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Interloper #1
Icebreaker
A frozen, psychedelic post-apocalyptic Scotland.Shamanic science fiction, written in a unique voice, with a strong cast of memorable characters.A trilogy-spanning mystery that answers every question it raises.Cosmic horror, artificial intelligence, and questions of consciousness, perception and identity."Of the dozens of indie authors I've ever read, only two have left me genuinely hungry to read more from them. Steven William Hannah is one of those." - O.R. Lea, author of the Bruised Moon SequenceInside their walls, the people are safe from exposure to the unnamed horror that broke the world long ago; but now Bear, the last scientist in Forgehead, takes a case that threatens to throw that safety into question. Someone has been terminally exposed to the phenomenon, despite never having ventured outside the walls. This has only happened once before - to Bear's father.With the safety of Forgehead in question, and an opportunity to finally discover what happened to his father, Bear must leave the safety of the walls to unravel the mysteries left behind by the pre-cataclysm world; a task that will require him to join the Interloper Initiative, the team who crew the gigantic Crawler landships, the only vehicles that can roam the world outside the walls in relative safety. "Icebreaker" is the first entry in the Interloper Trilogy, a tale of horror and science charting the last days of a dying world, and humanity's endeavour to survive.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
283 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 8, 2021
11 people are currently reading
172 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
December 31, 2022
Confession: I was raised on traditional, sword and sorcery fantasy and space opera/AI-takeover sci-fi, but it seems that postapoc (with the exception of zombies, which I don’t really care for) is quickly becoming my favorite niche in SFF. Which makes sense, as the Mad Max movie series has long been my favorite.
What’s the draw of this niche? For those of us who love truly grounded magic and technology systems, there’s no better place to find a unique blend of realistic feeling tech and in cases like Icebreaker, disasters that make you question the lines between the supernatural and natural in a book. Postapoc is where sci-fi and fantasy and reality can all blend in compelling ways.
More, these stories involve the upheaval and reformation of societies. Much like alternate-world fantasy and sci-fi that involves new species or civilizations, these postapoc stories show what society and humanity might be like if the parameters of our existence were drastically changed. They aren’t just stories about one unique character or two, they’re stories about human nature, and every single character in these stories is a product of a changed world.
Icebreaker is a perfect example of a unique apocalyptic event, the aftermath, and the phases that society has undergone in coping with the new world order. It draws on all the elements of good postapoc in new ways to make this feel like an immersive and cohesive new world with new problems for humanity to tackle. From the start of the book, you can see how each character, each family, each city, has adapted to the circumstances.
This is a character-driven story with multiple PoVs all centering on the main character, Bear. There is no headhopping, rather graceful transitions between third limited PoVs to better show the plot’s twists and turns, along with how each character deals with the rapidly changing events.
And the events do rapidly change. I’m a guesser. I find great joy in trying to guess what’s going to happen next in a book, and more joy to find that I’m wrong in a good way. Almost every event in this plot was unexpected and suspenseful, but none felt like they were tossed in just to shock. True to the niche, this book was action-heavy and kept me feeling like any moment could be the end of this society.
Character dynamics and character development were both beautifully executed. Nothing about the main characters felt static. They learned and grew as the story evolved. None of the characters felt like cookie cutter SFF types and each felt authentic. There was no overly dramatic dialogue and the characters felt very distinct.
Per the usual, my favorite character was the villain, the Messenger. A good villain is like icing on the cake for me. And while I may have moseyed through the first half of the book over the course of a week, once Messenger entered the scene, I finished 50% of the book in a day. Saying more would spoil the fun, so I’ll stop there.
The one con of this book for me is that it’s in present tense. I am not a fast reader to begin with, and my brain takes a long while to warm up to present tense. That being said, it was barely noticeable after the first few chapters, especially once the pace picked up.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fast-paced postapocalyptic books that don’t neglect the character work. Fans of the Helldivers series are likely to enjoy this.
August 27, 2021
Hannah plunges us immediately into a terrifying dystopia - the world has been overtaken by a phenomenon with no name, a poorly understood and impossibly dangerous curiosity which brings death and ruin to any destination it reaches.
Since the cataclysm, our world has learned how to stave off the phenomenon, building walls, issuing flamethrowers, instructing citizens to isolate themselves with sensory equipment covering their eyes and ears in order to prevent anything reaching their brains and corrupting them. It’s a horrific image; lying at home unable to see or hear what’s coming inside - is it someone entering to give you the all clear, or is it something much more harrowing?
Our protagonist, Bear, has devoted his life to researching the phenomenon, risking everything to come up close to the exposed and attempt to understand how this thing works and how it can be stopped. When such a case arises at the beginning of the novel, we discover the victim has never ventured outside of the walls. For Bear, solving the mystery of how exposure could happen within the safety of his home town becomes more and more paramount as Hannah takes us on a bloody and insane journey into the heart of evil.
This is incredibly well crafted. The world Hannah has created, whilst terrifying and unsettling, is impressive in its span and efficiency. I was fascinated by the processes implemented by these people in order to ward off this unknown terror. I felt challenged; would I be able to handle and survive these measures, this abject fear which runs through the community daily?
Characterisation was also perfectly pointed, with Hannah dribbling backstories and information to us almost tantalisingly. Discovering the origins of the characters, their motivations and longings, was slow but perfectly rendered.
A truly excellent addition to dystopian fantasy, and a wonderful first third of a trilogy. I’d encourage any fans of the genre to get into this immediately.
Since the cataclysm, our world has learned how to stave off the phenomenon, building walls, issuing flamethrowers, instructing citizens to isolate themselves with sensory equipment covering their eyes and ears in order to prevent anything reaching their brains and corrupting them. It’s a horrific image; lying at home unable to see or hear what’s coming inside - is it someone entering to give you the all clear, or is it something much more harrowing?
Our protagonist, Bear, has devoted his life to researching the phenomenon, risking everything to come up close to the exposed and attempt to understand how this thing works and how it can be stopped. When such a case arises at the beginning of the novel, we discover the victim has never ventured outside of the walls. For Bear, solving the mystery of how exposure could happen within the safety of his home town becomes more and more paramount as Hannah takes us on a bloody and insane journey into the heart of evil.
This is incredibly well crafted. The world Hannah has created, whilst terrifying and unsettling, is impressive in its span and efficiency. I was fascinated by the processes implemented by these people in order to ward off this unknown terror. I felt challenged; would I be able to handle and survive these measures, this abject fear which runs through the community daily?
Characterisation was also perfectly pointed, with Hannah dribbling backstories and information to us almost tantalisingly. Discovering the origins of the characters, their motivations and longings, was slow but perfectly rendered.
A truly excellent addition to dystopian fantasy, and a wonderful first third of a trilogy. I’d encourage any fans of the genre to get into this immediately.
December 11, 2025
Fast-paced, perfectly eerie, and impossible to put down!
Icebreaker has been on my tbr for the better part of this year, and I'm so glad I decided to pick it up over the weekend. As someone with a love for dystopian stories, this post-apocalyptic book was exactly my cup of tea. The way it balances raw survival tension with moments of genuine warmth and humor had me hooked and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Highly recommend!!
Icebreaker has been on my tbr for the better part of this year, and I'm so glad I decided to pick it up over the weekend. As someone with a love for dystopian stories, this post-apocalyptic book was exactly my cup of tea. The way it balances raw survival tension with moments of genuine warmth and humor had me hooked and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Highly recommend!!
October 16, 2024
I did not see this coming, but this is my indie read of the year - an extraordinary post-apocalyptic tale that nails it from start to finish. Sure, it's 'shamanic, psychedelic SciFi' - but it's also brilliant, engaging storytelling with dialogue & characters to cut you to the bone. Going to dive right into book 2.
July 31, 2025
What an outstanding book.
I loved everything about it. The pacing, the characters, the world-building, the monsters, and the villain, all of it exceptional. Hell, I even liked the unique page formatting (ebook).
The is mostly from the POV of Bear, a man of science in a world where a supernatural force, thought by most to either be mother Gaia or hell itself, has come to eradicate the human race. The characters live in northern Scotland and we're told everything to the south has already fallen victim to the unstoppable eldritch horror.
And horrifying this phenomenon is.
To hear it or look upon it is to fall into a madness that will lead to a torturous death, that is for all but a select few. Our villain is one who has looked into the void and come out the other side, believing it is not a thing that can be stopped, and the only way forward is to subject what remains of the population to the horror leaving the survivors to inherit the earth.
There's a small cast of additional supporting character, all of which are fleshed out and likable while leaving a little intrigue into their pasts for the reader to chew on until they reach the sequels. And the best part, you don't need to wait. The trilogy's already complete!
I have nothing bad to say about this book. To be a bit nitpicky there are several minor typos (for example the word 'top' where the context of the sentence makes it clear it was supposed to be 'to'), but everything else around those minor editing errors is so good that they're easy to overlook.
Easy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and I will definitely be picking up the rest of the series.
I loved everything about it. The pacing, the characters, the world-building, the monsters, and the villain, all of it exceptional. Hell, I even liked the unique page formatting (ebook).
The is mostly from the POV of Bear, a man of science in a world where a supernatural force, thought by most to either be mother Gaia or hell itself, has come to eradicate the human race. The characters live in northern Scotland and we're told everything to the south has already fallen victim to the unstoppable eldritch horror.
And horrifying this phenomenon is.
To hear it or look upon it is to fall into a madness that will lead to a torturous death, that is for all but a select few. Our villain is one who has looked into the void and come out the other side, believing it is not a thing that can be stopped, and the only way forward is to subject what remains of the population to the horror leaving the survivors to inherit the earth.
There's a small cast of additional supporting character, all of which are fleshed out and likable while leaving a little intrigue into their pasts for the reader to chew on until they reach the sequels. And the best part, you don't need to wait. The trilogy's already complete!
I have nothing bad to say about this book. To be a bit nitpicky there are several minor typos (for example the word 'top' where the context of the sentence makes it clear it was supposed to be 'to'), but everything else around those minor editing errors is so good that they're easy to overlook.
Easy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and I will definitely be picking up the rest of the series.
January 31, 2024
I am one of the judges of the special hybrid team Epic Space Stars for the SPSFC3 contest. This review is my personal opinion. Officially, it is still in the running for the contest, pending any official team announcements.
Status: Pending
Read: 100%
Yaay! I finally got the chance to read the book with something that looks like a Pokémon in the cover!!! In case anyone is wondering, I only knew this story is horror with some amount of Sci-Fi in it. So I pretty much went in it without knowing anything else.
Icebreaker reminds me a lot of the anime Fafner: Dead Aggressor where some kind of alien being wreaks havoc by trying to fuse with the minds of humans. Just like in Fafner, most humans that enter contact with this unknown anomally called "a Gaia Phenomenon" end up permanently insane and die in agony a few days later.
Both stories share the similarity this invasion has been going on for several decades and has forever changed the world for the worse. Only that instead of quickly advancing technology and creating mutant humans with a mixture of alien DNA to render them nearly impervious to the insanity curse, this book has a society entering a dark age where superstition and loss of technology is the norm.
In this bleak world, a rare home taught scientist named Bear tracks down the poor victims of the insanity curse in search for possible clues to truly understand it... and close an emotional wound from his past. I quite like him as a person. Resourceful and hardworking, if the community had any lingering curiosity or he had learned to be more cunning and ambitious, Bear could have become the town's ruler ages ago. The book could have been rewritten in any different number of ways revealing a more domineering personality who formed an underground cult of fellow rationalists, reverse engineered lost technology (could he build his own crawler?) and take over his birth town. I still like the way Bear is portrayed in the book so far with a more meek persona. But I didn't quite understand how come someone as street smart as Callum didn't ask him to teach his Forestry guys CPR and how to fix bones. I am also curious to know who installed the radio towers in the first place. Most surprising indeed a town that seems to boast decent metalworking and weapon building knowledge doesn't have a handful of Forestry techs that can fix broken radio cables. On the other hand, Callum is also a very cool and likeable guy.
The prose is great and offers a dilapidated village setting with shanty roofs and a constant sense of imminent danger. In this sense, the book is fabulous, no doubt about it.
If there is one thing I felt the book was missing so far, it is: where are the women?
Almost 1 third of the book and we don't have a single sentence said by a female character. Nothing, zilch, nada. In fact, the only female character that is ever shown at all is an unconscious woman named Bee.
I feel the book picks up a lot and becomes a very thrilling read after the 33% point of the story. We get to meet the crew of the Icebreaker robot and its cute AI named May with a British accent. And yes, Bee does eventually wake up and we get to learn some things about her. And no, outside of very scant scenes where a Communications tech from Union City talks to the robot crew, there isn't any other female characters in the story. That was quite a bit of a letdown for me, but the book is nonetheless most enjoyable and becomes more of an adventure post apocalyptic Sci-Fi story than pure horror later on.
Messenger is a fine antagonist, and even Bear proves he can be a real jerk every now and then in the story. I liked getting to know the crew of the Icebreaker and the mysteries that unfurl as the story progresses. As for the writing, I spotted... quite a lot of typos. Confusion between usage of the word peek and peak, the classic their/they're, its/it's/its' and who's/whose usage mixup. Also an aversion towards using the present perfect tense. batttleship with 3 t's appears once. Most are easy typos to fix.
One thing that did drive me a bit nuts during the entire book was how characters just survive major abdominal surgery and are somehow capable of carrying 70 kg unconscious people through narrow ladder tunnels without even a menial wince of pain. In fact, major injuries happen and they seem like no big deal at all. Not something that is a major detriment towards enjoying the story, but I kept on wondering how the characters did it without using powerful pain meds.
Overall, I was expecting the book to end differently, so we do get quite a nice heap of surprises and a strong temptation for the reader to give the 2nd book in the series a chance. I enjoyed the book quite a lot and believe it certainly deserves to advance to the quarterfinals of the contest. :)
Status: Pending
Read: 100%
Yaay! I finally got the chance to read the book with something that looks like a Pokémon in the cover!!! In case anyone is wondering, I only knew this story is horror with some amount of Sci-Fi in it. So I pretty much went in it without knowing anything else.
Icebreaker reminds me a lot of the anime Fafner: Dead Aggressor where some kind of alien being wreaks havoc by trying to fuse with the minds of humans. Just like in Fafner, most humans that enter contact with this unknown anomally called "a Gaia Phenomenon" end up permanently insane and die in agony a few days later.
Both stories share the similarity this invasion has been going on for several decades and has forever changed the world for the worse. Only that instead of quickly advancing technology and creating mutant humans with a mixture of alien DNA to render them nearly impervious to the insanity curse, this book has a society entering a dark age where superstition and loss of technology is the norm.
In this bleak world, a rare home taught scientist named Bear tracks down the poor victims of the insanity curse in search for possible clues to truly understand it... and close an emotional wound from his past. I quite like him as a person. Resourceful and hardworking, if the community had any lingering curiosity or he had learned to be more cunning and ambitious, Bear could have become the town's ruler ages ago. The book could have been rewritten in any different number of ways revealing a more domineering personality who formed an underground cult of fellow rationalists, reverse engineered lost technology (could he build his own crawler?) and take over his birth town. I still like the way Bear is portrayed in the book so far with a more meek persona. But I didn't quite understand how come someone as street smart as Callum didn't ask him to teach his Forestry guys CPR and how to fix bones. I am also curious to know who installed the radio towers in the first place. Most surprising indeed a town that seems to boast decent metalworking and weapon building knowledge doesn't have a handful of Forestry techs that can fix broken radio cables. On the other hand, Callum is also a very cool and likeable guy.
The prose is great and offers a dilapidated village setting with shanty roofs and a constant sense of imminent danger. In this sense, the book is fabulous, no doubt about it.
If there is one thing I felt the book was missing so far, it is: where are the women?
Almost 1 third of the book and we don't have a single sentence said by a female character. Nothing, zilch, nada. In fact, the only female character that is ever shown at all is an unconscious woman named Bee.
I feel the book picks up a lot and becomes a very thrilling read after the 33% point of the story. We get to meet the crew of the Icebreaker robot and its cute AI named May with a British accent. And yes, Bee does eventually wake up and we get to learn some things about her. And no, outside of very scant scenes where a Communications tech from Union City talks to the robot crew, there isn't any other female characters in the story. That was quite a bit of a letdown for me, but the book is nonetheless most enjoyable and becomes more of an adventure post apocalyptic Sci-Fi story than pure horror later on.
Messenger is a fine antagonist, and even Bear proves he can be a real jerk every now and then in the story. I liked getting to know the crew of the Icebreaker and the mysteries that unfurl as the story progresses. As for the writing, I spotted... quite a lot of typos. Confusion between usage of the word peek and peak, the classic their/they're, its/it's/its' and who's/whose usage mixup. Also an aversion towards using the present perfect tense. batttleship with 3 t's appears once. Most are easy typos to fix.
One thing that did drive me a bit nuts during the entire book was how characters just survive major abdominal surgery and are somehow capable of carrying 70 kg unconscious people through narrow ladder tunnels without even a menial wince of pain. In fact, major injuries happen and they seem like no big deal at all. Not something that is a major detriment towards enjoying the story, but I kept on wondering how the characters did it without using powerful pain meds.
Overall, I was expecting the book to end differently, so we do get quite a nice heap of surprises and a strong temptation for the reader to give the 2nd book in the series a chance. I enjoyed the book quite a lot and believe it certainly deserves to advance to the quarterfinals of the contest. :)
October 17, 2022
Of the dozens of indie authors I've ever read, only two have left me genuinely hungry to read more from them. Steven William Hannah is one of those. Icebreaker, the first of a series, delivered so many things I loved. The setting and the concept are original and immersive. The situational antagonist forces our heroes to fight often blind and dumb...and if someone told me that I'd worry that scenes in which characters can't see or hear anything couldn't possibly be interesting to read, but believe me when I say the author handles it brilliantly. The sense of fear is palpable, and scenes unfold with clarity and pace.
The world in this book is very much dominated and oppressed by the sinister force our characters contend with, meaning the tension is ever present, and the main character's drive to learn more about it is infectious. It's genuinely terrifying and unique, and I was sucked in by it from the beginning to the end.
The characters act and speak like real people, each with their own believable motives, biases and baggages. And each of them is likeable in their own way. One of the hallmarks of well thought out characters is that when a conflict arises between them, the reader is able to somewhat empathise with all parties and understand where they're coming from. This is true even of the antagonist.
And there were so many little delightful touches, like May (the crawler AI) having a very distinctive way of speaking, and a very well-handled third person limited narrator, which the author capitalises on to entertain the reader:
Suffice to say that I was extremely impressed, and at 23% through the book I went right ahead and purchased the next 2 in the series. I'm looking forward to continuing it with the next book. Steven William Hannah is a superb writer and has earned a place on my list of auto-buy authors.
The world in this book is very much dominated and oppressed by the sinister force our characters contend with, meaning the tension is ever present, and the main character's drive to learn more about it is infectious. It's genuinely terrifying and unique, and I was sucked in by it from the beginning to the end.
The characters act and speak like real people, each with their own believable motives, biases and baggages. And each of them is likeable in their own way. One of the hallmarks of well thought out characters is that when a conflict arises between them, the reader is able to somewhat empathise with all parties and understand where they're coming from. This is true even of the antagonist.
And there were so many little delightful touches, like May (the crawler AI) having a very distinctive way of speaking, and a very well-handled third person limited narrator, which the author capitalises on to entertain the reader:
Dusty sees a kind of determined insanity there that unsettles him. Bear, he thinks: nice boy, very smart, knows medicine and science - but maybe don't let him near the weapon controls when he has that look in his eye.
Suffice to say that I was extremely impressed, and at 23% through the book I went right ahead and purchased the next 2 in the series. I'm looking forward to continuing it with the next book. Steven William Hannah is a superb writer and has earned a place on my list of auto-buy authors.
September 4, 2021
Thanks to the author for sending me this copy in exchange for an honest review 🙌
At first I wasn't sure what I had gotten myself into but the more I read the more I couldn't put this book down! A dystopian fantasy, Icebreaker follows Bear and the crew from a Crawler as they face the enemy and try to get help for Bears home town Forgehead which is about to be under attack from Gaia, a phenomenon that has destroyed the modern world as we know it.
I loved it, honestly I was on the edge of my seat at times and found myself really invested in the crew and their well being! Bear our main protagonist is a very likeable character, a kind of science geek who finds himself well and truly thrown into the deep end of the action, Glass is another of my favourites and I love that there is an air of mystery still surrounding Dusty. There is action, horror, violence, suspense and a hint of romance maybe to come in the next book 👀
Gave me vibes from A Quiet Place or Bird Box with the whole sensory blocking thing!
To Sum It Up:
•The world building is brilliant.
•The characters have depth and backstories.
•The story is gripping.
•Plenty of action and suspense.
•The book could do with an extra proof read and a look over by an experienced editor. And I'm not a fan of the cover.
Over all really enjoyed it and look forward to the next book
At first I wasn't sure what I had gotten myself into but the more I read the more I couldn't put this book down! A dystopian fantasy, Icebreaker follows Bear and the crew from a Crawler as they face the enemy and try to get help for Bears home town Forgehead which is about to be under attack from Gaia, a phenomenon that has destroyed the modern world as we know it.
I loved it, honestly I was on the edge of my seat at times and found myself really invested in the crew and their well being! Bear our main protagonist is a very likeable character, a kind of science geek who finds himself well and truly thrown into the deep end of the action, Glass is another of my favourites and I love that there is an air of mystery still surrounding Dusty. There is action, horror, violence, suspense and a hint of romance maybe to come in the next book 👀
Gave me vibes from A Quiet Place or Bird Box with the whole sensory blocking thing!
To Sum It Up:
•The world building is brilliant.
•The characters have depth and backstories.
•The story is gripping.
•Plenty of action and suspense.
•The book could do with an extra proof read and a look over by an experienced editor. And I'm not a fan of the cover.
Over all really enjoyed it and look forward to the next book
August 20, 2021
Icebreaker
By Steven William Hannah
“We build walls to keep it out. We set fire to it, and we push it back, but it has been a long time since we’ve looked to the skies.”
4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much for this gifted copy @stevenwilliamhannah
This book is set in a dystopian future where The Cataclysm has destroyed the world. We follow Bear, a scientist, as he tries to research and put a stop to the wandering “phenomenon” that is currently destroying humanity.
The world building is amazing and I was hooked right from the start. It begins with Bear investigating an “exposure” which is terrifying and intriguing in equal measures. I love how Hannah writes his characters as they were all well defined with strong personalities. Bear especially was very relatable and real. Hannah writes him strong but with fragility, and with personality quirks that you rarely find in action packed sci fi novels like this one. The pacing of the book was perfect and I always put it down wanting more. Because of this I read it quickly and my house remained scruffy for the duration!
I was left completely invested in the mystery of the phenomenon and am devastated I have to wait for the second book to find out more!
By Steven William Hannah
“We build walls to keep it out. We set fire to it, and we push it back, but it has been a long time since we’ve looked to the skies.”
4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much for this gifted copy @stevenwilliamhannah
This book is set in a dystopian future where The Cataclysm has destroyed the world. We follow Bear, a scientist, as he tries to research and put a stop to the wandering “phenomenon” that is currently destroying humanity.
The world building is amazing and I was hooked right from the start. It begins with Bear investigating an “exposure” which is terrifying and intriguing in equal measures. I love how Hannah writes his characters as they were all well defined with strong personalities. Bear especially was very relatable and real. Hannah writes him strong but with fragility, and with personality quirks that you rarely find in action packed sci fi novels like this one. The pacing of the book was perfect and I always put it down wanting more. Because of this I read it quickly and my house remained scruffy for the duration!
I was left completely invested in the mystery of the phenomenon and am devastated I have to wait for the second book to find out more!
December 8, 2024
Mesmerizing stuff. I read a short story by SWH and thought it was sick so I gave this a chance, and holy hell, Icebreaker rules.
Present tense and with a phenomenon somewhat similar to Birdbox, this is a great novel if you like The Thing or cool indie shit
Present tense and with a phenomenon somewhat similar to Birdbox, this is a great novel if you like The Thing or cool indie shit
March 16, 2025
The first book I read by Steven was The First Rule, which was exceptional. Now I have read Icebreaker, I think I love it even more! I love post-apocalyptic worlds, what happens in the aftermath after most of humanity falls - or in the case of Icebreaker, after the 'cataclysm.' The phenomenon is such a fascinating concept, it reminds me of The Pale from Disco Elysium - a supernatural and seemingly unstoppable like force slowly encroaching on the last bastions of humanity.
Everything shines, the characters, the plot, the setting. I won't spoil it, but when our main character reaches the crawler, Icebreaker, this is when everything really ramps up. Everything ties together nicely with no faults - the character development and dynamics feel great, dialogue feels natural with nothing wasted, every line serves a purpose. Steven excels at keeping the story at an exciting pace without sacrificing anything else.
Icebreaker feels like a traditionally published book, and even surpassing that, it reads better than a lot of traditionally published books in the genre. To craft a tale that is exciting to read while also exhibiting such depth with its themes takes skill.
I highly recommend Icebreaker, it's a superb read!
On to The Hundredth Question next!
5*
Everything shines, the characters, the plot, the setting. I won't spoil it, but when our main character reaches the crawler, Icebreaker, this is when everything really ramps up. Everything ties together nicely with no faults - the character development and dynamics feel great, dialogue feels natural with nothing wasted, every line serves a purpose. Steven excels at keeping the story at an exciting pace without sacrificing anything else.
Icebreaker feels like a traditionally published book, and even surpassing that, it reads better than a lot of traditionally published books in the genre. To craft a tale that is exciting to read while also exhibiting such depth with its themes takes skill.
I highly recommend Icebreaker, it's a superb read!
On to The Hundredth Question next!
5*
October 2, 2024
An absolutely amazing example of the type of gripping stories one can find in the independent world of publishing. As an opening of a trilogy, this tale is full of excellent world building, great characters, and an overall epic feel that is not out of place with more popular tales. The writing style takes some getting used to, but once you settle into the vibe, you’re treated to a rare pleasure.
December 31, 2023
Read as a judge for SPSFC3 (Hybrid team) 100% read and have given it a Y to move onto next phase.
RTC
RTC
November 21, 2021
"Union City is currently unsafe to approach. God and Gaia bless us"
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Spoilers/ Review for Icebreaker
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In the community of Forgehead, a walled community, lives Bear, a doctor who's called out to help cure Simon's son, Aiden. Aiden is said to have looked into the eyes of Gaia, a mythical being, and survived. But it's impossible the boy should have survived. Bear soon discovers about the Dreamers who have survived exposure to Gaia. When Forgehead descends into chaos, Bear boards the crawler, the Icebreaker and leaves Forgehead. But what secrets do the Dreamers hide? And will Bear help unravel the mysteries that surround him?...
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Steven ( @stevenwilliamhannah ) reached out to me and asked if I wanted to read and review his novel. I decided to take a chance as it sounded like an interesting read
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I did enjoy Icebreaker. Like all sci fi stories, did have to adjust to the new world, names and people. But I did adjust and enjoy it from the start. The villainous force of Messenger works well and you do have questions about him and his connection to Gaia. The story does grow organically and how Bear ends up on Icebreaker does make sense. Bee, Glass and Dusty all work well as supporting cast members. They work as their own characters and as a supporting cast for Bear. Bear himself does have a nice amount of character to him and I look forward to seeing how he grows!
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Overall 4.25/5 ⭐
I'm looking forward to where the trilogy goes next! Definitely intrigued!
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Spoilers/ Review for Icebreaker
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In the community of Forgehead, a walled community, lives Bear, a doctor who's called out to help cure Simon's son, Aiden. Aiden is said to have looked into the eyes of Gaia, a mythical being, and survived. But it's impossible the boy should have survived. Bear soon discovers about the Dreamers who have survived exposure to Gaia. When Forgehead descends into chaos, Bear boards the crawler, the Icebreaker and leaves Forgehead. But what secrets do the Dreamers hide? And will Bear help unravel the mysteries that surround him?...
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Steven ( @stevenwilliamhannah ) reached out to me and asked if I wanted to read and review his novel. I decided to take a chance as it sounded like an interesting read
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I did enjoy Icebreaker. Like all sci fi stories, did have to adjust to the new world, names and people. But I did adjust and enjoy it from the start. The villainous force of Messenger works well and you do have questions about him and his connection to Gaia. The story does grow organically and how Bear ends up on Icebreaker does make sense. Bee, Glass and Dusty all work well as supporting cast members. They work as their own characters and as a supporting cast for Bear. Bear himself does have a nice amount of character to him and I look forward to seeing how he grows!
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Overall 4.25/5 ⭐
I'm looking forward to where the trilogy goes next! Definitely intrigued!
September 28, 2021
A future dystopia where humanity is plagued by a phenomenon that wreaks havoc on any area it reaches. Humans have learned to adapt and build walls against this plague. They will use fire to ward it off and sensory deprivation to prevent anything from corrupting their minds. Bear, a scientist and our main character, has spent his life learning about the phenomena and how it can be stopped. He will try to solve the mystery of how someone could be exposed if they were safely within the walls.
This was a very well written story with some great world building. I loved the characters and couldn’t wait to learn more about them. It was very interesting to learn about the horrors these people have to endure and how they have learned to cope with their new reality.
This is the first in a trilogy and I can’t wait to read the rest in the series.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Steven!
This was a very well written story with some great world building. I loved the characters and couldn’t wait to learn more about them. It was very interesting to learn about the horrors these people have to endure and how they have learned to cope with their new reality.
This is the first in a trilogy and I can’t wait to read the rest in the series.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Steven!
January 10, 2023
Actual rating is more like a 3.5.
First and foremost, I think this book could've gone with a few rounds of line edits. One can always run into the risk of grammar or spelling issues when a book is self-published. It's more inconsistent than anything. Sometimes the dialogue, to me, felt as though the author was working out the story by having multiple characters argue the ethics of one side versus another. It's interesting and effective, and surely helps with world building, but it read as a crutch with how often it happens.
The pacing is very nice and the locations, when important, are quite memorable. Unfortunately half of the book is spent in the snow and in the Icebreaker, which paints a blur rather than a scene. Not sure what the author could've done about that. The story was definitely kept interesting throughout these blurry points, though.
I have a big grievance about how Bear chooses to act towards Glass, especially the childlike imagery of slapping items out of his hand. Bear, as an MC, borders milquetoast with excellent spikes of personality. I feel that we should've been exposed to Bear's temper beforehand or should've been aware of his immaturity outside of just having never left Forgehead. Maybe if he had a few drinks in him first?
Dusty's conversation to Bee around the 80% point was fantastic. I think the author has plenty of developed ideas about the real-life paranatural world and it works well in this scenario. All of the main characters having competing opinions yet working together in harmony is satisfying to read, especially when all of their opinions make sense for who they are. It's a great team... Except May. Not a huge fan of her voice, but I understand the egregore from which it's spawned.
The beginning of the book was incredibly strong, with beautifully written scenes, excellent dialogue between Bear and Calum, and an unforgettable first hook. To be quite honest, I felt that the author did not give the entire middle act as much love. It seemed that he had an idea of the beginning and the end, but the middle was an obligation filled with moments of uncertainty portrayed through the characters' lack of general knowledge and pussyfooting for no real good reason. The ending tied up the story well enough, even if I did find Messenger a ham fisted villain. He definitely should have been introduced earlier on, maybe not by name, but as a concept. There were, after all, two of his devotees who attempted to kill Bear at the beginning which doesn't make too much sense after having completed the book and understanding that Messenger truly did not want to kill Bear after all? At any rate, they should have at least mentioned Messenger's names in a throwaway line.
Overall, I believe this book to be pretty solid, even if at times, I found how the author chose to write dialogue a bit frustrating to read. I've never known so many characters in a book to use the word 'ok' and with so much frequency.
I know it seems that I might be harping on the details a little too much, but, again, I really think this book should have had some treatment to tighten it up before releasing to the general public.
First and foremost, I think this book could've gone with a few rounds of line edits. One can always run into the risk of grammar or spelling issues when a book is self-published. It's more inconsistent than anything. Sometimes the dialogue, to me, felt as though the author was working out the story by having multiple characters argue the ethics of one side versus another. It's interesting and effective, and surely helps with world building, but it read as a crutch with how often it happens.
The pacing is very nice and the locations, when important, are quite memorable. Unfortunately half of the book is spent in the snow and in the Icebreaker, which paints a blur rather than a scene. Not sure what the author could've done about that. The story was definitely kept interesting throughout these blurry points, though.
I have a big grievance about how Bear chooses to act towards Glass, especially the childlike imagery of slapping items out of his hand. Bear, as an MC, borders milquetoast with excellent spikes of personality. I feel that we should've been exposed to Bear's temper beforehand or should've been aware of his immaturity outside of just having never left Forgehead. Maybe if he had a few drinks in him first?
Dusty's conversation to Bee around the 80% point was fantastic. I think the author has plenty of developed ideas about the real-life paranatural world and it works well in this scenario. All of the main characters having competing opinions yet working together in harmony is satisfying to read, especially when all of their opinions make sense for who they are. It's a great team... Except May. Not a huge fan of her voice, but I understand the egregore from which it's spawned.
The beginning of the book was incredibly strong, with beautifully written scenes, excellent dialogue between Bear and Calum, and an unforgettable first hook. To be quite honest, I felt that the author did not give the entire middle act as much love. It seemed that he had an idea of the beginning and the end, but the middle was an obligation filled with moments of uncertainty portrayed through the characters' lack of general knowledge and pussyfooting for no real good reason. The ending tied up the story well enough, even if I did find Messenger a ham fisted villain. He definitely should have been introduced earlier on, maybe not by name, but as a concept. There were, after all, two of his devotees who attempted to kill Bear at the beginning which doesn't make too much sense after having completed the book and understanding that Messenger truly did not want to kill Bear after all? At any rate, they should have at least mentioned Messenger's names in a throwaway line.
Overall, I believe this book to be pretty solid, even if at times, I found how the author chose to write dialogue a bit frustrating to read. I've never known so many characters in a book to use the word 'ok' and with so much frequency.
I know it seems that I might be harping on the details a little too much, but, again, I really think this book should have had some treatment to tighten it up before releasing to the general public.
March 9, 2024
A strange phenomenon has hit the world, taking over and moving around the country. It drives people who encounter it mad. Survival rates are just 1 in 1,000, and the south has already been lost. The only way to survive is to put on a blindfold and earplugs, and hope that it doesn't get you. The story follows Bear, who is researching the Phenomenon, following on from his father's research. His village is attacked and their communications tower compromised. Bear volunteers to leave to get help in a Crawler landship - one of the crews that travel around the country in relative safety, trading with others. Will he discover some answers about what's happening? And can his village be saved?
I loved this post-apocalyptic / horror novel, based in Scotland. It’s full of suspense, a ‘found family’ band of crewmates, and a unique premise.
Everytime the Phenomenon hit, I felt profound fear for Bear and the crew. It was SO tense. It’s not like anything I’ve read in the past and I just loved it. I kept reading on as I wanted to learn more about the Phenomenon and what it was. My brain was buzzing just like Bear’s with questions about the Phenomenon, the Cataclysm, the Crawler, technology, his crewmates. I couldn’t read this fast enough!
I loved the crew of the Icebreaker and how their friendship with Bear develops over time, and seeing the crew’s relationships with each other. All three felt so realistic, with distinctive personalities and voices. I also really liked that Bear is not your typical confident main character. He is quiet and shy, and not very self-assured.
I would recommend this wholeheartedly to fans of post-apocalypse novels or sci-fi. It was a fantastic read, and it had some really unique ideas. I look forward to reading more from this series and from this author!
I loved this post-apocalyptic / horror novel, based in Scotland. It’s full of suspense, a ‘found family’ band of crewmates, and a unique premise.
Everytime the Phenomenon hit, I felt profound fear for Bear and the crew. It was SO tense. It’s not like anything I’ve read in the past and I just loved it. I kept reading on as I wanted to learn more about the Phenomenon and what it was. My brain was buzzing just like Bear’s with questions about the Phenomenon, the Cataclysm, the Crawler, technology, his crewmates. I couldn’t read this fast enough!
I loved the crew of the Icebreaker and how their friendship with Bear develops over time, and seeing the crew’s relationships with each other. All three felt so realistic, with distinctive personalities and voices. I also really liked that Bear is not your typical confident main character. He is quiet and shy, and not very self-assured.
I would recommend this wholeheartedly to fans of post-apocalypse novels or sci-fi. It was a fantastic read, and it had some really unique ideas. I look forward to reading more from this series and from this author!
February 2, 2024
What is The Phenomenon? This is the central mystery of Icebreaker. The main character wants to know, and he is the best kind of scientist - in the field because the field has come to him, humble and desperate at the same time. After finishing Icebreaker, I don't know if The Phenomenon will turn out to be physical or divine - I have just bought the two sequels to find out.
What The Phenomenon is, is threatening. The descriptions are excellent - how it attacks the senses, the madness it brings on, how totally outmatched a few little cities are against it. I find a lot of horror gross, which is fine if there is a point, but not actually scary. Icebreaker is gruesome in all the right places, and scary, in the sense that I woke up after one night of reading, sure that something was wrong, and maybe very close to me. That's great horror.
The writing and dialogue are smooth and efficient, very easy to get into. I read the whole book in a week (sadly that is fast for me). I saw maybe ten typos, which is an incredibly hard number to get down to in a self-published novel. A missing 's' once every forty pages simply does not matter. Any doubts one might have about professionalism and self-published novels do not apply here.
Scary, intriguing, gripping more often than not... I'm glad there is more in the series, and more to come by the author.
What The Phenomenon is, is threatening. The descriptions are excellent - how it attacks the senses, the madness it brings on, how totally outmatched a few little cities are against it. I find a lot of horror gross, which is fine if there is a point, but not actually scary. Icebreaker is gruesome in all the right places, and scary, in the sense that I woke up after one night of reading, sure that something was wrong, and maybe very close to me. That's great horror.
The writing and dialogue are smooth and efficient, very easy to get into. I read the whole book in a week (sadly that is fast for me). I saw maybe ten typos, which is an incredibly hard number to get down to in a self-published novel. A missing 's' once every forty pages simply does not matter. Any doubts one might have about professionalism and self-published novels do not apply here.
Scary, intriguing, gripping more often than not... I'm glad there is more in the series, and more to come by the author.
Read
November 4, 2023An interesting post-apocalyptic adventure where it seems dangerous to even properly comprehend the nature of the major threat. It’s written in present tense with a loosely omniscient third person viewpoint. I found that presentation odd though I guess it fits with certain questions and ambiguities about the nature of self and other.
The writing was generally tidy and easy to understand, though I tripped over a few typos (mainly homonyms). The characters (Bear, and those he meets along the way) were all distinct, with their own backgrounds, attitudes and secrets. I can’t say I felt particularly drawn towards any of them. Perhaps a good thing since some of their experiences are unpleasant, and I probably wouldn’t want to be in their heads for those.
I’m not sure I understood the explanations the ever-curious Bear uncovered about what was happening, never mind whether they were true or not. The ending isn’t a cliffhanger, but it’s clear there are even more mysteries to solve out there, which no doubt will be addressed in later books.
Overall, a weird horror SF with a lead-in to further books.
The writing was generally tidy and easy to understand, though I tripped over a few typos (mainly homonyms). The characters (Bear, and those he meets along the way) were all distinct, with their own backgrounds, attitudes and secrets. I can’t say I felt particularly drawn towards any of them. Perhaps a good thing since some of their experiences are unpleasant, and I probably wouldn’t want to be in their heads for those.
I’m not sure I understood the explanations the ever-curious Bear uncovered about what was happening, never mind whether they were true or not. The ending isn’t a cliffhanger, but it’s clear there are even more mysteries to solve out there, which no doubt will be addressed in later books.
Overall, a weird horror SF with a lead-in to further books.
January 28, 2024
It started off well, we are immediately thrown into this world where a nameless phenomenon is causing death and destruction, the south is uninhabitable and now it's moving to destruction across the north.
We follow bear to start off with who has to leave the only home he has known, and is haunted by the death of his father to this phenomenon, he made it his life mission to find a cure or a way to stop it. He's a scientist, and doesn't believe in Gaia's POV of why the world is exposed to this. That's where he meets Bee who is the complete opposite, where she believes that Gaia is responsible. I liked these conflicting POVs and we are constantly seeing it throughout.
One issue with this I had, is that there is a scene where Bear picks a fight with Glass, and he acts very childish by knocking a welder as of his hands. Given the personality we have seen throughout with Bear this just doesn't seem right, this is minor in the grand scheme of things.
I liked Bee, Glass and Dusty's personalities too, they are loyal to each other and their personalities fit the experience they have had in their earlier lives. Overall it's a solid start to the trilogy.
We follow bear to start off with who has to leave the only home he has known, and is haunted by the death of his father to this phenomenon, he made it his life mission to find a cure or a way to stop it. He's a scientist, and doesn't believe in Gaia's POV of why the world is exposed to this. That's where he meets Bee who is the complete opposite, where she believes that Gaia is responsible. I liked these conflicting POVs and we are constantly seeing it throughout.
One issue with this I had, is that there is a scene where Bear picks a fight with Glass, and he acts very childish by knocking a welder as of his hands. Given the personality we have seen throughout with Bear this just doesn't seem right, this is minor in the grand scheme of things.
I liked Bee, Glass and Dusty's personalities too, they are loyal to each other and their personalities fit the experience they have had in their earlier lives. Overall it's a solid start to the trilogy.
October 31, 2022
I had the pleasure of being introduced to the first of the Icebreaker trilogy and it did not disappoint.
The story itself was incredibly gripping, typically I can read for around two hours before needing to take a break, but I found myself able to read this one for 4ish hours in one go. The character development was superb as well, I quickly fell in love with the characters and each had their own unique personalities and traits that really stood out. Another aspect of Icebreaker that I adore is that it's a sci-fi/apocalyptic read that's really easy to follow, oftentimes I find myself getting lost in the world-building and science of it all, but the author here did a great job making it easy to follow, as well as staying unique and true to themselves.
I'm really grateful that this is written as a trilogy as I'm really looking forward to reading the next one!! Great work with the story and looking forward to anything else you end up writing. :-)
Highly recommend, give it a chance if you're looking for a thrilling apocalyptic adventure to get lost in.
The story itself was incredibly gripping, typically I can read for around two hours before needing to take a break, but I found myself able to read this one for 4ish hours in one go. The character development was superb as well, I quickly fell in love with the characters and each had their own unique personalities and traits that really stood out. Another aspect of Icebreaker that I adore is that it's a sci-fi/apocalyptic read that's really easy to follow, oftentimes I find myself getting lost in the world-building and science of it all, but the author here did a great job making it easy to follow, as well as staying unique and true to themselves.
I'm really grateful that this is written as a trilogy as I'm really looking forward to reading the next one!! Great work with the story and looking forward to anything else you end up writing. :-)
Highly recommend, give it a chance if you're looking for a thrilling apocalyptic adventure to get lost in.
March 14, 2023
After a near apocalyptic event referred to as the cataclysm, humanity is stalked by what many call the Phenomenon. Bear, a researcher who lost his father to it, studies cases of exposure to it in an effort to understand it.
When the town he lives in falls under attack, he leaves to get the word out and share his research. He joins the crew of the Icebreaker in a rough and bumpy journey to Union City.
I really enjoyed this story; it was riveting, and I was able to read three to five chapters at a sitting. The tale is fast paced and tight. Steven William Hannah has a great imagination and story telling skills to set it free.
The world he creates is bleak and barren, yet his characters are vibrant and alive. Dialog is spot on, along with their interaction. As a bonus, there was good friendly banter about faith, or lack of between the main characters.
As the end of the story drew near, I felt like any ending was possible. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this trilogy, which has already been released.
When the town he lives in falls under attack, he leaves to get the word out and share his research. He joins the crew of the Icebreaker in a rough and bumpy journey to Union City.
I really enjoyed this story; it was riveting, and I was able to read three to five chapters at a sitting. The tale is fast paced and tight. Steven William Hannah has a great imagination and story telling skills to set it free.
The world he creates is bleak and barren, yet his characters are vibrant and alive. Dialog is spot on, along with their interaction. As a bonus, there was good friendly banter about faith, or lack of between the main characters.
As the end of the story drew near, I felt like any ending was possible. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this trilogy, which has already been released.
April 9, 2023
A mutual friend had recommended Steven William Hannah's writing to me recently, and I'm fortunate they did as I'm not sure I'd have encountered it as quickly. This coincided nicely with #indieApril, too!
The tricky part of any recommendation, of course, is that one's reading preferences and tastes are quite personal and varying. Kudos to my friend for the bullseye on this one, however.
I shan't give you a recap of what the story's about, this first novel in a trilogy, as better reviewers than I can more clearly summarize that for you. What I shall say is how effortlessly the author drew me into this world, connected me to these characters, and spooled out this storyline, all written so deftly and with great pacing. Wanting to know what happens next, and feeling engaged by and interested in these characters every step of the way made this a wonderful read.
Do yourself a favour and read this book! I'm looking forward to the next novels in the trilogy.
The tricky part of any recommendation, of course, is that one's reading preferences and tastes are quite personal and varying. Kudos to my friend for the bullseye on this one, however.
I shan't give you a recap of what the story's about, this first novel in a trilogy, as better reviewers than I can more clearly summarize that for you. What I shall say is how effortlessly the author drew me into this world, connected me to these characters, and spooled out this storyline, all written so deftly and with great pacing. Wanting to know what happens next, and feeling engaged by and interested in these characters every step of the way made this a wonderful read.
Do yourself a favour and read this book! I'm looking forward to the next novels in the trilogy.
January 4, 2026
Icebreaker by Steven William Hannah cracks my top 5 indie reads ever, a near-flawless opener to the Interloper Trilogy that's endlessly fascinating. Echoing Fallout's scavenging grit amid Frostpunk's frozen siege mentality, laced with X-Files cosmic unease, it probes perception's fragility through a nameless horror that warps minds on sight or sound. Distinct voices shine: Bear's dogged rationalism clashes against crewmates' haunted pragmatism, yielding raw debates on faith and survival that feel true, not performative. Pacing surges from village intrigue to crawler claustrophobia, doling out mysteries without cheap shocks. Genre fans craving nuanced dread over bombastic revelations will devour this story.
Launching my 2026 reading journey with a bang. I'll definitely be reading the whole trilogy.
Launching my 2026 reading journey with a bang. I'll definitely be reading the whole trilogy.
May 30, 2023
This book was fantastic, engaging, easy-to-read, heartfelt and felt like a complete package in all the right ways. The concepts - the Phenomenon, religious idolatry, exposure - were all really well out together, and opened up so many intriguing avenues to explore later in the series. The dialogue is some of the best I've read in an indie novel: very human, never in excess. Considering this isn't a genre I usually read - dystopian, post-apocalyptic sci-fi horror - and I'm itching to get the next book downloaded, should be testament to SWH for his stellar writing and creative skill. Definitely one to try out!
December 7, 2024
ICEBREAKER was a highly entertaining and enjoyable read from beginning to end. The author drops you right in the middle of a post-apocalyptic setting and reveals just enough details through language and environment clues to satisfy your curiosity, without relying on too much exposition and spoiling the joy in not knowing everything all at once. The core mystery presented is so captivating and intriguing that I can barely wait to start the next book of the trilogy. Some questions are answered in this book, but by the end there are new questions that deepen the mystery even further. I’m eager to continue this journey. [4.5 out of 5 – rounded up]
December 18, 2023
A rare mix of a dystopian future merged with shamanistic overtones, Icebreaker drags you into a world of old science mixed with a living hell, where humanity may well have been rejected for its ills by the Earth itself. With undertones of personal desperation, the characterisation draws you slowly into a society on the very edge of extinction, fighting an unknown that they can't risk seeing or hearing unless they too succumb. An excellent read, one I recommend for all overs of sci-fi with a twist.
March 25, 2024
ICEBREAKER is a phenomenon unto itself. In Book One of the Interloper Trilogy, Steven William Hannah masterfully unleashes upon his characters an unearthly entity known as the Phenomenon. Or Gaia. Or Hell. Mere exposure—seeing, even just hearing—tears apart the mind. As a lone scientist in this snowy, barren, post-apocalyptic world, Bear—blind-folded and ear-plugged—fears the Phenomenon, and what he might discover about his own father's death from exposure to it.
Do yourself a favor, expose yourself to ICEBREAKER. It's a wild ride.
Do yourself a favor, expose yourself to ICEBREAKER. It's a wild ride.
August 8, 2024
Horrifyingly brilliant writing, that kept me hooked to each turn of the page. A set of clearly defined characters, sit against the backdrop of such a cruel and haunting atmosphere where religion and mystery conquers all. By the end, I found myself with more questions, and in need of more answers, as the clearly defined world of Forgehead and The Union continue to hint that they have so much more to share.
The fear is not in what you show but what you don't.
I'll go hunting for those answers in the rest of the trilogy.
The fear is not in what you show but what you don't.
I'll go hunting for those answers in the rest of the trilogy.
October 2, 2024
I cannot fathom the sheer imagination needed to write a story so weird and yet so compelling. The post-apocalypse of *Icebreaker* is both utterly baffling - what is the Phenomenon? What happened to this world? - and beautifully realised down to the last snowflake. It takes one hell of a writer to describe a horror that *cannot be safely seen or heard* in such visceral detail. An absolute masterpiece.
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