Hell's Horizon (novel)
| Author | Darren Shan |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | The City Book Trilogy |
| Genre | Adult novel, Horror novel |
| Publisher | Harper Collins |
|
Publication date
|
March 2009 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 353 |
| Followed by | City of the Snakes |
Hell's Horizon is a novel written by Darren Shan, first published in 2000, with a modified version re-published March 2009, with significant changes made by the author. It is the second book in Shan's The City Book Trilogy, being preceded by Procession of the Dead and followed by City of the Snakes.
The story runs parallel to its predecessor, Procession of the Dead. Hell's Horizon was re-released in January 2011 in the US.
The story begins with Al Jeery, an African American soldier, going on a fishing trip with his best friend Bill Casey. He soon returned to the city and went to work as a soldier serving under the Troops, the personal guards of an extremely powerful man known as 'the Cardinal'. As soon as he returned, he was summoned by the latter, who asked him to investigate a weird murder case that occurred in the Skylight Hotel.
Al became motivated to be involved as soon as he learnt that his girlfriend, Nicola Hornyak, was the victim of the murder and was brutally treated. As Al proceed with his investigations, he uncovered the truth behind his past as he slowly drifted into the world of madness.
Al Jeery – An African American soldier serving in the Troops. He was very intelligent and loyal to his friends, constantly relying on careful plannings and willing to protect those around him. However, he seemed to have some problems with father complex, close relationships and alcohols. In general, he didn't have very good mental health. In the midst of the story, he was revealed to be the son of Paucar Wami, thus making him a human-Ayuamarcan hybrid. Unlike his father, Al had a conscience, and didn't take any joy in killing. He was the one of the two main protagonists of 'City of the Snakes', and didn't appear in the first book.
Paucar Wami – An elite assassin working for the Cardinal. He was very sadistic, often took great joy in killing and inventing new torture methods. In the middle of the story, he was revealed to be Al's long-lost father. He was an Ayuamarcan, and the only one who is fertile. He aided Al's investigation by helping him trail the suspects (with Al pressing him not to kill or torture them). Later, it was revealed that he wanted Al to take over his 'career' as a killer, but his son wasn't willing to do so. He made major appearance all three books and was the only character in the trilogy that had this honor.
The Cardinal – The most powerful and influential man in the city. His real name was 'Ferdinand Dorak'. He assigned Al to investigate the murder because he wasn't pleased that something like that happened in a hotel which was supposedly under his control. He could act in a childish manner in his spare time. He was one of the central characters in the first book and a minor one in 'City of the Snakes'.
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