The Passage by Justin Cronin
by Jenners • 08/08/2010 • 4 Stars, C Authors, Dystopia, Fiction, Gothic/Horror, P Titles, Science Fiction • 30 Comments
Story Overview
The story starts in the years 5-1 B.V. (Before Virals). In Colorado, a secret government project called Project NOAH is working on weaponizing the human body by injecting death row inmates with a mysterious virus found in the Amazon. Twelve subjects have been injected so far—with disturbing results. The two FBI agents charged with bringing the test subjects to Colorado are in the process of getting the thirteenth test subject—a mysterious 6-year-old girl named Amy. The realization that Amy is a child disturbs one of the agents, and he struggles to make peace with his actions. Upon their arrival in Colorado, things go awry and the agent flees with Amy to the Oregon wilderness. As Cronin writes:
It happened fast. Thirty-two minutes for one world to die, another to be reborn.
We get a few glimpses of this new world in Year Zero and 2 A.V. (After Virals) before jumping to 92 A.V., where we take up residence at First Colony, which is located in the San Jacinto Mountains in the California Republic. Life in First Colony is not a world we are familiar with. The Document of One Law governs the colony’s daily life, and the most important thing is that the lights stay on. You see, the lights are the one thing that keep the virals at bay. Without the lights, the virals can easily attack the humans in the colony—killing them outright or changing them into virals. But batteries aren’t meant to last forever, and the engineers in charge of the lights are beginning to have some concerns….
My Thoughts
Let me say right off the bat: THIS IS NOT A VAMPIRE BOOK!!! I’ve seen it described as such, and it bothers me. Although the virals have some things in common with vampires (biting necks, seeking blood, aversion to light), they are a totally different creature. If you are envisioning a book inhabited by packs of Edward Cullens or Draculas or the like, stop right there. The virals reminded me more of the aliens from Alien than a vampire.
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| Think this … |
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| … not this. |
OK … so with that out of the way, how is the book? Well, if you like long (766 pages), dsytopian, bloody, scary, let’s band together to try and save the world adventure epics, this book is going to rock your socks off! If this type of book isn’t your cup of tea, then run … run far away. (But don’t go near any trees. And be sure to pay your electric bill. Just sayin’.)
I got totally caught up in the story. I loved how Cronin provides maps, newspaper excerpts, copies of e-mails, FEMA documents and the like when setting up his dystopian world. I loved learning about life in the Colony. I loved learning about the virals. (I think the virals are a very interesting creation, and I began to feel quite sympathetic toward them. The “they always go home” aspect was genius.) I loved the tension when a small band of brave souls venture out of the Colony to get help. I loved how Cronin gives you some answers, but doesn’t lay it all out on the table. (By the way, this is the first book of a planned trilogy so Cronin has to hold some stuff back.) Although I think the book meandered a bit in the middle, I didn’t mind too much. Once you are on this ride, you’re not going to get off.
I know the book has been compared to Stephen King’s The Stand, and I totally get the comparison. Both books are sprawling epics with a small group of humans fighting for survival. But I read The Stand so long ago that I can’t really compare the two books too closely. But I do think that if you liked The Stand, you’re going to like The Passage too.
In the end, this isn’t great literature or a book that is going to change the world, but it is the most satisfying of reads—an epic life-or-death struggle in a strange new world that is our own but not quite. I felt immersed in the book while reading, and it took a little while to shake off the creep factor once I was done. I loved plunging into Cronin’s dystopic world, and I can’t wait to revisit it again when the next book comes out in 2012.
My Final Recommendation
Definitely not a book for everyone, The Passage is a big fat epic that takes you someplace scary and creepy and a little bit mysterious but also very very human. If you’re a fan of dystopic fiction with a horror edge, then this book is for you. If you can, read it on an e-reader as it is a chunkster. My biggest gripe with the book was the sheer weight of it. I had to read it sitting up … and with all the lights on … and in the daytime … and nowhere near trees.
The Whys and Wheres: The reason I didn’t read this on my Kindle was because the lovely, funny and exceedingly generous Jill from Rhapsody in Books sent me her ARC, for which I thank her (but I do plan on sending her the medical bills for the wrist splints I need from holding the heavy, heavy book). I wanted to read this because people kept saying “It’s so like The Stand,” which I remember loving back in the day. And yes, you can expect my copy to be up for grabs in my September giveaway.
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I just finished this and I loved the beginning and the end, but I was bored in the middle. I felt like a vampire/alien/viral book shouldn't bore me. Oh well. Glad I read it, but I agree that it's not for everyone.
Part of me wants to read this one. But the other part of me keeps screaming "it's a freakin' trilogy!"
I still can't wait to read this one. I can't believe I didn't get around to it when I went on my camping trip. I loved The Stand so I'm quite confident that I will like this one. I've actually finally read a few negative or more mediocre reviews of this one. This has definitely been the IT book of the summer!
this sounds really good!
wow, 784 pages is a chunkster, but it seems worth it.
great review
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/
When I read other reviews of this, they seemed to indicate that it had a kind of cliffhanger ending, which made me want to wait until the next ones are written. Your review makes me want to wait at least long enough for the paperback, so I can hold it up to read it!
Flyers! That's a great review! I am listening to it on audio and while it is long, I am impressed that Connin is able to keep the story interesting and fully engaged.
I still don't think this book is for me (even though that message about this not being a vampire book was spot on for me). I might recommend it for my husband though. He's been reading Stephen King's Dome book and not liking it as much as he thought he would.
I guess I didn't realize it was so big. I am interested but have no time for this right now!
you like it more than I did. I liked it but felt the middle section was just needlessly long. By a few hundred pages….
The real judge is will I read the next two books? Not sure, not sure at all…
i've seen this one popping up EVERYWHERE…but don't have the strength to undertake such an epic right now. it looks like more of a 'winter book' for me.
I also wanted to add that Amy reminded me of Newt (Aliens). See, another alien reference.
I think I included a pic of an alien in my review as well. This is SO not a vampire book.
And as you said, not great literature but oh, what a ride!
I am reading this right now and agree that it is not a vampire book. I also don't think it is GREAT literature but it sure is a good story. I'm enjoying it.
Because of your review, I will not be reading this book. And that is a compliment! lol
No really, you did such a great job describing the story that now I know for sure this book is not for me
I think I need to join a challenge that forces me to read random and new-to-me genres. THEN maybe I'd read about vampire aliens or alien vampires or vampire vampires and sort of read outside the coffin, er, box.
I, sadly, could not finish this book. Just not for me. Loved your review though.
I have not read this yet. But there have been heaps of people reading and reviewing it lately. I have to be honest Jenners, the dystopian thing normally has me looking for the escape exits quicker than you can say….just about anything. However I enjoyed reading your review of this book so much that I might have to give it a go. But there will be there of them? Goodness! So many books so little time..
I was waiting to read YOUR review before I picked this one up! THAT's how much power you have over my reading preferences now! Although I still cannot get into Nelson DeMille…but I knew if you liked The Passage then I would probably like it too! Although I agree with Peppermint…I may have to wait until closer to 2012…I'm not a very patient waiter on sequels…although, there's really no choice now is there, but to be a patient waiter! Ugh! the crux of it!
An online book group I joined is discussing the book in October – maybe you should join in!
They have great discussions about the book being read, as well as books in general.
http://bookiestoo.com/
I'm more of an outlier in the group – I can't always get the books from the library, or get them finished in time for the discussion.
I'm such a slacker.
OMG – is there ANOTHER Jill at Rhapsody in Books?!!!! It sure sounds that way! (The only one I know recently appeared as a rootbeer-colored Vampire-Zombie-Bat-Thing in Justin Cronin's latest book….)
I too think this is not for me. Thanks for your great review.
I checked this one out from the library but had to return it before I read it. BOO! I'm requesting it again though.
PS I love The Stand! I re-read it every couple of years.
This does sound good….awfully long, but good. I think it's one my husband would definitely enjoy, too. I may have to invest in this at some point. (but not before I try to win it in your September giveaway!)
You have to imagine that The Stand (and I Am Legend…truly) did have some influence on Cronin. You see pieces of these stories in there, but it does stand on its own. I enjoyed it immensely, although I should have taken the tip of avoiding the trees when I was listening!
I have never really read any horror, dystopian literature before, but in the effort to expand my horizons, I would like to give it a go. I can't decide whether to start this new literary adventure with King (which I have never read either) — or with this new best seller…..
This one is on my list, but I know I'll have to have lots of energy and stamina when I start it. I like stuff like this…although, if it's going to be a trilogy, I may wait until the others come out. I'm not very patient…in life, nor in reading
I loved The Passage and your review makes a lot of good points. It's vampires, but note VAMPIRE vampires.
And it is like The Stand in many ways, but it's not JUST like The Stand (which is what a lot of people seem to think and complain about). It has many similar aspects and will easily be enjoyed by fan's of books of that nature.
Wonderful review.
I still can't decide if this is the book for me or not. I'll probably buy it for Vance – if I do, I can take a peek at his copy and decide.
Yeah…I'm thinking I'm one of those people that this book is not for…
Okay, I just want to take your review and put it on my blog. I won't..I promise…
Love the pictures by the way!
I read this book earlier this week and enjoyed it. I agree!! It is not a vampire book. It was not as scary (to me) as it was hyped to be which is one of the reasons I wanted to read it.