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Ice
In eons past, the armies of Surtur the fire goddess and Ymir the frost giant waged an unceasing battle for dominance over the Earth. For all those ages, they maintained an uneasy but enduring balance. Then humanity rose from the mud, and with the passage of time, came to fear fire more than ice, devoting their own meager forces to the conflict. Not to be denied, Surtur beat back both mortals and giants, consigning the planet to unrelenting heat and the ice lords to seeming oblivion. Before leaving the material realm, in jest she gave humanity the gift of magic and the curse of the return of dragons.
For thousands of years thereafter, the race of people knew nothing but a world without ice. Spanning the globe in sailing ships, the humans continued to thrive and remembered not the distant past. Then Captain Ki-Moon Yong of the Oceanic Trading Company vessel the Star of Jindo is assigned the task of solving the most profound mystery ever encountered. Another ship has gone missing and her only remaining crewman suddenly commits suicide after visiting the sunken continent of Antarctica. All of the dinosaur species of the south have gone mad, invading the guarded towns and cities on their way north, as if to escape some monstrous terror.
The answers to these enigmas all lie on the continent at the bottom of the world, and Captain Moon must take the Star to a strange research facility to discover them. But once there, he is confronted with a truth so profound and so nightmarish that it will change the very nature of reality. Can the Star of Jindo escape the inevitable in time to warn an unbelieving world of that truth, or will they be consumed in frozen horror?
For thousands of years thereafter, the race of people knew nothing but a world without ice. Spanning the globe in sailing ships, the humans continued to thrive and remembered not the distant past. Then Captain Ki-Moon Yong of the Oceanic Trading Company vessel the Star of Jindo is assigned the task of solving the most profound mystery ever encountered. Another ship has gone missing and her only remaining crewman suddenly commits suicide after visiting the sunken continent of Antarctica. All of the dinosaur species of the south have gone mad, invading the guarded towns and cities on their way north, as if to escape some monstrous terror.
The answers to these enigmas all lie on the continent at the bottom of the world, and Captain Moon must take the Star to a strange research facility to discover them. But once there, he is confronted with a truth so profound and so nightmarish that it will change the very nature of reality. Can the Star of Jindo escape the inevitable in time to warn an unbelieving world of that truth, or will they be consumed in frozen horror?
Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2021
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5 people want to read
About the author
James Pyles
86 books7 followersI'm a science fiction and fantasy author and a retired technical writer and IT book author.
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Blog: Powered by Robots
I have over 60 short stories and novelettes published in the last few years.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 6, 2022
Centuries before this story was written, a battle between fire and ice was waged. Humankind endured a world of fire after the fire Goddess Surtur, defeated the frost giant Ymir and for a long time the earth had no ice, for Antarctica lay at the bottom of the ocean.
But is the ice returning?
This is an exciting adventure like no other, with dramatic scenery and gripping personalities. Intricately plotted, gritty and well written with distinctive movie quality.
Despite involving goddesses, giants and mythical beings, this version of our own world seems all too real…
But is the ice returning?
This is an exciting adventure like no other, with dramatic scenery and gripping personalities. Intricately plotted, gritty and well written with distinctive movie quality.
Despite involving goddesses, giants and mythical beings, this version of our own world seems all too real…
August 10, 2022
Tell me ladies;what do you know of sea turtles?
The story begins with a fight between the gods fire and ice, but i'm not sure if this was metaphorical hearsay passed down through the ages and not an actual historical event. The time of the tale seems to be after technology, although, again i can't be sure, only a few statements suggest this to me. I really enjoyed the build up and the banter onboard the sea vessel The Star between Captain Yong and his first mate Andrada, very much a sparrow and Gibbs tribute act. the story leads us to the mystery of Machu Picchu and the elusive Doctor Weaver , think a stuffy Lord Asriel in golden compass with his illegal experiments in the north pole. i was eager to find out what he was up to and keen for the crew of the Star to meet up with him.
So when we are introduced to the doctor and his wonderous transport, i'm thinking 'cool, now we have a Jules verne type adventure filled with flying monsters, with Doug Mclure at the helm of the Nautilus.
But this is where the tale drops completely off for me- right at the end of chapter 8- where i feel the big reveal should be. A rematch of the Gods! like the cover suggests a frozen sculpture of Surtur the red with the Frost giant in his full glory. something awesome to witness. But i feel like the readers are walked straight through to the gift shop here.
i was so disappointed, this could have been a voyage on magnificent steampunked ancient technology.
JP tell me you have chapter 8.5 adventure tucked away for a rainy day.
A great potential for a future adventure.
cheers for the read.
The story begins with a fight between the gods fire and ice, but i'm not sure if this was metaphorical hearsay passed down through the ages and not an actual historical event. The time of the tale seems to be after technology, although, again i can't be sure, only a few statements suggest this to me. I really enjoyed the build up and the banter onboard the sea vessel The Star between Captain Yong and his first mate Andrada, very much a sparrow and Gibbs tribute act. the story leads us to the mystery of Machu Picchu and the elusive Doctor Weaver , think a stuffy Lord Asriel in golden compass with his illegal experiments in the north pole. i was eager to find out what he was up to and keen for the crew of the Star to meet up with him.
So when we are introduced to the doctor and his wonderous transport, i'm thinking 'cool, now we have a Jules verne type adventure filled with flying monsters, with Doug Mclure at the helm of the Nautilus.
But this is where the tale drops completely off for me- right at the end of chapter 8- where i feel the big reveal should be. A rematch of the Gods! like the cover suggests a frozen sculpture of Surtur the red with the Frost giant in his full glory. something awesome to witness. But i feel like the readers are walked straight through to the gift shop here.
i was so disappointed, this could have been a voyage on magnificent steampunked ancient technology.
JP tell me you have chapter 8.5 adventure tucked away for a rainy day.
A great potential for a future adventure.
cheers for the read.
December 15, 2024
An engrossing story of inevitable change
Author James Pyles paints his world with an artist’s vivid brush. He makes it effortless to visualize the ships, the people, the skies, the DRAGONS. This world of magic and emerging science pushes some well known Norse mythology into a more modernish (think, Wild Wild West) era, a concept dear to my heart.
Ice is more of a novella than a novel, which makes it a little difficult to be specific without providing spoilers, but I’ll try. Throughout the book I felt the encroaching cold and volatility of a changing world. There was a sense of growing anxiety with each turned page as constant reminders of the worsening weather battered ships and cities. This was emphasized by well versed tensions between crew, friends, and nature.
While action abounds, the core of the story eventually centers around Doctor Weaver, a scientist in a world of ancient magic. His mysterious technologies (again, think Wild Wild West) warned of a planet on the brink of evolution, and not the human friendly kind. Doctor Weaver’s mysterious past and wonderful experiments could make a book of its own, a book I would like to read.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves ships, mythology, and a generous helping of Victorian futurism.
Author James Pyles paints his world with an artist’s vivid brush. He makes it effortless to visualize the ships, the people, the skies, the DRAGONS. This world of magic and emerging science pushes some well known Norse mythology into a more modernish (think, Wild Wild West) era, a concept dear to my heart.
Ice is more of a novella than a novel, which makes it a little difficult to be specific without providing spoilers, but I’ll try. Throughout the book I felt the encroaching cold and volatility of a changing world. There was a sense of growing anxiety with each turned page as constant reminders of the worsening weather battered ships and cities. This was emphasized by well versed tensions between crew, friends, and nature.
While action abounds, the core of the story eventually centers around Doctor Weaver, a scientist in a world of ancient magic. His mysterious technologies (again, think Wild Wild West) warned of a planet on the brink of evolution, and not the human friendly kind. Doctor Weaver’s mysterious past and wonderful experiments could make a book of its own, a book I would like to read.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves ships, mythology, and a generous helping of Victorian futurism.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews