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Deck Z: The Titanic: Unsinkable. Undead
Imagine being trapped aboard the doomed Titanic on an icy Atlantic. . . with the walking dead. This fast-paced thriller reimagines the historical events of the fateful Titanic voyage through the lens of zombie mayhem. Captain Edward Smith and his inner circle desperately try to contain a weaponized zombie virus smuggled on board with the 2,200 passengers sailing to New York. Faced with an exploding population of lumbering, flesh-hungry undead, Smith's team is forced into bloody hand-to-hand combat down the narrow halls of the huge steamer. In its few short days at sea, the majestic Titanic turns into a Victorian bloodbath, steaming at top speed toward a cold, blue iceberg. A creepy, tense page-turner, Deck Z will thrill zombie fans and Titanic buffs alike.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 21, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 453 reviews
September 11, 2014
How could I NOT read this....?
UPDATE:
I went into this book completely expecting it to be a total cheese-fest. I mean, zombies on the Titanic? I'm supposed to consider that a legitimate book?
To my surprise, though, this was actually good. It was well-written and well-researched, and the zombie plot was actually plausible in this context. Being a HUGE Titanic buff, I was expecting to be nit-picking historical details the entire time, but those were actually pretty spot-on.
All in all, this was just a fun book. And the ending was awesome!
UPDATE:
I went into this book completely expecting it to be a total cheese-fest. I mean, zombies on the Titanic? I'm supposed to consider that a legitimate book?
To my surprise, though, this was actually good. It was well-written and well-researched, and the zombie plot was actually plausible in this context. Being a HUGE Titanic buff, I was expecting to be nit-picking historical details the entire time, but those were actually pretty spot-on.
All in all, this was just a fun book. And the ending was awesome!
November 15, 2012
There's a word for books like this. This genre that mixes history with fantasy or horror. I don't know what it's called, but I really liked how the authors did it on Deck Z, an alternate story of what happened to the Titanic. An emotionally injured scientist flees Europe with "the Toxic" in his tragic attempt to keep the zombie-inducing goo out of enemy hands and hopefully find a cure for zombieness. I loved the retro term "the Toxic." And the villain who does awful things with pliers. The violence is memorable in the way that makes you think about it later, when you're pulling carpet staples out of the floor or going to the dentist. Maybe readers younger than 10 might have trouble with the vivid descriptions. But the dialogue flows naturally, and the chapters dart among various scenes on board, making it a quick read. The section illustrations and cover add to the storytelling. It'd make a good movie.
What I really loved about the book is how I found myself trying to guess what was real and what was fiction. In this age of instant knowledge gratification, did I stop to look up whether there really were Turkish baths on the Titanic? Yes, I did. And yes, there were. I didn't stop every time something struck me, but the book piqued my curiosity about the Titanic, and I've done more research on it. For example, were there Marconi operators on board? Yes, there were. Was there an officer named Wilde? Yes. Did Smith really say, "Be British, my men"? He did! What about this sword of his, named Kabul? I'm not so sure. But I'll keep looking. See how that is? I'm giving the book to my 14-year-old son because I think he'll come for the zombies and maybe stay for the history.
I read another reviewer who thought it was stupid to have the zombie plot overlay the iceberg disaster. He thought the book should've gone completely AWOL from the crash and then use the iceberg story as the official cover. I totally disagree. I think it would've been ridiculous to try and get all those survivors to keep quiet about the truth and pretend it was an iceberg. The way Deck Z ended, it's plausible that many of the people who got in the boats didn't realize zombies were after them. The undead kept to the lower decks for much of the crisis, and in the chaos the people on top might not have known exactly what was coming up.
But read it and decide for yourself.
What I really loved about the book is how I found myself trying to guess what was real and what was fiction. In this age of instant knowledge gratification, did I stop to look up whether there really were Turkish baths on the Titanic? Yes, I did. And yes, there were. I didn't stop every time something struck me, but the book piqued my curiosity about the Titanic, and I've done more research on it. For example, were there Marconi operators on board? Yes, there were. Was there an officer named Wilde? Yes. Did Smith really say, "Be British, my men"? He did! What about this sword of his, named Kabul? I'm not so sure. But I'll keep looking. See how that is? I'm giving the book to my 14-year-old son because I think he'll come for the zombies and maybe stay for the history.
I read another reviewer who thought it was stupid to have the zombie plot overlay the iceberg disaster. He thought the book should've gone completely AWOL from the crash and then use the iceberg story as the official cover. I totally disagree. I think it would've been ridiculous to try and get all those survivors to keep quiet about the truth and pretend it was an iceberg. The way Deck Z ended, it's plausible that many of the people who got in the boats didn't realize zombies were after them. The undead kept to the lower decks for much of the crisis, and in the chaos the people on top might not have known exactly what was coming up.
But read it and decide for yourself.
January 23, 2014
This book was actually much better than I expected. I thought it might be really hokey (and possibly really stupid), but it ended up being a very interesting read. It seemed to follow the history of the Titanic close enough (characters, events, timelines, etc.) that it could be placed in the alternate history category (with zombies being the alternate addition, of course). If you want a quick, fun read and you are a fan of the zombie genre, give this one a try.
February 14, 2023
A very clever and fun book by Pauls and Solomon that must have been a gas to write. As far as my limited research can tell, Deck Z chronicles rather faithfully the journey of the great ship Titanic, including having many of the characters actual historical figures (like the captain), but does, as the title suggests, toss some zombies into the mix. This starts with a brief prologue where a sub in 2012 reconnoitering the wreck picks up a few items, including a small stainless steel vial found just outside the hull; the purpose is gather some artifacts for a Titanic exhibit in a Vegas casino (which in real life, does have such an exhibit).
The story begins, however, with our main protagonist, a certain Dr. Weiss, doing some strange experiments in a lonely cabin high on a German mountain. Weiss was one of a team sent by Germany to China to help with a nasty outbreak of some plague in 1912; long story short, they brought back an infected 'survivor' and now Weiss wants to find a cure for the plague from her. The German military, however, want Weiss' research to devise a new bioweapon to use in Russia and when Weiss realizes this, takes a 'sample' of the infection, burns the rest, and decides to flee to America; lucky for him, he is able to scrounge up a ticket aboard the Titanic!
The authors clearly did their homework here, making the disaster come to life if you will, but the addition of the zombie aspect really makes this fun. Everyone knows the fate of the Titanic, but do you know the real reason she was making top speed through an icefield? Even the modern-day ending was super. 4.5 undead stars, and highly recommended for zombie fans of all stripes!
The story begins, however, with our main protagonist, a certain Dr. Weiss, doing some strange experiments in a lonely cabin high on a German mountain. Weiss was one of a team sent by Germany to China to help with a nasty outbreak of some plague in 1912; long story short, they brought back an infected 'survivor' and now Weiss wants to find a cure for the plague from her. The German military, however, want Weiss' research to devise a new bioweapon to use in Russia and when Weiss realizes this, takes a 'sample' of the infection, burns the rest, and decides to flee to America; lucky for him, he is able to scrounge up a ticket aboard the Titanic!
The authors clearly did their homework here, making the disaster come to life if you will, but the addition of the zombie aspect really makes this fun. Everyone knows the fate of the Titanic, but do you know the real reason she was making top speed through an icefield? Even the modern-day ending was super. 4.5 undead stars, and highly recommended for zombie fans of all stripes!
December 20, 2016
When I first picked up this book I thought "there's gonna' be zombies on the ship,no explanation".
However I was pleasantly surprised.It starts out with a german scientist combating a lethal virus on land.Then he finds out the government he is working for wants his findings to make a biological weapon.He gathers his findings and goes to the Titanic, because what could go wrong on ship with a deadly virus?
I had alot of fun reading this.:)
However I was pleasantly surprised.It starts out with a german scientist combating a lethal virus on land.Then he finds out the government he is working for wants his findings to make a biological weapon.He gathers his findings and goes to the Titanic, because what could go wrong on ship with a deadly virus?
I had alot of fun reading this.:)
July 14, 2012
I'm quite interested in the Titanic. My younger brother is a fanatic even though he is only 11 years old. So it can be said I know many random facts about the doomed ship. When I saw this book, I wondered how or even if this book would work. The concept is interesting and unique. Recently I've been reading a lot of zombie novels so this tugged at me straight away. It mixes both history and horror together and it works brilliantly. It isn't over the top and it's not boring. The novel keeps the reader interested with gore and action which is all limited to the closed quarters and halls of the beloved Titanic. It's also believable. This was my main concern, I didn't know how this could work, how would zombies get on the Titanic? Well it happens much differently to how I imagined and because of that it makes the whole thing possible. Just the prospect that this could happen is frightening enough but when it's in a confined space, well all hell breaks loose.
The novel begins telling the reader of how Theodor Weiss, a German scientist came across a deadly plague. He takes a victim back to his mountain retreat and tries to find the cause of the plague and find a cure. Once he has extracted the deadly Toxic from the subject, he runs for his life. He realises that the German government are out to steal the Toxic and use it as a weapon. He manages to get to Southampton dock where the worlds finest ocean liner awaits. An Agent is at his heals, trying to steal the Toxic for the government. Aboard the ship things don't go as planned. The stolen Toxic begins to affect the passengers turning them into horrible zombies. The plague will spread quickly Weiss and the captain need to quarantine the infected before it's too late. What both don't realise is tragedy awaits them in the form of an iceberg.
The book is told from multiple point of views. The main ones being Weiss, Captain Smith, J. Bruce Ismay and Lou. Theodor Weiss is the scientist and the main character of Deck Z. He's the one who discovered the plague and thinks it's his duty to find a cure or if that's impossible get rid of the Toxic before others get affected. He was always trying to make sure people remained safe, it didn't matter if he put himself in danger he wanted to be sure no one else would be infected. Right until the end that was his duty and he wouldn't let go until it was fulfilled. I liked Captain Smith, he was strong willed and could hold his own in a fight. He was the man everyone looked up too, and until the end he remained level headed and in charge. He knew the threat the plague possessed and he would make sure his last ship would remain secure. I didn't like Ismay's character he was stuck up and always wanted to make himself look good. He disobeyed the captains orders and I'm actually quite glad he would live with guilt for the rest of his life. He was a coward. Lou was the young girl Weiss met at the start and they were partners until the end. She was fiery and more boyish than a young lady should be, she was great and even when zombies threatened her she stayed strong.
The beginning of this book I found a bit slow but that's to be expected as we get the back story of the characters and the plague. As soon as we were abroad the Titanic all hell broke loose. From then onwards the book was action packed and fast paced. The zombies were gruesome and horribly described, scary isn't a strong enough word for them. It was great. This book really surprised me, it mixes history and horror to create an intriguing story that hooks the reader until the end. If you're a fan of zombies I recommend this. Deck Z is a quick action filled read that I really enjoyed.
I also loved the layout of this book, it looked like it had came from the time. Each chapter held the place and time the events happened. The text looked old and vintage. I liked how the book was split into three stages just like the plague could be broken down into the three stages. I also liked the little illustration under the chapter number which symbolised the chapter. The layout of this book seemed very well thought through and it really adds to the history in the book.
Thanks to Chronicle books for providing me with a review copy.
Find more of my reviews on my blog: http://readwriteandreadsomemore.blogs...
The novel begins telling the reader of how Theodor Weiss, a German scientist came across a deadly plague. He takes a victim back to his mountain retreat and tries to find the cause of the plague and find a cure. Once he has extracted the deadly Toxic from the subject, he runs for his life. He realises that the German government are out to steal the Toxic and use it as a weapon. He manages to get to Southampton dock where the worlds finest ocean liner awaits. An Agent is at his heals, trying to steal the Toxic for the government. Aboard the ship things don't go as planned. The stolen Toxic begins to affect the passengers turning them into horrible zombies. The plague will spread quickly Weiss and the captain need to quarantine the infected before it's too late. What both don't realise is tragedy awaits them in the form of an iceberg.
The book is told from multiple point of views. The main ones being Weiss, Captain Smith, J. Bruce Ismay and Lou. Theodor Weiss is the scientist and the main character of Deck Z. He's the one who discovered the plague and thinks it's his duty to find a cure or if that's impossible get rid of the Toxic before others get affected. He was always trying to make sure people remained safe, it didn't matter if he put himself in danger he wanted to be sure no one else would be infected. Right until the end that was his duty and he wouldn't let go until it was fulfilled. I liked Captain Smith, he was strong willed and could hold his own in a fight. He was the man everyone looked up too, and until the end he remained level headed and in charge. He knew the threat the plague possessed and he would make sure his last ship would remain secure. I didn't like Ismay's character he was stuck up and always wanted to make himself look good. He disobeyed the captains orders and I'm actually quite glad he would live with guilt for the rest of his life. He was a coward. Lou was the young girl Weiss met at the start and they were partners until the end. She was fiery and more boyish than a young lady should be, she was great and even when zombies threatened her she stayed strong.
The beginning of this book I found a bit slow but that's to be expected as we get the back story of the characters and the plague. As soon as we were abroad the Titanic all hell broke loose. From then onwards the book was action packed and fast paced. The zombies were gruesome and horribly described, scary isn't a strong enough word for them. It was great. This book really surprised me, it mixes history and horror to create an intriguing story that hooks the reader until the end. If you're a fan of zombies I recommend this. Deck Z is a quick action filled read that I really enjoyed.
I also loved the layout of this book, it looked like it had came from the time. Each chapter held the place and time the events happened. The text looked old and vintage. I liked how the book was split into three stages just like the plague could be broken down into the three stages. I also liked the little illustration under the chapter number which symbolised the chapter. The layout of this book seemed very well thought through and it really adds to the history in the book.
Thanks to Chronicle books for providing me with a review copy.
Find more of my reviews on my blog: http://readwriteandreadsomemore.blogs...
March 12, 2013
This was so fun to read! I was hesitant at first to read this book, being that I'm not a zombie junkie and I wasn't sure how well zombies and the story of the titanic would work together. But god damn, it worked great and it was effortlessly crafted. The pacing, the writing, the zombies, the tied-in history, the characters, the backdrop of the story—all fantastic! I'm so simple to please when it comes to books, I swear. I love these "popcorn" type books.
June 8, 2014
I wasn't too sure I would like this book, I thought it was going to be some bad joke. But alas, I was pleasently surprised at how good it actually was written.
It isn't just some thrown together zombie book demeaning anyone. It actually had a very good plot and I liked it a great deal. I recommend to all of my zombie loving friends.
It isn't just some thrown together zombie book demeaning anyone. It actually had a very good plot and I liked it a great deal. I recommend to all of my zombie loving friends.
April 19, 2016
Deck Z: The Titanic
Author: Chris Pauls and Matt Solomon
Publisher: Chronicle Books LLC
Published In: San Francisco, CA
Date: 2012
Pgs: 222
REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
Summary:
A Manchurian plague. A pre-WW1 German plot to eliminate the Russians from a future war before it starts. A scientist realizing the immorality of what is intended with his research. The mightiest ship of her age. An escape. A Russian born Jew acting as a German secret agent to take revenge for the pogrom that killed his family. Iceberg right ahead.
Genre:
Alternate History
Apocalypse
Disaster
Espionage
Fiction
Pulp
Zombies
Why this book:
Zombies.
____________________________________________________________________________
Favorite Character:
Theodor Weiss. The moral scientist unwilling to become Oppenheimer in an era before Oppenheimer.
Lou (Louise), she seems tough as nails and a good kid.
Least Favorite Character:
J. Bruce Ismay...was a douche if the stories are true. And he is portrayed in character in this novel with those stories. At every turn, Ismay turns aside from the noble. He is presented here as a horrible character. Not a badly written character, just a coward and a prig.
The Feel:
I wanted to read this because zombies. But the Titantic aspect gives me pause. My misgivings are the same as when I was dragged into the Titanic movie. I hope that the zombies put in an appearance in short order because too much build up can damage a story. Hoping this isn’t one of those, the monster never appears, but is always just off camera stories. Though based on what happened in Manchuria and with the shaman during the cabin escape, I’m guessing that my fear on that account is misplaced.
Favorite Scene:
The near collision between Titanic and New York in Southhampton harbor.
Swashbuckling Captain Smith sliding down the ladder into the hold and decapitating the zombie Man at Arms who was menacing Theodor Weiss.
Pacing:
The pace is good.
Really glad that the story flashed through the cliched “there’s no such thing as zombies” part.
Plot Holes/Out of Character:
With as logical as Weiss is about his reasons for escape and his method, his running straight to the Titanic rings false. He should have known that the spies would have trailed him, or rather been waiting for him. A more circuitous and slower route away from Europe would have served him better and kept him off of the Germans radar.
Uhm...in the middle of the escape from the lower decks, our “heroes” leave Lou behind. Uhm.
Hmm Moments:
Oceanic grave robbers biting off more than they can chew...and not realizing it.
The knife cane...very nice.
Dr. O’Loughlin throwing himself overboard thinking that that would save him from what lies beyond Stage 1 of the plague. Poor bastard will wake up on the bottom of the ocean as a zombie with thousands of miles to shamble across the depths in search of the shore...and life.
Why isn’t there a screenplay?
Does the world really need another Titanic movie? Cameron has that pretty much locked for the next 50 years or so, I’d guess.
Casting call:
Chloe Grace Moretz as Lou.
Christoph Waltz as Theodor Weiss.
______________________________________________________________________________
Last Page Sound:
Oh c’mon. Should have left it with the Toxic following the whirlpool of Titanic’s passing. The Vegas anti-climax cheapens Weiss’s sacrifice and Lou’s survival.
Author Assessment:
I liked this well enough to give other stuff by the writers a look.
Editorial Assessment:
Wish someone would have talked them out of the anticlimax...and seen through the forgetting Lou in the lower decks rush to the upper decks.
Knee Jerk Reaction:
glad I read it
Disposition of Book:
InterLibrary Loan
Houston Central Public Library
Houston, TX
Would recommend to:
genre fans
______________________________________________________________________________
Author: Chris Pauls and Matt Solomon
Publisher: Chronicle Books LLC
Published In: San Francisco, CA
Date: 2012
Pgs: 222
REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
Summary:
A Manchurian plague. A pre-WW1 German plot to eliminate the Russians from a future war before it starts. A scientist realizing the immorality of what is intended with his research. The mightiest ship of her age. An escape. A Russian born Jew acting as a German secret agent to take revenge for the pogrom that killed his family. Iceberg right ahead.
Genre:
Alternate History
Apocalypse
Disaster
Espionage
Fiction
Pulp
Zombies
Why this book:
Zombies.
____________________________________________________________________________
Favorite Character:
Theodor Weiss. The moral scientist unwilling to become Oppenheimer in an era before Oppenheimer.
Lou (Louise), she seems tough as nails and a good kid.
Least Favorite Character:
J. Bruce Ismay...was a douche if the stories are true. And he is portrayed in character in this novel with those stories. At every turn, Ismay turns aside from the noble. He is presented here as a horrible character. Not a badly written character, just a coward and a prig.
The Feel:
I wanted to read this because zombies. But the Titantic aspect gives me pause. My misgivings are the same as when I was dragged into the Titanic movie. I hope that the zombies put in an appearance in short order because too much build up can damage a story. Hoping this isn’t one of those, the monster never appears, but is always just off camera stories. Though based on what happened in Manchuria and with the shaman during the cabin escape, I’m guessing that my fear on that account is misplaced.
Favorite Scene:
The near collision between Titanic and New York in Southhampton harbor.
Swashbuckling Captain Smith sliding down the ladder into the hold and decapitating the zombie Man at Arms who was menacing Theodor Weiss.
Pacing:
The pace is good.
Really glad that the story flashed through the cliched “there’s no such thing as zombies” part.
Plot Holes/Out of Character:
With as logical as Weiss is about his reasons for escape and his method, his running straight to the Titanic rings false. He should have known that the spies would have trailed him, or rather been waiting for him. A more circuitous and slower route away from Europe would have served him better and kept him off of the Germans radar.
Uhm...in the middle of the escape from the lower decks, our “heroes” leave Lou behind. Uhm.
Hmm Moments:
Oceanic grave robbers biting off more than they can chew...and not realizing it.
The knife cane...very nice.
Dr. O’Loughlin throwing himself overboard thinking that that would save him from what lies beyond Stage 1 of the plague. Poor bastard will wake up on the bottom of the ocean as a zombie with thousands of miles to shamble across the depths in search of the shore...and life.
Why isn’t there a screenplay?
Does the world really need another Titanic movie? Cameron has that pretty much locked for the next 50 years or so, I’d guess.
Casting call:
Chloe Grace Moretz as Lou.
Christoph Waltz as Theodor Weiss.
______________________________________________________________________________
Last Page Sound:
Oh c’mon. Should have left it with the Toxic following the whirlpool of Titanic’s passing. The Vegas anti-climax cheapens Weiss’s sacrifice and Lou’s survival.
Author Assessment:
I liked this well enough to give other stuff by the writers a look.
Editorial Assessment:
Wish someone would have talked them out of the anticlimax...and seen through the forgetting Lou in the lower decks rush to the upper decks.
Knee Jerk Reaction:
glad I read it
Disposition of Book:
InterLibrary Loan
Houston Central Public Library
Houston, TX
Would recommend to:
genre fans
______________________________________________________________________________
August 3, 2017
I got this book for my Kindle as a daily deal and after downloading it I started to think that I was just adding books to my collection for the sake of it.
I mean....Zombies on the Titanic! C'mon! This was going to be a real bad b-movie type book. Why was I wasting my time reading this? I am a fairly slow reader so I have to choose my books carefully. I can't get books just because they are cheap! Books are not a commodity to be traded.
So I started to read this book with a sense of trepidation, even though I love Zombies and Alt.History books.
Never judge a book by it's cover! (or it's daily deal status!)
This was a fantastic book! I really enjoyed it. The story was excellent, made sense (maybe there were Zombies on the Titanic??) and was well written. The characters were great, especially the Captain of the Titanic. There were plenty of gory scenes as the characters battled the Zombie menace.
It also made me interested in finding out about the Titanic and it's Captain.
Finally, when Titanic is mentioned I now associate it with a Zombie outbreak and not a Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet lovefest.
Amen to that.
I mean....Zombies on the Titanic! C'mon! This was going to be a real bad b-movie type book. Why was I wasting my time reading this? I am a fairly slow reader so I have to choose my books carefully. I can't get books just because they are cheap! Books are not a commodity to be traded.
So I started to read this book with a sense of trepidation, even though I love Zombies and Alt.History books.
Never judge a book by it's cover! (or it's daily deal status!)
This was a fantastic book! I really enjoyed it. The story was excellent, made sense (maybe there were Zombies on the Titanic??) and was well written. The characters were great, especially the Captain of the Titanic. There were plenty of gory scenes as the characters battled the Zombie menace.
It also made me interested in finding out about the Titanic and it's Captain.
Finally, when Titanic is mentioned I now associate it with a Zombie outbreak and not a Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet lovefest.
Amen to that.
January 21, 2023
This was not as cheesy as I thought it would be. The entire idea of zombies on Titanic sounds like a SyFy movie. Instead it was a nice story about people trying to contain a toxic that is spreading around in a giant 52,000 tons of steel/iron ship.
Characters were solid and the story had a good pace and short chapters. It darts from floor to floor (deck) in Titanic and tells the story from multiple characters' points of view. It's wrapped up just as you would predict it would, but it never drags so it is a very short read.
Not saying this is a great story but it is better than you expect it to be.
Characters were solid and the story had a good pace and short chapters. It darts from floor to floor (deck) in Titanic and tells the story from multiple characters' points of view. It's wrapped up just as you would predict it would, but it never drags so it is a very short read.
Not saying this is a great story but it is better than you expect it to be.
November 16, 2024
Honestly I was a little skeptical this was almost a gimmick. Zombies on the Titanic. Like a bad b movie that people watch because they're so curious. That's...honestly why I picked it up.
But I was genuinely surprised how much I liked it. It's well written, the characters likeable, they make smart decisions, and I can tell the efforts to ensure overall historical accuracy (Where applicable of course, since zombies aren't real). Even just the daily speech and descriptions perfectly put the reader in 1912.
Overall, genuinely this was such a good and fun read.
But I was genuinely surprised how much I liked it. It's well written, the characters likeable, they make smart decisions, and I can tell the efforts to ensure overall historical accuracy (Where applicable of course, since zombies aren't real). Even just the daily speech and descriptions perfectly put the reader in 1912.
Overall, genuinely this was such a good and fun read.
October 7, 2023
There were only 10 dogs on the fucking titanic, not dozens
October 30, 2023
It's truly captivating and quite an intense adventure. Love how detailed the author is as well, and is able to tie in the Titanic, war, and a plague (creating zombies) all in one. You feel like you're right there on the ship. Some nice twists from start to finish. It was a fun read.
January 14, 2015
I've always been fascinated by the Titanic. The moment I saw this title, I knew I had to read it. I couldn't begin to imagine how the author was going to include zombies in the telling of such a well know tragedy. Pauls does an amazing job!
The story follows a scientist, Theodore Weiss, as he struggles to discover a cure for a horrendous plague. He notices that his research is being disturbed when he is not in the lab, and soon he begins to suspect the German government of trying to use his research to develop a viral weapon. In order to prevent this, Weiss blows up his lab thus destroying all his research. He does, however, salvage one tube of "the Toxic" in order to continue his search for a cure. He smuggles the tube aboard the Titanic in a bid to escape to America. He makes it on board, but agents of the Kaiser are in hot pursuit.
I loved the way the author mixed fictional characters alongside historic figures that traveled aboard the Titanic during her fateful maiden voyage. We get to see a whole different side of Captain Smith and the ships architect Mr. Thomas Andrews, as they help in trying to stop the zombie horde from taking over the ship. J. Bruce Ismay, the representative of the White Star line, stays pretty much in character as history has already depicted him. His main concern is the image of Titanic as the greatest luxury liner on the seas as he pushes the crew to increase speed even amidst iceberg warnings. (Although within this story, his reasons have something to do with the rampaging horde of undead on the lower decks) We also get glimpses of other members of the crew including Harold Bride, the Marconi operator, and Wallace Hartley, the band leader, who are blissfully unaware of the undead.
It's two stories unfolding at the same time. The Titanic, and I'm sure this isn't a spoiler after 102 years, still hits an iceberg that will cause it to sink. But this occurs not while the Captain is taking a nap, but rather while he is fighting off the zombies. He is in the thick of things, sword in hand, and I liked that he was down in the lower depths of the ship fighting with every last breath to protect his passengers and crew. Of the fictional characters, I particularly liked young Lou who was very brave and had to face some very tough and frightening situations.
The book starts out slow as it delves into the outbreak and effects of the plague, and Weiss's personal tragedy and reason for researching a cure. Once on board Titanic, the action takes off quickly and never lets up until the bitter end.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to anyone who is fascinated by the Titanic or just loves a good zombie story!
The story follows a scientist, Theodore Weiss, as he struggles to discover a cure for a horrendous plague. He notices that his research is being disturbed when he is not in the lab, and soon he begins to suspect the German government of trying to use his research to develop a viral weapon. In order to prevent this, Weiss blows up his lab thus destroying all his research. He does, however, salvage one tube of "the Toxic" in order to continue his search for a cure. He smuggles the tube aboard the Titanic in a bid to escape to America. He makes it on board, but agents of the Kaiser are in hot pursuit.
I loved the way the author mixed fictional characters alongside historic figures that traveled aboard the Titanic during her fateful maiden voyage. We get to see a whole different side of Captain Smith and the ships architect Mr. Thomas Andrews, as they help in trying to stop the zombie horde from taking over the ship. J. Bruce Ismay, the representative of the White Star line, stays pretty much in character as history has already depicted him. His main concern is the image of Titanic as the greatest luxury liner on the seas as he pushes the crew to increase speed even amidst iceberg warnings. (Although within this story, his reasons have something to do with the rampaging horde of undead on the lower decks) We also get glimpses of other members of the crew including Harold Bride, the Marconi operator, and Wallace Hartley, the band leader, who are blissfully unaware of the undead.
It's two stories unfolding at the same time. The Titanic, and I'm sure this isn't a spoiler after 102 years, still hits an iceberg that will cause it to sink. But this occurs not while the Captain is taking a nap, but rather while he is fighting off the zombies. He is in the thick of things, sword in hand, and I liked that he was down in the lower depths of the ship fighting with every last breath to protect his passengers and crew. Of the fictional characters, I particularly liked young Lou who was very brave and had to face some very tough and frightening situations.
The book starts out slow as it delves into the outbreak and effects of the plague, and Weiss's personal tragedy and reason for researching a cure. Once on board Titanic, the action takes off quickly and never lets up until the bitter end.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to anyone who is fascinated by the Titanic or just loves a good zombie story!
January 19, 2013
My students are on a zombie kick right now, and to be honest so am I. So when this came up in the Scholastic flier the kids were psyched for it. Of course I get to read it first and wow, it is not what I was expecting, but in a great way!
Based on what little we were given about the book I just thought: zombies, Titanic, done. I was not expecting a mystery/thriller in the beginning, and it is even a bit of a medical thriller as well! What frightened me was how well researched the book is. The descriptions of the plagues made me feel like this was actually plausible and I won't lie, at one point my brain did get a little conspiracy theorist and I wondered...
But the book is brilliant. Very gory considering, but aside from that a great read. Perfect for zombie fans.
Based on what little we were given about the book I just thought: zombies, Titanic, done. I was not expecting a mystery/thriller in the beginning, and it is even a bit of a medical thriller as well! What frightened me was how well researched the book is. The descriptions of the plagues made me feel like this was actually plausible and I won't lie, at one point my brain did get a little conspiracy theorist and I wondered...
But the book is brilliant. Very gory considering, but aside from that a great read. Perfect for zombie fans.
November 5, 2017
I took this book along on my October cruise and it also fit into my book for Nano about the Titanic. It was very well written and I enjoyed the different point of view as to why there were so few survivors of the Titanic. It was a quick read and I wanted to keep it but I left it aboard the Carnival Breeze for others to read.
If you like spooky stories set in a real background, this book is for you!
If you like spooky stories set in a real background, this book is for you!
October 7, 2022
Genre: Horror/Historical Fiction.
Format: Paperback.
Age Recommendation: 12+
A new twist on the fateful Titanic voyage through the lens of zombie mayhem. A weaponized zombie virus is smuggled on board with the 2,200 passengers sailing to New York. Faced with the explosion of undead, Captain Smith and his team is forced into to try contain and eradicate this virus, before they reach the docks of New York. In its few short days at sea, the majestic Titanic turns into a Victorian bloodbath, steaming at top speed toward a cold, blue iceberg.
Set during the events of 1912, Titanic on her first and only voyage, a German scientist boards the ship escaping agents after his 'toxic'. A virus that turns humans in to mind numbing zombie like creatures. On board, we meet a few characters, both fiction and factual that stick around for the duration of the book. Character development is as necessary, and we don't end up feeling too much for anyone. Anyone who has seen the movie may not need descriptive text, but anyone who hasn't may find it hard to picture the settings. This is a great twist on history, and perfect for the Young Adult age range. For older readers, keep in mind the targeted audience and sit back and enjoy a quick read about something so well known.
Format: Paperback.
Age Recommendation: 12+
A new twist on the fateful Titanic voyage through the lens of zombie mayhem. A weaponized zombie virus is smuggled on board with the 2,200 passengers sailing to New York. Faced with the explosion of undead, Captain Smith and his team is forced into to try contain and eradicate this virus, before they reach the docks of New York. In its few short days at sea, the majestic Titanic turns into a Victorian bloodbath, steaming at top speed toward a cold, blue iceberg.
Set during the events of 1912, Titanic on her first and only voyage, a German scientist boards the ship escaping agents after his 'toxic'. A virus that turns humans in to mind numbing zombie like creatures. On board, we meet a few characters, both fiction and factual that stick around for the duration of the book. Character development is as necessary, and we don't end up feeling too much for anyone. Anyone who has seen the movie may not need descriptive text, but anyone who hasn't may find it hard to picture the settings. This is a great twist on history, and perfect for the Young Adult age range. For older readers, keep in mind the targeted audience and sit back and enjoy a quick read about something so well known.
March 9, 2023
I’m totally grading on a curve because I love anything Titanic, but this also was genuinely a decent read for what it was! The zombie stuff was, of course, kind of hokey, and I wasn’t expecting anything less lol. But the authors actually did their due diligence with their research, and there was a lot of fact mixed in there with the fiction. Not a GREAT read, but scratched the itch I’ve had since watching “Titanic” (my all-time favorite movie) in the movie theater again. I even learned a couple of things I didn’t know before.
And who knew…Captain Smith, the zombie slayer! 😂 He got to play a bigger role in the narrative than he usually seems to in “Titanic” stories, and that was fun!
And who knew…Captain Smith, the zombie slayer! 😂 He got to play a bigger role in the narrative than he usually seems to in “Titanic” stories, and that was fun!
September 3, 2020
I liked it.
I loved the idea of zombies on a ship. You can't go anywhere, their gonna get you. So when I saw this book I had to read it.
A virus gets on the ship that causes it. I love that too! All the famous people are there, Murdock, Captian Smith, Ismay etc. Captian Smith kicks ass. But it just wasn't scary, it wasn't funny either, I usually like a little humor in my zombies.
Overall though I did like it. It was different and worth my money.
I loved the idea of zombies on a ship. You can't go anywhere, their gonna get you. So when I saw this book I had to read it.
A virus gets on the ship that causes it. I love that too! All the famous people are there, Murdock, Captian Smith, Ismay etc. Captian Smith kicks ass. But it just wasn't scary, it wasn't funny either, I usually like a little humor in my zombies.
Overall though I did like it. It was different and worth my money.
November 13, 2022
4 stars for fun!
This book was great! I love the way it used facts and imagination to create a fun read. The ending felt a little rushed but the conclusion was believable and complete. I will definitely have to find a physical copy to add to my collection.
This book was great! I love the way it used facts and imagination to create a fun read. The ending felt a little rushed but the conclusion was believable and complete. I will definitely have to find a physical copy to add to my collection.
September 28, 2021
The ending was weird and rushed but overall I enjoyed it.
April 5, 2024
I’m glad someone wrote it.
February 21, 2025
Shockingly, mind bogglingly good!
May 26, 2022
This book would make a terrific video game.
August 6, 2012
Deck Z by Chris Pauls and Matt Solomon
Go and get this book. I’ll say that now and I’ll say it at the end. What Pauls and Solomon have created here is a perfect piece of zombie post-modernism which hits every rivet and nail squarely on the head. I found nothing wrong at all with the story, prose or characters and for a debut novel, this is an impressive feat, bowler hats off to the people at Chronicle Books for a sterling effort.
You already know the story of the Titanic, what Deck Z does so seamlessly is use that trusted formula of Just Add Zombies and bingo! You have this excellent, though in parts harrowing novel which offers readers a ‘what if’ scenario if there was an outbreak of the undead during the final hours of the famed, doomed ocean liner.
Theodor Weiss is a German scientist who chooses to defect after discovering that his research into new and deadly plague is sought by the German military for nefarious purposes. Fearing that the Germans will send someone to steal the sample, he chooses to flee to the safety of America with the last remaining sample of the virus with the intention of processing a cure for all plagues. Unfortunately for him he buys a ticket for the Titanic’s doomed maiden voyage in order to cross the ocean, not his last mistake.
From the first few pages you come to realise that the authors are two things; zombie enthusiasts and dedicated researchers into their subject. The attention to detail regarding the ship is meticulous without once hinging on boring the reader. The facts are there and so are real life characters, genuine people borrowed from reality grace the pages. But not just names have being used in order to create a sense of being there, Pauls and Solomon have borrowed the events which shaped these people during their final hours. Heroes are heroes and cowards are cowards, so whatever happened to these people during their final moments was recounted by numerous witness’s, what you read here is a version of the truth, albeit with hungry zombies chomping at their necks as the ship plunges deeper into the freezing waters of the Atlantic.
The bridge between what is fiction and what was reality blurs so evenly that at times I found myself wondering how much of this is true. The horrific thing is only the plague of the undead and a few characters are made up, the rest of the plot was already written for the authors. It shouldn’t work, it should be a clumsy mess, it should tar the memory of those that perished on that fateful night, but the characters are as true as they were, doing their memory justice. Captain Smith is portrayed as an honourable man, determined to do the ultimate good no matter what the cost, and it’s refreshing not to have to have a young and buff, chisel-jawed hero with a tragic past coping with zombies. Captain Smith was a real gentlemen, seasoned by war and a life at sea, so the speculation within the story is probably how he would have reacted to an outbreak of plague on board, his methods are brutal, but by god he gets results.
Thrown into the mix is the German agent who deals out pain with a pair of pliers in several gory scenes and a ballsy little tomboy named Lou who adds humour and sympathy to proceedings. Weiss is admirable though reluctant hero who finds himself having to resort to violence in order to rectify the terrible mess he helped cause.
Another thing I adored with Deck Z is the language, bringing across the parlances of the time perfectly, including more often than not actual quotes from real people woven into the story. Also great one liners move the action along nicely giving the book a filmic quality. A story such as this would transfer well to cinema, James Cameron could provide the sets, Kathy Bates could even reprise her role as the Unsinkable Molly Brown, and Stephen Fry as Captain Edward Smith would be perfect for all the witticisms he releases throughout. Once you’ve read Deck Z you too will realise why this gripping adventure would be such a damned great film.
Deck Z is available on Amazon on pre-order, now go and get this book.
5/5
Go and get this book. I’ll say that now and I’ll say it at the end. What Pauls and Solomon have created here is a perfect piece of zombie post-modernism which hits every rivet and nail squarely on the head. I found nothing wrong at all with the story, prose or characters and for a debut novel, this is an impressive feat, bowler hats off to the people at Chronicle Books for a sterling effort.
You already know the story of the Titanic, what Deck Z does so seamlessly is use that trusted formula of Just Add Zombies and bingo! You have this excellent, though in parts harrowing novel which offers readers a ‘what if’ scenario if there was an outbreak of the undead during the final hours of the famed, doomed ocean liner.
Theodor Weiss is a German scientist who chooses to defect after discovering that his research into new and deadly plague is sought by the German military for nefarious purposes. Fearing that the Germans will send someone to steal the sample, he chooses to flee to the safety of America with the last remaining sample of the virus with the intention of processing a cure for all plagues. Unfortunately for him he buys a ticket for the Titanic’s doomed maiden voyage in order to cross the ocean, not his last mistake.
From the first few pages you come to realise that the authors are two things; zombie enthusiasts and dedicated researchers into their subject. The attention to detail regarding the ship is meticulous without once hinging on boring the reader. The facts are there and so are real life characters, genuine people borrowed from reality grace the pages. But not just names have being used in order to create a sense of being there, Pauls and Solomon have borrowed the events which shaped these people during their final hours. Heroes are heroes and cowards are cowards, so whatever happened to these people during their final moments was recounted by numerous witness’s, what you read here is a version of the truth, albeit with hungry zombies chomping at their necks as the ship plunges deeper into the freezing waters of the Atlantic.
The bridge between what is fiction and what was reality blurs so evenly that at times I found myself wondering how much of this is true. The horrific thing is only the plague of the undead and a few characters are made up, the rest of the plot was already written for the authors. It shouldn’t work, it should be a clumsy mess, it should tar the memory of those that perished on that fateful night, but the characters are as true as they were, doing their memory justice. Captain Smith is portrayed as an honourable man, determined to do the ultimate good no matter what the cost, and it’s refreshing not to have to have a young and buff, chisel-jawed hero with a tragic past coping with zombies. Captain Smith was a real gentlemen, seasoned by war and a life at sea, so the speculation within the story is probably how he would have reacted to an outbreak of plague on board, his methods are brutal, but by god he gets results.
Thrown into the mix is the German agent who deals out pain with a pair of pliers in several gory scenes and a ballsy little tomboy named Lou who adds humour and sympathy to proceedings. Weiss is admirable though reluctant hero who finds himself having to resort to violence in order to rectify the terrible mess he helped cause.
Another thing I adored with Deck Z is the language, bringing across the parlances of the time perfectly, including more often than not actual quotes from real people woven into the story. Also great one liners move the action along nicely giving the book a filmic quality. A story such as this would transfer well to cinema, James Cameron could provide the sets, Kathy Bates could even reprise her role as the Unsinkable Molly Brown, and Stephen Fry as Captain Edward Smith would be perfect for all the witticisms he releases throughout. Once you’ve read Deck Z you too will realise why this gripping adventure would be such a damned great film.
Deck Z is available on Amazon on pre-order, now go and get this book.
5/5
June 4, 2023
Well I surely wasn't expecting such a good read to say the least. What I opened by pure chance because it had the name "Titanic" plastered on it ended up being a real quick and good read. Being a huge Titanic nerd I couldn't resist ; I had NEVER came across a Zombie Titanic book. The main thing I noticed were the absolutely wondzerful descriptions and details. Most did describe dead and rotten bodies and various limbs being torn off their owners but it sure was beautifully written.
The first thing I have to say is, although I was saddened to imagine all of those poor people being zombified and left to drown, I was completely mind-boggled by the twist of the events. Picture me crying when Molly Brown is mentionned. Crying and reading aloud to my sister knowing that my accent doesn't do justice at ALL at the scene.
The characters and the story, well I'm going to address those together but I have quite a different point of view on both. I wasn't expecting such a well-crafted story around the events that befell the Titanic. The twist with Hargraves (both in the ship and on the lifeboat) really wasn't expected - but then again I'm definitely not one for picking details along the way. The main character is a believable scarred man with his past to bear and his griefs and goals to address to. I really liked Lou when she was a complete and brash brat ; although she sadly sometimes fell into the helpless screaming-girl-that-attracts-zombies.
A serious matter now, let's talk about Edward J. Smith for a second. He was brilliant from start to finish. My reading has been two full hours of Bernard Hill just slashing his way through waves of zombies, holding a panicked group of people behind him. His story is truly poignant - then again nothing I'd have expected from a so-called "hey that's just a zombie book" ; he beared the whole book on the tip of Kabul. Thomas Andrew' portrayal was surprising and agreeably readable. As the tactician, master achitect and scientist of the group, he truly acted his part as a Q-like and "brain" of the team.
I'm saddened about O'Loughlin, he deserved better. Dang it !
A negative point is that, although for brief appearances, there was too few mentions of the officiers. Sure both Mr Wilde and Murdoch would have made the best of teams in a zombie fight. Same goes with Lightholler and Lowe just decking putrefied heads. As strong as Smith was - and he truly was- he couldn't have been able to steer the ship on his own.
Lastly ; we haven't seen a thing about the collision with the iceberg and I was going to notify it as a flaw but it appeared to me as obvious that, during the reading, I wasn't saying "damn this is obvious" as much as I'm saying it during reads of other Titanic-related books. There is mention of Smith saying that yup, the ship is a damn steamer and hard to steer but that's all.
Also yeah this book's portrayal of Ismay is such as many others. Good lines from Smith to him though ! The parallel between him and Andrews was striking ; one living as a coward and the other, dying as a hero.
All in all, a very good read that i enjoyed a thousand times much than I'd have expected. An ending that left me on edge with a rather strange cliffhanger. I know cliffahngers are meant to having us cling to the edges of the books and screaming "WHY" but I might(ve screamed a bit too hard and my sister slapped me with her laptop.
The first thing I have to say is, although I was saddened to imagine all of those poor people being zombified and left to drown, I was completely mind-boggled by the twist of the events. Picture me crying when Molly Brown is mentionned. Crying and reading aloud to my sister knowing that my accent doesn't do justice at ALL at the scene.
The characters and the story, well I'm going to address those together but I have quite a different point of view on both. I wasn't expecting such a well-crafted story around the events that befell the Titanic. The twist with Hargraves (both in the ship and on the lifeboat) really wasn't expected - but then again I'm definitely not one for picking details along the way. The main character is a believable scarred man with his past to bear and his griefs and goals to address to. I really liked Lou when she was a complete and brash brat ; although she sadly sometimes fell into the helpless screaming-girl-that-attracts-zombies.
A serious matter now, let's talk about Edward J. Smith for a second. He was brilliant from start to finish. My reading has been two full hours of Bernard Hill just slashing his way through waves of zombies, holding a panicked group of people behind him. His story is truly poignant - then again nothing I'd have expected from a so-called "hey that's just a zombie book" ; he beared the whole book on the tip of Kabul. Thomas Andrew' portrayal was surprising and agreeably readable. As the tactician, master achitect and scientist of the group, he truly acted his part as a Q-like and "brain" of the team.
I'm saddened about O'Loughlin, he deserved better. Dang it !
A negative point is that, although for brief appearances, there was too few mentions of the officiers. Sure both Mr Wilde and Murdoch would have made the best of teams in a zombie fight. Same goes with Lightholler and Lowe just decking putrefied heads. As strong as Smith was - and he truly was- he couldn't have been able to steer the ship on his own.
Lastly ; we haven't seen a thing about the collision with the iceberg and I was going to notify it as a flaw but it appeared to me as obvious that, during the reading, I wasn't saying "damn this is obvious" as much as I'm saying it during reads of other Titanic-related books. There is mention of Smith saying that yup, the ship is a damn steamer and hard to steer but that's all.
Also yeah this book's portrayal of Ismay is such as many others. Good lines from Smith to him though ! The parallel between him and Andrews was striking ; one living as a coward and the other, dying as a hero.
All in all, a very good read that i enjoyed a thousand times much than I'd have expected. An ending that left me on edge with a rather strange cliffhanger. I know cliffahngers are meant to having us cling to the edges of the books and screaming "WHY" but I might(ve screamed a bit too hard and my sister slapped me with her laptop.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2012
There are only so many things that can be done with the zombie concept as we know it. In Deck Z, you’ll find the typical zombie-plague tropes in play (even though I found the connection to a strain of the Bubonic Plague grounded it a bit better in reality), so if you’re looking for something more original in that department, this story probably isn’t for you. However, if you don’t mind that and you like fast-moving action adventure tales set against a historical backdrop, then pick this one up.
There aren’t many super-gory moments in this novel, but each of those is so cleanly-rendered it’s toe-curling. There is one paragraph in particular to which I vocally reacted. I wish all writers of gore knew how to do it as well.
For Titanic buffs there is good news, as therein is where the novel excels: the details of what we know happened on the ship’s maiden voyage and during the disaster—the first use of S.O.S., Ismay’s cowardly escape, and the musicians playing to the very end among them—are warped to fit this revisionist version seamlessly (we buy, for example, that the real reason the ship was steaming toward New York at excessive speed is because of the zombie threat). This Titanic lover had a ball waiting to see when next history and legend would be expertly manipulated to fit the plot.
If you like atmospheric, enigmatic slower burns, then Deck Z probably won’t meet your expectations. This book is plot-driven, written in the style of those great 1970s action-adventure tales, like The Word, Ghost Boat, The Island, and others. There are thuds at the end of every chapter, and we are given just enough about the characters to get us through the story—only what we need to know. I had reached the end of the ride before I knew it.
This novel didn’t get a five due to poor editing. First, the book is set in past-tense, and yet flashback scenes are not written in the pluperfect. This marred the immersion—I found myself wielding a red pen for most of the read. Second, there were a couple of spots in which both a question mark and an exclamation point were used at the end of dialogue, like this: “done!?” In my experience, double punctuation is a mistake made by the less experienced. Given today’s competitive climate, I was surprised to find these errors in something issued from a large publishing house. In the future, if I come across another Chronicle Book title I’m interested in, I will spend more time thumbing through to check for better grammar before I buy it.
Still, I’d recommend Deck Z if you’re looking for a light, fun read, you enjoy action-adventure and zombies, and/or you’re a Titanic aficionado. I liked it enough that it’ll go on my “books I’d buy for gifts” list. I just might have to fix all the grammar errors with my red pen first.
There aren’t many super-gory moments in this novel, but each of those is so cleanly-rendered it’s toe-curling. There is one paragraph in particular to which I vocally reacted. I wish all writers of gore knew how to do it as well.
For Titanic buffs there is good news, as therein is where the novel excels: the details of what we know happened on the ship’s maiden voyage and during the disaster—the first use of S.O.S., Ismay’s cowardly escape, and the musicians playing to the very end among them—are warped to fit this revisionist version seamlessly (we buy, for example, that the real reason the ship was steaming toward New York at excessive speed is because of the zombie threat). This Titanic lover had a ball waiting to see when next history and legend would be expertly manipulated to fit the plot.
If you like atmospheric, enigmatic slower burns, then Deck Z probably won’t meet your expectations. This book is plot-driven, written in the style of those great 1970s action-adventure tales, like The Word, Ghost Boat, The Island, and others. There are thuds at the end of every chapter, and we are given just enough about the characters to get us through the story—only what we need to know. I had reached the end of the ride before I knew it.
This novel didn’t get a five due to poor editing. First, the book is set in past-tense, and yet flashback scenes are not written in the pluperfect. This marred the immersion—I found myself wielding a red pen for most of the read. Second, there were a couple of spots in which both a question mark and an exclamation point were used at the end of dialogue, like this: “done!?” In my experience, double punctuation is a mistake made by the less experienced. Given today’s competitive climate, I was surprised to find these errors in something issued from a large publishing house. In the future, if I come across another Chronicle Book title I’m interested in, I will spend more time thumbing through to check for better grammar before I buy it.
Still, I’d recommend Deck Z if you’re looking for a light, fun read, you enjoy action-adventure and zombies, and/or you’re a Titanic aficionado. I liked it enough that it’ll go on my “books I’d buy for gifts” list. I just might have to fix all the grammar errors with my red pen first.
April 2, 2013
In an attempt to branch out into different genres I entered a goodreads giveaway of this book - and won! Of course I was excited to have won the book, but to say that I was skeptical is probably an understatement. Completely unfamiliar with the zombie genre, I was scared of having to face brutality and gore - I am not a person that handle such things very well - but I got so much more! Yes, there are very vivid descriptions of the zombies appearance,
"Now the flesh on her face was so rotted that her cheekbones lay exposed. Her ragged, purple lips moved only because of her furiously masticating jaw." (p. 27)
as well as some acts of violence
"With his free hand, the Agent reached into his jacket and pulled out a pair of needle-nose pliers, handcrafted by his dead father. The opened, pointed tips plunged into Jadovsky's neck, grabbed his Adam's apple and jerked. Blood pumped from the fresh opening in time with the beating of the Russian's heart. [...] The Agent had ripped his quarry's larynx free. [...] He brought the tool down a second time, and a third, violent overhand blows to the dying man's chest, splintering his rib cage and puncturing both lungs." (p. 38)
but the book has much more to it, and is not about senseless killing as I had feared. On the contrary, the book gives us the perspective of many different characters involved, how they deal with fear, power, killing and the prospect of being killed. All characters were interesting and real.
Overall, the book was captivating and the suspense sometimes unbearable: once I started I did not want to put it down. Deck Z is one of those books that makes you scream at the characters in your head (or sometimes out loud) and wish you could interfere or at least tell them what to do.
Not only is this a book about zombies, but it is also a work of historical fiction, a re-imagination of what could have happened on the Titanic in 1912. The authors have created a believable story, while at the same time staying close to the occurrence and sequence of events as they actually happened.
I really enjoyed that the story was split up into three stages, each of which had their own feel to it and was equally engaging. The short chapters allowed me to read through the book quite fast, and due to the frequent change in perspective I never got bored or felt the need to take a break.
I am not usually a fan of either frame narratives or open ends, but for Deck Z both worked really well. The frame narrative gives the story a contemporary implication, and the open end allows for your imagination to go crazy with possible scenarios.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to anyone that wants to try out the zombie genre.
If you liked this review, I am sure you will enjoy my my blog!
"Now the flesh on her face was so rotted that her cheekbones lay exposed. Her ragged, purple lips moved only because of her furiously masticating jaw." (p. 27)
as well as some acts of violence
"With his free hand, the Agent reached into his jacket and pulled out a pair of needle-nose pliers, handcrafted by his dead father. The opened, pointed tips plunged into Jadovsky's neck, grabbed his Adam's apple and jerked. Blood pumped from the fresh opening in time with the beating of the Russian's heart. [...] The Agent had ripped his quarry's larynx free. [...] He brought the tool down a second time, and a third, violent overhand blows to the dying man's chest, splintering his rib cage and puncturing both lungs." (p. 38)
but the book has much more to it, and is not about senseless killing as I had feared. On the contrary, the book gives us the perspective of many different characters involved, how they deal with fear, power, killing and the prospect of being killed. All characters were interesting and real.
Overall, the book was captivating and the suspense sometimes unbearable: once I started I did not want to put it down. Deck Z is one of those books that makes you scream at the characters in your head (or sometimes out loud) and wish you could interfere or at least tell them what to do.
Not only is this a book about zombies, but it is also a work of historical fiction, a re-imagination of what could have happened on the Titanic in 1912. The authors have created a believable story, while at the same time staying close to the occurrence and sequence of events as they actually happened.
I really enjoyed that the story was split up into three stages, each of which had their own feel to it and was equally engaging. The short chapters allowed me to read through the book quite fast, and due to the frequent change in perspective I never got bored or felt the need to take a break.
I am not usually a fan of either frame narratives or open ends, but for Deck Z both worked really well. The frame narrative gives the story a contemporary implication, and the open end allows for your imagination to go crazy with possible scenarios.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to anyone that wants to try out the zombie genre.
If you liked this review, I am sure you will enjoy my my blog!
May 8, 2015
Review - Deck Z
Another example of modern man overcoming superstition. We have entered an age in which men of science and industry can bend the world to their will.
-Mr. Ismay
"Duty comes before my safety or yours. You're givin' into fear," Smith said firmly. "Don't be afraid of the fire, Thomas. Otherwise you'll miss the chance to be forged in it."
-Captain Smith
Dr. Weiss is sent to Manchuria to investigate the outbreak of a new plague. The plague travels to the patient's brain and eats away at it, causing a violent madness. Dr. Weiss is desperate to find a cure for the plague. The Germans want to use the plague as a weapon. After isolating the "Toxic", Dr. Weiss realizes that his goals and the goals of the German Army are not the same. Dr. Weiss is determined to keep this plague from the Germans and tries to escape on the Titanic.
This book convincingly brings together the doomed voyage of the Titanic and zombies. The conceit of scientists and governments trying to control a plague and use it for their own goals is very believable. The authors obviously put some effort into making the Titanic and its voyage as realistic as possible. They used historical facts, background details, and actual people involved. There was Captain Edward Joseph Smith, J. Bruce Ismay (managing director of the White Star Line), Thomas Andrews (architect of the Titanic), and even the band that continued to play as the Titanic sank. I've come across these details before in other books about Titanic and that made the story seem more real, or at least more believable.
As for the zombie part, the plague spreading in a contained environment, fighting zombies in tight, enclosed spaces and the desperate need to contain the plague all had me on the edge of my seat. I was cringing in the right places, creeped out in the right places and cheering in the right places.
Recommended to:
This was is a fantastic book. If you like zombie stories, give it a try. If you like your historical fiction with a big twist, give it a chance. You won't be disappointed.
Another example of modern man overcoming superstition. We have entered an age in which men of science and industry can bend the world to their will.
-Mr. Ismay
"Duty comes before my safety or yours. You're givin' into fear," Smith said firmly. "Don't be afraid of the fire, Thomas. Otherwise you'll miss the chance to be forged in it."
-Captain Smith
Dr. Weiss is sent to Manchuria to investigate the outbreak of a new plague. The plague travels to the patient's brain and eats away at it, causing a violent madness. Dr. Weiss is desperate to find a cure for the plague. The Germans want to use the plague as a weapon. After isolating the "Toxic", Dr. Weiss realizes that his goals and the goals of the German Army are not the same. Dr. Weiss is determined to keep this plague from the Germans and tries to escape on the Titanic.
This book convincingly brings together the doomed voyage of the Titanic and zombies. The conceit of scientists and governments trying to control a plague and use it for their own goals is very believable. The authors obviously put some effort into making the Titanic and its voyage as realistic as possible. They used historical facts, background details, and actual people involved. There was Captain Edward Joseph Smith, J. Bruce Ismay (managing director of the White Star Line), Thomas Andrews (architect of the Titanic), and even the band that continued to play as the Titanic sank. I've come across these details before in other books about Titanic and that made the story seem more real, or at least more believable.
As for the zombie part, the plague spreading in a contained environment, fighting zombies in tight, enclosed spaces and the desperate need to contain the plague all had me on the edge of my seat. I was cringing in the right places, creeped out in the right places and cheering in the right places.
Recommended to:
This was is a fantastic book. If you like zombie stories, give it a try. If you like your historical fiction with a big twist, give it a chance. You won't be disappointed.
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