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High Hunt
The group around dan's brother had been held together by a mutual taste for liquor and endless arguments. Now, high in the mountains on a quest to see who could bag the biggest deer, old jealousies and hatreds were being dusted off and revived. Everyone knew an explosion was coming. No one knew who would survive. And none of them were willing to turn back. Reissue.
340 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
10 people are currently reading
703 people want to read
About the author
David Eddings
220 books5,543 followersDavid Eddings was an American author who wrote several best-selling series of epic fantasy novels. David Eddings' wife,
Leigh Eddings
, was an uncredited co-author on many of his early books, but he had later acknowledged that she contributed to them all.
They adopted one boy in 1966, Scott David, then two months old. They adopted a younger girl between 1966 and 1969. In 1970 the couple lost custody of both children and were each sentenced to a year in jail in separate trials after pleading guilty to 11 counts of physical child abuse. Though the nature of the abuse, the trial, and the sentencing were all extensively reported in South Dakota newspapers at the time, these details did not resurface in media coverage of the couple during their successful joint career as authors, only returning to public attention several years after both had died.
After both served their sentences, David and Leigh Eddings moved to Denver in 1971, where David found work in a grocery store.
David Eddings' first books (which were general fiction) sold moderately well. He later switched to writing epic fantasy, a field in which he achieved great success. In a recent interview with sffworld.com, he said: "I don't take orders from readers."
On January 26, 2007 it was reported that Eddings accidentally burned about a quarter of his office, next door to his house, along with his Excalibur sports car, and the original manuscripts for most of his novels. He was flushing the fuel tank of the car with water when he lit a piece of paper and threw into the puddle to test if it was still flammable.
On February 28, 2007, David Eddings' wife, Leigh Eddings (born Judith Leigh Schall), died following a series of strokes. She was 69.
David Eddings died on June 2, 2009 at the age of 77.
They adopted one boy in 1966, Scott David, then two months old. They adopted a younger girl between 1966 and 1969. In 1970 the couple lost custody of both children and were each sentenced to a year in jail in separate trials after pleading guilty to 11 counts of physical child abuse. Though the nature of the abuse, the trial, and the sentencing were all extensively reported in South Dakota newspapers at the time, these details did not resurface in media coverage of the couple during their successful joint career as authors, only returning to public attention several years after both had died.
After both served their sentences, David and Leigh Eddings moved to Denver in 1971, where David found work in a grocery store.
David Eddings' first books (which were general fiction) sold moderately well. He later switched to writing epic fantasy, a field in which he achieved great success. In a recent interview with sffworld.com, he said: "I don't take orders from readers."
On January 26, 2007 it was reported that Eddings accidentally burned about a quarter of his office, next door to his house, along with his Excalibur sports car, and the original manuscripts for most of his novels. He was flushing the fuel tank of the car with water when he lit a piece of paper and threw into the puddle to test if it was still flammable.
On February 28, 2007, David Eddings' wife, Leigh Eddings (born Judith Leigh Schall), died following a series of strokes. She was 69.
David Eddings died on June 2, 2009 at the age of 77.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
March 27, 2023
When, in 1982, David Eddings published “Pawn of Prophecy”, the first in his Belgariad series, it started him along a path to being one of the world’s biggest selling fantasy authors which would last several decades. What is perhaps less well known is that before his fantasy success, Eddings wrote a straight genre novel, which was originally published in the United States in 1973, although it didn’t have a UK release until 1993. I may not be the biggest fantasy fan, although I have enjoyed Eddings’ fantasy novels, but “High Hunt”, his debut novel, is one of my favourites and a book I tend to read three or four times a year.
“High Hunt” is largely the story of Dan Alders, who has just returned home to Tacoma, Washington after a spell in the US Army. Looking to fill the time between leaving the Army and heading back to University, he hooks up with his brother Jack. Jack introduces him to a few of his friends and they all hatch a plan to go deer hunting for a week up in the mountains. The book follows their lives, as they plan the hunt, cheat on their wives, tell tall stories, drink too much and generally fail to grow up or get along with each other.
This is the kind of book I wouldn’t normally enjoy. It was originally published in 1973 and the behaviours of these men which were presumably considered normal at the time don’t sit well with a modern audience. These men treat their girlfriends badly and their wives even worse. The casual infidelity and the way they drink heavily and then drive their cars certainly wouldn’t be allowed these days. They rarely tell anyone the truth, whether it’s their wives or the people they are trying to unload cars onto and they even lie to their guide about how well they’re getting along with each other, which causes problems once they’re all up in the mountains together.
Yet, for all this, I find “High Hunt” utterly compelling and I can’t stop reading it over and over, despite knowing exactly what is going to happen at every turn. Part of the reason for this is that it’s so utterly realistic. The characters are, for the most part, completely misogynistic and unlikeable and flaunt all sorts of rules and laws, but the whole book is written without any judgement and just tells the stories of these men as they happen. It may be unpleasant, but it is a slice of life and it’s entirely compelling somehow.
The other aspect I particularly like is the sub-plot between Dan and Clydine. In the midst of the killing of animals and the dark nature of man, this sheds a little beauty into what might otherwise be a novel with few redeeming features and balances it all out beautifully. This is one of the few relationships in the book that consists largely of mutual respect, even if it started out in a lie. It tells rather than shows and even the sex scenes are portrayed with a touch of mystery that leaves enough to the imagination to be appealing rather than off-putting.
The book is wonderfully written, reflecting the lives of these men with great touches of reality and in a straightforward way that I find strangely compelling, even with everything working against it. Eddings writes both the conversations and the situations directly and perfectly and even in the most suspenseful of moments, there is no suspension of belief required to feel that it could actually be happening and even the slightly twee and overly romanticised ending doesn’t take the edge off what is a book I’ve read probably more than any other and will doubtless continue to do so.
“High Hunt” is largely the story of Dan Alders, who has just returned home to Tacoma, Washington after a spell in the US Army. Looking to fill the time between leaving the Army and heading back to University, he hooks up with his brother Jack. Jack introduces him to a few of his friends and they all hatch a plan to go deer hunting for a week up in the mountains. The book follows their lives, as they plan the hunt, cheat on their wives, tell tall stories, drink too much and generally fail to grow up or get along with each other.
This is the kind of book I wouldn’t normally enjoy. It was originally published in 1973 and the behaviours of these men which were presumably considered normal at the time don’t sit well with a modern audience. These men treat their girlfriends badly and their wives even worse. The casual infidelity and the way they drink heavily and then drive their cars certainly wouldn’t be allowed these days. They rarely tell anyone the truth, whether it’s their wives or the people they are trying to unload cars onto and they even lie to their guide about how well they’re getting along with each other, which causes problems once they’re all up in the mountains together.
Yet, for all this, I find “High Hunt” utterly compelling and I can’t stop reading it over and over, despite knowing exactly what is going to happen at every turn. Part of the reason for this is that it’s so utterly realistic. The characters are, for the most part, completely misogynistic and unlikeable and flaunt all sorts of rules and laws, but the whole book is written without any judgement and just tells the stories of these men as they happen. It may be unpleasant, but it is a slice of life and it’s entirely compelling somehow.
The other aspect I particularly like is the sub-plot between Dan and Clydine. In the midst of the killing of animals and the dark nature of man, this sheds a little beauty into what might otherwise be a novel with few redeeming features and balances it all out beautifully. This is one of the few relationships in the book that consists largely of mutual respect, even if it started out in a lie. It tells rather than shows and even the sex scenes are portrayed with a touch of mystery that leaves enough to the imagination to be appealing rather than off-putting.
The book is wonderfully written, reflecting the lives of these men with great touches of reality and in a straightforward way that I find strangely compelling, even with everything working against it. Eddings writes both the conversations and the situations directly and perfectly and even in the most suspenseful of moments, there is no suspension of belief required to feel that it could actually be happening and even the slightly twee and overly romanticised ending doesn’t take the edge off what is a book I’ve read probably more than any other and will doubtless continue to do so.
July 3, 2014
'"I mean it Jack," I said. "Point that gun-muzzle away from me." I felt very cold inside. I knew he could never close that bolt and get his finger onto the trigger before I got one off. I was only about five feet away from him. There was no way I could miss. I was going to kill my brother...'
David Eddings's debut novel is completely different from his popular fantasy writing. Gritty, dark, and full of suspense shows this was a tale undoubtedly directed at adults. The story follows ex-soldier Dan Alders and his return to civilian life. After begrudgingly meeting his brother Jack for the first time in over a decade Dan becomes entangled in Jack's degradation. Five men, Cal, Lou, Stan, Jack and Dan set out into the Western American mountains to hunt deer. Accompanying these men is a history of adultery and wife stealing which sets tensions high. When they find themselves armed with rifles and pistols in a deserted mountainous terrain their amiability begins to unravel. The description of American culture and landscape is nothing short of beautiful. Not to mention the delicious descriptions of coffee. When reading you get a true sense of the values Americans hold. For example Dan, the main character, stands alone in the mountain woodlands simply staring at the stars and enjoying the peace. Freedom and the defence of that freedom is a key theme. Eddings also combats issues of maturity and comradeship alongside darker themes regarding betrayal and a primal urge to be the alpha male. This is concisely outlined by Cal's wife...
'She shook her head. "Men!" She said. "You're all just a bunch of overgrown children..."
David Eddings's debut novel is completely different from his popular fantasy writing. Gritty, dark, and full of suspense shows this was a tale undoubtedly directed at adults. The story follows ex-soldier Dan Alders and his return to civilian life. After begrudgingly meeting his brother Jack for the first time in over a decade Dan becomes entangled in Jack's degradation. Five men, Cal, Lou, Stan, Jack and Dan set out into the Western American mountains to hunt deer. Accompanying these men is a history of adultery and wife stealing which sets tensions high. When they find themselves armed with rifles and pistols in a deserted mountainous terrain their amiability begins to unravel. The description of American culture and landscape is nothing short of beautiful. Not to mention the delicious descriptions of coffee. When reading you get a true sense of the values Americans hold. For example Dan, the main character, stands alone in the mountain woodlands simply staring at the stars and enjoying the peace. Freedom and the defence of that freedom is a key theme. Eddings also combats issues of maturity and comradeship alongside darker themes regarding betrayal and a primal urge to be the alpha male. This is concisely outlined by Cal's wife...
'She shook her head. "Men!" She said. "You're all just a bunch of overgrown children..."
January 28, 2013
I wouldn't normally read a book like High Hunt, it's a thriller about a bunch of guys going deer hunting, which isn't really my sort of thing. But this particular book was written by David Eddings, one of my favourite authors, his first ever published novel in fact, so in the interest of completion and curiosity, I decided to give it a go.
First up, this is vastly different from any of his fantasy offerings. You might think this was stating the obvious, but his later non-genre works have much more in common with his fantasy ones, strong characterisation, descriptive surroundings, a likable cast. Whether or not this is because of the lack of input from his later collaborator Leigh Eddings, or just because he was a new writer finding his feet, it's difficult to have much time for the novel, at least in the beginning. Eddings makes a mistake a lot of debut writers make, building up a plot and characters, in this case Danny's army buddy and the poker game, for it not to lead anywhere at all. These are swiftly dropped in favour of a new set of friends for Danny most of whom, especially the women, are as unlikable and sketchily drawn as he is. The only interesting characters in the novel, the friendly Mike, quiet Stan and clownish Cal,are gradually waylaid to make way for Danny's big revelation, that he should settle down and get married. Even the hunt of the title seems to have little bearing on the actual plot, they go up a mountain and shoot deer yes, but the aftermath is a real let down; after so much adventure the characters all sort of drift apart.
So why have I given it three stars? Because despite all these shortcomings it is a good read. The adventure in the mountains is fast-paced and tense enough to carry the slightly stilted characters and while the ending may leave you feeling a bit let down, it's almost enough to know that at the very least the main character didn't end up insane, ill, or divorced like all the others. It's brimming with potential and Eddings is a good enough writer that even in a genre that's unfamiliar to me, the book felt like a cosy old favourite. And for an Eddings' fan, it's worth the cover price alone for the frequent F-Bombs and sex scenes. The Belgariad was never that naughty ;)
First up, this is vastly different from any of his fantasy offerings. You might think this was stating the obvious, but his later non-genre works have much more in common with his fantasy ones, strong characterisation, descriptive surroundings, a likable cast. Whether or not this is because of the lack of input from his later collaborator Leigh Eddings, or just because he was a new writer finding his feet, it's difficult to have much time for the novel, at least in the beginning. Eddings makes a mistake a lot of debut writers make, building up a plot and characters, in this case Danny's army buddy and the poker game, for it not to lead anywhere at all. These are swiftly dropped in favour of a new set of friends for Danny most of whom, especially the women, are as unlikable and sketchily drawn as he is. The only interesting characters in the novel, the friendly Mike, quiet Stan and clownish Cal,are gradually waylaid to make way for Danny's big revelation, that he should settle down and get married. Even the hunt of the title seems to have little bearing on the actual plot, they go up a mountain and shoot deer yes, but the aftermath is a real let down; after so much adventure the characters all sort of drift apart.
So why have I given it three stars? Because despite all these shortcomings it is a good read. The adventure in the mountains is fast-paced and tense enough to carry the slightly stilted characters and while the ending may leave you feeling a bit let down, it's almost enough to know that at the very least the main character didn't end up insane, ill, or divorced like all the others. It's brimming with potential and Eddings is a good enough writer that even in a genre that's unfamiliar to me, the book felt like a cosy old favourite. And for an Eddings' fan, it's worth the cover price alone for the frequent F-Bombs and sex scenes. The Belgariad was never that naughty ;)
December 7, 2012
This was a pretty good story about some flawed characters who get together for a high altitude hunting trip. At first the idea is just a lark, but everyone gets pumped up about it as the time to actually leave for the trip approaches. There is some bad blood between a few of these guys and they really shouldn't have planned to go anywhere with guns. Then a couple of them throws booze into the mix and things get really touchy.
I trudged through the first 2/3 of this book feeling unimpressed about the characters and their crappy lives. The real story takes off during the last 1/3 of the book and that made it worthwhile for me. I read this on a recommendation from a friend and I was glad I did.
I trudged through the first 2/3 of this book feeling unimpressed about the characters and their crappy lives. The real story takes off during the last 1/3 of the book and that made it worthwhile for me. I read this on a recommendation from a friend and I was glad I did.
December 17, 2015
Wonderful solo by David Eddings.
November 7, 2021
I have read most of Eddings' books multiple times each but this was my first read of high hunt. For the most part the characters are unlikable, even contemptible, with casual misogyny being the norm. That being said this is not a story about nice people doing good things. Not having a clearly defined "good guy" and "bad guy" kept me interested, not knowing who would ultimately triumph in the end was compelling. The main character Dan was the exception to this and as a hunter I found his ethics around hunting admirable, even relatable. This is not a story where good overcomes evil and there is a clear hero, this is a nice contrast to Eddings fantasy work and I thoroughly enjoyed the read.
September 17, 2022
För att vara skriven av en barnmisshandlare, så var den ok.
October 5, 2021
Originally published on my blog here in December 2004.
David Eddings' first novel is very different from his other output, even from his later thrillers and from The Losers, which was written quite soon afterwards even if not published for almost twenty years. (The vast majority of his writing is in the fantasy genre, of course.) It is an extremely American novel, concerning a deer hunt in the Cascade mountains (later made famous worldwide as the location of Mount St Helens, but still one of the most remote parts of the United States). The narrator is an American soldier returned from the draft; this is during the Vietnam War, but Dan was posted to Germany. He rather reluctantly gets back in touch with his older brother, which leads to Dan accompanying a group of friends on a hunt, one complicated by bad feeling within the group (one man is committing adultery with two of the others' wives). Up in the mountains the tensions only increase, with a major rivalry brewing up over a rare white buck they see, and it starts to look as though deer will not be the only casualties of the hunt.
This covers familiar territory, even for the early seventies, but does it extremely well. The range of characters, for example, is wide and vivid, with both more varied and complex than occur in any other of Eddings' novels - a simplified style has obviously proved popular but I prefer this greater range. Some of the effects of High Hunt are obviously not intended: that the hunt begins on September 11th would be a clever ironic touch heightening the sense of foreboding - if the novel had been written thirty years later.
The obvious, and acknowledged influence on High Hunt is Hemingway. The idea of hunting as a rite of passage, as an activity which sorts the men from the boys, is not something I agree with, so that when this is made the basis for a story it has to be well enough done, as it is here, to provide other attractions to make the tale worth reading. There are other influences, some of which I suspect I do not see since the hunting genre is not one that has made its way across the Atlantic to the extent that the Western, its close relative, has. Rather more oddly, Robert Heinlein is clearly the source of the tone of some parts, particularly the scenes between Dan and his girlfriend. Glory Road is the closest novel to High Hunt in tone, even if it is from a completely different genre. Heinlein and Hemingway live together a little uneasily as influences, but High Hunt works.
David Eddings' first novel is very different from his other output, even from his later thrillers and from The Losers, which was written quite soon afterwards even if not published for almost twenty years. (The vast majority of his writing is in the fantasy genre, of course.) It is an extremely American novel, concerning a deer hunt in the Cascade mountains (later made famous worldwide as the location of Mount St Helens, but still one of the most remote parts of the United States). The narrator is an American soldier returned from the draft; this is during the Vietnam War, but Dan was posted to Germany. He rather reluctantly gets back in touch with his older brother, which leads to Dan accompanying a group of friends on a hunt, one complicated by bad feeling within the group (one man is committing adultery with two of the others' wives). Up in the mountains the tensions only increase, with a major rivalry brewing up over a rare white buck they see, and it starts to look as though deer will not be the only casualties of the hunt.
This covers familiar territory, even for the early seventies, but does it extremely well. The range of characters, for example, is wide and vivid, with both more varied and complex than occur in any other of Eddings' novels - a simplified style has obviously proved popular but I prefer this greater range. Some of the effects of High Hunt are obviously not intended: that the hunt begins on September 11th would be a clever ironic touch heightening the sense of foreboding - if the novel had been written thirty years later.
The obvious, and acknowledged influence on High Hunt is Hemingway. The idea of hunting as a rite of passage, as an activity which sorts the men from the boys, is not something I agree with, so that when this is made the basis for a story it has to be well enough done, as it is here, to provide other attractions to make the tale worth reading. There are other influences, some of which I suspect I do not see since the hunting genre is not one that has made its way across the Atlantic to the extent that the Western, its close relative, has. Rather more oddly, Robert Heinlein is clearly the source of the tone of some parts, particularly the scenes between Dan and his girlfriend. Glory Road is the closest novel to High Hunt in tone, even if it is from a completely different genre. Heinlein and Hemingway live together a little uneasily as influences, but High Hunt works.
December 29, 2016
David Eddings' first novel, published in 1973, is not at all like his epic fantasies that he later became so respected for. HIGH HUNT is about a young man trying to find purpose and direction in an aimless life. Mostly recounting his experiences with friends and relatives in a junky-seeming Tacoma, WA, the story is told entirely from the narrator's perspective. Interestingly, the only likeable characters are the narrator himself and eventually the girl he falls in love with. The rest of his friends are less developed and by no means likeable. The story is written in a way to build up suspense, almost in a haunting manner, where you feel like the narrator is mostly providing the back-drop for some sort of horrific or unbelievable event. Weirdly though, that event never occurs, and the entire book stays firmly in the mundane, with only a couple of moments of high tension or excitement. In the end, while the telling is gripping, you almost feel like "What was the point?".
The real power of the book comes in the form of insights into the way humans view each other, where we tend to fix acquaintances into certain images or roles by which we judge their behavior and actions. Eddings does a magnificent job of showing all of the secondary characters in HIGH HUNT as seen through the eyes of the narrator. His prejudices and experiences influence the way he views his friends (and enemies) and even himself. As I mentioned, the only likeable characters are the narrator himself and his girlfriend, but you get the distinct impression that the main reason for this is that you're hearing the story from the narrator's perspective. An interesting look into the way we view the world.
One thing, while I found this book very enjoyable, as I think most guys would, I would hesitate to recommend it to a woman. The characters are trashy, lots of focus on sex, guns, and alcohol, and definitely written from a man's perspective, I can't see most girls I know really liking this one.
Overall, this is a very enjoyable novel, with plenty of suspense and drama, but no real surprises or cliff-hangers (unless the lack of a major conflict is the surprise). Recommended for men, not women.
The real power of the book comes in the form of insights into the way humans view each other, where we tend to fix acquaintances into certain images or roles by which we judge their behavior and actions. Eddings does a magnificent job of showing all of the secondary characters in HIGH HUNT as seen through the eyes of the narrator. His prejudices and experiences influence the way he views his friends (and enemies) and even himself. As I mentioned, the only likeable characters are the narrator himself and his girlfriend, but you get the distinct impression that the main reason for this is that you're hearing the story from the narrator's perspective. An interesting look into the way we view the world.
One thing, while I found this book very enjoyable, as I think most guys would, I would hesitate to recommend it to a woman. The characters are trashy, lots of focus on sex, guns, and alcohol, and definitely written from a man's perspective, I can't see most girls I know really liking this one.
Overall, this is a very enjoyable novel, with plenty of suspense and drama, but no real surprises or cliff-hangers (unless the lack of a major conflict is the surprise). Recommended for men, not women.
June 15, 2013
I loved Eddings's Fantasy stuff when I was a kid so I got this as soon as it was released in the UK. It is wildly different in tone, but to be honest I love it as much now as I did then.
It is forty years old this year and shows it, you have to accept that you are looking into a snapshot of America in the early 70s, but once you get past the cool cats and their funky dialogue and the drink driving you are left with a deeply touching book about a young man trying to make sense of his life.
Dan Alders is without a doubt the most real of Eddings's characters, he is flawed yet likeable, his interactions with the people around him have the mark of authenticity and you can't help but root for him as the book progresses.
I won't say much more, but I highly recommend this book. If you like Eddings but thought it would be improved by the addition of sex, violence, and drunkeness then you'll love this book. It is one of my favourites.
It is forty years old this year and shows it, you have to accept that you are looking into a snapshot of America in the early 70s, but once you get past the cool cats and their funky dialogue and the drink driving you are left with a deeply touching book about a young man trying to make sense of his life.
Dan Alders is without a doubt the most real of Eddings's characters, he is flawed yet likeable, his interactions with the people around him have the mark of authenticity and you can't help but root for him as the book progresses.
I won't say much more, but I highly recommend this book. If you like Eddings but thought it would be improved by the addition of sex, violence, and drunkeness then you'll love this book. It is one of my favourites.
January 21, 2016
This is probably my number one book (at least at the moment). The book is very well written with unique characters. You just sit down to read a chapter or two and without notice get in the story and soon it's you who is sitting in some bar, talking with your "buddies", waiting for a deer with a gun in your hands. It's a great book.
July 3, 2010
I'm surprised I enjoyed this, nor being a hunter. I enjoyed the characters and the weird glance at the '70s. This makes me actually want to see some of the Northwest. I've been many times on business but I haven't seen any of it.
April 21, 2014
Certain social aspects and attitudes of the characters in this book are, well, clearly of another era. But that aside, this is a well-written book, full of smart dialogue and clever character observations. An utterly surprising contrast to his fantasy work.
March 13, 2017
A bunch of people goes into the mountain to hunt deer but brings their tragic lifes with them. First part is a mix of alcohol,sex, affairs and tragic life stories. The second part is about the hunting trip and how they change because of it. The second part is better.
February 14, 2015
this book… like all of eddings books it reaches in my chest and grips my heart. a true gem.
August 26, 2016
This is, by a very long shot, my favorite book by David Eddings.
July 17, 2017
A can't put it down
April 20, 2019
This novel was published during a vogue for these sorts of books and movies - Deliverance, The Deer Hunter - and it references Hemingway a fair bit so it would be easy to pigeonhole it in that genre. But it's better than that. In fact, I'd make the call that it's probably Eddings' best novel.
It's the story of Dan Alders (a name that has a fair amount of symbolism to it) and his return to normality after serving two years abroad in Germany. He catches up with his brother and becomes a part of the circle that they run I and then the group decides to go hunting. Which is where it gets dangerous...
The thing I've really picked up from this reread is that nothing really happens in this story. Some men go hunting and argue a lot and they don't resolve their differences all that much and the only real changes to the status quo are purely subjective. It's like a slice of life rather than a story. Dan's romance with Clydine - a name used only to provoke hilarity from the other characters, it seems - is the only thing that we see begin, reach a middle and come to any kind of resolution and it matches pretty well with the other stages of Dan's reaching some kind of maturity, making this more of a Bildungsroman than a thriller or adventure.
But it's easy to read, it's clever and peopled with some very interesting, well-rounded characters. I also enjoyed the symbolism of the high hunt and how it affects the people who go there: Dan, for instance, finds a peace there after the restlessness of his life; Cal is faced with his mortality and comes down again very quickly; Stan learns the wrong lessons entirely and is forced to lead a lie - although he's really only there as a dark mirror to Dan - while Jack and McKleary face some harsh truths about themselves but don't really change at all. Mike, though? He doesn't go up the mountain because he's already been and his life has new priorities now.
The only thing that annoys me about this book is that it goes out of its way to highlight Dan's isolation from his fellow men far more than it needed to and also that Eddings never wrote this well again for pretty much the rest of his career. I love The Belgariad but it isn't as good or as clever as it wants to be - or should be, given the caliber of the ideas being presented in them - and the sequels and other series that came along were only ever shadows of what we could have had. This novel gives us a hint of what might have been
It's the story of Dan Alders (a name that has a fair amount of symbolism to it) and his return to normality after serving two years abroad in Germany. He catches up with his brother and becomes a part of the circle that they run I and then the group decides to go hunting. Which is where it gets dangerous...
The thing I've really picked up from this reread is that nothing really happens in this story. Some men go hunting and argue a lot and they don't resolve their differences all that much and the only real changes to the status quo are purely subjective. It's like a slice of life rather than a story. Dan's romance with Clydine - a name used only to provoke hilarity from the other characters, it seems - is the only thing that we see begin, reach a middle and come to any kind of resolution and it matches pretty well with the other stages of Dan's reaching some kind of maturity, making this more of a Bildungsroman than a thriller or adventure.
But it's easy to read, it's clever and peopled with some very interesting, well-rounded characters. I also enjoyed the symbolism of the high hunt and how it affects the people who go there: Dan, for instance, finds a peace there after the restlessness of his life; Cal is faced with his mortality and comes down again very quickly; Stan learns the wrong lessons entirely and is forced to lead a lie - although he's really only there as a dark mirror to Dan - while Jack and McKleary face some harsh truths about themselves but don't really change at all. Mike, though? He doesn't go up the mountain because he's already been and his life has new priorities now.
The only thing that annoys me about this book is that it goes out of its way to highlight Dan's isolation from his fellow men far more than it needed to and also that Eddings never wrote this well again for pretty much the rest of his career. I love The Belgariad but it isn't as good or as clever as it wants to be - or should be, given the caliber of the ideas being presented in them - and the sequels and other series that came along were only ever shadows of what we could have had. This novel gives us a hint of what might have been
September 27, 2020
I enjoyed reading David Eddings fantasy books as a teenager, so I finally made time to read this adventure book.
I really enjoyed this story—it had a lot going on for a simple plot.
—good discussion of the tough decisions around the draft and Vietnam conflict
—great descriptions of hunting, different deer behavior and his feelings about hunting
—nice description of the Methow valley and the beauty in the mountains
—interesting group dynamics, especially interaction between men that can’t help but compete in nearly anything
I would have preferred a little less of the adultery and descriptions of the various sexual interactions, but I suppose it was helpful to some of the plot tension.
I thought the best part was the introspection the protagonist, Danny shares in the narrative. He is trying to find his place in the world and searches for it in a way I liked. At the end of chapter nine he expresses opinions that resonate with my inner introvert:
“Maybe for guys like me there just aren’t any people to be with. Maybe if they were really honest, everybody would admit the same—that all this buddy-buddy crap or “interaction” s*#t was just a dodge to cover up the fact that they’re all absolutely alone. Maybe nobody’s got anybody, and maybe that’s what we’re all trying to hide from.”
I think we can have “somebody “, but this book will make you think about those interactions.
I really enjoyed this story—it had a lot going on for a simple plot.
—good discussion of the tough decisions around the draft and Vietnam conflict
—great descriptions of hunting, different deer behavior and his feelings about hunting
—nice description of the Methow valley and the beauty in the mountains
—interesting group dynamics, especially interaction between men that can’t help but compete in nearly anything
I would have preferred a little less of the adultery and descriptions of the various sexual interactions, but I suppose it was helpful to some of the plot tension.
I thought the best part was the introspection the protagonist, Danny shares in the narrative. He is trying to find his place in the world and searches for it in a way I liked. At the end of chapter nine he expresses opinions that resonate with my inner introvert:
“Maybe for guys like me there just aren’t any people to be with. Maybe if they were really honest, everybody would admit the same—that all this buddy-buddy crap or “interaction” s*#t was just a dodge to cover up the fact that they’re all absolutely alone. Maybe nobody’s got anybody, and maybe that’s what we’re all trying to hide from.”
I think we can have “somebody “, but this book will make you think about those interactions.
June 14, 2024
Most of the time, when I come across a book with some of the adult content that this book has, I will not finish it. I'm just not interested in that sort of thing. There are a couple of exceptions. If it's a true story about a person's life, or if it's something written by an author with other works I've enjoyed. When it's a work by an author I like, I'm still less likely to continue reading it. In this case, I made an exception because in some ways, it tells a little about Eddings himself. So I finished it, though I skimmed past some parts that really were not necessary for the story, in my opinion.
Behind all the extramarital affairs, including rape, the drugs, smoking, and alcohol, there is a good story about a decent man (the first-person narrator) working through tough times to find himself amid some pretty troubled people. With all those things, if it's not the sort of thing you're interested in, you're better off looking for another inspiring story.
If you are interested in reading typical David Eddings works, this is not one of them. About the only thing in common with his other works are a few of the phrases he uses a lot.
Behind all the extramarital affairs, including rape, the drugs, smoking, and alcohol, there is a good story about a decent man (the first-person narrator) working through tough times to find himself amid some pretty troubled people. With all those things, if it's not the sort of thing you're interested in, you're better off looking for another inspiring story.
If you are interested in reading typical David Eddings works, this is not one of them. About the only thing in common with his other works are a few of the phrases he uses a lot.
August 9, 2020
Did anyone else think, as they got near the end of the book:
"Wait a second! I recognise this female character's voice!"
See Ce'Nedra, Ehlana, Polgara...
Other Random thoughts about this book:
- whoa, all this swearing and sexy-time is not like his fantasy books
- most of these characters are really unlikeable
- they are drinking, like, *all* the time - even when driving
- that dad had a pretty harsh attitude towards his first son
- I'm surprised
- I do enjoy all the dialog in Eddings books
- Eddings does a fantastic job at context - describing the time, location, visuals of a place - something I very much appreciate
- it was nice how things work out in the end
Ultimately the book felt a bit meandering. In the end, not a huge amount happens in terms of drama. I guess it's more believable - it's just that reality can be a bit humdrum.
I doubt I'll ever read this again - thus 3 stars instead of 4.
However I'm glad I read it. It was interesting to see a different side of Eddings.
"Wait a second! I recognise this female character's voice!"
See Ce'Nedra, Ehlana, Polgara...
Other Random thoughts about this book:
- whoa, all this swearing and sexy-time is not like his fantasy books
- most of these characters are really unlikeable
- they are drinking, like, *all* the time - even when driving
- that dad had a pretty harsh attitude towards his first son
- I'm surprised
- I do enjoy all the dialog in Eddings books
- Eddings does a fantastic job at context - describing the time, location, visuals of a place - something I very much appreciate
- it was nice how things work out in the end
Ultimately the book felt a bit meandering. In the end, not a huge amount happens in terms of drama. I guess it's more believable - it's just that reality can be a bit humdrum.
I doubt I'll ever read this again - thus 3 stars instead of 4.
However I'm glad I read it. It was interesting to see a different side of Eddings.
December 1, 2020
I read this in a fit of completionism to get through the rest of Eddings. I knew going into it that I probably wouldn’t enjoy it much, so the one star is a bit unfair (it’s really not). His dialogue shines, but all of his non-genre work has the same sort of unimaginative English professor type protagonist with his standard takes on women (thank goodness Leigh mitigated that somewhat). The hunt was’t bad, but he still has that same odd habit of rubbing your nose in what he’s writing so that he’s sure that you’re getting all that he’s putting into it. As far as heterosexual men writing sex scenes go, it wasn’t the worst, but it’s not really good either.
Definitively has a lot of the problems first novels tend to have, but I did still enjoy his writing despite the faults (one star review and all).
Definitively has a lot of the problems first novels tend to have, but I did still enjoy his writing despite the faults (one star review and all).
Read
August 1, 2022I read this 1973 novel in the 1980s while its author was rocking the world of high fantasy with several multi-volume works so that the local sci-fi bookstore just couldn’t keep up with the demand. I remember a blurb one of their brief newsletters ending with the statement: ‘I hope that answers all the Edding questions for now’. Outside the world of nefarious powers, magical adepts, young heroes with swords and wise women, this is really an action novel. It involves a group of associates who are more rivals than friends and who use a hunting trip in the tall mountains to purportedly see who can bag the biggest deer, but actually to see whose score with their ‘mates’ will be conclusively settled with bullets. A thriller of real people, not a fantasy of unreal worlds.
About forty years later, I have to confess I remember virtually nothing from this work.
About forty years later, I have to confess I remember virtually nothing from this work.
July 24, 2021
I have read and adore the fantasy book by this author. This was radically different. I found some of the content challenging with the extreme macho sexist attitudes and fixation with guns. The characters are believable and complicated as is the main character who narrates the story from his perspective. The story uses the hunt as a possible transition point. To me this is a story about those who are trapped in past regrets and those who despite their past are able to make peace with themselves and move forward.
August 4, 2021
A scintillating and fine tale from David Eddings!!
This book is well written in the idiosyncratic style of David Eddings who is an accomplished writer. Although this novel is not in the fantasy genre that Eddings is noted for, a little patience and resourcefulness had by many readers will cause an appealing story to be beheld by finishing this book.
Overall it is a really interesting story which gives Eddings great credit. This book alongside with the 'The Losers' is a great foray into Mainstream fiction.
This book is well written in the idiosyncratic style of David Eddings who is an accomplished writer. Although this novel is not in the fantasy genre that Eddings is noted for, a little patience and resourcefulness had by many readers will cause an appealing story to be beheld by finishing this book.
Overall it is a really interesting story which gives Eddings great credit. This book alongside with the 'The Losers' is a great foray into Mainstream fiction.
July 31, 2024
I have not yet finished the book, taking it slow and I am in about half, but I dont understand the semi-low ratings. I had read a few of the fantasy books by Eddigs and they felt rather generic, I would say average. High Hunt on the other hand is greatly written, the characters are likable/despicable and the book had not bored me one minute. Its hands down the best one by Eddings I have read. Highly recommended!
July 13, 2018
A total departure from what I had previously read by this author. Of course, that could be because it came first before he wrote any of the other novels I was exposed to. This one was still well written but I do not envisage re-reading it. I have read all his other works repeatedly.
July 16, 2018
Interesting old style coming of age, dealing with life book in Americana style.
Interesting insight to people from Washington State (Seattle Tacoma) during and after the Vietnam War.
More depth than surface although be read as just an adventure story.
3 1/2
Interesting insight to people from Washington State (Seattle Tacoma) during and after the Vietnam War.
More depth than surface although be read as just an adventure story.
3 1/2
November 15, 2018
I absolutely love David Eddings, but i did not like High Hunt.
January 8, 2022
As with all Eddings, a very easy read. This was his first novel and like his last novels, very little sustenance.
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