Freight Books

Written by British Columbia native Jack Boudreau, Sternwheelers & Canyon Cats: Whitewater Freighting on the Upper Fraser presents the fascinating true story of the whitewater men who crewed boats along wild rivers and creeks, seeking to bring freight and supplies to northern British Columbia from 1862 to 1921, prior to the completion of the Grand Trunk Railway. The riverboat life was dangerous; taming rough waters might involve such daring tactics as using powder to blow out boulders and logjams, and the Grand Canyon of British Columbia's Fraser River in particular was responsible for the deaths of at least two hundred individuals. Extensively researched, and presented with a smattering of black-and-white photographs, Sternwheelers & Canyon Cats is a welcome addition to nautical history and Canadian history shelves.

I have known Russ for a number of years and have very much enjoyed his uncanny ability to tell a story with his lens. It doesn't matter if it showcasing steam in the 1950's to diesels today, he is an outstanding rail photographer. Russ' work isn't limited to just Massachusetts, he has traveled all over the United States and abroad to capture the esscence of railroading. This book just touches on a small portion of his great talent. I'm glad that this volume was written so that his photography can be shared with others.

Trade Liberalization In Aviation Services: Can The Doha Round Free Flight? by Brian Hindley (Emeritus Reader in Trade Policy Economics, London School of Economics) describes and analyses the General Agreement on Trade in Services of the World Trade Organization with particular emphasis on the possibility of new international aviation rules. Although there are many promising benefits, there still remain problematic issues such as the dispute-settlement process. Economics expert and World Bank consultant Hindley believes that when the Doha Round resumes, agreements to facilitating express air delivery will be feasible and prove an invaluable introduction of the overall benefits the World Trade Organization can generate for international aviation in general. Trade Liberalization In Aviation Services is a welcome and impressive contribution to contemporary economics and international trade, as well as an important and seminal addition to academic Economic Studies supplemental reading lists and library reference collection.

This small guide and text book was primarily written and also edited by Derek Downs, whom I was fortunate to work with at Thomas Meadows and Company in the early eighties.

Along with another Meadows director, George Bristow, they more or less devised the Standard Trading Conditions used by most freight forwarders at that time.

It really was the only book of its kind that contained a wide-ranging overview of the nuts and bolts of the cargo industry.

When I arrived as a young apprentice, Derek Downs was an elder of the tribe who occupied his office like a consultant in Harley Street or a head of chambers in Chancery Lane.

He oozed the wisdom of age and was kindly, inspiring and indulgent. It was hard to believe that somebody I knew personally could be behind such a well thought out and well put together book, which for many years had no equal.

I have been reading and looking through this book for the past 2 weeks. It is a wonderful history of the Santa Fe Railroad. The color photography and detail are unbelievable! As a young 61-year old Texan, I have seen this railroad for most of my life. The Santa Fe tracks ran within 2 blocks of our home and right by our high school in Wharton. Thank you Mr. McMillan for putting this book together!

a fast story with important insight about mistakes and failures, trust, mistrust and possible friendship

In this gem of teen speculative fiction, Cosmo Hill makes a death-defying escape from an abusive orphanage, only to be propelled into a rogue group of spook-chasing youths. As the plot unfolds, Cosmo learns about eerie similarities between life in the orphanage and his new life as a Supernaturalist. Fans of Colfer's typical wit, humor, and creativity will again be thrilled. However, I have to admit that I was a much bigger fan of the Artemis Fowl books. This book had a more obvious opening for a sequel, and some of the plot twists were predictable, even if they were cute. If you are an Eoin Colfer fan, this book is definitely well worth a read. If you are new to the author, try Artemis Fowl first.

I am a huge Artemis Fowl fan, and picked up this book expecting something that Colfer wrote just because he knew it would sell. I was expecting something stupid that Eoin Colfer published merely for the sake of making money off of all the Fowl fans. I was pleasantly surprised. This book is really ingeniously clever. The characters are real and exciting. Compassionate and humorous. The plot is intriguing and mysterious, and when you finally figure it out you're like "WOW!". There are so many amazing twists, turn, and major plot shockers in this book. The world this novel takes place in is both realistic and scary. In 50 years, maybe our world will be this disgusting and polluted and awful. The whole tale ins wonderfully believable and yet also splendidly fantastical. Eoin Colfer does a wonderful job of combining the real, sci-fi, and every good element of a story in this wonderful piece of writing. I sincerely hope for a sequel!

The Supernaturalist
By Eoin Colfer
Reviewed by Matt Van Dyke

How'd you like it if you were trapped in an orphanage where, all day long, you're cuffed to a big bodyguard, testing deadly chemicals, and lots of torturing events? That's the life of Cosmonaut Hill, an orphan in Clarissa Frayne Orphanage. "The only ways to get out of this place is escape, adoption or death. Adoption is out, so I choose escape" says Cosmo Hill. But after a series of events, Cosmo finds himself pinned to the ground, unable to move because of his injuries. And there are hallucinations of blue grub-like parasites that are stuck on Cosmo.
But are the parasites hallucinations or real? You'll just have to find out.
I'll recommend this book to people who like action, science fiction, and a little bit of suspense. This book's plot has action on every page, a twisting, unexpected plot, and a great set of characters. Again, this book is Awesome with a capital A!

Usually I don't enjoy science fiction novels yet this one caught my eye. The first chapter was a little boring, but the action quickly heated up. The characters have great personality's that fit in perfectly with the plot. All the character's past's get twisted in with why they do things in the story and it's as if the characters link together to form a chain that is the plot. The futuristic setting only adds to the fascination you will feel while reading this book. This action packed psychedelic novel is something you HAVE to read if you are a lover of science fiction or realistic fiction. The author is very intelligent in the things he makes his characters do and feel. He also lets the character's seem partly mysterious because you don't know everything about their life and how they feel which adds to the excitement. This book is filled with excellent characters and an intelligent story line that everyone can understand!

To reviewer prisrob: Uncommon Carriers is not a novel. Like all of McPhee's books, it is a work of non-fiction journalism.

I was a little reluctant at first to start this book, thinking to myself "how interesting can a book about train engineers, truck drives, and barge pilots be?" But that is precisely McPhee's talent--being able to write interesting, insightful stories about ordinary things we see, and virtually ignore, every day.

The book is a compilation of essays McPhee wrote about his experience riding in an eighteen wheeler, a train, a river barge, and his own canoe (and his experience at the UPS sorting facility). In each essay, McPhee shares very interesting insights from those who perform the jobs that our economy so heavily depends upon. He does an excellent job of sharing the knowledge he learned from each experience while intertwining interesting stories from the people he encounters. The net result is an excellent book that will be both educational and very entertaining.

Upon finishing this book, I realized how insulated we are from the mechanisms that deliver us the things we depend on to live. We use tons of products each day, yet have very little idea of how they got to us. In a very interesting way, this book offers a glimpse into the lives of those who carry the products that keep our economy churning.

I agree with some previous criticism that the chapter about his canoe trip on the Merrimack River, while interesting, is a little out of place. That chapter is more of a book review of Thoreau's work, but it does tie into the theme of "carriers" by discussing how these Eastern rivers were such important trade routes in the 1800s.

Uncommon Carriers -- a book by John McPhee. Like all of McPhee's books, this one provides fascinating insights into a world we all take for granted. The author brings the subject to life and puts a human face on processes we tend to think of as mechanical. You will never look at a truck on the highway, a freighter coming into port, a UPS plane, or a freight train in the same way after you've read this book.

The eclectic and readable McPhee strikes again in this engaging study of people engaged in unconventional forms of transportation. But the coverage of trucks, ships, and trains brings out what is truly great about McPhee - his ability to ruminate on other tangential matters, including little-known facts about the world's transportation systems and the real non-stereotypical people who operate them. This rambling and eclectic style is actually one of McPhee's most underappreciated strengths, as the reader barely notices how one chapter morphs from a down-home look at a Nova Scotia lobster farm to a scientific examination of the enormous UPS complex in Louisville. In one chapter McPhee also replicates a canoe trip once taken by Thoreau, and in the process also replicates Thoreau's penchant for literary flights of fancy while ruminating on transportation systems of long-gone eras. This book isn't quite as substantial or socially observant as some of McPhee's classics, but as usual he has delivered a very readable look at parts of the world that you know are there but haven't much thought about - and all with his dependable humor, literacy, and insight. [~doomsdayer520~]

Uncommon Carriers proves again that John McPhee is the modern master of the discursive essay.

Conversations with Don Ainsworth and his chemical tanker truck bookend a series of essays on the transportation trade. "Ainsworth's middle names could be 'Free Association'" writes McPhee of this kindred spirit. In addition to the tanker trade, the book reports McPhee's experiences and meditations on rail, freighter, barge, and air freight.

At the center of the volume is McPhee's affectionate re-creation of Thoreau's "Five Days on the Merrimack and Concord Rivers" - a journey into the headwaters of McPhee's literary style.

The book is very well written, and Issa uses historical references to show the importance of logistics. He also points out some failures, and conversely some success stories; the Panama Canal example comes to mind.

I would equate the book with case studies of logistics throughout history, with some keen insights into the future of logistics and the technologies that will take us there. I would recommend the book to anyone involved in the transportation / logistics industry.

Finally a resource on the logistics industry written in an interesting manner that without being full of graphs and figures. The past in stories and the predictions that detail the real opportunities and astounding changes.
A must read for anybody involved in strategic thinking and planning.

This book is a incredible resource and is definitely a must read for anyone wanting a deeper knowledge in the logistics field. Mr Baluch shows his incredible wealth of knowledge and expertise in this field with his in-depth understanding and analysis of the case studies in his book. As a senior in college studying business, this book has greatly increase my knowledge and understand in the field of logistic. This book is a definite keeper for your library. I would certainly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn from a leader in his field.

This book is a great insight into global logistics-- the book is rich in lessons and presents the past and future trends relating transport logistics in a simplified way. This book is a must read by all engaged in logistics and supply chain profession in any part of world.

Mr. Issa Baluch's book brings the topic of transportation logistics to an understandable level through both his well-researched historical examples and his expert analysis of present and future methods of transport. His intelligent interpretation of modern logistics in areas such as industry, military, relief, and global growth is invaluable as a learning and reference tool to any individual or group that is interested or involved in the study of transport logistics. In short, "Transport Logistics" is brilliant work that enables a reader to be captivated by the historical methods of transport and to be informed of the present and future use of logistics.

Without a doubt the best collection of short stories that I have read. All the stories are very good and unlike most short story collections there are no losers in this group.

Bill Pronzini is marvellous!
All 26 stories in night freight will definetly keep you awake all night.These tales are so naturally written that you would definetly wonder that something similar could might as well happen to you too.
This book is a must if you are a lover of intrigue, mystery and suspense.......
Go ahead....include this excellent book in your collection! three cheers to Bill Pronzini.

Leisure has really turned around their horror line and it's similar to the resurrection Dell did when they brought out their Abyss line.

Pronzini scores a winner here, especially with "Peekaboo" and "The Monster."

A very readable collection of interesting short stories that are guaranteed to keep you turning those pages.

Bill Pronzini's "Night Freight" was for me an introduction to him as an author. I guess the best compliment I can pay is that I plan to seek him out again. This is a collection of short stories published by the author over about a 30 year period. Perhaps because of the length of time it covers, it is not as consistant as it could be. Pronzini writes suspenseful mystery tales and some outright horror stories, though the former tend to be more effective than the latter. As a horror writer he is fairly conventional, without the imaginative flair of say, Stephen King. Nevertheless, there are some memorable shocks such as "Peekaboo" which are sure to keep you up at night. The mystery stories are better, particularly the single entry in his "Nameless Detective" series that appears here as well as the almost novella length "Stacked Deck" that kicks things off.

Overall, this is a hard collection to categorize, but lovers of both mystery and horror writing should find plenty of nuggets to enjoy.

Finally -- a short story collection from Bill Pronzini that includes his mystery, thriller, AND horror tales. Lots of great stuff in here, including the classic title tale, "The Coffin Trimmer", and "The Monster," which has appeared in mystery year's best books (although it's more suspense than mystery). It's a sizable collection (26 stories) and while it bounces all over the place in style and tone, you'll easily find quite a few stories in here that stick with you. It's unfortunate that mystery and thriller fans will probably miss this when it's shelved in the "horror" section, since only a handful of the stories are outright horror, but lovers of dark fiction should pick it up.

Wonderful book and the photos are fabulous. I wish it had more of Pan Am in its hey day, though.

The photography contained in the book is outstanding. However, the book spends one-fourth of its time talking about a specific MD model. Another long section speaks of the 'art' of aviation photography as practiced by the author. In short, buy it for the pictures, which ARE great, but don't expect much in the way of content.

The idea is great, but the title is wrong. This book takes readers from the construction of a jetliner, through day-to-day operations, to the end of its life in the boneyard, and then shows how Hall gets such great photos. Knowing this concept makes the book worth 5 Stars!

This book is very well written!. It keeps the eyes of the commercial avation enthusiast, riveted to it pages from cover to cover. It has excellent air to air photography. Every immaginable angle of the airplane, from cockpits, to production lines and take off and landing cycles, is included in this book. The production line segments are based mainly on the McDonell douglas aircraft, makes for a minor disappointment for what is on the production lines of other manufacturers. I would like to have seen production of some Boeing airplanes, but none the less, I think Nicholas Veronico and George Hall have done an excellent job in producing this publication. It's a must have for every commercial aviation enthusiast.

Airliners In Flight, reviewed in Airliners Magazine, Issue No. 50 (Mar./Apr. 1998): In the final chapter of Airliners In Flight, co-author George Hall is asked if he has a favorite shot. He does, and it is incredible. The reader, however, may find it extremely difficult to choose a favorite from the many extraordinary color photographs in this new book. Former Airliners Magazine editor Nicholas A. Veronico and George Hall, photographer to the airline industry, have pooled their talents to produce a lavishly illustrated chronicle of the modern airliner that begins in the factory and ends in the boneyard. The chapter on the making of an airliner poignantly begins in the Long Beach facility of the Douglas Aircraft Company. It features the MD-90, the last new aircraft type produced by the famous plane-maker before its recent acquisition by Boeing. The story line of the conception, building and testing of the MD-90 is accompanied by photographs that range from those taken on the shop floor to air-to-air shots of the graceful airliner in flight. The second chapter, entitled, A Day in the Life of a Jetliner, moves interestingly from flight planning to takeoff, through the flight and landing of a typical, modern passenger airliner. The penultimate chapter fast-forwards to the end of the life of an airliner, consigned to the boneyards of the arid Arizona desert. The story of the function of the boneyards is well-told, and dramatically illustrated with tail-less Boeing 707s, jumbo jets in the colors of fallen airlines, even an aged DC-3. The photography throughout this book is extremely well done, particularly the many air-to-air shots of a variety of aircraft types. The final chapter lets the reader into the secrets of How the Pro¹s Do It, describing how the authors contrived and planned to be in the right place, with the right equipment, at the right time. Two thumbs up for an airliner book with a new twist. -- Reviewed by Ed Davies. Note: Quotes and italics from original review do not appear in this copy.