- Paperback: 288 pages
- Publisher: Fontana Press; (Reissue) edition (9 July 1992)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0006168930
- ISBN-13: 978-0006168935
- Product Dimensions: 17.2 x 10.6 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,508,439 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
From the author of The Lonely Skier, Campbell's Kingdom and The White South.
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Book Description
A thriller which tells of George Farnell's legacy, which came to light ten years after his disappearance. Two lines of poetry and a lump of mineral ore were all he left, yet they were enough to send Bill Gansert into a maze of ambition and treachery
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Blue Ice is a solid, well-paced example of its genre - that is, the gritty post-war adventure novel typified by authors such as Nevil Shute. The plot flows at a measured rather than hurried pace, and the background of late 1940s Norway, beset by allegations of war-time collaboration, is beautifully defined.
The plot is roughly as follows: mineralogist Bill Gansert comes into possession of a rare mineral ore - found inside a lump of whale meat from Norway. Quickly he connects this to a colleague, George Farnell, who disappeared in Norway during the war. Gansert assembles a motley team who all have some connection with Farnell and sets off in a search of George Farnell's past and thus the location of the vital mineral deposits. This leads him first to an isolated whaling station, then up into the Norwegian mountains. But others, both within his circle and without, are after the minerals' location too.
The Blue Ice has many good chapters and gets better as it progresses. Innes has a flair for description, and the tensions that frequently spring between the miscellaneous crew of Gansert's boat, the Diviner are well written. His use of the Norwegian language in the place names and snippets of conversation add credibility to his tale, as does his convincing use of historical events such as the Malöy Raid.
However, in my opinion the author uses an overlarge cast of characters who lack sufficient depth. Bill Gansert, the narrator and main protagonist of the book is excellent at the first role, but rather ordinary at the second. This is probably the biggest weakness of the novel - the second being the rather half-hearted and cursory attempt to introduce romance into proceedings.
Yet this book has many redeeming qualities and in short, is a persuasive adventure novel of its kind, filled with treachery, plot-twists and broodingly bleak landscapes. It's just unfortunate that the characters aren't more memorable. Definitely worth further investigation.
The plot is roughly as follows: mineralogist Bill Gansert comes into possession of a rare mineral ore - found inside a lump of whale meat from Norway. Quickly he connects this to a colleague, George Farnell, who disappeared in Norway during the war. Gansert assembles a motley team who all have some connection with Farnell and sets off in a search of George Farnell's past and thus the location of the vital mineral deposits. This leads him first to an isolated whaling station, then up into the Norwegian mountains. But others, both within his circle and without, are after the minerals' location too.
The Blue Ice has many good chapters and gets better as it progresses. Innes has a flair for description, and the tensions that frequently spring between the miscellaneous crew of Gansert's boat, the Diviner are well written. His use of the Norwegian language in the place names and snippets of conversation add credibility to his tale, as does his convincing use of historical events such as the Malöy Raid.
However, in my opinion the author uses an overlarge cast of characters who lack sufficient depth. Bill Gansert, the narrator and main protagonist of the book is excellent at the first role, but rather ordinary at the second. This is probably the biggest weakness of the novel - the second being the rather half-hearted and cursory attempt to introduce romance into proceedings.
Yet this book has many redeeming qualities and in short, is a persuasive adventure novel of its kind, filled with treachery, plot-twists and broodingly bleak landscapes. It's just unfortunate that the characters aren't more memorable. Definitely worth further investigation.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3 reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Hero vs Norway
4 May 2000
Format:Audio Cassette
Hammond Innes wrote this shortly after the war and the characters are all carrying some aspect of their wartime pasts with them. Ostensibly a quest to find the man who knows where there are valuable Thorite deposits in Norway, the Hammond Innes reader knows they are in for some very rich scene setting. This book covers in depth sailing including in bad and icy conditions, a whaling station (ie slaughterhouse), and an icy trail on foot and skis across Norwegian mountains. Each is described with the eye of one who has lived it, and that is the primary treat in every Hammond Innes book. He went there, he lived it, he flensed, he gybed, he trekked. The story is a standard one with bad guys and good guys and a pretty girl, but the characters are deeply enough drawn to make the experience vivid and alive. If you see it, buy it. If you're new to Hammond Innes, then dive in and enjoy...
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Superior espionage mayhem -- one of the best
16 April 2000
Format:Paperback
Innes's thriller is one of the finest espionage novels I have read. Dark and icy Norwegian atmosphere, very strong characters, solid plotting. From page one, you know you're in the hands of a pro. It's too bad this little gem in out of print. See if you can track it down! Highly recommended.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Top of the line
30 Mar 2000
Format:Paperback
I was weaned on maritime espionage novels in the tradition of Alistair MacLean. "The Blue Ice" is probably the best of these I have ever read -- superlative in every way. Icy Norwegian atmosphere, excellent characterizations, strong plotting. Thrillers just don't get better than this one!
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