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* ManOnFire: Happens in the beginning — not very fatal.
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Disambiguated
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* DeathBySex: [[spoiler:Liam and Rebecca are the only pair to have full-on penetrative sex in the course of the novel. Liam is killed right afterwards. Rebecca survives, but is traumatised worse than anyone else save for Gillian.]]
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* SexSignalsDeath: [[spoiler:Liam and Rebecca are the only pair to have full-on penetrative sex in the course of the novel. Liam is killed right afterwards. Rebecca survives, but is traumatised worse than anyone else save for Gillian.]]
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Five Man Band is undergoing a wick-cleaning project, so examples lacking context on a team dynamic or what the team does will be deleted.
Deleted line(s) 45 (click to see context) :
* FiveManBand: Those involved in the final battle: [[TheHero Adnan]], [[TheLancer Blake]], [[TheBigGuy Sendak]], [[spoiler:[[TheSmartGuy Steinmeyer]]]], and [[TheChick Rosemary]].
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* KillEmAll: nearly everyone dies, including characters who'd been built up and in whom the reader was developing an interest.
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In the meantime a busful of Scottish teenagers and their put upon teachers are heading for the area's outdoor activity center where they will (officially) be spending the weekend therapeutically coming to terms with a fellow student having murdered a class mate before commiting suicide, or (realistically) gossiping, partying and getting drunk and high on what they've smuggled along and (optimistically) getting laid.
The teens think the greatest challenges they will face this weekend are finding someone to hook up with, avoiding teacher detection and interference, avoiding ending up rooming with someone undesirable and avoiding aggravating [[TheBully Big Kirk]]. They are, of course, very much mistaken.
The teens think the greatest challenges they will face this weekend are finding someone to hook up with, avoiding teacher detection and interference, avoiding ending up rooming with someone undesirable and avoiding aggravating [[TheBully Big Kirk]]. They are, of course, very much mistaken.
to:
In the meantime a busful of Scottish teenagers and their put upon teachers are heading for the area's outdoor activity center where they will (officially) be spending the weekend therapeutically coming to terms with a fellow student having murdered a class mate classmate before commiting suicide, or (realistically) gossiping, partying and getting drunk and high on what they've smuggled along and (optimistically) getting laid.
laid.\\
The teens think the greatest challenges they will face this weekend are finding someone to hook up with, avoiding teacher detection and interference, avoiding ending up rooming with someoneundesirable undesirable, and avoiding aggravating [[TheBully Big Kirk]]. They are, of course, very much mistaken.
The teens think the greatest challenges they will face this weekend are finding someone to hook up with, avoiding teacher detection and interference, avoiding ending up rooming with someone
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* AdrenalineMakeover: [[spoiler: Rosemary Breslin]]
to:
* AdrenalineMakeover: [[spoiler: Rosemary [[spoiler:Rosemary Breslin]]
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* AncientConspiracy: [[spoiler: The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, previously known as the [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Holy Inquisition]], have been concealing the evidence of 'demons' for centuries.]]
* ArmouredClosetGay: [[spoiler: Kirk Burns]]
* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler: FatBastard Julie Meiklejohn]] is among the first of the kids to be killed off.
** Subverted with [[spoiler: Kirk Burns]]. The text seems to imply he will be the first victim when he goes outside alone to [[spoiler: [[AxCrazy knife a fellow student]]]], but in fact he's the one person in that particular area of woods who survives.
* TheBeautifulElite: Jason, Liam, Rebecca and Samantha. They're also kinda [[JerkAss jerks]].
* BewareTheNiceOnes: The BigBad is finally defeated by [[spoiler: Father Blake]] of all people! Also, there's this line from Rosemary, regarding methods of fighting the demons:
* ArmouredClosetGay: [[spoiler: Kirk Burns]]
* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler: FatBastard Julie Meiklejohn]] is among the first of the kids to be killed off.
** Subverted with [[spoiler: Kirk Burns]]. The text seems to imply he will be the first victim when he goes outside alone to [[spoiler: [[AxCrazy knife a fellow student]]]], but in fact he's the one person in that particular area of woods who survives.
* TheBeautifulElite: Jason, Liam, Rebecca and Samantha. They're also kinda [[JerkAss jerks]].
* BewareTheNiceOnes: The BigBad is finally defeated by [[spoiler: Father Blake]] of all people! Also, there's this line from Rosemary, regarding methods of fighting the demons:
to:
* AncientConspiracy: [[spoiler: The [[spoiler:The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, previously known as the [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Holy Inquisition]], have been concealing the evidence of 'demons' for centuries.]]
* ArmouredClosetGay:[[spoiler: Kirk [[spoiler:Kirk Burns]]
* AssholeVictim:[[spoiler: FatBastard [[spoiler:FatBastard Julie Meiklejohn]] is among the first of the kids to be killed off.
** Subverted with[[spoiler: Kirk [[spoiler:Kirk Burns]]. The text seems to imply he will be the first victim when he goes outside alone to [[spoiler: [[AxCrazy [[spoiler:[[AxCrazy knife a fellow student]]]], but in fact fact; he's the one person in that particular area of woods who survives.
* TheBeautifulElite: Jason, Liam,Rebecca Rebecca, and Samantha. They're also kinda [[JerkAss jerks]].
* BewareTheNiceOnes: The BigBad is finally defeated by[[spoiler: Father [[spoiler:Father Blake]] of all people! Also, there's this line from Rosemary, regarding methods of fighting the demons:
* ArmouredClosetGay:
* AssholeVictim:
** Subverted with
* TheBeautifulElite: Jason, Liam,
* BewareTheNiceOnes: The BigBad is finally defeated by
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* BigBad: Literally everything that goes wrong, from the demons' escape to [[spoiler: their ''being so AxeCrazy in the first place'']] is ''all'' the fault of [[spoiler: Cardinal Terrance Tullian.]]
* BigDamnHeroes: Twice. First, there's [[spoiler: Kirk Burns with a chainsaw.]] Second is [[spoiler: Deso and Rosemary with a flamethrower.]]
* BigDamnHeroes: Twice. First, there's [[spoiler: Kirk Burns with a chainsaw.]] Second is [[spoiler: Deso and Rosemary with a flamethrower.]]
to:
* BigBad: Literally everything that goes wrong, from the demons' escape to [[spoiler: their [[spoiler:their ''being so AxeCrazy in the first place'']] is ''all'' the fault of [[spoiler: Cardinal [[spoiler:Cardinal Terrance Tullian.]]
Tullian]].
* BigDamnHeroes: Twice. First, there's[[spoiler: Kirk [[spoiler:Kirk Burns with a chainsaw.]] chainsaw]]. Second is [[spoiler: Deso [[spoiler:Deso and Rosemary with a flamethrower.]] flamethrower]].
* BigDamnHeroes: Twice. First, there's
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* CoolTeacher: Stewart Kane - can also be the SternTeacher.
to:
* CoolTeacher: Stewart Kane - — can also be the SternTeacher.
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* DeathBySex: [[spoiler: Liam and Rebecca are the only pair to have full-on penetrative sex in the course of the novel. Liam is killed right afterwards. Rebecca survives, but is traumatised worse than anyone else save for Gillian]].
* DisneyVillainDeath: Subverted when [[spoiler: a demon knocks BigBad Cardinal Tullian through the portal in mid-fall.]]
* DyingDream: Both Merrick and Gilian entertain the thought that they died in vehicle crashes and this is their SelfInflictedHell. [[spoiler: Merrick goes through a genuine one later on which, ironically, is about him crashing a vehicle.]]
* DisneyVillainDeath: Subverted when [[spoiler: a demon knocks BigBad Cardinal Tullian through the portal in mid-fall.]]
* DyingDream: Both Merrick and Gilian entertain the thought that they died in vehicle crashes and this is their SelfInflictedHell. [[spoiler: Merrick goes through a genuine one later on which, ironically, is about him crashing a vehicle.]]
to:
* DeathBySex: [[spoiler: Liam [[spoiler:Liam and Rebecca are the only pair to have full-on penetrative sex in the course of the novel. Liam is killed right afterwards. Rebecca survives, but is traumatised worse than anyone else save for Gillian]].
Gillian.]]
* DisneyVillainDeath: Subverted when[[spoiler: a [[spoiler:a demon knocks BigBad Cardinal Tullian through the portal in mid-fall.]]
mid-fall]].
* DyingDream: Both Merrick and Gilian entertain the thought that they died in vehicle crashes and this is their SelfInflictedHell.[[spoiler: Merrick [[spoiler:Merrick goes through a genuine one later on which, ironically, is about him crashing a vehicle.]]
* DisneyVillainDeath: Subverted when
* DyingDream: Both Merrick and Gilian entertain the thought that they died in vehicle crashes and this is their SelfInflictedHell.
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* ExoticWeaponSupremacy: Sort of. Nothing arcane but [[spoiler: Kirk Burns getting up close and personal with a chainsaw is pretty badass.]]
* FacingTheBulletsOneLiner: [[spoiler: Stewart Kane.]]
* FacingTheBulletsOneLiner: [[spoiler: Stewart Kane.]]
to:
* ExoticWeaponSupremacy: Sort of. Nothing arcane arcane, but [[spoiler: Kirk [[spoiler:Kirk Burns getting up close and personal with a chainsaw is pretty badass.]]
badass]].
* FacingTheBulletsOneLiner:[[spoiler: Stewart [[spoiler:Stewart Kane.]]
* FacingTheBulletsOneLiner:
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* FiveManBand: Those involved in the final battle: [[TheHero Adnan]], [[TheLancer Blake]], [[TheBigGuy Sendak]], [[spoiler: [[TheSmartGuy Steinmeyer]]]] and [[TheChick Rosemary]].
to:
* FiveManBand: Those involved in the final battle: [[TheHero Adnan]], [[TheLancer Blake]], [[TheBigGuy Sendak]], [[spoiler: [[TheSmartGuy Steinmeyer]]]] [[spoiler:[[TheSmartGuy Steinmeyer]]]], and [[TheChick Rosemary]].
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* {{Gaydar}}: [[spoiler: Matt Wilson knows Kirk Burns is gay and matter of factly tells him so.]]
* {{Gayngst}}: [[spoiler: Kirk Burns - and perhaps also the detached Matthew Wilson to some degree.]]
* {{Gayngst}}: [[spoiler: Kirk Burns - and perhaps also the detached Matthew Wilson to some degree.]]
to:
* {{Gaydar}}: [[spoiler: Matt [[spoiler:Matt Wilson knows Kirk Burns is gay and matter of factly tells him so.]]
* {{Gayngst}}:[[spoiler: Kirk [[spoiler:Kirk Burns - — and perhaps also the detached Matthew Wilson to some degree.]]
* {{Gayngst}}:
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* GeniusBruiser: Well, probably not an actual ''genius'' but [[spoiler: Kirk Burns is a lot smarter than he's letting on.]]
to:
* GeniusBruiser: Well, probably not an actual ''genius'' ''genius'', but [[spoiler: Kirk [[spoiler:Kirk Burns is a lot smarter than he's letting on.]]on]].
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* GoodShepherd: Father Constantine Blake. Possibly subverted - not in the 'good' but in the 'shepherd': he isn't particularly pious, struggles to believe his own faith and in the end it's left ambiguous whether he even considers himself Christian.
to:
* GoodShepherd: Father Constantine Blake. Possibly subverted - — not in the 'good' 'good', but in the 'shepherd': he isn't particularly pious, struggles to believe his own faith faith, and in the end it's left ambiguous whether he even considers himself Christian.
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* GrievousHarmWithABody: One demon uses [[spoiler: Julie Meiklejohn's severed head and spinal column]] as a weapon to kill [[spoiler: Liam Donnelly.]]
** [[spoiler: Kirk Burns]] later takes out a demon with [[spoiler: the severed head of another demon!]]
** [[spoiler: Kirk Burns]] later takes out a demon with [[spoiler: the severed head of another demon!]]
to:
* GrievousHarmWithABody: One demon uses [[spoiler: Julie [[spoiler:Julie Meiklejohn's severed head and spinal column]] as a weapon to kill [[spoiler: Liam Donnelly.]]
[[spoiler:Liam Donnelly]].
**[[spoiler: Kirk [[spoiler:Kirk Burns]] later takes out a demon with [[spoiler: the [[spoiler:the severed head of another demon!]]
**
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* HellGate: The Dodgson Anomaly. [[spoiler: Except it isn't.]]
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: Guthrie]] performs one to close a door on some attacking demons. [[spoiler: Cardinal Tullian believes he is performing one by trying to blow up the facility.]]
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: Guthrie]] performs one to close a door on some attacking demons. [[spoiler: Cardinal Tullian believes he is performing one by trying to blow up the facility.]]
to:
* HellGate: The Dodgson Anomaly. [[spoiler: Except [[spoiler:Except it isn't.]]
* HeroicSacrifice:[[spoiler: Guthrie]] [[spoiler:Guthrie]] performs one to close a door on some attacking demons. [[spoiler: Cardinal [[spoiler:Cardinal Tullian believes he is performing one by trying to blow up the facility.]]
* HeroicSacrifice:
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* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Deconstructed. [[spoiler: Tullian believes he is in a holy war and, therefore, this is the case with regards to his crimes.]] He is quite emphatically demonstrated to be wrong.
to:
* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Deconstructed. [[spoiler: Tullian [[spoiler:Tullian believes that he is in a holy war and, therefore, this is the case with regards to his crimes.]] He is quite emphatically demonstrated to be wrong.
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* InformationWantsToBeFree: The belief of Merrick, prompting him to [[spoiler: steal video files of what was going on in the facility.]] The ending implies that, unless the military comply with [[spoiler: Father Blake's]] demands, that information may well [[CantStopTheSignal become]] free.
to:
* InformationWantsToBeFree: The belief of Merrick, prompting him to [[spoiler: steal [[spoiler:steal video files of what was going on in the facility.]] facility]]. The ending implies that, unless the military comply with [[spoiler: Father [[spoiler:Father Blake's]] demands, that information may well [[CantStopTheSignal become]] free.
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* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler: Cardinal Tullian]]. Possibly. He doesn't die or anything, and he gets to be [[spoiler: revered as a god]], but he is also [[spoiler: trapped in another dimension with no apparent technology beyond basic tools and clothing and no clear way of getting back.]]
to:
* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler: Cardinal Tullian]]. [[spoiler:Cardinal Tullian.]] Possibly. He doesn't die or anything, and he gets to be [[spoiler: revered [[spoiler:revered as a god]], but he is also [[spoiler: [[spoiler:[[SealedEvilInACan trapped in another dimension dimension]] with no apparent technology beyond basic tools and clothing and no clear way of getting back.]]back]].
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* KnightTemplar: [[spoiler: Cardinal Tullian]], to the point that he becomes blind to even the concept that he might be wrong.
* TheLegionsOfHell: [[spoiler: Subverted. Everyone jumps to this conclusion when they first see the 'demons', but it turns out they were all duped by a combination of hysteria and Cardinal Tullian's tricks.]]
* LonersAreFreaks: What most people think of Matt and Marianne. It is, however, telling that Adnan - shown elsewhere to be more observant and a better judge of character than most - gets on well with both of them.
* TheLegionsOfHell: [[spoiler: Subverted. Everyone jumps to this conclusion when they first see the 'demons', but it turns out they were all duped by a combination of hysteria and Cardinal Tullian's tricks.]]
* LonersAreFreaks: What most people think of Matt and Marianne. It is, however, telling that Adnan - shown elsewhere to be more observant and a better judge of character than most - gets on well with both of them.
to:
* KnightTemplar: [[spoiler: Cardinal [[spoiler:Cardinal Tullian]], to the point that he becomes blind to even the concept that he might be wrong.
* TheLegionsOfHell:[[spoiler: Subverted.[[spoiler:Subverted. Everyone jumps to this conclusion when they first see the 'demons', but it turns out they were all duped by a combination of hysteria and Cardinal Tullian's tricks.]]
* LonersAreFreaks: What most people think of Matt and Marianne. It is, however, telling that Adnan- — shown elsewhere to be more observant and a better judge of character than most - — gets on well with both of them.
* TheLegionsOfHell:
* LonersAreFreaks: What most people think of Matt and Marianne. It is, however, telling that Adnan
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* ManOnFire: Happens in the beginning - not very fatal.
to:
* ManOnFire: Happens in the beginning - — not very fatal.
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* NotEvilJustMisunderstood: Kane muses that Robert Barker - who murdered a fellow student in backstory - may have been this. [[spoiler: This foreshadows the revelation that the 'demons' are just creatures from another dimension who attack humans because they believe ''we'' are the demons.]]
** Bear in mind, however, that [[spoiler: the demons that come through the anomaly appear to be ones that were sentenced to death in their own dimension.]] So they may have been evil after all, even if they didn't deserve the treatment they got.
* NowOrNeverKiss: [[spoiler: Rosemary and Deso]].
** Bear in mind, however, that [[spoiler: the demons that come through the anomaly appear to be ones that were sentenced to death in their own dimension.]] So they may have been evil after all, even if they didn't deserve the treatment they got.
* NowOrNeverKiss: [[spoiler: Rosemary and Deso]].
to:
* NotEvilJustMisunderstood: Kane muses that Robert Barker - — who murdered a fellow student in the backstory - — may have been this. [[spoiler: This [[spoiler:This foreshadows the revelation that the 'demons' are just creatures from another dimension who attack humans because they believe that ''we'' are the demons.]]
** Bear in mind, however, that[[spoiler: the [[spoiler:the demons that come through the anomaly appear to be ones that were sentenced to death in their own dimension.]] dimension]]. So they may have been evil after all, even if they didn't deserve the treatment they got.
* NowOrNeverKiss:[[spoiler: Rosemary [[spoiler:Rosemary and Deso]].Deso.]]
** Bear in mind, however, that
* NowOrNeverKiss:
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* PunchClockVillain: Rocks and Dazza are both sick of the reputations they've gained from hanging around [[AxCrazy Kirk]] for so long, and are wary of his growing obsession with Matt. [[spoiler: Dazza is killed when he goes to stop Kirk from stabbing Matt in revenge for Dunnsy's death.]]
* TheReveal: Two big ones. Firstly, [[spoiler: the 'demons' aren't even supernatural in origin, and are only so AxeCrazy because, having been imprisoned, starved and tortured, they ironically believe themselves to be in Hell.]] Secondly, [[spoiler: it was Tullian, not Steinmeyer, who released the demons and sabotaged the anomaly, because he knew they weren't real demons all along and wanted to hide that knowledge.]]
* TheReveal: Two big ones. Firstly, [[spoiler: the 'demons' aren't even supernatural in origin, and are only so AxeCrazy because, having been imprisoned, starved and tortured, they ironically believe themselves to be in Hell.]] Secondly, [[spoiler: it was Tullian, not Steinmeyer, who released the demons and sabotaged the anomaly, because he knew they weren't real demons all along and wanted to hide that knowledge.]]
to:
* PunchClockVillain: Rocks and Dazza are both sick of the reputations they've gained from hanging around [[AxCrazy Kirk]] for so long, and are wary of his growing obsession with Matt. [[spoiler: Dazza [[spoiler:Dazza is killed when he goes to stop Kirk from stabbing Matt in revenge for Dunnsy's death.]]
* TheReveal: Two big ones. Firstly,[[spoiler: the [[spoiler:the 'demons' aren't even supernatural in origin, and are only so AxeCrazy because, having been imprisoned, starved starved, and tortured, they ironically believe themselves ''themselves'' to be in Hell.]] Hell]]. Secondly, [[spoiler: it [[spoiler:it was Tullian, not Steinmeyer, who released the demons and sabotaged the anomaly, because he knew they weren't real demons all along and wanted to hide that knowledge.]]knowledge]].
* TheReveal: Two big ones. Firstly,
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* SequelHook: [[spoiler: Adnan is trapped in the Demon's Realm, where [[BigBad Cardinal Tullian]] is being worshipped by the demons as their god.]]
to:
* SequelHook: [[spoiler: Adnan [[spoiler:Adnan is trapped in the Demon's Realm, where [[BigBad Cardinal Tullian]] is being worshipped by the demons "demons" as their god.]]
Changed line(s) 87,91 (click to see context) from:
-->'''[[spoiler: Cardinal Tullian]]:''' "It is the measure of our faith to believe ''in spite of'' evidence, [[spoiler: Father]]. Satan is using science to seduce you. And only faith can save us from him."
-->'''[[spoiler: Father Blake]]:''' "Science says you fall at ten metres per second squared. Let's see if faith can save you from that."
* SinisterMinister: Cardinal Tullian. Merrick seems wary of him even when he admits he's thankful for the guy's presence. [[spoiler: It turns out he was right to, as Tullian is personally responsible for everything, and directly murders Merrick.]]
* SuspiciousVideoGameGenerosity: Referenced. Adnan finds a shiny new shotgun and a box of shells outside the door to the Cathedral, and points out that this probably makes the Cathedral a BossRoom. Sendak argues that ThisIsReality, and Adnan basically says 'yes, and ''in reality'' someone stashed an ammo supply here for a ''reason''.' Sure enough, there's an [[KingMook eight-foot demon]] inside the chamber, not to mention [[spoiler: BigBad Cardinal Tullian.]]
* TheTetrisEffect: Adnan sees a {{VideoGame/Doom}} HUD around his vision constantly. [[spoiler: Turns out to be a ChekhovsSkill when he uses that detachment from reality to help him take down several demons, {{VideoGame/Doom}}-style.]]
-->'''[[spoiler: Father Blake]]:''' "Science says you fall at ten metres per second squared. Let's see if faith can save you from that."
* SinisterMinister: Cardinal Tullian. Merrick seems wary of him even when he admits he's thankful for the guy's presence. [[spoiler: It turns out he was right to, as Tullian is personally responsible for everything, and directly murders Merrick.]]
* SuspiciousVideoGameGenerosity: Referenced. Adnan finds a shiny new shotgun and a box of shells outside the door to the Cathedral, and points out that this probably makes the Cathedral a BossRoom. Sendak argues that ThisIsReality, and Adnan basically says 'yes, and ''in reality'' someone stashed an ammo supply here for a ''reason''.' Sure enough, there's an [[KingMook eight-foot demon]] inside the chamber, not to mention [[spoiler: BigBad Cardinal Tullian.]]
* TheTetrisEffect: Adnan sees a {{VideoGame/Doom}} HUD around his vision constantly. [[spoiler: Turns out to be a ChekhovsSkill when he uses that detachment from reality to help him take down several demons, {{VideoGame/Doom}}-style.]]
to:
* SinisterMinister: Cardinal Tullian. Merrick seems wary of him even when he admits he's thankful for the guy's presence.
* SuspiciousVideoGameGenerosity: Referenced. Adnan finds a shiny new shotgun and a box of shells outside the door to the Cathedral, and points out that this probably makes the Cathedral a BossRoom. Sendak argues that ThisIsReality, and Adnan basically says 'yes, and ''in reality'' someone stashed an ammo supply here for a ''reason''.' Sure enough, there's an [[KingMook eight-foot demon]] inside the chamber, not to mention
* TheTetrisEffect: Adnan sees a
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* TokenReligiousTeammate: Rosemary Breslin. Despite the kids being from a catholic school, she is the only truly-religious protagonist to do anything besides hang around in the background or die.
* TheDogBitesBack: [[spoiler: After extended periods of torture and starvation, the demons' first act upon escaping is to tear apart the facility and kill all the soldiers and priests.]]
* TheDogBitesBack: [[spoiler: After extended periods of torture and starvation, the demons' first act upon escaping is to tear apart the facility and kill all the soldiers and priests.]]
to:
* TokenReligiousTeammate: Rosemary Breslin. Despite the kids being from a catholic Catholic school, she is the only truly-religious protagonist to do anything besides [[JustForFun/DyingLikeAnimals hang around in the background or die.
die]].
* TheDogBitesBack:[[spoiler: After [[spoiler:After extended periods of torture and starvation, the demons' first act upon escaping is to tear apart the facility and kill all the soldiers and priests.]]
* TheDogBitesBack:
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Changed line(s) 88 (click to see context) from:
-->'''[[spoiler: Father Blake]]:''' "Science says you fall at ten metres per second squared. [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Let's see if faith can save you from that]]."
to:
-->'''[[spoiler: Father Blake]]:''' "Science says you fall at ten metres per second squared. [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Let's see if faith can save you from that]].that."
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* ShoutOut: The name Sendak. Think Creator/MauriceSendak, author of the young children's picture-book ''{{Where The Wild Things Are}}''.
to:
* ShoutOut: The name Sendak. Think Creator/MauriceSendak, author of the young children's picture-book ''{{Where The Wild Things Are}}''.''Literature/WhereTheWildThingsAre''.
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Removed per TRS.
Deleted line(s) 22 (click to see context) :
* BadAss: Kirk Burns ''nuts'' a demon into submission. "[[RedBaron Sarge]]" Sendak comes a close second, being just as capable a fighter but not quite so freaking mental.
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* ShoutOut: The name Sendak. Think MauriceSendak, author of the young children's picture-book ''{{Where The Wild Things Are}}''.
to:
* ShoutOut: The name Sendak. Think MauriceSendak, Creator/MauriceSendak, author of the young children's picture-book ''{{Where The Wild Things Are}}''.
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A novel by Scottish author ChristopherBrookmyre, published in 2009.
to:
A novel by Scottish author ChristopherBrookmyre, Creator/ChristopherBrookmyre, published in 2009.
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{{Pandaemonium}} is Brookmyre's 13th novel, it's a stand alone and it's a bit different from his other works. That being said the style and tone is still very much recognizable as being Brookmyre's.
Somewhere secluded in Scotland, the U.S Army is carrying out a top-secret military experiment which has led to such astounding results they've called on the Vatican itself for advice and support: They fear they may literally have opened the gates to hell. The project's scientists, however, are not impressed with this explanation and even less impressed with the clergy taking control, and discord abounds.
Somewhere secluded in Scotland, the U.S Army is carrying out a top-secret military experiment which has led to such astounding results they've called on the Vatican itself for advice and support: They fear they may literally have opened the gates to hell. The project's scientists, however, are not impressed with this explanation and even less impressed with the clergy taking control, and discord abounds.
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Added DiffLines:
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pandaemonium_6910.jpg]]
A novel by Scottish author ChristopherBrookmyre, published in 2009.
{{Pandaemonium}} is Brookmyre's 13th novel, it's a stand alone and it's a bit different from his other works. That being said the style and tone is still very much recognizable as being Brookmyre's.
Somewhere secluded in Scotland, the U.S Army is carrying out a top-secret military experiment which has led to such astounding results they've called on the Vatican itself for advice and support: They fear they may literally have opened the gates to hell. The project's scientists, however, are not impressed with this explanation and even less impressed with the clergy taking control, and discord abounds.
In the meantime a busful of Scottish teenagers and their put upon teachers are heading for the area's outdoor activity center where they will (officially) be spending the weekend therapeutically coming to terms with a fellow student having murdered a class mate before commiting suicide, or (realistically) gossiping, partying and getting drunk and high on what they've smuggled along and (optimistically) getting laid.
The teens think the greatest challenges they will face this weekend are finding someone to hook up with, avoiding teacher detection and interference, avoiding ending up rooming with someone undesirable and avoiding aggravating [[TheBully Big Kirk]]. They are, of course, very much mistaken.
----
!!Tropes:
* AbandonedArea
* AdrenalineMakeover: [[spoiler: Rosemary Breslin]]
* AlphaBitch: Gillian Cole seems to be the head of the local GirlPosse, although she's outdone in levels of actual bitchiness by [[FatBastard Julie Meiklejohn]].
* AncientConspiracy: [[spoiler: The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, previously known as the [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Holy Inquisition]], have been concealing the evidence of 'demons' for centuries.]]
* ArmouredClosetGay: [[spoiler: Kirk Burns]]
* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler: FatBastard Julie Meiklejohn]] is among the first of the kids to be killed off.
** Subverted with [[spoiler: Kirk Burns]]. The text seems to imply he will be the first victim when he goes outside alone to [[spoiler: [[AxCrazy knife a fellow student]]]], but in fact he's the one person in that particular area of woods who survives.
* BadAss: Kirk Burns ''nuts'' a demon into submission. "[[RedBaron Sarge]]" Sendak comes a close second, being just as capable a fighter but not quite so freaking mental.
* TheBeautifulElite: Jason, Liam, Rebecca and Samantha. They're also kinda [[JerkAss jerks]].
* BewareTheNiceOnes: The BigBad is finally defeated by [[spoiler: Father Blake]] of all people! Also, there's this line from Rosemary, regarding methods of fighting the demons:
-->"I was thinking more [[KillItWithFire infernal]] than divine."
* BigBad: Literally everything that goes wrong, from the demons' escape to [[spoiler: their ''being so AxeCrazy in the first place'']] is ''all'' the fault of [[spoiler: Cardinal Terrance Tullian.]]
* BigDamnHeroes: Twice. First, there's [[spoiler: Kirk Burns with a chainsaw.]] Second is [[spoiler: Deso and Rosemary with a flamethrower.]]
* BreakOutTheMuseumPiece: Bows and arrows.
* BreakTheBadass: Kirk Burns is terrified after his first brush with the enemy. And this is the guy the nerd and closest-thing-to-a-main-character Adnan classified thusly: ''Warrior Class'': Undisputed Best Fighter. ''Status'': Fucking Mental. ''Strength'': Hard As Fuck. ''Weakness'': None Documented.
* BreakTheHaughty: [[spoiler: Gillian]] loses her mind after encountering a demon, and tells everyone who will listen that they are doomed, or are already dead and being punished in the afterlife.
* CantActPervertedTowardALoveInterest: Rocks aka Paul Roxburgh.
* ChainsawGood: When [[spoiler: Kirk]] gets his hands on a chainsaw, the ensuing massacre is simply described as "[[TakeOurWordForIt Vengeance ensues]]".
* ClassTrip
* ColdBloodedTorture: Not, actually, from the demons, who prefer to kill their prey quickly and then eat it. However, the priests and scientists in the Orpheus Complex are more than happy to use torture ''on'' the demons.
* CoolGate: The Dodgson Anomaly.
* CoolTeacher: Stewart Kane - can also be the SternTeacher.
* CrazyPrepared: Sendak keeps ''morphine'' in his on-site medkits.
* DeathBySex: [[spoiler: Liam and Rebecca are the only pair to have full-on penetrative sex in the course of the novel. Liam is killed right afterwards. Rebecca survives, but is traumatised worse than anyone else save for Gillian]].
* DisneyVillainDeath: Subverted when [[spoiler: a demon knocks BigBad Cardinal Tullian through the portal in mid-fall.]]
* DyingDream: Both Merrick and Gilian entertain the thought that they died in vehicle crashes and this is their SelfInflictedHell. [[spoiler: Merrick goes through a genuine one later on which, ironically, is about him crashing a vehicle.]]
* ElaborateUndergroundBase: Orpheus Complex.
* EvilPlan: [[spoiler: Tullian rigs an experiment to apparently show holy water burning the 'demons'. He intends to destroy the facility with a disaster so terrible no-one will risk retrying the project, and subsequently release footage of the experiments. Thus, with apparent clinching proof and no way of repeating the tests, everyone will believe in demons and flock to the church.]]
* ExoticWeaponSupremacy: Sort of. Nothing arcane but [[spoiler: Kirk Burns getting up close and personal with a chainsaw is pretty badass.]]
* FacingTheBulletsOneLiner: [[spoiler: Stewart Kane.]]
* {{Fartillery}}: Beansy. Sadly not used against the demons, despite there being a flamethrower on hand.
* FiveManBand: Those involved in the final battle: [[TheHero Adnan]], [[TheLancer Blake]], [[TheBigGuy Sendak]], [[spoiler: [[TheSmartGuy Steinmeyer]]]] and [[TheChick Rosemary]].
* ForScience: Steinmeyer and, to an extent, Merrick.
* {{Gaydar}}: [[spoiler: Matt Wilson knows Kirk Burns is gay and matter of factly tells him so.]]
* {{Gayngst}}: [[spoiler: Kirk Burns - and perhaps also the detached Matthew Wilson to some degree.]]
** Justified more than usual since they attend a Catholic school and may well therefore have been taught that homosexual thoughts are sinful.
* TheGenericGuy: Four girls: Michelle, Roisin, Carol-Ann and Ruth. Adnan refers to their clique as Mostly Harmless.
* GeniusBruiser: Well, probably not an actual ''genius'' but [[spoiler: Kirk Burns is a lot smarter than he's letting on.]]
* GirlPosse: Referred to by Adnan as Back-Biting Bitches.
* GoodShepherd: Father Constantine Blake. Possibly subverted - not in the 'good' but in the 'shepherd': he isn't particularly pious, struggles to believe his own faith and in the end it's left ambiguous whether he even considers himself Christian.
* {{Gorn}}: Several of the deaths, even before the main characters see what's left of the [[LudicrousGibs military guards in the facility]].
* GrievousHarmWithABody: One demon uses [[spoiler: Julie Meiklejohn's severed head and spinal column]] as a weapon to kill [[spoiler: Liam Donnelly.]]
** [[spoiler: Kirk Burns]] later takes out a demon with [[spoiler: the severed head of another demon!]]
* HeelFaceTurn: Kirk Burns. Arguably Deborah.
* HellGate: The Dodgson Anomaly. [[spoiler: Except it isn't.]]
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: Guthrie]] performs one to close a door on some attacking demons. [[spoiler: Cardinal Tullian believes he is performing one by trying to blow up the facility.]]
* HiddenDepths: Father Blake, Guthrie, Rosemary, Kirk, Rocks, Caitlin, Deborah, Marianne, Matt... pretty-much everyone, to be honest. Brookmyre seems to like introducing characters through another, biased character's eyes before letting us see inside their head later on.
* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Deconstructed. [[spoiler: Tullian believes he is in a holy war and, therefore, this is the case with regards to his crimes.]] He is quite emphatically demonstrated to be wrong.
* IKnowMortalKombat: Adnan, only it was {{VideoGame/Doom}}.
* InformationWantsToBeFree: The belief of Merrick, prompting him to [[spoiler: steal video files of what was going on in the facility.]] The ending implies that, unless the military comply with [[spoiler: Father Blake's]] demands, that information may well [[CantStopTheSignal become]] free.
* ImprovisedWeapon: From both the demons and the heroes. Of particular note is a flamethrower made from a plant-sprayer and some petrol.
* JerkJock: Kirk is introduced as one (well, more like a Jerk Ned because he's Scottish) but undergoes CharacterDevelopment later.
* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler: Cardinal Tullian]]. Possibly. He doesn't die or anything, and he gets to be [[spoiler: revered as a god]], but he is also [[spoiler: trapped in another dimension with no apparent technology beyond basic tools and clothing and no clear way of getting back.]]
* KillEmAll: nearly everyone dies, including characters who'd been built up and in whom the reader was developing an interest.
* KingMook: There's an abnormally-massive demon in what Adnan half-jokingly says is a BossRoom.
* KnightTemplar: [[spoiler: Cardinal Tullian]], to the point that he becomes blind to even the concept that he might be wrong.
* TheLegionsOfHell: [[spoiler: Subverted. Everyone jumps to this conclusion when they first see the 'demons', but it turns out they were all duped by a combination of hysteria and Cardinal Tullian's tricks.]]
* LonersAreFreaks: What most people think of Matt and Marianne. It is, however, telling that Adnan - shown elsewhere to be more observant and a better judge of character than most - gets on well with both of them.
* MadScientist: Steinmeyer and, to a lesser degree, Merrick. Both, however, are nonetheless sympathetic.
* ManOnFire: Happens in the beginning - not very fatal.
* NonGivingUpSchoolGuy: The deputy head Dan Guthrie. He tries very hard for SternTeacher but this doesn't work out well.
* NotEvilJustMisunderstood: Kane muses that Robert Barker - who murdered a fellow student in backstory - may have been this. [[spoiler: This foreshadows the revelation that the 'demons' are just creatures from another dimension who attack humans because they believe ''we'' are the demons.]]
** Bear in mind, however, that [[spoiler: the demons that come through the anomaly appear to be ones that were sentenced to death in their own dimension.]] So they may have been evil after all, even if they didn't deserve the treatment they got.
* NowOrNeverKiss: [[spoiler: Rosemary and Deso]].
* OffscreenMomentOfAwesome: The biggest of the demons is in a tight corridor, between Sendak and the other heroes. Next time we see Sendak, he's opening the door to the room where the others are, armed and alive.
* PosthumousCharacter: Dunnsy and Barker.
* PunchClockVillain: Rocks and Dazza are both sick of the reputations they've gained from hanging around [[AxCrazy Kirk]] for so long, and are wary of his growing obsession with Matt. [[spoiler: Dazza is killed when he goes to stop Kirk from stabbing Matt in revenge for Dunnsy's death.]]
* TheReveal: Two big ones. Firstly, [[spoiler: the 'demons' aren't even supernatural in origin, and are only so AxeCrazy because, having been imprisoned, starved and tortured, they ironically believe themselves to be in Hell.]] Secondly, [[spoiler: it was Tullian, not Steinmeyer, who released the demons and sabotaged the anomaly, because he knew they weren't real demons all along and wanted to hide that knowledge.]]
* RedemptionEqualsDeath: How Deputy Dan sees his HeroicSacrifice.
* SequelHook: [[spoiler: Adnan is trapped in the Demon's Realm, where [[BigBad Cardinal Tullian]] is being worshipped by the demons as their god.]]
* ShotgunsAreJustBetter: Adnan believes this, evidenced early on when we see him playing {{VideoGame/Doom}}. He later picked one up in real life and TookALevelInBadass on the spot.
* ShoutOut: The name Sendak. Think MauriceSendak, author of the young children's picture-book ''{{Where The Wild Things Are}}''.
* ShutUpHannibal: Combined with PreMortemOneLiner.
-->'''[[spoiler: Cardinal Tullian]]:''' "It is the measure of our faith to believe ''in spite of'' evidence, [[spoiler: Father]]. Satan is using science to seduce you. And only faith can save us from him."
-->'''[[spoiler: Father Blake]]:''' "Science says you fall at ten metres per second squared. [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Let's see if faith can save you from that]]."
* SinisterMinister: Cardinal Tullian. Merrick seems wary of him even when he admits he's thankful for the guy's presence. [[spoiler: It turns out he was right to, as Tullian is personally responsible for everything, and directly murders Merrick.]]
* SuspiciousVideoGameGenerosity: Referenced. Adnan finds a shiny new shotgun and a box of shells outside the door to the Cathedral, and points out that this probably makes the Cathedral a BossRoom. Sendak argues that ThisIsReality, and Adnan basically says 'yes, and ''in reality'' someone stashed an ammo supply here for a ''reason''.' Sure enough, there's an [[KingMook eight-foot demon]] inside the chamber, not to mention [[spoiler: BigBad Cardinal Tullian.]]
* TheTetrisEffect: Adnan sees a {{VideoGame/Doom}} HUD around his vision constantly. [[spoiler: Turns out to be a ChekhovsSkill when he uses that detachment from reality to help him take down several demons, {{VideoGame/Doom}}-style.]]
* TokenMinority: Adnan is from a Muslim background while all of the others (presumably) are from white Catholic ones.
* TokenReligiousTeammate: Rosemary Breslin. Despite the kids being from a catholic school, she is the only truly-religious protagonist to do anything besides hang around in the background or die.
* TheDogBitesBack: [[spoiler: After extended periods of torture and starvation, the demons' first act upon escaping is to tear apart the facility and kill all the soldiers and priests.]]
* TookALevelInBadass: Several characters, most noticeably Kirk and Rosemary. Also Adnan when he picks up the shotgun.
* ViolentGlaswegian: There's something satisfying about a kid swearing at a demon in Scottish slang.
* WildTeenParty: Of course.
----
A novel by Scottish author ChristopherBrookmyre, published in 2009.
{{Pandaemonium}} is Brookmyre's 13th novel, it's a stand alone and it's a bit different from his other works. That being said the style and tone is still very much recognizable as being Brookmyre's.
Somewhere secluded in Scotland, the U.S Army is carrying out a top-secret military experiment which has led to such astounding results they've called on the Vatican itself for advice and support: They fear they may literally have opened the gates to hell. The project's scientists, however, are not impressed with this explanation and even less impressed with the clergy taking control, and discord abounds.
In the meantime a busful of Scottish teenagers and their put upon teachers are heading for the area's outdoor activity center where they will (officially) be spending the weekend therapeutically coming to terms with a fellow student having murdered a class mate before commiting suicide, or (realistically) gossiping, partying and getting drunk and high on what they've smuggled along and (optimistically) getting laid.
The teens think the greatest challenges they will face this weekend are finding someone to hook up with, avoiding teacher detection and interference, avoiding ending up rooming with someone undesirable and avoiding aggravating [[TheBully Big Kirk]]. They are, of course, very much mistaken.
----
!!Tropes:
* AbandonedArea
* AdrenalineMakeover: [[spoiler: Rosemary Breslin]]
* AlphaBitch: Gillian Cole seems to be the head of the local GirlPosse, although she's outdone in levels of actual bitchiness by [[FatBastard Julie Meiklejohn]].
* AncientConspiracy: [[spoiler: The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, previously known as the [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Holy Inquisition]], have been concealing the evidence of 'demons' for centuries.]]
* ArmouredClosetGay: [[spoiler: Kirk Burns]]
* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler: FatBastard Julie Meiklejohn]] is among the first of the kids to be killed off.
** Subverted with [[spoiler: Kirk Burns]]. The text seems to imply he will be the first victim when he goes outside alone to [[spoiler: [[AxCrazy knife a fellow student]]]], but in fact he's the one person in that particular area of woods who survives.
* BadAss: Kirk Burns ''nuts'' a demon into submission. "[[RedBaron Sarge]]" Sendak comes a close second, being just as capable a fighter but not quite so freaking mental.
* TheBeautifulElite: Jason, Liam, Rebecca and Samantha. They're also kinda [[JerkAss jerks]].
* BewareTheNiceOnes: The BigBad is finally defeated by [[spoiler: Father Blake]] of all people! Also, there's this line from Rosemary, regarding methods of fighting the demons:
-->"I was thinking more [[KillItWithFire infernal]] than divine."
* BigBad: Literally everything that goes wrong, from the demons' escape to [[spoiler: their ''being so AxeCrazy in the first place'']] is ''all'' the fault of [[spoiler: Cardinal Terrance Tullian.]]
* BigDamnHeroes: Twice. First, there's [[spoiler: Kirk Burns with a chainsaw.]] Second is [[spoiler: Deso and Rosemary with a flamethrower.]]
* BreakOutTheMuseumPiece: Bows and arrows.
* BreakTheBadass: Kirk Burns is terrified after his first brush with the enemy. And this is the guy the nerd and closest-thing-to-a-main-character Adnan classified thusly: ''Warrior Class'': Undisputed Best Fighter. ''Status'': Fucking Mental. ''Strength'': Hard As Fuck. ''Weakness'': None Documented.
* BreakTheHaughty: [[spoiler: Gillian]] loses her mind after encountering a demon, and tells everyone who will listen that they are doomed, or are already dead and being punished in the afterlife.
* CantActPervertedTowardALoveInterest: Rocks aka Paul Roxburgh.
* ChainsawGood: When [[spoiler: Kirk]] gets his hands on a chainsaw, the ensuing massacre is simply described as "[[TakeOurWordForIt Vengeance ensues]]".
* ClassTrip
* ColdBloodedTorture: Not, actually, from the demons, who prefer to kill their prey quickly and then eat it. However, the priests and scientists in the Orpheus Complex are more than happy to use torture ''on'' the demons.
* CoolGate: The Dodgson Anomaly.
* CoolTeacher: Stewart Kane - can also be the SternTeacher.
* CrazyPrepared: Sendak keeps ''morphine'' in his on-site medkits.
* DeathBySex: [[spoiler: Liam and Rebecca are the only pair to have full-on penetrative sex in the course of the novel. Liam is killed right afterwards. Rebecca survives, but is traumatised worse than anyone else save for Gillian]].
* DisneyVillainDeath: Subverted when [[spoiler: a demon knocks BigBad Cardinal Tullian through the portal in mid-fall.]]
* DyingDream: Both Merrick and Gilian entertain the thought that they died in vehicle crashes and this is their SelfInflictedHell. [[spoiler: Merrick goes through a genuine one later on which, ironically, is about him crashing a vehicle.]]
* ElaborateUndergroundBase: Orpheus Complex.
* EvilPlan: [[spoiler: Tullian rigs an experiment to apparently show holy water burning the 'demons'. He intends to destroy the facility with a disaster so terrible no-one will risk retrying the project, and subsequently release footage of the experiments. Thus, with apparent clinching proof and no way of repeating the tests, everyone will believe in demons and flock to the church.]]
* ExoticWeaponSupremacy: Sort of. Nothing arcane but [[spoiler: Kirk Burns getting up close and personal with a chainsaw is pretty badass.]]
* FacingTheBulletsOneLiner: [[spoiler: Stewart Kane.]]
* {{Fartillery}}: Beansy. Sadly not used against the demons, despite there being a flamethrower on hand.
* FiveManBand: Those involved in the final battle: [[TheHero Adnan]], [[TheLancer Blake]], [[TheBigGuy Sendak]], [[spoiler: [[TheSmartGuy Steinmeyer]]]] and [[TheChick Rosemary]].
* ForScience: Steinmeyer and, to an extent, Merrick.
* {{Gaydar}}: [[spoiler: Matt Wilson knows Kirk Burns is gay and matter of factly tells him so.]]
* {{Gayngst}}: [[spoiler: Kirk Burns - and perhaps also the detached Matthew Wilson to some degree.]]
** Justified more than usual since they attend a Catholic school and may well therefore have been taught that homosexual thoughts are sinful.
* TheGenericGuy: Four girls: Michelle, Roisin, Carol-Ann and Ruth. Adnan refers to their clique as Mostly Harmless.
* GeniusBruiser: Well, probably not an actual ''genius'' but [[spoiler: Kirk Burns is a lot smarter than he's letting on.]]
* GirlPosse: Referred to by Adnan as Back-Biting Bitches.
* GoodShepherd: Father Constantine Blake. Possibly subverted - not in the 'good' but in the 'shepherd': he isn't particularly pious, struggles to believe his own faith and in the end it's left ambiguous whether he even considers himself Christian.
* {{Gorn}}: Several of the deaths, even before the main characters see what's left of the [[LudicrousGibs military guards in the facility]].
* GrievousHarmWithABody: One demon uses [[spoiler: Julie Meiklejohn's severed head and spinal column]] as a weapon to kill [[spoiler: Liam Donnelly.]]
** [[spoiler: Kirk Burns]] later takes out a demon with [[spoiler: the severed head of another demon!]]
* HeelFaceTurn: Kirk Burns. Arguably Deborah.
* HellGate: The Dodgson Anomaly. [[spoiler: Except it isn't.]]
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: Guthrie]] performs one to close a door on some attacking demons. [[spoiler: Cardinal Tullian believes he is performing one by trying to blow up the facility.]]
* HiddenDepths: Father Blake, Guthrie, Rosemary, Kirk, Rocks, Caitlin, Deborah, Marianne, Matt... pretty-much everyone, to be honest. Brookmyre seems to like introducing characters through another, biased character's eyes before letting us see inside their head later on.
* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Deconstructed. [[spoiler: Tullian believes he is in a holy war and, therefore, this is the case with regards to his crimes.]] He is quite emphatically demonstrated to be wrong.
* IKnowMortalKombat: Adnan, only it was {{VideoGame/Doom}}.
* InformationWantsToBeFree: The belief of Merrick, prompting him to [[spoiler: steal video files of what was going on in the facility.]] The ending implies that, unless the military comply with [[spoiler: Father Blake's]] demands, that information may well [[CantStopTheSignal become]] free.
* ImprovisedWeapon: From both the demons and the heroes. Of particular note is a flamethrower made from a plant-sprayer and some petrol.
* JerkJock: Kirk is introduced as one (well, more like a Jerk Ned because he's Scottish) but undergoes CharacterDevelopment later.
* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler: Cardinal Tullian]]. Possibly. He doesn't die or anything, and he gets to be [[spoiler: revered as a god]], but he is also [[spoiler: trapped in another dimension with no apparent technology beyond basic tools and clothing and no clear way of getting back.]]
* KillEmAll: nearly everyone dies, including characters who'd been built up and in whom the reader was developing an interest.
* KingMook: There's an abnormally-massive demon in what Adnan half-jokingly says is a BossRoom.
* KnightTemplar: [[spoiler: Cardinal Tullian]], to the point that he becomes blind to even the concept that he might be wrong.
* TheLegionsOfHell: [[spoiler: Subverted. Everyone jumps to this conclusion when they first see the 'demons', but it turns out they were all duped by a combination of hysteria and Cardinal Tullian's tricks.]]
* LonersAreFreaks: What most people think of Matt and Marianne. It is, however, telling that Adnan - shown elsewhere to be more observant and a better judge of character than most - gets on well with both of them.
* MadScientist: Steinmeyer and, to a lesser degree, Merrick. Both, however, are nonetheless sympathetic.
* ManOnFire: Happens in the beginning - not very fatal.
* NonGivingUpSchoolGuy: The deputy head Dan Guthrie. He tries very hard for SternTeacher but this doesn't work out well.
* NotEvilJustMisunderstood: Kane muses that Robert Barker - who murdered a fellow student in backstory - may have been this. [[spoiler: This foreshadows the revelation that the 'demons' are just creatures from another dimension who attack humans because they believe ''we'' are the demons.]]
** Bear in mind, however, that [[spoiler: the demons that come through the anomaly appear to be ones that were sentenced to death in their own dimension.]] So they may have been evil after all, even if they didn't deserve the treatment they got.
* NowOrNeverKiss: [[spoiler: Rosemary and Deso]].
* OffscreenMomentOfAwesome: The biggest of the demons is in a tight corridor, between Sendak and the other heroes. Next time we see Sendak, he's opening the door to the room where the others are, armed and alive.
* PosthumousCharacter: Dunnsy and Barker.
* PunchClockVillain: Rocks and Dazza are both sick of the reputations they've gained from hanging around [[AxCrazy Kirk]] for so long, and are wary of his growing obsession with Matt. [[spoiler: Dazza is killed when he goes to stop Kirk from stabbing Matt in revenge for Dunnsy's death.]]
* TheReveal: Two big ones. Firstly, [[spoiler: the 'demons' aren't even supernatural in origin, and are only so AxeCrazy because, having been imprisoned, starved and tortured, they ironically believe themselves to be in Hell.]] Secondly, [[spoiler: it was Tullian, not Steinmeyer, who released the demons and sabotaged the anomaly, because he knew they weren't real demons all along and wanted to hide that knowledge.]]
* RedemptionEqualsDeath: How Deputy Dan sees his HeroicSacrifice.
* SequelHook: [[spoiler: Adnan is trapped in the Demon's Realm, where [[BigBad Cardinal Tullian]] is being worshipped by the demons as their god.]]
* ShotgunsAreJustBetter: Adnan believes this, evidenced early on when we see him playing {{VideoGame/Doom}}. He later picked one up in real life and TookALevelInBadass on the spot.
* ShoutOut: The name Sendak. Think MauriceSendak, author of the young children's picture-book ''{{Where The Wild Things Are}}''.
* ShutUpHannibal: Combined with PreMortemOneLiner.
-->'''[[spoiler: Cardinal Tullian]]:''' "It is the measure of our faith to believe ''in spite of'' evidence, [[spoiler: Father]]. Satan is using science to seduce you. And only faith can save us from him."
-->'''[[spoiler: Father Blake]]:''' "Science says you fall at ten metres per second squared. [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Let's see if faith can save you from that]]."
* SinisterMinister: Cardinal Tullian. Merrick seems wary of him even when he admits he's thankful for the guy's presence. [[spoiler: It turns out he was right to, as Tullian is personally responsible for everything, and directly murders Merrick.]]
* SuspiciousVideoGameGenerosity: Referenced. Adnan finds a shiny new shotgun and a box of shells outside the door to the Cathedral, and points out that this probably makes the Cathedral a BossRoom. Sendak argues that ThisIsReality, and Adnan basically says 'yes, and ''in reality'' someone stashed an ammo supply here for a ''reason''.' Sure enough, there's an [[KingMook eight-foot demon]] inside the chamber, not to mention [[spoiler: BigBad Cardinal Tullian.]]
* TheTetrisEffect: Adnan sees a {{VideoGame/Doom}} HUD around his vision constantly. [[spoiler: Turns out to be a ChekhovsSkill when he uses that detachment from reality to help him take down several demons, {{VideoGame/Doom}}-style.]]
* TokenMinority: Adnan is from a Muslim background while all of the others (presumably) are from white Catholic ones.
* TokenReligiousTeammate: Rosemary Breslin. Despite the kids being from a catholic school, she is the only truly-religious protagonist to do anything besides hang around in the background or die.
* TheDogBitesBack: [[spoiler: After extended periods of torture and starvation, the demons' first act upon escaping is to tear apart the facility and kill all the soldiers and priests.]]
* TookALevelInBadass: Several characters, most noticeably Kirk and Rosemary. Also Adnan when he picks up the shotgun.
* ViolentGlaswegian: There's something satisfying about a kid swearing at a demon in Scottish slang.
* WildTeenParty: Of course.
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