Icerigger

Ethan Fortune was a simple salesman - knowledgeable, of course, also civilized, a sophisticated traveler between many worlds. But certainly he had never thought of himself as a hero. The banality of such an idea would have amused him. Skua September, on the other hand (a giant of a man), had apparently never done anything of less than heroic stature - and expected the like of everyone else. With the pair of them idiotically stranded on deadly, frozen Tran0ky-ky, along with an ill-assorted variety of others, Ethan Fortune suddenly found himself cast in the role of leader. He didn't find it amusing at all.

I have always loved the cover of this novel. Usually covers don't really add to the story inside, or worse yet, aren't even done for that particular novel. But this cover, which wraps around to the backside, takes you right into the world of Tran-ky-ky, and illustrates one of the most memorable moments in the novel. I love this novell. Hey, the dialogue is poorly written, and the novel goes on a few chapters beyond the point where it should logically (and strongly) have ended. BUT IT IS STILL GREAT! there are some elements in the novel that are remeniscent of Dune, but although Dune is a much more sophisticated and artistic novel, I've only read it twice, but I've read Icerigger at least twenty times since I bought it as a teenager. The plot is totally engrossing. I used to fantasize that if I ever become a director, I'd want to make this novel into a movie. That will probably never happen, so i will just have to settle for reading it another twenty times! cb

This is a kinda obscure out-of-print (but easy to find) novel from 1974. Another Listmania selection (as most of my recent choices are), and as usual, very enjoyable. Icerigger is a swashbuckling tale full of heroes and battles, where 6 people crash land into a medieval civilization just in time for them to fight a war (of sorts). This is purely a story, there is no deeper meaning and nothing to think much about, but a very solid story indeed, what! The first in a trilogy.

This is another book in the THRAX Universe. Foster has created a viable and realistic universe that he is able to explore many different concepts and yet still work within a frame work that always makes sense and gives the reader a feeling of history. It is a shame that it is out of print, because it is the beginning of an incredible series.

I consider this to be one of Foster's very best tales of Science Fiction adventure! It's one of his earliest, but definitely a must read for the avid Science Fiction fan! It was a classic rolling Science Fiction adventure! I loved it!