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For my next read, I’ve been working my way through The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. So far, I’m about half way through; so to bridge the gap I thought I’d start reading online short stories at work (yes, while I’m getting paid for it – great huh!)

So I entered “online short stories” into Google and To build a fire by Jack London was one of the first. I must confess that I’ve never read any London, but this had me hooked right from the beginning.

It’s about a man walking through the icy Yukon trail with his dog; the dog is immediately aware of the danger of traipsing through the wilderness in this climate:

“The dog did not know anything about temperatures. Possibly in its brain there was no understanding of a condition of very cold, such as was in the man’s brain. But the animal sensed the danger.”

I really liked the way London makes you identify with the dog, as if it should be he who was the master over the man. This can be seen in the way the man is first described:

“The trouble with him was that he was not able to imagine. He was quick and ready in the things of life, but only in the things, and not in their meanings. Fifty degrees below zero meant 80 degrees of frost.”

The man who, as a newcomer in this part of the world ignores the advice of the locals; that any hike in the icy weather should be done as a pair. It isn’t long before the man, who is making good ground (and getting a little cocky) accidentally submerges his foot in the freezing water.

Due to the temperature, the man needs to light a fire to thaw his body before continuing on his journey. But alas, his hands are frozen. The rest of the story focusses on the mans fight between life and death.

Does he make it? Read it here, It’s a very well written, quick read!!

Best part

I really like the advice given at the beginning by an old man well versed in the climate of that region. The advice is re-visited throughout the story:

“He remembered the advice of the old man on Sulphur Creek, and smiled. The man had been very serious when he said that no man should travel alone in that country after 50 below zero.”