Strange, mushroom-like growths are appearing on peoples' bodies and doctors, puzzled by the strange virus that plants inhuman desires in the minds of victims, look for a cause and uncover a horrifying reality.

When a brilliant scientist seeking to solve the problem of world hunger tries to create giant mushrooms through genetic manipulation, what could possibly go wrong?

The mutated spores escape the lab and spread across all of England. Toadstools grow to twenty feet tall, and a case of athlete's foot can mean a grisly and horrible death.

But those who die quickly are the lucky ones. Those who survive infection by the fungus will be transformed into something unthinkably monstrous ...

I want to read EVERYTHING by this author! 🎇 What an incredible journey! 10 Pages in and there's already lots of action. The book is a perfect mix of cheeky humor, thrilling suspense, and a fast-paced plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The characters are unflinching and not too hesitant to use their weapons. It was a very fast-paced, high-tension, breathtaking read! I liked the ending, really coherent with both the characters and the situation.

I loved the author's writing style - it was witty, engaging, and kept me hooked from start to finish. The book had just the right amount of suspense and humor, making it a great read for anyone who enjoys a good sci-fi thriller.

TW: There's some brutal scenes in this, don't read if you're squeamish; it's just ultra-violent at times. Being that this book was written back then, there are some sexist views, (a few racist ones too), and a few other things that don't fit in with today's culture and attitudes.

Overall, I highly recommend "The Fungus" to anyone looking for a fun, fast-paced read. ( )

Extremely solid read if you like horror. It feels a lot like War of the Worlds with the isolation the main characters face once they get to London, but a lot more witty all the way through. Does nothing revolutionary but does everything insanely well. there is one point in the book where a characters personality takes a 180 but it wasn't too big of a deal. If they spent a few more pages developing why he had that 180 it would of been better. Its not a story i can recommend to just anyone though and thats the only reason it doesn't get a 5 star from me. If you like horror check it out. ( )

Mushrooms: I'll probably never eat one again! THE FUNGUS is a fast paced, funny and disgusting 80's horror story that contains everything you'd ever want from a fungi-based creature feature.

I recently read another book by this author, (two authors, really, using the pseudonym of Harry Adam Knight. Get it? HAK?), called SLIMER. I liked that one slightly more than this because there was no real science, just a fun, slimy, creature. In this narrative, we do have an attempt to be science-y, but not overly so, which I appreciated.

We follow several characters from the beginning, including the scientist who accidentally created this rapidly mutating fungi. Before we know what hit us, all of London is infected and not just people either. There are several types of fungi attacking concrete and other building materials eventually resulting in the literal crumbling of the city. Will any of the plucky characters survive? What about the doctor who created this mess? Will London itself make it through? You'll have to read THE FUNGUS to find out!

These two authors, John Brosnan and Leroy Kettle were actually very talented, (I say were, but one is still alive-Leroy Kettle,) and they knew how to write a creature feature without getting too bogged down in the fake science. Just enough to make it plausible to non-biologists is fine. Of course, using the old trope of science making a mistake and thereby destroying humanity is always rich with possibilities, maybe even more so these days than back in the 80's when this was written.

Being that this book was written back then, there are some sexist views, (a few racist ones too), and a few other things that don't fit in with today's culture and attitudes. There are also a few extraneous sex scenes thrown in there, because hey-in the 80's that's how the horror genre rolled. None of which bothered me much because this tale is just. that. much. fun.

Valancourt Books is dedicated to bringing back these out of print books, some of which have become nearly impossible to find.(If you are lucky enough to find one, you'd better be prepared to pay through the nose.) Over the years I've watched as they've become more and more popular and with their forthcoming PAPERBACKS FROM HELL series, I think they'll have reached the pinnacle as far as retro horror publishers are concerned. (They publish other lines as well, if you're interested, check out their website.)

THE FUNGUS isn't trying to masquerade as scientific or serious, it's just trying to provide imaginative, fast paced, creature feature fun. It has succeeded!

Highly recommended!

*Valancourt Books provided me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it.* ( )

This is somehow even more atrocious than I assumed it was going to be, for better and for worse.

The plot of this book is certainly an interesting concept, and it would not surprise me in the slightest if something similar were to happen sometime in the future. Scientists proceed on their merry way with little to no thought as to consequences, and disaster is far more likely to originate with some well-meaning scientist eager to save the world, than a malicious renegade. The book itself, however, was mundane at best. The characters were not, in my opinion, believable and, though the author did try, the thrills just simply weren't there. This will not be making it onto my top 10 list, I'm afraid. ( )