Customer Reviews

Tales from the Edge: True Adventures in Alaska

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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 Two are from Cheating death and the previously unpublished story is from Larry's upcoming book Swallowed Alive.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.

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.

stories seem to last forever and take way to long to go like it seems nowhere good book to get lost with because you will probably get rescued before you get anywhere with the stories.

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