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Changing Trains in Ulaanbataar: Safe travel and how to avoid it
304 pages, Paperback
Published December 3, 2023
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About the author
Barrie Condon
6 books4 followersBarrie Condon writes both non-fiction and darkly comic thrillers.
He has degrees in Physics, Oceanography and Nuclear Medicine. Now retired, he spent over thirty years as a Medical Physicist working for the UK's National Health Service as a Consultant Scientist. He also held an Honorary Professorship with the University of Glasgow and at the peak of his career was managerially responsible for the work of over 300 scientists and technologists. His own research work has mostly been on the neuroscience applications of medical imaging techniques like MRI and Nuclear Medicine. He is an author on over 80 full research publications in peer reviewed journals such as the Lancet and the British Medical Journal and on over 200 national and international conference presentations. Despite a long career in science he has become gravely concerned about its theoretical underpinnings and has written the book 'Science for Heretics' to explore these.
His has also written thrillers and his most recent, 'The Tethered God', is being published by Sparsile Books on May 3rd 2021.
He has degrees in Physics, Oceanography and Nuclear Medicine. Now retired, he spent over thirty years as a Medical Physicist working for the UK's National Health Service as a Consultant Scientist. He also held an Honorary Professorship with the University of Glasgow and at the peak of his career was managerially responsible for the work of over 300 scientists and technologists. His own research work has mostly been on the neuroscience applications of medical imaging techniques like MRI and Nuclear Medicine. He is an author on over 80 full research publications in peer reviewed journals such as the Lancet and the British Medical Journal and on over 200 national and international conference presentations. Despite a long career in science he has become gravely concerned about its theoretical underpinnings and has written the book 'Science for Heretics' to explore these.
His has also written thrillers and his most recent, 'The Tethered God', is being published by Sparsile Books on May 3rd 2021.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 21, 2024
This book is a catalogue of misadventures, apparently written by someone with an inquisitive spirit and very little commonsense. Starting with his youth in the merchant navy (I don't think any navy will use this book as a recruiting tool), it follows the author through his various travels over the subsequent decades.
Almost every episode consists of a list of absurd and dangerous things that I am far too sensible (and scared) to try for myself. I'm glad I can enjoy the dangers vicariously - Barrie has done all the stupid things so that we don't have to.
Although the content is sometimes disturbing, the author's self-deprecation is endearing, so he comes across less like the arrogant Briton who thinks his national superiority makes him immortal, and more like an amusing and sometimes buffoonish raconteur.
These are the kind of adventures that Victorian travellers used to recount by the fire over a post-dinner cognac.
Very entertaining, often funny, highly recommended.
Almost every episode consists of a list of absurd and dangerous things that I am far too sensible (and scared) to try for myself. I'm glad I can enjoy the dangers vicariously - Barrie has done all the stupid things so that we don't have to.
Although the content is sometimes disturbing, the author's self-deprecation is endearing, so he comes across less like the arrogant Briton who thinks his national superiority makes him immortal, and more like an amusing and sometimes buffoonish raconteur.
These are the kind of adventures that Victorian travellers used to recount by the fire over a post-dinner cognac.
Very entertaining, often funny, highly recommended.
May 7, 2024
I've travelled a bit in my time, even had the odd 'scrape' in the form of encounters with a scammer in Paris, a suspect side street in Berlin, and a delightful afternoon in a hayloft in Denmark (aged 7! strictly U certificate!!), but such things are indeed as child's-play compared to the quite astounding adventures of Mr Condon.
Maybe he doesn't wield a whip (at least not in any of these thrilling encounters), but he has done derringly all over the world, and his accounts of his thrill-seeking travels are told with great humour, style, and insight.
Highly recommended for all travel fans, and armchair adventurers everywhere.
Maybe he doesn't wield a whip (at least not in any of these thrilling encounters), but he has done derringly all over the world, and his accounts of his thrill-seeking travels are told with great humour, style, and insight.
Highly recommended for all travel fans, and armchair adventurers everywhere.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews