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December 25, 2025

Ice by Jacek Dukaj review

The 1908 Tunguska comet changes the direction of history and gives rise to a weird new reality in this acclaimed epic from the Polish author

Ice by Jacek Dukaj review

TL;DR

  • The novel is set in an alternate 1924 where historical events like the Russian Revolution and WWI have not happened.
  • A comet impact in 1908 caused the emergence of a phenomenon called "gleiss," an inexplicable, expanding coldness.
  • The "gleiss" has led to new technologies like "coldiron" and created a new geopolitical situation with factions like the Ottepyelniks and Lyednyaks.
  • The protagonist, Benedykt Gierosławski, is a Polish philosopher, logician, mathematician, and gambler sent to Siberia to find his father, who is known as Father Frost.
  • The story features historical figures such as Nikola Tesla, Aleister Crowley, Trotsky, and Rasputin.
  • The novel's structure includes Benedykt's train journey, his time in Irkutsk, and a journey into the Siberian wastes.
  • The translator, Ursula Phillips, provided an appendix discussing her translation choices, particularly regarding the narrative perspective and cultural references.

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