, but he certainly presented a sympathetic view on how they got there.



Overall, I thought this was a great book. I wish it was required reading for schools because I think we owe so much to the folks who struggled in the coal mines so that we could lead a better life. It is a part of history that should not be forgotten.

 "A wonderful read." 2008-07-02
By P. Dulaney (South Carolina)
This is an excellent book. Gives a lot of great detailed information on the history of that era.

 "Bad stereotypes = bad book" 2007-11-17
By Teaberry (West Virginia)
Harry Caudill's account of Eastern Kentucky's "untamed children" takes the award for the modern era's grossest stereotypes, excepting perhaps the SNL skit, "Appalachian Emergency Room." Yes, this coal country history is rife with the most insulting characterizations of mountain people. Caudill extends beyond the ubiquitous moonshiners and feuders by asserting that this area was settled by "embittered outcasts and rejects from the shores of Europe" who were lawless and, of course, fiercely independent (13). Then between 1870 and 1960, the region became plagued with inbreds, idiots, people lacking any artistic creativity and, God forbid, appreciation for Shakespeare or other expressions of "real culture," women who procreated out of wedlock to obtain government money, and wastrels incapable of pulling themselves out of the squalor that befell them upon King Coal's collapse.



This book is a depressing account of a depressed area scarred and wounded by industrialization and allegedly locked in the past by despondent people, corrupt corporations, and a negligent government. Caudill chronicles the regional cycles of boom and bust from the 1870s to the 1960s and seeks to explain the causes of the vast poverty surrounding him when he wrote this book in 1963. His most prominent and unfortunate explanation is the heritage of the mountain people, who, as mentioned before, were supposedly Britain's social outcasts. In Caudill's eyes, they only became more barbaric and unruly as they lived in the Eastern Kentucky wilderness and mingled with Native Americans. Their progeny later responded to post-Civil War political animosity with feuding and violence. This constant warring chased off the virile men that it didn't kill, so women began marrying their cousins as a result of the decreasing gene pool. Their "mentally inferior" children were the ones who entered into the mines. Once these "fantastically inbred" mountaineers were integrated into coal mining communities and culture, they then became subject to the vagaries of industry (84). As the coal boom collapsed into the Great Depression, the mountaineers-turned-miners became shiftless and despondent and began relying heavily on government handouts. During a later coal collapse, they also began seeking government-sponsored relief by manipulating local leaders through votes. Caudill's insulting explanation does not solely blame mountain people, for he also denounces coal operators and local politicians, but not nearly to the same extent. In fact, he is sometimes sympathetic to the capitalist designs of industrialists, even when he admits that they abused their workers and stripped the land of all of its value.



No references are included in this work, so the information Caudill presents is dubious at best. Some of his assertions are naïve, like his insistence that miners and coal operators were, almost without exception, friendly toward each other until the Great Depression. Other claims are completely outlandish. He insists that many mountain people, "literally starved for compliments and for some outward show of appreciation," readily sold their mineral rights after being wooed by slick-tongued mineral buyers (73). Caudill also argues that during WWII, coal companies struggled with labor shortages. Many able-bodied men had either gone to fight or had left the region seeking higher paying jobs in industrial cities, leaving in their wake those who did not qualify for military service due to health reasons. He cites malnutrition as a key problem, a valid assumption considering that the war followed twelve years of extreme economic depression. However, Caudill again resorts to a common misconception about mountain people when he interjects, "Illiteracy and low mentality - the latter induced in part, perhaps, by generations of inbreeding - also caused the rejection of hundreds of others" from military service (226). Comments such as these make me doubt even further the veracity of his arguments or the extent of his research.



I was warned that Night Comes to the Cumberlands perpetuated stereotypes, but I wanted to read it because of the influence it exerted on America's perception of Appalachia. According to regional historian John Alexander Williams, this book was a non-fiction bestseller. It was massively influential and initiated the idea for what became the Appalachian Regional Commission. I do not regret that Caudill called attention to Eastern Kentucky. Indeed, the land and people were suffering and their plight warranted national action. Even now I stand amazed at how little attention is paid to Central Appalachia in regards to the destruction of mountains, streams, and peoples' homes and health because of mining. But I ultimately fault Caudill for failing to acknowledge the diversity, intelligence, and industry of the people who chose to remain in Eastern Kentucky. Widespread activism that called attention to strip mining and black lung did not emerge in the region until a few years after this book was published, but one can certainly assume that the seeds of discontent had been sewn by 1963. What of the teachers, doctors, miners, and other proud men and women who pushed their youth to achieve, felt empowered by their local churches and community groups, or served as Union leaders prior to the 1960s? Their inclusion would have changed this book from a "biography of a depressed area" to a more inspiring call for social and environmental justice. Caudill's intentions were good, but he missed the opportunity to change the way that the region was viewed. Needless to say, I only recommend reading this book in order to understand how different eras have perceived Appalachia. Anybody seeking an introduction to the region should look elsewhere.

 "An eye-opening historical perspective" 2007-07-08
By Todd A. Fiedler (Independence, MO United States)
I was on vacation spending the week at our family's river cottage and this book, dusty and long-forgotten, set upon the shelf. After spending an idle week reading this book, I feel like I have a better understanding of the history and human forces that shaped this region of the United States. This book is a rare treasure that offers an eye-opening historical perspective which is easily accessible and well-written. While the publication date is over 40 years ago, if you are at all interested in the story of the Cumberland area, about the path towards industrialization brought about by coal, and the tragedy that befell a once proudly individualist and free people, you should read this book. You won't be disappointed. Be warned though, it's not a book for historical revisionists and it uses language in use during the time it was published, so check any political correctness before you open it.


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