The Passage

By: Justin Cronin

Narrated by: Scott Brick, Adenrele Ojo, Abby Craden

Length: 36 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

Amy Harper Bellafonte is six years old, and her mother thinks she's the most important person in the whole world. She is.... Anthony Carter doesn't think he could ever be in a worse place than Death Row.... He's wrong. FBI agent Brad Wolgast thinks something beyond imagination is coming.... It is. The Passage.

Deep in the jungles of eastern Colombia, Professor Jonas Lear has finally found what he's been searching for - and wishes to God he hadn't. In Memphis, Tennessee, a six-year-old girl called Amy is left at the convent of the Sisters of Mercy and wonders why her mother has abandoned her.

In a maximum security jail in Nevada, a convicted murderer called Giles Babcock has the same strange nightmare, over and over again, while he waits for a lethal injection. In a remote community in the California mountains, a young man called Peter waits for his beloved brother to return home - so he can kill him. Bound together in ways they cannot comprehend, for each of them a door is about to open into a future they could not have imagined.

And a journey is about to begin. An epic journey that will take them through a world transformed by man's darkest dreams, to the very heart of what it means to be human. And beyond. The Passage.

©2010 Justin Cronin (P)2010 Orion Publishing group

Brilliant!

This book was randomly set out on a table at my local library, and I grabbed it on a whim. The trouble was, right from the start I couldn't put it down (and wasn't getting any work done because of it!) so I was very happy to find that it was available on audio so I could work AND listen, without having to take a pause in the story at all. I understand the tone that the narrator uses, yes he sounds a little forlorn and monotone at times, but it sets the scene perfectly - no doubt I would sound exactly the same in the same situation!

I was also attracted by the length of the story. I love it when something isn't over all too quickly, and it held my attention all the way. I realise it's not the first 'virus outbreak' story, but I found it to be completely set apart from all the others I've come across so far. I just HAD to find out what happened next, almost to distraction!

I'm so happy to hear that it's the first part of a trilogy, though I can't bear the thought of having to wait until 2012 and 2014 for the next two!

Highly, highly, highly recommended. I'd give it 10 stars if I could!

Listen, hold your breath, she is coming

I read this book a few years ago and couldn't put it down, then bought the audible edition in preparation for the sequel "The Twelve", to be released in Australia soon. I expected to fast forward through much of it, just wanting to re-familiarise myself with the storylines, plot and characters. I have been unable to separate myself from my iphone ever since. Scott Brick does a remarkable job narrating this complex, deeply human, apocolyptic but somehow real story of humankind destroying itself while trying to save itself. The story itself is vast in scope and scale taking the listener from the beginning of the end, travelling on waves of , connection, loss and grief while twisting through the horror of isolation and desolation. The novel leaves no stone unturned in its intricate and amazingly imagined evolution to a time when just a few people remain. The reader knows 'she is coming' but those who remain are yet to realise that their safe place, their world (enriched by just the right amount of modernity to make it believable) is about to become very, very different....
I had rated "The Passage" as one of my favourite sci-fi reads of all time and it still is, but listening to it has coloured in and defined the story, made the characters seem like close relatives and I just can't wait to see them again in "The Twelve".

Amazing Story

WOW! I nearly didnt buy this audio book based on the fact that it seemed so similar to Stephen Kings book "The Stand", which i loved. I am glad i took the chance as it really stands alone. The story is utterly believeable and not a nuclear bomb in sight! Amy, Carter and Babcock get woven into the story along with the other characters you will get to know and the journey begins. Just be glad you can sit and look at the stars in this life, as in their world darkness is a cause of fear.

Awesome....so not a vampire story!

Ok, so it was the length of the story that first grabbed my attention; I do so love a long book....but only if it's good! Had I seen any of the marketing that refers to it as a vampire book, I probably wouldn't have even looked twice, as they're not usually my thing. I do like a good post-apocolyptic story though, and that's the other thing that drew me in.

All that aside, I was expecting something just OK. What I found instead is a very cleverly written, well paced and mostly believable story. More importantly, the characters are real and not too larger than life, although some aspects of the environment are. The scientific elements, although unsual, make sense. And for me, that's important. I have no problem in suspending my disbelief as long as the concept is plausible, which this one is.

All in all, it just works. It's not perfect, but nor can I find anything that rubs the wrong way, annoys or detracts. It's totally engaging and I find myself looking forward listening to it, yet at the same time, I don't want it to end. Imagine my delight when I learned that it was the first in a Trilogy? I am almost at the end of this epic adventure and have already purchased the second one, so it looks like it doesn't have to end after all.

not a bedtime story

Scott Brick, the narrator, has such an engaging manner it was a real pleasure to listen to him telling the story. As for the story itself it, was seriously unnerving. To such an extent that while I will often listen to audio books to help me nod off at night this story kept me awake and when I did get to sleep my dreams were full of "virals" and the like. Notwithstanding this a really great listen.

Bad Narrator makes Unfinishable

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would recommend the book to a friend, but not this audio book.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

I am going to go out and buy the book because I really want to read it. I couldn't finish this audio version because of the narrators droning voice! If this was a short story or normal length novel it might have been alright but considering the length of this epic story having a narrator who cannot emote even a little was simple bad casting.

I couldn't even finish the first installment. The story is amazing but his voice just makes me want to scream.

The Passage

This was fantastic, could not turn it off. I can not wait till the next book.

the best book I have read for a couple of years

there are two styles of books I like to read
first type I called it easy read, where the story line is simple and no complication, these books are easy to find
the second types is where complicated plots, stories and writing. I enjoyed this book so much I make excuses to clean my house so I can listen to it, because that only time I have time to listen to my audio books. It keep me so enthralled that it kept me from doing other things. The only fault with this book is I have to wait till next year for the next instalment. I also bought a paper copy as well to add to my library of favourite books.

WOW...just......WOW

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

This would have to be the best book I have ordered in the years I have been an Audio customer, and the very fact I am moved to write my first review should speak volumes.I ordered it, not really knowing too much about it, but I got it, intrigued to find out what these people have in common and I got lucky!.This book has it all.......and more
After about twelve hours, I felt a little sad, knowing it was coming to an end soon, having forgotten the length.To my delight, when I looked it up, I had another twenty odd hours of it.Excellent!...I thought. And yet I was still...ohhhhhhhh noooooo when it ended.Where did the 36 hours go?

My only regret is I cant give it more stars.Get the book.I would say its worth two credits at least, and for it to only cost one is a bonus.You wont be disappointed.As for me....next part please.......soon!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Passage?

This book is filled with so many "moments" I find it hard to choose just one, but the moment Peter and Amy meet for the first time really got me.I literally held my breath for them.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

The main narrator (Scott Brick) felt comfortable with the story, and brought each character so vividly to life that I could see them in my mind.Great choice of narrator.Brilliant.A good narrator can make or break an audiobook and Mr Brick nailed this one good.

Who was the most memorable character of The Passage and why?

The character I liked most was Brad Walgast.He was written as a wounded, jaded man, just doing a job who immediately had his heart touched by a little girl, and would do (and did) anything to protect her.

Any additional comments?

YES!..........Part two please! I'm in withdrawal.!

Fantastic Epic Story.. Really drags you in.

What did you like best about this story?

i liked the believability of the characters

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Awesome narration. really brings depth to the different characters and emotion to the story. He really engages your mind and its quite easy to sink into the story for hours.