Hoppers, Juggernauts, and a Demon Walk Into an Apocalypse…

The Killing Floor by Craig DiLouie has me comparing his work to HP Lovecraft’s stories, and Lovecraft is looking really tame compared to The Infection series. I had stated in a previous review that I wouldn’t want to find myself in DiLouie’s world; the second installment went one step further and gave me nightmares – specifically, the hoppers…and that’s just one of many mutated creatures resulting from the viral outbreak. DiLouie’s abominations have a bigger presence this time around, allowing more creativity with the plot.

While the original novel focused on six specific survivors trying to find a safe refuge, with a theme of people turning into monsters figuratively & literally, The Killing Floor dives further into the psyches of several returning characters, as well as a few new ones. This helped prevent any stereotypes from forming, and dug into the heart of the destruction. The devastated landscapes pale in comparison to the traumatized survivors, and only a couple of months have passed since the day of The Screaming, which has many characters doubting their ability to keep going for much longer.

DiLouie introduces a new twist, with Ray suffering a hopper sting, giving more insight into the actual mutation process; I’m not going into details about Ray’s part in the sequel, but he is THE key character, tying everyone’s fate together. The aspect of Ray’s struggle had me wondering if Todd (the kid who survived a zombie bite in book one) might play a more important role, if a third book is ever written. I enjoyed the new angles that DiLouie explored with the infected, the mutations and the theories on the source of the original virus. Travis is the scientist with a unique theory, backed up by tiny details that I almost missed, and I hope he is given more scenes in the future. Travis seemed more realistic any of the others, even throwing up in a garbage can at the suggestion of nuclear strike.

If the author continues along this avenue, I have no doubt that a third novel will be the most exciting of the three. If you haven’t already, I recommend reading Tooth and Nail as well.

As always,
AstraDaemon

The Story Stephen King Didn't Write

The Infection (Book 1 of 2) by Craig DiLouie tells the story of six survivors traveling in an armored vehicle, while trying to find a safe refuge, after a mysterious virus infects millions of humans. The infected people collapse into comas; when they wake up, three days later, they attack all the non-infected. After just a couple of weeks, some of the survivors discover that the Infected are mutating into something much worse than zombies. The main theme that is woven throughout the storyline is the violent transformation of humans into monsters.

“There were things in the garage, Sarge. Fucking monsters. Dark shapes that flitted around the cars, always just out of sight. Then we saw one…”

This novel made me think, “This is what happened to the rest of the world, while everyone was reading about what happened in the grocery store in “The Mist” by Stephen King.” I know I’m not the only one who has made this comparison; some other reviewers have even mentioned The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I understand why, but I think DiLouie goes into far more detail with his characters’ suffering than King or McCarthy. The story is told with third-person narration in the present tense; flashbacks provide the personal backgrounds of each of the six survivors. Their reasoning and motivation for their current behavior becomes quite understandable, after only a few chapters.

“They have all done the things one had to do to survive. They have all killed people or they would not be here.”

I usually try to imagine myself in the world that I am reading about, but I wanted no part of this setting. Living infected hordes are one thing, but DiLouie describes abominations that would rival HP Lovecraft’s leviathans. He goes to nightmarish extremes when pairing the brutal twists of the viral outbreak with the amorality of various people that the survivors encounter. Of course, even though I felt mentality assaulted by the end, I loved reading very moment of this traumatic horror novel.

As always,
AstraDaemon

The Postal Service Never Had It So Bad

The Last Mailman: Neither Rain, Nor Sleet, Nor Zombies by Kevin J. Burke is not at all what I was expecting from the title. It is not about a man delivering mail between survivor outposts or anything like that. It’s about survivors trying to tie up loose ends, so they can move on with their new lives; sometimes they find peace, and other times they lose the last of their hope. Even though this is a zombie novel, it’s so much more than just a story about surviving in a post-apocalyptic world. It’s about the frailty of people, how they adapt to extraordinary situations, and what the “mailman” truly represents.

DJ is the mailman for New York, but it’s NY in name only. There are several outposts renamed after major cities, and they have worked out a trading system, using planes to move goods between them. Some places are doing better than others, even with the spirit of cooperation. Sporting a population of around 800 people, NY is far larger than the 200 to 300 folks in Atlanta (also, not the original Atlanta). However, the CDC is still at work in some form in Atlanta, and they say they have cure that they will share in exchange for some fertile women. There is so much concern about repopulating the earth that child-bearing women are in high demand. Some of the women are happy to help out, while others see it as a form of rape. DJ is asked to escort some women from NY on a plane to Atlanta, and return with the cure. After all, he is somewhat famous for his excursions into the “wild” to retrieve mementos of past lives, and find any living relatives of the other survivors. Usually, he returns with suicide notes. DJ had been looking forward to retiring from his post, and doesn’t agree with using the women as currency.

To make matters worse, the pilot dies in mid-flight on the way to Atlanta, and reanimated pilots do not know how to land a plane. DJ is forced into a leadership role because he is the only one who is used to being on the outside among the undead. Unfortunately, the zombies aren’t the only ones on the outside. When the others in DJ’s group realize what some people have had to do in order to keep living, the cure seems more likely to be false hope for a future. The array of characters was just amazing; I absolutely enjoyed the interactions between all the players, although some of their behavior was a bit frustrating at times.

Towards the end, when DJ’s best intentions have all gone horribly wrong, and there are uber-zombies to contend with (in addition to the traditional zombies), the remaining folks all seem to have gone crazy. I’m not sure if Burke was trying to be funny, but I laughed my ass off during several chapters. I think I should have felt bad that the characters had been pushed to the madness, but they way they embrace their lunacy was hilarious and kind of uplifting. I think it showed a warped resilience of the characters, which is probably why they lived through the initial zombie apocalypse.

I love how this book doesn’t conform to the existing formula for zombies. The story takes place years after the zombie apocalypse has wiped out most of society. Mankind exists in tiny pockets of people, essentially as individual countries smaller than the size of pre-apocalypse city populations. It goes into a completely different direction and forces the reader to think about what the new societies are willing to do to exist.

For some of the characters, the past is a link that helps them weather the obstacles of the present and work toward the promise of a future cure. For the others, desperation is the real disease that infects the living and threatens the very foundation of their survival. The key strength of the storyline is Burke’s creative construction of internal and external conflicts for his characters, at once humanizing them and drawing readers into their struggles.

I hope we see more of Burke’s work in the zombie genre.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Dystopian Fiction Or A History Lesson?

RISE is a story about a future world. Those who have a family history of violence are rounded up and placed in internment camps because they are seen as potential dangers to the public. One man, Aaric, whose grandfather brutally murdered his grandmother, knows it is only a matter of time before he's taken. Desperate, he tries to find an underground operation to falsify his blood and genetic tests so he won't be taken. When that doesn't work, he tries to prove that he is not bound by genetic fate and can "rise" above his own blood.

Written after the tragic Las Vegas shooting on October 1, 2017, this story is an ode to the nobility mankind is capable of. It is dedicated to those who lost their lives on that terrible day.

Rise by William Michael Davidson is quite the psychological story, with well-placed flashbacks and intriguing characters. I think Davidson should seriously consider writing a full-length novel with both Dempster and Aaric...I'd like to know Dempster's motivation behind the legislation, as well as some resolution for those sent away to the camps.

As always,
AstraDaemon

When Your Luck Runs Out...

When a devastating plague wipes out 96% of the population, student nurse Yvonne flees the medical centre and its unimaginable horrors to refuge with a group of youths at an abandoned naval base. Jaded and embittered, Yvonne's negativity soon creates frictions and drives a dangerous divide between her and the rest of the group. But when a mysterious, faceless stranger imposes himself between them, the fragile alliance is tested to the limits resulting in a tense final confrontation between Yvonne and the people she once called her friends.

Orphans of the Infected by Edward Chilvers is an apocalyptic delight. Yvonne's abrasive personality is strangely appealing. I disagree with the story's description..Yvonne is not being negative, just realistic. The arrival of Blake is definitely what the group needed to motivate them to make changes. I love how Yvonne settles all the disputes at the end.

I get so sick of stories with survivors who act like doormats and allow themselves to be victimized. Yvonne is a breath of fresh air in a rotting undead world.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Wahrer's Ad

Tsarevna and her team of raiders prowl the fringes, making excursions into Ashamine controlled space to prey on merchant vessels. When they discover an abandoned Ashamine battle cruiser, the pirates know the tech and resources on board will make them unimaginably rich. After boarding, however, Tsarevna discovers exactly why the human empire abandoned the massive ship, changing her existence forever.

Enthralled by Zachariah Wahrer is sci-fi flash fiction piece intended to tempt readers to read his series, the Dawn Saga. I must admit, I'm left with several questions and the series does look promising, but I wish the story had more to offer than a mere teaser.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Lies Lies and More Lies

A horrific story about a girl stopped on a quiet highway to answer for her crimes.

Limited Days by Joshua Scribner is a creepy little piece about a chick who gets pulled over by an unusual law enforcement officer. The dialogue is somewhat repetitive and Morgan has about as much personality as a dog turd. The ending is interesting, but I didn't find any of it particularly horrific.

I usually love Scribner's short stories, but this one doesn't showcase the author's trademark suspense. I recommend those new to Joshua Scribner start with Ghost Train and just skip this one.

As always,
AstraDaemon