Walkers

Title: Walkers

Author: Graham Masterton

Published in: 1989

Date read: 24th April 2007

Score: 5/5

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Supernatural

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Walkers" by Graham Masterton, published in 1989, is a deeply unsettling horror novel that explores the fragility of the human mind and the horrifying consequences when the line between life and death is blurred. It’s a terrifying tale of a world where the recently deceased refuse to stay dead, becoming a walking, relentless, and terrifying threat.

The story opens with a bizarre and chilling phenomenon sweeping across the world: people who have recently died are not staying in their graves. Instead, they are rising from the dead and beginning a slow, methodical, and seemingly aimless walk toward the coast. These are not the shambling zombies of traditional horror; they are silent, non-violent, and perfectly preserved, but they are a relentless and unstoppable force. They are the Walkers.

The protagonist is Detective Inspector Jim Rooke, an ordinary cop in a small town who is thrust into this apocalyptic nightmare. As the Walkers begin to clog the roads and overwhelm cities, Rooke is confronted with a phenomenon that defies all scientific and logical explanation. The sheer scale and strangeness of the event create a sense of profound dread, as society and its institutions crumble under the weight of this silent invasion.

The primary human antagonist is a sinister, cult-like figure named Lord Maelgwyn, who seems to have a deep, esoteric understanding of the Walkers' purpose. He believes that they are not a random event but a sign that a new, horrific age is beginning, and he is determined to assist their terrifying journey.

Rooke, along with a small group of survivors, including his colleague and friend, Detective Sergeant Tom Grout, and a woman named Carla, tries to navigate the collapsing world. They must not only evade the Walkers but also the dangerous fanaticism of Maelgwyn's followers.

The novel is a tense, claustrophobic narrative that focuses on the psychological horror of a world where death no longer offers release. The mystery of why the Walkers are walking, and where they are going, drives the plot forward. Masterton creates a powerful atmosphere of despair and existential terror.

The climax involves Rooke and his companions making a final, desperate stand against the overwhelming tide of the Walkers and confronting the truth behind their chilling pilgrimage, revealing a terrifying purpose far more profound than anyone could have imagined. "Walkers" is a dark and thought-provoking exploration of mortality, faith, and the horrific consequences of defying the laws of nature.

Comments:
This is one of my favourite books by Graham Masterton. It is all about the story, not much more that I can say. I still find myself thinking "what if?" when I am bored in a meeting. I am writing this particular piece 17 years after I read the book and I can still remember the things that happened that make me still think about the book. Excellent story again.

Books that we've read by Graham Masterton (9):
Charnel House (1978), Walkers (1989), Prey (1992), Fortnight of Fear (1994), Tooth And Claw (Jim Rook, #2) (1997), Snowman (Jim Rook, #4) (1999), The Devil in Gray (2004), The Doorkeepers (2012), Forest Ghost (2014)