I am an English teacher. I came across reviews of The Ox-Bow Incident while doing a search for a student. I have always regarded this as a book which should be required reading, both for its literary and social value; and when teaching 11th grade, I have used it as a class assignment. The first part of the book which some readers found slow is really quite necessary; it provides the background that shows the reader that these are quite ordinary people - people that one would meet everyday. It contrasts with the violence in which they later become involved. The lynching of three innocent men is really not the crux of the story but rather the pivotal incident which allows the author to lead the reader to see what happens when one abandons law and order and then, when there are tragic results, must come to terms with his own conscience. I would also recommend the film with Henry Fonda and Anthony Quinn which is well acted and true to the novel. I have generally found that once students get into the novel, the book generates a good deal of thoughtful writing and discussion.

This classic novel by Clark is a superb study of mob rule; of how normal men can allow their inner anger and authoritarianism to control their judgment and honesty. The story is told in the first person by Art Croft, a trailhand who rides into the small Nevada town of Bridger's Wells in 1885 with his friend Gil Carter. The first chapter (there are only five chapters) has all of the structure of a typical western novel (bar, poker game, fight), yet when a young rider arrives to say that some cattle have been stolen and a man killed, the story about how men let anger goad their actions sets the novel apart from other westerns. It is a true classic. In 1977 the Western Writers of America named it one of the top twenty-five western novels of all time (it was ranked second after Wister's "The Virginian"). The book was also made into a classic film starring Henry Fonda. I recommend this book highly. I really don't understand the comments of the reviewer from Massachusetts (of Jan. 10, 1999). The tale is very realistic.

In modern-day America it seems that people are constantly questioning authority. Law after law is challenged, or even disregarded, by Mr. and Mrs. John Doe. However, American citizens of today are no different from those of the Old West. "The Ox-Bow Incident" is a powerful story that explains what happens when the common man (or men) takes the law into his own hands. Centering around a supposed murder, and cattle thievery, a group of men form a posse to exact their own idea of retribution. Van Tilburg Clark lets the reader know how anger leads to irrational and hasty action by the way the characters' emotions shift from moment to moment. The posse fears that the law will not punish the criminals in a "just" way (death). Therefore, the posse sets out for a lynching. The story is told in a manner that never allows the reader a moment of rest, always wondering what will happen next. I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates a work of art.

This is the 3rd Anna Pigeon mystery I have read, the others were first Deep South, the second Liberty Falling and now Hunting Season. I think her writing is very well done and her novels keep my interest from the beginning and I keep on going if I have the time. This plot is well done, kept me guessing until the very end. I am now reading Firestorm and plan to read each of her mysteries.
Nevada Barr is great!

I've read all the Anna Pigeon books and this is one of the best. As always, the author's knowledge of natural settings and creatures adds greatly to the enjoyment. The mystery is a good one, exploring more aspects of Anna's character, especially her vulnerability because of her small size and the fact that she is the "boss" and uneasy in her new position. The descriptions of the different reactions of other characters (co-workers, other law enforcers, townspeople and suspects) are excellent, exploring Mississippians using their present and past to explain their different reactions to situations.

Anna's romance with Sheriff Paul Davidson, with its ups and downs, adds interest and humanity to Anna's character. Too bad there isn't more about sister Molly!

Since reading "Deep South", I have visited the Natchez Trace Parkway. Both that book and this one evoke the area, its eerieness and its history very well.

I have mixed feelings about Nevada Barr's Hunting Season. On the one hand, I wanted to see Ranger Anna Pigeon end up somewhere new rather than the Natchez Trace Parkway. I like to revisit National Parks that I have personally visited or learn about a park I've never been to through each new Anna Pigeon novel. The fact that Hunting Season might be considered Deep South Part Two made it seem a less enticing read at first. On the other hand, it was nice to see the more detailed character development that a return visit to a location allowed AND it is realistic to have Anna stay in one place for longer than she normally seems to. Ultimately, the novel was very exciting and it kept me up to the wee hours of the morning several nights in a row. Local politics, poached deers, unmarked graves, shifting loyalties, folk art, and lots and lots of driving up and down the Natchez Trace Parkway all play a roll in this dark, damp mystery. This isn't the best Anna Pigeon novel nor is it a perfect 5 stars, but it was far enough past 4 stars to give it the full 5.

I have a soft spot in my heart for Glacier National Park. When I was a teenager in the early '70s, my family made trips on Amtrack from Pittsburgh to Glacier and I had a grizzly bear encounter both trips. One of the encounters was after a long day of hiking that included part of the Highline trail. As an adult, I met my Dad and my stepmom in the park twice in the early '90s. With my past on the table,I write this review with unbiased a heart as possible.

Blood Lure by Nevada Barr is a very good mystery. It isn't her best Anna Pigeon novel, but still a worthy read. Anna, our ranger and sleuth, is on a training trip to Glacier National Park to learn about wildlife DNA studies and grizzly bears. She is working with Joan, the bear expert, and Rory, a moody teenager on an Earthwatch trip. Rory's stepmom plays the role of dead body. Suspects abound [both human and ursine], clues abound, and even though the end of the novel runs towards the preposterous, the ending is not out of keeping with the earlier novels AND it could happen in real life. Remember folks, Anna Pigeon is a fictional character and most likely gets away with things that would rip right out of the envelope of the permissible in real life. That said, the end brings my rating down low enough to give it 4 stars. This isn't the Anna Pigeon novel I would recommend a new reader start with. My advice is to start at the beginning of the series with Track Of The Cat or, if you must dip in partway through the series, I would advise you start with Ill Wind or Liberty Falling.

I really like Nevada Barr's series starring Anna Pigeon. The glimpse of romance in the air in the last novel coupled with all the suspense and life-threatening action really made for a great read. Bloodlure, on the other hand, had Anna away from her home park on assignment to learn about DNA testing for wildlife. In Glacier national park she meets up with some excitement (in the form of a bear attack at night) and murder.

I was a tad disappointed with the storyline in this mystery. Unless I am just getting really good at picking out clues... I very nearly had the whole story figured out by the half way point. I kind of felt the author just needed to take a break awhile before coming up with the answers to how she was going to continue to flesh out Anna's private life in Mississippi so wrote this little vacation story just to fulfill her contract. And that is ok! I still enjoyed Anna and the escapades that surrounded her on this trip. I just know that I have been enthralled an unable to put to the book down for other of Barr's novels, and not so much for this one.

Anna Pigeon returns in BLOOD LURE, as she take time away from her regular park duties to assist with bear DNA studies at Glacier National Park. Right at the beginning, we, along with Anna, learn the best (or worst, depending on your point of view) recipes to lure bears. (I must admit this isn't the first time Barr has presented me with more information than I care to learn about a particular subject.) Also, the description of the bear attack on Anna's research group is chilling and enough to make me forget any ideas I'd ever had about going camping!

Barr unravels her clues carefully and fairly; the reader has ample opportunity to put everything together (along with Anna) to solve the mystery. Yet the clues weren't blatantly obvious. Barr did a terrific job with her plotting on this book, and she deserves a pat on the back. BLOOD LURE is well worth reading. Thumbs up!

Area 7 is a flat out, pedal to the floor action novel. And it works well if you don't think about the story.
Rielly brings back Shane Scholfield, from his earlier book Ice Station. This time out Scholfield and his team are guarding the President on a visit to a top secret military base.
Granted nobody really reads this kind of book for its literary merit, but a bomb attached to the President's heart? Come on!
But on the plus side, Rielly does a great job with the action scenes. Which is pretty much all the book is.
Reilly doesn't bother with character development either...

Ok, so maybe I'm a bit bias. Matt Reilly is my favorite author, I have read Ice Station and Temple more times than i care to count and they're my two favorite books of all time.

Now...a basic summary of the plot is fairly decently given on this page anyway..and giving anymore away would be a crime, suffice to say expect twists galore.

Above all else, this is a sequel to Ice Station, so reading that first will make Area 7 make more sense and be more fulfilling. The characters of Shane Schofield, Libby Gant, and "mother" return.

As with any other Reilly book, those seeking truth and absolute believability should look elsewhere, but those seeking out action have come to the right place. This book brims with action and with Reilly's unique writing style, you can't put it down. I read it in less than 24 hours(about 18 hours of which were devoted to school and sleep, the other 6 more or less to Area 7.)

Basically, if you want kickass action, adventure, and white knuckle excitement, then I'd reccomend anything by Reilly in a heartbet, but those who come out of a movie or finish a book and go "Yeah, right, like that could ever happen" may not have the right mindset for this book.

On a scale of 1-10, I'd say a 9.5 or so.

Don't think about the plot too much and just enjoy the ride. If you are a fan of Jerry Bruckheimer movies, like to play Counterstrike, and hate "unnecessary" dialogue, then this book is a must-read.

Tom Clancy sets up his books for about 800 pages, then has 100 pages of action at the end. If you take that last 100 pages of Clancy's books, and extend it throughout the whole story, you've got Matt Reilly!

Overall, Matt's latest offering is right on par with the rest of his books (Ice Station, Temple, Contest). They all have the same pace, cool weapons, and outrageous action scenes. So put on a Hans Zimmer movie score and sit back for another edge-of-your-seat installment from Australia's action kid.

I've never been a fan of the first person narrative, which is used way too much in this book. Too many of the quotes are attributed to unnamed sources and take place in anonymous casinos, which doesn't lend much credibility to them. Most of the facts are outdated, but I gave the author a little leeway in this, as I looked at this book as an insight into Vegas in the late seventies to mid eighties. One note of interest is that for this book, Vinson is referred to as a Casino Executive, but in his later works, I have seen him referred to as a humorist, hmm ... Buyer Beware! I'd rather read Pete Earley's Super Casino a second time.

If you enjoy gambling, or if you simply like to learn about unique places, this book is a good investment. The author is a floor man at one of the major Vegas Strip casinos. He chocks the book full of personal experiences, interviews with many people from different parts of the gambling industry and a light, engaging sense of humor appearing throughout. I liked this book enough that I am going to buy and read the sequal, Las Vegas Behind the Tables, Part II.

Many authors of gambling books essentially duplicate the same odds and strategies. Barney Vinson's book is almost unique in telling very interesting, inside stories of what really goes on in a casino. I could not put this book down until I read it cover to cover.

Anna Pigeon is staying with a ranger friend on Liberty Island while she visits her sick sister Molly who's in the hospital with a life-threatening kidney ailment. While living in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, Anna gets involved in the death of a supposed suicide. A teen-age girl leaps to her death from the top of Liberty's pedestal. If that's not enough, a few days later the security guard who tried to stop the girl from jumping dies the same way in almost the same spot. Before she knows it, Anna is caught up in a mystery involving a sleazy doctor and Castro look-alike.

Like all Anna Pigeon novels, this moves slowly. It does take quite a while for the bones of the mystery to appear but Anna Pigeon is such a likeable heroine and Barr such a good writer that the book never seems to drag. At times, Barr's stream-of-conciousness style of writing can be hard to follow but overall the novel is a fun read.

(from the "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel")Nevada Barr takes her heroine Anna Pigeon out of her natural element (the forests, rivers, and deserts of our National parks) and sets her smack dab in the middle of the ultimate asphalt jungle: New York City. Oddly, this change of venue has produced some of Barr's best writing to date. In fact, "Liberty Falling" is her best novel to date. And when considering her small but powerful oeuvre ("Blind Descent," "Firestorm," "Track of the Cat" and three other top-notch efforts), that says a lot. After learning that her sister, Molly, has succumbed to pneumonia, Anna Pigeon travels to New York to hold vigil. When Frederick Stanton (a former boyfriend and FBI agent who has fallen in love with Molly) shows up, she begins feeling like an unneeded crutch. Bunking down in the ranger's quarters on Ellis Island, Anna shuttles back and forth among the three New York islands (Ellis, Liberty and Manhattan), trying to keep busy as she settles in for what could be a long wait. On a visit to Liberty island, Anna comes on the scene just after a young child is apparently pushed off of the statue. A new found friend, Park Policeman James "Hatch" Hatchett, falls under suspicion. Relying on instincts, Anna senses something amiss. And what forensic evidence is available suggests the child may have jumped. Unable to help herself, Anna begins snooping about. Among the caretakers, policemen, rangers and actors (who act out the roles of immigrants on Ellis Island), Anna finds more than enough suspects for murder. What's more, stories about ghosts haunting the ruins on Ellis Island have been bandied about. Her investigations turn up evidence of a strange and unexplained happenings in the night on Ellis and Liberty Islands. Further digging uncovers a murderous plot that could have worldwide political ramifications. When "Hatch" dies in what others assume is a freak accident and a young actress goes missing, Anna Pigeon knows she is, once again, on the right track to catch her killer. There's only one problem: he seems to be after her as well. The subplot involving Anna's sister Molly and Frederick Stanton makes for a gentle and humane counterpoint to the often violent, moral morass of the main story line. Sporting plenty of action and suspense, and a timely subtext involving racism and misplaced patriotism, "Liberty Falling" offers something for mystery fans of every stripe. (from "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1999).

Since this was my first Anna Pigeon mystery I didn't have any problem seeing her in a national park that wasn't so "natural."
I loved the descriptions of the crumbling buildings on the islands and found them to be wonderful eery backdrops for intrigue.

The suspense plot kept my interest and gave me plenty of thrills
even as I enjoyed the gentler suspense of the sub-plot of Anna's ailing sister. I'm delighted to have discovered Nevada Barr's works.

The works of James Ellroy became a bit of an obsession for me after I read the prequel to this novel "American Tabloid". It was grand, epic, and full of detailed characters that showed the seedy underbelly of the "innocent age" of American History. "The Cold Six Thousand" is the second in a planned triolgy of books on this era. It too is epic in scope and vision, and it too tells a great story, but something is off about this book, and to me it seems that the story is TOO big, and for the first time I can think of, Ellroy give us a poorly drawn main character.

First, the story. It is entertaining throughout, and there is never a dull moment. It picks up directly where "American Tabloid" left off, Dallas on the day of the Kennedy Assasination, with two of the consiprators and main characters from "Tabloid", Pete Bondurant, Mob Muscle and sometimes CIA operative, and Ward Littell, Lawyer to the Mob and Howard Hughes, and newly reninstated operative for J. Edgar Hoover. Bondurant has just gotten married and is in town to watch the fireworks. Littell is flown in by Hoover to make sure and FBI connection to the assasination is erased. A third main character is also introduced here, Wayne Tedrow, Jr., a Las Vegas Cop who has been paid the titular $6000 to kill a pimp running from the mob in Vegas. With his usual style for conspiracy and plot, Ellroy weaves all of these stories into the same fabric, as coincidence and circumstance draw these three together over the 1960's, covering a Mob plot to bilk Howard Hughes, Heroin smuggling in Vietnam, and various other 60's conspiracies that Oliver Stone would love to call his own. Ellroy is definitly writing fiction. He's not spinning a yarn he thinks is the truth, he's just telling an interpretation of what MIGHT have happened. And it's gripping reading, written in his now-perfected staccatto prose. However, the story is actually too big. Too many plot threads are woven together to get these three main characters together again and again. By putting them at the center of every big event of the 60's, Ellroy is simply asking too much of the reader. The consipracies are too vast and too connected, unlike the rather simple JFK assasination theory offered up in "Tabloid". While this novel remains intense, it drifts too much too often to rank among his finest work.

The second problem is teh character of Wayne Tedrow, Jr. He is too simply drawn, his motivation and desires too obvious for him to be as deep and conflicted as Bonderant and Littell. All we know is he hates his father but has his father's rage. And that's all there is too him. For Ellroy, who has painted such marvelous characters such as Edmund Exley and Buzz Meeks in previous work, this is almost sad. But it is forgiveable as Littell just gets more and more conflicted and complicated, and Bonderant has to make incredibly difficult decisions.

I would give the book 3 1/2 stars if I was able, but since I can't, I give it a 4, because it's closer to a four. Ellroy still hasn't written a BAD novel in my opinion, but I prefer even "The Black Dahlia" to "The Cold Six Thousand", which probably puts me in the minority. It's is still a great read, if not a great book, and for any Ellroy fan I recommend it. If you're new to Ellroy, pick up "American Tabloid" or "The Big Nowhere" first, and if you like what you read, head over to this one. You need to know Ellroy before you can truly enjoy it.

Being a big fan and admirer of the book that it follows, the classic "American Tabloid", "The Cold Six Thousand" came pretty close to topping it, but just passes by as a solid crime epic. Following the events that ended "Tabloid", we meet up with a cop whose path collides with many a corrupt characters, including many of the individuals who make up "Tabloid". Using many real historical figures as corrupt supporting players (FBI head J. Edgar Hoover, Howard Hughes, etc.) adds a eerie feeling of realism despite this book being a piece of fiction. The dark feel of this book eclipses "Tabloid" (which if you look at the period "Cold Six Thousand" traces, makes perfect sense), and ultimately adds some real tension to a history of events that takes it's toll on the primary charcters, and ultimately, on America itself. It's a worthy enough follow-up (even with it's bleak and uncertain ending) to a great book and a must for Ellroy fans to read.

How do you follow a novel like American Tabloid, the definitive Kennedy assassination conspiracy novel? You write a novel like The Cold Six Thousand, which is the definitive RFK, MLK, Vietnam, Howard Hughes, Mafia, Las Vegas and J. Edgar Hoover conspiracy novel. The Cold Six Thousand starts off where Tabloid ended, on the 22nd of November 1963, the day of Kennedy's assassination. We are reintroduced to characters we have met in earlier novels (Pete Bondurant from White Jazz and American Tabloid) and Ward Littell (from American Tabloid) and to new characters such as the Tedrows, father Wayne Sr. and son Wayne Jr. Wayne Jr., a Las Vegas police officer, is sent to Dallas to kill a pimp, his fee for doing so, six thousand untraceable dollars. The roller coaster ride begins here, weaving his fictional characters in with real life characters (Jack Ruby, J. Edgar Hoover and Bayard Rustin to name a few) Ellroy takes us on a savage tour of the dark and ugly side of the 1960s from a heroin processing operation in Vietnam to the civil rights marches of the American south with plenty of stops in Las Vegas which Ward Littell is attempting to purchase for Howard Hughes while still allowing the mob to stay in control and collect their skim. Some of Ellroy's takes on the activities of the right wingers at the time might seem a little outre and exaggerated, but after reading Rick Perlstein's _Before the Storm_ and David Halberstam's _The Best and the Brightest_ I find that Ellroy is right on target skewering the nuts of the extreme right wing who infested our country during the 1960s. The only reason I didn't give this book five stars is that it bogs down in places. Ellroy needs an editor with balls big enough to say "James, cut this part out, it drags the story". Still, even if the story drags in places Ellroy picks things up quickly and soon you're reading along and feeling as breathless if you just went on a five mile run and smoked a carton of Camels.

Since I am in the midst of a wonderful relationship with my own cowboy right now, I had to read Sara's account of her Zack. It is a passionate reminder that true love can sometimes pass us by because of our preconceived ideas of what true love really entails. Hooray for Sara Davidson for putting down on paper what I am feeling every day of my life right now. Since I realize that it could end at anytime because of our differences, I look forward to each new day and celebrate each day that I can spend with him. My cowboy is 11 years younger, and has awakened the same passions that Zack awakened in Sara. I am reading the book for the third time. Her writing style leaves you spellbound and unable to put the book down until you've read it all.

"Cowboy" was so compelling that I read it in one day while flying to Phoenix from Michigan. I couldn't put it down. It is truly the love story between two very different individuals. Zak and Sara had so little in common yet connected in such a special way. I found I was cheering for them when things were going well and feeling the pain of their struggles. The book was written from the author's perspective but provided enough of Zak's thoughts that one could see both perspectives clearly. There was fear, desire, acceptance, frustration, and a remarkable insightful thinking that evetually leads to growth. I, too, am in touch with a cowboy in another state. This book helped me to understand the struggles we are facing and to look inside for the answers. I've read "Cowboy" three times and still discover new insights as well as enjoy the humor and real life situations only this combination of unique differences could provide. Thank you, Sara!

Written by one of the writers for the TV show, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, Davidson is a highly intelligent, well-educated lady that meets and falls in love with a cowboy from rural Arizona. Zack, who has knowledge of life on a different level, has grown up in the tradition of the old west. He is a man who works with his hands creating original and authentic bridles from strips of leather, a long lost art form. He has yet to hear of the Holocaust or the New York Times. This unlikely relationship progresses with all the properties of oil mixed with water at times while the underlying current is one of intense sexual attraction and love.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters are strong and believable as odd as it might seem. You can't help but love them as they stumble along trying to make it all work. Sara is an incredible mom of two children that play a pivotal part in all of her decisions. She allows us to see her human side and shares her confusion as well as her problem solving capabilities, most of all she has heart. I for one thank her for a story well told. I can't help but wonder what part of the story is fiction. Kelsana 5/22/01

I have no idea why this guy thought it would be fun to write to a serial killer, but hey, what do I know? I'm just the general (paranoid) public. Don't need any killers knowing where I live.

I found the book to be kinda long-winded & irrelevent to the concept of writing/meeting Gacy. There was just too much "mush" for it to be a compelling read. The only part I enjoyed was when the author would quote Gacy.

Find something better to read.

This book was OK. If you're a fan of serial kilers, and would like a quick/easy read, and can find this book for [$], pick it up. Otherwise leave it alone.
Jason Moss is a jerk. I didn't like reading about him. He complains a lot about his mom, and his girlfriend, and about how weird it is that he likes true crime...as if he's the only one in the world who is interested in serial killers or something annoying like that. He is very cocky...it's almost like he thinks the experts on serial killers (Ressler, and Douglas) missed something...becoming a victim. And when he tries his approach out on John Wayne Gacy, it's fun to see the outcome of his very foolish arrogance. It's almost funny.
Though Jason Moss as a person stinks, at least he managed to get a lot of interesting information about Gacy, Dahmer, and Ramirez.

Reading some of the previous reviews it's apparent that the author Jason Moss rubbed many the wrong way, I have to wonder though if these readers read the prologue and afterword by Kottler. This book was written by a young man looking back on his experiences, attitudes, beliefs, etc. when he was 18, give the guy a break. I personally found the book engrossing and very suspenseful as well as an intresting insight into the young driven mind of a motivated young man driven to prove himself. The Last Victim is an entertaining and interesting break from the usual true-crime books which tend to sound either sensational or read like a police report. Jason Moss has given us a truly unique and different perspective of the twisted souls that repel and draw us at the same instant into their dark worlds. A definite reccomended read!

"Hiking Las Vegas" is a good attempt to cover an area which is surprisingly devoid of guidebooks. This book covers hikes both on established trails and over unmarked routes. I was initially impressed by the number and variety of hikes that it contains -- far more than any of the older guide books for the area. After using this book for several of the trail hikes and unmarked routes, however, I was disappointed by its many shortcomings. My biggest complaint lies with the book's "maps," or, rather, its lack of maps. Line drawings are provided for most of the trail hikes; however, none of these "maps" are drawn to scale and are, consequently, of little use. Also, distances given to landmarks, trailheads, trail junctions, etc. do not seem to be too accurate. Stop at an area's visitor center for better directions and trail maps before heading out. The author states that "maps" are not provided for the routes because they would be of limited use. Instead the author uses black and white photographs, compass bearings, and landmarks as guides along the routes. Unfortunately, some of the photographs are not distinct (short ridges with scattered trees abound), compass bearings can be of little use if one is not standing in the same place as the author when he took the reading, and some ephemeral landmarks used by the author are indistinct and can change quickly (eg. downed logs). Although helpful, these techniques are no substitute for a well-drawn map (to scale!!!!!) which a hiker can then transfer over to a topographical map (anyone hiking off trail should carry one). Another problem is that the author's rating system for the hikes seems to be skewed for hard core endurance athletes. Taking children on some of the hikes designated for such by the author would result in some very tired, grouchy kids. Take these ratings with a grain of salt. Having used many guidebooks and done many hikes in the American southwest, the pacific northwest, and two other countries, I have to say that the shortcomings of "Hiking Las Vegas" put it near the bottom of my list of quality guidebooks.

I bought this book when it first came out and I have hiked about a dozen trails listed in the book. I especially like the detailed directions that make it easy to find and hike the trails. In my opinion this is the best book there is about hiking. I recommend it to anyone who is planning a trip to Las Vegas and doesn't want to spend all their time in smoky casinos.

Being a local of Las Vegas I have been to Red Rock Canyon several times. There are limited hiking trails. The author covers the trails, but does much more. There are many scrambles to peaks that without this book would be virtually impossible to get to. Unfortunately, the rangers at Red Rock want to ban this book. I guess they would rather be gambling than doing their jobs. Many rangers don't even know where named peaks are in Red Rock. My advice is to buy this book or visit the author's Web site (same name as the book) and forget stopping at the visitor's center for information.