COUNTDOWN TO CATASTROPHE THE FINAL VICTORIES THE FIRST BLOODY BATTLES GLOBAL CHAOS HORRIFIC INVASIONS TERROR AND TRIUMPH

Gr 6—9—These six volumes, each of which could stand alone, make a cohesive set when read together. The information is accurate and the volumes are liberally illustrated with many rarely seen black-and-white photos. Some color images enhance the texts. Much of the content will likely require some prior knowledge for complete understanding. Sidebars give additional political, biographical, and historical information. The format is attractive with one-quarter to full-page photos, but the captions are mostly redundant. Almost every page needlessly pulls one sentence out of the text and repeats it on the same page in a blue stylized font. Unfortunately, the entire set is plagued with typographical errors, incomplete sentences, and repeated textual phrases. Each volume contains several color maps, but they seem to be too few or misplaced, and are too cluttered, making it difficult at times to find the places mentioned in the texts. Each title concludes with a self-contained time line. The material as presented is acceptable, but the mechanical glitches make these books additional, rather than first, purchases.—Eldon Younce, Anthony Public Library, KS