Customer Reviews

Time Bandit: Two Brothers, the Bering Sea, and One of the World's Deadliest Jobs

5 star:		(63)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I got this book and finished it in less than 2 days. This is the story about the Hillstrand brothers, their childhoods, and their occupations as captains of the Time Bandit Alaska crab fishing boat. I laughed, I cried, and was also on the edge of my seat as I read it. I also felt as though they were sitting right with me and they were telling me their incredible story as I read it. I highly recommend this book for those who are fans of the show Deadliest Catch or for those who are looking for a good book to read.

This is a true "HARROWING" spine-tingling story about Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand, two brothers who make their living as Alaskan Bering Sea crab fisherman. This captivating book is not only a scintillating biography but also an absolutely hypnotic first hand education into the entire Alaskan crabbing industry. "TIME BANDIT" is the name of their 298-ton, 113-foot boat that has a "hold" capacity of 120,000 pounds for king crab and 175,000 pounds for opilio. By the time a potential reader finishes this book I predict you will have come to the same conclusion I have: that life on the deck of a Bering Sea crabbing boat being bounced around like a ping pong ball in a wind tunnel, with "Williwaw-Winds" that can reach 130 mph at their peak, with waves over 40 feet high, with temperatures in Alaska hitting as low as 80 below zero, is truly the "last-frontier" as far as employment! And due to the aforementioned work environment, potential employees are not exactly Ivy League button-down types. Johnathan says: "The crews who work best on deck are animals who should be dropped off at the sea buoys on the way to port; we could pick them up on the way out. They are only trouble on land and end up in fights and in jail. I want the animals. But I do not want to take care of them."

The fear of death in this industry isn't really a fear, but an assumed statistic that has to be thought of as always happening to someone else. Because of this visceral "grim-reaper" of the sea that is always implicit but never acknowledged, there is an unwritten code between fishermen to respond even if not asked when a life or boat is in peril. "The killer is the sea." When the water temperature is around 36 degrees Fahrenheit Alaska Fish & Game issues a warning about Alaskan waters, describing what happens to a man who falls overboard:

"The initial cold shock from falling into cold water provokes an immediate gasp reflex, up to 2-3 quarts of air-or water, if your head is submerged. If you inhale water, it is highly unlikely you will come to the surface unless you are wearing a lifejacket. This means you have to have your lifejacket on when you enter the water! The cold shock stage is characterized by hyperventilation and rapid heart rate, which often produce a panic feeling. This stage lasts 3-5 minutes. The initial shock can also provoke a heart attack, which will make self-rescue extremely difficult."

"In the Bering Sea, you have to want to live more than the sea wants you to die, and strange as it seems NOT EVERYBODY WANTS TO LIVE WITH THE SAME INTENSITY!" "In 2006 the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ranked commercial fishing in general as the work with the highest fatality rate in America with 141.7 fatalities per 100,000, almost thirty times that of an average industrial worker. And the Bureau lists Alaskan waters and in particular the Bering Sea, which has claimed 2,066 lives since records were first kept, as far more dangerous still."

As the reader gets deeper into the story with Johnathan and Andy narrating, you can almost feel the cold mist on your face and you start saying these guys have to be crazy to do this for a living. Well, they are a "lot-crazy", but fishing is not only in their heart, but it is their entire salt-water soul. In addition to the non-stop action and the "READERS" non-stop fear of death for the real-life characters in this book, you will also receive an intricate non-stop education of this totally unique industry. Even in the midst of all this chaos, the writing style is absolutely seamless! This is truly a book that you won't be able to put down until you and "the boys" finish their story!

Look no further if you want to know more about what makes Bering Sea fishermen brave and dariing and even great. Andy and Johnathan had unusual, to say the least, upbringings; they have lived on the edge since they were toddlers. This is an inside view of their lives (and their families' lives) that the cable TV program, great as it is, can't show. This is a must read for fans of the show and for arm-chair adventurers everywhere.

I loved this book. I wasn't sure what to expect when I purchased it but it was well worth the read. I laughed, cried, laughed some more, and just couldn't put the book down. I really enjoyed it.

I was really looking forward to the "inside scoop" from the Time Bandit and basically learned very little with the exception of how many women Jonathan has slept with (not graphic, just mentioned in passing numerous times)...it seems like 2 or 3 times in each chapter I had to read that he slept with another woman...it was to the point he sounded like a high schooler bragging about his "conquests".
It was refreshing to gain background family knowledge from childhood and to discover how he & Andy took over their dad's boat which he basically commissioned to be built for them, but could have done with less reminising about the women.
Keep in mind I am a woman, so if this book is for a man, maybe he won't be so offended.

If you are a Deadliest Catch fan, and are missing the fact that its not on constant replay on Discovery Channel right now, this is a great way to get your fill of the guys on the Time Bandit. What I liked most about the book is that it gave a little bit more depth to what its like to be a Bering Sea crabfisherman-- it gives more in depth detail than the TV show can.

There is a pretty clear distinction in the "voice" of the book. By that I mean that there are some descriptions that are clearly the voice of the ghostwriter, and others that are the Hillstrand brothers through and through. Here's an example of the ghostwriter: "Does this make me different from people who live with buffers between their daily existence and the rawness of nature? . . . It makes me a daily survivalist who is in inately wary and in fear of change. I am filled with abandon when I return to land, where I have nothing like the sea to fear." Contrast that with Johnathan's description of a barfight he got into: "I have a head as hard as a helmet; you can pound the s#*@ out of me for hours and you will not knock me out." These vastly different narratives create a tone of inconsistency in the book, but overall, it does not take away from the power of the story.

Personally, I preferred Johnathan and Andy's descriptions of things, in their own words, because it made the stories feel more authentic-- you almost felt like you were in a bar slamming down a few beers with the boys and sharing stories. The ghostwriter's descriptions were good, though, in giving the reader more in depth information about the fishing industry, quotas, and fishing legislation.

Overall, I think it was a good read, and is a book that anyone who really likes Deadliest Catch-- and the Time Bandit Boys, in particular-- will really enjoy. Read it on a hot summer day, and all that talk about icy 33 degree water will cool you off in no time!!

I was really excited to receive this book and I immediately got to work on it. I finished it in under 2 days and was only disappointed that the book had to end.

On a subject that has been done (recently) by many authors I found a fresh outlook on the subject. It was a story that was written out of love and passion. The armature writer skills were seen in the book, but the plot and story was so driving that I did not even care, in fact it was refreshing to have a story told in such a raw and honest form. The story of their lives is an engaging and touching tale that is tied together in the story of Jonathan's ordeal.

I would recommend this book to anyone, especially someone who wants a good, passionate story that is raw and free of the bloating of modern literature.

This is quite simply a great book. When I purchased it, I expected a cursory depiction of the Hillstrands and the Time Bandit. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this is an exceptionally well-written book with a gripping story. The Hillstrand brothers have led a fascinating life of fishing the Bering Sea. For those of us Deadliest Catch fanatics, this book provides new insights beyond what we see on the show, while offering a captivating and honest account of the Hillstrand family and the great bond they share. Read this book!

Time Bandit: Two Brothers, the Bering Sea, and One of the World's Deadliest Jobs
This book fills in all the gaps that the Deadliest Catch show misses regarding the captains of the Time Bandit, Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand.
You can see how they ended up fishing for crab in the Bering sea, there's great photos..it gets you from where it all began to present day.
Thrilling, full of suspense and laughter, I could NOT put it down. Well worth the price, and it's a 5 star rated adventure book for good reason.
Enjoy!

As an avid fan of the Dealiest Catch, I wholeheartedly enjoyed the book. You get a peek into the lives of some of the characters you meet during the TV series, which is intriguing however it leaves you wanting more. The book provides a much deeper insight into the characters and lives of the two borthers.

It gave me an understanding of the lure of the sea and passion of the brothers and how this has evolved over the years.

My only reservation would be that it may be a little difficult for those who have not seen the TV series to follow. For those who have, and who loved the show, it is a "must have".