This new release from Hunter Travel Guides (June 2000) bills itself as a comprehensive guide that redefines and updates [the Catskill Mountain] region for the 21st century explorer.

It was written by Francine Silverman, a veteran feature and travel writer who has contributed to newspapers and magazines such as The Philadelphia Inquirer, The New Jersey Record, The New York Post, Camperways and Travel Agent Magazine. Silverman visited most of the sites listed in the book, and her style is anecdotal and folksy rather than specific and technical. For instance, she may describe various hikes in the region but provides only a vague description of how to begin the hike, and a phone number for further information.

The travel book is divided by county, and covers Sullivan, Ulster, Greene and Delaware. A final section covers "Farm Markets & More" for the culinary afficianado.

Silverman includes an overview of each county: it's history, development of industry and tourism, resident folklore, resorts and spas, wildlife watching, animal farms, street fairs and festivals and interviews with famous faces (such as Lou and Jackie Goldstein of Grossingers,) as well as the usual listings of hotels and motels, places to eat, golf, fishing, swimming, skiing and other recreational highlights. It's a fun book to browse through, and could provide the weekend vacationer with many wonderful ideas on how to explore the Catskills.

Silverman does display her "big city" per-spective, however, in her characterization of "the locals" as generally having no clue what is happening one town over. She is, under-standably, attracted to locales that provide variety from the urban scene, and thus her review of the wonderful Frankie and Johnny's restaurant in Hurleyville is ho-hum at best. She writes: "This family restaur-ant and bar is no better and no worse than your local Italian res-taurant." (What local Italian restaurant?) The ordinary and authentic flavor of Frankie and Johnny's, which has a sister restaurant in the Bronx, is a rarity in these parts, and exactly why we locals love it, speedy waitresses and all.

"The Catskills Alive" is sprinkled with interesting photos and "tips," Silverman's in-the-know advice for how best to enjoy a certain location or activity. For example, she includes a tip from Sweetwater Guide Service owner Michael Padua on the notion that fishing guides can bring newcomers to "access points known only to resident fisherman." Contrast this with a rather strange claim made by Silverman about the Inn by the Falls in Ferndale, located right on the Middle Mongaup River. "The fish," she writes, "is divine and owner Nelson ships it from out west, shunning local trout." Why would someone ship western trout into a region that has, according to many, the best trout streams in America? It seems that, for an anecdotal travel journalist, there is a story there.

All in all, "The Catskills Alive" is a mixed bag. I enjoyed the many wonderful stories of towns, traditions and people in my region, but when I went to plan a hike up Slide Mountain, the book was only minimally helpful. Its overall content is a bit hit and miss, for instance, I could not find Sweetwater Guide Service listed in the index.

If you have relatives in New York City or Philadelphia or Scranton or Boston who think the Catskills are Deadsville, this book could convince them otherwise.

"The Catskills Alive" is available from Hunter Publishing, Edison, NJ, on the web at www.hunterpublishing.com and is a part of the "Alive!" series founded by Harriot and Arnold Greenberg.