Views of Kevin Krajick's
Barren Lands: An Epic Search for Diamonds in the North American Arctic
"Diamonds spell adventure, and their lure is timeless, as evidenced by this compelling book. Magazine writer Krajick (Natural History, Newsweek) leaves few stones unturned as he presents not only a "diamond rush" in Canada's Northwest Territories during the 1990s, but a history. ... Miners, geologists and rockhounds will be spellbound, but the appeal will easily extend to general audiences."--Janet Ross, Library Journal, August 2001
“Kevin Krajick’s masterful portrait conjures up
adventure on the grand scale. Barren Lands is at once a scientific
thriller, an excursion into industrial espionage, and a page-turning paean to
obsession.”--Kathleen Burke, books editor, Smithsonian magazine
“This book's keenest pleasures [involve] bears, bush planes, storms, bars, swindlers, and my gosh, even that old swashbuckler Bill Clinton. You can't make this stuff up, and Krajick shows himself to be a skilled reporter along the lines of John McPhee but, for my money, with a better eye for what's interesting."--Timothy Belknap, Business Week, December 1, 2001
“Mr. Krajick, a talented storyteller, strikes it rich when he examines the freelance prospectors whose finds [have] sometimes threatened the cartel's hold on the diamond trade."--The Economist, October 20, 2001
“Eerie, exciting and disturbing."--Rob Hardy, amazon.com "Top 100" reviewer
“Krajick's achievement here is to extract a gripping yarn from a subject that is usually not a fun read--geology. He also gives an eloquent portrayal of a place few will ever see, the great treeless tundra."--Donald Dale Jackson, Smithsonian magazine, February 2002
“[A] superb weaving of geological discoveries with diamond markets."--Ellen Bielawski, Toronto Globe & Mail, November 17, 2001
"Captivating, lively. ... This is science journalism at its best. ... The classic tale of lone, somewhat crazed, miners making the big strike, against all odds."--David B. Williams, Seattle Times, May 5, 2002
“It represents an important chapter in the global diamond saga. ... Krajick has developed an affinity for the subject of diamonds, and perhaps even more so for the land in which they were born. His book is a great yarn that draws to a fitting conclusion."--Roger Kuhns, Geotimes, the magazine of the American Geological Institute, May 2002
“Krajick fully explores diamond lust and the elements that propel this massive and often disruptive industry. The writing sparkles. A journalist with an eye for detail and an appreciation for the outdoors, Krajick, an American, delivers some of the most vivid impressions of the Canadian North I've read."--Brian Hutchinson, National Post (Canada), November 17, 2001
“Vivid [and] masterful. ... It is unlikely that an account of such depth and quality will ever be possible again. Further, an extensive list of references --some with annotations that make interesting reading in themselves--adds credibility and utility for the researcher. ... It is clearly the most authoritative single source."--Dr. Alfred Levinson, Gems & Gemology, Winter 2002
“Graphic and sometimes gruesome. ... novelistic in tempo and delivery. ... This book is a must read for gemmologists everywhere. Nowhere else have I seen a better description of the adversity that has dogged the recovery of gemstones through the ages."--Q. Wight, Canadian Gemmologist, Summer 2002
“"A truly fascinating and fast-paced book. ... Whereas this is a scientific detective story, it is much more. It is a fact-based real adventure story, with secrets, spies, attempted murder, plane crashes and feats of daring and courage. ... full of interesting details and little-known facts, [it has] the color and story line of a Hollywood blockbuster. "--Richard A.F. Grieve (chief geoscientist, Natural Resources Canada), Canadian Mineralogist, Summer 2002
“Comprehensive and nearly as vast as the North American continent. ... For armchair adventurers, would-be treasure hunters and gem lovers alike, this book is a treat."-- Dr. Vivien Gornitz, Bulletin of the New York Mineralogical Club, November 2001
“A fascinating look at the geologic detective work, difficult field conditions, corporate intrigue and secrecy, cutthroat competition, multimillion-dollar financing and human foibles that all play a role in modern mineral exploration. In 442 pages, Krajick does a masterful job [with] a solidly researched nonfiction that reads like a novel. ... Armchair adventure at its very best."--Steve Voynick, Rock & Gem, November 2001
“Brilliant,
lucid, and, in parts, sensational.”--Edward Jay Epstein, author of Dossier: The Secret History
of Armand Hammer and The Rise and Fall of Diamonds
“Not since John McPhee has a writer made me care so
much about the men who care for rocks. There is an intense joy in watching a
writer successfully work such a vast multitude of threads. Barren Lands
is bursting with life … breathtaking.”
“This tale of avarice and ambition—every word of
it is true—has never been told so dramatically, nor with such scrupulous
attention to detail.”--Stefan Kanfer, author of The Last Empire: DeBeers,
Diamonds and the World
"Diamonds, David and Goliath, and the
dark side of geology: Barren Lands, by Kevin Krajick, is epic nonfiction
without artifice. ... I cannot recommend this book enough. If you have an
interest in geology, exploration, history, nature, and economics, [it] should
keep you up late at night.”—Bruce
Crocker, high-school science teacher, Orange County, Calif.
"An extraordinary account leading to one of the greatest geological discoveries in the 20th century. Kevin Krajick really did his homework for this book. I've been in the diamond exploration business for 25 years, and I was impressed by the research that went into Barren Lands. --W. Dan Hausel, Wyoming Geological Survey, amazon.com Reader Review, October 30, 2001
"A rousing tale of obsession and adventure. ... Krajick has done huge amount of research for this book, seemingly tracking every reference diamonds since the 16th century, but the story is so engagingly told that it's not until you finish that you realize just how much you've learned about history, geography, and geology." Nancy Pearl, director, Washington Center for the Book, KUOW Public Radio, Seattle, April 22, 2002
"Highly recommended. ... Krajick has a fine story to tell, and once he gets rolling, this is strong stuff. No geologist who's worked in exploration--or anyone with a taste for an old-fashioned strike-it-rich story--should miss this one.--Consulting geologist Peter D. Tillman, Arizona Geological Society Newsletter, spring 2002
"I bought a copy of Barren Lands with the idea of browsing through it. Instead I found myself reading every word on every page. I am filled with admiration. ... I have learned a great deal from your book because of your attention to details that one cannot gain from ordinary geological/mining literature. And on top of that, it was fun to read."—Letter from the late John Sinkankas, gemologist, bookseller, author of Gemstones of North America and many other books
“The reader who opens Barren Lands should be prepared to enter a world of cold, ice, gravel and misery populated by fanatically devoted workaholic geologists with disagreeable personalities. You will be captivated. You will also be driven to finish the book so your life can return to normal. ... This is applied geology at its finest. It will inspire the next generation of those who would help interpret geology for its impacts on humans."-- Paul M. Santi, Engineering and Environmental Geoscience (Geological Society of America), August 2002
"[A] dynamic story, tremendously interesting at all times. ... One of the intriguing aspects is the melding of real life situations, which make the story exciting, with the essence of applied science. ... This is a book you won't want to put down once you get reading."--Mike Marchand, Geolog (Geological Association of Canada), Fall 2002
"The extraordinary chronicle of the realization of an impossible dream. ... Barren Lands is an important book that could almost be described as a historically accurate techno-novel. ... I strongly recommend it."--Dr. Robert Cook, Rocks & Minerals, December 2002
“A chronicle of the romance of diamonds in the human imagination, and hence a history of diamond rushes, with all their predictable avarice, cruel and obsessive competitiveness, and glory.... immensely instructive. ... You will likely not find a more outrageous-character-filled, interesting, true tale of mineral prospecting than the one offered here."-- Thomas P. Moore, Mineralogical Record, July-August 2002
“A vivid and accurate picture. ... Krajick will take you on a journey most only dream about and few ever achieve. The book is almost as great a success as the discovery it depicts."-- Mark Horowitz, Mining News, June 2002
“This is an exceptional book. ... The writing style is reminiscent of John McPhee, but I think that Mr. Krajick shows more skill. [He] shows an exciting and human and economic side of science that is too often missing in educating scientists and citizens. ... It's also a fascinating story."-- Thomas McGuire, The Earth Scientist (National Earth Science Teachers Association), summer 2003
“Earth science teachers: we instruct, we rockhound, but not until we read Barren Lands by Kevin Krajick will we get in on 'the game.' [We] will finally know what captures the mineral hunter's heart and soul. ... An author that uses the word 'tatterdemalion' seriously in a 21st century tale is a must read!"-- Sara Morris, National Earth Science Teachers Association, director North Central Region
“It has the potential to create a reason for your students to study all those 'dry' topics of earth science that they 'will never use!' A copy for your classroom is certainly in order and one for the library is a must."-- K.R Cranson, Michigan Earth Scientist, Fall 2003
“More like reading a novel than a scientific or historic report. ... Barren Lands will appeal to readers interested in the life of a fascinating person."-- Walter O. Kupsch, Arctic (Journal of the Arctic Institute of North America), September 2002)
“A riveting account [of] field geology at its austere and exhilarating best. Not for the faint of heart. ... Hefty doses of racketeering, greed, corporate skullduggery and sharp science all contribute to make Barren Lands one of the best thrillers I have ever read; more so because every word of it is true. Kevin Krajick writes with a brisk, yet hauntingly descriptive style that does much to fire the imagination."-- Gaea (Journal of the Association Women Geoscientists), summer 2003
“I for one found it enthralling and had difficulty putting the book down. Highly recommended for anyone interested in geology and rocks in association with high drama." -- Eric Stevens, Metal Stone & Glass (Brisbane, Australia), spring 2003
“I have read it three times now; each time I buried myself in its text, I discovered a different, richly rewarding book. ... Krajick has penetrated one of the most secretive industries in the world, and the stories he has mined are stranger than pulp fiction. ... [S]o big, so rich, so entertaining a science story was his alone to tell."-- Robert Lee Hotz, Los Angeles Times, writing in Eos (newspaper of the American Geophysical Union), May 13, 2003
(Note: Below is the author's favorite comment: )
"You always had such a creative spark, and I am delighted to see how well you have ignited it. Nothing pleases a teacher more than to see her students grow into happy and successful adults. You have made me so proud, and I am glad our paths crossed. God bless you."--Letter, Nov. 6, 2001, from Breda McMahon, author's 4th grade teacher, Chambers Elementary School, Kingston, N.Y., 1961-1962.