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The Terror

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About this listen

Random House presents the audiobook edition of The Terror by Dan Simmons, read by Tom Sellwood.

Stephen King hailed Dan Simmons' bestselling novel as 'a brilliant, massive combination of history and supernatural horror' and it's now a chilling 10-part AMC Original TV series from Ridley Scott.

The most advanced scientific enterprise ever mounted, Sir John Franklin’s 1845 expedition in search of the fabled North-West Passage had every expectation of triumph.

But for almost two years his ships HMS Terror and Erebus have been trapped in the Arctic ice. Supplies of fuel and food are running low. Scurvy, starvation and even madness beging to take their toll. And yet the real threat isn’t from the constantly shifting, alien landscape, the flesh-numbing temperatures or being crushed by the unyielding, frozen ocean. No, the real threat is far more terrifying.

There is something out there in the frigid darkness. It stalks the ships and snatches men. It is a nameless thing. At once nowhere and everywhere, this terror has become the expedition’s nemesis...

©2018 Dan Simmons (P)2018 Random House Audiobooks Fiction Ghosts Historical Fiction Horror Scary Haunted Polar Region

Critic reviews

"Simmons has created a chilling supernatural novel...the horrific trials of their impending icy deaths are vividly brought to life." (Daily Express)

"A brilliant, massive combination of history and supernatural horror." (STEPHEN KING)
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One of the most captivating stories I've ever read. The narration is stellar, some of the moments left me crying my eyes out.

Heartbreaking

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it's an excellent incite into the suffering we do unto ourselves. the north cold and ice is not the enemy. only a mans lack of perspective and understanding instrumented the long drawn out death March. its visceral it's funny and always an commentary between two opposing forces. good listen.

a grand death March

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Bleak, bone chillingly bleak. The cold grips you, bites you,consumes you as does this imagining of the terrible end of the Sir John Franklin's Arctic expedition.
Everyone dies. Everyone dies horribly.
Canabalism, scurvy, frost bite hunger.
Then there's the creature waiting always waiting.
History, mythology and fiction combine in this very well told tale of cold cold endings.
Put on an extra layer and enjoy.

Chilling, in more ways than one.

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This story is a work of literary brilliance. The performance is amazing also. I can't recommend it enough.

A truly brilliant novel

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I opted for this title as part of my trial run with Audible. I was already familiar with the story via the TV series, which I thought was excellent, so thought I'd follow the audible book. From start to finish I found this utterly gripping, much being down to the masterly narration of Tom Sellwood - what unbelievable talent for a sole actor to bring this to life and enact all the various key characters so convincingly. It must be said that this does not always make for easy listening, as the descriptions in the less pleasant chapters are graphic beyond belief (if you thought the TV series was hard to stomach in parts, this is even more so!). The author has an uncanny gift with words and has clearly done masses of research in order to write this. I also loved the chapters that deviated into the myths, legends and beliefs of the Innuit, which you don't really get in the TV series. The TV series also deviates from the story line of the audible book, so there were twists and turns that I was not expecting. I am still in awe at how Tom Sellwood could be so many different characters at once! I definitely recommend, but maybe not for the squeamish!

Brilliant narration

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