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Summary: Found this book to be an enjoyable source of horror.
Review: From the start of the book, until the very end, the readeris exposed to the tension and horror of the story. You really becomepart of what is happening in the book. It is almost impossible to put the book down. I really enjoy the mental imagery the book imparts. You can almost feel the terror experienced by Wilson and Becky as their thought processes gradually shift to accept what it is they're dealing with. A definite must for any horror fans.
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Summary: The Wolfen: They Kill, They Eat, They Are Just Like Us
Review: A sub-category of the horror genre is that of the man-killing creature that has co-existed with humanity since the dawn of time. Usually, horror writers delve into the supernatural for creatures that Go Bump In the Night. Whitley Streiber, in his novel, THE WOLFEN, tells a compelling yet strangely believable tale of a race of intelligent carnivores that split off from their canine ancestors milennia ago and have feasted on the dregs of human society: the weak, the old, the lost, and the sick. As the novel opens, two police officers are killed and consumed while guarding auto wrecks. As their police brethren investigate, two of them, detectives George Wilson and Becky Neff, realize that the two cops were not killed by a stray pack of wild mutts. Their investigation gradually reveals that the killers knew what they were doing and were equally determined to keep evidence of their existence a secret. The plot boils down to a race between the Wolfen's trying to kill Wilson and Neff before they can reveal the existence of the pack and the detectives' attempts to convince the world that the nightmare has already begun.
What makes the book a solid read is not only the fluid writing of Streiber, but also his vast knowledge of canine habits and intelligence. The best parts of the book are not the hide and seek confrontations between the detectives and the pack but the scholarly discussions of wolfen history, anatomy, and mythology. Early in the novel, Wilson and Neff find a pawprint of a wolfen and take it to a canine biologist for analysis. The biologist studies it for a while and says, "It can't exist. Too perfect a mutation. No defects at all. Plus it's at least three steps ahead of its canine ancestors." The doctor's incredulity fades as he rethinks his objection, so he goes out to find them and is torn apart for his troubles.
Whenever any writer of horror succeeds in convincing his reader that his premise could truly have happened, it is not because of his knowledge of the topic or even his technical skill at balancing a confrontation between the creatures and those who oppose them. The real test of making a monster leap off the page at the reader lies in the writer's ability to give a face and a voice to the creatures. If the creatures are seen only as lethal and bloody killing machines, then the reader cannot empathize with them. Streiber avoids this difficulty by presenting the Wolfen as killing but taking no pleasure in their killing. In fact, he goes to great pains to exhibit a long-lived species as doing merely what they have always done. The Wolfen are described as having an efficient social hierarchy, a supportive inter-family relationship, and a sense of teamwork when confronting human beings. In short, they are seen as roughly four-legged versions of human beings who do what they have to do to survive, but unlike humans, the Wolfen are not given to post-killing rationalization for their bloody deeds. It is this gentle pairing off and comparing of the habits, mores, and attitudes of both competing species that lends the novel its peculiar power. Perhaps the inner lesson of THE WOLFEN is that the killing of any species for survival can be justified on that basis alone, and if humanity claims that right for itself, then it can hardly fault the Wolfen for doing the same.
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Summary: A Classic!
Review: From page one until the end, this book grabbed me. It's all about werewolves and humans, but there is no "bad guy" in this story! It's extremely well written, and if you like horror books (or even if you don't (like me)), then I recommend buying it. The movie, on the other hand, is no good, but if you want to watch it -- at least read the book first!
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Summary: Possibly the best sci-fi werewolf novel around.
Review: I am a werewolf addict and have reseached the phenomenon for years, aquiring many many books on the subject. Mr. Streiber seems to have done the same. In his novel, The Wolfen, Streiber draws upon the historical, documented tales of werebeasts beautifully and believably to create the best science fiction lycanthrope tale around. Taking place (were else) in New York, two dectectives come upon the murder of a fellow officer, and the trail that they begin to investigate, leads them into a world of yellow-eyed shadows and horrid death nearly 20,000 years in the making. Although a bit rough around a few edges, the book was a joy to read - especially when one gets sick of demon-possessed werewolves controlled by magic, impossible regenerative abilities and bizarre allergies to silver. If werewolves did exist, this book would be a scientific treasure-trove... And after reading this tale, maybe they do.
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Summary: Strieber makes reality and fiction merge masterfully...
Review: I am not a fan of horror literature, yet The Wolfen grabbed me and made me think: What if there was a human predator(non-microscopic), a being that made its living by hunting human beings, remaining invisible while nibbling at the ever-replenishing stock of human outcasts and forgottens? Since I read the wolfen, the night has changed for me, because, you know, it COULD be true...as a matter of fact, that dog in the backyard does look peculiar, just like a...omigod!help! aaaauugggh!
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Summary: Chilling modern classic
Review: I first read this book way back in 1980 or so, shortly after it's publication. At the time I was 12; since then I've probably read the book a good 10 times! Why? Well, I'm a voracious reader who is often forced to plunder the collection just for something to read (if I can't get to the library or find anything new in the shops), but even so, a book has to be pretty damn good for me to read it more than twice. Oh, and I'm a card-carrying werewolf nut...
Since I read Wolfen, I've also taken in much of Strieber's other works but I have to say in my opinion this stands head & shoulders above the rest of his output. It's also by some way my favourite werewolf tale of all time.
The first thing that distinguishes this book from the rest is the central concept that the werewolves aren't supernatural beings at all, but a species of canine so exquisitely evolved that to those who encounter them the only explanation for their incredible abilities is that they must be men transformed into wolves. This is a bold idea (unfortunately dispensed with in the film version) and one that I've not seen done by anyone else. They have escaped prior detection by feeding only on the dregs of human society and by completely consuming the bodies of their dead so no corpses are left for human discovery.
The second point of note is the sheer quality of the writing. Even now, this book still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up - and I've read it so many times I practically know it by heart! Strieber uses a superbly economical style which instils a feeling of pure dread at several points in the book. His genius is to really make you feel the pressure the protagonists are under as they realise they are totally out of their depth - and hardly anyone else believes what they have uncovered.
A great deal of the pleasure to be had from this book is the attention to detail with regard to both canine physiology and werewolf mythology. The journey of discovery as our heroes slowly piece together the identity of their mysterious and hideous foes is one to relish.
For me, one of the standout passages in the book is where discovery of some remains have drawn Detectives Wilson and Neff to the very lair of the Wolfen. The tension as the werewolves attempt to lure the humans by mimicking the cries of a wounded child is almost unbearable, and the conversation between the two detectives as they relive their close escape afterwards in the (supposed) safety of their car is both moving and deeply frightening. Other high points are the sections told from the werewolves point of view, particularly their description of hunts for pleasure in the autumn forests, which is truly chilling.
Of course the book isn't perfect. The economical style is, in some ways, a mixed blessing. Certain passages are dispensed with almost too quickly, and overall the book could certainly have stood another 50 or even 100 pages. As it is, some of the supporting characters do seem a little `cardboard' although this doesn't really detract from the overall effect. Reading the book today, some elements have dated severely (particularly the reference to a `neighbourhood electronics freak' - a guy with a computer in his living room!) but this is hardly a criticism. My main problem with the premise is that one has to believe that these animals have been able to eradicate every trace of their own existence sufficiently that no evidence has EVER been unearthed in the last 200 years or so. The logical conclusion would have to be that they have been completely self-aware since the beginning of their evolution - but why would they have bothered to hide their existence when the early humans would have been of little threat to them? From a purely physiological view, I also have my doubts about the combination of the werewolves 40mph+ running speed and their 'handlike' prehensile paws which allow them to scale tall buildings and open doors.
All this is nitpicking of course. The main purpose of a horror thriller is how it makes you feel. In this `Wolfen' succeeds brilliantly. Suspend your disbelief and dive in; if it hasn't hooked you in the first 5 pages I'll eat my hat. Enjoy.
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Summary: Slow moving but entertaining.
Review: I have just finished reading this book...again. I still had the same problems. The story kept loosing the flow because when things would start to happen, it was over and too much emphasis was put on redundant descriptions and slow dialogue between the main characters. There was a problem with redundant conversations and events among the wolfen also. These really slowed the flow of the story. The only thing that really kept me going was the fact that I had seen the movie several times and I knew things would be happening. I kept matching events in the book with parts of the movie. The last two chapters were the best. I could feel the wolfen's presence, feel their hot moist breath, hear the gnashing of teeth and vividly visualize their attack in the room. This is what the rest of the novel lacked...strong steady flow of events. Would I read it again? Yes, I did find it entertaining. I realize this was a first time novel...onward and upward.
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Summary: This book is probably yhe best thriller/horror book EVER!!
Review: I like this book beacuse it is frightening in a distant way, but not too distant. You can really imagine how scared Wilson and Becky are. I give tis book 4 stars beacuse i think it's a little long, there are long descriptions about how 'they' look, Whitley Strieber doesn't leave anything to the imagination. But overall it's probably the best book in that genre.
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Summary: Great Werewolf Book
Review: I love werewolf stories and this, by far, is THE best. As other reviewers have stated ... the movie of the same name has a substantially different premise than the book. This is a real page turner. This book holds the potential to haunt every future step you make in a city at night. If you like this book, check out Dean Koontz's "Watchers." While not a true werewolf book, it does involve terror from a similar, modern day beast.
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Summary: 15 years later, I still have nightmares
Review: I read this book ages ago, when I was in 7th or 8th grade. Normally, 'horror' books don't do much for me... if they're written well or have an interesting concept, they can make decent reads... but this one scared the bejeesus out of me... reading the book, it wasn't particularly scary... but the author's descriptions were just so real the wolfen took on a life of their own, I could see them in situations and know how they'd react... and when they entered my dreams, they were as real as any dream can be... gave me nightmares for months after reading it, and every once in a while since then, I'll have one, usually after seeing some sort of wolf-involved movie...
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