Oceania Books

Mr. Budnick's historical review of the United States "takover" of the Hawaiian Islands unearths the all-too-familiar tale of political intrigue and corruption. This book provides an insider's view of the imperialistic fashion in which the missionaries, large ranch/farming interests, military fanatics and their political cronies collaborated against the Hawiian cultural and political system. It also explains the efforts of native Hawaiians to prevent these actions. Essentially, "Stolen Kingdom" is the non-fiction version of James A. Michener's "Hawaii". I learned much from this well-documented book; and most notably, of the various factions in the US and Hawaii involved in usurping power from the indigenous locals. I recommend this informative writing to all Americans as a primer for Hawaiian Political History.

'Strange Constellations' is one of my best reads for a long time. I may be exhibiting a little (healthy) Aussie bias but perhaps that would make me all the more critical if the product did not stand up. The academic style is totally appropriate, elevating objectivity and providing the keen reader with an opportunity to check sources and interpretations. Given the literary achievements of the authors, I expected a good read so this technical edge is a bonus.

The early focus on the romantic origins of science fiction in Australia is an eye-opener for me and I will be sure to review some classics, on the fringe of the genre, in a new light. The hard-nosed analysis of the booms and busts is, again, appropriate. In the second half, the book moves from analyses of periods to an author-by-author account. This does not seem quite as 'critical' as preceding chapters...

This novel is a sequel to Sooner or Later(also available at Amazon).It tells of a 17 year old boy, Michel Khamis, who is working for the summer holidays for his mother, who's a rock music promoter.In walks Geraldine, a beautiful Aboriginal girl who's determined to be an opera singer--and the pair fall in love.But the course of true love does not always run smooth.. Although the book addresses a lot of 'issues', it does not preach, and presents all its dilemmas through the characters.

This guide was very useful while in the city of Sydney. Helpful hints and ideas for all the local hang-outs. Great tips on using the public transportation. Nice and compact, fit well in a travel bag instead of using one of the larger/heavier guides that cover the entire country.

Great book at fraction of original price. Really helped me out on my trip. Very informative.

This is a really terrific book, useful as much for the resident as visitor. It tells you about the best walks around the shores of sydney harbour, for example. For a large city to still have so much bush and vegetation so close to the city is a testament to the efforts of the residents and unions who fought to preserve so much through 'Green bans' in the 1960s and 70s. This book shows you how to enjoy those places, not only guiding you on the walks, but detailing the public transport routes to get to the beginning and from the end of each walk. Highly recommended. I use it to play tourist in my home town.

Not only for Sydney but, I own many Destination Maps of National Geographic. They are not just a map but, at the same time , very well designed sightseeing guides for a good 3-4 days trip too. Long lasting material and very reliable. Highly recommended.

Have you ever wanted to travel to Tahiti, but thought it might be too expensive? Did you want to experience the Polynesia of Gauguin and Bougainville, but thought it had gone forever? Did you think that island archipelagoes such as the Gambiers, Tuamotus and the Societies were beyond your reach?Well, David Stanley's 'Tahiti Polynesia Handbook' will dispel many of the myths you may have heard about this far flung corner of the South Pacific. Stanley's first law of independent travel, is that " the more you spend, the less you experience". This holds true for Tahiti Polynesia as much as anywhere else. Why would you want to stay in a luxury hotel on Bora Bora, which merely creates Waikiki Beach for twice the price?Discover the real Polynesia: be amazed by the myriad colours at Papeete Market. Take 'Le Truck' to travel and meet the Tahitians at work and play. Adjust to island time by taking the slow boat to Moorea: experience the surreal majesty of Matavai Bay on departure and the awesome backdrop that is Mount Rotui as it looms above the deep green of Cook's Bay on arrival.All this and much more is detailed in the Tahiti-Polynesia Handbook. Where to go? What to see? What to do? How to get there? The introductory historical, socio-political, economic and environmental and even gastronomical chapters, answer all of the questions you could ever possibly ask about the islands of Polynesia. Subsequent chapters are full useful hints and tips, aircraft/boat and bus timetables, maps, illustrations, artistic impressions and quotations about this fascinating group of islands. There is also a sprinkling of excellent colour photographs, though more of these wouldn't come amiss!I was originally introduced to the South Pacific through Stanley's much larger volume, the South Pacific Handbook. The Tahiti Polynesia Handbook is small enough to fit into your backpack, yet light enough to avoid excess baggage charges! Having read the book, I now feel the urge to explore outer Polynesia in much greater depth. Names such as Huahine, Raiatea, Rapa Iti, Rangiroa and Fatu Hiva are now within MY reach.Leave the tourist hordes behind and become an independent traveller; experience Tahiti-Polynesia for yourself and get a copy of David Stanley's Tahiti-Polynesia Handbook.

This book hit the mark for a travel guide to Africa. Small, it fits into the 32 pound weight limit for local plane flights. The map which comes with it is nicely detailed. The book has a good blend on info about the parks and brief reviews of the places to stay. There aren't a lot of books to help with traveling to Tanzania, so this was a good find.

Very helpful for plotting the northern safari circut and understanding the distances between the game parks.