Customer Reviews

Fall of the Phantom Lord: Climbing and the Face of Fear

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I became fascinated with mountain climbing after reading about the Everest climbs. This book was even better. Osman is a fascinating individual completely consumed with rock climbing. His feats of free-fall are bizarre and will leave you mezmerized. But if you test fate too much, bad things happen.

While rock climbing is the center of this book, Osman was more than a climber. It's interesting to a guy who works at least 8 hours a day to read about a man who works only to support his "rock climbing habit". Osman was also a unique individual and I feel for his daughter having to grow up without this unique individual in her life.

This is one of my all-time favortie adventure books, and I've read many, both modern and classic. Todhunter's book is a marvelous excursion into the realm of fear and adrenaline, poignant and poetic, the inside story on what is otherwise external in nature, i.e. risking your life for mysterious reasons. Anyone who has ever taken seemingly foolish risks should rush out and get this book!

Though I am not an avid climber and sadly never had the opportunity to see Osman in action, Todhunter described Osman's psyche in such a way that I really felt that I came to know this courageous, reckless, inspiring climber. So much so, that when I learned of Osman's death in Yosemite last November, I literally cried. Todhunter introduced me to a man who, rather than running from his fear, literally jumped into its arms. We should all learn to be so courageous. I highly recommend this book.

when i read the book, though it was clear enough in one sense that dan osman's drive toward perfection in climbing skill and the control of fear was also some kind of an addiction of the kind that will destroy you if you can't break its hold, todhunter's prose and osman's character--at least when climbing--made you feel that if anything happened to him it would be down in the flat world of pick-up trucks and parking tickets. i do not climb, and knew the man only through todhunter's words. but because of the book, when i learned of his death, i was hit by a sense of almost personal loss--and the shock of disbelief. how could it happen to him! he was so disciplined a climber. he knew the phantom lord so well. may angels and ministers of grace attend him. and look after his daughter emma

I had a hard time putting this book down and thought about nothing else for the few days I was reading it. Absolutely mesmerizing! As a newbie, I appreciated the intro to the lingo of the rock-climbing world. Todhunter's writing was excellent and I enjoyed the contrasting of his own life with his experiences with Dan Osman. Dano was pure inspiration to me. I was shocked when I found out he was dead. Although it is sad for his family and friends that he has died, strangely enough I don't feel sad for him because he died doing what he loved and living his life to the fullest (may we all live so fully!). I do feel sad that there is less beauty in the world now that he is gone. Read the book and you will see!

Toddhunter's conjuring gift is unparalleled. His verbal portraits of settings and situations are incredibly vivid. His ability to capture the nigh mistical qualities of climbing along with the faith and reverence held by the climbers themselves is astonishing. As a climber, I was repeatedly amazed as Toddhunter managed to capture, isolate, and articulate the philosophics of climbing. We know we are reading a book by someone who understands. His portrait of a modern hero is truly moving. By the time you finish the book, it will have changed you for the better. Fantastic.

Sadly, I received the book as a gift from my son after Dan passed away. My son is the Jason mentioned. Until I read Andrew's details I guess I chose not to think about what they were doing. My son along with Dan's other climbing friends are taking his death badly. Dan left a 12 year old daughter, Emma. Jason and Dan's friends held a raffle just before Christmas to try and help with Emma's upcoming education. They plan to have another shortly.

My son's comment to me upon telling me of Dan's death was that Dan was "the expert" and he would never think of doing the free falling, or base jumping without Dan's expertise. Thank you Andrew Todhunter for your book and for enlightening me on exactly what my son has been doing. I can only pray that the deaths stop with Dan.

Fall of the Phantom Lord is as real as any book I've read. Reading it, even this non-climber could practically feel his face pressed up against the face of the rock. Todhunter gets up close and personal on the subject of risk. He sees the lure of high risk climbing as a cross between a noble challenge and a dangerous personal addiction, especially for climbers with loved ones waiting at the foot of the mountain. He makes you wonder, as he puts it,"at what point do statatistically hazardous, entirely elective pastimes become unethical? To what degree do we owe our self-preservation to those whom we profess to love.And if we do hold back, do we then betray ourselves?" Grown-up questions all, with no easy answers.

Using the example of legendary climber, Dan Osman's life, Andrew Todhunter paints a thorough and revealing picture of a modern day extreme sports enthusiast. Dan Osman, known as much for epic roped falls as his difficult sport routes at lake Tahoe's Cave Rock, allows Andrew Todhunter an intimate look at the many life experiences that constitute the lifestyle of an expert rock climber. The book provides breathtaking descriptions of both roped falls and rock climbs in the highlands of California. On the other hand, it attempts to communicate to outsiders the allure and motivation to climb and fall and take the inherent risks involved in rock climbing. Todhunter achieves this through crystalline anecdotes about his own climbing and diving pursuits and the life-changing experience of becoming a father. The accounts of experiences with Dan Osman are entertaining.

Dano and I climbed for years together . His ability to teach was untouched by any climber I had climbed with. In my days as a climber i have seen no other climber challenge Dans ethics and dedication ,Dan is the worlds best in my eyes . The book didnt go far enough . Dans life was much more than a book could ever hold . I miss him dearly, I love you dan , Keep the spirit and fly forever.