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Endurance #4
Preferred Dead
On planet Thassis, the zombie apocalypse is over.
The zombies won.
Now what?
The UELE Endurance arrives to find Thassis a world of death. As Captain Withers struggles to pass a performance evaluation and first officer Viktor Ivanokoff fights his feelings for security chief Areva Praphasat, the crew seeks a way to undo the damage that has been done.
They have no way of knowing that what happened to the Thassians happened on purpose, and that the individuals behind it are lurking closer than anyone suspects.
The zombies won.
Now what?
The UELE Endurance arrives to find Thassis a world of death. As Captain Withers struggles to pass a performance evaluation and first officer Viktor Ivanokoff fights his feelings for security chief Areva Praphasat, the crew seeks a way to undo the damage that has been done.
They have no way of knowing that what happened to the Thassians happened on purpose, and that the individuals behind it are lurking closer than anyone suspects.
- GenresScience Fiction
84 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 20, 2015
2 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
A.C. Spahn
14 books39 followersA. C. Spahn wanted to be an interstellar starship captain when she grew up. Since nobody was hiring, she became a writer instead.
She enjoys breaking boards with her fists, organizing messy rooms, and debating the physics of fictional technologies. When not commanding imaginary starships, she lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and kids.
She is the author of the USA Today bestselling Endurance series, the “Cara Watt, P.I.” stories on Daily Science Fiction, and other short pieces published by Flash Fiction Online, Star*Line, and more.
She enjoys breaking boards with her fists, organizing messy rooms, and debating the physics of fictional technologies. When not commanding imaginary starships, she lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and kids.
She is the author of the USA Today bestselling Endurance series, the “Cara Watt, P.I.” stories on Daily Science Fiction, and other short pieces published by Flash Fiction Online, Star*Line, and more.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 25, 2016
What a fun ride! This is my first read by Amy Spahn, but it won't be my last. And, as you can probably tell, although this is the fourth book in the series, it stands easily on its own. The characters are multidimensional, the dialogue is humorous and often witty, and Spahn really capitalizes on both the comic and tragic moments of the story, often at the same time.
In "Preferred Dead," we have the crew of the Endurance (who are very nearly on probation and in danger of losing their status as explorers) landing on an unknown planet and promptly discovering what appear to be drunk and disorderly dead bodies. But these bodies can think at least a little, and strategize... capture by the zombies and subsequent investigations uncover the fact that the government brought this upon the people on purpose. But why? And can it be undone? What's preferable?
Alongside the story of understanding what appears to be a zombie apocalypse are the crew's own lives, and they are a motley, hilarious crew. Their interactions have all the markers of family, including the ability to get on each others nerves. There is an assassin who hates being seen, the man who loves her but can never quite work up to asking her out on a date, and many more.
A fun and engaging read. Definitely recommend!
Actual rating: 4.5
Note: I received this novella from the author in return for an honest review. This did not influence my rating or review.
In "Preferred Dead," we have the crew of the Endurance (who are very nearly on probation and in danger of losing their status as explorers) landing on an unknown planet and promptly discovering what appear to be drunk and disorderly dead bodies. But these bodies can think at least a little, and strategize... capture by the zombies and subsequent investigations uncover the fact that the government brought this upon the people on purpose. But why? And can it be undone? What's preferable?
Alongside the story of understanding what appears to be a zombie apocalypse are the crew's own lives, and they are a motley, hilarious crew. Their interactions have all the markers of family, including the ability to get on each others nerves. There is an assassin who hates being seen, the man who loves her but can never quite work up to asking her out on a date, and many more.
A fun and engaging read. Definitely recommend!
Actual rating: 4.5
Note: I received this novella from the author in return for an honest review. This did not influence my rating or review.
February 25, 2016
Amy Spahn has delivered another delightful installment of her Endurance series about the crew of a space ship sent to explore the far reaches of the universe because their bosses wanted to get them out of the way. The crew members are all there because they have failed in some way at other postings, and their captain’s aim is to prove that his team is not a bunch of no-hopers, but a useful part of the starship fleet.
In Preferred Dead, the ship lands on a planet where the inhabitants are all zombies and the Endurance’s crew sets about the task of curing the populous of their affliction. Of course, all does not go according to plan, and though it looks very hopeful at one stage, a last moment twist delivers an unexpected outcome. Throughout the story two ‘suits’ hover around, evaluating the crew’s performance and adding another level of tension to the plot.
Unlike Spahn’s previous books in this series, Preferred Dead really does need the background from the other books to be fully appreciated. This is because the themes of Victor’s relationship with the head of security and Thomas’s struggle with head command is an ongoing theme that has its roots in previous books. Preferred Dead is very much a mid-series book in that it relies on the previous books and sets up for a following book. I didn’t find the story as exciting as those in the earlier books and that is often the case with mid-series books.
In summary, if you like light-weight space opera style series, then I recommend this one. The books are short, and I think best read in close succession.
I received this book free of charge from the author for the purposes of an honest review.
In Preferred Dead, the ship lands on a planet where the inhabitants are all zombies and the Endurance’s crew sets about the task of curing the populous of their affliction. Of course, all does not go according to plan, and though it looks very hopeful at one stage, a last moment twist delivers an unexpected outcome. Throughout the story two ‘suits’ hover around, evaluating the crew’s performance and adding another level of tension to the plot.
Unlike Spahn’s previous books in this series, Preferred Dead really does need the background from the other books to be fully appreciated. This is because the themes of Victor’s relationship with the head of security and Thomas’s struggle with head command is an ongoing theme that has its roots in previous books. Preferred Dead is very much a mid-series book in that it relies on the previous books and sets up for a following book. I didn’t find the story as exciting as those in the earlier books and that is often the case with mid-series books.
In summary, if you like light-weight space opera style series, then I recommend this one. The books are short, and I think best read in close succession.
I received this book free of charge from the author for the purposes of an honest review.
August 5, 2022
The Endurance finds a dead planet, actually it's a planet full of dead people who are still moving and somewhat compos mentis.
They're zombies!
Luckily the crew of the Endurance quickly come up with an antidote ... except it only works for a very short time before it is back to square one and the ravening hordes.
The killer plague, it turns out, was deliberately introduced by the Haxozin, and the zombie state was engineered by the scientists of the planet.
It's a complicated story that is never fully explored due to the fact that "Preferred Dead" is a novella.
It's yet another very readable episode in the series but, in my opinion, not as good as it could have been if it had been doubled, at least, in length.
There's some good zombie humour all the way through.
3 Stars.
They're zombies!
Luckily the crew of the Endurance quickly come up with an antidote ... except it only works for a very short time before it is back to square one and the ravening hordes.
The killer plague, it turns out, was deliberately introduced by the Haxozin, and the zombie state was engineered by the scientists of the planet.
It's a complicated story that is never fully explored due to the fact that "Preferred Dead" is a novella.
It's yet another very readable episode in the series but, in my opinion, not as good as it could have been if it had been doubled, at least, in length.
There's some good zombie humour all the way through.
3 Stars.
August 22, 2021
Awesome Indies Book Awards is pleased to include PREFERRED DEAD (Endurance #4) by A. C. SPAHN in the library of Awesome Indies'
Badge of Approval
recipients.
476/42401
476/42401
March 11, 2024
This one had some drama with longer and more intense plotting. Fun, quick series of novellas.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews