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Dead Island: Operation Zulu
Ten years after the world was nearly decimated by a zombie virus, there is a desperate race for an antidote. A team of commandos are sent to a remote island populated by the undead to rescue a group of stranded scientist. The commandos come up against the hungry dead, Russian mercenaries, and shady government conspiracies. Dead Island: Operation Zulu is a fun, action packed, blood splattered, horror adventure. Dawn of the Dead meets Aliens!
263 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 24, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
October 18, 2015
Dead Island: OZ is a book that I wanted to like. The idea of US/Aussie mercs versus zombies versus Russian soldiers in a race to recover a vaccine related to the zombie virus that nearly destroyed humanity sounded like a good time. Throw in a tropical locale, some behind-the-curtain machinations and it sounds even better.
Unfortunately (and I do say unfortunately; I don't like leaving bad reviews), execution doesn't live up to the promise for a number of reasons - some of them my own personal opinion, and some I think, more practical.
Let's start with the good though. Firstly, as I said above, the premise is a fun idea. The concept of opposing military forces, zombies, cloak-and-dagger deals, and a tropical hellhole is a great concept for the book. Secondly, the writing is decent. It's not the best I've ever read, but for a zombie and/or action novel, the prose is clear, the action descriptive, and word choice varied. The big letdown is the dialogue (more on this below). Third, it's a fun book. It's a book that doesn't take itself deathly serious, and it has fun with the idea that it lays out. There's something to be said for that, and it's clear that the author had fun writing the book. Lastly, I liked the idea of the story existing in a world where the zombies had hit the world hard, but it had fought back and persevered, though not before affecting many of the characters involved.
Now on to the less-desirable things. For one, the character dialogue commits one of the cardinal sins in my book - forced sarcasm/joking. There's a lot wisecracking, not-so-great jokes, and other stuff like that that does not quite fit or feels worn. A lot of jokes about people being secretly gay, macho tough guy "ha ha, you suck and I'm better" stuff that I'm sure you see in the military, but it not feel as clever as what I've heard come out of real soldiers (let alone elite warriors) mouths. All of the characters seem to have the same sense of humor, which made it harder to form a definitive picture of them as separate from the others.
This leads me to the next problem - the characters. The US/Aussies (and there's probably 15 or so of them) aren't given enough shading to tell one from the next. The basic "This guy was a Ranger. This guy is in charge. This guy was SASR." is about as close to character development as I got. As such, I not only had a lot of trouble telling one character from the next, but I had no clue about what they looked like, what their motivations were, where they came from (beyond a few tantalizing hints), and so on. As such, when a character dies, not only do I not feel much about it, but in some cases, I only had the vaguest notion of who they were. This is not to mention the Russians, who border on near caricatures of drunk, druggy Russian soldiers that are a half-step up from common criminals. While this was effective in getting me to dislike them, they felt cartoonish in their evil. How these guys would be able to operate, let alone who would deploy them and expect success did not become clear to me. The head villain felt even more stereotypical, although he had some affectations that were interesting.
There are some other things that bothered me personally (why are the American/US mercs using Vietnam-era equipment, while everyone else is not?), and some pretty substantial holes (I understand there are going to be some of these in a zombie novel) in the bad guys master plan, but the characters and the dialogue are what really did this story in for me.
So with all of that said, I hope the author continues to write and improve, and continues to entertain what seems to be a pretty tidy following, but unfortunately I won't be coming along for the ride.
Unfortunately (and I do say unfortunately; I don't like leaving bad reviews), execution doesn't live up to the promise for a number of reasons - some of them my own personal opinion, and some I think, more practical.
Let's start with the good though. Firstly, as I said above, the premise is a fun idea. The concept of opposing military forces, zombies, cloak-and-dagger deals, and a tropical hellhole is a great concept for the book. Secondly, the writing is decent. It's not the best I've ever read, but for a zombie and/or action novel, the prose is clear, the action descriptive, and word choice varied. The big letdown is the dialogue (more on this below). Third, it's a fun book. It's a book that doesn't take itself deathly serious, and it has fun with the idea that it lays out. There's something to be said for that, and it's clear that the author had fun writing the book. Lastly, I liked the idea of the story existing in a world where the zombies had hit the world hard, but it had fought back and persevered, though not before affecting many of the characters involved.
Now on to the less-desirable things. For one, the character dialogue commits one of the cardinal sins in my book - forced sarcasm/joking. There's a lot wisecracking, not-so-great jokes, and other stuff like that that does not quite fit or feels worn. A lot of jokes about people being secretly gay, macho tough guy "ha ha, you suck and I'm better" stuff that I'm sure you see in the military, but it not feel as clever as what I've heard come out of real soldiers (let alone elite warriors) mouths. All of the characters seem to have the same sense of humor, which made it harder to form a definitive picture of them as separate from the others.
This leads me to the next problem - the characters. The US/Aussies (and there's probably 15 or so of them) aren't given enough shading to tell one from the next. The basic "This guy was a Ranger. This guy is in charge. This guy was SASR." is about as close to character development as I got. As such, I not only had a lot of trouble telling one character from the next, but I had no clue about what they looked like, what their motivations were, where they came from (beyond a few tantalizing hints), and so on. As such, when a character dies, not only do I not feel much about it, but in some cases, I only had the vaguest notion of who they were. This is not to mention the Russians, who border on near caricatures of drunk, druggy Russian soldiers that are a half-step up from common criminals. While this was effective in getting me to dislike them, they felt cartoonish in their evil. How these guys would be able to operate, let alone who would deploy them and expect success did not become clear to me. The head villain felt even more stereotypical, although he had some affectations that were interesting.
There are some other things that bothered me personally (why are the American/US mercs using Vietnam-era equipment, while everyone else is not?), and some pretty substantial holes (I understand there are going to be some of these in a zombie novel) in the bad guys master plan, but the characters and the dialogue are what really did this story in for me.
So with all of that said, I hope the author continues to write and improve, and continues to entertain what seems to be a pretty tidy following, but unfortunately I won't be coming along for the ride.
May 3, 2015
A blast to read!
Dead Island is one of those books that you read with a smile on your face the entire time. This book has great characters and great pacing. This book could be turned into an awesome movie and that is how it reads. It has many military characters but you are not overwhelmed with gun descriptions and acronyms. There are good characters, bad characters, evil characters and groovy elevator muzak. There is also much humor mixed in with the mayhem. The pace is great throughout and I flew through the book. You really root for the good characters and I hope to see more of them in future books. This book is highly recommended and I hope you love it like I did!
Dead Island is one of those books that you read with a smile on your face the entire time. This book has great characters and great pacing. This book could be turned into an awesome movie and that is how it reads. It has many military characters but you are not overwhelmed with gun descriptions and acronyms. There are good characters, bad characters, evil characters and groovy elevator muzak. There is also much humor mixed in with the mayhem. The pace is great throughout and I flew through the book. You really root for the good characters and I hope to see more of them in future books. This book is highly recommended and I hope you love it like I did!
January 22, 2024
A stupid book. Evil criminal Russians. Wonderful Heroic Americans.
Stupid doctor. Corrupt billionaire.
Predictable and with absolutely horrid dialogue and cardboard characters.
Stupid doctor. Corrupt billionaire.
Predictable and with absolutely horrid dialogue and cardboard characters.
May 31, 2017
10 years ago, the world was nearly decimated by a Zombie virus, but they managed to get control of it and everything went back to normal. Except now it isn't. The Zombie virus has been accidentally unleashed on an Island and a group of commandos are sent to the island to rescue some scientists that are stranded on it. But not everything is like is seems and this "easy" mission turns out to be something a lot more!!
I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this. It's action packed, fast paced and had enough twists and turns to give you whiplash! It's well written and developed and read like a great action movie. I was kept on the edge of my seat throughout and listened to this as quick as I could. The characters were all well written as well and I pretty much loved all of them. Don't get too attached though because this is a Zombie book after all, so there will be death!!
In all, this is a solid start to what looks like an amazing series. Enjoyable, entertaining and fun, all the while being a horror story too. It was like a movie playing out and I want more!!!
S W Salzman has an awesome voice for horror! He just gets when to add the tension and when to dial it back. He was clear and concise and read it well. He had a variety of tones and voices that was impressive, though his Aussie accent was a little off. It didn't detract from the story though!!
I was voluntarily provided this audiobook for free from the author, narrator, or publisher. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this. It's action packed, fast paced and had enough twists and turns to give you whiplash! It's well written and developed and read like a great action movie. I was kept on the edge of my seat throughout and listened to this as quick as I could. The characters were all well written as well and I pretty much loved all of them. Don't get too attached though because this is a Zombie book after all, so there will be death!!
In all, this is a solid start to what looks like an amazing series. Enjoyable, entertaining and fun, all the while being a horror story too. It was like a movie playing out and I want more!!!
S W Salzman has an awesome voice for horror! He just gets when to add the tension and when to dial it back. He was clear and concise and read it well. He had a variety of tones and voices that was impressive, though his Aussie accent was a little off. It didn't detract from the story though!!
I was voluntarily provided this audiobook for free from the author, narrator, or publisher. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
December 28, 2015
Told at a blistering pace, this story is both engaging and enjoyable. It is a rescue mission, with a twist. Well quite a few twists actually, which keeps the tale moving smoothly forward whilst constantly changing direction. Predictable it definitely is not! As an Australian, I can say that Gamboa has a good handle on Aussie slang and has certainly done his research in that department. When things don't quite go to plan, the characters fight for survival against not only the zombies, but also a completely new threat they did not see approaching. If you like post-apocalyptic fiction, then this is a must read!
May 12, 2017
Fun read!
This is the first book by Allen Gamboa that I've read, but it won't be the last. To be completely honest, I was kinda over zombies, what with TWD dragging on and on (and on), and about a gazillion zombie books, the genre is full of copycats. But a friend recommended this book and I loved it! Totally original. Fun zombie action, military destruction, and humor abound throughout.
If you want a fun zombie read, pick this one up!
This is the first book by Allen Gamboa that I've read, but it won't be the last. To be completely honest, I was kinda over zombies, what with TWD dragging on and on (and on), and about a gazillion zombie books, the genre is full of copycats. But a friend recommended this book and I loved it! Totally original. Fun zombie action, military destruction, and humor abound throughout.
If you want a fun zombie read, pick this one up!
September 19, 2017
3.5 stars
Good start to a series. Overall a fun, entertaining and enjoyable listen. Even though you know how this is basically going to play out, it doesn't make the story any less intense, suspenseful or engaging. It plays out like a movie. You can see it in your head as the story is being told. It pulls you in quickly and holds your attention until the end.
Loved the chapter titles. The title of each chapter made sense and gave a little hint as to what was about to happen.
It's fast-paced and full of non-stop action. How else could a story be when you are trying to fight your way off an island full of zombies.
While there are a handful of characters that stand out immediately, the cast of characters is so large that many of them are not really well developed especially in the first half of the story. As the bodies start to fall and more time is spent with the survivors their characters become better developed. You can't help but root for the Commando's and mourn their losses right along with them. By the time it's over your ready to join the team and fight right along beside those who are left.
S.W. Salzman did a great job with the narration. He has a gruff edge to his voice that fit the story and characters perfectly. You wouldn't want your hard as nails commandos sounding like wimps. Clearly spoken with a nice pace. Good character voices. Some of his characters voices were fantastic. The accents, cadence and tone were great. His female voices were good as well. His voice pulled you into the story and made you feel like you were right there in the middle of it all. Very enjoyable.
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily provided this review.
Good start to a series. Overall a fun, entertaining and enjoyable listen. Even though you know how this is basically going to play out, it doesn't make the story any less intense, suspenseful or engaging. It plays out like a movie. You can see it in your head as the story is being told. It pulls you in quickly and holds your attention until the end.
Loved the chapter titles. The title of each chapter made sense and gave a little hint as to what was about to happen.
It's fast-paced and full of non-stop action. How else could a story be when you are trying to fight your way off an island full of zombies.
While there are a handful of characters that stand out immediately, the cast of characters is so large that many of them are not really well developed especially in the first half of the story. As the bodies start to fall and more time is spent with the survivors their characters become better developed. You can't help but root for the Commando's and mourn their losses right along with them. By the time it's over your ready to join the team and fight right along beside those who are left.
S.W. Salzman did a great job with the narration. He has a gruff edge to his voice that fit the story and characters perfectly. You wouldn't want your hard as nails commandos sounding like wimps. Clearly spoken with a nice pace. Good character voices. Some of his characters voices were fantastic. The accents, cadence and tone were great. His female voices were good as well. His voice pulled you into the story and made you feel like you were right there in the middle of it all. Very enjoyable.
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily provided this review.
May 15, 2020
Action packed with plenty of humour!
This book had it all, action, explosions, humour, gore and non stop zombies - shambling and runners! I couldn't leave this book alone once I started it, I was riveted to the end, and the humour had me giggling in places, I'm glad that Mr. Black got a poetic end! I'm sad to day that many great characters met untimely deaths, but some orphans were saved, Mr. salzman's dulcet tones did this book proud! I can't wait to read book 2.
This book had it all, action, explosions, humour, gore and non stop zombies - shambling and runners! I couldn't leave this book alone once I started it, I was riveted to the end, and the humour had me giggling in places, I'm glad that Mr. Black got a poetic end! I'm sad to day that many great characters met untimely deaths, but some orphans were saved, Mr. salzman's dulcet tones did this book proud! I can't wait to read book 2.
February 28, 2020
Zombies are not shite..
For this group of military contractors zombies, speznast , and traitors are not shite. The author has no problem with killing off anyone. No one is safe and that makes this book awesome.
For this group of military contractors zombies, speznast , and traitors are not shite. The author has no problem with killing off anyone. No one is safe and that makes this book awesome.
January 24, 2021
I really enjoyed reading this book. I found it quite a change from the usual zombie novels I have read. I gave it 4 stars as I am not sure if I want to read the prequels now as happy as a stand-alone. I may feel differently later on.
March 4, 2018
The island
All I got to say you're a kinky machinist it was fast pacing lots of action but you had some amazing hearts left i liked military aspects
All I got to say you're a kinky machinist it was fast pacing lots of action but you had some amazing hearts left i liked military aspects
July 1, 2019
Great Read
You really need to read this one!!! I have read a lot of Zombie stories. This has been the best! Zombie apocalypse, military action, good guys, bad guys and a finish you just have to read. I couldn't put this book down!!!
You really need to read this one!!! I have read a lot of Zombie stories. This has been the best! Zombie apocalypse, military action, good guys, bad guys and a finish you just have to read. I couldn't put this book down!!!
May 12, 2022
A damn good book!
This is one of those books you just can't put down. The characters are rough and tumble, but you can feel their humanity,or lack thereof.
This is one of those books you just can't put down. The characters are rough and tumble, but you can feel their humanity,or lack thereof.
December 16, 2017
Superb high action book great read
April 26, 2022
much better than the last
Real improvement in story telling over these 3 books. This book is a good read. The first two, not so much. the author’s book in the 5 roads to Texas series was great too. Wish for more in this series
Real improvement in story telling over these 3 books. This book is a good read. The first two, not so much. the author’s book in the 5 roads to Texas series was great too. Wish for more in this series
July 16, 2021
Great book!
Allen has given us a book with a most excellent story line. A crap ton of action, lots of great characters, a nasty billionaire up to no good, and, of course, lots of zombies!
This was a great book! I highly recommend giving it a try.
Allen has given us a book with a most excellent story line. A crap ton of action, lots of great characters, a nasty billionaire up to no good, and, of course, lots of zombies!
This was a great book! I highly recommend giving it a try.
August 2, 2023
This is an amazing series! You will not be sorry you got it. Loved it!
June 23, 2019
Mercs vs Zombies
A good quick read with lots of action, plenty of guns, zombies and characters you can cheer for. I enjoyed this one.
A good quick read with lots of action, plenty of guns, zombies and characters you can cheer for. I enjoyed this one.
December 21, 2022
Fantastic reading
What a wild roller coaster ride of action! Page turning action right until the last page! Is a must read for any zombie apocalypse fan.
What a wild roller coaster ride of action! Page turning action right until the last page! Is a must read for any zombie apocalypse fan.
July 5, 2021
Action-packed, great characters, and lots of great dialogue. What can I say? I give Mr. Gamboa two thumbs up. The unique way the author approached the topic was a refreshing change from the norm in this genre. It was easy for me to visualize and reads like an action movie. This is my third book to read by the author and his sense of humor, ability to create believable characters, and his skill at creating rich and colorful story has me hooked. I admit that listened to it on audible but I am going to buy the paperback edition because I want to re-read it where I can savor the rich dialogue and action.
June 10, 2022
Couldn't put it down
At times gruesome, at times darkly humorous, but every minute full of suspense, I could not put this book down. Highly recommend
At times gruesome, at times darkly humorous, but every minute full of suspense, I could not put this book down. Highly recommend
June 21, 2017
*I received a comp code for this audio book for an honest review*
Not a dull moment! This book is different in that it doesn't start right before a zombie outbreak, not during, and not immediately. It's further down the road, but while things are still being experimented with and such. There's a lot of politics and money behind the scenes. The only thing I might warn about is the harsh language and crude humor shown by some characters, which honestly made them feel more realistic.
Side note:Did anyone else picture The Smoking Man when Mr. Black was on scene the first couple of times?!
I wasn't sure about the narrator at first, being a bit different from what I've gotten used to, but I warmed up to him quickly. He did voices, accents, and he seemed to actually know the story. I've heard several that it seemed like that it was the reader's first time looking at the book, and that always puts me off. Big points for that not happening here!
Overall: If you like zombies and military action, don't mind blood and guts or an f bomb here and there, I would definitely recommend this!
Bob says: 4 Platypires!
Not a dull moment! This book is different in that it doesn't start right before a zombie outbreak, not during, and not immediately. It's further down the road, but while things are still being experimented with and such. There's a lot of politics and money behind the scenes. The only thing I might warn about is the harsh language and crude humor shown by some characters, which honestly made them feel more realistic.
Side note:Did anyone else picture The Smoking Man when Mr. Black was on scene the first couple of times?!
I wasn't sure about the narrator at first, being a bit different from what I've gotten used to, but I warmed up to him quickly. He did voices, accents, and he seemed to actually know the story. I've heard several that it seemed like that it was the reader's first time looking at the book, and that always puts me off. Big points for that not happening here!
Overall: If you like zombies and military action, don't mind blood and guts or an f bomb here and there, I would definitely recommend this!
Bob says: 4 Platypires!
October 11, 2022
This is an action packed run through the zombie apocalypse. Follow the adventures of Sergeant Hale and Sergeant Cross and their crew as they transition from military to private security force in the zombie apocalypse. Just trying to survive and help out where and when they can. They run up against zombies Evil gang and even corrupt people in the military and their own security forces. Read on and find out where the adventure leads and who will survive and who will die. As in every apocalyptic story. So many times it is our fellow humans that we have to watch out for. Check it out Check it out
March 23, 2022
This is 1 of the most enjoyable books that I've ever read. A vast number of impactful characters, and a ton of action, gore & humor!! Short chapters with fun titles (usually an upcoming quote & funny as hell) really kept the story flowing rapidly! I was really impressed by this author and I'm eager to read all of his work!
May 29, 2015
Wild ride
Started slow but after the first chapter it picked up. Almost from the beginning YOU knew the missing to pick up a scientist and possibly cure to the Zombie virus would be anything but a "cake walk". Non stop action....couldn't put it down...
Started slow but after the first chapter it picked up. Almost from the beginning YOU knew the missing to pick up a scientist and possibly cure to the Zombie virus would be anything but a "cake walk". Non stop action....couldn't put it down...
December 22, 2015
Following the arc of familiar good guys - Americans & Australians, mostly - and familiar bad guys - Russians - nothing is as it seems on Dead Island. Gamboa sets an increasingly frenetic pace of good vs evil that gets harder and harder to put down. Can't wait to read the follow up!
February 21, 2017
Amazing zombie read
Suspense action thrills...loved this story from beginning to end and looking forward to book 2. The political corruption and blackmail aspects bring this story to life and I can see this someday really happening
Suspense action thrills...loved this story from beginning to end and looking forward to book 2. The political corruption and blackmail aspects bring this story to life and I can see this someday really happening
April 12, 2017
WHAT A SUPER BOOK!!!
I think this was a super book. I had it awhile back and never got the chance to read it and I'm so glad I was able to now. Allen Gamboa did such a great job on this and the ending was really great. This is one I would recommend to others and definitely will.
I think this was a super book. I had it awhile back and never got the chance to read it and I'm so glad I was able to now. Allen Gamboa did such a great job on this and the ending was really great. This is one I would recommend to others and definitely will.
June 22, 2017
( Format : audiobook )
""Black blood and grey brain matter.""
They were told it would be a cakewalk: fly into a small tropical island and extract a doctor and the vaccine he'd developed. They were not happy when they learned that there could be zombies. But the team sent by Strategic Securities could not have guessed just how bad it would be. Zombies yes, hundreds of them. But also another rival team Russians, looking for the same research development and they were determined to get there first. Not a cakewalk then, a bloodbath.
This is an unusual take on the zombie apocalypse genre, well written with believable characters and authentic sounding dialogue for hardened combatants in a danger situation. Each chapter is short and given a snappy title. The story, full of fierce fighting bursts, is filled with visceral violence and graphic pictures. The narrator's text reading is well paced, his voice slightly gravelly as if filled with the dust and debris of the confrontations and his rendering of the speech of each individual protagonist is individual and skilful, encompassing American, Aussie and Russian accents of both male and female. My only dislike of Mr.Salzman's performance was that in longer sections of text, his voice intonation became too downbeat, hard to sustain full concentration. But this was occasional.
Altogether an exciting thriller with very high death rates this is a real treat for all zombie and military action readers alike. My thanks to the rights holder of Dead Island who freely gifted me a copy lot this book, via audio book Boom. Recommended but only if you are prepared for some crude innuendoes and plenty of blood and gore
""Black blood and grey brain matter.""
They were told it would be a cakewalk: fly into a small tropical island and extract a doctor and the vaccine he'd developed. They were not happy when they learned that there could be zombies. But the team sent by Strategic Securities could not have guessed just how bad it would be. Zombies yes, hundreds of them. But also another rival team Russians, looking for the same research development and they were determined to get there first. Not a cakewalk then, a bloodbath.
This is an unusual take on the zombie apocalypse genre, well written with believable characters and authentic sounding dialogue for hardened combatants in a danger situation. Each chapter is short and given a snappy title. The story, full of fierce fighting bursts, is filled with visceral violence and graphic pictures. The narrator's text reading is well paced, his voice slightly gravelly as if filled with the dust and debris of the confrontations and his rendering of the speech of each individual protagonist is individual and skilful, encompassing American, Aussie and Russian accents of both male and female. My only dislike of Mr.Salzman's performance was that in longer sections of text, his voice intonation became too downbeat, hard to sustain full concentration. But this was occasional.
Altogether an exciting thriller with very high death rates this is a real treat for all zombie and military action readers alike. My thanks to the rights holder of Dead Island who freely gifted me a copy lot this book, via audio book Boom. Recommended but only if you are prepared for some crude innuendoes and plenty of blood and gore
December 13, 2021
Eller Island was supposed to be a cake walk
Fly in, get the researchers and their research off the island and return rich. The fly in went according to plan but the easy stopped there. The whole island was covered in zombies and Russian mercenaries. Ruinage ensued. The fight between the Russians, the American and Australian contractors and three thousand moaning zombies was no cakewalk, not at all!
Absolutely bloody combat and zombie onslaught kept the pucker level high as the American/Aussie team tried to survive while trying to ensure their opponents didn't. The combat scenes were page turners, but the entire book was one large combat scene. No time for naps, this story had to be finished. But what a finish! Not what I expected at all! Good story, good characters, good action - this book was a good read!
Fly in, get the researchers and their research off the island and return rich. The fly in went according to plan but the easy stopped there. The whole island was covered in zombies and Russian mercenaries. Ruinage ensued. The fight between the Russians, the American and Australian contractors and three thousand moaning zombies was no cakewalk, not at all!
Absolutely bloody combat and zombie onslaught kept the pucker level high as the American/Aussie team tried to survive while trying to ensure their opponents didn't. The combat scenes were page turners, but the entire book was one large combat scene. No time for naps, this story had to be finished. But what a finish! Not what I expected at all! Good story, good characters, good action - this book was a good read!
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