During his third and final great Arctic expedition from 1913 to 1918, some of Stefansson’s men perished tragically, an outcome that severely damaged his reputation. Nevertheless, the hardy explorer contributed immensely to knowledge about the Far North, particularly in his championing of the "Friendly Arctic." Part scientist, part showman, Vilhjalmur Stefansson was truly unique among polar adventurers.
Tom Henighan is the author of several novels for young people, including Viking Quest, Viking Terror (nominated for the Ottawa Book Award), Mercury Man (nominated for the Red Maple Award), and Demon in My View. In 2008 he was honoured with the Victor Tolgesy Arts Award for his contributions to culture in Ottawa, where he lives.