Slimbies

by D. R. Long

297 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 26, 2026

About the author

D. R. Long writes speculative fiction rooted in quiet horror, survival, and collapse. His stories focus on ordinary people caught in moments where the world tilts and familiar rules stop applying.

Rather than spectacle, his work leans into atmosphere, pressure, and consequence; what it feels like to keep going when systems fail and certainty disappears.

He is the author of multiple novels and novellas, including Slimbies and A World We Never Knew, with many more to come.

When he's not writing, he can be found with his close friends in a game of D&D, playing fetch with his dog Girl, or traveling.

Reviews

[D. Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each of my books takes a piece of me with it.
But this one... This one gave me something.
This one taught me how to become an author.

This was the first novel I ever finished. Not the first story I started. Not by a long shot. I've been writing since I was a child. But Slimbies was the first one I carried all the way to the end. I wrote the original draft years ago after hearing about the first wave of miracle weight-loss injections and thinking, "There's no way nobody writes a zombie story about this, right?"

And after a while... Nobody did.
So I did.

But it wasn't right. It was empty. Missing something. So I gave up on it. Maybe I wasn't meant to be a writer. Thirty thousand words in, I deleted the entire thing and walked away for over a year.

But something about the story wouldn't let go. I knew there was something there. I just couldn't figure out what it was.

Then I got my dog, Girl. She pulled me out of a depression I didn't even realize I was in, and suddenly I understood what the story had been missing all along.

It wasn't about zombies.
It wasn't about beauty standards.
It wasn't about the collapse of society.

It was about people. About loneliness. About found family. About a boy and a dog trying to survive after the world ended.

The version of Slimbies that exists now is the result of five years of rewrites, false starts, deleted chapters, rebuilt scenes, and learning how to become a writer.

I've published other books since beginning it. I've learned a great deal. But Ben and Girl never left me.

They waited patiently while I figured out how to tell their story.

This book is where everything started.
I hope you enjoy the journey.

[BookishDogMamaKate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Slimbies by author D.R. Long.

When a widely popular medication ultimately has the side effect of turning people into Slimbies; terrifying, insatiable, flesh hungry, wandering seekers, the world structure collapses.
Its rebuilding consists of scattered barricaded communities where the goal is survival.

Ben believes that things are not always what they seem and decides to escape the “safe zone” he lives in. In his post apocalyptic journey he and a stray dog named Girl adopt each other, he finds identity and value within other camps, forming bonds…even friendships along the way. He sees that, outside of what he had only known, there are people still holding on to humanity, to compassion, to helping one another…even in situations where devolving into states of feral survival would not be unexpected.

There are supply runs to go on, things that need fixing, Slimbies to put down. But are there things in this new normal even more frightening than the Slimbies?

Author D.R. Long carefully, eloquently paints the picture of a bleak post apocalyptic atmosphere and energy throughout his story. His characters are so easy to invest in. So believable. I wanted to root for them as I felt I was walking along side Ben and Girl as I read. There is fear, suspense, love, loss, anger, even an occasional glimmer of joy and laughter woven well into the words.

And a finish that left me shocked.

Absolutely recommend!

I received an advanced reading copy from the author. This is my voluntary and honest review.

[Sandi Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the opportunity to receive an ARC from D.R. Long.

Slimbies by D. R. Long surprised me in the best way. It's a post-apocalyptic horror novel set in a world changed by a miracle weight-loss injection that went horribly wrong.

Going in, I expected another typical post-apocalyptic story centered on mindless, flesh-eating creatures. I almost passed on it for that reason, but I’m glad I didn’t.

This story is less about horror and more about connection, survival, and what remains of humanity after everything falls apart. At the heart of the book are Ben and a stray dog he names Girl, and their bond really carries the story.

While there are certainly dark elements, the focus isn’t on gore or shock value. Instead, the author leans into the emotional weight of survival: loss, trust, companionship, and the quiet strength it takes to keep going.

Supporting characters and chance encounters bring added dimension to the story. What stood out most to me was how grounded and human the story feels. It’s not just about enduring a devastated world but about finding meaning and connection within it.

If you enjoy post-apocalyptic stories that prioritize character development, relationships, and a touch of hope alongside the hardship, this is absolutely worth your time.

[Brandy Gleason · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an emotional book for me. I
The scary thing is I could see it happen, especially with the weight loss injection craze right now. This book has great characters. Ben decides to leave a "safe" compound and finds a misfit group that takes care of each other like a family. Just about the time he gets to feeling like he has found a place to belong he meets Polly and he falls in love only to have his world turned upside down when she leaves. My heart broke for him when they lost Tusk and the others. The slimbies were pretty much an experiment to rewire humans to be more controlled that went terribly wrong.
Plot twist is when Ben finds out his whole life has been a lie. The one person he thought was his friend, Carter turned out to be an evil power hungry psycho. The decisions he has to make and the things he has to live with for making those choices makes the book feel relatable.
Girl to me is one of the big stars. Shes not just a dog she is a companion and the glue that holds Ben together most days. She alerts him to slimbies when he goes out to scavenge. They protect each other.
I definitely recommend this book. I commend the writer for writing a book that feels real. I definitely felt the emotions of the characters.

[Curt Dunnam · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Slimbies” by D. R. Long is a thought-provoking 4-star post-apocalyptic read! After a breakthrough weight-loss injection sweeps the globe, the population begins turning into zombies, more specifically, Slimbies. Ben has spent most of his life inside one of the safe zones, but he decides it is time to venture out and discover what else remains of the world. The question is, is he truly prepared for what he might learn?

While this book is marketed as a horror novel, it is much more than that. There are plenty of graphic fight scenes and zombie-filled moments, but at its heart, this is also the story of a young man trying to find his place in a broken world. Ben carries a great deal of guilt and struggles to cope with it as his journey unfolds, which adds an emotional layer to the story.

I have read a few books by this author, and this one was the most satisfying. The combination of action, horror, and character development made for an enjoyable read, and it left me interested in exploring more of what he has to offer.

Thanks to D. R. Long for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC for free and share my honest review

[Ginger Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a mixed bag for me. On the one hand, I thought the writing and set up were very good. The story was intriguing, and I really liked Ben and his dog, Girl. Polly was also a very good character, and I really liked the relationship between her and Ben. The beginning and ending of this book were both excellent! Unfortunately, in my opinion, it took way too long to reach the ending. Most of the middle of the book was boring, and I thought the story should have been much shorter than it was. I didn't care about any of the characters besides the three I previously mentioned. And the confrontation with the main antagonist of the story was very underwhelming. I really wanted to love this book because the beginning was so strong, but unfortunately, I was very ready for the story to be over by the end.

[Stephanie Blankenship · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very good. The plot is great and kept me hooked.

[Breane Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great zombie book! Loved the characters and the dog. Definitely recommend it

[Heather Mylek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super great read!! Loved the theme! Great world building and addictive to read! Highly recommend!!

[Momma T's Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Number 1 reason why you shouldn't join the latest diet craze ... You'll become a zombie. It's hilarious in a darker kind of way. But Ben and Girl. They make it through a lot together. Found family. Survival. Life after tragedy. So much deeper. You'll laugh. You'll sit up straight. You'll shake your head thinking, "If anything touches Girl." You'll scream, "Watch your back." And in the end, as they walk off into the foggy, smoke filled, future, knowing they're the only ones that know ... you’ll hope they survive.

A great read. I'm excited to see whatelse this author has in store for us.