The Abominable

The copywriter who wrote the blurb had either never read the book (or even heard an accurate description of it) or was just unscrupulous about horribly misleading the potential reader into buying something very different from what is described. Sadly it's probably the latter, and I will never trust a blurb on a Simmons book again.SPOILER ALERTThe blurb: As the winds rise and the temperature and oxygen levels drop, Deacon and his companions hear howls in the distance. Some dark creature is tracking them up the mountain, sending them scrabbling blindly into Everest's dangerous heights to escape it.The reality: America saves the wimpy Brits from assured destruction in WWII years before the war even starts by obtaining evidence that Hitler is a pedophile. Yes, you read that right. No dark creature at all, but plenty of racist stereotypes and a farcical dinner party at which the narrator is amused by a near falling-out between Winston Churchill and Charlie Chaplin, but takes an unpleasantly homophobic disliking to Lawrence of Arabia. The first 488 pages concern nothing but mountain-climbing and are fine (two stars for these). From then on it's Famous Five and Scooby Doo all the way. Don't bother.

The Abominable is a clear example of why setting and then meeting genre expectations is so important.- Called 'The Abominable.'- Set on Everest and the blurb includes the line: A dark creature is tracking them up the mountain, sending them scrabbling blindly into Everest's dangerous heights to escape it.Anyway, guess what the book isn't about?I feel seriously cheated because I was not sold the story I was set up to want. It's cool to subvert genre expectations, but to sell a monster story and then supply an espionage novel is not the same as subverting genre elements. This kind of cheap, smoke and mirrors misdirection serves only to frustrate readers.It's a shame, because I would have enjoyed the novel if it were the story I was expecting, but ultimately I'm left disappointed.

I have really enjoyed this novel by Dan Simmons. This is only the third book that I've read that he has penned but I can say with confidence that he is one of my favourite authors. He is an extremely talented writer and after reading his novel 'Drood', (a hefty tome, just like The Abominable is) I found myself looking up his other books and indeed I bought some. The Abominable is one that I got and I've thoroughly enjoyed it. I don't rate it as highly as Drood but I thoroughly recommend this book, I unreservedly award it four stars. I don't want to give anything away (spoilers) about the book but I will say that it has far more going on than the title of the novel may suggest. If you are looking for Yetis hunting humans...look elsewhere. This book does indeed deal with something far more...abominable. I definitely will be reading more Dan Simmons books including his Hyperion Cantos novels. His new novel, The Fifth Heart is set for release this month, March 2015.

I have read almost all the books by Dan Simmons. I also happen to share too his interest in mountaineering and for the last 20 years I have read many books on the experiences of famous Himalayan mountain climbers such as Reinhold Messner. His latest, lengthy novel "The Abominable" is historical fiction related to that subject. After reading the novel, I find that it is characterized by the same problem that exists in his latest novels: excessive chatter (spoilers ahead). In fact, even the characters of the novel chatter excessively at an altitude of 28,000 feet, although it is well known that it is very difficult to talk much there, due to the low atmospheric pressure and extreme fatigue. Well, not only the characters talk much but they also accomplish superhuman acts that do not make much sense. Therefore suspension of disbelief is not achieved while reading this novel. The book is so full with technical details on climbing techniques, equipment e.t.c that the reader looses the motivation to read after a while. A map of Everest on the first pages (like in the Terror book) showing the locations of the Camps. would have helped the readers follow better the description of the whereabouts of the characters. There is no DRIVE to keep turning the pages as there used to be in novels such as SONG OF KALI, HYPERION, A WINTER HAUNTING or THE TERROR. And the revelations near the end of the novel are not convincing, within the constraints of real historical events. On the positive side, the patient reader may enjoy this novel. As usual for a Simmons book, it is well-researched ( although I found some errors) and manages to mentally transport you to the time of early-mid 20th century. The length of it, allows time for good character development and in fact, by the end. you find that you “care” about the characters of the story.

If you are expecting to read a horror story about the Abominable Snowman, then you're in for a disappointment. I had no illusions going in, I've read a few Dan Simmons books and know how longwinded they can be, but this is below the belt. The title and blurb on this book is rather fraudulent and seems to be designed by the publisher to sell as many books as possible rather than give an accurate description of what to expect.