Rating: 
Summary: Best true tale of hardship and futility
Review: "Mawson's Will" is the harrowing tale of one man's endurance despite the appearance of futility. Among Antarctic tales, it is second behind this one. Mawson was one man struggling for a few weeks to survive or at least leave his notes for others. This is the story of a group struggling a full year to accomplish a mission in support of others who may (and did) never come. The odds against both were high, although it is amazing how few Antarctic explorers died. Mawson finally succeeded; Shackleton's men accomplished a misson that proved futile. This book is a better study for manned Mars missions.One aspect of this book, not shared by the Mawson story, is reminiscent of Scott's polar attempt; disaster due to poor orders from the leader. If Shackleton (who was not there) had not made one blunder (vs. Scott's N blunders), this expedition would have been much less interesting. In a story this good, it is impossible for me to critique the writing. I was thoroughly engrossed in both books. Excuse me, I'm just going outside. I may be some time.
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Summary: the other side of the story ...
Review: "Shackleton's Forgotten Men..." was an awesome book about a true group of heroes. The trials and tribulations that the group of men on the Endurance undertook to merely survive was awesome and humbling. I wholeheartedly recommend this book and suggest it especially for young people to see what 'heroic' really is (it's not playing basketball, football, etc. under adverse conditions).
Rating:
Summary: Learn the other side of the adventure
Review: A very good story, but not as riveting as Shackelton's tail. After reading about Shackelton's misadventure's, it's easy to wonder what happened to the other half of his plan. In this book, the author clearly and vividly lays out the rest of the story, of the struggles of the crew, the conflicts of command and egos, of the disasters that imperiled lives, and the eventual results. If you're new to polar exploration history, then read Shackelton as your first book. If you've already read that, then read this book.
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Summary: The Other Chilling Tale of the Endurance Saga
Review: A well written work that reads like a novel about the members of Shackleton's Ross Sea Party whose mission it was to lay food and supply depots for Shackleton's crossing of Antarctica. The brave men united by adversity, experience such unimaginable hardships, that as the reader I found myself rooting for these brave and courageous men to abandon their mission and save themselves. Their persistance to carry on and complete their mission while enduring every suffering possible of the Antarctic is testament to the true character and grit of these men. For anyone who has read any of the published "ENDURANCE" works this book is a must read. The adventure will not be complete until you read this bone chilling tale of the human spirit, unbroken.
Rating:
Summary: A gripping story of endurance and courage wasted
Review: Although modern writers discussing the events of the Endurance expedition have indeed pretty much forgotten this side of the expedition, it should be pointed out that Sir Ernest Shackleton himself covered it in his own book "South." Bickel has used recently found documentation and other materials to put together the complete tale of the Ross Sea Party of the Endurance expedition. After their ship Aurora was pulled away from her moorings by a storm, the men left on shore brilliantly improvised stores and equipment to lay the depots required for the planned crossing the Antarctic continent. During their sledging journeys one man died, and the survivors had to struggle to save two more (who ultimately were lost through their own foolishness in crossing sea ice when a storm threatened). All in all this is a valuable contribution to the story of the Endurance expedition. I also very highly recommend "Mawson's Will" by the same author.
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Summary: The Amazing other half of the Shackleton story
Review: Having read about Shackleton several years ago I am glad to see more interest in this amazing story and people looking at Shackleton's leadership which was incredible. I am troubled by one thing though, in almost everything I have seen and read (such as the Nova special, Caroline Alexander's Book, and Alfred Lansing's book) there is almost no mention about the crew on the other side of the Antarctica. In Shackleton's South, he wrote about checking on the men, but never went into the hardship they faced. I was disturbed that the Nova special did not even mention there was a crew laying supplies on the other side. In some ways, I actually think their story is more amazing the story of the crew of the Endurance. The crew was to lay supplies almost to the pole and then one night a storm came in a blew the ship back out to sea and then the men on shore had a very small fraction of the supplies from the ship. They still had to lay depots for Shackleton as they did not know there were not going to make it. At one point in the book, the men start out on a sledging journey that to this day holds, the record for the longest trip in both miles and time. If you are really into Shackleton, you MUST read about the other half of the story in this book.
Rating:
Summary: Cold even for a North Dakotan
Review: I had read of Scott and Amundson but, I confess, I was not well-versed on Shackleton. I enjoyed this account of his other crew, the ones who were there to set up supply bases for the second half of his journey accross Antarctica. This book was based on the personal accounts of the participants, some recently discovered. It is a good overview of the Shacklton quest and it leaves the reader with a chill and an appreciation of the sacrifices these men suffered through. It seems incomprehensible that some of these men survived at all. Their ship disappeared in a storm leaving them with less than adequate provisions and no contact with the outside world. I was surprized that Scott's shelters, built some years earlier, were still is satisfactory condition. I discovered that it is best not to be in the same room where seal blubber is being fried. I was impressed with the story of these men's determination to get the job done even though they surely knew that their names were not going to go down in history. Of course, the reader is struck with the irony of knowing that their work was all to support a journey that would never take place. I thought this story was well-told with imagery that gave us a sense of the privations of the men.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing Story
Review: I have not read other books about this topic first. Therefore, I did not know the outcome of Shackleton's adventure. But I did learn of the endurance of the men on the otherside waiting for Shackleton. The book gives a very personal account of the men from the ship Aurora as they trek to leave supply stores for Shackleton's crossing of Antartica. It never ceases to amaze what human's can endure for exploration.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing Story
Review: I have not read other books about this topic first. Therefore, I did not know the outcome of Shackleton's adventure. But I did learn of the endurance of the men on the otherside waiting for Shackleton. The book gives a very personal account of the men from the ship Aurora as they trek to leave supply stores for Shackleton's crossing of Antartica. It never ceases to amaze what human's can endure for exploration.
Rating:
Summary: It answered the rest of my curiosity
Review: I read "Shakletons Way" and "Endurance". They were both essential to get all of my questions answered about what happened to that party, however I remained uncomfortably curious about what happened to the Ross Sea Party because they were only alluded to. "Shakletons Forgotten Men" was awesome because it showed how what happened to the Ross Sea Party was as strenuous and heroic as the Endurance experience. It also portrayed the perfect contrast to great leadership by the aweful domino effect of what happens when people are under poor leadership (not hideous leadership, just typical). I learned some great things about myself and my motivations and my will from reading this book. The book also totally explains why it could only be written now and not decades ago. I was very satisfied with the answer and felt like I could trust the authors portrayl of the experience of the Ross Sea Party. I give it only 4 stars because the writer was a little hard to follow at times (I eventually put some things together later). It didn't interefere too much with the story though, which I highly reccomend!
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