In this powerful debut story collection, veteran travel writer and adventurer Dan Arnold brings to life the men and women whose lives are defined by the call of the mountain. From varied backgrounds with diverse perspectives, the characters that populate "Snowblind" don't feel quite whole until they've summited some of the world's most dangerous peaks--an obsession that most of us just can't fathom. A young climber walks a hotel hallway passing rooms filled with things but no people--rucksacks, jackets, sleeping bags, crampons and ice screws strewn across the beds and floors. Later he will explain to his fellow climbers what it's like to disconnect his harness and leave his fallen partner to die alone in a blizzard. A woman climber, isolated and alone in the mountains, calculates the risks of walking back to civilization after her pilot doesn't arrive for their scheduled pickup. It's the seemingly quiet moments like these in Arnold's stories that create such satisfying tension. "Snowblind" is a dose of old world adventure writing made modern for a new generation fascinated by the mystique of climbing. For both serious climbers and those who may never use a pair of crampons, the thrill of these stories, complete with triumphs and tragedies, makes for an incredible vicarious experience.
Industry Reviews
Praise for Snowblind "Arnold departs from nonfiction storytelling to debut his first short story collection. The result is an impressive exploration of the souls of mountaineers...The reading is nerve-racking but well worth the trip."--Stanford Magazine "gripping short stories...Arnold takes the reader to famous spots--K2, Aconcagua--but it's the personal stories that really compel."--Sacramento Bee "Arnold really knows how to write a spellbinder. Once readers open this collection of eight short stories and novellas, they will not want to put it down. Arnold's mastery of voice is exceptional...This may well be a popular book. Its stories will appeal to fans of alpine and other extreme sports."--Booklist "a gutsy, up-close look at mountain climbing...[In] rich language ... Arnold has crafted a fierce book for those who know the game--and for the rest of us, who can vicariously push through our fears of the wild." --Kirkus Starred Review Praise for Early Days in the Range of Light: "Dan has done something unique in climbing histories--he went back in time--first, by ferreting out and suffusing himself with ancient lore, then by forgoing modern equipment, and finally by retracing the finger- and footholds used by the first climbers." --Peter Croft "Ever wish you could travel back to climbing's early days and follow the earliest first-ascent visionaries? This fantasy comes to life ... In this elegant narrative." --Climbing Magazine "A spirited journey ... This well-written memoir and travelogue should find a welcome home in many climbing collections." --Kirkus "With great originality and insight ... This is a splendid chronicle of early climbing in the Sierra Nevada." --Royal Robbins
