A review by jcpdiesel21
The Terror by Dan Simmons

3.0

Two years ago, when it first premiered on AMC, I tuned into the TV adaptation of this book, thinking that it sounded incredibly intriguing and would make for a good watch. I lasted three episodes before throwing in the towel mostly out of boredom, figuring that the source material was likely stronger and more cohesive. Upon finishing the audiobook, I had a very similar experience, but this time managed to soldier through to the very end. The premise of the story is compelling, as is the mix of history and fantasy, yet Simmons doesn't quite pull it off in a satisfying manner. Although there are moments of genuine terror, these are buried amidst dull historical minutae and endless accounts of scurvy symptoms as well as characters who are rather difficult to root for. When the plot moves away from the monster and instead focuses on the horrific actions of some of the men during the third act is where my interest peaked; the book unfortunately peters out at the end. I'm glad that I finally satisfied my curiosity with this story, but it should have been a shorter, less frustrating read.