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gsatori's review
4.0
A Gem
What a pleasant surprise this short book proved! Hambling has a nice touch; his prose is lively and conjures great images. I think there are weaknesses here, such as the novel's pacing, but I'm not going to nitpick. It's a fun read. It's exciting. And if you're a fan of Lovecraftian literature like I am, then it's an added treat.
What a pleasant surprise this short book proved! Hambling has a nice touch; his prose is lively and conjures great images. I think there are weaknesses here, such as the novel's pacing, but I'm not going to nitpick. It's a fun read. It's exciting. And if you're a fan of Lovecraftian literature like I am, then it's an added treat.
jphillips2491's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
A nice twist on both Lovecraft and on a somewhat smaller scale Aladdin, only complaint is the the mc is supposed to be a rough and tumble boxer with some book smarts but acts like a know-it-all alot.
abattleofmice's review
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cthuwu's review
dnf @ 14% it started with a vaguely racist quote by rudyard kipling about inuits living in the far north and the main character thinks Very Highly of himself and the first chapter in a half were just a history lesson on shackleton :/ if i wanted to learn about shackleton, i'll buy a real history book.
queenterribletimy's review
4.0
Full review with personal notes as usual: starlitbook.com/2018/05/09/the-elder-ice-by-david-hambling/
Harry Stubbs, ex-boxer works his way up from debt collector to clerk in a law firm with his persistence and will as steel. He doesn’t have high ambitions, or extraordinary intelligence, but he is a hard worker and sets reachable goals for himself and has a curiosity which gets him through the not-so-exciting part of his job: writing reports. His current case leads him to investigate the late adventurer, Ernest Shackleton’s legacy. Apart from studying the availabe documents of his expeditions, Harry sets out to interview people who was in contact with Shackleton and might know something about the mysterious treasure worth a fortune. But as Harry digs deeper, the more dangerous the quest becomes, and not only the treasure is at stake but his own life as well. And when he finally gets the answers, he never sees them coming.
This book is set in London, 1925. Altough we don’t get to see much about the city, the atmosphere created by David Hambling is realistic and makes one feel back in a time when gentlemen wore bowler hats and people corresponded via handwritten letters instead of telephones and so you had to wait for days to arrange a meeting with someone. In a time when you didn’t just pop up by the other’s door or called from the corner letting them know you are coming. When people still walked and weren’t running around like crazed ants in their hive. Harry Stubbs is not your typical MC. He is not a knowing-it-all, I-am-above-everyone-else, I-will-solve-all-the-problems-just-watch-me kind of character and that’s good. He is an avarage guy, who follows orders but has some brain himself to know when to act and how to talk to people to get the information he wants. He is not witty, but observant, efficient, doesn’t waste time on small talk, and above else, loyal.
In this book historical fiction mixes with horror, mystery, some sci-fi and suprisingly they mix pretty well despite The Elder Ice being a really short novel. I felt like it needed at least 50 more pages for the story to be pulled out even better. In the first half, Harry interviews key figures in the mystery, in the second half or so, the events take place more rapidly, and the reader just tries to keep up with all the information and revelation coming. And they are quite surprising too. Some hints are hidden cleverly and you never recognize them until it’s too late. The other characters besides Harry are well built, they are distinct and easily recognisable like the austere Mrs Crawford the secretary at the firm, the overly friendly Arthur who looks after Harry when in need or the cunning and little mad Collector. It’s no easy task to put together a compelling story, with 3 dimensional characters having their own backgrounds and also recount some real historical events into 88 (or 128 in paperback) pages. It takes some talent and great editing.
The reason why this book doesn’t gets 5 stars is that sometimes I struggled with the writing style. Might be because of my afore mentioned lack of sleep, or that I don’t seem to get used to British english for some reasons. There is something with their use of words, or vocabulary which doesn’t bode well with me. The other reason is that we get far too less explanation about the myths and research regarding the treasure and its history. Sure, it’s more than enough to explain to the reader the importance and significance of the mentioned item, but the more curious ones like me might want more.
The Elder Ice is a book which is perfect for a nice afternoon read when you want to get away from reality and be thrown into the icy english winter to search for mysteries and recieve a few punches along the way. You will also discover a new twist to a well known story which will leave you wonder again, about humanity and their ability of telling stories and making them into something else with sheer will. If you are ready to face a new kind of truth about our world and what lays under the ice, of Antarctica then go ahead, and read this book! You might be looking at some things differently after that, but hey, I warned you! 😉
Harry Stubbs, ex-boxer works his way up from debt collector to clerk in a law firm with his persistence and will as steel. He doesn’t have high ambitions, or extraordinary intelligence, but he is a hard worker and sets reachable goals for himself and has a curiosity which gets him through the not-so-exciting part of his job: writing reports. His current case leads him to investigate the late adventurer, Ernest Shackleton’s legacy. Apart from studying the availabe documents of his expeditions, Harry sets out to interview people who was in contact with Shackleton and might know something about the mysterious treasure worth a fortune. But as Harry digs deeper, the more dangerous the quest becomes, and not only the treasure is at stake but his own life as well. And when he finally gets the answers, he never sees them coming.
This book is set in London, 1925. Altough we don’t get to see much about the city, the atmosphere created by David Hambling is realistic and makes one feel back in a time when gentlemen wore bowler hats and people corresponded via handwritten letters instead of telephones and so you had to wait for days to arrange a meeting with someone. In a time when you didn’t just pop up by the other’s door or called from the corner letting them know you are coming. When people still walked and weren’t running around like crazed ants in their hive. Harry Stubbs is not your typical MC. He is not a knowing-it-all, I-am-above-everyone-else, I-will-solve-all-the-problems-just-watch-me kind of character and that’s good. He is an avarage guy, who follows orders but has some brain himself to know when to act and how to talk to people to get the information he wants. He is not witty, but observant, efficient, doesn’t waste time on small talk, and above else, loyal.
In this book historical fiction mixes with horror, mystery, some sci-fi and suprisingly they mix pretty well despite The Elder Ice being a really short novel. I felt like it needed at least 50 more pages for the story to be pulled out even better. In the first half, Harry interviews key figures in the mystery, in the second half or so, the events take place more rapidly, and the reader just tries to keep up with all the information and revelation coming. And they are quite surprising too. Some hints are hidden cleverly and you never recognize them until it’s too late. The other characters besides Harry are well built, they are distinct and easily recognisable like the austere Mrs Crawford the secretary at the firm, the overly friendly Arthur who looks after Harry when in need or the cunning and little mad Collector. It’s no easy task to put together a compelling story, with 3 dimensional characters having their own backgrounds and also recount some real historical events into 88 (or 128 in paperback) pages. It takes some talent and great editing.
The reason why this book doesn’t gets 5 stars is that sometimes I struggled with the writing style. Might be because of my afore mentioned lack of sleep, or that I don’t seem to get used to British english for some reasons. There is something with their use of words, or vocabulary which doesn’t bode well with me. The other reason is that we get far too less explanation about the myths and research regarding the treasure and its history. Sure, it’s more than enough to explain to the reader the importance and significance of the mentioned item, but the more curious ones like me might want more.
The Elder Ice is a book which is perfect for a nice afternoon read when you want to get away from reality and be thrown into the icy english winter to search for mysteries and recieve a few punches along the way. You will also discover a new twist to a well known story which will leave you wonder again, about humanity and their ability of telling stories and making them into something else with sheer will. If you are ready to face a new kind of truth about our world and what lays under the ice, of Antarctica then go ahead, and read this book! You might be looking at some things differently after that, but hey, I warned you! 😉
audiobookmel's review
4.0
3.5 stars
My review and an extended sample of the audiobook are posted at Hotlistens.com.
The author contacted me about reviewing this book. I haven’t read many books like this one, as I don’t read a lot historical stories, but I do love a good mystery, so I thought I would give this one a try. My understanding is that this has a Lovecraft aura to it. As I’ve never read Lovecraft, I can’t comment on it, but seems to be a common theme from others who’ve read this work. There is also the Cthulhu mythology in the story.
Harry Stubbs is former military and boxer, turned collections agent. Here, Harry is asked to investigate the now deceased Ernest Shackleton. He is to find out what or if Shackleton found anything when he was exploring Antarctica. Stubbs gets more than he bargains for with this investigation. He is chased by assassins and more, when he was expecting just digging up information without much, if any, danger.
This is a short story, coming in at less than three hours. But it is a full and complete story, taking place in the 1920s. As I’ve said, I don’t read much historical stories, but you can really feel the research that the author did with this story. Mostly, I noticed his research into Antarctic explorations (and that of the Arctic as well), boxing and even the occult of the times. I really fell into the story and the history that went along with it. It made me want to read more about the early explorers of Antarctica.
Harry Stubbs is also a great and fully developed every-man type of character. I really liked Harry. I felt he really wanted to do a good job for his employer and better his station in life, as a guy without a huge amount of education. He wants to see this investigation thing become a bigger part of his role, instead of just being muscle to collect on debts.
If you like stories with science fiction and investigations, set in the past, this is a great story for you to try.
Narration
This is my first time with Brian J. Gill narrating a story. I thought he did a good job with the accents and different voices of the characters. He really brought Harry to life in this story. I would listen to him narrate more stories.
**I'd like to thank the author for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
My review and an extended sample of the audiobook are posted at Hotlistens.com.
The author contacted me about reviewing this book. I haven’t read many books like this one, as I don’t read a lot historical stories, but I do love a good mystery, so I thought I would give this one a try. My understanding is that this has a Lovecraft aura to it. As I’ve never read Lovecraft, I can’t comment on it, but seems to be a common theme from others who’ve read this work. There is also the Cthulhu mythology in the story.
Harry Stubbs is former military and boxer, turned collections agent. Here, Harry is asked to investigate the now deceased Ernest Shackleton. He is to find out what or if Shackleton found anything when he was exploring Antarctica. Stubbs gets more than he bargains for with this investigation. He is chased by assassins and more, when he was expecting just digging up information without much, if any, danger.
This is a short story, coming in at less than three hours. But it is a full and complete story, taking place in the 1920s. As I’ve said, I don’t read much historical stories, but you can really feel the research that the author did with this story. Mostly, I noticed his research into Antarctic explorations (and that of the Arctic as well), boxing and even the occult of the times. I really fell into the story and the history that went along with it. It made me want to read more about the early explorers of Antarctica.
Harry Stubbs is also a great and fully developed every-man type of character. I really liked Harry. I felt he really wanted to do a good job for his employer and better his station in life, as a guy without a huge amount of education. He wants to see this investigation thing become a bigger part of his role, instead of just being muscle to collect on debts.
If you like stories with science fiction and investigations, set in the past, this is a great story for you to try.
Narration
This is my first time with Brian J. Gill narrating a story. I thought he did a good job with the accents and different voices of the characters. He really brought Harry to life in this story. I would listen to him narrate more stories.
**I'd like to thank the author for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
outb0undflight's review
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A solid, pulpy Lovecraft adjacent adventure story.
writersbeard's review
4.0
fraeyalise's review
3.0
Pretty good for a self-published book I got for free on Reddit!
The pacing could use some work, but it was an enjoyable quick read. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a short, lovecraftian story about a former boxer.
The pacing could use some work, but it was an enjoyable quick read. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a short, lovecraftian story about a former boxer.