Outside magazine (see p. 285). Respond to her criticisms by agreeing with her,
disagreeing with her, or qualifying her argument.
Lisa Fischer-Luckenbach wrote a very critical and demeaning letter to Krakauer
shortly after the magazine article was published. She lashed out at him,
stating that he had the "uncanny ability to know precisely what was going
on in the hearts and minds of everyone in the expedition". This accusation
is not entirely true. While Krakauer did several times put his own
interpretation of events into the novel (and presumably the Outside article),
he has been meticulous in his efforts to verify his information with interviews
and recorded details. Krakauer has in fact stated several times that he was
quite inebriated during the time of the disaster, and was completely exhausted
and hypoxic during the time of the disaster, when he “scrambled back into his
own tent for safety and survival”.
shortly after the magazine article was published. She lashed out at him,
stating that he had the "uncanny ability to know precisely what was going
on in the hearts and minds of everyone in the expedition". This accusation
is not entirely true. While Krakauer did several times put his own
interpretation of events into the novel (and presumably the Outside article),
he has been meticulous in his efforts to verify his information with interviews
and recorded details. Krakauer has in fact stated several times that he was
quite inebriated during the time of the disaster, and was completely exhausted
and hypoxic during the time of the disaster, when he “scrambled back into his
own tent for safety and survival”.
Ms Fischer-Luckenbach did make an astute point when she says, “You have commented
about what SHOULD have been done by the leaders, the Sherpas, the clients…” She
is correct in her statements, but she neglected to mention the amount of“should-have’s” Krakauer administered to himself. Krakauer wrote “[She was] amere 350 yards away” (speaking of Yasuko Namba) and he was in his tent, unaware of her plight for survival, something he has written will haunt him for years
to come.
about what SHOULD have been done by the leaders, the Sherpas, the clients…” She
is correct in her statements, but she neglected to mention the amount of“should-have’s” Krakauer administered to himself. Krakauer wrote “[She was] amere 350 yards away” (speaking of Yasuko Namba) and he was in his tent, unaware of her plight for survival, something he has written will haunt him for years
to come.
When Ms Fischer-Luckenbach addresses the issue of Krakauer’s “analyzing,
criticizing, judging, or hypothesizing”, one must recall that it is Krakauer’s
duty, his job to write in a manner that does not simply gloss over the tragedy,
that does not simply recall details and events. As a journalist it is his job
to report, with a degree of analysis and criticism, the events that transpired
on the summit of Everest during the spring of 1996.
criticizing, judging, or hypothesizing”, one must recall that it is Krakauer’s
duty, his job to write in a manner that does not simply gloss over the tragedy,
that does not simply recall details and events. As a journalist it is his job
to report, with a degree of analysis and criticism, the events that transpired
on the summit of Everest during the spring of 1996.
I find myself disagreeing with Ms Fischer-Luckenbach in terms of this letter. It
seems to be a catharsis, unleashing her pent-up anger and grief on the first
target to present itself, John Krakauer through his Outside magazine piece. She
made several accurate and touchy points in her letter, about Krakauer’s blame
spreading and resulting consequences for the involved parties, but this has
done little good to ease the pain of Krakauer’s “ego” and her grief over losing
her brother.
seems to be a catharsis, unleashing her pent-up anger and grief on the first
target to present itself, John Krakauer through his Outside magazine piece. She
made several accurate and touchy points in her letter, about Krakauer’s blame
spreading and resulting consequences for the involved parties, but this has
done little good to ease the pain of Krakauer’s “ego” and her grief over losing
her brother.
While it was probably quite healthy for Ms Fischer-Luckenbach to vent herself in this manner, perhaps it would have been best for all involved if this letter had never been sent.
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