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luca_zordan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mshield's review against another edition
3.0
A story within a story, the latter of which is unnecessary.
A man climbs a mountain to witness a devastating maelstrom - taking a pot shot at an author (real) who had described the scene he himself describes. His guide then recalls a tale of how he and his brothers wound up sailing straight into the beast.
The perils of the whirlpool are ever at the fore for the characters, yet knowing the guide's fate, while simultaneously having no connection to him or his brothers, deprives the reader of similar experience.
As nearly always with Poe, it is a solidly descriptive piece, and, as I find fairly common with Poe, sparce of character connection.
All in all a not boring, but not entirely engaging short story.
2.5
A man climbs a mountain to witness a devastating maelstrom - taking a pot shot at an author (real) who had described the scene he himself describes. His guide then recalls a tale of how he and his brothers wound up sailing straight into the beast.
The perils of the whirlpool are ever at the fore for the characters, yet knowing the guide's fate, while simultaneously having no connection to him or his brothers, deprives the reader of similar experience.
As nearly always with Poe, it is a solidly descriptive piece, and, as I find fairly common with Poe, sparce of character connection.
All in all a not boring, but not entirely engaging short story.
2.5
sjstuart's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Searched this out and read it in the process of falling down a rabbit hole triggered by a mention in Death's End.
Not as spooky or dark as a lot of Poe, but just as descriptive and fatalistic. Bonus points for the physics-based escape plan.
Not as spooky or dark as a lot of Poe, but just as descriptive and fatalistic. Bonus points for the physics-based escape plan.
saaraa96's review against another edition
3.0
You suppose me a very old man—but I am not. It took less than a single day to change these hairs from a jetty black to white, to weaken my limbs, and to unstring my nerves, so that I tremble at the least exertion, and am frightened at a shadow.
maxsh's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
4ndr3w's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ethanreadsb00ks's review against another edition
3.0
The writing is undoubtedly fantastic, but I just found the first few pages a bit slow. Loved the description of when the story teller loses his fear at the prospect of dying in one of God's most incredible feats.
armenaismailji's review against another edition
4.0
gorgeously described, but i must say it was a bit odd. loved it though.