Customer Reviews

The Rescue Season: The Heroic Story of Parajumpers on the Edge of the World

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"The Rescue Season" tells the courageous story of the rescue teams, primarilly the "PJs" of the U.S. Air Force, who ply their trade in Alaska, particularly in and around Denali National Park. Author Bob Drury recalls some harrowing tales of rescue and tragic death and portrays his protagonists as rugged heros who seem driven to do what they do by their own genetic makeup. Drury is a fine writer and his prose is eminently readable. He introduces the reader to plenty of interesting characters and locales.

That said, the book is also a bit disjointed. There is a main search and rescue story that is introduced in the beginning and which Drury returns to at times over the whole course of the book. Drury also tends to throw a lot of geography, geology, meterology and history lessons into the mix (at least once, I got the impression that he was showing off his knowledge). All of this is interesting, but gets in the way of his narrative. He also makes a couple of mistakes that I noticed, for example once referring to the "Seven Summits" as the "Seven Sisters." Ultimately, the book doesn't hold together as a story, like with "Into Thin Air." Instead, it is a collection of good stories that should be quite pleasing to anyone with an interest in the subject matter.

This is a story of real heroes. Not pumped up testosterone overdosed movie heroes, but guys that are as normal as you and me. They have a job to do, and they do it, and stay until everyone is accounted for. While the rest of the military exercises, the 210th is out there on real missions, saving the lives of nearly 70 people a year. There are two points made in the book that I, and anyone else living here can appreciate. First, Alaska is the most beautiful place in the world, but it's not an amusement park. The wilderness here is unforgiving to even the slightest mistake, and sadly, many don't go home. The second point he makes is that rescue is a community effort of which the 210th Rescue Squadron plays a big part. The Park Service, the Rescue Coordination Center and the State Troopers, and many others all have their hands in the mix, and if it weren't for the cooperation of all these heroes, even more people would die. I must applaud Mr. Drury for keeping me in the book until I was finished. His gripping style makes me want to read it again and again. This is a group of people I'm glad to be aquainted with, and if you read the book you'll wish you were too. Thanks, Bob. In a day when the "extreme" sports and "reality" survival TV shows get the press it's nice to get a dose of reality. These are real heroes. They don't do it for the recognition, the money or the thrill. They do it so that others may live.

This book is an excellent account of the story of the 210th Rescue Sqaudron and its exploits.As a member of the Alaska Air National Guard serving with the unit,I can attest to its authenticity.The writer has done a superb job in researching the history of the unit and some of their most harrowing experiences.The reader finds himself hanging from the peaks of Denali to freezing in the Bering sea.This book is a must for anyone contemplating becoming a PJ or tackling the rigors and horrors of Denali(Mt. McKinley).

Bob drury captures this epic tale of the 210 rescue squad in a picture perfect story of heroism. In the book, he tells the stories of brave, dramatic rescues of mountain climbers on Denali in Alaska. Best real-life book ever! BEST BUY!

Jack London's Arctic is the only thing that comes close to this man Drurys' chilling descriptions of what these Parajumpers live with day in and day out. The powerful descriptions rival Bradbury and London. Not being an outdoorsman I had my doubts but to be honest it might have opened new vistas for me. I hope Drury has a longer life span than Jack London. J.Dennis Flood

Drury knows his subject well and takes you on an up close and personal journey into Alaska and the lives of PJ's and if you don't get lost in his style of starting on one story and having to tell six or seven other ones before he can finish the first one, you will get to the surprising ending. I found myself reading the book like a engrossing mystery, partly because of wanting to know what happens to key characters, but also because Drury doesn't leave out the details, even the politically incorrect ones.

I quite enjoyed reading this whole book. The information about parajumpers was mostly new to me & very interesting. The rescue stories were facinating. All these sorts of books put in some history, background of the area & people. Sometimes that stuff gets boring, but that wasn't the case in this one. The information about Alaska was so interesting I was wishing there was more, rather than skimming to get through it. I didn't give it 5 stars because of 2 complaints. One is that right in the middle of the last big story, he stops the story to give very long lists of all the gear in the headquarts. While the wide variety of gear might be of interest, the placement of it in the narrative was frustrating. The other thing was the author spent a lot of time helping us get to know the parajumpers, especially a few specific ones. Parts of the entire book were devoted to this. But in the final, climatic "big" rescue story, the none of these characters played any part. I found it odd that the story he picked to describe in the most detail didn't include the parajumpers who the book is mainly about. But that rescue was a great story as were all the other stories in the book & it's well worth reading. Impressive group of men!

I like the beach. I like hot sand and an off-shore breeze kicking down on me late in the afternoon on a Sunday when everyone else is heading back to work. This book has none of that. But, it's a damn great read. Drury pulled me into a world I could never be a part of, but wished my gut that one day I could earn the respect of my fellow man by the unselfish deeds I do for others. Learn a little about yourself. Read it.

Drury's electrifying prose style, arresting sense of place and unique insights into character take the reader to the top of the adventure writer's mountain. As the story progresses the reader discovers numerous heroes with whom to identify, vivid action scenes to inhabit, and a wondrous feeling of visiting a place where few have the opportunity, even the courage, to venture. A not to be missed escape into the ultimate reality of life and death on America's highest peak.

PJs have been going through the pipeline, and more have tried, for years, and it's about time they were recognized for their hairy, heroic efforts that would leave most men dumbfounded with their pants wet. (I can only hope Mike's daughter inspires a sequel to this book!! You go girl.) Bob Drury really did justice to the work these men, and the others in the Forest Service,etc., put in every day, and the camaraderie that goes with risking their lives together.