In the weeks and months following an apocalyptic event in which the recently deceased return to life and actively pursue the living, an average man embarks on a cross-country journey to reach safety and shelter. Along the way, he documents the horrors of life and the perils of survival in this new world. Diary of a Runner is not about a hero. It is not a story where everyone lives happily ever after. It is more than just blood and guts and zombies. It seeks to challenge your moral compass and ask difficult questions while using the apocalyptic scenario as a backdrop. The material and language are often raw and graphic. Be advised.
Steve Kuhn is a former professional musician turned writer. Raised in Baltimore, Maryland and with a deep seeded passion for horror, he brings a refreshingly raw and witty style to his work. He has been featured in countless online publications as a critical reviewer and has spent the last three years crafting the epic zombie series, Dext of the Dead.
Wow..... I have just spent the last 3 or 4 hours reading this book. I was invited to honestly review the book by the author and was surprised to find that he has been releasing it free on his website - Diary of a Runner.
Zombies are not my thing, it has never been a genre that I have particularly enjoyed or really had much sympathy with. The way I see it, come a Zombie apocalypse, I would become lunch for some loping individual quite early on. There is no sexual frisson like with Vamps, not possibility of tremendous power gain like with Weres, just a grizzly, bloody death like so much steak on a plate. But here, surrounded by all the dead Stephen has managed to really hone in on what it means to really be alive and be human.
The Zombies aren't the main focus of this book, they are there to move the story along but really this book is about people trying to survive and live the best they can. That makes it sound mushy but believe me, it really isn't a mushy book. It is chock full of action, suspense and twists. There is so much going on that you really can't stop reading it, I was asked to review volume one but I ended up part way through volume two before I even realised. A lot happened in volume one and I know that there is a lot more to come in volume two and beyond.
I would suggest that if you like strong characters (Cutty being my favourite so far) or just a really good story then this book is for you!
What a great read! Normally when I read zombie fiction, I don't expect much. I can say I have been pleasantly surprised recently with what I've read, including Diary of a Runner.
This book is intense and keeps you on the edge of your seat. You feel like you know the characters as they come into play and feel their wins and losses.
The entire series is a great read. I recommend it to anyone that loves apocolyptic zombie fiction. But be prepared for the emotional roller coaster you will no doubt be on!
This is the original release of Diary of a Runner (Run Dext Run). It has since been rechristened as Dext of the Dead. This indy release is the beginning of a great Z apocalypse diary that spans 5 books. The plot is simple yet detailed. The characters are realistic and believable. There are no heroes, just survivors.....constantly running. The story feels very organic but with enough twists to keep you flipping pages late into the night. Goodread (see what I did there) and I highly suggest you give this one a try.
Please read my review for Book 1. The story gets bigger, the cast of characters increases and the bad times keep on rolling. Do NOT read this book if you are looking for happy payoffs. If you want happy, go watch a Disney flick. If you want a realistic view regarding what it would be like to try and survive during a ZA then pick this book up.