Dave's Hobby Shop Book Department  

Title:  The Forbidden Zone  

Author: Whitley Strieber
Edition: NA
ISBN: 0-451-40487-4
Date: 1993/4
Publisher: Onyx Printing
Binding: Soft Cover
Size approximately (inches): 4-1/4 x 6-3/4
Pages: 415

Book Condition: Good. Previously owned. Some toning

Special Notes: NA

About the book*:

The Forbidden Zone by Whitley Strieber, a chilling Lovecraftian horror novel from 1993:

📖 Synopsis

Physicist Brian Kelly, still mourning the tragic loss of his first wife and child in a lab accident, has largely withdrawn from his research. Living in the quiet town of Oscola, New York, Brian and his pregnant wife Loi start hearing unearthly screams coming from a nearby mound—an otherwise serene gathering place for the community 

Their investigation—and subsequent excavation—reveals only dirt, but the screams grow louder and more terrifying. Soon, bizarre horrors begin to emerge: luminous, wasp-like fireflies that overwhelm townsfolk with suffering and ecstasy, victims unearthed in grotesque metamorphoses into grub-like creatures, and even a sinister entity haunting motorists in a Dodge Viper 

Brian connects these events to his earlier physics experiments, theorizing that the mound acts as a rift in spacetime—an entryway to a “forbidden zone” where ancient, demonic forces lurk. Joined by allies (including a journalist and a local cop), he mounts a frantic defense against an encroaching army of nightmarish creatures .

🌑 Themes & Style

• Lovecraftian Revival: The novel is a direct homage to H.P. Lovecraft, echoing cosmic horror and creeping dread. Strieber refines this with tighter prose and heightened gore 

• Psychological & Physical Terror: Combines horrifying transformations, body horror, and emotional anguish as neighborhood residents fall under the zone’s influence .

• Community at Stake: The small-town setting lends intimacy—ordinary people versus unknowable evil.

• Surge of Suspense: A slower buildup of unease gives way to intense action and a dramatic climactic showdown .

📝 Reception

• Publishers Weekly praised its vivid imagery and relentless pace, noting that Strieber “borrows liberally from his malignant muse” while delivering ample suspense

• The Roanoke Times highlighted Strieber’s success in channeling Lovecraft’s eerie essence without veering into cliché 

• Readers often describe it as a "monster mash" or “creepy and gross in the best way,” though some criticize a slower resolution in the latter half 

✅ Bottom Line

The Forbidden Zone is a visceral, modern update on classic cosmic horror. It taps into primal fears—ancient evils, physical mutation, and the fragility of small-town safety. If you appreciate striking horror visuals within a psychological, small-town setting, this novel delivers an immersive and memorable experience.

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From W5SWL

*AI is used to present modern description content. Subject to review and possible inaccuracy.