From the Bookshelf of Apocalypse Whenever…

The Passage (The Passage, #1)

Justin Cronin

Discussion: AW BOOK CLUB (spoilers)

Why we're reading this: Want to see if anyone else thought it was as long winded and self important as I did
[close] Want to see if anyone else thought it was as long winded and self important as I did

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AW BOOK CLUB (spoilers)

* What is a good book for AW discussion? (Nominations pool)
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last updated Oct 18, 2025 05:31PM

* AW Book Club: what we've read
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last updated Dec 10, 2019 09:01AM

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What Members Thought

Nov 09, 2014 Silver Thistle rated it it was ok

Shelves: post-apocalyptic, vampire

I may come back and write a proper review, once my thoughts on it settle but in the meantime...

If it had been half as long I'd have liked it twice as much. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Oct 30, 2012 Stephanie rated it liked it

Shelves: kindle, read-2013

There's a lot to like here - I like a lot of the worldbuilding, for example. But worldbuilding only gets you so far when you don't care about any of the characters. Quite frankly, I didn't care if anyone died (or if everyone did), and it's pretty hard to get emotionally invested in a book when that's the case.

I can see why a lot of people like this (especially if they're not generally genre readers, so a lot of the tropes will feel new), but I'm afraid that it just didn't hit the mark for me. Ma ...more

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Jul 28, 2014 Joe rated it liked it · review of another edition

Justin Cronin is by no means the finest writer of shoebox-sized tales of the supernatural, and when compared to other first novels in the genre - Carrie, House of Leaves - it often falls short, but, as Stephen King notes on the flyleaf, 'Read this book and the ordinary world disappears'; he does have a way of transporting you into a fantastic world of hyperreality. ...more

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Jun 22, 2010 Donna rated it liked it

Shelves: library, horror, dystopia-apocalyptic

The book begins with a secretive government research program, an agent who recruits test subjects, and a little girl who makes him question his work. When the worst happens, as we know it will, we get into a story about a group of people dealing with a very different world.

The first third is a tight, compelling thriller, though unfortunately it skips over most of the disaster that it lead to. The middle third introduces us to a really interesting setting, but it bogs its little colony down with The book begins with a secretive government research program, an agent who recruits test subjects, and a little girl who makes him question his work. When the worst happens, as we know it will, we get into a story about a group of people dealing with a very different world.

The first third is a tight, compelling thriller, though unfortunately it skips over most of the disaster that it lead to. The middle third introduces us to a really interesting setting, but it bogs its little colony down with muddy characters and unnecessary personal drama. The last act gives us a post-apocalyptic road trip story that picks up the pace again.

Some plot details are on the derivative side, but the author showed real skill in terms of invoking a sense of dread and developing the protagonists of the first part of the book. This could have been one of the best genre books of the year if he, or his editor, had also shown some restraint.

Imagine the worst side-trip excesses of The Stand, make those less exciting or relevant, and you've got how I felt about some of the plots and people in the middle of this one. The filler was especially frustrating considering how narrow a view we got of what happened after the first (and most engaging) part of the book. It was disappointing that we skimmed past so much of the bigger picture only to have things focus down on detail that didn't seem to go anywhere.

The final section was an improvement, but it wasn't without its problems. Action scenes were hard to follow at times, and the people felt a lot flatter than the characters we met at the start. A series of articles before some chapters may have been meant to give us a wider view of events, but for me they had implications that seriously brought down the level of tension. There are also too many "read the next book" moments, which started to get irritating.

I did enjoy it. There were some great moments and descriptions, and it certainly kept me turning the pages. I'll read another, though hopefully the next one is edited more. I just think that The Passage didn't live up to either its hype or its potential. ...more

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Jan 24, 2011 Tom rated it really liked it

Shelves: hard-copy

If you're only going to read one book about the struggle to survive in an apocalyptic world full of viral vampires... well... that book should probably be I Am Legend by Richard Matheson.

If you want to drop the vampires but keep the viral apocalypse, you'll probably want to read The Stand by Stephen King.

If you're still in the mood for a THIRD book about the struggle to survive in an apocalyptic world (maybe full of viral vampires) you should read this one.

It's also hard not to draw comparison ...more

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Jun 28, 2010 Jday rated it it was amazing

Shelves: k-books-read

I've got to say, this is one of the best books I've read in a long time. Cronin combined two of my favorite horror genres, vampires and the apocalypse, with a global extinction event pandemic and a savagery you rarely see outside of zombie horror. AND it's told with a believable plot and great characters. The story grabbed me from the start and didn't let go until I finished it.

The ending was a little disappointing to me until I realized this is the first book of a series. Now I can't wait for t ...more

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Apr 01, 2011 Zac rated it really liked it

Shelves: book-sale-pickups-in-queue, ebooks

This book comes in Acts. The whole first third of the book I was completely engrossed and committed to the characters. It was really outstanding. It all comes to a boiling climax, lingers briefly, but then Act 2 - none of the characters you invested in are present and you're starting over in a completely different world. It was ok, but fairly jarring and confusing. A little bit slow. This was definitely my least favorite section of the book and possibly it was the longest (or at least it felt li ...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Scott rated it it was ok

I hit a wall with this one...a huge character development wall. At first, I was completely invested in the first of a trilogy but after page 500, I started to to take this book on like a speed reader.....I began skimming over the lengthy sections where either a character was being introduced or you were deciphering a character's mutterings, monologues, or dreams interpretations. I began to not care anymore. Not a good introduction to my summer reading stack. ...more

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Jun 24, 2010 William rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2010, horror, apocalyptic, vampires, dystopia

I enjoyed this but for some reason it took me forever to read. It is a mixture of end of the world, vampire, epic fantasy. This is ultimately the tale of a band of people that survive 100 years after a devastating viral event. Yes, it was a military blunder (aren't most apocalyptic novels) that near destroys humanity and leaves the Earth plagued by vampire like creatures. It is not an original idea but it is written well. I would recommend it. ...more

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Jan 15, 2012 Shirl In rated it it was amazing

Im going crazy waiting for the second book. This book is sooooo good and it sets a new bar for vampire books. Mixes vampirism and post apocalyptic which is an awesome combination....in my humble opinion.

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