This is a series of posts where I play 100 boardgames. Game: The Thing: The Boardgame Designer: Davide Corsi & Andrea Crespi Year: 2022 Country: Italy Publisher: Pendragon Game Studio The Thing: The Boardgame is based on John Carpenter’s classic scifi horror film The Thing in which the staff of an Antarctic research base attempt Continue Reading
Antarctica
Research Blog Antarctica #182 – The Ferocious Summer
Non-fiction: Meredith Hooper: The Ferocious Summer (Profile Books, 2008) Palmer Station is a research base on Anvers Island in Antarctica, operated by the U.S. It has been the site of long-term studies of penguins and other wildlife, their breeding patterns, migrations, diet, and so on. In Meredith Hooper’s book The Continue Reading
Research Blog Antarctica #181 – The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31
Boardgame: Joe Van Wetering: The Thing – Infection at Outpost 31 (Mondo Games, 2017) The Thing is the topic of three separate boardgames, this one, Who Goes There? and The Thing: the Boardgame. If Infection at Outpost 31 is any indication, its a fruitful source of inspiration because it recreates Continue Reading
Research Blog Antarctica #180 – Oceanwide Expedition Cruise
Expedition Cruise: Oceanwide (Ushuaia-Antarctica-Ushuaia, 2024) I’ve long wanted to visit Antarctica but it’s expensive and difficult. In the beginning of 2024, I finally had my chance as we went on a cruise where we spent five days on the coast (and two days in each direction being seasick in the Continue Reading
Research Blog Antarctica #179 – Antarctica’s Lost Aviator
Book: Jeff Maynard: Antarctica’s Lost Aviator (Pegasus Books, 2019) Books about Antarctic exploration tend to focus on heroic, driven men seeking to test their mettle against the unforgiving forces of nature. Amundsen, Shackleton and in his own way even Scott were tough, strong individuals. In contrast, the main character of Continue Reading
Research Blog Antarctica #178 – Terra Nova
Roleplaying Game: Robert Poppe: Terra Nova (2006) Terra Nova is a roleplaying game scenario designed for the Gamechef competition inspired by Scott’s ill-fated attempt to be the first to the South Pole. Scott’s fatal expedition was called Terra Nova, granting the game its title. The scenario is tightly designed, relying Continue Reading
Research Blog Antarctica #177 – Jäätikkökirja
Non-fiction: Juhan Smuul: Jäätikkökirja (Kustannusliike Edistys, 1964) Jäätikkökirja (Jäine raamat in the original Estonian, Book of the Glacier in English) is the diary of Estonian poet Juhan Smuul’s journey to Antarctica as part of a Soviet expedition in 1957-1958. It’s one of the best and most evocative Antarctic books I’ve Continue Reading
Research Blog Antarctica #176 – Whale Wars Season 5
Television: Whale Wars Season 5: U.S.A. Whale Wars is a documentary tv show about the environmental activist group Sea Shepards and their campaign to end Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean. Purely as television, its dramatic stuff, with physical confrontations between the whalers and the activists on the opena sea, Continue Reading
Research Blog Antarctica #175 – H.P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness 1-2
Comic book: Gou Tanabe: H.P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness (Dark Horse, 2019) H.P. Lovecraft’s novella At the Mountains of Madness has been blessed with really good comics adaptations in the past but Gou Tanabe’s two-volume manga beats all of them in sheer atmosphere and architectural terror. As always, Continue Reading
Research Blog Antarctica #173 & 174 – At the Mountains of Madness & Mountains of Madness
Comic book: I.J.N. Culbard: At the Mountains of Madness (SelfMadeHero, 2010) Comic book: Adam Fyda: The Mountains of Madness (Blue Fox Comics, 2020) Lovecraft’s novella At the Mountains of Madness is one of the most fruitful sources of adaptations and references in Antarctic literature. There have been plenty of examples Continue Reading