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Email Story to a Friend July 1, 2006 Trib kids: a weekly collection of child-oriented news and facts Trib kids is a weekly collection of child-oriented news and facts New books for kids 'DELTORA' SERIES: "Deltora" is a series of books (Scholastic, $4.99 to $7.99) about magic, fantasy and monsters. It's recommended for ages 9 to 12. The books are written by Australian author Emily Rodda (whose real name is Jennifer Rowe) and have illustrations by Marc McBride. There are three series — "Deltora Quest," "Dragons of Deltora" and "Deltora Shadowlands" — with several books in each. The first series, "Deltora Quest," introduces the main characters, Lief, Barda and Jasmine, who go on a journey to find jewels while avoiding danger along the way. Video games: far-away galaxies GALACTIC CIVILIZATIONS II: DREAD LORDS, Stardock Advertisement Rated: Everyone, 10 and up Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords has more in common with complex board games than with most other computer simulations. Strategy is key, since the game uses a turn-based interface, and twitchy reflexes don't amount to much while trying to chart your civilization's destiny. There is a single-player campaign that involves the awakening of the precursor Dread Lords society, which is megapowerful and just as evil. But most people will play in the mode where they try to explore space and inevitably get a little too close to the galactic neighbors. You control every aspect of your chosen society, be it the humans or the warlike Drengin or any of 10 races, each with positives and negatives. If you don't like the options, you can create your own. Once you get going, you need to build colony ships and send them into the galaxy. Once you've found a new world, you are given a certain number of build spaces where you can put factories, farms, laboratories, space ports or other facilities. You also control the major political faction of your government and must keep people happy to maintain power. And you will run into moral dilemmas, such as discovering intelligent but primitive beings on planets you want to colonize and either leaving them alone, corralling them into an area away from your colony or exterminating them. The choices you make will slowly change your empire toward good or evil. Oh, did I mention that space is not friendly? Some beings will help you out, but others would rather eliminate the competition. So you must defend your claims and take preemptive action. You can eventually command massive fleets and armies, though the game never leaves its turn-based play style. For people who like deep strategic thinking, GCII is better than a 3-D chess tournament. Details: PC Windows 98 or higher, $45. Source: The Washington Post Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations --> online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Entertainment Guide --> Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Casino Reviews Advertisement s Advertisement