Terra Antarctica: Looking into the Emptiest Continent

by William L. Fox

How does the human mind transform space into place, or land into landscape? For more than three decades, William L. Fox has looked at empty landscapes and the role of the arts to investigate the way humans make sense of space. In Terra Antarctica, Fox continues this line of inquiry as he travels to the Antarctic, the “largest and most extreme desert on earth.” This contemporary travel narrative interweaves artistic, cartographic, and scientific images with anecdotes from the author's three-month journey in the Antarctic to create an absorbing and readable narrative of the remote continent. Through its images, history... and firsthand experiences — snowmobile trips through whiteouts and his icy solo hikes past the edge of the mapped world — Fox brings to life a place that few have seen and offers us a look into both the nature of landscape and ourselves.

Genres: Nonfiction

328 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[S · Rating 2 out of 5]

space into place; land into landscape

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I found this book a little slow in some places and kept setting it aside, I also kept coming back to it. The main point that I keep getting is how hard it is for us to understand -- even to perceive -- Antarctica. After reading this book, I'd really like to visit that continent, yet, at the same time, to keep too many people from visiting it and messing up its unique pristine existence. I think I need to read some more books about this place.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oooooh, this one was interesting. Nonfiction, not quite a travelogue but not quite a text. This was a perfect way to indulge my interest-bordering-on-obsession with extreme polar environments; I found it fascinating and nearly poetic. Didn't get very far into the dang thing, but I'll revisit. Very good if you like that sort of thing.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The arts and the sciences are the same language written in two different alphabets. Finding their intersection on the last and most remote continent is beautiful and thrilling.

[Niall519 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting exploration of landscape, perception, and art.

[Emily Bragg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful, full of lovely language and interesting tidbits. One of my favorite art-centric books I've ever read. Read in Antarctica.