Tales from the Edge: True Adventures in Alaska (Paperback)

by Larry Kaniut (Editor)
Key Phrases: king salmon, cheating death, aerial shooting, Copper River, Bristol Bay, Coast Guard (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
In this ambitious volume of adventure writing, editor Kaniut (Alaska Bear Tales) presents wide-ranging views of his beloved state. An Alaska resident since 1966, he celebrates the wonder and beauty of his adopted home. It is a place that "has lured men to her shores for over two centuries," he says in the introduction, a place that "continues to cast an aura of mystery, magic and mystique." The 25 pieces here focus on topics from fishing and flying to conflict and conservation. In "Coming Back Alive," for example, Spike Walker examines the dangers of commercial fishing. He writes of Skip Holden, who prefers to fish for salmon in the deep waters of the ocean-"He liked the sight of free, open spaces and uncluttered horizons. He'd been raised that way"-and recounts his harrowing rescue one day by the U.S. Coast Guard in Prince William Sound. In "Dogs on Ice in Alaska" and "Iditarod Classics: Mary Shields," authors Dana Stabenow and Lew Freedman, respectively, describe varying aspects of dog-sledding and the famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race from Anchorage to Nome. (Its participants cover more than 1,100 miles in 10 to 17 days.) Perhaps the most entertaining piece in this eclectic collection, however, is one co-written by Jay Hammond and Jim Rearden, "Tales of Alaska's Bush Rat Governor." Hammond, governor from 1974 to 1982, talks of his stint in Juneau, his initial hesitation to campaign and the things that were eventually accomplished during his time in office. The discussion is honest and occasionally hilarious, a definite highlight in Kaniut's multifaceted tribute to the 49th state.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Description

From the Klondike to the Bering Sea, from Alaska's bounty that brought fortunes to some to its wilderness that claimed the lives of others, Tales from the Edge explores the myth, beauty, and peril of the arctic landscape. Editor Larry Kaniut brings together some of the world's best outdoor adventure writers to celebrate the land and the people who have measured themselves against it.

Tales from the Edge is a celebration of Alaska featuring such notable contributors as Peter Jenkins, Spike Walker, Jay Hammond, Nick Jans, Dana Stabenow, Larry Kaniut, and more. Tales from the Edge will stir the soul and imagination of every armchair adventurer.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1st edition (February 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312317034
• ISBN-13: 978-0312317034
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #113,517 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #17 in

  Books > History > United States > State & Local > Alaska

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Note: this is not a Kaniut book but a great compilation edited by him, September 15, 2005

By	Bryan Newman "alaskanoutfitting.com" (St Paul, MN) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I ordered this book expecting another version of Danger Stalks the Land and was mildly disappointed when I found that it was a collection of excerpts from other authors books. But that didn't last long, because Larry did a fine job of bringing together some great Alaskan classics.

I fell in love with Alaska ten years ago on my first visit and I have been reading everything I can get my hands on since. So, I had read several of the excerpts in books I have read, but for the most part, they were new to me. Thanks to Larry's introduction, I now have a dozen more books on my wish list from reading this book.

If you are hoping for more Kaniut written stories, there are only four in the book and only one has not been published before. Two are from Cheating death and the previously unpublished story is from Larry's upcoming book Swallowed Alive.

So, I recommend the book, but be sure you are expecting a great collection of Alaskan literary outtakes and not the typical Kaniut, white knuckled collection of survival stories.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Tales from the Edge: True Adventures in Alaska, January 9, 2007

By	M. Pares (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After reading dozens of other books about Alaska and it's peculiar and adventursome folks, I found this book very disappointing. Not because it is a bad book, but because it appears to be a book about exciting stories from Alaska. This book isn't about exciting adventures as much as it is about stories of people from Alaska. While I was looking for tales of adventure, I got to read about a Governor and his legislative stories, Wildlife managers and their public and political struggles, and occaisionally a story about something outside of a building. To be fair, there was a fishing story where a boat was stranded, and the story of a woman dogsledding across the country, and even some not so exciting stories about some bush pilots. To put this in perspective, I don't consider finding wolf tracks while dogledding across Alaska very riveting. The dogsledding part is fine, but the most exciting part of the story is that the woman saw some wolf tracks, (not actual wolves, just tracks)
If you are looking for adventure stories, this isn't a very exciting book. On the other hand, if you are interested in some historical information and stories about Alaska and some of the people you would probably find this book interesting.

4.0 out of 5 stars A great collection, March 24, 2008

By	Cascade (USA) - See all my reviews

Author Larry Kaniut, puts his experience as writer and editor together and complies a good selection from Alaska adventures from some of the best adventure writers on the alaskan scene, including some who have left us. A good collection and a enjoyable read.

I would also recommend, Flying North South East and West, another book that captures a seldom bit of Alaska aviaiton history, that included an Alaska company that ended up flying worldwide cargo, and jet passenger service in Alaska.
Flying North South East and West: Arctic to the Sahara