The Shadow Roads: Book Three of the Swans' War (Swans War)

Book Description

The savage war between two mighty families has ravaged the kingdom both wish to rule—spawning treachery within the ranks of the Renné and Wills, drawing the brave, the innocent, and the malevolent alike into the bloody conflict. But a far more terrible consequence has arisen from the carnage—for Death himself has been roused from his dread domain . . . and is preparing to walk the world again.

Customer Reviews:

Yeah. Too bad........2007-03-25

I loved The One Kingdom, the first book in this series. The Isle of Battle, however, gave me serious pause. I had hoped that The Shadow Roads would return to the freshness and attraction of the first, but no such luck. Sadly, I have to agree with the reviewer that The Shadow Roads only compounds the mistakes of the second book.

It seems to me that the biggest mistake Russell made was that he could not figure out on which characters he should focus. Part of what made The One Kingdom so nice was that it seemed like the beginning of a nice coming of age story with the focus on Tam and his friends. I was happy with that. The best epic fantasy is all coming of age stories of one sort or another. Unfortunately, in book 2, Russell shifts the focus to the more powerful and eternal figures.

In the third book, he compounds the mistake even further and dilutes the time and attention he gives to the Whist-- easily the most engaging and real of the eternal characters.

Finally, by book three, so many characters are introduced that it is difficult to keep them all straight, let alone care about them. Even though Tam still is given a small role at the end, it is little more than a nod to the fact that he had to be included in order to round out the series.

Like I said, too bad. I'm honestly giving this three stars instead of two because of what it could have been. I would have a difficult time recommending the series.

End of a terrific fantasy trilogy........2006-09-13

A satisfying finale!

This series by Sean Russell is one of the best fantasy reads I've had in ages. It has everything I enjoy in this genre; love, hate, betrayal, friends/enemies in unusual places, unexpected twists and turns and a liberal dose of magic throughout this work. The conclusion to this epic good versus evil struggle ends with a much anticipated and long awaited battle that will, I think, leave most fantasy reader satisfied.(and maybe wishing for more)

What separates this trilogy from so many others is the quality of the prose. Russell writes with an impressive descriptive style and is able to give us a range of characters that go from easily likable to just plain despicable(and lots in between). I found this novel hard to put down and often read late into the night.

The SINGLE negative (and loss of ½ star) for this book (and the entire series) is the fact that there is no map; a map that would have made following the travels of our heroes so much easier and enjoyable.

All in all, a great final installment for this epic fantasy trilogy. Easily recommended for all fantasy lovers. 4 ½ Stars.

Not the Best Effort.......2006-08-09

It was hard for me to believe that the Swan's War books were written by the author of Initiate Brother. The first two books were pleasant and interesting enough that I bought the third, The Shadow Roads." Unfortunately, I found that instead of reading a story about endless war fueled by the weaknesses of human character, as detailed in the first two long novels, I was reading about a supernatural love triangle, which caused endless war as a side effect. The climactic resolution was effected by characters who had less than 10 pages of development out of a thousand, and all of the subplots and story lines were revealed as irrelevant.

If I had not previously read outstanding work by Sean Russell, I would give up on this author.

Out of Control.......2006-07-09

Oh, how good you could have been, dear "Shadow Roads." You could have been awesome. Even after "the Isle of Battle" was a letdown you could have been amazing. Instead, we got everything that made the second novel bad, but twice over. Characters in the group completely disappear in the group yet again, sometimes for pages, and when they do pop up, there is almost no character to them, just a name and dialogue. Even Alaan suffers. The "whist" is so serious and plain in his delivery here that the trickster archetype that so many people love is completely removed. And the other characters didn't have a chance.

Poor Fynnol and Cynddl again. The original group of four worked so well for Russell in the first novel, he never should have expanded it beyond a couple more. Eber, Llya, Rabal, Slighthands, all those characters just never stuck like the first ones.

The other major problem of the second novel also popped up. The "are we close to him or are the others closer?" Which is just boring. It drags the pace down. The same feel can even be found in the Prince Michael part of the story. So often his is just "are we going to get caught? But no we found a hideaway. And another. And another." Argh! Its suppose to be suspenseful but its not because in Russell's world, no one dies really. Or if they do, its very anti-climatic, or they come back to life. Its worse than Jordan with the Forsaken.

The one bright point of this novel is Carrel Wills and Llyn Renne, both of which are very sweet characters. Though at times it gets too sappy with Russell's love of the melodrama. Every scene of these two is good, has been since the beginning, which is why its so bizarre that after the first few chapters they just disappear until the very end of the novel to wrap things up. Yes, they were kind of out of the action, but they could have been more involved. Especially if Torren, Dease, and some of the others would have stayed instead of going off and getting lost in the group of more interesting characters.

Novels are like chess in some ways, you have to put your pieces in the right places and you have to sacrifice some to win. Russell wouldn't sacrifice any and he wouldn't put them where they could have been useful, that was this novel's biggest weakness, and thus, the biggest weakness of what I believe could have been a great High Fantasy series.

Final Thought: Unless you are really into metaphor and melodrama, you probably should stay away from the trilogy.

He lost me.......2006-03-09

To have taken the time to read the first two books, and then to stop reading 1/3 of the way through this one is a huge disappointment to me. The book sat on my nightstand for days and days, untouched, and I finally realized I had given up.

In a lengthier review of The One Kingdom (to which I gave three stars), I said that the reader needs to know what's at stake in order to be drawn in to the story. We didn't learn what was at stake in The One Kingdom until we were well into the story, and I'm absolutely certain that Russell lost readers because of it.

My "at stake" comment applies to this book even more. Suddenly, almost out of nowhere, the stakes change. Death and Time are introduced, and there is an immense fear that Death - a realized character in the second book - will escape and roam the world. Something that nobody wants to happen.

That's when he lost me. It's when he angered me. It's when I stopped reading the book, because I just didn't care anymore. When a writer doesn't let his readers know what's at stake until the last book of a trilogy, he/she has committed an "epic" mistake.

If there was some good stuff in the last two thirds of the book, well, I guess I missed it. But I don't regret it. There are only nine (now ten) reviews for this book. It seems that he lost more than this reader along the way.

In the Shadow of Detroit: Gordon M. Mcgregor, Ford of Canada, And Motoropolis (Great Lakes Books)

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In the Shadow of Detroit: Gordon M. Mcgregor, Ford of Canada, And Motoropolis (Great Lakes Books)
David Roberts
Manufacturer: Wayne State University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0814332846

Book Description

Fills a gap in common understanding of the early automobile industry in the Windsor-Detroit international region.

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Wonderful, magical travel story
The Woven Wind
shadow of the silk road
One of the Best Travel Books
This guy has his feet on the ground

Shadow of the Silk Road
Colin Thubron
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 006123172X
Release Date: 2007-07-03

Book Description

Shadow of the Silk Road records a journey along the greatest land route on earth. Out of the heart of China into the mountains of Central Asia, across northern Afghanistan and the plains of Iran and into Kurdish Turkey, Colin Thubron covers some seven thousand miles in eight months. Making his way by local bus, truck, car, donkey cart and camel, he travels from the tomb of the Yellow Emperor, the mythic progenitor of the Chinese people, to the ancient port of Antioch—in perhaps the most difficult and ambitious journey he has undertaken in forty years of travel.

The Silk Road is a huge network of arteries splitting and converging across the breadth of Asia. To travel it is to trace the passage not only of trade and armies but also of ideas, religions and inventions. But alongside this rich and astonishing past, Shadow of the Silk Road is also about Asia today: a continent of upheaval.

One of the trademarks of Colin Thubron's travel writing is the beauty of his prose; another is his gift for talking to people and getting them to talk to him. Shadow of the Silk Road encounters Islamic countries in many forms. It is about changes in China, transformed since the Cultural Revolution. It is about false nationalisms and the world's discontented margins, where the true boundaries are not political borders but the frontiers of tribe, ethnicity, language and religion. It is a magnificent and important account of an ancient world in modern ferment.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful, magical travel story.......2007-09-02

I didn't want to put this down. Places that I've wanted to see if I had the opportunity and courage come alive in the book. Thubron describes legends and historical events over millennia, but they all fit together along with the people he meets and the landscapes he travels through. He describes with sensitivity and humanity what has been lost with time but also what is there now, often the generosity of the people he meets and their way of life. Wonderful!

The Woven Wind.......2007-08-30

Will be liked by those who enjoy reading about hard-travel experiences. Colin Thubron has a keen ear for dialogue and an expressive pen. Informative on a number of issues from the art of silk making to China's on-going eastern movements.

I do think the author's writing sometimes strays into overly ornate descriptions of the scenery on his lengthy journey across China to Antioch. An example: "Where the Jumgal valley met the massif of Sussmayer, a painted wall of mountain rose. The cliffs were torn with symmetrical scars, as if by some monstrous animal, and fell to the track in violent slabs of black and apricot. Sometimes its scree was pure coal." Also, the author has an odd writer's tic, in that he uses the word "mist" in some form at least fifteen times (...the villages were misted in pear blossom/...the horizon leveled to a dove-grey mist, etc.)

A person of the rational Enlightenment will find depressing the darkness of mind still prevalent in much of the Arab/Persian part of the ancient Silk Road, where living in the far past seems to be the unfortunate standard.

shadow of the silk road.......2007-08-26

I haven't actually read it yet, but plan to. Someone else is reading it and says it is very good and an interesting account of travel through what is mostly a mysterious area to many.

One of the Best Travel Books.......2007-08-25

This is one of the best travel books I read so far. I noticed some reviewer comparing him with Bill Bryson. I enjoyed Bryson's book too. Thubron is less humurous, but with more depth. I am very impressed with his knowledge of the central Asia. Being from China myself, I was shocked to read his account of lost Roman legion and the early Christian relics in the heart of China. This book keeps you wonder about the world away. I was also touched by the warmth of the people he encountered during his travel. Those people have suffered enough through history, yet they welcomed a foreign traveller like their family members. What a generous and handsome group of people---be it Afghans, Uzbeks, Tajks, or others. The book is beautifully written.
It is by chance I picked up this book and I'm glad I did. I am going to check out some other books he wrote.

This guy has his feet on the ground.......2007-08-24

Once again, Colin Thubron gets down to the local, the personal, the down and dirty level to tell about the countries he goes through. This guy lives his travels. Fascinating. Unvarnished. Up close. Real. No gloss, no glitter. From China all the way to the Mediterranean. Wow.

Untangling Tolkien: A Chronology and Commentary for The Lord of the Rings

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Excellent Resource
Knits up the ravels
A Radiograph of LotR.
Splendid Tolkien Reference Work
a giant mass of undifferentiated trivia

Untangling Tolkien: A Chronology and Commentary for The Lord of the Rings
Michael W. Perry
Manufacturer: Inkling Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1587420198

Book Description

Here is the book that Tolkien fans have needed for half a century--a detailed, book-length chronology of J. R. R. Tolkien's complex tale. Whether you are a serious Tolkien fan or simply someone who enjoys reading the story over and over again, this is the book for you. It's the first totally new reference for The Lord of the Rings since the 1970s.

Beginning over 1400 years before the major events in Tolkien's epic, it describes, year-by-year, the amazing and imaginative background history that Tolkien created for his masterpiece. Then for the main narrative, it becomes a day-by-day reference, describing what each character does on that day and all the places where those events are described in Tolkien's writings. You can find out, for instance, what Merry and Pippin are doing as Sam perpares rabbit stew on the morning of March 7.

Probe deeper into Tolkien. See why someone as serious as Gandalf was interested in fun-loving Hobbits. Discover an exciting new plot, based on Tolkien's notes, that begins when Aragorn captures Gollum. Follow along as the Black Riders and Gandalf race for the Shire. Decide for yourself whether Sauron and the Ring have any ties to Hitler and Stalin. Explore what Tolkien believed about nature and technology.

A few facts illustrate how helpful this chronology is. Most of narrative is a deliberately confusing sea of next days and third days that leave readers as confused as the tale's main characters.The middle 60 percent of The Lord of the Rings gives the current date only once. In the narrative as a whole, the date is given only 23 times, or once for every 43 pages, and most of those come when the plot is moving slowly. That's why those who want to dig deeper and understand better what Tolkien was saying will find this book a must-have.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Resource.......2006-12-10

Perry has done a wonderful job in untangling the very intricate tale woven by J.R.R. Tolkien. Of particular help are the copious margin notes which reference exactly where Perry is drawing the information contained within that section of his book. The commentary made by the author is a welcomed pause for reflection on the events that are taking place and keep the book from being a mere listing of dates and events. I teach a course on J.R.R. Tolkien and have found Untangling Tolkien a valuable resource, since it covers the entire history of Middle-earth: what comes before The Hobbit and what takes place after The Lord of The Rings. Bravo Mr. Perry, I look forward to reading your other books.

Knits up the ravels.......2004-10-31

An amazing accomplishment by a dedicated Tolkien fan.

That is how I'd sum up the book Untanging Tolkien. Michael Perry has first unraveled all Tolkien's "dates" -- which can be extrapolated from phases of the moon -- and then knit them together again in a cohesive outline, presented in much greater detail than Tolkien's own timeline (found buried in Appendix A of LOTR). By incorporating information from other Tolkien writings, the author of Untangling Tolkien collates additional facts about all the characters and the circumstances surrounding the War of the Ring, folding them all into this detailed chronology. He includes material that sheds light on possible parallels between Tolkien's work and events that were contemporary, and he provides original commentary that suggests some additional motivations for Tolkien's characters. Sidebars offer references to every source for the information presented and for each conclusion the author has drawn.

I found the format, with quick-reference bulleted lists and clearly delineated sections and subheadings, well-organized and easy to use.

NOTE: I read the third printing that was published in May 2004. Apparently the author has corrected many of the errors that David Bratman objected to (below). You won't find a better overview or a more throrough treatment of time and dates in LOTR than Perry provides in this book.

A Radiograph of LotR........2003-12-27

This book is layed out as a chronological record of the events covered by Tolkein's masterpiece with prefaces that explain the calender system created by Tolkein and its conversion to our more mundane (and possibly inferior) system. The type is clear, and margin citations clear and present for every entry. It's primary utility, at which it succeeds admirably, is as a kind of radiograph of Tolkein's work that reveals its astonishing complexity more clearly and allows one to admire, and more importantly, explore the book itself more quickly, easily, and deeply.

The book also contains copious notes inline with the chronology. These vary from informative to tangential, but at worst do not detract from the book's primary function. Mr. Perry is perhaps foremost as Lewis scholar, and so C.S. Lewis, a close acquaintance and friend of Tolkein, makes a number of appearances. Also making appearances in the notes are William Shakespeare and Winston Churchill.

All in all, a unique book which will save anyone who wants to do an in depth study of LotR a lot of time.

Splendid Tolkien Reference Work.......2003-12-21

Superb, exhaustive chronology of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings saga. Perry does a superior job in untangling a number of thorny chronological issues in Tolkien's narrative, and he employs some fine literary detective work in reconstructing what events are happening across Middle Earth on any given date. Especially admirable is his reconstruction of how much moonlight there was during each day of Frodo and Sam's journey into Mordor.

In addition to chronology, Perry supplies a lot of background information about Tolkien's themes and sources, as well as biographical tidbits about Tolkien. For example, there are fascinating discussions of Tolkien's views of technology, freedom, and totalitarianism. Perry also discusses Tolkien's stance toward the misuse of Germanic myths by the Nazis.

This is a great resource for Tolkien-lovers everywhere.

a giant mass of undifferentiated trivia.......2003-12-21

A year-by-year, later day-by-day, chronicle of the war against Sauron from the founding of the Shire to the glorious conclusion seems at the outset like a good idea. Perry calls LOTR's Appendix B, the Tale of Years, "far from complete" but it covers the whole period: what he means is that it's not detailed enough for him. Appendix B won't tell you which day Sam cooked coney for Frodo; Perry will.

But alas, the book does not stop there. The entries are written as bullet lists like a PowerPoint presentation, and many add pointless little flowcharts such as two-generation family trees. They reduce Tolkien's magnificently complex subcreation into a giant mass of undifferentiated trivia. And each yearly or daily entry comes with its commentary, whether directly relevant, side points, broader considerations, or dogmatic essays in applicability. The unrelieved banality and inappropriateness of these must be read to be believed; as also the author's clumsy, grammatically inept style, and his smug superiority to the characters. (He frequently criticizes the good guys' "blunders," all of them more complex than he implies.)

There's actually some good chronological analysis and speculation hiding in here. But how can someone who knows his Tolkien that well say that the wizards were Valar, or that Rohan gave Isengard to Saruman (it wasn't theirs to give, and Saruman was made its warden, not a freeholder), that Boromir and Faramir had a sibling rivalry (Tolkien specifically says not), or suggest that Galadriel should have sent daily eagles to check up on the Fellowship?

These are not isolated examples: the bloopers and misconceived ideas go on and on. The whole book is like that: it has the soul of a PowerPoint presentation. I can't recommend it on any terms.

Average customer rating:

Jonathon King never disappoints!

4.5 - 5 Stars - I have become a big fan of King's work.

Meandering and unremarkable

Doesn't cut it

Not Impressed

Shadow Men: A Max Freeman Novel
Jonathon King
Manufacturer: Dutton Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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A Visible Darkness

Killing Night, A (Max Freeman)

The Blue Edge of Midnight (Max Freeman Novels)

Eye of Vengeance

Acts of Nature

ASIN: 0525948074
Release Date: 2004-03-25

Book Description

A gripping new chapter in the Max Freeman series, from the critically acclaimed, Edgar Award-winning author of The Blue Edge of Midnight.

It begins with an 80-year-old mystery. Three men—a father and his two sons—vanished while working as laborers on a dangerous project to build the first road through the Florida Everglades. Now, years later, a series of letters are unexpectedly discovered by a descendant of these men. Driven by the need to know what happened to these lost members of his family, he starts asking questions—and is quickly stonewalled. With nowhere else to turn, he enlists the help of former Philadelphia police officer Max Freeman.

Living in his isolated shack in the Glades, Max starts his longshot investigation into the fate of the men. A newly minted private investigator working with his friend and attorney, Billy Manchester, Max is surprised to meet resistance immediately at every turn. The search for the truth quickly turns violent—and Max finds he has more to worry about than just 80-year-old ghosts. For there are powerful interests that want to make sure that the shadows of the past remain undisturbed—including some who will kill to make sure that they do.

Combining powerful storytelling and rich characters, Shadow Men establishes Jonathon King as a new master of modern crime fiction.

Customer Reviews:

Jonathon King never disappoints!.......2007-09-20

I admit, I'm a big fan. But, darn, he is so good. I feel like I'm right there in the Everglades, the descriptions are that good. Max Freeman is such an interesting and complicated character. He has become almost real to me.

4.5 - 5 Stars - I have become a big fan of King's work. .......2006-05-28

It's the characters, dialogue and sense of place that draws me in and keep me there page after page. Max and Billy are great characters with a strong, involving history. The secondary characters are interesting, rich and dimensional. The contrast between the city and the Everglades, as well as the time Freeman's spends on the water between the two, adds an atmosphere and richness to the story. The plot is a bit weak--I never did quite understand the motive for the killings in the 20's, but the sense of melancholy and nature versus nurture was compelling. I'd certainly recommend giving King a try.

Meandering and unremarkable.......2006-02-26

Max Freeman, an ex-cop turned PI who is haunted by the violence in his past, investigates an 80-year-old murder case. The result is a pretty formless thriller without any thrills. Author Jonathan King seems to recognize the plodding nature of Max's investigation, because he makes a number of digressions to scenes of violence from his hero's years on the Philadelphia police force and an unrelated sub-plot concerning a policeman who beats his girlfriend. The conclusion of the mystery is unsatisfying and there is scarcely a single scene of true suspense. The prose is direct but unremarkable. The strongest aspect of the book is its Everglades setting, but King does not evoke it nearly as well as, say, Tony Hillerman's masterful description of the southwestern desert.

Doesn't cut it.......2006-01-17

When I read The Blue Edge of Midnight I thought it was about as strong a first novel as an author could hope to have, except for maybe the few truly genius writers in the genre. I have no idea what happened to King here, but, as other reviewers have stated, this is by the numbers and even then gives little to keep the reader interested. In fact, there is not a single physical confrontation, a single scene of suspense or thrills, only a very weak and ultimately uninteresting mystery.

I want to make it clear I am not bashing King. I will read his other books and hope this was an aberration. His prose remains excellent but prose does not equal story. My only saving grace is that instead of buying this I got it at the library.

Not Impressed.......2005-09-27

I didn't read The Blue Edge Of Midnight, but I saw that it won an Edgar, so I figured Shadow Men would at least be a good read.

I didn't like this book. I had a hard time finishing it. Not a single character, including Max Freeman, stood out in any way for me. The whole book felt like a write-by-the-numbers exercise to me -- a little local color, a little romance with a local cop, a little backstory about Freeman's own father, a little more local color, etc. etc. etc. All the Everglades scenes felt tacked on, like a bad imitation of James Lee Burke. The dialogue was routine, and there were more than just a few convenient plot contrivances that rang totally hollow to me, not the least of which was the mysterious writings in the old trunk that just happened to mark all of the graves.

I wish I had liked this book better than I did. There was nothing about this book that hasn't been done much better by other authors. In my opinion, it's a mistake to mention Jonathon King in the same breath with Connelly, Burke, McDonald, and others I've seen mentioned. All in all, I was not impressed by Shadow Men or Jonathon King.

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Shadow Road (Swans' War)
Sean Russell
Manufacturer: Orbit
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1841492256

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Zero Stars
emphasis on the fantastical
An excellent, enjoyable read.

Silk Roads and Shadows
Susan Shwartz
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0812554116

Customer Reviews:

Zero Stars.......2006-03-27

Unreadable. Susan Shwartz must have been on drugs when she wrote this. I know I felt like I was on drugs after the first 40 or so pages. I could not go on. This is the first book I have ever burned.

emphasis on the fantastical.......2001-08-14

Given the title, the natural question for fans of Silk Road history and geography will be whether the book has anything to offer for their tastes. Regrettably the answer must be mostly in the negative. Although the author seems to have made some attempts at research, the results seem rather cursory as there is relative little historical and geographical information and some of it incorrect, even beyond the errors admitted in the introductory note. No year or name of the the Chinese emperor is ever given, but it is probably intended to be set in the reign of Tang emperor Wuzong (ruled 840-6), one of the late rulers of the dynasty. But as by this time silk had long since left China for places like Khotan and points east, the premise of traveling all the way to Chang An to acquire silkworks makes little sense, as does the idea that the worms were kept only in the palace. It is doubtful that worms could be transported as described either -- eggs would be a much more likely proposition. But these are minor matters for the historical reader when constantly the caravan party is being attacked by magical, fantastical beings with no basis in reality. It could have been quite interesting if the tale was a mostly historical one with occasional magic to move the plot along, but here clearly the author's interest is almost totally on monsters and magic. At least there is a mostly correct map of the region from Constantinople to Chang An and some of the sites visited along the way are described with a bit of detail.

An excellent, enjoyable read........1998-08-06

I put off reading this book for a long time after I purchased it. I regret that a lot. This book had a very fast moving and in depth storyline. But most interesting of all was the similarities between many different religions of ancient Earth. i.e. A Buddhist sect that has a belief in a Valhalla like place. If you are an aspiring theologist, this is a must read for those reasons alone. If you are anyone else, read it for the story. I loved this book, I can almost guarantee you will too.

3-book Set; the Swans' War Series Book 1-3; the One Kingdom; the Isle of Battle; the Shadow Roads By Sean Russell

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3-book Set; the Swans' War Series Book 1-3; the One Kingdom; the Isle of Battle; the Shadow Roads By Sean Russell
Sean Russell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000V4R0US

Product Description

Book 1-3 of Swans' War Series by Sean Russell.

ELDRITCH TALES - Issue 14 - 1987: Starry Coping; Where Does Watson Road Go; You Can't Take It With You; Deathstroke; Call Me Fearful; The Eldritch Eye; The Technique; The Horseman; Eric and the Red Blotches; The Halls of Doom; The Seed; Shadow

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ELDRITCH TALES - Issue 14 - 1987: Starry Coping; Where Does Watson Road Go; You Can't Take It With You; Deathstroke; Call Me Fearful; The Eldritch Eye; The Technique; The Horseman; Eric and the Red Blotches; The Halls of Doom; The Seed; Shadow
Crispin (editor) (J. N. Williamson; William Relling; C. J. Henderson; James Anderson; Donald Franson; Gary A. Braunbeck; Chris Lacher; Sam Gafford; C. Bruce Hunter; Herbert Jerry Baker; Roy Schneider; Charles L. Baker) Burnham
Manufacturer: Crispin Burnham
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HPAPOY

Ghost and shadow towns of the glory road;: A photographic quest,

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Cal-Nevada mining ghosts

Ghost and shadow towns of the glory road;: A photographic quest,
Thomas W Moore
Manufacturer: A. S. Barnes
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

North America | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0498074277

Customer Reviews:

Cal-Nevada mining ghosts.......2006-10-24

This is a book of photographs taken by author Thomas Moore of various ghost and near-ghost towns of the Nevada/California goldfields (roughly Reno to Death Valley). A so-so map shows where the towns are located. Moore gives a brief history of each town and then presents photos of what remnants he found there; it's probably safe to say that many of the ruins shown in these pre-1970 photos are gone by now. But there's something majestic in these forlorn crumbling structures and empty, wind-blown buildings and shacks that were once familiar sights to thousands of busy miners. One must consult other books, however, to get decent instructions on how to see these ghosts for oneself (Paher's "Ghost Town Atlases of Nevada" are good sources for this). It's a good book for those who are planning to visit any of these old sights: what might these old towns look like today compared to just 40 years ago?

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