[Darren]

Just finished a re-read of these two series while I'm waiting to fill in some missing books of previous series (trying to go somewhat chronologically), and I found them both to still be so entertaining.

 

Possibly my favourite trope of them all, the deserted island. It's almost like a post-apocalyptic work, only not as dark. It has many of the same elements; self-sufficiency, scrounging for resources and, in some cases, teamwork. There must be something universal about liking this genre, as it's been used in plenty of books, like Robinson Crusoe (mentioned in the series), Swiss Family Robinson, Lord Of The Flies and The Cay, among others. Movies like Blue Lagoon and Castaway. TV shows like Lost and Gilligan's Island. Even the one-panel comics with generally witty one-liners.

I thought that both the premise of how the kids got together and the predicament they encountered were both extremely well-done. It seemed to me that this might have been the first series that transitioned to a slightly older crowd than previous ones, with some instances of injury and death. I found it interesting that the character of Charla ended up going through pretty much what happened to Simone Biles twenty years later.

Everest had another great premise to push the books forward. Your descriptions of the terrain, climate and the internal struggle and motivation of the characters should make any reader feel exhausted, frozen and in peril. It reminded me a little of Andy Weir's "The Martian" with a character having to overcome the odds in a hostile environment with a dash of science thrown in there.

I loved the possible foreshadowing of a following series with the mention of the Titanic in this series as well as a callback with the mention of being on a beach in Guam.

In both series we have mutli-dimensional characters, which is really enjoyable. It's easy to dislike someone if they're just constantly a jerk, but when you get to know their circumstances and they try to redeem themselves, it makes you have to rethink things.

I don't really have much in the way of questions with these books other than: You made a switch here from your previous comedic works to action/adventure. Did you ever have more humorous parts written and edited out to keep it more suspenseful and make sure it didn't get too light-hearted?

Thanks for the great reviews! Did you get to read the DIVE trilogy too?

That was a milestone in my career, when I decided that, to be taken seriously, I had to write some serious, thought-provoking material. No, the comedy wasn't edited out. It was never there,

Of the two, I liked EVEREST best. But I'll always be grateful to ISLAND because it sort of broke the mould.

                                                  Regards,                                                               ---GK---

[Darren]

Hi Gord,

I had read the Dive series before but just started re-reading it.

I think I might have to hop over to the stand-alone books after this series while I try to fill in the gaps for earlier series like MNFC, Stars from Mars, Nose Pickers and Son of the Mob. I've already made a 22 year gap for myself between Dive and I Want To Go Home!

It is a real joy to do this, after stressful work days, to relax and enjoy either an uplifting funny book or one in which the characters are in such dire situations that any problems I'm having are trifling in comparison (although my hot water heater did conk out yesterday, so it seems the kids floating in the ocean in the Island were warmer than my shower. Granted, my shower does have fewer sharks.)

Oops, in my first post I was going to mention some references that I'm not sure kids today will get, like Evel Knievel (on one road trip, a friend and I had stopped at Muzzy's Freeway Tavern in Butte for Evel's favourite sandwich, the Wop Chop). I was wondering, you had used the term "sweat-hog" in there. I'd never heard it used outside of Welcome Back, Kotter. Was it a reference to that show?

I have absolutely no recollection, and no time right now to research it. But it must have been. I've never heard the name "sweat-hog" in reference to anything else.                                                                 --GK--

[Darren]

I can save you some time and after reading it again, I think that it is a reference,

It\'s in the first book of the Island series, chapter eight, the kids are still on the boat and Will is having an internal dialogue while putting on his life jacket ten times in a row as a punishment.

"Wouldn\'t you know it! Out of the six of them, his sister was turning into the star sailing pupil --- while he was the sweat-hog in the back row, too stupid to figure out how to put on a life jacket."

THX! It's definitely a reference to the "Welcome Back, Kotter" students. I'd forgotten about  that!                   --G--

[Darren]

Thank you for clarifying that, Gord. Of course, I now have that theme song going through my head all day (they don't make theme songs like they used to).

I was a little young when that was on the air, though some of it stuck with me. The wife came down with covid a month or so ago and I told her we could cure it by going "up your nose with a rubber hose."

When I was a kid, my cousin was dating a stand-up comic that I met one time. He told me about poker games with Gabe Kaplan and to watch for his up-and-coming friend that he said was going to be a star. He was right as his friend happened to be Jim Carrey.

[Lulu]

I’m glad to hear as a reader that Gordon likes Everest the best of these trilogies, just as I as the reader do. I have read each of the trilogies multiple times and enjoy them all but there is something about the characters in Everest that talks to me. I could literally finish and restart this series again and again. I also love the on the run series. Not so into the kidnapped trilogy which I think I maybe would have enjoyed more as a stand-alone series but as a continuation it just lacked the humor and truth of the Aiden-Meg relationship from the original and was just not as enjoyable for me.

huge fan! I have read all your books besides the bugs potter series and some of the nose pickers books that I can’t currently find anywhere to purchase. It is amazing how many books you have written and while I definitely enjoy some of your books more than others, I would be able to read any of your works over and over again. I am also amazed how you retained your writing style while also growing as a writer in your character building. Your initial books had memorable characters and were definitely distinct but in your later books you do a better job at displaying your characters emotions and thoughts and not just actions. 

Hi, Lulu.

Thanks for your comments and all your longtime support. I guess it's hard NOT to grow as a writer when you start at age 12. Still, I'm glad you saw some growth and development, and approved of it too. Passing it along is much appreciated.

                                           Best regards,                                                 -----Gordon Korman-----

[Darren]

Nice comments, Lulu!

Maybe since I spend a good chunk of the year in a frozen wasteland, I'm more partial to Island over Everest.

The Bugs Potter series is at the top of my list for favourite works of Gord's. But everybody's tastes are different. I have most of the Nose Picker series but haven't read those yet.

Gord has definitely had his own unique voice from the start and it certainly resonates with a lot of people!