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Unconditional: A Tale of the Zombie Apocalypse
The Walking Dead meets The Incredible Journey in this thrilling short story of trial and tragedy. The peaceful cool of a fall day is shattered when the Storm of Teeth consumes the world. A dog watches, terrified, as his human family battles a herd of walking corpses. The family flees for their lives, and the dog begins his odyssey through the zombie apocalypse to find them. But what will he find?
Experience this dark adventure from the perspective of man’s best friend as he strives to reunite with the boy he loves more than life itself.
Experience this dark adventure from the perspective of man’s best friend as he strives to reunite with the boy he loves more than life itself.
- GenresZombies
22 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 16, 2015
5 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Chris Pourteau
47 books63 followersChris Pourteau is the bestselling author of the sci-fi thriller novels of the SynCorp Saga (co-authored with David Bruns), the post-apocalyptic Serenity Strain novels, and the military sci-fi collection Tales of B-Company. His first novel, Shadows Burned In, earned the 2015 eLit Book Awards Gold Medal for Literary Fiction. The Lazarus Protocol, the first novel in the SynCorp Saga, placed in the Top Ten in Read Freely's 2018 50 Best Indie Book of the Year contest; it was the highest-rated Sci-Fi novel in the contest.
He’s also edited and curated bestselling short story collections including the two animal-centric collections Tails of the Apocalypse and Tails of Dystopia (with Samuel Peralta), as well as Bridge Across the Stars, a collection of Sci-Fi stories from indie and traditionally published authors published by Sci-Fi Bridge, which Chris co-founded.
His dayjob is editor-in-chief for the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, which researches cutting-edge technologies across the transportation spectrum. Chris Pourteau is the bestselling author of the sci-fi thriller novels of the SynCorp Saga (co-authored with David Bruns), the post-apocalyptic Serenity Strain novels, and the military sci-fi collection Tales of B-Company. His first novel, Shadows Burned In, earned the 2015 eLit Book Awards Gold Medal for Literary Fiction. The Lazarus Protocol, the first novel in the SynCorp Saga, placed in the Top Ten in Read Freely's 2018 50 Best Indie Book of the Year contest; it was the highest-rated Sci-Fi novel in the contest.
He’s also edited and curated bestselling short story collections including the two animal-centric collections Tails of the Apocalypse and Tails of Dystopia (with Samuel Peralta), as well as Bridge Across the Stars, a collection of Sci-Fi stories from indie and traditionally published authors published by Sci-Fi Bridge, which Chris co-founded. His dayjob is editor-in-chief for the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, which researches cutting-edge technologies across the transportation spectrum.
When he’s not writing, editing, or working the dayjob, Chris loves exercising regularly, watching shows like Star Trek and Stranger Things, and reading his favorite authors. Those include Bernard Cornwell, Stephen King, George R.R. Martin, Edgar Allan Poe, and Max Collins. He lives in Texas with his wife, son, and two dogs. (He’s a HUGE dog person, by the way.)
Find out more about Chris and his writing through his newsletter. Sign up and get free stuff at https://chrispourteau.com/newsletter.
He’s also edited and curated bestselling short story collections including the two animal-centric collections Tails of the Apocalypse and Tails of Dystopia (with Samuel Peralta), as well as Bridge Across the Stars, a collection of Sci-Fi stories from indie and traditionally published authors published by Sci-Fi Bridge, which Chris co-founded.
His dayjob is editor-in-chief for the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, which researches cutting-edge technologies across the transportation spectrum. Chris Pourteau is the bestselling author of the sci-fi thriller novels of the SynCorp Saga (co-authored with David Bruns), the post-apocalyptic Serenity Strain novels, and the military sci-fi collection Tales of B-Company. His first novel, Shadows Burned In, earned the 2015 eLit Book Awards Gold Medal for Literary Fiction. The Lazarus Protocol, the first novel in the SynCorp Saga, placed in the Top Ten in Read Freely's 2018 50 Best Indie Book of the Year contest; it was the highest-rated Sci-Fi novel in the contest.
He’s also edited and curated bestselling short story collections including the two animal-centric collections Tails of the Apocalypse and Tails of Dystopia (with Samuel Peralta), as well as Bridge Across the Stars, a collection of Sci-Fi stories from indie and traditionally published authors published by Sci-Fi Bridge, which Chris co-founded. His dayjob is editor-in-chief for the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, which researches cutting-edge technologies across the transportation spectrum.
When he’s not writing, editing, or working the dayjob, Chris loves exercising regularly, watching shows like Star Trek and Stranger Things, and reading his favorite authors. Those include Bernard Cornwell, Stephen King, George R.R. Martin, Edgar Allan Poe, and Max Collins. He lives in Texas with his wife, son, and two dogs. (He’s a HUGE dog person, by the way.)
Find out more about Chris and his writing through his newsletter. Sign up and get free stuff at https://chrispourteau.com/newsletter.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 29, 2016
Rhett Bruno (himself an author) reviewed this great story so I looked it up. I only managed to find the anthology containing it alongside lots of stories about animals during the apocalypse but wasn't sure if it was for me. Thus, so far, I've only read this story.
What stands out at the beginning is this great dedication:
And it's true: animals are the better humans in most of the cases. Thus, it shouldn't come as a surprise that there are apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic stories where they are the MCs.
I, personally, am glad because many apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic books feature especially dogs but we only ever get to see their behaviour from a human's perspective. Many might dispute this, but I firmly believe that animals are in no way inferior to humans and have the same level of intelligence, especially emotional intelligence, even if it seems abstract to us because it's a different kind of intelligence (could I possibly cram the word "intelligence" into this one sentence more often than I did? I think I could but I will spare you ;P).
This short story is a typical tale about the end of the world, a zombie apocalypse, and of someone being left behind during a family's desperate run for their lives. The only difference is that the one having been left behind and now searching for his family is a dog. Naturally, things don't exactly go smoothly but I shall not reveal any of the dangerous circumstances because that would ruin the story (it's only 22 pages long after all).
Dogs are often called "a man's best friend" and while I disagree (there are other animals that would deserve this title just as much), this is the groundwork for the story containing everything we humans long for: love, hope, loyalty, perseverance. We all want that special someone in our life, who would cross continents to get to us, maybe even save us, definitely live the rest of his/her life with us. It shouldn't matter if this special someone is an animal or a homo sapiens.
What stands out at the beginning is this great dedication:
For our four-legged, feathered, and winged friends
Who often teach their human neighbors on this planet
What it means to be humane
And it's true: animals are the better humans in most of the cases. Thus, it shouldn't come as a surprise that there are apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic stories where they are the MCs.
I, personally, am glad because many apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic books feature especially dogs but we only ever get to see their behaviour from a human's perspective. Many might dispute this, but I firmly believe that animals are in no way inferior to humans and have the same level of intelligence, especially emotional intelligence, even if it seems abstract to us because it's a different kind of intelligence (could I possibly cram the word "intelligence" into this one sentence more often than I did? I think I could but I will spare you ;P).
This short story is a typical tale about the end of the world, a zombie apocalypse, and of someone being left behind during a family's desperate run for their lives. The only difference is that the one having been left behind and now searching for his family is a dog. Naturally, things don't exactly go smoothly but I shall not reveal any of the dangerous circumstances because that would ruin the story (it's only 22 pages long after all).
Dogs are often called "a man's best friend" and while I disagree (there are other animals that would deserve this title just as much), this is the groundwork for the story containing everything we humans long for: love, hope, loyalty, perseverance. We all want that special someone in our life, who would cross continents to get to us, maybe even save us, definitely live the rest of his/her life with us. It shouldn't matter if this special someone is an animal or a homo sapiens.
September 2, 2015
Chris Pourteau gives us a look at a zombie apocalypse from a dog’s perspective, which is a refreshing take on the subject, and he certainly doesn’t let his readers down. Man’s best friend is caught in a quandary that none of us would like to face, and Pourteau does an excellent job of putting us in the dog’s fur, so to speak. This short tale (or tail) is worth every penny, and I highly recommend it.
January 29, 2015
Unconditional
Such a touching story! Yes, it’s a zombie story, but the zombies are not the point. It’s about the relationship between a dog and his boy, about love, loyalty, and loss. The dog’s point of view is believable and sweet. His story is both heartwarming and tinged with sadness. Well done all round, and I enjoyed reading it very much.
Such a touching story! Yes, it’s a zombie story, but the zombies are not the point. It’s about the relationship between a dog and his boy, about love, loyalty, and loss. The dog’s point of view is believable and sweet. His story is both heartwarming and tinged with sadness. Well done all round, and I enjoyed reading it very much.
August 22, 2016
What an emotional read. As someone who has a dog I could only hope she would do the same for me! This is a heart-wrenching tale about the love of man's best friend. At first I wasn't sure how the hell zombies and a dog narrator could work, but my doubts were swiftly tossed aside. Just a powerful story.
February 2, 2015
This was one of best heart wrenching stories I have read. Ever. Pourteau takes you on this emotional tour of love and devotion and rips you apart with the determination of a zombie. I love dogs. I hate zombies. Good story with a warranted ending.
April 11, 2015
This story was fantastic and I only wish it had lasted longer. This is a great read for those who love zombies and an even better read for those who love mans best friend!
June 5, 2017
An interesting perspective on the zombie apocalypse.
December 18, 2015
"Unconditional" was a short story I purchased on Amazon (Am connected to through the Amazon Family/Sharing Plan) and have re-read more than once, including in http://www.amazon.com/Tails-Apocalyps... "Tails of the Apocalypse". I'll take the liberty to admit that I rarely purchase stand-alone short stories because... well, they are so short and with money being so tight in my world I simply can't qualify doing so in my heart nor my budget. I had pondered over buying this story for 'ages' before I finally did, I looked at it every so often, when deciding what new book I would allow into our Family Plan in our 'entertainment budget'. I really wrestled with wanting to buy it; I looked at it's description almost as often as I would have longed for a new pair of coveted boots or jeans as a teenager. Finally, I could not bare it another moment and clicked to purchase it. I was not in the least disappointed. If anything, I chastised myself for having waited so long.
I not only wept - I bawled. I screamed, I wailed, I cursed Zombies and I wanted a "DO-OVER". I walked around in a daze after finishing this story. It was beautiful. I've now read it four times and will do so again... and again.
I not only wept - I bawled. I screamed, I wailed, I cursed Zombies and I wanted a "DO-OVER". I walked around in a daze after finishing this story. It was beautiful. I've now read it four times and will do so again... and again.
January 14, 2015
This short story about a dog trying to find his beloved owner after the zombie apocalypse managed to make me feel warm and fuzzy yet rip my heart out at the same time, which I suppose is exactly the point of a story involving zombies. The thought patterns and actions of the dog were believable and endearing, making him a well-rounded character. We even get a fairly clear picture of the disappeared family, as described through the dog's impressions. I don't want to spoil the ending, but I'm still thinking about it a day later and imagine I will be for some time to come.
January 16, 2015
Pure Love.
Do you have a pet you adore? If so, then your pet probably feels the same way about you. This short story explores the relationship between a boy and his dog. Throw in a Zombie Apocalypse, and you have a beautiful love story with a twist.
Reading a story from the point of view of an animal is a unique experience. For instance, the dog refers to his owners as the Boy, the Baby, the Man, and the Woman. He also considers the boy his twin runt. This is an exceptionally well-written, character driven emotional ride.
Do you have a pet you adore? If so, then your pet probably feels the same way about you. This short story explores the relationship between a boy and his dog. Throw in a Zombie Apocalypse, and you have a beautiful love story with a twist.
Reading a story from the point of view of an animal is a unique experience. For instance, the dog refers to his owners as the Boy, the Baby, the Man, and the Woman. He also considers the boy his twin runt. This is an exceptionally well-written, character driven emotional ride.
May 2, 2015
"Unconditional" is not just a simple story about a boy and his dog, it is much more. Chris Pourteau shows us the deeper feelings of the dog, from his viewpoint, for his human twin, the boy. We can see the close relationship between the two. It becomes much more evident after disaster has struck and the dog begins his desperate search for his special human. It at the end when the dog makes his decision and makes the ultimate sacrifice. You'll have to read the story to find out what that is.
Don't worry about the zombie aspect. I found the story enjoyable and moving.
Don't worry about the zombie aspect. I found the story enjoyable and moving.
August 2, 2015
We never really stop to think how animals see the world, especially one thrown into chaos. Unconditional is a glimpse into one dog's view on the zombie ridden world and how he ultimately feels about his family.A tale of searching, longing, and ultimately heroism, you might enjoy it despite the sadness it evokes. How I managed not to ugly cry is beyond me, there were happy moments to balance those of despair, and overall the story is rather hopeful. I'd recommend this for animal lovers, zombie fiends and people who just like a good story.
September 11, 2016
A powerful story and a pleasure to read.
I first read this story in Tails of the Apocalypse and it is just as powerful the second time round.
Unconditional really packs a punch as it describes the love of a dog for his boy. Being a dog owner makes it difficult to read as it broke my heart, knowing what that brave pup was going through. On the other hand it was a true pleasure as it described dogs to a T and the bond they can have with us. I will admit that I shed a tear or two.
Perfect, just perfect.
I first read this story in Tails of the Apocalypse and it is just as powerful the second time round.
Unconditional really packs a punch as it describes the love of a dog for his boy. Being a dog owner makes it difficult to read as it broke my heart, knowing what that brave pup was going through. On the other hand it was a true pleasure as it described dogs to a T and the bond they can have with us. I will admit that I shed a tear or two.
Perfect, just perfect.
January 18, 2015
Thanks Chris for writing such a wonderful short story. Your skilled workmanship enables the reader (me) to be totally convinced & sucked into the tale, even though it is only 20 odd pages long. Don't think I ever read a book telling the ZA from the perspective of a dog missing his owner.
More from Chris to follow. . . . . .
More from Chris to follow. . . . . .
October 13, 2016
This could be my one exception to my hatred of zombie stories
I hate zombies. I hate zombie stories and movies. This story, told from the innocence of a dog, uses a zombie apocalypse as a backdrop to explain true love. Love sometimes hurts really bad. Easy to read and well written, I'd recommend this author to anyone. Look forward to reading more of his work.
I hate zombies. I hate zombie stories and movies. This story, told from the innocence of a dog, uses a zombie apocalypse as a backdrop to explain true love. Love sometimes hurts really bad. Easy to read and well written, I'd recommend this author to anyone. Look forward to reading more of his work.
January 17, 2015
This short but powerful story adds a welcome twist to the zombie genre. Well written, with some great imagery, it will stick with you long after you've read it. I was provided with a copy of this story by the author in return for an honest review.
February 25, 2015
Unconditional love
For the dog lovers out there, for anyone that has shared that special bond with another creature who asks nothing more than to just be. Get this story, you won't regret it.
For the dog lovers out there, for anyone that has shared that special bond with another creature who asks nothing more than to just be. Get this story, you won't regret it.
March 15, 2015
Wow, what an interesting take on the zombie apocalypse. Written from the dogs POV. About unconditional love a dog gives a boy. The story took me to an unanticipated ending. Read it, loved it, reread it... Get the book and enjoy.
April 1, 2015
Chris Pourteau's heart-wrenching tale of a dog's love for his boy will speak to anyone who's ever come home to a waggling, whining, jumping bundle of fur. Ever wondered what your dog would do for you when the zombies come shambling? Exactly what this heroic hound does, no doubt.
November 30, 2016
Extremely short, but well written and touching.
I had originally rated this three stars but looked back at my order history and saw that it was free so I've adjusted my review accordingly.
I will definitely be looking to read more full length stories by Chris Pourteau.
I had originally rated this three stars but looked back at my order history and saw that it was free so I've adjusted my review accordingly.
I will definitely be looking to read more full length stories by Chris Pourteau.
December 23, 2016
Unconditional Herotic
It took me several weeks after I downloaded the book for me to have the courage to read it. Yes, I am an animal lover and my dog Max is my life. I knew deep inside the book wasn't going to end like a fairytale. I am glad a did read it.
It took me several weeks after I downloaded the book for me to have the courage to read it. Yes, I am an animal lover and my dog Max is my life. I knew deep inside the book wasn't going to end like a fairytale. I am glad a did read it.
January 16, 2015
A powerful story that takes place in the Zombie Apocalypse setting about a boy and his best K9 friend. A story that all Zombie Apocalypse readers and any dog lovers will enjoy!
January 16, 2015
A beautiful, poetic and heart-wrenching story of a dog who lost his best friend when the zombies take over the world. A tale of unconditional love that surpasses everything.
February 12, 2015
A quick, thoughtful and very powerful read.
February 17, 2015
This is a wonderful story. I was emotionally wreaked at the end. I look forward to reading more stories by Chris Pourteau.
March 1, 2015
A beautiful tale of truly unconditional love from the POV of a boy's furry best friend. Heart wrenching to be sure.
September 11, 2015
Great short story. It's the zombie apocalypse as experienced by the family dog. Well written and a fun read.
November 13, 2016
Powerful and beautifully told. Wrenching.
December 24, 2016
Unique
Even though this is a short story, its vividness makes you feel as if you were there, beside the dog. I love it. I'd recommend this to anyone!
Even though this is a short story, its vividness makes you feel as if you were there, beside the dog. I love it. I'd recommend this to anyone!
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews