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Turn Again
Fiction. Native American Studies. "Kris Farmen's TURN AGAIN is a spellbinding masterpiece. A powerful epic with unforgettable characters, rich Alaskan history and culture, and an authentic glimpse at a time when humanity was forsaken in the name of progress. Farmen has crafted a haunting tale of mythical transformation and lost love. There is much to be learned from this modern parable."—Don Rearden
- GenresBook Club
400 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2012
2 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Kris Farmen
7 books7 followersI'm what is sometimes referred to as a critically acclaimed author, which is to say critics have on occasion said nice things about my books. I write both contemporary fiction and historical fiction, often with a fabulist twist, but for me there's not a lot of daylight between the past and the present. As far back as I can remember I’ve been obsessed with history, but for me it’s just the aggregate of every human life that has come and gone upon the earth. Each one of those lives is a story, and history keeps happening all around us, just as it always has. As William Faulkner famously said, the past is never dead. It's not even past.
My books generally involve Alaska and the circumpolar North, but that isn’t a hard and fast rule. In fact, I don't really write books about Alaska, I write books about people. It just so happens that most of those people either live in Alaska or are somehow connected to the Far North. I’ve used fiction as a tool to explore the “shadow society” of people of color in Alaska’s gold rush past, the world of mixed-race Russian and Native residents of Alaska during its time as a Russian colony, and the dismal history of Native boarding schools. I’ve also examined the effects of post-traumatic stress syndrome and how it changes the lives of people afflicted by it.
I live in Fairbanks, Alaska with my wife, daughter, and rescue dog. When I’m not writing, reading, or editing, I’m usually in the woods, foraging for food or just rambling around looking at birds and flowers. I’m also a surfer, though these days I really have to work and plan to get my water time. My website www.krisfarmen.com has more information about my books and my upcoming projects.
My books generally involve Alaska and the circumpolar North, but that isn’t a hard and fast rule. In fact, I don't really write books about Alaska, I write books about people. It just so happens that most of those people either live in Alaska or are somehow connected to the Far North. I’ve used fiction as a tool to explore the “shadow society” of people of color in Alaska’s gold rush past, the world of mixed-race Russian and Native residents of Alaska during its time as a Russian colony, and the dismal history of Native boarding schools. I’ve also examined the effects of post-traumatic stress syndrome and how it changes the lives of people afflicted by it.
I live in Fairbanks, Alaska with my wife, daughter, and rescue dog. When I’m not writing, reading, or editing, I’m usually in the woods, foraging for food or just rambling around looking at birds and flowers. I’m also a surfer, though these days I really have to work and plan to get my water time. My website www.krisfarmen.com has more information about my books and my upcoming projects.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 29, 2018
Turn Again, named after Turnagain Arm, a waterway that leads into Cook Inlet, Alaska, is the story of a late 19th century Athabascan Indian man who had been convicted of a murder he did not commit and sentenced to death. A woman anthropologist from the East has come to interview him because of rumors that he can turn into a bear.
He recounts his life in a tale that shows what Alaska's Kenai Peninsula was like under Russia rule, when many Native people were still able to make a living outside the cities by trapping, and how the Gold Rush changed that. Native Alaskans subjected to American rule weren't treated as citizens.
Alexander Campbell, the intelligent and brave protagonist, tries to overcome every obstacle to live in the place where he grew up, be with the woman he loves, and help his friends, but again and again he is defeated.
The anthropologist feels sympathy, but there's little that she can do to save him.
The descriptions of Alaska are beautiful and the story is compelling. Not many novels describe the suffering of Native Alaskans.
He recounts his life in a tale that shows what Alaska's Kenai Peninsula was like under Russia rule, when many Native people were still able to make a living outside the cities by trapping, and how the Gold Rush changed that. Native Alaskans subjected to American rule weren't treated as citizens.
Alexander Campbell, the intelligent and brave protagonist, tries to overcome every obstacle to live in the place where he grew up, be with the woman he loves, and help his friends, but again and again he is defeated.
The anthropologist feels sympathy, but there's little that she can do to save him.
The descriptions of Alaska are beautiful and the story is compelling. Not many novels describe the suffering of Native Alaskans.
October 25, 2022
A story from the early gold rush days of Alaska, that's not about the gold. Love the Indigenous/non American perspective and the history and culture. Extra engaging for me since I spent a week on the Kenai peninsula this year, and have looked at maps of the place for years. Recommend if you like historical fiction!
September 4, 2012
Kris Farmen has written a robust story of the early days of western man's invasion of Cook Inlet and the clash of cultures between the indigenous inhabitants living sustainable lifestyles (sometimes barely sustainable) and the newcomers intent on their pursuit of riches to be wrung and wrestled from this northern land.
There is cross cultural romance, historical accuracy and a fair and balanced presentation of the conflicts that are presented. A.C. Campbell, the mixed blood protagonist, is a character worthy of respect and compassion. The antagonist, Greg Hackham, is as evil a man as they make 'em.
The 1890 map at the front of the book shows the area of the narrative with place names that help you keep up with the action as it moves throughout the Cook Inlet and Turnagain Arm settings.
I highly recommend this read and heap kudos and praise on Kris for his second book! Can't wait for the next one!
There is cross cultural romance, historical accuracy and a fair and balanced presentation of the conflicts that are presented. A.C. Campbell, the mixed blood protagonist, is a character worthy of respect and compassion. The antagonist, Greg Hackham, is as evil a man as they make 'em.
The 1890 map at the front of the book shows the area of the narrative with place names that help you keep up with the action as it moves throughout the Cook Inlet and Turnagain Arm settings.
I highly recommend this read and heap kudos and praise on Kris for his second book! Can't wait for the next one!
September 7, 2022
Turn Again can only be described as a tragedy where the Alaska that was pristine becomes that Alaska that is raped. The story is about Aleksandr Campbell, whose father was an American solider who abandoned his Kenaytze mother, and who was raised by his Kenaytze grandfather. As Aleksandr grows into a man he experiences love and lost love, friendship and adventure and the tragedy of Alaska being overrun by Americans seeking wealth. Now, AC is telling his story to an American anthropologist who is fascinated by his life story and his alleged ability to shift into a bear.
Farmen's writing is straightforward and the compelling story carries the novel from page to exciting page. He brings to life the consequences of the gold rush, which we often idealize as men panning for gold, but really resulted in large scale destruction of Native Alaskan villages, hunting, and fishing grounds.
AC is a likeable, but far from perfect, character who grows through the book. As he learns the ways of his Native Alaskan family, and also the ways of the white people in towns, he struggles with his own identity. His friends, Yasha and Scotty, share adventures and subsistence with him as they all deal with the realities of late 19th Century Alaska as it becomes American.
Farmen's writing is straightforward and the compelling story carries the novel from page to exciting page. He brings to life the consequences of the gold rush, which we often idealize as men panning for gold, but really resulted in large scale destruction of Native Alaskan villages, hunting, and fishing grounds.
AC is a likeable, but far from perfect, character who grows through the book. As he learns the ways of his Native Alaskan family, and also the ways of the white people in towns, he struggles with his own identity. His friends, Yasha and Scotty, share adventures and subsistence with him as they all deal with the realities of late 19th Century Alaska as it becomes American.
August 18, 2017
looking to learn Alaskan history? Curious about the gold rush ? want to learn about life in the Alaskan wilderness? curious about Indian culture? want a sobering historical account of colonization and it's effects on the land cultures and peoples ? Or do you simply want an amazing adventure ? This book has you covered on all fronts, it had me on the edge of my reading seat all the way.
December 8, 2016
I bought this book on a whim at a street fair because (I'll admit it) I liked the cover. I am so glad I did - what a fabulous story! Very well written, engaging, and entertaining.
August 7, 2019
"My indifference would fill the den."
I REALLY liked reading this in Ninilchik, AK! Great geographic, historic and native fantasy/myth... what more could a girl ask for? Except a nice fat red.
I REALLY liked reading this in Ninilchik, AK! Great geographic, historic and native fantasy/myth... what more could a girl ask for? Except a nice fat red.
March 1, 2015
This book was given to me by my daughter, Jeannine for my birthday in 2014. Jeannine and her family have a home in Hope, Alaska. Through this book, I learned that its Indian name was Tutsilitnu.
The story takes place in the last decade of the 1800s in the Cook Inlet region of Alaska. An Indian boy named Aleksander Campbell, or "AC" as he like to be called, is the main character in the book.
AC possesses the ability to change into a grizzly bear when he is under great duress. This is one of the main themes of the story and plays an important and surprising role as the story progresses.
Although it's a work of fiction, it is filled with fact, folk-lore, and Indian mythology.
It also gives an excellent look into Alaska's past, including its Russian heritage as well as the impact of the discovery of gold upon the history of the state.
One word of caution - it contains some profanity, including the "F-Word," which I absolutely hate!
The story takes place in the last decade of the 1800s in the Cook Inlet region of Alaska. An Indian boy named Aleksander Campbell, or "AC" as he like to be called, is the main character in the book.
AC possesses the ability to change into a grizzly bear when he is under great duress. This is one of the main themes of the story and plays an important and surprising role as the story progresses.
Although it's a work of fiction, it is filled with fact, folk-lore, and Indian mythology.
It also gives an excellent look into Alaska's past, including its Russian heritage as well as the impact of the discovery of gold upon the history of the state.
One word of caution - it contains some profanity, including the "F-Word," which I absolutely hate!
January 13, 2013
Really enjoyed it, loved being able to read a book and know the locations that were talked about since it it all about Alaska (makes it more vivid) but did not like the ending because it felt unfinished. Good mix of drama/mystical/romance.
February 11, 2015
It's about people living during times of change in Alaska - the 1890s.
At times the language and behavior of the old-Alaska characters seemed a little modern for the time-setting, but I still enjoyed the story.
I'm especially pleased to have a copy signed by the author.
At times the language and behavior of the old-Alaska characters seemed a little modern for the time-setting, but I still enjoyed the story.
I'm especially pleased to have a copy signed by the author.
February 15, 2013
I couldn't put this book down. Growing up in this area in Alaska and some of the historical accuracy of it made it a fascinating read for me.
Read
October 22, 2015Amazing writing--one of the best books I've read lately. Great story about clashing cultures, true love, and old magic.
(added other edition to my books to show the cover)
(added other edition to my books to show the cover)
August 25, 2013
Read it because I was just near the Turnagain & Kenai & was hungry for history about it. It certainly gave me that & was written well-enough.
January 16, 2016
Not going to lie, Alaskana can be pretty bad so I had low expectations. I enjoyed the epic adventure of AC. This book is not amazing literature, but it is an entertaining read.
Read
October 22, 2015See my review on the paperback edition--just added this to show the great cover.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews