Zombie Reader

Add Abe to your 'Remaining' Library

Revisado: 07-09-24

Another fantastic book in the Remaining series by DJ Molles with Christian Rummel as narrator on Audible. Abe is a dark and gritty story where no one is really a good guy. The narrative follows a group of former Army types on a mission to rescue several families being held by a cartel in Mexico. They break things and kill people along the way using only a little discrimination with all eyes on their narrow objective. Although this is a "Remaining" book, there are few interactions with the undead. They do encounter a couple of packs of Primals but they are peripheral to the main story.
Otherwise, action packed, exciting and well worth the time.

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Cadaver Rises

Revisado: 05-03-24

Cadaver was another book that ended up being much better than I expected. Despite being translated from Danish to English, the transition is seamless. The story is solid and interesting and the characters are three dimensional. The story evolves around a ancient cave discovered in the backyard of a village home where an evil creature attacks and turns people into zombie like monsters. The creatures spread to the surrounding area, eventually to a hospital where the main characters fight to escape with their lives.

My only constructive criticism for the author are that there are times when something is happening to one person, or group, and everyone else seems to be standing there doing nothing until the author comes back to them. If a zombie is attacking a person right in front of you, I don't think you are going to stand there and watch until the zombie is done and decides to come at you. In spite of this small drawback, it was a good book. I'll definitely be listening to Cadaver 2.

Spencer Dillehay does a good job with the English Audible version.

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Gries Brings It, Again!

Revisado: 04-29-24

Another really good book by Shane Gries. Plenty of action, lots of plot twists and turns, relatable characters, well written and he definitely knows military culture top to bottom. His undead are fast and frightening. If you enjoy military thrillers, this is a great follow on to the first book in this series.

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Growing up in a Graveyard

Revisado: 03-29-24

I very much enjoyed listening to the Graveyard Book via Audible. It was a departure from my usual fare but well worth the diversion. The story, characters, writing, and players (in the full theatrical Audible production) are all top caliber. In it, Gaiman tells us a series of sweet ghost stories all tied together by a living boy who gets adopted by the post-life residents of a graveyard. There is danger; even a murder (in the opening pages) and attempted murder (in the closing chapters) but its not ever what I would call scary. As the boy, named "Bod" (short for Nobody) is in league with the spirits of the graveyard nearly from the beginning and has a vampire as a mentor, the reader never worries about the supernatural. It is the living who serve as the antagonists; from bullies in school, to a corrupt shopkeeper, to a secret society of assassins'. The book reminded me of riding Disney's Haunted Mansion; fun, entertaining, thrilling, and appropriate for all ages.

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Sanctuary Sprints to the Action

Revisado: 03-25-24

Another win for DJ Molles. While Molles' undead have mutated from the mindless, stumbling, walkers that they started out as into fast moving, smarter, ape like "Primals" he has ratcheted up the action and pace. In this one off, spin off, with a few known characters, its all well done, decisions make sense and the story is frantic and entertaining. Another great add to the world of the Remaining.

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Travel the Silent Zone

Revisado: 03-15-24

Silent Zone is an entertaining romp through an apocalyptic world, where a virus has transformed most humans (and many animals) into primal savages. Those with the virus mutate into huge and vicious creatures whose sole purpose is to cause harm and spill blood. The two main characters, an older man and a young girl, he has taken under his wing, travel through the wilderness surviving and avoiding both the creatures and other people as much as possible. The man tries to teach the girl his survival skills with luck in some areas and resistance in others. On occasion, they travel with others and even find themselves in human settlements but the man doesn't trust anyone and prefers to stay away from strangers. For the most part his fears are well founded, as groups of humans attract the creatures. The two narrowly escape a number of encounters with humans and the creatures until a final climax battle aboard a city of boats anchored in a river. Overall a fun read.

I listened to the Audible version. Cons are that at times it reads like it might have been written in Japanese and translated into English. The pace and word choices often sound like an Anime cartoon. Aside from mispronouncing words on occasion, the narrator does a good job with the material.

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Rising is good Zompoc Fare

Revisado: 11-13-23

The Rising has some interesting creatures, people and situations. It follows several main characters who come from different places and walks of life as the dead are re-animated by evil souls from a different dimension. One man hides in a bomb shelter until a final call on a dying cell phone compels him to emerge in search of his young son. A group of teenage siblings escape from the city only to find the rural areas are just as dangerous. A scientist in a government bunker holds out until the power shuts down and releases one of the creatures being held for observation. A military battalion turns bad and starts using survivors as slave labor while they battle the monsters. Its a fun book with lots of twists and turns.

My main critique is that the "rules of the undead" sometimes don't make sense. It is difficult to cross over into a body (a mammal has to die) and they are supposed to be smart, yet they have no hesitation about damaging the body (jumping in front of cars, running at people who are shooting at them, leaping through windows, etc.). This all makes the book more exciting but also creates that nagging feeling of "why did they do that?"

I listened to the Audible version narrated by Joe Hempel.

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Dead Sea Delivers

Revisado: 09-05-23

Loved this dark, one off, end of the world story following a small group of survivors facing zombies, a burning city and then the high seas, all while attempting to stay a step ahead of the constantly mutating virus that's turning everything into undead monsters. Its not the story you might expect! The characters are 3 dimensional and well written as is the situation and their reactions to the obstacles they face. There were a few occasions when I asked 'why did they do that?' (firing loud weapons unnecessarily when they know the undead are nearby) but these are regular people trying to survive so we can give them some slack for making a few survival mistakes.

I particularly enjoyed the narration by Ron Butler on the Audible version. His voice was a perfect fit for the inner city characters and people of the city.

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Travel Skull Road

Revisado: 08-29-23

I'm a big fan of Blackmore's work and especially his Mountain Man series. Skull Road does not disappoint. Here we follow our favorite reclusive house painter as he first, broods and suffers from loneliness in an opulent resort hotel, then sets out to take out the final vestiges of the maniacal Leather organization before they reorganize. Well written and exciting, this adventure is a great addition to the series. Would love to encourage Blackmore continue but I'm not sure Gus can survive any more punishment. Its a fun book that I listened (Audible) to straight through. RC Bray is the master of VO an does his usual fantastic job as the narrator.

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Stand is one of King's Best

Revisado: 08-22-23

One of King's best works and a must read from his large catalogue. In retrospect, it is easy to see why (as King explains in the forward) editors & accountants at his publisher wanted to cut the number of pages. It is longer, and has lots more background and detail than absolutely necessary. There are entire chapters that could be cut and not effect the outcome of the story. I'm sure the number crunchers were apoplectic at the page count vs how much they could charge for the book, ratio.

However, it is all this background and detail that builds the world and it's characters. King is such an excellent writer that we are easily drawn into the minutia of what all the characters are doing, long before the plague even strikes. It all builds and sets the stage for the story's outcome. As if a deadly worldwide plague isn't bad enough there is also an epic battle of good vs evil going on.

Well worth reading if you enjoy such things.

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