Contagious: A Novel [Paperback]

Scott Sigler (Author)

Book Description

Release date: December 29, 2009

From the acclaimed author of Infected comes an epic and exhilarating story of humanity’s secret battle against a horrific enemy.

Across America, a mysterious pathogen transforms ordinary people into raging killers, psychopaths driven by a terrifying, alien agenda. The human race fights back, yet after every battle the disease responds, adapts, using sophisticated strategies and brilliant ruses to fool its pursuers. The only possible explanation: the epidemic is driven not by evolution but by some malevolent intelligence.

Standing against this unimaginable threat is a small group, assembled under the strictest secrecy. Their best weapon is hulking former football star Perry Dawsey, left psychologically shattered by his own struggles with this terrible enemy, who possesses an unexplainable ability to locate the disease’s hosts. Violent and unpredictable, Perry is both the nation’s best hope and a terrifying liability. Hardened CIA veteran Dew Phillips must somehow forge a connection with him if they’re going to stand a chance against this maddeningly adaptable opponent. Alongside them is Margaret Montoya, a brilliant epidemiologist who fights for a cure even as she reels under the weight of endless horrors.

These three and their team have kept humanity in the game, but that’s not good enough anymore, not when the disease turns contagious, triggering a fast countdown to Armageddon. Meanwhile, other enemies join the battle, and a new threat — one that comes from a most unexpected source — may ultimately prove the most dangerous of all.

Catapulting the reader into a world where humanity’s life span is measured in hours and the president’s finger hovers over the nuclear button, rising star Scott Sigler takes us on a breathtaking, hyper-adrenalized ride filled with terror and jaw-dropping action. Contagious is a truly grand work of suspense, science, and horror from a new master.


From the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Alien invaders threaten humanity in Sigler's over-the-top thriller, the sequel to Infected. In the near future, U.S. president John Gutierrez goes straight from his inauguration to crisis management when his national security team informs him that he must focus his attention on Project Tangram, a secret government program to stave off an epidemic caused by alien parasites, which form itchy blue triangular patches on the skin. Victims eventually become paranoid and violent. As the infestation spreads, Gutierrez must decide whether the outbreak can be contained without the use of tactical nukes on American soil. Meanwhile, the creatures responsible for the parasites get a foothold in Michigan through a seven-year-old girl, who manifests possession by drawing blue triangles on her dolls. While lacking the psychological sophistication of Jack Finney's The Body Snatchers or David Gerrold's War Against the Chtorr series, this page-turner builds inexorably to an explosive ending. 5-city author tour.(Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* In Infected (2008), Sigler crafted an intense thriller in which an alien species infects humans, inflicts them with nasty triangular growths, and turns them into murderous creatures. Apparently that was just the beginning. In this sequel, which, thanks to some nifty backfilling can be read as a stand-alone, the aliens are changing their attack plans, sending down to Earth a new version of the infection, one that can be transmitted by humans from host to host. The heroes of the first novel return: epidemiologist Margaret Montoya, gung-ho CIA man Dew Phillips, and Perry Dawsey, who, in the previous novel, dealt with his alien infection in a unique and somewhat grisly manner. Now Perry is attuned to the aliens, able to overhear their “chatter” and lead pursuers to their centers of activity, where the aliens appear to be building portals designed to let the first wave of invaders come to our planet. This is a gutsy, ambitious, and completely seductive novel, B-movie horror of the highest order, told with conviction and gusto. The characters are appropriately larger than life (but still recognizable as real people), and the author is clearly a talented storyteller who knows how to write scenes that are graphic, frightening, and memorable. Many veteran horror writers will be grinding their teeth in envy. A definite must-read, whether you’ve read Infected or not. --David Pitt --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Broadway Books; 1 Reprint edition (December 29, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307406326
• ISBN-13: 978-0307406323
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 1 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (189 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #355,230 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

New York Times best-selling novelist Scott Sigler is the author of NOCTURNAL, ANCESTOR, INFECTED and CONTAGIOUS, hardcover thrillers from Crown Publishing; and the co-founder of Dark Øverlord Media, which publishes his Galactic Football League series (THE ROOKIE, THE STARTER, THE ALL-PRO and THE MVP).

Before he was published, Scott built a large online following by giving away his self-recorded audiobooks as free, serialized podcasts. His loyal fans, who named themselves "Junkies," have downloaded over eight million individual episodes of his stories and interact daily with Scott and each other in the social media space.

Scott reinvented book publishing when he released EARTHCORE as the world's first "podcast-only" novel. Released in twenty weekly episodes, EARTHCORE harkened back to the days of serialized radio fiction. His innovative use of technology puts him at the forefront of modern-day publishing and has garnered brand-name exposure among hundreds of thousands of fiction fans and technology buffs.

He's been covered in Time Magazine, the Washington Post, the New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, Entertainment Weekly, Publisher's Weekly, The Huffington Post, Business Week and Fangoria. He still records his own audiobooks and gives away every story - for free - to his Junkies at www.ScottSigler.com.

A Michigan native, Scott lives in San Francisco with his wife.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 56 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I could NOT put this down January 5, 2009

By N. J. Steere

Format:Hardcover

As a big fan of Scott's books, I was excited for the release of this book. This is the first time one of his books has been available in print before being released as a podcast, so it was my first time being able to read one of his stories at my pace instead of waiting on new episodes to be released.

Big Mistake.

I inhaled this 400+ page monster in two days, and could not put it down. The novel is intense, thrilling, terrifying, and action packed. The book is a sequel to his novel Infected which (for the most part) took place in the incredibly small setting of an apartment living room. The sequel pulls out all the stops, moving to a few truly memorable setpieces on the rushing ride to an over-the-top finale that boggles the mind in its intensity and scale. Great characters, humor, gore, and a story based on actual science and technology that's terrifying in it's near-believeability.

Buy this book and read it. If you're on the fence, at least visit the author's website, where you can listen to a VERY high production value audio version on the first book, or read it as a pdf. If you like what you see of Infected, this book will get its hooks in you bad. Don't say you weren't warned, and say hello to Chauncey for me.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Profoundly entertaining, the perfect sequel January 12, 2009

By Triton Blue

Format:Hardcover

Sigler has topped himself with Contagious. I honestly took a half work day last week to finish it, and lost more than a few hours of sleep staying up to read just one more chapter.

With Contagious, Sigler has tapped back into that /vast/ and detailed imagination best manifest in his The Rookie universe and capped it with by far the best interpersonal drama he's written. Contagious bridges the private horror of Sigler's previous novel Infected with enough subtle hooks to cut anyone up on the story. It delivers a relentless, constantly accelerating tale that reaches the sublimely horrible in its final act. No spoilers here, but I've not felt as electrified by, and connected to, the grand action in any recent movie short of The Dark Knight.

Sigler is a rising star, and looks to have finally reached the main stage with Contagious. My highest recommendation.

33 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Hold on to your seat... December 30, 2008

By M. Kimberlin

Format:Hardcover

True to form, Scott Sigler skips the on-ramp and barrels straight into the speedway. Contagious picks up Perry Dawsey "post-recovery". The problem is this: Perry still hears the voices of the things that invaded his body and this mountain of rage is not going to take it sitting down. Using the information he gains, Perry fights back. So, the disease changes tactics and the infection is spreading.

Scott Sigler pulls the reader on to the next page and does not let them stop until they hit the end. Great book...I look forward to much, much more from this author.

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm stuck!!! December 30, 2008

By R. Derks

Format:Hardcover

What an amazing story!! I will admit I read the prequel 'Infected' and could not wait for the followup. Contagious is a great read that will keep you glued to the pages. The book is a stand alone story on itself but for the full, mind blowing, world domination attitude Scott provides, it would be worth it to take the 2 fer deal and buy both 'Infected' and 'Contagious'.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Sigler Success!! December 30, 2008

By A. P. Spencer

Format:Hardcover

True to form, Scott Sigler delivers an absolutely absorbing horror thriller. The successor to Infected, Contagious takes the action and plot to breakneck speed. His characters are well developed and consistent, his action well planned, with just enough foreshadowing. This book is a keeper! Warning: not for the faint of heart--the book is high in violence and graphic. I couldn't put the book down!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I only stoped reading for "bio" needs. January 14, 2009

By Z. Boulter

Format:Hardcover

Great stand alone story! A zillion times better if you've read Infected. You might think you know, but you have NO idea. I can't wait to see what the F.D.O. comes up with next.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just a thriller, but a subtle, sensitive character study. January 8, 2009

By Jane from Oakland, Ca, USA

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is everything you could ask for in a thriller and more. A page turner, taut suspense and unexpected and inventive plot turns. But while your heart is pounding and adrenaline pumping this book will touch your soul. The character development and interaction is exquisite. I really care about these characters. I am amazed at Sigler's scope and depth of artistic talant.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Contagious June 16, 2009

By Alexandro C. Telander

Format:Hardcover

CONTAGIOUS BY SCOTT SIGLER: Scott Sigler began his writing career by recording podcasts of his books and attracting the interest and support of listeners around the world. This eventually landed him a publishing contract. After the success of last year's Infected, Sigler quickly follows up with the sequel Contagious.

It looks like the world is pretty much doomed. The aliens have invaded and they're slowly taking over by infecting people on the genetic level with a virus that grows and takes over the body. Symptoms of the virus including indicators of the common cold, as well as the apparent need to kill your fellow man for no apparent reason, and some scary looking blue triangles. Humanity's hope rests on the shoulders of former football star Perry Dawsey who was actually infected, but under the skillful hands of Margaret Montoya, was brought back from psychopathic insanity, albeit agonizingly. Dawsey now has the ability to know where the aliens are mounting a new offensive, but he is a reckless killer who gives new meaning to the term "loose cannon."

Sigler has a specific over the top style, holding nothing back. His characters are loud, large, overbearing, and not for those looking for finesse. But this world is a tough place, and you have to be tough to make it through. It's all about balancing the costs: how much are human lives worth? Under the government of a new President, decisions have to be made, quickly, with little time for considering repercussions. It is after all the end of the world.