Follow scientists and technicians of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory as they scramble to take the pulse of Big Island volcanoes in attempts to forewarn the public of impending eruption; progress is made, but complete understanding of these powerful forces of nature remains frustratingly elusive. Watch bad guys and harmless hippies as they cultivate illegal gardens of marijuana on the slopes of Kilauea Volcano, directly in the path of searing lava flows; some growers pay the ultimate price for their addiction to pot and its ill-gotten financial rewards. But above all, listen to Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess, as she manipulates success and failure, even life and death, of human intruders on her volcano home. When Pele Stirs paints a realistic picture of life on the Big Island, and will help the reader understand why Christian missionaries have failed to eliminate the worship of Pele, in spite of their efforts to do so for nearly two centuries.
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About the Author
Wendell Duffield holds a PhD from Stanford University. For three decades, he studied volcanoes as a research scientist for the U.S. Geological Survey. Three of those years were spent at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Now retired, he writes books and magazine/newspaper articles for a non-technical readership. He and his wife, Anne, spend summers in the beautiful lake country of northwestern Wisconsin and winters in Flagstaff, Arizona.
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More About the Author
Through a series of unexpected events, my life moved from small-town rural Minnesota, to a fancy New England Prep school, to Carleton College, and then Stanford where I got a PhD in geology. Ever since, I've been chasing volcanoes ... first for the U. S. Geological Survey and now as an Adjunct Professor at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. Being a research scientist and writing technical papers for more than three decades was heady, but at around age sixty I realized that I wanted to communicate with a broader variety of readers than the PhD-toting group. So I started writing popular books and magazine/newspaper essays, some related to volcanoes and some not. All my books are listed at Amazon. You can get the flavor of my other writings by visiting http://oak.ucc.nau.edu/wad3
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Life and Love on the fire mountain,
By u.knittel (Belgium, close to german border) - See all my reviews
This review is from: When Pele Stirs: A Volcanic Tale of Hawai'i, Hemp, and High-Jinks (Paperback)
Life in the Hawai'i Volcano Observatory: what most people would consider as an exciting life on the brink, is boring routine at times. At least as long as Pele, the hawaiian godess of volcanoes, sleeps. This is the experience of the book's heros at first.But then the godess awakes. And again the volcanologists have to face all those difficulties trying to interpret the seismic and other geophysical data. And again, men and women alike have to go out to remeasure the volcano to find out, how serious the godess is ... But not only volcanologists roam the slopes of the volcano. There are those hippies Jeb und Valerie that grow hemp for their own consumption. And there is Hak, the respected member of the Rotary Club, who also grows hemp, however in grand style for 'export' to the mainland ... Finally a fissure eruption starts. And while the tourists enjoy the spectacle of the lava fountains, the volcanologists are puzzles by the volcano's behavior. And also the hemp farmer find themselves suddenly in the hot center of action ... and that in the real meaning of the word! The author, Wenell Duffield, knows what he's talking about, because he has workes as an employee of the USGS at the Hawaii Volcano Oberservatory. Hence this book provides 'intimate' glimpses into the life of volcanologists working at a volcano observatory. To the present writer, he pays too much attention to the sex-life of his heros, given the fact that this a science thriller. Nevertheless (or because of that?!): this book is worthy reading for those interested in the work and life of volcanologist.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Improve your Hawaiian experience,
This review is from: When Pele Stirs: A Volcanic Tale of Hawai'i, Hemp, and High-Jinks (Paperback)
I chose to read When Pele Stirs while on vacation in Hawaii. It was a perfect book for being not only entertained and amused, but also educated about the natural and social history of that volcanic paradise. Specifically, how the volcanic islands form through time, and the comparison between the views of nature held in native Hawaiian legends and by the scientists who strive to understand and predict volcanic eruptions. Another fascinating aspect of the book was its description of marijuana growing on the island and the interaction between the dropout hippie growers, the local underworld marketers, and the scientists trying to identify these outlaws to warn them about impending doom. Duffield does a masterful job of drawing from his first-hand experiences as a geologist at the Hawaii Volcano Observatory and presenting this information through a variety of fascinating characters. He has created a gripping plot that cuts back and forth between the exploits of the various characters we come to love, dislike, or laugh at, but always care about. I highly recommend this book, particularly for anyone who's ever set foot on any of the Hawaiian Islands or who is simply interested in an entertaining and educational read. I am a geologist so I was with Duffield every step of the way in his geologic descriptions, but he keeps the technical jargon to a minimum and gently educates the reader in a way that will leave him feeling like a volcanologist when he finishes the book.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Real Life Mystery,
By
This review is from: When Pele Stirs: A Volcanic Tale of Hawai'i, Hemp, and High-Jinks (Paperback)
"When Pele Stirs" reads like a mystery novel, but the mystery to be solved is the life of a volcano. It is an education in volcanic geology as well as a riveting story. It helps that we recently visited the area, but the book does a masterful job at describing the area. This is a "must read" for anyone who will be visiting the Kilauea area or who wants to learn more about volcanos. It can also be enjoyed by anyone as a mystery/adventure story.
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