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Ice Limit #1
The Ice Limit
The largest known meteorite has been discovered, entombed in the earth for millions of years on a frigid, desolate island off the southern tip of Chile. At four thousand tons, this treasure seems impossible to move. New York billionaire Palmer Lloyd is determined to have this incredible find for his new museum. Stocking a cargo ship with the finest scientists and engineers, he builds a flawless expedition. But from the first approach to the meteorite, people begin to die. A frightening truth is about to unfold: The men and women of the Rolvaag are not taking this ancient, enigmatic object anywhere. It is taking them.
512 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 18, 2000
1267 people are currently reading
6169 people want to read
About the author
Douglas Preston
183 books13.6k followersDouglas Preston was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1956, and grew up in the deadly boring suburb of Wellesley. Following a distinguished career at a private nursery school--he was almost immediately expelled--he attended public schools and the Cambridge School of Weston. Notable events in his early life included the loss of a fingertip at the age of three to a bicycle; the loss of his two front teeth to his brother Richard's fist; and various broken bones, also incurred in dust-ups with Richard. (Richard went on to write The Hot Zone and The Cobra Event, which tells you all you need to know about what it was like to grow up with him as a brother.)
As they grew up, Doug, Richard, and their little brother David roamed the quiet suburbs of Wellesley, terrorizing the natives with home-made rockets and incendiary devices mail-ordered from the backs of comic books or concocted from chemistry sets. With a friend they once attempted to fly a rocket into Wellesley Square; the rocket malfunctioned and nearly killed a man mowing his lawn. They were local celebrities, often appearing in the "Police Notes" section of The Wellesley Townsman. It is a miracle they survived childhood intact.
After unaccountably being rejected by Stanford University (a pox on it), Preston attended Pomona College in Claremont, California, where he studied mathematics, biology, physics, anthropology, chemistry, geology, and astronomy before settling down to English literature. After graduating, Preston began his career at the American Museum of Natural History in New York as an editor, writer, and eventually manager of publications. (Preston also taught writing at Princeton University and was managing editor of Curator.) His eight-year stint at the Museum resulted in the non-fiction book, Dinosaurs in the Attic, edited by a rising young star at St. Martin's Press, a polymath by the name of Lincoln Child. During this period, Preston gave Child a midnight tour of the museum, and in the darkened Hall of Late Dinosaurs, under a looming T. Rex, Child turned to Preston and said: "This would make the perfect setting for a thriller!" That thriller would, of course, be Relic.
In 1986, Douglas Preston piled everything he owned into the back of a Subaru and moved from New York City to Santa Fe to write full time, following the advice of S. J. Perelman that "the dubious privilege of a freelance writer is he's given the freedom to starve anywhere." After the requisite period of penury, Preston achieved a small success with the publication of Cities of Gold, a non-fiction book about Coronado's search for the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola. To research the book, Preston and a friend retraced on horseback 1,000 miles of Coronado's route across Arizona and New Mexico, packing their supplies and sleeping under the stars--nearly killing themselves in the process. Since then he has published several more non-fiction books on the history of the American Southwest, Talking to the Ground and The Royal Road, as well as a novel entitled Jennie. In the early 1990s Preston and Child teamed up to write suspense novels; Relic was the first, followed by several others, including Riptide and Thunderhead. Relic was released as a motion picture by Paramount in 1997. Other films are under development at Hollywood studios. Preston and Child live 500 miles apart and write their books together via telephone, fax, and the Internet.
Preston and his brother Richard are currently producing a television miniseries for ABC and Mandalay Entertainment, to be aired in the spring of 2000, if all goes well, which in Hollywood is rarely the case.
Preston continues a magazine writing career by contributing regularly to The New Yorker magazine. He has also written for National Geographic, Natural History, Smithsonisan, Harper's,and Travel & Leisure,among others.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/dougla...
As they grew up, Doug, Richard, and their little brother David roamed the quiet suburbs of Wellesley, terrorizing the natives with home-made rockets and incendiary devices mail-ordered from the backs of comic books or concocted from chemistry sets. With a friend they once attempted to fly a rocket into Wellesley Square; the rocket malfunctioned and nearly killed a man mowing his lawn. They were local celebrities, often appearing in the "Police Notes" section of The Wellesley Townsman. It is a miracle they survived childhood intact.
After unaccountably being rejected by Stanford University (a pox on it), Preston attended Pomona College in Claremont, California, where he studied mathematics, biology, physics, anthropology, chemistry, geology, and astronomy before settling down to English literature. After graduating, Preston began his career at the American Museum of Natural History in New York as an editor, writer, and eventually manager of publications. (Preston also taught writing at Princeton University and was managing editor of Curator.) His eight-year stint at the Museum resulted in the non-fiction book, Dinosaurs in the Attic, edited by a rising young star at St. Martin's Press, a polymath by the name of Lincoln Child. During this period, Preston gave Child a midnight tour of the museum, and in the darkened Hall of Late Dinosaurs, under a looming T. Rex, Child turned to Preston and said: "This would make the perfect setting for a thriller!" That thriller would, of course, be Relic.
In 1986, Douglas Preston piled everything he owned into the back of a Subaru and moved from New York City to Santa Fe to write full time, following the advice of S. J. Perelman that "the dubious privilege of a freelance writer is he's given the freedom to starve anywhere." After the requisite period of penury, Preston achieved a small success with the publication of Cities of Gold, a non-fiction book about Coronado's search for the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola. To research the book, Preston and a friend retraced on horseback 1,000 miles of Coronado's route across Arizona and New Mexico, packing their supplies and sleeping under the stars--nearly killing themselves in the process. Since then he has published several more non-fiction books on the history of the American Southwest, Talking to the Ground and The Royal Road, as well as a novel entitled Jennie. In the early 1990s Preston and Child teamed up to write suspense novels; Relic was the first, followed by several others, including Riptide and Thunderhead. Relic was released as a motion picture by Paramount in 1997. Other films are under development at Hollywood studios. Preston and Child live 500 miles apart and write their books together via telephone, fax, and the Internet.
Preston and his brother Richard are currently producing a television miniseries for ABC and Mandalay Entertainment, to be aired in the spring of 2000, if all goes well, which in Hollywood is rarely the case.
Preston continues a magazine writing career by contributing regularly to The New Yorker magazine. He has also written for National Geographic, Natural History, Smithsonisan, Harper's,and Travel & Leisure,among others.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/dougla...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 966 reviews
August 11, 2017
Bring your Dramamine for an action packed adventure on a tanker headed for The Ice Limit.
By now, if you have been following my reviews, you know that I think Preston and Child can do no wrong. Well, after reading this, I stand by my conviction. I did this book on audio and the last two days on my commute to and from work I was holding my breath due to the suspense (not a wise thing to do when operating a vehicle!)
From page one this book had all the elements of a great story. A mysterious meteor needs to be found and recovered.
A wealthy collector of rare artifacts and scientific discoveries hires an agency - with a 100% success rate - to find it.
But, not only does the meteor present challenges, they must face the evil comandante of a Chilean destroyer along the way.
Again - action, mystery, suspense, cool technology, extreme climates, and peril at every turn. If all those things interest you, you should probably be headed to The Ice Limit right now.
Oh, and
By now, if you have been following my reviews, you know that I think Preston and Child can do no wrong. Well, after reading this, I stand by my conviction. I did this book on audio and the last two days on my commute to and from work I was holding my breath due to the suspense (not a wise thing to do when operating a vehicle!)
From page one this book had all the elements of a great story. A mysterious meteor needs to be found and recovered.
A wealthy collector of rare artifacts and scientific discoveries hires an agency - with a 100% success rate - to find it.
But, not only does the meteor present challenges, they must face the evil comandante of a Chilean destroyer along the way.
Again - action, mystery, suspense, cool technology, extreme climates, and peril at every turn. If all those things interest you, you should probably be headed to The Ice Limit right now.
Oh, and
June 5, 2025
Wow!! I'm freezing just writing this review. 😉😂
What a crazy end to an exciting adventure in the high seas off the coast of Antarctica!!
Good grief, I'm going to need a blazing fire, a warm blanket and some Dramamine in order to get through this review. Some of the technical and science information went over my head at times but I still enjoyed the book immensely.
The book starts off with a meteorite explorer finding the most scientific and amazing meteor ever discovered. Like on Earth! It's also down on this small island off southern Chili.
This information gets back to his old meteorite finding partner, Sam McFarlane and a billionaire that's starting up his own museum. Palmer Lloyd, the billionaire who has too much time and money on his hands decides to hire an engineering firm (Effective Engineering Solutions, Inc.) to figure out a solution to get this meteor back to America. Eli Glinn, the president of EES has a 100% success rate on all difficult and dangerous missions.
So let's go get a meteor boys!
So now we have most of the players in the book and the plot but you'll have to read this for the wild ride of your life...on a tanker! Did I mention the meteor is not a typical one?! And it's COLD! Antarctica, freezing type of cold. Brrrrr....
Let's throw in a fanatical Chilean Navy officer into the mix of the plot who hates Americans. He objects to all the bribes that are being accepted in his country and doesn't believe EES is mining for gold.
This book felt like reading an action movie, mindlessly eating popcorn and not being able to take your eyes off the last 20% of the story!
That ending. Really? A cliffhanger?! Damn you Preston and Child. Looks like I'll be reading Beyond the Ice Limit for the conclusion. *sigh*
You hooked me again and good job on another stellar book by the two of you!
What a crazy end to an exciting adventure in the high seas off the coast of Antarctica!!
Good grief, I'm going to need a blazing fire, a warm blanket and some Dramamine in order to get through this review. Some of the technical and science information went over my head at times but I still enjoyed the book immensely.
The book starts off with a meteorite explorer finding the most scientific and amazing meteor ever discovered. Like on Earth! It's also down on this small island off southern Chili.
This information gets back to his old meteorite finding partner, Sam McFarlane and a billionaire that's starting up his own museum. Palmer Lloyd, the billionaire who has too much time and money on his hands decides to hire an engineering firm (Effective Engineering Solutions, Inc.) to figure out a solution to get this meteor back to America. Eli Glinn, the president of EES has a 100% success rate on all difficult and dangerous missions.
So let's go get a meteor boys!
So now we have most of the players in the book and the plot but you'll have to read this for the wild ride of your life...on a tanker! Did I mention the meteor is not a typical one?! And it's COLD! Antarctica, freezing type of cold. Brrrrr....
Let's throw in a fanatical Chilean Navy officer into the mix of the plot who hates Americans. He objects to all the bribes that are being accepted in his country and doesn't believe EES is mining for gold.
This book felt like reading an action movie, mindlessly eating popcorn and not being able to take your eyes off the last 20% of the story!
That ending. Really? A cliffhanger?! Damn you Preston and Child. Looks like I'll be reading Beyond the Ice Limit for the conclusion. *sigh*
You hooked me again and good job on another stellar book by the two of you!
February 15, 2018
A good read and a nice cliff hanger!
February 21, 2024
Preston and Child wrote this book as a standalone. It had a good plot including a man that never fails, a financial backer with more money than sense, a damaged captain and a main character that is haunted by his past. Throw in a Chilean destroyer with an off the reservation Comandante and you have the makings of a decent read. This is one of their older works but still has the panache of the later publications. Should you read this … of course.
March 10, 2020
5 Stars (Amazing)
WOW! Astounded by how AWESOME this book really is! What I thought would be only a nice little 'thriller' along Antarctica, proved to be the most 'entertaining' thriller I've read in 2017!
Imagine, you're a 'meteorite' hunter ('Sam MacFarlane') hired by one of the richest moguls in the planet ('Palmer Lloyd'), to recover a breakthrough scientific discovery near the heart of the Ice Limit in Antarctica! The discovery is a meteorite so expansive, and massive that it weighs a staggering 25 thousand-tons!
The background of The Ice Limit is the 'Isla Desolacion' off the coast of Chile, in a nearly uninhabitable cold and desolate island filled with treacherous icy and rocky mountains, proving every physical barrier possible to uncover the meteorite. Along with a skeleton crew of 50, the billionaire mogul hires a high-end engineering firm, 'EES' to design and orchestrate the rescue mission of this massive meteorite.
The book is expertly written, in a fast and dynamic prose, with sharp dialogue, infused with humor and lots of human emotions, that carry the story a long way. Characters are very unique and well developed. The level of tension is seen clearly, as top geologist, engineer, mathematician and sailor are required to join forces to accomplish this impossible mission.
This is certainly considered a breed between an 'action' and 'techn0-thriller', with an amazing emphasis on detailed descriptions of the meteorite, the geology and science behind it. Another fascinating aspect is the creation of a massive, highly technologic ship, disguised as an 'oil tanker' used to haul this big-ass meteorite back to North America. The level of research both Preston and Child did for this book is ridiculous! And it pays off big time dividends! The realism created by their writing is really accentuated by the level of description and research effort.
Oh, and did I tell you they have to sail amongst some of the gnarliest, meanest currents in the depths of planet earth to rescue this damn meteorite??
What makes this book a true 'gem' is how the authors have created the main protagonist as the 'meteor' itself, not any other humans! There is non-stopping, jaw-dropping action scenes, and introduction of amazing memorable characters, including a deranged and obsessed 'Chilean General' that will do anything to stop the Americans from conquering the meteor.
The Ice Limit is hands-down my favorite thriller that I've read in 2017! Its got unrelenting action, a narrative that is packed with fascinating characters and a meteor that is a time-bomb waiting to explode!
5 Stars
WOW! Astounded by how AWESOME this book really is! What I thought would be only a nice little 'thriller' along Antarctica, proved to be the most 'entertaining' thriller I've read in 2017!
Imagine, you're a 'meteorite' hunter ('Sam MacFarlane') hired by one of the richest moguls in the planet ('Palmer Lloyd'), to recover a breakthrough scientific discovery near the heart of the Ice Limit in Antarctica! The discovery is a meteorite so expansive, and massive that it weighs a staggering 25 thousand-tons!
The background of The Ice Limit is the 'Isla Desolacion' off the coast of Chile, in a nearly uninhabitable cold and desolate island filled with treacherous icy and rocky mountains, proving every physical barrier possible to uncover the meteorite. Along with a skeleton crew of 50, the billionaire mogul hires a high-end engineering firm, 'EES' to design and orchestrate the rescue mission of this massive meteorite.
The book is expertly written, in a fast and dynamic prose, with sharp dialogue, infused with humor and lots of human emotions, that carry the story a long way. Characters are very unique and well developed. The level of tension is seen clearly, as top geologist, engineer, mathematician and sailor are required to join forces to accomplish this impossible mission.
This is certainly considered a breed between an 'action' and 'techn0-thriller', with an amazing emphasis on detailed descriptions of the meteorite, the geology and science behind it. Another fascinating aspect is the creation of a massive, highly technologic ship, disguised as an 'oil tanker' used to haul this big-ass meteorite back to North America. The level of research both Preston and Child did for this book is ridiculous! And it pays off big time dividends! The realism created by their writing is really accentuated by the level of description and research effort.
Oh, and did I tell you they have to sail amongst some of the gnarliest, meanest currents in the depths of planet earth to rescue this damn meteorite??
What makes this book a true 'gem' is how the authors have created the main protagonist as the 'meteor' itself, not any other humans! There is non-stopping, jaw-dropping action scenes, and introduction of amazing memorable characters, including a deranged and obsessed 'Chilean General' that will do anything to stop the Americans from conquering the meteor.
The Ice Limit is hands-down my favorite thriller that I've read in 2017! Its got unrelenting action, a narrative that is packed with fascinating characters and a meteor that is a time-bomb waiting to explode!
5 Stars
August 29, 2021
Holy meteorite, this was one heck of a gripping read. It's probably one of most engaging thrillers I've read in which I couldn't find any major tropey thriller flaws that detract from my overall enjoyment. Even though it is not filled with action, the narrative was incredibly riveting. When the last quarter came around, it was downright unputdownable as action scenes of man-vs-man and man-vs-nature came together in a resounding climactic sequence. And then there's the final revelation which blew my mind.
As a fan of speculative fiction, I've always loved the fantastical, and one of the reasons why I loved the Pendergast series by these authors was how they marry what seemed to be the impossible with the plausible, i.e. supernatural and science. The ending of this book was just the type which made me crave for more of these books. Give me something mysterious, which could be explained by science by stretching the narrative to the very boundaries of what could be real. Preston & Child had always been willing to take that risk in their bold narratives, and that's what I loved about their books.
As a fan of speculative fiction, I've always loved the fantastical, and one of the reasons why I loved the Pendergast series by these authors was how they marry what seemed to be the impossible with the plausible, i.e. supernatural and science. The ending of this book was just the type which made me crave for more of these books. Give me something mysterious, which could be explained by science by stretching the narrative to the very boundaries of what could be real. Preston & Child had always been willing to take that risk in their bold narratives, and that's what I loved about their books.
August 21, 2017
3.25 🌟
While this was no Pendergast not even in the same league in terms of content and quality, still this was an extremely fast paced, adrenaline rush inducing and engaging read.
B.U.T that ending? It left a lot to be desired.
There is a sequel I see... not reading anytime soon.
While this was no Pendergast not even in the same league in terms of content and quality, still this was an extremely fast paced, adrenaline rush inducing and engaging read.
B.U.T that ending? It left a lot to be desired.
There is a sequel I see... not reading anytime soon.
September 1, 2021
Wow, this was a blast!
I only recent started my foray into the works of Preston and Child with the Pendergast books, but I have enjoyed those immensely so far. Thus when my co-blogger TS raved about the this book I knew I had to read it too and I am so happy that I did.
The Ice Limit started as an adventure that transformed into a gripping mystery and went out with a bang as a pulse-pounding thriller! I was reading this at the same time as The Gunslinger by Stephen king, but I found it hard to put this down and give the other any reading time. Not that this was packed to the brim with non-stop action, but the story was completely absorbing and entertained up to the very end, where after an absolute heart-pounding finale pulled out all the stops, including a crushing blow as two of my favourite, badass characters came to an untimely end. Whyyyyyy?!?!?!? Lastly, the authors presented a final reveal that underlined the inevitable: I have no choice but to read the indirect sequel to this one, Beyond the Ice Limit.
I only recent started my foray into the works of Preston and Child with the Pendergast books, but I have enjoyed those immensely so far. Thus when my co-blogger TS raved about the this book I knew I had to read it too and I am so happy that I did.
The Ice Limit started as an adventure that transformed into a gripping mystery and went out with a bang as a pulse-pounding thriller! I was reading this at the same time as The Gunslinger by Stephen king, but I found it hard to put this down and give the other any reading time. Not that this was packed to the brim with non-stop action, but the story was completely absorbing and entertained up to the very end, where after an absolute heart-pounding finale pulled out all the stops, including a crushing blow as two of my favourite, badass characters came to an untimely end. Whyyyyyy?!?!?!? Lastly, the authors presented a final reveal that underlined the inevitable: I have no choice but to read the indirect sequel to this one, Beyond the Ice Limit.
April 15, 2018
Loved the science, mystery and action of this book immensely! Great characters and a great storyline overall. Everything I'm looking for in a good mystery/thriller/action story. Looking forward very much to reading the sequel.
June 16, 2023
4 sterren- Nederlandse paperback
Recensie volgt later.
Recensie volgt later.
November 5, 2019
An Action/Adventure tale about the discovery and recovery from one of the most inhospitable parts of the world (Tierra Del Fuego) of an incredibly dense and deceptively dangerous meteorite. The engineering feats are very well detailed and described and make this a worthwhile read in their own right.
The first half of the novel I found more interesting than exciting; not a huge amount of action and what there is doesn't happen at a great pace. But it certainly piqued my curiosity about the meteorite's attributes.
There's a lot more - and more intense - action in the latter half of the story. Some pretty gripping scenes but let down somewhat by a couple of key credibility issues. The sudden reveal of the "solution" to the destroyer attack (at the "ice limit" where the frozen antarctic waters meet the warmer northern oceans) should have had some form of premonitory indicator - it felt too easy and the timing seemed impossible. Similarly, the calmest, coolest character in the story switched to losing it without a credible transition. As for the ending... hmm. The writing overall is high quality but those issues brought it back to a 3 star.
The first half of the novel I found more interesting than exciting; not a huge amount of action and what there is doesn't happen at a great pace. But it certainly piqued my curiosity about the meteorite's attributes.
There's a lot more - and more intense - action in the latter half of the story. Some pretty gripping scenes but let down somewhat by a couple of key credibility issues. The sudden reveal of the "solution" to the destroyer attack (at the "ice limit" where the frozen antarctic waters meet the warmer northern oceans) should have had some form of premonitory indicator - it felt too easy and the timing seemed impossible. Similarly, the calmest, coolest character in the story switched to losing it without a credible transition. As for the ending... hmm. The writing overall is high quality but those issues brought it back to a 3 star.
August 25, 2011
I've read every book Richard Preston and Lincoln Child have written together, and this is the one that stands out the most. I feel like I can remember almost every detail. I still marvel at the impossibility of the task the Eli Glinn and co. face and tip my hat to the crew's ingenuity at every turn. I
I recommend Preston and Child novices start here, because although Relic, their first book is great, I don't think it has as strong or as sustained or as logical a plot as Ice Limit. As in any thriller, events occur in Ice Limit that seem to come out of thin air, but unlike other Preston/Child works, these incidents fit more neatly into the overall story and theme of the book.
My only complaint is Preston and Child keep teasing us with a sequel. It started in Still Life with Crows, probably my favorite Agent Pendergast novel, and continued in Dance of Death. For the details, check out the authors' website.
Their new character, Gideon Crew, is working for Eli Glinn. Is this just another tease or a sign of hope?
I recommend Preston and Child novices start here, because although Relic, their first book is great, I don't think it has as strong or as sustained or as logical a plot as Ice Limit. As in any thriller, events occur in Ice Limit that seem to come out of thin air, but unlike other Preston/Child works, these incidents fit more neatly into the overall story and theme of the book.
My only complaint is Preston and Child keep teasing us with a sequel. It started in Still Life with Crows, probably my favorite Agent Pendergast novel, and continued in Dance of Death. For the details, check out the authors' website.
Their new character, Gideon Crew, is working for Eli Glinn. Is this just another tease or a sign of hope?
November 13, 2010
First, let me say that I LOVE Preston-Child's Pendergast Series. Insanely so. And this book would have had a 4 star review... right up until those last few chapters. I won't give anything away, except to say that I'm pretty sure that either the editors of the publishers started screeching about length/word count, and the duo just... well, wrote the worst ending I've read in years.
I can't even describe how far my WTF Meter went into the red. Five chapters that should have been ten, character acting completely, er, out of character, needless deaths, and a final paragraph that made me hurl the book against the wall. I'm only a few chapters into "Dragon Mount" and I'm hesitant to read any further.
Sorry guys, epic fail on this one.
I can't even describe how far my WTF Meter went into the red. Five chapters that should have been ten, character acting completely, er, out of character, needless deaths, and a final paragraph that made me hurl the book against the wall. I'm only a few chapters into "Dragon Mount" and I'm hesitant to read any further.
Sorry guys, epic fail on this one.
May 12, 2011
I listened to the audiobook.
The plot of Ice Limit involves one man's aversion to failure, one man's ethics turned upside down, and two men's obsession with a very dense rock.
Hate to say it, but I am disappointed in this book. After reading Mount Dragon, I was expecting a thrill ride. Instead, the story is bogged down in character development (those pesky characters!). The best part of the story is the last 40 minutes!
The plot of Ice Limit involves one man's aversion to failure, one man's ethics turned upside down, and two men's obsession with a very dense rock.
Hate to say it, but I am disappointed in this book. After reading Mount Dragon, I was expecting a thrill ride. Instead, the story is bogged down in character development (those pesky characters!). The best part of the story is the last 40 minutes!
October 17, 2025
This book is a thriller about an attempt to recover the largest meteorite ever discovered. Billionaire Palmer Lloyd hires meteor expert Sam McFarlane and Eli Glinn's engineering firm to extract it from Isla Desolación, an island off the southern tip of Chile, and transport it to his museum in New York.
The first half focuses on setting the stage and introducing the characters. Sam has a reputation as a maverick. Eli has a reputation for planning every detail to guarantee success. Lloyd is a loose cannon. It establishes the planning and logistics of the vast effort required to complete the project. The pace ramps up significantly in the second half and there are several unexpected twists.
I particularly enjoyed the technical authenticity of heavy engineering, which made up for a few rather thinly developed characters. The setting is another positive. The team is forced to deal with extreme cold, rapidly changing weather conditions, and the strange properties of the meteorite. The ending is an obvious setup for the sequel and contains a few elements that seem completely unrealistic. But that aside, this is an entertaining book that kept my interest from start to finish.
The first half focuses on setting the stage and introducing the characters. Sam has a reputation as a maverick. Eli has a reputation for planning every detail to guarantee success. Lloyd is a loose cannon. It establishes the planning and logistics of the vast effort required to complete the project. The pace ramps up significantly in the second half and there are several unexpected twists.
I particularly enjoyed the technical authenticity of heavy engineering, which made up for a few rather thinly developed characters. The setting is another positive. The team is forced to deal with extreme cold, rapidly changing weather conditions, and the strange properties of the meteorite. The ending is an obvious setup for the sequel and contains a few elements that seem completely unrealistic. But that aside, this is an entertaining book that kept my interest from start to finish.
May 10, 2013
-Que no falte de nada… será por dinero….-
Género. Novela.
Lo que nos cuenta. En una isla al sur de Chile se localiza un enorme meteorito que es objeto del deseo de un millonario coleccionista por lo que contrata, entre otros, a un experto en ingeniería para planificar su traslado hasta un museo de su propiedad. Pero, por muchas razones, la tarea no resultará nada fácil.
¿Quiere saber más del libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Novela.
Lo que nos cuenta. En una isla al sur de Chile se localiza un enorme meteorito que es objeto del deseo de un millonario coleccionista por lo que contrata, entre otros, a un experto en ingeniería para planificar su traslado hasta un museo de su propiedad. Pero, por muchas razones, la tarea no resultará nada fácil.
¿Quiere saber más del libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
January 26, 2018
An exciting, thrilling adventure story featuring Eli Glinn and his company Effective Engineering Solutions (which readers of the agent Pendergast series will recognize) as they lead a major research and recovery exhibition at the southern tip of South America. You will be compelled to read book two, Beyond the Ice Limit to find out how the story ends.
May 19, 2019
Mini-Review:
4.5 Stars for Narration by Scott Brick
1 Star for Plot
2.5 Stars for Characters
I enjoyed the Pendergast series enough to look for other work by the authors. The suspension of belief was impossible to keep during the story. It should have been interesting but it came off like a cheesy soap opera with little action. I'm not even sure why I finished it.
4.5 Stars for Narration by Scott Brick
1 Star for Plot
2.5 Stars for Characters
I enjoyed the Pendergast series enough to look for other work by the authors. The suspension of belief was impossible to keep during the story. It should have been interesting but it came off like a cheesy soap opera with little action. I'm not even sure why I finished it.
August 14, 2007
This is one of these best edge of your seat action books EVER!!! I love this book and the main character (who shows up in other books by these authors) is one of my favorites. If you like action and a little bit of adventure, high-seas and science-fiction, this is for you!
March 26, 2013
Although overall I enjoyed this book, I found it to be a tough read for the most part. It is severely hampered by being almost totally linear, and most of the book takes place in one setting, and that setting is the monotonous cold sea, snow and ice south of Tierra del Fuego. However, the plot did keep me interested enough to keep turning the pages, and the ending is a crackerjack of tension and excitement.
I found it helpful to visualize Palmer Lloyd, the extremely wealthy financier of the project, as the Richard Attenborough character from Jurassic Park, even if the physical description given didn't match. There was that same sense of hopeless optimism and single-minded focus on the object of affection; here, a meteorite instead of a theme park full of cloned dinosaurs. I also pictured the Glinn character as Dr Halvorson from the 2011 prequel of The Thing. They seemed similar in their quiet demeanor and tight control over their domains.
One thing that bugged me about Lloyd - in an effort to show how he has no objection to spending whatever it takes to get what he wants, the authors have him saunter into an auction and bid $100 million on an item whose highest bid wasn't even half of that amount. This just makes him a foolish businessman, which makes you wonder how he made so much money in the first place. It's an incongruity that I wish they had avoided altogether.
I found it helpful to visualize Palmer Lloyd, the extremely wealthy financier of the project, as the Richard Attenborough character from Jurassic Park, even if the physical description given didn't match. There was that same sense of hopeless optimism and single-minded focus on the object of affection; here, a meteorite instead of a theme park full of cloned dinosaurs. I also pictured the Glinn character as Dr Halvorson from the 2011 prequel of The Thing. They seemed similar in their quiet demeanor and tight control over their domains.
One thing that bugged me about Lloyd - in an effort to show how he has no objection to spending whatever it takes to get what he wants, the authors have him saunter into an auction and bid $100 million on an item whose highest bid wasn't even half of that amount. This just makes him a foolish businessman, which makes you wonder how he made so much money in the first place. It's an incongruity that I wish they had avoided altogether.
August 25, 2020
I was looking for my next book to read and craving an adventure, so I knew exactly which authors I wanted, Preston & Child. Let me tell you they didn’t disappoint. Truth be told I actually picked up “Beyond the Ice Limit” and realized it was book #2 and me, being me, I had to read book #1 first.
Something that had never been discovered before, an interstellar meteorite, was found on an island south of Chile. Palmer Lloyd, a man with loads of money (think Elon Musk), wants that meteorite and will stop at nothing to get it. He hires Eli Glinn, president of Effective Engineering Solutions, Inc to retrieve that 25,000-ton rock. That’s right……25,000 tons! Glinn is teamed up with Sam McFarlane, a scientist who’s been looking for this kind of meteorite his entire life. Glinn’s job is to prepare for everything. And he does. Mostly. What follows is the adventure I was craving and Preston & Child came through just like I knew they would. As you can guess, retrieving this meteorite isn’t easy. The sheer magnitude of it along with, of course, a third party that’s gotta’ stand in the way is a recipe for adventure success. These two authors always flow the story so easily and always leave you wanting more. So good!
Something that had never been discovered before, an interstellar meteorite, was found on an island south of Chile. Palmer Lloyd, a man with loads of money (think Elon Musk), wants that meteorite and will stop at nothing to get it. He hires Eli Glinn, president of Effective Engineering Solutions, Inc to retrieve that 25,000-ton rock. That’s right……25,000 tons! Glinn is teamed up with Sam McFarlane, a scientist who’s been looking for this kind of meteorite his entire life. Glinn’s job is to prepare for everything. And he does. Mostly. What follows is the adventure I was craving and Preston & Child came through just like I knew they would. As you can guess, retrieving this meteorite isn’t easy. The sheer magnitude of it along with, of course, a third party that’s gotta’ stand in the way is a recipe for adventure success. These two authors always flow the story so easily and always leave you wanting more. So good!
February 7, 2023
Neesmu dzirdējusi nevienu citu atsauksmi par “Ledus robežu” un absolūti neorientējos šajā žanrā, bet man šis likās vienkārši lielisks piedzīvojumu trilleris.
🥶💀🥶
Netālu no Čīles uz neapdzīvotas salas tiek atrasts līdz šim lielākais zināmais meteorīts.
Tas sver tūkstošiem tonnu un šķietami nav pārvietojams, taču Ņujorkas miljardieris Pālmers Loids šo atradumu izmisīgi vēlas iegūt savā īpašumā, un viņa vadībā labāko zinātnieku un inženieru komanda dodas slepenā un eksperimentālā ekspedīcijā uz ledāju ieskauto salu. Neviens no viņiem nebija gaidījis sastapt to, ko viņi tur ieraudzīja…
🥶💀🥶
Noteikti jāņem vērā, ka stāstā ir elementi, ko grūti savienot ar to, ko mēs saprotam ar vārdu “realitāte”.
Te robeža starp ticamo un neticamo reizēm bija ļoti šaura, reizēm, manuprāt, pazuda pavisam, bet tajā pašā laikā tomēr nobalansēja tieši tā, lai mana skeptiskā uztvere to pieņemtu un izbaudītu ar noteikumu, ka zinu - šis ir mistisks piedzīvojumu trilleris un šeit visam nav jāizskatās 100% ticami.
Bet visādā ziņā dodieties droši šajā ceļojumā uz Antarktīdu - Čailds un Prestons ir parūpējušies, lai tas būtu neaizmirstams!
🥶💀🥶💀🥶
Vairāk manā IG kontā @agneseizmekle
🥶💀🥶
Netālu no Čīles uz neapdzīvotas salas tiek atrasts līdz šim lielākais zināmais meteorīts.
Tas sver tūkstošiem tonnu un šķietami nav pārvietojams, taču Ņujorkas miljardieris Pālmers Loids šo atradumu izmisīgi vēlas iegūt savā īpašumā, un viņa vadībā labāko zinātnieku un inženieru komanda dodas slepenā un eksperimentālā ekspedīcijā uz ledāju ieskauto salu. Neviens no viņiem nebija gaidījis sastapt to, ko viņi tur ieraudzīja…
🥶💀🥶
Noteikti jāņem vērā, ka stāstā ir elementi, ko grūti savienot ar to, ko mēs saprotam ar vārdu “realitāte”.
Te robeža starp ticamo un neticamo reizēm bija ļoti šaura, reizēm, manuprāt, pazuda pavisam, bet tajā pašā laikā tomēr nobalansēja tieši tā, lai mana skeptiskā uztvere to pieņemtu un izbaudītu ar noteikumu, ka zinu - šis ir mistisks piedzīvojumu trilleris un šeit visam nav jāizskatās 100% ticami.
Bet visādā ziņā dodieties droši šajā ceļojumā uz Antarktīdu - Čailds un Prestons ir parūpējušies, lai tas būtu neaizmirstams!
🥶💀🥶💀🥶
Vairāk manā IG kontā @agneseizmekle
October 9, 2018
I’m a big fan of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, so it’s no surprise that I loved this book. Once again I read one of Preston and Child’s books out of order in the series (yes, I mistakenly read the sequel “Beyond the Ice Limit” before reading this one - no matter, it just makes more sense now). I love the attention to detail whether it’s about the science of meteorites or the operation of oil tankers. In the afterward, the authors say the inspiration for the book came, in part, from a mission Admiral Perry and team undertook in Greenland. Scott Brick deftly handled the audiobook narration so that I felt fully immersed in the story and couldn’t wait to commute between home and work in order to hear what happened next. Unfortunately, I think I’ve finished reading all of their books written together, so I’ll have to settle for their individual writings now.
October 25, 2019
I don’t want to say too much about The Ice Limit plot-wise because it would spoil a really great novel.
I will say that Ice Limit and Beyond the Ice Limit are parts one and two of the story and you really have to read them in that order. I know that Beyond the Ice Limit is billed as a stand alone, but the first part is so different and sets up the second so well that you will feel you have to drop everything and read part 2.
Conversely, Beyond the Ice Limit has so many spoilers for part one that if you read it first you probably shouldn’t bother with reading The Ice Limit—at the very least you won’t enjoy it nearly as much because the suspense and the shock ending will be gone.
This pair of novels, taken collectively, is a great thriller by two writers at the top of their game.
I will say that Ice Limit and Beyond the Ice Limit are parts one and two of the story and you really have to read them in that order. I know that Beyond the Ice Limit is billed as a stand alone, but the first part is so different and sets up the second so well that you will feel you have to drop everything and read part 2.
Conversely, Beyond the Ice Limit has so many spoilers for part one that if you read it first you probably shouldn’t bother with reading The Ice Limit—at the very least you won’t enjoy it nearly as much because the suspense and the shock ending will be gone.
This pair of novels, taken collectively, is a great thriller by two writers at the top of their game.
August 3, 2020
An archaeologist with a checkered past, a firm that specializes in expecting the unexpected, and an extremely wealthy man who wants to own big pieces of the past for his museum, journey to a desolate island to dig up the largest meteor ever discovered on earth. They make the journey on a ship designed with 100% overage - to keep the scientists, crew, and the meteor safe in nearly every situation. What could possibly go wrong? How about everything...
I thoroughly enjoyed this book but was a bit disappointed by the unresolved threads in the ending. However, I was very excited to find out there is a sequel. I borrowed it from the library the same day I finished this book. :)
I thoroughly enjoyed this book but was a bit disappointed by the unresolved threads in the ending. However, I was very excited to find out there is a sequel. I borrowed it from the library the same day I finished this book. :)
April 22, 2020
Quite a good book if you like techno-thrillers. The second half of the book is a page turning ride! I love these two authors, but I'm certainly not biased in only giving 4 stars. At times the pace was slow at the start and I felt the science was difficult to follow at times. Great read though! And I will definitely read the sequel !
June 13, 2017
Needed a thrilling adventure, so tried a non-Pendergast Preston novel. Not exactly gripping, but good enough to keep me turning the pages. I enjoy stories that take me to the far reaches of civilization. I then research further and learn some cool things. In this case, Cape Horn.
February 4, 2018
I'm reading the sequel to this book based only on its very last sentence. My impression is this isn't a bad book but it had so much filler... to the point that I'm thinking this entire novel could have been shrunk down to about 20 pages and used as a prologue to the sequel.
January 21, 2019
Love the writers, but honestly this was only slightly amusing
June 17, 2021
In the 19th century, many wealthy individuals collected and displayed natural oddities in cabinets of curiosities. Billionaire Palmer Lloyd wants to accomplish a similar activity except he wants to display these oddities in a museum that he is building. Lloyd is combing the world for the unique and largest specimens. A potential rumored find may be largest meteorite ever discovered buried on the tip of Chile. Since this may be heaviest object to be moved by man, the relocation of this object to New York will require a skilled and professional team. Sam McFarlane, geologist and noted meteorite scientist, has been hired to locate the meteorite. Eli Glinn, president of an engineering company and reputed to accomplish engineering feats, has been employed to excavate and load the heavy object onto a redesigned modern supertanker, which will be piloted by the recovering alcoholic Captain Sally Britton. Optimistic, Glinn has planned for all contingencies for disguising the true purpose for their business in Chile and for moving an object which is heavier than a Saturn V rocket. Or has he?
Unfortunately, I read a blurb regarding the second book in the series which referenced the ending of this book so I spent much of this book waiting for the setup of the climax. I would recommend not making the same mistake I did. I did enjoy the story which was well crafted by Preston and Child; however, I did get a bit tired of life on the raging sea at the Strait of Magellan. I felt windswepted and salt-sprayed by the time I finished the book.
Unfortunately, I read a blurb regarding the second book in the series which referenced the ending of this book so I spent much of this book waiting for the setup of the climax. I would recommend not making the same mistake I did. I did enjoy the story which was well crafted by Preston and Child; however, I did get a bit tired of life on the raging sea at the Strait of Magellan. I felt windswepted and salt-sprayed by the time I finished the book.
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