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Pescador's Wake
Amid the storms and icebergs of the far Southern Ocean‚ a deadly chase is underway.
The Uruguayan-flagged Pescador has been spotted fishing illegally for Patagonian toothfish in the waters off Heard Island. The crew of an Australian patrol vessel‚ the Australis‚ has been given instructions to pursue the Pescador and not let her out of its sight. Equally determined‚ Carlos‚ the Pescador′s master‚ sets an escape course south‚ directly into a storm. But the Australian boat in hot pursuit is not the only source of anxiety among the crew of the Pescador. Each has his own secrets and ambitions.
As the drama unfolds at sea‚ so too do the stories of the human lives caught in its nets. For the men on board the boats‚ and the women they′ve left behind on shore‚ there is much at stake.
In this gripping debut novel‚ Katherine Johnson evokes the danger and heartbreak of lives at the mercy of the sea‚ and weaves a breathtaking story of love‚ loss and hope.
The Uruguayan-flagged Pescador has been spotted fishing illegally for Patagonian toothfish in the waters off Heard Island. The crew of an Australian patrol vessel‚ the Australis‚ has been given instructions to pursue the Pescador and not let her out of its sight. Equally determined‚ Carlos‚ the Pescador′s master‚ sets an escape course south‚ directly into a storm. But the Australian boat in hot pursuit is not the only source of anxiety among the crew of the Pescador. Each has his own secrets and ambitions.
As the drama unfolds at sea‚ so too do the stories of the human lives caught in its nets. For the men on board the boats‚ and the women they′ve left behind on shore‚ there is much at stake.
In this gripping debut novel‚ Katherine Johnson evokes the danger and heartbreak of lives at the mercy of the sea‚ and weaves a breathtaking story of love‚ loss and hope.
- GenresContemporary
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
3 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Johnson
69 books52 followersTasmanian writer Katherine Johnson is the author of four novels: Pescador's Wake (Fourth Estate 2009), The Better Son (Ventura Press 2016), Matryoshka (Ventura Press 2018) and Paris Savages (Ventura Press 2019, Allison and Busby UK 2020, Jimenez Edizioni Italy 2021 - published under the title Selvaggi).
Paris Savages, is based on the true story of three Aboriginal (Badtjala) people from Fraser Island, Queensland, who were transported to Europe in 1882 as ethnographic curiosities. It was shortlisted in the ABIA Awards 2020 and was The Times Historical Fiction Book of the Month (July 2020).
The Better Son tells the story of a family yearning for love but layered with secrets, and the price of a lie. Set in northern Tasmania’s cave country, The Better Son won the University of Tasmania Prize in 2013 (Tasmanian Literary Awards), the People's Choice Award (Tasmanian Literary Awards 2013), as well as a HarperCollins Varuna Award for Manuscript Development in 2013. The Better Son was Longlisted for the Australian Indie Book Awards and The Tasmania Book Prize (Premier’s Literary Awards).
Matryoshka is set against the beautiful backdrop of Tasmania and tells the story of secrets, refuge, and loves lost and found.
Pescador's Wake, set on the Southern Ocean and in Tasmania and Uruguay, won a HarperCollins Varuna Award for Manuscript Development in 2007.
Born in Brisbane, Queensland, Katherine Johnson now lives in Tasmania where she also works as a science journalist. Her non-fiction articles have been published in Good Weekend (Sydney Morning Herald), Ecos, The Conversation, Australasian Science, Island and Forty South.
Katherine Johnson has a Bachelor of Arts (Journalism), an honours degree in marine science and a PhD in creative writing. She is an Adjunct Researcher at the University of Tasmania, where she has taught creative writing.
Paris Savages, is based on the true story of three Aboriginal (Badtjala) people from Fraser Island, Queensland, who were transported to Europe in 1882 as ethnographic curiosities. It was shortlisted in the ABIA Awards 2020 and was The Times Historical Fiction Book of the Month (July 2020).
The Better Son tells the story of a family yearning for love but layered with secrets, and the price of a lie. Set in northern Tasmania’s cave country, The Better Son won the University of Tasmania Prize in 2013 (Tasmanian Literary Awards), the People's Choice Award (Tasmanian Literary Awards 2013), as well as a HarperCollins Varuna Award for Manuscript Development in 2013. The Better Son was Longlisted for the Australian Indie Book Awards and The Tasmania Book Prize (Premier’s Literary Awards).
Matryoshka is set against the beautiful backdrop of Tasmania and tells the story of secrets, refuge, and loves lost and found.
Pescador's Wake, set on the Southern Ocean and in Tasmania and Uruguay, won a HarperCollins Varuna Award for Manuscript Development in 2007.
Born in Brisbane, Queensland, Katherine Johnson now lives in Tasmania where she also works as a science journalist. Her non-fiction articles have been published in Good Weekend (Sydney Morning Herald), Ecos, The Conversation, Australasian Science, Island and Forty South.
Katherine Johnson has a Bachelor of Arts (Journalism), an honours degree in marine science and a PhD in creative writing. She is an Adjunct Researcher at the University of Tasmania, where she has taught creative writing.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 13, 2020
This is a novel based on a true story of an Australian patrol boat pursuing a Uruguayan vessel illegally fishing in the Southern Ocean off Antarctica, as told by the two captains and their wives (with some journal contributions from the Uruguayan first mate) but the star and real protagonist of the story is the ocean itself. My father was a merchant seaman and told me of the horrible sailing conditions in that part of the world so I was no stranger to this and there are many accounts, fiction and non-fiction, of sailing in stormy weather where the waves are so treacherous that any one could capsize a small vessel; this is the real drama of the novel. as for the novel itself, it starts as a pursuit, then turns into something else, then something else again, but rather than feel like a story with twists and turns, it feels like three stories stapled together without a smooth transition. It's hard to say whether it's a tense chase or human interest story. The final "revelation" can be seen coming well in advance so that didn't really redeem it from being a pretty routine novel, all around. This was a first novel, as I understand it, and the author's later novels have apparently received better reviews.
March 16, 2021
I picked this book up from the library because the author had published it with the help of a Varuna Award. I know what a fantastic support Varuna is to Australian writers, and so was keen to see the literary outcome of a Varuna Fellowship winner.
Pescador's Wake is Katherine Johnson's first novel, and a little of the awkwardness of first author writing is evident, particularly in the first third of the novel. To be honest, I almost gave up on this book. The voices of the main characters, particularly the ship captains Carlos and Dave, seemed quite forced and did not ring true. But as the novel progressed Johnson's writing improved, and the characters' voices became more believable. The second half of the novel was more tightly written, too, with the pacing, action and intensity of the writing picking up.
Overall, however, I did find the women characters to be better written than the male. Although the scenes on the ships at sea sounded very believable (I know nothing about ships or sea travel so if there were any factual errors I wouldn't have a clue) it was the women's grief and struggles that I found most engaging. The mirroring struggles of the captain's wives - one dealing with the loss of an adult son, the other dealing with multiple miscarriages and a premature birth- were written with great sensitivity and insight. Once these issues began to be dealt with in the novel, I found the male characters more believable too, as they faced the same struggles of loss and loneliness.
There are a couple of twists at the end, which I didn't find entirely convincing. But this didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the novel. From a slow start, I found myself being more and more drawn into this story as it unfolded. A good mix of family drama, action, adventure and the dangers of the sea, Pescador's Wake is an enjoyable read. I hope I'm able to read more from this author. Recommended.
Pescador's Wake is Katherine Johnson's first novel, and a little of the awkwardness of first author writing is evident, particularly in the first third of the novel. To be honest, I almost gave up on this book. The voices of the main characters, particularly the ship captains Carlos and Dave, seemed quite forced and did not ring true. But as the novel progressed Johnson's writing improved, and the characters' voices became more believable. The second half of the novel was more tightly written, too, with the pacing, action and intensity of the writing picking up.
Overall, however, I did find the women characters to be better written than the male. Although the scenes on the ships at sea sounded very believable (I know nothing about ships or sea travel so if there were any factual errors I wouldn't have a clue) it was the women's grief and struggles that I found most engaging. The mirroring struggles of the captain's wives - one dealing with the loss of an adult son, the other dealing with multiple miscarriages and a premature birth- were written with great sensitivity and insight. Once these issues began to be dealt with in the novel, I found the male characters more believable too, as they faced the same struggles of loss and loneliness.
There are a couple of twists at the end, which I didn't find entirely convincing. But this didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the novel. From a slow start, I found myself being more and more drawn into this story as it unfolded. A good mix of family drama, action, adventure and the dangers of the sea, Pescador's Wake is an enjoyable read. I hope I'm able to read more from this author. Recommended.
November 5, 2017
gave up on it..not my thing!
August 4, 2014
Another disappointment - that's 2 in a row for me. I did stick with this one to the end though but learned that life's too short to read a bad book. This could have been a really good book based on the subject matter and the research that the author put in. When I first heard of the book I was given the impression that it was a true story but that's not the case, I think its very loosely based on some events that took place involving a chase of an illegal fishing boat by an Australian patrol. Real life drama on some of the most inhospitable seas in the world sounds good but this soon turned into melodramatic drivel as the pirate skipper admired the baby-like complexion of his first mate and dreamed of claw-foot baths back at home with scented perfumes in the bathroom. The first mate was a romantic poet! I almost threw up. Maybe I'm stereotyping a bit but I would be more inclined to think that these seafarers, as rough and tough as they are, probably aren't quite so in touch with their feminine side. The book should come with a warning - if you're looking for adventure and real-life tough stories, go elsewhere. If you're looking for some romanticised rubbish, read on. Probably something that would have a better review for fans of Mills and Boon.
January 29, 2009
The Pescador is seen to be illegally fishing in Australian waters. An Australian patrol vessel, the Australis, was then sent to capture the Pescador at all cost. Thus begins a most dangerous chase through storms, icebergs, and the many dangers of the sea.
The story revolves around Carlos and Dave, captains of opposing ships, and the people around them. Carlos commands the respect of his crew and is concerned for the future of his family. He has risked everything to be able to provide a better future for his children. Julia, his wife, is pregnant with their second son but after 2 miscarriages, they are wary of a third.
Dave lost his only son to a car accident nearly 2 years ago. He and his wife, Margie, are still living and feeling this lost everyday of their lives. They cannot lose one another yet.
This novel highlights the vastness and power of the sea, of nature. And yet it is also fragile and subject to our cares. It’s a story of loyalty, friendship, love, and the preciousness of life.
The story revolves around Carlos and Dave, captains of opposing ships, and the people around them. Carlos commands the respect of his crew and is concerned for the future of his family. He has risked everything to be able to provide a better future for his children. Julia, his wife, is pregnant with their second son but after 2 miscarriages, they are wary of a third.
Dave lost his only son to a car accident nearly 2 years ago. He and his wife, Margie, are still living and feeling this lost everyday of their lives. They cannot lose one another yet.
This novel highlights the vastness and power of the sea, of nature. And yet it is also fragile and subject to our cares. It’s a story of loyalty, friendship, love, and the preciousness of life.
June 1, 2010
I absolutely loved this book - it was emotional, brave and engaging. The characters were wonderful, and the familiar scenes from Hobart-town gave it a reality check without detracting from the drama that was unfolding in the book. I loved the way the story and tension built up - full of suspense. Loved it!
October 12, 2014
Material is good, but writing is rough around the edges, it lacks subtlety and has unnecessary trimmings like moments of foreshadowing.
Can't escape the feeling that the author deliberately avoided to describe some events that we know must have happened (like Carlos's conversation with Eduardo's wife, etc)because they would be too complicated to write convincingly.
Can't escape the feeling that the author deliberately avoided to describe some events that we know must have happened (like Carlos's conversation with Eduardo's wife, etc)because they would be too complicated to write convincingly.
July 26, 2011
A severe case of over-egging the pudding.
October 9, 2012
Randomly chosen from my stash to be #56 for 2012
November 30, 2014
Crap femine copy of Hooked
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November 28, 2017This was an interesting read, from the viewpoint of two adversaries., one, an illegal fisherman and the other, a captain who is charged with capturing enough evidence to have the fisherman charged. Although they are depicted by the media and the authorities as the goodies and the baddies, our sympathies are not so straight forward; we end up just hoping they can all get home safely. Added interest comes from hearing the viewpoint of the two wives; the treachery of one of them adds poignancy to the story.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews