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| To Build a Fire and Other Stories (Bantam Classics) | 
| Author: Jack London
Publisher: Bantam Classics
Category: Book
List Price: $5.95
Buy Used: $0.01
You Save: $5.94 (100%)
New (30) from $2.58
Avg. Customer Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 312714
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 432
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.7
ISBN: 0553213350
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.52
EAN: 9780553213355
ASIN: 0553213350
Publication Date: April 1, 1986
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
| Showing reviews 1-5 of 15 | | NEXT » |
From the Klondike Trail to The South Sea September 7, 2008
This book contains many of the stories from London's Klondike Tales and a few from South Sea Tales. I would say that the short stories are either extremely good or pretty forgettable. The stories from the Klondike tales are a very interesting, all be it dark, portrayal of life in Alaska during the Klondike gold rush. Most folks are familiar with "To Build a Fire" which is a fantastic tale of an individual who gets carried away with himself and attempts a hike on his own that he was unprepared for and should never have been attempted. It proves fatal. One thing that has become clear to me is that in most of London's tales the main character dies in some dramatic fashion which is probably a reflection on London's personal life. London seems to be so close to his characters that you would think that they were real life experiences especially since he joined the Klondike gold rush and sailed the South Seas.
 Original outstanding stories... November 8, 2007
I love London's stories and tales...great short story reads that keep you reading and they are perfect for those insomniac nights I have when I need to read something short and enjoyable. Great classics as always from a outdoor great.
Brilliantly Written March 3, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I read many of London's abridged novels when I was very young, but I never really appreciated his writing to the fullest extent until I read this collection of stories. These stories are not simple, shallow writings. They each have a message of their own, they take digesting. In each story the author reflects upon human nature and strikes a chord that rings true in all of us. After the end of each story, I had to pause and take in the story. As was noted previously, the highlight of this collection were tales in the Arctic setting, such as "To Build a Fire" and "The Oddysey." However, one of the greatest things about this collection is its diversity, and there are many great stories with varied settings. Although it is not guaranteed that you will enjoy each and every story, there is definately something for everyone. In conclusion, London's works are masterpieces that I highly recommend
 Mixed Bag of Stories October 17, 2006
7 out of 18 found this review helpful
London is a tremendously talented writer and his understanding of life matches his tremendous knowledge of the snow-enshrouded world of the upper latitudes. His writing can be beautiful, poignant, and powerful, yet also somber, morose, and infinitely real. However, in this collection, his Klondike stories stand out above all the others: "The League of the Old Men," "Love of Life," and the titular "To Build a Fire." These stories are the worthy stories, the others much less so hence the title of this review and my 3-star rating.
Years after reading this collection, what stood out was London's real, visceral language and description in "To Build a Fire." This is hard to forget, as is the blisful ignorance that characterizes the protagonist. London seems to be saying that we must respect and understand nature in order to survive and prosper. The protagonist's demise is more a shame than a tragedy because of his lack of understanding and appreciation for the harsh realities of his environment. Bottom line, those who refuse to give in to their lowest instincts and who do not truly respect nature do not survive.
Really good for an adventurer that can't get out much August 19, 2006
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Most of London's writings are great. One might find stories like "the droolers" not very interesting, but you can't blame London for wanting to diversify his stories a bit. The proceeding is only the opine of this reader.
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Wildlife, nature and the Environment
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