New Mexico Books

Evan Shelby moved out to the great Gila Wilderness in New Mexico Territory, an area he had once visited before and held fond memories of. Diagnosed with tuberculosis, he wanted to live out his last days surrounded by the beauty of the land. The dry air of the southwest has done wonders since: Evan hasn't shown any symptoms in the past six months, and he has fallen in love with the Mimbres Valley area. He has also made many friends, though some still hold his past as a Captain in the Union army against him.

Now Evan's Destiny Valley is about to be shaken up. The Empire Cattle Company has come into town looking for more land on which to graze their stock. "Cash on the barrel" is only one of their enticement; unfortunately, men like Arch Kinder and Code Sloan are the other, roughnecks who are used to getting their way and are willing to do anything to ensure that Empire -- which is run by Lucinda Holloway, the daughter of the previous owner -- rules the roost.

It is common opinion that Empire's offering price for folks' homesteads is considerably lower than the value of the land, but no one is brave enough to confront the company's representative at the town meeting -- no one but Evan. He states his opinion publicly, bringing the ire of Kinder and Sloan down on him. Making things a mite more complicated is the fact that he is falling for Lucinda, and she for him.

I haven't read enough Westerns to know what makes a good one (my limited exposure has consisted primarily of Louis L'Amour and Max Brand), but I do know that I was completely engaged by Destiny Valley. Five-time Spur award-winner Fred Grove (The Great Horse Race, Comanche Captives) has produced a fine piece of frontier literature with masterful characterization. He slowly lets us get to know Evan and Lucinda, and even Kinder and Sloan, ensuring that we know who is mostly good and mostly bad (because no one's motives are entirely noble). He also takes his time telling Evan's story, making his ups and downs all the more compelling.

Luckily, I came across this book along with several others at a dollar store, which gave me the opportunity to expand my boundaries a bit. I'm certainly glad I did, because Grove really knows his way around the West. I felt after reading Destiny Valley that I could find my way around the area without a map, and that's quite an accomplishment that I've noticed rarely of late. I'll be picking up another Fred Grove novel the next time I'm in the market for quality frontier writing.

This is a tremendous book. First published in 1994, it has proven its quality over the years. It is the most important book on the Devil in colonial Mexico, and one of the most significant books on religion in the colonial New World. It is frequently quoted by major historians of the period. The content is gripping, the style is elegant, and the approach is very accessible. Students like this book and find it very useful. A major work in intellectual, cultural and social history.

This is a must have Zuni Pottery book! I own this hard cover book and it really says a lot about the current Zuni potters. Buy this for your collection and see the amazing quality photos of the masters in action. Good job! Milford & Elisa

I visited Farmington, NM and Ricketts Field, as a sponsor of a team, in l979, l981 and l982. It is a great tournament and the families with whom the young fellows stayed were great. Infact the whole town was gracious. Any player or parent would be happy to have this book as a keepsake. It is very interesting and it lists every player that ever played in the tournament. I was told about this book and ordered it right away and I'm not dissapointed. I have ordered another and probably by the time I finish telling everyone back here in the Flint, Michigan area, they will want one too!

Reading this book "Dichos" sure brings back memories of when I was growing up; my mom and my grandma. I recognized so many of the "Dichos" as I was reading through the book of my mom & grandma saying these "dichos". Those were the good old days. This book deserves 5 stars.

Digging Up the Past is an excellent book filled with dynamic characters who are mysterious and yet you feel you've known them all your life. The Arizona setting is filled with history and tradition. I enjoyed this book from the first to the last page!

Little light is shed on many of our great land's smaller towns, such as the ones featured in this book. Who are these people, is one question that pops to mind. Why do they stay in such little towns when you have Vegas and L.A. and Chicago and Miami and NYC? This book helps answer that question. Superb writing, says this observer. Drank a bottle of scotch outside the town limits of Madrid, NM after I read this book. In the company of a Santa Fe woman, of course. "Why do you read that stuff?" she asked. "...because I care," was all I could think to say. You have another one in the works, I hope...

Author: David Allen Deal



On the right bank of the Rio Puercos, some thirty miles southwest of Albuquerque, in the brown, barren waste of Valencia County, New Mexico, stands a volcanic mesa. The people in the general area call it "Hidden Mountain" or Mystery Mountain" but the Indians retain its more ancient title, "Cerro Los Moqujino" ("Cliff of the Strange Writings"). These names aptly apply, for upon its slopes a secret is revealed that, if accepted, would change the basic concepts upon which ancient American history is built. Few even dare its challenge. Nevertheless, the emerging evidence compels us to conclude that this wilderness region was in ancient times visited by adventurers from the middle East....

The paragraph above is the author's introduction to this book which describes the exciting results of his years of study and research in the "Hidden Mountain" area. His conclusions, considered highly controversial in some quarters are nevertheless, if true, of tremendous importance. He is throughly convinced that America, possibly as long ago as 3500 years, was once occupied by Hebrew mariners who left their mark with an inscription of the Ten Commandments.

An excellent companion to America B.C., with many photos and drawings.
Paperback
148 pages

The New Mexico Territory of the late 1860's came alive in this well-written book. The story of Ben Logan was engrossing throughout the book. He goes from being a survivor of the Civil War to a ranch owner in the New Mexico Territory with stops as a wagon driver and gold prospector in between. Real characters and events were interwoven with fictional ones in a believable way. The descriptions of the scenery make the reader want to visit the Pecos Wilderness. I had a hard time putting the book down once I started reading it. The Epilogue describes what happened to the real characters and events. I kept looking for descriptions of what happened to Ben and Myra who are fictional characters! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical or western fiction.

con unos pocos mas Alamanes, esto es hombres de la categoria moral, capacidad y erudicion de Don lucas Alaman, nuestros primos del norte no nos hubieron comido la mitad del p?is y M?xico, hoy por hoy seria una potencia mundial, no un exportador de mojados y productor de politicastros demagogos, descaradamente mentirosos y habladores como....Dios nos libre!