Review: Another good installment in the series
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 07 6, 2014
Solid mil-sf story. I really enjoy this "zombie" story where the infection turns people into Killer Klowns. The first book was a lot of fun and this book continues in the same vein.To quickly recap, an element of the 10th Mountain Division that had been sent to Boston to help quell a biological outbreak fights a rearguard action to get back to Fort Drum. The first 3/5 of the book describe their manic retreat from the city. The last 2/5 cover the fighting at the base and how they save some of their brothers-in-arms from the Klowns. We end the book knowing that most of the soldier's dependents are in Philadelphia and that Florida is still their ultimate destination to reunite with the remnants of the US Armed Forces.In the first installment we learned that the Klowns retain some of the knowledge and skills they had prior to infection. In this book that concept is explored further with various Klowns piloting helicopters and other complex machinery. They also retain their knowledge of tactics so the battles are very well matched with a slight edge given to the Klowns in most engagements.I have two nits to pick.One, the infection takes hold far too fast. Any exposure to bodily fluids infects a person within about 5 seconds, so most of the battles have a sequence where a soldier in the same "foxhole" gets hit with a bag of piss and then instantly starts fighting for the Klowns. It's repetitive and strains credibility. I'd more readily believe that the infection at least causes a fever first and takes a few hours to turn them.Two, the feel of the book is too claustrophobic. We see only the immediate tactical situation and never get any feel for what is happening elsewhere in the country nor do we see any strategic big picture. It's just run, fight, run, fight, etc. This too is repetitive. I understand the whole concept of "fog of war" but in this era of satellite phones and redundant telecommunications, it strains credibility past the breaking point that this unit can never seem to get in touch with their superiors in Florida.