Ice Prophet

Ice Prophet #1

by William R. Forstchen

In a future ice age Michael Ormson leads a violent uprising against the forces of tyranny and brings hope of a new way of life for mankind

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook, Post Apocalyptic

304 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1983

About the author

William R. Forstchen (born 1950) is an American author who began publishing in 1983 with the novel Ice Prophet. He is a Professor of History and Faculty Fellow at Montreat College, in Montreat, North Carolina. He received his doctorate from Purdue University with specializations in Military History, the American Civil War and the History of Technology.

Forstchen is the author of more than forty books, including the award winning We Look Like Men of War, a young adult novel about an African-American regiment that fought at the Battle of the Crater, which is based upon his doctoral dissertation, The 28th USCTs: Indiana’s African-Americans go to War, 1863-1865 and the "Lost Regiment" series which has been optioned by both Tom Cruise and M. Night Shyamalan.

Forstchen’s writing efforts have, in recent years, shifted towards historical fiction and non fiction. In 2002 he started the “Gettysburg” trilogy with Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich; the trilogy consists of Gettysburg: A Novel of the Civil War, Grant Comes East, and Never Call Retreat: Lee and Grant - The Final Victory. More recently, they have have published two works on the events leading up to Pearl Harbor and immediately after that attack Pearl Harbor, and Days of Infamy.

In March 2009, Forstchen’s latest work, One Second After, (Forge/St. Martin’s books) was released. Based upon several years of intensive research and interviews, it examines what might happen in a “typical” American town in the wake of an attack on the United States with “electro-magnetic pulse” (EMP) weapons. Similar in plotting to books such as On the Beach and Alas Babylon, One Second After, is set in a small college town in western North Carolina and is a cautionary tale of the collapse of social order in the wake of an EMP strike. The book has been optioned by Warner Bros. and currently is in development as a feature film. The book was cited on the floor of Congress and before the House Armed Services Committee by Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (R.-MD), chair of the House Committee tasked to evaluate EMP weapons, as a realistical portrayal of the potential damage rendered by an EMP attack on the continental United States.

Forstchen resides near Asheville, North Carolina with his daughter Meghan. His other interests include archaeology, and he has participated in several expeditions to Mongolia and Russia. He is a pilot and co owns an original 1943 Aeronca L-3B recon plane used in World War II.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/willia...

Reviews

[Martti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two millennia in the future Earth is frozen. The survivors are distributed into different religious cults, fighting each other. So in the beginning it feels like a colder Canticle for Leibowitz.

A young monk Michael Ormson boards an icerunner, a sail ship sailing on the ice. Board, loot and capture other ships. Guns under the deck, the broadside battles of the colonization era are back.

I'm not too happy there's a prophecy involved, but then again you can make some hopeful vague comments about the future and call it a prophecy. Or a goal? Maybe. Anyway, we have real actions supporting the ascent which helps a bit. Some Paul Atreides and Mahdi vibes here. Let's see if we get the Kwisatz Haderach we deserve.


Protagonist Michael Ormson is a young boy and his religious partner-monks seem to believe he is "the One". There are many sects or branches of fundamental religion. His crew attacks many ships and then will try to take that sect's home base. While ramming the walls with their stolen ship, our young protagonist kills his first man and more. One of them happens to be the captain of the fort. Mike gets the right to the victim's wife which the dead guy also won by conquering the castle-island. The wife is the beautiful daughter of the former leader. Our conqueror could be cock deep in tits and ass, but finds his religious upbringing after killing and conquering. Oh, ok, I guess it's a kid-friendly book. Because blood and chopping off heads is kid-friendly, but a nipple-slip has always been an R-rating affair in the US.

Turns out the three main sects have agreed on perpetual conflict, a couple of thousand die every year and the religious fervor continues being inflamed. Michael figures this religious brainwash out and wants to work against this conspiracy by hurling enlightenment in the face of these mindless fundamental fraks.

[John Drawdy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It starts very slowly, but get through about the first third and you’ll be rewarded with a great tale. It does have a lot of sailing jargon which was annoying because I couldn’t tell what was going on at times.

[Bobby Lundy]

Michel Ormson is a fifteen year old monk at st. awstin. He has been protected for his entire life and has been hidden to the world. It is time for him to go out on the ice as a crew member onboard a ice runner. He goes throw many trials while he is on the ice and finds out he is the one of prophecy that will start a new religion and become one of the saints. He must fight against the church and the enemies of his people. As he fights he becomes known as a hero and gains a following. He has to go against every thing that he was taught in his years at the church.

This is a good book by William R. Forstchen. It is a good book to read in your spare time. It is full of action and some gore, but it also has some drama. It is mostly the action of it. It is based in a world that has been frozen over for hundreds of years, it is based in Viking culture. If you do not like to read gore and read it in detail do not read this book. If you don’t mind it you should read it.

[Taylor Ellwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a classic bit of Fantasy, albeit set it in the future, in a dystopic ice world version of the Earth. The plot is solid and the characters are solid enough, if a bit typecast. In some ways it seems like the author is trying to replicate Dune with this book and its not quite the same, but its still a good read and worth picking up if you like dystopic futures.

[James]

[Audiobook CD Library Edition in vinyl case.] [Read by Elijah Alexander] Michael Ormson was the One of the prophecy, but by whom had he been chosen? For millennia after the Accident, Earth lay cold and still, its small population punished by the dismal climate, harried by plague, and impoverished by frequent, bloody wars. Then, unexpectedly, a hero emerged and offered hope to the oppressed. With great ice fleets, he conquered the forces of tyranny and brought the promise of renewal to an otherwise miserable world. But nothing was quite as it seemed -- either to Michael Ormson or to his followers.

[Donna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t actually finish this. I’ve managed about 3 hours of the audiobook after restarting twice. I just can’t follow what is going on??? By the second restart I realised that Michael was in 2 places due to dreams. It’s just a big jumble with LOTS of confusing information on boats (that travel on ice not sea), religions, people. It was so frustrating I gave up.

[Derek Gillespie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good, post apocalyptic, return of the ice age, commentary on religion. It's a coming of age story and there are ship battles on ice and political intrigue. I didn't really care for the ship stuff (reminded me of Moby Dick) but the contemplative parts about life, prophecies, and organized religion was really interesting. It's not a slow read but not a fast one either.

[Becky · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring. Return of the christian wars.

[Steve · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not awful. Just couldn't get into it, and gave up after 40 mins. #DNF

[Chris Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man destroyed the moon driving most of the world into winter. Now, most of civilization is controlled by competing churches. Think of the medieval Roman Catholic Church (inquisition, papal corruption, etc) and you know the state of things.[return]A prophecy tells of One who will break the churches power and bring about a renaissance. Michael Ormson is the One. At first reluctant, Michael comes to know and embrace his destiny.[return][return]An enjoyable read. The nature of religion is touched as well as a couple of rousing ice fleet battles. The first of a trilogy. Get it. Read it.

[Lynn Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this. the bad guys are orders of priests out to eliminate each other and rule the world. The hero is a man who is trying to gain religious freedom for everyone. It's bloody but good. I started to read the second in the series but the behavior of the bad guys in this 1983 book is too much like the evil of ISIS and I stopped reading it. Nothing new under he sun or in human imagination and its reflection of reality

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, I love this author. But be warned: The first quarter of this book is 1-2 stars. Drab, dull, tedious. The next half is 2-3 stars. Barely better. Finally, the last quarter is quite good. Action, drama, battle. Still, the characters are just not interesting, and I only finished listening to this because I was driving, and it was on. Be warned: Great author, weak story. So many other books by WRF you should read instead.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book but definitely not my favorite by Forstchen. I like his Rally Cry books better, and haven't read any more in his ice series.

[Elly Wendy · Rating 1 out of 5]

good grief! description ad nauseum. Religious orders at war in a frozen world. Nope, not my kind of book. couldn't read.

[JT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brain Candy, pure and simple. I went through an Ice Boat phase in early high-school.

[Luigi · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a past land yacht racer, the concept of ships on blades appealed

[Carol Ladwig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished 4/21. Characters had no depth.