The Severed Snake

The Severed Snake
Author: Michael W. Scott
Publisher:
Total Pages: 424
Release: 2007
Genre: History
ISBN:

Examining the secretive dynamics of competing land claims among the Arosi of the island of Makira (Solomon Islands), Michael W. Scott demonstrates the explanatory power of ethnographic attention to the nexus between practice and indigenous theories of being. His focus on the ways in which Arosi understand their matrilineages to be the bearers of discrete categorical essences exclusively emplaced in ancestral territories forms the basis for a timely and accessible rethink of current anthropological representations of Melanesian sociality and opens up new lines of inquiry into the transformative relationships among gendered metaphors of descent, processes of place making, and the indigenization of Christianity. Informed by original historical research and newly documented variants of regionally important mythic traditions, The Severed Snake is a work of multidisciplinary scope that proposes critical and methodological shifts relevant to historians, development professionals, folklorists, and scholars of religion as well as anthropologists. This book is part of the Ritual Studies Monograph Series, edited by Pamela J. Stewart and Andrew Strathern, Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh. Solomon Islanders are eligible for a 30% discount. Please contact Beth Hall at [email protected] or (919) 489-7486 x121 for more information. "Michael Scott''s empirically rich study of the ontological foundations of social action combines the best aspects of classic ethnography and contemporary social theory. His attention to detail registers a keen sensitivity to local concerns and their historical specificity at the same time that his conceptual sophistication places those concerns in a broad comparative perspective. This book is a vindication of careful fieldwork''s unparalleled ability to illuminate the great moral and metaphysical questions." -- Webb Keane, Professor of Anthropology, University of Michigan "I know of no other book on a Melanesian culture that probes as deeply into the question of land and identity. Michael Scott''s book is thoroughly researched, historically aware, sensitive on religion, and always convincing." -- Garry Trompf, Professor of Studies in Religion, University of Sydney "[This book] will be very useful for all academics and tertiary students who seek to understand and do intelligent work among coastal and smaller island cultures in Melanesia... In this he has skilfully combined the disciplines of anthropology, studies in religion, mission history, and missiology." -- Anthropos "This book about Arosi on the island of Makira is welcome on several fronts... Scott presents engaging arguments about the interplay of Melanesian ontologies, place, and practice, and he also makes a valuable contribution to the burgeoning study of indigenous Christianities... Scott does an admirable job of disentangling [the Arosi ideological skein]. His study will greatly interest anthropologists and historians of Melanesia and beyond." -- The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland "The book is an important contribution to Melanesian studies and will quickly enter the canon of mandatory reading for anyone working in Solomon Islands... a sophisticated and well researched study that has much to offer anyone concerned to understand indigenous modes of thinking (and being) in the world today" -- Geoffrey White, Oceania, Volume 78, Number 3, November 2008 "[A] fascinating account of social change. In addition to Melanesianists, this book will be of interest to anthropologists working on issues of personhood, social change, and global Christianity." -- Courtney J. Handman, Anthropological Forum, University of Chicago "This is a major ethnography, whose scope, originality and sophistication combine to set new directions for the comparative study of the societies of Melanesia... This book is indeed a significant contribution to Melanesian ethnography, but it is more than that. It is a major contribution to the comparative understanding of Melanesia within an Austronesian-speaking world." -- James J. Fox, The Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology, The Australian National University "The ethnography''s main contribution is carefully to detail Arosi conceptions of place and identity that are broadly shared across Melanesia... Scott''s analysis helps clarify why uneasy problems of land and identity in Melanesia continue to simmer." -- The Australian Journal of Anthropology "[T]he book offers a great deal of interest to scholars interested in social change in rural societies, especially where traditional land tenure and resource ownership are in play. It would also find a place in graduate and advanced undergraduate courses on the anthropology of social change." -- Ryan Schram, American Ethnologist, University of California, San Diego "This book offers the reader an excellent, and highly readable, analysis of the Arosi''s understandings of land tenure and Christianity. It offers some very interesting, often critical, insights into current anthropological thinkings on Melanesian ontology and social change... The result is a subtle piece of ethnography... [I]mpressive contribution to the anthropology of Christianity, cosmology, and land tenure systems." -- Michael Wood, Journal of Anthropological Research "The Severed Snake is a work of significance for anthropologists, historians of religion, missiologists, and students of folklore." -- Mary N. MacDonald, Religious Studies Review

Drawn by Fire

Drawn by Fire
Author: Paul Combs
Publisher: Fire Engineering Books
Total Pages: 182
Release: 2010-09-01
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1593702434

Readers will find that this book is more than a collection of 156 fire service editorial cartoons. Paul Combs is a gifted artist who uses his talent as a tool to express his passion for making a difference in the fire service, the greatest job in the world.

The Founding of Serillia

The Founding of Serillia
Author: Brad Bouchard
Publisher: FriesenPress
Total Pages: 415
Release: 2022-02-24
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1039100236

On the eve of his sixteenth birthday, Dematris Blackhorn—a lordling on the cusp of achieving his dream of being Imprinted with the magic he will carry for the rest of his life—finds his world crumbling around him. Since the Founding of Serillia, five centuries ago, his family has led and protected the province of Fallon. When that unbroken history of service is shattered by murder and betrayal, Dematris is set on a path he never expected. One of survival, truth, and finding his way back home. Rife with beauty, danger, and magic, the continent of Serillia exists in uneasy peace. When the balance of power shifts, and the echoes of its violent past begin to reverberate, ancient races will stop at nothing to dominate its land once more. Driven from his home, and with his brother far across the ocean, Dematris alone stands in a position to stem the tide of destruction that threatens everything he has ever known and loved. But with the blood of so many innocents already weighing on his conscience, can he summon the courage to return?

The Dangerous Snakes of Africa

The Dangerous Snakes of Africa
Author: Steve Spawls
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 612
Release: 2020-04-16
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1472960270

The definitive reference guide to all of Africa's venomous snakes, written by two internationally acclaimed herpetologists. Africa is a true hotspot for snake diversity, with several hundred species. Unfortunately, a scared snake or one that is trodden on may bite, and some species have venom that can prove fatal. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa is an indispensable guide to these reptiles. It covers all 137 dangerous snake species in Africa, along with another 70 species that are easily confused with them. All are described, with each account looking in detail at their identification, habitat and distribution, behaviour and venom, as well as how to treat bites and a selection of photographs, accompanied by an accurate range map. Introductory sections cover the major snake groups, their venom characteristics, how to avoid snake bites and first-aid advice. This comprehensive book is an essential tool for all naturalists, conservationists, educators, field workers and medical personnel throughout Africa.

The Serpent of Eridor

The Serpent of Eridor
Author: Alison Gardiner
Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd
Total Pages: 240
Release: 2015-01-28
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1784620785

Boy versus wizard... Let the battle commence! Attacked by an assassin, and positive that the next attempt will be fatal, 14-year-old Alex Weston seizes the slim chance of survival, choosing to abandon ship in a tropical typhoon. Subsequently shipwrecked onto the island of Eridor with his hamster Skoodle, Alex unwittingly crosses the barrier into a world of enchantment. He soon discovers that his beloved pet is not just a hamster, but rather a funny, opinionated, reluctant hero who regularly takes advice from his dead uncle. While on the island, they befriend a brilliant, ebullient monkey, a warrior bear and a sarcastic snake. Possessing no magic abilities himself, Alex is armed only with bravery, loyalty, sheer cussedness and wit as he fights to save his life and his friends. He must also wrestle with the suspicion that a few ounces of added rodent doesn't make him the strongest fighting unit on the island. On his journey, Alex is pursued by murderous crocodiles, engulfed by a man-eating mud swamp and attacked by vengeful wizards. But all that feels like a warm-up in comparison to his final challenge... The Serpent of Eridor is an adventure thriller threaded with humour that will appeal to children aged eight-twelve. Vivid, graphic and containing both the wonderful and the weird, it is a fast-paced story full of twists and turns. Inspired by authors such as C. S. Lewis and Anthony Horowitz, author Alison is fascinated by the genre of fantasy and enjoys weaving wild and bizarre aspects into her adventure series, including the sequelAlchemy.

Centennial

Centennial
Author: James A. Michener
Publisher: Dial Press
Total Pages: 1105
Release: 2014-01-21
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0804151598

NATIONAL BESTSELLER Written to commemorate the Bicentennial in 1976, James A. Michener’s magnificent saga of the West is an enthralling celebration of the frontier. Brimming with the glory of America’s past, the story of Colorado—the Centennial State—is manifested through its people: Lame Beaver, the Arapaho chieftain and warrior, and his Comanche and Pawnee enemies; Levi Zendt, fleeing with his child bride from the Amish country; the cowboy, Jim Lloyd, who falls in love with a wealthy and cultured Englishwoman, Charlotte Seccombe. In Centennial, trappers, traders, homesteaders, gold seekers, ranchers, and hunters are brought together in the dramatic conflicts that shape the destiny of the legendary West—and the entire country. BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from James A. Michener's Hawaii. Praise for Centennial “A hell of a book . . . While he fascinates and engrosses, Michener also educates.”—Los Angeles Times “An engrossing book . . . imaginative and intricate . . . teeming with people and giving a marvelous sense of the land.”—The Plain Dealer “Michener is America’s best writer, and he proves it once again in Centennial. . . . If you’re a Michener fan, this book is a must. And if you’re not a Michener fan, Centennial will make you one.”—The Pittsburgh Press “An absorbing work . . . Michener is a superb storyteller.”—BusinessWeek

The Turning of Anne Merrick

The Turning of Anne Merrick
Author: Christine Blevins
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 450
Release: 2012-02-07
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1101560177

A tale of love and espionage from the author of Midwife of the Blue Ridge... She spies for General Washington, betrays the Redcoats and battles for America's independence... It's 1777, and a fledgling country wages an almost hopeless struggle against the might of the British Empire. Brought together by a fateful kiss, Anne Merrick and Jack Hampton are devoted to each other and to their Patriot cause. As part of Washington's daring network of spies, they are ready and willing to pay even the ultimate price for freedom. From battlefields raging along the Hudson, to the desperate winter encampment at Valley Forge and through the dangerous intrigue of British-occupied Philadelphia, Anne and Jack brave the trials of separation, the ravages of war and an unyielding enemy growing ever more ruthless. For love and for country, all is put at risk-and together the pair must call upon their every ounce of courage and cunning in order to survive.

Apollodorus

Apollodorus
Author: Apollodorus (of Athens.)
Publisher:
Total Pages: 628
Release: 1921
Genre: Bibliography
ISBN: