Nights of Ice: True Stories of Disaster and Survival on Alaska's High Seas

by Spike Walker

Nights of Ice is a critically acclaimed account of the dangerous and harrowing job of fishing off of the treacherous, subzero Alaskan coastline.

Spike Walker has spent more than a decade fishing in the subzero hell of Alaska's coastal waters. This collection--coming on the heels of his classic memoir Working on the Edge--is a testament to the courage of those who brave nature's wrath each fishing season, and to the uncontrolled power of nature herself. The crewmen in Nights of Ice face a constant onslaught of roaring waves, stories-high swells, and life-stealing ice. Tested by the elements, these seamen battle for their vessels and their lives, on every page evincing a level of courage and a will to live seldom found elsewhere in modern society.

Genres: Nonfiction, Survival

224 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1997

Reviews

[Chris Seals · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book didn't disappoint me with Spike Walker's style of writing. I enjoyed it a lot, but it wasn't as long as his other books, so it seemed I got through it faster than I wanted, and there was no more left. Guess I need another Spike Walker....

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of 8 short stories about survival and tragedy in the cold waters of Alaska. I just could not put this book down, read it in one day.

[Bjorn Solli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not very impressed with the writing
A lot of short stories, some interesting some not so much.
In general if you skip this book you are not missing out on anything.

[Lugene Lancaster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every time I eat crab, shrimp, or Halibut, I will appreciate what the fishing community of Alaska go through to provide us "land lovers" with their catch. Very worth the read.

[Linda Hong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing stories of survival and heroism!

Very well written stories of unbelievable adventures of survival and heroism in the high seas of Alaska. The rescues had me on the edge!

[Karen S. MacDougall · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting read

His,style of wring made me feel I was right there! He was respectful of those who had lost their lives

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a rush! If you are a fan of the show "Deadliest Catch", then you will definitely enjoy this book. It was written a few years before the show aired and it gave me my first glimpse into the life of an Alaskan crab fisherman. As one of the men in the book said (and I'm paraphrasing because I do not have the book in front of me), "You can make alot of money...if you live". One seaman had to use his head as a battering ram to escape his sinking ship. Even escaping a ship is no guarantee of survival, however, since the seas are so cold and storms are common. The book also delves into the rescue teams who fly helicopters in some of the worst weather imaginable to find those who are in peril. After reading this you'll wonder how these men could do this for a living.

[Roger Weston · Rating 5 out of 5]

These amazing true stories rip along like a jet boat at the brink of doom. They show us something of the amazing tenacity of the human spirit and even of miracles. If you crave Alaskan adventure stories, you might also try The Golden Catch, a thriller/adventure novel where the action unfolds in the stormy Aleutians.

--Roger Weston, author of The Golden Catch

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting though frequently profane tales of survival in extreme danger and freezing temperatures.