Rating: 
Summary: who cares who scooped the find?
Review: I read three Himalaya books in a row, Into Thin Air, The Climb, and Snow Leopard and was ready to continue on a roll with The Lost Explorer. I returned this book because I just couldn't keep reading it. Jon Krakauer can talk about petty stuff like who has cellular transmitting rights from Everest and make it interesting. Anker totally lost me when he tried to make a drama of who scooped the finding of Mallory to the international press (not his own team). Like, who cares? You found him, so be satisfied. Although this detail highlights once again the incongruous links between Everest and live broadcasting, I lost momentum and gave up the climb. Besides, why start the book with the climax, which was the find? BTW Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiesen really does get away from it all. Hiking 35 days beyond the nearest road, he becomes totally immersed in Himalayan life. No worries here about which news team will broadcast his finds, he has to hike back to tell the tale. There may be some good stuff about Mallory later in the Lost Explorer, but I didn't read it. On the subject, The Climb by Anatoly Boukreev and coauthor was also a two-author effort in two styles, but it worked well because Boukreev told a great story in a straightforward way and the coauthor put it in context. Somehow it meshed. In the Lost Explorer the chemistry was not so synergistic.
Rating: 
Summary: An Amazing Story
Review: I really enjoyed the history in this book. It's a fast read and is pretty well written, yet I wish Conrad had written it all by himself. Even though his analysis of the fate of Mallory and Irvine is rational and well-argued, I'm not convinced. I still tend to think that Odell, being the last person to see the pair alive and believing they topped the second step, is to be trusted.
Rating:
Summary: An Amazing Story
Review: I really enjoyed the history in this book. It's a fast read and is pretty well written, yet I wish Conrad had written it all by himself. Even though his analysis of the fate of Mallory and Irvine is rational and well-argued, I'm not convinced. I still tend to think that Odell, being the last person to see the pair alive and believing they topped the second step, is to be trusted.
Rating: 
Summary: Good For Anyone
Review: I was really amazed with this book! When I first started reading it, the storyline was dragged out a little too long, and it was hard to keep myself from skipping ahead. But I learned that in oder to understand this book, you have to read every little word. The book itself is a great story and the twists and turns make it all the more exciting.
Rating: 
Summary: The best of the Mallory books
Review: If you thought "Oh no, not another Mallory book!" then think again. For me this one is the best.Like the other reviewers I noted the flashes of ego in Conrad Anker's account, but what a story he has to tell: HE found the body, HE climbed the second step, and HE was the clear driving force in reaching the summit. He relects on all these events with a calm and fascinating intelligence, and crucially, with the insight that comes from actually being there doing it, not looking at it through a telescope from Base Camp. As Anker and Hahn make their way up the mountain one even has the tingling sensation of walking a few paces behind Mallory in 1924. Could he have negotiated this terrain? There's an oxygen bottle! What other clues lie ahead? There's lots of detail here that you won't find in the other books. The action on the mountain is interspersed with background and supporting chapters by Dave Roberts which serve to give a welcome breather. All the Mallory books have their pluses and minuses. The photographs in "Ghosts of Everest" are difficult to beat. "The Lost Explorer" gives the most persuasive account of what really happened to Mallory and Irvine.
Rating:
Summary: The Lost Explorer
Review: Quite recently I picked up a book titled "Ghosts of Everest: The Search for Mallory and Irvine." A fascinating book, extensively documented, the story Mallory's final attempt upon Everest caught my imagination, as did the man himself. While "Lost Explorer" may not have all of the details about the 1924 expedition, or lengthy lists of sponsors for the expeditions, it has something that I found lacking in "Ghosts of Everest." Anker, while maybe not the most eloquent of writers, provides readers with an intensely personal view of his experiences. His version of the story seems altogether more truthful and honest than "Ghosts of Everest" which takes a more picturesque view of the events. Anker goes on to tell about a harrowing, high-altitude rescue and his own summit of Everest. Also, "Lost Explorer", though David Roberts's writing, provides the reader with a more intimate view of Mallory's life. "Lost Explorer" is a passionate, fascinating, and, most importantly, personal story about extraordinary men (both past and present) and their journey on the same mountain.
Rating:
Summary: Even better to HEAR Anker tell it...
Review: They found George Mallory's body on Everest. I had the pleasure of hearing this story- before I read the book- from Conrad Anker himself at a Wilderness Medical Conference this past year. What an amazing story. Some have been critical of the handling of the remains and possessions but there is no doubt in my mind after meeting the man that the intention was to 'do the right thing'. It's just that the right thing isn't so clear in this situation. What do you do when you find the remains of a legend in an environment as inhospitable as Mt. Everest? The profits or a portion thereof of book sales at the conference were donated to charity-the Alex Lowe foundation and the possessions recovered, as I recall, were turned over to family members or historical societies- it's not like Anker is selling them on Ebay. Also, maybe there is some pride or ego in the discovery but rightfully so. I think it would be hard to accurately describe the events without sounding a little boastful, although again, Mr. Anker seems like quite an unassuming man and I didn't get that impression in person. The book is interesting and a quick easy read to gain historical perspective about George Mallory, Sandy Irvine and company and the early exploration of Everest and about the discovery of Mallory's body which is monumental in mountaineering circles. In fact, I think I'm going to go read it again.
...just some thoughts, not a full review of the book...
Rating:
Summary: Grave Robbers In Thin Air
Review: This book has 2 distinct stories. The story by David Roberts is that of Mallory the person...his life, times, and accomplishments. Sure Irvine is presented here, but it is always as a supporting and replaceable character. Roberts does an excellent job of showing the 3 Everest expeditions that Mallory undertook and how each was monumental in its own way. Conrad Anker's story of the discovery of Mallory's body is appalling. You soon realize that these people had no idea what they were going to do if they did find Mallory or Irvine's body. When they found Mallory's body (they were looking for Irvine's) they immediately took to removing anything of even the remotest value they could from the corpse. I can understand taking some tissue samples and a few personal items (perhaps the letters and scarf), but why a knife? Why beef lozenges or a safety pin or pieces of twine? There were very few items that could show if the duo summited or lend a clue as to when they died (camera, altimeter, watch), so why steal the other items to put on display in a museum in Washington state? At least they had the decency to cover up the corpse. But they came back a few days later, unearthed the corpse, used a metal detector to find more items, then pried Mallory's face out of the ground for no reason other than that they could. Then Anker has the gall to complain endlessly about who had the rights to broadcast news of the discovery. If Irvine's body is ever found, we can only hope it will be treated with more respect than what these grave robbers showed to Mallory. Anker goes on to talk of his summit attempt and other expeditions on the mountain. This is typical Everest fare with people doing stupid things and needing rescued. Conrad makes the summit and since he wasn't able to free climb the 2nd step assumes that Mallory couldn't either. If there's anything to learn from this book, it's to fall all the way off the mountain or into a deep crevasse. Anything less risks being found by buffoons and picked clean.
Rating:
Summary: Grave Robbers In Thin Air
Review: This book has 2 distinct stories. The story by David Roberts is that of Mallory the person...his life, times, and accomplishments. Sure Irvine is presented here, but it is always as a supporting and replaceable character. Roberts does an excellent job of showing the 3 Everest expeditions that Mallory undertook and how each was monumental in its own way. Conrad Anker's story of the discovery of Mallory's body is appalling. You soon realize that these people had no idea what they were going to do if they did find Mallory or Irvine's body. When they found Mallory's body (they were looking for Irvine's) they immediately took to removing anything of even the remotest value they could from the corpse. I can understand taking some tissue samples and a few personal items (perhaps the letters and scarf), but why a knife? Why beef lozenges or a safety pin or pieces of twine? There were very few items that could show if the duo summited or lend a clue as to when they died (camera, altimeter, watch), so why steal the other items to put on display in a museum in Washington state? At least they had the decency to cover up the corpse. But they came back a few days later, unearthed the corpse, used a metal detector to find more items, then pried Mallory's face out of the ground for no reason other than that they could. Then Anker has the gall to complain endlessly about who had the rights to broadcast news of the discovery. If Irvine's body is ever found, we can only hope it will be treated with more respect than what these grave robbers showed to Mallory. Anker goes on to talk of his summit attempt and other expeditions on the mountain. This is typical Everest fare with people doing stupid things and needing rescued. Conrad makes the summit and since he wasn't able to free climb the 2nd step assumes that Mallory couldn't either. If there's anything to learn from this book, it's to fall all the way off the mountain or into a deep crevasse. Anything less risks being found by buffoons and picked clean.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible Story
Review: This book provides a great story about an incredible discovery. I really enjoyed the balance between Roberts' historical perspective and Anker's first-hand experience. While we may never know for sure whether Mallory and Irvine made the summit, or what exactly happened on their final attempt to reach the summit, this book provides solid information and analysis via thoroughly enjoyable writing, which is more than we've ever had before. Excellent job!
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