South Light: A Journey to the Last Continent

by Michael Parfit

The author describes his experiences during a year-long visit to Antarctica and shares his observations on the land and the scientific and military personnel stationed there

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

306 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book came out right before my second season in Antarctica and was much talked about at the time. And most of the folks in it were well known to me, even if just by reputation I particularly remember the excellent opening sequence about a C-130 crew getting suckered past PSR (Point of Safe Return)by MAC WEATHER during WINFLY. Been there, seen that, heard that. I think the book's value these days depends upon how interested you are in a capsule look at what the Antarctic Research Program in McMurdo Station was actully like circa 1984. If you don't care about that you won't care about this book.

[Arielle Masters · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many interesting things in this book.

I've read several books about Everest and similar expeditions and some about Arctic exploration, but I think this is the first book I've read about living and working in Antarctica. I'm unlikely to ever go ice-climbing, ice-fishing, or on Arctic or Antarctic expeditions, but I do enjoy reading about such journeys (and being thankful that I have a nice warm house in the winter). Might be neat to make a quick trip to one pole or the other or both, but I don't think I'd want to stay a season in either.

I knew there were multiple places in/around Antarctica where different countries had bases, but I knew almost nothing about them. As a result of his long stay on the continent, this author is able to relate how people got there or back or between them, how they interacted with one another, got supplies replenished, got mail in and out, what they were researching, who comes to visit (and when and why),and so forth. It was really interesting to get a tourist's view of how large and small the different communities there are, what they do for fun (or did back in the 1980s, before the Internet was really available), and particularly how well the groups from different nations got along, socialized, and helped one another. The whole concept of claiming bits of Antarctica and then ignoring those claims because of a mutual scientific drive to learn about the place without wrecking it was quite refreshing, especially in this extremely volatile election season. I was shocked to hear that a couple of families had brought young kids with them - or had kids while in Antarctica. Knowing that the Russians, at least, had redundant doctors was a little reassuring on that front. Some of the more daring cold-weather activities, like the naked-but-for-socks polar dip, were somewhat alarming. Then again, last winter there were days where I live when it was colder than in Antarctica that same day, so the summers there aren't as horrible as I'd imagined.

Most of the writing is very lyrical. The author has a gift for evocative descriptions, which made this book very enjoyable to read on that basis alone. The timeline wasn't as clear as I would have liked - lacking a plot arc, a straight chronology would have been preferable. It seemed like the very first part of the book talked about his trip to Antarctica; then there was talk of the end of the season when he was getting ready to head back; then there was talk of summer there; then it hearkened back to getting ready for the trip down there; then more summer; then goodbyes and the trip home.

The editing of the book was a little choppy, especially around page 255 and after - there were a few spots where sentences abruptly ended or didn't make sense. These errors may have been fixed in later editions; I don't know.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Journalist describes experiences during trip in the 1980’s. Dated in terms of sexism.