Of Ice And Steel: A Cataclysmic International Conflict Across Space And Time. [Paperback]

D. Clayton Meadows (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 545 pages
• Publisher: Leatherneck Publishing (July 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0977143120
• ISBN-13: 978-0977143122
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #569,218 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

D. Clayton Meadows served nearly twenty years on nuclear submarines. He served on the nuclear Fast Attack submarines USS RAY, USS DALLAS, and USS SPRINGFIELD. His writing includes numerous articles dealing with submarine history. His first novel "Of Ice and Steel" set a new standard forthe submarine fiction genre. The sequel EPITAPH is gaining a strong readership.He lives in Charleston, South Carolina.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating read, April 24, 2007

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Of Ice And Steel: A Cataclysmic International Conflict Across Space And Time. (Paperback)

"War is the science of destruction." - John S.C. Abbott

Part Hunt for Red October, part Forever Young, Of Ice and Steel by D. Clayton Meadows asks an improbable but powerful question: What would happen if a World War II U-boat and crew was frozen for 60 years and suddenly woke up to a new world?

Meadows served on a submarine himself for 20 years so his knowledge of naval operations is vast. At times it may go over the head of the average reader, but it is still a thrilling tale.

The story opens towards the end of World War II in 1944. The U-761 is battered and bruised after 6 missions. The Captain is not aware that there is a secret cargo on board. Faced with the knowledge that German is losing the war and the evident idea that they are all going to die at sea, the secret is revealed. The Forever Project is put in place and the U-761 is frozen in time in the Arctic Ocean.

Fast forward 44 years to 2008, when a madman executes a coupe in Russia. The new regime wants to see the Communists back in power. The whole world is on edge. An American satellite discovers something lurking in the Arctic Ocean. They presume it is a Russian warhead poised to destroy, in spite of the assurances that Russia isn't looking to take over the world--just their Motherland. A U.S. sub is sent to discover if this craft is a friend or foe. Little do they know it is the U-761.

When told what they found, the President said quietly, "Admiral, if I didn't know you personally, I'd say you've lost your mind."

What would happen if a World War II U-boat woke up to a new world and is still operating under the assumption that they are still at war with Britain and America? Read Of Ice And Steel and find out.

There is a complicated cast of characters and military jargon galore. It takes about half the book to lay the plot, but after that you will find yourself turning the pages in anticipation.

Will the U-761 start World War III? How will NATO respond?

I didn't want to stop reading--I had to know how it ended. This book would make a really good movie.

Armchair Interviews says: It is a fascinating read even for someone who doesn't find military or science fiction their normal cup of tea.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Move over Clancey a real Sub Sailor is writng now!, January 9, 2007

By 

F. John Anderson "U.S.S Henry L. Stimson SSBN... (Seacoast of NH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Of Ice And Steel: A Cataclysmic International Conflict Across Space And Time. (Paperback)

Don Meadows novel is a breath of fresh air in the realm of novels involving submarines. Harking back to the days when novels about the Silent Service were actually written by REAL sub sailors who actually rode the boats in both war and peace time. Men like Edward L. Beach not pretenders who make up stuff like Tom Clancey a wannabe submariner who thinks he knows it all after having a tiger cruise.
Chief Meadows actually served on the boats and brings this to the table. Things mentioned in the book are how things work on both US and Russian boats. And yes the weapons used by the protagonist were real and are the grandparents of todays weapons.
The novel orbits around some projects the Nazi's were actually investigating such as an Artic base of operations. To this day what happened to some German U-boats and some end of the war missions remain unsolved mysteries. There are some detail nuts who will take Mr. Meadows to task but as this is a work of fiction for sake of the story some details are knowingly changed for the stories sake as far as the U-boat is concerned. If anyone doubts Mr. Meadows expertise and resources used they should check out www.subpirates.com and the many articles there from many people in the know. This site is THE site for details on not only R/C submarines but REAL submarines as the majority of people there are either active Submariners or Ex submariners from around the world.
The novel itself while 543 pages long is a very smooth fast read and while some areas may seem to be liberties taken for charecter development they are in fact an insight into the submariners mindset. I should know I rode a Boomer (SSBN) myself.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This work will make a great movie, December 4, 2006

By 

Ron Martini (Sheridan, WY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Of Ice And Steel: A Cataclysmic International Conflict Across Space And Time. (Paperback)

Every once in a while, you have to kick it up a notch and read a fictional book to keep the juices of your imagination flowing and this was a dandy. Written by D. Clayton Meadows out of Charleston, South Carolina. Clayton knows his subject having served on the USS Ray, Dallas, and Springfield. Matter of fact he was a Torpedoman under COB a well know SubVet who hangs out at the SubVet building in Groton, CT. Perhaps a bit of this COB's personality comes through as the COB of the USS Miami, one of the principles of the book. In any case, the real life COB calls him a funny guy and one type who would be a lot of fun to hit the beach with.

The books premise concerns a U-boat from WWII in suspended animation in the ice of the North Pole. Found and unknowingly awakened by several from the USS Miami 60 years later. The world situation is unraveling at every turn with opposing forces in Russia trying to gain command of the country and the military with little success. The U.S. and England trying to
restrain themselves in a boiling turmoil of world leadership.

The U-boat comes out of the ice and what in what its crew considers self preservation, starts swinging at anything moving and adds dramatically to the decaying world situation. A retired American MMC(SS) gets a ride on a Russian Nuke and even an Iranian target gets involved when a nuclear warhead turns up missing.

The real U-761, used in the book, had an interesting fate. During the attempt to pass the Straits of Gibraltar U-761 was detected by US Catalina aircraft (VP 63/P-15) and attacked by British Catalina aircraft (Sqdn. 202/G) and an American Ventura aircraft (VB-127). It was self scuttled
near Tangier in view of approaching British DDs with 9 dead and 48 survivors.

A good read, technically accurate and it's obvious that the author "rode the boats." I would recommend the work. Movie rights, I understand, are being discussed at my last contact with Clayton. Give yourself a good winter read.

Ron Martini