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Newsflesh #3.1
How Green This Land, How Blue This Sea
Post-Rising Australia can be a dangerous place, especially if you're a member of the government-sponsored Australia Conservation Corps, a group of people dedicated to preserving their continent's natural wealth until a cure can be found. Between the zombie kangaroos at the fences and the zombie elephant seals turning the penguin rookery at Prince Phillip Island into a slaughterhouse, the work of an animal conservationist is truly never done - and is often done at the end of a sniper rifle.
132 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2013
48 people are currently reading
2553 people want to read
About the author
Mira Grant
49 books6,112 followersMira also writes as Seanan McGuire.
Born and raised in Northern California, Mira Grant has made a lifelong study of horror movies, horrible viruses, and the inevitable threat of the living dead. In college, she was voted Most Likely to Summon Something Horrible in the Cornfield, and was a founding member of the Horror Movie Sleep-Away Survival Camp, where her record for time survived in the Swamp Cannibals scenario remains unchallenged.
Mira lives in a crumbling farmhouse with an assortment of cats, horror movies, comics, and books about horrible diseases. When not writing, she splits her time between travel, auditing college virology courses, and watching more horror movies than is strictly good for you. Favorite vacation spots include Seattle, London, and a large haunted corn maze just outside of Huntsville, Alabama.
Mira sleeps with a machete under her bed, and highly suggests that you do the same.
Born and raised in Northern California, Mira Grant has made a lifelong study of horror movies, horrible viruses, and the inevitable threat of the living dead. In college, she was voted Most Likely to Summon Something Horrible in the Cornfield, and was a founding member of the Horror Movie Sleep-Away Survival Camp, where her record for time survived in the Swamp Cannibals scenario remains unchallenged.
Mira lives in a crumbling farmhouse with an assortment of cats, horror movies, comics, and books about horrible diseases. When not writing, she splits her time between travel, auditing college virology courses, and watching more horror movies than is strictly good for you. Favorite vacation spots include Seattle, London, and a large haunted corn maze just outside of Huntsville, Alabama.
Mira sleeps with a machete under her bed, and highly suggests that you do the same.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 242 reviews
June 14, 2020
wow, a lot of people did not like this one.
me, i cannot get enough of this world, and i am thrilled that she keeps on writing within it. i have always loved mahir most of all, so this was a very special treat for me.
also, i love reading about australia; how badass its people, how adorable its fauna.
apparently, people who actually live in australia are not super in love with the way this story portrays their land and people, and with the reputation they have in the eyes of americans. and this boggles my mind, because as far as reputations go, i would so much rather be known as "the country that is eminently capable and independent and freaking amazingly badass with its survival skills and enviably sophisticated YA lit market and endemic cute-animal population" than "that fat lazy country that ruins everything with its litter and litigiousness and shoot 'em ups." as far as stereotypes go, at least it is formidable.
but i get it - no one wants to be pigeonholed. but is it okay if i still respect your ability to not melt in your appallingly hot climate and envy you your wombats, as curmudgeonly as they are? because i am in awe.
and in case you glossed this in your reading of this review so far, this book has ZOMBIE KANGAROOS.
zombie. kangaroos.
and also zombie wombats.
which, how you are a writer, and you miss the opportunity to create the word "zombats" is beyond me. seriously.
also, about a million references/spoilers for the books before it, so it is definitely not a standalone.
i thought this was a great story, and one that managed to explore the aftermath of the rising in a way that seemed fresh and interesting, not just "one more story to toss on the heap cuz people will keep buying them." it furthers the plot in that it touches upon possibilities of a cure with scientific observations that were mentioned in earlier books, but were a bit more pronounced here, with the discoveries in the kangaroo population.
and i still love mahir's unflappable demeanor and wit, which is apparently also grating to actual english folk. but come on, this is funny!
no?? not even a giggle??
bah! go on with you.
i will continue to read and love these stories as long as she keeps writing them, because i am unbearably loyal. which is also why i'm not going anywhere, so if anyone is interested in making goodreads fun again and not the ghost town it has become, let's fucking make it happen already.
come to my blog!
me, i cannot get enough of this world, and i am thrilled that she keeps on writing within it. i have always loved mahir most of all, so this was a very special treat for me.
also, i love reading about australia; how badass its people, how adorable its fauna.
Video footage of zombie kangaroos laying siege to Sydney was one of the last things to escape Australia during that first long, brutal summer of the Rising. Then the networks went down, and there were other things for people to worry about. Unbelievable as it sounds today, there was a time when the rest of the world genuinely expected the entire continent to be lost.
There was one thing that no one considered, however: Australia was populated by Australians. When the rest of us were trying to adapt to a world that suddenly seemed bent on eradicating the human race, the Australians had been dealing with a hostile environment for centuries. They looked upon our zombie apocalypse, and they were not impressed.
apparently, people who actually live in australia are not super in love with the way this story portrays their land and people, and with the reputation they have in the eyes of americans. and this boggles my mind, because as far as reputations go, i would so much rather be known as "the country that is eminently capable and independent and freaking amazingly badass with its survival skills and enviably sophisticated YA lit market and endemic cute-animal population" than "that fat lazy country that ruins everything with its litter and litigiousness and shoot 'em ups." as far as stereotypes go, at least it is formidable.
but i get it - no one wants to be pigeonholed. but is it okay if i still respect your ability to not melt in your appallingly hot climate and envy you your wombats, as curmudgeonly as they are? because i am in awe.
and in case you glossed this in your reading of this review so far, this book has ZOMBIE KANGAROOS.
zombie. kangaroos.
and also zombie wombats.
which, how you are a writer, and you miss the opportunity to create the word "zombats" is beyond me. seriously.
also, about a million references/spoilers for the books before it, so it is definitely not a standalone.
i thought this was a great story, and one that managed to explore the aftermath of the rising in a way that seemed fresh and interesting, not just "one more story to toss on the heap cuz people will keep buying them." it furthers the plot in that it touches upon possibilities of a cure with scientific observations that were mentioned in earlier books, but were a bit more pronounced here, with the discoveries in the kangaroo population.
and i still love mahir's unflappable demeanor and wit, which is apparently also grating to actual english folk. but come on, this is funny!
The trouble with running through a dark forest in the middle of the night while being pursued by a mob of zombie kangaroos is all the damn trees.
no?? not even a giggle??
bah! go on with you.
i will continue to read and love these stories as long as she keeps writing them, because i am unbearably loyal. which is also why i'm not going anywhere, so if anyone is interested in making goodreads fun again and not the ghost town it has become, let's fucking make it happen already.
come to my blog!
March 3, 2021
Hugely underwhelming, even by Grant's standards. This felt like fan service. It's been quite a few years since I read Feed and the follow-up book(s), and while I remember general details, there's a lot about the virus set-up that I've forgotten. (Besides the ever-present virus-testing based on blood glucose testing, that is). At any rate, this is from the viewpoint of one of the main characters' acolytes, Mahir, who has since taken over their journalism 'blog' (which really sounds more like a news site, ala HuffPost or Politico) and even expanded the reach to a division in Australia. There's still divisions on 'Irwins' and newsies, which, honestly, I had forgotten about. It's a half-hearted attempt at blanket characterization and world-building.
Mahir, our ultimate Brit who can't stop drinking tea or falling asleep, is visiting his cohorts in Australia to get a look at their Great Barrier Fence that keeps the native flesh-chomping kangaroos separate from the people. That's how committed Australia is, friends--they've fenced off the roos because the joeys are normal at birth and they want to save the species. I just wish Australia was that committed--in truth, they're a lot like the U.S., with a very vocal population that is Farmers First! with land and water rights. At any rate, though the blurb and all would have you think it's about roos and the fence, the reality is that it's an insufferable amount of time before Mahir actually reaches the fence. There the story begins, with a dramatic double twist. The twist was interesting for a couple of reasons, but ended up being underused; it wrapped up before the implications were really discussed or explored. It's actually kind of unusual for McGuire, who usual does a decent job with her short stories, at least in the Incryptid world.
This one's a pass, unless you've read all three Feed novels and are hungry for more in the world, and to know a little about What Are They Doing Now.
Mahir, our ultimate Brit who can't stop drinking tea or falling asleep, is visiting his cohorts in Australia to get a look at their Great Barrier Fence that keeps the native flesh-chomping kangaroos separate from the people. That's how committed Australia is, friends--they've fenced off the roos because the joeys are normal at birth and they want to save the species. I just wish Australia was that committed--in truth, they're a lot like the U.S., with a very vocal population that is Farmers First! with land and water rights. At any rate, though the blurb and all would have you think it's about roos and the fence, the reality is that it's an insufferable amount of time before Mahir actually reaches the fence. There the story begins, with a dramatic double twist. The twist was interesting for a couple of reasons, but ended up being underused; it wrapped up before the implications were really discussed or explored. It's actually kind of unusual for McGuire, who usual does a decent job with her short stories, at least in the Incryptid world.
This one's a pass, unless you've read all three Feed novels and are hungry for more in the world, and to know a little about What Are They Doing Now.
October 4, 2015
Buddy read with Nab♥ :D
Final rating: 3.5/5 stars
WARNING:
Do not read this novella if you haven't read whole trilogy. It contains absolutely serious spoilers about all three books, and if you don't want your experience to be completely ruined, then read it after you read those three.
I was really enthusiastic to read this, but sadly, my excitement killed it. I can't say i was bored, i just lost interest and it made it dragging. Which is why i degraded a star, but it's because of me mostly. This isn't as impressive as Newsflesh series all in all, and even though Mahir was the main character in this novella, he just wasn't as impressive as before ( that doesn't mean he wasn't amusing at times).
Now, this novella is set in post apocalyptic Australia... now imagine this:
this was a cute little beautiful creature called Kangaroo.
Now, it's not so cute anymore. Now it's ZOMBIE KANGAROO.
And Mahir wants to investigate the rabbit-proof fence that everyone in Australia is talking about.
Basically the plot.
Oh well, i do miss the original team though. I miss Shaun and his crazyness and i miss Georgia who was one of the best female characters ever.
Oh hell, i miss everything. And this was a nice reminder to how much i love this series.
____________________________________________
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
____________________________________________
MY NEWSFLESH REVIEWS:
◉ Feed (Newsflesh Trilogy, #1)
◉ Deadline (Newsflesh Trilogy, #2)
◉ Blackout (Newsflesh Trilogy, #3)
◉ How Green This Land, How Blue This Sea (Newsflesh Trilogy #3.5)
This review can be found on my blog: infinity-of-time.blogspot.com also known as...
Final rating: 3.5/5 stars
WARNING:
Do not read this novella if you haven't read whole trilogy. It contains absolutely serious spoilers about all three books, and if you don't want your experience to be completely ruined, then read it after you read those three.
I was really enthusiastic to read this, but sadly, my excitement killed it. I can't say i was bored, i just lost interest and it made it dragging. Which is why i degraded a star, but it's because of me mostly. This isn't as impressive as Newsflesh series all in all, and even though Mahir was the main character in this novella, he just wasn't as impressive as before ( that doesn't mean he wasn't amusing at times).
Now, this novella is set in post apocalyptic Australia... now imagine this:
this was a cute little beautiful creature called Kangaroo.
Now, it's not so cute anymore. Now it's ZOMBIE KANGAROO.
And Mahir wants to investigate the rabbit-proof fence that everyone in Australia is talking about.
Basically the plot.
Oh well, i do miss the original team though. I miss Shaun and his crazyness and i miss Georgia who was one of the best female characters ever.
Oh hell, i miss everything. And this was a nice reminder to how much i love this series.
____________________________________________
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
____________________________________________
MY NEWSFLESH REVIEWS:
◉ Feed (Newsflesh Trilogy, #1)
◉ Deadline (Newsflesh Trilogy, #2)
◉ Blackout (Newsflesh Trilogy, #3)
◉ How Green This Land, How Blue This Sea (Newsflesh Trilogy #3.5)
This review can be found on my blog: infinity-of-time.blogspot.com also known as...
August 18, 2013
Okay, now I'm deeply annoyed. I understand that any book written by an American about Australia and its culture is going to be a little.... off. I was able to put my cultural outrage aside for the most part, but for what? For a book that just stops? With no story arc? No conclusion? No resolution? And straight into an ad for her new series? WHY? Dear Gods... WHHHYYYYYY?!
I was going to give this two stars, because there is still a little part of me that feels like reading anything set in the Newsflesh universe is a bit like being home, despite the disrespect this author shows to her readership, despite the previous disappointments.... but at the end of the day, I just truly don't see the point of this book. It doesn't tell us anything. It doesn't lead us anywhere. It's obviously just a set-up to some future commercial venture. What a complete waste of time.
******************
[edit]
By the way, THIS is Adelaide International Airport.
THIS is the way it's described in the book.
I was going to give this two stars, because there is still a little part of me that feels like reading anything set in the Newsflesh universe is a bit like being home, despite the disrespect this author shows to her readership, despite the previous disappointments.... but at the end of the day, I just truly don't see the point of this book. It doesn't tell us anything. It doesn't lead us anywhere. It's obviously just a set-up to some future commercial venture. What a complete waste of time.
******************
[edit]
By the way, THIS is Adelaide International Airport.
THIS is the way it's described in the book.
October 6, 2015
"We're used to nature trying to kill us here," said Olivia, with obscene good cheer. "It's been doing that for centuries, and we refused to let it, mostly because we want to piss it off by surviving. It's the Australian way..."
I really enjoy this series, and even these little novellas, which is weird for me, because I don't normally like short stories. Loved the humour in this one, and thought it was really nice to see how different countries would cope with zombies. The author always has really interesting ideas, and the rabbit-proof fence and the whole conservation thing just proved that again. If you like dystopians then this is for you.
November 3, 2015
Zombies in Australia clearly means zombie kangaroos and wombats, silly accents and heavy on the cultural stereotypes. An American writing about a Brit in Australia always risks annoying any reader who fits into either category. Mahir is the Brit, visiting two new Australian journalists at End Times who think that the great Australian rabbit-proof fence would make a great story, and yes, as a fellow Brit he's starting to grate (I'll leave the Australian readers to moan about the Australian stuff). It's not just that he's sounding a lot less English each story, but he insists on narrating with American spellings, and I have never heard a Brit refer to sausages as links.
But to be honest, the cultural annoyances and Grant's check-list like need to have a non-heteronormative relationship appear in each book – incest, lesbians and now a polyamorous relationship – aren't really the problem. It's starting to feel like Grant is turning these out for the wrong reasons. Whether it's the cool idea (Zombie Kangaroos!) without a story, or just overwhelming pressure from publishers and fans to keep the universe going, the short stories are seeming to fall short of the original novels. Rather than developing the vestigial thriller that she teases, Grant spends way too much time getting over excited about the zombie kangaroos and talking in great detail about the rabbit-proof fence.
Set after the events of the trilogy, there are a few spoiler references littered throughout. Luckily, I wouldn't really recommend this for anybody other than completists anyway. With Grant branching out into her new Parasite series, maybe this is the end of the road for her Newsflesh series. This feels like the time to walk away before she really is just turning them out for the money, or possibly consider opening the universe up for other authors or fanfic.
But to be honest, the cultural annoyances and Grant's check-list like need to have a non-heteronormative relationship appear in each book – incest, lesbians and now a polyamorous relationship – aren't really the problem. It's starting to feel like Grant is turning these out for the wrong reasons. Whether it's the cool idea (Zombie Kangaroos!) without a story, or just overwhelming pressure from publishers and fans to keep the universe going, the short stories are seeming to fall short of the original novels. Rather than developing the vestigial thriller that she teases, Grant spends way too much time getting over excited about the zombie kangaroos and talking in great detail about the rabbit-proof fence.
Set after the events of the trilogy, there are a few spoiler references littered throughout. Luckily, I wouldn't really recommend this for anybody other than completists anyway. With Grant branching out into her new Parasite series, maybe this is the end of the road for her Newsflesh series. This feels like the time to walk away before she really is just turning them out for the money, or possibly consider opening the universe up for other authors or fanfic.
July 20, 2013
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
For those who read and loved Mira Grant's Newsflesh Trilogy, this first mention of this novella will probably come with a lot of excitement. At least, that was how it was for me.
Mira Grant definitely maintained her beautifully terrible setting. A zombie apocalypse. A virus that threatens to wipe out the human population and the human population which seeks to reassert itself in civilisation.
This novella is based on Mahir's visit to Australia. Like with almost any foreign portrayal of Australia, there are parts where I was nodding and agreeing and parts where I was wondering whether to laugh or cry. But Mira Grant was definitely better than most. She had researched our history from the rigorous treatment when it comes to conserving our natural wildlife, to mentions of our historical treatment of the Indigenous population and the rabbit proof-fence. However there was also some sweeping judgements that grated slightly on my nerves.
But worst of all was that there was no Georgia and Shaun. Yes I knew that going in, but I didn't realise until now just how much I enjoyed the Newsflesh series because of those two. Of course they were mentioned, but nothing more than that.
If there is to be another novella, I wish it would be of Georgia and Shaun in Canadian wilderness. Please Mira Grant, I beg you!
Buddy read with KRIS :)
For those who read and loved Mira Grant's Newsflesh Trilogy, this first mention of this novella will probably come with a lot of excitement. At least, that was how it was for me.
Mira Grant definitely maintained her beautifully terrible setting. A zombie apocalypse. A virus that threatens to wipe out the human population and the human population which seeks to reassert itself in civilisation.
This novella is based on Mahir's visit to Australia. Like with almost any foreign portrayal of Australia, there are parts where I was nodding and agreeing and parts where I was wondering whether to laugh or cry. But Mira Grant was definitely better than most. She had researched our history from the rigorous treatment when it comes to conserving our natural wildlife, to mentions of our historical treatment of the Indigenous population and the rabbit proof-fence. However there was also some sweeping judgements that grated slightly on my nerves.
But worst of all was that there was no Georgia and Shaun. Yes I knew that going in, but I didn't realise until now just how much I enjoyed the Newsflesh series because of those two. Of course they were mentioned, but nothing more than that.
If there is to be another novella, I wish it would be of Georgia and Shaun in Canadian wilderness. Please Mira Grant, I beg you!
Buddy read with KRIS :)
April 23, 2017
Two words - zombie kangaroos.
Also a note: This definitely has spoilers for the Newsflesh Trilogy, so that should be read first.
And my favorite sentence, which isn't really a spoiler, but since it appears towards the last of the book, I'm tagging it:
Anyway - this was a good fun book about how the zombie infestation hit Australia, and how that unique country is dealing with it.
Also a note: This definitely has spoilers for the Newsflesh Trilogy, so that should be read first.
And my favorite sentence, which isn't really a spoiler, but since it appears towards the last of the book, I'm tagging it:
Anyway - this was a good fun book about how the zombie infestation hit Australia, and how that unique country is dealing with it.
July 9, 2018
Two words: zombie kangaroos. And if that isn’t enough to sway you to read this short, I don’t know what is. Perhaps Mahir would be enough incentive? Everyone loves Mahir.
How Green This Land, How Blue This Sea takes readers (and characters) outside the US, all the way to Australia. Fans and readers of the Newsflesh trilogy already know that the Kellis-Amberlee virus wasn’t strictly a US plague. While it may have gotten its start in the States, it quickly became airborne and eventually spread all over the globe. This novella gives readers a small glimpse of the plague as it affects another country and it was interesting to not only be taken out of the setting we’ve grown accustomed to, but to see how a different country battles the infected while trying to protect not only what remains of the country that’s still inhabitable, but also everything in it.
Fans of of Mahir will be glad to know that he’s the main character of this short, along with several other new characters. I’m unsure if they were ever part of the blogging scene in the main series, and if so, it wasn’t anything more than a name drop or a mention.
Bottom line — the series is incredible, including all of the short stories and novellas that go along with it. I normally don’t advocate reading the extras with any series since they’re most likely just that — extra, but I definitely recommend any and all for this series. Even though the main arc had ended, there’s still so much more to explore in Newsflesh and each and every additional little short proves just that.
How Green This Land, How Blue This Sea takes readers (and characters) outside the US, all the way to Australia. Fans and readers of the Newsflesh trilogy already know that the Kellis-Amberlee virus wasn’t strictly a US plague. While it may have gotten its start in the States, it quickly became airborne and eventually spread all over the globe. This novella gives readers a small glimpse of the plague as it affects another country and it was interesting to not only be taken out of the setting we’ve grown accustomed to, but to see how a different country battles the infected while trying to protect not only what remains of the country that’s still inhabitable, but also everything in it.
Fans of of Mahir will be glad to know that he’s the main character of this short, along with several other new characters. I’m unsure if they were ever part of the blogging scene in the main series, and if so, it wasn’t anything more than a name drop or a mention.
Bottom line — the series is incredible, including all of the short stories and novellas that go along with it. I normally don’t advocate reading the extras with any series since they’re most likely just that — extra, but I definitely recommend any and all for this series. Even though the main arc had ended, there’s still so much more to explore in Newsflesh and each and every additional little short proves just that.
June 7, 2021
never thought i would be scared at the idea of a zombie kangaroo
July 21, 2013
Somewhere around a 3.5. I definitely don't think it's some of Mira Grant's best work, but it's a nice wrap-up to the entire Newsflesh series. Unlike the previous two novellas, this one takes place after the events of the three novels-- about two years after, to be more specific. The world is changing because of the end events of Blackout, but those changes are coming slowly. In this novella, we travel Down Under with Mahir to learn about Australia's unique approach to dealing with zombies and nature conservancy. There isn't really a driving plot [well, they do drive... a lot... but that's not what I mean] and it's mostly an outsider's observations of a different country and their ways. The "meat" of the book doesn't really appear until about 3/4 of the way in. Still, it's entertaining and worth the purchase if only for a few more answers.
I love what we see of Australian life here, although I know that we just barely scratched the surface. Why introduce a if you're not going to do anything important with them? Why introduce the mystery of if it just gets dropped as soon as a more interesting storyline pops up? I feel like this novella easily could have been a full-length book, maybe not the length of the actual Newsflesh novels but at least a hundred more pages, to fully flesh out the story that's being told here. As it is, I'm unsatisfied with all these loose ends that weren't even brought up before this novella.
As for one loose end from the books, however, we're finally starting to get some closure-- about three quarters of the way through the novella. On a mission, Mahir finally learns a secret that's not ready for the public yet. Finding that out made this worth it.
I expected more from Mira Grant for this novella but, expectations aside, it was still an entertaining and quick read. Just, compared to her other works, it falls a little short.
I love what we see of Australian life here, although I know that we just barely scratched the surface. Why introduce a if you're not going to do anything important with them? Why introduce the mystery of if it just gets dropped as soon as a more interesting storyline pops up? I feel like this novella easily could have been a full-length book, maybe not the length of the actual Newsflesh novels but at least a hundred more pages, to fully flesh out the story that's being told here. As it is, I'm unsatisfied with all these loose ends that weren't even brought up before this novella.
As for one loose end from the books, however, we're finally starting to get some closure-- about three quarters of the way through the novella. On a mission, Mahir finally learns a secret that's not ready for the public yet. Finding that out made this worth it.
I expected more from Mira Grant for this novella but, expectations aside, it was still an entertaining and quick read. Just, compared to her other works, it falls a little short.
November 23, 2015
Not Seanan/Mira's best standalone short story - she's done many that were much better than this one, I'm sorry to say - but I really like the opportunity to get to know Mahir. And as a Brit? No, he really isn't that stereotypical.
Also? I loved having a triad that was not made into a big deal. I wish more authors would include poly relationships in their work (especially in the fantasy and science/speculative fiction genres), or even just non-heteronormative characters, in a way that doesn't make the non-heteronormativity the whole focus of their existence. Seanan has done that here - as I would expect from her - and I really do appreciate that.
Unfortunately, this short doesn't really feel as though it winds up properly. We get a mystery, but then we're left with the mystery utterly unresolved. I don't mind the occasional unanswered question, but I really can't picture Mahir running off back to England and never bothering to find the answer(s). It's also quite rushed towards the end, which made me sad. This could have been a much better piece than it turned out, if it weren't for that. 3 stars.
Also? I loved having a triad that was not made into a big deal. I wish more authors would include poly relationships in their work (especially in the fantasy and science/speculative fiction genres), or even just non-heteronormative characters, in a way that doesn't make the non-heteronormativity the whole focus of their existence. Seanan has done that here - as I would expect from her - and I really do appreciate that.
Unfortunately, this short doesn't really feel as though it winds up properly. We get a mystery, but then we're left with the mystery utterly unresolved. I don't mind the occasional unanswered question, but I really can't picture Mahir running off back to England and never bothering to find the answer(s). It's also quite rushed towards the end, which made me sad. This could have been a much better piece than it turned out, if it weren't for that. 3 stars.
July 17, 2013
Like most of the Newsflesh novellas, this is an interesting and pleasant embroidery on the Newsflesh world. Behind George, Mahir is my favorite character, so it's like a vacation to see a friend to get a new story about him and the new characters introduced are all vivid and interesting in a way that I'm really hoping we get to see them again.
As well, I enjoyed being able to see how other countries have handled the zombie apocalypse, and the answer is--in the case of Australia--in typical Australian fashion.
As well, I enjoyed being able to see how other countries have handled the zombie apocalypse, and the answer is--in the case of Australia--in typical Australian fashion.
December 12, 2017
This is bloody brilliant. Mira Grant seriously understands Australia, it feels compeletly authentic and true which is a hell of a thing to accomplish. The contrast in how we dealt with the Rising to how the rest of the world did felt so real and made so much sense and was so culturally accurate that I honestly wouldn't mind so much a zombie apocalypse-- this version at least. The inclusion of the Rabbit Proof Fence and how we adapted it when the dead started to rise was fucking perfect, absolutely brilliant. I loved this so so much. Highly recommend it!
(But only if you've read the Newsflesh trilogy because there are spoilers. Big spoilers.)
(But only if you've read the Newsflesh trilogy because there are spoilers. Big spoilers.)
July 22, 2013
I’m a traditionalist when it comes to books; I prefer paper and ink to Kindles. But even I have been forced to admit that there are distinct advantages to using a machine for reading. Amazon has been promoting inexpensive novellas exclusively for the Kindle for a few years now — a story length I’ve always thought ideal and criminally underutilized. These nice long stories make good reading while one is awaiting the next novel in a favorite author’s series. Because the setting and characters are familiar, they require little in the way of explanation before the author can dive into the story. In this case, How Green This Land, How Blue This Sea is a welcome addition to Mira Grant’s NEWFLESH trilogy.
The hook for the story is that Mahir Gowda, the head of the After the End Times blog once the Masons (the main characters of the trilogy) have left the business and the lives of their coworkers and the politics and biology of the zombie apocalypse, is traveling to Australia to see exactly how the residents of that country — and, we are repeatedly reminded, continent — have dealt with the zombies, and particularly with the effect of the Kellis-Amberlee virus (which causes zombification) on kangaroos and wombats. Australia had special problems when the virus arrived there because of the immense amount of space not inhabited by humans; the lack of urbanization made the type of indoor existence that arose in the United States impossible to maintain. More than that, though, the desire of Australians to maintain their relationship with the out-of-doors, and their even more intense desire to preserve the diversity of their wildlife despite its danger, has led to some unique ways of dealing with the public health crisis that changed the world.
Grant shows us from her opening paragraphs how all-encompassing the changes to the world are. Travel is no longer something people do for fun. Airlines now not only require that you keep your seatbelt fastened; the seatbelt will not release until you have taken a blood test indicating that you have not become a zombie during the flight. And any passengers who are too aggressive in dealing with flight attendants are summarily sedated, regardless of the fact that they’re not in the least likely to pose a real danger; Gowda tells us this is a form of “security theater” instead of actual security (something we’ve already seen in the wake of 9/11). But it still takes a good 24 hours to get to Australia from England, and Gowda knows how to deal with security, so he arrives safe and sound.
Once he’s there, though, he notices huge differences between Australia and England almost immediately. For one thing, the home in which he is a guest has enormous windows. They have automated shutters, but the vulnerability of plate glass still seems like a huge risk to take. It’s even more of a surprise to learn that the trip Gowda is taking with his Australian guides to the rabbit-proof fence will take them a good three thousand miles from where they are. The “rabbit-proof fence” is a structure that actually exists in our own world; it is more formally known as the State Barrier Fence of Western Australia, and was built in the first decade of the twentieth century to keep rabbits and other agricultural pests from farmland. In Grant’s world, the fence now also keeps kangaroos and other dangerous animals from encountering humans. It is a true frontier, very dangerous, and indicative in its very existence of how Australians view the world. Other human populations would likely wipe out a dangerous species (and the kangaroos, when the virus in them amplifies and turns them into carnivorous, aggressive beasts that will attack, kill and eat humans, definitely qualify as dangerous); the Australians want simply to keep them isolated until a better way to deal with or wipe out the virus is found, and the animals can be reintegrated into the whole of Australia.
Grant gets a bit preachy, criticizing the American way of dealing with biological and security problems (cage it or kill it, no matter whether “it” is a dangerous human or a harmful animal, basically) by showing how another population chooses to deal with even worse problems. I can’t say whether her portrayal of Australians as more inventive and more ecologically conscious is accurate, but I can say that her tale made me wonder. Still, despite the lecturing, there’s an exciting adventure here. The novella isn’t as entertaining as her NEWSFLESH trilogy, but it’s a fine way to occupy one’s time until Grant’s new PARASITOLOGY trilogy gets its start with Parasite in October 2013.
Originally published at http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
The hook for the story is that Mahir Gowda, the head of the After the End Times blog once the Masons (the main characters of the trilogy) have left the business and the lives of their coworkers and the politics and biology of the zombie apocalypse, is traveling to Australia to see exactly how the residents of that country — and, we are repeatedly reminded, continent — have dealt with the zombies, and particularly with the effect of the Kellis-Amberlee virus (which causes zombification) on kangaroos and wombats. Australia had special problems when the virus arrived there because of the immense amount of space not inhabited by humans; the lack of urbanization made the type of indoor existence that arose in the United States impossible to maintain. More than that, though, the desire of Australians to maintain their relationship with the out-of-doors, and their even more intense desire to preserve the diversity of their wildlife despite its danger, has led to some unique ways of dealing with the public health crisis that changed the world.
Grant shows us from her opening paragraphs how all-encompassing the changes to the world are. Travel is no longer something people do for fun. Airlines now not only require that you keep your seatbelt fastened; the seatbelt will not release until you have taken a blood test indicating that you have not become a zombie during the flight. And any passengers who are too aggressive in dealing with flight attendants are summarily sedated, regardless of the fact that they’re not in the least likely to pose a real danger; Gowda tells us this is a form of “security theater” instead of actual security (something we’ve already seen in the wake of 9/11). But it still takes a good 24 hours to get to Australia from England, and Gowda knows how to deal with security, so he arrives safe and sound.
Once he’s there, though, he notices huge differences between Australia and England almost immediately. For one thing, the home in which he is a guest has enormous windows. They have automated shutters, but the vulnerability of plate glass still seems like a huge risk to take. It’s even more of a surprise to learn that the trip Gowda is taking with his Australian guides to the rabbit-proof fence will take them a good three thousand miles from where they are. The “rabbit-proof fence” is a structure that actually exists in our own world; it is more formally known as the State Barrier Fence of Western Australia, and was built in the first decade of the twentieth century to keep rabbits and other agricultural pests from farmland. In Grant’s world, the fence now also keeps kangaroos and other dangerous animals from encountering humans. It is a true frontier, very dangerous, and indicative in its very existence of how Australians view the world. Other human populations would likely wipe out a dangerous species (and the kangaroos, when the virus in them amplifies and turns them into carnivorous, aggressive beasts that will attack, kill and eat humans, definitely qualify as dangerous); the Australians want simply to keep them isolated until a better way to deal with or wipe out the virus is found, and the animals can be reintegrated into the whole of Australia.
Grant gets a bit preachy, criticizing the American way of dealing with biological and security problems (cage it or kill it, no matter whether “it” is a dangerous human or a harmful animal, basically) by showing how another population chooses to deal with even worse problems. I can’t say whether her portrayal of Australians as more inventive and more ecologically conscious is accurate, but I can say that her tale made me wonder. Still, despite the lecturing, there’s an exciting adventure here. The novella isn’t as entertaining as her NEWSFLESH trilogy, but it’s a fine way to occupy one’s time until Grant’s new PARASITOLOGY trilogy gets its start with Parasite in October 2013.
Originally published at http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
January 1, 2014
Starting this book off, I was super stoked to be reading from Mahir's point of view. He had really grown on me throughout the trilogy... but this novella slaughtered him for me. A good 98% of the book consists of Mahir whining about his trip to Australia and how he's bound to be ripped apart by a zombie kangaroo. I get it, the safety precautions aren't exactly what he's used to back home, but he would NOT give it a rest. The other 2% of his narrative consists of him sleeping or talking about how much he could use a "cuppa." Usually in the same breath.
There were two times Mr. Gowda woke up and decided to give a couple of greatly written speeches. Those few paragraphs really reminded me of why I loved the writing aspect of the Newsflesh series, but they couldn't distract me from how anticlimactic the rest of the novella was.
For any Newsflesh fan thinking of picking this one up, I'd be cautious. Make sure to read the trilogy first or this little novella will spoil major plot points for you. I'd also recommend reading Countdown and San Diego 2014: The Last Stand of the California Browncoats before this one just in case it discourages you from reading them later on.
There were two times Mr. Gowda woke up and decided to give a couple of greatly written speeches. Those few paragraphs really reminded me of why I loved the writing aspect of the Newsflesh series, but they couldn't distract me from how anticlimactic the rest of the novella was.
For any Newsflesh fan thinking of picking this one up, I'd be cautious. Make sure to read the trilogy first or this little novella will spoil major plot points for you. I'd also recommend reading Countdown and San Diego 2014: The Last Stand of the California Browncoats before this one just in case it discourages you from reading them later on.
April 29, 2016
Much as I love the Newsflesh trilogy as a whole, I don’t think this novella was a success, even despite the weird awesomeness of zombie kangaroos.
Mahir Gowda, left in charge of After the End Times at the end of the trilogy, travels to Australia to discover that Australians, having successfully faced down hostile habitats and fauna for centuries, ”were unimpressed” with the zombie apocalypse. However, the point is driven home with all the elegance of an anvil.
I don’t think the Newsflesh trilogy is at its highest when it aims for a social criticism/political commentary and becomes a not-so-subtle allegory for the current war on terror (in which case it often suffers from distracting idealistic oversimplifications); and when such moments occur in a novella, which doesn’t have the impetus of a novel that could sustain the readers’ attention through these episodes, they become downright irritating.
Also, the plot was fetal at best and bogged down with unnecessary details, while Mahir’s characterization and POV did not do it for me. The supporting cast was uniformly lovely though, hence two stars rather than one.
Mahir Gowda, left in charge of After the End Times at the end of the trilogy, travels to Australia to discover that Australians, having successfully faced down hostile habitats and fauna for centuries, ”were unimpressed” with the zombie apocalypse. However, the point is driven home with all the elegance of an anvil.
I don’t think the Newsflesh trilogy is at its highest when it aims for a social criticism/political commentary and becomes a not-so-subtle allegory for the current war on terror (in which case it often suffers from distracting idealistic oversimplifications); and when such moments occur in a novella, which doesn’t have the impetus of a novel that could sustain the readers’ attention through these episodes, they become downright irritating.
Also, the plot was fetal at best and bogged down with unnecessary details, while Mahir’s characterization and POV did not do it for me. The supporting cast was uniformly lovely though, hence two stars rather than one.
July 15, 2013
The rabbit-proof fence - the world's largest zombie holding pen
This time around in the Newsflesh series, the reader gets to go to Australia and see how the zombies (actually kangaroo, wombat and koala zombies) are handled on that continent.
I have loved this series (trilogy really with three novellas added on including this one). This is a long novella and features Mahir Gowda this time around rather than the Masons. The story is told plainly, masterfully but with edginess and just plain fun.
If you haven't read the Newsflesh trilogy, you really should. It's one of the best, most unique zombie tales out there. Read "Feed"; "Deadline"; and "Blackout" - the trilogy - and "Countdown"; "San Diego 2014: The Last Stand of the California Browncoats" along with "How Green This Land, How Blue This Sea" - the novellas.
This time around in the Newsflesh series, the reader gets to go to Australia and see how the zombies (actually kangaroo, wombat and koala zombies) are handled on that continent.
I have loved this series (trilogy really with three novellas added on including this one). This is a long novella and features Mahir Gowda this time around rather than the Masons. The story is told plainly, masterfully but with edginess and just plain fun.
If you haven't read the Newsflesh trilogy, you really should. It's one of the best, most unique zombie tales out there. Read "Feed"; "Deadline"; and "Blackout" - the trilogy - and "Countdown"; "San Diego 2014: The Last Stand of the California Browncoats" along with "How Green This Land, How Blue This Sea" - the novellas.
July 16, 2013
I was thrilled to bits when I first learned that Mira was planning an Australian Newsflesh novella, and I've been holding out for it for quite some time. When it at last became available for download today I got it as soon as was humanly possible and devoured it in one sitting, pausing only to leave running commentary reactions on her blog.
I feel that Mira has done an excellent job of portraying the Australian landscape, wildlife, and attitude in this novella. As usual it's by turns humorous and terrifying, as well as thought-provoking. The pacing is sharp; I don't think there was a single unnecessary word in the entire piece, it was so tightly written.
As it contains spoilers for the original Newsflesh trilogy, I highly recommend that you read that first, but if you've already read it, then follow it up with this novella as soon as you can.
I feel that Mira has done an excellent job of portraying the Australian landscape, wildlife, and attitude in this novella. As usual it's by turns humorous and terrifying, as well as thought-provoking. The pacing is sharp; I don't think there was a single unnecessary word in the entire piece, it was so tightly written.
As it contains spoilers for the original Newsflesh trilogy, I highly recommend that you read that first, but if you've already read it, then follow it up with this novella as soon as you can.
May 21, 2024
I’m laughing so hard and honestly? Mad respect for Australians bc I firmly believe this is how they’d respond.
You get bored and you riot.. when you complain about feeling unsafe, the bars come. The cracks will look big no matter where you are - even in a box. Be grateful for how big your “cell” is. Freedom is beautiful. What a concept! I loved that speech.
You get bored and you riot.. when you complain about feeling unsafe, the bars come. The cracks will look big no matter where you are - even in a box. Be grateful for how big your “cell” is. Freedom is beautiful. What a concept! I loved that speech.
June 10, 2016
I think this was better than Blackout. It might be the best story in the entire fucking series.
November 26, 2023
Wow this was just insufferable to read. Zero pacing, zero character growth, zero dialogue. It was the same tired zingers repeated about a hundred times.
How do you make a book about the conservation of zombie kangaroos so boring that it becomes a waste of my time?
How do you make a book about the conservation of zombie kangaroos so boring that it becomes a waste of my time?
February 17, 2020
I wish it were longer. Soooo good.
October 16, 2021
I don't know, I felt like there was supposed to be more but it let me down.... Zombie 'roos are cool though.
May 28, 2020
A glimpse of how Australians live after the zombie rising due to CDC releasing the Kellis-Amberlee virus. A bit preachy, and I felt really sorry for the kangaroos.
July 19, 2013
I read Mira Grant for scary science-based terror, and there was less of that in this. My problem, I suppose is that Mahir is always "the boy who lived" in this merry band, so I didn't believe for a moment that he was in true mortal peril, and moreover, there wasn't so much peril to go around really. It takes a while for there to be anything to even be mildly scared of, and there were no big scares, though the first view of the fence is pretty spectacular.
That's not to say that it wasn't good. I was still highlighting away at some especially pithy bits, and I enjoyed getting Mahir's conflicted take on George's, which very much reflects my own conflicted feelings on that particular plot element. It's been a year, and I still haven't decided whether or not it's a cop out, and if it is, if I care.
I do like the careful line Mahir, and therefore Grant, walks about how outsiders see Australia, and how Australia would like to see itself and be seen by the outside world.
I enjoyed this, but I enjoyed Countdown Newsflesh Trilogy 0.5 and San Diego 2014 The Last Stand of the California Browncoats much more.
That's not to say that it wasn't good. I was still highlighting away at some especially pithy bits, and I enjoyed getting Mahir's conflicted take on George's, which very much reflects my own conflicted feelings on that particular plot element. It's been a year, and I still haven't decided whether or not it's a cop out, and if it is, if I care.
I do like the careful line Mahir, and therefore Grant, walks about how outsiders see Australia, and how Australia would like to see itself and be seen by the outside world.
I enjoyed this, but I enjoyed Countdown Newsflesh Trilogy 0.5 and San Diego 2014 The Last Stand of the California Browncoats much more.
July 19, 2013
Upon finishing, the first thing that sticks out to me about this Newsflesh novella is how well Mira Grant writes through Mahir. He is a great narrating character. Travelling throughout zombie-infested Australia in his head was a fun experience that reiterated how much I hated reading from Shaun’s point of view in Deadline and Blackout.
The best thing about How Green this Land, How Blue this Sea is Grant’s portrayal of Australia. It was a different type of environment than any of the other settings for the Newsflesh series. Post-zombie apocalypse Australia is a place where people refuse to trade in their freedoms for protections. The people there don’t live with the same fear and isolation that is experienced in the North America and Europe of Grant’s world. It was a different atmosphere with a different feel. It helped to show how the world she created is an actual diaspora, not a monolith of fear and undead.
Although this was a rather short piece, Grant managed to include a few interesting ideas. The most significant is what her Australians have done with the rabbit-proof fence. All in all, I’d say this was a very thoughtful story. Great companion to the series.
The best thing about How Green this Land, How Blue this Sea is Grant’s portrayal of Australia. It was a different type of environment than any of the other settings for the Newsflesh series. Post-zombie apocalypse Australia is a place where people refuse to trade in their freedoms for protections. The people there don’t live with the same fear and isolation that is experienced in the North America and Europe of Grant’s world. It was a different atmosphere with a different feel. It helped to show how the world she created is an actual diaspora, not a monolith of fear and undead.
Although this was a rather short piece, Grant managed to include a few interesting ideas. The most significant is what her Australians have done with the rabbit-proof fence. All in all, I’d say this was a very thoughtful story. Great companion to the series.
August 7, 2013
It seems that I can't read a Mira Grant (aka Seanan McGuire) book without really enjoying it, and How Green This Land is no exception. This is a Newsflesh novella set a few years after the end of the core trilogy, and so contains some spoilers. They're treated more as assided than actual elements of the plot, but you'll probably still want to read the trilogy first to avoid spoiling the big reveals.
As you might expect from the book's blurb, How Green This Land features (poor, oft beleaguered) Mahir heading to Australia to cover the rabbit-proof fence, which, these days is keeping the zombie kangaroos from eating too many of the locals. Let me repeat that: zombie kangaroos. Of course, Australia's always been the sort of place where nature is actively trying to kill you, so the introduction of Kellis-Amberlee was rather more business-as-usual for Aussies than it was in the rest of the work, leading to a rather different take to zombie mitigation.
On the whole, this is another great chapter of the Newsflesh world, and presents some interesting hope for the future which, while not especially surprising given the trilogy, is still good to see. Definitely worth a read if you enjoyed Feed and its sequels.
As you might expect from the book's blurb, How Green This Land features (poor, oft beleaguered) Mahir heading to Australia to cover the rabbit-proof fence, which, these days is keeping the zombie kangaroos from eating too many of the locals. Let me repeat that: zombie kangaroos. Of course, Australia's always been the sort of place where nature is actively trying to kill you, so the introduction of Kellis-Amberlee was rather more business-as-usual for Aussies than it was in the rest of the work, leading to a rather different take to zombie mitigation.
On the whole, this is another great chapter of the Newsflesh world, and presents some interesting hope for the future which, while not especially surprising given the trilogy, is still good to see. Definitely worth a read if you enjoyed Feed and its sequels.
December 15, 2014
3 ½ stars
This author seems to bring out bipolar tendencies in me.
Not a week ago I rated Parasite a measly 1 star, 2 weeks ago I gave The Girl with All the Gifts (similar theme, different author) also a low rating and today I am giving this Feed Novella a 3 ½ stars.
Oz fauna and flora has always been over-the-top. Either animals that do not look like anything else on earth or are the deadliest of deadly creepy crawlies.
Now imagine these animals infected with the Kellis-Amberlee virus. Absolute chaos all round, right? Well not quite.
I know that Australian readers will either chuckle along with the stereotyping of all its inhabitants as badass, gun toting, hooligans or they will get offended. I for one really liked it and will definitely be reading the other novellas of this series.
PS: This novella should only be read after the 3rd book in the Newsflesh Trilogy.
This author seems to bring out bipolar tendencies in me.
Not a week ago I rated Parasite a measly 1 star, 2 weeks ago I gave The Girl with All the Gifts (similar theme, different author) also a low rating and today I am giving this Feed Novella a 3 ½ stars.
Oz fauna and flora has always been over-the-top. Either animals that do not look like anything else on earth or are the deadliest of deadly creepy crawlies.
Now imagine these animals infected with the Kellis-Amberlee virus. Absolute chaos all round, right? Well not quite.
I know that Australian readers will either chuckle along with the stereotyping of all its inhabitants as badass, gun toting, hooligans or they will get offended. I for one really liked it and will definitely be reading the other novellas of this series.
PS: This novella should only be read after the 3rd book in the Newsflesh Trilogy.
August 29, 2013
The Newsflesh Trilogy by Mira Grant is one of my all time favorites, so I was tickled to see How Green This Land, How Blue this Sea. This Newsflesh novella takes place in Australia. We travel into fenced of areas where they have quarantined elephants, kangaroo and other large animals infected with the virus . They have found a way to separate animals that amplify and allow them to live freely. Mahir is our guide as he journeys across country as a visiting journalist. I simple adored his dry, witty sense of humor. We learn a little more about the virus and reservoir condition which I found interesting. I think this tale is for die-hard fans, as it didn’t really have a storyline in the traditional sense, but rather showed us another post-rising community. Having said that, I truly think this novella opens the door to more books for Newsflesh. I will secretly hope that happens.
originally published @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
originally published @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
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