From Library Journal
This is a wonderfully diverse collection of essays, diary entries, and excerpts of larger works (including fiction) by 40 writers spanning over a century. Loosely grouped by geographical areas and by the various features encountered (e.g., mountains, deserts), the authors presented range from the likely suspects (e.g., John Muir, Wallace Stegner, John McPhee) to the less familiar and a few surprising choices (e.g., Jack Kerouac). Editor/compiler Gilbar (Tales of Santa Barbara, John Daniel & Co., 1994) introduces each piece by setting the context and includes a concise biography of the author. With a brief foreword by environmentalist David Brower and an afterword by nature writer/poet Gary Snyder, this should appeal to a broad spectrum of readers. Essential for regional, natural history, and nature writing collections and highly recommended for most public collections.?Tim J. Markus, Evergreen State Coll. Lib., Olympia, WACopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The Los Angeles Times Sunday Book Review, Deanne Stillman
The most powerful selections in this collection are save-the-wilderness broadsides in elegant and artistic camouflage.... This anthology is studded with passages of equal delight that reflect what is both grand and overwhelming about California....

Book Description
This is the first anthology of nature writing that celebrates California, the most geographically diverse state in the union. Readers be they naturalists or armchair explorerswill find themselves transported to California's many wild places in the company of forty noted writers whose works span more than a century. Divided into sections on California's mountains, hills and valleys, deserts, coast, and elements (earth, wind, and fire), the book contains essays, diary entries, and excerpts from larger works, including fiction. As a prelude to the collection, editor Steven Gilbar presents two California Indian creation myths, one a Cahto narrative and the other an A-juma- wi story as told by Darryl Babe Wilson. Familiar names appear in these pagesJohn Muir, Robert Louis Stevenson, John McPhee, M.F.K. Fisher, Gretel Ehrlichbut less familiar writers such as Daniel Duane, Margaret Millar, and John McKinney are also included. Among the gems in this treasure trove are Jack Kerouac on climbing Mt. Matterhorn, Barry Lopez on snow geese migration at Tule Lake, Edward Abbey on Death Valley, Henry Miller on Big Sur, and Joan Didion on the Santa Ana winds. Gary Snyder's inspiring Afterword reflects the spirit of environmentalism that runs throughout the book. Natural State also reveals the many changes to California's landscape that have occurred in geological time and in human terms. More than a book of "nature writing," this book is superb writing about nature.

About the Author
Steven Gilbar lives in Santa Barbara and does not get to spend as much time in the wilderness as he would like. His previous anthologies include Tales of Santa Barbara (1994) and Red Tiles, Blue Skies (1996).

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Spanning more than a century of observation of California's wild places, this collection will transport you into the out-of-doors, whether you are a hiker or naturalist or armchair explorer. But more than simply "nature writing," this collection is good writing about nature. It includes complete essays, excerpts from longer works, and works of fiction as well.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal