Alaska Books

Any gardener with slugs within their gareden will
treasure this book. It's a mini 101 course that will
enlighten you about their behaviors and how to erradicate
them. An added bonus is a beautifully "illustrated
cover", worthy to sit on any coffee table.

This is a neat little package that gives a wealth of info about slugs. It was a little less technical than I had hoped. If you're looking to answer specific biology questions or have the hopes of a key, this is not the answer.

What on earth am I doing reviewing a book about slugs? Because I live in Slugland & I want to know more about those slithery slimers who mug my lettuces & ravish my sprouts. This little book is a gem, a must for anyone living among gastropods. This book inspired me to write a poem about these critters who have been around far longer than we! Still don't like 'em, I'll tolerate them because David George Gordon has written a funny, informative, charming book about a subject most would rather stomp on! So there!

I found this book to be a concise, thorough discussion of the subject of garden slugs. Every gardener has had to deal with them in some form or another and this little book is the perfect addition to your gardening library on the subject. Excellent artwork and drawings, also.

This is a great short non-fiction work on slugs, handy for identifying those little slimers. Just the right amount of detail for the mildly curious. Readable in about an hour, it includes brief chapters on "The Slug Family Tree," "The Slug in Brief," "Anatomy of a Slug," "Familiar Slugs of the Northwest," "Seven Wonders of Slugdom," "Controlling Slugs," "Observing Slugs in the Wild," and "at Home", "Plants Slugs Avoid Eating" and "Love to Eat", and a short bibliography

I think this book would be helpful in planning a trip to Alaska to fish. After reading about the crowds fishing from the roadsides I believe I will hire a guide and a boat for my trip. Without reading about it I would probably have been disapointed in having to do "Combat Fishing" at the road crossings.

Charles

Intend to spend a week fishing the Kenai this Summer. This book gives me the information I wanted to wander on my own and feel that I will still catch fish. Well organized both in terms of fish to expect, but also well broken down by areas. The author provides sufficient information on those fishing Alaska for the first time to feel relatively comfortable that they will be prepared with the proper equipment and knowledge to have a successful trip.

I picked up a copy of this book when I was on vacation in Alaska fishing the Kenai. First off, the author is an execellent outdoors writer and really makes you wish you were there. As far as fishing info, the book gives a great overview of the most productive techniques (which are used by practically every guide in the area) used to catch each type of salmon and trout in the area. It gives good information about all the local rivers, streams, and lakes,and most importantly timing information on salmon runs and most productive trout periods. The first section on Lake Fishing is a bit more geared toward local anglers with access to a canoe, but I would definately recommend this book for anyone planning a fishing trip to the Kenai Peninsula.

If there ever was a perfect recipe for an area fishing guide, this is it. Beautiful photos, great maps, fantastic stories that bring the areas alive and just plain great advice. Atcheson, has created the mold that I wish others would follow for the other states and regions I fish. He covers the whole gamut of the Kenai Peninsula, not exhaustively, but by picking a handful of representative locations, fishing styles and target species. Then he gives away his fishing secrets like an old and trusted fishing buddy. In fact in his intro he says the book's first objective is to tell you where to fish. He claims to do this to improve his fishing Kharma, and I hope it is working.

He doesn't spell out exactly what hole to drop which lure into, but he does give some great suggestions based on fishing, scenery, and wilderness experience. And in an area where 90 percent of the fishermen are going to 10 percent of the fishing areas, he gives some great alternatives to being shoulder to shoulder on the Russian or lining the Kenai. He does cover those areas well, but he suggests other options like hiking up to the Russian Lakes and fishing their outlets for trout.

Whether you are a tourist planning a trip to the Kenai or a resident of South Central Alaska, you should get this book. It has a lot of great area experiences that get overlooked in the shadow of the Kenai, the Russian and the saltwater charter fishing options. Try one of his hike in float tube lakes some time.

I read the book while on vacation in Mexico and found myself thirsting for the clean waters of Alaska. The author is obviously a devout fisherman. Woven throughout the book are comments, observations and short essays that address the intangable elements of fishing that can result in a love of the sport. Atcheson has not forgotten what the essence of fishing is all about and he can be downright poetic at times. This is not to imply that important planning details and valuable local knowledge is glossed over. On the contrary, Atcheson hits all the bases and offers many fishing techniques, super maps, and detailed information on many quiet out of the way trout and salmon hang-outs and the large rivers. This book is educational and packed with advice and seasonal information that is applicable and unique to fishing in Alaska. A really good book that delivers years of local knowledge and a better understanding of life below the surface.

Bill Hess as created a masterpiece. His grainy and moody black and white capture the bowhead hunt, Point Lay beluga hunts and Inupiat life in respectfully frank perfection. The book contains several stories that are threaded in and out of the Inupiat Bowhead hunts and gives a good look into the subsistence lifestyle of the Eskimos who live on the edge of the Arctic ocean.

Hess' journalistic writing style is easy to read and appreciate. He was able to get a close-up view on many things most will never have a chance to see from subsistence hunts, search and rescue missions and the 1990's attempt to free three ice-trapped gray whales which had captured the medias attention. It was interesting how different the story that reached us was compared to the situation and conclusion was on the ice.

If you have interest in whale hunting or Eskimo lifestyles, get this book. It is a great visual and prose look into this arctic world.

This book is a milestone among recent publications on Alaska because it portrays Alaska's Native people in an unvarnished and realistic way. This is NOT a commercial "coffee table book" or a series of pretty pictures suitable for note cards. A short story, hopefully, will illustrate my point.

When I was living in Barrow in the late 1980s, the mayor asked me to meet with a visiting photographer who had requested information on traditional whale hunting (I was a staff anthropologist at the time). The Anchorage photographer [NOT Bill Hess] wanted to "reconstruct" a whale hunt. This commercial photographer pleaded to have me call him in Anchorage next time a whale was harpooned so he could catch the next plane to Barrow (he had already talked the airline into sponsoring him). He promised that he would stage the photograph to show the local people in the best possible light and make them appreciated by all the tourists who come to Alaska.

After nearly throwing up, I politely told him that the Inupiat whale hunters were quite capable of taking care of themselves and did not need to be "airbrushed" and marketed for popular consumption.

Then I met Bill Hess. I immediately connected with his visceral understanding of Inupiat culture which he communicates so elegantly in words and photos in this book "Gift of the Whale." This book communicates a vision of contemporary Inupiat life that is unvarnished and somewhat raw; but - from my firsthand experience - authentic.

Bill Hess knows what it's like to sweat while breaking a sled trail through jumbled ice floes at 20 below. He earned his unique chance to communicate the symbiotic relationship between Inupiat hunters and the bowhead whale. This book takes the reader out onto the Arctic Ocean (in both its frozen and liquid state) and into the skin boats, skiffs, snowmachines and tents of crews who provide their families with life-giving food. The real stories (illustrated with stunning duotone photos of the people and the animals that are simultaneously revered and killed for survival) are more interesting and insightful than any pseudo-reality a market-driven journalist could create.

Bill Hess, through his photos and stories in this book, communicates how Inupiat culture continues to focus on the communal hunting and sharing of food for survival. This book communicates in vivid detail how impractical contemporary Western values of individual ego-driven materialism are when it's 20 below zero with the snow blowing sideways, and a fellow hunter is lost on the tundra. Bill illustrates how Inupiat society is built on respect and reverence for the resources and each other, keys to long-term survival in the Arctic. This book provides a visual banquet allowing the reader to enjoy and appreciate contemporary Inupiat whaling, life, and culture.

Bill Hess is a very gifted photographer, who works almost exclusively in black and white. He has spent a great deal of time with the people the people of the North Slope whose lives are shared in this book. For a number of years he was under contract to the North Slope Borough to produce a magazine about life on the North Slope (Uinniq-The Open Lead, which makes it clear that the people of the North Slope felt that he represents them clearly and fairly.

One could enjoy this book for the photography alone, but it is so much more than that. Whaling is a central focus of North Slope Inupiat culture; it is an inextricable part. People here know that; and the whalers carry it out as a sacred trust on behalf of the whole community.

This is a stunning visual presentation combined with a moving, unpretentious text. The drama of the three grey whales, the search for footprints . . . it is all powerful stuff. I have only been living in Barrow for nine months but so far there isn't a word that doesn't ring true.

I have done a great deal of reading in my life, yet never have I been more absorbed in a book than I have in 'Gift of the Whale'. I highly recommend this elegant, enjoyable and informative piece of work.

In January of 1925, a diptheria epidemic broke out in Nome, Alaska. One Dr. Welch treated three children who were deathly ill. Since the town was under quarantine and an emergency alert was sent to the governor in Juneau outlining the need for the vaccine.

The necessary serum was in Anchorage, which was over 1,000 miles from Nome. This was during the early days of air travel and at that time no planes flew to Alaska during the winter months due to the lack of closed cockpits and the inclement weather would cost pilots their lives.

Trains were the popular mode of transportation. A train brought the serum from Anchorage to Nenana. In Nenana, the mushers and their teams of malamutes and huskies took the medicine for the rest of its cliff-hanging run to Nome.

I like the way a map of the route is included in this book and the way the dogs are introduced to readers. Balto, the most famous dog was the husky who led the team on the last leg of the journey. He has been credited with getting the medicine through in time to save the stricken children. Togo, a beautiful male husky is also featured. He was one of the huskies on the first run. Sadly, his part is eclipsed by Balto's now famous heroic journey. Still, this is not to discount what this brave curly tailed dog accomplished. Togo's stamina got the first team off to a flying start.

I like the way each musher is credited in this book; the distance of each run to Nome and each participant, musher and husky and malamute alike are listed. Each one of these people and curly tailed dogs are given their due recognition. If it had not been for those teams, the medicine would never have reached its destination before deadline. Truly a treasure for all ages. It makes me think of the 1979 song, "Ain't No Stopping Us Now."

Debbie Millerýs masterful retelling of the Serum Run, which saved the children of Nome, Alaska from a deadly diphtheria epidemic in 1925, goes well beyond the facts of this heroic team effort. The Great Serum Run: Blazing the Iditarod Trail includes well-researched factual information, reference tables, maps, and photographs. Millerýs narrative comes alive as she skillfully interweaves many little known fascinating details of how the mushers and their dog sled teams endured their individual treks from Nenana to Nome in such deadly weather conditions. The story behind this famous dog sled team relay was inspiration for the world famous ýLast Great Race,ý the Iditarod. Jon Van Zyle, the official Iditarod artist, complements Millerýs text with vivid, captivating illustrations. Readers of this book will gain a sense of the unbelievable accomplishment of these dog sled teams. People of all ages will treasure this book. The Great Serum Run: Blazing the Iditarod Trail should be included as a first resource for teachers interested in providing thought provoking discussions about the Iditarod, teamwork, and manýs interaction and dependence on animals.

About the Reviewer: Ann Morgan has taught lessons about the Iditarod in grades 2- 6 for the last 18 years, and is currently teaching at Chatham Middle School, Chatham, Massachusetts. In 2000, she was in Alaska at the Iditarod and acquired first hand knowledge of the race by following the mushers and dog sled teams with her own bush pilot from Anchorage to Nome.

The Great Serum Race, Blazing the Iditarod Trail by Debbie S. Miller with illustrations by Jon Van Zyle, the official artist of the dogsled race and a two-time participant in the Iditarod, is a children's book, ages 7 to 10, published in 2002 by Walker & Company. This has become one of my favorite books for introducing children to this amazing race of skill and endurance.

The book is based on the real events of January, 1925, when the population of Nome, Alaska, was in desperate need of diphtheria vaccine. Dr. Welch had not seen a case of diphtheria in twenty years and suddenly he had three young children very ill with the disease. Something had to be done. The community was put under quarantine and an emergency wire went out to the governor in Juneau that the town needed emergency help. This is where the mushers came in. The decision was made to bring serum from Anchorage, over 1,000 miles away, to Nome. In those days, airplanes only flew in Alaska in the summertime because they had open-cockpits and neither plane nor pilot would survive the weather. A steam engine (#66) took the serum from Anchorage to Nenana where the real adventure began. The rest of the story tells of the harrowing experiences of mushers and dogs in their race against time in getting the serum to its destination. At one point, it is believed the serum might be lost.

The front of the book includes a map of the dogsled trail from Nenana to Nome. There is also an introduction to Togo, a Siberian husky and one of the true heroes of the 1925 race. Another excellent feature included in this book, is the complete list of mushers who participated in the original race, each one's race segment, and the distance covered. The race's heroic dogs also have a page devoted to them at the end of the book. This book is a real treasure for both adults and children.

Carolyn Rowe Hill

Debbie Miller's masterful retelling of the Serum Run, which saved the children of Nome, Alaska from a deadly diphtheria epidemic in 1925, goes well beyond the facts of this heroic team effort. The Great Serum Run: Blazing the Iditarod Trail includes well-researched factual information, reference tables, maps, and photographs. Miller's narrative comes alive as she skillfully interweaves many little known fascinating details of how the mushers and their dog sled teams endured their individual treks from Nenana to Nome in such deadly weather conditions. The story behind this famous dog sled team relay was inspiration for the world famous "Last Great Race," the Iditarod. Jon Van Zyle, the official Iditarod artist, complements Miller's text with vivid, captivating illustrations. Readers of this book will gain a sense of the unbelievable accomplishment of these dog sled teams. People of all ages will treasure this book. The Great Serum Run: Blazing the Iditarod Trail should be included as a first resource for teachers interested in providing thought provoking discussions about the Iditarod, teamwork, and man's interaction and dependence on animals.

About the Reviewer: Ann Morgan has taught lessons about the Iditarod in grades 2- 6 for the last 18 years, and is currently teaching at Chatham Middle School, Chatham, Massachusetts. In 2000, she was in Alaska at the Iditarod and acquired first hand knowledge of the race by following the mushers and dog sled teams with her own bush pilot from Anchorage to Nome.

Debbie Miller did a great deal of research before writing this book, so though it is written for children, it is a great account for all to read. I would highly recommend it to readers of all ages who are interested in dog teams and their important role in Alaska. This is the best and most acurate telling of the story of the serum run to Nome in 1925 which I have ever seen. It is a children's book in that it explains what happened from the viewpoint of children. Beyond the story, there are facts presented in the back of the book. Jon Van Zyle is a popular artist, but I did not feel that his oil paintings for this book were all that great.

Dean -- Love the book -- especially the pictures of Gavin and me -- but you know that. To anyone else who reads this: Dean knows whereof he speaks: He's a good hiker and builds a good, environmentally sensitive campfire. Hope you don't mind my using this avenue to try to get your e-mail address.

We just used this book as a primary source on a recent trip to Southern Alaska. The book's description of hikes was extremely accurate and helpful. We particularly enjoyed the very accurate directions to trailheads and the elevation profiles, which gave a good sense of the hikes' difficulty. The book's focus on issues such as the clarity of trail markings and the variation in the hike experience during different times of the year gave the book extra value.

I spent 3 mos. in Alaska and I had this book as well as Jim DuFresne's Backpacking Alaska (Lonely Planet). I used this book more for short day hikes and overnight backpacking trips whereas DuFresne's has more multi-day backpacking trips. The one thing that I really loved about this book was the elevation diagrams, DuFresne's book had none. But again, I used this book to fill in my gaps of time for short day hikes out of many of Alaska's more accessible towns. Good book for the "Hiker". DuFresne's book is good for the "Backpacker".

The book has great general info. on the numerous trails in our nation's biggest state. The information on trails that I hiked in the Palmer and Seward areas were right on the money, and I hope to use the guide on future trips up north.

This is probaly the best hiking book of any such types. truly informative. The pages seem to be made of a light density papyprus product...making it ideal for backpacking. The Author has truly captured the essense of hiking out in the Alaska Booneys.

I love the author's creative, eclectic writing style: the mixture of story and poetry is great. Mr. Rundquist did extremely well in capturing true-to-life Alaskan characters. Having read many, many books that are "supposedly" about Alaska, I found "Mountain" to be free from the stereotypes that all too often run through such efforts. This Alaskan's critique: he done good.

Having just read this book I wanted to say that I found it to be a most engrossing and humorous tale of Alaska. The authors account of adventures in every part of that beautiful state was the perfect remedy to long, hot, smoggy California summer days. I highly recommend this book and have forwarded copies to friends as a highly entertaining novel from a talented new author.

Rundquist does a brilliant job of bringing Alaska and its people to life in his new novel. The 'tour' segment on Denali National Park is some of the finest travel writing I have ever encountered. I loved the wildlife stories and his accounts of 'typical' small-town life in Alaska (Skagway, Talkeetna). I also laughed myself silly at his accounts of 'Top Twenty Tourist Questions' and the infamous 'Sour Toe Cocktail.' Highly recommended, especially for anyone interested in Alaska.

Tim Rundquist, formerly of Davis, has just published his first book, 'How Heavy is The Mountain,' which he describes as an 'Alaskan tour manual/novel.' He worked in Alaska and the Yukon Territory, Canada for eight seasons as a professional tour guide, covering territory from Ketchikan to Prudhoe Bay, and nearly everything in between. The time spent in Alaska affected him not just professionally but creatively: 'My time in Alaska made such a deep impression on me that I had to write about it,' he said. 'Alaska is truly a land like no other.' The trouble was, Rundquist had some difficulty deciding what kind of book to write. 'The educator in me wanted to give a tour of the places that I came to know so well,' he said. 'The environmentalist in me wanted to highlight the special and fragile nature of the land. And my inner artist was inspired to express itself, to experiment, to create. The words just flowed.' So the result is a book that's not easy to categorize, but is well-written, informative and alternately (sometimes simultaneously) touching and hilarious. Perhaps Rundquist doesn't want to be confined to one genre. But finally it didn't matter: 'My goal, above all, is simply to place the book in the hands of people who will read and enjoy it. I wish I could be like Richard Brautigan and build a readership by walking around San Francisco, giving away copies for free.'

This is one great delightful book, although a bit heavy to carry on your trip to Alaska. It is essential preplanning. It is not for those on cruise ships whose intent is to absorb everything Alaska in a four hour shore leave, for as the author states, "They are to be entertained, not educated." The format of this book with poems, myths, and a fast-paced narrative will leave most readers clamoring for more.

I rarely get a laugh from books but this one had me with tears in my eyes from laughing. It was very funny and the best part reminded me of some of my antics in the Air Force. Well worth the read.

I decided to write this because I am at this link anyway to buy another copy of the book. I had a copy but trusted my old boss(a week-end pilot) to return it upon finishing, instead he forwarded it on to a relative in Alaska who is some big shot at one of the Air Force bases. I had previously stopped my brother-in-law (a Coast Guard Vet.also a week-end pilot)from lifting my copy a year earlier.The point being any pilot or anyone who has had the desire to fly will love this book, if you are or have been in the US Military I think it would add to the enjoyment. Watching the "Deadliest Catch" on the Discovery Channel and seeing video of Malcolm describe a rescue he was involved with in Alaska waters lent a face to attach to his personality. The book is well written and Smith and Cahill should present us with the sequel.

I read this book cover to cover in about 2 days because it was so funny and I couldn't put it down. My husband is a pilot and hearing these stories just crack me up! I sent one to my brother hoping it would provide many hours of entertainment, and it did... great book!

This is your father's coast guard; but not the one I had envisioned! This book is hard to put down. There are chuckles galore. I keep it bedside now and open it to random pages for a quick mood lift. Haven't done that in a while! The Coast Guard is one of our nations best kept secrets.

Two years ago my friend John Cahill told me he was writing a book.
"What's it about?" I asked.
"This guy I know, Malcolm Smith, flew in the Coast Guard. He has some great stories about his experiences."
Instantly my mind went in two directions. First, I pictured war documentaries aired at five o'clock in the morning--hours of dull information I don't want to know. Open-minded person that I am, I quickly wrote the book off. Simultaneously, I thought of another friend, Steve Ward. Unlike me, Steve was very interested in airplanes, and any time a plane went overhead, he would identify it as a B-26 or a C-593. Actually, these may not exist, for I have just made them up; to me all the numbers were meaningless. I was also reminded of Steve's passionate idea to make a movie about the WASPs--not the insects, but a group of adventurous young women who flew planes in WWII. I knew that--though I probably had no interest in John Cahill's book--Steve Ward would. I'd buy a copy, give it to Steve, and let him tell me about it.
"Oh, that's great," I said, trying to sound more enthusiastic than I felt. "Let me know when it's done. I'll buy a copy."
Time passes both too quickly and not quickly enough. A year ago, in February, 2003, Steve Ward died. In September, 2003 seven months later, Malcolm Smith, with J. Wilfred Cahill, published I NEVER LIKED THOSE C-130'S ANYWAY: MEMORIES OF TWENTY YEARS IN THE U.S. COAST GUARD.
Perhaps in a vain subconscious wish to bring Steve Ward back, I bought not one, but two copies. They lay on my desk for months. I don't have much time to sit down and read, but I spend a lot of time on the road and listen to a lot of tapes. Each time I ran into John Cahill, I'd apologize for not having got to the book yet, and then complain that if it were out on audio, I'd have listened to it already. John said they were working on the audio version, but didn't care if I read the book, so long as I had bought it.
Finally, I couldn't take any more Cahill encounters, not having read the book. The world is unpredictable, espcially the world of literature, and you just don't always know what lies under the next unlikely looking cover. The surprise for me was a wonderfully readable and highly entertaining collection of anecdotes, masterfully told by Malcolm Smith on to tape, and transcribed by John Cahill. The stories are short, but interesting, and always involve either a prank or a screw-up. I have never encountered another book quite like it. The nearest thing I can think of is a book my mother gave me called PECK'S BAD BOY AND HIS PA. I was sick in bed at the time and I think that book helped me get better, for it celebrated, through the consecrated written word of a published book, tales of mischief and shenanigans.
Having never had any direct experience with any branches of the military or its associated arms, my impression of the whole business has always been one of seriousness, order, discipline and drudgery. Malcolm Smith's stories humanize and humorize these stereotypes. What emerges from his book are the experiences of a man endowed with average gifts and foibles, but an extraordinary sense of humor and penchant for fun. Through his stories, Malcolm Smith reveals a Coast Guard institution big-hearted enough to allow his whole human being--one that did not necessarily fit into any particular mold--to grow within the system to his own natural potential, as an exceptional officer and pilot, much loved by his fellow "Coasties". I have never considered any branch of the services for myself, but Malcolm Smith makes me feel that I might have missed something great in not having been there.
Steve Ward would have loved this book. Hell, I really enjoyed it and I'm not even interested in airplanes or the Coast Guard. At least, I wasn't. Now, at least I know the difference between an H-52 and a C-130.
Thanks, Malcolm, for remembering and telling your stories, and thanks, John, for turning them into a book.
Malcolm Smith's stories may well become widely read and enjoyed. One day we will be able to remember when they were first published and that we were among the first to hear them. Rumor has it that this first collection includes only those stories which the author felt he could tell without getting himself into trouble. If there are more as good as these, here's one reader who looks forward to hearing them.

The subtitle of this book is "A History of Alaskan Salmon Trolling and the Tragedy of the Dammed Columbia River." In this compelling historical novel, Colvin "tells the other side of the story" of what we as a nation have lost in the name of progress. By imagining the life of one man (aptly named Sammy) the author provides a dramatic and personalized view of the changes that destroyed, in one lifetime, the salmon trolling industry. While this is ultimately a story of loss, I found that Sammy's story also includes joy and suspense. What fisherman wouldn't thrill to the catch of a nearly hundred pound "June Hog," truly the king of salmon. Sammy faces many perils, such as deadly storms and an earthquake, but he also has the opportunity to witness the pristine and awe-inspiring beauty of the Alaskan wilderness. I enjoyed being a part of Sammy's life; I was fascinated with the evolution of the salmon trolling industry; and I was shocked at the way we as a nation destroyed it. While we can't undo the past, we can be vigilant in our future treatment of our planet earth.

The Last Fisherman is a fantastic read for anyone, but especially for those who love historical novels, or for those whose interest is in the commercial fishing scene of Alaska. Personally, I love historical novels, but knew nothing about Alaskan commercial fishing.

I found the fishing life style and the information provided, fascinating. More serious than humorous, the book nonetheless has some very entertaining funny moments. There are some great bear stories!

I used to wonder whether the environmentalists exaggerated the effect of dams on the salmon runs, or if the story from the dam builders was so much public relations spin. Now I know!

The book is easy to read, and you won't want to put it down.

Dan Dunn, M.D., Scott City, KS

Captivating account of an adventuresome life style with amazing details of the navigational skills & seamanship necessary to both survive & succeed as a commercial fisherman in the coastal waters of wilderness Alaska.

Excellent book - excellent writing. Could not put the book down. A great read for just about anybody but particularly those interested in the truth about the fishing industry and what the Government has done to it. Cannot wait for this to become a movie!

I highly recommend this book - not just for those who personally experienced salmon fishing on the west coast, but for anyone who loves the outdoors and understands the importance of our natural resources, and the role the independent fisherman has played in our history. This book is well written and very enjoyable.

I am in awe of the labor of love here, a compilation from all kinds of Alaskans and of all kinds of Alaska. The author is open-hearted and open-minded. I am sorry I had not read this one sooner, but better late than never (so many great books by smaller presses go unnoticed due to lack of marketing budget).
I hope to see more by Wayne Mergler, maybe for 2008.
Lesley Thomas, author of Flight of the Goose

Having been there to see Alaska only whets the appetite. Do you have imagination? Then, whether you've never been, only cruised thru, or passed thru via Anchorage, don't wait to purchase this the finest collection of stories of the true Alaska you will find. Feel what it's like to freeze to death, hunt the Great Whale, live the ways of the original Alaskans...without having to. Immerse yourself in poetry only a great land and great people could create. In short, enjoy this collection. Savor it. Send it to friends as I have. And, pick it up again and again and again.

This book is a delight. Well chosen and skillfully edited material covers all aspects of the Alaska experience -- from native myths to the burly Alaska of the wild. This is a perfect book to read before your first trip to Alaska. If you have visited Alaska, reading this book will help you savor the Alaska experience. There are also several short pieces which make great bedtime reading for young children. One of my best purchases in years.

Although many great literary minds have been inspired to write about Alaska, it is impossible to find a single work that can completely describe the "Alaskan Experience". This great land is simply too vast in size, and rich in history and cultures to be described by any one author at any one time. In his anthology, Wayne Mergler selected excerpts from classical stories of Alaska, along with modern works and Native lore. He transports the reader through time and culture to give a fuller view of what it is to be "Alaskan".

I have lived in Alaska all of my life and I have never found anything that described this land to its fullest. Wayne Mergler's anthology is one of the few works that takes both Alaskan and non-Alaskan authors to describe not only the adventures and dreams found here, but also the riches. Included in this Anthology, are authors like Jack London, John Haines, Nick Jans, Margaret Murie and many others. From poems and legends to excerpts of novels, this anthology has something for everyone. This work is not only a good book for Alaskans to read, but also any people in the lower-48 who ahve never been here, or still think that Alaska has nothing to offer except snow and ice

"Midnight Sun" is a fantastic novel, ful of romance, adventure and surprises. The characters are wonderful and the plot is totally amazing.

Actually, I would like to give it 5,5 Stars because Lisa Tawn Bergren deserves more than 5 Stars for that magnificent story of love and friendship.

I consider myself a very exigent reader, but Lisa Tawn Bergren has surprised me with this amazing series (the best I ever read in a long time). I could not put it down once I began reading.

I highly recommend you to read the whole series !!!!! (But, you have to read the series in order)

If you read The Captain's Bride and Deep Harbor then this is a must. I only regret that this is the last book in the series. I will truly miss the characters! Lisa, another book well written!

Lisa Tawn Bergren has done an excellent job of wrapping up all the lives we learned to love (and some we didn't!) in the first two of this trilogy. CAPTIAN'S BRIDE and DEEP HARBOR kept you on the edge of your chair and at times exclaiming - "she can't do that to that character!". In MIDNIGHT SUN, you can relax a little more while reading, but for me it was still a "stay up and read until it's finished" wonderful, satisfying ending. The author may state this is the end to this series, but I wonder if she would consider another book with the children all grown up? Does Alaska have to be the final frontier for these wonderful characters? Read all three books, you will laugh and cry with the rest of us!

I just finished Midnight Sun and it was heart-breaking when I read the last page and knew that I would never know what further happened to Karl,Elsa, James, Kaatje, Tora and Trent. I would have appreciated a longer epilogue, maybe, and less time on Soren, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed this trilogy!

This is an awesome ending! Midnight Sun is a definite must read for anyone who has read The Captain's Bride and Deep Harbor. When I finished the first two, I felt like I was in the middle of a great movie and the electricity went out! I couldn't wait to see how things ended with Karl, Elsa, Kaatje, Tora and Trent. I only wish that Karl has resolved things with his father. Overall, an excellent book. I'm looking forward to her next book.