Primal Shadows : A Dark Thriller of Papua New Guinea

Rating:
Summary: What men will do for gold
Review: Alan is another author that I read as a teenager. I distinctly remember reading all the Pip and Flinx novels.

Alan does not however just write science fiction, this was a more standard adventure story, along the lines of Clive Cussler. Your usual moral tale, obsession, lust, priorities, betrayal, death, murder and most of all gold. All set in PNG, Papua New Guinea. Foster as usual turns a fine tale that is entertaining and educational.

One striking thing about this book is the visceral sense of detail that Foster paints of PNG. I have read several books on polar exploration and as harsh and stark as the artic environment, PNG seems so in the opposite direction. Where the land of ice and snow are a dearth of life and variety, New Guinea is an overwhelming explosion of life. Where the environment threatens to kill you just as quickly.

...

Rating:
Summary: Adventure Yes-PNG No
Review: Having travelled in remote areas of PNG three times in the last ten years, I looked forward to this book touted as adventure in the real PNG. There should be more fiction and nonfiction written about this incredible country. To my disappointment, it turned out to be a sort of Indiana Jones meets Tobias Schneebaum. Yes, read it as a good adventure, but then go elsewhere to learn about PNG, its people, and its natural history. The picture presented here reminds me of the ramblings of disruntled expats .

Rating:
Summary: Adventure Yes-PNG No
Review: Most people know Alan Dean Foster as a prolific science fiction writer with a consistently high quality level. A smaller group of readers know that he is also capable of great imaginative fantasy, often rooted in exotic settings and myths. The smallest group of all knows that he is an almost compulsive world traveler with keen observational skills and an ability to turn what he sees into eminently readable fiction.

"Primal Shadows," Foster's latest book is set in Papua New Guinea (hereafter referred to as PNG). Before reading this book all I knew about PNG was that Michael Rockefeller disappeared mysteriously there. Foster draws such a fine picture of this country that you almost lose sight of the story. From lackadaisical Port Moresby to the huge mountains of the West Highland and then back down again through extended marshland where sometimes rivers flow one way and sometimes they go the other, Foster brings the land and it's people to life. And the most amazing collection of mammals, insects, and reptiles.

Really, due to the rainforest climate of much of the country, the natural life of PNG always seems to be the biggest, or the meanest, or the deadliest in the world. From the 3 pound quoll which has the temperament of a rabid cuisinart (and eating habits to match) to the lawyer vine which, once it grabs you, never lets you go, the environment seems to conspire to shorten the life of the average traveler. To make matters worse the indigenous tribes are often in conflict with each other and there are rumors of cannibalism.

Into this welcoming land comes Steven Bohannon, an American who is fleeing from his past and has circled most of the globe. Upon arrival in Port Moresby, Bohannon is attracted to a beautiful woman and discovers the next morning that she (Tai Tennison), all his money, and his wallet have disappeared. Unlike most travelers, who would give up, Bohannon becomes fixated on tracking Tai down. He befriends Sorley McCracken, who knows Tai and they head into upcountry PNG. The quest takes them from one remarkable adventure to another even more hair raising. Bohannon becomes more and more determined with each narrow escape, and McCracken tries ever harder to talk Bohannon out of his quest.

Finally they discover that Tai has headed into the worst mountains in PNG after adventurer Ragnarok Stenhammer. Bohannon manages to hitch a ride from a crazy helicopter pilot and drags McCracken into a confrontation in the complete isolation of Mt. Yogonda. Stenhammer is seeking gold in the mountains and Bohannon is quickly absorbed into the quest. I leave you to imagine their adventures and a trip back to civilization which the equal of Clive Cussler's most imaginative tales

It says quite a bit about Foster's skill with writing that I like "Primal Shadows," which is in a genre that normally doesn't interest me. Readers who do love a pure adventure story will adore this tale. All of the main characters are engaging, and the bit players have gemlike parts. This is a classic adventure story and a dynamic, exciting read. And it is a beautiful introduction to one of the most unusual countries in the world.

Marc Ruby - for The Mystery Reader

Rating:
Summary: Insightful Study of Human Obsession.
Review: Most people know Alan Dean Foster as a prolific science fiction writer with a consistently high quality level. A smaller group of readers know that he is also capable of great imaginative fantasy, often rooted in exotic settings and myths. The smallest group of all knows that he is an almost compulsive world traveler with keen observational skills and an ability to turn what he sees into eminently readable fiction.

"Primal Shadows," Foster's latest book is set in Papua New Guinea (hereafter referred to as PNG). Before reading this book all I knew about PNG was that Michael Rockefeller disappeared mysteriously there. Foster draws such a fine picture of this country that you almost lose sight of the story. From lackadaisical Port Moresby to the huge mountains of the West Highland and then back down again through extended marshland where sometimes rivers flow one way and sometimes they go the other, Foster brings the land and it's people to life. And the most amazing collection of mammals, insects, and reptiles.

Really, due to the rainforest climate of much of the country, the natural life of PNG always seems to be the biggest, or the meanest, or the deadliest in the world. From the 3 pound quoll which has the temperament of a rabid cuisinart (and eating habits to match) to the lawyer vine which, once it grabs you, never lets you go, the environment seems to conspire to shorten the life of the average traveler. To make matters worse the indigenous tribes are often in conflict with each other and there are rumors of cannibalism.

Into this welcoming land comes Steven Bohannon, an American who is fleeing from his past and has circled most of the globe. Upon arrival in Port Moresby, Bohannon is attracted to a beautiful woman and discovers the next morning that she (Tai Tennison), all his money, and his wallet have disappeared. Unlike most travelers, who would give up, Bohannon becomes fixated on tracking Tai down. He befriends Sorley McCracken, who knows Tai and they head into upcountry PNG. The quest takes them from one remarkable adventure to another even more hair raising. Bohannon becomes more and more determined with each narrow escape, and McCracken tries ever harder to talk Bohannon out of his quest.

Finally they discover that Tai has headed into the worst mountains in PNG after adventurer Ragnarok Stenhammer. Bohannon manages to hitch a ride from a crazy helicopter pilot and drags McCracken into a confrontation in the complete isolation of Mt. Yogonda. Stenhammer is seeking gold in the mountains and Bohannon is quickly absorbed into the quest. I leave you to imagine their adventures and a trip back to civilization which the equal of Clive Cussler's most imaginative tales

It says quite a bit about Foster's skill with writing that I like "Primal Shadows," which is in a genre that normally doesn't interest me. Readers who do love a pure adventure story will adore this tale. All of the main characters are engaging, and the bit players have gemlike parts. This is a classic adventure story and a dynamic, exciting read. And it is a beautiful introduction to one of the most unusual countries in the world.

Marc Ruby - for The Mystery Reader

Rating:
Summary: A great read !
Review: One of Alan Dean Foster's finest books to date. Usually known for his outstanding science fiction and fantasy, Foster breaks out and sets a story in modern-day Papua New Guinea. In short, I loved this book and highly recommend it for summer reading. Total immersion is the best description I can give of this story, it has all of the components you'll need to be taken to one of the least explored and understood parts of this world we live in. He starts with a main character that is an everyman, you can put yourself into Steven Bohannon's shoes and slog through the muck-filled jungles and cold mountains right along with him. Bohannon's searching for something: escape, adventure, treasure, himself. And it's quite a ride. Tied in with Bohannon is a cast of characters, all outlanders in their own rights, who work seemlessly. These aren't the archetypes that populate so many adventure stories, but real folks. Foster also brings the setting alive, educating the reader on Papua/New Guinea, it's people, places and natural splendor. This is an area of beauty, but one with the first tints of spoilage creeping at the edges. It's a place populated by a culture of tribes and families, gracious and brutal, simple and yet complex. It's a place where the old, ancient ways aren't that far gone; where headhunting and cannibalism have been put aside by many, but only as a courtesy to the new culture that's emerging. So give this book a read, you certainly won't be disappointed. There's so much more to it than I can touch on here, so discover for yourself.