Ice Station Zebra (Isis Large Print Fiction)

Rating:
Summary: Warmed-up soup
Review: An American nuclear-powered submarine stationed in a British base is sent up, towards the North Pole, on a fact-finding and rescue mission about a British Arctic base, the interrupted last radio message of which was an S.O.S.-Mayday one. The submarine is carrying, as a guest, an English agent who also has personal reasons of interest. It comes out that the base had been almost totally destroyed by arson. A few survivors in terminal condition from frost are found and revived; the agent solves the riddle, prevents - nay, turns around 180 degrees - the final damage, and exposes the villainous traitor during the return trip(family circumstances of personal relevance are included). This book is in key with all others by the same author: introduce a seemingly desperate situation, masterminded by a super-fiend who is usually controlled by the bad side of the Iron Curtain; enter a super-duper British Secret Service agent (a past master in 20 different languages and all of their 300 dialects, and in all crafts of his trade. The situation evolves from bad to worse, apparently with no hope, till page " n/2 + 1 ", but Superty-Duperty keeps working at it until the devilish plot is uncovered. Final confrontation with Super-Fiend, and his utter humiliation, defeat and ruin. Down curtain, everybody stand up for "Rule Britannia". Read one book by this author and you've read'em all, in a "very pompous indeed" style of writing.

Rating:
Summary: Maclean is truly THE master storyteller
Review: An ingenious and clever plot, set aboard a nuclear submarine headed for the polar ice cap. It's a rescue mission, murder mystery, and spy thriller. The hero is shrewd and intelligent and never gives up (regardless of how impossible the situation seems.) The villain is diabolical and just plain evil, and the supporting characters are outstanding and actually memorable. This (and all Maclean's other novels) should be the standard by which all movies are made, and which other novelists should try to measure up to.

Rating:
Summary: One of Maclean's very best
Review: I have friends who found this book boring, and I think I see what they mean. "Ice Station Zebra" does not have the non-stop action pace of modern thrillers. What it does have, to an exceptional degree, is vivid characterization, enjoyable writing, and a sustained build-up of tension that enables the reader to miss the occasional hole in the plot. Something I truly love about this book is that there is no fat on its frame: no gratuitous violence, zero sex, no hype. In some ways it strikes me as a model for the successful thriller in its purest form, with everything potentially inessential stripped away, and I re-read it every year or two just for the sheer fun of it.

Rating:
Summary: One of Maclean's very best
Review: I have friends who found this book boring, and I think I see what they mean. "Ice Station Zebra" does not have the non-stop action pace of modern thrillers. What it does have, to an exceptional degree, is vivid characterization, enjoyable writing, and a sustained build-up of tension that enables the reader to miss the occasional hole in the plot. Something I truly love about this book is that there is no fat on its frame: no gratuitous violence, zero sex, no hype. In some ways it strikes me as a model for the successful thriller in its purest form, with everything potentially inessential stripped away, and I re-read it every year or two just for the sheer fun of it.

Rating:
Summary: SUNK UNDER THE ICE
Review: Ice Station Zebra is a unique story about a man who has to go up against all odds including, weather, fire and murders, to find out who the villian is. Doctor Carpenter plays the leading role in this story as a British espioage aggent who acts the role of a ordanary doctor, but is secretly trying to find the man responsible for his brothers death. Doctor Jolly, a heavily accented Brit will be the man Carpenter is looking for. This man is a professional spy who covers his tracks quite well. Captain Swanson is the leading officer on the submarine Dolphin where most of the action including the climax takes place. He seems to be an inteligent man and well respected, but seems easily manipulated by Carpenter. One incident i did not like, it was shortly after Carpenter arrived at Ice Station Zebra in which he found his brothers charred remains, however he seemed to show little or no emotion towards this faceless body. I Would not reccomend this book because of impersonable characters who i could not relate with. The characters in my opinion are truly the backbone of the story and without them there is truly no hope for ICE STATION ZEBRA!

Rating:
Summary: Amazing atmosphere
Review: The best thing about the writing in this book is the way the author has put in just the perfect amount of detail.As I read this book I felt as if I was there following Carpenter(The main character).I could feel the cold and the atmosphere of the adventure as I read the book and I've read it 7 times by now in the past 5 years.

Rating:
Summary: Cold, dramatic, and flawless
Review: This is one of Alistair Maclean's best novels. From the time the American nuclear submarine Dolphin moves under the Arctic ice, you know it's not going to be an easy trip. From the sabotage of the torpedo tube, to the cold war double-crossing action at Ice Station Zebra, this novel is fast-paced, while still making you cold reading it. If you haven't read Maclean before, start with this one. I read it the first time when I was twelve years old and I re-read it every other year.

Rating:
Summary: Cold, dramatic, and flawless
Review: This is one of Alistair Maclean's best novels. From the time the American nuclear submarine Dolphin moves under the Arctic ice, you know it's not going to be an easy trip. From the sabotage of the torpedo tube, to the cold war double-crossing action at Ice Station Zebra, this novel is fast-paced, while still making you cold reading it. If you haven't read Maclean before, start with this one. I read it the first time when I was twelve years old and I re-read it every other year.

Rating:
Summary: Simply the Best!
Review: This is the way action novels should be written: taut, interesting,and loaded with realistic plot twists. Anyone writing a thriller today would do well to read this novel and realize that true writing does not require heavy amounts of sick, glossy violence and unneccessary sex. Besides a crackling story, the characters are smart and show a good bit of depth. It requires you to figure who the antagonist might be. One of my favorite passages is during the accident in the Engineroom...talk abut cold! But I won't say anymore because I do not wish to ruin anymore of the plot. Bruce from Camaroon take a clue: No one reads these reviews to be told who the bad guy is, that's what keeps them reading. All and all an excellent read!

Rating:
Summary: Tension and adventure under and on the polar icecap.
Review: Unlike some of this author's novels, Ice Station Zebra is an easy-to-read, quick moving story that doesn't bore. Forget the movie (except you can visualize some of the actors as you read since casting was well done.) The action aboard the submarine provides some tense reading moments.