Overview

A tale of two ships, a ferocious hurricane, and a daring rescue mission--a window into the fascinating world of the elite Coast Guard swimmers trained for the most dangerous ocean rescues. In late September 2015, Hurricane Joaquin swept past the Bahamas and swallowed a pair of cargo vessels in its destructive path- El Faro, a 791-foot American behemoth with a crew of 33, and the Minouche, a much smaller ship with a dozen sailors aboard. From the parallel stories of these ships journalist Tristram Korten weaves a remarkable tale of the Coast Guard swimmers--officially known as Aviation Survival Technicians, one of the least known and most extraordinary units in the U.S. military--and the increasingly erratic weather that is making their jobs all the more necessary due in part to climate change. When the U.S. Coast Guard received word that the Minouche was taking on water on the night of October 1, the servicemen on duty helicoptered through Joaquin to the sinking ship. Rescue swimmer Ben Cournia dropped into the sea--in the middle of a raging category 4 storm, in the dark--and for the next nine hours churned through the massive swells, loading survivors into a rescue basket hanging from the helicopter as its pilot struggled against wind, lightning, and monster waves. In three trips, they hauled all twelve of the Minouche's crew to safety. Things would not go as well for El Faro. The Coast Guard spent a week searching for crew members, but not a soul survived. The sinking of El Faro became the largest U.S. maritime disaster in decades. As Korten narrates the ships' very different fates, he crafts a moving and propulsive story of men in peril, military courage, and the awesome power of nature.

Full Product Details

9781524797881

Table of Contents

Reviews

An incredible story and first-rate adventure . . . Tristram Korten delivers us into a thrilling and dangerous world, strapping us in beside everyday heroes who confront forces of nature even Hollywood can't re-create. Into the Storm is a triumph of reporting and you-are-there writing that becomes a deeper tale--with more implications about our own lives--with every chapter. --Robert Kurson, New York Times bestselling author of Shadow Divers Spectacular in every way--an intense, immersive deep dive into a wild, dangerous, and unknown world, written with the pace and appeal of a great thriller. This is nonfiction at its very best. --Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Jack Reacher novels A terrifying but also inspiring story of disaster and resilience on the high seas. This is as close as I ever need to get to being aboard a ship in a hurricane. Riveting stuff. --Josh Dean, author of The Taking of K-129

"""Spectacular in every way--an intense, immersive deep dive into a wild, dangerous, and unknown world, written with the pace and appeal of a great thriller . . . This is nonfiction at its very best.""--Lee Child, #1 New York Timesbestselling author of the Jack Reacher novels ""The story [Tristram] Korten tells is impressively multifaceted, exploring everything from timely issues such as climate change to timeless themes such as man's struggle against the ocean's fury.""--Miami New Times ""Korten does an excellent job of describing the nearly indescribable power and ferocity of major hurricanes. . . . Korten brings readers inside the world of the rescue crews whose incredible courage so often makes the difference between life and death in catastrophes like this one. . . . Into the Storm reads like more than just the chronicle of one maritime disaster--and may be a warning claxon against the possibility of more such disasters coming this hurricane season.""--Open Letters Review ""Readers of ocean drama will snap up Korten's work. . . . [He] gets to tell a complete story; impressively, he keeps it suspenseful.""--The Free Lance-Star ""An incredible story and a first-rate adventure . . . Tristram Korten delivers us into a thrilling and dangerous world, strapping us in beside everyday heroes who confront forces of nature even Hollywood can't re-create. Into the Storm is a triumph of reporting and you-are-there writing that becomes a deeper tale--with more implications about our own lives--with every chapter.""--Robert Kurson, New York Times bestselling author of Shadow Divers ""Riveting stuff--a terrifying but also inspiring story of disaster and resilience on the high seas. This is as close as I ever need to get to being aboard a ship in a hurricane. Riveting stuff.""--Josh Dean, author of The Taking of K-129"

Author Information

"TRISTRAM KORTEN is a journalist who specializes in narrative, long-form nonfiction stories. His work has appeared in GQ, Atlantic Monthly, The New Republic, Foreign Policy, The New York Times, the Miami Herald, and more. His long-form radio journalism has aired on NPR's ""Here and Now"" and PRI/BBC's ""The World"" and throughout Florida's public radio stations. Most recently he was the editor of the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting, where his work on climate change in 2015 won several national and state awards. Korten's awards include the Society of Professional Journalists Green Eyeshade Award for Investigative Reporting, an Investigative Reporters and Editors award, The National Headliner Award ""Best in Show"" for radio feature, and the Edward R. Murrow Broadcast award."

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available