The Adventurer's Son: A Memoir

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars | 1,804 ratings

Price: 21.25

Last update: 12-30-2024


About this item

"A brave and marvelous book. A page-turner that will rip your heart out." (Jon Krakauer)

In the tradition of Into the Wild comes an instant classic of outdoor literature, a riveting work of uncommon depth. I’m planning on doing four days in the jungle.... It should be difficult to get lost forever: These were the haunting last words legendary adventurer Roman Dial received from his son, before the 27-year old disappeared into the jungles of Costa Rica. This is Dial's intensely gripping and deeply moving account of his two-year quest to unravel the mystery of his son's fate.

In the predawn hours of July 10, 2014, 27-year-old Cody Roman Dial, the son of preeminent Alaskan scientist and National Geographic Explorer Roman Dial, walked alone into Corcovado National Park, an untracked rainforest along Costa Rica’s remote Pacific Coast that shelters miners, poachers, and drug smugglers. He carried a light backpack and machete. Before he left, he emailed his father: "I am not sure how long it will take me, but I’m planning on doing 4 days in the jungle and a day to walk out. I’ll be bounded by a trail to the west and the coast everywhere else, so it should be difficult to get lost forever."

They were the last words Dial received from his son.

The Adventurer’s Son recreates the author’s two-year quest to learn the truth about his child’s disappearance. Immediately after Cody Roman’s planned departure date passed without a word from him, Dial set off for Costa Rica. As he trekked through the dense jungle, interviewing locals and searching for clues - the authorities suspected murder - the desperate father was forced to confront the deepest questions about his own life. Roman had raised his son to be fearless, to seek out adventure amid earth’s wildest places. Was he ultimately responsible for his son’s fate?

A harrowing story of drama, adventure, and a father’s love for his son, set in the most beautiful and dangerous reaches of the planet, The Adventurer’s Son is a mystery, the memoir of a father and his son, and an unforgettable story of love and profound loss.


Top reviews from the United States

Jan
5.0 out of 5 stars The Cost of Living and Loving
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2024
Living is not without risks, even for those who choose an environment with more padded walls. The adventures that the father and son undertook as well as the scientific and family components made this an interesting and entertaining read. Sadly the MIA component was way too familiar after being involved in a similar situation with another hiker. The misleads and misinformation are the most frustrating. It was hard enough dealing with it in the States I can't imagine in a foreign country.
Bill Borror
4.0 out of 5 stars A powerful journey I could not put down
Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2022
Heartbreaking, compellingly, fascinating-as a father of sons it made me reflect on both how we shape and are shaped by our children. Read while visiting Costa Rica which made it even more poignant.
Jon Kerr
5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible heartfelt story of living and dying
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2020
The Adventurer’s Son is an incredible read. I am here in Costa Rica for a month and I saw a review of this book in the Tico Times. I down loaded it and read it in two days. I was absolutely glued to the incredibly heartbreaking journey of a father and families quest to find out the truth of their child’s disappearance in the wilds of the southern pacific coast of Costa Rica. I am father of a son, who like Cody Rowan traveled through Mexico, Nicaragua,Costa Rica and Peru. I remember sleepless nights of worry and concern when I did not hear from him. My son admits that his decisions and adventures were often based on the infallible nature of a young man in his twenties. I found this book made me think and evaluate my own perceived successes and failures as a dad in raising my children.
The authors clarity in describing beauty and tragedy in life and the natural world abound in this book.
Karen Monsen
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, sad story of a father looking for his missing son
Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2023
Accomplished explorer, scientist, and college professor tells his heartbreaking search for his missing son, also an explorer & scientist, in the jungles of Costa Rica. A memoir, he describes his own worldwide adventures, expands to his explorations with his new wife, and then shares the love with their kids. This long build-up feels like a begging for forgiveness. If he hadn’t done all of these things, his son wouldn’t have been an adventurer and gone missing. The search took 2 years dealing with bureaucracy, strong-arm politics, a deadly jungle, & not-quite honest reality tv producers supposedly helping him. If you’re looking for adventure, this isn’t the book for you, and if you just want a true crime novel, this book isn’t for you. It’s a long plea for atonement & confession. It is excellent. I’m also surprised that Costa Rica is quite the tourist destination. Its jungles sound pretty brutal to me.
Billy Bowlegs
3.0 out of 5 stars Emotionally Compelling, but with Reservations
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2024
Alaskan adventurer and ecologist Roman Dial takes readers on a gripping journey in his quest to uncover the mystery of his son Cody's disappearance. What was supposed to be a four-day adventure in Costa Rica's Corcovado National Park turned into an agonizing wait for answers when Cody's communication abruptly ceased. “I’ll be bounded by a trail to the west and the coast everywhere else, so it should be difficult to get lost forever,” he emailed his father. That was the last Dial ever heard from his son. 

The narrative kicks off with the Dial family's history, and it's far from a mundane tale of birth, schooling, and family dynamics. Roman Dial, a professor at Alaska Pacific University and a seasoned adventurer, shares snippets of their life, from catching lizards in Puerto Rico, to months deep in the jungles of Borneo at 8, to a month-long road trip across Australia. Even at a young age, Cody was exposed to the thrill of wilderness, trekking across Alaska's uninhabited Umnak Island at just 6 years old.

In the second section, we delve into Cody's independent exploration of Central American jungles. A kindred spirit to his father, Cody embarked on off-the-grid excursions, climbing volcanoes and navigating the jungles without a tourist permit. Dial pieces together Cody's adventures from his emails, showcasing the young adventurer's resourcefulness.

The third section shifts to the search for Cody after emails cease. Dial, accompanied by friends, his wife, and a mix of officials and locals, confronts rumors of foul play while grappling with his own guilt for sparking Cody's love for the wild. The author's tactical calm and measured, cleareyed writing resonate even amid the emotional turbulence. The search continues with Roman based in Costa Rica for many months and off and on for another two years before Cody's remains are finally discovered, with clear evidence that his death was an accident.

The emotional weight of the story, especially for parents, is palpable. The greatest fear of any parent is harm befalling their child, and any uncertainty about their fate would be agonizing. That alone makes the story riveting and especially since this is not fiction.  The author's introspection on his own role make the narrative even more so. There is always, with any parent, the struggle between being over-protective and over-relaxed. At the same time, the emotional depth occasionally feels restrained. The intricate details suggest meticulous note-taking or reflection and a lot of time passed before the book was written, which may explain some of that, but it still felt too sterile. 

However, the narrative detailing Dial's frustration with Costa Rican obstacles became increasingly bothersome. While understandable given the circumstances, a somewhat condescending tone continually surfaces. And there is no real admission of Cody’s own responsibility for venturing into a restricted area of a foreign country without proper maps and little understanding of the area, relying on his own experience alone. There was no recognition of the need for some humility, particularly when you need the help of local officials. The call for US military rescuers to enter the search, ignoring the historical context of U.S. involvement in Central America, adds a layer of complexity as did their use of political influence. 

In conclusion, I am left struggling with what to say. The book is hard to put down, driven by the gripping true story, yet it leaves a lingering sense of dissatisfaction. The emotional struggle, the introspection, and the complex dynamics between a parent's protective instincts and a child's adventurous spirit create a compelling narrative, but the reservations I felt meant that it wasn’t a completely satisfying read either. 
Susan Alice Randall
5.0 out of 5 stars FANTASTIC READ!
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2020
While I was reading this story, I went through a range of emotions. Excitement, joy, awe, fear, and sadness visited me while I learned more about this close-knit family. Professor Dial is so adept at describing the landscape & its inhabitants, I felt I was there in Alaska, the jungle, and many other beautiful spots in the world. The courage & survival skills described here are astounding & hard to fathom. I think of the countless things my parents taught me to fear -- germs, accidents, sports, traveling & bad guys to name a few. The Dial children were taught to be self reliant, independent & courageous, enjoying new adventures all of their lives. Mom, Dad, and 2 kids went on adventures together & bonded in ways that I can only imagine. I hated to finish this book, but all great reads must end. You'll be sorry if you miss this one. My best wishes to the Dial Family!
Leland J. Davis
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting saga
Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2023
Father and son both serious outdoor adventurers. First half of book describes their exploits and son’s development. Son goes missing in jungle of Costa Rica and second half of the book is the search and rescue mission. The latter drags at times.

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