Hive 2: The Spawning

Hive #2

by Tim Curran

At an isolated research station in Antarctica, a cosmologist experiences a singular, horrifying encounter. In the grip of an unforgiving snowstorm, the members stationed at Mount Hobb confront a terror that will change the world. Amidst threats of national security, conspiracies, and cover-ups, a new group of scientists at Polar Clime Base attempt to unravel an eldritch mystery that has remained locked away for billions of years. Hidden away in the shadows of glacial caves, a malevolent intelligence that not only threatens the lives of those who discover it but also the future of the human race, lies waiting. In this riveting science fiction thriller, the unforgiving landscape of the Antarctic is explored, revealing the darkest place on Earth and the unknown menace that dwells beneath its ice.

Genres: Horror, Lovecraftian, Cthulhu Mythos, Science Fiction, Fiction, Ebooks

406 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Tim Curran lives in Michigan and is the author of the novels Skin Medicine, Hive, Dead Sea, Resurrection, The Devil Next Door, and Biohazard, as well as the novella The Corpse King. His short stories have appeared in such magazines as City Slab, Flesh&Blood, Book of Dark Wisdom, and Inhuman, and anthologies such as Shivers IV, High Seas Cthulhu, and Vile Things.

For DarkFuse and its imprints, he has written the bestselling The Underdwelling, the Readers Choice-Nominated novella Fear Me, Puppet Graveyard as well as Long Black Coffin.

Find him on the web at: www.corpseking.com.

Reviews

[RedemptionDenied · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant!! I enjoyed this as much as the first book. I really hope Tim Curran decides to write Hive 3, as I'd really like know how it all ends......though, judging by the first two books, probably not good....

[ᴥ Irena ᴥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

Hive 2: The Spawning is way better than its predecessor. It is overwhelming, though.

A lot happens here. A lot.

This time the plot isn't only centred around one place or one group of people. There is one primary station (the Clime Station where most of the book takes place) and a likeable protagonist Nicky Coyle, who is not a scientist at all, but a cook. With him you have a group of people you really want to live through whatever is out there. The book also takes you to various other places scattered around Antarctica with their own particular lovecraftian problems. As I said, a lot happens in this book.

Hive 2: The Spawning is an improved modern version of At the Mountains of Madness partly combined with The Dreams in the Witch House. The author seamlessly incorporated witch stories with the horror of the Old Ones. However, this wouldn't be a Tim Curran story without gory details. Some of it is pretty disgusting. Something for everyone.
I even felt sorry for a Shoggoth at one point, can you imagine?

The protagonists beat the monsters in the last chapter. It is not just implied that the Old Ones are awake and the harvest will start soon. The epilogue with those unknown characters was unnecessary.

Overall, I could poke holes in this book, but I won't. Even with the flaws, I like it.

[Brian G Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insane!

I don't have much to say other than READ THIS RIGHT NOW! If you want cosmic monsters, poltergeist, creepy descriptions, a quasi Thing-style read, than this book is for you.

[Kaisersoze · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mixed bag of a second novel in the Hive series (that nevertheless manages to be superior to its predecessor, Hive) The Spawning packs numerous nightmarish scenes of visceral horror in with far too many under-developed characters that serve only to dilute the focus of what could have been a truly intense tale. Instead, the book suffers from a sputtering pace through the first two-thirds of its bulk.

Feeling every bit of its 385 pages as a result, and with a pay-off that seems to act largely as a spring-board to an as yet unpublished third novel, The Spawning is nevertheless brimming with imagination as it breathes new life into H. P. Lovecraft's At the Mountains of Madness and will likely appeal to fans of cosmic horror, J. W. Campbell's Who Goes There? and, if I'm permitted to mix mediums, John Carpenter's The Thing.

3 Parasitic Passengers for The Spawning.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent follow-up to Hive; actually better in many ways, which rarely happens with sequels. The writing is above par (aside from the usual Kindle problems), and it's lovely to have a novelist using 'big' words that make you reach for the dictionary rather than dumbing it down to the lowest common denominator. Story aside, both novels are full of interesting detail on Antarctic exploration, and have made me appreciate the bravery, strength and sheer doggedness of the early explorers in a way in which I never have before.

[Johann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Sequel

This takes place about 5 years after the first book,
The Great Old Ones are back and they continue their plan to reap what they have sowed.
Coyle is just a cook but he knows when things dont add up... Especially with rumors of the station 5 years ago and how that was all swept under the rug.
But now things seem less subtle and seem to be coming to a close... Behold the end is near..
Can be read as a standalone but do not recommend it... Get Hive and then read this one... Their both great!!!

[Sotiris Kosmas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid sequel to The Hive which is entertaining although meandering in parts. Perhaps an editor could have helped greatly for this one. Its mixture of disparate mythologies ( witchcraft) managed only to subtract instead of enhancing the themes of the book and was completely unnecessary. The conclusion leaves room for a third and final sequel which would be most welcome. All in all, it is enjoyable but it could have been so much greater

[Jeannie Sloan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book.It seems that the author's writing reminds me very much like Lovecrafts' only better.It's hard to explain what I mean by that but the prose is so full and ripe.It's just bursting through over the pages.It's very good and interesting.I wish I was a writer so I could tell you how much I loved this book.It also was very scary.Also I can see a third book in the Hive journey coming.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

HIVE 2, by Tim Curran, was definitely the book that HIVE 1 could have been but fell short of achieving. Bravo to the author for making such strides in achieving a well-edited product, with all of the scares and terror and gore of the first book, without all of tedious repetition. I loved this book and I'm glad I stuck it out the end. Highly recommended to anyone interested in great cosmic horror. This book is not only a worth successor of H.P. Lovecraft's AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS, it surpasses that classic upon which this novel is based.

[Susan Whitmarsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hive

I read both Hive books back to back. The story is good, and book two had less repetitive narrative. There are a few errors, including one character who changes names for a few paragraphs, and a great overuse of the word "Thing".
All in all I liked it, and Coyle and Gwen were fun characters.

[We All · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ottimo seguito de "le montagne della follia" di Lovecraft. Antartica claustrofobia ed orrore cosmico.

[Thomas Hobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as good as the first one. If you loved the movie The Thing this is your book to read.

[E. Artyom · Rating 2 out of 5]

Продолжение продолжения оказалось всё-таки хуже. И потому, что оно существенно длиннее, и потому, что, в отличие от упругого и динамичного предшественника, временами разваливается под собственными рыхлостью и вялостью с целью нагнетания suspense. После первого тома автору, скорее всего, указали на существенную для контекста "Хребтов Безумия" ошибку - отсутствие шогготов - и во второй он их, что называется, навалил. Сверху ещё "Снами в Ведьмином доме" присыпал, они вроде бы и уместно смотрятся, и в контекст введены адекватно, но всё равно кажутся лишними. Как итог, шёл вглубь, а получилось вширь. Да ещё и со смазанным и полузаброшенным финалом.

[Dave Pope · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with Book 1 - Hive - a difficult one to review. I enjoyed both books but was glad when I was done with them. This one is better than the first Book in the series in that there is a lot more action and less description. Perhaps I should have taken a break after Book 1 because taken as a whole the story kind of goes around and around and at times it was like I was reading a science text book about Alien architecture and Alien paleontology.
Nevertheless, it was a good story similar in many ways to the movie "The Thing" which for me is an absolute horror classic.

[Luvreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Spawning,Book two,the sequel to The Hive is better than the first I'm happy to report.Curran toned down his descriptiveness ,cut some of the repetitiveness out,and moved along more smoothly in this sequel.Grabs you right off the bat with a chilling beginning.If you love the arctic (or antarctic) and science fiction and horror,you will love this sequel.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

For fans of 'At The Mountains Of Madness' Read 'Hive' first.

[CARRIE BAKER · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable

Enjoyable

good sequel to first volume. can't decide if there will be a follow up but there should be. Will watch for it.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

It feels like a must read for fans of the The Thing and anyone looking for some eldritch horror. Sequel is a must for those that finished the first but didn't draw me in as much as the first.

[John R. Dailey Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A FINE TALE OF TERROR IT IS...

Hello, this is one hell of a ride. Extremely well written and entertaining. Creepy to the nth degree. We need more stories like this. Thanks.