The Terror
by Dan Simmons
Mass Market Paperback 992 pages
Little, Brown & Company
ISBN-13: 9780316008075
Synopsis:
The men on board HMS Terror have every expectation of finding the Northwest Passage. When the expedition's leader, Sir John Franklin, meets a terrible death, Captain Francis Crozier takes command and leads his surviving crewmen on a last, desperate attempt to flee south across the ice. But as another winter approaches, as scurvy and starvation grow more terrible, and as the Terror on the ice stalks them southward, Crozier and his men begin to fear there is no escape. A haunting, gripping story based on actual historical events, The Terror will chill you to your core.
My Review:
Simmons does a great with his descriptions, creating a sense of isolation and hopelessness. These men are stuck and many will die. The creature is an interesting psychological twist - is it real or all in their minds?
I admire that The Terror has the pacing of a book set in the 19th century. The tone and mood are perfect for the time. However, reading this book was tiring and taxing. Because of its length, it's like a marathon - one that some people are bound to give up on before finishing the race. And while character development is important, I felt there were too many flashbacks.
The Terror is fascinating, yet dull; intriguing, yet frustrating.
That said, I would be willing to try another of his books.
by Dan Simmons
Mass Market Paperback 992 pages
Little, Brown & Company
ISBN-13: 9780316008075
Synopsis:
The men on board HMS Terror have every expectation of finding the Northwest Passage. When the expedition's leader, Sir John Franklin, meets a terrible death, Captain Francis Crozier takes command and leads his surviving crewmen on a last, desperate attempt to flee south across the ice. But as another winter approaches, as scurvy and starvation grow more terrible, and as the Terror on the ice stalks them southward, Crozier and his men begin to fear there is no escape. A haunting, gripping story based on actual historical events, The Terror will chill you to your core.
My Review:
Simmons does a great with his descriptions, creating a sense of isolation and hopelessness. These men are stuck and many will die. The creature is an interesting psychological twist - is it real or all in their minds?
I admire that The Terror has the pacing of a book set in the 19th century. The tone and mood are perfect for the time. However, reading this book was tiring and taxing. Because of its length, it's like a marathon - one that some people are bound to give up on before finishing the race. And while character development is important, I felt there were too many flashbacks.
The Terror is fascinating, yet dull; intriguing, yet frustrating.
That said, I would be willing to try another of his books.
