Lame Ending to Great Series

MUTATED by Joe McKinney is the fourth book in his Dead World series, and the weakest one, in my opinion. I can't even believe McKinney wrote this. The writing style is nowhere near the same level of storytelling found in the first three books, and the characters leave a LOT to be desired.

In particular, Niki is a joke. Not only is she unrealistic, she is more suited to a campy comic book than a dramatic survival novel. Even the bad guy, the Red Man, is not as bad as the cheerleader turned terminator. There were so many quality characters (not to mention the variety) in the previous installments, I can't begin to imagine what McKinney was thinking when he decided to make Niki's mission the main storyline.

Not only is Niki a poor excuse for a character, just having someone like her in the story took away from the potential of the rest of the characters. The Red Man could have been more sinister, Ben could have been a bigger source of strength for the group, Nate and Avery could have had more of a relationship, and Sylvia should have been THE main character. Even Fisher and Stoler could have been more involved.

After having to put up with Niki and her over-the-top action scenes throughout the story, the ending is a disappointment as well...too simplified and rushed. If you love the series, do yourself a favor, and skip this one. Whatever you think happened to the group who escaped from Jasper will be better than what McKinney did to his survivors.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Dead World: Flesh Eaters

Battered by three devastating hurricanes in a row, the Texas coast is flattened. But for the people of Houston--and soon all of America--the most terrifying events are just beginning...

FLESH EATERS appears to be a prequel to Dead City and Apocalypse of the Dead, revealing how the outbreak began in Houston, and how it was spread into the other major Texas cities. The characters slowly realize that the multiple hurricane damage that has altered the coastline permanently is the least of their worries. The zombie virus is explained in great detail, and this form of the undead really sets McKinney apart from other authors in the zombie genre.

McKinney has gone to great lengths to make the entire series as realistic as possible, and if you haven’t read all three books yet, I strongly recommend that you put it on your Halloween must-read list. I can't wait to read the fourth book in the series!

As always,
AstraDaemon

Dead World: Apocalypse of the Dead

Two hellish years. That's how long it's been since the hurricanes flooded the Gulf Coast, and the dead rose up from the ruins. The cities were quarantined; the infected, contained. Any unlucky survivors were left to fend for themselves.

APOCALYPSE OF THE DEAD, McKinney’s second book in his Dead World series, takes place two years after the outbreak in Dead City, and includes more details about the source of the zombie virus and its nature. The military has sealed off the Gulf Coast, trapping thousands of uninfected survivors with the remaining zombies. The newly formed Quarantine Authority cannot hold back the zombies or the people desperate to escape the Q-zone.

AOTD changes things up with multiple POVs from characters that slowly converge upon the same time and place in North Dakota, as the rest of the US falls to utter destruction. Worse yet, there is a new strain of the virus making it difficult to identify the infected. The characters are the most striking mix I’ve ever read: convicts, the elderly, porn stars, religious fanatics, and even a blind woman.

When the world goes to hell, McKinney throws everyone into the fire.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Dead World: Dead City

Battered by five cataclysmic hurricanes in three weeks, the Texas Gulf Coast and half of the Lone Star State is reeling from the worst devastation in history. Thousands are dead or dying--but the worst is only beginning. Amid the wreckage, something unimaginable is happening: a deadly virus has broken out, returning the dead to life--with an insatiable hunger for human flesh...

DEAD CITY by Joe McKinney was first released in November 2006. Back then, my son was only a year old, so the scene with Eddie Hudson struggling to release his son from the car seat – while zombies closed in around them – really scared the crap out of me. I had no idea that it was going to be part of a series continued years later. I decided to revisit the series to refresh my memory.

Dead City is told from the POV of police officer Eddie Hudson in San Antonio, TX. At first, he tries to keep the peace when a viral outbreak (linked loosely to flooding and corpses resulting from several recent hurricanes) turns people violent and cannibalistic, but when Eddie realizes he is dealing with zombies, his new mission becomes reuniting with his wife and infant son, April and Andrew. It’s hard to believe that the majority of the story takes place in the span of one night…it’s a nonstop thriller with lots of gore from start to finish.

This is one of my favorite zombie series, and I've continued to reread the series over the years. Even though my son is now a teenager, this particular story still hits me hard as a parent.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Throwback Thursday: Zombies vs. Trekkies

Night of the Living Trekkies by Kevin David Anderson and Sam Stall is one zombie book that I'll never forget. Now, the zombies themselves might not be the kind zombiephiles are used to, and the science fiction might not be realistic enough of the sci-fi fans, but this book is definitely a thrilling adventure that will appeal to all kinds of readers.

The prologue begins with two employees, at an underground military facility in Houston, TX, making plans to go to a Star Trek convention; while they’re talking, the security system fails, opening some doors that should have stayed closed. Meanwhile, at a hotel in the same city, Jim Pike is having a bad day that is about to get apocalyptic. Jim is a soldier with serious PTSD, and he’s convinced himself that working as a bellhop will reduce his stress. However, he has to help prepare for GulfCon, an extremely popular Star Trek convention. Jim’s younger sister, Rayna is also attending with some friends.

Before Rayna’s group arrives in the parking garage, the hotel staff is already having trouble with violent hotel guests, and employees keep going missing. Jim’s instincts are screaming at him that something horrible is happening, but by the time he is able to convince anyone else that the problem is not just in his mind, the hotel is overwhelmed by zombies. Jim, with the help of a Star Wars fan, tries to rescue his sister and her friends, while Trekkies are dying all around them.

Star trek fans should know that this isn’t just a horror story set at a convention, but I can’t elaborate without ruining the storyline. Zombie fans should know that the undead are shamblers, but able to move as a group, with a very unusual source of infection, which is spread in a similar manner to 28 Days Later.

I also recommend viewing the book trailer.

As always,
AstraDaemon