Deep Play: A Climber's Odyssey from Llanberis to the Big Walls

I'd recommend this book to anyone who's even slightly addicted to climbing since it happens to be one of the best books around. Keyword of the last sentence is addicted. The book a short introduction to the mind of a very bold climber. For non-climbers... well it may be too complex and full of weird words. Must be interesting reading still, though.For all the climbers out there I can say I've been climbing for 10 years and feel solid on alpine rock routes up to 5.11. The book didn't win Boardman Tasker award for nothing. Another very good book worth considering would be Feeding the Rat by Al Alvarez.

This is a collection of essays that appeared first in climbing journals published in England. The essays are written in a variety of styles, from straight narrative to a kind of stream of consciousness. One style written as if the writer is dictating his thoughts while climbing is used several times. At first it was interesting, but the later essays written in this style lose their novelty. Pritchard's essays are relatively short and cover a wide variety of subjects, from specific climbs, whole expeditions to people. Most of his stories about people were written after their death in one climbing accident or another. One essay about a climber with a career ending injury and how he deals with it is prophetic considering Pritchard's recent possible career ending climbing accident. Overall, it is easy to see why this book won the Boardman-Tasker award for climbing literature. The variety of the subjects and writing styles makes this a very good anthology of climbing essays that every climber should have in their library.

Incredible book, I'm brusing up on aid climbing, I'm reading up on big walls, I'm feeling confident leading out on my pro. Well written, beatifuly written, great spirited, motivational. Extreme to the max. One of the best Christmas presents I'v ever gotten