The Strain: Book One of The Strain Trilogy (by Guillermo Del Toro)
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Re: The Strain: Book One of The Strain Trilogy (by Guillermo Del Toro)
yep..im looking forward to this in spite of Entertaiment Weeklys less than stellar review..woudl really liek to know how much GDT contributed to it though
#3
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Re: The Strain: Book One of The Strain Trilogy (by Guillermo Del Toro)
EW's review for reference: http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20281090,00.html
The Strain (2009)
Chuck Hogan, Guillermo del Toro
By Jeff Jensen
Guillermo del Toro has been a busy man since nabbing an Oscar nod for his Spanish-language art-house fantasy Pan's Labyrinth in 2007. He helmed a summertime crowd-pleaser, Hellboy II, produced more than five movies, and began writing the screenplays for his next directorial effort, a two-part adaptation of The Hobbit. Now the Mexican auteur has coauthored The Strain, a sci-fi vampire opus that's a cross between The Hot Zone and 'Salem's Lot. It's hard to believe he found time for such an ambitious project — and after reading the book, it seems clear he didn't.
The Strain was co-written by Chuck Hogan, whose résumé is largely composed of mass-market thrillers. This newest credit seems to recycle ideas from del Toro's 2002 vampire movie Blade II and Hogan's 1998 novel The Blood Artists, whose freaky scenario has egghead heroes scrambling to hunt down a plague carrier. In The Strain, a plane lands in New York, nearly all passengers dead, victims of a mysterious contagion. Biohazard experts bust their brains for a scientific solution despite evidence to the contrary: blood-drained victims, neck abrasions, a coffin filled with dirt, etc. They are set straight by an aged Holocaust survivor who's spent his life hunting an ancient vampire that preyed upon the infirm at his concentration camp. But as they set out to stop the übervamp from turning Manhattanites into either food or foot soldiers in his grand war on humanity, you realize The Strain — far from wrapping up — is but the first chapter in a trilogy. There's more? Really?
The Strain is a competently constructed piece of entertainment, and I'll give it bonus points for shaking up some vampire clichés. No fangs here; instead, these creatures use — oh, why spoil one of the book's few surprises? What's missing in The Strain is the idiosyncratic artistry and the alchemical fusion of high and low pop that made Pan's Labyrinth so special. The novel could have used a little less Hogan and little more del Toro. C
Chuck Hogan, Guillermo del Toro
By Jeff Jensen
Guillermo del Toro has been a busy man since nabbing an Oscar nod for his Spanish-language art-house fantasy Pan's Labyrinth in 2007. He helmed a summertime crowd-pleaser, Hellboy II, produced more than five movies, and began writing the screenplays for his next directorial effort, a two-part adaptation of The Hobbit. Now the Mexican auteur has coauthored The Strain, a sci-fi vampire opus that's a cross between The Hot Zone and 'Salem's Lot. It's hard to believe he found time for such an ambitious project — and after reading the book, it seems clear he didn't.
The Strain was co-written by Chuck Hogan, whose résumé is largely composed of mass-market thrillers. This newest credit seems to recycle ideas from del Toro's 2002 vampire movie Blade II and Hogan's 1998 novel The Blood Artists, whose freaky scenario has egghead heroes scrambling to hunt down a plague carrier. In The Strain, a plane lands in New York, nearly all passengers dead, victims of a mysterious contagion. Biohazard experts bust their brains for a scientific solution despite evidence to the contrary: blood-drained victims, neck abrasions, a coffin filled with dirt, etc. They are set straight by an aged Holocaust survivor who's spent his life hunting an ancient vampire that preyed upon the infirm at his concentration camp. But as they set out to stop the übervamp from turning Manhattanites into either food or foot soldiers in his grand war on humanity, you realize The Strain — far from wrapping up — is but the first chapter in a trilogy. There's more? Really?
The Strain is a competently constructed piece of entertainment, and I'll give it bonus points for shaking up some vampire clichés. No fangs here; instead, these creatures use — oh, why spoil one of the book's few surprises? What's missing in The Strain is the idiosyncratic artistry and the alchemical fusion of high and low pop that made Pan's Labyrinth so special. The novel could have used a little less Hogan and little more del Toro. C
#4
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: The Strain: Book One of The Strain Trilogy (by Guillermo Del Toro)
I was just coming here to post this... I will jump into this no problem.. I'm a sucker from apocalyptic stories and this seems to fit the bill. I'm in.
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Re: The Strain: Book One of The Strain Trilogy (by Guillermo Del Toro)
I gave this 100 pages or so... And it took some effort to get that far.
Didn't work for me.
Didn't work for me.
#7
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: The Strain: Book One of The Strain Trilogy (by Guillermo Del Toro)
I'm about 1/2 way though this. I find it pretty entertaining so far, and has been hard for me to put down. Definitely not a typical vampire story. These are more of a cross between vampires and zombies. I'm also a sucker for a good apocolyptic story, so this is very fun so far.
#8
Member
Re: The Strain: Book One of The Strain Trilogy (by Guillermo Del Toro)
I'm almost done with the book and I've been very happy with it. Its been my favorite horror novel since World War Z. Never been crazy about romantic vampires, so I quite enjoy these not-at-all romantic ones.
#9
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: The Strain: Book One of The Strain Trilogy (by Guillermo Del Toro)
Finished this about a week ago. I really liked it and enjoyed the pseudo-science of the vampires. They are pretty nasty. Now I have to sit back and wait till next year to see how it plays out. One book a year? ugh.
I really like the rat exterminator but all the characters are fun.
I really like the rat exterminator but all the characters are fun.
#10
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Strain: Book One of The Strain Trilogy (by Guillermo Del Toro)
So I just started this today, and since it is a part of a trilogy, I am wondering if this book has a satisfying conclusion, or does it just set up part two?
#12
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Re: The Strain: Book One of The Strain Trilogy (by Guillermo Del Toro)
Depends on your definition of satisfying, I suppose.
It certainly ends on a darker note and sets up the second book pretty well, but I wouldn't classify it as "satisfying."
It's been a week or so since I finished it, so maybe I've forgotten something though.
It certainly ends on a darker note and sets up the second book pretty well, but I wouldn't classify it as "satisfying."
It's been a week or so since I finished it, so maybe I've forgotten something though.
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Re: The Strain: Book One of The Strain Trilogy (by Guillermo Del Toro)
it doesnt really conclude much and yes it pretty much is a setup for the next one..like most planned trilogys.
that being said ..Im really looking forward to the next one..
that being said ..Im really looking forward to the next one..
#14
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Strain: Book One of The Strain Trilogy (by Guillermo Del Toro)
I wasn't that impressed with the book. It doesn't have much of a conclusion but it does set up the next one. It's too bad, because there could have been a satisfying conclusion, IMO:
Also, I found the book pretty repetitive:
Overall, I'd have to agree with the aforementioned EW grade.
BTW, here are some promos for the book:
<embed width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/w0nk136ImlM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=pt-br&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" ></embed>
<embed width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OgFDxJdSpTI&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=pt-br&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" ></embed>
<embed width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rTwJUbAZL0c&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=pt-br&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" ></embed>
Spoiler:
Also, I found the book pretty repetitive:
Spoiler:
Overall, I'd have to agree with the aforementioned EW grade.
BTW, here are some promos for the book:
<embed width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/w0nk136ImlM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=pt-br&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" ></embed>
<embed width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OgFDxJdSpTI&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=pt-br&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" ></embed>
<embed width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rTwJUbAZL0c&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=pt-br&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" ></embed>
#15
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: The Strain: Book One of The Strain Trilogy (by Guillermo Del Toro)
I agree with the Ew review -- it passes the time, but doesn't even stick in your head like some of Stephen King's apocalpytic tales do. There's some interesting ideas but also some really bad, cliched writing in it. Very little of Del Toro's distinctive stamp on it, but in the end I've read many better vampire novels than this one.
#16
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Strain: Book One of The Strain Trilogy (by Guillermo Del Toro)
Yes, good but not great. You probably won't be sorry you took the time to read it, but it's not a must.
#17
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Re: The Strain: Book One of The Strain Trilogy (by Guillermo Del Toro)
Book two of the trilogy came out last week, and I'll probably pick it up, as I've read some positive things about it. I'll have to look up the first book in Wikipedia first to try to remind myself what happened:
#18
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Re: The Strain: Book One of The Strain Trilogy (by Guillermo Del Toro)
I thought I had forgotten a lot fot he first book but they do a pretty good job filling in the blanks in the 2nd one
#19
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Strain: Book One of The Strain Trilogy (by Guillermo Del Toro)
Forgot all about this... Going to pick it up this weekend. First book was slightly above average, but I hope the 2nd one will build on it.
#20
Re: The Strain: Book One of The Strain Trilogy (by Guillermo Del Toro)
First book revitalized my interest in the vampire genre which had degenerated into emo/romantic crap. I really hope the second book can stand on its own and does not fall prey to "middle book of a trilogy" syndrome, where the book is just a setup to the final act.
#21
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Strain: Book One of The Strain Trilogy (by Guillermo Del Toro)
Agreed. I thought that there would be a good summary on wikipedia, but there wasn't. I'm not that far in yet, but it did an excellent job of summarizing what happened in the first book, without cramming it down your throat in an obvious way.
#22
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: The Strain: Book One of The Strain Trilogy (by Guillermo Del Toro)
Just finished reading both books 1 and 2 in the past month. I think Book 2 flows a lot better as The Strain gets bogged down with all the survivors and what happens to them. Book 2 also has more of the Setkryian backstory which is the best part in the books for me.
#24
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Strain: Book One of The Strain Trilogy (by Guillermo Del Toro)
Attn New Yorkers - this coming Friday (Oct 29) Guillermo del Toro will be the guest on the one-hour Times Talk being broadcast 3 times during the day on Channel 75 (Cuny TV) on Time Warner Cable.
#25
Senior Member
Re: The Strain: Book One of The Strain Trilogy (by Guillermo Del Toro)
Great series and great second book!
A little question for those who finished reading it
A little question for those who finished reading it
Spoiler: