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One Undead Step
Many people know that the 1969 moon landing was faked, but are unaware of the actual circumstances. Find out how the U.S. faked the moon landing to avert the zombie apocalypse as the lives of a disgraced B-movie director, a bar owner, some drunks, an Army Ranger unit, a bunch of gangsters, an affluent but very dysfunctional family, and a few cops come together in One Undead Step. One year after Romero shocked the world with Night of the Living Dead, a small city is rocked by grisly killings, the gory details of which are only known through whispered rumors. The government presence that makes the populace all the more nervous is unable to contain the impending threat that grows out of control on a hot, humid night in Mid-July. As the city's residents fight for their lives, the Military rushes to make a film about two men landing a small spacecraft on the moon. Will their plan work? Find out as an evil man finds redemption, some soldiers choose between their mission and duty, a young couple finds forbidden love, an older couple reignites their passion, and a bartender gets stiffed for lots of drinks in One Undead Step.
218 pages, Paperback
First published February 20, 2014
2 people are currently reading
699 people want to read
About the author
Ian McClellan
2 books55 followersI was born in a small harbor town in southwest Ireland. In an effort to be cliche my parents moved the family to New York when I was thirteen. Once a promising up-and-comer in the world of competitive eating, my career was cut short by an ACL injury. I now reside in Florida with my dogs and drive a truck for a living, but I'm crossing my fingers and hoping my writing career will earn me enough money that I can tell my boss where to stick it.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 26, 2019
Someone would sound pretty crazy putting forth the idea that the United States government had faked the moon landing to avert some kind of zombie-induced apocalypse. Just twenty-four hours earlier, Mark himself would have thought this hypothetical person a complete lunatic. He shook his head and laughed."You really think this is going to work?"
One year after George Romero scared the world with his Night of the Living Dead (1968), man landed on the Moon.
50 years ago in the evening hours of July 20, 1969 so I thought it was time to read this book, purchased on my Kindle years ago and left forgotten.
One Undead Step is such a shining gem in the dark of neverending bad zombie books.
With an ongoing zombie outbreak, United States government stages the Apollo 11 lunar landing in a military base to distract the population...
The strong George Romero vibe, the well fleshed and solid cast of characters, the non-stop action-packed pace, the twists, the fun, the crazy cocktail of humor, satire, brutality and gore, the doberman and zombie pow scenes, the Dario Argento - Lucio Fulci easter-egg, and the late 60s atmosphere, with its societal shame attitudes about same-sex relationships, pregnancy out of marriage (the pregnant girl running from her parents' fate is going to stay in my mind forever), and more... Just loved everything of it.
And the grim ending was just perfect for me.
Cherry on cake, two shorts and unexpected zombie tales about pedophile priests and cops abusers gettin' what they deserve.
A well written, intelligent and fresh take on the genre.
March 25, 2014
One year after Romero's ground breaking 'Night of the Living Dead' is released, the disbelieving population comes face to face with their worst nightmare. Sometimes the only way to keep a story from getting out is to give the public an even bigger story. In order to keep a massive zombie outbreak from going viral (you see what I did there, right?), the government manufactures the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing on a military base with the help of a lecherous B-list movie director.
1969 was a different time; a different culture. McClennan took advantage of a great opportunity to call attention to some of the important backwards thinking of the era; same sex relationships, domestic abuse, and the stigma of unwed pregnancy. There are a few references to rape, but no details accompany those references as they are merely stated as fact but not recounted in any depth that would make a reader uncomfortable.
It was entertaining to see the homage to Ian's fellow horror authors. Names like Tony Baker, Mark Tufo, H.E. Goodhue, and Mark Matthews graced the pages as various characters.
McClellan's writing style is smooth; cleverly worded prose flows with the distinct easiness of a well seasoned and mature author. The light comedy is funny and the horror is scary and intense.
I knew from the synopsis that 'One Undead Step' was going to be a special read, and it really was. I loved everything about it. The story was fresh, characters were solid, and the action was never ending. McClellan paid attention to the small details, reminding readers of the little things like glass milk bottles. 'One Undead Step' Is a five star read. I recommend this book to anyone looking for their next zombie read.
1969 was a different time; a different culture. McClennan took advantage of a great opportunity to call attention to some of the important backwards thinking of the era; same sex relationships, domestic abuse, and the stigma of unwed pregnancy. There are a few references to rape, but no details accompany those references as they are merely stated as fact but not recounted in any depth that would make a reader uncomfortable.
It was entertaining to see the homage to Ian's fellow horror authors. Names like Tony Baker, Mark Tufo, H.E. Goodhue, and Mark Matthews graced the pages as various characters.
McClellan's writing style is smooth; cleverly worded prose flows with the distinct easiness of a well seasoned and mature author. The light comedy is funny and the horror is scary and intense.
I knew from the synopsis that 'One Undead Step' was going to be a special read, and it really was. I loved everything about it. The story was fresh, characters were solid, and the action was never ending. McClellan paid attention to the small details, reminding readers of the little things like glass milk bottles. 'One Undead Step' Is a five star read. I recommend this book to anyone looking for their next zombie read.
April 17, 2014
Don't read this book...unless you're looking for something unique, entertaining and hard to put down.
One Undead Step is a fresh look at a tiring genre. Mr. McCellan has a unique voice and storytelling style. He always manages to interject humor in everything he does and his newest work is no different. One Undead Step covers the late 60's pushing the idea that the United States government staged the lunar landing in an effort to distract the population from an ongoing zombie infestation.
Mr. McCellan managed to capture an authentic feel for the era even as he wrapped it in the most bizarre scenario. He has a style all his own that's very engaging for a reader and draws you into the characters. It only took a few chapters for me to accept the odd retelling of history and enjoy the ride. One Undead Step is fast paced and an easy read. The characters are well thought out and well developed.
Zombie books come and go with most providing little more than passing entertainment. One Undead Step is a genuinely interesting tale that I would recommend to any fiction reader looking for their next read. Five stars all the way.
One Undead Step is a fresh look at a tiring genre. Mr. McCellan has a unique voice and storytelling style. He always manages to interject humor in everything he does and his newest work is no different. One Undead Step covers the late 60's pushing the idea that the United States government staged the lunar landing in an effort to distract the population from an ongoing zombie infestation.
Mr. McCellan managed to capture an authentic feel for the era even as he wrapped it in the most bizarre scenario. He has a style all his own that's very engaging for a reader and draws you into the characters. It only took a few chapters for me to accept the odd retelling of history and enjoy the ride. One Undead Step is fast paced and an easy read. The characters are well thought out and well developed.
Zombie books come and go with most providing little more than passing entertainment. One Undead Step is a genuinely interesting tale that I would recommend to any fiction reader looking for their next read. Five stars all the way.
May 6, 2014
As an author known primarily for my work in the 'zombie genre' I'm pretty fussy with the stuff that falls into my front yard to read.
Ian McClellan killed it with One Undead Step. It's terrific.
It's set in the late 60's in the southwest in the midst of a terrible zombie outbreak. To buy them time and distract the country from the dilemma unfolding, the government decides to fake a moon landing.
It sounds crazy, is crazy, and is fun as hell. Great, pure, original Romero feel, with solid (dare I say tasteful) levels of gore, and a large cast of believable characters.
To be fair and open, I found a couple of typos, the Kindle file I read had two formatting glitches, and Ian name drops other authors in the field throughout the book, and those were the only complaints I can think if. If I could give the book 4.75 stars, I guess I would, but let's not be that fussy.
Here's the biggest compliment I can give this book: It feels like it's taking place in the 60s, in the Romero-era zombie style outbreak world, and reads cleanly as such. It's a great period-piece visit for the zombie genre, and I highly recommend it.
Great job Ian. Lots of fun.
Ian McClellan killed it with One Undead Step. It's terrific.
It's set in the late 60's in the southwest in the midst of a terrible zombie outbreak. To buy them time and distract the country from the dilemma unfolding, the government decides to fake a moon landing.
It sounds crazy, is crazy, and is fun as hell. Great, pure, original Romero feel, with solid (dare I say tasteful) levels of gore, and a large cast of believable characters.
To be fair and open, I found a couple of typos, the Kindle file I read had two formatting glitches, and Ian name drops other authors in the field throughout the book, and those were the only complaints I can think if. If I could give the book 4.75 stars, I guess I would, but let's not be that fussy.
Here's the biggest compliment I can give this book: It feels like it's taking place in the 60s, in the Romero-era zombie style outbreak world, and reads cleanly as such. It's a great period-piece visit for the zombie genre, and I highly recommend it.
Great job Ian. Lots of fun.
May 1, 2014
Ian's One Undead Step flows as fluidly as the blood spilled by the victims of his voracious zombies.
With characters that vibrate off the page with life and energy, a pace that lets you savor each moment until it's time to haul ass, and humor to boot; Ian has, without a doubt, created a refreshingly creative tale for you to consume.
I can easily recommend this to fans of this genre and others as well.
*I was given a copy in exchange for my honest opinion*
Visit www.HorrorAfterDark.com for more reviews.
With characters that vibrate off the page with life and energy, a pace that lets you savor each moment until it's time to haul ass, and humor to boot; Ian has, without a doubt, created a refreshingly creative tale for you to consume.
I can easily recommend this to fans of this genre and others as well.
*I was given a copy in exchange for my honest opinion*
Visit www.HorrorAfterDark.com for more reviews.
October 15, 2014
I read this and liked it, end of review, okay, just a bit more.
It makes no odds to this reader that the novel starts with the premise that the 1969 moon landings were faked. This reader is fairly clear on the definition of fiction, the fact that the writer has to make a plea asking readers to stretch their imaginations is quite sad and reflects badly on those of us who cannot watch a film, or television series or even read a book of fiction without wagging a finger. What happened to celebrating artistic licence? It must be a real downer to be you, you are that guy! Imagine you’re at the movies, (very American), or the pictures, as we say in my part of England; Every audience member watching the screen is holding their breath, the soundtrack is pumping something high octane, famous star A, is chasing famous star B, down an alley, across a busy street, over a bridge, across another busy street, B manages to dodge one car and vaults over the hood of a second, just as A gets off the bridge, runs into the street and then bam, is knocked cold by the third car, a shiny new Cadillac. You jump up in your seat screeching, ‘That would never happen, cos General Motors did not introduce the Cadillac CTS until 2002 and this film is set in like 2001′.
Ged outtahere!
You are that guy!
(A survived cause he is famous).
The American government, and apparently the Russians, are bringing opium to the masses in the form of a well timed hoax. Get the public concentrating on puffing up their chests with national pride and they won’t see the danger in their midsts, clever.
I loved this multi-viewpoint, character driven, what if scenario. We even get a zombie’s and a dog’s eye view of the situation, unique. There is a lot going on besides the usual zombie fare of chase, chomp, chomp. Don’t get me wrong, we still get the chase and chomp, but these characters are well imagined and realistically written. Any sympathy you might have for one side character at the beginning, swiftly turns on its head when you realise he really got what he deserved. We meet a few more of the sidelined and usually insignificant characters, McClellan shows us how important these side characters are because in reality they are us. They are written in much in the same way fans of Stephen King will be familiar with. The ordinary Joann’s, the Randy’s to name just two.
McClellan aptly pays homage to the master, as Romero’s iconic 1968 Night of the Living Dead even gets referenced by several characters. The one film above all else that has influenced every zombie book, graphic novel, film and television series since its release.
It is not a particularly long book, but it feels much longer simply because of the wealth of action, no pointless descriptions, tight dialogue, no scene is wasted.
A well written, enjoyable and intelligent tale, I will be keeping a close eye on Mr McClellan in the future.
I read this and liked it, end of review.
Received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Urthwild
It makes no odds to this reader that the novel starts with the premise that the 1969 moon landings were faked. This reader is fairly clear on the definition of fiction, the fact that the writer has to make a plea asking readers to stretch their imaginations is quite sad and reflects badly on those of us who cannot watch a film, or television series or even read a book of fiction without wagging a finger. What happened to celebrating artistic licence? It must be a real downer to be you, you are that guy! Imagine you’re at the movies, (very American), or the pictures, as we say in my part of England; Every audience member watching the screen is holding their breath, the soundtrack is pumping something high octane, famous star A, is chasing famous star B, down an alley, across a busy street, over a bridge, across another busy street, B manages to dodge one car and vaults over the hood of a second, just as A gets off the bridge, runs into the street and then bam, is knocked cold by the third car, a shiny new Cadillac. You jump up in your seat screeching, ‘That would never happen, cos General Motors did not introduce the Cadillac CTS until 2002 and this film is set in like 2001′.
Ged outtahere!
You are that guy!
(A survived cause he is famous).
The American government, and apparently the Russians, are bringing opium to the masses in the form of a well timed hoax. Get the public concentrating on puffing up their chests with national pride and they won’t see the danger in their midsts, clever.
I loved this multi-viewpoint, character driven, what if scenario. We even get a zombie’s and a dog’s eye view of the situation, unique. There is a lot going on besides the usual zombie fare of chase, chomp, chomp. Don’t get me wrong, we still get the chase and chomp, but these characters are well imagined and realistically written. Any sympathy you might have for one side character at the beginning, swiftly turns on its head when you realise he really got what he deserved. We meet a few more of the sidelined and usually insignificant characters, McClellan shows us how important these side characters are because in reality they are us. They are written in much in the same way fans of Stephen King will be familiar with. The ordinary Joann’s, the Randy’s to name just two.
McClellan aptly pays homage to the master, as Romero’s iconic 1968 Night of the Living Dead even gets referenced by several characters. The one film above all else that has influenced every zombie book, graphic novel, film and television series since its release.
It is not a particularly long book, but it feels much longer simply because of the wealth of action, no pointless descriptions, tight dialogue, no scene is wasted.
A well written, enjoyable and intelligent tale, I will be keeping a close eye on Mr McClellan in the future.
I read this and liked it, end of review.
Received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Urthwild
February 5, 2016
SPOILERS!
McClellan starts off with a familiar premise, one that's been run into the ground in fact: a group of plucky survivors in an American urban center face down the zombie apocalypse with nothing to rely on but their wits, and each is paid back in kind according to their moral compass (assholes die horribly, heroes die heroically, and plucky kids survive.) If you've read more than one zombie book you've heard this story already.
As I read on, though, I realized that my familiarity with this premise was what McClellan was counting on, and possibly preying upon. As the book progresses, he slowly fills in some fascinating details that gradually turn the narrative on its ear. With clever flourishes like a gangster named Nicky "No-Nickname" (get it?), a rather perverse story of statutory rape that ends as it must, and always, always in the background a seemingly unrelated B-story about a director faking the moon landing, McClellan gradually draws us in to a tale that's not been told before.
ONE UNDEAD STEP is "Mad Men" meets "Night of the Living Dead." Where the latter was a product of the '60s played straight, the former was an attempt to re-create an era through its anxieties and foils, also played more-or-less straight. I admired how McClellan tries to do the same with ONE UNDEAD STEP. As with any historical drama, occasionally the satire was a little too on the nose, but I don't remember anything especially egregious along the lines of, "Look, we're smoking on a plane because people used to do that back then isn't that craaazy?" or "Wouldn't it be cool if someday we had phones we could carry around with us?" McClellan's depiction of the '60s was aware but nuanced, without ever resorting to easy targets.
For a long stretch of this book I was wondering why the moon landing plot was even there. It felt completely shoehorned in. By the end, though, I realized that this was by design, so that McClellan could smash us over the head with a Shyamalan-style twist. Believe me, by the end, the title and the focus on the moon landing and not just "Mad Men" style '60s shenanigans becomes fully deserved.
If you love the shambling dead but you've been waiting for someone to do something new with them, your wait is over. Grab a copy of ONE UNDEAD STEP now.
McClellan starts off with a familiar premise, one that's been run into the ground in fact: a group of plucky survivors in an American urban center face down the zombie apocalypse with nothing to rely on but their wits, and each is paid back in kind according to their moral compass (assholes die horribly, heroes die heroically, and plucky kids survive.) If you've read more than one zombie book you've heard this story already.
As I read on, though, I realized that my familiarity with this premise was what McClellan was counting on, and possibly preying upon. As the book progresses, he slowly fills in some fascinating details that gradually turn the narrative on its ear. With clever flourishes like a gangster named Nicky "No-Nickname" (get it?), a rather perverse story of statutory rape that ends as it must, and always, always in the background a seemingly unrelated B-story about a director faking the moon landing, McClellan gradually draws us in to a tale that's not been told before.
ONE UNDEAD STEP is "Mad Men" meets "Night of the Living Dead." Where the latter was a product of the '60s played straight, the former was an attempt to re-create an era through its anxieties and foils, also played more-or-less straight. I admired how McClellan tries to do the same with ONE UNDEAD STEP. As with any historical drama, occasionally the satire was a little too on the nose, but I don't remember anything especially egregious along the lines of, "Look, we're smoking on a plane because people used to do that back then isn't that craaazy?" or "Wouldn't it be cool if someday we had phones we could carry around with us?" McClellan's depiction of the '60s was aware but nuanced, without ever resorting to easy targets.
For a long stretch of this book I was wondering why the moon landing plot was even there. It felt completely shoehorned in. By the end, though, I realized that this was by design, so that McClellan could smash us over the head with a Shyamalan-style twist. Believe me, by the end, the title and the focus on the moon landing and not just "Mad Men" style '60s shenanigans becomes fully deserved.
If you love the shambling dead but you've been waiting for someone to do something new with them, your wait is over. Grab a copy of ONE UNDEAD STEP now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2014
Once again, this author has created a story with several characters that feel completely real. Getting attached to anyone in a zombie tale is not the smartest move, but at least my favorites made it pretty far. The use of female characters was a bit frustrating, and I’d like to see more depth to these characters in future writings, but overall the drunk, tough, overly dramatic (yes, a teen girl would find a way to be overdramatic even in an already dramatic zombie attack), desperate to survive characters work well to flesh out the story and keep it character-driven rather than just a plot with zombie attack after zombie attack.
The humor in the writing is, I think, my favorite thing about this story. There are some little inside jokes with character names, but there are also obvious references like “Take the guns. Leave the cannoli.” Seeing inside the “EAT” minds of the zombies is a nice touch, too. And the dog’s perspective – somehow a dog’s sadness will choke me up more than anything.
I expected a lot more from the faked moon landing part of the story, but it’s enough to know that that’s going on in the background, and it sets up the cover story that you know is going to be used all along.
Worth a read if you’re looking for a clever, suspenseful, gory zombie story with a historical twist.
The humor in the writing is, I think, my favorite thing about this story. There are some little inside jokes with character names, but there are also obvious references like “Take the guns. Leave the cannoli.” Seeing inside the “EAT” minds of the zombies is a nice touch, too. And the dog’s perspective – somehow a dog’s sadness will choke me up more than anything.
I expected a lot more from the faked moon landing part of the story, but it’s enough to know that that’s going on in the background, and it sets up the cover story that you know is going to be used all along.
Worth a read if you’re looking for a clever, suspenseful, gory zombie story with a historical twist.
Read
April 7, 2014"One Undead Step is one of the most creative books I've ever read, and I can't recommend it highly enough. If you're a zombie fan, a horror fan, or a humor fan, then you absolutely have to read this book!" Zombie Guide Magazine
"McClellan's industrious attention to the particulars is what makes this read SO dead-on righteous & inviting..." Killer Reviews
"Basically, it was the perfect book." Readers' Favorite
"I loved everything about it. The story was fresh, characters were solid, and the action was never ending" The Bookie Monster
"McClellan's industrious attention to the particulars is what makes this read SO dead-on righteous & inviting..." Killer Reviews
"Basically, it was the perfect book." Readers' Favorite
"I loved everything about it. The story was fresh, characters were solid, and the action was never ending" The Bookie Monster
September 20, 2014
I was gifted this book in a contest and WOW am I glad I was. I was taken in from the first chapter. You really get to know and like the characters. I was happily surprised at how well the "fake" moon landing was played as I was not sure I would be able to buy into that. I was actually sad when the book ended as I wanted it to continue on. Well worth buying and reading. Wonderfully done!
July 20, 2016
well that was interesting...
Started out slowly, got a bit interesting if predictable in the middle, and I don't know what to make of the ending.
Started out slowly, got a bit interesting if predictable in the middle, and I don't know what to make of the ending.
February 3, 2015
Will, owner of Will's Tavern, is about to have a change made to his bar menu. He wasn't really looking for a change, and even if he was, Will certainly didn't approve of the main ingredients that made up the majority of the new one-item menu for his new customers that were coming in hordes.
Normally, Will would have been thrilled with a huge crowd gathering at his bar. Especially without having to put on a "happy hour" to do so. But the new crowd goes wherever the new delicacy can be found - and that just happens to be live humans. Zombies are well known for eating and not ordering drinks - and hell - they would probably just try and shuffle off without paying the tab anyways. While it is bad business for your well paying regulars to be eaten by non-paying Zombies - paid in full tabs and no tips are the last thing that Will is currently concerned about.
Across the city, a mob boss is having issues of his own. Nicky "No Nickname" Fratelli is racking up a body count - and not one of them is even a good old family "hit". In fact - it is mostly his own goomba's and muscle that are winding up dead. But Nicky notices that they don't stay exactly "dead" for long. With just his most loyal bodyguard, Paulie Hammerhead - Nicky makes his way over to Will's Tavern for a nice cold one while he tries to wrap his brain around what the hell is going on.
Rounding out this team is a family with a klepto kid, a stuffy father, a wife that has eyes for about anything that moves, and a 15 year old daughter who is just trying like crazy to latch onto anyone who can get her as far away from her family as possible. Oh yeah, and a few bar patrons who decided not to be on the menu, but most of them are falling down drunks.
So, if you were in charge of the country and the Zombies decide to have a convention in a city in the middle of nowhere, what would you plan on doing? Well, you could send in the army and wipe out the Zombie horde. Or, you could do what comes naturally to politicians and start spinning, lying, and creating a diversion. How about a moon landing to distract everyone? The fact that there isn't anyone really in space to land on the moon poses just a small problem. That is until B-Movie director Mark Mathews is caught in a very compromising position and the army makes him a deal. Make a movie, quick - featuring us landing on the moon. It doesn't have to win any Academy Awards - it just has to be believable.
With all of these moving parts, one thing remains constant. Zombies must eat........
-----------------------------
OK - I am going to admit something that will probably make everyone gasp is shock. I can honestly say I have only watched two movies featuring zombies in my lifetime - "Abraham Lincoln Zombie Slayer" (just because it looked so horrible!!) and "World War Z". Not a single zombie book. So by no means am I an undead aficionado.
"One Undead Step" by Ian McClellan may have gotten me to turn a corner. McClellan had a great paced story, and I was really liking all of the characters - that is, until they got eaten. I was kind of surprised that there are no picky zombies when it comes to food - not one "I won't eat my broccoli" finicky eater exists among them.
McClellan also delighted me with a chapter written from the zombie's point of view. Again, I don't have much experience in this genre - but I thought it was brilliant. Short chapter, kind of focused on a single point - but apparently zombies are not great multi-taskers - so I guess I understand!
Anyways - you need to quit reading this blog post and download this book. I need to quit writing anyways and get myself some steak cooked very rare now.......
Normally, Will would have been thrilled with a huge crowd gathering at his bar. Especially without having to put on a "happy hour" to do so. But the new crowd goes wherever the new delicacy can be found - and that just happens to be live humans. Zombies are well known for eating and not ordering drinks - and hell - they would probably just try and shuffle off without paying the tab anyways. While it is bad business for your well paying regulars to be eaten by non-paying Zombies - paid in full tabs and no tips are the last thing that Will is currently concerned about.
Across the city, a mob boss is having issues of his own. Nicky "No Nickname" Fratelli is racking up a body count - and not one of them is even a good old family "hit". In fact - it is mostly his own goomba's and muscle that are winding up dead. But Nicky notices that they don't stay exactly "dead" for long. With just his most loyal bodyguard, Paulie Hammerhead - Nicky makes his way over to Will's Tavern for a nice cold one while he tries to wrap his brain around what the hell is going on.
Rounding out this team is a family with a klepto kid, a stuffy father, a wife that has eyes for about anything that moves, and a 15 year old daughter who is just trying like crazy to latch onto anyone who can get her as far away from her family as possible. Oh yeah, and a few bar patrons who decided not to be on the menu, but most of them are falling down drunks.
So, if you were in charge of the country and the Zombies decide to have a convention in a city in the middle of nowhere, what would you plan on doing? Well, you could send in the army and wipe out the Zombie horde. Or, you could do what comes naturally to politicians and start spinning, lying, and creating a diversion. How about a moon landing to distract everyone? The fact that there isn't anyone really in space to land on the moon poses just a small problem. That is until B-Movie director Mark Mathews is caught in a very compromising position and the army makes him a deal. Make a movie, quick - featuring us landing on the moon. It doesn't have to win any Academy Awards - it just has to be believable.
With all of these moving parts, one thing remains constant. Zombies must eat........
-----------------------------
OK - I am going to admit something that will probably make everyone gasp is shock. I can honestly say I have only watched two movies featuring zombies in my lifetime - "Abraham Lincoln Zombie Slayer" (just because it looked so horrible!!) and "World War Z". Not a single zombie book. So by no means am I an undead aficionado.
"One Undead Step" by Ian McClellan may have gotten me to turn a corner. McClellan had a great paced story, and I was really liking all of the characters - that is, until they got eaten. I was kind of surprised that there are no picky zombies when it comes to food - not one "I won't eat my broccoli" finicky eater exists among them.
McClellan also delighted me with a chapter written from the zombie's point of view. Again, I don't have much experience in this genre - but I thought it was brilliant. Short chapter, kind of focused on a single point - but apparently zombies are not great multi-taskers - so I guess I understand!
Anyways - you need to quit reading this blog post and download this book. I need to quit writing anyways and get myself some steak cooked very rare now.......
May 30, 2014
If you're really into the whole zombie craze like I am, it's easy to find that too many of the new books out there all feel similar. They're okay, but many times they feel sort of stale and already-been-done.
Not so here!
Faking the first moon landing in 1969 as a diversion from a zombie outbreak is a fabulously creative addition, but even without it, this book is worth the read for the rest of the plot by itself. In fact, the moon landing bit is only a small portion of this book. The main part of the story follows the various main characters through their struggles as the zombie outbreak occurs. There are also some fantastic snippets here and there of what's going on with others. We're only with these different characters for a few clicks of the Kindle but their little stories are engrossing and complete in and of themselves. The 'tie ins', where something from one snippet chapters ago makes an appearance in a different, later vignette, really adds a sense of continuity throughout the story.
The writing is excellent. It flows easily and lacks the repetition you find some authors using (repeating common phrases over and over throughout the work, structuring sentences in a maddeningly similar fashion for paragraph after paragraph). I found the characters to be extremely well done and realistic in that even the 'good' characters have flaws and even the 'bad' characters have some good in there somewhere. Their actions stay true to their character and never did I find myself thinking that something didn't make sense, like the author tried to force something to make it go the way he wanted it. The actions and decisions of the characters came across as natural and believable, which always makes it easier to become engrossed in the story.
The plot is well developed with careful attention to making it plausible (well, as plausible as a zombie outbreak can be!). There were no loose ends, no discrepancies nagging at me until and past the end of the story, as can happen when books have holes in the plot. I didn't find a single one here. I appreciated that even after the main plot ended as it did, the author took the time to tie up some things that some authors might have left hanging. That's not to say every question is cleanly put to rest, but the attention to detail found throughout the book is still present up until the very last word.
While it didn't bother me a bit, it did occur to me that one small snippet about a Catholic priest and the molestation issues found and kept hidden by the Church at that time might upset some. There's no actual molestation scene, just a Priest privately reflecting on the situation. I think it's not a big deal to most, but people sensitive to that issue might find that part offensive. If that might be you, you might just skip that quick bit.
A must-read for any zombie fan looking for a well-written 'old school' zombie read.
Not so here!
Faking the first moon landing in 1969 as a diversion from a zombie outbreak is a fabulously creative addition, but even without it, this book is worth the read for the rest of the plot by itself. In fact, the moon landing bit is only a small portion of this book. The main part of the story follows the various main characters through their struggles as the zombie outbreak occurs. There are also some fantastic snippets here and there of what's going on with others. We're only with these different characters for a few clicks of the Kindle but their little stories are engrossing and complete in and of themselves. The 'tie ins', where something from one snippet chapters ago makes an appearance in a different, later vignette, really adds a sense of continuity throughout the story.
The writing is excellent. It flows easily and lacks the repetition you find some authors using (repeating common phrases over and over throughout the work, structuring sentences in a maddeningly similar fashion for paragraph after paragraph). I found the characters to be extremely well done and realistic in that even the 'good' characters have flaws and even the 'bad' characters have some good in there somewhere. Their actions stay true to their character and never did I find myself thinking that something didn't make sense, like the author tried to force something to make it go the way he wanted it. The actions and decisions of the characters came across as natural and believable, which always makes it easier to become engrossed in the story.
The plot is well developed with careful attention to making it plausible (well, as plausible as a zombie outbreak can be!). There were no loose ends, no discrepancies nagging at me until and past the end of the story, as can happen when books have holes in the plot. I didn't find a single one here. I appreciated that even after the main plot ended as it did, the author took the time to tie up some things that some authors might have left hanging. That's not to say every question is cleanly put to rest, but the attention to detail found throughout the book is still present up until the very last word.
While it didn't bother me a bit, it did occur to me that one small snippet about a Catholic priest and the molestation issues found and kept hidden by the Church at that time might upset some. There's no actual molestation scene, just a Priest privately reflecting on the situation. I think it's not a big deal to most, but people sensitive to that issue might find that part offensive. If that might be you, you might just skip that quick bit.
A must-read for any zombie fan looking for a well-written 'old school' zombie read.
August 25, 2014
I mentioned just a while back that I love horror novels that utilize history as a basis. When an author can successfully combine real events with fictional horror, the result is usually a terrific story that is enthralling and entertaining. Such can be said for ONE UNDEAD STEP, a recent release from author Ian McClellan. Rife with originality and solid prose, McClellan’s horrific tale of a near zombie takeover will keep you riveted. And while it is not perfect, it is still a hell of a read and one I had a hard time putting down.
I have to start off by commending McClellan on his unique concept for this book. I have to say, it is a very interesting proposal. I love the idea of the government trying to keep the public from learning about zombies, especially by using something as grand as a moon-landing to do so. Because of the paranoia that was rampant during that time period, I can totally see this as a plausible scenario.
ONE UNDEAD STEP is written well and flows at a smooth pace. McClellan seems to have a natural talent for storytelling, which is showcased in the way he ‘shows’ instead of ‘tells’. Here is an example: “His face had a hawkish look that was accentuated by his beak of a nose. He looked at Will and smiled. The smile was all politician or salesman (if there’s a difference), but he couldn’t take the predator out of his eyes.” I really like this writing style, as it allows for more immersion into the book.
The characters are flawed and colorful, a group of believable average-joes who we grow to like (and hate, in some cases). McClellan does a great job of bringing them to life, and they are a major part of what makes the book so good.
My sole complaint about the book is the ending; there are a couple of chapters labeled ‘Zombie Stories’ at the end, but they don’t fit with the rest of the book. I am not sure if McClellan put them in as an afterthought, or if they’re supposed to have some relevance to the story. Either way, they don’t fit for me (although they might be good as solo stories in an anthology or something). If you read this book, I would stop at the Epilogue, wait a bit, and then go read the chapters afterward as individual pieces.
But still, ONE UNDEAD STEP is a fun read and I recommend giving it a shot if you like zombies. I am willing to bet you will never read about the moon landing with the same mindset again. This book is available now in a variety of formats.
I have to start off by commending McClellan on his unique concept for this book. I have to say, it is a very interesting proposal. I love the idea of the government trying to keep the public from learning about zombies, especially by using something as grand as a moon-landing to do so. Because of the paranoia that was rampant during that time period, I can totally see this as a plausible scenario.
ONE UNDEAD STEP is written well and flows at a smooth pace. McClellan seems to have a natural talent for storytelling, which is showcased in the way he ‘shows’ instead of ‘tells’. Here is an example: “His face had a hawkish look that was accentuated by his beak of a nose. He looked at Will and smiled. The smile was all politician or salesman (if there’s a difference), but he couldn’t take the predator out of his eyes.” I really like this writing style, as it allows for more immersion into the book.
The characters are flawed and colorful, a group of believable average-joes who we grow to like (and hate, in some cases). McClellan does a great job of bringing them to life, and they are a major part of what makes the book so good.
My sole complaint about the book is the ending; there are a couple of chapters labeled ‘Zombie Stories’ at the end, but they don’t fit with the rest of the book. I am not sure if McClellan put them in as an afterthought, or if they’re supposed to have some relevance to the story. Either way, they don’t fit for me (although they might be good as solo stories in an anthology or something). If you read this book, I would stop at the Epilogue, wait a bit, and then go read the chapters afterward as individual pieces.
But still, ONE UNDEAD STEP is a fun read and I recommend giving it a shot if you like zombies. I am willing to bet you will never read about the moon landing with the same mindset again. This book is available now in a variety of formats.
August 1, 2014
We've all heard the hoax rumors and conspiracy theories about whether or not we actually did land on the moon in 1969. Ian McClellan takes this theory to a whole other level in One Undead Step: A Zombie Novel. In this book, the U.S. government, with the help of a troubled movie director, fakes the moon landing so the country and the rest of the world do not realize what is actually happening in a small city: a zombie apocalypse. Meanwhile, a bar owner, some of his regulars, a couple of mobsters, some Army Rangers, and a dysfunctional family of four form an unlikely alliance to fight off these undead creatures who seemed to have reanimated with the sole purpose of eating human beings, something that is unheard of to these people. Will they be able to survive while the government tries to pull off the ultimate hoax?
As a huge zombie apocalypse fan who has seen the best and the worst of it, I tend to be very selective in my zombie reading material. When I read the synopsis of One Undead Step: A Zombie Novel, I jumped at the chance to read it. Ian McClellan puts a very unique twist on what could have been a typical zombie story. Aside from the awesome concept of the government faking the moon landing to hide the zombie apocalypse, the story is entertaining and suspenseful with a little humor and some very gruesome scenes. Basically, it was the perfect book. It kept me on the edge of my seat, and the plot is so unpredictable. Every time I thought I knew how it was going to end, I was wrong. I was so disappointed when it ended because I just wanted to keep reading. I am definitely a fan and can't wait to read more from this brilliant writer.
Reviewed by ME for Readers' Favorite
As a huge zombie apocalypse fan who has seen the best and the worst of it, I tend to be very selective in my zombie reading material. When I read the synopsis of One Undead Step: A Zombie Novel, I jumped at the chance to read it. Ian McClellan puts a very unique twist on what could have been a typical zombie story. Aside from the awesome concept of the government faking the moon landing to hide the zombie apocalypse, the story is entertaining and suspenseful with a little humor and some very gruesome scenes. Basically, it was the perfect book. It kept me on the edge of my seat, and the plot is so unpredictable. Every time I thought I knew how it was going to end, I was wrong. I was so disappointed when it ended because I just wanted to keep reading. I am definitely a fan and can't wait to read more from this brilliant writer.
Reviewed by ME for Readers' Favorite
February 22, 2014
There are no words to describe how much I enjoyed this treasure of a book, but I’ll try to explain what makes this story so brilliant. One Undead Step tells the tale of several characters who are caught up in the zombie apocalypse; the trouble is, they have no idea what’s happening until it’s too late. In this unique story, the government fakes the moon landing in order to eclipse (pun intended) the real newsworthy event taking place: the dead coming back to life and devouring every human they can get their hands on.
As is typical of McClellan’s work, there are laugh-out-loud moments that pop up when you least expect it. One minute you’re gasping at the horror, and the next you’re laughing until your sides hurt. What I love most about this book are the characters. McClellan does a phenomenal job of creating characters that you love and hate at the same time. There was one character in particular that I adored, but there were times when I wanted to shove him off a roof, but then a few pages later I’d love him again. Truly remarkable!
One Undead Step is one of the most creative books I’ve ever read, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. If you’re a zombie fan, a horror fan, or a humor fan, then you absolutely have to read this book! It’s books like this that make me wish I could give more than a five star review (there really should be a higher rating available for outstanding novels like this one).
As is typical of McClellan’s work, there are laugh-out-loud moments that pop up when you least expect it. One minute you’re gasping at the horror, and the next you’re laughing until your sides hurt. What I love most about this book are the characters. McClellan does a phenomenal job of creating characters that you love and hate at the same time. There was one character in particular that I adored, but there were times when I wanted to shove him off a roof, but then a few pages later I’d love him again. Truly remarkable!
One Undead Step is one of the most creative books I’ve ever read, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. If you’re a zombie fan, a horror fan, or a humor fan, then you absolutely have to read this book! It’s books like this that make me wish I could give more than a five star review (there really should be a higher rating available for outstanding novels like this one).
August 4, 2014
I don’t have a plethora of zombie books under my belt, Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion, being the only other experience, and it was a kind of ‘touchy feely’ one. One Step Undead, is of the more traditional zombie variety. And an interesting spin on it, at that. Take zombies, a 1960s time setting, and a little conspiracy theory, and you have the recipe for a page turning read.
OSU is broken up into little mini chapters, focusing on different characters. While it did take me a quarter way into the novel to adjust, I could then see the merit and necessity of it to the story. The characters are immersed into a world of chaos. You, as a silent character in the story, are immersed as well.
The ending stung me a bit. But as with any story you truly invest yourself in, sometimes you can’t help but pout a little about not knowing what happened next.
OSU is broken up into little mini chapters, focusing on different characters. While it did take me a quarter way into the novel to adjust, I could then see the merit and necessity of it to the story. The characters are immersed into a world of chaos. You, as a silent character in the story, are immersed as well.
The ending stung me a bit. But as with any story you truly invest yourself in, sometimes you can’t help but pout a little about not knowing what happened next.
September 28, 2014
"One Undead Step" is a unique concept on the age old zombie story. The author takes the moon landing and caters the story to conspiracy theorists that believe the moon landing was faked. In this universe, it was faked to cover up a zombie outbreak.
The author shows that he loves the craft and genre with great descriptive passages and characters that while are flawed; they are still believable.
The ending of the book felt disjointed from the rest of the story with the inclusion of the shorter stories. Were these supposed to relate to the main story? Or were they just stand alone tales. These shorts aren't bad, but I feel it would have been better to save those for later and release them as a collection.
Overall "One Undead Step" is an enjoyable romp through the zombie apocalypse.
visit The Geekdom Of Gore for more reviews.
The author shows that he loves the craft and genre with great descriptive passages and characters that while are flawed; they are still believable.
The ending of the book felt disjointed from the rest of the story with the inclusion of the shorter stories. Were these supposed to relate to the main story? Or were they just stand alone tales. These shorts aren't bad, but I feel it would have been better to save those for later and release them as a collection.
Overall "One Undead Step" is an enjoyable romp through the zombie apocalypse.
visit The Geekdom Of Gore for more reviews.
September 30, 2014
*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review*
This book was a fun read! Very well written and the story moves along nicely. The characters are well developed and plot is unique and a great new take on zombies. The thing that impressed me the most about this novel was the quality of the writing. This book is edited very well and that helps the reading process to go smoothly.
The humor in this book is wonderful as well. This lighthearted take on zombies helps make this read special. If you like to laugh and zombies-read this book. The character development in this book keeps the reader wanting more. You find yourself loving and hating the same people, eager to know what will happen to them. You really can't go wrong with this story!
This book was a fun read! Very well written and the story moves along nicely. The characters are well developed and plot is unique and a great new take on zombies. The thing that impressed me the most about this novel was the quality of the writing. This book is edited very well and that helps the reading process to go smoothly.
The humor in this book is wonderful as well. This lighthearted take on zombies helps make this read special. If you like to laugh and zombies-read this book. The character development in this book keeps the reader wanting more. You find yourself loving and hating the same people, eager to know what will happen to them. You really can't go wrong with this story!
September 6, 2016
Well, here's a book to get the conspiracy theorists chomping at the bit. Now the truth comes out that the moon landing was faked in a Hollywood studio, & why? To hide a zombie apocalypse of course. I found this to be a very enjoyable book, it's got humour, action, gore, characters that you connect with oh & a little bit of sex thrown in as well. As the story progresses more & more characters are introduced, & the pace picks up but not to the extent that you can't follow the plot, & the ending, well that had me sitting there, open mouthed & speechless. Brilliant.
November 3, 2014
We read this in our Book Club, and everyone said the same thing- WE LOVED IT! Nonstop action from beginning to end, brilliant character development, and unique plot and setting. The author did a incredible job taking the reader back in time. The whole story is based on one town's struggle to survive a zombie outbreak in the late 60's, and the government trying to cover it up by getting a shady movie director to film the 'Moon Landing'. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone!
February 7, 2015
One GIANT Step For Zombie Fiction!
"One Undead Step" is the "X" factor! Well written, layered, and very realistic characters. A vivid original story line. Find out why I can't give this book enough stars in The VanGarde Review, including a chat with the man himself, Ian McClellan.
http://ddvangarde.hubpages.com/_2d6qc...
"One Undead Step" is the "X" factor! Well written, layered, and very realistic characters. A vivid original story line. Find out why I can't give this book enough stars in The VanGarde Review, including a chat with the man himself, Ian McClellan.
http://ddvangarde.hubpages.com/_2d6qc...
September 4, 2014
This is easily one of the best zombie books I have ever read. The plot is imaginative, horrific and intriguing and the strong characters drive the story really well - a must read!
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