Birds of Coastal British Columbia
Nancy Baron and John Acorn
Lone Pine Printing ©1997
ISBN: 1551050986
NON-FICTION
Great book that finally educated me on a little of the birdlife in the northwest. We mostly use as a reference guide. Has an alphabetical list of different types of birds with illustrations.

The Curve of Time
M. Wylie Blanchet
Gray’s Publishing ©1968
ISBN: 1878067273
FICTION
A mother and her children explore the inside of Vancouver Island. A classic easy read while cruising in British Columbia; although a little boring.

A Guide to the Queen Charlotte Islands, 12th Edition
Neil G. Carey
Raincoast Books ©1998
ISBN: 1551921448
NON-FICTION
An essential book if you are going to the Charlottes; be it by foot, kayak or boat. While this book is pretty short and leaves you with almost as many questions as it answers, it is one of the best and only books available on the Charlottes. I have both the 10th and the 12th editions. All the information is very up to date.

Cruising Beyond Desolation Sound
John Chappell
Naikoon Marine ©1979, revised 1987
ISBN: 0969282508
NON-FICTION
The classic crusing guide for those cruising the upper half of the inside of Vancouver Island. Chappell’s book is excellent, although my edition comes across as a little dated. His comments on currents in the various passages are especially useful. Chappel’s verbiage on anchorages is not especially “flowery”, but he covers the basics. This book is especially useful when used in conjunction with Don Douglass & Reanne Hemmingway-Douglas' book Exploring the North Coast of British Columbia. I think the two books compliment each other nicely.

World Cruising Routes (3rd Edition)
Jimmy Cornell
International Marine ©1987, revised 1990
ISBN: 0070133441
NON-FICTION
Another classic book. Not that all that useful for a trip of this nature, but it had interesting information for planning the portions of the trip that were offshore. This book is really targeted at sailors making ocean crossings.

The Queen Charlotte Islands - Volume 2 Places & Names
Kathleen E. Dalzell
Harbour Publishing ©1973
ISBN: 088894313X
NON-FICTION
This book is not nearly as useful/practical as Neil Carey’s guide to the Charlottes, but it is packed with historical information. Dalzell also has another book called “Part One” which gives details on the Charlottes history 1774-1966.

The Dance of Shiva
William Deverell
McClelland and Stewart ©1996
ISBN: 0771026641
FICTION
William Deverell is from Vancouver, and I find his fictional books fun to read while cruising in British Columbia. Dance of the Shiva starts with a cult mass-murder in Desolation Sound and devlops into a full-blown mystery-thriller, set in Vancouver and the surrounding coastal areas. A very good read if you like a good old fashioned screwed-up thriller.

Fatal Cruise
William Deverell
McClelland and Stewart ©1992
ISBN: 0771026684
NON-FICTION
A very, very strange story. The axiom, “truth is stanger than fiction”, really applies to this one. This is the true account of a bizzare murder that takes place on a cruise ship in the middle of the Straits of Juan de Fuca. Much of the book is about the trial for the murder, which takes place in Victoria, British Columbia. Whacked, but hard to put down.

Needles
William Deverell
Publisher Unknown
ISBN: 0553139746
FICTION
The first Deverell book I read. This is another thriller set in the Pacific Northwest... mostly Vancouver, British Columbia. Great read!

High Crimes
William Deverell
Bantam Books ©1984
ISBN: 0553244329
FICTION
If you decide you like Deverell, here is another one for you. This one is not situated in the northwest, but on the east coast. A drug-smuggling thriller.

Exploring the Inside Passage to Alaska
Don Douglass & Reanne Hemmingway-Douglass
Fine Edge Productions ©1995
ISBN: 0938665332
NON-FICTION
Don Douglass & Reanne Hemmingway-Douglass have written a variety of books on cruising the northwest (and other topics). The books are well written and very consistent. Their coverage is fantastic and commentary right on target. All the photography is B&W which makes it hard to get a feel for some of the locations. I use Don’s books as my primary cruising guides when we are out.

Exploring the North Coast of British Columbia
Don Douglass & Reanne Hemmingway-Douglass
Fine Edge Productions ©1997
ISBN: 0938665456
NON-FICTION
See comments on Don Douglass & Reanne Hemmingway-Douglass above. This is an essential book for those heading up the Inside Passage and/or out to the Charlottes. The last chapter in this book is on the Charlottes and is the only cruising guide that I know of that covers the Charlottes. This, the B.C. Sailing Direcvtions and Neil Carey’s guide are your three main written resources.

Exploring the South Coast of British Columbia
Don Douglass & Reanne Hemmingway-Douglass
Fine Edge Productions ©1996
ISBN: 0938665448
NON-FICTION
See comments on Don Douglass & Reanne Hemmingway-Douglass above. Great book that covers the inside of Vancouver Island.

Haida Gwaii: Journeys Through the Queen Charlotte Islands
Ian Gill and David Nunik (photographer)
Raincoast Books ©1997
ISBN: 1551920689
NON-FICTION
This is a fantastic book that unfortunately I didn’t find until after we returned from the Charlottes. The book consists of three true stories about the authors adventures in the Charlottes. The stories are entertaining, the history interesting and the David Nunik’s photography is excellent.

Dangerous Waters
Keith Keller
Harbour Publishing ©1997
ISBN: 1550171682
NON-FICTION
Great book. Accounts of 21 wrecks and rescues on the north and south coast of British Columbia. This is a really fun read while navigating the waters around British Columbia! Instructive in that you will probably pay many of the Capes & Straits you round or transit more respect after reading this book.

Weather for the Mariner (3rd Edition)
William J. Kotsch
Naval Institute Press ©1983
ISBN: 0870217569
NON-FICTION
To be honest I haven’t read that much of this book—I have more used it as a reference. This book is touted as a weather-bible for mariners, but I found it a little heavy and generic for cruising the coastal waters of the Pacific Northwest. I think Jeff Renner’s Northwest Marine Weather is a much better investment for the northwest adventurer.

Far Away Places: 50 Anchorages on the Northwest Coast
Iain Lawrence
Orca Book Publishers ©1995
ISBN: 1551430339
NON-FICTION
Super book! 50 great anchorages between Cape Caution and Prince Rupert. Half story-book, half cruising guide. You’ll either love or hate Iain Lawrence’s sense of style and dry wit. We visited several of the anchorages he recommended.

Sea Stories of the Inside Passage
Iain Lawrence
Fine Edge Productions ©1997
ISBN: 0938665472
FICTION
A compilation of short stories by Ian Lawrence—all situated bewteen Cape Caution and Prince Rupert. Again, you’ll either love or hate Iain Lawrence’s style. I really enjoyed the book.

Cat & Mouse
James Patterson
Warner Books © 1998
ISBN: 0446606189
FICTION
Amy read this book during our trip and then read 95% of it out loud to me. While some of Patterson’s other books have been kind of scary (Kiss the Girls comes to mind... this book was just... well...dumb.

Northwest Marine Weather
Jeff Renner
The Mountaineers ©1993
ISBN: 0898863767
NON-FICTION
Fantastic, inexpensive book. Talks about specific weather patterns in different parts of the northwest. Gives forecasting clues and has a great section on weatherfax. Don’t go north without this book. The only downside to this book is that it only covers up to the top of Vancouver Island.

The Coastal Companion
Joe Upton
Coastal Publishing ©1995
ISBN: 0964568209
NON-FICTION
This appears to be a guide designed for people on cruise ships headed up the Inside Passage. It is sort of general, but sometimes has a nice different perspective. It is definitely not a cruising guide, but is entertaining at times.

Cruising Guide to British Columbia Volume 1 - Gulf Islands
Bill Wolferstan
Whitecap Books ©1994
ISBN: 0921061102
NON-FICTION
Bill Wolferstan has written several books on cruising around the Pacific Northwest. I find them a very nice compliment to Don Douglas’ books. Wolferstan’s books are well written and the color arial photography is wonderful. The only downside to the books is that they appear to be a little dated and they are fairly expensive. Wolferstan does not have as broad coverage as Don Douglas, but the coverage he has is more detailed. Great if you can afford to buy them.

Cruising Guide to British Columbia Volume 2 - Desolation Sound
Bill Wolferstan
Whitecap Books ©1994
ISBN: 0921061234
NON-FICTION
See above comments on Bill Wolferstan. This is really the definitive book on cruising Desolation Sound.

How to Cruise to Alaska
Walt Woodward
Nor' westing Inc. ©1985
ISBN: 0931923018
NON-FICTION
This book describes a “no-nonsense & simple route” to Alaska. I bought this book years ago when I was thinking about cruising to Alaska. I am not sure I would buy it again (it is quite dated and a little odd), but it does have a few gems of knowledge on currents and passages scattered thoughout.

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Adventures in the Charlottes was written by Tim Whelan.
All pictures and text ©Tim Whelan 1998-1999.
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