Legends of the American Desert : Sojourns in the Greater Southwest

Book Description

For his brilliant reportage ranging from the forested recesses of the Amazon to the manicured lawns of Westchester County, New York, Alex Shoumatoff has won acclaim as one of our most perceptive guides to the oddest corners of the earth. Now, with this book, he takes us on a kaleidoscopic journey into the most complex and myth-laden region of the American landscape and imagination.


In this amazing narrative, Shoumatoff records his quest to capture the vast multiplicity of the American Southwest. Beginning with his first trip after college across the desert in a station wagon, some twenty-five years ago, he surveys the boundless variety of people and experiences constituting the place--the idea--that has become America's symbol and last redoubt of the "Other.  From the Biosphere to the Mormons, from the deadly world of narcotraffickers to the secret lives of the covertly Jewish conversos, Shoumatoff explores the many alternative states of being who have staked their claim in the Southwest, making it a haven for every brand of refugee, fugitive, and utopian. And as he ventures across time and space, blending many genres--history, anthropology, natural science, to name only a few--he brings us a wealth of information on chile addiction, the diffusion of horses, the formation of the deserts and mountain ranges, the struggles of the Navajo to preserve their culture, and countless other aspects of this place we think we know.


Full of profound sympathy and unique insights, Legends of the American Desert is a superbly rich epic of fact and reflection destined to take its place among such classics of regional portraiture as Ian Frazier's Great Plains. Alex Shoumatoff has created an exuberant celebration of a singularly American reality.

Customer Reviews:

A Good Read, But Not a Reliable Source.......2007-06-03

There have been many books written on deserts. Unfortunately few have been both engaging and accurate (I have searched in vain for a good up to date book on the Sahara, but have always been disappointed.) Thus when I found Alex Shoumatoff's "Legends of the American Desert: Sojourns in the Greater Southwest" I was impressed initially by his no-nonsense style and the recommendations on the back cover. Indeed, he catches the spirit of place in the American Southwest, much like Edward Abby did in "Desert Solitaire" and one is drawn from chapter to chapter by the flow of descriptions and ideas. However, as has been noted by a number of reviewers, Shoumatoff (being a newcomer) really needed a knowledgeable editor or fact checker. His facts sometimes (but perhaps not as often as implied by some reviewers) get all tangled up and in spots are totally wrong. This is a great pity as the book is well conceived and well written. Certainly its very size probably contributed to the problem.

In addition to the errors pointed out by earlier reviewers. I will note, rather nit pickingly, that Pat Garrett was not killed in the Tularosa Basin, as seems to be implied on p. 48 (Shoumatoff may be confusing Garrett with Albert Fountain, who was apparently murdered there - his body and that of his son were never found). Garrett was killed, apparently by a neighbor with whom he had a dispute about goats, while he was relieving himself between Organ and Las Cruces on the Mesilla Valley side of Saint Augustine Pass. Still the main points are accurate.

A good read and a good concept. I would be even more enthusiastic if I could always be sure of the facts the author quotes. If this book were edited a bit more it would be THE book to read on the greater Southwest.

Northern reader.......2006-04-10

I just completed the book, and wish I'd read the reviews from readers sooner. The errors definitely distracted from the overall experience. Unlike many of the reviewers, I purchased the book prior to a vacation to Arizona, thinking it might give me an insight into the history and flavour of the American Southwest. That it did - but to see the relationship between Dine/Navajo linked to Athapaskan-speaking people in Canada's north who fished for salmon and built totem poles .. 'Scuse me? The author mixed up the Pacific Northwest's Haida people with the inland Dene. In the chapter named 'Tombstone', the author mistakenly names Val Kilmer as an actor portraying Wyatt Earp; wrong again, Kilmer played Doc Holliday and Kurt Russell played Earp in the movie referred to. And these are just a couple of the more irritating and obvious mistakes.

It's too bad, as the material is fascinating. However, I soon began to mistrust the information.

Coyote is your guide.......2004-09-08

It's easy to say what this book is not: scholarly treatise, reasoned argument, paean to the glory of the West.

It's harder to explain just what it is: lode of notes, memoir, non-linear travelogue, a really good yarn. Interweaving ancient and modern human history, often from first-person accounts, may be confusing but it creates a richly textured, multi-layered impression of a region that most Americans know only by its stereotype. This author is no blue coyote with a pink bandanna, he's the real thing: wily, bold, self-interested, sniffing up anything interesting (no matter how it smells).

However, it's sad to see someone who writes English so well abuse Spanish so terribly--some of the mistakes made me blush! Likewise, although we can't expect careful documentation of every fact in a memoir that never claims to be a history book, it is shocking to find the Cape of Good Hope mistaken for Cape Horn. There are many such errors in this book, which should not be printed again without basic editing.

Until then, take the "facts" and let the edits go! Enjoy!

A Little Suspect.......2002-09-01

I've explored a little southwestern desert over the 19 years I've lived in the West and believed I was learning from the book and was certainly enjoying it. I discovered an error that tipped me off to do a little research here on what I was reading. As I learn of all the other errors, the book now seems a little suspect. I'm scratching my head wondering if I should continue. I think not, even though I was truly enjoying it.

P.S. The author referred to the place where the Mormons, in search of a short route to the Pacific, chipped and dynamited their way through the redrock canyon wilderness near Escalante, Utah, approaching the Colorado River, to make room for their wagons and handcarts.

The author referred to that place as "Hole in the Wall." It should be "Hole in the Rock." Hole in the Wall is a place in Johnson County, Wyoming where Butch, Sundance and assorted outlaws used to hide from the law (the members thereafter known as "The Hole in the Rock Gang").

Tourist writing too fast..........2002-01-26

I've got to agree with several of the other reviews that this is a poor book about the southwest, he did seem to get facts wrong or what I have learned from over 25 years living here was wrong - the Anasasi are always refered to here as "The Acient Ones" never the "The Enemy Ancestors". I got the feeling that during his visit here people were just putting him on, he was falling for it and put it in this book. This book reminds me of "The Solace of Fierce Landscapes" by Belden Lane who was also not a desert resident, from St Lewis, but trying to write a meaningful book about the desert. You need to live in the deseret for a long, long time before it 'happens' to you, and for most people it never does. To think you are going to go on vacation and then write a meaningful book about the desert is completely missing the point. Come out and sit on a rock for ten years - then write.
An additional point to note is that a golf course is the negation of the desert.

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from Biological Conservation, published by Elsevier in 2006. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
Loss of genetic variation in populations may have other effects than inbreeding depression and loss of adaptive potential. In the case of the numerous gynodioecious plant species having cytonuclear systems of sex determination with dominant nuclear restorers of the male function, reduced genetic variation and increased inbreeding would increase the proportion of non-restorer recessive genes found in homozygosity, and therefore that of female plants producing pistillate flowers. This could have opposite effects on the extinction risk of the population. Female plants produce no pollen and may cause pollen limitation, but at the same time they may reduce average homozygosity and inbreeding depression because they are forced outcrossers. We observed that inbreeding indeed increased the frequency of female plants and pistillate flowers in the population, and that this effect was accompanied by reductions in population recruitment independent of inbreeding depression and likely due to pollen limitation. These results suggest that dominant nuclear restorers of pollen production speed up the extinction of small populations of Silene littorea, and that sex determination mechanisms might be an important factor to consider in the conservation of many plant species.

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The determination of sex in Elodea,
José K Santos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Hormonal control of flowering and sex determination in forest trees

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Hormonal control of flowering and sex determination in forest trees
Marian Michniewicz
Manufacturer: Nicolaus Copernicus University
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Hormones | Reproductive & Sexual | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Sex determination and sex differentiation in the higher plants

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Sex determination and sex differentiation in the higher plants
John Henry Schaffner
Manufacturer: s.n
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0008BZNKS

Book Description

Cape Cod, Nantucket and the Martha's Vineyard are three of Massachusett's top vacation destinations, and there is no better way to explore them than on a bicycle. Only cycling allows you to get around these beautiful seaside areas easily while fully enjoying all the sights and sounds they have to offer. This fully revised and updated seventh edition includes: icons indicating which type of rider each route is best suited for; charts describing the rides; locations of bathrooms, picnic and food stops along each route; and special appendices giving overviews of all rides and lists of bike shops and rental centers.

Short bike rides on Cape Cod, Nantucket, and the Vineyard

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Short bike rides on Cape Cod, Nantucket, and the Vineyard
Jane Griffith
Manufacturer: Pequot Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Sports | Subjects | Books

North America | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0871060868

Book Description

The compound eye of Drosophila is used as a model for human disease and homology to eyes in other taxa. This book covers the major discoveries on the development of the compound eye of Drosophila melanogaster over the last 25 years. These include aspects of the biological mechanisms of pattern formation in the nervous system, the specification of neuronal cell types, unexpected phylogenetic conservation and many new insights into the function of several signal transduction pathways. All chapters in this book have been written by leading experts in this field who have made significant contributions to our understanding of fly eye development.

Molecular Dynamics in the Developing Drosophila Eye (Molecular Biology Intelligence Unit)

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Molecular Dynamics in the Developing Drosophila Eye (Molecular Biology Intelligence Unit)
Daisuke Yamamoto
Manufacturer: Peter Lang Pub Inc
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Binding: Hardcover

A reconsideration of the mode of development of the bar eye of Drosophila melanogaster

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A reconsideration of the mode of development of the bar eye of Drosophila melanogaster
Arthur Gerald Steinberg
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Book Description

This volume consists of contributions based on a series of lectures delivered at the Fifth Winter School on Mathematical Theory in Fluid Mechanics, held in Paseky nad Jizerou, Czech Republic. The contributions are written by the main lecturers of the school and cover several significant topics in the field of theoretical fluid mechanics. Specifically, Professor Bardos presents mathematical studies of various evolutionary models of fluids that capture the motions of gases and liquids on different scales, from molecules and rarefied gases, to fluids and gases at the continuum level, and finally to fluids in turbulent regimes. In addition to discussing the mathematical analysis of particular systems on their own, Professor Bardos devotes a great deal of attention to the passage from one scale to another. Professor Dafermos provides an introduction to the foundation of classical continuum physics, built on a precise and general mathematical basis that enables one to present arguments in a very transparent way. Professor Novotn*y systematically investigates the properties of the steady-state transport equations, with emphasis on flows in exterior domains. Finally, Professor Solonnikov illustrates his approach to the non-simple analysis of free boundary problems in fluid mechanics using three model examples for the steady-state Navier-Stokes equations.

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Excellent Examination of early drafts for Lord of the Rings.

I'm gonna be honest here, this book is not for EVERY fan of lord of the rings.

Essential reading for the Tolkien scholar

Great continuation of a great series

Important for Tolkien Scholars, not for movie fans

Treason of Isengard: The History of The Lord of the Rings, Part Two (The History of Middle-Earth, Vol. 7)
J.R.R. Tolkien
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
History & Criticism | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Tolkien, J.R.R. | ( T ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Paperback | Tolkien, J.R.R. | ( T ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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The Return of the Shadow: The History of The Lord of the Rings, Part One (The History of Middle-Earth, Vol. 6)

The War of the Ring: The History of The Lord of the Rings, Part Three (The History of Middle-Earth, Vol. 8)

Sauron Defeated: The History of The Lord of the Rings, Part Four (The History of Middle-Earth, Vol. 9)

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ASIN: 0618083588

Book Description

The Treason of Isengard is the seventh volume in Christopher Tolkien's History of Middle-earth and the second in his account of the evolution of The Lord of the Rings. In this book, following the long halt in the darkness of the Mines of Moria with which The Return of the Shadow ended, is traced the great expansion of the tale into new lands and new peoples south and east of the Misty Mountains; the emergence of Lothlorien, of Ents, of the Riders of Rohan, and of Saruman the White in the fortress of Isengard.

In brief outlines and pencilled drafts dashed down on scraps of paper are seen the first entry of Galadriel, the earliest ideas of the history of Gondor, the original meeting of Aragorn and Eowyn, its significance destined to be wholly transformed. Conceptions of what lay ahead are seen dissolving as the story took its own paths, as in the account of the capture of Frodo and his rescue by Sam Gmgee from Minas Morgul, written long before J.R.R. Tolkien actually came to that point in the writing of The Lord of the Rings. A chief feature of the book is a full account of the original Map, with re-drawings of successive phases, which was long the basis and accompaniment of the emerging geography of Middle-earth. An appendix to the book describes the Runic alphabets as they were at that time, with illustrations of the forms and an analysis of the Runes used in the Book of Mazarbul found beside Balin's Tomb in Moria.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Examination of early drafts for Lord of the Rings........2007-02-24

`The Treason of Isengard' is the second of a four volume series (`The History of the Lord of the Rings') within a series, (volume VII of `The History of Middle Earth') edited by Christopher Tolkien, from the unpublished writings of his father, J. R. R. Tolkien, most famous as the author of `The Hobbit' and `The Lord of the Rings' (LotR).

While the first of this series within a series ended with the Fellowship standing over the tomb of Balin in Moria, this volume returns to drafts which go all the way back to the conversation between Gandalf and Bilbo in Bag End, following the great birthday party and Bilbo's disappearance following his final speech to his gathered celebrants. As such, for the part of the story between Bag End and Moria, the book contains a more tabular and `analytical' information on the various threads of the story, spending much time on the events which delayed Gandalf from returning to the Shire, explaining the title of the volume, since this circumstance was caused by Gandalf's imprisonment by Saruman. There is correspondingly less information on the events surrounding the encounter with Tom Bombadil, and, it seems, no new information on this very mysterious character.

Next to Bombadil, the most mysterious and ill-explained character in LotR, I think, is the Balrog, a massively evil being in Moria who seems to be controlled by neither Saruman nor Sauron, an evil spirit, probably older than either Shelob or Smaug, probably some evil creation of Melkor going back at least to the first or second age. And yet, there is little back-story on the Balrog. The only thing we can infer from the text is that it's power is just barely exceeded by a wizard (power augmented as it is by one of the elven rings). Even Peter Jackson's excellent depiction of the Fellowship's encounter with the Balrog contributes nothing to our insights on this spirit (except to provide the clear high point of the film, `The Fellowship of the Ring'.

This volume ends with the arrival of Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli at the halls of Edoras, the capitol of the Riders of Rohan. Therefore, it includes the escape from Moria, the encounter with Galadrial in Lorien, and the trip down the Great River, the Uruk-hai, the encounter with Treebeard, and the reuniting of Gandalf and `the three walkers'.

The second volume is every bit as good as the first of this series of early drafts, with its many chronological tables and early maps.

While this does overlap the first volume, I find nothing lost in reading `The Return of the Shadow' from front to back before starting `The Treason of Isengard'.

Note that the lag between this series and the final LotR text is resolved by the early drafts occupying four rather than three volumes.

I'm gonna be honest here, this book is not for EVERY fan of lord of the rings. .......2006-03-14

If you like the movie, the books, even if you like the first 5 books in the history of mi series, you still may not enjoy this. This I believe is only for the die hard tolkien fans. those of us trying to figure out exactly what he was thinking of each page he wrote, we won't get all his thoughts, but will be able to rea da lot of them.

I would suggest that you go to like barnes and noble and read the first 20 pages or so to see if it interests you. If it doesn't th is ok, you will still need to buy book 9, which you will be overpaying for becuase it's about 40 % the lord and only 60 % numenor and other stuff.

Though still essential for tolkien fans, this book is mainly for die hards.

Essential reading for the Tolkien scholar.......2004-05-09

"The Treason of Isengard" marks the second of four volumes dealing with the history of the writing of "The Lord of the Rings." Like the other volumes in the series, it features unpublished writings by Tolkien, supplemented, explained, footnoted, annotated and expounded upon by his son, Christopher Tolkien.

This book is also part of the larger, 12-part History of Middle Earth series, which takes a close look at the creation of Tolkien's greatest achievement - Middle Earth itself - through early drafts, unpublished texts, and dead end writings. For ardent Tolkien readers it is a fascinating look at one of the great literary creations of the 20th Century. For more casual fans, it's text better left unread.

If you're not a Tolkien fan, you need not apply to this sprawling series. But if you're interested in seeing how the Professor developed the rich creation of Middle Earth, warts and all, this is a treasure trove of material.

Here, like the first volume, we have the earliest versions of what would later become the most beloved fantasy epic in the world, detailing the extraordinary and convoluted history of the middle chapters of "The Lord of the Rings." The early versions of Treebeard, some fascinating ideas Tolkien abandoned regarding Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, and other dead end plot threads will fascinate readers interesting in knowing about the epic's creation.

The wealth of information is fantastic, and Christopher Tolkien goes to great lengths to examine each text, putting them in the context of the larger puzzle of his father's writings. The exploration of how "The Lord of the Rings" came about is fantastic - for those interested. Otherwise, it will bore. This is, after all, a series of unfinished draft chapters and essays on the text. I enjoyed it, but many won't.

Anybody wishing to do a study of Tolkien's craft, into "behind the scenes" writings, or just interested in finding a few snatches of new Middle Earth material (even if in unfinished form, there are some scattered throughout the series) will certainly find what they are looking for here. Christopher Tolkien's work here is appreciated by scores of ardent Tolkien fans. Those looking for fresh new tales about hobbits and heroes, however, will be disappointed. This isn't new fiction, nor does it even feature finished works. Seek elsewhere if you are looking for more tales in the way of "The Lord of the Rings."

Great continuation of a great series.......2004-04-19

I never realized how interesting it would be to read a detailed, almost blow-by-blow, account of the creation of a masterpiece. Christopher Tolkien has done all Tolkien scholars, both professional and amateur, a great service by detailing his father's often tortuous development of Middle Earth especially Rohan, Saruman and Isengard, and the creation of Treebeard and the wonderful Ents. Also versions of Frodo and Sam's further journey that are very different from what makes it into "The Two Towers" are fascinating. Those who think that Mr. Tolkien has only done this for the money should look again at these works (if indeed they even looked at them at all). No person in his or her right mind would go through this amount of detailed work just for money. No amount of money would be enough to pay for work of this magnitude.

Important for Tolkien Scholars, not for movie fans.......2003-11-18

The History series are mostly about the evolution of the people, places, and history of the world of Arda. A lot of the stories are "rabbit trails;" stories that changed or conflict with other information. It has helped Tolkien Scholars (and can help amatuer Tolkien Scholars) to form more complete understandings of the world. The appendix on runes is a good example.

THE TREASON OF ISENGARD The History of The Lord of the Rings Part Two

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THE TREASON OF ISENGARD The History of The Lord of the Rings Part Two
Christopher TOLKIEN
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OQRKQC

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