Sparrow Rock Nate Kenyon Leisure Books ISBN: 9780843963779

In 2010 a nuclear shelter is nothing more than a cool place to hang out for a group of teenagers. Or at least that what they thought until the bombs started to fall. They find themselves safe from the radiation, with enough food and power to last it out if only they can survive being trapped with each other.

Or at least that's what you think initially. It all shapes up to be a tale of six teenagers slowly falling apart and losing it. Then Kenyon throws weirdness in true Stephen King style into the mix starting with some dead but still living rats.

Kenyon has essentially written a 1950's SF B-Movie story - nuclear warfare, mutated creatures, paranoia and claustrophobia. But this feels anything but outdated. Kenyon's given this a thoroughly modern twist - the horror certainly isn't the mild 50's style.

It also benefits from being told in the first person. I normally have reservations about narration in novel. Too often you have "I did this", "I did that" and it all feels very stilted. Here, though it works wonderfully. By having the story told by one of the teenagers it takes you into the heart of the story. You feel the kids' fear intensely.

This is a book that makes you remember just why you liked horror in the first place. Kenyon's creating a fine body of work. He's an author you really should be reading.

Page updated 3 June, 2010