Frozen in Time: An Epic Story of Survival and a Modern Quest for Lost Heroes of World War II in Ask Mitchell Zuckoff

Mar 25, 2013 David V. rated it it was amazing

Received as an ARC via my employer Barnes & Noble. Wowee! What an adventure story, and it's all true. This book is so real in its description of the weather on Greenland that it would probably be perfect to read on a 95 degree day in July for cooling off. But the dangers are frightening!!!! It's the story of crashed aircraft during WWII, and the failed and successful missions to rescue the crews. And the modern story of a mission to recover one of the planes and the buried crew under 200' of sno ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Apr 04, 2013 Daniel Burton rated it really liked it

Shelves: fun-non-fiction, history, non-fiction, us-history, world-war-two

There was a moment when reading Mitchell Zuckoff's latest book, Frozen in Time: An Epic Story of Survival and a Modern Quest for Lost Heroes of World War II, that I crossed over from a mildly interested reader to a rabid page turner. I'm pretty sure it was in the first chapter.

Frozen in Time is, as its title only slightly exaggerates, an epic tale. Spanning from World War Two until the present, it is a work of non-fiction, to be sure, but no less gripping and exciting. Set in Greenland (and not There was a moment when reading Mitchell Zuckoff's latest book, Frozen in Time: An Epic Story of Survival and a Modern Quest for Lost Heroes of World War II, that I crossed over from a mildly interested reader to a rabid page turner. I'm pretty sure it was in the first chapter.

Frozen in Time is, as its title only slightly exaggerates, an epic tale. Spanning from World War Two until the present, it is a work of non-fiction, to be sure, but no less gripping and exciting. Set in Greenland (and not the warm part, because there isn't one), Zuckoff tells the story of the rescue of downed airmen during the winter of 1942. What begins as the search-and-rescue of a missing cargo plane soon becomes a fight for survival as a B-17 involved in the search slams into a glacier, stranding its nine passengers on the ice. A second daring rescue by a Grumman Duck amphibious plane results in another crash, and the nine airmen are forced to wait the winter out in the remains of their destroyed plane.

Heroic efforts by both rescuers and rescued are the subject of Zuckoff's story. There are crevices, unstable glaciers, planes landing blind on the ice, hot wired radio equipment, frostbite, dog sled teams, hypothermia, fear of polar bears, and, always, snow. Snow, snow, and more snow. Taking place in the past and the present, Zuckoff weaves in a modern story about the efforts by the U.S. Coast Guard and North South Polar to find and recover the remains of the Grumman Duck lost during the rescue effort.

After reading Lost in Shangri-la last year, I was more than impressed that Zuckoff was able to raise his game. His dedication is admirable, as well. Asked by Lou Sapienza, head of North South Polar, if Jon Krakauer (the author of Into Thin Air) wouldn't be a better choice to write the book, Zuckoff replies with natural aplomb: you haven't got Krakauer; you've got me. However, it soon becomes clear that Zuckoff's confidence is as much hope as it is faith as the expedition to recover the Grumman Duck hits financial setbacks and Zuckoff puts expenses for the trip--about which he is writing a book--on his credit card and then on a second mortgage to his home.

It's an investment that pays off and in grand conclusion. A modern day treasure hunt, not for gold, but for men lost in the greatest quest--to save their fellow man--Frozen in Time is a fast and enjoyable read, full of suspense, mystery, tragedy, and victory. I can't wait to see what Zuckoff will write next. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

May 15, 2013 Larry rated it really liked it

Another great true adventure by Zuckoff. This is the story of WWII soldiers stranded on the ice cap of Greenland for 5 months after a plane crash. It's am amazing story of their survival and the numerous attempts to save them - many of them failed and causing further loss of life. It also includes the current day events of a team trying to find the remnants and remains of a small plane and the three men aboard it that crashed trying to rescue the 9 men trapped out on a massive glacier. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Apr 29, 2013 Lynn rated it really liked it

Shelves: death, friendship, technology, nature, disability, war, animals, food, medicine, horror

In1942, a US cargo plane crashes on Greenland far from the coast. The land is covered in glacier and ice crevices. The surviving men don't dare venture out of the airplane cockpit or what is left of it and those showers thrown out struggle to get back in. Sled dogs which were brought on the trip freeze to death outside and the remaining dogs are brought in. This makes cramped quarters for people and dogs, all having to eat and defecate inside the plane. Most men do survive though some terribly f ...more

Like · see review

Apr 03, 2013 Pat rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Outstanding story, and very well told. Incredible courage and faith on the part of men who earned the name, "The Greatest Generation". Zuckoff treats the men of this story with great care and respect while allowing us to see that they are in fact human; showing how their precarious situation impacted each personality, and how the true character of each man remained intact, in spite of their situation. His telling of the problems they faced, and the ingenuity and raw courage used to overcome and ...more

Like · see review

Jun 09, 2013 Rose rated it really liked it

An excellent historical novel that is gripping, sad, exciting all rolled into one.

Like · see review

Apr 04, 2013 Maureen rated it liked it

Mr. Zuckoff did a great job conveying this story. There were, what seemed like, 10000000 more characters, compared to his book Lost in Shangri-La, yet he was able to make the information interesting and understandable to me.

Like · see review