New Orleans journalist Fontova has covered diving, hunting and fishing for specialty magazines like Bowhunter
, Scuba Times
and Sierra
and penned a book about divers who spear fish from oil rigs (Helldivers' Rodeo
) two years ago. Now the hellbent author and his equally hellbent pals are back, intent on stirring up more nonstop macho action. This time they hope to nail a wild pig during a Louisiana bayou "hunting-fishing-boozing trip." The pig chase doesn't begin until page 173, but no matter. The fun is getting there. Amid their "orgy of blood-lust, booze, and lechery; a three-day indulgence of our primal passions in primitive splendor," readers get fascinating factoids of Louisiana lore, ecology, geology, history, politics and wildlife, plus literary, cinematic and pop culture references. Navigating the French Quarter and the Mississippi Delta's shallow marshes and squishy mudflats, Fontova and company encounter gators and girls gone wild, "plumb, freakin'crazy
" hog hunters, migrating waterfowl, mosquitoes and snakes. Fun comes as the gang razzes a greenhorn businessman along for the hunt: "I explained to him that we cut more business deals in hunting and fishing camps than on any golf course, but probably just as many in titty bars." Memoir adds to the madhouse mix, with Fontova's flashbacks erupting in an onslaught of anecdotes. Fontova's voice is powerful and compelling, and the hog hunt finale is worth the wait. The end result is something like Deliverance
as written by Hunter Thompson. (Oct. 30)
Forecast:
Outdoorsmen, lovers of Louisiana lore and readers of
Helldivers' Rodeo (which was published in paperback earlier this year) are all certain to dive into bookstores for this one. The jacket art resembles that of the earlier book, so Fontova's fans should easily spot it.
