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The Walk Up Nameless Ridge
On planet Eno, there stands a mountain that has never been summited. Many have tried. All have failed.
This climbing season finds three teams making their bid up this murderous peak. And one man among them will discover these ugly truths: There are fates worse than death. There are fates worse than obscurity. To be remembered forever can be its own curse.
This climbing season finds three teams making their bid up this murderous peak. And one man among them will discover these ugly truths: There are fates worse than death. There are fates worse than obscurity. To be remembered forever can be its own curse.
39 pages, Audiobook
First published September 4, 2012
69 people are currently reading
478 people want to read
About the author
Hugh Howey
151 books57.6k followersI'm the author of WOOL, a top 5 science fiction book on Amazon. I also wrote the Molly Fyde saga, a tale of a teenager from the 25th century who is repeatedly told that girls can't do certain things -- and then does them anyway.
A theme in my books is the celebration of overcoming odds and of not allowing the cruelty of the universe to change who you are in the process. Most of them are classified as science fiction, since they often take place in the future, but if you love great stories and memorable characters, you'll dig what you find here. I promise.
A theme in my books is the celebration of overcoming odds and of not allowing the cruelty of the universe to change who you are in the process. Most of them are classified as science fiction, since they often take place in the future, but if you love great stories and memorable characters, you'll dig what you find here. I promise.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
October 3, 2012
Hugh again displays his gift of understanding people, the extremes we’ll endure to find happiness, and the ever ominous fact that not everyone does. With a clever science fiction “what if” to set up the story, we fall into step right away with a character attempting to climb a mountain on a distant planet which is at least twice as tall as Mt. Everest. This unnamed narrator admits up front that he’s willing to kill to get to the top first, and as we get to know the competition racing him, we grow to wish it won’t have to come to that. We like this guy, and we hope for a glorious finish.
This is a tremendous story that continues to impact me and my view on life. I have great aspirations as well, and sometimes they feel a lot like this story of climbing a 60,000 foot high mountain.
Great philosophical questions posed in this story, such as why we strive to be #1 at such awful costs to us and those around us. This is a kind of addiction, and sometimes great costs have to be paid in order to break free–if you’re lucky enough that you can break free after paying the cost. Sometimes this addiction takes lives, leaving us as stumps in the snow, possibly never even to be recognized for the battle we fought.
This is a tremendous story that continues to impact me and my view on life. I have great aspirations as well, and sometimes they feel a lot like this story of climbing a 60,000 foot high mountain.
Great philosophical questions posed in this story, such as why we strive to be #1 at such awful costs to us and those around us. This is a kind of addiction, and sometimes great costs have to be paid in order to break free–if you’re lucky enough that you can break free after paying the cost. Sometimes this addiction takes lives, leaving us as stumps in the snow, possibly never even to be recognized for the battle we fought.
April 29, 2017
It was okay. Might be more meaningful to a climber, or any other person with a particularly dangerous hobby, or maybe any person who fantasizes about attaining glory, or being a hero, or being the very first at something. But for me, it was just ok.
October 18, 2014
Possible Spoilers...
As a mountaineer, and an admiring follower of Howey's, I wanted to like this book, but in truth I expected to hate it. I wondered how many of the climbing tropes would be found within the story – how much criticism there would be of ego, of the oxygen bottles left on mountains across the world, of the western climber/sherpa relationship. And all of that is present. Howey has done his research, and observed keenly the ills of the modern elite climbing world. I imagine he's seen the photos of the queue to summit Everest which saddened climbers everywhere. But the book, written as it is from the perspective of a nameless man, driven by ego and self-interest, also acknowledges those quiet personalities who summit for different reasons – the actions of Ziba, told through his eyes and the nameless man's change of perspective in the final pages shows why Howey is so successful: he is an astute observer of the spectrum of human behaviour. The relationship between climbing partners is so nicely rendered. He adds the elements which take the story to its future setting – gears on the climbers' suits to assist in climbing way above what would be considered possible here on Earth, androids climbing too, nods to Earth's mountains still having a special place in some traditionalist's hearts. These tiny setting details add a richness to the story with only a few lines. The story is so beautifully crafted and wonderfully written that it's worth two readings so that those moments you missed the first time can be savoured again. Yet Howey might have one thing wrong, in my view – having spent time with elite climbers, I doubt any would leave a man possibly dying on the mountain so that they could summit instead. That part does not ring true for me. I think most elite mountaineers know it might be them next time. I watched Kenton Cool tell the story of how he spent hours trying to save a man, rather than realise a life-long dream on Everest. And watched him break down when he told me how couldn't save him. Perhaps that's Howey's point – that all human-beings are different, with different priorities, and Ziba's actions when placed it stark contrast with our nameless man's, and his later view of her which conflicts with society's view of his achievement, is the true point of the story. And I'm the one who has it wrong.
As a mountaineer, and an admiring follower of Howey's, I wanted to like this book, but in truth I expected to hate it. I wondered how many of the climbing tropes would be found within the story – how much criticism there would be of ego, of the oxygen bottles left on mountains across the world, of the western climber/sherpa relationship. And all of that is present. Howey has done his research, and observed keenly the ills of the modern elite climbing world. I imagine he's seen the photos of the queue to summit Everest which saddened climbers everywhere. But the book, written as it is from the perspective of a nameless man, driven by ego and self-interest, also acknowledges those quiet personalities who summit for different reasons – the actions of Ziba, told through his eyes and the nameless man's change of perspective in the final pages shows why Howey is so successful: he is an astute observer of the spectrum of human behaviour. The relationship between climbing partners is so nicely rendered. He adds the elements which take the story to its future setting – gears on the climbers' suits to assist in climbing way above what would be considered possible here on Earth, androids climbing too, nods to Earth's mountains still having a special place in some traditionalist's hearts. These tiny setting details add a richness to the story with only a few lines. The story is so beautifully crafted and wonderfully written that it's worth two readings so that those moments you missed the first time can be savoured again. Yet Howey might have one thing wrong, in my view – having spent time with elite climbers, I doubt any would leave a man possibly dying on the mountain so that they could summit instead. That part does not ring true for me. I think most elite mountaineers know it might be them next time. I watched Kenton Cool tell the story of how he spent hours trying to save a man, rather than realise a life-long dream on Everest. And watched him break down when he told me how couldn't save him. Perhaps that's Howey's point – that all human-beings are different, with different priorities, and Ziba's actions when placed it stark contrast with our nameless man's, and his later view of her which conflicts with society's view of his achievement, is the true point of the story. And I'm the one who has it wrong.
August 15, 2018
This is the first story in Howey’s compilation of short stories called Machine Learning. It’s about a mountain climber doing an especially lethal climb of an as-yet-unconquered mountain on some planet out there in space. It was a bit grim with a not so happy ending but Howey did a great job showing us how all-consuming the drive for greatness can be, to the detriment of everything and everyone else.
March 27, 2015
A dreary, depressing short story about the pride of men driven to prove themselves by performing great feats of endurance, and the competition of being "first" to conquer huge summits throughout the galaxy, and the incredible loss they face when they fail.
June 15, 2018
Very Poweful
Yet another amazing short story from Hugh Howey. It's awesome how powerful a story that Howey can write in so few words. He captures both the shame and glory of the climber in this sci-fi short story so succinctly. It's a great story.
Yet another amazing short story from Hugh Howey. It's awesome how powerful a story that Howey can write in so few words. He captures both the shame and glory of the climber in this sci-fi short story so succinctly. It's a great story.
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September 29, 2017Amazon.com Review: Jon Krakauer meets Ursula K. LeGuin in this slim psychological profile about sky-scraping ambition set on a 60,000-foot mountain on an alien planet somewhere in an unnamed galaxy. Hugh Howey (
Wool
;
I, Zombie
) pits his posterity-obsessed narrator against the alpine challenge of Mt. Mallory, named for the famous British explorer who--before dying on it--may or may not have summited Everest, which Howey's mountain dwarfs by a factor of two. A thinly developed cast of challengers--including a deceptively frail-looking woman named Ziba and her android partner--help to motivate Howey's narrator, though not as much as the burning desire for what he terms "the awful truth of my most hollow glory." Fans of polar expedition tales and science fiction alike should delight in this small, cold tale of the inner motivation that can drive the human spirit to (quite literally) dizzying heights. --Jason Kirk
February 26, 2015
A group of climbers travel to a distant planet to conquer a mountain twice the size of Everest. One climber in particular aspires to glory, to being the first man to summit the largest known mountain. This story is told from his point-of-view.
Such a lonely, cautionary, chilling (no pun intended) tale of men's arrogance and the price some people pay for such a feat while trying to convince themselves it was worthwhile. For a moment, I was a little perplexed that the story was continuing beyond the moment that I would've considered a fitting end, but as I continued, I realized that this was intentional. It was meant to take away from the character's moment of glory, even the character himself lamented his story should've ended, trying to convince himself the rest was a part of his imagination. He couldn't bear what this journey made him as a person. What glory was in this moment? None. No matter how history remembered him. There was no glory beyond that point for him. Excellent read.
Jonathan Davis narrated this short story and he does such an excellent job as usual, even with all his sibilant "s" sounds. I actually find that endearing. He's one of my favorite narrators, and I'm glad that I decided to listen to this instead of just read it.
Such a lonely, cautionary, chilling (no pun intended) tale of men's arrogance and the price some people pay for such a feat while trying to convince themselves it was worthwhile. For a moment, I was a little perplexed that the story was continuing beyond the moment that I would've considered a fitting end, but as I continued, I realized that this was intentional. It was meant to take away from the character's moment of glory, even the character himself lamented his story should've ended, trying to convince himself the rest was a part of his imagination. He couldn't bear what this journey made him as a person. What glory was in this moment? None. No matter how history remembered him. There was no glory beyond that point for him. Excellent read.
Jonathan Davis narrated this short story and he does such an excellent job as usual, even with all his sibilant "s" sounds. I actually find that endearing. He's one of my favorite narrators, and I'm glad that I decided to listen to this instead of just read it.
January 6, 2017
Okay so I really enjoyed this book. Hugh Howey never seems to let me down with his writing, It is always interesting and pulls me in from the beginning, as this story did. I have always been obsessed with reading about mountaineering and this book seemed very intriguing to me since it was about humans climbing a mountain on another planet. I loved how it showed humans as wanting to conquer every mountain, no matter the planet. This really struck me because one of the things that always captivated me about mountain climbing was why people do it. Why do this thing where you push your body beyond where it should go and openly face the possibility of death in so many different ways? This book showed this to an extreme, and how people will push their bodies to conquer things even outside the realm of what is possible. Howey has a knack for showing how the human race is determined to try to conquer everything they can, on any planet, no matter what the cost or consequence. To me this book was highly enjoyable and great, quick read.
March 24, 2015
This is a Kindle Single short story. First person story of mountain climber scaling the highest mountain in the universe. What he thinks as he fights to be the first to scale this particular peak. Quick read. Well written. But I really didn't like the end.
November 21, 2012
I admit, when I reached the last "page" I thought my Kindle had locked up on me. Then I felt like I'd been blown off the ridge. Finally, I put the pieces together and really understood the story.
This is a great short story, and that's all I have to type about that.
This is a great short story, and that's all I have to type about that.
June 20, 2016
Fun Short Story
Another fun, thought provoking story by Hugh Howey. I have enjoyed every story he has written and I am consistently surprised he can take a banal topic and write a compelling, interesting tale.
Another fun, thought provoking story by Hugh Howey. I have enjoyed every story he has written and I am consistently surprised he can take a banal topic and write a compelling, interesting tale.
June 24, 2016
There is a richness and depth to this story. I only wish it was longer and explored more of the main character and his adventure. It has the makings of a 5-star, full-length novel, or at least a novella.
July 29, 2015
One of the better pieces I've read from Howey - harsh, unforgiving, and moving. I loved it.
December 14, 2016
Interesting, entertaining (?), odd.
Heard via Alternate Reality (Sci-fi, fantasy, and beyond) on Audible Channels
Heard via Alternate Reality (Sci-fi, fantasy, and beyond) on Audible Channels
December 26, 2018
I am NOT a fan of short stories, but I saw Mr. Howey mention the release of this on his Facebook page. I figured if there was anyone out there who could write a short story that I would like, Hugh Howey had the best chance. I was correct.
This was absolutely perfect. Short, quick, intriguing, keeps you guessing the whole time what the outcome will be...I loved everything about it, which is odd considering I couldn't care less about mountain climbing.
If you're familiar with Mr. Howey's work, then you're going to read this regardless of what the reviews here say. Once you read one Howey book, you'll feel the need to read them all. If you're new to this author, then go ahead and read this, then pick up the 'Wool' series...followed by every other book he's written. You won't be disappointed.
This was absolutely perfect. Short, quick, intriguing, keeps you guessing the whole time what the outcome will be...I loved everything about it, which is odd considering I couldn't care less about mountain climbing.
If you're familiar with Mr. Howey's work, then you're going to read this regardless of what the reviews here say. Once you read one Howey book, you'll feel the need to read them all. If you're new to this author, then go ahead and read this, then pick up the 'Wool' series...followed by every other book he's written. You won't be disappointed.
November 10, 2016
"Frozen to death by altitude or by time was all the same. The truth was this: History remembers the first, and only the first... Those who came after were the inch or two of snowdrift that would melt in due time. They would trickle, forgotten, into the pores of the earth, be swallowed and melt snow at the feet of other forgotten men."
A great look into the brutality of human nature.
Extremely thought provoking.
Which is worse: man vs. self, man vs. man, or man vs. nature?
Why are we willing to risk it all, to our own detriment, in order to be seen as worthy in the eyes of others?
This beautifully written short story touches on it all, and more.
"A man can count on two hands all the climbs he conquers, and that man conquers nothing."
A great look into the brutality of human nature.
Extremely thought provoking.
Which is worse: man vs. self, man vs. man, or man vs. nature?
Why are we willing to risk it all, to our own detriment, in order to be seen as worthy in the eyes of others?
This beautifully written short story touches on it all, and more.
"A man can count on two hands all the climbs he conquers, and that man conquers nothing."
September 9, 2017
A tale about the pursuit of fame and glory, with the ultimate goal of being remembered, told through the eyes of a mountain climber. And the tole that it takes on the soul.
As a noted climber, having scaled numerous peaks across a multitude of planets, our narrator decides to risk it all and do what no one else has. Be the first to reach the summit of Mt Mallory on the planet Eno and live to tell about it. With the prize being remembered by all and having the ridge named after him. The peak is not for the timid, it rises to heights greater than two Everests.
Good read and unexpected ending. Just wish the end was a bit tighter in explaining itself (but no spoilers).
As a noted climber, having scaled numerous peaks across a multitude of planets, our narrator decides to risk it all and do what no one else has. Be the first to reach the summit of Mt Mallory on the planet Eno and live to tell about it. With the prize being remembered by all and having the ridge named after him. The peak is not for the timid, it rises to heights greater than two Everests.
Good read and unexpected ending. Just wish the end was a bit tighter in explaining itself (but no spoilers).
September 11, 2018
Brilliant and compelling. It almost didn't matter that the mountain was on another planet. It mattered but it might have been just as good of a story if it wasn't. That seems to be a theme of Hugh Howey. He's like the Stephen King of sci fi. Here's a normal situation (the climb up everest, a lord of the flies scenraio, etc) but now there's sci fi! Great author. Great book. Looking forward to what he does with I, Zombie.
January 30, 2021
Interstellar mountaineering story. I generally don't like mountaineering stories because they're usually formulaic jock hero worship, but this one had a surprising amount of depth, plus there was the interesting (but not core) interstellar aspect to the story. Hugh Howey is a great author; I'll check out his other books.
June 23, 2023
( Format : Audiobook )
"Up, always up."
A mountain on Eno, the highest and never yet climbed, has only a tiny window when it is possible to attempt to reach the top. Two teams, each of two men, are climbing, driven on by the need to be the first when so many have failed befure
Beautifully written by Howey and expressively performed by Jonathan Davis. Short but intense, and recommended.
"Up, always up."
A mountain on Eno, the highest and never yet climbed, has only a tiny window when it is possible to attempt to reach the top. Two teams, each of two men, are climbing, driven on by the need to be the first when so many have failed befure
Beautifully written by Howey and expressively performed by Jonathan Davis. Short but intense, and recommended.
December 29, 2018
Short and sweet with a perspective I hadn't thought off
Enjoyed the short story. Written well enough that is could imagine going through it myself not like a would but fun to imagine
Enjoyed the short story. Written well enough that is could imagine going through it myself not like a would but fun to imagine
August 8, 2019
The perfect short read
I adore Hugh Howey's shorts, but they always leave craving so much more of his lovely writing. This was definitely not a disappointment, a decadent read with imagery and descriptions I'll keep forever.
I adore Hugh Howey's shorts, but they always leave craving so much more of his lovely writing. This was definitely not a disappointment, a decadent read with imagery and descriptions I'll keep forever.
October 28, 2020
Disappointed.
I was so enthralled with the Silo series - it was so original, so well-executed. In contrast, The Walk Up Nameless Ridge seemed like a highly-compressed version of Into Thin Air (Jon Krakauer) with some sci-fi/speculative elements tossed in.
I was so enthralled with the Silo series - it was so original, so well-executed. In contrast, The Walk Up Nameless Ridge seemed like a highly-compressed version of Into Thin Air (Jon Krakauer) with some sci-fi/speculative elements tossed in.
April 11, 2023
Good look at mountaineering and the thoughts within
Mountaineering is often filled with the range of self believed success and failure within the physical challenges. This did a great job of exploring both with the real consequences of each.
Mountaineering is often filled with the range of self believed success and failure within the physical challenges. This did a great job of exploring both with the real consequences of each.
January 2, 2025
An intensely competitive climber attempts to summit the highest peak in the galaxy. Despite his brutal ordeal and ultimate success he's wracked with guilt, feeling hollow and perhaps realizing how selfish and fleeting such feats are.
October 2, 2017
Its a book about a man climbing a mountain on a distant planet twice the size of Everest. If you like mountain climbing, its worth the quick read.
March 4, 2018
Liked it!
Hugh Howdy is becoming one of my favorite authors 😁 I love his writing style and his ideas. Great quick read.
Hugh Howdy is becoming one of my favorite authors 😁 I love his writing style and his ideas. Great quick read.
June 11, 2018
seems more of a world-building and character-building exercise and not so much a standalone short story.
August 15, 2018
Not really enthralling as a short story. Many hints at subtle meanings but for me I seem to have missed the plot.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews