Synopses & Reviews
Traveling across the former Soviet Union is a challenge at the best of timesdoing so in a dilapidated VW is just that much more of an adventure A chance job offer at a timber yard in Estonia gives Thom and his old pal Jo a taste for the unknown. So when Uncle Tony asks them to drive to Vladivostok for another job, they cant think of a good reason why not. The result is a classic caper across the former Soviet Union in Max, a rusty old VW camper. Knowing little of the language or the geography ahead, they embark on probably the longest commute ever, encountering corrupt officials, film star mechanics, and over-friendly gangsters. Far off the tourist trail, they bear witness to the collapse of one nation and the birth of a new one during the free-for-all that was Russia in the 1990s.
Review
"A crazy and wonderful journey. For anyone who has day dreamed, if only for a moment, about abandoning the humdrum and hitting the road this engaging tale will be an inspiration." —John Mole, author, It's All Greek to Me
Review
"Hold on to your babushkas! This is a book for would-be road warriors and seasoned globetrotters alike. Wheelers Russian travelog is informative, accessible, and more fun than a banya full of vodka-swilling Dmitrys." —Xpress Reviews from Library Journal
Review
"A nice balance of humor and observation, of character and political commentary, [One Steppe Beyond] should have no trouble finding an audience among armchair travelers." —Booklist
Synopsis
Traveling across the former Soviet Union is a challenge at the best of times--doing so in a dilapidated VW is just that much more of an adventure A chance job offer at a timber yard in Estonia gives Thom and his old pal Jo a taste for the unknown. So when Uncle Tony asks them to drive to Vladivostok for another job, they can't think of a good reason why not. The result is a classic caper across the former Soviet Union in Max, a rusty old VW camper. Knowing little of the language or the geography ahead, they embark on probably the longest commute ever, encountering corrupt officials, film star mechanics, and over-friendly gangsters. Far off the tourist trail, they bear witness to the collapse of one nation and the birth of a new one during the free-for-all that was Russia in the 1990s.
About the Author
Thom Wheeler lived in St. Petersburg for several years working as a guide and teacher before going on to live in several ex-Soviet countries, including Georgia and Ukraine. He continues to spend time in the ex-Soviet Union traveling, teaching, and writing, and he runs an annual theater workshop in Tzarskoe Selo, Russia. This is his first book.