Wither (Passarella novel)
{{short description|1999 novel by John Passarella and Joseph Gangemi}}
{{about|the 1999 horror novel by J.G. Passarella|the 2011 dystopian novel by Lauren DeStefano|Wither (DeStefano novel)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox book|
| name = Wither
| title_orig =
| translator =
| image = Wither (Passarella novel).jpg
| caption = Hardcover edition
| author = John Passarella and Joseph Gangemi
| illustrator =
| cover_artist =
| country = United States
| language = English
| series =
| genre = Fiction
| publisher = Atria
| release_date = February 1, 1999
| english_release_date =
| media_type = Print (Hardback)
| pages = 320 pp (first edition, hardback)
| isbn = 0671024809
| isbn_note = (first edition, hardback)
| dewey =
| congress =
| oclc =
| preceded_by =
| followed_by = Wither's Rain
}}
Wither is a 1999 supernatural novel about ghosts and witches by John Passarella and Joseph Gangemi writing under the pseudonym "J.G. Passerella".{{cite web |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A01E4DF1E3FF933A05753C1A9639C8B63 |title=They Are Scared So You Don't Have to Be |work=New York Times |author=Margo Nash |date=October 30, 2005 |accessdate=October 24, 2012}} Wither was nominated for an International Horror Guild Award and won the Horror Writers Association's Bram Stoker Award for First Novel in 1999.{{cite web |url=http://www.horror.org/stokerwinnom.htm#2000 |title=Bram Stoker Award previous winners |publisher=Bram Stoker Award website |author= |date= |accessdate=October 24, 2012}}{{cite web|last=Spiegel|first=Janet|title=Interview: Author John Passarella|date=23 November 2011 |url=https://horrornews.net/44185/interview-author-john-passarella/|publisher=HorrorNews.net|accessdate=25 October 2012}} Wither was later followed by the sequels Wither's Rain, Wither's Curse, and Wither's Legacy.
Synopsis
Wither follows Wendy, a young college student living in the fictional town of Windale, Massachusetts. She attends local Danfield College, of which her father is the president, while indulging her interest in the magic and New Age. It is an idyllic setting, but evil is slowly creeping into the town in the form of the ghost of Elizabeth Wither. Eight-year-old Abby MacNeil suffers from nightmares that eventually result in her discovering the burial site of three 17th century women that were tried and killed by the townspeople. Karen Glazer, a local professor, has vivid visions of her unborn child being attacked. Eventually they discover that Wither and her fellow witches are intent on possessing the bodies of Wendy, Abby, and Karen.
Reception
Critical reception for Wither was mixed, with the Cedar Rapids Gazette praising the novel.{{cite news|last=Cullen Chapman|first=Cindy|title=Hair-raising 'Wither' a future genre classic|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CR&z=CRGB&p_theme=cr&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAFE9FA79676281&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|accessdate=25 October 2012|newspaper=The Gazette|date=July 4, 1999}}{{cite web|title=Booklist Review: Wither|url=http://www.booklistonline.com/Wither-J-G-Passarella/pid=896768|publisher=Booklist|accessdate=25 October 2012}} Publishers Weekly cited the book's setting as a highlight, but commented that the plot was "derivative".{{cite web|title=Review; Wither|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-671-02480-2|publisher=Publishers Weekly|accessdate=25 October 2012}} Kirkus Reviews gave a mixed review, saying that Passarella "carries off a series of familiar ploys with ease if little originality".{{cite web|title=WITHER By J.G. Passarella (Author)|url=http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jg-passarella/wither/|publisher=Kirkus Reviews|accessdate=25 October 2012}}
Movie adaptation
In 1997, the authors put the manuscript on the spec market before looking for a book publisher, and Columbia Pictures paid $500,000 (against $1 million total for a finished film) for the manuscript with the intention to film it using indie producers Lisa Henson and Janet Yang at Manifest FilmsChetwynd, Josh. "Columbia won't wilt on 'Wither'." The Hollywood Reporter 5 Nov. 1997: 1. Gale Student Resources In Context. Retrieved 25 Oct. 2012.{{cite web |url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR111660765 |title=Col scares up 'Wither' deal |work=Variety |author= |date=Nov 4, 1997 |accessdate=October 24, 2012}}