The origins of this one are simple - I heard two news reports on the same day.
The first was about a sinkhole in small town USA.
The second was about a strange inexplicable hum plaguing a large area of country.
I wondered... what if they were both in the same place?
From there it was only a short distance to the town, a roadside bar and diner, and a couple of odd-job men down on their luck and about to literally fall into a hole filled with their worst fears.
Soon the terror spreads, the town is cut off, and a band of survivors must find a means of escape...before their fear consumes them all.
It starts with a hum that brings headaches and nosebleeds to the inhabitants of a sleepy country town. The next morning a sinkhole is noticed on a local landowner's property. In that first day the town doctor tends to an increasing stream of patients, and the Sheriff tries to handle an ever growing subsidence problem. Two workmen, Fred and Charlie, are almost the first fatalities, working on the edge of the sinkhole when a fresh collapse begins, one that signals the start of holes forming all over town.
Soon the town is a disaster zone of collapsed houses, roads and lost people. And reports start to come in of things in the holes. strange reports that vary wildly dependent on the persons seeing the phenomena.
Things get worse. When the survivors try to flee the town, they find that the authorities have barricaded them in, and are shooting anyone who tries to leave. A small band take refuge in a local diner, hostage to both the CDC and more frequent visits from the creatures coming up out of the holes.
The matter comes to a climax when 6 survivors descend into the collapsed area, trying to survive while facing their worst fears, and looking for a way to save what is left of their town. Sacrifices have to be made.
But will they be enough?
There is no doubt in my mind that Mr. Meikle is one of the premier storytellers of our time. The Hole is one hell of a story, a fun ride and a blast to read. If you are looking for some good summer entertainment, don't turn on the idiot box, pick up a copy of "The Hole", find yourself a nice tree to sit under and get lost in the magic of a great story. The Hole will certainly be time well spent and I highly recommend it.- Famous Monsters of Filmland
At the centre of this fabulous story is a pounding pulp rhythm, onto which Meikle has layered a philharmonic gemstone of plots, characters, and thrills to create a triumphant symphonic masterpiece of modern genre writing. - Ginger Nuts of Horror
Another tour de force of pulp fiction from the imagination of the best purveyor of out and out genre fiction currently plying their trade. - Dark Musings
William Meikle should be a household name if this is the sort of rip roaring story he produces. - The Horrifically Horrifying Horror Blog
A seriously creepy thriller – lights on for this one!- CAYOCOSTA72 Book Reviews
This is an intelligent and well-rounded horror story even with its tip of the cap to “The invasion of the body snatchers” and its pod people. Meikle shows adeptness in handling the story as he takes it right to the edge of absurdity but keeps from crossing that line. This is the first book that I have read by Meikle but I can guarantee that it will definitely not be the last. - Examiner.com
