Contagious: Disappointing Sci-Fi Novel Set in Michigan
Written: Aug 23 '09
Product Rating:
Pros: Alien creatures ("triangles") is definitely a unique idea.
Cons: Characters, dialogue, and settings are all pretty terrible.
The Bottom Line: I wanted to like Contagious, but Sigler's writing weighed down an otherwise decent idea. And then there's the name dropping and two dimensional characters...
lambchops's Full Review: Scott Sigler - Contagious
Have I ever mentioned I love, love, LOVE apocalyptic fiction. I also am a big fan of medical thrillers. Combine the two and toss in a major dose of Michigan geography and one would assume I would adore the final product. That is not the case with Internet phenomenon Scott Sigler's second novel Contagious. As much as I wanted to like the book, it was impossible. I found the novel to be very one dimensional, rather mechanical, and painfully drab.
The problem with books like this is that they need to be well written. I have read something like 300 apocalyptic novels. Whether the end of the world comes by nuke, by virus, by earthquake, by meteor, or by gigantic killer plants the key is that the authors have been able to assemble a cohesive, original book with memorable characters. Contagious has none of these (aside from a possible originality factor). Sigler may be popular online but I don't think he translates well onto the printed page. Oh how I wanted to like it...especially after having read and disliked the first, Infected.
Contagious is the story of a killer alien virus bent of revenge against the human race. They have manufactured a ever-changing type of airborne agent that turns infected humans into violent, paranoid drones. These drones are to help the aliens to create a giant glowing gate/arch that may allow even more dangerous creatures to arrive. Unfortunately, at least half of those infected wind up dead and a chemical reaction from the alien being causes them to decompose at an alarming rate. Oh yeah...and sometimes the hosts die by way of violent hatchings.
Sigler picks up his story with the government tracking down those unfortunate enough to be infected. They have a secret weapon, "Scary" Perry Dawson, who was previously infected but able to dig the creatures out from beneath his skin. Despite their removal he is still able to listen to and communicate with the same larger alien being who also controls the drones. The medical, military, and governmental officials who are charged with this job are of little concern to me as a reader. I wanted to care when certain "main" characters died but honestly I could not. Dawson (and possible his "partner" Dew) is the only one I had any emotion about.
But that's not the worst. The proliferation of characters and my lack of attachment are only the beginning. Contagious does not read smoothly. I'm accustomed to chapters jumping from one voice to the next, but Sigler does little to change the vocabulary and feeling of the characters. There is only one exception, and that is rather obvious and necessary. I could complain a lot more about the lack of creativity, but I have yet another issue. It's with name dropping.
The writer seems hellbent on making sure everybody knows where he is writing about. I got sick of reading the same city name in every other sentence. To add insult to injury, he is not accurate in his description regarding Gaylord (where much of the story takes place). Sigler talks about how rural, small, and quaint the northern Michigan town is. Unfortunately, that is not true. Gaylord is a tourist mecca. It is full of fast food restaurants, mini golf courses, gas stations, plazas, and boutiques. There is even a gigantic sporting goods store and brewery. From Gaylord to Bay City to the final destination of Detroit I have all the same problems. Sigler gets the roads correct (and is quick to mention them dozens of times) but little else. It is impossible to get a real feeling for the book's settings.
My complaints are pretty major. Characters, voices, and settings are important and if you get those wrong a book is toast. Even though I have to admit the actual alien virus is a good idea, it is impossible to recommend Contagious to anybody except for those individuals who follow Sigler's online work. This novel was the worst kind of disappointment.
From the acclaimed author of Infected comes an epic and exhilarating story of humanity s secret battle against a horrific enemy. Sigler takes readers ...More at Buy.com
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