What do you think?
Rate this book
Frozen Sky #1
The Frozen Sky
BENEATH THE ICE
Something is alive inside Jupiter's ice moon Europa. Robot probes find an ancient tunnel beneath the surface, its walls carved with strange hieroglyphics. Led by elite engineer Alexis Vonderach, a team of scientists descends into the dark... where they confront a savage race older than mankind...
FIRST CONTACT
Something is alive inside Jupiter's ice moon Europa. Robot probes find an ancient tunnel beneath the surface, its walls carved with strange hieroglyphics. Led by elite engineer Alexis Vonderach, a team of scientists descends into the dark... where they confront a savage race older than mankind...
FIRST CONTACT
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 15, 2010
588 people are currently reading
1575 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Carlson
36 books161 followersJeff Carlson is the international bestselling author of "Plague Year," "Long Eyes," "Interrupt" and "The Frozen Sky." To date, his work has been translated into sixteen languages worldwide.
His new novel is "Frozen Sky 3: Blindsided."
Readers can find free fiction, contests, videos and more on his web site at http://www.jverse.com
His new novel is "Frozen Sky 3: Blindsided."
Readers can find free fiction, contests, videos and more on his web site at http://www.jverse.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews
September 8, 2017
The Frozen Sky: The Novel
Written by: Jeff Carlson
Narrated by: Darrin Revitz
This is a very, multi layered book. It is a book about technology, space exploration, finding new life, deceit, what is life worth, what life is worth saving, and so many more layers. This also has so many cool things in it. A computer that can be programmed into the suit that can take over when our gal is trying to get away from the savage small creatures. The computer/suit took over to evade and protect and she was in the suit and along for the ride for a while. She can take over when needed but the computer can take over when necessary. That was awesome. This same programmed computer came in handy and was a big part of the story. I liked this book so much I bought book 2.
The narration was excellent. She was easy to understand and was great at keeping the voices straight and making the excitement and suspense heightened. Great job.
Written by: Jeff Carlson
Narrated by: Darrin Revitz
This is a very, multi layered book. It is a book about technology, space exploration, finding new life, deceit, what is life worth, what life is worth saving, and so many more layers. This also has so many cool things in it. A computer that can be programmed into the suit that can take over when our gal is trying to get away from the savage small creatures. The computer/suit took over to evade and protect and she was in the suit and along for the ride for a while. She can take over when needed but the computer can take over when necessary. That was awesome. This same programmed computer came in handy and was a big part of the story. I liked this book so much I bought book 2.
The narration was excellent. She was easy to understand and was great at keeping the voices straight and making the excitement and suspense heightened. Great job.
Read
November 21, 2012There are many things to admire about this fast-paced science fiction thriller set on Jupiter's ice moon of Europa.
First, Jeff Carlson's vision of humanity's future as it leaves our planet for the stars is refreshingly global in its politics and participation; the exploration and potential mining of Europa involves individuals from four different Earth continents. Second, Carlson and his heroine, the gutsy Alexis Vonderach, wrestle with genuine moral dilemmas, including the nature of her responsibility for her late would-be love interest, whose personality she imperfectly restored via an artificial intelligence program. Third, the intense personality clashes and sexual positioning of an elite group of professionals working in close quarters for a long period of time serves as a compelling backdrop to the main action.
Most impressively, Carlson explores the vast and murky ethical problems involved with first contact. In this case, the alien life forms may or may not be sentient (and, if they are, perhaps only marginally so), but it would be far more convenient - and profitable - for all human parties involved to view the creatures as unthinking animals. Vonderach doesn't shy away from pointing out some uncomfortable historical parallels should her colleagues pursue the wrong course of action, from the tragedies of the Columbian Encounter to the tendency of historical slaveholders to justify their actions by deeming those they oppressed less than human.
In short, this able tale delivers nail-biting action and big ideas in equal measure. What's not to love?
First, Jeff Carlson's vision of humanity's future as it leaves our planet for the stars is refreshingly global in its politics and participation; the exploration and potential mining of Europa involves individuals from four different Earth continents. Second, Carlson and his heroine, the gutsy Alexis Vonderach, wrestle with genuine moral dilemmas, including the nature of her responsibility for her late would-be love interest, whose personality she imperfectly restored via an artificial intelligence program. Third, the intense personality clashes and sexual positioning of an elite group of professionals working in close quarters for a long period of time serves as a compelling backdrop to the main action.
Most impressively, Carlson explores the vast and murky ethical problems involved with first contact. In this case, the alien life forms may or may not be sentient (and, if they are, perhaps only marginally so), but it would be far more convenient - and profitable - for all human parties involved to view the creatures as unthinking animals. Vonderach doesn't shy away from pointing out some uncomfortable historical parallels should her colleagues pursue the wrong course of action, from the tragedies of the Columbian Encounter to the tendency of historical slaveholders to justify their actions by deeming those they oppressed less than human.
In short, this able tale delivers nail-biting action and big ideas in equal measure. What's not to love?
November 30, 2012
I was unsure of what to expect from the novel, The Frozen Sky. The book’s description proclaims it to be a “sci fi thriller” taking place on one of Jupiter’s moons, Europa. I’ve read a few science fiction titles this year that have taken place in our solar system. Would this be like Kim Stanley Robinson’s 2312, a hard sci-fi novel exploring colonization of multiple moons and planets in a semi-distant future? Or would it be more like James S.A. Corey’s Leviathan Wakes, a space opera where science is still believable, but far from the novel’s focus?
The Frozen Sky is clearly a hard sci-fi novel, reminding me most of the writing of Joe Haldeman. It takes place in the distant future where bureaucratic self-interest abounds, sexual promiscuity comes without consequence, and advanced technology flourishes. Alexis Vonderach (Von) is the novel’s protagonist — the sole survivor on a mission to Europa and discoverer of an alien civilization deep beneath the moon’s ice (or frozen sky).
When news of another life form reaches Earth, multiple countries send teams of scientists to study the potentially sentient species. Von is a critical member of one of these teams and when she fears that these creatures will be exploited, she breaks from the ranks to try and bring about a peaceful alliance.
I must admit, my personal tastes are geared more toward soft science fiction. I am more of a Star Wars guy than a Star Trek guy and I often find a lot of the technical conjecture to be of little interest. Even though this novel is quite technical, I never found it to be bogged down with science. There are a lot of cool concepts that were explored including the transferring of human consciousness into machines and the use of mechas in performing heavy labor. Carlson also examines moral conundrums that accompany a first contact when it is very difficult to know if the alien species is actually sentient.
Von is an interesting character, as is her fellow crew member (and friend?), Ash. In the company of many other crew members who blindly follow orders, Von serves as the team’s moral compass, willing to go rogue to protect the creatures she knows very little about.
My biggest criticisms of the novel are the lack of compelling characters. Beyond Von and Ash, I didn’t find any of the other characters particularly memorable or multi-layered in their pursuits. Also, the interaction with the alien species was only semi-compelling as they could only communicate on a very rudimentary basis.
But the novel succeeded in many other regards and overall, The Frozen Sky is a thought-provoking read. For those who are a fan of the Golden Age and writers like Joe Haldeman or Isaac Asimov, The Frozen Sky will be a novel worth reading. I wouldn’t personally classify it as a “thriller,” but the novel moved at a steady pace and had a fitting conclusion. It is a unique take on a first contact and a well thought-out novel.
The Frozen Sky is clearly a hard sci-fi novel, reminding me most of the writing of Joe Haldeman. It takes place in the distant future where bureaucratic self-interest abounds, sexual promiscuity comes without consequence, and advanced technology flourishes. Alexis Vonderach (Von) is the novel’s protagonist — the sole survivor on a mission to Europa and discoverer of an alien civilization deep beneath the moon’s ice (or frozen sky).
When news of another life form reaches Earth, multiple countries send teams of scientists to study the potentially sentient species. Von is a critical member of one of these teams and when she fears that these creatures will be exploited, she breaks from the ranks to try and bring about a peaceful alliance.
I must admit, my personal tastes are geared more toward soft science fiction. I am more of a Star Wars guy than a Star Trek guy and I often find a lot of the technical conjecture to be of little interest. Even though this novel is quite technical, I never found it to be bogged down with science. There are a lot of cool concepts that were explored including the transferring of human consciousness into machines and the use of mechas in performing heavy labor. Carlson also examines moral conundrums that accompany a first contact when it is very difficult to know if the alien species is actually sentient.
Von is an interesting character, as is her fellow crew member (and friend?), Ash. In the company of many other crew members who blindly follow orders, Von serves as the team’s moral compass, willing to go rogue to protect the creatures she knows very little about.
My biggest criticisms of the novel are the lack of compelling characters. Beyond Von and Ash, I didn’t find any of the other characters particularly memorable or multi-layered in their pursuits. Also, the interaction with the alien species was only semi-compelling as they could only communicate on a very rudimentary basis.
But the novel succeeded in many other regards and overall, The Frozen Sky is a thought-provoking read. For those who are a fan of the Golden Age and writers like Joe Haldeman or Isaac Asimov, The Frozen Sky will be a novel worth reading. I wouldn’t personally classify it as a “thriller,” but the novel moved at a steady pace and had a fitting conclusion. It is a unique take on a first contact and a well thought-out novel.
February 27, 2013
A rare case of an Amazon recommendation yielding something good from an author I hadn't heard of before. Of course, the fact that there was a glowing blurb from Larry Niven himself, and the cheap price, helped my decision to give it a try.
This novel is an example of the type of hard science fiction I haven't read very much lately; it seems that the books that get most of the attention these days are excercises in wish-fulfillment of one type or another, such as steampunk or space opera relying on some kind of magic tech or handwavium. Frozen Sky is set in a very real-feeling extrapolated future, where people have started to expand into the solar system, and to fuel their fusion reactors they mine the water ice of Europa. And then they find organisms under the icy crust (which is the "frozen sky" of the title).
The first section starts mid-action with the protagonist Alexis Vonderach, the sole survivor of an ill-fated scientific expedition, severely injured and fighting for her life against sunfish, as she has dubbed the lifeforms she has encountered. This section, in particular, is written in a style that reminded me of Larry Niven: sort economical and matter-of-fact, describing alien and wonderful things with short, understated sentences.
After her rescue, several teams from different nations have landed, and the focus shifts to political struggles, as Vonnie and other scientists try to establish some sort of contact with the sunfish using robots, or "mecha". This turns out to be not so easy, leading to severe doubts about whether the sunfish are sentient at all. There are also corporate and national interests in play, and prsessures to exploit these organisms for genetic research, which would obviously pose less of a moral issue if they were determined to be just animals. Ther is more conflict and some dangerous situations, but eventually things are resolved. The ending leaves possibilities for further stories in this milieu.
I especially liked the nuts-and-bolts reality of Carlson's world, and would read more of his stuff based on the strength of this book.
This novel is an example of the type of hard science fiction I haven't read very much lately; it seems that the books that get most of the attention these days are excercises in wish-fulfillment of one type or another, such as steampunk or space opera relying on some kind of magic tech or handwavium. Frozen Sky is set in a very real-feeling extrapolated future, where people have started to expand into the solar system, and to fuel their fusion reactors they mine the water ice of Europa. And then they find organisms under the icy crust (which is the "frozen sky" of the title).
The first section starts mid-action with the protagonist Alexis Vonderach, the sole survivor of an ill-fated scientific expedition, severely injured and fighting for her life against sunfish, as she has dubbed the lifeforms she has encountered. This section, in particular, is written in a style that reminded me of Larry Niven: sort economical and matter-of-fact, describing alien and wonderful things with short, understated sentences.
After her rescue, several teams from different nations have landed, and the focus shifts to political struggles, as Vonnie and other scientists try to establish some sort of contact with the sunfish using robots, or "mecha". This turns out to be not so easy, leading to severe doubts about whether the sunfish are sentient at all. There are also corporate and national interests in play, and prsessures to exploit these organisms for genetic research, which would obviously pose less of a moral issue if they were determined to be just animals. Ther is more conflict and some dangerous situations, but eventually things are resolved. The ending leaves possibilities for further stories in this milieu.
I especially liked the nuts-and-bolts reality of Carlson's world, and would read more of his stuff based on the strength of this book.
March 15, 2016
One of the best new science fiction books I've read in some time. I've always been intrigued with Europa. It's ability to support life and the giant ocean under the ice is intriguing. This book combines a First Contact story with the corporation controlled future. These are two plot lines I've always enjoyed.
I highly recommend it to fans of First Contact stories. I will definitely keep an eye on this author in the future.
I highly recommend it to fans of First Contact stories. I will definitely keep an eye on this author in the future.
June 18, 2016
Dies ist einer der schlechtesten Romane, den ich in letzter Zeit gelesen habe, mich wundert inzwischen auch nicht mehr, warum dieser Roman im Original zunächst im Selbstverlag veröffentlicht wurde, ehe eine Neuausgabe beim Amazon-Imprint North 47 folgte.
Hätte dieser Roman eine gewisse Klasse, würde er in einem renomierteren Verlagshaus veröffentlicht werden.
2007 landete Carlson mit seiner Novelle „The Frozen Sky“ auf dem ersten Platz des Writers of the Future-Wettbewerbs, der in den 80ern von L. Ron Hubbard (ja, genau, dem L. Ron Hubbard) ins Leben gerufen wurde und deshalb nicht unkritisch betrachtet wird, obwohl ihn z. B. auch schon Stephen Baxter gewonnen hat. Wie auch immer, aus seiner Novelle machte Carlson 2012 einen Roman, den ich unter dem deutschen Titel „Eisiger Himmel“ jetzt bespreche.
Im Grunde geht es mal wieder um das klassische SF-Thema Erstkontakt: Unbemannte Raumsonden finden unter der Oberfläche des eisigen Jupitermonds Europa einen alten Tunnel mit merkwürdigen Schriftzeichen. Die Astronautin Alexis Vonderach und ihr Wissenschaftler-Team steigen in die Finsternis hinab – und sehen sich einer wilden amphibischen Rasse gegenüber, die älter ist als die Menschheit …
Das alles klang gut und schön, aber Carlson machte daraus ein vorhersehbarer, langweiliger Wälzer, dem er weder handlungs- und spannungstechnisch noch literarisch etwas Neues und inspirierendes abringen konnte, leider unnütz vertane Zeit...
Hätte dieser Roman eine gewisse Klasse, würde er in einem renomierteren Verlagshaus veröffentlicht werden.
2007 landete Carlson mit seiner Novelle „The Frozen Sky“ auf dem ersten Platz des Writers of the Future-Wettbewerbs, der in den 80ern von L. Ron Hubbard (ja, genau, dem L. Ron Hubbard) ins Leben gerufen wurde und deshalb nicht unkritisch betrachtet wird, obwohl ihn z. B. auch schon Stephen Baxter gewonnen hat. Wie auch immer, aus seiner Novelle machte Carlson 2012 einen Roman, den ich unter dem deutschen Titel „Eisiger Himmel“ jetzt bespreche.
Im Grunde geht es mal wieder um das klassische SF-Thema Erstkontakt: Unbemannte Raumsonden finden unter der Oberfläche des eisigen Jupitermonds Europa einen alten Tunnel mit merkwürdigen Schriftzeichen. Die Astronautin Alexis Vonderach und ihr Wissenschaftler-Team steigen in die Finsternis hinab – und sehen sich einer wilden amphibischen Rasse gegenüber, die älter ist als die Menschheit …
Das alles klang gut und schön, aber Carlson machte daraus ein vorhersehbarer, langweiliger Wälzer, dem er weder handlungs- und spannungstechnisch noch literarisch etwas Neues und inspirierendes abringen konnte, leider unnütz vertane Zeit...
November 25, 2012
Not often do you come across a novel that blends action, horror, science fiction, philosophy and politics but Jeff Carlson's The Frozen Sky does it masterfully. The Frozen Sky was originally released as a novella but has now been expanded into a full novel which adds more characters, more action and more depth to the original story. Set in the distant future the governments of earth have sent several space probes to explore the galaxy and they have found that Europa may have simple life forms and other materials that can be used back home.
A group of archaeologists led by Alexis Vonderach are exploring Jupiter’s moon and the governments of the world are waiting to see what they will uncover. The crew finds more than they bargained for when they find hieroglyphs and other proof of life. Europa is indeed inhabited and the natives don’t like visitors.
The story begins with Alexis running for her life through frozen ravines and canyons of rock while being chased by creatures that resemble starfish. To make matters worse, her spacesuit has an artificial intelligence program that is malfunctioning and it has its own plans for handling the situation. Alexis is left with the decision to destroy the creatures that are pursuing her or communicate with them and hope they understand her. Help is on the way as other Earth ships arrive on Europa, but what are their plans for Europa's inhabitants? Are the starfish type creatures more advanced then they seem and do they want to destroy us for invading their home?
There is a lot going on in The Frozen Sky and the story works on a lot of different levels. Science Fiction fans get a great description of life on Europa including how the creatures survive, how they communicate and how they changed through the years and you learn how humans advanced through the centuries. It works as an action novel as you hear about the battle between Earth and Europa. It works as a horror novel as the creatures have Alexis on the run with nowhere to go and the story gets philosophical as the humans debate whether they are doing the right thing on Europa. The Frozen Sky also works as a political thriller as it gets into how the governments make deals with each other for what they want out of Europa and how the humans on Europa try to talk them out of it.
You could tell Jeff Carlson did his homework on the recent findings about Europa and did a lot of research on what Europa is like. I loved how this alien world was described. I also liked how the aliens were presented in the story. At first you see them as monsters but you start to learn about the conditions that they live in and how it shaped what they are, you also discover that they are much more than they seem.
Another thing I like is how the mecha works to explore Europa and how the AI works to its own advantage. My favorite part was learning how Europa's inhabitants evolved and seeing how they go from monsters to sympathetic creatures. You also see how the humans can become monsters and even in the future they're dealing with a lot of the same issues that we deal with now. The Frozen Sky has something for everyone and is a great read no matter what genre of book that you like.
A group of archaeologists led by Alexis Vonderach are exploring Jupiter’s moon and the governments of the world are waiting to see what they will uncover. The crew finds more than they bargained for when they find hieroglyphs and other proof of life. Europa is indeed inhabited and the natives don’t like visitors.
The story begins with Alexis running for her life through frozen ravines and canyons of rock while being chased by creatures that resemble starfish. To make matters worse, her spacesuit has an artificial intelligence program that is malfunctioning and it has its own plans for handling the situation. Alexis is left with the decision to destroy the creatures that are pursuing her or communicate with them and hope they understand her. Help is on the way as other Earth ships arrive on Europa, but what are their plans for Europa's inhabitants? Are the starfish type creatures more advanced then they seem and do they want to destroy us for invading their home?
There is a lot going on in The Frozen Sky and the story works on a lot of different levels. Science Fiction fans get a great description of life on Europa including how the creatures survive, how they communicate and how they changed through the years and you learn how humans advanced through the centuries. It works as an action novel as you hear about the battle between Earth and Europa. It works as a horror novel as the creatures have Alexis on the run with nowhere to go and the story gets philosophical as the humans debate whether they are doing the right thing on Europa. The Frozen Sky also works as a political thriller as it gets into how the governments make deals with each other for what they want out of Europa and how the humans on Europa try to talk them out of it.
You could tell Jeff Carlson did his homework on the recent findings about Europa and did a lot of research on what Europa is like. I loved how this alien world was described. I also liked how the aliens were presented in the story. At first you see them as monsters but you start to learn about the conditions that they live in and how it shaped what they are, you also discover that they are much more than they seem.
Another thing I like is how the mecha works to explore Europa and how the AI works to its own advantage. My favorite part was learning how Europa's inhabitants evolved and seeing how they go from monsters to sympathetic creatures. You also see how the humans can become monsters and even in the future they're dealing with a lot of the same issues that we deal with now. The Frozen Sky has something for everyone and is a great read no matter what genre of book that you like.
March 12, 2018
Note: I finally purchased the 3rd book. Now I'm re-reading the first two books so that I can enjoy the trilogy as a whole. I've just finished this first book again and I completely agree with my previous review which follows:
The thing about reading ebooks instead of dead trees that that there's much less of a tactile sense of the size of a book. So I was very surprised, after finishing Frozen Sky, to find that it was over three hundred pages. It felt much shorter. I imagine this is due to the nearly constant nail-biting, page-turning tension that begins on the first page and never really lets up until the exciting conclusion.
Carlson really uncorked the ideas jug and poured it liberally into this story. There's a ton of stuff going on here. Some of the obvious big ideas include the very plausible exploration and exploitation of Europa, the very 'alien' aliens, and the clever uses of technology (particularly the extremely flexible and advanced AI software of the future).
Underneath those big ideas are an intentionally shaky foundation of moral ambiguities, self-doubt, and uncertainty. It's not a peaceful reading experience, but it definitely keeps those pages flying. I truly had no idea where the story was going until it got there. I loved the last quarter of the story. I love how it turns everything on its head.
My only observation which might sound like a complaint (but isn't) might be that the story occasionally required very careful reading. The rug is pulled out from under us frequently and Carlson does not linger to explain. If you've a habit of reading in bed late at night, you may have to re-read the last paragraph or two to figure out why the characters are fighting for their lives - or fighting each other.
The thing Carlson really hits squarely on the head is just how hard it would likely be to communicate with an alien species - the gulf of the differences in species. It's as much thought-provoking as it is entertaining.
Tags: cold, eyeball replacements, realistic aliens, nail biting, political tensions, cartilage
The thing about reading ebooks instead of dead trees that that there's much less of a tactile sense of the size of a book. So I was very surprised, after finishing Frozen Sky, to find that it was over three hundred pages. It felt much shorter. I imagine this is due to the nearly constant nail-biting, page-turning tension that begins on the first page and never really lets up until the exciting conclusion.
Carlson really uncorked the ideas jug and poured it liberally into this story. There's a ton of stuff going on here. Some of the obvious big ideas include the very plausible exploration and exploitation of Europa, the very 'alien' aliens, and the clever uses of technology (particularly the extremely flexible and advanced AI software of the future).
Underneath those big ideas are an intentionally shaky foundation of moral ambiguities, self-doubt, and uncertainty. It's not a peaceful reading experience, but it definitely keeps those pages flying. I truly had no idea where the story was going until it got there. I loved the last quarter of the story. I love how it turns everything on its head.
My only observation which might sound like a complaint (but isn't) might be that the story occasionally required very careful reading. The rug is pulled out from under us frequently and Carlson does not linger to explain. If you've a habit of reading in bed late at night, you may have to re-read the last paragraph or two to figure out why the characters are fighting for their lives - or fighting each other.
The thing Carlson really hits squarely on the head is just how hard it would likely be to communicate with an alien species - the gulf of the differences in species. It's as much thought-provoking as it is entertaining.
Tags: cold, eyeball replacements, realistic aliens, nail biting, political tensions, cartilage
March 7, 2012
The Frozen Sky is a short novella, but Carlson knows how to pack each page full of detail, brilliant writing, exciting events and deeper meanings. Carlson has mastered the art of the short story and novella. He knows how to go in, get the reader’s attention and leave them with thoughts and impressions that will resonate for some time after the book has ended. While I haven’t read a full-length novel from Carlson yet, I know that is in my near future and it’s an event I look forward to. Carlson is one of those rare authors who knows how to balance action and depth. That combined with his incredible ingenuity worked together to turn The Frozen Sky into an impressive novella that will please many potential readers.
Read my full review here:
http://bookwormblues.blogspot.com/201...
Read my full review here:
http://bookwormblues.blogspot.com/201...
February 5, 2014
This is a first contact story intelligently told. Our heroine is astronaut working on Europa with her A.I. and biological life is stumbled upon in one of the most unlikely places. Just what to make of this no one is quite sure in the beginning. Mistakes are made. This story does a great job of deciphering alien life and culture.
A bit on the negative side, the narrative just didn't flow as I would have like. It seemed choppy in some places, but then the pace would pick up and things would smooth out. The plot was interesting but not very suspenseful. While I enjoyed the book and do not hesitate to recommend, it could have been better.
The aliens seemed believable. The story excelled in developing an alien culture. I also like the way that the A.I. was an important part of the plot.
I'm surprised more readers have not tagged this "alien".
3.5 stars
A bit on the negative side, the narrative just didn't flow as I would have like. It seemed choppy in some places, but then the pace would pick up and things would smooth out. The plot was interesting but not very suspenseful. While I enjoyed the book and do not hesitate to recommend, it could have been better.
The aliens seemed believable. The story excelled in developing an alien culture. I also like the way that the A.I. was an important part of the plot.
I'm surprised more readers have not tagged this "alien".
3.5 stars
March 21, 2013
I imagine this was better in its original novella length. This version just struck me as somewhat overly padded. Cool aliens, though.
dnf
March 26, 2017dnf 15%
I cannot get into this writing style. The writing is rough, crude, perhaps it was translated. Not sure but I cannot get into this book right now. Maybe another time.
I cannot get into this writing style. The writing is rough, crude, perhaps it was translated. Not sure but I cannot get into this book right now. Maybe another time.
August 23, 2021
I read this one long enough ago that I can't recall specifics that I'm reading about as I peruse the reviews from others, but I can say I liked this one a lot; enough in fact to read it again eventually. Things that stick out in my memory are the feelings of claustrophobia, a dark tension surrounding the main character as she's stuck in the icy labyrinths of Europa, fleeing the tiny lifeforms; being saved by the hi-tech AI spacesuit; a spirit of partnership amongst the parties on the radio chatter. It was tight, well-written and engaging with lots of scientific premise, and that's a great story in my view.
February 4, 2016
My original Frozen Sky audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Frozen Sky by Jeff Carlson is the first in a series by the same name. Alexis Vonderach is among the crew that is sent to investigate potential evidence of sentient life on Jupiter’s moon, Europa. When her two companions are killed, she realizes that there is more to be found than anyone first thought. Alone, she must traverse the ice moon attempting to survive as she interacts with creatures that no one thought existed, until she can be rescued and attempt to forge a new path of understanding and communication with these strange new creatures that are trying to kill her.
This novel deals with issues that are timeless in hard science fiction with regards to alien life. Carlson does a fantastic job of laying out all the different issues that come up, including misguided curiosity, ethics, and the fight between politics, commerce, and scientists. He also touches on artificial science, the challenges of small crews living together in confined areas in space and even women in science. One aspect of the novel that I really enjoyed was the features of and any interactions with the alien species. Alexis’ quickly realizes that she doesn’t really know what she’s dealing with and I really liked that. There was no clear superiority implied from her and she is the champion for the alien creatures. The novel is also packed with action, which was exciting. While the alien life, the technology, and the larger brush strokes surrounding the ethics involved were fantastic, the actual character building in general felt a little flat to me. Most of the characters were interesting enough, but there were a lot of them and the only ones that came into sharp relief were those that Alex interacted with frequently. I especially didn’t like the romantic relationships and Alexis’ preoccupation with her interaction with her male colleagues. I felt that it was forced and could have been left out for some more in depth relationship building among the different characters instead.
Unfortunately, the narration by Darrin Revitz really made me frustrated with this novel and tainted the story for me. I think a narrator used to using accents would have done a better job. There were characters from a lot of different nationalities and hearing the different accents would have helped a lot, especially, because it was extremely difficult to follow who was speaking at times. The production quality was okay. There might have been a few skips in the audio, which is not ideal. I would recommend this novel to any science fiction fan, especially those who enjoy space-centric settings and high level issues about interactions with alien life.
Audiobook was provided for review the author.
Frozen Sky by Jeff Carlson is the first in a series by the same name. Alexis Vonderach is among the crew that is sent to investigate potential evidence of sentient life on Jupiter’s moon, Europa. When her two companions are killed, she realizes that there is more to be found than anyone first thought. Alone, she must traverse the ice moon attempting to survive as she interacts with creatures that no one thought existed, until she can be rescued and attempt to forge a new path of understanding and communication with these strange new creatures that are trying to kill her.
This novel deals with issues that are timeless in hard science fiction with regards to alien life. Carlson does a fantastic job of laying out all the different issues that come up, including misguided curiosity, ethics, and the fight between politics, commerce, and scientists. He also touches on artificial science, the challenges of small crews living together in confined areas in space and even women in science. One aspect of the novel that I really enjoyed was the features of and any interactions with the alien species. Alexis’ quickly realizes that she doesn’t really know what she’s dealing with and I really liked that. There was no clear superiority implied from her and she is the champion for the alien creatures. The novel is also packed with action, which was exciting. While the alien life, the technology, and the larger brush strokes surrounding the ethics involved were fantastic, the actual character building in general felt a little flat to me. Most of the characters were interesting enough, but there were a lot of them and the only ones that came into sharp relief were those that Alex interacted with frequently. I especially didn’t like the romantic relationships and Alexis’ preoccupation with her interaction with her male colleagues. I felt that it was forced and could have been left out for some more in depth relationship building among the different characters instead.
Unfortunately, the narration by Darrin Revitz really made me frustrated with this novel and tainted the story for me. I think a narrator used to using accents would have done a better job. There were characters from a lot of different nationalities and hearing the different accents would have helped a lot, especially, because it was extremely difficult to follow who was speaking at times. The production quality was okay. There might have been a few skips in the audio, which is not ideal. I would recommend this novel to any science fiction fan, especially those who enjoy space-centric settings and high level issues about interactions with alien life.
Audiobook was provided for review the author.
August 7, 2012
Having loved Carlson's Long Eyes collection, the only thing I knew for sure going into "The Frozen Sky" was that I would be in for a treat -- and I wasn't disappointed. This is the tale of Alexis Vonderach (Vonnie), the last human survivor of a small group of scientists sent to explore the Jovian moon Europa. Vonnie's two teammates are dead, and the story begins with Vonnie -- bludgeoned, bleeding, and almost at her end -- on the run from what is humanity's first contact with alien intelligence. If this sounds to you like the makings of 2010 meets Alien, you'd be right in a way. Carlson weaves in some of the far-reaching thoughtfulness of Clarke along with the pulse-pounding action of Ridley Scott. But this story feels like neither, and that's fine. "The Frozen Sky" is very much Carlson being Carlson, not some derivative of a better-known work, and I admire that.
The novella works in alternating chronologies, opening with Vonnie running for her life, then switching to a past timeline so you can catch up on the back story. We learn about Europa, her teammates, the discovery of intelligent life signs on the watery moon, and how Vonnie constructs a virtualized AI of her teammate, Lam, after he's dead. AI lam becomes a secondary character, as does Vonnie's stunningly resourceful spacesuit and even Europa itself. The deeper we get into the story, the closer the past timeline comes to intersecting with the present, and while this can make the narrative harder to follow in some ways, it also serves to ratchet up the tension and continually raise the stakes on one burning question: is Vonnie going to make it out alive?
If I had to search for a weakness in the story, it might be that we don't get a lot of background about Vonnie, which makes it hard to form much of an emotional bond with her. Thinking about this, I originally gave "The Frozen Sky" four stars. But then I realized I was artificially knocking off points, blaming the story for not delivering something it never promised to give. This is a rock-solid hard SF piece, filled with action, a wide splash of starry-eyed future tech, original and believable aliens, and a central character whose chief weakness might be her own humanity. Throwing on even more character back story for the sake of building drama would only bloat the tale, reduce the tension, and perhaps even weaken the tale's final moments. No, Carlson is spot on all the way through. I'm very impressed and can't wait to jump into his Plague trilogy next.
The novella works in alternating chronologies, opening with Vonnie running for her life, then switching to a past timeline so you can catch up on the back story. We learn about Europa, her teammates, the discovery of intelligent life signs on the watery moon, and how Vonnie constructs a virtualized AI of her teammate, Lam, after he's dead. AI lam becomes a secondary character, as does Vonnie's stunningly resourceful spacesuit and even Europa itself. The deeper we get into the story, the closer the past timeline comes to intersecting with the present, and while this can make the narrative harder to follow in some ways, it also serves to ratchet up the tension and continually raise the stakes on one burning question: is Vonnie going to make it out alive?
If I had to search for a weakness in the story, it might be that we don't get a lot of background about Vonnie, which makes it hard to form much of an emotional bond with her. Thinking about this, I originally gave "The Frozen Sky" four stars. But then I realized I was artificially knocking off points, blaming the story for not delivering something it never promised to give. This is a rock-solid hard SF piece, filled with action, a wide splash of starry-eyed future tech, original and believable aliens, and a central character whose chief weakness might be her own humanity. Throwing on even more character back story for the sake of building drama would only bloat the tale, reduce the tension, and perhaps even weaken the tale's final moments. No, Carlson is spot on all the way through. I'm very impressed and can't wait to jump into his Plague trilogy next.
April 23, 2017
A well thought out and gripping 'First Contact' story with several differences to the usual 'Alien Invasion' type scenario.
See my review also at:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Frozen-Sky-E...
https://www.amazon.com/Frozen-Sky-Eur...
https://www.amazon.ca/Frozen-Sky-Euro...
https://www.amazon.com.au/Frozen-Sky-...
See my review also at:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Frozen-Sky-E...
https://www.amazon.com/Frozen-Sky-Eur...
https://www.amazon.ca/Frozen-Sky-Euro...
https://www.amazon.com.au/Frozen-Sky-...
April 5, 2017
The Frozen Sky starts off with a dramatic discovery (alien life) and a dramatic chase/escape FROM that alien life.
There's life under the frozen surface of Europa. This is a novel about discovering that life and deciding what to do about it. There's also a rogue AI, not to mention nationalistic issues and conflict between different countries doing research on Europa (i.e., politics).
I hate stories with politics like this in them. Because usually nothing is done for GOOD reasons, just for what is expedient and what can be compromised on. And these folks may have heard of a Prime Directive, but they're definitely Not Having It. I kinda hated all the characters too. :(
That said, it's a competent hard SF book. I couldn't quite visualize how the "sunfish" (what the researchers called the aliens) moved around under the frozen surface of Europa. I was also astonished by the amount of tech -- bio and non-bio -- these researchers had with them. They could replace damaged eyes and limbs, even. Wow.
All that caused a bit of a strain to my WSOD, along with how quickly they decoded the aliens' communications. Hence the low rating. :(
There's life under the frozen surface of Europa. This is a novel about discovering that life and deciding what to do about it. There's also a rogue AI, not to mention nationalistic issues and conflict between different countries doing research on Europa (i.e., politics).
I hate stories with politics like this in them. Because usually nothing is done for GOOD reasons, just for what is expedient and what can be compromised on. And these folks may have heard of a Prime Directive, but they're definitely Not Having It. I kinda hated all the characters too. :(
That said, it's a competent hard SF book. I couldn't quite visualize how the "sunfish" (what the researchers called the aliens) moved around under the frozen surface of Europa. I was also astonished by the amount of tech -- bio and non-bio -- these researchers had with them. They could replace damaged eyes and limbs, even. Wow.
All that caused a bit of a strain to my WSOD, along with how quickly they decoded the aliens' communications. Hence the low rating. :(
June 12, 2013
Hard science gem - travel to Europa and "meet" the sunfish
I have read and enjoyed other books by Carlson - "Plague Year"; "Plague War"; "Plague Zone"; and his most recent "Interrupt." But I LOVED "The Frozen Sky."
Carlson has created a rich, textured world on Europa, one of the moons of Jupiter. His descriptions fired up my imagination and I was engrossed in this "First Contact" story.
The futuristic science seems totally realistic - intricate and explained. The female protagonist is believable and well drawn, as are the other characters in the book. The sunfish, native to Europa, are totally alien and a powerful presence because of that. No cutesy ETs in this tale.
I had a hard time tearing myself away from reading (even to eat and sleep) about icebound Europa, mechas, AI, major advances in medicine, the problems of linguistics with the sunfish, politics even that far from Earth and so much more.
I understand this book was extended from a novella. Thank goodness for us readers!
Oh, and the maps and illustrations added nicely to the story and were helpful.
I have read and enjoyed other books by Carlson - "Plague Year"; "Plague War"; "Plague Zone"; and his most recent "Interrupt." But I LOVED "The Frozen Sky."
Carlson has created a rich, textured world on Europa, one of the moons of Jupiter. His descriptions fired up my imagination and I was engrossed in this "First Contact" story.
The futuristic science seems totally realistic - intricate and explained. The female protagonist is believable and well drawn, as are the other characters in the book. The sunfish, native to Europa, are totally alien and a powerful presence because of that. No cutesy ETs in this tale.
I had a hard time tearing myself away from reading (even to eat and sleep) about icebound Europa, mechas, AI, major advances in medicine, the problems of linguistics with the sunfish, politics even that far from Earth and so much more.
I understand this book was extended from a novella. Thank goodness for us readers!
Oh, and the maps and illustrations added nicely to the story and were helpful.
August 3, 2011
This was a really cool novella. It takes place on Europa, a moon of Jupiter that is a crazy world of floating ice and rock due to its very low gravity. Scientists are on the planet because it is being mined. Three of the scientists adventure into the unknown inner world because they have found evidence of a life form. Two of the characters die in a rock slide and the third is forced deeper into the planet's dangerous heart. There she finds more than she bargained for as an amphibian life form begins attacking her. The story follows her journey as she tries to escape to the surface. The story moves at a rapid pace, but the book is also more well written than the average page turner. The author has really cool vision and makes this incredible world understandable. The main character is well conceived and even the alien life forms are more than just an evil presence. A really cool sci-fi story and an author that i will certainly read again.
October 20, 2012
I really enjoyed The Frozen Sky. A genuine page turner that was reminiscent of the intelligent writing of Crichton. I thought the action got off to an explosive start and chucked me right in. Then, when I later began to worry if the pace was slackening Carlson slammed the gear right up again. Characters were solid and believsble and whilst the politicsl background back on Earth was less than fleshed out I didn't have a problem with it as for me it neatly mirrored the cut off feeling I understood the characters were experiencing so far trom home.
At times the story did come close to being s little preachy, particularly with its obvious parallels with earth's unfortunate domestic history of bloody first contacts with new cultures, but ultimately I think it trod the line well. If I was to pick any holes it would just be the convenience of Lam. Although this element was neatly led into from the start so was not at all a jarring part of the narrative. All in all a great read.
At times the story did come close to being s little preachy, particularly with its obvious parallels with earth's unfortunate domestic history of bloody first contacts with new cultures, but ultimately I think it trod the line well. If I was to pick any holes it would just be the convenience of Lam. Although this element was neatly led into from the start so was not at all a jarring part of the narrative. All in all a great read.
May 1, 2013
"Frozen Sky" is quality science fiction. The frozen world of Europa is a natural setting for a sci-fi novel, and the world is well explained and described. I won't belabor my point any further, it is definitely worth anyone's time and money. Read it!
Now, a few criticisms (danger spoilers!): If I was trapped in Europa, I wouldn't make a AI out of my recently deceased friend, especially when experience and protocol tell me an advanced AI will use my super space suit to touch me in an inappropriate manner then turn the interior of my suit into a microwave oven. If Lim had uploaded his AI program as he faced certain death while hanging from a cliff or some such, I could buy that. But voluntarily hacking together a possible Hal AI strikes me as foolish and unnecessary.
There are a few pictures in the novel that are amateurish and a bit ugly. The maps don't do anything for the story either.
Now, a few criticisms (danger spoilers!): If I was trapped in Europa, I wouldn't make a AI out of my recently deceased friend, especially when experience and protocol tell me an advanced AI will use my super space suit to touch me in an inappropriate manner then turn the interior of my suit into a microwave oven. If Lim had uploaded his AI program as he faced certain death while hanging from a cliff or some such, I could buy that. But voluntarily hacking together a possible Hal AI strikes me as foolish and unnecessary.
There are a few pictures in the novel that are amateurish and a bit ugly. The maps don't do anything for the story either.
August 20, 2011
...The Frozen Sky is a well written novella, looking for a reader not afraid of a generous helping of hard science fiction. As with many shorter pieces, some readers will feel it should have been longer and that is leaves a lot of the background of the story rather vague. Personally, I feel Carlson gets the level of detail right. It is after all, as much a story of Vonnie and how, despite the hostility she meets on Europa, she's still able to defeat the impulse to blindly strike back and realize what must be done instead. When Vonnie reaches that point, the background, fascinating as it may be, has served its purpose. To me at least,The Frozen Sky is a very satisfying first contact story. Recommended for hard science fiction fans in particular.
Full Random Comments review
Full Random Comments review
February 21, 2013
Not what I was expecting at all, but an equally enjoyable and refreshing surprise, and one of the best science fiction novels i've read. It ended a bit abruptly, so I can only hope for a sequel and a full series to come. I really enjoyed the unique take on alien life and intelligence, and trying to understand the ways in which they think and sustain their unique livelihood was a real page turner.
Unlike a lot of novels which call themselves 'science fiction' merely because they take on a futuristic theme or involve technology in mostly superficial terms, this book really digs deep in applying concepts of science to create a world and life forms that feel believable. It is refreshingly immersible.
I hope future books are to come in which the humans venture down further through the ice, and hopefully even explore the depths of the ocean below.
Unlike a lot of novels which call themselves 'science fiction' merely because they take on a futuristic theme or involve technology in mostly superficial terms, this book really digs deep in applying concepts of science to create a world and life forms that feel believable. It is refreshingly immersible.
I hope future books are to come in which the humans venture down further through the ice, and hopefully even explore the depths of the ocean below.
February 24, 2013
I'm just loving Jeff Carlson's work. I picked up one of his Plague Year books, and immediately felt that warm, happy glow that told me I'd found another favourite author to collect.
I don't read a lot of Sci-Fi because I usually find it too slow, too dry, or all ideas and no characters. But this is Jeff Carlson - and he gets the balance exactly right - action, science, characters, ideas, plot. I engaged straight away with the main character, and the future technology is so well developed that Jeff should take out a patent. The aliens are fascinating too. There's nothing one-dimensional here, the motivations of humans and aliens alike are nuanced and complex.
A well written, impeccably researched, characterised and intelligent read - what more could you want?
I don't read a lot of Sci-Fi because I usually find it too slow, too dry, or all ideas and no characters. But this is Jeff Carlson - and he gets the balance exactly right - action, science, characters, ideas, plot. I engaged straight away with the main character, and the future technology is so well developed that Jeff should take out a patent. The aliens are fascinating too. There's nothing one-dimensional here, the motivations of humans and aliens alike are nuanced and complex.
A well written, impeccably researched, characterised and intelligent read - what more could you want?
March 31, 2013
This was a good read. First contact stories are always interesting from a humanist perspective -- inevitable questions are raised about the place of humanity in the greater scheme of life. Frozen Sky does this well through the introduction of a truly alien form of life, one that is not bound by typically human-centric philosophy. Refreshing!
My only complaint is that the middle section of the book drags as human politics are infused into the first contact story. Of course, this is just a matter of personal preference ... I simply do not want to read in-depth about politics and conflicts against the background of a first contact story.
That said -- I recommend this book to any fans of first contact or science fiction books in general. Exciting/Entertaining/Thought-provoking/Unique!
My only complaint is that the middle section of the book drags as human politics are infused into the first contact story. Of course, this is just a matter of personal preference ... I simply do not want to read in-depth about politics and conflicts against the background of a first contact story.
That said -- I recommend this book to any fans of first contact or science fiction books in general. Exciting/Entertaining/Thought-provoking/Unique!
April 17, 2013
Jeff Carlson delivers another hit with this book "The Frozen Sky." I was already a fan of his work but like I always do, I took this book with a skepticism, a "prove to me you're good" attitude. May seem stuck up, but I don't go in thinking perfection just because of the last works greatness! Boy was I happy when I finished The Frozen Sky! Hit out of the park, it was a thrill ride with adventure I couldn't put down. Jeff Carlson has great attention to detail that doesn't leave you feeling lectured, and the characters are always so life-like and vivid, it makes me feel as if I can call them up now! I highly recommend you read this book if you are thinking about it. If you're not thinking about it, read this book!
April 19, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has an original, fast paced story line, refreshing characters, and alien life forms that are not based on human values or emotions, you know truly alien.
I think he has captured the current value systems the world seems to be using for our justification of the actions we as a race take. He explores the question, what is sentient life and will we recognize it when we see it, or even more interesting will the reverse be true.
All in all a very good well written book which raises some interesting issues while at the same time keeping you entertained. What more can you ask from a book.
I think he has captured the current value systems the world seems to be using for our justification of the actions we as a race take. He explores the question, what is sentient life and will we recognize it when we see it, or even more interesting will the reverse be true.
All in all a very good well written book which raises some interesting issues while at the same time keeping you entertained. What more can you ask from a book.
July 30, 2013
The Frozen Sky is the story of an expedition to Europa set in the near future that stumbles across an alien species. Are they intelligent equals or animals to be exploited? The novel is a real page-turner, told in vivid detail with a fast-paced style. Everything is so fantastically realistic, from the biology and behavior of the alien sunfish to the tech and organization of the astronauts. There's an obvious critique of colonialism here that was a bit too blatant for my taste, but that doesn't detract from a rich and engaging tale of survival and first contact beneath the surface of a planet of ice. Great book.
May 31, 2014
Enjoyable Read
Initially, I wasn't sure I'd even like this story. However, pressing forward, I found myself liking several aspects of this book. The use of artificial intelligence in the story helped me see the possible uses for such programing technology beyond the proverbial "once computers think for themselves they will wipe out humanity or enslave it." paradigm which for me is a tired theme. I also like the aspect that the aliens are truly alien and all initial contact is wrought with errors because there are no commonalities in thinking or cultures from which to build an understanding for communication.
Initially, I wasn't sure I'd even like this story. However, pressing forward, I found myself liking several aspects of this book. The use of artificial intelligence in the story helped me see the possible uses for such programing technology beyond the proverbial "once computers think for themselves they will wipe out humanity or enslave it." paradigm which for me is a tired theme. I also like the aspect that the aliens are truly alien and all initial contact is wrought with errors because there are no commonalities in thinking or cultures from which to build an understanding for communication.
January 6, 2013
The beginning of this novel is action-packed and hooked me from the get-go. I must admit, I love a gutsy heroine. Jeff manages to make his characters strong, but they're also real and have emotions I can identify with. And did I mention that the author creates amazingly believable alien worlds. The technical stuff is authentic but not overwhelming. Of course the political and ethical problems involved with alien contact are explored so there's plenty of food for thought along with the action.
Two thumbs up for another excellent read from Jeff Carlson.
Two thumbs up for another excellent read from Jeff Carlson.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews