Audible Book Review: Icequake by Crawford Kilian

This is a story of survival against blizzards and the treacherous conditions of ice flow.
Icequake
By: Crawford Kilian
Narrated by: Tim Campbell
Series: Icequake, Book 1

Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins
Release date: 10-30-18
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: Climate, Environment, Techno thriller
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
A group of 27 scientists and explorers are stranded in Antarctica.
Residing in a station known as Shackleton, they are studying the seismic activity of the region. An eruption of the nearby volcano, Mount Erebus, soon sends quakes throughout the continent with devastating results.
All radio communication has been disabled by the breakdown of the magnetic field. Evacuation is unlikely. No one knows whether they survived the icequake, and their station is now moving two kilometres north each day with the strong aftershocks. They are on their own, with limited food and resources.
Do they stay put and risk being caught in the next series of icequakes and avalanches? Or do they pack up and trek over dangerous territories to the neighbouring station?
Icequake is a gripping prophetic sci-fi disaster novel, full of excitement and danger in every chapter.
©2017 Crawford Kilian (P)2018 Podium Publishing

Review:
A group of scientists are preparing to leave Antarctica when they are stranded first by a bad storm and then by a major land – or ice – shift. One of the scientists had predicted a very dangerous icequake. He is gratified to be right although he is not thrilled with the timing. The main group is at the Shackleton station but there is another community even closer to the nearby volcano, Mount Erebus. All communication is down and it is too dangerous to travel as the ice continues to move. Fortunately, there is a plane that allows some reconnaissance, but there isn’t enough fuel to travel to the mainland.

The interaction among the men and women is part of the drama in the story. Most of the danger is outside, from the elements, but there are some men who are struggling to remain civil. And romance has a different level when there are scientists who care more about their studies than their partners.

Of course, the scientists suspect that the mainland is suffering too from the rising level of waters, loss of crops and other difficulties. But the scientists won’t know the full extent unless they can get back to the mainland.

I saw this was only available free through 12/20/2022 so I chose to read it sooner rather than later. I found it interesting if not overly exciting. The scientific elements surrounding an icequake and its impact are interesting and are shared well through the story rather than preaching. I recommend this to readers who would find the climate issues interesting with the drama of survival against the elements.

Audio Notes: Tim Campbell does a great job with the narration. He provides distinct voices for the variety of characters. The energy and pacing is good considering the survival plods at times. The narration enhanced the story for me.

Source: 11/5/22 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022Audiobook goal.