Snow [Mass Market Paperback]

Ronald Malfi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2010

When a brutal snowstorm shut down all the flights in and out of Chicago, Todd Curry and a few other stranded passengers rented a Jeep to drive the rest of the way to their destinations. But along a forested, isolated road, they picked up a disoriented man wandering through the snow. His car wouldn’t start and his daughter had vanished. Strangest of all were the mysterious slashes cut into the back of the manÂ’s coat, straight down to the flesh…

When they arrived in the nearest town it seemed deserted. Cars sat in the streets with their doors open. Fires burned unattended. But Todd and the rest of the travelers will soon learn the town is far from deserted, for they’re being watched…and hunted. Soon they will discover the inhuman horrors that await them in the…SNOW.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Malfi’s use of language and his power of description are sublime.”—Fear Zone

“An immensely talented writer.”—Literary Strange Digest

“What horror should be! [Five stars]”—SF Reader on The Fall of Never

“Filled with subtle horror, imagination and skill. [Five stars]”—Horror-Web on The Fall of Never

“Ronald Malfi masterfully blends psychological terror and traditional gothic horror.”—Dark Realms on The Fall of Never

“A remarkably versatile writer.”—Brian Keene, Author of The Rising and Urban Gothic

"Ronald Malfi has a way with words. His command of the language will leave you breathless, dreaming of vivid landscapes, and in terrible fear for your life. The monsters in Malfi's mind become tangible and all too real when he sets them loose on the page. Snow is an incredible modern horror story with a decadent feel, and the perfect marriage of beauty and brutality. His writing is reminiscent of the old classics, but has all of the daring and flair of the modern genre."—Paperback Horror

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

A writer, visual artist and musician, Ronald Malfi used to front the Maryland-based alternative rock band Nellie Blide. Most recognized for his haunting, literary style and memorable characters, Malfi's horror novels and thrillers have transcended genres to gain wider acceptance among readers of quality literature. Malfi has previously published with Medallion and Delirium (among others). Snow was his first novel with Dorchester.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 311 pages
• Publisher: Leisure Books (March 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0843963557
• ISBN-13: 978-0843963557
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #336,733 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fresh and Orginal, March 16, 2010

By 

Shroud Magazine's Book Reviews (New Hampshire) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Snow (Mass Market Paperback)

Amongst legions of vampires, werewolves, zombies, vengeful spirits of evil entombed ancestors and Lovecraftian water monsters with lashing tentacles, it's gratifying to encounter a creature that's fresh and original, and - though detailed - not over explained to the point of:

"Oh, I see. It's a brand-new twist on an ancient Native American Algonquin Elder Myth of Very Old Beings From Before Time! How silly of me!"

In other words, it's nice to be surprised by something new and still be left hanging at the end, wondering what that thing was, and where and when it'll strike next. Ronald Malfi accomplishes this in "Snow": He uses the always effective horror environment of a small town cut off by a blizzard; then he gives ample reason to fear the snow itself...down to even the tiniest flake.

Todd Curry is a newly divorced dad trying to make up for lost time and wasted opportunities, but torrential snowstorms have canceled all flights from Chicago, ruining his chances of seeing his only son for Christmas. Determined, Todd joins a woman named Kate and an elderly couple as they try driving to their varied destinations. It's risky, but he's desperate enough and Kate seems crazy enough for it to work.

A car accident becomes the least of their worries after they pick up a confused man wandering in the snow, claiming that his daughter is lost in the woods. By proxy, he leads them to a snowed-in town, dark and empty, save for a few barrel fires...and something that darts in and out of the shadows. Something awful and ethereal waits for these four travelers; something that wants more from them than just food...

Malfi's handle of the craft is rock-solid; he crafts a wire-taut, suspenseful atmosphere. Also, potential sparks between Kate (engaged to someone else) and Todd are handled respectfully, and Malfi clearly understands the concept of providing resolution without explaining everything away. Readers who can love the journey without a detailed map drawn for them at the end will love this.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting horror, March 28, 2010

By 

Apronikoff (Columbus, OH, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Snow (Mass Market Paperback)

Malfi's Snow is the best horror I've read in quite a while. I picked it up off the shelf to kill a few minutes while I was waiting for someone and ended up reading the whole thing that day.

Several of the previous reviewers praise this book's originality. The funny thing is that it does feel shocking and new, despite the fact that it wears its influences on its sleeve, so to speak (a heady mixture of John Carpenter's remake of The Thing, Romero's zombie movies, and Lovecraftian cosmic horror.)

The best thing about it is the characters -- all the important characters feel well rounded and interesting, and with the leads especially you get that essential sense of what their lives are like outside of the events of the book, so you know what's at stake. Too many characters in horror books and movies seem to only exist within the confines of their stories, giving you no reason to root for them or care whether they live or die. Malfi reminded of me of Stephen King in that sense (characters always being King's biggest strength), with none of the latter's self-indulgent tendencies.

Living in the midwest, not that far from where this book is set, I'm sure to think of this one again with a shiver at the next major snowfall.

Highly recommended.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Snow by Ronald Malfi, May 1, 2010

By 

Mike Rankin (Albuquerque, NM) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Snow (Mass Market Paperback)

Snow by Ronald Malfi

Due to atrocious weather Todd Curry is stranded at Chicago's O'Hare airport along with countless others. After his patience expires Todd decides to rent a car and try to make it to his destination on his own. Acknowledging that it would be safer with more people, he acquires a new friend he met named Kate, and an older couple. After gathering bottled water, candy bars, map, batteries, and aspirin from Hudson News, they begin their journey. Due to the snow, the four travelers begin to get lost and end up on a back road in the middle of nowhere. They soon literally run into a man in the middle of the road, who acts very strange and has odd markings on his back. The stranger eventually lures them to a desolate town that has been devastated by an alien horror that they will never forget. The small group soon realizes that the weather is the last thing they have to worry about. Survival becomes the priority as the towns secrets are reveiled to the stranded party.
Readers may feel like parts of this novel seem familiar. The setting is vaguely reminiscent of John Carpenter's The Thing, and Romero's Night Of The Living Dead. Of course with references like those you can't go wrong. Ronald Malfi succeeds at laying down a creepy foundation, and building eerie suspense layer by layer, which in turn will guarantee the reader many goosebump moments. If stranded people trying to survive against unspeakable terror is your thing, this is a home run.