Review: A must-read for fans of this genre
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 23, 2013
Old World (The Green and Pleasant Land) by Oliver Kennedy is an inexpensive short story bound to keep you entertained for a few good hours.  Its title actually gives nothing away, with the story being about anything but a `pleasant' land.  In fact, it's reminiscent of movies such as recent release `Warm Bodies', which explore what happens when humans become `something else'...akin to what is better known as your typical `zombie' or something of the sort (or, as they are referred to in the book, `cadavers').The story follows the fate of the Locklear family, mum, dad, two sons and a younger daughter, as they battle to survive in a world torn apart by war and overrun with these cadavers (grey-skinned, red-eyed, black-veined flesh eaters), mutants and other dark horrors.  Yes, it's gruesome, and yes, it's probably going to appeal more to readers who enjoy this particular genre.What I liked most about this book was that, unlike many stories, its ending wasn't predictable.  Without giving too much away, it certainly isn't plain sailing for the Locklear clan, with no guarantees that they'll survive the carnage just because they're the `good guys'.Furthermore, I really appreciated the extras that were included with this title.  There were an additional three mini stories - The Wheels on the Bus, Keeping Up Appearances, and The Grey Republic.  I saw these as encounters from a different angle, as they each tied in with the main story (though not from the perspective of the Locklear family), giving it that extra special something (whilst being unique in their own right and completely readable independently from one another).  There was also the inclusion of the first (and lengthy) chapter of the sequel `Amidst the Falling Dust' which, to be honest, I enjoyed almost more so than the introductory story.  Thankfully, there's not long to wait until its release, with the sequel due out this Christmas.A promising new series.