Desierto

"Where most ecologically minded writers draw a clean line in the sand between man and nature, Bowden stomps all over the sanctimonious boundary, in the process merging history and natural history into a spooky and seamless narrative." ~Esquire

"A dark, troubling vision of life in the desert, defined broadly; of mountain lions and drug kingpins, Mexican hopes and Indian feuds . . . and the romantic faddishness of environmentalists. Bowden is an observant reporter, but the primitive strength of Desierto derives from his compulsive hunger . . . to examine and experience the underside of border life. . . . Fansof Castaneda and Traven will find much to like here." ~Los Angeles Times

"In these powerful epic tales of the Sonora Desert, Bowden peoples the harsh land on both sides of the US-Mexican border with saints and sinners, but his enduring hero is the desert itself. The seven essays are a poignant blend of history, science, legend and lore, naturalism, investigative journalism, portrait painting, and independent thinking. . . . Thought-provoking and moving." ~Kirkus Reviews