Richard Dansky wrote our Excellence in Writing Award winner for this edition: a review of Long Last by Childe Roland (English Traditions section). A well-written negative review is a joy to read and Richard did a fine job of saying just why this CD made him cringe.

April Gutierrez reviews Billy Bragg's Internationale, on the English Traditions page. April's review is cited for both thoughtful and thorough.

If you're in children's literature mode, check out Marian McHugh's review of George Macdonald's The Princess and the Goblin on the Fiction page.

We have lots of music reviews for this edition, starting with Chuck Lipsig's review of The Tannhill Weaver's Epona on the Celtic Traditions page.

Steal a bit of spare time to read April Gutierrez's review of The Thief of Always by Clive Barker on the Fiction page. While you're there, check out Jayme Blaschke's review of Doomsday Book by Connie Willis.

Laurie Thayer says that Tolkien: A Biography by Humphrey Carpenter is one of her favorite books, and she always finds it inspiring. She shares her thoughts in her review on the Non fiction page.

Debbie Skolnik reviews Cheryl Wheeler's Sylvia Hotel on the Singer-Songwriter page and tackles Å by Knut Hamre and Steve Tibbets on the Nordic Traditions music page. Chuck Lipsig reviews Last Year Was A Great Day by John Kruth, also on the Singer-Songwriter page.

The best pick for the first edition of Spring is Duke Egbert's review of The Wood Wife by Terri Windling, cited for its thoughtful and reflective writing. You'll find it on the Fiction page.

Michael M. Jones considers D.J. Conway's Maiden, Maiden, Mother, Crone: The Myth and Reality of the Triple Goddess.

In the music reviews, Debbie Skolnik serves up One Too Many by Belshazzar's Feast -- you'll find it on the English Traditions page.

Richard Dansky reviews No Strings Attached: The Inside Story of Jim Henson's Creature Shop by Matt Bacon, and it's definitely more than your average Muppet book. Richard's review is on the Non fiction page.

Duke Egbert whets your appetite for Cornbread and Sweetpeas by the Konnarock Critters on the American Roots page while on the English Traditions page, Debbie Skolnik offers her thoughts on Hank Dogs' Bareback. The Hank Dogs, a South London band, have recently been touring the States, both alone and in such august company as that of Joan Baez. If Joan's invited them to tour with her, they certainly will have plenty of exposure to audiences of varying ages, since she lately seems to be forging many new alliances with younger performers. Again, I think this all to the good.

Yvonne Carts-Powell reviews a live performance of the Oysterband. Yvonne's review has earned a best pick selection for exuberant writing that takes us right into the crowd with her.

Our best pick for this edition is by Brendan Foreman, who took on a monumental task in reviewing John Crowley's Little, Big. We think he did a splendid job! Be sure to look for Brendan's review on the Fiction page.

Jayme Blaschke reaches back in time to review Knights of the Round Table on the Cinema page.

Debbie Skolnik thoroughly enjoyed Taxi Chain's Bagpipe Juke Joint, and you can read her comments on the Folk Rock page. Take a stroll to the Celtic Traditions page for Chuck Lipsig's reviews of Burach's Born Tired as well as Joyful Noise, a compilation of various artists from Green Linnet.

Chris Woods has a new entry on the Celtic Traditions page: Flyte of Fancy by The Hudson Swan Band. Chris also reviews Submerged by Liquid Didg on the Worldbeat page. and Old Style Cajun Music by Wade Fruge on the North American Roots page.

For something a little different, check out Richard Dansky's hard-edged review of Deep Heart's Core by Kate Price on the Singer-Songwriter page.

In this edition, Laurie Thayer does not write about Jim Morrison, Patricia Kennealy-Morrison, or the Doors when she reviews Bone Dance: A Fantasy for Technophiles by Emma Bull, on the Fiction page. Laurie's review compels one to track down a copy of this book at any cost. Also, go to the Folklore and Folktales page for Laurie's review of Myths and Magic of the Yeats Country by Eily Kilgannon

Jayme Blaschke takes us on a tour of Dark City (1998) in his review on the Cinema page.

Duke Egbert reviews Ashley MacIsaac's hi how are you today on the Celtic Traditions page.

Both Debbie and Jeff Skolnik have been busy this week. Debbie reviews two CDs from Big Bag of Sticks, Run Wild and Short Term Memory. Jeff adds two reviews to the American Roots page: Long Gone by Jimmy D. Lane and Late Night Blues by James Cotton.