Johann (jobis89)'s Reviews > The Terror

The Terror by Dan Simmons
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it was amazing

“We are all eaters of souls.”

You know those books that you absolutely love, yet wouldn’t blindly recommend them to everyone? That’s me with The Terror. Absolutely LOVED it, but I don’t think it’s suited to every reader.

Incase you didn’t know, The Terror is based on the Franklin Expedition, when two steam-powered vessels set out in 1845 on a mission to traverse the Northwest Passage. So think big ships and lots of snow and ice. But of course, Simmons puts his own spin on it and also throws in another threat that is hunting and killing the men. As if the threat of scurvy and hunger isn’t enough!

It is clear from the outset that this book is impeccably researched and so it became a learning experience for me as well as being a damn good story! However this is also where I would warn to proceed with caution, as not everyone will enjoy the extreme level of detail given. Some parts of the story are so bloody engrossing and you simply cannot stop turning the pages, but equally you get the lulls where there’s a lot of discussion over how the mission should proceed and so forth. But hey, I loved it all!

I truly felt like I embarked on a journey with these men and, boy, was it an emotionally exhausting one. The cast of characters is huge, but you quickly learn who to cheer on, and those you should wish a painful death for. It was horrifying, exhilarating and gut-wrenching. All of the adjectives!!

My one minor qualm is the ending - I obviously won’t give away much, but the last 70 pages were so beyond what I was expecting. But this book is all about the journey, so it really didn’t hamper my experience that much! Oh, and some of the detailed descriptions of pubic hair was just... ick.

However, I LOOOOOOOVED this! But again, it’s not gonna be for everyone! 4.5 stars.
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Reading Progress

September 8, 2016 – Shelved
September 8, 2016 – Shelved as: to-read
March 27, 2020 – Started Reading
March 31, 2020 –
page 368
47.73% "Truly surprised at how much I’m enjoying this!"
April 2, 2020 –
page 562
72.89% "This book is draining. In a good way. The best way!"
April 4, 2020 – Finished Reading

Comments Showing 1-3 of 3 (3 new)

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Markus I felt the coldness when reading this. Perhaps my favorite book of all time.


message 2: by Spencer (new)

Spencer S I recommend this book to everybody I possibly can. Even though I know it’s hopeless a lot of the time. What can I say? I’m an addict!! I absolutely LOVED this book. Why couldn’t it have been 1000 pages longer?! This is one I will read over and over until the pages fall out. And that conclusion, right?? What a shocking fate for the crews upon the Franklin and Terror. I can’t say I loved the mythology but I absolutely accept it and respect Simmons decision!


Johann (jobis89) Spencer wrote: "I recommend this book to everybody I possibly can. Even though I know it’s hopeless a lot of the time. What can I say? I’m an addict!! I absolutely LOVED this book. Why couldn’t it have been 1000 p..."

Yeah, the ending may not have been my favourite, but totally respect what he did with it! And I absolutely LOVED everything that came before that. You could just feel the coldness and the hopelessness through the pages. Incredible book!


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