synthscore's review against another edition
2.0
the line "they wandered out into the meadow and got down on all fours. the grass tasted especially good at this time of the year." has haunted me for months now and it's by far my favorite thing about the book.
otherwise i really struggled with this one. i really liked the beginning but the middle was so tough to get through. it got a little better towards the end but it could never live up to the hype i created for it. is it my fault? idk. i just wish it was better and way way WAY less misogynistic.
otherwise i really struggled with this one. i really liked the beginning but the middle was so tough to get through. it got a little better towards the end but it could never live up to the hype i created for it. is it my fault? idk. i just wish it was better and way way WAY less misogynistic.
zombiesreaddystopianbooks's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
aaaron's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Treatment of female characters was stomach churning, if it’s supposed to be funny where were the jokes
hope2395's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Good read with nice moments of body horror. I felt like the ending was a bit disappointing and rushed but I enjoyed the rest of it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Body horror
verkisto's review against another edition
3.0
Compared to the authors' previous book, [b:Slimer|3147072|Slimer|Harry Adam Knight|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1381520896s/3147072.jpg|3178563], The Fungus is creepier and more effective. I think that has to do with their choice of horror for this novel. Before, it was a kind of ooze that could duplicate and mimic other people (how did I not realize they were ripping off The Thing before just now?), and it was so unrealistic it was easy to dismiss. Here, they focus on fast-growing, parasitic fungi to serve as their horror, even using real fungi as a basis, and they nailed it.
The characters in this book are also an improvement, as the authors mostly avoid the typical cast of horror movie characters. It starts out with less sexism, too, but it doesn't maintain that position through to the end. I was hoping that an apocalyptic book would help the story eschew any -isms, but I guess that was too much to expect. It's not as overt as it was in Slimer, but it's still there.
The Fungus is a decent read, but even as an improvement over Slimer, it's not a book for anyone but the most hardcore of hardcore horror readers. It's important to get into the mindset of 1980s horror before starting, and I think casual readers would find the book to be dated. For readers who are members of the Paperbacks from Hell church, though, they ought to check it out (though, chances are, they already have).
The characters in this book are also an improvement, as the authors mostly avoid the typical cast of horror movie characters. It starts out with less sexism, too, but it doesn't maintain that position through to the end. I was hoping that an apocalyptic book would help the story eschew any -isms, but I guess that was too much to expect. It's not as overt as it was in Slimer, but it's still there.
The Fungus is a decent read, but even as an improvement over Slimer, it's not a book for anyone but the most hardcore of hardcore horror readers. It's important to get into the mindset of 1980s horror before starting, and I think casual readers would find the book to be dated. For readers who are members of the Paperbacks from Hell church, though, they ought to check it out (though, chances are, they already have).
elmeco's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Huh.
A truly fucked up, horrifying, and unsettling read that also serves as dumb pulpy fun. Really goes to show just how absolutely frightening and unfathomable fungi are, surprised it took until The Last of Us in 2013 to showcase their horror, and honestly? This book does it better (horror-wise, definitely not writing-wise) Oh man, speaking of the writing... Some really outdated and pretty problematic stuff in here, especially when it comes to our main female character, Kimberly. Granted, none of the characters are meant to likeable and perhaps it served to makes all the gruesome deaths all the more satisfying to read. Again, that's where that 80's trashy horror really settles in and for what it is, and what it intends to do, it nails it.
A truly fucked up, horrifying, and unsettling read that also serves as dumb pulpy fun. Really goes to show just how absolutely frightening and unfathomable fungi are, surprised it took until The Last of Us in 2013 to showcase their horror, and honestly? This book does it better (horror-wise, definitely not writing-wise) Oh man, speaking of the writing... Some really outdated and pretty problematic stuff in here, especially when it comes to our main female character, Kimberly. Granted, none of the characters are meant to likeable and perhaps it served to makes all the gruesome deaths all the more satisfying to read. Again, that's where that 80's trashy horror really settles in and for what it is, and what it intends to do, it nails it.
laurainthevoid's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.25
cemeterygates's review against another edition
4.0
What a deliciously disgusting little book. So much pulpy fun. You'll never look at a mushroom pizza the same way again.