MacGyver on Ice

by Mark Daniel

Suddenly, the airplane lurched violently, the fuselage shrieked and the plane jack-knifed with a sickening thud.
MacGyver threw his knapsack onto the snow and leaped after it. Get out of the way, Silva! he shouted, she s going to blow!
Seconds later, in rapid succession, the fuel tanks blew...
A bad start to a desperate mission for ex-Special Services officer, MacGyver. In the Alaskan wastelands, a crazy general has developed a bacterial time-bomb which threatens to wipe out the neighbouring Russian population. Only one man can break through Abe Roscow s ingenious security defences and abort his deadly plan - MacGyver, the fast-thinking loner who combines a brilliant mind with formidable physical strength.

128 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[Rudi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember reading about this book in my early teens. I went online to learn everything there was to learn about MacGyver (because of course I did), and I learned that there was an official MacGyver book, that had since fallen into obscurity. I looked to see if I could find any place to read it online, but with no luck.

Some years later I started looking into if it was possible to buy it somewhere. I found it on both Amazon and ebay, but the listings were $100+, way more than I was willing to pay. So I set up an ebay alert for "MacGyver on ice" (because of course I did), and last fall someone sold a copy for a very low price. It's a well worn library edition, but my goal was to read it.

And it's not a good book. It's not terrible, and for a young audience I'm sure it's quite thrilling. But it's not really a story that fits much with the show (though perhaps a bit with the first season). MacGyver is a vietnam vet and got a ph.d. in chemistry from Stanford, he uses a gun (to some degree), "slaps the rump" of the female companion and acts in a cynical matter. (So does Pete.)

But: The story itself could have been an episode of the show, where MacGyver is sent to Alaska with a female scientists and a cartoonishly dumb CIA agent to stop a former general from launching a disease into Soviet Russia. And there are some MacGyverisms in it.

[John DiBiase · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a disappointment. A total slog to get through. The dialog was weird, mistakes in the grammar, strange lingo used that I assume is because it’s a UK book. I’m not sorry I read it, but it never really felt like MacGyver. I understand now why there was only ever one book. :(

[Blake · Rating 3 out of 5]

(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I want to change my scoring by 0.50 or more of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)


I'm finally going through my physical tv, film etc. tie in library owned book list, to add more older basic reviews. If I liked a book enough to keep then they are at the least a 3 star.

I'm only adding one book per author and I'm not going to re-read every book to be more accurate, not when I have 1000s of new to me authors to try (I can't say no to free books....)


First time read the author's work?: Yes

Will you be reading more?: Yes

Would you recommend?: Yes


------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)

All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked

Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)

[Sir Nicho · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been trying to find this book for years, but everywhere I looked had it for over $100. Once I remembered it has a British publisher I went to amazon.uk and found it for 5 GBP. Even with tax and shipping to the states, less than $20. I figured as a fan of the original series that it would be worth it. It was. As others have said it could easily be an episode of the series (first 3 seasons) with some minor tweaks. A few aspects were out of character and well, MacGyver canon has never been a straight road so I took it in stride. I enjoyed it, but it did wrap up a little too neatly, as if the author didn't know how to end it. It could have been fleshed out more to add more tension and action once they reach the compound, but shrugs, it is what it is. The artic wilderness survival parts were fun and a lot of the tips and tricks MacGyver utilizes are accurate. Also, for whatever reason there are no chapters in this book.

If you're a fan of the original series and have the opportunity to check it out do so.

[Psyckers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic book that reads very much like you would remember a MacGyver episode plays out.
The story may feel dated now (perseved Soviet threats), but it doesn't take much imagination to give it a more modern lens.
As always MacGyver comes through in the end just as a loss appears inevitable.
The pace starts slow but quickens considerably as the action ensues. Just like any great action novel should be.