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Ushers, Inc.
When the streets are full of bloodsuckers, werewolves, zombies and ghouls, where will you turn? The cops don’t know how to stop them, the Army’s pretty much given up and even the Marines are stumped when their bullets and grenades fail to stop the onslaught.Have no fear, Ushers, Inc. is here! Four high school movie ushers, who collectively have seen over 42,000 hours of B- and C-horror movies know just what to do.Did you know copper pennies can stop a zombie in its tracks? Abby Cooper, Head Usher, does.Did you know garlic paste is twice as effective on vampires as garlic cloves? Abby Cooper does.Did you know werewolves are absolutely petrified of seeing a Hershey’s kiss? Abby Cooper does.The girls at Cypress Cove High school—especially Rich Witch Mia Hopwood—call Abby an uber-geek; the victims she rescues from zombies, werewolves and vampires just call her one Hero!But Abby and her fearless crew of movie ushers-slash-superheroes face more than just bloodsuckers and brain-biters. There’s Wyatt Winters, for one; he’s the hot new PR guru Ushers, Inc. has had to hire to handle all their press – and with his smoldering good looks and air of confidence, he’s causing more than just tension between Abby and her old boy-crush—and fellow usher—Zach Nash.And let’s not forget the monsters, who aren’t too happy about four geeky ushers beating their butts all over creation. Now the League of Associated Undead (LAD) is converging on Cypress Cove, determined to stop Ushers, Inc. once and for all.When it’s the monsters versus the monster hunters, who you gonna call?Ushers, Inc., that’s who!
117 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 22, 2011
149 people want to read
About the author
Rusty Fischer
219 books333 followersRusty Fischer is the author of several YA supernatural novels, including Zombies Don't Cry, Ushers, Inc., Becca Bloom & the Drumsticks of Doom and Panty Raid @ Zombie High.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 4, 2012
Book Info: Genre: Horror Parody/Satire
Reading Level: Young Adult
Disclosure: I picked up a free copy of this book on Amazon and am happy to provide an honest review.
Synopsis: When the streets are full of bloodsuckers, werewolves, zombies and ghouls, where will you turn? The cops don’t know how to stop them, the Army’s pretty much given up and even the Marines are stumped when their bullets and grenades fail to stop the onslaught.
Have no fear, Ushers, Inc. is here! Four high school movie ushers, who collectively have seen over 42,000 hours of B- and C-horror movies know just what to do.
Did you know copper pennies can stop a zombie in its tracks? Abby Cooper, Head Usher, does.
Did you know garlic paste is twice as effective on vampires as garlic cloves? Abby Cooper does.
Did you know werewolves are absolutely petrified of seeing a Hershey’s kiss? Abby Cooper does.
The girls at Cypress Cove High school — especially Rich Witch Mia Hopwood — call Abby an uber-geek; the victims she rescues from zombies, werewolves and vampires just call her one thing: Hero!
But Abby and her fearless crew of movie ushers-slash-superheroes face more than just bloodsuckers and brain-biters. There’s Wyatt Winters, for one; he’s the hot new PR guru Ushers, Inc. has had to hire to handle all their press – and with his smoldering good looks and air of confidence, he’s causing more than just tension between Abby and her old boy-crush — and fellow usher — Zach Nash.
And let’s not forget the monsters, who aren’t too happy about four geeky ushers beating their butts all over creation. Now the League of Associated Undead (LAD) is converging on Cypress Cove, determined to stop Ushers, Inc. once and for all.
When it’s the monsters versus the monster hunters, who you gonna call?
Ushers, Inc., that’s who!
My Thoughts: I absolutely love “silly” horror stories, so when I saw this book, I knew I had to read and review it. Ushers, Inc. is way more than it looks, though – yes, it is about four misfit, orphaned, high-school students who are ushers at a local movie theater, and who all love low-grade monster movies, and yes, it’s full of zany trivia about how to defeat monsters, based upon (hopefully) made-up monster features; but it’s also about friendship, sticking together, and learning to be yourself.
It’s told through Abby’s point-of-view, and sticks to it perfectly, so all knowledge of and experience of the other characters’ personalities come through her. It works nicely. It’s a fairly short book (just over 100 pages) and therefore it moves along at a brisk pace. Fans of B movies and other low-grade creature features should enjoy this. I know I’ll be looking for other books by this guy. Check it out!
Reading Level: Young Adult
Disclosure: I picked up a free copy of this book on Amazon and am happy to provide an honest review.
Synopsis: When the streets are full of bloodsuckers, werewolves, zombies and ghouls, where will you turn? The cops don’t know how to stop them, the Army’s pretty much given up and even the Marines are stumped when their bullets and grenades fail to stop the onslaught.
Have no fear, Ushers, Inc. is here! Four high school movie ushers, who collectively have seen over 42,000 hours of B- and C-horror movies know just what to do.
Did you know copper pennies can stop a zombie in its tracks? Abby Cooper, Head Usher, does.
Did you know garlic paste is twice as effective on vampires as garlic cloves? Abby Cooper does.
Did you know werewolves are absolutely petrified of seeing a Hershey’s kiss? Abby Cooper does.
The girls at Cypress Cove High school — especially Rich Witch Mia Hopwood — call Abby an uber-geek; the victims she rescues from zombies, werewolves and vampires just call her one thing: Hero!
But Abby and her fearless crew of movie ushers-slash-superheroes face more than just bloodsuckers and brain-biters. There’s Wyatt Winters, for one; he’s the hot new PR guru Ushers, Inc. has had to hire to handle all their press – and with his smoldering good looks and air of confidence, he’s causing more than just tension between Abby and her old boy-crush — and fellow usher — Zach Nash.
And let’s not forget the monsters, who aren’t too happy about four geeky ushers beating their butts all over creation. Now the League of Associated Undead (LAD) is converging on Cypress Cove, determined to stop Ushers, Inc. once and for all.
When it’s the monsters versus the monster hunters, who you gonna call?
Ushers, Inc., that’s who!
My Thoughts: I absolutely love “silly” horror stories, so when I saw this book, I knew I had to read and review it. Ushers, Inc. is way more than it looks, though – yes, it is about four misfit, orphaned, high-school students who are ushers at a local movie theater, and who all love low-grade monster movies, and yes, it’s full of zany trivia about how to defeat monsters, based upon (hopefully) made-up monster features; but it’s also about friendship, sticking together, and learning to be yourself.
It’s told through Abby’s point-of-view, and sticks to it perfectly, so all knowledge of and experience of the other characters’ personalities come through her. It works nicely. It’s a fairly short book (just over 100 pages) and therefore it moves along at a brisk pace. Fans of B movies and other low-grade creature features should enjoy this. I know I’ll be looking for other books by this guy. Check it out!
July 2, 2011
Okay- how much can I love Rusty Fischer? I mean really?
I honestly didn't exactly know what to expect going into Ushers INC. especially after LOVING Zombies Don't Cry like so hard... Ushers INC. was absolute awesomeness! I SMILED the entire time, this is such a feel good- FUN read!
It's the year 2017 (if my math is correct so DON'T quote me dude!) and vampires, zombies, werewolves- basically all things that go bump in the night have 'come out of the closet'.
Abby, who is wonderfully sarcastic and full of awesome, Zach, Cliff and Tracy are all best friends. They work together at the theater and all live at the Merriwether House for Wayward Teens... (they're orphans)
Ushers INC starts at the end (which generally annoys the crap out of me- but it totally worked for this book!) then goes back to tell us HOW Ushers INC was formed... on a night like any other night there was a zombie outbreak in Theater 6... I HAVE NEVER laughed so hard in my freaking life.
Bottom line- I cannot explain this book in all it's hilarity and do it justice!
"Just then the werewolf roars and we cling to each other, B-movie actress style, screaming into each others ears."
"I mean, first zombies, then werewolves, now... now volleyball vampires!"
Seriously, my ENTIRE review could consist of nothing but quotes that I wrote down and loved from this book!
I honestly didn't exactly know what to expect going into Ushers INC. especially after LOVING Zombies Don't Cry like so hard... Ushers INC. was absolute awesomeness! I SMILED the entire time, this is such a feel good- FUN read!
It's the year 2017 (if my math is correct so DON'T quote me dude!) and vampires, zombies, werewolves- basically all things that go bump in the night have 'come out of the closet'.
Abby, who is wonderfully sarcastic and full of awesome, Zach, Cliff and Tracy are all best friends. They work together at the theater and all live at the Merriwether House for Wayward Teens... (they're orphans)
Ushers INC starts at the end (which generally annoys the crap out of me- but it totally worked for this book!) then goes back to tell us HOW Ushers INC was formed... on a night like any other night there was a zombie outbreak in Theater 6... I HAVE NEVER laughed so hard in my freaking life.
Bottom line- I cannot explain this book in all it's hilarity and do it justice!
"Just then the werewolf roars and we cling to each other, B-movie actress style, screaming into each others ears."
"I mean, first zombies, then werewolves, now... now volleyball vampires!"
Seriously, my ENTIRE review could consist of nothing but quotes that I wrote down and loved from this book!
August 2, 2011
First of all, I have to throw props out to Rusty Fischer...Ushers, Inc. is awesome! Great job, dude!
I read The Bookish Brunette’s review of Ushers, Inc. and KNEW I had to read it! And boy am I glad I did. The story was clever, the idea original, and I just couldn’t get enough! I read Ushers, Inc. feverishly, and rightly so. Fischer is a genius! It was like a roller coaster ride of emotions. Just when I got to catch my breath, there was another twist, and plunge, and…well, you get the idea.
Abby Cooper is the reluctant hero. I love her witty, comedic, sarcastic approach to life. Her fellow orphans/coworkers/only friends are cool, too. I really liked how they interacted and could read each other without saying anything—like brothers from another mother, sisters from another mister. I however, did have a problem with Cliff. His motives were very transparent, canned. Fischer tells us (in the last chapter) what I suspected all along about Cliff. And, well, it was a little bit teen-drama-cheesy and weak.
There are twists I didn’t see coming, and those I did. The prologue kinda gives away the ending, so if that will bother you, just skip it and read it last—turn the prologue into an epilogue! I won’t give away too much, because YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK! Trust me, don’t think, just zombie-it on over to a bookseller’s website and buy it, devour it, then smile to yourself knowing that you read one of the best books of 2011! I sure did.
Check out Rusty Fischer’s blog for more awesomeness (and some free downloads—seriously, dude, FREE awesomeness!!).
5 Stars: unadulterated awesomeness!!!! Looking forward to reading Fischer’s other works!
Many Adventures,
Richard
*This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review*
I read The Bookish Brunette’s review of Ushers, Inc. and KNEW I had to read it! And boy am I glad I did. The story was clever, the idea original, and I just couldn’t get enough! I read Ushers, Inc. feverishly, and rightly so. Fischer is a genius! It was like a roller coaster ride of emotions. Just when I got to catch my breath, there was another twist, and plunge, and…well, you get the idea.
Abby Cooper is the reluctant hero. I love her witty, comedic, sarcastic approach to life. Her fellow orphans/coworkers/only friends are cool, too. I really liked how they interacted and could read each other without saying anything—like brothers from another mother, sisters from another mister. I however, did have a problem with Cliff. His motives were very transparent, canned. Fischer tells us (in the last chapter) what I suspected all along about Cliff. And, well, it was a little bit teen-drama-cheesy and weak.
There are twists I didn’t see coming, and those I did. The prologue kinda gives away the ending, so if that will bother you, just skip it and read it last—turn the prologue into an epilogue! I won’t give away too much, because YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK! Trust me, don’t think, just zombie-it on over to a bookseller’s website and buy it, devour it, then smile to yourself knowing that you read one of the best books of 2011! I sure did.
Check out Rusty Fischer’s blog for more awesomeness (and some free downloads—seriously, dude, FREE awesomeness!!).
5 Stars: unadulterated awesomeness!!!! Looking forward to reading Fischer’s other works!
Many Adventures,
Richard
*This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review*
February 13, 2022
First tip: Don't read the prologue if you don't want spoilers! Yes, it offers a cute little preview of the fun and excitement that is to come, but it also reveals the outcome of the final chapter. So, trust me on this one, just start on chapter one and if you're not instantly hooked, just wait until chapter four—that's when the real action starts.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, I'd recommend this to anyone who's a fan of cheesy horror movies, monster movies, werewolves, vampires, zombies, sassy heroines, or YA. This is a light-hearted, action-packed, monster-slaying story sprinkled with just a touch of teen romance that is sure to entertain readers of all ages. Language and gore are kept PG at the most, and romance is nothing above a kiss or two, so though it features high-schoolers, I'd definitely recommend it for the younger teens, too. And while this is finished as a stand-alone novel, I certainly wouldn't mind seeing a second, third or even 27th installment down the line!
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, I'd recommend this to anyone who's a fan of cheesy horror movies, monster movies, werewolves, vampires, zombies, sassy heroines, or YA. This is a light-hearted, action-packed, monster-slaying story sprinkled with just a touch of teen romance that is sure to entertain readers of all ages. Language and gore are kept PG at the most, and romance is nothing above a kiss or two, so though it features high-schoolers, I'd definitely recommend it for the younger teens, too. And while this is finished as a stand-alone novel, I certainly wouldn't mind seeing a second, third or even 27th installment down the line!
Approximate Reading Time: 2.5 hours
February 29, 2012
This may be one of the cheesiest, funniest, and coolest stories I’ve read in the past few months. This is such a fun read!
Basically the monsters we’ve come to know and love are all out in the open and are common knowledge, and all the corny stuff you see in those horrible B-rated horror flicks become facts. I remember reading the description of this and wrinkling my nose, I mean zombies and pennies?! Where did that come from? In the end I downloaded it anyway because something about just kept making it pop into my head, and I am so glad I did. It’s such a creative take on monster hunting and it’s totally fun to read. It’s kind of one of those books that make you want to tell someone how crazy it is. I can also tell you it’s one of those books that you immediately try to find something similar to it, sooo I spent a good hour and half perusing terrible movies.
The characters are pretty funny and in their own ways, kick-butt. Abby is pretty sarcastic and a very reluctant hero at first, and I totally don’t blame her at all. Zach and Tracy are great side characters and add their own little flair to the mix, and then there is Cliff…who stands out just as much as Abby but in a completely different way. I did not like Cliff, I understood him and even felt for him but I just couldn’t like him. Not until close to the end anyway. The monsters they face are fairly standard in the way they behave and look but not so much in the way they are taken down, I mean some of this stuff is just plain McGyver stuff. (If you don’t know who McGyver is try watching some videos on Youtube, or this one of his daring coffin escape)
The beginning starts off a little odd, but that’s only because it actually starts with the end and then Abby does a flashback kind of thing to get to where the story truly begins for them. The writing is pretty smooth and has a playful quality to it. This isn’t a story you can take seriously and you definitely shouldn’t try. I am a little peeved though, and it’s no fault of the story’s or Fischers…I just kind of want another book dealing with Abby and the Ushers. I’m not sure if there will ever be a series but on the off chance there ever is more I will certainty buy it.
This is my first Rusty Fischer novel and I love his style, I picked up two more of his books on Amazon and I can’t wait to get to them.
Basically the monsters we’ve come to know and love are all out in the open and are common knowledge, and all the corny stuff you see in those horrible B-rated horror flicks become facts. I remember reading the description of this and wrinkling my nose, I mean zombies and pennies?! Where did that come from? In the end I downloaded it anyway because something about just kept making it pop into my head, and I am so glad I did. It’s such a creative take on monster hunting and it’s totally fun to read. It’s kind of one of those books that make you want to tell someone how crazy it is. I can also tell you it’s one of those books that you immediately try to find something similar to it, sooo I spent a good hour and half perusing terrible movies.
The characters are pretty funny and in their own ways, kick-butt. Abby is pretty sarcastic and a very reluctant hero at first, and I totally don’t blame her at all. Zach and Tracy are great side characters and add their own little flair to the mix, and then there is Cliff…who stands out just as much as Abby but in a completely different way. I did not like Cliff, I understood him and even felt for him but I just couldn’t like him. Not until close to the end anyway. The monsters they face are fairly standard in the way they behave and look but not so much in the way they are taken down, I mean some of this stuff is just plain McGyver stuff. (If you don’t know who McGyver is try watching some videos on Youtube, or this one of his daring coffin escape)
The beginning starts off a little odd, but that’s only because it actually starts with the end and then Abby does a flashback kind of thing to get to where the story truly begins for them. The writing is pretty smooth and has a playful quality to it. This isn’t a story you can take seriously and you definitely shouldn’t try. I am a little peeved though, and it’s no fault of the story’s or Fischers…I just kind of want another book dealing with Abby and the Ushers. I’m not sure if there will ever be a series but on the off chance there ever is more I will certainty buy it.
This is my first Rusty Fischer novel and I love his style, I picked up two more of his books on Amazon and I can’t wait to get to them.
April 24, 2012
I love B-grade horror movies - you know the ones, where you spend most of the movie shouting ''don't go in the basement'' at the screen, or rolling your eyes whilst muttering ''yeah the pretty one dies first, EVERY time'' and there's nothing I like better than making up a whole lot of salty, buttered popcorn and curling up in my pyjamas whilst watching them.
Ushers, Inc. is written like a B-grade horror movie - and it's just as entertaining. The main character, Abby is sarcy, geeky and pretty damn clued up when it comes to vampires, zombies and werewolves - working as an usher with access to all those free movies has taught her, and her friends well.
Mr. Fischer writes a damn good, funny story and the sarcasm and one liners are fabulous:
''It smells putrid, like sixteen-day-old dumpster drool on crack''
''his massive man boobs jiggling like some x-rated theater usher peep show''
So next time you're off to fight some zombies, werewolves or vampires (or werevombies!), don't forget your roll of pennies, cheap watch battery and garlic lasso. Don't get what I mean? Read Ushers, Inc. and find out!
Read more of my reviews at The Aussie Zombie
Ushers, Inc. is written like a B-grade horror movie - and it's just as entertaining. The main character, Abby is sarcy, geeky and pretty damn clued up when it comes to vampires, zombies and werewolves - working as an usher with access to all those free movies has taught her, and her friends well.
Mr. Fischer writes a damn good, funny story and the sarcasm and one liners are fabulous:
''It smells putrid, like sixteen-day-old dumpster drool on crack''
''his massive man boobs jiggling like some x-rated theater usher peep show''
So next time you're off to fight some zombies, werewolves or vampires (or werevombies!), don't forget your roll of pennies, cheap watch battery and garlic lasso. Don't get what I mean? Read Ushers, Inc. and find out!
Read more of my reviews at The Aussie Zombie
September 8, 2011
This was a fun novella that really put a smile on my face.
The premise of the book is delightfully bizarre and it works really well. I had trouble in a couple of places deciding what was past and what was present, since the narration jumped a little between the two early on and it wasn't always 100% clear. But once that settled down, I really got into the story.
Having already read Zombies Don't Cry, I was pleased to see a continuation of some of the rules of that world and there was the same zany humour and sense of fun. The characters were quirky and well presented and you did come to care for them even though it is only a fairly short story.
I worried as the pages ticked down that the ending would be a little rushed, but in actual fact it worked really well as it was fast-paced, action-packed and tied up all the loose ends nicely.
This book is a rollicking ride of monster mayhem and is well worth checking out.
I received this book as a free e-book via a blog giveaway.
The premise of the book is delightfully bizarre and it works really well. I had trouble in a couple of places deciding what was past and what was present, since the narration jumped a little between the two early on and it wasn't always 100% clear. But once that settled down, I really got into the story.
Having already read Zombies Don't Cry, I was pleased to see a continuation of some of the rules of that world and there was the same zany humour and sense of fun. The characters were quirky and well presented and you did come to care for them even though it is only a fairly short story.
I worried as the pages ticked down that the ending would be a little rushed, but in actual fact it worked really well as it was fast-paced, action-packed and tied up all the loose ends nicely.
This book is a rollicking ride of monster mayhem and is well worth checking out.
I received this book as a free e-book via a blog giveaway.
February 23, 2012
I had to change my rating to 4 stars!! Its such a fun quirky read that it deserves 4 stars at least. It had me laughing out loud at parts and cringing in others. It reminds me of those old horror movies where they are cringe worthy but you love them none the less.
October 30, 2011
Reviewed by Autumn. 4.5 stars at Fic-Talk.com
You probably expected this review to come from Heather. To be honest, so did I. I’ve been into Vampire-centric stories for a while now, but haven’t ventured into Zombie stories. It always seemed like Zombie stories were more gruesome – which is not the type of book I’m into. Although I scare myself by watching Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures at home, that’s about as scary as I go. No Saw XXXV for me! Rusty contacted us about reviewing Ushers, Inc., and I immediately thought of Heather. The cover and description looked fun and not too serious, so I contacted Rusty about getting a copy of my own. Thankfully he obliged and I finally found time to sneak Ushers, Inc. into my reading schedule.
And boy, oh, boy, I’m really glad I did! Ushers, Inc. is a fun and surprisingly lighthearted story of four teens who are orphaned and live at the Meriwether Home for Wayward Boys and Girls.
Doesn’t exactly sound like Zombie material, does it?
After the “Great Werewolf Roundup of 2010″ Zombies, Vampires, Werewolves, and monsters in general are “out of the closet” and every now and then try to snack on humans. Seven years later, Abby lives with Zach, Tracy, and Cliff at the home. Abby is awesomely sarcastic and has a huge crush on Zach. Here’s an example of the awesomeness of Abby.
Cliff is literally jumping up and down on the candy counter now, his massive man-boobs jiggling like some X-rated theater usher peep show that is sooooo not turning me on in the slightest.
Tracy is pretty damn wonderful too.
“I’ve seen white people before, but this girl’s almost see through.”
They all work together at Flickers Cinemas as ushers. They love all the horrible B movies that the theater features and they also get to screen them. Whether they realize it or not, they’ve learned how to kill Zombies, Vampires, and Werewolves while at their job. Their skills come in handy during one night at the theater when a Werewolf attacks and kills the Assistant Manager. A news crew interviews them and Cliff pimps them out. Soon enough they’re dubbed “Ushers, Inc.” and they have a publicist, an 900 number, and small business getting rid of the undead.
Maybe if Cliff hadn’t been an attention seeker Ushers, Inc. could’ve flown under the radar. With the spotlight on them, you know it’s only a matter of time before one of the undead goes after them. And during it all, Abby just wants Zach to ask her to the Fall Formal.
Ah, he does care if I get torn limb from limb by a blood-crazed werewolf. How sweet!
First off, I must admit that I’m not used to reading first person present tense point of view. Personally I find writing in first person past tense to be the easiest, but often read third person past tense (The Black Dagger Brotherhood). It took me maybe a chapter to get used to the idea of how the character sounded. There was a few times where I edited things in my head because of it. I had to keep telling myself to knock it off! The ending was also not what I expected or maybe even hoping for. I’m still conflicted whether or not I like that Rusty didn’t go the cliche route. I’m also slightly disappointed in the prologue. It didn’t ruin the book for me, but I honestly think it should have been left out. It gave away too much of the ending before you even got to the first chapter. I thought the prologue should’ve actually been more about monsters “coming out of the closet” or something else along those lines.
Overall though, I really enjoyed Ushers, Inc.. It was a quick, fun, and enjoyable read. I look forward to reading more from Rusty Fischer.
You probably expected this review to come from Heather. To be honest, so did I. I’ve been into Vampire-centric stories for a while now, but haven’t ventured into Zombie stories. It always seemed like Zombie stories were more gruesome – which is not the type of book I’m into. Although I scare myself by watching Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures at home, that’s about as scary as I go. No Saw XXXV for me! Rusty contacted us about reviewing Ushers, Inc., and I immediately thought of Heather. The cover and description looked fun and not too serious, so I contacted Rusty about getting a copy of my own. Thankfully he obliged and I finally found time to sneak Ushers, Inc. into my reading schedule.
And boy, oh, boy, I’m really glad I did! Ushers, Inc. is a fun and surprisingly lighthearted story of four teens who are orphaned and live at the Meriwether Home for Wayward Boys and Girls.
Doesn’t exactly sound like Zombie material, does it?
After the “Great Werewolf Roundup of 2010″ Zombies, Vampires, Werewolves, and monsters in general are “out of the closet” and every now and then try to snack on humans. Seven years later, Abby lives with Zach, Tracy, and Cliff at the home. Abby is awesomely sarcastic and has a huge crush on Zach. Here’s an example of the awesomeness of Abby.
Cliff is literally jumping up and down on the candy counter now, his massive man-boobs jiggling like some X-rated theater usher peep show that is sooooo not turning me on in the slightest.
Tracy is pretty damn wonderful too.
“I’ve seen white people before, but this girl’s almost see through.”
They all work together at Flickers Cinemas as ushers. They love all the horrible B movies that the theater features and they also get to screen them. Whether they realize it or not, they’ve learned how to kill Zombies, Vampires, and Werewolves while at their job. Their skills come in handy during one night at the theater when a Werewolf attacks and kills the Assistant Manager. A news crew interviews them and Cliff pimps them out. Soon enough they’re dubbed “Ushers, Inc.” and they have a publicist, an 900 number, and small business getting rid of the undead.
Maybe if Cliff hadn’t been an attention seeker Ushers, Inc. could’ve flown under the radar. With the spotlight on them, you know it’s only a matter of time before one of the undead goes after them. And during it all, Abby just wants Zach to ask her to the Fall Formal.
Ah, he does care if I get torn limb from limb by a blood-crazed werewolf. How sweet!
First off, I must admit that I’m not used to reading first person present tense point of view. Personally I find writing in first person past tense to be the easiest, but often read third person past tense (The Black Dagger Brotherhood). It took me maybe a chapter to get used to the idea of how the character sounded. There was a few times where I edited things in my head because of it. I had to keep telling myself to knock it off! The ending was also not what I expected or maybe even hoping for. I’m still conflicted whether or not I like that Rusty didn’t go the cliche route. I’m also slightly disappointed in the prologue. It didn’t ruin the book for me, but I honestly think it should have been left out. It gave away too much of the ending before you even got to the first chapter. I thought the prologue should’ve actually been more about monsters “coming out of the closet” or something else along those lines.
Overall though, I really enjoyed Ushers, Inc.. It was a quick, fun, and enjoyable read. I look forward to reading more from Rusty Fischer.
August 20, 2011
More reviews at http://readerpants.blogspot.com
WHAT I LIKED: I would say 3.5 stars for this one. I just love Rusty Fischer's conversational, campy writing style. I've read two of Fischer's books (the other was Zombies Don't Cry), and both are laugh-out-loud funny. Who wouldn't love zombies in blue tuxes?
The ending rounds out nicely, and all loose ends tie up neatly. Fans of B-movie monster flicks will find a kindred spirit in Rusty Fischer and will no doubt love Ushers, Inc.
As with ZDC, I am going to applaud (male author) Rusty Fischer's uncanny knack for writing so brilliantly in a teen girl's voice. Fischer captures sixteen year-old Abby's voice believably enough for me to question the reality of Fischer's author profile. I'm beginning to wonder if Rusty Fischer isn't an alias for some emo-goth high school girl from Nowhere, USA. You can't fool me, Rusty Fischer!
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: While it certainly kept me laughing, I was not as engaged in Ushers, Inc. as I was when I read Zombies Don't Cry. I don't know if Ushers, Inc. was too similar to ZDC, or if I just had higher expectations because I loved ZDC so much. Ushers was good, and zombie readers will definitely want to read it; I just wasn't as dazzled with this one.
FRONT COVER: Meh. I don't think the front cover does much to entice readers. Is that Shia LaBeouf?
CONTENT:
Language: mild; a few sprinkled throughout
Sexuality: mild; some chaste zombie-vampire kissing
Violence: medium; it's a zombie/vampire/werewolf book, so of course there will be death and gore. Fischer manages to pull off the gore tastefully (so to speak) and with plenty of B-movie humor.
Drugs/Alcohol: none
STATUS IN MY LIBRARY: We don't have it, but I will get it if/when it comes out in print. Right now, it looks like it is only available in e-book format, which my MS library does not yet support.
WHAT I LIKED: I would say 3.5 stars for this one. I just love Rusty Fischer's conversational, campy writing style. I've read two of Fischer's books (the other was Zombies Don't Cry), and both are laugh-out-loud funny. Who wouldn't love zombies in blue tuxes?
The ending rounds out nicely, and all loose ends tie up neatly. Fans of B-movie monster flicks will find a kindred spirit in Rusty Fischer and will no doubt love Ushers, Inc.
As with ZDC, I am going to applaud (male author) Rusty Fischer's uncanny knack for writing so brilliantly in a teen girl's voice. Fischer captures sixteen year-old Abby's voice believably enough for me to question the reality of Fischer's author profile. I'm beginning to wonder if Rusty Fischer isn't an alias for some emo-goth high school girl from Nowhere, USA. You can't fool me, Rusty Fischer!
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: While it certainly kept me laughing, I was not as engaged in Ushers, Inc. as I was when I read Zombies Don't Cry. I don't know if Ushers, Inc. was too similar to ZDC, or if I just had higher expectations because I loved ZDC so much. Ushers was good, and zombie readers will definitely want to read it; I just wasn't as dazzled with this one.
FRONT COVER: Meh. I don't think the front cover does much to entice readers. Is that Shia LaBeouf?
CONTENT:
Language: mild; a few sprinkled throughout
Sexuality: mild; some chaste zombie-vampire kissing
Violence: medium; it's a zombie/vampire/werewolf book, so of course there will be death and gore. Fischer manages to pull off the gore tastefully (so to speak) and with plenty of B-movie humor.
Drugs/Alcohol: none
STATUS IN MY LIBRARY: We don't have it, but I will get it if/when it comes out in print. Right now, it looks like it is only available in e-book format, which my MS library does not yet support.
December 16, 2014
I finished this book in one sitting! Party because it's super short, but also because it's super fun! In Ushers, Inc we meet Abby, Zach, Tracy, and Cliff: four orphaned, horror movie fans, working at the local Cinema. After fighting off a zombie invasion, the quartet are all over the news and their new business of fighting the undead begins. Abby is a bit reluctant about this at first, but Cliff pretty much takes over and gets everything started. Cliff is such a jerk! I loved to hate him, because without him there wouldn't have been any Ushers, Inc.
Abby is kickass and steps up when she's need and takes care of business. Zach and Tracy are great side characters, as well as Mia and Wyatt!
Ushers, Inc is action packed, humorous, completely original, and kept me hooked! It's like Scooby-Doo meets Fright Night and they go hang out at the nearest movie theater. This was my first book by Rusty Fischer and it definitely will not be my last! This book does not take itself seriously at all, and I really appreciate that. At the end I had a huge smile on my face, since I had such a good time reading it. And that's the whole point of reading, right?
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
Abby is kickass and steps up when she's need and takes care of business. Zach and Tracy are great side characters, as well as Mia and Wyatt!
Ushers, Inc is action packed, humorous, completely original, and kept me hooked! It's like Scooby-Doo meets Fright Night and they go hang out at the nearest movie theater. This was my first book by Rusty Fischer and it definitely will not be my last! This book does not take itself seriously at all, and I really appreciate that. At the end I had a huge smile on my face, since I had such a good time reading it. And that's the whole point of reading, right?
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
July 29, 2011
I loved this campy story of B flick monsters. Zombies, Vampires, and Werewolves, Oh my! The main plot of movie ushers who kick monster butt is just fun. I had a good time reading about old lady zombies, a farm wife werewolf, and volleyball vampires.
There are four friends who work together at Flickers Cinemas and live together at the Meriwether Home for Wayward Boys and Girls. The four of them like to watch B flick monster movies. All the knowledge they gain from watching these movies comes in handy. The story is told from the point of view of Abby, a member of Ushers, Inc. She tells about how the whole business got started. There are monsters living amongst the population. Abby and company happen to take on a small zombie uprising at the movie theater. After taking care of the zombies Ushers, Inc. is formed and the story goes on from there.
This book had the right amount of humor to make this an amusing read. The characters drive the storyline and keep the humor and campiness coming. I recommend this book for an enjoyable escape from the normal into the paranormal.
*I did receive a copy from the author for an honest review
There are four friends who work together at Flickers Cinemas and live together at the Meriwether Home for Wayward Boys and Girls. The four of them like to watch B flick monster movies. All the knowledge they gain from watching these movies comes in handy. The story is told from the point of view of Abby, a member of Ushers, Inc. She tells about how the whole business got started. There are monsters living amongst the population. Abby and company happen to take on a small zombie uprising at the movie theater. After taking care of the zombies Ushers, Inc. is formed and the story goes on from there.
This book had the right amount of humor to make this an amusing read. The characters drive the storyline and keep the humor and campiness coming. I recommend this book for an enjoyable escape from the normal into the paranormal.
*I did receive a copy from the author for an honest review
October 11, 2011
I received this book for review from the author. I did not receive any compensation for my review, and the views expressed herein are my own.
I love cheesy B-horror movies, and this book is like a cheesy B-horror movie in print!
Ushers, Inc. is about four teenagers (who are also all orphans that live together at the Meriwether Home for Wayward Boys and Girls – love that name!) who work as ushers in a movie theatre. In their world, the undead (zombies, werewolves, and vampires) are real. These kids live and breathe cheesy horror movies (having watched them all in the theatre), and they know all the tricks. When word gets out that these ushers know how to kick some paranormal butt, they become small-town celebrities. The bad news is that this unfortunately brings unwanted attention from the League of Associated Undead who wants to eliminate them.
Fischer does a very convincing job writing as a teen girl. Abby is one tough chick! I liked her character very much!
Fans of cheesy B-horror movies will enjoy this book, as well as teens. It was a fun read!
MY RATING: 3 stars! It was good! I enjoyed it!!
I love cheesy B-horror movies, and this book is like a cheesy B-horror movie in print!
Ushers, Inc. is about four teenagers (who are also all orphans that live together at the Meriwether Home for Wayward Boys and Girls – love that name!) who work as ushers in a movie theatre. In their world, the undead (zombies, werewolves, and vampires) are real. These kids live and breathe cheesy horror movies (having watched them all in the theatre), and they know all the tricks. When word gets out that these ushers know how to kick some paranormal butt, they become small-town celebrities. The bad news is that this unfortunately brings unwanted attention from the League of Associated Undead who wants to eliminate them.
Fischer does a very convincing job writing as a teen girl. Abby is one tough chick! I liked her character very much!
Fans of cheesy B-horror movies will enjoy this book, as well as teens. It was a fun read!
MY RATING: 3 stars! It was good! I enjoyed it!!
September 8, 2013
'Ushers Inc.' is the story of four friends working as ushers in a movie theatre that screens B-movies. Supernatural creatures aren't confined to the movies however, as is soon discovered when narrator Abby is sent to deal with a werewolf.
I got a bit mixed up at the start before I realised the story had begun at the end and then went back, but aside from that I got into it very easily and enjoyed every minute of it.
I loved main character Abby's narration. Fischer writes convincing teen characters who are interesting, easy to sympathise with, and a lot of fun to read about.
This book is pure entertainment; it's fun, it's fast-paced, and it is completely hilarious. It was kind of like a book version of a B-movie, only funnier! I think anyone who loves those movies will enjoy this book, as well as fans of YA paranormal.
I got a bit mixed up at the start before I realised the story had begun at the end and then went back, but aside from that I got into it very easily and enjoyed every minute of it.
I loved main character Abby's narration. Fischer writes convincing teen characters who are interesting, easy to sympathise with, and a lot of fun to read about.
This book is pure entertainment; it's fun, it's fast-paced, and it is completely hilarious. It was kind of like a book version of a B-movie, only funnier! I think anyone who loves those movies will enjoy this book, as well as fans of YA paranormal.
November 15, 2011
This was a surprisingly good book. I'll admit that I was slightly lost at first as to why there were so many monsters roaming around and why people considered it completely normal, but you get over it. Abby is a great character, quirky, brave and head-over-heels in love. Zach is a good character too and their chemistry is fun, cheesy and will make you smile. The relaxed first-person narrative really sucks you into Abby's world, even without a lot of depth to the plotline. All in all, there is a lot in it about zombies, werewolves and vampires. It almost feels like a B-rate movie in itself, which is always fun and lighthearted. Definitely worth some good laughs and smiles.
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August 14, 2014
This book is good, I loved it; has a lot of Supernatural characters in it so if you like zombies, and werewolves and vampire this book is for you! Rusty Fisher is a great author. You should read this book if you like funny, scary, and cheesy books all at the same time. Although the chapters are small especially the last few chapters! I finished the book in 2 days, so a short read. Overall I loved the book.
August 27, 2011
In A Nutshell:
If you like zombie, werewolf and vampire stories that still have the undead being bad, but with plenty of humour and sarcasm thrown in, then Ushers INC is for you.
For my full review please visit my blog:
http://www.thetalescompendium.com/201...
If you like zombie, werewolf and vampire stories that still have the undead being bad, but with plenty of humour and sarcasm thrown in, then Ushers INC is for you.
For my full review please visit my blog:
http://www.thetalescompendium.com/201...
November 20, 2012
After reading Fischer's "Zombies Don't Cry" I picked this one up too. It wasn't bad, I just wasn't pulled into it. It read like a Spielberg screen play, reminded me of "Goonies". I do rate books low, so you could look at this being a 3 out of 5 stars for a less critical reader.
October 3, 2012
This is such a fun read! The characters and the B-grade monsters are awesome, not to mention the B movies. My only complaint is Rusty Fischer always leaves me wanting more. Then again, I am sure that would not sound like a complaint to Mr. Fischer. :) Bring on more monsters!
August 18, 2011
Okay, this book rocked. Cheesy Horror/monster movie fans rejoice. This is the book for you! And honestly anyone who likes fun Urban Fantasy. Looking forward to more in this series.
September 6, 2011
Really enjoyed it. Wish Goodreads had half stars because this is a 4.5 definitely. It was a fun, quick read. More in depth review on fic-talk.com
Want to read
February 5, 2012Kindle free download 2/5/12.
February 7, 2012
This book redeemed itself at the end, although I still spent the majority of the book being annoyed at the various characters.
March 11, 2013
Will review later
December 15, 2013
A fun short tailor made for the kind of people who seek out movies with titles like "my zombie bride," "vampire bikini squad" and "a teenage American werwolf in Argentina, part 6"
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March 7, 20202usher you tomorrow morning at the end up play fighting for him straight and narrow down the way travels travels travels to go sleep baby girl is fine too many people have been in school
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2021
This book is a fucking trainwreck (affectionate). It's very obviously not meant to be taken seriously and I think that's what makes it so good
October 11, 2014
Was originally posted on Paranormal Sisters: http://paranormalsisters.blogspot.com...
Abby Cooper is no damsel in distress and it's badass! Though, I do wish her love interest wasn't quite a wimp and practically shoved her in front of him all the time to take care of the monsters, kind of lost the manliness for me but it was really cool that the roles were switched and Abby was truly a Heroine!
In this world supernatural beings are known and Ushers, Inc. was created on the whim when Abby and her friends saved the town of an upcoming zombie attack within the theater. From watching thousand's of hours of B horror movies her and her friends know how to take care of the beast that roam the night. And the ways are very creative! From pennies sucking the energy out of zombies to garlic covered ropes, and small watch batteries to stop someone into shifting Abby and her friends become number one on the supernatural council's hit list. All thanks to her friend Cliff.
In the beginning I really did like Cliff but his character changed when him and his friends got in the spotlight. After the zombie attack and the news crews were interviewing him, he created Usher, Inc. Though he created it he sure was not a team player. He stood on the side lines while everyone did the dirty work (mainly Abby) and made decisions for the group like bring in a couple of popular kids, because attractive people sell (that scene of Cliff explaining this to Abby and Tracy was pretty funny haha).
Overall this is a fun short b movie-like read with a ton of supernatural adventures! I enjoyed it but since I've been wanting to read this for years now my expectations have built over time and I was a little bit let down. Though it's just a fun read and the monsters aren't really meant to be taken serious, I kind of wished they were a little bit scarier. Sometimes I felt it was just too easy for Abby and the gang to take them down and I know that's the style of b movie horror creatures. Like, the monsters were cool and the scenes were intense but I thought they were slow and Abby had too many easy moves to take them down. Like, wouldn't a vampire be a bit more quicker than letting her string up an arrow to shoot at them? But this should be all in fun, not a serious read and I really did enjoy it!
The beginning hooks you and the ending was the cherry on top. There's some twist and turns, and though I felt like they were coming when it was happening, I still enjoyed them nonetheless. I absolutely love Rusty Fischer's fun storylines so of course I'll be reading more from him. I hope to be reading either Zombies Don't Cry or Vamplayers for the holiday!
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