Review: Delightful Collection of Stories...Yes, Delightful Zombie Stories!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 28, 2012
So many times I read books and see interesting characters peek in for part of the story. Then I wonder, what was their story? I may really enjoy the main characters and feel entirely satisfied with their tale, but I'll still wish I had a bit more on those barely known others. Finally, an author who recognizes that desire in many readers and addresses it. In this short and enjoyable book, we get to see six characters that are only peripheral or only touched upon in the books. And they are really interesting stories with a whole lot of sad endings.In "The Pilot" we get to meet, however fleetingly, the pilot of a jet packed with passengers when the zombie infection takes hold. They are going bingo on fuel and really, what choices do you have at that point. He makes his choice and I cringed along with him. In "The Boy" we meet Paul, the lucky survivor of a cruise from hades who then finds surprises at home. (I didn't find the contradiction in power that others did, it seemed he still had power. I think I may have simply got it after correction or it was read wrong.) I felt really bad for Paul and got a serious twinge at his situation. "The Fry Cook" follows Doreen, a woman unhappy in the job she needs to do to pay the bills and what happens at the restaurant that day is a whole lot more than a health code violation. In "The Inmate" I really got the shivers as we get to meet Hank, a fellow you definitely don't want to meet in a dark alley. We also learn exactly what NOT to do in the event we someday find ourselves in charge of whether or not to open the cells at the end of the world. Want a hint? Don't do it! "The Subway Passenger" was a delicious tale that was so un-nerving that I got tense just reading it. Anyone who has been in those dark spots in a subway will get probably get that same shiver of recognition. In the final tale, "The Sniper", I was really touched. This was my favorite story by far and I found my heart just tugging for her. Carrie is a complex character who, out of all of them, finds something none of the others did.I really liked these stories and found them engaging and fun. Zombie story, yes. Zombies as the main characters, no. This was is all human and much the better for it. Highly recommended for those who like Zombie stories, post-apocalyptic or impossible situation style books.