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Waking Iceman
An 8000-year-old mystery is about to be solved—by the witness himself
Two mountain climbers in the French Alps have made a startling discovery—a perfectly preserved frozen Neolithic human. But who was this Iceman, what was he doing high on a glacier 8000 years ago, and why was he carrying a strange metallic cylinder?
Archaeologists can only speculate, but neuroscientist Doctor Lisa Cho knows a better way. Young and ambitious, Dr. Cho is at the threshold of developing technology capable of replicating the neural pathways of the human brain and has devised an audacious plan; she wants to wake the Iceman from his primeval slumber and let him provide the answers to his past.
But the Iceman’s story is not what anyone expected.
As Cho seeks to understand the Iceman’s origin, her path converges in France with a brilliant theoretical physicist on his own mission to unravel the meaning of the Iceman’s cryptic artifact. Their quests become intertwined and increasingly perilous as they inch closer to the truth and the mystery behind the enigmatic Iceman.
Waking Iceman is a far-reaching science fiction thriller that takes the reader on a sweeping journey from the inner mind of an ancient human to a parallel world with a profound secret. It’s a tale that raises deep questions: Is information more fundamental than mass and energy? Is there more to human consciousness than basic biology? Can love survive an 8000 year divide? And what is real and what’s only a dream? For Cho, the answers will come at a price—sending her and everyone else on a collision course with destiny.
Two mountain climbers in the French Alps have made a startling discovery—a perfectly preserved frozen Neolithic human. But who was this Iceman, what was he doing high on a glacier 8000 years ago, and why was he carrying a strange metallic cylinder?
Archaeologists can only speculate, but neuroscientist Doctor Lisa Cho knows a better way. Young and ambitious, Dr. Cho is at the threshold of developing technology capable of replicating the neural pathways of the human brain and has devised an audacious plan; she wants to wake the Iceman from his primeval slumber and let him provide the answers to his past.
But the Iceman’s story is not what anyone expected.
As Cho seeks to understand the Iceman’s origin, her path converges in France with a brilliant theoretical physicist on his own mission to unravel the meaning of the Iceman’s cryptic artifact. Their quests become intertwined and increasingly perilous as they inch closer to the truth and the mystery behind the enigmatic Iceman.
Waking Iceman is a far-reaching science fiction thriller that takes the reader on a sweeping journey from the inner mind of an ancient human to a parallel world with a profound secret. It’s a tale that raises deep questions: Is information more fundamental than mass and energy? Is there more to human consciousness than basic biology? Can love survive an 8000 year divide? And what is real and what’s only a dream? For Cho, the answers will come at a price—sending her and everyone else on a collision course with destiny.
- GenresScience Fiction
498 pages, Paperback
Published June 4, 2019
777 people are currently reading
503 people want to read
About the author
C.R. Wahl
3 books14 followersC. R. Wahl (Pen name) lives in Minnesota and makes a habit of not becoming bored.
With a PhD in physics, C R knows his way around a lab. He’s published papers in peer-reviewed journals on topics ranging from quantum gauge anomalies to neural networks and has over 35 patents in six different fields.
CR has a fondness for out-of-the-way places and the untraveled road. Many of the scenes in Waking Iceman were derived from firsthand experiences: Ancient ruins in South America, steamy Brazilian rain forests, coral blue South Pacific islands, and high-altitude mountains.
He’s hiked across countries and climbed peaks from Africa to the Andes, and all places in between. Provided there’s not a world shortage of coffee, C R plans to continue working on his next novel...Stay tuned!
With a PhD in physics, C R knows his way around a lab. He’s published papers in peer-reviewed journals on topics ranging from quantum gauge anomalies to neural networks and has over 35 patents in six different fields.
CR has a fondness for out-of-the-way places and the untraveled road. Many of the scenes in Waking Iceman were derived from firsthand experiences: Ancient ruins in South America, steamy Brazilian rain forests, coral blue South Pacific islands, and high-altitude mountains.
He’s hiked across countries and climbed peaks from Africa to the Andes, and all places in between. Provided there’s not a world shortage of coffee, C R plans to continue working on his next novel...Stay tuned!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
October 5, 2023
A Comically Sad Fantasy Romance
I'd be hard pressed to label this book as hard sci-fi. Most of the ideas included are pure fantasy. The characters and plot are at many times so over the top, it appears inadvertently funny. I enjoyed the first half, but by the extended conclusion I'd had too much of the nonsense and mostly skimmed until the end. If read as ironic or satire then the book is actually pretty funny. Especially the author's depictions of religious people, military and government personnel, and anyone conservative. I am neither republican nor religious but the way they are characterized seems insulting. I am however former US Army Special Forces, and the author's juvenile understanding of Special Operations Forces (thats right its SOF, not Special Forces or SF) is akin to a bad Saturday morning cartoon. Their depiction of SOF's mission, equipment, parameters, and personal attributes seem like an uneducated deep seated prejudice. The entire finale is comically bad. Written more like Sharknado than Interstellar. The military and government personnel are bafoons, the scientists are all heroes, and the women are all super heroes. Funny how all women have to be as good as or better than men and still be women simultaneously. Apparently, people from 8000 years ago appear attractive to modern day standards. Not only are they dreamy but they hold modern standards as their own and are completely relatable. Again as a comedy, like Encino Man, this works great. The cave man relationship between a young man and woman also appear to be modern as well. Very similar to Romeo y Juliette. I expected a hard sci fi read and was disappointed but if I had read this fantasy yarn as a comedy then it would have been alright.
I'd be hard pressed to label this book as hard sci-fi. Most of the ideas included are pure fantasy. The characters and plot are at many times so over the top, it appears inadvertently funny. I enjoyed the first half, but by the extended conclusion I'd had too much of the nonsense and mostly skimmed until the end. If read as ironic or satire then the book is actually pretty funny. Especially the author's depictions of religious people, military and government personnel, and anyone conservative. I am neither republican nor religious but the way they are characterized seems insulting. I am however former US Army Special Forces, and the author's juvenile understanding of Special Operations Forces (thats right its SOF, not Special Forces or SF) is akin to a bad Saturday morning cartoon. Their depiction of SOF's mission, equipment, parameters, and personal attributes seem like an uneducated deep seated prejudice. The entire finale is comically bad. Written more like Sharknado than Interstellar. The military and government personnel are bafoons, the scientists are all heroes, and the women are all super heroes. Funny how all women have to be as good as or better than men and still be women simultaneously. Apparently, people from 8000 years ago appear attractive to modern day standards. Not only are they dreamy but they hold modern standards as their own and are completely relatable. Again as a comedy, like Encino Man, this works great. The cave man relationship between a young man and woman also appear to be modern as well. Very similar to Romeo y Juliette. I expected a hard sci fi read and was disappointed but if I had read this fantasy yarn as a comedy then it would have been alright.
February 5, 2020
Intense!
A great story and plot. It was a little too technical for me to understand all the jargon, but I found it thought provoking. Again, thanks to the Author and Goodreads Giveaway for this book!!
A great story and plot. It was a little too technical for me to understand all the jargon, but I found it thought provoking. Again, thanks to the Author and Goodreads Giveaway for this book!!
April 16, 2020
Excellent but . .
The story was breath taking and unputdownable, except for its unrelenting hatred of Christians and Conservatives. Even worse were Christian Conservatives.
The otherwise splendid story could have been written without attacks on all Christians and all Conservatives simply by including a few good Christians and/or Conservatives. I happen to be both, and I really don't go about shutting down other people's research or proclaiming that partially resurrected people don't have souls.
With this maddening exception, the book was excellent.
The story was breath taking and unputdownable, except for its unrelenting hatred of Christians and Conservatives. Even worse were Christian Conservatives.
The otherwise splendid story could have been written without attacks on all Christians and all Conservatives simply by including a few good Christians and/or Conservatives. I happen to be both, and I really don't go about shutting down other people's research or proclaiming that partially resurrected people don't have souls.
With this maddening exception, the book was excellent.
January 22, 2022
I am only 20% into the book. I will give a full rating when I complete it. The book is interesting and the author has a good skill in writing. However, the thing that is upsetting is the antagonist belief as a Bible believing Christian is distorted and the facts are categorically wrong. On page 97 it stated the in God’s hierarchy women were at the bottom which meant he (Caldwell) was above all women.” This would fit if he was a Muslim where they require women to be covered up and in many cases cannot vote, drive, work etc. it’s one thing to portray a character with crazy traits and evil tendencies; it’s another (and wrong) to paint a belief system incorrectly. Jesus Christ liberated women and all people from bondage and crazy religions rules. It is a shame this author decided to make up false points about Evangelicals.
September 25, 2019
The main storyline converges with a subplot in a spectacular ending. Wahl delves into a lot of science as he justifies his premise, and that is my only complaint. It’s a Sci-Fi book and it’s not too much to expect some suspension of disbelief from your readers. On the other hand, some readers may enjoy that aspect.
I found the human side of the story easily as fascinating as the science. The author explores human relations, motivations, and perceptions. He uses the journey of the Iceman to explore humanity. We meet him eight-thousand years ago on a quest for love. Then we see how he deals with being revived into an artificial body, that lacks the rich sensory experience of his original. As he struggles to retain his humanity, he has an impact on those around him. The scientists who bring him back begin to question much they had taken for granted.
The story is balanced, much like an equation, which probably is why I found the ending so satisfying. There were no unanswered questions or tasks left finished. There is a lot of action and suspense as evil people endanger the world for their own greed.
I do actually have one other complaint. Conservatives and the U.S. Government are not portrayed generously. As a conservative christian I found that aspect tedious. But I'm reviewing his writing, not his politics, so the five stars stay.
I found the human side of the story easily as fascinating as the science. The author explores human relations, motivations, and perceptions. He uses the journey of the Iceman to explore humanity. We meet him eight-thousand years ago on a quest for love. Then we see how he deals with being revived into an artificial body, that lacks the rich sensory experience of his original. As he struggles to retain his humanity, he has an impact on those around him. The scientists who bring him back begin to question much they had taken for granted.
The story is balanced, much like an equation, which probably is why I found the ending so satisfying. There were no unanswered questions or tasks left finished. There is a lot of action and suspense as evil people endanger the world for their own greed.
I do actually have one other complaint. Conservatives and the U.S. Government are not portrayed generously. As a conservative christian I found that aspect tedious. But I'm reviewing his writing, not his politics, so the five stars stay.
August 13, 2025
exciting and fast paced
I really enjoyed the story. It was creative, scientific, and had its share of good and bad, but I really didn’t like the over the top stereotyping of special forces. That and the evil NSA bureaucrats seemed more comic book than serious. And the crooked politician too was comedically sinister… but then I look at the US today and think maybe life is imitating art.
I really enjoyed the story. It was creative, scientific, and had its share of good and bad, but I really didn’t like the over the top stereotyping of special forces. That and the evil NSA bureaucrats seemed more comic book than serious. And the crooked politician too was comedically sinister… but then I look at the US today and think maybe life is imitating art.
May 15, 2024
DNF at <50 pages in. I’d encountered “woah, that’s … really cheesy writing” flags here and there in the first few pages but the more the burgeoning list of characters grew, the more dialog samples I had to judge. I calculate a 1:3 ratio of just-okay-dialog to holy-s***-is-this-a-high-schoolers-first-stab-at-dialog.
The characters so far have been wooden. The “steamy romance” (already) was more like a still-warm, just-used-for-the-third-day-without-ever-quite-drying damp towel (weirdly heavy and not without odor).
The representation of the French way of speaking English is hilarious, but not the good kind of hilarious.
The heavy-handed “foreshadowing” is very nearly an obscenity:
> “Have they picked a name for him?” Richard asked as they began walking toward one of the central buildings. > “No, but they need to call him something, since they’ll never know his real name—/right/?”
This was the precise moment I became too annoyed to continue. For a moment I considered taking up cutting so that I could experience pain I could control, then I remembered I could stop reading and come here to testify before God and Goodreads, stab a finger at that jauntily-emphasized “right” and say THERE! THAT’S WHERE THE BAD MAN TOUCHED ME. RIGHT IN MY SENSE OF DECENT DIALOG!
The characters so far have been wooden. The “steamy romance” (already) was more like a still-warm, just-used-for-the-third-day-without-ever-quite-drying damp towel (weirdly heavy and not without odor).
The representation of the French way of speaking English is hilarious, but not the good kind of hilarious.
The heavy-handed “foreshadowing” is very nearly an obscenity:
> “Have they picked a name for him?” Richard asked as they began walking toward one of the central buildings. > “No, but they need to call him something, since they’ll never know his real name—/right/?”
This was the precise moment I became too annoyed to continue. For a moment I considered taking up cutting so that I could experience pain I could control, then I remembered I could stop reading and come here to testify before God and Goodreads, stab a finger at that jauntily-emphasized “right” and say THERE! THAT’S WHERE THE BAD MAN TOUCHED ME. RIGHT IN MY SENSE OF DECENT DIALOG!
November 25, 2019
Received this in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Goodreads
I really wanted to love this story - the plot sounded like a fun read. However, I thought it had way to much going on. Two story lines that could have been a good book on it's own. At times I also felt the story played out as expected; government involvement, thieves, mad scientist, love stories, murder. Over the top and at times, not realistic.
While the science was excellent and well written it bogged down the flow of the plots. I also believe the dialog was not stilted and not realistic.
I will consider reading this author again with hopes for a better layout
I really wanted to love this story - the plot sounded like a fun read. However, I thought it had way to much going on. Two story lines that could have been a good book on it's own. At times I also felt the story played out as expected; government involvement, thieves, mad scientist, love stories, murder. Over the top and at times, not realistic.
While the science was excellent and well written it bogged down the flow of the plots. I also believe the dialog was not stilted and not realistic.
I will consider reading this author again with hopes for a better layout
September 15, 2019
The Iceman cometh…
Minnesota author CR Wahl holds a PhD in physics, has published papers on quantum gauge anomalies and neural networks and other topics and has over thirty-five patents in six fields. He is a world traveler and has gathered his experiences shared in this debut novel with his time in the ancient ruins in South America, Brazilian rain forests, South Pacific islands, and hiking in the Andes and in Africa among other locales.
The depth of knowledge Wahl displays in this exceptional novel is as staggering as his credentials are impressive. Not only does he offer a story rich in imagination and grounded in factual concepts and thoughts, but he also poses significant questions regarding the fundamental comparison of importance and validity between information and mass and energy. To appreciate the complexities of his thoughts and how they relate to the real world, the reader must enter this science fiction tale with an open mind and hunger for enlightenment.
Wahl’s literary skills are very polished, especially considering this is his first novel. The manner in which he opens his story – at the Vanoise Glacier – French Alps 6000 BC – informs as well as paints the stage for the story to proceed: ‘Across the Vanoise massif lies the remnant of a vast island of ice that once spread it self over what would later become the borders of Italy, Austria, Switzerland, and France. By 6000 BC, the last glacier advance had ended and a new race of humans – Homo sapiens – was slowly spreading northward, traveling the valleys and across the permafrost plains in search of new homes. In their way were glaciers, immense sweeping landscapes of nothingness, frozen places, endless and almost as old as the earth. Most would turn back, but a few hardy souls would gaze out past the horizon and begin to dream that somewhere, over the rim of the world, les a new beginning and a chance at destiny.’
The long novel is complex, but well summarized in the author’s synopsis: ‘Two mountain climbers in the French Alps have made a startling discovery—a perfectly preserved frozen Neolithic human. But who was this Iceman, what was he doing high on a glacier 8000 years ago, and why was he carrying a strange metallic cylinder? Archaeologists can only speculate, but neuroscientist Doctor Lisa Cho knows a better way. Young and ambitious, Dr. Cho is at the threshold of developing technology capable of replicating the neural pathways of the human brain and has devised an audacious plan; she wants to wake the Iceman from his primeval slumber and let him provide the answers to his past. But the Iceman’s story is not what anyone expected. As Cho seeks to understand the Iceman’s origin, her path converges in France with a brilliant theoretical physicist on his own mission to unravel the meaning of the Iceman’s cryptic artifact. Their quests become intertwined and increasingly perilous as they inch closer to the truth and the mystery behind the enigmatic Iceman.‘
Very strong and mesmerizing novel – a brilliant entry into the literary scene. Highly recommended.
Minnesota author CR Wahl holds a PhD in physics, has published papers on quantum gauge anomalies and neural networks and other topics and has over thirty-five patents in six fields. He is a world traveler and has gathered his experiences shared in this debut novel with his time in the ancient ruins in South America, Brazilian rain forests, South Pacific islands, and hiking in the Andes and in Africa among other locales.
The depth of knowledge Wahl displays in this exceptional novel is as staggering as his credentials are impressive. Not only does he offer a story rich in imagination and grounded in factual concepts and thoughts, but he also poses significant questions regarding the fundamental comparison of importance and validity between information and mass and energy. To appreciate the complexities of his thoughts and how they relate to the real world, the reader must enter this science fiction tale with an open mind and hunger for enlightenment.
Wahl’s literary skills are very polished, especially considering this is his first novel. The manner in which he opens his story – at the Vanoise Glacier – French Alps 6000 BC – informs as well as paints the stage for the story to proceed: ‘Across the Vanoise massif lies the remnant of a vast island of ice that once spread it self over what would later become the borders of Italy, Austria, Switzerland, and France. By 6000 BC, the last glacier advance had ended and a new race of humans – Homo sapiens – was slowly spreading northward, traveling the valleys and across the permafrost plains in search of new homes. In their way were glaciers, immense sweeping landscapes of nothingness, frozen places, endless and almost as old as the earth. Most would turn back, but a few hardy souls would gaze out past the horizon and begin to dream that somewhere, over the rim of the world, les a new beginning and a chance at destiny.’
The long novel is complex, but well summarized in the author’s synopsis: ‘Two mountain climbers in the French Alps have made a startling discovery—a perfectly preserved frozen Neolithic human. But who was this Iceman, what was he doing high on a glacier 8000 years ago, and why was he carrying a strange metallic cylinder? Archaeologists can only speculate, but neuroscientist Doctor Lisa Cho knows a better way. Young and ambitious, Dr. Cho is at the threshold of developing technology capable of replicating the neural pathways of the human brain and has devised an audacious plan; she wants to wake the Iceman from his primeval slumber and let him provide the answers to his past. But the Iceman’s story is not what anyone expected. As Cho seeks to understand the Iceman’s origin, her path converges in France with a brilliant theoretical physicist on his own mission to unravel the meaning of the Iceman’s cryptic artifact. Their quests become intertwined and increasingly perilous as they inch closer to the truth and the mystery behind the enigmatic Iceman.‘
Very strong and mesmerizing novel – a brilliant entry into the literary scene. Highly recommended.
October 17, 2025
If you can suspend your disbelief regarding the neuroscience (I have no idea if you can recreate a mind in an artificial intelligence/robot, but sort of doubt it) this is a good tale. If the science had been explained in a more convincing manner (it was rather rushed over), I would have been able to give this a 3.5 rating. But, again, this is fiction so I'll go with it. A man from 8,000 years ago is found frozen in a glacier. He is thawed and through some process, his brain is recreated and placed in a robot body (that looks and moves like a human). Not only is his brain physically recreated, but all his memories and his personality, so he is in effect, reborn. For some reason, this either provokes religious persecution of the young professor who has performed this feat by her university department chair or excites a greedy politician with dreams of some type of superior warrior force unafraid of death because they already died. So everyone wants the iceman for all the wrong reasons. Added to this situation is the fact that the iceman had some type of strange artifact in his possession that our professor immediately determines must be from a "dual" world as opposed to aliens, sent to destroy our world. There are quite of few gaps in plotting and logic here, unfortunate for a 500 page book. This is the first of a trilogy loosely tied together through the existence of a duplicate world, similar to Earth, that presents either a threat or a benefit to our world. The characters are in large part stereotypes, especially the bad guys but the story hums along from crisis to crisis, and you finally reach the end of this first installment. I started the trilogy by reading the last book first. I don't think that I ruined anything, but I will read the second book just because I hate not finishing something. I was entertained, but not educated.
June 23, 2023
Complaints:
My biggest complaint is that there are entirely too many characters to keep track of.
The other complaint is the "twist" at the end. Really made no sense and seemed to me the author should have written two different stories instead of trying to use the iceman Dosto as the connection between the two.
I prefer stories that have a scientific basis to actually sound like they have some science behind them. The author did well in this area but I think went a bit overboard on the scientific explanations. Felt like I needed a degree in physics to follow along and not become bored.
Every story should have a good villain to add some suspense. In this one it is professor Caldwell. Caldwell immediately became a caricature and difficult to take serious when he had an internal dialogue, asking himself, "Why am I surrounded by infidels?" It just came across as so cheesy sounding and, although it wasn't meant to make the reader laugh, I did laugh out loud. There is a bit of growth for Caldwell much later in the book but we only get a very brief glimpse of that.
Overall the story was interesting in that it was different. I don't know that I'll give the author another try. I know there's a sequel but I'm giving it a hard pass.
My biggest complaint is that there are entirely too many characters to keep track of.
The other complaint is the "twist" at the end. Really made no sense and seemed to me the author should have written two different stories instead of trying to use the iceman Dosto as the connection between the two.
I prefer stories that have a scientific basis to actually sound like they have some science behind them. The author did well in this area but I think went a bit overboard on the scientific explanations. Felt like I needed a degree in physics to follow along and not become bored.
Every story should have a good villain to add some suspense. In this one it is professor Caldwell. Caldwell immediately became a caricature and difficult to take serious when he had an internal dialogue, asking himself, "Why am I surrounded by infidels?" It just came across as so cheesy sounding and, although it wasn't meant to make the reader laugh, I did laugh out loud. There is a bit of growth for Caldwell much later in the book but we only get a very brief glimpse of that.
Overall the story was interesting in that it was different. I don't know that I'll give the author another try. I know there's a sequel but I'm giving it a hard pass.
June 4, 2021
A smashing of sci-fi and hard sci-fi. Does it work
I gave that book five stars because I enjoyed it and I never bothered to give less I'd rather not give a review because it may be me and not the author
It's the first book I read by CR and the storyline is pretty good if not original (I'm not a critic or an author so take that), but I believe it was actually two books squashed together in one to get it out quickly. I prefer a hard sci-fi most of the time but sometimes I like an easy read I think they'll have to try to combine the two. I believe it was actually two good books completely different from each other here and would love to see him write one about the quantum dual universes and ramifications on its own.
Also, since he was getting descriptive on a scientific level the main characters description lack for anything less than frankensteinish for me while reading it I like to be able to picture the characters and the only one I have for the main character is kind of gruesome.
I wish she supplied his email address just so I could ask him why. Why combine the two-story lines when it really wasn't necessary.
Oh no it was an enjoyable read.
I gave that book five stars because I enjoyed it and I never bothered to give less I'd rather not give a review because it may be me and not the author
It's the first book I read by CR and the storyline is pretty good if not original (I'm not a critic or an author so take that), but I believe it was actually two books squashed together in one to get it out quickly. I prefer a hard sci-fi most of the time but sometimes I like an easy read I think they'll have to try to combine the two. I believe it was actually two good books completely different from each other here and would love to see him write one about the quantum dual universes and ramifications on its own.
Also, since he was getting descriptive on a scientific level the main characters description lack for anything less than frankensteinish for me while reading it I like to be able to picture the characters and the only one I have for the main character is kind of gruesome.
I wish she supplied his email address just so I could ask him why. Why combine the two-story lines when it really wasn't necessary.
Oh no it was an enjoyable read.
November 7, 2025
a fascinating and moving story
C R Wahl has created a real gem with this tale about the discovery of an ancient “iceman” from the near-dawn of civilization, 8000 years ago. He is remarkably well preserved due to a combination of rapid freezing and the things he was eating, and staying completely frozen, his cellar structure appears intact.
Enter Dr. Lisa Cho, with some cutting edge neural mapping techniques, and she is able recreate the Iceman’s consciousness. Moral dilemmas abound, and a religious fanatic professor tries to sabotage her efforts. And then there’s the seemingly high-tech device the Iceman was carrying, as well as the larger device they found in a cave nearby. Also in the cave was another ancient human body, the mate of the Iceman. There is much more to this story than first meets the eye.
The prose is well-written, and the story complex and engaging. However, the antagonists seem a little cliche and stereotypical, though their actions do ratchet up the tension.
C R Wahl has created a real gem with this tale about the discovery of an ancient “iceman” from the near-dawn of civilization, 8000 years ago. He is remarkably well preserved due to a combination of rapid freezing and the things he was eating, and staying completely frozen, his cellar structure appears intact.
Enter Dr. Lisa Cho, with some cutting edge neural mapping techniques, and she is able recreate the Iceman’s consciousness. Moral dilemmas abound, and a religious fanatic professor tries to sabotage her efforts. And then there’s the seemingly high-tech device the Iceman was carrying, as well as the larger device they found in a cave nearby. Also in the cave was another ancient human body, the mate of the Iceman. There is much more to this story than first meets the eye.
The prose is well-written, and the story complex and engaging. However, the antagonists seem a little cliche and stereotypical, though their actions do ratchet up the tension.
May 15, 2021
Long ago and not so far away
The bad news first: Built into the structure of this novel are assumptions that 1) Anyone who believes in God is a psychopathic child molester, 2) Anyone who asks moral or ethical questions is motivated from a desire to obstruct progress. If you can forge beyond that sort of stuff, the good news is there’s some good writing and exciting, complex plots going on and the last half is a lot better and more nuanced than the first half. Lisa Cho. A neuroscientist, has essentially rebuilt the brain of an 8,000 year old man discovered frozen in ice in France. She battles her university’s board of regents, a disturbed professor, the NSA, crazed Special Forces killers, all the while trying to balance her love life. A second reanimated individual appears on the scene, and, as we readers are beginning to suspect, this is not going to end well. So read it—it’s good, believable, and exciting.
The bad news first: Built into the structure of this novel are assumptions that 1) Anyone who believes in God is a psychopathic child molester, 2) Anyone who asks moral or ethical questions is motivated from a desire to obstruct progress. If you can forge beyond that sort of stuff, the good news is there’s some good writing and exciting, complex plots going on and the last half is a lot better and more nuanced than the first half. Lisa Cho. A neuroscientist, has essentially rebuilt the brain of an 8,000 year old man discovered frozen in ice in France. She battles her university’s board of regents, a disturbed professor, the NSA, crazed Special Forces killers, all the while trying to balance her love life. A second reanimated individual appears on the scene, and, as we readers are beginning to suspect, this is not going to end well. So read it—it’s good, believable, and exciting.
Read
August 7, 2025This clunker is not even "so bad it's good". Bad science, writing, characters, plot and dialogue. "Research" is strictly Google and Youtube. Everyone is a caricature - religious folks, scientists, military, politicians. I've worked in R&D and no scientist talks or acts like this.
The jumbled plots are "make it up as you go" - accidental find, scientific infighting, govt conspiracy, military mission, multi universes, mystery object. And the characters! It's not Atlas Shrugged, War and Peace or the Stand but a short sci-fi potboiler yet we're in France, Italy, the US, Netherlands with a cast in each - and they all sound the same. A typical error. An object carried by an ancient human is found made of osmium, the heaviest element. A cubic inch weighs almost a pound so at a minimum it's 200 pounds, hardly conducive to climbing mountains and swimming. LOL
The jumbled plots are "make it up as you go" - accidental find, scientific infighting, govt conspiracy, military mission, multi universes, mystery object. And the characters! It's not Atlas Shrugged, War and Peace or the Stand but a short sci-fi potboiler yet we're in France, Italy, the US, Netherlands with a cast in each - and they all sound the same. A typical error. An object carried by an ancient human is found made of osmium, the heaviest element. A cubic inch weighs almost a pound so at a minimum it's 200 pounds, hardly conducive to climbing mountains and swimming. LOL
February 21, 2020
Great movie!
This book has a very unusual storyline. My usual genre is psychological thriller/murder mystery. The idea of finding a Neolithic 8000 yr old male and female, then recreating a working brain blows my mind! The detail of how the brains were recreated and brought to consciousness in a functioning body was pure genius. It makes me wonder if something like this could be accomplished. Pretty scary thought!
I was impressed by how well the characters were developed. But I could have used more descriptive detail as to how the Neolithic bodies were created. I really couldn't picture them as fully functioning bodies artificially created. Overall it was an amazing story that would make a great movie!
This book has a very unusual storyline. My usual genre is psychological thriller/murder mystery. The idea of finding a Neolithic 8000 yr old male and female, then recreating a working brain blows my mind! The detail of how the brains were recreated and brought to consciousness in a functioning body was pure genius. It makes me wonder if something like this could be accomplished. Pretty scary thought!
I was impressed by how well the characters were developed. But I could have used more descriptive detail as to how the Neolithic bodies were created. I really couldn't picture them as fully functioning bodies artificially created. Overall it was an amazing story that would make a great movie!
February 14, 2025
Good read but a little tough in science
Granted I’ve recently entered my foray into borderline sci-fi (having gotten tired of “horror trope”), I’ve learned the term “hard science” the hard way. This book is very intelligently written and I came to care about the characters. I did have a little challenge trying to grasp the Berlink-Katrien plot as physics just isn’t my thing. Not knowing this was something of a series, I actually started with the last book. I enjoyed it so much that, having finished this one, I’m going to read the 2nd one next. One thing I noticed was that you don’t have to read in order as they appear to be stand alone books but with overlapping characters. This also isn’t your typical “frozen iceman” story. Compelling.
Granted I’ve recently entered my foray into borderline sci-fi (having gotten tired of “horror trope”), I’ve learned the term “hard science” the hard way. This book is very intelligently written and I came to care about the characters. I did have a little challenge trying to grasp the Berlink-Katrien plot as physics just isn’t my thing. Not knowing this was something of a series, I actually started with the last book. I enjoyed it so much that, having finished this one, I’m going to read the 2nd one next. One thing I noticed was that you don’t have to read in order as they appear to be stand alone books but with overlapping characters. This also isn’t your typical “frozen iceman” story. Compelling.
May 4, 2025
It's an entertaining read, and a fun premise, but is hurt by the ridiculous antagonists. Every one is essentially a cartoon villain that you can see wringing their hands as they come up with an evil plot. The religious zealot, the bumbling thieves, the stereotypical testosterone-fueled special forces soldiers, the corrupt politicians. And the dialog of the antagonists just gets more over the top as the book goes on... "You won't get away, you Commie-lover!" was probably my eye-rolling favorite. In short, the villains just aren't believable.
I've read book 3 in this series (before I realized it was a series), and that also has an over-the-top villain, so maybe that's a thing with this author. I'm still going to read book 2 though.
I've read book 3 in this series (before I realized it was a series), and that also has an over-the-top villain, so maybe that's a thing with this author. I'm still going to read book 2 though.
December 31, 2019
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway, thank you so much for this opportunity.
I remember being fascinated with Ötzi the Iceman as a child, so naturally I was drawn to the premise of this book. I enjoyed the scientific parts & the in-depth look into the human brain & nature.
This is an exciting book that pulls the reader in the through the twists & turns. There's a lot going on in the story & new characters introduced so that could make it tricky to keep up. The story was a bit unrealistic at times, but that's expected since it is science fiction. Overall it was a delightful read.
I remember being fascinated with Ötzi the Iceman as a child, so naturally I was drawn to the premise of this book. I enjoyed the scientific parts & the in-depth look into the human brain & nature.
This is an exciting book that pulls the reader in the through the twists & turns. There's a lot going on in the story & new characters introduced so that could make it tricky to keep up. The story was a bit unrealistic at times, but that's expected since it is science fiction. Overall it was a delightful read.
March 1, 2020
Interesting concept
Way way too complicated story. Too hard to follow without losing interest in the intrigue. The love story was an interesting read and normally I don’t like love stories. Lisa and company, the mad scientists who can drag international assist into the storyline but all she really is is a sweet girl wanting Richard and a family if he’ll stay in France. The bad religious zealot Caldwell who really was just jealous overlooked man from the professor pool. This book was too hard to finish and then with a WHAT? Ending
Way way too complicated story. Too hard to follow without losing interest in the intrigue. The love story was an interesting read and normally I don’t like love stories. Lisa and company, the mad scientists who can drag international assist into the storyline but all she really is is a sweet girl wanting Richard and a family if he’ll stay in France. The bad religious zealot Caldwell who really was just jealous overlooked man from the professor pool. This book was too hard to finish and then with a WHAT? Ending
gave-up-on
March 28, 2020I don't want my rating of "gave up on" to harm this book. I got about 1/3 through and had to quit because it was upsetting me so much. Right now I am in great need of happy stories with happy endings and this book was so intense, so filled with evil people, that I got upset. Nonetheless, the writing was excellent, the main characters were mature, not snarky airheads like seems to be the trend in current writing, and the science was fascinating. In another time in my life. I would have loved it. So sorry C.R. Wahl...you wrote a great book, but just not for me during this time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2022
A REALLY good read.
The story is based on a frozen body found by a couple of mountain climbers in the French Alps, then the research begins. Who is this person? Where is he from? What is he doing here? Where is he going? Then the research begins.
Archaeologists take the lead. A neuroscientist joins the effort and has a GREAT impact:
- This man was about 18 years old when he died.
- He died about 8000 years ago.
- He was carrying a heavy metal tube, why?
Thanks for a very interesting and well told story!
The story is based on a frozen body found by a couple of mountain climbers in the French Alps, then the research begins. Who is this person? Where is he from? What is he doing here? Where is he going? Then the research begins.
Archaeologists take the lead. A neuroscientist joins the effort and has a GREAT impact:
- This man was about 18 years old when he died.
- He died about 8000 years ago.
- He was carrying a heavy metal tube, why?
Thanks for a very interesting and well told story!
June 4, 2023
great real science in a great story!!
I love reading science fiction novels where the science actually makes sense. It is entirely plausible gives a story that realism and that ability for you to imagine what actually might be happening. This book is exactly that it’s a great story wrapped around some very intriguing scientific concepts, and I really enjoyed the way at the author, built the story around different segments of science, and then tied them all together at the end very well done very enjoyable read.
I love reading science fiction novels where the science actually makes sense. It is entirely plausible gives a story that realism and that ability for you to imagine what actually might be happening. This book is exactly that it’s a great story wrapped around some very intriguing scientific concepts, and I really enjoyed the way at the author, built the story around different segments of science, and then tied them all together at the end very well done very enjoyable read.
September 23, 2023
WAKING ICEMAN is non-stop adventurous, contemporary Quantum Speculative Science Fiction, with characterization depth, examination of opposing viewpoints (Religion vs. Science), and Mental Illness (certain characters). There's also two strong love interests and the author presents these in a realistic and heartwarming way, while interweaving prehistory, geology, Medieval history, and the progress (if) of human evolution. Don't forget Quantum Physics, Neuroscience, and Parallel Worlds.
Off to read the sequel! [I read this 500-page novel in one day/evening. That's how engrossing it is!]
Off to read the sequel! [I read this 500-page novel in one day/evening. That's how engrossing it is!]
October 26, 2024
What a ride!
All highly unlikely. But that's what science fiction is - unlikely but plausible in the hands of a skilled storyteller. And, in this instance, unique. I cared deeply about the characters. Except for the bad guys. They were truly detestable. The science was not too long-winded. Just enough there for all the unlikely stuff to develop and carry me along, intrigued. The sequel is next.
All highly unlikely. But that's what science fiction is - unlikely but plausible in the hands of a skilled storyteller. And, in this instance, unique. I cared deeply about the characters. Except for the bad guys. They were truly detestable. The science was not too long-winded. Just enough there for all the unlikely stuff to develop and carry me along, intrigued. The sequel is next.
April 15, 2025
Politics and Religion or Science Fiction?
I don't like fiction books that are glaringly political...either conservative or liberal. The author of this book is obviously a progressive liberal who also has a huge chip on his shoulder concerning all things religious, in particular Christian. I couldn't enjoy the science or the fiction because of this. He might have had a good book if he had left all of that out.
I don't like fiction books that are glaringly political...either conservative or liberal. The author of this book is obviously a progressive liberal who also has a huge chip on his shoulder concerning all things religious, in particular Christian. I couldn't enjoy the science or the fiction because of this. He might have had a good book if he had left all of that out.
March 14, 2025
so close
This while a very functional story really needed an editor. The book itself is very close to being a classic book but yet it’s really far away because of the execution of the story itself. It’s worth a read, but it is very frustrating. The author has two really disconnected stories going on here that doesn’t leave enough time to flush out some of the important science.
This while a very functional story really needed an editor. The book itself is very close to being a classic book but yet it’s really far away because of the execution of the story itself. It’s worth a read, but it is very frustrating. The author has two really disconnected stories going on here that doesn’t leave enough time to flush out some of the important science.
June 20, 2025
Grammar
Plus, plus: what a pleasure to read a book with almost no grammatical errors.
Plus: a good story, albeit a bit complicated at times.
Minus: I didn’t much care for the ending.
Perhaps part of the reason I liked this book is that the author has done many of the same things that have.
Clinton Perkins
Plus, plus: what a pleasure to read a book with almost no grammatical errors.
Plus: a good story, albeit a bit complicated at times.
Minus: I didn’t much care for the ending.
Perhaps part of the reason I liked this book is that the author has done many of the same things that have.
Clinton Perkins
February 24, 2020
I was initially pulled in by the science. The religious reality and government fucking meet pissed me off but we're obviously true to life so I suffered through those parts. In the end, it was an intense race to evade the villain a and an inevitable tearjerker. Well done!
September 25, 2020
Love always wins
A love story will always suck me in and the trials of star crossed lovers always makes me sad. I have no idea if the story has any remote possibilty of ever being true but I don’t care. It is Dosto and Arria about whom I care.
A love story will always suck me in and the trials of star crossed lovers always makes me sad. I have no idea if the story has any remote possibilty of ever being true but I don’t care. It is Dosto and Arria about whom I care.
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