The Strain

By: Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan

Narrated by: Ron Perlman

Length: 13 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

The visionary creator of the Academy Award-winning Pan's Labyrinth and a Hammett Award-winning author bring their imaginations to this bold, epic novel about a horrifying battle between man and vampire that threatens all humanity. It is the first installment in a thrilling trilogy and an extraordinary international publishing event.

They have always been here. Vampires. In secret and in darkness. Waiting. Now their time has come. In one week, Manhattan will be gone. In one month, the country. In two months - the world.

A Boeing 777 arrives at JFK and is on its way across the tarmac, when it suddenly stops dead. All window shades are pulled down. All lights are out. All communication channels have gone quiet. Crews on the ground are lost for answers, but an alert goes out to the CDC. Dr. Eph Goodweather, head of their Canary project, a rapid-response team that investigates biological threats, gets the call and boards the plane. What he finds makes his blood run cold.

In a pawnshop in Spanish Harlem, a former professor and survivor of the Holocaust named Abraham Setrakian knows something is happening. And he knows the time has come, that a war is brewing....

So begins a battle of mammoth proportions as the vampiric virus that has infected New York begins to spill out into the streets. Eph, who is joined by Setrakian and a motley crew of fighters, must now find a way to stop the contagion and save his city - a city that includes his wife and son - before it is too late.

©2009 Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan (P)2009 HarperCollins Publishers

pearlman was perfect.

excellent story and Ron pearlman was the perfect choice as narrator. he nailed the accents.

Interesting Take on the Vampire Legend

Del Toro and Hogan have created an interesting take on the vampire legend.
Very good backstory. I think I would have liked more about Setrakian's experiences and Sardu's transformation.

While the interludes showed us some, I was much more intrigued with them than the main story.

Goodweather simply became dull and laborious to have to deal with. Zack seemed the beleaguered pawn; I'm still not really sure why the Master was so obsessed with Eph and Zack. Was that even explained? I must have missed it in the tedium. Fet and, what's her name? Nora? just -eh. Gus, just a misunderstood gang member and token tough guy. Tell me again why the Ancients chose him?

Abraham, by and far the best character, is ... (oh, well - no spoilers I guess. --I'm with Stephen King, though. "Spoilers?!?!? What's a spoiler? A story is to be read and experienced for goodness sakes. Spoilers???" (paraphrased)

As a whole the trilogy is okay. Not really worth revisiting, but just okay. The complete main story could have been presented in one book instead of stretched over three. Book 1, "The Strain," is the best of the three. I think I'd have been more satisfied with the story has I stopped here.

The narration was unremarkable but adequate. Nothing to detract or laud. Just a good well rounded read.

Like a whole new story.

I have seen The Strain show and I also have the comics. This is the first time I read the books. I can definitely say the story is still as intriguing! The book gives so much more the to world that it makes it feel like a whole new story. I also loved how Ron Pearman narrated, even though he doesn't have different tones of voices his cadence was just right. Plus anyone who has heard Ron Pearlman's voice would know his voice sounds great as it is and it's actu soothing to hear him narrate.I think he did a great job! I can't wait to read the other two books!

Whoa!

Whoa what a thrill ride! So Good highly recommend! Now on to book 2!

narrators make or break a story

pearlman was a mistake as a narrator the early part of the story it was just like he was reading a owner's manual for a microwave. he got better towards the end but I really had to push myself to stick with

Amazing first half; a sluggish second.

The first half of this book had me hooked. So much suspense, interesting lore- ah! So much to love. However, the second half left much to be desired, with chapters featuring side characters that either ultimately end up dying, or adding little to the overall plot. I may check out the second book, but its a hard maybe.

Great Story, Ron Perlman didn't seem too into it.

I really enjoyed the story....the new take on vampires was refreshing. It was a tad cliche in a few instances (divorce tropes, Van Helsing old man), and nothing was super surprising, but the writing was solid and kept me listening. I do feel that Ron Perlman either was under utilized or not really into the reading, as his delivery was sometimes stilted, and it was hard to differentiate between most of the characters (case in point, there was an exchange between the master and Eldritch where, due to the lack of speech signifiers, I couldn't tell who was saying what without rewinding). If they had spent a little more time getting him to change vocalizations for characters, it would have been better, as his narration is otherwise excellent.

a good read

It was well written and well thought out... I liked the read and liked Ron P as a narrator

Great story with lackluster reading

Great story you will enjoy. Ron Perlman is a great actor but probably wasn't the best choice as a narrator. Books two and three replace him with another narrator who does a really good job.

The story is good and the characters are deep enough to keep you interested at first growing deeper as their backstories are revealed through out the books.

Slow build

It is a slow book but Ron Pearlman is an excellent presenter. The story is a good take on vampires and humans and vampires and vampires. I don't think we will last.