For the masses stuck in the nine-to-five cycle, words like “roaming” and “spontaneous” immediately conjure up the fantasy of leaving it all behind and setting off on a liberating adventure – and so UNLOST, the title of Cory Mortensen’s new book, does an effective job of whetting the appetite. The anticipation is compounded by the opening words: “Recently evicted at gunpoint …”. From this point forward the reader is reeled in, and vicariously shares in Mortensen’s escapades, becoming privy to his wealth of knowledge and free-spirited humor along the way. To add local flavor, every destination is realized through selective detail: the “old VW Bugs sans front passenger seats”, by way of example, creates an immediate evocation of the taxis in México DF. And, in the unlikely event that his reader becomes bored, Mortensen interjects his prose with maps, diagrams (such as The Hero’s Journey), and bullet-pointed lists.

UNLOST (subtitle: Roaming through South America on a Spontaneous Journey) really does track a journey. Commencing at the border between California and México, it follows a logical yet instinctive trail through Guatemala down to Argentina, via a host of countries along the way – culminating in Antarctica. One of the joys of reading travel books is the promise of a journey that is not only literal but figurative too. There is certainly a sense of this here. At one point, Mortensen comments on the unique ability of backpackers to find solutions to problems, usually borne of necessity. The implication is that such experiences are a type of education that cannot be acquired in a regular mainstream setting. Problem-solving experiences, the accretion of anecdotes, and the array of companions encountered along the way all play a role in shaping a person’s life; there is a tangible vibe that Mortensen’s travels are a huge part of his whole being.

Despite the idyllic aimlessness of “not having a watch” and embracing freedom, there is a self-discipline of sorts underpinning this book. Mortensen confides that he writes every day – “religiously” – and one of the benefits of this is the raw immediacy of the prose. The style is lucid and observational, with historical and contextual detail thrown in for illustrative purposes. It is a little like being shown around by a guide whose commentary complements the visuals. On this level, UNLOST is an informative guide for potential travelers. The writer is keen to stress, however, that this book hopefully “guides” but is “not a guidebook”. What makes Mortensen a perfect traveling companion – virtually, at least – is his irreverent perspective and humor. When dealing with bureaucratic passport control, for example, his response is this: “I dealt with the form the same way I dealt with parking tickets. I threw it away” – a confidence that is, presumably, a consequence of many similar experiences in the past. This sunniness pervades the book, whether it is a forty-hour bus journey that is being described, or simply observational commentary (“This was 2001 so we didn’t have iThings”). By the time Mortensen returns from his epic journey, the reader is left looking forward to sharing his next adventure.

If great storytelling by a seasoned “world citizen” who truly knows his subject sounds appealing, then Cory Mortensen’s UNLOST (Roaming through South America on a Spontaneous Journey) ranks right up at the top of the list.

~Amanda Ellison for IndieReader