Justin Cronins' The Passage Will Keep Readers Up Well Past Their Bedtime.

When I first saw Justin Cronin’s The Passage, I was in Barnes and Noble.  I remember the cover art capturing my attention as I passed by the “New Fiction” section. I stopped and picked it up. I know I’m not the only one who loves the feel of a book in their hands, especially a big book; this book is about 800 pages. After reading the synopsis I decided to pass on. Another end-of-the-world book? Boring and cliché, and that was all I had to say about it.

About a month later, I found myself in Borders. I had no real purpose there, just perusing, looking for another book to read and hoping that I would love it just as much as my favorite novel. I came across The Passage again. I reread the synopsis and softened a little on my opinion, I guess I was just in a different mood that day. Holding The Passage in one hand and a special 50 percent off coupon in the other I walked to the register, fully realizing this was a complete impulse buy (something I’m no stranger to). I bought my thirty-dollar book for sixteen (including tax!) and left the store. When I got home I did something I very rarely do: I started reading the book I just bought.

When I realized the book is about vampires I became skeptical. I’ve read the Twilight series, and I’ve got to admit I enjoyed them while I was reading them. However, now I realize that those books are slightly overrated. So when I discovered that the book I then held in my hands was not only about the end of civilization, but also about how vampires cause the end of civilization, I began to have my doubts. But I pushed on, and I’m glad I did. It took me all of winter break, but I ended the novel with the overwhelming opinion that The Passage is one of the best books I’ve ever read. I haven’t been that enthralled since reading the Harry Potter series.

The book revolves around a botched governmental experiment where they attempt to create a super being with a vampire gene. Unfortunately, they don’t get it right the first 12 times and when the vampires break free, all havoc breaks free with them. The book then jumps ahead to time AV or “after vampire” where the remaining humans have learned to survive in a protected community. They know how to avoid and how to fight vampires. However, when a young girl named Amy (who we see in the time before vampires as well) arrives, things in the community start to become very strange. Some members are jeopardizing the lives of everyone around them. When it seems that all sanity has been lost, a group of humans leave the safety (however diminishing) of their home. Subject Zero, the first experimental subject, is, for lack of a better term, the leader of a majority of the vampires. The group intends to kill him in the hopes of stopping those that he has infected. The journey that follows is epic, exciting, and at many times truly frightening. I found my heart pounding during many passages and grew to love the characters I was reading about.

When the book ended, I just about lost it. For those of you who will read this book, I want to be sure that you’re aware that there will be a sequel. This is actually the first book in a trilogy. I did not know this when I finished the book and the end is left almost completely open. So when you read this book and reach the end, don’t panic, there will be more, you’ll just have to wait until 2012 for it to be released. But for now, if you’re looking for a book that will capture your intellect and your imagination, then look no further. The Passage will satisfy your craving.

Find The Passage, by Justin Cronin, now in paperback, at your local bookstore. He will also be in D.C. on June 1st doing a signing at the bookstore Politics & Prose.