The Boardman Tasker Omnibus [Hardcover]

Joe Tasker (Author), Peter Boardman (Author), Chris Bonington (Foreword)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This volume combines two Boardman titles?The Shining Mountain (1982) and Sacred Summits (1982)?with two of Tasker's?Savage Arena (1982) and Everest the Cruel Way (1980)?all out of print. The two men gained fame for several daring ascents of Mt. Everest, the last of which cost both of them their lives. LJ's reviewer praised Savage Arena for relating why climbers feel the "price is worth paying" for reaching the top (LJ 11/15/82).
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 985 pages
• Publisher: Mountaineers Books (May 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898864364
• ISBN-13: 978-0898864366
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #627,250 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable., May 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Boardman Tasker Omnibus (Hardcover)

Having read inumerable books on mountaineering, I wasn't prepared for the impact of this one. I've read "Fragile Edge" by Maria Coffey, (it is excellent, she was Tasker's girlfriend)about her and Hillary Boardman's experiences following the deaths of Boardman and Tasker, and wasn't prepared for the emotional impact of this book. It is probably one of the best I've read. Boardman's style gripped me, and brought home what a terrible tragedy his death was for the literary community. I believe there are "writing climbers" and "climbing writers"; Boardman was definitely a gifted climber who wrote beautifully. This book should be in anyone's library who loves mountains and adventure travel.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Veritable Smorgasbord of Climbing Literature, August 3, 1999

By 

Brian Callahan "aceaceaceace" (Huntington, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Boardman Tasker Omnibus (Hardcover)

This book was great ! It was like an orgy of climbing by two of the great climbers of all times, who also happened to be very good writers as well. The four-books-in-one format was terrific too, because when you're enjoying an author's work so much, it's quite nice to know that there's more coming. The writing itself was suspenseful and dramatic, but didn't make you feel that you had to be a climber to understand what they were doing. They also touched on the meaning of what they were doing, and why they did ti, which was very insightful. All in all, just a truly outstanding book.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gripping collection, March 21, 2001

By 

M. Ragen "searagen" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Boardman Tasker Omnibus (Hardcover)

This book delivers one of the most comprehensive perspective on climbing in the Himalayas. With vivid descriptions of successful (and unsuccessful) climbs of a variety of peaks in the Himalayas plus descriptions of the North Face of the Eiger and the Snow Mountains of New Guinea, this book demonstrates the versatility of these two gentlemen.

The drama and imagery shines through the writing of both Tasker and Boardman. With details on the first ascents of the West Face of Changabang, the Southeast ridge of Dunagiri, the Northwest ridge of Kangchenjunga and more, this book is a treasure trove of great climbing. There are occasional technical terms but they demonstrate the effort and intensity of these two climbers. A great choice.