
The Abominable by Dan Simmons is a historical fiction novel that delves into the world of mountain climbing in the 1920s, specifically focusing on a team's secret mission to uncover the mystery surrounding the disappearance of a British citizen on Mt. Everest. The book intricately weaves elements of adventure, espionage, and historical events between post WWI Europe and WWII, creating a gripping narrative that blends fact and fiction seamlessly. Simmons' writing style is described as detailed and descriptive, offering vivid descriptions of the challenges faced by the protagonists during their mountain climbing expedition, making the readers feel like they are experiencing the climb themselves.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book contains depictions of perilous situations, potential harm to characters, and themes involving Nazis, which may be sensitive for some readers.
From The Publisher:
A thrilling tale of high-altitude death and survival set on the snowy summits of Mount Everest, from the bestselling author of The Terror.
It's 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.
Ratings (4)
Incredible (1) | |
Loved It (1) | |
It Was OK (2) |
Reader Stats (22):
Read It (4) | |
Want To Read (12) | |
Did Not Finish (2) | |
Not Interested (4) |
1 comment(s)
Wow this book is long. I have to say I liked it for the descriptions of mountain climbing in the twenties, which was totally insane and I can't believe anyone ever did it. The characters are attempting to climb Mt. Everest in 1925, before it has ever been summitted, for two reasons: to find the body or personal effects of a missing man, and to try for the summit. Told from the perspective of a young American man, Jake,
The Abominable plays with ideas of the supernatural in this extreme landscape, while showing us that truly abominable things and actions don't have to take place at 28,000 feet.
This would have gotten four stars if the ending didn't drag on for so. Long. As a young, politically unconnected and unconcerned American, Jake doesn't know the significance of some of the people he meets along the way - traveling through the Weimar Republic, meeting Winston Churchill, blah blah blah these are FAMOUS FOLKS. The last hundred pages were just, look at who we can introduce now. I kind of just wanted to see someone get trepanned.
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