The Passage

A Novel (Book One of The Passage Trilogy)

By: Justin Cronin

Narrated by: Scott Brick, Adenrele Ojo, Abby Craden

Length: 36 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best seller.

This thrilling novel kicks off what Stephen King calls “a trilogy that will stand as one of the great achievements in American fantasy fiction".

Now a FOX TV series!

Named one of Paste’s best horror books of the decade.

Named one of the 10 best novels of the year by TIME and one of the best books of the year by The Washington Post, Esquire, U.S. News & World Report, NPR/On Point, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, BookPage, and Library Journal.

“It happened fast. Thirty-two minutes for one world to die, another to be born".

An epic and gripping tale of catastrophe and survival, The Passage is the story of Amy - abandoned by her mother at the age of six, pursued, and then imprisoned by the shadowy figures behind a government experiment of apocalyptic proportions. But Special Agent Brad Wolgast, the lawman sent to track her down, is disarmed by the curiously quiet girl and risks everything to save her. As the experiment goes nightmarishly wrong, Wolgast secures her escape - but he can’t stop society’s collapse. And as Amy walks alone, across miles and decades, into a future dark with violence and despair, she is filled with the mysterious and terrifying knowledge that only she has the power to save the ruined world. Look for the entire Passage trilogy:

• The Passage
• The Twelve
• The City of Mirrors

©2010 Justin Cronin (P)2010 Random House

Critic reviews

“[A] blockbuster.” (The New York Times)

“Mythic storytelling.” (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Magnificent...Cronin has taken his literary gifts, and he has weaponized them...The Passage can stand proudly next to Stephen King’s apocalyptic masterpiece The Stand, but a closer match would be Cormac McCarthy’s The Road: A story about human beings trying to generate new hope in a world from which all hope has long since been burnt.” (Time)

Scott meets King

If you like OS Card or Stephen King your gonna love this new series. Well defined characters. I swear it's like a different take on "The Stand" or the prequel to the "Homecoming" series. BUT it Cronin's own voice. BRILLIANT. As always, Brick is the best narrorator.

Exceptional Book

If you could sum up The Passage in three words, what would they be?

Awesome, captivating, and intriguing.

Which scene was your favorite?

I really did not like the ending of the book. I really preferred a different ending. But the ending is encouraging me to go on and purchase the sequel.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was moved by Lacey's, Wolgast, and Peter's love for Amy. Such a true and real experience. I am also intrigued with Alisha's loyalty to Peter and the cause.

Any additional comments?

This is an awesome book that captured me. I could not work or focus on anything but the book until it was finished. I sat for hours listening to this story. I would lay awake until early morning not wanting to wait until my drive to work trying to see/hear what would happen next. I was trying to wait until my next credit to get the sequel. But have decided to purchase it in a few minutes to see what happens next. I truly hope the next book is as great as this one. I loved the male narrator. Such excitement, sadness, emotions. I was truly within the story.

I love this book

I read most of the reviews posted before mine. Yes some spots where hard to follow but if you listen with no distractions it makes sense..I honestly love this book.

Not A Junky Thriller, Not an Intellectual Exercise

For those who hate to read a book without the entire series being available, take heart, I listened to this entire novel without realizing there would be, or seeing the need for, a sequel. Yet, I still liked it. It is not one of the all too common "Gee, aren't Vampires cool"! novels that seem to have saturated the bestseller lists, it isn't a thriller that describes slice & dice horror in such detail that you may as well attend an evisceration. The author (Cronin), could have spent more time on character development, especially on little Amy, who lives a long life and yet never seems to change or to overcome any of her childhood experiences. Cronin explores an interesting idea, although, as one reviewer points out, I Am Legend does the job in part already. However, this novel has a much broader scope. Where the idea that ALL of humanity would be easily (as in I Am Legend) destroyed really belongs in the 1950, 60's and early 70's horror genre, along with giant ants, brain-eating Zombies and mask-wearing Slashers. Cronin does do a good idea of exploring certain ideas. E.G., the medical abuse of prisoners, and its possible results (in horror). Or questioning the ethical responsibilities of Doctors and Scientists in Government pay. The effects of an apocalyptic event on survivors, especially if the the majority of the survivors are children. What is and isn't important to a society that must live as prey, and only in light. What will become of technology when those who understand the technology die? What will death mean to people who cannot be sure if their loved ones are dead? (Cronin here may have garnered ideas from the treatment of Aids victims in various African countries). All in all, it's both a great beach listen as well as a book you'll be able to discuss with your friends. One only hopes Cronin will aviod the deus ex machina of a suitcase nukes in future novels.

Gripping

I got interested bc of the show. I had jst finished The Stand (Stephen King) and it's similar. I shouldn't have started another apocalyptic book so soon, it got me confused.
Breathless moments of suspense and in some moments, it leaves you with a hole in your heart. Can't wait to read the other 2 books. If the network does it right, it can be as successful as The Walking Dead.

New take on an old theme

Just when you thought the vampire was over done. Loved the story and the characters and the narrator was fantastic. I can hardly wait to read the next two in the series.

Long but rewarding

If you could sum up The Passage in three words, what would they be?

Deep Detailed Rewarding

What other book might you compare The Passage to and why?

I'd compare this book to JR Tolken's Ring Trilogy. In many ways Justin Cronin includes the massive details about his characters. Including history to the point of almost questioning why he's going back so far. Just like JR Tolken does with the hobbits during Bilbo's party. Justin's Book also spans hundreds of years in the story line which gives you a real appreciation for that back story when elements of it present themselves.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

The narrators were really good. You really felt the other characters personalities come through. I have not listened to a ton of audio books but it seems this is par for the course. This is either fortunate in that I haven't had a bad experience yet, or just my inexperience.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was particularly saddened by the end of the preface of the book. I don't want to give much away but when the book moves beyond what you read in the preview. There is a moment you wished for better. This is amazingly tied into the end however, and that was quite gratifying.

Any additional comments?

This book is something that takes an amazing investment of time. 36 hours is no joke. Once I finished this epic story I felt so accomplished. I plan on getting the second book when I have more time to just, focus. Even with my busy life however I'd like to say I didn't skip or autopilot through any of this. Great story.

2nd read

love the beauty of this book. reminds me of a mix of the Stand and the Road.

Fan-Freakingtastic

People who have only listened to the first few hours of this book obviously didn't realize it's about 800 pages. Of course you're not gonna know everything that's going on in the first few chapters and the truth is the first few hours of the book are extremly well written character developement. I couldn't stop listening to this book!! I kept trying to figiure out what was going on and how they were gonna fight back against the virals. It has a very LOST type feel and the ending was just the kind of cliff hanger you'd get in a lost season finale, but hey there are two more books and i really can't wait to see where they will take this epic story. BUY IT!!!!

Entertaining

I judge an audiobook on one criterion alone - was I entertained? With The Passage, the answer is an unqualified yes. For a book to be entertaining, it needs many things - good pacing, engaging characters, some mystery, a great narrator and most of all, an imaginative and original story. This book has all of these. It is easily among the top five most entertaining audiobooks I have ever listened to. It doesn't have to be "realistic", as some have complained. It does not have to be "great literature", whatever that is. I just want to be entertained. Why do so many people hate this book? I have a hard time understanding that. Not to overdo the comparison with King, but if you loved The Stand, you will likely love this book. If you think King is an overrated hack, then you likely won't. Cronin is not King - in some ways he's better, in some, not as talented, and in many others, just plain different. However, I think it will appeal to the same audience.