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Lesser Creatures
Fifteen years. That's how long the dead have walked among the living. But these corpses aren't the feral monsters mankind feared. Instead, known as Second-Lifers, they appear relatively harmless and in need of help, presenting a strain on an already struggling economy and creating a generation with the fewest technological advances in centuries. But change is coming… The leader of a burgeoning religion delivers a revelation…a second-lifer is offered a new career…and a down-on-his-luck ad man comes face to face with his painful past. Connected by a haunting, obscure tune from the 1970s, and a bizarre magic few understand, they are all thrust into a dark weekend of the soul, with the very fate of the world hanging in the balance. In the tradition of Philip K. Dick, Lesser Creatures is a dark, terrifying and sometimes satirical glimpse of a possible near-future, a wicked love letter to a wide-eyed, apocalypse-ready generation. And, perhaps, a wakeup call.
206 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2013
72 people want to read
About the author
Peter Giglio
30 books75 followersAn active member of the Horror Writers Association and the International Thriller Writers, Peter Giglio is the author of five novels, four novellas, and his short fiction can be found in several books, including two comprehensive genre anthologies edited by New York Times Bestselling author John Skipp. With co-writer Scott Bradley, Peter is actively shopping a feature-length screen adaptation of Joe R. Lansdale's "The Night They Missed the Horror Show," and Sunfall Manor, one of Giglio's novellas, is currently under option with a screenwriting team based in Los Angeles. Giglio lives on the Georgia coast with his fiancé and frequent collaborator, Shannon Michaels, and he always has time for readers at www.petergiglio.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 9, 2014
Let me paraphrase Teen Angst by Cracker.
"What the world needs now, is another Zombie novel, like I need a hole in my head."
`But this novel is different you,' say.
That's what they all say.
Well, the novel "Lesser Creatures" from Peter Giglio by Darkfuse Press is different. In fact, to call it a zombie story really misses the point.
Lesser Creatures is the story of `second-lifers.' Regular folks like you and me who have come back to life, undead, not dead, but not fully living. Unable to talk, certainly disabled a bit, but still alive and reliant upon society to find a place for them. They don't look like us, smell a bit, require caretaking, and seem strange to the rest of the humans. Well, most of the humans. Some advocate for them, develop religions and followings to serve them (with hidden motivations, of course, which is what makes this cool fiction.)
The result is a social commentary and study in Xenophobia with equal parts empathy to all the players involved in this drama. The characters themselves are distinct and real and sit next to you everyday. And they carry on complex relationships that make this a great story without the undead part. The action continually flows. You won't be bored (well, I wasn't) you won't skim. You will believe that zombie fiction isn't dead, because zombie fiction can be so many things.
What also makes this unique is it is a Zombie/Undead point of view story. I have read snippets of Zombie POV pieces and seen a few films, but this author does a most masterful job of putting the reader into the mind of the undead. It would be easy to miss how good this is.
There isn't the obligatory zombie gore but there are a few moments of dark humor. Showing the `second-lifers' a classic Romero Zombie movie is against the law, but discussing this becomes almost like the `dog whistle' threat of the non Second-Lifer sympathizers.
Romero or no Romero, these second-lifers won't stay happy forever. Memories of their past life get in the way, as well as those who want the second-lifers to be what they once were. The second lifers are also consumers, and "what does the undead want?" becomes an ad agencies major concern.
At times, I saw the novel in a "1984" way, where the microcosm of one relationship (Winston and Julia) would make a statement on the larger world around it. A tragic love story. But in the end it didn't bring the social commentary to a conclusion that satisfied me. It wasn't so much as the novel doesn't deliver; it was that I was looking for something different based on my preconceptions. The novel ended as a good thriller would, with gunfire and action and relationships blowing apart. Plus some great twists that brought about cool ethical dilemmas and moral quandaries. Any ending that creates a new beginning is one which I applaud.
This book is ambitious and well-written as one would expect from Darkfuse. I have always stated how Zombie stories are never about the zombies but about how the humans react. In this case, they are about both, and the drama as they interact is what makes Lesser Creatures feed on your interest.
Another paraphrase from Teen Angst by Cracker.
"What the world needs now is a new kind of Zombie Tension, cause the old one just bores me to death."
The world has it in "Lesser Creatures." My favorite zombie novel since "The Reapers Are the Angels"
Mark Matthews, author of On the Lips of Children
Copy received by request from Netgalley
"What the world needs now, is another Zombie novel, like I need a hole in my head."
`But this novel is different you,' say.
That's what they all say.
Well, the novel "Lesser Creatures" from Peter Giglio by Darkfuse Press is different. In fact, to call it a zombie story really misses the point.
Lesser Creatures is the story of `second-lifers.' Regular folks like you and me who have come back to life, undead, not dead, but not fully living. Unable to talk, certainly disabled a bit, but still alive and reliant upon society to find a place for them. They don't look like us, smell a bit, require caretaking, and seem strange to the rest of the humans. Well, most of the humans. Some advocate for them, develop religions and followings to serve them (with hidden motivations, of course, which is what makes this cool fiction.)
The result is a social commentary and study in Xenophobia with equal parts empathy to all the players involved in this drama. The characters themselves are distinct and real and sit next to you everyday. And they carry on complex relationships that make this a great story without the undead part. The action continually flows. You won't be bored (well, I wasn't) you won't skim. You will believe that zombie fiction isn't dead, because zombie fiction can be so many things.
What also makes this unique is it is a Zombie/Undead point of view story. I have read snippets of Zombie POV pieces and seen a few films, but this author does a most masterful job of putting the reader into the mind of the undead. It would be easy to miss how good this is.
There isn't the obligatory zombie gore but there are a few moments of dark humor. Showing the `second-lifers' a classic Romero Zombie movie is against the law, but discussing this becomes almost like the `dog whistle' threat of the non Second-Lifer sympathizers.
Romero or no Romero, these second-lifers won't stay happy forever. Memories of their past life get in the way, as well as those who want the second-lifers to be what they once were. The second lifers are also consumers, and "what does the undead want?" becomes an ad agencies major concern.
At times, I saw the novel in a "1984" way, where the microcosm of one relationship (Winston and Julia) would make a statement on the larger world around it. A tragic love story. But in the end it didn't bring the social commentary to a conclusion that satisfied me. It wasn't so much as the novel doesn't deliver; it was that I was looking for something different based on my preconceptions. The novel ended as a good thriller would, with gunfire and action and relationships blowing apart. Plus some great twists that brought about cool ethical dilemmas and moral quandaries. Any ending that creates a new beginning is one which I applaud.
This book is ambitious and well-written as one would expect from Darkfuse. I have always stated how Zombie stories are never about the zombies but about how the humans react. In this case, they are about both, and the drama as they interact is what makes Lesser Creatures feed on your interest.
Another paraphrase from Teen Angst by Cracker.
"What the world needs now is a new kind of Zombie Tension, cause the old one just bores me to death."
The world has it in "Lesser Creatures." My favorite zombie novel since "The Reapers Are the Angels"
Mark Matthews, author of On the Lips of Children
Copy received by request from Netgalley
July 26, 2014
4.5*
This is a vastly different take on zombies and it really brings something fresh to the genre which has become pretty tired recently.
It also says something about society and how it treats those that are 'undesirable', seen as a plague and an economic burden.
My favourite aspect of this read was the love stories that were central to the plot, the relationship between Eric and Monika really drew me into the story especially Monika's POV as a second lifer.
The read was paced nicely, the writing flowed beautifully and characters were well developed for such short read. For me the only things I felt were lacking were some queries around the initial outbreak or beginning of second lifers. This aspect of the novel was confusing and pulled me out of the story towards the end as it read as though more information had been given.
The ending was left very open and I hope that the author revisits this at some point to add more to the story.
Recommended.
This is a vastly different take on zombies and it really brings something fresh to the genre which has become pretty tired recently.
It also says something about society and how it treats those that are 'undesirable', seen as a plague and an economic burden.
My favourite aspect of this read was the love stories that were central to the plot, the relationship between Eric and Monika really drew me into the story especially Monika's POV as a second lifer.
The read was paced nicely, the writing flowed beautifully and characters were well developed for such short read. For me the only things I felt were lacking were some queries around the initial outbreak or beginning of second lifers. This aspect of the novel was confusing and pulled me out of the story towards the end as it read as though more information had been given.
The ending was left very open and I hope that the author revisits this at some point to add more to the story.
Recommended.
April 3, 2018
This was such a pleasant surprise!
The first chapter wasn`t a big deal, i`ve tried this novella for at least three times, but after that the ideea it`s quite original and the reading it`s very smooth.
Yes, there are some zombies in it, but this story proves that in this genre there are still many fresh and surprising stories to write and tell.
The first chapter wasn`t a big deal, i`ve tried this novella for at least three times, but after that the ideea it`s quite original and the reading it`s very smooth.
Yes, there are some zombies in it, but this story proves that in this genre there are still many fresh and surprising stories to write and tell.
December 6, 2013
This is an intelligent take on the zombie theme where zombies or "second-lifers" as they are now known have been integrated into everyday life. In true zombie fashion they have a slow deliberate gait and don't tend to converse much! "She smiled at him, a shocking rictus of unholy perversity, exposing blackened gums and serrated teeth. Her tongue, the color of well-done meat, slithered behind wide dental gaps, and her gray hideous hand clutched her chest." As a man dies and is retrieved and returns he emerges as a zombie which has a detrimental effect on already strugging economies "Although not cannibals like movies had predicted, they were far from harmless. Once a month, like some kind of planetary menstrual cycle, the earth spits up thousands of new mouths to feed and left taxpayers to shoulder the burden, straining an already struggling economy." There is a wonderful list of characters including Stephen Lingk Pastor of Glory's Children Church, Monika Janus and her lover from a previous live Eric Cooper. Eric works for AdCom and they are losing consumer confidence resulting in advertising dollars being slashed at an alarming rate, they plan to target the "second life" market (who have a great fondness for burgers and whisky!) and to this end employ Monika Janus a newly reborn second lifer. Stephen Lingk has his own agenda and is attempting to communicate more deeply with the second-lifers "The hundreds of second-lifers tested with the SSA under Lingk's supervision had produced fewer than a dozen responses most of them garbled beyond recognition." Will Eric obtain some form of closure? Will second-lifers destroy human life as we know it? Will the Pastor reveal his true colours? I did enjoy this book and felt that the themes whilst intelligent (in order for second-lifers to be born someone has to die) and different did not always hold my attention and came to realize towards the end......I really did prefer the traditional evil, slow lumbering, zombie the true "walking dead"
March 12, 2014
This story is about second-lifers, a new and unique breed of zombie. Hated by many but revered by others, they are a drain on the countries resources, and the economy. Monika is a newly born second lifer who has a bit of sentience and is recruited by AdCorp to work in one of their offices. As she is adjusting to her new status, she becomes aware that she is possibly being used as a pawn in a much bigger picture...
This was an interesting and new take on the zombie genre. I enjoyed it, and it kept me page turning. The story was fast paced, the characters were solid, and the ending was explosive and unexpected. I liked the overall idea that everyone who dies becomes reborn as a second lifer, and Eric's background story was interesting. The twist at the end was totally unexpected and left me for a loop, and the end seemed open for another possibly to come. I recommend this for people who enjoy zombie stories but are possibly looking for something new.
This was an interesting and new take on the zombie genre. I enjoyed it, and it kept me page turning. The story was fast paced, the characters were solid, and the ending was explosive and unexpected. I liked the overall idea that everyone who dies becomes reborn as a second lifer, and Eric's background story was interesting. The twist at the end was totally unexpected and left me for a loop, and the end seemed open for another possibly to come. I recommend this for people who enjoy zombie stories but are possibly looking for something new.
December 7, 2013
This was the first book by Peter I have read and enjoyed. This is not your typical zombie (second lifer) story. Its sort of a love story gone bad with a twist thrown in. The story starts when Monika Janus and Eric Cooper are driving get into a argument when the Lesser Creature Love Song is playing and get into a accident. Monika dies and becomes a second lifer. Eric survives the crash and works for a company named Adcom. Another character in the story is Stephen Lingk Pastor of Glory's Children Church, who fights for the second lifers. The story centers around these three people and what happens once they meet. I would have gave the story 3 1/2 stars, but I like the fresh take of the zombie tale and bump it up to 4 stars.
December 7, 2013
First of all, this was a very unique take on the zombie sub-genre. In that regard alone, I applaud the author wholeheartedly. My only main complaint was that the story came off very "politically correct", and a bit too preachy for my tastes (especially in a horror novel). However, at some point (no spoilers), a major change takes place that changes perceptions on a lot of issues.
I loved the direction that Peter Giglio took with the ending! Once I got closer to that, things started to make more sense, and I genuinely enjoyed the conclusion. I will be searching out other books by this author to see what else he has come up with!
3.5 stars.
I loved the direction that Peter Giglio took with the ending! Once I got closer to that, things started to make more sense, and I genuinely enjoyed the conclusion. I will be searching out other books by this author to see what else he has come up with!
3.5 stars.
December 23, 2013
I've always enjoyed zombie stories, but it's hard to argue that the (sub)genre is getting a little threadbare these days. It seems there's a new zombie novel out every week, and a new anthology out every month, and, for the most part, the stories are just rehashes of ones that have come before.
Of course, appealing to the status quo is not something DarkFuse does. If they're publishing a zombie story, you can bet it's going to bring something new to the table, and that's exactly what is delivered with Peter Giglio's Lesser Creatures.
The zombies in this book bear only a casual resemblance to the typical zombie - namely, they are the risen dead. They are not violent and they do not crave the flesh of the living. In fact, calling them a zombie is considered crass and not something one does in polite society (the accepted term is "Second Lifer").
The real problem with these creatures is the heavy burden they place on the economy. You cannot kill a Second Lifer because of something referred to as the Curse, which causes anyone that kills a Second Lifer to die a very quick and very painful death themselves. So it's up to the government to take care of Second Lifers, paid for by taxpayers, which obviously creates a lot of resentment.
The story centers around four people. Stephen Lingk is the source of the Second Lifers in his youth, and a pastor fighting for their rights as an adult. Glory is the love of his life, and the reason he creates the Second Lifers. Eric Cooper is a middle management executive for an advertising firm and can't stand the undead. Monika Janus is Eric's former girlfriend a Second Lifer. The story tells how things begin changing when these four come together for various reasons.
My only real complaint with Lesser Creatures is that it ends on a pretty large cliffhanger. Giglio has stated that he has several ideas about where to take the story next, but whether or not he continues it will depend on sales of this book. So... Buy the book!
Of course, appealing to the status quo is not something DarkFuse does. If they're publishing a zombie story, you can bet it's going to bring something new to the table, and that's exactly what is delivered with Peter Giglio's Lesser Creatures.
The zombies in this book bear only a casual resemblance to the typical zombie - namely, they are the risen dead. They are not violent and they do not crave the flesh of the living. In fact, calling them a zombie is considered crass and not something one does in polite society (the accepted term is "Second Lifer").
The real problem with these creatures is the heavy burden they place on the economy. You cannot kill a Second Lifer because of something referred to as the Curse, which causes anyone that kills a Second Lifer to die a very quick and very painful death themselves. So it's up to the government to take care of Second Lifers, paid for by taxpayers, which obviously creates a lot of resentment.
The story centers around four people. Stephen Lingk is the source of the Second Lifers in his youth, and a pastor fighting for their rights as an adult. Glory is the love of his life, and the reason he creates the Second Lifers. Eric Cooper is a middle management executive for an advertising firm and can't stand the undead. Monika Janus is Eric's former girlfriend a Second Lifer. The story tells how things begin changing when these four come together for various reasons.
My only real complaint with Lesser Creatures is that it ends on a pretty large cliffhanger. Giglio has stated that he has several ideas about where to take the story next, but whether or not he continues it will depend on sales of this book. So... Buy the book!
August 5, 2016
15 years ago the dead started to return to life. They were not hungry for brains, but would prefer a nice fast food burger and single malt. (Ok, scratch the single malt, Jack is fine.) They have become a terrible financial burden on society and have taken on the status of “lesser creatures”. What some call a curse or a disease others have built a religion around and believe the second lifers are some kind of a prophecy being fulfilled? Change is coming, however, and when one of the second lifers commits a terrible act of violence, the world just may go to hell in a hand-basket and one mans savior may just be the one to take them there.
I thoroughly enjoyed this DarkFuse novella from Peter Giglio. It was a unique and original view on a sometimes tired genre. Tragedy, lies, betrayal, love and the undead. The more I think about this one the more intriguing I think is was (is). I look forward to some more of Peters work and already have Sunfall Manor in the queue.
I thoroughly enjoyed this DarkFuse novella from Peter Giglio. It was a unique and original view on a sometimes tired genre. Tragedy, lies, betrayal, love and the undead. The more I think about this one the more intriguing I think is was (is). I look forward to some more of Peters work and already have Sunfall Manor in the queue.
July 11, 2014
Lesser Creature is a story of loss, love, and the undead. The undead in this read are called "second-lifers" who are not the ravenous, flesh-eating bodies with teeth we have come to know and shoot in the head.
These SL's are a drain on the community and are a stain that can't be washed away for some who feel like there's no one home in these bodies and to treat them like humans is a unnecessary strain on society. Not everyone feel this way though.
Although I found the idea of second-lifer appealing and original, I felt like the story didn't move like a normal zombie read would. There was really no run-for-your-life moments that made you concerned for the character. It was a slow read.
It didn't help that I didn't like the main character.
What is a story when it's just a story? No highs, no lows.
I didn't dislike it, but it did nothing for me.
The writing was solid, I just needed more flashing lights.
These SL's are a drain on the community and are a stain that can't be washed away for some who feel like there's no one home in these bodies and to treat them like humans is a unnecessary strain on society. Not everyone feel this way though.
Although I found the idea of second-lifer appealing and original, I felt like the story didn't move like a normal zombie read would. There was really no run-for-your-life moments that made you concerned for the character. It was a slow read.
It didn't help that I didn't like the main character.
What is a story when it's just a story? No highs, no lows.
I didn't dislike it, but it did nothing for me.
The writing was solid, I just needed more flashing lights.
December 22, 2013
My favorite Dark Fuse publication to date.
As the zombie genre has evolved, it has lost its mystery. Most treatments of zombies focus upon viruses caused by mutation or bio-warfare. But we forget that zombies were born of magic.
Mr. Giglio takes us back to the origins of zombies to magic and mystery and unknown power. It is a fast-paced, awesome ride. I cannot wait to read more.
Highly recommend.
As the zombie genre has evolved, it has lost its mystery. Most treatments of zombies focus upon viruses caused by mutation or bio-warfare. But we forget that zombies were born of magic.
Mr. Giglio takes us back to the origins of zombies to magic and mystery and unknown power. It is a fast-paced, awesome ride. I cannot wait to read more.
Highly recommend.
December 7, 2013
Totally enjoyed this twist on the zombie theme. Hope to see more of Peter's books released through DarkFuse.
January 10, 2014
Visit www.bookie-monster.com to read the full review submitted by Mark Matthews.
January 4, 2014
(This review also appears at the Court Street Literary Collective at www.courtstreetliterary.com)
It’s tough to write a zombie story these days. I mean, it must be, right? Or at least it’s difficult to write a zombie story that stands out from the shuffling horde. Zombies have become such a hot commodity that nearly everyone wants to a) write a zombie book, b) sell a zombie book, c) buy a zombie book, or maybe even c) write, sell, and then buy a zombie book. Who knows?
The good news is there will always be writers who attack any well-worn premise from a refreshing direction. Recently, there have been some excellent zombie novels hitting the shelves: Max Brooks’ World War Z, Howard O’Dentz’s Dead (A Lot), Isaac Marion’s Warm Bodies, Ivo Stourton’s upcomingThe Happier Dead, and many others. For the record, I’m happy to add Peter Giglio’s Lesser Creatures to that list. Giglio gives us a world with zombies, yes, but they’re more than just ambulatory corpses. Much more.
Lesser Creatures begins with a brief scene between two teenagers: Steve is a geek who happens to be in teenaged love with Glory, the most beautiful girl he’s ever known. Quickly, we learn there may be something special about Steve. According to an essay he wrote for English class, some years before, he was able to create a cat from his dying sister’s dreams, giving her comfort in the days before her death. Glory not only knows about the story of Steve’s purported ability, but she believes it, and, as we soon discover, intends to exploit him for her own purposes. The teenagers kiss, Glory declares her love for Steve, and something strange and unexpected happens. (No, it’s definitely not what you’re thinking.)
The story leaps forward fifteen years, to a world featuring formerly-dead people called second-lifers. This isn’t your standard overrun-by-undead-people world, though. The second-lifers shamble and don’t have much direction, but they aren’t violent, malicious, or brain-hungry. They lead dreary lives, working in various menial jobs and subsisting on burgers, fries, and whiskey.
Not only are the second-lifers accepted in society—sometimes grudgingly so—they’re protected, which is the really interesting part. Any living human who kills a second-lifer falls victim to a kind of curse—a phenomenon called, wait for it, The Curse—which, in turn, kills that person, dispatching them into a death by excruciating and nasty disintegration. This curse, by the way, will eventually become relevant in another interesting way.
As the story gets rolling, we’re introduced to three main characters. The first is Pastor Steven Lingk—the love struck teen Steve from the first scene—who is now the thirty-year-old leader of Glory’s Children Church, a religious organization that advocates for the second-lifers. This church is no fringe cult, however. It’s become enormously successful, and Lingk is an incredibly wealthy man.
It is at this point that we may also begin to realize the significance of the church’s name: Glory’s Children Church. The encounter between Steve and Glory, the one from the beginning scene, is what spawned the second-lifers, and the curse protecting the second-lifers from harm appears to be a result of whatever it was that allowed the younger Steve to create them in the first place.
Despite his church’s success, Pastor Lingk is currently experiencing a crisis. He’s officially gone on record telling the world he was responsible for creating the second-lifers in the first place, a revelation that’s being met with a good deal of skepticism, not the reaction he was expecting. Lingk is becoming desperate to turn his situation around.
Meanwhile, the story also follows Eric Cooper, an advertising man who feels his best years are behind him. In the book’s dedication, Giglio mentions his admiration for Philip K. Dick, and Eric Cooper is a protagonist Dick would have liked. He drinks too much, has a thing for younger women, and can’t maintain any level of consistent normalcy. His life is, essentially, a mess. Eric also happens to work for an advertising company whose largest account is the Glory’s Children Church. He’s ready to quit his job, but his boss won’t let him, primarily because Pastor Lingk insists that Cooper work his account.
The third main character in the story is Monika Janus, a second-lifer with a little something extra. For one thing, we’re privy to Monika’s thoughts, so we know she has murky memories of her previous life, which is something we’re pretty sure second-lifers aren’t supposed to have. For another—and this is the good part—there’s a connection between Monika and Eric. I won’t ruin that for you, but trust me, it’s important. There also seems to be a tie between Monika and Glory, the girl from Steven Lingk’s past. Also important.
Another similarity between Lesser Creatures and the universes of Philip K. Dick is the amount of seemingly throwaway details Giglio throws at us, any one of which could probably make a compelling story. Dick was good at using these kinds of elements to imbue his stories with authenticity, suggesting that his created worlds were as real as any the reader might have experienced.
For instance, in Lesser Creatures, one of the advertising companies’ most crucial target audiences is the second-lifer population. Why? We’re not really given a clear answer, but it somehow works. Why do they love burgers, fries, and whiskey? Again, we’re not certain, but we don’t need to be. We’re also briefly told about the early days of the second-lifers and the discovery of the curse. Giglio gives us enough information to provide a sense of context but not enough to derail the main story.
Speaking of story, it’s difficult to talk about many of the essential elements of this novel without engaging in some significant spoiling, and I’m not going down that road. Just know that there’s a whole lot happening in Lesser Creatures, but Peter Giglio cleverly manages to keep it fairly simple. The meat of the tale comes from the connection between Pastor Lingk, Eric Cooper, and Monika Janus, and while we may not precisely understand the nature of that connection—Giglio also does nice work paying out this information at a steady pace—we’re always aware of its presence and the fact that it’s driving these characters to some extreme but plausible lengths to get what they want.
Ultimately, Lesser Creatures is a bizarre and occasionally darkly funny look at a world not too different from our own. And let’s face it, those are sometimes the best genre stories, aren’t they? You know, the ones set the day after tomorrow? Sure, we love to read about far-flung futures and incredible scientific advances, but reading a story like this, one set in a slightly skewed world like ours, can be both entertaining and unsettling.
This one's a keeper.
It’s tough to write a zombie story these days. I mean, it must be, right? Or at least it’s difficult to write a zombie story that stands out from the shuffling horde. Zombies have become such a hot commodity that nearly everyone wants to a) write a zombie book, b) sell a zombie book, c) buy a zombie book, or maybe even c) write, sell, and then buy a zombie book. Who knows?
The good news is there will always be writers who attack any well-worn premise from a refreshing direction. Recently, there have been some excellent zombie novels hitting the shelves: Max Brooks’ World War Z, Howard O’Dentz’s Dead (A Lot), Isaac Marion’s Warm Bodies, Ivo Stourton’s upcomingThe Happier Dead, and many others. For the record, I’m happy to add Peter Giglio’s Lesser Creatures to that list. Giglio gives us a world with zombies, yes, but they’re more than just ambulatory corpses. Much more.
Lesser Creatures begins with a brief scene between two teenagers: Steve is a geek who happens to be in teenaged love with Glory, the most beautiful girl he’s ever known. Quickly, we learn there may be something special about Steve. According to an essay he wrote for English class, some years before, he was able to create a cat from his dying sister’s dreams, giving her comfort in the days before her death. Glory not only knows about the story of Steve’s purported ability, but she believes it, and, as we soon discover, intends to exploit him for her own purposes. The teenagers kiss, Glory declares her love for Steve, and something strange and unexpected happens. (No, it’s definitely not what you’re thinking.)
The story leaps forward fifteen years, to a world featuring formerly-dead people called second-lifers. This isn’t your standard overrun-by-undead-people world, though. The second-lifers shamble and don’t have much direction, but they aren’t violent, malicious, or brain-hungry. They lead dreary lives, working in various menial jobs and subsisting on burgers, fries, and whiskey.
Not only are the second-lifers accepted in society—sometimes grudgingly so—they’re protected, which is the really interesting part. Any living human who kills a second-lifer falls victim to a kind of curse—a phenomenon called, wait for it, The Curse—which, in turn, kills that person, dispatching them into a death by excruciating and nasty disintegration. This curse, by the way, will eventually become relevant in another interesting way.
As the story gets rolling, we’re introduced to three main characters. The first is Pastor Steven Lingk—the love struck teen Steve from the first scene—who is now the thirty-year-old leader of Glory’s Children Church, a religious organization that advocates for the second-lifers. This church is no fringe cult, however. It’s become enormously successful, and Lingk is an incredibly wealthy man.
It is at this point that we may also begin to realize the significance of the church’s name: Glory’s Children Church. The encounter between Steve and Glory, the one from the beginning scene, is what spawned the second-lifers, and the curse protecting the second-lifers from harm appears to be a result of whatever it was that allowed the younger Steve to create them in the first place.
Despite his church’s success, Pastor Lingk is currently experiencing a crisis. He’s officially gone on record telling the world he was responsible for creating the second-lifers in the first place, a revelation that’s being met with a good deal of skepticism, not the reaction he was expecting. Lingk is becoming desperate to turn his situation around.
Meanwhile, the story also follows Eric Cooper, an advertising man who feels his best years are behind him. In the book’s dedication, Giglio mentions his admiration for Philip K. Dick, and Eric Cooper is a protagonist Dick would have liked. He drinks too much, has a thing for younger women, and can’t maintain any level of consistent normalcy. His life is, essentially, a mess. Eric also happens to work for an advertising company whose largest account is the Glory’s Children Church. He’s ready to quit his job, but his boss won’t let him, primarily because Pastor Lingk insists that Cooper work his account.
The third main character in the story is Monika Janus, a second-lifer with a little something extra. For one thing, we’re privy to Monika’s thoughts, so we know she has murky memories of her previous life, which is something we’re pretty sure second-lifers aren’t supposed to have. For another—and this is the good part—there’s a connection between Monika and Eric. I won’t ruin that for you, but trust me, it’s important. There also seems to be a tie between Monika and Glory, the girl from Steven Lingk’s past. Also important.
Another similarity between Lesser Creatures and the universes of Philip K. Dick is the amount of seemingly throwaway details Giglio throws at us, any one of which could probably make a compelling story. Dick was good at using these kinds of elements to imbue his stories with authenticity, suggesting that his created worlds were as real as any the reader might have experienced.
For instance, in Lesser Creatures, one of the advertising companies’ most crucial target audiences is the second-lifer population. Why? We’re not really given a clear answer, but it somehow works. Why do they love burgers, fries, and whiskey? Again, we’re not certain, but we don’t need to be. We’re also briefly told about the early days of the second-lifers and the discovery of the curse. Giglio gives us enough information to provide a sense of context but not enough to derail the main story.
Speaking of story, it’s difficult to talk about many of the essential elements of this novel without engaging in some significant spoiling, and I’m not going down that road. Just know that there’s a whole lot happening in Lesser Creatures, but Peter Giglio cleverly manages to keep it fairly simple. The meat of the tale comes from the connection between Pastor Lingk, Eric Cooper, and Monika Janus, and while we may not precisely understand the nature of that connection—Giglio also does nice work paying out this information at a steady pace—we’re always aware of its presence and the fact that it’s driving these characters to some extreme but plausible lengths to get what they want.
Ultimately, Lesser Creatures is a bizarre and occasionally darkly funny look at a world not too different from our own. And let’s face it, those are sometimes the best genre stories, aren’t they? You know, the ones set the day after tomorrow? Sure, we love to read about far-flung futures and incredible scientific advances, but reading a story like this, one set in a slightly skewed world like ours, can be both entertaining and unsettling.
This one's a keeper.
March 21, 2014
Another zombie novel. Have we had enough, yet? After all, how many variations on the theme can you come up with? Yet, they keep on coming, with little surprises and very familiar plotlines. In recent years, the only fresh zombie novel was Handling the Undead by John Ajvide Lindqvist. I thoroughly enjoyed his take on the zombie genre, and the novel was very well written. Well, I am happy to say that I found another one: Lesser Creatures by Peter Giglio. While not as impressive as Lindqvist’s work, this novella has features that help it rise above the standard undead fare.
The premise is this: zombies have been walking around for fifteen years. They’re called second-lifers and are protected from harm by a series of civil rights legislation efforts prompted in part by a new-age pastor named Stephen Lingk who sees them as something remarkable with hidden meanings for human life. Little does the world know that Lingk has a special interest in protecting the zombies – his high school sweetheart has become one and he wants to keep her “around. There is lots of talk about magic (Stephen and his love may have had something about the rising of the dead) and ‘the curse’ (if you kill a zombie you are in big trouble – you become one), but these elements are kept off-stage – a smart move by Mr. Giglio. He doesn’t have to explain all of this stuff. Meantime, Pastor Stephen conducts some wacky experiments to try and communicate with the undead girlfriend (and if you have read any horror novels at all, you know these types of shenanigans can’t end well).
Anyhow, the undead don’t really give a hoot because they don’t do anything except drain the resources of the country. They only eat fast food, and whiskey is the only drink that keeps them calm. Unlike all other zombies, Giglio’s creations are not violent. So, what do we do to keep these zombies happy? New ones join the ranks of the undead all of the time. All human efforts to figure this out have been rather unsuccessful. Fast food sales are flat, and there has to be a better way to make money on these things. Someone has a bright idea to recruit and hire a fairly bright (for a zombie, anyway) second-lifer to be part of an advertising team within a multimillion dollar advertising agency. The only problem is that the second-lifer named Monika is the former fiancée of one of the lead team members on the account. Monika and Eric (the advertising exec) had been in an auto accident a few years before. She died, he was severely injured. The long and short of this is that Eric understandably takes a hit to his mental health, the pastor begins have his own psychiatric problems – and the whole zombie thing goes terribly awry.
The advertising agency-zombie storyline is actually quite fun. Mr. Giglio makes it convincing, and the plot has a number of twists. There is one passage where Eric and his mother go to visit her parents (Eric’s grandparents) - who are second lifers – at their assisted living home. Yes, you read that correctly, this is an assisted living facility for zombies. The entire section is both hilarious and creepy at the same time, and well worth the price of admission. Overall, the narrative kept me rolling along because this zombie spin is pretty unique.
While the plot is a winner, the characterizations were often one dimensional. None of the folks had any redeeming values or depth. In fact, Eric is supposed to be in his forties, but he thinks and acts like a guy who is twenty. The pastor is portrayed as a lunatic, and not someone who could have created this huge zombie ministry. The women don’t come off well either, they are either zombie-ish or bitchy.
In the end, Lesser Creatures is a fun, quick read provided you can live with non-characterizations. Then again, this is a zombie novella, so maybe having characters that are not quite alive is okay. 3.5-4.0 stars.
The premise is this: zombies have been walking around for fifteen years. They’re called second-lifers and are protected from harm by a series of civil rights legislation efforts prompted in part by a new-age pastor named Stephen Lingk who sees them as something remarkable with hidden meanings for human life. Little does the world know that Lingk has a special interest in protecting the zombies – his high school sweetheart has become one and he wants to keep her “around. There is lots of talk about magic (Stephen and his love may have had something about the rising of the dead) and ‘the curse’ (if you kill a zombie you are in big trouble – you become one), but these elements are kept off-stage – a smart move by Mr. Giglio. He doesn’t have to explain all of this stuff. Meantime, Pastor Stephen conducts some wacky experiments to try and communicate with the undead girlfriend (and if you have read any horror novels at all, you know these types of shenanigans can’t end well).
Anyhow, the undead don’t really give a hoot because they don’t do anything except drain the resources of the country. They only eat fast food, and whiskey is the only drink that keeps them calm. Unlike all other zombies, Giglio’s creations are not violent. So, what do we do to keep these zombies happy? New ones join the ranks of the undead all of the time. All human efforts to figure this out have been rather unsuccessful. Fast food sales are flat, and there has to be a better way to make money on these things. Someone has a bright idea to recruit and hire a fairly bright (for a zombie, anyway) second-lifer to be part of an advertising team within a multimillion dollar advertising agency. The only problem is that the second-lifer named Monika is the former fiancée of one of the lead team members on the account. Monika and Eric (the advertising exec) had been in an auto accident a few years before. She died, he was severely injured. The long and short of this is that Eric understandably takes a hit to his mental health, the pastor begins have his own psychiatric problems – and the whole zombie thing goes terribly awry.
The advertising agency-zombie storyline is actually quite fun. Mr. Giglio makes it convincing, and the plot has a number of twists. There is one passage where Eric and his mother go to visit her parents (Eric’s grandparents) - who are second lifers – at their assisted living home. Yes, you read that correctly, this is an assisted living facility for zombies. The entire section is both hilarious and creepy at the same time, and well worth the price of admission. Overall, the narrative kept me rolling along because this zombie spin is pretty unique.
While the plot is a winner, the characterizations were often one dimensional. None of the folks had any redeeming values or depth. In fact, Eric is supposed to be in his forties, but he thinks and acts like a guy who is twenty. The pastor is portrayed as a lunatic, and not someone who could have created this huge zombie ministry. The women don’t come off well either, they are either zombie-ish or bitchy.
In the end, Lesser Creatures is a fun, quick read provided you can live with non-characterizations. Then again, this is a zombie novella, so maybe having characters that are not quite alive is okay. 3.5-4.0 stars.
October 27, 2013
Lesser Creatures is a dystopia with a lower case d set 15 years after the dead started returning to life. not even close to a traditional zombie novel the returned dead share some traits with Romero zombies, mostly brain dead and slowly decaying but mostly they just hang around. They are not hungry from brains or flesh. This not a zombie apocalypse, more of a new zombie reality.
These people become known as second-lifers, they are gathered in group home environments that reminded me of the housing our society currently makes for the mentally Ill. There are second life rights advocates and people who hate them. Our main characters are a pastor from the Glory's children church who sees a divine purpose in the second lifers and Eric cooper whose Ex-girlfriend is walking dead after trying to kill him.
Lesser Creatures is a truly odd novel, one thing I loved is it shared no tropes or any common structure with any other horror novels or the zombie subgenre. This is a very original feeling novel. In that respect someone looking for a paint by the numbers zombie novel is going to be bummed. Anyone looking for a challenging weird exploration of loss and love will be stoked.
Having just finished reading the book ten minutes ago I am struggling with the many themes that Giglo explored and I think the best thing I can say about this novel is that I think I might need to read it again someday. These are not Romero rules and in many ways this novel defies just a horror label.
I have said alot of nice things, is there anything I didn't like? The novel is marketed as being Phillip K.Dick like, and the author dedicates the work to him. I can see the similarity in the odd nature of the second lifers that reminds me of things like the talking beds and android animals in Do Androids Dream Electric Sheep for example. Not that Lesser Creatures goes that far into satire. While Giglo nails the weird concept feeling of PKD it lacks the broken paranoid insanity of PKD. Of course that is hard to do.
In the end I thought this was a fantastic novel, I am really excited to explore more of Giglo's work after reading this.
These people become known as second-lifers, they are gathered in group home environments that reminded me of the housing our society currently makes for the mentally Ill. There are second life rights advocates and people who hate them. Our main characters are a pastor from the Glory's children church who sees a divine purpose in the second lifers and Eric cooper whose Ex-girlfriend is walking dead after trying to kill him.
Lesser Creatures is a truly odd novel, one thing I loved is it shared no tropes or any common structure with any other horror novels or the zombie subgenre. This is a very original feeling novel. In that respect someone looking for a paint by the numbers zombie novel is going to be bummed. Anyone looking for a challenging weird exploration of loss and love will be stoked.
Having just finished reading the book ten minutes ago I am struggling with the many themes that Giglo explored and I think the best thing I can say about this novel is that I think I might need to read it again someday. These are not Romero rules and in many ways this novel defies just a horror label.
I have said alot of nice things, is there anything I didn't like? The novel is marketed as being Phillip K.Dick like, and the author dedicates the work to him. I can see the similarity in the odd nature of the second lifers that reminds me of things like the talking beds and android animals in Do Androids Dream Electric Sheep for example. Not that Lesser Creatures goes that far into satire. While Giglo nails the weird concept feeling of PKD it lacks the broken paranoid insanity of PKD. Of course that is hard to do.
In the end I thought this was a fantastic novel, I am really excited to explore more of Giglo's work after reading this.
November 11, 2013
I was able to read this book thanks to NetGalley and enjoyed the author's different approach to the traditional zombie novel. What begins as a tale of teenage love quickly became a nightmare for the world and its inhabitants. From the blurb given at NetGalley, I knew it wasn't going to be the usual tale of zombie woe but it was a pleasant surprise in many ways.
The story is set in modern day world. There's all the amenities one would see today within the setting of the story. Very little technological advancement has been done around the world because of the plague of zombies, or second-lifers as they're known in the book. With millions of the previously dead walking around, what could possibly go wrong?
Action within the story is fast paced with a few brief respites for the characters to catch their breath or to expand on the situations at hand. For the most part, the human characters are believable and act in realistic ways when faced with the undead. I liked the way the author maintained a sense of humanity with the second-lifers though they were barely cognizant of their own desires or even surroundings at times.
The only real issue I had with the story occurred when Eric cut his hand on a glass. According to the story, the cut was deep enough that he knew it would need stitches. Dressing the wound with a roll of gauze and forgetting about the cut didn't bother me. What bothered me about the scene is that in the next instant, Eric was hopping into the shower and washing with soap with no mention of pain from the cut. There also wasn't a mention of the wound when he went to the bar later that same night. To me, the cut/gash scene felt unnecessary as it didn't add to the story.
Overall, the story was pretty entertaining and provides some good questions about our society today. Many of the questions surrounding the influx of second-lifers could be applied to our present situation with so many people living on the planet already. It was a pretty enjoyable read to spend an evening with, in my opinion. If you like stories that are a little out of the way and decidedly different, this is one you should pick up!
The story is set in modern day world. There's all the amenities one would see today within the setting of the story. Very little technological advancement has been done around the world because of the plague of zombies, or second-lifers as they're known in the book. With millions of the previously dead walking around, what could possibly go wrong?
Action within the story is fast paced with a few brief respites for the characters to catch their breath or to expand on the situations at hand. For the most part, the human characters are believable and act in realistic ways when faced with the undead. I liked the way the author maintained a sense of humanity with the second-lifers though they were barely cognizant of their own desires or even surroundings at times.
The only real issue I had with the story occurred when Eric cut his hand on a glass. According to the story, the cut was deep enough that he knew it would need stitches. Dressing the wound with a roll of gauze and forgetting about the cut didn't bother me. What bothered me about the scene is that in the next instant, Eric was hopping into the shower and washing with soap with no mention of pain from the cut. There also wasn't a mention of the wound when he went to the bar later that same night. To me, the cut/gash scene felt unnecessary as it didn't add to the story.
Overall, the story was pretty entertaining and provides some good questions about our society today. Many of the questions surrounding the influx of second-lifers could be applied to our present situation with so many people living on the planet already. It was a pretty enjoyable read to spend an evening with, in my opinion. If you like stories that are a little out of the way and decidedly different, this is one you should pick up!
December 2, 2013
What an interesting take on zombies, which honestly feels a bit like a breath of fresh air after all the zombie books I’ve read. There are so many out there that you have to wade through them to find one that stands out. This one does exactly that.
The first thing that got me were the characters. They pop out. I was curious as to exactly who the bad guy was going to be, because honestly I just couldn’t really tell. There are multiple people trying to be in control while nobody actually has it, and tons of people just living their day to day lives just trying to exist. And then you have the zombies… ahem… the second lifers. Also trying to survive day to day, until Monika.
I really loved that I can see what Monika was thinking. It seemed like those times when your synapses just won’t find the word you’re searching for but you know it’s somewhere in your brain or on the tip of your tongue. It seemed that she was like that, but ALL the time.
Thankfully this was not about the politics behind what would need to happen if hundreds upon hundreds of dead people started to rise and didn’t crave flesh and you couldn’t kill them because of a curse. It would be a nightmare for everyone. But there’s so much more to it than that. So much that I didn’t see.
Although this is a fascinating read I think there could have been a bit more fleshed out. Reasons behind certain things but as is I did thoroughly enjoy it, especially being a zombie lover myself. It was a fun and very easy read with a bit of horror and gore but not overly so.
This is Peter Giglio’s newest book and my first of his, but it definitely will not be my last!
The first thing that got me were the characters. They pop out. I was curious as to exactly who the bad guy was going to be, because honestly I just couldn’t really tell. There are multiple people trying to be in control while nobody actually has it, and tons of people just living their day to day lives just trying to exist. And then you have the zombies… ahem… the second lifers. Also trying to survive day to day, until Monika.
I really loved that I can see what Monika was thinking. It seemed like those times when your synapses just won’t find the word you’re searching for but you know it’s somewhere in your brain or on the tip of your tongue. It seemed that she was like that, but ALL the time.
Thankfully this was not about the politics behind what would need to happen if hundreds upon hundreds of dead people started to rise and didn’t crave flesh and you couldn’t kill them because of a curse. It would be a nightmare for everyone. But there’s so much more to it than that. So much that I didn’t see.
Although this is a fascinating read I think there could have been a bit more fleshed out. Reasons behind certain things but as is I did thoroughly enjoy it, especially being a zombie lover myself. It was a fun and very easy read with a bit of horror and gore but not overly so.
This is Peter Giglio’s newest book and my first of his, but it definitely will not be my last!
January 14, 2014
I picked up Peter Giglio’s “Lesser Creatures” with some trepidation as am nearly to the point of burnout with the zombie (sorry, I meant second-lifer) genre, although yes I do keep reading them. So that’s my fault alone. But I was hoping it was a little different than normal. I read the other reviews which stated that it was a new twist on the genre, so I thought why not? And it was!! Totally different! 15 years have passed since the dead rose, but these dead are just really moving dead. No biting or attacking. They live along with us, and there is a curse if you kill one, so no one does that. Oh and they drink whiskey, gotta love that. It’s like gasoline for them, you know? The story revolves around a couple, Eric and Monika, for which death does NOT do them part, and an unhinged pastor who is a crusader for second-lifer rights. As their lives begin to entwine, the excitement begins. It’s subtly humorous at times, creepy at others, and just really fun. I usually choose a rating for books by how much I enjoyed reading it and looking forward to picking it up again after I put it down. So this one gets 5 from me. Highly recommend!
March 13, 2014
I don't know what to say. I didn't pay for it (kindle prime trial), so I have not wasted money. It was very short, almost a short story in truth, so I didn't waste a lot of time.
The premise was interesting but the execution was... disappointing. I'd like a redo on this one. Please unpublish it. Then rewrite the entire thing. Make the advent of the undead not stupid. Focus on the key points mentioned in the summary: the economic and social effects of a population so large with such low function. Make the climax not be so ridiculous. The actual plot has next to nothing to do with "what if the zombie apocalypse happened but the zombies were peaceful and not flesh eating--and permanently terminating them was hazardous to the health of the exterminator" and nearly everything to do with "what if a 15 year-old old kid could grant wishes then fast forward 15 years and he's still got the mentality and character development of his 15 year-old self but he's 30 and somehow in charge of a church"....
No. Just no. Don't read this book. It gets a second star only for what I thought it would be about based upon the summary.
The premise was interesting but the execution was... disappointing. I'd like a redo on this one. Please unpublish it. Then rewrite the entire thing. Make the advent of the undead not stupid. Focus on the key points mentioned in the summary: the economic and social effects of a population so large with such low function. Make the climax not be so ridiculous. The actual plot has next to nothing to do with "what if the zombie apocalypse happened but the zombies were peaceful and not flesh eating--and permanently terminating them was hazardous to the health of the exterminator" and nearly everything to do with "what if a 15 year-old old kid could grant wishes then fast forward 15 years and he's still got the mentality and character development of his 15 year-old self but he's 30 and somehow in charge of a church"....
No. Just no. Don't read this book. It gets a second star only for what I thought it would be about based upon the summary.
October 9, 2017
Lesser Creatures has an interesting take on the whole zombie lore. Without spoiling too much, essentially the zombies, or as they call them "second-lifers" are not vicious, just mindless. They really like whiskey and fast food. But for some reason, whomever kills these second lifers, dies themselves. They call it "the curse". And this curse has some interesting side effects for the second-lifers as well.
I really like the descriptions of the second-lifers. Like when Eric goes to see his grandparents, and in first part where Monika is standing in line for fast food. The main downside to this book is at the end, I was still asking, "but why?" There just isn't much closure. Stuff happens, but there's little to no explanation for it. What's up with Glory? What's up with Steven? Is Steven actually magical? If so, how? Why did Eric forgive Monika instantly for what she did?
I mean, a big part of this book uses love as a motivation and an explanation, but being left with so many questions... I guess its supposed to be an "open ending" but in the end, I'm just confused and a bit disappointed.
I really like the descriptions of the second-lifers. Like when Eric goes to see his grandparents, and in first part where Monika is standing in line for fast food. The main downside to this book is at the end, I was still asking, "but why?" There just isn't much closure. Stuff happens, but there's little to no explanation for it. What's up with Glory? What's up with Steven? Is Steven actually magical? If so, how? Why did Eric forgive Monika instantly for what she did?
I mean, a big part of this book uses love as a motivation and an explanation, but being left with so many questions... I guess its supposed to be an "open ending" but in the end, I'm just confused and a bit disappointed.
April 25, 2014
This was a very interesting take on the zombie apocalypse. People die but they don't stay dead. They become Second Lifers with an animal-like intelligence and a love of habits. The book is set fifteen years after this phenomenon started occurring with no explanation of how it started. Fifteen years is enough time to realize the burden on society and crime. Who wants to kill someone when they won't stay dead? As for society, the Second Lifers can't contribute to the economy but no one wants them wandering around. They become a constant drain on the economy.
The premise grabbed me. I saw promise in this that the author delivered upon. The storyline was convoluted and as straightforward as a Phillip K. Dick story. Throw in a fanatical religious movement, a tired and used-up ad man and it is gold. This is a definite recommendation.
The premise grabbed me. I saw promise in this that the author delivered upon. The storyline was convoluted and as straightforward as a Phillip K. Dick story. Throw in a fanatical religious movement, a tired and used-up ad man and it is gold. This is a definite recommendation.
July 30, 2014
If you've read one zombie novel, them you've read them all. Right? Wrong. Giglio provides a refreshing take on zombies in this truly unique story. The zombies (known as second-lifers) look like regular humans that are still alive (first-lifers). In here, the second-lifers do not pose a threat to first-lifers and any first-lifer that kills one is subjected to a horrible supernatural curse. I won't say any more to avoid giving the plot away but this was a very good read. I applaud Giglio for coming up with something new (and making it interesting and work so well) when we've been bombarded with zombie novels. If you're tired of the same old zombie novel, pick this book up and give it a try.
January 27, 2014
I enjoyed the different take on a zombie apocalypse that turned out not to be an apocalypse at all. But the closer I got to the end, the more I wondered how it was going to resolve in the pages left... and ultimately, I wasn't satisfied with the way it did. I think this could have been a great concept for a full-length novel, but as-is it just fell flat for me.
(review copy received via NetGalley)
(review copy received via NetGalley)
April 18, 2016
Lesser Creatures is well written. The story is unique, and gives a surprisingly in depth to the human condition. It was so engaging, I had a difficult time putting it down. However, while the story is complete and without a cliffhanger, the ending was written in such a way that it was open to a sequel. I searched high and low, but there doesn't appear to be one. I'm hoping the author will release one. I would definitely buy it.
November 8, 2013
A unique,bizarre, and entertaining take on zombies
For a full review, please go to http://www.examiner.com/review/lesser... and follow me on Twitter @josenher
For a full review, please go to http://www.examiner.com/review/lesser... and follow me on Twitter @josenher
May 6, 2014
Great twist
Great twist
I love that this isn't your average zombie thriller. I look forward to more stories like this from Mr. Giglio.
Great twist
I love that this isn't your average zombie thriller. I look forward to more stories like this from Mr. Giglio.
May 12, 2014
What a stinker. The.premise is good but destroyed by poor characterizations. The is not a single character who is more than one note.
May 18, 2014
Not Great
Don't choose the biggest asshole in the book to be the hero, and certainly don't wait until half way through the book to make that choice.
Don't choose the biggest asshole in the book to be the hero, and certainly don't wait until half way through the book to make that choice.
August 22, 2014
Awesome
I really liked the unique style of how this zombie story was written. Different than the others,made me feel like I didn't want the book to end.
I really liked the unique style of how this zombie story was written. Different than the others,made me feel like I didn't want the book to end.
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