Nevada Books

I bought Benchmark's California and Nevada Atlases for a geology field trip to Death Valley. Part of the field trip was a tour of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, the national nuclear waste site, on the Nevada Nuclear Test Range. That tour handed out a map of the Test Range but it had quite a bit less detail than the Benchmark map. The Benchmark map showed not only Yucca Mountain, but also Area 51 (and several runways), site of Lockheed's Skunk Works, once supersecret but no longer (Wikipedia for example), and also the sites of a number of well known nuclear tests (I had earlier noticed that the county containing the nuclear test site (Nye County) is mushroom shaped).

The Benchmark atlases contain several sets of maps, starting with a few that give an overview and set the context of the detailed maps. This is a nice feature, sometimes it is hard to see the bigger picture from only the detailed maps. Also the maps have some overlap, so the edges and corners do not get shortchanged. A latitude/longitude grid could also be very useful if lost but you know your coordinates (if you can call that lost). The shaded relied gives a good feel for the terraine, much better (but less quantitative) than a contour map, and I was able to match the map to the visible scenery to get a good idea of our location while traveling to various field trip points. If you like maps you'll probably like Benchmark maps.

This book is good for my intended purpose of seeing what to expect on my planned road trip from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. However the information on Las Vegas is noticeably dated.

I have lived in Nevada and have traveled extensively throughout its rural areas since the 1980's. Most people don't realize how many "roads" there are in Nevada (1000's) that exist solely as remnants from mining booms, power line access development, ranching, military, and the like. The majority of unpaved roads shown on other atlases are not maintained by the counties they are in.

Now herein lies the magic of a Benchmark atlas. What you see in its pages are the result of extensive, local research and field verification work. The bolded-in-red-dashed routes are indeed well-traveled, and maintained in good condition (albeit a little washboard from time-to-time which is very normal).

Hunting area numbers, phone numbers, and other detailed local information is also provided. The overlaps from section to section are well-buffered, meaning, if you flip a page, there's an above average amount shown from the previous page :)

I love my Benchmark and have used it so much that the cover's stitching staples wore out and the cover came off! I have yet to come across any inaccuracies in the year that I have owned this atlas. KUDOS!!! GREAT JOB!!!

These are the best maps for understanding what you are viewing while you are traveling. If you want to know what you are looking at while you are driving, these are the maps for you. They are kind of a cross between a topo map, a relief map, and a gas station map.

This book, while rich in its coverage of buildings throughout the Sagebrush State, does have its drawbacks. Some of the quotations regarding the architects list incorrect names that were taken from other sources that were incorrect. (Example: There is no John M. Curtis, architect in Nevada. John M. Curtis was a California architect! The name is taken from another book that incorrectly quotes his name as the Nevada Architect. Morrill Joseph CURTIS is the actual architect that designed buildings in Nevada.) Also, there is a dearth of pictures and coverage of private homes and mansions. (Space may be the issue here). In some cases, the designation for certain architectural buildings such as certain blocks within the towns is unclear: a map would have helped. Overall, the book is worthwhile, but do not trust its content 100%!

The one and only book on this subject, BUILDINGS OF NEVADA is thoroughly researched and wittily opinionated. It ventures far beyond the familiar territory of Hoover Dam and Las Vegas, to explore boom towns and ghost towns, courthouses and whorehouses.

It will be indispensable for anyone interested in understanding the history and psychology of the Old West. Loaded with helpful maps and photos, it's also a great travel companion for anyone who interested in seeing more of Nevada than the view from I-80.

If you think it's all just casinos and tacky wedding chapels, read this book. Who would have thought Nevada, of all places, had such a rich architectural heritage? Nicoletta covers the history of Nevada, from wickiups to atomic test sites to the latest reinvention of the Las Vegas Strip, and everything in between, with clarity, conciseness, and keen observation. Her descriptions, precise without being dry or overly technical, bring to life not only the buildings but the individuals and communities that built them. I can open this book to any random page and be hooked by a fascinating, unexpected tidbit. The book also contains a helpful glossary of architectural terms, a thorough bibliography, and index. My only complaint is I would have liked even more of Bret Morgan's excellent photographs.

The one and only book on this subject, BUILDINGS OF NEVADA is thoroughly researched and wittily opinionated. It ventures far beyond the familiar territory of Hoover Dam and Las Vegas, to explore boom towns and ghost towns, courthouses and whorehouses.

It will be indispensable for anyone interested in understanding the history and psychology of the Old West. Loaded with helpful maps and photos, it's also a great travel companion for anyone who interested in seeing more of Nevada than the view from I-80.

The character development and writing in this novel is outstanding. Dallas and Deck are unlikable individuals with limited, selfish personalities. As portrayed, they are also very understandable and they too suffer, hence they are almost sympathetic. Logan and Keris, are very likeable, complex people.

I thought the interplay between Logan and Dallas as he plays blackjack in the first chapter was remarkable, almost a tour de force. As an example of the type of writing Legendre is capable of, I offer this: " Sometimes it happened like this. Sometimes she accidentally bit into the kernel of an emotion with some trivial comment and she needed an extra minute to absorb its flavor". Later Keris, in explaining her one night stand with someone like Deck talks of biting into a piece of chocolate, only to find goo inside.

Aspects of the plot bothered me. The fact is that economics as a science, like all science, is value neutral (its practitioners are something else). I would recommend the "Underground Economist" as an exceptional book, which among other things shows how economic principles can be applied to fight global warming and pollution efficiently - no new paradigm is needed. I also found the win streak that benefits Dallas at the end, and the subsequent scene in which she gets half the money (including half the man's original stake), contrived.

Legendre is particularly acute in his description of urban life in the modern desert southwest. Las Vegas has been characterized many times but seldom better; Legendre strips Vegas down to its bleak essence, a Disneyland of nihilism and insincerity. Of course if you actually like Las Vegas you might not agree with Legendre, but then if you like Vegas this may not be the book for you on several different levels.

His description of life in the Valley of the Sun, as metropolitan Phoenix is called by the Chamber of Commerce in something of an understatement, particularly in summertime, is brilliantly accurate. The glare, the heat, the trackless urban sprawl, the shimmering asphalt subtly influence the characters and the action of the novel until the reader feels a sudden need for sunglasses and air conditioning without really knowing why.

Anyone who has lived in or passed through these two desert cities will appreciate Legendre's clear-eyed vision and spare prose.

Reviewed by Cathy Yanda for Reader Views (07/06)


In Thomas Legendre's first novel, The Burning, is satisfying yet predictable. Logan, a newly graduated economist joins two semi-friends for a long weekend in Las Vegas. Trying to avoid his friends and get out of going to a strip joint, he plays blackjack and immediately falls for the dealer, Dallas Cole and ends up going home with her..."You're not really going to sleep on the couch. You know that, right?"...He felt a smile rise to his face. "Fair warning," she said. "I'm trouble." He shrugged. "Who isn't?" If he only knew the extent to which she would become trouble, he might have crashed on the floor of the hotel room with his friends.

Months later after their first meeting, two lonely people, Dallas and Logan are married and move to Arizona where Logan has a job as a professor at Arizona State. While Logan's career is floundering, the school taking a different approach to economics than he would prefer, Dallas, resents every moment her husband is working, and decides to make slot machines and video poker her best friends and runs up a large amounts of debt gambling and buying a new car that they cannot afford.

In walks Keris, the beautiful and accomplished colleague, Logan begins to have doubts about his marriage..."Here she was, sheathed in sweat, wearing a spandex bodysuit with her hair coiled and clipped at the back of her head. This was yoga class. It was Tuesday afternoon and Keris was supposed to be holding office hours right now but a teacher should be allowed to play hooky ever once in a while, correct?...Even the most rigid schedule should be able to accommodate some quantum movement here and there."

In the end, there are affairs, lessons in economics, un-wed pregnancy, gambling, sex, careers that get in the way of life and more. Legendre spins a good first novel that will be enjoyed by many looking for something less run of the mill.

His friends Deck and Prentis persuade economist Logan Smith to join them for some fun in Las Vegas. Needing to escape the world of academia having just completed his graduate degree, Logan agrees. At a casino, Logan meets blackjack dealer Dallas Cole. He falls for her while she needs male attention and protection.

Logan becomes an economics professor at Arizona State University while his new wife Dallas feels out of place in the Tempe area especially in the academia setting. Meanwhile as their relationship turns shaky, Logan works on a neo-Marxist economic theory, which begins to look promising and could shake up the world order. However, he has problems; at home his spouse's clinging needs are driving him crazy; at the university his proposals including an advanced course are being rejected without a second thought; and finally there is this supportive female peer who turns on his body, mind and soul.

This is a terrific character study that star protagonists, especially Logan, who seem as human as they wish and yearn for something they do not have; the grass even in the desert is greener on the other side. Interestingly the macro economic theories are obviously complex yet easy to understand as Thomas Legendre does not dumb down but instead brings up his audience. Fans of a powerful intelligent drama will enjoy THE BURNING for something more in life.

Harriet Klausner

The geology information was very well done and interesting. I found the book very similar to Nevada Barr's books. The main character is in the wilderness on her own, encounters physical dangers, is badly injured but is able to persevere and is successful in solving the crime and recovering. Too many villians.

Susan Cummins Miller clearly draws upon her expertise and background as a field geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in writing Death Assemblage, a superbly crafted murder mystery set in the mountains west of Pair-a-Dice, Nevada. When a geologist in the final week of her dissertation fieldwork tries to unravel the secrets of the earth's stones, she becomes involved in a deadly cat-and-mouse game of kidnappings, blackmail, and rampant greed. A gripping thriller, exciting and eager to lure the reader into a labyrinth of human deceit, Death Assemblage is enthusiastically recommended reading for dedicated mystery buffs! Attention Hollywood -- this is the stuff from which blockbuster movies can be made!

Susan Cummins Miller brought me hours of pleasure with her anthology of Women writers, "A Sweet Separate Intimacy". Now she has branched into a new field of adventure fiction with a gutsy geologist named Frankie who stirs up a hot desert town. Thanks Ms. Miller for a great read!

Susan Cummins Miller has scored a hit with this one. Frankie MacFarlane, a graduate geologist, is intertwined with the people of Pair-A-Dice, several murders, and the geology of Nevada. This one kept me spellbound for hours and the ending caught me totally by surprise. For a change, this is a totally challenging murder mystery fraught with suspense. Certainly not your run-of-the-mill butler-did-it suspense tale. If you are looking for a great mystery read, try this one. You won't be disappointed.

This book is really a kick. The authors are well known among us interested in Death Valley lore. The editing of the book is excellent and the tips on checking out these old camps are very useful. This book was being sold all over Death Valley, so I suspect it's popularity indicates a lot of people agree with me!

As an officianado of Death Valley and the surrounding area, I found this book a really great read, and in fact I couldn't put it down! Lots of fascinating true history and tales packed into a nice package. Highly recommended!

This book puts together two of the most comprehensive writings on southern California ghost towns under one cover. Both L. Burr Belden and Mary DeDecker retell the stories that many of which were told to them by first hand citizens of mining towns of the late 19th century and early 20th century. The book is historically informative and holds the interest of this reader. I highly recommend the work, but due to its early publication,(both authors originally released their books in the 60's.) I do not recommend it as a guide to the modern day ghost town visitor. Nonetheless a great and interesting read.

This book is great in presenting many fascinating and sometimes humorous facts about the old mining days of California and Nevada. The lengths both writers went to to confirm their stories is to be admired. However, is quite frustrating to read for the book flows awkwardly. Misplaced commas, typos, and a constant jumping from past to present in the same paragraph can slow down the reader's understanding. Some chapters have titles about certain characters, but do not offer a complete story or even center on that person. I would go on, but the rarity of the content makes the book worthwhile on its own.

The stories are disjointed and incomplete. Several leave one without any definite indication of resolution or suggested direction of resolution. The plot never solidifies in some and is barely evident in others. A compiliation of rambling thoughts and occurences, barely connected overall into a cohesive, enjoyable story. Left me very disappointed.

although i'm from califas i appreciate the high volume of chicano lit coming from the texas valley. yanez is a good addition to the growing shelf with this set of stories about life on the el paso/ juarez border. although this territory is not new yanez's vision is. he writes about the loss of innocence and about the people who must now struggle with the metaphysical borders that affect all of us no matter who we are and what our backgound is. happiness, disappointment, joy, grief, family and society are but a few of the pressures and desires that make us human and that the author explores through the triumph and downfall of us all: language.

A few years ago, I read the short story, "Lucero's Mkt.," in Bilingual Review. I didn't know the author but the story moved me with its powerful, poignant portrait of two lost souls: a woman who had lost her mind (known in the neighborhood as, "La Loquita") and Rafael, the lonely, owner of the tiendita. When I started to read Richard Yañez's debut collection, "El Paso del Norte: Stories on the Border," I was delighted when I came upon "Lucero's Mkt." It sat happily nestled among the other borderland stories in this slim, eloquent and vibrant collection. Yañez has a gift: he can bring to life one region in Texas (near the Mexican border) but he doesn't write the same story over and over again. The characters range across the map of Latino experiences: undocumented immigrants, pochos, young, old, male, female, middle-class, indigent. Yañez never falls in the trap known as bathos. He paints an honest picture of life on the border without pulling punches. But he also shows respect for the people he writes about even those who are riddled with imperfections. This is a very fine, accomplished book. I highly recommend it.

While one might simply be satisfied with his intimate and artful texturing of images and people on the border, Yañez takes his stories to a higher level, layering time, place and character with spiritual journeys through struggles that are as specific to the border region as they are universally familiar. Through a palette of characters-a coming of age pre-teen, a widowed tire shop owner, a directionless and embittered high school graduate, and a half-sane woman on welfare, Yañez captures the dignity of a community by providing his characters with an equal amount of fallibility and promise. Throughout these stories humor is as ever-present as sadness, and in the end, Yañez consistently leaves us with subtle messages of hope.

Couldn't resist the musical reference, as it's apt for this amazing novel. Look: there are plenty of books out there -- thousands, in fact -- that seem more concerned with exhibiting the subtleties of craft than actually affecting the emotions of the reader. The Greyhound God ain't that kind of book. It's beautifully written, deeply felt, quite funny, but without one whit of post-modern "irony." I've read the book three times and each time I found myself entering into the world of Luke Rivers, the loss of his family, the tragedy that spurs this loss, his journey across America, and his strange, wonderful canine obsession. The book is one of those rare accomplishments -- a journey of self-discovery that feels real and revelatory. Readers deserve this kind of compassion. Period.

For those who like literary novels, this is one of the best ones on the market right now. Great writing, great story by a talented new author. It's a novel that makes you think and makes you question. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and getting to know Luke Rivers. I can't wait till Keith Lee Morris comes out with another novel.

For those who like literary novels, this is one of the best ones on the market right now. Great writing, great story by a talented new author. It's a novel that makes you think and makes you question. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and getting to know Luke Rivers. I can't wait till Keith Lee Morris comes out with another novel.

Great book by a new author. The Greyhound Gods vivid language creates a gripping story of the struggle for self-discovery by Luke Rivers,it's main character. Luke searches for meaningful answers in his world beset by huge questions. A real page-turner that will hold you to the end.

There are dozens of good Sierra guides out there, most of them detailing the must-see places for a newcomer or those who want to stick to the trails. However, those with some backcountry experience desiring routes on where to go off the trail have only a few resources: this book, Secor's "High Sierra" and Roper's "High Sierra Route" & "Climber's Guide to the High Sierra". All are essential for those desiring to trek through the backcountry where no trails exist. The Secor book is the most comprehensive, truly an encyclopedia, yet it's scope and necessary lack of detail, leave you a bit overwhelmed; most visitors aren't going to have opportunity to see it all.

This book and the famed Roper "High Sierra Route" nicely give more detail on selected routes through the backcountry. Arnot, a backcountry guide for some 40 years, draws upon a great body of experience in the Sierras to describe some of his favorite places, destinations that only a fraction of Sierra visitors ever venture to see: Tehipite valley, the Ionian Basin, the Muro Blanco, Gardiner Basin, the Enchanted Gorge (though Secor sarcastically says there's nothing enchanting about it)... Arnot pretty much focuses on non-technical class I-II trips and also pays a lot of attention to suggesting the times of year to visit certain places. His enthusiasm is infectious and his routes are filled with interesting anecdotes of his actual ventures. At times Arnot succumbs to an inspirational, wide-eyed-full-of-wonder sappiness that may be off-putting for some. Fortunately these passages are clearly demarcated from the rest of the text. The book has no maps, so enjoying it fully requires you to have some good topographic maps handy or a computer's Topo program nearby. The photos whet the appetite nicely and leave one wishing they were of higher resolution and in color. Overall a terrific and unique resource.

As another reviewer says, this is not a comprehensive guide. It is a guide to the places and experiences people who know the Sierra dream about--the Muro Blanco, Kaweah Basin, Tehipite Valley; spring runoff and fall color. This book is like a wish list for the Sierra insider.

It's also a labor of love, a celebration of the author's own experiences in the Sierra. Arnot's sheer enthusiasm for his subject is so endearing that it overcomes any criticism I have of his writing, which is often awkward. (With a better editor, it would get 5 stars.)

This book is good winter reading for experienced backpackers. It is not a comprehensive guide to the Sierra (for that, Secor's "The High Sierra" is the best). Rather, Arnot picks his favorite hikes and describes them in considerable detail. Most of the hikes he describes are ambitious undertakings that bring one to the less commonly reached areas of the Sierra--not the hikes most people would want to begin with. For anyone reasonably familiar with the Sierra, his book is a pleasure to read, and a source of ideas for future trips

I agree with the previous two reviewers: The book is not meant as a comprehensive, trail-by-trail, peak-by-peak guidebook (that's Secor). It describes about 40 special places in the Sierra Nevada, allmost all of them off-trail. While Arnot does tell you how to get there, more of the writing is on WHY you might want to get there. The book is not the book you would buy if you've never been to the Sierra (again, Secor is what you want). It's by someone who loves the Sierra for people who love the Sierra. Whenever I read a chapter it makes me want to leave for the mountains immidiately. On a practical note I have found that it's usually possible to make somewhat better time than Arnot's estimates, without doubt because equipment has become much lighter since the book was written.

Mr. Dicks is an attorney and a active business person. You won't find generic or plagerized advice written by "paper tigers" who write well but have no real world experience.

There is a wealth of information in this and others in the "How To" series and ideal for anyone who wants facts and useful information.

Wow what a book, it is very comprehensive on the really needed subjects. The beginning of the book describes the different types of corporations and what applications they fit best. I know I want to incorporate but was not sure what type I wanted. After reading the first chapter I had a clear course of action. There are some very usefull forms well; writting the articles of incorporation, bylaws, resolutions, minutes for the first meeting, etc. It also has some great contact information as well. Over all the book is well written, easy to read, and very clarifying. I would definetly recommend this book or any of the others in this series just based on my experiance with this one.

This book is about incorparating, and only at its very end it becomes about incorporating in Nevada. If you need to know about the many kinds of corporations available or how to raise money for you company,go ahead and buy it. But remember you are going to find an entire chapter on general tax strategies and few lines about Nevada tax information, ending with:"if you require further information, please contact the Department of Taxation at (702) 687-4820". I hope that having the number already here may save you the cost of this book....

I picked up this book along with The Small Business Legal Kit (also by Dicks) How to Incorporate and Start a Business in Nevada is very complete and an easy read. It provide charts and forms.

If you are contemplating starting a business/corporation in Nevada you will not go wrong by reading this book. It's a winner.

The Small Business Legal Kit is a great companion to this book and should be in your financial library as well.

I bought this book while taking a fiction workshop taught by Lee Barnes, curious about his published work. It was a great decision. The story never slows and takes the reader from the old streets of Las Vegas to the mountains of Montana. Peter grows a lot from a kid until a strong, compassionate adult. Barnes did a wonderful job turning his characters into real people. And overall wonderful story.

I am a Las Vegas junkie and as such purchased this book on Amazon. I mean, who couldn't purchase a book with such a cool cover.

Unfortunately, I was hoping to read a real tour-de-force about Vegas; its people, its energy.... and particularly, to get a huge dose of vintage Vegas. Although all of these elements are present to varying degrees, the story is a bit too conventional, and the characters a bit too cardboard, for me to get really excited.

That being said, it is very much in the "coming of age" (Bildungsroman) genre -- transplanted to Vegas. Kind of Dickensian. A little TOO much so. It is very self-consciously literate, culminating in the wince-inducing exchanges between the Casino Boss and the protagonist over "that fella Gatsby." Catch my drift?

I judged a book by it's cover, and picked this off the shelf at my local library.

And I am so glad that I did.

A powerful, engaging coming-of-age story that eloquently details the story of two families tied together by history, love, responsibility and success. Although the twists and turns are occasionally predictable, the imagery and characters make up for it. Definitely recommended.

H. Lee Barnes has written a novel--at times engaging and at times disturbing but at all times interesting--about a boy's coming of age in 1960s Las Vegas. Peter Elkins, son of a woman infected by wanderlust, is taken in by a casino king, Willy Bobbins, who offers him a chance to take his place as the owner of the Lucky, a downtown gaming house. Peter, however, must deal with the vicious and chaotic elements of Vegas culture, as well as the vicious and chaotic members of Bobbins's family, in his pursuit to discover himself. Barnes skillfully blends together elements of Fitzgerald's _Gatsby_, Conrad's _Heart of Darkness_, Dickens's _Bleak House_ and _Great Expectations_, and the biblical story of Moses to give the story its scope and direction, and his attention to the details of the Las Vegas landscape--both inside and outside of the casinos--will delight those who are familiar with the city. Careful readers will also see Barnes borrow from his own Viet Nam short story "Tunnel Rat" to give measure to the chaos that dominates the story: if Viet Nam is Chaos, and Willy's Montana ranch is Heaven on Earth, then Las Vegas strikes an uneasy balance somewhere between. Peter Elkins also falls somewhere between--a good man who nevertheless commits questionable actions--and he finds a peaceful life only when he can extract himself from the extremes of the landscapes that have shaped him.