Danger Stalks the Land: Alaskan Tales of Death and Survival

by Larry Kaniut

Alaska is like no other state and few countries; men experience greater risk in her arms. This one-of-a-kind anthology captures the spine tingling adventures of daring men and women who venture into Alaska's vast wilderness and look death in the eye. Danger Stalks the Land relates gripping episodes of animal attacks, avalanches, aircraft disasters, fishing, hunting, and skiing accidents, and chronicles risky climbs and reckless mountaineering amid Alaska's fantastic peaks. Through exhaustive research and interviews, author Larry Kaniut has captured in one volume, the terror and beauty of man's attempt to explore a vast and unforgiving land.

Genres: Nonfiction, Survival

336 pages, Paperback

First published November 29, 1999

Reviews

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title of this book could have been "99 Surefire ways to die in Alaska". If you ever plan on going to Alaska, don't read this book. It kept me worried about freezing and starving to death for two weeks and I live in a fairly warm place only a mile or so from a grocery store.

If you like adventure stories that sometimes don't turn out well, then this book might be for you.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captivating short stories of survival and death in the great state of Alaska.
Very well written.
I love the outdoors and this book captured it. Wilderness adventures in remote areas of all kinds.
Often stories of people lost or stranded and relying on their faith in God for comfort and suvival.

[Dimps · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not for the faint of heart.

[Charley Dalman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I spend a lot of time in the outdoors, hunting, and fishing, so I am interested in a lot of survival stories. The hunting accident stories were the most interesting to me because I realized how quickly and badly things can go wrong if you are not careful aboutb what you are doing, like when the guy got trapped in mud and drowned when the tide rose.

I was also interested by the airplane stories. The planes they rode in in the book didn't seem like they were very stable or safe. Especially when you are flying around mountains, rocks, and trees. The burn crash story where they survived many days in the woods while severly burnt was amazing to me and it was more amazing that they both survived.

I think this is one of the best survival books I have ever read. It tells many stories about how you should be careful when there is no one around to help and how mother nature always has more control than you do when you are out in the wilderness.

[Kay Hettich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating tales of real outdoor adventures

This is a collection of true outdoor adventures, some of which had happy endings for the participants and some which did not. They are set in a kind of literary framework: a title which foreshadows the outcome of the narrative, a brief statement of who told the story, the story itself, followed by a cautionary principle, and finally, a linking introduction to the next tale. Although there are a few errors in punctuation or printing, the narratives are well-written and captivating. Any outdoors-enthusiast would benefit from the lessons learned by others. Captivating!

[Ariel Carison · Rating 5 out of 5]

What makes this collection especially powerful is the authenticity—it’s built on extensive research and firsthand accounts, making each tale not just thrilling but deeply human. Alongside the danger, these stories reveal courage, resilience, and the fragile line between life and death in one of the harshest environments on earth.

Kaniut proves himself a skilled storyteller, blending adrenaline-fueled narratives with respect for Alaska’s unforgiving landscape. Fans of true adventure, survival literature, or outdoor tales will find themselves riveted.

[Anthony Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of great stories that are easy to read in one sitting. After a while, some of them get a bit dull. But others are fantastic. Having been to Alaska, some of the stories take place on very paths I’ve hiked.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book! It is a collection of short stories and news articles from various dangerous happenings in Alaska. Kept me on the edge of my seat reading. It was especially nice if you’re looking for short little bites of stories.

[Martin Cleland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting tales some poignant lessons. Writing is a bit lack luster in places.

[Robyn Obermeyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading true stories about the Alaskan wilderness especially in the winter!

[Morgan Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got a person in your life that loves the adventure and danger of the outdoors? Get them this book

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Larry Kaniut is the king of survival stories, and in my opinion Danger Stalks the Land is the very best of his books. It's a collection of a couple dozen short stories of death and survival in Alaska's unforgiving wilderness. These stories are dramatizations of real events and the actual survivors are often credited with providing their own version of events for Larry Kaniut in interviews. For anyone interested in mankind versus nature's wrath, this collection belongs on your bookshelf or Kindle. Kaniut spares no detail; there's plenty of blood, guts, and mayhem on full display. Larry has a knack for faithfully dramatizing true stories. He's immensely entertaining and a well-researched recounter of fact. There's a mix of just about everything in here, but, among others, you'll find stories about bad weather, sub-zero temperatures, plane crashes, animal attacks, ill-fated hiking trips, and hunting accidents. It's all good stuff.

[Lynette · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was not particularly good, but the stories were as gripping as one could hope. Every kind of disaster was covered, from bear attacks to avalanches and gun accidents, with the expected cases of hypothermia and starvation represented more than adequately. The author made sure he did not waste even one story of suffering, tacking on several very short pieces in the end with advice on what to do and what not to do in the Alaskan wilds.

[Bethanyweed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes I'm really a fan of non fiction and this one is fun because it's scary and true.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read of supposedly true and harrowing life and death adventures in Alaska, or, "Yes, you can die in Alaska like everyone else. Neat, huh?"

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some things that just happen to people, some that were just plain stupidity in my view.