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Hi, if I'm posting this in the 'wrong' section, please inform me and I would either delete or re-post it elsewhere.

This is an appeal to help me track down a horror novel. Again, if I should post this somewhere else, just say so.

I only remember a few tantalizing clues about it. First, it may not be really that great of a book; I think what I actually held in my hands was some kind of manuscript proof or draft. I remember the jacket blurbs describing how it was a 'bold, new, and terrifying tale' from 'a first-time horror author breaking into the field', etc etc etc

It is a narrative of post-apocalyptic America in the tradition of 'The Stand' or 'A Boy and His Dog'. It is also a 'journey' based story where 1-3 characters unite to wander across several U.S. states in search of their shared goal.

Its possibly called 'Mark of the Beast' or 'Number of the Beast' or 'Revelation of the Beast' or something else very Biblical. The freaky-deaky events in the book are tightly tied into religious prophecy as way to heighten tension.

Plot is **loosely** this: a meteor(?) accidentally strikes a secret biological weapons-experimental lab in the midwest; mixing together a deadly cocktail of chemicals, radioactivity, and infectious agents.

A hideous plague resulting from this incident, runs rampant across the country (I think it actually kills most of the country's population) the only survivors are the wildly mutated lab animals and just a few humans. I think there is a lab 'cat' who becomes as big as a sabre-toothed tiger? Things like that.

The leader of the little band is perhaps a doctor who formerly worked at the lab. He may be traveling somewhere to a) find a cure for the plague, b) find his loved ones, c) hunt down the lab director who himself has mutated into something fearsome, or d) all of the above. The theme of 'human mutation' --humans morphed into gruesome, horrible, demonic-like beasts--yet still retaining their human feelings--is a big part of the terror in the book.

Maybe not a great book, but at the time I found it surprisingly well done. Not my usual fare, but it was at least competently handled. I was just wondering what happened to this author and this book and wonder if any of you horror aficionados might recollect it.

Thx thx thx

Parts of what you described sound familiar, but I'm drawing a blank on any title names.

Well I appreciate your response anyway. Its reassuring to have other brains assisting me with this riddle. Thanks!

Not sure, as Todd wrote, some of it does sound familiar. Seems like an interesting story.

sounds bit like Swansong actual, does that ring a bell

Number of the Beast is a Robert A. Heinlein novel and it's Science Fiction, not horror, nor do would I recommended it. However, what you in mind sounds like Swan Song by Robert R. McCammon but since you mentioned the title Number of the Beast and a trek it could be The Servants of Twilight by Koontz. I haven't yet read Swag Song but I am quite aware of it and the Koontz book is pretty cool indeed.

Oh, but The Servants of Twilight is not Post-Apocalyptic...why I didn't think of that before I have no idea. Sorry.

Could it be Fire by Alan Rodgers? Many of the details given sound familiar to what I remember reading in this book.

Thanks for all the fresh input. Indeed, I was suspecting that it was 'Swan Song' after all; but too many points differ.

It may indeed be this 'Fire' book; I remember pretty distinctly that there's a 'beast of the revelation' to confront in the paperback I chanced upon.

This inquiry had been languishing for a long time, so I reposted it under the 'What's the name of that book' thread. I'm glad I did because now I have some fresh leads to pursue! Ty to y'all..my next step is to get my hands on, 'Fire'...btw, I coughed up some fresh clue/detail over in that other thread..