The Zodiac Paradox (Fringe #1) By: Christa Faust

Plot:

In 1971 university students Walter Bishop and William Bell use an exotic chemical compound to link their subconscious minds. Unexpectedly, they open a rip in space through which comes a menace unlike any our world has ever seen – the Zodiac Killer. His singular goal is death, and it falls to Bishop, Bell, and Nina Sharp to stop him.

Review:

A couple months ago I re-watched Fringe and immediately after doing that I wanted MORE! So I searched and found this series. As anyone that has read book adaptations of non-book worlds knows they can be hit or miss. I’ve loved some Star Trek books and hated others, the same with the Fable video game books. However, I really wanted more in the world and bought the first one, without reading the blurb, not sure why I did that.

I should have been clued in by the title but I was still surprised that the book was about the Zodiac Killer. I’ve read some books on serial killers that of course mention the Zodiac but it’s been a few years so I couldn’t tell you if the facts were right. Honestly, I don’t think it matters.

The story was interesting and revolved around Walter, Bell, and Nina. It was nice to see them younger and see the beginning of… everything really. You saw Bell and Nina get it on for the first time and their more than romantic bond begin. You also saw the beginning of Cortexiphan.

I was unsure of the depiction of Walter. In most of the flashbacks that I remember in the TV show he seemed very focused on Science, but not as absent minded or crazy as he seemed in this book. I thought the crazy didn’t happen until they took the part out of his brain. He was the moral center of this book, but was easily overruled by Bell and Nina, which I don’t really see becoming the character that is in such control in the TV show before the brain slice.

I liked seeing Walter again but I’d really like to read more about the other characters. This was definitely a prequel to the TV show and I’m never too fond of those, however, it was nice to see the origins in this case.

4/5