I Am Automaton

I Am Automaton #1

by Edward P. Cardillo

In the near future, terrorists and drug cartels threaten the security of a United States reeling from the Rollercoaster Recession, escalating unemployment, and air saturated with toxic pollen. Sergeant Peter Birdsall's squad is wiped out by the Navajas cartel in Tijuana thanks to a tip from a mole within. The only survivor, he is recruited into the army’s mysterious infantry drone program by Major Lewis, who promises that the program will revolutionize the war on terror and the cartels.

While Peter is trained in the use of these infantry drones to hunt down enemies of freedom in normally inaccessible terrain, his younger egg-head brother, Carl, can no longer afford college. Tempted to follow in his older brother’s footsteps, Carl considers enlisting. Now, Peter must balance the dangers of his work with keeping his brother out of harm’s way. However, Carl, like the drones, has a mind of his own.

Genres: Zombies, Science Fiction

278 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 2, 2013

Reviews

[Terese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not your typical zombie novel. Peter and Carl, two brothers who are the main characters, are very likeable characters that you root for. Captain Fiona London, an army psychologist, is the brains and lends this zombie novel a philosophical bent, making it a brainy entry for the genre. It's a military thriller with some science fiction, romance, and of course zombies. Highly recommended.

[Ian M. Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating new spin on the Zombie mythos.

A fascinating new spin on the Zombie mythos.

Never before have I read about zombies actually helping us. The author draws us in with interesting characters in a believable world not too far from our own.

Then he brings us the undead soldiers.

Recommended.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review

This is a very different take on zombies. All other books the zombies are all bad guys who are just out to eat you. In this book the army is using zombies to hunt down the bad guys. Well worth reading.

[Nathan Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another day, another terrorist themed horror novel; but this time with an army of zombies to contend with.
Cardillo takes your typical garden variety zombie and injects some originality into the genre. Instead of the traditional survivalist horror where it’s Humans vs. Zombies and the action is by skin of your teeth fight for life in a post-apocalyptic world, Cardillo has kept society intact and instead the shambling undead have been harnessed as Insidious Drones (ID’s) to fight the bad fight, keeping America safe from insurgents at home and abroad. In his (not too hard to imagine) future, the recession has hit ever harder, so Cardillo paints a realistic portrait of the world we’ll come to expect.
Cardillo writes with such an authority on the technology he’s created, so much so you’ll believe the ID program might actually be feasible in the future. Imagine a soldier that will keep on fighting; even if they’re dead.
And it isn’t just guns blazing action throughout, within is a thoughtful novel, dealing with the wars that soldiers fight within themselves and at home. Not every war is fought on the battlefield.
I thoroughly enjoyed I AM AUTOMATON for its sheer innovation of deviating from the norm and delivering a deep message about the way humans treat war and the victims of it. Each side thinks we’ll win this war no matter what it costs. Even it costs us our humanity.
If you’re sick of splatter and want a novel with brains you don’t have to eat, enlist with I AM AUTOMATON today!

5/5
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[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book....it was a different spin on the Zombie genre an had military ops aspect as well.....only gripe is at times somewhat simplistic...but all in all good first effort....looking forward to follow up

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zombies no less.

I don't like zombie stories, but this is a well written book. I hope Mr Carrillo writes a science fiction novel with out zombies.