Polaris Reviews

Clinton Cox should have his own historical radio show similar to Paul Harvey's. Cox tells the rest of the story of the American Revolution. He writes about blacks(free and slave) who fought in the war. He carefully elucidates facts such as the hedging of colonial leaders to allow blacks to serve eventhough many were already signed up and fighting. There were blacks involved in the war starting with the Boston Massacre and up until the end. The use of blacks by the British as a ploy against the Americans is also detailed. Cox masterfully shows once again why there is not American History and African American History it is the History of the United States.

am searching for a picture of front end for an Explorer 4WD showing where parts go

The Book is a great tool to have if you have a Polaris Jetski..and if you are like most people with their toys, you will have a few problems here and there. This manual gave me exact information needed to completely overhaul the machine!

This book features 10 different "essays" on how each individual values a company, decides whether to make an investment, and where opportunity is in the marketplace. This is a great read for everyone from a novice entrepreneur to an experienced venture capitalist - I can guarantee you will take something of value away from the book (I was a VC for 12 years at Kleiner Perkins).

Sheila Nickerson's travel novel is about balance. The Polaris explorers had to realize that nature, tradition, and sexual cohabitation had to exist in order to see to the safety of the crew. Likewise, Nickerson's vivid imagery and profound technique equally interweaves the words, emotions and facts of the Polaris's harrowing experience in a fresh new way to an audience otherwise unaware of the impact that one brave female had on a historical quest for the lost Franklin expedition.
One of the focuses of the novel is the struggle between Western European and Inuit tradition. The situations that the two cultures encountered magnified the sometimes polar approach that both cultures took in regards to marriage, birth, death, and treatment to the earth. The great thing about Nickerson is that she doesn't add personal beliefs or perspective on the biography. She states what was was and doesn't lead the reader to absolve either sides' approach to a difficult situation.
Likewise, Nickerson equally represents the different religious beliefs. Neither Christianity nor Inuit's beliefs are shed in a one-sided manner. Yet both are represented as an added pressure in the dividing gap between European and Inuit culture. Additionally, the separation of religious homogony only strengthens Tookoolito's position as the glue that holds this expedition together as she stays true to her own heritage but is also open to Christianity.
In regards to writing technique, Nickerson, who is the former Poet Laureate of Alaska, balances out prosaic form with beautiful poetic imagery. For instance, Nickerson uses the available imagery of the natural communion of earth and man to add the ironic spin of making the communion between woman and earth, "Just as the earth moves counterclockwise around the sun, so was Tookoolito moving counterclockwise, back to the Arctic, back to the swirling black hole of the white man's dreams" (42). Nickerson's words like these empower the fight for unknown female heroes like Tookoolito.
But as much as she creates beautifully arranged images, Nickerson doesn't stray from the facts of the expedition. Skillfully, Nickerson shapes her own writing to strongly emulate the historical journals from John Hall and George Tyson. As I was reading, it felt like the historical passages could have been written by Nickerson herself. The pictures and illustrations were also a great balance to the tale. The extensive and exhausting research Nickerson put into this book paid off when I can read a paragraph and then turn to the next page to see a beautiful artistic recreation of what I just read. Not only did it help paint the picture it gave me a chance to see native art that is uncovered by Nickerson's boldness to speak for the nameless.
The only criticism I have is that I didn't really see the point for the personal anecdotes and commentary. It seems to weaken the strength of the novel. It is interesting to get a peek into the research process, but otherwise, I felt it takes away from the overall feel of the story. However, to Nickerson's defense, whenever personal comments are made, it's very clear that Nickerson is speaking on behalf of herself alone and never crosses the line from opinion into fact.
Otherwise, I think this is a wonderful book. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to get a clear, accurate, and underrepresented perspective on an exciting time in Arctic exploration. The book was an easy read that moved along very quickly. Thankfully, Nickerson carefully avoided making personal comments about controversial issues in regards to religion, culture, sexual treatment, or strata within the crew. Nickerson celebrates a variety of mediums in this one project. She uses both prose and poetic writing, visual art, historical fact, and cultural history while tying it together to make it relevant to contemporary readers and issues.

I was fascinated by this account of the doomed Hall expedition. Nickerson provides a great balance of historical context and the raw details of survival in the arctic. Although meticulously researched, the story is fast-paced and compelling. Intriguing!

Sheila Nickerson's Midnight to the North is a refreshing combination of scholarly research and personal reflection. The bibliography and notes attest to Nickerson's meticulous research that is set forth in the book's body in a form friendly to the general reader. Brief sections in Midnight to the North are dedicated Nickerson's personal journey as she researched and wrote about Tookoolito, making the history more relevant to the present than if it were a purely academic text.

I bought this book several years ago for a 1990 Indy 500. Over the years i've went through three sleds. This book helps even the clumsiest mechanic feel like there is nothing they can't fix.

I bought this book for my husband for Christmas so he could rebuild the suspension on his own. He loves this book...it is his Bible. Excellent, detailed descriptions for ALL maintenance on your Polaris sled!

This is an excellent account of the first state-sponsored American attempt to reach the North Pole. Headed by the single-minded Captain Charles Hall, this expedition was beset by problems from the start. There were serious conflicts of interest between those who were aiming for the Artic goal (Hall) and the scientific group, not to mention disastrous insubordination from crew-members who did not feel that Hall was qualified to commandeer the ship.

What makes this book unique from many other polar exploration works is that it also revolves around a more than century-old murder mystery on board the ship; that of Captain Hall himself. These two aspects provide a chilling account of what happens when there is lack of discipline and unwavering leadership on board any seabound vessel.

A terrific true account that reads like a novel. Great addition to any polar exploration library.

I am a sucker for survival tales and this is one of the best I have read. Written by newspaperman Bruce Henderson, it is well researched and presented in a clear, concise manner with just the right amount of detail and suspense enough for several books. This was America's first attempt to reach the North Pole and unfortunately the government had to stick its hand in. It was during one of America's worst administrations -- that of U.S. Grant, and he and his cohorts bungled this venture, too. They spent the money to do it right, but put the wrong people in charge and put together contracts that spelled doom from the start. The hero of the tale is George Tyson, and what a hero he is...fighting almost unsurmountable odds as he struggles for months on an ice flow with 19 deserted shipmates in the Artic. There are enough villians -- a drunken sea captian, a murderous physician, a crew that refuses to take any orders. I highly recommend this one without fear of contradiction from anyone who appreciates a good adventure.

Even if the subject matter doesn't seem exciting to you, this book is well worth reading. This book is in the "can't put down' category.

I purchased this book in August or September of 1999. InNovember when I obtained my copy, I discovered that it only coversmodel years up to 1997. Since my machine is a 1998 model this book was of little use to me.

Be forewarned, just because this book was last printed in November 1999, it DOES NOT cover the model years of 1998, 1999, or 2000.

A great read. This book showed me how to easily repair my ATV. The book had much information on the utility line up, but lacked in the sport/performane sections. Although I own both sport and a utility atv. The utility section gave me great steps and easy to read procedures in mantaining my quad.

Excellent summary of how one of the largest systems development projects undertaken up to that point was brought to fruition. Comparable to "Managing Large Systems" in showing how to do it right, and the importance of a strong leader at the helm.

This marvelous book is a blend of adventure story, scientific diary, and ethnographic study. The author, Tahoe Talbot Washburn, accompanied her husband, Lincoln Washburn, to the Canadian Arctic in 1938-1941, helping him do his graduate field work in the glacial geology of the region. The author was a keen observer of native people and their way of life. She recorded what we now see in retrospect as the waning years of a nomadic way of life for the Inuit of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Prior to World War II, many Inuit roamed freely across the high Arctic, camping in snow houses (igloos) constructed along the trail at the end of the day. The Canadian Arctic Inuit were still essentially nomads; they did not live in or visit permanent settlements, except for a few important events each year. Accordingly, governmental authorities and missionaries had to go on expeditions to meet with the Inuit. Soon after the war, this pattern changed dramatically, and seemingly irrevocably, towards a more settled way of life. This book is made all the more fascinating because it provides many glimpses into a way of life perched on the cusp of radical change. The Washburns were much more than casual visitors to the Canadian Arctic. They lived there for months at a time, including one extended stay from August, 1940 to February, 1941. They spent precious little time indoors, preferring to move about the Arctic islands, hiking, boating, camping, and dog-sledding in winter. The scientific aim of this multi-year project was to determine the extent of regional glaciation in the late Pleistocene, a much-debated topic of that day. By collecting marine fossils and mapping traces of glacial scouring in bedrock, Lincoln Washburn was able to begin the process of reconstructing the extent of ice sheets during the last glaciation. This thesis project marked the beginning of his long and illustrious career in glacial geology. However, geologic research is only incidental to this book. It brought the Washburns to Arctic Canada, but once there, they fell in love with the land and its people. Both Lincoln and Tahoe relished the arduous Arctic lifestyle, where physical endurance and mental acuity often make the difference between survival and death. They marveled at the ingenuity, patience, and sense of humor that seemed to sustain the Inuit through manifold hardships. Tahoe Washburn spent many months emulating the role of Inuit women, including daily food preparation (for both people and sled dogs), sewing of leather garments, and hide preparation (including chewing caribou hides to soften them). Although limited by not understanding the Inuit language, she learned by observation. Her Native companions appreciated her efforts to follow their ways, and took the time to teach her many skills that few outsiders ever learned. The book is richly illustrated, with 107 photos and six maps. Although the material in the book was taken from diaries, it has been well-edited, never becoming dull or repetitive. I heartily recommend this book to readers interested in the natural history and ethnography of the Arctic.

Review published in Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, Vol. 31, No. 4. Copyright: Regents of the University of Colorado