The Boardman Tasker Omnibus: Savage Arena, the Shining Mountain, Sacred Summits, Everest the Cruel Way

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What Customers Say About The Boardman Tasker Omnibus: Savage Arena, the Shining Mountain, Sacred Summits, Everest the Cruel Way:

The stories are very touching and good, just it is a huge book andthere are too many of them and inherently they are quite similar.

I have read literally dozens of climbing books. Without a doubt, Boardman's "Shining Mountain" is the best climbing book ever written. The only books that come close are "The White Spider" (Harrer), "The Mountains of My Life" (Bonatti) and "Touching the Void" (Simpson) which is not really a climbing but an epic survival book.The other books in this omnibus are also good, but not as good as The Shining Mountain. I have read it about 5 times and have enjoyed it every time.

The writing is clear and engaging and the expeditions are covered thoroughly. The last book of the Omnibus about a Tasker Omnibus is not as good as the rest. Book is partly a credit to the writing ability of the two authors and partly due to the nature of small expeditions documented where the story is intimate and human, rather than the unholy literary messes encountered in books about large expeditions.

With details on the first ascents of the West Face of Changabang, the Southeast ridge of Dunagiri, the Northwest ridge of Kangchenjunga and more, this book is a treasure trove of great climbing. This book delivers one of the most comprehensive perspective on climbing in the Himalayas. With vivid descriptions of successful (and unsuccessful) climbs of a variety of peaks in the Himalayas plus descriptions of the North Face of the Eiger and the Snow Mountains of New Guinea, this book demonstrates the versatility of these two gentlemen.The drama and imagery shines through the writing of both Tasker and Boardman. There are occasional technical terms but they demonstrate the effort and intensity of these two climbers. A great choice.

Having read inumerable books on mountaineering, I wasn't prepared for the impact of this one. Boardman's style gripped me, and brought home what a terrible tragedy his death was for the literary community. I've read "Fragile Edge" by Maria Coffey, (it is excellent, she was Tasker's girlfriend)about her and Hillary Boardman's experiences following the deaths of Boardman and Tasker, and wasn't prepared for the emotional impact of this book. It is probably one of the best I've read. I believe there are "writing climbers" and "climbing writers"; Boardman was definitely a gifted climber who wrote beautifully. This book should be in anyone's library who loves mountains and adventure travel.