Volcano Adventure - Willard Price
First published 1956.
Book 4 in the 'Adventure' series. Preceded by 'Underwater Adventure.' Followed by 'Whale Adventure.'
This fourth book in the 'adventure' series is a bit of an outlier in the series so far, in that it drops the idea of collecting animals altogether! Instead, as the title gives away, our heroes - the brothers Hal and Roger Hunt - join with a volcanologist, Dr Dan, to observe numerous volcanoes around the Pacific. The previous entry, Underwater Adventure, ended by suggesting that this was in order to figure out why a number of unusual eruptions had begun occurring in greater frequency, but the book ignores this. It doesn't really matter, after all! It was only an excuse to give the brothers a reason to begin this adventure; the point of the book is to tour a number of exotic locations and talk about the volcanoes within them, while giving some minor linking through the normal dramatic subplot that this series requires.
In this entry, we quickly learn that the dramatic subplot in question has to do with Dr Dan, who is suffering from some sort of PTSD that he is unaware of. Although generally a kind-hearted individual, Dr Dan begins to lash out when queried about his 'episodes', and slowly becomes more and more irrational in his decision making. Hal, particularly, receives the brunt of his anger, as the older brother seeks to help the volcanologist, inadvertently stepping into the crosshairs of his rage.
With the animals gone, the volcanoes themselves take centre stage as the source of the remaining drama, and here I would like to make a public statement about how much volcanoes creep me out. I am not, and never will become a volcanologist! I have no interest in climbing to the summit of a mountain that is trying to kill me. I don't want to see how close I can get to a lava flow, or spend the night sheltering from mud rain build up that could conceivably suffocate me forever.
Shudder.
So, Volcano Adventure was a great book for me to read, as it helped me to understand even more ways volcanoes are dangerous, and convince me even more to avoid them as often as possible.
This from someone living in New Zealand, where the massive Lake Taupo crater is situated.
Fortunately, here in the South Island we know better than to have any volcanoes! More places should choose to follow suit.
Completed 20 January 2025.
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