The Abominable

A Novel

By: Dan Simmons

Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins

Length: 29 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

A thrilling tale of high-altitude death and survival set on the snowy summits of Mount Everest, from the best-selling author of The Terror.

The year is 1924 and the race to summit the world's highest mountain has been brought to a terrified pause by the shocking disappearance of George Mallory and Sandy Irvine, high on the shoulder of Mt. Everest. By the following year, three climbers - a British poet and veteran of the Great War, a young French Chamonix guide, and an idealistic young American - find a way to take their shot at the top. They arrange funding from the grieving Lady Bromley, whose son also disappeared on Mt. Everest in 1924. Young Bromley must be dead, but his mother refuses to believe it and pays the trio to bring him home.

Deep in Tibet and high on Everest, the three climbers - joined by the missing boy's female cousin - find themselves being pursued through the night by someone…or something. This nightmare becomes a matter of life and death at 28,000 feet - but what is pursuing them? And what is the truth behind the 1924 disappearances on Everest? As they fight their way to the top of the world, the friends uncover a secret far more abominable than any mythical creature could ever be. A pulse-pounding story of adventure and suspense, The Abominable is Dan Simmons at his spine-chilling best.

©2013 Dan Simmons (P)2013 Hachette Audio

Not about the abominable snowman

This is my first novel by the author. And with the name of the book being called abominable you would think that it would be about the creature. The story does reference the creature but there is no actual payoff.

Simmons is definitely not a climber

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would not recommend this to any of my friends. They are, for the most part, experienced climbers who would find Simmons very elementary knowledge of climbing history, climbing equipment, and the effects of high altitude totally silly.

Would you ever listen to anything by Dan Simmons again?

This is my second Dan Simmons' novel, and very likely my last. I am not much into melodrama, and I prefer that the author I read know at least as much about his subject as I do. Simmons doesn't. He breaks Hemingway's first rule, write only about that which you know and have experienced.

What does Kevin T. Collins bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Collins is decent reader, although I prefer someone with a bit more "grit" in his voice. If I were reading this book myself, I would likely have tossed it long before the end. I found myself shouting at the speakers when Simmons' inane lack of knowledge of mountaineering practices and the actual nature of German climbers of the 1920s and 30s demonstrated a complete ignorance of the real people, many of whom were superb individuals without any political agendas. The NAZIs were scum. Most climbers were no different than climbers all over the world, just interested in reaching unclimbed summits for their own sake, not for their country or their party.

Did The Abominable inspire you to do anything?

As mentioned earlier, scream at the speakers and want to puke.

Any additional comments?

I climbed and guided in the mountains for nearly 40 years. I have read hundreds of books on mountaineering, expeditions, biographies of climbers, and several on the discovery of George Leigh Mallory's remains. I found Simmons' use of that tragedy and pretense that the event took place almost three quarters of century earlier than it actually did to be in very poor taste. His description of the condition of the body taken from The Lost Explorer by Conrad Anker and David Roberts to border on plagiarism. Only one other book, The Eiger Sanction, irritated me as much as this one did. In both cases the authors read one or two books on the subject and proceeded to write their own with a minimal understand and knowledge of the subject they were exploring.

UN PUT DOWNABLE‼️

I so wanted this work of gorgeous fiction to be a true account. It is a must listen that one hates the looming end-from characters to settings to events-there was not near enough.

Very Engaging

I absolutely love Dan Simmons books the amount of detail to the stories are amazing and this book was thoroughly entertaining. This story made me wish I could climb such an awe inspiring mountain!

Great Mountaineering book and then...

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The book would have been great except for the third part. When you read a book called Abominable you expect something other than what occurs. Yes it could drag in certain places but that made me feel the strain of climbing, that is until they are on Everest and they group seems to be able to climb up and down several times and still be moving.

Simmons at his finest

The level of excellence we have come to expect from Mr. Simmons is on display in spades. The story is gripping and full of the wonderful research and fact that brings believability and intelligence to his work.

As with so many of his novels, it’s not about what the title suggests, and you won’t be disappointed. Well worth the credit. I’m digesting this one and will listen again!

Amazing.

This will find a sweet spot for mountaineers and climbers. This most was amazing. Top five books I’ve ever read imo. Wow

Great story, great detail

Dan Simmons writes long books. That's what he does, and he does it well. Carrion Comfort is the other I've listened to (around 30 hrs long) and that made me want to listen to others of his.
The Abominable is a story about an American, Jacob Perry who ends up on an expedition to Mt. Everest. The expedition has perils and secrets that a normal trip to Everest does not hold.

This story is great. There are a lot of details, scene development, and character development. I am very familiar with the terminology and technical details of mountianeering and rock climbing so I really enjoyed those sections of the book as they were factual and well researched.

The action of the story moved along nicely and the premise of the action and danger was believable. Simmons also did a nice job of setting the story up early so when situations happened later, they happened naturally and flowed well.

There were some flaws. I thought Carrion Comfort was pretty much perfect, so I was surprised that there were some distinct things about this book that I did not like.
The main character wasn't very likable. As the story went on he got more annoying and less likable. By the finale, I kinda wanted someone to punch him, or at least I just wanted him to stop talking. The narrator didn't help either. His tone didn't need to be quite as whiny and complaining as Jacob, which made him even less likable.

Also, I thought the extra side-story that could have brought some fun thrills into the story just fizzled and never developed.

With those criticisms, I still give it four stars because it was a great story that is worth the listen. The research and details are impressive and fit well within the story.

Basically a 30 hour description of climbing

As stated it was a long description of climbing techniques with a dull story connected.

Took long enough...

The story was solid but, but the narrative wasn't in much of a hurry to get to the point. Also wandered around as if lost.