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The Infection #1
Dead
Ein rasanter Zombie-Survival-Thriller - Action und Spannung wie im Blockbuster-Kino
Die Welt nach der Apokalypse: Ein geheimnisvoller Virus verwandelt die Menschen in grauenhafte Monster. Millionen von Untoten überfluten die Vereinigten Staaten, während sich die fünf Überlebende zusammenfinden, um sich zum letzten Wiederstandsnest der Menschen durchzuschlagen: einem Flüchtlingscamp, in das sich der letzte Rest der Regierung gerettet hat. Doch der Weg dahin ist gepflastert mit Leichen - toten wie lebendigen ...
Die Welt nach der Apokalypse: Ein geheimnisvoller Virus verwandelt die Menschen in grauenhafte Monster. Millionen von Untoten überfluten die Vereinigten Staaten, während sich die fünf Überlebende zusammenfinden, um sich zum letzten Wiederstandsnest der Menschen durchzuschlagen: einem Flüchtlingscamp, in das sich der letzte Rest der Regierung gerettet hat. Doch der Weg dahin ist gepflastert mit Leichen - toten wie lebendigen ...
447 pages, Paperback
First published January 28, 2011
360 people are currently reading
4901 people want to read
About the author
Craig DiLouie
62 books1,519 followersCraig DiLouie is an author of popular thriller, apocalyptic/horror, and sci-fi/fantasy fiction.
In hundreds of reviews, Craig’s novels have been praised for their strong characters, action, and gritty realism. Each book promises an exciting experience with people you’ll care about in a world that feels real.
These works have been nominated for major literary awards such as the Bram Stoker Award and Audie Award, translated into multiple languages, and optioned for film. He is a member of the HWA, International Thriller Writers, and IFWA.
In hundreds of reviews, Craig’s novels have been praised for their strong characters, action, and gritty realism. Each book promises an exciting experience with people you’ll care about in a world that feels real.
These works have been nominated for major literary awards such as the Bram Stoker Award and Audie Award, translated into multiple languages, and optioned for film. He is a member of the HWA, International Thriller Writers, and IFWA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
May 8, 2022
This first book ('The Infection') in the Infection series was even better the second time. Craig DiLouie has written a clever and very exciting beginning to what seems to be a fantastic trilogy. The infected are not like the ones I have encountered in the 100+ other zombie books I have listened to over the years. These are hatched from hideous eggs, which use living humans as hosts - and reminds me of the movie Alien. Ick. There are also regular. the gargantuan ones, who speak in an indecipherable language and gobble-up their smaller (human sized) brethren like mere morsels. The characters are all multi-dimensional and very well developed. I actually quite like the military side of the plot. DiLouie does not overwhelm you with complicated jargon, and I personally find the aspect of the plot fascinating. The group of survivors is led by Sarge - a tank commander and then there is Wendy - who fought in Afghanistan and became a cop upon returning to the U.S. Then there is Paul the Reverend who is beginning to lose his face in God when his prayers for go guidance continuously go unanswered. These are just a few of the amazing characters I had the pleasure of encountering in this first book and look forward to moving to book #2 for the first time.
Narrator Garrett Michael Brown does a fantastic job as solo narrator and had no problem keeping me on the edge of my seat.
Narrator Garrett Michael Brown does a fantastic job as solo narrator and had no problem keeping me on the edge of my seat.
July 20, 2014
Having just written a lengthy review for The Infection that my computer/goodreads conspired to lose after I hit the save button, I'm full of enough rage to bite the next healthy person I come across. Which, of course, means I can't possibly bring myself to try to reconstruct what was obviously a brilliantly composed, thought-provoking exploration of DiLouie's novel.
Instead, I'll just dot point the hell out of it:
- Very different from your normal zombie apocalyptic novel. Which is a good thing.
- Adding monsters Lovecraft would be proud of to the threat of the Infected who can only run and bite the characters is a stroke of genius on DiLouie's part as it increases the threat to the characters considerably.
- There is no convenient explanation with a pretty bow wrapped around it for why the Infection happened, nor why monstrous abominations are developing and also attacking surviving humans. But then why should there be when the reader is following a rag-tag group of survivors in the middle of America who wouldn't be privy to such information?
- The characters are well-developed, mostly easy to like, and interact realistically - something that too many authors of this type of novel skimp on.
- As much as I obviously liked this, it's not a perfect novel, however. The beginning is quite jarring, switching back and forth between present and past tense as DiLouie peppers his main narrative with flashbacks to how his core group came together. There's also a point in the last third of the novel when the pace grinds to a halt, which happens to coincide with a character's perplexing decision that removes her from the narrative for far too long - a decision I still do not really understand.
- But, all in all, this is an excellent read which delivers tension and horror galore. Fans of zombies, apocalyptic fiction and Lovecraft should all get a kick out of it.
- Time to find the sequel ...
4 to 4.5 Heavily-Weaponised Bradleys for The Infection.
Instead, I'll just dot point the hell out of it:
- Very different from your normal zombie apocalyptic novel. Which is a good thing.
- Adding monsters Lovecraft would be proud of to the threat of the Infected who can only run and bite the characters is a stroke of genius on DiLouie's part as it increases the threat to the characters considerably.
- There is no convenient explanation with a pretty bow wrapped around it for why the Infection happened, nor why monstrous abominations are developing and also attacking surviving humans. But then why should there be when the reader is following a rag-tag group of survivors in the middle of America who wouldn't be privy to such information?
- The characters are well-developed, mostly easy to like, and interact realistically - something that too many authors of this type of novel skimp on.
- As much as I obviously liked this, it's not a perfect novel, however. The beginning is quite jarring, switching back and forth between present and past tense as DiLouie peppers his main narrative with flashbacks to how his core group came together. There's also a point in the last third of the novel when the pace grinds to a halt, which happens to coincide with a character's perplexing decision that removes her from the narrative for far too long - a decision I still do not really understand.
- But, all in all, this is an excellent read which delivers tension and horror galore. Fans of zombies, apocalyptic fiction and Lovecraft should all get a kick out of it.
- Time to find the sequel ...
4 to 4.5 Heavily-Weaponised Bradleys for The Infection.
July 23, 2011
2 Stars
As a confessed post-apoc-a-phile with love for all things undead, I am normally easy to please.
I felt that the overall feel of this novel was forced upon us, it tried to be an atypical zombie novel, to be different and unique, and to not be generic. The beginning of the book was fantastic. I loved the whole people fell down, screamed really loudly.....and then they changed concept. It was well written, engaging, and exciting. Problem is after that the book fell apart. Even with fast moving zombies (runners), there were no matching fast paced thrilling chases that really took advantage of them. The characters were uninteresting to me and forgettable, Couple this with the bizarre abominations that to me ruined the rest of the story. I sped through the last 100 pages and found little that will stay with me. I probably will read Tooth and Nail as it is well liked and I do like DiLouie's writing style, but this one did not work for me...
As a confessed post-apoc-a-phile with love for all things undead, I am normally easy to please.
I felt that the overall feel of this novel was forced upon us, it tried to be an atypical zombie novel, to be different and unique, and to not be generic. The beginning of the book was fantastic. I loved the whole people fell down, screamed really loudly.....and then they changed concept. It was well written, engaging, and exciting. Problem is after that the book fell apart. Even with fast moving zombies (runners), there were no matching fast paced thrilling chases that really took advantage of them. The characters were uninteresting to me and forgettable, Couple this with the bizarre abominations that to me ruined the rest of the story. I sped through the last 100 pages and found little that will stay with me. I probably will read Tooth and Nail as it is well liked and I do like DiLouie's writing style, but this one did not work for me...
April 6, 2023
Springtime is a time of renewal, rebirth, and if you believe in such things resurrection. To honor the OG Resurrector and Resurrectie, My man JC, I have sent a personal challenge to read only zombie fiction in April. I have called the challenge They-Have-Risen. Sometime my sacraligion knows no bounds!
I think I have a book crush on Craig DiLouie. It is still early in the relationship, but I definitely feel a spark of something.
Invasion is the second book I have read by this author. Although I did not add them to Goodreads, I purchased this series in July 2022, so I will be counting as TBR even though it will not lower my Goodreads TBR number.
This is unique take on the zombie genre, and Mr. DiLouie seems to really love viral outbreaks, because that was the progenitor of all the shenanigans in the first book of his I read, Suffer the Children.
Mr. DiLouie is a Professional Technical writer, and as such, he has also written several non-fiction books about lighting and electrical design. Knowing that background, one could easily expect his writing to be, well technical. But instead, I found Invasion to be surprisingly character driven. I love that the characters were thrown together and survived because they were lucky and had a certain will. All "The Survivors" as DiLouie collectively calls them, are very human and have human limits, and foibles.
There are three books in this series and I am going to read all three of them this month. They will fit nicely into my personal challenge for this month. I'm going to be Zombie Love Bombed by Craig DiLouie in April!
I think I have a book crush on Craig DiLouie. It is still early in the relationship, but I definitely feel a spark of something.
Invasion is the second book I have read by this author. Although I did not add them to Goodreads, I purchased this series in July 2022, so I will be counting as TBR even though it will not lower my Goodreads TBR number.
This is unique take on the zombie genre, and Mr. DiLouie seems to really love viral outbreaks, because that was the progenitor of all the shenanigans in the first book of his I read, Suffer the Children.
Mr. DiLouie is a Professional Technical writer, and as such, he has also written several non-fiction books about lighting and electrical design. Knowing that background, one could easily expect his writing to be, well technical. But instead, I found Invasion to be surprisingly character driven. I love that the characters were thrown together and survived because they were lucky and had a certain will. All "The Survivors" as DiLouie collectively calls them, are very human and have human limits, and foibles.
There are three books in this series and I am going to read all three of them this month. They will fit nicely into my personal challenge for this month. I'm going to be Zombie Love Bombed by Craig DiLouie in April!
March 29, 2013
Even better than World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
I had to admit I was a little suspicious of this book. It comes from an indie press, with a cover that looks like it was designed by a very talented amateur instead of a seasoned professional.
But I was hooked within sentences. DiLouie has managed to take a tired genre (sorry, but I'm getting a little bored of the zombie apocalypse) and imbue it with exciting new vitality. He does this in precisely the right way: he focuses on the characters.
The best authors realize that threat and horror mean absolutely nothing if you don't care about the characters. DiLouie understands that very well and spends a tremendous amount of time detailing his characters, making them realistic and sympathetic, and amazingly, he does so without slowing the action. It's an impressive feat!
I didn't find this book particularly "scary" per se, but it was incredibly engrossing. The author has an impressive ability to weave authentic (or at least authentic-seeming) details about the military and the police into the narrative to create a very realistic world.
The best science fiction and fantasy books (as well as horror) take a handful of impossible axioms (e.g., there's a viral infection that turns people into cannibals) and builds a logical house upon that foundation. You only have to suspend your disbelief for the initial axioms; everything else makes absolute, perfect sense. DiLouie does that in this book. It's awe-inspiring!
Highly recommended!
P.S. It does bear note that the book is not without flaws. It shares the same publisher as the also excellent Ex-Heroes, and like that other book, has some odd typesetting issues. For instance, the headers and footers are really odd. I'm not sure why they went with them. Also, I found an uncorrected typo at one point. Just nits, though; the book is otherwise flawless, in my opinion!
I had to admit I was a little suspicious of this book. It comes from an indie press, with a cover that looks like it was designed by a very talented amateur instead of a seasoned professional.
But I was hooked within sentences. DiLouie has managed to take a tired genre (sorry, but I'm getting a little bored of the zombie apocalypse) and imbue it with exciting new vitality. He does this in precisely the right way: he focuses on the characters.
The best authors realize that threat and horror mean absolutely nothing if you don't care about the characters. DiLouie understands that very well and spends a tremendous amount of time detailing his characters, making them realistic and sympathetic, and amazingly, he does so without slowing the action. It's an impressive feat!
I didn't find this book particularly "scary" per se, but it was incredibly engrossing. The author has an impressive ability to weave authentic (or at least authentic-seeming) details about the military and the police into the narrative to create a very realistic world.
The best science fiction and fantasy books (as well as horror) take a handful of impossible axioms (e.g., there's a viral infection that turns people into cannibals) and builds a logical house upon that foundation. You only have to suspend your disbelief for the initial axioms; everything else makes absolute, perfect sense. DiLouie does that in this book. It's awe-inspiring!
Highly recommended!
P.S. It does bear note that the book is not without flaws. It shares the same publisher as the also excellent Ex-Heroes, and like that other book, has some odd typesetting issues. For instance, the headers and footers are really odd. I'm not sure why they went with them. Also, I found an uncorrected typo at one point. Just nits, though; the book is otherwise flawless, in my opinion!
March 25, 2011
While I am not a big fan of Craig DiLouie's writing "style", he can tell one hell of a story. Infection has a similar feel to Tooth and Nail, but is a different story set in a different book universe.
Others have detailed and recapped the story, so I won't, but I have a few comments. The bonded together survivors from the Bradley work well as a unit, and as a newfound family. I was sorry to see that certain of them didn't make it.
Let's face it, at this point, there's only so much you can do with the whole zombie apocalypse plot, but DiLouie has managed to do something different, zingy even. These were actually "infected", not "zombies", but the apocalypse happens in the same manner. Throw some gruesome alien/parasite/monsters in along with the infected, and you've got quite the new little stew brewing.
The book ends well, but there is room for a continuation of this story.
Others have detailed and recapped the story, so I won't, but I have a few comments. The bonded together survivors from the Bradley work well as a unit, and as a newfound family. I was sorry to see that certain of them didn't make it.
Let's face it, at this point, there's only so much you can do with the whole zombie apocalypse plot, but DiLouie has managed to do something different, zingy even. These were actually "infected", not "zombies", but the apocalypse happens in the same manner. Throw some gruesome alien/parasite/monsters in along with the infected, and you've got quite the new little stew brewing.
The book ends well, but there is room for a continuation of this story.
July 11, 2011
I picked this up after reading "World War Z," expecting something similar, and was sorely disappointed. Even though I did not enjoy the writing style at all, I gave it the benefit of the doubt until about a third of the way through. It was all over at the two-headed worm. Don't bother.
May 17, 2023
Pretty good though I felt some elements of the storyline were a little overkill
May 7, 2012
When I got the book I picked it up right before I had to go out, I remember standing in the kitchen reading the prologue next thing I knew I was pacing back and forth while reading. All I thought was damn this book is freaking awesome! The prologue gives you this uneasy oh crap how much worse will it get feel.
Many zombie books are hopeful and uplifting. The survivors are the light in the darkness and yes that’s true here. The story is usually a hard and difficult journey for them and this also was true here. The Infection however is less of a dose and is instead more of a bitch slap of reality of how it could well be. Now as prepared as we all like to think we are and look at our canned food and wonder how long it would last and how bad ass we would be in that kind of situation the truth is it’s not going to happen, good thing too because most people would end up eaten. Despite this The Infection creates a total terror right to the marrow. I read this book and as I said in my Teaser Tuesday post it does make you go oh shit that’s bad frequently. It is amazing to me what Craig did, this is one of the best if not the best zombie book I’ve ever read.
I’ve read reviews on amazon giving it excellent ratings or bad ones. Many do not like one aspect of the story this being the mutation that affects The Infected. I for one think if we’re reading a book about people rising and suddenly chewing on their fellow citizens to forward on the infection then you should go into the book with an open mind and a little imagination. And if this is ALL you can come up with as an issue that it didn’t fit in your box of what a zombie book “should” be as mutation is NEVER allowed then I don’t think you’ve actually come up with a negative.
I loved the characters, I loved the alternating perspective of today and flash back to each characters experience through their time before and during the outbreak. Craig creates a stark brutal world and the most terrifying zombie scenario I have ever read. This book should be read in the bathroom so you don’t wet yourself in fright. Really it’s a scary read and an awesome one. If you are a zombie book lover and have yet to read The Infection add it to your TBR list and bump it to the top. It should be mandatory for any zombie lover.
Many zombie books are hopeful and uplifting. The survivors are the light in the darkness and yes that’s true here. The story is usually a hard and difficult journey for them and this also was true here. The Infection however is less of a dose and is instead more of a bitch slap of reality of how it could well be. Now as prepared as we all like to think we are and look at our canned food and wonder how long it would last and how bad ass we would be in that kind of situation the truth is it’s not going to happen, good thing too because most people would end up eaten. Despite this The Infection creates a total terror right to the marrow. I read this book and as I said in my Teaser Tuesday post it does make you go oh shit that’s bad frequently. It is amazing to me what Craig did, this is one of the best if not the best zombie book I’ve ever read.
I’ve read reviews on amazon giving it excellent ratings or bad ones. Many do not like one aspect of the story this being the mutation that affects The Infected. I for one think if we’re reading a book about people rising and suddenly chewing on their fellow citizens to forward on the infection then you should go into the book with an open mind and a little imagination. And if this is ALL you can come up with as an issue that it didn’t fit in your box of what a zombie book “should” be as mutation is NEVER allowed then I don’t think you’ve actually come up with a negative.
I loved the characters, I loved the alternating perspective of today and flash back to each characters experience through their time before and during the outbreak. Craig creates a stark brutal world and the most terrifying zombie scenario I have ever read. This book should be read in the bathroom so you don’t wet yourself in fright. Really it’s a scary read and an awesome one. If you are a zombie book lover and have yet to read The Infection add it to your TBR list and bump it to the top. It should be mandatory for any zombie lover.
August 22, 2012
Since I consider this one of my "Best Of 2012" I finally finished my review. It scared the pants off me at least five times so it deserves at the very least five stars!
Everyone who enjoys post-apocalyptic fiction should read this book. This is not so much a "zombie fiction" at least in the traditional idea of what we think of when we see zombie in the genre setting. Sure, it has a shuffling, running, cannibalistic, primal, carnivorous flesh-eating horde hungering after any and all humans left in it. Sure there is a group of survivors. But it is so much more. It stirs in a pandemic, a bit of social questioning of "what if", the breakdown of civilization and THEN there are the shuffling, running, cannibalistic, primal, carnivorous flesh-eating horde. It follows the rules and conventions of PA Fiction by dealing with the aftermath and leading us into what is now a series with The Killing Floor (a novel of The Infection) as the second read.
The breakdown of civilization occurs when about 20% of the world fall down screaming and then collapse into a coma, only to wake up three days later hungry, really really hungry and with a hive-like drive to spread the infection! Unlike most zombie novels, or pandemics, there is no patient-zero. It started at the same time, all over the world. If you watch Torchwood you will remember the mini-series 3.5, Children of Earth when all the children in the world would stop and speak "We are coming" in unison? Well... it was a lot like that story, but with everyone not just the children and no warning on who and what was coming. It does make you question where the "infection" is coming from though? Or is that just my geek radar (*wink* uh-ah-ah...spoilers, Sweetie)!
Post apocalyptic stories are at the top of my list of genre reads. I love the fictional "Fisher Price" Sociological and Psychological exploration of what happens to the survivors, their culture and society and watching as they try to come up with and explore the question of how to rebuild their society. How do they do all the little things we take for granted on a daily basis, such as their morning cup of coffee, or showers, or not dying of a scratch they received while running away from the horde! The Infection explores all of this in such a manner it grabs you and does not let you get away til it is done.. and then? Well then the author throws in surrealism of the aspect of "The Other" in the form of this unknown virus that has caused the collapse of society.
Viruses mutate, we hear about all the time in the news. Each year the flu virus has to adjust it self to the variance of flu cropping up. They are not a tangible threat to us, they have no face, they are but a wee bug trapped in a petri-dish. But this virus and it's mutations? Somehow I do not think most of these will fit, especially the Towering Things. What Craig DiLouie makes these mutations tangible, in the forms of moving, horrific, surreal monsters, "The Other". For those not familiar with this concept, in the sense of literature, the other, or otherness, is an exploration or labeling of difference. Mary Shelley did it with Frankenstein, the monster was "the other" being the physical representation of the monster within himself, still it is the same concept. Another good example in horror writing is Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the other is inside and with this story it comes out in a tangle form as Mr. Hyde, (author) even plays on words with calling "the other" Hyde. DiLouise takes the mutations out of the petri-dish and adds them to the cannibalistic infected and what comes next.
It takes a lot to frighten me now days. Just like everyone else I am desynthesized for a variety of reasons, including the fact we are inundated with horror on a daily basis and we have Hollywood one upping itself with the "SAW" syndrome. I suffer from PTSD and I mention this only because it is not stories or my reading subjects that usually trigger these things, but moments, events and incidents that happen around me here in the real world. To affect me to the point of having a PTSD attack it usually has to be something like I mentioned earlier this summer with (book from NP). This book was terrifying! And as I mentioned above, zombie or horror book like this should not have any such effect..except this one did.
I was still suffering from pneumonia at the end of winter during my immersion in this tail. I was not feverish, just sleeping a lot. Which means I would fall asleep when reading a book, a lot! I call it dream reading because I just keep the story going straight into a lucid dream. Not good when the group I was reading about was on the verge of becoming lunch for some mutation. I ended up having three solid PTSD attacks, and guess what? I cannot WAIT till I have time to read the second one. If a horror read can do that? Well bring it on. No I am not masochistic.. ok not when it comes to my mental health that is. But I will be prepared and no reading before bed!
Seriously could not put this book down, and if I had not kept falling asleep only to be dragged into nightmares of pure terror and delight, I would have read it in one afternoon. It was heart stopping, sweat popping scary as shit and an incredible intelligent and tasty horror read! Grab it and The Killing Floor (a novel of The Infection) (the 2nd in the series) especially if you love having pants scared off of you and enjoy it! Seriously, why should you read it? It is one of the best stories you'll ever read examining not only the collapse of society but gifting you with a cross-genre pièce de résistance that sinks it's claws, teeth and stingers into you and not letting you go! It's a zombie horror. It's a possible alien nightmare*wink*. It's an in your face blatant examination of humanity under way to much pressure.
Everyone who enjoys post-apocalyptic fiction should read this book. This is not so much a "zombie fiction" at least in the traditional idea of what we think of when we see zombie in the genre setting. Sure, it has a shuffling, running, cannibalistic, primal, carnivorous flesh-eating horde hungering after any and all humans left in it. Sure there is a group of survivors. But it is so much more. It stirs in a pandemic, a bit of social questioning of "what if", the breakdown of civilization and THEN there are the shuffling, running, cannibalistic, primal, carnivorous flesh-eating horde. It follows the rules and conventions of PA Fiction by dealing with the aftermath and leading us into what is now a series with The Killing Floor (a novel of The Infection) as the second read.
The breakdown of civilization occurs when about 20% of the world fall down screaming and then collapse into a coma, only to wake up three days later hungry, really really hungry and with a hive-like drive to spread the infection! Unlike most zombie novels, or pandemics, there is no patient-zero. It started at the same time, all over the world. If you watch Torchwood you will remember the mini-series 3.5, Children of Earth when all the children in the world would stop and speak "We are coming" in unison? Well... it was a lot like that story, but with everyone not just the children and no warning on who and what was coming. It does make you question where the "infection" is coming from though? Or is that just my geek radar (*wink* uh-ah-ah...spoilers, Sweetie)!
Post apocalyptic stories are at the top of my list of genre reads. I love the fictional "Fisher Price" Sociological and Psychological exploration of what happens to the survivors, their culture and society and watching as they try to come up with and explore the question of how to rebuild their society. How do they do all the little things we take for granted on a daily basis, such as their morning cup of coffee, or showers, or not dying of a scratch they received while running away from the horde! The Infection explores all of this in such a manner it grabs you and does not let you get away til it is done.. and then? Well then the author throws in surrealism of the aspect of "The Other" in the form of this unknown virus that has caused the collapse of society.
Viruses mutate, we hear about all the time in the news. Each year the flu virus has to adjust it self to the variance of flu cropping up. They are not a tangible threat to us, they have no face, they are but a wee bug trapped in a petri-dish. But this virus and it's mutations? Somehow I do not think most of these will fit, especially the Towering Things. What Craig DiLouie makes these mutations tangible, in the forms of moving, horrific, surreal monsters, "The Other". For those not familiar with this concept, in the sense of literature, the other, or otherness, is an exploration or labeling of difference. Mary Shelley did it with Frankenstein, the monster was "the other" being the physical representation of the monster within himself, still it is the same concept. Another good example in horror writing is Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the other is inside and with this story it comes out in a tangle form as Mr. Hyde, (author) even plays on words with calling "the other" Hyde. DiLouise takes the mutations out of the petri-dish and adds them to the cannibalistic infected and what comes next.
It takes a lot to frighten me now days. Just like everyone else I am desynthesized for a variety of reasons, including the fact we are inundated with horror on a daily basis and we have Hollywood one upping itself with the "SAW" syndrome. I suffer from PTSD and I mention this only because it is not stories or my reading subjects that usually trigger these things, but moments, events and incidents that happen around me here in the real world. To affect me to the point of having a PTSD attack it usually has to be something like I mentioned earlier this summer with (book from NP). This book was terrifying! And as I mentioned above, zombie or horror book like this should not have any such effect..except this one did.
I was still suffering from pneumonia at the end of winter during my immersion in this tail. I was not feverish, just sleeping a lot. Which means I would fall asleep when reading a book, a lot! I call it dream reading because I just keep the story going straight into a lucid dream. Not good when the group I was reading about was on the verge of becoming lunch for some mutation. I ended up having three solid PTSD attacks, and guess what? I cannot WAIT till I have time to read the second one. If a horror read can do that? Well bring it on. No I am not masochistic.. ok not when it comes to my mental health that is. But I will be prepared and no reading before bed!
Seriously could not put this book down, and if I had not kept falling asleep only to be dragged into nightmares of pure terror and delight, I would have read it in one afternoon. It was heart stopping, sweat popping scary as shit and an incredible intelligent and tasty horror read! Grab it and The Killing Floor (a novel of The Infection) (the 2nd in the series) especially if you love having pants scared off of you and enjoy it! Seriously, why should you read it? It is one of the best stories you'll ever read examining not only the collapse of society but gifting you with a cross-genre pièce de résistance that sinks it's claws, teeth and stingers into you and not letting you go! It's a zombie horror. It's a possible alien nightmare*wink*. It's an in your face blatant examination of humanity under way to much pressure.
June 25, 2013
Firstly, I should say that you really need to experience this book in audio format. As I listened, I sometimes imagined the print on the page and thought that reading it would not have been as exciting. Although I'm a big fan of Apocalyptic novels I'm not really a zombie fan, even though the two genres often go hand-in-hand. Not to worry here though. If you enjoy apocalyptic, post-apocalyptic, horror, thriller, action, zombies or any combination you will love this. Especially on audio.
One teeny complaint. Several times a character or several characters were in peril and the action stopped while the character(s) described what they saw at length when it was obvious that action was required. Some authors have the knack of weaving such descriptions in without stopping the action, and several times I was screaming (not out loud) "Just shoot it!" when the characters were elaborating over something. Jeez, do you have a death wish? But overall, an excellent action-packed, post-apocalyptic zombie ride. Did I mention you should get the audio version?
One teeny complaint. Several times a character or several characters were in peril and the action stopped while the character(s) described what they saw at length when it was obvious that action was required. Some authors have the knack of weaving such descriptions in without stopping the action, and several times I was screaming (not out loud) "Just shoot it!" when the characters were elaborating over something. Jeez, do you have a death wish? But overall, an excellent action-packed, post-apocalyptic zombie ride. Did I mention you should get the audio version?
August 6, 2019
I enjoyed this book for what it was worth. The book had a lot of good ideas. I just think the book just needed a bit more focus. Some parts of this book feels too rushed toward the next idea.
The story features zombies that mutate into giant lovecraftian creatures. (Kind of like the movie and Stephen King story The Mist.) This book could be turned into a best selling video game because the set up is so good.
I give this book a 4.5 because I really like the concept of the book. It is my ideal post apocalyptic story to read about.
Update: The audiobook version is absolutely terrible and it shows how bad some of the writing is. It is like every zombie cliche is very obvious. I had to give up a quarter of the way
The story features zombies that mutate into giant lovecraftian creatures. (Kind of like the movie and Stephen King story The Mist.) This book could be turned into a best selling video game because the set up is so good.
I give this book a 4.5 because I really like the concept of the book. It is my ideal post apocalyptic story to read about.
Update: The audiobook version is absolutely terrible and it shows how bad some of the writing is. It is like every zombie cliche is very obvious. I had to give up a quarter of the way
July 19, 2017
I didn't want to do this, but honestly I couldn't finish this. I love Craig DiLouie's work. I think he is a fantastic author. I just couldn't get into this. I felt disconnected from the characters, the story did not flow and was choppy, in addition I thought the worm thing was way over the top and kinda silly. The direction of the story seemed to be all over the place and I found myself slowly slipping away from the story. I feel horrible for giving up on this, but I just had to put it down and go on to something else.
November 1, 2018
4.75 stars!
This was honestly one of the best versions of zombies ever encountered in any form; books, tv, movies, you name it. Craig DiLouie turns this into a character study of the survivors and turns the the traditional zombie idea on its head by making them fast, terrifying, and giving them an actual mission. He also throws in some terrifying mutant monsters which up the creepy anti as well. I found these books on an absolute whim at a used book store and I could not be more glad that I did. This is an excellent, well written zombie apocalypse story and I would highly recommend it to any who enjoy the genre.
This was honestly one of the best versions of zombies ever encountered in any form; books, tv, movies, you name it. Craig DiLouie turns this into a character study of the survivors and turns the the traditional zombie idea on its head by making them fast, terrifying, and giving them an actual mission. He also throws in some terrifying mutant monsters which up the creepy anti as well. I found these books on an absolute whim at a used book store and I could not be more glad that I did. This is an excellent, well written zombie apocalypse story and I would highly recommend it to any who enjoy the genre.
December 26, 2021
Started off really good, and then got stupid.
The falling down, the screaming, the awakening-awesome!
The mutations, the loss of any type of storyline, the end of the only characters you cared about at all- not good.
The falling down, the screaming, the awakening-awesome!
The mutations, the loss of any type of storyline, the end of the only characters you cared about at all- not good.
November 7, 2012
Again, I have not an inkling why so many people rate books that are horrible so high. This book at the most is a 3 and nothing more.
The things I hate about this book:
1. My main problem is the there isn’t a clue to why the infection is creating these so called abominations. Is this some kind of alien invasion or is there really an infection? O and about to the very end of the book, you realize that some of these alien creatures have the ability to communicate (the speak some kind of language). I have no idea what really has happened in this book and what the actual plot was suppose to be.
Example:
a. Screamers: Humans that fall down screaming from the infection, then wake up to kill other, eat small children and they smell like sour milk.
b. Giant worm creatures: They eat the screamers and anything else it can get its hands on.
c. Jumpers: These things are shaped like monkeys with strings on their privates or stringer on the tail (I am confused about this part)? I mean from the description you don’t really know, also the jumpers lay eggs with the stinger. They are parasite creatures that need a host to reproduce.
d. Mutant Elephants: Not a lot of information was giving on this creature, other than it was large and could lift great amounts of mass.
e. Large Dinosaur Creature: This creature also eats the infected humans (the Screamers); it has a long neck, long tongue and also has alien features.
f. Demon: Horned Creature that attacks the Bradley.
g. Bemoth: Another large creature.
Other creature (has to be large): This creature tried to push over the Bradley and left major damage to the vehicle. You never really know if it was the mutant elephants or another product of the infection because the author doesn’t do a good job being clear.
2. The relationship between Sgt and Wendy!!! It feels unreal and totally acquired, plus Wendy doesn’t really act like a women, she acts more like a shell of a women. Then in 2 weeks they are so called in love! Really? How can you fell in love running from whatever these creatures are?
3. The flashbacks are confusing sometimes and you have to re read some areas to get any understand of who the author is talking about.
4. The characters personalities and decisions are not logical and point blank just stupid. I was thinking that there just can’t be that many stupid characters in one book; however the author made sure that there was a lot of idiots.
5. The writing style is just plain weird, horrible and vague.
6. The only character that had promise disappears before they get to the FEMA aka Defiance camp.
The things I like about this book:
Ann
Yes, that is the only thing; she is a bad ass and has wits about herself. She knows that the government is lying about the condition of the infection. Nothing is jaded with her!!! What you see is what you get!!!
I don’t think I will be reading the next book in this series and to be honest, I don’t know if I can give this author another chance to waste my hard earned book money. I am kind of sad that so many people praise horrible writers.
PS...This isn't really a zombie book :-(
The things I hate about this book:
1. My main problem is the there isn’t a clue to why the infection is creating these so called abominations. Is this some kind of alien invasion or is there really an infection? O and about to the very end of the book, you realize that some of these alien creatures have the ability to communicate (the speak some kind of language). I have no idea what really has happened in this book and what the actual plot was suppose to be.
Example:
a. Screamers: Humans that fall down screaming from the infection, then wake up to kill other, eat small children and they smell like sour milk.
b. Giant worm creatures: They eat the screamers and anything else it can get its hands on.
c. Jumpers: These things are shaped like monkeys with strings on their privates or stringer on the tail (I am confused about this part)? I mean from the description you don’t really know, also the jumpers lay eggs with the stinger. They are parasite creatures that need a host to reproduce.
d. Mutant Elephants: Not a lot of information was giving on this creature, other than it was large and could lift great amounts of mass.
e. Large Dinosaur Creature: This creature also eats the infected humans (the Screamers); it has a long neck, long tongue and also has alien features.
f. Demon: Horned Creature that attacks the Bradley.
g. Bemoth: Another large creature.
Other creature (has to be large): This creature tried to push over the Bradley and left major damage to the vehicle. You never really know if it was the mutant elephants or another product of the infection because the author doesn’t do a good job being clear.
2. The relationship between Sgt and Wendy!!! It feels unreal and totally acquired, plus Wendy doesn’t really act like a women, she acts more like a shell of a women. Then in 2 weeks they are so called in love! Really? How can you fell in love running from whatever these creatures are?
3. The flashbacks are confusing sometimes and you have to re read some areas to get any understand of who the author is talking about.
4. The characters personalities and decisions are not logical and point blank just stupid. I was thinking that there just can’t be that many stupid characters in one book; however the author made sure that there was a lot of idiots.
5. The writing style is just plain weird, horrible and vague.
6. The only character that had promise disappears before they get to the FEMA aka Defiance camp.
The things I like about this book:
Ann
Yes, that is the only thing; she is a bad ass and has wits about herself. She knows that the government is lying about the condition of the infection. Nothing is jaded with her!!! What you see is what you get!!!
I don’t think I will be reading the next book in this series and to be honest, I don’t know if I can give this author another chance to waste my hard earned book money. I am kind of sad that so many people praise horrible writers.
PS...This isn't really a zombie book :-(
October 7, 2011
Let me start out by saying, Craig DiLouie's The Infection is not a zombie book. The creatures that the survivors in this tale encounter are not dead (unless I totally missed the dying part and if I did someone please set me straight and my apologies to, Mr DiLouie) The majority of the world's population became infected, went into coma's for 3 days and when they woke up they were vicious man eating abominations. But don't let that little piece of information take you away from considering this gem of a story.
DiLouie created a vivid world of mayhem and destruction. A environment made of nightmares that I sometimes had a hard time believing anyone would WANT to survive let alone be able to. The Infection's characters were very well developed. Flashbacks are used to give the background of each individual character and the author did a wonderful job creating a past and present that I could not only envision, but one that actually had me truly caring about most of the characters and what happened to them. The descriptive elements of The Infection were intense. I would not say they were overly graphic, but they definitely left little to the imagination.
I would have to say that, honestly, the only aspect of The Infection that I did not particularly care for was that the Infected mutated into various creatures. I just don't get the obsession people seem to have with mutated creatures. It is a personal preference and while it detracts a bit from the story for me, I know that a lot of readers do enjoy a grotesque transformation of a species.
Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining read that I would definitely recommend to add to your shelves.
DiLouie created a vivid world of mayhem and destruction. A environment made of nightmares that I sometimes had a hard time believing anyone would WANT to survive let alone be able to. The Infection's characters were very well developed. Flashbacks are used to give the background of each individual character and the author did a wonderful job creating a past and present that I could not only envision, but one that actually had me truly caring about most of the characters and what happened to them. The descriptive elements of The Infection were intense. I would not say they were overly graphic, but they definitely left little to the imagination.
I would have to say that, honestly, the only aspect of The Infection that I did not particularly care for was that the Infected mutated into various creatures. I just don't get the obsession people seem to have with mutated creatures. It is a personal preference and while it detracts a bit from the story for me, I know that a lot of readers do enjoy a grotesque transformation of a species.
Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining read that I would definitely recommend to add to your shelves.
January 9, 2016
Well, I finished it. Barely.
I didn't care for any of our survivors, and if I'm being completely honest, I felt detached and kind of bored the whole way through even with the constant action thrown at me. It's a shame, because Suffer the Children was one of my favorite books of last year and I was expecting that kind of impact from this story, too, but it never even came close to engaging me.
The Infection itself was an okay spin on the usual walking dead stuff, and near the end we got a glimpse of how the Infected thought and saw the world around them. That, I had no problem with, more of that would have been nice. I was also intrigued by the Demons that grew out of some of the Infected, but they were never really explored beyond their cheap use as shock value.
But back to our characters, who were all just so... boring? stupid? unbelievably unlikeable? It all comes down to this: you can have the most amazing world-building and unique set-up, if your characters make me want to strangle them. It might be just me, but every one of them was just irritating to no end, most of the time reacted to things like no normal human would, and made choices that made me roll my eyes so hard they almost fell out of my head.
The writing style was also quite simple, and while the many POVs of the outbreak were okay, they got repetitive after a while.
As you can probably guess by now, I did not like this book. I'll give it 1.5 stars, since there were a few moments that kept me going, the main set-up was kind of original, and some of the action scenes were okay.
I didn't care for any of our survivors, and if I'm being completely honest, I felt detached and kind of bored the whole way through even with the constant action thrown at me. It's a shame, because Suffer the Children was one of my favorite books of last year and I was expecting that kind of impact from this story, too, but it never even came close to engaging me.
The Infection itself was an okay spin on the usual walking dead stuff, and near the end we got a glimpse of how the Infected thought and saw the world around them. That, I had no problem with, more of that would have been nice. I was also intrigued by the Demons that grew out of some of the Infected, but they were never really explored beyond their cheap use as shock value.
But back to our characters, who were all just so... boring? stupid? unbelievably unlikeable? It all comes down to this: you can have the most amazing world-building and unique set-up, if your characters make me want to strangle them. It might be just me, but every one of them was just irritating to no end, most of the time reacted to things like no normal human would, and made choices that made me roll my eyes so hard they almost fell out of my head.
The writing style was also quite simple, and while the many POVs of the outbreak were okay, they got repetitive after a while.
As you can probably guess by now, I did not like this book. I'll give it 1.5 stars, since there were a few moments that kept me going, the main set-up was kind of original, and some of the action scenes were okay.
June 26, 2012
I am on a zombie/spaceship/wasteland binge right now and this is in the top 10%.
DiLouie has a very nice scenario which succeeds in not only suspending your disbelief but also feeding the fantasy of "what would I do if this happened to me?" The characters are distinct and he does a good job of speaking in their unique voice. In doing so he gets to explore some existential questions without slowing the pace of the story.
The story goes from good to very good when you find out there is more to it than just infected people trying to kill our heroes. The descriptions are intense and there are a few scenes that stick with you - awful, scary things that keep you turning pages.
Any good PA scenario has to present you with something you probably hadn't thought of - in this case (for me) it was the reality that the US military would have to find its way home from Iraq and Afghanistan and Germany. How would that happen and what would that mean?
Every good Post-Apocalyptic book needs to get your imagination going, leave you with at least a signature scene that sticks with you, balances the broad (we're all going to die) with the specific (how do we survive the night) and doesn't disappoint with the resolution. This book does very well with the first three. We'll see about the resolution! Looking forward to it.
DiLouie has a very nice scenario which succeeds in not only suspending your disbelief but also feeding the fantasy of "what would I do if this happened to me?" The characters are distinct and he does a good job of speaking in their unique voice. In doing so he gets to explore some existential questions without slowing the pace of the story.
The story goes from good to very good when you find out there is more to it than just infected people trying to kill our heroes. The descriptions are intense and there are a few scenes that stick with you - awful, scary things that keep you turning pages.
Any good PA scenario has to present you with something you probably hadn't thought of - in this case (for me) it was the reality that the US military would have to find its way home from Iraq and Afghanistan and Germany. How would that happen and what would that mean?
Every good Post-Apocalyptic book needs to get your imagination going, leave you with at least a signature scene that sticks with you, balances the broad (we're all going to die) with the specific (how do we survive the night) and doesn't disappoint with the resolution. This book does very well with the first three. We'll see about the resolution! Looking forward to it.
June 13, 2011
If you like reading books about zombie apocalypse like Day by Day Armageddon by J.L. Bourne, and then I would highly recommend you to read this book. If you have ever played the game Left for Dead two, the book line is almost identical. You have around five to six people trying to make their way through a massive city trying to survive.
A toxic virus have engulfed and infected the whole city in which anyone that has been infected has been turned into "zombie like creatures." His or her main purpose is to infect and to control every living human within the city. The book starts with a group of six people Sarge, Anne, Todd, Paul, Ethan, and Wendy who tries to make it across the country in search of refuge and shelter. Their other mission is to look for other humans whom survived.
If you want to see what happens at the end of this book, I would highly recommend you to read this book. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about realistic fiction and fantasy. I would rate this book a 3 out of 5 stars.
A toxic virus have engulfed and infected the whole city in which anyone that has been infected has been turned into "zombie like creatures." His or her main purpose is to infect and to control every living human within the city. The book starts with a group of six people Sarge, Anne, Todd, Paul, Ethan, and Wendy who tries to make it across the country in search of refuge and shelter. Their other mission is to look for other humans whom survived.
If you want to see what happens at the end of this book, I would highly recommend you to read this book. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about realistic fiction and fantasy. I would rate this book a 3 out of 5 stars.
October 5, 2013
If you take it for a zombie apocalypse book, it is entertaining. The writing style is a little dry and you adopt a "meh" attitude toward the characters (the author gives you backstory of the characters, but you neither feel here or there towards them). With that said, if you take it for a zombie apocalypse tale, you get what you want: survivors from different backgrounds banding together; doomsday prepper survivalists; the good, the bad and the ugly; small/large battles against infected; the post-apocalyptic landscape (here, the U.S.A); etc.
I started the 2nd book where it is clear the author improved upon the 1st (whether by experience, listening to readers, or both). The fact that I started the 2nd book is a plus.
I started the 2nd book where it is clear the author improved upon the 1st (whether by experience, listening to readers, or both). The fact that I started the 2nd book is a plus.
February 20, 2011
3.75
Started out as a 4.5 but in last 20% went down to 3.75
Totally blown away by Tooth And Nail !!!
Loved the majority of this novel and learning about the individual characters backgrounds and turmoils throughout their journey. However ...
*** Possible Spoiler *** I started out enjoying this just as much as Tooth And Nail but the last 15-20% it just lost it a bit for me. I just found it hard to take the zombie/alien take that's all as I wasn't expecting it and it didn't really explain where any of it started or came from. I just couldn't believe in elephant or monkey abominations alongside the Infected.
Started out as a 4.5 but in last 20% went down to 3.75
Totally blown away by Tooth And Nail !!!
Loved the majority of this novel and learning about the individual characters backgrounds and turmoils throughout their journey. However ...
*** Possible Spoiler *** I started out enjoying this just as much as Tooth And Nail but the last 15-20% it just lost it a bit for me. I just found it hard to take the zombie/alien take that's all as I wasn't expecting it and it didn't really explain where any of it started or came from. I just couldn't believe in elephant or monkey abominations alongside the Infected.
February 8, 2011
Great book; review to come from Permuted Press
August 25, 2011
Better than Tooth & Nail, but there was way too much unbelievable stuff in this story. I loved the characters, but I spent most of my time feeling incredulous about what was happening.
Read
July 29, 2016DNF. Nothing wrong with it, just not my style. May come back to it.
February 26, 2023
Okey....... It's good but this book have made me realise one of my biggest pet peeves. American white men trying to write women or talking about other countries. This book is like a walking stereotype. I don't even know where to begin.
Firstly this book feels like Christian American propaganda. So much Jesus talk and God. The military men are written like these badasses with just 1 thought which is ‘’Duty” oh and also how much they love America. The flashback to Afgan war and how soldiers portrait themselves as these saviours was pure cringe.
The second pet peeve is how bad men can't write women. There are always 2 types of women. 1) this ‘’strong” woman who is actually just scared weakling and the second big strong man cuddles her she immediately melts and realises how much she needs a man (actual scene in a book). Or 2) this emotionless badass warrior that also can't communicate her emotions. Also don't get me started on the whole Tod and Erin dynamic. I swear that girl is written to take away the whole virginity thing away from Tod and scam him. You know the whole reason women exists... To be sex objects or to seduce and bail. Why can't we just have normal women written by men for once?
Talking about stereotypes…. Tod is the 3rd walking stereotype after America loving soldier and sensitive girl / she hulk / sex object. Tod is a loser nerd kid who gets bullied in school and now that apocalypse has started is suddenly transformed into a battle soldier, taking on mutants, high on dumb luck. Every nerds wet dream. Also let's not forget how he even talks like no teen talks. Listening to him talk, describe what he thinks how teenagers talk and say cringe things like “ninja” when sneaking makes me want to bang my head into the wall. Also of course he is into Warhammer and WoW. OF COURSE.
I swear it feels like author is either self inserting himself or has not passed age 16 mentally.
Will be reading book 2 to see how much more I can cringe.
Firstly this book feels like Christian American propaganda. So much Jesus talk and God. The military men are written like these badasses with just 1 thought which is ‘’Duty” oh and also how much they love America. The flashback to Afgan war and how soldiers portrait themselves as these saviours was pure cringe.
The second pet peeve is how bad men can't write women. There are always 2 types of women. 1) this ‘’strong” woman who is actually just scared weakling and the second big strong man cuddles her she immediately melts and realises how much she needs a man (actual scene in a book). Or 2) this emotionless badass warrior that also can't communicate her emotions. Also don't get me started on the whole Tod and Erin dynamic. I swear that girl is written to take away the whole virginity thing away from Tod and scam him. You know the whole reason women exists... To be sex objects or to seduce and bail. Why can't we just have normal women written by men for once?
Talking about stereotypes…. Tod is the 3rd walking stereotype after America loving soldier and sensitive girl / she hulk / sex object. Tod is a loser nerd kid who gets bullied in school and now that apocalypse has started is suddenly transformed into a battle soldier, taking on mutants, high on dumb luck. Every nerds wet dream. Also let's not forget how he even talks like no teen talks. Listening to him talk, describe what he thinks how teenagers talk and say cringe things like “ninja” when sneaking makes me want to bang my head into the wall. Also of course he is into Warhammer and WoW. OF COURSE.
I swear it feels like author is either self inserting himself or has not passed age 16 mentally.
Will be reading book 2 to see how much more I can cringe.
October 21, 2022
DiLouie is one of my favorite, go to, authors. This is the book that gets it started. Great writing, scary story, interesting characters and an overall entertaining romp through zombie world. The apocalypse is a dark landscape that is not only populated with the undead but other, more Lovecraftian, creatures that seem to have broken through Euclidian space to torment and bedevil what remains of humanity. Its an exciting upgrade to the typical zompoc tale.
My only complaint here is with the Audible switcheroo that made me think this was a new release. As it began, I realized I had already listened to this story in a previous (2011) Audible version voiced by Peter Ganim. That version has been pulled and replaced by a new version (2022) with Garrett Brown at the mic. Both narrators do a good job with the work. The updated iteration the books also come with new covers. The previous (Ganim) version did not include the third book which is now available (featuring Brown) on Audible. So, tip of the hat to DiLouie, who got me to buy new copies of "Infection" and "Killing Floor" (please invest those bonus royalties into writing more books)- and I appreciate finally being able to get the third book (Final Cut) on Audible.
If you are a fan of zombie fiction, this series is worth a read/listen.
My only complaint here is with the Audible switcheroo that made me think this was a new release. As it began, I realized I had already listened to this story in a previous (2011) Audible version voiced by Peter Ganim. That version has been pulled and replaced by a new version (2022) with Garrett Brown at the mic. Both narrators do a good job with the work. The updated iteration the books also come with new covers. The previous (Ganim) version did not include the third book which is now available (featuring Brown) on Audible. So, tip of the hat to DiLouie, who got me to buy new copies of "Infection" and "Killing Floor" (please invest those bonus royalties into writing more books)- and I appreciate finally being able to get the third book (Final Cut) on Audible.
If you are a fan of zombie fiction, this series is worth a read/listen.
October 12, 2023
The book could be great but it’s got some pretty cringeworthy dialogue at times and some really eye-roll-inducing stereotypes.
“Don’t call me sir! I work for a living!” As an Army guy, this is cringeworthy but I guess some people DO say it in real life. Most soldiers roll their eyes at them, too.
Some examples of stereotypes? Well, Republicans are all pretty much gun-touting, racist, redneck morons. Most of the Christians are homophobic, fear-mongering assholes. 90% of men apparently sexually harass any woman with a pulse. And the tough women are carbon copies of themselves.
So, why 3 stars if I hated it so much? Well, because I almost love it. Sure, it’s a bit cliche and there is nothing really innovative here. Sure, there is cringe and cliches. That said, it’s a fun ride.
I really enjoyed “Suffer the Children” which also had some cringe and cliches but it wasn’t quite as heavy handed with them. You had the paranoid, beer drinking, conspiracy theorist Republican but at least he was painted in a sympathetic light (well, for part of the book).
I’m gonna stick with Craig. I like his writing style. I just think he needs to get out more.
“Don’t call me sir! I work for a living!” As an Army guy, this is cringeworthy but I guess some people DO say it in real life. Most soldiers roll their eyes at them, too.
Some examples of stereotypes? Well, Republicans are all pretty much gun-touting, racist, redneck morons. Most of the Christians are homophobic, fear-mongering assholes. 90% of men apparently sexually harass any woman with a pulse. And the tough women are carbon copies of themselves.
So, why 3 stars if I hated it so much? Well, because I almost love it. Sure, it’s a bit cliche and there is nothing really innovative here. Sure, there is cringe and cliches. That said, it’s a fun ride.
I really enjoyed “Suffer the Children” which also had some cringe and cliches but it wasn’t quite as heavy handed with them. You had the paranoid, beer drinking, conspiracy theorist Republican but at least he was painted in a sympathetic light (well, for part of the book).
I’m gonna stick with Craig. I like his writing style. I just think he needs to get out more.
May 9, 2025
I had read one of his books published in 2024 before this and had been excited to read this because I already knew I liked his writing. To say that his writing has vastly improved in between this book and that one would be a severe understatement.
The actual concept behind the plot was very interesting and was the only thing keeping me from DNFing the book. The screamers, the thought of something so innocuous as what they decided to wear becoming so important, and the world he was built up fascinated me. The monsters and the way they were evolving is the only thing making me want to find out what might happen next even now.
Unfortunately, every single one of these POV characters (except maybe Paul) was the most insufferable, detestable, scumbag on the planet. And the worst part was that they all thought they were basically God's gift to the apocalypse. There wasn't a single character POV I enjoyed reading by the end of it, I was forcing myself to finish it because I refused to let the book win.
The actual concept behind the plot was very interesting and was the only thing keeping me from DNFing the book. The screamers, the thought of something so innocuous as what they decided to wear becoming so important, and the world he was built up fascinated me. The monsters and the way they were evolving is the only thing making me want to find out what might happen next even now.
Unfortunately, every single one of these POV characters (except maybe Paul) was the most insufferable, detestable, scumbag on the planet. And the worst part was that they all thought they were basically God's gift to the apocalypse. There wasn't a single character POV I enjoyed reading by the end of it, I was forcing myself to finish it because I refused to let the book win.
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