Dobie talks about this land of shadows where we meet Alice Henderson, who faced down fifty cow thieves; Don Milton Favor, who built his own fort while making treaties with hostile Indians; and Cheetwah, a mystic Indian chief who vanished into the mountains to keep vigil over hidden treasures. These and other characters spring from the pages of Dobie's book with a vigor and purpose that makes the heart sing.

The Texas of the Big Bend country is where Dobie's prose satisfies, "Outlandish pictures painted down the sides of caves by aborigines which no white man can now decipher...a jagged and gashed land where legend has placed a lost canyon, its broad floor carpeted with grass that is always green and watered by gushing springs, its palisaded walls imprisoning a herd of buffalo...somewhere in this land credulity has fixed a petrified forest with tree trunks seven hundred feet long."

The author claims, "After I hear a tale I do all I can to improve it," and this is an understatement. Readers who possess a sense of wonder will enjoy this book. History often cloaks personages with dusty trappings, stuffy sayings, and mixed motives so time has faded the awe that Drake, Cortez, Raleigh, and Coronado experienced. Dobie illuminates the wonder of the children of Coronado as they chase their dreams and draws us into their world of enchantment.

Francisco Coronado never found his golden riches or the fabled Seven Cities of Cibola during his time in the Southwest. When he returned in 1542, and told the truth about his barren search, he wasn't believed. One person who did believe said, "Granted he did not find the riches of which he had been told -- he found instead a place in which to search for them."

And the search continues. For centuries Coronado's vision of wealth has lured countless thousnads to the Southwest where tradition and myth have marked mountains, rivers, and ancient ruins with boundless treasures. This book follows long forgotten Spanihs trails, buffalo trails, cow trails, and areas where there are no trails as searchers dig for riches which eludes their grasp. Others, rather than searching, have sat and told stories of lost mines, buried treasure and of ghostly patrones who guard the treasures -- adding layers to the myths that abound in the land of Coronado.

This book lovingly describes Spanish influence and tradition on the Sountwest and combines a terrific cast of characters, interesting situations, and Dobie's unmatched skill at weaving a tale. The author's footnotes are at the end of the text and are filled with tales and legends of lost mines and treasures. There's an interesting section on the elaborate Code of Treasure Symbols used by the Spaniards. An excellent glossary of idioms used in the Southwest follows that section.

There is more to the American West than gunfighters, farmers, bankers, cowboys, and miners. The author has given us the realm of the dreamers.

It is so refreshing to see this long studied subject being given a fresh viewpoint from someone who was actually there.

Recommeded for any serious student of the Civil War.

First, the explanations are quite thorough and researched. The introduction to each book of the Bible is quite useful for setting the stage for understanding the material to follow. Timelines are also included to help place Biblical events in perspective.

The overall quality of construction of this Bible is tip notch. I feel that even with heavy use, this Bible will be around for many years.

I've come to the point where I won't even begin the conversation without having them read this book. Seriously! Edwards covers ALL the issues in a thurough and practical way.

Strap on your thinking cap, but know it's worth it! I read this book every year and God never fails in using it to refocus my heart on Him.

This book is especially useful for those of us who have started doing spiritual practices and occasionally feel "bogged down" in our spiritual journey. Reading this book will enthuse the Self-realization seeker.

METAPHYSICAL REVIEWS

THE REVELATIONS OF HO - An Adventure in Self Realization by Dr. James Weldon

"The Revelations of HO" is a wonderful book of love and fulfillment, on many levels...thus making it a great book. Certainly it is the very interesting autobiography of the author. It is also the poignant story of Dr Weldon's search for the Love and Grace of God. It is the wonderful story of a westerner embracing the wisdom of the East. All three levels are interwoven into an art form steeped in mystery, mysticism, discovery and truth.

From the very beginning of Dr Weldon's rebirth, his journey led him to strange and unusual experiences...and "The Revelations of HO", is the outpouring of those experiences...and the discoveries of their meaning, that brought him unrestricted love and serenity.

From a childhood where he was always looking for something (and not knowing what)...to the premature death of his dad ... to his drunken stepfather...to his entrapment in the drug culture.. to the discovery of Transcendental Meditation...His life is both exciting and just a bit more involved than most. His transformation began in Switzerland during an advanced meditation course at the university where he was taking his Masters degree. Suddenly, enlightenment was within reach...and his life was forever changed. He would never be alone again!

"The Revelations of HO", is Dr. Weldon's visceral story of enlightenment and achievement. It shares with the reader not only a story that reads like a novel...but an understanding of the religions of India and Tibet that brought salvation to the author.

It's discussion on different file systems does not directly have a bearing on the RISC architecture but fits in very snugly in giving a most complete general overview of a computer system. There's more to it than a good processor.

Read it! You'll learn a lot - not only about RISCs - but also what has driven hardware designers in the microprocessor industry for decades.