The Passage

In a recent article in Entertainment Weekly, author Stephen King mentioned the book The Passage by Justin Cronin (June 2010) as a upcoming must read. I agree, although I had to power through the beginning of the book as I felt a disconnect with some of the initial characters and scenarios leading into the heart of the story. I feel that about another 100 pages needs to be edited out as a few passages throughout the book tend to become a little tedious in the details.

The main premise of the book is a post-apocalyptic society after a "vampire" virus spreads through America. The beginning of the book deals with how the virus was brought to America and used by the government/military in virology experiments on 12 death row inmates and finally a little girl named Amy.

Amy, a young girl who is abandoned at a nunnery early in the story, forms a telekinetic bond with the virals (the vampiric beings), in which she understands them and also can control them.

In California, a community called the Colony has formed during the Apocalypse and has maintained and existence that has withstood infiltration by the mutated beings for several generations. In this community is a young man named Peter Jaxon who will ultimately lead Amy and small group of friends to the place where it all began and also begin the process of reclaiming mankind.

This book reminded me of I am Legend, with the vampire virology and the characters' feeling of isolation from the world. This book, however, allowed me to have a sense of hope that mankind will prevail.