Contagious

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Contagious
Contagiouscover.jpg
Title Contagious
Publisher Crown Publishing
Published December 30, 2008
Pages 448
ISBN 978-0307406316
Podcasted 2008-2009
ScottSigler.com Page

Contagious is a thriller / science fiction novel by American author Scott Sigler, and the sequel to Infected. It is the second book in the Infected Trilogy. As with previous novels, Scott Sigler has preceded the release of the hardcover novel with the podcast version of the novel. The first episode of the podcast version was released on December 7, 2008.

Synopsis

Across America, a mysterious pathogen transforms ordinary people into raging killers, psychopaths driven by a terrifying, alien agenda. The human race fights back, yet after every battle the disease responds, adapts, using sophisticated strategies and brilliant ruses to fool its pursuers. The only possible explanation: the epidemic is driven not by evolution but by some malevolent intelligence.

Standing against this unimaginable threat is a small group, assembled under the strictest secrecy. Their best weapon is hulking former football star Perry Dawsey, left psychologically shattered by his own struggles with this terrible enemy, who possesses an unexplainable ability to locate the disease’s hosts. Violent and unpredictable, Perry is both the nation’s best hope and a terrifying liability. Hardened CIA veteran Dew Phillips must somehow forge a connection with him if they’re going to stand a chance against this maddeningly adaptable opponent. Alongside them is Margaret Montoya, a brilliant epidemiologist who fights for a cure even as she reels under the weight of endless horrors.

These three and their team have kept humanity in the game, but that’s not good enough anymore, not when the disease turns contagious, triggering a fast countdown to Armageddon. Meanwhile, other enemies join the battle, and a new threat — one that comes from a most unexpected source — may ultimately prove the most dangerous of all.

Characters

Government Officials

Name Information Episodes Seen
John Gutierrez President of the United States of America Ep. 1, 2
Vanessa Coleburn Chief of Staff Ep. 1, 2
Donald Martin Secretary of Defense Ep. 1, 2
Murray Longworth Deputy Director of the CIA Ep. 1, 2
Margaret Montoya CDC Epidemiologist Ep. 1
Amos Braun CDC Epidemiologist Ep. 1
Dew Phillips CIA Operative Ep. 1, 2
Clarence Otto CIA Operative Ep. 1

Other Characters

Perry Dawsey Victim of the infection Ep. 1, 2
Charlotte Wilson Victim of the infection Ep. 1
Chelsea Jewell Victim of the secondary infection (Main Antagonist) Ep. 2

The Exterminators (DOMREC)

Charlie Ogden Colonel, Head of the Exterminators Ep. 1, 2
Jeff Cope Corporal, Communication's Officer Ep. 1, 2, 3
Lucas Mazagadi Sgt. Major, NCO Ep. 1
David Lodge Captain Ep. 1
Devon "Nails" Neilson Sgt. Major Ep. 1
James Eager Sergeant, Fire Team Leader Ep. 16
Alan Roark Private Ep. 21

Novel Research

In a previous podcast, Sigler has mentioned that he has plot "advisors" including members of the U.S. armed services, a PHD candidate in Biology, and "someone who works with satellites" (whose actual job is apparently too sensitive to be revealed). He also stated that he is seeking an expert on quantum entanglement and communication.

Release Schedule

Infected has been translated into several languages. For a full listing, visit the Translations Page.

Print

Cover Art Edition Country Release Date Site
Contagiouscover.jpg
1st Ed. Hardcover United States December 30, 2008 Amazon.com U.S.
ContagiousCoverUK.jpg
1st Ed. Paperback United Kingdom August 20, 2009 Amazon.co.uk
Contagious USPB.gif
1st Ed. Paperback United States December 29, 2009 Amazon.com U.S.
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1st Ed. Paperback Germany January 1, 2010 Amazon.de Germany

Audio

Cover Art Edition Country Release Date Site
ContagiousPodcastCoverArt.jpg
2008 Podcast Audio Release Worldwide (Internet) December 7, 2008 Podiobooks.com

Promotional Efforts

Exterminators Patch Contest

Designed by junkie Jennifer Wills

A contest was held where the object was to design the patch used by the DOMREC team nicknamed The Exterminators. Scott Sigler announced the winner on November 5, 2008 in a congratulatory blog post. The winner was a junkie by the name of Jennifer Wills who can be found on the forums at scottsigler.com with the user name of cruzbabe63. Her winning design is pictured at right. Her winning submission earned her several prizes among which was a signed first-edition of Contagious in hardcover.

Characters Named for Fans

Similar to the novel Nocturnal, author Scott Sigler’s novel Contagious includes randomly chosen fans who have characters named after them. The luckiest of these fans will also have their character die a horrific and untimely death as the novel progresses. The following list of names can be found on the Contagious Fan Character page.

Poster Promotion

In his innovative style author Scott Sigler ran a unique promotional campaign on December 16, 2008. In order to generate awareness of the upcoming release of the horror novel Contagious, there were twelve unique promotional posters released, each hinting at a key phrase or plot point. If you put all twelve of these high-resolution, printable posters together in the right order, you can see Perry's final, doom-filled vision.

Each site featured one poster design only. Here are links to the posters for each site:

Poster Number Description Website
01 Contagious SpankySpoon.jpg
1 Spanky Spoon J.C. Hutchins.net
02 Contagious BlueTriangleBarbie.jpg
2 Pretty Pretty Dolly io9.com
03 Contagious GetTested.jpg
3 Get Tested Before it's Too Late
04 Contagious NotTheBoss.jpg
4 You're Not the Boss of Me BoingBoing
05 Contagious 20Bucks.jpg
5 Twenty Bucks Says He Kills You
06 Contagious OptionNumberFour.jpg
6 What is Option Number Four? Bad Astronomy
07 Contagious MadeOfMean.jpg
7 Made of Mean
08 Contagious TrafficControl.jpg
8 TrafficControl Chris Brogan
09 Contagious HelpYou.jpg
9 I Want to Help You
10 Contagious NumbersUp.jpg
10 When Your Number's Up...
11 Contagious PresentForYou.jpg
11 I've Got a Present For You
12 DOMREC Wants.jpg
12 The DOMREC Wants YOU Scott Sigler

Contagious Book Tour

Following the success of the Sigler Stank Tour to promote the release of the novel Infected, author Scott Sigler is taking to the road again to promote the release of the sequel Contagious. The following schedule is the confirmed tour dates and locations.

Date Time City, State Location
3 Jan 2008 2:00pm San Francisco, California M is for Mystery Bookstore
6 Jan 2008 7:00pm Seattle, Washington U-Village Barnes & Noble
10 Jan 2008 3:00pm San Francisco, California Borderlands Books
13 Jan 2008 8:00pm Denver, Colorado Tattered Cover Bookstore
14 Jan 2008 7:00pm Phoenix, Arizona Changing Hands Bookstore
15 Jan 2008 6:30pm Houston, Texas Murder by the Book
16 Jan 2008 7:00pm Dallas, Texas Borders Books & Music
17 Jan 2008 7:00pm Minneapolis, Minnesota Magers & Quinn
19 Jan 2008 7:00pm Chicago, Illinois The Book Stall
20 Jan 2008 7:00pm New York City, New York Borders at Columbus Circle
21 Jan 2008 7:30pm Falls Church, Virginia Borders at Bailey's Crossroads

Accolades

Awards

FoundersChoice 2009.gif
2009 - Recipient of the Founder's Choice Award from Podiobooks.com
ParsecFinalist2009.jpg
2009 - Finalist for the Parsec Award in Best Speculative Fiction Story (Long Form / Novel)
OHPsilver.jpg
2010 - Recipient of the Our History Project Literary Excellence Award in Best Audio Book - Silver Award

Quotes

A host of well respected authors and news outlets were kind enough to provide quotes in reference to the print version of ontagious. Here is what they had to say:

“An inventive, amped-up yarn . . . full of pressure-cooker mind games.”
—Entertainment Weekly
“A marvel of gonzo, in-your-face, up-to-the-minute terror. Sigler is masterful at grabbing the reader by the throat and refusing to let go.”
—Lincoln Child, New York Times bestselling author of Deep Storm
“Fraught with tension . . . Invasion of the Body Snatchers meets The Hot Zone.”
—Rocky Mountain News
“Part Stephen King, part Chuck Palahniuk . . . a pulpy masterpiece of action, terror, and suspense.”
—James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of The Judas Strain
“Riveting . . . leads the reader from one startling detail to the next . . . a terrifying page-turner.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Powerfully written . . . [with] an unforgettable central character. You’ll never listen to Cole Porter’s ‘I’ve Got You Under My Skin’ the same way again.”
—Dallas Morning News
“Once begun, not easily put down . . . leaves the reader’s heart still racing when the last page is turned.”
—Roanoke Times

Theme Music

The podcast version of Contagious used the song Perfect Day to Die by the band The Transfer. For a comprehensive list of music used in the podcast versions of Scott's works, refer to the Theme Music page.

Episode Downloads

Episode Number Download Link Podcast Date Online (PDF) Link
Episode 1 Download December 7, 2008 Download
Episode 2 Download December 15, 2008 Download
Episode 3 Download December 21, 2008 Download
Episode 4 Download December 28, 2008 Download
Episode 5 Download January 5, 2009 Download
Episode 6 Download January 11, 2009 Download
Episode 7 Download January 18, 2009 Download
Episode 8 Download January 25, 2009 Download
Episode 9 Download February 2, 2009 Download
Episode 10 Download February 7, 2009 Download
Episode 11 Download February 15, 2009 Download
Episode 12 Download February 23, 2009 Download
Episode 13 Download March 1, 2009 Download
Episode 14 Download March 8, 2009 Download
Episode 15 Download March 15, 2009 Download
Episode 16 Download March 21, 2009 Download
Episode 17 Download March 29, 2009 Download
Episode 18 Download April 5, 2009 Download
Episode 19 Download April 12, 2009 Download
Episode 20 Download April 19, 2009 Download
Episode 21 Download April 26, 2009 Download
Episode 22 Download May 3, 2009 Download
Episode 23 Download May 10, 2009 Download
Episode 24 Download May 17, 2009 Download
Episode 25 Download May 24, 2009 Download
Episode 26 Download May 31, 2009 Download

See Also

External links

Novels by Scott Sigler

Aliens: Phalanx • Alive • Alight • Alone • EarthCore • Mount Fitz Roy • Ancestor • Descendant • Infected • Contagious • Pandemic • The Rookie • The Starter • The All-Pro  • The MVP • The Champion • The Gangster • The Crypt • Nocturnal