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Z-Risen #2
Outcasts
When the USS McClusky, a US Naval frigate out of San Diego, ran aground, it was only the beginning for Machinist Mate Jackson Creed and Marine Sergeant Joel “Cruze” Kelly. The unlikely duo battled for survival as they established a base of operations and fought to retain their “fortress."
Now they have been driven out of the city by a massive horde of the undead. On the road with new companions, including mercenaries with murky pasts, the band of survivors face new challenges at every turn.
Jackson and Creed’s journey will take them across a nightmare landscape where the living may be just as dangerous as the dead.
Now they have been driven out of the city by a massive horde of the undead. On the road with new companions, including mercenaries with murky pasts, the band of survivors face new challenges at every turn.
Jackson and Creed’s journey will take them across a nightmare landscape where the living may be just as dangerous as the dead.
265 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2014
148 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Timothy W. Long
63 books153 followersWhen not sitting around watching Rick and Morty reruns in a bathrobe, Timothy W. Long writes stuff. He has a predilection for weird literature and sometimes drinks Coke for breakfast. Don't tell his mom.
Tim is the author of over 30 novels in genres ranging from cozy/Isekai, to all manner of post-apocalyptic because no one has managed to take away his word processor.
Tim is an active member of SFWA, HWA, and Thriller Writers. He recently signed a three-book deal with Aethon Books for his Dark Lord Reborn Series.
Tim is the author of over 30 novels in genres ranging from cozy/Isekai, to all manner of post-apocalyptic because no one has managed to take away his word processor.
Tim is an active member of SFWA, HWA, and Thriller Writers. He recently signed a three-book deal with Aethon Books for his Dark Lord Reborn Series.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 8, 2024
I read this as part of a three part compendium Long put together in his Z-Risen series.
Very entertaining. Credible. Creed, the Navy Machinist's Mate is almost comically incompetent with firearms but he brings a lot of stuff to the story and the to table of survivors. I liked this one because it brought to the fore a wrinkle that I'll be interested to see how it plays out:
Very entertaining. Credible. Creed, the Navy Machinist's Mate is almost comically incompetent with firearms but he brings a lot of stuff to the story and the to table of survivors. I liked this one because it brought to the fore a wrinkle that I'll be interested to see how it plays out:
April 7, 2014
"And so the fuckening continues."
Machinist Mate First Class Jackson Creed and Marine Sergeant Joel "Cruze" Kelly are back. Only an hour has passed since they escaped a base overrun with undead at the end of book one, and now they're on the run with a mercenary group going by the name of Brightstar. As they traverse the infested streets of California to make it to a base in L.A., the group takes temporary refuge on the second floor of a rundown hotel. They soon discover they've outstayed their welcome.
"In the event this log is found with my corpse, I’m Machinist Mate First Class Jackson Creed and it’s been a week since we arrived back in San Diego following the event. With me is Marine Sergeant Joel “Cruze” Kelly. We were both stationed on the USS McClusky, an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate out of San Diego. Our ship was overrun by the dead and we barely escaped with our lives. Now we live in the middle of Undead Central."
Outcasts maintains the same journal-entry narration delivered in Outbreak. What I love about Tim Long's style of writing is his blunt delivery and straight up comedy injected into his books. Amidst blood, guts and intense story, Long continues to make me laugh out loud with character dialogue and kooky situations. Case in point...the duo stumble upon a hotel room containing a zombified couple and a huge black dildo. Their only logical course of action is to kill the zombies, and stick the dildo in the dead guys mouth. As if there was any alternative, right?
Outcasts answers some important questions regarding the origin of the infection and also provides more character development to it's secondary characters. Roz and Joel are getting closer, and Creed makes a love connection of his own. The addition of 'Frosty', man's best friend, was a clever move on Long's part. Everyone loves a good dog, and this pooch doesn't disappoint. Between fighting off hordes and now a rival faction, the action in Outcasts doesn't let up for a millisecond. Still angry at Lee for his actions regarding Craig, the likelihood of a confrontation between Creed and Lee in the next book looks good (according to my magic 8-ball, 'Outlook Good', and we all know the 8-ball doesn't lie). Once again, I find Outcasts ends before I'm ready. Tim Long's books always leave me chomping at the bit for more and chuckling for days.
The cover art is fantastic. And I'm not just saying that because a quote from The Bookie Monster is displayed in all its shining glory. Joe Martin of Ragnarok Publications is credited for the design, and should really be commended for the quality illustration.
The witty banter of Creed and Kelly continues with priceless moments like "you're in the Marines now, bitch" and a gratuitious throwback to Hackers with "mess with the best, die like the rest". Tim Long is hands down the easiest author I have read to pull quality quotes from. Nearly every bit of gold he spews onto a page is, in this readers opinion, quote worthy. Since I can be quoted in many reviews as losing my shit at anything poop related (see what I did there? I can play too, Tim-Tim!), I leave you with this. You can imagine how much I whole-heartedly agree.
“She probably hasn’t had anything decent to eat for days and we gave her baked beans.”
“I don’t give a shit what we fed her,” I said.
“Stop.”
“Just saying. It’s a shitty location.”
“Ugh.”
“I wasn’t trying to give you crap,” I pressed on.
“Are you five?”
“Poop jokes never get old. It’s a scientific fact.”
Machinist Mate First Class Jackson Creed and Marine Sergeant Joel "Cruze" Kelly are back. Only an hour has passed since they escaped a base overrun with undead at the end of book one, and now they're on the run with a mercenary group going by the name of Brightstar. As they traverse the infested streets of California to make it to a base in L.A., the group takes temporary refuge on the second floor of a rundown hotel. They soon discover they've outstayed their welcome.
"In the event this log is found with my corpse, I’m Machinist Mate First Class Jackson Creed and it’s been a week since we arrived back in San Diego following the event. With me is Marine Sergeant Joel “Cruze” Kelly. We were both stationed on the USS McClusky, an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate out of San Diego. Our ship was overrun by the dead and we barely escaped with our lives. Now we live in the middle of Undead Central."
Outcasts maintains the same journal-entry narration delivered in Outbreak. What I love about Tim Long's style of writing is his blunt delivery and straight up comedy injected into his books. Amidst blood, guts and intense story, Long continues to make me laugh out loud with character dialogue and kooky situations. Case in point...the duo stumble upon a hotel room containing a zombified couple and a huge black dildo. Their only logical course of action is to kill the zombies, and stick the dildo in the dead guys mouth. As if there was any alternative, right?
Outcasts answers some important questions regarding the origin of the infection and also provides more character development to it's secondary characters. Roz and Joel are getting closer, and Creed makes a love connection of his own. The addition of 'Frosty', man's best friend, was a clever move on Long's part. Everyone loves a good dog, and this pooch doesn't disappoint. Between fighting off hordes and now a rival faction, the action in Outcasts doesn't let up for a millisecond. Still angry at Lee for his actions regarding Craig, the likelihood of a confrontation between Creed and Lee in the next book looks good (according to my magic 8-ball, 'Outlook Good', and we all know the 8-ball doesn't lie). Once again, I find Outcasts ends before I'm ready. Tim Long's books always leave me chomping at the bit for more and chuckling for days.
The cover art is fantastic. And I'm not just saying that because a quote from The Bookie Monster is displayed in all its shining glory. Joe Martin of Ragnarok Publications is credited for the design, and should really be commended for the quality illustration.
The witty banter of Creed and Kelly continues with priceless moments like "you're in the Marines now, bitch" and a gratuitious throwback to Hackers with "mess with the best, die like the rest". Tim Long is hands down the easiest author I have read to pull quality quotes from. Nearly every bit of gold he spews onto a page is, in this readers opinion, quote worthy. Since I can be quoted in many reviews as losing my shit at anything poop related (see what I did there? I can play too, Tim-Tim!), I leave you with this. You can imagine how much I whole-heartedly agree.
“She probably hasn’t had anything decent to eat for days and we gave her baked beans.”
“I don’t give a shit what we fed her,” I said.
“Stop.”
“Just saying. It’s a shitty location.”
“Ugh.”
“I wasn’t trying to give you crap,” I pressed on.
“Are you five?”
“Poop jokes never get old. It’s a scientific fact.”
June 10, 2023
Jackson and Joel are still alive but only just, with there new friends they try to survive the zombie outbreak and get to a place of safety. Great story with lots of action, lots of zombies and lots of gunfire and even a little romance. I liked this one, some nice touches of humour along with abundant gore. Timothy W Long tells a good story and Todd Menesses does a super job giving the characters life. I look forward to the next one. I received a complimentary copy of the audiobook and am leaving a honest voluntary review.
February 21, 2019
Solid. Better than first even
Solid. Better than first even.
The pacing here is perfect. Lots of action and realistic enough to believe while still being exciting and action packed.
Solid. Better than first even.
The pacing here is perfect. Lots of action and realistic enough to believe while still being exciting and action packed.
June 26, 2017
Continuation of an enjoyable zombie romp.
May 16, 2019
Love these books
September 24, 2024
Zombies!!!!!
January 15, 2026
great book
Second book was just as good as the first and I totally recommend to all. The only thing I can’t figure out is the ages of everyone except the teenage girl.
Second book was just as good as the first and I totally recommend to all. The only thing I can’t figure out is the ages of everyone except the teenage girl.
October 24, 2016
Buckle up because there's no slowing down with this story! Navy machinist Jackson Creed has been floating through his Navy career doing the bare minimum, that comes to an abrupt end when a virus quickly overtakes the crew onboard the USS McClusky. Jackson has the good fortune to run across Marine Sergeant Joel Kelly and together they manage to make it off the ship only to discover San Diego hasn't been spared the outbreak either.
Their only mission is to find supplies and stay alive, and try to make it north, they meet many characters good and bad along the way, this book has it all humor, heartbreak, suspense, in other words, it's perfect!
Todd Menesses narrates and I'm still in awe of his ability to voice so many different characters. He definitely has a part in making this a 5-star read!
Their only mission is to find supplies and stay alive, and try to make it north, they meet many characters good and bad along the way, this book has it all humor, heartbreak, suspense, in other words, it's perfect!
Todd Menesses narrates and I'm still in awe of his ability to voice so many different characters. He definitely has a part in making this a 5-star read!
February 9, 2016
So far so good. Timothy has not disappointed me with book 2 of the Z-Risen series, Outcast. In fact, he just made the story better by introducing love interests to our two main characters and a dog. Kickass women rock. He maintains a steady flow of action with zombie encounters as well as living breathers--more pain in the ass than the zombies. You either love or hate these characters, but you will definitely want to read to the end to find out what happens to them.
June 11, 2014
Good read
I just finished this one in the series. I think it deserves a five star rating because it was a really good read. The only problem I had with it was that it was a little repetitive. I didn't really need a reminder from previous chapters. Overall, I still thought it was a very good read.
I just finished this one in the series. I think it deserves a five star rating because it was a really good read. The only problem I had with it was that it was a little repetitive. I didn't really need a reminder from previous chapters. Overall, I still thought it was a very good read.
May 12, 2015
The second in the series and even better than the first. Tim has found his stride in this second installment of Z-Risen. The characters are becoming well defined now and the story is taking on a life of it's own. The action is fast and constant as Creed, Joel and the rest of the group just try to make it to the next day.
July 2, 2014
these are getting better and better. Nice twist on the zombies and the characters are really coming into their own. Can't wait for the next one :)
January 20, 2015
I love all of Tim's books. Great humor, gory details, and plenty of z's. Now I'll be patiently waiting for book 3.
March 24, 2023
OUTCASTS: (Z-Risen Book 2)
Timothy Long's Z-Risen series is action packed, page turning and keeps ramping it up to the next level! Totally recommend!!
Timothy Long's Z-Risen series is action packed, page turning and keeps ramping it up to the next level! Totally recommend!!
August 24, 2025
If Joel Motherf*cking Kelly dies in this series, I will riot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews