The Last Whalers

The danger and excitement of the hunt grip listeners from the start as a whale hunter from Indonesia's Lamalera Bay risks his life to feed his tribe. Narrator Jay Snyder gives passages about the hunt an elemental feel, creating dramatic tension that carries over into the whalers' life stories. Their stories illustrate the attractions of modern life--whether it's outboard motors or the soap operas that bring Jakarta's allure to remote communities. Author Doug Bock Clark also examines current pressures on the tribe--from the government and whaling opponents to the aging of its whalers. He asks listeners to ponder the balance between modernity and tradition. Hearing about Clark's time with the tribe while writing could make the moral questions personal for listeners as well. J.A.S. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine