Alaska: A Novel

Michener is a great historical novelist. "Texas" is full of American history, interspersed with fictional characters to make it interesting. Alaska is still my favorite but I haven't read Hawaii yet! I highly recommend any of Michener's books.

This book feels to me as if Michener kept trying for another Hawaii but this also wasn't it. Alaska has got some fascinating tales, but they are lost inside this vast, lurching attempt to present anything and everything you might have wanted to know about an area or two of a huge area of real estate. Like his books on Texas and Mexico -- and perhaps Hawaii for all I know, I only have good solid knowledge of Texas and Mexico -- this book just seems to run in circles and ignores a lot of the good parts.

Born and raised in Alaska, I enjoyed the efforts Michener put into describing the history of Alaska. The characters were well developed and the information accurate. I recommend this novel as well as Michener's Hawaii.

While I learned a lot about Alaska from this book, I have to think that there are more efficient ways to accomplish this. The book was tediously long. Since it is a novel, it was difficult to know what events and characters were real. I had enjoyed other Michner books in the past, but i don't expect to read another one soon after laboring with this one.

I enjoyed the book but I had a difficult time getting over the salmon fish character who thinks and talks. It was not a credible character by any means. Walt Disney world would love that particular part of the book. Me not so much.

Alaska was not available in our public library. I then ordered it from the store.
The book arrived timely, in good condition, and I was well pleased. Am one-fourth into the book and it will be my summer read in addition to the Book of Psalms. Thank you, the store! I am always pleased with ordering from the store!!

I really enjoyed learning more about Alaska before it was purchased by the USA....Ii have visited Alaska and it is one of the most beautiful places I have been. I think it takes a very special person to live there...

I read the book Hawaii by this author and Loved it. I think the author hit many things spot on. We recently took a trip to Alaska and I was hoping to have a good book to read. I had already finished Hawaii and felt like I lost a good friend. When I saw Mitchner also had a book about Alaska - I bought it. I am still reading it and like it a lot

I am enjoying this book but it is long and because I only have a short time to read each day, it will take me a while to finish it. It is very interesting. There is a lot of historical information in this book that will create a good background of knowledge for me when I take a trip to Alaska in the near future.

I read this before going to Alaska this summer. It really made the trip more meaningful, knowing the history. I also learned so much more about how Alaska fits into US history and the economy. The stories of the people who settled this land keep you on the edge of your seat.. Some are truly inspirational while some are sad view of human greed and prejudice. This book is well worth the time it takes to read and the best book I have read by James Michener.

I am a Michener fan because I love history and he gives us history in a fun way that pulls you along in a story. Only slow part is the dinosaur section at the beginning. Don't let it discourage you. Either keep going or skip some of it as it begins slowly.

How can one not love any book by James Michener. He always did so much research and you learn so much in such a wonderful way about the topic of his choice. I have now a much greater understanding of the history and development of Alaska, the bravery of some of the characters, etc. all told in a spell binding way.

I cannot stop talking about this book to family and friends! I love it. It coincides so perfectly with a reading unit I'm doing with my fourth graders, I'm getting so much information to share. Taking a trip up there this summer to check it out!! Can't recommend it highly enough. Characters are relatable, story lines are so interesting, historical facts are woven in seamlessly. Love it.

I enjoyed the novel, Alaska, although the interweaving of fictional stories with historical events is often exhausting to follow. I prefer historical novels that follow the lives of real people and their involvement in actual events. Alaska was and is certainly full of colorful and exciting figures who could fill volumes of books with their exploits and daring deeds. That being said, Alaska is an interesting novel that engages the reader with compelling stories about fascinating characters and places.

Classic Michener book, fantastic research in history, geography, geology and politics mixed in a novel that keeps you reading and not wanting to stop until the end. I have read all of his books, my favorite is the source which I read without stopping except to eat.

Do yourself a favor and pass on this one. While Michener's novel is incredibly wonderful, this audio book does not do it justice. Having read the book shortly before I bought the audiocassette so that my family could listen while on a driving vacation, I know that there are horrific gaps in the plotlines. This might be excusable, considering the length of the novel, but the taping quality is very bad. There are many distracting gaps, often as if it was edited in mid-sentence. At one point in the middle, another narrator even takes over for a sizable reading before Peter Graves returns!
This is by far the worst audio book I have ever heard.

I read this book over the summer while in Alaska. The info in the book enhanced my stay in Alaska. It was worth reading. What I did not like was the constant regurgitation of the same information. Otherwise, it is good to read in advance of trip.

Alaska (Hardcover)
I am very pleased with this book - complete with book-jacket and in like-new condition (especially considering the book is out of print), and at a very reasonable price. I would definitely buy from this seller again.

The individual books are alright. I am not a great fan of James Mitchener because I find the large number of characters very hard to keep track of and I find that some of the passages in the books are way longer than necessary, getting lost in details that seem very irrelevant. But if you like James Mitchener, these two books are probably a good choice. Though with Hawaii I find that he left out a lot of very important history.
But what I really wanted to point out is that this particular version of these two books is a bad choice. It is a hardcover, that has both books in it. Both books have a lot of pages making this a very large and heavy book. Reading it is physically tiring. Not possible in bed, you'd have to sit somewhere to read it. I was glad when it was over.

I don't know how good it is - it was a French version - which I did not see mentioned on the page with all the "bargain" books from the store's partners. That should be indicated on the page with all the books listed. I gave it away - I did not read it. I found a copy at a rummage sale and bought it there. I love Michener, so look forward to reading it in English. My high school French would not have taken me very far into the book. I would be a lifetime project.

This classic arrived as promised in a hardcover & in good condition. For the price that I paid, I really can not complain. However, I was slightly disapointed that the book arrived without a paper cover. For that reason, I'm rating this transaction as a four instead of a perfect five.

Michener is a superb researcher. His facts are reliable and interesting. I usually enjoy his books. This one, however, is tedious with detail and short on plot. It is too obviously a collection of different short stories held together by location. If you want to know about Alaskan geography read this book. If you want an exciting story about Alaska read Jack London.

I
Alaska is a wonderful, sweeping saga with both historical facts and people as well as fictional characters that trace Alaska's evolution and current importance up to 1995. Michener was a marvelous writer. I read this on my Kindle.
I did not read Hawaii the hardcover book because it was not delivered due to damage enroute as was the hardcover of Alaska. The price was $1.99 for both but I never got them.

Two complete novels wrapped in one binding is more than enough...so heavy it was not readable...I got out the box cutters, removed the hard cover and cut the binding between each book...now I am reading away

Oh Dear. I picked up this tome on the advice of a travel guide who told me it would be a quick easy read to get me up to speed on the history of Alaska before my upcoming Alaskan cruise. I got as far as the exploitation of the natives by the Russian fur traders before my trip was cancelled and I was thankfully able to put it down.

Two years later a second cruise was scheduled, and I packed the book thinking I would just dip into it strategically, checking out the section on Sitka when I visited there, the Tupa Bay cannery when we stopped there, etc. I should have used the suitcase space for extra undies instead.

Dipping into the Tupa Bay section we still have the ruthless exploitation of the natives, the expropriation of their native lands, and the self-righteous Puritanical Boston sea captain who against all his principles is enthralled by the beautiful native girl. Wait wasn't there a similar Puritan similarly enthralled by a similar, though more scantily clad, native girl in "Hawaii"?

I decided to sneak a peek at the end, to find out how much of Alaska's modern history is included in the tome. On the last page, we have the well-intentioned young man who has the best interests of the natives at heart, poised to communicate between the two cultures and fight against the exploitation (still ongoing) of native cultures. And then comes the great tsunami of 1958 which wiped out coastal communities all along the Alaskan Coast, and conveniently sweeps away our potential savior. But wait, In "Hawaii" wasn't there a writer who was going to communicate about the native people who was also swept away in a tsunami?

The history of Alaska is dramatic enough to read straight, without fighting your way through Michener's recycled plot strands draped over his writing factory's research like limp spaghetti. This book is not worth the weight.

Selected this book after a recent trip to Alaska. Very disappointing. While it covers the gamut about things concerning Alaska, it really didn't reveal anything new. As a matter a fact, it was more about being politically correct and overly positive, as if looking back at Alaskan history from a modern liberal point of view and saying those are the facts. Michener constantly berates business, lauds the indigenous people, castigates politicians and exhorts environmental concerns. The book is excessively long and the characters sketchy, narrowly-drawn. There was no other reason to finish reading the book other than I paid for it and I recently visited there. To learn about Alaska, read an article in National Geographic or an encyclopedia.

This was the first James A. Michener book I read back in high school and it instantly hooked me on historical fiction AND got me interested in archeology and geology. The language he used in all of his novels was not only beautiful, but it painted such a vivid picture in my mind that I had to learn more.

Beginning with the formation of the North America continent, Michener's novel marks the movement of creatures across the land bridge, and then later introduces some native people...and shows their introduction to non-natives (Russians first, then Americans) and the lopsided relationships that developed from those meetings. The Gold Rush is explored, the Salmon Rush (formation of canneries-one fictional company in particular), resettlement of Midwesterners to Alaska by the government, and later, Alaska's application to statehood within the Union.

Along the way, Michener is a genius at weaving characters and their descendents into an amazing storyline that takes the reader from early in the novel to more present day (keep in mind that this novel was published in 1988...so it's not "present day" by our reckoning). You see the characters with their flaws as they negotiate life with its challenges, pettiness, and outside forces (nature, political maneuverings, other people, etc.) - and you appreciate those characters more for that real feeling.

I wholeheartedly recommend Alaska - or any James Michener novel - to readers looking for an amazingly good epic historical fiction novel.

Its a "historical novel" so its not like we don't know how things turn out. But Michner is excellent at conveying, in novel form, the essence of Alaska's people through the ages the novel covers. It is also interesting that he maintains the lineage of peoples from generation to generation so that even though we move to a different time the linkage is continued in the family members that follow.

"Centennial" was my favorite Colorado novel, but I had a harder time liking "Alaska." As a geologist who has worked throughout much of Alaska, I loved Michener beginning the book with the "Big Bang," but not with his decision to leave out the 1964 Earthquake. His brief mention of it late in the book and then only referencing some subsidence damage in downtown Anchorage didn't come close to giving the event its due. The event was a disaster of unprecedented magnitude in U.S., not just Alaska, history and should be made familiar to even those who only read fiction! Other than that omission, I enjoyed the historical portions of the book, especially the Russian period and the strong women characters throughout the book.

What a tome, what a saga, what a history - all 1071 pages of it. A massive achievement to write, and a massive achievement to read. Whew. But so, so worth it. We visited Alaska the most popular way - by cruise ship - and then spent a few more days in Anchorage after the cruise finished. We were captivated by the place, and barely scratched the surface in the very short time that we were there. The natural beauty of the place is astounding, as are the challenges this environment poses to mere mortals who have attempted to carve out a life there. I so wanted to find out more about Alaska, the people, the history and the environment, and James Michener seemed a very easy way to do it.

This novel follows much the same pattern as Michener's other massive historical sagas using a particular geographical area to tell his stories. With Alaska, he goes back to the very beginning - the bones of the spectacular geography laid down millions of years ago, pre historic animal populations, early human migration and settlement - the Athapascans, Eskimos, Tlingits and Aleuts, the arrival of the Russians from across the Bering Sea and the havoc they wrecked on the indigenous peoples and the sea otter populations, the Americans and British also wanting their slice of the pie. Then the discovery of gold, with mass migrations from all over the world, the development of the salmon industry, the importance of aviation, oil exploration. It's a marvellous account, and has inspired me to one day go back to Alaska and explore further. It seems it is always treated as the poor cousin by the rest of the US, but there have been no scruples at all in exploiting it for its natural resources at the expense of its people. Just a tad long though - a couple of hundred pages shorter would have had no impact on the story or the lives of the people in the story.

Try not to see this as an 1150 page novel. Instead, look at it like a very large collection of short stories, because that’s essentially what this is. The stories take place from the primordial area when various Geological factors conspired to form Alaska (it’s MUCH more intesting than it sounds) all the way to the 1970s when the book was written. I felt that this novel gave tremendous insight into what challenges the various peoples in Alaska have faced over it’s long and interesting history. I won’t say this is an easy book to read; it is very long by today standards, and if you weren’t into history I suppose some of the information can be a little tedious. But if you do enjoy history, or you a lover of the state of Alaska, this book is a must own. This is my first Michener book, but it will not be my last.

Only problem with the book is that it stopped. I know, I know, he passed away 20 years ago (1997) but I would love to hear a continuation in the same manner.

The narrator was superb. Unlike other listeners, I enjoyed the soothing deep voice which was pretty much always at the same volume, so my ears weren't blown out. There was missing parts in the narration which someone said was caused by it being transferred from a tape (?) but that was just a minor point. I thought it was related to my new iPod not working properly.

Honestly I have nothing but praise and can't wait to listen to his other stuff.

I just ordered this to read again, but as is the case with Hawaii, I can remember enough of it from my first read of it almost 10 years ago to give a review! That's what is so amazing about Michener. His writing isn't dated and people are free to discover him today.

I loved this book, second only to Hawaii (which is the most complete novel I've ever read. Ok, no more Hawaii). What you get as you plow through it is an understanding of the "why's" relating to Alaska today. It's a complex culture and a complex society today, but the earlier stories are all about specific groups being seriously challenged by the conditions in which they lived. Even today, as Kendra the teacher learned, adaptations are a must. You go to the grocery store twice a year, not twice a week.

If you're tempted to jump into this but leery of the 1000 page commitment I strongly recommend a novella of Michener's called The Journey. This was originally intended to be a chapter in Alaska but, as he explained in his postscript at the end, he realized the components of his story merited a separate book. And he was right.

The best Michener work I've read so far. (othes I have read include Tales of the South Pacific, Return to Paradise, Sayonara, Chesapeake, The Bridges at Toko-Ri, and Hawaii) So what makes it so good?

Writing History Well
Michener selects excellent historical highlights to give us a sense of the place: Russian exploration of the Aleutians, gold rush boomtowns along the Yukon River, Eskimo villages in the Arctic, salmon fisheries in the southern panhandle, and pipeline construction in the central interior. I also liked his handling of the philosophical aspects of settlement- particularly in the 1800`s. On one hand, trade and development could only begin with adventurous, entrepaneurial spirits, working independently -free of micromanaging government or corporate home offices. Many of these people were in one way or another disenfranchised from mainstream American or Canadian society (e.g. Mr Klope in Dawson City). For them, Alaska was a a fresh start in a land culturally and physically apart from the rest of the world. Rugged, self-reliant figures carved out empires for themselves, according to their own rules, and guided by self-interest. This view romanticizes Libertarian aspects of frontier life; but Michener tempers this well with the downside of lawlessness: gangs and renegades like Soapy Smith terrorized honest citizens like Tom Venn. Michener's delivery of these issues elevates the entire book above mere storytelling, or the recitation of historical facts. It is historical fiction at its best.

Readability
Alaska was published in 1988, late on in James Michener's career, when his experience and craft were at their peak. Despite its heft, it reads fast. In fact, I would place it on par with Hawaii for readability. Hawaii comes across well because of the author's obvious love for the subject; he had personal ties to the Islands. Alaska`s readability, I think, is more attributable to his growth as a writer. Since the narration continues over several centuries, there are by necessity a lot of transitions as old characters die off, and new ones are introduced. Also, since Alaska is such a big place and Michener is eager to show us so much of it, there are a lot of shifts in setting. Alaska's transitions are smoother than Hawaii and Chesapeake's. Those earlier works were more compartmentalized in time and space... characters would be introduced, play out their drama, and then the close of their era would end each chapter. Subsequent chapters would start fresh in a new time and place, without much carryover of characters (with a few exceptions, like Hoxworth in Hawaii). In Alaska, Michener employs a lot more carryover to link chapters. Staggering character entrances and exits creates a much more natural- feeling rhythm to the work. He also deftly blends space and time transitions. Take, for example, the story arc of Ciddaq: her movement from the Aleutians to Sitka early in life transport the story's physical setting, and then her life in Sitka raising her son (Arkady) moves the timeline smoothly into the next generation.

Readers` Aids
The three detailed maps are sufficient to show all the places mentioned in the text, which is an improvement over past Michener works. Better still, pages vii-viii of the foreword lay out clearly which elements in the story are fictional, and which are faithfully-depicted historical fact. Every work of historical fiction should have this. If an author wants to mix the historic record with fiction, I'm willing to grant a lot of artistic license, but at some point, I want to be able to sort out which was which. It can be fun to read historical fiction in preparation for travel, but you don't want to be the idiot at the back of the tour group, asking "Can we see the place where Luke Skywalker and those peasants stormed the Bastille?"

I am a huge fan of James Michener, and I absolutely love his writing style and the way he develops characters. This is the second time reading Alaska, and I enjoyed it as much the second time as I did the first. My only complaint is that it is not available in a Kindle version. My book is is about 8 inches thick, and the print is microscopic, so it makes it very difficult to read and to get through.

In this book, Michener goes back to the beginning of time, and explains to the reader how the large land mass we call Alaska was formed. He describes how different groups wandered across the "land bridge", and the difficulties they felt when trying to settle. It explains Russian exploration, the infamous Chilkoot Pass, and interweaves families of different origins and does an awesome job of tying them all together. My only complaint with the writing is that often times, beloved characters just disappear. One can assume they died, but I wish there was some more finality.

Not for the faint of heart, or someone looking for a quick read. For the love of all that is holy, the store, get more of Michener on Kindle!!!!

Starting back at nearly the Year One, Michener wrote "Alaska" as part of his series of fictionalized histories of places and nations. The prehistoric residents, for example, have names, thoughts, and are described physically; and the recorded historic events have human actors. Wonderful book, very absorbing. Huge, though; more convenient to read it on Kindle than trying to keep the book open while reading it!

Author James A. Michener has written an epic novel about the land of Alaska. Starting at the very beginning (in this case, with native people living on the coastland we now know of as Eastern Russia) and then developing the story generation after generation through his rich and interesting characters, Michener tells the complete story of Alaska. The reader learns how Alaska was first settled, what animals first roamed its land, what the native Inuit people were like in their unique culture and how they survived in the harsh environment, how the Americans bought the land from Russia, how the gold rush happened and what it was like for gold prospectors in the unforgiving winderness. Finally, it tells the story of the multi-ethnic peoples of Alaska, and this is Michener's strength in story-telling.

The novel is long - over 1,000 pages, but it is an absorbing page-turner. Each chapter is a mini-novel in itself and tells the story of a particular generation of people in Alaska's development. Michener has a knack of creating and developing characters that are both interesting and believable and this is his greatest strength as a writer. The reader comes to care about these fictious charcters as though they are living breathing realities, and in a sense, the charcters are "real", as Michener's painstaking research enabled him to form his charcters based on historical personages.

"Alaska" is a marvelous book, and for those that are into long sweeping novels, this is a book for you. It seems that Michener's writing style either fascinates or tries the patience of his readers. Michener goes into great detail in explaining the lives of his characters and some readers are impatient with his extensive prose and are apt to put his books down before finishing them. I happen to love his writing style and appreciate the detail, as it paints vivid word pictures in my mind.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about the land and people of Alaska, or to one who is contemplating a trip to Alaska (the bok makes compelling reading even if you have no intention of going to Alaska!). Once you read Michener's "Alaska", you will have a tremendous appreciation for the hardships that the settlers endured to "tame" this great land. I guarantee you will always remember "Alaska" for the rest of your life.

Kone

Another beautifully written great Michener epic blending history with fiction. A real learning experience since Michener not only provided a detailed history of Alaska through his fictional characters, but also included a treasure trove of geological, anthropological, political science, economic, sociological information and much more. A pleasure to read, I recommend it highly to anyone interested in a comprehensive look at Alaska through the eyes of numerous fictional characters Inuit, Athabaskan, Aleut, Russian, Chinese, and Americans.

"Alaska" is a well-researched, well-told, 900-page story of the exploration and settlement of our nation's 49th state, with a characteristically Michener-like blend of fact with fiction, breathing life into an otherwise-dry train of historical events: geologic beginnings with "clashing terranes" a billion years ago, the first human settlers who wandered eastward from Eurasia 14,000 years ago when glaciation raised the polar ice caps and exposed a land bridge connecting present-day Alaska and Siberia, Vitus Bering's exploratory voyages sponsored by Peter the Great in the 1700s, Russia's controversial $7.2 million sale of Alaska to the U.S. in 1867, the Yukon and Nome gold rushes of the late 1890s, the establishment of salmon canneries in Alaska's southeast by profiteering Seattle-based companies in the early 1900s, the government-supported "seeding" of Matanuska Valley through relocation of starving settlers from Minnesota during the Depression years, the entanglement of the Aleutian Islands in battles against the Japanese during World War II, Alaska's political fight for statehood in 1958, and the impact of the discovery of Prudhoe Bay oil on the lives of North Slope native Alaskans through the 1980s (book published in 1988). True to form, Michener weaves together ostensibly disparate events into a captivating, colorful parade of multi-generational characters, often so endearing that you'll want to cheer and cry alongside these memorable pioneers in their courageous and spirited struggle to eke out a living from, understand and exploit Alaska's harsh and wild, expansive and endlessly enticing, resource-rich and rewarding frontier.

Superlatives aside, compared to Michener's "Hawaii" (published in 1959), I find "Alaska" to carry a weaker, less hopeful message. "Hawaii" establishes a powerful, encouraging theme of how cultural diversity--despite our being inevitably encumbered by parochial beliefs, social prejudice and economic avarice--has the very real potential to "bear new fruit." On the other hand, "Alaska" unfortunately fails to lift humanity higher. In their unbounded greed for otter and seal skins, early Russian merchants turn native men into their slaves, while abusing and raping native women. With few exceptions, American whalers are ethically no better, devastating entire native villages through exploitative sale of rum and guns. During the gold rush, lawless settlers from the mainland U.S. selfishly bend mining rules in their own favor, stripping away claims from Norwegians, Siberians, Eskimos and others who got there first. Seattle businessmen extract tons of salmon from Alaskan waters, offering neither employment nor compensation to the native people. Even when oil taxes bring wealth to native Eskimos and Indians, the intricacies of the Settlement Act allow lawyers and accountants from the "lower 48" to line their own pocketbooks by charging exorbitant rates for professional services, effectively pilfering assets from the native people. Ultimately, it seems that, although natives now have their snowmobiles and opportunities that college education offers, they remain lost between the "native" and "modern" worlds, unable to derive adequate fulfillment from either and, too often, sadly resorting to alcoholism and suicide to escape from their emotionally devastating dilemma.

In the last section of the novel, the debate between the two lawyers, Jeb Keeler and Poley Markham, while mountain goat hunting, reveals Michener's sentiment: Jeb speaks out for helping Alaskan natives retain their ownership of land and maintain a subsistence lifestyle, while Poley is eager to "pick them off" for his own personal profit when natives on the verge of bankruptcy become forced to liquidate their corporate assets to pay off accumulated debt. When an unexpected submarine earthquake unleashes a massive tsunami, Poley succeeds in scrambling up the mountainside, while Jeb is consumed by the swiftly retreating waters and washed out to sea, issuing a final cry: "Go it, Poley. You win!" Interpretation: in with the new and exploitative, out with the old and traditional--whether we like it or not. In the 30 years between the publication of "Hawaii" and "Alaska," did Michener's youthful optimism darken into a more pessimistic realism, or is the ending of "Alaska" just not as carefully composed? The optimist in me suggests that Michener rushed into delivering a half-baked ending to "Alaska," when he could have (and should have!) put more effort into reaching a more profound conclusion. From Michener, the masterful writer of historical fiction, I would expect a message with more far-reaching impact, particularly after all the years of research and drafting that certainly went into the novel's production.

The harsh climate and unique geography of Alaska have made it a place where only the hardiest thrive. In James Michener's "Alaska" he highlights those hardy souls, starting with the earliest inhabitants, the mammoths. He then takes us through the human history of Alaska's various peoples: the earliest settlers who came from eastern Asia, and later the Russians who came seeking the valuable pelts of sea otters. After Alaska was sold to the United States gold was discovered in the Yukon and Nome and the gold rush occured, followed by bids for statehood and the latest rush for oil. Throughout we are treated to a picture of the various people it took to survive and build the modern-day civilization that currently exists.

I appreciate the insights gained into this land and it's people from reading this book, and that Michener included a brief listing of which people/parts were truly fictional and which were real. As is typical of his style characters drop in and drop out of the story. Missy Peckham and Tom Venn from the gold rush days seem to linger longer than most in this novel, but sometimes it's a little annoying when you get interested in a character and then they kind of fizzle out of the story to be replaced by others. Kendra Scott at the end is also very likeable, but then abruptly fades away. This style also makes it hard (for me) to recall the earlier characters. But overall, the story(s) were enjoyable and left me with a desire to visit this great place.

First, let me announce my bias: I was born and raised in Alaska.

When I saw this novel on the bookshelves when it first came out, I promised myself I'd read it even tho I had never read anything by Michener. Well, some 20 years later, I finally read it. And -- boy! -- do I wish I hadn't waited so long. It's a long book (close to 1,000 pages) and I was so engrossed that I almost lost sight of the real world for the duration.

Of course, being from Alaska helps. I could orient myself geographically with little trouble. I had the broad outlines of the history already. And the historical names were almost all familiar to me if not the details of their lives.

But what Michener did which I most appreciate about his novel is painlessly impart the details of history by interweaving it so tightly with his colorful fiction that it was hard for me during the reading to separate the two. Yet I'm sure I know what is historical and what isn't. It's a contradiction, I know. And a compliment to this man's storytelling skill.

I let out a satisfied "whew!" when I closed the book a final time and returned to reality. Then I suffered withdrawal symptoms for days, maybe weeks. I found myself gazing wistfully at some of his other large works in the bookstores. Did you know there's no Michenerholics Anonymous? I've just begun reading THE SOURCE. I couldn't help myself.

Perhaps non-Alaskans are more taken with Michener's portrait of the state than those of us who live here, since we experience its grandeur and special essence every day. Nonetheless, for a cheechako, the author does an admirable job of conveying facts and feelings about the 49th state. While there is always the danger with historical novels that readers will not know where facts end and fancy begins, the historical backdrop is well-researched and essentially accurate.

Like other Michener works of this variety, the book weaves the stories of several families over a number of generations, and in doing so illustrates how today's Alaskans often have unusual family trees and complex cultural traditions. Throughout the book he develops some of the same themes that run through the state today, including the struggle to break free from the almost colonial status we once enjoyed at the hands of marginal government officials and outside corporate interests, the pride of being apart and different, and challenge/blessing of a uniquely diverse population.

The reader may think that the characters are "larger than life", but not necessarily so. Alaska has more than its share of vivid, grand, and heroic citizens whose stories could fill many long cold nights. While no substitute for a first-hand Alaska experience, Michener's Alaska-sized novel is a wonderful way to experience the state at a distance, and undoubtedly has whetted many people's appetites to come and see for themselves.

The day this book came out in Alaska I bought it & read it through. Soon after I learned author Michener was taking a cruise to Alaska & doing a book tour on his stops. I had noted that he stated in his book that Alaska Natives hunted Sea Otters but did not eat them, which is what most people had a problem with esp. during the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill when I got our Alaska Native people involved in saving sea otters. I was an Alaska Native sea otter hunter when I was a young woman and I wanted Mr. Michener to know that some of us did indeed utilize what we take. I overnighted my letter to his next stop in Juneau Alaska and after his tour was over he wrote me back. Quite a long letter indeed, on Miami University letterhead I believe (I think he taught there). I lost the letter during the Exxon Valdez days since they never paid our group for saving sea otters oiled by the spill. But the book was well researched.

I've read several Michener books (Hawaii, Chesapeake and Centennial) and never had any problem `relating to' the characters or the evolving settings of these stories. This one I just could not get `into'. I read about 6% and never gained any interest at all for the pre historic native Alaskans being depicted in the story, or the land bridge or.......any of it. I never finished the book.

Really Liked this novel. Michener told the whole story of Alaska starting with its beginning as a prehistoric destination of peoples from Asia through the recurrent boom and bust cycles of an outsized, spectacular enchanted land. Michener as always was able to tell the human stories of the past and present day pioneers who settled wild Alaska and which made me not want the novel to end.

Written in 1998, Alaska is true to James Michener's mode of sweeping epic, historical facts and memorable characters. I personally love books about Alaska and because of its length, I purposely took my time reading it, looking forward each evening to opening the pages and losing myself once more in this special world.
This is the story of Alaska in all its glory. From the anthropological details of early animals and human beings, right up to the late 1980s, the main focus is on the last few hundred years. There are the early explorers who were awed by its majesty. There were the first Russian settlements with strong and courageous people. There was the gold rush. And the beginnings of the salmon industry. The horrors of colonialism. The lawlessness. The quest for statehood. And the politics.
Most of all though, it is the story of a place. And because the timeline of the book spans hundreds of years, the characters are interesting but somewhat one-dimensional. We follow their family lines, but they come and go, leaving legacies for future generations but never really being developed to their fullest.
I loved the book for what it was though, a background to all the other books I've been reading about Alaska lately. Thankfully, the author informed the reader in a chapter by chapter prologue exactly what was based on fact and what was truly fiction. Yes, someone did once ride a bike from Dawson to Nome in the dead of winter. And yes, some of the deeds of the early sea captains were taken from actual records.
Again, because the book covers many centuries, there is a limit to how deeply he could go into a theme. For example, I would have liked more about the different native peoples. It's impossible to do it all. But James Michener sure did try.
I do feel that this book is a worthy read and I do recommend it. Give yourself time though to let yourself be swept into this wonderful story of Alaska. There's certainly a lot to learn.

This is the first "thick" book I ever finished. Having put-it-down-itis, I avoided books of great magnitude. Not so in this case. I had attempted to read "Chesapeake" & very much enjoyed the first ten chapters. I liked Michener's style: taking a specific geographic area and tell it's story through individual people occupying it's space, combining fiction with reality. He captured the mystique Alaska holds from the forming of the land masses to the present day.
He writes of woolly mammoths being hunted by early man through the mammoths' eyes, and then the following chapter through the perspective of the hunters. Michener conveys the struggle of survival from both sides with great emotion. He follows the speculative history of early nomadic tribes following their food supply across the Bering Strait.
Mr. Michener then reveals early voyages from people such as Captain Cook and how they survived harsh winters while their ships were frozen in the Alaskan seas.
Then Russian explorers establish military forts and desire to "save the barbaric savages" they discover when they arrive. Following are the bloody battles they fought with them.
The book unfolds further with Seward's Folly and the Gold Rush and of how the United States government persuaded some of its more adventuresome citizens into creating a new life in the last American frontier. This book also reveals the continuing struggle between the "progress" of corporations using Alaska's natural resources such as fish and oil and how it affects the Native inhabitants and how companies in Seattle "the gateway to Alaska" took advantage of it's close proximity at the expense of the Alaskan people.
The late Mr. Michener writes through the unique perspectives of the characters he creates and borrows from history. If I continue, this will be as long as the book!

This book is among my favorites. I have read most or many of his books twice and always find them to be entertaining and educational. I keep a copy of Hawaii, Alaska, and Texas near at hand.

This is a nice 850 page historical novel that gives a very detailed picture of the evolution of a great state. Alaska is one of the last places to have a very clean and unspoiled environment where fish can still be seen to just jump out of the ocean.

Michener's books use a common plot formula that starts out by telling a story that reflects and utilizes the actual historical developments and time lines and people of a region. He starts back with the early native peoples that came from Asia. He adds in settlers, bush pilots, fisherman, salmon canning factories, business people, etc. He adds in more characters and phases out others - it is all fiction - as the dates move forward to current times (mid 20th century).

When I decided to review this book I was not certain if people were still interested in buying this book but I was pleased to see that there is still interest at the store.com in buying and reading this great story.

After this read this book I visited Alaska. If you have the resources I recommend a fishing trip to Alaska assuming that you like fishing - or just a wilderness trip. Alaska is cool even in the summers, but the clear waters, mountains and all the unspoiled wilderness and animals make it a special place. If you cannot go, then read this book. If you can go, read this first.

Good read and a good gift.

Fantastic epic. Michener makes you feel like you know all the characters. The wealth of facts in this novel astounded me and I spent many nights interrupting my husband with juicy tidbits. I've been to Alaska but after reading this I realize I've never truly SEEN Alaska. I'm ready to go back there now with new eyes and a new heart for this majestic land and its people.

Typical epic Michener. The books is long and contains sometimes verbose descriptions, but it's a good historical read overall. Some descriptions of people are outdated. (People should be called "Asian", not the "oriental" that the author uses. Rugs are oriental, not people.) It gives a good idea of the interesting history of this part of the world.

It was interesting to see how the Russians, Americans and all the eskimo factions worked to develop Alaska into what it is today.

Again I am saddened with the way man treated natives.

And the east India trading company was a monopoly. Reinforced by this novel, having read covenant before this.

Lots of interesting insights into gold, salmon, seal pelt, whale and eventual oil. High eskimo suicide rate was touched on.

The reason for three stars is because the rim of fire could have ended thirty pages earlier.

Well researched and, as a geopolitical description of the history of Alaska, this is probably worth the expense, not least because there are nearly a thousand pages of it.
Also, our biggest state, traced over such a long period of history is worthy of our attention.
However, the historical detail, in itself, doesn't amount to a novel and does tend to mitigate against extracting a story.

This audio book highlights the best parts of Mr. Michener's famous work on Alaska.
Peter Graves is at his best in delivering the story of Missy, Tom and the others in their travels. The audio book makes a wonderful companion for all ages, especially when travelling a long distance.
Especially notable is the editing of Mr. Michener's 600 page book to focus on the story of Missy, Tom and the others, while carrying the timeline in an easily understandable fashion.
Having lived in Alaska myself, I found the narrative to be refreshingly accurate in portraying much of the history and landmarks.
My wife, who has not yet visited Alaska, is looking forward to our cruise, which will pass by the very inlets and landmarks referred to in the tapes. As we will be small-ship cruising, you can bet we will each have our headphones on and this audio book playing in the evenings as we enjoy our visit to these beautiful areas!

Given the author, one can anticipate a thoroughly researched, meticulously worded chronological story laced with historical events, and famous people. Go beyond that shallow analysis, and witness a man's passion for storytelling. Absorb his unbounded zeal for a hostile, mysterious corner of our universe and the people who carved it into a habitable land.

At a time when the world's attention has been drawn to our 49th state through the shenanigans of Sarah Palin, Lisa Murkowski, big oil, multiple reality television series (Deadliest Catch, Alaska State Troopers, Coast Guard Alaska, etc.), and the US government, we should all strive to learn what makes Alaskans tick. They seem to be filled with an indefatigable spirit, unique perspectives, and childlike openness. The social mores that govern our structured lives have no place in the wide-open frontier of Alaska.

Michener discovered those free spirits, those focused, driven personalities, and he painted them against the bold and vivid backgrounds of an untamed land. If you have an interest in Florida, read Patrick D. Smith's wonderful novel, "A Land Remembered." Then, read Michener's "Alaska." Discover deeply embedded personal characteristics of all mankind that enable simple people to achieve wondrous results while just trying to survive in a hostile world. You will learn a lot about yourself.

Like his fantastic Chesapeake, Michener again produces a sweeping epic full of myths and legends, facts and fiction, all blended seamlessly to fully entrench his reader in the mystique and allure of one of America's great wildernesses. It's educational, it's funny, it's heartwrenching, it's all too real. Mainly trailing the exploits and adventures of specific families through various generations, we are able to follow the progression of this oft' overlooked and misunderstood chunk of the world from drifting tectonic plate to eventual statehood and beyond. The characters are warm, but the landscape can be cold and threatening. A delight from cover to cover. My only wish is that there had been more adventures on the sea included as I thrilled along with in Chesapeake. Regardless, a smashing tale. Excellent bedtime, vacation time, or stay-at-home sick reading. Thoroughly engrossing. Makes you want to go there yourself.

This book indeed makes one want to go to Alaska. Or, like in my case, makes one want to go there even more, despite repeated descriptions of mosquito swarms just waiting for their prey. As usual, Michener gives us a very thorough history of a region, with accurate details and dramatic fictional events. The story starts with the shifting of rock plates, eventually forming Alaska, and ends with Alaska receiving statehood. The only problem I have with Michener's novels (hence four, not five, stars, despite the fact that the book is an excellent read) is that they all follow an identical scheme. Nothing imaginative here in terms of literary form. Great (and recommended) as a start to learn something about a place, though. One of my favorite Micheners.

Working my way through Michener, this is the fastest I've ever gotten interested in one of his novels. I am reading it 8 years after a trip to Alaska and I wish I had read it before because I could have appreciated so much more. So now I'll have to go back.

I must first disclose that I am a James Michener fan. Well of course this is a great book! It naturally starts out like all of Micheners stories from the VERY begining. It is interesting to note that I read over one third of the book before it really mentions the United States. The descriptions of the freezing cold actually felt like it lowered the temperature. Being a part native American (Hawaiian) I could really feel sympathetic towards the natives of Alaska as they were used and abused. Micheners description of the Salmon is classic, it confirms the author's reputation. Once again Michener makes you feel like you were there, and the story is engrossing. After you read this your going to be like me and want to take at least a cruise of Alaska.

The one star is for the store. I received this book for Christmas but didn't get to page 751 until February, when I discovered that pp 751/752 were misprinted (only 3/4 of the page was printed), and that pp 753 thru 782 were missing! There doesn't seem to be anyway to get adjustment from the store; I must buy another copy and HOPE it is not defective.

I am lucky enough to have taken 2 cruises to Alaska and it is, by far, one of my favorite places in the world! Shortly after my 2nd cruise, I snatched at everything I could get my hands on to learn more about the history and background of this area. When I saw that Michener wrote the be-all, end-all novel on Alaska, I raced at the opportunity to read it.

For those who don't know, this book is NOT necessarily dubbed as an accurate representation on the "history" of Alaska. Michener creatively takes real historical happenings but devises made-up characters and stories around events such as The Gold Rush, the settling of certain areas/cities, the salmon industry, etc... This allows the reader to associate with engaging story lines while simultaneously learning a fair amount regarding the historic progression of Alaska and all events surrounding the creation of our 49th state. Some chapters are better than others throughout the book, but most of the book keeps the reader engrossed with Michener's imaginative stories. One particular chapter, entitled 'Salmon,' is my personal favorite, outlining the life duties of a single fish and its journey through different bodies of water. Michener has a very innovative way of tying in the lives of the characters and their duties (primarily in the salmon cannery industry) in with the life-long (short) voyage of a fish he calls Nerka. This chapter can be a single story within itself! Lastly, I feel the book is generally appreciated more by people who have visited Alaska since the visual association with areas Michener mentions in the book are so memorable.

So, why only 4 stars? To begin, it's a very long book (as with most of Michener's novels). Be very patient reading it! Additionally, there are points of the novel that are jumpy, inconsistent, and tend to really drag on. Sure, it all ties in eventually, but Michener goes to the "nth degree" with details about certain characters, only for the reader to find out later they were fictional all along. Unfortunately, the end of the novel seems to be the most guilty part of this characteristic, which unfortunately concludes with an oddly anti-climactic ending. I give the author credit for putting the amount of time and research it took to create such a gem. However, I feel myself gravitating toward a history book on Alaska to see just what is fact and what is fiction after all.

I first read Michener's Alaska while visiting my brother in Alaska in 1989, in all I spent 6 weeks there. I have since read it several more times despite its length. I do this because it is a very good book and because its vivid scenery reminds me of one of the most majestic places I have ever visited.

If you are not familiar with Michener's style he tells the tale of a particular area from its geologic formation up to modern times. In this he starts his tale and weaves it through the lives of subsequent and remotely related characters.

With Alaska, Michener starts with some Mastodans and then works it through the first migrants coming over the ice bridge. From there he covers Russian colonization, the gold rush, and onto modern times.

Each generation has its own intricacies and its own stories. All of these stories are highly interesting and blend well together.

My only problem with Michener is that he is more interested in the story than the history. With this he takes too many liberties in adapting actual events to fit his circumstances. It is fun to read but it ends there. Do not feel you have gained any great historical insights from his readings.

By chance, I brought this book to read on a fishing/camping trip. I had no idea how captivating it would be to learn the life cycle of a salmon along with the captivating story line Michener never fails to pull off. By far, this is no simple fishing tale. It is packed with the richest of scenes and fascinating characters. My appreciation for the history and people of Alaska will forever be with me because of this book. There is no one that can duplicate Michener's literary skills, or even that come close. Don't let yourself be intimidated by the volume of the novel for the story is action packed difficult to put down. You will not be disappointed in Alaska.

I really enjoyed reading Alaska. The way Michener always goes into such detail explaining his characters and their struggles is very interesting. The descriptions of the land made me feel like I was right there with all of his characters. It gave me a whole new outlook on the state. I always thought of Alaska as just a cold place but he showed me in his writing how beautiful the state really is. I always learn about the history of the places he writes about. My mother's uncle went to Alaska during the gold rush, hoping to make his fortune so I was able to associate with that part of the novel. I would recommend this book for reading because it is a very enjoyable book to read as well as a lesson in history and geography.

Michener has a unique ability for making history come to life in the most interesting of fashions. This book is no exception. I started this book feeling like I knew very little about Alaska and its value. By the time I finished I felt I like an expert on the history and the imense value of "Seward's Folly."
The characters come to life in memorable fashion. One character that I am puzzled by is Captain Michael Healy. For about 40 years he was the law in Alaska, battling pirates, rescuing lost seamen, importing reindeer from Siberia to ease starvation in Alaska. The reason I am puzzled is that Healy is one of the greatest Black Americans, with a "folklore" level history and virtually nobody has heard of him.

One of the best books I've read by one of my favorite authors. Being from the Chesapeake Bay (Maryland) area (and it's very dear to my heart), I didn't think anything could top Michener's 'Chesapeake'; however, this comes close. The writing is superbly poetic -- the story and characters fascinating and richly developed. One of the things I especially appreciate is that he begins with 'the big bang' and moves forward from there. Not too detailed for me. Of course, one must love sagas to enjoy this author's work.

As a mystery author with my debut novel in its initial release, I found myself booked for a number of promotional appearances in Alaska. I re-read Mr. Michener's ALASKA to help me prepare for my journey. ALASKA, while a work of fiction, is amazingly informative and educational. James Michener is a masterful story teller, yet he always gives his reader a thorough feel for the setting he is writing about. In ALASKA, Michener covers that vastness we know as Alaska--from its earliest history to its present day challenges. When I arrived in Alaska, I felt most comfortable in that unique state because I had just read this book. It is a master work.

James Michener has a style of writing that is superior, but takes some time to get use to. He brings you inside of the characters and you become completely absorbed by the story. I hate to put the book down. You have to stay with the story in the beginning because you will be rewarded in the end. I love the parts where he gives you insights into what the animals are thinking. You see Alaska from all possible angles. He is honest and I love the way he brings the whole history of Alaska together into one book. Do not be intimidated by the size of a book, remember, never judge a book by its cover! This is an excellent read!

As always with Michener, the description of the locale and people is outstanding. This book takes you from the very beginning of the territory of Alaska to the present time. I was very interested in the Russians who settled in Alaska and the environmental issues that were raised even then. This is a long book, typically Michener, but it is divided into sections that allow you to start and stop (if you are able) at your convenience. I like Michener's works because I always learn something, as well as enjoying a wonderful story. You won't be disappointed.

Starting all the way back before Alaska was fully shaped until the BIG earthquake in the past century. WOW!!! I couldn't stop reading because I wanted to know what would happen next. Why is Russia so prominent in Alaska? Where did the eskimos come from? All these questions are answered plus you get love stories, bad guys, good buys, great ladies, and descriptions so descriptive you'll want to get a blanket because you'll feel like you are there. I've recommended this book to several friends who loved it and recommended it to others.

For a guy who doesn't like to read a lot it was interesting to me that I didn't want a 1,000 page book to end! I love Michener's style of bringing you through the eons and across generations, but I often found myself with a tear in my eye when saying goodbye to a character.

This book is a great read for anyone planning a visit to Alaska - better than studying a Fodor's guide. You'll learn about the geology, history, and resolve of the people who inhabited one of the great places on the earth.

There are two books that are a must read if you or anyone you know is intersted in Alaska. They are ALASKA by James Michener and LOOKING FOR ALASKA by Peter Jenkins. Remember Jenkins from his book, A WALK ACROSS AMERICA, Michener from so many big sellers like TEXAS. Michener offers more of the history, in his fact-ion kind of style, Jenkins offers many fascinating views of real people and actual places from today. Michener wrote this book in the 70's and it is a very, very long book, so there is thirty years of Alaska that is no where to be found and this place has changed so much in that time. Peter Jenkins lived there for a year and a half in 1999 through the end of 2000 and traveled thousands of miles in search of the amazing Alaska of today. I wish Jenkins had included more history, is there a place that has had much more of a diverse and fascinating one than Alaska, I wish Michener had met more of the actual people and gone to the actual places and lived the Alaska life like Jenkins did. For these reasons I suggest both books to the several thousand people every year that I work with as they plan their tours of The Last Frontier. Many of my clients have told me after reading these books and going to Alaska that the books greatly enriched their trip and made them go back. One couple I book travel for has been to Alaska five times in the last three years!

This book is long but every page is worth the length. It really makes you want to find out more about the people and places that make Alaska the wonderful place it is. The characters are well developed and the places well described. This is easily one of Michener's best books. You'll visit Russia, the Yukon, The Aleutian Islands and even Hawaii. You'll meet mystic Shamans, Canadian Mounties, Gold Prospecters and Whale Hunters. This is one book that will leave you with stories of American folklore that'll you'll never forget.

For multiple reasons this is not on the level of Michener's great works. There is some limitation with the source material. It is hard to find that much interesting in early Alaskan history, and it is hard to find that much good in more recent (18th century on) Alaskan history. The outstanding weakness is that in balancing between being history and a novel, it doesn't really succeed greatly at either.

What I noted that surprised me, albeit perhaps not greatly as I don't know anything of Michener's personal life or beliefs, is how intensely a closet fundamentalist he apparently was. Maybe because he wrote this later in his life, maybe he was hedging his bet at the minimum as it were. But I was close to shocked when I got to the section introducing the Alaskan Gold Rush. Here, Michener misrepresents science and cosmology to an extent that it can not be accidental. Such non-facts were never taught in any science class. The Earth did not coalesce from original cosmic dust. Nor are/were heavy elements created by nuclear fusion in the Earth's core. This was known for decades and any child taking their science class answers from this book would fail. The only possible answer is that Michener was a Biblical Creationist and felt obliged to stick to his guns, however disproven. Like Pat Robertson he was willing to concede it wasn't all done in one of our days, but he won't admit it is anything but the result of original creation.

That isn't why I rated three stars, it is just something that most reviews aren't going to cover. So now you know. He is still a great author and this isn't a bad book, but it isn't a great one.

Set in the expanse of the closest thing to true wilderness in the U.S., this tape instantly swept me away. I was angered each time I had to interrupt my listening with another troublesome sales call. This tape was set just far enough in the past to cause the listener to draw on his imagination yet close enough geographicaly to allow us to clutch the events closely. Seldom have I felt so much a part of a story. What a great escape! I have listened to this tape many times and will again and again...

This has got to be the worst book I have ever read about Alaska. Michener got so many of the facts about Alaska wrong. This book was so dry and boring it took me 6 months to slog through it. Seriously don't read this book. Try Janet Daily's Great Alone instead.

When I was about 12 my mother told me that she was tired of buying me Hardy Boys books which I would whiz through in about an hour. Books had starting climbing in price and it was getting pretty costly. So I asked my mom what she wanted to do for a solution. She produced a book that had to be almost 2 inches thick to my young eyes. The title was Alaska. I was quite intimidated by the size of the book but since I was a bookworm I decided to try Mr. Michener out. By the end of the first chapter I was hooked. James Michener's impeccable research methods and character developments were genius. I had finally found a favorite author. I've read several of his books since. His books require a lot of time of course. Right now I'm working on Chesapeake. But, I will never forget Alaska. I'll remember the Tlingit, the stories of the pelt salesmen, the Yukon, etc. Michener makes historical fiction far more enjoyable than one would imagine.

If you're into historical fiction, get this book, and watch out! You'll be like me, developing a keen interest in Alaska, it's history and environment. Michener is without a doubt a great writer, and great person. His insights into Alaska's long and winding history make for highly enjoyable reading. The book is indeed long, but very much worth it. I highly recommend this book.

This is my first Michener book and I am hooked. I love learning all the history which is so expertly woven into the story line. I am not often motivated to write a review of a book, but this one certainly deserves my time to write it. I hope others will enjoy it as much as I have. I have just begun The Source, which looks to be equally as informative. I would be interested in reading a biography of Michener, just to learn more about this gifted writer.

Gives a great perspective of the development of Alaska from the beginning of time though the 20th century. If you enjoy learning about a region wrapped up in a great story about the lives of interesting characters, you will enjoy this book.

Witten in the only way James Michener knew how when presenting wonderful factional novels to the reader. Well researched and probably a must read for anyone contemplating going to Alaska. Another brilliant novel from the Michener library from a master-writer.

>>>>>Alaska by James Michener, March 30, 2002
Reviewer: Cathy Sweetser from Maine
I gave the rating a 1 star since I haven't heard it yet. I never received the Audio tapes. I was charged for them and never got them. The seller claims to have sent 2 copies? I am very dissapointed with the marketplace. The seller said that they would refund my money but never did. Original order was back in Oct.This is March. I leave for a trip to Alaska very soon and wanted to listen to this book on tape while I read other books. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title <<<<<
Why rate the book bad because someone didn't send you the tape. Deal with that person, don't put the book down. I thought the book was great, I learned a lot about the state of Alaska. My favorite Michener book is still Mexico, but Alaska is up there too.

If you like Michener, you'll like it - but it's a long one... If you haven't read the other Micheners, go to some of them first (I haven't finished them all yet). My favorite so far is Poland. I also really liked Chesapeake and Hawaii.

But, like after reading other Michener books, I got a real good overview of Alaska.

After visiting Alaska recently I searched for books that would fill in the gaps in my understanding of the state's history. Along with historical works, I chose Michener's Alaska believing that it would be an enjoyable and enlightening read. I found it to be well-written with fascinating plot development. However, I also found it to be unnecessarily liberal in its portrayal of any groups other than the native Alaskans. In particular, Michener too often depicts businessmen, missionaries, politicians, military leaders, etc., from the "lower 48" as conquerors who are driven mainly by their own greed for money and/or power and lacking in basic morality. I realize from other reading that much occurred during the development of Alaska that demonstrated too little regard for the indigenous population and the resources of the land, but all "Americans" from the "lower 48" were not as evil as the author seems to insinuate.

A brief but good example is Michener's (fictional) account of the sinking of the Montreal Queen cruise ship south of Juneau within the "inside passage." The fictional account is obviously loosely based upon an actual sinking of the S.S. Princess Sophia after running aground on Vanderbilt Reef in 1918. After 36 hours on the reef, the Princess Sophia was finally broken apart by the raging waves, and all passengers and crew were lost. It was determined that it had been impossible to immediately rescue the passengers due to the terribly bad weather, prohibiting vessels from approaching safely. But in Michener's account, the picture is one of a ship's captain so driven by the need to save money for the shipping company that he will not risk other ships claiming any salvage rights by off-loading anything or anyone. In addition, the ship is owned by the same company that has been essentially raping the land of its resources and treating its people as serfs. As a work of fiction, such depiction is certainly within the rights of the author; but since this is a historical fiction, the reader is always trying to ascertain what might be actual fact. Unfortunately, the liberal cast that Michener gives to this account is repeated over and over throughout the book. A positive aspect of this bias is that the reader is often compelled to search out the actual history to determine what the real facts actually were.

The extent of the bias is, in my opinion, not just unnecessary; it exposes the underlying bias of the author himself.

AS HE DID IN CENTENNIAL AND CHESAPEAKE, HISTORY IS BROUGHT TO LIFE IN ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING FORMATS. TO READ ABOUT SOME-
ONE, A FAMILY, OR A PLACE IN A PERSONAL WAY MAKES THE UNDERSTANDING OF HISTORY MORE INTERESTING AND CREATES MORE PEOPLE
WHO WILL EXPLORE OUR HISTORY. THIS IS A MUST READ AS ARE HIS
OTHER BOOKS.

Had to reread this one since I am traveling again to Alaska soon. It is such a fascinating collection of history and people, told so honestly and truthfully, that I was completely enthralled...again. Michener was the best, during his time of writing. An amazing author.

Michener's attention to historical research is marvelous. His characters become part of the historical background and help me to understand the real Alaska. We are planning an Alaska cruise, and I wanted to reread the book to prepare for the trip.

Every Canadian should read this book as our northern frontier people and the NWMP come out very well in it, especially when you compare it to the chaos that reined in Alaska for so many years after America purchased it. I found this book extremely entertaining and of course the similarities of climate and people in Alaska to our Yukon makes it seem like almost like a history of our northern territories as well. Anyone who is a Michener should not consider their readings of his works complete until they read this book. It's more of fictionalized than a lot of Michener's books, but that makes it even more entertaining.

I admit I am partial to this novel because I spent half my youth in Fairbanks AK. Michener takes the reader on an epic journey through one of the bleakest, richest, most foreboding, beautiful, and highly inviting places in the world. U won't escape the allure of ALASKA.

An absolutely amazing "read" that has kept me up too many late nights. Very well written with excellent historical research and such wonderful character development that it is hard to remember that it is fiction. I will be sorry when it is finished (only a few more evenings.)

Alaska is truly a magnificent overall view of the origins of Alaska. I think that you could not tell a story of such magnitude without padding it out with fictional characters, therefore making it somewhat of an epic. Unfortunately I have only read about half of it and then I then went looking for a kindle version of it as I was finding it hard to hold and enjoy as I have arthritis of the hands. I would love to finish it in the Kindle version please.

Alaska is a harsh environment with fantastic resources, and the stories of the people who chose to go to Alaska to harvest those riches make for a compelling, epic novel. The characters vary from the early hunters, to the Russian traders, to gold rushers, to the oil drillers, and on and on, but the theme is clear: Alaska punishes and rewards those who make their lives there.

Going on a trip to Alaska? You'll enjoy it much more with an understanding of the history of the Great Land, and there's no better way to absorb history than through great storytelling like Michener's.

Started reading "Alaska" before our cruise & land tour there. It was fascinating, but finished it when we returned home, and it was even more meaningful since we went to several areas that were included in this wonderful tale about the last frontier. Michener's insights were unbelievable,especially when looks at what is happening today in our "democracy"

Michner writes about places most of us are curious about yet don't know much about. Alaska is our most remote state and this novel gives you a sense what it was like to brave the harsh conditions and establish settlements. I find Michner's characters a varied bunch in that they range from superficial to more in-depth interesting personalities. In general though they seem exist to portray the land in which they reside.
It isn't a masterpiece and somtimes the story drags. However it is a good way to delve into Alaskan life.

James Michener is at his best with Alaska. I've read many of his books and all of them have been excellent. This one was loaded with memorable characters and extremely interesting history. I was sad when I finished the book. Will travel to Alaska this summer and am so happy I read this before I go. I'm on to the next one, Centennial, and am looking forward to another great read.

I believe that this book is the best book written by James Michener, with Carribean, Hawaii and Chesapeake following closely. This book has a generally good plot all around, and is deserving of a longer hold on the top 100 bestsellers list...

Interesting insights into early Alaskan history. But, it's terribly wordy. Moves at a lazy snails pace. Lots of fabricated dialog. Not worth reading unless you really enjoy Michener's style. Hawaii was much better!

I am prejudiced when it comes to Michener novels. I have read most of them and its just a good fit for me for I love history. If you have not read one of his novels, I would suggest you start with Caribbean. Its relatively short and if you like it, you can then graduate to Hawaii and Space and the other great reads. He not for everyone but those who like him, love him. I am finishing up Chesapeake.

In Michener fashion you are taken back as far as possible to build a foundation, and carried through generations of hardship, challenge, and joy. Although this novel is indeed voluminous, it keeps you interested throughout. Enjoy the journey from Wooly Mammoths, Vitus Bering's travels, Purchase from Russia, Gold Rushes, Statehood, and ultimately increased civilization and industrialization. Have fun while you learn.

I've read many Michener novels over the years, none as bad as this.I guess this was a final attempt to cash in by a revered author who remembers past glory but fails miserably in an attempt to reclaim it. So sad.

Very interesting fictional characters and storyline that reveals the essence of Alaskan history and culture. Some of the characters were based on real people which added to the interest. Very well-written in true Michener character.

I purchased "Alaska" by Michener to gain insight into the history and culture of this land. This was in preparation for my family's Alaksan cruise. The book fulfilled that purpose above and beyond. But, in addition, I found myself immersed in the story of this land and its people which spanned thousands of years up to present day. I have not read a book recently where I found myself attached to the characters as I did in "Alaska". I was truly sorry when the book came to an end.