Over the Edge: The True Story of the Kidnap and Escape of Four Climbers in Central Asia by Greg Child (PDF)

Description

Before dawn on August 12, 2000, four of America’s best young rock climbers―Tommy Caldwell, Beth Rodden, Jason “Singer” Smith, and John Dickey―were asleep in their portaledges high on the Yellow Wall in the Pamir-Alai mountain range of Kyrgyzstan. At daybreak, they would be kidnapped at gunpoint by fanatical militants of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), which operates out of secret bases in Tajikistan and Afghanistan and is linked to Al Qaeda. The kidnappers, themselves barely out of their teens, intended to use their hostages as human shields and for ransom money as they moved across Kyrgyzstan. They hid the climbers by day and marched them by night through freezing, treacherous mountain terrain, with little food, no clean water, and the constant threat of execution.The four climbers — the oldest of them only 25 — would see a fellow hostage, a Kyrgyz soldier, executed before their eyes. And in a remarkable life-and-death crucible over six terrifying days, they would be forced to choose between saving their own lives and committing an act none of them thought they ever could.In Over the Edge, the climbers reveal the complete story of their nightmarish ordeal to journalist and climber Greg Child. With riveting details, Child re-creates the entire hour-by-hour drama, from the first ricocheting bullets to the climatic decision that gains them their freedom. Set in a region rife with narcotics and terrorism, this is a compelling story about loyalty and the will to survive. What continues to make it relevant today, 15 years after the events took place, is the geopolitical context — the incident happened, eerily, on the eve of 9–/11; the fact that at least two of the four climbers continue to be prominent in the sport; and the details incorporated into the story around the media hype and controversy regarding the climbers and their story.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: Review Over the Edge is a charged and unforgettable look into the many faces of international terrorism and human nature itself. –Lesley Reed (amazon.com)To the ordinary perils of mountaineering may now be added those of terrorism, as reconstructed in this account of the ordeal endured by four twenty-something Americans in 2000…..The ensuing weeklong hostage ordeal, in which the four Americans could easily have lost their lives, unfolds tensely amid ambushes, nocturnal treks, and the murder of a fellow hostage… Gilbert Taylor © American Libr. Assc. About the Author Greg Child is a world-class rock climber, mountaineer, author, and filmmaker. He is a writer for Outside magazine and has authored several books. In 1987, Child was honored with the American Alpine Club’s Literary Award for his prolific and insightful mountaineering literature. In 2011, Greg was president of the jury for mountaineering’s coveted Piolet d’Or. award. he live in Castle Valley, Utah.

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐This is a great book about 4 climbers kidnapped in a foreign country by Afgani rebels. While in the middle of a climb, the climbers are forced down at gunshot. They live the next 10 days in a series of firefights with death all around them. To make their struggle even tougher, there is little food and the climbers are forced to bed down during hours of light in very cramped quarters. The climbers are aware they are in desparate straits as the kidnappers execute a soldier while in the middle of a gun fight. Eventually the climbers escape but that’s only half the story.Their story is so unbelievable and information is so unreliable that their credibility is severely questioned. This book goes into detail about this controversy and I think does an excellent job of showing how it developed. …Based on the controversy you’re either going to believe the story or not. To me, it’s very believable. The climber characters are classic young Americans and the author does a great job portraying their close relationships and this eventually cracks. I stongly recommend this book if you like climbing or stories of adventure.

⭐Great story of perseverance and survival. Also some truths about corrupt gov’t supported by the USA. Too many lives lost and forgotten for nothing.

⭐Great story of survival and recovery after a horrific event.

⭐This is a fantastic book telling the true story of the kidnapping of climbers. The book gives good insight into the entirety of the events before, during, and after the kidnapping. Other books elude to the details but this is truly the tell-all. I highly recommend reading this true and adventurous tail.

⭐Loved the book. Even though I knew the story the author did a good job keeping my interest. Lots of reviewers complain about how much the book goes into the back story but I found it helpful even though I am pretty current with current events/politics. My oldest kids (climbers, aged 16 and 14) are reading it now.

⭐Excellent read. Naturally, there is a bit of back story explaining the political situation in region which is important to set the scene – this I found a little slow going. However, when the story got going, I couldn’t put the book down.

⭐Loved the book very well written and easy to read. Can’t wait to read more of his books and more about climbing.

⭐I bought this book when I learned that one of the men attempting to free climb a new route up El Cap had been one of these hostages. It’s a fantastic real life story. I only gave it a three because I felt that Greg Child could have told it better. He does a better job on the straight mountaineering/climbing stories.

⭐Detailed account of the unfolding of a kidnapping by Islamic fundamentalist.

⭐Great book from start to finish. Page turner !!!!! !!!! Wish I could read it again for the first time.

⭐Un livre très précis sur l’aventure de ces jeunes grimpeurs américains au sud du kirghistan,kidnappés par des salafistes.Pas du tout haineux style FoxNews, mais bien balancé et honnête.A noter que c’est le fameux Greg Child qui a corédigé le bouquin.

⭐

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