The Rescue Season: The Heroic Story of Parajumpers on the Edge of the World

by Bob Drury

Provides an intriguing account of the challenges faced by the 210th Alaska Pararescue Squadron during their daring rescue of three English climbers on the West Rib route of Mount Denali--the highest peak in North America. 40,000 first printing.

Genres: Nonfiction, Military History, War, Adventure

238 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I liked about this book: daring rescues and personal stories about individual PJs. What I didn’t like: the way this author uses really big words to describe virtually everything. That was really distracting to me and made the book a hard read, I like when a book flows and if I have to decipher a bunch of really obscure words it makes it a real chore. Simple language doesn’t mean you don’t sound smart, it just makes it easier to read and enjoy.

[Patrick Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gripping narrative about rescue operations in Alaska and the colorful characters who are the parajumpers -- a unit I hadn't heard of.

I was put off by the (to me) superfluous classical references, and the use of the same metaphor - 'rode hard and put up wet' -- twice in the first 40-some pages. But it's still a good and worthwhile read.

[Marlene French · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading about these elite Rescue Parajumpers was really an eye opener and what they do is truly amazing! Anyone interested in aircraft would especially enjoy it however I admit I am truly uneducated in this department!

[Cj Ciccione · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very little action.

[Nadir · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is somewhat hard to "classify" - it covers a military unit, but in their now-primarily civilian rescue role. It certainly goes into great detail about the history, geology, and geography of Alaska, so it's much like travel writing as well. In any case, the author does a wonderful job of making the people compelling and building appreciation for the remarkable things they do. To say that the impression of climbing Denali is now extraordinarily daunting to me is an understatement. Cheers to those who try and to those who succeed.

[Haeli Mccabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a rate from 1-5, i rated this book a 4. I rated it a book because it was a good book. Some of the things in the book though were confusing, like explaining what was used to save a person, but I don't know what those things are used for. I liked the book because it was inspiring to hear the stories of the saved people. Also, it was astonishing how bad some of the injuries were and how the parajumpers saved them. I thought the book was really interesting.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good tale of the crazy people who climb mountains and the even crazier, brave people who get them out of harm;s way when they get in trouble. A good addition if you enjoy reading about mountaineering or military rescue. Sometimes it seems the author gets a bit too close to the subjects, but with charismatic heros such as these, possibly it is to be expected.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually read a shortened version from a reader's digest book, but I really enjoyed reading about the parajumpers. The author included some history, some random facts, some personal backgrounds of various parajumpers, and some intense rescues. he weaved it together nicely.

[Troy · Rating 3 out of 5]

See my combined review for The Rescue Season and That Others May Live.

[Joan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I never could get interested in this one. I abandoned it after about 30 or 40 pages.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alright, the book starts a little slow, but once warmed up takes off like a supercharger. A really enjoyable book.

[Rachel Bayles · Rating 4 out of 5]

PJs. Helicopters. Perfect.
Any book about PJs is bound to remind the rest of us mere mortals what wimps we actually are.