Sunday Survival: Owner's Apocalypse Manual

The Zombie Survival Manual by Sean T. Page is very detailed without being overwhelming. Many other survival books are so difficult to get through, it would be easier to take on an undead horde with your bare hands. This manual is much easier to navigate.

It’s entertaining without lowering itself to cheesy humor. It’s like a cross between an RPG guide and an Ology book (ex: Dragonology). There’s even a test at the end, and a couple of certificates that you can hang up in your doomsday shelter.

Last but not least, Sean Page is not someone jumping on the zombie bandwagon. He is an excellent horror writer, but his specialty is writing survival manuals. He has created a sub-genre of his very own. Check out his Alien Invasion Owners’ Resistance Manual, if you require more proof. Page ALWAYS does an incredible amount of research for his books.

There is a strong British influence within this book, but it is applicable to most countries. I definitely recommend Page’s manual to my fellow zombiephiles, regardless of your Z-plan.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Heartbreaking

Sean T. Page is a regular here at the Lair. I recently discovered that he's written a couple of shorts I hadn't read yet. I began this month with 1975...seems only right to include another of his stories, Embarrassment, before November ends, especially with Thanksgiving around the corner.

This flash piece begins with a pregnant Tracy, shunned by her Irish/English family because Glenn, the baby's father is Black. There's so many levels at work here, from the issue of teen pregnancy to racism to family drama, and then Page throws in a paranormal twist.

I'm still crying...

Bless these authors who use their talent to help others.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Below Ground = Death

1975 Year of the Zombie by Sean T Page actually begins in month nine. There is a definite divide between the Marines and everyone else. Even with the tremendous amount of supplies and the many layers of security, bunker fever sets in and increases the level of suspicion and conspiracies among the various groups within the underground compound. Survivors begin to disappear from the steel sanctuary, and a technician is tasked with finding the missing people. During his search, it becomes obvious the bunker fever is much worse than anyone can imagine.

While I appreciate the originality of the story and the unexpected turn of events, this is not necessarily Page's best work. I miss the action and horror I enjoyed so much in Meta-horde. I think Page's creative writing skills are best enjoyed in the form of a novel, rather than a short story.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Throwback Thursday: Meta-Horde

Meta-horde, by Sean T Page and John McCuaig, is definitely a book that zombiephiles will want to add to their collections. If not for the POVs of the characters from time to time, this novel almost reads like a history book. Between fighting a meta-horde of over a million zombies, and dealing with Vatican nutjobs, the situation seems beyond hopeless, but many of the characters refuse to give up, and that’s what makes the story quite interesting. I had to read this in one sitting because I really wanted to know why people would bother to keep fighting under such bleak circumstances.

The survivors are living in fortified settlements across Europe (often historical structures such as castles), and the zombies – having run quite low on their food source – now move in large hordes composed of thousands, which are building up to millions after overwhelming the settlements one by one. A group of scientists that have been studying the movement of the undead have an idea of how to break up the horde, but their plans are thwarted by some religious fanatics who believe that the zombies are part of God’s will.

If you somehow missed this novel when it was originally released, get a copy now.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Throwback Thursday: ZOMBIES

Zombie: The Other Fright Meat
edited by Matt Nord
195 pages
$2.99 Kindle version

Many of the best authors in the genre are in this anthology:

CICADA by Patrick D'Orazio features a timeline that moves with the 17yr life cycle of cicadas in a local area - fabulous hook! And an excellent start to the collection!

THE ZOMBIE PRINCE by James S Dorr is written like a fairytale of the undead. The Grimm Brothers would be disturbed.

FIDAY NIGHT AT THE CHA-CHA GRILL by Matthew R Davis has a unique description of zombies, and an unusual take on how the zombie virus spread.

GREED by Jeffrey A Angus is a great tale of what characters should NOT do...ever.

BRIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD by Thomas M Malafarina has a very different POV that I really enjoyed as a fan of the genre.

CHILDREN OF THE DAMNED by Monique Snyman has a real sweet touch with the vaccination angle in this story.

A GOOD FATHER by Suzanne Robb is extremely disturbing - the way horror is SUPPOSED to be.

NO TIME FOR POETS by William RD Wood is one of my favorites in this anthology; I loved how the author connected the past and present in a post-apocalyptic world. Nice job.

HOW TO DISAPPEAR INTO A ZOMBIE KILLING MACHINE AND NEVER BE FOUND AGAIN by David Perlmutter elicited zero sympathy from me; I really hated the character telling the story.

THE ONCE AND FUTURE AGENT DEAL: A.S.P.A.R.C. STORY by Jason T Countryman is THE MOST UNPREDICTABLE story in the collection.

SAFE by Matt Nord: shame on you, Nord, for teasing readers with such a short piece and not lasting longer!!

BEMOANED, INC. by TL Decay is a story that I could see happening, seriously. Be concerned. Be very concerned.

YOUTUBE: PUNCHING ZOMBIE by Candace Gleave is HILARIOUS! I feel bad about how much I liked this story.

LIEUTENANT JAVORSKY AND HIS ZOMBIE-COMMANDOS by Sean T Page would make a GREAT movie. Get on that, Page.

THE ZOMBIE ARE DUE ON MAPLE STREET by Dale Elster actually gave me a nightmare!

DAY 96 by Matthew Shafeek is a nice bit of flash fiction.

SKELETOWN by Jason M Bloom is one of the most nightmarish, in a VERY perverse way.

FAITHFULLY by Steven McGuire is an entertaining revenge tale.

A NIGHT IN THE ATTIC by Robin Eduardo is told through a child's POV.

Overall, a fantastic collection of all the new directions that authors are taking the zombie genre!

As always,
AstraDaemon

Know Thy Enemy: Aliens

Alien Invasion Owners' Resistance Manual: Know your enemy (all extraterrestrial lifeforms) - The Complete Guide to surviving the Alien Apocalypse (Owners' Workshop Manual)
by Sean T. Page
128 pages

This manual will appeal to a wide variety of readers: science fiction fans, gamers, those interested in the subject of alens, and, of course, those at high risk for abduction, as well as ages 13 and up. The format is well-organized and easy to comprehend, which is not surprising considering that survival manuals are the author's specialty.

Sean T Page puts a tremendous amount of research into his writing, including his personal expertise from his military background and world travels. I have been reading his books for years, and I've never been disappointed.

Now, Page is a British author and his books have a strong UK flavor, but even US readers can put these manuals to good use. ;)

I also recommend, Zombie Survival Manual: From the dawn of time onwards (all variations), for the zombie fans on your gift list.

As always,
AstraDaemon