I just finished reading "Off Parallel" by surveyor Geoff Miller. Kindle version on Amazon Here is my review (also posted on Amazon and Goodreads):
As a Land Surveyor myself, I have to admit that I may be a bit biased. But, I am also an avid reader of mystery and in particular crime procedurals. I found this book to be very satisfying on both fronts. While the first half of the book has a lot of information about the profession of land surveying, all of which is very accurate, I don't think it detracts from the overall story any more than the description of detective methodology does in most crime novels. Once the story gets into the meat of the mystery it moves right along and the I found myself not thinking at all about this being written by a surveyor. I would recommend this to anyone who likes a good mystery. And if you wouldn't mind learning a bit about the profession of Land Surveying, it will be an added bonus. I just hope the author, Mr Miller, keeps on writing.
I know about the "Murder in the Catskills" series (though wish it were on kindle), but are there other similar works of fiction out there? I'd love to support fellow surveyors that have stories to tell!
Did you read the one about David K. O'Roly? I don't think it ever made it to print, so you would've had to've read it on line. But it was intriguing, none the less....;-)
Does anyone know if it ever was finished?
Doug
A related thread from last July:
[msg=83765] https://surveyorconnect.com/index.php?mode=thread&id=83765 [/msg]
I started reading the other site after Survey Noir was posted, but saw a link (that no longer works) and read what was available. It was very good entertainment, and it would be kind of the author to post a current link.
Cancer Ward by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
A book about a land surveyor written by a decorated artillery surveyor of WWII.
> It was very good entertainment, and it would be kind of the author to post a current link.
:good:
Mari Sandoz wrote Old Jules, about her dad, he was a surveyor in the Sandhills of Western Nebraska. A good read.
Cheers,
Radar
The Lost Monument
by Carl Louis Kingsbury
A surveying crew in Northern Mexico is hindered by locals protecting their secret: an ancient monument pointing the way to a lost city.
DDSM
Sounds like good books. I think I'll look in to them.
I got a downloaded book called The Chainman (?) which was fiction, but suffered through it hoping to read a little something about surveying. It did have an issue about squatters and whether people should be allowed to use the land as they please vs ownership of land, but was more of a 1800's love story. I do not recommend that one.
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge adn controversy." - Martin Luther King
(I just felt like sharing that great quote; nothing to do with the conversation.);-)
"The Last 300 Miles" by G. Stewart Nash
A book by a surveyor about a surveyor.
Stewart is a past president of Montana Association of Registered Land Surveyors. He and his wife seem to migrate back and forth between Montana and British Columbia.
The Amazon description of "The Last 300 Miles" is available here.
GB
Chaining Oregon
http://www.amazon.com/Chaining-Oregon-Kay-Atwood/dp/0939923203
Sounds Interesting.I'll have to look it up!
Good book, uses period English tho...
Mark Knophler wrote a song based on this book: Sailing to Philadelphia
Beer Leg Book Club
Thanks, Gig.
I just finished Off Parallel ($0.99 from Amazon on my Kindle app for iPad). Reminded me of Tony Hillerman. I liked it.
Also thanks to Karoly for Mr. Midshipman Easy which I read awhile ago.
I probably have enough unread good books, both physical and electronic, to last the winter, but I can never resist acquiring more. I think I'm like a squirrel when it comes to books. The toughest nut in my current collection is Derek Parfit's Reasons and Persons which scares me. I'm sure it'll be way over my head and I'll never finish it.:-|
Don
I was given a copy of "Mayhem in the Catskills" to read and pass on. I think it is the next in the series after "Murder in the Catskills". It in the same style and has somewhat the same formula but does include a lot more references to surveying work.
Would someone like me to send it to them to read? You have to promise to pass it on.
Kafka, The Castle
Hi Bill
If somebody else hasn't already stepped forward, I'll take you up on your offer. I'll pay the shipping. Just send me an email(see my profile)and I'll send my mailing address. I'll pass it along to my daughter when I finish. She is an LS/PE and an avid reader.
Thanks
Best to ignore the fact that he "says" he's a land surveyor, but gets a job as a janitor.
