The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
vintonole's review against another edition
4.0
Very entertaining story of action and adventure on a frozen planet. Sad that I held on to this one for so long before reading it.
assur191's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
pm_ray's review against another edition
3.0
Read this a long time ago when I was a teen.
Positives
Great world idea.
Interesting ideas on some of the culture.
Fun read in a classic scifi corny sort of way.
C'mon, you got skating cat-like beings with medieval technology...how can you not love that?
Negatives
No real depth.
Did not age well, sexist.
Positives
Great world idea.
Interesting ideas on some of the culture.
Fun read in a classic scifi corny sort of way.
C'mon, you got skating cat-like beings with medieval technology...how can you not love that?
Negatives
No real depth.
Did not age well, sexist.
birdmanseven's review against another edition
3.0
The book has a great concept. I love a good survival story. The characters are complete and pretty interesting, though there are elements that don't age well. Overall an enjoyable story with a fun cast of characters.
I interviewed Alan Dean Foster for a special episode of the All the Books Show: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/episode-225-interview-with-alan-dean-foster
I interviewed Alan Dean Foster for a special episode of the All the Books Show: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/episode-225-interview-with-alan-dean-foster
manwithanagenda's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
'Icerigger's reputation remains intact, if tarnished, after rereading it for the first time since I was in high school, on the heels of the 'Spellsinger' saga. Alan Dean Foster has his own brand of humor, dated but effective, and a straight-forward delivery of an adventure on a foreign ice world. Unlike what the cover might sell, the survival aspect isn't too prominent for long, but ice-skating cat warriors were probably the better bet to keep my 15 year old attention. I could have done without the borderline furry action, however. But, one can't have everything.
Nevertheless, this trilogy sparked my imagination, especially the next two parts, which I suspect I'll get to within a few months. I've held on them for so long, too. Currently, for the first time since my growing collection started bumping books sideways and under beds, every book I own is now upright and visible on shelves with room to spare. An amazing feeling by the way--not to brag like some asshole back from a vacation. From within my perpetual storage unit, until last month my parent's garage, I've sorted and thinned and considered and, ultimately, piled more and more volumes into donation piles and gained a high stack of nested totes in the process. And 'Icerigger' and its sequels have got a stay of execution every time.
The book isn't hard science fiction and doesn't really qualify as even a less-refined exploratory speculative book à la Ursula K. Le Guin either. Tran-ky-ky and its inhabitants serve mostly as a colorful setting. It's set within Foster's Humanx universe, but 'Icerigger' works well on its own. A botched kidnapping lands a small group of humans on an under-explored planet with low technology and subfreezing climates. The people must somehow reach the only Humanx outpost thousands of miles away. A simple set-up made entertaining by immersions in local politics (April 27th marked the anniversary of Magellan's death from some less judicious meddling, by the way) and interesting spins on the usual archetypes--foremost, of course, being Ms. Colette du Kane and her "cake of sherbet" rear.
The book doesn't really finish, so I'm a little disappointed because I know it'll be a few books before I get to 'Mission to Moulokin', but it was a relief to find out that some of these frothy genre books hold up past 12th grade.
Icerigger Trilogy
Â
Next: 'Mission to Moulokin'
Nevertheless, this trilogy sparked my imagination, especially the next two parts, which I suspect I'll get to within a few months. I've held on them for so long, too. Currently, for the first time since my growing collection started bumping books sideways and under beds, every book I own is now upright and visible on shelves with room to spare. An amazing feeling by the way--not to brag like some asshole back from a vacation. From within my perpetual storage unit, until last month my parent's garage, I've sorted and thinned and considered and, ultimately, piled more and more volumes into donation piles and gained a high stack of nested totes in the process. And 'Icerigger' and its sequels have got a stay of execution every time.
The book isn't hard science fiction and doesn't really qualify as even a less-refined exploratory speculative book à la Ursula K. Le Guin either. Tran-ky-ky and its inhabitants serve mostly as a colorful setting. It's set within Foster's Humanx universe, but 'Icerigger' works well on its own. A botched kidnapping lands a small group of humans on an under-explored planet with low technology and subfreezing climates. The people must somehow reach the only Humanx outpost thousands of miles away. A simple set-up made entertaining by immersions in local politics (April 27th marked the anniversary of Magellan's death from some less judicious meddling, by the way) and interesting spins on the usual archetypes--foremost, of course, being Ms. Colette du Kane and her "cake of sherbet" rear.
The book doesn't really finish, so I'm a little disappointed because I know it'll be a few books before I get to 'Mission to Moulokin', but it was a relief to find out that some of these frothy genre books hold up past 12th grade.
Icerigger Trilogy
Â
Next: 'Mission to Moulokin'
phxkevin's review against another edition
3.0
I didn’t know what I was getting when I picked up this science fiction book. Turns out that I got fun.
Triggers: aircraft crash, aliens that eat humans, war violence, super cold climate/iceworld
Ethan Fortune was simple salesman -- knowledgeable and civilized . . . a sophisticated traveler between many worlds. But he had certainly never thought of himself as a hero. Skua September, on the other hand, never thought of himself as anything else. A matched pair, if ever there was one! When the two of them were suddenly stranded on a deadly frozen world, Ethan Fortune incredibly found himself cast in the role of Leader. And he didn't find that at all amusing . . .
Triggers: aircraft crash, aliens that eat humans, war violence, super cold climate/iceworld
Ethan Fortune was simple salesman -- knowledgeable and civilized . . . a sophisticated traveler between many worlds. But he had certainly never thought of himself as a hero. Skua September, on the other hand, never thought of himself as anything else. A matched pair, if ever there was one! When the two of them were suddenly stranded on a deadly frozen world, Ethan Fortune incredibly found himself cast in the role of Leader. And he didn't find that at all amusing . . .
andras's review against another edition
2.0
More of a space adventure rather than a proper sci-fi, as it doesn't boast many original ideas. I considered dumping it many times, although I kept coming back for more, chapter after chapter. It was an OK adventure novel, I guess, although I don't think I will be picking up the sequel anytime soon.
bzedan's review against another edition
5.0
I'm a hardcore Foster apologist and pretty much love most of his work. But really, guys, who couldn't love an frozen world with ice-skating bat-like people who are roundabout medieval in their social development?
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