What is it that's weighing down this great adventure story?

Is this just an epic journey through China, or does this writer also have mad skills?

Has classic European explorer lingo turned this woman into a macho?

Did the best mountaineer ever write the best book about mountaineering ever?

Are we looking at a career-obsessed explorer or at a blueprint for Indiana Jones?

Is this too much racism even for an imperialist?

Do we really care whose fault it was, or can we just accept that mountains are deadly sometimes?