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The Compound
Tartarus Federal Penitentiary is home to the worst violent criminals society has cultivated. It’s also a revolutionary modern day fortress, powered by solar panels and built to be a self-sustaining environment, complete with dairy barns and greenhouses. It’s the perfect place to be when an experimental virus hits the American public, making the dead walk the Earth once again. Two brothers become entwined in a deadly struggle for power among the crowd of prisoners that have overtaken the guards. Divorced parents fight for survival, trying to find each other and keep their daughter safe from the growing number of zombies. An old biker is a man on a mission, trying to fulfill a promise to his dead wife—apocalypse be damned. His determination and his supply of ammunition will be tested. As the survivors on the outside fight for their lives, their lines of fate converge, leading them through the crowds of zombies and forcing them into hell to save one of their own from The Compound.
296 pages, Paperback
Published May 8, 2013
8 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 12, 2023
A fun new look at an old trope, Ford gives us zombies with some flair! I cannot count how many zombie novels I have read, but typically, there is some rag-tag group of survivors trying to stay alive against the odds. Here, Ford differs somewhat, but follows a similar script. The Compound starts with Tartarus Federal Penitentiary, a hi-tech new prison in Pennsylvania. It has solar for power, its own farms and such to be independent, and basically off the grid. Further, it is for hard core prisoners, so very secure.
The smelly stuff hits the spinning blades due to some covert US government research gone amok right off the bat and Ford introduces us to a fairly wide cast of characters. We have the cons in jail, a recently divorced family with a 16 yo daughter, and an old biker. You know these are all going to come together somehow, and the prison seems likely. The trick to this involves building suspense, and Ford does a good job at that among the grizzly depictions of zombie mayhem.
My main problem with this one was its predictability. You already know the outcome pretty much off the bat, especially when the father of the family's background is explicated-- he worked black ops on 'retrieval', getting hostages out of nasty places like Afghanistan. Also, had to suspend my disbelief a bit too much in parts, like the odds of the family getting together in a zombie war zone. Nonetheless, a fun, fast read if you are in the mood for Zombies. Decent character building adds some flair to an old trope. 3.5 hungry zombie stars!!
The smelly stuff hits the spinning blades due to some covert US government research gone amok right off the bat and Ford introduces us to a fairly wide cast of characters. We have the cons in jail, a recently divorced family with a 16 yo daughter, and an old biker. You know these are all going to come together somehow, and the prison seems likely. The trick to this involves building suspense, and Ford does a good job at that among the grizzly depictions of zombie mayhem.
My main problem with this one was its predictability. You already know the outcome pretty much off the bat, especially when the father of the family's background is explicated-- he worked black ops on 'retrieval', getting hostages out of nasty places like Afghanistan. Also, had to suspend my disbelief a bit too much in parts, like the odds of the family getting together in a zombie war zone. Nonetheless, a fun, fast read if you are in the mood for Zombies. Decent character building adds some flair to an old trope. 3.5 hungry zombie stars!!
April 14, 2013
As I started reading I was thinking..."Not another zombie novel..Whine" After getting into the characters and various situations, I recognized this as something special. This would make a Hell of an interesting movie. It was so visual, I could actually see these people and experience some of their emotions. I HIGHLY recommend this novel. Read it. You won't be sorry.
April 21, 2013
If you've read more than a few of my reviews, you may have picked up on the fact that I enjoy horror and the zombie sub-genre in particular. In the last several weeks, I've read and enjoyed, The Hungry 3: At the End of the World from Stephen W. Booth & Harry Shannon, Cannibal Corpse, MC by Tim Curran, and the zombie erotica anthology, Fifty Shades of Decay, edited by Stacey Turner.
This week I chowed down on, The Compound, from Robert Ford. I'm not sure what makes me want to keep coming back for more. Maybe I just have a thing for controlled chaos. It's a bit like my love of roller-coasters; the higher, the faster, the more twists, turns and loops, the better. I wouldn't want to do that in my car, I'd be afraid for my life and the lives of those around me. But strap me into the seat of a roller-coaster and even at 60 years of age, I'll keep coming back for more. Same thing with zombies, the gorier the better. There is so much horror in day to day life, I find it comforting to put myself in the place of the story's hero or heroine and destroy the evil in the world, one lurching, stumbling, decaying, already dead, monster at a time.
Before we get to a bit about "The Compound" I wanted to relate one of the best dedications of a book I've come across in some time. Robert writes, "For my mother and father...for always finding a few bucks for me when the Book Mobile came to town and for staying up with me to watch those old Twilight Zones and Tales from the Darkside. This is all your fault."
The Compound is actually Tartarus Federal Penitentiary, home to the worst violent criminals society has cultivated. It’s also a revolutionary modern day fortress, powered by solar panels and built to be a self-sustaining environment, complete with dairy barns and green houses. It’s the perfect place to be when an experimental virus hits the American public, making the dead walk the Earth once again.
Two brothers become entwined in a deadly struggle for power among the crowd of prisoners that have overtaken the guards.
Divorced parents fight for survival, trying to find each other and keep their daughter safe from the growing number of zombies.
An old biker is a man on a mission, trying to fulfill a promise to his dead wife, apocalypse be damned. Both his will and his supply of ammunition will be tested.
As the survivors on the outside fight for their lives, their lines of fate converge, leading them through the crowds of zombies and forcing them into the hell of the prison to save one of their own.
In The Compound, the reason for the zombie apocalypse is explained right at the beginning and that's OK, because the book isn't about the buffoons who cause the crisis, it's more about family and the lengths people will go to protect and take care of their loved ones. Don't get me wrong, It's not all sunshine and roses in central Pennsylvania. The writer also gives us some of the grossest and most vile prose I've ever read.
One of the highlights for me was seeing what Robert does to one of his friends who happens to be a guitarist and lyricist for a popular death-metal band. Very entertaining.
Due to violent content, language and adult subject matter, this one is not for kids. But, if you are a like-minded adult, looking for some fresh zombies while the Walking Dead is off until the Fall, this one should help to tide you over.
This week I chowed down on, The Compound, from Robert Ford. I'm not sure what makes me want to keep coming back for more. Maybe I just have a thing for controlled chaos. It's a bit like my love of roller-coasters; the higher, the faster, the more twists, turns and loops, the better. I wouldn't want to do that in my car, I'd be afraid for my life and the lives of those around me. But strap me into the seat of a roller-coaster and even at 60 years of age, I'll keep coming back for more. Same thing with zombies, the gorier the better. There is so much horror in day to day life, I find it comforting to put myself in the place of the story's hero or heroine and destroy the evil in the world, one lurching, stumbling, decaying, already dead, monster at a time.
Before we get to a bit about "The Compound" I wanted to relate one of the best dedications of a book I've come across in some time. Robert writes, "For my mother and father...for always finding a few bucks for me when the Book Mobile came to town and for staying up with me to watch those old Twilight Zones and Tales from the Darkside. This is all your fault."
The Compound is actually Tartarus Federal Penitentiary, home to the worst violent criminals society has cultivated. It’s also a revolutionary modern day fortress, powered by solar panels and built to be a self-sustaining environment, complete with dairy barns and green houses. It’s the perfect place to be when an experimental virus hits the American public, making the dead walk the Earth once again.
Two brothers become entwined in a deadly struggle for power among the crowd of prisoners that have overtaken the guards.
Divorced parents fight for survival, trying to find each other and keep their daughter safe from the growing number of zombies.
An old biker is a man on a mission, trying to fulfill a promise to his dead wife, apocalypse be damned. Both his will and his supply of ammunition will be tested.
As the survivors on the outside fight for their lives, their lines of fate converge, leading them through the crowds of zombies and forcing them into the hell of the prison to save one of their own.
In The Compound, the reason for the zombie apocalypse is explained right at the beginning and that's OK, because the book isn't about the buffoons who cause the crisis, it's more about family and the lengths people will go to protect and take care of their loved ones. Don't get me wrong, It's not all sunshine and roses in central Pennsylvania. The writer also gives us some of the grossest and most vile prose I've ever read.
One of the highlights for me was seeing what Robert does to one of his friends who happens to be a guitarist and lyricist for a popular death-metal band. Very entertaining.
Due to violent content, language and adult subject matter, this one is not for kids. But, if you are a like-minded adult, looking for some fresh zombies while the Walking Dead is off until the Fall, this one should help to tide you over.
May 25, 2021
Just a quick few words to say I had a great time with this book. Bob ford never lets me down.
The only reason I didn't pick this up sooner was that I'm just not that into zombies much. Bigger fool me.
Anyway... an easy five stars from me.
The only reason I didn't pick this up sooner was that I'm just not that into zombies much. Bigger fool me.
Anyway... an easy five stars from me.
July 19, 2023
Loved it. Review soon.
December 12, 2022
Tartarus Prison is a high-tech fortress housing some of the worst inmates alive, but even the human monsters pale in comparison to the hungry dead that emerge when the world ends.
Ford has penned one hell of a zombie novel with The Compound, and he has breathed new shambling & relentless life into the zombie apocalypse genre as a whole. The action is tight, the melee is claustrophobic, and there's no shortage of delicious gore on every page.
There's a particular amputation scene that will be lodged in my brain forever. No spoilers about which character it happens to, but it was was of the most realistic & gutwrenching depictions of the loss of a limb that I've ever had the pleasure of reading. You literally feel like your own flesh is being hacked through...
This book will bite, and no promises that it'll let go until you're screaming...
Ford has penned one hell of a zombie novel with The Compound, and he has breathed new shambling & relentless life into the zombie apocalypse genre as a whole. The action is tight, the melee is claustrophobic, and there's no shortage of delicious gore on every page.
There's a particular amputation scene that will be lodged in my brain forever. No spoilers about which character it happens to, but it was was of the most realistic & gutwrenching depictions of the loss of a limb that I've ever had the pleasure of reading. You literally feel like your own flesh is being hacked through...
This book will bite, and no promises that it'll let go until you're screaming...
July 20, 2014
With a million and one zombie reads to choose from, the typical reader might think that authors like Robert Ford would be seeking a way to make their apocalypse-by-cadaver differ in a clever way from all the rest. Well in this case, the typical reader would be wrong. Ford here takes all the familiar trappings of a zombie novel - the accidental unleashing of a failed military experiment, headshots being required to take the resultant zombies down, group of people struggling to survive the early days of the end of the world, and some nefarious types who utilise the chaos to fulfill their own dark desires - and unashamedly runs with them. There is no quirky spin on the genre; no gimmick for the reader to grip onto.
Instead, there is just impressive writing, adroit character building, and lots of gore-soaked mayhem.
The Compound follows four major characters as their fates entwine while all trying to survive the aforementioned end of the world. The titular building refers to a self-servicing prison which the prisoners quickly over-take as zombies gather outside their fences; while, meanwhile, a divorced father tries to reach his daughter and ex-wife as the dead begin to outnumber the living. Cue the flesh-shredding, blood-flowing, pulse-pounding entertainment.
Though one of the POV characters arguably adds little to proceedings, the chapters are so short and sharp, the reader is unlikely to overly mind. Otherwise, my only complaint is that Ford has yet to write half a dozen more novels like this to further provide the jaded, zombie-appreciating reader with additional quality fixes.
4 Mouthfuls of Throat for The Compound.
Instead, there is just impressive writing, adroit character building, and lots of gore-soaked mayhem.
The Compound follows four major characters as their fates entwine while all trying to survive the aforementioned end of the world. The titular building refers to a self-servicing prison which the prisoners quickly over-take as zombies gather outside their fences; while, meanwhile, a divorced father tries to reach his daughter and ex-wife as the dead begin to outnumber the living. Cue the flesh-shredding, blood-flowing, pulse-pounding entertainment.
Though one of the POV characters arguably adds little to proceedings, the chapters are so short and sharp, the reader is unlikely to overly mind. Otherwise, my only complaint is that Ford has yet to write half a dozen more novels like this to further provide the jaded, zombie-appreciating reader with additional quality fixes.
4 Mouthfuls of Throat for The Compound.
July 21, 2013
"The Compound" is an awesome book written by Robert Ford. There are separate story lines in the novel which, at some point, interact. (Which is really cool).
Mr. Ford is a compelling author. Every word demands attention and respect. His talent reaches the depths of minds, and makes his readers think "whoa, didn't see that one coming." Start to finish, this novel is a fantastic read. I honestly read it start to finish in one sitting. I am a fast reader, so I finished it in about 3-4 hours, b/c I just COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! I love books like this. The kind that make you sit up all night, because it's just so damn good!
Of course, "The Compound" will leave many readers craving Ford's next novel, because his talent is so rare and genuine. This book is unique, and filled with unforgettable characters. It has everything possible to make it cool: zombies, revenge, defeat, triumph, drama, and awesome characters that you wish you actually knew.
Okay, I'm done enticing you! Just buy it and read it for yourself! You won't be disappointed!
Oh, one more thing... you should check out "Samson and Denial" by Mr. Ford as well, and trust me... more great things are to come!
Mr. Ford is a compelling author. Every word demands attention and respect. His talent reaches the depths of minds, and makes his readers think "whoa, didn't see that one coming." Start to finish, this novel is a fantastic read. I honestly read it start to finish in one sitting. I am a fast reader, so I finished it in about 3-4 hours, b/c I just COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! I love books like this. The kind that make you sit up all night, because it's just so damn good!
Of course, "The Compound" will leave many readers craving Ford's next novel, because his talent is so rare and genuine. This book is unique, and filled with unforgettable characters. It has everything possible to make it cool: zombies, revenge, defeat, triumph, drama, and awesome characters that you wish you actually knew.
Okay, I'm done enticing you! Just buy it and read it for yourself! You won't be disappointed!
Oh, one more thing... you should check out "Samson and Denial" by Mr. Ford as well, and trust me... more great things are to come!
June 7, 2013
Once again, Robert Ford has managed to write a story that kept me glued to the pages. Honestly, I couldn't put the book down. After reading his first book, Samson and Denial, I eagerly awaited something else from this fantastic storyteller. With the release of his new novel, The Compound, I was not disappointed. His ability to describe a scene draws the reader in and doesn't let go. Ford weaves three entirely different story lines into one seamless, action-filled adventure.
Jake, Ashley and Tori are an estranged family torn apart once again by the zombie apocalypse.
Calvin, a biker, wants nothing more than to spread his wife's ashes where she requested and won't let anything or anyone get in his way.
Sombre and Spider, brothers in a vicious gang, have benefitted from the zombie infestation by taking over the self-sustaining, super prison Tartarus.
Pick up your copy to find out what happens at Tartarus Federal Penitentiary aka The Compound.
I highly recommend this novel.
Jake, Ashley and Tori are an estranged family torn apart once again by the zombie apocalypse.
Calvin, a biker, wants nothing more than to spread his wife's ashes where she requested and won't let anything or anyone get in his way.
Sombre and Spider, brothers in a vicious gang, have benefitted from the zombie infestation by taking over the self-sustaining, super prison Tartarus.
Pick up your copy to find out what happens at Tartarus Federal Penitentiary aka The Compound.
I highly recommend this novel.
July 8, 2014
First of all, I don't like zombie novels. At all. That should say something, right there. The Compound is more than a novel in which gut-munching zombies abound, chowing down on all sorts of assorted and sundry viscera. What lies at the heart of The Compound is a story about human beings...some humans who are far more frightening that the zombies ever could be.
Make no mistake, though. People die. They are faced with awful decisions. But Bob Ford does the one important thing so many horror writers fail at when aiming for visceral horror: he makes you care DEEPLY about the people, BEFORE killing them. That way, their deaths mean something, making them truly victims, and not just fodder.
Make no mistake, though. People die. They are faced with awful decisions. But Bob Ford does the one important thing so many horror writers fail at when aiming for visceral horror: he makes you care DEEPLY about the people, BEFORE killing them. That way, their deaths mean something, making them truly victims, and not just fodder.
December 28, 2024
TBH Ford's "The Compound" was a difficult read for me because the story is a zombie-apocalyptic nightmare of the most extraordinary verisimilitude.
Action-packed - an adrenaline rush
The revolutionary, self-sustaining prison is unique
I was devastated when Calvin died :'( but at least he died honourably.
"From what he had seen, they [undead] were smart in a rabid, animalistic sort of way, but nothing more. They hunted on sight, maybe even smell, but they weren't at the level of busting into dwellings to drag out the living" (Ford)
Nope. Human beings do that.
Action-packed - an adrenaline rush
The revolutionary, self-sustaining prison is unique
I was devastated when Calvin died :'( but at least he died honourably.
"From what he had seen, they [undead] were smart in a rabid, animalistic sort of way, but nothing more. They hunted on sight, maybe even smell, but they weren't at the level of busting into dwellings to drag out the living" (Ford)
Nope. Human beings do that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2013
I read this in one sitting! Loved the book. Very solid zombie horror.
April 26, 2014
A great Zombie book. All the characters were done well great backdrops . My only complaint the book felt rushed to come to an end.
November 30, 2025
This is a really good one, but make sure you have the stomach for gore if your gonna read it.
October 12, 2015
A very exciting original take on a zombie story. The central point of the self sustaining prison and the convicts using their former jail as a safe haven was really cool.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews