Polar Star
by Martin Cruz Smith
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Read in June, 2007
Polar Star was written in 1989 and featured detective Arkady Renko who first appeared in Smith's Gorky Park (published in 1981).
The book is set during the time of the Soviet Union, but near the end when there was some cooperation, though utter distrust, between the US and Soviets. While Gorky Park was primarily set in the city of Moscow, Polar Star is the name of a massive factory ship (fish processing) in the Bearing Strait.
The floating city is full of people with pasts who have fled the g...more
The book is set during the time of the Soviet Union, but near the end when there was some cooperation, though utter distrust, between the US and Soviets. While Gorky Park was primarily set in the city of Moscow, Polar Star is the name of a massive factory ship (fish processing) in the Bearing Strait.
The floating city is full of people with pasts who have fled the g...more
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Read in November, 2008
I'm totally into Russian espionage novels, and I might be a little in love with Arkady Renko, the thrilling protagonist of Martin Cruz Smith's Gorky Park, Polar Star and Stalin's Ghost. Next on my list is Arkady in Havana Bay.
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Read in June, 2007
A mystery with Arkady Renko as the main character, Polar Star was of interest to me because of its Soviet-era setting. It takes place on a fishing factory ship in waters off Siberia, close to Alaska. It is a completely isolated, foreign environment and rather forbidding, as well as overly male. It took some time for me to really establish a feel for the book (perhaps due to the male-dominated storyline), but I enjoyed the Soviet speak and the resolution.
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Read in January, 1997
Read in August, 2008
Just read this for the third time! This time, Mom and I read chapters aloud. I worship M.C.S. for his grittily vivid scenes, lovable shady characters, and wonderfully surreal landscapes. (Not to mention his Russian soul!) If you haven't read Gorky Park, read that one first!
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Pure escapism is the best, especially when taking place in places like Moscow; no chance of being jolted from "the zone" by a sudden mention of the EXACT SAME Arby's that you yourself once frequented years ago before moving away.
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Der zweite Arkadi Renko-Roman steht dem ersten in nichts nach. Renko ist auf Strafdienst verbannt worden und muss Dienst auf einem Walfänger tun. Aber auch hier werden seine kriminalistischen Fähigkeiten gebraucht.
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Read in September, 2007
I'm not being good about spacing these books out. They are so good that I sit up late at night trying to keep up with Arkady, and then I arrive for work bleary eyed and still wanting to be reading....
Habit-forming.
Habit-forming.
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The further adventures of Arkady Renko. A great mystery set on an old Russian fishing vessel. The characters seem very life-like and other sub-plots keep you wondering what will happen next...
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Another Renko... probably my least favourite after Havah Bay [though I am not absolutely 100% sure:]... but boy you can sure feel the cold and smell the fish.
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