A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire)

Book Description

Few books have captivated the imagination and won the devotion and praise of readers and critics everywhere as has George R. R. Martin’s monumental epic cycle of high fantasy. Now, in A Feast for Crows, Martin delivers the long-awaited fourth book of his landmark series, as a kingdom torn asunder finds itself at last on the brink of peace...only to be launched on an even more terrifying course of destruction.

A Feast for Crows

It seems too good to be true. After centuries of bitter strife and fatal treachery, the seven powers dividing the land have decimated one another into an uneasy truce. Or so it appears....With the death of the monstrous King Joffrey, Cersei is ruling as regent in King’s Landing. Robb Stark’s demise has broken the back of the Northern rebels, and his siblings are scattered throughout the kingdom like seeds on barren soil. Few legitimate claims to the once desperately sought Iron Throne still exist—or they are held in hands too weak or too distant to wield them effectively. The war, which raged out of control for so long, has burned itself out.

But as in the aftermath of any climactic struggle, it is not long before the survivors, outlaws, renegades, and carrion eaters start to gather, picking over the bones of the dead and fighting for the spoils of the soon-to-be dead. Now in the Seven Kingdoms, as the human crows assemble over a banquet of ashes, daring new plots and dangerous new alliances are formed, while surprising faces—some familiar, others only just appearing—are seen emerging from an ominous twilight of past struggles and chaos to take up the challenges ahead.

It is a time when the wise and the ambitious, the deceitful and the strong will acquire the skills, the power, and the magic to survive the stark and terrible times that lie before them. It is a time for nobles and commoners, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and sages to come together and stake their fortunes...and their lives. For at a feast for crows, many are the guests—but only a few are the survivors.

From the Hardcover edition.

Download Description

George R.R. Martin sold his first story in 1971 and has been writing professionally ever since. He has written fantasy, horror, and science fiction, and for his sins spent ten years in Hollywood as a writer/producer, working on Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and television pilots that were never made. In the mid 90s he returned to prose, his first love, and began work on his epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire. He has been in the Seven Kingdoms ever since. Whenever he's allowed to leave, he returns to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he lives with the lovely Parris, a big white dog called Mischa, and two cats named Augustus and Caligula who think they run the place.

From the Paperback edition.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2007-10-11

Minimum Maturity Level - Adult
Strong violence. Strong language. Sexual situations.

Previous Reading Required - Major
You must read the previous three books, starting with "A Game of Thrones".

Reading Level - Average
Very easy to follow.

Rate of Development - Extremely Fast
Picks up where "A Storm of Swords" left off.

The Story - Anything said will be a spoiler. Mainly for those who haven't read the previous books.

My Suggestion - Highly Recommended
This book pretty much winds down when it comes to the action. There is still action, but not at such a grand scale as the battle of King's Landing. There is some shocking moments again, just like how GRRM likes doing it. I have heard many people gripe about this book but it is still an essential read to keep up with what is going on with all the characters. Part of the reason of gripes, I would think, is because GRRM had to split this book in two, which is why "A Dance of Dragons" will feature the other characters that everyone likes so much. Still, it's a great book to read.

Arrgh.......2007-10-10

I think he could have made this a five book series rather than a seven. While I have enjoyed the format and the character development, and the plot twists, its started to get hackneyed. Every time you start to take an interest in a character they are cruelly maimed or killed. We get it, life is tough, and if you are in any way involved with anyone in power, you are going to die a horrible death. If you are a nobody, you still die horribly, but with less ink. If you are cute and spunky, you die slower. And if we start to run out of the hundreds of cannon fodder characters, we just introduce new ones.

I don't know if I'm going to buy the next book.

Great novel but..........2007-09-30

I write this review with mixed feelings. Let me begin by saying that I think this book is great. Mr. Martin shows the same quality here as in the first three books. It is true that there is less action here, but every story has different stages with different requirements. It is obvious that the aftermath of a great war cannot be as tumultous as the war itself. Many people complain about their favorite characters not being here and I understand them. One reads this saga because of the characters. So, no matter how well written is something, if you don't care about the characters, you will not enjoy the book. I was fortunate, because my favorite character is Arya. Eventhough there were only a few chapters about her, I turned every page with the hope that there would be another Arya story. In short, I think this book is worthy of the same praise the other three received, but...

Let me now explain why I have mixed feelings. It is true that the pace of this book is slow. Not much happens in more than six hundred pages. At first sight this is not a problem. When one is reading quality literature, the more the better. But when one considers some implications, this point of view changes. At this pace, I think it is impossible that the series will end in three more books. A Dance with Dragons will not go in time beyond A Feast for Crows. This means the whole Cersei thing won't be resolved until book six. But not only that, we have to consider all the loose ends remaining in Feast added with those of Dance. Even assuming that some plots resolve quickly in book six, this means that there remains only one book and a half of story, and still the Starks are children, Jon and Daenerys are still teenagers. Despite all the talk that the series doesn't depict clearly good or evil characters, the truth of the matter is that the Starks and Daenerys are "the good guys", at least the leading characters. Not for nothing the saga is named A Song of Ice and Fire. I have been waiting to see them grow and become the characters they potentially are. For me the greatest strength of this series is that we have witnessed all the struggles and trials these characters endured in order to become the people they are. But the thing is that moment doesn't arrive, they continue to be children. This could mean that Bran, Sansa and Arya will not play a major role in the climax of the story, and that Jon and Daenerys will defeat rivals which surpass them in experience. If this is going to happen I will be dissaponted. On the other hand, this could mean that we will read only a book and a half with the grown protagonists. But then this would be a let down. If reading about children and teenagers has been a profound experience, can you imagine reading about them as mature and experienced people. I can't wait to read that. I have been waiting more than five years and I am ready to wait whatever it takes. I would like to read at least as many books of them as adults as have been published.

This takes me to the final point. If George Martin enjoys writing about Brienne in such detail, I think he will enjoy more writing about an adult Arya or Bran. This makes me think that the series will have more books than seven, which is a good thing for me due to what I have said. At the same time is a terrible thing, because that means that the most probable thing to happen is that the series will never be completed. Let me say the truth. Mr. Martin is a first class writer. In my opinion he is at the same level of Borges or Joyce, but most of his life he was just a little known writer with no fans. Then he began writing what could be one of the best works of literature of all time, and with it came fame and success. And he is enjoying that, because he waited his whole life for this, and he deserved it. The problem, I think, is that he lost his way in the process. He spends so much time with the fans, traveling, editing other books and many other innumerable projects, that he hardly has any time or energy to write his magnus opus. He took five years to publish what he calls half a book, and he will take probably three years to write a book which he said he had more than half already written. This means he will take at least seven years to complete the sixth book (or four if the publishers force him to split it too). Mr. Martin isn't young and if he dies before finishing his saga, all will be lost. What could have been one of the greatest stories of all time will be nothing. Cervantes wouldn't be what he is if he hasn't finished "El Quijote". Eventhough the Tuft stories are good, eventhough Fevre Dream is the best vampire story I've ever read, Mr. martin will be rembered by A SoIF.

I hope he realizes that he is an artist and that his legacy is at risk, I hope he finds again happiness in writing instead of being a torture that keeps him from going to conventions. I hope he finishes this series in a way that fulfills all expectations. I hope to see him occupy his rightful place in literature history. I hope and I wait.

Twice as long as necessary -- but I still loved reading it..........2007-09-20

Not since the Lord of the Rings has an author written a series that has such amazing SCOPE as GRRM has pulled together with these books. While arguments will be made for YEARS about the contributions of Terry Brooks, Terry Goodkind and others, it seems hard to place them in the same league simply because I consider those books good and entirely worth reading, but Martin has created one of the few Fantasy series that can also be considered true Literature. Again, some may disagree, but that is essentially how I consider it.

I finished this book quite a long time ago and while I normally post my reviews within a day or so of closing the last page, I kept putting this one off as I attempted to just figure out exactly what I thought of it. I believe the bulk of us Song of Ice & Fire readers have all heard that this book originally began as a single novel, and due to several unforseen circumstances, ended up being divided into two separate-but-equal parts of basically the same book. You can REALLY tell, too. The obvious omitting of several MAJOR POV's is the first and biggest obstacle against giving this a full 5 Stars. As MANY have also noted, even though there ARE some incredibly important issues brought up which help the plot move forward here, again it is nearly impossible NOT to notice how LITTLE forward the book takes us overall. Several reviewers have noted the possible absence of an editor with the stones to actually trim the fat, which this novel really needed. I would have rather waited an extra year and had what was cut out to make 'A Dance With Dragons' ADDED and then properly edited in order to seriously move the overall storyline AHEAD. There is little doubt that GRRM is likely the most talented Fantasy Author writing today (although the debate continues...), but if this series is expected to finish up before the end of the next century, I sincerely hope that GRRM steps up the pace--even if by just a little. Robert Jordan recently passed away, and so far (at least as I write this) the end of the Wheel of Time Series remains unfinished...now he may have finished writing the last novel before he passed away (gosh I hope so...) we can see what happens by doing this and dragging things out longer than necessary. While I honestly believe GRRM really DOES have a handle on where the story is going and he honestly does know the end from the beginning, I also hope that the end is in sight. Making us all wait what seems like decades in between these books is nothing short of torture and possibly against the Geneva Convention if I am not mistaken...

With that said, I STILL had a great time reading AFFC. Yes it dragged and lost momentum and I felt that my journey was basically 'Hurry Up And Wait', I have invested so much into these characters, (although through sad experience I have also discovered not to become TOO attached to any one character in particular) that even a SMALL glimpse into their world is better than none at all. I anxiously await the arrival of the 2nd half of this tale begun in 'A Feast For Crows', I also bite my nails wondering if part 2 isn't just more of the same here. I have learned to give the benefit of the doubt in a lot of instances, and because GRRM is so dang good at writing, I feel compelled to extend it here as well. But hopefully my patience won't have to be tested quite to this degree much longer...

Fading Fast.......2007-09-19

Where have all the editors gone?

With Feast, the 4th installment of the Song of Ice and Fire series, Martin has begun to get carried away with himself. Much like what readers experienced with Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, Feast represents a serious departure from the tight narrative drive that powered the first three books.

Very little time is spent on the characters we came to care about in past installments and, even worse, the "splitting" of this volume leaves several major characters out of the mix altogether. The vast bulk of this book is dedicated to two characters who are either dead or marginalized by the end of the book and I found myself wondering how much of their plot impact could have been accomplished with several hundred less pages?

After all, if you spend 200 pages having someone wander about the countryside only to die at the end, the hope is they accomplished something that will have future plot implications. If they didn't, you wasted our time. If they did, then the importance of their accomplishment(s) must be weighed against the time taken to tell the story. Without seeing the impact in book 6, it's impossible to say how much of book 4 was unnecessary drivel, but I suspect that much of it should have hit the editing room floor.

Eric-

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1)

Average customer rating:

For Everyone
Great Book
Where do you go after Martin?
Great Read that Leaves You Feeling Icky
Excellent work...

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1)
George R.R. Martin
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0553573403
Release Date: 1997-08-04

Amazon.com

Readers of epic fantasy series are: (1) patient--they are left in suspense between each volume, (2) persistent--they reread or at least review the previous book(s) when a new installment comes out, (3) strong--these 700-page doorstoppers are heavy, and (4) mentally agile--they follow a host of characters through a myriad of subplots. In A Game of Thrones, the first book of a projected six, George R.R. Martin rewards readers with a vividly real world, well-drawn characters, complex but coherent plotting, and beautifully constructed prose, which Locus called "well above the norms of the genre."

Martin's Seven Kingdoms resemble England during the Wars of the Roses, with the Stark and Lannister families standing in for the Yorks and Lancasters. The story of these two families and their struggle to control the Iron Throne dominates the foreground; in the background is a huge, ancient wall marking the northern border, beyond which barbarians, ice vampires, and direwolves menace the south as years-long winter advances. Abroad, a dragon princess lives among horse nomads and dreams of fiery reconquest.

There is much bloodshed, cruelty, and death, but A Game of Thrones is nevertheless compelling; it garnered a Nebula nomination and won the 1996 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel. So, on to A Clash of Kings! --Nona Vero

Book Description

Here is the first volume in George R. R. Martin’s magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Clash of Kings and A Storm of Swords. As a whole, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, bringing together the best the genre has to offer. Magic, mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure fill these pages and transport us to a world unlike any we have ever experienced. Already hailed as a classic, George R. R. Martin’s stunning series is destined to stand as one of the great achievements of imaginative fiction.

A Game of Thrones

Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens.

Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; and a determined woman undertakes the most treacherous of journeys. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

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A Game of Thrones is a contemporary masterpiece of fantasy.

The cold is returning to Winterfell, where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime. A time of conflict has arisen in the Stark family, as they are pulled from the safety of their home into a whirlpool of tragedy, betrayal, assassination, plots and counterplots. Each decision and action carries with it the potential for conflict as several prominent families, comprised of lords, ladies, soldiers, sorcerers, assassins and bastards, are pulled together in the most deadly game of all -- the game of thrones.

"George Martin is assuredly a new master craftsman in the guild of heroic fantasy."
   KATHERINE KERR

"The keen and complex human characters and the convincing force of their surroundings operate as magic...setting George R. R. Martin's first fantasy epic well above the norms of the genre."
   LOCUS

"Offers the rich tapestry that the very best fantasy demands...few created worlds are as imaginative and diverse."
   JANNY WURTS

"A vast, rich saga, with splendid characters and an intricate plot flawlessly articulated against a backdrop of real depth and texture."
   KIRKUS REVIEWS

"A dazzling fantasy adventure... with a great cast of characters that weave a tapestry of court intrigue, skullduggery, vicious betrayal and greathearted sacrifice."
   JULIAN MAY

"A colorful, majestic tapestry of characters, action and plot that deserves a spot on any reader's wall."
   ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL

Customer Reviews:

For Everyone.......2007-10-11

I was hesitant to pick this up after a recommendation from a friend being as I am not the hugest fantasy fan. I have zero interest in wizards and fireballs and white knights in shining armor. From the first 100 pages I knew this book would not be your typical fairy tale. All characters, of which there are a lot, are wonderfully fleshed out and interesting. The plot is plausible with just a hint of mysticism and there are no characters who are pure good or pure evil, they are all just human; they have their good sides and their bad sides.

Every chapter is as engaging as the last, and before you know it you turn the final page and are looking around for the next book.

Fantastic start to what I surmise will be a fantastic series. I am elblow deep in the second book now.

Great Book.......2007-10-11

Minimum Maturity Level - Adult
Strong Language. Extreme violence and gore. Sexual situations.
Not for kids.

Previous Reading Required - None
This is the start of an epic series of 7 books.

Reading Level - Average
Very easy to keep up with. Not surprising since GRRM used to screenwrite. The book basically reads like a movie.

Rate of Development - Average
It takes a while to get a good character backgrounds. And there are A LOT of characters. But once you get halfway through, you come to know the characters very intimately. The story develops into intrigue and mystery fairly quick. By halfway through the book, it becomes a "page-turner".

The Story - The King's Hand (the king's right hand man) has died. Some think he was murdered. King Robert Baratheon then appoints Eddard Stark, a lifelong friend to succeed the position. Reluctantly, Eddard accepts. Anything after all this, is a spoiler so you MUST read the book.

My Suggestion - Highly Recommended
Like I said in the story section, anything I try to tell you after Eddard agrees to be the Hand IS a spoiler. GRRM has a way of getting you to like, love, and hate all his characters in the book. All the characters have their own personality and seem like real genuine people. Every chapter is a person's perspective and not a number. So when you read the chapter entitled "BRAN", you are reading what is going on through HIS eyes and his eyes only. It's a very immersive way of writing and I come to like it a lot. I said before that development is a bit slow for characters but the mystery and intrigue happens rather quickly. Some mysteries actually carry on into the next few books. Some of you with quick minds may uncover some mysteries before the characters actually do and that is part of the fun. If you want a good epic fantasy that is down to earth with war, intrigue, and suspense, then this is your book. Just be ready to buy all the other books that follow, because the get even better.

Where do you go after Martin?.......2007-09-28

George RR Martin is, in my opinion, one of the best Fantasy authors currently writing. He's great at exploring and deepening characters without them coming out and saying "I'm brave but flawed by my childhood experience", but instead he shows them by their reactions and choices. Yes, this shouldn't be a big deal, but hey, it's fantasy.

I also love that his characters are fully grey. The ones that are truly honorable heroes are also unyieldingly cold and the cruelest villians are at least human and understandable. But man! Martin doesn't mind killing anybody.

Which brings me to my title. One of the hardest things is picking up the next book that isn't from this series. You can always go back to some of the classics, but it's really hit and miss on picking up a new book, and Martin really raised the bar for me.

Great Read that Leaves You Feeling Icky.......2007-09-26

I feel dishonest only giving this book 3 Stars because the truth is I could not put it down and there is no doubt in my mind that I will end up reading this entire series. I enjoyed the complexity of the plots, the character development, the multiple perspectives, the detailed worlds, the unconventional blur between good/evil and the unpredictable plot twists. There is much in this book to enjoy and praise.

That said I only gave this book 3 stars because it left me feeling, well, kind of disturbed. Multiple times, during the course of reading this book, I told whoever was around that I felt like I was being emotionally abused by the author. I usually like disturbing/dark stories but something about this one troubled me. For starters the sex and sexual violence in this book was a bit much for me. Almost all the sex scenes are about a thirteen year old child. The sexual acts that happen to Dany in this novel constitute at least a dozen felonies in any civilized society. Not only could I not discern a reason the author had to make Dany SO young (especially if he wanted her character to be highly sexualized) but the aspects of sex he chose to discribe and the manner in which he discribed them were random, weird and came across as nothing more than a perverted indulgence. I would read something and simultaneously roll my eyes while feeling an icky shudder up and down my spine. I have no problems with sex in books I read, but the manner in which the sex scenes were written in this book are not reflective of real life and left me feeling grossed out. They felt exploitive I guess because they were so gratutious and strange.

Also, as a women, the constant rape and violence towards women was hard to read. I realize rape and misogyny are part of the world, particularly in times of war, but the amount and detail was hard to stomach. While the male characters (good and bad) generally die or get injured bravely in battle the women must be systemically humiliated before dying unceremoniously. Not only is raping them bad enough, they must be gang raped. And just in case gang rape wasn't degrading enough they have to be gang raped from behind. This combined with the constant womanizing of the main characters, the constant put downs related to the worth of women relative to men and after a while it makes you start to wonder; has Martin created a world filled with systemic female degradation because he is laying the foundation for an ultimate commentary on oppression, violence and human dignity? Or has he created a world filled with female degradation because that is what he likes writing about? I have 6 more books to read before I can answer that question but I have a suspicion it is the latter which is where the icky feeling I have towards this book comes from. Hopefully, it turns out I am wrong.

Even though this book left a bad taste in my mouth in some respects, I will continue to read the series because it is wildly entertaining. I've already started the second book.

Excellent work..........2007-09-04

so far! I am excited to read the next three books. Instead of expounding on the virtues of the novel, I would like to address two common complaints that one finds in these reviews. Firstly, the reports about sex/incest/bestiality are vastly exaggerated. There is ONE incestuous relationship between atomic family members, and the sexual description is limited to less than a paragraph. Certainly, the novel mentions other kinds of incest, such as the marriage of first and second cousins, but that is to be expected where royal families are concerned; and sexual acts regarding these are never described. Also, in line with medieval societal norms, there are a few ultra brief descriptions of sex involving teenagers; girls in royal families were frequently married off early and were expected to produce as many male heirs as possible. Yes, there are several moderately explicit scenes of rape (especially near the end of the book), violence and sex, but they pale in comparison to many other historical fiction novels. Sexual descriptions are about on par with an Anne Rice novel, and way softer than any of that romance/Fabio-on-the-cover drivel. If you cringe at the slightest graphic description of violence, then I would stay away from anything that involves the history of humankind. Certainly avoid the Conan and Warhammer 40K fiction series, and you should retain your sanity (and wimpiness).

Regarding complexity: this first book is EASY to follow. Each chapter is titled with the name of the character from whose point of view the story will be narrated. There are only eight such characters. If you have trouble keeping everything in your head, just go back to to the previous chapter with the same character name and re-read the last few paragraphs...it's that simple folks. I like this style because at several points, as you might find on TV or in the movies, the author leaves you hanging with some suspense at the end of the chapter until he "cuts" back to that (possibly concurrent) point in the story.

Anyway, my opinion is no more valid than that of anyone else on Amazon. If you like historical fiction, then I think there's a good chance you will like low fantasy. This series is as good a place to start as anywhere. Use some common sense: first, take it out of the library if possible. Second, read as many chapters as it takes for you to get a sense of the style and characterizations. Third, if you don't like it, STOP READING...it will NOT get better. I hereby deliver a VIRTUAL SLAP to reviewers who claim that they read the glowing reviews, read all 806 pages of the novel, and then felt debased or felt like they wasted their time or money...this is the United States, a playground of choices. If you don't like something, change the channel or turn off the device!

The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book: Boil Ice, Float Water, Measure Gravity-Challenge the World Around You! (Everything Kids Series)

Average customer rating:

GREAT!!!!!
Great intro to Science for kids
Fantastic!
good choice to start some new things with a youngster
Fun, fun, fun!!!

The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book: Boil Ice, Float Water, Measure Gravity-Challenge the World Around You! (Everything Kids Series)
Tom Robinson
Manufacturer: Adams Media Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1580625576

Book Description

Science has never been so easy - or so much fun! With The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book, all you need to do is gather a few household items and you can recreate dozens of mind-blowing, kid-tested science experiments. High school science teach Tom Robinson shows you how to expand your scientific horizons - from biology to chemistry to physics to outer space.

You'll discover answers to questions like:
Is it possible to blow up a balloon without actually blowing into it?
What is inside coins?
Can a magnet ever be "turned off"?
Do toilets always flush in the same direction?
Can a swimming pool be cleaned with just the breath of one person?

Get ready to enter the laboratory and learn how to conduct cool experiments, understand scientific terms like "photosynthesis," and know fun facts like how many latex balloons per day can be made from a rubber tree. Each section has a great science fair project, complete with all the details you need to wow your teachers and friends.

You won't want to wait for a rainy day or your school's science fair to test these cool experiments for yourself!

Customer Reviews:

GREAT!!!!!.......2007-08-16

2 things - 1) you have to do the dissolving egg experiment... it's fabulous!! 2) pay attention to the age range - my nephew (the intended recipient) loves science (okay, exploding things...) just turned seven and he is definitely too young for the detailed explanations. He didn't like the delayed gratification but he did get a kick out of the results the following week... for the younger kids you might want to do the experiments yourself and then once you have results let them get excited about it... the bouncing egg... after accepting that it didn't happen just then!! ... was a huge hit the next week. This really is just an AWESOME book...

Great intro to Science for kids.......2007-05-14

My 7 year old daughter and I have been going through some of the experiments in the book. The experiments are easy to follow and the explanations are basic enough for a 7 year old to understand.

Fantastic!.......2007-05-08

The experiments are simple enough to implement yet the results are very REACTIVE! Which is GOOD!
Also the kits are not difficult to find. Just stuff you'll have in your kitchen,really.

good choice to start some new things with a youngster.......2007-01-12

I am happy with the choice and so was the family who received it as a gift for their young daughter who is ready to start something new to do with her father in the cold winter months of Maine.

Fun, fun, fun!!!.......2006-08-28

I have a just turned 5 year old that LOVES science and experiments. Although this book I believe was recommended for older children, there are plenty of experiments that I can do with him at his age and get immediate results. Since there are experiments that are targeted for older children, this is one of the rare books that we'll be able to use for several years down the road. I love it so much it's going to be one of my staples in gift giving - it's easy & fun enough for those even not interested in 'science'.

Average customer rating:

My Favorite Book!!
Beautiful French Science Fiction
Life was perfect
The best book I ever read!!! ASIN: 0688018602
The best book I ever read!!!

The Ice People
Rene Barjavel
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Customer Reviews:

My Favorite Book!!.......2007-05-05

My dad gave me this book a few months ago, and I LOVED it!! I was an incredible book. I've recomeded it to all my friends, but I don't think anyone else is going to read it sonce they are not avid readers and we are only in grade nine! But I still anyone who listens that this is the best book ever written. I don't understand why it's not famous and why it is so hard to find...

Beautiful French Science Fiction .......2007-01-16

In "The Ice People", Scientists discover a perfect sphere buried deep in the continent of Antarctica - not in the ice but below the ice in the ground. A major undertaking is commenced...dig to the object. What they find astounds everyone - perfectly preserved humans, a man and a woman; young, healthy, and beautiful, these two are the last people from an advanced civilization 900,000 years ago.

Scientists rush to revive they two from their stasis. The woman comes to first and she begins to tell the story of their lost world. It is a beautiful story, and a heartbreaking one. But, as the man nears revival, chaos ensues and things will never be the same.

Thirteen years ago, on a road trip in the heart of California, a friend told me of this French Science Fiction novel he had read when he was younger called "The Ice People"; this was a book that had stuck with him for years and he lamented that he did not own a copy and had looked for a used copy for years to no avail. One of the purposes of this road trip was to hit used bookstores to find new treasures; this is what prompted his sharing of this book. The very first bookstore we entered ended up having a paperback copy on the shelf! He was astounded and of course bought it in a flash. Later that day, in another bookstore - and after more talking about the book - we came across another copy, and I promptly bought it after all of his influence for the day. I was not disappointed!

Life was perfect.......2004-05-12

This book was the best book I ever read! I read in portuguese and english and both times I realized that life could be perfect. We are able to have a perfect world as the book show us, but we are also kind enough to destroy it. My hope from the book was beliving that life was once perfect!! Great book, great history, great science!

The best book I ever read!!! ASIN: 0688018602.......2002-11-16

I read that book some years ago...I read it in Spanish (Nuit des Temps), so when I was looking for an English version, it was very difficult...Who can belive the name that it has in English? After reading some review I understood The Ice People, must be the book I loved. It was great to find people thinking the same about it.
Now I will tell my best friend to buy so she can read in English. (Of course, I will ask her to let me read it again)
THE BEST FICTION BOOK!!!

The best book I ever read!!!.......2002-11-16

Winter of the Ice Wizard (Magic Tree House 32)

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Book-Series
A great book
Winter of the Ice Wizard
The Ice Wizard
Winter of the Ice Magic

Winter of the Ice Wizard (Magic Tree House 32)
Mary Pope Osborne
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0375827366
Release Date: 2004-09-28

Book Description

JACK AND ANNIE, joined by Teddy and Kathleen (from earlier books), travel in the Magic Tree House to a land of snow where the Ice Wizard has captured Morgan and Merlin. The four friends must find the Ice Wizard’s missing eye . . . or is it really his heart that is missing?

Customer Reviews:

Book-Series.......2007-10-08

This book arrived in good time and good shape. Would buy from this seller again.

A great book.......2007-05-27

Winter of the Ice Wizard is a great Magic Tree House book. It begins when Jack and Annie get a note from Merlin. They end up with Teddy and Kathleen at the castle of the Ice Wizard. There, they learn that he wrote the note and had kidnapped Merlin and Morgan. In order to save them, they have to find the Ice Wizard's eye. They recieve directions to go to the Hollow Hill, and they do, in the ice Wizard's sleigh. They find the eye and give it to the Wizard. He is sad and mad because they eye doesn't work. Then Teddy and Kathleen bring in the swan maiden, the Wizard's sister, and she tells him that she will forgive him. Then his eye works. They are given back Merlin and Morgan, and the mission is over.

I think that this is a great book. Winter of the Ice Wizard is my favorite Magic Tree House book!

Winter of the Ice Wizard.......2007-03-28

My son absolutely loves these books. The titles captivate my son's attention and he just loves to read them to me.

The Ice Wizard.......2006-11-30

Think of a mission that you might need to do to help your friend's.Well this happen in a book call the Winter of the Ice Wizard.Jack and Anny have to find the ice wizard eye to help turn there friends back to normally.To that they have to get pass a group old giant.To do it they need the help of there friends Teddy and Katy.Can they ever find the Ice Wizard's eye? Can they even get past the grumpy old giant or can they ever turn there friend's back to normal? Read to find out more.

Winter of the Ice Magic.......2006-11-04

Another great Jack and Annie adventure. You can count on this series to be full of rich language, historical data and fun. My class loved this one.

Average customer rating:

Constant action!!!
Ice Hunt
everything was fine
The Author's Books are Always Fast Moving
Good heavens, this is excellent!!!

Ice Hunt
James Rollins
Manufacturer: Harper
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0060521600
Release Date: 2004-06-29

Amazon.com

Despite the submarine cover art and the rather awkward title, this is no by-the-numbers military thriller: rather, it's a full-blooded, multidimensional adventure story set in the frozen wilds of Alaska, both atop the ice and underneath it. And it's one heck of a fun ride. Matthew Pike is a Fish and Game officer cataloging bear populations in the remote Brooks Range--but he's also an ex-Green Beret, which comes in handy when trouble drops out of the sky in the form of a crashed bush plane, a cryptic survivor, and some very nasty and well-equipped pursuers. Meanwhile, an American submarine stumbles on an abandoned research station buried under the Arctic ice cap, unleashing a race to conceal the horrors that took place there and to capture the priceless scientific secret still locked within.

James Rollins invokes the polar environment so vividly you can hear the wind shriek and feel the ice forming on your nose, and the scientific/medical puzzles at the story's heart may remind you of Michael Crichton's best. The characters, while mostly familiar hero or villain types, are crisply drawn and in some cases quite sympathetic, but it's the nonstop action that carries you along. During several climactic chase scenes, you may find yourself laughing in pure delight--or gasping for breath--as Rollins keeps finding ways to ratchet up the tension one more notch. Ice Hunt is an escapist's delight. --Nicholas H. Allison

Book Description

Carved into a moving island of ice twice the size of the United States, Ice Station Grendel has been abandoned for more than seventy years. The twisted brainchild of the finest minds of the former Soviet Union, it was designed to be inaccessible and virtually invisible. But an American undersea research vessel has inadvertently pulled too close—and something has been sighted moving inside the allegedly deserted facility, something whose survival defies every natural law. And now, as scientists, soldiers, intelligence operatives, and unsuspecting civilians are drawn into Grendel's lethal vortex, the most extreme measures possible will be undertaken to protect its dark mysteries—because the terrible truths locked behind submerged walls of ice and steel could end human life on Earth.

Download Description

When an American deep-sea research team discovers something moving -- something alive -- inside an abandoned Russian ice station, two powerful nations scramble to hide the nightmarish truth, because once it is revealed, the future of all human life on Earth will be altered -- or destroyed.

Buried deep in the earth's polar ice cap -- carved into a moving island of ice twice the size of the United States -- is a secret place, the site of a remarkable abandoned experiment that could have frightening ramifications for the planet. The brain trust of the former Soviet Union who created the seventy-year-old Ice Station Grendel would like it simply to melt from human memory. But that becomes impossible when an American undersea research vessel, the Polar Sentinel, inadvertently pulls too close to the hollowed-out iceberg ... and one of the crew sees something alive inside. Something that never should have survived.

It is a discovery that sends shock waves through the intelligence communities of two powerful nations, as American and Russian scientists, soldiers, and unsuspecting civilians are pulled into Grendel's lethal vortex of secrets, violence, and betrayal. To preserve the silence -- to prevent others from uncovering the terrible mysteries locked behind submerged walls of ice and steel -- no measures will be too extreme. For within the station, experiments have blurred the line between life and death. It was a place never meant to be found. One man already knows too much: Matthew Pike, a former American Special Forces operative, living in seclusion in Alaska on the edge of the Arctic Circle.

Customer Reviews:

Constant action!!!.......2007-10-18

This book is constantly got you turning pages just to find out what could happen next. I only read before bed. It makes me want to get to bed earlier just so I can read more. Rollins ties in at least 3 story lines from different perspectives and melds them. He takes you places outside the norm. In some cases, places you are glad you're not going. He turns normal people with their baggage and turns them into heroes.

Ice Hunt.......2007-09-30

This book reads fast, like the rest of the series. Rollins provides page-turner action with just enough terror and intrique to keep your attention. I would not recommend starting this book unless you have some time blocked out to allow total immersion in the story.

everything was fine .......2007-09-28

I got the book and everything is just fine with it no complaints here. Keep up the good work

The Author's Books are Always Fast Moving.......2007-07-26

James Rollins was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1961. With his three brothers and three sisters, he was raised in the Midwest and rural Canada. He graduated with a doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Missouri and went on to establish his own veterinary practice in Sacramento, California. His sense of adventure often takes him either underground or underwater.

This is the another action packed adventure from the author, whose books for me anyway are consistently good and always an enjoyable read. Long may he continue to write them for his growing number of fans. Some writers have an immediate impact and then die away. James Rollins has slowly built his reputation over a period of years.

Buried deep in the earth's polar ice cap - carved into a moving island of ice twice the size of the United States - is a secret place, the site of a remarkable abandoned experiment that could have frightening ramifications for the planet . . .

Good heavens, this is excellent!!!.......2007-07-15

First, I hope they've made this into a movie. If so, where is it? I'll be the first in line to buy the DVD. This nail-biting thriller sets the reader on edge from beginning to end. The plot is sprinkled with scientific fact to make it even more plausible (and more frightening.) Set in the arctic, it incorporates the outdoor adventure element I love along with the horror/drama that keeps me turning the pages. I'm unapologetic to my husband for keeping the reading light on late. He can get even with me when he reads it next! Mr. Rollins, please adapt this into a screenplay if you haven't already!

Chrissy K. McVay
Author of 'Souls of the North Wind'

DeWalt HVAC Technician Certification Exam Guide: NATE, ICE, RSES Certification (Dewalt Exam/Certification Series)

Average customer rating:

A good start
Industry Standard for the NATE exam

DeWalt HVAC Technician Certification Exam Guide: NATE, ICE, RSES Certification (Dewalt Exam/Certification Series)
Norm Christopherson
Manufacturer: Pal Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0977000338

Book Description

The DEWALT® HVAC Certification Exam Guide is the most complete and comprehensive HVAC technician certification book available. This new ?standard? for the climate control industry will help readers pass the NATE, ICE, RSES Certification, HVAC Excellence, and HVAC Technician Licensing Exams. Innovative coverage also makes this exam guide extremely useful for studying and preparing for the state limited energy license and HVAC contractor licenses.

Customer Reviews:

A good start.......2007-08-14

This is a good book to start with to review for the NATE or other tests. It only has a limited number of questions though. I took the NATE Heat Pump test and passed with this books help, but it only had 50 sample questions for Heat Pump's and the NATE test had 100 questions. My suggestion is that there be more sample questions. I'd also like to see a reference for additional information if you don't understand a question. This book serves a purpose, but could be a better tool...

Industry Standard for the NATE exam.......2006-08-08

This book is absolutely the standard for the NATE Exam. Not only does it give you insight on the types of questions to study for, but it gives you information on how to beat the test writers at their own game. A very good read!

Average customer rating:

ice dragon disappoints I read it in half an hour
Sad and beautiful
Exquisite
Abrupt ending
best story ever!

The Ice Dragon
George R. R. Martin
Manufacturer: Starscape
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0765316315
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Book Description

The ice dragon was a creature of legend and fear, for no man had ever tamed one. When it flew overhead, it left in its wake desolate cold and frozen land. But Adara was not afraid. For Adara was a winter child, born during the worst freeze that anyone, even the Old Ones, could remember. Adara could not remember the first time she had seen the ice dragon. It seemed that it had always been in her life, glimpsed from afar as she played in the frigid snow long after the other children had fled the cold. In her fourth year she touched it, and in her fifth year she rode upon its broad, chilled back for the first time. Then, in her seventh year, on a calm summer day, fiery dragons from the North swooped down upon the peaceful farm that was Adaras home. And only a winter child -- and the ice dragon who loved her -- could save her world from utter destruction. The Ice Dragon marks the highly anticipated childrens book debut of George R.R. Martin, the award-winning author of the best-selling series A Song of Ice and Fire and is set in the same world. Illustrated with lush, exquisitely detailed pencil drawings by acclaimed artist Yvonne Gilbert, The Ice Dragon is an unforgettable tale of courage, love, and sacrifice by one of the most honored fantasists of all time.

Customer Reviews:

ice dragon disappoints I read it in half an hour.......2007-06-29

I am 42, so take that into account. Once again George Martin hooks you in the beginning and then leaves you disappointed with where the story ends up. This book is approximately 100 pages. But most of the pages are only partial pages with illustrations. It took me about half an hour to read the book and I was quite disappointed with the abrupt ending. Dont waste your time on this.

Sad and beautiful.......2007-06-05

"The Ice Dragon" is a sad and beautiful story, told in a slow pace. It is with a thoughtful childs eye you are receiving a glimpse in to Westros. A wonderful sidetrack from the Ice and Fire-series!

Exquisite .......2007-04-26

I give The Ice Dragon four stars because it's a very good book but it's also very serious. I just adore the fact that there are dragons but I don't think it has enough dialouge. I think it had alot of discription but for me it was too serious. I also didn't really like the fact thet there was an abundance of action rather than than dialogue. It upset me that the Ice Dragon died and I wish it could have more about what happened to him or any other Ice Dragons there could've been. I think it shoul've also talked more about Adara being at her normal state. I believe there was a massive dificiency on how far the story coul've gone on.Even though it was a short story I like the fact that it leaves you wondering about the charactors and events. I think it was a very exquisit book. If I had to recomended it. I'd only recomended it to people who enjoy serious fantasy books(but anyone can read it).

Abrupt ending.......2007-04-25

I really enjoyed the mostly-narrative telling of this short story, but would have liked the ending to be a little more developed. It seemed to just suddenly crash to a halt. Adara's change was interesting and I wanted the author to elaborate more on her new outlook after losing the "winter" from her spirit. Overall I like the story, and the serious tone was good and fitting. The description of the refugees from the war and the suffering that was present seemed realistic too. I will still glady read other books by Martin, as he seems a very skilled writer.

best story ever!.......2007-04-08

I just got this book today, and I can't put it down. I got attached to it after the first page. I hope he writes more books for kids.
written by a 9 year old

Average customer rating:

Historical and Astronomical foundations.
popular science
Great story and well told
The Earth's past climate-more important than you think
Interesting Book

Ice Ages: Solving the Mystery
John Imbrie , and Katherine Palmer Imbrie
Manufacturer: Harvard University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0674440757

Book Description

This book tells the exciting story of the ice ages--what they were like, why they occurred, and when the next one is due. The solution to the ice age mystery originated when the National Science Foundation organized the CLIMAP project to study changes in the earth's climate over the past 700,000 years. One of the goals was to produce a map of the earth during the last ice age. Scientists examined cores of sediment from the Indian Ocean bed and deciphered a continuous history for the past 500,000 years. Their work ultimately confirmed the theory that the earth's irregular orbital motions account for the bizarre climatic changes which bring on ice ages.

This is a tale of scientific discovery and the colorful people who participated: Louis Agassiz, the young Swiss naturalist whose geological studies first convinced scientists that the earth has recently passed through an ice age; the Reverend William Buckland, an eccentric but respected Oxford professor who fought so hard against the ice-age theory before accepting it; James Croll, a Scots mechanic who educated himself as a scientist and first formulated the astronomic theory of ice ages; Milutin Milankovitch, the Serbian mathematician who gave the astronomic theory its firm quantitative foundation; and the many other astronomers, geochemists, geologists, paleontologists, and geophysicists who have been engaged for nearly a century and a half in the pressing search for a solution to the ice-age mystery.

Customer Reviews:

Historical and Astronomical foundations........2007-01-12

This book is a readable account of the historical explanations for the ice ages. It provides some details of the lives of those involved in the building of the theory and the issues encounter in bring it to the front on science. The book also provide details on the current theory including the geological and astronomical evidence to support it. In addition in the last short section attempts to project in to the future what should be expected and a little of what is occurring that may change that. If you wish to know about the current ice age theory this is certainly one book to consider.

popular science.......2006-03-15

This book which concerns with ice age imaginary, is the best one that I have ever read. From the beginning of the classical time to modern investigations, it is explained how the ice age idea have been developed. It has detail explanations and some figures that are useful for imaginary.

Great story and well told.......2001-09-17

You should read this book if you are at all interested in ice ages, geology, history of science, climate change, or just a good story. It's a quick but thorough telling of the discovery of the ice ages and how their nature and origin have been slowly uncovered over the following 150 years (and still going!). No other book does so much in such a short space on the subject. One of the authors was personally involved in the story, so he has insider authority. Unfortunately, this probably accounts for the slower pace of the last few chapters, where events close to him are described in much greater detail. And even though the book is only 15 years old the last chapter (on a future ice age and the potential for global warming) seems outdated. Still, the book is well worth a quick read.

The Earth's past climate-more important than you think.......2001-05-07

As a geologist, this book answered a lot of questions I've had concerning the cause(s) of the ice ages. I'd known about rumours about the configuration of the continents, Milankovitch's astronomical cycles, variation in sun output, changes in ocean currents, and so on, for some years, but I really needed a detailed analysis of the historical arguments, and the more recent evidence as to why these changes in the earth's climate occur. This book answers just about all I needed to know, as well as being a good study of historical science. It was some time before all the pieces began to fit, and there are still some unexplained aspects, such as why the 100,000 glacial cycle is stronger than the 20,000 and 40,000 year cycles. Also, early arguments revolving around the Biblical flood are enlightening.

This book details all the theories, and the history behind their development. From deep sea radiolarians, to terraced reefs in the equatorial regions, to vegetation studies in Europe, to the level of snow on Ethiopia's mountains, to axis and ellitpical variations in the earth's orbit, to the gravitational effect of the pull on the earth from other planets, to oxygen isotope studies, to graphs of variation in thermal energy, temperature and sea level at different lattitudes-both expected from Milankovitch cycles-and actual from deep sea analysis, this book pretty much covers all you need to know. The only drawback is it has missed a few recent ideas in the 1980s to 1990s, but the story was pretty much over by then. Pretty conclusive evidence is detailed on how regular and episodic variations in the earth's orbit around the sun trigger periodically cooler climates than at present. These have been particularly strong in the last 1.5 million years or so, which is thought to do with the configuration of recent continental geography. In the last 7,000 years the tmeperature has dropped around 2 degrees, and will continue to drop over the next several thousand years at least, albeit very slowly, if it wasn't of course for the already verified greenhouse warming. Unfortunately, being published in the late 1970s, the book has not captured much of the recent data and debate concerning the greenhouse effect, but is nevertheless an intriguing and enlightening expose of earth climate variations.

The other thing which struck me just a little, was the fact that the major ice age periods in the earth's past have been at or around 3 interesting changes or developments in evolutionary history-the Permo-Carboniferous (ie Permian-Triassic extinction), Pre-Cambrian (multicelled organisms), and Quaternary-Recent (hominids). Certianly the hominid succession has been mostly within major changes in the earths climate, including significantly colder periods, and vast ice sheets across northern lattitudes. Maybe coincidental, but something to think about.

Interesting Book.......2000-07-22

I found this a well written account of the subject. The authors include an extensive history of the intellectual development of the concept as well as scientific documentation of the cyclical nature of ice ages. This would be a good book to read along with The Ice Finders, which is a somewhat more intimate account of the early research on ice ages.

Average customer rating:

Tagging Along to the Future
A First Rate Sci Fi Tale
Not Free SF Reader
Classic Space Opera - Superb Plot, Dialogue, Imagination
A unique take on a classic theme

Pushing Ice
Alastair Reynolds
Manufacturer: Ace Hardcover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: B000NA1XV2

Book Description

2057. Bella Lind and the crew of her nuclear-powered ship, the Rockhopper, push ice. They mine comets. But nothing can prepare them for the surprises in store when Janus, one of Saturn's ice moons, spins out of control.

Customer Reviews:

Tagging Along to the Future.......2007-09-28

Pushing Ice (2005) is a standalone SF novel. In the far future, eighteen millennia from now, some descendents of the Terran species were trying to establish a suitable memorial for their political organization. Some suggested a fountain or other public work. Chromis Pasqueflower Bowerbird proposed sending messages to the Benefactor, wherever she might be, by scattering artifacts to all possible locations.

In this novel, Bella Lind is Captain and manager of the Rockhopper, a comet chaser owned by Deepshaft Corporation. She has called a special meeting of her top staff to discuss a new assignment from corporate headquarters. The United Economic Entities has requested that the company send the ship to chase Janus.

The former moon of Saturn has left orbit and is accelerating out of the system, Its trajectory indicates that it is heading toward Spica. Synthetic aperture images suggest the presence of a very large Structure in that system.

Rockhopper is the only vessel capable to intersecting with the former moon. At the most, it would only have enough fuel to follow the moon for five days before decelerating and returning to the inner planets. The UEE is convinced that this effort could pay off big in new scientific paradigms.

Svetlana Bardeghian is head of the engineering staff on the Rockhopper. She becomes suspicious about the fuel supply after noticing a glitch in the monitoring equipment. She checks the onboard message buffers and finds a discrepancy. Apparently Deepshaft is manipulating the data and lying to the Rockhopper crew about the available fuel.

Svetlana takes this information to her boss, but Bella insists on checking back with headquarters. Naturally, the suits suggest that Svetlana has gone loopy and ask that the buffer data be rechecked. When that data confirms the earlier corporate statements, Bella puts Svetlana under house arrest.

Then Janus changes its propulsive mode once it is far enough from the Solar System. Now it is using some sort of frameshift drive and dragging Rockhopper along in its slipstream. They are going to Spica unless they decelerate out of its frame.

In this story, Bella begins to believe Svetlana and decides to tag along with Janus rather than risking the return attempt. Craig Schrope -- the new second in command -- leads a mutiny against Bella in order to return the ship to its owners. Then another crewmember turns the tables on the mutineers and restores Bella as commander.

Janus is actually a large machine camouflaged as an ice moon. During its flight, the ice melts or falls away from the bow surface, exposing large machines, lava rivers and other inexplicable artifacts. The crew members land the Rockhopper in an excavated cradle on the ice at the stern and build a hamlet around it.

Traveling at almost the speed of light, Janus will take about thirteen shipboard years to reach the Structure at Spica. Yet the moon doesn't decelerate when they get close. Instead, it builds a shell completely around the moon.

Shortly after they should have reached the Structure, seismic sensors record a shock toward the stern of the moon. Afterward, alien things appear to many of the crew in the vicinity of the seismic event. Several searches of the area are made, but nothing is found until a lander overflies the area.

A circular piece is discovered on the ice within a shallow crater. The thing seems to be inert. Searching the shell above the crater, they find a hole to the outside. Apparently someone, or something, has cut their way into the shell.

This story tells of the factions on Janus and their efforts to survive. Some of the machinery is adapted to generate power, but strange things happen to people within the machinery. Although they make themselves comfortable, tension becomes a way of life.

After the aliens arrive, the Rockhopper crew begins to learn more about their surroundings. The Fountainheads are not the only aliens within the Structure. Then Bella touches an ancient artifact and the image of Chromis Pasqueflower Bowerbird appears before her as a hallucination. Her worldview has to undergo another change.

The tale is enthralling most of the time, but the emotional reactions of the crew can drive the reader to distraction. Several times I had to put down the book and do other activities for a while. It was well worth the reading, but it was aggravating at times.

Recommended for Reynolds fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of the far future, alien cultures, and human politics.

-Arthur W. Jordin

A First Rate Sci Fi Tale.......2007-09-18

When I saw "Pushing Ice" in the bargain bin, I almost passed it up. I was not an Alistair Reynolds fan; the only novel I'd read had left me unimpressed. Still, for a few bucks, I gave it a shot. Am I ever glad that I did! "Pushing Ice" is a first-rate piece of science fiction, and I am now officially on the Reynolds bandwagon.

The story follows the crew of the Rockhopper, a late 21st century comet-mining ship. On a routine mission, they are ordered to abandon operations and set a course to rendezvous with Janus, a moon of Saturn that has mysteriously broken orbit and begun accelerating toward the star Spica. The crew struggle against time and betrayal to reach the fleeing moon, now revealed to be an alien artifact of immense size and power. When the ship gets caught in Janus' spacetime wake, they face a life-or-death choice: do they make a desperate attempt to return home, or are they stuck riding Janus on its interstellar voyage? The rest of the book follows the group as they live through the consequences of their decision.

"Pushing Ice" has a bit of everything for the sci fi fan. There is a near-future spacecraft with a plucky, likable crew. There is political intrigue and a fight to survive against the odds. There is an archaeological mystery to solve; and a bevy of cool, well-developed alien cultures. The characters have personality and depth, and the world is portrayed in enough detail to give it a gritty, lived-in feel.

Though the plot seems a bit hokey at first, Reynolds makes it plausible by focusing on the concerns of the ship's crew. We follow events through the eyes of Bella and Svetlana, two headstrong women who wrestle for leadership of the group. The book is as much about their tortured relationship as it is about aliens and space travel. This provides the story with a human framework that makes the weird happenings on Janus somehow more believable.

There were times where the action lulled, but overall, "Pushing Ice" is a balanced, well-crafted tale. The ending left many questions unanswered, and the world is rich enough for several sequels. I look forward to reading more.

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Apart from a reasonably length prologue, there is far more of the straight new future action-spaceship in trouble type book here. However, given that this is Reynolds writing, you know it won't stay like that. He then diverts a little into Greg Bear's Eon, to a degree, but, of course, the situation is probably even nastier. Excellent work again. Reynolds is still an author I will be happy enough to pay the outrageous prices books have got to these days, to own. With a growing body of work he has not let me down once.

Classic Space Opera - Superb Plot, Dialogue, Imagination.......2007-08-13

PUSHING ICE is a near-perfect science fiction space opera. Notice the operative words "near-perfect". My only complaints (small) are the title (mundane), the reference to contemporary themes, music & films (a common problem in sci-fi literature)and the sometimes confusing description of movement within structures (..."turning right down the gray encarpment was a low shiny mound veering outward, one arm leading to a low rampthat beneath a 3 km high dome with radiating swirls of paths that circled behind the second pathway.....") Alastair Reynolds has found his niche with this type of book and that is fortunate. There are not many tales this long that can hold your interest and retain suspense. Once again, the genius is the backflash (a common but commonly misused practice). In this case, the novel opens at a meeting of a Galactic Congress 18,000 years in the future. One politicians wants to honor the "Benefactor", an almoast mythical woman who somehow gave birth to a jump in technological progress. In fact they have her DNA and have recorded her voice which is played to the hushed gathering..."I'm Bella Lind...and you're watching CNN." I was hooked.

The story has been told and retold but Reynods is, if nothing else, a master storyteller and in his hands the saga becomes a new creature. A mining ship is ordered to follow Janus, a moon of Saturn that has suddenly departed from its orbit. Of course it is an alien vessel bound for a distant enormous tube-like structure (several solar systems could fit inside) that is divided into sections. The real story, as in all Reynold's novels, resides in the human relationships. Here, it is the story of two strong women - Bella, the captain and Svetlana, head engineer. Along the way there is a mutiny, end of friendship, murder, and First Contact.

Each First Contact story approaches the idea from a different point of view and this is no exception. Like CONTACT, the galaxy is rife with intelligent life but the mystery is why they have not colonized the entire galaxy by now. Throwing a monkey wrench into the action is the politician mentioned in the prologue. She has pushed for the idea of sending an object back in time as a gift for the benefactor. Of course one is discovered and used....but that's enough - read the book.

A+ for dialogue, characterization (particularly the minor ones that in many books appear and vanish), originality, story and resolution. Many times when male authors attempt a heroine, the result is not satisfactory but in this case, the author attempted not only one but two major heroines and the effort seemed flawless. Great Book.

A unique take on a classic theme.......2007-08-13

I really enjoyed this book with the exception that the story was slightly disjointed at times. There are sudden jumps in the story and one in particular in which a large chunk of plot seems to suddenly go missing. Aside from these short comings, however, The science & plot work well together. The characters are reasonably complex & the universe captivating.

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