Product Description
FictionU.S.A. $7.95
Canada $10.95

To this day Jack London is the most widely read American writer in the world," E. L. Doctorow wrote in The New York Times Book Review. Generally considered to be London's greatest achievement, The Call of the Wild brought him international acclaim when it was published in 1903. His story of the dog Buck, who learns to survive in the bleak Yukon wilderness, is viewed by many as his symbolic autobiography. "No other popular writer of his time did any better writing than you will find in The Call of the Wild," said H. L. Mencken. "Here, indeed, are all the elements of sound fiction."
White Fang (1906), which London conceived as a "complete antithesis and companion piece to The Call of the Wild," is the tale of an abused wolf-dog tamed by exposure to civilization. Also included in this volume is "To Build a Fire," a marvelously desolate short story set in the Klondike, but containing all the elements of a classic Greek tragedy.
"The quintessential Jack London is in the on-rushing compulsive-ness of his northern stories," noted James Dickey. "Few men have more convincingly examined the connection between the creative powers of the individual writer and the unconscious drive to breed and to survive, found in the natural world. . . . London is in and committed to his creations to a degree very nearly unparalleled in the composition of fiction."

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Customer Reviews (6)

Great stories, especially White Fang
If you haven't read these stories since high school, do your self a favor and read them again.Great stories and well written.

call of the wild
review for call of the wild:wow.absolute amazing storytelling.London paints a picture that is unforgetable - every emotion in me was stirred during this 70 page gem.Masterful!

Jack London's Finest Fictional Work (?)
These three stories are amongst London's best fictional works- some say they *are* the best, especially, "The Call of the Wild" and "White Fang", it all depends on one's taste, of course, but rest assured, these stories are gripping and the intrigue of their moving plots keeps one glued to the book.

As a freind once said of "Call..." and "...Fang": "These are just about the two doggone best [canine] stories I have ever had the pleasure to read!". Indeed.

All three stories are set in Alaska during the gold rush days of the late 1800's and London spent time there to absorb the feeling of this beautiful, but unforgiving land. He is so descriptive of the landscape, one feels like they are there themselves. This is the magic of London's writing- he so expertly drops the reader right into the scenery and the characters. Indeed, we see and feel what they see and feel- even the animals- especially, the animals, for they have personalities that engage and create both sympathy and admirationfor their trials, tribulations and triumphs. London is one of those that the measure of literary genius is judged by and taking in just about any of his works will demonstrate why.

The basic storyline of the "The Call of the Wild" has a dog named "Buck" who is living in a comfortable setting in California, suddenly yanked away by black-market dog thieves who are selling them to the ravenous needs of the gold prospector's supply market where they are then pressed into the tortuous dogsled industry. Buck eventually gets free and joins his native soul-brothers, the wolves. From the human world back to his ancestral roots, hence, the calling of the wild instinct.

"White Fang" is the antithesis ofBuck`s situation: a wolf pup raised partly by Indians, wolves, and eventually being absorbed all the way into the human world... you guessed it, in California where he settles into the same basic comfortable world that Buck was torn from. The tale of how that turn-of-events happens is as engaging as Buck's story.

"To Build A Fire" is a very short read and describes a man and the unforgiving, harsh winter of the Alaskan outback. He finds himself trapped by an intense snow storm and soon realizes that this normally easy trek is turning dangerous. What will happen? London skillfully gives us the psychological drama of harsh realities setting in.

For those that have not yet taken in any of London's work, this book is a good place to start. One might then want to take in more, including London's non-fictional work.

Call of the Wild
I thougth that it was a good book. There is some good action in it but at the same time its a very sad book. Although the character is a dog you can relate to him how he is a outcast and no one likes him to learning the way of the wild and becoming a good sled dog. He is a fast learner to the law of club and fang and is a strong leader. This was a good book with a great ending and i would suggest reading it.

Tim's Book Review For White Fang
The book White Fang was about a wolf-dog that lived with his
owner.Then one day his master got drunk by drinking and his master
sold him to a mean man. ... Read more

Product Description
Two classic stories-one indispensable volume.

Timeless tales of wolves, dogs, men, and the wild, The Call of the Wild and White Fang are two of the world's greatest adventure stories. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Great
What a great book.We have been reading this classic to our kids at bedtime and they love it.

The Call Of The Wild
The Call of The Wild Barnes and Noble Books, 1903, pp.90, $4.95
Jack London ISBN-13 978-1-59308-002-0

Buck has a wonderful life for a dog. He can go hunting with his owners or just lay around. He even has a pool. But one day when he gets dognapped it allturns around.
Jack London's The Call Of The wild is an amazing arctic story from the perspective of a dog named Buck. He has been dog napped from his home in Santa Clara valley.He has been trained and sold multiple times as a sled dog and he has to survive with the other hardcore dogs. But Buck is successful and he even gets the chance to take on the leader of the pack. After this conflict Buck is soon sold again to a few more people but when one of his owners falls through thin ice Buck is taken in by another owner but what will happen with this owner read to find out.
In this novel Jack London uses perspective very efficiently and his characters are extremely realistic and excruciatingly detailed emotionally and physically and shows Bucks progress as he adapts. I highly recommend this book to any age and any one who likes animals andsurvival novels

The Call of the Wild and White Fang
I would not read them back to back.The call of the Wild was my 1st and was outstanding.Not too long but yet you really get involved in the way a dog see's our world.Good Reading.

Hardcover Enthusiast
It was a real pleasure rereading this book from my youth. I was forced to read it in school and was too young to appreciate its brilliance. The way Jack London tells the story of Call of the Wild from a Dogs perspective is mesmerizing. I can't wait to find the time to read White Fang. The only part that upset me was that this did not come as separate books. I am now a firm believer in hardcover books and just wish this had come as a box set.

Call of the Wild Revisited
Picked up this book while in Alaska and throughly enjoyed it....as with most men, had read it or heard of it as a boy, but put it aside or didn't remember it...Surprisingly good, especially while in Alaska, but one doesn't have to be in Alaska to appreciate and enjoy this book.Yes, it's about a dog, but it's also about life, relationshships, and attitudes. Good book well worth reading. LIke most classics, we tend to appreciate them more as we grow older than when we first read them.Thus it is with this book. ... Read more

Product Description

Jungle Jack is the completely revised and updated authorized biography of one of our most beloved zookeepers, Jack Hanna.

When the Columbus Zoo hired Jack Hanna as executive director in 1978, he inherited an outdated zoo where all the animals were caged and the buildings were run down. With the kind of work ethic and enthusiasm he's become known for, Hanna brought new life to the zoo, transforming it into the state-of-the-art facility it is today. It was an achievement for which he was well prepared: Hanna was only eleven years old when he got his first job with animals-cleaning cages for the family vet. As a newlywed, he and his wife, Suzi, ran a pet shop and petting zoo, and he later worked for a wildlife adventure outfit. You've probably seen Hanna as a wildlife correspondent with his animal friends on The Late Show with David Letterman, Larry King Live, Entertainment Tonight, and Hannity & Colmes. Full of unpredictable animal escapades and the occasional tragedy, this book takes readers on an enjoyable safari through the life of "Jungle" Jack Hanna.

Customer Reviews (9)

A funny and touching autobiography
This is a great book.It will educate you, entertain you, make you laugh, and maybe even make you a little teary eyed.This is easily the best autobiography I have ever read and this book further validated my respect and affection for Jack Hanna.

Love Jack Hanna!
I lived in Columbus, OH at the time when Jack Hanna was the Zoo director and watched an old outdated zoo become an amazing habitat zoo. The animals went from small crowded iron bar cages to open wild habitat environments. Wonderful. We had a family zoo memebership and we were at the zoo freqently--in all seasons. My son even atteneded a children's day camp there one summer. My children were so used toseeing Jack wandering around the zoo that they felt like they knew him and would run to him. He always welcomed their hugs. Love this book. Admire the man.

Fun trip through Jack's Life!
Well wriiten, easy read account of the wonderful animal explorer and advocate Jack Hanna.Why pay more somewhere else! Enjoy.

Jungle Jack
This book is just awesome from cover to cover! You get excited about wildlife just reading this book!Jack is a wonderful wildlife conservationist and you'll love reading his stories from past to present.

a great tale
I was greatly entertained by this book!As a Jungle Jack fan for many years, and having visited the Columbus Zoo many times, this book provided a lot of entertainment and laughs for me.It also provided a lot of insight into Jack's life, personally and professionally.I found it very interesting. ... Read more

Product Description
Robust tales of perilous adventure and animal cunning

Includes Diable: A Dog, An Odyssey of the North, To the Man on the Trail, To Build a Fire, and Love of Life Out of the white wilderness, out of the Far North, Jack London, one of America's most popular authors, drew the inspiration for the novel and five short stories included here. Swiftly paced and vividly written, they capture the main theme of London's work: man's instinctive reversion to primitive behavior when pitted against the brute force of nature. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

The Dog's Days
This is the first Jack London I have ever read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.The Call of the Wild has so much depth and intelligence to the writing that I can imagine books being written about it, and at the same time it's written in such a way that many elementary school children should be able to understand it (if standards are still up where they were when I was that age).
The various stories after The Call of the Wild are also interesting.They are all similarly themed, with the protagonist suffering through the tortures of the cold wilderness, freezing and starving to death, but each is unique, and Jack London's imagination is never in question to the reader.Overall, excellent writing.

The birth of the animal-rights movement
Long before TV, the written word was the wellstone of many political movements.This is as true in America as it is in Europe, and many modern American books are testament to this.Upton Sinclair's Jungle started the food safety movement, Nader's Unsafe at any Speed brought public and Congress's attention to car safety, and the Grapes of Wrath put white poverty into the attention of the mainstream media.This book, more than any other single work of American literature, can be argued as giving birth to the animal-rights movement; a very unique feature of American society as animals have almost no rights everywhere else in the world.This story itself is short and accessible to most elementary school students.What it does is create a parallel between human suffering and the suffering of animals; and in doing so, it puts a human face on animals.As such, it deserves to be on any list of great works of English literature, and as part of any middle school curriculum.

Review of The Call of the Wild and Selected Stories
I read three short stories from the book, "The Call of the Wild and Selected Stories", by Jack London. These stories include "To Build a Fire", "To the Man on Trail,", and "Diable the Dog."I recommend all three of these short stories to people who like descriptive short stories with exciting scenes and sad endings.

The story "To Build a Fire" is about a man who is heading up to camp, which is twelve hours away in seventy-five-degree below zero weather.This story is about man versus the cold, frigid, abilities of Mother Nature.The theme of this story seems to be about how challenging nature can be to humanity.

The second story, "To the Man on Trail," is about a band of men from many different lands celebrating Christmas when an under cover thief shows up.This is an exciting story that confuses the reader at times because you can't tell if he is good or bad until the end.The theme of this story is about man versus society.It makes one think that you can't judge a book by its cover.

The last story of the three, written by Jack London, is called "Diable - A Dog."This is about an evil dog who is owned by an evil owner.His owner beat him so much that he started to take revenge against his owner by trying to kill him.This story is a great example of the saying, "You reap what you sow."This story seems to be about the conflict of man versus nature, as well as man versus himself, since the dog had a natural evil temperament, which was worsened by the beatings he received from the man.Both of these factors created evil in this dog, which in the end defeated the man.

I had mixed feelings about these stories because I normally prefer science fiction novels.I also didn't like how the main character in two of the three short stories always perished.However, what I really like in the stories was the author's way of describing his characters and their conflicts.I t made me feel like I was a part of the story.I recommend these stories to anyone who enjoys rich, detailed, stories with exciting scenes.
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Powerful, gripping tales of nature and survival
I have to admit that I have not really given Jack London his proper due up to now.Perhaps it is because I don't by my nature like outdoor adventure type stories, or perhaps it is because I associate White Fang and "To Build a Fire" with my youth.The fact is that Jack London is a tremendously talented writer.His understanding of the basics of life matches his great knowledge of the snow-enshrouded world of the upper latitudes.The Call of the Wild, despite its relative brevity and the fact that it is (at least on its surface) a dog's story, contains as much truth and reality of man's own struggles as that which can be sifted from the life's work of many other respected authors.The story he tells is starkly real; as such, it is not pretty, and it is not elevating.As an animal lover, I found parts of this story heartbreaking: Buck's removal from the civilized Southland in which he reigned supreme among his animal kindred to the brutal cold and even more brutal machinations of hard, weathered men who literally beat him and whipped him full of lashes is supremely sad and bothersome.Even more sad are the stories of the dogs that fill the sled's traces around him.Poor good-spirited Curly never has a chance, while Dave's story is made the more unbearable by his brave, undying spirit.Even the harsh taskmaster Spitz has to be pitied, despite his harsh nature, for the reader knows full well that this harsh nature was forced upon him by man and his thirst for gold.Buck's travails are long and hard, but the nobility of his spirit makes of him a hero--this despite the fact that his primitive animal instincts and urges continually come to dominate him, pushing away the memory and reality of his younger, softer days among civilized man.Buck not only conquers all--the weather, the harshness of the men who harness his powers in turn, the other dogs and wolves he comes into contact with--he thrives.The redemption he seems to gain with the fortunate encounter with John Thornton is also dashed in the end, after which Buck finally gives in fully to "the call of the wild" and becomes a creature of nature only.While this is a sad ending of sorts, one also feels joy and satisfaction at Buck's refusal to surrender to nature's harsh trials and his ability to find his own kind of happiness in the transplanted world in which he was placed.This isn't a story to read when you are depressed.London's writing is beautiful, poignant, and powerful, but it is also somber, sometimes morose, infinitely real, and at times gut-wrenching and heartbreaking.

The other stories are also powerful tales of survival (or demise) in the face of nature's harshness.I feel I am not alone in saying that I cannot recall most of the stories I had to read in school in my younger years but I distinctly recall "To Build a Fire."London's real, visceral language and description is hard to forget, as is the human pride and stupidity that characterizes the protagonist--London seems to be saying that we must respect and understand nature in order to survive and prosper.The protagonist's demise is more comical than tragic because of his lack of understanding and appreciation for the harsh realities of his environment.All of the stories bear the same general themes as the two I have mentioned.In each, man or beast is forced to battle against nature; survival is largely determined by each one's willingness or freedom to recede into primitiveness and let the blood of his ancestors rise up within his veins.Those who refuse to give in to their lowest instincts and who do not truly respect nature do not survive.I feel that London sometimes went a little overboard in "The Call of the Wild" when describing Buck's visions and instinctual memories of his ancestors among the first men, but his writing certainly remains compelling and beautiful, an important reminder to those of us today who are soft and take nature for granted that nature must be respected and that even her harshest realities are in some ways beautiful and noble, and that the law of survival applies just as much to us as it does to the beasts of the field.

Dogs, Dogs, Dogs
Ok, this might just be me, but I found this book extremely boring.The author did an OK job on making it bearable for girls, yet I would definitely classify this as a "boy book."I found it impossibleto enjoy, although guys may like it.I don't like reading about animals. I like reading about people, and how they react to different situations, aposition no animal could fulfil.My favorite books are The Phantom of theOpera and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.If you like those books, you willprobably not like this one. ... Read more

Product Description
Thrilling action, an intuitive feeling for animal life, asense of justice that often works itself out through violence: theseare the qualities that made Jack London phenomenally popular in hisown day and continue to make him, at home and abroad, one of the mostwidely read of all American writers. "The Call of the Wild," perhapsthe best novel ever written about animals, traces a dog's educationfor survival in the ways of the wolfpack. "White Fang," in which awolf-dog becomes domesticated out of love for a man, is anunforgettable portrayal of a world of "hunting and being hunted,eating and being eaten, all in blindness and confusion." In "TheSea-Wolf," the primitive takes human form in the ruthless, indomitableWolf Larsen, captain of a crew of outcasts on the lawless Alaskanseas. Set in the Klondike, California, Mexico, and the South Seas, theshort stories collected here--many for the first time--show London asone of the great American storytellers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

anyone who liked Call of the Wild, its a must own
Love this book and have loved reading Call of the Wild, since I was 9 or 10.
I also recommend the other collection because it has a few this one doesn't. The Portable Jack London (Viking Portable Library) The thing I liked in addition are the old letters he wrote.Cool reflection and time travel to that time period.

An American Master...
You can't lump too many people into the same sphere with London...Twain, Poe, and Lovecraft are a few that spring to mind. He's an American Titan, and he gets the fawning treatment you'd expect from the Library of America in this exemplary, extraordinary, green-registered book.

Call of the Wild is a page-turning yarn about a dog that becomes a wolf. It's listed on the MLA 100, but any competent kid of ten could tackle it...and enjoy it.

White Fang is a canine bildungsroman that inverts the plot of Call of the Wild, with the wolf becoming a dog. Also a page-turner, also something a kid would read without having to be coerced, and possessed of a truly classic scene where White Fang fights a bulldog.

The Klondike Short Stories are all superb--some people think London's metier was the short story rather than the novel--with Batard being a personal favorite.

The Sea-Wolf is a work of genius...until it all comes crashing down with the introduction of Maud Brewster, and the escape to Endeavour Island. What had heretofore been a truly transcendent work of art transmogrifies into a clunky, melodramatic, and tedious chore, where London's love of sailing jargon threatens to overwhelm the reader.

The Selected Short Stories show that London wasn't just a Yukon guy...he had some other arrows in his quiver. A few stories demonstrate his--at the time--devout socialism, which lasted up until he himself got rich. The Apostate is the weakest of these, but The Strength of the Strong is a pretty good allegory for fin-de-siecle capitalism, with all its gory excesses. London also writes convincingly about such diverse topics as boxing, South Sea cannibals, and straight-up science fiction.

This book of books is excellent, and any American who fancies himself a lover of literature would be remiss in not reading it.

Amazing on multiple levels!
Novels and Stories was the first of a two volume set that I scored for cheap on ebay a few years ago. The second, Novels and Social writings concentrates on his political/social novels and essays while this one is comprised of his Alaskan and sea bearing adventure stories.

This book weighs in at over 1000 pages and includes three GREAT novels in Call of the Wild, The Sea Wolf and White Fang as well as multitudes of his short stories.

I can't say enough about how much I love Londons writings and how much admiration I have for him as a man as well. I've read Call of the Wild about every two years or so since the first time I read it as a child and I get more out of it every time I re-read it. His adventure stories on one level are just great red blooded adventure stories that anyone who has any heart or spirit would enjoy and there is a deeper level to London as well. His stories are highly spiritual if you are able to look at them on another level. Although thats something that you have to "feel" from within I suppose.

Call of the Wild
This book was really good, but I believe that White Fang was better. Many settings took place, but I will start with the main ones. The first setting in this book was Judge Millers Mansion. The second is the dog breakers place, in which Buck (the main character, a dog,) learns the "law of Club and Fang." The third place is where Buck learns the method of husky fighting, and because the other dog died, he lived a long and well-lived life. The first major event in this book is when a person steals Buck from Judge Miller, and he is starved and strangled and is thrown in a shed to wait for a train to the dog breaker. There, he is introduced to the primitive law of club and fang. After that, he, and a Newfoundland, are taken to Alaska. There, he is introduced to the method of Husky Fighting, and then is put into the harness, and is put to work on the mushing sled. The next major event is when Buck is taken of his first mushing trip in the wild. There he learns how to keep warm in the harsh winters by digging into the snow and having your body heat heat up the space. The next area is when Buck and Spitz finally fight to the death, and Buck takes the position of lead dog on the mushing track. Finally, the last major setting is when Buck finaly turns to the wild, and he attacks the YeeHats with a vengance, because they had killed his LOVED master. The conflict in this book is Buck is a spoilled rotten dog, until he reaches the North and finds that he has wild ancestors. They eventually take over Buck and he lives with the wild.

Reality or Fantasy...Which one is it?
After reading this book for school, (not that I was forced to) I gave it a 4/5 star rating.It was excellent when it came to the setting of the story. Even though it is a very short, it crams alot of suspensfull and interesting moments into 100 some odd pages.This book is quite good and page turning.I highly recommend it to readers who like a mix of reality and fantasy in one.Masterful piece of writing. ... Read more

Product Description
Of all Jack London's fictions none have been as popular as his dog stories. In addition to The Call of the Wild, the epic tale of a Californian dog's adventures during the Klondike gold rush, this edition includes White Fang, and five famous short stories - `Bâtard', `Moon-Face', `Brown Wolf', `That Spot', and `To Build a Fire'. ... Read more

Product Description
Vibrant, black-and-white illustrations complement London's classic adventure story about the relationship between humans and dogs, focusing on Buck, a dog that becomes a sled dog during the Klondike gold rush and, later, the leader of a wolf pack. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (358)

Not just for kids: robust, Conan-like over-the-top prose mythology (with dogs)
On the one hand these stories are absurd, investing sled dogs and their drivers with godlike qualities. The Alaskan wilderness is timeless, endless, mythic. The prose becomes hugely purple: for example, a scrap between a couple of dogs is treated as a titanic battle. But this very effusiveness is what lifts the stories from the banal - if you're prepared to run with the mythology, there's some wonderfully heroic stuff here in the vein of Conan, where men are real men, and dogs are personifications of wild primordial urges. Buck isn't a dog, he's all dogs, he's all dogs throughout history.He's also The Warrior, The Companion, The Leader, and The Hunter.

I'm not saying it's not rough out in those extreme conditions, or that there isn't a world of contrast between soft city living and harsh tundra survival, but London goes wonderfully over the top with this:
"...This first theft marked Buck as fit to survive in the hostile Northland environment. It marked his adaptability, his capacity to adjust himself to changing conditions, the lack of which would have meant swift and terrible death. It marked, further, the decay or going to pieces of his moral nature, a vain thing and a handicap in the ruthless struggle for existence. It was all well enough in the Southland, under the law of love and fellowship, to respect private property and personal feelings. But in the Northland, under the law of club and fang, whoso took such things into account was a fool, and insofar as he observed them he would fail to prosper..."

The book isn't entirely composed of this macho faux-philosophy (cf. `Starship Troopers' and the execrable `Gor' novels), but it underpins the stories. The final story, `That Spot' (this edition adds a couple of his later dog stories) is quite consciously a `tall' one, but, whether or not he took himself seriously, London plays the others with a straight bat. There is an admiration for an unforgiving landscape where weakness cannot be hidden, and while there is some arrogance in an author creating the urbanely regal writer of `Brown Wolf' (the other added story), it is a nice, hopefully self-deprecating moment when the down-to-earth, inarticulate frontiersman, challenged on a point of law by the complacent sophisticate,
"...carefully looked the poet up and down as though measuring the strength of his slenderness.
The Klondiker's face took on a contemptuous expression as he said finally, 'I reckon there's nothin' in sight to prevent me takin' the dog right here an' now.'..."
We can see a tension from London's own colourful life. On the one hand he's proud (and massively relieved) to have used his intelligence and writing skills to escape the stultifying drudgery of factory work, and the massive depredation and ordeal of prospecting in Alaska (his health appears to have been permanently damaged from his year nearly starving in the frozen North). On the other he's contemptuous of soft living, with Buck as his model only discovering his true noble self through escaping luxury and living a violent, harsh, independent, hard-working life.

The guy himself was an interesting personality, a bit of a celebrity in his time. Like Herman Melville and Robert Lewis Stevenson, some of the larger than life incidents are actually based on pretty extreme real life experiences. Is he just exaggerating characters and experiences to make a good yarn, or is there some real insight in describing how conditions shape morality? I think he's pushing things, at times almost comically, too far (I mean, would you really entitle a chapter `The Dominant Primordial Beast' without being mock heroic?) - but it adds sinew and poetry to what otherwise could merely be some animal stories. This, thank goodness, is far more Kipling than Disney (and whoever sucked all the potency out of `The Jungle Book' by combining those two should have been shot). Moreover the individual stories that make up the book both stand alone and integrate effectively. Actually, upon reflection, the whole movement of the book, introduction, progress and conclusion, is one of the most satisfying I've come across.

By the way, I probably never would have read this book except for a pretty bizarre coincidence. My wife had left a few `kids' books on our floor that she found in the back of a church cupboard or something - she was going to donate them to the Salvos. I wouldn't have even particularly noticed except the name `Jack London' leapt out at me because the night before I'd just read `The Death Artist', a short story by Alexander Jablokov. It opened with a vignette of a cold northern death, highlighting the depth of relationship between a tough as nails wilderness man and his dog - `Jack London'. Expecting something sentimentally `Lassie' flavoured, I flicked open this book by an author with that same name and read:
"...All that stirring of old instincts which at stated periods drives men out from the sounding cities to forest and plain to kill things by chemically propelled leaden pellets, the blood lust, the joy of the kill - all this was Buck's, only it was infinitely more intimate. He was ranging at the head of the pack, running the wild thing down, the living meat, to kill with his own teeth, and wash his muzzle to the eyes in warm blood.
There is an ecstasy that marks the summit of life, and beyond which life cannot rise. And such is the paradox of living, this ecstasy comes when one is most alive. This ecstasy, this forgetfulness of living, comes to the artist, caught up and out of himself in a sheet of flame; it comes to the soldier, war-mad on a stricken field and refusing quarter; and it came to Buck, leading the pack, sounding the old wolf cry, straining after the food that was alive and that fled swiftly before him through the moonlight. He was sounding the deeps of his nature that were deeper than he, going back into the womb of Time. He was mastered by the sheer surging of life, the tidal wave of being, the perfect joy of each muscle, joint and sinew in that it was everything that was not death, that it was aglow and rampant, expressing itself in movement, flying exultantly under the stars and over the face of dead matter that did not move..."
Kids' book? (Just glanced at a few amazon reviews - whoever thought this was aimed primarily at children? Even my edition is from the `illustrated junior library' - a misleading title. Sure the black and white depictions are in some sense childish, and people gushing about how `true' it is are not speaking from experience but imagination - but the myth is what's so engaging. Adults should be more aware of this: I'm not sure how ideal it is for kids to utterly embrace it). Whatever, it got me in and I'm glad to have come across the engaging and unique voice I found here. I'm sure the Jablokov's story was part homage, and I suspect he would be pleased to know that his reference put another reader onto London. Weird as that in the 24 hours that book was in my room I became aware of that name for the first time from another source.

My 8th Grade Class' Review
I liked this book because it was very descriptive and interesting. I would recommend that only children of twelve years and older read this book. It is filled with much violence, blood, gore and some brief language (in French). The author did a great job of making you not want to put it down. The main character, Buck, learns some valuable lessons that stay with him. You can relate to Buck because he makes his emotions so great. - M.C.

This was a short and sorrowful book. I liked it but I would not recommend it to readers under twelve, or if you are depressed. It's about a Saint Bernard cross-breed who is dognapped and forced to be a sled dog in Alaska. It is now his job to survive. I liked it because of its good description and historical accuracy. Don't read it if you dislike blood, fighting or dogs being abused. - D.J.

"The Call of the Wild" is very well written by the author, Jack London, who draws you into Buck's adventure. I enjoyed this book very much, not just because of Jack London's amazing writing, but because Buck (the dog) shows us human greed and how the love of a man could tear his world in half. Of course, Buck was created by London, but London gave Buck emotions and feelings any human can relate to. "The Call of the Wild" is a great book to relax and read. This book is highly recommended for 12 years of age and up because of violence and gore. - M.L.

This book is a great book. It's about lots of different dogs Buck (the main character) meets. There are many deaths and lots of love and death situations. Some dogs get killed in this book, because they don't have the will to go on. I liked this book a lot, except for the deaths. I'd recommend it for 13 years and over. - J.T.

literature book
The book is itself is ok, instructive and interesting and short. ideal for mu daughther, but unfortunately the book was not received in the best conditions; 5 pages were cut(tear)

Excellent book. The annotations are so cool!
It is a wonderful story about a particular dog's life and struggles. The annotations discuss the influences on London, including what dog he based Buck on. There are real pictures showing places where London travelled, and they pleasantly fill out what is already a great read.

Perfect!
I own a log home in the North Georgia mountains, which I named "Call of the Wild".We don't actually have wolves here, but we do have lots of other wild animals.I wanted a name that would relate to wolves, as I've always loved pictures of them and have many pictures of wolves in my home. I commissioned a local artist to paint a canvas portraying the essence of "Call of the Wild" and she paintd the picture from the new dust jacket.So, of course, I wanted the book to display near the painting.As I said, it's PERFECT!

Elaine ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Super Reader
Easily the weakest Wild Card novel so far, there is a good story about the four people that are caught up in the body of the joker/ace, Oddity though. The detail about Jerry Strauss isn't bad, either.

The conflict between Dr. Tachyon and his extremely powerful and untrained relative Blaise, continues to escalate.

The main problem starting here is a group that is able to 'jump' into different bodies, in a mental sense. This makes them very hard to control. Shadowy figures are at the heart of this menace.

Wild Cards 08 : 01 Nobody's Girl - Walton Simons
Wild Cards 08 : 02 Luck Be a Lady - Chris Claremont
Wild Cards 08 : 03 Nobody Knows Me Like My Baby - Walton Simons
Wild Cards 08 : 04 Horses - Lewis Shiner
Wild Cards 08 : 05 Mr. Nobody Goes to Town - Walton Simons
Wild Cards 08 : 06 Snow Dragon - William F. Wu
Wild Cards 08 : 07 Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen - Walton Simons
Wild Cards 08 : 08 Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing - Victor Milán
Wild Cards 08 : 09 You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You - Walton Simons
Wild Cards 08 : 10 Sixteen Candles - Stephen Leigh
Wild Cards 08 : 11 My Name Is Nobody - Walton Simons
Wild Cards 08 : 12 The Devil's Triangle - Melinda M. Snodgrass
Wild Cards 08 : 13 Nobody's Home - Walton Simons
Wild Cards 08 : 14 Dead Heart Beating - John J. Miller
Wild Cards 08 : 15 Nobody Gets Out Alive - Walton Simons

Ape recovery

3.5 out of 5


A new Doc in Jokertown.

3.5 out of 5


Shapeshifter settling.

3.5 out of 5


Veronica tries the other team, but goes back.

3.5 out of 5


Jerry does some investigating.

3.5 out of 5


Lazy Dragon shows his other side, amidst aces and jumpers.

4 out of 5


Hiram's trial gets rowdy.

3.5 out of 5


Radical search means no Trips.

4 out of 5


Digging deeper into the Jumpers with Jay.

3.5 out of 5


Interior Oddity, Bloated.

4 out of 5


More PI type stuff.

3 out of 5


Doctors date as Blaise Jumps.

3.5 out of 5


Kenneth killed as Jerry watches.

3 out of 5


Kien's aces, conflicted.

4 out of 5


Jerry corners Latham, fends off Jump.

3.5 out of 5

enter the Jumpers...
This definitely isn't the best the WC series has to offer, but I still found it a very enjoyable read, if for no other reason than the introduction of the Jumpers, and the Oddity.The story of the Oddity (three people merged into one gigantic, misshapen body) was both beautifully tragic and romantically entertaining, while the Jumpers (seemingly normal kids who have the ability to switch bodies with people by looking into their eyes) thrilled me with the creative possibilities that they presented.I remember when I read this book for the first time, hoping that these characters would be explored further.I was not dissappointed.This is only the beginning for the Jumpers, and in future volumes, it will be seen that they have a very important part yet to play.

One Eyed Jacks, One starred Reviews
Well, this is an unfortunate accident.In all eight Wild Cards books, this is easily the worst.Which is a shame, because it came after a series of above average Wild Cards novels (Down and Dirty/Ace in the Hole/The Dead Man's Hand), WC 5 and 7, especially, were the best in the series in my humble opinion.

The list of authors was by itself a bad sign: no George R. R. Martin, no Roger Zelazny, no Pat Cadigan or Walter Jon Williams.In other words, with the exception of Stephen Leigh, the heavy guns of the Wild Cards are missing.

Also, Leigh and Miller, who can generally guarantee entertaining stories about their characters, Greg Hartmann and Yeoman Brennan, aren't writing about them.This is particularly irritating in the case of Leigh, because his Hartmann stories are amoung the best things the WILD CARDS have to offer, and in this point in time, we're especially interested in where they're going.

OK, enough about what there ISN'T in this novel.What IS there?well, the sad truth is, not much, and sadly very little we haven't seen before.

About half of the novel is written by Walton Simons, and details the happening of that guy who used to be the giant Ape.I admit to have little urgent wish to learn about him, and his story, while not particularily bad, isn't very engaging.Also the titles, all puns based on the word Nobody, are particularily weak.

(BTW, I got a suspicion that all the stories'names here are based on titles of Rock songs.But that might just be because Lewish Shiner used 'Horses' the name of Patti Smith's classic, for a completely Horses free story).

Anyway, the plot, as far as there is one, focuses on a new bunch of ace kids, who can switch bodies with you and kill you.Sounds unexciting?It is.Not nearly as interesting as villains as the Astronomer was, they seem to be made of the 'forgettable' kind.I'm awfully uninterested in them.

Snodgras gives us another Tachyon soap opera.After I almost learned to like him again in Martin and Miller's The Dead Man's Hand, Snodgras abuses her little character again.She really shouldn't have been allowed to write any more Tachy stories after her very first 'Degredation Rites'.This one is particularily awful, as it involves Tachyon's falling for a doctor in the clinique ( who had LOVE INTEREST written all over her), and Blaise's final move into the dark side.This I found completely unappealing.Blaise seemed much more interesting as a guy who was neither here or there, someone both good and bad.Making him finally a villain just made him tedious.Although, Snodgras does give him some great lines "It was FUN being a terrorist'.

Miller gives us a story about conspiracies within the Shadow Fist organisation.That was pretty well executed, even if it didn't always make much sense.Definetly the best use of those jumper kids in the book.

The best piece here was, not unexpectedly, Leigh's story 'sixteen candles'.A pretty good tale about The Oddity, a threesome locked into one body, and their advanture.It is well written, but it suffers from a tame plot and uninteresting background character.Also the Oddity, as fun as he/she/it is, isn't nearly as interesting as the Puppetman.

All in all, it wasn'tterrible, but it wasn't good.The WC, perhaps expectedly, is a really unequal enterprise, and this was on the weak side.Let's hope that the next one will be better. ... Read more

Product Description
Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award

Jack London's adventurous nature, intuitive feeling for animal life, and superb storytelling skills give his tales a striking vitality and force. Thrilling action and a sense of justice characterize the classic stories in this collection.

The Call of the Wild

A bold-spirited dog named Buck is stripped from his comfortable life on a California estate and thrust into the rugged terrain of the Klondike. There he is made a sled dog and battles to become his team's leader and the devoted servant of John Thornton, a man who shows him kindness amid the savage lawlessness of man and beast.

White Fang

In the desolate, frozen wilds of northwest Canada, a lone wolf fights the heroic daily fight for life in the wild. But after he is captured and cruelly abused by men, he becomes a force of pure rage. Only one man sees inside the killer to his intelligence and nobility. But can his kindness touch White Fang? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Wolf-London audio
Jack London is amazing. Beautifully written, great narration, moving, interesting story. Great for kids (not those with faint hearts for animal brutality). White Fang along with To Build a Fire are my favorite London stories. Wonderful. Want to know even more about the author. Must have been a true warrior in life riding the black horse of maturity and high emotional intelligence.

Serves the material well
John Lee does a good job with some great writing.There is nothing worse than reading a classic, then getting the audio version and hearing a ruinous over-the-top or underwhelming depiction.Lee takes the material and handles it with respect and a capable simplicity.He will probably not bowl you over, but likely won't disappoint, either.Plus a great price for two unabridged classics. ... Read more

Product Description

Grab your passport and travel into the wilds of the world with Jungle Jack Hanna!

Customer Reviews (26)

A nice book, but could be more detailed
The book is absolutely beautiful, yet it left much to be desired.It simply was not detailed enough. It covered different animals around the world and yet didn't give a whole lot of information. For those of you who have young children (6 and under) like me, the book is VERY entrancing. Yet for those of you who were looking for a more detailed book on these animals depicted, I suggest you look elsewhere.

That being said, the book has much character. It has bright, vibrant pages that are supposed to look like a notebook (and they do a good job between having a solid binding yet also showing the "strings" of the book).It has amazing photos and is really a wonderful book, but it just seemed like the "character" of it didn't fit the detail for the age group who would be interested.

An ok book
This was a tough one to review because we had such a mediocre reaction to the book.It has some nice pictures and interesting facts, but overall, the "passport" concept was entirely missed by my 4 year old.If you are looking for a pop-up book with fabulous pictures, try "Predators" (but be aware those pop-ups are too intricate for young children).

Definitely for older readers
I got this book, thinking my animal crazy almost 6 year old would be all over it.Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case.While I love the interactive and tactile nature of the book (pockets, and flaps, and a passport to complete as you journey through the book), it requires an older attention span and reading ability.The 9-12 year old recommendation on this book, therefore seems appropriate and I should have heeded it.For my son to use this book, would require active reading by me and help in the interactive qualities; therefore, if you approached it with that in mind, I think it could provide rich rewards for you and your younger children.Without that guidance, this book has been left languishing on his shelf after a precursory skim through upon its first arrival.I look forward, however, to pulling this one out in about 2 years-- I think at 8 he will appreciate it greatly.

Fun, glossy book for kids
This is a big, glossy, beautifully photographed book that is designed to look like a travel log/scrap book.Each continent is featured and given a fold-out page chock full of little facts, personal travel tidbits by Jack Hanna, and pictures of indigenous peoples and animals.There is also a stab at interactivity with a "passport" and stamps and stickers to fillas you visit each continent.

It isn't by any means an exhaustive look at people, animals and regions.In many ways if just scratches the surface.But the presentation is very slick and is a nice introduction to the basics of world geography (very, very basic) and the wonders that could be found traveling to different places.My 5 year old really enjoyed it.My 9 year old liked flipping through the pages, but his interest wasn't as keen.

Great Gift Idea
If you are looking for an animal book gift that will be fun, let me suggest "Passport into the Wild".Colorful and big, my kids (boy and girl: currently 6 and 8] began the fight for it as soon as it was out of the box.The reason for their enthusiasm is that the book's appearance.It grabs your attention with it's bright montage cover that shows binoculars, map, wildlife and compass.You can't help but get the feeling that a safari adventure is just waiting around the corner for you.

That impression is strengthened when you open the book and discover the pocket which holds a "passport", stamps and stickers.Which brings up one of the books minuses:only one passport.Which in a family of more than on child can frequently mean yelling and shouting... and someone(s) ending up unhappy

In any case, succeeding pages never loose their charm as Kids love books with open-out pages and pictures of animals and people from far away lands.Children also love stickers and the I-Spy element of finding and matching stickers with critters.

The Experience:::

"Passport to the Wild" has fabulous photos.Next to most of them are "Jungle Jack Facts".It's a brief snippet information that gives a bit of insight into the animal or persons life.For example we are told that "[P]enguins can take short naps under water!"And in another section we are told how to tell a leopard from a cheetah.

Jack's own personal observations are given throughout and look like he wrote them himself.He has chosen a personal, chatty style which I think is quite appealing.He writes for example, "Africa is my absolute favorite continent to visit!I've been there over fifty times, and I still continue to be amazed by the number of unique animals, terrain, and cultures of Africa."

Because of the font, and the reading level, this is primarily a book for adults and children to share.The stickers and the passport help to maintain their focus and learn.

And certainly I would recommend sitting and sharing with any child that is rough on books.The fold-out pages are sturdier than normal, but I know how kids can get in a hurry and accidentally rip things.

After you have been through the book a few times, children will enjoy going through it by themselves.The age range this book might appeal to is kindergartner thru fourth or fifth grade.

3.5 Stars -- Oddly enough I wouldn't necessarily recommend Passport in the Wild as a book for the home shelves.With only one "passport" it's bound to stir up trouble in a multiple kid-household.It would however make an excellent birthday or holiday gift.

Pam T
mom and reviewer for booksforkids-reviews.com ... Read more

Product Description
A tall witch, a round witch, a silly witch, too. Some are spooky, some are cute, and one wears go-go boots! They have gathered for their ball. Why not try to count them all? ... Read more

Product Description
This Halcyon Classics ebook contains the twenty-two complete novels published by Jack London during his lifetime.Includes his classic tales of adventure THE CALL OF THE WILD, WHITE FANG, and THE SEA WOLF.

Jack London had a difficult childhood.His father abandoned the family and his mother grew despondent.As a child, he spent long hours in the public libraries educating himself and resolving to become a writer.He worked in a cannery, on fishing boats, and as a gold miner in the Klondike.His varied experiences heavily influenced his writing and his politics.For much of his life, London was a committed socialist.

This ebook is DRM free and includes an active table of contents.

Contents:

The Cruise of the Dazzler (1902)
A Daughter of the Snows (1902)
The Call of the Wild (1903)
The Sea Wolf (1904)
The Game (1905)
White Fang (1906)
Before Adam (1907)
The Iron Heel (1908)
Martin Eden (1909)
Burning Daylight (1910)
Lost Face (1910)
Adventure (1911)
The Scarlet Plague (1912)
A Son of the Sun (1912)
The Abysmal Brute (1913)
The Valley of the Moon (1913)
The Mutiny of the Elsinore (1914)
The Star Rover (1915)
The Little Lady of the Big House (1916)
Jerry of the Islands (1917)
Michael, Brother of Jerry (1917)
Hearts of Three (1920)
... Read more

Product Description
The Call of the Wild is a novel by American author, Jack London. It deals with a domesticated dog named Buck, whose instincts return after a series of events lead him to act as a sled dog in the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Irsus the reviewer
I am so happy to be the first reviewer of this product that I cannot stop hootin! Irsus says that this is a good edition of the story for kiddies because the original is too violent. Ork!Ork!I give this edition two slimy thumbs up. Grab this before it disappears in the land of toots which is by the way where I live. ... Read more

Product Description
The call of the wild is one of those unique works, where a series of adventures during the gold rush is seen trough the eyes of a dog. It is a work full of life and interest that does not decline. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Gripping story in both English and Spanish
I teach high school Spanish and I listen to these audio books while driving, both for entertainment and to improve my Spanish.I had read Call of the Wild in English fifty years ago, and couldn't wait to hear it in Spanish.It was just as spellbinding!The reader was reading for a native-speaker audience, so I had to listen to it three times to catch everything.And I enjoyed all three listenings. ... Read more

Product Description
While his mother cleans house, rambunctious baby Ben sets sail in a wooden box and has many adventures. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Fun and Whimsical Tale with Beautiful Illustrations
I LOVE this book!It is a rhyming story book with many beautiful illustrations about a baby who decides to go to sea in his mother's washtub and takes along his stuffed animals.I love all the imagination put into making it seem that the baby really is at sea and not just inside a washtub on top of his mother's blue scatter rug.It makes it so real, that at the end of the story, the mother can't figure out where one of the baby's animals came from---a new one has appeared that she doesn't know about.The rhymes are great, and imagining a little baby on such a big dangerous adventure makes it all the more fun.THis book could be for grownups to enjoy as well as children.I LOVE this book!! It's so full of whimsy and fun.
' ... Read more

Product Description
The Call of the Wild is a novel by Americanwriter Jack London. The plot concerns a previously domesticateddog named Buck, whose primordial instincts return after a series of events leads to his serving as a sled dog in the Yukon during the 19th-century Klondike Gold Rush, in which sled dogs were bought at generous prices.

Published in 1903, The Call of the Wild is London's most-read book, and it is generally considered his best, the masterpiece of his so-called "early period". Because the protagonist is a dog, it is sometimes classified as a juvenile novel, suitable for children, but it is dark in tone and contains numerous scenes of cruelty and violence.

London followed the book in 1906 with White Fang, a companion novel with many similar plot elements and themes as Call of the Wild, although following a mirror image plot in which a wild wolf becomes civilized by a mining expert from San Francisco named Weedon Scott.

... Read more

Product Description

This collection was designed for optimal navigation on Kindle and other electronic devices. It is indexed alphabetically, chronologically and by category, making it easier to access individual books, stories and poems. The collection is complimented by an author biography.

Customer Reviews (5)

A great collection of short stories to read aloud
Over the past several months, I've read dozens of stories and a couple of novels to my wife; it's become part of our evening ritual -- pleasant and sometimes sleep inducing for her and great scope for me -- a ham of the first order.

Her favorite author so far has been Jack London. As Dale L. Walker (Legends and Lies: Great Mysteries of the American West) correctly points out:

"London's true métier was the short story .... 7,500 words and under, where the flood of images in his teeming brain and the innate power of his narrative gift were at once constrained and freed. His stories that run longer than the magic 7,500 generally --- but certainly not always --- could have benefited from self-editing."

In fact, his novels are often episodic and loosely connected, a series of short stories if you will, especially one of his best novels, The Call of the Wild (MobileReference).

This collection contains an excellent representation of London's short stores, and several of his novels and plays. The formatting is pretty good, although many of the works run together, and it is necessary to return to the table of contents to read the stories in a sensible manner. MobileReference has a history of improving its eBooks from time to time, and it could make a number of improvements which would make this edition even more useful. For example,

1. Date the works on the table of contents and preferably at the beginning of the work itself.

2. Begin each work on a separate page, and allow one to click on an icon at the end to return to the table of contents where the work is listed.

3. Add the first version of "To Build a Fire" to the collection. Wikipedia has an excellent description of why that would be important.

"To Build a Fire" is the best known of all his stories. Set in a bitterly cold Klondike, it recounts the haphazard trek of a new arrival who has willfully ignored an old-timer's warning about the risks of traveling alone. Falling through the ice into a creek in seventy-below weather, the unnamed man is keenly aware that survival depends on his untested skills at quickly building a fire to dry his clothes and warm his extremities. After publishing a tame version of this story --- with a sunny outcome --- in The Youth's Companion in 1902, London offered a second, more severe take on the man's predicament in The Century Magazine in 1908. Reading both provides a dramatic illustration of London's growth and maturation as a writer. As Labor (1994) observes: "To compare the two versions is itself an instructive lesson in what distinguished a great work of literary art from a good children's story."

Until this version is updated for Kindle, my wife and I will continue to read through this excellent collection. She rarely falls asleep too early if Jack London is on on the evening reading menu. And, it's great joy to read his works -- I often continue to read while she sleeps and then re-read the story again the next night for both our benefits.

Robert C. Ross2009

Works of Jack London
A huge collection of short stories from the late 1800's to the early 1900's.
Well formated for use on the Kindle, with few errors. Well compiled and presented.

A new dimension to London
Works of Jack London. Huge collection. (200 + Works) Includes The Call of the Wild, White Fang, The Sea Wolf,The Iron Heel, To Build a Fire, Cruise of ... more. Published by MobileReference (mobi)

This is an excellent ebook! There are so many great stories in this collection. I advise anyone to explore the work of Jack London further.

a lot of material for a reasonable price
You get over 200 works for less than $5.There are only minor formatting problems (e.g. the short stories run together on the same page)

Jack London - Kindle eBook

Complete Works of Jack London. Huge collection. (200 + Works) FREE Author's biography and Stories in the trial version.

White Fang.... and much more... Excellent compilation! ... Read more