I personally knew Fred Mallison all my life and have a personally signed copy of this book. Fred died a while back so there will be no more signed copies from him. The only thing Fred did not like was the title, as he had a different one, but the publisher made him use this one. A fair amount of the information in the book came from the memoirs of my GG Grandfather, William Henry von Eberstein. The book is well written and Fred used many good sources, including books, memoirs, etc. Many little known facts of the War on the Outer Banks are included which make for very interesting reading. Fred also included a number of very good pictures in the book. I have just completed transcribing William H. von Eberstein's memoirs (the War Years)and hope to have them published soon as they give a wonderful accounting of his service to the Confederacy. I would recommend this book as a must for all personal War for Southern Independence libraries.

This is an excellent book that tells a little known side of the Civil War.

I have been going to the Outer Banks for over 20 years now but am new to kayaking. I was looking for a book about kayaking trips all along the Outer Banks. I found this one and bought it. I read through it and now I have a second copy of it so I can pull the maps out to take on my trips without destroying the original.

Pam Malec knows the area really well and has plotted some excellent trips to take. She also gives some great advice on things to watch out for (bugs in Ocracoke, tidal influences, high boat traffic areas, etc) and places to stay and eat in the area of the trips. The book also gives a few history lessons on the area and other interesting facts (Ever wonder about the origin of the marshmellow? Get this book and find out!)

With her book, I have planned three different trips for my next vacation to the area.

This is a fantastic book and I highly recommend it for anyone planning to kayak along the North Carolina coast.

If you are a coastal paddler who plans to visit the area near the Outer Banks of North Carolina, you will not want to be without this guide.

Pam Malec has compiled an excellent trip planning guide with over 30 day trip paddle plans. Each listing has a general map of the route and describes the required skill level for the trip, wildlife & landmarks of the area, launching and landing sites, safety issues, navigational aids, and camping, lodging & restaurant options. Each trip description also includes a page of local lore (including one about an attack swan!) which really adds to the depth of the guide and to each individual trip.

A chapter on the best kayak surfing spots in the area, safety and surf etiquette and appendices listing local events & paddling clubs, recommended reading, paddlesport rental/ instruction/outfitters, National & State Parks, reserves and refuges really make this an excellent and comprehensive regional paddling guide.

Excellent documentary of early waterfowling history. Many rare and previously unpublished photographs of decoys, duck clubs and hunting scenes (ncluding several photos taken by Kodak himself at the turn of the last century.) An easy and interesting read that will delight anyone interested in waterfowling history.

Normally this wouldn't be my kind of book, but the cover caught my attention and I picked it up. What a read! It's hard to even imagine where the author gets his ideas but they sure made interesting reading.

Currituck has a vision of near-future America that is at once hilarious, outrageous and chilling--with the events of 9/11 only adding to the effect. Told in lean, page-flipping prose, "Stars" will grip the reader from page one to the stunning climax. An entertaining novel that will both stimulate and amuse from beginning to end.

“ NOT IN OUR STARS” (a Shakespearean quote) is the latest suspense tale from Davis Currituck and takes place in mid-to-late twenty first century. It is a futuristic saga in the style of Orwell’s “1984” and “ANIMAL WORLD” that incorporates this author’s humorous and irreverent satire. I was tempted to say his sense of the ridiculous. His future America is absurdly divided into multiple republics, separated along ethnic, economic, and intellectual lines; with castrated men (no longer needed for reproduction) and sexually ignored women. But this account merely takes the current politically correct and scientific direction to an ultimate conclusion. Ridiculous? We need only read today’s headlines: equating arresting terrorists to racial profiling; expelling a kindergarten-boy for kissing his girl peer; cloning of humans; creating artificial sperm, etc. Just as the story “MASH” was set in Korea but was known to be a commentary on the Viet NamWar, so “STARS” is a critique of our present attempt to solve contemporary problems.

The novel’s main character, Sterling Dockers, struggles to see beyond his well-ordered and politically correct world as it enters a period of chaos. (This world is complete with a restructured English language reflecting the future society’s politics and technology.) He is helped in his task by meeting the intellectually and physically delightful Jenny. Their romance must overcome Dockers’ status as a sexual neuter, a pressured government bureaucrat with a wife, and a continent on the verge of war. Will love conquer all?

Dockers’ duties have him travel between two Balkanized American nations -- his an extreme liberal culture and the other a 1950’s, ultra conservative regime. In describing the opposing cultures, Currituck will sharply outrages readers of all political persuasions but still elicit chuckles.

Currituck’s tale is richly lyrical, expertly using adjectives to envision our near future. “STARS” is sometimes bewildering, but the lively writing and deadpan humor keeps the reader engrossed. If you believe that the politically correct trend is outrageous now, read this book – you ain’t seen nothing yet!