A Necessary End

by | Jan 4, 2014 | Reviews

It’s the end of the world as we know it – and flies are the messengers of the apocalypse. In this novella from two of today’s top horror authors, a plague arises from Africa that is ending civilization. In a world ravaged by a new strain of virus seemingly every day, the terror envisioned by Wilson and Pinborough seems all too plausible.

The plague seemingly arose from a mutation meant to help, not decimate the world’s masses. One bite from a fly dooms the victim to inglorious death three days later as the saliva from the insects destroys the red blood cells in people and brings upon each a slow but unstoppable death. Fingers are pointed and terrorism is blamed along with basic hubris and the will of scientists to play God. Nigel, an investigative reporter, attempts to uncover a mysterious cure that may or may not exist, and roams England to find Bandora, a missing boy that could be the key to all. Abby, Nigel’s wife and nurse at the local hospital, believes the scourge to be the work of God and seems intent on finding peace in joining Him. As the black swarms of deadly flies increase with each dead victim, both increase the intensity of their quests for the truth. Survivors are few but the reason for their existence give A NECESSARY END an edge that elevates it from standard apocalyptic far. This is far more than a horror tale. At times it feels like a medical thriller, adventure, and mystery set at the end of humanity. The relationship between Nigel and Abby, their dividing views on religion, and hope to sustain their love through the face of the end lends a dimension that draws in the reader. Religion is a major theme in the story yet never preaches or condemns any faith. Instead, A NECESSARY END focuses on the aspect of truth and belief and how those concepts exist within religion as many survivors, believe it is the will of God while Nigel and others.

Collaborations in writing are at best a mixed bag no matter who is at the helm. For every BLACK HOUSE, TALISMAN, and GOOD OMENS, there are a hundred misfires or at best, a solid story that showcases two talented, but disparate writing styles which wrench the reader from the world to which they wished to escape. Wilson, however, has been successful for decades writing with others, eluding that pitfall, and now has found another partner with whom he clicks. This results in the lean, strong prose that adheres to the story without the intrusion of anything BUT the story itself.
A NECESSARY END is a tight, creative entry in the field of apocalyptic fiction that succeeds due to the talents of Pinborough, who has been a rising star in the field for well over a decade, shining most recently with her FORGOTTEN GODS trilogy, and Wilson, who is on the cusp of concluding his REPAIRMAN JACK series, one of the most iconic figures in modern literature.

Recommended and likely to go far in this year’s Stoker race.

About Dave Simms