Monday, May 26, 2014
Fried Green Zombies (Zombie Audio Drama)
Fried Green Zombies is a rollicking fun zombie tale written by John A. Allen.
When I saw the title I had little hope for this story. But, since it was a complete, free, online zombie audio book, I took a listen. I enjoyed it greatly. The story has a good plot. It is dramatic, yet humorous in the vein of Simon & Simon or Bad Boys (Will Smith & Martin Lawrence.) It reminds me a lot of Men In Black (Also starring Will Smith.) It is read by the author, who does a good job handling the voices. It is very close to an audio drama.
Visit John Allen's web site for a short description:
http://www.friedgreenzombies.com/
You can download the 14 episodes here:
http://podiobooks.com/title/fried-green-zombies/
Hey, at this price, you can afford to listen to the first episode to see if you like it.
When I saw the title I had little hope for this story. But, since it was a complete, free, online zombie audio book, I took a listen. I enjoyed it greatly. The story has a good plot. It is dramatic, yet humorous in the vein of Simon & Simon or Bad Boys (Will Smith & Martin Lawrence.) It reminds me a lot of Men In Black (Also starring Will Smith.) It is read by the author, who does a good job handling the voices. It is very close to an audio drama.
Visit John Allen's web site for a short description:
http://www.friedgreenzombies.com/
You can download the 14 episodes here:
http://podiobooks.com/title/fried-green-zombies/
Hey, at this price, you can afford to listen to the first episode to see if you like it.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
We're Alive! A Story of Survival (Zombie Audio Drama)
We're Alive! is a free zombie audio drama that will last for 48 episodes of 1 hour each, divided into 20 minute podcasts.
The story follows 3 National Guardsmen as they survive the zombie apocalypse. The story has great character development, both good guys and bad guys. It can drag a little at times. But, overall, it is very good. I do have to admit that Datu gets on my nerves once in a while. He tends to whine a lot. However, he is their chief mechanical-type of guy, so I guess we can't shoot him.
Since it is slated to go 48 episodes, it should wrap up nicely.
Huge amounts of information is available on their web site:
http://www.zombiepodcast.com/
I found this timeline helpful (warning - spoilers):
http://www.zombiepodcast.com/forum/showwiki.php?title=Timeline
The story takes place in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Map:
http://www.zombiepodcast.com/forum/showwiki.php?title=The+Map&redirect=no
I enjoyed that part because I lived in Westminster for a couple of years (The Colony). It was interesting hearing them mention various streets and locations.
You can't beat the quality and price of this zombie audio drama.
The story follows 3 National Guardsmen as they survive the zombie apocalypse. The story has great character development, both good guys and bad guys. It can drag a little at times. But, overall, it is very good. I do have to admit that Datu gets on my nerves once in a while. He tends to whine a lot. However, he is their chief mechanical-type of guy, so I guess we can't shoot him.
Since it is slated to go 48 episodes, it should wrap up nicely.
Huge amounts of information is available on their web site:
http://www.zombiepodcast.com/
I found this timeline helpful (warning - spoilers):
http://www.zombiepodcast.com/forum/showwiki.php?title=Timeline
The story takes place in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Map:
http://www.zombiepodcast.com/forum/showwiki.php?title=The+Map&redirect=no
I enjoyed that part because I lived in Westminster for a couple of years (The Colony). It was interesting hearing them mention various streets and locations.
You can't beat the quality and price of this zombie audio drama.
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Harvest Trilogy (Apocalypse Trilogy)
The Harvest trilogy is an action-packed thrilling apocalypse adventure by Michael R. Hicks. I highly recommend it.
The "monsters" are well thought out with an excellent back story. Like any good monster, they are powerful, but with exploitable weaknesses.
1. Season of Harvest - This book starts a little slow as the author sets the background for the story and introduces some of the main characters. However, once you get past this part, the trilogy is non-stop, nail-biting adventure. This book is actually a self-contained story that wraps up nicely.
2. Bitter Harvest - I don't know if a trilogy was originally planned or the next 2 books were written to take advantage of the success of the first one. Regardless, we are fortunate the series continued, because it is great!
3. Reaping the Harvest - Wraps up the story, nicely. Both sides have a legitimate chance of winning. Victory is won by hard work and no Duex Ex Machina is needed.
There is not a lot to say without spoiling the story, except to recommend it highly. One thing to note: don't get too attached to characters. It is the apocalypse and a lot of people have to die if humanity has a chance.
Author Michael R. Hicks' website:
http://authormichaelhicks.com/books-by-michael-r-hicks/
Especially interesting for me was that the "monster" headquarters was in Lincoln, Nebraska where I lived for 25 years. Go Big Red!
The "monsters" are well thought out with an excellent back story. Like any good monster, they are powerful, but with exploitable weaknesses.
1. Season of Harvest - This book starts a little slow as the author sets the background for the story and introduces some of the main characters. However, once you get past this part, the trilogy is non-stop, nail-biting adventure. This book is actually a self-contained story that wraps up nicely.
2. Bitter Harvest - I don't know if a trilogy was originally planned or the next 2 books were written to take advantage of the success of the first one. Regardless, we are fortunate the series continued, because it is great!
3. Reaping the Harvest - Wraps up the story, nicely. Both sides have a legitimate chance of winning. Victory is won by hard work and no Duex Ex Machina is needed.
There is not a lot to say without spoiling the story, except to recommend it highly. One thing to note: don't get too attached to characters. It is the apocalypse and a lot of people have to die if humanity has a chance.
Author Michael R. Hicks' website:
http://authormichaelhicks.com/books-by-michael-r-hicks/
Especially interesting for me was that the "monster" headquarters was in Lincoln, Nebraska where I lived for 25 years. Go Big Red!
Friday, May 23, 2014
Keck Virus (Zombie Trilogy)
The Keck Virus is featured in 3 books written by William Bebb. It is just like the Morningstar Virus. See previous post for a description of how the virus works. While the Morningstar Saga involved worldwide locations and stories, each Keck Virus book involves a local outbreak and the whole story takes place in one night.
All 3 books are action-packed thrillers. They are very, very good.
1. Valley of Death, Zombie Trailer Park - A long novel at 138,000 words that takes place overnight in a secluded trailer park in the New Mexico desert.
2. Zombies of All Hallows Evil - An even longer novel of 168,000 words that takes place Halloween night in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Very suspenseful, yet plenty of humor since many of the people are dressed up for Halloween. And, of course, there is the scary clown (Remember Romero's Diary of the Dead?)
3. What the Keck!? Zombies of the Caribbean - A stunning 235,000 words that takes place overnight on a cruise ship in the Caribbean. The story is just as thrilling and action-packed as the previous 2 books. However, I only read about 20% before I had to quit. The story takes place on a cruise ship and the Keck virus combines with the Norovirus. There is a great 150,000 word story in here. However, a full 1/4 or more of the story deals with graphic descriptions of gore, poop, and snot. The gore comes from the killing behavior of the zombies. The poop comes because our bowels release when we die. The snot comes because of the Norovirus (flue-like virus). Mentioning it once in awhile is fine. But, the author went way overboard here. There is just constant description of them over and over and over and over - long, long descriptions.
I highly recommend the first 2. You can read the first part of the third novel on Smashwords and see if you can stomach it.
Characters that appear in one book may appear in the next.
All 3 books are action-packed thrillers. They are very, very good.
1. Valley of Death, Zombie Trailer Park - A long novel at 138,000 words that takes place overnight in a secluded trailer park in the New Mexico desert.
2. Zombies of All Hallows Evil - An even longer novel of 168,000 words that takes place Halloween night in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Very suspenseful, yet plenty of humor since many of the people are dressed up for Halloween. And, of course, there is the scary clown (Remember Romero's Diary of the Dead?)
3. What the Keck!? Zombies of the Caribbean - A stunning 235,000 words that takes place overnight on a cruise ship in the Caribbean. The story is just as thrilling and action-packed as the previous 2 books. However, I only read about 20% before I had to quit. The story takes place on a cruise ship and the Keck virus combines with the Norovirus. There is a great 150,000 word story in here. However, a full 1/4 or more of the story deals with graphic descriptions of gore, poop, and snot. The gore comes from the killing behavior of the zombies. The poop comes because our bowels release when we die. The snot comes because of the Norovirus (flue-like virus). Mentioning it once in awhile is fine. But, the author went way overboard here. There is just constant description of them over and over and over and over - long, long descriptions.
I highly recommend the first 2. You can read the first part of the third novel on Smashwords and see if you can stomach it.
Characters that appear in one book may appear in the next.
Morningstar Saga (Zombie Trilogy)
The Morningstar Saga consists of 3 books written by 2 authors. Z A. Recht wrote Plague of the Dead and Thunder and Ashes. After he passed away, the trilogy was completed by Thom Brannan, who contributed to (actually wrote) Survivors .
This is my favorite zombie genre. The virus, itself, is a blood borne pathogen (like AIDS). It has 2 effects. Almost immediately upon exposure the victim is enraged, just like the Rage Virus in 28 Days Later. In this phase the "zombie" can be killed like any normal person. And like any normal person, they are fast, maddeningly fast.
After they die, the virus resurrects the body into a typical, slow moving zombie. This version must be killed by a head shot. Both versions attack all humans and can transmit the virus.
The story is well written with lots of action. Unfortunately, Z. A. Recht passed away after the first 2 books. He had a nice website with some of the best zombie fan fiction.
http://morningstarsaga.websitetoolbox.com/
There is a section containing specific Morningstar Saga (MSS) fan fiction and a section with all other fan fiction, including many zombie oriented stories.
There is also a Stories Section.
http://www.themorningstarsaga.com/
This is my favorite zombie genre. The virus, itself, is a blood borne pathogen (like AIDS). It has 2 effects. Almost immediately upon exposure the victim is enraged, just like the Rage Virus in 28 Days Later. In this phase the "zombie" can be killed like any normal person. And like any normal person, they are fast, maddeningly fast.
After they die, the virus resurrects the body into a typical, slow moving zombie. This version must be killed by a head shot. Both versions attack all humans and can transmit the virus.
The story is well written with lots of action. Unfortunately, Z. A. Recht passed away after the first 2 books. He had a nice website with some of the best zombie fan fiction.
http://morningstarsaga.websitetoolbox.com/
There is a section containing specific Morningstar Saga (MSS) fan fiction and a section with all other fan fiction, including many zombie oriented stories.
There is also a Stories Section.
http://www.themorningstarsaga.com/
There used to be a short story in this section called Gideon's Run by thasic, but it is no longer there. It is one of the best fan fictions I have ever read.
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