Arizona Books

The Moon handbook was an excellent resource for my recent trip to Arizona!! I constantly referred to it. I traveled from Bisbee to Page traversing the state from South to North. I agreed with most of the "Must See" places even though it tends to recommend "elite" sites and restaurants (at least in my opinion). I always enjoyed the restaurants they suggested but stayed away from the "Must See" ones as they were quite expensive. If you're going to Arizona you must see Sunset Crater National Monument. It was incredible!! Happy Travels!

Alas, the 9th edition of Arizona (2005) is the last one that I will write in the Moon Handbook series. The publisher has contracted a new author to write a smaller, more opinionated 10th edition with new text. It should not be judged--good or bad--based on the previous editions.

--Bill Weir
(Moon Handbooks Arizona, Editions 1-9)

I've been relying on Bill Weir's Moon guide since it first came out in 1986. I still have a first edition in storage somewhere (I think). These comments apply to the 9th edition, published in early 2005 -- which means a 10th edition is likely in preparation as I write this review.

In addition to the 9th ed., I have in front of me the 6th ed. of 1996. It's interesting to compare the two. The older book is a "svelte" 488 pages; the new one weighs in at a hefty 650 pp., and is a bit larger-format, too. The newer book has, well, more stuff, better paper (less show-through), better maps, but doesn't appear as sturdily-bound as the older one, and lacks the nice rounded corners.

I've lived in Arizona for 30 years, but always learn something new thumbing through Weir's guide. About the only weakness is the occasional dodgy restaurant review -- and in fairness, these are 2-3 year old reviews.

If you live in Arizona, or plan to travel here, you need this guidebook. So, what are you waiting for?

OK, you can wait for the 10th ed. if you live here. Others, grit your teeth, fork over your 15 bucks. Money well-spent: half a tank of gas, a cheap restaurant meal....

Happy travelling--
Peter D. Tillman
Rimrock, AZ (winters)
--
The site for the future University of Arizona was donated to the
Territory by two professional gamblers and a saloon keeper in 1886.

We have purchased about 7 Moon Books with Arizona being the latest purchase. Good refernce books---up to date and easy to read. We find them better than the AAA Tour Books. A fair price. Needs to be kept up to date with changes occurring so often,it is a good idea to check the "published date"

For anyone planning to visit Arizona, this is definitely the best guide you can bring with you. Although I wish it had more photos give a clue as to what you'll be seeing, the excellent maps, detailed descriptions, and sheer volume of information provided more than makes up for it. I had only a few days in Arizona and didn't have time to waste, so it was important that I find the best places to see while I was there. This book proved to be absolutely vital for my trip. Without it I would never have found many of the interesting sights that I visited. In short, don't go to Arizona without this book.

This book give to the reader and future traveller an unique vision of the history of this country. the writer help us to understand the people that inhabited this country and the geological features of this land of enchantment. For an european like me is the first and essential step to the visit of a country.

This is a great travel book, providing quick and easy to reference to the lay-of-the land in the four-corners region in the style of a virtual tour of the area. The author takes you along his journey, showing you what to see and do, how to get there, where to eat, sleep, shop--or simply soak up the sublime beauty.

My wife and I plannned a trip to the Four Corners area and at the last moment received Journey to the High Southwest as a gift. We read it during the plane ride and made immediate adjustments to our travel schedule. The results were so good that we continued, chapter by chapter, to use Mr. Casey's guidance and suggestions. For those uninitiated in the region, or even experienced Four Corners visitors, we strongly suggest this guide. It will provide very accurate and useful information to anyone who uses it. Read the entire book - before you go!

This book give to the reader and future traveller an unique vision of the history of this country. the writer help us to understand the people that inhabited this country and the geological features of this land of enchantment. For an european like me is the first and essential step to the visit of a country.

This is a serious guidebook for travellers who take their touring and sightseeing seriously. It covers the Four Corners region of the southwest (UT, CO, NM, AZ) and is divided into four geographic sections. It includes information on the history of each section (in detail), points of interest (fully described), and where to stay/eat (fully annotated). Chapters focus on the canyon country of Utah, the Indian country of Arizona, the Rocky Mountains, and the Rio Grande country. There are also a full index and a substantial bibliography. It's everything you could ask for in a guidebook and should be taken along by anyone travelling in this region. Highly recommended.

I read one of Ms. Miller's McKettrick books last year and found it ok. I picked up "The Man from Stone Creek" a couple of weeks ago, in the need for a good book on a long weekend (and I love historical Western romances) but couldn't find anything in the bookstore that really caught my eye. This book is a definite winner. The build up to the main conflict and the character development are great, including the conflict that builds between the main characters. I can't wait to read the sequel to this one!!

I'm never dissapointed when Linda Lael Miller's name is on the cover. Excellent book!

With an impressive number of audio book titles to his credit stage actor Buck Schirner has established himself as a first rate narrator. His reading of the story of Ranger Sam O'Ballivan is arresting (no pun intended) and vital as he effectively captures Sam's first impression of Haven, Arizona, as well his gradually growing attraction to postmistress Maddie Chancelor.

Sam arrives in the border town of Haven in search of a rough gang of thieves who have been wrecking havoc throughout the surrounding territory. He comes disguised as a school teacher whose first order of business is to straighten out the ranchers' undisciplined children who have been creating a little havoc of their own. One of the most unruly young ones is Terran, Maddie's younger brother.

The self-sufficient Ranger is in for a surprise when he meets Maddie, a very pretty and proper young woman who has a temper and toughness all her own. She doesn't take kindly to his comments about her brother, yet finds the newcomer strangely appealing.

Before long Sam becomes aware of a planned train robbery and pulls out all the stops to capture the brigands before they make off with a load of Mexican gold. The surprise is in who the robbers turn out to be.

For those who like romance and skullduggery served with a Western flavor, this one's for you!

- Gail Cooke

I am a recent fan of Linda Lael Miller and I really enjoy her books because she has a way with making her characters alive and interesting. The Man From Snowy River is about an under cover G-Man who is poseing as a school teacher of all things and the female lead is a shop owner with a young brother to support and of course they clash over the brother who the teacher feels is spoiled by his sister, you then have the bad guys who the G-man is out to get, i will not get into the nitty gritty of the story as it would spoil it for the readers but in a nutshell, it is a great story, the characters are well done and it will leave you with a smile on your face.

I've read many books by this author. The last two books have been my favorites. The Man From Stone Creek is a western story that's beautifully told. You can picture the Arizona setting. Maddie is strong and vulnerable at the same time. Sam is everything you want in a hero. He's tender and caring, but he's all man. I could not put the book down. Very much worth the hardcover price, excellent read.

Backcountry Adventures Colorado (Backcountry Adventures)These books are just too cool for words! I love that the authors include so many (hundreds!) of color photos so you can get a good idea of the various trails. You also get to see old historical photos of what the old ghost towns you come across used to look like! OMG, this is like the total package for planning a vacation or an afternoon out on the trail! I would definitely recommend this book. I've been using mine since it became available on Amazon and it is rugged and the binding is fine. I am not sure why that other reviewer said the binding is weak because this hardcover is totally awesome! It beats any of the other off road guides and this one is totally user-friendly. Whether you have an SUV, a 4x4, or a car and want to find some great trails in Arizona's backcountry and learn some cool facts along the way, this is the greatest book to use! Don't leave home without it!!

The contents are great, the book construction is not.
The entire binding broke after 1 week, very disappointed
as it was an expensive book.

I was at the Outdoor Expo and was looking at a much smaller book, for half as much money...It was the only one I saw (and they were very numerous) on the many trails Arizona has to offer.
Well I passed it by, and told myself on the way out I would probably buy it, well I am glad I waited, I stopped by the booth and noticed one large book at the end of the table...it was the last one, and was 3 times as much. After about 4 pages, I shelled out the cash with a smile on my face! This book has it all. Very, very well detailed, with maps, directions, history, flora , fauna, wildlife, stories on ghost towns and past characters of local legend. What I really liked though was all the COLOR pictures...giving me an idea of what I WILL find when I travel these trails. This book also has much information on what kind (s) of 4WD you will need for what trails, levels of difficulty...things to watch for, what depth of water at the crossings to expect....and well organized to boot. The cover is heavy duty , so it will last bouncing around in the back. This book is great and I love it! If you have a 4WD and are looking for a little adventure and fun from easy to difficult and you are doing it in Arizona..........you need this book. See you on the trail!

Although I initially balked at paying the somewhat steep price for this book, after receiving and reading it I realized it's worth every penny. Not only does the book describe in detail almost 160 great back roads in Arizona to explore, the authors included sections on the plants, wildlife, ghost towns, and history of Arizona. It's just packed with interesting information and color photos - well worth the cost. Every state in the U.S. should have a book like this written about it! My next purchase is the authors' Backcountry Adventures: Utah. Great stuff.

I've taken about a dozen of the trails in this book and not one has been disappointing. The author's credentials speak for themselves. He's logged thousands of miles in Arizona. All the GPS coordinates are accurate and the directions are second to none. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Very good history of Earth First! before they got taken over by politically correct left coast weenies. Earth First! was very cool back in the day and they got things done without compromise when mainstream conservation groups couldn't or wouldn't. Lots of interesting stuff on Dave Foreman and other well known Earth Firsters as well as other environmental groups and activists, plus info on the Judi Barr bombing as well as the FBI's methods of infiltration when they targetted Dave Foreman in their failed attempt to put him away.

Zakin spins an entertaining story of the rise and ultimate fall from grace of one of the most influential environmental organizations of our time. The book emphasis is clearly on Foreman and his cronies and their hard-drinking, take-no-prisoner stand on protecting wilderness. If you're interested in a detailed look inside the personalities that created and shaped Earth First!, then this is your book.

One half of the content of this book is a worthwile, concise history of the western U.S. wilderness preservation movement covering the last half of the 20th century. It is required reading for anyone with an interest -- or a motive ;>) As for the rest of the content, concerning Zakin's treatment of Foreman and as to her patronizing of Foreman (concerns raised here by previous critics), I don't know. I guess you had to have been there. But Foreman and EarthFirst! are mentioned only briefly before page 186 (of 443) and only so as to frame the history that portends Foreman's founding of EarthFirst! So, I would have to say that this history is relatively unbiased especailly given it's subject. After three years of trying to get the big picture of the entire history of contemporary wilderness advocacy, I have finally found it here. Really worthwile and entertaining.

I am mentioned in this book as Dave's friend "Mike". I just wish the author had interviewed me, then she would have gotten the story right about Dave's leaving the Marines. When Dave decided the Marines weren't for him, he came back to Albuquerque and called me first. The story in the book and the story of what really happened are different. Similar but different. It makes me wonder about the authenticity of the rest of the book

If you want to know just how far the conservation movement has come in the US in the last 30 years, read this book. Susan Zakin tells it like it is, not bowing to the PC concerns of her enemies. Detailing the horrid compromising ways of large environmental organizations and government that pushed cutting-edge activists to lead by example in "no compromise in defense of mother earth." Some new age Earth First!ers hate this book. That's a good reason to read it. Great high-powered & entertaining writing style. Well researched. This book will teach, get you pissed off, and push you to become more radical. One of the top conservation books of the last decade.

John Russell is in many ways an archetyypal hero of the Western movie and novel-tactiturn and laconic in demeanour,whipcord tough and a man of action -yet he is a man apart from most of those around him by virtue of having been raised by Apaches .He was captured by them as a boy and subsequently adopted by a white man, a supply wagon owner ,thus having experience of both the ways of the whites and the Apaches.
He is not the narrator of this tale however -a lot that falls on Carl allen ,a passenger on a stagecoach bound for Delgado where russell is going to see if he can fully embrace white customs and live as a white man .Allen is in awe of Russell but by no means uncritical of him or his manner .The journey is complicated by the presence on board the stage of an embezzling banker ,something which is known to a band of outlaws who lay siege to the coach and its passengers ,and are prepared to kill if need be to get their hands on the loot.

The result is grim chess match as standoffs and shootouts ensue but the emphasis is as much on the psychological and interpersonal tensions as it is on physical violence .The prose is lean ,mean and economical ,the action scenes punchy and direct and the characterisation way above normal for the genre .
Russell is a true ,if deeply flawed hero ,as he possess tha courage to do what he felt had to be done -others fall short of the mark.

Gripping and edgily compulsive reading -please dont miss it if you have any love for great storytelling

Elmore Leonard's HOMBRE is, irrespective of genre, an absolute classic of the novel form. In my opinion it's the best example since THE GREAT GATSBY of what I'd loosely term "self-effacing first person narrative", by which I mean narrative wherein the author so contrives things that the narrator - Carl Allen in HOMBRE - is not the main character or event in the story. Personally I think this tends to make for a greater semblance of objectivity since the person telling the story necessarily remains, like the reader, on the periphery of the central events.

I would unreservedly recommend Elmore Leonard's 's westerns to anybody interested in "a good read"- but especially to any reader who's completed his "modern" books. It's not that I'm a fan of the western genre in particular, but Elmore Leonard's output is infinitely superior to the norm. With great dialogue and memorable characters they make for a very tight read: more like Hemingway than Louis L'Amour.

There's a sort of underlying thematic quality to HOMBRE (to VALDEZ IS COMING, too) wherein the young United States is itself the hero - or heroine, as the case may be. For example, Gay Erin in VALDEZ shucks off her attachment to the small shopkeeper and the cattle baron in favour of the man of honour . . . and the man of honour (VALDEZ, HOMBRE), social outcast though he may temporarily be, is able to come into his own precisely because he was born in the Land of the Free.

You just know this ain't gonna happen in downtown Detroit or present day Dade County FLA.

Beats me why WHEN THE WOMEN COME OUT TO DANCE had to reprise so many stories out of THE TONTO WOMAN when there are so many uncollected Elmore Leonard western stories out there just waiting to be corraled.

PS If you like the narrative voice in HOMBRE, mosey on over to Arkansas and Missouri and check out TRUE GRIT by Charles Portis. It's another classic of the western genre with a quite differently stunning first person narrative voice. Meanwhile, here's a spoof reprise of that scene from the film where Richard Boone stomps into the stagecoach office and confronts Paul Newman . . .

`Frank Braden,' he said. His hands spread out along the counter.
I said, `Yessir? As if I still worked for the Sweetmary Library Service. Hell, I shouldn't have been behind the counter but I'd dropped off to sleep reading the latest John Grisham (hate the books; love the movies).
`Write it down for EL's EO.'
`I'm sorry.'
`I said: "Write it down for Elmore Leonard's entire opus.'
`That's a special batch.'
`I heard. That's why I'm having it.'
I looked down at the four orange library cards on the counter, lining them up evenly. `I'm afraid that one's taken. Four here and those two. That's all we could get a-hold of.'
`You can get another one,' he said. Telling me, not asking. `Sunny side up, easy on the adverbs, exclamation points and hooptedoodle.'
`Well, I don't see how.'
`On top of what you ordered.'
`We got half a dozen is all. That's a library service rule. I was just telling these boys here. Certain people can read . . .'
`You say they've got 'em?'
`Yessir. Both of them.'
He turned without another word and walked over to John Russell with that clumpy thumping sound as the Max Brands, Louis L'Amours and Zane Grays hit the library floor. He still had the Jack Schaefers slung low in his left hand: SHANE, THE KEAN LAND, THE COLLECTED SHORT STORIES. You can say what you want about Frank Braden but he was nobody's fool.
He said, "That boy at the counter said you got the Forty less One.'
`Uh?' said John Russell.
`Elmore Leonard's stuff.'
`John Russell opened his hand on his lap. `This?'
`That's it. And the others. You give them to me and grab a Stephen King.'
`I have to take them,' Russell said.
`No, you want is all. But it would be better if you waited. You can read Captain Corelli, get drunk. How does that sound?'
`I have to take these,' John Russell said. `I have to take these and I want to take them.'
`Leave him alone,' the ex-soldier said then. `We were first in line, you find your own batch of books.'
Frank Braden looked at him. `What did you say?'
`I said why don't you leave him alone.' His tone changed. All of a sudden it sounded friendlier, more reasonable. `He wants the Forty less One, let him take them,' the ex-soldier said.
You heard the clumpy thumping sound again as Frank Braden shifted to face the ex-soldier and Charles Portis' TRUE GRIT hit the ground. He scooped it up again, stacked it alongside the Schaefers, stared at him and said, `I guess I'll have your Forty less One instead.'
The ex-soldier hadn't moved, his big hands resting on his knees, his feet propped on the canvas bag that contained the thirty-nine books. `You just walk in,' he said, `and take somebody else's Forty less One?'
Braden's pointed hat brim moved up and down. `That's the way it is.'
`Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh!' I said - exclaimed even - thinking I was still in the employ of the Sweetmary Library Service.

'Hombre' is another entry in the western genre from Elmore Leonard. This novel tells the story of a man named John Russell that was raised as an Apache. He owns some property that he needs to sell and is about to take a stage coach ride with one Mr. Mendez to get where he is going. Quickly, several other passengers join the coach. When they discover Russell's background, they refuse to allow him to ride in the coach with him. It doesn't take too long for the coach to get into trouble when it becomes obvious that Mr. Russell is not the only one who isn't as he appears.

This is a good Western. The scenes are laid out well be Leonard and unfold nicley. For the most part, the characters are what you expect in a Western given their backgrounds. The various prejudices of the white man against the Apache's are obvious. In other words, the characters match the time period.

This novel has a moral that we've all heard before. Leonard simply repackages it. In addition to not judging a book by its cover, you need to walk a mile in its shoes. That is the lesson to be learned from this novel, which will become apparent by the time you get to the end.

As is usual, Leonard has created some wonderful characters. In addition to Russell, there is "the McLaren" girl who has her own ties to the Apaches. She had been kidnapped by them, and while she resents them, she has learned a few things from them. There is Dr. and Mrs. Favor. Dr. Favor isn't quite the good doctor, and his wife doesn't quite obey the rules of polite society. Mr. Mendez is the Mexican coach driver, and kind of a mentor to Russell. There are a few colorful bad guys that round out a diverse cast.

This isn't Leonard's best novel, but it is a very good one. Anyone that enjoys Leonard's work should like this. I'd also recommend it to fans of Westerns.

Grade: 4 stars.

I'm new to the Western genre. After a few L'Amours, a friend put me on to Leonard's Westerns. So I'm reading them; they are a world apart (and very much a better one) than the good but stolid L'Amour.
I read Hombre just after Valdez is Coming, and now I'm going through the Leonard western list; he's my definite favorite for the time being.
Hombre is a distinctly moral tale. The moral punch comes suddenly and unexpectedly at the end. The hero (not anti-hero, in my opinion; here I differ from an earlier reviewer)is so laconic that you don't get much foreshadowing of his actions until they happen. This is a style I very much like, instead of the author's own ruminations through the thoughts and bloviations of his protagonist-- a major L'Amour characteristic. (I suppose I shouldn't dwell on L'Amour, but he's my only other Western author so far; and he's a solid 3-star writer, a very respectable thing to be.)
Leonard is very spare in his writing and very suited to the Western, in my mind. I'll be getting the well-regard Paul Newman movie, which I've never seen.

Elmore Leonard is not nearly as well known for his Westerns as his hardboiled crime dramas, but in fact he is one of the finest writers in the genre of the past fifty years. This is partly because he is simply one of the finest American writers period. He is famous for writing some of the hardest hitting, purest prose during his lifetime. There is nothing flashy about his writing. My guess is that a glossary of all his words would tally less than 400 words in all. There probably aren't more than 20 words of more than two syllables in the entire book. Some paragraphs have few two syllable words. This apparent simplicity can mask what is in fact a stunning virtuosity. Leonard is known as a writers' writer and this will escape no reader who pays close attention to the deceptive sophistication of his style.

The story he tells here is a simple one. Leonard is hardly the first to depict a Western hero. Nor is he the first to depict a hero who possessed outsider status. John Russell, the "hombre" of the title (and "hombre" here really has a similar sense as "Mensch" in Yiddish), is a white man who was raised in his formative years as an Apache. He is the result of white, Apache, and Mexican cultures, yet doesn't completely fit in any of them, though he seems most comfortable as an Apache. Though treated with disdain by his fellow stage coach passengers (actually, they travel in a mud wagon), he becomes their only hope after bandits hold them up. Russell is striking for being treated as both heroic and extremely capable, but not impossibly skilled as many Western heroes are depicted. Though a good shot, he misses more than he hits his target. Though most of his decisions are good ones, he isn't infallible.

The novel is remarkable for how sympathetic Native Americans are depicted. Written in 1961, Leonard anticipates the far more positive treatment of Indian characters in the seventies and beyond. The central crime in the novel is one perpetuated against Indians, just as the protagonist is a product of Apache culture.

I highly recommend this novel. It is yet another example of Elmore Leonard's consummate ability as a writer, as well as being a first rate Western. It truly is Leonard at his very best.

An enlightening read about the nomadic Apaches of northern Mexico and the bordering states, primarily Arizona and New Mexico. The author, John C. Cremony, a military officer, stays focused on the Apache tribe admirably recording his observations without divergence. What I found fascinating is his description about their culture and the difference of it from other Indian tribes, his personal bias notwithstanding. Example, the Apache's "whole system of life and training is to plunder, murder and deceive, they cannot comprehend opposite attributes in others. He whom we would denounce as the greatest scoundrel they regard with special esteem and honor. With no people are they on amicable terms, and never hesitate to rob from each other when it can be done with impunity. There is no sympathy among them; the quality is unknown."

This and Cremony's other comments regarding dealing with the Apache, like: "...other devices were resorted to for the purpose of quietly infiltrating the Apache mind with a sense of our superiority, but always most carefully guarding against any appearance of seeking to contrast American attainment with savage ignorance." caused this reviewer to wonder about the current American exposure to cultures worldwide and how we relate with "those" people. Do we understand them or do we presuppose that our values are superior and so operate according to our personal biases? Hmmm, a labeling of "ugly American" comes to mind.

I continued to wonder, when dealing with another culture do we Americans comport ourselves with an impartiality and an open-mindedness; do we allow for a bilateral exchange of ideas and perhaps a better understanding of our differing stations? Would not that be beneficial to both cultures?

Captain Cremony explains how he learned to deal with the Apache and their "savage" ways by learning their language, then listening and observing. This book is such a lesson.

Though this book was written well over a hundred year ago by a dedicated American calvary man, I couldn't help but be struck by the amazing relevance of fighting terror to today's current events!

Many of Mr. Cremony's accounts of Indian terror are very similiar to the war we are fighting today. Including his lamenting of the huge cost the American government was spending to fight the Indian wars! Sound familiar about the war on terror today???

Unbeknownst to Mr. Cremony at that time also, the character of the Apaches as he described them are in many ways very similiar to the tactics and character of terrorist today. (This is not to say the Apache were terrorist, I just find the similiarities remarkable). One would think some of the things learned in his book could certainly be applied today.

There is also much praise of the physical prowess, preserverance, and cunning of the Apache. If what he writes is true, I have come to respect the prowess of the Apache as nearly unmatched! There is even one amazing story of an Apache who took on a rampaging buffalo armed only with his large knife.

My only regret with this book is he did not dwelve into the Apache diet enough. It was the perfect time to take a scientific look at their diet from this fading, but very active tribe. One gets the sense that he really didn't care, or didn't bother to write much more about it. He was after all, a tactical soldier, not a dietician. And what he writes about their diet certainly reflects that. I believe much precious knowledge was lost.

One may not always have to read Spartan-Greek wars book to learn about fighting wars. (As if reading classics alludes one to some kind of sophistication.) A good simple cowboy-indian book may be all you need.

I might add his story is also a good Western read when most of America's West was a no-man's land. Like any good life story it tells much more than the title suggest. It truly was another era that we will never see again.

Here is what I would call the perfect antidote to the rampant and insane Politically Correct Dogma that is now being relentlessly promoted as "FACT" concerning the history of the Western Frontier. Cremony dealt with the Apache during their "guerilla phase" ( a time when their numbers had been reduced too low due to being slaughtered by Comanches for them to offer any head-to-head battle with enemy forces ). The author, a member of the famed California Volunteers, dealt with ( and knew ) chiefs like Delgadito, Mangas Coloradas, Cochise, and other Apache notables personally. He gives great details of his struggles with them and of their habits in war and in confinement BEFORE reservations were actually established.

Furthermore, he gives good details concerning his friendships with some Apaches and of their psychological make-up and motivations, as well as their advancement over other tribes in terms of understanding a decimal system in their concept of mathematics. Cremony offers details on their hunting and food-gathering tactics and habits, and he TRUTHFULLY AND ACCURATELY recommends actions be taken against them in order to spare the settlers of the region harm and distress AT A TIME BEFORE SETTLERS BEGAN MOVING INTO THE SOUTHWEST. If Cremony's recomendations had been taken seriously by Washington, the entire Southwest would have been spared the wide-spread and tragic events that took place long after Cremony had retired to California. Countless lives could have been saved. The economic picture of New Mexico, Arizona, and west Texas would have been much brighter much sooner. The whole sorry, sordid, winding series of events filled with brutality, torture, mutilation, and butchery could have been avoided.
This is an absolutely wonderful book of the "couldn't put it down" variety. It utterly destroys the Politically Correct ideal which holds the American Indian up as some sort of Red Aristocrat or Feathered Philosopher/Sage who was so hard done by. A perfect antidote to the drek spewed out by leftist "educators" and pseudo-historians by an eye-witness who was THERE.
Get this book whatever you do! Also, get THREE YEARS AMONG THE COMANCHES and SCALP DANCE. They're also available right here at amazon.com and they're just as good as this one is!

And for the ultimate, unbiased AmerIndian history book, read; Comanches (Pimlico Wild West)

Life Among The Apaches is one of the most interesting and fascinating historical nonfiction works that I have ever come across. It's a first-hand account of John C. Cremony's personal adventures with Apache indians in the latter part of the 19th century, in particular the Chiricahua Apaches. I've never come across a better or more explanatory or descriptive account of Apache peoples, culture, or way of life in the 1800's than in Life Among The Apaches.

This book was given to me as a present some years ago, and it has proven to be one of the most authentic Native American historical pieces of literature that has ever been abridged.

Cremony was known to gloat and fictionalize his stories. And as noted in the book description, Cremony's main intent was to further suppress those who were here in America before himself, in particular the Apaches. If you read this book, also read Cochise by Ed Sweeney and Mangas Coloradas to get a view from both sides of the fence.

I don't see what the other reviewers found so helpful about this book. It contains technically poor, uninspiring photographs and advice that is readily available on the web.

One thing every old-school photographer knows is that, when you use filters, especially color-enhancing filters, you must do so sparingly, or else your work becomes predictable and boring. This author uses enhancing filters on EVERY SINGLE PICTURE! Every shot has an unnatural reddish-orange tint. Now, I'll admit I use a polarizer on most outdoor work, but enhancing filters should only be used when the subject needs that extra saturation to look right. The terrain of the Grand Canyon is red enough, and doesn't need that weird orange glow each of the pictures in this book has due to the constant use of enhancing filters.

If that were the only problem, I'd say that the author is just lacking in creativity. But it's not. He also seems to have a penchant for taking photos in light that creates contrast far exceeding the dynamic range of his film, leaving the highlights well exposed, but the shadows dark and nearly featureless. Waiting for the right light is part of being a pro, and settling for shots with large areas of blocked-up shadows is not. He shoots alot on clear days, which doesn't provide the diffusion of sunlight that partly cloudy days can. Just look at the cover photo and you'll see. Most shots in the book are just like the cover.

To be honest, I haven't read all of the text in this book, and I don't plan on doing so. Taking photographic advice from someone who doesn't take good photographs just doesn't make sense. I'd stay away from this book and find something else.

This is a must have book if planning a phot trip or any trip to this area. Viewing locations are well described and the directions to them are great. The equipment suggestions, though aimed at film cameras is very helpful to all photographers. I wish there was more about the Flagstaff/Sedona area, an area that should not be overlooked for photo opportunities. The photos in this book are fabulous and provide the everyday photo enthusist with some great ideas.

This is a wonderful book, full of Joseph Lange's beautiful photography and tips. Others have covered that, so I will just add my two cents regarding the "Northern Arizona" bit.

I purchased this book before going to Sedona, since Sedona was listed as a part of the area covered. Indeed, Sedona is covered, but the information takes up just about a page. Add the lovely photo, and I received two pages worth of information, when I was hoping for just a bit more...

I believe that this book is essential for amateur and professional photographers who are visiting the Grand Canyon for the first time. This book includes all of the details that you need to guide you through a positive experience, shooting all parts of the canyon. I just returned from there and I sure am glad that I read the book first and also took it along on the trip for reference. Well worth the money.

This book is a very good overview to the best scenic sights in Northern Arizona. It is a good travel guide as well as being a photographer's guide. I lived in Flagstaff for two years and still learned a lot about scenic sights that I missed from this book. Pick a few places and use the guide to help explore Northern Arizona, one of the most picturesque locations in the world

This is a large, thin paperback which would probably be a nice souvenir of Sedona (I haven't been yet!) but was not what I was hoping for. It's my own fault for not reading the reviews more closely. It's a little more useful than a (very) similar book called "Secret Sedona" which is also a large thin, paperback filled with nice photographs but not the practical information I am looking for as I plan our upcoming trip. I bought several books about Sedona from Amazon recently and none of them have been as useful as the information I can find on the web.

Excellent book. It captures the most beautiful scenery around Sedona. I keep it out on the table to remind me of some of my favorite spots in Sedona.

I have bought several books on Sedona in the past and this is by far the best. The pictures are large and vibrant and the descriptions and information are accurate. The book covers formations, wildlife, flora and fauna, cultural history, etc.
I am taking my third trip out to Sedona this month and this book gave me new insight to some places to go and the history that lies within Sedona. This is a great book and it is always on my coffee table for all to see the beauty of Sedona.

Someone else described this as a "coffee table" book. that is exactly right. the pictures are nice, but there is not much information in it. If you are looking for a book about sedona to help you know what to do there or how to get around or just good basic information - you won't find it here. and it's too big to take it with you on vacation.

This is a wonderful snapshot of the Sedona area! Just leafing through it brings back many memeories of being in the area. Wonderful photos and great information. At an unbelievable price! A wonderful gift at not much more than the price of a card!

This is Jon Talton's best yet. His mystery writing credentials are established, and women have always liked his books. With "Arizona Dreams," he uses his knack for intellectual narrative and noir dialogue to introduce a surprising twist about Lindsey's life before she married the history shamus. That thread gives the book an emotional depth that leaves you eager for the next installment.

Jon Talton's latest David Mapstone mystery probes the fraudulent practices often seen in Arizona real estate development, adding a corrupt county supervisor to the mix. That Mapstone is the sheriff's historian is apropos, as Talton is himself a considerable expert on Arizona history. This offering adds a previously unknown sister-in-law to Mapstone's life, and also causes him more than a few problems, during her stay with David and Lindsey. The sheriff, unconvinced, or unwilling to believe the corruption connection give Mapstone a deadline to come up with the evidence, and in the process of doing so, he and Lindsey find themselves facing heat much greater than that provided by the Phoenix summer. Two ice pick slayings, a body in a barrel, and a savagely murdered innocent youth keep the reader turning pages until Mapstone puts all the pieces together. This is a good read for mystery lovers, especially anyone familiar with Phoenix and vicinity.

Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader View (7/06)

Dr. David Mapstone, a Deputy, previously was a history professor and his main purpose now was to write a history book for the Sheriff's department. A former student, Dana, showed up at his office with a letter that her deceased father left with a confessional of a murder he committed 40 years earlier and the location of the grave in the dessert. Because his work didn't involve investigations he suggested the case be turned over to an active Deputy, however, the student insisted that Mapstone conduct the investigation himself.

The plot thickens with twists and turns when he and his wife Lindsey, who is also a Deputy, are called by a neighbor to a murder in their neighborhood. While at the murder scene Lindsey spots her half-sister Robin, whom she hasn't seen for many years, in the crowd. Suspicions arise as to why she is at the scene.

During the investigation as a result of the letter given to Mapstone by Dana, it is found that the body in the grave was not buried there 40 years ago, but as recent as two weeks. When Mapstone attempts to find Dana, she is nowhere to be found. Suspicions arise as to the validity of the letter as well as who Dana really is. Finally, when she is found, it ends up that she is the wife of a politician that has a grudge against the Sherriff, Mapstone's boss.

From there the plot thickens even more so, with every chapter being an unpredictable chain of events that occur. More bodies are found, Dana appears and disappears, Mapstone, and his wife Lindsey gets more involved against the direction of the Sherriff, and ultimately the investigation leads to a corrupt real-estate development called `Arizona Dreams."

Jon Talton's expert writing skills keep the reader turning pages. There is no indication or hint of what will happen next, even if it looks predictable, it's not what you would expect the events to be. And, the ending is certainly not one that the reader would anticipate or even figure out in advance. Is this a good read? Yes, definitely!

"Even-numbered Mapstones don't suck" seems to be the pattern developing with Jon Talton's series. I found the first Mapstone disappointing, the second one quite an improvement, and the third one so-so. But now Talton has hit his stride and produced a thriller that really thrills, and a plot that holds together right up to the climax, tying together the loose ends without those "And now, Mr. Bond, before I kill you, I will explain my whole master plan" set-pieces that spoiled some of the previous novels.

Talton is also getting better at breathing life into his characters. Lindsay in particular becomes much more interesting, with revelations about her family and her past that David Mapstone had no inkling of. Sheriff Peralta puts in an appearance, but instead of being the ever-present father figure, he becomes less sympathetic and an impediment to Mapstone's investigation - which makes for a more interesting story.

What I really like is that Talton delves more deeply into Phoenix's real-estate-driven and Enron-like economy which is based on lies and denial - the idea that there will always be an infinite supply of cheap real estate and free water, and an endless stream of unskilled workers coming here to happily work minimum-wage McJobs to keep the whole house of cards going. Thanks to the extreme fringe-right politicians who keep getting elected here (the Tom Earley character strikes me as a spot-on depiction of notorious bloviator JD Hayworth), "planning" is a dirty word synonymous with socialism and totalitarianism. And so Phoenix stumbles into the future with no clue how to handle its explosive growth, no political will to make hard but necessary decisions. It's a perfect breeding ground for criminals and scam artists like the ones portrayed in this book.

I haven't read the fifth Mapstone yet, but I hope Talton hasn't rested on his laurels but is continuing to do what this novel does: in the entertaining guise of a detective thriller, hold up a mirror to contemporary Phoenix.

Like many of the finest examples of noir, Talton's novel has a firm sense of locale: in this case, Phoenix, Ariziona. Talton, like his narrator, grew up in Phoenix, and like his narrator, he returned from elsewhere to reconnect with his roots. One of the characters in Arizona Dreams (someone who did not grow up in Phoenix) repeats the often-heard cliche that Phoenix has no stories to tell (this in implicit contrast to all of the lore--so much of it Hollywood and tourist industry bunk--that Arizona presumably has to tell). But Talton and his narrator know better, and some of the most important stories to tell about Phoenix (and other sunbelt cities) concern the crime, corruption, and multifaceted chicanery that are integral parts in the engine driving the phenomenal growth of the area in the past fifty years. The Chamber of Commerce and its allies (which include the real estate and construction industries at the very least) never tell the stories relating to the human and environmental cost of such growth, but this is the story Talton's excellent novels have to tell. Working with the novelistic device of a cold-case investigator and murder as the the most dramatic face of that human cost, Talton, with a fine sense of narrative irony, tells the stories so many of the Sun Belt residents do not want to hear in their pretense that there are no stories to tell. One added note of interest: Talton is a business editorial writer for the Arizona Republic, and one of the great delights of his four novels lies in perceiving the links between his newspaper columns and his detective novels.