Bjorn Dihle - A Shape in the Dark

Praise for A Shape in the Dark

If anyone has earned the right to write a book about brown bears, its Bjorn Dihle. Alaska born, raised in a land shaped and defined by their presence, hes the perfect guide on a journey that weaves natural and human history together with his own, often harrowing experiences in bear country. Unflinchingly authentic, intensely personal, artfully told, and deeply moving, A Shape in the Darkranks as not only one of the best bear books, but one of the greatest Alaska books ever.

Nick Jans, author of The Grizzly Mazeand A Wolf Called Romeo

A Shape in the Darkis an at times terrifying, but always thoughtful and vivid portrayal of Americas storied history with brown bears. Youll find yourself listening for a twig to snap or alder to sway as Bjorn Dihle transports you to another world, one where you are not at the top of the food chain. These tales will stick with you long after you close the book.

Alex Messenger, author of The Twenty-Ninth Day:
Surviving a Grizzly Attack in the Canadian Tundra

Wilderness guide Dihle creates a wide-ranging portrait of brown bears in this adventurous collection of essays. The book, Dihle writes, is about our relationship with brown bears, though its also an ode to Alaskan wilderness as his home state becomes more encroached upon. His experiences run between panic and reverence in the face of the incredibly muscled and poised animal, and interspersed with his encounters are profiles of past adventurers and their relationships with bears. . . . He creates memorable portraits of fellow explorers, but where Dihles writing shines is in his unwavering appreciation of and commitment to preserving bears wild habitat: Once its gone, its gone forever. With its vivid prose, this moving homage to Alaska and those who live there really hits home.

Publishers Weekly

A Shape in the Dark. . . reveals the complicated morality around brown bears, wilderness, and ideas of masculinity. It is reverent in discussing wilderness while acknowledging human beings enduring compulsions to subdue it. Rather than suggesting answers, the book acknowledges human paradoxes and is humble about living within them.

Foreword Reviews

To walk in the land of the mighty grizzly bear is to delve into the wild of our being. Bjorn Dihle takes us on this journey, exploring those who walked before him, and praying that those who follow can discover their own true nature.

Amy Gulick, author of The Salmon Way: An Alaska State of Mind

MOUNTAINEERS BOOKSis dedicated to the exploration, preservation, and enjoyment of outdoor and wilderness areas.

1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98134

800-553-4453, www.mountaineersbooks.org

Copyright 2021 by Bjorn Dihle

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form, or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Mountaineers Books and its colophon are registered trademarks of The Mountaineers organization.

Printed in Canada

Distributed in the United Kingdom by Cordee, www.cordee.co.uk

24 23 22 21 1 2 3 4 5

Copyeditor: Ali Shaw

Cover and book design: Jen Grable

Cartographer: Martha Bostwick

Back cover photo: Bjorn Dihle

Portions of some chapters were previously published in a different form in Alaska Magazine, Sierra Magazine, and the Juneau Empire.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available at