Ice Hunt

I first read Ice Hunt back when it was originally published--it was one of the ones that made me a forever fan of Rollins' work--and reading it again twenty years later, I was equally enthralled--perhaps more so now, since I've tried my own hand at writing and know just how difficult it is to make such a complicated story come off as effortless. Rollins blends suspense and adventure with science, adventure, mystery, horror, and an ecological, forward-thinking sensibility that answers the question of what movies we might have seen if Indiana Jones had been more science teacher than history teacher, and I never get tired of it. And meanwhile, his talent for creating sympathetic, dynamic characters you want to root for comes through in show more every book.

If you like adventure books with good helpings of smart science and horror, Rollins is one to look up, and this book is no exception. show less

Ice Hunt by James Rollins
4.5★'s

From The Book:
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 – show more because the terrible truths locked behind submerged walls of ice and steel could end human life on Earth.

My Thoughts:
James Rollins has shown time and time again that he possesses one of the most creative imaginations of any writer I have ever read. Ice Hunt takes readers on a roller coaster ride of good guys, bad guys, could be good or bad guys, complications of Arctic weather and to make it interesting...a horde of monsters that have you on their dinner menu. In addition to all that Rollins has created a very interesting array of characters. If you like lots of action, suspense, narrow escapes, original plot lines, and likable characters, you really can't go wrong with or James Rollins in general. show less

150 pages too long, the non stop action becomes laughable as it is so unbelievable. That said, the writing is good and the story is entertaining.

4 1/2 stars. Mix prehistoric walking whales with the Russian and U.S Navy, plus add a batch of scientists in the Arctic, and you have an adrenaline filled thriller.

The Polar Sentinel, an American undersea research submarine, is cruising the Arctic when Captain Perry, Dr. Amanda Reynolds and her team of scientists make a shocking discovery. They come upon a huge inverted and shifting ice island containing a secret Russian scientific laboratory named Ice Station Grendel. Meanwhile, over in Alaska, Fish and Game Officer Matt Pike spots a plane crash and rescues the only living passenger, a reporter on his way to write a story about the discovery. Almost immediately, they are attacked by what appears to be members of the Russian military. Matt heads over to his ex-wife's home and she and her father help Matt and the reporter. Before long, they too are being pursued. And this is all before they even show more get to the Ice Station where the real horrors start to happen.

This book has a complex plot with various threads that will eventually all tie together. I haven't' even mentioned some of them, including Viktor Petkov, admiral and commander of the Russian Northern Fleet and son of the mastermind behind Ice Station Grendel. He was taken from his family at gunpoint in 1948. Petkov plans both to retake the research facility, and vindicate his father’s work.

This book has great characters and a fast paced story. James Rollins expertly employs continuous, fast-paced maneuvers that will place the reader at the scene of spine-tingling skirmishes. He delivers intense surprises, before a conclusion that is ingenious, and unforeseen. The concept was interesting and it held my interest from beginning to end. show less

Much better than the last Rollings book I read. This one was another good story idea, but had better execution than SUBTERRANEAN. I love the Arctic & Antarctic storylines, love subs, love underground things. This one had all of that and a really cool hero, too. Screenplay-worthy.

On a scale of 1 to 10, it's an 8.

This book started so very, very slowly as plot and characters were developed, but once that was done it was a real roller-coaster ride with a number of twists and turns along the way to keep the reader interested. The whole idea of cryogenics was fascinating and while the storyline was over the top it was great escapism. Will happily try other books by Rollins.