The Empire of Ice

Moran's latest has all the elements of a white-knuckle thriller, but comic-book characterization, artless dialogue and the author's unfettered tendency to lecture at the slightest excuse make this novel more soporific than suspenseful. Brilliant, witty and wealthy, geothermal engineer Benjamin Franklin Meade has built his company into ``the world's foremost developer of geothermal energy''--and he's merely 30 years old. But he alone has foreseen a forthcoming geologic disaster that will result in the Gulf Stream changing course and an eruption that will throw tons of ash and debris into the air, creating a new ice age. Britain turns to Meade to supply the geothermal power to heat newly created biospheres and save her people. Political, military and natural obstacles--including the IRA, a powerful coal lobby and an escaped wolf pack--stand in Meade's way, but with the help of the bright and (of course) beautiful designer of the biospheres, Marjorie Glynn, he is ready to take on all challenges in an effort to save England. Unfortunately, Moran ( Gold Sea Rising ) doesn't muster much tension here. The characters are stereotypical and the plot is predictable--as is some of the dialogue (``Britain can never reward you enough for what you have done,'' says King Charles). Played for camp, it might have worked; played straight, it offers little to even the most forgiving of readers. (Feb.)