Omega Zero

by Ryan Henry

Trent was the epitomy of an American hero, a Marine; the word itself instantly creating feelings of pride and honor. Unfortunately, Trent met the fate of so many soldiers no longer soldiering- he had no where to come home.

This novel takes you through the journey of this unlikely antihero, from a night with the dregs of the backstreets in Virginia to a post-apolcolyptic world of emptiness and fear. Trent and his unlikely ally Emily encounter enemies lying in wait at every turn. They soon discover that nothing is what it seems, and survival is far from certain.

***Warning: Graphic Content and Harsh Language***

157 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 10, 2013

Reviews

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic read! Ryan Henry is beyond adept at making the reader fell the emotions, the struggle, and the unspeakable sense of impending danger that Trent and Emily feel. From Trent's hiding in the Appalachian Trail to the very end of the book (which I cannot give away!), Mr. Henry creates, evolves, and fully develops the character of Trent, the unlikely hero who becomes someone you cannot allow yourself to see lose. You find yourself personally invested in his well-being. You begin to see past his once meaningless lifestyle and into the heart of what drives this ever-changing, ever-growing antihero. This is a book I actually could not put down. Couldn't. You will have to pry your fingers away from the electronic page to turn out the light before sleeping, or you just may wake in the morning to find your light still on and a drained battery on your reading device. Omega Zero is a futuristic tale with a truly well-written, unique take on the topics we all see on the daily news and the ones we don't know of yet but fear might come true. Thank you, Mr. Henry, for an awesome story to keep me up at night. If you're reading this review, I know you want to buy a copy! I truly suggest you do! You won't be disappointed!

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Omega Zero was the first book Ryan Henry made available to the general public, it’s the third I’ve read. And while I loved Matthias, that beautifully cruel WWII vampire, and I admired Ethan Riley’s adventures in space, this book lingered with me longer and for that it is perhaps my favorite.

I’ve come to figure out a few things about the author after three books. First, he has complete and infallible command over the narrative. It was yet again evident that the plot, from beginning to end, was known to the author before he started writing, and he does not stray, meander, or ramble.

I think it was John le Carré that said if a sentence isn’t essential to the plot, or doesn’t move the narrative forward, remove it. I was reminded of this throughout the book. Nothing is present without meaning.

Another thing I have come to appreciate and hereafter expect, the opening is going to be spaztastic. These are not books you start late at night with the idea you’ll glance over the first few pages to get a general feel for it, because the next thing you’ll know it will be sunrise and you’ll stagger through your day with most of your mind still in Henry’s world, which will not impress your employers. Well, not unless you share the book with them.

After three books, I’ve also come to realize that Henry is a tough romantic. Trent’s character development in Omega Zero is genuinely moving and lends directly to the poignancy of the ending.

Now, as I do with books I love, I read all the reviews and I was rather disturbed to keep reading cries of fury about the ending. I feel this needs to be addressed: Understand that Omega Zero is a powerful and beautiful story. And the ending and epilogue are particularly so.

Henry managed to turn a thriller into a poignant love story, and it is brilliantly done. It’s beautiful, it’s touching, it’s original and unpredictable—and goddammit, those last two are hard—and it’s not just the ending that displays these traits, but the book in whole.

The ending is perfect. The ending could not be more perfect. If it were anything less, the critics would be calling it predictable, and this book, at no point, is predictable.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Omega Zero is the worst kind of story for a reviewer – not because it's terribly written, or because the dialogue is eye-rollingly bad. The plot wasn't bad or particularly cliché and the main characters were likeable. Unfortunately, like a canceled TV series that you really enjoyed, it ends before it really gets going, and worse still, you don't really know how to feel about it when all is said and done.

The books begins with Trent – drug dealer and former Marine - running into the woods following a bad drug deal. He stays there for weeks before eventually being forced to return to civilization – only to find that the world has been ravaged by a virus. Eventually, he runs into a friendly woman named Emily and they do their best to survive in the new world.

This story starts off doing a lot of things right in my book. There's a plausible reason for the guy to be loaded up with supplies when the outbreak starts (he's hiding in the woods and trying to live off the land). Trent is not a Superman – he's a former Marine, but not an infantryman, and he's fallen into a less than winning profession since separating from the armed forces. This gives his character some depth and grime that makes him more believable than the “Super Special Forces Marine Saves the Day” that this book could have been written like.

The writing and dialogue are good throughout, though during some major confrontations near the end the dialogue feels a little less polished. There were no major road bumps that really ruined the story in this department though, and most readers will find the writing more than adequate to get into the story. The main characters are both likeable and relateable people who the reader will root for despite their shortcomings.

Unfortunately, the book is short (157 pages) and this leads tot he first problem. The book consists of less than 10 real scenes, which while moving things along quickly, also made the story feel like it was ending before it started. The brevity of the book, combined with the kind of description and dialogue found in books twice its length leaves the reader feeling that not a whole lot happened. Worse still, the story comes to a halt before any real thematic or interpersonal tension builds to a satisfying level. There's certainly conflict, and a punch-you-in-the-gut ending, but the shortness made it feel rushed.

Moreover, the ending will not appeal to some readers – myself included. While there is a particularly poignant interaction between Trent and Emily, the overall feeling of hopelessness is blunted by the fact hat not a lot preceded that happening. If what happens at the end of this book had happened after getting to know characters more it would have been shattering, but instead it feels likes a hurried end to a story that was just getting good.

It's books where you can see the potential and you enjoyed most of what you read before having the rug pulled out from under you with a truncated story and unpleasant ending that are the toughest. You want to applaud them for what they accomplished and for trying something different, but at the same time, you feel a little cheated (or perhaps thinking you need to read the description better before deciding to buy). Monetarily, this book was not expensive, instead I felt more cheated out of the experience that could have been. While what the writer crafts certainly does not follow the whims and fancies of a potential reader (nor should it), it's still hard not to be disappointed when you feel like the author was capable of crafting a more satisfying experience than what you saw.

Recommended, but In Hell by L. James Marshall might be a better book for your money.

[Kristin (Blood,Sweat and Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review:

Omega Zero starts out following a Meth dealer named Trent. After a drug deal gone bad Trent ends up on the run fleeing into the Appalachian mountains. Alone for weeks on end Trent has no clue what is brewing in the world outside. Now running out of supplies and faced with starvation Trent emerges from the woods to find a vastly changed world with no rules, no morals, and worst of all no one in sight.

Wow, I didn't quite know what to expect when I accepted this book for review. I had never heard of the Author nor had I come across the book before in my daily wanderings through the web. Still even with nothing to go on the plot sounded way to good to pass up. Let me tell you I am ever so glad that I accepted Omega Zero to review. While I admit the writing was a bit green in places it still was an exceptionally captivating story.

Omega Zero isn't just the title of the book it's also the name of a nasty plague killing off the population en masse. Without giving to much away the plague itself reminds me of the one from The Stand yet with a Typhoid Mary twist. I must admit it was pretty darn neat. I especially loved all the science put into Omega Zero you can really tell that the Author did some research while creating his plague and building his world. Its definitely appreciated in a book such as this.

As for the characters while we meet Trent as a drug dealer we quickly learn he isn't a bad guy just perhaps a bit misguided. When Trent meets another immune named Emily I really thought they would end up hooking up but the relationship shockingly stayed platonic. If any Romantic intentions were had on either end they weren't expressed in this book. Could Trent and Emily become a couple later on? Sure, in fact I'd encourage the pairing. Still I quite liked that the Author chose to build the relationship on mutual respect first rather than just putting them into bed together for the sake of having a happy couple in a world that was anything but.

Overall, Would I recommend picking up this book? Yes! Even if you're hesitant for the price of a coffee you could be reading this amazing addition to the post-apocalyptic genre. I am going to throw out that the book is geared to a more mature reader. Lots of gore and adult situations especially towards the end. I really, let me stress REALLY, hope that the Author decides to write a sequel. Not just because of the sad ending but also I see the potential in the story begging to be explored further. That being said I will be rating Omega Zero by Ryan Henry ★★★★. Worth the read, worth my time, and definitely worth the price.

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Omega Zero' gives a frightening scenario of what would happen if a virus got out that could not be stopped before wiping out 99% of the human population.

For Trent, a former Marine and later a drug dealer, being out of the right place at the right time will help him stay alive and give him time to learn how to survive on his own. Enemies are all around him as everyone who is left quickly put their own lives first. When he later finds Emily, the both of them find themselves struggling to survive while what's left of the world dies around them.

Fans of the movie, "I Am Legend" (without the zombies) will likely find instant appeal with this book. The plot starts off at a fast pace and keeps going at a thrilling one that does not drag or disappoint. Despite other predictable apocalyptic books I've read, 'Omega Zero' left me guessing until the very end. Henry is definitely an author to watch!

***Disclaimer: I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.****

[Susan Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omega Zero was a pleasant surprise. The story is packed with action and peppered nicely with bits of useful survivalist information. The subject matter is timely and believable.

Ryan Henry does a great job of presenting plots and subplots without beating us over the head with the preachy moral lessons so prevalent in this genre.

The language and subject matter is handled nicely. The strong language and violence is by no means gratuitous, as it definitely adds to the feel of the story and is certainly not overdone.

From start to finish, Omega Zero moves along smoothly, keeping readers engaged. I look forward to reading more from this author!

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryan Henry has put together a novel, albeit short, that is packed with action and suspense. Protagonists Trent could not have been better developed. Trent is a complex character and the situation he finds himself in at the onset of the story helps define his complexity.

I had mixed feelings about Trent, sometimes rooting for him and other times hating his very existence. But that is what drives the story. The plot was full of surprises, and author Henry wordsmithing makes for a great read. Believable and exciting.

[Bgsgigi · Rating 5 out of 5]

As we join Trent, a former Marine with specific Marine training, we are transported to a different time and place. Not normally a fan of sci-fi, I was unable to put Ryan Henry's "Omega Zero" down until the last page. I am a visual person and can see this book on the big screen, I even have my favorite actor selected to portray Trent. Well done Mr. Henry, thank you for creating Trent and sharing him with us.

[Daniel Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryan Henry has done a very clever thing. He wrote a very good adventure that you will stay up all night reading but he taught me some survival skills along the way. His characters in the book were gritty and real and likeable. The way the story is told you feel like you are there. the This is a very talented writer. i hope we see much more of his funds work.

[Will Wittmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's just not enough to this story. What there is, is good but I just feel like a chunk of story is missing