Book Review: Plague Town / Author: Dana Fredsti / Format: Paperback  / Publisher: Titan Books / Release Date: Out Now

Originally self-published under the title ‘Ashley Drake: Zombie Hunter’, Dana Fredsti’s Plague Town (the first in a proposed trilogy) is a fast, furious and extremely unsubtle zombie apocalypse (or ‘zombocalypse’ as one smart-mouthed character describes it) novel which you’ll find yourself racing through at a rate of knots despite the nagging feeling that it’s really not very good and your time might be better spent reading something else.

This is, in essence, Buffy the Zombie Slayer. Fredsti’s straight-talking heroine is a twenty-nine year-old divorcee studying at an unassuming college in an unassuming American town. There’s a nasty bout of flu, dubbed ‘Walker’s (it’s not transmitted by crisps, by the way) doing the rounds but fortunately the feisty Ashley has shrugged it off. Not everyone’s so lucky. As more and more people succumb to the virus its unpleasant side-effects become apparent and… yep, you guessed it, the dead start walking. And, of course, they’re hungry.

Ashley escapes an encounter with the undead (the novel happily calls them zombies) despite being attacked and bitten. Rushed to a military compound set up at the college, Ashley discovers that she and a few other stereotypes are actually ‘wild cards’; the virus has given them the ability to shrug off the infection transmitted by zombie bite, their reflexes and strength are increased, they heal quickly. Ashley and her comrades are tasked with wiping out all the zombies in the quarantined area to prevent the infection spreading out into the wider world.

This is trashy stuff and yet it’s hard not to admit, albeit grudgingly, that, within its genre, it’s quite well done. Fredsti’s action sequences are fast and furious, hugely cinematic, as Ashley and her team slice and dice their way through various zombie hordes, wading through gore and viscera with happy abandon. They’re all wise-cracking as they do it; the book is full of Whedon-lite smart-mouthed dialogue – wearisomely smart-mouthed at times – and Fredsti’s content to acknowledge the derivative nature of her text by throwing in an abundance of pop culture references. At one point the wild cards bone up on zombie lore by watching Fulci and Romero movies, elsewhere there are references to Sy Fy original movies, Tremors (one supporting character is a Bert Gummeresque survivalist and is even referred to as such) and even The Walking Dead itself.

Fredsti has threaded the inevitable conspiracy theories into her text; there have been previous zombie virus outbreaks, apparently, the most (in)famous being at Pompeii (where the volcano was somehow ‘triggered’ as means of stemming the disease) and Atlantis which destroyed itself rather than allow an outbreak to spread across the world. Fanciful if imaginative stuff. Far more intriguing are the hints that some survivors may be carrying the virus but holding its effects at bay and suggestions that the authorities know more about the virus and its spread than they’re letting on. Doubtless these are subplots which will be developed in the next volume, as well as Ashley’s tempestuous relationship with the “Adonis-physiqued” Gabriel.

Plague Town isn’t exactly great literature but then it’s not supposed to be. Zombie fan Fredsti knows her stuff and she’s having fun here playing with the conventions of a recently much-plundered genre. She does it with frenetic, sassy style and an enthusiasm for her characters and their dilemma which can’t help but carry the reader along in its wake. Plague Town is a fun, undemanding, page-turning read.

Book Review: The Armageddon Rag / Author: George R.R. Martin / Format: Hardcover, Kindle / Publisher: Gollancz / Release Date: Out Now

George R.R. Martin has shot to fame in recent years with his brilliant A Game of Thrones series of novels. However, no one can claim that Martin was a overnight success; before producing his award winning series, he wrote and worked on a great deal of projects. Now that he’s a household name, many of his previously out of print works have been re-published. So The Armageddon Rag is by George R.R. Martin, but technically isn’t by the guy who wrote A Game of Thrones, because this book was written way before that.

The Armageddon Rag tells the tale of ex-hippy Sandy Blair, who, suffering from writer’s block, snaps up the opportunity to investigate the highly ritualised murder of a prominent rock band manager. Along the way, the main character indulges in a hefty dose of nostalgia and soul searching, before the tale dips into a fast paced urban fantasy about ex-rockers on the road to self-destruction (and possibly darker things.)

Sadly, the story really does show its age; this is an eighties shout out to the innocence of the sixties. If it wasn’t for the reasonably solid mystery/supernatural tale that underpins this book, it would simply be yet another piece of baby-boomer whining about lost youth and growing maturity. In the year 2012, this does make you want to reach into the narrative and give the main characters a really good shake; it’s hard to have sympathy for these over-privileged children of the fifties in these recession hit days.

Despite all this, it’s a George R.R. Martin novel; he’s a skilled, tight, and imaginative storyteller, even when he’s being incredibly self-indulgent. It’s an interesting case study in how good the author has become, and even at his worst, he’s worth a read.  Those looking for the sharp wit and complex plotting of A Game of Thrones should wait for his next novel to come out. If you can’t wait that long for your fix, try his just as old (but much better) novel Fevre Dream instead.

Book Review: Abakan 2288 / Author: Aaron Dembski-Bowden / Format: Paperback / Publisher: The Black Library / Release Date: May 24^th

Aaron Dembski-Bowden has a reputation amongst fans of the 40K books for having a deep and powerful understanding of the setting. He has a powerful sense of the overarching themes of the world along with the grim atmosphere and the intricate details that make up the epic space fantasy setting. He also knows what the fans like and what they want to read. The Emperor’s Gift is a strong example of this skill; the author draws upon the myriad of sources generated from over 25 years worth of stories to craft a tale that anyone who likes reading books about space marines will love.

The Emperor’s Gift focuses on the trial and troubles of the paladin-like Grey Knights; demon fighting space warriors who serve an ancient and superstitious galactic empire. They are a secretive and elite cadre, and much of the tale hangs upon the nature of their secrecy and the duties they must perform. These duties come in conflict with the goals of the politically powerful Inquisition who, as the name suggests, are not the kindest of factions. Fans of other Black Library books that feature the Inquisition will get a lot of joy out of The Emperor’s Gift, as the author focuses on the more interesting elements surrounding this most compelling of groups.

Make no mistake, this is not a tense political thriller; big men in powered armour, armed with magical weapons fight creatures from the depths of hell and generally kick-ass. It just also happens that all this action is underlined with interesting characters that evoke the epic, space opera feel of the universe they inhabit. It also features everyone’s favourite littlest primarch, Angron. (I say little, he’s the size of a Titan; a giant robot killing machine. But one of the smaller giant robot killing machines.)

I am a jaded sort of chap and it’s rare for a book to evoke too many strong emotions in me. Emperor’s Gift made me shed a single, manly tear relatively early on, and then later, made my jaw drop in surprise and delight. Actually drop. I resembled the guy from the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark for a short moment. It’s solid, geeky fun for a very specific sort of geek. Those with at least a passing familiarity of the setting will love this; others will simply find it to be a fun action adventure novel with more than its share of weirdness.

Book Review: Abakan 2288 / Author: Luca Zampriolo / Format: Paperback / Publisher: Titan Books / Release Date: Out Now

Italian designer Luca Zampriolo’s imagined world of towering mecha is wonderfully visualised in Abakan 2288.

Earth’s natural resources have run out. The oil wells have dried up.  Giant robots are forged from the flotsam and jetsam of a bygone age. Welcome to Abakan 2288 where Hard Doll Machines aka H.D.Ms keep the peace in the aftermath of society’s collapse. From this bubbling cauldron of chaos, the Weingart family emerge. Bigger, stronger and just plain harder than anyone else, the Weingarts proclaim themselves an independent nation and hold a type of ruthless monarchy over what’s left of the world.  With an energy crisis of hitherto unprecedented proportions man turns to the planet Jupiter and its alternative energy source, gas, for salvation. This gas is reduced to a crystalline form, then shipped back to earth to power even more advanced versions of the H.D.Ms.

Abakan 2288 openly embraces Japanese culture, most notably manga and anime, and attempts to fuse certain core themes with the culture of Italy. The result is an eclectic mix of paintings, sketches, digital work and model design – and as an extra bonus contains a detailed back story of mankind’s fall and subsequent rebirth.

Also included are step by step guides on how Zampriolo creates his limited edition mecha, from models that fit on the tip of your finger to full miniature set pieces, a guaranteed treat for enthusiasts. If you feel the need for a slice of steampunk aesthetic mixed with giant robots of Warhammer fame then Abakan 2288 is the book for you. Kallamity will walk you through from concept to finished design, which when the tutorial comes from the likes of Luca Zampriolo, a world renowned sculptor, should be worth the cover price alone.

Abakan at times loses itself in the narrative, becomes bogged down in details, and comes across as a self-indulgent fantasy more than any cohesive story. All can be forgiven, however, for the mecha artwork takes centre stage. There’s something truly mesmerising about giant robots straddling a cityscape or marching in formation across wastelands. Zampriolo’s attention to detail really pays off; his style remains unique and instantly recognisable. The result is a highly sophisticated look at an alternative future of man and machine. Well worth a read.

Book Review: The Alchemist of Souls / Author: Anne Lyle / Format: Paperback / Publisher: Angry Robot / Release Date: Out Now

I’m a sucker for tales set during the reign of Elizabeth the First; the Gloriana is a period of history that mixes the familiarity of the modern with the strangeness of days gone by. Anne Lyle’s The Alchemist of Souls takes the world of Shakespeare and Walter Raleigh and adds strange beings from the New World into the mix, the superior and elf-like Skraylings.

The main story focuses on down-on-his-luck swordsman Mal, who gets hired to protect a Skrayling Ambassador. Wackiness, of course, ensues as things become much more interesting than Mal expected. The tale is told from multiple points-of-view, and though Mal is a likeable and rounded character, his friend and partner in shenanigans Coby is the most endearing here.

Lyle’s story is heavily character driven; despite the historic back-drop and interesting changes to history, this is a book that’s about people dealing with very strange circumstances. Each character is incredibly well detailed, and we get drawn into the intimate details of their lives. This is apparently Lyles debut novel, and I find that very impressive; she drags the reader into her world and simply doesn’t let them leave. It’s a world packed with magic, sword-fighting and all the required weirdness. Multiple character perspective storytelling is often difficult to get into, but Alchemist of Souls manages this seamlessly.

Sexuality is explored here as well, in a way that’s both a good fit for the period but also doesn’t offend modern sensibilities; those studying sociology or queer theory will have enough here to get their teeth into, and the novel does this without alienating or offending anyone, and it’s nice to see open minded historical characters.

Fans of rip-roaring tales of adventure, strange magic in a harsh world will love this, as will fans of intelligently written stories of the Gloriana.

Book Review: The Immortal Rules / Author: Julie Kagwa / Format: Paperback / Publisher: Mira Ink / Release Date: May 4th

Over recent years fans of genre fiction have adopted the word ‘trope’ to put old, familiar story concepts in a positive fashion, rather than using the more well known (but more negative) term ‘cliché’. This is a good thing, because it means I can describe Julie Kagwa’s latest novel, The Immortal Rules as a trope-driven thrill fest without it sounding even slightly negative.

The book is packed with a greatest hits list of familiar ideas that many nerds love; a post-apocalyptic wasteland filled with zombie-like rabids? Check. Ruined cities ruled by sinister clans of vampires? Check? Hot Asian chicks with samurai swords kicking ass? Check. Kagwa takes these popular ideas and sticks them all together with her trademarked style of interesting characters, moral choices, subtle humour and easy going writing style. This is young adult fiction at its best; easy going and accessible to read, but also thought provoking and carefully paced.

This is a well thought out world with a strong plot and interesting ongoing themes; family, responsibility and survival  all feature heavily, and the main character (the sword-wielding Asian girl) has an engaging perspective; she begins as a gutter rat and quickly becomes something more powerful. It’s an Earth shattered by plague and monsters, as well as a few hints about other supernatural horrors waiting to pick off the last few surviving strands of humanity.

The tone is set perfectly for the teenage reader, and older types looking for a bit more sex and violence should look elsewhere. That said, there’s plenty of action, and some bloodletting, but the tale takes place in a post-apocalyptic world with intelligent, survival orientated characters so there’s a lot more running away and the odd bit of cautious romance.

This is the first book in Kagwa’s Blood of Eden series, and I’m already hooked. Ideal for the fans of stories with vampires in them who are looking to cleanse their palate of the plethora of Twilight knock-offs that litter the genre.

Book Review: Serpentauria / Author: Erik Daniel Shein / Format: Hardback / Publisher: Escrire / Release Date: Out Now

There’s an innocence to Serpentauria that proves hard to resist. It is at once an entertaining and engaging story full of intrigue and betrayal, but there’s also a powerful message about species extinction that’s difficult to ignore. Serpentauria serves as an excellent gateway for children into the problems facing nature and also manages to remain a fine adventure to boot.

Sepentauria is more than just a novel, it also represents the dreams of author Erik Daniel Shein who hopes through his entertainment company, Arkwatch, to one day build a real earth Genomic zoological sanctuary, a true Noah’s arc if you will, that will house the D.N.A seeds and animal/plant life for future generations.

Sepentauria does unfortunately stumble in places; there are a number of grammatical nits that while not distracting from the narrative, pop up a little too often. Certain chapters resonate with drama while others labour under the narrative. As a whole, the writing is strong, but there are places where a final edit, perhaps its conversion through the various eBook formats, could have catapulted the book from good to great. Luckily, it doesn’t derail the novel’s central themes and the writing is strong enough to engross the reader sufficiently all the way through to a thought provoking climax.

Since its release, Sepentauria has gained quite the following, with even talk of a possible movie in the works. One thing’s for sure, Sepentauria looks set to make a big name for itself in the years to come.

Book Review: Juggernaut / Author: Adam Baker / Format: Paperback / Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton / Release Date: Out Now

In Juggernaut, prequel to the successful Outpost, we follow Lucy and her group of hardened mercenary’s intent on recovering gold hidden deep in the Iraqi desert. These are a highly accomplished group of ex Special Forces, comparative old-timers in the grand scale of things, and they have had their fill of war. They want out; they want to see their remaining years living in wealth and luxury.

Of course, things are never quite so straight forward. Pretty soon Lucy and her team learn that the gold comes with a price. Something else is buried out there beneath the golden dunes, and it doesn’t take much to be disturbed.

Adam Baker is like a breath of fresh (or should that be foul) air in today’s zombie apocalypse. It takes a lot – quite frankly – to make a novel stand out from the shuffling crowd of wannabes. Being a walking cadaver just doesn’t cut it these days – you need a twist.  Adam Baker, in this regard, comes out trumps. Juggernaut is populated with believable characters, strong dialogue and impeccably researched detail. These characters live, love, fight and betray their way through to the book’s explosive finale.

At its heart Juggernaut is about survival, in this case surviving the zombie menace. It digs into these ill-fated characters and shows us what man is capable of doing if given the most extreme of circumstances. For the zombie enthusiasts amongst us, it delivers the living dead by the bucket load. And with the zombies come the standard tropes of the genre: headshots are the only thing that work, and a bite spells certain death and infection. Juggernaut treats the readers to plenty of big guns, chase sequences, and enough military jargon to make your average jarhead clutch his pants in semi-orgasmic joy. You could walk away from that feeling happy that the zombie plague has been handled in time-honoured fashion. However, Adam Baker delves deeper, and the characters become more than simply talking heads with guns. These are tougher than the tough mercs of the Iraqi war, but they also hate and hope along with the best of us. And if that wasn’t enough, Juggernaut offers a thought provoking view of what war can do to men if given the right motivation.

For fans of Juggernaut’s predecessor, Outpost, we learn a little more about the virus and its origins, not all the answers are explained – rightly so – and one gets the sense of a possible third book in the works.

It’s not all praise though, Juggernaut – like its namesake – takes a while to get going. In the first hundred pages, characters and setting are laid down in intricate detail at the expense of action. But the novel’s slow start can be forgiven, because about mid-way through the tension begins to mount, characters are thrown into ever increasing desperate situations: fighting zombies, the desert, and ultimately each other. Soon the conflict resonates within each page, and it becomes impossible to put down.

If you like zombies and survival horror then this is the book for you. If you like to see just what man is capable of doing when his back is against the wall then this book definitely is the one for you.

Juggernaut offers a new perspective on the zombie apocalypse and is well worth the read.

Read our review of Outpost HERE

Catch up with Adam Baker HERE

Book Review: If I Die / Author: Rachel Vincent / Format: Paperback / Publisher: Mira Ink / Release Date: Out Now

Supernatural stories aimed at teenagers are nothing new; the fear of the dark (and the monsters that hide in it) makes an obvious metaphor for the fear of the new caused by growing up. If I die by Rachel Vincent is a recent addition to this long list, and a welcome addition to her already very popular Soul Screamers series. Stories of this ilk have been around for quite some time, and will continue to sell for as long as there are nervous teenagers.

So the mind boggles why every publisher has to try and flog any young adult book that has a supernatural element to it as the next Twilight. Let me make this very clear; Vincent is a much better, much more skilled and much more readable storyteller than Meyer by several light years. That’s not to say I found this terribly entertaining; despite it being well written and solidly paced, it’s firmly targeted at teenage girls, and more specifically, American teenagers who live comfortable lives, and this does reduce the appeal for the rest of us by a fair margin.

If I die follows the adventures of Kaylee Cavanaugh, a girl who carries the curse of the Banshee. This means that she screams a terrible scream when near someone doomed to die. This is a great plot device, and is used very well to propel the story forward. The twist is that this time, the scream is meant for her. Kaylee Cavanaugh is a girl on borrowed time.

The supporting cast of character lends a hint of Buffy The Vampire Slayer to the whole affair; we have the loyal friend, the moping boy, the clueless boyfriend and the bitch from hell as characters here, and this is part of the problem; they aren’t terribly sympathetic and I was often filled with the urge to give some of these youngsters a firm telling off and to stop moping.

This tells me that if this is your sort of thing, then you’ll find yourself totally enthralled. Rachel Vincent is a solid talent, and I look forward to what she has planned next; but for now I’ll be giving this series to my younger friends to enjoy.