No comments about The Panama Canal (Building History Series).

5 comments about The Rising Sun: A Novel.

1. I am almost finished with this book, and have enjoyed it a great deal. Well written, with a great eye for detail. The main character is likable but hardly perfect--very believable. Similar to Patrick O'Brian in setting, but without the nautical focus. And this was an incident in history I knew nothing about.



2. I am almost finished with this book, and have enjoyed it a great deal. Well written, with a great eye for detail. The main character is likable but hardly perfect--very believable. Similar to Patrick O'Brian in setting, but without the nautical focus. And this was an incident in history I knew nothing about.



3. This historical fiction covers an incident in history about which I was completely ignorant: the attempt by folks from Scotland to establish a colony in Central America, specifically in Panama. It's a well-written tale, with sharp characterizations and quite descriptive passages. It's a tale that the reader knows ends in sorrow and tragedy, but he keeps on with it, because of the clarity of the writing that conveys the sense of initial optimism, and then the growing knowledge, even if unspoken, that the enterprise is doiomed to failure. The narrator is a likeable young man, and we follow his progress of ups and downs closely. The key to good writing is to make the reader interested in your main antagonist, and in this aspcet the author has succeeded admirably. Read the book if for nothing else than finding out about a little known aspect of world, and Scottish, history.



4. I saw this book and picked it up on a whim. I cannot put my finger on exactly what attracted me to the book, however, I am extremely glad that I bought it and stayed with the story through the first 50 or so difficult pages.
   
   The book chronicles the disastrous Darien Scheme (which I confess I had never heard of prior to purchasing the book), and its political and social repercussions for the nation of Scotland. The book is narrated by an ambitious young man named Roderick Mackenzie who comes to Edinburgh the callow second son of country gentry forced to seek his fortune in commerce. Our narrator quickly learns the shady aspects of business through his amoral and manipulative employer, Colquhoun, and the ways of drunken debauchery and women (for a price) with his fellow young fellow lodgers (who are careful to be seen attending church after a long night enjoying the favors of the ladies of ill repute at the Widow Gilbert's house).
   
   As superintendent cargos Mackenzie relates his perspective of the expedition though his diary. The journey over the Atlantic and late seventeenth century Edinburgh are described in breathtaking detail. The struggles (physical, moral and spiritual) of the colony are set out with heart wrenching precision, as the idealistic colonists wage a forlorn multi-front war with the Spanish military, English greed, tropical disease, the jungle, the torrential rains and, ultimately, themselves.
   
   It would be easy to describe this book as a male-oriented "adventure" novel (which many reviewers have) or as a detailed and lively "historical fiction." Both characterizations (as well as others that would be equally appropriate) are correct, but fail to give this astonishing work its full due. Ultimately The Rising Sun is a novel about idealism, opportunism and aspiration. Mackenzie, like all of the Darien colonists to one extent or another, wants to be part of something bigger than himself. As the self proclaimed witness to these great events, he sees first-hand the hopes of a nation sore, the petty intrigues of the colony as amid the death and squalor of the colony the delusional Patterson and vainglorious Drummon squabble over utilization of the colony's scare resources for the construction of their ultimately worthless prized projects (the "road" to the pacific and a useless fort, respectively), and the manipulations of the "great men" who, knowing that the colony was doomed to utter failure by the machinations of England, sold their shares in the Company of Scotland.
   
   For some reason, I had a difficult time initially dealing with the author's writing style for the first 50 or so pages, but from that point on the prose flowed very well. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, and I eagerly await the next title to be released by this author in the United States.



5. The first fifty pages of this novel were so boring and obsucure, it made me wonder if it was some sort of a test of reader commitment imposed by the author. Fortunately, the story does pick up after that; unfortunately, not by my much. The author coveys the period accurately, the main character is pretty well drawn, and the story of the Scottish bubble is interesting. But, the plot unfolds at a glaciel pace and only intermittently comes to life. The mood is often dour. I kept waiting for a big payoff that never came.

No comments about The Jeff Corwin Experience - Spanish - Dentro de Panama Salvaje (The Jeff Corwin Experience - Spanish).

No comments about Intimate Reflections: Two Years at the Panama Canal.

2 comments about The Cove: Panama City's Neighborhood (FL) (Images of America).

1. I, man and boy, have spent near 50 years in the brackish salt water areas of coastal Florida.. I moved from the New Smyrna Beach area (well, more Daytona but there are fewer serial killers in NSB, that's another story...) to near Panama City and the Cove just over a year ago.
   It's a wonderful neighborhood and this book seems to tell it as it was and never will be again.
   I have gotten to know a local lady of some vintage, she read my copy and thought there were things she disagreed with awarded the book a 'not bad', which for her is five stars...
   The last year we have noticed a change in this area already... less Southern, more commercial.. it's too bad but it is bound to happen. Get this books and see it as it was.
   I can recommend the Port Orange book too.. It reminded me that I went to grade school 300 yards from the state KKK headquarters.. later a candle factory that BURNED down.. poetic justice?? or 'jus'us???
   L. McD.



2. For many years, I have been a BIG fan of the Images of America series. Each time I have moved to a new community, I have used these excellent books as my introduction to the history of my new home.
   
   Expecting a nice synopsis of the history of early Panama City, FL; what I got was a family photo album of the "who's who" of those elitist families who ran (and still run) Panama. There was virtually no coverage of the historical development; or the many house types in The Cove (yes, there were scattered house photos, but it was as if that were an afterthought).
   
   Sadly...... all this book did was dredge up my long buried personal memories on why I choose to leave that area, 40+ years ago.

No comments about Central America: Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama (Central America).

No comments about Panama's Important Cities by Mapi Panama.

4 comments about The Voyage of the Vizcaina: The Mystery of Christopher Columbus's Last Ship.

1. This is a truly exciting read. Although the title and subtitle both suggest that the book is mainly about the Vizcaina, in fact, only about 20% of it contains discussions that directly pertain to that ship; most of these discussions deal with efforts towards determining whether the wreck that was found in the Bay of Playa Damas (Panama) is indeed the Vizcaina. Naturally, when something of such historical importance is found, some form of politics must step in to play its important frustrating role of slowing down, with utmost efficiency, any exciting archaeological progress; this case is no exception. However, the main bulk of the book is about Christopher Columbus: his life, his travels and his adventures. Also presented are fascinating outlines of current disputes as to his true origins as well as where his bones are currently located. Published in 2006, this is an English translation of a book that was originally published in German in 2004. Although the original German title seems to be more appropriate than the current English one, the translation is well done in the sense that the writing is so clear and engaging that the book is very difficult to put down. It will likely be indispensable reading for most history buffs, but it can be enjoyed by anyone.



2. In the mid-1990s, divers discovered the wreck of a large ship just off the coast of Panama, feeding the rumors that this might be the remains of one of the ships from Columbus's final voyage. Columbus was able to persuade Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castille to give him a fleet of four ships in 1502 to return to the New World in search of more riches. Although he reached the Americas, his ships, all victims of shipworms eating through the hulls' wood, began to sink one by one. Columbus reported abandoning the fourth ship, the Vizcaina near Portobelo.
   
   It was said that this ship has three masts and a loading capacity of fifty tons. But when divers went searching, they couldn't immediately determine that the abandoned ship off the bay in Playa Damas was the Vizcaina because of the contents of the ship and the relative integrity of the ships structure.
   
   The authors combine Columbus's history, and the discovery of the ship buried beneath the ocean for decades. Divers and archeology experts are quoted throughout the book, which makes it a bit of a hybrid historical read. The past and present converge by finding the Vizcaina. Yet, it's a true adventure whether you like history or archeology. The history of the man who founded the New World is fascinating as he was a true adventurer.
   
   Armchair Interviews says: Thrilling historical, yet scientific reading that leaves you satiated with a host of historical facts and awe about modern archeology.



3. This book is not the easiest read. That said, it contains amazing detail about Columbus and his several voyages to the new world. I felt the book delivered a good feel for the man and for the times. A tremendous amount of research has been done on Columbus over the centuries and this book seems to touch on the major findings and integrates them well into the overall story. I was amazed at the amount of information to be had and how little I actually knew about Columbus and the history surrounding his discovery of the new world.



4. What really happened to the last voyage of Christopher Columbus? This is a great story of history, politics and exploration.

4 comments about The Panama Guide: A Cruising Guide to the Isthmus of Panama.

1. I am the author of Lonely Planet's guide to Panama. While conducting research for LP Panama I came across this incredible work by Nancy Schwalbe Zydler and Tom Zydler. Their attention to detail is remarkable. The history and description they provide is right on and well put. Much of the information that appears on the islands they comment upon you won't find anywhere else. For cruising sailors and Panama buffs alike, The Panama Guide is an excellent read and a vast source of knowledge. My hat's off to both of you Zydlers for a job extremely well done.



2. excelent book Tom and Nancy,proffesional piece of art.Finally i found you Tom,im your old buddy from naval academy in Gdynia,contact me pls.Chris kowalski E-mail-kowal17@hotmail.com



3. We just finished (July 2006) cruising the Pacific side of Panama and through the canal and found the Zydler guide to not be as useful as the newer Bauhaus guide. The major difference is in the charts & chartlets - the Bauhaus guide is all color charts that look like real charts - the Zydler guide is all B&W hand drawn sketches that are extremely hard to read - virtually useless. The Zydler guide has more words but less useful information as it's quite a bit older and some information is way out of date - eg. the Western Panama Islands like Coiba.



4. The zydler guide was ok in its time. But the new Panama Cruising Guide by Eric Bauhaus is very, very much better than the Zydler. ALL PAGES IN COLOR, beautyful photos and nearly 200 precise charts. Dont dream of cruising panama without it.

No comments about Panama Tourist Map.