Rating: 
Summary: Probably the best of the four he's done so far
Review: Of all Reilly's four novels to date this is perhaps the most plausible - in at least one of its plot lines. In this case the major one, where several governments send in their best elite teams to secure what they think is alien technology. The entire ICG infiltration subplot gives Reilly permission ensure that there is a darker motive - keeping knowledge of the ICG secret - though you could argue that the impression is given early on in the novel that everyone knows it exists, albeit as myth.Anyhow, the premise of the novel is that the US scientists at the Wilkes Research station in the Antarctic have discovered a vast cavern housing an 'alien' craft buried in ice 1500ft down. By the time Shane Schofield (US marine) and his team arrive we discover that a group of French scientists have responded to an SOS and are already assisting. As with all Reilly novels it quickly degenerates into mayhem. Our French scientists are actually elite troops determined to secure the place or erase it (much is made of erasing methods by Reilly and each subsequent team into the place (the British SAS, then the US Navy SEALS) brings one bigger and better than the last. The nuclear tipped cruise missile ends up with the final say, though. However, before we get to our earth shaking finale (literally) Schofield and his team, mainly backed with Libby Gant, Mother, Book (who dies in a particularly nasty manner) Refound and the bespectacled scientist, Renshaw (whom you can't help seeing as a protoype for William Race in the latest, 'Temple'?), are forced to take on some of the world's best who are storming the place.
Reilly helpfully provides a schematic in his novels of the battle zones so we gain an familiarity with the inner structural workings of the place as we hurtle around in light, dark, and, at one point, a strobe effect. From the retracting bridge over C level, to confronting radiation enhanced diurnal elephant seals in the cavern, to swimming under icebergs in the Antarctic to destroy French submarines etc. etc. the entire novel oozes thriller.
We are introduced to a friendly seal named Wendy who saves the day on more than one occasion and a pod of ferocious killer whales. Reilly drags in the protective element with the young Kirsty, whose stepmother turns out to be extremely wicked and we are taught lessons that the mysterious ICG group, who are tasked with ensuring all new technology remains in US hands, are everywhere.
The action in the novel is immense and never lets up. From the opening assault by the French, the dealings with the killer whales, the SAS assault, a major chase in snow hovercrafts, destroying subs and calving off vast areas of the Ice shelf, 'Ice Station' doesn't disappoint. Through all the attacks Schofield hangs on to most of his team, cool-headedly escapes death every time, saves the day, outs the truth and even manages plenty of one-liners. Plausibity aside, (which is never a requisite for Reilly's novels) the opening 'Scarecrow' novel is a grand read and certainly makes that long plane or train journey disappear in a blur...
Rating:
Summary: Wow! great book
Review: The only problem you will have with this book is the pace. I finished this book so fast that I was at a loss and needed more! Good thing I found a copy of TEMPLE. I am a new Matt reilly fan and plan to read everything he puts out.
Rating:
Summary: Die Hard 4?
Review: Reading this book I couldn't help but think if Die Hard 4 were to be made as a prequel, this could be the story. The main character is so "John MacCleanish" that this could be MacClean's story in the Marines. The main character, Schofield heads a small batallion of marines to a scientific research station in Antarctica. The scientists have discovered "something" that must be secured until the proper authorities get there. What is not realized is several other supposed "ally" nations also know about the "something" and send their own military contingents to secure the same place. What follows are battles where people hang from hovercrafts, duck futuristic grenades, do battle with killer whales, and have to deal with a new species of killer seal that is bigger and deadlier than the whales. Action fans will love this book. Those who like pure science fiction will be greatly disappointed. The action, though totally absurd at times, kept me riveted.
Rating: 
Summary: Wow...this book kept me on the edge
Review: I finished this 500+ pages book in merely 2 days. The action sequences just kept coming one after another. It's true some of the stuff in the book didn't make sense. But hey, none of the stuff in the James Bond movies makes sense. If you like action movies, you'll love this book. Just try the first 15 pages and it'll draw you right in till the end. Must read.
Rating: 
Summary: Anarctic intrigue
Review: Mayhem has occurred at the Wilkes Ice Station, a U.S. research facility located in the inhospitable icy wasteland of Antarctica. Eight scientists while diving beneath the ice shelf detected an apparent alien spacecraft in the deep recesses of an underwater cavern. While in communication topside with the station the team was attacked by an unknown entity and all were killed. An urgent SOS for help was broadcast and hopefully received by other research stations in the Antarctic. The message was received aboard the U.S.S. Shreveport docked in Sydney harbor. In communication with the Undersecretary of Defense, Lieutenant Shane Schofield, leader of a crack Marine Force Recon Unit was commissioned to investigate at Wilkes.
Rating:
Summary: Lt. Convenient Coincidence
Review: Reilly has given us a franchise-type character whose everyday mission would make James Bond look like a pacifist playing bingo at a retirement home. So, action is never a question with this book -- there's has more than is almost needed. The same could be said about convenient coincidences. Every book has them -- it just a fact. Reilly uses them as if they were a major character. Our hero should have been dead a few hundred times if i hadn't been for a 'convenient coincidence' to just pop up. With that said, and off my shoulders, I really did enjoy the book as a great escapism device.
Rating:
Summary: Ridiculously fun!
Review: If you are a fan of big-budget Hollywood action films, Matt Reilly's Ice Station is a perfect read. It takes off from the start and doesn't stop to the very end. Although the plot is a bit far fetched, it is easily the most fun and action packed book that I have ever read. Perfect for an airplane ride or a relaxed read on the beach. Exciting and incredible plot twist pop up around every corner. I was actually upset when it was over and immediately read it again. Awesome!
Rating: 
Summary: To be avoided
Review: Reilly starts out with a promising premise, and you could be forgiven for purchasing this book on the strength of its synopsis which indicates an exciting mystery filled sci-fi survival page turner. Unfortunately ater reading the synopsis, you really have read the best that this book has to offer. The reviewer that companred Reilly's writing style to a 13 year old is completely correct. This is a peurile imature comic style event trying to pass itself off as readable. The errors in reality become VERY difficult to ignore, and completely remove your faith in the author as an informed story teller. Eg... - Night vision can cause 'permanent blinding, not temporary'
- Killer whales eat humans like popcorn (simply not true)
- The French special forces run around with... crossbows (?!?) instead of guns
- Aparently the SAS use nitrogen grenades (?!? Reilly, what exactly IS a nitrogen grenade?)
- Gun clips last MINUTES of extended firing, despite the fact that the MP5's described should burn through a magazine in a couple of seconds
- Handheld magnetic grappling hooks (?!? Where do they get their power from Reilly? And where does th power come from to operate the 'hydraulic mechanism' that fires it etc. etc. this is complete (and very poor) fiction)
- Apparently the Germans French and the British are constantly operating special forces inside the US for sabotage (?!? This is ludicrous, Reilly has no sense of politics OR international use of special forces, and yet he writes about these things with an air of knowledgeability (constructing poor histories for fictional weapons to try to make them sound authentic) which merely serves to insult the (undoubtedly) better informed, more mature reader).
- Scuba diving to 3,000 ft (impossible!)
- A magic pill that removes the effects of decompression sickness (?!?)
- Reilly's divers get decompression sickness on the way DOWN (as opposed to surfacing, when it actually occurs) The book is PACKED full of such errors, and they REALLY do detract from the story. Also consider that th entire first half of the book - 300 PAGES - is dedicated to one drawn out firefight. Which is mildly interesting at first, then becomes tedious, then boring, then downright direly boring, and still Reilly continues to write this scene. A poorly written book, if you require ANY sense of believability you simply will have a very difficult time getting to the end.
Rating:
Summary: Matthew Reilly is a genius!
Review: I have read all of his books and they are ALL brilliant! That's pretty rare! This was actually the first of his books that I tried,and I couldn't put it down (and that's a problem when it's almost 700 pages long and you have a job to get to!).It's fast and incredibly exciting,and with a host of well-written and vivid characters (if you want to read more about them,pick up a copy of his latest,Area 7 ).The author is often compared to Michael Crichton; and no offence to M.C.,Reilly is better.
Rating:
Summary: Not for the discriminating
Review: When I checked a week ago, there were mostly poor customer reviews of this book. There are now nothing but raves; amazing. 'splain that. It is an awful book, set in a world where ballistics, physics, and most laws of nature have no place. It is juvenile to a comic book level.
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