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The Zombie Bible #3
Strangers in the Land
The aging prophet Devora bolts awake in terror, gasping for air. In her dream she heard her mother’s shrieks as the ravenous dead pulled her from the tent. Devora had been only a girl then, crying as she listened to her mother's screams and the tearing of her flesh.
And in the morning, when her mother rose—undead and hungering—Devora slew her.
This third volume of The Zombie Bible takes you to 1160 BC Israel as the walking corpses devour the tents and homesteads of the People. Four will stand against the dead: Devora, who sees what God sees. The slave girl Hurriya. Zadok, a legend among warriors. And the widower Barak, fighting to keep his vineyard free of this new peril. But can they stand together? For the living fear each other—fear the strangers in the land—as much as they fear the hungry dead.
Strangers in the Land brings an episode from the biblical book of Judges to life, fierce and blood spattered. Few will survive the coming of the dead. None will survive unchanged.
And in the morning, when her mother rose—undead and hungering—Devora slew her.
This third volume of The Zombie Bible takes you to 1160 BC Israel as the walking corpses devour the tents and homesteads of the People. Four will stand against the dead: Devora, who sees what God sees. The slave girl Hurriya. Zadok, a legend among warriors. And the widower Barak, fighting to keep his vineyard free of this new peril. But can they stand together? For the living fear each other—fear the strangers in the land—as much as they fear the hungry dead.
Strangers in the Land brings an episode from the biblical book of Judges to life, fierce and blood spattered. Few will survive the coming of the dead. None will survive unchanged.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 16, 2012
9 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
Stant Litore
49 books216 followersStant Litore is the author of Ansible, The Running of the Tyrannosaurs, The Zombie Bible, and Dante’s Heart. Besides science fiction and fantasy, he has written the writers’ toolkits Write Worlds Your Readers Won’t Forget and Write Characters Your Readers Won’t Forget, as well as Lives of Unstoppable Hope and Lives of Unforgetting, and has been featured in Jeff Vandermeer’s Wonderbook: An Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction. He has served as a developmental editor for Westmarch Publishing and holds a Ph.D. in English. He lives in Aurora, Colorado with his wife and three children and is currently at work on his next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 13, 2012
From: http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy....
At A Glance
Another great installment for The Zombie Bible series. I never knew what to expect which kept me on my toes.
The Good
Don't Worry...
Let me start off by saying that this is not a religious book. It does not preach in the way you might think. Strangers in the Land takes place in a time where religion and faith was all these people had. So there is religious content but this book does not try to sway your beliefs.
Zombie Art...
Oh. My. God. Must you rip out my heart so savagely, Stant? I turned the last page of Strangers in the Land and felt like I had been chewed up and spit out. You cannot dive into a Stant Litore book without bracing yourself for horror, gore, and heartbreak. But luckily, you also walk away in awe with what this man has put down on paper. It's like zombie art. How he does it, I will never know.
God's Voice...
This time around we are taken on a journey with four very different individuals. The main character, Devora, has been chosen as God's voice. She interprets the visions he sends her and directs her people accordingly. Since most women during this time period are treated like slaves and commodities, I was inspired to see Devora stand up to the archaic men. She believed in herself no matter how much these men tried to belittle her. She wasn't perfect, but she did her best to lead her people into the dismal war against the zombies. But these men, the northerners, have become no better than barbarians who resist her command and her position. This made for great tension throughout the novel. I respected Devora for her faith and her determination to try to save everyone. She has a big heart despite her horrific past.
The Warrior...
Zadok, the warrior, was one of the most interesting characters. His dedication to protecting Devora is admirable and endearing. Slowly it is revealed how they had come to know each other and the story is heartbreaking. Their friendship is very complicated for Devora is married to a wonderful man, but Zadok's love for her is just as beautiful. But Zadok has a dark past that haunts him everyday. I simply wanted to cry for the pain he carries and relives so often. He was my hero in this book.
The Widower...
I wanted to hate Barak, the northern widower. His family's death has made him a cold man. He thinks little of women and even less of Devora. His relationship with God has also taken a hit. He wants to be a leader for his people, but how can he keep their respect when Devora thinks he must follow her orders, ones she has received from God? Men don't follow orders from women. But through the journey of zombie slaying with Devora at his side, he starts to question his barbaric ways of thinking. For Devora shows that she can be as strong and brave as any man.
The Heathen...
But it's Hurriya who I felt the worst for. She is a heathen who comes to Devora asking her to save her baby who has become one of the undead. Hurriya is greeted with hate by people of the village, leers from the men around her, and little mercy from Devora. And though Devora does what's best, Hurriya cannot help but hate her for her decisions and faith. Hurriya has had the life of the average women at this time. There is nothing that has not been done to her, and now her baby is gone. She feels like their is little left to live for. But Devora takes Hurriya under her wing. I found the relationship these two ended up having fascinating. Hurriya begins this novel as a broken woman but ends it having gained strength and courage, prompting even Devora to become a better person.
Four Against Many...
These four people go on a journey hoping to stop the zombies from devouring their villages. They face more horror, gore, and death than any one person can handle. But along the way they learn to be better people. People with courage when faced with evil and death. Despite their disputes, they also learn to work together to fight for their people's right to live in peace, without the threat of the undead coming to ravage their homes and families.
If you want to read a zombie book with depth, then this is the book for you. The writing is elegant and lyrical as it is frightening. The plot was well developed and the pacing was spot on.
The Bad
The Historical Note in the beginning was annoying and way too long. I stopped reading right away and didn't pick up the book for a couple days.
I left Strangers in the Land pretty depressed and sad, more so than from the other books. Maybe my frame of mind wasn't quite ready to read this book.
Though I liked the characters, they often made terrible, stupid decisions, mostly because of their beliefs, and it just turned me off.
The Snuggly
There is some mild sexual situations but also a scene with sexual assault, so be prepared.
Final Thoughts
Stant knows how to write a devastating but compelling book. He doesn't hold back on anything. This is a different kind of read that everyone needs to experience at least once. Very recommended.
Quote
For the first time, the northener's voice deepened with awe. "We haven't seen you in the north, but we've heard. They say a nazarite knows no trade but the spear. They say he fights like ten men."
"They are wrong," Zadok said firmly. "I fight like twenty."
"Ha!" The northener slapped his thigh in appreciation and pointed at the nazarite. "I like you too."
At A Glance
Another great installment for The Zombie Bible series. I never knew what to expect which kept me on my toes.
The Good
Don't Worry...
Let me start off by saying that this is not a religious book. It does not preach in the way you might think. Strangers in the Land takes place in a time where religion and faith was all these people had. So there is religious content but this book does not try to sway your beliefs.
Zombie Art...
Oh. My. God. Must you rip out my heart so savagely, Stant? I turned the last page of Strangers in the Land and felt like I had been chewed up and spit out. You cannot dive into a Stant Litore book without bracing yourself for horror, gore, and heartbreak. But luckily, you also walk away in awe with what this man has put down on paper. It's like zombie art. How he does it, I will never know.
God's Voice...
This time around we are taken on a journey with four very different individuals. The main character, Devora, has been chosen as God's voice. She interprets the visions he sends her and directs her people accordingly. Since most women during this time period are treated like slaves and commodities, I was inspired to see Devora stand up to the archaic men. She believed in herself no matter how much these men tried to belittle her. She wasn't perfect, but she did her best to lead her people into the dismal war against the zombies. But these men, the northerners, have become no better than barbarians who resist her command and her position. This made for great tension throughout the novel. I respected Devora for her faith and her determination to try to save everyone. She has a big heart despite her horrific past.
The Warrior...
Zadok, the warrior, was one of the most interesting characters. His dedication to protecting Devora is admirable and endearing. Slowly it is revealed how they had come to know each other and the story is heartbreaking. Their friendship is very complicated for Devora is married to a wonderful man, but Zadok's love for her is just as beautiful. But Zadok has a dark past that haunts him everyday. I simply wanted to cry for the pain he carries and relives so often. He was my hero in this book.
The Widower...
I wanted to hate Barak, the northern widower. His family's death has made him a cold man. He thinks little of women and even less of Devora. His relationship with God has also taken a hit. He wants to be a leader for his people, but how can he keep their respect when Devora thinks he must follow her orders, ones she has received from God? Men don't follow orders from women. But through the journey of zombie slaying with Devora at his side, he starts to question his barbaric ways of thinking. For Devora shows that she can be as strong and brave as any man.
The Heathen...
But it's Hurriya who I felt the worst for. She is a heathen who comes to Devora asking her to save her baby who has become one of the undead. Hurriya is greeted with hate by people of the village, leers from the men around her, and little mercy from Devora. And though Devora does what's best, Hurriya cannot help but hate her for her decisions and faith. Hurriya has had the life of the average women at this time. There is nothing that has not been done to her, and now her baby is gone. She feels like their is little left to live for. But Devora takes Hurriya under her wing. I found the relationship these two ended up having fascinating. Hurriya begins this novel as a broken woman but ends it having gained strength and courage, prompting even Devora to become a better person.
Four Against Many...
These four people go on a journey hoping to stop the zombies from devouring their villages. They face more horror, gore, and death than any one person can handle. But along the way they learn to be better people. People with courage when faced with evil and death. Despite their disputes, they also learn to work together to fight for their people's right to live in peace, without the threat of the undead coming to ravage their homes and families.
If you want to read a zombie book with depth, then this is the book for you. The writing is elegant and lyrical as it is frightening. The plot was well developed and the pacing was spot on.
The Bad
The Historical Note in the beginning was annoying and way too long. I stopped reading right away and didn't pick up the book for a couple days.
I left Strangers in the Land pretty depressed and sad, more so than from the other books. Maybe my frame of mind wasn't quite ready to read this book.
Though I liked the characters, they often made terrible, stupid decisions, mostly because of their beliefs, and it just turned me off.
The Snuggly
There is some mild sexual situations but also a scene with sexual assault, so be prepared.
Final Thoughts
Stant knows how to write a devastating but compelling book. He doesn't hold back on anything. This is a different kind of read that everyone needs to experience at least once. Very recommended.
Quote
For the first time, the northener's voice deepened with awe. "We haven't seen you in the north, but we've heard. They say a nazarite knows no trade but the spear. They say he fights like ten men."
"They are wrong," Zadok said firmly. "I fight like twenty."
"Ha!" The northener slapped his thigh in appreciation and pointed at the nazarite. "I like you too."
November 6, 2012
Saying Strangers in the Land is a zombie book is like saying that “Pride and Prejudice” is a romance novel instead of one of the most brilliant stories I’ve ever read.
Is Strangers in the Land that good? YES. Full disclosure: I was contacted by the author’s publicist to review this book, and I said sure! If I’d seen this on Amazon, would I have picked it up? Probably not, because I love my trashy romance novels. But, I’ve reviewed a few books for this publicist, and I know they’re always solid reads.
After I started reading this book, I realized the folly of my ways for not just innately KNOWING how good this book is. I wish Amazon could beam that information straight into my brain, because I took so much away from this book. It’ll stay with me for a very, very long time.
What makes this book brilliant? The characters. Their relationships. Stant’s ability to provide depth to both in a way that left me mesmerized and desperate for more. I wasn’t just emotionally invested in them, I was crying when the inevitable happened to those I fell in love with. His writing is flawless. By that, I mean, it doesn’t get in the way of the storytelling. It makes you want to read more, even when your husband gets home from work and is asking where dinner is. McDonalds, sweetie. Sorry.
The premise of Stant’s book is also intriguing. He provides a legitimate historical backdrop then tells a story about what might have really happened. In this case, the tale is set in ancient Israel. The twelve Hebrew tribes escaped Egypt and the desert and have been living in the Promised Land long enough to begin to lose their identity as one people. They’ve interbred with the heathens and also begun to lose some of their more godly ways. Stant provides the historical angle in a note at the beginning, explaining the biblical references and setting as well as the Hebrew customs for handling their dead. And then, the story begins.
The main character is Devora, a female (yes, female!) prophet who interprets visions from God. If you’re thinking, okay, no big deal, keep in mind that women in that day and age were bartered like cows. She’s recognized as God’s voice, and in the civilized south, she’s treated with reverence. She’s in her forties, wise, strong, and courageous but also haunted by dark events from her past. She wields her power as the first judge of Israel without hesitation or mercy. The zombies, however, are in the north, among the Hebrew tribes who have mostly lost their faith and godly ways. The northerners have basically turned into barbarians that barely recognize their own god. Devora has visions of the zombies destroying Israel. She must go to the north to teach the people how to kill zombies and to help reestablish law and order, before it’s too late.
One of the most intriguing relationships is that between her and Barak, a northern chieftain who is 80% certain god exists and 100% certain women are no better than cattle. One of his greatest lines is something to the effect that all of a man’s problems in the world are caused by his god and his woman. Watching him grapple with faith and the tradition of treating women like livestock is one of the best depictions of character development I’ve ever read. He’s confronted with a female prophet, one he can’t respect, but one he can’t turn away. What’s a manly northern chieftain to do, especially when his men see him treating a woman with – gasp! - respect? How does he balance his place as a leader with his duty to a god that sent a woman to tell him what to do? It takes him awhile. He has to see Devora chop off a few zombie heads, before he realizes this is no ordinary woman.
And then there’s Zadok. Dear, sweet, dedicated Zadok. He’s a warrior assigned to protect Devora and is worthy of his own romance novel. His duty makes him do horrible things, like kill in cold blood. How he handles the soul-destroying duty and his unrequited love for Devora (who’s happily married to a wonderful man) made me cry long before the chapter where he had his “run.” Oh, he made my heart hurt!
I also love the evolution of the relationship between Devora and Hurriya, a heathen who collapses at Devora’s feet at the beginning of the story with her zombified newborn in her arms. Devora has the baby zombie killed in front of the new mother, which is a bit traumatizing. Even though she is a heathen, Hurriya is meant to be the next prophet to receive visions from God. She starts out as a vulnerable, suicidal, waif of a thing, probably the first heathen Devora’s ever really taken pity on. Hurriya accompanies Devora and Zadok on their journey north as their guide and slowly morphs into the new prophet, with Devora’s guidance and help. She also helps Devora realize the error of her own ways, in terms of helping her learn to respect the heathens and dealing with her dark past.
Some parts of the book disturbed me, not because they were bad, but because I really can’t imagine being a woman and living in a time and place where women were treated like these women were. It made me admire Devora and Hurriya even more. It also led me to realize that – had Stant chosen a male prophet to headline this book – it wouldn’t have been nearly as powerful.
So, no, this isn’t just a zombie book. It’s a book about the courageous depths of the human soul in the face of unspeakable evil. It’s about those who have the power to do good while knowing their chances of survival are small. It’s about people who are forced to overcome the obstacles within themselves in order to defeat the dangers that threaten to wipe out an entire country.
Yeah, it’s that good. And don't worry, sweet Zadok, you can come live with me. :-)
Is Strangers in the Land that good? YES. Full disclosure: I was contacted by the author’s publicist to review this book, and I said sure! If I’d seen this on Amazon, would I have picked it up? Probably not, because I love my trashy romance novels. But, I’ve reviewed a few books for this publicist, and I know they’re always solid reads.
After I started reading this book, I realized the folly of my ways for not just innately KNOWING how good this book is. I wish Amazon could beam that information straight into my brain, because I took so much away from this book. It’ll stay with me for a very, very long time.
What makes this book brilliant? The characters. Their relationships. Stant’s ability to provide depth to both in a way that left me mesmerized and desperate for more. I wasn’t just emotionally invested in them, I was crying when the inevitable happened to those I fell in love with. His writing is flawless. By that, I mean, it doesn’t get in the way of the storytelling. It makes you want to read more, even when your husband gets home from work and is asking where dinner is. McDonalds, sweetie. Sorry.
The premise of Stant’s book is also intriguing. He provides a legitimate historical backdrop then tells a story about what might have really happened. In this case, the tale is set in ancient Israel. The twelve Hebrew tribes escaped Egypt and the desert and have been living in the Promised Land long enough to begin to lose their identity as one people. They’ve interbred with the heathens and also begun to lose some of their more godly ways. Stant provides the historical angle in a note at the beginning, explaining the biblical references and setting as well as the Hebrew customs for handling their dead. And then, the story begins.
The main character is Devora, a female (yes, female!) prophet who interprets visions from God. If you’re thinking, okay, no big deal, keep in mind that women in that day and age were bartered like cows. She’s recognized as God’s voice, and in the civilized south, she’s treated with reverence. She’s in her forties, wise, strong, and courageous but also haunted by dark events from her past. She wields her power as the first judge of Israel without hesitation or mercy. The zombies, however, are in the north, among the Hebrew tribes who have mostly lost their faith and godly ways. The northerners have basically turned into barbarians that barely recognize their own god. Devora has visions of the zombies destroying Israel. She must go to the north to teach the people how to kill zombies and to help reestablish law and order, before it’s too late.
One of the most intriguing relationships is that between her and Barak, a northern chieftain who is 80% certain god exists and 100% certain women are no better than cattle. One of his greatest lines is something to the effect that all of a man’s problems in the world are caused by his god and his woman. Watching him grapple with faith and the tradition of treating women like livestock is one of the best depictions of character development I’ve ever read. He’s confronted with a female prophet, one he can’t respect, but one he can’t turn away. What’s a manly northern chieftain to do, especially when his men see him treating a woman with – gasp! - respect? How does he balance his place as a leader with his duty to a god that sent a woman to tell him what to do? It takes him awhile. He has to see Devora chop off a few zombie heads, before he realizes this is no ordinary woman.
And then there’s Zadok. Dear, sweet, dedicated Zadok. He’s a warrior assigned to protect Devora and is worthy of his own romance novel. His duty makes him do horrible things, like kill in cold blood. How he handles the soul-destroying duty and his unrequited love for Devora (who’s happily married to a wonderful man) made me cry long before the chapter where he had his “run.” Oh, he made my heart hurt!
I also love the evolution of the relationship between Devora and Hurriya, a heathen who collapses at Devora’s feet at the beginning of the story with her zombified newborn in her arms. Devora has the baby zombie killed in front of the new mother, which is a bit traumatizing. Even though she is a heathen, Hurriya is meant to be the next prophet to receive visions from God. She starts out as a vulnerable, suicidal, waif of a thing, probably the first heathen Devora’s ever really taken pity on. Hurriya accompanies Devora and Zadok on their journey north as their guide and slowly morphs into the new prophet, with Devora’s guidance and help. She also helps Devora realize the error of her own ways, in terms of helping her learn to respect the heathens and dealing with her dark past.
Some parts of the book disturbed me, not because they were bad, but because I really can’t imagine being a woman and living in a time and place where women were treated like these women were. It made me admire Devora and Hurriya even more. It also led me to realize that – had Stant chosen a male prophet to headline this book – it wouldn’t have been nearly as powerful.
So, no, this isn’t just a zombie book. It’s a book about the courageous depths of the human soul in the face of unspeakable evil. It’s about those who have the power to do good while knowing their chances of survival are small. It’s about people who are forced to overcome the obstacles within themselves in order to defeat the dangers that threaten to wipe out an entire country.
Yeah, it’s that good. And don't worry, sweet Zadok, you can come live with me. :-)
May 7, 2013
I got a copy of this book to review through the Amazon Vine program. This seems to be the third book in the Zombie Bible series; I did not read the first two books but this book stands well on its own. It was decently written, a bit dense at times, but it was engaging enough.
This was a retelling of a portion of the Bible with zombies included. This is the story of Devora (an aging Hebrew prophetess), Hurriya (a slave girl who has suffered through many horrors) and Zadok (a legendary Hebrew warrior). The three of them journey from their home out into the Land in an effort to save their people from an onslaught of undead.
This story is a bit wordy and dense at times, but ended up being a compelling story with characters that were easy to engage with. The first part of the book drags a bit but that gets better as the story continues. Most of the book is told from Devora’s point of view.
Devora is a compelling character. She is a strong woman figure in a society where women are only valued for their child-bearing abilities. She values life above all, but is often forced to fight and take lives to protect her people. With Zadok by her side she is unstoppable, but in his absence she is strangely vulnerable.
There are a lot of politics going on in this book. Devora struggles for respect as a woman, so there is that going on. Hurriya, as a heathen in the Hebrew people’s eyes, struggles with cruelty and persecution of her people. There is a bit of an unrequited love thing going on here too. There are also all the rituals and laws that the Hebrew people follow, they say they follow the laws to protect their people from the undead. In truth there is some validity to that (for example raising cairns on the undead so they can’t rise again) but like most religions a lot of it is routine meant to comfort.
As you might expect there is a lot of talking about God and praying to God in this book. There is also a lot of talk from the characters about how God doesn’t take good care of his people. This always bothers me a bit because I believe people should be willing to be proactive and take care of themselves. God is there to guide them, not run their lives.
In the second half of the book there are a lot of more traditional zombie mayhem types scenes where warriors are mowing down fields of hungry undead. There is a lot of gore in this book as well, so it is not for the faint of heart. You even have some scenes with super creepy zombie children. Additionally there is a lot of sexual violence mainly between the Hebrew men and the “heathen” women. So this is definitely an adult read.
At points the story reads like a Greek tragedy...a lot of people die in this story and no one is safe from an untimely death. This is definitely not an uplifting read, pretty much everyone dies. Still it was well done. The discussion of who are really the monsters here is also a good one. At many points in the book Devora has more to fear from her fellow humans than from the undead.
There isn’t anything super creative here, much of the zombie aspects to the story have been seen before. It is a decently written and engaging story though, if a bit wordy at points.
Overall an okay religious zombie read. It’s a bizarre combination to be sure. The characters are engaging and the plot is fairly compelling. The pacing could use a bit of work, it is a bit slow and definitely wordy for the first half of the book. It’s not necessarily a comfortable read (there’s a lot of violence and little hope in this story), it is also not an uplifting read. I guess I would recommend this to someone who wants to read a zombified retelling of a portion of the Bible. Kind of a specific audience but it is what it is.
This was a retelling of a portion of the Bible with zombies included. This is the story of Devora (an aging Hebrew prophetess), Hurriya (a slave girl who has suffered through many horrors) and Zadok (a legendary Hebrew warrior). The three of them journey from their home out into the Land in an effort to save their people from an onslaught of undead.
This story is a bit wordy and dense at times, but ended up being a compelling story with characters that were easy to engage with. The first part of the book drags a bit but that gets better as the story continues. Most of the book is told from Devora’s point of view.
Devora is a compelling character. She is a strong woman figure in a society where women are only valued for their child-bearing abilities. She values life above all, but is often forced to fight and take lives to protect her people. With Zadok by her side she is unstoppable, but in his absence she is strangely vulnerable.
There are a lot of politics going on in this book. Devora struggles for respect as a woman, so there is that going on. Hurriya, as a heathen in the Hebrew people’s eyes, struggles with cruelty and persecution of her people. There is a bit of an unrequited love thing going on here too. There are also all the rituals and laws that the Hebrew people follow, they say they follow the laws to protect their people from the undead. In truth there is some validity to that (for example raising cairns on the undead so they can’t rise again) but like most religions a lot of it is routine meant to comfort.
As you might expect there is a lot of talking about God and praying to God in this book. There is also a lot of talk from the characters about how God doesn’t take good care of his people. This always bothers me a bit because I believe people should be willing to be proactive and take care of themselves. God is there to guide them, not run their lives.
In the second half of the book there are a lot of more traditional zombie mayhem types scenes where warriors are mowing down fields of hungry undead. There is a lot of gore in this book as well, so it is not for the faint of heart. You even have some scenes with super creepy zombie children. Additionally there is a lot of sexual violence mainly between the Hebrew men and the “heathen” women. So this is definitely an adult read.
At points the story reads like a Greek tragedy...a lot of people die in this story and no one is safe from an untimely death. This is definitely not an uplifting read, pretty much everyone dies. Still it was well done. The discussion of who are really the monsters here is also a good one. At many points in the book Devora has more to fear from her fellow humans than from the undead.
There isn’t anything super creative here, much of the zombie aspects to the story have been seen before. It is a decently written and engaging story though, if a bit wordy at points.
Overall an okay religious zombie read. It’s a bizarre combination to be sure. The characters are engaging and the plot is fairly compelling. The pacing could use a bit of work, it is a bit slow and definitely wordy for the first half of the book. It’s not necessarily a comfortable read (there’s a lot of violence and little hope in this story), it is also not an uplifting read. I guess I would recommend this to someone who wants to read a zombified retelling of a portion of the Bible. Kind of a specific audience but it is what it is.
October 15, 2014
Fascinating concept--the Old Testament but with zombies--and about as creepy/depressing as I could stand. Not for the faint of heart, but beautifully written.
September 6, 2020
The third installment of Litore's marvelously fascinating Zombie Bible, and I think my favourite so far. I can't remember the last time I encountered a man writing women so well, this book passes the Bechdel test with flying colours! Devora is an extremely fleshed out and believable character, and the people and places around her seem very real. Litore shows again that he has no more mercy for is characters (or readers!) than George R.R. Martin. While the zombies in >i>What our eyes have witnessed surprised me by being tragic figures I actually pitied, in Strangers in the land they are just nasty. All in all an exciting and chilling read that makes me consider finding a Bible to read the Book of Judges, as (that version of) the story of Deborah is not familiar to me.
February 7, 2013
Stant Litore’s The Zombie Bible retells biblical tales and ancient history as episodes in humanity’s long struggle with hunger … and with the hungry dead.
Four must stand against the dead. The aging prophetess Devora. Hurriya, the slave girl. Zadok, a legend among warriors. And the widower Barak, who has sworn to defend his homeland from a migration of walking corpses greater than has ever been seen.
Devora is all too familiar with the unclean dead. She was there when her mother was pulled screaming from her tent by zombies. And when her mother rose, famished for flesh, it was Devora's hand that ended her hunger. Now Devora has struck an uneasy alliance with those she fears most among the living. Yet the strangers in the land must stand together if they are to rid the land of its curse.
Review“Saying Strangers in the Land is a zombie book is like saying that Pride and Prejudice is a romance novel instead of one of the most brilliant stories I’ve ever read. Is Strangers in the Land that good? YES…After I started reading this book, I realized the folly of my ways for not just innately KNOWING how good this book is. I wish Amazon could beam that information straight into my brain, because I took so much away from this book. It’ll stay with me for a very, very long time.”
-Guerilla Wordfare
“One of those books I was clutching and just couldn't stop turning the pages. It's a dark, evil world the characters are stuck in - one of near unimaginable loss and suffering. At moments you feel like there is no hope for humanity, that this evil plague will be the end of the world as we know it. There is no safe place. You'll find yourself thinking what if? What if this was to happen now? Imagine fighting the zombies without modern day weapons or transportation. Talk about a nightmare! (cringe!) This well written book will stay in your head for days.”
-Confessions of a Psychotic Housewife
“To say I loved this book would be an understatement. I could not put it down and felt my heart pounding against my ribcage as the characters raced across the land in an attempt to catch up with the hordes of unseeing and insatiable dead…I have no hesitation in giving Strangers in the Land five out of five stars and will certainly be reading the rest of the series in order to feed my insatiable hunger for more of Litore’s historical mashups.”
-SeattlePI.com
"Beyond the rich historical background and the desperate fight for survival, Strangers in the Land is a story about otherness, what it means to be a 'stranger'... Far from being 'just another zombie book', it is a remarkably clear look at what it means to impose a system of inequality among a culture."
-examiner.com
Born a farmer's son in the Pacific Northwest, Stant Litore took the college road and eventually earned his PhD in English, but remains passionate for things that grow. He spent several years in a dim corner of a library, repairing bruised and battered books, before heading overseas to backpack through Europe. Haunted by the hunger and poverty he witnessed at home and abroad, he began spinning stories about the hungers that devour us and the hopes that preserve us. Today he lives in Colorado with his wife and their two daughters, writing about the restless dead and the restless living. He avoids certain parts of the mountains during the dark of the moon.
October 20, 2012
Strangers in the Land (Zombie Bible 3) by Stant Litore (Book Review)
Description from Good Reads:
The aging prophet Devora bolts awake in terror, gasping for air. In her dream she heard her mother’s shrieks as the ravenous dead pulled her from the tent. Devora had been only a girl then, crying as she listened to her mother's screams and the tearing of her flesh.
And in the morning, when her mother rose—undead and hungering—Devora slew her.
This third volume of The Zombie Bible takes you to 1160 BC Israel as the walking corpses devour the tents and homesteads of the People. Four will stand against the dead: Devora, who sees what God sees. The slave girl Hurriya. Zadok, a legend among warriors. And the widower Barak, fighting to keep his vineyard free of this new peril. But can they stand together? For the living fear each other—fear the strangers in the land—as much as they fear the hungry dead.
Strangers in the Land brings an episode from the biblical book of Judges to life, fierce and blood spattered. Few will survive the coming of the dead. None will survive unchanged.
*****
A simple quote from the novel and one that stuck with me well: ‘We will find those who still breathe, Zadok had told her, but we will find no survivors.’
There is no greater truth to this novel than the above statement. In his latest and darkest work yet, Stant Litore has once again placed the never-ending undead at history’s doorstep and forces his own beloved characters to…survive…as best as they can. With very nearly all hope lost, our story’s heroes must question not only their own beliefs but their humanity as well. Will they be the Strangers in their own Land or its rightful saviors?
I went through so many gripping, soul-stirring emotions while reading this work. At one time I found myself lost and thinking, “My God! Does there need to be so much loss? My God, my God! What have you done?” What will you think as you read this story? What would you do if you were there fighting alongside Devora and her brethren? Would you choose to merely survive or to live? Would you choose to save yourself or others not of your kin? Hard questions for any novel to put forth but, the real tests are how will you answer them?
This review does not even begin to warn you about the torrent of emotions Stant Litore will force you to go through as you read this edition of the Zombie Bible. This novel is a must-read-at-all-costs whether you’re a fan of the zombie horror genre or not.
There is truth in fiction!
Devlin Scott (Lyshan Press)
Description from Good Reads:
The aging prophet Devora bolts awake in terror, gasping for air. In her dream she heard her mother’s shrieks as the ravenous dead pulled her from the tent. Devora had been only a girl then, crying as she listened to her mother's screams and the tearing of her flesh.
And in the morning, when her mother rose—undead and hungering—Devora slew her.
This third volume of The Zombie Bible takes you to 1160 BC Israel as the walking corpses devour the tents and homesteads of the People. Four will stand against the dead: Devora, who sees what God sees. The slave girl Hurriya. Zadok, a legend among warriors. And the widower Barak, fighting to keep his vineyard free of this new peril. But can they stand together? For the living fear each other—fear the strangers in the land—as much as they fear the hungry dead.
Strangers in the Land brings an episode from the biblical book of Judges to life, fierce and blood spattered. Few will survive the coming of the dead. None will survive unchanged.
*****
A simple quote from the novel and one that stuck with me well: ‘We will find those who still breathe, Zadok had told her, but we will find no survivors.’
There is no greater truth to this novel than the above statement. In his latest and darkest work yet, Stant Litore has once again placed the never-ending undead at history’s doorstep and forces his own beloved characters to…survive…as best as they can. With very nearly all hope lost, our story’s heroes must question not only their own beliefs but their humanity as well. Will they be the Strangers in their own Land or its rightful saviors?
I went through so many gripping, soul-stirring emotions while reading this work. At one time I found myself lost and thinking, “My God! Does there need to be so much loss? My God, my God! What have you done?” What will you think as you read this story? What would you do if you were there fighting alongside Devora and her brethren? Would you choose to merely survive or to live? Would you choose to save yourself or others not of your kin? Hard questions for any novel to put forth but, the real tests are how will you answer them?
This review does not even begin to warn you about the torrent of emotions Stant Litore will force you to go through as you read this edition of the Zombie Bible. This novel is a must-read-at-all-costs whether you’re a fan of the zombie horror genre or not.
There is truth in fiction!
Devlin Scott (Lyshan Press)
September 4, 2014
I was hesitant & also very curious about this book; not sure if the zombie aspect would fit into the bibles story. Surprisingly the author fit the zombies in quite well. The zombies are the back drop. The story is really about the Navi Devora. The Navi "Sees what God sees". This is repeated so often you are not likely to forget.
Out of all the characters the author introduces his readers to there were two that I ended up liking (as much as I could really like any character in the book). Unfortunately both characters are killed. One character in particular I liked the most & was surprised at just how disappointed I was upon their death. As for the other characters the Navi included, I didn't care for them or about them much despite the author giving ample background on most of them. Devora's character gets very repetitive. I am unsure why the author felt so many aspects of her character needed constant repeating.
Part of what was unlikeable to me was how women were treated. I know this is about a time in the bible. Still it is not pleasant to read how cruelly women were treated & regarded. Animals seemed to be given more value. In some situations even the women seemed to regard each other as lesser creatures. Devora was a bit haughty as "The voice of God. Seeing what God sees." To the point where she forgets her true purpose. God must then lead Devora back by using cruel & unfortunate means. God uses other people with little regard to meet his/her (God's) needs. God is also confusing. Referred to as a woman on some counts & a man on others.
I believe my greatest disappointment was the end. It is so bleak. So hopeless. So many deaths. Devora always asked if God's hand still covered the people & God indicated, "Yes." Yet the pain & suffering of the people certainly would seem otherwise. Throughout the whole book the feeling is one of hopelessness. There are no smiles. No jokes. No camaraderie. Just pain & self reflection. I had hoped that at the end there would be a light in the darkness. A rainbow after so much pain & suffering so to speak. There is none of that.
Even though I was not thrilled with this book due to it's bleakness. I decided to get the first book on audio. I thought it might add to this book & make this book better. That was a huge mistake. Book one is horrible! If I had read the first book I would have never bothered with this one. As it stands, I will not be reading the second book nor will I bother if there is a fourth.
Strangers In The Land is okay, but not one I would recommend to others. Read it if you want to satisfy your curiosity about zombies in the bible, but don't be surprised if you don't care for it.
Out of all the characters the author introduces his readers to there were two that I ended up liking (as much as I could really like any character in the book). Unfortunately both characters are killed. One character in particular I liked the most & was surprised at just how disappointed I was upon their death. As for the other characters the Navi included, I didn't care for them or about them much despite the author giving ample background on most of them. Devora's character gets very repetitive. I am unsure why the author felt so many aspects of her character needed constant repeating.
Part of what was unlikeable to me was how women were treated. I know this is about a time in the bible. Still it is not pleasant to read how cruelly women were treated & regarded. Animals seemed to be given more value. In some situations even the women seemed to regard each other as lesser creatures. Devora was a bit haughty as "The voice of God. Seeing what God sees." To the point where she forgets her true purpose. God must then lead Devora back by using cruel & unfortunate means. God uses other people with little regard to meet his/her (God's) needs. God is also confusing. Referred to as a woman on some counts & a man on others.
I believe my greatest disappointment was the end. It is so bleak. So hopeless. So many deaths. Devora always asked if God's hand still covered the people & God indicated, "Yes." Yet the pain & suffering of the people certainly would seem otherwise. Throughout the whole book the feeling is one of hopelessness. There are no smiles. No jokes. No camaraderie. Just pain & self reflection. I had hoped that at the end there would be a light in the darkness. A rainbow after so much pain & suffering so to speak. There is none of that.
Even though I was not thrilled with this book due to it's bleakness. I decided to get the first book on audio. I thought it might add to this book & make this book better. That was a huge mistake. Book one is horrible! If I had read the first book I would have never bothered with this one. As it stands, I will not be reading the second book nor will I bother if there is a fourth.
Strangers In The Land is okay, but not one I would recommend to others. Read it if you want to satisfy your curiosity about zombies in the bible, but don't be surprised if you don't care for it.
November 20, 2016
With his third "Zombie Bible" novel Strangers in the Land, author Stant Litore returns to ancient Israel, not too many generations removed from the exodus out of Egypt. This is an Israel overrun by the walking dead, and one where dealing with zombies is a part of the Israelites' way of life and their Law. The story focuses on Devora, the "navi" (somewhere between a priestess, judge and prophet), who is summoned when zombies start to reappear after a time of relative calm. What starts as an investigation into scattered zombie sightings soon becomes an all out war against a horde that threatens the entire land.
Zombie 411: The zombies in this book are straight-up Romero-style "shamblers." No sprinting, using tools, etc. Hell, they're horrifying enough without any gimmicks.
I was initially hesitant to try this series, as the idea of mixing the Bible in with zombie stories seemed a little too weird. I finally caved in after reading an endorsement of one of my favorite new writers (Mercury Falls author Rob Kroese), and now I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to read this amazing book. Yes, there is a bit of dialogue on the nature of God and of course Biblical references are going to be plentiful in a setting like this, but Strangers in the Land is first and foremost a zombie novel, and an extremely effective one at that. The change of pace from the typical outbreak/survivor diary format alone is a breath of fresh air, but beyond that Litore paints one of the scariest, most vivid pictures of the undead and the living's reaction to them that I've ever read. This is the kind of book that will scare even the most jaded zombie reader.
Beyond the intense zombie action, Litore delivers a very compelling story with some truly unforgettable characters. If the late David Gemmell (RIP) had tried his hand at a zombie story, I imagine it might have read a lot like this. Litore gives us a fantastic and diverse cast of characters, intense battle scenes, utterly horrifying encounters with the undead, and a story that, after a somewhat slow start, refuses to let go and has you thinking about it long after the book ends. What more can you ask for?
Oh, and while this is the third book in the series, I didn't find that out until the author's "thanks" page at the end. You need absolutely zero knowledge of the previous books to enjoy this, though I will definitely be checking those two books out now.
Zombie 411: The zombies in this book are straight-up Romero-style "shamblers." No sprinting, using tools, etc. Hell, they're horrifying enough without any gimmicks.
I was initially hesitant to try this series, as the idea of mixing the Bible in with zombie stories seemed a little too weird. I finally caved in after reading an endorsement of one of my favorite new writers (Mercury Falls author Rob Kroese), and now I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to read this amazing book. Yes, there is a bit of dialogue on the nature of God and of course Biblical references are going to be plentiful in a setting like this, but Strangers in the Land is first and foremost a zombie novel, and an extremely effective one at that. The change of pace from the typical outbreak/survivor diary format alone is a breath of fresh air, but beyond that Litore paints one of the scariest, most vivid pictures of the undead and the living's reaction to them that I've ever read. This is the kind of book that will scare even the most jaded zombie reader.
Beyond the intense zombie action, Litore delivers a very compelling story with some truly unforgettable characters. If the late David Gemmell (RIP) had tried his hand at a zombie story, I imagine it might have read a lot like this. Litore gives us a fantastic and diverse cast of characters, intense battle scenes, utterly horrifying encounters with the undead, and a story that, after a somewhat slow start, refuses to let go and has you thinking about it long after the book ends. What more can you ask for?
Oh, and while this is the third book in the series, I didn't find that out until the author's "thanks" page at the end. You need absolutely zero knowledge of the previous books to enjoy this, though I will definitely be checking those two books out now.
November 3, 2012
The high concept here is just absolutely terrific: it's (an episode of) the Book of Numbers, retold with zombies.
Litore does a great job of building up a fantasy-type milieu around both what one reads in the Hebrew Bible (the Nazarites are specially-trained zombie fighters, Cain's murder of Abel results in the first zombie) and also what must be guessed at (his reconstruction of the Urim and Thummim, for instance). The zombie main plot is fairly generic, as it turns out -- there are zombies, and they'll get the people of Israel if they aren't stopped. All the real action takes place internally and within the characters' subplots. Zadok the Nazarite struggles to walk the line between devotion and love in his relationship with the prophetess; Devora wonders if YHWH has abandoned his people; Barak the vintner wants revenge, but is headed to an unlikely personal encounter with the divine; and the foreign girl Hurriya seems to have received her own prophetic calling. The end result is a zombie tale with a surprising amount of devotional content, and a meditation upon what the most essential nature of God's covenant with his people is.
And zombies.
Litore does a great job of building up a fantasy-type milieu around both what one reads in the Hebrew Bible (the Nazarites are specially-trained zombie fighters, Cain's murder of Abel results in the first zombie) and also what must be guessed at (his reconstruction of the Urim and Thummim, for instance). The zombie main plot is fairly generic, as it turns out -- there are zombies, and they'll get the people of Israel if they aren't stopped. All the real action takes place internally and within the characters' subplots. Zadok the Nazarite struggles to walk the line between devotion and love in his relationship with the prophetess; Devora wonders if YHWH has abandoned his people; Barak the vintner wants revenge, but is headed to an unlikely personal encounter with the divine; and the foreign girl Hurriya seems to have received her own prophetic calling. The end result is a zombie tale with a surprising amount of devotional content, and a meditation upon what the most essential nature of God's covenant with his people is.
And zombies.
June 1, 2013
Litore really outdid himself with this newest chapter in his Zombie Bible series. I’m not sure I have the words to express how utterly impressed I am with it. It is easily his best work – and he had already raised the bar very high. It is truly remarkable. In fact, it’s epic! The story is sweeping, gut-wrenching and heart-breaking. Anyone who absently calls it a "zombie" story deserves a slap to the head. It has thousands of zombies, but that is only a small part of what this book truly entails. The prose is perfect, very often reading like poetry. I wouldn't have changed a single word. The work is long, but you won’t notice.
Whether you enjoy zombie stories or not, if you like intelligent stories that are dark in nature, you absolutely must do yourself a favor and get into this series. This one reads as if it were one of the unearthed Dead Sea Scrolls or some lost tome to be discovered long hidden in the depths of the Vatican Library.
Whether you enjoy zombie stories or not, if you like intelligent stories that are dark in nature, you absolutely must do yourself a favor and get into this series. This one reads as if it were one of the unearthed Dead Sea Scrolls or some lost tome to be discovered long hidden in the depths of the Vatican Library.
November 6, 2013
So, I just finished Stant Litore's biblical zombie novel "Strangers in the Land," and I'm trying to remember when I last read a novel that was simultaneously so dark and so beautiful. I think I have to go all the way back to Jeff VanderMeer's utterly pitiless novella "Veniss Underground." Stant Litore writes gorgeous prose. But he's also planning to break your heart. Just so you know.
Here's one of my favorite passages:
"I think I understand your Law better than you do," Hurriya said. "When you see another's face--the face of a child, or another woman, or the face of the goddess or the face of someone hungry or hurt--their eyes, they look back. They look at you. They ask your love, they ask you to hear their crying and know that you and they are both alive, and some day you may be hurt, you may be hungry. It may be your child carried dying in your arms." Hurriya choked a moment, then went on. "When I look at you, you look back. Only the dead don't look back."
Here's one of my favorite passages:
"I think I understand your Law better than you do," Hurriya said. "When you see another's face--the face of a child, or another woman, or the face of the goddess or the face of someone hungry or hurt--their eyes, they look back. They look at you. They ask your love, they ask you to hear their crying and know that you and they are both alive, and some day you may be hurt, you may be hungry. It may be your child carried dying in your arms." Hurriya choked a moment, then went on. "When I look at you, you look back. Only the dead don't look back."
May 7, 2015
I really engaged with 95% of this book; the characters are very compelling and I became quite attached to a couple, so much so that at certain points in the book, I became very upset and had to stop reading to gather myself. So why only 4 stars? Well, the book didn't quite wrap up as well as I'd hoped, and a lot of things seems left unfinished, leaving me feeling a tad dissatisfied, but mostly it's a reader issue: I'm not a fan of zombies, and despite the excellent characterization and plot, the book wasn't able to overcome that issue for me. I wouldn't go so far as to characterize this as "not my cup of tea", because the underlying ideas surrounding the zombies are really fascinating, but I had trouble staying engaged as the battles with them began piling up one after the other, and I was thankful for the reprieves where the characters got some downtime with each other. Having said that, I wouldn't hesitate to pick up another of Stant's books in the future.
October 15, 2015
This bummed me out. Big time. I really enjoyed the first two in this series but the third one was way too long. I honestly thought about DNFing staring at about 33% up until about 78%, then finally the story picked up and I'm glad I finished it. I really enjoyed the Navi's story and found what she went through as the only woman in a group of men trying to lead them in their battle against zombies, to be exceptionally compelling and interesting. The last 25% had my heart thumping in my chest and my eyes close to tears. Unfortunately, I cannot forgive how utterly boring this was up to the last quarter. Hence the 2 stars. I would still recommend these stories, especially since you don't have to read them all or in any particular order, but be prepared that the 3rd one is very long-winded.
January 28, 2013
While I have not read the other books in Stant Litore's Zombie Bible series, I can't imagine how I would think more highly of them than I do of Strangers in the Land. Should anyone attempt to dismiss this as "merely a zombie book," they would be sadly mistaken. Even the more apt description of bible stories framed in the context of the hungry dead fails to fully capture the depth of this book. It is a profound work of staggering beauty, rife with themes of covenants kept and broken, painful separations between mothers and their children and the need to love those who are not like us...for the sake of all humanity.
November 28, 2012
This book was surprisingly good for such a bad cover. It's less a zombie book and more a Biblical story. Think "The Red Tent"... but with the undead. It's one of three in the "Zombie Bible" series, and all three take place in the time of the Old Testament, with Hebrews hanging out in the desert making laws about being unclean. Turns out all those laws about being unclean were made because the early Hebrews were under siege by zombies. Who knew?
May 9, 2015
Stant Litore has a very interesting way of tying the world of the Bible into zombies. I still believe zombies are best treated in movies, but this book has some memorable scenes and some thought-provoking ideas. Further comments may be found here: Sects and Violence in the Ancient World.
July 13, 2013
Loved this book! Absolutely the best in the series. Some really good research backs this book, making it almost believable. The main characters are strong and relentless. This book is an easy read and an exciting mix of biblical traditions and zombie apocalypse!
December 31, 2013
*longer review to follow*
Seriously, people. Snag this series. It's breath-takingly inventive, one of the most creative additions to the "alternate history" genre that I have ever encountered. And, oh yes, it has zombies.
Seriously, people. Snag this series. It's breath-takingly inventive, one of the most creative additions to the "alternate history" genre that I have ever encountered. And, oh yes, it has zombies.
February 18, 2017
Another awesome book in his 'Zombie Bible' series. Can't wait for the next one.
January 20, 2013
well this was the last one. I've read all the zombie bibles now.huzzah. think I liked this one the most.... oh Zadok.... albeit the word cunt seems odd in the day and age this book took place....
March 29, 2013
Interesting read. Took me a little to get in to it, but I ended up enjoying it quite a bit.
August 7, 2013
Best of the three- I would not even bother with the other two.
July 30, 2014
4 stars
Audible version - review coming soon.
Audible version - review coming soon.
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