ISBN 0-06-105421-6
Published by : HarperPrism
Subject :Science Fiction

This is supposed to be one the better novels in what has been termed the 'SteamPunk' Genre. In this alternate history of the world, a mysterious substance, Anti-Ice, is discovered in the AntArtic during the late 1800. When brought above the freezing point it rapidly changes state releasing enormous amounts of energy. This discovery and exploitation leads to rapid and dramatic shift in the balance of power.

Though the technological innovations are interesting, and the exploration of the possible historical consequences plausible. The characters and the story itself left to be desired. Instead of capturing your attention an sympathies, the characters seem to go out of their way to try and irrate or alienate the reader from them. I found myself more then once wondering

The story is told from the point of view of Ned Vicars. A rather shallow, vain and not to bright diplomat of the British Foreign Office. Ned along with George Holden, an extremely patriotic member of the press, and Josiah Traveller, the force behind the development of Anti-Ice itself, get caught up in an international plot to try and save France from a Prussian invasion. Do to an act of sabotage the soon find themselves on a trip to the moon in Travellers prototype flying craft. Though their plight appears to be desperate, I found it very difficult to have any sympathy for them.