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Kaiju Apocalypse #1
Kaiju Apocalypse
The oceans rose and from their depths the Kaiju came. Mankind survives in fortified, domed cities, fighting what seems an eternal war with the giant monsters and the smaller creatures they use as foot-soldiers. Now that war is coming to an end as one by one the city states of humanity fall to the Kaiju. Kaiju Apocalypse is the tale of the human race's desperate, final stand.
- GenresHorrorScience Fiction
75 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 24, 2014
23 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
Eric S. Brown
271 books114 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 10, 2017
I cannot say that I enjoyed this one.
Kaiju Apocalypse takes place during the ending phase of a war between mankind and hordes of monsters from the ocean. To make matters worse, the kaiju incursion also kicked the melting of the ice caps into overdrive, and now much of the Earth is underwater. Mankind is on the ropes, and survives only in a handful of super-fortified cities protected by troopers in power armor, high-tech anti-kaiju aircraft, and heavy artillery and energy-beam weapons mounted on the walls.
Alongside the usual 200+ foot tall giants you expect to see in kaiju related media are smaller “dog” monsters that are used much like infantry for the kaiju. This has the effect of much of action being between human troops and these smaller monsters, rather than the big monsters. As such, if you are coming into this expecting the battle to be about the big guys, you might leave a bit disappointed.
The characters are…present. Almost all we know about the characters is a list of battles they survive (which has no real context since none of these battles are described, only mentioned), and that a two of them were romantically involved in the past. They are more or less there just so events have someone to happen around. A handful of events that were supposed to be emotional just didn’t work because I was not invested in the characters in the slightest.
The story itself is serviceable, but don’t expect much in twists and turns. From the get go you can pretty much guess how it is going to shake out. The only part that was surprising was how the ending of the battle reminded me of a World War II-era Soviet propaganda film ().
All told, I can’t recommend this one.
Kaiju Apocalypse takes place during the ending phase of a war between mankind and hordes of monsters from the ocean. To make matters worse, the kaiju incursion also kicked the melting of the ice caps into overdrive, and now much of the Earth is underwater. Mankind is on the ropes, and survives only in a handful of super-fortified cities protected by troopers in power armor, high-tech anti-kaiju aircraft, and heavy artillery and energy-beam weapons mounted on the walls.
Alongside the usual 200+ foot tall giants you expect to see in kaiju related media are smaller “dog” monsters that are used much like infantry for the kaiju. This has the effect of much of action being between human troops and these smaller monsters, rather than the big monsters. As such, if you are coming into this expecting the battle to be about the big guys, you might leave a bit disappointed.
The characters are…present. Almost all we know about the characters is a list of battles they survive (which has no real context since none of these battles are described, only mentioned), and that a two of them were romantically involved in the past. They are more or less there just so events have someone to happen around. A handful of events that were supposed to be emotional just didn’t work because I was not invested in the characters in the slightest.
The story itself is serviceable, but don’t expect much in twists and turns. From the get go you can pretty much guess how it is going to shake out. The only part that was surprising was how the ending of the battle reminded me of a World War II-era Soviet propaganda film ().
All told, I can’t recommend this one.
July 10, 2014
I almost don't know where to begin with this review. As I first started reading this overly long short story I thought to myself, "Are the authors trying to pull a Sharknado on me?" Are they trying to write a book with no character development, terrible plot, non-existent description, and bad grammar on purpose. If this is the case, then they have surely far exceeded my expectations for horrible writing.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting a masterpiece. But I would like my mindless fluff to at least be thought out.
**Spoiler** My best example of how lazy the writing was occurred towards the end of the story. Once the Kaiju "overmind" was destroyed the smaller 8-10 foot kaiju started going crazy and killing anything close by, including each other. In stead of waiting it out and letting them dwindle their numbers, the Minster of Defense strides out like Teddy Roosevelt with his guards and any weapons they can find. He then gets on a PA calling on "all" citizens to take up arms. The Minister of Defense is throwing away his un-trained citizens instead of relying on his higher trained police and military. Though the absolute low was when they had a young girl, possible under 10, suicide bomb a 200 foot monster taking out several other humans at the same time.
This is just one of many examples of the horrible writing through out this story.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting a masterpiece. But I would like my mindless fluff to at least be thought out.
**Spoiler** My best example of how lazy the writing was occurred towards the end of the story. Once the Kaiju "overmind" was destroyed the smaller 8-10 foot kaiju started going crazy and killing anything close by, including each other. In stead of waiting it out and letting them dwindle their numbers, the Minster of Defense strides out like Teddy Roosevelt with his guards and any weapons they can find. He then gets on a PA calling on "all" citizens to take up arms. The Minister of Defense is throwing away his un-trained citizens instead of relying on his higher trained police and military. Though the absolute low was when they had a young girl, possible under 10, suicide bomb a 200 foot monster taking out several other humans at the same time.
This is just one of many examples of the horrible writing through out this story.
April 9, 2015
Really, really entertaining. Engaging right from the start and the setting and characters feel really well fleshed out and substantial even though you don't spend a lot of time with them.
Downside is the plot is formulaic. The upside is the formula works.
Downside is the plot is formulaic. The upside is the formula works.
June 16, 2014
Action for action's sake marks this eBook that draws heavily on story elements from films such as Pacific Rim and Starship Troopers. Rising seas have broken the Earth up into island nations. But Kaiju, big monsters, are destroying Mankind's redoubts one by one. With only a single refuge left, the military launch a final, desperate mission with humanities' survival at stake.
Stock characters leave you no one to root for. Contrived story elements can pop up at any time. Cliched prose included such ancient phrases as "frayed nerves," "swarmed like locusts," and something exploding "like an overripe melon."
If you don't read widely, you might not mind the various flaws. But it seemed like the book was rushed into print without benefit of copy editing or proof reading. Good cover art, but the authors might consider building a tale worthy of the image.
Stock characters leave you no one to root for. Contrived story elements can pop up at any time. Cliched prose included such ancient phrases as "frayed nerves," "swarmed like locusts," and something exploding "like an overripe melon."
If you don't read widely, you might not mind the various flaws. But it seemed like the book was rushed into print without benefit of copy editing or proof reading. Good cover art, but the authors might consider building a tale worthy of the image.
September 16, 2020
This felt like something I might have written in Middle School. I think the author skipped the proofreading step because there were a bunch of errors (example: 'grizzly' for 'grisly'). Did I could get got some kind of early release copy?
What it lacks in correct spelling and grammar, though, it makes up with enthusiasm. It's a story of almost non-stop combat as the last city on Earth goes up against the Kaiju Overmind.
Lots of human casualties. He starts to develop a romantic subplot but then can't resist killing off the man and woman rather than continue.
Fun, not for everyone.
What it lacks in correct spelling and grammar, though, it makes up with enthusiasm. It's a story of almost non-stop combat as the last city on Earth goes up against the Kaiju Overmind.
Lots of human casualties. He starts to develop a romantic subplot but then can't resist killing off the man and woman rather than continue.
Fun, not for everyone.
May 26, 2020
There are plenty of bad monster movies so I suppose it's only fair there are bad monster books.
June 29, 2023
Authors Eric S. Brown & Jason Cordova bring us the opening in a trilogy about the end of the world through the fight with Kaiju. Following the events of the Kaiju war several city states were set up. As the book opens we read about the last days of Alantica and how her defenses crumbled under the Kaiju's weight. The the story shifts to Limura, the last mega city sate of humanity and their plan to attack the Kaiju's overmind (or the mind that controls all the Kaiju.) They send out the Tridents (Large planes that can submerge) theyfind the island where the Kaiju overmind has hidden itself away. But the doctor that asked for the operation to take place as soon as possible has come up with a new type of weapon against them. While this is going on Kaiju attack Lamiura. This is a great novella and I'm looking forward to reading books two and three in the trilogy. I highly recommend this book to all Godzilla fans and science fiction fans too.
May 7, 2021
Good start
I like that the Kaiju and man are both changing and ramping up for battle. It gives both of them a fighting Chance! It was sad to see so many die but in the end, well it worked out. Can’t wait to see the big mama!
I like that the Kaiju and man are both changing and ramping up for battle. It gives both of them a fighting Chance! It was sad to see so many die but in the end, well it worked out. Can’t wait to see the big mama!
November 1, 2023
This was a good concept, and the story was engaging. I wish it had been longer. Hopefully there will be additional books taking place in this Kaiju world.
January 14, 2024
different
Really held me attention completely. Author can really paint not a picture with his words. Would read again at some point
Really held me attention completely. Author can really paint not a picture with his words. Would read again at some point
September 23, 2014
This novella actually kind of threw me into a star rating crisis. I originally gave it two stars - but this turned out to be the same at the 6th Harry Potter novel, and that doesn't sound right - then I read the second one, which was much better than this, and decided that giving that three stars was just ridiculous, so forgive me for a little bit of wishy washy back and forth.
This book was not well written. I've given myself the task of reading all the kaiju novels out there that I possibly could - good, bad, and everything in between. This seems to be the smallest and easiest of the books so far, a novella that takes place after the world has already ended, and a desperate war for the fate of mankind is ongoing.
Here's the thing about Kaiju Apocalypse - it's actually a good idea. It's the kind of story that if I described it to you, you might actually want to read it. It's pulpy, kind of fun, and truly and full-on end of the world story. I mean, characters are introduced and die in the same breath, really.
But that's more out of curiosity for the overall plan, really. The writing, as I've said before, is terrible. There are spelling mistakes, the prose is common and cliched. The plot, for the most part, and the action, is taken as a pastiche of Starship Troopers and All You Need is Kill. The kaiju are uninteresting, as the major threat are actually the dog-like creatures that are maybe 1.5 times the size of a man. They provide the major danger, and Mother kaiju, as they're called, are given little to do, really. They're described okay, not exciting or mesmerizing. There is no sense of scale here. It feels like something just above a fan fiction, I'd say. There's an over emphasis on description of military tactics and weaponry and terms that make me remember my friends who were obsessed with technical specs in college. It doesn't lend anything to the legitimacy of the novel to understand command structure or ammunition caliber. The dialogue is stilted, it feels like someone watched a couple of movies and then decided to "just wing it." And finally, the plot comes down to the exact same thing you've seen in Starcraft, Starship Troopers the film, and any other "kill the nerve center coordinating the attacks" kind of story. There's no deviation, nothing new. The kaiju aren't utilized almost at all.
The basic problem here is that there is no drama. You are watching action scene after action scene with no context, care, or reason. It's an interesting effort, not well done, and not even close to worth reading, except for fans of the specific things I've mentioned above. Unless you're starved for kaiju stories, I don't recommend this.
As a side note, I did already finish the second book. What is wrong with me?
This book was not well written. I've given myself the task of reading all the kaiju novels out there that I possibly could - good, bad, and everything in between. This seems to be the smallest and easiest of the books so far, a novella that takes place after the world has already ended, and a desperate war for the fate of mankind is ongoing.
Here's the thing about Kaiju Apocalypse - it's actually a good idea. It's the kind of story that if I described it to you, you might actually want to read it. It's pulpy, kind of fun, and truly and full-on end of the world story. I mean, characters are introduced and die in the same breath, really.
But that's more out of curiosity for the overall plan, really. The writing, as I've said before, is terrible. There are spelling mistakes, the prose is common and cliched. The plot, for the most part, and the action, is taken as a pastiche of Starship Troopers and All You Need is Kill. The kaiju are uninteresting, as the major threat are actually the dog-like creatures that are maybe 1.5 times the size of a man. They provide the major danger, and Mother kaiju, as they're called, are given little to do, really. They're described okay, not exciting or mesmerizing. There is no sense of scale here. It feels like something just above a fan fiction, I'd say. There's an over emphasis on description of military tactics and weaponry and terms that make me remember my friends who were obsessed with technical specs in college. It doesn't lend anything to the legitimacy of the novel to understand command structure or ammunition caliber. The dialogue is stilted, it feels like someone watched a couple of movies and then decided to "just wing it." And finally, the plot comes down to the exact same thing you've seen in Starcraft, Starship Troopers the film, and any other "kill the nerve center coordinating the attacks" kind of story. There's no deviation, nothing new. The kaiju aren't utilized almost at all.
The basic problem here is that there is no drama. You are watching action scene after action scene with no context, care, or reason. It's an interesting effort, not well done, and not even close to worth reading, except for fans of the specific things I've mentioned above. Unless you're starved for kaiju stories, I don't recommend this.
As a side note, I did already finish the second book. What is wrong with me?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2014
A fast-paced action-horror book from the prolific Eric S. Brown, co-authored with Jason Cordova, which inevitably draws parallels with the similarly-themed Pacific Rim as the world is overrun by Kaiju (Japanese-invented monstrosities), who are pushing humanity to the brink of existence - a few plucky teams of soldiers set a course for the overmind in a bid to reclaim their society, and the story is pushed forward without the humdrum subplots that often drag down modern horror books (I blame Stephen King for starting that trend). A solid little read.
October 8, 2014
This novella is an entertaining read full of action, but definitely feels incomplete. From my understanding, Mr. Brown made sequels. If he hasn't done so, a prequel is needed for the book as the novella, while briefly setting up the events for this book, are still lacking.
He realizes that we want kaiju action, and lots of it. With that, he doesn't fail. But his story still needs significant setup. I hope he addresses this in future installments.
I still recommend it only for the numerous, and well-detailed, kaiju battle sequences.
He realizes that we want kaiju action, and lots of it. With that, he doesn't fail. But his story still needs significant setup. I hope he addresses this in future installments.
I still recommend it only for the numerous, and well-detailed, kaiju battle sequences.
May 16, 2014
This book is a ridiculous little number, very fast, fun, and it cuts right to the point. Ridiculous doesn't mean bad, though! It's ridiculous only because it feels like the end of a longer book, and because of how many Kaiju there are, big and small. I enjoyed it, it kinda felt like parts Pacific Rim, parts Starship Troopers(the first movie), and, to a much lesser extent, the third Matrix movie "mech suit" battle scene.
May 3, 2014
I want to be clear, I did enjoy this book a lot. It was a fun, fast paced read.
I'm just not sure it will stick with me long. I didn't find the characters all that engaging, and there were enough grammatical errors to bug me (though that may just be my own problem).
So, I do suggest this book. I mean, it has power armor, and that's always enough for me. Just don't expect to be blown away.
I'm just not sure it will stick with me long. I didn't find the characters all that engaging, and there were enough grammatical errors to bug me (though that may just be my own problem).
So, I do suggest this book. I mean, it has power armor, and that's always enough for me. Just don't expect to be blown away.
January 21, 2015
The story clips along quickly and the kaiju are interesting in their configurations. I wasn't terribly invested in the characters, but that's not really a disadvantage here. I do prefer Murder World: Kaiju Dawn over this one.
October 12, 2015
I am happily surprised by the story Kaiju Apocalypse by Eric S. Brown. This story is a cross between Starship Troopers and Godzilla. If you are a fan of either story, then this is a series for you. But considered yourself warned. This does not have a fairytale ending.
May 16, 2015
Too military for me. The Kaiju scenes were sweet but I hated how many characters we were introduced to.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews