Introduction The articles “Encounters with Permafrost” by Pey-Yi Chu (2018) and “Technology and the Conquest of the Soviet Arctic” by Paul Josephson (2011) both address the complex topic of Arctic exploration during the early decades of the Soviet Union. Driven by a combination of political ideology, scientific endeavor, and human capabilities of survival, the multifaceted decades-long efforts demonstrated both major successes and countless failures. Both authors describe the challenges and progress made in Arctic exploration and industrialization of the Arctic, but each with an individual approach: an environmental and anthropological-oriented perspective by Chu and a political, socio-economic-centered view by Josephson. Themes and Question Although the general theme tying together both articles is the Soviet exploration of the Arctic region, there are a number of subthemes that both authors explore. Chu (2018) focuses strongly on the environmental aspect of the exploration, with discussions targeting methods used and consequences for the region as well as the anthropological perspective of human migrations and adaptation to the Arctic as they sought to ‘conquer’ it through technology. There are also mentions of the political discourse in the Soviet attempts to expand in the region and how it was portrayed in public media in comparison to the realities of the situation (Chu 2018). Josephson (2011) touches on multiple political themes as well in the Soviet pursuit of settling the Arctic and making it a source of significant riches. The author also discusses social perceptions and realities as well as the socioeconomic costs of achieving the feat, through scientific and industrial exploration efforts, changes that had to be made to funding and organization of the Soviet mission, and potential long-term impacts. The primary question that both authors pose, which likely unites all the themes and perspectives, is whether the aggressive exploration of the Arctic by the Soviets was worth the human, economic, and environmental consequences and costs accrued over decades? In the end, the result remained relatively similar of a harsh region which is sparsely populated, with arguably limited natural resource production, but with significant environmental scars due to the detrimental practices which have been adopted. While humans have adapted to survive in the Arctic circle and technology has made great leaps based on these explorations, the devastating impact of pursuing politically focused socioeconomic goals has shifted the status quo of both human and natural ecosystems in the region in a manner that will continue to have an impact in the 21st century. Thesis The thesis in Chu’s article suggests that in regard to Arctic exploration and industrialization there was a difference between the rhetoric of aggressive conquest propagated by the Soviet government for social purposes and the realities of practices used which were aimed at preserving the environment and adapting to it in the process of survival in the context of the region’s constraints. To support the thesis, the author sets up the context of the argument and then goes on to discuss specific elements with both logical and emotional appeal. He presents a broad anthropological view which combines perspectives and literature of the