The Abominable

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Nevertheless, this book fell short of my expectations. Its dragging pace played into this, certainly. By the time things really started to heat up it was already three-quarters of the way through the book and a little too late. Still, it was the climax and big reveal that disappointed me the most. Without going into spoilers, let's just say that one of the reasons I loved The Terror so much was its touch of the supernatural. From its description, The Abominable looks like it teases the same, but things didn't actually turn out that way. The big twist was ultimately a let down, and I'll just leave it at that.

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The Abominable Book Club: A new UK based Horror/Thriller Subscription Service. (Box Opening SPOILERS!) It takes twists and turns I wasn't expecting, and the title of the book might seem like a misnomer to some, as expectations of snowmen are a bit of a red herring. That doesn't detract from the story. It's a hefty book, but it doesn't seem like it, and I thoroughly enjoyed Simmons' return to the cold landscapes he evoked so wonderfully in THE TERROR. Developing ensemble casts satisfactorily was never Ibbotson's strong point, in my opinion, but this weakness is particularly notable in The Abominables. Probably several characters would have been cut or merged if she'd had the opportunity to edit the manuscript more thoroughly, giving necessary space to the characters with more interesting arcs. The Abominable takes this real event but then overlays it with Simmons’ fictional creations. In this tale we follow what happens in the time after the loss of Mallory and Irvine, when Perry and two other experienced climbers, Jean-Claude Clairoux (usually named J.C.) and their leader Richard Davis Deacon (‘the Deacon’), who together attempt to return to the Himalaya the season after in an unofficial ‘rescue mission’ – or rather to find out what happened to another climber, Lord Percival Bromley, who was lost on the mountain whilst trying to find Mallory and Irvine.In a peaceful hidden valley, Lady Agatha sets about a happy new life bringing up the Yeti children, teaching them to speak and insisting on perfect manners. But as time moves on, the valley is threatened by the arrival of helicopters, tourists and property developers, and Agatha, now an old lady, begins to worry about the safety of her naive and innocent charges, who she fears will be captured by the Yeti-hunters. Charles Christopher comes face to face with the scourge of the Cedar Forest–the terrible King Gilgamesh! If you want to know why, you can unhide the spoilers. Choose wisely. The spoilers below include major plot points that will either ruin the novel, or save you a deal of time and money, depending on your point of view (and on how fast you read, or whether you got this book from the library). He takes the reader through rigorous protocols required prior to a climb as dangerously high as this. A veritable mountain climbers' manual of policies and procedures is exhaustively covered. He describes the inadequacies of the bulky and ineffective equipment of 1925; the various modifications to climbers' tools and innovations in alpine gear, including the more regimented protocols for oxygen use that were just coming into practice in that time period. I now know more about 1920s mountain-climbing equipment than I ever thought possible. I cannot argue that Mr Simmons has done his research, but I would suggest that he didn't need to include it in its entirety. Still, if someone were to ask me now if I know the benefits of equipping 12-point rather than 10-point crampons, or the composition of 1920s climbing ropes, I would be able to answer them. Sadly I fear that this situation may never arise, and that this information may be taking up space in my brain that might better be used for other purposes. As far as the story goes, my companions have spoken to a few people about matters Everest and gathered their equipment but little else has happened.

The Abominables by Eva Ibbotson | Goodreads The Abominables by Eva Ibbotson | Goodreads

I would recommend this book to my friend called Sophie, because she loves adventurous books and this is a very adventurous story. If you liked Dial-a-Ghost, then you'll probably like this, too. It shares not only the broad storyline, but that contemporary-yet-somehow-Edwardian feel. I love that: when the kids in the story seem to have few impositions on their time, no team sports, or lessons, just plenty of time to come up with both problems and solutions on their own. Briskly funny and full of incident, The Abominables is vintage Ibbotson. With unforgettable characters and thoughtful messages about the environment and advocacy, it’s a generous last gift to her many devoted fans.This is not a joke. I am not that funny. That is the secret. The hinge on which this novel turns. The “abominable” does not refer to a snowman, but to the pederasty of the Fuhrer. If that is what you are thinking – you are correct. It is nonsensical. Of course, one of the huge problems with this entire novel is that it is written with perfect hindsight. All the contemporary characters are blessed with impossible foresight, as though they were fashioned by a 21st century author. They use a new type of rope, wear new-style crampons on their feet, have modern ice axes in their hands. They know that Adolf Hitler and the Nazis are a threat to the whole world, long before they actually become a threat to the whole world.

Abominable Books - Goodreads Abominable Books - Goodreads

Dan's first published story appeared on Feb. 15, 1982, the day his daughter, Jane Kathryn, was born. He's always attributed that coincidence to "helping in keeping things in perspective when it comes to the relative importance of writing and life."

Reviews

The Abominable is rather like the mountainous landscapes it portrays, a novel that is in turns, brilliant, all-enveloping, treacherous and chilling.

The Abominable: A Novel - Dan Simmons - Google Books

I did have fun looking up some of the history on mountaineering and learning about the gear they used. Some of the dangers at high altitudes already begin to plague the climbers - dehydration, headaches, vomiting, hallucinations come "from our bodies beginning to die on Mount Everest near and above 8000 meters...this mountain makes everyone stupid. (268) Such "stupidity" could cause fatal mistakes. I get the sense that the author is incredibly invested in this work, similar to Nelson DeMille's recent labor of love, "The Quest." But both authors have neglected to answer the simple question of "is this something my readers will enjoy?" Concurrently, a British poet, aristocrat and WWI veteran Lord Percival Brombley has also disappeared on Everest's treacherous slopes.What would the monsters want with human women?" asked Jean-Claude in a small, almost childlike voice.