The Curiosity    by Stephen P. Kiernan Order:  USA  Can William Morrow, 2013 (2013) Hardcover, e-Book     Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth The body of a man buried in the Arctic ice baffles Dr. Kate Philo and a scientific team. This is a monumental discovery because it gives the scientists the chance to see if this man can be thawed and brought back to life as has been done with frozen plankton, krill and shrimp. The downside to this is that the creature brought back to life has an extraordinarily short second life. The man in charge of this expedition, Erastus Carthage,(don't you love the name?) orders the man – Jeremiah Rice, a judge – to be thawed to just see what happens. Of course, the big shot is looking to enhance his own reputation. Rice is eventually thawed and starts to recall his past life. He remembers falling overboard in the Arctic in 1906. What ensues is a delightful what if? story. Jeremiah turns out to be a very intelligent and thoughtful man who has trouble at first realizing what has happened to him. Kate, meanwhile, realizes that she is falling in love with him. And that he is doomed to die, just like the plankton, krill and shrimp. Carthage has plans to present Rice to the public as, more or less, his very own discovery. The Curiosity by Stephen P Kiernan is a very different plot that captures the reader almost from the first page. It is a thoroughly enjoyable read with almost flesh and blood characters who play their parts to perfection. It is also poignant and might bring a tear or two to the eye. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more SF books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews