What do you think?
Rate this book
Arisen
Last Stand
One platoon of Rangers from a legendary regiment. An isolated combat outpost in the Spin Ghar mountains. One-hundred-fifty Taliban survivors - armed with Tier-1 weapons - And all the rampaging dead guys in central Asia.
B Company, 3rd Bat, 75th Ranger Regiment - a unit that's fought in every US engagement from D-Day to Black Hawk Down. They are the last American boots on the ground in the entire Syrian civil war...on the last day before the Fall of human civilization. When they are tasked with stopping a unit of Spetsnaz operators from inserting under the chaos, an advanced Russian Navy frigate becomes the last place left on Earth for the Rangers to find refuge. Now, after six months held captive as scavenging mercenaries for Spetsnaz, to earn their freedom they will have to take on the most hazardous shore mission in the entire history of the ZA.
Welcome to the Zulu Alpha.
B Company, 3rd Bat, 75th Ranger Regiment - a unit that's fought in every US engagement from D-Day to Black Hawk Down. They are the last American boots on the ground in the entire Syrian civil war...on the last day before the Fall of human civilization. When they are tasked with stopping a unit of Spetsnaz operators from inserting under the chaos, an advanced Russian Navy frigate becomes the last place left on Earth for the Rangers to find refuge. Now, after six months held captive as scavenging mercenaries for Spetsnaz, to earn their freedom they will have to take on the most hazardous shore mission in the entire history of the ZA.
Welcome to the Zulu Alpha.
Audible Audio
First published October 3, 2019
412 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Michael Stephen Fuchs
58 books494 followersMICHAEL STEPHEN FUCHS is author of the #1 bestselling epic ARISEN series of special-operations military ZA novels, which have repeatedly been Amazon #1 bestsellers in Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction, #1 in Dystopian Science Fiction, #1 in Military Science Fiction, #1 in War Fiction, and #1 in War & Military Action Fiction, as well as Amazon overall Top 100 bestsellers. The series as a whole has sold over 1.5 million copies. The audiobook editions, performed by R.C. Bray, have generated over $5 million in revenue. He is also author of the D-Boys series of high-tech special-operations military adventure novels, which include
D-Boys
,
Counter-Assault
, and Close Quarters Battle (coming in 2026); as well as the existential cyberthrillers
The Manuscript
and
Pandora’s Sisters
, both published worldwide by Macmillan in hardback, paperback and all e-book formats (and in translation). He lives in London and blogs at www.michaelfuchs.org/razorsedge. You can follow him on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, or by e-mail.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
October 6, 2019
Return of The King of The ZA
A simply brilliant, poignant return to the ZA that true fans of MSF will love. For a short story it's brilliant and does not let up from the first page. It's intense, got Aliens references, which I love and suprise suprise, the odd Baddass Russian! What's not to like!! Just going to have to go through the series......again 😊 whilst I patiently wait for the next one. We knew it was going to be a novella so don't complain the story is to short!!!!
A simply brilliant, poignant return to the ZA that true fans of MSF will love. For a short story it's brilliant and does not let up from the first page. It's intense, got Aliens references, which I love and suprise suprise, the odd Baddass Russian! What's not to like!! Just going to have to go through the series......again 😊 whilst I patiently wait for the next one. We knew it was going to be a novella so don't complain the story is to short!!!!
October 5, 2019
THE STAND OF...
The book start with a long description of weapons, once that was done, finally the story start. The group of Rangers who was at the Fringe of the ZA. The main characters are developed around the story.
The addition of Russians in the mix with the Rangers fought throughout the story until the brotherhood wins and lost with "Valor"!
The book start with a long description of weapons, once that was done, finally the story start. The group of Rangers who was at the Fringe of the ZA. The main characters are developed around the story.
The addition of Russians in the mix with the Rangers fought throughout the story until the brotherhood wins and lost with "Valor"!
November 15, 2019
A precursor to a favorite.
A pre-Arisen tale, exposing what happened before the epic series started. Good quick action packed read. prob not quite as good as the series but still worth it, folks in some gaps
A pre-Arisen tale, exposing what happened before the epic series started. Good quick action packed read. prob not quite as good as the series but still worth it, folks in some gaps
![Profile Image for [ J o ].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1673171874i%2F4639825._UY200_CR4%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
never-read
January 19, 2020Read the novella Genesis in the "Arisen" series. 1 Star and did not enjoy, therefore will not be continuing with the series.
June 27, 2024
This is the first book I read from the ARISEN series. THE LAST STAND by Michael Fuchs is a short story depicting a single Ranger platoon after the Syrian War and the first day of the Zombie Apocalypse. Sgt. Chris Vogeler, who inherited the leadership of Two Bravo, watched as his commanding officer, along with 1/3 of the Rangers, were lost in the first confrontation between humans and zombies. To save themselves, the Rangers sought refuge on a Russian trawler and were then taken prisoner. The story includes too many weapon acronyms - a glossary would have been helpful.
On their final mission in Afghanistan, the Ranger platoon must succeed; even though the living Taliban outnumber them by 20-1, they are also joined by every zombie in the countryside. Both groups are intent on overrunning the FOB and killing the American defenders. This is the Alamo all over again.
If they succeed in this mission, the Russians have promised to free the American survivors. Do they succeed and are the Russians good for their word? You'll have to see for yourself. This is well worth a read. I will purchase another Arisen book in the series to see how it compares.
On their final mission in Afghanistan, the Ranger platoon must succeed; even though the living Taliban outnumber them by 20-1, they are also joined by every zombie in the countryside. Both groups are intent on overrunning the FOB and killing the American defenders. This is the Alamo all over again.
If they succeed in this mission, the Russians have promised to free the American survivors. Do they succeed and are the Russians good for their word? You'll have to see for yourself. This is well worth a read. I will purchase another Arisen book in the series to see how it compares.
March 2, 2022
Last stand is set in the ARISEN zombie universe, and is the story of a platoon of Rangers who are in Syria at the beginning of the zombie apocalypse. They've been tasked with stopping a Russian Spetsnaz team from deploying, but end up being rescued by the Russian ship when the zombies attack them. it then follows them as they are forced to raid various bases for supplies, until eventually, they end up in Afghanistan, raiding a secret base that is about to be raided by the USS Kennedy and the MARSOC Marines we all know and love.
It ends up with the story-teller, a sergeant who's been commanding the team since the Captain got killed in Syria, and the leader of the Spetsnaz team holding off the Taliban who had taken over the camp, and using the undead to attack it when the Rangers show up, holding them off while the rest of the squad get away and hope for rescue by the Kennedy.
It's a shorter story than I thought it would be, and feels a little rushed in places, but it gives another perspective on the early days of the zombie apocalypse, and what it must have been like.
It ends up with the story-teller, a sergeant who's been commanding the team since the Captain got killed in Syria, and the leader of the Spetsnaz team holding off the Taliban who had taken over the camp, and using the undead to attack it when the Rangers show up, holding them off while the rest of the squad get away and hope for rescue by the Kennedy.
It's a shorter story than I thought it would be, and feels a little rushed in places, but it gives another perspective on the early days of the zombie apocalypse, and what it must have been like.
July 4, 2021
The publisher's description pretty much tells it all. This is a standalone story in the Arisen series universe. It has a lot of action and for a zombie apocalypse story it kept my interest. The science was a little questionable, it they talked about it at all. I've read other books in the series and whenever they talked about why zombies were wandering around from a medical point of view the explanation sounded more like magic. Therefore, I've labelled this as fantasy as well as science fiction.
Any modesty issues? The F-word is used. Other than that, there is a love interest going on that results in sex. Not a lot of detail.
I might read this book again, but I prefer the Dark Tide Rising series by John Ringo for my zombie apocalypse needs. It has more hope and occasional humor.
Any modesty issues? The F-word is used. Other than that, there is a love interest going on that results in sex. Not a lot of detail.
I might read this book again, but I prefer the Dark Tide Rising series by John Ringo for my zombie apocalypse needs. It has more hope and occasional humor.
November 2, 2021
I got this as a free Audible offer and found it surprisingly good. The author either did time in the service or spent his time researching the military in-depth. He combined a bit of "The Outpost" scenario with an end of the world zombie apocalypse, with a bunch of Army Rangers fighting for their lives against both the Taliban and the Undead.
I won't spoil it, but suffice to say this guy knows...or learned...something about military operations and weaponry. It added a ton of realism to the narrative. I hate it when authors don't know squat about the subject they're writing about. There's no excuse for it in the digital age.
A fun audiobook, and ably narrated. I recommend it.
It'd make a great movie!
I won't spoil it, but suffice to say this guy knows...or learned...something about military operations and weaponry. It added a ton of realism to the narrative. I hate it when authors don't know squat about the subject they're writing about. There's no excuse for it in the digital age.
A fun audiobook, and ably narrated. I recommend it.
It'd make a great movie!
October 5, 2021
This novella was published in 2020, eight years after the original Arisen novels were published. I presume this novella was released to bring attention to Arisen to readers once again. Arisen is a great set of novels, perhaps one of the best military zombie apocalypse novels out there. I listened to Arisen in 2015 and I’m seriously considering listening to it again now that the novella has whet my appetite for it. Exactly what it was meant to do, to include new readers/listeners. An ingenious tactic. Among the many quotable quotes, many of which made me laugh, “A helicopter is basically ten thousand parts flying in close formation.”
August 31, 2022
My lord I couldn’t even finish this 3 hour book. I lost count of how many times the movie 28 days later was referenced. The character development is weak AF.
Main characters thoughts are all the same and all revolve around movies/tv shows/ curvy chicks in ridiculous post apocalyptic costumes. Don’t waste your time with this author. There’s way better out there.
Bobby Adair- better
DJ Molles- better
Jonathan Mayberry- better
Max brooks- better
And many more that I cannot think of off the top of my head.
Main characters thoughts are all the same and all revolve around movies/tv shows/ curvy chicks in ridiculous post apocalyptic costumes. Don’t waste your time with this author. There’s way better out there.
Bobby Adair- better
DJ Molles- better
Jonathan Mayberry- better
Max brooks- better
And many more that I cannot think of off the top of my head.
June 6, 2021
A true soldier has the valor to see the mission threw
The story was a slightly OK perspective on the early days of the outbreak and months follows but the time skips between scenes where getting old real fast has I didn’t really get a fill for the psychological changes the chacthers went threw. I also didn’t like the open-ending type for the story has it left the reader to belief everything work out after the book ended.
The story was a slightly OK perspective on the early days of the outbreak and months follows but the time skips between scenes where getting old real fast has I didn’t really get a fill for the psychological changes the chacthers went threw. I also didn’t like the open-ending type for the story has it left the reader to belief everything work out after the book ended.
November 15, 2021
Not exactly a happy ending, but a good one none the less. As far as spin-off novellas go, this one was better than most. Fuchs just has a way of making the characters, largely soldiers (or marines), very realistic. You're never pulled away from the story by bad dialogue, quite the contrary, you end up getting lost in the story as though it's flowing like real life. If there were ever an appropriate story for a title such as Last Stand, this was it.
December 10, 2022
The story wasn’t bad but why does EVERY military-related zombie book have to be so racist??? Also use of the r-word and related slurs in the year 2020 is completely unforgivable. I’m glad this was free from audible and I did not give my money to the author. I will not be continuing this series. I’m a bit disappointed in one of my favorite narrators, R.C. Bray, being involved with this audiobook, especially because he is the reason I chose it in the first place.
March 13, 2023
I love post apocalyptic fiction and the narrator, R. C. Bray, is the voice of the apocalypse in my opinion. Add to that patriotic, highly trained, military characters fighting for their lives against all odds and throw in a Russian commander who has a war ship and you have a story that is as chill and satisfying as a Clint Eastwood movie! No, I won’t give any more intel on this, you just have to read it or listen to it yourself!
September 13, 2020
Just when I thought I'd never read another Arisen book after finishing the series I find the author starts banging out standalone novels and bam I'm back in the zombie apocalypse!
This was very short, so short that you didn't really get to know any of the characters very well but the action and plot were top notch if a bit cynical.
This was very short, so short that you didn't really get to know any of the characters very well but the action and plot were top notch if a bit cynical.
September 18, 2020
This is really more of a side story about some guys who get caught in Syria as the outbreak begins, and their unlikely refuge found on the Russian ship that's a big player in Book 7, Death of Empires. It's a little sad but illustrates some true patriotism from a regular guy.
And RC Bray. That is all.
And RC Bray. That is all.
January 11, 2021
Wow!!!amazing series grabs you from the first pagand doesn't let go til thlastgreat characters rocking story line these guys certainly know their shit epic battle
scenes left me breathless and sleepless will definitely be reading anything and everything else they turn out can't wait honestly
scenes left me breathless and sleepless will definitely be reading anything and everything else they turn out can't wait honestly
September 7, 2020
What a Ride!
Just, Damn! What a story. This is definitely a must read for any lover of the Zompoc. Excellent characters and storyline, it absolutely sucks you in, with descriptions so great, it makes it all visible in your mind, almost like you are there.
Just, Damn! What a story. This is definitely a must read for any lover of the Zompoc. Excellent characters and storyline, it absolutely sucks you in, with descriptions so great, it makes it all visible in your mind, almost like you are there.
June 28, 2021
SURPRISE! RC Bray narrates this stand-alone audiobook!!
I really enjoyed this story & will now start the series!!
Army rangers, Syria, the Taliban, Russian Spetsnaz operators and ZOMBIES! SO many quotable moments!!! I wish I had written them all down!
If you like humor with your horror this could be the book series for you.
I really enjoyed this story & will now start the series!!
Army rangers, Syria, the Taliban, Russian Spetsnaz operators and ZOMBIES! SO many quotable moments!!! I wish I had written them all down!
If you like humor with your horror this could be the book series for you.
September 19, 2021
It was ok. I'm not much of a critic, but the writers style seemed a bit erratic and broken. I didn't like how it stopped so often and then moved forward 3 paces. Just not the style of writing I like I guess.
May 16, 2020
Best ZA books full stop.
Read the rest of the series brilliant military zombie fiction, excellent characters, fast paced, you just can't out them down
Read the rest of the series brilliant military zombie fiction, excellent characters, fast paced, you just can't out them down
September 5, 2020
Great Read
Awesome short story that keeps you glued to the seat . Well explained and detailed storyline that is well worth the read.
Awesome short story that keeps you glued to the seat . Well explained and detailed storyline that is well worth the read.
September 11, 2020
Wow ! What a thrilling, nail biting story. Couldn't put it down. The whole series of Arisen has been exciting from the first book to the last. Highly recommend them.
October 25, 2020
Fast paced
Keeps you turning pages through till the end. The characters jump off the page and you feel like you’re truly in the action.
Keeps you turning pages through till the end. The characters jump off the page and you feel like you’re truly in the action.
March 5, 2021
Wow, pretty depressing I gotta say. Also dont care for the Russian-election-interference commentary. Actually been proven by law to be untrue, so I guess Fuchs is an SJW?
September 14, 2021
Is this really the end?
As others have already said, I sure miss the character's from the previous Arisen books...but this was another great read!
As others have already said, I sure miss the character's from the previous Arisen books...but this was another great read!
June 11, 2022
Must read series
This is a series your gonna want to read all at once! It gas it all, action, story line, characters you become invested in!
This is a series your gonna want to read all at once! It gas it all, action, story line, characters you become invested in!
June 21, 2022
Wow
What a ride! There is so much action in this story. The battles are practically non stop and the characters are great. I really loved this and I can't wait for the next one.
What a ride! There is so much action in this story. The battles are practically non stop and the characters are great. I really loved this and I can't wait for the next one.
July 2, 2022
More of a short novel, but a fun listen.
September 13, 2022
Started it not knowing there’d be zombies, but rapid fire military jargon notwithstanding, it was quite well done. An ending unlike any other I’ve read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews