All of us know who the energy vampires are. These empathy-lacking individuals draw energy at the expense of others. In "The Terror", Dan Simmons went one step further. In his novel, the individuals who consider themselves superhuman and play with their unconscious and involuntary victims by controlling their minds, forcing them into violence and unjust cruelty, are terrifying. And is it any wonder that thanks to their abilities, these monsters pull the strings of the second-tier, ruling the modern world, shaping politics, the media, and reaping unimaginable profits?

After reading this disturbing horror, the pre-holiday period and Christmas will never again be associated with family warmth and joy. It is during this time that the people affected by "draining", whose minds have been violated and miraculously survived, embark on what may seem like a doomed-to-failure battle against an indestructible opponent.

This unique, bloody, and brutal game of chess played on a grand scale by the most powerful monsters hiding under a human guise is disturbing in its ruthlessness and total disregard for the value of human life. However, it builds the will to survive of the victims in the face of something that completely overwhelms, surpasses, and astonishes them.

And it cannot be hidden that only Simmons can so coherently and believably combine the horror of the Lodz ghetto, the concentration camp in Chelmo with the mysterious island where the great ones of this world meet to arrange bloody hunts. Create heroes for whom we feel sympathy and those who arouse disgust for their racist, misogynistic, and Nazi beliefs. And give the feeling of the emotions of the victims and their perpetrators, because thanks to the different perspectives, we enter, just like the fictional vampires into the minds of different characters, also into those that are full of evil, convinced of their superiority, impunity, and immortality.

The author does not take shortcuts, allowing the plot to develop at a pace that leaves no room for any hint of chaos or a sense of being lost. It amazingly engages the reader in the action that constantly surprises and shocks, while also carrying a shiver of unease. Over 1000 pages? Of course, it cannot be read in two days, but I assure you that after reading, you will crave another thousand to remain in this dark and strikingly original world of vampires and monsters, which as usual turn out to be people.

A thoroughly enjoyable sprawling epic of a story unfolds, boasting a huge cast of characters.

The story meanders through Nazi concentration camps, sleepy Southern towns, the glitz of Hollywood, the gritty American ghettos, and the remote private islands of evil megalomaniacs.

The plot hurtles along with an abundance of surprise twists, shocking revelations, and reversals of fortune. Every character is given an opportunity to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat (or vice versa, in the case of some of our villains).

We are privy to many different viewpoints: the noble heroes, the jaded sidekicks, the deliciously Machiavellian villains, and the hilariously deluded monsters.

I definitely found the story gripping, though it leans more towards the thriller genre than horror. There is a great deal of exploitation of supernatural powers for sadistic reasons, yet it is not really more frightening than what is already possible for ordinary psychopaths. And there are plenty of gun fights, helicopters, and car chases for those who enjoy such things. I firmly believe this would make an excellent Netflix series.

My copy included a foreword by the author, vividly describing the trials and tribulations of writing and publishing the book. It was truly fascinating and easily the most memorable part of the book. The book was originally sold to a publisher, which was then bought out by a competitor. As a result, the author found himself with a new editor who understood nothing about the book, wanted to gut half the plot, and completely eviscerate the development and backstory of one of the main characters! He had to buy the book back and spent a year living on his savings, desperately writing while having a young family to support. Such a bold strategy that I found it quite as thrilling as the actual novel.

Amazing !!!

This book is truly one of the best horror stories that I have listened to and read (when I couldn't listen) this year. It is my first encounter with Dan Simmons' works. He has crafted complex and extremely vivid characters, yet I disliked almost all of them. The villains are powerful mind vampires, extremely racist, homophobic, and misogynistic. They lurk within society, using and killing innocent bystanders for sheer amusement. On the other hand, the nice guys consist of a Holocaust survivor, a sheriff, a vampire victim's daughter, and their allies.

I won't disclose the details of the story. You must immerse yourself in it without any preconceptions, just like I did. All you need to know is that the plot is well-developed and full of unexpected twists. There is this mean racist old vampire woman who was born during the era of racial segregation. Then there is the Nazi SS vampire. I despised both of them. And there are other wealthy, hateful vampires who look down on everyone.

The author has utilized true historical events as the backdrop for his story, which is very interesting. He has described and created his characters so well that after a week of reading their tales, I felt a tinge of sadness at the end. Some of them became almost like family, while the others could rot in hell where they belong. I highly recommend this book to anyone who desires to read or listen to an amazing horror story. It is a bit long, but the story is definitely worth it.

Exciting, mind-blowing, action-packed. Just brilliant.

This description perfectly captures the essence of this amazing experience. Every moment was filled with intense excitement and heart-pounding action. The story unfolded in a way that kept me on the edge of my seat, unable to look away.

However, from my point of view, the ending was a bit too positive. It seemed almost too perfect, lacking a certain element of realism. While I appreciate a happy ending, I also like a touch of complexity and ambiguity.

Overall, though, this was an outstanding piece of work. The writing was engaging, the characters were well-developed, and the action scenes were truly breathtaking. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an exciting and entertaining read.

This book truly demands a warning label, yet that could potentially mar its astonishing cover. Dan Simmons has masterfully assembled every conceivable dreadful element - the Holocaust, sexual abuse, racism, corruption, torture - and mashed them all together within one colossal volume that compels you to keep reading against your better judgment. It weighs in at just under 1000 pages, and I devoured it in a mere 4 days. Now, I'm on my way to church in an attempt to purify myself.

Carrion Comfort showcases some of the most contemptible characters I've ever had the misfortune to encounter. Melanie Fuller, a racist elderly woman, William Borden, a former Nazi, and Tony Harod, a rapist who holds an unfortunate position of power in Hollywood... Oh, and they all possess the power of mind control. Mind vampires, as Simmons dubs them.

To counterbalance these truly abhorrent villains, Simmons presents us with Natalie Preston, Saul Laski, and Rob Gentry (although at times my edition mistakenly referred to him as 'Ron Gentry', which was rather annoying). Having witnessed and endured their evil firsthand, our trio bands together to combat it.

I adored this book, despite its disturbing nature. It's heart-wrenching, raw, powerful, nauseating, violent, gory, and simply insane. I awarded it 4 stars because it could definitely have benefited from some editing (I didn't need to read about people chasing after rogue cherry tomatoes with their forks while eating a salad). I was utterly exhausted after a 150 - 200 page epic battle/showdown in the middle, and the constant racial and sexual slurs did wear me down. However, I absolutely loved the ending! I never saw it coming!

Horror enthusiasts, do read it, but I must emphasize again, it's not for the faint of heart! Oh, and some knowledge of chess might enhance your reading experience!

There are Tom Clancy novels that offer a more diverse and engaging experience, with fewer repetitive running gun battles.

These novels often delve deeper into complex plotlines, exploring themes such as international politics, military strategy, and technological advancements.

By reducing the frequency of the typical running gun battles, Clancy is able to focus on character development and build a more immersive world for the reader.

This allows for a more intellectually stimulating read, as the reader is forced to grapple with the intricacies of the story and the motives of the characters.

In addition, the absence of excessive gun battles can make the action scenes that do occur more impactful and exciting, as they are not overshadowed by a constant stream of similar encounters.

Overall, these Tom Clancy novels offer a refreshing alternative to the more formulaic action thrillers on the market.

This book has been highly recommended to me by a reader whose tastes are similar to mine.

Eric said, "The only other book that had an ending as satisfying as 'Revelation' was an older horror novel called 'Carrion Comfort' by Dan Simmons. I read the last few pages and was shaking my head, saying 'no way!...no way!' It's a great read that I highly recommend."

That's good enough for me.

I'm always on the lookout for good books to read, and when someone whose opinion I trust recommends one, I take notice.

The fact that Eric compared the ending of this book to that of 'Carrion Comfort' has really piqued my interest.

I can't wait to get my hands on it and see for myself if it lives up to the hype.

I'm sure it will be a thrilling and satisfying read, just like the other books I've enjoyed in the past.

Meh. I have truly relished some of Dan Simmons' other literary works. However, this particular one failed to fully engage me.

It is extremely long, boasting a cast of characters that seems excessive. At times, I found this rather distracting. Moreover, it incorporates an abundance of action-movie sequences.

The underlying premise is captivating, and several of the characters are intriguing. Nevertheless, I had anticipated a more profound exploration of psychology and the issues regarding violence and humanity that he presents early on. Although this book occasionally holds the promise of something more profound, the action sequences and convoluted political thriller plotting often take precedence. This is a pity because I believe that with a significant pruning of the action/thriller elements, it could evolve into an exciting and emotionally gripping narrative.

The most commendable aspect of this book lies in its voice. Simmons narrates the story from the perspectives of various characters, and these characters are distinct and engaging, even when they are thoroughly unlikable, as many of them are. This aspect doesn't shine through as effectively during intense fight or flight scenes. However, in the chapters where the focus is on the characters, there is some truly excellent in-character writing.

I've been eyeing this book for years now. I've heard that it was one of the classics of the genre, but I was intimidated by its large page count.

Books this size require a significant investment of time, and that's something I'm reluctant to do these days as a busy family man who works full time. So, the first thing someone like me wants to know when reading a review of such a long book is whether it was worth the time. I would say yes, it is.

The blurb on the front bills this as an epic tale of terror, and that about sums it up. I would describe it as naturalistic horror. It's not that nothing supernatural happens; rather, it is rationalized as extensions of the natural laws as we know them. The laws of nature are explored in a science fictional way, but I wouldn't call this book science fiction.

The horror/terror in this book arises from man's inhumanity to man, delving into the depths of depravity that can occur when one wields power over another without fear of consequence. A few individuals resist the injustice, but it seems that the odds are impossibly stacked against them making even the slightest difference. This is their story.

I tend to prefer my horror to be of a more supernatural variety. Naturalistic horror can sometimes leave one feeling merely depressed rather than inspired with awe. In one or two scenes, I found the violence to be rather gratuitous, but this wasn't consistently the case, or else I might not have continued with the novel. That being said, some people might find much of the content herein quite disturbing, so it's definitely not for the faint of heart.

Everything I've read by Simmons has been of a high standard, and he is obviously a gifted writer, whether it's science fiction or horror. As far as horror is concerned, I think I preferred "Song of Kali," but this book also shared a bleak view of human nature. I'll definitely be open to reading more of his work.

For eight days (starting from last Monday), I was under the spell of the "brain vampires." "The Terror" by Dan Simmons is my latest encounter in the past two years (after "Ilium," "Olympos," and "The Fifth Heart") with the prolific author. I must admit, with all my heart, that among all the varieties of fantasy (generally speaking), horror is my absolute favorite! And while Simmons is known in our country mainly for his (scientific) fantasy works, worldwide he is also recognized as a master of horror literature, having won numerous awards.

Imagine that there are people who can "control" the minds of ordinary human beings and "program" them for their own purposes. Imagine that prominent leaders, politicians, and public figures from world history (two diametrically opposite examples - Hitler and Gandhi, and so on, and so forth), often seemingly ordinary individuals but with enormous "charisma," are precisely such. And now, place this idea into the "sick" mind of Dan Simmons, and you will get a captivating epic of over nine hundred pages. Temporal references to World War II and the horrors of concentration camps, demonic chess games with live pieces, walks through the glamorous Hollywood studios, investigations into mysterious murders in which the interests of the CIA and FBI intertwine...

I realize that this book, along with "Abara" by Clive Barker and "Boy's Life" by Robert McCammon, will enter the top 5 of my 2016 reading list :). And yes, the usual suspects are involved in the release of "The Terror" in Bulgarian. Blagoy Ivanov, who for years has been running the cult series of "East-West" - MaGiCa (with "The Edge of Dark Water" - Joe R. Lansdale, "The Traveling Vampire Show" - Richard Laymon, "Horns" by Joe Hill (son of Stephen King), "Urban Gothic" - Brian Keene, the aforementioned "Boy's Life," and many other cult titles from literature with a sharp plot), and my good friend (writer and translator) Elena Pavlova.

I recommend it with both hands and (hmm) four legs, hahahahaha :).

4.5/5

Well, it took me approximately a month, but I have finally completed this monstrous 1,000-page novel. It is probably the last of the great horror epics on my To-Be-Read (TBR) List after "The Stand," "It," and "Swan Song" by Robert McCammon.

"Carrion Comfort" is touted as one of the greatest vampire novels of all time, but I still can't quite wrap my head around that. The villains in this tale are not your traditional vampires. They come across more as regular people, or rather sociopaths, who possess the ability to mind control the general population. Some of them refer to this as feeding, but really, it never seemed like something they needed to do to survive. So, it's kind of vampire-ish, but not really in my opinion.

The characters throughout the novel are fantastic, and for the most part, a lot of fun to read about. You get many chapters from the villains' perspective, and those are creepy and unsettling. So much of their ability feels rapey, and in quite a few instances, it is literally rapey. So, be prepared if that sort of thing doesn't work for you. However, it's only a few moments here and there in this giant novel. There are a lot of actually scary scenes and many more that will unsettle and creep you out, which is what I look for most in a horror novel.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. I can't give it a perfect score, though, since while there is gold in these hills, you still have to work to get it. I will say, however, that the ending left me more satisfied than I felt at the end of the three other aforementioned horror epics. The King novels, in particular, just left a weird taste in your mouth when you were done. By the time I reached the ending of "Carrion Comfort," I was completely satisfied with where we ended up.

This is an excellent book.

It offers a wealth of valuable information and insights that can truly enrich the reader's knowledge and understanding.

However, it must be admitted that at times, it can be rather difficult to read.

The language used may be complex or the concepts presented might be quite abstract, requiring the reader to invest a significant amount of time and effort to fully grasp.

Nevertheless, despite these challenges, the book remains highly recommended for those who are willing to persevere and engage with its content.

The rewards of doing so are well worth the effort, as it can open up new perspectives and inspire further exploration in the relevant field.

Overall, it is a book that combines excellence with a certain degree of difficulty, making it a unique and valuable addition to any bookshelf.