Dark Inside starts out with a huge earthquake that pretty much destroys the entire west coast. Almost simultaneously, there are suicide bombings all over the country at schools and other public places. There's no power, no phones, no radio or TV, and no internet. After that, people are scrambling to stay alive and scrambling to stay away from people who are deranged. For no reason, some people have become zombie-like killers, while others are normal humans trying to survive.
Did you catch that "for no reason?" I read the whole book waiting for the reason, but there isn't one. There's no explanation. So you have our narrators, trying to survive and find family or friends, traveling across the wasteland that used to be the United States. Trying to find food and stay away from the Bangers (as the zombie creatures are called.) There are four narrators, plus one called "Nothing" who makes no sense at all. The differing perspectives are well done and not confusing.
I'm just so frustrated about how disappointing Dark Inside is -- after all the character development, the successes and failures, the climactic event, and everything else. The story is well-paced and well-written. But...I need at least SOMETHING to explain this bizarre scenario, or it means nothing. Dark Inside is the first in a series, and I haven't decided if I'm looking forward to Rage Within (already released) or not. I guess it depends on whether I'm going to waste my time on this stupid scenario, or if there's going to be some coherent explanation.
If all you are interested in is a straight survival story -- this one is good. But, if you need a world to mesh with that story, I found Dark Inside to be lacking.
Published by Simon & Schuster, 2011
Copy obtained from the library
329 pages
Rating: 2/5
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Sorry you didn't like it like you wanted to. Hope your next read is better.
ReplyDeleteBrandi from Blkosiner’s Book Blog