Frank Schätzing: The Swarm (2006, William Morrow)
Hardcover, 896 pages
English language
Published May 23, 2006 by William Morrow.
For more than two years, one book has taken over Germany's hardcover and paperback bestseller lists, reaching number one in Der Spiegel and setting off a frenzy in bookstores: The Swarm.
Whales begin sinking ships. Toxic, eyeless crabs poison Long Island's water supply. The North Sea shelf collapses, killing thousands in Europe. Around the world, countries are beginning to feel the effects of the ocean's revenge as the seas and their inhabi-tants begin a violent revolution against mankind. In this riveting novel, full of twists, turns, and cliffhangers, a team of scientists discovers a strange, intelligent life force called the Yrr that takes form in marine animals, using them to wreak havoc on humanity for our ecological abuses. Soon a struggle between good and evil is in full swing, with both human and suboceanic forces battling for control of the waters. At stake is the survival of the Earth's fragile …
For more than two years, one book has taken over Germany's hardcover and paperback bestseller lists, reaching number one in Der Spiegel and setting off a frenzy in bookstores: The Swarm.
Whales begin sinking ships. Toxic, eyeless crabs poison Long Island's water supply. The North Sea shelf collapses, killing thousands in Europe. Around the world, countries are beginning to feel the effects of the ocean's revenge as the seas and their inhabi-tants begin a violent revolution against mankind. In this riveting novel, full of twists, turns, and cliffhangers, a team of scientists discovers a strange, intelligent life force called the Yrr that takes form in marine animals, using them to wreak havoc on humanity for our ecological abuses. Soon a struggle between good and evil is in full swing, with both human and suboceanic forces battling for control of the waters. At stake is the survival of the Earth's fragile ecology -- and ultimately, the survival of the human race itself.
The apocalyptic catastrophes of The Day After Tomorrow meet the watery menace of The Abyss in this gripping, scientifically realistic, and utterly imaginative thriller. With 1.5 million copies sold in Germany -- where it has been on the bestseller list without fail since its debut -- and the author's skillfully executed blend of compelling story, vivid characters, and eerie locales, Frank Schatzing's The Swarm will keep you in tense anticipation until the last suspenseful page is turned. (front flap)
Alles recht spannend verrührt und angenehm unterhaltsam zu lesen. Zumindest bis zur etwas arg doll geschwungenen Moralkeule im Grande Finale, aber irgendwas ist ja immer.
Der erste Teil ist so detailliert und fundiert, er könnte gefühlt tatsächlich so passieren. Dazu ist die Handlung spannend und endet in einer genialen Eskalation. Der Erzählstil ist vielleicht etwas kühl, aber das passt auch ganz gut zum Inhalt. Insofern gehört der erste Teil mit zum Besten, was ich bisher gelesen habe. Leider werden die folgenden Teile zunehmend unrealistischer, der schöne Doppelerzählstrang verschwindet, die Charaktere werden flach und viele Dinge erscheinen mehr oder weniger unmotiviert.
Hat sich absolut gelohnt. Die Charaktere sind facettenreich und das Thema ist nicht so abgedreht, dass es vom Nachdenken abhalten würde.
