I've read a fair amount of books about polar exploration but Buddy Levy's "Realm of Ice and Sky" still managed to be a fresh take on the subject for me. The first third of "Realm of Ice and Sky," a section Levy labels "The Pioneer," is devoted to American Walter Wellman and his conviction that airship flights would replace the traditional dogsled expeditions as the most efficient way to explore the polar region. Levy chronicles not only the development of Wellman's innovative airship "America" and his multiple attempts to fly it to the north pole, but also turn-of-the-century politics, the evolution of the press in America, and the Cook/Peary controversy among other things. Wellman was a new name to me but Part Two, "The White Eagle of Norway," follows the exploits of a more famous explorer, Norway's Roald Amundsen. Rather than feeling like a retread of a familiar story, however, Levy's descriptions of his expeditions aboard the "Norge"managed to feel compelling and fresh. And the final section, "The Italia," continued the story of Umberto Nobile, a member of Amundsen's Norge crew who, after a spectacular falling out with his former crewmates, leads his own expedition to the pole aboard the "Italia." This last section, with its Mussolini era politics, triumph-to-tragedy arc and dramatic rescue storyline, was perhaps the most gripping of the book. NOTE: I listened to this selection on audiobook and narrator Will Damron does an excellent job of conveying the often technical information clearly but also with all the emotions of suspense, fear, excitement that the text warrants. I thoroughly enjoyed listening.

Thank you to NetGalley and to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this title in return for my honest review.

Book: Realm of Ice and Sky: Triumph, Tragedy, and History’s Greatest Arctic Rescue
Author: Buddy Levy
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for sending me an ARC. I have been reading and watching a lot about Arctic exploration as of late and I was excited to have the chance to read this one. It was very interesting and exciting. There is just something about the Arctic that has always interested me.

This book recounts the remarkable yet often overlooked story of Arctic explorer Walter Wellman, an American visionary who pioneered both polar and trans-Atlantic airship aviation. Wellman, often remembered for his failed attempts, was in fact a courageous innovator who expanded the frontiers of polar exploration, laying the groundwork for the eventual achievement of the North Pole—not by dogsled or airplane, but by airship. In 1908, American Dr. Frederick Cook claimed to have reached the North Pole, followed by Robert Peary a year later. But both explorers' claims were met with skepticism. Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, renowned for being the first to navigate the Northwest Passage and reach the South Pole, decided to take up where Wellman left off. In 1926, Amundsen, aboard the 350-foot airship Norge designed by Italian engineer Umberto Nobile, successfully flew over the North Pole, marking a historic moment in exploration. However, Nobile, feeling slighted by Amundsen's success, embarked on his own journey in 1928 with the Italia, determined to claim glory for Italy and himself. Backed by Mussolini's government, Nobile's mission ended tragically in disaster. The crew’s desperate struggle for survival led to a dramatic rescue operation, full of death, betrayal, and accusations of cannibalism.

This is one of those books that kept me reading. There is just something about the north that pulls people in. It’s one of the last few places on earth that is largely unexplored. The lands of snow and ice with polar animals pull people in. The way the information is presented in this book is done in a way that it is easy to follow. It is engaging and leans into the lure of the Arctic. We follow life on the airship and the dangers that come along with it. We see the determination of these men to reach the North Pole. We also see how men can be built back up and quickly torn back down. It brings historical figures to life.

The writing is easy to get into and flows so well. You don’t have to have much knowledge on the subject, or any at all, to follow this story. You can easily pick this book up and go on an Arctic adventure. Even the scientific side of things so written in a way that is so easy to follow. There is excitement, tension, and danger on every page. It all brought to you directly on the page.

One thing I really enjoyed about this book was learning abut the different ways people tried to get to the North Pole. We have planes, hot air balloons, and man who will stop at nothing to get there. We have a lot of different countries trying to be the first ones to reach the pole. We see the race. We see everything on right here in the book. Now, I will admit that there were a few parts that I felt were a bit on the slower side for the pacing. It was still interesting, but the parts in the north were the most exciting parts of the book.

Overall, I did enjoy this one a lot. If you are interested in Arctic exploration, I highly encourage you to give this a go.

This book comes out on January 28, 2025.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/SXttSE9IllE

Realm Of Ice And Sky, Triumph, tragedy, and histories, greatest Arctic rescue by Buddy Levy. The race was on to be the first man to the Arctic and so why not go by airship? They would and did but only after costing lots of money, many lives and years they could never get back. The author tells us everything from the players, the names of the ships, and even what was happening on board during the nail, biting expedition. The book mainly focuses on a man named westing, but there’s many tidbits about other expeditions and adventures. I find the author has a great knack for putting you right in the moment, especially when the America took off and crashed in the whole ship, almost went in to a cavernous crack in the Arctic. Such nail biting anxiety ridden reading, and I loved all of it. This really is a great book for anyone who loves true adventure stories those who fail only to try again this is the perfect book. I loved it and absolutely recommend it. #NetGalley, #SaintMartin’sPress, #BuddyLevy,# RealmOfIceAndSky,

Buddy Levy captures the reader from the beginning in "Realm of Ice and Sky." A suspenseful page-turner, the author manages to entertain and inform at the same time. The book focuses on three major air ship explorers in the early Twentieth Century: Wellman, Amundsen, and Nobile. The book is nicely broken into sections that make it easy to follow the sequence of expeditions.

What Levy brings is a style that is dynamic and poetic, a style that enhances the historical aspects of the story with details, dialogue, and imagery that engages the senses. There are no photos in the book. Levy's writing skill needs none. I became caught in the riveting cold, painful physical conditions, and the nuanced relationships among great men seeking to conquer the North Pole and the Arctic region.

I highly recommend "Realm of Ice and Sky." Levy has written an accurate and detailed history embedded in an engaging style that really does put the reader beside each man, commander and crew, who helped forge a path into the unexplored Arctic region.

A fascinating book about exploring the Arctic in airships--something which I knew nothing about. The book traces the history of such expeditions, culminating in a disastrous attempt led by Italian engineer Umberto Nobile. The author did a wonderful job of bringing these explorers to life and explaining the various obstacles and challenges they faced. Glad to have discovered this author and looking forward to reading some of his other books!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Realm of Ice and Sky: Triumph, Tragedy, and History's Greatest Arctic Rescue was quite different from what I was expecting. I thought I was going to be reading about the crash of the airship Italia and the subsequent rescue of the survivors. The last 40% of the book delivered on that, and I found it to be fascinating. However, I found the first 60% to be akin to reading a textbook. It was all about the invention and first flights of dirigibles.

That said, there may be readers who find that first part to be exactly what they're looking for. I completely get that. It just wasn't what I was expecting.

Thank you #StMartinsPress for providing this book for review consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.


#Dirigibles #History

This was an absolutely thrilling, fast-paced adventure!! Highly, highly recommended for both non-fiction and fiction readers.

This book introduced me to a whole new realm of polar exploration. I'd been taught in school about Peary reaching the North Pole and Byrd flying to it. I never even knew there were others who flew airships in polar exploration. Levy's writing style is like being taken to the very scenes of the adventures. He explains how Wellman wanted to use the latest flying technology. At the time he felt it was the airship rather than the emerging but untried airplane. I was amazed as Levy explained the preparations, the tons of food and supplies, and the logistics of getting the airship ready. Continuing on with Amundsen and finally Nobile, I felt like I was right along on their journey's. The latter part of the book detailed the dramatic survival and rescue efforts after disaster struck Nobile's airship.

I was amazed at these men committed to this form of adventure. The airship was at the mercy of the weather and Levy makes us feel like we are right there with the crew, fighting the elements and experiencing the mechanical problems. He is great at recreating the events, including the words and actions of the people involved.

This is a good book to be introduced to an era and style of exploration not widely known. Levy makes you feel like you are a part of the adventure. I recommend it to all who love reading about dangerous adventures.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Realm of Ice and Sky
By Buddy Levy

This is a non-fiction work about the race to reach the North Pole in the early 1900s. This was a time of great technological advances and the men who were willing to risk their very lives to be first, to earn fame and glory in the quest.

Many expeditions had previously foundered and many lives had been lost in the horrific conditions in the arctic. Men had tried ships and overland dog sledges with no success. Now they would try an alternative – airships, motor driven dirigibles. Mr. Levy describes the failures and successes of Wellman, Amundsen, Cook and Nobile – all driven by nationalism and the thirst for fame.

This is a compelling story told by a master of the genre. While only a history buff enthralled with arctic exploration may appreciate the level of detail provided, the author has produced a compelling read for any reader.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

There are certain adventures that spark the imagination, and few have been more enduring than the race to the North Pole. The trek across hundreds of miles of the most forbidding, remote, and hostile terrain has cost many explorers their lives, starting with expeditions in the 1800s. By the beginning of the 20th Century, adventurers were contemplating whether airships could help attain the goal, either airships or airplanes. But who would be bold and courageous enough to try??

Popular outdoor writer Buddy Levy answers that question in this fascinating and remarkable tale of a number of Scandinavian, American, and Italian explorers who tried and tried again to reach the North Pole first. American Walter Wellman was the best at self-promotion and his airship attempts are the stuff of legend, but did he reach the Pole? Then Dr. Frederick Cook claimed he had made it, even before Robert Peary, but did either of them really make it to the North Pole?

Levy claims that it was Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen who was the first to be able to prove he'd reached the North Pole, only a few years after being one of the first to reach the South Pole. Italian explorer Umberto Nobile, backed by Italian dictator Mussolini, flew his own Italian-made airship to the North Pole, but that journey ended in death, disaster, and one of the great rescue operations of the century.

All of this is captured and considered in Realm of Ice and Sky. It's an extraordinary read. Have some hot tea ready too, you'll need it. Highly recommended.

So many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this new work.

I am such a fan of exploration/adventure non-fiction. So, I went into new book this very excited. And this did not disappoint. I was on a long trip when I started this and it make the travel disappear. Buddy Levy can tell a story. The research made this story come alive. I knew of these men but the way the stories were woven together was just fantastic.

I highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in the polar expedition genre. Highly. This was extremely well done, and I really hope the book is a huge success.

I was stunned to learn of an Arctic expedition blessed by the Pope and funded by Mussolini. Italy’s cutting-edge airship drew explorers seeking fame and discovery. Umberto Nobile’s ill-fated mission ended in disaster, with men lost and Amundsen vanishing while searching for survivors. Levy crafts a gripping, page-turning tale of human ambition and nature’s power. I was overall shocked at what I l earned, but really enjoyed it!

Buddy levy does such a great job of telling historical events like the epic stories that they are. This is the 4th book ive read by him and his prose never gets old. I thought this book was going to cover just one the north pole expeditions, but instead got the intertwining tales of 3 different expeditions. I can't wait for his next one!

This is a very interestin Book about airships going up to the north pole call. This is pretty revolutionary in the twenties to go up there in a airship. The first person to do it was W. A LTE RW EIN A. RI You had an airship designed by I Mo BI LE and the airship.This is called because he designed it. This is really interesting how they talked about their lives.And how do you work on these airships?But a lot of times things Did not work out very well. This is a very interesting part of history because plans at this point as well. But these people want to explore more.. The W a l t e r did a lot of different And was a self educated man. Mausolani gave me to power.He decided he was built Airship name named LTA LLC. This was also designed by Noble He also piled the airship as well. Things do not go well and it crashed.And this was a very interesting how they had to survive on ice floats. The ending is very good as well.

Another fantastic heart racing page turner by Buddy Levy..I was drawn into this story of exploring the arctic by air ship so exciting so eye opening highly recommend.#netgalley #st.martins

This is another captivating nonfiction account of exploration and the pursuit of uncharted territories in the early 20th century. The author masterfully recounts three distinct expeditions, showcasing the extraordinary lengths humans will go to in order to reach the unknown.

The author, known for works such as Empire of Ice and Stone: The Disastrous and Heroic Voyage of the Karluk and Labyrinth of Ice: The Triumphant and Tragic Greely Polar Expedition, continues to delve into humanity’s push into new frontiers over the past 200 years.

Buddy Levy offers readers a vivid "you are there" narrative style that incorporates vivid descriptions and sensory details. He immerses us in the trials and tribulations of the daring individuals who first flew over the North Pole, a time when dirigibles were a viable means of transporting both people and equipment. It’s fascinating to reflect on the growing value and complexity of the manifest associated with each successive attempt.

Each chapter brims with suspense and intrigue, resembling the tension of a traditional fiction story. As the venerable explorer Ernest Shackleton once said, "Difficulties are just things to overcome after all." The rich history and heroic efforts associated with polar exploration provide fertile ground for storytelling, and several authors are tapping into this compelling subject matter in recent accounts.

This book is a testament to human ambition, innovation, and the desire to conquer the unknown. I extend my gratitude to Buddy Levy and St. Martin's Press for offering the opportunity to learn so much from this valuable contribution to the history of the North Pole. This review reflects my honest impressions.

I've been drawn to books about exploration lately, especially Arctic exploration and have read and enjoyed Buddy Levy's previous book. This story of the first airship explorations of the North Pole is gripping. With all of today's technology it's hard to imagine how difficult and perilous early air navigation was, yet Levy brings to life the dangers faced by adventurers who dared to attempt what many thought was impossible. This book would be great for anyone who enjoys history, exploration, or adventure.

Thanks to Netgalley, Buddy Levy, and St. Martin's Press for an advanced reading copy of this excellent book.

I was feeling quite fortunate to be reading these dramatic stories of arctic exploration from my cozy chair by the fire! Mr. Levy is such a wonderful storyteller, making century-old heroic adventures come vividly to life. This book sent me down so many research rabbit holes and of course I looked up the photos of all the characters. If you read this book, look up the picture of Umberto Nobile and his little dog Titina who went exploring with him; it will not disappoint!

This book tells the story of early 1900s explorers who were trying to reach the North Pole and explore the Arctic via airship. There is so much drama, rivalry, disaster, rumors of cannibalism, heroic rescues and people who died trying to save the lives of others. The details make it feel like you are right there watching each ship disappear into the Arctic sky!

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

Realm of Ice and Sky: Triumph, Tragedy and History’s Greatest Arctic Rescue by Buddy Levy is an in depth recounting of the untold stories of the Arctic exploration. Walter Wellman was an Arctic explorer and visionary whose public image has been one of a self-promoting egomaniac known for catastrophic rather than his successes. In truth, he was a courageous innovator who was willing to push boundaries and was one of the many on the road to the ultimate conquest of the North Pole. Author Buddy Levy sets out to show that Wellman wanted to get to the North Pole by airship. Along with Wellman’s innovative plans, there were many men who claimed to be the first to the North Pole, leading to successes and tragic failures. One of those men was Italian explorer Umberto Nobile. Backed by Prime Minister Benito Mussolini, a journey would end in disaster, death that launched one of the greatest rescues and horrifying accusations.
In an age of exploration and travel innovation, brave and curious men thought of different ways to explore the unknown. In a thrilling narrative of polar exploration, Buddy Levy brings light to the use of the airship in the exploration and the men who blazed the trail and sacrificed everything in order to make history. Most know the famous Sir Edmund Hillary and Robert Peary as they explored a path to the poles. However, Realm of Ice and Sky opened the history book to bring to light to the other men who also strived to make it to the arctic. I had never heard of Walter Wellman and his airship or the tragedy and aftermath involving Umberto Nobile. I thoroughly enjoyed reading more about the men who risked it all. Author Buddy Levy takes history and makes it an interesting and thrilling read. If you enjoy history, innovation and those who braved to explore the unknown, I highly recommend Realm of Ice and Sky.

Realm of Ice and Sky will be available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook on January 28, 2025

I've become fascinated in a trainwreck kind of way with Arctic exploration and really enjoyed Levy's last book, so I was eager to give this one a try. I had no idea people were trying to exlore the Arctic by dirigible in the early 20th century so this was all new for me. The idea sounded crazy and dangerous, but then, so did going to the Arctic in the first place!

ICE AND SKY is three different stories in one book, covering the highlights (and lowlights) of aerial Arctic exploration. There was a lot of science on what the dirigibles needed, most of which went over my head, but I found the human stories of how difficult it was to put the missions together and estimate when the weather would be best for flying to be insteresting. The crews faced surprising levels of danger in the air beyond wind currents buffeting the ships.

The third trip, the Italia, is the longest story and the biggest tragedy- so probably the one I found most interesting. With it you get familiar Arctic exploration land dangers as well as the new aerial dangers. You get people of different nations banding together to try and help find the explorers but a surprising lack of coordination among the searchers. I would have been interested to hear if this was common in past searches or more unique to the Italia, but Levy doesn't go into that aspect.

Overall an interesting chapter of Arctic exploration I had never heard of before. Readers interested in adding to their knowledge of Arctic exploration will definitely enjoy this book.

I received a DRC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review