Changes

== Description ==

== Description ==

* By [[Shane Johnson]]

* By Shane Johnson

* [[Colorado Springs]], [[Colorado]]: [[Waterbrook Press]], 2002

* [[Colorado Springs]], [[Colorado]]: Waterbrook Press, 2002

* ISBN 1578565480

* ISBN 1578565480

* 395 pages, paperback

* 395 pages, paperback

{{spoiler}}

{{spoiler}}

=== Stranded ===

=== Stranded ===

[[Astronaut]]s Gary Lucas and Charlie Shepherd are completing their Apollo 19 mission to the [[Aitken Basin]] (which, in the novel, has a fictitious name) near the south lunar pole. But when the time comes for them to lift off from the moon, their Lunar Module ascent engine fails to fire. Mission Control suggests several increasingly desperate measures to try to get that engine to fire, but all these measures are futile. Finally, Lucas and Shepherd decide to abandon their LM, climb into their next-generation [[lunar rover]], and strike out on their own.

[[Astronaut]]s Gary Lucas and Charlie Shepherd are completing their Apollo 19 mission to the Aitken Basin (which, in the novel, has a fictitious name) near the south lunar pole. But when the time comes for them to lift off from the moon, their Lunar Module ascent engine fails to fire. Mission Control suggests several increasingly desperate measures to try to get that engine to fire, but all these measures are futile. Finally, Lucas and Shepherd decide to abandon their LM, climb into their next-generation [[lunar rover]], and strike out on their own.

=== External exploration ===

=== External exploration ===

They enter the basin and thus fall out of communications range with [[earth]]. As they keep driving, they find themselves driving on an impossibly flat and level surface. They soon determine that they are driving on a solid lake of [[water]] ice--but how such a vast quantity of water came to be on the Moon, or why it did not [[sublimation|sublimate]] away, they cannot possibly explain.

They enter the basin and thus fall out of communications range with [[earth]]. As they keep driving, they find themselves driving on an impossibly flat and level surface. They soon determine that they are driving on a solid lake of [[water]] ice--but how such a vast quantity of water came to be on the Moon, or why it did not [[sublimation|sublimate]] away, they cannot possibly explain.

Eventually the rover's batteries give out--but not before Lucas notices a stray glint of metal against the rover's headlights. First Lucas, and then Shepherd leave the rover to investigate--just in time, as the lake melts and nearly drowns Shepherd as he is walking. In time, each astronaut discovers the pressure-suited remains of another astronaut, who in life looked human, except that he stood eight [[foot (length)|feet]] tall. This astronaut has committed suicide by taking off his glove. His footprints remain, and the astronauts, following them, discover the most incredible [[out-of-place artifact]] ever found: a vast, and still functioning, base on the moon.

Eventually the rover's batteries give out--but not before Lucas notices a stray glint of metal against the rover's headlights. First Lucas, and then Shepherd leave the rover to investigate--just in time, as the lake melts and nearly drowns Shepherd as he is walking. In time, each astronaut discovers the pressure-suited remains of another astronaut, who in life looked human, except that he stood eight [[foot (length)|feet]] tall. This astronaut has committed suicide by taking off his glove. His footprints remain, and the astronauts, following them, discover the most incredible out-of-place artifact ever found: a vast, and still functioning, base on the moon.

=== Internal exploration ===

=== Internal exploration ===

That done, it's back to work. Then Lucas accidentally falls from the scaffold and is now incapacitated. The family take him inside--and then begin a debate that leads Lucas to believe that the family is about to expel him for some reason.

That done, it's back to work. Then Lucas accidentally falls from the scaffold and is now incapacitated. The family take him inside--and then begin a debate that leads Lucas to believe that the family is about to expel him for some reason.

The next morning, Lucas awakes to find nothing wrong with him beyond some sore muscles--but he is also alone on the [[farm]], with nothing but the barn to keep him company. Then a vast wall of water rushes toward the barn. Lucas hastily climbs a nearby tower and watches as this water spills over the barn, and then lifts it off its foundations. Lucas barely has time to realize that what he thought was a barn is actually a [[barge]], when the barge strikes the tower he has climbed and throws him into the water, which is [[scald]]ing hot.

The next morning, Lucas awakes to find nothing wrong with him beyond some sore muscles--but he is also alone on the [[farm]], with nothing but the barn to keep him company. Then a vast wall of water rushes toward the barn. Lucas hastily climbs a nearby tower and watches as this water spills over the barn, and then lifts it off its foundations. Lucas barely has time to realize that what he thought was a barn is actually a [[barge]], when the barge strikes the tower he has climbed and throws him into the water, which is scalding hot.

=== Self-destruct ===

=== Self-destruct ===

''Ice'' makes allusions to the [[television]] series ''[[Star Trek]]'' and to the [[motion picture]] ''[[Doctor Strangelove, Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb]]''. The two astronauts make the allusions as they try to make sense of the advanced technology they find.

''Ice'' makes allusions to the [[television]] series ''[[Star Trek]]'' and to the [[motion picture]] ''[[Doctor Strangelove, Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb]]''. The two astronauts make the allusions as they try to make sense of the advanced technology they find.

Shane Johnson had originally intended to write another novel, titled ''Fire'', as a sequel to this novel. ''Ice'' ends with the manned space program now fully funded, Astronauts Lucas and Shepherd submitting to a debriefing by a secret committee concerning their experiences aboard the lunar base, and the description of the open doorway to a base of similar construction on [[Mars]]. But Mr. Johnson was never able to sell that project, and has since had to change publishers.<ref>Shane Johnson, [http://www.shanejohnsonbooks.com/ Official Website]</ref> This might in part be due to an extreme reluctance, on the part of the [[Christian Booksellers' Association]], to support [[science fiction]] projects, even faith-based ones.<ref>Personal interviews taken at the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers' Conference, August 9-12, 2006, by [[User:TerryH]]. The persons so interviewed have not granted permission for the mention of their names. They include an acquisitions editor for an active Christian publishing house, and a [[literary agent]] widely recognized in the publishing industry.</ref>

Shane Johnson had originally intended to write another novel, titled ''Fire'', as a sequel to this novel. ''Ice'' ends with the manned space program now fully funded, Astronauts Lucas and Shepherd submitting to a debriefing by a secret committee concerning their experiences aboard the lunar base, and the description of the open doorway to a base of similar construction on [[Mars]]. But Mr. Johnson was never able to sell that project, and has since had to change publishers.<ref>Shane Johnson, [http://www.shanejohnsonbooks.com/ Official Website]</ref> This might in part be due to an extreme reluctance, on the part of the Christian Booksellers' Association, to support [[science fiction]] projects, even faith-based ones.<ref>Personal interviews taken at the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers' Conference, August 9-12, 2006, by [[User:TerryH]]. The persons so interviewed have not granted permission for the mention of their names. They include an acquisitions editor for an active Christian publishing house, and a literary agent widely recognized in the publishing industry.</ref>

== Allusions from other works ==

== Allusions from other works ==

== Allusions to actual history ==

== Allusions to actual history ==

This novel recounts a modified [[J-class]] mission profile from [[Project Apollo]]. It also makes references to certain launch vehicles that were planned for later lunar exploration projects, but never used.

This novel recounts a modified J-class mission profile from [[Project Apollo]]. It also makes references to certain launch vehicles that were planned for later lunar exploration projects, but never used.

Furthermore, the novel makes allusions to the institution known originally as the Manned Spaceflight Center and today as the [[Johnson Space Center]] in [[Houston]], [[Texas]]. Multiple historical figures, most notably [[Gene Kranz]], the famous [[Project Apollo]] flight director, appear in their historical roles. Perhaps the most poignant allusion of all is to Mr. Kranz' habit of wearing a white vest while on watch for the duration of an Apollo mission, the notion being that the vest was a mystic talisman that protected the astronauts while in flight. When only one man returns from Apollo 19, Kranz tears his vest down the middle and throws it to the floor of the Mission Operations Control Room. The author might or might not have intended, in addition to alluding to Gene Kranz' vest, to allude as well to the ancient [[Hebrew]] custom of ''clothes rending'' as an expression of mourning or other deep sorrow.

Furthermore, the novel makes allusions to the institution known originally as the Manned Spaceflight Center and today as the [[Johnson Space Center]] in [[Houston]], [[Texas]]. Multiple historical figures, most notably [[Gene Kranz]], the famous [[Project Apollo]] flight director, appear in their historical roles. Perhaps the most poignant allusion of all is to Mr. Kranz' habit of wearing a white vest while on watch for the duration of an Apollo mission, the notion being that the vest was a mystic talisman that protected the astronauts while in flight. When only one man returns from Apollo 19, Kranz tears his vest down the middle and throws it to the floor of the Mission Operations Control Room. The author might or might not have intended, in addition to alluding to Gene Kranz' vest, to allude as well to the ancient [[Hebrew]] custom of ''clothes rending'' as an expression of mourning or other deep sorrow.

== Awards and Nominations ==

== Awards and Nominations ==

This novel was nominated for the [[Christy Award]] for best futuristic Christian novel for 2002.

This novel was nominated for the Christy Award for best futuristic Christian novel for 2002.

== References ==

== References ==