The story, set in the mid-1980s, follows a former Peace Corps Volunteer who kills a mobster's son in revenge for the killing of his wife and brother, then runs to the islands of Micronesia to avoid the mobster's hired killers. The culture and geography of the islands become the backdrop for his flight as he tries to stay one step ahead of his pursuers and deal with his own guilt at the same time. The skinny island of Majuro, lush Pohnpei with its mysterious Nan Madol ruins, the isolation of the Mortlocks, the shipwrecks of the Truk Lagoon, the sailing canoes of Polowat and Satawal, the stone money of Yap, and the modernized lifestyle of Guam all have their parts to play as he jumps from island to island. Finally, on Guam, he confronts the mob boss and his own guilt, and tries to resolve both his physical and emotional dilemmas.
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Reilly Ridgell was born in Santa Monica, California in 1947. In 1950 his father went back into the military to finish up a service career. They moved around from California to Maine to Guam to Delaware to Illinois with many stops in Denver where relatives lived. By high school time Ridgell was living in Pacific Palisades and going to Palisades High. He graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Political Science in 1969 and received a Master's in the same field in 1970 from UC Santa Barbara. After a year of unsuccessful job hunting he joined the Peace Corps, serving as a teacher in the Western Islands (Namonpattiw) of what was then called Truk (now properly called Chuuk) in Micronesia. After two years of Peace Corps and two years of a teaching contract, he moved to Guam. There he taught in a private high school and worked as a progressive rock disc jockey. In 1980 he was hired as an assistant professor at Guam Community College. In 1983 the College published his text book, Pacific Nations and Territories. Future editions, and an elementary level version called Pacific Neighbors, were published by Bess Press in Honolulu and the book is still in print. In 1991 the University of Guam published his anthology of Peace Corps stories, Bending to the Trade Winds. His first novel, Green Pearl Odyssey, published by Blue Ocean Press, was released in 2010. His second novel, The Isla Vista Crucible, about the year at UC Santa Barbara when the nearby Bank of America was burned down by protesters, is due to be published by Savant Books in early 2012. He is currently a dean at Guam Community College.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Confrontation on Guam,
This review is from: Green Pearl Odyssey (Paperback)
Three pages into Green Pearl Odyssey Scott Taylor's beautiful Micronesian wife is standing on a sidewalk in LA, turning to greet him with a smile. As he drives toward her, she is shot and killed. Taylor responds by murdering her killer in cold blood. Reilly Ridgell calls upon his Peace Corp experiences in the South Pacific in the mid-1980s to tell a story of murder and revenge that takes us on an island hopping "odyssey". Ridgell is no epic poet, but his introspective hero finds himself in adventures of his own making and beyond his control which satisfies the Greek imagery of the title. Ridgell writes with authority and compassion as an American who has witnessed the dilemma facing the extended family style cultures of these islands trying to come to grips with modern western economic systems. He writes, "Bring money into the picture and an extended family has problems, because one member earns money but all the others expect to share in it. And soon the one working feels he cannot enjoy the fruits of his labor. He works but his brother has the new house and his uncle a new motor boat...thus the extended family begins to break up." Taylor quite naturally loved the traditional life style, but he realized that he had no right to tell them to remain primitive. Meanwhile some very primitive Mafia types pursue Taylor on a circuitous chase endangering the lives of all who touch him through the outer islands to an eventual confrontation on Guam. As with all good travel books there are maps to help the reader keep up with the fast and furious pace and a lot more action than you'd find on the usual cruise ship. Have a good trip!
3.0 out of 5 stars
A travelogue mystery for the south pacific,
By
This review is from: Green Pearl Odyssey (Paperback)
Ridgell is an author with a mission. He has composed a travelogue of Micronesia while throwing in some adventure and thrill. The intriguing descriptions of the culture, the politics of several different islands, and living the life of an American in the South Pacific provide a rich tapestry upon which the author weaves his story.
Scott Taylor, a former Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV), married an island native. They returned to the U.S. and tried to start a new life there. All these plans were cut short by a drive by shooting aimed at Scott's brother, and Scott's wife was killed as collateral damage. Scott's mind is numb with the pain and loss. He executes the killer who happens to also be the son of a Mafia boss. Scott runs away from the consequences of his actions and attempts to hide with relatives and friends throughout Micronesia. On the way he rediscovers himself, his love of the islands and the islanders as well. Although character development is lacking in all but Scott himself, the breathtaking vistas and relaxing island culture make this indeed an odyssey worth following. There is a great development in Scott's character and maturity as he lucks out time and again in being pursued by various lackeys and hit men. There are several conversations where philosophies and reasons for service in the Peace Corps; in Micronesia and the effect of American Manifest Destiny on the islanders as a whole are discussed and very reasonable arguments are made. The secondary characters are present only to fill the space between encounters and personal turmoil that Scott discusses at length. The dialogue is well-carried and required for the ideas presented. The plot primarily supports the travelogue nature of the story. Recommended for those with a desire to learn about and perhaps travel to Micronesia. Readers should be warned about adult content and discussions. Published by blue ocean press, 2010. (www.aoishima-research.com $16.95 USD SRP/Amazon $2.69 USD) Reviewer received book from author.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Hybrid of Story and Travelogue,
By Bernard J. Schaffer (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Green Pearl Odyssey (Paperback)
Green Pearl Odyssey by Reilly Ridgell is an unusual hybrid of an action-adventure story mixed with a textbook about the islands of Micronesia.
The hero, Scott Taylor, takes revenge on the man who killed his wife, and embarks on a sort of "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego" type journey. While he hops around this hotspot of the Pacific Ocean, we are served great heaps of information about the geography, landscape, and cultural traditions of the people living there. There are several decisions made about this book that I do not understand. For instance, the back cover of the book spells out the entire story. That the ENTIRE story can be spelled out on the back cover of the book is a different matter all together. The preface tells readers how the various cultures they have yet to read about have changed after the book was written. There is talk about differences in their dress codes, food production, caste systems and political developments that have all occurred since the end of the story. Except, the story hasn't begun yet. Essentially, my biggest complaint with the book is that it repeatedly violates the show-don't-tell rule. New characters are introduced and before we get to know them, the narrator tells us who they are, what they are like, and what their relationship is with Scott Taylor. Important events happen in passing, like the author is rushing us through all this bothersome dialogue and character development just to get back to the really important stuff: Giving more instruction on the geography and history of Micronesia. I can relate, though. When I was a kid I worked in a restaurant and I was writing a story about a kid that, you guessed it, worked in a restaurant. I had pages of meticulous little details about making coffee and ordering food. All the things I thought were needed to make the story feel authentic. What I couldn't see was that all those details were extremely boring and nobody cares. Stories are driven by the characters in them, not the weather, not the terrain, and not the history of its various locations. All that being said, I think Ridgell is a good writer. His dialogue is crisp and a few of the scenes involving the gangsters were done well. The book is over-burdened by some manic need to clobber readers over the head with unnecessary details about the setting. Clearly, Ridgell knows Micronesia. I'd challenge him to write a story set in the place without it being about the place. Bernard J. Schaffer Reviewer for Bookpleasures Author of Women and Other Monsters
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