Softly Walks the Beast

by Thomas O'D. Hunter

Something is creeping closer and closer. What does it want?

Five years after the nuclear holocaust, only fifteen people are alive on Earth. Children, teenagers, and adults have banded together in a small southern town - for love, companionship, and survival.

But now the little community is threatened. One by one they are being taken by - something. But what in God's name is it? What does it want? Why does it take the males first? How can the defenseless survivors stop this sickening, silent thing, this thing beyond the imaginable?

First published as a paperback, “Softly Walks the Beast” went into three reprints, selling over 50,000 copies and garnering rave reviews by the Los Angeles Times and Publishers Weekly, among others. This end-of-the-world page-turner takes place in the not-too-distant future. The story’s white-knuckle action centers on a dwindling community of smart and resourceful people on a college campus, struggling against the horrible and seemingly unstoppable after-effects of a nuclear war. Contaminated citizens turn into monstrous fungal mutants whose only purpose in life is to spread their disease. How can a small band of individuals in rural Georgia, no matter how determined they are, hope to defend themselves?

And what if they can't...?

Genres: Horror, Science Fiction

205 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1982

Reviews

[Krystelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book feels like two different halves of two different books were put into a blender and someone hoped for the best. The monster descriptions are pithy and lacking, and they simply don't go far enough to be able to be considered a proper horror novel. It has some end of the world vibes, but isn't detailed enough to pull it all up and together to bring the necessary compelling element it really needed. I just wanted this book to take it futher, and develop everything and everyone a little more- sadly, that didn't happen.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just had to add this book because I was obsessed w/ it when I was around the age of 13 or 14. I think I checked it out at least 3 times or more and would often look for it at library even when I wasn't interested in reading it anymore.

My memory is spotty due to the passage of time, but the story takes place after somekind of apocolypse/nuclear war and there are only a dozen or so people left in the U.S. That is...dun..dun...dun..until mutant humanoids starting crawling out of the woodwork seeking death and distruction.

Yes, yes..I admit that I liked and no I do not attend Star Trek conventions on a regular basis.

[Wayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A group of nuclear Holocaust survivors live in peace on an old Georgia University, five years on. Taking weekly shots to stave off radiation sickness. Unbeknownst to them are a bunch of fungaloid creatures are out to preserve there new species. In short, they want their women.

This starts off slow. Picks up a bit with some monster action. Then quickly drags on some more. The fungus creatures are nice. I just wish there was more of them throughout this book. The final onslaught was a Hugh let down. Not a bad end of the world novel. Just not enough action to lift it higher than three stars. For much better fungi fun, read The Fungus by Harry Adam Knight.

[Lew · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an OK monster and end of the world/apocalyptic story. I not much of a monster fan otherwise I might have rated it a 3. I'm end of world fan so I would have preferred more focus on this group of survivors and less on the creepy monsters.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good. I'm a sucker for post apocolyptic books and this combines that with horror. Quite enjoyable.

[Christopher Sewell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh...sad to have to say I am disappointed in the read...