
Catching Thunder
The True Story of the World's Longest Sea Chase
Zed Books Ltd (Publisher)
Published on 15. March 2018
Book
Hardback
400 pages
978-1-78699-088-4 (ISBN)
Description
December, 2014: In the forbidding waters off Antarctica, Captain Hammarstedt of the Bob Barker sets off on a voyage unlike any seen before. Across ten thousand miles of hazardous seas, Hammarstedt's crew will relentlessly pursue the Thunder - an infamous illegal fishing ship - for what will become the longest chase in maritime history. Wanted by Interpol, the Thunder has for years evaded justice: hunting endangered species and accumulating millions in profits.
The authors follow this incredible expedition from the beginning. But even as seasoned journalists, they cannot anticipate what the chase will uncover, as the wake of the Thunder leads them on the trail of criminal kingpins, rampant corruption, modern slavery and an international community content to turn a blind eye. Very soon, catching Thunder becomes not only a chase but a pursuit of the truth itself - and a symbolic race to preserve the well-being of our planet.
A Scandinavian bestseller, Catching Thunder is a remarkable true story of courage and perseverance, and a wake-up call to act against the destruction of our environments.
The authors follow this incredible expedition from the beginning. But even as seasoned journalists, they cannot anticipate what the chase will uncover, as the wake of the Thunder leads them on the trail of criminal kingpins, rampant corruption, modern slavery and an international community content to turn a blind eye. Very soon, catching Thunder becomes not only a chase but a pursuit of the truth itself - and a symbolic race to preserve the well-being of our planet.
A Scandinavian bestseller, Catching Thunder is a remarkable true story of courage and perseverance, and a wake-up call to act against the destruction of our environments.
Reviews / Votes
'This 110-day, round-the-world pursuit of a rogue trawler reads like a noir thriller ... recorded with flair and precision. The book promises all the pleasures of a crime novel, but it is after bigger game.'5/5* Telegraph
'An uproarious adventure - one predicated on the protestors' ferocious sense of moral rectitude. Engdal and Saeter are energetic writers with a sense of pace and cinematic detail ... Catching Thunder is an exciting read.'
Spectator
'A rip-roaring tale of piracy which charts an extraordinary chase and highlights an invisible crime against conservation. It defines page-turner or a book you can't put down - and it's all true. It came close to making me run away to sea to join the fight. The ultimate denouement is gripping.'
Chris Packham, Big Issue
'A gripping story ... A clarion call for those who want to save our seas.'
National Geographic Traveller
'A true story that reads like a spy novel, peppered with scary organized crime villains, charismatic environmental activists and Interpol agents, and enough tidbits about sailing treacherous seas, commercial fishing, and endangered species to satisfy the most dedicated nautical adventure fan.'
5/5* Foreword Reviews
'This is a modern pirate story, but the plunder isn't pieces of eight - it's the Patagonian Toothfish, as valuable as narcotics ... A solid piece of collaborative journalism.'
Sydney Morning Herald
'True adventure, life and death moments, and real life heroism: what reader could ask for more?'
Ingrid Newkirk, President, PETA
'Engdal and Saeter are to journalism what Jagger and Richards are to rock and roll - sexy, irreverent and brilliant.'
Luke Harding, Guardian journalist and author of The Snowden Files
'This is the story of our time: the blind destruction of the oceans and our ecosphere, and the actions of those with the courage to stand up and confront it.'
Peter Heller, author of The Whale Warriors and Celine
'The pursuit of the Thunder has become celebrated folklore by those of us fighting to protect our oceans. This is a captivating story, one which highlights the weaknesses in the global system but also, ultimately, gives us hope.'
Tony Long, CEO, Global Fishing Watch
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
Paper over boards
Illustrations
Maps
Dimensions
Height: 222 mm
Width: 140 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-78699-088-4 (9781786990884)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Eskil Engdal has worked as a feature journalist at the Norwegian broadsheet Dagens Naeringsliv for more than 20 years. He has won the prestigious SKUP journalism award for outstanding investigative reporting (2001), the International Reporter's Journalism Award (2012) and the Golden Pen (2013). Kjetil Saeter has worked as a journalist for the broadsheets Aftenposten, Finansavisen and currently as feature writer for Dagens Naeringsliv. He has won two SKUP diplomas (2007 and 2010), the SKUP award (2011) and the Schibsted Journalism Award (2008).
Content
1. The Pirate
2. "The Bandit 6"
3. Operation Icefish
4. The Occupation
5. Hot Pursuit
6. Operation Spillway
7. The Ice
8. Vesturvon
9. The Pirate Capital
10. The Storm
11. The Secret Channel
12. The Longest Day
13. The Shipmaster
14. Desolation Island
15. The Phantom Ship
16. The Wall of Death
17. The World Record
18. "The Only Sheriff in Town"
19. The Flying Mariner
20. A Bloody Nightmare
21. La Mafia Gallega
22. God's Fingerprint
23. Buenas Tardes, Bob Barker
24. Message in a Bottle
25. Raid on the High Seas
26. Operation Sparrow
27. Exercise Good Hope
28. The Bird of Ill Omen
29. The Wanderer
30. The Man in the Arena
31. The Third Ship
32. "You Are Nothing"
33. The Snake in Paradise
34. The Armpit of Africa
35. Mayday
36. A Weird Dream
37. A Last Resort
38. The Island of Rumours
39. 48 Hours
40. Three Condemned Men
41. The Luck of the Draw
42. The Escape
43. The Unluckiest Ship in the World
44. The Judgment
45. Prisoners' Island
46. The Man from Mongolia
47. The Last Viking
48. Operation Yuyus
49. The Tiantai Mystery
50. A Dirty Business
51. The Showdown
52. The Madonna and the Octopus
53. The Final Act
2. "The Bandit 6"
3. Operation Icefish
4. The Occupation
5. Hot Pursuit
6. Operation Spillway
7. The Ice
8. Vesturvon
9. The Pirate Capital
10. The Storm
11. The Secret Channel
12. The Longest Day
13. The Shipmaster
14. Desolation Island
15. The Phantom Ship
16. The Wall of Death
17. The World Record
18. "The Only Sheriff in Town"
19. The Flying Mariner
20. A Bloody Nightmare
21. La Mafia Gallega
22. God's Fingerprint
23. Buenas Tardes, Bob Barker
24. Message in a Bottle
25. Raid on the High Seas
26. Operation Sparrow
27. Exercise Good Hope
28. The Bird of Ill Omen
29. The Wanderer
30. The Man in the Arena
31. The Third Ship
32. "You Are Nothing"
33. The Snake in Paradise
34. The Armpit of Africa
35. Mayday
36. A Weird Dream
37. A Last Resort
38. The Island of Rumours
39. 48 Hours
40. Three Condemned Men
41. The Luck of the Draw
42. The Escape
43. The Unluckiest Ship in the World
44. The Judgment
45. Prisoners' Island
46. The Man from Mongolia
47. The Last Viking
48. Operation Yuyus
49. The Tiantai Mystery
50. A Dirty Business
51. The Showdown
52. The Madonna and the Octopus
53. The Final Act