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ULTIMATE ALASKA
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The Accidental Explorer, Wayfinding in Alaska • Sherry Simpson TRAVEL NARRATIVE • 2008 • HARD COVER • 229 PAGES A lyrical, sometimes abstract, account of an ordinary Alaskan woman exploring the vast wilderness of her state, including narrow escapes from an aggressive bear and glacial river. (ALA270, $23.95)
Ada Blackjack • Jennifer Niven BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR • 2004 • PAPER • 384 PAGES This engrossing book tells of a failed 1921 mission to colonize Wrangel Island that left four men dead and Ada Blackjack, a young Inuit seamstress, alone in the arctic wilderness for six months. Only recently has the full story come to light, and this is the definitive account, drawn from Ada's diary and testimony, along with other historical documents and interviews. A sequel of sorts to Niven's Ice Master, the tale of another ill-fated expedition lead by Vilhjalmur Steffanson. (ALA196, $14.99)
After the Ice Age: The Return of Life to Glaciated North America • E.C. Pielou NATURAL HISTORY • 1992 • PAPER • 366 PAGES An environmental history of North America over the last 20,000 years. The author describes -- in vivid detail -- the changes in the physical and biological environment. With line drawings and maps. (ALA41, $22.50)
Alaska • Nick Jans • Art Wolfe NATURAL HISTORY • 2010 • PAPER • 160 PAGES A 10th anniversary addition of Art Wolfe's best-selling collection of photographs. These 150 images take the reader from the lush Southeast to the singular Denali Mountain and across the northern tundra. The tenth anniversary edition of Alaska features gorgeous landscape-format photography, with sections including "Mountain," "River and Lake," "Tundra," "Sea and Coast," "Forest," and "Island." (ALA318, $29.95)
Alaska and Canada's Inside Passage • Coastal Cruise Tour Guides 1995 • MAP This six-foot-long topographic map, at a scale of 1:1,000,000, folds into a handy booklet and includes descriptions of the major points of interest along the route from Seattle to Juneau. 12x72 inches. (ALA12, $15.95)
Alaska at War, 1941-1945, The Forgotten War Remembered • Fern Chandonnet HISTORY • 2007 • PAPER • 458 PAGES A collection of papers documenting the Japanese invasion of the Aleutians and the American campaign to regain control during World War II. (ALA257, $29.95)
Alaska Butterflies & Moths, An Introduction to Familiar Species • James Kavanagh FIELD GUIDE • 2008 • PLASTIC CARD A handy, laminated fold-up card. (ALA273, $5.95)
Alaska Light: Ideas and Images from a Northern Land • Kim Heacox NATURAL HISTORY • 1998 • PAPER • 112 PAGES Kim Heacox, one of Alaska's most renowned photographers, turns his camera to landscapes and wildlife found throughout the state in this attractive book of photographs, complemented by informative essays. (ALA122, $22.95)
Alaska Science Nuggets • Neil Davis SCIENCE • 1989 • PAPER • 233 PAGES This illuminating collection of nearly 400 science articles discusses questions on everything Alaskan, fincluding the Northern Lights, glaciers, meteorology, volcanoes, earthquakes, wooly mammoths, early humans, northern living, and more. (ALA299, $14.95)
Alaska Trees and Shrubs • Les Viereck • Elbert L. Little FIELD GUIDE • 2006 • PAPER The classic field guide to the woody plants of the 49th state, in a revised second edition. (ALA221, $24.95)
Alaska Wild Berry Guide and Cookbook • Alaska Geographic Society FIELD GUIDE • 1983 • PAPER • 201 PAGES A guide to Alaskan berries, with color photographs, detailed drawings and descriptive text, and berry-related recipes. (ALA300, $14.95)
Alaska Wilderness, Exploring the Central Brooks Range • Robert Marshall TRAVEL NARRATIVE • 2005 • PAPER • 236 PAGES A chronicle of adventures and exploration in the 1930s above the Arctic Cirle near Wiseman, Alaska by a mountaineer and pioneer conservationist who went on to found the Wilderness Society. Marshall was among the first to map and describe the headwaters of the North Fork of the Koyukuk River, now part of Gates of the Arctic National Park. (ALA193, $21.95)
Alaska's Bears • Bill Sherwonit FIELD GUIDE • 1998 • PAPER • 96 PAGES A shirt pocket guide to Alaska's bears, this slim book geared for the curious traveler covers the ecology, natural history and conservation of all three species. With color photography by Tom Walker. (ALA63, $12.95)
Alaska's Inside Passage • Kim Heacox NATURAL HISTORY • 1997 • HARD COVER • 144 PAGES A beautiful overview of the Inside Passage, lavishly produced. This oversize hardcover captures the region's natural beauty in a series of color photographs and informative essays, an excellent introduction to Southeast Alaska's wild coastline, mountains and glaciers. (ALA43, $39.95)
Alaska's Inside Passage Destination Map • National Geographic GUIDEBOOK • 2011 • PAPER A double-sided full color map of Alaska's Inside Passage at a scale of 1:880,000 with good shaded relief, topographic detail, roads and waterways, basic travel information. With a full Alaska map and cultural information on the reverse. Printed on waterproof, tear-resistant paper. (ALA362, $11.95)
Alaska's Mammals, A Guide to Selected Species • Dave Smith FIELD GUIDE • 1995 • PAPER • 94 PAGES This handy pocket guide is a surprisingly useful, informative and illustrated introduction, covering 35 sea and land mammals, from caribou, to humpback whales, to walrus. (ALA79, $12.95)
Alaska's Mushrooms, A Practical Guide • Harriette Parker FIELD GUIDE • 1994 • PAPER • 92 PAGES A guide to 35 species of Alaskan mushrooms, with information on identification, collecting tips and recipes. (ALA298, $13.95)
Alaska's Prince William Sound, A Traveler's Guide • Mary Beth Holleman GUIDEBOOK • 2002 • PAPER • 96 PAGES An illustrated pocket guide, featuting information on attractions and background on the history, culture and nature of the region. (ALA183, $12.95)
Alaska's Seashore Creatures: A Guide to Selected Marine Invertebrates • Carmen Field • Conrad Field FIELD GUIDE • 1999 • PAPER • 96 PAGES This slim, illustrated guide contains information on more than 50 marine invertebrates one might encounter along the shores of Alaska. The color photographs, black-and-white illustrations, and helpful descriptions detail everything from clams and sea stars to the lion's mane jellyfish and octopuses. (ALA80, $12.95)
Alaska's Southeast, Touring the Inside Passage • Mike Miller GUIDEBOOK • 2008 • PAPER • 295 PAGES A popular, practical guide to the cruising the Inside Passage, including a wide-ranging overview of the area's natural history, culture and geography. With maps, town plans and 100 photographs. (ALA23, $17.95)
Alaska's Wild Plants, A Guide to Alaska's Edible Harvest • Janice Schofield FIELD GUIDE • 1993 • PAPER • 95 PAGES An authoritative introduction to more than seventy of Alaska's most common wild edible plants, with identification information and recipes. (ALA297, $13.95)
Alaska, A History • Claus M. Naske HISTORY • 2011 • HARD COVER • 520 PAGES Covering geography, native peoples, discovery and development, this comprehensive history gives a full chronological survey of our largest state. (ALA351, $39.95)
Alaska, An American Colony • Stephen Haycox HISTORY • 2006 • PAPER • 372 PAGES An engaging, scholarly history, neatly divided into Russian exploration and the American period. The author is a professor of history at the University of Alaska in Anchorage. The book takes as its theme the economic exploitation of the state and fate of the indigenous people of the region through Russian and American exploitation and colonization. (ALA160, $18.95)
Alaska, National Geographic Guide to America's Outdoors • Nan Elliot GUIDEBOOK • 2001 • PAPER • 288 PAGES A practical, illustrated guide to Alaska featuring National Geographic's usual careful attention to maps and color photography along with suggested itineraries, resources and attractions. (ALA130, $24.00)
Alaska, On-the-Road Histories • Ryan Madden HISTORY • 2005 • PAPER • 288 PAGES A compact history, covering full sweep of the history of Alaska from its original inhabitants through the Russian period, purchase by the United States, gold boom, WWII, statehood and contemporary issues. With maps and color photographs. Madden, a native-born Alaskan, teaches history in Sitka. (ALA212, $27.95)
Alaska, Reflections on Land and Spirit • Robert Hedin • Gary Holthaus ANTHOLOGY • 1994 • PAPER • 322 PAGES An excellent sampler of some of the best writing on Alaska, this anthology includes 22 selections by John Muir, John McPhee, Barry Lopez, early explorers, Alaskan natives, naturalists and others. (ALA48, $19.95)
Alaska, Saga of a Bold Land • Walter R. Borneman HISTORY • 2004 • PAPER • 608 PAGES In this wide-ranging history, popular writer and scholar Walter Borneman captures the personalities, bravura and challenges of Alaska, describing the days of the fur traders and explorers, the gold rush, the building of the railroads and current controversies. Highly recommended as a well-written, informative overview of the state. (ALA187, $16.99)
Alaska, Spirit of the Wild • George Casey NATURAL HISTORY • 1997 • DVD This gorgeous film, originally produced for IMAX, showcases the spectacular landscapes, glaciers, bears, whales and wilderness of Alaska. Narrated by Charlton Heston. 39 minutes. Directed by the award-winning George Casey, the film captures the drama, beauty and humor of Alaska and its wildlife with deft camera work, including stunning aerial shots. DVD (ALA216, $14.99)
Alaska, Tales of Adventure from the Last Frontier • Spike Walker ANTHOLOGY • 2002 • PAPER • 288 PAGES This diverse anthology of 31 tales, classic and modern, includes Jack London's famous tale of the Yukon, How To Build a Fire, Muir's discovery of Glacier Bay, and Gary Paulsen's account of racing the Iditarod. (ALA188, $16.99)
Alaska, The Cruise-Lover's Guide • Paul Grescoe • Audrey Grescoe GUIDEBOOK • 2002 • PAPER • 272 PAGES A compact handbook to Southeast Alaska and beyond, featuring a good overview of the nature and history of the region. The heart of the book is devoted to individual ports of call each featuring a large-scale map and suggestions for sightseeing. Organized alphabetically, it includes Kotzebue and Prufhoe Bay in addition to Skagway, Ketchikan and other typical ports along the Inside Passage. (ALA71, $17.95)
The Aleutian Islands, Living on the Edge • Ken Wilson CULTURAL PORTRAIT • 2008 • HARD COVER • 300 PAGES A well-realized portrait of place, comprising oral history from the native Unangan people, essays on island life and hundreds of images of the Aleutians' natural wonders and wild weather. (ALA288, $45.00)
All Things Reconsidered, My Birding Adventures • Roger Tory Peterson NATURAL HISTORY • 2007 • PAPER • 320 PAGES A collection of 42 of Peterson's best columns from Bird Watcher's Digest, including his adventures in Alaska, Russia, Kenya and New York City. (BRD46, $14.95)
Anchorage & Fairbanks Map • Rand McNally Maps MAP A street map of Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. Two Sides. 36x26 inches. (ALA156, $5.99)
Arctic Crossing, A Journey Through the Northwest Passage and Inuit Culture • Jonathan Waterman HISTORY • 2002 • PAPER • 376 PAGES A riveting account of a 2,200 mile solo journey across the Arctic from Prudhoe Bay to the Gulf of Boothia by kayak, accomplished in stages from 1997-1999. Waterman, who has also written of his sailing and climbing adventures in Alaska, includes a portrait of the Inuit people and villages that he encountered along the route. (ARC98, $16.95)
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Seasons of Life and Land • Subhankar Banerjee • Jimmy Carter NATURAL HISTORY • 2003 • PAPER • 176 PAGES This photographic tribute to the Alaskan Arctic is also an appeal for its preservation. Banerjee travels across the Arctic Refuge in all four seasons to document the unique and fragile ecosystem. With six original essays by the likes of David Sibley and Peter Matthiessen and a forward by Jimmy Carter. With over 200 color photographs. (ALA201, $29.95)
Arctic Refuge, A Circle of Testimony • Hank Lentfer NATURAL HISTORY • 2001 • PAPER • 118 PAGES A collection of essays, originally presented to Congress, this book includes contributions in defense of the Arctic Wildlife Refuge by Jimmy Carter, Wendell Berry, Barry Lopez, Bill McKibben, Scott Russell Sanders, Rick Bass, and Terry Tempest Williams. All royalties from sales of Arctic Refuge, with an additional contribution from Milkweed Editions, goes to the Alaska Conservation Foundation. (ALA248, $14.00)
Attu, Birding on the Edge • Charles Osgood BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR • 2003 • PAPER A memoir of 25 years birding on the western fringes of North America, including encounters with rare Asian migrants. Attu, westernmost of the Aleutians -- and nearly 1,500 miles form the mainland, is the place to encounter never before recorded birds in North America. With an annotated checklist, color photographs and maps. Contributors include Larry Balch, Paul Baicich, John Fitchen, Paul Lehman, and Macklin Smith. (ALA169, $35.00)
Away, A Novel • Amy Bloom LITERATURE • 2008 • PAPER • 256 PAGES Bloom's marvelous fifth novel draws from the real-life particulars of Lillian Leyb, a remarkable Russian immigrant who, settled in New York, took off across America, determined to walk to Siberia and reunite with her young daughter. Bloom draws the reader into 1920s Yiddishkeit New York, Chicago, rough-and-tough Seattle, the Alaskan wilderness in this tender, absorbing tale. The reviewer in Publisher's Weekly raved, "Encompassing prison, prostitution and poetry, Yiddish humor and Yukon settings, Bloom's tale offers linguistic twists, startling imagery, sharp wit and a compelling vision of the past. Bloom has created an extraordinary range of characters, settings and emotions. Absolutely stunning." (USA162, $15.00)
Bear Attacks, Their Causes and Avoidance • Stephen Herrero NATURAL HISTORY • 2002 • PAPER • 296 PAGES Despite its frightening title, this book is a helpful introduction to the natural history and behavior of the bear by a long-term researcher in the field. With useful tips on "avoidance." Revised edition. (BST21, $16.95)
Beluga Days, Tracking the Endangered White Whale • Nancy Lord NATURAL HISTORY • 2007 • PAPER • 242 PAGES A naturalist and long-time resident of Cook Inlet on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula, Lord combines her own observations of beluga whales with insightful interviews in this tale of natural history, culture and conservation. From the Publisher: Beluga Days is a wonderful evocation of the wilderness of coastal Alaska and the Native communities that still eat whale meat and depend on local foods. It is also a foray into the fascinating labyrinth of Alaskan culture, history, and politics, as the complex relationships in this unique state coalesce in a mad theater around a crisis-the decline of the beluga whales in Cook Inlet, an isolated and genetically distinct population. Beyond its compelling characters and particulars, Lord's story offers readers a deeper understanding of the often uncomfortable, often rewarding, juxtaposition of humans and the natural world. (BST90, $16.95)
Beneath the Ashes • Sue Henry MYSTERY • 2001 • PAPER • 336 PAGES Jessie Arnold's peaceful life training her sled dogs in the Alaska wilderness is threatened when a mysterious and deadly fire ravages a popular local pub, a troubled old friend arrives seeking refuge from her abusive husband, and her own cabin is burned. (ALA277, $6.99)
The Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, Region of Wonders • Terry Johnson NATURAL HISTORY • 2003 • PAPER • 191 PAGES An up-to-date, fact-filled illustrated primer on the region, its geography, marine and terrestrial life, mineral resources, industry and culture. With good color photographs of seabirds, marine mammals and marine life. (ALA197, $25.00)
The Best of Robert Service, Illustrated Edition • Robert Service • Clarence Kinsey • Clarke Kinsey LITERATURE • 2003 • HARD COVER • 199 PAGES • FAMILY A collection of favorites by the poet laureate of the North including "The Spell of the Yukon" and "Ballads of the Cheechako." A bank teller in Whitehourse during the Klondike gold rush, Service immortalized the frontier personalities and character in his colorful read-out-loud sagas. This handsome hardcover edition features period photographs by brothers Clarke and Clarence Kinsey, who capture the people, animals and machines of the Alaskan gold rush in evocative black-and-white images. (ALA37, $19.98)
Best Tales Yukon • Robert Service LITERATURE • 2002 • PAPER • 160 PAGES In 1904, the Canadian Bank of Commerce transferred teller Robert W. Service to the Yukon Territory. Soon, he was famous as the poet who chronicled the Klondike gold rush and the savage beauty of the frozen north. His tales of hard-bitten propectors and sourdoughs in "The Land God Forgot" make vivid, exciting reading. Here are all the brawling, colorful characters that Service immortalized, including One-Eyed Mike, Dangerous Dan McGrew, Pious Pete, Blasphemous Bill -- and, of course, the lady known as Lou. (ALA285, $13.95)
The Big Year, A Tale Of Man, Nature, And Fowl Obsession • Mark Obmascik NATURAL HISTORY • 2011 • PAPER • 272 PAGES Obmascik, himself an over-the-edge birder, recounts with glee and page-turning detail the race to see the most birds in North America in a year, a quest that has his three competitors on the road at a moments notice, heading out in the middle of the night, and combing the beaches. As he so winningly demonstrates, these people are driven. (BRD29, $15.00)
The Birdwatcher's Companion to North American Birdlife • Christopher W. Leahy • Gordon Morrison NATURAL HISTORY • 2006 • PAPER • 1072 PAGES A handsome, fully illustrated survey of the birds of North America, organized A to Z, covering birds, bird biology, conservation and birdwatching. Published in cooperation with the American Birding Association. (NAM21, $19.95)
Bradt Guide Alaska • T. T. Terpening GUIDEBOOK • 2010 • PAPER • 442 PAGES A comprehensive guide in the growing series by Bradt, noteworthy for its focus on culture, nature and responsible travel, with plenty of practical travel details. (ALA307, $22.99)
Canada's Yukon and South Central Alaska Map • Coastal Cruise Tour Guides 1998 • MAP Featuring handsome topographic maps that fold down into a booklet, this guide also includes sections on visitor attractions and highlights. With seven fold-out maps of Prince William Sound, Kodiak Island, Denali National Park, Katmai and Kenai Peninsula. Two Sides. 12x72 inches. (ALA55, $15.95)
The Capture of Attu, A World War II Battle As Told by the Men Who Fought There • Robert J. Mitchell • Sewell T. Tying • Nelson L. Drummond HISTORY • 2000 • PAPER • 192 PAGES A detailed, oral history of the battle fought in the outermost Aleutians, compiled by Lieutenant Robert J. Mitchell, a witness to the events he describes. (ALA149, $18.95)
Caribou Crossing • Kim Heacox LITERATURE • 2001 • HARD COVER • 352 PAGES Alaskan naturalist and photographer Heacox turns to fiction in this fast-paced environmental thriller set in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (ALA247, $24.95)
Caribou Rising • Rick Bass NATURAL HISTORY • 2004 • HARD COVER • 164 PAGES Subtitled, "Defending the Porcupine Herd, Gwich-'In Culture, and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge," Bass calls for protecting the traditional calving grounds of the caribou in this majestic land. (ALA249, $19.96)
Caribou, Wanderer of the Tundra • Tom Walker NATURAL HISTORY • 2000 • PAPER • 80 PAGES An illustrated overview of the caribou by nature photographer Tom Walker. Besides beautiful, color photos, Walker includes essays on his own experiences in the field. (ALA203, $9.95)
Chilkoot Trail/Klondike Map • Trails Illustrated MAP An excellent, detailed hiker's map of the Chilkoot Trail at the Alaska/Canada border. Two Sides. 37x25 inches. (ALA237, $9.95)
Clueless in Alaska: Know More! • Jennifer Funk Weber NATURAL HISTORY • 2006 • PAPER • YOUNG READERS (Age 4-8) An activity book filled with puzzles, fun facts, games and jokes, geared for kids ages 4-8. (ALA219, $12.95)
Cold Company • Sue Henry MYSTERY • 2003 • PAPER • 336 PAGES Unearthing an old skeleton while rebuilding her Alaskan home, musher Jessie Arnold learns that the bones might belong to the victim of a notorious serial killer from decades earlier, but in the wake of another woman's disappearance, she begins to suspect that danger has returned to her wild woods community. (ALA279, $7.99)
Collected Poems of Robert Service • Robert Service LITERATURE • 1989 • HARD COVER • 756 PAGES This omnibus edition includes Spell of the Yukon, Rhymes of a Red Cross Man and other celebrated poems, covering the master's career until 1940. Wityh an index of first lines. (ALA284, $25.95)
Commerical Fishing in Alaska • Terry Johnson NATURAL HISTORY • 2003 • PAPER • 112 PAGES An engaging and authoritative overview of the seafood industry in Alaska, featuring color photos and drawings of fish and invertebrates and the gear used to harvest them. Ocean Treasure tells how to recognize fishing boats and gear, what the fish look like, and how good they taste. Readers are treated to an account of the fascinating history of Alaska fishing, insight into mariculture, how the fisheries are managed, and the lifestyle involved in subsistence fishing. The book also offers a bibliography, a glossary, and a full index. (ALA157, $25.00)
The Cruelest Miles, The Heroic Story of Dogs and Men in a Race Against an Epidemic • Gay Salisbury • Laney Salisbury HISTORY • 2005 • PAPER • 320 PAGES The gripping tale of the 1925 serum run from Seward to Nome, a tribute to the spirit and gumption of the dog drivers and sled dogs of Alaska. Drawing on archives and interviews with descendents of the drivers, the authors bring the individual men, their dog teams and the conditions of early 20th-century backcountry Alaska to life in vivid detail. The story created a public sesnsation in its day with gold medals, commendations and accolades. A statue of Balto, most famous of the sled dogs, stands in New York's Central Park. (ALA173, $15.95)
The Cruise of the Corwin • John Muir • William Frederic Bade EXPLORATION • 2000 • PAPER • 320 PAGES Pieced together from Muir's diaries, published accounts and letters by his literary executor, this book is an account of an 1881 voyage in search of the lost Jeanette Expedition. It's an eyewitness report of little-known lands including the Chukchi Peninsula, Diomede, Wrangel and Herald islands. (ALA76, $18.95)
Dead North • Sue Henry MYSTERY • 2002 • PAPER • 384 PAGES After a fire destroys her home, musher Jessie Arnold volunteers to drive her friend's Winnebago back from Idaho, and while on the road, she picks up a teenage runaway who plunges her and her faithful lead dog, Tank, into the wilderness where a psychotic killer lurks. (ALA276, $7.99)
Deadfall • Sue Henry MYSTERY • 1999 • PAPER • 320 PAGES There on desolate, windswept Kachemak Bay, Jessie hikes the island trails with her lead dog Tank, marveling at the splendor of her solitude. But in a wilderness filled with hazards and hiding places, she soon discovers she is not alone. With Alex searching for a madman hundreds of miles away, Jessie is on her own -- playing a deadly game of hide and seek with a killer. (ALA283, $6.99)
Death Trap • Sue Henry MYSTERY • 2004 • PAPER • 304 PAGES Foregoing her sled dog training after knee surgery, a bored Jessie Arnold goes to help in an Iditarod booth at the Alaska State Fair, but when the event is overshadowed by a murder and the disappearance of her lead dog, she finds herself targeted by a killer. (ALA280, $7.99)
Degrees of Separation • Sue Henry MYSTERY • 2008 • HARD COVER • 272 PAGES After several years spent recovering from a devastating knee injury, champion musher Jessie Arnold is working to get back into shape for the Iditarod, but when she stumbles upon a corpse during a practice run down a local trail, she and her boyfriend, Alaska State Trooper Alex Jensen, are sidetracked by the hunt for a killer. (ALA274, $23.95)
Denali National Park and Preserve Map • Trails Illustrated 2011 • MAP A durable, fold-up topographic map of Denali and surroundings at a scale of 1:2225,000. GPS compatible with a full UTM grid, the handsome map also includes park information, backcountry units and an inset of park headquarters. Two Sides. 26x37 inches. (ALA88, $11.95)
Distant Shores, The Odyssey of Rockwell Kent • Constance Martin • Rockwell Kent ART & ARCHITECTURE • 2000 • PAPER • 128 PAGES • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE Distant Shores present 80 paintings, prints and drawings by Kent (1882-1971), many in glorious color, and including an exceptional selection of work from the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. Inspired by remote and inhospitable regions, the book follows Kent's life and work at Monhegan Island, Newfoundland, Alaska, Tierra del Fuego and Greenland. Published in conjunction with an exhibition by the same name. With 68 color illustrations and 58 black-and-white photographs. New. (ART34, $125.00)
Drifting Home, A Family's Voyage of Discover Down the Wild Yukon River • Pierre Berton TRAVEL NARRATIVE • 2003 • PAPER Berton (a marvelous storyteller and historian of Canada and the Arctic) writes of a 1972 voyage on the Yukon River in the route of the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush. (ALA213, $12.95)
Drop City • T. Coraghessan Boyle LITERATURE • 2004 • PAPER • 512 PAGES T.C. Boyle's ninth novel brings his celebrated wit and narrative flair to the story of two competing communes that relocate to interior Alaska in the 1970s in a high-stakes search for utopia. (ALA316, $16.00)
The End of The Road • Sue Henry MYSTERY • 2009 • HARD COVER • 272 PAGES In the latest adventure of Maxie and Stretch, the indomitable woman and her dog return to Homer, Alaska, just as a murder shatters the peace of the small town. Maxie must chase the killer down to "the end of the road." Could this be Henry's last book? (ALA295, $23.95)
Eyewitness Guide Alaska • Eyewitness Guides GUIDEBOOK • 2012 • FLEXI-BOUND • 310 PAGES A beautifully illustrated, comprehensive guide to the mountains, glaciers, and wildlife of Alaska, including excellent maps and practical information on where to go, stay and eat. (ALA238, $25.00)
Fairbanks, A Gold Rush Town That Beat the Odds • Dermot Cole HISTORY • 2008 • PAPER • 224 PAGES A fascinating history of Fairbanks -- a town born from a cargo boat accident and the Klondike gold rush -- by a local historian and newspaper columnist. In a centennial edition illustrated with archival photographs. (ALA186, $19.95)
Fairbanks, Alaska's Heart of Gold • Tricia Brown • Roy Corral GUIDEBOOK • 2000 • PAPER • 94 PAGES A slim, illustrated pocket guide to Fairbanks (founded during the 1902 Alaska gold rush), its geography, history, culture, wildlife and attractions. (ALA155, $12.95)
Faith, Food, and Family in a Yupik Whaling Community • Carol Zane Jolles CULTURAL PORTRAIT • 2002 • PAPER • 376 PAGES For this detailed survey of the history, society, religion and culture of the whalers of St. Lawrence Island, the author draws on interviews with villagers, archival records, and field work. Carol Zane Jolles is on the faculty at the University of Washington. (ALA182, $26.95)
Falcon Guide, Hiking Alaska: A Guide to Alaska's Greatest Hiking Adventures • Dean Littlepage GUIDEBOOK • 2006 • PAPER • 384 PAGES A practical and comprehensive guide to 100 trails and hiking locations throughout the state. Includes information on food, gear and safety tips, as well as dozens of black-and-white maps and photographs. (ALA236, $19.95)
Falcon Guide, Hiking Wrangell-St. Elias • Greg Fensterman GUIDEBOOK • 2008 • PAPER • 334 PAGES An entry in the excellent series of Falcon hiking guides, this practical book covers, in detail, both short day hikes and extensive backcountry outings. With useful maps, illustrations, campground ratings and good information on planning. (ALA348, $18.95)
First Peoples of Alaska • Aron Crowell CULTURAL PORTRAIT • 2010 • HARD COVER • 312 PAGES Based on a collaborative exhibition by Alaska Native communities, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, and the Anchorage Museum, Living Our Cultures, Sharing Our Heritage celebrates the return of long-absent cultural treasures to the new Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center at the Anchorage Museum in Alaska. Living Our Cultures, Sharing Our Heritage: The First Peoples of Alaska shows how each native nation is unique, and how all are connected. Masterworks of Alaska Native art and design--masks, parkas, beaded garments, basketry, weapons, and carvings--still breathe the lives of their people and embody the lifeways, histories, and cosmologies of northern indigenous communities. They are accompanied by stories and descriptions from distinguished elders, artists, and scholars from Alaska's native cultures. (ALA322, $50.00)
Fishes of the Pacific Coast • Gar Goodson FIELD GUIDE • 1998 • PAPER • 267 PAGES Featuring 507 water color illustrations by Phillip Weisgerber, this pocket guide covers Pacific fishes from Alaska to Peru, including the Gulf of California and Galapagos. (PAC187, $13.95)
The Floor of Heaven, A True Tale of the American West and the Yukon Gold Rush • Howard Blum HISTORY • 2012 • PAPER • 432 PAGES From the author of the Edgar Award-winning American Lightning comes the fascinating story of the 1897 Klondike Gold Rush. Through the eyes many fascinating historical characters -- a Pinkerton detective, a confidence man and an army deserter among them -- Blum explores the dreams that drove men to the last remnant of the Old West, the Alaskan frontier. (ALA341, $16.00)
Flyfishing Alaska • Anthony J. Route GUIDEBOOK • 1995 • PAPER • 229 PAGES A useful guide to getting more out of fly fishing in Alaska with good coverage of the variety of fishes, equipment and tactics for Salmon, trout, char and other Alaskan specialties. (ALA138, $17.95)
Fodor's Alaska • Fodor's Guides GUIDEBOOK • 2011 • PAPER • 528 PAGES A popular, practical guide to Alaska. (ALA225, $21.99)
Fodor's Alaska Ports of Call • Inc. Fodor's Travel Publications GUIDEBOOK • 2011 • PAPER • 346 PAGES A practical guide in the popular series, saturated with valuable information on accommodation, shopping, sights, and dining. (ALA255, $18.99)
Frigid Embrace: Politics, Economics, and Environment in Alaska • Stephen Haycox HISTORY • 2002 • PAPER • 180 PAGES In this hardhitting economic history of the state, Haycox looks at how Alaska makes its money in fur, oil, timber and fish. The author is a professor of history at the University of Alaska in Anchorage. (ALA161, $21.95)
Frommer's Alaska • Charles P. Wohlforth GUIDEBOOK • 2008 • PAPER A comprehensive, practical guide to the region with excellent recommendations for hotels, restaurants and excursions. With two-color maps throughout. (ALA305, $21.99)
Frommer's Alaska Cruises & Ports of Call • Fran Wenograd Golden GUIDEBOOK • 2009 • PAPER A comprehensive, practical guide to the region with excellent recommendations for hotels, restaurants and excursions. With two-color maps throughout. (ALA306, $18.99)
Gates of the Arctic National Park • Trails Illustrated MAP A durable folded map of Alaska's Gates of the Arctic National Park at a scale of 1:400,000. Printed on tear and water resistant paper. This two-sided map includes Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in its entirety, portions of Noatak National Preserve, Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge, Selawik National Wildlife Refuge, and Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge. Also included are Anaktuvuk Pass, Mount Ingstad, Bettles / Evansville, Gobblers Knob, Coldfoot, the Arctic Interagency Visitor Center, South Fork Koyukuk River, Grayling Lake, Marion Creek Campground, Wiseman, Sukiakpak Mountain, Brooks Range, the Endicott Mountains, Noatak Wild and Scenic River, Alatna Wild and Scenic River, John Wild and Scenic River, Kobuk Wild and Scenic River, Tinayguk Wild and Scenic River, Koyukuk Wild and Scenic River, Walker Lake, Nutuyukti Lake, Norutak Lake, Wild Lake, and more. The second side of the map features a beautiful map of Alaska with all of its national parks and preserves, as well as detailed information about Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, trip planning tips, backcountry activities and safety information. Two Sides. 26x38 inches. (ALA202, $11.95)
Glacier Bay National Park, A Backcountry Guide to the Glaciers and Beyond • Jim DuFresne GUIDEBOOK • 1987 • PAPER • 152 PAGES A slim guide to Glacier Bay for the adventurous traveler with much good general information about geology, history and wildlife. It includes descriptions of major kayaking and hiking routes. (ALA127, $10.95)
Glacier Bay, The Wild Beauty of Glacier Bay National Park • Peggy Bauer • Erwin A. Bauer NATURAL HISTORY • 2001 • PAPER • 80 PAGES A photographic tribute to Glacier Bay by a husband and wife team. A short essay on the region's history and nature accompanies the dazzling images of glaciers, forests and marine life. (ALA120, $14.95)
Glacier Ice • Austin Post • Edward R. LaChapelle NATURAL HISTORY • 2000 • PAPER • 145 PAGES A classic book of extraordinary black-and-white aerial photographs of mountains and glaciers by two devoted men of ice. The text is by Ed LaChapelle, an avalanche researcher, glaciologist, mountaineer, skier, author and professor, who died in 2007 at 80 of a heart attack while on the slopes in Colorado. Austin Post's stunning aerial photographs of glaciers along the North Pacific Coast of North America and into the interior ranges of Alaska is supplemented with groundbased photographs from the Himalayas, Switzerland, Chile and other parts of the world. (SCI07, $27.95)
The Great Land, Reflections on Alaska • Robert Hedin • Gary Holthaus ANTHOLOGY • 1994 • PAPER • 317 PAGES • COMING IN A grand tour of the state as seen through the eyes of great writers such as John Muir, Edward Hoagland, and John Dos Passos. (ALA49, $19.95)
Grizzly Man • Werner Herzog BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR • 2006 • DVD Herzog captures the obsession of Timothy Treadwell and his dedication to the Katmai bear in this drama. A veteran of 13 seasons in the area, Treadwell and his girlfriend, Amie Huguenard were killed by a bear (revealed early in the film) near Kaflia Bay in 2003. (ALA294, $14.98)
A Guide to Marine Invertebrates, Alaska to Baja California • Daniel W. Gotshall FIELD GUIDE • 2005 • PAPER This second, revised edition of Gotshall's invaluable field guide features full color photographs and brief descriptive information on 285 species of Pacific inshore and subtidal marine invertebrates. Species information has been updated for this new edition, which also includes 35 additional species. (BJA40, $29.95)
Guide to Sea Kayaking in Southeast Alaska, The Best Trips and Tours from Misty Fjords to Glacier Bay • Jim Howard GUIDEBOOK • 1999 • PAPER • 240 PAGES A compact, practical guide to 41 kayak trips from Ketchikan to Gustavus with detailed local maps, mile-by-mile descriptions of suggested routes, launching and landing sites and trip-planning. (ALA136, $15.95)
The Harriman Alaska Expedition Retraced: A Century of Change, 1899-2001 • Thomas S. Litwin • David Rockefeller ANTHOLOGY • 2004 • HARD COVER • 304 PAGES A wide-ranging selection of articles on the history, culture, and ecology of Alaska, with contributions from William Cronon, Sheila Nickerson, Kim Heacox, and Richard Nelson and others. The companion book to a PBS series, contrasting historic findings with contemporary reality. With reproductions of many 1899 original maps, engravings and drawings. (ALA199, $29.95)
The Harriman Expedition to Alaska, Encountering the Tlingit and Eskimo in 1899 • George Bird Grinnell • Polly Burroughs • Victoria Wyatt EXPLORATION • 2007 • PAPER A handsome reprint edition of two essays by anthropologist George Bird Grinnell, drawn from the published account of the 1899 Harriman Expedition. Both "The Natives of the Alaska Coast Region" and "The Salmon Industry" are valuable accounts of the peoples and culture of the region. It includes Grinnell's notes on the Tlingit, Sitka, Aleut, and other well known groups ranging north along the Alaska coat to Siberia. Nicely Illustrated throughout with original drawings, engravings and photographs by expedition artists including Edward Curtis. (ALA246, $14.95)
Hidden Alaska, Bristol Bay and Beyond • David Atcheson • Michael Melford NATURAL HISTORY • 2011 • HARD COVER • 160 PAGES A visual tribute to the wilderness and beauty of Alaska and an argument for preserving Bristol Bay -- home to the world's largest salmon spawning grounds but also the largest unmined deposits of gold and copper. (ALA339, $24.00)
A History of Prince William Sound Alaska • Jim Lethcoe • Nancy Lethcoe HISTORY • 2000 • PAPER • 275 PAGES A locally published history of the region from fur trading center to tourist destination. With photographs, illustrations and maps. (ALA141, $19.95)
Honest Dogs, A Story of Triumph and Regret from the World's Greatest Sled Dog Race • Brian Patrick O'Donoghue EXPLORATION • 1999 • PAPER • 335 PAGES A wry, absorbing account of Brian Patrick O'Donoghue's valiant attempt to salvage his youth and honor in the 1998 Yukon Quest Sled Dog Race. (ALA206, $19.95)
Hoshino's Alaska • Michio Hoshino EXPLORATION • 2007 • PAPER • 160 PAGES This collection of Michio Hoshino's remarkable work showcases 145 of his color photographs of the land, seascapes and wildlife of Alaska. (ALA245, $24.95)
I Dream Alaska • Natalie Fobes CULTURAL PORTRAIT • 1998 • HARD COVER • 96 PAGES Journey from the Arctic to the Tongass, Pribilofs and Gambell Island, exploring the cultures, creatures and land of Alaska in this sweet collection of 80 favorite images and essays by National Geographic photographer Forbes. (ALA312, $6.95)
Ice Ages, Solving the Mystery • Katherine Palmer Imbrie • John Imbrie NATURAL HISTORY • 1986 • PAPER • 224 PAGES An examination of the geologic evidence explaining the Earth's ice ages, written for a general audience. (GEO17, $27.00)
Ice Window: Letters from a Bering Strait Village, 1892- 1902 • Kathleen Lopp Smith • Verbeck Smith BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR • 2002 • PAPER • 488 PAGES A chronicle of daily life, customs and struggles on the Bering Strait at the turn of the century. With 350 letters, more than 90 period photographs, maps, drawings from the letters, and reproductions of the five issues of "The Eskimo Bulletin, " as edited by the granddaughter of Ellen Kittredge and Thomas Lopp, two Christian teachers in a small village facing Little Diomede on the Bering Strait in Northwest Alaska. (ALA152, $45.00)
Iditarod, The Great Race to Nome • Bill Sherwonit HISTORY • 2002 • PAPER • 133 PAGES A history of the Iditarod and dog races in Alaska, featuring both color and archival illustrations. (ALA185, $23.95)
In Denali • Kim Heacox NATURAL HISTORY • 2006 • HARD COVER • 96 PAGES This handsome portrait of Denali, by a well known writer, photographer and naturalist, features color photographs along with an overview of the wildlife, landscapes, human history and environmental challenges of the immense park. With a bird checklist and list of 101 common flowers and plants. (ALA26, $34.95)
Inside Passage Activity Guide • Nancy Reynolds GUIDEBOOK • 2006 • PAPER • 288 PAGES A slim practical guide to exploring Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau, Haines and Skagway, featuring suggested walks and activities, each keyed to a detailed map (ALA184, $16.95)
Into Brown Bear Country • Will Troyer NATURAL HISTORY • 2005 • PAPER • 200 PAGES Filled with up-close photographs, this is an excellent introduction to the brown bears of Kodiak and Katmai, mixing natural history with the author's own experiences studying and photographing bears for nearly fifty years. (ALA222, $24.95)
The Island Within • Richard Nelson EXPLORATION • 1991 • PAPER • 284 PAGES A beautifully written tribute to the Pacific Northwest. Drawn from the author's journals, this is an account of the natural and cultural history of an island in the waters of Haida Strait, focusing on geology, marine life, wildlife, habitats and Koyukon heritage. Much in the tradition of Barry Lopez, the author focuses on the relationship between people and the land. (ALA17, $17.00)
John Shaw's Nature Photography Field Guide • John Shaw REFERENCE • 2000 • PAPER • 160 PAGES An updated edition of Shaw's guide to taking better photographs of plants, animals and landscapes. The book offers solid advice on equipment, and basic techniques, highly recommended as the best reference for the wildlife photographer. This revised edition includes the complete range of newer films, and more attention to autofocus and autoexposure. Apart from any attention to equipment and technique, he cautions that to be a better photographer, you need to become a better naturalist. Like many nature photographers, Shaw uses a Nikon and Fujia Velvia film -- and has a Web site: johnshaw.com. (PHT01, $24.99)
Katmai National Park & Preserve Map 248 • Trails Illustrated MAP A folded, full-color topographic map of Alaska's Katmai National Park & Preserve at a scale of 1:272,000. Printed on tear-proof, water-resistant tyvek. Two Sides. 38x26 inches. (ALA111, $11.95)
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Map • Trails Illustrated MAP A durable, folded, topographic recreation map of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and Chugach National Forest, on a scale of 1:105,000. Two Sides. 37x26 inches. (ALA33, $11.95)
Kenai Peninsula Map • Great Pacific Map Company MAP A colorful regional map of the Kenai Peninsula, including Homer, Seward, Soldotna, Kenai Fjords, and Kenai National Park at a scale of 1:475,000. With information on sightseeing and attractions. Two Sides. 22x34 inches. (ALA208, $6.95)
Kingbird Highway, The Story of a Natural Obsession That Got a Little Out of Hand • Kenn Kaufman BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR • 2006 • PAPER • 336 PAGES Kaufman's absorbing account of coming-of-age as a Wichita teenager on the road in 1973 with a summer's pay in his pocket and the goal of seeing as many birds as he could in a year. He tallied 671, impressive by any account and extraordinary if you count birds per buck. He did it all for $1,000. This cult classic was originally published in 1973. (BRD27, $14.95)
The Last Polar Bear, Facing the Truth of a Warming World • Steven Kazlowski NATURAL HISTORY • 2007 • HARD COVER • 208 PAGES Not just polar bears but walrus, beluga, bearded and spotted seal and Arctic fox feature in this stunningly photographed celebration of the Alaskan Arctic coast. With support by the Alaska Wilderness League and the National resources Defense Council, the book also includes essays by diverse experts on polar bear ecology, the impact of climate change, local people and threats to the region. (ARC204, $39.95)
Lonely Planet Alaska • Jim DuFresne • Lonely Planet GUIDEBOOK • 2009 • PAPER • 480 PAGES A comprehensive practical guide to Alaska in the hallmark Lonely Planet style. It features 79 regional maps, an illustrated overview of flora and fauna and much practical detail. It has good coverage of offroad adventure including backpacking, rafting and hiking. (ALA171, $21.99)
Lonely Planet Discover Alaska • Lonely Planet Publications GUIDEBOOK • 2011 • PAPER • 336 PAGES Focusing on must-see and memorable places and experiences, this all color guide by the discerning editors at Lonely Planet, featuring hundreds of color photographs and maps, includes suggested tours and itineraries along with not-to-be-missed places to stay, eat, shop and see. (ALA340, $24.99)
Looking at Totem Poles • Hilary Stewart ART & ARCHITECTURE • 1993 • PAPER • 191 PAGES An excellent survey of 110 totem poles set along the coast of British Columbia and Southeast Alaska. Introductory chapters feature essential background information of the making, history and spiritual meaning of the carvings. Illustrated. (ALA13, $17.95)
Looking Both Ways, Heritage and Identity of the Alutiiq People • Aaron Cromwell • Amy Steffian • George Pullar CULTURAL PORTRAIT • 2001 • PAPER • 266 PAGES A marvelously illustrated, absorbing introduction to the coastal people of the Kodiak archipelago and South-central Alaska, covering history, art and contemporary culture. The book, edited by the curators, is the catalogue to an exhibit organized by the Alutiiq Museum, Alutiiq Heritage Foundation, and the Smithsonian Institution's Arctic Studies Center. (ALA180, $24.95)
Looking for Alaska • Peter Jenkins TRAVEL NARRATIVE • 2002 • PAPER • 448 PAGES An account of an Alaskan adventure complete with eccentric local characters, by the best-selling author of "Walk Across America," who spent 18 months in Seward with his family. (ALA166, $16.99)
Mammals of North America • Roland W. Kays • Don E. Wilson FIELD GUIDE • 2009 • PAPER • 248 PAGES A comprehensive guide by two noted mammalogists and featuring 108 color plates, illustrating 442 species. Range maps and descriptive text on ecology, habitat and behavior complement the wonderful paintings. (NAM11, $19.95)
Mammals of North America, Temperate and Arctic Regions • Adrian Forsyth NATURAL HISTORY • 2006 • PAPER • 352 PAGES A handsome, illustrated reference to the mammals of North America from polar bears to bison, mountain lions and the black squirrel. Forsyth ("Tropical Nature"), includes not only up-to-date information on taxonomy and distribution but also discusses the behavior and ecology of each species. With range maps and hundreds of color photogrpahs. (NAM02, $29.95)
Marine Mammals of the Eastern North Pacific • Sea Grant Alaska • Pieter Folkens FIELD GUIDE • 2010 • PLASTIC CARD • 8 PAGES A convenient, 8-panel waterproof card illustrating 50 species of whales, dolphins, sea otters and pinnipeds found in the North Pacific from Alaska and the west coast of North America to Hawaii. It's handsomely illustrated, and includes full-color panels with typical behaviors, whalewatching guidelines and identification tips. Co-sponsored by the Alaska Whale Foundation and the University of Alaska Sea Grant Program, It's an excellent, weatherproof identification guide. (ALA143, $10.00)
Mark of the Grizzly • Scott McMillion NATURAL HISTORY • 2011 • PAPER • 287 PAGES A new, revised edition of McMillion's absorbing guide to bear behavior, updated to include lessons learned from fatal attacks near Yellowstone in 2010. (USW688, $16.95)
The Milepost: Trip Planner for Alaska, Yukon Territory, British Columbia, Alberta & Northwest Territories • Kris Valencia Graef GUIDEBOOK • 2012 • PAPER • 800 PAGES This comprehensive guide, published annually in March, is an essential reference and trip planner for an extended trip to Alaska. With detailed information on lodging, transportation, national parks and activities, as well as numerous helpful maps, it covers Alaska and northwestern Canada in depth. (CND115, $29.95)
Moon Handbook Alaska • Deke Castleman • Don Pitcher GUIDEBOOK • 2010 • PAPER • 588 PAGES From whitewater rafting to dog sledding, sightseeing and hiking, this comprehensive guidebook is an excellent overview of the places, culture and nature of Alaska and the Yukon. With color photographs, maps and illustrations. (ALA90, $21.95)
Moose • Valerius Geist • Michael H. Francis NATURAL HISTORY • 2005 • PAPER • 160 PAGES A natural history of the moose, by one of the leading authorities, Valerius Geist. Their migration, social interactions and mating rituals are all covered, along with issues concerning their natural habitats and conservation. The informative text is complemented by wonderful color photographs. (BST56, $21.95)
Murder on the Iditarod Trail • Sue Henry MYSTERY • 1996 • PAPER • 320 PAGES The book that launched the best-selling series of Alaska mysteries. Sergeant Alex Jensen has his work cut out for him when he is called in to investigate the deaths of leading competitors in Alaska's famous dogsled race. (ALA281, $7.99)
Murder on the Yukon Quest • Sue Henry MYSTERY • 2000 • PAPER • 320 PAGES When dog-sled racer Jessie Arnold learns that a fellow racer has been abducted, she sets out into the Alaskan wilderness to find the girl before it's too late. (ALA275, $7.99)
My Lead Dog Was a Lesbian, Mushing Across Alaska in the Iditarod � the World's Most Grueling Race • Brian Patrick O'Donoghue TRAVEL NARRATIVE • 1996 • PAPER • 304 PAGES An entertaining account of an amateur musher's ill-advised attempt to compete the 1991 Iditarod, a story of hardship and will, infused throughout with the author's good humor. (ALA178, $13.95)
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, Western Region • Richard Spellenburg • National Audubon Society FIELD GUIDE • 2001 • PAPER • 862 PAGES A photographic field guide to 654 species of wildflowers found from the Mississippi to California and Alaska. Recently revised it contains 941 color photographs, short descriptions and an identification key. (USW406, $19.95)
National Geographic Alaska • Robert S. Devine • Michael Melford GUIDEBOOK • 2009 • PAPER • 272 PAGES A compact guidebook by National Geographic with the usual visual attention to maps and color photography. Includes an excellent overview of history, nature, culture and attractions. (ALA228, $22.95)
Native Peoples of Alaska • Jan Halliday • Patricia J. Petrivelli GUIDEBOOK • 2003 • PAPER • 320 PAGES • COMING IN Introducing visitors to the diverse lands and rich cultural traditions of Native Alaskans, this guide includes festivals, museums, tours, historic sites, art collections and dance performances of Native Alaskans, and profiles of artists-at-work. With maps. (ALA147, $17.95)
Native Universe, Voices of Indian America • Clifford E. Trafzer ANTHOLOGY • 2008 • PAPER • 320 PAGES This anthology of personal and historical essays, as well as over 300 color illustrations of Native American art, is being published to accompany the opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C. It includes selections from several modern Native American writers, including Louise Erdrich and Sherman Alexie. (USA95, $22.00)
Northern Lights • Calvin Hall • Daryl Pederson • George Bryson NATURAL HISTORY • 2001 • PAPER • 128 PAGES These color photographs capture the dazzling majesty and mystery of the aurora borealis while journalist George Bryson provides a short essay on the history of the phenomenon. (ARC126, $19.99)
The Northern Lights, The True Story of the Man Who Unlocked the Secrets of the Aurora Borealis • Lucy Jago SCIENCE • 2002 • PAPER • 320 PAGES The compelling story of long-forgotten Kristian Birkeland, the turn-of-the-century Norwegian scientist who devoted his career to the quest to understand the aurora borealis. In telling the story of the scientist, Jago also tells of the science, history, myth and romance of the Northern Lights. (ARC104, $16.95)
Northland Stories • Jonathan Auerbach • Jack London LITERATURE • 1997 • PAPER • 400 PAGES London's turn-of-the-century tales of life in the remote wilderness, inspired by the Gold Rush of 1897. Originally published as three separate books. (ALA131, $16.00)
Northwest Field Guide, Inside Passage to Glacier Bay • Rainforest Publications FIELD GUIDE • 2005 • PLASTIC CARD With full color illustrations of the wildlife of the Pacific Northwest, including Puget Sound, the Georgia Straits, the Inside Passage, and Glacier Bay, this seven-panel, folded and laminated card is an easy-to-carry identification guide to fish, marine and land mammals, and sea and shore birds. (PNW211, $6.95)
An Observers Guide to the Geology of Prince William Sound • Jim Lethcoe FIELD GUIDE • 1990 • PAPER • 240 PAGES A locally published overview and guide to the geology of Prince William Sound with 78 photographs, maps and descriptions of 124 sites. It includes a history of mines and mining. (ALA139, $17.95)
One Man's Wilderness, An Alaskan Odyssey • Richard Proenneke • Sam Keith BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR • 2003 • PAPER • 224 PAGES Proenneke's true story of quitting everything and heading for the woods of South Central Alaska, as told by his friend and coworker who reconstructed the adventure from Proenneke's journals. First published in 1973, this clear, descriptive book chronicles the first 16 months of the new and simpler life Proenneke created for himself in a one-room cabin on the Twin Lakes. (ALA328, $16.95)
Ordinary Wolves • Seth Kantner LITERATURE • 2005 • PAPER • 344 PAGES Raised on the Kobuk River in northwest Alaska, a beautiful, wild place, rich in resources, Kantner draws on his experiences living close to the land in this beautifully drawn semi-autobiographical novel of a white boy from Chicago adapting to Alaskan ways. (ALA286, $16.00)
Out of the Channel, The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill in Prince William Sound • John Keeble • Natalie Fobes HISTORY • 1999 • PAPER • 350 PAGES First published in 1990, this book has been updated to reflect the impact of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, ten years after the event. Keeble includes material on the cause of the ship's grounding on Bligh Reef, the fate of Captain Hazelwood, the effects of the spill on the region's wildlife and humans, the 1993 fisherman's tanker blockade, and Exxon's response to the spill. Considered to be one of the most devastating ecological disasters of the twentieth century, the Exxon oil spill continues to raise questions about oil shipping procedures and environmental protection. (ALA86, $14.00)
Passage to Juneau • Jonathan Raban TRAVEL NARRATIVE • 2000 • PAPER • 435 PAGES Setting out from his home in Seattle, sailing alone aboard a 35-foot ketch, Jonathan Raban made his way through Alaska's Inside Passage. This book is the story of that voyage, but it is more than just a travelogue. Raban delves into the past, trying to discover what draws men to the sea, and he ultimately learns a great deal about himself. A favorite writer, Raban (Bad Land, Coasting) is a British expatriate living in Seattle. (ALA94, $15.95)
Pauline Frommer's Alaska • David Thompson GUIDEBOOK • 2008 • PAPER • 406 PAGES A family-friendly, quirky, practical guide by the daughter of travel guru Arthur Frommer. Her motto: "Spend Less, See More." (ALA289, $19.99)
Peoples of the Northwest Coast, Their Archaeology and Prehistory • Kenneth Ames • Herbert Maschner ARCHAEOLOGY • 2000 • PAPER • 288 PAGES A readable, nicely illustrated survey of the culture and history of peoples along the along the Pacific Coast of North America from California to Alaska. Written by two noted anthropologists, the book covers the ecology, cultural traditions, art, war, hunting practices, and other aspects of daily life from prehistory to the modern era. With photographs and diagrams throughout. (PNW106, $24.95)
Picture Journeys in Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias • George Herben GUIDEBOOK • 1997 • PAPER • 128 PAGES An illustrated portrait of the national park. In words and photographs, Herben captures the spirit of Kennecott, McCarthy and the backcountry. (ALA200, $24.95)
Picture This, Alaska, Historic Photos from the Last Frontier • Deb Vanasse CULTURAL PORTRAIT • 2009 • PAPER • 133 PAGES A collection of archival photographs, with a focus on the people and history of the last frontier. (ALA317, $16.95)
Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Alaska • Andy MacKinnon • Jim Pojar FIELD GUIDE • 2004 • PAPER • 528 PAGES For those with wide-ranging botanical interest, we recommend this terrific handbook to nearly 800 species of trees, shrubs, wildflowers, grasses, ferns, mosses and lichens. It features over 1,100 color photographs, and 1000 line drawings, color range maps, and a keys to identifying the plants in each family. Revised edition (PNW02, $24.95)
The Presence of Whales, Contemporary Writers on the Whale • Frank Stewart NATURAL HISTORY • 1995 • PAPER • 319 PAGES In this well chosen series of essays, some of our best modern writers enlighten and entertain on the subject of whales. In addition to a number of reports from the Pacific Northwest, the collection includes a Roger Payne piece on the humpback, Diane Ackerman's essay on the right whales of Patagonia and Barry Lopez's extraordinary thoughts on the narwhal. (BST02, $15.95)
Prince William Sound Map, East • Trails Illustrated MAP A topographic map of Prince William Sound, the eastern half at a scale of 1:105,600. Features selected anchorages and kayak landings. Two Sides. 25x37 inches. (ALA159, $11.95)
Prince William Sound, West Map • Trails Illustrated MAP A topographic map of Prince William Sound (including Chugach National Park) at a scale of 1:105,600. Features selected anchorages and kayak landings. Two Sides. 38x26 inches. (ALA85, $11.95)
Race Across Alaska, First Woman to Win the Iditarod Tells Her Story • Libby Riddles • Tim Jones TRAVEL NARRATIVE • 1988 • PAPER • 240 PAGES An inside look at the Iditarod from a woman who won the race in 1985. With a selection of articles by newspaper editor Tim Jones. (ALA177, $21.95)
Remember D-Day, Both Sides Tell Their Stories • Ronald J. Drez • David Eisenhower HISTORY • 2004 • HARD COVER • 64 PAGES • YOUNG ADULTS An engaging and well-constructed history of the D-Day invasion for readers in grades 5 to 8, complete with anecdotes from soldiers, black-and-white photographs, plenty of historical information, and an introduction by David Eisenhower which paints a personal portrait of his grandfather, Dwight. (USA96, $17.95)
Return to Wild America, A Yearlong Search for the Continent's Natural Soul • Scott Weidensaul NATURAL HISTORY • 2006 • PAPER • 416 PAGES Weidensaul follows in the footsteps conservation pioneers Roger Tory Peterson and James Fisher in this homage to their 1953 journey, modern travelogue and eye-opening report on wilderness in America. (USA123, $16.00)
Roadside Geology, Alaska • Cathy O'Connor • Daniel O'Haire NATURAL HISTORY • 1988 • PAPER • 256 PAGES Designed for the roadside traveler, this series explains in detail the geologic history of Alaska as seen through the window. Though there are few roads in Southeast Alaska, the book treats the Inside Passage as part of Alaska's "marine highway" ferry system, and is a great introduction to basic geomorphology and how the dramatic landscapes were formed. Features black-and-white photographs complementing the amazingly detailed geologic maps. (ALA46, $20.00)
Russian Refuge: Religion, Migration and Settlement on the North American Pacific Rim • Susan Hardwick HISTORY • 1993 • PAPER • 237 PAGES A comprehensive account of the Russian immigrant experience in California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and British Columbia since the first settlements over two hundred years ago. (PNW204, $30.00)
Russians in Alaska, 1732-1867 • Lydia Black HISTORY • 2004 • PAPER • 344 PAGES A masterful overview of the ordinary men and women of the first Russian colony in Alaska, drawing on newly available archives. With 16 color plates and 2 fold out color maps. (ALA241, $29.95)
Salmon in the Trees, Life in Alaska's Tongass Rain Forest • Amy Gulick NATURAL HISTORY • 2010 • HARD COVER • 176 PAGES Wildlife photographer Gulick has documented grizzlies, wolves, whales and other creatures of the Tongass rainforest along the coast and islands of Alaska. Combined with essays from leading conservationists, her images provide a unique look at a region where residents sustainably manage their resources. (ALA320, $29.95)
The Sea Runners • Ivan Doig LITERATURE • 2006 • PAPER • 288 PAGES In this novel of high adventure and derring do, set in 1873 in Russian Alaska, four men steal a canoe and escape from a labor camp in Sitka, 1,200 miles to Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia River. Originally published in 1983, this classic American novel intertwines local history and fiction to evoke the land, people and texture of the Pacific Northwest. (PNW200, $13.00)
The Settlement of the Americas, A New Prehistory • Thomas D. Dillehy ARCHAEOLOGY • 2001 • PAPER • 384 PAGES A well received, engaging survey of new theories on the peopling of the Americas, a hotly debated topic. Dillehy's controversial (but convincing) findings at Monte Verde in Chile form the backbone of his argument, which focuses on his work in South America. Dillehy places the first inhabitants in South America at 15,000 years earlier than originally argued. Other still hang on to the theory that the first inhabitants crossed the Bering Strait 12,000 years ago, making their way south to Tierra del Fuego over the ensuing millennia. Dillehy's book is nonetheless a valuable contribution to the controversy over when -- and how -- humans populated the New World. (NAM52, $29.95)
Seven Words for Wind, Essays and Field Notes from Alaska's Pribilof Islands • Sumner MacLeish NATURAL HISTORY • 2008 • PAPER • 160 PAGES With two maps and 23 black-and-white photographs, this small book is a vivid meditation on life in the remote Pribilofs by an essayist (and grandniece of the poet Archibald MacLeish). (ALA72, $16.95)
Shaman Pass • Stan Jones MYSTERY • 2006 • PAPER • 272 PAGES The second installation in Jones's Nathan Active mystery series, starring an Alaska state trooper from Anchorage living in Chukchi. Active investigates the theft of an Inupiat mummy in this mystery, noteworthy for its fully realized Arctic setting. (ALA214, $14.00)
Shopping for Porcupine, A Life in Arctic Alaska • Seth Kantner BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR • 2009 • PAPER • 256 PAGES Kantner evokes in these interconnected essays and photographs life on the Kobuk River on the Chukchi coast in northwest Alaska, a beautiful wild place, rich in resources, where he was raised by his Ohioan back-to-the-land, igloo-dwelling parents in the 1960s and where he still lives. Winner of the 2005 Whiting Writer's Award (he includes a chapter on his fish-out-of-water trip to New York), Kantner honors inupiat friends with stories, sharply drawn portraits and a lovingly conveyed feel for living close to the land. (ALA272, $19.95)
The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America • David Sibley FIELD GUIDE • 2003 • PAPER • 474 PAGES A compact, geographically specific version of the Sibley Guide with all-new range maps, the same glorious illustrations and expanded, extremely valuable descriptions of each bird with status, habitat, range, voice and identifying marks. The book covers 703 species of birds occurring west of the Rockies, including Alaska, the western Canadian provinces, Baja California and portions of northern Mexico. Maps show the range throughout North America. For birders living east of the Rockies, you'll want to use Sibley's "Birds of Eastern North America" (USE262). (USW418, $19.95)
Snowstruck, In the Grip of Avalanches • Jill Fredston EXPLORATION • 2007 • PAPER • 342 PAGES ill Fredston stalks avalanches. She predicts where and when they will strike, deliberately triggers them with explosives, teaches potential victims how to stay alive, and leads rescue efforts when tragedy strikes. Reaching deep into this trove of personal experience, Fredston captures the overwhelming force of avalanches from a panorama of perspectives: a skier making what may prove his final decision, a victim buried so tightly that he can't move a finger, rescuers racing time and weather, forecasters treading the line between reasonable risk and danger. Sweeping us into these stories, she also captures the mercurial fascination of snow itself, which first drew her to Alaska and then led her to the man who would become her lifelong partner in love and work. (ALA244, $14.00)
Sold American: The Story of Alaska Natives and Their Land, 1867-1959 • Donald Craig Mitchell HISTORY • 2003 • PAPER • 492 PAGES A provocative, scholarly history of U.S. government relations with Alaska's original inhabitants -- and of the people who descended upon Alaska in search of fame and, especially, fortune. The author, Donald Craig Mitchell, former vice-president and general counsel of the Alaska Federation of Natives, fought for the historic Alaskan land claims settlement. (ALA162, $29.95)
Stolen Continents, 500 Years of Conquest and Resistance in the Americas • Ronald Wright HISTORY • 2004 • PAPER • 464 PAGES A powerful history of imperialism and resistance in the Americas, with a focus on the Aztec, Maya, Inca, Cherokee and Iroquois. Wright's illuminating account, told largely from the point of view of the losers, details the rapid collapse of cultures and societies in the Americas following the arrival of the Europeans in 1492. Wright draws on an impressive range of archival material in reconstructing this classic account, originally published in 1993. Wright is also the author of Time Among the Maya. (NAM20, $24.95)
This Land, A Guide to Western National Forests • Robert H. Mohlenbrock • Mike Dombeck GUIDEBOOK • 2006 • PAPER • 400 PAGES Part travelogue, part guidebook, this series introduces readers to the wildernesses, scenic drives, campgrounds and hiking trails of the United States. (USW468, $25.95)
The Thousand-Mile War, World War II in Alaska and the Aleutians • Brian Garfield HISTORY • 1996 • PAPER • 456 PAGES A gripping account of the Aleutian Island campaign (1942-43), originally published in 1969. Many of the islands, depicted in black-and-white photographs, are littered with WWII era runways, huts and other relics. (ALA114, $24.95)
Three Among the Wolves, A Couple And Their Dog Live a Year With Wolves in the Wild • Helen Thayer NATURAL HISTORY • 2006 • PAPER • 238 PAGES Thayer's warm account of a year with her husband and trusty dog Charlie (who also accompanied her on a trek to the magnetic North Pole) among the wolves of the northern Yukon. (CND351, $18.95)
Tide, Feather, Snow: A Life in Alaska • Miranda Weiss BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR • 2010 • PAPER • 288 PAGES Weiss reflects on her transformation from suburban neophyte to otter-skinning, back-to-earth local in this beautifully-written tale of life in Homer, Alaska. (ALA321, $13.99)
To See Every Bird On Earth: A Father, A Son, And A Lifelong Obsession • Dan Koeppel NATURAL HISTORY • 2006 • PAPER • 304 PAGES Ostensibly about birds and birdwatching, this enormously appealing book is a memoir by a talented writer of his father, a father who happens to be in the elite cadre of major birders. Dan Koeppel chronicles his father's growing interest in birds in this enormously appealing memoir of a life devoted to birds. Richard is a member of an elite group who have tallied more than 7,000 species. Koeppel includes his own travels tagging along and brief profiles of other eccentric listers. (BRD28, $14.00)
To the Top of the Continent • Frederick A. Cook EXPLORATION • 1996 • PAPER • 368 PAGES The 90th anniversary edition of the much-debated account by Frederick Cook of his first-ever ascent of Mount McKinley (1903-1906), published by the Frederick Cook Society and including a history of the controversy, additional corroborating source material and a report of a 1994 expedition by Ted Heckathorn. With a selection of archival photographs and illustrations. Here you can read what the explorer himself said about the expedition. Apart from any question of Cooks character or claims, his book is a classic of mountaineering. (ALA83, $19.95)
Tongass, Pulp Politics and the Fight for the Alaska Rain Forest • Kathie Durbin NATURAL HISTORY • 1999 • PAPER • 328 PAGES An environmental history of North America's largest temperate rainforest -- and the shenanigans that resulted in throwing open the region to commercial logging. Durbin, a journalist, weaves hundreds of interviews in this blow-by-blow campaign against Ketchikan Pulp in Alaska's era of pulp. (ALA105, $19.95)
Totem Poles of the Pacific Northwest Coast • Edward Malin ART & ARCHITECTURE • 1994 • PAPER • 195 PAGES This scholarly, inviting guide, featuring color and black-and-white photographs, is an excellent overview of coastal art of the Pacific Northwest from Tlingit in Alaska to Kwakiutl villages on Vancouver Island. A cultural anthropologist from Oregon, Malin has devoted his career to the art of the Pacific Northwest. (PNW174, $21.95)
Trains of Discovery, Railroads and the Legacy of the National Parks • Alfred Runte HISTORY • 2011 • PAPER • 128 PAGES A thoroughly revised and expanded successor to Alfred Runte's Trains of Discovery: Western Railroads and the National Parks, the new edition now includes protected landscapes and historical sites east of the Mississippi made possible or influenced by railroads: the Hudson River Valley; Delaware Water Gap; Harpers Ferry; Indiana Dunes; Gettysburg; Steamtown; and Shenandoah, Great Smoky Mountains, and Acadia National Parks. An illustrated tribute to American railroads and national parks, featuring period advertisements, posters and memorabilia of Glacier, Grand Canyon and Denali National Parks. (USW56, $24.95)
Trout, An Illustrated History • James Prosek NATURAL HISTORY • 1996 • HARD COVER • 160 PAGES A gifted multi-talented prodigy, Prosek chronicles the variety and history of the fish, both in words and 70 stunning watercolor paintings illustrating the various species of magnificent trout, both common and rare. (FSH03, $35.00)
Two Women In The Klondike • Mary E. Hitchcock HISTORY • 2007 • PAPER • 232 PAGES Lured to Alaska by the prospect of gold, Mary Hitchcock and her friend Edith Van Buren left their privileged surroundings, gathered up a few basic necessities for roughing it in the North (including a portable bowling alley, a Great Dane named Ivan circus tent and ice cream maker) and began a four-month journey -- all recored by Hitchcock in this priceless and outrageous account of the 1898 Gold Rush. (ALA223, $16.95)
Under Northern Lights, Writers and Artists View the Alaskan Landscape • Kesler Woodward • Frank Soos NATURAL HISTORY • 2000 • PAPER • 317 PAGES Sixteen essays and 38 color plates are juxtaposed in this sampling of the glorious diversity of the Alaskan natural landscape. (ALA132, $39.95)
The Verb to Bird, Sightings of an Avid Birder • Peter Cashwell NATURAL HISTORY • 2003 • PAPER • 269 PAGES A memoir of the birding life, its pleasures, obsessions and pitfalls. Based in the Carolinas (where he teaches English), Cashwell recounts in these essays the birds he's encountered, the why and wherefores of the birding life and some very entertaining anecdotes. Along the way, Cashwell traces his own development from casual novice to life lister (with a desire to see all the birds of North America). (BRD26, $16.95)
Walking Home, A Traveler in the Alaskan Wilderness, A Journey into the Human Heart • Lynn Schooler TRAVEL NARRATIVE • 2011 • PAPER • 272 PAGES Schooler's solo journey by boat and foot across the Alaskan wilderness begins as a distraction from his unraveling marriage and ultimately becomes a tale of adventure, exploration and danger (among other things, he's stalked by a grizzly and treks through "boulder hell"). This observant, honest account blends Schooler's personal story with reflections on Alaska's nature, landscapes, history and folklore. (ALA335, $16.00)
The Way of the Grizzly • Tom Walker • Larry Aumiller NATURAL HISTORY • 1998 • PAPER • 160 PAGES • COMING IN A natural history of grizzlies at Alaska's McNeil River by a nature writer and the manager of the river's sanctuary. First published as "River of Bears," this nicely illustrated photo-essay documents the bears, their behavior and habitat. The action takes place just north of Katmai on the Gulf of Alaska. (BST83, $22.95)
The Way of the Masks • Claude Levi-Strauss CULTURAL PORTRAIT • 1988 • PAPER • 276 PAGES Famous French anthropologist Levi-Strauss interprets the social meaning behind a variety of spectacular masks created by the haida, Kwakiutl and other Pacific Northwest Indian cultures. This classic bridges the worlds of the visual and anthropological, revealing much about the native ethnic groups of the region. (PNW58, $22.50)
The Whale and the Supercomputer, On the Northern Front of Climate Change • Charles Wohlforth SCIENCE • 2005 • PAPER • 322 PAGES Anchorage-based journalist Wohlberg heads out with climatologists and the Inupiat of Alaska's northern slope in this clear-headed report from the field. He combines a nicely written travelogue with interview, adventure and science. (ALA204, $16.00)
Whales and Dolphins in Question: The Smithsonian Answer Book • James Mead • Flip Nicklin • Joy Gold NATURAL HISTORY • 2002 • PAPER • 224 PAGES A clever idea, well-executed. James Mead, the Smithsonian's curator of marine mammals, answers common, unusual and salient questions about whales and dolphins, as asked by the curious public via phone calls and letters to the Institution. With much excellent color photography by Flip Nicklin. (OCE78, $24.95)
Whisper to the Blood • Dana Stabenow LITERATURE • 2009 • HARD COVER • 368 PAGES Feisty Alaskan P.I. Kate Shugak returns in this crime thriller, investigating the brutal murder of a new gold mine's most vocal opponent and a series of snow mobile robberies. The 16th novel in the series. (ALA296, $24.95)
White Sky, Black Ice • Stan Jones MYSTERY • 2003 • PAPER • 264 PAGES This first-rate murder mystery has as a considerable added bonus its authentic Arctic setting. In this book state trooper Nathan Active (star of the series) returns to Chukchi from Anchorage to confront a memorable cast of characters -- and figure out why two young men have killed themselves. Jones weaves serious cultural issues into his thoroughly engaging story. Nathan Active, a likeable guy born in Chukchi but raised in Anchorage, dances between native and transplanted cultures, skeptical of both. (ALA164, $14.00)
Wilderness at Dawn: The Settling of the North American Continent • Ted Morgan HISTORY • 1994 • PAPER • 541 PAGES A compelling history of the colonization of North America from the first crossing of the Bering Strait to the American revolution by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Ted Morgan. (USE144, $33.95)
The Wilderness of Denali, Explorations of a Hunter-Naturalist in Northern Alaska • Charles Sheldon • C. Hart Merriam TRAVEL NARRATIVE • 2000 • PAPER • 416 PAGES Originally published by Scribner's in 1930, this classic memoir covers Sheldon's three years camping and hunting the area of Alaska surrounding Mt. McKinley. (ALA108, $23.95)
Winter Watch • James Ramsey • Laura Dasson HISTORY • 1989 • PAPER • 144 PAGES A journal of almost a year in the Brook's Range of Alaska, which helpfully includes a list of supplies and the books he read over the winter. Not completely isolated, the author writes of his friends and neighbors as well as the changing seasons. With drawings by Laura Dasson. (ALA78, $9.95)
With a Camera in My Hands: A Life Story as Told to Suzanne Brown • William O. Field • Suzanne C. Brown BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR • 2003 • PAPER • 184 PAGES The life and work of the father of modern glaciology in North America. (GEO37, $29.95)
Woodsong • Gary Paulsen BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR • 2007 • PAPER • 144 PAGES • YOUNG ADULTS Paulsen offers an autobiographical celebration of his love of dog sledding and sled dogs, divided into a series of anecdotes followed by a day-by-day account of racing the Iditarod. (ALA209, $6.99)
Working on the Edge, Surviving in the World's Most Dangerous Profession • Spike Walker HISTORY • 2003 • PAPER • 280 PAGES Enthralling, if not somewhat pulpy, these true-life tales of crab fishing expeditions off the coast of Alaska capture all the danger and adrenaline that go with making a living at sea. For authenticity's sake, the author served as a crewman on numerous boats and saw first-hand the risks -- and the money -- involved in Alaska's commercial fishing industry. (ALA158, $15.95)
Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park Map • Trails Illustrated MAP A folded, full-color map of Alaska's Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park with good topographic relief at a scale of 1:375,000. Printed on tearproof, water-resistant tyvek. Two Sides. 26x38 inches. (ALA110, $11.95)
The Yiddish Policemen's Union • Michael Chabon LITERATURE • 2008 • PAPER • 416 PAGES Yes, this marvelous book is set in Alaska, but it's not an Alaska that anyone would recognize. It's Sitka gone Eastern Europe, filled with Jews, saved from the holocaust and refugees from an Israel that never was. Strictly speaking, this is genre fiction -- it's really just a straight ahead hard-boiled detective story -- but the language is so magnificent, the imagined world of Sitka jews so vivid, and the characters so tender, that the genre becomes thoroughly secondary. A literary page-turner, certain not to disappoint. (ALA243, $15.95)
Yukon Alone: The World's Toughest Adventure Race • John Balzar SPORT • 2001 • PAPER • 306 PAGES The intrepid Balzar tags along on the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race, a grueling 1,023-mile trek from Fairbanks, Alaska to Whitehorse in the Yukon. Reputedly colder, less commercial and more dangerous than the Iditarod, the Quest made an excellent window into the rugged landscape and those who inhabit it. Balzar's appreciation for them is made clear as he adroitly profiles some of the trappers and mushers with whom he travels as he hitches on for the ride. (ALA211, $18.99)

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