By Josh Black
I’ll start by saying that I’m not a huge fan of zombie novels (I know this isn’t the most popular opinion). Looking at the cover, I guessed that this was going to be a zombie novel. Fortunately, I couldn’t be more wrong. There are many traces of this sub-genre in this book, but Paul Kane’s Sleeper is unlike anything I’ve ever read. Part medical thriller, part zombie story, part fairy tale, and part sci-fi blockbuster, Sleeper is a unique work that fans of all genres will enjoy.
The story begins with a virus. The residents of Middletown are quickly infected by the virus, but they do not become sick from it. Instead, they fall into a deep sleep, their bodies covered in a strange spider-web-like secretion. The city is quarantined to prevent this “sleeping sickness” from sweeping the world. Doctor Andrew Strauss, a super virus buster, is called into town and enters the city along with a combined force of British and American armies. Strauss’s ostensible goal is obscured by his search for a woman he has dreamed of all his life, who he is certain is in this city.
I was immediately drawn to the overarching storyline, and the excellent characterization further drew me in. Strauss, his assistants, and the group of people around them are three-dimensional characters with flaws (sometimes severely flawed) but understandable motivations.
The atmosphere is great too. Very spooky. Kane does a great job of blending tension with a hazy, dreamlike quality that works really well with the storyline. It feels like a modern dark fairy tale, and seems to be partly inspired by Sleeping Beauty. The first act is filled with mystery and it’s hard not to want to keep turning pages.
The zombie elements appear in interesting ways that I won’t spoil here. They’re not strictly zombies, and certainly not mindless, but they are violent and nearly unstoppable. The creative action sequences have a cinematic feel and are very entertaining.
Another nice touch is that certain characters reference the many sci-fi and horror movies, books, and TV shows. This kind of thing is usually just annoying and I don’t usually bring it up. Here, though, it works well as a nod to genre fans without completely breaking the fourth wall.
I won’t spoil the plot details or go into the origins of the virus. Suffice it to say that there’s a lot to like about this film and I highly recommend it. It’s a cerebral take on its genre, but it’s fast-paced and always entertaining. Think of it as a thoughtful B-movie. It’s a good one.
Order yours right here.
score:4/5
