I give The Singing Bones: A Novel of the Life and Times of Naturalist George Stellar four stars reservedly. The story of the expeditions of Mr. Stellar is so fantastical that, at times, it is unbelievable. I actually looked up information on Mr. Stellar to be assured the book was not a work of fiction. The time period covered by the work is largely limited to a specific expedition, potentially reducing its appeal to a wider audience. Finally, the book is exceedingly long. This work is possibly an interesting read for naturalists and those involved in plant and animal sciences. It became a bit tedious at times, with extremely detailed vignettes about days of particular excursions into various parts of Siberia as well as the politics of university research funding and asset allocation. These drier passages were offset, however, by equally detailed vignettes of Mr. Stellar's methods of passing long, cold evenings in Siberia. While it seemed some vignettes were more detailed than necessary, they provided a more completely well rounded biography. ( )

This is a novelization of the life of naturalist Georg Wilhelm Steller, who, in 1741 accompanied Russian explorer Vitus Bering on his second expedition eastward from Kamchatka. Steller, being a man of many hats, also served as ship’s physician and Bering’s spiritual advisor.

The story of the expedition is the largest part of the book. The ship, under Bering’s guidance, successfully sighted the Alaska mainland and made landfall on several islands now part of Alaska. They made mostly unsuccessful contact with a very few native people. Steller described many marine animals and plants unknown or little known to Russians.

It was an ill-fated voyage though, as a good part of the crew, including Bering himself passed away from scurvy. Steller knew how to prevent this disease using lore he had gained from native inhabitants in Kamchatka. His advice was spurned, until shipwrecked and their boat entirely broken, Steller was able to provide the necessary fresh herbs and meat as well as the benefits of fresh (not brackish) water and save part of the crew.

The story is fascinating. I knew nothing about the Russian voyages to the east and Alaska. I tend to think of exploration from east to west in the US, or the Spanish explorations northward. These voyages by Russia on what are now the far western edges of the United States, were several decades before the American Revolutionary war.

However, I found the novel’s voice somewhat lacking. It often has the stilted quality of 18th century journals (on suchandsuch a date we went here or there), and lacking details. At other times he uses bits of profanity –such as Steller’s father having so many children, he almost fucked himself out of a seat at the dinner table. Is this profanity consistent with a journal written in the mid 1700’s? I have no idea.

Overall If you enjoy stories of exploration and discovery or the history of this area, this book might well be of interest. ( )

A novel about the life of German naturalist Georg Wilhelm Steller. The book includes descriptions of life among the Russians, Cossacks, and native people of eastern Siberia. The author relates Steller’s professional development and work in eastern Siberia and northern Pacific travels as a state sponsored naturalist. Steller’s work included recording new (to western knowledge) species, particularly marine mammal species. The novel starts with Steller’s early life in Germany then moves to St. Petersburg then overland to eastern Siberia, Kamchatka, the Aleutians and to Alaska —the farthest point of his journey.

This novel is set in the early to mid-eighteenth century. Starting with Steller’s birth and his family life, moving to his education and professional advancement focusing on the 1740’s - the main period of his professional activity as a naturalist.

The author uses first person narrative, but the voice is uneven, punctuated with jarring changes in tone, typically to a modern use of vulgarity. In my opinion the novel would benefit from a editorial review to achieve a consistent voice appropriate to the period and clean up random typos and/or misspellings.

Overall I was satisfied with the content of this novel and appreciated the period detail and descriptions. My last question on finishing the book: historical fiction or novelization of the journals of Georg Steller? The detail and description tips toward the latter. ( )

A very different take on the travel log. The book is a biography of the naturalist Stellar told in the first person. It covers his entire life but most of the book is about an expedition across Siberia and the Bering Strait. Most tales of expeditions describe the places crossed and interesting experiences. This tale is nonstop complaints about members of the expedition, incompetence of officials he has to deal with, terrible work condition, etc. I gained new respect for what it took to be an explorer. ( )

A fascinating biography of the naturalist Stellar, and his adventures in Siberia and Kamchaka Russia during the 1700's. This also includes information about Bearing's explorations, and death. Both of whom it turns out were together for much of what opened Eastern Siberia and Alaska to modern Western European consciousness. A good read if so what labored in places, kept my interest. ( )