The Fading

by Christopher Ransom

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU COULD BECOME INVISIBLE?A GIFTSince childhood, Noel Shaker has been able to disappear, without warning or explanation.A CURSEBut his gift leaves Noel alone and afraid - and the more he tries to control it, the nearer he comes to madness.A DISCOVERYWhen Noel learns that some people can see him - and that his power has unleashed an otherworldly evil - he must discover the source of his 'fading'. But the truth is dark and dangerous - an unpredictable, shocking twist unlike any you have ever read.From the internationally bestselling author of The People Next Door comes a story worthy of Stephen King - a story of terror like you've never seen.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Fantasy, Thriller, Supernatural

Hardcover

First published June 1, 2012

About the author

Christopher Ransom is the author of internationally bestselling novels including The Birthing House and The People Next Door. He studied literature at Colorado State University and worked at Entertainment Weekly magazine in New York, and now lives near his hometown of Boulder, Colorado.

Reviews

[KC · Rating 1 out of 5]

It honestly amazes me how some things get published, it really does. This is the worst book I have read in a very long time, I couldn't even finish it it was that bad (and I am very persistent usually). It's very, very badly written- all exposition, lazy and clumsy. Characters are poorly fleshed-out rip offs from Stephen King novels based on stereotypes- the unambiguous doting mother, the works-all-the-hours-god-sends-to-provide-for-his-family father. The gossipy old lady from across the street... Oh, it's so crap it makes me angry. Some rip-offs are much more blatant, for example- the 'baddy' a clown-esque supernatural being called 'Dimples', Pennywise anyone? The author even tries to mimic King's tone and style but fails horribly.
The author is marketed as being the new Stephen King- well either the publishers think readers have had some kind of mass lobotomy or they're hoping that's enough to con people in to buying a crap book that they won't realise is crap until they get home and start to read it.

[Sarah-Jayne Briggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, so I don't normally read horror books. Not because I wimp out (although one adult horror I read as a child still freaks me out to this day and there's no way I ever want to be reminded of it again), but because I find that they're normally not well done enough. There's a fine balance between a book with too much horror and a book with not enough.

I was actually kind of disappointed in this book. I thought it started far too early and it took a while to get to the actual plot. I think a lot of the first half of the book could have been condensed down and the plot at the end expanded upon, but to be honest, I think the whole thing with Dalton could have taken up so much more of the book.

There were some fairly good creepy moments, but I personally felt they were few and far between. With a few exceptions, it came across as a young adult paranormal book, which wasn't the impression I got from the front cover or reading the blurb.

All in all, I think I can say I enjoyed reading the book, but I probably wouldn't read it again - at least not any time soon. The characters were interesting, but I couldn't quite believe in Noel's growth - and for part of the book, I just wasn't that sympathetic towards him.

So... interesting, but not quite enough. If I'm able to, I might give more of his books a try, though, so that's a plus.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing yet philosophically disturbing!

Ransom has taken a seemingly un-horrific idea and transformed it into a nightmarish disposition. The main character is born with a talent that he's yet to understand and like many homosapiens, he uses this power selfishly. As with any talents there is always a down side and when Noel Shaker tries to gain control of his gift,he unwittingly releases an otherwordly evil.

Written with such aplomb, I was left reeling with indecision after finishing this book. I fear that this type of Horror has been done rather better by authors such as Clive Barker however there is still a place on my shelf for Christopher Ransom. Did I enjoy reading it? Yes! Would I recommend it? Yes!

[Siobhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my personal opinion, after reading all of Christopher Ransom’s books, this is his best piece of work and hasn’t been giving the recognition that his other books (particularly The Birthing House and The People Next Door) have been given.

If you’ve read any of his other books I would most certainly recommend this one – or if this is your first Christopher Ransom book it’s a good place to start. The plot is easy to keep up with, keeping you gripped until the very end. It offers you a lot to think about as you come to love the main character more with every chapter. It is a book I’ve let numerous friends borrow and all have come back loving it, even those who usually avoid this genre. It is a book I've happily read many times over, loving it every time.

A must read!

[Mickey · Rating 3 out of 5]

"His change, if it could be called such, happened and unhappened too quickly for the human eye to record. The in-between was a silent aberration. And so it was that, for lack of a witness to the event, no one would ever know it had found him so young. Or that it was only beginning to form an attachment to him."

A story that follows Noel from before he is even born, from the first time he "fades." His mother is the first to notice, when he keeps disappearing from her arms during feeds. She puts it down to lack of sleep at first, but as Noah grows, she knows there is something special about him. Unfortunately, keeping his secret and not understanding it sends her mad, and she soon leaves Noah alone to fend for himself. Once Noah is in his twenties, he realises he is not the only person who can do what he does, and he isn't the only person who knows about their abilities.

My thoughts on this one changed a few times, and I was really unsure how to rate it. It started slow, but the story was great and kept me wanting to read. But somewhere along the lines, it lost me a little. It's not that it isn't a good book, it just wasn't gripping me the same way and I found myself rushing to finish it just so I could move on to my next read.
This was my first from this author, but I'll definitely try one of his other books.

[Dark-Draco · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm! I'm still not sure what to make of this book. To me, it was actually three different stories and somehow lacked any real cohesion, excepting the fact that the same character was the focus throughout.

The first part of the book is a kind of mish-mash of timelines, as we meet Noel and find out about his strange affliction. He disappears completely, so not even he can see himself, which has serious consequences for his family and those around him. It's a bit confusing following between the different flashbacks and the present, but you do get the impression of a sad, anxious and ultimately lonely young man.

The second part is more action-packed. Noel meets another Fader, but Dalton isn't a very nice guy. Cue lots of chases, double dealing, murders and threatening behaviour. This part of the book felt more like a story and is largely the reason for the stars it's earned. Although there isn't a huge amount of justification to what happens, at least its intriguing - how do you run and hide from someone you can't see?

And then the last part of the book is just weird - government agents, drugged airline passengers and a dodgy job offer. This had potential, but actually seemed tacked on as an afterthought. In fact, I think that was my main issue with the book - the pacing and planning of the story just didn't seem complete, as if this was a first draft that needed editing a bit more to tighten up.

And then there's the whole imaginary friend / ghosts / lost spirit angle. This was an interesting and vaguely scary thing at the beginning (and largely kept me reading), was expanded on a little in the middle when Noel helps one spirit and then is attacked by some more .... then seems to be forgotten. Was there any point to it? It didn't seem to be linked to why Noel could disappear or how he did it, so why include this weird snippet?

So an ok read, but on the ground of this I wouldn't rush out to read anything else by this author.

[Rob Damon · Rating 1 out of 5]

An interesting idea but the book failed to impress me. The main character was likable but the story line had no real strategy and seemed more like a gratuitous ride into the world of gambling/drugs/hideous people.

[Siobhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

i'd like to say i loved this book but i didnt i liked it!it was very slow and didnt really go anywhere! however i did finish it!

[Simon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I stuck to my rule of reading 150 pages before giving up. Just did nothing for me at all, couldn't get into it. Its a shame, really loved The People Next Door.

[Samuel Tyler · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are ever asked to choose between the super power of being able to fly or being invisible, always choose to fly. Not because being able to soar above the clouds would be awesome, but because going invisible makes you go insane quickly. If you don’t believe me there is a legacy of fiction telling you just that. H G Well’s had it covered in ‘The Invisible Man’ and Kevin Bacon went barmy in ‘The Hollow Man’ (the less said about Chevy Chase’s memoirs the better). Nope, going invisible messes with your mind, but can Noel Shaker break this trend?

Noel had been popping in and out of existence his entire live, even before he knew it. From the womb he would have seconds in which he could not be seen. As he grew older the power became a problem, the fear of suddenly disappearing in front of others meant that Noel led a solitary life. Can Noel somehow learn to control his powers and if he did what would be do? There seems to be plenty of easy money to be made in Vegas if no one can see you.

There are elements of Christopher Ransom’s ‘The Fading’ to enjoy. The character of Noel is one of them. I liked the fact that he was ambivalent to how people felt about him, this is a character who was quite happy to break the law if it gets him what he wants. I also like the put upon nature of the character. Events happen to him that are outside his influence, he is a pawn to fate. Reading about a character who is not a hero and makes mistakes is a nice change. The fading power itself is also interesting and shapes the narrative. The story of Noel’s life plays out as you would imagine, not one of glory, but fear of being caught. At times this almost feels more like a thriller about a criminal on the run, than horror.

It is when the book attempts to be horrific that things fall apart. There is enough tension in the book just reading about Noel trying to survive his affliction with nothing else added. However, as Ransom is seen mostly as a horror writer it appears he felt he had to crowbar in a horror element. When Noel becomes invisible he is noticeable to the undead who crave his help moving on. There are some intermittent ghosts seen throughput the book, but there is no real commitment to this element of the story or real conclusion. It feels like a complete waste of time for both the reader and the writer as it adds zero to the story.

The ghoul element of the story also introduces the human bad guy. A poorly realised and cartoonish character enters the book and takes things from a considered supernatural thriller into poorly written schlock action. The chase scene feels like it is from another book. If you were not confused enough by the move from Noel’s personal story into action, you will be even more confused when the world suddenly opens up. The final act of the book suggests that this tale was only a small part of a larger whole. However, rather than actually giving the reader the wider picture, Ransom slams the book shut. The ending is open for a sequel, but I prefer just to get the value in the book I am reading.

There is a nub of quality in ‘The Fading’ that is unfortunately lost due to the author’s slip back into conventional habits. When telling the unfortunate and gentle tale of Noel’s life the book is good, it out odds Thomas. However, the various ‘horror’ elements in the story are poor, both supernatural and human. The book would have been better served being a thrilling body horror book about a man facing his own powers, rather than all the flimflam that distracts.

[Carl · Rating 1 out of 5]

Having the ability to become invisible is an exciting prospect. The opportunities open to an individual (to do good or cause mischief!) are too great to count, but what if the cost of possessing that ability is that you cannot control it?

That is the case for Noel Shaker. Who, from birth, has been repeatedly plucked out of the visible spectrum, without warning, for periods of a few seconds up to a number of hours. Fearful of discovery and of the consequences he is sure would follow, Noel lives a solitary existence on the fringe of society, nurturing his fears and longing to build something akin to a normal life. It’s not until an encounter with somebody who can see him when invisible, that Noel begins to understand the nature of his ability and the horrors it can hide.

I must admit, in deference of the cliché, that I judged this book by its cover before even glancing over the opening pages. The blurb was enough to pique my curiosity, but the feeling that I would actually, really dislike this book was enough to relegate it to the back of a shelf to lay forgotten for the best part of a year before finally reading it. Ultimately that feeling proved close to the mark. Whilst I gave the book a fair chance, it was only my unwillingness to leave a book unread that saw me through to the end.

I found Noel’s conflict with his ability interesting, but the portrayal of the character ultimately bored me. Noel’s reaction to his situation felt natural (albeit he came across as too defeatist for my liking), but the events that drove the plot forwards felt too contrived, and with rare exception; quite dull. Because of that, certain situations Noel was placed in appeared to be mere afterthoughts, added in an attempt to provide excitement.

For me it felt like those situations were often left unresolved. A character would be introduced and then forgotten, or an event would occur but not be addressed again, leaving unanswered questions and plot threads dangling listlessly from the page. That said, the scenes in chapters 16-18 and 26 were very well thought out. Chapter 26 in particular was a good piece of contemporary horror. Also, the sub-plot introduced when Noel meets somebody able to see him when invisible was again deliberated, and entertaining. Had that been more prominent, at the expense of some of the material in the first third of the book, I believe the story would have been much more engaging.

I gave The Fading 2 stars because I do appreciate some of the ideas used within the book. Although I did struggle with it, certain plot elements redeemed it slightly, and I've not been entirely put off attempting another book by the author. I would, however, be hesitant in recommending it, instead I would steer horror fans toward King, and the fantastic weird tales by Lovecraft.

[C.L. Raven · Rating 1 out of 5]

We really don't like writing bad reviews, but this book can be summed up in two words - nothing happens. It follows Noel Shaker, who can turn invisible. Yet he does nothing with his ability. The book starts with a prologue of his birth and then gives the life story of the nurse in the delivery room, which was pointless as you never meet her in the book so we didn't care about her life. The prologue was also written in a detached way which made it hard to connect with.
The book sticks with Noel the entire way, which was a shame as he didn't have the personality to carry it off. He spends most of his life (and the book) hiding from the world because he can't control when he'll turn invisible. It's like he's never heard of ghosts. In today's world, ghosts would be people's first thought if they saw things move by themselves, or footsteps appearing in the snow, yet Noel believes if people find out, he'll be captured for research, despite having no evidence of this.
There was one scene where things looked like they might get interesting, involving a murdered family and...the author ended the chapter and left out the one scene that would have made the book worthwhile. At that point, we were so furious at being robbed, we almost stopped reading. It takes a lot to make us stop reading. So we carried on in the hope our efforts would be rewarded. They weren't. You have to wait 'til the end of the book for things to finally start happening. And then the book ends before anything substantial happens. The book would have been much better without the first three quarters and starting in the last quarter.
The premise mentions the more Noel uses his gift, the more evil he releases. Where was this evil? Taking a toilet break? Because it certainly didn't make an appearance.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book‘s cover informs me it is the scariest book of the year. It isn’t. There are a couple of hundred pages that are a really interesting look at the life of someone who vanishes and reappears without any control over it, feeling like a really interesting metaphor for disability. This is interspersed with ghost encounters, each encounter feeling very different (compare the clown, with the one that comes out the poster and the ones in the restaurant) making it feel a little like Ransom couldn’t quite make up his mind about exactly what relationship his protagonist was to have with the ghosts. While we’re on that, when you finish, ask yourself what the ghosts in the restaurant were talking about. What doors are opened for them and, if he’s not the only one, why were they so interested in him specifically? I, for one, have no idea. The last part of the book feels like Ransom suddenly remembered he was supposed to be writing a horror and put in a chase section that, while admittedly brilliant and engaging, felt a little out of sync with the rest of the book. There are brilliant bits and it’s not a bad read, it’s just a little all over the place and I didn’t get the scares I was hoping for.

[Tim Spindler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book and I wish I could award half stars, as this is deserving of a 3 and a half.
While not the best thing you'll ever read, the fading is a great story with strong characters, great plot twists, fine dialogue and enough scares to keep you turning the pages into the early hours of the morning.
One thing I must applaud is ransom's ability to scare the living sh*t out of you in a single page. A seemingly normal situation is quickly and seamlessly turned into a horrifying situation through beautifully descriptive text which creates an atmosphere so tangible it feels as though it's leaving the pages and entering the real world.
My only criticism of this story and the reason it doesn't quite hit the 4 star mark is that I feel some things were left unexplained at the end of the story, loose ends were tied up rather quickly and themes that were very evident earlier in the book are ignored all together.

Overall though I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and I'm sure I'll pick up another of Ransom's novels in the future.

***

[J.M. Rankin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although his endings tend to feel a bit rushed, I've over all enjoyed Ransom's other books. However, this one I just could not finish and I hate not finishing a book. I might try again at some point but for now it's a no go.
In all honesty the blurb sounded very similar to a book I've read by another well known author (which I genuinely enjoyed), but gave it the benefit of the doubt anyway. Bit of a mistake, as it was very slow to get started and I could not connect with the characters at all. One of the first scenes where Noel is 'playing' with his ability was split between Noel's and his mother's POV, which effectively was the same scene rewritten across too many pages, and instead of having the eerie effect I'm sure it was supposed to, I just got completely bored with no interest in continuing with the story.
As I say I might give this a go at a later date, but for now I can't bring myself to persevere with it.

[Alya Atiera · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars

I'm just glad I manage to finish it. It's quite a torture forcing yourself to read for so many times when all you want is to throw the book at the wall.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU COULD BECOME INVISIBLE?

A GIFT
Since childhood, Noel Shaker has been able to disappear, without warning or explanation.

A CURSE
But his gift leaves Noel alone and afraid - and the more he tries to control it, the nearer he comes to madness.

A DISCOVERY
When Noel learns that some people can see him - and that his power has unleashed an otherworldly evil - he must discover the source of his 'fading'. But the truth is dark and dangerous - an unpredictable, shocking twist unlike any you have ever read.

See. The synopsis sounds so good. I don't know why I can't enjoy it. Maybe the plot is just so draggy and frustrating.

[Simon West-Bulford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't believe the book deserves some of the scathing reviews it's received.
I liked the concept, and the opening chapter was creepy enough to keep me reading. While it's probably true to say that the characters surrounding Noel were at times bog standard, I didn't have a problem with this. I found Dalton to be really quite disturbingly drawn, and the climax between these two riveting. Yep, I like this one quite a lot. Kept me interested the whole way.

[Barbara Elsborg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars - I enjoyed it - a fast read, scary in places, very clever in others and always insightful. What would it be like if you sometimes disappeared - and weren't able to control when it happened? I think the author does a good job in making the reader think what it would be like to be in Noel's shoes. Reminiscent of King and Koontz and just as good in my opinion.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, it had some genuinely creepy moments and the action was fast enough to keep you hooked. As with Ransom's previous books, the writing was fluid, making it an easy read. My only criticism is that the end felt a bit like a rush-job, it kind of let the rest of the book down.

[Christopher Dodds · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great book with an interesting plot about how the character reacts to his ability and wrestles with the morality at times of how he should use it. It has some great moments of humour in it as well as some dark ones, but had a great if not the typical happy ending

[Mike Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

A canny book and really enjoyed it once fully got into it. If a book fails to really capture me after a few pages I'm a bit of a defeatist and give up. In this instance I'm glad I didn't. A well written and cracking storyline.

[Harvey Coates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Dark, exciting, and original. Some of the chapters scared the hell out of me. Unfortunately it does have a slightly rushed ending, but absolutely worth the read.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novel.I am wondering whether Christopher Ransom will be writing a follow on from 'The fading'..?..

[Patrick Kiernan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this but I didn't.

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

yes.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great premise well executed but found the pace of the book a bit uneven

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book one bit but I always perservere until the end as nine times out of ten it usually all fits into place and I then thoroughly enjoy it.

I just could not engage any interest in the main character Noel and at first I thought he had a split personality or was suffering from schizophrenia or both and then ghosts and vanishing was added and it just spiralled downwards and it was such a depressing and one would ask oneself why on earth did I waste my time and energy reading it in the first place.

I have read The People next door years ago and that was disappointing too but not as disappointing as The Fading.

[William Stafford · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and imaginative take on the idea of the Invisible Man gives this horror-thriller an edge. Ransom writes engagingly, instantly gripping the reader in this intriguing story: you're never quite sure where it's going but when it gets there, you feel as though you knew it would. The ending is like a coda, and feels a bit tagged on - in order to set up a sequel, perhaps - but this is an enjoyable ride.

[Soozee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be pure escapism! 'You can believe a man can fly', well in this one we believe a man can become invisible.

The story follows his life, his choices, how being invisible - albeit involuntarily - affects his relationships and what he becomes.

Its a pacy and entertaining read, and I enjoyed it very much.

[Maddy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was definitely NOT a good read for me.

The plot was a bit ridiculous and was very fragmented at times.

Usually come back to books even if I haven’t read for a couple days, but with this one it has taken nearly 2 months!

Wouldn’t suggest this.