From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Asia Overland
Asia Overland
Asia Overland ellers of the era. Despite considerable interest from the
public, there has been no follow-up edition and at times
Author(s) Mark Elliott and Wil Klass second-hand copies of the original edition have been of-
Language English fered at relatively exorbitant prices on Amazon and e-
Bay.
Publisher Trailblazer
Publication date 1998
Trivia
Pages 567
The book contains several hidden in-jokes including
’towns’ on maps named after friends of the authors
Asia Overland by Mark Elliott and Wil Klass was an idio-
(Bakus, Danigrad etc).
syncratic book of the 1990s which developed a minor
Asia Overland was the first practical guide book in Eng-
cult following amongst backpackers in Asia and the for-
lish to cover the ex-Soviet Caucasus region after the
mer Soviet Union. Although it has been out of print since
breakup of the USSR.
2002, the book remains a talking point amongst older
• Page count = 567
travellers. Its unique feature was that practical informa-
• Map count = 452
tion was displayed in a set of schematic ’treasure maps’[1]
• Publisher = Trailblazer
rather than in run-on text, a style later replicated in cer-
• Publishing date = 1998
tain other books by Trailblazer[2],[3].
Between maps, the book’s writing offered a way to
inspire questions and investigation more than providing References
answers in the style of more classic Lonely Planet style
[1] Amazon.ca: Asia Overland: Books: Mark Elliott,Wil
guides. The guide gained a certain notoriety by explain-
Klass
ing ’tricks’ for crossing ex-Soviet borders semi-legally,
[2] Amazon.com: Trailblazer South East Asia: The
for reaching Iraqi Kurdistan when that area was still little
Graphic Guide: Books: Mark Elliott
known to exist, and for getting into North Korea without
[3] Amazon.co.uk: Reviews for South-East Asia
a visa. Today these tips appear extremely foolhardy but
(Trailblazer): Books: Mark Elliott
at the time the book was written (largely pre-Internet)
they worked and caused much excitement amongst trav-
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Categories:
• Travel guide books
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