Rating:  Summary: A true mess Review: Within a polar ice cap lies a secret. The Russians are so worried that the secret will get out that they are willing to kill to keep it quiet. The US Navy Seals are called in to wage war and a nuclear sub is brought in for backup. Throw in a few Alaska residents who inadvertently stumble into the mess, their dog, and a few prehistoric monsters and perhaps you will have the start of a thriller. At stake, the possibility of a nuclear blast annihilating the polar ice cap affecting weather patterns all over the world and life as we know it. What a mess! ICE HUNT is full of interminable chases- the Russians chase the American military and the Alaskan residents. The US military chasing the Russians, the prehistoric monsters chasing whatever it sees and all within the claustrophobic confines of the polar ice cap station. In fact, the author is well aware how complex this station is- he includes a detailed map of the station. This is a prime example of a book going about 150 pages longer than it should have.
Rating:  Summary: FRIGID AIR Review: While Rollins' ICE HUNT is derivative in many ways, he still manages to give the reader a roller coaster of a ride, complete with covert governmental operations and a thrill a minute chases in improbable scenarios. Rollins can't quite come up to the amazing level of Matthew Reilly or Lincoln and Childs, but he nonetheless is pointed in the right direction. What's right about the novel is the characterization of its two leads, Matt Pike and Jennifer, the ex-wife sheriff. They have the essential heroic qualities, but maintain their human flaws as well. Bane, the superdog, is right out of a Dean Koontz book, and the villains of the piece (of which there are many)offer little in the way of novelty. Another flaw is the fact that our own US government is just as villainous as the Russians. In this time of let's stay behind our government, Rollins' use of them as devious and covert echoes the lack of creative writing. So many books paint us as villains, it would be nice if a writer would cut us some slack. All in all, though, it's an enjoyable what if vehicle, and would make a great movie.
Rating:  Summary: good, but not a ten! Review: This adventure/suspense novel really takes off and moves well in the early chapters. I felt it became bogged down a bit with repetitiousness once the characters were all 'assembled' at the ice station. But all in all, a good read, it just doesn't deserve a ten. I had hopes it was going to flow better...akin to the better novels by Doug Preston. Still, I will recommend it to my adventure readers at our library where I am the director.
Rating:  Summary: I Read This Story Before? Review: Just prior to reading this book, I read Matt Reilly's Ice Station. Being that these books came out about the same time, I wonder if the authors worked together to come up with their stories since they are so much alike. The things that are the same include: old abandoned ice stations (different poles however), dangerous prehistoric creatures lurking around, undocumented military skirmishes between the US and other countries, combination scientists/military teams at the ice stations, battles that include air chases, a foreign warship ready to blow the place up, etc.This book is ok (3 stars) but the Reilly book was far better (4 stars).
Rating:  Summary: Lots of fun if you overlook the errors Review: I bought this book while waiting for the next Matthew Reilly novel, in hopes Ice Hunt would be half as fun as Ice Station. It was half as fun. Mr. Rollins develops good characters and achieves a fast paced adventure tale. On the other hand, he doesn't have a grasp of U.S. military tactics and training, and it shows. Having an American Delta force command casually agree to slaughter innocent civilians isn't even outrageous -- it's laughable. Once I got to that point of the novel I wanted to see the ending so I finished it up, but the story was spoiled for me. Tom Clancy isn't a military man, and neither is Matthew Reilly. Somehow they manage to get their facts put together -- bad guys can be American military personnel, but bad guys aren't the entire U.S. military force. I hope that James Collins does better research next time and gets his military strategy right.
Rating:  Summary: Rollins dilivers the thrills and chills again!!! Review: With Ice Hunt, James Rollins creates a wonderfully fast paced and thrilling story that will once again leave you very satisfied at the end. Matthew Pike, is a wonderful character that we meet at the start of the novel. From the opening pages we are thrown into a world of ice and snow, where the thrills are fast and furious. Ice Hunt is full of the twists and turns that Rollins fans have come to expect. Ice Station Grendel is described in great detail, and it feels like you are there with the characters. Ice Hunt has the mix of fantasy as well as reality that makes Rollins books so much fun. Like all of Rollins' previous works, a scientific phenomenon has been discovered in some remote place. This time however there are a couple of differences, first and foremost the setting is not the steamy hot rain forest, or jungle, rather the Polar Ice Cap. Second, there is this element of political involvement in this book, seeing that Ice Station Grendel is a Russian Ice Station and it is discovered by Americans. But like the other Rollins novels, Ice Hunt delivers a fun and entertaining story that will keep the pages turning. From the opening chapter to the end of this book, Rollins grabs hold of the reader and takes you on a roller coaster of twists and turns that you don't expect. A must read for fans of Rollins, and a great way for soon to be fans to start reading one of the best writers around today! I highly recommend Ice Hunt, you will not be disappointed.
Rating:  Summary: Mr. Rollins does it again! Review: This is an excellent adventure novel mixed with science and history. You have to cheer for the lead characters... or do you? The plot has many twist and turns that you are not sure where you will go next. Get ready for a great read, find your favorite chair because you will not want to put it down.
Rating:  Summary: Sensational Audiobook read by Ron Dreyer Review: Just listened to this audiobook --and I have to say, it was like listening to a big summer blockbuster! The narrator, Ron Dreyer, kept me interested and enthralled throughout the entire story. He and James Rollins make a great team. The action scenes were very exciting. It's crammed with over the top characters, accents, technology and plot elements. "Ice Hunt" is pure entertainment. It should make an awesome movie.
Rating:  Summary: Rollins' Best Book Yet! Review: In my opinion this is his best book yet and an unusually good read! The book startes with a confrontation with polar bears, then a rescue from a crashed plane. Another plane drops a couple of armed men determined to see that the crash left no survivors. From one trouble to another the book keeps going at jet speed all the way to the end. Along the way there are several sub-plots, numerous unexpected plot twists and, at the end, the worst fate for one person I could possibly imagine. Just when you think you're safe, Rollins finishes with an appendix explaining how major points of the fictional story are based on factual events! Something like this *could* happen! Now that's really scary! Despite the pace of the book, Rollins takes time to develop his characters and make them seem real. He also painted the arctic scenes so vividly that I can still picture them some weeks after finishing the book. Highly recommended but I have to warn you... other books are going to seem pretty tame after this one!
Rating:  Summary: the new Dirk Pitt of action stories Review: This was a fun book, with a twist at the end which is unexpected, but possible, given the the government's propensity for double dealing and "the end justifies the ends" mentality. However, the author needs to bone up on US Navy ranks, as - referring to the Captain of the nuclear submarine, he mentions the Captain "receiving his Captain's "bars". US Navy captains are the equivilant of Army bird colonels, they wear an eagle. A naval lieutenant wears two silver bars. If you want an on the edge of your seat read, then this is the book for you.
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