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 Everest:
Summit of Achievement
By Stephen Venables. Allen and Unwin. 525pp.
$69.95
Reviewer: David Sibley
When asked why climb Everest, the world's highest peak, English
mountaineer George Mallory is reputed to have said, "Because
it's there."
And
after savouring the more than 400 images of Everest since
it was discovered in the 1850s as the only place on the earth's
surface where you can't take a higher step, you will understand
the fascination a remote corner of the Himalayas has had for
many, including Mallory, who perished high on the mountain
in 1924.
This
book by English climber and writer Stephen Venables is based
around the photographs from the Royal Geographical Society's
archives.
Naturally,
the famous photo of Sherpa Tenzing Norgay holding aloft his
ice axe bearing the flags of the UK, India and Nepal is in
there, but there are many others from the successful 1953
expedition that had not been published until now.
The
book is divided into chapters looking at how Everest's astonishing
height was discovered, the fascinating role of the Sherpas
and the impact of the mountaineering industry on their lifestyle
and culture, the failures of the British climbers before WW2,
and a look into the future of Everest.
This
is a lavish production, chock full of amazing and beautiful
photos of Everest from every perspective, well worth the cost
for those, like Mallory, who can't get enough of the world's
most famous mountain.
 Helicopter
Rescue
By Ken Wishaw. Pan Macmillan. 262pp. $30.
Reviewer: LS Rachel Irving
Soon we were out on the skids and then Gary and I quickly
dropped into the water amongst the victims. Immediately the
five blokes and two girls, all in their teens or early 20s,
struggled over to us and clung on for dear life. They were
clearly distressed and I was afraid they would drag me underwater
in their panic."
Helicopter
Rescue is the true story of Dr Ken Wishaw, Australia's first
full-time helicopter doctor. It follows his adventures from
his initial helicopter training through to his work with the
Surf Life Saving Association rescue helicopter and the eventual
development of CareFlight NSW.
This
is an inspiring and compelling book that will get your heart
racing.
It
is a series of true rescues, of life and death and of incidental
heroism. Helicopter Rescue showcases the work that these chopper
heroes perform and the conditions they work under.
 Far
Horizon
By Tony Park. Pan Macmillan. 416pp. $30.
Reviewer: Capt Jason Logue
One of the most common observations made during operational
deployments is an intent to return when things "settle
down".
For
most of us it remains but a dream and if the lead character's
experiences in Maj Tony Park's first novel are any indication
of what could occur, this is probably a good thing.
Mike
Williams, a former RAE officer who led a de-mining program
in Mozambique, broke free from the spotty uniform following
a soul-destroying run-in with ivory poachers that left his
soon-to-be wife executed, his fellow de-mining advisor scattered
across a wide area and one of Africa's last truly great elephants
as a hearty meal for the local scavengers.
Having
been touched by Africa's beauty, he now calls it home and
makes his living by taking tourists on the trip of a lifetime.
African
politics and inefficiency let the crime go unpunished when
it occurred but now, more than a year later, Mike is offered
the chance to avenge the callous murders at the cost of putting
an entire load of tourists in the firing line.
Far
Horizon offers a great mix of intrigue, revenge and education
about Africa. With Maj Park's knowledge of Africa and a genuine
understanding of the Aussie military persona, he looks set
to rival Wilbur Smith in the development of a great African
dynasty.
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Losing
the plot
