Slugs (Slugs, #1)

Title: Slugs (Slugs, #1)

Author: Shaun Hutson

Published in: 1982

Date read: 7th February 2006

Score: 4/5

Genre: Horror, Science fiction, Thriller

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Slugs" by Shaun Hutson, published in 1982, is a visceral and infamous entry in the British splatterpunk horror subgenre. It's known for its graphic descriptions and relentless focus on a truly repulsive, yet strangely compelling, antagonist: mutated, carnivorous slugs.

The story is set in a seemingly ordinary, unnamed American town. The calm of daily life is shattered when inhabitants begin to suffer gruesome and inexplicable deaths. Initially, the authorities, particularly Mike Brady, the town's health inspector, struggle to find a logical explanation for the bizarre fatalities. Victims are found with their flesh dissolving, internal organs liquefied, or suffering from horrifying, unseen attacks.

Brady, a dedicated but initially baffled professional, starts to investigate beyond the official explanations. He soon uncovers a horrifying truth: the deaths are being caused by a monstrous proliferation of slugs, but these are no ordinary garden slugs. Through a combination of industrial waste dumping and an accelerated evolutionary process, these slugs have mutated into highly aggressive, intelligent, and carnivorous creatures.

These aren't just a few large slugs; they appear in massive numbers, capable of swarming, coordinating attacks, and dissolving organic matter with potent enzymes. They target humans and animals alike, with their methods of killing becoming increasingly gruesome and imaginative. The slugs are shown to be everywhere – in plumbing, gardens, schools, and even inside people's homes, making escape seem impossible.

As the body count rises and the horror escalates, Brady desperately tries to convince the sceptical local government officials and the scientific community of the unprecedented danger. Most dismiss his claims, attributing the deaths to gas leaks, disease, or psychological issues, unwilling to believe in such an outlandish threat.

The novel is a relentless descent into biological horror, relying heavily on explicit, detailed descriptions of the slugs' attacks and their victims' demise. It explores themes of environmental contamination, human arrogance in underestimating nature, and the grotesque vulnerability of the human body.

The climax involves Brady and a small group of beleaguered survivors taking a desperate stand against the overwhelming infestation. They must find a way to combat the seemingly unstoppable tide of creatures, leading to a truly gory and chaotic confrontation where humanity fights for survival against a highly unconventional and utterly disgusting enemy. "Slugs" remains a cult classic for its unadulterated, no-holds-barred approach to creature feature horror.

Comments:
Please don't dismiss this book, I only picked it up at my local library because my mother detested slugs as her garden was often overrun with them. I gave it a go and found it that it was brilliant. It got me thinking that it could really happen and I was simply entertained...my mother enjoyed it too.

Books that we've read by Shaun Hutson (1):
Slugs (Slugs, #1) (1982)