#FridayBookShare @ShelleyWilson72 – The Terror by Dan Simmons

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Welcome to another Friday Book Share! Anyone can join in. Just answer the following F.R.I.D.A.Y. questions based on the book you’re either currently reading or have just finished reading. Use the hashtag #FridayBookShare and remember to tag Shelley (@ShelleyWilson72)

early morning beach scene with sun breaking through the clouds over oceanFirst line of the book.

Recruit fans by adding the book blurb.

Introduce the main character using only three words.

Delightful design (add the cover image of the book).

Audience appeal (who would enjoy reading this book?)

Your favorite line/scene.

~ooOOoo~

I haven’t actually read THE TERROR recently, but I wanted to participate in Shelley’s Friday Book Share, and this novel ranks as one of my all-time favorite reads—probably among my top five. It’s one of those books you can’t say enough about.

Also, please note that although the first line (below) is in present tense and several chapters of the book are written that way, the huge bulk of this book is written in third person POV.

First Line of Book:

Captain Crozier comes up on deck to find his ship under attack by celestial ghosts.

Recruit fans by adding the book blurb:

The men on board the HMS Terror—part of the ill-fated 1845 Franklin Expedition—are entering a second summer in the Arctic Circle without a thaw, stranded in a nightmarish landscape of ice and desolation. Endlessly cold, they struggle to survive with poisonous rations and a dwindling coal supply. But their real enemy is even more terrifying. There is something out there in the frigid darkness: an unseen predator stalking their ship, a monstrous terror clawing to get in.

Introduce the main character using only three words:

Captain Francis Crozier—conflicted, commander, survivor

Delightful design (add the cover image of the book):

Book cover for THE TERROR by Dan Simmons which shows an old clipper ship without sails surrounded by ice and glaciers

Audience appeal. Who would enjoy reading this book?

Although I found this novel in the horror section of the bookstore, it is far more than a story of terror. It’s also a riveting account of the doomed historical expedition to discover the Northwest Passage. Characters such as Sir John Franklin and Captain Francis Crozier actually lived. What makes this book stand out—at least for me—is how well the author combines the terrifying with the lyrical. The Terror is a novel that weaves folklore, the supernatural, history, horror, and suspense into one huge powerhouse of a book. It will appeal to those who love historical fiction with unique and terrifying twists.

A favorite line/scene:

Suddenly there came the pop-pop-pop of musket fire.

Incredibly, unbelievably, obscenely, a line of four Marines just outside the circle of light from the flames had taken their knees on the ice and were firing into the clumps and mobs of running men. Here and there a figure—still sadly and absurdly in costume—fell to the ice.

Releasing Fitzjames, Crozier ran forward, stepping into the line of volley fire and waving his arms. Musket balls whizzed past his ears.

“CEASE FIRE! GOD-DAMN YOUR EYES, SERGEANT TOZER, I’LL BREAK YOU TO A PRIVATE FOR THIS AND HAVE YOU HANGED IF YOU DON’T CEASE THAT FUCKING FIRE IMMEDIATELY!”

The firing popped and stopped.

The Marines snapped to a standing salute, Sergeant Tozer shouting that the white thing was out there among the men. They’d seen it backlit by flames. It was carrying a man in its jaws.

Amazon Purchase Link

Do you enjoy historical thrillers? Does The Terror sounds like something that would appeal to you?

29 thoughts on “#FridayBookShare @ShelleyWilson72 – The Terror by Dan Simmons”

    • I don’t like demonic horror but I’m a sucker for anything with a “creature.” 🙂 And I loved all the historical elements and fact the author wove in. The Terror has to be one of the most unusual books I’ve ever read!

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  8. I always thought the story of the Erebus and the Terror was horrifying enough, even without a “Thing!” Eeeeep. Now I just have to add this to my TBR pile. Curses!! Will the dang thing NEVER shrink????? 🙂 Thanks for sharing this Mae. It really does sound riveting.

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    • I wasn’t familiar with the tragedy until I read this book, Marcia. After that, I did more research and have watched a few vids. So horrible what happened to those men. Dan Simmons spun an imaginative tale from history and fiction.

      And I hear you about the TBR MOUNTAIN. I wish I could read faster, LOL!

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      • It really was pretty grim, Mae! On a slightly less Grim note, but still upsetting, my computer died today, and I can’t get online until I get my new one, and get everything hooked up and ready to go. I was able to email Debby from mark’s laptop, to ask if she would let folks know on the Write Stuff blog, but if you could check it out tomorrow, maybe, and be sure she got my email and was able to post, I’d really appreciate it. Between the two of you, maybe we can let folks know I’m down for a few days. Will be back just as soon as I can. In the meantime, you can still reach me via email, which I’m getting on my on my iPhone. Thanks so much! ❤️

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      • I clicked “Like” just to let you know I saw your comment, but “like” is hardly what I’m feeling right now. So sorry to hear about your computer woes, especially so soon after the Twitter debacle. I’ll check in tomorrow and between Debby and I, we’ll make sure followers of the Write Stuff know what’s going on!

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      • Thank you so much, Mae!I appreciate it. I can comment in response to others, because I can do that from my phone. And I can do email from my phone but after that, I’m pretty much twiddling my thumbs here! Not a happy camper! However, the new computer is going to be much faster and nicer than my old one, So when I get it set up and everything reinstalled and new programs put in, to replace the ones that I lost, I will probably be thrilled with it. But that’s a little ways down the road yet, I’m afraid. Thanks for your help!

        Liked by 1 person

  11. Oooooh – I read this book several years back and you’re right – it’s definitely more than a horror story. This was one I still returned to a few days after finishing it to re-read sections

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