Infected

A Novel

By: Scott Sigler

Narrated by: Scott Sigler

Length: 11 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Across America a mysterious disease is turning ordinary people into raving, paranoid murderers who inflict brutal horrors on strangers, themselves, and even their own families. Working under the government’s shroud of secrecy, CIA operative Dew Phillips crisscrosses the country trying in vain to capture a live victim. With only decomposing corpses for clues, CDC epidemiologist Margaret Montoya races to analyze the science behind this deadly contagion. She discovers that these killers all have one thing in common–they’ve been contaminated by a bioengineered parasite, shaped by a complexity far beyond the limits of known science.

Meanwhile Perry Dawsey–a hulking former football star now resigned to life as a cubicle-bound desk jockey–awakens one morning to find several mysterious welts growing on his body. Soon Perry finds himself acting and thinking strangely, hearing voices . . . he is infected. The fate of the human race may well depend on the bloody war Perry must wage with his own body, because the parasites want something from him, something that goes beyond mere murder.

©2008 Scott Sigler (P)2008 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Part Stephen King, part Chuck Palahniuk, Infected blends science fiction and horror into a pulpy masterpiece of action, terror, and suspense. Three recommendations: don't read it at night, or just after you've eaten a full meal, or if you're weak of heart. You've been warned!"—James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of The Judas Strain and Black Order

“Powerfully written . . . an unforgettable central character.” —Dallas Morning News

“Sigler is masterful at grabbing the reader by the throat and refusing to let go. Just when I thought I knew what abyss he was leading me across, he knocked the bridge out from under... I think I screamed the whole way down... Infected is a marvel of gonzo, in-your-face, up-to-the-minute terror.”—Lincoln Child, New York Times bestselling author of Deep Storm and Death Match

Comic-book fun

The author warns you that there will be "violence, lots and lots of violence" -- and there is. Just when you think nothing more horrific can happen to the characters, it does. That said, the horror is riveting! I could not stop listening! Not even the author's voice (his female characters are particularly cartoon-like) will stop you. Actually, after a while, his voice becomes part of the 'mood' of the book.

If blood and gore don't turn you off, you won't be able to turn off your iPod. (I already downloaded the sequel but am saving it for a long drive I have to do next weekend.)

Def worth your credit!!

If you like the mystery, sci-if, horror, thriller genres then this book has you covered!! I save my 5 star for the truly epic books so my 4 star is most people's 5 star. This book starts off with gore and action and moves seamlessly from each intriguing character and plot line to the next as everything comes together for a crazy ending that will leave you dying to read the sequel! If you mix crazy epidemics, pod people, creatures , apocalyptic wars with bad ass assassins and funny scientists you get a taste of this book. I am very happy I found Scott Sigler, i started with Earthcore and was blown away I never heard of him yet, this series has started off amazing I am moving on to the next book. Trust me you will be happy you bought this book if your into the above! Only draw back is he narrates his own books. He is actually pretty good bad but when he uses a professional it takes the book to another level!

Nice Read....Its worth the credit

If you want to listen to a book that sometimes gets alittle graphic but still holds your imagination, this is it. You still have to use your imagination...which is good. It leaves you wondering..."Is it still happening?" You'll know what I mean if you get the book.

Interesting story

Where does Infected rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's ok, maybe even good. Really distracted by the narration.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The plot was good. Action kept moving.

What aspect of Scott Sigler’s performance would you have changed?

I think I would rather have had a different narrator. I saw the earlier reviews that had issue with his style. I don't consider myself very picky in this category. I usually get used to the each narrator's style within a few minutes.The problem I had was with this was his overall tone. It's hard to explain, but each sentence ends with a little rise in his voice. Almost overly enunciated, and over the top like a children's book reading. There were several times I got wrapped up in the story and then would just all of a sudden hear that tone or whatever it is and remind me he was talking. It was annoying and made me not want to listen to more.

Who was the most memorable character of Infected and why?

The character's voices were great. There was never any doubt who was talking. Much better than most in this aspect.

Any additional comments?

I have about an hour left to finish this book. I want to know the end, but don't really want to listen to it. I will though, eventually. What can I say.... I have to know. Not sure if I will try another in the series. Not right away for sure. Need a break.

Passable

It isn't going to keep you on the edge of your seat. Get ready for a passable story, written by a passable writer, and preformed by someone who shouldn't be voice acting. Scott admits as much when he says at the end he doesn't think people will ever stop joking about his female voices. Well, he has one female voice and that's a 50 year old smoker. Sure, he can change the pitch so it's a 50 year old smoker doing a baby voice, or he can change the accent so it's a 50 year old smoker who speaks English as their second language. In the end it just is always bad. All of his voices are bad. I paid for it, so I slogged through it. Was kinda so bad it's funny for the last quarter or so. Also, don't expect a straight infectious diseise story. It gets weird; genital mutilation weird.

Very good story

Author is doing own performance
So he's not your typical VA
Story was very interesting

Good but not great scifi-thriller

Where does Infected rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is the second book I've listened to from this author, Earthcore was the first and I would have to say that I liked Earthcore a bit more.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The plot is gripping and and intense so it makes you want to keep listening.

What aspect of Scott Sigler’s performance would you have changed?

I think he does an ok job, I actually like that he tries to do different voices for the characters, it helps to distinguish them.

If you could take any character from Infected out to dinner, who would it be and why?

One of the books main problem in my opinion is that most of the characters are very unlikable, most are either stereotypical assholes who treat everyone badly or they are know-it-all or are experts on everything and also act like assholes. It would be better with more of mix of character types.

Any additional comments?

Some parts are a little too over the top discusting when it comes some gory scenes and they happend very often. Here I also think Earthcore was better balanced. Overall I recommend this book if you want a thrilling book about a gruesome infection spreading and dont have a weak stomach.

A little over the top.....but fast pace.

This being my first Scott Sigler book I thought it was fast paced and the characters were well thought out for the most part. That being said I also thought it was a little over done and Sigler added gore just to shock instead of bettering the story line.

Lastly a bit of advice for Mr. Sigler.....please do not narrate anymore of your books, it is simply not good. Stick to writing.

Lead me looking to buy the sequal

Personally I think Sigler did a great job with the narration. the sythisized drama every 15 minutes was a bit much (I'm exaggerating of course, it was in between chapters, some chapters were just very short I guess) overall I would recommend. Oh and btw, there is a more in this series.

Holy crap

Well that was the quickest 11 hours of my life...i only stopped listening to sleep!!