Game Theory Evolving

Book Description

The study of strategic action (game theory) is moving from a formal science of rational behavior to an evolutionary tool kit for studying behavior in a broad array of social settings. In this problem-oriented introduction to the field, Herbert Gintis exposes students to the techniques and applications of game theory through a wealth of sophisticated and surprisingly fun-to-solve problems involving human (and even animal) behavior.

Game Theory Evolving is innovative in several ways. First, it reflects game theory's expansion into such areas as cooperation in teams, networks, the evolution and diffusion of preferences, the connection between biology and economics, artificial life simulations, and experimental economics. Second, the book--recognizing that students learn by doing and that most game theory texts are weak on problems--is organized around problems, and introduces principles through practice. Finally, the quality of the problems is simply unsurpassed, and each chapter provides a study plan for instructors interested in teaching evolutionary game theory.

Reflecting the growing consensus that in many important contexts outside of anonymous markets, human behavior is not well described by classical "rationality," Gintis shows students how to apply game theory to model how people behave in ways that reflect the special nature of human sociality and individuality. This book is perfect for upper undergraduate and graduate economics courses as well as a terrific introduction for ambitious do-it-yourselfers throughout the behavioral sciences.

Customer Reviews:

Book on Game Theory Evolving by H. Gintis.......2007-03-16

I recently purchased this book through Amazon.com. The book is excellent. The treatment of the topic is in depth and the examples are very profound. The exercises also are very though provoking and it is a great book for anyone who wants to learn more about Game Theory.

The service by amazon was also outstanding. I obtained the book on the promised date. All queries regarding the order were answered promptly and professionally.

Lots of errors, this book stinks.......2006-02-06

I bought the 2000 edition of this book, which has so many errors that it's unreadable, and some of the problems are unsolvable because of the errors. I found enough errors in the second chapter alone to make me give up on it. The author has a link to a file of errata on his web page, but the link was dead. I contacted the author to ask for the errata, and he told me to buy the 2002 edition. I insisted, and he e-mailed me the file. I didn't find either of two major errors that I had noticed in the errata. The book has very few examples, so it took me a long time to realize that my trouble with the problems as presented was because of errors with the problems, not because the problems were particularly hard. Don't buy this book, period.

All-around weak, but has a lot of problems and a website.......2005-12-24

Oy, so, as a collection of *a lot* of problems, it's great; and that makes it pretty great. By any other standard, and for any other use than reference (to problems, not ideas), it's junk, however, hardly approaching the normal standards of Princeton's UP, I've gotta think.
There are numerous errors in the problems (I haven't seen any in the answers yet and the monkey problem other reviewers criticize is correct). I happened to skip to Markov chains, for example, and not only was there a pair of typographical errors (some mis-TEXing; not the author's fault, I suppose), but also a mistake in the first example after the description.
The good news is he's fixed the mistakes and gone and written a whole new chapter on "markov economies" and posted it all online. Better news would be a new, more carefully edited, edition, or at least a separate file online of corrections, so one doesn't have to search your (yeah, he seems be active on Amazon) new-made chapters, with their unfortunate numbering conventions (putting two-sentence problems on the same stratum as solution concepts results in some inconvenience & incoherence).
Beyond these editing errors, the book seems to be heavy on text and short on rigor (at least outside of big blocks of text, that is), and citations (he doesn't like other game theorists!). The organization is also poor, even within chapters; as mentioned above a new chapter was inserted since publication.

So, in summary,
Pros: includes originality (he hates theorists of game theory proper!) for the uninitiated, and lots of examples and a website with corrections and updates
Cons: useless for reading, learning or teaching from, etc.

Okay, so no, he doesn't hate game theorists; he just tries hard to evolve his way out of the ambiguities of "classical" game theory. Needless to say, evolution is hard to do on one's own.

Great Problem Book.......2005-09-21

There are a number of high quality problems in this book. It falls somewhat short on explanations, and I wouldn't suggest it for someone trying to learn game theory on their own.

Very useful for beginners.......2005-05-09

This is a terrific introductory textbook for game theory students, especially those lacking microeconomic background. The abundance of solved exercises help illustrate concepts that, if only explained conceptually, are likely to leave the reader confused. I'd recommend this for beginning students. For the students with more background, I'd recommend Osborne and Rubinstein. Only the students comfortable with the math should use Fudenberg/Tirole or Myerson.

I'm puzzled by the some of the criticisms presented here: all the notations are standard for the field and the basic concepts are laid out as clearly as any other text. If anything, the solved examples clarify the concepts much better than usual. At least one of the reviews (the review below) makes so little sense that makes me wonder if he even understood what he was reading: he's throwing about irrelevant jargon from communication theory (which has nothing to do with the basic game theory that the text mostly concerns itself with, especially the simple-minded example he's supposedly critiquing.). I'd pick this as the textbook for my intro class any day.

Having said that, the "evolving" in the title is somewhat misleading. This is a fairly introductory text for generic game theory, not really the evolutionary game theory which is more complicated creature. Gintis touches on some topics and provides some illustrations--more than most "basic" game theory texts, in fact, but not in depth. To learn the real deal, you will need more advanced texts such as Weibull. On the other hand, of course, they are much denser and will make a lot less sense.

Digital Cities III. Information Technologies for Social Capital: Cross-cultural Perspectives: Third International Digital Cities Workshop, Amsterdam, The ... Papers (Lecture Notes in Computer Science)
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Digital Cities III. Information Technologies for Social Capital: Cross-cultural Perspectives: Third International Digital Cities Workshop, Amsterdam, The ... Papers (Lecture Notes in Computer Science)

Manufacturer: Springer
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Binding: Paperback

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Digital Cities II. Computational and Sociological Approaches: Second Kyoto Workshop on Digital Cities, Kyoto, Japan, October 18-20, 2001. Revised Papers (Lecture Notes in Computer Science)

Digital Cities: Technologies, Experiences, and Future Perspectives (Lecture Notes in Computer Science)

ASIN: 3540253319

Book Description

This book presents revised full papers contributed to the Third International Digital Cities Workshop held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in September 2003.

The 25 papers presented together with an introductory overview went through two rounds of reviewing and improvement. They are organized in topical sections on digital cities around the world: case studies; virtual community platforms; knowledge and data modeling for digital cities; participation, design, and monitoring; information and communications technology and social capital.

Innovations in International and Cross-Cultural Management

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Innovations in International and Cross-Cultural Management
P. Christopher Earley , and Harbir Singh
Manufacturer: Sage Publications, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0761912355

Book Description

Presenting cross-cultural research on a wide range of organizational topics, this book ranges from the individual to the macro level. Among the issues examined are: organizational trust in international settings, HRM issues in international joint ventures, developing strategic advantage across borders, and social partnerships for sustainable growth.

Entrepreneurship, Growth, and Innovation: The Dynamics of Firms and Industries (International Studies in Entrepreneurship)

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Entrepreneurship, Growth, and Innovation: The Dynamics of Firms and Industries (International Studies in Entrepreneurship)

Manufacturer: Springer
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Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0387288686

Book Description

Entrepreneurship, Growth and Innovation provides comprehensive insight into the economics of entrepreneurship, claiming that this recently established discipline should establish a framework of analysis that integrates the understanding of the determinants and the effects of both entrepreneurship and innovation without neglecting the functioning of the inducement mechanisms. For this purpose, the book combines theoretical prescriptions and international empirical evidence. Contributions by some of the best known scholars in the field of the economics of entrepreneurship and innovation investigate whether the interrelationships between the forces that affect firm and industry dynamics and ultimately determine economic growth are subject to change across countries and over time. The analysis of different national cases puts forward that the relationship between entrepreneurship and growth via innovation is shaped by the context of country-specific institutions and industries, thereby providing hints for industrial and innovation policy.

Book Description

Detailing interrelated topics, this work addresses issues and concerns related to plant and crop stress. This edition includes information on pH stress, temperature stress, water-deficit conditions, carotenoids and stress, light stress, pollution stress, agrichemical stress, oxidative damage to proteins, UV-B induced stress and abiotic stress tolerance.

Book Description

A complete course, from cells to the circulatory system
Hundreds of questions and many review tests
Key concepts and terms defined and explained

Master key concepts. Answer challenging questions. Prepare for exams. Learn at your own pace.

Are viruses living? How does photosynthesis occur? Is cloning a form of sexual or asexual reproduction? What is Anton van Leeuwenhoek known for? With Biology: A Self-Teaching Guide, Second Edition, you'll discover the answers to these questions and many more.

Steven Garber explains all the major biological concepts and terms in this newly revised edition, including the origin of life, evolution, cell biology, reproduction, physiology, and botany. The step-by-step, clearly structured format of Biology makes it fully accessible to all levels of students, providing an easily understood, comprehensive treatment of all aspects of life science.

Like all Self-Teaching Guides, Biology allows you to build gradually on what you have learned-at your own pace. Questions and self-tests reinforce the information in each chapter and allow you to skip ahead or focus on specific areas of concern. Packed with useful, up-to-date information, this clear, concise volume is a valuable learning tool and reference source for anyone who needs to master the science of life.

Customer Reviews:

Easy to learn, great reference for college biology.......2004-09-05

I found this book to help me to clarify the concepts learned in my biology textbook. Cell biology, Evolution, Origin of Life and Animal Physiology were explained with simple language. It was actually more enjoyable to read then my textbook. What I really found outstanding was the following which I got on amazon--
The Ultimate Study Guide for Biology: Key Review Questions and Answers with Explanations (Volume 1 isbn;1933023007, Volume 2 isbn; 1933023015, Volume 3 isbn; 1933023023)
These 3 study guides had similar questions to my college biology exams. Well worth the investment because it made my studying much more effective.

Best Biology Book Ever Written.......2004-01-04

For the money you can't beat Steven Daniel Garber's biology book, "Biology: A Self-Teaching Guide." He has done what virtually no one has ever been able to do. Explain biology in clear, succinct, beautiful brushstrokes that actually get each and every important concept and term across to both the casual reader and the frantic student trying to cram before the next exam. Garber has a knack for telling a story. Any story. Be it about insect blood or about impulses traveling down a nerve cell. He only says what the reader must know. No frills. But he always says it beautifully. In a manner that actually makes this book hard to put down. Now tell me the same thing about another biology book in the history of the world. I'll bet you can't. He's the best technical writer ever. And I mean ever.

Biology: A Self-Teaching Guide.......2002-12-20

Clear, succinct, explains everything really well. I wish all my texts were this easy to understand.

Not a good survey of the material.......2000-04-04

Do not be misled by the generally high quality of Mr. Garber's previous work. The "self-teaching" guide is more vocabulary list than textbook. Critical missing features include (a) some notion of life as _process_ rather than a lengthy list of elements of cell anatomy, (b) poikilothermy appears in end-of-chapter questions, but the text does not compare it with homeothermy in any useful way, (c) comparative anatomy illustrations are not drawn to scale, making it difficult to make appropriate comparisons. The vocabulary lists and end-of-chapter multiple choice questions would save a first-year teaching assistant some time preparing for classes for non-majors. The book is not much help in acquiring a general understanding of the basic science.

Four Billion Years: An Essay on the Evolution of Genes and Organisms
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Four Billion Years: An Essay on the Evolution of Genes and Organisms
Willam F. Loomis
Manufacturer: Sinauer Associates Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Evolution | Science | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0878934766

Four Billion Years: An Essay on the Evolution of Genes and Organisms.
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Four Billion Years: An Essay on the Evolution of Genes and Organisms.
William F. Loomis
Manufacturer: Sinauer
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Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OFVJSS

Guge Gongji: Seven Primary Targets To Take Anyone Out Of A Fight
Average customer rating:

Excellent theory, but techniques are specialized

Good title, but it could use some help

This book must compliment some type of fighting system

it is a good book both in a good read and in infomation.

the most practual self defence manual

Guge Gongji: Seven Primary Targets To Take Anyone Out Of A Fight
Hei Long
Manufacturer: Paladin Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0873646355

Book Description

Structurally disabling an opponent is like taking the bullets out of his gun. It is unlikely that he can swing with a broken wrist or advance with a busted knee. That is guge gongji: stopping an attacker by breaking his instrument of danger - his ability to move. Take anyone out of a fight by mastering these seven targets.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent theory, but techniques are specialized.......2006-04-12

Everyone who thinks he might ever be attacked should read this book, but only if he is prepared to do some work in applying the information to his own way of handling violence. That's because the techniques presented are highly stylized. They look to me like Chinese Kung Fu. So unless you're an active practitioner of, say, Hung Gar, you're not advised to try raising your knee to your chest and kicking someone in the armpit while trying to survive an assault.

Still, the illustrations are useful if you're able to map the techniques to movements you yourself are likely to employ. It's also helpful to imagine using the information armed and unarmed, and against opponents who are either. In other words, to use this book, you have to generalize. If you have to choose only one fighting book, then this isn't it, but I'd still call it essential reading.

Good title, but it could use some help.......2002-08-21

This book was informative, demonstrating seven major targets to the human body. There is an overview of the importance of these target areas ( cervical vertebrae, elbows, knees, ankles, and feet ) from an anatomical perspective. It follows the philosophy of attacking an opponent's weapons before he can use them. Makes perfect sense. Following the anatomical section, there are sections concerning how to disable the various target areas ( at least 3 techniques each ) from a variety of positions. The book is simple but effective. The only problem I have with it is the illustrations. I'm sure the publisher saved money by using these, but at times they are somewhat confusing owing to their crude nature. Interesting and to the point, worth it's small price.

This book must compliment some type of fighting system.......2001-06-07

I would first like to get it clear to everybody that this is NOT a "teach yourself self-defense in 24 hours" book. I strongly recommend that you accompany this book with some type of fighting system. I recommend SCARS, Special Combat Aggressive-Reactionary Systems. Go check out their website....

This book teaches you about certain striking points on a human body that, if you were to correctly strike your opponent on any such striking points, you can easily damage, if not break, those joints of your opponent that are connected to these striking points. I am fairly acquainted with a good deal of the book's mentioned striking points.

The book also reveals applicable techniques that teaches you how to use these striking points to your advantage in the event you are in a fight. For instance, the ankle is a good striking point on your opponent's body. A strong side kick to the ankle is an excellent technique to use if you want to break your opponent's ankle.

Here is one technique that I especially love. It involves killing someone within a few seconds using just your bare hands. This technique is particularly efficient is your opponent sports a ponytail. Buy this book if you want to learn the technique I am referring to.

it is a good book both in a good read and in infomation........1999-08-14

the book showed me a cuple of ideas and moves i would never have used or thought would might be used on me. Bone breaking is searious businness, but this book can show you how to do it and not get heart yourself. though some of the pictures are rather funny, they show a lot, more than other books.

the most practual self defence manual.......1999-08-02

As a student of Martial Arts this book is the best yet .. it is simple and effective and will work .. For i have studed Isshin-Ryu Karate and Ninjitsu for years (10) and Master Hie Long did his best work on this book a real eye opener . He may be gone from us . but he left a piece of him to help us defend our selves ..

Book Description

An anthology with guidlines for reading and writing about fiction. Unique to this text is the integration of literary works with detailed guidelines for reading and writing, and for writing an interpretive essay. The Student's Book fosters reflection, creativity, and critical thinking though interactive discussion activities. It emphasizes the connection between reading and writing and between literature and composition.

Customer Reviews:

An excellent literature-based ESL composition course.......2006-02-19

"The International Story" is an international literature-based ESL composition course for advanced learners. Twenty-two short stories from seventeen countries are included, with in-depth activities every step of the way, from prereading to analyzing story elements to writing various kinds of materials, from reading journals, creative writing, and analytical essays. The stories span more than a century, and background information on each author, country information, and brief sidenotes on world religions make sure that students are able to discuss fully the merits of each work. There are dozens of conversation topics and ideas listed for each story, along with writing prompts and step-by-step writing guides. A glossary of difficult words is also included at the back.

Customer Reviews:

wonderfully loopy and self-aware micky-take of its own genre.......2006-05-21

I first encountered "From Eroica With Love" in a fan-produced English translation published in fanzine format some years back. I was bowled over by the series, which I can only describe as a wonderfully loopy and self-aware micky-take of its own genre. I was delighted to hear that CMX have taken on the job of providing an official English translation for the series. They've done a very nice job of it, with excellent reproduction of the original artwork, and what I'm told is a faithful translation from the original Japanese text.

This first volume serves mainly to introduce the various characters, but it contains some very entertaining stories. It isn't quite typical of the series as a whole, as it initially appears that three superpowered teenagers are amongst the main characters. In fact, they exist mostly to introduce Dorian Red Gloria, Earl of Gloria. He's a very, very wealthy aristocrat who collects beautiful things, and his hobby is stealing art treasures. He's also very beautiful himself, very, very queer, very, very flamboyant, and has an entourage of equally beautiful and gay young men.

The three teenagers disappear by the end of volume 1 and never return, which is good because they're a lot less interesting than the other primary ongoing character, who doesn't appear until part way through the book. Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach is also a wealthy aristocrat. However, if he's queer, he's so far back in the closet he's in danger of running into a lamppost, he's a top Nato agent, he has no sense of humour, and he has no time for degenerates. Pity his path keeps crossing with Dorian, who is all the things he despises. Unfortunately for Klaus, Dorian is also brave, clever, resourceful, and a number of other things he admires and didn't expect to find in a degenerate. The feeling's mutual - Klaus is a good many things that Dorian despises, but he's brave, clever, resourceful... and decidedly pretty...

However loopy the plots may get, they're believable while you're reading them, and there's some fine and very funny story-telling. The characters are flawed but always sympathetic. The art is utterly gorgeous. The first story in this book is a bit tedious in places, but it's the setup story and worth going through so that you have the background. Even if you're not really into the "pretty young men" genre of manga, this one's worth a look.

Wasn't a fave but still good........2005-05-22

I didn't really enjoy this Manga Series though I bought it. It was sweet and funny but didn't float my boat. The art is one thing that always throws me off - and believe me if your the same don't go for this book. The main character looks to much like a chick for my liking but still he always seems to prove he is male. The only 'older' Shonen Ai - Yaoi Manga I go for is Kizuna. Trust me, go for Kizuna. But it's totally your decision.

Funny without being stupid, exciting, irrevrant, priceless.........2005-04-08

FROM EROICA WITH LOVE is a wonderful series. It manages to be witty and exciting, intriguing, with an intelligent storyline that doesn't take itself too seriously but is never quite idiotic--more like irrevrant and carefree..rather like the main character!

The series chronicles the wild adventures of gay British aristocrat Dorian Red, Earl of Gloria aka the daring art theif Eroica (after Beethoven's symphony) and his frequent clashes with NATO intelligence officer Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach, a strict (but handsome) German man, who is Lord Gloria's exact opposite. Their encounters are fraught with sexual tension and terribly entertaining.

This is a lengthy series still continuing in Japan (now at issue 31, with several other works by the same author tying into the EROICA universe..)but the stories always seem so fresh and vibrant. CMX's translation, thank goodness, is superbly done. Old fans of EROICA who have been reading the Japanese editions for decades, or new fans, will have nothing to complain about, so far at least...now let us all hope CMX continues to translate all 31 books and maybe some of the related series by Aoike Yasuko as well...

BUY THIS BOOK. It has come to the point where I can no longer afford to buy manga and anime like I used to. The one series I will continue to save my pennies for is THIS one. It's a classic and it's a pure delight from start to finish. This is the perspective of a young woman, so perhaps not every one will agree, but for me FROM EROICA WITH LOVE is the best Japanese manga of all time, and one that will ALWAYS have a special place in my bookshelf.

I adore the Earl's lively personality, that seems to shine off every page with a life of its own, the illustrations of famous European buildings, the references to Western art and the historical aspect (the Cold War is the backdrop to the series). Unlike a lot of manga, the story is dense and verbose and it takes a while to read through it, unlike the usual 15 minutes it takes to skim quite a few modern titles, this one leaves you feeling satisified! You get your money's worth.

A Look Into the Future........2005-03-09

Without really giving anything away, here's what you can expect from this series..... There will be at LEAST 32 books, I'm waiting for 33 to come out in Japan this year. The art style, if you have a sharp eye, will keep changing a bit here & there & be significantly different by book 20. They gradually get away from the tall skinny femme look of the early 80s & grow shorter, buffer, & the clothes become more boring or hillarious, the backgrounds become beautifully/excrutiatingly detailed. Yasuko-sensei has a really unique & destinguishable character design that hold partially onto the original 70's design but can't be mistaken for anyone elses. Character wise, James gives up on Dorian in persuit of money & becomes cheaper than ever before, Dorian's hopes of romance become a long sad joke that can lead to some really funny let's-embarass-Klaus moments, more bad crossdressing, & a hillarious American Maxwell-Smart-ish agent will really make things get funny. It still has lots of flirting every other-other book, but it's more of an adventure that bounces back & forth between serious & hillarious. Personally, I miss her 70's shoujo style, really HATE the CMX covers, & there have been some blatant translation errors; for instance on page 10, "He's one for us older gals" should have been "I hope he's into older men."

The Best Is Yet To Be.......2004-12-09

Hey, I thought I might have to write the first review of "Eroica", but I see Sharon Q's already done a fine job. So I'll just add a few cents' worth here and there...

First, like all the CMX manga published so far, this is physically a handsome piece of work: the gorgeous 70s-style artwork in particular is well reproduced. The translation isn't bad either, with none of the grammatical howlers, proofreading errors and just plain lapses in tone that Tokyopop is all too prone to nowadays. (I especially love that everyone keeps on saying "bloody" to emphasise that they're Brits - well, European anyhow).

However, like Sharon Q, I can't give this first volume more than 3 stars, mainly on account of the story. "Eroica" has been a cult in Japan and (through fan translations) in the West for decades now, yet it had a surprisingly wobbly beginning. The opening chapter introduces us to Dorian, Earl of Gloria, through the eyes of three teenagers who, for no very good reason, have acquired super-powers. Aoike also includes a would-be comic Japanese detective, Inspector Bannai, whose deeply unfunny antics are enough to discourage any reader. Add little touches such as the characters taking a detour through another of her manga, and you do start to wonder about Japanese female taste (this is a shoujo manga, if all those floating flowers and big starry eyes hadn't told you already). Things improve, however, when the sardonic, sexy and terminally repressed Major Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach strides into the second chapter. Two of the annoying magical teens, and Bannai, promptly disappear from the story for good. Pretty-boy Caesar Gabriel, who at one point looked like becoming Dorian's love interest, hangs on into chapter three, then retires to bed with a headache and is never heard from again. The very last page of this final episode shows us the pattern of almost all the stories to come: Klaus and Dorian, after a series of intricate manoeuvres which have brought each of them to exactly the same point, delicately balanced against each other and waiting to begin the game - or is it a courtship dance? - all over again.

My only other gripe is to wish that CMX had followed Del Rey's lead and splashed out a little money on an introductory essay. After all, "Eroica" began appearing in 1976 - not many new readers will understand that Dorian himself was modelled on Robert Plant, the lead singer of Led Zeppelin, and that his sidekicks Bonham and the penny-pinching Mr James are caricatures of other band members. The political and social background, too, contemporary when Aoike used it, has receded into history: the Cold War, Bonn as the capital of West Germany, the fall of the Shah of Iran, Russia's invasion of Afghanistan and the resulting boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics, are half-forgotten now. But "Eroica's" fun, frivolity and romance have survived... starting in volume 2!

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