Ice Brothers [Paperback]

Sloan Wilson (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Avon (January 1981)
• ISBN-10: 0380536110
• ISBN-13: 978-0380536115
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #900,401 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If You Have Found this Review, then Go Find this Book!, January 28, 2003

By 

Eclectic Skeptic "tilney21" (Huntington, NY USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Ice Brothers (Hardcover)

First the bottom line -- if you've somehow ended up here reading this review, don't blow it now -- find and read this great book! Of course Ice Brothers, written in 1979, is by now a difficult book to locate, but I assure you it is worth the effort. It is the story of how a young man of 22, drawn almost impetuously to the Coast Guard by the onset of war in December 1941, serves, first as executive officer, then as captain of the Arluk, a converted fishing trawler refitted to serve during World War 2 in the icy waters and coast of Greenland. Paul Schuman, the young hero, is shown at the beginning of the story as unsure in his life and marriage, and we watch him during the novel, while continuing to fight internal uncertainties, growing in confidence and competence. But the novel is much more than a story of personal growth -- it is a war novel, with battles and adventure I will not give away here; it is a true story of the sea, and the land (and native peoples) of Greenland; it is a story of memorable characters, including Paul's fellow officer Nathan Green, with his personal private suffering, and probably most of all, "Mad Mowrey," Captain of the Arluk, a character who deseves to be part of the fictional lexicon with the likes of Captain Queeg. There is even a love interest within the novel, as improbable as it may seem. It is a long novel, over 500 pages long, which gives the reader a chance to fully feel the place and time. And, true to the other best works of Sloan Wilson, Ice Brothers is an individual tale about facing enemies, from hostile weather and terrain, to enemy troops and at times even problems within the ship's own sailors, to fighting personal demons of loneliness and self-doubts. This is quite simply a terrific book -- as I started by saying, if you should happen upon this review and have the remotest interest in World War 2 or the sea -- and actually even if you don't -- then (trust me) go find this book. It will be well worth your while, and you will probably end up adding your own superlative review of this book. Come on, let's start a trend!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great sea story!, December 28, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Hot Springs Village, AR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ice Brothers (Hardcover)

I read this book several years ago and was very pleased with it. It is a great sea story, one in which a sailor will see many of their friends. As a retired member of the U.S. Coast Guard, I had more than a literary interest in this book. I was not disappointed. Recommend it to anyone with an interest in WWII, the Coast Guard, or the sea.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best WWII novel I have ever read., January 19, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ice Brothers (Paperback)

As a Coast Guard veteran, I could place myself in the action. Sloan Wilson is a master at combinig the historical fact with a great story. Any former or current Coastie should be proud of the way our Coast Guard is portrayed. For those that thought the Coast Guard stayed at home - read this book. Also read Pacific Interlude by Wilson.