The Passage (Cronin novel)
| Author | Justin Cronin |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | David Lindroth |
| Genre | Dystopia, science fiction, vampire fiction |
Publication date | June 8, 2010 |
| Publication place | USA |
| Media type | Hardcover |
| Pages | 766 |
| ISBN | 978-0345504968 |
The Passage is a novel by Justin Cronin, published in 2010 by Ballantine Books a division of Random House, Inc., New York.
Story
The first novel in a proposed trilogy, "The Passage" begins in the near future and details a post-apocalyptic world that is overrun by vampire-like beings that are infected by a highly contagious virus. What begins as a project to develop a new immunity-boosting drug based on a virus carried by an unnamed species of bat in South America eventually becomes the virus that transforms the world. The novel begins in 2018 and spans one hundred years as colonies of humans attempt to live in a world filled with superhuman creatures who are continually on the hunt for fresh blood. It debuted at #3 on the New York Times hardcover fiction best seller list.[1]
Plot
The novel is broken into 11 parts of varying lengths, with continuous chapters running throughout. The story itself can be broken into two sections: The first is about the origins of the virus and its outbreak, while the second is set 100 years after the infections, primarily following a colony of survivors living in California. Several narrative devices are used, including email, journal entries, newspaper reports, and other documents.
Part I. The Worst Dream in the World
The book begins with an introduction and brief history of a central character, Amy Harper Bellafonte. Born in 2012 to a teenage Jeanette, Amy's early years are beset with change. Her father, who was a married traveling salesman at the time of her conception, briefly returns when she is 4, but is eventually kicked out by Jeanette after several instances of physical abuse. Jeanette and Amy flee Iowa a short time later after several misfortunes, and end up in Memphis, Tennessee, where, out of desperation, Jeanette turns to prostitution to support them. This all comes to an end when a john tries to force Jeanette into his fraternity house for certain gang rape, and she shoots and kills him to get away. Knowing her daughter is no longer safe with her, Jeanette drops Amy off at a convent in good faith and disappears. Amy is then sheltered by the nuns; one nun in particular, named Sister Lacey Antoinette Kudoto, taking a special interest in as well as forming a mysterious and instantaneous attachment to her.
Elsewhere, the U.S. government is conducting a top secret experiment referred to as "Project Noah," which involves acquiring and transporting death row inmates to a secret military compound in Colorado for the purposes of modifying them into super-soldiers for the U.S. Army. These genetic experiments originate from bats in the deep jungles of Bolivia, which when they attack humans, can cause hemorrhagic fever in some, a super-human cure in others.
To recruit test subjects, FBI agents Brad Wolgast and Phil Doyle meet with pre-selected death row inmates and convince them to sign a lifelong contract in exchange for their death sentences. They successfully recruit several inmates including Anthony Carter, and a man named Babcock who murdered his mother. Usually proficient and eager in their occupation, however, they find themselves in a moral conflict when they are ordered to apprehend 6-year-old Amy Harper Bellafonte.
At the time of the order, Amy is accepted into the convent by all but the head sister, Arnette. Lacey lies that Amy was the daughter of a friend in order to delay the inevitable: turning Amy over to the state. Amy has spent a great deal of time on her own, thus leaving her a rather quiet, observant child. As Wolgast and Doyle drive from Houston to Memphis, Lacey takes Amy to the nearby Memphis Zoo for the day. But tragedy strikes when the pair enter the polar bear exhibit and the bears seem unusually interested in Amy. All four of the bears come up to the glass and Amy kneels before them, her hand on the glass, crying. She tearfully admits to Lacey that they know "what I am." Suddenly, all the animals in the zoo go berserk, and the zoo's visitors start scrambling for the exit, as does Lacey and Amy. Another visitor who was standing next to Amy at the polar bear exhibit, points the pair out to zoo guards, but Lacey just manages to escape a guard before exiting the zoo.
Just as this happens, Wolgast and Doyle arrive and take Amy away, even though Lacey panics, fighting to keep Amy with her. The two take off in their vehicles as the animals stampede through the parking lots and into the town.
Meanwhile, at the military facility in Colorado, a janitorial employee named Grey has long been assigned to Subject Zero. The prisoners enlisted by Wolgast were given a experimental form of the virus and were evolving into hairless, bat-like creatures—"virals"—with incredible strength and the ability to leap and move so fast they can barely be seen at times. Over time, Grey begins hallucinating, as Zero begins talking to him in his mind, becoming his "friend."
Meanwhile, Wolgast, Amy, and Doyle are picked up by the military, and are transported back to the compound in Colorado. They are separated upon their arrival, with Wolgast and Doyle locked away and Amy taken down to be dosed with the virus. After a few weeks, Richards comes to Wolgast—Amy is in a coma, and they're hoping Wolgast can be with her to help improve her condition. During this visit, Wolgast finally details his life before, the daughter he lost, and the dissolution of his marriage as a result.
Lacey suddenly arrives at the compound, having traveled miles, mostly on foot, to get to the base. Lacey manages to bypass the guards and gets inside the compound. As this happens, Grey is manipulated by Zero into opening his pen, where Zero takes a bite out of Grey's throat, and then leaves to let the other virals loose. The subjects begin to battle with the military. As all this is happening, Amy wakes up from her coma, and she and Wolgast meet back up with Doyle and Lacey. While attempting to get to a car to escape from the compound, the four end up separated; Wolgast gets Amy into the car and starts to speed out of the compound before nearly killing Lacey. She climbs into the car and Wolgast starts to drive again when Carter jumps on the car. Doyle starts running towards them, waving his arms to get Carter's attention, and ends up sacrificing himself in order to aid their escape. Before they leave the compound, however, Lacey tells Wolgast to stop the car, and she gets out. Wolgast turns as she is attacked and drives out of the compound.
Part II. The Year of Zero
Agent Wolgast takes Amy to a remote summer camp in Oregon while the rest of the nation is ravaged by the virus. The United States is torn apart by the virals and those they've infected. In 18 days, the military begins evacuating cities, while other countries rattle their sabers at each other, seeing America cannot protect their allies. In months, the virals have permeated both Canada and Mexico, and the whole world deals with the threat of extermination by the virals.
For a while, Wolgast and Amy live happily with each other, seemingly free of the virals in the mountains. Then, nearly a year after their arrival on the mountain, a nuclear bomb drops, and soon Wolgast is suffering severe radiation sickness. He had previously told Amy, pointing to the ridge of mountains to the south of them, to run if anything should happen to him, run to the mountains. She does, and Wolgast eventually succumbs to the radiation sickness.
Part III. The Last City
A journal entry by Ida Jaxon ("The Book of Auntie") in which she details the evacuation of children from Philadelphia to First Colony, a defensive community created and run by FEMA in California. Later on it is learned that Auntie is actually alive through the entire 90+ years of the colony being present. And that all her writings of her stories, thoughts, and experiences amounts to more than 27 books that she keeps. She also makes the paper that she writes upon.
Part IV. All Eyes
Ninety-two years after the outbreak the setting moves to First Colony. Beginning with a map and the Document of One Law that governs the settlement the daily routine of life is laid out. There is no contact with the outside world. Virus infected vampires, or virals, continue to attack, held off by lights that have been running off of wind turbines for 92 years and members of the Watch that guard the walls of the colony.
Part V: The Girl From Nowhere
Amy—only in her early teens due to the virus's effects of Very Slow Aging—arrives mysteriously at the gate. Having been given the virus she has many of the life healing properties but does not hunger as the others do and can travel in light. Her arrival coincides with the breakdown of the batteries that keep the lights going and the increased intensity of the dreams one of the original infected inmates, Babcock, places into the minds of the weaker members of the colony. The breakdown of the routine that has kept them safe their entire life begins to fray nerves and violence begins to surface. Realizing that the batteries are decaying, Michael, the technical expert, constructs an illegal radio and discovers an automated transmission that, after being decoded, instructs anyone who finds Amy to return her to the lab in Colorado.
Part VI: The Night of Blades and Stars
Over three days the colony suffers turmoil as Babcock instructs weaker minds to kill other colony members. Babcock slowly weakens the minds of most in the colony. The people grow weaker and anger makes the colonists act harshly when they feel threatened.
Sensing the breakdown of order and hoping to link with someone who can help the colony, Peter, Michael, Amy, Alicia, Caleb, Hollis, Sara, and Mausami leave for Colorado and the source of the transmission of the chip found earlier in Amy's neckline. They are headed for the secret military location where it all started for the worst. They feel that with Amy, they are safe. Their first night after bringing the journey from where they met up with Hollis, they decide to stay at a well-protected old firehouse that Demo built for his children in case they ever came out of the colony. The virals (first 3 then as many 6) appear that night but Amy silently keeps them away and protects the colonists. They are able to rest somewhat before they continue their journey again early the next morning.
Part VII: The Darklands
Venturing north and west they find a U.S. Marine Corps depot well stocked in weapons and supplies. Salvaging two Humvees they drive to Las Vegas, where they are attacked by virals. Sara is taken.
Part VIII: The Haven
Having been rescued from Las Vegas the band is brought to a former prison, now a colony known as the Haven. Lacking walls and weapons, and noticing that most of its members are pregnant women, the First Colony people feel uneasy but have no choice as Michael heals in their infirmary. Sara is found by a patrol. Finally they discover that the Haven has cut a deal with Babcock to provide four animal and two human sacrifices every new moon in exchange for safety. Meanwhile, Babcock is instructing the rest of the Virals to bring humans to the Haven alive. A few members of the Haven attempt to get away by a reconstructed train, which Michael gets to run. Theo, Peter's lost brother, is one of the sacrifices; they save him while the attempt serves as a diversion for the escape. The First Colony members escape, while losing Caleb.
Part IX: The Last Expeditionary
In the mountains of Utah and Colorado they encounter few Virals. Finding a farmstead, Theo and a very pregnant Mausami remain behind in preparation for the baby. The rest continue, captured by soldiers of the Second Expeditionary Forces from the Army of the Republic of Texas, Texas having broken from the United States decades ago in the chaos surrounding the initial outbreak. It is revealed that the man Alicia was raised by at First Colony, a mysterious man known only as the Colonel, was from Texas and had secretly raised her to be a member, including having her take an oath. She joins the Texans, while most of the First Colony leaves with the forces to return to Texas. While watching the movie Dracula the outpost is attacked, but the soldiers repel it. After an assault on a Virals refuge fails, Peter and Amy leave the Texans and head toward the beacon in Telluride.
Part X: The Angel of the Mountain
Finding the transmitter Peter and Amy encounter Lacey, the nun who had taken Amy in the beginning. When the virus broke out, Dr. Lear had saved her life by giving her his perfected version of the virus. Lacey and Lear had lived alone together in the mountains, until Lear succumbed to old age. Lacey gives Peter files on the original inmates and 11 vials of the virus. Babcock and a number of virals attack, but Lacey triggers a bomb that destroys the original military facility and destroys Babcock. The original infected gone, the others he had infected die. Alicia is wounded, and Peter, who loves her, gives her a vial of the virus, thus saving her life. At the farmstead, Mausami has her baby, which she names Caleb. Shortly after, she and Theo are attacked.
Part XI: The New Thing
Peter, Amy, Alicia, and Michael return to First Colony. They stop by Theo and Mausami's farmstead. They initially think that Theo and Maus are not there, but Peter finds them and their child alive, sleeping on the bed, and unable to explain their escape from an infected Galen Strauss. Peter and Alicia go out to bury the dog, as it had been 3 days since the birth of Caleb and the death of the trespassing viral named Galen Strauss (Maus' husband). What happened that night was that Galen killed the dog during the time that Maus gave birth. And later on that evening, late at night, Theo did think about the fact that he always LOCKED the gate to the barn and that a dog could not have simply opened the lock. So, he gets his shotgun and lantern and goes outside to look around. He finds their new dog, Conroy, dead. Then he hears a frightful scream from Maus, he races back to the house, but she and the baby (names Caleb) are gone and they are hiding in fear in the car in the barn. That's where Theo finds them and Galen, as a viral, throws him from behind. What happens next, Theo and Maus cannot remember because neither was looking.
Alicia, Peter, Michael, Greer, and Amy head back to where they came from, THE FIRST COLONY in California (Sara, Theo, Hollis, baby Caleb, and Maus head to Kerrville). When they reach First Colony, they find it abandoned, with evidence that they were not killed by virals, but by each other. Michael theorizes that like a bee colony, when a head viral is killed, those he infected will die: kill the queen and the hive dies. Peter theorizes that the leaders return home, as Babcock did to Desert Wells, and with Lear's files he now knows where they would go. Meanwhile, Theo, Mausami, Caleb, a pregnant Sara and husband-to-be Hollis leave to rejoin the Second Expeditionary with the files.
Postscript: Roswell Road
Written as a journal entry by Sara, she details the trip south from Colorado to Roswell, New Mexico, which serves as a staging area for the military's return to Texas.
Sara reveals in her writing and through this final stage of the journey to "safety" that she is pregnant with Hollis' child. She thinks if its a boy then she will name it Joe, and if its a girl she will name it Kate, after both her deceased parents. She also states that she should probably wait until she is reunited with her brother, Michael, before getting married. But she really wants to share this secret of carrying a baby with Hollis and she really desires to marry him as soon as possible.
Along the journey that is detailed, the humvee that Sara is driving with Theo, Maus, baby Caleb, and Hollis is during the nights, attacked on several nights by the virals. They aren't attacking the bunkers, but just the car. Which is strange for the group to understand. With the baby cries of Caleb all through the nights and days, the viral HAVE TO know that they are in the bunkers, but the virals don't ever attack. Finally, the damage to the humvee is too much. So Theo stays behind because his leg is injured too much and can't walk far distances. He saids that whenever they make it to safety to send a car back for them. The group, without Theo, has to walk a bit longer then they intended, but do reach safety finally. A military personal group finds them. And they also bring Theo to safety as well, until the night of the last journal entry by Sara. Then the book simply just ends. The end of document reveals it was recovered at Roswell, site of the "Roswell Massacre."
Justin Cronin has stated a release of the next book in 2012[citation needed].
Timeline
| date | Year | BV/AV | Colony Date | Sara's Date | event |
| Sept | 1974 | -44 | Brad Wolgast born | ||
| Jun | 1984 | -34 | Echols born | ||
| Sept | 1985 | -33 | Anthony Carter born | ||
| Apr | 1987 | -31 | Reinhardt born | ||
| Aug | 1989 | -29 | Sosa born | ||
| Dec | 1990 | -28 | Turrell born | ||
| May | 1991 | -27 | Martinez born | ||
| Jan | 1992 | -26 | Morrison born | ||
| Feb | 1992 | -26 | Baffes born | ||
| Oct | 1992 | -26 | Lambright born | ||
| Apr | 1994 | -24 | Winston born | ||
| Oct | 1994 | -24 | Babcock born | ||
| Jul | 1995 | -23 | Chaves born | ||
| unk | 1995 | -23 | Jeanette Bellafonte born | ||
| Sept | 2010 | -8 | Brad Wolgast married to Lila Kyle | ||
| Feb | 2011 | -7 | Eva Wolgast born | ||
| summer | 2012 | -6 | Amy Harper Bellafonte born | ||
| unk | 2012 | -6 | Ida "Auntie" Jaxson born | ||
| unk | 2012 | -6 | Grey convicted of pedophilia | ||
| Feb | 2013 | -5 | Elizabeth Lear dies | ||
| Aug | 2013 | -5 | Richards recruited for NOAH | ||
| Aug | 2013 | -5 | Grey recruited for NOAH | ||
| Feb 6 | 2014 | -4 | Bolivia trip begins | ||
| Feb 19 | 2014 | -4 | Tim Fanning infected in Bolivia | ||
| Feb 21 | 2014 | -4 | Bolivia trip ends; Lear, Fanning, Fortes escape | ||
| unk | 2015 | -3 | Eva Wolgast dies | ||
| May? | 2015 | -3 | Brad and Lila divorce | ||
| winter | 2015 | -3 | Jeanette's father dies; leaves Iowa | ||
| Sept | 2016 | -2 | Jeanette and Amy move to TN | ||
| unk | 2016 | -2 | Mall of America massacre | ||
| June? | 2017 | -1 | Brad Wolgast recruited for NOAH | ||
| March | 2018 | -0.12 | Carter recruited for NOAH, infected with virus | ||
| March | 2018 | -0.12 | Amy left at convent with Lacey | ||
| March | 2018 | -0.12 | Amy abducted from zoo by Wolgast & Doyle | ||
| March | 2018 | -0.12 | Carnival in Homer, OK | ||
| March | 2018 | -0.12 | Nuns killed by Richards | ||
| March | 2018 | -0.12 | Amy taken to Colorado | ||
| Apr | 2018 | -0.04 | Amy infected with virus | ||
| Apr 27 | 2018 | -0.02 | Wolgast asked to help wake Amy from coma | ||
| Apr 27 | 2018 | -0.02 | Carter goes viral | ||
| Apr 30 | 2018 | 0 | Amy wakes from coma | ||
| Apr 30 | 2018 | 0 | Lacey arrives in Colorado | ||
| Apr 30 | 2018 | 0 | 12 virals escape from L4 in Colorado | ||
| Apr 30 | 2018 | 0 | Richards, Sykes, Fortes die | ||
| Apr 30 | 2018 | 0 | Grey bitten by Fanning | ||
| Apr 30 | 2018 | 0 | Amy, Wolgast escape from Colorado | ||
| Apr 30 | 2018 | 0 | Lacey bitten by Carter | ||
| Apr 30 | 2018 | 0 | Doyle killed by virals | ||
| May 1 | 2018 | 0 | Operation "Jumpstart" scheduled to commence | ||
| May 1 | 2018 | 0 | Lacey inoculated with Amy's blood by Lear | ||
| May 2 | 2018 | 0 | Amy, Wolgast arrive at the camp | ||
| May 18 | 2018 | 0 | Colorado borders closed | ||
| Jul 10 | 2018 | 0 | Chicago overrun; CA secedes | ||
| Aug 8 | 2018 | 0 | Wildfire threatens but misses camp | ||
| March | 2019 | 1 | Bob Saunders arrives in camp, dies | ||
| May | 2019 | 1 | Nuclear bomb hits Oregon | ||
| May | 2019 | 1 | Amy leaves Wolgast and the camp | ||
| May | 2019 | 1 | Wolgast infected with virus | ||
| winter | 2020 | 2 | Philadelphia children evacuated to First Colony, CA | ||
| unk | 2020 | 2 | Babcock goes home to Nevada | ||
| summer | 2021 | 3 | Lear and Lacey get married | ||
| unk | 2035 | 17 | "One Law" established in First Colony, radio prohibited | ||
| summer | 2056 | 38 | Jonas Lear died of old age | ||
| unk | 2065 | 47 | Sanjay Patal born | ||
| unk | 2080 | 62 | Colonel walks into the colony | ||
| unk | 2081 | 63 | estimate | Hollis born | |
| unk | 2085 | 67 | estimate | Theo Jaxson, Mausami Patil born | |
| unk | 2089 | 71 | Peter Jaxson born | ||
| unk | 2089 | 71 | estimate | Alicia Donadio born | |
| unk | 2089 | 71 | Sara Fisher born | ||
| unk | 2092 | 74 | Michael Fisher born | ||
| unk | 2095 | 77 | "Dark Night", Alica adopted by Colonel | ||
| unk | 2095 | 77 | Caleb Jones born | ||
| unk | 2100 | 82 | Town of Homer, OK found then lost by Army | ||
| unk | 2103 | 85 | Time of the "Long Rides" | ||
| unk | 2104 | 86 | Last of the "Long Rides", Willem died, Demo sees Amy | ||
| winter | 2105 | 87 | Demo Jaxson disappears | ||
| unk | 2106 | 88 | Prudence Jaxson dies | ||
| unk | 2109 | 91 | Maus marries Galen Straus | ||
| Jun | 2110 | 92 | Maus and Theo become pregnant | ||
| Aug 9 | 2110 | 92 | Day 48 | Zander turns viral, Caleb hides in tower | |
| Aug 12 | 2110 | 92 | Day 51 | Maint party departs to power station | |
| Aug 12 | 2110 | 92 | Day 51 | Zander killed | |
| Aug 18 | 2110 | 92 | Day 57 | Main party leaves power station, burns library | |
| Aug 18 | 2110 | 92 | Day 57 | Theo Jaxson abducted by virals | |
| Aug 18 | 2110 | 92 | Day 57 | Peter sees Amy in the mall | |
| Aug 18 | 2110 | 92 | Day 57 | Peter starts 7 day Mercy watch | |
| Aug 21 | 2110 | 92 | Day 60 | Michael hears Amy over radio | |
| Aug 25 | 2110 | 92 | Day 64 | Peter ends mercy watch, Theo assumed dead | |
| Aug 26 | 2110 | 92 | Day 65 | Amy arrives at First Colony, Colonel dies, Arlo dies, Finn abducted | |
| Aug 26 | 2110 | 92 | Day 66 | Caleb arrested, Alicia fired, Amy wakes up | |
| Aug 26 | 2110 | 92 | Day 66 | Michael finds Amy's transmitter | |
| Aug 27 | 2110 | 92 | Day 67 | Night of Blades and Stars | |
| Aug 28 | 2110 | 92 | Day 68 | Alicia arrested | |
| Aug 28 | 2110 | 92 | Day 68 | Michael accesses Amy's transmitter data | |
| Aug 28 | 2110 | 92 | Day 68 | Colony attacked by virals | |
| Aug 29 | 2110 | 92 | Day 69 | Peter, Alicia, Michael, Sara, Maus, Caleb, Amy flee the colony as outcasts | |
| Aug 29 | 2110 | 92 | Day 69 | Elton, Mar put outside wall by colonists | |
| Aug 29 | 2110 | 92 | Day 69 | Galen and party travel to power station; all killed except Galen who is infected | |
| Aug 29 | 2110 | 92 | Day 69 | Outcasts reach the power station, Hollis joins them | |
| Aug 29 | 2110 | 92 | Day 69 | Outcasts reach Joshua Valley fire station | |
| Aug 30 | 2110 | 92 | Day 70 | Outcast reach the bunker (29Palms) | |
| Sept | 2110 | 92 | Light go out at the colony, Auntie dies, Gloria Patel dies | ||
| Sep 18 | 2110 | 92 | Day 88 | Day 18 | Outcasts leave the bunker and arrive in Kelso Depot |
| Sep 19 | 2110 | 92 | Day 89 | Day 19 | Outcasts arrive in Las Vegas |
| Sep 19 | 2110 | 92 | Day 89 | Day 19 | Sara abducted by virals |
| Sep 19 | 2110 | 92 | Day 89 | Day 19 | Outcasts taken in van to the Haven |
| Sep 20 | 2110 | 92 | Day 90 | Day 20 | Outcasts arrive in the Haven |
| Sep 21 | 2110 | 92 | Day 91 | Day 21 | Sara recovered from Las Vegas |
| Sep 22 | 2110 | 92 | Day 92 | Day 22 | Haven Party |
| Sep 23 | 2110 | 92 | Day 93 | Day 23 | Michael wakes up, taken to train |
| Sep 23 | 2110 | 92 | Day 93 | Day 23 | New Moon. Theo rescued, Finn dies in the ring |
| Sep 23 | 2110 | 92 | Day 93 | Day 23 | Outcasts join Haveners to kill Babcock then escape on train |
| Sep 24 | 2110 | 92 | Day 94 | Day 24 | Jude killed, Caleb died |
| Sep 25 | 2110 | 92 | Day 95 | Day 25 | Olson abandons outcasts |
| Oct 1 | 2110 | 92 | Day 101 | Day 31 | Outcasts reach Caliente, NV |
| Oct 6 | 2110 | 92 | Day 106 | Day 36 | Wildfires |
| Oct 18 | 2110 | 92 | Day 118 | Day 48 | Outcasts reach Emery, UT |
| Oct 23 | 2110 | 92 | Day 123 | Day 53 | Outcasts find the farmstead in Moab, UT |
| Oct 29 | 2110 | 92 | Day 129 | Day 59 | Outcasts leave the farmstead, Theo & Maus remain behind |
| Nov 6 | 2110 | 92 | Day 137 | Day 67 | Outcasts reach Paradox, CO |
| Nov 12 | 2110 | 92 | Day 143 | Day 73 | Outcasts captured by 2nd expeditionary |
| Nov 12 | 2110 | 92 | Day 143 | Day 73 | Alicia joins the 2nd expeditionary |
| Nov 17 | 2110 | 92 | Day 148 | Day 78 | Movie night at the garrison |
| Nov | 2110 | 92 | Theo finds Conroy and human footprints in the barn | ||
| Nov 18 | 2110 | 92 | Day 149 | Day 79 | Army attempts bombing of viral "mine" |
| Nov 20 | 2110 | 92 | Day 151 | Day 81 | Alicia returns from failed bombing raid |
| Nov 23 | 2110 | 92 | Day 154 | Day 84 | Peter & Amy leave the garrison; army heads south w/ Alicia, Sara, Hollis, Michael |
| Nov 24 | 2110 | 92 | Day 155 | Day 85 | Alicia, Sara, Hollis, Michael, Greer go to help Peter & Amy |
| Nov 24 | 2110 | 92 | Day 155 | Day 85 | Peter and Amy find Lacey on the mountain |
| Nov 24 | 2110 | 92 | Day 155 | Day 85 | Peter reads the NOAH files |
| Nov 25 | 2110 | 92 | Day 156 | Day 86 | Lacey gives Peter 11 vials of Amy's blood |
| Nov 25 | 2110 | 92 | Day 156 | Day 86 | Peter & Amy find Alicia, Sara, Hollis, Michael, Greer |
| Nov 25 | 2110 | 92 | Day 156 | Day 86 | Alicia is infected, later inoculated with Amy's blood |
| Nov 25 | 2110 | 92 | Day 156 | Day 86 | Lacey kills Babcock; Amy helps virals die |
| Nov 27 | 2110 | 92 | Day 158 | Day 88 | Alicia wakes up as hybrid viral |
| Mar 16 | 2111 | 93 | Day 267 | Day 197 | Peter, et al. leave the mountain |
| Mar 17 | 2111 | 93 | Day 268 | Day 198 | Peter, et al. reach the garrison |
| Mar 23 | 2111 | 93 | Day 274 | Day 204 | Theo & Maus have "baby Caleb", attacked by "viral Galen", rescued by mystery person |
| Mar 26 | 2111 | 93 | Day 277 | Day 207 | Peter, et al. reach the farmstead in Moab, UT |
| Apr | 2111 | 93 | Day 304 | Day 234 | Amy destroys the vials of her blood |
| May 23 | 2111 | 93 | Day 335 | Day 265 | Hollis, Sara, Theo, Maus, baby Caleb leave farmstead headed for Roswell, NM |
| May 23 | 2111 | 93 | Day 335 | Day 265 | Peter, Amy, Michael, Alicia, Greer leave farmstead headed for the colony |
| May 26 | 2111 | 93 | Day 338 | Day 268 | Hollis, Sara, Theo, Maus, baby Caleb enter NM |
| May 28 | 2111 | 93 | Day 340 | Day 270 | Hollis, Sara, Theo, Maus, baby Caleb reach Socorro |
| May 31 | 2111 | 93 | Day 343 | Day 273 | Hollis, Sara, Theo, Maus, baby Caleb followed by virals |
| Jun 2 | 2111 | 93 | Day 345 | Day 275 | Hollis, Sara, Theo, Maus, baby Caleb reach Roswell; end of Sara's journal |
| Jul 21 | 2111 | 93 | estimate | Peter, Amy, Michael, Alicia, Greer arrive at the colony | |
| Jul 22 | 2111 | 93 | estimate | Wolgast comes to Amy | |
Characters
Main Character
Amy Harper Bellafonte – Abandoned by her mother at age 6, she is given the final version of the virus. When she comes to First Colony she still looks like a teenager and has amazing healing properties. Amy only talks through her mind for a period, telepathically. She can also communicate with animals and the virals. It is also known that the Twelve and Zero know of her, and seem to be searching for her. Babcock even seems to be somewhat afraid of her. It is possible she has a love for Peter, as she kisses him on the cheek at one point. Amy also only chooses to speak with him when she arrives at First Colony.
Before Virus Characters
Brad Wolgast – FBI agent whose job is to procure people, mostly death row inmates, to be used as experimental subjects by the Government and/or Military agents experimenting with the virus (possibly United States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), the Homeland Security Agency, or the National Security Agency (NSA)). Eventually rescues Amy and flees to an abandoned summer camp in Oregon, where they wait out the end of the world. When a nuclear bomb explodes within range of Wolgast and Amy, Wolgast is believed to have died from the fallout. He is, however, shown to be a viral at the end of the book, as he embraces Amy when she calls for him to come to her. Alicia observes this from the wall, but its a secret that she will keep for Amy. Wolgast has and continues to love Amy.
Doyle – Wolgast's partner, who objects to Wolgast's attempts to escape with Amy initially, but eventually joins Wolgast in attempting to turn themselves in to civilian police. Doyle also helps Wolgast and Amy escape the Colorado compound. Doyle is killed by Carter in the escape.
Lacey – Sister Lacey Antoinette Kudoto, a Sierra Leone-born nun who ends up in a convent in Memphis, Tennessee. Cares for Amy during her brief stay at the convent, and then makes a pilgrimage to the Colorado compound. Waits at the Colorado compound until Amy and Peter arrive 92 years later.
Grey – A sweeper who works in the Colorado compound, he is urged by Subject Zero to open the viral's cells to set them loose. Grey is a convicted pedophile, made docile with regular Depo-Provera hormone injections as part of his probation condition, and whom Zero convinces telepathically to get close enough to Zero. Zero bites Grey on the shoulder, and he is seen by Wolgast and Amy when they escape the facility stumbling through the hallways, blood pouring out of the wound. It is assumed (although not explained) that he has become a viral due to bite.
First Colony Characters
Peter Jaxon – Theo's younger brother, who leaves with the other First Colony members for Colorado. After living in his brother's shadow his entire life, he realizes that his mother viewed him as the stronger of the two. Amy initially communicates with him telepathically until she remembers how to speak. Over the course of the book his personality darkens, his mounting responsibilities weighing heavy on his mind. He has a love for Alicia Donadio, who trusts him implicitly. In the end, he tries to infect himself with the virus in an attempt to more effectively fight off the other main virals but is stopped by Amy.
Theo Jaxon – Peter's older brother, the one whom Michael initially confides in about the colony's failing power source. Trying to live up to his father's image, he comes to realize he does not want to be a hero but instead settle down. For a time he is unaware that Mausami is carrying his child. When he, Alicia, Peter, and Caleb flee from chasing Virals, he is taken in the mall but later found alive at the Haven compound. He escapes with the First Colony apostles and stays at a house with Mausami to raise their child.
Alicia Donadio – Nicknamed "Lish," Alicia is a tough and sometimes reckless woman who was raised by the Colonel after the events of Dark Night made her an orphan. She has an incredible aptitude for combat with a history of taking out 3 virals at once. When Amy arrives at the colony, Alicia jumps over the wall to retrieve her and bring her to safety amidst a group of bloodthirsty virals; she is later persecuted for this seeming act of bravery, as her actions result in the death of a revered member of the colony. After this, she travels with the Apostles. Alicia is in love with Peter; his feelings are mutual. When she is fatally wounded in the battle with Babcock's Many, Peter infects her with the virus, which makes her abnormally strong and fast, although she is unable to communicate with the virals as Amy can.
Michael Fisher – Sara's brother, a talented technician nicknamed "Circuit" and later, "Lugnut," who often finds himself butting heads with Alicia. He decodes a radio signal sending a continuous message to bring Amy back to Colorado if anyone finds her, spurring an expedition there; Peter accompanies him. Over the course of their journey, Michael becomes noticeably braver and ends up aiding Peter in a deadly mission to kill the other virals.
Sara Fisher – Michael's sister, and a nurse. She is in love with Peter, but it is an unrequited love. She tends to Amy when she is first brought to the colony and later joins the Apostles. When they are in Las Vegas, she is taken by the virals. She goes to the Colorado compound with the rest of the Apostles, but ends up heading to Roswell. At the end of the book, it is known that Sara is pregnant with Hollis's child. Her fate is unknown, but her journal is found at the site of the Roswell Massacre.
Hollis Wilson – Twin brother of Arlo, he rode with Theo and Peter's father on long expeditions years before and has experience beyond First Colony. When Arlo was turned, Hollis was forced to kill him in order to protect the Sanctuary. After this, he goes with the Apostles. Has a relationship with Sara and is the father of the child in which Sara is impregnated.
Mausami Patal – The daughter of household Sanjay Patal and Gloria Patal. She loves Theo and carries his child but marries Galen Strauss in an attempt to make him jealous. After Theo's apparent death, she decides to leave First Colony and ends up traveling with the Apostles.
Sanjay Patal – The head of the household in First Colony, he is one of the weaker-minded inhabitants and is the first to foreshadow Babcock's plans. As a child, Sanjay had thoughts of Babcock as well as a recurring dream. During the events of The Night of Blades and Stars, he kills Old Chou under Babcock's influence. He hates the Jaxon family and is relieved when his daughter chooses not to marry Theo. He is presumed killed or infected when the lights of First Colony were turned off.
Caleb Jones – First found being chased by virals, Caleb travels back to First Colony, and is the one who opens the gate for Amy and Alicia. He is often called "Hightop" due to his shoes. He and Alicia have a special bond, as both of them were orphaned by the events of Dark Night. He is a talented mechanic who travels with the apostles until he meets an untimely end at the hands of Jude in Caliente, NV.
Galen Strauss – A member of the First Colony watch, Galen experiences progressive loss of vision—he suffers from severe glaucoma, which renders him almost entirely blind. He marries Mausami, believing the child she carries is his. He is eventually revealed to have been turned into a viral and kills Theo and Mausami's dog before being killed himself.
The Twelve
Zero – Though he is not counted among the Twelve, Zero is responsible for the original outbreak, manipulating Grey into releasing him and the other captive virals. Formerly known as Tim Fanning, he was one of the scientists on the original expedition to research the virus in Bolivia and the first to turn into a "viral." While influencing Grey, he shares his personal memories with him, many of which are sexual escapades with women. Following the outbreak, his presence is felt but never seen.
Babcock – The main viral of the novel, Babcock was a death row inmate convicted of murdering his own abusive mother before becoming infected. He is described as being much larger than the other virals and possesses the ability to influence weak-willed people. While on death row, it was widely whispered that he was dangerously insane and could never stop talking; as a viral he retains this unnerving quirk, never ceasing to make clicking and gurgling noises. Babcock manipulates the weaker-minded First Colony members to kill each other over a three-night span dubbed "The Night of Blades and Stars." Some of those members had been experiencing Babcock's influence since they were children but did not know it. He controls a large group of virals known as The Many as well as controlling some of the citizens of the Haven, and takes human and cattle sacrifices from them every New Moon.
Carter – A death row convict taken by Wolgast at the beginning of the novel. Convicted of drowning his employer, Carter is the only subject who is innocent of his crime. While human, he performed yardwork for a young suburban mother who one day became mentally unstable; while verbally and physically attacking him with no premeditation, they both fell into her pool, the woman drowning as a result. Unbeknownst to the jury who decided his case, the woman was suicidal and used Carter to help her take her own life. After his transfer from a maximum security prison to the military compound, Carter becomes infected by the virus and kills one of the scientists as well as Richards. He tries killing Kudoto as well but Lear finds her and gives her some of the perfected virus. Following Part I, he becomes one of the Twelve and his whereabouts remain unknown. Carter is set apart from other virals in that he feels remorse for the lives he takes and does not want to harm others, though the virus makes it impossible for him to fight the ultimate urge to kill.
| Name | Crime Committed | Where Committed | City of Birth/Potential Hive Location |
| Anthony Carter | Wrongfully Charged with 1 Count of Murder | Harris County, TX | Baytown, Texas |
| William Reinhardt | 3 Counts of Capital Murder and 1 Count of Sexual Assault | Miami-Dade County, FL | Jefferson City, MO |
| Julio Martinez | 1 Count of Capital Murder Against a Peace Officer | Laramie County, WY | El Paso, TX |
| Horace Lambright | 2 Counts of Capital Murder and Sexual Assault | Maricopa County, AZ | Oglala, SD |
| Martin Echols | Capital Murder and Armed Robbery | Cameron Parish, LA | Everett, WA |
| Rupert Sosa | 1 Count of Vehicular Homicide with Depraved Indifference | Lake County, IN | Tulsa, OK |
| David Winston | 1 Count of Capital Murder and 3 Counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault | New Castle County, DE | Bloomington, MN |
| Thaddeus Turrell | 1 Count of Capital Murder of a Homeland Security Officer | New Orleans Federal Housing District | New Orleans, LA |
| John Baffes | 1 Count of Capital Murder and 1 Count of Second-Degree Murder with Depraved Indifference | Pasco County, FL | Orlando, FL |
| Victor Chávez | 1 Count of Capital Murder and 2 Counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault with a Minor | Elko County, NV | Niagara Falls, NY |
| Joseph Morrison | 1 Count of Capital Murder | Lewis County, KY | Black Creek, KY |
| Giles Babcock | 1 Count of Capital Murder | Nye County, NV | Desert Wells, NV |
| Tim Fanning | Going to the Wrong Country | New York City, NY |
The Haven Characters
Jude – A familiar under the control of Babcock; he is presumed to be the one who interrogated Theo. He is the real leader of Babcock's followers. He has exceptional resilience, and survived having half of his face taken off. He manages to escape in the train, and when they stop at Caliente, Nevada, he surprises the group by popping out of a compartment under the engine. He ends up shooting Caleb before he is killed by Peter and Hollis.
Olson Hand – A resident of the Haven, he is not under the control of Babcock. He recruits the Apostles for his rebellion against Babcock, which goes awry. When his daughter, Mira, dies during the escape from the Haven, he is left unconsolable, and by the next morning, he has wandered off, seemingly in the direction of the Haven.
Mira – Olson's daughter; at one point, she tries to seduce Michael. While trying to get from the first car to the engine of the train, she is taken by a viral.
Army of the Republic of Texas Characters
Greer – Major in the Army of the Republic of Texas. Obtains command of the Second Battalion of the Second Expeditionary Forces after the death of General Vorhees. Gives up command to follow Alicia, Michael, Sara, and Hollis when they leave the Second Battalion to reinforce Peter and Amy against the Many. Subsequently becomes part of the First Colony Apostles by continuing to travel with them after the battle on the mountain.
Film adaptation
Fox 2000 and Ridley Scott's Scott Free Productions purchased the movie rights to this novel for $1.75 million USD in 2007, long before the book was completed.[2] The screenwriter for the movie Gladiator will be writing this movie's screenplay. It will probably be several years until the film is released in theaters, as Ridley Scott has 2 prequels to the Alien films to direct first.
References
- ^ "Best Sellers: Hardcover Fiction". New York Times. June 18, 2010. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Ito, Robert (August 11, 2007). "Bloodthirsty New Book Incites a Bidding War". New York Times. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
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External links
- "Apocalypse Wow", National post article with details on movie rights for "The Passage"
- "Literary Novelist Turns to Vampires and Finds Pot of Gold", New York Times, Julie Bosman, June 1, 2010
- "A Journal of the Plague Century: Civilization Goes Viral. Stuff Ensues.", New York Times, Janet Maslin, June 6, 2010
- The Passage at Open Library