Empire of Ice and Stone by Buddy Levy is the story of two men and an ill-fated Artic expedition. History has had differing opinions on the decisions of these two men; this book offers a very clear opinion. The descriptions of the interactions among the crew are a case study in group behavior. For me, perhaps most fascinating of all are the book's descriptions of the Artic conditions with the ice itself is as much a character of this history as any human being.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2024/06/empire-of-ice-and-stone.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

I wrote about this on The Storygraph and Goodreads. I posted about this on at least one social media site (bluesky, Threads, Instagram, Mastodon, X, Facebook, Raverly)

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6070833956

I thought this was a relevant considering what is happening to ice and glaciers in the Artic. This is biography of a failed expedition by two sailors in the Arctic and their boat Karluk. Captain Bob was hero. This book definitely had similarities to Shackleton's Antarctic adventure, and obviously different outcomes. Just wow,

Once I finally started this, I could not put it down. None of this was at all boring or tedious to read, especially when there was a fight for survival. Definitely a recommended read for anyone who is interested in exploration to inhospitable/harsh places.

Thanks to Net Galley, Buddy Levy and St Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Already available.

Just as he did with Labyrinth of Ice, Buddy Levy made the Arctic come alive. Empire of Ice and Stone was beautifully crafted, filled with rich history, and a story all should know about. His comparison of the two captains and their commitment to their men was eye opening, but my favorite person to read about was Auntie. I think that without her and her children (and of course the cat), many more of the men would have perished before rescue could make it to them.

Can't wait to read again.

I recently read Empire of Ice and Stone, a true story based on an ill-fated Arctic expedition in the early 1900's. The author did an amazing job of bringing the characters/people to life with his phenomenal research.
This book is a must read for those who love adventure, survival, characters you love or hate or can't understand.
Thank you #Netgalley and #StMartinsPress.

Empire of Ice and Stone tells of the voyage of the Karluk, a brigantine vessel that sailed from Canada to the Arctic in 1913. It was led by Captain Bob Bartlett, the world’s best ice navigator at the time, and Vilhjalmur Stefansson, a “visionary” leader in search of wealth and fame. My thanks go to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the invitation to read and review; this book is for sale now.

This well told narrative details a part of history of which I have read very little. As school children, most of us in the Western developed nations read of the early explorers, but stories of voyages in the twentieth century are few and far between. This is why I take this one on, but I begin to wonder partway into it whether it is more than I have bargained for.

The first half is more than a little confusing, because there are so (so, so, so) many names to remember, and almost all of them are Caucasian men—as is usual for the time and situation. About halfway into it, I abandon my efforts to memorize all of them, and once I am satisfied with memorizing the names of the two leaders plus “Auntie,” (more in a moment) and the ship’s pets, I calm down a bit and it’s easier to follow. I am fortunate enough to receive the audio galley as well as the digital review copy, and that combination makes it easier to follow.

That said, this is not gentle reading. There is death—in many cases slow and terrible—and betrayal around every corner. I understood that there would be some of that when I took the book, but I’ll tell you right now, if you, dear reader, have any sort of mood disorder or are going through a dark time personally, you may want to stay away from this thing.

As the bodies begin to pile up, I start to feel angry, and I remain so, to some degree, until the book is done. Because this was a dumb thing that these men did. Their ship wasn’t up to the task, they cut too many corners at the outset, and this more or less spelled doom for many of those aboard. I can’t help speaking to these men as though they can hear me, and I’m asking what the fuck got into them to do this at all? If everyone had stayed home, most likely all of them would have lived to a ripe old age. True, they made some scientific discoveries; yet air travel was just around the corner, and the whole thing could have been done much more safely later on.

The story has a definite hero (Bartlett,) and a definite villain (Stefansson,) and the farther into the voyage we go, the more obvious this becomes. However, I would have liked to hear a good deal more about the other hero. Levy tells us that a lot of these men would have been dead before the rescuers arrived had it not been for the Innuit woman that was hired, along with her small children (!) to travel with them, and the narrative bears this out. Time and again, when they are on the razor’s edge of starvation, she comes up with an innovative way to use the environment around them to provide calories. Not always delicious calories, to be sure, but alive is alive. “Auntie” is a total badass, and deserves more ink; possibly not much information is available, given the biases of the time.

The book feels longer than it actually is; however, given the amount of complex information provided, it probably shouldn’t be pared down further. At the same time, I kept thinking that this would be so much more approachable if Jeff Shaara were doing the telling (via historical fiction.)

For those that are very interested in the history of early sea voyages, and to researchers, this immaculately researched book is recommended.

I received a copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.

This is a tale of incredible strength and dedication. An amazing journey in the freezing, desolate places on earth. Along with the endurance trials of men like Shackleton, the scientific journey of the Karluk is a story of hardship, determination, and loyalty.

Intending to spend months exploring the Antarctic the Karluk set out for fame and knowledge. But six weeks later the Karluk was no more. What happened to the company of scientists and explorers after the sinking of the Karluk is an engrossing story. A true story of heroism and endurance.

Levy’s writing is vivid and drew me in immediately. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in history and the men who came before us. The courage of Captain Bartlett and the men who followed him is inspiring and fascinating.

A gripping read about a harrowing true story. Levy presents a well researched, expertly crafted, fact-filled adventure story about the Voyage of the Karluk. I couldn't put it down.

Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Can you image living in artic conditions for a year and surviving, the excruciating cold in one of the most remote places in the world. This is what happened to the crew and scientists aboard The Karluk when their ship became encased in ice and not everyone did survive, but those that did were faced with daily challenges of shelter, food, changing ice conditions and the wildlife of the Arctic.
Although I found this book to be long and slightly repetitive, I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure of these man, being some of the first to explore this hostile land.

This was an absolutely gripping story of the Karluk. Having already read and loved Buddy Levy's previous book Labyrinth of Ice, I was approaching this one with high expectations and I was not disappointed. This is very well written and researched. I am not sure what it is about survival stories that I find myself drawn to but I will read just about every single one that I come across. It is both heartbreaking and inspiring to know what the circumstances and courage these men went through. Anyone who wants to learn about this tragic moment and/or who has interest in survival stories will not be disappointed in this one.

This is a survival story, a piece of history that I knew nothing about. The ship is the Karluk and Bob Bartlett is the captain. It was part of an Artic expedition that was headed by V. Stefansson. Stefansson is selfish, self-centered, and he is seeking personal glory. He doesn't want to answer questions and supplies are disorganized. Artic clothing is not ready as they depart. Bartlett encounters the first ice August 1st. Stefansson manages to leave the Karluk, they won't miss him. He shows no concern for the people he left behind. Once you get to the survival story, you won't want to stop reading. These people went through so much. How they were rescued was quite a process. At the end, the author writes of the lives the survivors return to. I read an electronic version courtesy of Net Galley.

Content warnings: Starvation, depictions of mental illness, period-accurate slur against Inuit and northern indigenous people (explained, but present), animal slaughter, alleged death by suicide, dog on dog violence & cannibalism, corpses, graphic depictions of surgery & infection

Levy returns again with an incredible account of several boats and two dozen people trapped in and around the Arctic circle. Anthropologist Vilhjalmur Stefansson organized a scientific and geographical expedition to the Arctic on The Karluk, a ship vastly unprepared for Arctic sea ice and manned by a crew composed largely of scientists with little experience in that treacherous territory. It goes well, with Stefansson abandoning ship to go on a caribou hunt and leaving everyone else in the charge of its captain, Robert Bartlett. Death, mental illness, desperation, and long, long treks across ice pack into Russia around the onset of World War One ensure.

If you enjoyed Labyrinth of Ice, you are in for a treat with incredible characterization and a reverence for the snow and ice many have tried to traverse in previous expeditions, you’re in for a treat. The audiobook does come with supplemental materials like photographs, a timeline, and additional reading.

A note on the content warnings related to animals: if you like cats, there is a cat who survives and lives for several years after the Canadian Arctic Expedition. If you like dogs, however, you might want to skip this one as many do not survive and Levy does not shirk away from descriptions.

This is the tale of essentially two crews, the one that stayed behind and the other went on a caribou hunt. Were the caribou? Debatable, still. Same goes for the alleged suicide of one of the members. But Levy saves the speculation and attribution of motives for once the final fates of the crews are decided. During the events of the expedition, he really focuses on attitudes as recorded in personal diaries and the play-by-play with some of the most beautiful imagery of the harsh icy wastelands I’ve ever read. The allure of such explorations and expeditions is clear. The harshness of that reality is not avoided, and the details can be hard to get through sometimes.

I think what impresses me most about this book is how geographically easily it was to follow. Yes, the appendix that came with the audiobook has a map, but I didn’t discover that until finishing the read. The distances are incredible, and the fact that people traveled and survived the ordeal is equally impressive. There is a good amount of human hubris to be found here, especially when it comes to the details of planning the expedition. Between this one and the Donner Party, make sure you leave your point of origin on time with the correct materials.

The human element of this book is so good and is ultimately what kept me strapped in for yet another disastrous trek through the Arctic Circle. There’s camaraderie, there’s great upset, there’s harrowing escapes and ceaseless winter. With greater historical contexts like the outbreak of World War I being one of the things that greeted the seamen upon their return home, this account leaves few stones unturned and offers a comprehensive bibliography for those wanting to keep reading and researching.

An amazing story
I first listened to the audio version because I expected it to be a bit tedious to read the book. To my surprised after listening I grabbed the kindle version and reread the whole story. The Narrator Will Damron did an excellent job in having you visualize what was happening. The author Buddy Levy did an enormous amount of research to present the facts of this voyage. The contrast between Stefansson (the leader and organizer of the expedition) and Bartlett (Capitan of the Karluk) was sharply defined. You got to know the members of the crew and researchers. Noticed how the events brought out the best and worst in people. That anybody survived was mostly thanks to the determination of Captain Bartlett and the Inuit people that had joined the expedition. Their understanding of the living conditions, hardships of surviving and continued willing to help with cooking, hunting and providing of appropriate clothing for the arctic cold.

I read an eARC of this book. While it was thoroughly footnoted; no appendices, illustrations or index were included. I do not know if this additional information will be included in the actual book.
This was a fascinating, well-written story of a disastrous Arctic expedition in the early part of the 1900s. The author created the setting and circumstances so vividly, I could see the landscape. I felt so sorry for these poor people who suffered during this expedition. After reading an account like this one, it is a wonder anyone would want to explore anywhere. That is truly a credit to the author's ability to bring this story to life.
Although this is a work on nonfiction, the characters were well-developed. The author included information about how the survivors spent the rest of their lives, which I really appreciated. It brought closure to the story.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Having read books about the Shackleton expedition, I was equally intrigued by the voyage of the Karluk into the Artic frigid waters. And this book does not disappoint. The bravado of the men involved in the expedition, the icy waters and intolerable conditions, the betrayals, not one thing about this book leaves the reader disappointed. I don't think "enjoyed" is the correct word for how it felt to read this book, but although it is written about historical events, it is told through a narrative that completely immerses the reader into the events and the atmosphere. I could picture the conditions and the people so well through the author's writing style. Exactly what I want from an historical book. I am always amazed at the ability for reasonably intelligent people, such as the scientists who participated in the voyage, to overlook the incredible risks involved in such a trip. It reminds me of early space exploration and the "tin cans" that passed as adequate vessels for such exploration.
For anyone who loves narrative historical works, this is one to pick up. Highly readable and highly recommended.
#EmpireOfIceAndStone #NetGalley #StMartinsPress

Two men: Vilhjalmur Stefansson and Robert Bartlett. Both have egos but much different moral compasses. Stefansson, a self-styled Arctic explored prioritized his personal success and claim to fame above the mission. Bartlett, an experienced captain of the Arctic, focused on the survival of the men onboard the ill-fated Karluk.

The mission was sanctioned by the Canadian government after much lobbying and politicking by Stefansson. The Captain for the scientific mission was Bartlett. Even from the beginning there were hints that the two men did not share a similar world view, nor did they trust in each other’s competence.

When the Karluk excursion becomes imperiled, the factual storytelling describes the strengths and weaknesses of the men onboard. The reader is invested in their fates. Who will make it? And how? Wrong decisions can have disastrous implications and sometimes sheer luck can shift someone’s future. Buddy Levy has no need to invent any detail to heighten what transpired. Adventure and danger lurked throughout. The author also updates the reader as to what happened after the voyage and the lives men led afterwards.

This is a long and exciting journey and book. Readers will be rewarded. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this title.

Empire of Ice and Stone is a well-written account of a failed historical mission to the arctic. It recounts the many missteps along the way as well as the book's many characters to life. One finds themselves rooting for the journey and the survival of its participants and hoping the ill-fated journey will come to a positive conclusion. If you love history, stories of long journeys, and places far away you will love this book. Thanks to #netgalley#Empireoficeandstone for the opportunity to read an review this book.

In 1913: Karluk, a wooden hulled ship left Canada to go to the Arctic Ocean. Captain Bob Bartlett was known as the world’s greatest living ice navigator. The leader of this expedition was Vilhjalmur Stefansson. Six weeks later the Karluk had giant ice floes surrounding her. Stefansson decided to go on a Caribou hunting trip with five of the team. He never came back, Captain Bartlett decides to take one of the Inuit hunters to go with him to save the shipwrecked survivors. It will be a 1,000 mile trip.

The author’s nonfiction book story is entertaining more or less what happened. On this expedition, there is suffering and heroism. It is a miracle that as many of anyone surviving this expedition. The author maps and a list of characters. There is also a timeline of of “Relevant Arctic Exploration, Expeditions, and Disasters.”. I am glad that I read this book as it amazed me that anyone would go though such a dangerous expedition. It’s a fascinating read.

The book interesting and informative. Levy achieves his thesis and writes in an easy to understand and easy to follow manner.

I did have a little bit of trouble with this one. I felt, even though it was something new to me, that I had read this before. I toyed with this for a while, which is why I took a bit longer to write the review. This doesn't make it a bad book, and I can see the benefits and enjoyment that others can get from reading this. In fact, I purchased a copy for a friend for the holidays.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the dARC in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, this book is going to be a DNF at 20% for me. Despite going in with hopes of really enjoying this historical tale, I found the pace of the book to be excruciatingly slow and the writing to be bland and boring. There was not much incentive to keep reading and I had to push myself to get through the first fifth of the book. The story, though biographically told, is simply not presented in a way that is enticing to readers. It lacks the plot points that make up a good story. This book wasn’t a fit for me, though perhaps it will be for others.