NON-FICTION

AMONG TURTLE HUNTERS & BASKET MAKERS: Adventures with the Sari Indians by David Burckhalter, Treasure Chest Books, P.O. Box 5250, Tucson, AZ 85703, 1999. Index, bibliography, glossary, b/w and color photographs, one map, 7" X 8," 130p., $16.95, soft 1-87896013-9
Some studies which present research on a particular group of people are limited to a list of facts, figures, and a general prespective that never really encounters the feelings and intrinsic nature of the people. David Burckhalter, however, has given readers the rare opportunity to meet the Sari People first hand. This book takes the reader inside their lives, families, and occupations. His familiar style adds a warm touch and an inviting way of getting close to a living part of history. The photography is clear, bright, and colorful and adds a pleasing visual aspect to the overall presentation of Burckhalter's work. It is a fine representation of these unique people.
Claude Jones

VOICES FROM THE WILD HORSE DESERT: The Vaquero Families of the King and Kenedy Ranches by Jane Clements Monday and Betty Bailey Colley, University of Texas Press, P.O. Box 7819, 1997. Appendix, photographs, bibliography, glossary, index, 6" X 9," 288p., $15.95, soft 0-929-75205-9
Ranching vast areas of land such as the King and Kenedy Ranches is both time consuming and labor intensive. Often, credit for the success of these larger ranches has been given only to the land owners when, if the facts be known, most of the credit rightfully belongs to those who endured the elements and physically made the ranch work. This book is an intimate look at those who gleaned far less of the monetary rewards of these large ranches, but shouldered the majority of the responsibility for their success--the vaquero and his family.
Linda Pride

AMERICA, NEW MEXICO by Robert Leonard Reid, The University of Arizona Press, 1230 N. Park Ave. Ste 102, Tucson, AZ 85721, 1998. Sources, 6 1/8" X 8 3/4", 245p., $16.95, soft 0-8165-1876-9
This is a different, closer look at New Mexico because the author goes behind the exterior of the romanticized landscape and people and sets his sights on the "unaffected" New Mexico--the people, cultures, and terrain that reflect the original glory and splendor of the state.

A REPORTER AT LARGE: Dateline: Pyramid Lake, Nevada edited with an update by Elmer R. Rusco, The University of Nevada Press, Reno, NV 89557-0076, 2000. Maps, appendix, 27 b/w photographs, 5 1/2" X 8 1/2," 192p., $21.95, soft 0-87417-341-8
Rusco presents a record of the dispute between the Paiute Indians and the greedy speculators of Nevada in the 1950s in the area of Lake Pyramid and the surrounding region. Liebling, a renowned journalist, came to Reno to obtain a divorce. He stayed longer than he intended and could not help from getting involved in the squabble. His essays here discuss the affair in detail. Critics agree that this an exceptional piece of work for Elmer R. Rusco and a credit to the field of reporting.

TOMBSTONE: An Iliad of the Southwest by Walter Noble Burns, University of New Mexico Press, 1720 Lomas Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87131,1999. Includes a picture of "Boot Hill Graveyard" and a 1927 letter from Wyatt Earp to the author, 5 1/2" x 8 1/4," 388p., soft 0-8263-2154-2
Merely the mention of Tombstone inspires more visions about the Old West than most books that discuss it do. Certainly, what most readers have heard and read lived only in the imaginations of the storytellers. However, Tombstone did occupy a special place in history, and many of the events that took place in this frontier town have yet to be told. First copyrighted in 1927, Tombstone is a clever mixture of fact and fiction. Burns has so closely united these two elements and left such a thin line of mystery between them that it would take a professor of American History to separate the two.
This book is unique in that it includes a personal perspective about Tombstone from Wyatt Earp himself. Living in Vidal, California in 1927, Mr. Earp wrote Walter Noble Burns and outlined his version of his experiences while living in Tombstone. Truth or fiction, this is an interesting book and one not to be overlooked by the treasure hunters of the American West.
Douglas L.Quentin

MOTHER'S TABLE FATHER'S CHAIR: Cultural Narratives of Basque American Women by Jacqueline S. Thursby, Utah State University Press, Logan, UT 84322-7800, 1999. Notes, work cited, 20 b/w photographs, illustrations, index, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2," 160p., soft 0-87421-264-2
Basques in American historical records are mostly represented by the male figure. Most of the studies that document their arrival and early years were written about the homesteaders and herdsmen. Thursby's work in the Cultural Narratives of Basque American Women is long over due. This is a refreshing look at the people behind the scenes, the women who ran the boarding houses, hotels, and carried on the cultural traditions while becoming the primary agents of the Basques' Americanization. This book is the result of intense research and personal interviews with Basque women across the west.
RWRJ

SOME HORSES: Essays by Thomas McGuane, The Lyon's Press, 123 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011, 1999. Ten illustrations, 5 3/4" X 8 1/2", 176p., $22.95, hard 1-55821-891-2
Some Horses is a collection of nine essays that reflect the time, energy, and passion that can surround the enterprise of raising and training horses. Thomas McGuane has devoted a lifetime to the study of these animals and those who work with them. He is convinced that a great deal can be learned about life and living just by being able to understand horses and the bonds they form with humans. McGuane's essays are drawn from his own experiences and those men and women he has known who share his love for these animals.
Claude Jones

TALES OF BADMEN, BAD WOMEN, AND BAD PLACES: Four Centuries of Texas Outlawry by C.F. Eckhardt, Texas Tech University Press, Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79410, 1999. Index, 6" X 9", 224p., $15.95, soft 0-89672-420-4
These are tales of the Old West like you may have never read them before. Eckhardt weaves together a blend of facts and "conjured-up" assumptions to bring to the public a book called Tales of Badmen, Bad Women, and Bad Places. Based on the lives of Texas men and women who were less than honorable citizens, this work explores a side of these coarse individuals that few, if any, have ever written about.

SAM BASS & GANG by Rick Miller, State House Press, P.O. Box 15247, Austin, TX 78761, 1999. Index, bibliography, endnotes, b/w photographs, 6" x 9", 412p., soft 1-880510-66-9
According to western scholars, this text is one of the finest examples of historical research on the Sam Bass Gang in print today. Miller has included here over one hundred pages of documentation to substantiate his claims. The text is unencumbered by lavish terminology and clearly states the position and case for which the book was intended--to record what actually happened in and around the life of this gang. Their trail of robbery extended from the Dakota Territory to the streets of Round Rock, Texas. Miller has left no turns untaken and attacks every angle to expose the nature and the particular details of the lives of these men.
There are many original photographs in this book and every Texana collection in the Southwest should have a copy of this work on its shelves.
Douglas L. Quinten

THE LAND AND THE INDIANS: The Colorado Plateau by Kathleene Parker, Edited by K.C. Compton, Photography by Tom Till, Thunder Mesa Publishing, Inc., 208 Sherwood Blvd., White Rock, NM 87544, 1999. Color and b/w photographs, 8 1/2" x 11," 88p., $14.95, soft 0-9625717-1-7
Tom Till and Stephen Trimble's photography light this book up like a golden sunset. Bright colors decorate the landscape and soft tones on the faces of those who inhabit the land; this gives the work an aura of magic. These two have tastefully chosen an occasional halftone to give the book its suggestion of time, both past and present.
The text is as rich as the art. Parker's research on this particular location has yielded some quite interesting facts about the Indians who live on this great plateau. These beautiful people have lived in harmony with nature for centuries, and their lifestyle reflects their efforts to co-exist with a land that is anything but friendly.

NUEVOS SENDEROS: Reflections on Hispanics and Philanthropy edited by Diana Campoarmor, William A. Diaz, and Henry A. J. Ramos, Arte Publico Press, The University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-2090, 1999. Bibliography, notes, graphs, charts, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2," 294p., $19.95, soft 1-55885-263-8
This anthology suggests opportunites for more personal commitment in aiding Latino communities. It is especially helpful for policy-makers and professionals in the philanthropic and non-profit fields. These essays provide Hispanics and others with historical studies and surveys dealing with the policies and practices in the philanthropic sectors.

OLD FENCES, NEW NEIGHBORS by Peter R. Decker, The University of Arizona Press, 1230 N. Park Ave. Suite 102, Tucson, AZ 85721, 1998, 6" x 8," 160p., $19.95, soft 0-8165-1905-6
Quary County, Colorado is the setting for this historical work. Decker addresses a new and now common problem for many rural areas once isolated by geographical location. According to Decker, the migration west has started all over again. This time it is not frontiersmen and their families searching for new beginnings; it is the people confined by populated areas who are buying up these once remote tracts of land to get away permanently or to have a place to get away from time to time. This is an interesting study and a close look at the new frontier migration.

THE MAZE: A Desert Journey by Lucy Rees, The University of Arizona Press, 1230 N. Park Ave. Suite 102, Tucson, AZ 85719-4140, 1996. Illustrations, 1 map, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2," 199p., $15.95, soft 0-8165-1831-9
If nature and the things that make it wild and wonderful intrigue you, then Lucy Rees will take you on an unforgettable journey through The Maze of desert life and travel. Her style is personal, and the text reflects a close relationship with the desert and her love for these vast and beautiful lands. This would also be enjoyable reading for those who love horses and the range of travel they permit in such an environment.

THE CHEROKEES AND THEIR CHIEFS: In the Wake of Empire by Stanley W. Hoig, The University of Arkansas Press, 201 Ozark, Fayetteville, AR 72701, 1998. Bibliography, notes, 20 illustrations, index, 6 1/4" x 9 1/4," 304p., $18., soft 1-55728-528-4, $34., hard 1-55728-527-6
The history and story of the Cherokee Nation is one of honor and longevity. Hoig, through years of research of both oral and written history, has developed a work that will stand the test of time. His technique in presenting the personal and the historical aspects of Cherokee life seems to be honest and straightforward. This book looks at the people and their chiefs from their origins through early white contact, diplomatic dealings with the English, Euro-Americans and on into the twentieth century. It is well written and informative.

TEXAS PAINTERS, SCULPTORS & GRAPHIC ARTIST: A Bibliographical Dictionary of Artists in Texas before 1942 by John & Deborah Powers, with a foreword by Ron Tyler, Woodmont Books, P.O. Box 50103, Austin, TX 78763-0103, 2000. Appendices, bibliography, 7 1/4" x 10 1/4," 624p., $125, hard 0-9669622-0-6, special order, three-quarter Morocco-leather edition $225, 0-9669622-0-6
Libraries and those who pursue the arts have long awaited a comprehensive volume dealing with Texas art and those who have created it. This book was fourteen years in the making, and Books of the Soutwest recommends this achievement to its readers. Like many other states, Texas has a rich and extensive history in the arts. This work encompasses that history up to 1942. John and Deborah Powers, lovers of the arts, and especially the arts of the Lone Star State, have included research on museums, art associations, schools of art, and pre-World War II collections, and the artists themselves. The material is arranged in alphabetical order. The font is small but clean, crisp, and clearly identifiable. The text is easy to read and the subjects are easily located. The binding and cover are soundly constructed. The price is not prohibitive if one considers the quality of the content and the workmanship. This book would be a nice addition for every Texas public and university library.
BWS

A TREASURY OF WOODCARVING DESIGNS FROM AROUND THE WORLD by Alan Bridgewater and Gill Bridgewater, Dover Publications, Inc., 31 E. 2nd Street, Mineola, NY 11501, 1999. Hundreds of illustrations, tool glossary, index, 8 1/2" X 11", 192p., $12.95, soft 0-486-40480-3
The art of woodcarving is not unique to any one culture or civilization and has been a medium for crafters and artists for thousands of years. This book explores the many styles and techniques of woodcarving masters, their tools and the types of wood used to create this art form. From African pole carving to the intricate cherubs and angels of England, the Bridgewaters explore the impetus for the motifs, patterns, and themes that make this art form one of the oldest (if not the very oldest) art forms we know of today. This is not a "how to" book on wood carving; it is rather a photographic record of the art itself. The density, quality, and availability of good wood dictate the characteristics and durability of the artists' work. As this book illustrates, even the best of craftsmen were limited in design and detail by the availability of their supplies. With over 1000 detailed drawings and photographs in this one volume, the work contains examples of Mexican, Aztec, and other American examples of the craft.
Douglas L. Quinten

TRAILDUST: Cowboys, Cattle and Country, The Art of James Reynolds Text by Don Hedgpeth, The Greenwich Workshop Press, P.O. Box 875, Shelton, CT 06484,1997. 10 1/4" X 10 1/4", 156p., $39.95, hard 0-86713-035-0
Few artists have captured the mood of great Western American scenes as James Reynolds has. His ability to employ free but accurate brush strokes and enchanting hues gives his paintings an appeal that evokes wildness and the untamed. Greenwich Workshop Press has reproduced Reynolds' major works and condensed them into book form. The written portion of this work also does credit to the publisher, the art, and the artist they represent. This book will no doubt stand as an historical record of this artist's work for generations to come.

GRASS ROOTS RECONSTRUCTION IN TEXAS 1865-1880 by Randolph B. Campbell, Louisiana State University Press, P.O. Box 25053, Baton Rouge, LU 70894-5053, 1998. Bibliography, maps, index, 6" X 9", 280p., $30., hard 0-8071-2194-0
Grass Roots is Texas history at its finest. Campbell has laid a substantial foundation of "grass roots" research to validate his work on the Texas Reconstruction period. He plants seeds of doubt about Texas having been a stronghold for carpetbaggers and leaves the reader with a better understanding about those who helped to reestablish Texas after the war. This is a well written and attractive book.

LEAVING THE FOLD: Candid Conversations with Inactive Mormons by James W. Ure, Signature Books, 564 West 400 Street North, Salt Lake City, UT 84116-3411, 1999, 6" X 9", 270p., $19.95, soft 1-56085-134-1
James W. Ure composes this book on the assumption that those outside the Mormon Church are "lost." He attempts to explain why some "high profile" people have left the Mormon assembly and have negative feelings about further connection and attachment to it. He projects Mormonism as the way to eternal salvation and considers those who do not accept it or stray from it as "wayward" and "lost." His work here seems to be calling those who are still involved in Mormonism to help in reestablishing others who have become disenchanted with the religion--even if their disenchantment has sound reasoning behind it. This is a well written yet contro-versial book.
Fredrick Long

PEOPLE OF THE WEST DESERT: Finding Common Ground by Craig Denton, Utah State Press, Logan, UT 84322-7800, 1999. B/w photographs, bibliography, index, 8 1/2" X 11", 203p., $24.95, soft 0-87421-262-6
Craig Denton's People of the Desert has historically captured a place and a way of life that few have ever experienced and chronicled its existence, both past and present, for posterity. The Great Basin, one of America's most inhospitable and isolated places, would assumedly be uninhabited, but such is not the case at all. Indians, ranchers, herdsmen, speculators, and special interest groups have called this vast and arid region home for many years. Denton's research investigates the results and aftermath of the Cold War and its effects on this region. His original intent was to assemble a landscape documentary of the Lake Bonneville area. His encounters with the local inhabitant, however, led him to expand his work. Denton has given us a look into a world characterized by those who inhabit it. It is not the sand or the terrain that are important, but the communities and the culture and their ability to survive and enjoy what some would consider Hell on earth. The book is not easily read. Denton challenges his audience to piece together a complicated set of circumstances and events (some of which were new and others ancient) to the people who lived them. The photographic images contained in this volume lend an emotional aspect to the text. They not only support the work, they enhance it. For those interested in the people and the land of the West Desert area, this is an ideal source.
Claude Jones

TO CALIFORNIA ON THE SOUTHERN ROUTE 1849: A History and Annotated Bibliography by Patricia A. Etter, Arthur H. Clark Company, P.O. Box 14707, Spokane, WA 99214, 1998. Illustrations, maps, one fold out large map, 18 b/w photographs, appendix, glossary, index, 6 1/4" X 9 1/2", 178p., $37.50, hard 0-87062-270-6
To California is a critical work by Etter to fill in the blank pages of historical records concerning the southern trails in the California gold rush areas of 1849. It is well documented and finely researched and represents hundreds of hours of perusing diaries, journals, and oral history about these routes. This book is essential for libraries offering research into California's history.

BEAR FLAG RISING: The Conquest of California, 1846 by Dale L. Walker, Forge Books, 175 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010, 2000. Sources, 1 photograph, 1 map, index, 5 1/2" X 8 1/4", 320p., $13.95, soft 0-312-87512-6
Author of The Boys of '98: Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders, Dale L. Walker comes back with another work likely to endure and capturing the essence of California's birth and its rise to greatness. As an historian, Walker has once again opened up new avenues of thought. He carefully argues that the early recession of that region was caused by Mexico's disregard of the area's right to rule itself. He approaches the idea of manifest destiny as a predestined part of California's place in history. Some of his sources pre-date the arrival of the first Europeans when the only inhabitants were Indians and Mexicans. The work is thoroughly documented.

PUEBLO INDIAN PAINTING: Tradition and Modernism in New Mexico, 1900-1930 by J.J. Brody, School of American Research Press, P.O. Box 2188, Santa Fe, NM 87504, 1997. B/w photographs, 101 color Illustrations, appendix, references, credits, index, 9 7/8" X 11 5/8", $30., hard 0-933452-46-2
J. J. Brody, professor emeritus of art and art history at the University of New Mexico, has long set the standard for excellence in writing about the Pueblo people and their art. This particular effort by Brody is considered to be among the finest in the field. Pueblo Indian Painting is a comprehensive study of the Pueblo People, their art and the influences on their art. The work introduces Pueblo art scholars and discusses their contributions to the field. This book is an excellent resource for libraries and universities.

VAMPIRO: The Vampire Bat in Fact and Fantasy by David E. Brown, The University of Utah Press, 1795 E. South Campus Dr. Suite 101, Salt lake City, UT 84112-9402, 1999. references, maps, 50 illustrations, index, 6" X 9", 147p., $10.95, soft 0-87480-601-1
Yes, there is such a thing as a bat that sucks blood from living things. This creature has the ability to extract over half of its body weight in blood from its victim at one draining. They feed only at night and their range is swiftly closing in on Texas and Arizona. The frightening fact about this creature is that they are increasing in numbers as the human population increases. This book will chill your spine with facts and fiction about these bloodthirsty shadows of the night.

GILA MONSTER: Facts and Folklore of America's Aztec Lizard by David E. Brown and Neil B. Carmony, The University of Utah Press, 1795 E. South Campus Dr. Suite 101, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9402, 1999. References, 2 maps, 32 illustrations, index, 6" X 9", 129p., $10.95, soft 0-87480-600-3
The legendary Gila Monsters of the south have a poisonous and very painful bite. Its reclusiveness has made it extremely difficult to study. This is a remarkable look at an armored lizard with a snake's tongue that lives virtually all its life underground.

THE ROAD TO MEXICO: Truckers, drug dealers, cowboys, artists: the stories they tell are strange, painful, amusing, and true by Lawrence J. Taylor and Maeve Hichey, The University of Arizona Press, 1230 N. Park Ave. Suite 102, Tucson, AZ 85719-4140, 1997. B/w photographs, 7" X 8", 180p., $17.95, soft 0-8165-1725-8
If you want to know what is going on is a certain area, the "locals" will know. Therefore, if you want to know about the history and conversations of those who transverse the Northern Mexican borderlands, ask the "locals" Taylor and Hickey. The Road to Mexico is an engaging history as open and warm as the people it represents.