It's kind of hilarious the extent to which he swoons! As the strapping young man to his uncle's aged, capricious, obsessive, occasionally tyrannical genius, one would think that he would be the steadying factor of the expedition. Instead he's having fits of nerves all over the place -- granted, occasionally over very valid things like we no longer have enough water to be able to retrace our steps, are you really sure that continuing on blindly is wise -- and dehydration and concussion, while his aged uncle stumps grimly on. And Hans, the guide (who might actually be Icelandic; I forget, but I know Danish is the shared language he and the uncle use), seems to be completely fine with anything as long as he's getting paid weekly for it. And yes, it is indeed set in Iceland, although rather more underneath Iceland.

And right? I feel sure someone has -- I mean, both from general odds but also because I have a nagging feeling that I read someone talking about having read it. But I can't for the life of me remember who, and I don't think they posted in great detail.