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Ice Hunt
Carved into a moving island of ice twice the size of the United States, Ice Station Grendel has been abandoned for more than seventy years. The twisted brainchild of the finest minds of the former Soviet Union, it was designed to be inaccessible and virtually invisible. But an American undersea research vessel has inadvertently pulled too close--and something has been sighted moving inside the allegedly deserted facility, something whose survival defies every natural law. And now, as scientists, soldiers, intelligence operatives, and unsuspecting civilians are drawn into Grendel's lethal vortex, the most extreme measures possible will be undertaken to protect its dark mysteries--because the terrible truths locked behind submerged walls of ice and steel could end human life on Earth.
397 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2003
716 people are currently reading
7245 people want to read
About the author
James Rollins
125 books14.3k followersJames Rollins is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of international thrillers. His writing has been translated into more than forty languages and has sold more than 20 million books. The New York Times says, “Rollins is what you might wind up with if you tossed Michael Crichton and Dan Brown into a particle accelerator together.” NPR calls his work, “Adventurous and enormously engrossing.” Rollins unveils unseen worlds, scientific breakthroughs, and historical secrets matched with stunning suspense. As a veterinarian, he had a practice in Sacramento for over a decade and still volunteers at local shelters. Nowadays, Rollins shares his home up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains with two furry companions, Echo and Charlie. He also enjoys scuba diving, spelunking, kayaking, and hiking. Of course, he loves to travel and experience new places around the world, which often inspire his next globe-trotting adventure.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 701 reviews
March 24, 2022
Riveting ice adventure!
3.5⭐
So much to love, cold climate setting (Northern Alaska, and the Arctic), creepy top-secret research lab, a cool retired search & rescue dog name Bane, and lots of likable characters and evil villains (there's a helpful list of characters).
A reporter Craig Teague is on his way to do research on a secret experimental lab when his plane was shot down, the pilot died and Craig is rescued by a Fish and Game Warden Matthew Pike. Whoever shot Craig's rent a plane pursued the two on foot. Matt took Craig to his ex-wife's cabin nearby. Jennifer Aratuk is a native and also a sheriff, she and her father John helped them escape north in her plane.
Dr. Amanda Reynolds is on an American research vessel mapping icebergs when she comes across a drifting ice facility with a WW2 Russian submarine docking at the bottom. Using her instruments, she was able to see the multi-level structure and some kind of movement inside, but this lab is said to be abandoned for almost half a century...
Ooh, it's good! It was also a bit too long and too much detail. I wish the storytelling is concise after halfway mark as I was losing patience and wanted to know the ending! I borrowed the audiobook from Hoopla. It was a decent production, a little dated so the quality isn't too great especially if you play it out loud. I also borrowed a Kindle book to read along.
3.5⭐
So much to love, cold climate setting (Northern Alaska, and the Arctic), creepy top-secret research lab, a cool retired search & rescue dog name Bane, and lots of likable characters and evil villains (there's a helpful list of characters).
A reporter Craig Teague is on his way to do research on a secret experimental lab when his plane was shot down, the pilot died and Craig is rescued by a Fish and Game Warden Matthew Pike. Whoever shot Craig's rent a plane pursued the two on foot. Matt took Craig to his ex-wife's cabin nearby. Jennifer Aratuk is a native and also a sheriff, she and her father John helped them escape north in her plane.
Dr. Amanda Reynolds is on an American research vessel mapping icebergs when she comes across a drifting ice facility with a WW2 Russian submarine docking at the bottom. Using her instruments, she was able to see the multi-level structure and some kind of movement inside, but this lab is said to be abandoned for almost half a century...
Ooh, it's good! It was also a bit too long and too much detail. I wish the storytelling is concise after halfway mark as I was losing patience and wanted to know the ending! I borrowed the audiobook from Hoopla. It was a decent production, a little dated so the quality isn't too great especially if you play it out loud. I also borrowed a Kindle book to read along.
July 15, 2016
Yep, this was a pretty good.
Matthew Pike is an Alaskan Game Warden who witnesses a plane crash and goes to investigate the site (first mistake). This is where he meets a reporter (Craig Teague), who he helps out of the wrecked plane. Another plane passes by that drops off a group of Russian Mercenaries - who are just a little bit inhospitable - they seem to want to put a few holes in the reporter (that must be a first); as they fire on Pike and his new friend. After Pike disposes of the trash; he seeks the help of his ex-wife (Jenny); she's an Alaskan native - and she's not too happy to see her ex-husband turning up on her doorstep, though she agrees to help him.
This is the first book I've read by the author and I really liked it. It had the right mix of action, horror, adventure and suspense to keep me intrigued throughout.
Matthew Pike is an Alaskan Game Warden who witnesses a plane crash and goes to investigate the site (first mistake). This is where he meets a reporter (Craig Teague), who he helps out of the wrecked plane. Another plane passes by that drops off a group of Russian Mercenaries - who are just a little bit inhospitable - they seem to want to put a few holes in the reporter (that must be a first); as they fire on Pike and his new friend. After Pike disposes of the trash; he seeks the help of his ex-wife (Jenny); she's an Alaskan native - and she's not too happy to see her ex-husband turning up on her doorstep, though she agrees to help him.
This is the first book I've read by the author and I really liked it. It had the right mix of action, horror, adventure and suspense to keep me intrigued throughout.
August 6, 2013
“Always respect Mother Nature. Especially when she weighs 400 pounds and is guarding her baby.”
The X Factor.
Matthew Pike, Alaskan Fish and Game Warden, believed the most he had to worry about was dodging angry Grizzly bears in the Alaskan wilderness until he watches a plane crash just miles from his location. He pulls a Seattle Reporter named Craig Teague out of the wreckage and before he can even process what is going on another plane flies over and drops Russian mercenaries with ice bikes on top of him. Pike’s Green Beret training can only take him so far, but the Alaskan wilderness proves to be an even bigger weapon.
1932 The Tuskegee Syphilis Study begins. Two hundred black men diagnosed with syphilis are never told of their illness, are denied treatment, and instead are used as human guinea pigs. They all subsequently die from syphilis.
The action lands Pike on his ex-wife’s doorstep. Jenny is not exactly glad to see him especially since he brought unwanted company. They manage to elude their pursuers in Jenny’s plane, but this only creates more questions than answers. Why are the Russians trying to kill Teague?
1940 Four hundred prisoners in Chicago are infected with malaria in order to study the effects of new and experimental drugs to combat the disease. Nazi doctors later on trial at Nuremberg cite this American study to defend themselves.
They head to Teague’s original destination Ice Station Grendel, a recently rediscovered secret base built by the Russians during World War Two into an iceberg twice the size of the United States. A team of American scientists are there investigating the five steel encased levels of the base and they are marveling at the technology and are horrified by what resides on level four.
1956 The U.S. military releases mosquitoes infected with yellow fever over Savannah, Georgia, and Avon Park, Florida. Following each test, Army agents posing as public health officials test victims for effects.
Among the scientists is Dr. Amanda Reynolds an engineer who also happens to be deaf. As she explores the Station and the crawl space, a warren of tunnels behind the station, she finds things that shouldn’t be there. Creatures last alive 50 million years ago.
“The creature filled the passage, shouldering up to the crossroads. In the shadows, it looked as black as oil, but they knew it was as pale as bleached bone.”
I’d tell you more about these creatures, but it is just too damn scary. They call the creatures Grendel because they are as terrifying as that legendary monster was to the Norsemen.
One thing that was really interesting for me was thinking about experiencing terror and being deaf. When the lights go out in the tunnel Amanda is not only deaf, but blind as well. This certainly added to her terror and to mine. At other times because she couldn’t hear she did not experience the same level of terror of the people that could hear the approaching danger. What we hear definitely escalates our terror and helps us make decisions to fight or flee or can also paralyses us somewhere in between.
1966 U.S. Army dispenses Bacillus subtilis variant niger throughout the New York City subway system. More than a million civilians are exposed when Army scientists drop lightbulbs filled with the bacteria onto ventilation grates.
The Arctic wood frogs play a part in our plot. James Rollins usually manages to expose me to something I didn’t know before.
”Arctic wood frogs freeze as hard as stone during the winter. Their hearts don’t beat. When frozen, you can cut them in half, and they don’t bleed. All EEG activity ceases. In fact, there’s no cellular activity at all. For all intents and purposes, they’re dead. But come spring, they thaw, and within fifteen minutes, their hearts are beating, blood pumping and they’re jumping around.”
Okay, what the heck?
I thought maybe this was one of those moments verging on science fiction that Rollins sometimes sticks in his book. So tell me how is this possible Monsieur Rollins?
”Sugar.
Glucose specifically. There’s a Canadian researcher, Dr. Ken Storey, who has been studying Arctic wood frogs for the past decade. What he’s discovered is that when ice starts forming on a frog’s rubbery skin, its body starts filling each cell with sugary glucose. Increasing the osmalality of the cell to the point that life-killing ice can’t form inside it.”
Wait a minute, the frogs do freeze so doesn’t that still have the same devastating effect on their cells as frostbite?
”It is only the water outside the cells that ices up. The glucose inside the cell acts as a cryoprotectant, a type of antifreeze, preserving the cell until thawed. Dr. Storey determined that this evolutionary process is governed by a set of twenty genes that convert glycogen to glucose. The trigger for what suddenly turns these specific genes on or off is still unknown, but a hormonal theory is most advocated, something released by the frog’s glandular skin. The odd thing, though, is that these twenty genes are found in all vertebrate species.”
Now that sounds like the type of information that two countries involved in a cold war might possibly be interested in exploring further. Rollins includes a long list of known events where the U.S. government conducted illegal experiments on their citizens. I’ve shared a few of them in this review. Still into the 1990s those experiments continued.
Our heroes are put through the ringer what with plane crashes, a demented Russian submarine commander, America Delta Forces that may or may not be there to save them, blizzard conditions, freezing waters, and don’t forget those vicious damn Grendels. It is all a web of lies with two governments trying to protect secrets that shouldn’t have ever existed in the first place.
The interesting thing about James Rollins is he is a Veterinarian by trade who to escape the frustrations and stresses of his job would come home and write these adventure tales to entertain himself and to relieve some the strain of his daily life. He soon discovered that he would rather spend more of his time writing than he would practicing medicine. I don’t believe you can walk into an airport bookstore anywhere in the world without finding a James Rollins book.
I used to read a lot of thriller books in this vein, searching for that same excitement I felt when I read Treasure Island for the first time. I can tap into it for a while. Rollins had me caught up in the convolutions of the plot for about half the book, but invariably I end up hitting a wall. I love the mixture of science, action, and always a bit of the science fiction element (reasonably plausible though) that he infuses in every book. I may not be the right reader for his books anymore, but I will still occasionally throw one in the reading queue hoping that this time he and I will hit on all cylinders... after all... he is one heck of a nice guy.
I like his signature and he always puts a doodle. In this case, not as inspiring as usual with a triangle.
The X Factor.
Matthew Pike, Alaskan Fish and Game Warden, believed the most he had to worry about was dodging angry Grizzly bears in the Alaskan wilderness until he watches a plane crash just miles from his location. He pulls a Seattle Reporter named Craig Teague out of the wreckage and before he can even process what is going on another plane flies over and drops Russian mercenaries with ice bikes on top of him. Pike’s Green Beret training can only take him so far, but the Alaskan wilderness proves to be an even bigger weapon.
1932 The Tuskegee Syphilis Study begins. Two hundred black men diagnosed with syphilis are never told of their illness, are denied treatment, and instead are used as human guinea pigs. They all subsequently die from syphilis.
The action lands Pike on his ex-wife’s doorstep. Jenny is not exactly glad to see him especially since he brought unwanted company. They manage to elude their pursuers in Jenny’s plane, but this only creates more questions than answers. Why are the Russians trying to kill Teague?
1940 Four hundred prisoners in Chicago are infected with malaria in order to study the effects of new and experimental drugs to combat the disease. Nazi doctors later on trial at Nuremberg cite this American study to defend themselves.
They head to Teague’s original destination Ice Station Grendel, a recently rediscovered secret base built by the Russians during World War Two into an iceberg twice the size of the United States. A team of American scientists are there investigating the five steel encased levels of the base and they are marveling at the technology and are horrified by what resides on level four.
1956 The U.S. military releases mosquitoes infected with yellow fever over Savannah, Georgia, and Avon Park, Florida. Following each test, Army agents posing as public health officials test victims for effects.
Among the scientists is Dr. Amanda Reynolds an engineer who also happens to be deaf. As she explores the Station and the crawl space, a warren of tunnels behind the station, she finds things that shouldn’t be there. Creatures last alive 50 million years ago.
“The creature filled the passage, shouldering up to the crossroads. In the shadows, it looked as black as oil, but they knew it was as pale as bleached bone.”
I’d tell you more about these creatures, but it is just too damn scary. They call the creatures Grendel because they are as terrifying as that legendary monster was to the Norsemen.
One thing that was really interesting for me was thinking about experiencing terror and being deaf. When the lights go out in the tunnel Amanda is not only deaf, but blind as well. This certainly added to her terror and to mine. At other times because she couldn’t hear she did not experience the same level of terror of the people that could hear the approaching danger. What we hear definitely escalates our terror and helps us make decisions to fight or flee or can also paralyses us somewhere in between.
1966 U.S. Army dispenses Bacillus subtilis variant niger throughout the New York City subway system. More than a million civilians are exposed when Army scientists drop lightbulbs filled with the bacteria onto ventilation grates.
The Arctic wood frogs play a part in our plot. James Rollins usually manages to expose me to something I didn’t know before.
”Arctic wood frogs freeze as hard as stone during the winter. Their hearts don’t beat. When frozen, you can cut them in half, and they don’t bleed. All EEG activity ceases. In fact, there’s no cellular activity at all. For all intents and purposes, they’re dead. But come spring, they thaw, and within fifteen minutes, their hearts are beating, blood pumping and they’re jumping around.”
Okay, what the heck?
I thought maybe this was one of those moments verging on science fiction that Rollins sometimes sticks in his book. So tell me how is this possible Monsieur Rollins?
”Sugar.
Glucose specifically. There’s a Canadian researcher, Dr. Ken Storey, who has been studying Arctic wood frogs for the past decade. What he’s discovered is that when ice starts forming on a frog’s rubbery skin, its body starts filling each cell with sugary glucose. Increasing the osmalality of the cell to the point that life-killing ice can’t form inside it.”
Wait a minute, the frogs do freeze so doesn’t that still have the same devastating effect on their cells as frostbite?
”It is only the water outside the cells that ices up. The glucose inside the cell acts as a cryoprotectant, a type of antifreeze, preserving the cell until thawed. Dr. Storey determined that this evolutionary process is governed by a set of twenty genes that convert glycogen to glucose. The trigger for what suddenly turns these specific genes on or off is still unknown, but a hormonal theory is most advocated, something released by the frog’s glandular skin. The odd thing, though, is that these twenty genes are found in all vertebrate species.”
Now that sounds like the type of information that two countries involved in a cold war might possibly be interested in exploring further. Rollins includes a long list of known events where the U.S. government conducted illegal experiments on their citizens. I’ve shared a few of them in this review. Still into the 1990s those experiments continued.
Our heroes are put through the ringer what with plane crashes, a demented Russian submarine commander, America Delta Forces that may or may not be there to save them, blizzard conditions, freezing waters, and don’t forget those vicious damn Grendels. It is all a web of lies with two governments trying to protect secrets that shouldn’t have ever existed in the first place.
The interesting thing about James Rollins is he is a Veterinarian by trade who to escape the frustrations and stresses of his job would come home and write these adventure tales to entertain himself and to relieve some the strain of his daily life. He soon discovered that he would rather spend more of his time writing than he would practicing medicine. I don’t believe you can walk into an airport bookstore anywhere in the world without finding a James Rollins book.
I used to read a lot of thriller books in this vein, searching for that same excitement I felt when I read Treasure Island for the first time. I can tap into it for a while. Rollins had me caught up in the convolutions of the plot for about half the book, but invariably I end up hitting a wall. I love the mixture of science, action, and always a bit of the science fiction element (reasonably plausible though) that he infuses in every book. I may not be the right reader for his books anymore, but I will still occasionally throw one in the reading queue hoping that this time he and I will hit on all cylinders... after all... he is one heck of a nice guy.
I like his signature and he always puts a doodle. In this case, not as inspiring as usual with a triangle.
February 18, 2012
You know that feeling you get when the roller coaster starts up that first hill? Not one of those magnetic shoot you out of a cannon starts, I mean a good old style wooden gravity driven roller coaster. You know what I mean, that feeling in the pit of your stomach that sees a thrill behind every gust of wind, and the butthead sitting next to you that likes to point out how he can see your car in the parking lot at the Walmart in the next county. And then, finally you get to the end of the line. The clanking noise from the chain drive and the ratchet sound of the gears slacks off then dies away and there is a little period of slack and the clatter of gears and chains is replaced by the roar of metal wheels rolling on rails. Lastly gravity goes from pulling you back in your seat, almost laying own to throwing you forward for a slack moment before the car takes off down the hill faster than you could possibly fall. Start Screaming NOW!
This book is like that, except by the second chapter, your over the first hill, you just don't realize it. Then it's too late!
This is a fun read. Four and a half stars! You name it, twisted multi-layered plot. Characters that ranged in complexity and differed in back story and motivation all thrown together against a greater force. Man against man, man against the elements, man against nature, man against the past... if there is a conflict, you name it, it's in the book. Like the roller coaster, there are flat spots where you think everything's okay, then, you realize that the coaster is just turning around to make an even wilder run back the other way.
I liked the plot, I liked the pace. The story moves from fast, to faster. The scope of the plot from exciting to "who would have ever believed!" And, mixed in the plot a hint of cautionary tale that seeks to shatter our blind trust in nation and government. By the end, Heroes will be villains, then back to Heroes again, betrayers will be exposed and the world. And, the master shows how romance, and love can be worked into a story that is all about explosions and monsters (big fat scary hairless monsters with lots of teeth and...blow holes!
I liked the characters. In a book so packed with action, it's hard to add depth to characters, it's even harder to add humanity. Jenny and Matt Pike have gone through emotional hell before the book starts, and ask the question, if lives have been shattered, can you forge a new life together, even if you can't find all the pieces? The Commanding officer of a small unit, do you turn back for the woman you love, or follow a larger mission and risk loosing her to any of several types of gory, painful death.
Each character seemed to have their own cross to bear. Lots of times too many competing side stories can be distracting but these are folded nicely into the plot like Red Lobster's Cheddar Bay Biscuits . A Deaf character with a major role, a female Sheriff, an ex-army Ranger, a powerful military man seeking answers for what happened to his family.
...And best of all, Joe Kowalski is here! No fancy back story for Joe, he's WYSIWYG all the way (What you see is what you get). My favorite Supporting Cast member who has roles in several Rollins books, (particularly in the Sigma Force books, where they allude to his past in the Navy and in the Arctic.) The best news is that Joey Kay is in this book.
...The bad news...His personality is intact and he's no different.
Four stars and a renewed faith in the rip your heart our roller coaster action adventure that is every bit the Thoroughbred of action that Matthew Riely's Ice station is.
Warnings (The Devil's in the Details--isn't it always that way?)
1) There are some cruel or sad things that happen to children. None of them are the focus of any scene and most of them are things done in the past. I am hard pressed to think of how anyone might be turned off by these things as they appear during the course of the story. Rollins allows dignity and handles these situations with care. However, some people don't like even a hint of something foul happening around children. If your wone of them, just read on, it'll be okay.
2) Violence - Hey, this is an action adventure story, espionage, the battles that nobody can talk about or officially recognize has happening. What did you expect. Bullets have never been designed to be pleasant when entering someone's body and bombs are not made for entertainment. If your reading this and "Shocked and Dismayed" by he violence. Pull your head out of the sand and stop spending money on books in this genre. Maybe your money is better spent on a riveting Jane Austen novel, or a Patricia Rowell Regency Romance. Rollins does not allow the violence to become gratuitous or self-validating. It's all well handled, bad guys stay bad guys, good guys act like good guys.
3) This book is based on a fictitious event that mirrors other factual events where a powerful group of people assume ethnic superiority over what they perceive to be a lesser peoples. To say more would be to spoil, the spoilers so I'll stop here. I will add, that they are well handled within the context of the story. If you want to know how evil the people you grew up trusting can be, read the actual cases of crimes against humanity that Rollins categorizes as part of his research for the book.
4) Even though I love the characters and the character development, and I find depth in the characters that I like, this is an action adventure, beyond the main diverse group(including villains), there are only two dimensional characters. Some might find the main characters a bit thin. If you do, BAHUMBUG to you! This is an action adventure, not a soul searching, deep philosophic melodrama classic novel. As this genre goes, these are better than most as far as character development verses character by rubber-stamp.
5) Big scary monsters with lots of teeth. Lots of explosions and things that go boom! Arctic Weather at it's worst! there is some gore to be found, but compared to a good old fashioned kill the pretty college sorority girls movie, it's pretty mild. Very palatable and not used for shock value in a gratuitous way.
6) Rollins stories tend to push boundaries into the inconceivable. Before you decide that this is too far fetched, impossible, or fiction, read the section at the end of the book where he details some of his research. Rollins books are about the best staffed of any in this Genre. He is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, and very intelligent. He does a lot of research before he writes and he's very fair about telling us what he made up, what he stretched the truth on and what is dead on in his book. I find it extraordinary when people don't trust his research. Go on, check it out, go to the website, go to the source and find out?
Bottom line--Great, exciting Action Adventure, Military, Espionage, Creature Feature. If it has teeth, it probably wants to eat you! If it has a gun, it's going to shoot you. If it can blow up, it will.
Loved it.
This book is like that, except by the second chapter, your over the first hill, you just don't realize it. Then it's too late!
This is a fun read. Four and a half stars! You name it, twisted multi-layered plot. Characters that ranged in complexity and differed in back story and motivation all thrown together against a greater force. Man against man, man against the elements, man against nature, man against the past... if there is a conflict, you name it, it's in the book. Like the roller coaster, there are flat spots where you think everything's okay, then, you realize that the coaster is just turning around to make an even wilder run back the other way.
I liked the plot, I liked the pace. The story moves from fast, to faster. The scope of the plot from exciting to "who would have ever believed!" And, mixed in the plot a hint of cautionary tale that seeks to shatter our blind trust in nation and government. By the end, Heroes will be villains, then back to Heroes again, betrayers will be exposed and the world. And, the master shows how romance, and love can be worked into a story that is all about explosions and monsters (big fat scary hairless monsters with lots of teeth and...blow holes!
I liked the characters. In a book so packed with action, it's hard to add depth to characters, it's even harder to add humanity. Jenny and Matt Pike have gone through emotional hell before the book starts, and ask the question, if lives have been shattered, can you forge a new life together, even if you can't find all the pieces? The Commanding officer of a small unit, do you turn back for the woman you love, or follow a larger mission and risk loosing her to any of several types of gory, painful death.
Each character seemed to have their own cross to bear. Lots of times too many competing side stories can be distracting but these are folded nicely into the plot like Red Lobster's Cheddar Bay Biscuits . A Deaf character with a major role, a female Sheriff, an ex-army Ranger, a powerful military man seeking answers for what happened to his family.
...And best of all, Joe Kowalski is here! No fancy back story for Joe, he's WYSIWYG all the way (What you see is what you get). My favorite Supporting Cast member who has roles in several Rollins books, (particularly in the Sigma Force books, where they allude to his past in the Navy and in the Arctic.) The best news is that Joey Kay is in this book.
...The bad news...His personality is intact and he's no different.
Four stars and a renewed faith in the rip your heart our roller coaster action adventure that is every bit the Thoroughbred of action that Matthew Riely's Ice station is.
Warnings (The Devil's in the Details--isn't it always that way?)
1) There are some cruel or sad things that happen to children. None of them are the focus of any scene and most of them are things done in the past. I am hard pressed to think of how anyone might be turned off by these things as they appear during the course of the story. Rollins allows dignity and handles these situations with care. However, some people don't like even a hint of something foul happening around children. If your wone of them, just read on, it'll be okay.
2) Violence - Hey, this is an action adventure story, espionage, the battles that nobody can talk about or officially recognize has happening. What did you expect. Bullets have never been designed to be pleasant when entering someone's body and bombs are not made for entertainment. If your reading this and "Shocked and Dismayed" by he violence. Pull your head out of the sand and stop spending money on books in this genre. Maybe your money is better spent on a riveting Jane Austen novel, or a Patricia Rowell Regency Romance. Rollins does not allow the violence to become gratuitous or self-validating. It's all well handled, bad guys stay bad guys, good guys act like good guys.
3) This book is based on a fictitious event that mirrors other factual events where a powerful group of people assume ethnic superiority over what they perceive to be a lesser peoples. To say more would be to spoil, the spoilers so I'll stop here. I will add, that they are well handled within the context of the story. If you want to know how evil the people you grew up trusting can be, read the actual cases of crimes against humanity that Rollins categorizes as part of his research for the book.
4) Even though I love the characters and the character development, and I find depth in the characters that I like, this is an action adventure, beyond the main diverse group(including villains), there are only two dimensional characters. Some might find the main characters a bit thin. If you do, BAHUMBUG to you! This is an action adventure, not a soul searching, deep philosophic melodrama classic novel. As this genre goes, these are better than most as far as character development verses character by rubber-stamp.
5) Big scary monsters with lots of teeth. Lots of explosions and things that go boom! Arctic Weather at it's worst! there is some gore to be found, but compared to a good old fashioned kill the pretty college sorority girls movie, it's pretty mild. Very palatable and not used for shock value in a gratuitous way.
6) Rollins stories tend to push boundaries into the inconceivable. Before you decide that this is too far fetched, impossible, or fiction, read the section at the end of the book where he details some of his research. Rollins books are about the best staffed of any in this Genre. He is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, and very intelligent. He does a lot of research before he writes and he's very fair about telling us what he made up, what he stretched the truth on and what is dead on in his book. I find it extraordinary when people don't trust his research. Go on, check it out, go to the website, go to the source and find out?
Bottom line--Great, exciting Action Adventure, Military, Espionage, Creature Feature. If it has teeth, it probably wants to eat you! If it has a gun, it's going to shoot you. If it can blow up, it will.
Loved it.
July 3, 2010
This book has sat inconspicuously next to my computer desk on it's shelf for two years and I don't know what exactly propelled me to pick it up but I'm glad I finally did! I tend to collect adventure stories that reach all corners of the Earth, even go between the layers and I especially love all the ice stories such as this one. The good news is that this book is fantastic, it reads like a movie and sometimes goes in opposite direction of reality and belief but it makes for a heck of a read. The bad news, it's long, well only 505 pages but Rollins could use a good editor and chop off about a hundred because he loves to write about ever single step everyone takes, especially when it comes to fighting and explaining how to maneuver submarines, helicopters and all sorts of vehicles. Maybe it's a dude thing, maybe if I was a guy I'd love it little more, not sure, but I am patient and still enjoyed the book because the main idea was excellent.
Most of the story revolves around an ice island that has frozen over and over in the Earth's polar ice cap, sharing waters with Alaska, Russia, Finland, Canada and Greenland. Scientists and naval powers haven't seen it in decades but life is being brought back to the island, all because a shape that has moved and caught on the submarine's sonar, all within the abandoned ice station inside, named Ice Station Grendel. Those who read enough and watch fantasy movies will be familiar with the name, but the author has planned more than a cool name for a station, it's not as much of a moniker as a foreshadowing what caused its demise and what will bring terror back into the icy waters. The station looks like an upside down cone, spiraling levels with labs, a cave and even a submarine gate, all encased in clear blue ice, with people running though it once again. I loved reading how the tunnels in an ice island felt like, the eerie cold and quiet one felt when alone, probably the loneliest place to be, deep under water, but not really alone, there's something else down there...
There are good guys, bad guys, and those who simply cannot make their minds up as the reader is catapulted into a journey of fighting governments, secret project cover ups and tons of action. My head was spinning from the armaments and mental battles going on and I felt like I was reading a movie, it was an amazing experience, but like I said little lengthy. After reading Ice Hunt I'm ready to tackle more of Rollins, but after my toes unfreeze, I feel as if I have been dipping them in ice water the whole time, because that's all there is.
Great ending, lots of twists and turns and some nasty surprises crawling throng those quiet tunnels. Those who love action, science and adventure with a little mystery threw in will enjoy this tremendously. What starts of as a scientific mission turns into a tale that takes a bite out of the reader, a rather good bite too, so enjoy and watch that water...it only appears safe.
Most of the story revolves around an ice island that has frozen over and over in the Earth's polar ice cap, sharing waters with Alaska, Russia, Finland, Canada and Greenland. Scientists and naval powers haven't seen it in decades but life is being brought back to the island, all because a shape that has moved and caught on the submarine's sonar, all within the abandoned ice station inside, named Ice Station Grendel. Those who read enough and watch fantasy movies will be familiar with the name, but the author has planned more than a cool name for a station, it's not as much of a moniker as a foreshadowing what caused its demise and what will bring terror back into the icy waters. The station looks like an upside down cone, spiraling levels with labs, a cave and even a submarine gate, all encased in clear blue ice, with people running though it once again. I loved reading how the tunnels in an ice island felt like, the eerie cold and quiet one felt when alone, probably the loneliest place to be, deep under water, but not really alone, there's something else down there...
There are good guys, bad guys, and those who simply cannot make their minds up as the reader is catapulted into a journey of fighting governments, secret project cover ups and tons of action. My head was spinning from the armaments and mental battles going on and I felt like I was reading a movie, it was an amazing experience, but like I said little lengthy. After reading Ice Hunt I'm ready to tackle more of Rollins, but after my toes unfreeze, I feel as if I have been dipping them in ice water the whole time, because that's all there is.
Great ending, lots of twists and turns and some nasty surprises crawling throng those quiet tunnels. Those who love action, science and adventure with a little mystery threw in will enjoy this tremendously. What starts of as a scientific mission turns into a tale that takes a bite out of the reader, a rather good bite too, so enjoy and watch that water...it only appears safe.
December 15, 2016
Middle of the pack thriller for me.
The novel was honestly a bit too long; James Rollins could have accomplished a lot of the plot in probably 200 fewer pages and have held a quicker pace. There are parts in there where it gets bogged down pointlessly with extra stuff, seemingly to pad the number of pages. Trim it up, boy!
The novel has good points, though. I liked the opening, I was intrigued right off the bat with the newspaper clipping (which is a real event - check it out!), and the middle chunk of the novel is good as well. I'd have liked to see Rollins explore the idea from the opening more (the village gone missing) and run with that. The concept of the grendels was neat, but it could honestly have been its own novel - we've seen Crichton take ideas like this and churn out fairly exciting novels. I feel like the grendels could've been dropped. They didn't really add a lot to the plot; their only purpose seemed to be to add some kind of extra scare.
I rolled my eyes a time or two at the classic cliché, which I saw coming right in the beginning. Spoiler alert, the two central characters fall back in love with one another in the end! Ugh, shocker...What ever happened to a good old Romeo and Juliet, or Rose and Jack scenario??
As far as the writing is concerned, Rollins is competent, no doubt there. He's good, but not outstanding. Middle of the pack, just like this novel. I still plan on reading a few of his other novels because he seems to have a creative mind.
The novel was honestly a bit too long; James Rollins could have accomplished a lot of the plot in probably 200 fewer pages and have held a quicker pace. There are parts in there where it gets bogged down pointlessly with extra stuff, seemingly to pad the number of pages. Trim it up, boy!
The novel has good points, though. I liked the opening, I was intrigued right off the bat with the newspaper clipping (which is a real event - check it out!), and the middle chunk of the novel is good as well. I'd have liked to see Rollins explore the idea from the opening more (the village gone missing) and run with that. The concept of the grendels was neat, but it could honestly have been its own novel - we've seen Crichton take ideas like this and churn out fairly exciting novels. I feel like the grendels could've been dropped. They didn't really add a lot to the plot; their only purpose seemed to be to add some kind of extra scare.
I rolled my eyes a time or two at the classic cliché, which I saw coming right in the beginning. Spoiler alert, the two central characters fall back in love with one another in the end! Ugh, shocker...What ever happened to a good old Romeo and Juliet, or Rose and Jack scenario??
As far as the writing is concerned, Rollins is competent, no doubt there. He's good, but not outstanding. Middle of the pack, just like this novel. I still plan on reading a few of his other novels because he seems to have a creative mind.
November 29, 2017
I really appreciate how much research Rollins does for his novels. Making certain that the science is plausible, that the schematics of places make sense, and that the cultures/ languages used are accurate all really suck me into his stories. I could really picture this happening all under society's nose. I enjoyed seeing the Inuit elements brought in and how they wove together with the plot. Matt and Jenny were certainly the two characters I cared about most in this book, and I loved that Jenny was really connected with her heritage. I was very into science in high school and my first couple of years at university, so I geeked out whenever the science elements of the novel began being explained.
I read this as an audiobook, so all of the characters began to overwhelm me at parts. I unfortunately just picked out the ones I thought were important, and I ended up ignoring most of the others. It turned out to be an okay decision because most of the characters add very little to the story besides serving as punching bags. As a result, I wasn't as invested in this one as much as I was when I read Amazonia. As I said before, Matt and Jenny (Inuk) are fantastic. I also really liked Amanda who is deaf. It was really interesting to see her experience the trauma of this book without her hearing. She ends up feeling explosions rather than hearing them, and she has to keep up as people quickly make decisions and don't always remember to turn toward her so that she can read their lips. Her love interest was okay too, but I didn't really pick him out as important and didn't learn his name. I ultimately had a great time experiencing this novel, and I'm looking forward to reading more stories by him.
I read this as an audiobook, so all of the characters began to overwhelm me at parts. I unfortunately just picked out the ones I thought were important, and I ended up ignoring most of the others. It turned out to be an okay decision because most of the characters add very little to the story besides serving as punching bags. As a result, I wasn't as invested in this one as much as I was when I read Amazonia. As I said before, Matt and Jenny (Inuk) are fantastic. I also really liked Amanda who is deaf. It was really interesting to see her experience the trauma of this book without her hearing. She ends up feeling explosions rather than hearing them, and she has to keep up as people quickly make decisions and don't always remember to turn toward her so that she can read their lips. Her love interest was okay too, but I didn't really pick him out as important and didn't learn his name. I ultimately had a great time experiencing this novel, and I'm looking forward to reading more stories by him.
November 1, 2023
The more you expect, Rollins is going to give you more than that. And That's for sure.
If you want a mix of science fiction, action, and suspense, this is a must-read for you!
If you want a mix of science fiction, action, and suspense, this is a must-read for you!
July 25, 2022
Creatures in the ice, always a fun read. Completely over the top and overflowing with action scenes. Maybe a bit too long but definitely entertaining.
March 4, 2012
James Rollns is my go to thriller author and I have yet to be even mildly disappointed in any of his novels that I have read. Even among the embarassment of riches, this book stands out as one of my favorites. A political, race against the clock page-turner featuring buried secrets, government conspiracies and nasty things with sharp teeth. James Rollins is a terrific writer who creates big, anything goes plots and characters that really make you root for them. Fast pace doesn't adequately state the pacing as this is like a 100 mph sports car being driven at night. Your really moving, but you don't know what's up ahead. Another amazing Rollins' thriller.
September 22, 2014
Yes, Mr. Rollins ~ u have finally done it. Congratz!! U have made it to my all time favourite authors' list. :D
Now, about the book? U DIDNT GET IT YET? All of his books are awesome!! This book was no exception. It was a roller coaster-- no!! Rocket coaster ride from the beginning. U get every thing in the book- just name it. Action, adventure, love, betrayal, friendship, mad scientist, techno, black ops, blood, terrifying creatures- what's not there to make it a 1st class action packed thriller. If you like action adventure u will surely like this.
The plot was mindblowing- and so was the story telling. Each of the major charecters had its depth and a story behind!! Even if the villain. And u just cant trust any one. There were several i changed sides and got betrayed. :-/
After an Alaskan game warden rescues a man from a crashed plane and saves him from subsequent attack by foreign soldiers, his ex-wife's piloting skills take them all to the man's intended destination, a US base on the Arctic ice, set up following the discovery by advanced sonar of a derelict Russian scientific base buried within a massive iceberg, Ice Station Grendel, where the personnel all died decades earlier. A Russian submarine carrying the son of the station's former commander also approaches, ostensibly for a handover of the bodies found by the Americans. Both sides know that the station contains vastly important scientific secrets, worth fighting for, but neither side knows quite how the other will fight, or how Grendel itself will complicate matters. In an atmosphere of mistrust and fear, the Alaskans, and the scientist overseeing the sonar project, have unexpected roles to play.
Dnt wait. just grab it. AND off to the journey.
Now, about the book? U DIDNT GET IT YET? All of his books are awesome!! This book was no exception. It was a roller coaster-- no!! Rocket coaster ride from the beginning. U get every thing in the book- just name it. Action, adventure, love, betrayal, friendship, mad scientist, techno, black ops, blood, terrifying creatures- what's not there to make it a 1st class action packed thriller. If you like action adventure u will surely like this.
The plot was mindblowing- and so was the story telling. Each of the major charecters had its depth and a story behind!! Even if the villain. And u just cant trust any one. There were several i changed sides and got betrayed. :-/
After an Alaskan game warden rescues a man from a crashed plane and saves him from subsequent attack by foreign soldiers, his ex-wife's piloting skills take them all to the man's intended destination, a US base on the Arctic ice, set up following the discovery by advanced sonar of a derelict Russian scientific base buried within a massive iceberg, Ice Station Grendel, where the personnel all died decades earlier. A Russian submarine carrying the son of the station's former commander also approaches, ostensibly for a handover of the bodies found by the Americans. Both sides know that the station contains vastly important scientific secrets, worth fighting for, but neither side knows quite how the other will fight, or how Grendel itself will complicate matters. In an atmosphere of mistrust and fear, the Alaskans, and the scientist overseeing the sonar project, have unexpected roles to play.
Dnt wait. just grab it. AND off to the journey.
August 12, 2016
ICE HUNT is on my list, 5 Snowy Literary Escapes from this Summer of Climate Change Horror http://tinyurl.com/h6ca8ca Get a blanket before starting this one. Seriously. #BeachReads
September 30, 2016
On a research mission in the Arctic Ocean, a US Navy sub discovers an “ice island,” an inverted mountain 1.4 miles deep. Inside is Ice Station Grendel, an abandoned Russian research station. When the Navy team and polar scientists open the station, they discover horrors that have been locked away for more than 70 years.
Both the Russians and the US want what is locked in that station and the race is on. Caught between the 2 powerful factions are a couple devastated by a past tragedy, another couple experiencing new-found love and a man wanting to avenge a terrible wrong. While the US and the Russians are hunting for the secrets of the station – something is hunting them.
The story is fast paced and very engaging.
Rating: 4 Stars
Both the Russians and the US want what is locked in that station and the race is on. Caught between the 2 powerful factions are a couple devastated by a past tragedy, another couple experiencing new-found love and a man wanting to avenge a terrible wrong. While the US and the Russians are hunting for the secrets of the station – something is hunting them.
The story is fast paced and very engaging.
Rating: 4 Stars
March 8, 2011
I enjoyed this book more than I expected to. It is the second James Rollins book I've read, the first being "Subterranean." I was not especially impressed with that one, but liked the premise of this one, so decided to give it a try. I'm glad I did. The characters were interesting, and I appreciated how Rollins wasn't afraid to kill off someone we'd had time to get to know a bit. The book does wind up with something of a predictable, cliched ending, but I don't mind that so much. Frankly, I avoid "real life" fiction like the plague. I get plenty of stress, grief, and anxiety in the real world. I prefer to use my reading as a form of escapism where people endure and survive insurmountable odds and perform impossible feats. This book provides all that. The characters were likable, the action entertaining. I will definitely be reading other Rollins novels in the future.
March 27, 2015
Probably the best book by James Rollins I have read yet. It is either this or Subterranean another great book. I loved every moment of this book especially the ending. It got me through those long periods after PARCC was over. It is a great story about redemption, revenge, dehumanization, and cruel experiments. The Arctic is a cruel book, but how cruel can it be? Read the book to find out more.
September 3, 2019
This book is all about Americans and Russians chasing and shooting at each other. The introduction of a bunch of big beasties, who chase both Russians and Americans, doesn’t save it. The two lame romantic entanglements don’t save it either. If you are in the mood for nonstop, brainless action, go for it.
May 15, 2018
is it me or do some lines repeat themselves?
it was like having a deja vu feeling all over the book
that sno-cat performing a wheelie, though!
and a scene before that, where the cat's driver used the backstreet boys' music as a threat...
p24: then the small male cub--if you could call a a hundred-and-fifty-pound ball of fur and muscle smal--finally noticed the stranger nearby.
p68: she realized she was speeding too fast.
p126: hues of orange and crimson rippled across the blue skies.
p156: once everyone was settled, the driver started the tread-wheeled vehicle across the ice.
p194: he was clearly not military, evident from his shoulder-length brown hair, north face parka, and thinsulate dry pants.
p284: "...if your flares kept the grendels back, then these homemade molotovs should, too."
p307: it was chased by two hovercraft.
p326: creatures that had been are meals became the diners that night.
it was like having a deja vu feeling all over the book
that sno-cat performing a wheelie, though!
and a scene before that, where the cat's driver used the backstreet boys' music as a threat...
p24: then the small male cub--if you could call a a hundred-and-fifty-pound ball of fur and muscle smal--finally noticed the stranger nearby.
p68: she realized she was speeding too fast.
p126: hues of orange and crimson rippled across the blue skies.
p156: once everyone was settled, the driver started the tread-wheeled vehicle across the ice.
p194: he was clearly not military, evident from his shoulder-length brown hair, north face parka, and thinsulate dry pants.
p284: "...if your flares kept the grendels back, then these homemade molotovs should, too."
p307: it was chased by two hovercraft.
p326: creatures that had been are meals became the diners that night.
January 14, 2010
If you like action and adventure, this is the book for you. It takes place in the coldest part of the world, it's roof! There are russians, spies, intrigue, science, mystery, and action packed adventure. With that said, the characters themselves are mostly one-dimensional with exception to the 2 main characters in the novel. But if you want in-depth characters, don't read action. By the way, the last paragraph in the book is the worth the whole ride there.
February 2, 2020
This is one of Rollins earlier works and a stand alone novel not connected to the Sigma series. Except, there was one minor character in this one who was later introduced onto the Sigma books about number 5 or 6.
Much of the plot was implausible at best. Ignoring the sketchy elements this was still a roller coaster ride all the way through. For me the pacing was a bit too hectic and drawn out. The last 200 pages of the book were a constant sequence of running chasing and fighting that went on for far to long. I was ready for the climax of the novel 100 pages before the end.
Worth reading for Rollins fans. If you have never read any of his books, then I would not recommend this one as an introduction. Start with one of the Sigma series, such as 'Sandstorm'.
Much of the plot was implausible at best. Ignoring the sketchy elements this was still a roller coaster ride all the way through. For me the pacing was a bit too hectic and drawn out. The last 200 pages of the book were a constant sequence of running chasing and fighting that went on for far to long. I was ready for the climax of the novel 100 pages before the end.
Worth reading for Rollins fans. If you have never read any of his books, then I would not recommend this one as an introduction. Start with one of the Sigma series, such as 'Sandstorm'.
September 20, 2009
There were times this story was very exciting and moved quickly and other times it was slow and boring. I almost gave this book away because I was so disappointed in Excavation. Fortunately, someone on Goodreads suggested I read it. I'm glad I did.
The action scenes, as unbelievable as they may seem, and the characterizations are the strongest parts of the story. Even the military types, who often get stereotyped in stories like this, are fully drawn here.
The weakest elements involve the number of close calls that almost every major character survives, as minor characters are killed, and the number of fortunate coincidences. People just happen to be in the right place at the right time. While a certain amount of this kind of artifice is needed to keep the plot moving, I think Rollins overdoes it in this novel.
The plot is complicated and there are many twists as well as a number of surprises as the story unfolds. The ending is perhaps a little too neat and the epilogue a little too saccharine but, maybe, that's what the majority of thriller readers want. I prefer a little more realism like Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child provide in the Pendergast series.
Overall, though, I liked the book and will most likely try another Rollins effort.
The action scenes, as unbelievable as they may seem, and the characterizations are the strongest parts of the story. Even the military types, who often get stereotyped in stories like this, are fully drawn here.
The weakest elements involve the number of close calls that almost every major character survives, as minor characters are killed, and the number of fortunate coincidences. People just happen to be in the right place at the right time. While a certain amount of this kind of artifice is needed to keep the plot moving, I think Rollins overdoes it in this novel.
The plot is complicated and there are many twists as well as a number of surprises as the story unfolds. The ending is perhaps a little too neat and the epilogue a little too saccharine but, maybe, that's what the majority of thriller readers want. I prefer a little more realism like Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child provide in the Pendergast series.
Overall, though, I liked the book and will most likely try another Rollins effort.
April 3, 2022
Like all Rollins stories, it was a thrill ride from beginning to end.
Finished rereading Ice Hunt and forgotten how intense the story was and picked up on more details I'd overlooked the first time. I tried explaining the book to my son and went on such a long ramble I think I lost him. Oh well. Subs, Americans, Russians, an Ice Bound Station from the past, scientists who do the stupid thing of defrosting ancient land whales, pulling them out of hibernation, a massive coverup and a race against the clock before the whole thing blows up. Imagine all this taking place in the middle of an arctic storm. Battle against the elements as well as land whales and people. Scary thrilling.
Finished rereading Ice Hunt and forgotten how intense the story was and picked up on more details I'd overlooked the first time. I tried explaining the book to my son and went on such a long ramble I think I lost him. Oh well. Subs, Americans, Russians, an Ice Bound Station from the past, scientists who do the stupid thing of defrosting ancient land whales, pulling them out of hibernation, a massive coverup and a race against the clock before the whole thing blows up. Imagine all this taking place in the middle of an arctic storm. Battle against the elements as well as land whales and people. Scary thrilling.
July 15, 2017
Publishers Weekly was quoted as saying "If Cussler is the gold standard, then Rollins is the silver." I take massive issue with that. Rollins surpasses Cussler by an order of magnitude. Particularly with this book, whereby Rollins surpassed all the other books he's written!
This was an extremely good book. A stellar example of its genre.
The plot unfolded beautifully with plenty of unexpected twists and turns right up till the end. The action was written so skillfully, I found myself hold my breath and thinking "Oh shit! Oh shit! Oh no!" Characters died continually throughout the book so you never could be sure who was not going to make it! They also reappeared after being thought dead frequently so...you just never knew for sure!!
The cast of characters was quite large but I felt he skillfully used all the various writing techniques that enable a reader to keep track of them easily. Even the minor characters were well-drawn. I usually don't care one whit about the tragedy-filled back-stories used to elicit emotional resonance with characters...I'm in this for adventure and science! But Rollins actually used these back stories to create an added layer of tension and desperation that really worked.
There was a single scene that made no sense to me. Not bad for a book this dense with "decision-making" scenes.
SPOILER ahead!
When Matt and the 3 military people were trying to take out the two Russian guards in order to reach the armory on the third level, "Craig" had volunteered to watch through the window of the electrical room. The plan went south in the beginning and Craig took off RIGHT AWAY and then herded the rest of the group back in the monster-filled caves.
WHY??? Why would he leave without even waiting to see the final outcome. As a covert Delta guy, he certainly had a motivation to get at those weapons. If the attack was spoiled, he could have popped out and, surprise!!!, finished it off!
This was an important juncture in the plot where the two groups got separated and I'm irate that it occurred because of a totally unrealistic decision on Craig's part.
This bit made me mad. I would like to hear what Rollins has to say about this.
This was an extremely good book. A stellar example of its genre.
The plot unfolded beautifully with plenty of unexpected twists and turns right up till the end. The action was written so skillfully, I found myself hold my breath and thinking "Oh shit! Oh shit! Oh no!" Characters died continually throughout the book so you never could be sure who was not going to make it! They also reappeared after being thought dead frequently so...you just never knew for sure!!
The cast of characters was quite large but I felt he skillfully used all the various writing techniques that enable a reader to keep track of them easily. Even the minor characters were well-drawn. I usually don't care one whit about the tragedy-filled back-stories used to elicit emotional resonance with characters...I'm in this for adventure and science! But Rollins actually used these back stories to create an added layer of tension and desperation that really worked.
There was a single scene that made no sense to me. Not bad for a book this dense with "decision-making" scenes.
SPOILER ahead!
When Matt and the 3 military people were trying to take out the two Russian guards in order to reach the armory on the third level, "Craig" had volunteered to watch through the window of the electrical room. The plan went south in the beginning and Craig took off RIGHT AWAY and then herded the rest of the group back in the monster-filled caves.
WHY??? Why would he leave without even waiting to see the final outcome. As a covert Delta guy, he certainly had a motivation to get at those weapons. If the attack was spoiled, he could have popped out and, surprise!!!, finished it off!
This was an important juncture in the plot where the two groups got separated and I'm irate that it occurred because of a totally unrealistic decision on Craig's part.
This bit made me mad. I would like to hear what Rollins has to say about this.
July 27, 2011
A very enjoyable book hard to put down. Yes, the plot is about the same thing as usual, and you won't find any psychological depth or philosophy or whatever but, let's admit it, a book can be highly amusing even without those :) When you feel like you don't want your mind to be overloaded with beautiful writing or complicated ideas, take a nice thriller like the ones that Rollins writes and just enjoy a whirl of action. It's not a novel - it's a text movie. One event after another, danger, deaths, love affairs, mystical events, impossible encounters, incredible animals - you will find all the elements of a most pleasant action/thriller movie in there. So let's not be too critical. Literature is not only about one's spiritual development, it's also about having fun! :) I know that other Rollins books will be similar to what I have already read, but I don't mind - I want to read them anyway, they are plain exciting :)
January 26, 2022
“ARTICO” è il primo romanzo di James Rollins che leggo (ma non sarà sicuramente l’ultimo!).
Al di là della trama molto avventurosa ed avvincente, in parte di carattere fantascientifico, ho apprezzato lo stile dello scrittore che, a mio parere, ha predisposto in modo ben congegnato le varie premesse, narrando la vicenda con un ritmo serrato e invogliando così il lettore a svelare i vari “misteri” grazie ad una distribuzione di indizi calcolata in modo tale da non poter anticipare nulla fino all’ultimo.
È un concentrato di azione e colpi di scena che considero ben adatto ad una trasposizione cinematografica.
Quello che però mi ha colpito di più, forse per ciò che stiamo vivendo in questo periodo, è il tema delicato e assolutamente attuale che fa da sfondo alla storia portante: la sperimentazione scientifica sull’uomo.
Al di là della trama molto avventurosa ed avvincente, in parte di carattere fantascientifico, ho apprezzato lo stile dello scrittore che, a mio parere, ha predisposto in modo ben congegnato le varie premesse, narrando la vicenda con un ritmo serrato e invogliando così il lettore a svelare i vari “misteri” grazie ad una distribuzione di indizi calcolata in modo tale da non poter anticipare nulla fino all’ultimo.
È un concentrato di azione e colpi di scena che considero ben adatto ad una trasposizione cinematografica.
Quello che però mi ha colpito di più, forse per ciò che stiamo vivendo in questo periodo, è il tema delicato e assolutamente attuale che fa da sfondo alla storia portante: la sperimentazione scientifica sull’uomo.
October 11, 2016
В айсберга на смъртта миналото заплашва бъдещето: http://knigolandia.info/book-review/a...
Романът е далеч от нов – от 2003 г., така че ще си позволя да разкрия част от сюжета: сред леда са открити изчезнали в други части на света хищници, наречени грендели, които умеят да се хибернират за векове (подобна идея, но по-подробно и с вампири, развива Питър Уотс в “Слепоглед”). Точно тайната на тяхната хибернация провокира руснаците да създадат базата и да изследват тази полезна за военни цели адаптация. След повторното откриване на базата чудовищата се размразяват и се втурват да разкъсват хора – не можех да не си ги визуализирам като пришълците от класическия филм на Ридли Скот.
Издателска къща БАРД
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/a...
Романът е далеч от нов – от 2003 г., така че ще си позволя да разкрия част от сюжета: сред леда са открити изчезнали в други части на света хищници, наречени грендели, които умеят да се хибернират за векове (подобна идея, но по-подробно и с вампири, развива Питър Уотс в “Слепоглед”). Точно тайната на тяхната хибернация провокира руснаците да създадат базата и да изследват тази полезна за военни цели адаптация. След повторното откриване на базата чудовищата се размразяват и се втурват да разкъсват хора – не можех да не си ги визуализирам като пришълците от класическия филм на Ридли Скот.
Издателска къща БАРД
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/a...
November 5, 2015
I'm struggling to finish this. I can usually finish a book in a few days. A week or two if I'm sidetracked somewhere else. When I do have time, I'm rarely drawn back into this book. It has an interesting start, but the more I'm into it, the less interested I am. I don't care for the characters, the plot is taking an all to familiar twist that anyone can see coming from a mile away.
The writing flows enough to keep the reader going, and there's enough action to keep it mildly entertaining.
Edit: Forced my way through it. I won't be terribly bitter, but this story just wasn't for me.
The writing flows enough to keep the reader going, and there's enough action to keep it mildly entertaining.
Edit: Forced my way through it. I won't be terribly bitter, but this story just wasn't for me.
September 30, 2016
4.5 Stars. A very enjoyable all-action adventure book set in the frozen north. Great political intrigue with a bit of an historical backdrop. Events that happened in the past come back to haunt both the US and Russia. Throw a threat to existence on earth and creatures that add an extra threat and you've got a roller coaster adventure. James Rollins does it again!
January 8, 2022
This is one holy crap batman action packed no slow down thriller. It is also an excellent reminder of when we Americans think our shit don't stink and we are so wonderful...
It does and we are not. We have done several deplorable things to mankind too.
It does and we are not. We have done several deplorable things to mankind too.
August 7, 2022
Review to come...
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