To say Infected, the first book of Scott Sigler’s Infection Triology, can be a little intense would be a bit of an understatement. This is, after all, the book where the main character goes after his own alien-parasite-infected body parts with a pair of poultry shears.
Yeah, it’s that kind of book.
The story blends science fiction, disease porn, alien invasion and conspiracy theory. If you get the idea that there might be some gruesome descriptions, gore and bad language, well, then you’d be right. There is plenty of that, and Sigler isn’t shy about it either. In fact he revels in it. You can feel as you read an unmistakable glee evident in the descriptions of mutilation and madness.
Also evident is how much biological research Sigler has done about the processes of disease and infection. He explains very well the science behind what he’s writing, something sure to satisfy the detail-oriented and scientific-minded reader.
At times those sciencey details and lengthy descriptions of actions or places can slow the story down. But, while noticeable, it’s not too much of an issue, as the gory details coupled with the deft characterization make the book so much fun.
We have a lot of characters at work here in Infected and not all of them are likable. In fact, some are kind of despicable. More importantly though, Sigler has defined them well and really crafted them for their specific roles. The main actors especially show real depth and personality. Perry Dawsey, the main character, isn’t always likable. However he is a deep, sympathetic character.
What Sigler puts him through, in often pain-laced prose, is the heart of this book. It is one man’s descent into pain and madness as the world fights a threat so massive the very survival of the human race is at stake.
And in this war Perry Dawsey’s ass is ground zero.
Infected is a hell of a lot of cringe-inducing fun. It’s actually one of Sigler’s earlier books. But it already hints at the exceptional craftsmanship that would infect his later releases.
The Infection Trilogy, consisting of Infected, Contagious and Pandemic is part of the much larger “Siglerverse.” Those books, along with The Crypt, Ancestor and Earthcore provide contemporary clues to the history of the human race as told in the futuristic Galactic Football League series of books and novellas.
I recommend them all.