Review: Thirst Quenches Need for Action
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 22, 2013
Let me say at the outset that I'm one of those strange dudettes who, given a choice, would much rather have weather that's too cold than too hot. Still, the very thought of spending time at a place that's so cold that you can say goodbye to any body part that's exposed to the air for more than a couple of seconds sends chills up and down my spine.So when I had a chance to get a free Kindle version of this book, I admit I almost passed it by; the setting is Antarctica - certainly not what I'd call a hotbed. That said, the country has a sort of "connection" to our area and thus a sort of fascination to me. Jerri Nielsen Fitzgerald, who gained fame after diagnosing herself with breast cancer in 1999 as the only doctor working at the National Science Foundation's Amundsen-Scott Station in that country, hailed from my neck of the woods (after a rather dramatic rescue from that country, she returned to the United States and died in 2009).The minute I opened the book, though, my first instincts kicked in and I almost had to force myself to keep at it; no, I thought, I just can't deal with all this never-ending cold. But I weathered on, and that's perhaps the best testament to the fact that it's really pretty darned good.The story begins with the disappearance of two of researchers working at an Australian station. When it's learned they were murdered, it becomes clear that the station is under attack - but in this remote part of the world, who could the culprits possibly be? And perhaps more important, what's the motive behind their actions?As the plot slips along, these questions are answered - but not without the loss of even more lives and the threat of an international disaster of major proportion. Here and there it's a bit trite; there's the obligatory good-looking single guy who's mad at the world and single gal who can't stand him who are forced to cooperate to stay alive (and oh gosh, how do you think that turns out)? In addition, the main characters are put to physical tests that defy belief a bit too often.Everything moves along quickly, though, and it's clear the author -- she also wrote "The Genesis Plan" -- has done lots of research, especially when it comes to environmental issues and what could happen if (when) the fragile Antarctic ice is disturbed. A bit of a twist near the end adds interest as well.