A captivating read, with each adventure leading to the next in a manner making the book almost impossible to put down. Simmons' lean and crisp prose moves quickly with a sureness borne of his extensive knowledge of his material. His descriptions are concise yet capture the essence of each situation. The reader feels the chill helplessness of being trapped overnight in snow, and even those who are not claustrophobic will find themselves horrified while trapped along with Marc Young in the blackness of the mine shaft. The dramatic ending leaves the reader with the final satisfaction of having had a great deal of fun with a very good book.