Title: The Fear
Author: Charlie Higson
First published January 1, 2011
460 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780141384665 (ISBN10: 0141384662)
Rating: 4.36
Overview
WITHOUT KNOWING IT, JOEY IS ABOUT TO BE THROWN INTO A WORLD OF CHAOS THAT WILL CHANGE HIS LIFE FOREVER. A deadly virus has struck, targeting anyone over the age of eighteen.
Parents, grandparents, and siblings have all been affected, leaving behind a ravaged world filled with ruthless grown-ups who hunt the remaining children for their next meal. Joey must navigate through this new apocalyptic world, searching for his missing family and friends.
Along the way, he’ll encounter dangerous obstacles and enemies, but he won’t give up. Joey is determined to survive and find a way to save humanity from the fear that has taken over.
About the Author
Charlie Higson’s educational background includes Sevenoaks School and the University of East Anglia, where he met David Cummings, Terry Edwards, and Paul Whitehouse. Together, Higson, Cummings, and Edwards formed the band The Higsons, for which Higson was the lead vocalist from 1980 to 1986.
The band released two singles on 2-Tone, the Specials’ label. Following his time with the band, Higson worked as a plasterer before transitioning to writing for Harry Enfield and performing comedy.
The BBC Two sketch comedy show, The Fast Show, brought Higson into the public eye as one of the primary writers and performers. He worked on the radio comedy Down the Line with Whitehouse and will collaborate with him again on a television project spoofing celebrity travel programs.
Higson’s subsequent work includes producing, writing, directing, and occasionally guest-starring on Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) and starring in BBC Three’s Fast Show spin-off sitcom Swiss Toni. He has also appeared as a panellist on QI and stars in Tittybangbang series three on BBC Three.
From the early to mid-1990s, Higson published four novels that examine everyday life in a slightly dystopian manner and feature characters who spiral out of control, leading Time Out to describe him as ‘The missing link between Dick Emery and Brett Easton Ellis.’ Higson also signed a deal to pen a new series of children’s books for Puffin, which he describes as action adventures with a horror angle.
In 2004, it was announced that Higson would write a series of James Bond novels targeting younger readers, focusing on the character’s school days at Eton. The first novel, SilverFin, was released in March 2005 in the UK and April 2005 in the US.
Blood Fever, the second novel, was released in January 2006 (UK) and June 2006 (US), while Double or Die, the third novel, was released in January 2007. Hurricane Gold, the fourth novel, was released in the UK in hardcover in September 2007.
Higson’s final Young Bond novel, By Royal Command, was released in the UK in hardcover on September 3, 2008.
Editoral Review
Charlie Higson’s The Fear is a thrilling and suspenseful addition to the young adult horror genre. Published on January 1, 2011, this book dives deep into the dystopian world of London where everyone over the age of fourteen is infected with a deadly virus that turns them into flesh-eating monsters.
Higson drew inspiration from the classic horror tales of Stephen King and George A. Romero to create a terrifying landscape where the survivors are the only ones left to fend for themselves.
The Fear follows the lives of a group of teenagers living in the post-apocalyptic world of London. The main character, Callum, is a fifteen-year-old boy who has been forced to grow up fast in order to survive.
He and his friends band together to fight against the infected adults who are constantly chasing them. As they navigate the dangers of the world around them, Callum and his friends are faced with difficult decisions that are often a matter of life and death.
One of the strengths of this book is the vivid and descriptive writing style of the author. Higson’s description of the post-apocalyptic world is so detailed that it is easy to imagine oneself living in this dystopian society.
The characters are also well-developed, and the reader is invested in their stories from the beginning. The pacing of the book is also well-done, with the story never feeling rushed or dragged out.
The Fear is not without its flaws, however. The plot, while engaging, can be predictable at times.
Some readers may also find the violence and gore to be too much. Additionally, there are several plot holes that are left unresolved by the end of the book, which may leave some readers unsatisfied.
Overall, The Fear is a great read for fans of the horror and young adult genres. The story is engaging, the characters are well-developed, and the world-building is impressive.
While there are some flaws, they do not detract from the overall quality of the book. If you are looking for a thrilling and suspenseful read, The Fear is definitely worth picking up.
I would give The Fear a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. It is a well-written and engaging book that is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats.
The only reason it does not receive a perfect score is due to the aforementioned plot holes and predictability.
