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Book ReviewsDevilfish Bay: The Giant Devilfish Story |
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Book: Devilfish Bay: The Giant Devilfish Story
Written by: Rudy James Diana James George S., Jr. James Loren James |
Publisher: Wolfhouse Publishing
Average Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5
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Unforgettable saga of romance, intrigue and adventure.
Rating:
5 / 5
The Devilfish story describes the scenic beauty of the primeval forest and complex culture of the Tlingit Nations of Southeastern Alaska. The story combines romance, intrigue, adventure, pathos and tragedy into a concise narrative about what it means to be Native-American. It also describes the dangers that lurked in the mountains and in the waters of the Alaskan islands as Tlingit hunters and fishermen struggled against the natural forces to harvest the prodigious food resources of this region. The Tlingit people placed a high priority upon value of respect: respect for the Creator, respect for all creatures, respect for other persons, and respect for oneself. When any one of these four kinds of respect was missing, an individual's life was considered to be out of balance. Thus, dire consequences were believed to result in sorrow and turmoil. In order to restore order to the life of an individual or community, the offender must provide restitution equal to the severity of the offense at a future gathering known as a "potlatch." Devilfish Bay describes the consequences that transpire when the rule of respect is broken. Aspirations are dashed, lives are lost, heroic efforts are required to bring order out of this imminent chaos. Strong emotions, that tug at the heart of the brave and test the courage of the intrepid, reveal both the best and the worst of motivations that lurk in the hearts of man and beast. This is the stuff out of which classics are created and cowards forged. Thus, the reader is drawn into the vortex of the ensuing conflict and struggles with the problems of revenge and justice. Historically, the Tlingit nation numbered in the multiple thousands and they subsisted from hunting, gathering and fishing. They continue to be divided into two ceremonial groups -- Raven and Eagle. Every Tlingit belongs to a community longhouse, a clan, and a moiety which is either Raven or Eagle. In some communitites the symbol of the Wolf was used interchangeably with the Eagle. Each clan had its own traditions and stories. Devilfish Bay is a gripping saga of human love and loyalty, danger and disaster and turmoil and triumph. The narrative depicts those values and valor that make life worth living and forces the reader to reflect upon one's own culture to decipher what is meaningful and sacred. It demonstrates that critical times provide the arena for true gallantry. The Devilfish story is an unforgettable saga about a family that put their honor above their very lives. It suggests why the Tlingit people still cling so tenaciously to their land and culture in an era of forced assimiliation. This story seems destined to become a classic in the literature on the Indigenous Nations of North America. --Kenneth D. Tollefson, Ph.D Emeritus Professor of Anthropology Seattle Pacific University
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