If you’ve read Knutson’s first novel, “It Takes One to Catch One”, my review of his second, “Confessions from the Last Frontier”, may not make sense at first. Let it be known that his irreverent ‘writing style’ did not change. However, that style reveals the character of the author and is part of his story.
I finished reading “Last Frontier” in September while I was in China. It’s now mid November. I’ve had a lot of time to think about what I wanted to say about Knutson’s second novel (a memoir in disguise classified as fiction).
The October, 2008, National Geographic also influenced how this review turned out and the title given it. That issue of National Geographic has a piece about the Right Whale and how mankind almost hunted this peaceful giant to extinction due to unbridled greed. My last influence arrived one morning like a ray of bright light as I woke up, The Bible.
Genesis 1:28
“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over fish of the sea , and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” King James Version 1611
Since there are so many Christian sects and religions scattered over the earth, there may be some that will disagree with my interpretation of this Bible passage. However, it is my opinion that God included more than mankind in “replenishing the earth” and over the centuries, what many have done has been the opposite. Can you answer this: How many species have vanished from the earth due to the greed and downright meanness of individuals that slaughtered and hunted without compunction?
Although Knutson admits to his “wayward life of a kid” in “It Takes One To Catch One”, as seen through the weak old eyes of a 60-year old man”, after reading the “Last Frontier”, I want to say that this former Alaskan Wildlife Trooper and “Fish Cop” made up for whatever transgressions and sins he wrote about in his first book.
In “Last Frontier”, Knutson becomes a guardian in the wilderness of Alaska hunting down those that are not following God’s advise/law. Don’t forget, God gave man free will, but He did not give man the right to rid the earth of life. Once extinct, a species is gone forever just like the Right Whale almost vanished. If all life vanishes except for mankind, there will be little left to have dominion over.
“Last Frontier” is loaded with stories of Knutson’s adventures in Alaska protecting wild animals and fish from greedy, law breaking individuals—the same type that almost wiped out the America Bison during the 19th century as they were slaughtered by the millions and left on the prairies to rot. At times this reader wondered how Knutson survived to write about his experiences. But survive he did. Maybe God was watching over him. After all, God works in mysterious ways.
There are people out there who have no conscience. It was Knutson’s job to catch those types and lock them up if that’s what it took to stop them from raping the earth and ridding the earth of the fish of the sea, the fowl of the air and every living thing that moveth upon the earth. God didn’t say to mankind to destroy all life. He gave man the responsibility to replenish the earth. I’m not saying it is wrong to hunt if what a hunter takes feeds his family and maybe some friends.
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Lloyd is kind, my irreverentwriting style is merely lack of editing skills. I actually just don't care. These are stories for my Grandkids and Great Grankids so they will know who the gray haired old fart was. If others are entertained, good for them.
My Dad, rest his soul, instilled in me the ethic if I killed it, I had best eat it. God's creatures were not toys to be disposed of in careless fashion.
Yup, I've thrown many into the "crow bar hotel." It was my mission.
Understand this though, I am a hunter/gatherer and harvest what my family needs.
No apologies.
for the pleasure of it--no. Thoughtful review, Lloyd. -gene.