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Ice Reich
In 1938, Bush pilot Owen Hart is recruited by Germany's fanatical new government to play a crucial role in a top-secret expedition to Antarctica. But, beneath the ice, a deadly discovery awaits and the fate of the world hangs in balance.
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1998
21 people are currently reading
387 people want to read
About the author
William Dietrich
25 books396 followersWilliam Dietrich is a NY Times bestelling author of the Ethan Gage series of eight books which have sold into 28 languages. He is also the author of six other adventure novels, several nonfiction works on the environmental history of the Pacific Northwest, and a contributor to several books.
Bill was a career journalist, sharing a Pulitzer for national reporting at the Seattle Times for coverage of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. He taught environmental journalism at Huxley College, a division of Western Washington University, and was adviser to Planet Magazine there. He was Nieman Fellow at Harvard University, and received several National Science Foundation fellowships for reporting on science. His travels have taken him from the South Pole to the Arctic, and from the Dead Sea to the base camp of Mount Everest. The traveling informs his books.
He lives in Anacortes, WA, in the San Juan islands, and is a fan of books, movies, history, science, and the outdoors.
Bill was a career journalist, sharing a Pulitzer for national reporting at the Seattle Times for coverage of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. He taught environmental journalism at Huxley College, a division of Western Washington University, and was adviser to Planet Magazine there. He was Nieman Fellow at Harvard University, and received several National Science Foundation fellowships for reporting on science. His travels have taken him from the South Pole to the Arctic, and from the Dead Sea to the base camp of Mount Everest. The traveling informs his books.
He lives in Anacortes, WA, in the San Juan islands, and is a fan of books, movies, history, science, and the outdoors.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
January 23, 2015
-Thriller de aventuras, acción y poca densidad.-
Género. Novela.
Lo que nos cuenta. A finales de los años treinta Owen Hart es un piloto norteamericano experto en vuelos bajo condiciones climáticas muy duras en los cielos de Alaska. Tras un vuelo especialmente accidentado, Hart recibe una oferta algo misteriosa de un representante del gobierno alemán, Otto Kohl, que está relacionada con algún tipo de expedición a la Antártida.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Novela.
Lo que nos cuenta. A finales de los años treinta Owen Hart es un piloto norteamericano experto en vuelos bajo condiciones climáticas muy duras en los cielos de Alaska. Tras un vuelo especialmente accidentado, Hart recibe una oferta algo misteriosa de un representante del gobierno alemán, Otto Kohl, que está relacionada con algún tipo de expedición a la Antártida.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
May 20, 2017
For a first novel, this is an intriguing topic. The Nazis set out to stake a claim to scientific research in Antarctica. The Norwegians, Brits and Americans have already been there, but Jurgen Drexler and his team believe in their Third Reich and its place in history...never mind that we all know how that turned out!
I enjoyed Owen Hart and Greta Heinz, the two main characters. They're believable and interesting characters, not cookie-cutter people. Yes, the Nazis are rather predictable and cruel. This is definitely a good vs. evil book and you'll have no trouble figuring out who to root for. But I had enough invested in these two to see it through to the end.
The book is separated into three parts, but it's a page-turner. I had no trouble enjoying it and picturing the scenes described, especially the underground cave scenes where most of the action occurs. Even though we know the Nazis lost the war, this is a unique twist on their efforts to carve out a major place in history for themselves.
Dietrich has an intriguing style and kept me interested enough to stay up late and learn what happened next. Definitely a writer I want to read again and again. I recommend this to thriller and historical fiction fans.
I enjoyed Owen Hart and Greta Heinz, the two main characters. They're believable and interesting characters, not cookie-cutter people. Yes, the Nazis are rather predictable and cruel. This is definitely a good vs. evil book and you'll have no trouble figuring out who to root for. But I had enough invested in these two to see it through to the end.
The book is separated into three parts, but it's a page-turner. I had no trouble enjoying it and picturing the scenes described, especially the underground cave scenes where most of the action occurs. Even though we know the Nazis lost the war, this is a unique twist on their efforts to carve out a major place in history for themselves.
Dietrich has an intriguing style and kept me interested enough to stay up late and learn what happened next. Definitely a writer I want to read again and again. I recommend this to thriller and historical fiction fans.
March 4, 2022
Just ... Yes. It was a pleasant read.
December 18, 2019
Molte volte si pensa che quando si voglia leggere una buona storia d'avventura con cui rilassarsi e passare qualche ora di svago ci si debba affidare a grandi nomi come Cussler, Rollins, Smith, solo per citarne alcuni dei più recenti.
Invece si possono trovare altrettanto godibili narrazioni con autori meno conosciuti, come questo Dietrich che è stata una bella sorpresa. La storia è godibile, i personaggi reggono e l'ambientazione è molto ben descritta nelle parti che si svolgono in Antartide (probabilmente dovuto al fatto che l'autore ha compiuto delle spedizioni scientifiche in loco).
Intendiamoci non è che siamo di fronte ad un'avventura del famoso Dirk Pitt Cussleriano(quello dei tempi andati intendo, non di certo delle ultime avventure) ma il libro scorre davvero piacevolmente verso il finale forse un po' scontato ma che non disturba nella sua semplicità.
Se vogliamo ben guardare restano i soliti clichè dei personaggi tipici dei libri d'avventura, soprattutto nelle figure del buono, del cattivo e della bella scienziata tedesca, ma tutto sommato questo è quello che ci si aspetta se si vuole trascorrere qualche ora di sano svago avventurso.
Un buon libro che non ha pretese particolari, ma che sa giustamente intrattenere come le buone storie fanno. Un autore da considerare certamente per i prossimi acquisti.
Invece si possono trovare altrettanto godibili narrazioni con autori meno conosciuti, come questo Dietrich che è stata una bella sorpresa. La storia è godibile, i personaggi reggono e l'ambientazione è molto ben descritta nelle parti che si svolgono in Antartide (probabilmente dovuto al fatto che l'autore ha compiuto delle spedizioni scientifiche in loco).
Intendiamoci non è che siamo di fronte ad un'avventura del famoso Dirk Pitt Cussleriano(quello dei tempi andati intendo, non di certo delle ultime avventure) ma il libro scorre davvero piacevolmente verso il finale forse un po' scontato ma che non disturba nella sua semplicità.
Se vogliamo ben guardare restano i soliti clichè dei personaggi tipici dei libri d'avventura, soprattutto nelle figure del buono, del cattivo e della bella scienziata tedesca, ma tutto sommato questo è quello che ci si aspetta se si vuole trascorrere qualche ora di sano svago avventurso.
Un buon libro che non ha pretese particolari, ma che sa giustamente intrattenere come le buone storie fanno. Un autore da considerare certamente per i prossimi acquisti.
November 13, 2018
This pre-WWII novel may have a relatively slow start but it has a dynamic second half. Alaskan bush pilot Owen Hart is recruited by Germany to accompany a German expedition to Antarctica to help Germany put a claim on territory at the South Pole. The ship they travel on carries 2 planes which can be launched from the ship , the Schwabenland. The expedition is led by Jurgen Drexler plus a doctor , Schmidt and a biologist , Greta Kohl.
Surprises await them in the form of a Norwegian whaler which has used the area for years..... sending whale oil back to Norway, which is quite profitable. The Germans must keep the Norwegians away if they are going to claim the land for Germany . Many surprises await the visitors including a mystery disease.
The plot is complicated and I believe that is the reason the book seems slow in the beginning but once all the players are in place, the plot will draw you in . It is a bit of a historical novel since it takes place just before the start of WWII and it resonates with the world as it was in 1938.
Surprises await them in the form of a Norwegian whaler which has used the area for years..... sending whale oil back to Norway, which is quite profitable. The Germans must keep the Norwegians away if they are going to claim the land for Germany . Many surprises await the visitors including a mystery disease.
The plot is complicated and I believe that is the reason the book seems slow in the beginning but once all the players are in place, the plot will draw you in . It is a bit of a historical novel since it takes place just before the start of WWII and it resonates with the world as it was in 1938.
January 10, 2016
A very good thriller, involving a German expedition to Antarctica at the beginning of WW II to stake out their claim to the continent for use as a base but instead encounter a deadly disease and a cure for it which they try to take back to Germany to blackmail the Allies into a cease-fire. An American hero saves the world.
December 9, 2024
4,5 estrellas. “El Reich de Hielo” me ha sorprendido gratamente. Aunque la guerra es solo un tema secundario en la trama, la novela logra enganchar con su ambientación única y sus personajes complejos. La narrativa es fluida y mantiene el interés de principio a fin. Sin duda, una lectura que he disfrutado muchísimo.
August 2, 2011
American bush pilot crashes in Alaska and is the hired by the Nazi government to be an advisor to Anartica for on his second trip to the continent. He meets a beautiful German biologist who he loses when he is persumed lost.
January 24, 2013
A WWII thriller with all the right elements to make it an enjoyable read. It has an exotic Antarctic locale, a forbidden romance and hair-raising escapades - all to destroy a biological weapon that could turn the tide of the war in the Nazi’s favour.
June 17, 2012
A fun read
May 4, 2020
Interesting story, but more of a romance than I had anticipated. I had hoped for more real information regarding the Antarctica exploration.
February 5, 2018
I liked the way the story unfolded, but there were parts that I never quite believed, especially the parts that dealt with the volcanos and the caves of Antarctica. There was hardly any references to the bitter cold of the continent as how it affected the people in the story who were sometimes trapped. So, yes, the story was pretty good, but maybe just not my thing.
April 13, 2019
Perfect book for someone who's totally into Follet's style and WWII fiction genre. The book uses an actual historical expedition as a base and builds upon it with own characters and plot. The initial build up to the plot is slow but once it reaches the point of expedition arriving in Antarctica, it keeps you gripping.
May 1, 2020
Historia entretenida, entre intriga y histórica, sobre un virus (tema muy doc para esta cuarentena) y el Reich , hoy es el dia del suicidio de Hitler . En algunas partes es mas lento, pero nunca se pierde el interés de cómo se resolverá. 📖
August 15, 2017
Troppa carne a cuocere in questo thriller che mescola guerra, amore e virus letali in un cocktail poco digeribile
April 25, 2019
Action from the first page to the last. An imagined "Inside Look" at the Third Reich (sometimes "truth" is stranger than fiction).
Read
June 15, 2019Great storyline.
September 18, 2019
Un discreto thriller storico ambientato durante la seconda guerra mondiale
October 13, 2020
Really enjoyed this book, and hopefully the new author. Great mix of historical setting with science. Looking forward to more by him.
January 22, 2023
Novelita fácil de leer, pero se hace pesada.
September 13, 2023
It was an entertaining book. Wouldn't say it was great but definitely would not say it was boring. You need a good history based book to fill your time definitely read this.
July 26, 2019
I love this thread! I am always so worried about spoiling the book that my reviews are usually just a few sentences and basically pointless
September 26, 2012
Todos los días aprende uno cosas nuevas acerca de los Nazis, por ejemplo ayer leí que Hitler era vegetariano y algo que muy poca gente sabe es que en los años de 1938-1939
Herman Goring envió una expedición en un barco llamado Schwabenland a las ignotas regiones de la Antártida a efecto de reclamar algunas tierras para el imperio alemán. A resultas de esta expedición se exploraron tierras nuevas con dos hidroaviones en la zona de la Queen Maud Land, los nombres dados a esas regiones aun son utilizados y usaron unas especies de bastones metálicos para demarcar el territorio, los cuales aun existen. William Dietrich se enteró de esto en un viaje que realizó a la Antártida, él es un periodista de Seattle, WA especializado en temas ambientales, incluso ya recibió un Pulitzer por sus trabajos acerca del Exxon Valdez. El tiene unos ancestros de origen alemán así que aprovechó el viaje para imaginarse una novela de aventuras que en el regreso de su segundo viaje a la tierra de los pingüinos comenzó a escribir. El Reich de Hielo (Grijalbo, 1999, 356pp, $149.00) es un relato novelado acerca de lo que pudo haber ocurrido entre los Nazis y la Antártida. El barco es el mismo pero ahora se agregan algunos personajes para dar mayor interés al relato. Nuestro protagonista es un piloto americano Owen Hart, que al no tener nada mejor que hacer se va de guía de los alemanes y a pilotarles los aviones en la zona. El problema surge cuando en el mismo barco viaja un agregado político del partido Nacionalsocialista Jurgen Drexler y empiezan a volar chispas por la única mujer de abordo, que no parece decidirse en toda la novela con quien quiere. Greta Heinz es una bióloga que va en el viaje para estudiar el Plankton, muy a la manera de las vampiresas de esos años, muy a la Greta Garbo o Marlene Dietrich “El Angel azul”, le gusta jugar con fuego y los hombres son presa fácil. El comienzo del viaje coincide con el inicio de las hostilidades, así que el peligro de viajar con la RAF y los barcos aliados siguiéndote añade una nueva dimensión a la aventura. Pero en fin le podemos adelantar que para ser su primera novela esta perfectamente ambientada, con situaciones fantásticas, con enfermedades mortales, peleas en submarinos y el lugar mas desolado del planeta. Es interesante el que Hart tenga que viajar al corazón de la Alemania nazi para rescatar a Greta. Sólo lo había leído en algunas cuatro novelas anteriores Una novela que no lo defraudará si anda en busca de aventuras. Dietrich aun no tiene la maestría en el manejo del lenguaje y sus diálogos son de risa en ocasiones, pero ya hacia el final se pone mejor. Yo la verdad no puedo resistir ningún libro sobre la Segunda Guerra Mundial y en este las emociones abundan. Pero no se engañe no espere mucho de esta novelita, de eso a leer las declaraciones de Roque pues...
Herman Goring envió una expedición en un barco llamado Schwabenland a las ignotas regiones de la Antártida a efecto de reclamar algunas tierras para el imperio alemán. A resultas de esta expedición se exploraron tierras nuevas con dos hidroaviones en la zona de la Queen Maud Land, los nombres dados a esas regiones aun son utilizados y usaron unas especies de bastones metálicos para demarcar el territorio, los cuales aun existen. William Dietrich se enteró de esto en un viaje que realizó a la Antártida, él es un periodista de Seattle, WA especializado en temas ambientales, incluso ya recibió un Pulitzer por sus trabajos acerca del Exxon Valdez. El tiene unos ancestros de origen alemán así que aprovechó el viaje para imaginarse una novela de aventuras que en el regreso de su segundo viaje a la tierra de los pingüinos comenzó a escribir. El Reich de Hielo (Grijalbo, 1999, 356pp, $149.00) es un relato novelado acerca de lo que pudo haber ocurrido entre los Nazis y la Antártida. El barco es el mismo pero ahora se agregan algunos personajes para dar mayor interés al relato. Nuestro protagonista es un piloto americano Owen Hart, que al no tener nada mejor que hacer se va de guía de los alemanes y a pilotarles los aviones en la zona. El problema surge cuando en el mismo barco viaja un agregado político del partido Nacionalsocialista Jurgen Drexler y empiezan a volar chispas por la única mujer de abordo, que no parece decidirse en toda la novela con quien quiere. Greta Heinz es una bióloga que va en el viaje para estudiar el Plankton, muy a la manera de las vampiresas de esos años, muy a la Greta Garbo o Marlene Dietrich “El Angel azul”, le gusta jugar con fuego y los hombres son presa fácil. El comienzo del viaje coincide con el inicio de las hostilidades, así que el peligro de viajar con la RAF y los barcos aliados siguiéndote añade una nueva dimensión a la aventura. Pero en fin le podemos adelantar que para ser su primera novela esta perfectamente ambientada, con situaciones fantásticas, con enfermedades mortales, peleas en submarinos y el lugar mas desolado del planeta. Es interesante el que Hart tenga que viajar al corazón de la Alemania nazi para rescatar a Greta. Sólo lo había leído en algunas cuatro novelas anteriores Una novela que no lo defraudará si anda en busca de aventuras. Dietrich aun no tiene la maestría en el manejo del lenguaje y sus diálogos son de risa en ocasiones, pero ya hacia el final se pone mejor. Yo la verdad no puedo resistir ningún libro sobre la Segunda Guerra Mundial y en este las emociones abundan. Pero no se engañe no espere mucho de esta novelita, de eso a leer las declaraciones de Roque pues...
September 28, 2013
I had to sit on this review for a while. It is an oddly structured book and it gave me pause as I was reading. Broken into three parts, each part is its own little adventure that almost seemed like it could have been a 3 book trilogy. Immediately springing to mind is the very basic and loose structure of Star Wars episodes 1-3...We meet and learn the backstory of a main character and the first part ends with a bit of adventure. Part two is all a love story and how the main character is trying to find her. Part three brings the story back and is full on adventure up til the climatic moments followed by some epilogue-ish chapters.
Ice Reich is not as good as Dietrich's Ethan Gage novels. Having said that, this is still a pretty good historical fiction centering around Nazi Germany's ventures into Antarctica looking for a super weapon. As stated in the Author's Note, the only character who is real is Hermann Goering.
So the story is thus: American cold weather pilot went on expedition to Antarctica in the past. It didnt work out, he got fired. In Alaska barely making ends meet he crashes his plane, but just so happens to have been recruited by the Nazis for this new expedition. They go down there, mess around, and end up leaving with not much, a complete disaster. WWII breaks out, love story begins, expedition is up for part two with all the same parties except now they are in a fancy new U Boat (side note after some fact checking...the U4501 was never completed and it was not part of the particular class mentioned in the book XXI, it is a XXVI). But more stuff happens and then it ends. Definitely the third part is the most riveting and it makes it seem like the first part of the book is a very long prologue... ~100+ pages of prologue.
Because of this, a 3 star because it was a good and interesting read but just a little too many oddities in structure and plot.
Tracy, do you still read my reviews?
Ice Reich is not as good as Dietrich's Ethan Gage novels. Having said that, this is still a pretty good historical fiction centering around Nazi Germany's ventures into Antarctica looking for a super weapon. As stated in the Author's Note, the only character who is real is Hermann Goering.
So the story is thus: American cold weather pilot went on expedition to Antarctica in the past. It didnt work out, he got fired. In Alaska barely making ends meet he crashes his plane, but just so happens to have been recruited by the Nazis for this new expedition. They go down there, mess around, and end up leaving with not much, a complete disaster. WWII breaks out, love story begins, expedition is up for part two with all the same parties except now they are in a fancy new U Boat (side note after some fact checking...the U4501 was never completed and it was not part of the particular class mentioned in the book XXI, it is a XXVI). But more stuff happens and then it ends. Definitely the third part is the most riveting and it makes it seem like the first part of the book is a very long prologue... ~100+ pages of prologue.
Because of this, a 3 star because it was a good and interesting read but just a little too many oddities in structure and plot.
Tracy, do you still read my reviews?
September 18, 2013
I went through the first part of this book wanting to rate it somewhere between 3* and 4*. Then, I ended up wanting to rate it between 4* and 5*. It doesn't get the 5* because the second part is way better then the first - in fact, we need to get through the first 100 pages or so, and then it starts to get good - and then it gets better :-)
The author took way too much time to establish the Owen Hart character, but the rest of the book was very good. A great novel, great story on an excellent environment. Very good indeed.
The author took way too much time to establish the Owen Hart character, but the rest of the book was very good. A great novel, great story on an excellent environment. Very good indeed.
November 9, 2024
A thrilling Indiana Jones-type adventure story by William Dietrich. I've read other books (mainly the Ethan Gage books) by this author and enjoyed them immensely. This one, published in 1998, features an American pilot, Owen Hart. He's recruited by Nazi Germany to take part in a scientific expedition to Antarctica. This is in the 30s, before World War II. A discovery is made that will affect the outcome of the war...
A real page-turner, with a most interesting setting, the shimmering white and empty frontier of Antarctica.
A real page-turner, with a most interesting setting, the shimmering white and empty frontier of Antarctica.
June 19, 2013
Basado en un hecho real, la imaginación del autor nos lleva a un interesante expedición por la antartida donde los nazis descubren un arma que pudo haber marcado el rumbo de la guerra a su favor. La historia al principio es algo floja pero luego da un giro interesante que despierta la curiosidad. * spoiler * Lo malo es que tiene una marcada influencia hollywoodesca donde el americano es el bueno que se queda con la chica y rescata al mundo.
July 4, 2016
I read reviews that sounded like this author was in the same vein as James Rollins. It started out okay, but half way into the book it turned into a romance novel. I have nothing against romances, if that's what you like, but it's not my thing. I was very disappointed in the turn of genre, but finished the book anyway - hoping that it would get better. Ehhh.....
December 24, 2013
OK read from the author of the Ethan Gage series...a littler more modern as Dietrich gives a thriller based on a Nazi expedition to Antarctica and the threat of Germany developing a bio-weapon of mass destruction to end the threat of the Allies...Only an OK page-turner
July 25, 2013
Mediocre, de sèrie B, quasi es podria dir. Sense cap ritme i amb una trama que es veu venir des del principi. L'autor ha volgut fer un combinat a base d'història i pel·lícula d'aventures amb un resultat tan pobre com els personatges, que semblen trets dels motlles més clàssics.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews