What do you think?
Rate this book
Soundtrack to the End of the World
A suicidal nudist strolls into traffic. An eccentric Buddhist claims he can occupy other people’s bodies. All the while, whispers of a new form of entertainment blow through town. Prompted by these strange occurrences, Marty Raft, a not-so-gentle giant, investigates and discovers underground clubs peddling music that induces an out-of-body experience. Marty and a wannabe comedian, Corey, set out to prove these special frequencies are nothing more than a hoax, or at worst, a mass-drugging.
Instead, they uncover a secret with world-ending possibilities.
If you can hear the music, it’s already too late.
Instead, they uncover a secret with world-ending possibilities.
If you can hear the music, it’s already too late.
264 pages, Paperback
First published May 10, 2012
3 people are currently reading
384 people want to read
About the author
Anthony J. Rapino
20 books72 followersANTHONY J. RAPINO is a horror writer and sculptor. He's also a teacher, and somehow that makes more sense than it should. He spends his days among people and things that demand shaping: Words, clay, or minds, it amounts to the same job. Though the minds are a hard sell, you can find his fiction and sculptures online. Discover more on www.AnthonyJRapino.com and https://linktr.ee/arapino
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 23, 2020
4.5 This fun and sometimes humorous story quickly develops believable and likable characters. With an interesting storyline the author doesn’t waste pages with repetitive fight scenes just for gore and shock value. Raft, Corey, and everyone in this make you want to join in to help them figure out what is happening. It is a horror story that makes you feel their feelings but isn’t overly emo
September 10, 2012
You pick up the back of this book, and read the blurb, and it sounds very, very exciting. 'A suicidal nudist strolls into traffic. Explosions in France cause world-wide dramatic action sequences to ricochet throughout planet.' Well, maybe it doesn't say that second one right on the back, but the point is that they are quick to impress upon you the massive scale of the action and the horrors. What they don't do is warn you that you are about to be suckerpunched in the gut with emotion, and that, upon beginning to read this book, you will be increasingly straightjacketed by concern for the three dimensional and utterly sympathetic characters.
Rapino handles everything he throws at the reader here like a master. This isn't someone squinting down at some mass-produced blueprint while they try to copy what someone else has done. Plot, character, humor, sadness, depth, banality, social commentary, and pure fun all have their places here, and in perfect balance. Complex ideas are presented with clarity, lush settings and detailed visual and sensory elements are rendered evocatively,and everything is handled with a sensitive, human touch.
This ain't your ordinary apocalypse, and the re-animated bodies in this tale don't want your brains.
This is, more than anything, a story about a man who lost his family and found a new one - and what he learns about himself and the world on his journey. It also is filled with disgusting terror, dramatic action, and non-stop brilliant characterization. From Corey the unfunny comedian with his heart in the right place, to the two boisterous 'Jameses,' everybody here seems fleshed out and real. But perhaps no character more so than Anna Marie Carrel, a little girl that main character Marty Raft meets up with shortly after the fan has been struck by the poop parade.
She's the kind of character we all love to read about: scared but brave, a little girl who endured so many horrors already and who has every reason to give up, but never considers it as an option. She is both the glue that holds the little family together, and the flavor that gives the ragtag group of survivors lives a shade of meaning as they try to put their increasingly intricate theories about what has led to humanity's downfall to the test.
Anthony Rapino is like the characters in his book. At one point, investigating a lead to one of their theories about the zombie outbreak, Marty and his group are headed towards town on a highway clogged with stopped cars, slogging their way on foot along the shoulder as the throng of people heading the other way - out of the city - stare across the ditch at them. Clearly, the question on all of their minds is 'What the hell are YOU guys doing?'
In the same way, Anthony bravely treks against the current in his explorations of the zombie phenomenon, and like the characters in his book - his path is dictated more by his quest for answers and his zeal for finding them than it is by mindless, popular wisdom.
The zombie story like you've never seen it before, but happening to people as they've always been. The perfect recipe for a gripping read. Like Marty, maybe by the end we'll all realize that we've been becoming just a little bit zombiefied inside, ourselves - and like Marty, maybe we have a chance to snap out of it.
Rapino handles everything he throws at the reader here like a master. This isn't someone squinting down at some mass-produced blueprint while they try to copy what someone else has done. Plot, character, humor, sadness, depth, banality, social commentary, and pure fun all have their places here, and in perfect balance. Complex ideas are presented with clarity, lush settings and detailed visual and sensory elements are rendered evocatively,and everything is handled with a sensitive, human touch.
This ain't your ordinary apocalypse, and the re-animated bodies in this tale don't want your brains.
This is, more than anything, a story about a man who lost his family and found a new one - and what he learns about himself and the world on his journey. It also is filled with disgusting terror, dramatic action, and non-stop brilliant characterization. From Corey the unfunny comedian with his heart in the right place, to the two boisterous 'Jameses,' everybody here seems fleshed out and real. But perhaps no character more so than Anna Marie Carrel, a little girl that main character Marty Raft meets up with shortly after the fan has been struck by the poop parade.
She's the kind of character we all love to read about: scared but brave, a little girl who endured so many horrors already and who has every reason to give up, but never considers it as an option. She is both the glue that holds the little family together, and the flavor that gives the ragtag group of survivors lives a shade of meaning as they try to put their increasingly intricate theories about what has led to humanity's downfall to the test.
Anthony Rapino is like the characters in his book. At one point, investigating a lead to one of their theories about the zombie outbreak, Marty and his group are headed towards town on a highway clogged with stopped cars, slogging their way on foot along the shoulder as the throng of people heading the other way - out of the city - stare across the ditch at them. Clearly, the question on all of their minds is 'What the hell are YOU guys doing?'
In the same way, Anthony bravely treks against the current in his explorations of the zombie phenomenon, and like the characters in his book - his path is dictated more by his quest for answers and his zeal for finding them than it is by mindless, popular wisdom.
The zombie story like you've never seen it before, but happening to people as they've always been. The perfect recipe for a gripping read. Like Marty, maybe by the end we'll all realize that we've been becoming just a little bit zombiefied inside, ourselves - and like Marty, maybe we have a chance to snap out of it.
August 12, 2012
At first, I was a little cautious about reading a book of this nature. I'm generally a chicken S*@$, but I do love zombies. Zombies scare the crap out of me. This book had a whole new concept of how a zombie is that I never even thought of before, and that's saying something... I've thought A LOT about how zombies would be like and how they'd become the living dead. The new idea was refreshing.
What also intrigued me was the lore behind the whole novel. The "mumbo-jumbo" of out-of-body-experiences and aura reading is a very key idea throughout the story and it got me to read more into that sort of stuff as well.
Soundtrack to the End of the World is an awesome book filled with witty humor and a bit of blood and gore. It could very well give you nightmares, but that's mostly because you're thinking about things that you've probably never thought before... such as, what if some scientist gets the bright idea to do a worldwide experiment on the human race?
I'll give you a little advice... buy some earplugs.
What also intrigued me was the lore behind the whole novel. The "mumbo-jumbo" of out-of-body-experiences and aura reading is a very key idea throughout the story and it got me to read more into that sort of stuff as well.
Soundtrack to the End of the World is an awesome book filled with witty humor and a bit of blood and gore. It could very well give you nightmares, but that's mostly because you're thinking about things that you've probably never thought before... such as, what if some scientist gets the bright idea to do a worldwide experiment on the human race?
I'll give you a little advice... buy some earplugs.
December 10, 2019
Bizarre yet refreshing take on the zombie genre. Admittedly, I wasn't aware it was a zombie story when I requested this so that was a pleasant surprise.
Good storyline and not particularly gory or violent so would be ok for younger readers or for those a little squeamish.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request via Audioboom and have voluntarily left this review.
Good storyline and not particularly gory or violent so would be ok for younger readers or for those a little squeamish.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request via Audioboom and have voluntarily left this review.
October 9, 2020
zombies with a twist
Just when you think there can't be a new way to tell an apocalyptic zombie story, Rapino proves you wrong!
Just when you think there can't be a new way to tell an apocalyptic zombie story, Rapino proves you wrong!
August 6, 2012
In Soundtrack to the End of the World, Anthony J. Rapino gives a fresh approach to the Zombie Apocalypse!
Marty Raft is a good man with a tragic past. He and his best friend Corey find themselves in the fight for their lives - even their very souls - after they attend a club offering a one of a kind experience. Can they survive or will they become part of the mass of wandering flesh that now inhabits their town?
This novel really gripped me tight from the beginning. It is well written and descriptive with great characters and a unique plot. I loved it and I'm anxiously awaiting more from this talented author!
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to the store to buy them out of earplugs! ;)
Marty Raft is a good man with a tragic past. He and his best friend Corey find themselves in the fight for their lives - even their very souls - after they attend a club offering a one of a kind experience. Can they survive or will they become part of the mass of wandering flesh that now inhabits their town?
This novel really gripped me tight from the beginning. It is well written and descriptive with great characters and a unique plot. I loved it and I'm anxiously awaiting more from this talented author!
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to the store to buy them out of earplugs! ;)
October 17, 2015
An original take on an overexposed genre. The cause and nature of the zombie outbreak is a refreshing departure than the usual plot in these type of stories. And while there is suffering and mass loss of life, the end of the world comes off as a fresh start following tragedy than a hopeless apocalypse.
July 10, 2012
Depressing
October 31, 2021
This was one fun listen. I definitely recommend it.
January 28, 2020
A different take on zombies. A must read/listen to those that are fans of the genre.
October 12, 2012
Strange things are starting to happen all over the world. One man walks naked into heavy traffic. Another man is defecating all over his apartment building and there is a new underground night club that says it can give you an out of body experience. Welcome to Marty Raft's world, he's a man with a horrific past who plans to find out what's going on in Anthony Rapino's Soundtrack To The End Of The World.
Going along for the ride with Marty is his best friend Corey, a wannabe comedian with problems of his own. Corey and Marty get an invitation to the underground night club from their friend Skinny, who is a Buddhist and claims he can take over other people's bodies. In the club they witness the impossible and see spirits leaving their bodies and entering other people.
From there things start to get worse, people start turning into zombies, but these aren't your normal everyday zombies, they don't want to eat the living. In fact nobody is quite sure what they want but when the zombies see the living their jaws open wide and they let loose a high pitched scream that turns the living into the undead.
When I started reading Soundtrack To The End Of The World I was expecting an all out action packed gore fest. While it does have action and gore it offers a lot more. At the heart of the book is a story about the importance of family. Marty has lost his family and is just drifting through life. This is illustrated when he witnesses a man die and he thinks to himself that he wants to care and he tries to look like he cares but in reality he just feels hollow inside and doesn't know what to do.
On his journey to find out what is causing the zombie apocalypse he meets other people and they become a family and Marty finds his purpose. The book gives an interesting social commentary on whats important in life and gets into philosophy as well. It also provides some humor and some tense scenes where your not sure if the zombies or the people Marty and company meet on the road are the bigger menace.
There was a couple of scenes in the book that I did find confusing, like when two of the men that Marty are traveling with think they see something and they go running through the woods and get captured by slave traders. There is also a confusing scene where Marty's truck gets stopped in a traffic jam and hit by a car of people who end up joining Marty's family, but the story has many great scenes as well.
In particular I liked the scene where Marty and his family are taken to a church where a mad priest thinks the rapture is happening and is giving people to the zombies so they can be saved. I also loved the fight scene at the end of the book and how the book wraps up. There is also a really good love scene that is funny and touching at the same time. Soundtrack To The End Of The World is a very original zombie tale with a lot of action and gore thrown in for good measure.
Going along for the ride with Marty is his best friend Corey, a wannabe comedian with problems of his own. Corey and Marty get an invitation to the underground night club from their friend Skinny, who is a Buddhist and claims he can take over other people's bodies. In the club they witness the impossible and see spirits leaving their bodies and entering other people.
From there things start to get worse, people start turning into zombies, but these aren't your normal everyday zombies, they don't want to eat the living. In fact nobody is quite sure what they want but when the zombies see the living their jaws open wide and they let loose a high pitched scream that turns the living into the undead.
When I started reading Soundtrack To The End Of The World I was expecting an all out action packed gore fest. While it does have action and gore it offers a lot more. At the heart of the book is a story about the importance of family. Marty has lost his family and is just drifting through life. This is illustrated when he witnesses a man die and he thinks to himself that he wants to care and he tries to look like he cares but in reality he just feels hollow inside and doesn't know what to do.
On his journey to find out what is causing the zombie apocalypse he meets other people and they become a family and Marty finds his purpose. The book gives an interesting social commentary on whats important in life and gets into philosophy as well. It also provides some humor and some tense scenes where your not sure if the zombies or the people Marty and company meet on the road are the bigger menace.
There was a couple of scenes in the book that I did find confusing, like when two of the men that Marty are traveling with think they see something and they go running through the woods and get captured by slave traders. There is also a confusing scene where Marty's truck gets stopped in a traffic jam and hit by a car of people who end up joining Marty's family, but the story has many great scenes as well.
In particular I liked the scene where Marty and his family are taken to a church where a mad priest thinks the rapture is happening and is giving people to the zombies so they can be saved. I also loved the fight scene at the end of the book and how the book wraps up. There is also a really good love scene that is funny and touching at the same time. Soundtrack To The End Of The World is a very original zombie tale with a lot of action and gore thrown in for good measure.
March 4, 2021
A brilliant and unique take on a classic genre.
Soundtrack to the End of the World is a great story with a really interesting premise that makes it something unique and well worth reading. I’m going to try not to spoil it too much because part of the enjoyment of the book is in the unraveling of the mystery, but I have to say that it is very different from your typical zombie apocalypse novels. The separation from the traditional and predictable elements is smart and refreshing. If zombie apocalypse books aren’t your thing, you really should give this book a try. If the stories in that genre are your thing, then you REALLY have to give this book a try. I gave it a shot because I received the book for free, but after I finished it, I have no doubt I would have purchased it if I had known how good it was.
In addition to the interesting premise, Rapino just writes a damn good story. The characters had a nice depth to them, the plot development had a balanced pace, and there were plenty of twists and turns along the way that kept me engaged and interested. The ending left me with some unanswered questions, but I think the mystery was intended. As the book comes to a close, the audience and the characters are left with a shared uncanny sense of puzzlement over the events that occurred over the course of the narrative. You will be disappointed if you read the book thinking all the mysteries will be revealed at the end.
This is the second book I’ve listened to that was narrated by Eric Moore and he’s given a consistently great performance both times. He’s got some talent producing a wide range of voices for different characters, including both male and female characters that is convincing. His tone adds to the suspense and mystery to books like the Soundtrack to the End of the World. I’d recommend giving any book he narrates a try.
Thank you to Eric Moore, who provided me this book free of charge at my request.
Soundtrack to the End of the World is a great story with a really interesting premise that makes it something unique and well worth reading. I’m going to try not to spoil it too much because part of the enjoyment of the book is in the unraveling of the mystery, but I have to say that it is very different from your typical zombie apocalypse novels. The separation from the traditional and predictable elements is smart and refreshing. If zombie apocalypse books aren’t your thing, you really should give this book a try. If the stories in that genre are your thing, then you REALLY have to give this book a try. I gave it a shot because I received the book for free, but after I finished it, I have no doubt I would have purchased it if I had known how good it was.
In addition to the interesting premise, Rapino just writes a damn good story. The characters had a nice depth to them, the plot development had a balanced pace, and there were plenty of twists and turns along the way that kept me engaged and interested. The ending left me with some unanswered questions, but I think the mystery was intended. As the book comes to a close, the audience and the characters are left with a shared uncanny sense of puzzlement over the events that occurred over the course of the narrative. You will be disappointed if you read the book thinking all the mysteries will be revealed at the end.
This is the second book I’ve listened to that was narrated by Eric Moore and he’s given a consistently great performance both times. He’s got some talent producing a wide range of voices for different characters, including both male and female characters that is convincing. His tone adds to the suspense and mystery to books like the Soundtrack to the End of the World. I’d recommend giving any book he narrates a try.
Thank you to Eric Moore, who provided me this book free of charge at my request.
October 1, 2012
(I'm borrowing this from my upcoming feature on the book.)
Earlier this year I watched a film titled Pontypool which explores the concept of "infected" language. Rapino travels a similar road with his novel, but rather than follow the same path, he takes a left turn into uncharted territory by using music as the operative virus of this particular apocalypse. The result is a story that defies the established "rules" of zombie fiction, backed by a likable cast of characters and balanced between scenes of horror and comedy.
In a nutshell, I really enjoyed this book and had a great time with it. It's a fun ride, and the soundtrack's not bad, either. If you enjoy zombie horror with a little comedy, or if you enjoy fiction that isn't afraid to try new things, I strongly recommend you check out this book.
Earlier this year I watched a film titled Pontypool which explores the concept of "infected" language. Rapino travels a similar road with his novel, but rather than follow the same path, he takes a left turn into uncharted territory by using music as the operative virus of this particular apocalypse. The result is a story that defies the established "rules" of zombie fiction, backed by a likable cast of characters and balanced between scenes of horror and comedy.
In a nutshell, I really enjoyed this book and had a great time with it. It's a fun ride, and the soundtrack's not bad, either. If you enjoy zombie horror with a little comedy, or if you enjoy fiction that isn't afraid to try new things, I strongly recommend you check out this book.
February 27, 2016
I had so much fun reading this book! I'm going to try to be as vague as possible and not give too much away. The relationships between the characters seemed real and genuine, never forced. The comedic timing throughout the novel, for me, was spot on. I was consistantly intrigued by the plot, as it was a bit of a different take on my favorite genre. This was a thrilling novel, and a fun read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes horror or apocalyptic novels.
Oh, and the "soundtrack" is absoluetly perfect.
Oh, and the "soundtrack" is absoluetly perfect.
September 24, 2012
Let me start by saying, zombies freak me out.. I LOVE scary books and movies, but zombie movie almost always give me nightmares! I honestly think it's due to having no control..
To see the rest of the review and enter the giveaway please see my blog
http://stephsgrn.blogspot.com/2012/09...
To see the rest of the review and enter the giveaway please see my blog
http://stephsgrn.blogspot.com/2012/09...
January 19, 2014
I really enjoyed this book a lot. I found the author's take on the zombie genre to be different, which was refreshing and a great spin on it. The story moved at a great pace, and I would love to see the main characters pop up again in another story
May 31, 2014
First thoughts as I was reading this was "Just another typical zombie story". Then I kept reading and surprise, surprise.......it wasn't. Well, yes it's a zombie story but with new angles on many things. Starts off slow but picks up quickly. Very strange ending but good.
February 17, 2015
4.5/5
A unique and entertaining take on the Zombie genre, and unlike the usual zombie fare this has a definitive conclusion.
I wish Anthony Rapino had more reads to delve into.
Full review pending.
The Mouths of Madness Podcastshow
Www.facebook.com/themouthsofmadness
A unique and entertaining take on the Zombie genre, and unlike the usual zombie fare this has a definitive conclusion.
I wish Anthony Rapino had more reads to delve into.
Full review pending.
The Mouths of Madness Podcastshow
Www.facebook.com/themouthsofmadness
November 28, 2019
Completely original take on zombies
Fantastic characters with great music taste and special talents this holds your attention till the end
Excellent narration and perfect for the zombie fan looking for something new
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
Fantastic characters with great music taste and special talents this holds your attention till the end
Excellent narration and perfect for the zombie fan looking for something new
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
March 9, 2025
Don’t let the cover fool you. This one is fun, unique and completly crazy…. But in a good way.
Never heard a story like this one and neither have you. I promise you that. It was really good. Take a chance and enjoy a wild ride.
Narration by Eric B Moore was excellent.
Never heard a story like this one and neither have you. I promise you that. It was really good. Take a chance and enjoy a wild ride.
Narration by Eric B Moore was excellent.
December 9, 2025
Pop up night clubs, out of body experiences, a naked business man walks into traffic, the world gets weird, and everything spirals into a wonderfully bizarre apocalypse. The characters are lovable disasters. It’s cosmic chaos with a beat and a bittersweet happy ending.
September 19, 2013
What if the world ended not with a roar, but with a whimper? Better than that, what if the world ended with a wicked guitar solo? In Anthony J. Rapino's debut novel, Soundtrack to the End of the World, the apocalypse arises through, of all things, music.
Marty Raft is a big, burly, lovable lug. Already depressed over the untimely deaths of his parents, he finds out his college mentor, Dr. Pepper, died months ago from cancer. To help him out, his best friend and hack comic, Corey, sets him up to meet with an aura reader, even though Raft doesn't buy into that hippy dippy sh*t. He's instantly attracted to Naomi, the not-so-hippy reader, but doesn't have a lot of time to follow up on that when things start turning weird around town. And weird just turns to worldwide panic, as a new out-of-body experience craze hitting the underground night club scene appears to be responsible for a full-blown zombie apocalypse.
If you want to see the world go to hell in a handbasket, Anthony J. Rapino has invented a pretty original way to go about it. I think the closest thing I can compare this premise to is the Tony Burgess novel, Pontypool Changes Everything, but that novel has a much more claustrophobic setting for its mayhem. Soundtrack starts small and just gets bigger with each chapter. The pacing is a little slow at first, but in so doing the characters are fleshed out really well, and the budding relationship between Raft and Naomi amid the chaos helps drive the story.
Calling Soundtrack a zombie novel may be a bit misleading, though. It is certainly the kind of novel that should appeal to readers with a voracious appetite for zombie fiction, but it definitely doesn't follow the guidelines of your standard zombie story. The mystery behind what exactly is causing people to behave the way they do, and how Raft and his small band of survivors work to keep alive, offer their own twists that started quirky enough and just turned downright extraordinary leading into the climactic end. That's a good sign when veering into such often-visited territory like the end of the world.
Aside from the occasional hiccup, Rapino is off to a strong start with this debut effort. And in keeping with the music theme, Soundtrack marches to its own blood-soaked drumbeat.
Marty Raft is a big, burly, lovable lug. Already depressed over the untimely deaths of his parents, he finds out his college mentor, Dr. Pepper, died months ago from cancer. To help him out, his best friend and hack comic, Corey, sets him up to meet with an aura reader, even though Raft doesn't buy into that hippy dippy sh*t. He's instantly attracted to Naomi, the not-so-hippy reader, but doesn't have a lot of time to follow up on that when things start turning weird around town. And weird just turns to worldwide panic, as a new out-of-body experience craze hitting the underground night club scene appears to be responsible for a full-blown zombie apocalypse.
If you want to see the world go to hell in a handbasket, Anthony J. Rapino has invented a pretty original way to go about it. I think the closest thing I can compare this premise to is the Tony Burgess novel, Pontypool Changes Everything, but that novel has a much more claustrophobic setting for its mayhem. Soundtrack starts small and just gets bigger with each chapter. The pacing is a little slow at first, but in so doing the characters are fleshed out really well, and the budding relationship between Raft and Naomi amid the chaos helps drive the story.
Calling Soundtrack a zombie novel may be a bit misleading, though. It is certainly the kind of novel that should appeal to readers with a voracious appetite for zombie fiction, but it definitely doesn't follow the guidelines of your standard zombie story. The mystery behind what exactly is causing people to behave the way they do, and how Raft and his small band of survivors work to keep alive, offer their own twists that started quirky enough and just turned downright extraordinary leading into the climactic end. That's a good sign when veering into such often-visited territory like the end of the world.
Aside from the occasional hiccup, Rapino is off to a strong start with this debut effort. And in keeping with the music theme, Soundtrack marches to its own blood-soaked drumbeat.
July 3, 2025
I don't normally like zombie books. But this is a different kind of zombie story with aural readings and body-hopping. Anthony takes you on zombie adventure you're sure to enjoy, and not forget. I would definitely recommend this book.
I reread this book several years after my original reading. I stand bv my original statement - I normally don't like zombie stories, but this one is different. I very much enjoyed it. So, if you, like me, don't like zombies, definitely give this one a try. I'm sure you'll like it as much as I did.
I reread this book several years after my original reading. I stand bv my original statement - I normally don't like zombie stories, but this one is different. I very much enjoyed it. So, if you, like me, don't like zombies, definitely give this one a try. I'm sure you'll like it as much as I did.
January 21, 2013
Fun book. Very quick read. I'm learning that zombie stories are a guilty pleasure
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews