Review
WL Rating
There’s an old saying that goes something like this: “Those who can’t do, teach.” What’s my point? Well, there’s no doubt that former Surfer, Surfing and The Surfer’s Path editor Drew Kampion can appreciate and edit excellent content from his staff writers—he did it for decades with unquestionable success. It’s also true that he can write highly persuasive editorial pieces himself. But, after forcing myself through his book, The Lost Coast, I feel that fiction is not Mr. Kampion’s calling. Lost Coast is a collection of short stories written by Kampion over three decades (almost all were previously published in various surf magazines). The early stories have all the drug induced metaphysical meanderings that you’d expect from the 70’s. Honestly, some of the stories were nearly impossible to finish, and I’ll force myself through just about anything. The more recent stories aren’t much better, even as Kampion apparently becomes more lucid and wise with age. Overall, there were a couple pieces, particularly at the end, that were passable, but for me the vast majority of the stories just didn’t work. If surf fiction is your thing, then books like Breath, Tijuana Straits or The Dogs of Winter are some of the best. The Lost Coast, however, is not a book that needs to find its way into your library. (January 2010)
The Lost Coast - Drew Kampion
