This remarkable book first caught my attention at the Australian Museum in Sydney one hot summer day. I was preparing my own expedition to Papua New Guinea in order to write a book on the rarely visited island provinces. I would be doing my own photography. As I leafed through these breathtaking portraits I experienced that shiver at the base of the neck that invariably indicates one is in the presence of great art. Only later came the gut-wrenching realisation that I would never be able to achieve such consummate skill myself (even with my old Nikon F2 and all the best old lenses).
Rainier has a passionate eye for composition, atmosphere and the eloquent possibilities of black and white texture. As you read the detailed and often poetic text accompanying the photographs, you will also find that Chris overcame incredible disasters in conquering this inhospitable environment to bring us these images. In the massive heat and humidity of Papua New Guinea, photographic equipment performs all sorts of horrible tricks at vital moments. Everything seems wet and clammy all the time. His canoe overturned and he lost all his valuable equipment and somehow replaced it to continue his expedition. To even get yourself into the remote areas where some were taken is an achievement in itself and then to emerge from the jungle with high art.......what can one say?
These photographs cross that difficult invisible line that separates art and photography.....very few have the genuis.....Brassai, Cartier Bresson, Eugene Atget and Salgado.....yes, these are Chris Rainier's peers. The images have the immortal immobility of an ancient and inaccessible past recaptured. The quality and sheer size of the prints is superb. All this lead me to convince my publishers to put one of his pictures on the jacket of my own Papua New Guinea book and one of my own more decorative photographs on the back.......a suitable place for this photographic Salieri. Sales are better than expected.
Buy his book as a tribute to a great photographic artist and in the process truly enrich your own cultural horizons.

This book surpassed my expectations! It could be seen as a documentary but transcends being pigeonholed in that way. It is, among other things, a breathtaking work of Art. The images have a crisp presence; at the same time there is a dreamlike undercurrent. The reproduction quality of the images is superb; they can hardly be distinguished from original silver prints! I also like the humble attitude of the Artist towards the people he portrays. Indeed, a masterpiece!

This book brought back vivid and fond memories of the time I lived in Papua New Guinea in 1960 -1962. The use of black and white photography was especially effective in capturing the essense of simplicity that represents the people. If you truly wish to see human spirit at it's best, visit New Guinea. If you can't - buy this book!

Having been a collector, affectionate reader, and on-the-field user of Lonely Planet guidebooks during my numberless and continuous travels, I can indeed witness that this one is one of the best. Some guidebooks try to cover too much, e.g. all of West Africa or all of Central Asia, and don't do the job so well (inevitable and still better than carrying one book for each country, but to the detriment of the quality). Another common problem, is the author's favourable bias towards the country she or he is covering, as if it were the most marvelous place on Earth - I think here of the LP guidebook to Libya. In other books still, some regions are covered more in-depth than others: the Indonesia guidebook only has seven pages on East Timor, which would in fact deserve a whole chapter if not a whole book on its own ! Instead, in covering the fascinating land of Papua New Guinea, this author has done an excellent job, and not much else really needs to be added: this is indeed the Lonely Planet standard, that is to say, an excellent standard. For those who may not be familiar with it, this means excellent, up-to-date, accurate coverage of all areas of the country, with information (primary basic facts as well as further data for perfectionists) about accommodation, getting around, eating, entertainment, etc. Despite the vastity of this land and the difficulty of getting to the most remote areas, the author has managed it. The chapters on history and culture, especially in this guidebook, I find to be extremely well-written and researched. This one is indeed an excellent tool not only for the traveller but also for the armchair traveller who may wish to know more about PNG without necessarily going. It is extremely enjoyable and pleasant to read, thus combining the unrivalled qualities of a guidebook from Lonely Planet, with great information and facts about the mysterious land of Papua New Guinea.

Even though this edition is already some years old it is still THE guide for independent traveling in this awesome country.

I was traveling in 2000 for about 8 weeks in PNG and found the book a real help for getting around in a country that is far away from being touristy. Whether you are looking for a bus stop, the next spots for hiking or diving, hotel information or information on culture and religion this book has it all in detail.

Especially in this kind of less developed country every bit and piece of information in this book is worth every cent you spent for it.

We traveled to Mt. Hagen and Port Moresby last March for the first time. What a great and beautiful country, and what a perfect travel guide to orient you. While this book is nice enough to have on the shelf, ours is worn from use... and usefulness. As a bonus, it's also well-written and a great book to read!

Lonely Planet has again done a superb job combining art, graphics, maps and information in exactly the right proportions. There are a collection of excellent color and black & white photos and graphics. The history and cultural background is extensive owing to the three experienced traveler-writers. They make great use of side-bars to highlight special features and information (a trade mark of most Lonely Planet materials).

All the regions are treated pretty equally and include useful maps that otherwise would be tough to find anywhere.

If you could only buy one book in preparation for your trip, you would not have any problem making this your "Bible". It is also a great size at 5 x 7.25 x 5/8's inches and printed on high quality paper.

I will always look to Lonely Planet as my first choice in travel books.

Not very many modern day people spend over two decades living with the most primitive people on earth in the highland jungles of Papua New Guinea. Neil Anderson tastes unusual "treats," hunts for bats with bow and arrow, deals with medical realities, and translates the Bible into a formely unwritten language. Observing life from this perspective while endeavoring to communicate universal truths in the process, Anderson draws images that stay imprinted on your mind and become a part of your heart!

Like thousands of Americans, I have heard Anderson in person; he is a masterfull storyteller. I've read "In Search of the Source" at least three times since it was first published, and learn new insights each time through. The most amazing thing to me about the main theme, the "bete" of life as found in the unforgiving tropics, is how applicable the same truths are to my own experiences found amongst the stone and glass urban jungle where I live!

Neil's book gave me a look into the life of another culture, as well as to the misunderstandings that come about through cross-cultural ministry. See also his wife's side of the story: "Do You Know What You Are Doing, Lord?" by Carol Lee Anderson.

Neil is a powerful speaker with a heart for conveying God's truth. The stories in this book display the power and insights being revealed to people looking for the Truth. Good, easy reading with humor and insight scattered throughout.

This was a life changing book for me. I have been a Christian for a long time but only recently became interested in missionaries. This book describes so beautifully what happens when an ordinary person is called by God to take the gospel to people who have never heard it. This school teacher from Indiana answered the call to go to New Guinea (350 miles from the nearest radio contact) and learn a new language, then translate the entire New Testament into that language. It is a very personal account of her relationships, her struggles and the miracles that occurred while she was there. I will never again be able to put missionaries on the back burner after getting to know this woman. I'm giving this book to all my close friends at Christmas, I can't think of anyone who would not be fascinated by this journey.

Marilyn's courage and determination is inspiring. This is the most exciting "Missionary" book I have ever read. This is a "can't put it down" book. Her devotion to Christ and the Sepik tribes is so encouraging. Her story is adventurous, scary, loving, and intellectual all rolled into one. God bless you, Marilyn!

The book Mission Possible by Marilyn Laszlo was magnificent, I couldn't put it down. She is an incredible person, and very brave. I had the opportunity to see her speak at a missions trip I went on, and she tells some awesome stories. I recommend this book to all people.

A book that appeals to amateurs and twitchers alike - serious and coffeetable at the same time. Volume II was published when I was living in PNG in 1990 and still brings back the thrill of birds of paradise in the wild, but we should not forget the parrots, fruit doves and goura pigeons. Colour and form like nothing, and nowhere, else on earth.

The definitive book - let us hope that in 100 years time it is not just the book that is left!

The two volumes by B. Coates are a true delight for the bird fancier. A large amount in information on generally little known species is accompanied by a wealth of illustrations of great quality and interest (the fuzziest ones just add to the feeling of rarity of the scenes they depict). The island of New Guinea arguably represents the biggest expanse of largely untouched rainforest left on earth, it is therefore crucial that the biological richness of this region be known to the public before it is too late, and Coates's books are a substantial contribution to this task.

Adds substantially to the ethnography of Melanesian mortuary ritual. . . . The cumulative result is a forceful demonstration of how mortuary ritual can organize and channel the flow of Melanesian social life.

Table of Contents
Introduction: Frederick H. Damon
To Eat for the Dead: Kaduwagan Mortuary Events: Susan P. Montague
A Vakutan Mortuary Cycle: Shirley Campbell
The Muyuw Lo'un and the End of Marriage: Frederick H. Damon
Death and Kinship in Molima: Ann Chowning
The Triumph of the Susu: Mortuary Exchanges on Tubetube: Martha Macintyre
Death and Matrilineal Reincorporation on Normanby Island: Carl Thune
"Eating the Dead": Mortuary Transactions in Bwaidoka, Goodenough Island: Michael W. Young
Death and Exchange: Mortuary Ritual on Vanatinai (Sudest Island): Maria Lepowsky
The Day of Reckoning on Rossel Island: John Liep
Conclusion: The Exchange of Context of the Kula: Roy Wagner
Bibliography

Melody Carlson is one of my favorite authors and this book is wonderful! I can usually tell from the first page if I'll like a book, and this one grabs your attention right away. The characters are all described in great detail. The book is romantic, funny and suspenseful all in one!

I have found this book very useful both in the field and in the museum. It represents an excellent feat of practical scholarship by Bonaccorso, with good keys, locality information (with maps), reference to specific museum specimens, and external measurements for all species from PNG, including the provinces in the Bismarcks and northern Solomons. It is not only a terrific synthesis of what is known of bat biology in the country, but also offers a large store of new information. Also extremely handy are the comprehensive gazetteer at the end with lat/long coordinates and the good bibliography. Fiona Reid's excellent color illustrations round out the guide.

There are few books available to gain an understanding of modern (prior to 1989) Bougainvillian history.

The author is an anthropologist who spent time in mainly the South west (Siwai) in the 1930's and episodically since.

His review of the island's history, geography and culture is good and thorough. He presents interesting insights into the reasons for the crisis and some of the different groups and players, but not in great detail.

He could be regarded as biased because he worked for Bougainville Copper in the 70's and ? 1980's. However the book seems quite independant in its stance and it is likely that his prior association with the mining company is mainly responsible for him not expanding a bit more in this area.

It is not really dated and this is an indication of how useful a book it is.

Overall this is a must to read before visiting Bougainville, which is a very pleasant place as are the people.

As an avid reader of medical mystery/thrillers, ELIXIR rates at the top of my favorites list. Long after memories of other novels I've read have faded, this book will continue to make a lasting impression on me. The concept of longevity is endlessly fascinating, and Gary Braver presents thought-provoking questions surrounding the ethics versus practical aspects of this issue. The reader finds himself/herself immersed in the action-oriented plot, in which the central character handles the implications of his potentially dangerous discovery in a sensitive and realistic way. What helped to set this novel apart from others I have read is the skillful manor in which the author involves the reader in the riveting drama and makes it impossible for him/her to avoid imagining himself/herself dealing with the same fates as the characters. The surprising twist at the end of the book prompted me to do some inner-self searching about my values regarding the length and quality of my own life.

ELIXIR has all the elements of a superb read: an edge-of-your-seat plot, nonstop action, mystery, romance, and sensitive portrayal of realistic characters, with the added fascination of imagining... "what if this could really happen?! " "Would I want it to?!"

I look forward to Gary Braver's next novel, and hope he continues to contribute his high quality writing for years to come.

Elixir is one of those books you just can't put down, literally or figuratively. It's not only great fun to read, but it also contains just the right amount of thought-provoking issues to keep your gray matter cooking.
This fast-paced, well-written tale takes unexpected turns and really does keep you on the edge of your seat (or bed, as I do much of my reading late at night). It plays into one of our most intimate realities -- the fact that we won't live forever, the fact that we will all die, and probably sooner than we'd like to.
I want to live for a long, long time, and I want to be healthy while I'm alive. But, what if it really is possible? What if I'm the only one? What if I'm one of a select few? Who chooses who lives? What happens to everyone else? What happens when the secret's out?
In these times of genetic engineering and medical advances, we're all facing increasingly difficult moral and practical issues. Elixir takes some of these issues and puts the reader in the driver's seat. Gary Braver is a great find -- I can't wait for his next work, and I'll snatch it up as soon as I can!
p.s. I've just started reading Rough Beast, written before Elixir by Gary Goshgarian (aka Gary Braver), and so far it's every bit as gripping as Elixir, although a bit more scary.

As an Active (voting) member of the Science Fiction Writers of America I have the privilege of receiving word of new books on the market I might otherwise miss. A postcard announcing the publication of ELIXIR by Gary Braver arrived in my mailbox about a month ago. Intrigued with the idea of a drug for eternal youth (who isn't! ) I decided to order a copy. What a wonderful surprise to escape the mundane world of editorial deadlines and publishing meetings within my own life and fall into such an exciting world created by author Gary Braver. When I discovered that Gary Braver is a pseudonym for Gary Goshgarian, I was not surprised at all. I have loved Mr. Goshgarian's other books as well, especially THE STONE CIRCLE and the out-of-print ATLANTIS FIRE (which I was able to get hold of through a rare-book search). I wish the publisher would allow Mr. Goshgarian to use his real name from now on so I become aware of his new works a little sooner!