Realm of Ice and Sky: a time of innovation, discovery and tragedy

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

Empire of Ice and Stone: the ill-fated arctic expedition and the two men who would define it.

Empire of Ice and Stone: The Disastrous and Heroic Journey of the Karluk by Buddy Levy is the true and harrowing story of the ill-fated 1913 Canadian Arctic Expedition and the two men who would define it. It was the summer of 1913 when Captain Bob Bartlett, the world’s greatest living ice navigator, took the wooden-hulled Karluk and its crew to the Arctic Ocean. The expedition was fueled by the flamboyant Vihjalmur Stefansson, a man who had vision, ambition and hunger for fame. After six weeks, giant ice formed about the ship, trapping her and her crew, Stefansson would leave for a hunting trip, only to never return. Twenty-two men and an Inuit woman with two small daughters were left on board. They would look to Captain Bartlett and his leadership for their survival. He would make a difficult and courageous decision. Would his plan work? Will they survive the harsh Polar environment? 

I don’t know much about the expeditions to the icy regions of Earth but I have heard of some of the men made famous from these adventures. The expedition of the Karluk and the men in charge was a story I hadn’t heard before. Set at a time of great expeditions and discoveries, as well as historical events like the Titanic disaster and World War I, Empire of Ice and Stone is the story of two men and their very different leadership ideas. One would be selfless, the other self-serving. One would be remembered as a hero and the other would be vilified. From bad decisions and hurried organization, in the search for fame and glory,  the journey of the Karluk and her crew were truly doomed from the start. Empire of Ice and Stone is a very interesting historical book filled with the words of the men who were there. I highly recommend Empire of Ice and Stone. 

Empire of Ice and Stone: The Disastrous and Heroic Journey of the Karluk 

is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook