Stronghold

Reviews

“The Melvillian showdown between this extraordinary man and his equally extraordinary quarry forms the climax of Stronghold. . . . Rahr’s passion for salmon is contagious, and Malarkey channels it well. [She] is a novelist by trade, and it shows.”—Nate Blakeslee, The New York Times Book Review

“An on-the-ground and in-the-stream view of an unconventional salmon savant. Unflashy but effective prose that may remind you of Ian Frazier and John McPhee.”—San Francisco Chronicle

“Remarkable . . . Malarkey conveys the art of [Rahr’s] fly-fishing and the evolution of his expansive knowledge [and captures his] purity, determination, and adroit handling of both prominent Americans and Russian oligarchs, born of his drive to protect ‘stronghold’ rivers—unspoiled by human development.”—The National Book Review

“[Stronghold] has plenty to intrigue and inspire.”—The Oregonian

“Environmental writing as clear as the world’s most pristine waters . . . the journalistic equivalent of snagging an elusive, 80-pound trophy taimen on a fly.”—Heller McAlpin, The Wall Street Journal

“All fishermen know that we have to fight to save the waters we love. Stronghold tells a captivating story of the struggle to save the last great salmon rivers.”—Johnny Morris, founder/owner of Bass Pro Shops, owner of Cabela’s

“Stronghold lets us tag along on the unpredictable adventure that is loving nature, and spares us neither its sacrifices nor its rewards. It's a book for everyone who has wished for a place where life is defended and upheld—for a place on earth that will make us whole.”—Hope Jahren, author of Lab Girl

“The wild salmon is the world’s most wondrous, most improbable fish, with a life that is epic, heroic, and tragic. Malarkey’s narrative action, pacing, and human hero—Guido Rahr—all rise to the level that the subject requires. With our nets, dams, and clear-cutting, we do salmon no favors and add greatly to their tragedy. This book is about a man who is in many ways a passionate master of fighting for one of earth’s living miracles. And within his story are many lessons for how to lead, get things done, and hold on to the imperative to keep at it—no matter what.”—Carl Safina, author of Song for the Blue Ocean and Beyond Words

“In this compelling journey of discovery, Tucker Malarkey tells the story of a visionary who never fit with ‘normal’ society but came to understand in the deepest way how the Pacific salmon helped create—and possibly could help save—the precious wild ecosystems of the Pacific Rim.”—Peter Stark, author of Young Washington and Astoria

“As a passionate admirer of all that mother nature provides to give life authentic meaning, I am in awe of wild salmon. Read Stronghold, the remarkable account of one man who is making a difference in our time on this precious planet.”—Tom Brokaw

“Stronghold is first and foremost a story of adventure, danger, and intrigue. Full of surly Russian bush pilots, specially bred bear-defense huskies, and close-up encounters with salmon and taimen in some of the last unexplored waters on earth.”—Fly Fisherman Magazine  

“When I’d gotten only a few pages into Tucker Malarkey’s Stronghold, I realized someone could write as well as [Laura] Hillenbrand. Make a sentence forcing me to read it over and over in pure disbelief and wonderment. I had a love affair with wordsmithing extraordinaire, again.”—Fly Life Magazine

“[A] captivating narrative . . . Malarkey effortlessly glides among topics, making for an excellent mix of adventure, geopolitical dealmaking, and ecological and environmental reporting.”—Publishers Weekly

“A vigorously told story of environmental activism that has succeeded despite the odds and an engaging journey into some of the planet’s wilder places.”—Kirkus Reviews Expand reviews