A Good Forest for Dying: The Tragic Death of a Young Man on the Front Lines of the Environmental Wars

by Patrick Beach

Early on a September morning in 1998, David “Gypsy” Chain and eight fellow Earth First! activists went into the redwood forests of Scotia, California. Their loosely organized plan to protest the destruction caused by the logging industry almost immediately turned farcically tragic. A. E. Ammons, a logger for Pacific Lumber, confronted the group, threatening them in an obscenity-ridden if they didn't leave "I'll make sure I got a tree comin' this way!" The group retreated, moving deeper into the wilderness. A short time later, just as they were attempting to confront the logger yet again, Gypsy was dead, crushed to death by a tree Ammons felled.

A GOOD FOREST FOR DYING traces the long history of bitter clashes between environmental concerns and economic interests in the American West and shows why these tensions came to a head in northern California in the 1990s. It tells the story of how Pacific Lumber, once an environmentally friendly, family-owned business, became part of a conglomerate whose business practices made it a ripe target for environmental activists. But A GOOD FOREST FOR DYING is also the story of Gypsy Chain, a troubled young man raised in a loving family. A social misfit in his small Texas hometown, he died in a faraway forest before he had a chance to come to terms with himself and his family. His mother never lost faith in her sometimes wayward, idealistic son. After his death, and helped by a team of shrewd, leftist lawyers, she mounted a fight for justice in the name of her son and the cause of saving the redwoods.

A balanced, highly readable examination of complex, emotionally charged issues, A GOOD FOREST FOR DYING will appeal to a wide audience. Its insights into the inner workings of the radical environmental movement and its dissection of corporate greed and misdeeds are reminiscent of such provocative exposés as A Civil Action and Erin Brockovich. The story of Gypsy’s strange odyssey and the disturbing circumstances of his death–seen primarily through the eyes of his mother–is as powerful and as moving as Jon Krakauer’s classic Into the Wild .

Genres: Nonfiction, Environment

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Geun Ho - ISB Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have not encountered biography in quite a long time since I viewed them as a mere interpretation of the authors of well known people. However, this one was somewhat different. The moment I picked out this book, I realized that this book was not about a very popular figure, but rather a vigilant young man that the world does not know much about. This book is a book on the behalf of a young environmentalist, David "Gypsy" Chain, who early on a September morning in 1998 met an unfortunate death in the redwood forests of Scotia, California. I was surprised to learn a very intense environmental war between logging industry and environmentalists as I read on this book. From the way the author, Patrick Beach, narrates the story, it is easy to see the new side of the loggin industry: the violent and dark side of the huge corporations. Also, the narration is effective in its objective to present the environmentalist movements such as "Earth First!ers" presented in this book in positive manner. Overall, this book is great in its objective to let the world learn about less familiar case and is recommended to anyone who would like to learn about new things.

[Velma]

After participating in last night's celebration of what would have been his 40th birthday, with members of both of Gypsy's families -- the one he was born into, and the family of environmental activists he chose as his second family, including my husband -- I realized that I need to move this book up my tbr list. Sixteen years after he was killed by a redwood tree felled -- some say intentionally in his direction -- by a Pacific Lumber Company logger, David "Gypsy" Chain's families reminded me that it is all too easy to forget our history and, in my case at least, not necessarily even know all the details of it. I've been reading what I can about it online today while I think about what my husband and his friends went through that day Gypsy was killed in the forest, but I'm left wanting more. Hopefully, this book will provide it.

[Michael Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding investigative journalism from a top notch writer.

[Cindy Lofgren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I met the author at the Austin Book Festival and the mother of the man killed was there. She is a strong woman for telling this story and the author did a really good job of telling his story without pointing fingers throughout the book. Eye opener.

[Cynthia Paschen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative history of the clashes between the California lumber industry and environmental activists. Focus is on the death of David "Gypsy" Chain in 1998.

Thanks to my Journalism school classmate Patrick Beach for telling this story so well.

[Ayumi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great story.