Basically, it's a semi-historical novel about two British ships, the Terror and the Erebus, in the late 1840s and their doomed expedition to find the northwest passage. It's equal parts sea-yarn, historical fiction and horror novel. The majority of the story (at least so far, aside from flashbacks) takes place with the two ships locked in the arctic ice - where they stay for years. As survival gets more difficult in the harsh conditions, a supernatural element enters as well - the survivors are being stalked (maybe) by something on the ice...
I'd never read Simmons before, so really didn't know what to expect. He does a fantastic job in this book - lots of good historical detail, lots of tension and action, and very good characterizaion - which with essentially all of the characters being sailors - could have been difficult - the characters easily could have run together, but they don't - they are all very distinctive.
I'm learning quite a lot as well. The historical elements appear very well researched - lots of detail about the workings of these types of ships and exploratory voyages.
I was concerned going in about the setting - 700+ pages of ice and snow might get old. But again, so far, Simmons is doing a fantastic job of highlighting the dramatic arctic weather. The relentess cold is oppressive (as it should be) but never old. Some of the descriptions of the scences have stayed with me days after I've read them. Sometimes, I swear I feel cold reading this - no small trick on an 85 degree August day.
And the horror elements are very nicely done as well - just enough to rachet up the tension in an already tense situation, but not too much. There are definetly some hearkenings back to "classic" horror elements - the isolated situation, increasing desperation, etc.
Normally I would be hesitant to recommend a book where I was only halfway through, but this one is really strong. I am throughly enjoying this.
