By NISHELLE ROBBINS

Special to the PVT

So you think Pahrump is a small town? Try the town of Blue Diamond.

Blue Diamond had 282 residents as of the 2000 census, and according to Evan Blythin, that number probably doesn’t change too much.

Blythin is the author of “Vanishing Village: The Struggle for Community in the New West.” This book describes the lives of the people who make up the small town. His book covers every topic important to this town, from community service to recreation to law enforcement.

There are even a few more comically titled but serious chapters about such matters as public urination.

Blythin describes how the small town remains small, despite sitting 25 miles outside of one of the biggest tourist cities in the world: Las Vegas. The main way the town stays small is its care in accepting outsiders. Blythin experienced this when he first moved to the town, and his experiences going through “initiation” are some of the most interesting writing in the book.

One of the main themes of the book seems to be toleration.

Blythin asks the outsiders who judge Blue Diamond to tolerate small town life and its values. Values like community service and retaining tradition are important to this town.

In return, Blythin says the residents of Blue Diamond tolerate others. One example of this is when the town tolerates homeless people who tend to wander in and out. However, Blue Diamond is never taken advantage of. When an outsider comes in and overstays his welcome, the town is not afraid to nudge the outsider out.

A second theme offers more pessimism. Blythin, if not a neo-Luddite, is at least careful about welcoming technology. Although he recognizes technology has helped the world, he also says it hinders life because it destroys tradition. While most people find comfort in their computers or television, Blythin prefers a simpler way of being comforted.

“An afternoon drink can take you away from the mechanical and electronic world and bring you down to yourself and the people who are important in your life,” he writes.

This is an intriguing look at the values that make up the lives of people in small towns, especially small towns in the deserts of the Southwest.

Blythin describes these lives through eloquent language that keeps the reader’s attention. The best way to describe how Blythin writes is to compare it to a cool college professor. The things he talks about are interesting, and what he says make you think. Sometimes, however, he goes off on tangents that seem, although entertaining, a waste of time.

However, the book overall is a good use of time. It’s a pretty easy read and doesn’t have a confusing plot line. Each chapter is its own world, so if the reader doesn’t want to read about a subject, he can skip to another chapter without missing anything. This allows the reader freedom to move through the book in almost any order he chooses.

At some points the book is a little intense language and content-wise but it’s an excellent read for a day of relaxation and learning. After reading this book several times, I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to escape to a place where small town traditions reign supreme against a world that seems to be losing its connections to true village life.

Blythin will be at the Pahrump Community Library this Saturday, July 17, at 10:30 a.m.