Non-fiction: Robert A. McCabe: DeepFreeze! (International Photography Publishers, 2010) DeepFreeze! is a photobook documenting a trip to the Antarctic by the American photojournalist Robert A. McCabe. The title of the book comes from Operation Deep Freeze, the name of the American Antarctic programs started in 1955. McCabe’s visit to Antarctica Continue Reading
Antarctica
Research Blog Antarctica #169 – Forbush and the Penguins
Fiction: Graham Billing: Forbush and the Penguins (Coronet Books, 1970) Considering that New Zealand is one of the two gateway countries to Antarctica (the other is Chile), it’s surprising that so few Antarctic creative works have come from there. Because of that, it was nice to read this novel, originally Continue Reading
Research Blog Antarctica #168 – Mountains of Madness
Boardgame: Rob Davia & Miguel Coimbra: Mountains of Madness (Iello, 2017) Based on the classic Antarctic H.P. Lovecraft novella At the Mountains of Madness, Mountains of Madness is a co-operative boardgame about an expedition seeking to uncover strange remnants and other relics from the titular mountain while avoiding injuries and Continue Reading
Research Blog Antarctica #167 – Hulluuden vuorilla
Play: Aarne Linden: Hulluuden vuorilla (Tikkurilan teatteri, 2018) Hulluuden vuorilla (At the Mountains of Madness) is a play based on the H.P. Lovecraft story of the same name, dramatized and directed by Aarne Linden. It consists of a single scene in which the organizers of a new Antarctic expedition hear Continue Reading
Research Blog Antarctica #166 – Kohteena Etelämanner
Discussion panel: University of Helsinki: Kohteena Etelämanner (Focus on Antarctica), 2018 Kohteena Etelämanner (Focus on Antarctica) is a public discussion held by the University of Helsinki on 27.8.2018. It’s also available as a video recording on the university website. In the discussion, three Finnish scientists who have worked at the Continue Reading
Research Blog Antarctica #165 – Ernest Shackleton Loves Me
Musical: Lisa Peterson: Ernest Shackleton Loves Me (U.S.A. 2017) Ernest Shackleton Loves Me is a New York musical about a Brooklyn single mother and Ernest Shackleton’s Transantarctic journey. I didn’t see it live; a recording appeared on YLE Areena, where it will be for two more weeks. In the story, Continue Reading
Research Blog Antarctica #164 – The Winter Over
Fiction: Matthew Iden: The Winter Over (Thomas & Mercer, 2017) At first glance, The Winter Over by Matthew Iden falls into the familiar category of Antarctic thrillers where manly men face the travails of human weakness and the unforgiving environment. And indeed, superficially the book seems to have some of Continue Reading
Research Blog Antarctica #163 – Frozen Solid
Fiction: James M. Tabor: Frozen Solid (2013, Ballantine Books) There’s a lot of thrillers set in Antarctica, but James M. Tabor’s Frozen Solid is better than most, at least within the confines of the genre. Protagonist Hallie Leland arrives at the Amundsen Scott Station at the South Pole only to Continue Reading
Research Blog Antarctica #162 – Terre Mécanique: Antarctica
Comic book: Jean Baptiste Andréae & Patrick Fitou: Terre Mécanique: Antarctica (Casterman, 2004) Antarctica is the second volume in the three-part series Terre Mécanique. The first volume is set on a ship where a permanent post-apocalyptic party goes on as it sails across endless ocean. The rhinoceros Fileon and a Continue Reading
Research Blog Antarctica #161 – Quick Before It Melts (the movie)
Film: Delbert Mann: Quick Before It Melts (U.S.A. 1964) This is the film adaptation of the novel Quick, Before It Melts. It’s a comedy about an American reporter sent to the Antarctic to find stories about oil, gold or Russian perfidy. Much of the story is built around the sexual Continue Reading