Review: Devlishly clever and twisted undead short
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 1, 2012
I'll admit from the start that I would be considered an undead literature novice by the serious "zombiephiles," which is one of the reasons I jumped at the opportunity to read Ursula's story. As a "zombiephile" with serious "street cred," she has been exposed to every style, concept and gimmick used in the genre, and I banked on the hope that she would tread new ground in her debut story. My instincts proved correct. The Survivor is a unique and delightful addition to what I have read, and has renewed my interest in the genre.Having no idea what to expect, I was slightly confused at first, in that I couldn't immediately identify the style. Still, the writing had an easy feel, and the action progressed quickly, which is critical for a short story. I felt treated to a gritty, desperate first person narrative that reminded me of the spartan style used by Cormac McCarthy in The Road. I particularly enjoyed the grim apocalyptic descriptions, punctuated by shocking, vivid detail. I enjoyed the twist, and had to read it again to see why I fell so easily into my assumptions. Not all is what it seems in Ursula's post-apocalyptic world. I hope she expands the world she started to create in this story.