Books About and Set In Antarctica
I love reading about a place before I go, it gets me excited in a way research and packing lists never quite do. My absolute favorite kind of pre-trip reading is fun fiction that's actually set somewhere, real plot and characters, not just history and travelogue. I find that it gives you a sense of place and actually belonging somewhere in a way non-fiction simply cannot.
Looking back at this list, it's missing something obvious - there isn't a single book here actually about penguins! They’re mentioned in some of these books, for sure, but nons are actually ABOUT penguins. In fact, other than seeing March of the Penguins (the movie), I went into this trip knowing embarrassingly little about them.
So this list is not intended to be completist by any means. It’s just what I read before going to Antarctica, along with lots of blogs, youtube videos, and any other media about Antarctica I could get my hands on.
(FYI - these are affiliate links, which means I earn a commission if you click and purchase.)
Antarctica Station by A.G. Riddle
A thriller set at an isolated Antarctic research station, heavy on paranoia and isolation. *Available on Kindle Unlimited
Ice Crash: Antarctica by Lynda Engler
A climate disaster novel that opens with an earthquake collapsing the Thwaites glacier into the ocean. Fun, fast paced scifi. *Available on Kindle Unlimited
Surviving Antarctica: Reality TV 2083 by Andrea White
Surviving Antarctica: Reality TV 2083 by Andrea White
A YA novel about teenagers forced to recreate historic polar expeditions for a reality show. For some reason, of every book on this list, this was the one that popped back into my head when I finally stepped foot on Antarctica. It clearly made an impression.
Antarctica by Kim Stanley Robinson
A more literary, more political thriller set among Antarctic researchers and eco-saboteurs. Not my favorite book of the list but I was glad to have checked it off.
Race to the Pole by Ranulph Fiennes
The history behind Scott and Amundsen's race to the South Pole, written by a modern-day polar explorer. Scott’s journey is referenced a lot in Surviving Antarctica, so I felt like I had to read it. Dense and a little dreary at times, I only made it through with the audiobook’s help.
Endurance by Alfred Lansing
Endurance by Alfred Lansing
This is THE book that everyone reads, that will be referenced over and over and over again, and especially with South Georgia on the itinerary, learning about Shackleton's expedition is practically required. I also found this to be an interesting lesson in leadership styles, it really is incredible what he convinced all of those men to do.
