The Plague Chronicles

by Smith Guy N.

Trevor, Susan and their teenage son Mark are, to all intents and purposes, a normal family. And with the world in the grip of a terrible drought and tempers in the city are frayed to breaking point, they think a spell at their holiday home in the country might be what they need to repair their troubled relationship. But things are no better than they were in the city – and before long they are fighting, not only for their marriage, but for their own survival. The world, for too long abused by humanity, is taking its revenge – and as anarchy rules on the city streets and chaos follows catastrophe, they face a horrifying choice.To live or die …

Genres: Horror

256 pages, Hardcover

First published December 9, 1993

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Spoilers*

A pleasantly enjoyable 'Disaster' 'When Animals Attack' novel.

Trevor Chibnell, his wife Susan, and son Mark, go to their cabin (during a drought) to get away from civilisation, and in the hope of having fresh water and safety.

Things don't quite go according to plan. The water is contaminated with an algae that infects the local fauna. Cue bloated bullfrogs, dive-bombing hornets, eye-gouging crows, a tick secreting itself in the local farmers' lads foreskin, craneflies, fleas, soldier ants swarming over the local vet, cockroaches, typhoid, cows catching anthrax, and last but not least, a plague of locusts.

Other characters include the local doctor and vet, doc Wycherley and Ed Parker respectively, farmer Chris Thompson and his son Phil, Dunk, a local hermit, Deputy Frank Dilmot, who takes over after the Sheriff (John Taggert) succumbs to a deadly twister, Jimbo (a survivalist/hunter) who meets up with Trevor, and Elaine (adulterer Trevor's bit on the side).

The novel rattles along at a good pace, It is never boring, often gruesome and icky, sometimes hilarious.

It won't win any awards, but I found every bit of it enjoyable.

The Phrase 'comely wench' tickled me something chronic.

Recommended for Pulp Horror or Splatterpunk fans.

[Edmund Chattoe-Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Guy N. Smith was a phenomenon. He was unbelievably prolific and unbelievably awful in the field of trashy horror. It would actually be quite interesting to get someone with critical skills to analyse just why this is so awfully written but it wouldn't be fair on them. If nothing else the book is riddled with spelling mistakes but that could the publisher I guess. The book is also supposedly set in the US but it is really hard to point to anything definite to support that claim. It is based on the plagues of Egypt - though it is completely unclear why - but this has the practical result that initially the reader is supposed to be terrified of blue green algae and dying bull frogs. I also found myself wondering whether having such unsympathetic characters is somehow a requirement of bad horror (making them dispensable perhaps?) or if it tells us something about the author or his intended audience. But in any event, you have almost no sympathy for anyone which makes it a grim read. The ending is bizarre. Basically it seems to be "I have run out of plagues so ... happy ever after." The second star is for cheek to be honest. Now wash your hands.

[Mkittysamom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought there would be zombies.. but it was more like a biblical plague that tried to wipe out Haven Falls and surrounding areas and weirdly a family that was messed up.. somehow rides through till the end but they aren’t unscathed. I was also surprised with the role of women and how it really reflected how marriage and life leaves us with some crap as* choices.