If you haven't read "The Terror" by Dan Simmons, you probably should. It's a nice chunk of historical fiction, focused on the lost expedition of Captain Sir John Franklin's doomed attempt to map the Northwest Passage. In the novel, Franklin and his crew fight off starvation and illness (some of their food spoiled, some was poisoned by the metal containers and there wasn't enough of it anyways), while also trying to stop mutiny attempts and cannibalism (this is true), but the biggest problem is the monster who stalks them across the bleak Arctic tundra (not true).
It's a great approach to an already riveting story, adding a supernatural element to a situation that kind of doesn't need it; think about how claustrophobic and scary The Descent was before the monsters even showed up, and you're in the ballpark.
The new TV series is from Ridley Scott will premiere on AMC in 2018.
