Primarily set in Argentina and the jungles of the Misiones territory in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, these are tales of adventure, danger, and the pioneering men of the jungle and times. While some of the stories are comparable to the best adventure stories I've come across, and others are very nearly more along the lines of character sketches of curious characters, the book as a whole paints a vivid illustration of an unpredictable jungle, and the visions within.

Writing-wise, Quiroga's work is comparable to Joseph Conrad, and while it feels somewhat dated at times, that doesn't make it any less enjoyable in the reading. (The introduction and another review also compare him to Jack London and Rudyard Kipling, but I'm not so familiar with their work as to feel safe vouching for that comparison!) Similarly, anyone who reads the book as a whole might also be reminded of Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio--bit characters in one story turn out to have larger roles in other stories, and reading the book through as a whole makes for an inter-winding collection that, I think, is stronger and more fluid for the connections (though, without a doubt, the stories generally stand on their own).

In the end, there's no doubt that some of the stories are far more powerful than others, with a few of the clear stand-outs being "Beasts in Collusion", "The Charcoal-Makers", "The Wilderness", and "The Forerunners", all of which are alive with suspense, and truly wonderful depictions of the adventures and horrors of the jungle. (That said, be warned--there are a few horrific moments tied up in these stories, especially "Beasts in Collusion", which horrified me even as I couldn't put it down...) Granted, other stories aren't so powerful here, but the ones I noted above made the full work well worth discovering.

In the end, if you're a fan of jungle or adventure stories similar to the work of Jack London or Joseph Conrad, or if you're in the market for some entertaining short stories which are full of atmosphere and wonderful characters, I'd absolutely recommend this collection. ( )

Cuentos de Quiroga, Anaconda, Los Desterrados, el Hombre Muerto, Tacuara Mansión, Los destiladores de Naranjas. ( )