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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

‘Explorers Of The Pacific’ Full Of Detail, Adventure

We’ve always celebrated explorers. It’s not hard to imagine why.

How much courage must it have taken to ship off into the unknown, braving ocean storms, the likelihood of sickness and very real possibility of starvation - all for the sake of expanding knowledge (and, of course, the chance at collecting the odd treasure or two)?

In his book “The Explorers of the Pacific” (Kangaroo Press, 256 pages, $24.95 paperback ISBN 0-86417-794-1), which is now out in a second edition, author Geoffrey Badger gives a comprehensive view not only of the challenges the various sea-going explorers faced on the world’s largest ocean but also of the explorers themselves.

From the Polynesian islanders in their canoes to James Cook in his 368-ton ships (the capacity of Cook’s Endeavor), Badger writes in amazing detail of what the explorers sought and what they found.

Not all of what they did, of course, resulted in good. Their intrusion in some island cultures led to distrust, resentment and, as in the case of Cook himself, to death.

But many of their accomplishments endure. Among other things, as Badger points out, “The explorers who sailed into the Pacific Ocean sparked a new wave of enthusiasm for botanical gardens and for museums of natural history.”

Not to mention tales of brave adventure.

You’ve heard of Hurd

Those of you who regularly listen to Spokane’s “listener-supported” Public Radio station, KPBX, should be familiar with Doug Hurd. He’s the community producer whose folksy commentaries can be heard on Friday mornings.

Hurd will read from the self-published collection of his commentaries, “Brain Rot, Shopping at Costco and Other Joys of Middle Age” on Thursday (see reader board) at Auntie’s Bookstore.

Looking ahead

At the recent Auntie’s Bookstore reading by mystery writer/Jesuit priest Brad Reynolds (“The Story Knife”), reading coordinator Mitch Finley had good things to say about a forthcoming novelist.

Her name is Joanna Rose, and her novel is “Little Miss Strange.” This is what Kirkus Reviews has to say about Rose’s novel, which is her first: “An extraordinarily powerful first novel in which what is not said often seems infinitely more important than what is.”

And from Publisher’s Weekly: “The novel works precisely because of the quality and depth of Sarajean’s observations,” the reviewer wrote, referring to Rose’s youthful protagonist. “Who Sarajean is at any moment is never less than fascinating.”

Rose, who lives in Portland, will read on April 12 at Auntie’s.

The reader board

Analiese Hagan and Ariana Khent, co-authors of “Journey into Wholeness,” will read from their book at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Auntie’s Bookstore.

Raymond Federman will read at 7:30 Wednesday at the Law School Courtroom at the University of Idaho. For further information, call Moscow’s BookPeople at (208) 882-7957.

Doug Hurd, author of “Brain Rot, Shopping at Costco and Other Joys of Middle Age,” will read from his collection of columns at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Auntie’s Bookstore.

, DataTimes