Viral vampires roam post-apocalyptic world in Justin Cronin's 'The Passage' Austin American-Statesman

12.06.10

Justin Cronin is that rare non-spiritual luxuries the author of obscure literary novels who morphs into a blockbuster commercial writer without losing his incarnation.

The Houston author's 766-page, post-apocalyptic vampire thriller, "The Passage," is the first in a trilogy that sold for $3.75 million, extra $1.75 million for movie rights, according to Publishers Weekly. It's being launched with a 250,000-ape first printing and a jacket blurb from Stephen King saying "Read this book and the ordinary domain disappears."

For once, the hype is justified. Cronin has imagined a frighteningly believable future in which the human marathon has been nearly wiped out by "virals," super-strong mutants who come out only at night and live on the flesh of humans and other large mammals.

There's no romance here. "The Passage" has more in common with King's classic out-of-control-virus horror story, "The Stand," than with Stephenie Meyer's or Anne Rice's sexy bloodsuckers.

The book begins in a sound near-future in which Jenna Bush is governor of Texas and the United States is (still) fighting an interminable war. When a Harvard University biologist discovers a virus in the Bolivian jungle that seems to confer immortality and tremendous potency on those who catch it, the military takes over his project in hopes of developing a human weapon of mass undoing.

Source:

Romance Books About Vampires - News

Austen meets zombies in mash-up Online Athens - Aug 16, 2009 It's not so far-fetched to see echoes of generous, brooding Mr. Darcy in the teen-heartthrob vampires of the "Twilight" books and movies or the TV series and more »

Second serving of True Blood: vampire drama back with more bite. Vancouver Sun - Aug 14, 2009 She has struck up an ill-advised - and ill-sure - romance with the person she believes to be her soulmate, 174-year-old vampire Bill Compton, and more »

High blood pleasure Philadelphia Inquirer - Aug 02, 2009 Romance is the pulsating sincerity of the Twilight books by Stephenie Meyer, with the tortured love of Isabella Swan for the vampire Edward Cullen. and more »

Be dazzled in Destin: Twilight lovers to gather at library Destin Log - Aug 16, 2009 The intrigue is complicated by more murderous vampires - Edward is a “vegetarian” who only drinks animal blood - a pack of werewolves and the items that and more »

Vampire romance: mortal men no longer cut it ABC Online - Aug 12, 2009 EntertainmentwiseHe must be a vampire, who preferably goes by the name of Edward. Millions of women - and men - are obsessed with Meyer's unearthly romance novels, The Vampire Diaries is NOT Twilight, Producer Saysall 12 news articles »

'Twilight' Author Accused of Biting Vampire Story TMZ.com - Aug 04, 2009 I invent Jordan just wants attention brought to her own book and this is the way to get attention. Im a huge romance novel reader and Ive never heard of this Is Darkening literature?Stephenie Meyer's publisher denies 'Breaking Dawn' Euphemistic borrowing claimall 198 news articles »

The secret blood-sucking world of Mr Darcy Independent - Aug 13, 2009 With six Austen-interconnected novels under her belt, she saw the opportunity to mix romance with a "brooding sense of horror" that already runs through the novels and more »

Twilight's Flawed Faith Washington Post - Aug 02, 2009 More cynical souls release Twilight as a potboiler, a Harlequin Romance for 21st Century tweens and their parents. Though it improves from book to book,

Columnist Exposes His True Nature As a Vamp-Lover California Chronicle - Aug 09, 2009 China DailyYet, vampires as cardinal men in "girly books" and "chick flicks" are new, and it's a horrifying thought for most dudes who taste the genre. Vampires turn gentler with eye toward teen girlsall 35 news articles »