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Growth
Corn is America's grain and the very stuff of life. Now, scientists have created a genetically modified strain that repels all pests. It also unknowingly contains the DNA of a rare species of fungus that is invasive, virulently infectious, and very deadly.
First, the fungus eats through your skin. Then, growths appear on your body, sprouting like hideously malignant mushrooms. Finally, the skin cracks and splits, releasing countless spores into the air. First you die—but the worst is still to come—the fungus uses your body. To kill. In a desperate attempt to check the invasion, millions of acres of cornfields have been burned down. But the epidemic has a relentless life of its own—and it will not be stopped.
In the small town of Sutter Creek, Illinois, a container of corn seeds has been planted—and a new strain of nightmare has been unleashed. This year's crop won't taste like any other.
This year's crop will eat you alive. And Sutter's Creek is ground zero for an epidemic that could destroy the world.
First, the fungus eats through your skin. Then, growths appear on your body, sprouting like hideously malignant mushrooms. Finally, the skin cracks and splits, releasing countless spores into the air. First you die—but the worst is still to come—the fungus uses your body. To kill. In a desperate attempt to check the invasion, millions of acres of cornfields have been burned down. But the epidemic has a relentless life of its own—and it will not be stopped.
In the small town of Sutter Creek, Illinois, a container of corn seeds has been planted—and a new strain of nightmare has been unleashed. This year's crop won't taste like any other.
This year's crop will eat you alive. And Sutter's Creek is ground zero for an epidemic that could destroy the world.
328 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
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419 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
July 17, 2016
I read this sometime last year - and it really was a fun book to read. It did put me off eating for a while though, for some reason.
September 1, 2014
if Stephen king had a threesome wither the movie "the thing" and the movie "slither" the bastard child would be this book, lots of good and bad points, cliches and obvious plot...also a unsatisfactory ending with a dreadful last chapter however I liked it a lot... well written (most of the time) some good characters and some really vile parts (bottom mushrooms) all in all a good read.
October 26, 2017
I really wanted to love this one but unfortunately it just ended up being too weird and unbelievable for me. I'm one of those people who enjoys "realistic" horror, meaning I need to feel like it could possibly happen for me to be into it. This book actually started out that way, I was sucked in from the beginning and found the idea of the fungus and the corn absolutely terrifying. But a little over half way he decided to add some elements to the story that I just couldn't find believable and so I just ended up losing interest. I would possibly check out something else by him in the future though.
July 30, 2014
First, let me say that I live in central Illinois. And I of course LOVED all of the central Illinois references. :)
My fiancee bought me this book for our anniversary. He buys me books that I don't typically go for myself, to broaden my reading spectrum. I love this arrangement we have. Because then I would never have read this story!!
It is about this seed that is manufactured to not need pesticides, it repels pests on its own. Great, right? WRONG! Something terribly WRONG happens and the site of generation because infected with a bacteria that causes a growth (hence the name of the novel) inside the body it inhabits.
Shift to central Illinois to the hometown of one of the executives that was a part of this whole thing. Being a good son, he sent his farmer father some of these seeds, touting how amazing they will be. So of course his father plants these seeds. Thus begins the raid of this bacteria on the small midwestern town of Parker's Mill, IL (totally fictional, I believe....).
I liked this book for many reasons. It took me back to junior high. That being said, it was very simply written. As in, a junior high kid could easily read this quickly. And I do not mean this as an insult at all. I am perfectly fond of easy to read books. I read them in between my Stephen King novels, or my Charles Dickens novels. And enjoy then just as much as those other books.
I also liked the descriptions. How Jacobson described what this bacteria growth looked like - made me laugh out loud as I ran up the stairs from my very dark and damp basement!!! I'll tell you, I am a 31 year old woman who begged her fiancee to follow her downstairs to do her laundry for fear that a three fingered, two toed, human body torsoed "growth" would eat her alive. Just like the book. Ha ha!
I enjoyed reading this book. I have added another of Mr. Jacobson's novels to my "To Read List." I say if you are looking for a change of pace, something to dive into for a couple days and entertain you (and perhaps scare you....), this is your book!
And Jeff Jacobson, if you read any of your reviews and are reading this one, I have to ask....I know you live in Chicago, but are you from downstate? Because your use of "Cardinal Country" leads me to believe so, however, mentioning a Rams fan has me believing otherwise, as my fiancee and myself are one of few Rams fans in these parts. ;)
My fiancee bought me this book for our anniversary. He buys me books that I don't typically go for myself, to broaden my reading spectrum. I love this arrangement we have. Because then I would never have read this story!!
It is about this seed that is manufactured to not need pesticides, it repels pests on its own. Great, right? WRONG! Something terribly WRONG happens and the site of generation because infected with a bacteria that causes a growth (hence the name of the novel) inside the body it inhabits.
Shift to central Illinois to the hometown of one of the executives that was a part of this whole thing. Being a good son, he sent his farmer father some of these seeds, touting how amazing they will be. So of course his father plants these seeds. Thus begins the raid of this bacteria on the small midwestern town of Parker's Mill, IL (totally fictional, I believe....).
I liked this book for many reasons. It took me back to junior high. That being said, it was very simply written. As in, a junior high kid could easily read this quickly. And I do not mean this as an insult at all. I am perfectly fond of easy to read books. I read them in between my Stephen King novels, or my Charles Dickens novels. And enjoy then just as much as those other books.
I also liked the descriptions. How Jacobson described what this bacteria growth looked like - made me laugh out loud as I ran up the stairs from my very dark and damp basement!!! I'll tell you, I am a 31 year old woman who begged her fiancee to follow her downstairs to do her laundry for fear that a three fingered, two toed, human body torsoed "growth" would eat her alive. Just like the book. Ha ha!
I enjoyed reading this book. I have added another of Mr. Jacobson's novels to my "To Read List." I say if you are looking for a change of pace, something to dive into for a couple days and entertain you (and perhaps scare you....), this is your book!
And Jeff Jacobson, if you read any of your reviews and are reading this one, I have to ask....I know you live in Chicago, but are you from downstate? Because your use of "Cardinal Country" leads me to believe so, however, mentioning a Rams fan has me believing otherwise, as my fiancee and myself are one of few Rams fans in these parts. ;)
November 9, 2015
I won this book in a Goodreads First Read's giveaway and it sat on my bookshelf for far too long (sorry, Mr. Jacobson). But I finally pulled it out and started reading. The first page was riveting, the first chapter went by in an instant. What a great story!
The megalith corporation that unleashes disaster on the unsuspecting populous is rife with greedy, arrogant old men so cocksure of themselves and their selfish desires that the entire world is in danger. No, the company isn't Monsanto (*wink wink nudge nudge*), but it certainly could be. Their genetically altered corn seeds harbor a mutant virus that not only kills every living creature around it, but hunts for more prey when everything in the area is dead or infected. And once this secret leaves the Caribbean Island hideout where they've been hatching their time bomb, the corporate criminals will stop at absolutely nothing to contain the damage and spread misinformation to cover their blunder.
Enter the small town of Parker's Mill, Illinois, a farm community nestled in the American heartland. The people here live safe, secure, predictable lives, that is until a misguided soul working for Greed, Inc. sends a packet of the "sample" seeds to his father as testament to the good work he's doing. The corporation sends an agent to the home of the farmer, ostensibly to help the family in their time of grief, but also to find out if the packet sent by their errant son contained contaminated seeds. Mr. Cochran is prepared to neutralize the situation and anyone who comes in contact with the viral corn.
The heroine of the story is the local sheriff, a young, single mother who knows how to handle herself and take care of business. It doesn't take Sheriff Chisel long to realize that something is very wrong in town. The tension builds as she follows the clues: mysterious disappearances of locals, animals and insects in a community formerly teeming with life.
I personally love the character of Sheriff Chisel, a tough, no-nonsense, 21st century woman living in a very traditional town where women raise children while their husbands raise crops. Her interactions with the County Sheriff, a pompous, misogynistic windbag with zero respect for a woman sheriff, finds him blocking her efforts at every turn as he refuses to cooperate with her in any way.
The story is packed with gut-clenching moments, and the "monsters" unleashed by the corn spores are about as grotesque as any horror reader could desire. Although the end was a bit weak, Mr. Jacobson does leave us wondering exactly how far the virus will spread before the corporation, backed by the military, will be able to contain it.
A great weekend read. Brew your coffee and settle into your favorite chair; you won't be disappointed.
The megalith corporation that unleashes disaster on the unsuspecting populous is rife with greedy, arrogant old men so cocksure of themselves and their selfish desires that the entire world is in danger. No, the company isn't Monsanto (*wink wink nudge nudge*), but it certainly could be. Their genetically altered corn seeds harbor a mutant virus that not only kills every living creature around it, but hunts for more prey when everything in the area is dead or infected. And once this secret leaves the Caribbean Island hideout where they've been hatching their time bomb, the corporate criminals will stop at absolutely nothing to contain the damage and spread misinformation to cover their blunder.
Enter the small town of Parker's Mill, Illinois, a farm community nestled in the American heartland. The people here live safe, secure, predictable lives, that is until a misguided soul working for Greed, Inc. sends a packet of the "sample" seeds to his father as testament to the good work he's doing. The corporation sends an agent to the home of the farmer, ostensibly to help the family in their time of grief, but also to find out if the packet sent by their errant son contained contaminated seeds. Mr. Cochran is prepared to neutralize the situation and anyone who comes in contact with the viral corn.
The heroine of the story is the local sheriff, a young, single mother who knows how to handle herself and take care of business. It doesn't take Sheriff Chisel long to realize that something is very wrong in town. The tension builds as she follows the clues: mysterious disappearances of locals, animals and insects in a community formerly teeming with life.
I personally love the character of Sheriff Chisel, a tough, no-nonsense, 21st century woman living in a very traditional town where women raise children while their husbands raise crops. Her interactions with the County Sheriff, a pompous, misogynistic windbag with zero respect for a woman sheriff, finds him blocking her efforts at every turn as he refuses to cooperate with her in any way.
The story is packed with gut-clenching moments, and the "monsters" unleashed by the corn spores are about as grotesque as any horror reader could desire. Although the end was a bit weak, Mr. Jacobson does leave us wondering exactly how far the virus will spread before the corporation, backed by the military, will be able to contain it.
A great weekend read. Brew your coffee and settle into your favorite chair; you won't be disappointed.
September 18, 2014
Someone please tell me when this is turned into a movie.
Talk about a book that I didn't want to put down. I became so concerned about the people living in Parker's Mill that I didn't want to stop reading. However, I'm not sure if I'm going to be eating corn for a while now. The story line is set up in such a beautiful way that I would love to see this turned into a movie. I can only imagine how the scenes would be played out and how intense the graphics would be. I honestly haven't read anything this realistically horrifying in a long time.
Sandy, appears to be a very strong woman and will stop at nothing to do her job and protect her son. Kevin, Sandy's son, appears to be a typical young boy going through the rough times of growing up. The other characters, added to the story and made a great combination to putting everything together. However, if I was able to ask for anyone to be my neighbor or friend it would be that of Purcell's family. They are definitely the stay to themselves type of personality, but when it comes to protecting their own, they will stop at nothing to make sure that family comes first.
I believe it was Purcell that had made a comment in the story about how 'this is why we are going organic'. After reading Growth, I would definitely want to go organic too. I've never been much of a fan of pesticide or seed manipulation and now I'm even more against it, because someday this could possibly happen.
Amazing book and I'd have to say a must read. Just be aware that the details of the events can create some very vivid images. The language is also rather profane at times, but fits in nicely with the situations.
Talk about a book that I didn't want to put down. I became so concerned about the people living in Parker's Mill that I didn't want to stop reading. However, I'm not sure if I'm going to be eating corn for a while now. The story line is set up in such a beautiful way that I would love to see this turned into a movie. I can only imagine how the scenes would be played out and how intense the graphics would be. I honestly haven't read anything this realistically horrifying in a long time.
Sandy, appears to be a very strong woman and will stop at nothing to do her job and protect her son. Kevin, Sandy's son, appears to be a typical young boy going through the rough times of growing up. The other characters, added to the story and made a great combination to putting everything together. However, if I was able to ask for anyone to be my neighbor or friend it would be that of Purcell's family. They are definitely the stay to themselves type of personality, but when it comes to protecting their own, they will stop at nothing to make sure that family comes first.
I believe it was Purcell that had made a comment in the story about how 'this is why we are going organic'. After reading Growth, I would definitely want to go organic too. I've never been much of a fan of pesticide or seed manipulation and now I'm even more against it, because someday this could possibly happen.
Amazing book and I'd have to say a must read. Just be aware that the details of the events can create some very vivid images. The language is also rather profane at times, but fits in nicely with the situations.
March 15, 2018
This was a fast, fun, if not altogether original foray into the body horror genre with the tried-and-true cordyceps fungus as human invader concept (The Last of Us, anyone?) as the basis for the entire plot.
The gross-outs were truly gross and the action kept coming, my interest was held throughout the whole novel and I had a good time with this book, although I'm not sure I'll really remember it 3 months down the line. 3 stars.
The gross-outs were truly gross and the action kept coming, my interest was held throughout the whole novel and I had a good time with this book, although I'm not sure I'll really remember it 3 months down the line. 3 stars.
October 7, 2015
This was an amazing book! It's a modern day the Thing with a creepy bio engineered twist. It was a non stop intense thrill ride.with believable likeable characters and super grisly deaths can't wait to read the sequel and when is the movie being made?
August 26, 2014
Couldn't put it down
February 13, 2022
Okay, so I am a huge "science gone wrong" reader. Still looking for my replacement for Michael Crichton. This is not even on the level of M.C. The premise sounds good. GMO (which I am fully for in real life) going wrong and oops someone sent a dangerous one to his family before things went sideways. Seriously, I don't feel like this should gone wrong....
...but, it did. Alot of the characters seem really forced and the tropes are just too much trope? As in, a woman has a child out of wedlock in a small town in this day and age and is still looked on as only the "bad person" of town. Beating all odds accidentally to become Chief of Police which was better than stripping only because of the health benefits. Several instances of her basically not caring about her community because it was just too much trouble and so on. The son that she's not paying attention to getting bullied and pushing that story just to eventually further the horror part. Much of the plot seemed like it was being forced down one's throat.
The actual GMO fungus thing sounded okay except from the moment the book started with the fungus, Again like I say, I love science gone wrong books; but they at least need to be a bit more believable on what science might be doing.
I give it 3 stars only because the ending redeemed itself with the immense amount of action and finally getting to the point of the book. That being said, it was around 230 pages before I considered it as "good." I will probably read more by him, because the potential is really there if he can write good characters and not force the plot down the throat.
...but, it did. Alot of the characters seem really forced and the tropes are just too much trope? As in, a woman has a child out of wedlock in a small town in this day and age and is still looked on as only the "bad person" of town. Beating all odds accidentally to become Chief of Police which was better than stripping only because of the health benefits. Several instances of her basically not caring about her community because it was just too much trouble and so on. The son that she's not paying attention to getting bullied and pushing that story just to eventually further the horror part. Much of the plot seemed like it was being forced down one's throat.
The actual GMO fungus thing sounded okay except from the moment the book started with the fungus, Again like I say, I love science gone wrong books; but they at least need to be a bit more believable on what science might be doing.
I give it 3 stars only because the ending redeemed itself with the immense amount of action and finally getting to the point of the book. That being said, it was around 230 pages before I considered it as "good." I will probably read more by him, because the potential is really there if he can write good characters and not force the plot down the throat.
April 23, 2021
Very entertaining horror novel. The ending is left wide open — perhaps for a follow-up. Jeff Jacobson is a fine writer adding just a little humor when things go out of control.
A corrupt corporation has modified the genetic structure of corn. The modification frees it from the destructive insects that feed on all corn crops. However we quickly discover that this change has wider implications and has the ability to change the genetic structure of anything it comes in contact with. And it appears that this new organism is hungry for anything else that is living.
The author centers his story in the farmlands of Illinois. One of the corporation’s elite has sent his father some of the corn seeds before the testing has been completed. His father, a farmer of wealth and tremendous property, plants the seeds. Detestation of the country around that farm ensues. A lively story!
A corrupt corporation has modified the genetic structure of corn. The modification frees it from the destructive insects that feed on all corn crops. However we quickly discover that this change has wider implications and has the ability to change the genetic structure of anything it comes in contact with. And it appears that this new organism is hungry for anything else that is living.
The author centers his story in the farmlands of Illinois. One of the corporation’s elite has sent his father some of the corn seeds before the testing has been completed. His father, a farmer of wealth and tremendous property, plants the seeds. Detestation of the country around that farm ensues. A lively story!
September 12, 2021
This was an unexpected surprise of a story. I found this book at the Dollar Tree and upon reading the description thought it sounded like a B-rated movie plot. I fully expected it to be so sci-fi and weird that I wouldn't enjoy it. However, I was hooked right from the start. The story got down to business right away and didn't take a handful of pages before things got good. There was constant drama and action mixed in with character development and scene setting all at the same time. It was easy to follow along and left me wondering what a sequel would contain.
October 26, 2020
Ok so I don't normally dnf books because I don't like to, but this is just So Bad that I can Not actually read it. The writing is extremely bland and the main characters are Horrible. Definitely not a book for me, which sucks because the concept was really cool (why I'm even giving it a star in the first place). But everything else about it? Awful and Boring as fuck. I did try but honestly I'm not vibing and I'm not gonna force myself to keep reading this.
March 2, 2023
REMINDS ME OF 'THE LAST OF US'
The Last of Us struck me as unique because humanity was being decimated by a fungus.
Who thought of it first?
The two stories differ in how the fungus infects.
This story is a bit weak compared to the series (based on a game!), and there's no clear resolution.
The Last of Us struck me as unique because humanity was being decimated by a fungus.
Who thought of it first?
The two stories differ in how the fungus infects.
This story is a bit weak compared to the series (based on a game!), and there's no clear resolution.
October 24, 2018
It isnt that this book isn't well written. It is. But it read like I was watching a b or c level splatter film. Not s lot of emotional imparative. Just a horror novel with an interesting premise that didn't reach nearly far enough.
January 6, 2024
Terrific creature feature about a fungoid blob monster in the Midwest, benefiting from solidly developed and varied characters, evenly paced storytelling escalating to a satisfying finish, and lovingly gruesome set-pieces.
August 27, 2017
All I can say is that this one is going to give me nightmares.
October 20, 2017
It was a good read. I enjoyed it very much. The reason for the lower rating was how the book ended suddenly with no warning leaving many questions unanswered.
April 12, 2019
Not too bad
Kind of a gross out book but it contained enough action and story line to keep me interested in it.
Kind of a gross out book but it contained enough action and story line to keep me interested in it.
March 16, 2023
A fun, fast-paced read. If you're looking for something that jumps right into the action, this is for you.
January 4, 2025
Need a part 2!!
Great book. I couldn’t put it down! Really faced paced with interesting characters. A little confusing with no chapters, but still good.
Great book. I couldn’t put it down! Really faced paced with interesting characters. A little confusing with no chapters, but still good.
August 23, 2015
Wow, I just finished this book. An awesome read. Anyone who is squeamish and who leaps up out of their chairs when something totally creepy and revolting leaps out of the dark in a scary movie should absolutely NOT read this book. Many people who finished this ahead of me have already filled you in on the storyline so I will not go that way in this critique. If you like techno/thriller novels that put the good guys in what seems like impossible situations you will literally consume this book. I gave this First Reader's giveaway a four-star rating because the ending was fairly open-ended; leaving us to draw our own conclusions. And the scariest part of this book is that big companies like Allagro really are out there making drugs that can kill you and growing food with additives that, over time, could also kill you. Organic may be the best way to go!
July 19, 2014
It's been a long time since I had a book scare the living daylights out of me & leave what was remaining shuddering with fear.
A company called Allagro has developed a genetically-modified strain of corn which repels all pests. But what it does to humans is beyond belief. The author holds nothing back in vividly describing in detail the unearthly ramifications of the 'seeds from hell.'
A new employee of Allagro sends his father in the town of Parker's Mill some of these new corn seeds before they were finished testing them. The father promptly plants them & what ensues is enough to leave the reader terrified of ever again sauntering near a cornfield.
You may not want to be alone while reading this over-the-top thriller.
A company called Allagro has developed a genetically-modified strain of corn which repels all pests. But what it does to humans is beyond belief. The author holds nothing back in vividly describing in detail the unearthly ramifications of the 'seeds from hell.'
A new employee of Allagro sends his father in the town of Parker's Mill some of these new corn seeds before they were finished testing them. The father promptly plants them & what ensues is enough to leave the reader terrified of ever again sauntering near a cornfield.
You may not want to be alone while reading this over-the-top thriller.
May 31, 2015
3/5 Stars
I won this book on Goodreads.com in exchange for an honest review thanks to the First Reads Program.
A very original concept, I felt. Even so, I'm sorry but I just can't buy killer corn (although that would make a very good name for a rock band). I felt like the main audience for this novel was teenage boys to men. As a female reader, this just wasn't my cup of tea. Sure, the writing is well done. The plot is solid. I'm sure fans of horror novels will eat this one up. I couldn't make any emotional connections to any of the characters.
I won this book on Goodreads.com in exchange for an honest review thanks to the First Reads Program.
A very original concept, I felt. Even so, I'm sorry but I just can't buy killer corn (although that would make a very good name for a rock band). I felt like the main audience for this novel was teenage boys to men. As a female reader, this just wasn't my cup of tea. Sure, the writing is well done. The plot is solid. I'm sure fans of horror novels will eat this one up. I couldn't make any emotional connections to any of the characters.
August 13, 2015
Wow, I'm pleasantly surprised with this book. From the beginning I enjoyed it, but I didn't expect to like it this much. This is an easy read that focuses on building tension. I loved the whole fungus growth theme. The creatures are eerie, it had the right amount of gore and death, and some parts even made my skin crawl. It kept me absorbed in this horror story until the very end.
Horror fans will enjoy this. It's nothing too complex, instead it follows a well crafted town into disaster, and creates a hero that you can connect to. Overall I really liked it and would recommend it.
Horror fans will enjoy this. It's nothing too complex, instead it follows a well crafted town into disaster, and creates a hero that you can connect to. Overall I really liked it and would recommend it.
July 21, 2014
This novel had an interesting premise....An engineered corn crop that has gone wickedly wrong. The story is very in tune with events going on today. The story flowed well and kept my interest. I liked that the end did not tidy everything up and solve the problem, but I would have also liked just a little more story at the end. Perhaps an epilogue that told what happened after ground zero at Parker's Mill. Good story though.... and will read other novels by this author now.
July 1, 2014
I have read so many of these types of books, that I am not generally frightened by them. However, I can't read his books at night at all. This one is amazingly scary, with such a fresh and original premise that it's hard to put down. But at night, I just had to stop.
So far, I've read two of his horror books, and they are just so well-done. I love these books anyway, but his definitely stand out in every way.
So far, I've read two of his horror books, and they are just so well-done. I love these books anyway, but his definitely stand out in every way.
August 22, 2014
3.5 stars...An exciting, fast paced thriller about what could happen when people get involved with GMO food. The "creatures" were a bit far fetched, especially near the end (which didn't really end, just left you wondering if there is going to be a sequel...). The writing and characters were actually pretty good. This book would make a good horror movie.
July 10, 2014
Another great Good reads win. This book was scary in a good way it drags you in and make you keep reading. I will be look at corn fields in a whole new way. Because this stuff can really happen. Thank you
July 27, 2014
I received a free copy of Growth through a Goodreads giveaway.
An excellent summer read! Creepy and thrilling.
An excellent summer read! Creepy and thrilling.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews