Questions About The Terror

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Answered Questions (26)

What do you think Dan Simmons was trying to say with "the terror"? (The thing out on the ice, not the ship bound into the ice.)

Benjamin Atkinson I believe, IMHO, that Mr. Simmons was referring to the lack of humility that Western Society has displayed (see Titanic) and many other examples. The …moreI believe, IMHO, that Mr. Simmons was referring to the lack of humility that Western Society has displayed (see Titanic) and many other examples. The terror in this novel is many things it is the physical, visceral hell those men lived through, it is the terror of the unknown. But ultimately, I believe, the overarching terror is that the men leading this incredible expedition brought everything with them except a true knowledge of how the indigenous peoples survived cold climates with minimal technology. Same problem seen in America's approach to Vietnam; we did not understand the situation on the ground before we attacked. Iraq, Afghanistan, ad infinitum. Thank you for your question. Do you have any great book recommendations for me. I love hard sci-fiction and anything to do with survival and the psychology of isolation(less)

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What happened to the group of men lead by C. de Veaux headed for the open water at the end?

Arlem Llahsram

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P1en1ek

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Mab Ryan I'm pretty sure he just froze to death. He had his mittens off and his gloved hands stuck to the gunwales. He was in the throes of delusion about his …moreI'm pretty sure he just froze to death. He had his mittens off and his gloved hands stuck to the gunwales. He was in the throes of delusion about his body's superhuman ability to withstand cold and starvation, I think he just didn't realize that he was freezing. The only way I could see describing the Thing as dealing him a death blow is psychologically. Hickey thought he was omnipotent until the Terror showed up.(less)

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How would you define the ending of "The Terror"? Would you say it is a happy ending, a sad ending, or a bittersweet ending? Or something else? I've just finished the book (which I loved, by the way) and I can't decide.