No Apparent Danger: The True Story of Volcanic Disaster at Galeras and Nevado Del Ruiz (Paperback)

~ (Author) "BERNARDO SALAZAR AND FERNANDO GIL, two young scientists working for the regional electric company, hiked up the steep ridge above the small farming village of..." (more)
Key Phrases: seismograph data, caldera wall, caldera rim, Nevado del Ruiz, Stanley Williams, Marta Calvache (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The fight currently raging within the volcanological community, sketched by the discrepancies between Bruce's work and Stanley Williams and Fen Montaigne's Surviving Galeras (reviewed below), concerns what is known about predicting eruptions, and particularly about Galeras when it blew, and why nine people died in that eruption (see PW, Book News, Feb. 12). In Bruce's harrowing depiction of the 1985 Nevado del Ruiz eruption, which killed 23,000 people, scientists and survivors describe bureaucratic foolishness, scientific discovery and human strife. In her presentation of the 1993 eruption of Galeras, another Colombian volcano, numerous interviews illuminate further human folly, and particularly Williams's pariah status among geologists. Seismologist Bernard Chouet's testimony discredits Williams's assertion that there was no warning of the eruption. Previously, Chouet had successfully predicted two eruptions from seismographic patterns also visible when Galeras erupted. While Williams says this was never brought to his attention, Bruce notes that leading a team into an active volcano without checking available data hardly seems responsible scientific practice. Chouet claims he presented his prediction technique, with Williams present, in 1991. Further, expedition members contend that, despite Galeras's signs of activity, Williams ignored advice to shorten the visit. One survivor says Williams took no safety precautions and mocked his colleagues who wore hard hats. Scientist and journalist Bruce traces the fascinating recent history of Colombian volcanoes and the scientific community's politics, wherein intellectual property generates fame and near-fortune, in an insightful, spellbinding account. Photos and illus. (Apr. 2)Forecast: Bruce's 11-city tour, participation in Columbia University's Earth Science Colloquium in March and the much-publicized Galeras debacle promise big sales.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

In 1993, a Colombian volcano named Galeras erupted, killing six scientists and three tourists inside its rim and severely injuring the expedition's leader, eminent vulcanalogist Williams. Could this tragedy have been avoided? Could the eruption have been predicted? Two new books debate those questions from opposite ends of the spectrum. Williams offers a firsthand account of the disaster, which traumatized him physically and psychologically, while Bruce, a science writer with a master's degree in geology, provides an investigative journalist's perspective. Arguing that there is no method of accurately predicting eruptions, Williams defends his actions, and his book reads as a partial apology to the nine who died and to all who were injured. Bruce, who also discusses a 1985 eruption at another Colombian volcano that left 23,000 people dead (studied in a referreed scientific publication by Williams), writes in a more sensational style, accusing Williams of not being a "team player" (for years the scientist claimed he was the only survivor despite evidence to the contrary) and ignoring a seismologist's research indicating that Galeras was ready to explode. However, both authors agree that Marta Calvache and Patty Mothes, two Colombian geologists who ran into the volcano to rescue people, were heroes at Galeras. Williams acknowledges that he owes his life to Calvache's actions. Perhaps the whole story still is not known, but both books read together make a try. Recommended for academic and larger public libraries. Jean E. Crampon, Science & Engineering Lib., Univ. of Southern California, Los Angeles
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial (February 19, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060958901
• ISBN-13: 978-0060958909
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #548,103 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Comments: The Galeras Eruption and it's Aftermath, May 3, 2001

By	John L. Snyder (Arlington, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No Apparent Danger: The True Story of Volcanic Disaster at Galeras and Nevado del Ruiz (Hardcover)

On January 14, 1993 the Colombian volcano Galeras had a minor eruption in the early afternoon so small that many residents of Pasto, only five miles from the explosion, were unaware it happened. But because some of the world's most experienced volcanologists were too near the crater at the time and were killed or injured as a result, this eruption and it's aftermath received worldwide press attention, and are now the subject of two competing books. One, "Surviving Galeras", is by Stanley Williams and Fen Montaigne. Williams is a co-convener of the volcanological conference then being held in Pasto. The other, "No Apparent Danger" by Victoria Bruce, is the subject of this review.

The first part of "No Apparent Danger" describes the eruption of another Colombian volcano, Nevado del Ruiz in 1985, resulting in the near total destruction of the town of Armero and the loss of twenty-three thousand lives. The second and more extensive part deals with Galeras. On the positive side, the book is easy to read, the numerous characters are clearly drawn, and the reader has no trouble distinguishing the good guys from the bad. The author has interviewed many people, quoted others secondhand, and spins a gripping tale of heroism and hubris, clashing egos and inexcusable foul-ups. But the protagonists are so easily pigeonholed and the biases of the author so apparent, that even a reader with no previous knowledge of these events soon asks, "Is this portrayal of events accurate? In places yes, but as one who attended the Pasto meeting and has a personal regard for many of those portrayed here, I believe this book misrepresents the events at Galeras in several significant ways. For example:

1. The blackest hat is clearly worn by Stanley Williams, who is accused of everything from having a monotonous lecture style to complicity in the deaths of nine people. No attempt is made to present a balanced assessment of what he did and why. Also, many of his purported transgressions would have taken place after he was injured and clearly not himself. Where Williams is concerned, this book is little more than a hatchet job.

2. As some reviewers have already noted, there are several misrepresentations, quotes out of context and similar errors in the text (see among others, Monastersky, R., Under the Volcano, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 3/30/01). Some of these lapses are more important than others, but most or all tend to demonize Williams.

3. A few participants who should have been interviewed were not, including a geophysicist whose views differed from those given prominence in this book.

4. Very little information is given on why the meeting was held, its importance, and what was accomplished. The purpose was humanitarian; first to assess the threat posed by Galeras to the 300,000 inhabitants of Pasto, and then to identify the best ways to deal with that threat. A final report was prepared at the end of the conference, despite the grief and shock of those involved. The participants and the organizers were sincere scientists with a great deal of combined experience on volcanoes, not a bunch of volcano junkies as one might assume from reading this. Those among them who went in harm's way did so in the belief it was a necessary step that could ultimately save thousands of lives. . So although "No Apparent Danger" is interesting, the author seems to believes that for every mishap, someone is to blame. In attempting to convince us of this, she has produced a work that I found highly biased, often misleading, and sometimes wrong. I would urge potential readers to withhold any judgment of individuals who are described until they have had a chance to study "Surviving Galeras", a much more professional and balanced account.

20 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars remarkable, April 13, 2001

By	bobby (yorba linda, ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No Apparent Danger: The True Story of Volcanic Disaster at Galeras and Nevado del Ruiz (Hardcover)

No Apparent Danger is a stunning example of careful and diligent attention to details of the horrible human suffering due to natural disasters in Colombia in the last decade and a half. It explains the events through the words both published and from interviews of dozens of people who were involved.

The book reads in a wonderful, descriptive way. From the earnest attempts of the scientists/engineers to understand the signals from Nevado Del Ruiz-to the flight from Arbolito during the eruption-to the devastation of Armero, the reader is left profoundly saddened. The idea that in 1985, lack and hindrance of scientific support from the government of Colombia was responsible for the death of many thousands of people is appalling.

Strong people of Colombia are introduced to the reader who were coffee growers, engineers, and scientists all working to understand these disasters and to form plans and procedures needed to prevent loss of life and property. These people become real in the book because of the description of their lives, personalities, work, and in some cases, their heroism.

The story of the explosion of Galeras is rich in detail because of the view of people who witnessed it from different places. The confusion in the city of Pasto, the anxiety and concern of the people hiking the flanks of the mountain, the agony of death and injury in the volcano, the search and rescue for surveyors. And the almost comical event where a scientist, TV cameraman, and reporter ended in a heap at the summit.

I am moved by this book, which has described all of this and much more. I am pleased to know of strong, intelligent, and caring people who acted in brave ways in Colombia. I am pleased to read about the women who are dedicated scientists in Colombia and I salute the two women who by example (by running in to the volcano) started the rescue of the injured. It's remarkable.

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly as we experienced the Galeras eruption, April 26, 2001

By	susan boundy-sanders (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No Apparent Danger: The True Story of Volcanic Disaster at Galeras and Nevado del Ruiz (Hardcover)

I'm writing to supplement my husband's review (chris sanders). He was Stan Williams' colleague and friend, was on the side of Galeras when it blew, and was Arizona State University's spokesman for Stan and the eruption -- and Chris backs Victoria Bruce's account unreservedly as the accurate version of the event.

My addition is the perspective of a person near, but not central, to the story. I think Victoria Bruce has shown extremely clear insight into what's important about the story, and about the character of the players.

From my perspective, Victoria has done science a tremendous service in shining a spotlight on Stan Williams' behavior. She's brought to light a personality type that, unfortunately, has all too safe a harbor in the scientific community. For reasons that are far too complex to discuss here, huge egos and forceful personalities have too easy a time dominating the scientific community. No Apparent Danger shows just one of the consequences of the actions of just one ego-driven scientist. I personally would be very glad if this book helps clear the paths for the many brilliant, innovative, hard-working, honest scientists who choose to spend their time expanding knowledge rather than promoting themselves and stealing others' ideas.

Like Chris, I was also very grateful to read Victoria's descriptions of the Colombian scientists. Fernando Munoz is one of our dearest friends. I had always known and admired his passion for saving lives in Colombia; Victoria's book provided details of his story that help me understand that passion better. Victoria has recognized rightly that he, Marta Calvache, and the other Colombian scientists truly are larger than life. I've always seen it -- now I know better how they came to be that way.