Review: A unique view of the zombie apocalypse that breaks the run-hide-fight mold so many books in the genre fall into
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 10, 2014
The blurb of this book doesn't do it justice. Now, I'm no techie - not by a long shot. Generally, I cringe at the thought of reading anything written from a technologist's viewpoint. But when you throw in a zombie outbreak, well, I'm willing to give it a go.And how glad I am that I did! While techonology plays an inherent role in the story, it does not overshadow the story itself. The explanations about the various technology used is basic but satisfying, even for those of us who really need a copy of 'Technology for Dummies' everytime we get a new gadget. I can't pretend to have a solid understanding of every widget mentioned, but it gives enough info for me to accept how it all fit together. Those with greater knoweldge than I may really enjoy the technology in this, but if you're clueless like me about it all, no worries. It doesn't bog the story down and you are not required to be Steve Wozniak to enjoy it. The author did a terrific job of making it techinical without turning off readers who generally aren't interested in that kind of thing.The explantion offered to explain the outbreak is both believable and well developed without going into excessive explanations. I despise vague, weak ideas about the cause of a zombie outbreak, but I also dislike books that waste a lot of time trying to get me on board with the offered explanation. This one has it just right- enough to hang my hat on without trying to force it down my throat.I liked the main characters immensly, especially Ruth Ann, the wife. So often lead female characters are either hardened serial killers or helpless, witless twits. Ruth Ann is neither. She is knowledgeable and capable but not so much so that I see her as a one-dimensional soldier type. Doug is an enjoyable character as well, and while he is no fighter, he brings a different set of valuable skills to the table to help them survive the zombie outbreak. Their realtionship as an established married couple felt very real on both the loving and sometimes-irritated-with-each-other sides. Doug's personal transformation throughout the story gave this one more depth than many.There's a lot of government involvement in this book. Instead of the usual bumbling, inept government attempts to deal with a zombie outbreak that are found in so many other books in the genre, the author chose a different path. It's not smooth sailing, but I enjoyed reading a zombie book where the government actually has an intellectual and somewhat effective role in dealing with the crisis. Very well done there, and a welcome change from the usual expected 'stupid' or 'evil' government so often portrayed. While Doug and his wife have a cautiously symbiotic relationship with the government, there's some suspense and edge to the relationship there, giving this one another layer of trouble as it gets underway.There are some in-your-face zombie fights, but they're not the focus here. This book is more of a wider perspective of how the outbreak unfolds with a particular couple's personal struggles intermingled. The two very different aspects of the zombie outbreak are beautifully intertwined in such a way that the two unfold simultaneously.I do so love some snark thrown in, and this one didn't disappoint. It's not a chucklefest on every page, but there are some snarky zingers in there that gave me a good snicker.My biggest complaint with this one is that one character who is an intergral part of the story kind of just...disappears...in the middle of it. If an explanation was given to this shift, I missed it. He was an important catalyst and then just -poof- a minor mention here or there in passing, but that's it. It didn't ruin the book in the slightest, it just felt like a detail that was kind of shoved to the side when more could have been done with it.All in all, a well-written, thoughtful departure from the cookie cutter zombie reads out there and worth the read when you're looking for a good zombie book that breaks the usual mold.Please see my profile to follow my zombie reviews or to find out more, including my Facebook page and website. Review requests accepted- please check my website for info on how to submit.