Review: A unique twist on the zombie/post-apocalyptic story
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 13, 2012
While we eagerly await the sequel toEx-HeroesandEx-Patriots (Ex-Heroes Book 2), author Peter Clines has given us something a bit different to sink our teeth into. The Junkie Quatrain is a collection of four interconnected short stories that look at a specific series of events from four very different perspectives. The stories are set six months after the initial outbreak of a new pandemic, one that just about anyone who has read a single zombie book will find very familiar. That's where the "business as usual" ends though. Clines has already developed a reputation for coming up with new ways to look at the zombie/post-apocalyptic genre, and The Junkie Quatrain is no exception.Zombie 411: The "zombies" in this collection technically aren't undead. The infected - or junkies - initially lose their inhibitions before gradually descending into stumbling, twitching cannibals before burning out or starving. I kept picturing the infected from28 Days Later.The Junkie Quatrain plays out a lot like a movie. Not only does the pace, action and dialogue all seem ready for the big screen, but the change in perspective between each story makes me think of films that show you a scene from different camera angles and points of view. It's an interesting and effective twist on what was already a good setup and overall story.As usual, Clines delivers memorable characters, unique situations and plenty of well-choreographed action. I also like the idea presented in the introduction of re-reading the four stories in a totally different order to see if the feel of the story changes. My only gripe with the book is that it was over way too quickly. Hopefully Clines will revisit this world when he's done with the Ex series.If you're already a fan of Clines's books, The Junkie Quatrain will not disappoint. If you're a fan of zombie/post-apocalyptic books in general, I highly recommend giving this collection a try.Disclosure - I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher for reviewing purposes.