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Mighty Bad Land: A Perilous Expedition to Antarctica Reveals Clues to an Eighth Continent
A tale of grit and real teamwork in the wilds of Antarctica when the hunger for knowledge reigns supreme.
Anything can happen in a pure wilderness experienced by few humans—a place where unseen menace waits everywhere. This story is an unembellished account of a scientist and his team exploring the last place on Earth. But, unlike most recent books on Antarctica, the reader becomes embedded with geologist Bruce Luyendyk’s team. They share the challenges, companionship, failures, bravery, and success brought to light from scientific research pursued in an unforgiving place, Marie Byrd Land, or Mighty Bad Land.
The geologists make surprising discoveries. Luyendyk realizes that vast submarine plateaus in the southwest Pacific are continental pieces that broke away from the Marie Byrd Land sector of Gondwana. He coined “Zealandia” to describe this newly recognized submerged continent. Only the tops of its mountains poke above sea level to host the nation of New Zealand. This stunning revelation of a submerged eighth continent promises economic and geopolitical consequences reverberating into the twenty-first century.
The story occurs in the 1990s and fills a gap in the timeline of Antarctic exploration between the Heroic Age, the age of military exploration, and before the modern era of science. Danger is exponentially greater, isolation a constant threat without GPS, satellite phones, and the internet. As the expedition’s leader, Luyendyk stands up to his demons that surface under the extreme duress of his experience, like nearly losing two team members.
Anything can happen in a pure wilderness experienced by few humans—a place where unseen menace waits everywhere. This story is an unembellished account of a scientist and his team exploring the last place on Earth. But, unlike most recent books on Antarctica, the reader becomes embedded with geologist Bruce Luyendyk’s team. They share the challenges, companionship, failures, bravery, and success brought to light from scientific research pursued in an unforgiving place, Marie Byrd Land, or Mighty Bad Land.
The geologists make surprising discoveries. Luyendyk realizes that vast submarine plateaus in the southwest Pacific are continental pieces that broke away from the Marie Byrd Land sector of Gondwana. He coined “Zealandia” to describe this newly recognized submerged continent. Only the tops of its mountains poke above sea level to host the nation of New Zealand. This stunning revelation of a submerged eighth continent promises economic and geopolitical consequences reverberating into the twenty-first century.
The story occurs in the 1990s and fills a gap in the timeline of Antarctic exploration between the Heroic Age, the age of military exploration, and before the modern era of science. Danger is exponentially greater, isolation a constant threat without GPS, satellite phones, and the internet. As the expedition’s leader, Luyendyk stands up to his demons that surface under the extreme duress of his experience, like nearly losing two team members.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published May 30, 2023
7 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Bruce Luyendyk
2 books2 followersAt the bottom of the world in Antarctica’s distant Marie Byrd Land, Mount Luyendyk overlooks the wide Balchen Glacier. It formed the backdrop for a lonely camp of six explorers, the central people in Mighty Bad Land. The US Board on Geographic Names awarded the naming of the summit for Bruce Luyendyk.
Luyendyk received education in geophysics and in oceanography. While in college, he took a six-month leave to participate in a research voyage to the western and South Pacific. His experiences on this expedition will be the subject of a future book.
His PhD is from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. After this, he was a scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts. He accepted a professorship at UC Santa Barbara in 1973. At UCSB Luyendyk got involved in expeditions to explore mid-ocean ridges with the submersible Alvin. During the RISE expedition off Mexico in 1979, the research team became the first visitors to the hot springs and “black smokers” that jetted from the deep ocean floor.
Luyendyk is an elected Fellow of the Geological Society of America, the American Geophysical Union, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Luyendyk received education in geophysics and in oceanography. While in college, he took a six-month leave to participate in a research voyage to the western and South Pacific. His experiences on this expedition will be the subject of a future book.
His PhD is from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. After this, he was a scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts. He accepted a professorship at UC Santa Barbara in 1973. At UCSB Luyendyk got involved in expeditions to explore mid-ocean ridges with the submersible Alvin. During the RISE expedition off Mexico in 1979, the research team became the first visitors to the hot springs and “black smokers” that jetted from the deep ocean floor.
Luyendyk is an elected Fellow of the Geological Society of America, the American Geophysical Union, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 19, 2023
I'm always fascinated by the stories of those who brave the harshest conditions & bleakest environments for scientific research. In this account, author Bruce Luyendyk recounts his experience of leading a small team to Marie Byrd Land (Mighty Bad Land) in Antarctica. Hundreds of miles & hours of time away from help or rescue should the worst happen, the team worked to find answers to questions about the formation of the continents. This exploration, which took place in the 1990s without many of the inventions now relied upon such as GPS & the internet, paved the way to the revelation of the existence of a submerged eighth continent which the author terms "Zealandia".
This is a personal account of the research expedition by the author & doesn't hold back in talking about his relative inexperience in such a venture & his initial issues with physical fitness. As in any workplace there were disagreements & personality clashes, but on the whole, the results of their findings speak to the success of the team in the end. It was an interesting read with a few heart stopping moments, such as when one of the team falls down a hidden crevasse & has to be rescued by their teammates. Verdict: interesting read about geological research in one of the remotest areas in the world.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Post Hill Press/Permuted Press, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
This is a personal account of the research expedition by the author & doesn't hold back in talking about his relative inexperience in such a venture & his initial issues with physical fitness. As in any workplace there were disagreements & personality clashes, but on the whole, the results of their findings speak to the success of the team in the end. It was an interesting read with a few heart stopping moments, such as when one of the team falls down a hidden crevasse & has to be rescued by their teammates. Verdict: interesting read about geological research in one of the remotest areas in the world.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Post Hill Press/Permuted Press, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
May 6, 2023
This spoke to me, I too am almost fifty, asthmatic and have chronic pain. That being said I would never dream of undertaking a journey like the author did.
This was absolutely fascinating and I'm so glad I requested a copy on NetGalley, I will also be purchasing the hardback on release date to add to my collection.
Antarctica is spoken about so poetically and you really feel you're part of the team.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
This was absolutely fascinating and I'm so glad I requested a copy on NetGalley, I will also be purchasing the hardback on release date to add to my collection.
Antarctica is spoken about so poetically and you really feel you're part of the team.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
September 12, 2023
Dangerous and Thrilling Scientific Research
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2023
The author has written an outstanding first person account of his first (of many) expeditions as a scientific research team leader in Antarctic research. The true account not only shows the science but the human experience as well.
I had no idea of the hazards and trials and tribulations suffered by research scientists in the Antarctic until I read this true story of scientists at work.
It was most eye opening not just because of the dangers overcome but in the way men and women working together must singularly and as a group overcome their own fears and hardships to avert tragedy and be successful.
The book is a must read for anyone contemplating travel to the Antarctic either for work/science or on a cruising tour.
It is also a good read for any interested in science or curious about life at the very bottom of the world.
I highly recommend this book. It is a true gem.
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2023
The author has written an outstanding first person account of his first (of many) expeditions as a scientific research team leader in Antarctic research. The true account not only shows the science but the human experience as well.
I had no idea of the hazards and trials and tribulations suffered by research scientists in the Antarctic until I read this true story of scientists at work.
It was most eye opening not just because of the dangers overcome but in the way men and women working together must singularly and as a group overcome their own fears and hardships to avert tragedy and be successful.
The book is a must read for anyone contemplating travel to the Antarctic either for work/science or on a cruising tour.
It is also a good read for any interested in science or curious about life at the very bottom of the world.
I highly recommend this book. It is a true gem.
September 20, 2023
This is a truly exceptional book, a riveting first hand account of the perils and challenges encountered at the bottom of the earth; a remote area where no man had yet to explore. It left me with shivers considering the degree of remoteness, especially should a rescue become necessary, as you will learn was almost the case.
Aside from a well written account of his experience, Dr. Luyendyk also exposes his vulnerabilities, for example, self questioning his ability to lead a team in such harsh conditions. Other introspections shared toward the end of the book reveal the honesty and humility of this notable explorer, something to which we all should aspire. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. I received this book as a gift.
Aside from a well written account of his experience, Dr. Luyendyk also exposes his vulnerabilities, for example, self questioning his ability to lead a team in such harsh conditions. Other introspections shared toward the end of the book reveal the honesty and humility of this notable explorer, something to which we all should aspire. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. I received this book as a gift.
September 14, 2023
What an amazing experience!
This book opened my eyes to the wonders and terrors of the vast continent of Antarctica. I'd never thought much about it, but reading Mr. Luyendyk's personal story of isolation, fear, and the push to achieve his goals was terrific. It is a page-turner, and I discovered many interesting facts about the frozen continent, living in perpetual sunshine, the incredible dangers of ice and crevasses 800 miles from the next living creature, and how isolation affects personalities. I found the people on his 6-member team very interesting, especially Christine, the young doctoral intern. Exciting book.
This book opened my eyes to the wonders and terrors of the vast continent of Antarctica. I'd never thought much about it, but reading Mr. Luyendyk's personal story of isolation, fear, and the push to achieve his goals was terrific. It is a page-turner, and I discovered many interesting facts about the frozen continent, living in perpetual sunshine, the incredible dangers of ice and crevasses 800 miles from the next living creature, and how isolation affects personalities. I found the people on his 6-member team very interesting, especially Christine, the young doctoral intern. Exciting book.
June 16, 2023
That quest for knowledge - What drives it? What completes the inquiry? Dr. Luyendyk's determination and persistence compel him to seek an unknown continent lying underneath the icy world of Antarctica and extending into the South Pacific. A world of wonder appears as his team of geologists travel 800 miles from the nearest human contact, face every type of deprivation and hardship and investigate until they claim their prize - evidence. A terrific read.
October 4, 2023
How many people have discovered a continent? While geophysicist Bruce Luyendyk makes a point of sharing credit, he is the man who named Zealandia, a mostly sunken continent half the size of Australia and represented above the water by New Zealand and scattered islands. In this book, he chronicles the first of his three Antarctic expeditions that provided proof the continent separated about 85 million years ago from the ancient supercontinent Gondwana.
In 1989, Dr. Luyendyk led a six-person expedition to Marie Byrd Land, a huge, unclaimed region nicknamed Mighty Bad Land. There was no airstrip, and they were beyond the reach of helicopters. His team had to be deposited and retrieved by ski-equipped military C-130s landing on the open ice. It happens that, I, too, have many flights in C-130s. They're uncomfortable under the best conditions, and Antarctica offers anything but.
Luyendyk was the right man for the job, scientifically, but he makes clear he just barely made it through this trip. Nearly fifty years old, concealing injury, with chronic asthma and no experience leading a group in such a remote area, he cleared the medical and mental hurdles basically by force of will. It was his first trip to Antarctica, and he describes his adjustment to everything from eternal sun to conflicting chains of command. Luyendyk also recounts two humorous incidents at the American base, McMurdo Station, where he drew interest from women in a place where women are very scarce but lost both due to indecision about a "sort of relationship" in California (that did not, sadly, work out).
Then it’s on to the ice, and the gripping story of the oft-beleaguered expedition. With him went two mountaineers and three other scientists, including his graduate student Christine Smith (who, yes, had a couple of incidents with male jerks). Luyendyk is frank about his own errors and uncertainties. He discovered many unexpected hurdles, adjusting plans on the fly for weather, ground hazards, aircraft schedules, internal conflicts, two near-death incidents, and even proper supervision of his grad student’s work given they were in different subspecialties. But his team had the chance to do historic science, and they persevered.
The results were spectacular. The ton of rocks hauled out (barely) by a heavily loaded C-130 provided key parts of the puzzle that is Zealandia. Luyendyk’s painstakingly-taken core samples showed the magnetic shifts the area had undergone and how the mountain ranges had been “twisted and shuffled” over time, while geochronologist Dave Kimbrough dated rocks in all the locations they visited. Steve Richard and Chris Smith studied metamorphic minerals from the Fosdick Mountain range to determine its history and past deformations. The data from this and subsequent expeditions, synthesized and analyzed, told them why and when the new continent split off from Gondwana and proved the mostly-submerged region highlighted by New Zealand – thus, Zealandia – met all the criteria to be declared the eighth continent. Luyendyk published the name in 1995. The result revolutionized our understanding of the hemisphere’s geologic history and, incidentally, greatly expanded the seafloor territory over which New Zealand could claim economic sovereignty.
The author deserves great credit for making all this understandable. As a non-geologist, it took me two reads of some of the more technical sections to make me feel comfortable that I understood it, but I'd have needed at least twice that effort to gain a comparable understanding through textbooks or Web courses. Education and adventure are memorably entwined in a book that will enthrall anyone interested in the exploration, history, or geology of this still-mysterious land and its more-mysterious spinoff – our newest continent. Take this harrowing trip with Luyendyk and company, and you'll learn as well.
In 1989, Dr. Luyendyk led a six-person expedition to Marie Byrd Land, a huge, unclaimed region nicknamed Mighty Bad Land. There was no airstrip, and they were beyond the reach of helicopters. His team had to be deposited and retrieved by ski-equipped military C-130s landing on the open ice. It happens that, I, too, have many flights in C-130s. They're uncomfortable under the best conditions, and Antarctica offers anything but.
Luyendyk was the right man for the job, scientifically, but he makes clear he just barely made it through this trip. Nearly fifty years old, concealing injury, with chronic asthma and no experience leading a group in such a remote area, he cleared the medical and mental hurdles basically by force of will. It was his first trip to Antarctica, and he describes his adjustment to everything from eternal sun to conflicting chains of command. Luyendyk also recounts two humorous incidents at the American base, McMurdo Station, where he drew interest from women in a place where women are very scarce but lost both due to indecision about a "sort of relationship" in California (that did not, sadly, work out).
Then it’s on to the ice, and the gripping story of the oft-beleaguered expedition. With him went two mountaineers and three other scientists, including his graduate student Christine Smith (who, yes, had a couple of incidents with male jerks). Luyendyk is frank about his own errors and uncertainties. He discovered many unexpected hurdles, adjusting plans on the fly for weather, ground hazards, aircraft schedules, internal conflicts, two near-death incidents, and even proper supervision of his grad student’s work given they were in different subspecialties. But his team had the chance to do historic science, and they persevered.
The results were spectacular. The ton of rocks hauled out (barely) by a heavily loaded C-130 provided key parts of the puzzle that is Zealandia. Luyendyk’s painstakingly-taken core samples showed the magnetic shifts the area had undergone and how the mountain ranges had been “twisted and shuffled” over time, while geochronologist Dave Kimbrough dated rocks in all the locations they visited. Steve Richard and Chris Smith studied metamorphic minerals from the Fosdick Mountain range to determine its history and past deformations. The data from this and subsequent expeditions, synthesized and analyzed, told them why and when the new continent split off from Gondwana and proved the mostly-submerged region highlighted by New Zealand – thus, Zealandia – met all the criteria to be declared the eighth continent. Luyendyk published the name in 1995. The result revolutionized our understanding of the hemisphere’s geologic history and, incidentally, greatly expanded the seafloor territory over which New Zealand could claim economic sovereignty.
The author deserves great credit for making all this understandable. As a non-geologist, it took me two reads of some of the more technical sections to make me feel comfortable that I understood it, but I'd have needed at least twice that effort to gain a comparable understanding through textbooks or Web courses. Education and adventure are memorably entwined in a book that will enthrall anyone interested in the exploration, history, or geology of this still-mysterious land and its more-mysterious spinoff – our newest continent. Take this harrowing trip with Luyendyk and company, and you'll learn as well.
July 23, 2023
Luyendyk weaves together a story that revolves around a team of explorers who embark on a daring expedition to Antarctica led by the author himself. The team faces numerous challenges and unforeseen dangers. The author's attention to detail shines through in vivid descriptions of the icy landscapes, allowing readers to feel the bone-chilling, inhospitable conditions. The author captures the harsh beauty of Antarctica while keeping the story moving forward. Luyendyk's extensive knowledge sets this book apart. The historical context of previous expeditions and intricate details of survival in Antarctica add an educational aspect. Readers get a deeper appreciation for the challenges faced by polar explorers.
November 28, 2024
A great book, on many levels: adventure, beauty, science, human relationships, tensions, illnesses, potentially fatal accidents and growth. Luyendyk brings the reader right along with him, into the vast beauty of a land few people will ever see; through howllng, wind driven whiteouts that threaten the small band of scientists isolated for weeks, 800 miles beyond the nearest help, which is, in any case, only intermittently reachable by radio. We get a beginning appreciation for the work of geologists...and for the significance of that work. Absorbing place and people, and a great read. I highly recommend it!
April 2, 2025
~2.5 Not a fan of the reader's voice while listening to this audiobook
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews