The Terror

A Novel

By: Dan Simmons

Narrated by: Simon Vance

The men on board HMS Terror have every expectation of triumph. As part of the 1845 Franklin Expedition, the first steam-powered vessels ever to search for the legendary Northwest Passage, they are as scientifically supported an enterprise as has ever set forth. As they enter a second summer in the Arctic Circle without a thaw, though, they are stranded in a nightmarish landscape of encroaching ice and darkness. Endlessly cold, with diminishing rations, 126 men fight to survive with poisonous food, a dwindling supply of coal, and ships buckling in the grip of crushing ice. But their real enemy is far more terrifying. There is something out there in the frigid darkness: an unseen predator stalking their ship, a monstrous terror constantly clawing to get in.When the expedition's leader, Sir John Franklin, meets a terrible death, Captain Francis Crozier takes command and leads his surviving crewmen on a last, desperate attempt to flee south across the ice. With them travels an Inuit woman who cannot speak and who may be the key to survival, or the harbinger of their deaths. But as another winter approaches, as scurvy and starvation grow more terrible, and as the terror on the ice stalks them southward, Crozier and his men begin to fear that there is no escape.

The Terror swells with the heart-stopping suspense and heroic adventure that have won Dan Simmons praise as "a writer who not only makes big promises but keeps them" (Seattle Post-Intelligencer). With a haunting and constantly surprising story based on actual historical events, The Terror is a novel that will chill you to your core.

Critic reviews

"THE TERROR is both dazzling history and a sparkling chiller."—Caroline Leavitt, People

"The best and most unusual historical novel I have read in years."—Katherine A. Powers, Boston Globe

Great Story - better if unabridged

I have read several books by Dan Simmons - all of them great. When I saw "The Terror" at the bookstore, I immediately checked to see if it was available on Audible. It was, but I was disappointed to see that it was abridged. Nevertheless, I purchased it and thoroughly enjoyed Simon Vances reading of this intriguing fictional account of what happened to "The Terror" and her sister ship the "The Erebus". I gave four stars instead of five, only because it was abridged. I hope Audible provides more titles by Dan Simmons.

Worth a credit to listen to...

This was a decent book. The narrator has talent and does a very good job. The story is well formed and the characters are interesting. It is definitely worth a credit. I didn't give it 5 stars because it is abridged. The process of abridgement serves one purpose, and that is to lessen the quality of the book.

Excellent story - unexpected pleasure

I was surprised. I really wish this was unabridged though. It seemed as if the story "skipped". Characters were interesting, a few unexpected and the ending was a nice summary/explanation of the "monster".

Group of explorers stuck in the Arctic, something is killing them one by one, not only the "monster" but the elements & nature itself were the bad guys. I found myself totally wrapped up in the story.

I don't like books that drag out the beginning or "reveal" of the bad guy but this one was completely opposite and I wish they would have had a little more of a build up to the chaos and mayhem.

narrator was very good.

The ending was a nice twist and it wrapped the story up brilliantly.

Overall well worth the credit - just wish is wasn't abridged!

A gripping story

An unusual audiobook, a well-spun suspense tale that "grows" on the listener, with the heightening despair provoked on a crew of a ship trapped by a frozen sea, mysterious murders, hints of supernatural phenomena, glimpses on eskimo culture and religious beliefs, dark settings, desolate surroundings, the fight for survival, violence, ethical choices, the discovery of soul-sharing love by a hardened seaman, unexpected ecological and spiritual insights, all in the 1800s...
Plus, a good reader to bring it to life...
What else can a listener wish for?

Incredible

Absolutely amazing. Loved this book. Simon Vance could make curious George sound like Shakespeare. This book could be read by a 7 year old and still be captivating. The ending suggests a possibility of hope for us all from the English curse.