The Silence and The Sun - An historical account of people, places, and events on old Route 66 and railroad communities in the Eastern Mojave Desert, California

The Silence and the Sun, liberally illustrated with photographs, offers a selection of historical accounts on the growth and eventual decline and abandonment of towns, businesses, mining communities and railroad stops in the eastern Mojave Desert of California. All is silent now and the place is empty and may be overgrown, but at one time, decades ago, people lived, worked, raised families, and died in these forgotten places - settlements with names like Cadiz, Siam, Bagdad, Milligan, Chubbuck, Siberia and Amboy to name a few. The desert scenery in this area, bordered on the north by old Route 66, displays a beauty all its own and the area is steeped in history centered on the railroad and mining. The book also includes a chapter by Roger Hatheway on the many historical names of Route 66 in this area. There are few roads in this region - some are prospector trails and others are roads to abandoned mining towns, but for those who are interested in exploring and learning about some of the lesser known areas, either from an armchair or behind the wheel, this book will add to the enjoyment. Joe De Kehoe, 2012 2nd edition, 340 pages, paperback