Into Thin Air
 

"Into Thin Air" tells a tale that alludes strongly to the Titanic disaster. We have hubris, reckless competition, foolhardy belief in the idnomitable power of technology in the face of nature's severest tests, a gathering of high society, mass catastrophe, nature exacting the harshest of lessons. In the end, technology will yield, it always does and always will, ultimately. The book also has echoes of Melville--the mountain, the squall, are the White Whale, all symbolizing metaphysical evil. The adversary. Whatevery you think of its "historicity" "Into Thin Air" is a great read. A modern adventure classic. Praise John Krakauer.

Too bad he doesn't write as well as Melville. He's a hack. The concept is fine, but his attempt to glorify himself, plus his lack of literary ability, makes it a pile of shit.

The concept could have and should have been so much more.

And in one respect, he didn't write as an epic tale, but as a tell-all tale, whereas he would have been better off going epic, with Krackhead as Ahab. Krackhead killed people through his sloth, yet he continues to tarnish he who was a hero. Burn in hell Krackhead.

You guys should get a TV show. maybe point/counterpoint would be a good title.

You haven't read it. It's sad your religious extremism deprives you of appreciating fine literature.

Pardon me, but your troll is showing.

I read it, I enjoyed it. I also read Anatoli Boukreev's "The Climb" and found it more truthful and not as preachy and judgmental.

Both were good and had strong points.

WTF. I've both read it and seen the movie. He's awful. If you find him to be a good writer, then think again, he's no Tolstoy.

He's no Melville.

If you disagree, present some of the images that you believe are so memorable, and compare it to the Climb. Or compare it to No Shortcuts to the Top by Ed Viesturs.

Get you weak sauce out of here, and leave your religious bigotry at home. We don't need no terrorists.

Here's Salon's review, too generous in my opinion, but some valid points as well, pointing to Krackhead's narcissism. http://www.salon.com/may97/wanderlus...ges970524.html

A review of the Climb and some critical conversations original published in High Magazine are included here.

http://www.pauldeegan.com/expedition...imb_review.pdf

Read about the conversations between Fischer and Boukreev as established by Fischer's publicist.

Can I assume you're quoting the review of that particular book?

Yes. The first one is of Into Thin Air, which generally received good reveiws.