By: David Moody
Year: 2006
Genre: Fiction
A modern take on the classic “apocalyptic” novel, Hater is similar in tone to the seminal works of H.G. Wells, and also the recent films 28 Days Later and I Am Legend. Hater tells the story of Danny McCoyne, an everyman forced to contend with a world gone mad, as vast numbers of the human population suddenly become irrationally violent, killing all who cross their path.
Christened ‘Haters’ by the media, those affected attack without warning, and seemingly, without reason. As the carnage mounts, one thing soon becomes clear:
Everyone, irrespective of race, gender, age or class–has the potential to become either a Hater, or a victim.
In the face of this mindless terror, all that McCoyne can do is secure his family, seek shelter, and watch as the world falls apart. But when he bolts the front door, the question remains:
Is he shutting the danger out, or locking it in?
Did you ever read Stephen King’s “The Stand“? When I read it, I started showing the same flu symptoms as introduced in the novel killing most of the population (as did most people I know who have read “The Stand”).
When I read “Hater,” I got a little paranoid and crabby.
This was a really interesting book and I’ll admit, I picked it up because of the cover. The cover is supposed to be blood spattered with the title spelled out in bloody finger painting. Apparently author David Moody published this first as an internet novel and before it was even published in book form, Guillermo del Toro purchased the film rights. I’m not sure that I would watch this as a movie, though. This novel is told in first person and that view-point is important to the plot.
When we first meet the main character, Danny, he is in a dead-end job barely making enough to support his family (a wife and three unplanned children). He is whiny and unpleasant. Nothing makes him happy, but he isn’t willing to do anything about it. He works for parking enforcement in a British town and his boss is a terrible woman. At least she is from his point of view.
There are two kinds of ways to write first person as far as I can see. One is as a story teller, twisting together history and current events in a smooth story style. The second way is much more rambling. Actions are experienced as they come, maybe there is back story, but it is realized organically as the narrator finds it out. This second form is much more rambling and is the format used for “Hater.” The narrative reads like a running commentary in Danny’s mind. Things happen and it is filtered through the selfish world-view of Danny (which scarily is probably not too far from what happens in our own secret minds every day). Added to that are introductions to each chapter where people are committing vicious acts of killing. The story develops quickly and soon we aren’t sure who these “Haters” are and who aren’t.
I recommend this book with the warning that it is a very brutal, violent book. The violence comes out of nowhere and isn’t limited by age either for the attacker or attacked. Readers should also be aware this is apparently the first in a trilogy. I didn’t know that going in and was disappointed there wasn’t the expected resolution to the story. According to Moody’s Web site, the next book (with the rainbows and unicorns title of “Dog Blood”) is due next year.
I had planned to rate this 4 stars until the last few pages. As the story went on, I had begun to sympathize with Danny and the situation of his life. Then in the last few pages Moody took a direction with his character than I found distasteful. A few pages lowered my overall feeling for this book. I’m interested to see where the series goes and if the main character is redeemed through future choices.
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars