The Passage by Justin Cronin
06-07-10, 03:42 PM
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The Passage by Justin Cronin
This book is generating a lot of buzz. Has anyone read it (or plan on reading it)?
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-en...s-1990207.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-en...s-1990207.html
Prepare for 'The Passage': blog, excerpt, viral videos
Thursday, 3 June 2010
Before Justin Cronin's The Passage releases internationally in June, anxious readers can tune into a fictitious blog, watch a series of viral videos, and read an excerpt from the post-apocalyptic saga that's being pegged as the summer's hottest read.
Coming in at more than 750 pages, The Passage is set in the United States after a security breach at a secret government facility unleashes the product of a military experiment, leaving behind a crumbling civilization of fearful survivors. The first book in a trilogy, it focuses on the story of one survivor, a girl named Amy.
The Passage's reputation long precedes its publication date, with Stephen King giving advance praise and Ridley Scott expected to direct a film adaptation. King, whose The Stand is a likely influence, calls the book an "enthralling, entertaining story wedded to simple, supple prose, both informed by tremendous imagination...read this book and the ordinary world disappears."
To pique readers' curiosity, The Passage is being marketed with movie-industry-like viral techniques that offer a wealth of pre-release watching and reading. FindSubjectZero.com is an extensive blog created by a fictitious computer programmer named Paul who writes, "I'm not [sure] how much of what's coming out of the media is true, but let's face it - if the disease is really spreading like they say it is, we're going to need to figure out where it originated." The site is filled with frequent blog spots, proposed initiatives for dealing with "the spread," and several Blair Witch-style videos under a tab titled "Evidence."
http://www.findsubjectzero.com
Stephen King also says of the book, "Read fifteen pages and you will find yourself captivated; read thirty and you will find yourself taken prisoner and reading late into the night." With this in mind, readers can find a 15-page excerpt of the novel at:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/30662242/T...Cronin-excerpt
The Passage is due out on June 8 in the US and on June 24 in the UK.
Thursday, 3 June 2010
Before Justin Cronin's The Passage releases internationally in June, anxious readers can tune into a fictitious blog, watch a series of viral videos, and read an excerpt from the post-apocalyptic saga that's being pegged as the summer's hottest read.
Coming in at more than 750 pages, The Passage is set in the United States after a security breach at a secret government facility unleashes the product of a military experiment, leaving behind a crumbling civilization of fearful survivors. The first book in a trilogy, it focuses on the story of one survivor, a girl named Amy.
The Passage's reputation long precedes its publication date, with Stephen King giving advance praise and Ridley Scott expected to direct a film adaptation. King, whose The Stand is a likely influence, calls the book an "enthralling, entertaining story wedded to simple, supple prose, both informed by tremendous imagination...read this book and the ordinary world disappears."
To pique readers' curiosity, The Passage is being marketed with movie-industry-like viral techniques that offer a wealth of pre-release watching and reading. FindSubjectZero.com is an extensive blog created by a fictitious computer programmer named Paul who writes, "I'm not [sure] how much of what's coming out of the media is true, but let's face it - if the disease is really spreading like they say it is, we're going to need to figure out where it originated." The site is filled with frequent blog spots, proposed initiatives for dealing with "the spread," and several Blair Witch-style videos under a tab titled "Evidence."
http://www.findsubjectzero.com
Stephen King also says of the book, "Read fifteen pages and you will find yourself captivated; read thirty and you will find yourself taken prisoner and reading late into the night." With this in mind, readers can find a 15-page excerpt of the novel at:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/30662242/T...Cronin-excerpt
The Passage is due out on June 8 in the US and on June 24 in the UK.
Last edited by Geofferson; 06-07-10 at 03:45 PM.
06-07-10, 04:37 PM
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Re: The Passage by Justin Cronin
This one really interests me -- I may have to buy the hardcover. (I have never purchased a hardcover, if I recall correctly.) Otherwise, it's likely at least a 6-month wait before the library gets it in, processes it and I move up the wait list.
06-08-10, 11:50 PM
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Re: The Passage by Justin Cronin
This shipped today for me. It takes me forever to finish a book (just finished Under the Dome sunday night and I've had that thing since it first came out) so I won't be commenting much on this but I really look forward to this one.
06-10-10, 12:05 PM
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Re: The Passage by Justin Cronin
The cover blurb makes it sound like an epic version of Stephen King's The Mist, which would be absolutely awesome.
But then I read some reviews, and it turns out to be vampires.
Fucking vampires.
Can we just retire the undead for a while? Vampires and zombies are so played out that it's only a matter of time before Oprah features a vamp-snogging book on her show (if she hasn't already).
But then I read some reviews, and it turns out to be vampires.
Fucking vampires.
Can we just retire the undead for a while? Vampires and zombies are so played out that it's only a matter of time before Oprah features a vamp-snogging book on her show (if she hasn't already).
06-11-10, 09:13 AM
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Re: The Passage by Justin Cronin
But then I read some reviews, and it turns out to be vampires.
Fucking vampires.
Can we just retire the undead for a while? Vampires and zombies are so played out that it's only a matter of time before Oprah features a vamp-snogging book on her show (if she hasn't already).
Fucking vampires.
Can we just retire the undead for a while? Vampires and zombies are so played out that it's only a matter of time before Oprah features a vamp-snogging book on her show (if she hasn't already).
06-15-10, 08:09 PM
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Re: The Passage by Justin Cronin
I finally sat down to get into this book the past couple of nights & it is absolutely phenomenal. The definition of a page-turner & extremely well written.
06-16-10, 10:30 AM
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Re: The Passage by Justin Cronin
This will probably be my next read after I get through Steig Larsson's Millenium Trilogy. Looks like an excellent book with the reviews to match.
06-22-10, 04:30 PM
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Re: The Passage by Justin Cronin
Just finished it and liked it a lot. Hopefully it becomes a series (or trilogy) like i heard rumors of.
R Scott will be directing the film version
R Scott will be directing the film version
06-23-10, 11:21 AM
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06-24-10, 08:32 PM
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Re: The Passage by Justin Cronin
Rich, the "jump forward" story takes about... oh, 100 pages to get going and it doesn't get as good as part one until page 477. But the last 300 pages are epic.
06-24-10, 11:27 PM
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Re: The Passage by Justin Cronin
Nearly gave up between pages 300 and 450 but glad I stuck with it. Made it to 550 today and glad I did as the pace picks up considerably.
06-25-10, 11:27 AM
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Re: The Passage by Justin Cronin
all these page numbers! i know it all as percentages since i read it on my kindle, haha. I wish the kindle would just fake page numbers or use ones from the hardcover copy along with the percent
06-25-10, 03:35 PM
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Re: The Passage by Justin Cronin
I personally think all of the mentions in this thread of the "jump" should be deleted. I knew nothing about this book when I started it, I had no clue it did that when I got to that point, & personally I prefer to find those things out on my own, rather than have someone tell that the story will jump forward in time. But maybe thats me.
That said I'm around 350 pages in & I too don't like the change in story, characters, or particularly writing style (although I guess this speaks a lot for the great talent that the author is). But I have no clue where the story is going & clearly it is of such an epic scale I'm by no means writing the book off. It just right now isn't as riveting as I found the pre-jump story to be.
That said I'm around 350 pages in & I too don't like the change in story, characters, or particularly writing style (although I guess this speaks a lot for the great talent that the author is). But I have no clue where the story is going & clearly it is of such an epic scale I'm by no means writing the book off. It just right now isn't as riveting as I found the pre-jump story to be.
06-26-10, 09:19 AM
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Re: The Passage by Justin Cronin
Well, I have hit the late-in-story spot where things really take of and despite my initial "jump" trepidation I now cannot put this thing down. Again.
My goal is to finish this whopper by tomorrow. To hell with nice weather...
My goal is to finish this whopper by tomorrow. To hell with nice weather...
06-29-10, 07:40 AM
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Re: The Passage by Justin Cronin
finished it, it's not the 2nd coming of the stand like the hype made it out to be, but it was enjoyable for the most part, I have to agree that there are a few spots that slow to a crawl, and make it hard to keep going.
06-29-10, 08:14 AM
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Re: The Passage by Justin Cronin
Met Justin Cronin last night in Denver at the Tattered Cover ... About a hundred people there, and he was an interesting dude, talking about the way he approached the vampire mythology, based it more in the real world ... Young guy, friendly and funny, with almost unnaturally straight, white teeth ... He said it would be about 2 years before part 2 comes out.