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Hungry Ghosts #1
Path of the Dead
Nestled on the foot of Tibet’s sacred Seche La Mountain is the village of Dagzê. The normally quiet streets are bustling with the steady stream of arrivals and preparations for the coming Festival of the Medicine King; a time of celebration, healing, and renewal. But a shadow is sweeping the world, a plague of apocalyptic proportions—the dead are rising and devouring the living, and no place is safe where humanity thrives.
As Dagzê burns, overtaken by the hungry undead, five people come together: Lama Tenzin, an elder monk; Gu-lang, the silent warrior nun and Tenzin’s protector; Cheung, a private in The People’s Army, driver and escort of the Lama; ten-year-old Chodren Dawa, witness to his sister’s death and rising; and Dorje Cetan, a Shaolin-trained hermit monk of Seche La and a dreamer of a dark portent. Together they must fight their way out of Dagzê to an abandoned Buddhist hermitage clinging to the mist-shrouded cliffs of Seche La.
With the undead following and gathering at Eagle’s Nest gate, they barricade themselves inside their dead-end haven, and are soon forced to battle the beasts without, as well as the ones within.
As Dagzê burns, overtaken by the hungry undead, five people come together: Lama Tenzin, an elder monk; Gu-lang, the silent warrior nun and Tenzin’s protector; Cheung, a private in The People’s Army, driver and escort of the Lama; ten-year-old Chodren Dawa, witness to his sister’s death and rising; and Dorje Cetan, a Shaolin-trained hermit monk of Seche La and a dreamer of a dark portent. Together they must fight their way out of Dagzê to an abandoned Buddhist hermitage clinging to the mist-shrouded cliffs of Seche La.
With the undead following and gathering at Eagle’s Nest gate, they barricade themselves inside their dead-end haven, and are soon forced to battle the beasts without, as well as the ones within.
238 pages, Paperback
First published May 4, 2014
2 people are currently reading
359 people want to read
About the author
Timothy Baker
12 books23 followersTimothy Baker is a retired firefighter, martial arts instructor, Certified Peer Specialist, Dudeist Priest, a lover of cats, and an aspiring horror writer.
He has published several short stories in anthologies with Angelic Knight Press, a novel with Ragnarok Publications, and a trilogy of horror with Black Bed Sheet Books. His short story, Cell of Curtains, is a proud addition to the anthology, Midian Unmade: Tales of Clive Barker's Nightbreed from Tor and edited by Del Howison and Joseph Nascisse. His most recent release is the new edition of his first novel, Path of the Dead from Black Bed Sheets Books, and includes a never-before-seen chapter for a startling new ending.
He has published several short stories in anthologies with Angelic Knight Press, a novel with Ragnarok Publications, and a trilogy of horror with Black Bed Sheet Books. His short story, Cell of Curtains, is a proud addition to the anthology, Midian Unmade: Tales of Clive Barker's Nightbreed from Tor and edited by Del Howison and Joseph Nascisse. His most recent release is the new edition of his first novel, Path of the Dead from Black Bed Sheets Books, and includes a never-before-seen chapter for a startling new ending.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 5, 2014
Review copy
Timothy Baker's first published novel, Path of the Dead (Hungry Ghosts - Book 1) is much more than what you might expect. I'd go as far as to call this a literate zombie tale. Sure it's got zombies which can always make for a fun read, but it's also got a wonderful story of Buddhist monks, friendship and overcoming obstacles.
There is conflict between the spiritual views of the monks and the young Chinese soldier who is there as a protector and there is coming of age story of a young man who has lost so much. It all comes together in a story rich in legend and imagination.
Center to the tale is young Chodren Dawa who is already mourning the loss of his sister, only to find her alive again, sort of. I think you might know where this is going. Although there are zombies in Path of the Dead, and Baker does a good job of bringing the dead to life, that's not the story here.
Just a piece of the writing you'll find within, "...events of the day and night swept over Chodren like a blastng winter's wind. What had been a peaceful village life among friends and family had been forever ripped away by Heaven or Hell's horrific vengeance. No more would he play soccer in the sunlit fields, no more would he listen to his mother's nightly songs of sleep, or feel his father hug and smile against his cheek, and neither would he laugh with his sister as they played and jostled through seemingly endless, care-free days. The world had changed, unrecognizable as an alien planet, gone, never to return, his childhood finished in one day. What was to become of him? Would he spend his remaining days with running, fighting, blood , and death?" Not your typical zombie fare.
Although a compete story by itself, you can tell by the title there is more to come and I am certainly looking forward to Book 2 in the Hungry Ghost series.
Path of the Dead is available now from Ragnarok Publications through Amazon.com.
If you like you zombie stories with a bit more bite, this one's for you.
Timothy Baker's first published novel, Path of the Dead (Hungry Ghosts - Book 1) is much more than what you might expect. I'd go as far as to call this a literate zombie tale. Sure it's got zombies which can always make for a fun read, but it's also got a wonderful story of Buddhist monks, friendship and overcoming obstacles.
There is conflict between the spiritual views of the monks and the young Chinese soldier who is there as a protector and there is coming of age story of a young man who has lost so much. It all comes together in a story rich in legend and imagination.
Center to the tale is young Chodren Dawa who is already mourning the loss of his sister, only to find her alive again, sort of. I think you might know where this is going. Although there are zombies in Path of the Dead, and Baker does a good job of bringing the dead to life, that's not the story here.
Just a piece of the writing you'll find within, "...events of the day and night swept over Chodren like a blastng winter's wind. What had been a peaceful village life among friends and family had been forever ripped away by Heaven or Hell's horrific vengeance. No more would he play soccer in the sunlit fields, no more would he listen to his mother's nightly songs of sleep, or feel his father hug and smile against his cheek, and neither would he laugh with his sister as they played and jostled through seemingly endless, care-free days. The world had changed, unrecognizable as an alien planet, gone, never to return, his childhood finished in one day. What was to become of him? Would he spend his remaining days with running, fighting, blood , and death?" Not your typical zombie fare.
Although a compete story by itself, you can tell by the title there is more to come and I am certainly looking forward to Book 2 in the Hungry Ghost series.
Path of the Dead is available now from Ragnarok Publications through Amazon.com.
If you like you zombie stories with a bit more bite, this one's for you.
May 5, 2014
***MINOR SPOILER ALERTS***
First I want to congratulate Timothy on his first published novel!
Second, I'd like to say I don't care for horror because I don't enjoy having scenes in my head that show up in later dreams.
Third, I have to say that I LOVED "Path of the Dead!!"
Despite a rather benign beginning, the story picks up pace very quickly. Tim knows I don't care to be scared or grossed out when reading, and is generally pretty good about warning me when a selection he has sent holds something skeevy so I read it prepared, however, when those zombies showed up in Dorje's dream, mid-way through the first chapter, and "bulging crimson eyes, their lipless, tiny mouths opening to howl like hungry calves" showed up, I got chills, gagged and couldn't read for a full 2 minutes. Really?! EW! But I was already hooked. I knew Dorje's back story and I wanted to know how he implemented it into the real story. I wanted to meet Chodren, Cheung, and Gu-Lang! The fact that Chodren had to watch his (un)dead sister rip his mother's aorta open was doable because I. NEEDED. MORE.
Timothy's ability to create a full blown character, drive it deep into your brain, get it to wrap its tentacles firmly within your brain guts...THAT is talent. Path of the Dead:Hungry Ghosts is a driven, tantalizing, twisting roller coaster of a first novel. There are places where the action and suspense is so tight that you can't turn the page fast enough. He is becoming a master of foreshadowing; he's done an excellent job in many places. Tim has done his homework regarding setting; his description of the Tibetan scenery is breathtaking. It was also interesting to read how Timothy incorporated his own spiritual beliefs of Buddhism into the story through the characters of Dorje, the Shaolin monk, and Tenzin, his sage master. Sure there are a couple of places that are a little slow, but the draw of "what next" is enough to make you continue reading. And you learn, with Timothy's writing, even the slow parts need to be read. There is not a lot of fluff in this book. And yes, there is lots of skeevy, nasty, blecky zombie stuff, too. But don't think this is just a book about zombies, because it isn't! It's a great book, and a better first novel!
Congratulations again, Timothy! GREAT JOB!
First I want to congratulate Timothy on his first published novel!
Second, I'd like to say I don't care for horror because I don't enjoy having scenes in my head that show up in later dreams.
Third, I have to say that I LOVED "Path of the Dead!!"
Despite a rather benign beginning, the story picks up pace very quickly. Tim knows I don't care to be scared or grossed out when reading, and is generally pretty good about warning me when a selection he has sent holds something skeevy so I read it prepared, however, when those zombies showed up in Dorje's dream, mid-way through the first chapter, and "bulging crimson eyes, their lipless, tiny mouths opening to howl like hungry calves" showed up, I got chills, gagged and couldn't read for a full 2 minutes. Really?! EW! But I was already hooked. I knew Dorje's back story and I wanted to know how he implemented it into the real story. I wanted to meet Chodren, Cheung, and Gu-Lang! The fact that Chodren had to watch his (un)dead sister rip his mother's aorta open was doable because I. NEEDED. MORE.
Timothy's ability to create a full blown character, drive it deep into your brain, get it to wrap its tentacles firmly within your brain guts...THAT is talent. Path of the Dead:Hungry Ghosts is a driven, tantalizing, twisting roller coaster of a first novel. There are places where the action and suspense is so tight that you can't turn the page fast enough. He is becoming a master of foreshadowing; he's done an excellent job in many places. Tim has done his homework regarding setting; his description of the Tibetan scenery is breathtaking. It was also interesting to read how Timothy incorporated his own spiritual beliefs of Buddhism into the story through the characters of Dorje, the Shaolin monk, and Tenzin, his sage master. Sure there are a couple of places that are a little slow, but the draw of "what next" is enough to make you continue reading. And you learn, with Timothy's writing, even the slow parts need to be read. There is not a lot of fluff in this book. And yes, there is lots of skeevy, nasty, blecky zombie stuff, too. But don't think this is just a book about zombies, because it isn't! It's a great book, and a better first novel!
Congratulations again, Timothy! GREAT JOB!
April 28, 2014
What do you get when you cross zombies with Buddhism? A great read. The story is one of transformation. A look at what people do when they are faced with their worst nightmare. What do you believe in? Will you act according to your beliefs when faced with the unbelievable, the unimaginable? The shining star of this journey is Chodren, a young boy faced with losing his beloved sister and the world as he knows it. I was fascinated by his growth and development when faced with destruction of the world as he knows it: a small village at the foot of Seche La Mountain, a sacred place in Tibet preparing for the festival of the Medicine King. His co-stars, new family and saviors are thrown together to deal with the dead rising and trying to devour the living. Dorje, a hermit/monk; Gu-lang, a nun who is also a warrior in a highly trained, typically male sect; Cheung, a driver for the People' Army; and Lama Tenzin, an elder monk. Each of these characters are so unique and come to life in Timothy Baker's story. You will be routing for them to overcome the mass of dead pursuing them unrelentingly.
Don't sell this novel short when you see undead or my description of zombie. I would not typically read anything about zombies or reanimated dead. Yet, that is not really what this book is about. So, dive in, meet the characters, enjoy each of their unique perspectives on life and death and community. You will be glad you spent the time. You will be refreshed.
Don't sell this novel short when you see undead or my description of zombie. I would not typically read anything about zombies or reanimated dead. Yet, that is not really what this book is about. So, dive in, meet the characters, enjoy each of their unique perspectives on life and death and community. You will be glad you spent the time. You will be refreshed.
May 12, 2014
The first time I read this book, I was feeling quite cynical regarding zombies. I have glutted on the fad, and my interest has waned.
But something made me hold back a 3 star review, and then in a long car ride, I decided to give this another chance. I am really glad I did, because I saw that the things that made the book initially not really my thing were transitory and personal, not an accurate and objective view of the book. In April, I was like, "Ugh, the setting, the zombies, ugh", but now I recognize it for what it is: a smart way of coming at a story from a different perspective.
I was drawn into the setting. The writing style is assured and the author unafraid to take risks all across the board. I am looking forward to the second installment in this strange and subtle story.
But something made me hold back a 3 star review, and then in a long car ride, I decided to give this another chance. I am really glad I did, because I saw that the things that made the book initially not really my thing were transitory and personal, not an accurate and objective view of the book. In April, I was like, "Ugh, the setting, the zombies, ugh", but now I recognize it for what it is: a smart way of coming at a story from a different perspective.
I was drawn into the setting. The writing style is assured and the author unafraid to take risks all across the board. I am looking forward to the second installment in this strange and subtle story.
May 5, 2014
A path taken to a likeable read.
Just when you thought the zombie plague has been done to hell. Timothy Baker drops a Buddhism Zombie tale of dark fiction.
When a plague takes over a small town a group of five people battle there way to a mountain top. Only to find the battle had just begun.
The Path of The Dead (Hungry Ghost - Book One) is a path you want to take with Timothy Baker's story telling that keeps the page turning. I believe the next book will surpass its first! Recommend for Zombie and Dark Fantasy readers.
Just when you thought the zombie plague has been done to hell. Timothy Baker drops a Buddhism Zombie tale of dark fiction.
When a plague takes over a small town a group of five people battle there way to a mountain top. Only to find the battle had just begun.
The Path of The Dead (Hungry Ghost - Book One) is a path you want to take with Timothy Baker's story telling that keeps the page turning. I believe the next book will surpass its first! Recommend for Zombie and Dark Fantasy readers.
May 3, 2014
I received a e-book copy in exchange for an honest review. When I realized it was yet another zombie apocalypse novel, I was a little disheartened, that is, until I started to read it. I was just sucked into the story until I was racing to the finish. By the time I finished, I realized that this first novel from Timothy Baker had earned the golden 5 star placement. As far as I can remember there are only two other zombie novels that have earned such a place (Ex-Heroes and I am Legend – technically a vampire apocalypse novel). Here’s why Path of the Dead earned such a place in my esteem:
1. The setting- the story takes place in the countryside of Tibet. The culture, characters, and backgrounds are so lovingly described I would have been satisfyingly surprised if the zombie apocalypse had been cancelled. The investment in the setting was just that good. The sense of novelty doesn’t wear off, but just adds to the drama during said apocalypse.
2. The characters are rounded, believable, yet also fantastic and wondrous. The two main POV characters, Dorje, the hermit Shaolin monk, and Chodren the Tibetan boy are so likable, and we gain an amazing shift in perspective. Dorje fascinates me both as a pulp like “Kung-fu” type warrior deftly leaping about and combatting the undead menace and as a sage seeker of the truth as he posits theories based on Buddhist philosophy as to why the world has been so afflicted. Chodren allows us a childlike perspective on the world, which amps the horror, the reader’s investment and gives us an unbiased witness perspective of the philosophical differences of the Chinese soldier and the Tibetan holy men (and woman- and man, what a rounded and interesting character she is, however taciturn).
3. The book balances scares, action, gothic settings (the woods, the desolate Tibetan mountains, and abandoned temple monasteries), with thoughtful philosophical discussions and arguments that drags this novel out of pulp entertainment and into a literary exploration of the world, the next, and the ramifications of our decisions.
In the end, I found The Path of the Dead to be an intelligent, exotically and authentically-set thrill ride into a distant locale during the end of the world. If you love zombies, this one does it right in all respects, but even if you don’t and you’re a little tired of the genre, this book has so much else to offer: philosophy, novelty, thrills and most importantly, very real characters in a plot that will leave you turning the page, and like me, anxiously awaiting book 2.
1. The setting- the story takes place in the countryside of Tibet. The culture, characters, and backgrounds are so lovingly described I would have been satisfyingly surprised if the zombie apocalypse had been cancelled. The investment in the setting was just that good. The sense of novelty doesn’t wear off, but just adds to the drama during said apocalypse.
2. The characters are rounded, believable, yet also fantastic and wondrous. The two main POV characters, Dorje, the hermit Shaolin monk, and Chodren the Tibetan boy are so likable, and we gain an amazing shift in perspective. Dorje fascinates me both as a pulp like “Kung-fu” type warrior deftly leaping about and combatting the undead menace and as a sage seeker of the truth as he posits theories based on Buddhist philosophy as to why the world has been so afflicted. Chodren allows us a childlike perspective on the world, which amps the horror, the reader’s investment and gives us an unbiased witness perspective of the philosophical differences of the Chinese soldier and the Tibetan holy men (and woman- and man, what a rounded and interesting character she is, however taciturn).
3. The book balances scares, action, gothic settings (the woods, the desolate Tibetan mountains, and abandoned temple monasteries), with thoughtful philosophical discussions and arguments that drags this novel out of pulp entertainment and into a literary exploration of the world, the next, and the ramifications of our decisions.
In the end, I found The Path of the Dead to be an intelligent, exotically and authentically-set thrill ride into a distant locale during the end of the world. If you love zombies, this one does it right in all respects, but even if you don’t and you’re a little tired of the genre, this book has so much else to offer: philosophy, novelty, thrills and most importantly, very real characters in a plot that will leave you turning the page, and like me, anxiously awaiting book 2.
May 31, 2016
The premise is unusual enough (Zombie Apocalypse through the lens of Rural Tibet and Buddhist Monks) to be either endearing or off-putting, I would expect with little or no middle ground for most readers.
While it is fair to say that "Path of the Dead" is a story that will either suit your tastes or not, there is no doubting the author's display of craft. Timothy Baker can tell a story.
The author makes good use tension and character doubt through the narrative without belaboring either. The remote and unusual setting lends itself well to the mystery of the Zombie Apocalypse -- an aspect of such a story that is rarely mysterious. It makes for a Zombie Apocalypse tale you don't have blatantly figured out from the first chapter.
The author's use of regional / religious mythology lends the impression that this particular tale of Zombie woe could be going to and coming from almost anywhere the reader can imagine.
While the average Western/American reader may have concerns about identifying with the setting and characters (the setting is present-day rural Tibet, the protags of the tale are Buddhist Monks, a Tibetan child, and a Chinese soldier) the characters themselves are highly relatable and quickly endearing.
The action sequences are intense, well-paced, and punchy while the overall narrative is very deliberate. The common tropes of a Zombie gore-fest come across as genuinely disturbing rather than as campy narrative special effects. A very surprising treat in this story. The creep is good creep.
The characters in this story are frightened. You don't have to be told they're frightened. You can feel their fear oozing off the pages. Their relatable humanity lives on every page --- something I was not expecting in a tale with such an unusual and exotic cast.
Overall, my impression of "Path of the Dead" is simple --- Timothy Baker has the skills to pay the bills. I look forward to his next offering.
While it is fair to say that "Path of the Dead" is a story that will either suit your tastes or not, there is no doubting the author's display of craft. Timothy Baker can tell a story.
The author makes good use tension and character doubt through the narrative without belaboring either. The remote and unusual setting lends itself well to the mystery of the Zombie Apocalypse -- an aspect of such a story that is rarely mysterious. It makes for a Zombie Apocalypse tale you don't have blatantly figured out from the first chapter.
The author's use of regional / religious mythology lends the impression that this particular tale of Zombie woe could be going to and coming from almost anywhere the reader can imagine.
While the average Western/American reader may have concerns about identifying with the setting and characters (the setting is present-day rural Tibet, the protags of the tale are Buddhist Monks, a Tibetan child, and a Chinese soldier) the characters themselves are highly relatable and quickly endearing.
The action sequences are intense, well-paced, and punchy while the overall narrative is very deliberate. The common tropes of a Zombie gore-fest come across as genuinely disturbing rather than as campy narrative special effects. A very surprising treat in this story. The creep is good creep.
The characters in this story are frightened. You don't have to be told they're frightened. You can feel their fear oozing off the pages. Their relatable humanity lives on every page --- something I was not expecting in a tale with such an unusual and exotic cast.
Overall, my impression of "Path of the Dead" is simple --- Timothy Baker has the skills to pay the bills. I look forward to his next offering.
May 29, 2014
Great story, with some beautiful writing and thoughtful exploration of concepts we dont often see in zombie products. Bakers wonders how a Buddhist society would react to the living dead, and then tells us how he thinks things will play out. I've been a fan of Baker's shorter stuff for a while, and I think his move into novel length writing has been successful
That said, the problem for me in this book was the inconsistency, and the lack of balance between authenticity and silly Hollywood style action. Cheung was a character that I never felt belonged, and I think he personifies the lack of balance.
Baker will only get better as he writes more, and I'll happily follow him on his journey
That said, the problem for me in this book was the inconsistency, and the lack of balance between authenticity and silly Hollywood style action. Cheung was a character that I never felt belonged, and I think he personifies the lack of balance.
Baker will only get better as he writes more, and I'll happily follow him on his journey
May 8, 2014
Originally published at Risingshadow.
Timothy Baker's Path of the Dead is the first part of the Hungry Ghosts series. This novel contains both horror and dark fantasy elements and can easily be categorized as a horror novel that contains dark fantasy elements.
Path of the Dead was a pleasant surprise for me, because it differed from most horror novels in terms of its use of Buddhism in the storyline. Elements belonging to Buddhism can be found in several speculative fiction novels, but they're seldom found in horror fiction. It's easy to see that the author is interested in Buddhism and Buddhist way of life, because he writes fluently about them.
Considering the huge amount of zombie stories and novels published during the last couple of years it's actually amazing that it's still possible to find interesting novels like Path of the Dead that differ from other zombie novels. I think that Path of the Dead could've easily been just another zombie apocalypse novel, but it's not. Timothy Baker has created a story that's both entertaining and well written. The author uses well-known zombie elements in this novel, but reading about them never feels annoying, because they're used well.
Here's a bit of information about the story:
At the beginning of the story Dorje, the hermit monk of the Seche La Mountain, sees a pleasant dream that turns into a nightmare. He knows in his dream that a realm above Hell has come to Earth, the home of the preta, the land of the hungry ghosts... The village of Dagzê is near the foot of the mountain and the Bathing Festival (the Festival of the Medicine King) will soon draw visitors to Dagzê from nearby villages... Chodren, a young boy, visits the resting place of his dead sister and witnesses her rising and coming back to life... Soon five different kind of people come together and have to fight for their lives against the hungry undead...
The story takes place in the Tibetan countryside. The author writes surprisingly well about the surroundings, Tibetan culture and life in the village. His descriptions are vivid and believable.
The cast of characters is diverse and interesting. The author also wrote well about the characters' thoughts and what they felt about the happenings.
Here's information the characters:
- Dorje Cetan is a Shaolin-trained hermit monk of Seche La Mountain. He has a gift for dreams.
- Chodren Dawa is a ten year old boy.
- Lama Tenzin is an old monk who arrives at the village of Dagzê.
- Gu-lang Janyang is a silent warrior nun (Ldab Ldob) and Lama Tenzin's bodyguard.
- Cheung is a Chinese soldier. He's the driver and escort of Lama Tenzin.
The cultural descriptions and differences intrigued me very much. The differences between the Tibetan men and the Chinese soldier were handled fluently. In my opinion the author wrote well about the cultural differences.
There are several good and interesting scenes in this novel. For example, the discussion about soda pop was interesting, because Chodren had never tasted it. I enjoyed reading about Dorje and Chodren, because both characters felt realistic. It was especially interesting for me to read about Chodren, because he was a young boy who had to grow up. I think that all readers will be interested in reading about his life and what he had to endure.
I have to mention that I've always enjoyed reading about the survivors of zombie apocalypse, because it's fascinating to see what people do under difficult circumstances and how they get along with each other. In this novel Timothy Baker pays enough attention to the survivors and their lives, but doesn't overdo anything, which is very nice. The character interaction is surprisingly fluent.
One of the best things about this novel is the atmosphere the author has created. The author writes believably about the woods and desolate Tibetan mountains and monasteries. His descriptions are effortless and they evoke vivid images in the reader's mind.
Based on this novel I can say that Timothy Baker seems to be a good author and is capable of writing a bit different kind of dark fantasy and horror. I look forward to reading the second part, because this novel was good.
Path of the Dead offers good and impressive - not to mention intelligent - dark fantasy and horror entertainment to speculative fiction readers. It's a rare zombie novel, because it contains Buddhism and descriptions of the Buddhist way of life. This novel will be of interest to everybody who enjoyes reading good horror entertainment.
Good entertainment for dark fantasy and horror readers!
Timothy Baker's Path of the Dead is the first part of the Hungry Ghosts series. This novel contains both horror and dark fantasy elements and can easily be categorized as a horror novel that contains dark fantasy elements.
Path of the Dead was a pleasant surprise for me, because it differed from most horror novels in terms of its use of Buddhism in the storyline. Elements belonging to Buddhism can be found in several speculative fiction novels, but they're seldom found in horror fiction. It's easy to see that the author is interested in Buddhism and Buddhist way of life, because he writes fluently about them.
Considering the huge amount of zombie stories and novels published during the last couple of years it's actually amazing that it's still possible to find interesting novels like Path of the Dead that differ from other zombie novels. I think that Path of the Dead could've easily been just another zombie apocalypse novel, but it's not. Timothy Baker has created a story that's both entertaining and well written. The author uses well-known zombie elements in this novel, but reading about them never feels annoying, because they're used well.
Here's a bit of information about the story:
At the beginning of the story Dorje, the hermit monk of the Seche La Mountain, sees a pleasant dream that turns into a nightmare. He knows in his dream that a realm above Hell has come to Earth, the home of the preta, the land of the hungry ghosts... The village of Dagzê is near the foot of the mountain and the Bathing Festival (the Festival of the Medicine King) will soon draw visitors to Dagzê from nearby villages... Chodren, a young boy, visits the resting place of his dead sister and witnesses her rising and coming back to life... Soon five different kind of people come together and have to fight for their lives against the hungry undead...
The story takes place in the Tibetan countryside. The author writes surprisingly well about the surroundings, Tibetan culture and life in the village. His descriptions are vivid and believable.
The cast of characters is diverse and interesting. The author also wrote well about the characters' thoughts and what they felt about the happenings.
Here's information the characters:
- Dorje Cetan is a Shaolin-trained hermit monk of Seche La Mountain. He has a gift for dreams.
- Chodren Dawa is a ten year old boy.
- Lama Tenzin is an old monk who arrives at the village of Dagzê.
- Gu-lang Janyang is a silent warrior nun (Ldab Ldob) and Lama Tenzin's bodyguard.
- Cheung is a Chinese soldier. He's the driver and escort of Lama Tenzin.
The cultural descriptions and differences intrigued me very much. The differences between the Tibetan men and the Chinese soldier were handled fluently. In my opinion the author wrote well about the cultural differences.
There are several good and interesting scenes in this novel. For example, the discussion about soda pop was interesting, because Chodren had never tasted it. I enjoyed reading about Dorje and Chodren, because both characters felt realistic. It was especially interesting for me to read about Chodren, because he was a young boy who had to grow up. I think that all readers will be interested in reading about his life and what he had to endure.
I have to mention that I've always enjoyed reading about the survivors of zombie apocalypse, because it's fascinating to see what people do under difficult circumstances and how they get along with each other. In this novel Timothy Baker pays enough attention to the survivors and their lives, but doesn't overdo anything, which is very nice. The character interaction is surprisingly fluent.
One of the best things about this novel is the atmosphere the author has created. The author writes believably about the woods and desolate Tibetan mountains and monasteries. His descriptions are effortless and they evoke vivid images in the reader's mind.
Based on this novel I can say that Timothy Baker seems to be a good author and is capable of writing a bit different kind of dark fantasy and horror. I look forward to reading the second part, because this novel was good.
Path of the Dead offers good and impressive - not to mention intelligent - dark fantasy and horror entertainment to speculative fiction readers. It's a rare zombie novel, because it contains Buddhism and descriptions of the Buddhist way of life. This novel will be of interest to everybody who enjoyes reading good horror entertainment.
Good entertainment for dark fantasy and horror readers!
May 6, 2014
Path of the Dead is the debut novel of Timothy Baker and I was fortunate enough to receive a reviewer’s copy. The story, set in Tibet, is fast-paced and beautifully written, offering a fresh new take on the zombie mythos. The author does an excellent job of balancing between setting up chilling, haunting scenes of horror and drawing out characters that come alive with a stunning vividness. Light philosophical musings and action-packed sequences put the finishing touches to the novel, creating a cohesive whole that ought to satisfy the most capricious of readers.
From the very beginning, Path of the Dead distinguishes itself from other zombie novels by offering an authentic setting – the remote Tibetan mountains. I’d be quick to admit that I had very little knowledge of the area and its peoples prior to reading the novel. Timothy Baker does an admirable job at describing both, without slowing the pace down or trailing off into lengthy historical and Buddhist lessons. Furthermore, his clear, lyrical and often mesmerizing prose lets the pages flow like a mountain stream, taking you along for the journey.
Here I’d like to take a moment to express my feeling of awe, regarding a particular scene early on in the novel. It’s a short tale about the saving of a frog, but it’s such a strong and poignant moment that you just can’t help going back to it.
Moving forward, I feel obliged to mention the characters of Path of the Dead. I’d wager that different readers would have different views on who the main ‘hero’ of the story is but for me – it’s the monk Dorje Cetan. Frankly, I’m usually pretty reserved towards characters (okay, people, too, but that’s completely irrelevant) when they first come on stage, but after the initial pages of the novel I found myself rooting for Dorje and hoping that he would not fall victim to that dreadful ‘curse’ of being my favourite. Moreover, his relationship with the rest of the cast – the boy Chodren, the young Chinese soldier Cheung, the (pretty scary) nun Gu-Lang, and Dorje’s old master Tenzin – was one of the book’s highlights for me and a genuine delight to read.
I have to make another stop here and mention the animal characters of Path of the Dead. Believe you me when I say that I never thought I’d find myself invested in the faith of a burro, but I did, and I’d be willing to bet I’m not the only one.
Another positive point of Path of the Dead is the pacing. Unlike some zombie novels that take too much time to develop and, effectively, start, or others that go at a breakneck pace that leaves you indifferent towards the characters, Path of the Dead delivers a steady, well-balanced story where characters and plot not only manage to coexist together, but also enrich and complement each other. Each chapter plays its part in moving the story forward – which I, for one, applaud. Maybe it’s just me, but I never grasped the appeal of reading through pages and pages of carefully detailed slaughter (or sex, or spellcasting, or torture, for that matter).
And talking about the story, Path of the Dead delivers a pretty satisfactory conclusion that, more or less, lets it stand on its own. Luckily, since it’s the first in a series, there will be more stories to come.
In retrospect, Timothy Baker’s Path of the Dead is an impressive and versatile debut novel, and another solid addition to Ragnarok Publications’s growing catalogue. I’d recommend it to both fans of the zombie genre and general Fantasy fans alike, and also to anyone who’s interested in reading an exciting, intelligent, and culturally different story from an author I’d keep an eye on.
From the very beginning, Path of the Dead distinguishes itself from other zombie novels by offering an authentic setting – the remote Tibetan mountains. I’d be quick to admit that I had very little knowledge of the area and its peoples prior to reading the novel. Timothy Baker does an admirable job at describing both, without slowing the pace down or trailing off into lengthy historical and Buddhist lessons. Furthermore, his clear, lyrical and often mesmerizing prose lets the pages flow like a mountain stream, taking you along for the journey.
Here I’d like to take a moment to express my feeling of awe, regarding a particular scene early on in the novel. It’s a short tale about the saving of a frog, but it’s such a strong and poignant moment that you just can’t help going back to it.
Moving forward, I feel obliged to mention the characters of Path of the Dead. I’d wager that different readers would have different views on who the main ‘hero’ of the story is but for me – it’s the monk Dorje Cetan. Frankly, I’m usually pretty reserved towards characters (okay, people, too, but that’s completely irrelevant) when they first come on stage, but after the initial pages of the novel I found myself rooting for Dorje and hoping that he would not fall victim to that dreadful ‘curse’ of being my favourite. Moreover, his relationship with the rest of the cast – the boy Chodren, the young Chinese soldier Cheung, the (pretty scary) nun Gu-Lang, and Dorje’s old master Tenzin – was one of the book’s highlights for me and a genuine delight to read.
I have to make another stop here and mention the animal characters of Path of the Dead. Believe you me when I say that I never thought I’d find myself invested in the faith of a burro, but I did, and I’d be willing to bet I’m not the only one.
Another positive point of Path of the Dead is the pacing. Unlike some zombie novels that take too much time to develop and, effectively, start, or others that go at a breakneck pace that leaves you indifferent towards the characters, Path of the Dead delivers a steady, well-balanced story where characters and plot not only manage to coexist together, but also enrich and complement each other. Each chapter plays its part in moving the story forward – which I, for one, applaud. Maybe it’s just me, but I never grasped the appeal of reading through pages and pages of carefully detailed slaughter (or sex, or spellcasting, or torture, for that matter).
And talking about the story, Path of the Dead delivers a pretty satisfactory conclusion that, more or less, lets it stand on its own. Luckily, since it’s the first in a series, there will be more stories to come.
In retrospect, Timothy Baker’s Path of the Dead is an impressive and versatile debut novel, and another solid addition to Ragnarok Publications’s growing catalogue. I’d recommend it to both fans of the zombie genre and general Fantasy fans alike, and also to anyone who’s interested in reading an exciting, intelligent, and culturally different story from an author I’d keep an eye on.
May 21, 2014
If I were to describe Timothy Baker’s debut novel in one sentence, it would be “Dawn of the Dead with warrior monks”. While Path of the Dead basically adheres to the time-honoured conventions of the genre, it shakes up the formula with a location and character archetypes rarely seen in a typical survival horror tale.
Path of the Dead is the story of Dorje, a Buddhist monk who journeys into the Tibetan village of Dagzê to find that the dead have mysteriously begun to rise. Before long, Dorje joins up with his old mentor and an entourage of bodyguards, who have come to Dagzê to investigate the impending apocalypse. Things promptly go from bad to worse and soon Dagzê becomes Hell on Earth, leaving Dorje and his companions with the not-so-simple task of escaping with their lives.
For the most part, what follows is a pretty standard Romero-esque zombie story, complete with gory action scenes and desperate last stands against the undead. What makes it unique is how it lends a new perspective to the zombie apocalypse, and how a non-Western society responds to a horror typically reserved for American city-dwellers. The characters in Path of the Dead are not the archetypes typically seen in zombie fiction, and their attempts to justify what is happening to them in the context of the Buddhist faith add something new and exotic to the formula. It’s like trying a new flavour of your favourite food; seeing how zombies take on a new meaning in a society where belief in reincarnation (for example) is so prevalent makes them somehow seem fresh again.
Most of the time, Timothy’s writing is superb. Path of the Dead’s prose seems strangely poetic and surreal for a zombie novel, but I think this seems appropriate given the setting and themes of the story. Some passages are a little too descriptive (there are quite a few places where it seems as if nothing is actually happening), but most of the time I appreciated the flavour woven throughout the novel and thought that Timothy did a great job of establishing a sense of place. Aside from some slight pacing problems in the calmer sections of the book (the action scenes, by contrast, are exciting and tense), it seems that Timothy Baker has done well for a first attempt, and his writing style will definitely improve in subsequent installments.
One main criticism I have with this book is that the characterisation needs a little work. Path of the Dead is definitely no Walking Dead (well, perhaps the rather average TV show, but not the excellent video game), which is a shame, because the characters are unique and have a lot of potential. The parts of the novel where characterisation happens seem a little forced in ways and I felt that there were certain places that would have worked better with minimal dialogue, or without any dialogue at all. Some of my favourite zombie movies (Dawn of the Dead, particularly) actually make do with very little deliberate characterisation — I’m sure Path of the Dead would have flowed much better if done in a similar way. That said, Timothy does do a good enough job of making the characters seem like real people, and I did find myself becoming attached to them and hoping that they would all make it to the end.
So, what did I ultimately make of Path of the Dead? It’s definitely not the best piece of zombie fiction I’ve read, but it’s still an excellent survival horror story with some interesting twists to the old Romero formula. It has more substance than any zombie movie I’ve seen lately and it’s a great effort for a debut novel. If you’re looking for an interesting new take on the zombie-apocalypse, check it out.
Path of the Dead is the story of Dorje, a Buddhist monk who journeys into the Tibetan village of Dagzê to find that the dead have mysteriously begun to rise. Before long, Dorje joins up with his old mentor and an entourage of bodyguards, who have come to Dagzê to investigate the impending apocalypse. Things promptly go from bad to worse and soon Dagzê becomes Hell on Earth, leaving Dorje and his companions with the not-so-simple task of escaping with their lives.
For the most part, what follows is a pretty standard Romero-esque zombie story, complete with gory action scenes and desperate last stands against the undead. What makes it unique is how it lends a new perspective to the zombie apocalypse, and how a non-Western society responds to a horror typically reserved for American city-dwellers. The characters in Path of the Dead are not the archetypes typically seen in zombie fiction, and their attempts to justify what is happening to them in the context of the Buddhist faith add something new and exotic to the formula. It’s like trying a new flavour of your favourite food; seeing how zombies take on a new meaning in a society where belief in reincarnation (for example) is so prevalent makes them somehow seem fresh again.
Most of the time, Timothy’s writing is superb. Path of the Dead’s prose seems strangely poetic and surreal for a zombie novel, but I think this seems appropriate given the setting and themes of the story. Some passages are a little too descriptive (there are quite a few places where it seems as if nothing is actually happening), but most of the time I appreciated the flavour woven throughout the novel and thought that Timothy did a great job of establishing a sense of place. Aside from some slight pacing problems in the calmer sections of the book (the action scenes, by contrast, are exciting and tense), it seems that Timothy Baker has done well for a first attempt, and his writing style will definitely improve in subsequent installments.
One main criticism I have with this book is that the characterisation needs a little work. Path of the Dead is definitely no Walking Dead (well, perhaps the rather average TV show, but not the excellent video game), which is a shame, because the characters are unique and have a lot of potential. The parts of the novel where characterisation happens seem a little forced in ways and I felt that there were certain places that would have worked better with minimal dialogue, or without any dialogue at all. Some of my favourite zombie movies (Dawn of the Dead, particularly) actually make do with very little deliberate characterisation — I’m sure Path of the Dead would have flowed much better if done in a similar way. That said, Timothy does do a good enough job of making the characters seem like real people, and I did find myself becoming attached to them and hoping that they would all make it to the end.
So, what did I ultimately make of Path of the Dead? It’s definitely not the best piece of zombie fiction I’ve read, but it’s still an excellent survival horror story with some interesting twists to the old Romero formula. It has more substance than any zombie movie I’ve seen lately and it’s a great effort for a debut novel. If you’re looking for an interesting new take on the zombie-apocalypse, check it out.
May 3, 2014
My review can be found at the other end of this link---
http://jakeelliotfiction.com/2014/05/...
http://jakeelliotfiction.com/2014/05/...
October 24, 2016
Zombies! so far so what? But how would a Buddhist society and especially a Buddhist Monk seeking Nirvana(not the band!) approach and deal with a zombie apocalypse? As badly and terribly as the rest of society and worry not there is a fair amount of shooting, decapitating and setting on fire of Zombies to suit the most ardent zombie apocalypse fan.
The author however in picking this setting of Tibet makes the genre go in a slightly different direction and with a different cultural perspective. I wasn't too sure until the end about the battle Nun who doesn't speak but actually on reflection this character does work quite while and her silence adds something to the story that a lot of dialogue wouldn't.
Dorje the Monk in exclusion on the brink of enlightenment is drawn to the village nearest as he has had nightmares/visions of the "Hungry Ghosts" he arrives just in time to watch the horror start to unfold. While there is plenty of action there is definitely more dialogue and more thoughtful dialogue at that covering Tibetan culture, the Chinese occupation, Chinese attitudes to the Buddhist beliefs and of course a potential Buddhist approach to zombies.
It certainly makes for an interesting and enjoyable read and the inclusion of the lone surviving child of the village in the party trying to escape surfaces interesting tensions between childish beliefs, Chinese politics and Buddhist teaching. In many ways Chodren is the real voice of this story without it feeling childish in any way.
It says number 1 in the title no sequel to date but for me it works well as a stand alone story and while the ending hints at a sequel it works well as a simple ending of an interesting story. Though I do feel there is more to tell now that Dorje is a Buddhist Zombie and Chodren is away into the hills.
I'd return for a sequel.
The author however in picking this setting of Tibet makes the genre go in a slightly different direction and with a different cultural perspective. I wasn't too sure until the end about the battle Nun who doesn't speak but actually on reflection this character does work quite while and her silence adds something to the story that a lot of dialogue wouldn't.
Dorje the Monk in exclusion on the brink of enlightenment is drawn to the village nearest as he has had nightmares/visions of the "Hungry Ghosts" he arrives just in time to watch the horror start to unfold. While there is plenty of action there is definitely more dialogue and more thoughtful dialogue at that covering Tibetan culture, the Chinese occupation, Chinese attitudes to the Buddhist beliefs and of course a potential Buddhist approach to zombies.
It certainly makes for an interesting and enjoyable read and the inclusion of the lone surviving child of the village in the party trying to escape surfaces interesting tensions between childish beliefs, Chinese politics and Buddhist teaching. In many ways Chodren is the real voice of this story without it feeling childish in any way.
It says number 1 in the title no sequel to date but for me it works well as a stand alone story and while the ending hints at a sequel it works well as a simple ending of an interesting story. Though I do feel there is more to tell now that Dorje is a Buddhist Zombie and Chodren is away into the hills.
I'd return for a sequel.
May 26, 2014
What a great story! I'm sure other reviews will rehash the plot of this unique zombie book, but I really enjoyed the atmosphere Timothy maintains throughout his book. As I am a BIG fan of Pearl S Buck's The Good Earth, I easily fell into the rhythm and pacing of the story, which was very skillfully done.
The GOOD: Remarkable pacing, memorable characters, beautiful differing POV. The plot holds well, moves realistically, and ends perfectly. I especially appreciated the diversity of the ages of the characters, as everyone seems to be twenty-two these days in fiction. Timothy included persons of senority and displayed the seasoning involved in painting their characterhood accurately.
I won't call it BAD, as these things happen: Numerous typographical errors, which fall on the editor's shoulders moreso than the author, yes? Action scenes often bungled my mind trying to picture each movement as written. Perhaps a bit more simplicity in illustrating such scenes would help, as the narrative and transitional scenes did not suffer this blight.
OVERALL: You really, really should not miss this story if you like Eastern philosophy, zombie stories, Asian stories, horror. Hell, just buy it and read it. Despite the errors, Path of the Dead is so worth it.
The GOOD: Remarkable pacing, memorable characters, beautiful differing POV. The plot holds well, moves realistically, and ends perfectly. I especially appreciated the diversity of the ages of the characters, as everyone seems to be twenty-two these days in fiction. Timothy included persons of senority and displayed the seasoning involved in painting their characterhood accurately.
I won't call it BAD, as these things happen: Numerous typographical errors, which fall on the editor's shoulders moreso than the author, yes? Action scenes often bungled my mind trying to picture each movement as written. Perhaps a bit more simplicity in illustrating such scenes would help, as the narrative and transitional scenes did not suffer this blight.
OVERALL: You really, really should not miss this story if you like Eastern philosophy, zombie stories, Asian stories, horror. Hell, just buy it and read it. Despite the errors, Path of the Dead is so worth it.
December 11, 2014
Timothy Baker's first novel, Path of the Dead, is worth a grabbing... before it grabs you.... muahahaha (just kidding). From the beginning, you are wrapped up in the story of the main character - a child - who is going through an unspeakable horror. As he must learn to trust these strangers that he meets, they must all learn to survive and well .. i can't give it away... you just have to read it yourself! I thoroughly enjoyed my journey into this Tibetan undead nightmare..... as I'm sure you will too.
March 27, 2020
I kept trying to finish and was just forcing myself to listen and fell asleep.
March 31, 2015
***received this copy free via Goodreads giveaway.
Honestly, just not my cup of tea. I really just felt blah while reading it, and it really left me not caring about the continuation/conclusion of the survivors. I have not read any zombie fiction, but I do enjoy some of the zombie movies/shows. However, I felt that zombie/Buddhist combo really did not add anything to genre.
Honestly, just not my cup of tea. I really just felt blah while reading it, and it really left me not caring about the continuation/conclusion of the survivors. I have not read any zombie fiction, but I do enjoy some of the zombie movies/shows. However, I felt that zombie/Buddhist combo really did not add anything to genre.
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