Wyoming Books

I like this calendar, except that I wish, along with noting the place the photo was taken, there be a map that *shows* where.

Kerrie Kenndy and her family inherited a small ranch from an uncle they hadn't seen in 20 years. What was supposed to be a new start was fated with love, betrayal, fresh emotions and even raw passion and hatred. The Sabers ranched this land and took to their liking the small shack the Kennedy's intened to call home, when the owner left it twenty years ago. Elliot Saber built a his Circle S ranch with bare hands with the help of lifetime friend Jim. Only Elliots desire to build an empire would let no one stand in his way. He was driven to his soul and it could cost him his two sons lives; both sons would die to defend honor and Circle S ranch. The eldest son Damien was sensitive, a trait inheirited from his mother who died at childbirth she had been a fragil woman who couldn't handle hard work and trying to make her husband love her as much as she did. Damien was also the strong, desire driven son that worked hard along his father. Britt who's mother Elliot Saber had stayed married too was soon torn from comming from two different worlds. Britts mother, an indian woman, saw Elliot had no love to give anyone but to Circle S decided she would rather be back with her people then to not be loved by her own husband. So, she unselfishly went back to her brothers tribe and left Elliot to raise his two sons. Elliot showed them hard work and somehow disfunctial devotion drove them apart. But helping make a legend out of Circle S was the main focus on all three Sabers. So scarring off the Kennedy's was a minor problem, considering no one knew the limits the Saber's would go to put their threat in motion. The Saber's try to scare the Kennedy's to look elsewhere to "squat" but fate always rules and the two brothers fall for a Kennedy lady name Kerrie who would protect her father and family until no end. But without knowing a strong force would draw Kerrie and Damien together. There seemed no end to this war which was becoming violent; but passion and raw love kept these two fated people in love and war. Who would have known someone other would try to destroy both theirs and their families lives. Disaster strikes but honor, regret, forgivness, faith bind these families as one. Great book, read it in a day and hoping there might be a sequel.

Albeit is almost the same plot, love story, and thrilling part in the three books - "Hard Evidence", "Vendetta" and this one the story is quite good to read. If you don't want to read almost the same story thrice just keep some time between books.

Great photos leaving you wanting more or actually quit work and spend a whole summer backpacking the range and taking your own pictures. Anybody who loves the Wind Rivers will like this book. Not as good as Joe Kelsey's "Wyoming's Wind River Range" photo book (I believe out of print) but still a good one to add to your collection on the Wind Rivers.

Along the Powder River in Wyoming the cowboys' strike for better conditions has failed and now cattle are being rustled and men are disappearing, presumed killed. The law can't find the answers. Clint Adams, The Gunsmith, rides in a saves the beautiful young daughter of the strike leader from being hurt by a group of toughs. Now Adams is caught up in the mystery of the missing cattle and once legendary range detective Heck Thomas joins the hunt the odds start looking better for the cowboys...

Once more a Gunsmith book that has Clint Adams meeting up with a real person from the history of the American West. Although both Adams and Heck Thomas are in the book from almost the word go it isn't until near the end that they meet face to face to finally solve the case of the missing cowboys.

The book is told in the usual fast paced style with very little scene description, the author preferring to stay with the characters and their movements.

Like most Gunsmith books I've read there's little action until the end, but the book builds up well to this final confrontation.

A worthy entry into the Gunsmith series.

Humor abounds in this collection of Wyoming historical trivia. J.J. Hammond tells it like it was from before the time Wyoming Territory became a state until the near present. A few of the many questions answered include: In which Wyoming mountain range have rubies, sapphires, jasper and a 200-pound jade specimen been found? In which county did the last Indian battle take place? Where is the town of Purple Sage? Three states fought long and hard over which river water? Which mountain range has a French name that means "big belly?" Which national monument features the richest fossil deposits in the world? And which Wyoming newspaper auctioned off its first copy for $10 in 1898? The cover of this delightful book is a photo of "Liver Eating" Johnson's gravesite in Cody, Wyoming.

Cattle Kate (Ella Watson) was the only woman ever hanged in Wyoming. For years afterward the history books portrayed her as a wanton hussy who traded her favors to lonely passers-by while shamelessly rustling their cattle in the meantime. Hufsmith, however, has done an incredible amount of research to prove that such was not the case. In fact, claims Hufsmith, Ella was never called Cattle Kate before her unfortunate demise. That moniker was rustled(sorry) up by a Cheyenne newspaper editor who was in cahoots with the wealthy rancher who wanted Ella's land bad enough to kill her for it and make up a pack of lies about her which have survived until today. Another fascinating mystery in Wyoming history, which unfortunately, has never drawn the attention that the other mystery--that of Tom Horn-has garnered throughout the historical community. Read Hufsmith's book. Analyze both sides of the "Cattle Kate" story. What do you think really went on?

This book is a fascinating study of the origins of the place names in Wyoming. You can study the origins and history behind just about every place in Wyoming. I am a WY native, and I didn't know the origins of some of the place names in this book!

Yes, this is a source book. The bibliography alone is worth the price with 271 entries. Ever wonder what happened to Tom Horn, or where the world's first fossil of Triceratops was discovered? Each page of this wonderful book was a surprise even though I was born in Wyoming and am somewhat familiar with the state. I admit I didn't know the three most deadly highways, the number of reported rapes in 1988, or the trona production from 1950. I have always been proud to have been born in the Equality State but, even so, was surprised by the comparable worth stats. Maps, all types of charts, pictures, and drawings lay out a plethora of facts and interesting, informative bits covering health, politics, topography, economy, conservation, education, and much more. If abandoned settlements is your shtick, see the map on page 314. This is definitely a book for researchers but I really enjoy finding some of the weird stuff hidden amongst the stats such as how much Butch Cassidy netted in the Tipton train robbery and what the Colorado Cannibal preferred for dinner. Only 4 stars? Even researchers like color. Thanks guys-

I love the work of Henry Holdsworth. For almost seven years I've had a 20 by 30-inch print by him hanging on my wall. It shows a herd of bison moving up an S-shaped creek bed in Yellowstone Park in a snowstorm. The colors are muted and condensed into a narrow range of light that provides a subtle contrast to the huge beasts. A similar picture appears on the cover of Holdsworth?s portfolio of pictures of the wildlife of Yellowstone and Grand Teton.

The pictures in the book cover the full range of animals that dwell in the two parks and surrounding area. Although most of the pictures show the dominant wildlife forms like buffalo, moose and elk, there are also pictures of other less frequently seen animals like grosbeaks and mountain lions. And apparently, in those few cases where Holdsworth did not have an image that satisfied his vision, he included the pictures of other photographers.

Holdsworth is not afraid to put principal players into a subordinate position in a picture to tell a story. I was particularly impressed by his treatment of wolves. There are some good close-ups, but I really found the picture of a bull elk in the fog with the vague outlines of five wolves at a greater distance, just barely visible in the thick grass and fog, to be quite an effective story teller. Another picture of a line of wolves making their way through the snow and pines of the Lamar Valley tells a dramatic story even though there is no prey in sight.

Holdsworth loves to take pictures under difficult conditions. Many of the pictures show animals in the steam that erupts from inside the earth in Yellowstone, but the photographer also captures foggy, misty days and animals surviving in a snowy landscape. In many of these pictures the range of light is greatly subdued.

Unfortunately this style may also be Holdsworth's greatest weakness, for commercial purposes. The current trend in outdoor photography is highly saturated pictures with the full range of tones from the most impenetrable blacks to eye-dazzling whites. Some of this is the legacy of Ansel Adams, and modern-day photographers like Art Wolfe. Some of this is the result of the ability to manipulate the image in digital programs, like Photoshop. But Holdsworth seems to have rejected this style to follow his own path. At first I thought that this was a result of the printers' lack of art. However, the few pictures in the book that are more in keeping with current sensibilities convinced me that this limited range of light was a conscious style decision that the photographer had reached. Whether you like it or not depends on your own aesthetic.

Even if this is not your style, the animal pictures are wonderful enough in form that nature lovers will appreciate this book. And lovers of Yellowstone and Grand Teton will treasure this book.