Delusions of Immortality: Surviving an Unconventional Life

An aptitude for stumbling into adventure while somehow dodging disaster...

Over and over, Steve Dawson found himself wrestling with the results of his curiosity for a life of adventure amidst uncommon vocations and pursuits. Close calls and narrow escapes became typical fare, though he claims this is standard for the Alaskan outdoorsman with any substantial amount of experience under his belt--judge for yourself. Required reading for anyone anticipating an adventure career in the 49th state.

This book details a rather unusual number of close calls and bizarre adventures experienced over approximately twenty years in Nevada and twenty years in Alaska. I do not classify myself as accident-prone, but the reader might well be suspicious.

The common thread tying these events together would have to be a prayer for help--almost anyone in these situations would be tempted to do the same, but I would characterize this book as a catalog of answered prayers. Yet the book is not proselytizing, or making any particular case, merely stating for the record what I believe to be minor and in some cases, major miracles in a rather steady supply. I think the vocations and recreations cited would make good reading without the not-infrequent threat of death and in that regard readers with an itch to see the North Country will enjoy my bumps, surprises, and occasional sucesses.

Commercial fishing, especially the seven years involved with the king and tanner crab fisheries, was most interesting, educational, and downright exciting. The casino world is something most people aren't exposed to from the inside, and there are some surprises there. If you like hunting in wild and unusual circumstances, you may look forward to some quality experiences, which I am most happy to have survived while I enjoyed them.

What started out as a legacy for my family has resulted in a true-life yarn that may be worth a look-see for anyone who loves the outdoors, dangerous work, and pure adventure.