Tom Kizzia Libros

The narrative explores life in the ghost town of McCarthy, Alaska, highlighting a blend of history and culture marked by independence and resilience. Through the lens of both old-timers and newcomers, it captures the essence of a community that thrived outside conventional society during Alaska's pipeline boom. Themes of renunciation and renewal are woven throughout, showcasing the unique spirit of a place where freedom and self-reliance defined daily life amidst the wilderness.

Set against the backdrop of the Alaskan wilderness, this gripping true story follows a modern homesteading family as they navigate the challenges of remote living. Central to the narrative is the enigmatic patriarch, whose dark and unsettling secrets cast a shadow over their lives. Blending themes of survival and psychological intrigue, the tale explores the complexities of family dynamics and the allure of isolation, drawing comparisons to both adventure and true crime.

A journey to Alaska’s remote roadless villages, during a time of great historical transition, brings us this enduring portrait of a place and its people. Alutiiq, Yup’ik, Inupiaq, and Athabascan subjects reveal themselves as entirely contemporary individuals with deep longings and connection to the land and to their past. Tom Kizzia’s account of his travels off the Alaska road system, first published in 1991, has endured with a sterling reputation for its thoughtful, poetic, unflinching engagement with the complexity of Alaska’s rural communities. Wake of the Unseen Object is now considered some of the finest nonfiction writing about Alaska. This new edition includes an updated introduction by the author, looking at what remains the same after thirty years and what is different—both in Alaska, and in the expectations placed on a reporter visiting from another world.