ON BLUE ICE: THE INUVIK ADVENTURE. Jane Stoneman-McNichol. Yellowknife, Outcrop, c1983. Distributed by Outcrop, Box 1350, Yellowknife, N. W. T., XIA2N9. 80pp, paper, $14.95 (cloth), $9.95 (paper). ISBN 0-919315-05-4 (cloth), 0-919315-06-2 (paper). Grades 11 and up. Reviewed by Leslie McGrath. Volume 11 Number 6. 1983 November. On Blue Ice, the latest project of Outcrop Limited, has been co-published with Inuvik to celebrate the town's silver anniversary. The attractive, large-format paperback traces the birth of the community from its conception in Ottawa government offices to the painstaking choice of a site, construction, and on-going development. This is not an in-depth study, but rather a broad, informative overview of the history and future prospects of Inuvik, discussing problems such as construction on "blue ice" (permafrost) in the delicate arctic environment, the boom-or-bust effects of interrupted energy exploration, and the bureaucratic delays encountered in settling native peoples' land claims. Author/editor Stoneman-MacNichol's interviews with old-time residents enlivens the narrative, and the plentiful photo illustrations, including a sixteen-page colour spread, help to capture the vibrancy of the town and the beauty of its surroundings. Although the type of On Blue Ice is clear and the illustrations well-placed, the lack of indentations (spaces are left between paragraphs) is distracting, and at times makes the narrative seem rather abrupt. The soft covers would require reinforcement to withstand frequent handling. Despite these minor problems, On Blue Ice would be a valuable addition to collections of Canadiana, especially those with strong regional emphasis. Recommended. Leslie McGrath, Toronto, ON.