Seed of the Arctic Ice
by Harry Bates (1900–1981)
- Free to read
- 45 min read
- Reading level: 6th grade
"Seed of the Arctic Ice" by H.G. Winter is a science fiction novel published in the early 20th century. The narrative follows the character Kenneth Torrance, a torpooner aboard the whaling submarine "Narwhal", as he embarks on a thrilling underwater adventure in pursuit of killer whales beneath the Arctic ice. The story delves into themes of survival, exploration, and encounters with intelligent marine life. The plot centers around Ken Torrance, who, while hunting killer whales for their valuable oil, becomes embroiled in an unexpected struggle for survival when he is captured by a mysterious group of seal-like creatures that exhibit human-like intelligence. The narrative unfolds Ken's desperate quest for escape and his attempts to communicate with his captors, who he realizes are the descendants of human-like beings adapted to life in the ocean. Ultimately, the tale reflects both the perils of underwater hunting and the wonder of discovering intelligent life in unexpected forms, culminating in an intense battle for freedom as Ken fights against time and the harsh Arctic environment to reunite with his fellow crew members.
- Whaling
- Science fiction
- Submarines (Ships)
- Arctic regions
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[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Astounding Stories February 1932. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
[Sidenote: Killer whales and seal-creatures tangle Ken Torrance in an amazing adventure under the ice-roofed arctic sea.]
Sleepily the lookout stared at the scope-screen before him, wishing for something that would break the monotony of the scene it pictured: the schools of ghostly fish fleeting by, the occasional shafts of pale sunlight filtering down through breaks in the ice-floes above, the long snaky ropes of underwater growth. None of this was conducive to wakefulness; nor did the half-speed drone of the electric engines aft and the snores of some distant sleeper help him. The four other men on duty in the submarine—the helmsman; the second mate, whose watch it was; the quartermaster and the second engineer—might not have been present, so motionless and silent were they.
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About this edition
This free edition of Seed of the Arctic Ice by Harry Bates comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #32029, released 2010-04-17. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Science-Fiction & Fantasy, Adventure.
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