“Always respect Mother Nature. Especially when she weighs 400 pounds and is guarding her baby.” The X Factor.Matthew Pike, Alaskan Fish and Game Warden, believed the most he had to worry about was dodging angry Grizzly bears in the Alaskan wilderness until he watches a plane crash just miles from his location. He pulls a Seattle Reporter named Craig Teague out of the wreckage and before he can even process what is going on another plane flies over and drops Russian mercenaries with ice bikes on top of him. Pike’s Green Beret training can only take him so far, but the Alaskan wilderness proves to be an even bigger weapon. 1932 The Tuskegee Syphilis Study begins. Two hundred black men diagnosed with syphilis are never told of their illness, are denied treatment, and instead are used as human guinea pigs. They all subsequently die from syphilis.The action lands Pike on his ex-wife’s doorstep. Jenny is not exactly glad to see him especially since he brought unwanted company. They manage to elude their pursuers in Jenny’s plane, but this only creates more questions than answers. Why are the Russians trying to kill Teague?1940 Four hundred prisoners in Chicago are infected with malaria in order to study the effects of new and experimental drugs to combat the disease. Nazi doctors later on trial at Nuremberg cite this American study to defend themselves.They head to Teague’s original destination Ice Station Grendel, a recently rediscovered secret base built by the Russians during World War Two into an iceberg twice the size of the United States. A team of American scientists are there investigating the five steel encased levels of the base and they are marveling at the technology and are horrified by what resides on level four.1956 The U.S. military releases mosquitoes infected with yellow fever over Savannah, Georgia, and Avon Park, Florida. Following each test, Army agents posing as public health officials test victims for effects.Among the scientists is Dr. Amanda Reynolds an engineer who also happens to be deaf. As she explores the Station and the crawl space, a warren of tunnels behind the station, she finds things that shouldn’t be there. Creatures last alive 50 million years ago. “The creature filled the passage, shouldering up to the crossroads. In the shadows, it looked as black as oil, but they knew it was as pale as bleached bone.”I’d tell you more about these creatures, but it is just too damn scary. They call the creatures Grendel because they are as terrifying as that legendary monster was to the Norsemen. One thing that was really interesting for me was thinking about experiencing terror and being deaf. When the lights go out in the tunnel Amanda is not only deaf, but blind as well. This certainly added to her terror and to mine. At other times because she couldn’t hear she did not experience the same level of terror of the people that could hear the approaching danger. What we hear definitely escalates our terror and helps us make decisions to fight or flee or can also paralyses us somewhere in between. 1966 U.S. Army dispenses Bacillus subtilis variant niger throughout the New York City subway system. More than a million civilians are exposed when Army scientists drop lightbulbs filled with the bacteria onto ventilation grates.The Arctic wood frogs play a part in our plot. James Rollins usually manages to expose me to something I didn’t know before. ”Arctic wood frogs freeze as hard as stone during the winter. Their hearts don’t beat. When frozen, you can cut them in half, and they don’t bleed. All EEG activity ceases. In fact, there’s no cellular activity at all. For all intents and purposes, they’re dead. But come spring, they thaw, and within fifteen minutes, their hearts are beating, blood pumping and they’re jumping around.”Okay, what the heck?I thought maybe this was one of those moments verging on science fiction that Rollins sometimes sticks in his book. So tell me how is this possible Monsieur Rollins?”Sugar.Glucose specifically. There’s a Canadian researcher, Dr. Ken Storey, who has been studying Arctic wood frogs for the past decade. What he’s discovered is that when ice starts forming on a frog’s rubbery skin, its body starts filling each cell with sugary glucose. Increasing the osmalality of the cell to the point that life-killing ice can’t form inside it.”Wait a minute, the frogs do freeze so doesn’t that still have the same devastating effect on their cells as frostbite?”It is only the water outside the cells that ices up. The glucose inside the cell acts as a cryoprotectant, a type of antifreeze, preserving the cell until thawed. Dr. Storey determined that this evolutionary process is governed by a set of twenty genes that convert glycogen to glucose. The trigger for what suddenly turns these specific genes on or off is still unknown, but a hormonal theory is most advocated, something released by the frog’s glandular skin. The odd thing, though, is that these twenty genes are found in all vertebrate species.”Now that sounds like the type of information that two countries involved in a cold war might possibly be interested in exploring further. Rollins includes a long list of known events where the U.S. government conducted illegal experiments on their citizens. I’ve shared a few of them in this review. Still into the 1990s those experiments continued. Our heroes are put through the ringer what with plane crashes, a demented Russian submarine commander, America Delta Forces that may or may not be there to save them, blizzard conditions, freezing waters, and don’t forget those vicious damn Grendels. It is all a web of lies with two governments trying to protect secrets that shouldn’t have ever existed in the first place. The interesting thing about James Rollins is he is a Veterinarian by trade who to escape the frustrations and stresses of his job would come home and write these adventure tales to entertain himself and to relieve some the strain of his daily life. He soon discovered that he would rather spend more of his time writing than he would practicing medicine. I don’t believe you can walk into an airport bookstore anywhere in the world without finding a James Rollins book. I used to read a lot of thriller books in this vein, searching for that same excitement I felt when I read Treasure Island for the first time. I can tap into it for a while. Rollins had me caught up in the convolutions of the plot for about half the book, but invariably I end up hitting a wall. I love the mixture of science, action, and always a bit of the science fiction element (reasonably plausible though) that he infuses in every book. I may not be the right reader for his books anymore, but I will still occasionally throw one in the reading queue hoping that this time he and I will hit on all cylinders... after all... he is one heck of a nice guy. I like his signature and he always puts a doodle. In this case, not as inspiring as usual with a triangle.
This was the first James Rollins novel I’d read, recommended to me by a friend because I like Clive Cussler and he thought I might enjoy Rollins.It was a great introduction and I’d found another author that writes a genre that I love so much. Ice Hunt, from the get go, had me hooked, and in the end left me with great memories of the Alaskan wilderness, well written characters that I felt connected with and a story that was a wild and exciting adventure. Rollins takes the reader to remote ice caps, a mysterious research station, bizarre creatures and end of the world scenarios. There is suspense, drama, humor, love and best of all, a sit on the edge of your seat, page turning, crazy book that is sure to be a fun read that you won’t want to put down.The story opens with Matthew Pike, a fish and game officer facing down a mother bear that is protecting her cub and by the end of the altercation, I’d decided that Matt was going to be one of those characters that would stick with me on my reading journey. He is smart, tough, funny (“Nothing to be sorry about, you just fell out of the sky. In such rare cases, I have the tendency to forgive such lack of gracious hospitality.” - An Excerpt...Matt speaking to Craig Teague after finding him in the crashed plane and Craig threatens him with a gun), caring, endearing...all those things that I like in a male lead in any book.So, to continue, Matt watches a plane go down and goes to the rescue. When he gets there, he discovers Craig Teague, a reporter headed to the Omega Drift Station and SCICEX. The appearance of another plane, a Skywagon, designed for cargo loads send Matt and Craig on a run for their lives as parachutists pursue them, armed to the teeth...enticement number one for the reader.And, of course, we have Russians and our antagonist (of sorts), Victor (The White Ghost) who sets off to the Omega Drift Station with his orders. “The target is down, confirmed...orders?...no survivors.” Through Victor the reader is introduced to the beginnings of the plot, the Grendel, the mythical monster that terrorized the Northern Nordic coasts until defeated by Beowulf, and a personal demon that makes the reader go hmmmm, wonder what that’s all about...enticement number two!Then enter the Americans, Captain Perry and a scientific research team that have already landed at the abandoned ice station. They’ve made a grisly discovery, one that has shaken Perry and researcher Dr. Amanda Reynolds to their core...third time’s a charm!Now, bring the three groups together, throw in both governments, conspiracy, ghastly experiments and those ever-loving beasties, and what we have, folks, is a creative, thrilling and entertaining book that I enjoyed very much.
What do You think about Ice Hunt (2007)?
This book has sat inconspicuously next to my computer desk on it's shelf for two years and I don't know what exactly propelled me to pick it up but I'm glad I finally did! I tend to collect adventure stories that reach all corners of the Earth, even go between the layers and I especially love all the ice stories such as this one. The good news is that this book is fantastic, it reads like a movie and sometimes goes in opposite direction of reality and belief but it makes for a heck of a read. The bad news, it's long, well only 505 pages but Rollins could use a good editor and chop off about a hundred because he loves to write about ever single step everyone takes, especially when it comes to fighting and explaining how to maneuver submarines, helicopters and all sorts of vehicles. Maybe it's a dude thing, maybe if I was a guy I'd love it little more, not sure, but I am patient and still enjoyed the book because the main idea was excellent.Most of the story revolves around an ice island that has frozen over and over in the Earth's polar ice cap, sharing waters with Alaska, Russia, Finland, Canada and Greenland. Scientists and naval powers haven't seen it in decades but life is being brought back to the island, all because a shape that has moved and caught on the submarine's sonar, all within the abandoned ice station inside, named Ice Station Grendel. Those who read enough and watch fantasy movies will be familiar with the name, but the author has planned more than a cool name for a station, it's not as much of a moniker as a foreshadowing what caused its demise and what will bring terror back into the icy waters. The station looks like an upside down cone, spiraling levels with labs, a cave and even a submarine gate, all encased in clear blue ice, with people running though it once again. I loved reading how the tunnels in an ice island felt like, the eerie cold and quiet one felt when alone, probably the loneliest place to be, deep under water, but not really alone, there's something else down there...There are good guys, bad guys, and those who simply cannot make their minds up as the reader is catapulted into a journey of fighting governments, secret project cover ups and tons of action. My head was spinning from the armaments and mental battles going on and I felt like I was reading a movie, it was an amazing experience, but like I said little lengthy. After reading Ice Hunt I'm ready to tackle more of Rollins, but after my toes unfreeze, I feel as if I have been dipping them in ice water the whole time, because that's all there is.Great ending, lots of twists and turns and some nasty surprises crawling throng those quiet tunnels. Those who love action, science and adventure with a little mystery threw in will enjoy this tremendously. What starts of as a scientific mission turns into a tale that takes a bite out of the reader, a rather good bite too, so enjoy and watch that water...it only appears safe.
—Kasia S.
My first James Rollins' novel, and one I would happily recommend. I wasn't sure that I would enjoy the military flavor of the book. It has a science fiction taste. It delves into the past actions of two countries that destroy the lives of an indigenous Alaskan Native American tribe, as well as, those involved in administering the scientific experiments. There is also the horror of the past and the animal kingdom converging on the present.I liked learning about submarines and their purpose in both research and war. I liked seeing the various parts of the military expeditions for the two countries involved. Humanity was displayed on both sides, as well as, love and deceit. Surprises abounded throughout the book. I would suggest it as a very enjoyable read.
—Lynda
Not only does James Rollins write the amazing SIGMA FORCE series, he also writes great standalone books. Ice Hunt is one of them. This book was a lot longer than I anticipated, but each page has a great read. The book starts off a lot like the SIGMA Force series does with an except from an event in the past and then BOOM! the story resumes modern day in intense fashion.The characters in this book are likable, and believable. If you like military conflict, science and technology gone wrong, secrets and suspense at every corner, and the fate of the hold teetering on edge, then this book is for you. They way Rollins writes, it was like I was seeing the story first hand, not reading it. That is how well he is able to create imagery with his words.One of my favorite things about Rollins, is how he is seamlessly able to bring characters into his books from other books he has written. I love seeing my favorite characters in other settings. If you enjoy the SIGMA Force series, then you will find a familiar character in this novel (and if you read SIGMA Force: The Eye of God, that character makes a reference to this book that made me laugh!)ENJOY!!!!
—Jeremy Miller
