The Explorer’s Guild, Vol. I: A Passage to Shambhala
By Jon Baird & Kevin Costner, with illustrations by Rick Ross
Review by Sarah Reisert
A wealthy member of the Explorer’s Guild accepts a challenge to find the Northwest Passage, but on the way he stumbles across a figure of legend: the city of Shambhala. He escapes with his life but falls terribly ill, and enlists his brother (and the rough-and-tumble regiment his brother commands) to help him figure out where on Earth the city will appear next. At least, I think that’s the story.
Due to the authors’ unbridled enthusiasm for old-timey adventure tales, this is sort of all over the place, like spaghetti and sauce thrown on a wall and called a map. The physical book, though, is a thing of beauty and a joy to those with a fondness for old books. The color illustrations at the start of each chapter with a line from the chapter underneath, the bookplate on the inside cover, the yellowed pages… it warms my heart.
Check availability on The Explorer’s Guild, Volume One: A Passage to Shambhala
About the reviewer:Â Sarah Reisert is a young museum professional who believes you should never be without a book in your purse. Â If pressed to pick a favorite genre, she’d answer ‘All of them.’
- Sarah wrote this review as part of our 50th Anniversary book challenge. Want to share a review? Submit reviews to Kate Shaw for website publication consideration.