Synopses & Reviews
Odysseus' Last Stand
In 1992, Dave Stamboulis looked around and saw a world that was moving too fast, speeding out of its mind. He wanted to slow down. In an era of preplanned and packaged expeditions, he wanted a great adventure, complete with surprises, spontaneity, and lots of room for error.
He decided to bicycle around the world.
Odysseus' Last Stand is the story of Dave's seven-year and 40,000 kilometer journey around the world. Based on the detailed journals he kept throughout his travels, it conveys the richness of sights, sounds, and teeming life that make up the globe as experienced from the saddle of a bicycle. Dave learns about the differences and similarities that bind the world together; experiences firsthand the effect of international politics on media-invisible countries and cultures; and meets an endless array of unique and wonderful characters. .
Very few individuals have made the time, nor had the finances or inclination to attempt a journey of such scope, and Dave's perspective on world travel and culture is startlingly and refreshingly different from what one might find in any ordinary travelogue. He immerses himself in the culture of every country he visits, learning languages and customs as he travels. As a cyclist, he explores the role that the bicycle plays in the lives of people around the world-and in the process, learns about its importance in his own life.
At its heart, Odysseus' Last Stand is a study of one man's struggle to find his place in a world that never stops to catch its breath. Everywhere he goes, Dave sees the clash of values between the developed and developing worlds, and he examines the tension between tradition and progress with insight, compassion, and good humor.
Synopsis
Comprised largely of the detailed journals kept throughout his travels, this narrative of a bicyclist's seven-year, 40,000 kilometer odyssey around the world documents the richness of the planet's sights, sounds, and teeming life as experienced from the saddle of a bicycle. During his journey, the author experiences firsthand the effect of international politics on media-invisible cultures while mingling with an endless array of unusual and wonderful characters. As he immerses himself in the culture of every country he visits, learning the languages and customs as he travels, he witnesses the clash of values between developed and developing worlds and the inherent tensions between tradition and progress. Throughout, he comes to a deep understanding of the role that the bicycle plays not only in his life but also in the lives of the world's citizens.
About the Author
Dave Stamboulis is a freelance travel writer, photographer, and adventure traveler whose work primarily focuses on Asia and the developing world. His articles have appeared in
Farang, Selamta, Tom Yum Magazine, and
Transitions Abroad. He lives in Bellingham, Washington.