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
Antarctica
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
43/52 New RPGS: The Last Place on Earth (Research Blog Antarctica #172)
I’m on a study project to improve my understanding of roleplaying games. To this end, I already have two reading projects, A Game Per Year and An Adventure Per Year. This is the third, with the goal of reading or playing 52 games made in the last few years. Originally I considered making Continue Reading
Research Blog Antarctica #171 – Ice Tomb
Fiction: Deborah Jackson: Ice Tomb (Invisible College Press, 2004) Ice Tomb is a romantic scifi thriller set half on Antarctica, half on the Moon. Its main character is Erica, a volcanologist who’s ideas have been swiped by an insecure asshole of a boyfriend. To add insult to injury, the boyfriend, Continue Reading
Research Blog Antarctica #170 – DeepFreeze!
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
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