Sierra East: Edge of the Great Basin (California Natural History Guides)

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Deepest Valley and Mammoth Lake Sierra

An outstanding natural history text for the eastern Sierras

Sierra East: Edge of the Great Basin (California Natural History Guides)

Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0520239148

Book Description

The Eastern Sierra is a dramatic, unusual, mountain-and-desert region in eastern California and western Nevada that includes two famous resorts, Lake Tahoe and Mammoth Lakes. It is a world apart from the lands west of the Sierra Nevada, and the contributors to this lavishly illustrated natural history provide a marvelous introduction to the wonderland that makes up the Eastern Sierra.
As the eastern slope of the 400-mile-long Sierra Nevada merges with the western edge of the Great Basin, desert valleys of long summers and snow-spangled mountains of long winters lie side by side. The region's unique features include altitudes ranging from 2,800 feet at Redrock Canyon to 14,494 feet at the top of Mount Whitney; the merging of three biogeographic regions: the Sierra Nevada, the Great Basin Desert, and the Mojave Desert; and the resulting extraordinary diversity of plant and animal life. The book contains chapters on the region's geologic story, weather and climate, plant communities, arthropods, native fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The authors emphasize relationships and the ingenious ways that plant and animal life have evolved and adapted to the Eastern Sierra's harsh environments. Maps, diagrams, photographs, and exceptional drawings illustrate the text. Written with few technical terms, Sierra East is a fine source book for the layperson and students on university field trips.

Customer Reviews:

Deepest Valley and Mammoth Lake Sierra.......2004-07-16

I was quite disappointed in this edition of Smith's book. Unlike the other reviewer, I have seen the evolution of the book from The Deepest Valley and Mammoth Lakes Sierra to Sierra East. This is technically the 6th (?) edition. The original books were more of a travel guide. Thus, followers of Smith's books (I eagerly awaited each new edition) may be as sorely disappointed as I was.
The "Roadsides" chapters were great for the less traveled byways of the eastern Sierra. The illustrations of the Sierra Crest were extremely useful as students always asked which peak is Lone Pine Peak (looks taller) vs Mt. Whitney. Illustrations like fig. 3.5 were scattered through this chapter. The chapter on trails were good for day hikes into the high country. Both of these chapters are now gone.
I also miss the maps on the inside covers of the old editions.
The present edition is part of the CA Natural History Guides, and Eastern Sierra follows the trend of massive books.
The geology chapter is well done with good new illustrations, but the section of glaciers is shallow. This is one of the dominant feature of the eastern Sierra, yet the explanation is not as clear, mostly due to the lack of illustrations compared to the older. e.g. The description of a matterhorn is that it is named after the Swiss Matterhorn. No illustration. Cirque Lakes?
Because it is a U.C. Natural History Guide, it tries to cover everything but nothing very well. It tries to be an all-in-one guide. Unless one is backpacking, it is sometimes wiser to have specific guides on specific groups of organisms. e.g. Number of eggs and incubation time are mentioned, but how many people see nests or have the time to watch how long it takes for the eggs to hatch. Maybe it would have been better to say "watch for nighthawks at dusk just north of Bishop and south of the Bishop Tuff." I have seen more Ospreys in the Owens Valley than Prairie Falcons, Peregrine Falcons, Merlins, and Goshawks combined, yet ospreys get a few sentences. "Look for them on Lake Tinemaha at the overlook."
Most of the mammals described won't be seen unless one traps for them in very specific locations and habitats. A more detailed description on the diurnal mammals may have been in order.
The fish chapter was expanded to include the various endemics, again fish that most will never see. Maybe a chapter or two on the fish hatcheries. Mt Whitney Fish Hatchery is great for kids (and grownups) to see huge trout that one can feed.
I thought the arthropod chapter was good and restrained, covering things that people will encounter in the wilds... mosquitos, ticks, no-see-ems, and organisms that are important to the area... Pandora moths, bark beetles. Things that people run across... velvet ants, brine flies.
I thought the flora section was ok. There could have been better comparisons between some of the more similar trees. Illustrations of the bark would have been nice, as they are helpful in identifying trees.
Last, the water chapter is good but does not delve into the LA Aqueduct issue, Owens Lake, Mono Lake, etc.

In Smith's defense, maybe the problem is that I am a biology professor and know the flora and fauna. I know less about the history and geology of the area.

An outstanding natural history text for the eastern Sierras.......2000-07-25

Sometimes a book comes along at just the right time. In my case, I happened across this book in the local bookstore the day I returned from my first exploration of the White Mountains and the Highway 395 corridor. Thumbing through it I realized it was a wealth of information to help me decipher the many plants and animals I had seen on my trip. It is an excellent compilation of nearly everything one is likely to encounter exploring this unique region. Whether it be geology, native vegetation, insects, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, or mammals, there is a chapter in here for each. And these are not simplified overviews of only the most common species, they are detailed discussions of numerous species and subspecies. Despite the detail, the writing style is easy to read. Each chapter is lavishly illustrated with black-and-white line drawings. A center insert also includes color photos of many arthropods and plant species.

Though the focus is on the eastern slopes of the Sierras, it is often applicable to nearby areas. For instance it describes bristlecone pines found only in the White Mountains. The book also covers certain associated areas, most notably the surrounding desert communities.

Genny Smith has done a wonderful job of coordinating the writing styles of many different authors. Having been involved in these types of collaborations myself, I know this is no easy task. The overall result makes this book a necessary addition to the libraries of both professionals and amateurs alike.

Book Description

Recent findings on the role of the cell wall of pathogenetic fungi in the pathogenic processes of both vertebrates and invertebrates are presented. The fungal cell wall not only gives shape to the fungus, but it is a dynamic structure allowing fungal growth and survival of fungi in both friendly and adverse environments. It acts as a living sieve controlling the entry of nutrients and the secretion of metabolic products. In terms of fungal pathogenesis, the fungal wall may be responsible for eliciting the defense response of their respective invertebrate or vertebrate hosts or conversely it may provide protection against the host defense system during the pathogenic process.

Book Description

Shawn Hall's immensely popular guidebooks to Nevada ghost towns have become essential resources for backcountry explorers and scholars alike. Now Hall returns to Elko County to survey the county's railroad and stage stations, as well as other sites not included in his earlier survey of this vast and colorful section of the state.

As in his earlier volumes, Hall includes a history of each site he lists, along with period and contemporary photographs, directions for locating the sites, and an assessment of their present condition. His historical accounts, based on a wide range of primary and secondary sources, are both scholarly and engaging, rich in anecdotes and personalities, and in the fascinating minutia of history often ignored by more academic writers.

Shawn Hall's dedication to documenting Nevada's thousands of historic sites has enriched our knowledge of the state's relatively brief but very eventful past. Connecting the West is a worthy addition to Hall's remarkable efforts to preserve the state's history.

Book Description

Binding Ties

The most important thing in the Charmed Ones' lives isn't magic, and it's not their jobs or their clothes. It's family. Piper, Phoebe, and Paige are Warren witches -- the latest in a long line of women with incredible supernatural strength. For more than two centuries, the Warren witches have fearlessly practiced magic: From Melinda Warren in the 1600s to the Charmed Ones in 2005, the power of these witches is unsurpassed.

The Warren Witches recounts never-before-told stories of their lives -- as women, as witches, and, most important, as members of a family of considerable magical strength and power. Above all, they are family; beyond all, they are witches.

Customer Reviews:

The Warren Witches? More like time-travel edition of never-before-told stories of Piper, Phoebe and Paige.......2005-10-06

This short story collection was given the wrong title. For a title "The Warren Witches", it should be about various ancestor witches, from Melinda Warren to The Charmed Ones, not just stories about the 3 main characters. And there are too many stories which involved time-travel. At least, there was mention of the girls' main ancestors - their mother, Grams, the 1920s cousins, Melinda, Prudence and Charlotte Warren, and Aunt Brianna - all of them should be familiar with Charmed fans. What about the other Warren Witches? Please. Do let us know more about Prudence's daughter Cassandra Warren-Wentworth. Everyone knows Aunt Brianna as she was famous for defeating Lord Gabriel. As mentioned in "Family History", she said that she has 1 sister, who has gone to America. That sister happens to be Astrid Warren-Wentworth. Both Brianna and Astrid are the daughters of Cassandra. What about letting Charmed fans know more about these witches? And Astrid's three daughters - Laura, Helena and Grace Wentworth? Tell us about any magical disaster they faced, their lives as witches, and how they overcame evil. The Wentworth sisters, each had a daughter and they became the well-known 1920s cousins, P.Bowen, P.Baxter and P.Russell. And from then, you know how the Warren Line goes. Stories that have been passed down through generations, stories on each ancestor and most importantly, their fight against evil and protecting the innocents.

That is how the book should have been. Not time-travel stories about Piper, Phoebe and Paige. Although the only story with NO mention of the Charmed Ones was "Patty's Awakening", which in my opinion, the best story in the book.

Could have been better.

Tsk, tsk, tsk.... .......2005-09-06

I truly believe the book could have been written better. THe title "The Warren Witches" stirs up thoughts of stories with other ancestors, not just the main characters, Piper, phoebe and paige.

The only story WITHOUT mention of the power of 3 at all, was Patty's Awakening, by Greg Elliott. I enjoyed that story, but I found it a bit draggy, with nothing to keep you in suspense about.

The stories by Laura J.Burns, Old Friend and Family History, were good, as the stories were original and something different, rather than the usual demon-vanquishing tales. As for "Old friend", I liked it, it was an unique start to the beginning of a exciting story (that's what I thought), but the fact that Wyatt ORBED into the past w/out a spell of potion??? That's ridiculously impossible. Was Laura in a rush when she wrote than story? And the ending for it? Emily's history was changed!!! It was pretty abrupt.. As for "Family history" the fact that P.Russell was supposed to be killed by her cousins, P.Bowen and Baxter... My question is, how could P.Russell have woken Astarte up, when there was no mention of Astarte at all in the Charmed series? If P.Russell DID wake Astarte up in her regular timeline, why should she be killed by her cousins and not by Astarte, which will leave the timeline to be NOT messed up?

Micol Ostow's story, The Crucible, was a horrible story. Such a lame, confusing plot, suspense which leads to something which people might say, "That's it? I thought there was more to this!!" I read this story ONCE and that is it, as reading it a few more times can make me puke at how badly written this story was.

Something old, something new, was also quite cockamamy-ish, in the sense that the 3 witches went into the past to make Prudence Warren to realise how much her powers are to be needed or magic would have left the entire family, and became a story which was passed down for generations.... Confusing, not to mention silly, but the plot was a-okay when it came to suspense...

Witch Trap, like Old Friend, was also unique, but didnt quite make sense that much, though I was happy to read that Melinda Warren appeared to the girls when they were in the dire times.

Old family recipe had an interesting story line about Piper unknowingly tainted the apple pie, by a recipe written by Russell. But my only gripe about the story was its abrupt ending to the obsessions of Paige, Phoebe, Leo, Darryl, etc..

Preconceived was not bad... I enjoyed it, and was amazed at the girls' determination to save their mother's life and not mention anything about themselves to Grams..

If you ask me, 90% of the stories had abrupt endings which made you think a few times over what it meant... I expected more from this short-story collection though..

This Could Be Improved A Thousand Times Over...........2005-08-16

This book just didn't have the show's signature sparkle. It was SUPPOSE to be about the Warren family, before the sisters!

PROS:

The few things that I liked about this book were the fact that Paige was able to meet Melinda Warren, in fact, Melinda's inclusion in and of itself was a major plus! I loved the episode, "The Witch Is Back," and I only wish that the show could've had more appearances by Melinda.

A bit of Paige's history was a nice thing to have, especially the part about her obsession with Twizzlers. If anyone remembers, Prue also had a love for Twizzlers (Andy said this in Season 1), and I thought that was another nice connection between Paige and Prue.

I really liked the inclusion of P. Russell and P. Baxter and her (P. Baxter's) use of her powers to slow down time. (In the world of the fans, whether Piper was able to actually freeze or just slow things down in her past life has always been a huge debate.)

The story that revolved around Penny and Patty was fabulous! I loved the detail, as well as Patty's struggle with being a witch. It was very believable and probably one of, if not the, best story in the entire book.

CONS:

There were just too many things that didn't add up and the consistent time travel throughout the book got old around the third time The Charmed Ones went back to the past. As well as Wyatt's display of magic in the past. Every fan of the show knows that without a spell or potion, you cannot possess magic when you haven't been born. So Wyatt using his powers in the past, let alone ORBING into the past, was completely unacceptable.

But I believe what bothered me most about this book was the fact that there was absolutely NO Prue! Prue was one of the hugest parts of the Halliwell line, the oldest of the Power of Three, the sister who died which allowed Paige to come in and finally allowed them to vanquish The Source because they had the ENTIRE family! I understand that the sisters couldn't summon Prue from the dead, but they could've had flashbacks of Prue. They refused to show Little Prue in Patty's visions, but they allowed Little Piper and Little Phoebe to be shown. Hell, we didn't even get to see P. Bowen (Prue's past life)! She was barely mentioned in the book! This is the biggest reason why I've given this book such a low score. The absence of the eldest Halliwell sister in any form, without so much as even an attempt at a reason, is completely unacceptable!

Any avid fan of the show could write a better book and not have such easily avoidable errors, inconsistent plots, and they could bring continuity to the storyline!

If the producers ever want to see a good book about "Charmed," I believe they'll need to hire one of us loyal fans who love to write about the show.

Sincerely,
~Camille May, A Fan For Life~

a good book... just a bit disappionted.......2005-08-15

i love Charmed so i was thrilled when i bought "the warren witches". but i was a bit disappointed in some of the stories. i thought i was going to discover more about the charmed ones' ancestors... WITHOUT piper, phoebe and paige. but over-all, it was a good book- especialy for charmed obbsessed fans... like me.

Charmed.......2005-07-20

The book was excellent though not what I expected. I had been hoping for more of a tale of history of the girls whole line. Instead is was a series of great stories that did reveal more of the girls history just not as much as I wanted. It was a great read from finished to end. Anyone who reads the series will be more than satisfied!

Average customer rating:

Love books like these!
No Rest
A bit of each author's worlds
Definitely worth a read!
four enjoyable romantic fantasies

No Rest for the Witches
MaryJanice Davidson , Cheyenne McCray , Christine Warren , and Lori Handeland
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0312949219
Release Date: 2007-10-02

Customer Reviews:

Love books like these!.......2007-10-17

I love books like these with one or two well known authors I read frequently. And some other well known authors I have yet to read. I especially love it when they write anthologies, I get a little sampling of their work. I have expanded my "must by authors" list from this book alone! LOVED LOVED LOVED Cheyenne McCray's story! Maryjanice Davidson is not a my most favorite author. But after this book I am going shopping for some of her books. Buy the book, you won't be dissapointed. And if you are...send it to me so that I have a spare copy to read when mine gets too dog-earred and worn! lol

No Rest.......2007-10-16

All 4 of theses stories are great. Davidson's Majicka is great, funny and entertaining, anyone who can have an angry fairy and a prissy vampire well you get the rest when you read it.
Handleland"s Voodoo king sounds yummy
Mcray's war continues with some awesome warriors that could make you drool.
And Warren's normal human who time travels into trouble is worth the provision.

I really enjoyed these 4 stories I hope you do too.

A bit of each author's worlds.......2007-10-14

If you have never read a book by these authors, these stories might make you look for some of their novels. Each is set in the world of the author. I enjoyed each glimpse into that world except for the fact they were to short.

MaryJanice Davidson tells us about a girl who attracts different supernatural characters. They simply move in with her. Finally one she can love comes along. He has come to teach her about what she is. If there was one story not quite up to snuff, this is it.

Lori Handeland tells the story of a voodoo priest and the FBI agent sent to find a serial killer who is unseen and leaves no trace.

Cheyenne McCray tells us Conlan and Sydney's story. If you read WICKED MAGIC you will recognize him as the fae caught with the high queen. Now sent to Earth to help in the battle with Balor.

Christine Warren returns us to her world, to see Randy take a chance and cast a spell, she who supposedly has no magic, somehow moves herself back in time to meet a very attractive witch. He doesn't stay a stranger for long.

All were good but not great. Still sometimes a short story is all you have time for.

Definitely worth a read!.......2007-10-14

If you're in the mood for some short but enjoyable paranormal romance, look no further, this is a surprisingly good collection by some of the better paranormal authors out there.

All are tied to previous writings by these authors, whether directly--such as Cheyenne McCray & Christine Warrens stories-- or indirectly, in the offerings by MaryJanice Davidson and Lori Handeland. All are stand alone, and do not require having read the previous stories although having read at least some of them myself, it does help. They also tie up nicely at the end, leaving plenty of room for sequels but unlike some I have read, not leaving you ticked off the author didn't resolve things better.

My personal favorite is MaryJanice Davidsons "The Magicka" and in true Davidson style, had me laughing throughout. I also found this offering meatier than some of her other recent stuff, which was a wonderful surprise. I'm not a fan of Handeland's NightCreatures and Hunter-Searcher series, neither do I care for McCray's witch and warrior series but I did enjoy these shorter offerings, particularly Handelands, whose writing I like, I just have never liked the Werewolves being the bad guys. However, this story steps away from that but still ties it together--loosely. McCray's was also good, perhaps because it was so short. Fans of Warren's "Others" will enjoy this offering, as well as the brief look into what is current in the lives of past characters.

I didn't give this 5 stars because I didn't LOVE it, but I definitely enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone who either has read these authors before and is looking for something new between installments in their individual series, or anyone who might want to get a taste of what these authors stories are like.

four enjoyable romantic fantasies.......2007-10-13

"The Majicka" by MaryJanice Davidson. Micah seeking the next Majicka has come to Cannon Falls, Minnesota where he meets Ireland and her roommates (a vampire, a fairy, a werewolf, and a zombie always under foot) at the Shea family farm.

"Voodoo Moon" by Lori Handeland. FBI agent Dana "I'm not Skully" Duran does not believe in magic yet the just the facts point to a serial killer practitioner. In Devil's Fork, she meets Sheriff Marcus Brody who asked Quantico to send him a Behavioral Analyst; however, the paranormal is not her expertise.

"Breath of Magic" by Cheyenne McCray. As the D'Anu witches and D'Danann warriors battle Darkwolf, Sydney and Conlan battle their feelings for one another.

"Any Witch Way She Can" by Christine Warren. Miranda is the unthinkable, a human in a family of paranormal. However, Randy casts a love spell personal ad answered by Miranda.

These are four enjoyable romantic fantasies with each tale unique. An added bonus is that Lori Handeland and Cheyenne McCray have provides tales within their respective mythos. NO REST FOR THE WITCHES is a fabulous anthology.

Harriet Klausner

Can You Feel Me? Intimate Poetry for the Woman, the Witch, and the Whore in You

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Being A Woman
It spoke to me....being an independant single woman

Can You Feel Me? Intimate Poetry for the Woman, the Witch, and the Whore in You
Victoria Warren
Manufacturer: Favic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Book Description

CAN YOU FEEL ME? Intimate Poetry for the Woman, the Witch, and the Whore in You will probably be the best poetry book you have ever read. This unusual mix of poetry, life, realism, and rhyme comes together creating a direct x-ray of life. Not only do the poems cause one to focus on their own life, they allow the reader to discover they are not alone based on experience and circumstance. Never before has a poetry book been created with such life and writings from the heart. Without a doubt, the author feels each word documented on page.

Customer Reviews:

Being A Woman.......2003-05-19

Being a woman is one of God's most precious and complicated gifts. Woman assume so many roles in life:wife, mother, lover and friend are the most visible roles. But in Victoria Warren's moving and beautiful book CAN YOU FEEL ME? INTIMATE POETRY FOR THE WOMAN, THE WITCH, AND THE WHORE IN YOU, she captures the true essence of a woman.

The poems are poignant, real and so inspirational. My favorite poem is titled Be Strong, it lets readers know that no matter what their obstacles are, God will always be there for them. He will sustain, love and carry when necessary. I highly recommend this book to everyone because it will inspire and uplift.

Reviewed by Simone A. Hawks
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

It spoke to me....being an independant single woman.......2001-12-19

I love this book!!! I got it today, and my girlfriend and I have been practically fighting over who gets to read each poem. Some of the poems were hillarious, yet others were just straight and to the point.....and I enjoyed every minute of it. I plan to buy 2 more copies for my other "single" girlfriends. It is definitely an "in your face" kind of book. This is a definite keeper.

Average customer rating:

Clancy's Witch
Emilie Warren McLeod
Manufacturer: Atlantic Monthly Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NUKHPU

Average customer rating:

Clancy's Witch
Emilie Warren McLeod
Manufacturer: Little Brown & Co (Juv Trd)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: School & Library Binding
ASIN: 0316562017

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Ditch Of Witches
Warren Nelson , and Waner Nelson
Manufacturer: Bayfield Street Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0967068304

Book Description

Fun in the snow!

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