Forty Fathom Bank

by Les Galloway

Book by Galloway, Les

Genres: Fiction

108 pages, Hardcover

First published December 31, 1984

Reviews

[Ralph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greed. It's one of the Seven Deadly Sins, and for good reason, preceding the downfall of many good men, and even more good-intentioned men. In this short morality tale set in the 1940's, but told as a reminiscence more than a score years later, we have a man who is ever a victim of circumstances, so beset by his own dark humors that he never takes a hand in crafting his own fate. He falls into a marriage, falls into a job, falls out of a job, and falls into the ownership of a fishing boat, with which he leads fishing parties till his license is revoked because he fails to notice changes in the laws of his profession. When circumstances bring about a boom in shark prices, he fails to follow the leads of the other fisherman to take advantage of it. Only when the boom is almost over, when prices have swelled to $1800/ton (they were previously $5/ton) and he learns that circumstances are presenting him with another mouth to feed, does he do anything, which takes the form of wandering around until he finds a buyer willing to recommend a commercial fisherman/guide to help him fish for the valuable sharks. Depressed by his own foolishness and pessimism, he makes a deal to take only the first three tons for himself, the rest going to fisherman Ethan May. Once they are out in the forty fathom bank, far beyond all the other boats, and the sharks start filling the hold, does he rue the deal, begin to ponder what he could do with all that money. Greed festers in the solitude of his own soul. Out there on the vast loneliness of the sea he discovers the darkness of his heart, though, like most people, he never really sees himself as a participant in his own destruction, merely as a victim of capricious fate.

The senses of loneliness and solitude are wonderfully expressed in this lyrical morality tale, though it is a story with a moral never really learned by the participant. Les Galloway's own experiences upon the sea and with boats brings a vivid verisimilitude to the story. It is a story at once exciting and melancholy, engrossing and repellent. As a novella it succeeds wonderfully (trying to make it a novel would have required excessive padding) bringing in the reader, then delivering a punch that leaves one reeling. It's one of the better sea stories I've ever read.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Novellas usually leave me wanting for more, but this little book is well crafted and enjoyable. The only thing I do not like is the neurotic tendencies of the narrator. His mood and thoughts shift in an unstable fashion. (Undoubtedly, Les Galloway intended for the reader to mistrust and dislike the narrator, but his shifting thoughts are a bit distracting.) In distinct contrast to the narrator's character, Ethan May is a stalwart seaman and the true hero of the story. He is mysterious with his strong silent manner. I like to think that May would have given the narrator the money which tormented him so, without even being asked! ...a fun little read.

[Lou Columbus · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title story is a dark psychological tale of avarice. The writing is masterful. Apparently Mr. Galloway was a commercial fisherman, and it shows in his depictions of fishing and boating. I was enthralled the entire story, even though the final outcome was somewhat expected. It's how it happens and the craft with which it was told, that allows it to still pack a powerful punch.

[Logan Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid little story, really felt like I was out there with them. These are the kind of thoughts you have when out at sea for too long with a large sum of money hanging over your head. Reminiscent of the movie "Lighthouse"

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lean, compact and packs a real punch.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read some years back. My copy lost, but remember how much I enjoyed reading it.

[Charles · Rating 2 out of 5]

A valiant attempt to write a literary novel. But it didn't quite work. Interesting, but no cigar