Non-fiction: Richard E. Byrd: Discovery (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1935) Discovery is Richard Byrd’s account of his second big Antarctic expedition. The difference between this and accounts of the expeditions of Scott and Amundsen is striking, even when the difference in time is not so long. Amundsen used dogs, Byrd uses Continue Reading
Antarctica
Research Blog Antarctica #98: The Great White South
Non-fiction: Herbert G. Ponting: The Great White South (Cooper Square Press, 2001, orig. 1921) This is yet another account of Scott’s doomed final Antarctic expedition, this time by the photographer Herbert Ponting. Ponting is one of the two famous photographers of the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration. Frank Hurley is Continue Reading
Research Blog Antarctica #97 – Blizzard: Race to the Pole
TV series: Blizzard – Race to the Pole (U.K. 2006) Blizzard is a six episode documentary tv series about an attempt to recreate the race to the South Pole. It features two teams, a British team and a Norwegian team. Both use the same equipment as Roald Amundsen and Robert Continue Reading
Research Blog Antarctica #96 – The Survivor
Novel: Thomas Keneally: The Survivor (Angus & Robertson Ltd, 1969) Thomas Keneally’s The Survivor is the second Antarctic novel by the same author featured in this blog. The first was Victim of the Aurora. It’s the story of an aging university man who was the only survivor of an ill-fated Continue Reading
The penguins wait patiently
You’ll be interested to know that the penguins are queuing into a restaurant. Note the antennae:
Research Blog Antarctica #95 – Whiteout
Film: Dominic Sena: Whiteout (U.S.A. 2009) Whiteout is an Antarctic crime movie based on the comic book by Greg Rucka. Its a faithful yet plodding adaptation, combining good Antarctic detail with a leaden script and workmanlike direction. The story is about an U.S. Marshal posted to the American base at Continue Reading
Strange Humanoids of Antarctica
The excellent Japanese culture blog Pink Tentacle reveals the story of the “Ningen”, strange white humanoids inhabiting the Antarctic coast. Check out the rest here.
Research Blog Antarctica #94 – White-Out
Novel: James Vance Marshall: White-Out (Soho Press, 1999) James Vance Marshall’s White-Out is in many ways the quintessential Antarctic novel. Its centerpiece is a long sledging journey undertaken across the Antarctic Peninsula by a group of men fighting for survival. All the usual privations from hunger to the blizzards are Continue Reading
Antarctic Research Blog #93 – Polar Obsession
Photo book: Paul Nicklen: Polar Obsession (National Geographic, 2009) Polar Obsession is a collection of photos of the polar regions from National Geographic nature photographer Paul Nicklen’s career. The most impressive thing about Nicklen’s images is the feeling of action, life, even violence they evoke. His images are not mere Continue Reading
Research Blog Antarctica #92 – The Antarctic Express
Children’s book: Kenneth Hite & Christina Rodriguez: Antarctic Express (Atlas Games, 2009) Ken Hite’s Antarctic Express sounds like a joke: it’s a children’s picture book version of H.P. Lovecraft’s Antarctic tale At the Mountains of Madness. Surprisingly, it’s pretty good, probably because it feels like it’s been done in all Continue Reading