The prolific Andre Norton's science fiction adventures tend to be full of sound and fury, the narrative lines going around in circles rather than forward to a satisfying conclusion. In "Ice Crown" …, we are again in the far future with a young female protagonist (a welcome change) who goes with her archeologist uncle to investigate prehuman remains on the planet Clio. They discover the medieval culture thereon to be an artificially conditioned one, set up by long gone, off-world dictators and maintained by planted machine controls. Strictly against orders, the girl gets involved with local dynastic squabbles. Characterization, plot and logic are too often sacrificed to keep the action going. (p. 47)
Baird Searles, in The New York Times Book Review (© 1970 by The New York Times Company; reprinted by permission), September 20, 1970.
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