The Passage

This book was great, but I am betting the longer version is much better. Solid character development, with enough suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat. Not the typical Vampire garb either, which is nice.

Not your typical vampire or zombie book, but very good nevertheless. A few reviewers complained about the transition 100 years later in the middle of the book. Did not phase me, actually I think the 2nd half is better than the first (actually more like 2/3 is in future). This is a pretty deep book and written very well. If you have read zombie/vamp/apocalypse book I would rate as this: deep writing similar to the Road (not as deep), good story but not quite as 'fun' as Day-by-Day Armageddon, so all-in-all a good solid read. Actually, a bit better than good. The Strain is another great vamp novel. 13 Bullets I did not like due to the focus on femininity and the reader was bad. So here you have it...give The Passage a read if you are a fan of DBD Armageddon, The Strain, The Road, or even 13 Bullets. Same would apply to World War Z and the other zombie books. The Passage certainly holds it own. A mix of the aforementioned books and a little of The Stand (not too much). So go buy/rent and enjoy! You will not be disappointed. I give it 4 1/2 starts, but rounded up so that others will not miss this great story.

I was very much engaged through the opening chapters. The narrator is exceptionally good. However, when the story zoomed ahead 100 or so years, it became dull. And it remained dull. The first part of the book features the virus as a central character. This was interesting stuff, exciting, captivating, fast-moving, visually rich, and intriguingly provocative. The rest of the novel lacks the immediacy and suspense of the first part - there are thrilling sections - but they are few and far between. What's left is an opportunity for character development, and this is where Cronin goes under for good. His characters are unabashedly crafted for film adaptation. They are thin, unifaceted, caricatures of stock action characters: the manly woman, who is both alluring and vigorous; the techy-nerd whose virility is more than it initially appears to be; the good-guy gone surprisingly bad, etc. These characters are moving paper dolls with stiff joints. Lastly, I was bothered by the lack of contextual cohesion. Life in the colony is portrayed as pre-technology primitive - at times the dialogue is two shakes shy of grunting. Then, from out of nowhere, Cronin will portray the leading characters as utterly modern. Just didn't work for me. As primitives they were uninteresting; as moderns they were ineffectual. This novel is an obvious effort to create an Epic spectacle, and I'll tell you, it desperately needs special effects.

Well, I chose the abridged version for Edward Herremm. I'm regretting that because I found it very good and wish I would have went long form! Can't wait to read the second one.

I would not try another Justin Cronin and/or Edward Herrmann book

I would listen to another book but I would be very leery to make the purchase

The performance was very good

Its not on my top 20 list

This book started out great, but the further along it went the more convoluted the plot became. It never reached its potential. It ultimately turned out to be a disappointment.

I found it hard to get into in the beginning, but once it got going I really got into it. The narrator is very good.