History Literature / TheTroop

The Troop is a 2014 Canadian Horror novel by Nick Cutter, unrelated to the Nickelodeon show of the same name.

* GoneHorriblyRight: [[spoiler: The mutant tapeworms that cause the outbreak were supposed to be used as diet aides, since tapeworm infestations are characterized by a loss of weight. The infected loose weight, alright...]]
* GoneHorriblyWrong: [[spoiler: the tapeworms were experimented on to make them unable to survive outside the human colon. Instead, it gives them HollywoodEvolution.]]

* EvilFeelsGood: Shelly actually ''gets off'' on killing things (the day he drowned a kitten was the moist erotic instance in his life). [[spoiler:He reacts to his infestation as if he were pregnant]].

* VirusVictimSymptoms: [[BigEater Ravenous]] [[ExtremeOmnivore hunger]] and [[EvilSmellsBad a smell like bad fruit]], rapid weight loss, and cysts on the skin.
* XMeetsY: ''Literature/LordOfTheFlies'' meets ''Film/TwentyEightDaysLater.''
** [[spoiler: Or perhaps Lord of the Flies with a BMovie called "Parasite" ([[NamesTheSame not]] [[Film/{{Parasite}} that one]]), which also featured the protagonists trapped on an island with genetically engineered parasitoids, and another B-Movie called ''Scourge'''', which featured a parasite (strongly implied to be a demon of gluttony) that induced BigEater tendencies.]]

* MadScientist: Dr. Clive Edgerton, the man who [[spoiler: genetically modified a tapeworm into a [[StarCraft Zerg]]-like monstrosity.]] He's actually compared to [[GodwinsLaw Joseph Mengele]].

* AbsurdlyYouthfulMother: Newt's mom used to be a model, and averts the ChristmasCake mindset of the townsfolk.

** [[spoiler: Or perhaps Lord of the Flies with a BMovie called "Parasite" ([[NamesTheSame not]] [[Film/{{Parasite}} that one]]), which also featured the protagonists trapped on an island with genetically engineered parasitoids, and another B movie called ''Film/{{Scourge}}'', which featured a parasite (strongly implied to be a demon of gluttony) that induced BigEater tendencies.]]

** [[spoiler: Or perhaps Lord of the Flies with a BMovie called "Parasite" ([[NamesTheSame not]] [[Film/{{Parasite}} that one]]), which also featured the protagonists trapped on an island with genetically engineered parasitoids, and another B movie called "Scourge", which featured a parasite (strongly implied to be a demon of gluttony) that induced BigEater tendencies.]]

* HotMom: Newt's mom used to be a model, and averts the ChristmasCake mindset of the townsfolk.

* CruelTwistEnding: A twofer. [[spoiler: Max and Newt escape. Newt is promptly shot upon uttering the phrase "I'm very, very hungry". Max is given a clean bill of health after several months of testing, goes to look at the now burnt and chemically sterilized island and gets infested by a strain of parasite that adapted to the PollutedWasteland conditions.]]

* PollutedWateland: The island is doused with napalm and bioweapons-grade cleaner. [[spoiler: It doesn't take]].

** [[spoiler: Or perhaps Lord of the Flies with a BMovie called "Parasite" ([[NamesTheSame not]] [[Film/{{Parasite}} that one]]), which also featured the protagonists trapped on an island with genetically engineered parasites, and another B movie called "Scourge", which featured a parasite (strongly implied to be a demon of gluttony) that induced BigEater tendencies.]]

* NightmareSequence: Kent has one where his dad turns into a zombie and tries to eat him.

** [[spoiler: Or perhaps Lord of the Flies with a BMovie called "Parasite" ([[NamesTheSame not]] [[Film/{{Parasite}} that one]], which also featured the protagonists trapped on an island with genetically engineered parasites, and another B movie called "Scourge", which featured a parasite (strongly implied to be a demon of gluttony) that induced BigEater tendencies.]]

* XMeetsY: ''Literature/LordOfTheFlies'' meets ''Film/TwentyEightDaysLater.''

* BigEater: The first symptom of [[spoiler: mutant tapeworm infestation]]

* MadScientist: Dr. Clive Edgerton, the man who [[spoiler: genetically modified a tapeworm into a Zerg-like monstrosity.]] He's actually compared to [[GodwinsLaw Joseph Mengele]].

* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: Most of the boys defer to Kent since he's the biggest and the strongest (and the meanest).

* TheSociopath: Shelly displays classic signs of being one-LackOfEmpathy and torturing small animals [[spoiler: and later Kent and Ephraim]] for no other reason than [[ForTheEvulz For Teh Lolz]].

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: [[One of Edgerton's assistants does this when it's revealed that he was working on a parasite-based biological weapon, rather than a diet pill.]]

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: [[One of Edgerton's assistants does this when it's revealed that he was working on a parasite-based biological weapon, rather than a diet pill.]]
* KidsAreCruel: Everyone picks on poor Newt.

* LaserGuidedKarma: Shelly gets infested while [[spoiler: murdering Kent, who is also infested. Kent's infestation may also count depending on your views about JerkJock and SchoolyardBullyingIsHarmless.]]

* VirusVictimSymptoms: [[BigEater Ravenous hunger]] and [[EvilSmellsBad a smell like bad fruit.]]