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The Spread
A Zombie Short Story Collection
You don’t know when it will change your life, or how, but the zombie plague is spreading quickly and in ways that no one could have imagined.
In Part I, an independently-hired researcher watches a mysterious plague decimate an island and takes notes with a gun-toting guard at his side. but the brisk waters of the Puget Sound can’t keep it from spreading to the mainland.
In Part II, follow the infection from chapter to chapter and person to person. A frightened neighborhood cat, a harmless fishing trip, a room full of infected preschoolers. perhaps someone will deliver it right to your front door. How kind.
Featuring short stories that showcase the many ways in which a disease can overwhelm a city, The Spread will get you thinking of how mundane acts can become deadly.
No matter your precautions, the spread will reach you. Of that you can be sure.
You don’t know when it will change your life, or how, but the zombie plague is spreading quickly and in ways that no one could have imagined.
In Part I, an independently-hired researcher watches a mysterious plague decimate an island and takes notes with a gun-toting guard at his side. but the brisk waters of the Puget Sound can’t keep it from spreading to the mainland.
In Part II, follow the infection from chapter to chapter and person to person. A frightened neighborhood cat, a harmless fishing trip, a room full of infected preschoolers. perhaps someone will deliver it right to your front door. How kind.
Featuring short stories that showcase the many ways in which a disease can overwhelm a city, The Spread will get you thinking of how mundane acts can become deadly.
No matter your precautions, the spread will reach you. Of that you can be sure.
- GenresZombiesHorrorApocalyptic
200 pages, Paperback
First published April 17, 2013
5 people are currently reading
254 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Kilmer
23 books99 followersMichelle Kilmer (now writing as Michelle von Eschen) is an American author of quiet, literary horror.
Her work includes the novel When the Dead and the novella Mistakes I Made During the Zombie Apocalypse, four short story collections: Last Night While You Were Sleeping, When You Find Out What You’re Made Of, Once Upon a Time, When Things Turned Out Okay, and Old Farmhouses of the North. She is a co-author of The Spread which she wrote with her twin sister, and a co-editor of GIVE: An Anthology of Anatomical Entries. Michelle has also written The Murk of Us, a nonfiction prose and poetry collection documenting the horrors of the toxic empath/narcissist relationship.
Her short stories are featured in several anthologies including Roms, Bombs, and Zoms from Evil Girlfriend Media, A Very Zombie Christmas from ATZ Publications, and Jolly Horror's Don't Cry to Mama and Accursed.
Michelle is a lover of the macabre who prefers Earl Grey tea, October, people who say goodbye on the phone, and her dreams are so real she can’t figure out what has really happened to her. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys weightlifting, dark beer, web design, singing and playing guitar, and watching horror movies. She lives in England with her husband, horror author Jonathan Butcher.
Her work includes the novel When the Dead and the novella Mistakes I Made During the Zombie Apocalypse, four short story collections: Last Night While You Were Sleeping, When You Find Out What You’re Made Of, Once Upon a Time, When Things Turned Out Okay, and Old Farmhouses of the North. She is a co-author of The Spread which she wrote with her twin sister, and a co-editor of GIVE: An Anthology of Anatomical Entries. Michelle has also written The Murk of Us, a nonfiction prose and poetry collection documenting the horrors of the toxic empath/narcissist relationship.
Her short stories are featured in several anthologies including Roms, Bombs, and Zoms from Evil Girlfriend Media, A Very Zombie Christmas from ATZ Publications, and Jolly Horror's Don't Cry to Mama and Accursed.
Michelle is a lover of the macabre who prefers Earl Grey tea, October, people who say goodbye on the phone, and her dreams are so real she can’t figure out what has really happened to her. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys weightlifting, dark beer, web design, singing and playing guitar, and watching horror movies. She lives in England with her husband, horror author Jonathan Butcher.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 14, 2015
Originally posted on Books are Delicious!
The Spread is a collection of short stories that follows a zombie plague as it travels throughout Washington State. The Spread mercilessly takes the young and the old, the evil and the holy, those who never saw it coming and those who prepared—not even animals are spared.
The collection opens with an action-packed outbreak story then launches into tales of the undead that will make even the most hardened horror-addicts squirm (I, for one, will not be drinking punch at parties any time soon). I particularly loved the appearances of Vaughn and Chedder from Kilmer's novel, When the Dead.
The Spread takes place before When the Dead and while the references are subtle and reading the When the Dead is not necessary to understand The Spread, I think having read the novel first made me enjoy the short stories that referred to it all the more. When the Dead is another must-read and for those who have yet to pick up a copy, there is an excerpt included at the end of this book. I really enjoyed The Spread and am looking forward to reading more from these talented local authors.
To see more of my reviews, visit my blog Books are Delicious!
The Spread is a collection of short stories that follows a zombie plague as it travels throughout Washington State. The Spread mercilessly takes the young and the old, the evil and the holy, those who never saw it coming and those who prepared—not even animals are spared.
The collection opens with an action-packed outbreak story then launches into tales of the undead that will make even the most hardened horror-addicts squirm (I, for one, will not be drinking punch at parties any time soon). I particularly loved the appearances of Vaughn and Chedder from Kilmer's novel, When the Dead.
The Spread takes place before When the Dead and while the references are subtle and reading the When the Dead is not necessary to understand The Spread, I think having read the novel first made me enjoy the short stories that referred to it all the more. When the Dead is another must-read and for those who have yet to pick up a copy, there is an excerpt included at the end of this book. I really enjoyed The Spread and am looking forward to reading more from these talented local authors.
To see more of my reviews, visit my blog Books are Delicious!
March 30, 2014
In “The Spread” by Michelle Kilmer and Rebecca Hanson, it isn’t just a virus that’s spreading, it’s a bit of charm as well. It’s a short story collection, but it’s not a random set of unconnected shorts. It’s the stories that are only touched on in the average zombie apocalypse book. Namely, the spread of the virus from person to person as a country falls apart quickly. Sometimes you follow the infection from person to person (for example one story is about an plague-ridden ice cream store clerk getting sicker and sicker who serves a cone to a bratty little brat before turning (new flavor - Infection Confection! Are you listening Ben & Jerry?). A subsequent story is about the brat headed off to his birthday party, chomping away on the infection confection. Sometimes you meet new characters, who often connect with a character from another story (most times literally, with their teeth). I started reading this book knowing it was shorts, while I was involved in another novel, just for a change of pace from what I was reading. When I began I was reading one or two stories a night. Each time I finished one I found myself with a satisfying smile. It’s fun, even though it’s horror. Some of the characters I felt bad for, and some were so clueless about what was going on around them they got exactly what they deserved. Initially I found myself not really believing that some people had no idea what was going on around them, but then I remembered the times I watched Jay Leno’s “Jaywalking” and was amazed that half the people Leno questioned didn’t even know who the President was. After thinking about that, I believe it. Like any good collection of shorts, it’s easy to pick up for a bit, then put back down for later. After I got about halfway through, I couldn’t put it down anymore and read through to the end. This is the only book I’ve seen that covers the part of the zombie apocalypse which is backstory for other novels. It’s unique. I highly recommend it. Check out “When the Dead” by Michelle Kilmer as well. Both of these are tip top. I can’t wait to see what’s next.
April 21, 2016
Spread is every mothers nightmare.Love the way it started,so plausible and a great read!I love your articulate and accurate way you tell multiple personal story's.A few times ,I stopped reading for a second, a few times and pondered being in your characters shoes.And what a treat to follow patient 0 and how all the paths crossed from beginning to end.And even though there were multiple story's they were so well done they were seamless. I look foreword to reading your other books.
May 22, 2023
I really enjoyed this collection of stories it really reminded me of another zombie collection called nights of the living Dead. The way the stories were connected but standalone short stories at the same time Definitely worth the read for any zombie fan. Now on to when the Dead.
April 25, 2013
Here it is the follow-up, actually a prequel of sorts, to the the very well written and highly enjoyable book When The Dead by Michelle Kilmer. The Spread is written by Kilmer and co-written with her twin sister, Rebecca Hansen. A note on the cover art. I love this image created by one of my favourite artist and the man who introduced me to Michelle Kilmer’s work, Lyle Schultz.
The Spread tells multiple tales of the beginnings of a zombie apocalypse, detailing how the virus progressed from one incident into an epidemic. We don’t so much get to read about how patient zero was infected but we do go through the first transfers and see how quickly it moved through the population pretty much by coincidence and pure chance. It’s an interesting look at how easily a virus can be passed along. Actually a little unnerving if you think about it and how we do pass germs along daily without thinking about. Seriously, don’t start thinking about. You’ll want to live in a bubble for the rest of your life.
This is a well written compilation of separate peoples lives becoming connected as they cross paths on just a regular day. I saw a few connections to When The Dead but you don’t need to have read that one first to enjoy this book, although you should read it too because it’s awesome.
The Spread tells multiple tales of the beginnings of a zombie apocalypse, detailing how the virus progressed from one incident into an epidemic. We don’t so much get to read about how patient zero was infected but we do go through the first transfers and see how quickly it moved through the population pretty much by coincidence and pure chance. It’s an interesting look at how easily a virus can be passed along. Actually a little unnerving if you think about it and how we do pass germs along daily without thinking about. Seriously, don’t start thinking about. You’ll want to live in a bubble for the rest of your life.
This is a well written compilation of separate peoples lives becoming connected as they cross paths on just a regular day. I saw a few connections to When The Dead but you don’t need to have read that one first to enjoy this book, although you should read it too because it’s awesome.
September 14, 2013
This book by Michelle Kilmer is a book of short stories on zombies I loved it ! I advise if you like zombie stories get your pointer finger in gear and click buy at any of the online stores DO IT! Michelle Kilmer the GREAT will thank you!
January 28, 2015
I narrated the audiobook version of this one and it should be available soon. Nice short stories on how and why a zombie virus would spread so quickly. Lots of characters in here and great to see how their lives intertwine with each other if only casually.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews