No comments about South Georgia.

No comments about Mawson's Antarctic Diaries.

No comments about Quest for a Phantom Strait: The Saga of the Pioneer Antarctic Expeditions 1897-1905.

2 comments about Just Tell Them I Survived!: Women in Antarctica.

1. I didn't even finish this book. It seems like it is just a list of facts about woman who have visited Antarctica. I was hoping for more stories than facts. I was very bored. Also the writer appears to be a strong feminist.



2. This is a terrible book that could had potential. Arguably women in antarctica have as much interest and stories to share as men. Unfortunatly this author, an unabashed feminist, just lists lots of boring facts and petty acheivements of women. Do we really care who the first women who swore at the south pole was? Or the first women to smoke a cigarrette at the pole? No. A terrible book, useless tripe, hateful.

No comments about Conservation Problems in Antarctica.

No comments about Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds: Volume 3: Snipe to Pigeons (Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds).

5 comments about The Frigid Mistress: Life and Exploration in Antarctica.

1. This is an account of isolated winter and several traverses, suffering from mechanical problems, crevasses, whiteouts, blizzards, lack of privacy, physical and emotional malaise, arguments (even fist fights), boredome--in short, the whole list of problems associated with living in an extreme, unusual isolated and confined environment.

   To his credit, Doumani is open about describing these difficulties. This is among the every few accounts I have seen that deal with the embarrassment and discomfort attendant upon having to defectae when one is living in a polar vehicle without a latrine, and that give the true feeling of traveling for weeks or months in a small, cramped vehicle with a group of other men, none of whom has washed or changed his clothes during the trip.

   By the same token we get glimpses of the excitement, joy, and even ecstansy of going where no man has ever gone before, of collecting truly unique scientific data and specimens, of climbing up rocks, sliding down glaciers, and generally feeling as if one were in a brand new, challenging and intriguing world.

   Doumani's book is especially impressive in touching upon many of the topics that figure large in the psychological literature on stressful environments. Such topics as the effects of age differences, the combination of isolation and lack of privacy, the relationship between educational level and the ability to counteract boredom without use of alcohol, the importance of food as a palliative, the swings from good fellowship to withdrawal or hostility, the role of communications with home, and the imprtance of patience and humor, are presented with great insight. In fact, I found it very reinforcing that a geologist would thus pinpoint the very concerns that psychologists doing research in such environments have identified as important. Most unusual of all, Doumani's final chapter deals with re-entry to home and family. This is a major issue, generally ignored in the psychological literature as well as in memoirs: The family, having reorganized itself according to new roles, structures, and procedures, must now reintegrate a long-absent member who expects everything to be just as it was when he left.

   Less exciting than the heroic narratives of famed explorers, this well-written book is more forthright than many, and can be more useful as a guide for future research.




2. The Frigid Mistress is simply excellent. As one who only can wish to go to Antarctica, I could not comment on the authenticity, but after speaking to my dad on the subject, I'd say Dr. Doumani hit it right on the nose. I know my father, who participated in these expeditions, also really enjoyed reading the book. I thought it was particularly interesting how the explorers made it around in those early years, let alone survive. And to think that now people can purchase vacations to the same place!

   This is a side of my dad that I was really looking forward to hearing about. Dr. Doumani writes in a way that is very informative, yet very easy to read, and at many times humorous. I wish I could think of a way to get down there; I would go in a heartbeat.




3. The reviewers names listed are incorrect. The same name (Carl Lackey) appears on most reviews. Lackey sent one review only. The rest of the reviews must have other names. Better check your archives and apply the correct names to the reviews.



4. I have just finished reading The Frigid Mistress and would like to say that I enjoyed every word. I almost felt that I had been on the trip myself and endured the discomfort, expectations, satisfaction, and fulfilment. I was fascinating to hear about the day to day problems and all those little things that I have always wanted to know but been too embarassed to ask about. I am sure the book will give pleasure and insight to all readers.



5. Completed reading The Frigid Mistress in three days, a very good read. It put into perspective a lot of the detail missing from a too brief a visit to the Antarctic Peninsula. On thing is very clear, we were incredibly lucky with our weather compared with what's in the book. The detail of life on those expeditios is very graphic and illuminating; so many other writers leave interesting details out of their accounts. Some American expressions and field words sounded odd, but I have been able to guess, or at least I hoope I have got them right.

1 comments about Encyclopedia of Antarctica and the Southern Oceans.

1. Along with Scott's expedition, this at best can ber described as an heroic failure. For the want of an editor this Antarctic encyclopedia should be consigned to the nearest crevasse, but don't rely on this encyclopedia for the coordinates, because more than likely they would be wrong. Bernard Stonehouse should be regretting having his name associated with this ill-fated publishing adventure. At $ per volume an editor could have been employed to correct the more than numerous mistakes. A random examination of enteries for some sub-Antarctic isles reveal mistakes for every entry. Some of the maps are equivalent to the fanciful fabrication of medieavle cartographers - here be sea lions! The coloured map insert provides us with to entries for Davis station, one on the Ingrid Christensen Coast for Australia, and another near Scott Glacier with Australia and Russia as the proprieters. Moving on to Heard Island Station entry the coordinets given put the station some 15 miles to the east of it's actual location. The map for McDonald Islands is just plain fanciful the shape of McDonald Islands bares no resemblence to reality. Looking at the entry for Macquarie Island the map notes that the island is known as "Maquairi" Island. Hasselborough Bay has become "Hasselburg Bay." How many more errors? A much better buy would be a combined purchase of Trewby's Antarctica encyclopedia with Hince's The Antarctic Dictionary, at less than a quarter of the price of Stonehouse.

No comments about Antarctica: An Introductory Guide.

2 comments about Shackleton: The Antarctic Challenge.

1. The major events of the ill-fated voyage of Sir Ernest Shakelton's attempt to cross Antarctica are well known. However, what most do not know or understand is the depth and breadth of this extraordinary man. Shackleton was not only a bonified explorer, more importantly he was a noble leader.

   "Leaders do not force their fellow citizens to follow, they inspire them to do so."

   If there is one thing to learn from this book, it is the true meaning of leadership and how important willing-loyalty is to our basic survival. Seen in the face of unimaginable odds, they survived - and they survived in whole: worn and frazzled from nearly 2 years of struggle, they were rescued mentaly tough and spiritually whole. In no small part, this was due to the quality of leadership demonstrated by Shackleton: it was embraced and reflected in his men.

   It is amazing, this entity we call 'the human spirit'. If trained - but, not broken - like a fine horse, it has great wonders to show and is a true beauty to behold. Such are the many lessons learned from the tales of this "Endurance" voyage: did anyone ever wonder about the naming of that ship? What started out as a championing exploration, became a struggle with life itself to survive.

   Likewise, what most will perceive as an "interesting read", will soon become an invaluable source for life-guiding principles. Get the book - read it - and put these incalculably precious lessons into practice in your own life. You never know when you'll need the endurance.




2. This book must be added to your collection if you are a true student of the Shackleton story. It combines the best of all the books (picture books, biographies, and personal accounts) out there with beautiful photographs in the tradition of National Geographic and the color shots truly enliven the original black and whites from the expedition. The maps are outstanding and there are reproductions of pages from Shackleton's and Hurley's diaries.
   I haven't really found a book on the Shackleton story that is horrible . Maybe the story is so inspiring it tells itself. Trapped by The Ice, the picture book for kids by Michael McCurdy, is the worst example I know and I still like that for the rendering of the sea leopard leaping at Ordes-Lee, the officer in charge of food supplies. There are better children's books, Sea of Ice, by Monica Kulling, a fairly easy read for upper elementary students with beautiful watercolors, Trial By Ice, by K. M. Kostyal, a photobiography of Shackleton, Ice Story for middle school students, with black and white photographs and a magnificent large picture book with paintings and photographs, Spirit of Endurance, by Jennifer Armstrong. Get them all!