It is one of the more remote places in the United States. It is renowned for its wilderness, its long winter nights and the midnight sun in summer. If you want to travel there, even if it's just in your mind and not a physical journey, one of the best ways to do it is by reading books on Alaska.
Travel publications and guide books often have themes like camping, hiking, fishing or hunting that will help you enjoy the wilderness for which the Frontier State is known. Creatures like birds, fishes and marine animals are described in many books too. If you prefer creature comforts instead, you will also find guides on how to plan and go on an RV trip in the state.
The wilderness is also a theme in several non-fiction works, many of which tell tales of survival in this tough landscape. Probably the most famous is Jon Krakauer's 'Into the Wild', which was made into a movie. One of the earliest works to describe The Last Frontier is 'The Journals of Captain James Cook', who passed through this area on his third voyage.
Of course the state is not all about the wilderness. It has a fascinating history and interesting people, described in many non-fiction books. For example, there are several gripping works about the Klondike gold rush, the days of the first frontiersmen, the bush pilots and the native peoples who have been living here. Events like the Exxon Valdez oil spill, sled-dog races and even the state's role in World War II are covered in print too.
James Michener's historical novel 'Alaska' is regarded as the definitive fictional work about the state. It covers the history of the area from the time of continental drift to statehood. While mainly set in Canada, the Jack London classics 'Call of the Wild' and the beautiful 'White Fang' also have parts set in what was then still Alaskan territory. Velma Wallis wrote a poignant bestseller in the early Nineties that tells the tale of how two old women were left to their own devices by their people and had to survive through the harsh winter. It's simply called 'Two Old Women'. The themes of survival, adventure and animals abound in many other fictional works, especially those for children.
Due to its latitude the state has darkness all day in deepest winter and then sunshine at midnight in summer. This is the perfect setting for tales of the supernatural. Werewolves and vampires are favorite themes, for example in the graphic novel '30 Days of Night' and in 'Midnight Sun', one of the volumes in Stephenie Meyer's 'Twilight' saga.
There are many mystery novels that use the state as setting. This is not surprising, since it's easy for anybody to live off the radar here, even serial killers and other criminals. Add to this the local legends of people like the Inupiat and you have all the elements of a suspenseful page-turner.
'First Catch Your Moose: The Fairbanks Cookbook' dates from 1909 and provides recipes that show how pioneers in the area had to make do with what was available. The weird and wacky is represented in several books on Alaska too. If you want to know about log cabins, roadside attractions, unusual boats or outhouses found in the state, look for works by Harry M Walker.
Travel publications and guide books often have themes like camping, hiking, fishing or hunting that will help you enjoy the wilderness for which the Frontier State is known. Creatures like birds, fishes and marine animals are described in many books too. If you prefer creature comforts instead, you will also find guides on how to plan and go on an RV trip in the state.
The wilderness is also a theme in several non-fiction works, many of which tell tales of survival in this tough landscape. Probably the most famous is Jon Krakauer's 'Into the Wild', which was made into a movie. One of the earliest works to describe The Last Frontier is 'The Journals of Captain James Cook', who passed through this area on his third voyage.
Of course the state is not all about the wilderness. It has a fascinating history and interesting people, described in many non-fiction books. For example, there are several gripping works about the Klondike gold rush, the days of the first frontiersmen, the bush pilots and the native peoples who have been living here. Events like the Exxon Valdez oil spill, sled-dog races and even the state's role in World War II are covered in print too.
James Michener's historical novel 'Alaska' is regarded as the definitive fictional work about the state. It covers the history of the area from the time of continental drift to statehood. While mainly set in Canada, the Jack London classics 'Call of the Wild' and the beautiful 'White Fang' also have parts set in what was then still Alaskan territory. Velma Wallis wrote a poignant bestseller in the early Nineties that tells the tale of how two old women were left to their own devices by their people and had to survive through the harsh winter. It's simply called 'Two Old Women'. The themes of survival, adventure and animals abound in many other fictional works, especially those for children.
Due to its latitude the state has darkness all day in deepest winter and then sunshine at midnight in summer. This is the perfect setting for tales of the supernatural. Werewolves and vampires are favorite themes, for example in the graphic novel '30 Days of Night' and in 'Midnight Sun', one of the volumes in Stephenie Meyer's 'Twilight' saga.
There are many mystery novels that use the state as setting. This is not surprising, since it's easy for anybody to live off the radar here, even serial killers and other criminals. Add to this the local legends of people like the Inupiat and you have all the elements of a suspenseful page-turner.
'First Catch Your Moose: The Fairbanks Cookbook' dates from 1909 and provides recipes that show how pioneers in the area had to make do with what was available. The weird and wacky is represented in several books on Alaska too. If you want to know about log cabins, roadside attractions, unusual boats or outhouses found in the state, look for works by Harry M Walker.
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