XOMBIES: Apocalypse Blues

by Walter Greatshell

For seventeen-year-old Lulu Pangloss, life sucks. She's a late bloomer, her mother is difficult, her absentee dad is a deadbeat, and people are stupid. But life is about to get very interesting for Lulu, due to the worldwide plague known as Agent X. Practically overnight, most of the stupid human race transforms into insane, unkillable "Xombies," forcing Lulu and a handful of other survivors to make an epic journey to the only place on Earth rumored to be safe...that is, if they don't kill each other first.

"A triumph, both epic in scope and entirely unpredictable, and anchored by one of the most refreshing and unique voices in modern fiction."--Nate Kenyon, author of The Bone Factory

"Greatshell does a great job of developing Lulu as a character, and his strong writing makes this an enjoyable apocalyptic tale."--Monster Librarian

"Surprise after surprise. A heady brew of horror, science fiction, suspense, and adventure...as sharp and bone-chilling as an arctic gale."--A.J. Matthews, author of Unbroken

"An amazing novel. It's really, really good."--Bob Fingerman, author of Pariah

411 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2004

About the author

Walter Greatshell here. I am the author of XOMBIES (Berkley, 2004), which was re-released as XOMBIES: APOCALYPSE BLUES (2009), and followed by the sequels XOMBIES: APOCALYPTICON (2010), and XOMBIES: APOCALYPSO (2011). I am also author of the novels MAD SKILLS, ENORMITY (published under the pen name W.G. Marshall), and TERMINAL ISLAND. My short stories have appeared in the anthologies THE LIVING DEAD 2, TALES OF JACK THE RIPPER, and CTHULHU FHTAGN! My most recent works are the essay collection SPECIAL FEATURES: SHORT TAKES ON POP CULTURE FROM ANDROIDS TO ZOMBIES and the WWII saga SAFARI MINE: AN AFRICAN ODYSSEY 1928-1937.

Reviews

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahhhhh…..ok. So to be up front and honest, I picked this book because I’m completing the A-Z Reading Challenge and a book that started with the letter X was the final book I needed to read. If I’m reading it right this is actually book 2 out of a 4 book series. However, it looks like the other 3 books are only available in paperback form since they were all written 2004-2009.

There’s a lot to unpack in this book starting with the fact that basically women are the demise of all mankind. I kid you not. Our lone heroine is hated, ridiculed, almost raped several times, and basically watches everyone she knows and loves turn into Xombies all while trying to keep her head down and survive herself.

It’s a good read if you are into zombies, which I am. This book has a different take than the usual zombie books since these Xombies are super fast, super strong, can still communicate with language, and some still have critical thinking skills - or at least, some thinking skills.

I’m not a huge fan of the ending to be honest but since there are other books, maybe the true ending turns out differently. I just don’t really understand how she ended up where she did…..I know, I know. My review doesn’t sound like I should be giving it 4 stars but it’s well done and I liked it. I just wish I could get the other books in the series.

[Scotty Marinara · Rating 3 out of 5]

hmm so, after some thought, i give this 3 stars its not a bad book! the zombies err xombies, are unique theyre closer to 28 days later rage infected than traditional undead, but these are smart strong, talking zombies with blue skin i liked how the zombie pandemic was a new imaginative plague it was not boring although i would have loved more exposition on how the world broke down
content warning, there is some sexual assault and implied pederasty and sex slavery in the book but its not trauma nor torture porni just rolled my eyes at it because i dont like when assault and stuff are used as character development this is not a bad book tje only reason i give it 3 stars, is because it drags a little bit some of the scenes go on overly long i do recommend it just because its mostly set in a submarine and thats certainly new!