The Empire of Ice [Paperback]

Richard Moran (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1995

An undersea volcano's activity is blocking off the warm waters that travel from the Gulf of Mexico up to Great Britain and Western Europe, radically altering the climate. As temperatures plummet to sub-zero, icebergs invade the English Channel and the Irish Sea freezes, and only the swift action of geophysicist Ben Meade and his crew can save the lives of millions.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Moran's latest has all the elements of a white-knuckle thriller, but comic-book characterization, artless dialogue and the author's unfettered tendency to lecture at the slightest excuse make this novel more soporific than suspenseful. Brilliant, witty and wealthy, geothermal engineer Benjamin Franklin Meade has built his company into "the world's foremost developer of geothermal energy"--and he's merely 30 years old. But he alone has foreseen a forthcoming geologic disaster that will result in the Gulf Stream changing course and an eruption that will throw tons of ash and debris into the air, creating a new ice age. Britain turns to Meade to supply the geothermal power to heat newly created biospheres and save her people. Political, military and natural obstacles--including the IRA, a powerful coal lobby and an escaped wolf pack--stand in Meade's way, but with the help of the bright and (of course) beautiful designer of the biospheres, Marjorie Glynn, he is ready to take on all challenges in an effort to save England. Unfortunately, Moran ( Gold Sea Rising ) doesn't muster much tension here. The characters are stereotypical and the plot is predictable--as is some of the dialogue ("Britain can never reward you enough for what you have done," says King Charles). Played for camp, it might have worked; played straight, it offers little to even the most forgiving of readers.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

In the year 2000, a volcanic eruption midway between Newfoundland and northern France provides a natural disaster that changes the climate and introduces a new ice age to the British Isles. Complicating this disaster are the personal, political, and technological responses that threaten the very existence of northern Europe. Ben Meade, an American geologist, and Marjorie Glynn, a British scientist, join forces to use geothermal energy to bolster dwindling energy supplies. Standing in their way are political and military actions stemming from Anglo-Irish troubles, national politics, and personal intrigue. Combining an excellent mix of natural landscape, technology, and politics with scientific detail, Moran ( Cold Sea Rising , LJ 4/1/86) has written a novel that readers will find fascinating and frighteningly plausible. Recommended for public libraries.
- Harold N. Boyer, Camden Cty. Coll., Blackwood, N.J.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 371 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books (February 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812530098
• ISBN-13: 978-0812530094
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,360,558 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Fun, But Chilly Ride, August 25, 2004

By 

Graboidz (Westminster, Maryland) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Empire of Ice (Hardcover)

This is just a great disaster story. If you like man vs. nature stories, or if you enjoyed the movie "The Day After Tomorrow" then you should pick this book up. An erupting volcano has drastically changed the weather patterns in the northern hemisphere and it's up to a geologist millionaire and a British biologist to save England. These guys get everything thrown at them, an erupting volcano, a runaway iceberg, a starving wolfpack, political backstabbers, and finally face an impending war. Sure, the science may be a little far-fetched, the charaterization may seem a little trite, and the goal at which our heroes are aiming for, the bioshpere mini-earth, seems a little weak, but the action and suspense kept me turning the pages. If you enjoy a good action tale, don't pass this one up.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I enjoyed this book!, July 26, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Empire of Ice (Paperback)

The Empire of Ice is non-stop, providing vivid thrills that will make your teeth chatter. When Mother Nature isn't throwing cataclysm after cataclysm at our heros, they have to deal with the increasing tensions between Ireland and Britain, fascist politicans, and a pack of starving, man-eating wolves. I found the book taut, terse, scary, and immensely readable.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but flawed, August 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Empire of Ice (Paperback)

This book seems to have it all. The characters are rich and detailed, and the requisite thriller-style macho hero seems missing in action (a relief if you ask me). The two main characters -- Drs. Benjamin Meade and Marjorie Glynn -- are human and interesting. To explain what I mean in the second sentence, let me mention that Dr. Meade is a recovering alcoholic. The plot is intriguing -- a mid-Atlantic volcano erupts, plunging the Northern Hemisphere into a new ice age, while leaving the Southern half of the globe alone. There's only one problem: at page 200, Mr. Moran must have suddenly noticed the looming deadline and said, "Oh my gosh, I've got to finish this ---!" Benjamin Mead pulls a rabbit out of his geyser (er, hat) and stops the invading Irish army. Whoops. Moral of the story: If you like this book, you'll love Earth Winter. If you haven't read it, you probably shouldn't bother.