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The Scattered and the Dead #1
The Scattered and the Dead
When the world goes dark, survival becomes everything. The only thing.
Power grid? Dead.
A mysterious virus? Rampant.
Enemies? Everywhere.
How did this happen? And how do we survive?
So begins the post-apocalypse. Part disaster, part terrifying mystery.
Order topples quickly once the power goes down. No police. No government.
Society itself has failed. Fractured. Disintegrated.
The dead pile in the streets. Corpses strewn like dolls.
The world as we know it ends with a whimper, a gurgle, a quick dimming of the lights.
And now? All the animals come out at night. Welcome to the fuckin' jungle.
Chaos rages across the land. Riots. Raiders. Fire. Murder.
When the darkness falls, it comes in more way than one.
Among the ashes, we meet the scattered, the leftovers:
A family struggles to find long term shelter during the first wave of the collapse.
Two orphan girls -- a 16 year old and an 8 year old -- gather supplies to help survive their first winter without power.
A drunk and drug addict plots to avenge the death of his parents at the hands of raiders.
A televangelist races to escape a rumored nuclear strike.
Slowly, their paths will cross, their stories will merge, and a new world will be born out of the ruins. Not all of them will make it.
Power grid? Dead.
A mysterious virus? Rampant.
Enemies? Everywhere.
How did this happen? And how do we survive?
So begins the post-apocalypse. Part disaster, part terrifying mystery.
Order topples quickly once the power goes down. No police. No government.
Society itself has failed. Fractured. Disintegrated.
The dead pile in the streets. Corpses strewn like dolls.
The world as we know it ends with a whimper, a gurgle, a quick dimming of the lights.
And now? All the animals come out at night. Welcome to the fuckin' jungle.
Chaos rages across the land. Riots. Raiders. Fire. Murder.
When the darkness falls, it comes in more way than one.
Among the ashes, we meet the scattered, the leftovers:
A family struggles to find long term shelter during the first wave of the collapse.
Two orphan girls -- a 16 year old and an 8 year old -- gather supplies to help survive their first winter without power.
A drunk and drug addict plots to avenge the death of his parents at the hands of raiders.
A televangelist races to escape a rumored nuclear strike.
Slowly, their paths will cross, their stories will merge, and a new world will be born out of the ruins. Not all of them will make it.
634 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 30, 2016
859 people are currently reading
1129 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
May 8, 2017
The Scattered and the Dead (Book 1): Post Apocalyptic Fiction by Tim McBain and L.T. Vargus is a 634-pages-long post apocalyptic saga that warms your heart, chills your bones, makes your skin crawl and stomach churn.
Post apocalyptic might not be the totally-one-hundred-percent-and-absolutely right word, though, because the apocalypse happened, is happening and is going to happen, depending which story we read, which characters we follow, centered around the massive and ultimate doom of mankind.
What I love about McBain’s and Vargus’ writing is the poetry of transformation of the characters, events and their environment. “Action scenes” at the eve of destruction are nothing like low-rated action movies or books. Mitch, Erin, Travis, Baghead and others are not just scattered temporary survivors trying to outlive the infected teeth and stale breath of the new zombie era. Some of them touch us, some of them make us laugh, others annoy us as it should be in the real world. And that's how it is in their real world.
Although The Scattered and the Dead (Book 1) is a lengthy book, at times slow with not much going on, it keeps pulling you further and deeper into, simply demanding from a reader to cross the finish line. Except, there is no finish line.
Unavoidably, we part with some humans and humans-turned-zombies along the way into the uncertain future of the American Zombieland. However, some of them keep going, marching through the green, shabby or dead grass, driving through once crammed and then empty roads, scavenging or hiding in abandoned houses populated with occasional decaying or dried up bodies, or just leaving the nuked cities behind. Scattered but not yet dead.
Bernard Jan
www.bernardjan.com
Join my mailing list, subscribe to blog Muse!
Post apocalyptic might not be the totally-one-hundred-percent-and-absolutely right word, though, because the apocalypse happened, is happening and is going to happen, depending which story we read, which characters we follow, centered around the massive and ultimate doom of mankind.
What I love about McBain’s and Vargus’ writing is the poetry of transformation of the characters, events and their environment. “Action scenes” at the eve of destruction are nothing like low-rated action movies or books. Mitch, Erin, Travis, Baghead and others are not just scattered temporary survivors trying to outlive the infected teeth and stale breath of the new zombie era. Some of them touch us, some of them make us laugh, others annoy us as it should be in the real world. And that's how it is in their real world.
Although The Scattered and the Dead (Book 1) is a lengthy book, at times slow with not much going on, it keeps pulling you further and deeper into, simply demanding from a reader to cross the finish line. Except, there is no finish line.
Unavoidably, we part with some humans and humans-turned-zombies along the way into the uncertain future of the American Zombieland. However, some of them keep going, marching through the green, shabby or dead grass, driving through once crammed and then empty roads, scavenging or hiding in abandoned houses populated with occasional decaying or dried up bodies, or just leaving the nuked cities behind. Scattered but not yet dead.
Bernard Jan
www.bernardjan.com
Join my mailing list, subscribe to blog Muse!
April 14, 2016
This is my first book review. Usually I am a fleeting soul, a forgotten echo who passes through book to book, barely there, reading, enjoying, pondering in silence, rating and moving on.
But this book has roused me from my dormancy. It has brought back my words.
The Scattered and the Dead is a very curious book. I will admit I went into reading it with low expectations. Each summer, I have a sort of tradition in which I scan Amazon for cheap or free kindle edition books of the zombie genre. It's my dirty little secret: I can't help but love the idea of zombies. I suppose they make little sense if you think too hard on them, but the idea itself has always held intrigue: someone from whom life, consciousness, awareness, and everything that makes us human has fled, and something...else, something empty and hungry fills its place.
Most books in the zombie genre tend to be very cheesy. Not all, of course. But many. I get it. As I said, I went in with low expectations, expecting a truckload of shoot-em-up pages, of heartpounding scenes of fleeing massive horde after horde. Some middle class white American male hero swooping in to save a woman and her children from certain disaster, only to fall in love.
That is not this book.
That is not this book at all.
I apologize for the long build up to my actual review. As I said, I am a winter creature, slowly rousing from the long sleep of silence, perhaps like the walking dead themselves. Except I am alive, and this book reminded me of that. The Scattered and the Dead is everything that the zombie/post-apocalyptic horror genre has always held as its potential. Not every story sets out to do more than simply entertain, yet this one does.
TSATD is more a work of art to me, each word, each phrase written like lush poetry, shying away from neither the grotesque nor the beautiful. There are hardly any zombies in this zombie book. It focuses on several characters and jumps between them, something I often find distracting or annoying, but this book does it with grace and perfection. I was not once annoyed at the switch. Each character is fascinating in his or her own right, each story equally intriguing. The plots jump around through time as well, ranging from almost two months before "it", the big event in which time stops, the world stops, that minute separation between Before and After, to almost a decade after.
The book contains a lot of reflection on what it means to be human. Most of the pages' content is filled with people trying to survive, whether it's through finding enough food, learning to be more secure around strangers, braving dark places, or simply continuing on in a husk of an already dead existence filled with numbness and perhaps hate. Each story is riveting, each character has his or her own motivation to keep going on, and all of it is so beautifully composed. It's the best zombie genre book I have ever read. In fact, it's one of the best books I have ever read. The authors are wordsmiths, both gritty in their tales and yet achingly beautiful. (Brief spoilers: In one scene, a man must bury his wife with his own hands, digging away at the dirt, laboring and in pain because he loves her so. He wraps her favorite blanket around her so she won't be "alone" in her cold, earthen grave.)
Without spoiling much, I will say one thing: the single best part of this book, in my opinion, is failure. The heroes aren't always heroes. Their struggles don't always end in glory, in victory. Things go wrong, and sometimes they stay wrong. People fall victim to a demise of their own making, and sometimes others suffer the rippling shockwave of these failures just like the very bombs being threatened to drop over various cities in attempt to maintain national control over this "disease" spreading through the streets.
I cannot recommend this absolute treasure and surprising gem enough. It transcends horror or zombie literature into something far more human, far more at home. For being over six hundred pages, it did not once feel plodding or padded. I only lamented there was not more. I hope there's more to follow in the series, and the "Book 1" in the title leaves me feeling there will be. (Note there's also a companion book, labeled part 0.5, which I have not yet gotten to.) Also, don't get me wrong: just because the book has an emotional and raw human side to it hardly means it's all drama. There's plenty of scenes of tension, terror and action which left me absolutely anxious and terrified as though I was there. The book honestly has everything to provide entertainment and food for thought as well.
Thank you, Tim McBain and L.T. Vargus, for writing this monster of a tale. I sincerely anticipate reading more of your work. You have made yourself a very appreciative fan.
But this book has roused me from my dormancy. It has brought back my words.
The Scattered and the Dead is a very curious book. I will admit I went into reading it with low expectations. Each summer, I have a sort of tradition in which I scan Amazon for cheap or free kindle edition books of the zombie genre. It's my dirty little secret: I can't help but love the idea of zombies. I suppose they make little sense if you think too hard on them, but the idea itself has always held intrigue: someone from whom life, consciousness, awareness, and everything that makes us human has fled, and something...else, something empty and hungry fills its place.
Most books in the zombie genre tend to be very cheesy. Not all, of course. But many. I get it. As I said, I went in with low expectations, expecting a truckload of shoot-em-up pages, of heartpounding scenes of fleeing massive horde after horde. Some middle class white American male hero swooping in to save a woman and her children from certain disaster, only to fall in love.
That is not this book.
That is not this book at all.
I apologize for the long build up to my actual review. As I said, I am a winter creature, slowly rousing from the long sleep of silence, perhaps like the walking dead themselves. Except I am alive, and this book reminded me of that. The Scattered and the Dead is everything that the zombie/post-apocalyptic horror genre has always held as its potential. Not every story sets out to do more than simply entertain, yet this one does.
TSATD is more a work of art to me, each word, each phrase written like lush poetry, shying away from neither the grotesque nor the beautiful. There are hardly any zombies in this zombie book. It focuses on several characters and jumps between them, something I often find distracting or annoying, but this book does it with grace and perfection. I was not once annoyed at the switch. Each character is fascinating in his or her own right, each story equally intriguing. The plots jump around through time as well, ranging from almost two months before "it", the big event in which time stops, the world stops, that minute separation between Before and After, to almost a decade after.
The book contains a lot of reflection on what it means to be human. Most of the pages' content is filled with people trying to survive, whether it's through finding enough food, learning to be more secure around strangers, braving dark places, or simply continuing on in a husk of an already dead existence filled with numbness and perhaps hate. Each story is riveting, each character has his or her own motivation to keep going on, and all of it is so beautifully composed. It's the best zombie genre book I have ever read. In fact, it's one of the best books I have ever read. The authors are wordsmiths, both gritty in their tales and yet achingly beautiful. (Brief spoilers: In one scene, a man must bury his wife with his own hands, digging away at the dirt, laboring and in pain because he loves her so. He wraps her favorite blanket around her so she won't be "alone" in her cold, earthen grave.)
Without spoiling much, I will say one thing: the single best part of this book, in my opinion, is failure. The heroes aren't always heroes. Their struggles don't always end in glory, in victory. Things go wrong, and sometimes they stay wrong. People fall victim to a demise of their own making, and sometimes others suffer the rippling shockwave of these failures just like the very bombs being threatened to drop over various cities in attempt to maintain national control over this "disease" spreading through the streets.
I cannot recommend this absolute treasure and surprising gem enough. It transcends horror or zombie literature into something far more human, far more at home. For being over six hundred pages, it did not once feel plodding or padded. I only lamented there was not more. I hope there's more to follow in the series, and the "Book 1" in the title leaves me feeling there will be. (Note there's also a companion book, labeled part 0.5, which I have not yet gotten to.) Also, don't get me wrong: just because the book has an emotional and raw human side to it hardly means it's all drama. There's plenty of scenes of tension, terror and action which left me absolutely anxious and terrified as though I was there. The book honestly has everything to provide entertainment and food for thought as well.
Thank you, Tim McBain and L.T. Vargus, for writing this monster of a tale. I sincerely anticipate reading more of your work. You have made yourself a very appreciative fan.
June 25, 2016
I bought this book because of an advertisement that said this was as good as Stephen King’s The Stand. The Stand is my favorite Stephen King book and one of my top 10 favorite books.
After reading The Scattered & the Dead, that statement is the biggest bait and switch ever. This book is nothing like The Stand. Nothing. It is poorly written and boring. The only reason I finished this book is because my husband and I were reading it together. He was as disappointed and bored as I was but finishing it became a competition—who could motivate themselves to slog through it to the end. Nothing happens in this book. 600+ pages of almost nothing happening except being in the character’s boring, redundant thoughts.
On the authors’ website they give this book the tagline: “It's the post-apocalypse with the most-apocalypse.” Not only is this line cornball, but it is a lie. Things happen in an apocalypse—major, huge, tragic things. Not the endless minutia of peoples boring and redundant thoughts and a few inept attempts to do things.
And finally, I question all of these 5 star reviews. They make no sense. This is not a good book by any stretch of the imagination. An apocalypse in which nothing happens? I must have more faith in literate humanity. These cannot be real people. No one can truly believe this book has even the most miniscule similarity to Stephen King’s The Stand.
After reading The Scattered & the Dead, that statement is the biggest bait and switch ever. This book is nothing like The Stand. Nothing. It is poorly written and boring. The only reason I finished this book is because my husband and I were reading it together. He was as disappointed and bored as I was but finishing it became a competition—who could motivate themselves to slog through it to the end. Nothing happens in this book. 600+ pages of almost nothing happening except being in the character’s boring, redundant thoughts.
On the authors’ website they give this book the tagline: “It's the post-apocalypse with the most-apocalypse.” Not only is this line cornball, but it is a lie. Things happen in an apocalypse—major, huge, tragic things. Not the endless minutia of peoples boring and redundant thoughts and a few inept attempts to do things.
And finally, I question all of these 5 star reviews. They make no sense. This is not a good book by any stretch of the imagination. An apocalypse in which nothing happens? I must have more faith in literate humanity. These cannot be real people. No one can truly believe this book has even the most miniscule similarity to Stephen King’s The Stand.
April 2, 2016
Wow, this book was incredible. I've been a fan of McBain/Vargus for some time and this is their best effort yet.
This is a "zombie apocalypse" story, but that's just the setting. The book is not just a mindless action/adventure story; it is a gritty story that follows multiple people after the world essentially ends. In some ways it reminded me of Stephen King's classic, "The Stand," in that it focuses more on the characters and what they feel and experience, rather than focusing on the catastrophe itself.
I think it's especially worth noting that the authors do a fantastic job of mentally "showing" you the scene. As I read the book, I literally felt like I was THERE, because the imagery was so vivid. I could almost literally smell that "old car" smell of the 1973 Oldsmobile, that smelt like "...a blend of must and stale smoke and the faintest hint of old Werther's Originals," and I could imagine myself standing and looking out over "...the endless fields of dead grass" that had been "...crisped in the sun like chow mein noodles."
All in all, the story was riveting and hard to put down, and I am eager to see where the story goes next!
This is a "zombie apocalypse" story, but that's just the setting. The book is not just a mindless action/adventure story; it is a gritty story that follows multiple people after the world essentially ends. In some ways it reminded me of Stephen King's classic, "The Stand," in that it focuses more on the characters and what they feel and experience, rather than focusing on the catastrophe itself.
I think it's especially worth noting that the authors do a fantastic job of mentally "showing" you the scene. As I read the book, I literally felt like I was THERE, because the imagery was so vivid. I could almost literally smell that "old car" smell of the 1973 Oldsmobile, that smelt like "...a blend of must and stale smoke and the faintest hint of old Werther's Originals," and I could imagine myself standing and looking out over "...the endless fields of dead grass" that had been "...crisped in the sun like chow mein noodles."
All in all, the story was riveting and hard to put down, and I am eager to see where the story goes next!
June 25, 2016
Baffled by the high ratings and rave reviews for this book. Tedious and repetitive, with a handful of zombies and tons of clunky dialogue, I can't believe it gets compared to The Stand. Pretty elegant descriptions of warm Mountain Dew though.
August 17, 2020
This post-apocalyptic novel was difficult to read at times, but, man it was hard to put down. I'm already continuing with the rest of the series!
April 6, 2016
One of the coolest things about the Scattered and the Dead Book 1 is that it combines everything post-apocalyptic enthusiasts love about the genre--death, fighting, TEOTWAWKI, the struggle to survive without modern niceties like electricity, and oh yeah, freakin' zombies!--with the contemplation of why humans cling so hard to The World As We Know It in the first place. Why do we fill up our lives with products and meaningless entertainment? What problem does a large Number 5 with cheese solve? How is being ironic on Instagram or Twitter enriching our lives? What lessons are we imparting to the next generation by spending our time in front of a television, ereader, computer, or phone screen? How much time and energy before and after The End are we going to expend trying to keep ourselves numb to the world around us?
Zombie plagues and food for thought. Pretty awesome, right? And you haven't even met the cast yet.
There's Mitch, the dad at the end of the world, who's turning into a zombie and only has hours left to prep his sons for the apocalypse they never thought would come. Erin, a teenager taking care of an eight-year-old while learning to survive in the world After. Travis, raiding the ruins of the world for all the booze, cigarettes, and pills he can find so he never has to feel again. Baghead, on a one-man publisher on a mission to preserve the memory of the world Before. The slick former televangelist, the lone sadist, the mysterious Five...the list goes on and on. Somehow the all-star team of Vargas and McBain managed to weave all of these story lines and ideas into a single book that takes us into, through, and out the other side of the apocalypse.
The feeling I got as I read was one of all these story lines working toward a singularity, of disparate threads coming together, and without giving away any spoilers, I was not disappointed. The Scattered and the Dead Book 1 is epic on so many levels. It's the first full novel in the series, but I would say it could almost be read as a self-contained story. There isn't any cheesy cliffhanger; the ending is satisfying and awful and just right. I can't wait to see what happens with the characters and the world in the rest of the series.
Zombie plagues and food for thought. Pretty awesome, right? And you haven't even met the cast yet.
There's Mitch, the dad at the end of the world, who's turning into a zombie and only has hours left to prep his sons for the apocalypse they never thought would come. Erin, a teenager taking care of an eight-year-old while learning to survive in the world After. Travis, raiding the ruins of the world for all the booze, cigarettes, and pills he can find so he never has to feel again. Baghead, on a one-man publisher on a mission to preserve the memory of the world Before. The slick former televangelist, the lone sadist, the mysterious Five...the list goes on and on. Somehow the all-star team of Vargas and McBain managed to weave all of these story lines and ideas into a single book that takes us into, through, and out the other side of the apocalypse.
The feeling I got as I read was one of all these story lines working toward a singularity, of disparate threads coming together, and without giving away any spoilers, I was not disappointed. The Scattered and the Dead Book 1 is epic on so many levels. It's the first full novel in the series, but I would say it could almost be read as a self-contained story. There isn't any cheesy cliffhanger; the ending is satisfying and awful and just right. I can't wait to see what happens with the characters and the world in the rest of the series.
April 27, 2016
The apocalypse has many faces
The Scattered and the Dead is a brilliantly written take on what can only be described as several apocalyptic events occurring simultaneously to wipe out over 99% of the Earth’s population. The story lines and timelines, ranging anywhere from the virus’s initial inception 68 days before to roughly 9 years after, follow what appear to be a random series of survivors as they navigate the current state of the world. The action seems to be centered mostly in center of the US, which leaves the reader to wonder about the state of the country as a whole or the entire world for that matter. From Mitch, a family man only trying to find a safe place in a world gone mad for his two sons, to a mysterious shrouded character known to us only as “Baghead”, the stories while seemingly appearing unrelated weave together to tell a chilling tale.
While a few of the story lines come crashing together as part of the chilling conclusion, many are left in limbo. I am interested to see how the other stories weave into this overall landscape of the post-apocalyptic world according to McBain and Vargus
The Scattered and the Dead is a brilliantly written take on what can only be described as several apocalyptic events occurring simultaneously to wipe out over 99% of the Earth’s population. The story lines and timelines, ranging anywhere from the virus’s initial inception 68 days before to roughly 9 years after, follow what appear to be a random series of survivors as they navigate the current state of the world. The action seems to be centered mostly in center of the US, which leaves the reader to wonder about the state of the country as a whole or the entire world for that matter. From Mitch, a family man only trying to find a safe place in a world gone mad for his two sons, to a mysterious shrouded character known to us only as “Baghead”, the stories while seemingly appearing unrelated weave together to tell a chilling tale.
While a few of the story lines come crashing together as part of the chilling conclusion, many are left in limbo. I am interested to see how the other stories weave into this overall landscape of the post-apocalyptic world according to McBain and Vargus
May 25, 2016
This book was fantastic! Each character is the star of their own story. They are all so well developed that you feel like they are real people from your own life. It leaves you wanting more for all of them. The way the characters exist in different physical spaces as well as different times takes the reader through the emotions of what it would be like to live through this apocalypse. It leaves the reader wondering how everything could possibly come together. They connections that are made in the end are both chilling and oddly satisfying. My absolute favorite line from the book is "...strange to live in a world that pretended that the animal part of him was less real than the social constructs all around." This is a must read.
February 7, 2017
While I liked the idea behind this I never could get into the characters or their stories. I had to set it aside because it just was not doing anything for me. Biggest problem is that it was running with a lot of chapters for a little information and after reading 22% I only had seen one zombie for less than 10 minutes.
I will try to give it a go again near the end of the year.
I will try to give it a go again near the end of the year.
September 29, 2017
I'm so impressed with this book. I've read almost all of Tim McBain and L.T. Vargus' books now, and they're consistently so good. If you have a kindle unlimited membership then you know that there are a few big name books like the Harry Potter series and The Hunger Games, but for the most part you're stuck with a crapshoot to find something that won't suck. This book makes the subscription worth paying for, it is so good. I actually will go out on a limb and say that this book is comparable to The Stand by Stephen King in terms of just how damn good it is. It's apocalyptic like The Stand, and it has a lot of characters over time and space like The Stand, and it scared the s*** out of me like The Stand. I'm a hardcore Stephen King fan and I don't say this lightly. This book is amazing. The writing is so good that you never ever stop to analyze it, except occasionally to marvel at how well written it actually is. It's so well written that you lose yourself almost immediately in the story and the characters, and you forget that you're reading a pretty substantial book. It's scary. I had physical symptoms of anxiety pretty much throughout the book. I got so into it that I stayed up late reading, took breaks throughout the day every chance I could to read some more, and forgot all about Facebook and the other daily time-wasters while I was reading it. I am convinced that these writers are going to be on par with The King in terms of the high level of quality they bring to the horror genre, and also in how prolific they already are. They've written close to ten books already at least, and they're producing high quality books at a rapid pace. Keep your eyes on these two, you're going to see a lot more where this came from in the near future. I liked this book so much I'm reading it again. I can't wait for the next book in this series.
If you're burned out on the zombie genre, this book will cure what ails you. Yes there are zombies, but they're sort of a backdrop to create a world for the characters to live in. This book definitely qualifies as a "less is more" lesson. The zombies are a constant reality, but the book isn't really about zombies. And somehow, having them constantly lurking around the edge of your awareness makes it even more stressful when other things are happening, because you always have this sense of how quickly they could lurch back into view. These authors don't rely on flashy chase scenes or gross-out gags to keep your attention because they don't have to. They draw you in and cast a spell on you, and before you know it it's 3 am and you're having a minor panic attack and you're also thinking deep thoughts about what exactly you're doing with your life, and about your own mortality.
If you're burned out on the zombie genre, this book will cure what ails you. Yes there are zombies, but they're sort of a backdrop to create a world for the characters to live in. This book definitely qualifies as a "less is more" lesson. The zombies are a constant reality, but the book isn't really about zombies. And somehow, having them constantly lurking around the edge of your awareness makes it even more stressful when other things are happening, because you always have this sense of how quickly they could lurch back into view. These authors don't rely on flashy chase scenes or gross-out gags to keep your attention because they don't have to. They draw you in and cast a spell on you, and before you know it it's 3 am and you're having a minor panic attack and you're also thinking deep thoughts about what exactly you're doing with your life, and about your own mortality.
March 27, 2017
I enjoyed this more & more the further along I read. I definitely liked some characters more than others though & some were just unlikeable (to put it mildly)!
March 18, 2017
The Scattered and the Dead
An intense apocalyptic story uniquely written by the authors deeply detailed character vantage point. The looming horror of reality is felt not only as the setting but a nightmare the characters will never escape. It’s easy to relate to their plight, rejoice in their triumphs and feel their devastations. All the while thinking, what would you be willing to do for survival; because they could be any of us. There is plenty of zombie gore for everyone. I loved the unexpected twists and infectious characters. A gripping series by fantastic authors.
Tim McBain and L.T Vargus created this world where a horrifying zombie apocalypse allows for the perseverance of human spirit.
An intense apocalyptic story uniquely written by the authors deeply detailed character vantage point. The looming horror of reality is felt not only as the setting but a nightmare the characters will never escape. It’s easy to relate to their plight, rejoice in their triumphs and feel their devastations. All the while thinking, what would you be willing to do for survival; because they could be any of us. There is plenty of zombie gore for everyone. I loved the unexpected twists and infectious characters. A gripping series by fantastic authors.
Tim McBain and L.T Vargus created this world where a horrifying zombie apocalypse allows for the perseverance of human spirit.
March 8, 2017
I recently reviewed Audible version of The Scattered and the Dead, Book 0.5. As I said in my review of it, I totally got lost in a new universe.
The Scattered and the Dead 0.5 follows only one person Decker. His story begins twenty-one days before and continues until 57 days after. I think, but am not positive that the before/after dividing line is the night Decker sees “brightest light flashed in the window. It was like a gigantic flashbulb went off in the sky, so brief that I almost thought I might have imagine it somehow.”
The Scattered and the Dead Book 1 is a much larger cast and time period. The easiest way to illustrate this is to list the character’s names and where their stories start in Book 1:
Rex 68 days before
Baghead 9 yrs, 126 days after
Mitch 43 days before
Travis 44 days after
Erin 29 days after
Teddy 69 days after
Ray 3 days before
Lorraine 3 days before
As you can tell by the listing above, the book is not linear. It tells different people's stories with very different starting points. For example, Baghead’s story begins over 9 years after the event while Mitch’s story begins 43 days before. This was the hardest part of the book for me, the chronology. I think in the final version it might not be a bad idea, at least for readers like me, to include a straight timeline with a notation for where each person’s start begins. It would make it easier to visualize what part of the universe they are existing in. If I had any artistic ability (I cannot even draw stick figures), I would make an example.
My inability to keep the chronology straight was a very minor downside for me. The story was wonderful. There were characters like Erin and Mitch that I connected with. And then there were characters like Teddy that made me want to jump into the book and warn the other characters to avoid him at all costs. The ages of the characters vary also from children to middle age.
The situations that characters exist in are not static. Some characters are perpetually moving, either for foraging or for reasons that hopefully Book 2 will explain. Some are hunkered down and just trying to survive for as long as they can. The undead are not the worst monsters in this book. I think the authors do a great job of painting the human monsters in vivid colors. In fact, I can readily visualize some of those human monsters living here in the United States, now, without the apocalypse to create them.
As I said in my review of the first book, the authors have created a post apocalyptic universe that feels different than many of the other I have read (and I have read many). I was hoping to be able to pinpoint this difference after reading Book 1. Unfortunately I cannot. I think it will take Book2 and however many the authors want to write before I can say definitively what makes this universe different. If you like the post apocalyptic genre, this is a great series. Even if you are not a zombie fan, you will still like this series. The zombies are only one part of what drives this book. The Audible version of Book 0.5 was fabulous and I am eagerly awaiting the Audible release of Book 1, hopefully with the same narrator. Looking forward to the next book, as soon as possible (hint to authors). 5 of 5 stars.
The Scattered and the Dead 0.5 follows only one person Decker. His story begins twenty-one days before and continues until 57 days after. I think, but am not positive that the before/after dividing line is the night Decker sees “brightest light flashed in the window. It was like a gigantic flashbulb went off in the sky, so brief that I almost thought I might have imagine it somehow.”
The Scattered and the Dead Book 1 is a much larger cast and time period. The easiest way to illustrate this is to list the character’s names and where their stories start in Book 1:
Rex 68 days before
Baghead 9 yrs, 126 days after
Mitch 43 days before
Travis 44 days after
Erin 29 days after
Teddy 69 days after
Ray 3 days before
Lorraine 3 days before
As you can tell by the listing above, the book is not linear. It tells different people's stories with very different starting points. For example, Baghead’s story begins over 9 years after the event while Mitch’s story begins 43 days before. This was the hardest part of the book for me, the chronology. I think in the final version it might not be a bad idea, at least for readers like me, to include a straight timeline with a notation for where each person’s start begins. It would make it easier to visualize what part of the universe they are existing in. If I had any artistic ability (I cannot even draw stick figures), I would make an example.
My inability to keep the chronology straight was a very minor downside for me. The story was wonderful. There were characters like Erin and Mitch that I connected with. And then there were characters like Teddy that made me want to jump into the book and warn the other characters to avoid him at all costs. The ages of the characters vary also from children to middle age.
The situations that characters exist in are not static. Some characters are perpetually moving, either for foraging or for reasons that hopefully Book 2 will explain. Some are hunkered down and just trying to survive for as long as they can. The undead are not the worst monsters in this book. I think the authors do a great job of painting the human monsters in vivid colors. In fact, I can readily visualize some of those human monsters living here in the United States, now, without the apocalypse to create them.
As I said in my review of the first book, the authors have created a post apocalyptic universe that feels different than many of the other I have read (and I have read many). I was hoping to be able to pinpoint this difference after reading Book 1. Unfortunately I cannot. I think it will take Book2 and however many the authors want to write before I can say definitively what makes this universe different. If you like the post apocalyptic genre, this is a great series. Even if you are not a zombie fan, you will still like this series. The zombies are only one part of what drives this book. The Audible version of Book 0.5 was fabulous and I am eagerly awaiting the Audible release of Book 1, hopefully with the same narrator. Looking forward to the next book, as soon as possible (hint to authors). 5 of 5 stars.
November 4, 2017
First of all, any comparison to Stephen King's the Stand is extremely superficial and lazy. A compare/contrast review might get you a passing grade in junior high, but this work stands on its own, pun intended.
The Scattered and the Dead (Book 1) is an extremely ambitious work. While there are a small handful of areas where that ambition may be reaching, by and large, the book delivers something absolutely special, honest, and horrifying. I mean it, I have had several nightmares because of this book. Not precisely because of the gore, and there is gore. Not because of the despair, and yes, there is a haunting 'oh, we fucked up' feeling throughout. I think it might be the realism. There is a clear absence of Tom Cruise or Will Smith hyper-competently swinging their dicks around to save the day.
Highest marks: character development is superb. McBain and Vargus know these people. Hell, they might be these people, at least in the Jewel "Pieces of You" sense.
I do recommend reading, but if you need things on the easier side of "wow, this is dark," like child wizards and save-the-day teen heroines, maybe sit this one out.
The Scattered and the Dead (Book 1) is an extremely ambitious work. While there are a small handful of areas where that ambition may be reaching, by and large, the book delivers something absolutely special, honest, and horrifying. I mean it, I have had several nightmares because of this book. Not precisely because of the gore, and there is gore. Not because of the despair, and yes, there is a haunting 'oh, we fucked up' feeling throughout. I think it might be the realism. There is a clear absence of Tom Cruise or Will Smith hyper-competently swinging their dicks around to save the day.
Highest marks: character development is superb. McBain and Vargus know these people. Hell, they might be these people, at least in the Jewel "Pieces of You" sense.
I do recommend reading, but if you need things on the easier side of "wow, this is dark," like child wizards and save-the-day teen heroines, maybe sit this one out.
April 1, 2016
Tim McBain and LT Vargus fell into my lap in 2015 and quickly made their way on to my top authors list. (They even let me interview them.) What I have found since reading anything McBain and Vargus publish, is the mixed reviews that their series' receive. Their fearless definitive scenes push the boundaries of what is expected and leave readers with the sweet taste of literature bliss. Although their descriptive scenes of blood and vomit may have readers on the edge, the raw character realness in their work may be exactly what shocks people the most, and exactly what makes their writing noteworthy.
The Scattered and the Dead was a series that was handed to me while I waited - a little less than patiently - for the final installment of their previous series, Awake in the Dark. The Scattered and the Dead's first installment, cleverly named Book 0.5, was the story of a post apocalyptic world vividly described through the eyes of an agoraphobic male, Decker. In book 1.0, we discover why the title of the first book in the series is so wonderfully apt, and it's only the beginning of the intertwining story lines that lay ahead.
Read my full review here: http://www.gcmacquarie.com/reviews/th...
The Scattered and the Dead was a series that was handed to me while I waited - a little less than patiently - for the final installment of their previous series, Awake in the Dark. The Scattered and the Dead's first installment, cleverly named Book 0.5, was the story of a post apocalyptic world vividly described through the eyes of an agoraphobic male, Decker. In book 1.0, we discover why the title of the first book in the series is so wonderfully apt, and it's only the beginning of the intertwining story lines that lay ahead.
Read my full review here: http://www.gcmacquarie.com/reviews/th...
April 3, 2016
The Scattered And The Dead is the stories of the people who survived the Zombie Virus that killed 99% of the population. Mitch is a Dad who is infected with the Zombie Virus he has 24 hours to make up for being a lousy Dad to his Kids before he turns! Can he make sure they are going to be safe and cared for once he turns? Travis is a twenty three year old wimp he ran when his parents were killed by raiders. He survives on booze and pills to numb the pain. When he comes across the men who killed his parent's he has to make a choice fight or run? Erin is a sixteen year old Girl taking care of a eight year old. Months ago she was worried about Prom, now she worries about Zombies and Raiders and how to feed the little Girl. The list of survivors goes on. The story reminds me a little of the Waling Dead and Fear the Walking Dead both t.v shows i love to watch. The Scattered and Dead is a fantastic read with short chapters and the characters are very well written and the descriptions are a real emotional roller coaster ride. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
April 16, 2016
Just meh
I have to say, I bought this because the reviews were fantastic. But I feel cheated. I finished the book purely because I kept hoping it would get better. It didn't.
I found the characters to be dull and tedious. Frankly, they could all die and I'd be perfectly fine with it. What is the point of Teddy? The gratuitous violence was just not necessary and the character was pointless. Was he supposed to shock me? Sorry....he bored me instead. And the will he/won't he suicide saga went on far too long to be interesting.
Stephen Kong's "The Stand" is infinitely better all around. Spend your money there instead.
I have to say, I bought this because the reviews were fantastic. But I feel cheated. I finished the book purely because I kept hoping it would get better. It didn't.
I found the characters to be dull and tedious. Frankly, they could all die and I'd be perfectly fine with it. What is the point of Teddy? The gratuitous violence was just not necessary and the character was pointless. Was he supposed to shock me? Sorry....he bored me instead. And the will he/won't he suicide saga went on far too long to be interesting.
Stephen Kong's "The Stand" is infinitely better all around. Spend your money there instead.
April 1, 2016
I'm far from surprised that Tim McBain and L.T. Vargus have written yet another spectacular and vivid story. This book follows multiple characters as they handle the pre-apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic world. Each character is a gem, thoughtfully created and representative of unique situations and locales. I was pulled in by the top-notch writing, but I stayed for the characters. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
August 8, 2017
I enjoy post apocalyptic fiction and this is a good one. The focus is on the characters and we get a very intimate depiction of who they are and how they are coping, or not. I liked the back and forth play between the before and after (math) of the event. I also felt the pace kept me wanting to keep going with my new found friends, to root for them to succeed. It was a little scary and a little maddening at times (in a good way). I will keep reading this series.
April 2, 2016
Holy End of Days, Batman!
This book follows the lives of multiple people, at different timelines. You get the before, during and after effects. While some stories are hear warming, yet sad, others are mysterious, dark and disturbing. A great mix of stories, much like society as it stands now.
This book follows the lives of multiple people, at different timelines. You get the before, during and after effects. While some stories are hear warming, yet sad, others are mysterious, dark and disturbing. A great mix of stories, much like society as it stands now.
July 14, 2019
I can’t figure out which book I read
This was book one. It was ok. Do I go back and read book zero or 0.5? I wish it was a little easier to discern timeline within and between the books.
This was book one. It was ok. Do I go back and read book zero or 0.5? I wish it was a little easier to discern timeline within and between the books.
September 12, 2016
I can't say enough about these writers. Their descriptions make you feel like you are in the pages with the characters, living through these events. Cannot wait for the next installment!
June 27, 2017
Engaging
This book follows the lives of several people who are among the survivors at the end of the world. It is parallel story lines.
The author(s) have some delightfully busy brains to have written such intricate details within a story. It really engaged my senses. Pretty much everything is described so meticulously that it held my interest as my imagination formed the sights, smells, emotions, tastes, and, sounds which are depicted therein--everything from cute to eww!
Whether you are into this genre, or, not, the story is entertaining, and, should give the reader’s imagination a jump start. I’ve seen many Sci-Fi flicks; but, I’ve never read a Sci-Fi novel before this one. That being said, I did enjoy the book. I would recommend it to anyone who doesn’t have a weak stomach. I handled all of it just fine, but, portions of it are graphic. I mean that as an F.Y.I., not a deterrent.
Now, as for my rating, I have to point out the downsides, if there are any. There are enough grammatical errors to distract readers, as was my experience. I mention this, because, I know that really bad grammar can be as bad as fingernails on a chalkboard. I have to look out for my fellow readers.
Here are some quotes from the book, which are worth noting:
“The thing that struck her over and over was how much they all looked the same. Sometimes the clothes tipped off the gender and maybe the age. Like in this case, she’d guess: male, 45 years old and up. But for the most part, it didn’t matter if they had been skinny or fat, black or white, Catholic or Muslim, gay or straight: they all looked the same once they were dead and rotted. It made all the crap that happened in the world --politics and war and bigotry of any kind --seem extra stupid and pointless. Now that the world had ended, most stuff from Before seemed stupid and pointless.”
“A feeling came over him that he didn’t quite have words for. Something to do with life being a miracle we have no idea what to do with.”
“Generally speaking, there seemed to be a fake tan glow prevalent among this bunch, that bronzer shade of orange that glows in broad daylight, so it almost looked like they were surrounded by unhappy jack-o’-lanterns.”
“He craned his neck to stare at the stars full on, and for a moment, regret welled in him. Regret for the days gone by, the time wasted, the attention never paid. But it passed. This was how life worked. He knew that.”
This book follows the lives of several people who are among the survivors at the end of the world. It is parallel story lines.
The author(s) have some delightfully busy brains to have written such intricate details within a story. It really engaged my senses. Pretty much everything is described so meticulously that it held my interest as my imagination formed the sights, smells, emotions, tastes, and, sounds which are depicted therein--everything from cute to eww!
Whether you are into this genre, or, not, the story is entertaining, and, should give the reader’s imagination a jump start. I’ve seen many Sci-Fi flicks; but, I’ve never read a Sci-Fi novel before this one. That being said, I did enjoy the book. I would recommend it to anyone who doesn’t have a weak stomach. I handled all of it just fine, but, portions of it are graphic. I mean that as an F.Y.I., not a deterrent.
Now, as for my rating, I have to point out the downsides, if there are any. There are enough grammatical errors to distract readers, as was my experience. I mention this, because, I know that really bad grammar can be as bad as fingernails on a chalkboard. I have to look out for my fellow readers.
Here are some quotes from the book, which are worth noting:
“The thing that struck her over and over was how much they all looked the same. Sometimes the clothes tipped off the gender and maybe the age. Like in this case, she’d guess: male, 45 years old and up. But for the most part, it didn’t matter if they had been skinny or fat, black or white, Catholic or Muslim, gay or straight: they all looked the same once they were dead and rotted. It made all the crap that happened in the world --politics and war and bigotry of any kind --seem extra stupid and pointless. Now that the world had ended, most stuff from Before seemed stupid and pointless.”
“A feeling came over him that he didn’t quite have words for. Something to do with life being a miracle we have no idea what to do with.”
“Generally speaking, there seemed to be a fake tan glow prevalent among this bunch, that bronzer shade of orange that glows in broad daylight, so it almost looked like they were surrounded by unhappy jack-o’-lanterns.”
“He craned his neck to stare at the stars full on, and for a moment, regret welled in him. Regret for the days gone by, the time wasted, the attention never paid. But it passed. This was how life worked. He knew that.”
September 26, 2017
Woah! Where do I even begin? I guess the first thing I want to touch on, is how unfortunate it is to see so many negative comments about this book in comparison to Stephen King's, The Stand. Comparing the two is like trying to compare Pink Moscato to Merlot. While both are delicious wines, the two are entirely different flavors. Basically what I'm saying is, while both The Stand and The Scattered and the Dead are novels based on an apocalypse, and equally amazing in my opinion, they are completely different. You simply cannot compare the two. Now, all that being said, let's move on to the review!
The Scattered and the Dead is about a zombie apocalypse and follows the story of several characters. The book is not formatted in chapters, but by character. When I first dove into the book, I was very concerned that I would be unable to keep the stories separate, and wouldn't be able to remember who was who without needing to take notes while I read. But I very wrong.
You follow each character's personal journey before the apocalypse, through the apocalypse, and after the apocalypse. Throughout the book, you bounce from one character to the next, and back again. Sound confusing? It's not. The characters are so beautifully written, and their stories so unique to each other, it's impossible to mix them up. You will hate some characters and your heart will break for others.
I have seen some people complain that there wasn't enough zombie action in this book. While I do agree that there is very little "zombie action" I actually didn't find it necessary. I admit I went into this book assuming there would be copious amounts of blood, guts, and gore. But I promise you, it was the perfect amount.
This book focused more on the individual character's stories. These characters face harsh realities, impossible decisions, and struggle to survive in a world that's dead. I've read several zombie books, and I found this one to be the most "realistic". I fell in love with several of these characters and I cannot wait to continue the series.
The Scattered and the Dead is about a zombie apocalypse and follows the story of several characters. The book is not formatted in chapters, but by character. When I first dove into the book, I was very concerned that I would be unable to keep the stories separate, and wouldn't be able to remember who was who without needing to take notes while I read. But I very wrong.
You follow each character's personal journey before the apocalypse, through the apocalypse, and after the apocalypse. Throughout the book, you bounce from one character to the next, and back again. Sound confusing? It's not. The characters are so beautifully written, and their stories so unique to each other, it's impossible to mix them up. You will hate some characters and your heart will break for others.
I have seen some people complain that there wasn't enough zombie action in this book. While I do agree that there is very little "zombie action" I actually didn't find it necessary. I admit I went into this book assuming there would be copious amounts of blood, guts, and gore. But I promise you, it was the perfect amount.
This book focused more on the individual character's stories. These characters face harsh realities, impossible decisions, and struggle to survive in a world that's dead. I've read several zombie books, and I found this one to be the most "realistic". I fell in love with several of these characters and I cannot wait to continue the series.
July 3, 2017
At first... I couldn't wait for it to be over because it was sooooooooooo slow. I was almost annoyed for the author choosing to what I thought was "overly-describe" every scene. But you know what... after awhile it started to grow on me. So did the rest of the book.
In The Scattered... you are following the exploits of several characters, some in the past... some in the future. As the book jumps around so much in beginning, it's a little confusing. But after awhile, you are able to keep up with the pace. Once the action starts revving up, that's when this book starts to shine.
When I purchase an audiobook, even if I don't like it, I want to give the author a shot by reading the whole thing. In this book, I went from, "I can't wait for this to end so I can delete it forever," to..."OMG... I can't wait to see what happens next." Then all of a sudden, that writing style I overly-critiqued... all of a sudden I fell in love with.
I highly recommend this book. You gotta find out what happens to these guys.
In The Scattered... you are following the exploits of several characters, some in the past... some in the future. As the book jumps around so much in beginning, it's a little confusing. But after awhile, you are able to keep up with the pace. Once the action starts revving up, that's when this book starts to shine.
When I purchase an audiobook, even if I don't like it, I want to give the author a shot by reading the whole thing. In this book, I went from, "I can't wait for this to end so I can delete it forever," to..."OMG... I can't wait to see what happens next." Then all of a sudden, that writing style I overly-critiqued... all of a sudden I fell in love with.
I highly recommend this book. You gotta find out what happens to these guys.
May 10, 2020
This took some getting in to, so much so I set it aside and read two completely different books before returning. America, presumably the world, though nobody seems inclined to find out, has been overrun by an illness (I hesitate to say virus in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic) that turns its victims into flesh eating zombies. It mixes attempts to survive with a crooked TV evangelist in Texas and two young girls (by far my favourite characters) in Pennsylvania, to survivors, two sociopaths in West Virginia and Michigan, an attempt to die from an infected father also in Pennsylvania before he becomes a zombie but all the time trying to leave his sons prepared for lives as orphans, to a survivor in Oklahoma nine years later. All the characters are impeccably mapped out, but I fear that to make perfect sense of what you’ve read will mean finishing the entire six book (currently) series.
October 13, 2020
I didn't want to read this series, until I did.
My husband and I were passionate fans of TV's The Walking Dead for years, until the writers decided to veer from original story. Then they killed off Carl! And that was the final straw for us. So, I had zero interest in reading The Scattered and the Dead, until I did... Naturally, I was hooked right away. The characters are not all appealing. Mitch's cowardice was disgusting to the end--which took much too long! Teddy's thoughts and actions were truly reprehensible--ugh!! Thankfully, Baghead and Erin are likeable and good people, as are others. I'll be reading Book 2, today. I'm happy to have changed my mind about reading this series, as the super talented team of McBain & Vargus have become two of my favorite authors. May their brains keep flowing with interesting, enticing, satisfying ideas!
My husband and I were passionate fans of TV's The Walking Dead for years, until the writers decided to veer from original story. Then they killed off Carl! And that was the final straw for us. So, I had zero interest in reading The Scattered and the Dead, until I did... Naturally, I was hooked right away. The characters are not all appealing. Mitch's cowardice was disgusting to the end--which took much too long! Teddy's thoughts and actions were truly reprehensible--ugh!! Thankfully, Baghead and Erin are likeable and good people, as are others. I'll be reading Book 2, today. I'm happy to have changed my mind about reading this series, as the super talented team of McBain & Vargus have become two of my favorite authors. May their brains keep flowing with interesting, enticing, satisfying ideas!
February 22, 2021
I think the premise of the book is great, and there may be something here that could excite me later in the series. As for book one, it is painfully slow at times, offering just teases of what might come. Maybe that’s intended. I think it can be appreciated the avoidance of dime-a-dozen, predictable zombie plots, where everything rests on their conflict with humans. Human interaction and behavior is at the heart of this book, with zombies only playing the faintest subsidiary role in the first installment. Altogether, well written with a range of believable, diverse characters. Just don’t expect to be at the edge of your seat for the majority of this book. Think of it as an investment that may or may not pay off in later episodes. I will shop around before I decide to move on to book two.
May 22, 2021
I guess I should have expected what this book delivered, but I wasn't familiar with the author etc.
To be frank, I didn't 'get it', It wasn't a page turner for sure. I found it hard to pick up and read more.
Didn't care for the story or characters. It was outlandish in so many ways. But wait! Maybe that's what the author was shooting for. Characters did a lot of shooting also.
Zombies and pre-teen and teen age kids??? Killing themselves and each other? Was this a story to cuddle up to and enjoy an evening of reading? I don't think so!
I would give this a 2 star. Could have been a 3 star with less cursing.
To be frank, I didn't 'get it', It wasn't a page turner for sure. I found it hard to pick up and read more.
Didn't care for the story or characters. It was outlandish in so many ways. But wait! Maybe that's what the author was shooting for. Characters did a lot of shooting also.
Zombies and pre-teen and teen age kids??? Killing themselves and each other? Was this a story to cuddle up to and enjoy an evening of reading? I don't think so!
I would give this a 2 star. Could have been a 3 star with less cursing.
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