BOOK REVIEWS AND PANAMA PERTINATE

PANAMA POWER

Our drought in Panama continues.  We received intermittent showers the last several days so it’s evident that the cavalry is on the way – man your arcs!

My father was one of those Electrical Engineers that were responsible for the electrical power generation in Panama.  Specifically the Canal Zone and all the military basses within. When he took the post in January of 1951, all the electricity for use in the Canal Zone and the two major cities of Panama; Panama City and Colon, was generated by the GATUN POWER PLANT located on the Chagres River.

 

Gatun Dam & Power plant.  Photo by Wayne Hatting, 1953.

 The four generators (3 are pictured) produced 25 cycle power. All appliances in Panama needed to be converted from 60 cycle. This was a major problem for Panama.  Most military bases had back-up generator (diesel) but they produced electricity in 60 cycle…not 25.  My dad was instrumental in developing the interim system that bridged the conversion process. His solution gave him a promotion he never accepted because my mother wanted to return to the USA. He was given a plaque by the PanCanalCo and a watch by the President of Panama. Years later the plaque had been forgotten and lost in one of our moves and he gave the watch to my brother, Bill.

 

Photo of Control room – Pictured is Don Judson, best friend of Wayne Hatting. Photo by Wayne Hatting, 1953 

The following reviews were selected to illustrate the eclectic genre in which I write.  All of my novels receive 4+ and 5 stars. 

MG (

By

USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alaska be Damned! (Kindle Edition)

I've got to say, this book was one of my favorites. Mr. Hatting did a fabulous job drawing me into the story from the very beginning and helping me to "feel" the characters. When you finish a book with the feeling that you have made new friends and that you'd rather hang out with them longer, then the author has done their job! I recommend this book to everyone. As has been the case with the other books I have read by Mr. Hatting, there is a bit of everything sprinkled in for any reader. Truly, truly, a resounding 5 star read!! Two thumbs up!!  

I loved it!! May 7, 2013

I've got to say, this book was one of my favorites. Mr. Hatting did a fabulous job drawing me into the story from the very beginning and helping me to "feel" the characters. When you finish a book with the feeling that you have made new friends and that you'd rather hang out with them longer, then the author has done their job! I recommend this book to everyone. As has been the case with the other books I have read by Mr. Hatting,...Read More

I've got to say, this book was one of my favorites. Mr. Hatting did a fabulous job drawing me into the story from the very beginning and helping me to "feel" the characters. When you finish a book with the feeling that you have made new friends and that you'd rather hang out with them longer, then the author has done their job! I recommend this book to everyone. As has been the case with the other books I have read by Mr. Hatting, there is a bit of everything sprinkled in for any reader. Truly, truly, a resounding 5 star read!! Two thumbs up!!  I loved it!! May 7, 2013

The modern-day cowboys rock! March 22, 2013

I was gifted a copy of UNTAMED by a friend, who probably thought I should read outside my usual genre. Well, it turned out my friends know me well. I read this book in almost one setting. Just like that. I opened it and I couldn't close it until I finished. Then I felt I would love to read some more (luckily this author has more books to offer).

Set in a relatively contemporary background, UNTAMED took me unto the...Read More

I was gifted a copy of UNTAMED by a friend, who probably thought I should read outside my usual genre. Well, it turned out my friends know me well. I read this book in almost one setting. Just like that. I opened it and I couldn't close it until I finished. Then I felt I would love to read some more (luckily this author has more books to offer).

Set in a relatively contemporary background, UNTAMED took me unto the lives of two spirited, down-to-earn cowboys, Curtis and RC. Curtis of course is much deeper than that, having a solidly complicated past reaching out to him, haunting him, offering him no boredom at all. Along with RC, and all the women who could not resist his charming good-natured indifference, I felt fascinated by him, attracted by his personality, curious about his next moves and his ways to deal with the mounting troubles.

The setting was delightfully refreshing! I didn't know a thing about the life of the western locals, all the range owners, and rodeo's rules and laws. Nor was I aware of the gushing life around the Mexican border concerning the cattle and the ways to import it. I drove through some of the mentioned locations while visiting Arizona and Texas, but of course being just a passing by tourist I missed all the action. Through UNTAMED I was able to experience some what I have missed.

I highly recommend this read to anyone, regardless of their usual preference of genre."

Zoe Saadia reviewed UNTAMED.

"Boomer is a hit!" December 7, 2011

Something about Robert Hatting's Boomer, set in the Arizona Territory of the late 1870s, reminds me of the classic tales of Will James. I think it's the way Mr. Hatting knows his way so very well around ranch life, horses and the ways of the old west including its people.

Then there's the storytelling. Boomer is chock full of adventure, robbery, intrigue, and lest I forget...interesting characters. My favorite, besides...Read More

Something about Robert Hatting's Boomer, set in the Arizona Territory of the late 1870s, reminds me of the classic tales of Will James. I think it's the way Mr. Hatting knows his way so very well around ranch life, horses and the ways of the old west including its people.

Then there's the storytelling. Boomer is chock full of adventure, robbery, intrigue, and lest I forget...interesting characters. My favorite, besides Sheriff Henry Boomer, is Wolf, another is Milly, a strong-willed, determined young woman. She'd have to be to survive in this time and in this place. All, even the most trivial characters, are vividly brought to life; no one rings phony. This is a writer who's seen his share of life and living and understands how to communicate that in his novel. Five stars to Boomer.

rings phony. This is a writer who's seen his share of life and living and understands how to communicate that in his novel. Five stars to Boomer.

S. M. Ballard "writer" reviewed Boomer.

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON MY PUBLISHED NOVELS, USE THE FOLLOWING url.  http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=Robert+Hatting.