When Pele Stirs: A Volcanic Tale of Hawai'i, Hemp, and High-Jinks

"When Pele Stirs" reads like a mystery novel, but the mystery to be solved is the life of a volcano. It is an education in volcanic geology as well as a riveting story. It helps that we recently visited the area, but the book does a masterful job at describing the area. This is a "must read" for anyone who will be visiting the Kilauea area or who wants to learn more about volcanos. It can also be enjoyed by anyone as a mystery/adventure story.

This book is a fun read! Those who know something about the "secret lives of real volcanologists" will recognize "germs of truth" (sometimes small germs) behind the tall tales of volcanic adventures that Duffield develops so well in this neat little book. Underlying the adventurous escapades of the heroes and villains in "When Pele Stirs" is a serious foundation of factual geology about the nature of Hawaiian volcanism and about the realities of life at a volcano observatory. Duffield describes accurately and well the hard work and uncertainties of normal times for volcanologists, as well as some delightfully exaggerated adventures and "high-jinks" that just might be based on real-life experiences and fantasies of the author!

I chose to read When Pele Stirs while on vacation in Hawaii. It was a perfect book for being not only entertained and amused, but also educated about the natural and social history of that volcanic paradise. Specifically, how the volcanic islands form through time, and the comparison between the views of nature held in native Hawaiian legends and by the scientists who strive to understand and predict volcanic eruptions. Another fascinating aspect of the book was its description of marijuana growing on the island and the interaction between the dropout hippie growers, the local underworld marketers, and the scientists trying to identify these outlaws to warn them about impending doom. Duffield does a masterful job of drawing from his first-hand experiences as a geologist at the Hawaii Volcano Observatory and presenting this information through a variety of fascinating characters. He has created a gripping plot that cuts back and forth between the exploits of the various characters we come to love, dislike, or laugh at, but always care about. I highly recommend this book, particularly for anyone who's ever set foot on any of the Hawaiian Islands or who is simply interested in an entertaining and educational read. I am a geologist so I was with Duffield every step of the way in his geologic descriptions, but he keeps the technical jargon to a minimum and gently educates the reader in a way that will leave him feeling like a volcanologist when he finishes the book.

Life in the Hawai'i Volcano Observatory: what most people would consider as an exciting life on the brink, is boring routine at times. At least as long as Pele, the hawaiian godess of volcanoes, sleeps. This is the experience of the book's heros at first.But then the godess awakes. And again the volcanologists have to face all those difficulties trying to interpret the seismic and other geophysical data. And again, men and women alike have to go out to remeasure the volcano to find out, how serious the godess is ...But not only volcanologists roam the slopes of the volcano. There are those hippies Jeb und Valerie that grow hemp for their own consumption. And there is Hak, the respected member of the Rotary Club, who also grows hemp, however in grand style for 'export' to the mainland ... Finally a fissure eruption starts. And while the tourists enjoy the spectacle of the lava fountains, the volcanologists are puzzles by the volcano's behavior. And also the hemp farmer find themselves suddenly in the hot center of action ... and that in the real meaning of the word!The author, Wenell Duffield, knows what he's talking about, because he has workes as an employee of the USGS at the Hawaii Volcano Oberservatory. Hence this book provides 'intimate' glimpses into the life of volcanologists working at a volcano observatory. To the present writer, he pays too much attention to the sex-life of his heros, given the fact that this a science thriller. Nevertheless (or because of that?!): this book is worthy reading for those interested in the work and life of volcanologist.