2007 Books #40: The Terror, by Dan Simmons

[nayad]

This book is a manual that shows exactly how not to plan and execute an exploratory voyage to the Arctic in the middle of the nineteenth century. For example, a point that is made exceedingly clear by the developments of the story is this: when stocking your ship with food for such a voyage, do not purchase canned goods from the lowest bidder,

Comments

[brdgt]

I listened to it on audio and loved it (I love failed expeditions in general, but this had the added horror element).

[pxr5]

Read the best of Simmons next: the 2 books of the Hyperion Cantos and Song of Kali...

[bibliofile]

I've forgotten details from a lot of books that I've read, but some of the mental images from Song of Kali are still in my head.

I also have this book (The Terror) in my queue. I remember when I learned that some polar expeditions really did stock up on beer but brought linen clothes (that combo works better in the tropics, I suspect -- which the poles are, well, not).

[vulture23]

I hadn't been particularly intending to go to Norwescon, but I've really enjoyed all of Dan Simmons' work that I've read. (I particularly enjoyed his use of a Canterbury Tales style framework in Fall of Hyperion.) Maybe I'll have to reconsider.

[nayad]

Be sure to say hi if you go to Norwescon. :)