THESE ARE GOOD DAYS FOR READERS OF NEW STUFF. This summer saw the release of a new (and National Book Award finalist) Dave Eggers novel .  Then there was the first full biography of David Foster Wallace.  Just before Denver I finished Jonathan Tropper’s latest deconstruction of 21^st century manhood.  I’ve given myself 48 hours to finish Michael Chabon’s Telegraph Avenue for one reason and one reason only: Justin Cronin’s sequel to The Passage drops Tuesday.

I’m not one for horror stories.  I get my zombie fix with The Walking Dead.  Werewolves have never been high on my horror list.  And while I’m quick to mock anything that has to do with the vampires of the Twilight series, Cronin’s take on a post-apocalyptic America overrun by vampires was enthralling.  I remember well working through a quick lunch and reading page after page at Aloha Tower: the most I’ve enjoyed reading a novel in a long time.

So I’m pretty pumped about The Twelve.  Word is that it covers two time periods, mirroring the format of the first novel.  It’s exciting to find yourself in a story whose ending is unknown.

The folks at The Beast caught up with Cronin a few days ago to talk life and craft.  It’s a nice teaser for what I hope to be a great book.  Check out the interview here.  And if you want an intense, intelligent page-turner, find a copy of The Passage (and then The Twelve).  I think you’ll be glad you did.