Feud

Red Dust #2

by Ben Dixon, Sam Campbell

Feud (Short Story, 9017 words) Red Dust Series Part 2

America 1853, seven years since the disappearance of the lost party, the undead have emerged from the wilderness crossing the Great Plains to assault the civilised world. Communication has broken down and settlements now stand alone as the Rising Plague spreads across the eastern border.

In the town of Little Rock inhabitants of the New World thrive to create normality in the midst of chaos. With the arrival of a mysterious rider named Griffin, the true dangers of the town become clear. The illusion of civilisation quickly dissolves as Griffin’s appearance sparks the violent conclusion of a deep-rooted vendetta.

Genres: Zombies, Westerns, Short Stories

ebook

First published July 10, 2013

About the author

I studied History at Sheffield Hallam University. I'm an Indie author and write with my friend Sam Campbell. Together we've created a series of zombie westerns.

I have lots of ideas to develop and hope to bring some new interesting books to the world.

Reviews

[Patricia Reding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having posted in a Goodreads’ Review Initiative thread that I was willing to review works, the authors requested my review of two short stories, including this one, Feud. I was provided a copy of this work in exchange for my fair and honest review. I thank the authors for this opportunity.

I rate Feud 3 stars based on: (1) My overall enjoyment; (2) Creativity/Originality—(which, in large part, accounts for my 3-star rating because—really—who ever heard of cowboy zombie stories??); and (3) Voice/Ease of Reading.

I generally begin my reviews with a comment on how “readable” I found the work at issue to be, in light of possible grammar and editing issues. They happen—and often, they can be disregarded. Unfortunately, in the case of Feud, there are a number of these issues that make the reading a bit difficult. Thus, this review does take these issues into account. (Having said that, I understand that the authors are working to resolve these issues.)

In Feud, we find the standard western town, complete with a saloon, a bartender, dancing girls, a sheriff, a lone stranger traveling through, and more. At issue is how to rid the town of the invading zombies in light of two powerful men—former friends—now enemies, who espouse different means for resolving the situation. While Griffin, the lone stranger, seeks to find justice, he loses a bit of himself along the way.

Overall, I was intrigued by the concept of using the wild west as a setting for this story. It is hard to imagine such a sub-sub-genre in fiction as that of a crossover between a western and a zombie story. Still, I expect there is a fan-base for these works and those fans are likely to enjoy this story!

[Kevis Hendrickson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feud by Ben Dixon and Sam Campbell is the second book in the Red Dust series. I dived right into this one without having first given the first book a test drive. But I can truly say that if the first book is as even half as good as this one, then I have some more reading to do.

The authors did a terrific job at letting the story unfold without getting caught up in the obligatory recapping of what happened before. Usually, that's the quickest way to make me hit the eject button on a sequel, since confusion can occur. But this is truly a stand-alone story. Whatever events came before need no redressing.

As a rule of thumb, I hate Zombie books. Always have, always will. But part of my attraction to this book is that it isn't a straight zombie book. It's a Western that just happens to have Zombies in it. The approach the authors take to this series by playing up its Western elements, first and foremost, makes this book a keeper. The pace is fast and the plot smart and engaging. The story line of a tough-as-nails drifter becoming ensnared in the affairs of a sanctuary town under siege by Zombies kept my interest all the way through. Not an easy feat nowadays considering how jaded I've become of most fiction.

There are a few grammatical errors in the story, but nothing too distracting. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Westerns and Zombie fiction. Not often I can say that. But it's a testament to how fun this story is to read.

3.5 stars for a smart and gritty tale that combines the best elements of a Western with Horror.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest, non-reciprocal, review.

[Netanella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this story from the authors in exchange for a fair review.

I found this story much more enjoyable than the first installment of "Red Dust," a horror short story series set in the Old West. I particularly enjoyed the antihero Griffin, the mysterious gunslinger who wanders into the dilapidated town of Little Rock and finds all sorts of action: a hot chica mamma, a blood fued, and zombies, of course. Griffin is great - he has a strong honor code that's tempered just as equally with an All-American "look out for No. 1" mentality. And of course, Griffin's bad-assedness is elevated by his sword-slinging abilities, his penchant for whiskey, and his ability to score with the hot babe. Yup, Griffin's got it going on. He even figures out who the bad guy really is and what he's planning to do, by page 25.

So, great story, but much too short. Having said that, however, I do look forward to further installments in the "Red Dust" series.

[Elke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feud is the second short story in the Red Dust series. Compared to the first part, it is packed with more action and the writing shows more confidence and character. Though this is a zombie story, zombies are not the main focus and we don't have to experience yet another outbreak scenario. Instead, the story centers around the settlers living in Little Rock and a stranger who happens to get involved with a neighborly feud, where zombies are used as a horrific weapon to exact revenge. With its original wild west background Feud is a recognisable work which leaves the reader wanting for more returns to Little Rock.

(I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review)

[Tammy K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

First things first, I got a free copy of this book from the author via Goodreads group Zombies!, for a fair and honest review.
I found this story to be a nice blend of Old West mixed with flavors of the modern day zombie apocalypse sub-genres.
The characters are stereotyped to the genre, yet this does not take away from their uniqueness (after all how many old-west cowboys were also zombie slayers ?)
While this story is a sequel in the series Red Dust, it is a totally different set of characters with a different location in the wild west, only the time frame remains the same.
I recommend this story (series) to readers of both the zombie apocalypse and America’s old-west fiction.

[Randy Harmelink · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy the mix of the Western and Zombie genres, and this story did not disappoint. But it is more western than gory zombies. Basically, a combination of feuding ranchers, revenge, a stranger riding into town, and a few zombie attacks here and there.

I liked this better than the first story of the Red Dust series, Lost Party. I rounded that one up to a 4-star rating, while this one is solidly worth 4 stars.

However, there are some editing and grammar issues. The phrasing was sometimes awkward, but I think it was more of a British/American dialect issue than sloppy editing.

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got Feud along with The Lost Party for a review or at least some feedback. Definitely interesting, more of what I would call a zombie western, recommendable for people who enjoy well, westerns or zombies. I personally would have liked the story to be longer, seemed a little too short to me. Probably closer to 31/2 stars but ill give it 4.

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

A stranger rides into Little Rock and seems to have a gift for stirring up blood as he walks into the feud between ranchers who were friends before the plague came that made the dead rise and walk. It's a feud that Griffin finishes - and walks away from alive as he leaves the town he isn't welcome within after.

[Hemant Jadhav · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Gunslinger comes to town and finds himself right in the midst of a feud. If you like the walking dead, fighting western stereotypes, then you may like this book.