Sky Dance cover art

Sky Dance

Fighting for the Wild in the Scottish Highlands

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Sky Dance

By: John D. Burns
Narrated by: Stewart Crank
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About this listen

"Bring back the lynx? Over my dead body!"

A mutter passed through the crowd of environmental protestors, and Rory stepped forward. "Your hunting has destroyed our hills and left them treeless wastes, devoid of wildlife. It’s time that changed."

Lord Purdey’s lip curled in a sneer. "Listen, you lentil-eating cat lover, Scotland is owned by me and men like me. If we want to kill anything that moves and bulldoze your beloved hills flat, we will." Someone from the group hurled a turnip. It struck Purdey a glancing blow and he crumpled slowly to the ground, just as the archaic class system he represented must eventually fall. Or so Rory hoped....

In his first two best-selling books, The Last Hillwalker and Bothy Tales, John D. Burns invited audiences to join him in the hills and wild places of Scotland. In Sky Dance, he returns to that world to ask fundamental questions about how we relate to this northern landscape - while raising a laugh or two along the way. Anyone who has stood and gazed at the majesty of the Scottish mountains will know this place and want to return to it. Now, as wild land is threatened like never before, it’s time we asked ourselves what kind of future we want for the Highlands.

©2019 John D. Burns (P)2019 Vertebrate Digital Action & Adventure Highlander Scotland

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All stars
Most relevant
The conflict between landowners and hillwalkers in the Scottish highlands is explored through a diverse range of characters in Burns' gripping novel. The two main characters, Rory and Angus, are seen struggling with a posh landowner Lord Purdey after seeing a Harrier being shot on his land.

It's a bit of a mixed bag: adventure novel; a book about environmental activism and some Sherlock Holmes-esque investigation bits - this book has it all.

The narrator was fantastic in distinguishing between the many accents across the course of the book.

For someone who generally reads non-fiction, I thoroughly enjoyed this!

Gripping novel

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I couldn’t help comparing this to the author’s autobiographical works, and at first I was a bit disappointed. It lacks the humour of his earlier books and I found the pace quite slow, especially in the beginning. But it grew on me and I enjoyed it in the end. It’s a lighthearted look at some serious subjects which could otherwise be quite boring or depressing to read about. It will probably mean more to hill-walkers and environmental vegans than to normal members of the public. The narration was generally fine, although a couple of the accents grated.

Not bad

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Really enjoyed it, highlighted the grouse moor decimation of the natural eco system.
This is something as a southern Englishman I had never heard of. Ignorantly believing that this was how the Scotish landscape always was.
I have read all of Johns books and they ignite a wanderlust thats in all of us. Its a shame its 700 miles away.
Look forwards to the next book

Really enjoyed it, highlighted the grouse moor

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Ok, the pronunciation of Scottish words and places is off sometimes and the plot is at times predictable and at others totally outlandish but it's a great story that kept me gripped and the narrators voice is good. Everyone living in the Highlands should read this book, although fictional it's also extremely enlightening as to the ridiculous land ownership situation we seemingly tolerate . Anyone living here will also enjoy the thinly veiled places and characters that will be all too familiar. Highly recommend.

Love this book for so many reasons.

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Listener received this title free

Overall a decent book, bit preachy at times with stereotypically 'baddies' which comes across a bit divisivea. I have an interest in the wild places of Scotland and the re wilding/land ownership/reintroduction of lynx and found the overall story good fun to read, great if you didn't know too much about it before hand, can be a bit 'explainy' if you already have a good idea and opinion on it. read 'the lynx and us' book for some supplemental non fiction if you get gripped by the subject.

Good read

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