Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
London: Fontana, 1979
Description
The nuclear submarine "Dolphin" has impossible orders: Sail beneath the ice floes of the Arctic Ocean to locate and rescue the men of research station Zebra, gutted by fire and drifting with the ice pack somewhere within the Arctic Circle. But the orders can't prepare the crew for what they'll find if their mission is successful -- that the fire at Ice Station Zebra was sabotage and one of the survivors is a killer...
Media reviews
10 of the Greatest Cold War Spy Novels
“Scottish adventure specialist McLean offers up one of the best Cold War thrillers in the nuclear submarine sub-genre. About to depart on a supposed mission of mercy, Captain Swanson of the USS Dolphin is ordered to take along a British doctor to aid
“Scottish adventure specialist McLean offers up one of the best Cold War thrillers in the nuclear submarine sub-genre. About to depart on a supposed mission of mercy, Captain Swanson of the USS Dolphin is ordered to take along a British doctor to aid
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survivors of a fire-ravaged weather station on an Arctic ice floe. Though the conflict with the Soviets is subtler here than in the well-known 1968 film version, the Cold War is the real engine of the sub’s mission, the frostbite ‘doctor’ a British Intelligence agent, with Russian spies coming into play. Few could write the men-on-a-dangerous-mission adventure yarn better than McLean (The Guns of Navarone, 1957); this one is suggested by real events.” Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member thequestingvole
Ice Station Zebra by Alistair MacLean
I've always had a fondness for Alistair MacLean. My father would return home from work in Dublin City centre and leave his wool coat steaming in the hall. There was a second hand bookshop near the train station and he would stop off on Fridays and special
If reports were bad, these might mysteriously disappear. A little personal reconnaissance before the appointed hour was acceptable, but woe betide the Kinch minor that tried to snaffle one before his time. MacLean, Captain W.E. Johns, Richard Jeffries, Rosemary Sutcliff and a variety of boy detectives features a great deal. Henty was bigger and only came solo, as there was a limit to what Dad's pockets would hold. Curiously enough, I don't recall ever getting Ice Station Zebra.
The tale on the face of it is simple enough, there has been an accident at a British Antarctic Base and a US Navy Nuclear Submarine is dispatched to help. On board is Dr Carpenter, a mysterious Englishman, who is tasked with discovering what exactly occurred at the station.
As is traditional in an Alistair MacLean nothing is quite as it seems. Dr Carpenter, who is also a narrator, is revealed as steely eyed secret agent demonstrates the typical MacLean virtues of immense physical endurance, dogged determination and deeply cynical humour. There is no sex or romance in the story and comparatively little violence as the most brutal struggles of the book are pit man against the landscape. The nuclear submarine USS Dolphin is a prominent character in the action, this is not a techno-thriller in the Clancy mould. MacLean is far more interested in men than machines. This is a relatively short book, I read it over a day. It is also an old fashioned story in that it is one where things happen. There is precious little time for reflection or character development, not when there are Reds to outwit and icy tundras to cross.
In a strange way Ice Station Zebra has more in common with classic Christie mysteries like "Murder on the Orient Express" and "Ten Little Indians" then the bullet laced thrillers of our own day. The hero must solve a puzzle against the clock while trapped with his array of suspects. Ultimately despite his brute strength, weapons and the exotic locale, Dr Carpenter must resolve things the old fashioned way, by thinking.
And for those of you who like that sort of thing, this is exactly the sort of thing that you like.
I've always had a fondness for Alistair MacLean. My father would return home from work in Dublin City centre and leave his wool coat steaming in the hall. There was a second hand bookshop near the train station and he would stop off on Fridays and special
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occasions and buy a handful of paperbacks. The rules of the game were as follows, if I'd been good, I would be directed after dinner that "You might find something interesting, if you look in my coat."If reports were bad, these might mysteriously disappear. A little personal reconnaissance before the appointed hour was acceptable, but woe betide the Kinch minor that tried to snaffle one before his time. MacLean, Captain W.E. Johns, Richard Jeffries, Rosemary Sutcliff and a variety of boy detectives features a great deal. Henty was bigger and only came solo, as there was a limit to what Dad's pockets would hold. Curiously enough, I don't recall ever getting Ice Station Zebra.
The tale on the face of it is simple enough, there has been an accident at a British Antarctic Base and a US Navy Nuclear Submarine is dispatched to help. On board is Dr Carpenter, a mysterious Englishman, who is tasked with discovering what exactly occurred at the station.
As is traditional in an Alistair MacLean nothing is quite as it seems. Dr Carpenter, who is also a narrator, is revealed as steely eyed secret agent demonstrates the typical MacLean virtues of immense physical endurance, dogged determination and deeply cynical humour. There is no sex or romance in the story and comparatively little violence as the most brutal struggles of the book are pit man against the landscape. The nuclear submarine USS Dolphin is a prominent character in the action, this is not a techno-thriller in the Clancy mould. MacLean is far more interested in men than machines. This is a relatively short book, I read it over a day. It is also an old fashioned story in that it is one where things happen. There is precious little time for reflection or character development, not when there are Reds to outwit and icy tundras to cross.
In a strange way Ice Station Zebra has more in common with classic Christie mysteries like "Murder on the Orient Express" and "Ten Little Indians" then the bullet laced thrillers of our own day. The hero must solve a puzzle against the clock while trapped with his array of suspects. Ultimately despite his brute strength, weapons and the exotic locale, Dr Carpenter must resolve things the old fashioned way, by thinking.
And for those of you who like that sort of thing, this is exactly the sort of thing that you like.
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LibraryThing member reading_fox
Fairly straightforward thriller set in the Arctic.
A british special forces Dr. manages to get onboard a US submarine going to the rescue of a Arctic research station that has run into difficulties. Supposedly a metrological research station special forces are interested because the real purpose is
Average but fun. The characters are all a bit thin, especially the stereotypical americans and the russian agents, but there is enough accidents, and drama to keep the plot rolling along. The clues are there for you to work out in advance who is the russian agent - but until the grand denoucement at the end you are unlikely to do so.
A british special forces Dr. manages to get onboard a US submarine going to the rescue of a Arctic research station that has run into difficulties. Supposedly a metrological research station special forces are interested because the real purpose is
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spying against russian intercontinental missile launches. Several acts of carelessness or maybe sabotage seem to indicate that maybe the russians are aware of it's true nature and that of the rescue attempt. It's all down to the Dr. to save the day.Average but fun. The characters are all a bit thin, especially the stereotypical americans and the russian agents, but there is enough accidents, and drama to keep the plot rolling along. The clues are there for you to work out in advance who is the russian agent - but until the grand denoucement at the end you are unlikely to do so.
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LibraryThing member CynDaVaz
Ice Station Zebra was pretty good - once you got halfway or more into it. Before that time, it felt quite plodding ... far from engaging. This is the reason I knocked off one star from the review. It also didn't help that the narrator was a bit on the dull side. Otherwise, I'd have given it four
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stars because when everything came together it was fairly solid.However, I also have to add that when the bad guy was 'revealed' at the end, it wasn't surprising, as I'd already pegged who the villain was - not necessarily because of anything particular I picked up on, but merely because I think I've seen enough movies, and read enough whodunit books, to be able to figure out with a fair amount of consistency who the bad guy is. This was one of those times. IMO, this story would be more entertaining as a movie - and because there is a movie based on the book I plan to see it, even though I've heard that the book is far better. At any rate, after having read this (which was my first Alistair MacLean book), I'm definitely interested in picking some of his other writings Show Less
LibraryThing member Shimmin
An excellent book and probably his finest. It's extremely tense, with the danger of the situation always obvious, and the sense of treachery everywhere. I feel MacLean does a really good job of portraying both the characters and the situation, and the plot is tight, without the handwavery and
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fantastical elements that characterise some later works. Possibly the best thriller I have read. Show Less
LibraryThing member .Monkey.
Just like all of MacLean's books, this is a wild ride with plenty of humorous witty lines from the characters and lots of suspenseful moments. And like many of them, it's also a bit of a whodunnit. If you enjoy MacLean/this style, there's nothing not to love.
LibraryThing member martinhughharvey
Saw the movie about 45 years or so ago and for some reason was compelled to read the book. Glad I did. The only other McLean bok I read was "HMS Ulysses" about 50+ years ago!
Anyway, most enjoyable. Plot dense enough but followable, set mainly on a submarine (great for me), clever rather than lots
Anyway, most enjoyable. Plot dense enough but followable, set mainly on a submarine (great for me), clever rather than lots
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of violence. a few twists and turns, and an interrogation in the closest stages of the book reminicent of the table turing talk by Richard Burto and Client Eastwood in "The Guns of Navarone" (another McLean book). Show Less
LibraryThing member EmpressReece
Wow that was a really great read! It had just the right amount of action and suspense, the pacing was great, there wasnt any redundancy and the ending was perfect. I thought it was excellent!! Must read if you like artic action!!
LibraryThing member jeffome
Pretty exciting ride here. A little slow to get going....could not figure out what the main character was about.....but i realized eventually that that was the point....neither did the other characters! Much of this takes place on a U.S. military nuclear submarine.....and in the Arctic. I recently
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had the privilege of touring a U.S. nuclear submarine at a base in Georgia by a 'chief of boat' and it is an experience i am likely never to forget! So this added a whole dimension of familiarity that I would usually be lacking, and i could so very clearly visualize all of this book. Fascinating concept and much of it was rather gripping. Startling displays of courage and much cleverness as the mystery of the weather station fire and its cause slowly get solved....at a great expense. Have loved most of MacLean and this is no exception. Just bundle up before reading!!! Show Less
LibraryThing member fuzzi
A slow-starting but very satisfying tale of rescue and espionage in the Arctic. While slightly dated, the Cold War references shouldn't keep the reader from enjoying this adventure.
LibraryThing member Petroglyph
The highly-advanced atomic submarine Dolphin is dispatched to the Arctic on a rescue mission: a weather station somewhere on the ice pack has lost radio contact after broadcasting an SOS. A civilian, Dr. Carpenter, is sent along to assist the military crew with his expertise. Of course, as these
This was a tight little Cold War thriller that uses its settings to great effect: tense underwater conditions as the submarine dives underneath the arctic sea ice, and high-tech survivalist porn in the scenes set on top of the ice. The end drags a little, but at that point the novel has built up enough goodwill.
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things go, Carpenter turns out to be rather more than a medical doctor (he helped design the weather station, for a start). It won’t come as a surprise, either, that the weather station is really a front for top secret shenanigans. This was a tight little Cold War thriller that uses its settings to great effect: tense underwater conditions as the submarine dives underneath the arctic sea ice, and high-tech survivalist porn in the scenes set on top of the ice. The end drags a little, but at that point the novel has built up enough goodwill.
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LibraryThing member breic
I read this after learning about early American spy satellites. Quite a fun thriller, somewhat less interesting as a mystery.
LibraryThing member kslade
Good adventure story. Read it after seeing the film.
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1963
Physical description
254 p.; 18 cm
ISBN
0006144217 / 9780006144212