Wilderness [Hardcover]

Roger Zelazny (Author), Gerald Hausman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1994

Two larger-than-life men of the West--John Colter and Hugh Glass--define the spirit of wilderness survival, pushing their minds and bodies to the limit as they each narrowly escape the obstacles of nature and the threats of the western frontier.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The feats of two legendary "mountain men" are the subject of this unusual new western novel, a collaboration between science fiction author Zelazny ( Nine Princes in Amber ) and Hausman ( Tunkashila ), who usually writes about Native Americans. In 1808, explorer John Colter is forced to run for his life through what today is Yellowstone National Park, pursued by 700 Blackfeet Indians for 150 miles in a deadly game of cat and mouse. Fifteen years later, hunter Hugh Glass, left for dead after being mauled by a bear, manages to crawl more than 100 miles from the Grand Valley to civilization by the Missouri River. The narrative alternates between the two men's stories, which are linked by incredible feats of survival. (Only in the final chapter do we discover another bond between the protagonists.) With a force that pulls readers through the pages, the text plumbs their thoughts as they struggle against other humans and the environment; it also reveals the survival tricks learned from a lifetime in the West. Although the dialogue is often stilted, as is common in this genre, the tale remains compelling.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

YA-Alternating chapters present fictionalized accounts of two true-life survival stories from the early days of the American West. In 1808, John Colter was pursued for 150 miles by Indians. In 1823, Hugh Glass managed to crawl, limp, etc. for 100 miles for help after being mauled by a bear and left for dead beside his potential grave. The opening pages are sure to lure readers inside as they are plunged immediately into the action. Later chapters show each man's introspective nature as he reminisces about friends and events in his life. Conversations exist only in these memories. Descriptions of nature and survival techniques abound. There are even a few comical moments. Animal tracks conclude most chapters and will pique YAs' curiosity. A brief concluding historical note provides information about what is known of the men following their adventures. Two gripping tales of courage, determination, and endurance.
Claudia Moore, W.T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1st edition (February 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312856547
• ISBN-13: 978-0312856540
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #854,049 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Storm, stress, and human endurance, April 28, 2011

By 

L. Stearns Newburg "LSN" (CA USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Wilderness (Paperback)

This is a superlative book that organizes narratives of the separate treks of John Coulter and Hugh Glass into a contrapuntal meditation on man and the will to survive. It is ostensibly built on stories of the American West and the conflicts with the Amerinds. However, this book does not fit neatly into the category of "Western." It's something more than that, and different.

I was reminded more than a little of Lansing's book, _Endurance_, as well as Slavomir Rawicz's _The Long Walk_: more (or less) "true" books based on real life events. There is drama and tension and hope in such books, and that is a feature of _Wilderness_, too.

However, _Wilderness_ is a work of fiction. It is very well written -- sometimes superlatively so. The final chapter, where the story lines comes together, is brilliantly handled, and the arrangement and pacing of the two story lines is masterful.

This book needs to be back in print. Highly recommended.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful saga of two Marathon runners and survivors, September 21, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Wilderness (Paperback)

The poetic prose is very beautifully written by two experts in American western frontiers. No complicated plots but lonely struggles of two guys' survival experiences