The Deep

De: Nick Cutter

Narrado por: Corey Brill

From the acclaimed author of The Troop—a book that is “utterly terrifying” (Clive Barker). “Fans of unflinching bleakness and all-out horror will love this novel….Each new shock is freshly disturbing” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).

A strange plague called the ‘Gets is decimating humanity on a global scale. It causes people to forget—small things at first, like where they left their keys, then the not-so-small things, like how to drive or the letters of the alphabet. Their bodies forget how to function involuntarily. There is no cure.

But far below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, a universal healer hailed as “ambrosia” has been discovered. In order to study this phenomenon, a special research lab has been built eight miles under the sea’s surface. But when the station goes incommunicado, a brave few descend through the lightless fathoms in hopes of unraveling the mysteries lurking at those crushing depths…and perhaps to encounter an evil blacker than anything one could possibly imagine.

Upper Level Horror at the Bottom of the Ocean

While a brain degenerating plague called the “Gets” is wiping out the human population a possible cure, “Ambrosia” is discovered eight miles beneath the ocean in the Mariana’s Trench. The Trieste, an ocean floor lab housing a small crew of scientists to to study the “Ambrosia” goes quiet for several days. Luke (the brother of one of the scientists) and Alison (the submersible pilot) descend to to the Trieste to check out what’s happened.

Utter, brain-leaking madness.

The Deep is a tale of such gut-wrenching horror that I can only think of a couple of literary comparisons. There is a kind of invasive, psychological terror in The Deep that brings to mind the feelings I experienced while reading Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House. Also, the type of dribble-cup hallucinations the characters experience can only be matched in Stephen King’s 1408.

Nick Cutter’s prose are descriptive, emotional, and have the visceral texture of a rotten catfish run through an Insinkerator. The story, much like the “Ambrosia” is a living breathing thing that takes on a life life of its own. This is not your “fill-in-the-blanks” cookie-cutter yarn too often found in today’s horror fiction. No “Dick and Jane” prose or eighties kitsch here. This is upper level horror fiction in the same class as Peter Straub and Sarah Langon.

Thank You Nick Cutter!

Five Freaking Stars *****

Stephen King worthy!

One critic noted this is reminiscent of The Shining meeting the Abyss which is SPOT ON! One of the freakiest stories I have enjoyed in a long time. I have never read a Cutter novel before but he will be on the forefront along with Stephen King now. Brill was a fabulous narrator. Outstanding listen.

Ultimately a Haunted House Story

I love horror. It is without a doubt my favorite genre of fiction. I guess I just like all the different facets of fear; feeling uneasy, feeling to being straight-up terrified, I even love a good gross-out.

All that and more is here in Nick Cutter's "The Deep." Obviously, As a lover of horror, I've obviously read a great deal of Stephen King and I do love his stuff. I've read (or listened to) virtually everything King has ever published. Nick Cutter is an excellent writer. His use of simile and metaphor is exceptional.

Caution: Some minor spoilers here -

Despite the fact that the description of this book sounds like an apocalyptic thriller, perhaps akin to "The Stand", it really has little to do with a crumbling human society. It's a haunted house story that takes place deep beneath the ocean. On the whole, I loved this book. I was extremely uneasy and the hairs on the back of my neck were standing on end through much of it. Other parts I was wholly terrified by it. And there is plenty of blood and viscera for the gross-out fans, too.

Here is the only thing that I found difficult about this novel. I don't deal well with the death of animals in novels and film. It seems like "Do whatever you like to the human characters but don't kill the dog" is a rule that's no longer being adhered to in modern fiction and movies. Everyone is killing the dog these days it seems...including Nick Cutter. If you're an animal lover there is a scene involving a dog that goes on for pages. It's excruciating to listen to. I actually heard it when I was on my bike through my earbuds and I was literally crying as I rode. I think if I'd been anywhere but on my bike I would have fast-forwarded through it. I found it EXTREMELY difficult to listen to. And Cutter has done this before. There are several scenes of animal torture and death in "The Troop," as well. And while I really have come to love this author I find his depiction of animal torture and death very difficult to stomach.

That's my only caveat. Otherwise, I recommend this book wholeheartedly for horror lovers.

Creepy and Disturbing.

I enjoyed The Deep. It has elements of Stephen King's "The Shining" and "It", Clive Barker's "The Hellbound Heart", and John Carpenter's movie "The Thing" (1982).

Scary and Gross

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely, This book conjures up the most disgusting images I have ever experienced. It's a nightmarish fever dream.

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

Excellent reading. His slow and purposeful shakiness adds to the experience. He sounds like he's terrified and sickened. Perfect reader for this book.

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

None. I'd probably throw up on them.

Any additional comments?

Seriously sick and twisted story from the mind of Nick Cutter. His descriptive power meant to nauseate you is brilliant. This book plays on many angles from childhood fears to scenes of alien transformations of the human body. I am sickened and disgusted by his mind and I couldn't be happier. This book gave me a nightmare about a filamentous chord growing from my tongue like a rope that I kept pulling on like a clown with his trusted handkerchief trick, in a never ending movement of choking and gagging and pulling. This book will do that to you too. I promise.