A tiny man gazes up, wonderstruck, at the vast heights of a redwood forest. Amid lush red-browns, greens, and blues, a tinier bear stands some distance away, oblivious to the human intruder in his realm. This is the cover of a book... Read More

Americans are familiar with a romanticized view of geisha life in Japan, one that includes art and music, poetry and social status. Not all geisha, however, live such a life, as this poignant, compelling tale relates. Beginning with her... Read More

The first thing that readers will note about this highly unusual tale of a cartographer in a strange and futile-seeming society on an apparent track toward doom of some kind, is the magnificence of the artwork. This is appropriate, since... Read More

Many of America’s household names began in chautauquas. Edgar Bergen began there, honing his ventriloquist act. Lady Mary Heath of Ireland, an aviation pioneer, went on tour, as did other notable women. Dick Mallett, whose father was... Read More

Coming out, coming of age, and achieving a life’s dream by triumphing (sort of) over adversity; these are the blended themes of this engaging tale. An easy styleÃ’part reminiscence, part stream-of-consciousnessÃ’tells the story... Read More

Recent research shows that elephants and humans have many things in common, and readers of this book will see clearly how much the two species are alike. The author, a gifted wildlife photographer, followed a group of orphaned baby... Read More

Hotbed of feminism, or exclusive male retreat? Dependent on cerebrations and fact, or awash in sloppy sentimentality? A combination of extremes? Just what is science fiction from women’s point of view? Isaac Asimov and other icons have... Read More

While the very idea may seem alien to science fiction fans, there was a time when most people never even considered the possibility of life on other planets, much less what forms such life might take and how such beings might behave. In... Read More