March 2016 Group Read 2: The Terror

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

Amazingly good! Read it a few years ago and it is still in my memory. Great drama.

[Dylan]

Going to start this tonight! I've been in a remote area, sleeping in the dirt with my M16 for the last five days so I am a little late starting it. I'm very excited to read a Dan Simmons novel outside of the Hyperion Cantos.

[VanillaSky]

Monika wrote: "...I agree with others, this is not a fast reading book however, the farther I get into the book, the faster it seems to read. A real gem in my opinion. "

I certainly hope it'll get faster. The idea is awesome, I've been waiting to read this for a long time, and I'm intrigued by Lady Silence. But its dragging I find really frustrating. It seems to me Dan Simmons's forgetting sometimes what he's written previously, so he wanders off the subject or starts repeating himself.

[VanillaSky]

11811 (Eleven) wrote: "pg 291 [spoilers removed]

That right there is some really weird shit."

I just listened to this episode (chapter 22). That was definitely weird, and interesting. And I liked it.

[Katy]

11811 (Eleven) wrote: "The facts in this novel scare the crap outta me. The horror is just a bonus."

I got my copy and I'm getting started.

[Eva]

I hardly had time to read the last few days which is why I'm still dawdling around page 150. But boy, is my ship vocabulary getting extensive! :))

[Walter]

I'm maybe a third of the way in, and at this point the author does appear to be lightening up a bit on the technical details. I agree, though, they made the early going a bit of a slog at times.

[11811 (Eleven)]

Sometimes I wish I had the Kindle version because there is so much that is worth highlighting. This line struck me today; not much of a spoiler but I'll hide it anyway -

p 533 (view spoiler)[ "if we named every place where one of us might end up buried after the dead person there, we'd run out of land before we ran out of names." (hide spoiler)]

[11811 (Eleven)]

Does anyone know why Goodsir seems to randomly capitalize some words in his Journal? I'm just curious. It's odd.

[Kirstin]

11811 (Eleven) wrote: "Does anyone know why Goodsir seems to randomly capitalize some words in his Journal? I'm just curious. It's odd."

I think it was just a style at the time. Maybe meant to emphasize the word.

[11811 (Eleven)]

Kirstin wrote: "11811 (Eleven) wrote: "Does anyone know why Goodsir seems to randomly capitalize some words in his Journal? I'm just curious. It's odd."

I think it was just a style at the time. Maybe meant to emp..."

Thanks. That was my guess but I wasn't sure :)

[11811 (Eleven)]

This is so depressing.

[Dylan]

11811 (Eleven) wrote: "Kirstin wrote: "11811 (Eleven) wrote: "Does anyone know why Goodsir seems to randomly capitalize some words in his Journal? I'm just curious. It's odd."

I think it was just a style at the time. Ma..."

I'm not going to lie, when I was reading that I tried to put the capitalized words together to see if it was a hidden message. I was really hoping it was...

[T.]

Muzz wrote: "This looks a monster of a book - excuse the pun. Dan Simmons didn't let me down with 'Summer of Night' so hopefully this will be as good"

I've been meaning to read this book for years now, so I'm glad to have a reason (other than its stellar reviews) to pull it off the shelf and ensconce myself in a Melvillian horror of Stand-ish proportions. My only worry is that I won't be able to finish it in the time allotted. I'm only 30% in.

[T.]

Monika wrote: "27 chapters in and it has got me. There is no getting out. I love the complexity, the detail and the historic background. "

I couldn't agree more. I'm astounded by both how well-researched The Terror appears to be, when, combined with the sheer length of the book, makes it incomparable. I can't wait to read Simmons's other super-long books (Drood, etc.).

[11811 (Eleven)]

T. wrote: "a Melvillian horror of Stand-ish proportions..."

I like that.

[11811 (Eleven)]

I had a fantastic nightmare where I was being hunted by a giant grizzly bear. Maybe I should set this aside for a couple days.

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

11811 (Eleven) wrote: "I had a fantastic nightmare where I was being hunted by a giant grizzly bear. Maybe I should set this aside for a couple days."

http://youtu.be/LT6n1HcJOio

; p

couldn't help myself.

[11811 (Eleven)]

aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "11811 (Eleven) wrote: "I had a fantastic nightmare where I was being hunted by a giant grizzly bear. Maybe I should set this aside for a couple days."

http://youtu.be/LT6n1HcJOio

; p

couldn't he..."

Ha! I love that commercial. Now I'm traumatized :)

[Monika]

I finished it. It was excellent from beginning to end and I gave it 5 stars. I learned so much from reading this book and felt moved to the very core of my being. It was depressing, horrifying and educational. On some nights, it slithered into my dreams. What an experience. I'm looking forward to reading more of Dan Simmons for sure. (view spoiler)[ Off all the endings I imagined while reading this book, I certainly did not imagine that it would end the way it did. It was refreshingly unpredictable... in my opinion at least. :) (hide spoiler)]

[11811 (Eleven)]

I intended to set this aside for a couple days but it didn't work out. I finished last night. I think I enjoyed it more than the first time I read it in 2012.

[Dylan]

Although I have never experienced anything like the severity of cold expressed in The Terror, I've been in some pretty crappy situations in uncomfortable environments before (working and sleeping outside during summer in the desert, in the mountains in continuous rain, etc.). I think Simmons does an absolutely incredible job of explaining all the little things that go along with how uncomfortable it is really is out there. I know some people were complaining that he spent too much time on the details, but I think that's what makes this such a great book so far. The pages where Goodsir was so tired but too uncomfortable to sleep were really relatable to me.
"Goodsir began to shake. His teeth chattered. Around him, the four sleeping men-there were two on guard duty-snored so loudly that the surgeon wondered if the men on both ships miles northwest of them on the ice, beyond the countless pressure ridges-dear God we have to cross those again going back-could hear the rasping and sawing and snorting... [sleep] did not come. A little more than two hours later, Second Mate Des Voeux began ordering everyone up and out of their bags. 'We have a long day ahead of us, boys.'"
Perfect depiction of being in the field with marines. I feel your pain Goodsir.

[Tiffany]

I'm in.

[Eva]

Dylan wrote: "Although I have never experienced anything like the severity of cold expressed in The Terror, I've been in some pretty crappy situations in uncomfortable environments before (working and sleeping o..."

Agree! I think Simmons does a fantastic job in describing the extreme conditions these men are trying to survive in.
Never had any such experiences myself, so it's great to hear from somebody like you who can relate a lot better that the descriptions fit the real-life experiences.
The extreme environment is as much beast as the thing that's attacking them. I think Crozier says something similar at one point.

[Walter]

Yes.

Hyperion
The Fall of Hyperion
Carrion Comfort
Summer of Night
Song of Kali
Children of the Night

That should get you started. :)

[T.]

C-C-C-C-C-Combo breaker! I let my OverDrive audio version expire, and so I won't be able to get back to it for AT LEAST a week. I'm hoping to still finish it, but the prospect of getting it done before the deadline is getting dim. I'm a little over halfway done, though, so if I push it, I might still be able to...

[Katy]

I have a long plane ride tomorrow, so I'm going to work on the book.

[Obsidian]

I finished this yesterday. An interesting look at a historical incident, but I didn't love the book. I honestly thought it was too long.

I wish we had just stuck with only Crozier or maybe one or two other characters in this book. The constant jumping around until almost the very end was a bit too much for me.

[Jay]

Am way behind, on page 231.
Have tried to read Simmons before, and never managed very well. This time I've gotten into the groove, I just need to step it up, as I have this and another gr to finish before the first.
(view spoiler)[The death of Sir John is probably my favorite section thus far, and definitely the most exciting. The rest has been a solid slow burn. (hide spoiler)]

[VanillaSky]

O wrote: "I finished this yesterday. An interesting look at a historical incident, but I didn't love the book. I honestly thought it was too long.

I wish we had just stuck with only Crozier or maybe one or..."

Couldn’t agree more.

[Obsidian]

VanillaSky wrote: "O wrote: "I finished this yesterday. An interesting look at a historical incident, but I didn't love the book. I honestly thought it was too long.

I wish we had just stuck with only Crozier or ma..."


If we had I think I would have liked the book more. Way too many perspectives.

[Kelsey]

When I first started this book I quickly decided I didn't like it. I have this thing though, and I can't just not finish a book. So I begrudgingly read it every night but my progress was so slow. Then I finally hit some excitement around chapter 26 I think, and it's been great ever since! Now I'm actually wanting to read it and my entire attitude towards the book has changed. Thank goodness.

[Daniel]

I've been meaning to read this one for so long. I actually have a copy tucked in storage somewhere, which only means I'll never see it again. I should stop by the bookstore and grab a fresh copy.

[T.]

I just finished the book today, and I have a question about something I couldn't quite figure out. (view spoiler)[Who is the body inside The Terror at the end of the book? He's the one with the long hair and teeth in the captain's bunk who appears just before Captain Crozier sets the boat on fire. (hide spoiler)]

[T.]

Kelsey wrote: "When I first started this book I quickly decided I didn't like it. I have this thing though, and I can't just not finish a book. So I begrudgingly read it every night but my progress was so slow. T..."

I kind of felt the same way. It took me quite a bit longer to get hooked by The Terror that some other longer novels I've read recently. Luckily, I had already read Hyperion, so I knew Simmons tendency for a long, slow build-up to something awesome.

[Jay]

Just finished about five minutes ago. Slow build-up, but some great set-pieces, my favorite being (view spoiler)[ ice-master Blanky's flight through the rigging, though the New Year's conflagration is amazing as well. (hide spoiler)]
Overall, I would rate it 4-4.5 stars, as it just didn't get going soon enough to rank a full five. I will be reading more Simmons, probably Carrion Comfort as I already have a copy, but it may be a little while.

[Kelsey]

I finished it yesterday.. I'm not sure how to hide spoilers so I won't be saying much about it lol Other than I really loved it! Like I said it was a really slow build.. but it was all worth it for me in the end. I really enjoyed the second half and Crozier was by far my favorite character. I've requested some more reading related to the expedition and am looking forward to reading more about it.

Terror was my first Simmons read. I've since started Summer of Night and am loving it so far.

[Obsidian]

T. wrote: "I just finished the book today, and I have a question about something I couldn't quite figure out. [spoilers removed]"

I honestly think (view spoiler)[it was one of the three crewman who walked off together. Sorry I don't have a copy of the book on me. But they were part of one of the splinter groups who left originally who were going to to back to the boat. Not the group with Hickey (hide spoiler)]

[Kelsey]

O wrote: "T. wrote: "I just finished the book today, and I have a question about something I couldn't quite figure out. [spoilers removed]"

I honestly think [spoilers removed]"

I agree :)

[Alissa]

I'm about 200 pages in. I only get to read when I'm getting ready to fall asleep, so it's slow going.

So far I'm really digging this story. It's right up my alley considering HP Lovecraft's At the Mountains of Madness is my favorite piece of all time. I love the atmosphere so far, I'm such a sucker for cold/snow/ice themed stories.

[Eva]

Finished it about a week ago and I have to agree with others here that it is a good book, but definitely too long! And the ending ruined it a bit for me: (view spoiler)[ I like how we read about each of the last crew member's deaths, but why was the whole thing with Crozier turning into some kind of Eskimo shaman tacked on at the end? (hide spoiler)]
Speaking of the ending: my copy was actually missing the last 8 pages and ends mid-sentence! So, if anybody could enlighten me about what happens right at the end of the novel, I'd be grateful! Any major revelations or denouements? Thanks!!

[Daniel]

Eva wrote: "Finished it about a week ago and I have to agree with others here that it is a good book, but definitely too long! And the ending ruined it a bit for me: [spoilers removed]
Speaking of the ending: ..."

Oh man, that's such a bummer. I picked up the book and would be happy to share the end with you, except I haven't read it myself yet. :/

[Katy]

Alissa wrote: "I'm about 200 pages in. I only get to read when I'm getting ready to fall asleep, so it's slow going.

So far I'm really digging this story. It's right up my alley considering HP Lovecraft's At th..."

I'm about the the same point. May be reading next weekend. Did you finish? This one was a long one.