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John Makathimo wrote: ↑15 Apr 2019, 06:02 Adrift – By Charlie Sheldon

Review – By John Makathimo

Charlie Sheldon’s “Adrift” is a suspense thriller about, courage, faith, and survival all in one. A distress SOS from a ship off the Alaskan Coast is the trigger for a daring salvage operation by a group of quickly assembled mariners.

A vintage salvage tug boat sets out in a desperate race to beat the competition to a burning and drifting container ship in treacherous North Pacific seas. They battle huge waves in sub-zero temperatures, and near zero visibility for the rescue price.

The crew from the burning ship abandon it in lifeboats, and they get tossed and upturned in the choppy waves relentlessly. With no communication with the outside world, their skills are tested to the limits of endurance. Some of them narrowly escape death, only to get stranded between the treacherous Pacific shorelines and a remote arctic tundra in the middle of winter.

The salvage tug crew are not without drama of their own, and some pay the ultimate price with singular devotion. They display a sense of duty, and comradeship in the face of adversity. Their accomplished mission offers little mood for celebration, but a reprieve from an unexpected source is the reason for renewed optimism.

The author’s description of the extreme sea conditions under which the crews are managing, both in the burning ship and the tug boat is gripping. The reader is let in on their professionalism, private sensibilities, personalities, individual and collective performance.

A crew member from one of the lifeboats is injured and stranded in deep snow. The author literary takes you on a winter safari to experience the suspense of rescuers, their faith and courage. A sweat lodge scene is an awesome moment to experience front row synchrony of kindred spirits.

The rescuers' trek is as hazardous as it is seemingly hopeless. Guardian eagles maintain a keen watch from up yonder, over a stranded native of the land. It is like the land had given a frozen-welcome embrace to a prodigal son. Nowhere is nature so well depicted in pristine conditions, a great reference point for nature preservation.

The book is relevant for authorities and groups involved in environmental conservation, and also to those seeking pure adventure. The author helps strike a balance for profitable economic activities and preserving the primary source of all our natural resources.

The author has woven a complex conspiracy that interweaves the burning ship, the salvage tug and ancestral lands in the Alaskan wilderness ecosystem.

I like the book because the author engages the reader with powerful imagery and enthralling literary style. I was also able to pick a bit of ship-lingua like “Forward, Astern, Port, and Starboard”. This is a great read, and I happily give it a well-deserved 4 out of 4 Scores.

Purple721321 wrote: ↑17 Apr 2019, 13:19 I tried three different devices, and the italic isn't coming up. Regular text italic text[/1] regular text. It doesn't seem to be working

Purple721321 wrote: ↑18 Apr 2019, 15:56 I have used text it’s not working. I accidentally bumped the 1 when I was showing you what I was found It won’t go to italics. It just shows the word regularly, with the code. It won’t put it in italics