Author: David Moody
Genre: Horror, Post Apocalyptic
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Length: 281 pages
Publication Date: April 13, 2010
Source: Purchased
Purchase: Amazon, Book Depository
Book Description:
A modern take on the classic “apocalyptic” novel, Hater tells the story of Danny McCoyne, an everyman forced to contend with a world gone mad, as society is rocked by a sudden increase in violent assaults. Christened “Haters” by the media, the attackers strike without warning and seemingly without reason. Within seconds, normally rational, self-controlled people become frenzied, vicious killers. As the carnage mounts, one thing soon is clear: everyone, irrespective of race, gender, age, or class, has the potential to become either a Hater or a victim. At any moment, even friends and family can turn on one another with violent intent. In the face of this mindless terror, all McCoyne can do is secure his family, seek shelter, and watch as the world falls apart. But when he bolts the front door, the question remains: Is he shutting the danger out or locking it in?
I liked the book, but wasn't a favorite. I like the concept of people turning due to ...whatever it was that turned them (disease). I liked that the survival instinct takes over and how you can recognize that in other people that have the same (disease). I didn't like how we went about killing those that didn't. They just saw that they didn't have the disease and said - let us kill them first before they can kill us. It was a kill first mentality and that's what separates the "haters" from the "regular" people.
We start out in this story with Danny working a dead end job and then coming to the realization that people are turning into killing machines. He is afraid to go to work because he sees people changing and he needs to keep his family safe from these people. There is a lot of complaining about his life in the beginning and how bad he has everything, and - just, well a lot of complaining. Soon, it's all over the news how far spread this is and how people should stay in door and make a safe room which they do and how people are just randomly killing other people. And then one day he becomes a hater himself and then he is trying to survive and get one of his children because she is just like him. He gets captured and almost dies but he is saved at the last minute and there are more like him that are trying to survive being "Haters". The book kind of just ends. So you have to read the next in the series to find out what is going on. Which I do have, but after reading this one, I am not even sure I want to read the next one. I might give it a try just to see if the story gets better.
I wasn't impressed with the story. It didn't grab me and say - HEY! READ THIS. It didn't even make me feel like I should grab that next one. I liked the concept of the book and although the writing was good, I just didn't love this one. Which is sad, because, it had been on my TBR list for many years. I love horror and thought it would be stellar unfortunately it fell flat as a pancake.
I give this book 2.5 of 5 stars!
About the Author:A pioneer of independent publishing, DAVID MOODY first released HATER in 2006, and without an agent, succeeded in selling the film rights for the novel to Mark Johnson (producer, Breaking Bad) and Guillermo Del Toro (director, The Shape of Water, Pan's Labyrinth). Moody's seminal zombie novel AUTUMN was made into an (admittedly terrible) movie starring Dexter Fletcher and David Carradine. He has a unhealthy fascination with the end of the world and likes to write books about ordinary folks going through absolute hell. With the publication of a new series of Hater stories, Moody is poised to further his reputation as a writer of suspense-laced SF/horror, and "farther out" genre books of all description.
Find out more about his work at www.davidmoody.net and www.infectedbooks.co.uk.
Connect with the Author
Disclaimer: I purchased this book on my own. No one sponsored or endorsed this post. All opinions are my own. All information on the book or author can be found at the authors website.
Sorry you did not like it.
ReplyDeleteBook 1 certainly is a prologue if anything, setting up the world and characters and introducing the cause of the "disease", albeit it's more of a genetic mutation.
ReplyDeleteBook 2 is more of a action filled journey, with much more going on and much more depth.
Book 3, arguably the best of the 3, takes a huge change in tone and setting due to the events of Book 2. It's a reflection on human kind in general and shows just how primal ee all are.
Man. I am sorry that this one didn't meet your expectations. That concept is one that would draw me in as well. I can totally envision anyone's personality changing in a situation like that. I hope that you enjoy your next read. :)
ReplyDeleteI can see what made you pick this up, but I am sorry it fell flat for you.
ReplyDeleteThe cover is very interesting. But after your review I may skip.
ReplyDeleteBloody cover, sad that it didn't do so well according to review
ReplyDeleteToo bad this book wasn't better, the concept sounds intriguing!
ReplyDeleteI do like a lot of post-apocalyptic books, but I think there are certainly traps that a lot of authors fall into.
ReplyDeleteThe story sounds very intriguing.
ReplyDeleteThe storyline sounds interesting but not sure it's my book. I can't stand characters that whine often. The book sounds like it needs an actual ending.
ReplyDeleteEven the cover is too scary and, well, bloody for me. The idea sounds like it has potential, but it also sounds like just didn't come together somewhere along the way. Thank you for not sugar-coating your review, and for giving us an honest take on what you thought.
ReplyDelete--Ann
I like the concept, which seems entirely plausible - as Ray Bradbury noted in a story, when temperatures rise and tempers flare, even the heat can turn "normal" people into "killers" - sorry to hear it didn't light your fire.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good read. Something definitely along the lines of my normal reads.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great book! I definitely want to read this.
ReplyDeleteI am super curious to read something like this. I have never read this genre. And the fact they put " He has a unhealthy fascination with the end of the world" in the authors description makes me want to read his stuff even more.
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds like a really fantastic read.
ReplyDeleteGuillermo Del Toro (or his agent) liked it enough to buy the rights. Doesn't sound like the soort of thing I'd like to get my teeth into though (apologies for the appalling pun!).
ReplyDelete(#BookReview: Hater by David Moody!! #Horror #SciFi #books @davidjmoody @StMartinsPress #booklovers #amreading) Now this book sounds right up my alley. Love the suspense.
ReplyDelete