Ledyard: In Search of the First American Explorer

Book Description

For decades after his death in 1789, John Ledyard was celebrated as the greatest explorer America had ever produced. A veteran of Captain Cook’s final voyage, he walked across nearly all of Russia and suggested to his friend Thomas Jefferson that traversing the American continent was feasible—inspiring the Lewis and Clark expedition. When he died he was preparing to venture into Africa. Once as famous as the Founding Fathers whom he had befriended and beguiled, the “American traveler,” as Ledyard was called, fell into obscurity over the years, reduced to becoming a footnoted reference in Moby Dick.

Bill Gifford reenacted Ledyard’s 1773 escape from Dartmouth College in a canoe and followed Ledyard’s trail down the length of the Lena River in Siberia. In Ledyard he reveals the man in the legend, bringing back an American original and giving us a story that until now has not been fully told.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Yarn.......2007-07-11

Gifford is a master storyteller, and Ledyard is one of the great untold stories in American history--a sort of super-Zelig. I'm hoping that Spielberg reads this book and makes a movie. Meanwhile, I'll settle happily for this page-turner.

Good read, bad explorer ;).......2007-06-25

The book's title is a bit of an overpromise when it comes to Ledyard's qualities as an explorer. He was a great dreamer, a traveller, and a very 'singular' character (as it is called in the book), but not much of an explorer. The title of the other book about Ledyard "The man who dreamed of walking the world" is more to the point. He tried to be an explorer, but he didn't realise any of his goals.
Ledyard was at the very best somewhere at the sideline of history. His tales are a nice introduction to 18th century American and European history, for he seems to have mingled with a lot of people and visited the places that mattered in those times. It's nice to view the world of that time from the standpoint of this unique traveller, but don't expect a history of real exploration.

Fascinating story .......2007-05-11

Hardly anyone's ever heard of John Ledyard. I wasn't sure I'd enjoy this book about an obscure American explorer. Only a few pages into the book I realized I not only liked the book, but I wish I could have known Ledyard.

A dichotomy of differences--restless, yet lazy; chivalrous, yet not interested in celibacy; idealistic, yet clearly motivated by money--Ledyard's life was predictably unpredictable. His keen intellect and adventurous spirit won the admiration of notables, including Thomas Jefferson.

He frustrated his family. He irritated the head of his college. He broke hearts along the way. And he was always in need of funds. But he never lost his spirit.

Unable to pay for his schooling at Dartmouth, Ledyard carved a canoe out of a fallen tree, packed a lunch, pushed off from shore, and reclined in his new vessel as he let the water's current take him where it may. That it took him to the waterfalls and he barely escaped with his life didn't detour him from other adventures.

Ledyard sailed with Captain Cook on Cook's last journey, tried to reach the west coast of America (from Europe) by heading east through Siberia, and got arrested by Catherine the Great's men who tossed him out of Russia.

Using Ledyard's few remaining letters and journal notes, Gifford adds his own experience in following Ledyard's path. Gifford took a voyage on a replica of the ship Resolution that Ledyard sailed on and shared a bit more detail than I needed, but at least I got an idea of the conditions Ledyard endured.

Ledyard died in a filthy convent room at age 37, most likely the victim of his own self-medication. "He was seized with a pain in his stomach occasioned by bile and undertook to cure himself. Excessive vomiting ensued, in consequence of which he broke a blood vessel," wrote Carlo Rosetti, a Cairo merchant.

Armchair Interviews says: Ledyard may have departed this world too soon, but he left a story worth reading. We're fortunate Bill Gifford brought it to us.

Restless feet, amazing man.......2007-04-06

When reading of early exploration, John Ledyard's legacy is usually summarized in a few sentences, or a paragraph at most. This deserving study by Bill Gifford sheds enormous light not only into who this man was, but also his unsurpassed exploratory efforts.

From the time he dropped out of Dartmouth College and canoed a hundred forty miles down river, the man felt that there was something more to life.

While on Cook's third voyage he experienced the world and craved for more. His thoughts on the Pacific Northwest and its untapped fur trade possibilities revolutionized his ideas even further to walking across America (from west to east) and claiming the land for our new nation.
When in Paris, he caught the attention of Jefferson who backed him on this endeavor. Ledyard was to go across Siberia, hitch a ride on a Russian ship and eventually land at Nootka Sound, then walk across America. Although apprehended by Russian authorities and his dreams shattered, his zest for fulfillment never ceased. He was then sent off to explore Africa where he ultimately died. It is no wonder he has been referred to as "The Traveller"

As he himself had said, "he traveled under the common flag of humanity" and "served the world at large". Although most times penniless and lacking in clothing, he always managed to find companionship wherever he was in the world.

And just as Mr. Gifford points out, he survived so much but not his temper.
A great read.

Great account of an amazing life.......2007-03-28

This is a great account of the life of a very interesting character. As an avid follower of the adventure/explorer genre, I found this account of Ledyard to rank among the best. What makes this book so compelling is the work the author did in retracing Ledyard's steps, a technique which breathes life into the story, making it much more interesting than a straight historical account.

Don't let the picture on the cover of Ledyard in 18th century formal wear fool you, this guy was as rugged, and at times crazy, as anyone you will find in a Krakauer book.

I strongly recommend this book for anyone who marvels at the exploits of the early explorers or who wonders what would compel someone to want to walk across a continent.

American Places: In Search of the Twenty-first Century Campus (ACE/Praeger Series on Higher Education)

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American Places: In Search of the Twenty-first Century Campus (ACE/Praeger Series on Higher Education)
M. Perry Chapman
Manufacturer: Praeger Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Mission and Place: Strengthening Learning and Community through Campus Design (ACE/Praeger Series on Higher Education)

ASIN: 0275985237

Book Description

American Places calls for campuses to be designed, not only to heighten the quality of the learning experience, but also as working demonstrations of ways in which places everywhere can be transformed into more healthy, humane, civic environments. For the college campus, "place" should mean much more than geography and physical setting. It represents the sum of the experiences, activities, events, and memories that occur within the campus boundaries. Today, American institutions of higher education are devoting renewed attention to the question of how the quality and character of place can support their goals. In doing so, campus communities are seeking to reclaim psychological ground that was lost in the decades after World War II, when the traditional virtues of campus coherence, human scale, and place distinction were overtaken by explosive growth in attendance and the growing prevalence of automobiles. The quest to make better places of college campuses has a critical practical dimension, Chapman maintains: it bolsters student and faculty recruitment, and it improves donor support in an increasingly competitive environment. But behind the pragmatic concerns lies the recognition of place as the all-important bridge between institutional traditions and the societal changes that higher education institutions must address in the new century to maintain their currency as important American places. The campus setting binds the memories of generations, giving it the perceived attribute of timelessness. American Places is a plea: that 21st-century American campuses will collectively adopt an ethic of place supported by principles of sustainability, authenticity, and community.

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I just finished my 7th reading ...
And for my 200th review...an average thriller, but focused on search and rescue dogs...
Stuffy
Not a substitute for Virginia Lanier.
The best in adult dog stories!

Scent of Murder
Cynthia G. Alwyn
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Minotaur
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Women Sleuths | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 031226559X

Book Description

In a suspenseful debut, Cynthia G. Alwyn introduces us to a group of amazing dogs and their devoted owners.Both canines and humans are committed members of a volunteer search and rescue team, ready to respond at any time in any weather when someone - often a child or aged adult - is reported missing.Brenna Scott, with her dogs Brie and Feather, is the leader of one of these teams in Sacramento, California. When Brenna is in Seattle for a conference, she and Brie are called into action when a four-year-old girl goes missing in a driving rainstorm.It is Brie who picks up the little girl's scent; it is Brenna who sees the outline of the kidnapper as he tosses the child into a raging stream. Although Brie manages to save young Zoe, other kidnappings follow, and Brenna and her friends are horrified to find that the kidnapper is playing a deadly game with Brenna herself.He sends her e-mail messages with clues that are really dares - and that come just too late to save his victims. He enters her house when she isn't there, and taunts her with his warped humor.But little by little, the searchers are able to find clues to the man's identity, so that when the final gauntlet is tossed, humans and dogs, in a hair-raising climax, are able, at a risk of Brenna's life as well as the stolen child's, to fight back.It is hard to believe the abilities and exploits of the dogs in this story, but the author and her dogs have been search-and-rescue members themselves, and her fascinating explanations of how the dogs work, how they are trained, and the things they can accomplish, is staggering.The story is warm not only with the exploits of dogs and humans, but with the strong relationship they have with one another. The two themes combine to give us a truly extraordinary book. AUTHORBIO: Cynthia G. Alywn was a volunteer with a canine search and rescue team for nine years.She lives in Fort Worth, Texas.

Customer Reviews:

I just finished my 7th reading ..........2006-03-31

This is an excellent suspense novel that draws you into the life of Brenna Scott and her K-9 search and rescue team. I picked up this book on a bargain rack and upon opening it was immediately drawn into a life touched by sadness, comfort, laughter and hope. If you are a dog lover, as I am, you'll shed tears, but you'll also smile at the mental pictures drawn by Cynthia Alwyn's pen of the bond between trainer and dog; you'll also live the suspense of the search and rescue. This is a wonderful book and I am anxiously awaiting the next.

And for my 200th review...an average thriller, but focused on search and rescue dogs..........2005-08-11

Cynthia Alwyn doesn't do too badly with her debut novel, but everything about it is obvious average to mediocre. The villain is too cartoonishly bad with almost silly taunting messages and "Oh, I am so clever of a serial killer, so I'll give you just enough infoformation to find out who I really am" e-mails. The heroine isn't really memorable either, and has an obligatory boyfriend that never appears in the novel, just so we don't have the heroine and the dogged lawman get together. Alwyn definately know her stuff though about dogs and search and rescue so at least that had an aura of reality.

Stuffy.......2003-05-09

The book starts off with the heroine losing a search-and-rescue GSD. This dog is just wonderful, but dies senselessly during a mission. Well, if I lost one of my dogs, let alone one that I had worked with so closely for so long, I'd be a little more devastated than the few, not very moving lines of text mentioning the heroine's grief indicate. Okay, so she doesn't wallow. Well, she's kind of pompous and not very warm either. It's like the author tried to make her too perfect or something. Blech. I can read a book where the plot is unbelievable, silly, or otherwise not great, but the characters have GOT to be likeable. And this one absolutely is not. The only redeeming value is that you get some decent descriptions of the search-and-rescue operation, but I really do recommend a Virginia Lanier book not only for better technical info, but for the far more interesting characters and better plots (her heroine is more than a little fiesty, but much more exciting than Alwyn's). I also recommend Susan Conant's books for general dog information mixed in with great, enormously likeable characters and decent stories. Overall, this book is not awful, but it's not good either. It's unlikely that I'd read another book by this author.

Not a substitute for Virginia Lanier........2002-04-29

I was drawn to this book because I liked Virginia Lanier's "Bloodhound" books so much. This book is OK - not great, not horrible. Most of the mystery elements are a little heavy-handed, although it did manage not to go one blatantly obvious direction it hinted. It does give lots of interesting information about search & rescue dogs and their training, but that was about all I got from the book.

The best in adult dog stories!.......2002-01-06

Refreshing background and terrific characters, plus a great story! What more could you want? I hope she writes another-and soon!

A Search of African American Life, Achievement and Culture: First Search

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Educational and informative...
An excellent resource especially for grade-school African American studies
Great for Teachers!
Must Have!!
500 Years Of African American Contribututions

A Search of African American Life, Achievement and Culture: First Search
John Cothran
Manufacturer: Stardate Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Research | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0963400207

Book Description

This book reviews the accomplishments, courage and struggles of African Americans over the past 500 years. This reference contains over 420 images and 1800 facts in a unique question-and-answer format, allowing the book to be used in games and integrated into teaching. Twelve chapters chronologically present the African American experience. It is a fascinating book.

Customer Reviews:

Educational and informative..........2007-02-10

John C. Cothran has compiled an impressive collection of over 1800 facts regarding African-American life and culture, spanning over the past 500 years. Broken into twelve categories consisting of art, literature, entertainment, and carrying over into science, military, and geography, it is an exhaustive historical representation of our ancestors and their achievements. It even has photographs and illustrations which makes the book even more important for studying and learning more about African-Americans.

While the concept of A SEARCH OF AFRICAN AMERICAN LIFE, ACHIEVEMENT, AND CULTURE may not be a unique one, the presentation of this book (set up in question/answer format) will be appreciated not only by educators and historians, but also by children of all ages. It can be used in trivia contests, and other fun activities, as well as a guide for history projects. What stands out for me with the book is the wealth of information and how Cothran went one step further and shared tidbits of information on famous African-Americans and happenings of their youth. I enjoyed A SEARCH OF AFRICAN AMERICAN LIFE, ACHIEVEMENT, AND CULTURE and would recommend every African-American family add this fascinating book to their collection of works by, for, and about our history and achievements.

Reviewed by Tee C. Royal
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

An excellent resource especially for grade-school African American studies.......2006-09-13

A Search Of African American Life, Achievement And Culture is a reference compilation of over 400 black-and-white photographs and 1800 facts about the amazing struggles and accomplishments of African Americans over the past 500 years. Twelve chronological chapters cover landmark African American achievements in art, literature, science, education, business, geography, civil rights, military, sports, and entertainment. A unique question-and-answer format ("Who grew up in Washington D.C., was inspired by African American soldiers assigned to Washington D.C. after the Indian Wars, and later became America's first African American General?" Answer: Benjamin O. Davis, Sr.) allows A Search Of African American Life, Achievement And Culture to be easily incorporated into educational games or quizzes. An excellent resource especially for grade-school African American studies.

Great for Teachers!.......2006-05-25

This book is a great addition to your classroom. It is filled with amazing historical information that your students will enjoy. The information is organized and practical for teaching.

Must Have!!.......2006-05-18

I have more than one copy of this book and it is a must have for any library. The material is eye opening and the format makes it a page turner. My friends and family have enjoyed using this book as our trivia game source. You are certain to be surprised to see the past and the present accomplishments of African Americans displayed with photographs and the detail of the great contributions acknowledged.

500 Years Of African American Contribututions.......2005-07-03

John C. Cothran, author of A Search of African-American Life, Achievement and Culture, candidly states in the Introduction to his book, that as an African American growing up in the USA, he was unaware of significant accomplishments of African Americans.

The author indicated to me that he started his project about twenty years ago and the original idea was to create a game based on facts.
Not satisfied with this approach, he decided to write a book that would resemble the
question and answer format or the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) used by many companies on Internet sites.
It should be mentioned and as pointed out by the author, the use of the term "African American" in the book pertains to people of African descent from North America and South America.

Divided into ten chapters, the book touches a wide spectrum of subjects, as the contributions of African Americans in the fields of the Arts, Business, Education, Entertainment, Geography, History and Civil Rights, Literature, Military History, Science, Sports, Children, and Adolescence.
It certainly is, as the author states in the Preface, a small encyclopedia in a different format.

It was an eye opener to discover that the founder of the city of Chicago was Jean Baptiste Pointe Du Sable (c.1745-1818), who was an African American, and who spent his youth in Haiti.
Did you know that W.C. Handy was considered the "Father of the Blues?" He taught music at the Alabama A&M College in Normal Alabama in 1900. He left because the college emphasized music he considered inferior. Two of his compositions were "Memphis Blues" and "St. Louis Blues."
Whose name means "Ethiopian" In Greek, and was known for his fables and children's stories? I will leave that one for you to find out from the book.

In the world of Science we are informed that it was an African American slave in 1721 who described how he was inoculated against smallpox using an African method of inoculation. Cotton Mather began to use this procedure in America, and it was used to protect soldiers of the Revolutionary War-later adopted by the British.
When you sharpen your pencil, remember it was J.L. Love who on Nov. 23, 1807 patented the pencil sharpener.
If you love potato chips, the next time you put one in your mouth, remember it was Hryam S. Thomas in 1868, who developed it.

These are just a sampling of the hundreds of facts and findings that are highly informative, precise, well researched, and ideal for sharing with children and adults alike.
All of which are enlivened with black and white photos, and coherently presented in a simple accessible style, illustrating the outstanding and little known contributions of African Americans.

Norm Goldman, Editor of Bookpleasures

ECHOES OF ARMAGEDDON, 1914-1918: AN AMERICAN'S SEARCH INTO THE LIVES AND DEATHS OF EIGHT BRITISH SOLDIERS IN WORLD WAR ONE

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Echoes of Armageddon, 1914-1918
A dedicated search for information on each man's experiences
Medals of Memories
Military History with a very personal touch

ECHOES OF ARMAGEDDON, 1914-1918: AN AMERICAN'S SEARCH INTO THE LIVES AND DEATHS OF EIGHT BRITISH SOLDIERS IN WORLD WAR ONE
B. CORY KILVERT JR.
Manufacturer: AuthorHouse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

World War I | Military | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1418456586

Book Description

Echoes of Armageddon, 1914-1918 relates the gripping story of eight totally anonymous British officers and men who fought under appalling trench warfare conditions and did not survive this conflict. Their medals have been in the author's collection for many years and are named to each recipient. This scant information served as his starting point for attempting to recreate these soldiers' lives and the circumstances of their deaths. This unique departure from the norm enables the reader to link with the author as he travels through Great Britain, France, Flanders and elsewhere in his relentless search for the facts on these fighting men's experiences in battle. This book also tells of certain political events and social conditions in Great Britain that affected these soldiers' families as well as a number of major happenings in both allied and enemy countries throughout the world that led to an estimated eleven million war dead worldwide. The author has made every effort to provide accurate dates for each incident mentioned throughout this book by relying on The Times Diary & Index of the War 1914-1918, a now very rare volume that lists newspaper headlines for every major event over the course of this entire conflict.

Customer Reviews:

Echoes of Armageddon, 1914-1918.......2007-07-16

The book Echoes of Armageddon, 1914-1918 is the end result of the author's extensive research on the lives and deaths of eight British soldiers. Each chapter of this book describes the life and death of one of these soldiers. Each chapter also expands on the bigger picture surrounding each battle or campaign that this individual participated. The cumulative result tells the personal story of an individual while also illustrating the greater context and significance of this soldier's actions and sacrifice.

Echoes of Armageddon, 1914-1918 is both informative and educational. Not enough can be said about the great lengths that this author has gone to research each of these individuals. Basically, the author started with the names of eight individuals. He then had to find living relatives of each individual not only to find out personal information and stories about this individual but also to release the war records of these eight soldiers. As many of the surviving relatives had moved, married, or simply long forgotten such details this was no small task. Stubbornly, the author persisted and succeeded in finding living relatives of all of these eight individuals, collected many personal stories, and even managed to get photographs of most of the soldiers. The author then masterfully pieced his research into the greater context of World War I.

A dedicated search for information on each man's experiences.......2005-03-09

Echoes Of Armageddon, 1914-1918 by B. Cory Kilver Jr. tells the stories of eight otherwise anonymous British officers and men who fought under the appalling and lethal conditions of World War I trench warfare. These were men of valor who did not survive the battlefield. Their medals have been in Kilvert's personal collection for many years and in this military history are named to each recipient. Kilvert travelers through Great Britain, France, Flanders, and elsewhere in a dedicated search for information on each man's experiences in battle in order to recreate their lives and the circumstances of their war time deaths. Also covered are the political events and social conditions in Great Britain that affected these particular soldiers' families, as well as major happenings in both allied and enemy combatant nations. Presented with an impressive chronology, the stories of these eight soldiers stand as representative examples of what happened to hundreds of thousands of others in a war that led to an estimated eleven million dead world wide. Echoes Of Armageddon, 1914 -1918 is a strongly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library Military History collections in general, and World War I battlefield history shelves in particular.

Medals of Memories.......2005-01-24

Cory Kilvert Jr., grew up listening to the stories of his cousin Captain Robert Young Cory, B Company Commander, 48th Highlanders of Canada, who set sail for England in October 1914. While visiting war memorials in England & the Continent, Cory Kilvert began the search for the stories behind the medals he'd been collecting most of his life.

ECHOES OF ARMAGEDDON 1914-1918 are those stories as well as the twists & turns the author's search took to find living relatives who remembered the eight British soldiers consumed in the fires of the Great War. As you read these eight men who never came home come again come alive again, especially when you see the photos.

Cory Kilvert lets us be flies on the wall as the blunders of the War to End All Wars tragically unfold, clearly showing how few of the movers & shakers of the time understood what was happening, & how even fewer knew when it was all over.

ECHOES OF ARMAGEDDON 1914-1918 could have been dreary & lifeless instead, with the deftness of a born story-teller, Cory Kilvert has breathed life back into these long-ago warriors so we may meet them, their families & legacies, & occasionally their surviving relatives, as well as their commanding officers & brothers-in-arms.

Rebeccasreads highly recommends ECHOES OF ARMAGEDDON 1914-1918 as a worthy addition to your war library.

Military History with a very personal touch.......2004-09-24

This is a remarkable military history that provides a keen insight into the front line realities of warfare as seen by eight fighting men on the Western Front. The reader traces these soldiers from birth until death and provides a moving testament to their courage and endurance during savage battles and bombardments. It also follows them on leave and presents a clear picture of realities on the home front and how the war impacted on their families.

The Search for the First English Settlement in America: America's First Science Center

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The Search for the First English Settlement in America: America's First Science Center
Gary, Carl Grassl
Manufacturer: AuthorHouse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Book Description

The fort the U.S. National Park Service interprets as that of the first English settlers is actually from the 18th century. Grassl points to the most likely location of the 1585 fort and "town." He describes how our country and our technology had their beginnings on Roanoke Island, NC.

North: The Tale of a Boy Who Becomes a Free Agent: and Travels the World in Search of the Perfect Parents

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Book to be Experienced

North: The Tale of a Boy Who Becomes a Free Agent: and Travels the World in Search of the Perfect Parents
Alan Zweibel
Manufacturer: Villard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Comic | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Movie Tie-Ins | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0679748245
Release Date: 1994-06-28

Customer Reviews:

Book to be Experienced.......2002-10-29

I read this book, and loaned it out... and it never came back. I bought it again, loaned it out... and it didn't come back either. Very fun, very entertaining, and far far better than the movie.

Average customer rating:

In Search of the Perfect Ravioli
Paul Mantee
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0345372611
Release Date: 1991-10-23

Adrift in the Arctic ice pack: From the history of the First U.S. Grinnell Expedition in search of Sir John Franklin

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Adrift in the Arctic ice pack: From the history of the First U.S. Grinnell Expedition in search of Sir John Franklin
Elisha Kent Kane
Manufacturer: MacMillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B00088MZKC

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Great weekend read...
Dude...i know em...
PJ wanna be writes book
Shut up and color.
Not the Best, but not that bad

Drop Zone
Michael Salazar
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Men's Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spy Stories & Tales of Intrigue | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0553110241
Release Date: 2000-02-29

Book Description

In the pulse-pounding tradition of W.E.B. Griffin and Richard Marcinko, here is a pure adrenaline skydive into enemy territory--written by an Air Force Combat Crewmember who knows firsthand what awaits in the... Drop Zone.

Among the U.S. Special Forces' most valued troops are the Air Force's Pararescue Teams--some of the most highly trained soldiers the nation has to offer. Known as PJs, they drop out of C-130s or HH-60G Blackhawks into places no one else can reach. They climb mountains, penetrate jungles, and descend into freezing waters to retrieve the wounded, the dying...and the secrets their government will kill to uncover.

Master Sergeant Jason Johnson is one of the best pararescue jumpers around, a man intimately familiar with massive scenes of destruction--from an earthquake-ravaged city in the Philippines to Operation Desert Storm. Outfitted with the military's most sophisticated equipment, Johnson is about to embark on a mission unlike any other. He is about to meet the Brotherhood of Death.

Within the world of U.S. covert forces, the Brotherhood is the most shadowy of them all--a handful of warriors trained to act as a precise airborne hit squad. For his latest assignment, Johnson has been teamed up with Kelly Sherwin, a hotshot Marine who once swam from the Persian Gulf into Kuwait's sewer tunnels during Operation Desert Storm. Their mission is to drop behind enemy lines in war-torn Bosnia to find and retrieve evidence of a horrifying war crime: the ethnic cleansing of five thousand civilians through the use of a deadly nerve toxin.

From the moment they leap into the swirling Balkan darkness, Johnson and Sherwin enter a landscape of unspeakable destruction and despair...and a mission that goes wrong in every conceivable way. On a race through enemy territory, Johnson is stripped of his HGU helmet, night-vision goggles, survival radio, and GAU-5 machine gun. Somehow he finds the evidence he needs--but only a miracle will bring him out alive.

Packed with explosive action and riveting characters, Drop Zone introduces the phenomenal storytelling talent of Michael Salazar. A top-notch military adventure, here is the unforgettable tale of one man's harrowing journey to hell and back again.

DROP ZONE introduces Pararescueman Jason Johnson, who has made all the jumps. But no training can prepare him for his next mission. He and a member of the Brotherhood of Death--an elite squad of assassins--must infiltrate war-torn Bosnia and bring back a soil sample contaminated with B6B nerve toxin, an agent believed to be responsible for the deaths of thousands now buried in a single mass grave. Only a sample of the toxin can open the door to an antidote--and a way to protect U.S. troops in the event of a biological war.

Told with extraordinary technical expertise, taut with nail-biting suspense, and introducing a phenomenal new storytelling talent, here is action adventure writing at its very best. -->

Customer Reviews:

Great weekend read..........2007-08-26

Mike is an excellent war-story teller and his stories take the reader right into the thick of the action. A great read for a rainy weekend...

Dude...i know em..........2005-10-29

Dude... i know em...he's a loadmaster at Patrick just got reitired after two years in iraq. And as a friend i know salazar better then anyone. He really is the only one who know about our training and so forth. Thats why i love this book. He ain't no "wanna be". Since how could he be if he's a loadmaster?

PJ wanna be writes book.......2003-11-05

It is obvious that salazaar wants to be a PJ but never had the balls to try. So he seeks approval and admiration from the PJ community. He is a load blower on an aircraft in the AirForce, an MOS that would require him to know nothing about PJs or other operators. The book in my opinion reveals his struggle for acceptance. He even writes of a stud boy load master giving advice to the main PJ character! Another attempt to make people think load blowers are as cool as PJs! Dont waste money.

Shut up and color........2002-06-23

I had the good fortune of reading not only Drop Zone, but also The Lucifer Light while deployed. At the location, I actually met the author and a few of the "characters" of his books. I can't wait for War Angel to come out, it will not be soon enough.

p.s. I do hope everyone made it home.

Not the Best, but not that bad.......2002-04-04

...I agree that there was several technical "typos", but overall they didn't affect the reading that much. Sure when the date of the Gulf War was listed in 1989 instead of 1991 on the third paragraph in the book, I thought it was going to be one of those awfully inaccurate books, but I stuck with it and was glad I did. The overall plot and action was good, but it wasn't the best book I have read either. Assigning two almost complete strangers to the same important mission doesn't seem right, especially one Marine and one Airforce. I was also wondering why the main charachter was chosen for this mission, he didn't seem to be the "Black Ops" type, a question the character himself wonders through-out the book. It is good to finally read a book with an Air Force PJ as the main character, as Navy SEALS have been much overdone in books lately. The 50 or so pages about training did get boring at times, but I believe the author was trying to show how much training Spec. Ops. people go through before the mission, To quote Richard Marcinko from the Rouge Warrior series "The more thou sweat in training, the less thou bleeds in combat." The author has promise and I would probably buy future books by him...

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