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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
I got to the third page of the first chapter before I decided this isn't the book for me. For a book that had been in my wishlist since Siglers podcast that I probably should have just subscribed and listened to all those years ago, that's a sad result. This book had been recommended to me because of the podcast aspect (I was an early listener of podcasts due to a long commute) and because my science-related friends all thought the science was done well. I have connections that know the author and by all accounts he's a good guy.
So why did I drop the book so fast? I encountered language that bothers me. Willing to let it pass because it was being used to show the misogyny of the character, within another page I came across an ableist word that has not been okay to use ever, but by popular opinion since the 1980s or '90s. This book was written 1-2 decades after, which gives the previous word less of a pass. I guess that's two strikes and you're out for me. I don't need to read awful human sentiments in my entertainment since I deal with much of this stuff in my daily life.
So why did I drop the book so fast? I encountered language that bothers me. Willing to let it pass because it was being used to show the misogyny of the character, within another page I came across an ableist word that has not been okay to use ever, but by popular opinion since the 1980s or '90s. This book was written 1-2 decades after, which gives the previous word less of a pass. I guess that's two strikes and you're out for me. I don't need to read awful human sentiments in my entertainment since I deal with much of this stuff in my daily life.
This was such a fun departure from the high fantasy I've been reading. The action was wonderful and there was so much ICKY stuff!! loved it.
An incredibly good horror story, it builds up mistery, horror and gore very nicely. However, the end was bad sci-fi badly attached to the rest of the tale, diminishing all the good setting and build.
I got to the third page of the first chapter before I decided this isn't the book for me. For a book that had been in my wishlist since Siglers podcast that I probably should have just subscribed and listened to all those years ago, that's a sad result. This book had been recommended to me because of the podcast aspect (I was an early listener of podcasts due to a long commute) and because my science-related friends all thought the science was done well. I have connections that know the author and by all accounts he's a good guy.
So why did I drop the book so fast? I encountered language that bothers me. Willing to let it pass because it was being used to show the misogyny of the character, within another page I came across an ableist word that has not been okay to use ever, but by popular opinion since the 1980s or '90s. This book was written 1-2 decades after, which gives the previous word less of a pass. I guess that's two strikes and you're out for me. I don't need to read awful human sentiments in my entertainment since I deal with much of this stuff in my daily life.
So why did I drop the book so fast? I encountered language that bothers me. Willing to let it pass because it was being used to show the misogyny of the character, within another page I came across an ableist word that has not been okay to use ever, but by popular opinion since the 1980s or '90s. This book was written 1-2 decades after, which gives the previous word less of a pass. I guess that's two strikes and you're out for me. I don't need to read awful human sentiments in my entertainment since I deal with much of this stuff in my daily life.
Scott Sigler, Infected (Crown, 2008)
The publishing game is changing, and for the better. Whereas once vanity publications, indie presses, and other alternative forms of publishing were ignored by the big presses in New York City, now they've got people scouring the woodwork to come up with the Next Big Thing That Someone Has Actually Already Published. Which has led to major presses picking up vanity pubs that have generated huge street buzz. Or Bantam buying, lock stock and barrel, the backlists of Juno Press (a division of Prime) and Permuted Press and re-releasing the majority of the books that came out there. Or a guy whose book was originally podcast for thirty thousand subscribers getting a splashy print deal with Crown. The last example, of course, is that of Scott Sigler, and the book in question was Infected. Which isn't exactly a zombie novel. If you want to put it in strict terms, it's a Rage novel (“Rage” as in “the disease from 28 Days Later...”). The victims of the disease are still very much alive. In Infected, this is much more important than it is in Alex Garland-scripted Danny Boyle movies.
Infected centers on two people. One is Dew Phillips, Vietnam vet, CIA agent, a guy who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty. One of the few people in America who knows about a new plague code-named Triangle, and who has been tasked with finding, and apprehending, a live subject in order for Margaret Montoya, the epidemiologist in charge of finding a cure. The second is Perry Dawsey, former All-American linebacker for the University of Michigan, now a tech support grunt after his pro career was destroyed along with his knee. Perry doesn't know he's infected yet... but we do. And since the government is keeping the tightest of lids on this new disease, once Perry does realize he's infected, he has no idea what it is or how to combat it. And just because you're paranoid, it doesn't mean they're not out to get you...
First off, the bad things about Infected. Well, okay, the bad thing. It's pretty transparent. Once you realize there's only a handful of government agents with clearance and that the narrative is focusing on one infected guy, it's pretty obvious where you're showdown's going to be. While the book does take a twist or two towards the end, the foreshadowing is clumsy enough (or simply unsubtle enough depending on your point of view) that you can still predict where it's going as soon as these things pop up.
And then there's the good stuff. Like Sigler's sense of pace, which is perfect for genre writing—you start off with a bang, push the pedal to the floor, and see how fast this rattletrap can go. Most of my favorite genre novelists, especially in the horror genre, work exactly this way (Z. A. Recht, Jack Priest, Richard Laymon, Ed Lee...). There's no denying that, predictable as it is, Infected will keep you turning pages simply to see what's going to happen next.
There are a few aspects that will probably fall on the fence for most people. Sigler does stop the action now and again for descriptions of how the disease works (remember the scene of a bullet passing through a body as George Clooney describes it happening in Three Kings? Yeah, like that). I'm sure some people will be of the opinion these sections jar, though I found them interesting.
In sum, empty calories. But like most empty calories, they sure do taste good. ***
The publishing game is changing, and for the better. Whereas once vanity publications, indie presses, and other alternative forms of publishing were ignored by the big presses in New York City, now they've got people scouring the woodwork to come up with the Next Big Thing That Someone Has Actually Already Published. Which has led to major presses picking up vanity pubs that have generated huge street buzz. Or Bantam buying, lock stock and barrel, the backlists of Juno Press (a division of Prime) and Permuted Press and re-releasing the majority of the books that came out there. Or a guy whose book was originally podcast for thirty thousand subscribers getting a splashy print deal with Crown. The last example, of course, is that of Scott Sigler, and the book in question was Infected. Which isn't exactly a zombie novel. If you want to put it in strict terms, it's a Rage novel (“Rage” as in “the disease from 28 Days Later...”). The victims of the disease are still very much alive. In Infected, this is much more important than it is in Alex Garland-scripted Danny Boyle movies.
Infected centers on two people. One is Dew Phillips, Vietnam vet, CIA agent, a guy who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty. One of the few people in America who knows about a new plague code-named Triangle, and who has been tasked with finding, and apprehending, a live subject in order for Margaret Montoya, the epidemiologist in charge of finding a cure. The second is Perry Dawsey, former All-American linebacker for the University of Michigan, now a tech support grunt after his pro career was destroyed along with his knee. Perry doesn't know he's infected yet... but we do. And since the government is keeping the tightest of lids on this new disease, once Perry does realize he's infected, he has no idea what it is or how to combat it. And just because you're paranoid, it doesn't mean they're not out to get you...
First off, the bad things about Infected. Well, okay, the bad thing. It's pretty transparent. Once you realize there's only a handful of government agents with clearance and that the narrative is focusing on one infected guy, it's pretty obvious where you're showdown's going to be. While the book does take a twist or two towards the end, the foreshadowing is clumsy enough (or simply unsubtle enough depending on your point of view) that you can still predict where it's going as soon as these things pop up.
And then there's the good stuff. Like Sigler's sense of pace, which is perfect for genre writing—you start off with a bang, push the pedal to the floor, and see how fast this rattletrap can go. Most of my favorite genre novelists, especially in the horror genre, work exactly this way (Z. A. Recht, Jack Priest, Richard Laymon, Ed Lee...). There's no denying that, predictable as it is, Infected will keep you turning pages simply to see what's going to happen next.
There are a few aspects that will probably fall on the fence for most people. Sigler does stop the action now and again for descriptions of how the disease works (remember the scene of a bullet passing through a body as George Clooney describes it happening in Three Kings? Yeah, like that). I'm sure some people will be of the opinion these sections jar, though I found them interesting.
In sum, empty calories. But like most empty calories, they sure do taste good. ***
A truly engaging and fun page turner that expertly mixes sci-fi thriller with psychological study. Not quite as compelling as something like Meyer's "The Host," but is well worth the read.
I'm not a sci fi fan. But I've read this book twice and am now reading contagious. Some of the dialog is bad but I enjoyed it.
This was an amazing sci-fi/forensic/alien invasion thriller that had me flying through the pages. I am usually not that squeamish, but this novel had me squirming as Perry Dawsey tried to fight off the things growing and changing inside him. Normally I'd give this a lesser grade due to the fact that it is part of a trilogy, but in this case I can't wait to see where the story goes next...highly recommended!
A really good thriller with just the right twist, grips to the very end. If you have not read it then do so. If you want a real treat get the audio read by the author himself, he does a great jobe (even the female roles) .
Having just put down INFECTED, a horror story by Scott Sigler, I must say that Mr. Sigler is a sick, sick man. In a good way. If you like horror stories. The first book in a trilogy, it was published in print by Crown Publishing in 2008 (before that it was a serialized podcast). I’ve had this book on my shelf since 2008 (no comments from the peanut gallery!). I saw that Mr. Sigler was appearing at a local bookstore next month, so I thought it was indeed high time I got around to reading this.
This book is for hard-core horror fans. If you are very squeamish, DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. It is jaw-dropping horror.
The story starts out in Michigan, with people getting sores, then scabs, then bluish triangles under the skin, then voices in people’s heads, then abnormal behaviors, then I can’t even go any further. It gets much, much worse until it’s practically Armageddon in a forest.
Although there are several people who are infected, we mostly follow the story of Perry Dawsey, a former football player, from his point of view. That lets us get into all of the mind and body changes that the infected people incur.
Sigler’s descriptions are so gruesome, so detailed in all of its horrific display, and the buildup is so great, that to my mind its almost a perfect example of horror writing. I won’t soon forget Perry Dawsey! Or look at chicken scissors without wincing!
INFECTED is so good in fact, I seriously don’t know if my nerves can take another book by Sigler!
RECOMMENDED
This book is for hard-core horror fans. If you are very squeamish, DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. It is jaw-dropping horror.
The story starts out in Michigan, with people getting sores, then scabs, then bluish triangles under the skin, then voices in people’s heads, then abnormal behaviors, then I can’t even go any further. It gets much, much worse until it’s practically Armageddon in a forest.
Although there are several people who are infected, we mostly follow the story of Perry Dawsey, a former football player, from his point of view. That lets us get into all of the mind and body changes that the infected people incur.
Sigler’s descriptions are so gruesome, so detailed in all of its horrific display, and the buildup is so great, that to my mind its almost a perfect example of horror writing. I won’t soon forget Perry Dawsey! Or look at chicken scissors without wincing!
INFECTED is so good in fact, I seriously don’t know if my nerves can take another book by Sigler!
RECOMMENDED