I've read quite a few "stories of survival" and I have to say this one puts you "in the life raft" better than any I've read. Very vivid descriptions of both mental state of mind and physical discomforts. This will probably leave you with some vivid mental pictures long after you're finished with the book.

Imagine sailing a 70-foot yacht in an 80-knot hurricane wind in for 58 hours. Now, imagine the boat falling off a wave and sinking beneath your feet... An agonizing survival story that will teach you new respect for the elements. Read it in a safe place.

For sailors or people who love adventure, this book permits one to understand the snowball effect of chaos on-board a sailboat and what it takes to survive in the Atlantic Ocean.

I think that all of North Americas sea shore critters can not be described in a single book. Certainly not in a book of this size. The publishers where quite bold in the scope and as such much information has been left out. That said let me tell you what is good about this book. The pictures are GREAT! Much better than looking at technical drawings. However, they are not better for identification. The descriptions of animal groups are excellent. For the person with little biological background this will go a good way toward explaining the complexities of ocean life. The method of identification, sorting by superficial appearance is handy, again for the inexperienced. To sum it up, if you want one book to carry during your first summer of beach combing get this one. If you need a companion for a marine zoology class stay away, unless you already have everything else.

I live in North Carolina and catch and keep a lot of Invertebrates we we go to the beach. So far, every Invert that we've caught has been in this book, easy to find and we found out alot about it by reading. Anyone who sees something cool at the beach often should get this book. In fact, it's a Must-Have.
Shredda Out

Anyone who has used the National Audubon's Field Guides knows just how great they are. This one is no exception. Great picture plates and acccurate descriptions of organisms. For the biologist to the beach hopper, this book is easy to use and very informative.

This book contains wonderful photographs of many tropical marine species. Some of the descriptions of the species, though, use complicated terminology and can be confusing. Other than that, all the features are excellent. After the description of each family of fish, there is a list of genera in that family and information on those genera. Also, each species has its own range map. Species that do not have a photograph are also described briefly. A pretty good book, especially since it has information on so many fish including sharks, rays, eels, and others.

I did find this book very useful, however it is slightly cumbersome to use if you are in a hurry (on the dive boat between sites) so be sure to write down your description of what you saw and look it up later in your hotel. The photos are fairly good (some are a little dark for my taste) and really useful for a beginning diver or snorkler. I would buy it again and plan on getting the campanion Coral Reefs.

This is the best book I've seen for identifying fish in this region when snorkeling, diving, or tide-pooling. I own & use several, but if you're only going to buy one guide, this is the one to get.

The illustrations alone would make this better than anything else on the market. Most guides rely on artists' renderings or studio photographs of dead fish. This book illustrates each of over 400 species with a close-up color photograph of a live fish in the water. Incredible.

The lay-out is good for identification; fish are grouped together by shape. That means you don't have to know much about fish to quickly look up something you saw. You can then cross-reference it to a complete description.

The physical manufacture of the book is also a plus. Its small size and flexibility make it almost unnoticable in luggage or a beach bag. It's also a little water-resistant: my copy has seen more than its fare share of dunkings, and still acts like a book instead of a soggy mess.

Of the few criticisms I have of this book, one would be that the index isn't too good (if Rainbow Runner isn't listed under "R", then where is it?). This isn't too much of a shortcoming, though, given that a field guide is usually used to identify species by appearence, not the other way around.

If you plan on observing fish in this region, I highly recommend this book.

During the first third of this book, I kept checking to make sure it was written by the same author that wrote the sophisticated and dramatic "Justinian", a book that I loved. The two cousins, Sostratos and Menedemos, who are sent on a trading journey across the Aegean Sea seem very immature, continually arguing about insignificant matters, when it seems more realistic that they'd be concerned about guiding their ship and managing their crew. I was amazed that so much of the story focused on trading their cargo of peacocks, which the cousins continually argued and worried about as the peacocks ran around deck and bit the crew.

What I particularly noticed during the first third of the book was the author's unsophisticated writing style in his method of conveying the historical setting. In most historical fiction, you absorb the history through the action, but the two cousins were constantly discussing the ancient writers, describing the different ships, clothing and places, supposedly instructing one another, but it was obvious that their dialogue was meant to instruct the reader. It was an unskillful and unsubtle writing technique.

In spite of these annoyances, the story was entertaining enough to keep me reading as they confronted pirates, got into messes with merchants' wives in places they traded, skirmished with a sword-brandishing mercenary, and had other amusing adventures. There were no intensely violent scenarios, and they always escaped, mostly unscathed, so the mood of the book is pretty lighthearted. In spite of the immature bickering of the cousins, I enjoyed their adventures and was able to form a mental image of the the culture and sights of this early Greek period.

This is a very clever book that gives the reader a look at another time, over two thousand years ago. While not as good as the author's previous historical novel, "Justanian," "Wine Dark Sea" is a excellent read. You won't find it in most book stores so order it here, you won't be disapointed! ...

This is a masterly evocation of the ancient world -- with interesting characters who are sympathetic and understandable, but _not_ like modern people stuffed into chitons.

The scholarship is solid but not obtrusive, the action is exciting, and the settings are well-drawn.

I'm particularly impressed by the way the language -- while natural, smoothly written English -- _feels_ like ancient Greek.

When you've read this book, you'll want to read it again for the bits you missed; and you'll know down in your bones that it's a long, dangerous way from Rhodes to Italy.

"Pitcairn's Island" tells the story of nine mutineers from the Bounty after they took the ship and set Captain Bligh adrift in an open boat. Settling on a tiny uninhabited island in the South Pacific, they and their Polynesian companions found an earthly paradise. The island was large enough to sustain the small population, and was so remote that discovery by the British navy was unlikely. During the first years on the island, they worked to develop the community, and there was little strife. But as their living conditions became less precarious, they were confronted with timeless problems that eventually plunged the inhabitants of the island into turmoil. Jealousy, lust, drunkenness, sloth, oppression, adultery, avarice and race hatred soon destroyed this ideal society in violent and shocking ways.

The authors present a meticulous fictional narrative, derived from the accounts of vistors and islanders. They treat the savagery and debauchery that occured there mainly in a decorous and oblique manner. The only real flaw with the book is the map, which is inadequate to guide the reader throught the events. Notwithstanding, the book is very entertaining and one will certainly want to learn more about the island and its people. Best of all though, is the way in which the book raises questions about the essential nature of human beings. The mutineers and their companions had an Eden, but it could not and did not last.

This is a magnificent book and the best of the Bounty Trilogy. I've read it many times over the years and find myself wholly captivated by it each time.

"Pitcairn's Island" follows the story of Bounty mutineer Fletcher Christian and eight of his men who are hunting for a sanctuary in which to hide from the long arm of the Royal Navy. They bring their Tahitian wives and several Tahitian men along with them. Finding Pitcairn's Island uninhabited, they settle there in 1790, less than a year after the mutiny. The men range from about age 21 to 38, Christian himself was only about 24 yrs old although the movies always seem to depict him as being older.

The Pitcairn story operates on multiple levels--- the attempt by criminals to make a Utopian society, the conflict between the English and the Tahitians, the conflict between the men and the women, conflict between the educated officers, Christian and Young, and the low-born seamen. The tiny colony struggles with alcoholism, race warfare, slavery, rape, insanity and even religious rebirth. The story seems impossible to believe and yet all of it is true. The mutiny story has made for several rousing motion pictures but they always end with the mutineers arrival at Pitcairn and never deal with what happened afterwards, which is the most fascinating part of the story.

Will some filmmaker PLEASE bring this story to the screen?

Before reviewing this book, let me note that it contains explicit scenes of violence that would cause this book to exceed an R rating if it were a motion picture. These scenes are very effective in enhancing the emotional power of the story, but certainly exceed what had to be portrayed.

Pitcairn's Island is by far the best of the three novels in The Bounty Trilogy. While the first two books seem like somewhat disconnected pieces of the whole story of the events leading up to and following the mutiny on H.M.S. Bounty, Pitcairn's Island stands alone as a worthy story. In its rich development of what happened to nine of the mutineers and those Polynesians who joined them, this book ranks as one of the great adventure and morality tales of all time.

The story picks up with the H.M.S. Bounty under sail in poorly charted seas, commanded by Fletcher Christian and looking for Pitcairn's Island. On the ship are 27 adults (9 British mutineers, 12 Polynesian women, and 6 Polynesian men). Everyone is a little edgy because Pitcairn's Island is not where the charts show it to be. After much stress, Pitcairn's Island is finally sighted. Then, it becomes apparent that the Bounty cannot be kept safely there in the long run because of the poor mooring conditions. If they commit to Pitcairn's Island, there will be no leaving it. Should they stay or go?

The novel follows up on what happens in the 19 years following that fateful decision. The key themes revolve around the minimum requirements of a just society, differences between the two cultures of British and Polynesians, the varying perceptions and expectations of men and women, and the impact of immorality on the health of a society. Anyone who has enjoyed Robinson Crusoe, Swiss Family Robinson, or The Lord of the Flies will find this novel vastly appealing. Here, part of the fascination is that real-life events are being described.

The decision to turn this into a novel is a good one. The accounts of what occurred vary, and cannot be totally reconciled. So no one can really know what happened, other than it was dramatic. Towards the end of the book, the narration becomes that of one character, and the use of that character's language, perspective, background is powerful in making the novel seem more realistic and compelling.

This is a story where the less you know when you begin, the more you will enjoy the story. Out of respect for your potential reading pleasure, I will delve no more into the book.

After you finish reading the book, I suggest that you take each of the characters and imagine how you could have improved matters for all by speaking and behaving differently then that character did. Then, think about your own family, and apply the same thought process. See what you would like to change about your own speech and behavior in your family, as a result.

Think through the consequences of your potential actions very carefully when many others will be affected!

After a brief recapitulation of the eventful first volume in this series, Pope picks up the day to day adventures of Lt. Lord Ramage in his first command. Carrying the love of his life to Gibraltar, Ramage falls in with frigates, both Spanish and British, has an onshore diversion spying on the enemy, has a run-in with a Levanter, and returns to save the day for the fleet and his beloved Commodore Nelson.

Ramage is a clever dog, and Pope smart enough to keep us in the dark about his hero's tricks until he's about to crash aboard an enemy ship. I love the atmospheric detail of antique things and actions, but Pope is also a bit talky, his factual asides occasionally breaking into the action, rather like a sprinkle of sand on plum duff. Often his asides serve to draw out an action to interminable, almost real-time, length. For example, Pope has Ramage engage in a monologue on the texture of deck wood while he makes a fateful decision during Adm. Jervis' great fleet battle off Cape St. Vincent in 1797 (NB: this is NOT Nelson's fatal battle at nearby Trafalgar, in 1805). In such ways Pope stretches a single-ship action to 80 agonizing pages, with hardly a page for the actual cut-and-thrust of boarding. Maybe Pope is trying to give us a study of the thought processes of successful leadership, at close to the last time leaders were wholly on their own. Good thing Ramage has the loyalty of his crew and the luck o' the divil for his thrilling but disobedient series of escapades here off Spain, or he'd've been flogged 'round the fleet. (If you want to try your own hand at sailing a radio-controlled model square-rigger, my search of the Web suggests it will cost us thou$ands vs several hundred$ for a fore-and-aft rig.)

I suspect many of the episodes are exciting fantasy, but set in solid historical contexts (easiest to write while the hero is still a minor officer unlikely to have been mentioned in dispatches). The jolly steadfastness of Ramage's tars could become tiresome; reminds me too much of Marryat. Kudos to McBooks for the typography that catches the insouciance of Ramage, and for the thrilling wrap-around cover art of Paul Wright.

This is a very entertaining book, with an real barn-burner of a battle at the end. The best thing about this book is the unusual and creative tactics Ramage uses during the battles. The battles in this book are not the usual artillery slug-fests. The book is fairly well-written, although Pope doesn't come close to Patrick O'Brian in terms of quality prose and witty dialogue. The characters are likable but not terribly three-dimensional. One of the reasons I really like Pope, though, is that he was incredibly knowledgeable about sailing and the age of fighting sail and it shows in his writting. At one point, Pope gives a brief history of the ships of the line in Sir John Jervis' squadron (real historical ships) and he lists every major battle they fought in and who commanded them at the time. Of course he could have just looked all that up, but I think that he just knew all that history. The final battle is essentially the Battle of St. Vincent, but it is greatly modified for dramatic purposes. Pope obviously loved his subject matter. At one point he gives about a page and a half description of all of the beautiful features of a ship of the line. I have also read that of all of the major writers in this genre, Pope was the best real-life sailor. (He spent many years of his life living on and sailing his boat, the Ramage). But anyway, this series is excellent so far; one no fan of nautical fiction should miss.

.

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Review of the Ramage series of novels:

Don't read this until you have read the first book: Ramage, by Dudley Pope.

Book 1: Ramage

Book 2: Ramage and the Drumbeat

Book 3: Ramage and the Freebooters

Book 4: Governor Ramage RN

Book 5: Ramage's Prize

Book 6: Ramage and the Guillotine

Order them all, because you won't want to stop. The action is fast and furious.

This is second in a series of historical fiction by Dudley Pope. All of these are fictional novels based on British Admiralty records of the Napoleonic era. Written in the best tradition of Forester and O'Brien, these books will capture your imagination. And if you haven't read the Hornblower series by Forester, or the Aubrey/Maturin series by O'Brien, try them also. All of these are excellent books that you will treasure and reread. I particularly like these books by Pope. I recommend that you buy them all at once and read them in order. You will be glad you did.

If you enjoy reading accurate descriptions of naval maneuvers in the age of sail, or simply a good adventure yarn, Dudley Pope delivers. Pope conveys how the best of the best, handle emergency situations. He portrays these situations with realism and authenticity.

Review of this book:

Ramage, in command of cutter Kathleen, is ordered to proceed to Gibralter to support Lord Nelson. On the way, he manages to find a unique way to capture a dismasted Spanish frigate and untold other adventures, that I won't give away.

This book describes Ramage's exicting activities immediately prior to and through the battle of Trafalgar where he plays a pivotal role. The actually battle of Trafalgar, aside from a few liberites take with respect to our hero, is not surprisingly accurate in the account of battle. The book is great fun and so is the next one!

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Conrad B. Senior

Pope writes heroic stories of the British Navy in the age of sail, not as easy as Capt. Marryat nor as grimly vicious as Jan Needle's. The stories in this series are suitable for anyone from a youthful age. They build well to the moments of intense action and there's darn little vivid blood, "salty talk" or eloquent cursing even in situations that demand it; Ramage is one ferociously cool customer. These books have a generous look and feel, like a hardback without the boards (or price).

This is the first Ramage novel based substantially on true (if minor) historical events. Maybe for that reason there are fewer daring action scenes here than in the previous four novels. Ramage is assigned another thankless and politically dangerous mystery to solve, loses his fourth ship in 5 books, faces his second mutiny and second privateer, upsets the Admiralty again, requires an Act of Parliament to be passed, and is still a Lieutenant. We learn such things as the British mail packet-boat system (when surface mail was faster to the Caribbean than it is today!). Also, how to fiddle insurers, the loading of guns, detecting wood rot, rules of neutrality, the giving of parole, and the origin of mahonnaise, among other bits of nautical lore. Pope seems to give Ramage expert knowledges that such a young man might not have known. Pope can write evocatively of the seas and seacapes when he turns his mind to it.

I have read the first five books in this series and I would say that this one and Ramage and the Drumbeat are the best of the five. This one has an interesting plot (involving captured post office packets) that is something a little different from the norm. Creating complex, realistic characters has never been Pope's strong suit, but I think he does a little better here than usual. The best thing about this book, however, is that there is some good action at sea and another situation that develops at the end that is very suspenseful. Another very good thing about this book is that there is not yet another new, bland romance for Ramage to get involved in. His first love, Gianna, returns and is as fiery and funny as ever. Pope's books are certainly not great literature, but they are fairly well written and make for good, light reading.

Review of the Lord Ramage series novels:

Don't read this until you have read the first four books of the Lord Ramage Novels by Dudley Pope.

For more historical information on history of ships of the Royal Navy, read SHIPS OF THE OLD NAVY by Michael Phillips.

Lord Ramage Novels

Book 1: Ramage

Book 2: Ramage and the Drumbeat

Book 3: Ramage and the Freebooters

Book 4: Governor Ramage RN

Book 5: Ramage's Prize *

Book 6: Ramage and the Guillotine

Book 7: Ramage's Diamonds

Book 8: Ramage's Mutiny

Order them all, because you won't want to stop. The action is fast and furious.

This is fifth in a series of historical fiction by Dudley Pope. All of these are fictional novels based on British Admiralty records of the Napoleonic era. Written in the best tradition of Forester and O'Brien, these books will capture your imagination. And if you haven't read the Hornblower series by Forester, or the Aubrey/Maturin series by O'Brien, be sure to try them also. All of these are excellent books that you will treasure and reread. I particularly like these books by Pope. I recommend that you buy them all at once and read them in order. That is what I am doing.

If you enjoy reading accurate descriptions of naval maneuvers in the age of sail, or simply a good adventure yarn, Dudley Pope delivers. Pope conveys how the best of the best, handle emergency situations. He portrays these situations with realism and authenticity.

Review of this book:

Ramage, is given the task of determining why Post Office packets, delivering mail from England to the Caribbean and back are disappearing. This story was based on true events. Post office packet brigs were surrendered to French privateers in the manner described because of "ventures", insurance policies, carried by treacherous officers and crews, and a Post Office packet was ransomed at the neutral Portuguese port of Lisbon in the same circumstances and difficulties as the Lady Arabella of the story.

In the age of Nelson it took 45 days for mail to be delivered from England to the Caribbean. Today, surface mail from England, takes 60 to 90 days to reach various islands in the Caribbean.

Buy the series in the hard cover--worth keeping and handing down.

A good yarn. Buy them all. I starting reading the next one last night. Conrad B. Senior S/V Echo

I have loved the sea and its stories my entire life, so when I received "To the Sea" I was elated. From a photographic point of view, this book is, in my opinion, unequaled. The pictures are astounding... wonderful color, great action, and there are many several-page fold-outs. I enjoyed very much the inclusion of ancient and modern excerpts from the works of many varied authors-- from Edgar Allen Poe to Joshua Slocum, from Coleridge to Hal Roth-- each with a unique perspective on the sea. But there is a downside to this in many ways amazing book. There are so many grammatical and technical errors that it makes the reader (at least this reader) wonder if it was ever edited. Spelling errors, begun-yet-not-completed-sentences, bad grammar, and a generally poor grasp of engaging writing left me, while spellbound by the pictures and poems contained within, more than a little upset. Instead of becoming lost in the stories or accounts, I found myself anticipating spelling mistakes or wondering when the next run-on sentence would occur. Meisel obviously knows what he is talking about, but presents it in such a "research paper" fashion that it is difficult to really appreciate the end result. In addition, he sometimes seems rushed to get his ideas down, and in the process does not develop them as he should. His descriptions of voyages and sagas on the sea throughout history are short and lack a depth someone so versed in the sea could have brought across. I was constantly left thinking, "man... if only there were another paragraph or two on this topic..." If Meisel would have taken the time to expand his thoughts further, the reader would be that much more taken. "To the Sea" could easily have been 50 to 100 pages longer, and would be better for it. On the whole, though, it is worth reading, and in many areas quite memorable. And, as said before, the photographs are unbelievable. If you love the sea, it is a worthwhile addition to your library. If you are an English professor, stick to the pictures.

This review refers to the hardcover edition of "To The Sea" by Tony Meisel....

This by far is the most beautiful book I own. Open this book to any page and you will find exquiste stories, ageless poems, epic adventures, breathtaking pictures and informative pieces on anything and everthing to do with the seas and boating. It's big, beautiful and heavy, and your arms might tire from holding it, but you won't want to put it down.

Voyages from the 15th century through present day are covered.Routes and charts used, the progress in navigational instruments are shown, photographs and stories of the world's great sailors from Captain James Cook to America's Cupwinning helmsman Dennis Conner is just a small sampling to be found here.
You'll get lost in the classic stories and poems to be found throughout the book. Excerpts from "Gulliver's Travels" by Jonathan Swift, "The Perfect Storm" by Sebastian Junger, the entire seven parts of "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Coleridge, and "On the Sea" by Keats among them.

Sections on Knots, Boats, Sea Shanties, Disaters, Triumphs, stories of Mermaids and many beautiful photographs and paintings(some that pull out to a three page view), all will keep any enthusiast of the sea or boats totally enthralled. There's even sections dealing with the technical aspects (gear, ropes and rigging, etc) for the serious sailor.

The book is packed with nautical facts and inspirational stories,and printed on high quality paper.It would look beautiful on the coffee table, but you may want to keep it away from an accidental spills.

"Those who live by the sea can hardly form a single thought of which the sea would not be part"....Hermann Broc

Permission to board.... and enjoy.....Laurie

I liked this book a lot, because you get so many different things in it! Excerpts from classic books about the sea and sailing, poems, etc, plus practical knowledge such as knot tying and signalling, plus stories about famous sailors, both modern-day and of olden times. For an excellent all-around look at ships and the sea, get this book. Plus...check out the size of the wave on the cover!!

Richard Woodman's Nathaniel Drinkwater series has always had a dark Gothic air about it. The darkest entry was undoubtedly Under False Colours' predecessor A Private Revenge. Series readers will be happy to know that this entry is nowhere near as dark and tragic as A Private Revenge. It is perhaps more similar and related to the earlier Baltic Mission. It's like Baltic Mission in that it is more cloak and dagger than sea story.

However, Under False Colours is not a rewrite of Baltic Mission in a different location. Much has happened to Nathaniel Drinkwater since Baltic Mission and Under False Colours is the conclusion of events that were initiated in Baltic Mission and which propelled the action through In Distant Waters and A Private Revenge. A Private Revenge left Drinkwater a deeply psychologically scarred man. In Under False Colours Drinkwater begins to heal the deep wounds left from the horrors of the earlier novel.

This entry begins with an attempt to deceive the French by getting them to believe that Britain is supplying military aid to the Czar in defiance of Napoleon's Continental System and his treaty with the Czar. Things go awry and Drinkwater leads a trading mission into Hamburg and as is typical of this series, twists and turns fall more twists and turns. The climax occurs at sea following a tense build up and chase.

Under False Colours does not have the same level of blood letting that some of the earlier entries in the series had and all Bolitho novels have. Instead it gradually builds up tension while exploring the conditions in Napoleonic Europe. What I found particularly interesting was the role of Jewish merchants in Hamburg and London. The Jews of Drinkwater's Europe have an underground communication system that acts as a conduit to and from the continent. Woodman nicely underplays Drinkwater's surprise at being treated so well by Jewish merchants. The kindness of the Jews would have come as a very pleasant surprise to a Christian of Drinkwater's era, not because we wouldn't expect them to be kind but because the Christians of that era wouldn't. One can see barriers beginning to fall, as paradigms are broken.

Under False Colours is an entertaining novel with some nice surprises in contrast to the nasty ones of A Private Revenge. It's a worthy entry in the series but not one of the best. I suspect that it is a bit of a respite from desperate action to follow in the last three years of the war as Woodman brings it home for the reader.

This is the replay from Sheridan regarding the publishing orders:

=== It was a question of US Rights becoming available - a slow and difficult process. Next spring we will do the first three and the rest will follow in chronological order.

Sheridan House ====

Richard Woodman has spent most of his life at sea, is an eminent Naval historian and the author of several books on Naval history, plus many fictional books. This background and a superb command of the English language make his books a joy to read. His intimate knowledge of square-riggers takes you inside the ship - you are THERE with the crew, battling the elements or the enemy, feeling each blow.

This book expands on the theme of the struggle against Napoleon - Nathaniel Drinkwater, now Captain, is increasingly involved in espionage and subversion as the Secret Service draws on his special talents to undermine Napoleon's empire-building.

Following orders from Lord Dungarth, head of the Secret Service, Capt. Nathaniel Drinkwater adopts the disguise of a dissipated merchant mariner (almost too successfully) to sow the seeds of a threat to Napoleon's Russian alliance. It all turns sour and plans are wrought afresh, landing Nat in French custody and meeting an old female adversary. Not much in the way of action, but the tension and intrigue more than make up for that.

As usual, excellent descriptions and tension-building make the pages fly by - and the author's notes fill in the facts behind the tale. A series to read, savour and re-read.*****

My wife read the first chapter of this book and was so disgusted she 'disappeared' it. Fortunately I had already read it and didn't notice it missing until many months had gone by. We had a laugh about it the other day actually. If you enjoy books that include amongst other things jokes about piles of excretions this is the book for you! I know it is (one of) the books for me. You will laugh alot. I wanted to reread some of the "toilet humor" parts a few weeks ago. because...what the heck, no one's looking, I got the bathroom door locked, right...I happen to enjoy that kind of humor, alright. Trouble is, I could not find a copy of this little book in any bookstore not even a paperback. I guess that's what happens when a book "bombs" but to heck with those polite little old ladies who read women romance books. To my surprise I was able to find a used paperback actually online. My wife rolls her eyes but she makes me keep it in the bathroom with the 'bodily necessities' jokebook by Dan Pearce. They are both good books for sitting and reading a few pages during those thinking moments. The worst thing I'll say about a book I don't like is the Author doesn't know "squat!" Well try it and see if it works for you because it works for me.

In the tradition of Endurance, Heart of Darkness, and Outerbridge Reach, Masiel weaves a haunting story of the loneliness and isolation that lurks within us all, and the search for redemption in the vast, cruel emptiness of the Arctic. Against a bleak canvas of sea and ice, Henry Seine struggles to quiet the demons within himself, and in the quixotic and tragic search to rescue an anonymous researcher trapped on a disintegrating island of ice, pits himself against the unrelenting forces of the arctic north in a desperate attempt to find meaning within the boundaries of his own existence.

This is one of the finest pieces of literature that I have read in the last few years.

This book really works on two levels. The surface level is an action-packed adventure story. On another level, it is about how the protagonist comes to accept his human failings and eventually overcomes the worst of them. This book is extremely entertaining as the events unfold at a rapid pace. At the same time, the underlying philosophy makes it more than just fun, but also worth reading.