About the Book A half century of adventures and investigations from the early 1950s into the 21st century featuring California wildlife officers: the authors father, his colleagues, and himself. Book Synopsis Retired game warden Steven T. Callans love of nature and passion for protecting wildlife took root long before he experienced the adventures described in his memoir, Badges, Bears, and Eagles . In The Game Wardens Son , he recounts more of his own investigations, along with those of his game warden father and their colleagues. Intertwined with a half century of adventures and investigations is a story of the lifelong relationship between a boy and his father. The book begins in the 1950s in the canyons and on the beaches of San Diego with incidents that sparked Stevens youthful imagination. After an idyllic boyhood in the Northern Sacramento Valley farm town of Orland, where he rode on patrol with his father, Steven became a game warden himself in the early 70s, joining the desert rats who patrolled the California counties banking the Colorado River. With wry humor, Callan tells how he and his fellow officers outwitted the perpetrators--most of them crafty, some of them hilariously foolish--who poached deer, lobsters, and abalone, baited bears and sold their parts, shot wild ducks to supply restaurants, and killed songbirds for epicurean dinner tables. Their cases took them across the Channel Islands, through the back alleys of San Francisco, up the Sacramento Valley, into the Sierras, and along Californias pristine North Coast. While these dedicated wardens saw their share of greed, they also appreciated the many hunters and fishermen who obeyed the laws and respected the earths resources. In the end, it was all about protecting Californias natural resources for future generations, which is what Callan and company did, enjoying themselves every step of the way. Review Quotes Callans writing is dynamic and authoritative, with an episodic structure that will keep experts and novice readers turning the pages. The dialogue, sharp and resourceful, helps to move the story forward without bogging down the narrative structure. -Dan Good, NY Daily News Filled with true-life stories, they are all written in an exciting manner that puts you in the middle of the action. And action there is! Game wardens seldom have nearby backup, and they need to be resourceful and self-confident when enforcing game laws. After all, almost everyone they come in contact with is armed! Fascinating book, and a must-read. -Bill Karr, Western Outdoor News A witty and enlightening memoir, The Game Wardens Son brims over with tales of stake-outs using disguises and subterfuge to trap transgressors.... The books slang or jargon related to wildlife is a fun bonus and makes the timely account of environmental protection even more enjoyable. Read more.... -Jane Manaster for The Manhattan Book Review A wonderful tribute to the legacy of a father, a son, and many other wildlife professionals dedicated to protecting all of Californias natural resources. -John D. Nesbitt, award-winning author of Field Work and Dark Prairie My desire to continue the same battles protecting fish and wildlife has been rejuvenated by reading Steves book. -Jerry Karnow, Jr., Past President of the California Fish and Game Wardens Association Steve Callan will keep you on the edge of your seat and show you that law and order comes in many guises. -Patricia Lawrence, executive producer, Travel Radio International and reporter for the Palo Cedro East Valley Times Every angler and hunter should read this book ... it should also be required reading for every youngster being introduced to these outdoor activities. I say this not just because it is an exciting series of easy-to-read and gripping detective stories but also because it could go a long way toward helping coming generations understand the threats facing our fish and wildlife. It should also make all law-abiding outdoorsmen more aware that our game wardens are true allies and friends. I was fortunate enough to receive an advance copy of The Game Wardens Son. Once I began reading, it was extremely hard to put down. Callan is a fine storyteller.... As I came to the end, Callan left me wanting more. -Frank Galusha, founder and former editor and publisher of MyOutdoorBuddy.com.