THE PASSAGE - Justin Cronin, narr Edward Herrmann

From the back of the BOCD: It happened fast. Thirty-two minutes for one world to die, another to be born.

First, the unthinkable: a security breach at a secret US government facility unleashes the monstrous product of a chilling military experiment. Then, the uspeakable: a night of chaos and carnage gives way to sunrise on a nation, and ultimately a world, forever altered. All that remains for the stunned for the stunned survivors is the long fight ahead and a future ruled by fear---of darkness, of death, of a fate far worse.

As civilazation crumbles into a primal landscape of predators and prey, two people flee in search of sanctuary. FBI agent Brad Wolgast is a good man haunted by what he's done in the line of duty. Six-year-old Amy Harper Bellafonte is a refugee from the doomed scientific project that has triggered apocalypse. Wolgast is determined to protect her from the horror set loose by her captors, but for Amy, escaping the bloody fallout is only the beginning of a much longer odyssey---spanning miles and decades---toward the time and place where she must finish what should never have begun.

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Justin Cronin...not sure what I can say about the author or this book. I was blown away to say the uber least. My sister read the book last month and told me she was sending it to me in audio format since she was sure that would be the quickest way for me to read it. She was that adamant that I absolutely needed to read it ASAP.

And I am glad that I bumped it to the top of the commute book list. It is an epic novel, bigger in story and scope even more so than the 766 pages it clocks in at. Don't let the page number stop you from reading this fantastic tale. I listened to the audiobook even though I usually stay far away from abridged audiobooks. I really don't think I missed much of the story by listening to this abridgement. I will pick up the actual handheld when it comes out in MPB and read it just to make sure and put this on my keeper shelf. Right next to the audio format.

I liked the first part of the story, the experiments and escape...but the absolute gripping part was the last two-thirds which is after the virals (vamps) have taken over and the humans are trying to survive the night and shadows. The story really picks up when the team of refugees make their way to Colorado, point zero.

I really can't go into any more or there will be spoilers..at least that's the way I look at it. I can't emphasize enough how awesome it is.

I thoroughly enjoyed the voice of Edward Herrmann as the narrator. He was perfect. Listen to the story, read the book, just do this. It's more than a vampire book if that is what holds you back.

A bowl of it's more than a vampire book...it's epic...diamonds......