The Survivor (Cain novel)
Encyclopedia
The Survivor is the second novel of the Samuel Carver series by English
thriller writer, Tom Cain
, released on 7th July 2008 through Bantam Press
. The novel was (somewhat paradox
ically) released under the title No Survivors to the American audience.
The story centres round McCabe attempting to obtain one of many lost Russian suitcase nuke
s in an effort to instigate the nuclear holocaust
so as to bring about the rapture
; Carver aims to stop him.
The Daily Mail
called the novel a "burst of pure adrenaline" and stated the novel delivered "breathless reading.". This view was mirrored by Australian newspaper The Weekly Times, who stated that the book is "a complicated, complex and entertaining thriller.". Writing for The Star-Ledger
, Glenn Speer stated that "The action moves at a rapid clip due to Cain's short, snappy chapters that no doubt will ... enrapture his fans.". Publishers Weekly
were less effusive in their praise, simply stating that "most thriller fans will enjoy this roller-coaster action adventure ride.".
Jeremy Jehu, reviewing for The Daily Telegraph
gave the novel a mixed review, stating "it's good, but saving the world just doesn't resonate like offing the People's Princess
.", however also notes the difficulty in following up such a storyline. Sue Gammon, in a review for Australian Broadcasting Corporation
of Australia, awarded the novel a rating of two and a half stars out of five, stating Cain's writing "isn't as polished as Childs
", although she does go on to note that this is only Cain's second novel. She also states that she found the scenes concerning the relationship between Carver and Petrova to be "where the plot drags"; she does, however, praise the novels action scenes.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
thriller writer, Tom Cain
Tom Cain (author)
David Thomas , better known by the pen name Tom Cain, is an English journalist and author of a series of thriller novels based around the fictional character Samuel Carver.-Biography:...
, released on 7th July 2008 through Bantam Press
Bantam Press
Bantam Press is an imprint of Transworld Publishers which is a British publishing division of Random House.It is based on Uxbridge Road in Ealing near Ealing Broadway station, the same address as Transworld....
. The novel was (somewhat paradox
Paradox
Similar to Circular reasoning, A paradox is a seemingly true statement or group of statements that lead to a contradiction or a situation which seems to defy logic or intuition...
ically) released under the title No Survivors to the American audience.
Plot
The novel opens with Samuel Carver masquerading as a maintenance man sabotaging the executive jet of wealthy Texan businessman Waylon McCabe. The sabotage fails and McCabe begins to suspect that he was the target of an assassination as opposed to a victim of a freak accident. The novel then jumps forward to continue the story of Cain's first novel, The Accident Man. Carver is recovering in a Swiss hospital and attempting to regain his memories, lost during the particularly intense torture sustained at the hand of the previous books villain during his rescue of his lover, Alix Petrova.The story centres round McCabe attempting to obtain one of many lost Russian suitcase nuke
Suitcase nuke
A suitcase nuke is a tactical nuclear weapon which uses, or is portable enough that it could use, a suitcase as its delivery method. Synonyms include suitcase bomb, backpack nuke, mini-nuke, pocket nuke and snuke....
s in an effort to instigate the nuclear holocaust
Nuclear holocaust
Nuclear holocaust refers to the possibility of the near complete annihilation of human civilization by nuclear warfare. Under such a scenario, all or most of the Earth is made uninhabitable by nuclear weapons in future world wars....
so as to bring about the rapture
Rapture
The rapture is a reference to the "being caught up" referred to in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, when the "dead in Christ" and "we who are alive and remain" will be caught up in the clouds to meet "the Lord"....
; Carver aims to stop him.
Reception
The novel was relatively well received, with reviewers praising the novels intense action scenes and complicated plot. Other critics of the novel cite Carver's relationship with Petrova and the impact of the first novel's subject material to be the main detractions.The Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
called the novel a "burst of pure adrenaline" and stated the novel delivered "breathless reading.". This view was mirrored by Australian newspaper The Weekly Times, who stated that the book is "a complicated, complex and entertaining thriller.". Writing for The Star-Ledger
The Star-Ledger
The Star-Ledger is the largest circulated newspaper in the U.S. state of New Jersey and is based in Newark. It is a sister paper to The Jersey Journal of Jersey City, The Times of Trenton and the Staten Island Advance, all of which are owned by Advance Publications.The Newark Star-Ledgers daily...
, Glenn Speer stated that "The action moves at a rapid clip due to Cain's short, snappy chapters that no doubt will ... enrapture his fans.". Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
were less effusive in their praise, simply stating that "most thriller fans will enjoy this roller-coaster action adventure ride.".
Jeremy Jehu, reviewing for The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
gave the novel a mixed review, stating "it's good, but saving the world just doesn't resonate like offing the People's Princess
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
.", however also notes the difficulty in following up such a storyline. Sue Gammon, in a review for Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
of Australia, awarded the novel a rating of two and a half stars out of five, stating Cain's writing "isn't as polished as Childs
Lee Child
Jim Grant , better known by his pen name Lee Child, is a British thriller writer. His wife Jane is a New Yorker, and they currently live in New York state. His first novel, Killing Floor, won the Anthony Award for Best First Novel....
", although she does go on to note that this is only Cain's second novel. She also states that she found the scenes concerning the relationship between Carver and Petrova to be "where the plot drags"; she does, however, praise the novels action scenes.