Dark Shadows Falling

Climbing is dangerous and there is alot of energy and cost involved. However Simpson questions the treatment of dying climbers who are often left to die in the lonliness of the mountain. Often without comfort of another soul.

He goes on to tackle the commercialization of the sport, which has stripped the members of such climbing expeditions of any human emotions or feelings. A truly philosophical honest read.


Into Deadly Air   July 21, 2000
 1 out of 2 found this review helpful

Having once almost died himself in a mountaineering accident, Joe Simpson's "Dark Shadows Falling" attempts to sound the warning for amature climbers who might have missed the message in Jon Krakauer's hugely popular "Into Thin Air." Elite mountains (such as the Himilayas) should be left to the elite climbers, and even they should take pause before tackling the world's toughest climbs. That is the Simpson's message and he dramtizes it with various accounts of mountaineering tragedies and triumphs. There are also light moments, such as the photo of a Sherpa lifting up three granite blocks with his, ahem, scrotum. Overall, this is an excellent read for anyone interested in mountaineering.


An Amazing and Honest Book   July 6, 2000
 1 out of 2 found this review helpful

An Excellent book, so honest. It's great to read a climbing book by someone not entrenched in all the commercialism, someone who is able to offer honest and thoughtful opinions on the tragic state of Himalayan climbing today. The book reads very well, a must for everyone interested in Himalayan climbing today. Joe Simpson is a genius.


Excellent read, makes you rethink life and death   June 10, 1999
 2 out of 6 found this review helpful

I really enjoyed this book when I picked it up on Mt. Hood in Oregon and read it while I was out west hiking the mountains (not mountaineering)

He really looks into the great Yaw of death and what he finds there will change him and the reader, it is as if you are going through life threatening experiences with him and you wonder how you would handle the situations.

Worth a read by anyone who wonders about the great hereafter.


If you are a climber, you must read this Book!   June 9, 1999
I first cme into contact with Simpson when my father convinced me to read "Touching the Void." Although I haven't read all of them the ones I have read have been Unputdownble in every sense. If you have read into thin air by Jon Krakauer then this is an excellent follow up book. The harrowing first chapter introduced me to an element of climbing that I had never seen and do not want to ever see. Again, if you are a climber then you must read this book!