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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
Great twist on the vampire legend. Can't wait to read book #2!!
The Strain is a vampire novel by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan, it is the beginning of a trilogy. Mr. Del Toro is predominately known for his film direction, being behind such films as "Mimic", "Hellboy", and "Pan's Labyrinth". Mr. Hogan has received the Hammet Prize and praise from Stephen King for his novel, The Town. Del Toro and Hogan co-wrote this book and its two sequels.
In many ways, the book reads almost like a movie. I've said this in the past, though usually in a negative light. Maybe it is because Del Toro is known mostly for his visual work on films, but that same feeling did not turn me off of this book as it has done in the past. There is a definite focus on the visual description of things, yet the narrative doesn't linger on them in an overly long fashion. The descriptions are graphic and to the point at the same time, allowing them intensity and brevity at the same time.
The vampires in this story are appropriately vicious and horrifying. I am not sure who is scarier though, the vampires or the rich eccentric old man that brings the vampire to New York and destabilizes a long standing truce between the seven ancient vampires. (Don't worry this isn't a spoiler, this is all shown to the reader at the beginning, or at least strongly hinted at.)
We meet our main protagonist, Dr. Ephraim (Eph) Goodweather, after a plane mysteriously lands with everyone on board dead. Well it seems that way at first. There are actually four survivors of the initial landing though they appear dead upon first examination by several medical experts. Eph is a member of the CDC, his job is to contain outbreaks of disease before they reach pandemic levels. Dr. Goodweather is torn between his work and home life as this tragedy causes him to cut short his weekend with his son and to miss a custody hearing relating to his rights in regards to his son, Zach.
Other main characters include Nora Martinez and Professor Abraham Setrakian. Nora is Eph's partner at the CDC, while Prof. Setrakian is first dismissed as a crazy old man. Prof. Setrakian is an expert in fighting vampires, having witnessed one of them feeding while he was in a WWII concentration camp. He has made it his life's mission to destroy them from that point on.
Our heroes are not just fighting the vampires, but their extremely wealthy backer. The vampires in this story are not of supernatural origin, but spread like a virus. This includes altering the hosts' DNA and bodily structures. Giving a scientific rational doesn't make them any less scary or dangerous.
I can't say exactly where the next two books will take the reader, but I don't see there being any huge surprises or plot twists. Readers that are familiar with the vampire genre will probably see most of what is coming next before it happens. The story isn't dynamically original, but it is a well paced adventure tale. The characters aren't completely flat, but they are not fully developed either. If you enjoy the visuals of Del Toro's film, I think you'll get some of that through the descriptive passages in the text. This series will never be considered a classic, but the first book is an enjoyable read for those that wish a little excitement in their life.
Happy reading!
In many ways, the book reads almost like a movie. I've said this in the past, though usually in a negative light. Maybe it is because Del Toro is known mostly for his visual work on films, but that same feeling did not turn me off of this book as it has done in the past. There is a definite focus on the visual description of things, yet the narrative doesn't linger on them in an overly long fashion. The descriptions are graphic and to the point at the same time, allowing them intensity and brevity at the same time.
The vampires in this story are appropriately vicious and horrifying. I am not sure who is scarier though, the vampires or the rich eccentric old man that brings the vampire to New York and destabilizes a long standing truce between the seven ancient vampires. (Don't worry this isn't a spoiler, this is all shown to the reader at the beginning, or at least strongly hinted at.)
We meet our main protagonist, Dr. Ephraim (Eph) Goodweather, after a plane mysteriously lands with everyone on board dead. Well it seems that way at first. There are actually four survivors of the initial landing though they appear dead upon first examination by several medical experts. Eph is a member of the CDC, his job is to contain outbreaks of disease before they reach pandemic levels. Dr. Goodweather is torn between his work and home life as this tragedy causes him to cut short his weekend with his son and to miss a custody hearing relating to his rights in regards to his son, Zach.
Other main characters include Nora Martinez and Professor Abraham Setrakian. Nora is Eph's partner at the CDC, while Prof. Setrakian is first dismissed as a crazy old man. Prof. Setrakian is an expert in fighting vampires, having witnessed one of them feeding while he was in a WWII concentration camp. He has made it his life's mission to destroy them from that point on.
Our heroes are not just fighting the vampires, but their extremely wealthy backer. The vampires in this story are not of supernatural origin, but spread like a virus. This includes altering the hosts' DNA and bodily structures. Giving a scientific rational doesn't make them any less scary or dangerous.
I can't say exactly where the next two books will take the reader, but I don't see there being any huge surprises or plot twists. Readers that are familiar with the vampire genre will probably see most of what is coming next before it happens. The story isn't dynamically original, but it is a well paced adventure tale. The characters aren't completely flat, but they are not fully developed either. If you enjoy the visuals of Del Toro's film, I think you'll get some of that through the descriptive passages in the text. This series will never be considered a classic, but the first book is an enjoyable read for those that wish a little excitement in their life.
Happy reading!
Almost without question...the most disgusting book I have ever read. And amazingly creepy and alarming and somehow manages to give you mutual fears of the supernatural AND an unstoppable pandemic. And I could not stop reading it. Even knowing that there was going to be a BEAR of a cliffhanger which somehow they made worse. Thanks guys!
I really, really enjoyed this book! It's not your average Edward & Bella, vampires sparkle and can love you, type of story. This is a TRUE vampire story, describing them as monsters and demons, dangerous, savage and ruthless.
I found some parts to be a little slow, but overall, I kept finding excuses to hide away for a bit so I could keep reading. I think the concept is great, and during the first few chapters, I found myself to be truly creeped out, which normally doesn't happen to me when I read.
I found some parts to be a little slow, but overall, I kept finding excuses to hide away for a bit so I could keep reading. I think the concept is great, and during the first few chapters, I found myself to be truly creeped out, which normally doesn't happen to me when I read.
Fun, dark, exciting, and intelligent. A dangerous combination when put in the hands of an avid reader. You may take a while to get really into this book, the beginning can be considered slow, but you will leave with a need for more.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I wavered between four and five stars for this one, so let's call it 4.5, or maybe 4.75. It features some very interesting twists on the vampire mythos, as well as an unusual new method of blood ingestion by the vampires, the likes of which I don't think I've encountered in any previous vampire literature. My one and only issue with this book is that it's the first of a trilogy, the second and third volumes of which are apparently already scheduled for release in 2010 and 2011, which probably just means I should have waited 2 years so I could have read the whole story at once. That being said, this is definitely a very well conceived and executed story. The characters are well drawn, complete with engaging back stories, and the official reaction to the crisis from the CDC (denial and cover-up) is perfect, by which I mean quite believable and also well conceived as a means of advancing the "renegade agents racing to contain and destroy the evil" aspect of the story. Plenty of blood, plenty of horror, but also plenty of very intelligent story here. Highly recommended.
First part of a trilogy.
After all the passengers of a plane are founf dead, It's up to Shep and his partner to investigate. But the bodies all disappear from the morgue and with the help of an old man, they discover that vampires are responsible.
Guillermo Del Toro poffers a new view on vampires, nothing to do with sparkling boys in this book! His vampires are some kind of virus, attaching themselves to a host and changing his whole biology. They don't have pointy teeth but a "thing" that jumps out of the mouth.
I surprisingly liked this book. It probably has to do with the fact that Del Toro is a cinematographer but tis book is pretty visual. A good change from all the new vampires that you read about right now...
After all the passengers of a plane are founf dead, It's up to Shep and his partner to investigate. But the bodies all disappear from the morgue and with the help of an old man, they discover that vampires are responsible.
Guillermo Del Toro poffers a new view on vampires, nothing to do with sparkling boys in this book! His vampires are some kind of virus, attaching themselves to a host and changing his whole biology. They don't have pointy teeth but a "thing" that jumps out of the mouth.
I surprisingly liked this book. It probably has to do with the fact that Del Toro is a cinematographer but tis book is pretty visual. A good change from all the new vampires that you read about right now...