Saturday, August 15, 2009

Book Review: The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro & Chuck Hogan


This is my review on the book:

Release: June 2nd 2009.
Writer: Guillermo Del Toro & Chuck Hogan

How I found out about the book?
Well… My eyes caught THE STRAIN in The Sun the free newspaper section book title bestsellers dated somewhere in July 09. . The synopsis read:

“ A Boeing 777 arrives at JFK and is on its way across the tarmac, when it suddenly stops dead. All window shades are pulled down. All lights are out. All communication channels have gone quiet. Crews on the ground are lost for answers, but an alert goes out to the CDC. Dr. Eph Goodweather, head of their Canary project, a rapid-response team that investigates biological threats, gets the call and boards the plane.
What he finds makes his blood run cold.
In a pawnshop in Spanish Harlem, a former professor and survivor of the Holocaust names Abraham Setrakian knows something is happening. And he knows the time has come, that a war is brewing…
So begins a battle of mammoth proportions as the vampiric virus that has infected New York begins to spill out into the streets. Eph, who joined by Setrakian and a motley crew of fighters, must now find a way to stop the contagion and save his city-a city that includes his wife and son-before it is too late. “

That was enuff for me to find the book at MPH.

MAIN CHARACTERS

Heroes
Professor Abraham Setrakian – The man who know all about The Master. As he has indeed fought with The Master before and waiting to fulfil his revenge. The one man that still a human even after encountering with the devil himself-in layman term-still alive. The man which his grandma-his bubbeh told story of the giant, Jusef Sardu and Jusef’s encounter with The former Master.
Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Eph)– The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Head, The father & the main character.
Nora Martinez (Nora) – Biochemist. Eph 2nd man. Er...Woman. Have a fling with Eph.
Vasiliy Fet (Vas) – The Exterminator (Pest Control) end up being Vampire exterminator. Join force with Setrakian, Eph & Nora.

Villain
The MasterThe Strigoi (Old World term for Vampire), He who dwell in the dark, Who spell terror, taking over Jusef Sardu’s body-a Romanian which disability spell Tall almost 8 feet.
Eldritch Palmer – The human that bring the Strigoi to the new world. The homosapian that depending on dialysis machine in order to live. Wishing by bringing the Master to the New World would make him immortal.

The Caught in between
Augustin Elizalde (Gus) – A Madre who was caught in the war between man & vampire. Will definitely play a big part in the 2nd book (Yes you read it right… there will be 2nd & 3rd book in this trilogy).
Kelly & Zack GoodweatherEph's ex (going to) wife & son. Lame tale of a hero with broken family ties who try to salvage whatever hope there is to save the marriage.

THE STORYLINE

Well if you guys are into handsome good Vampires. Then you better read Twilight Saga or watch The Sesame Street-Count Drakula (count with me ha..ha..ha..). Becoz this book tell the story of vampires-badass vampires like the good old days.
Vampire suck blood from human-Vampire fill its need to feed. But here is the twist. The human that his blood being suck out dry by the vampire will not die. But will become the undead-the zombie. Sucking your blood out if he find you in the night.
The based of the story are on a Group of Vampires-The Ancient. There are 7 of them. 4 lay in the Old World scattered all around the continent of the world. Namely Europe, Africa & Asia. 3 in the New World-The Americana.
Like all storyline- One of them are bad..greedy. This one are supposedly origin from the Old World. Always breaking the rules of The Ancient. The bad one-The Master. He roams free. Sucking human blood as much as he wanted. He will normally align with one human that will be his slave-his informer-his link with the world. This human will make sure that no one-I mean no one know about the Master or try to seek revenge or investigate about the mystery behind the Master killing spree.
This book tell the story of the Master and those who hunt him.
And He has reach Manhattan.

THE REVIEW

The story start as the synopsis say. Then from then grew on until the third day after the incident of the Boeing 777. The mystery on how all the passenger of the plane died except for 4 person. What happening to the 4 survivors. What the mystery all about. With a few interlude to understand more on Setrakian and The Master. And finally the chase to find The Master.
Great story line. Sometime it does make the hair behind my neck stand for nothing, man. Its been awhile since I read a decent book. I like mystery, paranormal or in bookstore terms-General Fiction. I take 2 days to finish the book. Bought it on the 12th Aug, finish it yesterday. What can I say is there will be a sequel to this book-the 2nd & the 3rd chapter of THE STRAIN trilogy.
2nd chapter title “THE FALL” schedule to release in 2010 and the final installment “THE NIGHT ETERNAL” in 2011.
I believe with Del Toro at the helm, there will be a movie on the way soon. And it will be great movie.

RATING

I give 5 star Out of 5. The book is awesome!

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