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Rating: 
Summary: One of the two best ghost-town books I've seen.
Review: -----------------------------------------------------------
[Paired review with Ghost Towns of Colorado, by Philip Varney]
Ghost town books are traditionally rather scruffy affairs, with dim
photos, little organization and an amateurish look. Philip Varney
has raised the bar with these two books. Both feature clean design,
good directions to the sites, excellent photographs and well-written
text. Varley writes "I wanted a practical, informative guide that
would give me the details I needed next to me on the sea of my
truck." Both books are squarely on his mark.The Colorado book is nicer: all the present-day photographs are in
color, and the extra 24 pages allow more photos and a bit more depth
to the text. But the Arizona book is no slouch: it has the advantage of
Arizona Highways' long experience in producing good, easy-to-use
guidebooks (plus it's cheaper). I've been to most of the sites in both
books; in almost every case I've learned something new from his
books. The photos are excellent, the maps and directions are easy to
follow, and Varney's writing style is personable and informative. Either book will make a fine companion for your next Colorado or
Arizona vacation, even if you don't ordinarily pay much attention
to ghost towns. Those with an interest in Western history *need*
both books. And they're both excellent for armchair travellers.
We're already talking about a Colorado trip next summer --
Kathleen's never seen the *real* South Park. Varney really has no competition for either state. These are the two
best ghost-own guidebooks I've seen. He'salso written ghost-town
guides for New Mexico (1987?) and Southern California (1990). The NM book is decent, but out-of-date. I haven't seen the other. Pete Tillman visited his first Colorado ghost towns some 40 years ago, and has since been to hundreds more throughout the West, both for work and for fun. Vulture (AZ) is his current favorite "true" ghost. But, hmm, Bodie (CA) is bigger and better-kept.... And Jerome (AZ) has the best views... And I've *still* never been to Crystal (CO). So much to see, so little time....
Rating: 
Summary: The legends endure through stories and photographs.
Review: Ghost town authority Philip Varney brings the Old West to life with intriguing anecdotes and a gallery of rare, historic photographs. Regional maps, detailed travel information, and a full-color photographic portfolio tell what each site is like today, and make this fascinating history of Arizona's mining boom a reliable travel guide as well. In the book's introduction, Varney tells us: "Arizona's history is most clearly illustrated by the quest for its mineral wealth. . . . To experience this mining history, one can explore its remnants, the ghost towns and mining camps that were left behind when the riches faded. . . ." "Why are so many people fascinated by ghost towns? Mystery writer Tony Hillerman, in a foreword to one of my previous books on ghost towns, put it perfectly: 'To me, to many of my friends, to scores of thousands of Americans, these ghost towns offer a sort of touching-place with the past. We stand in their dust and try to project our imagination backward into what they were long ago. Now and then , if the mood and the light and the weather are exactly right, we almost succeed.' ''
Rating:
Summary: Easy reading
Review: I found this book to have some very interesting photographs and accurate information about the Arizona area. Good resource book for accurate historical information.
Rating:
Summary: "Splenderiferous" collection of ghost town data.
Review: This book contains a wealth of factual background data on each ghost town, as well as numerous "back then" and "see it now" photographs. The book maintains the high standards expected from the publishers of "Arizona Highways Magazine"
Rating:
Summary: "Splenderiferous" collection of ghost town data.
Review: This book contains a wealth of factual background data on each ghost town, as well as numerous "back then" and "see it now" photographs. The book maintains the high standards expected from the publishers of "Arizona Highways Magazine"
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