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Working Stiffs
Joe Warren, an unemployed electrical engineer, has a terminally ill girlfriend and a bank account bumping rock bottom. Jobs are scarce in 2050, since nanotechnology has created the ability to animate the recently deceased, who are put to work performing menial labor at low wages. These Revivants have glutted the job market, leaving their living counterparts out in the cold.
Joe goes looking for a helping hand and mistakenly gets arrested with a group of freedom fighters. The only cause Joe wants to fight for is Joe, but federal agents coerce him into spying on the Children of Liberty.
When Joe reluctantly infiltrates the protest group, he finds something he never expected or wanted. Friends. And he discovers that maybe there are things in life worth fighting—and dying—for.
Joe goes looking for a helping hand and mistakenly gets arrested with a group of freedom fighters. The only cause Joe wants to fight for is Joe, but federal agents coerce him into spying on the Children of Liberty.
When Joe reluctantly infiltrates the protest group, he finds something he never expected or wanted. Friends. And he discovers that maybe there are things in life worth fighting—and dying—for.
346 pages, Paperback
First published March 21, 2018
31 people are currently reading
469 people want to read
About the author
Scott Bell
21 books114 followersScott Bell writes because that way he can daydream and claim it on his taxes. A Certified Fraud Examiner and professional Suburban Man, Scott has a wife, two grown kids, and at least one cat sleeping on his keyboard. (The cat, not the wife and kids. They have their own keyboards to sleep on.)
When he's not writing, Scott fights a relentless battle against weeds, slow drivers, and ever-shrinking pants.
When he's not writing, Scott fights a relentless battle against weeds, slow drivers, and ever-shrinking pants.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
January 5, 2018
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Publisher: Red Adept
Publishing Date: December 2017
ISBN:9781948051026
Genre: Scifi
Rating: 4.4/5
Publishers Description: Joe Warren, an unemployed electrical engineer, has a terminally ill girlfriend and a bank account bumping rock bottom. Jobs are scarce in 2050, since nanotechnology has created the ability to animate the recently deceased, who are put to work performing menial labor at low wages. These Revivants have glutted the job market, leaving their living counterparts out in the cold. Joe goes looking for a helping hand and mistakenly gets arrested with a group of freedom fighters. The only cause Joe wants to fight for is Joe, but federal agents coerce him into spying on the Children of Liberty.
Review: When I started this novel I thought “Crap, sucked in by another zombie/dystopian novel”. Luckily I ran out of books to read and pulled this back out from the DNF pile. Glad I did. This has it all. From social and political commentary ridden hard like a lathered horse to great characterization and story line crafting.
You will have a good laugh at yourself reading this.
Publisher: Red Adept
Publishing Date: December 2017
ISBN:9781948051026
Genre: Scifi
Rating: 4.4/5
Publishers Description: Joe Warren, an unemployed electrical engineer, has a terminally ill girlfriend and a bank account bumping rock bottom. Jobs are scarce in 2050, since nanotechnology has created the ability to animate the recently deceased, who are put to work performing menial labor at low wages. These Revivants have glutted the job market, leaving their living counterparts out in the cold. Joe goes looking for a helping hand and mistakenly gets arrested with a group of freedom fighters. The only cause Joe wants to fight for is Joe, but federal agents coerce him into spying on the Children of Liberty.
Review: When I started this novel I thought “Crap, sucked in by another zombie/dystopian novel”. Luckily I ran out of books to read and pulled this back out from the DNF pile. Glad I did. This has it all. From social and political commentary ridden hard like a lathered horse to great characterization and story line crafting.
You will have a good laugh at yourself reading this.
February 20, 2018
This book would make a great movie. It has action, suspense, an unlikely hero, a cause worth fighting for and an unusual take on zombies. Set in an economically dissolving USA, greed, the thirst for power and mismanagement have brought the county to its knees. The national debt, unemployment and poverty is sky-high, and with the help of nanobot technology, the reanimated dead (Revivants) have replaced human workers, providing a no-questions-asked, controllable workforce. Homeland Security Agents are the sole law, having replaced the military, police and FBI, and they are willing to go to any lengths to maintain the facade of a healthy government. Joe is somewhat of an antihero; he is selfish, sarcastic, lazy and somewhat of a jerk, but you can not help but become attached to him, as he is beaten, manipulated and coerced. Often in the wrong place at the wrong time, he is drawn into the battle between the Homeland Agents, who are trying to hide their plans and the truth from the general populace, and the Children of Liberty who want to reveal the deception. This book has some great characters with lots of different accents and the narrator of the audiobook, J Scott Bennett, did them all expertly. He really brought the characters to life and did a great job of showing the humour and sarcasm in the story too. This is a well written and narrated book that flows well and keeps you entertained to the end. I really hope that the author plans on a sequel, as I would love to listen to more.
April 22, 2017
This is a story of two distinct parts. It opens as a cyberpunk-styled romp through a future world where human society is being disrupted not by robots, but by Revivants (nanotech driven zombies). Told in first person by Joe Warren, who is possibly the most smart-mouthed and sarcastic character I’ve ever come across, I found myself flipping through pages of fresh writing and laughing at Joe’s wisecracks. Try these: “I snagged Jamil by his fancy dress jacket--the material caressed my fingers like it wanted to blow me.” or, in reference to his ill treatment during interrogation by the cops, “they beat you like cake batter,” and, “Ramirez studied me the way a surgeon examines colon polyps.” One more: “‘Ah!’ Rogair made a noise like he’d discovered masturbation.”
There were a bunch more, but hopefully you get the idea. Every page is littered with grin-worthy smug irreverence.
The dystopian world is fairly stereotypical (big business and government=bad, poor working stiffs=good), but it was revealed nicely through the action with only a smattering of dogma or political pretentiousness from the author. The last quarter of the story focused on the final conflict between the bad guys and the Resistance. Here, the writing morphed into action/adventure with little or no reference to future-tech. This did make the novel a little schizophrenic for this reader. I preferred the cyber-punk stage, and the change of focus late in the story did shoehorn in a number of new characters which diluted the tension somewhat.
But overall, this was a terrific read, unusual, tongue-in-cheek funny and hyper-paced. If you enjoy characters like Joe Warren and/or action sequences teeming with bullets, I think you’ll have a lot of fun spending a few hours in Scott Bell’s dystopia.
This review was originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog.
December 29, 2017
The year is 2050 and the country has gone to hell. People are stuck in poverty, healthcare is failing badly, and a new company has created Revivants. Nanotechnology is created that will revive the dead to work as cheap labor further crumbling everything. Of course you have those that are filling to fight the government and run the risk of being turned into zombies. But this story is not about them.
Joe Warren is an unemployed, selfish jerk that only cares about himself. He tries his hand at robbery and finds himself wrapped up with Special Agent Ramirez that forces Joe to infiltrate The Children of Liberty and help bring them down. But when he gets into The Children of Liberty he is surprised by how everything is working. Now he has to decide if he is going to help them rebel or if he is going to help Ramirez take them down.
This book feels rough and is a bit all over the place. You have a dystopian story that is a little slow to draw you in. Or at least it was for me and I think that is because Joe just irritated the heck out of me. Worthless, lazy, self-centered, argh!!! Then we go off as the fighting starts and Joes has to figure out which side he wants to be on.
Overall I really enjoyed this story. I liked the combining of genera’s and the use of zombies. I did like seeing Joe extract his head from his butt and start looking for more than just himself. This is a wonderful story and one that I would recommend checking out.
I received Working Stiffs from Red Adept Publishing for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
Joe Warren is an unemployed, selfish jerk that only cares about himself. He tries his hand at robbery and finds himself wrapped up with Special Agent Ramirez that forces Joe to infiltrate The Children of Liberty and help bring them down. But when he gets into The Children of Liberty he is surprised by how everything is working. Now he has to decide if he is going to help them rebel or if he is going to help Ramirez take them down.
This book feels rough and is a bit all over the place. You have a dystopian story that is a little slow to draw you in. Or at least it was for me and I think that is because Joe just irritated the heck out of me. Worthless, lazy, self-centered, argh!!! Then we go off as the fighting starts and Joes has to figure out which side he wants to be on.
Overall I really enjoyed this story. I liked the combining of genera’s and the use of zombies. I did like seeing Joe extract his head from his butt and start looking for more than just himself. This is a wonderful story and one that I would recommend checking out.
I received Working Stiffs from Red Adept Publishing for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
August 4, 2018
I absolutely love Scott Bell’s writing abilities. When he puts pen to paper, magical things happen and Working Stiffs is no exception. I feel the cover fits the genre, has great colors and imagery, and would stop me for a closer look if I was scrolling for something to read. I could go on all day about how strong the writing is, each word propels you forward.
Working Stiffs is a zombie story with a twist. The dead don’t stumble around eating people, they work at menial jobs. Sounds like a good idea, get the dead to do the jobs no one else wants. Until that puts many out of work, including the main character Joe. I loved how the first chapter plunges us into Joe’s life when he robs the rich at some gala event.
Getting arrested not only changes Joe’s life, it changes everything. Scott has done a wonderful job with this dystopian world of the functioning dead. There is just the right amount of humor, intrigue, and tons of great action with guns blazing.
You like fast-paced, humorous, dystopian? You’ll love Working Stiffs. You like action adventure with good guys against bad guys, this is the book for you. You want all of that with an undead twist, get Working Stiffs today.
Working Stiffs is a zombie story with a twist. The dead don’t stumble around eating people, they work at menial jobs. Sounds like a good idea, get the dead to do the jobs no one else wants. Until that puts many out of work, including the main character Joe. I loved how the first chapter plunges us into Joe’s life when he robs the rich at some gala event.
Getting arrested not only changes Joe’s life, it changes everything. Scott has done a wonderful job with this dystopian world of the functioning dead. There is just the right amount of humor, intrigue, and tons of great action with guns blazing.
You like fast-paced, humorous, dystopian? You’ll love Working Stiffs. You like action adventure with good guys against bad guys, this is the book for you. You want all of that with an undead twist, get Working Stiffs today.
May 21, 2018
Working Stiffs was well written and very imaginative. The premise of this story is one of a kind. Joe is a bit of an asshole in the beginning, but after a few chapters, I grew to love all the characters and how quickly I could relate to them. This story starts with a sarcastic, crude and, at times, vulgar man, doing nothing but whining and complaining, but I quickly began to feel for Joe and his girlfriend. Once I gained a better understanding of the world they live in, the story increased speed, and it was hard to slow it down, which was awesome! I love when I can’t put a book down, or, in this case, stop listening.
Overall, I loved the story and looked forward to reading more of Joe’s adventures. Scott Bennett did an excellent job narrating. I love the way he expresses emotion perfectly with the story.
My honest opinion on Working Stiffs is easily a 4.5-star rating. I loved it!
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Overall, I loved the story and looked forward to reading more of Joe’s adventures. Scott Bennett did an excellent job narrating. I love the way he expresses emotion perfectly with the story.
My honest opinion on Working Stiffs is easily a 4.5-star rating. I loved it!
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June 15, 2018
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
This just did not do it for me.
The main character was hard to like and I was bored within two chapters.
I struggled on but it was not worth it my opinion.
This just did not do it for me.
The main character was hard to like and I was bored within two chapters.
I struggled on but it was not worth it my opinion.
January 15, 2018
Synopsis
Scott Bell’s Working Stiffs is a new twist on the dystopian zombie genre. Rather than being created from the bite of another zombie, these zombies, called Revivants, are created by injected nanobots as a scientific solution to cheap and endless labor. Bodies of the recently deceased are reanimated to serve an abundance of manual labor tasks. The year 2051 is dark and gritty and not one you will want to live in but will enjoy visiting.
The book revolves around two characters, everyday man Joseph “Joe” Warren and Homeland Security Agent, Angel Ramirez.
Joe’s story is told from the first person. In his mid-twenties, Joe is a bit down on his luck. Due to the abundance of Revivants, he has been unable to find work for more than two years. Living in ratty government housing with his ailing girlfriend is a less than ideal life. In an attempt to better their situation, Joe is inadvertently tossed onto a whole new and often violent path.
Agent Ramirez is a corrupt and sadistic Homeland Agent. His tale unfolds in the third-person. Like most of the government, he is intent on keeping the country’s narrative away from the true happenings of everyday life and instead on what is beneficial to the government. Morally bankrupt, he is not afraid to hurt or kill anyone in the path to his goal.
The Good
The words flow easily with realistic dialogue and phonetically written accents. Though I did not always understand every word of some of the characters, I was able to hear the individual accents of characters from different ethnicities. Many of the characters, Millie, John and Alex, to name a few, are lovable and unique. The world of the book is created with enough detail to create a clear image in your mind’s eye without so much as to be exhaustive.
If it were a person, Working Stiffs could be described as a bit of a pop culture junkie, with plenty of references from the likes of Star Wars to The Princess Bride. The 80’s child in me enjoyed a lot of the one-liners and quips echoing the bygone decade, such as, “Rodents of Unusual Size.” Additional notations to more recent years are equally enjoyable. I guess I am a bit of a pop culture junkie myself.
Joe’s humor, though more than a bit snarky and often crude and juvenile, did lead to some laugh-out-loud moments. In the beginning, one of the zombies, named Larry, was programed with a little of a sense of humor and repeatedly says, “Braaains!” much to Joe’s annoyance. A bit later someone sarcastically refers to hiring a comedian and Joe says, “You should meet Larry.”
The Not So Good
There was some difficulty on my part in getting through the plethora of expletives, especially in the first third or so of the book. In one section, I noted curse words or vulgar references in almost every line. Every good book should have color in its dialogue and narrative, but the superabundance was a little overwhelming to this reader. Had I not agreed to write a review, I may have stopped reading altogether. I also had a little trouble with many of the pop culture references. While I enjoyed the trip down memory lane, I did find it a bit hard to believe that today’s references would still be as relevant in 2051, especially to someone in their twenties.
Rating
I enjoyed the second half of the book much better than the first and am glad I continued reading. The story really seems to find its way and smooth out the rough edges felt in the opening chapters. Joe becomes the friend you love to hate, and Agent Ramirez the malicious villain that grows worse with each chapter.
Even though there were aspects that I did not enjoy, in the end Working Stiffs is well-written and easy to read. Despite myself, I was not ready for it to end. If there is a sequel, and a big part of me sincerely hopes there will be, it will be added to my reading queue.
If I had to score it on a five-point scale, I would give it 3.75.
Scott Bell’s Working Stiffs is a new twist on the dystopian zombie genre. Rather than being created from the bite of another zombie, these zombies, called Revivants, are created by injected nanobots as a scientific solution to cheap and endless labor. Bodies of the recently deceased are reanimated to serve an abundance of manual labor tasks. The year 2051 is dark and gritty and not one you will want to live in but will enjoy visiting.
The book revolves around two characters, everyday man Joseph “Joe” Warren and Homeland Security Agent, Angel Ramirez.
Joe’s story is told from the first person. In his mid-twenties, Joe is a bit down on his luck. Due to the abundance of Revivants, he has been unable to find work for more than two years. Living in ratty government housing with his ailing girlfriend is a less than ideal life. In an attempt to better their situation, Joe is inadvertently tossed onto a whole new and often violent path.
Agent Ramirez is a corrupt and sadistic Homeland Agent. His tale unfolds in the third-person. Like most of the government, he is intent on keeping the country’s narrative away from the true happenings of everyday life and instead on what is beneficial to the government. Morally bankrupt, he is not afraid to hurt or kill anyone in the path to his goal.
The Good
The words flow easily with realistic dialogue and phonetically written accents. Though I did not always understand every word of some of the characters, I was able to hear the individual accents of characters from different ethnicities. Many of the characters, Millie, John and Alex, to name a few, are lovable and unique. The world of the book is created with enough detail to create a clear image in your mind’s eye without so much as to be exhaustive.
If it were a person, Working Stiffs could be described as a bit of a pop culture junkie, with plenty of references from the likes of Star Wars to The Princess Bride. The 80’s child in me enjoyed a lot of the one-liners and quips echoing the bygone decade, such as, “Rodents of Unusual Size.” Additional notations to more recent years are equally enjoyable. I guess I am a bit of a pop culture junkie myself.
Joe’s humor, though more than a bit snarky and often crude and juvenile, did lead to some laugh-out-loud moments. In the beginning, one of the zombies, named Larry, was programed with a little of a sense of humor and repeatedly says, “Braaains!” much to Joe’s annoyance. A bit later someone sarcastically refers to hiring a comedian and Joe says, “You should meet Larry.”
The Not So Good
There was some difficulty on my part in getting through the plethora of expletives, especially in the first third or so of the book. In one section, I noted curse words or vulgar references in almost every line. Every good book should have color in its dialogue and narrative, but the superabundance was a little overwhelming to this reader. Had I not agreed to write a review, I may have stopped reading altogether. I also had a little trouble with many of the pop culture references. While I enjoyed the trip down memory lane, I did find it a bit hard to believe that today’s references would still be as relevant in 2051, especially to someone in their twenties.
Rating
I enjoyed the second half of the book much better than the first and am glad I continued reading. The story really seems to find its way and smooth out the rough edges felt in the opening chapters. Joe becomes the friend you love to hate, and Agent Ramirez the malicious villain that grows worse with each chapter.
Even though there were aspects that I did not enjoy, in the end Working Stiffs is well-written and easy to read. Despite myself, I was not ready for it to end. If there is a sequel, and a big part of me sincerely hopes there will be, it will be added to my reading queue.
If I had to score it on a five-point scale, I would give it 3.75.
August 25, 2017
*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Joe Warren dropped out of college and he’s unemployed. He’s intelligent, but he’s self-centered. He doesn’t want to get involved and he’s perfectly happy to just drift through life, a loser. The government is very Big Brother and now the technology has advanced to a level of creating Revivants. Basically, they’re zombies. Great for cheap labor, but not much else. Joe, doesn’t care about any of it. Until the day his whole world falls to shit and he has to decide which side he’s on – his own or his fellow citizens’.
A bit slow going in spots and Joe is actually pretty unlikeable. Not in a villain kind of way, but in a what-a-fucking-loser kind of way. I spent nearly the whole book yelling at him to grow a set of balls for fuck’s sake. To take the blinders off about the government and do something. Anything. It’s a lot like the way things are right now with the baby we have as president. The story and our present are too similar. Except for the Revivants. I’m pretty sure we don’t have the technology to make zombies. Do we? Who knows?
I love all the references to pop culture, many of which I actually understood. Wait, does that make me old? Nah. Moving on. The writing is excellent and even though I kinda hated Joe, there are times when he steps up and I grudgingly start to like him. He's got a smart mouth and he can take a beating. Kinda like Harry Dresden in that respect. By the end I really do like him and I think his journey makes for a better character. The villains, and there are many but Ramirez is the most hated, are truly spine crawling. It’s a look into a What If future and it’s not pretty. Forget Star Trek’s utopia. This future is about as far as one can get from that. Overall, an excellent read.
Just FYI: Marines are not soldiers, they are Marines and they should be capitalized.
Joe Warren dropped out of college and he’s unemployed. He’s intelligent, but he’s self-centered. He doesn’t want to get involved and he’s perfectly happy to just drift through life, a loser. The government is very Big Brother and now the technology has advanced to a level of creating Revivants. Basically, they’re zombies. Great for cheap labor, but not much else. Joe, doesn’t care about any of it. Until the day his whole world falls to shit and he has to decide which side he’s on – his own or his fellow citizens’.
A bit slow going in spots and Joe is actually pretty unlikeable. Not in a villain kind of way, but in a what-a-fucking-loser kind of way. I spent nearly the whole book yelling at him to grow a set of balls for fuck’s sake. To take the blinders off about the government and do something. Anything. It’s a lot like the way things are right now with the baby we have as president. The story and our present are too similar. Except for the Revivants. I’m pretty sure we don’t have the technology to make zombies. Do we? Who knows?
I love all the references to pop culture, many of which I actually understood. Wait, does that make me old? Nah. Moving on. The writing is excellent and even though I kinda hated Joe, there are times when he steps up and I grudgingly start to like him. He's got a smart mouth and he can take a beating. Kinda like Harry Dresden in that respect. By the end I really do like him and I think his journey makes for a better character. The villains, and there are many but Ramirez is the most hated, are truly spine crawling. It’s a look into a What If future and it’s not pretty. Forget Star Trek’s utopia. This future is about as far as one can get from that. Overall, an excellent read.
Just FYI: Marines are not soldiers, they are Marines and they should be capitalized.
April 4, 2017
Not Kindle Unlimited, got it through LibraryThing one of those we send you a copy free but would be nice if you got around to reviewing it, and usual spiel supposed to write about free will etcetera, as if all my opinions aren't totally mine which anyone that knows me or knows of me would back that up.
Had this originally at 4 stars, went back and reread it {rarely do that, no time nor inclination most times} but maybe understood more or still found it funny/relevant, whatever}, was interesting premise and maybe not technically 'loving' it was part of the point, most likely was. It should have been a 5 so changed it.
Had this originally at 4 stars, went back and reread it {rarely do that, no time nor inclination most times} but maybe understood more or still found it funny/relevant, whatever}, was interesting premise and maybe not technically 'loving' it was part of the point, most likely was. It should have been a 5 so changed it.
March 7, 2018
A brilliantly written dystopian thriller, set in a future that, except for the presence of neo-zombie Revivants, bears a disturbing resemblance to America, today. (Then again, many people do wonder through the workweek and their workplaces, as if in a zombie-like state...)
The author definitely has "a way with words" and successfully weaves dry wit, sarcasm, black comedy and a never-ending stream of snide comments and wisecracks, into an immensely entertaining and engaging story.
J. Scott Bennett was the absolute best choice, as narrator. He delivers...
The author definitely has "a way with words" and successfully weaves dry wit, sarcasm, black comedy and a never-ending stream of snide comments and wisecracks, into an immensely entertaining and engaging story.
J. Scott Bennett was the absolute best choice, as narrator. He delivers...
March 7, 2018
I thought this was a solid sci-fi book, and it had kind of an interesting take/twist on zombies. The book held my attention the whole way through. I've enjoyed other books by Scott Bell, and I think this one may be one of my favorites by him. I listened to the narration by J. Scott Bennett, and enjoyed his narration immensely. He always brings a lot to the story and enables me to picture the story perfectly.
June 4, 2017
I got this in a first reads giveaway. I liked the book...if you like cyber punk I would definitely recommend reading it. It is an interesting twist on the zombie genre and the dystopian aspect hits a little to close to home given the way the world seems to be going. Good solid sci-fi.
March 28, 2017
A thoroughly fun read.
June 10, 2018
I enjoyed this more than I expected. Picked it up for 99p via BookBub. It was a good read, with a more realistic dystopia than the usual mega-corp, and good characters. Worth a read.
July 3, 2021
Ooh-rah!
There is some brilliant but low key political satire that made me chuckle throughout this book. Joe, the protagonist is as unlikely a hero as you could imagine. Smart mouthed, anti-social and not endowed with any apparent survival skills. Yet he stumbles on as the world around him slips towards the edge.
Not schlock writing, great dialogue and a brisk pace make this a great read. There's a tantalizing hint of fantastic world building here that makes it easy to click into the vibe of the story.
I often skip sentences when books are predictable or shallow but the didn't happen here. I usually appreciate a stand alone novel but I'll mix the dystopian world and characters in this one. Fantastic read.
This is my own, unsolicited view. I don't personally know the author but now I figure he owes me.
; )
There is some brilliant but low key political satire that made me chuckle throughout this book. Joe, the protagonist is as unlikely a hero as you could imagine. Smart mouthed, anti-social and not endowed with any apparent survival skills. Yet he stumbles on as the world around him slips towards the edge.
Not schlock writing, great dialogue and a brisk pace make this a great read. There's a tantalizing hint of fantastic world building here that makes it easy to click into the vibe of the story.
I often skip sentences when books are predictable or shallow but the didn't happen here. I usually appreciate a stand alone novel but I'll mix the dystopian world and characters in this one. Fantastic read.
This is my own, unsolicited view. I don't personally know the author but now I figure he owes me.
; )
April 3, 2018
“Working Stiffs” is a story that takes the zombie genre in a very different direction than I have previously read. Imagine a world where those who are dying of some long-term illness or have recently died can be reanimated through a process where these “stiffs” can be put to use in society rather then become a financial burden on their families or the next generation. This is where the book gets its title, “Working Stiffs”. Why not utilize these “deadish people” to do menial jobs freeing up the living to focus on their passions or allowing them to have more free time? In some ways it sounds like a futuristic utopia, at least for the living, yet in other ways it sounds like a zombie horror movie. The author Scott Bell and narrator J. Scott Bennett do a fine job of dropping the listener into this strange world of the working dead, but it is much more than that. If you are one who enjoys a unique take on the undead in a rather dystopian society, you may enjoy the various places the author goes in this story. For me, I thought it had a strong start, but petered out during the second half and ending. Don’t get me wrong, the book was entertaining, I just see higher expectations for the path it was going to lead me.
The main theme revolves about this futuristic society having the capability of reviving the dead, called revivants, so they can be used for menial work tasks and even contribute to society. The author does a good job of including the ever-present prejudice of people against the unknown as we see this often in this story. This ability to animate the dead is not simply a magic spell or forcing a special drink down the person’s throat. Not at all, in this future world, this task is assigned to nanobots to bring the dead to life. Although the book did not directly address the issue of bodily decay, one assumes the bots are used to take care of this issue. I liked the author’s use of the word “deadish” and found it fascinating that society needed to modify many things based on this new classification of life. No longer was the world simply black and white, binary ones or zeros, dead or alive, now you had a form of people that were neither dead nor alive; similar to schrodinger's cat.
I enjoyed the many different and unique technology, weapons and tracking technology the author included in the story. They were not over the top, but still felt a part of this very different world. I would have liked to have had more development of the technology and how it functioned, mostly around the nanobots, and less of the frequent crude and sexual humor. A few times, I felt like I was listening to a future apocalyptic Jerry Springer show on TV. I would have instead like to have had more depth and development of the world and its inhabitants. I also had to laugh out loud when I learned that crypto currency not only survived will into the future, but it was the main way people traded goods and services.
It appears the author did some research on the military including some of the political battles between the various services. In this new government-controlled society, we see the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has a much larger role than any of the other branches of service. Not only are people monitored via surveillance, there are also ways of implanting tracking chips in individuals. The book opened strongly, and I felt the story was both familiar and unique at the same time. At first, you find yourself scratching your head on what is going on, and then the author proceeds to unveil the story. For me, the story got a bit weaker as it progressed as a few of the characters acted out of their expected nature. I still felt the oppression and gloominess of this world, but I thought the events and action seemed to be disjointed from where I thought the author was initially leading me during the first half of the book. There is the question of who the good guys are and who are the bad ones, and our main character is in the middle of this battle. Lastly, it is somewhat unclear if this book is intended to be a series or not based on its ending. Much of the storyline is closed at the end, but there remain a few open-ended plots.
The narration, not surprisingly, was done very well. J. Scott Bennett is a veteran in the audiobook area with one hundred and thirty books currently on audible; at the time of this review. The many different voiced characters were easy to distinguish and there were no noticeable audio artifacts apart from a few slight volume inconsistencies which do not impact one’s listening of the story. I enjoyed the choice of a narrator having a deeper voice as this give the book a more dark and gloomy feeling than someone with a higher voice.
For parents and young readers, be aware that this book used vulgar language heavily. The humor often is crude and sexual in nature, along with some quite explicit sexual scenes. There are also a few scenes and subject matter that would not be appropriate for younger listeners.
To summarize, I felt the book started very strong, but the author seemed to have changed his direction halfway through its writing as some of the characters and story direction felt fragmented. The book felt unique but not so much so that the listener feels lost. I would have liked to have had more a focus on the world, technology, and characters then some of the more adult humor; I understand this is more subjective. The book has action, mystery, and suspense, I just left wanting more.
Disclaimer: I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.
The main theme revolves about this futuristic society having the capability of reviving the dead, called revivants, so they can be used for menial work tasks and even contribute to society. The author does a good job of including the ever-present prejudice of people against the unknown as we see this often in this story. This ability to animate the dead is not simply a magic spell or forcing a special drink down the person’s throat. Not at all, in this future world, this task is assigned to nanobots to bring the dead to life. Although the book did not directly address the issue of bodily decay, one assumes the bots are used to take care of this issue. I liked the author’s use of the word “deadish” and found it fascinating that society needed to modify many things based on this new classification of life. No longer was the world simply black and white, binary ones or zeros, dead or alive, now you had a form of people that were neither dead nor alive; similar to schrodinger's cat.
I enjoyed the many different and unique technology, weapons and tracking technology the author included in the story. They were not over the top, but still felt a part of this very different world. I would have liked to have had more development of the technology and how it functioned, mostly around the nanobots, and less of the frequent crude and sexual humor. A few times, I felt like I was listening to a future apocalyptic Jerry Springer show on TV. I would have instead like to have had more depth and development of the world and its inhabitants. I also had to laugh out loud when I learned that crypto currency not only survived will into the future, but it was the main way people traded goods and services.
It appears the author did some research on the military including some of the political battles between the various services. In this new government-controlled society, we see the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has a much larger role than any of the other branches of service. Not only are people monitored via surveillance, there are also ways of implanting tracking chips in individuals. The book opened strongly, and I felt the story was both familiar and unique at the same time. At first, you find yourself scratching your head on what is going on, and then the author proceeds to unveil the story. For me, the story got a bit weaker as it progressed as a few of the characters acted out of their expected nature. I still felt the oppression and gloominess of this world, but I thought the events and action seemed to be disjointed from where I thought the author was initially leading me during the first half of the book. There is the question of who the good guys are and who are the bad ones, and our main character is in the middle of this battle. Lastly, it is somewhat unclear if this book is intended to be a series or not based on its ending. Much of the storyline is closed at the end, but there remain a few open-ended plots.
The narration, not surprisingly, was done very well. J. Scott Bennett is a veteran in the audiobook area with one hundred and thirty books currently on audible; at the time of this review. The many different voiced characters were easy to distinguish and there were no noticeable audio artifacts apart from a few slight volume inconsistencies which do not impact one’s listening of the story. I enjoyed the choice of a narrator having a deeper voice as this give the book a more dark and gloomy feeling than someone with a higher voice.
For parents and young readers, be aware that this book used vulgar language heavily. The humor often is crude and sexual in nature, along with some quite explicit sexual scenes. There are also a few scenes and subject matter that would not be appropriate for younger listeners.
To summarize, I felt the book started very strong, but the author seemed to have changed his direction halfway through its writing as some of the characters and story direction felt fragmented. The book felt unique but not so much so that the listener feels lost. I would have liked to have had more a focus on the world, technology, and characters then some of the more adult humor; I understand this is more subjective. The book has action, mystery, and suspense, I just left wanting more.
Disclaimer: I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.
September 3, 2021
It's the first adult book I listened to in a long time.
I liked it - and would recommend it to others.
Please read the other reviews about it - cause they are better than this one.
The only thing I'll add is this book had some great one liners and used some interesting words.
I liked it - and would recommend it to others.
Please read the other reviews about it - cause they are better than this one.
The only thing I'll add is this book had some great one liners and used some interesting words.
September 4, 2018
( Format : Audiobook )
"Spells trouble, with a capital 'Oh, Sh*t!' "
America, 2051. Joe Warren and his live-in girlfriend had queued so long at the hospital, they nearly missed the appointment to hear her test result for which she'd already waited for six months. It wasn't good. She didn't have long to live and treatment was unlikely to be successful - now, if she'd only started treatment some months ago! Desperate for money, with no job, debts to pay and denied dole because his papers were muddled, Joe plans a perfect robbery. If only he'd known that one thing about Revivants...
Related in the first person by Joe, the black humoured story takes place in a futuristic but only slightly distorted world where the few rich citizens have seperated even further from everyone else, especially since the introduction of the zombie-like free labour force of people, dead or nearly so, reanimated by nanode injections. Initially very funny, the book turns into a quirky thriller as Joe finds himself ever more involved with the protest group, the Children of Liberty.
Narration by J.Scott Benett is, as always, superb, his pleasant to hear voice perfectly mirroring Joe's attitudes and misadventures as he struggles through the situations in which he finds himself. A great reinterpretation of the zombie genre, with good characterisation, observations on the downward spiral of society and often very funny.
A definite recommendation.
"Spells trouble, with a capital 'Oh, Sh*t!' "
America, 2051. Joe Warren and his live-in girlfriend had queued so long at the hospital, they nearly missed the appointment to hear her test result for which she'd already waited for six months. It wasn't good. She didn't have long to live and treatment was unlikely to be successful - now, if she'd only started treatment some months ago! Desperate for money, with no job, debts to pay and denied dole because his papers were muddled, Joe plans a perfect robbery. If only he'd known that one thing about Revivants...
Related in the first person by Joe, the black humoured story takes place in a futuristic but only slightly distorted world where the few rich citizens have seperated even further from everyone else, especially since the introduction of the zombie-like free labour force of people, dead or nearly so, reanimated by nanode injections. Initially very funny, the book turns into a quirky thriller as Joe finds himself ever more involved with the protest group, the Children of Liberty.
Narration by J.Scott Benett is, as always, superb, his pleasant to hear voice perfectly mirroring Joe's attitudes and misadventures as he struggles through the situations in which he finds himself. A great reinterpretation of the zombie genre, with good characterisation, observations on the downward spiral of society and often very funny.
A definite recommendation.
March 11, 2017
This was a terrific book, with great suspense and characters you couldn't help but cheer for. Everything seemed against our hero Joe and his terminally ill common law Chelle. The book starts in the middle of an action scene and then the author takes the reader back in time to understand where the characters have been and why they are in the dire straits they find themselves in.
"I teetered as cautiously as an old man without his walker, feeling like any sudden motion would break the thin glass shell holding my insides together, ripping me open from the inside with razor-sharp fragments."
This story takes place in the distant future in the USA. Money is tight even for the government who has found a creative way to reduce health care costs.
The story really picks up steam at about 50%, with Homeland Security, The Children of Liberty and our hero Joe trying to stay alive.
"We were as lost as a preacher at a peep show."
I love this quote regarding the authors previously released series,"Hollywood, actor Ryan Meers was seen with his co-star leading lady from the film Yeager's Law VII: I Reckon So.
These books are exciting and interesting enough to be made into movies; check them out and I promise you will not be disappointed.
"I teetered as cautiously as an old man without his walker, feeling like any sudden motion would break the thin glass shell holding my insides together, ripping me open from the inside with razor-sharp fragments."
This story takes place in the distant future in the USA. Money is tight even for the government who has found a creative way to reduce health care costs.
The story really picks up steam at about 50%, with Homeland Security, The Children of Liberty and our hero Joe trying to stay alive.
"We were as lost as a preacher at a peep show."
I love this quote regarding the authors previously released series,"Hollywood, actor Ryan Meers was seen with his co-star leading lady from the film Yeager's Law VII: I Reckon So.
These books are exciting and interesting enough to be made into movies; check them out and I promise you will not be disappointed.
December 12, 2017
Welcome to the U.S. of A circa 2050, a disheveled land where nanotechnology has given new meaning to living forever and decades of self-serving greed and stupidity have brought a once great nation to its knees.
Enter Joe Warren, a sardonic super anti-hero equipped with an acerbic wit. Joe is not winning at life. But then neither is anyone else, except a handful of maniacal gluttonous madmen with an overzealous appetite for power.
It is hard to imagine anyone’s life sucking more than Joe Warren’s. But fear not. Author Scott Bell comes to the rescue, using his literary skill and adept writing to give Joe a chance to redeem himself and to save the world, aided and abetted by the help of a band of idealistic merry men (and women).
In his freshest offering, Scott Bell serves up plenty of biting wit and in-your-face action. While Bell’s use of graphic imagery and crude language might even make Joe R. Lansdale blush, ‘Working Stiffs’ is a rollicking, rollercoaster science fiction thrill ride.
Enter Joe Warren, a sardonic super anti-hero equipped with an acerbic wit. Joe is not winning at life. But then neither is anyone else, except a handful of maniacal gluttonous madmen with an overzealous appetite for power.
It is hard to imagine anyone’s life sucking more than Joe Warren’s. But fear not. Author Scott Bell comes to the rescue, using his literary skill and adept writing to give Joe a chance to redeem himself and to save the world, aided and abetted by the help of a band of idealistic merry men (and women).
In his freshest offering, Scott Bell serves up plenty of biting wit and in-your-face action. While Bell’s use of graphic imagery and crude language might even make Joe R. Lansdale blush, ‘Working Stiffs’ is a rollicking, rollercoaster science fiction thrill ride.
June 21, 2018
I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this book. This is not really a zombie story although at times they referred to them as such. I feel the title and description led me a little astray. The “Working Stiffs” really didn’t have a big appearance during the story. Sure, there were some “Revivants” here and there but it really wasn’t about them like you might be led to believe. It was about a smart aleck that always had something stupid to say no matter how serious the situation who was being threatened by a federal agent to infiltrate a group of what they considered terrorists. Trying to do this for the agent he ended up becoming friends with the group and ended up joining them without really wanting to. It is a story of an uprising against the United States government, nothing more really.
October 13, 2017
Another great book from the always entertaining, Scott Bell. This took me longer than it should have because I've been super busy lately, but I finally made the time to sit and finish it. Best choice I've made in a good long while. Great book. Highly recommend.
March 15, 2020
Joe Warren is an unemployed electrical technician with a very ill girlfriend. The world has been changed when the government found a way to use nanobots to reanimate the dead to do everyday jobs. There is high unemployment and unrest because of this. Joe gets arrested with a group of Freedom Fighters while trying to get medical help for his girlfriend.
He is coerced by government agents to infiltrate the Children of Liberty to save his girlfriend. But he finds that he has found something he never had before in this group.
This had a bit of a slow start (mainly I just didn't like the characters too much) but the last third was explosive and I couldn't put it down.
He is coerced by government agents to infiltrate the Children of Liberty to save his girlfriend. But he finds that he has found something he never had before in this group.
This had a bit of a slow start (mainly I just didn't like the characters too much) but the last third was explosive and I couldn't put it down.
April 26, 2025
Working Stiffs offers a clever twist on dystopian sci-fi, set in a future where the dead are reanimated to take over the job market. The world of 2050 feels eerily plausible, filled with social tension and moral dilemmas. Joe Warren, an average guy caught in a collapsing system, becomes an unlikely hero after a run-in with a rebel group. What begins as a reluctant mission turns into something far more personal as he finds friendship, purpose, and a cause worth risking everything for. The story is fast-paced and filled with suspense, blending dark humour with sharp social commentary. It’s an engaging read for fans of near-future sci-fi who like a bit of grit with their rebellion.
May 6, 2021
A dynamite read that will keep you flipping pages
As an avid reader, I’d have to say this is the first book in a while I have had no difficulty finishing. The prose were smooth, brilliant and engaging. Though hilarious this book also had a deeper meaning. “Wake the F up people “ there are things you can say in humor that you just can’t mutter in our current upside down culture. The author says it, and says it well written in a no nonsense style. I liked all of the characters, even the bad ones. Dive into it and see for yourself.
As an avid reader, I’d have to say this is the first book in a while I have had no difficulty finishing. The prose were smooth, brilliant and engaging. Though hilarious this book also had a deeper meaning. “Wake the F up people “ there are things you can say in humor that you just can’t mutter in our current upside down culture. The author says it, and says it well written in a no nonsense style. I liked all of the characters, even the bad ones. Dive into it and see for yourself.
December 29, 2022
Went into this one with low expectations (sorry, Mr. Bell, but zombie novels can be hit or miss). To my surprise, not a whole lot of zombies... and certainly not any of the flesh eating variety. However, I immediately liked the main character. He can't keep his mouth shut to literally save his life. And i certainly understood the frustration with dealing with bureaucracy. The plot is fast paced, but without any twists. All in all, good book. I look forward to more from this author. Also cats and keyboard are the best...
February 7, 2019
It was a good story that was horribly written, prime example " Fire team 1 crashed over the wall. They tumbled in faceless heaps, all panting harder than perverts at a peep show"
The whole book is written like this, with the main character constantly making stupid quips and people rolling their eyes at him.
It feels like something I would have written when I was 16 and I'm not even a writer!!!
The whole book is written like this, with the main character constantly making stupid quips and people rolling their eyes at him.
It feels like something I would have written when I was 16 and I'm not even a writer!!!
August 14, 2021
This book starts slowly, and I wasn't sure if I liked it. But as the plot thickened and I got to know Jow Warren, I started to care about what happened to him. Sure, Warren is the anti-anti-hero, and the bad guys have no redeeming qualities. Yet it all comes together in an explosive conclusion. P. S. Warren's inner dialogue is a hoot.
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