The Unusual Life of Tristan Smith

Book Description

The Booker Prize-winning author of Oscar and Lucinda and The Tax Inspector now gives readers a hero, the malformed but ferociously wilful Tristan Smith, who becomes the object of the world's byzantine political intrigues, even as he attains stardom in a bizarre Sirkus that is part passion play and part Mortal Kombat.

Customer Reviews:

a remarkable book: also, how to decode it.......2003-03-22

This is a book I read several years ago, and have recently revisited. It's weird, but haunting. I am a bit surprised (and proud?) that I seem to be the only one on the web to decode the politics and language of the book. As the other reviews make clear, the novel tells the story of a highly intelligent, observant, severely handicapped child growing up in an alternative-universe version of Earth in which Europe seems to be geographically intact, but the Western and Southern hemispheres are quite different. In the obvious place of North America is the Dutch-speaking nation of Voorstand, which economically and politically dominates the globe and is fighting an unspecified cold war of some sort. The novel concerns the politics and culture of an English-speaking Southern hemisphere island nation, which might be Carey's native Australia or perhaps New Zealand. The analogies and the political points are made clear by the coded language in the novel.

The big imperial power is called Voorstand (pseudo-Dutch for "stands for", get it? It "stands for"...the US. There is also a sexual connotation). The smaller Southern-hemisphere nation is called Efica, whose name is Dutch for the letters F, I and K, which spells something rude (and obvious) in Dutch. One of the ways in which Voorstand spreads its power is through its be-kind-to-animals religion, which is inextricably coupled with the entertainment industry called the Sirkus. The three central characters of this religion/entertainment are Bruder Mouse, Bruder Dog and Bruder Duck -- i.e. Mickey, Pluto and Donald. Don't worry, I am not ruining the plot with these observations. This is actually a wonderful book, but it helps to have some linguistic hints. It is a book about humanity, art and politics -- about freedom both political and artistic. Tristan, the central character, also "stands for" something: for how freedom survives, even though it occasionally falls humiliatingly flat on its face, in circumstances of oppression. What's great about the novel, though, is that it is not a tract, but a sprawling, complicated, often hilariously funny world delightfully different yet delightfully identical to ours. I love weird details like the sirens on trucks that sound when the drivers dare to exceed the speed limit.

The other bit of code is, of course, the reference to a much older sprawling work -- "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy" (whose initials Tristan Smith shares). But don't worry, Carey's book is much more readable.

Certainly not Carey's best.......2002-08-16

Oscar and Lucinda is one of my all-time favourite books. When I picked up this one, I expected a similar style of writing. Maybe it's because the world Carey has created here is too detached from my own familiarity that I could not fully relate to the characters. I must admit, however, that Carey's writing does make the reader feel. I had an eery feeling towards the protagonist throughout, but could never sympathize with him. I see in the reviews from others that perhaps this book is best left to Australians who understand something of where Carey is coming from. Usually, I would say that good writing and a good story can cross any cultural boundaries, but maybe this book IS best left to the Aussies. (Even though it's probably arguable that Canada's relationship to the American cultural "superpower" is/isn't similar to Australia's relationship to the US.)

Pathos, poignant, wrenching, and hopeful.......2001-06-19

This remarkable book defines new territory between literary fiction and science fiction. It offers up a ringside seat to broad, concentric human and political themes that are likely to ring true many decades hence. The plot intricacies are tight, verging on being too clever, but Carey manages to lean towards the believable, producing a provocative and original book. I did not find the foreign words distracting or difficult, as did some readers. I think knowing more than one language helps. But don't let it deter you; Carey provides a glossary and footnotes to aid you in understanding the story.

The main character, Tristan Smith, has an unusual voice, not just in the physical sense, but in the sense of being the story-teller of not only the events he experienced, but also those he didn't, or was too young to remember. One cannot help but think him impulsive, willful, egotistical. It would be easy to dislike him, yet Carey must have realized Tristan's `voice' could not have been otherwise, for he was both pampered and neglected and sheltered from normal human contact, an upbringing that protected him, on the one hand, but also impeded him socially, on the other. The reader will also appreciate the irony of a man's true character being glimpsed only when he wears a mask, and the truism that a nation's character is revealed by how they treat `the least of these, my people.'

In contrast to Carey's book, we get a pretty steady diet of stories about handicapped people who triumph over impossible odds, who experience `miracle healings,' who attain a magical status, who project what we want to see, that is, they appear to be happy because they are shunned if they honestly share their pain as well as their triumphs. Thus, I believe it took real courage to write and publish this book. Carey candidly, poignantly reveals a closeted inner life, the rarely revealed or imagined existence of a person with severe limitations, the stark, impossible-to-countenance realities that we simply avoid in our daily thoughts and deeds. In the tradition of a good storeyteller, the author punctuates these revelations by surrounding Tristan with artistic/acrobatic performers, humanity's most physically blessed individuals and by nations gripped in the same struggles for survival that people experience on an individual level. This backdrop emphasizes just how deeply Tristan's powerful inner soul cries out from inside his shell that he wants the same, feels the same, IS the same right down to his genes... Carey bares the pain, the challenge, in both the inner life and the political life of the beautiful versus the not beautiful, the big versus the small, the powerful versus the powerless in the colors of blood, and laser lights, and tarnished festivals that emphasize the moment over long-term everyday courtesies and, through the maturation and evolution of the character, through the small blessed events that we selectively choose to define our humanity and our lives, that give us the stamina and drive to endure, to go on, to hope.

This book is not for everyone. It is not for the reader of light entertainment. It is a book that goes beyond surface themes while still retaining the format of a personal story, told through unforgettable characters and events. If that intrigues you, I highly recommend this book.

Another over-rated work by Carey.......2001-03-20

Peter Carey, since the publication of his first novel, has been constantly over-rated by critics. This novel is the greatest example of his true inability as an author/artist. The story-line is at best lame, with Carey foreshadowing any twists in the plot miles in advance. It is, of course, an attempt at satire, however he over reaches himself yet again. And yet again, because he uses a new language and is supposedly being clever, critics fawn madly over his talent and equate him with Dickens. Please. Carey is perhaps the best "first page" writer in the world, but unfortunately his novels go for much longer. Avoid this novel.

A novel of deep themes and insight.......2001-02-22

A recent article in Canada's GLOBE AND MAIL referred to Peter Carey's THE UNUSUAL LIFE OF TRISTAN SMITH as "the best book ever written about U.S. cultural dominance over Canada, even if that's not what Carey had in mind." Once I read that, I knew I must find the book.

To my surprise, TRISTAN is far more than the above quote suggested (although it is accurate). Carey uses the cultural dominance of one fictional country over another as a launching pad for a terrific, semi-futuristic romp through the truly unusual life of Tristan Smith, an actor/juggler with more than a few problems.

Tristan is born and raised in Efica, a small, ignored colonial country that has been fighting a long battle to be free of the machinations of it's much larger neighbour and protector, Voorstand. (While Carey likely intended this as a metaphor to the relations of Australia and England [or New Zealand and Australia], the Canada/U.S. connection comes through loud and clear.) Tristan is born to an acting family, consisting of Felicity Smith (mother/actor), Bill (father/actor), Vincent (possible father/backer), and Wally (father figure/protector). It leads to much confusion and anarchy in Tristan's life, but it's nothing compared to his real handicap.

Tristan is deformed, in a way Carey refuses to clearly define, leaving it up to our imagination. He has translucent skin, mangled legs, malformed chest, no lips, and is quite small. Often, he refers to himself as a 'squid', if that helps in picturing his physique. He might have grown up to have his own life, but due to his dependance upon the kindness of others, he finds himself caught up in schemes and plans that soon lead to his being considered a traitor and possible liability by Voorstand authorities. It sounds confusing, but Carey moves the plot forward in an extremely logical fashion.

Being unable to function on his own, Tristan becomes the ultimate observer of life, and gains an understanding of human nature that may be ignored by its more active participants. But like humanity, Tristan longs to be loved, to be accepted, and when he inadvertently takes on the persona of a religious icon of Voorstand, he comes closer to his dream.

Carey must have realized that using real countries might alienate the reader, and has succeeded in creating two completely real fictional countries, both similar and distinctly different from our own. A religion, based on animals named Bruder Mouse, Bruder Duck, etc., has been devised to explain the increasingly bizarre behaviour of the citizens of both countries. Carey never goes into too much detail, allowing the reader to see the absurdity of the practices, and also pointing out the folly of our own beliefs. It reminded me of the astonishingly vague religion Philip K. Dick created for DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?, a mish-mash of theories and modes that lends itself to the insanity of that paricular novel. TRISTIAN's religion involves lifelike cyborgs of animated characters, which run rampant through Voorstand, often bursting onto flames, yet adored and revered by the public. It is not so important that we understand it, as it is that the characters believe it.

There is also a political subplot that underlines the story, as Tristan's mother is an ardant and important supporter of Efica's Blue Party, a left wing organization that exists on a platform of increased freedom from Voorland's reach. This is contrary to the existing power of the Red Party, which is manipulated by Voorstand agents.

Carey's talent lies in never hitting the reader over the head with the metaphors. Like the best novels, it can be read simply for pleasure's sake. It is only upon reflection do the deeper themes emerge. The Voorstanders' inability and unwillingness to comprehend the ways of Efica, and the Eficans' intolerance yet love for the ways of Voorstand, is a theme that can find parallels in almost every country you can think of.

THE UNUSUAL LIFE OF TRISTAN SMITH is an intimate portrayal of one individual. It is a political allegory. It is a retelling of the Christ parable, on par with Robert Heinlein's STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND. It is a particularly fine novel.

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Unusual Life of Tristan Smith Signed 1ST Edition
Peter Carey
Manufacturer: FABER & FABER UK
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000V6D55K

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The Unusual Life of Tristan Smith.: An article from: World Literature Today
David Coad
Manufacturer: University of Oklahoma
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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ASIN: B00096NU5M
Release Date: 2005-07-28

Book Description

This digital document is an article from World Literature Today, published by University of Oklahoma on June 22, 1996. The length of the article is 547 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The Unusual Life of Tristan Smith.
Author: David Coad
Publication: World Literature Today (Refereed)
Date: June 22, 1996
Publisher: University of Oklahoma
Volume: v70 Issue: n3 Page: p757(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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Unusual Life of Tristan Smith
Peter Carey
Manufacturer: KNOPF
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OLAD6Q

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Unusual Life of Tristan Smith
Peter Carey
Manufacturer: ALFRED A. KNOPF
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OK48IQ

UNUSUAL LIFE OF TRISTAN SMITH -- BARGAIN BOOK

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UNUSUAL LIFE OF TRISTAN SMITH -- BARGAIN BOOK
PETER CAREY
Manufacturer: Vintage Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VQCF06

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THE UNUSUAL LIFE OF TRISTAN SMITH.
Peter: Carey
Manufacturer: Pan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000W2U0BU

Book Description

(Starred Review) ¿In Freer's superior heroic fantasy novel, set in 16th-century Scandinavia, allies of a demon try to thwart Christian missionary-magicians from the Holy Roman Empire. Freer (The Forlorn) wisely concentrates on individual participants within this big struggle: a shipwrecked Barbary corsair, Cair Aidin, branded as a worthless thrall; a good-hearted but insecure princess; a spectacularly evil troll hag and her grendel son; and a team led by the Holy Roman emperor's nephew/secret agent. All these characters are credibly smart and quirky. Cair, for example, is a clever contriver of mechanical devices, so he stoutly refuses to believe in any of the magic taking place around him. When a sacred pagan token disappears and the princess is framed for its theft, the skeptical Cair pursues her out of love while agents of the Empire follow out of duty¿into the clutches of the troll mother. Freer's people are sometimes mistaken and often stubborn but basically likable; he even presents them convincingly enough to get away with some outright sentimentality. Good characterization, ripsnorting action and an ingenious plot make this a feast for sword and sorcery fans.¿ ¿Publishers Weekly

Customer Reviews:

Interesting take on conflicting theologies.......2007-09-17

I did not know that this was part of a series when I picked it up. A Mankind Witch does a relatively good job of standing alone.

The book did start out very slowly, perhaps because it was giving readers of the series a glimpse of the characters that they know, and getting them involved in the new plot. It took a number of scenes for this story to get started.

The basic plot is the protagonist is enslaved, earns the respect of his master/mistress, saves the day. The protagonist, in this case, is more of an anti-hero. His relationship with his mistress is not developed well, and some of it is weakly explained by magic, but it is necessary to the furtherance of the plot.

The background is an alternate history of the Holy Roman Period, actually dated at 1538, magic works, and the Barbary Pirates are just getting organized. Christianity has been spreading, but the old gods are still worshiped and have power, and the world of Norse beliefs, particularly the realm of Jotunheimen. The story takes place in an alternate Scandinavia.

Cair, our protagonist and a corsair captain, is enslaved and becomes somewhat enamored of Signy, a "princess" of Scandinavia. He is small, and older than many, and thus is picked on, until he takes on the guise of a worker of magic using his knowledge of science and native intelligence. He personally does not believe in magic. After a while, he begins to serve Signy as best he can, using his reputation.

Signy's half brother, Vortenbras, has designs on the Empire, and takes advantage of the theft of an artifact to start planning attacks, which must wait until Yule so he won't break a treaty with the said empire.

In order to head off hostilities, Charles Fredrik (possibly analogous to Charles V) sends his nephew Manfred and his niece Francesca to deal with the Danes, and eventually to deal with Vortenbras. Manfred is accompanied by his bodyguard, Erik Hakkonsen.

From there a tale of magic, mistrust, and mayhem takes off. It took me three attempts to start reading the story, and when I got started I enjoyed it. There was enough of a mystery, and enough twists throughout the tale, that it held my attention. The end was almost predictable though the path to arrive was convoluted.

There are elements of mystery, adventure, innovation, and light horror in this tale.

I enjoyed the book, well in this case the eBook, and would recommend it as light reading for those interested in Norse mythology and the possible interaction of Christianity (after the reformation) with the Scandinavian beliefs.

Solid, fast-paced adventure........2007-08-04

Dave Freer's A MANKIND WITCH tells of one Manfred and his Icelandic bodyguard who journey into a world of trolls and ice to find a magic pagan relic. Add a stubborn princess believed to be a witch and murderess and a captured pirate and you have solid, fast-paced adventure.

Very good book, very different from the first two in the trilogy.......2007-07-12

I thought this David Freer book was very good, but was definately different from the first two books in the trilogy. It used the main characters from the first two books, but the focus was far more on working small magics than the others were. Overall I would suggest it as an interesting continuation of the characters

Huh??.......2007-07-05

"A Mankind Witch" was a huge disappointment to me. I felt as if the characterization built up in the two previous novels never even happened. Erik, our taciturn and efficient warrior, was constantly rolling his eyes, making jokes, actually flopping down in the snow because he was laughing so hard... on and on. Manfred was closer to his usual self, but without any of the seriousness or maturity that we'd begun to see in "This Rough Magic." I did enjoy the new characters of Cair and Signy, but they were closer to stereotypes than real people. The slight, insecure princess, the devoted and clever admirer. And Francesca was limited to smiling seductively from a wrap of furs.

Spoiler Alert: in the last scene, I kid you not, they escaped from the bad guys by lashing together three logs and "sledding" down a mountainside with them all whooping and screaming.

If this were a stand-alone novel and I had no expectations, I probably would have enjoyed it more. As it was, I was expecting a smart, original story like its predecessors. If I'd wanted slapstick comedy, I'd watch the Three Stooges. Bottom line: Don't go into this thinking it's on par with the other two books (The Shadow of the Lion and This Rough Magic). If you have no expectations or haven't read the others, it's a light fantasy novel with some clunky writing. Oh, and humor. Lots of humor.

Good series........2007-04-10

One of the few of these never-ending series now in vogue amongst authors that is holding my attention. Excellent book, well written, different enough from the rest that it's not just more of the same drivel.

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The Shadow of the Lion
Giant book. Worth reading every page... and again... and again...
Who does this storyline belong to?
Avid Mercedes Lackey fan who still likes the book
Mercedes wrote this?

The Shadow Of The Lion
Mercedes Lackey , and Eric Flint
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0743471474

Customer Reviews:

The Shadow of the Lion.......2007-09-24

Absolutley rivetting. The politcs in this are staggering in their compelxity and Mercedes Lackey does it so well. Beautiful descritpions and the relationships bwteen characters is wodnerful, exciting and meets all expectations of their capabilities and interaction.

Giant book. Worth reading every page... and again... and again..........2006-05-04

In-depth historical research blends seamlessly into imaginative creation of entirely new material in this novel, which manages to make use of the classic tragic and comedic techniques common to Italy itself in the 16th century.

I find this is far more engaging and thoughtful material than Flint's prior historical fiction, not nearly so repetitious as some of Mercedes' recent work (which, although enjoyable, tends to be in the same vein all the time), and more plausible than what I've seen from Freer in the past.

I've appreciated Lackey's and Flint's work a great deal in the past, and I loved the collaborative work.

Who does this storyline belong to?.......2005-09-03

While I am extremely pleased as to how this book turned out compared to Lackey's usual material, I'm a little perturbed about the who this story line belongs to. About 15 years ago, I stumbled acrossed a series called Merovingian Nights. It is around 7 books long, and is pieced together by a plethora of authors. The series was not truly co-authored in the way we think of it now, but where each author wrote their own chapter in the novel. Sometimes it ended with some discontinuity.

Shadow of the Lion is what I wanted Merovingian Nights to be. But does the story belong to CJ Cherryh or does it belong to Mercedes Lackey? It is not 100 percent the same, but a good 80% the same. Names, settings, plots.

While I really enjoyed the book and its sequel, my enjoyment was dampened by the fact I couldn't get the idea of [...] out of my head.

Avid Mercedes Lackey fan who still likes the book.......2005-06-04

This book isn't much like Mercedes Lackey's normal writings, but isn't that the point of a collaborative work? I'm only giving it four stars because it is a bit hard to get into at first and the character list is extensive. It can sometimes be difficult to remember who is who, even with the glossary. I found myself having to write notes in the glossary just to record my thoughts on their characters and motivations. The plot is constantly twisting and there is enough humor without making the book silly. I've read almost every book by a female fantasy or sci fi writer (and quite a few of the men as well!) and found this one a delightful change.

Mercedes wrote this?.......2004-12-27

I've been a longtime fan of Mercedes and own most of her Valdemar series. So, of course, I picked this book up at my local store. After wrestling through 50 pages, I gave up! I plan to sell it back to my local store ASAP- this is nothing better than a paperweight in my bookshelves. The worst part is, my boyfriend picked it up and tried reading it. Now he thinks that this is a good example of her work!

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High-quality endangered animal book

Panther: Shadow of the Swamp
Jonathan London
Manufacturer: Candlewick
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 156402623X
Release Date: 2000-11-01

Book Description

Jonathan London and Paul Morin introduce one of the world's most majestic and most endangered animals.

A long, thick tail
twitches in the saw grass.
A shadow flows.

It is Panther.

Deep in the Florida Everglades is a unique and fragile ecosystem of interconnected lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Here egrets preen. Alligators float with eyes like periscopes. Here, among the swamp grass and shadows, threatened by habitat loss, live fewer than fifty Florida panthers, the last of the big cats east of the Mississippi River. With lyrical text and stunning oil paintings, Jonathan London and Paul Morin bring young readers face to face with a rare and elusive wild creature who is as fierce a predator as she is tender a mother.

Customer Reviews:

High-quality endangered animal book.......2001-08-06

In the Everglades, a Florida panther searches for food to keep her strength up to nurse her kittens. The simple story of this picture book for primary students comes alive with Paul Morin's striking, vibrant illustrations of the lush vegetation and wildlife of the Florida Everglades. Jonathan London's concise free verse suggests the anticipation and secrecy of the scarce panther's mission. An educational postscript is above the reading level of the rest of the book, but teachers and parents will find it a helpful resource. This is an admirable addition to a collection on endangered animals for primary-age children.

Shadow Cat: Encountering the American Mountain Lion

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It worked
A terrible book on lions.
An anthology of cougar lore.
Excellent book, but Houston, we have a problem

Shadow Cat: Encountering the American Mountain Lion

Manufacturer: Sasquatch Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Mammals | Field Guides | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1570611548

Amazon.com

North America's largest wildcat stalks a landscape of myth, fear, and isolation. Most people--even ardent outdoors enthusiasts--will never see one. "In eleven years of hiking, boating, guiding, and exploring," says writer Pam Houston, "I've come face to face with nearly every North American game species"--except a mountain lion. But as we encroach increasingly on their habitat, the tally of sightings goes up, along with stories of attacks on humans and even deaths. The essays that make up Shadow Cat introduce us to the animal and the controversies that surround it. Divided into three parts, the collection covers natural history, eyewitness accounts (from biologists, hunters, and admirers), and the complex, sometimes nasty politics surrounding Felis concolor, variously known as cougar, catamount, panther, puma, painter, and mountain lion. Noted conservation writer Ted Williams exalts in the animal's population comeback after decades of persecution; Rick Bass tells of his own history with a legendary lion in the Yaak Valley of Montana; and Chris Bolgiano puzzles over improbable sightings in the East. The collection's true high moments arrive, however, in skillful editing that reveals an interconnected community of cat fanciers and the complicated ethics they navigate in their avocations. In "Eat of This Flesh," celebrated environmental writer David Quammen (Song of the Dodo) sits down to a meal of stir-fried lion, chewing over some difficult ethical questions: "I will let the butcher do all of my killing. I will destroy habitat, but not animals. I will eat stir-fried shrimp, stir-fried beef, even stir-fried elk, but not stir-fried lion. Huh?" In the next piece, E. Donnall Thomas Jr.--doctor, writer, bow hunter, and the chef in the previous essay--serves up a taste of the hunt, musing,

No matter how many times I stare up into an evergreen canopy and see a mountain lion, I doubt that I will ever become accustomed to the experience, and to tell the truth, I hope I never do. Tawny and graceful, the cat looks as if it belongs on another continent, if not another planet.

As coauthor Elizabeth Grossman explains in her introduction, "these powerful predators have, in many ways, become emblematic of the debate over [preserving] wildness and wilderness"--a debate that more and more is binding those who would hunt a lion with those who would protect it. Such ironies seem almost appropriate. The whiskered face that emerges in Shadow Cat is of a regal yet inscrutable predator, one threatened by habitat loss, public misapprehension, and its own uncanny ability to survive. --Langdon Cook

Customer Reviews:

It worked.......2007-07-11

I have recently become intrigued by the Cougar and found this book. In general, the essays were not too political or preachy, but filled instead with a shared love of this predator and its place in our imagination. I could do with a little less of the "I am part of the esoteric tiny society of humans special enough to enjoy this spot on earth..since I'm here first I will smugly vilify anyone else who thinks their SUV belongs here" sentiment. Of course, this sentiment is a natural reaction to polulation explosion and necessary, but it was little thick in spots.

A terrible book on lions........2000-03-06

If you want a terrific book on mountain lions, then please read Soul Among Lions by Harley Shaw. I have read every book on lions and his is the only one worth reading. Most of the authors in Shadow Cat are easterners who have moved to Montana or California, displacing numerous wildlife species with their cabin in the wilderness and who have never even seen a lion, let alone have any kind of authority to provide insight into any aspect of lion ecology. The book is biased toward anti-hunting and environmentalism and doesn't portray an accurate picture. If you are a granola who likes to blame loggers and hunters for your own ineptness then you may like this book. They let Wayne Pacelle have the parting shot in this book, and well if that doesn't throw up a big red flag then you're probably dumb enough to want to read Shadow Cat.

An anthology of cougar lore........1999-09-02

A sleek, golden mountain lion sizes up the reader from the cover of "Shadow Cat". Intelligent, probing eyes pierce your soul. This is an anthology of cougar lore: natural history, cat encounters, and conflicts. Do you want something different? Sample David Quammen's description of a meal preparation. The main course: cougar flesh. Shadow cat offers the perspectives of hunters and conservationists, ephemeral recollections and sensation. Variety it has.

Excellent book, but Houston, we have a problem.......1999-08-25

Some anthologies are glued together, others are woven. This text is a wonderful tapestry of insightful, well written essays that address a controversial topic without relying on platitudes. There is one strand that is out of place, however, and while I normally think bad literature is best left ignored, I have to inquire why Pam Houston was included here? Her fiction is shallow, and when put to the test here, in essay form, it is apparent that she cannot write one honest line, cannot turn an original phrase that does not rely on her own substantial ego. The real meditations here are from Elizabeth Marshall, David Quammen, Rick Bass. Here is contemporary nature writing at its best.

24 - CHRISTINE FEEHAN - DARK PRINCE - DARK GOLD - THE ONLY ONE - FANTASY - MIND GAME - SHADOW GAME - DARK MAGIC - LAIR OF THE LION + 16

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24 - CHRISTINE FEEHAN - DARK PRINCE - DARK GOLD - THE ONLY ONE - FANTASY - MIND GAME - SHADOW GAME - DARK MAGIC - LAIR OF THE LION + 16
CHRISTINE FEEHAN
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Binding: Paperback

Magic & Wizards | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000UZF1WC

24 - CHRISTINE FEEHAN - LOVER BEWARE - DARK PRINCE - DARK GOLD - THE ONLY ONE - FANTASY - MIND GAME - SHADOW GAME - DARK MAGIC - LAIR OF THE LION + 16

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24 - CHRISTINE FEEHAN - LOVER BEWARE - DARK PRINCE - DARK GOLD - THE ONLY ONE - FANTASY - MIND GAME - SHADOW GAME - DARK MAGIC - LAIR OF THE LION + 16
CHRISTINE FEEHAN
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ASIN: B000UZ95AG

25 - CHRISTINE FEEHAN - DARK POSSESSION - LOVER BEWARE - DARK PRINCE - DARK GOLD - THE ONLY ONE - FANTASY - MIND GAME - SHADOW GAME - DARK MAGIC - LAIR OF THE LION + 15

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25 - CHRISTINE FEEHAN - DARK POSSESSION - LOVER BEWARE - DARK PRINCE - DARK GOLD - THE ONLY ONE - FANTASY - MIND GAME - SHADOW GAME - DARK MAGIC - LAIR OF THE LION + 15
CHRISTINE FEEHAN
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ASIN: B000UZF28U

Exotic Writings of Robert E. Howard - Voice of El-Lil - Red Blades of Black Cathay - Hawks of the Outremer - Blood of Belshazzar - Sowers of the Thunder - Lord of Samarcand - Lion of Tiberias - Alleys of Darkness - Shadow of the Vulture - Etc

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Exotic Writings of Robert E. Howard - Voice of El-Lil - Red Blades of Black Cathay - Hawks of the Outremer - Blood of Belshazzar - Sowers of the Thunder - Lord of Samarcand - Lion of Tiberias - Alleys of Darkness - Shadow of the Vulture - Etc
Robert E ( Introduction By Neil & Leigh Meachem ) Also with Works Under the Name Sam Walser & Patrick Ervin Howard
Manufacturer: Girasol
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NHVEN2

THE EXOTIC WRITINGS OF ROBERT E. HOWARD: The Voice of El-Lil; Red Blades of Black Cathay; Hawks of Outremer; The Blood of Belshazzar; The Sowers of the Thunder; Lord of Samarcand; The Lion of Tiberias; Alleys of Darkness; The Shadow of the Vulture

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THE EXOTIC WRITINGS OF ROBERT E. HOWARD: The Voice of El-Lil; Red Blades of Black Cathay; Hawks of Outremer; The Blood of Belshazzar; The Sowers of the Thunder; Lord of Samarcand; The Lion of Tiberias; Alleys of Darkness; The Shadow of the Vulture
Robert E. (introduction by Neil and Leigh Mechem) Howard
Manufacturer: Girasol Collectables
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000LNBORO

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Ghosts and Shadows (Lions)
Dorothy Edwards
Manufacturer: Armada
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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