Rating: 
Summary: I shouldn't have liked it, but I did...
Review: This really is a fun book, first and foremost. Realism aside, literary merit aside, it is the equivalent of a big-budget Hollywood action-fest with no time allowed for a popcorn run... it really is that fast and furious. I personally had never read anything quite like it; a novel that was nothing (and I do mean NOTHING) but two fisted action. The first gunfight was spectacular and really engrossing, and the rest of the book kept a similar momentum. Now, I suppose we could criticize the realism here, but it is important to keep in mind that we could also peck at the realism in the movie 'Predator' as well, which also stands as a fantastically diverting action experience. Of course physics is occassionally suspended and the impossible occasionally becomes feasible - but Reilly has fashioned a piece of pure FICTION, not a recreation of history (I would feel quite differently if the book was about a historically documented event). If you want a diversion, read this book. If you've been slugging through too many forehead-knotting texts and want a purely escapist break, read this book. Why only three stars, then? Well, five is perfect, and four is 'buy it immediately'. Despite enjoying this as much as I did, it is not really the kind of book that rises above its utility. In other words, once finished, you'll never go back to it except as a memory. That said, three stars is perfectly adequate. But don't think that's not a reccomendation - if big explosions and a two-day read are what you're after, look no further. Fun.
Rating: 
Summary: Great second novel from ever improving Reilly
Review: This is actually the second of Reilly's novels. His first novel, "Contest", was self-published then re-released by his current publishers, and is more science fiction themed, while Reilly's three subsequent novels are more straightforward action thrillers. The basic plot of "Ice Station" comes from the idea: what if there was a strange aircraft discovered in the last place on earth that is 'neutral' - Antarctica - which nation can claim it? To whom does it belong, if the land it is in belongs to nobody? The answer of course is that any country will try to claim the aircraft (while maintaining secrecy) at any cost, and that's what happens in this novel. A group of US Marines are sent in to recover the aircraft, and while doing so encounter other enemy groups with the same goal. As the excited publicity has it, the Marines who go down into the ice station enter ... hell itself. You can guess the rest. Lots of fighting and a few heroes who make it out alive: non stop action all the way. Matthew Reilly is definitely a product of his generation. The emphasis in his four books thus far has been on speed, at the expense of pretty much anything else. But these are the kinds of books that allow you to forget about reality and enter a different kind of world, pretty much like any action movie. And really, movie's the key phrase when it comes to Reilly. He has admitted he's keen to get involved in movie making, and it's no surprise then that his novels read exactly like the novelization of a blockbuster: incredible stunts, chase scenes, battles and top level government conspiracies are the norm here. I usually read his books in one hit, because they are hard to put down; Reilly's got a lot of talent for keeping the action moving. In an interview at the end of "Area 7" Reilly talks about his main goal for future books being to make things even faster. That seems hard to believe but promising! Another enjoyable aspect of his books are the premises - Reilly has great ideas and, it seems, unlimited scope for the (action) imagination. There's several flaws in his books which some may find annoying. There's no time for character development, although as Reilly points out, fast paced narratives hardly leave time for much development of anything but action. That's true enough: stronger character delineation often comes at the expense of plot. The second flaw in Reilly's writing is over-explanation - especially apparent in his first three novels. An event will take place, then is explained to us again just in case we missed it. Certainly in "Area 7" (his fourth book and the sequel to this novel) there's less of this, which we can probably attribute to a bit more maturity and tighter editing. The third flaw in his books is the high level of coarse language - while this certainly won't bother a lot of people, others might find it irritating. It's not really a mark of good writing, however, and repetition dulls the impact - it is possible to make your point without excess. The fourth flaw in his books is his excessive use of emphasis (especially italics) -as if you KNOW this is a REALLY THRILLING book because EVERY few lines there's MORE italics, MORE exclamation marks!, and MORE... ...NEW paragraphs!... Again, repetition lessens the impact. If a writer wants to make a book more tense and shock the reader, saving the emphatic techniques for those fewer moments makes all the difference. Otherwise the novel becomes farcical, kind of like a Batman "bam! whump! crash!" comic. But chances are the reader will get so wrapped up in the narrative that it won't matter anyway. "Ice Station" and "Area 7" are probably my favourites of Reilly's work. The hero of the two novels, Shane 'Scarecrow' Schofield, is excellent, with the right amount of skill, humanity and mystery to make his adventures worth following. He's got great fellow Marines: 'Mother', 'Book', and potential romantic interest Libby Gant. Antarctica is a good setting and a nice change from other typical thrillers; ditto the desert in "Area 7". Overall Reilly's work can hardly be considered Great Literature, but books ought to be about enjoyment and escapism as much as anything, and in these two aspects - and speed - Reilly is in a class of his own. "Ice Station" is a great read, and if you enjoy it then definitely pick up a copy of his newest "Area 7", which follows on from the events in this book. I can't wait to see what Reilly comes up with next.
Rating: 
Summary: The worst book ever!!!!!
Review: This book is without a doubt the worst book I will ever read (I refuse to read another book by this author). Being in the military I found the sheer ignorance to basic facts displayed by the author offensive and an insult to my intelligence. Marines swinging from catwalks with grappling hooks, SAS running around in the snow dressed in black counter terrorist style uniforms, one man in the freezing waters of the Antartic managing to sigle handedly sink a submarine are just a few examples of the far fetched dribble Matt Reilly expects us to swallow. I will agree that I could not put the book down but this was because I had to keep reading to see just how stupid the story could get and believe me, I was not dissapointed. As the story unfolds the action just gets more and more unbelievable to the point that it becomes comedy. To all those that enjoyed this book, you must either be very simple minded or able to enjoy a story that treats the reader like a kid with no comprehension of reality. I can't say this enough - AVOID THIS BOOK AT ALL COSTS!!!
Rating: 
Summary: The best book i ever read! (NoN SToP AcTiON)
Review: IT IS THE BEST BOOK I EVER READ! It contains suspense, action, and a bit of humor making it hard to drop the book! A MUST READ BOOK!!! If you like action packed and fast paced books, Ice Station is for you! TO me , "it's like seeing one hundred men pointing heavy machine guns right in between my eyes"
Rating:
Summary: Hmmmm
Review: I read this book in a course of a day. As an action thriller it belts along at great pace but unfortuately as the book progresses such things as character development and realism trailing beind in a sorry heap which in my eyes to a certain extent lowered the overall book. Its worth reading however if you can suspend disbelief.
Having also read the next book in this series, Area 7, that one proved to be more grounded in reality; mostly anyway and is well worth a read
Rating:
Summary: WOW!!! This is great stuff...
Review: If you love adventure fiction and seat-of-your-pants thrillers. This is one you can't miss. And when you're done you'll be looking for Reilly's second, Temple... another rush!!! Reilly is young. After just two books from this 20-something author, it's clear he's a genius with the capacity to recreate the entire adventure fiction genre, much the way Stephen King redid horror. Read it. Love it. And recommend it. Your friends will thank you.
Rating:
Summary: MATT REILLY RULES!!
Review: This 40-year-old reader has a new favorite writer now and his name is - Matt Reilly! This 27-year-old writer is at the top of his class already with only 2 novels out! Now, I have read action/adventure books of all kinds for well over 25 years and this guy is already one of the best out there today. His other novel TEMPLE is written the same way - fast-paced and full of adventure and unforgettable characters both good and bad, and monster-like creatures straight out of legends! It's like reading Michael Crighton on steroids! If you like your stories full of breakneck speed and have a high adrenaline flow - this writer is for you. I can't put the book down because it never slowed down and always left you with - IF ONLY THEY WOULD MAKE MOVIES THIS GOOD!!
Rating:
Summary: WOW!!
Review: Wow! I was blown away by this book. I usually do my reading at night, but I found that I could not put this book down. I found the story to be very face paced, like a snowball going down hill, it just grabed you and took you along for the ride. The goodguys were good and the badguys were down right nasty. Scarecrow showed that true Marine nature, and Renshaws pluckyness (for lack of a better word) had me laughing out loud at times. Matt Reilly has a winner here and I can't wait to read his next book. Ice Station was one great read, and would make a great movie if done just right. Are you listening Mr.Speilberg?
Rating:
Summary: A Gripping book
Review: I got this book for Christmas last year and didn't expect much from it, but I reluctantly picked it up and, after the first ten pages I couoldn't put it down. Granted, this book isn't very plausible nor does it have the strongest plot, but it delievrs tons of excitement and action. Matt Reilly has, in my view instantly catapulted himself into the upper echelon of action writers. This book is cramemd with enough backstabbing, conspiracy theories and international intrigue to make your ehad spin as well. And every kind of action possible is in here, and just when you think a character is gone, he coems up with soem ingenius solution. This is my favorite book ever, I recomend it to anyone that enjoys action.
Rating:
Summary: Ice Station
Review: Reading fiction is about escaping, delving into another world without judging, without preconceived notions.... Who cares if the book is unrealistic, that's what fiction is. That's why people read fiction. If you want 100% real life portrayals of military recon units and the weapons they deploy, go read an encyclopedia or NON-FICTION. This book is relentless fiction from start to finish. Some of the most entertaining action sequences I've ever read. Great descriptions of the landscape in Antarctica, the widlife and the extreme conditions that go along with living there. Like I said before, WHO CARES if these deptictions are wholly accurate... it's fiction for crying out loud! Firefights with MP-5's and Desert Eagles, killer whales eating people whole, hovercrafts and a government conspiracy? Right on Matt Reilly! I can't wait to read Temple, your next work of FICTION.
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