The Terror by Dan Simmons

The first 15 chapters are non-linear, with Chapter 1 beginning in Medias Res in October 1847.

Now, because it's told from the point of view of several characters, I'll outline the most important ones.

First, we have Captain Francis Crozier.

He's the main character, if there is a main character.

His is not the only journey we experience, but it's the one with the greatest depth, certainly.

And he's Captain of the Terror and Sir John Franklin's second-in-command.

Now, he's not a successful social climber within the Admiralty, and his lack of ambition has also thwarted his romantic desires because he's content with his captain status, whereas his prospective partner is not.

He also has a kind of psychic sensitivity which he inherited from his grandmother in Ireland.

Finally, he's a raging alcoholic to the point that he's resolved to shoot himself once his supply of whiskey run dry.

Apparently he can't abide gin, so he's a discerning drunk.

I suspect this condition is entangled with his social awkwardness and his outsider status and his second sight.

So we're not sure which is the cause or which is caused by the other.

Second is Captain Sir John Franklin, the head of the expedition and the captain of the Erebus.

Unlike Crozier, he's managed to climb socially, but we do get the sense that he's not the most well liked or respected by the Admiralty.

I wonder if he suffers some imposter syndrome, although if this is the case, it's concealed in a veneer of bluster and pomposity.

He's not a likeable character in the book, but weirdly more sympathetic in the TV series.

And the third most important character, I think, is the surgeon Harry Goodsir, Dr Harry Goodsir, although he's often referred to as Mr Goodsir because a surgeon is of lower rank than a doctor.

And he provides this narrative in diary form and in the first person.

So he's the most sympathetic character.

He's the good guy we're all rooting for and foremost.

He's characterised by his curiosity and earnest desire to apply himself scientifically and to do good by the people in his care.

There are others.

So of these, we get the point of view of, first of all, Ice Master Blankie, who's like this curmudgeonly old character with a great deal of experience and knowledge.

accompanying stoicism but he's also very likeable and with a very positive outlook.

There's Lieutenant Irving who's important partly for forming a relationship with the Inuit woman who is nicknamed Lady Silence.

The first 15 chapters are non-linear, with Chapter 1 beginning in Medias Res in October 1847.

Now, because it's told from the point of view of several characters, I'll outline the most important ones.

First, we have Captain Francis Crozier.

He's the main character, if there is a main character.

His is not the only journey we experience, but it's the one with the greatest depth, certainly.

And he's Captain of the Terror and Sir John Franklin's second-in-command.

Now, he's not a successful social climber within the Admiralty, and his lack of ambition has also thwarted his romantic desires because he's content with his captain status, whereas his prospective partner is not.

He also has a kind of psychic sensitivity which he inherited from his grandmother in Ireland.

Finally, he's a raging alcoholic to the point that he's resolved to shoot himself once his supply of whiskey run dry.

Apparently he can't abide gin, so he's a discerning drunk.

I suspect this condition is entangled with his social awkwardness and his outsider status and his second sight.

So we're not sure which is the cause or which is caused by the other.

Second is Captain Sir John Franklin, the head of the expedition and the captain of the Erebus.

Unlike Crozier, he's managed to climb socially, but we do get the sense that he's not the most well liked or respected by the Admiralty.

I wonder if he suffers some imposter syndrome, although if this is the case, it's concealed in a veneer of bluster and pomposity.

He's not a likeable character in the book, but weirdly more sympathetic in the TV series.

And the third most important character, I think, is the surgeon Harry Goodsir, Dr Harry Goodsir, although he's often referred to as Mr Goodsir because a surgeon is of lower rank than a doctor.

And he provides this narrative in diary form and in the first person.

So he's the most sympathetic character.

He's the good guy we're all rooting for and foremost.

He's characterised by his curiosity and earnest desire to apply himself scientifically and to do good by the people in his care.

There are others.

So of these, we get the point of view of, first of all, Ice Master Blankie, who's like this curmudgeonly old character with a great deal of experience and knowledge.

accompanying stoicism but he's also very likeable and with a very positive outlook.

There's Lieutenant Irving who's important partly for forming a relationship with the Inuit woman who is nicknamed Lady Silence.