Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Following Ice Bird, an account of Lewis's first solo voyage to Antartica in 1972, this book discusses the sexagenarian and his five-person crew's expedition there to install their small boat into the pack ice for testing its efficacy as a winter base. A number of scientific experiments were to be conducted, including gathering data for arctic exploration and space station design during the 16-month expedition, but the interpersonal problems, as recounted in the book, dominated the trip. One participant characterizes the expedition as ``lacklustre,'' an assessment that also best describes the book.Jerry Maioli, Western Lib. Network, Olympia, Wash. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publishers Weekly Review

Lewis, world sailor and writer (Icebird), conceived of a research expedition to Antarctica: a frozen-in ship would serve as base for studies of sea ice and wildlife while the team would master the techniques of ice sledding and camping. Anthropologist George would examine stress among the participantsa situation comparable to space stations with people isolated in a hostile environment. Three men and one woman joined Lewis and George for the 16-month expedition, sailing from Australia on a 65-foot motor schooner, the Dick Smith Explorer. They were strangers; unlike close-knit climbing expeditions, they had few common interests or goals. From the beginning, there was discord. Ultimately, one individual had to be flown out by helicopter when his behavior threatened the group's safety. Despite the stresses, the expedition achieved its scientific goals and returned safely. In an afterword, Lewis is sharply critical of U.S. policy in Antarctica that permits only official visitors; he advocates private projects. This is a gripping story of adventure spiced by interpersonal conflict. Portions of the book previously appeared in National Geographic. Photos. (April) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Kirkus Book Review

The bottom of the world meets As the World Turns in this disturbing blend of adventure narrative, scientific observation, and internecine squabble. In 1983, the six-person team of the Frozen Sea Expedition embedded its vessel in Antarctic ice in order to study winter wildlife behavior, ice-pack fluctuations, and the techniques of over-ice travel. Meanwhile, expedition member Mimi George would analyze the role of stress in a small, enclosed group. Judging by the account of teamleader Lewis (The Maori, Voyage to the Ice), who wrote the main body of the text, George found a wealth of material to work with. Lewis complains at length--with some justification, if we can trust his account--about the behavior of some other members of the crew, especially a hot-tempered 25-year-old zoologist named Jaime Miller, who was eventually kicked off the team and flown back to civilization. Lewis asserts that his ""honesty"" will ""help others do better""; it also makes unpleasant reading for those who dislike seeing dirty laundry cleaned in public. Fortunately, this self-serving material is somewhat balanced by plenty of fascinating detail about penguins, blizzards, ice hikes, and other Antarcticana, as well as by a sensible plea for the legitimacy of private expeditions, under increasing attack by Big Brother governments. Most Antarctic books are as clear and calm as the ice they describes; here, rocks and pocks break the pristine surface. A novelty, then, and perhaps that's good--but this shrinks in the shadow of large-hearted early classics by Shackleton or Cherry-Garrard. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.