The Terror: A Novel

July 11, 2008

Posted in: Books, Reviews

Tags: Dan Simmons, Franklin, Independence, Inuit, mutiny, Northwest Passage, reading, romance, stephen king, Terror, thriller

It’s been a while since I cracked open an actual book. I mean don’t get me wrong I love reading, but I just find time, or the lack there of the problem.

I got this book for my birthday a couple of months ago and just never got around to reading it. Then before Independence Day (an associate thought it better to refer to it like that instead of the 4th of July, and I tend to agree) I found some extra time and thought I’d sit down with it. It was explained as starting out non-fictional and then going all Stephen King.

I was intrigued.

“The Terror” written by Dan Simmons.

Surprisingly enough it read fast. It’s almost 800 pages but it felt so much faster then that. I attribute that to good story writing, which is almost a win win situation. It would be, except I really didn’t want to finish it. I wanted it to keep going - so it’s not really a bad thing.

It’s another turn of the century book, late 19th century. I find this time period fascinating. I was trying to explain it to my wife and I don’t think I did very well, but I’ll try again. I like it because it’s right when a lot of things were changing, technology, medicine, science was all changing and it was very exciting. People still didn’t know everything but they were learning - there was still some magic left.

Now, let’s moving onto the book.

I’ll give away some bulk details first. It’s about Franklin’s voyage to find the fabled Northwest passage…

That’s about it…hahahaha Not!

Yes it’s about that, but there is so much more. There’s something else out there and it’s not pleasent. But it’s not just that, there’s mutiny, murder, romance, human frailities - and oddly enough what really struck me most was the love.

I know, I know - love, how can a guy get caught up on love in a scary intense thriller? Well that’s just it, they was it’s presented to you, I couldn’t help myself. You really feel it, and to me I felt like I was a part of it.

I enjoyed the intertwining of ancient Inuit culture and gods into a real situation, and tying it with a silky knot in the end.

Alright, let me see if I can put it into some sort of context. Like I said it’s about finding the Northwest Passage. During this voyage you learn a lot about key characters and even though this sounds boring it really wasn’t. The way it’s broken up and paralled in time, it works out very well.

There’s a lot of blood, sweat, and tears in dealing with being frozen in and then dealing with disease including scurvy - oh the lovely description on that one. You become part of this group and by then end you’ll get a bit angry too. But in the finality of the book you’ll be in love.

This contains description of a few sexual encounters (they’re not drawn out and are over quickly), swearing, blood and gore.

I would put this book in my upper list of enjoyed books, rating it at 8 out of 10.

Posted in Books, Reviews