R. W. Mackelworth (1930–2000)

Despite a very strong sense of the oppressive ice-age landscape, this book remains too enigmatic with respect to its characters, their motivations and their eventual end. Mackelworth presents a very harsh world of ice and his prose is very focused on the physical survival of this terrain. His characters however remain ciphers throughout the book and even when we are privy to their innermost thoughts and feelings, we know so little about them as to have no real context sometimes to relate to them. The character of Tomas is by far the most defined and interesting as as long as he is front and center the book is a compelling read. The background of who the survivors are is so oblique that one can almost call it allegorical; the reader can insert any minority into the sanctuary of White Mountain to lend the story some added resonance. The Welkans are a creepy invention, but again another unexplained part of this very alien landscape. The cover with two nude girls frozen in ice bears no relation to what's in the book. I can't say I can recommend this novel very much, but the author does present an intriguing premise and environment.

Some reading from Contemporary Authors Online indicates that it was common for the author, Mackelworth, to feature leads who were "simple men of action" and certainly Tomas fits into this mold. Likewise Mackelworth liked to explore the theme of the corruption of power and the character of Bergan carried this theme in the novel very well.… (mer)