A Thousand Degrees Below Zero

"A Thousand Degrees Below Zero" by Murray Leinster is a science fiction adventure where a bizarre ice formation suddenly appears in New York harbor during the summer, blocking shipping and causing widespread fear. Teddy Gerrod takes on the challenge to figure out the source of the dangerous phenomenon, linked to a mysterious individual named Wladislaw Varrhus. When a humming sound and sudden cold snap are noticed by steamer passengers followed by the unusual formation of enormous ice cakes in the water, it sets off widespread panic and a series of chaotic events, including ship collisions. As the ice spreads, rumors of a new ice age begin, further escalating the crisis. Gerrod's investigation brings him face to face with Varrhus, whose sinister plans and cutting-edge technology make him a formidable adversary, leading to a tense showdown where Gerrod races to solve the mystery and save humanity from the impending deep freeze.