Ice!

by Arnold Federbush, Lou Feck (Illustrator)

It describes a return of the Ice Age in months, rather than centuries. It tells of the realization that an Ice Age is rapidly approaching, yet only a few people know this. In effect, major weather changes begin to kill out large parts of Earth's population before the glaciers even hit the higher latitudes.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Horror, Canon, Post Apocalyptic

309 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Henri Moreaux · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ice! by Arnold Federbush is a reasonably difficult book to find in secondhand bookstores, but is however now available to borrow from the internet archives online library for reading in pdf/epub format.

Written in 1978 it details the collapse of civilisation worldwide due to fast paced climate change caused by pollution. Most of the story is spent on the changing climate which results in an ice age and the unraveling of aspects of society, with the last, roughly a quarter, detailing the characters survival and adaption thereafter. It's not an uplifting story of survival, but rather quite a bleak tale of humanities woe. There are some plot holes as the narrative takes some getting used to as the transitions between character dialogues aren't always as clear as they could be, but you do get used to the manner in which it is written.

Whilst the story is dated by the 1970s alarmist idea of climate change resulting in an ice age (as opposed to what is now being documented), as well as by the mention of Yugoslavia and Apartheid South Africa; it is nonetheless an interesting story and thought provoking.

Worth checking out.

[William · Rating 1 out of 5]

Plot Holes galore and it. doesn't always tell you who's talking when multiple people are all talking in a scene. Also things go from bad to world ending then the characters forget about that and everything seems to be OK again with no explanation. (who knows how much time passes in between before the world finishes(?) again. My OCD is the only reason i finished this book. Not the worst thing i have read but it's top 3. Avoid!

[Qylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gives you something to think about. I totally thought the movie The day after tomorrow was based on this story and therefore disappointed they didn't follow up potential social / relationship ability to cope with change threads.

So yeah, kinda disappointed the book didn't do this either, but hey, it's a climate action story, not a deep and meaningful on the human condition:)

[Tonya Warner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really freaky to read in when it is freezing out.

This is the story of climate change and it's power to alter the human race. As the world suffers from terrible heat and drought in some areas, terrible cold and ice devastate others. Colder and colder, the glacial ice flows take over North America, and large icebergs block the oceans. No where is safe, and man starts to turn away from civilation, the the primative goal of survival of the fittest.

[Bohdan Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

Definitely an interesting idea, but just awful in its execution.

Wildly scientifically inaccurate. No chapter divisions, it’s sometimes hard to keep track of the story jumping all over the place.

Was difficult to finish, only did because I felt committed.

Save yourself the time and don’t get drawn in by the punchy title.

[Neal Umphred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! Forget all the stuff we've learned in the past 30 years—this is a great read and moves along like a well-paced movie, just as the author intended. If you've seen the movie "The Day After Tomorrow," read this and you'll wonder how in hell they were not obliged to credit Federbush for the basis of that movie's plot.

[Wally Aguilera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este libro puede ser el guión perfecto de una película de catástrofe, de las que soy muy fanático. Tiene todo lo que necesita para ser una película al estilo de 2012 con una nueva glaciación mundial provocada por el calentamiento global.
Recomendada para todos los amantes de este genero, una lectura "refrescante" para leer un fin de semana.
En los '70 estos libros eran muy populares, a esta altura no aporta nada nuevo en argumento, pero la forma en que aborda la temática y sus personajes hacen que sea entretenido.

[William Sariego · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is slow to start out as it skips between characters in different localities who are obviously going to be affected. It really doesn't start concentrating on the main two until you are well into the story. But that really doesn't help matters much as neither are particularly likable. I plodded through just the see how it ended, with little emotional attachment to any of the survivors. Disappointing.

[Nick · Rating 1 out of 5]

By far one of the worse books I have ever read. The lack of chapters, the sudden jumps in perspective, not knowing how much time has passed. Just poorly written.

[Casey Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is so weird to read a book so old. No cell phones or computers. It was a pretty good read. I enjoy catastrophe reads.

[Andy]

AMERICAN EDITION. VERY INTERSTING - VARIATION ON THE GLOBAL ECOLOGICAL DISASTER THEME. BASED ON THE PREMISE THAT IF THE ATMOSPHERE IS HEATING UP THEN THERE MUST BE MORE MOISTURE IN THE ATMOSPHERE - LEADING TO MORE PRECIPITATION IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE WORLD (IE. OVER THE COLDER PARTS OF THE EARTH). THIS WOULD TAKE THE FORM IN MANY CASES OF SNOW. WHEN THIS REACHES A CRITICAL POINT IT WOULD LEAD TO A SUDDEN SWITCH IN CLIMATE TO AN ICE AGE.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun ecological thriller that predates The Day After Tomorrow. I, personally, felt the ending left much to be desired.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting parallels with today's climate and economic conditions.

[SciFiOne · Rating 2 out of 5]

1983 grade D+

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Natural disaster science fiction thriller. Nothing special.