Desert Oracle by Ken Layne came out recently, and, unlike my normal modality, I read something current. I enjoyed this even if this book tended to cover topics several decades old. The author showed us a good sense of humor and did not take himself too seriously.
Genre: Science Fiction/Non-Fiction
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
Released: 2020
Stars: 3.5 Stars
Reviewer: Michael D. Griffiths
This could be considered a non-fiction book which covers anything interesting which occurred near the Mojave Desert over the last 100 years. Although the author discusses some things like Honky Tunk and unused opera houses, he tends to focus more on unsolved mysteries like Yucca Man and UFOs.
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As a desert dweller and explorer myself, I enjoyed learning more about the histories of many places I have been, or would now like to go. The ‘Supernatural’ chapters were interesting too regarding the attempt to understand the human psychology of trying to deal with the unknown. It might also dig up new ideas for writers, mystery seekers, and video producers.
Things which did not do it for me as much were some of the unproven assumptions which got tossed around. Such as, ‘animals have souls too.’ Wait, did we come to some agreement souls are real? Or that humans have them? This seems like we have agreed to walk ten steps past the beginning of a discussion and conclude before it started. This, along with the assumption that passages in the bible actually did occur, left me wondering if this author might believe anything he is told.
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However, if you can see past the author’s easy-going acceptance to many stories, which we can safely assume are just old campfire tales, this is an enjoyable and fast read. If you live in the desert, you will feel right at home. But warning, if you do not live in the desert, it might leave you with the itch demanding you to go explore the blazing hills yourself.
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