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Pulse
Everyone thought the world would end in a rain of atomic fire; no one suspected it would come from a piece of bad fish.
An unidentified and aggressive illness begins spreading in North Dakota, and the nation panics. People are becoming sick, losing their minds, and murdering each other in disturbing ways. The government is struggling to come up with a solution, but as the epidemic mutates within the civilian population, its grip grows stronger.
Dom is thousands of miles away near Seattle, witnessing his city collapse. The pandemic hasn't even reached them, but people are panicking and rioting as though it's already there. Holed up in his apartment with his best friend and girlfriend, Dom fears the worst.
Dr. Adam Baker dreamt of a different life; one full of scientific discoveries and not a failed marriage and twin daughters who hate him. But when the opportunity to make a difference arises and his team has to find a solution to this national crisis, he finds that what he wanted is more than he bargained for.
Who will survive in the wake of this devastation?
An unidentified and aggressive illness begins spreading in North Dakota, and the nation panics. People are becoming sick, losing their minds, and murdering each other in disturbing ways. The government is struggling to come up with a solution, but as the epidemic mutates within the civilian population, its grip grows stronger.
Dom is thousands of miles away near Seattle, witnessing his city collapse. The pandemic hasn't even reached them, but people are panicking and rioting as though it's already there. Holed up in his apartment with his best friend and girlfriend, Dom fears the worst.
Dr. Adam Baker dreamt of a different life; one full of scientific discoveries and not a failed marriage and twin daughters who hate him. But when the opportunity to make a difference arises and his team has to find a solution to this national crisis, he finds that what he wanted is more than he bargained for.
Who will survive in the wake of this devastation?
212 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 14, 2014
36 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 26, 2016
I read PULSE by Eloise J. Knapp from beginning to end in one sitting. There is something about Eloise’s writing that just sucks you in. I had stuff to do, which I should have done, but I didn’t because I got so wrapped up in the story. It’s addicting. It’s an apocalypse story, which is what she specializes in, that starts with bad fish. I had a similar story in my own life with bad crabs (not those kind of crabs, you pervert, blue crabs from Maryland). My wife and I were on a dock trying to catch them and suddenly all these dead crabs began to float to the surface. We abandoned our catch and fled the dock. No way was I eating any crab that we caught when hundreds of others were going belly up to the surface. Anyway, in PULSE, bad fish starts the whole shebang. I was reminded of this story in my own life. But back to the novel. The bad fish starts it, with a parasitic worm.
The characters Dom and Chelsea are on the run, trying to find a way to survive. My favorite thing about this novel is that there are chapters related to the people that don’t survive, usually titled “The Infected”. You meet the character, realize they are infected, and then sit back and watch what happens to them. Sometimes it’s sad. These are interspersed between the main characters, who are watching the world fall apart around them.
Knapp has a way of capturing the small things that happen in apocalyptic scenarios, and I love that. The people that know what’s happening and ignore it, thinking it will work itself out. The people that are violent in regular life that basically have a free pass to do what they want because laws are suspended. The people in charge, who are trying to solve it before apocalypse scenario, or working to their own advantage. Seems these people are always late to the party, scrambling to figure it all out after it happens. She seems to capture all the aspects of human nature in crisis.
I don’t want to say too much more and be a spoiler. What I will say is that if you like apocalypse stories, but are tired of the same old same old, then give PULSE a try. It’s a fresh take on the whole scene. Eloise Knapp is slowly but surely becoming the Master of zombie stories and end game scenarios. If you have read her Undead Situation and Undead Haze novels, you know what I am talking about (and if you haven’t, you should). Give PULSE a try. You will be hooked till the end and won’t be disappointed. I highly recommend this book. 5 Stars.
The characters Dom and Chelsea are on the run, trying to find a way to survive. My favorite thing about this novel is that there are chapters related to the people that don’t survive, usually titled “The Infected”. You meet the character, realize they are infected, and then sit back and watch what happens to them. Sometimes it’s sad. These are interspersed between the main characters, who are watching the world fall apart around them.
Knapp has a way of capturing the small things that happen in apocalyptic scenarios, and I love that. The people that know what’s happening and ignore it, thinking it will work itself out. The people that are violent in regular life that basically have a free pass to do what they want because laws are suspended. The people in charge, who are trying to solve it before apocalypse scenario, or working to their own advantage. Seems these people are always late to the party, scrambling to figure it all out after it happens. She seems to capture all the aspects of human nature in crisis.
I don’t want to say too much more and be a spoiler. What I will say is that if you like apocalypse stories, but are tired of the same old same old, then give PULSE a try. It’s a fresh take on the whole scene. Eloise Knapp is slowly but surely becoming the Master of zombie stories and end game scenarios. If you have read her Undead Situation and Undead Haze novels, you know what I am talking about (and if you haven’t, you should). Give PULSE a try. You will be hooked till the end and won’t be disappointed. I highly recommend this book. 5 Stars.
November 4, 2014
ABR's full Pulse audiobook review can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
First thoughts about the cover of Pulse? A contamination symbol over a city? Hmm… Outbreak story! YES! What sort of cataclysmic event will unfold in this story..? I felt chills chase up and down my arms at the prospect of delving into such a story.
This story starts with bad sickly fish. Yes, fish. Makes me afraid of sea food. I love the idea of this. It brings the idea of something this horrible being possible. The main character is Dom. Dom is your typical male. Silly, sweet, funny, heels over head in love with his girlfriend… There are several stories going on at once, but they all tie in together eventually. One of the other characters to watch/listen is Adam. Adam is a CDC scientist trying to figure out a cure for this infection.
She stunk of sour milk and dumpsters. That line made my nose snarl up and my stomach clinch. I like that the ‘zombies’ could do rambling crazy talking. This gave the story just that much more horror to it. The end of chapter six was both horrible and awesome. I loved how the crazy zombie lady filleted someone alive.
These ‘zombies’ are infected with a parasite rather than a virus. The parasite they have affects the brain. More or less making them completely base instinct, no moral compass bonkers. It reminds me of the movie The Crazies.
What makes this a good book to read/listen to is the fact that it makes this seem simi-plausible. The ‘What if’ lingers. With strange things happening in the world today, the ‘What if’s’ are all to real. It brings to mind of outbreaks like Ebola, the Flu, Encephalitis. Ironically it mentions a general link to Ebola in chapter seventeen or eighteen.
There seems to be one error about a smart phone and gun in chapters thirty-six and thirty-seven. This is an author error and not a narrator error. It says in chapter thirty-six that the military took Dom’s cell and gun. In chapter thirty-seven he has his cell again. Also, in chapter thirty-six they took Dom’s gun, but in thirty-seven Chelsie has a gun. Why would the military take Dom’s gun and leave Chelsie with her’s?
Over all I enjoyed this story. It had a new twist to the ‘zombie’ vibe. I liked that. The narrator is Michael Bower. He has a nice voice. Sharp, crisp, and edgy at the right times. Perfect for a story like this. The book is 4 hours, 55 minutes, and 38 seconds long. The author is Eloise J. Knapp.
Warning - If you have a weak stomach, this book is not for you. There are lots of blood, guts, and horror, exploding stomachs, torture, and creepy parasites that will haunt your dreams.
This book left me with the feeling that things can change quickly. Sometimes things are completely out of our control. The best we can do is to keep ourselves safe. Try to keep those we love safe. And try to avoid those that would drag us down into their madness.
Audiobook provided for review by the narrator.
First thoughts about the cover of Pulse? A contamination symbol over a city? Hmm… Outbreak story! YES! What sort of cataclysmic event will unfold in this story..? I felt chills chase up and down my arms at the prospect of delving into such a story.
This story starts with bad sickly fish. Yes, fish. Makes me afraid of sea food. I love the idea of this. It brings the idea of something this horrible being possible. The main character is Dom. Dom is your typical male. Silly, sweet, funny, heels over head in love with his girlfriend… There are several stories going on at once, but they all tie in together eventually. One of the other characters to watch/listen is Adam. Adam is a CDC scientist trying to figure out a cure for this infection.
She stunk of sour milk and dumpsters. That line made my nose snarl up and my stomach clinch. I like that the ‘zombies’ could do rambling crazy talking. This gave the story just that much more horror to it. The end of chapter six was both horrible and awesome. I loved how the crazy zombie lady filleted someone alive.
These ‘zombies’ are infected with a parasite rather than a virus. The parasite they have affects the brain. More or less making them completely base instinct, no moral compass bonkers. It reminds me of the movie The Crazies.
What makes this a good book to read/listen to is the fact that it makes this seem simi-plausible. The ‘What if’ lingers. With strange things happening in the world today, the ‘What if’s’ are all to real. It brings to mind of outbreaks like Ebola, the Flu, Encephalitis. Ironically it mentions a general link to Ebola in chapter seventeen or eighteen.
There seems to be one error about a smart phone and gun in chapters thirty-six and thirty-seven. This is an author error and not a narrator error. It says in chapter thirty-six that the military took Dom’s cell and gun. In chapter thirty-seven he has his cell again. Also, in chapter thirty-six they took Dom’s gun, but in thirty-seven Chelsie has a gun. Why would the military take Dom’s gun and leave Chelsie with her’s?
Over all I enjoyed this story. It had a new twist to the ‘zombie’ vibe. I liked that. The narrator is Michael Bower. He has a nice voice. Sharp, crisp, and edgy at the right times. Perfect for a story like this. The book is 4 hours, 55 minutes, and 38 seconds long. The author is Eloise J. Knapp.
Warning - If you have a weak stomach, this book is not for you. There are lots of blood, guts, and horror, exploding stomachs, torture, and creepy parasites that will haunt your dreams.
This book left me with the feeling that things can change quickly. Sometimes things are completely out of our control. The best we can do is to keep ourselves safe. Try to keep those we love safe. And try to avoid those that would drag us down into their madness.
Audiobook provided for review by the narrator.
April 5, 2015
This one started out pretty cool. The premise was nifty even though the characters weren't too deep. Honestly, I believe the author intended it that way; she wanted to write a fast-paced, violent, and disturbing narrative, and there might not have been as much room for character development as some people would have liked. At around 70%, the plot really came together and burst (quite literally) to the end. I like where this is going and will be starting Pulse II as soon as I can.
February 15, 2014
Thanks for the nightmares...
Thanks for the nightmares...
Well written and seriously disturbing. Definitely more of a unique take on the apocalypse. Be prepared to completely lose your appetite while reading this book!
Thanks for the nightmares...
Well written and seriously disturbing. Definitely more of a unique take on the apocalypse. Be prepared to completely lose your appetite while reading this book!
January 14, 2019
Good read.....
You you love the genre, “Pulse: Genesis” is a fine way to spend some reading time. It doesn’t sit high up within the cream of the crop books in the genre, while it is certainly far from the worst out there. It’s about upper middle ground reading. Worth your attention, but will be ultimately forgettable.
The character development is masterfully accomplished. Drawing you in and creating a sense of investment in each character right from the start. The characters make the story.
The infected are for sure unique. In fact, each infected person is unique from every other infected in some interesting ways.
The star of the story is the reason for the infection. I won’t give it away because as the story progresses it’s highly entertaining to first learn what the cause is, as well as when more information is gradually introduced. Very creative storyline!
Many times, however, the reading just feels .... blah. Even when action-packed situations are occurring.
I’m going to read the subsequent book. The story is just engaging enough. I am also interested in checking out the author’s other work. See if any of it has a bit more... pep?
You you love the genre, “Pulse: Genesis” is a fine way to spend some reading time. It doesn’t sit high up within the cream of the crop books in the genre, while it is certainly far from the worst out there. It’s about upper middle ground reading. Worth your attention, but will be ultimately forgettable.
The character development is masterfully accomplished. Drawing you in and creating a sense of investment in each character right from the start. The characters make the story.
The infected are for sure unique. In fact, each infected person is unique from every other infected in some interesting ways.
The star of the story is the reason for the infection. I won’t give it away because as the story progresses it’s highly entertaining to first learn what the cause is, as well as when more information is gradually introduced. Very creative storyline!
Many times, however, the reading just feels .... blah. Even when action-packed situations are occurring.
I’m going to read the subsequent book. The story is just engaging enough. I am also interested in checking out the author’s other work. See if any of it has a bit more... pep?
November 23, 2023
A fair few typo errors in this book, seems a little amateurish and rushed at times.
Not a terrible read but the concept could've been better thought out. There needs to be some depth to the storyline, not just zombies with exploding stomachs infecting the healthy.
And instead of multiple characters viewpoints, maybe sticking with 1 solid character, learning about them throughout the entire book first, like Marla perhaps, readers enjoy getting to know a character on an almost personal level, in order to feel the right kind of emotions that MAKES the book powerful in its entirety, as opposed to getting to know multiple characters all at once. It feels impersonal and less realistic.
Not a terrible read but the concept could've been better thought out. There needs to be some depth to the storyline, not just zombies with exploding stomachs infecting the healthy.
And instead of multiple characters viewpoints, maybe sticking with 1 solid character, learning about them throughout the entire book first, like Marla perhaps, readers enjoy getting to know a character on an almost personal level, in order to feel the right kind of emotions that MAKES the book powerful in its entirety, as opposed to getting to know multiple characters all at once. It feels impersonal and less realistic.
February 11, 2019
Kicked ass
Even better than the last one I read. I dig how quickly the story gets going. Stupendous indeed. Keep em comin. ~Griff
Even better than the last one I read. I dig how quickly the story gets going. Stupendous indeed. Keep em comin. ~Griff
April 20, 2019
Good!
As usual, Eloise give us a really good story! I liked everything I ever read from her, never disappointed! :)
As usual, Eloise give us a really good story! I liked everything I ever read from her, never disappointed! :)
April 13, 2014
Something new and fresh in an apocalyptic world, but not sparklie feel good? YES, PLEASE! This is exactly what Ms. Eloise J Knapp has provided her readers with in her latest release entitled Pulse. In Pulse, we read about a new threat to the world by seeing the point of view from a few various characters in different sections of the country. A parasitic infection comes out of nowhere and causing mass upheaval, yes because it strikes fast and strikes hard, but also because it's not easy to tell who is infected and who is not...until it's too late.
As I mentioned, we learn about the infection and the happenings of the world from a few different groups of people. Dom and his girlfriend grab some supplies and hole up in their apartment building in Seattle and watch the happenings from their cell/computer screens and out their windows. We, also, see what is happening from the eyes of Dr Adam Baker and his staff who are on hand trying to figure out what is causing this outbreak and how to stop it. Along the way we meet a few others and learn of their struggles with this disaster and ultimately what happens to them.
The infected in Pulse are quite unlike any I have read before. They begin by acting a bit off, then "off" turns to crazy and cannibalistic in some cases while others seem to have a bit of rational thinking where they attempt to maintain their appearance of humanity so that they can spread the infection from within. I am a bit unclear as to if the infection kills it's hosts and they are walking, talking corpses or if they are still alive and just being manipulated by the parasites. This question may have been answered in the book and I just may have missed it.
Pulse is a great story that is definitely worthy of a read. It is very gruesome, disgusting and quite violent. I will warn that if you absolutely cannot abide even a remote hint of rape, do look elsewhere as, while there is no great detailed rape scene, there are definitely situations that happen and discussions had that may cause upset in a reader who is sensitive to this type of situation. Otherwise, you absolutely must give Eloise J Knapp's Pulse a read!
As I mentioned, we learn about the infection and the happenings of the world from a few different groups of people. Dom and his girlfriend grab some supplies and hole up in their apartment building in Seattle and watch the happenings from their cell/computer screens and out their windows. We, also, see what is happening from the eyes of Dr Adam Baker and his staff who are on hand trying to figure out what is causing this outbreak and how to stop it. Along the way we meet a few others and learn of their struggles with this disaster and ultimately what happens to them.
The infected in Pulse are quite unlike any I have read before. They begin by acting a bit off, then "off" turns to crazy and cannibalistic in some cases while others seem to have a bit of rational thinking where they attempt to maintain their appearance of humanity so that they can spread the infection from within. I am a bit unclear as to if the infection kills it's hosts and they are walking, talking corpses or if they are still alive and just being manipulated by the parasites. This question may have been answered in the book and I just may have missed it.
Pulse is a great story that is definitely worthy of a read. It is very gruesome, disgusting and quite violent. I will warn that if you absolutely cannot abide even a remote hint of rape, do look elsewhere as, while there is no great detailed rape scene, there are definitely situations that happen and discussions had that may cause upset in a reader who is sensitive to this type of situation. Otherwise, you absolutely must give Eloise J Knapp's Pulse a read!
March 17, 2014
This is the first book I have read by the author but it won't be the last. As a huge post-apocalyptic fan I have read many books in the 'undead/zombie' genre. This was different, a parasite causing violent insanity as opposed to zombies. The originality of the worms spreading infection by bursting from their host was great, and the added danger of shooting the infected meaning an increased risk of infection meant the situation seems more dire than a run of the mill undead novel. It wasn't perfect, more character depth, especially for Dom and Chelsea wouldn't have gone amiss, but on the whole I really enjoyed it! And it was actually edited well, unlike a lot of self published authors, I didn't feel like I was reading a college essay full of grammatical and spelling mistakes which was a refreshing change!
June 12, 2017
A little disappointed in the latest novel from Eloise J Knapp. Her undead novel's have one of my favorite characters in them (Sinclair) and I look forward to anything she's got in the works.
The problem with this is that there's a lack of creativity in the plot and it just rattles off as a disturbing dream, which upon the authors note that's exactly what it was. The characters are basically uninteresting and the it seems the violence and gore take over as the main focus of the story.
Still it reads quickly and the first quarter of the book was interesting enough to push forward and finish it.
The problem with this is that there's a lack of creativity in the plot and it just rattles off as a disturbing dream, which upon the authors note that's exactly what it was. The characters are basically uninteresting and the it seems the violence and gore take over as the main focus of the story.
Still it reads quickly and the first quarter of the book was interesting enough to push forward and finish it.
July 24, 2016
The book talks about an unidentified illness (virus?) that begins spreading in North Dakota sending people in a panic. Those infected show flu like symptoms while losing their minds, and massacring each other in disturbing/sadistic ways. Though you would think it was a zombie apocalypse outbreak, it is something else. A unique twist in the story. The book reminds me of the movie The Faculty with a zombie edge. This story is relatively short, but overall a good read.
April 1, 2015
I'll think twice before eating fish again...
Gripping and disturbing in equal measure! The books follows several characters as the world is over run by "zombie like" infected people.
I don't think it's "spoilery" to say there is no happy ending and some parts are pretty graphic.
If you're into zombie/end of world, horror/thrillers then you'll enjoy this.
The ending is a little abrupt but it's setup nicely for the next book which I'm looking forward to reading
Gripping and disturbing in equal measure! The books follows several characters as the world is over run by "zombie like" infected people.
I don't think it's "spoilery" to say there is no happy ending and some parts are pretty graphic.
If you're into zombie/end of world, horror/thrillers then you'll enjoy this.
The ending is a little abrupt but it's setup nicely for the next book which I'm looking forward to reading
September 12, 2014
Not the best zombie book by far. In this work the zombies are a bit different and remind me a bit of the Strain with worms infecting people. They also seem to be intelligent. Overall a different take on the genre but not something I would recommend unless you have a prime loan book to kill or something.
April 7, 2015
Interesting twist on zombie stories. I was driving through North Dakota and needed something to listen too. I saw that this book used the area as a setting and picked it, not really knowing what it was about.
April 29, 2016
Twisted Story
Eloise Knapp is one creepy gal. Her books are always loaded with twisted, fiendish characters and this dark story is no exception. Great read.
Eloise Knapp is one creepy gal. Her books are always loaded with twisted, fiendish characters and this dark story is no exception. Great read.
October 30, 2015
I love this author.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews