Voyage to the North Star

by Peter Nichols

Failed seaman Will Boden is hired by wealthy industrialist and adventurer Carl Schenck to navigate his luxurious but ill-equipped yacht through the perilous polar waters on a dangerous Arctic safari, in a novel set during the 1920s on the eve of the Depression.

Genres: Fiction

342 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1999

About the author

Peter Nichols is the author of the bestselling novel The Rocks, the nonfiction bestsellers A Voyage for Madmen, Evolution's Captain, and three other books of fiction, memoir, and non-fiction. His novel Voyage to the North Star was nominated for the Dublin IMPAC literary award. His journalism has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. He has an MFA degree from Antioch University Los Angeles, and has taught creative writing at Georgetown University, Bowdoin College, and New York University in Paris. Before turning to writing full time, he held a 100 ton USCG Ocean Operator’s licence and was a professional yacht delivery skipper for 10 years. He has also worked in advertising in London, as a screenwriter in Los Angeles, a shepherd in Wales. He has sailed alone in a small boat across the Atlantic and is a member of the Explorers Club of New York.

Reviews

[Carleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love Peter Nichols' writing style, and really enjoyed the story because of that. He wove an interesting tale with characters and occurrences reminiscent of T. Roosevelt's river of doubt, though on the high seas. And with a bit of gore thrown in at the end. Was that for shock's sake? It did not work for me. But then I've come to terms with the fact I do like to see the good guys pull out ahead. Or at least alive. This ending was far from that. C'mon Peter.

[Brynn Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

A story where a crew takes a bratty rich boy to hunt animals in what is currently considered a cruel manner. The trip is set up as doomed to fail and does fail miserably. Though well written, the plot and conclusion were terrible and felt I wasted my time

[Bern J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even if you didn't read Peter Nichols' 'Seachange', you'd likely guess that he's a sailor. And you'd be right. He writes of the sea as someone who has been there and describes it knowledgeably .
He's a good writer who keeps the pace of the story moving in a lively fashion.

[Marcie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is fiction, so Nichols could have made it so good. He wasn't stuck with an actual event or dealing with actual personalities. He's a decent writer and knows boating so well. The book got off to a pretty good start with an interesting premise, but then the plot went way off track and <<>> main characters were killed off in bizarre events. Ugh.

[Tom Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicely written novel. Peter Nichols knows the sea and boats. This was a real page-turner. The ending was a bit hard to take--but is definitely plausible. In other words, it is not the outcome we wanted. Basically the buffoons got away and the best of the lot died miserably.

[Miriam · Rating 2 out of 5]

if someone gives you this book, read it when you have spare time. don't buy it; and don't wait-list it at the library.

[Beth Goldenberg]

Curtis and Edith recommended this around 2008 to listen to on tape. Kindle only has it available on tape for $23.95 (3/15).