Book Description
In the spirit of Jon Krakauer's bestselling Into the Wild, Eric Blehm's The Last Season examines the extraordinary life of legendary backcountry ranger Randy Morgenson and his mysterious disappearance in California's unforgiving Sierra Nevada.
The granite spires of the High Sierra have historically been a refuge of inspiration and adventure for the likes of John Muir and Ansel Adams, as well as for the pioneering rock climbers of the 1960s. But these mountains are as perilous as they are beautiful: here is where the Donner Party was trapped and where scores of unlucky hikers must be rescued every year. The Last Season tells the inspiring, poignant story of Morgenson, who, over the course of twenty-eight summers living alone in this craggy wilderness, became a celebrated ranger in the National Park Service's most adventurous unit. For the solitary, introspective Morgenson, who grew up in Yosemite Valley and as a young man honed his mountaineering skills in the Himalayas, this was more than a job -- it was a calling. He became fiercely devoted to preventing outside forces from encroaching on the wilderness he loved.
But over the years, the isolation Morgenson had once cherished took its toll, and he grew increasingly estranged from his wife and friends. When, at the height of his struggles, he went missing without a trace in Kings Canyon National Park, where he had long patrolled, many suspected suicide or foul play. Morgenson, after all, had once said, "The least I owe these mountains is a body." As one of the Park Service's most intensive search-and-rescue operations unraveled, some wondered if they were searching for a man who did not want to be found.
Destined to become a classic in mountain literature, The Last Season is a work that is as captivating in its writing as it is compelling in its sense of adventure. It is the result of eight years of research by Eric Blehm to uncover the truth about one of the national parks' greatest mysteries. Blehm's reconstruction of a desperate search-and-rescue operation woven with Morgenson's riveting biography takes readers deep into the heart of the High Sierra and into the little-known and much-romanticized world of the backcountry rangers -- revealing in the end the mind and spirit of a complicated, original, and wholly fascinating man.
Customer Reviews:
Sierra Backcountry Ranger Requiem.......2007-09-22
If you have hiked the High Sierras, no doubt you will love this book! It offers a penetrating look at a 28 year veteran back country ranger in the Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park, who disappeared during his last season. Why would anyone spend 28 years as a seasonal, low paid, poorly appreciated back country ranger? Who would put up with living in the isolated back country, on call 24/7? How could such a seasoned veteran simply vanish from the face of the earth? Why did an 8 day search for him, using almost 100 experienced rangers, search and rescue dogs, and multiple helicopters fail to find him? What part did depression over a failing marriage and guilt over an affair with another back country ranger play in his disappearance? Did he commit suicide? Or - - - did the fall out of this depression so cloud his judgement that he made a fatal mistake as he crossed his familiar beloved wilderness? As you may guess, I love the High Sierra and enjoyed this book immensely. Randy Morgenson reminds me a lot of John Muir. I take my well worn hiking and back packing hat off to this man who speaks so eloquently for the WILD! There is a lot of food for thought in this book for those who hike and backpack in the bush, seeking the silence and peace that only can be found there!
Captured their world.......2007-08-25
As a seasonal firefighter and helitack crewman in Sequoia & Kings Canyon NPs from 1977-1980, I encountered some of the backcountry rangers (Randy Morgenson included) on medevacs, re-supply flights, etc. My wife and I still maintain friendships with George Durkee and Paige Meier. Blehm has done an excellent job of describing their world.
Very Good Book.......2007-08-10
Just finished this book, very good. It would have rated 5 stars for me if it was just a wee bit shorter as it did drag just a tad. I usually don't write reviews but I needed to counter some negative reviews in comparison where people contrasted it to "Into the Wild". "Into the Wild" is better written, to be sure. But contrary to some reviewers opinions, this man, Randy Morgenson, was truly someone who's life was "book worthy." The kid in "Into the Wild" basically threw his life away and really never contributed anything to anyone or anything. Randy really helped alot of people and "the land" and his life stood and meant something. I did enjoy Into the Wild, it was compelling, but as far as the main characters, NO comparison. Randy is an inspiration, Cris McCandless was just a lost soul......
Randy Morgenson - Gentle Giant.......2007-08-10
Over the last twenty years I have hiked all or most of the John Muir Trail sixteen times from south to north. Between 1987 and 1996 I had the privilege and honor of getting to know Randy on the trail. His friendly kind face at McClure was always a welcome sight. I would always take a layover day just to be able to spend some time talking to him about wilderness and the incredible beauty of the Sierras. His understanding of the mountains was deep and compelling. He was perhaps one of the most experienced introspective mountaineers the Sierras have ever seen. His knowledge of the High Sierra was tremendous and his humble sincere love of the land truly an inspiration - for such a powerful mountaineer Randy was such a gentle poetic person. This book does a superb job of capturing Randy and his pure love of the High Sierra while at the same time documenting the monolithic effort to find him. Also, having known over the years many of the backcountry rangers involved in the search, and knowing first hand what a close family they are I would also say that the author very deftly weaves into the book the fraternal nature of the search. I highly recommend Eric Blehm's "The Last Season" to anyone that has spent time in the wilderness (especially the Sierras) it reads like a mystery but has a very personal touch. Randy the Range of Light misses you, there is a tear in every thunderstorm, thank you for all the beautiful words.
Couldn't pull myself away.......2007-07-30
Eric Blehm crafted a tale rich in detail and sincerity with The Last Season. While Morgenson's life and his disappearance made for a great mystery ripe for any author to pick, Blehm's attention to the true main character-the high Sierras-gave the story a texture that would have otherwise been lacking. The layers of the story contantly unfolded to reveal a depth that gave the reader pause to contemplate the inherent conflicts. The enormity of the landscape crept up from the pages-it was like traveling through the park each night as I picked up the book. A great read for anyone who appreciates a well written, complicated story-especially the endings.
Book Description
In his thirty years with the National Park Service, Jim Burnett has seen it all: boat ramp mishaps that have sent cars into the water; skunks in the outhouse and bears at the dumpster; visitors looking for the bridge over the Grand Canyon.
Customer Reviews:
Heartwarming but..........2007-09-08
I've got to say that this book definitely made me care about the narrator and feel for the amazing amount of sacrifice and difficult situations that he and his family endured in service of our National Parks. And it's very hard to knock that ever, especially from someone who seems so genuinely likeable and friendly. However... this is not the greatest book. The combination of acronyms and Shakespeare quotes seems quirky and interesting at first, but quickly gets old. The "people are idiots" theme gets somewhat overplayed. Many of these stories and humorous anecdotes are the tough-day-at-work/funny quote type of thing I would put in an e-mail to family or laugh about with friends, not the kind of thing that I would record for posterity.
The last chapter of the book, among other things, earnestly advises you not to get high and jump off a cliff. If you are the kind of person who would responsibly read a book of back-country safety tips and stories, you are probably not also the person who would take some hits of acid and decide to roll off a cliff. Or you are. But that's on you and no books will help you at that point.
I like the author and his family. I feel for his struggles and sacrifice and find the humor in some of his stories. But I can't call this a great book.
A fun, light-hearted book.......2007-09-04
This is a great book that is fun to read, each chapter can stand alone, so you can pick it up at your leisure. A great book to take on vacation.
It tells humorous stories of misadventures in our National Parks written in a way that you feel Mr. Burnett is talking to you. It gave me a good laugh and some good advice for visiting these or any parks.
(Snake in the cold water is my favorite story!)
Milk Toast.......2007-07-09
Hey Ranger ! Is lightly entertaining & minimally informative. It is well written but the acronyms the writer makes up are corny & get old quick. It's just not that interesting !I read these type books on a regular basis & must say that it is below average & definately not on my Re Read list. I keep most of my books but this one will be gone when I'm finished. Try Jim Reardens "Alaskas Wolf Man", Pete From's book "Indian Creek Cronicles",Larry Kanuit's books or Dick Proenneke's story.
Not a bad read.......2007-07-03
The acronyms are really annoying--don't pay attention to them. At times the author used so much detail that the stories became rather boring. However, there are a few humorous stories in the book. And, I did enjoy the way he introduced his stories with "Hey Ranger, how about you ___". Good info on park history. A worthwhile read in spite of skimming though sections.
Hilarious, but educational.......2007-07-01
I don't usually buy humorous books, but this one was given to me as a Christmas present by my wife. When I finally got around to reading it, I almost died laughing and found this book most enjoyable.
Part of the success of of this book is due to the author's "down home" style of storytelling. These stories are not meant to make fun of people, but to show how easily an unprepared park visitor can quickly get into deep trouble.
Hey Ranger! will not only give you a good laugh, but make you a better camper and park visitor in the future. You will also gain some insight into how park rangers and their families live.
Buy the book, enjoy it, then pass it on to a friend. I highly recommend it!
Average customer rating:
- An Inferior Novel
- Wonderful Discovery
- Beautiful visual images +Disturbing situations
- I'm Hooked
- Cold and Wet
|
Superior Death
Nevada Barr
Manufacturer: Putnam Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| 18th Century
| 19th Century
| 20th Century
| African American
| Asian American
| Classics
| Collections & Readers
| Drama
| General
| Hispanic
| History & Criticism
| Humor
| Jewish American
| Letters & Correspondence
| Native American
| Poetry
| Short Stories
| Women Writers
General
| Mystery
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
Series
| Mystery
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
Women Sleuths
| Mystery
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
Barr, Nevada
| ( B )
| Authors, A-Z
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Track of the Cat
-
Ill Wind
-
Firestorm (Anna Pigeon Mysteries)
-
Endangered Species (Anna Pigeon Mysteries)
-
Blind Descent:: An Anna Pigeon Mystery (Anna Pigeon Mysteries)
ASIN: 0399139168 |
Book Description
The inaccessible wreck, Kamloops, has rested at the bottom of Lake Superior for nearly seven decades, the bodies of its ill-fated crew eerily preserved in the frigid waters. But now there is an extra corpse on board -- a newly slain interloper suspiciously dressed in 1920's clothing.
It is Anna Pigeon's jobas a ranger with the U.S. National Park Service to help protect wild and lonely places from civilization's corrupting touch. Now a bizarre mystery held firmly in a Great Lake's icy grip is drawing Anna into a nightmare of greed adn cold-blooded murder. And what she finds waiting beneath the surface could prove fatal.
Customer Reviews:
An Inferior Novel.......2007-09-20
One of the many problems from which this book suffers is a lack of regional and cultural context. As someone who has lived in the Keweenaw Peninsula, I was looking for descriptions or insights the author might offer regarding the area and its people, but these were conspicuously lacking. Obviously, the author had spent some time in the park, but her portrayal was such that Isle Royale seemed to be surrounded by cardboard cut-out locales. Even though Houghton (the location of the park headquarters) is visited, referenced in numerous ways, and even made the location of a lesbian community of interest to sorting out the sexual preferences of various characters, it remains a cipher -- a nearby blank canvas upon which the author can paint some plot conveniences, but nothing else. Readers will learn more about New York City from this book than they will about western Upper Michigan. Likewise, the people and culture of the Keweenaw Peninsula are pretty much absent from the book, unless one counts the moment where a character -- written sympathetically at that point -- compliments the protagonist for having a capacity for introspection she finds absent in those from the Upper Peninsula.
A second major flaw is the over-use of convenient details and timing. So many coincidences just happen to occur during the short period of time covered by the book that the word "implausible" seems inadequate. I realize this is fiction, but even science fiction writers have recognized for decades that good writing demands reasonable limits upon what an author can do within a particular genre or universe. A novel consciously written and marketed as an action thriller, for example, may stretch credibility in order to move from one over-the-top sequence to another, but since that is the point of the exercise, a reader can buy the book expecting to accept the story on its own terms. This was not the case with "A Superior Death", which I purchased expecting to find a mystery novel set on Isle Royale, not a tale that incorporated so many conveniences as to depart the mystery genre entirely and gravitate into Matthew Reilly territory.
I will describe the following examples in fairly generic language, for the sake of those who still want to read the book. A) One of the most obvious cases of laughably far-fetched convenience is the coincidence by which the protagonist catches on to the killer. B) Two characters possessing a crucial teddy bear originally appeared to have been deliberately written as odd for the purpose of making them interesting, yet after a couple of ludicrous coincidences by which the protagonist is saved, it became obvious that their oddity was also the author's cover for not having to come up with a rational explanation for the series of events. C) A character accidentally chokes to death while engaged in an activity that was, for the character, fairly routine; furthermore, this death was not related to the flow of the story, but conveniently occurred at the end of the book in order to provide a warped kind of closure (since, as other characters make unsubtly clear, the reader was being manipulated into being satisfied with this person's death). D) A missing-person subplot is stretched across the entire length of the book -- long after the official disinterest in locating her was plausibly sustainable, particularly given that the murder victim's wife claimed she hadn't initially reported her husband's disappearance because she thought he had gone to be with the other woman in question.
The identity of the killer wasn't too hard to guess, simply because there was no other justification for the prominence of the person in the story, and the author's attempts to cause the reader to consider other suspects were so ham-handed, the discerning reader is unlikely to take the blind alleys seriously. One of those dead-ends involved two diving partners of the murder victim; the three of them refer to themselves as the Three Musketeers. The problem is that the murder victim was nicknamed after d'Artagnan, who was not one of the Three Musketeers. Yet the author uses this very identification to allow the protagonist to link a knife to the dead man due to the initials "d'A". Clearly, if the author had identified the victim with the actual name of one of the Three Musketeers (Athos, Porthos, and Aramis), any mark on the knife would probably have been either less distinctive or more obvious, depending on the number of letters used in the inscription. So, in order to artificially create a mystery-within-a-mystery, the author has to wrongly identify d'Artagnan as one of the Three Musketeers, and then have at least four characters (the dead man and his partners, as well as the protagonist) consistently follow the same mistake. That's as ludicrous as writing a mystery about a murdered sports buff in which one of the puzzles requires the deceased, his friends, and the detectives to brazenly and consistently identify a famous football player with the wrong team.
Finally, while the author offered some details regarding the underwater condition of the Kamloops shipwreck, it (like the Keweenaw) appears to exist merely as a blank canvas for the author's own purposes. The story of the sinking of the Kamloops, including the deaths of those who came ashore and the subsequent discovery of the bottle containing the note written by Alice Bettridge, would have added a lot of background and depth to the events of the novel, even if treated only briefly. Instead, "A Superior Death" seems analogous to a book in which characters deal with wreckage or artifacts from the Endurance, without any overview of the Shackleton expedition. I suspect the reason the author passed up such a golden opportunity is that the motive she creates for the murder requires her to designate the captain of the Kamloops as engaging in criminal activity during the fatal voyage. If there were historical evidence to support such a charge, then the events of "A Superior Death" could not have happened (because there would have been no secret), and it otherwise seems rather unseemly to impugn a historically-identifiable dead man in such a way. It seems reasonable to guess the author and her publisher felt they could not describe the real crew, their story, and their names, and then go on to claim that the lawbreaking dead captain mentioned in the story was a fictional construct bearing no resemblance to the real person, living or -- in this case -- dead. Regardless of the underlying decision-making process, the resulting work manages to ignore the fascinating human history behind the disaster, while appearing to taint the memory of one of its victims.
Those looking for books about Isle Royale should instead consider the excellent titles by Howard Sivertson (Once upon an Isle: The Story of Fishing Families on Isle Royale and Tales of the Old North Shore: Paintings and Companion Stories), Tom and Kendra Gale (Isle Royale: A Photographic History), Peter Oikarinen (Island Folk: The People of Isle Royale), Jim DuFresne (Isle Royale National Park: Foot Trails & Water Routes), and Daniel Lenihan (Shipwrecks of Isle Royale National Park: The Archeological Survey), among others. Everyone else merely searching for a good read should simply look elsewhere.
Wonderful Discovery.......2007-06-29
Nevada Barr was recommended to me by Sara Paretsky and I agree - her stories are great. The characters are rich and the background interesting. The story is fast paced and intriguing with a nice twist at the end. Good read.
Beautiful visual images +Disturbing situations .......2007-06-28
This books gives a wonderful, vivid discription of Isle Royale National Park. I knew nothing about diving around ship wrecks and found this book entertaining and informative.
The story is fairly mysterious but I felt the solution was forced. The connection between Molly PIgeon's client and the wine in the ship wreck was quite a stretch - but this IS fiction.
I was very disturbed at the resloution of the pedophile problem. The character, Patience, was brazen enough to murder, to dive in dangerous waters and leave a trail of crimes yet she lacked the real courage to bring a true pedophile to court. I can see this happening but I can't see others sitting back and letting this happen.
I also found the Hawk/Holly incest situation disturbing; of course this does happen. I saw it coming so it seemed out of character for the clever Anna to hook up with Hawk and I was dissapointed this transpired.
I'm Hooked.......2006-12-12
I read the first Anna Pigeon book, Track The Cat, and I was somewhat intrigued. After reading A Superior Death I am hooked on Navada Barr's character, Anna. I could feel her clausterphobia and her fear under the water. Anna and her friends are quirky and entertaining. This book is an easy and enjoyable read.
Cold and Wet.......2006-10-03
This time our heroine, park ranger Anna Pigeon, is stationed on an island in always-cold Lake Superior, and one-too-many bodies show up two hundred feet down on a 1927 shipwreck. Anna, no lover of the deep and a bit claustrophic at that, must dive on the wreck to investigate, then dive again to resolve. Brrr. Even in the heat of a midwest summer, this novel gave me chills.
Nevada Barr is a national treasure. Having now read all her books, I can't wait for her next one.
Book Description
What Park Rangers really have to deal with in any given day and how training, stamina and attitude make all the difference. Theis book could almost be a reference manual, training tool and recruitment handbook for any one interested in wearing a Smoky Bear hat. The author has lived and worked in parks ranging from USS Arizona in Hawaii to the Florida Everglades with most of her career at Grand Canyon.
Customer Reviews:
review of Park Ranger.......2007-09-22
This book was a quick read. There is a lot of interesting information about our national park system. The stories were interesting.
A great read for anyone........2007-07-01
I ran across this title by accident -- it looked interesting, and I bought it, being a frequent visitor to our National Parks. I thought that it would give me more-or-less an idea of what a typical ranger's day was like, but it didn't! In fact, it was much more than that! You see, Nancy Mecham is not only a ranger, but also a paramedic and a law enforcement officer. In reading the book, I learned a lot about basic law enforcement procedures and also what paramedics do on the scene.
Each chapter is a story in itself, most of the time, based on the author's own experiences. The writing style varies a little from the first chapter to the last, but this might have happened if the author compiled the manuscript over a long length of time. No matter, though -- it doesn't take away from the excitement of the book. You will find all of the stories interesting -- each in a different way.
This is a good read. Buy the book, enjoy a chapter or two at a time, and then, loan it to a friend. I especially recommend this book for a young person considering a career with the Park Service or possibly in paramedics or law enforcement. It will also make all of us better visitors to the National Parks.
Exciting read!.......2006-12-17
This is a wonderful depiction of life with the National Park Service, from training to working as a Law Enforcement Officer, paramedic, naturalist, and fire fighter. The stories are exciting, humorous, and amazing accounts of what it is like to be a ranger. Keeps you turning the pages to see what could possibly happen next. Definitly recommended for those interested in the Park Service as a career!
Its not all ranger campfire talks.......2006-11-06
Excellent account of the experiences of a National Park Ranger, and her experiences in various parks. Her accounts of law enforcement, EMT and fire fighting experiences are enlightening. Very well written.
Snapshot of a Ranger.......2006-04-26
I loved this book. The stories are riveting. I'm an avid backpacker; I find myself reflecting on this book while I'm in the backcountry. I usually have a short attention span, but I was captivated by the variety of situations and stories. One thing that I really enjoy is how the author assumes that you're intelligent enough to want to know what's going in the different medical situations. Most books that I pick up these days don't appeal to people that want to educate themselves; if you have any interest in medicine, the outdoors, adventure or interesting people, buy this book. Dr. Nancy Eileen Muleady-Mecham is one of those poeple that makes you wonder "how can one person do all that?" If you've ever visited a national park, you may or may not realize what these people do behind the scenes. They're expected to be protectors of our resources, law enforcement, fire fighters, medical technicians, and experts on the local environment. If you've ever gotten into trouble in the backcountry, you know these people are angels. They love their job and they have the best office in the whole world. There's not a lot of books out there that give you real insight on what goes on in a national park; this is the one to get. After reading this book, I have more respect than ever for what the rangers do; Dr. Muleady-Mecham is at the head of her class. If you know any young people that are considering a future in the National Park Service (or aren't sure what they want to be) - BUY THEM THIS BOOK!!
Amazon.com
Edward Abbey's Desert Solitaire, the noted author's most enduring nonfiction work, is an account of Abbey's seasons as a ranger at Arches National Park outside Moab, Utah. Abbey reflects on the nature of the Colorado Plateau desert, on the condition of our remaining wilderness, and on the future of a civilization that cannot reconcile itself to living in the natural world. He also recounts adventures with scorpions and snakes, obstinate tourists and entrenched bureaucrats, and, most powerful of all, with his own mortality. Abbey's account of getting stranded in a rock pool down a side branch of the Grand Canyon is at once hilarious and terrifying.
Book Description
When Desert Solitaire was first published in 1968, it became the focus of a nationwide cult. Rude and sensitive. Thought-provoking and mystical. Angry and loving. Both Abbey and this book are all of these and more. Here, the legendary author of The Monkey Wrench Gang, Abbey's Road and many other critically acclaimed books vividly captures the essence of his life during three seasons as a park ranger in southeastern Utah. This is a rare view of a quest to experience nature in its purest form -- the silence, the struggle, the overwhelming beauty. But this is also the gripping, anguished cry of a man of character who challenges the growing exploitation of the wilderness by oil and mining interests, as well as by the tourist industry.
Abbey's observations and challenges remain as relevant now as the day he wrote them. Today, Desert Solitaire asks if any of our incalculable natural treasures can be saved before the bulldozers strike again.
Customer Reviews:
Great writing from the old curmudgeon.......2007-08-20
I think this is far and away Abbey's best book. The prose is careful, precise, thoughtful. In my first year teaching, I would read a short section of this book every morning before climbing into the trenches, to remind myself what beautiful prose could be--regardless of the subject matter. (As an animal lover and vegetarian, I still have a hard time with his description of beaning the rabbit.) The book, I think, is definitely a "guy" book--but that's how my taste in reading goes, so I loved it back then, still love it today.
Abbey's season in the wilderness ages well..........2007-06-11
Edward Abbey reflects and reports on a summer he spent as a ranger at Arches National Park in Utah. At that time, Arches was in a pre "industrialized park" state. Desert Solitaire is his tale of adventures and his book of memories. Below is a sprinkling of quotes to give you a taste, a flavor, of what you can expect.
"Every man, every woman, carries in heart and mind the image of the ideal place, the right place, the one true home, known or unknown, actual or visionary" (p. 1).
"... I have personal convictions to uphold. Ideals, you might say. I prefer not to kill animals. I'm a humanist; I'd rather kill a man than a snake" (p. 20).
"Don't actually care for ants. Neurotic little pismires" (p. 30).
"We need more predators. The sheepmen complain, it is true, that the coyotes eat some of their lambs. This is true but do they eat enough? I mean, enough lambs to keep the coyotes sleek, healthy, and well fed. That is my concern" (p. 35).
"We are kindred all of us, killer and victim, predator and prey, me and the sly coyote, the soaring buzzard, the elegant gopher snake, the trembling cottontail, the foul worms that feed on our entrails, all of them, all of us. Long live diversity, long live the earth!" (p. 38-39).
"An increasingly pagan and hedonistic people (thank God!), we are learning finally that the forests and mountains and desert canyons are holier than our churches. Therefore let us behave accordingly" (p. 60).
"A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled surfaces. We need wilderness whether or not we ever set foot in it" (p. 148).
"'Ralph Newcomb', I say, 'do you believe in God?'
'Who?' he says.
'Who?'
'Who.'
'You said it,' I say" (p. 180).
"'Newcomb, for godsake where do we come from?'
'Who knows?'
'Where are we going?'
'Who cares?'
'Who?'
'Who'" (p. 185).
"But the love of wilderness is more than a hunger for what is always beyond reach; it is also an expression of loyalty to the earth, the earth which bore us and sustains us, the only home we shall ever know, the only paradise we ever need - if only we had the eyes to see. Original sin, the true original sin, is the blind destruction for the sake of greed of this natural paradise which lies all around us - if only we were worthy of it" (p. 190).
"What does [the desert] mean? It means nothing. It is as it is and has no need for meaning. The desert lies beneath and soars beyond any possible human qualification. Therefore, sublime" (p. 219).
"I am almost prepared to believe that this sweet virginal primitive land will be grateful for my departure and the absence of the tourists, will breath metaphorically a collective sigh of relief - like a whisper of wind - when we are all and finally gone and the place and its creations can return to their ancient procedures unobserved and undisturbed by the busy, anxious, brooding consciousness of man" (p. 300).
Enjoy. Abbey is a writer first, a naturalist second. He takes liberties as necessary to tell his story, so this only seems like an autobiography. Obviously, he was less concerned then about "political correctness." I suspect he would be as irreverent today.
Solid writing about the Utah desert.......2007-06-07
What makes this a highly readable book is the author's revelations about his own feelings and shortcomings. It made me feel like I was there in the desert with him.
"Resist much, Obey little".......2007-04-29
It's been almost 40 years since Desert Solitaire hit the bookshelves; and perhaps it is more appropriate reading now than it was in 1968; certainly "Industrial Tourism" has come to pass.
This book is not gibberish from some "eco-hermit", whatever that is. Yes, old Cactus Ed is cranky and contradictory, full of hyperbole at times. This is his stamp as a prose-poet and unsurpassed storyteller; if you don't get this, you may be reading the wrong books.
Abbey's iconoclastic philosophy of conservation over human "progress" has rendered Desert Solitaire as a true environmental classic. This book is most likely sitting on many home bookshelves between The Mountains of California and A Sand Country Almanac.
Ed Abbey was well steeped in philosophy and literature; when he muses on the civilization vs. culture subject, you can see the meld of anarchism and german existentialism occuring. His impassioned rants reflect his love of the solitary places - landscapes unscathed by that "turbo-monkey" known as man. The humor is as dry and sharp as the the landscapes he describes: episodes with his pet gopher snake; the search for a dead tourist; and the idiocies of The National Park Service.
Like many authors, Abbey's non-fictional writing outshines his fictional stuff. Hands down, Desert Solitaire is his finest work: Rough, Tough, and Combative. This classic is a must read if you are of the "Resist much, Obey little" mindset. Infinite thanks, Cactus Ed . . .
Extracts: A Field Guide for Iconoclasts
Desert Solitaire.......2007-03-08
A classic that should be read by all thinking Americans who care more for our country than they do about the exploitation of the earth for temporary gain.
Book Description
Awesome in its vastness and beauty, the Grand Canyon is unique in all the world. And all the world wants to visit there-which can lead to delay, discomfort, and disappointment for the uninformed who arrive at the same time as everyone else.
Those armed with The Grand Canyon Handbook, however, will be wise to all the tricks for having the best possible time at the park. They'll know when to go, what to bring, what to see, and how to see it. They'll be properly equipped for a safe visit. They'll have a matchless grasp of all the facts, from how the canyon was formed down to the closest place to rent camping gear. There's even a table of sunrise/sunset times, so readers won't miss any meteorological light shows unless they want to.
This detailed and engaging guide, narrated by a seasoned cartoon ranger named Jack, includes illuminating notes on the park's flora, fauna, history, and future prospects. The question-and-answer format gives the facts without a lot of searching. A quick-reference section offers, among other things, a telephone directory, guide to area resources, backpacker's checklist, lists of outfitters and transportation companies, and an overview of regional conservation and educational programs.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Resource.......2007-01-10
Book is excellent. It's full of great tips and information, and I really liked the format and informal style of the book. I have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone thinking of traveling to the Grand Canyon.
Paradise Found on a Grand canyon Tour.......2004-07-07
The Grand Canyon Handbook: an Insider's Guide to the Park, was quite helpful. I searched all over the internet for grand canyon tour information, and i must say paradisefoundtours.com was by far the best. I signed up for a grand canyon tour and a hoover dam tour with them. The book and the website went hand in hand. We had a great time!
It's not just a big hole in the ground.......2002-11-18
The way the books of this series work is that they took a guide for new rangers in Yosemite with the 100 or so most frequently asked questions, and wrote their own answers for each park. So in each book the questions are very similar but the answers might be very different.
It's a great format because it makes for easy reading beforehand, but it's also quick as a reference when you're there because they're arranged in an intelligent order. There's also a huge reference section at the end with lists, copies of permit forms, and so forth. So the thing to do is read the FAQ before you leave but bring the book and refer to it once you're there.
Before I went I really wasn't sure how long we'd want to stay or even if there was really anything to do other than look at the canyon. As it turns out there's a ton of things to do - ruins, great hiking, sunsets, stargazing, and we spent a lot more time there than I would have thought. Without this book either I wouldn't have realized this stuff existed (the park service doesn't exactly promote the nearby native ruins, but they're cool) or I would have scheduled way too little time.
It's not just a big hole in the ground.......2002-11-18
The way the books of this series work is that they took a guide for new rangers in Yosemite with the 100 or so most frequently asked questions, and wrote their own answers for each park. So in each book the questions are very similar but the answers might be very different.
It's a great format because it makes for easy reading beforehand, but it's also quick as a reference when you're there because they're arranged in an intelligent order. There's also a huge reference section at the end with lists, copies of permit forms, and so forth. So the thing to do is read the FAQ before you leave but bring the book and refer to it once you're there.
Before I went I really wasn't sure how long we'd want to stay or even if there was really anything to do other than look at the canyon. As it turns out there's a ton of things to do - ruins, great hiking, sunsets, stargazing, and we spent a lot more time there than I would have thought. Without this book either I wouldn't have realized this stuff existed (the park service doesn't exactly promote the nearby native ruins, but they're cool) or I would have scheduled way too little time.
Interesting Overview.......2001-08-07
This guide provides an interesting overview to the Grand Canyon. Parents will find this guide useful in sharing this awesome wonder with their children. However, this guide falls short as a vacation planner.
Average customer rating:
- Murder in the Back Country
- What a start!
- Another Winner
- Track of the Cat
- track of the cat
|
Track of the Cat
Nevada Barr
Manufacturer: Putnam Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| 18th Century
| 19th Century
| 20th Century
| African American
| Asian American
| Classics
| Collections & Readers
| Drama
| General
| Hispanic
| History & Criticism
| Humor
| Jewish American
| Letters & Correspondence
| Native American
| Poetry
| Short Stories
| Women Writers
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Mystery
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
Women Sleuths
| Mystery
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
Barr, Nevada
| ( B )
| Authors, A-Z
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
A Superior Death (Anna Pigeon Mysteries)
-
Ill Wind
-
Firestorm (Anna Pigeon Mysteries)
-
Endangered Species (Anna Pigeon Mysteries)
-
Blind Descent:: An Anna Pigeon Mystery (Anna Pigeon Mysteries)
ASIN: 0399138242 |
Book Description
Anna Pigeon has fled New York and her memories to find work as a ranger in the country’s national parks. In the remote backcountry of West Texas, however, she discovers murder and violence. Fellow park ranger Sheila Drury is mysteriously killed, presumably by a mountain lion. But the deep claw marks Anna finds across Drury’s throat and the paw prints surrounding the body are too perfect to be real. This is the first time Track of the Cat is available on audio.
Customer Reviews:
Murder in the Back Country.......2007-08-03
When the National Park Service puts a bounty on a killer mountain lion, it rubs National Park Ranger Anna Pigeon's fur the wrong way. It's a knee jerk reaction from the Park's leadership: Mountain Lion Attack! Kill the animal first, ask questions later. Or maybe no questions need to be asked at all. Something stinks at the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, and it's not just the brutal death of a fellow park ranger whose half eaten dead body was found by Anna in the back country. It's the naturalist vs. the politicians. The Park Service, neighboring cattle ranchers and developers all want the mountain lion disposed of. It seems Anna, suspicious of things that are a little too neat, is the only one taking the animal's side.
This is Nevada Barr's kick off novel, and a good one it is. Anna Pigeon, park ranger, is the hero. Unlike most, Anna is a law enforcement ranger. She didn't think there would be much law enforcement to do in this remote park in West Texas. Most enforcement types are stationed in parks close to urban areas where most crime takes place. Anna chose the law enforcement route because the Protective Division does not only the serious cop stuff, but Search and Rescue, where the real action is. When a mountain lion kills a human, it is not a crime, but when the humans make it look like it was done by an animal, yes, no matter if it is in the bedroom or on a city street or the back country, that is murder.
Because of the excellence of the writing, the natural world as a backdrop, and the character of Anna Pigeon, I've read several of Barr's books and have enjoyed them all.
What a start!.......2007-07-15
Nevada Barr begins her series of Anna Pigeon mysteries with this intriguing story set in Guadeloupe Mountains National Park (Texas). Having read A Superior Death first (the second novel in this series) and then Endangered Species and Deep South before going back to read the series in consecutive order of publication, I was wondering how I'd see Anna in Book No. 1. She's not an altogether sympathetic main character, but she grows on you. The intricacies of the plots in the novels seem to grow, but even that in "Track" is full of detail and enticement. For those who are "detailed" people, I'm sure they will find these mysteries alluring. I look forward to reading all 13 of the mysteries.
Another Winner.......2007-06-29
Nevada Barr tells a good tale with interesting characters and setting. I highly recommend her books.
Track of the Cat.......2007-05-15
Good beginning to the Anna Pigeon series. A couple of murders, mysterious only to Anna, but intriguing in their setting: the Guadeloupe Mountains in western Texas. Well written, not heavy, entertaining.
track of the cat.......2005-12-05
The starting of this book is very slow, then it turns into a book you can't put down. The main character in the book is Anna Pigeon, who is a park ranger in West Texas. She is hiking down in the walls of McKiirick Canyon and she find another park ranger dead. The ranger had cat scratches on her. Everone thinks a cat killed her but Anna just can't believe that a cat in West Texas would kill and not eat its prey. Anna start investigating on her own. She uncovers other clues. As she does many other deaths occur. The end of this story is a big surprise. Read it, it's very intertaining.
Amazon.com
Few have cared more about American wilderness than the irascible Cactus Ed. Author of eco-classics such as The Monkey Wrench Gang and Desert Solitaire, Edward Abbey reveals all his rough-hewn edges and passionate beliefs in this witty, outspoken, maddening, and sometimes brilliant selection of journal entries that takes the writer from his early years as a park ranger and would-be literary author up to his death in 1989.
Customer Reviews:
Barbarian he is not.......2007-01-06
Confessions of a Barbarian is an inside look at the philosophy and ideas of one man. It also is a deep read into his ideas about women, love and lost relationships. The journals are well written and full of thought out prose, plays on words. It is excellent for any writer to read. Abbey uses many word plays and word games throughout the journals. He also philosophizes on life in general as well as his travels throughout his life. It was extremely interesting and well written.
The closest thing to an Abbey autobiography.......2006-03-21
This book is a nicely edited version of Ed Abbey's journals, and, as an Abbey fan, I found it very illuminating. Here we get to see Abbey as he sees himself instead of the Abbey the we see through his books. The men went through a lot and put himself through a lot, and it is very amazing to watch him mature through his writing from his early twenties until the weeks before his death at the age of 62. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to know more about how Abbey experienced his own life and writing in contrast to the persona developed as the cult hero of the Monkey Wrench Gang and Desert Solitaire.
He wrote too much fiction and not enough journalism.......2004-09-15
I thrustfully agree with the previous critics who begrudge Abbey for his pathetic sex-obsession. And it's pretty dispiriting to watch Abbey degenerating into a grumpy old man. But there's great stuff in here, page after page.
ED SAID: "I hate the rich and powerful, and those who support *them* while not *of* them---servile and sycophantic natures: the servants, lackeys, court jesters. They I despise more than any other."
ED SAID: "Judy---her death. Just too goddamned cruel and unjust and absurd and unnecessary to be borne. As Bobby Kennedy used to say (and how sweet *his* memory now seems), this is 'unacceptable'. (Oblivion. Annihilation. Nothingness.)"
ED SAID: "Inbreeding. My Gawd, even the country-western singers are singing songs about country-western songs. Just like the highbrow literati, writing their novels about writing novels."
ED SAID: "There *must* be a Gawd; the world could not have gotten so f*cked-up by chance alone."
Don't Waste Your Money.......2002-04-19
This is the most self-absorbed author I have ever read. Perhaps this was not a good book to begin with, having never read any of his others. He is endlessly amused at his own wit, endlessly fascinated with his own horniness. His women are a sad parade of vaginas; world-shaking events reduced to how they will affect his own narrow, hedonistic world. The sad part is that I agree with many of his opinions on religion, the environment, business, etc. Unfortunately, his "look, Ma, I'm writing!" style of expression gets quite tedious. This is pseudo-intellectual, verbal vomit...don't waste your money like I did. (Sorry, Abbey-lovers)
An Essential Companion for any fan of Ed Abbey's.......2001-06-05
First of all, I can't believe I haven't already written a review of this book, since it has long been one of my favorites. These journals are incredibly well-written; a lot of it reads as well as anything he ever had published. I have all but one of Ed's books ( the first one, Jonathan Troy, which is impossible to find unless you have in the neighborhood of $7,000 to spend on a rare copy ) and I count this as one of my top three. Ed was a real man, a genuine human being who was mad as hell about a lot of things worth being mad about, a dreamer and romantic, a Great Voice howling in the wilderness of a civilization gone stark raving mad. Plus he mentored a lot of folks, including me 21 years ago with his great book Desert Solitaire. We need Ed's voice now more than ever, and if he can't be here the rest of us will have to read ( and re-read and re-read!) his words to keep his vision alive.
Average customer rating:
- Typical Barr; solid and readable
- A good read
- He or she?
- Believable plot & characters
- another winner
|
Endangered Species
Nevada Barr
Manufacturer: Putnam Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| 18th Century
| 19th Century
| 20th Century
| African American
| Asian American
| Classics
| Collections & Readers
| Drama
| General
| Hispanic
| History & Criticism
| Humor
| Jewish American
| Letters & Correspondence
| Native American
| Poetry
| Short Stories
| Women Writers
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Series
| Mystery
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
Women Sleuths
| Mystery
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
Barr, Nevada
| ( B )
| Authors, A-Z
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Firestorm (Anna Pigeon Mysteries)
-
Blind Descent:: An Anna Pigeon Mystery (Anna Pigeon Mysteries)
-
Liberty Falling (Anna Pigeon Mysteries)
-
A Superior Death (Anna Pigeon Mysteries)
-
Ill Wind
ASIN: 0399142460 |
Amazon.com
As her legions of loyal readers know, Nevada Barr is not a stripper nor a Las Vegas lawyer; she's a former actress and National Park Service ranger who writes excellent mysteries set in the wilderness. Her alter ego, ranger Anna Pigeon, is once again called upon to be mentally and physically astute--this time on Cumberland Island, off the Georgia coast, where the ghosts of the millionaires who used to live there are being added to by a determined killer. As usual, Barr is best at creating believable scenes of action in a setting that is beautifully detailed but never romanticized. Past Barr books in paperback: Firestorm, Ill Wind, A Superior Death, Track of the Cat.
Book Description
In the midst of a dangerously dry season, national park ranger Anna Pigeon has been posted to Cumberland Island off the Georgia coast for a monotonous, twenty-one day fire watch. But her boredom is short-lived, for this remote and marshy place is breeding ground for more than just the imperiled Loggerhead turtle; it also spawns eccentricity and secrets, greed, suspicion. . .and murder.
A small plane crashes into the palmetto thickets nearby. Anna and her crew arrive in time to control the blaze, but too late to save pilot and his passenger, Cumberland's sole law enforcement ranger. When the cause of the "accident" is determined to be sabotage, Anna becomes entangled in an investigation that threatens to upset the very delicate balance of this fragile ecological preserve. For she is precariously close to exposing dark, clandestine crimes both old and new that someone has worked very diligently to conceal. . .and which make Anna Pigeon the most endangered creature on the island.
Customer Reviews:
Typical Barr; solid and readable.......2007-07-25
I find Barr solid as an author. She writes well but not as poetically and lyrically as some others I read. Her mysteries are nicely constructed and quite page-turning at the end. This book is no exception.
Anna is a good character. Flawed and misanthropic at times, she is a very believable character. Her little insecurities always strike me as genuine and I like her wise cracking and her affection for the parks. She's well developed and yet still something of an enigma.
I was glad to see Molly round out this story though the subplot involving her was rather throwaway at best. Still, it was nice to see this character in person rather than at the other end of a telephone, which is how she was always viewed in past novels in this series. It was also interesting to learn some tidbits about her childhood with Anna.
I was deeply disappointed in Frederick in this novel. I can't help but feel that Barr's ideas for him just sort of petered out. He added an interesting twist to the series.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of this novel was the introduction of several new characters, always a strength of Barr's. Dijon was funny and made a nice counterpart to Anna. Mona and Dot were nice and multi-faceted and the Disneyish twist with Flicka the fawn was fun.
As always, what resonates most deeply is Barr's vivid depiction of the latest park in which Anna is working. Barr's descriptions of its wildlife and flora and her evocative writing about the heat and humidity of such climes makes it easy to get lost in the setting. While she is good at creating characters, her true strength lies in setting a scene.
A good read.......2007-05-22
I've read several of Barr's books, not in the order of publication. The more recent books have become so dark and violent that I was pleased to find that Endangered Species relied more on character and plot than sheer evil (as in High Country). The marijuana burning incident sounded a bit far-fetched to me, but it was an interlude of humor. The parallel plot about Frederick and Molly was a bit distracting, but it did help to fill in some of Anna's personal history. It was refreshing to read a book in which the people who are attracted to each other don't immediately fall into bed but resist temptation to an involvement that could be damaging to others.
He or she?.......2007-04-30
Without giving anything away, I wonder if other readers of "Endangered Species" have noticed the very odd gender change of a major character in the novel (not Anna, of course!) In the hardcover edition available at most public libraries, this character is female. However, in the paperback edition, the same character is suddenly male. I find this completely inexplicable - why the change? Please inform, as I have been curious about this for years.
Believable plot & characters.......2006-12-27
I'm a big fan of Nevada Barr, and although this is one of her older books, it's an excellent read. The book takes place on an island off the coast of Georgia and Ms. Barr does an exceptional job of making you feel like you are not only on the island with the heat and mosquitos, but part of the pre-submission fire crew. As always the characters are written with humor. You will fall in love with the deer.
another winner.......2006-11-08
This is my wifes rating since she finished the book and I have only started.So far ,I agree.It's another completely different area of the country which make her books so interesting.
Book Description
Nature Noir is the intensely original story -- part Edward Abbey, part James Ellroy -- of Jordan Fisher Smith's fourteen years as a park ranger on forty-eight miles of Sierra Nevada river canyons. The gorgeous government-owned land along the American River that Fisher Smith and his band of fellow rangers have pledged to protect is (think Catch-22) condemned to be inundated by a huge dam. As Smith learns from his first day on patrol, the provisional quality of life here attracts the marginal and the pure crazy. Ranger work, in this place where wildness tends toward the human kind, includes encounters with armed miners who scour canyons for gold, drug-addled squatters, and extreme recreators who enjoy combining motorcycles, parachutes, and high bridges. Nature Noir reveals some startling truths about park rangering on America's public lands. In one heart-stopping scene, Smith comes across the corpse of a woman runner, killed and partly eaten by a mountain lion -- the first Californian to die in that way since the nineteenth century. Elsewhere, the predator on the loose may be human, and Smith goes looking for the bones of a long-missing woman in the surreal landscape around a half-constructed dam slowly reverting to wild.
Customer Reviews:
Good book for the plane.......2007-06-20
I don't really have much to say about Nature Noir. I read it on the plane out to Denver. It was recommended to me by a non-fiction writer and I heard part of an interview with the author on the radio. I confess that I have not read a great deal of non-fiction aside from personal essays. "Nature Noir" read much like a long personal essay, interspersed with the customary commentary on landscape necessary in all nature writing. Smith's narrative seeks to dispel the idyllic image of wilderness and the life of the Forest Ranger. And I imagine for many people, particularly people who do not spend much time in the Western backcountry, Smith's reports of meth-labs, poachers, suicides, and predator attacks contrast their image of wilderness. But it's something most people who spend time in the backcournty have know about for some time. Ultimately I found his tales and observations somewhat pedestrian. The reviewer on the inside cover compared the work to Edward Abbey, Gary Snyder, and Aldo Leopold. Such comparisons are far too generous for this particular work.
Mother Nature & Politics--Man is Always the Bad Guy.......2007-03-26
Alas.......A good friend recommended this book for me. He really enjoyed the heck out of it, but I guess I didn't get the same thrill out of reading it. In fact, it was like a big sleeping pill for me to try and finish this book. Sorry 'bout that Steve......but like any book I've ever read, there are always some tidbits of information that makes a person smarter, so I'm not unhappy that I read it. If a person is really into environmental issues, then this just might be the kind of book some other reader is looking for.
Basically the author tells of his 20+ years as a park forest ranger on the north-western coast of California, Sierra Nevada of California, Wyoming's Grand Tetons, and a couple of other locations. His primary focus was the government-owned land of the American River that is condemned to be covered by a dam some day. In his mind it is doomed land that will eventually be flooded over and never to be enjoyed by human kind again. It will be a home that will be taken from the existing animals that now preside there. The flora and fauna will eventually be covered by water too. Of course, whatever good might come from the dam such as a new water supply for the ever-expanding human population, new wildlife in the form of fish, water fowl, underwater plant life, etc. aren't considered as a positive tradeoff. Instead, a new dam is just more human exploitation of mother nature.
Smith spends some time talking about the human element of being a park ranger and the kinds of people that spend time in the public park system, but mostly his focus was on the negative side of the human experience (the armed miners, wild druggies, alcohol-crazed losers, squatters, motorcyclists, gangs, bridge jumpers, etc.). Not much was mentioned about the vast majority of the public (families, campers, and nature lovers) who visit the national forests and treat it with respect.
Smith gives his reader lots of history and geography lessons throughout the book. What it was like to be a park ranger really took the back seat to the author pressing his environmental and political agendas. Instead, we are given a big dose of environmental politics and conservationist history which I found to be mostly dry and uninteresting. In my mind, Smith made 'Man' the bad guy. I also felt that he was a rather bitter person as he looked back on his years as a ranger.
Sooooooo........the bottom line is that this book didn't quite do it for me.
Slow, Ponderous.......2007-01-19
The book started with a bang and ended with a whimper. It was tedious reading by and large, as the Park System is viewed by kind of the Willie Loman of Rangers. He also, as is common in this day, blames all the world's ills on America's and particularly George Bush's failure to get with the program and turn America into a socialist paradise.
He also spent twenty years with his co-workers, but has about as much insight, overt compassion, and intimacy with them as I have with the people with whom I wait for the bus. I'd really have to suggest skipping this depressing and needlessly politicized book; the ramblings of an embittered man. It reminded me of a poor-man's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance".
Poor writing with some good stories.......2007-01-05
Jordan Fisher Smith's writing is extremely poor. However, some of the stories he writes on are interesting despite his lack of proper grammer. I am pretty sure he uses the word "I" 20 times in one page multiple times in this book. But if you can get through the poor writing the book is fairly interesting.
Wildness and beauty at the heart of Mother Lode country.......2007-01-02
Far from safeguarding the big-time, high-profile, and first-rate landscape and wilderness of the national parks and national monuments as a ranger, Jordan Fisher Smith instead worked to safeguard a second-rate, or even third-rate, semi-wilderness that was slated for damming and was open country for prospective miners, developers, and social misfits. For those who have sped through I-80 east through Auburn and Colfax, admittedly more interested in the snowcapped peaks of Emigrant Gap and Donner Pass than in the canyons of the Western Sierra foothills that cradle the forks of the American River, a reappreciation of this part of the Mother Lode country is inevitable, thanks to the powerful sense of place and environmental sensibility of Smith, not to mention a writing style infused with humility and devoid of preachiness. Hence the title "Nature Noir", where, unless you are a local who knew the land (such as Smith himself) or an avid river-runner of the North, Middle, and South Forks of the American River, you would have never thought twice of the wilderness quality of a place with a dam and reservoir that never existed but was already permanently emplaced on maps and mindset of people who had power over the use of the land for flood control, irrigation, and hydroelectricity. In this land, laws are broken, boundaries are pushed, and the moral resilience of rangers are tested, but there is salvation in the knowledge that nature still rules--pockets of wildness where human--and boat--tracks are erased, an aerial flood of beetles swarm from seemingly nowhere, people's lives are claimed by the power of water, a runner is ambushed by a mountain lion, wildflowers burgeon, and a clearer understanding of the complex geology merely underscores the power of nature over human folly where short-term gains tend to overlook long-term large-scale disasters.
Books:
- The Long Road Home: A Story of War and Family
- The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook
- The Master Book of the Water Garden: The Ultimate Guide to the Design and Maintenance of the Water Garden
- The Mini Zen Gardening Kit (Miniature Editions)
- The New York Times Practical Guide to Practically Everything: The Essential Companion for Everyday Life
- The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control: A Complete Problem-Solving Guide to Keeping Your Garden and Yard Healthy Without Chemicals
- The Organic Lawn Care Manual
- The Well-Designed Mixed Garden: Building Beds and Borders with Trees, Shrubs, Perennials, Annuals, and Bulbs
- The Well-Tended Perennial Garden: Planting and Pruning Techniques
- Trails for the Twenty-First Century: Planning, Design, and Management Manual for Multi-Use Trails
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- History: Fiction or Science
- Your Pregnancy Week by Week, Fifth Edition
- Serials and Series: A World Filmography, 1912-1956
- Seeing Through the Eye: Malcolm Muggeridge on Faith
- The Business of Healthcare Innovation
- Y: The Last Man Vol. 6: Girl on Girl
- The People's Guide to Mexico
- Practical Readings in Financial Derivatives
- The Analysis of public output;: A conference of the Universities-National Bureau Committee for Econo
- Hemlock at Vespers: Fifteen Sister Fidelma Mysteries
Shattered Air: A True Account of Catastrophe and Courage on Yosemite's Half Dome
The Lost Men: The Harrowing Saga of Shackleton's Ross Sea Party
Nature Noir: A Park Ranger's Patrol in the Sierra
Angels in the Wilderness: The True Story of One Woman's Survival Against All Odds
Strange Piece of Paradise
