Justin Cronin’s “The Passage”

A Must Read 300If you’ve been following my reviews, then you probably know I rarely check out a book on a whim. 99 out of 100 times I read a book, I have meticulously combed my way through prospective additions to my library to find that one that just fits whatever literary craving I have at the time. This week I deviated from my routine, and bought Justin Cronin’s The Passage (2010), the first in a planned trilogy, because I saw it in the popular horror section of my usual bookstore. After going in completely blind as to the general plot and style of the book, I feel safe in saying “Woah.”

The Passage can best be described as an apocalyptic horror novel, coming close in tone from time to time with I am Legend. Following many distinct characters over the course of several years, the book’s “central” plot revolves around Amy Bellafonte, a six-year-old girl who is being tracked by a mysterious organization whose favorite pastimes include appropriating death row inmates for “humanitarian” research. After forming a connection with agent Brad Wolgast, the unlikely duo have to avoid capture, evisceration, and unspeakable horrors as a chain of seemingly good-natured events leads to the greatest crisis the world has ever seen.

That description sounds like your run-of-the-mill apocalyptic thriller, but I assure you, The Passage is another beast entirely. For your reading enjoyment I am keeping the story vague, as part of the book’s charm is the mystery surrounding what is happening. I cannot stress enough that you shouldn’t look up any additional plot information if you decide to pick this up.

The writing found in The Passage is absolutely fantastic. Cronin introduces a host of diverse characters, ranging from the familiar to the imagined in their culture, and manages to make each characters’ chapters feel as if they were told in character. Not simply adapting dialogue, Cronin even goes so far as to change the way characters think and approach various problems, making The Passage one of the most meticulously detailed horror novels I’ve ever read.

This is not to say that The Passage doesn’t have any shortcomings. The Passage is much like Stephen King’s The Stand, incorporating all the good and bad that comparison brings. The emotional payoff for the buildup Cronin crafts is rich, but the journey there can drag if the reader is looking for some faster paced action early in the book. It all comes together nicely, but you may have to keep yourself reading through some of the beginning chapters of each Act. There’s one big lull in the novel, in particular, that could be difficult to get past. Once beyond it, the action picks up considerably.  All this talk of slow beginnings being said, I was just comfortable comparing The Stand and The Passage, so that should be indicative of the novel’s overall quality.

If you are a fan of apocalyptic thrillers, or frankly horror in general, Justin Cronin’s The Passage is the book for you. With clever characterization, terrifying psychological scenes, and a sense of dread that matches the best of Stephen King, The Passage is one of the best horror novel’s I’ve read in years. I will definitely be looking for book two, The Twelve, when I next visit the bookstore. I’m going to have to start trying books at a glance more often.

Source: Jake Depew, Assistant Editor