The Last Days (novel)

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For other things called The Last Days, see The Last Days (disambiguation).

The Last Days, a horror novel by Scott Westerfeld, is a companion book to Peeps. It takes place in New York, during the end of civilization hinted upon in Peeps (novel).

[edit] Plot summary

The narrative focuses around Moz, Zahler, Pearl, Alana Ray and Minerva, in an apocalyptic New York. Odd occurrences are taking place, the sewers are gushing black water, the earth shakes, and people are inexplicably going mad.

In the midst of it all, Moz and Zahler are trying to start a band. Both of them are lead guitar players. On the way home from a practice session, Moz comes in contact with Pearl, and somehow she decides to join their band.

Along the way, Alana Ray (a street performer with a few odd habits) and Minerva (a lead singer with one very odd habit), are roped into joining. Alana Ray has the ability to see colored lights, which may or may not be hallucinations. She often mentions being able to "see" the music they play. Minerva has been in a previous band with Pearl, which broke up, apparently because Minerva started dating another band member. When Minerva contracted the parasite (as mentioned in Peeps, though she only refers to it as the nasty) she thinks that the other member has cheated on her and she breaks up with him, thus breaking up the band. Minerva knows a woman who uses traditional methods such as garlic and rosemary to keep her from the worst effects of the parasite.

Zahler learns to play bass, because he normally plays the low part anyway and his fingers are suited for the larger instrument and he pretty much got forced into play it. They get a recording contract with a man who is a carrier, trying to find the "New thing" that happens when a member of a band is infected. Because of Minerva (who later affects Moz as well) he believes that they have it. The five are still struggling to name their band.

Moz plays on the streets to help raise money for the band. While playing, a giant worm (which is described briefly in Peeps) comes up, bringing "Ninjas" with it. These ninjas are actually carriers from the New Watch, including old characters Cal and Lace. They try to bring Moz to New Jersey for treatment, but he runs away, not wanting to miss the band's gig.

The first time the band plays in public, everything goes wrong. Zahler freezes in the beginning, the anathema of the parasite causes Moz to smash his beloved guitar to pieces, and the music calls up a giant worm. The New Watch comes, kills the worm, and rounds up the whole band to take them to the New Jersey lab. There, all five learn some key facts about the parasite. The band visits the Shrink, who believes that they have the old talent of being able to "sing up" the worms. This was done in the old days, so old that even the ancient Nightmayor can barely remember. None of the other infected bands have ever been able to do this because their singer was not infected. The New Watch recruits the band to sing up the worms all around the country, thus allowing the New Watch to fight them on their own terms.

Pearl finally comes up with a name for their band: The Last Days, and finds some interesting facts about their music, and how intertwined it may be to the fate of New York, and the world.

[edit] Characters

Moz- Possibly the closest thing this book has to a main character, Moz is bitter, pessimistic and witty about life. He is described as 'small', thus his nickname comes from 'mosquito'. He plays lead guitar in the band. Good friends with Zahler, Moz is oblivious to Pearl's romantic advances, and is interested in Minerva.

Zahler- Moz's good friend, Zahler eventually learns to play bass in their band. He is very skittish, and characterized by the other narrators as being slow-witted.

Pearl- The band's manager, music synther and funder, Pearl is rich. She wishes to be romantically connected with Moz, who does not notice her advances.

Minerva- Pearl's friend from musical school, Minerva (often called simply Min) has a strange disease. She is lead singer for the band and has a fateful affair with Moz.

Alana Ray- The drummer for the band, Alana Ray is the only character whose last name is provided (Jones), although it is hinted that this is made up, coming from her history in a special needs school that left her oddly tainted from a possibly negative experience. It is likewise stated that she needs to take medication, though her exact condition is never stated.

[edit] Trivia

Scott Westerfeld has said that Minerva is another in the long line of 'Sexy but crazy' girls he writes, much like Melissa from Midnighters.

The book was originally only from one character's perspective, but was switched so the perspective was shared between the characters.

Cal Thompson and Lace (from Peeps (novel)) make a cameo appearance in the book.

The Nightmayor (an obvious pun of nightmare), only alluded to in Peeps (novel) has short introductions to all parts of the book.

Every chapter title is actually the name of a band, ranging in genre from a British punk all-girl band to "Finnish gothic-doom metal."