Over the Edge (book)

{{short description|2002 book by Greg Child}}

{{About||the anthology of horror stories|Over the Edge (anthology)}}

{{Infobox book

| name =Over the Edge

| title_orig =

| translator =

| image = Over the Edge (book).jpg| caption =

| author = Greg Child

| illustrator =

| cover_artist = Barbara M. Bachman

| country = United States

| language = English

| series =

| subject =

| genre = non-fiction

| publisher = Villard Books/Random House, Inc.

| release_date = 2002

| english_release_date =

| media_type =

| pages = 284

| isbn = 0-375-50609-8

| dewey= 958.43/082/0922 21

| congress= HV6604.K97 C55 2002

| oclc= 49390841

| preceded_by =

| followed_by =

}}

Over the Edge (2002) is a non-fiction book by American author Greg Child, chronicling the 2000 kidnapping of mountain climbers Beth Rodden, Tommy Caldwell, Jason "Singer" Smith, and John Dickey by Islamic guerrilla fighters in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan.[http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/08/25/hostagesescape.ap/ Kidnapped mountain climbers recount dramatic escape], CNN, 25-08-2000, accessed 10-04-2007[http://worldcat.org/isbn/0375506098 On WorldCat]

Publishers Weekly critiqued the book for its "flat" storytelling, noting that despite Child's access to the climbers and his own regional experience, the narrative lacked the engaging qualities of other adventure writers like Jon Krakauer. The review highlighted issues with "wooden" dialogue and over-explanation of characters' motivations, suggesting that the book's pacing suffered as a result. {{Cite web|date=2002-04-08|title=OVER THE EDGE: The True Story of Four American Climbers' Kidnap and Escape in the Mountains of Central Asia|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/0-375-50609-8|access-date=2021-09-21|website=|publisher=Publishers Weekly|language=en}} In American Alpine Journal, David Hale wrote "it is an incredible story, and Child does justice to the cool-headed heroism of all four Americans."{{Cite web|last=Hale|first=David|date=2003|title=Over the Edge: The True Story of Four American Climbers' Kidnap and Escape in the Mountains of Central Asia|url=http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12200345300/Over-the-Edge-The-True-Story-of-Four-American-Climbers-Kidnap-and-Escape-in-the-Mountains-of-Central-Asia|access-date=2021-09-21|website=American Alpine Journal|pages=453–454}} A review in the Washington Post is critical of Child's financial agreement with the climbers — which it calls "checkbook journalism" — and his treatment of rival journalist John Bouchard.{{Cite news|last=Mazmanian|first=Adam|date=2002-06-10|title=Climbs and Misdemeanors|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2002/06/10/climbs-and-misdemeanors/ee337264-1803-4259-8aa6-363a426219cb/|access-date=2021-09-21|issn=0190-8286}}