Far Horizons: Unusual Journeys and Strange Encounters from a Travelling Life

by Frank Gardner

Lost on a remote Sumatran volcano...pursued through a Tokyo backstreet by a Japanese gangster...picnicking with the French Foreign Legion in the Horn of Frank Gardner's idea of a holiday is not everyone's. But ever since his student days, the BBC security correspondent has done some epicly hard travelling in a remarkable number of countries. Drawing on the diaries, sketches and photos he kept during his travels, his immaculately observed accounts of these often strange, sometimes daring, adventures in many of the world's most out of the way places form the backbone of his new book.In June 2004, while reporting on what should have been a routine assignment in Riyadh, his life - never mind his ability to travel the world - was nearly brought to a violent end by Islamist gunmen. Incredibly, Frank not only survived being shot six times at point blank range but also, against all the odds and through force of will, has found himself looking towards those far horizons once more. He's not only been slalom skiing in the Alps, scuba diving in the Red Sea and explored the jungle in northern Thailand. And he is also reporting once more from far-flung destinations like Afghanistan and Colombia - and this is a man who no longer has the use of his legs...This is Frank Gardner's compelling, personal yet unsentimental account of the myriad adventures that made him the man he was on that fateful day five years ago - and of the journeys he's made since, and how they've helped him to become the remarkable and inspiring individual he is today.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Biography

352 pages, Hardcover

First published May 7, 2009

About the author

BBC’s fulltime Security Correspondent reporting on events from Afghanistan to piracy off the Somali coast to Arctic challenges. Shot 6 times at close range while on assignment in Saudi Arabia in 2004, left severely wounded and dependant on a wheelchair. Awarded an OBE by HM The Queen in 2005. Author of 2 bestselling books ‘Blood and Sand’ describing his Middle East experiences and ‘Far Horizons’ describing unusual journeys to unusual places. Married with 2 children, lives in London.

Reviews

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I challenge anyone to read this and not want to immediately travel to the most outlandish of places. It's rare that travellers actually make good writers, but Gardner is exceptional (though I'd expect nothing less from such a talented man, and of course he is a journalist). Read it before or after his autobiography - it doesn't matter - but do a bit of background research first if you don't know who he is, to appreciate it all the more. I never waver in my admiration of this guy.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adventurous and addicted to travel, this is a book of derring-do but not without intelligence and thoughtful curiosity. Frank Gardner is the victim of terrorism that threatens to put his life on hold but his determination to continue with his travels, his overseas journalism and adventurous lifestyle is highly admirable - despite his disability. The book is a romp through many countries - most of which most of us can only dream of - and places that have changed dramatically in the last decades. It's not literary writing - more journalistic in style - but it's written with pace and good humour. It's a fascinating account, and you have to admire Gardner.

[Elisha Canning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the tales of travelling in the 80's however found the content in the second half of the book (which was more work related trips) uninspiring. Was expecting a travel book and perhaps my expectations were wrong

[Lynne Lawton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marvellous real life story of how one can overcome adversity and travel adventurously in spite of being confined to a wheel chair

[Alayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A terrific book for those who enjoy travel writing, this story takes us through the travelling life of Frank Gardner, a BBC Foreign Correspondent. He also refers to the life changing moment in 2004 when he and his cameraman were shot in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which he apparently wrote about more fully in his book, Blood and Sand. I think what he writes here is enough for me! A terrible experience. With photos in two sections of the book, it is a wonderful story of a born traveller. Highly recommended.

[Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

An uplifting book and empowering for those confronted by unexpected disability. Unsentimental and never self-pitying, Gardner takes us on a journey to some of the 90-or-so countries he's visited as a tourist and in the line of his work. Recommended for those who wish to follow in his example.

[Hilary May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable both before and after his injury. Travels to a range of places. I’d even been to a few of them!

[Jeff Brennan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable and informative travel tales from the journalist Frank Gardner ,also includes a compelling account of his near death experience in Saudi.

[Anne Harvey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sort of continuation of the BBC security correspondent, Frank Gardner's autobiography, 'Blood & Sand', this is the story of an intrepid explorer-cum-traveller who, from the age of 17, has gone adventuring. With a passionate love of the Middle-East and his fluency in Arabic,the desert is his second home. Even after the horrific shooting in 2004 which left him paralysed and with ongoing medical problems, his adventures continue. Skiing, scuba diving, abseiling down a cliff in a wheelchair (yes, it can be done!), driving a quad bike, visiting the troops in Afghanistan, this is one helluva brave man and I'm a great admirer.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

You have to give it to this man, he is a born traveller and won't let his condition stop him. Truly inspiring, I love his writing style and his ability to conjure up images of just about anything to near perfection in the readers minds. I particularly enjoyed his pieces on the island of Socotra, his amazing trip to Sumatra and the Philippines, as well as his earlier travels to Greece. As the chapters roll past the pace becomes slower and the mood is more reflective, also at times very focussed on work and his security correspondent role. A good read however. And certainly a fantastic travelling experience to some amazing places on this planet.

[Cathrine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as Frank Gardner's other book Blood and sand, but still an great book about a man with a an incurable travel bug.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. There was no self pity in the stories from before the shooting, just enjoying remembering. He is more adventurous in a wheelchair than I will ever be.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating read about travelling off the beaten track. Compelling (in terms of adventures as well as writing style) and inspirational.

[Clinton Sweet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not necessarily for travellers but the book did give some reflection on how much the world has changed as a result of tourism

[Colin Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb

[Muhammad · Rating 5 out of 5]

So funny at parts, and inspiring for more traveling. Already got 3 places on my near to go list.