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Autumn #4
Disintegration
Disintegration is the penultimate chapter in David Moody's riveting horror series!
Forty days have passed since the world died. Billions of corpses walk the Earth. Everything is disintegrating. . . .
A group of eleven men and women have survived against the odds. On an almost daily basis, they attack the dead with brutal ferocity, tearing through them with utter contempt.
Somewhere nearby, out of sight and out of earshot, is another group that has adopted a completely different survival strategy. Where the others have used brutality and strength, these people have demonstrated subtlety, planning, and tactics.
A series of horrific events force the two groups together. Backed into a corner and surrounded by hundreds of thousands of corpses, they all know that their final battle with the dead is about to begin.
Forty days have passed since the world died. Billions of corpses walk the Earth. Everything is disintegrating. . . .
A group of eleven men and women have survived against the odds. On an almost daily basis, they attack the dead with brutal ferocity, tearing through them with utter contempt.
Somewhere nearby, out of sight and out of earshot, is another group that has adopted a completely different survival strategy. Where the others have used brutality and strength, these people have demonstrated subtlety, planning, and tactics.
A series of horrific events force the two groups together. Backed into a corner and surrounded by hundreds of thousands of corpses, they all know that their final battle with the dead is about to begin.
342 pages, Paperback
First published November 22, 2011
33 people are currently reading
1338 people want to read
About the author
David Moody
77 books1,257 followersDavid Moody first released Hater in 2006, and without an agent, succeeded in selling the film rights for the novel to Mark Johnson (producer, Breaking Bad) and Guillermo Del Toro (director, The Shape of Water, Pan's Labyrinth). Moody's seminal zombie novel Autumn was made into a movie starring Dexter Fletcher and David Carradine. He has an unhealthy fascination with the end of the world and likes to write books about ordinary folks going through absolute hell. With the publication of continuing Hater and Autumn stories, Moody has cemented his reputation as a writer of suspense-laced SF/horror, and "farther out" genre books of all description.
Find out more about his work at www.davidmoody.net and www.infectedbooks.co.uk, and join Moody's mailing list to keep up with new releases.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
May 28, 2012
3 Stars
As a huge David Moody fan and one that really loved the Autumn series that concluded the main story line at the end of book three, I went into this one with some trepidation and reservations as I could not see it living up to the quality of the trilogy. After reading this I can safely say that my initial concerns were spot on. At best, this story would have been better off being played out as additional POV's during the trilogy, rather than attempting to make a successful story on its own.
Unlike the trilogy, this book is less a character novel, and more of an action novel. This would be completely fine as it is a quality zombie book that is better than most on the market today. However, this is David Moody, and it is part of his Autumn world, where in this context, it is not on the same level. Unlike all other Moody novels that I have read, this book does not have any characters that I found to like, to root for, or at least to empathize with. The men of this story are shallow, selfish, and unlikeable.
This novel starts at a point just slightly after the world has completely fallen, and the dead now own our world. The cast of characters are a bunch of douche bag men, Webb, Jas, Harte, Driver, and Hollis, and a couple of uninspiring women as well. The plot is simple, survival in a world filled with the walking dead. Instead of trying to make a place for themselves, this cast of characters enjoys killing, dismembering, and even are violent amongst each other. I not only never cared about them, I actually disliked these pathetic people and wanted them all to die.
One great theme of this book that was not really explored to its potential was based around the question Should a predator or a prey ever be concerned about each other?
The writing is the best part of this book. Moody has such a fantastic flare and unique way of describing things...
"The group stood together in silence and watched the body as it waddled toward them. It's massively distended,
discolored belly hung heavy over the top of a pair of brown-stained leggings, little shock waves running up through its
saggy, curiously lumpy flesh with every ungainly step it took. Huge, pendulous breasts swung down like bags of grain,
almost reaching its waist, a tear in its shapeless T-shirt revealing dark-veined skin like blue cheese. For a moment no
one moved, everyone waiting for someone else to take the lead and dispatch the enormous cadaver..."
I am a huge fan of David Moody...The Autumn Trilogy and The Hater Trilogy should not be missed by horror lovers. This one is simply just ok.
As a huge David Moody fan and one that really loved the Autumn series that concluded the main story line at the end of book three, I went into this one with some trepidation and reservations as I could not see it living up to the quality of the trilogy. After reading this I can safely say that my initial concerns were spot on. At best, this story would have been better off being played out as additional POV's during the trilogy, rather than attempting to make a successful story on its own.
Unlike the trilogy, this book is less a character novel, and more of an action novel. This would be completely fine as it is a quality zombie book that is better than most on the market today. However, this is David Moody, and it is part of his Autumn world, where in this context, it is not on the same level. Unlike all other Moody novels that I have read, this book does not have any characters that I found to like, to root for, or at least to empathize with. The men of this story are shallow, selfish, and unlikeable.
This novel starts at a point just slightly after the world has completely fallen, and the dead now own our world. The cast of characters are a bunch of douche bag men, Webb, Jas, Harte, Driver, and Hollis, and a couple of uninspiring women as well. The plot is simple, survival in a world filled with the walking dead. Instead of trying to make a place for themselves, this cast of characters enjoys killing, dismembering, and even are violent amongst each other. I not only never cared about them, I actually disliked these pathetic people and wanted them all to die.
One great theme of this book that was not really explored to its potential was based around the question Should a predator or a prey ever be concerned about each other?
The writing is the best part of this book. Moody has such a fantastic flare and unique way of describing things...
"The group stood together in silence and watched the body as it waddled toward them. It's massively distended,
discolored belly hung heavy over the top of a pair of brown-stained leggings, little shock waves running up through its
saggy, curiously lumpy flesh with every ungainly step it took. Huge, pendulous breasts swung down like bags of grain,
almost reaching its waist, a tear in its shapeless T-shirt revealing dark-veined skin like blue cheese. For a moment no
one moved, everyone waiting for someone else to take the lead and dispatch the enormous cadaver..."
I am a huge fan of David Moody...The Autumn Trilogy and The Hater Trilogy should not be missed by horror lovers. This one is simply just ok.
October 5, 2012
I was incredibly surprised by how many 4 and 5 star reviews this as on here. Having just finished it up I'm left feeling that it was a chore to get through and I kind of wish I had just skipped this one and went right on to the 5th book.
I know everything is relative, and my feelings for this book are not based on it as a individual work, but as part of a larger series. Maybe if I had read this one first I might have liked it, bust as part of the series it felt like a huge let down.
The story started with a new group of survivors, yet again. After four books of this I was pretty tired of a the formula of "new group, most die, meat up with group from last book at end." The fact that this book didn't follow that formula, as much as I was growing to hate it, was it's self a let down. More so than any previous book I just didn't give a fuck about these characters and I felt Moody didn't do a single damn thing to flesh them out or make most of them distinctive. The sole thing that kept me reading it was the assumption they would meet up with the people on the island. Spoiler: they don't. They see the helicopter and plane on evacuation but that's it. This lack of payoff as far as the larger series is concerned left me feeling like it didn't do a damn thing to move the story forward.
The end particularly felt hollow. There was pretty steady build up near the end to a big disaster, but instead of a real resolution to it we get an afterward set a long time after it that really only left more questions than answers.
My advice is that if your reading this series in order just skip this one unless you REALLY like Moody's writing.
I know everything is relative, and my feelings for this book are not based on it as a individual work, but as part of a larger series. Maybe if I had read this one first I might have liked it, bust as part of the series it felt like a huge let down.
The story started with a new group of survivors, yet again. After four books of this I was pretty tired of a the formula of "new group, most die, meat up with group from last book at end." The fact that this book didn't follow that formula, as much as I was growing to hate it, was it's self a let down. More so than any previous book I just didn't give a fuck about these characters and I felt Moody didn't do a single damn thing to flesh them out or make most of them distinctive. The sole thing that kept me reading it was the assumption they would meet up with the people on the island. Spoiler: they don't. They see the helicopter and plane on evacuation but that's it. This lack of payoff as far as the larger series is concerned left me feeling like it didn't do a damn thing to move the story forward.
The end particularly felt hollow. There was pretty steady build up near the end to a big disaster, but instead of a real resolution to it we get an afterward set a long time after it that really only left more questions than answers.
My advice is that if your reading this series in order just skip this one unless you REALLY like Moody's writing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2023
4.5 Stars
Fear
Fear. What is does to us. How we react to it. Who we become because of it.
The entire time I read this, that is all I could think about; was the palpable fear that everyone has. Fear of the zombies. Fear of each other. Fear of their own shortcomings. Fear of cowardice. Fear of change. Fear of the future.
Everyone was grappling with it, and we are definitely starting to see the evolving situation with the zombies wear on everyone's nerves. No one is sure how to move on. They are unsatisfied with staying put; but where will you go?? No place is better than another, when the entire world is dead.
I love the storytelling from this author, and am ready to hit it with the next book.
I wonder what happened to our island inhabitants??
Fear
Fear. What is does to us. How we react to it. Who we become because of it.
The entire time I read this, that is all I could think about; was the palpable fear that everyone has. Fear of the zombies. Fear of each other. Fear of their own shortcomings. Fear of cowardice. Fear of change. Fear of the future.
Everyone was grappling with it, and we are definitely starting to see the evolving situation with the zombies wear on everyone's nerves. No one is sure how to move on. They are unsatisfied with staying put; but where will you go?? No place is better than another, when the entire world is dead.
I love the storytelling from this author, and am ready to hit it with the next book.
I wonder what happened to our island inhabitants??
July 16, 2017
well this one really shows the human race,,I found the beginning long, they fight and fight the dead for a lot of chapters, I wanted more of the quiet people, to know them more, not too fond of the ending,,ironic really
November 7, 2015
Another excellent piece by Brit author David Moody. Dark, horrific, and full of lovely British-isms like carriageway, hedgerow, slurry, and my all time favorite, "bloody hell!" This is, ahem, my cup of tea. The undead are creepy - they're smart, they're silent, and they're not necessarily hungry for your flesh - they just seem to want you dead, because you're alive. In this book, there's a new cast of characters, ordinary people trapped in a hotel. And like a slow train wreck you see coming at you, you can't seem to move out of the way of the inevitable conclusion.
I really like Moody's writing. Excellent stuff for horror.
I really like Moody's writing. Excellent stuff for horror.
December 10, 2011
I love the different take on Zombies in this. They're not your run of the mill flesh eating monsters. Actually, I'd say they're more of a tidal wave of nasty, decaying flesh that'll swallow you whole if you don't move out of its path. Moody did a great job with descriptions on this; I could practically smell, and even taste in the back of my throat the vile nastiness of weeks old cadavers roaming around in their own filth. Great read. I recommend to all.
May 8, 2012
David Moody is back! I have been a long time fan of Moody's Autumn series. In this book Moody
introduces us to a new brand of survivors who struggle day to day trying to stay alive and how they
cope with the fact that the world they know is no more. I loved the book. I wasn't able to put it down.
Once again, Moody doesn't disappoint.
introduces us to a new brand of survivors who struggle day to day trying to stay alive and how they
cope with the fact that the world they know is no more. I loved the book. I wasn't able to put it down.
Once again, Moody doesn't disappoint.
December 27, 2016
Wow.. you think the strong ones will survive.. but never underestimate the quiet ones!! Another destination overrun.. lots of questions. This book was a whole new group of ppl. Lots of crazy action, the dead are getting smarter... but will they rot away?? What's up with Emma and Mike?! I don't want to write anymore cuz I have to know what happens next!!
July 23, 2012
brilliant brilliant brilliant. can't stop worrying about the guy left in the hotel.
September 21, 2022
In the fourth entry of this "don't call them zombies" series, Moody introduces a new cast of characters in a somewhat familiar setup. Similar to book 2, this is about the convergence of different survivor groups. At the same time, there's a bit of an under-utilized complication that propels the characters to change course early on. This thread is ultimately left hanging, and doesn't feel as neat as it could be, and by this point in the series, I'm starting to feel like the scenario is getting a bit stale.
Books 1-3 all have the same basic structure: survivors find a hideout, get surrounded, decide to leave. There is some variation here, but not much. The other issue I have is that Moody's characters started to become a little shallower beginning with book 3, which I found to be the weakest in the series so far. I'm a huge fan of his Hater and Last War series, but the big difference is how much time and attention he gives to character development. The longer the Autumn series goes on, the bigger the cast of characters get, and the shallower and less developed those characters seem to become. It's hard for me to root for people I know nothing about, and I wish we had a little more reason to invest in these characters, especially when the scenarios are so repetitive and the enemy has just one move: surround the humans.
Moody is a fantastic writer in general, and the Hater and Last War series are some of my favorite horror/apocalyptic fiction ever written. I'll take this series to its conclusion, but I am concerned the series is just about out of steam by the end of book 4.
Books 1-3 all have the same basic structure: survivors find a hideout, get surrounded, decide to leave. There is some variation here, but not much. The other issue I have is that Moody's characters started to become a little shallower beginning with book 3, which I found to be the weakest in the series so far. I'm a huge fan of his Hater and Last War series, but the big difference is how much time and attention he gives to character development. The longer the Autumn series goes on, the bigger the cast of characters get, and the shallower and less developed those characters seem to become. It's hard for me to root for people I know nothing about, and I wish we had a little more reason to invest in these characters, especially when the scenarios are so repetitive and the enemy has just one move: surround the humans.
Moody is a fantastic writer in general, and the Hater and Last War series are some of my favorite horror/apocalyptic fiction ever written. I'll take this series to its conclusion, but I am concerned the series is just about out of steam by the end of book 4.
December 16, 2021
Disintegration (Autumn 4) By David Moody
The Master of this genre returns with book 4 set in the Autumn universe a standalone read from the original trilogy, This time round Moody goes for all out action and some super Zombie brutality and just general mayhem.
We the reader are introduced to some new characters most of them unpleasant as they try to survive in the aftermath of the virus.
Moody's writing is splendid and as this is the 4th book his world is now realized as the Zombie hoards out number the remaining survivors 100 to 1 with no safe haven all our characters can do is flee and fight which they do with the action in this book ramped all the way up to 11.
The descriptions of the world and it's inhabitants is first class and Moody's narrative as a whole through out this book and the entire series so far is incredible.
One could pick this up and just read it with no backstory needed however knowledge of those first three books will give you a far superior read and understanding.
The ability to take the series in a completely new direction is Moody's brilliance and I for one will continue to support this fabulous writer.
An outstanding piece of work well worth your time and hard-earned cash.
The Master of this genre returns with book 4 set in the Autumn universe a standalone read from the original trilogy, This time round Moody goes for all out action and some super Zombie brutality and just general mayhem.
We the reader are introduced to some new characters most of them unpleasant as they try to survive in the aftermath of the virus.
Moody's writing is splendid and as this is the 4th book his world is now realized as the Zombie hoards out number the remaining survivors 100 to 1 with no safe haven all our characters can do is flee and fight which they do with the action in this book ramped all the way up to 11.
The descriptions of the world and it's inhabitants is first class and Moody's narrative as a whole through out this book and the entire series so far is incredible.
One could pick this up and just read it with no backstory needed however knowledge of those first three books will give you a far superior read and understanding.
The ability to take the series in a completely new direction is Moody's brilliance and I for one will continue to support this fabulous writer.
An outstanding piece of work well worth your time and hard-earned cash.
December 15, 2025
Si va verso la fine della crisi, verso lo stadio in cui persino la forza capace di animare i morti non sarà più sufficiente... Ma, nel frattempo? Come se la caverà un gruppo di sopravvissuti rifugiati in un albergo, con il cibo sempre più scarso e la disciplina interna sempre più precaria?
Cosa conta di più, restare uniti per tenere duro, o cercare almeno uno sprazzo di vita per non morire un poco alla volta?
Il ritmo ancora una volta è ottimo, e come sempre i trope si sprecano, dalle situazioni telegrafatissime alla costruzione dei personaggi, riuscendo a creare un discreto equilibrio di affezione tra i più saggi ed i più immeritevoli -i quali, nonostante facciano di tutto per rendersi odiosi, hanno pur sempre le loro ragioni. E quando il casino scoppia, come sempre non ci sono favoritismi: succeda quel che deve succedere, nei giorni dei morti non ci sono i cocchi dello scrittore con la plot armor.
Tanto per ricordarci che esiste una continuity, c'è un riferimento al terzo volume, che potrebbe essere importante o forse no.
Insomma, è un altro libro che tiene alta l'asticella di questo sottogenere.
Cosa conta di più, restare uniti per tenere duro, o cercare almeno uno sprazzo di vita per non morire un poco alla volta?
Il ritmo ancora una volta è ottimo, e come sempre i trope si sprecano, dalle situazioni telegrafatissime alla costruzione dei personaggi, riuscendo a creare un discreto equilibrio di affezione tra i più saggi ed i più immeritevoli -i quali, nonostante facciano di tutto per rendersi odiosi, hanno pur sempre le loro ragioni. E quando il casino scoppia, come sempre non ci sono favoritismi: succeda quel che deve succedere, nei giorni dei morti non ci sono i cocchi dello scrittore con la plot armor.
Tanto per ricordarci che esiste una continuity, c'è un riferimento al terzo volume, che potrebbe essere importante o forse no.
Insomma, è un altro libro che tiene alta l'asticella di questo sottogenere.
January 29, 2018
Another good read in the zombie series. This book does not pick up after the one before. It is a whole new set of characters but it does have a little overlap with some events of the last book. We are back to a group of not very likable characters again, much like the first book began. It was still entertaining and it's 2 months into the zombie situation so we get some more insight into how the zombies are continuing to change. The books seem to be getting darker as they progress. This one was dark, gory, and bloody throughout but it ended even darker. As well it ended with some unanswered questions. Hoping the next one will answer some of those questions.
March 29, 2019
After praising Autumn Purification as having been the best in the series it pains me to say that this is the worse. Not necessarily saying it is a poor story just disappointing in comparison to the rest. David Moody is just trying to show how two very different styles of dealing with the undead (brash and boisterous compared to silent and careful). Definitely not a good combination when they get together. Hopefully the next in the series will see a return to form.
Ray Smillie
Ray Smillie
December 19, 2017
Still enjoying this series! You get more insight into what's going on and how different people are coping or not coping and now there's a new germ......I think one thing I like is that in one book something that got one or two sentences could get a whole chunk in the next book. So you really get to see things from all sides-just not all at once.
July 25, 2017
This 4th book was just okay to me. It took me forever to get through it because it just felt like a chore. Normally it doesn't take me weeks to finish a book but this was just terribly painful to get through. I didn't feel vested in any of the characters. Disappointment arose for me.
January 18, 2021
I still enjoyed the series.. I think a couple characters I didn't like but the book kept my attention.. I wish it had a little more action in it but overall it was good.. Recommend? Yes.. ~Happy Reading~
January 13, 2019
Love zombie, end of the world scenarios.
This was a fast easy read.
This was a fast easy read.
March 13, 2019
This book was an exciting survival horror venture. 8.5/10
March 28, 2019
Could do without the language..story is well written and interesting.
July 27, 2020
I struggled to get through a good first half of the book because I absolutely hated everyone in the group, but it got much better!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2021
I loved the first 3 books, but this one i could of skipped, i didn’t like the ending and found it dragging. I’m hoping the last one is better.
September 18, 2013
Over the course of the last six months, I've been reading David Moody's Autumn books: a series of novels set in a postapocalyptic Britain where an apparent global pandemic has wiped out the majority of the populace and the survivors find themselves outnumbered in a world where many of the dead have not only risen but are becomingly increasingly more dangerous...
Autumn: Disintegration is the fourth in the series and I've made no secret of the fact that I've loved these books so far.
The timeline for Disintegration appears to be roughly similar to that found in the previous entry in the series, Purification, with the undead continuing to rot but also to evolve in a progressively more alarming fashion. Moody does not repeat the events of the third novel in the Autumn series here but weveas them seamlessly into that of Disintegration, where he introduces the reader to a new set of characters who, in keeping with the author's particular style, are incredibly ordinary individuals thrust into an extraordinary situation and as such, exposes the more base instincts of the human condition. Moody's characters display fear, selfishness, stupidity and the overwhelming desire for self-preservation.
Although this is the penulitmate entry in the Autumn series, Disintegration, to my mind, is significantly different to its predecessors in that it will sate the gorehounds out there, since it ramps up the action considerably in comparison. Spiked baseball bats, Molotov cocktails and chainsaws are the order of the day in Disintegration; coupled with numerous explosions and Moody's increasingly putrified walking dead which leave the universe he has created covered in an unholy brew of decaying flesh, guts and excretia that gives the whole story a very dirty and realistic feel that is absent from many tomes dealing with similar subject matter. That is not to say that this entry lacks tension; with thousands of walking dead having near omnipresence, there's no questioning the stress and anxiety experienced by the main players in this novel.
Disintegration, for a novel that is the fourth in a series, is unusual in that it succeeds both as a sequel and a stand-alone title. Although knowledge of the first three books will greatly enhance your experience of the book at hand, I would suggest that the uninitiated reader will not feel that they have missed something by picking Disintegration straight away.
As Moody's walking dead continue to evolve as well as decay, his prose matches pace also, with some truly visceral descriptions of the cadaverous state of the recently risen. Nowehere can I recall such vivid narrative, describing not only the flesh falling from bodies but the maggots that infest them and something that is so often omitted from tales of the undead: the disease that they would most likely be carrying also.
Disintegration has been criticised for being formulaic, following the lines laid by the author himself in the previous three books of introducing new characters, disposing of some of them and marching the others forward to the next book. Additionally, it has been suggested that the fourth in the Autumn series does little to advance the overall story. I would submit that both of these attacks are without foundation since, as I have already stated, Disintegration can function as part of the series or as a stand-alone title perfectly well. Moreover, Moody has succeeded in not just driving forward the thread of the series but expanding his Autumn universe in admirable fashion.
You may dismiss this review as that of an avid fan and I admitted at the outset that I've loved Moody's work to date. However, you don't have to simply take my word for it since Guillermo del Toro snapping up the film rights to Moody's Hater, evidences further the strength of the author's prose. Having read Disintegration, I can't wait to get my hands on Autumn: Aftermath on its release next month...
Autumn: Disintegration is the fourth in the series and I've made no secret of the fact that I've loved these books so far.
The timeline for Disintegration appears to be roughly similar to that found in the previous entry in the series, Purification, with the undead continuing to rot but also to evolve in a progressively more alarming fashion. Moody does not repeat the events of the third novel in the Autumn series here but weveas them seamlessly into that of Disintegration, where he introduces the reader to a new set of characters who, in keeping with the author's particular style, are incredibly ordinary individuals thrust into an extraordinary situation and as such, exposes the more base instincts of the human condition. Moody's characters display fear, selfishness, stupidity and the overwhelming desire for self-preservation.
Although this is the penulitmate entry in the Autumn series, Disintegration, to my mind, is significantly different to its predecessors in that it will sate the gorehounds out there, since it ramps up the action considerably in comparison. Spiked baseball bats, Molotov cocktails and chainsaws are the order of the day in Disintegration; coupled with numerous explosions and Moody's increasingly putrified walking dead which leave the universe he has created covered in an unholy brew of decaying flesh, guts and excretia that gives the whole story a very dirty and realistic feel that is absent from many tomes dealing with similar subject matter. That is not to say that this entry lacks tension; with thousands of walking dead having near omnipresence, there's no questioning the stress and anxiety experienced by the main players in this novel.
Disintegration, for a novel that is the fourth in a series, is unusual in that it succeeds both as a sequel and a stand-alone title. Although knowledge of the first three books will greatly enhance your experience of the book at hand, I would suggest that the uninitiated reader will not feel that they have missed something by picking Disintegration straight away.
As Moody's walking dead continue to evolve as well as decay, his prose matches pace also, with some truly visceral descriptions of the cadaverous state of the recently risen. Nowehere can I recall such vivid narrative, describing not only the flesh falling from bodies but the maggots that infest them and something that is so often omitted from tales of the undead: the disease that they would most likely be carrying also.
Disintegration has been criticised for being formulaic, following the lines laid by the author himself in the previous three books of introducing new characters, disposing of some of them and marching the others forward to the next book. Additionally, it has been suggested that the fourth in the Autumn series does little to advance the overall story. I would submit that both of these attacks are without foundation since, as I have already stated, Disintegration can function as part of the series or as a stand-alone title perfectly well. Moreover, Moody has succeeded in not just driving forward the thread of the series but expanding his Autumn universe in admirable fashion.
You may dismiss this review as that of an avid fan and I admitted at the outset that I've loved Moody's work to date. However, you don't have to simply take my word for it since Guillermo del Toro snapping up the film rights to Moody's Hater, evidences further the strength of the author's prose. Having read Disintegration, I can't wait to get my hands on Autumn: Aftermath on its release next month...
December 28, 2012
This is a synopsis, not a review.
Hollis
Gordon
Caron
Web
Stokes
Jas
Lorna
Driver - Bus driver
Ellie - Lost her babies and now carries around a doll
Anita - got sick and died
Harte
Book opens with a guy in a hotel that is studying a dead lady who is stuck in the hotel pool.
a small group of individuals scavenging for fuel. One guy (Web) gets left behind and has to fight of the dead. They are non aggressive. The group comes back and rescues him.
The group is sheltered up in a group of flats. They have a a barricade of cars and debris lined around the place. The dead just line up.
Web gets bit one day while letting off some energy by taking out some of the dead. Nothing happens to Web. It's the first time anyone has gotten bit, or that the dead have shown aggression.
The group decides to make some more room for themselves by pushing the barrier back with their diggers. They spend a few days and clear out some room.
Anita died after a few days of being sick with some bug. Ellie got sick with the same thing.
The dead are starting to crawl over low spots in the barricade.
While clearing out some of the dead, Web accidently hits Stokes with his spiked bat. Stokes dies. Web tells everyone that the dead got Stokes.
The groping decides to leave the next morning. Caron leaves Ellie to die alone in a room. Ellie has been sick and unconscious for days.
The groping drives for most of a day and comes to a truck wedged in between two walls. This forms a barrier. They move notice that there are no dead on the other side of the truck. They move the truck and drive through. Then kill the few dead that followed them through.
The truck was put there by a group of 5 survivors that are staying in the hotel/golf club grounds. They funnel the dead past the hotel,out onto the golf course by playing music. Things are layer out such that the dead don't know the survivors are at the hotel.
Sean, Amid, Ginnie, Martin, ? (and dog) .
Sean is young and dumb like Web.
most of the original group want to head to a nearby town and get supplies to last a month. Martin wants to play it safe and stay low and quiet.
They decide a group will head out for supplies.
Getting supplies ended up agitating the dead. Martin wasn't happy with everyone because of this.
some of the dead got through the gates keeping them in the golf course. They were now surrounding the hedges by the hotel.
Some of the group decided to try to lure some of the dead away from the hotel. They drove some cars out in the field and set them on fire. this worked but some of the people messed up and got killed. Sean escaped. Web crashed and blew his car up with Amid inside. Not clear if Amid was dead or not. Web escaped through the club house but destroyed the door, thus letting the dead through. Thousand upon thousands if them. He made it back to the hotel closely followed by the dead.
Everyone left blockades themselves in a room that Has set up with supplies. Web blocked himself in a room alone on another floor.
epilogue: Sean came back to the hotel approx 6 weeks later. No one was there. Except Web whom he did not discover. Web was kinds crazy.
Hollis
Gordon
Caron
Web
Stokes
Jas
Lorna
Driver - Bus driver
Ellie - Lost her babies and now carries around a doll
Anita - got sick and died
Harte
Book opens with a guy in a hotel that is studying a dead lady who is stuck in the hotel pool.
a small group of individuals scavenging for fuel. One guy (Web) gets left behind and has to fight of the dead. They are non aggressive. The group comes back and rescues him.
The group is sheltered up in a group of flats. They have a a barricade of cars and debris lined around the place. The dead just line up.
Web gets bit one day while letting off some energy by taking out some of the dead. Nothing happens to Web. It's the first time anyone has gotten bit, or that the dead have shown aggression.
The group decides to make some more room for themselves by pushing the barrier back with their diggers. They spend a few days and clear out some room.
Anita died after a few days of being sick with some bug. Ellie got sick with the same thing.
The dead are starting to crawl over low spots in the barricade.
While clearing out some of the dead, Web accidently hits Stokes with his spiked bat. Stokes dies. Web tells everyone that the dead got Stokes.
The groping decides to leave the next morning. Caron leaves Ellie to die alone in a room. Ellie has been sick and unconscious for days.
The groping drives for most of a day and comes to a truck wedged in between two walls. This forms a barrier. They move notice that there are no dead on the other side of the truck. They move the truck and drive through. Then kill the few dead that followed them through.
The truck was put there by a group of 5 survivors that are staying in the hotel/golf club grounds. They funnel the dead past the hotel,out onto the golf course by playing music. Things are layer out such that the dead don't know the survivors are at the hotel.
Sean, Amid, Ginnie, Martin, ? (and dog) .
Sean is young and dumb like Web.
most of the original group want to head to a nearby town and get supplies to last a month. Martin wants to play it safe and stay low and quiet.
They decide a group will head out for supplies.
Getting supplies ended up agitating the dead. Martin wasn't happy with everyone because of this.
some of the dead got through the gates keeping them in the golf course. They were now surrounding the hedges by the hotel.
Some of the group decided to try to lure some of the dead away from the hotel. They drove some cars out in the field and set them on fire. this worked but some of the people messed up and got killed. Sean escaped. Web crashed and blew his car up with Amid inside. Not clear if Amid was dead or not. Web escaped through the club house but destroyed the door, thus letting the dead through. Thousand upon thousands if them. He made it back to the hotel closely followed by the dead.
Everyone left blockades themselves in a room that Has set up with supplies. Web blocked himself in a room alone on another floor.
epilogue: Sean came back to the hotel approx 6 weeks later. No one was there. Except Web whom he did not discover. Web was kinds crazy.
December 26, 2011
In AUTUMN: DISINTEGRATION by David Moody, two groups of survivors develop very different strategies in dealing with the hordes of the risen dead now threatening them. The first group picks up weapons and tries to destroy them. The second hide themselves away and try not to be noticed. The conflict amps to a new level when these two groups are forced to work together and the zombies begin to regain awareness.
For years, Moody has given us a different kind of zombie in a different kind of zombie story–one that is maturely written and describes real people coping with an incredible disaster and subsequent threat in a realistically dying world. While in most of his AUTUMN books, the smarter survivors have tried to keep away from the zombies, AUTUMN: DISINTEGRATION shows a small band fighting the hordes with everything they’ve got. It’s a refreshing update to a great series, and gives Moody a chance to say to those readers looking for head shots: “OK, let’s do it your way, and see what happens!”
Moody’s zombies are aggressive, frightening and yet oddly sympathetic. They’re also disgusting, literally rotting off the page. The toxic environment of the cities, and the psychological landscape of threat, depression and displaced anger, present additional stress on the survivors beyond the needs of basic survival. The people behave realistically, and respond realistically to what is happening to them. These are ordinary people in an incredible situation…
Basically, I loved it. I’m a fan of this series. While PURIFICATION is probably still my favorite, I found DISINTEGRATION an innovative addition, and I enjoyed the story being told from the view of new characters.
If you already know and love Moody’s work, you’re going to find DISINTEGRATION a new twist and a great addition to the AUTUMN series. If for some reason you haven’t liked the series so far, it’s an inviting chance to give it another try, as it’s a different take, and works as a standalone book. And if you’re new to the series, it’s a great way to start it and get acquainted with Moody’s vision if you’re not sure about the first book.
For years, Moody has given us a different kind of zombie in a different kind of zombie story–one that is maturely written and describes real people coping with an incredible disaster and subsequent threat in a realistically dying world. While in most of his AUTUMN books, the smarter survivors have tried to keep away from the zombies, AUTUMN: DISINTEGRATION shows a small band fighting the hordes with everything they’ve got. It’s a refreshing update to a great series, and gives Moody a chance to say to those readers looking for head shots: “OK, let’s do it your way, and see what happens!”
Moody’s zombies are aggressive, frightening and yet oddly sympathetic. They’re also disgusting, literally rotting off the page. The toxic environment of the cities, and the psychological landscape of threat, depression and displaced anger, present additional stress on the survivors beyond the needs of basic survival. The people behave realistically, and respond realistically to what is happening to them. These are ordinary people in an incredible situation…
Basically, I loved it. I’m a fan of this series. While PURIFICATION is probably still my favorite, I found DISINTEGRATION an innovative addition, and I enjoyed the story being told from the view of new characters.
If you already know and love Moody’s work, you’re going to find DISINTEGRATION a new twist and a great addition to the AUTUMN series. If for some reason you haven’t liked the series so far, it’s an inviting chance to give it another try, as it’s a different take, and works as a standalone book. And if you’re new to the series, it’s a great way to start it and get acquainted with Moody’s vision if you’re not sure about the first book.
June 17, 2014
Like I somehow do with most series, I’m not actually reading Autumn in order. I read the first book and the second book and since I couldn’t find the third book when I went shopping the other day I decided to pick up book 4, Disintegration.
Unlike with the previous two books, I wasn’t really all that impressed with Disintegration. Sure, it’s kind of cool to see how two completely different groups are managing to stay alive in such a horrific world, but the formula David Moody uses is getting kind of boring. (SPOILERS) Essentially a bunch of survivors mope around for a while, things get bad, they join another group and bring about its downfall. Sure, he changes the names around a little but they’re basically all the same book at this point. It’s kind of disappointing as someone who appreciates the overall plot arc of the series.
But as a novel on its own merit, Disintegration isn’t all that bad. David Moody is still a master of suspense and he’s good at describing such a horrific world without ever going into descriptions of gore for gore’s sake. Don’t get me wrong, though; this book is still pretty gory. It’s just that it’s not gratuitous. I like how he has his zombies develop abilities even as they deteriorate, which is somehow more terrifying because there’s the possibility they could even become fully human as they rot away to nothing. If that’s not horrific I don’t know what is.
The characters were a solid ‘meh’ in this story. None of them really stood out to me unless we’re talking about total jerks that get people killed, like Webb. Yeah I know he’s a hothead kid but he’s the epitome of the Too Stupid to Live trope. While not exactly being brilliant at it, David Moody still did a good job imagining how the group dynamics would be in such a diverse group of people. People are constantly getting on each others’ nerves and pretty much no one agrees on what the solution to the zombie problem is. Essentially, it’s a group of real people and is probably how most people would react in a zombie apocalypse.
So basically this one’s a solid ‘meh’. I hope the fifth book is better.
I give this book 3/5 stars.
Unlike with the previous two books, I wasn’t really all that impressed with Disintegration. Sure, it’s kind of cool to see how two completely different groups are managing to stay alive in such a horrific world, but the formula David Moody uses is getting kind of boring. (SPOILERS) Essentially a bunch of survivors mope around for a while, things get bad, they join another group and bring about its downfall. Sure, he changes the names around a little but they’re basically all the same book at this point. It’s kind of disappointing as someone who appreciates the overall plot arc of the series.
But as a novel on its own merit, Disintegration isn’t all that bad. David Moody is still a master of suspense and he’s good at describing such a horrific world without ever going into descriptions of gore for gore’s sake. Don’t get me wrong, though; this book is still pretty gory. It’s just that it’s not gratuitous. I like how he has his zombies develop abilities even as they deteriorate, which is somehow more terrifying because there’s the possibility they could even become fully human as they rot away to nothing. If that’s not horrific I don’t know what is.
The characters were a solid ‘meh’ in this story. None of them really stood out to me unless we’re talking about total jerks that get people killed, like Webb. Yeah I know he’s a hothead kid but he’s the epitome of the Too Stupid to Live trope. While not exactly being brilliant at it, David Moody still did a good job imagining how the group dynamics would be in such a diverse group of people. People are constantly getting on each others’ nerves and pretty much no one agrees on what the solution to the zombie problem is. Essentially, it’s a group of real people and is probably how most people would react in a zombie apocalypse.
So basically this one’s a solid ‘meh’. I hope the fifth book is better.
I give this book 3/5 stars.
August 8, 2012
I actually picked up this book first - without knowing it was a series. About halfway through I realized that something was off, and the rest of the books were listed in the back. There were some serious questions I had: Why do the others think Webb is so voatile, and the 'zombies' so dangerous? I stopped and bought the rest of the series, which didn't particulary clear up that much. The 'zombies' seem to be 'attacking' based on interpretation (really, more pitiful than anything else unless they're in a horde). There's only a few main characters that will make it to the end of the series. Most of the people you meet early on die off. Also, the people that make it to the end - something is weird with the character development. It's like you can sense the shock they are in, based on the fact we find out very little about their lives before the disaster. We also just explore their personalities based on how they act in the midst of the world dying. It's not fast paced at all, however, I do appreciate having a mundane zombie series. It's sort of like being caught in a Tim O'Brian book - periods of absolutely nothing happening, then a breif flurry of action (which is how he describes war). Also, there are only a few survivors who try to do things - most of the groups just fade in the background (they're mostly depressed). I liked this series, simply because it was like nothing else I'd read so far - instead of frantic non-stop bursts of action, or planing to rebuild, survive, etc. - this was haphazard - and it unexpectedly pulled in emotions. At points you have characters almost breaking because everyone has died and they just don't care about surviving - which stresses the others they travel with. I've definetely become a fan of Moody through this series.
Also - the books are MUCH better than the movie.
Also - the books are MUCH better than the movie.
May 4, 2012
When I first started reading Moody's Autumn series, I was completely drawn in. Moody's work is stark but it grabs you right away. With each word, the reader is forced to place themselves in the place of the survivors of the zombie apocalypse. Moody has once again re-entered his post apocalyptic world to give us yet another story of survivors. What started out as innovative and new has simply become repetitive and boring.
As in other books, even when dealing with different survivors, Moody attempts to connect them to each other. In this case, the connection was a helicopter which we are meant to assume was the one used to ferry the survivors to Cormansey to avoid the continuing threat the zombies posed. Trapped a hotel, trying to be as quiet as possible these survivors are desperate to get the attention of the helicopter because with each passing day it becomes clear that the distraction that has been for the zombies is no longer holding their attention.
The new element in Disintegration is a disease that is now killing off survivors who survived the initial release of the virus. They believe that it comes from contact with the diseases that a mass amount of dead bodies would create. They are forced to decide whether to quarantine and ignore this latest round of victims or attempt to help them at the risk of getting sick. The question then becomes, is it okay to leave someone who is sick alone to die at the hands of zombies to save your own life?
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As in other books, even when dealing with different survivors, Moody attempts to connect them to each other. In this case, the connection was a helicopter which we are meant to assume was the one used to ferry the survivors to Cormansey to avoid the continuing threat the zombies posed. Trapped a hotel, trying to be as quiet as possible these survivors are desperate to get the attention of the helicopter because with each passing day it becomes clear that the distraction that has been for the zombies is no longer holding their attention.
The new element in Disintegration is a disease that is now killing off survivors who survived the initial release of the virus. They believe that it comes from contact with the diseases that a mass amount of dead bodies would create. They are forced to decide whether to quarantine and ignore this latest round of victims or attempt to help them at the risk of getting sick. The question then becomes, is it okay to leave someone who is sick alone to die at the hands of zombies to save your own life?
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August 15, 2012
With the world at an end, Moody throws us right into the action and turmoil of the apocalyptic world. Zombies are everywhere and people are just starting to try and get along with strangers to make survival possible.
They think they're safe in the cement fortress, but soon they find that they were wrong - one of them gets sick and they realize nothing is in their control.
The zombies become more aggressive and they are forced to move their home base...but to where?
They pack up what they have and head out to a land beyond repair with no clear destination. They find somewhere to stay, but again their security is false.
A larger horde of zombies is closer and is hungry for their flesh. Will they survive yet again? Or will their humanity and fear get the better of them in a diseased world?
The book is fast moving, well written, and interesting. The character's personalities are varied and you get a decent sense of each of them. The only compliant I have is that people have names that are somewhat similar (since they tend to call each other by their last name) and I sometimes got confused on who was who until I got back into the story. This might not be a problem for those who read straight through, but because of my schedule I had to stop and start a couple times. After a chapter or so, I was fine and had everyone straight.
They think they're safe in the cement fortress, but soon they find that they were wrong - one of them gets sick and they realize nothing is in their control.
The zombies become more aggressive and they are forced to move their home base...but to where?
They pack up what they have and head out to a land beyond repair with no clear destination. They find somewhere to stay, but again their security is false.
A larger horde of zombies is closer and is hungry for their flesh. Will they survive yet again? Or will their humanity and fear get the better of them in a diseased world?
The book is fast moving, well written, and interesting. The character's personalities are varied and you get a decent sense of each of them. The only compliant I have is that people have names that are somewhat similar (since they tend to call each other by their last name) and I sometimes got confused on who was who until I got back into the story. This might not be a problem for those who read straight through, but because of my schedule I had to stop and start a couple times. After a chapter or so, I was fine and had everyone straight.
July 20, 2017
Ever finish a book and say to yourself, "Whew, what a ride!" ?
That's how I feel right now.
The fourth installment in the Autumn Zombie series by David Moody, Autumn: Disintegration takes you off in an entirely new direction than the previous books. I had bemoaned the fact that my previous read in the series, billed as 3.5, told me the ending of what happened to the previous group of survivors, worried it would spoil the rest of the books for me. I was soon to discover that wasn't the case.
Though I was cranky when book two introduced new survivors instead of carrying on the original storyline, here I was thrilled. I guess that things had gone about as far as they could be taken, for me, in the other story line, and this opened up fresh new characters and perspectives in this post-apocalyptic world overrun by the living dead.
It's somehow fresh and interesting, fun and exciting, and full of action and wild suspense. It's a rocky ride, and I still get cranky when I see someone use the word "germ" as many times as this author does, and some of the characters are a little cliché, but overall it's exactly what it's meant to be: pure entertainment.
That's how I feel right now.
The fourth installment in the Autumn Zombie series by David Moody, Autumn: Disintegration takes you off in an entirely new direction than the previous books. I had bemoaned the fact that my previous read in the series, billed as 3.5, told me the ending of what happened to the previous group of survivors, worried it would spoil the rest of the books for me. I was soon to discover that wasn't the case.
Though I was cranky when book two introduced new survivors instead of carrying on the original storyline, here I was thrilled. I guess that things had gone about as far as they could be taken, for me, in the other story line, and this opened up fresh new characters and perspectives in this post-apocalyptic world overrun by the living dead.
It's somehow fresh and interesting, fun and exciting, and full of action and wild suspense. It's a rocky ride, and I still get cranky when I see someone use the word "germ" as many times as this author does, and some of the characters are a little cliché, but overall it's exactly what it's meant to be: pure entertainment.
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