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Wyrd #1
The Red King
The end of the world is only the beginning as an odd band of survivors pull together to construct a modern-day castle amid the burning ruins of suburbia lost. As undead hordes and strange otherworldly monsters ravage what’s left of civilization, things begin to go from worse to weird as each survivor’s dark past unfolds, revealing that reality might be more than anyone ever thought, and that an ancient force from the outer dark has finally arrived to conquer. Stephen King’s The Stand meets Lost in an epic confrontation between good and evil that spans history, time, and space. The Red King is the first full story to be released in the wild world of Apocalypse Weird, and it is book one of the Apocalypse Weird - WYRD arc by Nick Cole.
121 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 23, 2014
351 people are currently reading
750 people want to read
About the author
Nick Cole
183 books622 followersNick Cole is a working actor living in Southern California. When he is not auditioning for commercials, going out for sitcoms or being shot, kicked, stabbed or beaten by the students of various film schools for their projects, he can often be found as a guard for King Phillip the Second of Spain in the Opera Don Carlo at Los Angeles Opera or some similar role. Nick Cole has been writing for most of his life and acting in Hollywood after serving in the U.S. Army.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
February 23, 2015
4.5 Stars
"got to see that everywhere I turn / will point to the fact that time is eternal"
Apocalypse Weird: The Red King (Wyrd #1) is the first in the new series by Nick Cole. Those unfamiliar with Cole should be sure to check out his Savage Boy series and his book The Old Man and the Wasteland. This book is told in three parts and they all come off as fun. This post apocalyptic zombie story dangles some pretty big and weird carrots in part one, but then no more through out the rest. More about that later.
This is a post apocalyptic series that so far gives us no explanations or science behind the end of days. Maybe it's terrorism is hinted. I had a lot of fun reading this book and take away the strange times to switch or introduce new characters, it works very well. What sets this apart is Cole's use of nostalgia to make this book colorful. There is a tremendous amount of pop culture references strewn through out this book, so much so that they add to it. Cole takes the same route as Edward Cline's 80's tribute novel Ready Player One without being so in your face or judgemental.
Take the characters names, I am sure you can see where they come from:
Ash
Braddock
Skully
Ritter
Dante
He comes out and mentions so many songs that give those scenes musical score accompaniment. Songs and artists that are mentioned range greatly, from Sinatra to Gordon Lightfoot, to Dave Matthews, and to KLF. Movies like Steve McQueen in Bullitt are referred to. All of this makes this novel work.
The first part of the novel is the best. We get to know Holiday and Ash, and then later on the ass kicking soldier Braddock. We also get some hints as to why this book is called Apocalypse Weird: The Red King. Unfortunately after giving us a few cool drops we do not see anymore through the remaining parts of this book, and that was too bad. The mystery behind Ash. Time travel. The mission of Braddock. And of course once the fog rolled in....
This is a great addition to the already crowded post apocalyptic genre. Cole is starting things off right hinting at so much more. The book earned major credit to me by the fact that it opens and closes with the playing of Chess. Let me tell you that if you love the genre, this one would not be a gambit in picking it up. I am just glad that the new book will be out soon.
"got to see that everywhere I turn / will point to the fact that time is eternal"
Apocalypse Weird: The Red King (Wyrd #1) is the first in the new series by Nick Cole. Those unfamiliar with Cole should be sure to check out his Savage Boy series and his book The Old Man and the Wasteland. This book is told in three parts and they all come off as fun. This post apocalyptic zombie story dangles some pretty big and weird carrots in part one, but then no more through out the rest. More about that later.
This is a post apocalyptic series that so far gives us no explanations or science behind the end of days. Maybe it's terrorism is hinted. I had a lot of fun reading this book and take away the strange times to switch or introduce new characters, it works very well. What sets this apart is Cole's use of nostalgia to make this book colorful. There is a tremendous amount of pop culture references strewn through out this book, so much so that they add to it. Cole takes the same route as Edward Cline's 80's tribute novel Ready Player One without being so in your face or judgemental.
Take the characters names, I am sure you can see where they come from:
Ash
Braddock
Skully
Ritter
Dante
He comes out and mentions so many songs that give those scenes musical score accompaniment. Songs and artists that are mentioned range greatly, from Sinatra to Gordon Lightfoot, to Dave Matthews, and to KLF. Movies like Steve McQueen in Bullitt are referred to. All of this makes this novel work.
The first part of the novel is the best. We get to know Holiday and Ash, and then later on the ass kicking soldier Braddock. We also get some hints as to why this book is called Apocalypse Weird: The Red King. Unfortunately after giving us a few cool drops we do not see anymore through the remaining parts of this book, and that was too bad. The mystery behind Ash. Time travel. The mission of Braddock. And of course once the fog rolled in....
This is a great addition to the already crowded post apocalyptic genre. Cole is starting things off right hinting at so much more. The book earned major credit to me by the fact that it opens and closes with the playing of Chess. Let me tell you that if you love the genre, this one would not be a gambit in picking it up. I am just glad that the new book will be out soon.
February 21, 2015
I’m not quite sure how I stumbled onto Nick Cole’s book Red King, from the Apocalypse Weird Saga. I think I fell down into one of those Internet rabbit holes (it happens periodically, maybe more often than that) and when I snapped on my penlight, lo and behold, there was the Red King. Post-apocalypse? Check. Zombies? Check. As an added benefit the cover screamed pulp and there’s times when I just have to feed that appetite (said appetite having been first discovered while reading Robert E. Howard in my youth) especially since my appetite was recently whetted by a binge consumption of Z Nation (which I heartily recommend).
I have to admit, at first I’m not that impressed. I watch as Holliday binge drinks for a few days and thus completely misses the introduction of the zombie apocalypse and am reminded fondly of Sean of the Dead’s intro, but he doesn’t seem to me all that interesting of a character. Nor do the next characters to happen along, Ash and Frank.
But then along comes Jackson Braddock and the weird part of the title starts to kick in. Braddock is kicking ass and killing zombies in a downtown LA that is almost completely overrun by Zed. But he’s not just trying to get to safety or save a busload of children or anything so mundane as that. No, Braddock is trying to intercept and terminate a target, get hold of the briefcase the target’s carrying, and bring it to the lone military outpost still standing in LA, a downtown bank skyscraper.
Really? It’s the zombie apocalypse and the most important thing isn’t trying to kill the zombies or escape but to get a briefcase? I have to know what’s in that briefcase. Okay, Jack’s at the bank building, he’s talking to the military, they’re going to expedite his ass out of there – and then, holy shit! People gunning each other down. Betrayal. Dirty nuke exploding. And there’s Jack with some head bad guy and there’s more going on here than just the ZA and, oh yeah, the head bad guy isn’t really a guy at all, but something else.
Now the story’s moving. Back to Holliday, Ash and Frank and, you know what, the characters are starting to come alive and get interesting. Holliday makes about the worst decision a person could make in the middle of the ZA but not too surprising for those of us with first-hand knowledge of how addicts think. But it’s all a set up to bring in…
Ritter.
“Holiday saw a white guy who thought he was street. A guy who listened to rap, maybe even
thought he was a major league drug dealer, when at best he smoked weed too much and dealt on the side to pay for his habit, often at the expense of his friends. Holiday saw a guy who was probably raised by a single mother in a bad neighborhood. In short, he saw the President of the White Guys chapter for the Snoop Dogg fan club.”
Okay. So Cole has brought in some kind of stereotypical cocky street punk. The story backs up then and I get to find out how Ritter spent his past few days, holed up in some nameless office building with some other unlucky stiffs and they’re dealing with the fact that one of their own, Dave, who was going to break out and bring them help, is now Zombie chow and they’re stuck.
Except that Ritter knew all along the guy wasn’t going to make it. He went along with the plan to get Dave out of the way. Heck, even if Dave had cleared the zombies he was doomed. Why? Because Ritter gave him the wrong damned keys to the getaway car. Shit. That’s cold. And now I’m definitely racing through the pages.
Interesting. Ritter claims he knew Dave was going to bail on them and that’s why he gave him the wrong keys. Maybe there’s more to Ritter than meets the eye. He’s watching the other people he’s trapped with, gauging, assessing. There’s a whole lot more thinking going on in his head than he lets on but when serious insights into others is interspersed with straight-up idiot white boy gangster thoughts it’s hard to tell if Ritter is brilliant or a delusional, empty poser.
After poor Dave’s moment in the spotlight as the zombie’s lunch du jour, the survivors come up with a new plan to escape, except that, according to Ritter, he’s the one with the plan and he’s just manipulating the others into thinking that it’s their plan. He’s looking more delusional. And in the midst of it all he’s checking his cell phone for a text. Some package he’s supposed to deliver that Dave had and refused to give him, which is why he’s still here. And now I really have to know what is so freaking important that anyone would still give a shit about it after the world ended.
I’ve said enough and I hope I haven’t spoiled anything for anyone. I guess what I really wanted to get across is that Ritter looks to be one of the most interesting characters I’ve come across in a while, right up there with Caine (please, please read Heroes Die) and Sandman Slim (Richard Kadrey’s character is awesome). I want to watch him do his thing more. I want to figure out who he is.
I’m also intrigued by the blurbs at the end of the book where eight other authors introduce their books set in the Apocalypse Weird saga and we’re told that “old secrets and dark enemies merge across multiple realities that are getting dangerously close to one another.” I want to see how all this fits together. I hope it lives up to its promise. Does anyone remember the old Thieves’ World books? That’s the closest I remember to something like this and I hope it’s as good.
I have to admit, at first I’m not that impressed. I watch as Holliday binge drinks for a few days and thus completely misses the introduction of the zombie apocalypse and am reminded fondly of Sean of the Dead’s intro, but he doesn’t seem to me all that interesting of a character. Nor do the next characters to happen along, Ash and Frank.
But then along comes Jackson Braddock and the weird part of the title starts to kick in. Braddock is kicking ass and killing zombies in a downtown LA that is almost completely overrun by Zed. But he’s not just trying to get to safety or save a busload of children or anything so mundane as that. No, Braddock is trying to intercept and terminate a target, get hold of the briefcase the target’s carrying, and bring it to the lone military outpost still standing in LA, a downtown bank skyscraper.
Really? It’s the zombie apocalypse and the most important thing isn’t trying to kill the zombies or escape but to get a briefcase? I have to know what’s in that briefcase. Okay, Jack’s at the bank building, he’s talking to the military, they’re going to expedite his ass out of there – and then, holy shit! People gunning each other down. Betrayal. Dirty nuke exploding. And there’s Jack with some head bad guy and there’s more going on here than just the ZA and, oh yeah, the head bad guy isn’t really a guy at all, but something else.
Now the story’s moving. Back to Holliday, Ash and Frank and, you know what, the characters are starting to come alive and get interesting. Holliday makes about the worst decision a person could make in the middle of the ZA but not too surprising for those of us with first-hand knowledge of how addicts think. But it’s all a set up to bring in…
Ritter.
“Holiday saw a white guy who thought he was street. A guy who listened to rap, maybe even
thought he was a major league drug dealer, when at best he smoked weed too much and dealt on the side to pay for his habit, often at the expense of his friends. Holiday saw a guy who was probably raised by a single mother in a bad neighborhood. In short, he saw the President of the White Guys chapter for the Snoop Dogg fan club.”
Okay. So Cole has brought in some kind of stereotypical cocky street punk. The story backs up then and I get to find out how Ritter spent his past few days, holed up in some nameless office building with some other unlucky stiffs and they’re dealing with the fact that one of their own, Dave, who was going to break out and bring them help, is now Zombie chow and they’re stuck.
Except that Ritter knew all along the guy wasn’t going to make it. He went along with the plan to get Dave out of the way. Heck, even if Dave had cleared the zombies he was doomed. Why? Because Ritter gave him the wrong damned keys to the getaway car. Shit. That’s cold. And now I’m definitely racing through the pages.
Interesting. Ritter claims he knew Dave was going to bail on them and that’s why he gave him the wrong keys. Maybe there’s more to Ritter than meets the eye. He’s watching the other people he’s trapped with, gauging, assessing. There’s a whole lot more thinking going on in his head than he lets on but when serious insights into others is interspersed with straight-up idiot white boy gangster thoughts it’s hard to tell if Ritter is brilliant or a delusional, empty poser.
After poor Dave’s moment in the spotlight as the zombie’s lunch du jour, the survivors come up with a new plan to escape, except that, according to Ritter, he’s the one with the plan and he’s just manipulating the others into thinking that it’s their plan. He’s looking more delusional. And in the midst of it all he’s checking his cell phone for a text. Some package he’s supposed to deliver that Dave had and refused to give him, which is why he’s still here. And now I really have to know what is so freaking important that anyone would still give a shit about it after the world ended.
I’ve said enough and I hope I haven’t spoiled anything for anyone. I guess what I really wanted to get across is that Ritter looks to be one of the most interesting characters I’ve come across in a while, right up there with Caine (please, please read Heroes Die) and Sandman Slim (Richard Kadrey’s character is awesome). I want to watch him do his thing more. I want to figure out who he is.
I’m also intrigued by the blurbs at the end of the book where eight other authors introduce their books set in the Apocalypse Weird saga and we’re told that “old secrets and dark enemies merge across multiple realities that are getting dangerously close to one another.” I want to see how all this fits together. I hope it lives up to its promise. Does anyone remember the old Thieves’ World books? That’s the closest I remember to something like this and I hope it’s as good.
December 13, 2014
As I've said in status updates, The Red King provides a fresh experience in a stale market of post-apocalyptic zombie fiction. Cole's writing is top-notch, from intense action to exquisite details of the world and most importantly characters that make you want to keep reading. Holiday is a barista who uses alcohol to cope with his girlfriend dumping him after she moved on to college and he stayed behind. Experiencing this emotion rich stage in his life grounds the reader in a character so real helps the experience of the apocalypse affect you more. You aren't reading another zombie book, you're in Holiday's head as he lives through a realistic and strange life change. I left The Red King strongly invested in his and his compatriots' journey to survive. The Red King is more than this survival experience, though. There are possible time-travel elements and world building oddities that make this also a mystery suitable to the story world title of Apocalypse Weird. Braddock is a new character introduced at the end, a special ops soldier given the task of going Jason Bourne on a Big Bad. That thread hasn't been tied to Holiday's yet, and while there was a little drop off in interest in Braddock's character compared to Holiday, I'm still happily along for the ride to find out more about this mystery through Cole's excellent story telling.
Bonus, this book is free! And, when I finished, I signed up and received The Red King Part Two for free as well!
Bonus, this book is free! And, when I finished, I signed up and received The Red King Part Two for free as well!
February 15, 2017
I read Stephen King's The Stand years ago. I had heard it was the best apocalyptic survival story around. By the end, I was sorely disappointed, left unfulfilled. I was surprised, because I generally love the author's other work. Since then I've been fairly sour on the genre, never really having any love for it in the first place. If this is the best there is, I thought, why keep looking? I would rather read a history textbook than read survival fiction. Doubly so for zombie survival fiction, which seems to just be an excuse for shallow characters and disgusting violent splatter to cover up what's missing: real heart.
The Red King is everything I wanted The Stand to be. It's satisfying, visceral without being gratuitous, emotional, compelling. You don't want to put it down, not even once. The characters are so intricately detailed that you'll swear they're real people, and you'll even come to care about the jerks. It's just... fun. Purely fun. It was a joy to read this book, and I look forward to the next book with great anticipation. In fact, I went ahead and bought every book in this series, this series that's part of my absolute least favorite genre.
Buy this book, and read it. If possible, get the Audible version and enjoy it there. Then buy the rest of the series, and enjoy the real best of the genre.
The Red King is everything I wanted The Stand to be. It's satisfying, visceral without being gratuitous, emotional, compelling. You don't want to put it down, not even once. The characters are so intricately detailed that you'll swear they're real people, and you'll even come to care about the jerks. It's just... fun. Purely fun. It was a joy to read this book, and I look forward to the next book with great anticipation. In fact, I went ahead and bought every book in this series, this series that's part of my absolute least favorite genre.
Buy this book, and read it. If possible, get the Audible version and enjoy it there. Then buy the rest of the series, and enjoy the real best of the genre.
January 26, 2015
If you are a fan of zombie fiction, then Apocalypse Weird: The Red King (WYRD Book 1) by Nick Cole is a must read for you. If you are NOT a fan of zombie fiction, you still need to read it. And especially so if you appreciate nerve-wracking, post-apocalyptic novels and the exploration of such worlds.
By now, word has spread around the globe that we are facing Apocalypse Weird. If you don’t believe me, just go over to YouTube and search “Apocalypse Weird Teaser Trailer.” Things are strange, and will be getting even stranger, from what I’ve seen and read. And Nick Cole starts it all off right, with The Red King.
Cole has multiple storylines going on, from survivors, to special ops guys, to mysterious insiders. And The Red King is just the beginning. Apocalypse Weird is a shared world, and other writers, such as Michael Bunker, Chris Pourteau, Kim Wells, Eric Tozzi, Jennifer Ellis, Hank Garner, Lesley Smith, Weston Ochse, and more, are scheduled to bring the apocalypse to a reading device near you.
Five books will be launched in late February, followed by a couple of books each month after the big launch. If The Red King is any indication of what is to come, it should be a lot of fun. Cole has put web links in the story that lead to maps, further information, and other parts of the enfolding novel. There’s a lot of mystery going on in The Red King, such as the origin of the relentless zombies, and I’m looking forward to learning some answers.
Nick Cole never lets his readers down. He knows how to write action scenes, but more importantly, he knows how to draw readers in and have empathy for his characters. He is a fantastic stylist, and if you’ve never read The Wasteland Saga or Soda Pop Soldier, you need to put them on your reading list.
Do yourself a favor and give this book a try. What do you have to lose, since it’s free? But don’t blame me if you find yourself up after midnight finishing it, which I did. This is fun stuff, with much more to come.
By now, word has spread around the globe that we are facing Apocalypse Weird. If you don’t believe me, just go over to YouTube and search “Apocalypse Weird Teaser Trailer.” Things are strange, and will be getting even stranger, from what I’ve seen and read. And Nick Cole starts it all off right, with The Red King.
Cole has multiple storylines going on, from survivors, to special ops guys, to mysterious insiders. And The Red King is just the beginning. Apocalypse Weird is a shared world, and other writers, such as Michael Bunker, Chris Pourteau, Kim Wells, Eric Tozzi, Jennifer Ellis, Hank Garner, Lesley Smith, Weston Ochse, and more, are scheduled to bring the apocalypse to a reading device near you.
Five books will be launched in late February, followed by a couple of books each month after the big launch. If The Red King is any indication of what is to come, it should be a lot of fun. Cole has put web links in the story that lead to maps, further information, and other parts of the enfolding novel. There’s a lot of mystery going on in The Red King, such as the origin of the relentless zombies, and I’m looking forward to learning some answers.
Nick Cole never lets his readers down. He knows how to write action scenes, but more importantly, he knows how to draw readers in and have empathy for his characters. He is a fantastic stylist, and if you’ve never read The Wasteland Saga or Soda Pop Soldier, you need to put them on your reading list.
Do yourself a favor and give this book a try. What do you have to lose, since it’s free? But don’t blame me if you find yourself up after midnight finishing it, which I did. This is fun stuff, with much more to come.
April 28, 2015
It was okay.
The writing was okay... mostly. The characters were okay... sorta. The story was okay... except for no resolution.
The four separate storylines were here and there throughout the book, but nothing was resolved for any of them.
Plus, the book only gives you half a book, and if you want to read the second half, you have to sign up to the mailing list, which I did. Once the first email comes out, I will be unsubscribing.
I don't agree with that sort of forced marketing concept.
The only future book I will read is Weston Ochse's, because I love his writing, and I'm sure he won't leave anything unresolved like this one does.
The writing was okay... mostly. The characters were okay... sorta. The story was okay... except for no resolution.
The four separate storylines were here and there throughout the book, but nothing was resolved for any of them.
Plus, the book only gives you half a book, and if you want to read the second half, you have to sign up to the mailing list, which I did. Once the first email comes out, I will be unsubscribing.
I don't agree with that sort of forced marketing concept.
The only future book I will read is Weston Ochse's, because I love his writing, and I'm sure he won't leave anything unresolved like this one does.
January 17, 2015
What a Ride! (Hidden link at the end of part one leads to part two. Likewise at the end of part two.)
Nick Cole’s works are never a letdown and this may be his best yet. The main Character that Cole feeds you first is Holiday, an outright mess. Not the kind of mess you’d give up on, the kind of mess you feel bad for because you either are, have been, or have known this person in real life. You want to help him up when he slips and falls. You also may want to punch him square in the face when he makes horribly, poor decisions. I personally had a couple of these moments. The bad guys are another story all-together, very reminiscent of King’s, The Stand. When the bad guys are bad, real bad, that keeps me coming back for more. A well done posse during the end-of-times. The wicked SOB’s almost makes me want to cheer for them, but quietly, of course. Cole does a masterful job of putting unanswered scenarios inside the story too. There a couple of moments where a description of a scene leads you to believe something else much bigger is going on but with just enough of a taste to tease the palate.
The world that Cole has created is incredible. It tips a hat to MMORPG’s, Zombie flicks, shows like The Twilight Zone and Lost, and many other current popular media titles bringing them altogether in a massive cluster of WTF! The expanding universe of WYRD also looks to be a riot. I have no idea how Cole and the other writers involved have nurtured this ball of chaos into what it has become but its creativity stands high on a pedestal, well above anything I can think of that is going on in the Sci-Fi world today. The world-building, unified but at the same time stand-alone, process Cole is taking on with the other talent is pure genius. An exciting endeavor to keep all eyes glued to, no doubt.
If you keep your orbs peeled you will also notice the cookie crumb trail Cole has thrown down. There is a link at the end of part one that feeds you to part two, and also a link in part two that leads you to part three. A neat trick to keep you coming back for more. In part three Nick Cole also throws down a link to a map of the WRYD world. I’m a map fiend, so this was a nice juicy morsel to chew on.
There’s no other way to say it, the Apocalypse Weird engine is going to be an unstoppable force in the modern writing world, changing the game of collaborative writing forever. I’d be shocked if you didn’t see AW popping up in video games, pen and paper RPG’s, TV serials, and possibly movies. Maybe even cereal boxes with little WRYD trinkets inside. It has so much unearthed potential. I can’t wait until Feb 23rd for the release of more masterminded titles to be unleashed on the world of WYRD.
Nick Cole’s works are never a letdown and this may be his best yet. The main Character that Cole feeds you first is Holiday, an outright mess. Not the kind of mess you’d give up on, the kind of mess you feel bad for because you either are, have been, or have known this person in real life. You want to help him up when he slips and falls. You also may want to punch him square in the face when he makes horribly, poor decisions. I personally had a couple of these moments. The bad guys are another story all-together, very reminiscent of King’s, The Stand. When the bad guys are bad, real bad, that keeps me coming back for more. A well done posse during the end-of-times. The wicked SOB’s almost makes me want to cheer for them, but quietly, of course. Cole does a masterful job of putting unanswered scenarios inside the story too. There a couple of moments where a description of a scene leads you to believe something else much bigger is going on but with just enough of a taste to tease the palate.
The world that Cole has created is incredible. It tips a hat to MMORPG’s, Zombie flicks, shows like The Twilight Zone and Lost, and many other current popular media titles bringing them altogether in a massive cluster of WTF! The expanding universe of WYRD also looks to be a riot. I have no idea how Cole and the other writers involved have nurtured this ball of chaos into what it has become but its creativity stands high on a pedestal, well above anything I can think of that is going on in the Sci-Fi world today. The world-building, unified but at the same time stand-alone, process Cole is taking on with the other talent is pure genius. An exciting endeavor to keep all eyes glued to, no doubt.
If you keep your orbs peeled you will also notice the cookie crumb trail Cole has thrown down. There is a link at the end of part one that feeds you to part two, and also a link in part two that leads you to part three. A neat trick to keep you coming back for more. In part three Nick Cole also throws down a link to a map of the WRYD world. I’m a map fiend, so this was a nice juicy morsel to chew on.
There’s no other way to say it, the Apocalypse Weird engine is going to be an unstoppable force in the modern writing world, changing the game of collaborative writing forever. I’d be shocked if you didn’t see AW popping up in video games, pen and paper RPG’s, TV serials, and possibly movies. Maybe even cereal boxes with little WRYD trinkets inside. It has so much unearthed potential. I can’t wait until Feb 23rd for the release of more masterminded titles to be unleashed on the world of WYRD.
September 21, 2025
I've been going through this, and the first half or so is pretty solid; unusual but not implausible protagonist (so refreshing! :) ), with a soldier who's close-mouthed about her background but /seems/ to have come from another dimension and the protagonist's neighbour also appearing. I found the pacing slower than I might have expected, but not annoyingly so.
The second half or so, though, involves a special ops badass (SOB) who is the last hope of the now defunct United States, and there's a nuclear bomb due to a home-grown terror cell, and the SOB is gassing and then mercifully shooting bystanders (for The Mission) and being far more badass than the local Marines.
I am finding it unengaging.
I'm taking a break from this one. I may come back in a bit and grind through the last bit to find out what happens. Really hoping they get back to the other characters.
========
Okay. I've finished the initial book to the point where you get a link to download part two. The introduction of an evil man who nuked a chunk of downtown LA during the zombie apocalypse and whose face has been partly shot off to reveal steel underneath is kinda awesome.
actually, it's really awesome. It's post-apocalyptic evil power broker by way of Remo Williams; it could be astounding fun.
But Braddock (that'd be the SOB) is just too much of a self-righteous brutal gun-jock ideologue to keep reading about, and I am not invested enough to go looking for reviews or summaries which tell me if/when/how much he shows up again. He's not even fun to hate, he just makes the reading experience unfun for me.
If I hear more about this book from someone I know well enough to ask for details about if that character changes or is phased out or dies, their answers may prompt me to pick it up again. Right now, though there are some grand elements to it, I'm really not finding the work as a whole to my taste.
The second half or so, though, involves a special ops badass (SOB) who is the last hope of the now defunct United States, and there's a nuclear bomb due to a home-grown terror cell, and the SOB is gassing and then mercifully shooting bystanders (for The Mission) and being far more badass than the local Marines.
I am finding it unengaging.
I'm taking a break from this one. I may come back in a bit and grind through the last bit to find out what happens. Really hoping they get back to the other characters.
========
Okay. I've finished the initial book to the point where you get a link to download part two. The introduction of an evil man who nuked a chunk of downtown LA during the zombie apocalypse and whose face has been partly shot off to reveal steel underneath is kinda awesome.
actually, it's really awesome. It's post-apocalyptic evil power broker by way of Remo Williams; it could be astounding fun.
But Braddock (that'd be the SOB) is just too much of a self-righteous brutal gun-jock ideologue to keep reading about, and I am not invested enough to go looking for reviews or summaries which tell me if/when/how much he shows up again. He's not even fun to hate, he just makes the reading experience unfun for me.
If I hear more about this book from someone I know well enough to ask for details about if that character changes or is phased out or dies, their answers may prompt me to pick it up again. Right now, though there are some grand elements to it, I'm really not finding the work as a whole to my taste.
December 6, 2014
I was hooked when I first read Nick Cole’s The Old Man and the Wasteland and I hoped it was not a single hit. The following Wasteland Saga fulfilled that hope and has become one of my all-time favorite dystopian trilogies. It was easy to compare Cole’s writing with other classics like Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, Cormac McCarthy's The Road, or Stephen King’s The Stand. Then Soda Pop Soldier gave a nod to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and King's Dark Tower series, with a contemporary edge in which old and new gamers could become immersed. After reading Nick Cole’s first book in the Apocalypse Weird series, The Red King, I believe that Cole has definitely found his own voice as a writer and has a permanent place on my list of favorite authors. There is no more need for comparisons, Cole stands on his own.
The Red King adds some interesting new twists to classic themes that make for a fun read – Zombies, Illuminati, Military Ops. More importantly however is Cole’s character development. What’s the difference between a dime store novel and a classic? The writer’s understanding of human nature, insight into the human experience, and empathic development of the characters’ personae. If the reader feels “I’m not the only one who thinks this way, I am not the only one who feels this way, I am not alone…,” then the writer has tapped into the hermeneutic of aesthetics – teaching and understanding humanity's struggles and joys – humanity's meaning – through art. I may be on a bit of a tangent here – Nick Cole’s, The Red King, is fun – but I also think he allows us a glimpse of humanity’s internal and external struggle between right and wrong, between good and evil.
Needless to say, I recommend this book.
The Red King adds some interesting new twists to classic themes that make for a fun read – Zombies, Illuminati, Military Ops. More importantly however is Cole’s character development. What’s the difference between a dime store novel and a classic? The writer’s understanding of human nature, insight into the human experience, and empathic development of the characters’ personae. If the reader feels “I’m not the only one who thinks this way, I am not the only one who feels this way, I am not alone…,” then the writer has tapped into the hermeneutic of aesthetics – teaching and understanding humanity's struggles and joys – humanity's meaning – through art. I may be on a bit of a tangent here – Nick Cole’s, The Red King, is fun – but I also think he allows us a glimpse of humanity’s internal and external struggle between right and wrong, between good and evil.
Needless to say, I recommend this book.
March 9, 2015
Update after reading book two - Apocalypse Weird: The Dark Knight
I don't know that I can add much to the review other than to say it gets weirder in the next one, but in an OMG-I-can't-believe-what's-happening-I-cannot-put-this-book-down kind of way. This one was the set-up and it's all very straightforward, at least up until the end. I'm still wondering about the Raggedy Man because he was never explained.
Original review
This book is made up of three parts. The first has a link at the end to get the other two...and then this is all just the beginning. You would think by now I'd be sick of reading zombie books but I just love them. And to be honest, Nick Cole is such a fantastic writer he could write a story about the neighbor's dog crapping on my lawn and it would be so compelling I wouldn't be able to put it down, even though I know how it ends. This zombie story is no exception. If you were to ask what's happened so far, truthfully I would have to say not that much. Some people are trying to survive while their city is overrun by zombies, the focus is on three different people/groups, but it's the details that matter. It's the way Cole has written it. Right now, I'm rushing through this review so I can get to the next instalment...which I'm going to get right now.
I don't know that I can add much to the review other than to say it gets weirder in the next one, but in an OMG-I-can't-believe-what's-happening-I-cannot-put-this-book-down kind of way. This one was the set-up and it's all very straightforward, at least up until the end. I'm still wondering about the Raggedy Man because he was never explained.
Original review
This book is made up of three parts. The first has a link at the end to get the other two...and then this is all just the beginning. You would think by now I'd be sick of reading zombie books but I just love them. And to be honest, Nick Cole is such a fantastic writer he could write a story about the neighbor's dog crapping on my lawn and it would be so compelling I wouldn't be able to put it down, even though I know how it ends. This zombie story is no exception. If you were to ask what's happened so far, truthfully I would have to say not that much. Some people are trying to survive while their city is overrun by zombies, the focus is on three different people/groups, but it's the details that matter. It's the way Cole has written it. Right now, I'm rushing through this review so I can get to the next instalment...which I'm going to get right now.
February 1, 2015
An Incredible Start
The Red King is an incredible start to this vast AW world. From a down and out alcoholic who only cares about the one who got away while pouring his next drink to a hardened military veteran whose sole purpose is to complete the mission, no matter the cost. But what makes the story even better is, of course, zombies.
The thing that kept me so intrigued about this book was the author's writing style. It is very fast paced and there are always multiple things happening at once, but the author keeps you intrigued by consistently painting a perfect picture of what is going on.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves fast paced, apocalyptic thrillers, but to everyone who just loves a great book!
The Red King is an incredible start to this vast AW world. From a down and out alcoholic who only cares about the one who got away while pouring his next drink to a hardened military veteran whose sole purpose is to complete the mission, no matter the cost. But what makes the story even better is, of course, zombies.
The thing that kept me so intrigued about this book was the author's writing style. It is very fast paced and there are always multiple things happening at once, but the author keeps you intrigued by consistently painting a perfect picture of what is going on.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves fast paced, apocalyptic thrillers, but to everyone who just loves a great book!
February 9, 2016
Not sure why I waited this long to read another Nick Cole, but I sure couldn't leave Holiday to the zombies. Hence it's 4:30 in the morning and I'm about to play hooky from work so I can read The Dark Knight. Thanks AGAIN Mr. Cole! You have mastered the elusive gift of storytelling!
December 24, 2014
Fun read
Entertaining zombie action romp. Suburban survivors, rogue operators, and Los Angeles as ground zero for a zombie Armageddon. Great fun.
Entertaining zombie action romp. Suburban survivors, rogue operators, and Los Angeles as ground zero for a zombie Armageddon. Great fun.
January 7, 2015
4 stars.
Wow, this was weird but good weird and I liked it.
Review to follow.
Wow, this was weird but good weird and I liked it.
Review to follow.
February 4, 2015
Was really impressed. I'm bummed the second book isn't out yet. :-/
March 1, 2015
Good start to what I hope will be more. Nick has grasp of character development that helps you identify with them. Really enjoyed it.
April 10, 2015
Loved it. great concept, setting and character development
June 9, 2015
Zombies. Yup.
I liked the story. It's difficult to say where this world is headed since the saga continues at least into Part 2. However, I bought into the two main protagonists so far: one a bit of a drinker ("bit" LOL). The other a hardcore JSOC type. Quite a bit of action with very easy visualization. NIck has always been a great descriptive writer. But, there is a miasmic fog that isn't totally understood and a large Thumper. We aren't told what they are at this point, or what they might portend. I imagine we might be confronted by aliens....Storm Troopers loaded in an Imperial AT-AT.'s And who is piloting the A-10 Warthogs (my favorite combat plane)?
The writing style is something I didn't expect from Nick. It appeared a bit "jerky"...like trying to drive a stick shift with the emergency brake not fully disengaged. I slogged through the first 30 pages or so, and got used to the style. Heck, I got used to Cormac McCarthy. I'd describe the style as "chewy". You have to work at it before swallowing.
I've gone on to purchase Part 2. I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be free or not. The instructions at the end of the book didn't open on my Kindle.
I liked the story. It's difficult to say where this world is headed since the saga continues at least into Part 2. However, I bought into the two main protagonists so far: one a bit of a drinker ("bit" LOL). The other a hardcore JSOC type. Quite a bit of action with very easy visualization. NIck has always been a great descriptive writer. But, there is a miasmic fog that isn't totally understood and a large Thumper. We aren't told what they are at this point, or what they might portend. I imagine we might be confronted by aliens....Storm Troopers loaded in an Imperial AT-AT.'s And who is piloting the A-10 Warthogs (my favorite combat plane)?
The writing style is something I didn't expect from Nick. It appeared a bit "jerky"...like trying to drive a stick shift with the emergency brake not fully disengaged. I slogged through the first 30 pages or so, and got used to the style. Heck, I got used to Cormac McCarthy. I'd describe the style as "chewy". You have to work at it before swallowing.
I've gone on to purchase Part 2. I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be free or not. The instructions at the end of the book didn't open on my Kindle.
December 13, 2014
Just recently finished the first book of "Apocalypse Weird", The Red King, by Nick Cole. It was very well written, and drew me into the story (s) quickly. The characters are engaging, although more so as we find out more about them, and as they grow (Holiday in particular). I'm looking forward to the next, linear, book in the series (by Nick, again, I hope), to follow up on all the threads that are working in this series. The "Apocalypse Weird" universe is going to be interesting; many authors are going to contribute "side stories", as I understand the concept (I may not be entirely clear, or correct, about this, though!), which will illuminate what's happening in different places/similar time (maybe Europe, or Hawaii, for example) in this universe, although the characters may not all be interacting (or, may be; not sure how much interaction all the various authors will have with each other, since I'm not one of them!
May 31, 2016
May 2016---I decided to give this a reread before I pick up the next book. This is still a fun, fast paced read.
This time thru I noticed some interesting symbolism in the beginning that I must have missed the first time.
---Advanced Copy Read----
Nov 2014---Here we go, another book about zombies...but wait! This one is written by Nick Cole, who's talent for putting word on paper raises book writing to an art form. The way this guy puts sentences together is like music.
Fair warning, this is a zombie book, filled with zombie fighting action. It is a strong PG 13, maybe even a soft R.
I read this thing is one large, long sitting. I just couldn't put it down. I can't wait to get my hands on book 2.
This time thru I noticed some interesting symbolism in the beginning that I must have missed the first time.
---Advanced Copy Read----
Nov 2014---Here we go, another book about zombies...but wait! This one is written by Nick Cole, who's talent for putting word on paper raises book writing to an art form. The way this guy puts sentences together is like music.
Fair warning, this is a zombie book, filled with zombie fighting action. It is a strong PG 13, maybe even a soft R.
I read this thing is one large, long sitting. I just couldn't put it down. I can't wait to get my hands on book 2.
September 19, 2015
4 stars, but let me explain. This is a definite case of the story making up for the writing. There is a dialectic turn in part three that makes me cringe, but the unselfconscious weirdness of it all is very titillating. The author is having enough fun with the story that the reader can't help but play along.
Cole's undeniable strength is characterization. Followed closely by a menace he doesn't taint by over explanation. The blurb mentions Lost and it's not an exaggeration. If I had to guess from the hints given, but no, not until I've seen more of the story...
There was a hitch in acquiring the full story that kept me from reading the last two parts until I downloaded them this morning. But it's not too far into the afternoon and I'm done with it so it is a binge worthy story.
Cole's undeniable strength is characterization. Followed closely by a menace he doesn't taint by over explanation. The blurb mentions Lost and it's not an exaggeration. If I had to guess from the hints given, but no, not until I've seen more of the story...
There was a hitch in acquiring the full story that kept me from reading the last two parts until I downloaded them this morning. But it's not too far into the afternoon and I'm done with it so it is a binge worthy story.
March 21, 2015
Zombie apocalypse with a LOT of weird thrown in.
Holiday is our main hero and he has a serious drinking problem. That's a pretty big handicap in a zombie apocalypse. Luckily, he starts picking up friends who might help him survive, if he doesn't fail them one too many times.
A lot of foreshadowing for weird stuff on the horizon I have a concern that the all the weirdness might be overwhelming and schlocky, but the author does a good job of keeping the characters grounded and human, so maybe he'll pull it off.
I'll stick with it into the next couple books to see what happens next.
Holiday is our main hero and he has a serious drinking problem. That's a pretty big handicap in a zombie apocalypse. Luckily, he starts picking up friends who might help him survive, if he doesn't fail them one too many times.
A lot of foreshadowing for weird stuff on the horizon I have a concern that the all the weirdness might be overwhelming and schlocky, but the author does a good job of keeping the characters grounded and human, so maybe he'll pull it off.
I'll stick with it into the next couple books to see what happens next.
March 10, 2015
The End of the World gets weird...
Just finsihed reading "The Red King". I love zombie stories anyway, and this didn't disappoint. The book was well-written, and that's not always a given these days. But this book was great for all the reasons I love zombie stories and then some. There's more going on here than your typical "zombie, end of the world" story. There are mysterious explosions, huge footprints. At one point, it felt like I'd started watching "MIssion Impossible" five minutes into it, after they'd explained who was who. Most importantly, it left me wanting more. So if you like zombie fiction, dystopian novels, or weird 'end of the world' sagas, you'll love this book.
Just finsihed reading "The Red King". I love zombie stories anyway, and this didn't disappoint. The book was well-written, and that's not always a given these days. But this book was great for all the reasons I love zombie stories and then some. There's more going on here than your typical "zombie, end of the world" story. There are mysterious explosions, huge footprints. At one point, it felt like I'd started watching "MIssion Impossible" five minutes into it, after they'd explained who was who. Most importantly, it left me wanting more. So if you like zombie fiction, dystopian novels, or weird 'end of the world' sagas, you'll love this book.
August 14, 2016
The Red King has me wanting more
It was by a whim that I started reading Nick Cole starting with Ctrl Alt Revolt, the free library so glad I did. The Red King is pure entertainment, full of action, twist and turns I would never expect. I enjoyed his character development, especially of Holiday, who I hope finds redemption, and can't wait to learn more about the others. I haven't had this much enjoyment from reading a book since Stephen King. I will definitely be reading g the second book, I am going to buy it right now.
It was by a whim that I started reading Nick Cole starting with Ctrl Alt Revolt, the free library so glad I did. The Red King is pure entertainment, full of action, twist and turns I would never expect. I enjoyed his character development, especially of Holiday, who I hope finds redemption, and can't wait to learn more about the others. I haven't had this much enjoyment from reading a book since Stephen King. I will definitely be reading g the second book, I am going to buy it right now.
February 19, 2015
Nick Cole has a fantastic mind for the indie book business. Great start to the Apocalypse Weird phenomenon. Enjoyed the weaving of character relationships in this one, right down to the end. Looking forward to more in The Red King series, as well as the many other adventures the Apocalypse Weird project is most assuredly going to take us on.
November 27, 2014
There are mysterious pasts, zombies and glimpses of the multiverse. What's not to love?
December 2, 2014
Liked it a lot, the overall project is interesting.
December 19, 2024
Where one might think at first blush that this is "So What Just Another Zombie Apocalypse Novel," I would caution you to hold on, and listen up. There's more to it than that. First, the series title is "Wyrd." I take it as a warning that all is not as it seems.
In most Zompoc series, independent-minded individuals do better, because the character is not waiting around to be rescued. S/He is working to dig in and prep the created home for security and sustainability. Although there is independence, there is codependence. This is almost as important as independence, because we humans are social creatures and eventually will seek to allow people into our bubbles of protection.
In the Red King, Holliday is our main protagonist, a typical party guy person, fun to hang out with, but not someone you would rely on for back up. He lives in a Los Angeles community that is about four blocks in area with natural barriers and easily isolated, according to his neighbor, Frank. Frank is older and planning how to dig in and erect barriers to keep the zombies away. In one of Holliday's visits to the grocery store he meets up with the mysterious Ash.
There are others that become part of the survivors, but Holliday is one that bears watching due to his addictions to alcohol and cigarettes. I will refrain from sharing further. Needless, to say, I clearly enjoyed the book (just check out my rating.) I think it's important to note that this is a series. I would be interested in purchasing subsequent books. I found the characters interesting and think that there are subtle messages hidden in the naming of characters and pop culture references.
In most Zompoc series, independent-minded individuals do better, because the character is not waiting around to be rescued. S/He is working to dig in and prep the created home for security and sustainability. Although there is independence, there is codependence. This is almost as important as independence, because we humans are social creatures and eventually will seek to allow people into our bubbles of protection.
In the Red King, Holliday is our main protagonist, a typical party guy person, fun to hang out with, but not someone you would rely on for back up. He lives in a Los Angeles community that is about four blocks in area with natural barriers and easily isolated, according to his neighbor, Frank. Frank is older and planning how to dig in and erect barriers to keep the zombies away. In one of Holliday's visits to the grocery store he meets up with the mysterious Ash.
There are others that become part of the survivors, but Holliday is one that bears watching due to his addictions to alcohol and cigarettes. I will refrain from sharing further. Needless, to say, I clearly enjoyed the book (just check out my rating.) I think it's important to note that this is a series. I would be interested in purchasing subsequent books. I found the characters interesting and think that there are subtle messages hidden in the naming of characters and pop culture references.
October 10, 2015
My daughter put me on to this series and I'm very glad that she did.
At first glance this belongs firmly in a series such as The Walking Dead and there are definitely a few nods in that direction in the novel though despite the cover it is a novel rather than a comic book. And yet it is so much more than a novel, it's the first instalment of a series of interlinked apocalyptic-themed novels by around 20 different authors all set within a shared world but pretty much all featuring stand alone stories and unique sets of characters.
This instalment is well written, pacy and generally well crafted. Where it does rely on established tropes it does so with its tongue in its cheek and a knowing twinkle in its eye, even going so far as to have one character wonder if the zombies running around downtown LA are classic George Romero style zombies, only for the other two, younger characters to wonder just who this George Romero is. There is also a nice sense of reality in the way in which one character misses the apocalypse entirely due to being blind drunk for a couple of weeks - a nod surely to the blind and/or unconscious in hospital trope of Day of the Triffids, 28 Days Later and (of course)The Walking Dead - and in the way in which the main protagonist of the first part of the novel reacts to his situation with phrases such as "you gotta be kidding" and "really?" which is how I've always felt the majority of people actually would react in this situation.
The trouble with this novel though is despite supposedly being a stand-alone it reads more like a pilot episode in that it sets up lots of possible plot threads but doesn't resolve any of them. Yes, this does make me want to read more instalments but at the same time it leaves the reader feeling rather unsatisfied with this one. There's a link at the end of the novel (it's only available electronically, oh and this instalment is free by the way) which promises to email the reader the 2nd and 3rd parts of The Red King implying that this is only one third of the actual novel. having clicked the link I was rewarded with nothing more than an option to subscribe - to what I'm not entirely sure - and even clicking that produced no additional parts to the novel. If they turn up at some point in the future I'll review this review and amend accordingly but for now it remains at three stars.
*****************************************************************
Edit: Ok, so I promised that I'd return to my review if the remainder of the novel turned up, well it did (about 8 hours later) and I am.
The remaining chapters carry on in much the same way as before, except that now they come as .pdf instead of as a proprietary file for Kindle and so don't benefit from all the usual formatting options and have to be read as black text on white page. That minor annoyance aside the story develops at a great pace with a lot more character exposition and even the introduction of four more characters who could take on a major role in any sequel.
which brings me to the one but that feels a little unsatisfactory: lack of an ending. I know that this is the first in a series and that there is going to be a direct sequel as well as dozens of books that don't carry on specifically from this one but here we have at least two storylines that a set up but with no where near any denouement and while I don't want or expect everything to be neatly tied up with a view at the end of the first instalment I would like it if some of the questions this novel posed were answered. I am absolutely on board with the author not answering the big questions such as 'what caused the apocalypse in the first place?' and 'who are the two characters playing chess?' but some of the other, plot specific questions could have been answered so that we don't have to Kerri guessing at absolutely everything.
I will be fair and up my review to four stars because I do think that this is well written, enjoyable, extremely well paced and certainly does make one want to read on to the next volume, which after all was its job, but it doesn't get higher because there are just a few niggly flaws that remain with the reader once they've finished the novel.
At first glance this belongs firmly in a series such as The Walking Dead and there are definitely a few nods in that direction in the novel though despite the cover it is a novel rather than a comic book. And yet it is so much more than a novel, it's the first instalment of a series of interlinked apocalyptic-themed novels by around 20 different authors all set within a shared world but pretty much all featuring stand alone stories and unique sets of characters.
This instalment is well written, pacy and generally well crafted. Where it does rely on established tropes it does so with its tongue in its cheek and a knowing twinkle in its eye, even going so far as to have one character wonder if the zombies running around downtown LA are classic George Romero style zombies, only for the other two, younger characters to wonder just who this George Romero is. There is also a nice sense of reality in the way in which one character misses the apocalypse entirely due to being blind drunk for a couple of weeks - a nod surely to the blind and/or unconscious in hospital trope of Day of the Triffids, 28 Days Later and (of course)The Walking Dead - and in the way in which the main protagonist of the first part of the novel reacts to his situation with phrases such as "you gotta be kidding" and "really?" which is how I've always felt the majority of people actually would react in this situation.
The trouble with this novel though is despite supposedly being a stand-alone it reads more like a pilot episode in that it sets up lots of possible plot threads but doesn't resolve any of them. Yes, this does make me want to read more instalments but at the same time it leaves the reader feeling rather unsatisfied with this one. There's a link at the end of the novel (it's only available electronically, oh and this instalment is free by the way) which promises to email the reader the 2nd and 3rd parts of The Red King implying that this is only one third of the actual novel. having clicked the link I was rewarded with nothing more than an option to subscribe - to what I'm not entirely sure - and even clicking that produced no additional parts to the novel. If they turn up at some point in the future I'll review this review and amend accordingly but for now it remains at three stars.
*****************************************************************
Edit: Ok, so I promised that I'd return to my review if the remainder of the novel turned up, well it did (about 8 hours later) and I am.
The remaining chapters carry on in much the same way as before, except that now they come as .pdf instead of as a proprietary file for Kindle and so don't benefit from all the usual formatting options and have to be read as black text on white page. That minor annoyance aside the story develops at a great pace with a lot more character exposition and even the introduction of four more characters who could take on a major role in any sequel.
which brings me to the one but that feels a little unsatisfactory: lack of an ending. I know that this is the first in a series and that there is going to be a direct sequel as well as dozens of books that don't carry on specifically from this one but here we have at least two storylines that a set up but with no where near any denouement and while I don't want or expect everything to be neatly tied up with a view at the end of the first instalment I would like it if some of the questions this novel posed were answered. I am absolutely on board with the author not answering the big questions such as 'what caused the apocalypse in the first place?' and 'who are the two characters playing chess?' but some of the other, plot specific questions could have been answered so that we don't have to Kerri guessing at absolutely everything.
I will be fair and up my review to four stars because I do think that this is well written, enjoyable, extremely well paced and certainly does make one want to read on to the next volume, which after all was its job, but it doesn't get higher because there are just a few niggly flaws that remain with the reader once they've finished the novel.
February 13, 2015
Nick Cole had me at Holiday. Wait, what does that mean? Exactly.
The Red King is the introductory novel in an ambitious effort to create a new world for Indie authors where one suspects they will write their weirdest post-apocalyptic fantasies into a wild multifaceted plot line. There is a known ending, so I am told, but somehow I suspect that once this thing is launched no one will be able to control the imaginations of those involved.
To fully appreciate this book you must understand its place in this new world. That being said, lets look at the writing. It is tight and well paced. Although there are several characters introduced it is Holiday who seems the most developed -- at least at this point. My favorite part to any post-apocalyptic book is the period where the characters discover and first understand the catastrophy unfolding around them. Holiday could have stepped out of central casting as the alcoholic, slightly dissipated failed actor in Hollywood. There are plenty in real life so why not put one in a novel about the end of the world? Add the heavy drinking and you have a truly believable character with understandable reactions to the horrors around him.
The other characters are introduced but not developed to the same extent as Holiday. That is where the understanding of this book's place in the the Apocalypse Weird project comes into play. If I were to expect this to be a stand alone book I would be disappointed in the introduction of other characters and the lack of follow up. But, like any reader of a comic book or watcher of a television series, I know more is coming so I overlook the incompleteness of it all. I know the writing is good so I can in good faith believe more of the same quality is coming.
This is a good start of what looks like an interesting ride into an improbable but believable universe created by a multitude of talented and creative writers.
All that is to say the book is good and worth your time reading. I look forward to the next installment.
The Red King is the introductory novel in an ambitious effort to create a new world for Indie authors where one suspects they will write their weirdest post-apocalyptic fantasies into a wild multifaceted plot line. There is a known ending, so I am told, but somehow I suspect that once this thing is launched no one will be able to control the imaginations of those involved.
To fully appreciate this book you must understand its place in this new world. That being said, lets look at the writing. It is tight and well paced. Although there are several characters introduced it is Holiday who seems the most developed -- at least at this point. My favorite part to any post-apocalyptic book is the period where the characters discover and first understand the catastrophy unfolding around them. Holiday could have stepped out of central casting as the alcoholic, slightly dissipated failed actor in Hollywood. There are plenty in real life so why not put one in a novel about the end of the world? Add the heavy drinking and you have a truly believable character with understandable reactions to the horrors around him.
The other characters are introduced but not developed to the same extent as Holiday. That is where the understanding of this book's place in the the Apocalypse Weird project comes into play. If I were to expect this to be a stand alone book I would be disappointed in the introduction of other characters and the lack of follow up. But, like any reader of a comic book or watcher of a television series, I know more is coming so I overlook the incompleteness of it all. I know the writing is good so I can in good faith believe more of the same quality is coming.
This is a good start of what looks like an interesting ride into an improbable but believable universe created by a multitude of talented and creative writers.
All that is to say the book is good and worth your time reading. I look forward to the next installment.
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