Rating: 
Summary: No Apparent Danger
Review: For anyone interested in vulcanology, this book is a definite page turner. Victoria Bruce is obviously in love with the study of volcanoes .... but here she manages to balance stratospheric volcanoes and pycroclastic flows with a sympathetic view to the human victims of such phenomena. Her chilling account of what happened in Armero, Colombia on the night of November 13, 1985 is so vivid that I couldn't put the book down until I'd read it from cover to cover.
Rating:
Summary: No Apparent Danger
Review: For anyone interested in vulcanology, this book is a definite page turner. Victoria Bruce is obviously in love with the study of volcanoes .... but here she manages to balance stratospheric volcanoes and pycroclastic flows with a sympathetic view to the human victims of such phenomena. Her chilling account of what happened in Armero, Colombia on the night of November 13, 1985 is so vivid that I couldn't put the book down until I'd read it from cover to cover.
Rating:
Summary: The book you MUST READ!
Review: From the moment I bought this book I could not put it down. Ms. Bruce's riveting accounts of the eruption of Galeras and Nevado del Ruiz kept me glued to my recliner! While the controversy surrounding the book sparked my interested, it was Ms. Bruce's writing style that kept me reading. If Ms. Bruce's puts this much heart and soul into her work, I hope she has some left for her next book.
Rating:
Summary: Tragedy and Treachery
Review: I absolutely loved Ms. Bruce's book. Her obvious love of volcanoes, as well as her compassion and respect for those involved in this incredible tragedy is evident throughout. Scientifically accurate, easy to read (even for the non-scientist!) and completely engrossing, I highly recommend it. From the tragedy at Nevada del Ruiz to the conference at Galeras-the story relates a tragedy that could have been avoided. Two topics in particular caught my eye: A paper at the Galeras conference stated quite plainly that Galeras was dangerous. Also, as Stanley Williams admitted on television, he knew there was seismic data showing the volcano was active before his field trip. He was negligent in not acting on it--as the leader of the expedition that day he had a moral obligation to let people know they were in a dangerous situation. The lack of safety equipment is inexcusable. I was shocked at the lack of responsibility this man showed by leading a group into what became a bomb-- while wearing little more than hiker's clothes. The other major controversy is that Stanley Williams was well aware of Bernard Chouet's theories, observations and predictions concerning volcanic seismic data. Before and after the tragedy, he not only allowed, but encouraged his graduate student to publish those theories under his tutelage. This is the worst type of scientist. As scientists, it sometimes happens that we may be wrong-this is not always preventable. But dishonesty is inexcusable. In this case it is doubly so. Stanley Williams dared to lay claim to a discovery that could have prevented the deaths of nine people, not to mention his own injuries. This book details tragedy, treachery, and heroism-I couldn't put it down!
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Summary: What a FANTASTIC read!
Review: I heard about this book on Good Morning America and ran out and got it that day. This book is fantastic, it was hard to put it down!
Rating:
Summary: Another Perfect Storm!
Review: I heard about this great book on Good Morning America. Thank goodness I did. It is very well written and seems like a fair account of a tragedy that could have been avoided--just like INTO THIN AIR and THE PERFECT STORM. Just like those books, it takes a so-called "outsider" to understand the truth. This is a touching story about real people that should be read by everyone.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read Non-Fiction
Review: I highly recommend this book. Victoria Bruce's account of the events leading up to the Galeras eruption and the tragic aftermath had me sitting on the edge of my seat. My heart went out to all the families who lost loved ones especially knowing that "apparently" this tragedy could have been prevented.
Rating:
Summary: good investigative journalism
Review: I just finished reading "No Apparent Danger". I really couldn't put it down once I got started. Victoria Bruce`s geographic description of Colombia in the beginning would rival with James Michener's work on "Hawaii". Her account of the folks in the caldera when it erupted was as gripping as anything Steve Ambrose has written. In addition to the real life drama throughout the book, I appreciated the fact that she had discovered evidence that Stan Williams had applied for a grant to study seismic activity and indeed expected the possibility of an eruption during the study. And the evidence in an abstract that was to be presented at the Galeras meeting by Stan Williams' colleague John Stix, who stated the possibility of an eruption within a few weeks or months. Yet Williams led the field trip without checking data, advising others, and making a plan. To suggest that "No Apparent Danger" is fiction is not defensible in light of the good investigative exercise shown by Victoria Bruce. Very good book to read in many respects. It's obvious that a lot of energy was put into the research and writing. Her description of the science involved is easy for the layman to understand.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Book
Review: I just finished reading and tremdously enjoying No Apparent Danger. It is a book that has obviously been carefully researched and documented by a very competent geoligist. Victoria Bruce should be congratulated for presenting complicated scientific information and facts to a lay reader in a manner that makes them understandable. At the same time she has woven the information and well-documented facts into a fascinating account of a fateful expedition into the crater of a volcano that is about to explode. Ms. Bruce, when will you write your next book? I can hardly wait.
Rating: 
Summary: Appeals to a narrow audience
Review: I love to learn about volcanoes, and the reviews about the controversy over whose book was most accurate on this particular disaster intrigued me. It's a fairly easy read and gave a fair account of the events at Glaeras and Nevado del Ruiz. However, learning that the ability to predict volcanic eruptions is only a very recent discovery surprised me, and made me appreciate the work being done at volcanic observatories around the world. I did have a problem keeping track of the various people in the book and learning enough about them to care about them as much as the author apparently did.
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