I had read the ICE MASTER by Jennifer Niven when it was first published and found it a remarkably well written and compelling narrative of a strange arctic expedition lead by strange and misguided Vilhjalmur Stefansson. The story of the Karluk getting trapped in the ice and drifting north of Siberia to remote Wangel Island is gripping, as is the miracle of who dies and survives. And now Jennifer Niven has written a kind of sequel or continuation of the story as the strange Mr. Stefansson sends four explorers back to Wangel island to live and settle so the island can be claimed by the British or Canadians (who want nothing to do with the expedition). Strange as it seems one of the survivors of the Karluk, Fred Maurer is one of these four. Joining the expedition is Ada Blackjack, an Inuit Eskimo woman they hire to sew clothing for them while living on Wangel Island. This second volume is told though Ada Blackjacks life story and introduces us to wide ranging cast of characters, the expeditions relatives, Mr. Harold Noice who leads a rescue mission and his mad wife Florence whos paranoia leads to lies and the undoing of Noice and Ada Blackjacks reputation. If this all sounds a bit like an arctic soap opera, it is of course, and the story is not as exciting a read as the ICE MASTER. But anyone who loved that volume as much as I did is sure to enjoy the complete irony of this return exposition and Ada Blackjacks Unusual life story.
I got this book for Christmas and couldnt put it down. I devoured it in two days, but I should have rationed it because I was sorry I rushed through once I had finished. (I couldnt help it-- the story was riveting.) Im going back now to read more carefully, but I just couldnt resist writing a review first. Ms. Niven has done a masterful job telling the story of a young, brave Inuit woman who has sadly been forgotten through the years. Ada Blackjack-- both woman and book-- is an inspiration, and the four young men who were her comrades on this hair-raising expedition are finely-drawn, compelling characters as well. The story isnt without villains too, but that makes it all the more interesting. If you are looking for a cant-put-it-down, lose-yourself-to-the-world kind of read, this is it. I shut off my phone and locked my door and ignored the rest of the world for two glorious days.
I havnt even finished the book (about 3/4 through it) but I am so impressed by the writers style, and the general interest of the subject, that I am compelled to recommend it highly. This is one of those books I just cant wait to pick up again. The writers style is so concise, logical, and flowing that the story moves along effortlessly. Niven has obviously taken a huge amount of information and distilled it skillfully into a lean narrative. Buy it! I am a lover of the adventure/survival genre, particularly as regards the Arctic, and this book is one of the good ones!
