The
Passage by Justin Cronin has been a bloody good read
so far. It’s apocalyptic horror/science fiction that takes vampires back to
being monsters and not the insipid morally confused fashion plates they have
become. The vampires in The Passage
are genetically engineered mutants that have reverted to a primeval state whose
only goal is survival. They are the result of an experiment by the US military to
create super soldiers, but instead of defending the US they destroy it.
These vampires are not demons either, so anyone brandishing
a crucifix or holy water will quickly have their arm ripped off. A shot to the
brain or heart will kill them, but it has to be the first shot as there is no
time for a second.
a crucifix or holy water will quickly have their arm ripped off. A shot to the
brain or heart will kill them, but it has to be the first shot as there is no
time for a second.
I am really enjoying this reinvention of the vampire. It
was about time that the sophisticated womanising vampire was torn to pieces and
splattered with gore.
was about time that the sophisticated womanising vampire was torn to pieces and
splattered with gore.
Flashbacks
Within Flashbacks.
Within Flashbacks.
Justin Cronin’s writing style surprises too. I can’t
remember reading a novel that has had flashbacks within flashbacks. In The Passage a character will have a
flashback showing how he or she came to be in their current situation and
during that flashback they will reminisce about events in their life that
affected how they acted in that flashback. It’s a bit like Inception sometimes
and I have to remind myself what flashback level the character is reliving.
remember reading a novel that has had flashbacks within flashbacks. In The Passage a character will have a
flashback showing how he or she came to be in their current situation and
during that flashback they will reminisce about events in their life that
affected how they acted in that flashback. It’s a bit like Inception sometimes
and I have to remind myself what flashback level the character is reliving.
Killer
Plot Too.
Plot Too.
Cronin also did something that really jolted me as a
reader. Spoiler Alert After 350
pages or so he had killed off all but one of the characters and story lines. The
novel then jumps 100 years into the future. As a reader I was turfed out of the
novel and it was like starting to read a completely new novel. But a new bunch
of characters and story lines quickly sucked me back into the apocalyptic
world.
reader. Spoiler Alert After 350
pages or so he had killed off all but one of the characters and story lines. The
novel then jumps 100 years into the future. As a reader I was turfed out of the
novel and it was like starting to read a completely new novel. But a new bunch
of characters and story lines quickly sucked me back into the apocalyptic
world.
Cronin reminds me a lot of Stephen King in style and
tone. King is quoted on the cover as saying the book is “enthralling…read this
book and the ordinary world disappears”. As a reader who is totally engrossed
in the story, I am rapt to know that the book has two sequels so I still have
much more of the war against the monstrous vampires to read.
tone. King is quoted on the cover as saying the book is “enthralling…read this
book and the ordinary world disappears”. As a reader who is totally engrossed
in the story, I am rapt to know that the book has two sequels so I still have
much more of the war against the monstrous vampires to read.
One Response
Thanks Graham for your book review… Sounds great …I'll look out for it.
Cheers,
Karen 🙂