Ultimate Undead Collection

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Permalink Reply by Killa of Zombies on May 3, 2015 at 4:06pm

I found this review on amazon and it gives a glimpse into the collection.

Quarantined by Joe McKinney:
3.5 stars -- It's fun. Not great, but fun!
I really enjoyed this story. There were some realistic (well believable) circumstances in this story of quarantine. The novella was not too overloaded with "everything goes my way" circumstances, but it comes close. The story line is enjoyable. It is clearly a book 1, but satisfying at its ending in case there never is a book 2.

The Last Survivors by Bobby Adair and T.W. Piperbrook
4.5 stars -- Buy this book if only for this one story.
It takes a while to get into this story, but how can you go wrong with a book written (well co-written in this case) by Bobby Adair. It is a very interesting story with tons of possibility for the future.

The Colony: Genesis by Michaelbrent Collings.
2.5 stars -- Desperation time!!!
I would hate to discourage an aspiring writer, but this story was less than par.
On the plus side: Hmmm. It was a whole lot better than the Zombie Wilson Diaries. No seriously, the story begins with a terrific start. It is exciting from the first two-pages. Bugs acting weirdly and then the crowd goes nuts. The story moves along, but it's all downhill from there. The protagonist races from one impossibly fortunate outcome to the next. Not even dumb luck is this common.
Now for the negatives: The writing suffers from the constant chapter breaks. This should have been an 8-10 chapter long short-story with several number-sign/hash-tag separators to break out some minor perspective changes. Instead, the author attempts to give the impression of a much longer book through the constant chapter changes.
It is the functional equivalent of the University of California college application which once (and perhaps still does) numbered each question. (#1: First Name, #2: Middle Initial, ...). The UCs do it because so many potential applicants would see there are 108 questions and conclude they could never endure such an arduous application. They correctly believe these students do not have the mental fortitude to endure a hard semester and thus have 25-33% less potential applicants. =-)
In this book, it has the opposite effect. While most authors are attempting to draw in the reader and keep them engrossed, it instead is a constant distraction. I made it to the end and never found myself in a reading-rhythm. This book would be

Autumn: The Human Condition by David Moody
5 stars: Outstanding collection of short stories.
This is a collection of short stories. Many are quality reads.
This novella is a collection of short-stories which is best described as patching what the author's other Autumn series books did not cover. It was not only a great idea, but it works. I especially liked "Office Politics", "The Garden Shed", "Underground", and "Joe and Me." However, I think the ending of "Oh No, Not You Again" makes it the best of the stories. If you don't have the time to read even this short story, at least word search "All night I've listened to him grizzle and whine," and start there. The two pages that follow are magical.
Which stories you like will hint to you which of the author's other works you may enjoy. I am looking forward to exploring some of his earlier works based upon what I read here and the longer works related to the more enjoyable short stories.

Trudge: Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse by Shawn Chesser
3.5 stars (round up to 4 because he's indie)
Yet another well-written version of the well-trodden road down which the protagonist is military or surrounded by military / nothing else but your military training can truly prepare you for the zombie apocalypse.
However, that being said, this is one of the better written stories of the M4/AK-47 sub-genre.

Until the End of the World by Sarah Lyons Fleming
4 stars A really fun (though somewhat chick's) zombie story.
It's very fun. Reasonably strong writing. Be prepared for as much mushiness as zombies.
Ch. 90
"And you don't offer to apologize. Or ask to apologize. If you're really sorry, you just apologize."
WARNING: after I finished this, I immediately felt compelled to read So Long Lollipops. So, budget at least another dollar if you are going to read this story. You have been warned.

Zombie Wilson Diaries by Timothy W. Long.
1 star Seriously?!?! Somebody published this under their own name???
This is porn for the budding pubescent. This is the only story that I failed to finish. After day 21, I gave up and read the last two chapters. I was determined to read every word, but this author's work, I could not bring myself to finish.
This is the story with a ship-wrecked man's sexual obsession with a curvy zombie with big implants in a short skirt.
I am not choosing the worst when I quote here:
Day 13
"Staring at my new girlfriend, I decided that the clothes had to go, because they were torn up and covered in something I can only describe as goo."
No seriously ... it gets worse:
Day 14
"I pretty much spend all day scavenging for food and trying not to lust after my dead girlfriend. Is it lust? I don't know. I can't exactly do her. I mean, that's just disgusting. GROSS. But I can look at her and, well ..."

100 Days in Deadland by Rachel Aukes.
3.5 stars It's ok.
A tribute to Dante's Inferno. It's ok. Some interesting twists and turns. This is not why you buy the book, but when you have the time, read it. It's worth the time.

Dead Hunger: The Flex Chronicle by Eric A. Shelman
3 stars Big guns and a mechanically minded techie biologist
After reading this story, I was ok with the use of my time. I'm not quite sure I'm interested in knowing where the story goes next, but it was fine. Another basic let's get big guns and shoot for the heads story moved along impossible passages with the aid of the mechanically minded biologist who happens to always have what he needs in order to do what they want.

Dying Days by Armand Rosamilia
3 stars Sexually repressed author writes about zombies.
Sex and other forms of nudity serve a valuable premise to the right passage. Some stories, seem to try to force the issue in place of a more interesting story-line. Darlene, the protagonist, is somebody you want to root for. Some elements of this and a quality story line are overwhelmed by the force-fed sexual situations which don't seem to entirely fit. Imagine a comedian who is generally funny but who keeps changing topics by throwing in a sexual or other blue joke. It takes away. Well placed, it adds. This author needs to learn the difference and develop his future works accordingly. The surprising part is, the author is a really strong writer. So, why pander to candor if your writing can stand on its own????

I am currently reading __Epic Apocalypse - Apocalyptic Horror Box Set__. It contains the prequel Darlene Bobich: Zombie Killer. Same problem. This is one very sexually frustrated and repressed author.

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Permalink Reply by Komrad Mercenary☭ on May 8, 2015 at 11:54am

This is a collection for a horror fan to enjoy.

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