Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #368319 in Books
• Published on: 2008-02-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Customer Reviews

Great book, but some inaccuracy with the characters
The fifth story titled "Lost and Adrift" is about the fishing vessel "Cloverleaf." Myself being, a former Coast Guardsman, stationed at air station Kodiak was launched out on this particular rescue. The book mentions petty officer Brian Blue as the air crewman who spotted Rick Laws in the water from the C-130. There was no petty officer Brian Blue aboard the C-130 on this mission and to the best of my knowledge from researching, there has been no Coast Gurdsman named Brian Blue in Coast Guard aviation. I was the one at the scanners window of the C-130 and was the one who spotted Rick Laws in the water on the second day of the rescue mission. I remember it well and can remember at least 3 names of the 7 cremembers on board the C-130. While preparing to drop the MA-1 kit (liferafts and survival gear) to Rick Laws from the ramp of the C-130 I also noticed Wink Cissel floating in the water. In the beginning of the book acknowledgements are credited to! the non-existent Brian Blue. The cover calls it to be true stories of survival disasters in Alaska, meaning that all the people used in the book should be factual names. I am Bruce Erb, the "Brian Blue" in the book. The third fisherman, Kim, who did not make it, was a friend and former Coast Guardsman assigned to the air station Kodiak.

Hard to put down!
I have heard that King Crab fishing was dangerous. Spike Walker lets you know exactly what it is really like. I have a whole new respect for those who bring in our King Crab! This book brought many a tear.

I read the book in one sitting
Spike Walker has hit the nail on the head with his focus on the misery and pain of being a deckhand. Behind the glory of fast money and a romanticized way of life is the harsh reality of seasickness, sleep deprivation and cruel hazing by crewmates. As a former commercial fisherman I felt all of these feelings again when reading this book, but I could not put it down until it was finished. The danger is real and Spike does a masterful job of drawing the reader in. An authentic piece of work.