The Terror by Dan Simmons

Telynor · Post by **Telynor** » Mon January 19th, 2009, 6:11 am

There's a certain allure to me about novels that combine a bit of history in the fiction. If the characters in the story are what make the connection work, and the plot is what the impulse to keep reading is, then it's the historical factor that provides the icing to the cake, as it were. Toss in a good puzzle or riddle to be solved, and I'm a pretty happy reader.

Dan Simmons, known mostly for his sprawling science fiction epics, moves to our own world, in a place and event not too far away from our own, in The Terror. Ever since the 1500's, England has strived to find a way to the Pacific Ocean that didn't involve having to travel through Spanish or Portuguese dominions -- and considering that they were at war with either of these countries most of the time, it was a wise move on their part. What they wanted was a way north, through the Artic Ocean and the islands of Canada, and into the Pacific. Several expeditions had tried, and had turned back, defeated by the brutal winters, and their own lack of technology to build ships strong enough to break through the ice.

Now another expedition is seeking to ford a way through the North-West Passage. The two ships, Erebus and Terror under the leadership of Sir John Franklin have been fully stocked and crewed, many of the men having been veterans of a similar expedition to Antarctica. Sir John, dining with his officers on board the Erebus with such grandeur as silver, china and crystal for their table, more than a thousand books in the ship's library, and every convenience, is quite confident that he'll be in the Bering Sea within two years and a hero's welcome to boot. He's so determined that he will succeed, that when things start to go wrong -- such as an early advent of the pack ice -- he dismisses it as nothing.

The captain of the Terror isn't so sanguine about it. Francis Crozier, an Irish nobody, is already making plans for himself. At first, it merely involves blowing his brains out when his stash of whiskey finally gives out, for he is a melancholy sort, with his heart badly broken, and his spirit being crushed by the never-ending night and cold of the arctic.

But there is something worse than the cold and ice out there, something horrible is stalking the crew of the Franklin Expedition, rending men limb and devouring them in the everlasting night. Some of the crew think that it's the Devil himself, others that it is Lady Silence, a mysterious -- and mute -- Esquimaux woman that the ships have encountered, and some just a giant polar bear. Crozier knows better, he knows that there is little chance of survival for any of them...

Told mostly through the eyes of Captain Crozier, I found this to be a thrilling novel to read, and full of surprises. I had heard about the Franklin Expedition before, and knew what the outcome was going to be. Despite that, I found myself truly fascinated by the story, and wondering what each character's fate was going to be in this one. Some of the people we just get a glimpse of, others are delved into quite a bit, and we get to see their fears, hopes, what drove them to join the expedition, and sometimes, unhappily, their final moments. In between the action sequences, there are bits about the ships themselves, and how they were stocked and crewed, British naval traditions, some history of the Discovery Service -- expeditions of both military and civilian men sent out to explore the world -- and quite a few details about life in the 1840's. While the narrative did get a bit bogged down in places by all of the information, it also provided a moment to catch my breath as I waited for the next disaster to hit.

Simmons, while he is very wordy, can craft quite a tale here, and his research into the Franklin Expedition, sailing life, Inuit traditions, and a real sense of adventure all combine to give this story a sense of being there. Even the supernatural elements that Simmons used, such as Crozier's moments of second sight, and the Inuit legends, didn't feel off either, and were skillfully woven into the story to excellent effect. So despite the story dragging in spots when the author is explaining this or that bit of survival technique or sailing jargon, it's still interesting.

This isn't going to be a book for everyone -- it's rather thick at almost seven hundred and fifty pages, with a huge cast of characters, and rather dense going at times. Also, the violence is very horrific, both out on the ice, and in the language used by the sailors. There are also moments of raw sexuality, both homosexual and straight, as well as lurid hints of cannibalism, so readers who are sensitive to those sorts of things should take caution.

Maps of the route that the Terror and Erebus undertook are provided, as well as an afterword from the author where he lists some of the sources that he used for his book.

All in all, this was well worth the time and trouble that it took me to read, and it's earned a place on my keeper shelves. While the true fate of the Franklin Expedition will probably never be known -- there aren't any surviving accounts left of the men save a cryptic note in a cache -- this novel does take the reader on a fascinating 'what-if?' story. Rounded up to five stars from about four and a half.

Highly recommended.

The Terror
Dan Simmons
2007; Little, Brown and Company
ISBN 978-0-316-01744-2

diamondlil · Post by **diamondlil** » Mon January 19th, 2009, 6:40 am

I want to read this! I have it out from the library at the moment so hopefully I will get to it!

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Mon January 19th, 2009, 2:54 pm

I've had this one flitting around on my TBR list also.

Leo62 · Post by **Leo62** » Mon January 19th, 2009, 3:18 pm

Dan Simmon's Hyperion is one of my favourite books. He always produces something fascinating and provocative, if not necessarily successful (his recent sci-fi version of the Trojan war was a bit of a muddle). This one is going straight on my wishlist

I'd also recommend Fires of Eden if you can get it, a wonderful, heady mix of Hawaiian mythology, erupting volcanoes and Mark Twain

Leyland · Post by **Leyland** » Mon January 19th, 2009, 4:09 pm

[quote=""Telynor""] In between the action sequences, there are bits about the ships themselves, and how they were stocked and crewed, British naval traditions, some history of the Discovery Service -- expeditions of both military and civilian men sent out to explore the world -- and quite a few details about life in the 1840's. While the narrative did get a bit bogged down in places by all of the information, it also provided a moment to catch my breath as I waited for the next disaster to hit.

This isn't going to be a book for everyone -- it's rather thick at almost seven hundred and fifty pages, with a huge cast of characters, and rather dense going at times.

All in all, this was well worth the time and trouble that it took me to read, and it's earned a place on my keeper shelves.[/quote]

I completely agree with your review, Telynor, and well done. The quite extensive detail was very enlightening and although I did end up skimming during draggy bits of narrative, I greatly enjoyed the story. It really is a long book - I thought I'd never get through and I read extremely fast. It's really an unusual mixture of historical and surpernatural fiction and I was happy with the way Simmons 'changed' the real characters' stories and lives to fit in with his 'what if' version of the failure and disappearance of the Franklin expedition. I surfed Wiki for more information on the Franklin expedition and participants about halfway through the novel.

Crozier was my favorite character and I loved his mystical Irish background. That really worked for me in the end and I was surprised and pleased at how Simmons closed the story. Simmons provided some stunning action narrative at times that, like Telynor, almost took my breath away. I also highly recommend this unusual story.

I would recommend that readers pay particular attention at first to the chapter headings regarding the name of the many characters that provide POV and also to the date/year. The story does skip around in flashback type sections and I had to go back a few times after confusion set in. I got with the program after that and rocked on.

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Mon January 19th, 2009, 5:33 pm

I'd also recommend Fires of Eden if you can get it, a wonderful, heady mix of Hawaiian mythology, erupting volcanoes and Mark Twain

Oh, that sounds interesting. I'm putting that on the list to read.

I would recommend that readers pay particular attention at first to the chapter headings regarding the name of the many characters that provide POV and also to the date/year. The story does skip around in flashback type sections and I had to go back a few times after confusion set in. I got with the program after that and rocked on.

Thanks Leyland, those little hints are extremely helpful especially with the more difficult books.

Telynor · Post by **Telynor** » Wed January 21st, 2009, 11:19 am

[quote=""Leyland""]

Crozier was my favorite character and I loved his mystical Irish background. That really worked for me in the end and I was surprised and pleased at how Simmons closed the story. Simmons provided some stunning action narrative at times that, like Telynor, almost took my breath away. I also highly recommend this unusual story.

I would recommend that readers pay particular attention at first to the chapter headings regarding the name of the many characters that provide POV and also to the date/year. The story does skip around in flashback type sections and I had to go back a few times after confusion set in. I got with the program after that and rocked on.[/quote]

Thank you very much for the kind comments! For me, it was the ending that simply blew me away, and oddest of all -- it made sense. What did you think of the Carnivale sequence? I was able to figure out the story behind it, which was a neat touch, and damn spooky too.

Leo62 · Post by **Leo62** » Wed January 21st, 2009, 12:23 pm

[quote=""Misfit""]Oh, that sounds interesting. I'm putting that on the list to read.

[/quote]

It is - way ahead of its time IMO. However I think it's OOP.

On the bright side, last time I looked there were still plenty of cheap secondhand copies on Amazon.

The Terror is on hold for me at my local library. Can't wait to get my paws on it.

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Wed January 21st, 2009, 3:32 pm

[quote=""Leo62""]It is - way ahead of its time IMO. However I think it's OOP.

On the bright side, last time I looked there were still plenty of cheap secondhand copies on Amazon.

The Terror is on hold for me at my local library. Can't wait to get my paws on it.

[/quote]

No worries, my library does have at least one copy when I'm ready to try it.

Leyland · Post by **Leyland** » Thu January 22nd, 2009, 1:12 pm

[quote=""Telynor""]What did you think of the Carnivale sequence? I was able to figure out the story behind it, which was a neat touch, and damn spooky too.[/quote]
I thought 'rats in a maze' and why did they expose themselves to clearly present danger like that. Of course, being stuck in the Arctic ice can do some real pyschological damage and an 'ice street costume party' is a way to lift spirits.

I think the costumed recreation of the 'bear' decapitating the officer from an earlier part of the book was a signal that mutiny might be brewing. I know the event was inspired by the American author's story, but don't know if that's what you're referring to as the 'story behind it'.

It was a gripping section for sure.