THE ICE MASTER The Doomed 1913 Voyage of the KARLUK

Abandoned by their expedition leader, cast adrift from their crushed vessel, the crew of the Canadian ship KARLUK fights to survive in the Arctic while the ship's captain looks for help. Jennifer Niven's research and writing of this terrifying story are impeccable. Drawing from diaries, news accounts, and published interviews, she retraces the entire expedition, which began in 1913 and ended two years later. Unfortunately, her skills as a narrator fall far short of her historical skills. Niven's soft, whispery voice, carrying strong overtones of a Southern belle, is decidedly unmatched to the horrifying stories of death, starvation, illness, and perseverance that she tells. Haunting musical interludes and chapter separators help, but not enough. R.P.L. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 01]