The Man Who Hunted Ice

by Trevor Mahon

Lorne Lorch is an ice each night he snakes through the ducts of an office tower peeling "ice rats"--bioluminescent blooms that cause their surroundings to freeze--one of the dirtiest, most unpleasant jobs imaginable. And thanks to a bet between influencers, a sociology student's essay going viral, and an ice-cleaning-focused comic book becoming an underground hit, Lorne finds himself something of a celebrity, and before long newspapers are printing daily statistics of his rat takes. Fans tailgate behind his building. He faces daily media scrums. A young upstart nips at his heels. And as the pressure mounts on Lorne to maintain his supremacy in the field, living under the spotlight becomes increasingly oppressive. At the Regatta, a Super Bowl-like cleaning championship event, Lorne makes a final dash for immortality--and ends up destroying the city's greatest structure and causing a riot in the streets in the process. Hilarious and heartfelt, The Man Who Hunted Ice tells the story of a man destined for greatness in the dreariest of places.

279 pages, Paperback

Published October 15, 2023

Reviews

[Ginger Tea · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inventive take on contemporary celebrity culture and the various ways one navigates (or not?) being thrust into the spotlight against all odds. A gruff-but-lovable protagonist leads us through a winding road to a breath-holding climax with enough hooks and foreshadows along the way to keep you from being able to put the bookmark in the blasted thing and go to bed.

A strong debut - can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

[Jonathan Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written book that reminds one of Kurt Vonngut Jr's work with its humour and darkly absurd situations. It's the kind of novel that gets turned into a movie but becomes flashy and then fans of the novel say, "The movie wasn't bad, but they really changed the main characters."
Definitely worth a read.

[Enid Wray]

How about we just say that I am not the reader for this novel.

DNF

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely DIFFERENT! Lorne Lorch is an ice cleaner: each night he snakes through the ducts of an office tower peeling "ice rats"--bioluminescent blooms that cause their surroundings to freeze--one of the dirtiest, most unpleasant jobs imaginable.

This story has so many layers. On the surface, as a satire, it humorously (and cleverly) illuminates the frenzied adulation we bestow on certain athletes, and the scathing rebuke they endure if they happen to step off the pedestal we placed them on. Another level contrasts Lorne's work ethic and devotion to the job to the suits who exploit his talent and ignore the dangerous conditions he faces every day. It's also the story of a long marriage where love is expressed, not in words, but in the little everyday actions of a couple who know and respect each other. Lorne's uneasy relationship with his son shows how pride and miscommunication can keep fathers and sons from the deep connection they both want, but can't express. I especially like how the wisdom and experience of Loren, an older, broken down man, is contrasted with the breezy and careless confidence of the young. There is so much more I could say, but I don't want to include any spoilers.

The Man Who Hunted Ice is Trevor Mahon's debut novel. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next!