This is a great book. This is exactly the kind of book I love. I have a thing for man against nature, man against the limits of his own endurance. (hence my love of mountain climbing books) Plus I have a "thing" for horror fiction. (hence my love of Stephan King) And this book had both! What a bargain. The setting in the arctic, the oppressive, endless polar night, the ungodly, unrelenting cold, the wind that had real, beastly teeth... And a ship stuck, frozen, trapped for years, no rescue...brrr, spine chilling yo. The specter of death always ready to strike because the margin between life and death being so thin, but the will to survive a formidable match... was a real testament to mankind, the power of love, honor. Loved this book.