Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 24
 The Old Man and the..Bombs September 3, 2009
Wojciech Langer (Toronto, Ontario)
The Old Man (Captain Charles Wilson)..this is how the crew was calling him. His ship was not hauling a fish marlin, but explosives and bombs. Extraordinary book deserving to be the winner of the 2006 US Maritime Literature by all means. So much I have learned about life and struggle of seamen on board of modern mid XX century merchant cargo ships!
Drama and tragedy of "Badger State" and his heroic crew has been vividly depicted. On top of main saga, extremely interesting, numerous historical marine events from war and peace times of last two centuries make the reading totally engrossing.
My husband's brother May 5, 2009
Annabelle J. Smith (Duluth, MN United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
One of the hero's of this book was my brother-in-law Calvin Smith. I only knew that he died trying to save others. I am so happy to at last find a book with the whole story in it. I have a few pictures of him for the
family tree, but now I will also have this book to pass down. Calvin (also called Todd and Rae) had no children.
Thoroughly Enjoyable April 11, 2009
Timothy A. Weaver (La Mesa, CA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have read lots of Nautical fiction and non-fiction over the last 10 years. Some of the books are easier to get through than others just as you might imagine. This one had me hooked from the first page and I had a hard time putting it down. You just can't ask for more. I recomend you add this book to your reading list.
Non-fiction Adventure with History Lesson February 18, 2009
Lily Bailey
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have not recently read Vietnam-era events, so this book was an enlightening visit to that unfortunate war, and also a refresher on the history and workings of the US merchant marine. At one time I studied World War II in college, an era familiar to me from childhood. One of our neighbors served in the merchant marine, and I have always been fascinated by the Outer Bankers of North Carolina (our graveyard of the Atlantic), and have read of the heroism of the lifesaving crews and visited the historic sites dedicated to them.
Benedetto's prose is vivid; one can almost feel the deck shift, the cold spray, and taste the salt of it while reading. He gives an account, as complete as possible, on the actions and fate of each of the men aboard, even following their lives beyond the Badger State's final voyage. This is a book hard to put down once begun.
 Better than the Titantic tale October 13, 2008
Lance B. Hillsinger (San Luis Obispo)
Sailing into the Abyss, is a true story of a merchant ship encountering very foul wheather while ferrying ammunition to Vietnam. Unlike the Titanic story which esentially is one catastrophe(e.g. iceberg hits ship) event, the crew of the S.S. Badger State, encounters many trials. Through the author, the readers gets "into the head" of the captain as decisions are made and options exhausted.
The author speaks with authority. He is a maritime lawyer, and twenty-six year veteran of the Coast Guard. However, he is not a professional author. There are a few awkward transitions from telling the story of Badger State and providing some background of the Merchant Marine.
Sailing into the Abyss, reminds me of the true of story of Capt. Schakelton and the Endurance, If you enjoy reading about that true tale you very likely will enjoy Sailing into Abyss. If you are not familar with that story, but enjoy reading something different in military/naval history, then this is book for you. Even if you a not a history buff, the human drama makes a compelling a true tale.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 24
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