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The Ice
THE ICE is an electrifying story of friendship, power and betrayal by the bestselling, Baileys-prize shortlisted author of The Bees.
It's the day after tomorrow and the Arctic sea ice has melted. While global business carves up the new frontier, cruise ships race each other to ever-rarer wildlife sightings. The passengers of the Vanir have come seeking a polar bear. What they find is even more astonishing: a dead body.
It is Tom Harding, lost in an accident three years ago and now revealed by the melting ice of Midgard glacier. Tom had come to Midgard to help launch the new venture of his best friend of thirty years, Sean Cawson, a man whose business relies on discretion and powerful connections – and who was the last person to see him alive.
Their friendship had been forged by a shared obsession with Arctic exploration. And although Tom's need to save the world often clashed with Sean's desire to conquer it, Sean has always believed that underneath it all, they shared the same goals.
But as the inquest into Tom's death begins, the choices made by both men – in love and in life – are put on the stand. And when cracks appear in the foundations of Sean's glamorous world, he is forced to question what price he has really paid for a seat at the establishment's table.
Just how deep do the lies go?
It's the day after tomorrow and the Arctic sea ice has melted. While global business carves up the new frontier, cruise ships race each other to ever-rarer wildlife sightings. The passengers of the Vanir have come seeking a polar bear. What they find is even more astonishing: a dead body.
It is Tom Harding, lost in an accident three years ago and now revealed by the melting ice of Midgard glacier. Tom had come to Midgard to help launch the new venture of his best friend of thirty years, Sean Cawson, a man whose business relies on discretion and powerful connections – and who was the last person to see him alive.
Their friendship had been forged by a shared obsession with Arctic exploration. And although Tom's need to save the world often clashed with Sean's desire to conquer it, Sean has always believed that underneath it all, they shared the same goals.
But as the inquest into Tom's death begins, the choices made by both men – in love and in life – are put on the stand. And when cracks appear in the foundations of Sean's glamorous world, he is forced to question what price he has really paid for a seat at the establishment's table.
Just how deep do the lies go?
256 pages, ebook
First published May 4, 2017
35 people are currently reading
1992 people want to read
About the author
Laline Paull
3 books908 followersMy heartfelt thanks to every reader of my work: you have given it your time, your attention, and whether or not you liked it or felt repaid, you engaged - even for a little while if DNF. Thank you for your generosity in sharing your positive feedback, or your heartfelt reasons for your aversion. Writers are fortunate in that we can calibrate all that against our growing awareness of what we want to do.
As authors, we put ourselves out there and as readers we do that too, hoping to find that communion with other minds, maybe even souls, through stories. None of us would be here on Goodreads if we didn’t believe that there was something truly important in the quest for making and reading, truly good books.
Best wishes
Laline
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews
April 4, 2017
This is a outstanding read set in the Arctic and London in the near future. The sea ice at the poles has melted with business, military and tourism swooping in to take advantage. The focus of the novel is the thirty year relationship between Tom Harding and Sean Cawson forged by their obsession with the Arctic in Oxford. Tom is the popular environmental campaigner and Sean is looking to make his name, becoming wealthier and yearning for a knighthood. They come together to purchase the Norwegian Midgard Lodge owned by the Pedersons to turn it into an exclusive retreat for the well off, with the aim of reaching out to climate sceptics and converting them to the environmental cause. 3 years ago, Tom died in an accident at Midgard whilst Sean comes out alive. This led to a whispering campaign against Sean in the media and the public, he has been shadowed by the whiff of suspicion through the years and the knighthood has remained out of his reach. Whilst he is CEO of Midgard, he has never been able to go back, delegating its management.
The calving of the Midgard glacier yields Tom's dead body, filmed by a cruise ship passenger. Sean is not the first to be informed of this, and he is shell shocked by the news. He is further disorientated when he finds himself shunned by his ex-wife Gail, daughter Rosie, Tom's family and the grieving Dr Ruth Mott, academic and Tom's girlfriend. He finds little comfort from Martine, and is recommended to hire the lawyer Sawbridge for the inquest. The hearing appears to be a foregone conclusion, when events in Midgard spiral out of control and Sean finds himself reeling after a shock and an unexpected betrayal. He begins to see himself as he is and cannot stand being himself. Despite being drugged, battered and bloodied, he seeks atonement and is not afraid to speak the truth about what happened to Tom.
Interspersed throughout the novel are extracts from journals from 19th and early 20th century Arctic explorers such as Knud Rasmussen, Ejnar Mikkelson, Peter Freuchen, and Robert E Peary whose hostility to the black explorer, Matthew Henson, never waned at the effrontery of Henson beating him to the pole. There is remarkable insights into the Arctic landscape and its fragility, Inuit folklore and myth, animals and food. There are wonderful descriptions of Tanya Tagaq, a throat singer, who with an orchestra take the audience on an unrivalled experience. I have to relate the unusual use of frozen human excrement as a chisel to escape life threatening circumstances!
The author does a tremendous job at conveying the disaster that the Arctic has become, held hostage by greed, political intrigue, and business needs trumping those of the environment. The character of Sean is developed well, a man who has been undone by the death of his closest friend, Tom. The way his life unravels and he comes to face unpleasant truths is done so skilfully by the author. The biggest and central character in the novel is the majestic Arctic, and the threats it faces from a number of quarters. Fantastic read and cannot recommend it highly enough. Thanks to HarperCollins 4th Estate for an ARC.
The calving of the Midgard glacier yields Tom's dead body, filmed by a cruise ship passenger. Sean is not the first to be informed of this, and he is shell shocked by the news. He is further disorientated when he finds himself shunned by his ex-wife Gail, daughter Rosie, Tom's family and the grieving Dr Ruth Mott, academic and Tom's girlfriend. He finds little comfort from Martine, and is recommended to hire the lawyer Sawbridge for the inquest. The hearing appears to be a foregone conclusion, when events in Midgard spiral out of control and Sean finds himself reeling after a shock and an unexpected betrayal. He begins to see himself as he is and cannot stand being himself. Despite being drugged, battered and bloodied, he seeks atonement and is not afraid to speak the truth about what happened to Tom.
Interspersed throughout the novel are extracts from journals from 19th and early 20th century Arctic explorers such as Knud Rasmussen, Ejnar Mikkelson, Peter Freuchen, and Robert E Peary whose hostility to the black explorer, Matthew Henson, never waned at the effrontery of Henson beating him to the pole. There is remarkable insights into the Arctic landscape and its fragility, Inuit folklore and myth, animals and food. There are wonderful descriptions of Tanya Tagaq, a throat singer, who with an orchestra take the audience on an unrivalled experience. I have to relate the unusual use of frozen human excrement as a chisel to escape life threatening circumstances!
The author does a tremendous job at conveying the disaster that the Arctic has become, held hostage by greed, political intrigue, and business needs trumping those of the environment. The character of Sean is developed well, a man who has been undone by the death of his closest friend, Tom. The way his life unravels and he comes to face unpleasant truths is done so skilfully by the author. The biggest and central character in the novel is the majestic Arctic, and the threats it faces from a number of quarters. Fantastic read and cannot recommend it highly enough. Thanks to HarperCollins 4th Estate for an ARC.
May 6, 2017
The Eco message is delivered loud and clear in 'The Ice'. This is how the future might possibly look if we choose to ignore the signs of global warming. The author doesn't try to force the message down our throats, but it takes centre stage in this storyline.
The Arctic sea ice has melted, and Sean Cawson ( a somewhat unscrupulous businessman ) and his long term friend and environmentalist Tom Harding, purchase Midgard Lodge on the Midgard Glacier near Svalbard. Their intention is to provide an exclusive retreat for those able to afford it, while at the same time encourage these clients to look at the environment in a more sympathetic way. However, the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing, so expect some surprises.
The story begins with the discovery of Tom Harding's body who had died in an accident near Midgard Lodge 3 years previously. A chunk of the story takes place in a courtroom to determine exactly how Tom died. However the location in the Arctic plays a major part, and the author takes you right there with her beautifully descriptive powers. You can feel the majesty and power of this beautiful landscape. It has that raw, savage, feel where nature dictates the terms not man.
It's also a story about greed, power, and politics, and forces you to think about the environment, and the exploitation of natural resources. The characters were well thought out, though most of them were not particularly likeable, but of course that gives them a somewhat magnetic appeal. A very different but enjoyable read.
* Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins 4th estate for my ARC in exchange for an honest review*
The Arctic sea ice has melted, and Sean Cawson ( a somewhat unscrupulous businessman ) and his long term friend and environmentalist Tom Harding, purchase Midgard Lodge on the Midgard Glacier near Svalbard. Their intention is to provide an exclusive retreat for those able to afford it, while at the same time encourage these clients to look at the environment in a more sympathetic way. However, the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing, so expect some surprises.
The story begins with the discovery of Tom Harding's body who had died in an accident near Midgard Lodge 3 years previously. A chunk of the story takes place in a courtroom to determine exactly how Tom died. However the location in the Arctic plays a major part, and the author takes you right there with her beautifully descriptive powers. You can feel the majesty and power of this beautiful landscape. It has that raw, savage, feel where nature dictates the terms not man.
It's also a story about greed, power, and politics, and forces you to think about the environment, and the exploitation of natural resources. The characters were well thought out, though most of them were not particularly likeable, but of course that gives them a somewhat magnetic appeal. A very different but enjoyable read.
* Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins 4th estate for my ARC in exchange for an honest review*
June 1, 2018
Originally published as The Ice
"Sometime in the near future, several icebergs start breaking at the North Pole, uncovering the body of a missing scientist in the process..."
This was about the extent of what I read from the book's summary, and jumped to request it (from NetGalley). Needless to say, it was not one of my best ideas. My initial hope, was to get some sort of Scooby-doo-like mystery, with the dead body coming to life and attacking unsuspecting main- and side- characters. Barring that, at least some sort of action-packed story, a la Geostorm or 2012 would've been welcome as well.
What I wasn't really interested in, was the inner monologue of a rather unlikable 50-year old main character. As a matter fact, his friends/mentor/acquaintances weren't too likable either. So I couldn't really empathize with their grievances either.
Admittedly, I kept wondering if reading the English version would've been different. I mean sure, if asked, I'll fib and tell people that my German comprehension level is advanced. And then hope dearly that no one'll make me do a surprise literary analysis on the spot.
I truly wanted to hold out until the 50% mark at the very least, but things just got so boring. I would read 2 pages and just fall asleep. Two weeks for 134 pages seemed quite enough...
Score: 1/5 stars
Sssssso... this whole Netgalley thing: whose idea was it again?! Oh right, mine. I wanted access to more books in German. All these expectations are way too stressful for me. *huddles in a corner and cries*
======================
I have received this ARC courtesy of NetGalleyDe and Klett-Cotta Verlag in exchange for an honest and fair review.
"Sometime in the near future, several icebergs start breaking at the North Pole, uncovering the body of a missing scientist in the process..."
This was about the extent of what I read from the book's summary, and jumped to request it (from NetGalley). Needless to say, it was not one of my best ideas. My initial hope, was to get some sort of Scooby-doo-like mystery, with the dead body coming to life and attacking unsuspecting main- and side- characters. Barring that, at least some sort of action-packed story, a la Geostorm or 2012 would've been welcome as well.
What I wasn't really interested in, was the inner monologue of a rather unlikable 50-year old main character. As a matter fact, his friends/mentor/acquaintances weren't too likable either. So I couldn't really empathize with their grievances either.
Admittedly, I kept wondering if reading the English version would've been different. I mean sure, if asked, I'll fib and tell people that my German comprehension level is advanced. And then hope dearly that no one'll make me do a surprise literary analysis on the spot.
I truly wanted to hold out until the 50% mark at the very least, but things just got so boring. I would read 2 pages and just fall asleep. Two weeks for 134 pages seemed quite enough...
Score: 1/5 stars
Sssssso... this whole Netgalley thing: whose idea was it again?! Oh right, mine. I wanted access to more books in German. All these expectations are way too stressful for me. *huddles in a corner and cries*
======================
I have received this ARC courtesy of NetGalleyDe and Klett-Cotta Verlag in exchange for an honest and fair review.
May 21, 2017
This novel is set in the near future, with a strong environmental message. The crux of the story is the relationship between Sean Cawson, an ambitious businessman who has risen from nothing to become a success under his mentor, Joe Kingsmith, and his old friend, the environmentalist, Tom Harding. The novel begins with a cruise to look for polar bears; the passengers wealthy and disappointed by the lack of sightings. In order to try to locate a bear for the high-paying passengers, the ship goes closer to shore and the passengers spy a body, washed out of the Midgard glacier. The body is that of Tom Harding, who died after he and Sean were trapped in an ice cave some years before.
The novel then goes back and forth in time – with the present storyline looking at the inquest, examining how and why Tom died – and the back story involving an investment into the exclusive Midgard Lodge, purchased by Sean, Joe Kingsmith, Sean’s then mistress, Martine, an investor with the fantastic name of Radiance Young, and Tom. . Sean involved Tom as his interest in protecting the Arctic was seen as a way of placating the sellers of the environmentally vulnerable location. There are also personal problems, as Sean’s marriage breaks down and he becomes estranged from his daughter, Rosie.
Although I enjoyed this book, I did feel that it became bogged down in parts. From the very beginning, we feel that Sean is a very conflicted, and tortured, character. He is enticed and swayed into doing things he is not comfortable with in the pursuit of profit and the promise of an appearance in the Honour’s list. However, he also became friends with Tom through a shared obsession with the Arctic – ‘the last frontier the world had to offer, before space.’ He had to combine this love of the place with the fact that he wanted to make money through Midgard Lodge, a luxury retreat for those who valued discretion. With guests including businessmen, politicians and others with things to hide, this obviously involved turning a blind eye to bringing unethical people together at times.
Sean is obviously also unsatisfied in his relationship with Martine. He is unwilling to fully commit himself and still hankers after his old life and the marriage to Gail, which he left behind. However, frankly, his constant guilt and the fact that virtually everyone seems to think he is to blame for something, even if they are not sure what, becomes quite wearing. The story progresses, but, at times, you feel a little as though you are wading through snow yourself. The author does not fully use the Arctic setting and the characters are a little too defined as ‘good’ or ‘bad.’ This book has a message about the environment, and also about issues, such as greed, loyalty and corruption. I enjoyed much about it, but I think the storyline was not as gripping as I had hoped. If I could, I would give this a 3.5.
The novel then goes back and forth in time – with the present storyline looking at the inquest, examining how and why Tom died – and the back story involving an investment into the exclusive Midgard Lodge, purchased by Sean, Joe Kingsmith, Sean’s then mistress, Martine, an investor with the fantastic name of Radiance Young, and Tom. . Sean involved Tom as his interest in protecting the Arctic was seen as a way of placating the sellers of the environmentally vulnerable location. There are also personal problems, as Sean’s marriage breaks down and he becomes estranged from his daughter, Rosie.
Although I enjoyed this book, I did feel that it became bogged down in parts. From the very beginning, we feel that Sean is a very conflicted, and tortured, character. He is enticed and swayed into doing things he is not comfortable with in the pursuit of profit and the promise of an appearance in the Honour’s list. However, he also became friends with Tom through a shared obsession with the Arctic – ‘the last frontier the world had to offer, before space.’ He had to combine this love of the place with the fact that he wanted to make money through Midgard Lodge, a luxury retreat for those who valued discretion. With guests including businessmen, politicians and others with things to hide, this obviously involved turning a blind eye to bringing unethical people together at times.
Sean is obviously also unsatisfied in his relationship with Martine. He is unwilling to fully commit himself and still hankers after his old life and the marriage to Gail, which he left behind. However, frankly, his constant guilt and the fact that virtually everyone seems to think he is to blame for something, even if they are not sure what, becomes quite wearing. The story progresses, but, at times, you feel a little as though you are wading through snow yourself. The author does not fully use the Arctic setting and the characters are a little too defined as ‘good’ or ‘bad.’ This book has a message about the environment, and also about issues, such as greed, loyalty and corruption. I enjoyed much about it, but I think the storyline was not as gripping as I had hoped. If I could, I would give this a 3.5.
June 30, 2017
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Laline Paull, and the publisher, Fourth Estate, for this opportunity.
This near-future re-imagining of our world is a bleak affair. Polar ice caps melt at an alarming rate due to the Arctic's viable function as prime real estate. Cruise ships battle for dominance on the once tranquil waters. Wildlife is in sharp decline, as hordes of tourists overrun their homes in a bid to steal their share of this ever declining world.
These tourists came to be horrified by polar bears in their natural environment, but more is uncovered than they bargained for when the body of missing Tom Harding is discovered. Back in Britain Sean Cawson must deal with both the discovery of his friend's body and the repercussions this could have on his business ventures, on the other side of the globe.
This initially gripped me due to the bleak image it projected of Earth's near future, which was sharply opposed by segments from travel journals of infamous 19th and 20th Arctic explorers. The trepidation and awe experienced by the first discovers is used to further explore the impact commercialisation has had on our planet, where nothing is left to explore and all wonder at our beautiful planet has been lost. In this way, the vast and majestic landscape became more than a mere backdrop, but came to the fore as almost a central character in this tale.
This was also an interesting insight into the mind of one who has dually gained and lost so much. His friend's death acts as a catalyst for Sean, allowing him to revalue all he holds dear and reassess his claim to the majestic ice he once saw for nothing more than its monetary value. The character's growth as new truths become accepted allows the reader to investigate the current-day destruction of our planet and how accurate this projected future could one day become.
Whilst I appreciated the nature of the novel's focus, I can't say I found this an entirely gripping read. It's slow pace allowed for the intrusion of deep thought but it also felt a little bogged down by the political message it was preaching, at times.
This near-future re-imagining of our world is a bleak affair. Polar ice caps melt at an alarming rate due to the Arctic's viable function as prime real estate. Cruise ships battle for dominance on the once tranquil waters. Wildlife is in sharp decline, as hordes of tourists overrun their homes in a bid to steal their share of this ever declining world.
These tourists came to be horrified by polar bears in their natural environment, but more is uncovered than they bargained for when the body of missing Tom Harding is discovered. Back in Britain Sean Cawson must deal with both the discovery of his friend's body and the repercussions this could have on his business ventures, on the other side of the globe.
This initially gripped me due to the bleak image it projected of Earth's near future, which was sharply opposed by segments from travel journals of infamous 19th and 20th Arctic explorers. The trepidation and awe experienced by the first discovers is used to further explore the impact commercialisation has had on our planet, where nothing is left to explore and all wonder at our beautiful planet has been lost. In this way, the vast and majestic landscape became more than a mere backdrop, but came to the fore as almost a central character in this tale.
This was also an interesting insight into the mind of one who has dually gained and lost so much. His friend's death acts as a catalyst for Sean, allowing him to revalue all he holds dear and reassess his claim to the majestic ice he once saw for nothing more than its monetary value. The character's growth as new truths become accepted allows the reader to investigate the current-day destruction of our planet and how accurate this projected future could one day become.
Whilst I appreciated the nature of the novel's focus, I can't say I found this an entirely gripping read. It's slow pace allowed for the intrusion of deep thought but it also felt a little bogged down by the political message it was preaching, at times.
April 27, 2017
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley, in return for an honest review.
Fabulous exploration of friendship, greed and values, set against the backdrop of the Arctic.
It was the cover that drew me in initially. There's something quite 'vintage penguin' about it that I just couldn't resist, and I'm glad I didn't!
The story follows Sean, a successful businessman, who we discover has risen from virtually nothing, thanks to the help of his friend Tom (a passionate environmentalist) and his mentor, Joe Kingsmith. The story begins (as all good mysteries do) with the appearance of a body - Tom's body to be precise. We then progress through an exploration of Sean's life, the impact of his friend's death, and the secrets behind it.
The author excels at giving the characters richness and depth. Sean isn't simply portrayed as a greedy business-type; there's real conflict within him, which is expressed fantastically. Put it like this, you want to kind of hate him, because of his attitudes, but you really can't. Likewise, the other characters - the ambitious second wife, the angry daughter, the hilarious (and menacing) Radiance - all thoroughly enjoyable to read.
The layers within the plot itself also work exceptionally well. Not only do we gain understanding into the breakup of Sean's first marriage and his rise to financial success, we also see his passion - the Arctic, and how it affects his life. Even more impressive, the author uses the book to highlight the plight of the Arctic and the creatures within it - because of man's greed.
Compelling, thoroughly gripping and fabulously well-written - it's a big fat 5* from me.
Fabulous exploration of friendship, greed and values, set against the backdrop of the Arctic.
It was the cover that drew me in initially. There's something quite 'vintage penguin' about it that I just couldn't resist, and I'm glad I didn't!
The story follows Sean, a successful businessman, who we discover has risen from virtually nothing, thanks to the help of his friend Tom (a passionate environmentalist) and his mentor, Joe Kingsmith. The story begins (as all good mysteries do) with the appearance of a body - Tom's body to be precise. We then progress through an exploration of Sean's life, the impact of his friend's death, and the secrets behind it.
The author excels at giving the characters richness and depth. Sean isn't simply portrayed as a greedy business-type; there's real conflict within him, which is expressed fantastically. Put it like this, you want to kind of hate him, because of his attitudes, but you really can't. Likewise, the other characters - the ambitious second wife, the angry daughter, the hilarious (and menacing) Radiance - all thoroughly enjoyable to read.
The layers within the plot itself also work exceptionally well. Not only do we gain understanding into the breakup of Sean's first marriage and his rise to financial success, we also see his passion - the Arctic, and how it affects his life. Even more impressive, the author uses the book to highlight the plight of the Arctic and the creatures within it - because of man's greed.
Compelling, thoroughly gripping and fabulously well-written - it's a big fat 5* from me.
March 2, 2018
a completely awesome read. So witty and incisive and with brilliantly hewn characters set against a backdrop of international intrigue, death and friendship. It is an excellent follow up to the spectacular The Bees and shows what great range the writer is capable of. In my head, I'm already casting the film!
February 9, 2020
I read 'The Ice' in more or less a single sitting as it is an extremely well-paced novel of suspense. Laline Paull is an impressive writer. Despite the protagonist's many flaws (philandering disaster capitalist with a drinking problem), I found his narrative highly compelling. This was certainly assisted by the excellent settings: a melted North Pole and a London smothered in dust. 'The Ice' is definitely a climate change novel, as the whole story hinges upon the melting Arctic and the spectre of climate catastrophe looms over everything that occurs. Yet our entrepreneurial leading man, Sean Cawson, would much prefer to ignore it entirely and keep travelling in private jets. The book opens dramatically, with a cruise ship full of voyeuristic tourists watching an iceberg calve, revealing a corpse.
The Arctic is evoked brilliantly throughout, with a very effective ambivalence. Sean and his friend Tom both adore the place and idolise Arctic explorers of the past, even believing in its morally transformative power as an environment. Yet they both directly contribute to its commoditisation and continued destruction. Despite their differences, both seem determined to own a piece of it and thus end up ruining it, which shows the rapacity of capitalism in microcosm, really. The friendship and conflict between Sean and Tom is told via flashbacks, which build tension very effectively and raise questions of personal responsibility. Sean is not a reliable narrator of the events he's aware of, let alone the wider picture, so the reader's understanding develops gradually. The action builds to a satisfying and thematically tidy denouement, yet one that doesn't try to resolve any of the big questions too conveniently. How can we prevent exploitation of the Arctic worsening the climate change that has enabled it to happen? Paull doesn't claim to have easy answers, but personifies and explores the problem beautifully. Her vision of the near future is highly plausible. I also really liked the extracts from polar exploration literature at the beginning of each chapter, the starkness of which provided a powerful contrast with the luxuriance of the 1%.
The Arctic is evoked brilliantly throughout, with a very effective ambivalence. Sean and his friend Tom both adore the place and idolise Arctic explorers of the past, even believing in its morally transformative power as an environment. Yet they both directly contribute to its commoditisation and continued destruction. Despite their differences, both seem determined to own a piece of it and thus end up ruining it, which shows the rapacity of capitalism in microcosm, really. The friendship and conflict between Sean and Tom is told via flashbacks, which build tension very effectively and raise questions of personal responsibility. Sean is not a reliable narrator of the events he's aware of, let alone the wider picture, so the reader's understanding develops gradually. The action builds to a satisfying and thematically tidy denouement, yet one that doesn't try to resolve any of the big questions too conveniently. How can we prevent exploitation of the Arctic worsening the climate change that has enabled it to happen? Paull doesn't claim to have easy answers, but personifies and explores the problem beautifully. Her vision of the near future is highly plausible. I also really liked the extracts from polar exploration literature at the beginning of each chapter, the starkness of which provided a powerful contrast with the luxuriance of the 1%.
November 25, 2017
Find all my book reviews, plus fascinating author interviews, exclusive guest posts and book extracts, on my blog: https://whatcathyreadnext.wordpress.com/
I really enjoyed Laline Paull’s first book, The Bees. I thought it was quirky and inventive. So I was surprised when I started reading The Ice at how different in style it felt, almost as if it was the work of another author. The only thing the two books seem to share is an ecological message, in this case, focused on climate change and its affect on weather and sea levels.
The Ice is set in some near (but unfortunately all too believable) future in which global warming is causing freak weather events and has resulted in the melting of the polar ice cap, making the Trans Polar Route for shipping an actuality rather than a future possibility (as at present). In the book, the opening up of this route has brought economic opportunities for interested parties but territorial consequences for adjoining countries. For some of the vested interests, ecological considerations are very low on their list of priorities. Money and power is everything.
The picture of the world created in The Ice is one of high finance, arms dealing, surveillance, black ops, mercenaries and conspicuous consumption by rich and powerful individuals. As well as a thriller revolving around the truth about the death of Tom Harding, it’s a story of greed, ruthlessness, betrayal and how power and money can corrupt. However, it’s also about friendship, truth and redemption.
I’ll admit I found it a little hard at times to engage with the lead character, Sean Cawson, principally because he seemed to embody some male fantasy that all women want to have sex with him or would drop everything (no pun intended) to meet his needs at a time to suit him. However, the author did make me believe in the strength of his friendship with Tom, his grief at his death and the psychological impact of it on him, even years later.
Because it switches back and forth in time, sometimes without any indication in the chapter headings, the story was difficult to keep track of at some points. I also found it a little slow to begin with but felt the pace built up in the last third of the book to a gripping and shocking climax. I found the excerpts from the journals of Arctic explorers between chapters really fascinating. (3.5 stars)
I received a review copy courtesy of NetGalley and publishers 4th Estate in return for an honest review.
I really enjoyed Laline Paull’s first book, The Bees. I thought it was quirky and inventive. So I was surprised when I started reading The Ice at how different in style it felt, almost as if it was the work of another author. The only thing the two books seem to share is an ecological message, in this case, focused on climate change and its affect on weather and sea levels.
The Ice is set in some near (but unfortunately all too believable) future in which global warming is causing freak weather events and has resulted in the melting of the polar ice cap, making the Trans Polar Route for shipping an actuality rather than a future possibility (as at present). In the book, the opening up of this route has brought economic opportunities for interested parties but territorial consequences for adjoining countries. For some of the vested interests, ecological considerations are very low on their list of priorities. Money and power is everything.
The picture of the world created in The Ice is one of high finance, arms dealing, surveillance, black ops, mercenaries and conspicuous consumption by rich and powerful individuals. As well as a thriller revolving around the truth about the death of Tom Harding, it’s a story of greed, ruthlessness, betrayal and how power and money can corrupt. However, it’s also about friendship, truth and redemption.
I’ll admit I found it a little hard at times to engage with the lead character, Sean Cawson, principally because he seemed to embody some male fantasy that all women want to have sex with him or would drop everything (no pun intended) to meet his needs at a time to suit him. However, the author did make me believe in the strength of his friendship with Tom, his grief at his death and the psychological impact of it on him, even years later.
Because it switches back and forth in time, sometimes without any indication in the chapter headings, the story was difficult to keep track of at some points. I also found it a little slow to begin with but felt the pace built up in the last third of the book to a gripping and shocking climax. I found the excerpts from the journals of Arctic explorers between chapters really fascinating. (3.5 stars)
I received a review copy courtesy of NetGalley and publishers 4th Estate in return for an honest review.
April 11, 2017
I loved Paull's The Bees and here she delivers another well-articulated and generally well-plotted story with depth and surprises. The characters, especially the two men at its heart, are developed with layers, and the shifts in time between 'now' and the past are handled deftly. The eco message is clear but not delivered with sermon-like earnestness and becomes an integrated part of the story.
I very much liked the way Paull's travel into the crux of the story is also our journey into the centre of the ice-cave, into the heart of the relationship between Sean and Tom, and - in some ways - that between Sean and himself.
My niggles are that things unravel slightly towards the end: I found the last revelations about our protagonist at odds with everything else we've learned about him , and the final ending a bit of a cop-out... . Small caveats aside, this is an exciting read that manages to be both a great yarn and also something more thoughtful and serious.
I very much liked the way Paull's travel into the crux of the story is also our journey into the centre of the ice-cave, into the heart of the relationship between Sean and Tom, and - in some ways - that between Sean and himself.
My niggles are that things unravel slightly towards the end: I found the last revelations about our protagonist at odds with everything else we've learned about him , and the final ending a bit of a cop-out... . Small caveats aside, this is an exciting read that manages to be both a great yarn and also something more thoughtful and serious.
July 26, 2022
"The world is governed by lunatics and we just sit quiet?”
Laline Paull’s ‘The Ice,’ is set in the near future when the sea ice in the Arctic has completely melted, a much-anticipated sea route between Europe and Asia is finally possible, and government/business are threatening the remaining wildlife. The Arctic of our future has no protection. Paull explores the idea that running parallel to an increase in global warming is civil unrest.
I was instantly captivated by this eco-thriller when a body is discovered in a calving Arctic glacier in front of cruise ship passengers! Can you imagine?! We spent the whole day today on our deck as our cruise ship explored Glacier Bay, Alaska and I was excited every time I heard the ‘White Thunder’ of a calving glacier…I quickly set this book aside and grabbed the binoculars….no bodies!
So, back to the book, the passengers are on a cruise ship looking for sightings of the last remaining polar bears, when they don't see any, the lawyers amongst them put pressure on the captain to find some for them and illegal activity ensues.
The two main characters are Tom Harding, an environmentalist wanting to save the Arctic and Sean Cawson, an ambitious and powerful man wanting to own it. When they are exploring an ice cave an accident happens and the subsequent court case reveals their friendship, betrayal and greed. The flipping back and forth in time transitions easily and the British court case is interesting.
With countries withdrawing from the climate treaty and claims that global warming is on the rise, this is an apropos novel! Paull delivers her message clearly and succinctly.
Laline Paull’s ‘The Ice,’ is set in the near future when the sea ice in the Arctic has completely melted, a much-anticipated sea route between Europe and Asia is finally possible, and government/business are threatening the remaining wildlife. The Arctic of our future has no protection. Paull explores the idea that running parallel to an increase in global warming is civil unrest.
I was instantly captivated by this eco-thriller when a body is discovered in a calving Arctic glacier in front of cruise ship passengers! Can you imagine?! We spent the whole day today on our deck as our cruise ship explored Glacier Bay, Alaska and I was excited every time I heard the ‘White Thunder’ of a calving glacier…I quickly set this book aside and grabbed the binoculars….no bodies!
So, back to the book, the passengers are on a cruise ship looking for sightings of the last remaining polar bears, when they don't see any, the lawyers amongst them put pressure on the captain to find some for them and illegal activity ensues.
The two main characters are Tom Harding, an environmentalist wanting to save the Arctic and Sean Cawson, an ambitious and powerful man wanting to own it. When they are exploring an ice cave an accident happens and the subsequent court case reveals their friendship, betrayal and greed. The flipping back and forth in time transitions easily and the British court case is interesting.
With countries withdrawing from the climate treaty and claims that global warming is on the rise, this is an apropos novel! Paull delivers her message clearly and succinctly.
March 30, 2018
Der Schiffsverkehr um Spitzbergen herum ist exakt geregelt, im Midgard-Fjord ist nur der Verkehr zur exklusiven Midgard-Lodge erlaubt. Da die Passagiere des Luxus-Kreuzfahrtschiffes Vanir darauf beharren, sie hätten mit ihrer Reise auch für die Sichtung eines Eisbären bezahlt, fährt die Vanir verbotenerweise in den Ffjord ein. Das hätte sie besser unterlassen; denn vor den Augen der Passagiere bricht mit einem in der Arktis noch nie beobachteten Getöse die Gletscherkappe ab und gibt im Eis eine Leiche frei. Ein so gewaltiges synchrones Kalben von Gletschern hat es bis dahin noch nie gegeben. Vor vier Jahren war an dieser Stelle Tom Harding, ein renommierter Umweltaktivist, beim Einsturz einer Eishöhle verschüttet worden. Gemeinsam mit seinem alten Freund Sean gehörte Tom zum Konsortium, das die Luxus-Lodge betreibt. Ohne Toms Ruf als Aktivist zur Beseitigung des Pazifischen Plastikstrudels und als Greenpeace-Vorsitzender hätte das ehrgeizige Konsortium unter Leitung von Joe Kingsmith niemals die alte Walfangstation aus Privatbesitz kaufen können. Der harte geschäftstüchtige Kern des Konsortiums heftet sich den Umweltschutz, vertreten durch Tom, wie einen Orden an die Brust, um den Wünschen ihrer Klientel zu dienen. Da das Sommereis in der Arktis durch den Klimawandel inzwischen erheblich geringer ausfällt, wachsen die Begehrlichkeiten: eine Transpolarroute für den Schiffsverkehr scheint realistisch, der Abbau von Bodenschätzen und nicht zuletzt Radarstationen, mit denen Ost und West sich gegenseitig abhören können.
Von der Seeseite aus sieht die Lodge noch immer wie eine in die Jahre gekommen Walfangstation aus, nur dem geübten Auge zeigt sich die Luxusherberge dahinter. Vier Jahre nach dem Unglück in der Eishöhle soll nun in Cambridge eine Anhörung zu Toms Tod klären, warum Sean überlebte und ob er Tom hätte retten können. Der gesamte Vorstand der Midgard-Lodge war damals zu einer Höhlentour unterwegs, Joe Kingsmith und zwei weitere Mitglieder kehrten bald wieder zum Eingang der Höhle zurück und nur Tom und Sean wurden von den einbrechenden Eismassen mitgerissen. Dem Gericht stellt sich nun die Frage, ob von Toms Tod jemand profitiert hätte und wie genau die Beziehung zwischen dem Betreiber-Gremium aussah. Nicht nur Sean ist noch immer sichtlich von den Ereignissen in der Höhle gezeichnet. Tom und Sean kannten sich seit ihrer Studentenzeit, als sie sich in der „Gesellschaft der verschollenen Polarforscher“ kennenlernten. Seit Sean sich als Kind die Geschichte erträumt hatte, sein unbekannter Vater wäre nach einem Schiffbruch verschollen, trieb ihn ein unbändiger Aufstiegswille voran. Er wollte beachtet werden und reich sein. Die Erhebung in den Ritterstand wäre seiner Ansicht nach das Mindeste, das er von der britischen Gesellschaft erwarten könnte. Mit der Anhörung in Oxford sticht das Gericht mitten in ein Wespennest und legt die Bitterkeit offen zwischen Menschen, die sich einmal nahestanden. Sean, seine erste Frau Gail, Tom und die Biologin Ruth haben einmal gemeinsam studiert. Nun stehen sich der Mentor des Midgard-Unternehmens und drei der vier Studienfreunde als Zeugen vor Gericht gegenüber; ihre Träume, privaten Schwächen und geschäftlichen Interessen werden bis ins Kleinste seziert.
Indem Laline Paull die Anhörung zum Tod von Tom Harding im Jahr 2019 stattfinden lässt, entwickelt sich ihr fesselnder Roman nach der zunächst angedeuteten Krimihandlung zum utopischen Ökothriller. Neben der unseligen Verknüpfung der handelnden Personen fand ich die Nähe ihrer Utopie zur unmittelbaren Gegenwart besonders beklemmend. Gefesselt haben mich die Charakterisierung der Figuren, die leichte Ironie der Schilderungen und die Landschaftsbeschreibungen. Eingeschobene Tagebuchaufzeichnungen von Polarforschern (nüchtern, tragikomisch und entlarvend) verdeutlichen, warum die Arktis für Generationen von Forschern Sehnsuchtsort war, welche Typen das Abenteuer anzog, aber auch die Gier, die Expeditionen aus vielen Ländern in den hohen Norden zog. Die zahlreichen Rückblenden in die Zeit vor 30 Jahren hätten optisch deutlicher von der Handlung der Gegenwart getrennt werden können.
Insgesamt eine raffinierte Verknüpfung von Abenteuer in Schnee und Eis, Profitgier und Leidenschaft.
Von der Seeseite aus sieht die Lodge noch immer wie eine in die Jahre gekommen Walfangstation aus, nur dem geübten Auge zeigt sich die Luxusherberge dahinter. Vier Jahre nach dem Unglück in der Eishöhle soll nun in Cambridge eine Anhörung zu Toms Tod klären, warum Sean überlebte und ob er Tom hätte retten können. Der gesamte Vorstand der Midgard-Lodge war damals zu einer Höhlentour unterwegs, Joe Kingsmith und zwei weitere Mitglieder kehrten bald wieder zum Eingang der Höhle zurück und nur Tom und Sean wurden von den einbrechenden Eismassen mitgerissen. Dem Gericht stellt sich nun die Frage, ob von Toms Tod jemand profitiert hätte und wie genau die Beziehung zwischen dem Betreiber-Gremium aussah. Nicht nur Sean ist noch immer sichtlich von den Ereignissen in der Höhle gezeichnet. Tom und Sean kannten sich seit ihrer Studentenzeit, als sie sich in der „Gesellschaft der verschollenen Polarforscher“ kennenlernten. Seit Sean sich als Kind die Geschichte erträumt hatte, sein unbekannter Vater wäre nach einem Schiffbruch verschollen, trieb ihn ein unbändiger Aufstiegswille voran. Er wollte beachtet werden und reich sein. Die Erhebung in den Ritterstand wäre seiner Ansicht nach das Mindeste, das er von der britischen Gesellschaft erwarten könnte. Mit der Anhörung in Oxford sticht das Gericht mitten in ein Wespennest und legt die Bitterkeit offen zwischen Menschen, die sich einmal nahestanden. Sean, seine erste Frau Gail, Tom und die Biologin Ruth haben einmal gemeinsam studiert. Nun stehen sich der Mentor des Midgard-Unternehmens und drei der vier Studienfreunde als Zeugen vor Gericht gegenüber; ihre Träume, privaten Schwächen und geschäftlichen Interessen werden bis ins Kleinste seziert.
Indem Laline Paull die Anhörung zum Tod von Tom Harding im Jahr 2019 stattfinden lässt, entwickelt sich ihr fesselnder Roman nach der zunächst angedeuteten Krimihandlung zum utopischen Ökothriller. Neben der unseligen Verknüpfung der handelnden Personen fand ich die Nähe ihrer Utopie zur unmittelbaren Gegenwart besonders beklemmend. Gefesselt haben mich die Charakterisierung der Figuren, die leichte Ironie der Schilderungen und die Landschaftsbeschreibungen. Eingeschobene Tagebuchaufzeichnungen von Polarforschern (nüchtern, tragikomisch und entlarvend) verdeutlichen, warum die Arktis für Generationen von Forschern Sehnsuchtsort war, welche Typen das Abenteuer anzog, aber auch die Gier, die Expeditionen aus vielen Ländern in den hohen Norden zog. Die zahlreichen Rückblenden in die Zeit vor 30 Jahren hätten optisch deutlicher von der Handlung der Gegenwart getrennt werden können.
Insgesamt eine raffinierte Verknüpfung von Abenteuer in Schnee und Eis, Profitgier und Leidenschaft.
May 16, 2017
Wow....this really is a good read. I found it completely engaging and gripping. The setting is the Artic, and it is as life like as settings come. The characters are brilliant and full of life. I could visualise the main characters, they are that well drawn. Go a few years into the future, the Arctic is melting, the animals have all but gone. The rich cruise the area to spot polar bears, but end up spotting something more sinister. The melt has opened the Artic up to competition and trade.....the Artic is open for business, and all that brings. Take some politics, a mystery, a thriller, greed, love, hate and forgiveness and the result is a book that gets harder and harder to put down. This one does turn it's own pages. I'm not going into further detail because I don't want to spoil this one for anyone. I'm convinced that this is a film of the future...so read it soon..
February 13, 2022
Bit of a slow start, but then just got better and better as it went along. Protagonist is likewise pretty unappealing at the beginning, but then also gets more likeable he goes. Also, Paull's description of being trapped in an ice cave-in was pretty damned harrowing.
Not completely sure why, but this kept reminding me of Robert Harris's The Ghost, probably (but not completely) for all the behind-the-scenes political maneuvering.
Also, kudos to Paull for setting this up in a...I want to say "near future," but in doing the math I think it actually takes place ca 2019 or so; so more like an "alternate universe" where global warming and resulting devastation of the arctic is already far more advanced than it is in our own already-miserable reality.
Not completely sure why, but this kept reminding me of Robert Harris's The Ghost, probably (but not completely) for all the behind-the-scenes political maneuvering.
Also, kudos to Paull for setting this up in a...I want to say "near future," but in doing the math I think it actually takes place ca 2019 or so; so more like an "alternate universe" where global warming and resulting devastation of the arctic is already far more advanced than it is in our own already-miserable reality.
July 6, 2018
interesting and touching on important subjects - the conflicts between (the fight to protect) the environment & the profit-oriented industrial-political complex. well written, i appreciated the subtlety and literary quality of some of the character-defining scenes, not often found in plot & theme driven novels. and, even though everything is wrong with it, the impressive arctic landscape beautifully comes to life at many instances. the only small criticism i have is that it is sometimes a bit tedious and advances slower then one would expect from this type of plot-driven novel - but then it does make up for the slower pace in literary quality, and that's not a bad deal.
April 10, 2017
An interesting story and possibly a warning to us all as to what could happen if we choose to ignore global warming and turn a blind eye to the continuous erosion of the polar ice caps. Two childhood friends Sean Cawson and Tom Harding have the opportunity and it would now seem the means to dictate future trends by the successful acquisition of a strategic land mass within the northern polar region: The Artic....."super-objective of Midgard: an inspiring venue in which to promote the reconciliation of business and environmental ethics." At the start of this story ( and 3 years since his disappearance), a body is discovered in the ice, soon identified as Tom Harding....What happened between the two Oxford graduate friends? How could a business venture so carefully construed turn into disaster under the auspices of two intelligent and far-sighted men; one who wanted to save the world and one who really wanted his name in lights and the benefits and comfort of untold wealth?
A large part to "The Ice" is given over to an inquest by The Coroner into the manner and cause of Paul's death. To establish the facts, and ensure that the death was an accident and not in any way contributed to by other members of the Midgard consortium. The outcome will have lasting repercussions and lead Sean to question the ethics of his venture and to finally realize the hidden agenda of those who supported him both financially and emotionally. A big thanks to the good people at netgalley for supplying me with a gratis copy of this enjoyable read, in exchange for an honest review, and that is what I have written.
A large part to "The Ice" is given over to an inquest by The Coroner into the manner and cause of Paul's death. To establish the facts, and ensure that the death was an accident and not in any way contributed to by other members of the Midgard consortium. The outcome will have lasting repercussions and lead Sean to question the ethics of his venture and to finally realize the hidden agenda of those who supported him both financially and emotionally. A big thanks to the good people at netgalley for supplying me with a gratis copy of this enjoyable read, in exchange for an honest review, and that is what I have written.
April 26, 2017
Ace environmental thriller set in the ARCTIC
The Ice is set ‘a few years in the future‘. Global warming has accelerated, and London is covered in Saharan sand. Summer ice has disappeared from the Arctic and the North Polar sea route between Asia and Europe / Africa is open. Sean Cawson, a non too scrupulous business man has joined forces with his long time friend and noted environmentalist, Tom Harding, to buy an old whaling station on Midgard Glacier near Svalbard, close to the Norwegian and Russian coast. The idea is to make it into a retreat for the rich and famous of the world – a place where deals can be done in a pristine environment far away from prying eyes.
Polar bear sighting cruise ships are not allowed into the fjord where Midgard Lodge is situated. But, three years after Tom Harding was lost in a tragic accident in an ice cave on the glacier, one ventures in. The ice ‘calves’ (a mammoth collapse into the sea caused by global warming) and Tom’s body emerges from where it has lain since the accident. The cruise ship’s passengers record the incident on camera. An inquest in Cambridge (Tom’s home city…) follows. Sean, who was in the cave with Tom when the accident occurred, is a key witness. The truth is eked out as the inquest progresses – Sean and Tom had argued before they had entered the cave. What had actually happened in the cave? Yes, it had collapsed as the ice cracked – but had Sean done all he could to save Tom? The inquest explores and questions. Emotions run raw. The book moves to a startling denouement.
As is not always the case in thrillers, the characters ring true. They are not cardboard cut outs. Sean is a troubled human being whose mind often goes back to what happened in the cave where he lost his friend. He blanks out on occasion and is diagnosed as suffering from PTSD. He lives with his business and personal partner, Martine, who is deeply involved in what happens at Midgard. His ex wife, Gail, and his daughter, Rosie, are carefully parked away in the country. Then there are Tom’s ex, Ruth, and his family who have a love/hate relationship with Sean – love because he was Tom’s best friend and hate because they blame him for Tom’s death. Plus the slightly larger than life business partners in Midgard Lodge. Joe Kingsmith, a secretive and very successful business man who has been Sean’s mentor over the years, and Radiance, a clever, witty and tad scary Hong Kong Chinese. They all gel together in a extremely well written book. The story, by its very nature, is not exactly believable – but that really doesn’t matter. The reader is drawn in and the plot bowls along.
I chose to read The Ice because I has so much enjoyed Laline’s first book, The Bees (for my Lead Review please click here). They are on the surface very different reads, perhaps hard to imagine that the author is the same person. But there is a connection… Both – at different ends of the spectrum – are about nature and the environment in which we live. And there is no sentimentality. In The Bees, Laline describes the sometimes cruel life of the hive. In The Ice, she describes the equally cruel and challenging life of the Arctic. Polar bears are driven from their natural homes into an ever declining habitat. The Inuit are moved on by the decline of the ice, and the invasion of mining and mineral exploration. Before each chapter in The Ice, there is a half page (or so) extract from the logs of various Arctic explorers written in the first half of the 20th century. It was a very dangerous and frightening place – where man and ice beast co-existed (but not always happily). It is different at the time of the book, but perhaps not better.
The book costs £12.99 in the UK, and it is probably worth that for the cover alone! It portrays the entrance to the ice cave… The cover itself is various tones of ice blue, with a cut out shape revealing the silver engraving on the black binding of the book itself. The reader is sucked into the entrance to the cave. Jo Walker designed the cover, and the ice cave engraving is by Chris Wormell. It is a pleasure to give credit where it is due.
But, above all, an acknowledgement to Laline Paull. The Ice is an extremely good book. I finished it a couple of days ago, and it keeps returning in my mind.
The Ice is set ‘a few years in the future‘. Global warming has accelerated, and London is covered in Saharan sand. Summer ice has disappeared from the Arctic and the North Polar sea route between Asia and Europe / Africa is open. Sean Cawson, a non too scrupulous business man has joined forces with his long time friend and noted environmentalist, Tom Harding, to buy an old whaling station on Midgard Glacier near Svalbard, close to the Norwegian and Russian coast. The idea is to make it into a retreat for the rich and famous of the world – a place where deals can be done in a pristine environment far away from prying eyes.
Polar bear sighting cruise ships are not allowed into the fjord where Midgard Lodge is situated. But, three years after Tom Harding was lost in a tragic accident in an ice cave on the glacier, one ventures in. The ice ‘calves’ (a mammoth collapse into the sea caused by global warming) and Tom’s body emerges from where it has lain since the accident. The cruise ship’s passengers record the incident on camera. An inquest in Cambridge (Tom’s home city…) follows. Sean, who was in the cave with Tom when the accident occurred, is a key witness. The truth is eked out as the inquest progresses – Sean and Tom had argued before they had entered the cave. What had actually happened in the cave? Yes, it had collapsed as the ice cracked – but had Sean done all he could to save Tom? The inquest explores and questions. Emotions run raw. The book moves to a startling denouement.
As is not always the case in thrillers, the characters ring true. They are not cardboard cut outs. Sean is a troubled human being whose mind often goes back to what happened in the cave where he lost his friend. He blanks out on occasion and is diagnosed as suffering from PTSD. He lives with his business and personal partner, Martine, who is deeply involved in what happens at Midgard. His ex wife, Gail, and his daughter, Rosie, are carefully parked away in the country. Then there are Tom’s ex, Ruth, and his family who have a love/hate relationship with Sean – love because he was Tom’s best friend and hate because they blame him for Tom’s death. Plus the slightly larger than life business partners in Midgard Lodge. Joe Kingsmith, a secretive and very successful business man who has been Sean’s mentor over the years, and Radiance, a clever, witty and tad scary Hong Kong Chinese. They all gel together in a extremely well written book. The story, by its very nature, is not exactly believable – but that really doesn’t matter. The reader is drawn in and the plot bowls along.
I chose to read The Ice because I has so much enjoyed Laline’s first book, The Bees (for my Lead Review please click here). They are on the surface very different reads, perhaps hard to imagine that the author is the same person. But there is a connection… Both – at different ends of the spectrum – are about nature and the environment in which we live. And there is no sentimentality. In The Bees, Laline describes the sometimes cruel life of the hive. In The Ice, she describes the equally cruel and challenging life of the Arctic. Polar bears are driven from their natural homes into an ever declining habitat. The Inuit are moved on by the decline of the ice, and the invasion of mining and mineral exploration. Before each chapter in The Ice, there is a half page (or so) extract from the logs of various Arctic explorers written in the first half of the 20th century. It was a very dangerous and frightening place – where man and ice beast co-existed (but not always happily). It is different at the time of the book, but perhaps not better.
The book costs £12.99 in the UK, and it is probably worth that for the cover alone! It portrays the entrance to the ice cave… The cover itself is various tones of ice blue, with a cut out shape revealing the silver engraving on the black binding of the book itself. The reader is sucked into the entrance to the cave. Jo Walker designed the cover, and the ice cave engraving is by Chris Wormell. It is a pleasure to give credit where it is due.
But, above all, an acknowledgement to Laline Paull. The Ice is an extremely good book. I finished it a couple of days ago, and it keeps returning in my mind.
October 28, 2018
Laline Paull begeisterte mich mit ihrem Debüt "The Bees", in dem sie geschickt menschliche Eigenarten und Verhaltensweisen auf die Bienen transportierte, und mit dem Roman zugleich Fragen über Probleme der Umwelt anschnitt. "Das Eis", der zweite Roman, versucht nun letzteres auf plakativer und offensichtlicher Ebene. Denn dieses Mal stehen die Menschen selbst im Zentrum und Paull verlegt die Handlung in die Arktis der nahen Zukunft. Globale Firmen haben neue Handelswege erschlossen, undurchsichtige Geschäfte werden im endlichen und nicht mehr ewigen Eis abgeschlossen. Bis ein Todesfall durch das Auftauchen der Leiche erneut aufgerollt wird.
Halb Thriller, halb Ökoschrift ist "Das Eis" ein merkwürdiges Buch, das sich weder in Stilfragen noch Präsentation festlegen will. Laline Paull will zwar aufzeigen, wie schrecklich unser Gebaren für die Umwelt ist, und wie weit es wir mit der Wirtschaft schon getrieben haben – verliert sich aber in platten Charakteren und langweiligen Szenerien. Selten nimmt das Buch fahrt auf, verliert sich unnötigen Beschreibungen, weist nur nervige Charaktere auf und will bis zum Ende weder überraschen noch packen.
Das ist sehr schade, wäre die eigentliche Intention von Paull ehrenwert und mit den eingeschobenen Textauszügen aus alten Arktis-Expeditionen gar rückschauend prophetisch. Doch das nützt alles nichts, wenn man die Essenz der Geschichte als Leser nicht erfassen kann.
Halb Thriller, halb Ökoschrift ist "Das Eis" ein merkwürdiges Buch, das sich weder in Stilfragen noch Präsentation festlegen will. Laline Paull will zwar aufzeigen, wie schrecklich unser Gebaren für die Umwelt ist, und wie weit es wir mit der Wirtschaft schon getrieben haben – verliert sich aber in platten Charakteren und langweiligen Szenerien. Selten nimmt das Buch fahrt auf, verliert sich unnötigen Beschreibungen, weist nur nervige Charaktere auf und will bis zum Ende weder überraschen noch packen.
Das ist sehr schade, wäre die eigentliche Intention von Paull ehrenwert und mit den eingeschobenen Textauszügen aus alten Arktis-Expeditionen gar rückschauend prophetisch. Doch das nützt alles nichts, wenn man die Essenz der Geschichte als Leser nicht erfassen kann.
November 24, 2022
At first, I thought this book was mostly about climate change events in the near future and with some intrigue thrown in but it was the other way around, more's the pity. As much as I like thrillers, sometimes I want a bit of a change and I like books that are set in the near future; it is interesting to read what authors think is coming up for us.
This book would suit those who are looking for a book which features a lot of people playing a lot of mind games.
Not really my sort of book, if I am honest, but it was well written, and definitely had some heart-stopping moments!
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
This book would suit those who are looking for a book which features a lot of people playing a lot of mind games.
Not really my sort of book, if I am honest, but it was well written, and definitely had some heart-stopping moments!
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
June 2, 2018
Intense, informative. A book that makes us think about how we live and about this world we often take for granted.
May 13, 2017
The root of all evil...
It's the very near future, global warming continues to advance and the Arctic sea-ice has largely melted. A cruise ship has promised its passengers sightings of polar bears, now even rarer than before. Eventually the wealthy and powerful passengers begin to put pressure on the captain, so the ship takes a detour into an area of the sea that's off limits to cruises. There they finally see a bear, but when an iceberg calves in front of them, they see something else – a preserved body that pops out from the frozen ice. Tom Harding was an environmentalist, lost as a result of an accident three years earlier. Now the investigation into his death will be re-opened and his business partner, Sean Cawson, will have to relive that terrible moment...
At least, I had to assume it was a terrible moment, based on Sean's general level of angst. Unfortunately, this is yet another of the books that works to the overused formula of past and present sections, where all the characters know "what happened that day", but the reader isn't told until the book is more than half over. (I have mentioned in other reviews how annoying I find this formula of keeping the reader in the dark for excessive periods in a futile attempt to build suspense. Real suspense comes only when at least some of the characters are also in the dark – otherwise it's just an author playing tricks on the reader. In this one, it would have been perfectly possible to tell us up front what happened to Tom, and then build the suspense over the questions of how and why it happened, which most of the characters didn't already know.)
The beginning is very good with some nice descriptions of the changes to the Arctic landscape and the calving of the iceberg is excellently dramatic. The description of the passengers demanding bear is also done well, though it's the first indicator of the fairly overt polemical stance the author has taken – capitalists bad, destroy land and wildlife: environmentalists good and noble, fighting the good fight. Actually I sort of agree with at least bits of that, though I don't think the question is quite so black and white, but frankly I neither need nor want to have messages hammered at me – subtlety makes for more interesting storytelling, and when the author makes it so clear that only one side of the debate has any merit, then it hardly leaves much room for thought to be provoked.
Sean has bought a property in the Arctic and turned it into an exclusive retreat where mega-rich businessmen can relax or meet each other privately. But Sean has an underlying motive – he wants to take the opportunity of getting these capitalists to understand the damage they're doing and convert them to support environmentalism. (Hmm!) So he has asked his old friend Tom, a noted environmentalist, to join him in the venture. But Tom doesn't know that Sean has agreed to keep a kind of private army on the property on behalf of the British and Danish governments, for reasons that I found vague and unconvincing.
I'm afraid I found the book dull, the writing flat in places though good in others, the story overly contrived, the suspense entirely missing. The environmental messages are too overt and overly simplistic. Nothing happens for huge swathes, except Sean agonising over what happened that day while managing to not actually tell us. There are little snippets at the beginning of each chapter – extracts from real Arctic explorers which have nothing to do with the story. I quite quickly stopped reading them. In an attempt to evoke an emotional response, I assume, Paull throws in lots of little things like polar bears being killed, or whales being eaten, but always with a little message about conservation or environmentalism tagged on so that it ceases to feel real and just becomes part of the message-hammering, and thus left me entirely unmoved.
By a third of the way through I really wanted to abandon it, and by two-thirds I couldn't take any more. The major problem was that I simply didn't care what happened that day any more – the moment had passed. So I abandoned it, flicked forward and discovered that once I finally knew where it was going, sadly, I still didn't care. I did enjoy some of the writing and feel that the author has potential if in future books she can manage to deliver her message more subtly and find a better way to create real suspense. But, since I couldn't bring myself to finish it, then 1-star it is.
NB This book was provided for review by Amazon Vine UK.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
It's the very near future, global warming continues to advance and the Arctic sea-ice has largely melted. A cruise ship has promised its passengers sightings of polar bears, now even rarer than before. Eventually the wealthy and powerful passengers begin to put pressure on the captain, so the ship takes a detour into an area of the sea that's off limits to cruises. There they finally see a bear, but when an iceberg calves in front of them, they see something else – a preserved body that pops out from the frozen ice. Tom Harding was an environmentalist, lost as a result of an accident three years earlier. Now the investigation into his death will be re-opened and his business partner, Sean Cawson, will have to relive that terrible moment...
At least, I had to assume it was a terrible moment, based on Sean's general level of angst. Unfortunately, this is yet another of the books that works to the overused formula of past and present sections, where all the characters know "what happened that day", but the reader isn't told until the book is more than half over. (I have mentioned in other reviews how annoying I find this formula of keeping the reader in the dark for excessive periods in a futile attempt to build suspense. Real suspense comes only when at least some of the characters are also in the dark – otherwise it's just an author playing tricks on the reader. In this one, it would have been perfectly possible to tell us up front what happened to Tom, and then build the suspense over the questions of how and why it happened, which most of the characters didn't already know.)
The beginning is very good with some nice descriptions of the changes to the Arctic landscape and the calving of the iceberg is excellently dramatic. The description of the passengers demanding bear is also done well, though it's the first indicator of the fairly overt polemical stance the author has taken – capitalists bad, destroy land and wildlife: environmentalists good and noble, fighting the good fight. Actually I sort of agree with at least bits of that, though I don't think the question is quite so black and white, but frankly I neither need nor want to have messages hammered at me – subtlety makes for more interesting storytelling, and when the author makes it so clear that only one side of the debate has any merit, then it hardly leaves much room for thought to be provoked.
Sean has bought a property in the Arctic and turned it into an exclusive retreat where mega-rich businessmen can relax or meet each other privately. But Sean has an underlying motive – he wants to take the opportunity of getting these capitalists to understand the damage they're doing and convert them to support environmentalism. (Hmm!) So he has asked his old friend Tom, a noted environmentalist, to join him in the venture. But Tom doesn't know that Sean has agreed to keep a kind of private army on the property on behalf of the British and Danish governments, for reasons that I found vague and unconvincing.
I'm afraid I found the book dull, the writing flat in places though good in others, the story overly contrived, the suspense entirely missing. The environmental messages are too overt and overly simplistic. Nothing happens for huge swathes, except Sean agonising over what happened that day while managing to not actually tell us. There are little snippets at the beginning of each chapter – extracts from real Arctic explorers which have nothing to do with the story. I quite quickly stopped reading them. In an attempt to evoke an emotional response, I assume, Paull throws in lots of little things like polar bears being killed, or whales being eaten, but always with a little message about conservation or environmentalism tagged on so that it ceases to feel real and just becomes part of the message-hammering, and thus left me entirely unmoved.
By a third of the way through I really wanted to abandon it, and by two-thirds I couldn't take any more. The major problem was that I simply didn't care what happened that day any more – the moment had passed. So I abandoned it, flicked forward and discovered that once I finally knew where it was going, sadly, I still didn't care. I did enjoy some of the writing and feel that the author has potential if in future books she can manage to deliver her message more subtly and find a better way to create real suspense. But, since I couldn't bring myself to finish it, then 1-star it is.
NB This book was provided for review by Amazon Vine UK.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
December 1, 2017
The setting of The Ice is extremely interesting and actual: a near future where the Arctic has melted quicker than expected - the summer ice being lost completely. Not a too unbelievable vision unfortunately. Then again, I wished the climate change issue would have been delved into even deeper. The environmentalist in me seems to never be satisfied.
As the focus is not on the climate, it´s on the characters. Laline Paull creates some pretty complicated relationships, which were entertaining to read about. But I found it hard to get a proper grip of the story, the prose in itself is a bit hard to follow. I also didn´t get much out of the quotes between each chapter, descriptions of what it was like on the Arctic long before, seen through the eyes of explorers. They didn´t feel in any way necessary to the story and weren´t even connected to each other.
Still, I think it was good to experience a possible scenario for the Arctic, one that should be avoided. Different measures to protect the vulnerable nature now being exposed to needs of humans are already taking place, not a moment too early. The actual plot wasn´t completely my cup of tea, but I never felt like not completing the book.
As the focus is not on the climate, it´s on the characters. Laline Paull creates some pretty complicated relationships, which were entertaining to read about. But I found it hard to get a proper grip of the story, the prose in itself is a bit hard to follow. I also didn´t get much out of the quotes between each chapter, descriptions of what it was like on the Arctic long before, seen through the eyes of explorers. They didn´t feel in any way necessary to the story and weren´t even connected to each other.
Still, I think it was good to experience a possible scenario for the Arctic, one that should be avoided. Different measures to protect the vulnerable nature now being exposed to needs of humans are already taking place, not a moment too early. The actual plot wasn´t completely my cup of tea, but I never felt like not completing the book.
April 11, 2017
Review copy courtesy of Harper Collins 4th Estate, many thanks.
I am always attracted to novels set in the wilderness and the way it pares human behaviour down to its rawest and least civilised level. In fact I’ve read a couple this year set in the Arctic, but not the Arctic described here. A few years in the future, the sea ice has retreated so far that a new shipping route has opened up and everyone wants to grab a share. Big business is rubbing up with ecologists and the atmosphere is tense.
We follow the course of an inquest into the death of an environmental activist in an accident on the ice. He was partner in a business venture which appeared to combine conservation with commerce, but as the story unfolds we come to realise that all was not as it seemed. A taut thriller, packed with interesting characters all passionately interested in the area and with longstanding emotional relationships with each other, underpinned by plenty of fascinating detail about the Arctic and how it might evolve and be influenced by mankind in the very near future. I was enthralled and would recommend highly.
I am always attracted to novels set in the wilderness and the way it pares human behaviour down to its rawest and least civilised level. In fact I’ve read a couple this year set in the Arctic, but not the Arctic described here. A few years in the future, the sea ice has retreated so far that a new shipping route has opened up and everyone wants to grab a share. Big business is rubbing up with ecologists and the atmosphere is tense.
We follow the course of an inquest into the death of an environmental activist in an accident on the ice. He was partner in a business venture which appeared to combine conservation with commerce, but as the story unfolds we come to realise that all was not as it seemed. A taut thriller, packed with interesting characters all passionately interested in the area and with longstanding emotional relationships with each other, underpinned by plenty of fascinating detail about the Arctic and how it might evolve and be influenced by mankind in the very near future. I was enthralled and would recommend highly.
April 20, 2017
Disclaimer: While I aim to be unbiased, I received a copy of this for free to review.
This book was interesting because it took a different approach to structure and storytelling. Most of the plot follows the aftermath of the tragic death of a young environmentalist, and the ensuing enquiry in which they try to establish the truth. That means that the critical incident happened before the story even starts, which means that all of the action is effectively set in the denouement.
To counter this, the author uses flashbacks and jumps backwards and forwards in time, which can be disconcerting from time to time but which works quite well. True, it’s sometimes difficult to tell exactly what’s going on, but it’s still enjoyable and it actually encourages your mind to put the pieces together and to slowly discover the truth for yourself.
A good chunk of the story takes place against the backdrop of Svalbard, where a wealthy businessman has teamed up with his friend, an environmentalist, to purchase some land. Only all sorts of political interests start to get involved, and many of the characters are forced to do things that they otherwise might not have done. It’s a novel of intrigue, then, and it raises some important questions about the future of our world if we continue to abuse the planet in the way that we do.
The writing was pretty good, although it felt too flowery for me from time to time, and I liked the illustrations and the quotes at the starts of each of the sections. I’d say that it’s probably not suited to everyone, but if you like to read political thrillers and stuff that will engage your brain and push you to guess what the truth is, it’s worth a go. There’s a twist at the end, of course, but I didn’t guess what it was – in fact, I suspected something else entirely.
The only other thing to mention is the cover, which is gorgeous. Of course, I’ve got an advance copy and so the cover might change before you get your hands on it. But still!
This book was interesting because it took a different approach to structure and storytelling. Most of the plot follows the aftermath of the tragic death of a young environmentalist, and the ensuing enquiry in which they try to establish the truth. That means that the critical incident happened before the story even starts, which means that all of the action is effectively set in the denouement.
To counter this, the author uses flashbacks and jumps backwards and forwards in time, which can be disconcerting from time to time but which works quite well. True, it’s sometimes difficult to tell exactly what’s going on, but it’s still enjoyable and it actually encourages your mind to put the pieces together and to slowly discover the truth for yourself.
A good chunk of the story takes place against the backdrop of Svalbard, where a wealthy businessman has teamed up with his friend, an environmentalist, to purchase some land. Only all sorts of political interests start to get involved, and many of the characters are forced to do things that they otherwise might not have done. It’s a novel of intrigue, then, and it raises some important questions about the future of our world if we continue to abuse the planet in the way that we do.
The writing was pretty good, although it felt too flowery for me from time to time, and I liked the illustrations and the quotes at the starts of each of the sections. I’d say that it’s probably not suited to everyone, but if you like to read political thrillers and stuff that will engage your brain and push you to guess what the truth is, it’s worth a go. There’s a twist at the end, of course, but I didn’t guess what it was – in fact, I suspected something else entirely.
The only other thing to mention is the cover, which is gorgeous. Of course, I’ve got an advance copy and so the cover might change before you get your hands on it. But still!
April 11, 2018
Profitgier und Elite. Politischer Roman.
Sean Cawson ist einer, der sich nach oben geboxt hat. Er kommt aus einfachen Verhältnissen, das ist sein Manko, denn dies bedeutet, dass er nicht die Beziehungen hat, die die oberen Zehntausend an ihren Eliteuniversitäten untereinander knüpfen, ein Pfund, mit dem kräftig gewuchert wird. Aber Sean hat wenigstens einen Mentor.
Was Sean außer seinem krankhaften Ehrgeiz, reich zu werden und bedeutend zu sein, sonst noch hat, ist seine Freundschaft zu Tom, einem Umweltaktivisten und seine Liebe zur Arktis. Dorthin setzt er mit Hilfe eines Konsortiums, dem auch der Mentor angehört und eine Menge anderer bedeutender Leute, Midgard Lodge: „Ein Luxusrefugium an einem einzigartigen, inspirierenden Standort, mit einem garantiert hohen Sicherheitsstandard, das war es, was heutzutage die Realpolitik des ökologischen Fortschritts ausmachte.“
Laline Paull hat ihren Roman in einer nicht allzuweit entfernten Zukunft angesiedelt, in der die Polkappen geschmolzen sind und es keinen Nordpol mehr gibt, wo die Seefahrt die „transpolare“ Route nimmt, nämlich über die Arktis und nicht mehr über den Suezkanal.
„Das Eis“ ist weder ein Thriller noch eine Dystopie, sondern im weitesten Sinne ein politischer Roman. In angenehmer Sprache. Paull beschreibt anhand eines einzigen Beispiels, wie es wirklich zugeht und wie das Wirtschaftsgefüge im Innersten funktioniert. Zugleich erinnert sie daran, dass Profitgier unsere Erde bald ruiniert haben wird.
Das Ende ist ein wenig dramatisch, es passt nicht ganz zur ruhigen Atmosphäre des restlichen Romans. Aber ist es wirklich unrealistisch?
Fazit: Ein politischer Roman, der die feinen Fäden des Klüngels der oberen Zehntausend ziemlich nüchtern auf den Tisch legt, was viel zu selten literarisch verabeitet wird.
Kategorie: Gute Unterhaltung
Verlag: Tropen bei Klett-Cotta, 2018
Druck- und Grammatikfehler: 5
Sean Cawson ist einer, der sich nach oben geboxt hat. Er kommt aus einfachen Verhältnissen, das ist sein Manko, denn dies bedeutet, dass er nicht die Beziehungen hat, die die oberen Zehntausend an ihren Eliteuniversitäten untereinander knüpfen, ein Pfund, mit dem kräftig gewuchert wird. Aber Sean hat wenigstens einen Mentor.
Was Sean außer seinem krankhaften Ehrgeiz, reich zu werden und bedeutend zu sein, sonst noch hat, ist seine Freundschaft zu Tom, einem Umweltaktivisten und seine Liebe zur Arktis. Dorthin setzt er mit Hilfe eines Konsortiums, dem auch der Mentor angehört und eine Menge anderer bedeutender Leute, Midgard Lodge: „Ein Luxusrefugium an einem einzigartigen, inspirierenden Standort, mit einem garantiert hohen Sicherheitsstandard, das war es, was heutzutage die Realpolitik des ökologischen Fortschritts ausmachte.“
Laline Paull hat ihren Roman in einer nicht allzuweit entfernten Zukunft angesiedelt, in der die Polkappen geschmolzen sind und es keinen Nordpol mehr gibt, wo die Seefahrt die „transpolare“ Route nimmt, nämlich über die Arktis und nicht mehr über den Suezkanal.
„Das Eis“ ist weder ein Thriller noch eine Dystopie, sondern im weitesten Sinne ein politischer Roman. In angenehmer Sprache. Paull beschreibt anhand eines einzigen Beispiels, wie es wirklich zugeht und wie das Wirtschaftsgefüge im Innersten funktioniert. Zugleich erinnert sie daran, dass Profitgier unsere Erde bald ruiniert haben wird.
Das Ende ist ein wenig dramatisch, es passt nicht ganz zur ruhigen Atmosphäre des restlichen Romans. Aber ist es wirklich unrealistisch?
Fazit: Ein politischer Roman, der die feinen Fäden des Klüngels der oberen Zehntausend ziemlich nüchtern auf den Tisch legt, was viel zu selten literarisch verabeitet wird.
Kategorie: Gute Unterhaltung
Verlag: Tropen bei Klett-Cotta, 2018
Druck- und Grammatikfehler: 5
February 16, 2020
Šioje knygoje, visai kitaip nei pirmojoje, atsiskleidžia autorės požiūris į tokias rimtas problemas kaip klimato kaita ir ypač – ledynų tirpsmas. Net neabejoju, jog šios knygos paskirtis ir buvo tarsi bandymas atkreipti daugiau dėmesio būtent į šį pasaulio kampelį.
O pati istorija supina žmonių jausmus, draugystę, meilę, išdavystę. Du geriausi draugai pasiekę neįtikėtinų aukštumų savo karjerose, bet tuo pačiu ir tokie skirtingi sujungia savo jėgas tam, kad apsaugotų ledynus, vienas iš moralinių įsitikinimų, kitas iš finansinių paskatų, bet tikslas vienas. Tačiau ar tai iš tiesų tiesa? O kai randamas vieno kūnas, į kitą nukrypsta visų akys. Ar tai buvo nelaimingas atsitikimas? O gal godumas ir valdžios troškimas paskatino įvykius susiklostyti taip, jog nelaimės jau negalėjai išvengti?
Nors pradžia įsuko į veiksmo sūkurį gan lėtai, bet pabaiga tikrai prikaustė ir nustebino. Turiu pripažinti, jog tekstas labai nuoseklus (bet ne smulkmeniškas). Autorė skiria daug dėmesio išgyvenimams ir žmonių jausmams, tad knygos tikrai nepavadinsi lengvu romanu. Tai ne tik kelionė į ledo šalį, tai kelionė ir į užsalusius žmonių jausmus, į jų pačių sielos gelmes.
Tikrai buvo įdomu keliauti autorės sukurtais vingiais ir gaila, jog abi autorės parašytos knygos jau yra perskaitytos.
Įvertinimas 3.5
O pati istorija supina žmonių jausmus, draugystę, meilę, išdavystę. Du geriausi draugai pasiekę neįtikėtinų aukštumų savo karjerose, bet tuo pačiu ir tokie skirtingi sujungia savo jėgas tam, kad apsaugotų ledynus, vienas iš moralinių įsitikinimų, kitas iš finansinių paskatų, bet tikslas vienas. Tačiau ar tai iš tiesų tiesa? O kai randamas vieno kūnas, į kitą nukrypsta visų akys. Ar tai buvo nelaimingas atsitikimas? O gal godumas ir valdžios troškimas paskatino įvykius susiklostyti taip, jog nelaimės jau negalėjai išvengti?
Nors pradžia įsuko į veiksmo sūkurį gan lėtai, bet pabaiga tikrai prikaustė ir nustebino. Turiu pripažinti, jog tekstas labai nuoseklus (bet ne smulkmeniškas). Autorė skiria daug dėmesio išgyvenimams ir žmonių jausmams, tad knygos tikrai nepavadinsi lengvu romanu. Tai ne tik kelionė į ledo šalį, tai kelionė ir į užsalusius žmonių jausmus, į jų pačių sielos gelmes.
Tikrai buvo įdomu keliauti autorės sukurtais vingiais ir gaila, jog abi autorės parašytos knygos jau yra perskaitytos.
Įvertinimas 3.5
July 3, 2017
The Ice is set in the not- too- distant future, when the Polar sea ice has melted, allowing new trade routes to be established. With this new trading capacity comes corruption, and even more environmental threat.
Entrepreneur Sean Cawson has built a hunting lodge near the Midgard glacier for retreats for the rich and famous. There has been a price to pay in order to keep the competing superpower governments happy, and his friend and co-investor is killed in an accident when the glacier shifts.
Four years on, when Tom’s body re-surfaces, Sean must give evidence at the inquest.
If the purpose of this book is to highlight the environmental catastrophe which will ensue when the sea ice melts, then it works. The possibility is chillingly portrayed, but at times it wins out over the story. Sean is a self- absorbed pleasure seeker and it is difficult to like him or many of his fellow characters.
As the novel moves on, the pace of the plot does too, and by the end I realised I had not only enjoyed it, but it had provided plenty of food for thought.
With thanks to HarperCollins UK and Netgalley
Entrepreneur Sean Cawson has built a hunting lodge near the Midgard glacier for retreats for the rich and famous. There has been a price to pay in order to keep the competing superpower governments happy, and his friend and co-investor is killed in an accident when the glacier shifts.
Four years on, when Tom’s body re-surfaces, Sean must give evidence at the inquest.
If the purpose of this book is to highlight the environmental catastrophe which will ensue when the sea ice melts, then it works. The possibility is chillingly portrayed, but at times it wins out over the story. Sean is a self- absorbed pleasure seeker and it is difficult to like him or many of his fellow characters.
As the novel moves on, the pace of the plot does too, and by the end I realised I had not only enjoyed it, but it had provided plenty of food for thought.
With thanks to HarperCollins UK and Netgalley
August 21, 2019
I adored the author’s The Bees, so I was surprised that the book took awhile to get going; actually there were a couple of times when I almost put it down. There wasn’t much action, and most of the characters, including the main protagonist, Sean Cawson, were pretty unlikable. It wasn’t until about half-way through the book, when the inquest into a death began, that my interest was finally piqued.
Unfortunately, the unlikeability of the characters continued. Perhaps it even got worse as Cawson’s blindness regarding his own actions and those of his colleagues became more glaring.
The conclusion of the inquest was a surprise. And if it had stopped there I probably would feel better about the book. But a tagged on scene left me wondering what was the point of adding another problem right at the end of the book, something that as a reader I always find frustrating.
Unfortunately, the unlikeability of the characters continued. Perhaps it even got worse as Cawson’s blindness regarding his own actions and those of his colleagues became more glaring.
The conclusion of the inquest was a surprise. And if it had stopped there I probably would feel better about the book. But a tagged on scene left me wondering what was the point of adding another problem right at the end of the book, something that as a reader I always find frustrating.
June 17, 2022
There wasn't a single character in this book that I had any empathy with which made it quite a difficult read. That being said, the ending was a surprise and almost worth the struggle to read it!
July 15, 2017
This eco-thriller is set in the near future when the melting polar ice caps are attracting unwelcome tourism and commercial exploitation to the Arctic. Not just a polemic about global warming, but like the melting ice, this is a chilling, multilayered tale where hidden agenda, greed, and betrayal are gradually revealed to show there is far more happening below the surface than is at first apparent.
(Reviewed on Whichbook.net)
(Reviewed on Whichbook.net)
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