El Paso Norte Press | Special Edition Books

ELPN Press publishes Hammer of Thor on Kindle

Shawn Conners — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:20:41 +0000

Hammer of Thor

El Paso Norte Press announced the publication of Hammer of Thor: Norse Mythology and Legends – Special Edition on the Kindle ebook platform.

Many of these wonderful Norse stories were originally compiled by H.A. Guerber in “Myths of the Norsemen” in 1909. Borrowing from this and other classic sources, Hammer of Thor contains more than two dozen bold and exciting myths and legends from Norse mythology.

This special edition begins with the Norse legend of creation and ends with a comparison to Greek mythology. In between, hundreds of larger than life heroes jump out of the pages to boast of their glorious adventures and achievements.

Roam the great hall of Valhalla in the realm of Asgard, in the company of the greatest heroes to ever populate the heavens. Follow the mighty Thor as he smites his enemies with his wondrous hammer. Bow to King Odin, the wise and feared leader of the Norse gods, and skulk along darkened passages with Loki, the most mischievous of the gods.

Fully indexed for easy Kindle searching, this special edition is perfect for new readers, and for those anxious to revisit some old friends.

Index of Stories
1. The Beginning
2. Odin
3. Frigga
4. Thor
5. Tyr
6. Bragi
7. Idun
8. Niörd
9. Frey
10. Freya
11. Uller
12. Forseti
13. Heimdall
14. Hermod
15. Vidar
16. Vali
17. The Norns
18. The Valkyrs
19. Hel
20. Ægir
21. Balder
22. Loki
23. The Giants
24. The Dwarfs
25. The Elves
26. The Sigurd Saga
27. The Frithiof Saga
28. The Twilight of the Gods
29. Greek and Northern Mythologies—A Comparison

ELPNPress publishes Illustrated Samurai Series on Kindle

Shawn Conners — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:30:19 +0000

The Illustrated Kindle Samurai Series ISBN 1934255017

El Paso Norte Press announced the publication of The Illustrated Kindle Samurai Series: The Book of Five Rings; Hagakure – The Way of the Samurai & Bushido – The Soul of Japan.

This kindle ebook brings together three of the most important books that deal with the Samurai path and philosophy into one volume, along with black and white illustrations of legendary swords, Ronin and battles. It contains:

The Book of Five Rings which was written by Miyamoto Musashi, a Samurai of legendary renown, about 1645 AD. It is a masterpiece of simple exposition written by a master swordsman, who, near the end of his spectacular life, tried earnestly to explain the essentials of individual combat and the essence of being a Samurai. His book is widely considered to a cornerstone of the philosophy of Bushido.

Hagakure – The Way of the Samurai, which means: “Hidden by Leaves”, that was composed from dialogs by the famous Samurai, Yamamoto Tsunetomo, by a scribe, Tashiro Tsuramoto, about 1716 AD. It explains the major ideas and philosophy that are essential to the “way of the Samurai”, by which is meant the “way of dying”. It contains numerous tales of various Samurai and their deeds which illustrate their philosophy and practice.

Bushido – The Soul of Japan by Inazo Nitobe which was first published 1899. It is an extremely literate presentation by a Japanese intellectual who wished to present Japan and its fundamental philosophy in a way that could be understood by Westerners. It describes how the Shinto Religion and Buddhism are the underpinnings of the essentially militaristic view of honor and life that are inherent in Bushido, the Samurai code.

ELPN Press Releases Restored Lady Chatterley on Kindle

Shawn Conners — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:35:03 +0000

ISBN 193425519X

El Paso Norte Press announced the release of Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawerence - Restored Modern Edition.

This special edition of “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” contains an introduction by editor Laura Bonds, as well as the completely restored Victorian love story which broke all the rules, and challenged the established views of contemporary censors.

Explicitly sexual, even by today’s standards, D.H. Lawrence uses the vernacular language of the 1920’s era in which it was written to tell the story of Lady Constance Chatterley, and the groundskeeper Mellor, her lover.

Taught widely in literature classes at the college level, this uncensored edition is not suitable for children.

D.H. Lawrence finished “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” in 1928, but it was not published in an uncensored version until 1960.

Many contemporary critics of D.H. Lawrence viewed the Victorian love story as vulgar, and even pornographic. It was banned immediately upon publication in both the UK and the US. The obscenity trials which followed established legal precedents for literature which still endure.

At the heart, “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” is a story about the invisible bonds between lovers, companions, and husbands and wives. Against this backdrop, Lawrence also explores the relationship between physical desire and spiritual fulfillment, often using sensual and explicitly sexual language.

This special edition of “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” has been restored for a modern audience, including all previously censored material.

Excerpt from Lady Chatterley’s Lover – Restored Modern Edition
Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved

“Supreme pleasure?” she said, looking up at him. “Is that sort of idiocy the supreme pleasure of the life of the mind? No, thank you! Give me the body. I believe the life of the body is a greater reality than the life of the mind: when the body is really awakened to life. But so many people, like your famous wind-machine, have only got minds tacked on to their physical corpses.”

He looked at her in wonder.

“The life of the body,” he said, “is just the life of the animals.”

“And that’s better than the life of professional corpses. But it’s not true! The human body is only just coming to real life. With the Greeks it gave a lovely flicker, then Plato and Aristotle killed it, and Jesus finished it off. But now the body is coming really to life, it is really rising from the tomb. And it will be a lovely, lovely life in the lovely universe, the life of the human body.” — Ch. 16, p. 281

He went down again into the darkness and seclusion of the wood. But he knew that the seclusion of the wood was illusory. The industrial noises broke the solitude, the sharp lights, though unseen, mocked it. A man could no longer be private and withdrawn. The world allows no hermits. And now he had taken the woman, and brought on himself a new cycle of pain and doom. For he knew by experience what it meant.

It was not woman’s fault, nor even love’s fault, nor the fault of sex. The fault lay there, out there, in those evil electric lights and diabolical rattlings of engines. There, in the world of the mechanical greedy, greedy mechanism and mechanized greed, sparkling with lights and gushing hot metal and roaring with traffic, there lay the vast evil thing, ready to destroy whatever did not conform. Soon it would destroy the wood, and the bluebells would spring no more. All vulnerable things must perish under the rolling and running of iron.

He thought with infinite tenderness of the woman. Poor forlorn thing, she was nicer than she knew, and oh! so much too nice for the tough lot she was in contact with. Poor thing, she too had some of the vulnerability of the wild hyacinths, she wasn’t all tough rubber-goods and platinum, like the modern girl. And they would do her in! As sure as life, they would do her in, as they do in all naturally tender life. Tender! Somewhere she was tender, tender with a tenderness of the growing hyacinths, something that has gone out of the celluloid women of today. But he would protect her with his heart for a little while. For a little while, before the insentient iron world and the Mammon of mechanized greed did them both in, her as well as him. — Ch.10, p. 134

ELPNPress releases The Red Book of Guerrilla Warfare

Shawn Conners — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 02:00:38 +0000

ISBN 1934255270

This special edition contains the two most important essays by Mao on guerrilla warfare tactics in a new, completely uncensored format.

As a revolutionary leader, Mao Zedong laid the economic, technological and cultural foundations of modern China, transforming the country from an agrarian society into a major world power.

“Time Magazine” voted Mao Zedong as one of the 100 most influential figures of the last century. He has often been described as both “brilliant and ruthless.” His essays are described as “propaganda,” and have historically been viewed as “subversive” and “revolutionary.” They contain some of the most practical and controversial warfare theory ever presented in essay form.

This special edition contains the translations completed for the US Military’s internal library of Cold War era propaganda; presented in a new, completely uncensored format. “The Red Book of Guerrilla Warfare” contains:

1) “On Guerrilla Warfare”
2) “Problems of Strategy in Guerrilla War against Japan”

Sun Tzu and The Army of Concubines

Shawn Conners — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 03:10:37 +0000

Excerpted from The Art of War by Sun Tzu - Special Edition

According to the 2nd century BC biography written by Sima Qian, Sun Tzu was born in Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period of China (722–481 BC), and became a heroic general for the king of Wu, Helü. Historians place the writing of the text in the Warring States Period (476–221 BC), based on its description of warfare. The period was a time of constant conflict between seven nations (Zhao, Qi, Qin, Chu, Han, Wei and Yan) seeking to control all of China.

It is said that the king of Wu tested Sun Tzu’s skills in military tactics by commanding him to train several hundred concubines into soldiers. Sun Tzu divided them into two companies, and placed one of the King’s favorite concubines at the head of each. He then bade them all take spears in their hands, and addressed them thus: “I presume you know the difference between front and back, right hand and left hand?” The girls replied: Yes. Sun Tzu went on: “When I say “Eyes front,” you must look straight ahead. When I say “Left turn,” you must face towards your left hand.

When I say “Right turn,” you must face towards your right hand. When I say “About turn,” you must face right round towards your back.” Again the girls assented. The words of command having been thus explained, he set up the halberds and battle-axes in order to begin the drill. Then, to the sound of drums, he gave the order “Right turn.” But the girls only burst out laughing. Sun Tzu said: “If words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, then the general is to blame.” So he started drilling them again, and this time gave the order “Left turn,” whereupon the girls once more burst into fits of laughter. Sun Tzu: “If words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, the general is to blame. But if his orders ARE clear, and the soldiers nevertheless disobey, then it is the fault of their officers.” So saying, he ordered the leaders of the two companies to be beheaded.

Now the king of Wu was watching the scene from the top of a raised pavilion; and when he saw that his favorite concubines were about to be executed, he was greatly alarmed and hurriedly sent down the following message: “We are now quite satisfied as to our general’s ability to handle troops. If We are bereft of these two concubines, our meat and drink will lose their savor. It is our wish that they shall not be beheaded.” Sun Tzu replied: “Having once received His Majesty’s commission to be the general of his forces, there are certain commands of His Majesty which, acting in that capacity, I am unable to accept.”

Accordingly, he had the two leaders beheaded, and straightway installed the pair next in order as leaders in their place. When this had been done, the drum was sounded for the drill once more; and the girls went through all the evolutions, turning to the right or to the left, marching ahead or wheeling back, kneeling or standing, with perfect accuracy and precision, not venturing to utter a sound. Then Sun Tzu sent a messenger to the King saying: “Your soldiers, Sire, are now properly drilled and disciplined, and ready for your majesty’s inspection. They can be put to any use that their sovereign may desire; bid them go through fire and water, and they will not disobey.”

But the King replied: “Let our general cease drilling and return to camp. As for us, We have no wish to come down and inspect the troops.” Thereupon Sun Tzu said: “The King is only fond of words, and cannot translate them into deeds.” After that, Ho Lu saw that Sun Tzu was one who knew how to handle an army, and finally appointed him general.

In the early 1970s, scholars uncovered a collection of ancient texts written on unusually well-preserved bamboo slips. Among them were Sun Tzu’s The Art of War and Sun Bin’s Military Methods. Although Han dynasty bibliographies noted the latter publication as extant and written by a descendant of Sun Tzu, it has since been lost. Sun Bin’s treatise is the only known additional text from the ancient period bearing a close association with Sun Tzu.

Restored Fairy ebooks Released on Kindle

Shawn Conners — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 11:41:59 +0000

El Paso Norte Press announced the release of a new collection of Kindle editions.

Originally published in 1889, Andrew Lang’s classic “Coloured Fairy Books”, have now been restored for modern audiences. The Dreams of the Colored Fairies series contains 12 volumes of the most lively fairy tales cherished by the young and young at heart for centuries.

The first 10 volumes are available for download, including: Dreams of the Blue Fairy, Dreams of the Red Fairy, Dreams of the Green Fairy, Dreams of the Red Fairy, Dreams of the Pink Fairy, Dreams of the Yellow Fairy, Dreams of the Brown Fairy, and Dreams of the Orange Fairy.

These stories are from all around the world, and include some well known standards such as Jack and the Beanstalk, Snow White and Rapunzel. They also contain new stories from exotic places sure to please even the most jaded bedtime audiences.

The Art of War or The Heart of War?

Shawn Conners — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:07:31 +0000

ISBN: 1934255122

Translations can be a tricky thing. Especially if you are translating the oldest book on military strategy still in existence.

Lionel Giles is famous for his translation of The Art of War, as are James Clavell and Samuel B. Griffth. Still, many scholars despair of ever having a truly accurate translation of any of the historical Chinese texts, due to the changing nature of language patterns over the centuries, which complicate translation and transliteration.

In this article, the author explores some various nuances that have been lost in many of the accepted translations of The Art of War, (excerpts from The Art of War by Sun Tzu – Special Edition):

The title given to the text has been translated into English as the Art of War. Looking at the individual words or ideograms we see a much more complicated meaning of the original title then the English title suggests. The ideogram for war as it is used in the title can also be translated into the English words: Combat, Maneuver, Weapon, and Conflict.

The meaning of conflict from the western viewpoint has negative connotations. Conflict can also though be a good thing. If I have the choice of going to a party or out with some friends then I am in conflict. Conflict in ideas’ leads to growth and change. We in the West tend to separate the negative and positive types of conflict into two meanings on subjective criteria based on the emotive social misconception that conflict is bad therefor good conflict is something else. Both types of conflict negative and positive are represented in the Chinese definition of conflict as defined in the text title, leading to different interpretations than one in the West would initially expect.

This difference in the Western definition of conflict can be summed up by Cognitive Dissonance Theory, which states that when we are psychologically aroused by a new perception that conflicts with previously stored ideas or does not fit into a preexisting “World View” then the individual will alter their perception and sometimes alter it to incorporate the new perception into their store of knowledge.

This process of comparing previously stored knowledge is influenced by our culture. The process of socialization where parents and society instill cultural values to their children is how a culture continues through the generations but what if these values or knowledge are a matter of perspective? If you are raised to believe a pink pixie created the world and everyone in the culture agrees, chances are that without outside influence you will believe the same thing.

Also the different connotations of words can lead to break away words with different connotations and meanings. In the case of conflict in the West we may say “I am making a decision, I’m not in conflict” but they are the same thing. When dealing with another culture we have to be aware of the full extent and meaning of the word and not just its translation.

Spiritual values can also be incorporated into the translated word. Chinese ideograms are often made up of sub components e.g. the ideogram for to listen includes the ideograms for hearing and also heart. In the Western translation this aspect of heart has been left out. This leads to the argument translation verses transliteration. This is what has happened with The Art of War as with all East- West translation to varying degrees. (Excerpt from Dean McNichol) Read More of This Article