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This Dark Earth
The land is contaminated , electronics are defunct , the ravenous undead remain, and life has fallen into a nasty and brutish state of nature. Welcome to Bridge City, in what was once part medieval fortress, part Western outpost, and the precarious last stand for civilization. A ten-year-old prodigy when the world ended, Gus is now a battle-hardened young man. He designed Bridge City to protect the living few from the shamblers eternally at the gates. Now he's being groomed by his physician mother, Lucy, and the gentle giant Knock-Out to become the next leader of men. But an army of slavers is on its way, and the war they'll wage for the city's resources could mean the end of mankind as we know it.
Can Gus become humanity's savior? And if so, will it mean becoming a dictator, a martyr . . . or maybe something far worse than even the zombies that plague the land?
Can Gus become humanity's savior? And if so, will it mean becoming a dictator, a martyr . . . or maybe something far worse than even the zombies that plague the land?
352 pages, Paperback
First published July 3, 2012
25 people are currently reading
1518 people want to read
About the author
John Hornor Jacobs
24 books757 followersJohn Hornor Jacobs, is an award-winning author of genre bending adult and YA fiction and a partner and senior art director at a Little Rock, Arkansas advertising agency, Cranford Co. His first novel, Southern Gods, was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for Excellence in a First Novel and won the Darrel Award. The Onion AV said of the book, “A sumptuous Southern Gothic thriller steeped in the distinct American mythologies of Cthulhu and the blues . . . Southern Gods beautifully probes the eerie, horror-infested underbelly of the South.”His second novel, This Dark Earth, Brian Keene described as “…quite simply, the best zombie novel I’ve read in years” and was published by Simon & Schuster’s Gallery imprint. Jacobs’s acclaimed series of novels for young adults beginning with The Twelve-Fingered Boy, continuing with The Shibboleth, and ending with The Conformity has been hailed by Cory Doctorow on BoingBoing as “amazing” and “mesmerizing.”Jacobs’s first fantasy novel, The Incorruptibles, was nominated for the Morningstar and Gemmell Awards in the UK. Pat Rothfuss has said of this book, “One part ancient Rome, two parts wild west, one part Faust. A pinch of Tolkien, of Lovecraft, of Dante. This is strange alchemy, a recipe I’ve never seen before. I wish more books were as fresh and brave as this.”His fiction has appeared in Playboy Magazine, Cemetery Dance, Apex Magazine and his essay have been featured on CBS Weekly and Huffington Post.Books:Southern Gods – (Night Shade Books, 2011)
This Dark Earth – (Simon & Schuster, 2012)
The Twelve-Fingered Boy – (Lerner, 2013)
The Shibboleth – (Lerner, 2013)
The Conformity – (Lerner, 2014)
The Incorruptibles – (Hachette/Gollancz, 2014)
Foreign Devils – (Hachette/Gollancz, 2015)
Infernal Machines – (Hachette/Gollancz, 2017)
The Sea Dreams It Is The Sky – (HarperCollins / Harper Voyager, October 2018)
A Lush and Seething Hell – (HarperCollins / Harper Voyager, October 2019)
Murder Ballads and Other Horrific Tales – (JournalStone, 2020)
This Dark Earth – (Simon & Schuster, 2012)
The Twelve-Fingered Boy – (Lerner, 2013)
The Shibboleth – (Lerner, 2013)
The Conformity – (Lerner, 2014)
The Incorruptibles – (Hachette/Gollancz, 2014)
Foreign Devils – (Hachette/Gollancz, 2015)
Infernal Machines – (Hachette/Gollancz, 2017)
The Sea Dreams It Is The Sky – (HarperCollins / Harper Voyager, October 2018)
A Lush and Seething Hell – (HarperCollins / Harper Voyager, October 2019)
Murder Ballads and Other Horrific Tales – (JournalStone, 2020)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
December 16, 2012
I picked this book up not because I'm a fan of a good zombie book (even though I am), but solely on the strength of the reviews of his debut novel Southern Gods.
No, I haven't read it, but I will now.
This Dark Earth takes us from the beginning of the zombie apocalypse through the early development of a new civilization. Not treading a whole lot of new ground here are we?
And I think that's what's blowing me a way with this book is that it's nothing new, but at the same time it felt fresh and vibrant and I COULD NOT put it down. I guess that shows what kind of writing chops this author has.
We start out following Doc Lucy Ingersol's point of view as the first of the outbreak begins to show up in the hospital in which she works. The waiting room breaks out in what I can only compare to Draculas. All hell breaks loose.
She gets away, barely, and luckily gets picked up by a trucker who goes by the name of Knock Out...just as the world is being blown to smithereens, or just well-placed nukes in every major city.
While this isn't a whole lot different from the normal zombie fair, I can say he does a few things differently, at least in my limited experience. The first, is the entire set up of the novel. It's only made up of 7 chapters, each, for the most part, is a different character and in first person. They're all interconnected somehow and thus, you're able to get really close to each of the main characters.
The second thing is that you can't trust what will happen with these characters. Obviously, this is a zombie novel and of course no one's really safe...but then, The Walking Dead still has most of the main characters, even Carl...wait...where's Carl!?!?!
Speaking of The Walking Dead, if you're a fan of the show, I think you'll really connect with this book. Some of the same themes show up here, such as the need to avoid cities with their huge populations.
The back cover of the book has a quote from S.G. Browne that says this book is The Road meets World War Z. While I haven't read WWZ, I have read The Road and I can kind of see where he's coming from. The people who have survived at 3 years out are some of the nastiest around. There are good people granted, but where would the fun be if only those existed.
While this book is much more on the pulp end of things, I can definitely see that this comparison makes sense. There are some truly poignant events that occur that had my emotions running high. I can also say that I don't think I've read anything more brutal than what happens to one of the characters and the whole time it felt like I was going through it.
On that note, this book definitely isn't for the faint of heart. Lots of blood and guts fill the pages, not to mention some other uncomely acts.
All in all, if you're going to read a zombie book, I'd recommend you read This Dark Earth. Once you start, you won't be able to put it down anyway, so start now.
4 out of 5 Stars (Highly Recommended)
No, I haven't read it, but I will now.
This Dark Earth takes us from the beginning of the zombie apocalypse through the early development of a new civilization. Not treading a whole lot of new ground here are we?
And I think that's what's blowing me a way with this book is that it's nothing new, but at the same time it felt fresh and vibrant and I COULD NOT put it down. I guess that shows what kind of writing chops this author has.
We start out following Doc Lucy Ingersol's point of view as the first of the outbreak begins to show up in the hospital in which she works. The waiting room breaks out in what I can only compare to Draculas. All hell breaks loose.
She gets away, barely, and luckily gets picked up by a trucker who goes by the name of Knock Out...just as the world is being blown to smithereens, or just well-placed nukes in every major city.
While this isn't a whole lot different from the normal zombie fair, I can say he does a few things differently, at least in my limited experience. The first, is the entire set up of the novel. It's only made up of 7 chapters, each, for the most part, is a different character and in first person. They're all interconnected somehow and thus, you're able to get really close to each of the main characters.
The second thing is that you can't trust what will happen with these characters. Obviously, this is a zombie novel and of course no one's really safe...but then, The Walking Dead still has most of the main characters, even Carl...wait...where's Carl!?!?!
Speaking of The Walking Dead, if you're a fan of the show, I think you'll really connect with this book. Some of the same themes show up here, such as the need to avoid cities with their huge populations.
The back cover of the book has a quote from S.G. Browne that says this book is The Road meets World War Z. While I haven't read WWZ, I have read The Road and I can kind of see where he's coming from. The people who have survived at 3 years out are some of the nastiest around. There are good people granted, but where would the fun be if only those existed.
While this book is much more on the pulp end of things, I can definitely see that this comparison makes sense. There are some truly poignant events that occur that had my emotions running high. I can also say that I don't think I've read anything more brutal than what happens to one of the characters and the whole time it felt like I was going through it.
On that note, this book definitely isn't for the faint of heart. Lots of blood and guts fill the pages, not to mention some other uncomely acts.
All in all, if you're going to read a zombie book, I'd recommend you read This Dark Earth. Once you start, you won't be able to put it down anyway, so start now.
4 out of 5 Stars (Highly Recommended)
April 29, 2013
And the award goes to Gallery Books for Most Deceptive Cover Ever, with a second award for the Most Misleading Book Blurb in the Zombie Genre.
My blurb? Seven interconnected stories follow a doctor, her son and a trucker as the zombie apocalypse goes down. The son is a cold-blooded Messiah figure while the trucker provides him with emotional guidance. Humanity remains largely cruel and selfish, although some people will martyr themselves for the good of the herd. Let the rebuilding commence!
*******************************************************
The first section starts off very well, leaving me deeply engrossed in the story. Near ground zero, a pathologist, Lucy, discovers that there's something odd about the people overflowing the waiting room. They seem to be seizing, febrile, violent, or gnawing at their own fingers and lips. Uncomfortable with the drama, Lucy and a pediatrician friend concentrate on a woman with a sick baby. Lucy starts problem-solving the illness until her pediatrician friend pulls her away from her myopic focus on pathophysiology, and raises the larger issue of their safety. They escape with the woman and her baby as heavily armored officers storm the E.R. Shortly after, Lucy hitches a ride with Knock-Out, a trucker, as she attempts to avoid the containment zone. Surviving the nuclear fallout and finding Lucy's son Gus quickly becomes their focus.
By giving the reader a close-up of the drama unfolding at the hospital, we get a feel for the human tension of early disaster and the obligations of a healer. One of the interesting components of zombie stories is the reaction at the outbreak. What will happen? Will it be recognized? Ultimately, it all depends on how fast the disease travels and the incubation period, and so far no one has done it better than World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War. (Well, Brooks and the people writing the reports on bird flu). Jacobs gives us an inside perspective with a doctor and a possible initial official response, and it's the kind of insight that can really lend an interesting twist to a traditional zombie survivalist story.
Jacobs writes well, with non-stop action and skilled structure and imagery. One of the initial views of the zombies:
"Again, milky eyes glared at her. Lucy couldn't pin it down exactly, but there didn't seem to be any awareness in those eyes. It was as if some deep-sea creature felt eddies and currents spun off a passing fish and moved to attack, working on pure instinct."
Meeting Knock-Out, the trucker: "The trucker who picked her up was a brawny, thick man, bristly and unkempt. The cab smelled of cigarettes, energy drink, and corn chips. But the fecund normalcy of the man almost made Lucy want to cry."
Unfortunately, the book fails to shine for two significant reasons and one small one. The first is the structure of the collection itself. Sections centered on seven different characters are all too loosely connected to result in a satisfying story gestalt. As bit character pieces, they range from decent to outstanding, but as a plot, its an unsatisfying way to build tension and consistency.
The second major reason the book falls apart is the point-of-view switching. If the plot isn't enough to pull it together, characterization can't save it either, especially when Tessa only gives us a minor, outsider version of the trio of Lucy, Knock-Out and Gus, and the engineer Broadsword isn't involved with them at all. We barely get to know either of them besides the immediate context of the apocalypse and their relationship to the main characters, so it doesn't carry the emotional weight it could have. The sections vary considerably in length, but are shorter toward the end of the book: Lucy's is 48, Knock-Outs 73, Tessa's 47, Gus 79, Barbara 24, the engineer 35, and the final section 22. It destroys the pacing to be dropped into another person's head so irregularly. Making it more challenging is the 'minutes' entry style of Barbara's section, incongruous with the rest of the narratives.
The final, ironic quibble: when you write well, the expectations are higher and missteps more obvious. Rhiannon Frater's The First Days is somewhat similar to the section on Lucy's experience-- intricate detail in recognizing and surviving the beginning of an epidemic. However, Frater's writing is written at a simpler level, so the enjoyment comes out of the fast-moving plot and willingness ignore language problems. Jacob, on the other hand, is clearly a talented writer, so oddities are stick out more. The pediatrician's initial "Why are we here? In this town" line smacked of entry-level writer's introduction. Then there are the patients in the waiting room--for the life of me, I can't figure out how someone can "swallow her own lips." As a medical person, I've heard of swallowing a tongue, but as Jacobs clearly loved the lip imagery, it remained distracting. I won't bore you with the rest of the 'hmm' moments, but they were there.
Finally, I get it. It's the apocalypse. A story doesn't need to have rape in order for us to understand inhumanity. Authors: as tempting as the cliche is, try to reach a little higher.
Good writing, standard zombie survival story, messy narrative. Recommended for readers who want to cover the genre, or are able to treat it as short stories in a connected setting.
One star and another star and one other star and a little bit extra of a star equals three and a quarter stars.
Cross posted at http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2013/0...
My blurb? Seven interconnected stories follow a doctor, her son and a trucker as the zombie apocalypse goes down. The son is a cold-blooded Messiah figure while the trucker provides him with emotional guidance. Humanity remains largely cruel and selfish, although some people will martyr themselves for the good of the herd. Let the rebuilding commence!
*******************************************************
The first section starts off very well, leaving me deeply engrossed in the story. Near ground zero, a pathologist, Lucy, discovers that there's something odd about the people overflowing the waiting room. They seem to be seizing, febrile, violent, or gnawing at their own fingers and lips. Uncomfortable with the drama, Lucy and a pediatrician friend concentrate on a woman with a sick baby. Lucy starts problem-solving the illness until her pediatrician friend pulls her away from her myopic focus on pathophysiology, and raises the larger issue of their safety. They escape with the woman and her baby as heavily armored officers storm the E.R. Shortly after, Lucy hitches a ride with Knock-Out, a trucker, as she attempts to avoid the containment zone. Surviving the nuclear fallout and finding Lucy's son Gus quickly becomes their focus.
By giving the reader a close-up of the drama unfolding at the hospital, we get a feel for the human tension of early disaster and the obligations of a healer. One of the interesting components of zombie stories is the reaction at the outbreak. What will happen? Will it be recognized? Ultimately, it all depends on how fast the disease travels and the incubation period, and so far no one has done it better than World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War. (Well, Brooks and the people writing the reports on bird flu). Jacobs gives us an inside perspective with a doctor and a possible initial official response, and it's the kind of insight that can really lend an interesting twist to a traditional zombie survivalist story.
Jacobs writes well, with non-stop action and skilled structure and imagery. One of the initial views of the zombies:
"Again, milky eyes glared at her. Lucy couldn't pin it down exactly, but there didn't seem to be any awareness in those eyes. It was as if some deep-sea creature felt eddies and currents spun off a passing fish and moved to attack, working on pure instinct."
Meeting Knock-Out, the trucker: "The trucker who picked her up was a brawny, thick man, bristly and unkempt. The cab smelled of cigarettes, energy drink, and corn chips. But the fecund normalcy of the man almost made Lucy want to cry."
Unfortunately, the book fails to shine for two significant reasons and one small one. The first is the structure of the collection itself. Sections centered on seven different characters are all too loosely connected to result in a satisfying story gestalt. As bit character pieces, they range from decent to outstanding, but as a plot, its an unsatisfying way to build tension and consistency.
The second major reason the book falls apart is the point-of-view switching. If the plot isn't enough to pull it together, characterization can't save it either, especially when Tessa only gives us a minor, outsider version of the trio of Lucy, Knock-Out and Gus, and the engineer Broadsword isn't involved with them at all. We barely get to know either of them besides the immediate context of the apocalypse and their relationship to the main characters, so it doesn't carry the emotional weight it could have. The sections vary considerably in length, but are shorter toward the end of the book: Lucy's is 48, Knock-Outs 73, Tessa's 47, Gus 79, Barbara 24, the engineer 35, and the final section 22. It destroys the pacing to be dropped into another person's head so irregularly. Making it more challenging is the 'minutes' entry style of Barbara's section, incongruous with the rest of the narratives.
The final, ironic quibble: when you write well, the expectations are higher and missteps more obvious. Rhiannon Frater's The First Days is somewhat similar to the section on Lucy's experience-- intricate detail in recognizing and surviving the beginning of an epidemic. However, Frater's writing is written at a simpler level, so the enjoyment comes out of the fast-moving plot and willingness ignore language problems. Jacob, on the other hand, is clearly a talented writer, so oddities are stick out more. The pediatrician's initial "Why are we here? In this town" line smacked of entry-level writer's introduction. Then there are the patients in the waiting room--for the life of me, I can't figure out how someone can "swallow her own lips." As a medical person, I've heard of swallowing a tongue, but as Jacobs clearly loved the lip imagery, it remained distracting. I won't bore you with the rest of the 'hmm' moments, but they were there.
Finally, I get it. It's the apocalypse. A story doesn't need to have rape in order for us to understand inhumanity. Authors: as tempting as the cliche is, try to reach a little higher.
Good writing, standard zombie survival story, messy narrative. Recommended for readers who want to cover the genre, or are able to treat it as short stories in a connected setting.
One star and another star and one other star and a little bit extra of a star equals three and a quarter stars.
Cross posted at http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2013/0...
March 19, 2013
Liked it overall, but I did have my problems with it.
The Good:
1. The zombies (aka zeds, shamblers, revs (short for revenants)) -- there is nothing unique about Jacobs' zombies: they are slow, and gooshy, and stink. They are dangerous in hordes and are attracted to sound. All this we've seen before; nevertheless, the descriptions are remarkably vivid -- skulls shattering, teeth splintering, intestines bursting, and always the terrible, gag-inducing smell of rot.
2. The first 121 pages are a complete adrenaline rush. Action begins on page 1 and does not relent for a moment. We meet Dr. Lucy Ingersoll on the afternoon her hospital succumbs to chaos. An inexplicable virus is causing people to seizure, auto-cannibalize, attack, die and re-animate. Lucy is our entry point into the start of the end of the world. She assesses her situation and realizes she must abandon the hospital if she is to rescue her son, Gus, at home with his father. In her attempt to get to her family, Lucy crosses paths with Knock-Out, a giant of a man with a gentle and kind way about him. These 121 pages are strong enough to stand on their own as a rip-roaring novella of zombie insanity, replete with nuclear detonations.
The Bad:
The shifting character POV did not work for me. The first 121 pages grabbed me by my short hairs. I loved the brutal immediacy of the story. Everything feels so *urgent* and *perilous*. I loved Lucy and Knock-Out. Then the book shifts gears and we are getting Tessa's story. Okay, I'll keep following you. Tessa's story is sad and icky. But intense. I found her very sympathetic. Just as I was getting emotionally invested, the story shifts again. Now it's three years later and Lucy's 14-year-old son Gus takes over narrating. Then the POV shifts *again* and we have some chick Barbara sharing the minutes from the various committee meetings of the Bridge City survivors enclave. And there will be one more POV change before the novel concludes.
So many shifts in narration, from first to third person, lost me by the end of the book. It was hard to sustain emotional involvement with any of the major characters. The book ends up reading like a collection of interconnected short stories, and on their own, each of the chapters are actually quite strong. It's when you force them to act as a novel where things fall apart. That's when huge problems with pacing and characterization appear, along with a natural momentum towards a meaningful and satisfactory climax (of which there isn't one).
Despite these issues, there's something about this book that recommends itself. It's got that gritty, western kind of vibe going, a little Mad Max, a little The Road and of course Kirkman's The Walking Dead (it's just not possible to read about the slavers and Captain Konstantin and not be reminded of the Governor).
If you're craving zombies, and a bleak and desperate post-apocalyptic landscape, you could do a lot worse than This Dark Earth.
The Good:
1. The zombies (aka zeds, shamblers, revs (short for revenants)) -- there is nothing unique about Jacobs' zombies: they are slow, and gooshy, and stink. They are dangerous in hordes and are attracted to sound. All this we've seen before; nevertheless, the descriptions are remarkably vivid -- skulls shattering, teeth splintering, intestines bursting, and always the terrible, gag-inducing smell of rot.
2. The first 121 pages are a complete adrenaline rush. Action begins on page 1 and does not relent for a moment. We meet Dr. Lucy Ingersoll on the afternoon her hospital succumbs to chaos. An inexplicable virus is causing people to seizure, auto-cannibalize, attack, die and re-animate. Lucy is our entry point into the start of the end of the world. She assesses her situation and realizes she must abandon the hospital if she is to rescue her son, Gus, at home with his father. In her attempt to get to her family, Lucy crosses paths with Knock-Out, a giant of a man with a gentle and kind way about him. These 121 pages are strong enough to stand on their own as a rip-roaring novella of zombie insanity, replete with nuclear detonations.
The Bad:
The shifting character POV did not work for me. The first 121 pages grabbed me by my short hairs. I loved the brutal immediacy of the story. Everything feels so *urgent* and *perilous*. I loved Lucy and Knock-Out. Then the book shifts gears and we are getting Tessa's story. Okay, I'll keep following you. Tessa's story is sad and icky. But intense. I found her very sympathetic. Just as I was getting emotionally invested, the story shifts again. Now it's three years later and Lucy's 14-year-old son Gus takes over narrating. Then the POV shifts *again* and we have some chick Barbara sharing the minutes from the various committee meetings of the Bridge City survivors enclave. And there will be one more POV change before the novel concludes.
So many shifts in narration, from first to third person, lost me by the end of the book. It was hard to sustain emotional involvement with any of the major characters. The book ends up reading like a collection of interconnected short stories, and on their own, each of the chapters are actually quite strong. It's when you force them to act as a novel where things fall apart. That's when huge problems with pacing and characterization appear, along with a natural momentum towards a meaningful and satisfactory climax (of which there isn't one).
Despite these issues, there's something about this book that recommends itself. It's got that gritty, western kind of vibe going, a little Mad Max, a little The Road and of course Kirkman's The Walking Dead (it's just not possible to read about the slavers and Captain Konstantin and not be reminded of the Governor).
If you're craving zombies, and a bleak and desperate post-apocalyptic landscape, you could do a lot worse than This Dark Earth.
October 6, 2022
Been in such an horror mood lately. This was a good audiobook to listen to, not that scary but more horror adventure kind of things with intruiging elements. I had hoped this was a series but I don't think it is.
December 18, 2012
Let me lay all the cards on the table and let me tell it to you in a straight and simple way of what we have here before us.
In this story John Hornor Jacobs has put before us a case of
the good, the bad and the ugly!
The Good = a mum, son and a father = courageous, survivors and fighters.
The Bad = the Slavers = enslave women and men, selfish and want to control the living.
The Ugly = the Shamblers = the undead, cannibals and ugly.
The scene is set the desolate earth the dark earth of ruin and destruction. The options are quite simply, the fates set before the characters in this story are
To lead,
Follow,
Be enslaved,
Eaten,
Or be of the undead.
One thing or sure is only the ones that are wise or strong and have perseverance will survive.
The story opens with a scene of macabre and anarchy in an hospital clinic overrun by people eating themselves. We learn of one brave and likeable woman here Dr. Lucy and we walk with her for quite some time as she witness the world go to shit and fall.
The authors successfully leaves you hanging on at the end very sentence hooked and engrossed with anticipation on what will happen next right from the first page till the end.
His writing style is smart and really nailed the right words short and sweet sentences and immerses you right in the thick of the story.
New York. Chicago. Los Angeles. Atlanta. Miami. Mexico. Canada. Europe and more.
They all fell victim to a virus that caused seizures and....cannibalism.
Then there was an explosion and large mushroom clouds.
The has to be some people to rise and converge and preserve some humanity, goodness, community and a possible light in this dark earth that has arisen!
A new King, Queen and Prince shall rise from the forsaken desolate bloodstained earth.
To protect and serve those in need a monarchy of daring courageous and spunky individuals shall I do hope be preserved and survive the darkest days set before them in this story.
Visit the authors website @ http://www.johnhornorjacobs.com/
This Dark Earth @ publishers SimonandSchuster
Interactive map of Bridge City
Read An Excerpt
Check out the novel NOMINATED FOR THE BRAM STOKER AWARD FOR SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN A FIRST NOVEL:
SOUTHERN GODS BY John Hornor Jacobs
Review with a book trailer also available @ http://more2read.com/review/this-dark-earth-by-john-hornor-jacobs/
In this story John Hornor Jacobs has put before us a case of
the good, the bad and the ugly!
The Good = a mum, son and a father = courageous, survivors and fighters.
The Bad = the Slavers = enslave women and men, selfish and want to control the living.
The Ugly = the Shamblers = the undead, cannibals and ugly.
The scene is set the desolate earth the dark earth of ruin and destruction. The options are quite simply, the fates set before the characters in this story are
To lead,
Follow,
Be enslaved,
Eaten,
Or be of the undead.
One thing or sure is only the ones that are wise or strong and have perseverance will survive.
The story opens with a scene of macabre and anarchy in an hospital clinic overrun by people eating themselves. We learn of one brave and likeable woman here Dr. Lucy and we walk with her for quite some time as she witness the world go to shit and fall.
The authors successfully leaves you hanging on at the end very sentence hooked and engrossed with anticipation on what will happen next right from the first page till the end.
His writing style is smart and really nailed the right words short and sweet sentences and immerses you right in the thick of the story.
New York. Chicago. Los Angeles. Atlanta. Miami. Mexico. Canada. Europe and more.
They all fell victim to a virus that caused seizures and....cannibalism.
Then there was an explosion and large mushroom clouds.
The has to be some people to rise and converge and preserve some humanity, goodness, community and a possible light in this dark earth that has arisen!
A new King, Queen and Prince shall rise from the forsaken desolate bloodstained earth.
To protect and serve those in need a monarchy of daring courageous and spunky individuals shall I do hope be preserved and survive the darkest days set before them in this story.
"They passed a pileup in the left lane. Mangled cars. People on the ground, some bleeding. Some contorting. Some spasming. Some were already upright. Revivified and shambling. Zombies."
"The cloud we walk underneath is the same. It's hideous and by turns. The mushroom rises behind us in the east. Before us, the setting sun smears the sky with color. The interstate is a long thread through burning pine-woods. We're higher up than the rest of the land, a little. A delta. Without the world being set afire, it'd be muggy and we'd be swarmed with Mosquitos. Chalk up one point in favor of nuclear annihilation. No more skeeters."
"The world loves the tomato because it is red. The apple is red too. But the tomatoes flesh is the flesh of mankind.
Do the dead love the flesh of man because it is like a tomato?
We will never know. But I have my suspicions."
"There are times and things you can never forget.
Your first kiss from someone you love.
The first time you have sex.
Your first broken heart.
An there's the first time you ride a steam locomotive through a horde of zombies.
I'd rank it up there with first kiss. Maybe even sex."
Visit the authors website @ http://www.johnhornorjacobs.com/
This Dark Earth @ publishers SimonandSchuster
Interactive map of Bridge City
Read An Excerpt
Check out the novel NOMINATED FOR THE BRAM STOKER AWARD FOR SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN A FIRST NOVEL:
SOUTHERN GODS BY John Hornor Jacobs
Review with a book trailer also available @ http://more2read.com/review/this-dark-earth-by-john-hornor-jacobs/
February 2, 2015
Ever wonder what it might be like to restart civilization after zombies?! Well read this book. It takes you through the start of the zombie rise to starting life over. Very neat story line. A little off track in the middle but it gets back on track, still a good book.
March 16, 2012
Amazing! Review to come closer to release date, but you should go pre-order this one now...seriously :-D
August 20, 2012
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I have an obsession with zombies. It's weird and twisted, I know. When I think about the horror movies that have left me most terrified and the only ones that really come to mind are zombie related: 28 days later, 28 weeks later, Dawn of the Dead, even the sketch comedy / horror versions like Zombieland and Shaun of the Dead leave me with vivid nightmares. I think it has something to do with the fact that everyone you know and love becomes a monster. Oh, and the fact that there is a possibility that there could be a six billion monster mob chasing after you. If you survive that is. Despite how terrified I am, I keep gravitating towards everything zombie related, including novels.
Honestly, it wasn’t until my newest (and probably most powerful) obsession with The Walking Dead (the television series and the graphic novels) that I really understood what it was I loved about zombies; obviously I don’t love the zombies themselves (rational considering they are flesh eating monsters who used to be our friends and family) but I love the dark stories of how the survivors figure out how to survive when society as we know it is in shambles.
This is exactly why I loved This Dark Earth. Oh, and the fact that is has probably one of the most bad ass covers to date…
The Deal:
The novel starts off in a hospital and the initial outbreak is narrated by an oncologist, Lucy. As the virus spreads, the world crumbles and the few uninfected struggle to survive (typical recipe for a zombie novel). The novel is broken down into seven chapters, each chapter written in first person narrative from the point of view of a different character. As the novel progresses we hear from Lucy, the doctor, a kind hearted trucker name Knock-Out, a middle aged woman, Tessa, who is determined to survive no matter what the cost, and Lucy's freakishly smart son, Gus, among others. Through the various narratives we learn how they were surviving when nearly no one else is.
My Take:
This Dark Earth by John Honour Jacobs was exactly what I want when I pick up a zombie novel. It was a dark and terrifying tale (I could not read this one before I went to bed) with strong characters struggling to survive in a society that has gone to shit. And it just happened to include flesh eating "shamblers".
The novel was broken down into seven chapters and each chapter was narrated by a different character in first person. Each character has such a different narrative voice and because of this, the novel actually almost reads like a collection of different short stories on the same topic rather than a novel. Typically, I am not a huge fan of this style of writing but in This Dark Earth it works.
While I didn’t love every character's voices or stories ( ex/ Tessa or the Engineers) I do believe each chapter was an important contributor to the text as a whole. Plus, the characters that I had become more attached to (Gus, Lucy, Wallis, Knock-Out) were, for the most part, still in the thick of things.
In my opinion, the multiple narrative voices also add to the credibility of the novel. Personally, there is nothing I hate more than an unbelievable story where the same ordinary guy survives impossible situation after impossible situation. It is simply annoying. Thankfully, Jacobs didn’t fall victim to this because the narrator changing from chapter to chapter solves this problem – it is now possible for the person in that specific situation to die without ending the story. Clearly this adds to the suspense.
Personally, I couldn't put this book down. I found it to be a refreshing take on the genre. Yes, there was a lot of the typical stuff you see in a zombie novel (ex/ a mysterious and unexplainable virus, the aid of the armed forces, the innocent child who becomes jaded) but in my opinion the brilliant survival ideas and the incredible characters make up for it.
For me, the highlight of This Dark Earth was the characters; specifically Lucy, Gus and the gentle Knock-out. Yes, there were zombies. Yes, there was violence. Yes, there was suspense. But most importantly, there were fabulous characters who you will fall in love with, who you want to survive, who you truly believe deserve to survive.
If You Liked…
I am Legend and The Walking Dead then This Dark Earth is right up your alley.
I have an obsession with zombies. It's weird and twisted, I know. When I think about the horror movies that have left me most terrified and the only ones that really come to mind are zombie related: 28 days later, 28 weeks later, Dawn of the Dead, even the sketch comedy / horror versions like Zombieland and Shaun of the Dead leave me with vivid nightmares. I think it has something to do with the fact that everyone you know and love becomes a monster. Oh, and the fact that there is a possibility that there could be a six billion monster mob chasing after you. If you survive that is. Despite how terrified I am, I keep gravitating towards everything zombie related, including novels.
Honestly, it wasn’t until my newest (and probably most powerful) obsession with The Walking Dead (the television series and the graphic novels) that I really understood what it was I loved about zombies; obviously I don’t love the zombies themselves (rational considering they are flesh eating monsters who used to be our friends and family) but I love the dark stories of how the survivors figure out how to survive when society as we know it is in shambles.
This is exactly why I loved This Dark Earth. Oh, and the fact that is has probably one of the most bad ass covers to date…
The Deal:
The novel starts off in a hospital and the initial outbreak is narrated by an oncologist, Lucy. As the virus spreads, the world crumbles and the few uninfected struggle to survive (typical recipe for a zombie novel). The novel is broken down into seven chapters, each chapter written in first person narrative from the point of view of a different character. As the novel progresses we hear from Lucy, the doctor, a kind hearted trucker name Knock-Out, a middle aged woman, Tessa, who is determined to survive no matter what the cost, and Lucy's freakishly smart son, Gus, among others. Through the various narratives we learn how they were surviving when nearly no one else is.
My Take:
This Dark Earth by John Honour Jacobs was exactly what I want when I pick up a zombie novel. It was a dark and terrifying tale (I could not read this one before I went to bed) with strong characters struggling to survive in a society that has gone to shit. And it just happened to include flesh eating "shamblers".
The novel was broken down into seven chapters and each chapter was narrated by a different character in first person. Each character has such a different narrative voice and because of this, the novel actually almost reads like a collection of different short stories on the same topic rather than a novel. Typically, I am not a huge fan of this style of writing but in This Dark Earth it works.
While I didn’t love every character's voices or stories ( ex/ Tessa or the Engineers) I do believe each chapter was an important contributor to the text as a whole. Plus, the characters that I had become more attached to (Gus, Lucy, Wallis, Knock-Out) were, for the most part, still in the thick of things.
In my opinion, the multiple narrative voices also add to the credibility of the novel. Personally, there is nothing I hate more than an unbelievable story where the same ordinary guy survives impossible situation after impossible situation. It is simply annoying. Thankfully, Jacobs didn’t fall victim to this because the narrator changing from chapter to chapter solves this problem – it is now possible for the person in that specific situation to die without ending the story. Clearly this adds to the suspense.
Personally, I couldn't put this book down. I found it to be a refreshing take on the genre. Yes, there was a lot of the typical stuff you see in a zombie novel (ex/ a mysterious and unexplainable virus, the aid of the armed forces, the innocent child who becomes jaded) but in my opinion the brilliant survival ideas and the incredible characters make up for it.
For me, the highlight of This Dark Earth was the characters; specifically Lucy, Gus and the gentle Knock-out. Yes, there were zombies. Yes, there was violence. Yes, there was suspense. But most importantly, there were fabulous characters who you will fall in love with, who you want to survive, who you truly believe deserve to survive.
If You Liked…
I am Legend and The Walking Dead then This Dark Earth is right up your alley.
October 6, 2019
Believe it or not, it's finally here: a zombie novel for the thinking crowd. Well, more than a zombie novel, John Hornor Jacobs' This Dark Earth is an epic tale of survival that studies the evolution of society from the moment all hell breaks loose until just a few survivors are left facing an uncertain future a few years after the apocalypse.
You can read Gabino's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
October 23, 2012
The zombie thing has been done - gore, brain eating, fast and slow - and for the most part, there's been a reliance on tropes. A few novels play with these tropes, turning them on their heads, making them something new, creating stories with heft or humor or gravitas. S.G. Browne's BREATHERS comes to mind as does WORLD WAR Z, and now so should THIS DARK EARTH. Gripping and intelligent, the cover declares it a zombie novel, but you'll find it to be so much more.
February 24, 2013
If there is one thing you Elitist Book followers are aware of about me it has got to be the number of things I don't like in fiction - and how good authors can subvert these preferences and make me eat crow. So in another installment of "Things Nick Hates" I present you (drumroll please) zombies. I'm sorry, but they bore me. I used to like them and I still hold onto the belief that THE ZOMBIE SURVIVAL GUIDE and WORLD WAR Z are some of my favorite books of all time. Still, there is a saturation of zombies (sort of like the over abundance of vampires a couple years ago) and I find it tiring. There are only so many things you can do with zombies and it would take something different to interest me in another piece of undead fiction. THIS DARK EARTH by John Hornor Jacobs is that "something different" and it served to remind me how much I used to love the sub-genre.
The apocalypse has come and gone, ushered in by a zombie outbreak and attempted nuclear containment. The remnants of humanity live in a pre-industrial society, hunkered down in the ad-hoc fortress of Bridge City. The city is near impervious to the zeds, a marvel of ingenuity and medieval siege mastery. Humans though, have a capacity for evil that far exceeds the mindless, flesh eating, undead. An army of slavers has Bridge City in its sights and the survival of civilization falls to Gus, the young man that designed the very fortifications that have kept the wild at bay for so long.
Do you know how THIS DARK EARTH manages to be both a zombie novel and a book that I love? It's a zombie novel but it's not about zombies. Don't get me wrong, there are loads of zombies within the pages. Tens of thousands of zombies. There's plenty of bludgeoning and brain-destroying, with buckets of putrid gore and viscera. But that's not the focus of the novel. THIS DARK EARTH goes to show that even in the wake of global catastrophe, even with the cannibal dead roaming the earth, the living can still manage to take the whole evil cake. THIS DARK EARTH is a story of family, community, and survival.
The three main characters are Lucy, her son Gus, and Jim (aka Knock-Out). Lucy is cold and clinical. She is a brilliant doctor, with a highly analytical mind that leaves her detached from humanity. She is not delicate in the least. Lucy is almost robotic, but that's not to say she is stiff or thin as a character. When she exhibits a rare moment of tenderness it is touching. Knock-Out is a gentle giant, he was a trucker before the end of the world and becomes a loyal companion after. He is a genuinely kindhearted man that serves as the adhesive for the others. He's the sidekick to Lucy's superhero. And then we have Gus, the brilliant child that designed Bridge City who grows into the hardened man that must lead the free and the living. Gus shares much in common with his mother, his intense personality is only compounded by the trials of growing up in this post-apocalyptic world. He is a strange young man, extremely intellectual and still inexperienced in many ways. He has a lot to learn before he can become humanity's savior.
There are other characters, three of the chapters are told from their perspectives, but they serve primarily to forward the story of Lucy, Gus, and Knock-Out. In this way THIS DARK EARTH felt like a collection of short stories based around a central thread. It's not, but the shifting narrative (between first person, third person, and one chapter told in journal format) gives an interesting, multi-faceted view of proceedings. The first half of the novel is a somewhat standard post-apocalyptic/zombie affair. One of the blurbs on the back of the book likens THIS DARK EARTH to Cormac McCarthy's THE ROAD and WORLD WAR Z by Max Brooks. The first part of the book definitely relates to THE ROAD, as Lucy and Knock-Out scramble to survive in a world only recently turned upside down. It's at the halfway mark that I became fully absorbed in the read. It is here that we are introduced to Bridge City and the looming threat of the slaver army. From here Gus and the city council race to find a way to stop the army's progress and defend all that they have built. This is where the novel takes on a bit of the atmosphere of WORLD WAR Z, but really I couldn't help but think of the CBS action/drama Jericho. I loved the creation of Bridge City and the society that the survivors had established in the aftermath of the outbreak and nuclear fallout.
THIS DARK EARTH is a dark book (go figure). It displays the worst that mankind has to offer, from rape to slavery and greed. There is heavy violence (mainly zombie slaying but some living on living action too) as well as a grisly torture. Despite all this there is also a silver lining of hope. Despite all the death and despair it shows that we can survive and adapt as a species - we can look out for our own.
Recommended Age: 16+
Language: You betcha.
Violence: Shooting, bludgeoning, burning, and a painful torture/crucifixion.
Sex: Sex and sex talk.
Nick Sharps
Elitist Book Reviews
The apocalypse has come and gone, ushered in by a zombie outbreak and attempted nuclear containment. The remnants of humanity live in a pre-industrial society, hunkered down in the ad-hoc fortress of Bridge City. The city is near impervious to the zeds, a marvel of ingenuity and medieval siege mastery. Humans though, have a capacity for evil that far exceeds the mindless, flesh eating, undead. An army of slavers has Bridge City in its sights and the survival of civilization falls to Gus, the young man that designed the very fortifications that have kept the wild at bay for so long.
Do you know how THIS DARK EARTH manages to be both a zombie novel and a book that I love? It's a zombie novel but it's not about zombies. Don't get me wrong, there are loads of zombies within the pages. Tens of thousands of zombies. There's plenty of bludgeoning and brain-destroying, with buckets of putrid gore and viscera. But that's not the focus of the novel. THIS DARK EARTH goes to show that even in the wake of global catastrophe, even with the cannibal dead roaming the earth, the living can still manage to take the whole evil cake. THIS DARK EARTH is a story of family, community, and survival.
The three main characters are Lucy, her son Gus, and Jim (aka Knock-Out). Lucy is cold and clinical. She is a brilliant doctor, with a highly analytical mind that leaves her detached from humanity. She is not delicate in the least. Lucy is almost robotic, but that's not to say she is stiff or thin as a character. When she exhibits a rare moment of tenderness it is touching. Knock-Out is a gentle giant, he was a trucker before the end of the world and becomes a loyal companion after. He is a genuinely kindhearted man that serves as the adhesive for the others. He's the sidekick to Lucy's superhero. And then we have Gus, the brilliant child that designed Bridge City who grows into the hardened man that must lead the free and the living. Gus shares much in common with his mother, his intense personality is only compounded by the trials of growing up in this post-apocalyptic world. He is a strange young man, extremely intellectual and still inexperienced in many ways. He has a lot to learn before he can become humanity's savior.
There are other characters, three of the chapters are told from their perspectives, but they serve primarily to forward the story of Lucy, Gus, and Knock-Out. In this way THIS DARK EARTH felt like a collection of short stories based around a central thread. It's not, but the shifting narrative (between first person, third person, and one chapter told in journal format) gives an interesting, multi-faceted view of proceedings. The first half of the novel is a somewhat standard post-apocalyptic/zombie affair. One of the blurbs on the back of the book likens THIS DARK EARTH to Cormac McCarthy's THE ROAD and WORLD WAR Z by Max Brooks. The first part of the book definitely relates to THE ROAD, as Lucy and Knock-Out scramble to survive in a world only recently turned upside down. It's at the halfway mark that I became fully absorbed in the read. It is here that we are introduced to Bridge City and the looming threat of the slaver army. From here Gus and the city council race to find a way to stop the army's progress and defend all that they have built. This is where the novel takes on a bit of the atmosphere of WORLD WAR Z, but really I couldn't help but think of the CBS action/drama Jericho. I loved the creation of Bridge City and the society that the survivors had established in the aftermath of the outbreak and nuclear fallout.
THIS DARK EARTH is a dark book (go figure). It displays the worst that mankind has to offer, from rape to slavery and greed. There is heavy violence (mainly zombie slaying but some living on living action too) as well as a grisly torture. Despite all this there is also a silver lining of hope. Despite all the death and despair it shows that we can survive and adapt as a species - we can look out for our own.
Recommended Age: 16+
Language: You betcha.
Violence: Shooting, bludgeoning, burning, and a painful torture/crucifixion.
Sex: Sex and sex talk.
Nick Sharps
Elitist Book Reviews
July 14, 2012
This is a zombie experience like no other...
Let me explain.
Though there are zombies galore in this book (I mean, of course there are...It's a zombie book. Duh!)
This book is about so much more than the shambling undead.
It is stories of people who survive the end of the world as we know it and the creation of another as they come to understand it.
The dialogue and situations are raw and real, as they would be in any war. This is after all a collection of stories detailing a fight to the death for the human race.
The most compelling aspects of this read lie not in the humans' battle with the zombies, but in their fight with each other and with themselves. It is exciting to see how the threat of extinction effects the moral compasses of each of the players in this drama. Driving a select few to the basest parts of themselves, making heroes of some, and causing others to question the existence of a true right or wrong at all.
The number of fully developed characters that Mr. Jacobs was able to include in this read while still maintaining the break-neck pace of the novel and the edge-of-your-seat action is simply phenomenal.
Cases In Point:
Lucy- the doctor, the mother, the wife, the leader of a new nation
Gus- the son, the prodigy, the confused shy boy, the prince
Knockout-the trucker, the father, the lover the friend, the martyr
Tess-the mother, the whore, the victim, the murderer
Konstantine-slaver, pimp, tyrant, PURE EVIL
Though this book is categorized as YA, this is by no means a book that be recommended for anyone under 16, due to graphic scenes depicting rape and violence.
This is a story not to be missed, and one that once read...will not be forgotten.
You can find this review on my blog at: WTF Are You Reading?: "This Dark Earth" Sheds New Light on the Zombie No...
Let me explain.
Though there are zombies galore in this book (I mean, of course there are...It's a zombie book. Duh!)
This book is about so much more than the shambling undead.
It is stories of people who survive the end of the world as we know it and the creation of another as they come to understand it.
The dialogue and situations are raw and real, as they would be in any war. This is after all a collection of stories detailing a fight to the death for the human race.
The most compelling aspects of this read lie not in the humans' battle with the zombies, but in their fight with each other and with themselves. It is exciting to see how the threat of extinction effects the moral compasses of each of the players in this drama. Driving a select few to the basest parts of themselves, making heroes of some, and causing others to question the existence of a true right or wrong at all.
The number of fully developed characters that Mr. Jacobs was able to include in this read while still maintaining the break-neck pace of the novel and the edge-of-your-seat action is simply phenomenal.
Cases In Point:
Lucy- the doctor, the mother, the wife, the leader of a new nation
Gus- the son, the prodigy, the confused shy boy, the prince
Knockout-the trucker, the father, the lover the friend, the martyr
Tess-the mother, the whore, the victim, the murderer
Konstantine-slaver, pimp, tyrant, PURE EVIL
Though this book is categorized as YA, this is by no means a book that be recommended for anyone under 16, due to graphic scenes depicting rape and violence.
This is a story not to be missed, and one that once read...will not be forgotten.
You can find this review on my blog at: WTF Are You Reading?: "This Dark Earth" Sheds New Light on the Zombie No...
February 1, 2023
Reread.
So, this is going to be just a freak thing only I think, but this title has always made me think of the Anactoria poem by Sappho. For your reference:
And legit, there is no indication that this was on Jacobs' mind when he titled this here zombie novel, but I love this theory best.
Because the Anactoria poem starts as the kind of poetic argument you can find in sonnets, where the poet takes the rigid form and then lays it out in three stanzas and then a couplet, or two uneven stanzas with a cesura (depending on whether you are writing a Shakespearean or Petrarchan sonnet) and then, by the end, has shackled argument to emotion. (There's a whole tradition of using Andromeda shackled by lines as a metaphor for the sonnet form itself, &c.)
This Dark Earth hews close to the Romeroan zombie form: everyone's infected, so everyone who dies, turns, but the whole process gets a lot faster when a person is bitten. Zombies don't run or climb much; they rely on smell or sound more than eyesight, etc. He also uses some classic zombie narrative tropes, like the hospital slowly -- then quickly -- getting overrun, a parent searching for her child, the military unit preying on the very people they are charged with protecting, the child matriculating into a world his parents have survived but only partially understand, and more, and so on.
Jacobs takes all of these almost careworn tropes, these classic forms, and builds up this novel like a boiler under pressure. Yeah, there are tracks, but what barrels down them is several thousand tons of hot metal and Mephistophelean steam. He never loses sight of what makes a story about the undead actually get right down into the viscera, and that's the living. The interlocking first person narratives may seem to diffuse the perspective at first, but I think it's more like a slipknot that tightens in the end, biting into the skin. (See I can use line metaphors as well.)
It's savage and beautiful and when the lights go out the earth goes dark and you don't feel anything but longing.
So, this is going to be just a freak thing only I think, but this title has always made me think of the Anactoria poem by Sappho. For your reference:
Some say thronging cavalry, some say foot soldiers,
others call a fleet the most beautiful of
sights the dark earth offers, but I say it's what-
ever you love best.
And it's easy to make this understood by
everyone, for she who surpassed all human
kind in beauty, Helen, abandoning her
husband—that best of
men—went sailing off to the shores of Troy and
never spent a thought on her child or loving
parents: when the goddess seduced her wits and
left her to wander,
she forgot them all, she could not remember
anything but longing, and lightly straying
aside, lost her way. But that reminds me
now: Anactória,
she's not here, and I'd rather see her lovely
step, her sparkling glance and her face than gaze on
all the troops in Lydia in their chariots and
glittering armor.
And legit, there is no indication that this was on Jacobs' mind when he titled this here zombie novel, but I love this theory best.
Because the Anactoria poem starts as the kind of poetic argument you can find in sonnets, where the poet takes the rigid form and then lays it out in three stanzas and then a couplet, or two uneven stanzas with a cesura (depending on whether you are writing a Shakespearean or Petrarchan sonnet) and then, by the end, has shackled argument to emotion. (There's a whole tradition of using Andromeda shackled by lines as a metaphor for the sonnet form itself, &c.)
This Dark Earth hews close to the Romeroan zombie form: everyone's infected, so everyone who dies, turns, but the whole process gets a lot faster when a person is bitten. Zombies don't run or climb much; they rely on smell or sound more than eyesight, etc. He also uses some classic zombie narrative tropes, like the hospital slowly -- then quickly -- getting overrun, a parent searching for her child, the military unit preying on the very people they are charged with protecting, the child matriculating into a world his parents have survived but only partially understand, and more, and so on.
Jacobs takes all of these almost careworn tropes, these classic forms, and builds up this novel like a boiler under pressure. Yeah, there are tracks, but what barrels down them is several thousand tons of hot metal and Mephistophelean steam. He never loses sight of what makes a story about the undead actually get right down into the viscera, and that's the living. The interlocking first person narratives may seem to diffuse the perspective at first, but I think it's more like a slipknot that tightens in the end, biting into the skin. (See I can use line metaphors as well.)
It's savage and beautiful and when the lights go out the earth goes dark and you don't feel anything but longing.
October 17, 2012
This is the zombie novel to end all the zombie novels. There is much garbage written in that genre, but this demands both your seriousness and admiration. Covering the ENTIRE scope of a zombie apocalypse, from D-Day to the new, clan-based societies emerging from its ashes. There are many narrators for the different turning points of the story, giving it a fresh outlook every time. It's a fascinating, exhilarating and sometimes stomach-turning read that will keep your innards tied into a knot. Jacobs is one of the best new talents out there. He can write horror better than most major writers in the genre.
November 1, 2014
I will be honest, I loved this book right up until the final battle. The characters were interesting, the tone perfect, and the daily struggle to survive bloody and horrific. The final part of the book let the story down, and I found myself disappointed with how the story ended. Still a very solid read.
January 21, 2015
So there was a lot of awesomeness in this book and a lot of not quite as awesome... But if you are a zombie lover it's worth a read. Two things I have added to my zombie apocalypse prep bag from reading this book would be mini bolt cutters and a book on medieval fortresses, worth the read right there. Oh and I can't stop laughing at the cover.
February 9, 2023
How do I explain how little I liked this book?
Was it the gratuitous and frequent sex scenes that led to no meaningful character development? Was it the fact it couldn’t decide if it was drama, torture-porn, or a romance novel? Was it the repeated instances of sexual slavery and rape for seemingly no reason relevant to the actual plot? Oh, no, it was DEFINITELY the fact that this author did everything he possibly could to make us readers think it’s acceptable for his protagonist, a FOURTEEN YEAR OLD CHILD, to be in a sexual relationship with an adult?
Gus is 14. We’re reminded of this often. We’re also constantly told things like even though he’s only 14 he’s the tallest “man” in camp. He’s the strongest in the camp. And when the woman who ends up pursuing her romantic feelings for this child decides to come onto him, she thinks “Gus might be a boy or man, I can’t tell which.” No. A child is a child is a child.
I would understand if this was an historically accurate novel where statutory rape was something that actually occurred and was relevant to the story. But in this case it simply isn’t. And by making it a huge facet of Gus’ character as the protagonist it takes valuable space in this book away from other meaningful character development. The whole thing reads like the plot of an open-world video game where there isn’t a lot of character development because the main focus is shooting and killing zombies. It’s not a fleshed out novel. At best it’s a crossover fanfiction for The Walking Dead and Fallout 4. Unoriginal, disturbing it’s it’s persistent trying-to-convince-you that yeah he’s 14 but he’s man-sized so it’s fine??? Skeezy.
EDIT: Also, I’m not exactly an authority given that I’m paler than a Kleenex, but the one black character, Keb… I feel so much like he’s written in a racist way. I mean, how many times does the author have to make him say “sho nuff”? It felt disrespectful.
Was it the gratuitous and frequent sex scenes that led to no meaningful character development? Was it the fact it couldn’t decide if it was drama, torture-porn, or a romance novel? Was it the repeated instances of sexual slavery and rape for seemingly no reason relevant to the actual plot? Oh, no, it was DEFINITELY the fact that this author did everything he possibly could to make us readers think it’s acceptable for his protagonist, a FOURTEEN YEAR OLD CHILD, to be in a sexual relationship with an adult?
Gus is 14. We’re reminded of this often. We’re also constantly told things like even though he’s only 14 he’s the tallest “man” in camp. He’s the strongest in the camp. And when the woman who ends up pursuing her romantic feelings for this child decides to come onto him, she thinks “Gus might be a boy or man, I can’t tell which.” No. A child is a child is a child.
I would understand if this was an historically accurate novel where statutory rape was something that actually occurred and was relevant to the story. But in this case it simply isn’t. And by making it a huge facet of Gus’ character as the protagonist it takes valuable space in this book away from other meaningful character development. The whole thing reads like the plot of an open-world video game where there isn’t a lot of character development because the main focus is shooting and killing zombies. It’s not a fleshed out novel. At best it’s a crossover fanfiction for The Walking Dead and Fallout 4. Unoriginal, disturbing it’s it’s persistent trying-to-convince-you that yeah he’s 14 but he’s man-sized so it’s fine??? Skeezy.
EDIT: Also, I’m not exactly an authority given that I’m paler than a Kleenex, but the one black character, Keb… I feel so much like he’s written in a racist way. I mean, how many times does the author have to make him say “sho nuff”? It felt disrespectful.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2020
Apocryphal fiction is a pool I dip my toe in every few years. (Semi-related aside: I think this sub-genre is about to take a dive in popularity. Just speculation on my part.) This Dark Earth is more than a little reminiscent of George Stewart's classic Earth Abides, but it stands on its' own quite handily. This novel actually consists of seven interlinked vignettes, each told by a different narrator. No details from me as to how exactly the world ends or what comes after in John Hornor Jacob's book-I will tell you that though this is a graphic read it certainly isn't the most visceral post-apocalyptic tale I've ever encountered. You'll have to make your own judgment as whether this is your cup of tea.
November 5, 2012
I've been in a post-apocalyptic mood lately (I'm sure the election tomorrow has NOTHING to do with it) and a friend of mine recommended this book (she was the one responsible for acquiring the book for the publisher, in fact), so I checked it out from the library.
First off, it's an easy and fast read; I finished in two days. Second, while the book contains plenty of the standard zombie cliches I expected, it does still manage to throw in a couple of unique twists and turns, just enough to keep me reading to see what happenes next. Third, while having each chapter be told from the POV of different characters is not unique (rare in published works but not unheard of), I did find it disconcerting to have the narrative POV change from third person to first person depending on the character in question. To me that seems more of an amateur's mistake, something a professional editor would catch and correct; IMO you should pick with one mode and stick with it. Finally, I found the ending a bit abrupt and not particularly satisfying. Unless this is just the first in a coming series (God knows it's trendy right now to produce everything in trilogies), it definitely left a lot of questions unanswered. But maybe that's the point of zombie apocalypse fiction...?
My verdict? It's still worth reading, particularly if you do NOT want yet another YA knock-off. The author is not afraid to kill off main characters, or even narrative ones, which does add a sense of urgency to what is supposed to be urgent storytelling! But the book does have flaws that make it feel a bit like better-than-average fanfic at times.
First off, it's an easy and fast read; I finished in two days. Second, while the book contains plenty of the standard zombie cliches I expected, it does still manage to throw in a couple of unique twists and turns, just enough to keep me reading to see what happenes next. Third, while having each chapter be told from the POV of different characters is not unique (rare in published works but not unheard of), I did find it disconcerting to have the narrative POV change from third person to first person depending on the character in question. To me that seems more of an amateur's mistake, something a professional editor would catch and correct; IMO you should pick with one mode and stick with it. Finally, I found the ending a bit abrupt and not particularly satisfying. Unless this is just the first in a coming series (God knows it's trendy right now to produce everything in trilogies), it definitely left a lot of questions unanswered. But maybe that's the point of zombie apocalypse fiction...?
My verdict? It's still worth reading, particularly if you do NOT want yet another YA knock-off. The author is not afraid to kill off main characters, or even narrative ones, which does add a sense of urgency to what is supposed to be urgent storytelling! But the book does have flaws that make it feel a bit like better-than-average fanfic at times.
April 3, 2013
I really wanted to like this book. And I don't like giving harsh reviews because writing is a very personal thing and there's no sense in being overly critical. I'll just list some of my observations and the things I did not like about this book.
The book was set in Arkansas, which I was very excited about because I am from Arkansas. That being said, some of the geography was inaccurate (I-40 is not anywhere near White Hall or Arkadelphia). I know that may be a nit-picky thing to get distracted from, but it distracted me. I feel like this could have been caught in editing/reviewing. And the author is also from Arkansas, so I'm not sure why that was not correct.
I just didn't like the characters. I sort of liked Knock-Out, but that was about it.
I did not feel like the third chapter/account (Cass's story) furthered the plot much. I feel like it could have been left out and rewritten a bit to get where the story was meant to be without her account.
Some of the chapters/accounts were written in first-person and some in third. I could not figure out a pattern, if it was intentional. If it wasn't intentional, I feel like an editor should have caught it.
There were not really any new zombie ideas in this book. Which is fine, I suppose. I was just really looking forward to reading this and it didn't meet my expectations. The writing was fine, I just didn't care for the story. It wasn't a complete waste of time, as I actually finished it (I have been known to just stop reading books when I didn't like them). If there were half-stars, I'd give it a 2.5.
The book was set in Arkansas, which I was very excited about because I am from Arkansas. That being said, some of the geography was inaccurate (I-40 is not anywhere near White Hall or Arkadelphia). I know that may be a nit-picky thing to get distracted from, but it distracted me. I feel like this could have been caught in editing/reviewing. And the author is also from Arkansas, so I'm not sure why that was not correct.
I just didn't like the characters. I sort of liked Knock-Out, but that was about it.
I did not feel like the third chapter/account (Cass's story) furthered the plot much. I feel like it could have been left out and rewritten a bit to get where the story was meant to be without her account.
Some of the chapters/accounts were written in first-person and some in third. I could not figure out a pattern, if it was intentional. If it wasn't intentional, I feel like an editor should have caught it.
There were not really any new zombie ideas in this book. Which is fine, I suppose. I was just really looking forward to reading this and it didn't meet my expectations. The writing was fine, I just didn't care for the story. It wasn't a complete waste of time, as I actually finished it (I have been known to just stop reading books when I didn't like them). If there were half-stars, I'd give it a 2.5.
December 11, 2012
Kind of up and down. Some parts I really enjoyed, others...not so much.
To call the beginning over-the-top is likening a nuclear explosion to a "sizable bang". I thought it was far-fetched. Like Sandra Bullock jumping a gap in a bridge with a metro bus far-fetched. I also thought the medical jargon was unnecessary was well, other than to show that, yes, Dr. Ingersol really *was* a doctor. But if you like frenetic action in the opening sequence of your books, this one definitely delivers.
Another issue I have is with John Connor...ahem, Gus Ingersol. For a 10 year old kid to have that kind of, I don't know, gravitas, was a more than a little far-fetched for me. To be honest, if I ever met a kid like Gus, I'd be more than a little worried he'd grow up to be a serial killer. Not to mention the 14 year old version doing what he did - it was too much. I realize that fictional stories demand suspension of disbelief but there's suspending it and then there's shooting it into a black hole. This Dark Earth demanded that I do that.
But it wasn't a bad book overall. Sure the characters could have used more development and weren't all that empathetic (Knock-Out being an exception). Yes, some of the dialog was kind of clunky and the ending was something of a letdown. However, it was an entertaining read.
To call the beginning over-the-top is likening a nuclear explosion to a "sizable bang". I thought it was far-fetched. Like Sandra Bullock jumping a gap in a bridge with a metro bus far-fetched. I also thought the medical jargon was unnecessary was well, other than to show that, yes, Dr. Ingersol really *was* a doctor. But if you like frenetic action in the opening sequence of your books, this one definitely delivers.
Another issue I have is with John Connor...ahem, Gus Ingersol. For a 10 year old kid to have that kind of, I don't know, gravitas, was a more than a little far-fetched for me. To be honest, if I ever met a kid like Gus, I'd be more than a little worried he'd grow up to be a serial killer. Not to mention the 14 year old version doing what he did - it was too much. I realize that fictional stories demand suspension of disbelief but there's suspending it and then there's shooting it into a black hole. This Dark Earth demanded that I do that.
But it wasn't a bad book overall. Sure the characters could have used more development and weren't all that empathetic (Knock-Out being an exception). Yes, some of the dialog was kind of clunky and the ending was something of a letdown. However, it was an entertaining read.
March 11, 2021
This Dark Earth is a bleak-as-fuck survival story set against the backdrop of a zombie apocalypse, which is explained as much as is needed for such an event. The US government responds to the revenant threat by nuking large swaths of the country, putting survivors at risk of cancer. The fallout initially seems like it’ll be a major player, but it just fizzles and only sickens one character.
The characters are thin and the story is mostly propelled by action. There’s plenty of action and plenty of gore and even a little x-rated fucking.
The character voices are often not unique enough from each other to easily discern whose pov you’re in. This led to some confusion for me toward the middle of the book when certain events were glossed over and a new character was brought in.
Or maybe I fell asleep at the wheel ... wouldn’t be the first time.
A little disorganized, a little flat, but overall fun. I picked this up because i loved A Lush and Seething Hell and it simply isn’t close to the caliber of those stories.
The characters are thin and the story is mostly propelled by action. There’s plenty of action and plenty of gore and even a little x-rated fucking.
The character voices are often not unique enough from each other to easily discern whose pov you’re in. This led to some confusion for me toward the middle of the book when certain events were glossed over and a new character was brought in.
Or maybe I fell asleep at the wheel ... wouldn’t be the first time.
A little disorganized, a little flat, but overall fun. I picked this up because i loved A Lush and Seething Hell and it simply isn’t close to the caliber of those stories.
May 7, 2013
Standard zombie-apocalypse fare. Not too badly written, but the point of view changes from character to character, and you only have one first-person pov at a time. It's a unique way to tell a story, but I don't see how it made the story better. I subtracted a few stars for inaccurate use of medical terminology, the use of graphic rape scenes to villify his villain, and a transparent use of the novel to air the author's idea that an interstate overpass is a good locale for a survivor settlement (which he then failed to support). That being said, it still had an effective story arc, believable characters, and a fine pace. It was a great break from several weeks of work-related studying.
Finally got around to reading it - thank you Lakeshia!!!
Finally got around to reading it - thank you Lakeshia!!!
October 6, 2012
Absolutely the best horror, zombie,end of the world, apocalyptic book I have read. This dark earth by John Hornor Jacobs hits the ground running from page one to the last page and leaves you begging for more. The main characters are Lucy, a self-reliant hard working doctor who is better with the microscope than dealing with patients, her son Gus a 10 year old who's world has turned into a living nightmare and Knock-Out, a trucker who comes into their lives at the right or wrong time, you decide. Not everyone likes this type of story line but those who do, will avidly devour (no pun intended) this book. The last chapter will have you gasping and praying that there is more. Gus and Lucy's story is not finished.
September 7, 2013
Mediocre characters, weak story, offensive and unnecessary imagery. Everything was fine and I was enjoying the book until Tessa's story... that left turn took the book into no-man's land in a bad way. I stuck it out to the end because it is a page turner... However, the climax is nothing more than a dud. Too much time lapses and you're never quite sure where the Hell you are or who the heck you are, or even what the heck you're reading about. While the point of view changes were clever, they left me wishing we'd go back to the core characters, which never happens. The reduction of star rating is for confusing text, obscene content, lack of resolve, and too many similarities to The Walking Dead Graphic Novels (which I did not detail in my review for sake of Spoilers).
August 13, 2012
I'm not normally a fan of the zombie genre. A friend gave the kindle version of this book and I read it with some reservations. My reservations were unfounded. Instead of the standard tropes of the genre, the author presents a plausible world with well developed characters. Instead of people making stupid decisions, his characters take acts that are both believable and intriguing. It has the grittiness you come to expect from zombie novels and such without letting it overwhelm the human aspect. I highly recommend picking up this book, an excellent read.
September 23, 2012
Once again, Jacobs' storytelling skills and excellent character development make a tale of zombies a fun and engrossing read. Set in Arkansas and told from the perspective of several different characters, this apocalyptic story explores human behavior and needs--the good and the bad--when left without rules and authority. We see people rise to an occasion for leadership and others sink to abysmal levels becoming the worst kind of dictators. It was a little bit "The Road," a little bit "I Am Legend" and a lot of Jacobs making it special with his unique humor and wit.
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February 10, 2013I'm happy I read this book. It helped me realize how important it is to create a good time frame in a book. It was all over the place and I had no idea of the flow of the book at all. Typically, it is hard to write from so many different character's perspectives. However, it can be done right and beautifully. Unfortunately, this book fell short in character development. There are some really good and gruesome Zombie killing parts. That I will rate as the book's main strength :)
February 3, 2016
A solid read overall, with artistic flourishes that elevate it above simple pulp. Each chapter is narrated by a different character in the first person until the last, which takes a third person PoV (but follows the narrator of the fourth and best chapter). The structural risk pays off for the most part, but ends up stranding two of the seven chapters largely in pointlessness. Didn't mean they weren't good stories, but it did mean they ended up not doing much for the plot as a whole.
July 18, 2012
Fans of The Walking Dead will LOVE this book! It is a very entertaining, yet dark read. Some possible YA crossover but there are some sex scenes and violence. If you liked Rot and Ruin, World War Z Hollowland or any other zombie tome, this book is for you! If you read any post apocalyptic books or dystopian, this would be a good crossover into the zombie world. I strongly recommend.
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