Liar's Poker is a game similar to Liar's Dice where you bid on the serial numbers of dollar bills. This game of push your luck was well known on the trading floor of Solomon Brothers. Only the baddest of the bad played this game for big dollars. It was won by a fair use of trickery, deceit and intimidation. It is this game which is a metaphor for the events that are chronicled in the book.

The book Liar's Dice provides an inside look at what happened inside Solomon Brothers during the early 80's until the author left in 1988. The book is full of true tales from Wall Street with Solomon Brothers in the lead role.

Tales vary from the whimsical where a new trainee was lead to believe the SEC was investigating him for stealing food from the company cafeteria to the gritty cut throat nature of upper management. The traders that worked at Solomon Brothers lived hard and played hard.

Billions of dollars passed through Solomon's during the 80's and every transaction netted a small slice for the company. All of these slices added up to millions of dollars in revenue.

What I found most interesting about the book is that as I read the tales of gluttony and greed I began to forget that this book was written about the 1980's and not the post 2000 financial markets. Bizarre mortgage securities that I thought had only been around for a few years have their roots in the mortgage bond trading floor of Solomon Brothers.

The repackaging of mortgages as securities, splitting the principal form the interest and all sorts of other financial shenanigans are discussed in this as they came about. We learn about the traders who created them and why they did so. We also get an inside look at what goes through a traders head when he has near unlimited amounts of money to trade with and very little oversight.

The writing is very engaging and the stories are so unbelievable that you will find yourself unable to put the book down. If you are like me you will finish the book and say to yourself, "How was this allowed to happen again? Did we learn nothing from the 80's?"

What you may also find deeply disturbing is that the man in charge of the money supply back then is also the chairman of the Economic Recovery Advisory Board today under President Obama: Paul Volker.

These changes in policy contributed to the significant recession the U.S. economy experienced in the early 1980s, which included the highest unemployment levels since the Great Depression. These conditions were predictable by Carter when he appointed Volcker, and these circumstances contributed, predictably, to the defeat of Carter. Volcker's Fed also elicited the strongest political attacks and most wide-spread protests in the history of the Federal Reserve (unlike any protests experienced since 1922), due to the effects of the high interest rates on the construction and farming sectors, culminating in indebted farmers driving their tractors onto C Street NW and blockading the Eccles Building.

This book is an amazing read and at only 249 pages it is a short read. If you would like to understand the roots of the current mortgage market and how they became transformed into securities, chopped, sliced and diced that you can't go wrong by reading this book. Solomon Brothers are the ones who owned the mortgage bond market for the first few years that it existed. You could even say that they created it. Read this book and you will know too.

Now, I had heard a little bit about the book (and the movie) and not all of it was good. I had heard that the book was a mediocre knock-off of Star Wars. With somewhat low expectations I borrowed the book and began to read it.

In the beginning I noticed many similarities between the two stories. Brom played the part of Obi Wan while Eragon was the moisture farmer from a backwoods area of the Empire. Agents of the rebellion sent a very important item into Eragon's possession and soon after Eragon's uncle was killed by members of the Empire who went searching for it.

Though Brom never mentioned fighting alongside Eragon's father in the Clone Dragon Wars he did provide Eragon with a light saber magical sword that could cut through anything. Even though there were many other parallels to Star Wars I found that the book soon found its own path and began to get better. In fact once you get about half way through the book you can clearly see that the author has matured somewhat in his writing. In fact the second two books almost feel as if they were written by a different author due to the vast improvement in writing skill.

I ended up finishing Eragon in about three days and went out and purchased Eldest in hard cover. If I had known it was out in softcover I would have purchased that version but such is life.

I completed reading Eldest in about four days. I considered myself lucky because the third book in the trilogy had just been published. Nothing annoys me more than getting into a good book and having to wait years for the next installment (I'm talking to you J.K. Rawlings!) You can imagine my surprise after reaching the end of Brisingr.

What was published as a trilogy has now become a cycle. That's right, I now have to wait (who knows how many) years before the story will (hopefully) draw to its conclusion in the fourth book of the trilogy.

I did not complain when the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy grew beyond a trilogy but that was different situation. In the case of Hitchhiker's the story had already come to a satisfying conclusion and Douglas Adams added some desert. Such is not the case with the Inheritance trilogy cycle.

I began reading the Inheritance trilogy safe in the knowledge that, if I liked it, I would be able to read all three books and not have to wait for years for the story to conclude. Instead I must now wait an unspecified amount of time for this story to conclude.

As much as I have enjoyed reading the last two books in the series (you have no idea how happy I was to see the writing improve) I would have preferred if the series was never referred to as a trilogy. All stories need a clear beginning, middle and end as well as an outline. As a writer of middling skill myself I understand that sometimes the story can get away from the author as characters begin to take on a life of their own. Carefully laid out plots can quickly go awry when the author realizes that characters have acquired more dimensions. I have found very little real fluff in the series that should be cut in the interests of making the story fit into three books.

I just had to vent. I was hoping to reach a satisfying conclusion when I finished reading the third book today. When I opened Brisingr I did not jump to the back of the book to see how it ends so I was very much surprised to reach the end only to be told that the story would conclude in the fourth book. I can't say I was completely waylaid by the author because as I reached the halfway point of the story and certain plot elements had not been addressed I acquired a sinking feeling that either the ending would leave me empty or there would be another book.

I also have to place a little bit of blame on the young woman at the bookstore. I asked her if she had read it and she told me that she had. I asked her if everything was wrapped up and if the story had left room for a fourth book. She was rather coy in her answer but she never mentioned that there would definitely be a fourth book.

There. That is all I have to say.

PS: I don't know if you meant it as an homage but I kept pronouncing Eragon as "Aragorn". Visions of Lord of the Rings often went through my head while reading the story.

The Warriors is a series of books written by Erin Hunter that follows the lives of a group of wild cats known as the Clan Cats. There are four clans; River Clan, Thunder Clan, Wind Clan and Shadow Clan. The series focuses on the the life of the Thunder Clan cats and their interactions with the other clans around them.

The books are currently on their third series but this review will focus on the first series of books; The Warriors.

The story begins when a kittypet named Rusty decides to leave his life of comfort for the more adventurous life of a Clan Cat. At the tender age of six moons (months) he leaves the familiar life of comfort and joins Thunder Clan. Many in the clan resent his kittypet roots but he soon earns the trust and respect of many of the other cats in Thunder Clan. Not all of the other cats appreciate having a former kittypet in their clan and a small faction led by Tigerclaw does its best to cause trouble for Rusty (now known as Firepaw).

The Books
• Into the Wild
• Fire and Ice
• forest of Secrets
• Rising Storm
• A Dangerous Path
• The Darkest Hour

Thunder Clan

Thunder Clan is led by the she-cat Bluestar. It is her, while on a patrol with Greypaw and Tigerclaw, that welcomes Rusty (Firepaw) into the clan. She does this in part due to a prophecy that has been revealed to her: Fire alone can save our Clan.

After joining the clan Rusty is renamed Firepaw during his apprentice ceremony. He quickly proves his mettle in a short skirmish at the end of the ceremony. Bluestar herself decides to become Firepaw's mentor and Greypaw and Firepaw become instant friends.

Over the course of the books Firepaw becomes the warrior Fireheart and he uncovers a traitor in the Thunder Clan ranks. The traitor sub-plot spans all six books.

The Other Clans

There are four clans in the forest and a fifth clan known as Star Clan. Star Clan is where the spirits of the fallen go to dwell. Some cats do not join Star Clan when they die and are instead left to wander the spirit forest alone for all of eternity.

All of the clans live by the Warrior code; a set of laws devised to ensure a level of civilization exists among the cats of the forest. Living by the Warrior Code is very important to the cats of the Clans. the Warrior code is very similar in spirit to the code of chivalry.

Once every full moon all of the Clans gather at Fourtrees for a Gathering. It is during this one night of truce that disputes are resolved and news is shared. At all other times the clans do not mix.

There is a special type of cat known as the Medicine Cat. These cats are both healers and spiritual advisers to the clan leaders. They have the power to commune with the members of Star Clan and often pass on important information to their clan leaders. Medicine cats live on the outside of the Warrior Code in that they are allowed to mix with Medicine Cats from the other clans.

Each clan has a designated area of the forest that is theirs. Patrols leave scent markers to mark the boundaries of said territory and fights can (and will) erupt if another clan ignores those boundaries.

Clans and their Territories
• Wind Clan - Wide open meadows. They are fast runners and hunt rabbits.
• River Clan - Their territory is surrounded by a river. They are the only clan that eats fish from the river.
• Shadow Clan - They live in a boggy area that is also covered in pine trees. They are known for being sneaky and sly.
• Thunder Clan - They live in a hardwood forest. Thunder Clan is known for being very honorable.

Writing Style

Now, I realize that these books can be found in the Young adult section of the library (my daughter got me interested in reading these) but I have to say that the writing style is very engaging. In fact I have read every book in the series over the course of the last month. I am eagerly awaiting the release of the next book in the third series this coming Tuesday.

The name of Erin Hunter is a pen named used by the three writers behind the series of books; Cherith Baldry, Kate Gary and Victoria Holmes. The three writers decided to use the pen name instead of their own to insure that the books would all be grouped together on the shelf.

Each book in the series has a few sub-plots in addition to the overall story arc that spans all six books. Many issues relevant to young readers are addressed over all six books. The very first book talks about what it is like to enter a new school when Firepaw joins Thunder Clan. Other issues covered are what to do when you know a secret and dealing with forbidden love among others.

The books are very well written and the characters stay true to themselves over the course of the books. However, each new series of books focuses on the next generation of cats.

If this series of books sounds appealing to you a box set of the first six books can be purchased from Amazon: Warriors Box Set: Volumes 1 to 6 (Warriors) (Paperback)

A long time ago. Way back when I was in high school (or was it middle school) I read an interesting series of books known as the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy Trilogy. It was a very good four book set.

I also watched the original BBC TV series and listened to the audio drama version. Yes, I was a geek back then and a sci-fi nerd. I admit it.

Around the same time I also listened to a great radio show that would come on Sunday nights. I'm talking about the Dr. Demento Show. The good Dr. would play all sorts of crazy songs and the above video is for one such song that came from the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

The song is about Marvin the paranoid android. He was a rather depressed android and was constantly sharing his depression with those around him.

Heck, just play the clip!

Harry Potter must die

I know some fans of the book may be shocked to read the above statement but I believe it to be true. Why do I think Harry Potter must die? The key reason is that Harry Potter and Voldemort are linked. Voldemort has been trying to kill Harry since the very first book. Likewise Harry has slowly begun to realize that as long as Voldemort exists his life is in jeopardy.

Several books ago we were introduced to the item known as a Horcrux. These devices, made by Voldemort, hold parts of his soul.

A Horcrux is defined by Rowling as a "receptacle in which a Dark wizard has hidden a fragment of his soul for the purposes of attaining immortality." With part of a wizard's soul thus stored, the wizard becomes immortal so long as the Horcrux remains intact, typically hidden away in a safe location. If the wizard's body is destroyed, part of the soul remains preserved within the Horcrux. The Horcrux is reminiscent of the phylactery used by the undead creature known as a Lich. However, the destruction of the Horcrux creator's body leaves the wizard in a state of half-life, "lesser than the meanest ghost." Lord Voldemort was left in this state when his attempted use of a Killing Curse on the infant Harry Potter backfired upon himself. The magic involved in the creation of a horcrux is considered one of the worst of the Dark Arts.

It has been suggested that the death of the infant Harry Potter was to be used to create a Horcrux and I believe that when that act failed Harry Potter became a Horcrux. Now this is also where things get interesting.

Dumbledore has stated that Harry's mother performed some sort of spell that protected Harry when Voldemort tried to kill him. Is it possible that Harry Potter is not a Horcrux for Voldemort but is instead one for his mother? The death of Voldemort would satisfy the "supreme act of evil" needed to create a Horcrux.

Some folks might scoff at the idea of Harry's mother doing such an evil thing but she may have done so.

Think about this as well: Voldemort used Harry's blood to restore his body. When Dumbledore heard this he had a gleam of triumph in his eye. I think it is quite possible that Dumbledore knew that Voldemort considers Harry to be a key item (Horcrux) in getting his body back in order. As to whether this will bode well for Voldemort is another question entirely. If Harry is a Horcrux for someone other than Voldemort but Voldemort thinks he is one of his own Horcruxes then things may get very interesting indeed!

So, must Harry Potter still die? Maybe not.

I do think that for Voldemort's plans to succeed Harry Potter must die. I also think that the mark on Harry's head must somehow be removed before the final book ends.

Amazon has also lowered the cover price from $18.99 to $17.99. This brings the discount to 49 percent. What this also means is that all the people who have pre-ordered the book thus far will be paying the new lower price.

For a historic perspective on this, the sixth book "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince", did not reach the one million worldwide mark at Amazon until 174 days after the book was first available for pre-order. It took only 95 days for the seventh book to reach that goal.

Amazon is also offering the "deluxe" version of the book for $39.00 and the audio CD for $47.97.