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The Ice Master
In the 1870s whaling was North America’s biggest business. Successful voyages south, to the warm waters of Melville’s great white whale, or north, to the Arctic, brought back ships laden with the whale oil that lit the lamps of the civilized world and the whalebone that stiffened its corsets. Many of the fortune seekers in this harsh trade lost their lives, while others became millionaires.
In James Houston’s exciting new adventure novel it is the spring of 1875. Two ships set sail from Connecticut, traveling north together to the Baffin Island Arctic whaling grounds.
One ship is captained by a hard-as-nails Yankee veteran, a man who knows how to deal with mutineers. The other falls to the command of a young Newfoundlander, an expert at sailing through ice fields in a wooden hull – an “Ice Master” – but inexperienced in the specialized, bloody trade of Arctic whaling. Fierce conflicts arise between the two men as they struggle for control during a year-long stay with whale-hunting Inuit at their base on the shores of Baffin Island, where the seamen and the local people find exciting ways of whiling away the long winter nights.
To the drama of the whale hunts is added the dangers of dog-team trips inland, involving terrifying encounters with polar bears. At the whaling station further drama is added by a rivalry with a nearby group of Scottish whalers and an encounter with their dreaded missionary, and a feud with a local shaman, a woman possessed of uncanny powers. Then both ships face the long, creaking, perilously heavy-laden voyage back to New England with a fortune on board.
In James Houston’s exciting new adventure novel it is the spring of 1875. Two ships set sail from Connecticut, traveling north together to the Baffin Island Arctic whaling grounds.
One ship is captained by a hard-as-nails Yankee veteran, a man who knows how to deal with mutineers. The other falls to the command of a young Newfoundlander, an expert at sailing through ice fields in a wooden hull – an “Ice Master” – but inexperienced in the specialized, bloody trade of Arctic whaling. Fierce conflicts arise between the two men as they struggle for control during a year-long stay with whale-hunting Inuit at their base on the shores of Baffin Island, where the seamen and the local people find exciting ways of whiling away the long winter nights.
To the drama of the whale hunts is added the dangers of dog-team trips inland, involving terrifying encounters with polar bears. At the whaling station further drama is added by a rivalry with a nearby group of Scottish whalers and an encounter with their dreaded missionary, and a feud with a local shaman, a woman possessed of uncanny powers. Then both ships face the long, creaking, perilously heavy-laden voyage back to New England with a fortune on board.
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 11, 2022
Cod fishing aboard a schooner off the Grand Banks:
“Two men with any luck can take in a thousand pounds a day”!!
After being rescued from a fishing boat lost at sea for two weeks, Newfoundlander Tom Finn is offered passage home on the whaling boat Lancer leaving from its base in Connecticut. But when Lancer’s captain is murdered by the mutineers, Caleb Dunston, the commander of the Lancer’s partner boat appoints Finn captain of the Lancer. Finn contracts to complete the possibly multi-year whaling journey to winter over on Baffin Island.
THE ICE MASTER is a gripping, credible, realistic and entirely compelling portrayal of the demise of the whaling industry in the late 19th century as whale stocks diminish disastrously under relentless hunting pressure from European business interests. A tale of high adventure, life, death and survival in Canada’s unforgiving high arctic, THE ICE MASTER foreshadows the 20th century collapse of Newfoundland’s Grand Banks cod fishery; demonstrates the uncanny ability of the Inuit’s nomadic lifestyle to successfully live in a harsh, unforgiving and, at least to European eyes, bleak landscape; and, illustrates clearly the condescending, patronizing colonial attitudes of Europe and the Roman Catholic Church toward both North American territory and its aboriginal inhabitants. It also paints a rather severe picture of the cruel and outrageously misogynistic sexual abuse that Inuit women, unmarried women, wives, mothers and daughters alike, endured at the hands of these sailors. In Caleb Dunston’s attempted kidnapping of a young Inuit lad to serve as the son he never had, James Houston also exemplifies the thinking that created the residential school system that would ultimately shame all of Canada.
Although the “happily ever after” ending seems mildly out of step with the balance of the story leading up to it, THE ICE MASTER is still a novel that deserves to be read by Canadians interested in their heritage and their geography. Definitely recommended.
Paul Weiss
“Two men with any luck can take in a thousand pounds a day”!!
After being rescued from a fishing boat lost at sea for two weeks, Newfoundlander Tom Finn is offered passage home on the whaling boat Lancer leaving from its base in Connecticut. But when Lancer’s captain is murdered by the mutineers, Caleb Dunston, the commander of the Lancer’s partner boat appoints Finn captain of the Lancer. Finn contracts to complete the possibly multi-year whaling journey to winter over on Baffin Island.
THE ICE MASTER is a gripping, credible, realistic and entirely compelling portrayal of the demise of the whaling industry in the late 19th century as whale stocks diminish disastrously under relentless hunting pressure from European business interests. A tale of high adventure, life, death and survival in Canada’s unforgiving high arctic, THE ICE MASTER foreshadows the 20th century collapse of Newfoundland’s Grand Banks cod fishery; demonstrates the uncanny ability of the Inuit’s nomadic lifestyle to successfully live in a harsh, unforgiving and, at least to European eyes, bleak landscape; and, illustrates clearly the condescending, patronizing colonial attitudes of Europe and the Roman Catholic Church toward both North American territory and its aboriginal inhabitants. It also paints a rather severe picture of the cruel and outrageously misogynistic sexual abuse that Inuit women, unmarried women, wives, mothers and daughters alike, endured at the hands of these sailors. In Caleb Dunston’s attempted kidnapping of a young Inuit lad to serve as the son he never had, James Houston also exemplifies the thinking that created the residential school system that would ultimately shame all of Canada.
Although the “happily ever after” ending seems mildly out of step with the balance of the story leading up to it, THE ICE MASTER is still a novel that deserves to be read by Canadians interested in their heritage and their geography. Definitely recommended.
Paul Weiss
March 29, 2023
Sailing and whaling in the 1870's. For some reason it took me 14 years to get this off my to-read pile and actually read it. I like his "Running West" a lot more. I have never been big on Arctic books.
June 24, 2017
I was surprised I thought I wouldnt like it, but it was worth reading.
January 9, 2025
3.5 - good story that starts off with a bang. Found the writing to be a little boring and the ending to be a bit of a let down.
August 5, 2010
What a great book!! James Houston writes with a great knowledge of the North, it would seem. From the detail about old ships and whaling procedures, to the occasional picture of an item relevant to the story, Houston covers it all!
Though such details are provided, it in no way detracts from the great story he is telling. In fact, the detail only enhances the tale of a season of whaling in the Canadian North!
"The Ice Master" tells the tale of two whaling ship captains - one an old hand, the other a rookie, and their adventures in whaling and the Inuit people who are a great part of their lives during whaling season.
I so enjoyed James Houston's novel, "The Ice Master" that I will definitely hang on to it, in order to read it again!
Though such details are provided, it in no way detracts from the great story he is telling. In fact, the detail only enhances the tale of a season of whaling in the Canadian North!
"The Ice Master" tells the tale of two whaling ship captains - one an old hand, the other a rookie, and their adventures in whaling and the Inuit people who are a great part of their lives during whaling season.
I so enjoyed James Houston's novel, "The Ice Master" that I will definitely hang on to it, in order to read it again!
June 7, 2024
Fascinating story of 19th century whaling in the Canadian arctic. Houston really knows how to submerge the reader in the little-known world of ice and snow. In this book he also describes the world of sailing ships. I did find the ending rather pat which made for an unsatisfying finish
June 5, 2013
I am a great fan of polar literature but did not enjoy this book at all. I found the plot rushed and the characters underdeveloped.
Read
November 9, 2025This book was a gift to me (I might add, a much appreciated gift. Books always hit the spot!). It was outside of my typical genre. It is interesting how our expectations of a book shape not only our response but our comprehension. I began reading, expecting more of an adventure-style novel. I was continually expecting a sharp upturn in the conflict, something akin to a survival story in the Arctic. I was wrong.
This book is a historical fiction, with considerable attention to historical detail. The author himself had lived for some time in the Arctic. The novel is about a whaling voyage around 1874-75. At a surface glance, that might not sound like a great opening for a book. However, as this was a dangerous enterprise, there was ample room for adventure in the story. This made for an engaging plot, while always keeping the growth of the protagonist in view. To call this book a "slice-of-life" story would be mistaken, but it centers around the growth and experience of the protagonist.
It grew on me greatly as I worked my way through its pages and would recommend it for anyone wanting a captivating historical fiction dealing with sailing or the Arctic or that time period.
This book is a historical fiction, with considerable attention to historical detail. The author himself had lived for some time in the Arctic. The novel is about a whaling voyage around 1874-75. At a surface glance, that might not sound like a great opening for a book. However, as this was a dangerous enterprise, there was ample room for adventure in the story. This made for an engaging plot, while always keeping the growth of the protagonist in view. To call this book a "slice-of-life" story would be mistaken, but it centers around the growth and experience of the protagonist.
It grew on me greatly as I worked my way through its pages and would recommend it for anyone wanting a captivating historical fiction dealing with sailing or the Arctic or that time period.
July 15, 2024
This is a fast paced action book that I enjoyed reading. The story is well constructed and flows well from beginning to end. The parts dealing with whaling were, for me, the most interesting to read as I had very little knowledge about it. I was a bit disappointed that the author chose to skip over the interminable winter with its howling winds and darkness especially since the whalers spent a winter at the station. What happened during that period? I guess everyone went into a slumber...
August 6, 2024
I rather enjoyed this fictional tale based on historical accounts of whaling in the 1870s. In particular the inter twining of cultures, and the conflicts between whalers trapped for 12 months by the sea ice. The peaceful Inuits brought another side to the reason for whaling and plenty of food for thought contrasting the need for food and skins for survival vs the demand for whale oil and whale bone.
October 13, 2023
It was well written and had great description. I loved the little sketches that went with the words. I didn't like the tone overall or the whale hunt. It's a book for past generations.
June 10, 2010
I liked it, and it makes me want to read his autobiographical tales of his time spent living with the Inuit...
April 20, 2013
A Storyteller at the peak of his craft. Fascinating accounts of life in the "old" Arctic. Funny, raunchy, informative. Hard to put it down.
April 17, 2016
The best part is his description of the whaling life.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews