The Ice

Stephen Pyne long ago realized that life is but a special case of the more general chemistry of carbon and exygen that are constantly setting earth aflame. The frozen waste of Antarctica is thus a glimpse at the future that awaits us at the end of all time, when life and fire finally cease. -- William Cronon

Explores the physical and organic phenomena of the Antarctic continent as well as its history. With chapters on the geography and formation of the continent, its exploration, its depiction in the arts and sciences, and its geopolitical treatment, the author places the remote land as central to the

“The Ice is a compilation of more about ice than you knew you wanted to know, yet sheer compelling significance holds attention page by page. . . . Pyne conveys a view of Antarctica that interweaves physical science with humanistic inquiry and perception. His audacity as well as his presentation warrant admiration, for the implications of The Ice are vast.”—New York Times Book Review