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Pride and Prejudice and Zombies #0.5
Dawn of the Dreadfuls
Journey Back to Regency England - Land of the Undead!
Readers will witness the birth of a heroine in Dawn of the Dreadfuls - a thrilling prequel set four years before the horrific events of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. As our story opens, the Bennet sisters are enjoying a peaceful life in the English countryside. They idle away the days reading, gardening, and daydreaming about future husbands - until a funeral at the local parish goes strangely and horribly awry.
Suddenly corpses are springing from the soft earth - and only one family can stop them. As the bodies pile up, we watch Elizabeth Bennet evolve from a naive young teenager into a savage slayer of the undead. Along the way, two men vie for her affections: Master Hawksworth is the powerful warrior who trains her to kill, while thoughtful Dr. Keckilpenny seeks to conquer the walking dead using science instead of strength. Will either man win the prize of Elizabeth's heart? Or will their hearts be feasted upon by hordes of marauding zombies? Complete with romance, action, comedy, and an army of shambling corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls will have Jane Austen rolling in her grave - and just might inspire her to crawl out of it!
(Description from back cover of trade paperback edition)
Readers will witness the birth of a heroine in Dawn of the Dreadfuls - a thrilling prequel set four years before the horrific events of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. As our story opens, the Bennet sisters are enjoying a peaceful life in the English countryside. They idle away the days reading, gardening, and daydreaming about future husbands - until a funeral at the local parish goes strangely and horribly awry.
Suddenly corpses are springing from the soft earth - and only one family can stop them. As the bodies pile up, we watch Elizabeth Bennet evolve from a naive young teenager into a savage slayer of the undead. Along the way, two men vie for her affections: Master Hawksworth is the powerful warrior who trains her to kill, while thoughtful Dr. Keckilpenny seeks to conquer the walking dead using science instead of strength. Will either man win the prize of Elizabeth's heart? Or will their hearts be feasted upon by hordes of marauding zombies? Complete with romance, action, comedy, and an army of shambling corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls will have Jane Austen rolling in her grave - and just might inspire her to crawl out of it!
(Description from back cover of trade paperback edition)
287 pages, Paperback
First published March 23, 2010
464 people are currently reading
46235 people want to read
About the author
Steve Hockensmith
97 books525 followersSteve Hockensmith is the author of the New York Times bestseller Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls and several other novels, including the Edgar Award finalist Holmes on the Range. He lives in Alameda, California.
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June 3, 2024
برای شروعش خیلی دودل بودم
هم از جهت حجم زیادش( علي الخصوص اينكه باژ جزو انتشارات راحت خوان نيست واسه من) و هم اینکه نميدونستم به چه ترتيبي و از كدوم جلد شروع كنم
در نهايت از انتخابم راضيم
ژانرش كمدي/ترسناكه و اتفاقا كمدي قشنگي هم داره
همش ميگفتم بدون مستر دارسي غرور و تعصب معنا نداره اما شخصيتاي ديگه اي جهت قيلي ويلي انداختن دل مخاطب تو اين جلد جايگزين شده بودن:)))♥️
پايانش هم قشنگ بود ولي امروز كه جلد ١ رو شروع كردم بنظرم خيلي بهم مربوط نبودن. يعني ميشه به عنوان دوتا اثر جدا از هم خوندشون
هم از جهت حجم زیادش( علي الخصوص اينكه باژ جزو انتشارات راحت خوان نيست واسه من) و هم اینکه نميدونستم به چه ترتيبي و از كدوم جلد شروع كنم
در نهايت از انتخابم راضيم
ژانرش كمدي/ترسناكه و اتفاقا كمدي قشنگي هم داره
همش ميگفتم بدون مستر دارسي غرور و تعصب معنا نداره اما شخصيتاي ديگه اي جهت قيلي ويلي انداختن دل مخاطب تو اين جلد جايگزين شده بودن:)))♥️
پايانش هم قشنگ بود ولي امروز كه جلد ١ رو شروع كردم بنظرم خيلي بهم مربوط نبودن. يعني ميشه به عنوان دوتا اثر جدا از هم خوندشون
July 2, 2016
Okay so I have read them out of order (not that at the time I realised there was an order - and which no doubt I will ruin again if I get round to reading Dreadfully ever after).
Anyway I have had a copy of this book rattling around for a while now and thought I might as well read it.
The story is really a precursor to the Pride And Prejudice with Zombies book which caught everyones attention. However as fun as the story is (and as gruesome) it has nothing - or should I say even less to do with the works of Jane Austin than the original.
And this I think was its downfall - since the original had a famous storyline to follow one which has been so heavily ingrained in British literature you instinctively recognise the story even with the odd undead thrown in for good measure. This book however cannot claim any such lineage and as a result feels a little lost.
Now if you are a fan of zombies this is a fun read with enough shocks and humour to stand alongside many of its peers however it does not have the same feel. So for me even though it claims to come from the same time line (and even goes as far as to explain events and drops names like leaves in winter) it still cannot capture the same sense of fun as the first book. So if you are a completist then by all means read the book its not bad- but do not expect it to come close the to the first.
Anyway I have had a copy of this book rattling around for a while now and thought I might as well read it.
The story is really a precursor to the Pride And Prejudice with Zombies book which caught everyones attention. However as fun as the story is (and as gruesome) it has nothing - or should I say even less to do with the works of Jane Austin than the original.
And this I think was its downfall - since the original had a famous storyline to follow one which has been so heavily ingrained in British literature you instinctively recognise the story even with the odd undead thrown in for good measure. This book however cannot claim any such lineage and as a result feels a little lost.
Now if you are a fan of zombies this is a fun read with enough shocks and humour to stand alongside many of its peers however it does not have the same feel. So for me even though it claims to come from the same time line (and even goes as far as to explain events and drops names like leaves in winter) it still cannot capture the same sense of fun as the first book. So if you are a completist then by all means read the book its not bad- but do not expect it to come close the to the first.
December 24, 2017
این اولین کتابی بود که تو سبک زامبی خوندم
این کتاب تلفیقی از یه کتاب کلاسیک و وحشت بود و برام تا حد مطلوبی رضایت بخش بود
شخصیت پردازی در خلال عکس هایی که کتاب داشت خوب بود
خیلی زود میشه شخصیت هارو فهمید
و ضمن اینکه پایان بندی خوبی هم داشت البته چون تعداد شخصیت ها نسبتا زیاد بود میتونست قربانی های بیشتری بده
یک ویژگی دیگه ای هم داره اینه که
داستان طوریه که ازش خسته نمیشید
هرفصل هیجان خودش رو داره
این کتاب میتونه برای علاقه مندان به کارهای کلاسیک خیلی جذاب واقع بشه
یک خلاصه هم از کتاب هم نوشتم و سعی کردم اسپویل نداشته باشه:
همه چیز از یک کلیسا شروع میشه
مردی که از تابوتش بلند میشه و وحشت انگیزها دوباره ظهور میکنن
خانواده بنت رو داریم که صاحب چند دختره که دارن زندگی روزمره خودشون رو طی میکنن که با ظهور وحشت انگیزها پدرشون تصمیم میگیره به دختراش آموزش بده
یعنی شمشیر زنی و مهارت های رزمی
برای دفاع خودشون در برابر وحشت انگیزها در راس این دختر ها الیزابت هست که زود تر بقیه این مهارت هارو یاد میگیره کمی بعد استادی که بعد ها عاشق الیزابت میشه آموزش این دختر هارو بر عهده میگره و از اونها
قهرمانایی میسازه که برای مقابله با وحشت انگیز ها کاملا آماده ان
از طرفی هم دکتری که روی زامبی ها
یا همون وحشت انگیزها تحقیق و کار میکرد ، عاشق الیزایت میشه و...
این کتاب تلفیقی از یه کتاب کلاسیک و وحشت بود و برام تا حد مطلوبی رضایت بخش بود
شخصیت پردازی در خلال عکس هایی که کتاب داشت خوب بود
خیلی زود میشه شخصیت هارو فهمید
و ضمن اینکه پایان بندی خوبی هم داشت البته چون تعداد شخصیت ها نسبتا زیاد بود میتونست قربانی های بیشتری بده
یک ویژگی دیگه ای هم داره اینه که
داستان طوریه که ازش خسته نمیشید
هرفصل هیجان خودش رو داره
این کتاب میتونه برای علاقه مندان به کارهای کلاسیک خیلی جذاب واقع بشه
یک خلاصه هم از کتاب هم نوشتم و سعی کردم اسپویل نداشته باشه:
همه چیز از یک کلیسا شروع میشه
مردی که از تابوتش بلند میشه و وحشت انگیزها دوباره ظهور میکنن
خانواده بنت رو داریم که صاحب چند دختره که دارن زندگی روزمره خودشون رو طی میکنن که با ظهور وحشت انگیزها پدرشون تصمیم میگیره به دختراش آموزش بده
یعنی شمشیر زنی و مهارت های رزمی
برای دفاع خودشون در برابر وحشت انگیزها در راس این دختر ها الیزابت هست که زود تر بقیه این مهارت هارو یاد میگیره کمی بعد استادی که بعد ها عاشق الیزابت میشه آموزش این دختر هارو بر عهده میگره و از اونها
قهرمانایی میسازه که برای مقابله با وحشت انگیز ها کاملا آماده ان
از طرفی هم دکتری که روی زامبی ها
یا همون وحشت انگیزها تحقیق و کار میکرد ، عاشق الیزایت میشه و...
June 9, 2011
I know these "mash-up" books are stupid. THey are junk food for the brain. HOwever, I give this one credit for at least ATTEMPTING some originality. See, unlike the other "and zombies" books, this one does not simply insert zombies in the spaces where the source material lacked...uh...zombies. This book simply borrows the characters from Pride and Prejudice and threw them in a zombie-infested world.
It is basically just a Zombie novel set in Victorian England.
Had the Author called the Characters in this novel anything other than the "Bennet Sisters", I imagine it would've been recieved better by those who cast aside the entire genre because they feel it is beneath them or something (I don't get those people. They are the same people who used to say "I don't like Nirvana...EVERYBODY likes them!" This is not a reason to dislike something, only to suspect it.).
Anyway, this book was actually pretty awesome. There was lots of gore, and a Military Dude being carried around in a wheelbarrow.
So, if you don't like the "and zombies" craze, you should still give this one a try, as it deserves to be read and enjoyed and fans of horror and zombies.
It is basically just a Zombie novel set in Victorian England.
Had the Author called the Characters in this novel anything other than the "Bennet Sisters", I imagine it would've been recieved better by those who cast aside the entire genre because they feel it is beneath them or something (I don't get those people. They are the same people who used to say "I don't like Nirvana...EVERYBODY likes them!" This is not a reason to dislike something, only to suspect it.).
Anyway, this book was actually pretty awesome. There was lots of gore, and a Military Dude being carried around in a wheelbarrow.
So, if you don't like the "and zombies" craze, you should still give this one a try, as it deserves to be read and enjoyed and fans of horror and zombies.
October 18, 2017
Pride and Prejudice is my favourite book of all time, and I absolutely love to read all the retellings about Lizzie and Darcy (sadly, there's no Darcy in this one though *sniff*). While I admit this felt fairly ridiculous at times, I read it fast (considering I was supposed to do Uni work), and I found myself really enjoying this.
So, if you think you wanna read how Lizzie Bennet (and her sisters) became badass zombie fighters, maybe pick this one up.
So, if you think you wanna read how Lizzie Bennet (and her sisters) became badass zombie fighters, maybe pick this one up.
December 23, 2012
The fact that Quirk Books is the publisher of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls gives a major clue as to what lies ahead. As the prequel to the very successful Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, it delves into the circumstances that changed the Bennett girls into lean, mean, zombie fighting machines.
When a recently deceased corpse reanimates into a zombie during its own funeral, it heralds the return of the Unmentionables. It is then that the girls learn that their father fought nobly during The Troubles of years ago, and even trained in China. Reclaiming Mrs. Bennett’s potting shed for his dojo, he begins to teach his daughters the Asian fighting techniques that had proven effective before. Soon, an extraordinarily handsome young man, Master Hawksworth, arrives to take charge of their training.
The War Office dispatches a company of soldiers led by Captain Cannon, a limbless veteran of The Troubles. The company includes Dr. Keckilpenny who has some rather unorthodox ideas on the way to handle the zombie problem. As more and more unmentionables begin to appear around the countryside and must be dealt with, the news of the Bennett girls’ fighting prowess spreads, and their reputations as proper Englishwomen diminish.
When the invitation to the spring ball, scheduled to be Elizabeth’s entrance into society, is withdrawn, can the girls now ever hope to find proper husbands? Will Elizabeth favor Master Hawksworth or Dr.Keckilpenny? Can Lord Lumpley successfully seduce Jane, trapped in his home as his personal bodyguard? Will zombies overrun the countryside and make all the previous questions irrevelate?
Set four years before the original story, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn if the Dreadfuls manages to somewhat keep the flavor of Austen’s writing style, but is a completely original story of its own. The basic character of the principals remains intact, and the new characters are imaginative additions. Liberally dosed with humor throughout, and a fair amount of gore, the fast paced book is an enjoyable quick read for those who favor parody novels, or can take their classics with a twist.
When a recently deceased corpse reanimates into a zombie during its own funeral, it heralds the return of the Unmentionables. It is then that the girls learn that their father fought nobly during The Troubles of years ago, and even trained in China. Reclaiming Mrs. Bennett’s potting shed for his dojo, he begins to teach his daughters the Asian fighting techniques that had proven effective before. Soon, an extraordinarily handsome young man, Master Hawksworth, arrives to take charge of their training.
The War Office dispatches a company of soldiers led by Captain Cannon, a limbless veteran of The Troubles. The company includes Dr. Keckilpenny who has some rather unorthodox ideas on the way to handle the zombie problem. As more and more unmentionables begin to appear around the countryside and must be dealt with, the news of the Bennett girls’ fighting prowess spreads, and their reputations as proper Englishwomen diminish.
When the invitation to the spring ball, scheduled to be Elizabeth’s entrance into society, is withdrawn, can the girls now ever hope to find proper husbands? Will Elizabeth favor Master Hawksworth or Dr.Keckilpenny? Can Lord Lumpley successfully seduce Jane, trapped in his home as his personal bodyguard? Will zombies overrun the countryside and make all the previous questions irrevelate?
Set four years before the original story, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn if the Dreadfuls manages to somewhat keep the flavor of Austen’s writing style, but is a completely original story of its own. The basic character of the principals remains intact, and the new characters are imaginative additions. Liberally dosed with humor throughout, and a fair amount of gore, the fast paced book is an enjoyable quick read for those who favor parody novels, or can take their classics with a twist.
June 23, 2019
I didn't read zombied and pride and prejudice, but I liked this book.
eve tho the characters were YA cliches, they didn't make me feel bored. feminism inside it was good, but it should have been more argued. I liked the plot's speed, but only if all of the book was as exiting as the last 50 pages!
eve tho the characters were YA cliches, they didn't make me feel bored. feminism inside it was good, but it should have been more argued. I liked the plot's speed, but only if all of the book was as exiting as the last 50 pages!
September 13, 2015
Puede no tener una historia construida de manera brillante, puede que no estemos ante una obra maestra de la literatura universal, pero estamos ante un libro que te hace reír de principio a fin, con unos personajes exquisitos y encantadores, con situaciones absurdamente jocosas, y con un trabajo gráfico perfecto.
Fue como un cerebro ante un zombi... Imposible no devorarlo de un bocado.
Fue como un cerebro ante un zombi... Imposible no devorarlo de un bocado.
April 26, 2019
It’s not often I get to say this: the film was much better.
January 1, 2016
3.5 stars
As one review stated you have to read this as a tongue in cheek farcical take-off of Pride and Prejudice. I was smiling at the nonsensical action all the way through. This is not my usual fare in reading although I have read hundreds of Jane Austen Fan Fiction books and P&P is my favorite variation. But it is almost unthought-of for me to read of fantasy creatures in connection with these romances. Books about Vampires, Werewolves, Sea Creatures, and Zombies belong on other book shelves in my opinion.
However when I learned that a movie is being released in February of 2016 titled Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (from the sequel to this book) the thought of reading the novel began to rattle around in my brain. I then learned from a friend, Claudine, that there was both a prequel and a sequel. So I finally decided to dive in.
I don’t want to relate too much of the story although I can’t really say that there was much mystery involved. Language from canon is used on various pages but rarely as in canon. The characters are few of those with which we are familiar: Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and 5 daughters, Charlotte, Mrs. Long and Mrs. Hill and the setting is Hertfordshire with Meryton, Longbourn and Netherfield. We have 3 men posturing for 2 of the sisters. But nowhere to be found in this book are the Bingleys or the Darcys or even Colonel Fitzwilliam. There is, however, a mention of Lady Catherine and her role is a surprise.
The undead/THE DREADFULS enter upon this tale immediately as we read of a funeral service during the which the corpse stirs from his casket. His wife is all happiness as she believes he was NOT dead and that a mistake has been made and she wants to embrace him. We learn here that a plague of the Dreadfuls occurred a number of years back and that Mr. Bennet was one of the successful warriors against that incursion, BUT he has failed in his oath…he has not reared his daughters to be warriors! Enter one Master Hawksworth, trained in the oriental martial arts, he wastes no time taking over a garden shed to use as a training center, a dojo, and ALL the Bennet girls are soon under his command. As this action evolves we read of a ripple in the connection between a Master and one of his students. But as we read of how he holds her in esteem we also learn of a secret he holds concerning his own abilities.
Close behind the Master enters into Hertfordshire a Dr. Keckilpenny who seeks to use science to turn these savage undead creatures back into the English gentlemen and ladies on which the British Empire is founded. He too sees Miss Elizabeth Bennet as an asset to help him seek his goal. Meanwhile in Netherfield lurks a different type of monster. One who is not a fantasy creature, but nevertheless one who preys on the innocents and then makes sure they don’t get in his way. Lord Lumpley is no Charles Bingley but he does admire the beautiful and demure Jane Bingley.
So can I recommend this book? I would say that if you plan to see the movie that you might want to read the books which are the source of that. But if you are looking for the romance for which P&P is so well loved, you may be disappointed. However I say that having only read this prequel and the first several chapters of the main book. Those chapters seem to follow canon very closely…except for a disruption at the Meryton Assembly. Poor Mrs. Long: she will never be able to gossip about how Mr. Darcy sat next to her for all of a half of an hour without speaking one word to her!
As one review stated you have to read this as a tongue in cheek farcical take-off of Pride and Prejudice. I was smiling at the nonsensical action all the way through. This is not my usual fare in reading although I have read hundreds of Jane Austen Fan Fiction books and P&P is my favorite variation. But it is almost unthought-of for me to read of fantasy creatures in connection with these romances. Books about Vampires, Werewolves, Sea Creatures, and Zombies belong on other book shelves in my opinion.
However when I learned that a movie is being released in February of 2016 titled Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (from the sequel to this book) the thought of reading the novel began to rattle around in my brain. I then learned from a friend, Claudine, that there was both a prequel and a sequel. So I finally decided to dive in.
I don’t want to relate too much of the story although I can’t really say that there was much mystery involved. Language from canon is used on various pages but rarely as in canon. The characters are few of those with which we are familiar: Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and 5 daughters, Charlotte, Mrs. Long and Mrs. Hill and the setting is Hertfordshire with Meryton, Longbourn and Netherfield. We have 3 men posturing for 2 of the sisters. But nowhere to be found in this book are the Bingleys or the Darcys or even Colonel Fitzwilliam. There is, however, a mention of Lady Catherine and her role is a surprise.
The undead/THE DREADFULS enter upon this tale immediately as we read of a funeral service during the which the corpse stirs from his casket. His wife is all happiness as she believes he was NOT dead and that a mistake has been made and she wants to embrace him. We learn here that a plague of the Dreadfuls occurred a number of years back and that Mr. Bennet was one of the successful warriors against that incursion, BUT he has failed in his oath…he has not reared his daughters to be warriors! Enter one Master Hawksworth, trained in the oriental martial arts, he wastes no time taking over a garden shed to use as a training center, a dojo, and ALL the Bennet girls are soon under his command. As this action evolves we read of a ripple in the connection between a Master and one of his students. But as we read of how he holds her in esteem we also learn of a secret he holds concerning his own abilities.
Close behind the Master enters into Hertfordshire a Dr. Keckilpenny who seeks to use science to turn these savage undead creatures back into the English gentlemen and ladies on which the British Empire is founded. He too sees Miss Elizabeth Bennet as an asset to help him seek his goal. Meanwhile in Netherfield lurks a different type of monster. One who is not a fantasy creature, but nevertheless one who preys on the innocents and then makes sure they don’t get in his way. Lord Lumpley is no Charles Bingley but he does admire the beautiful and demure Jane Bingley.
So can I recommend this book? I would say that if you plan to see the movie that you might want to read the books which are the source of that. But if you are looking for the romance for which P&P is so well loved, you may be disappointed. However I say that having only read this prequel and the first several chapters of the main book. Those chapters seem to follow canon very closely…except for a disruption at the Meryton Assembly. Poor Mrs. Long: she will never be able to gossip about how Mr. Darcy sat next to her for all of a half of an hour without speaking one word to her!
August 5, 2011
I could just imagine Jane Austen rolling in her grave when Pride and Prejudice and Zombies hit shelves and remastered the art of the public domain. When Quirk released Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls, the prequel to PPZ, Austen was probably so angry over the irreverent use of her work that she may just rise from the dead herself. This would, most likely, lead to sightings of a zombified Jane Austen shuffling through the streets, her arms outstreched, a low moan coming from her mouth (along with a few pieces of skin here and there). She would search the earth to find the people at Quirk Classics who further defiled her work by writing Dawn of the Dreafuls, and, well, eat their brains. If Austen didn't make an appearance, one of her dedicated fans may make the trip on her behalf to protest the novel's completely irreverent treatment of the source material.
While I'm a huge fan of Austen's original novel, I was won over by the original Pride and Prejudice and Zombies thanks to its quirky, absurd and just downright fun premise. I was a little uncertain when Quirk announced the prequel, primarily because there was no Austen novel to build the plot from. Instead, the entire thing would just be, essentially, a fan fiction prequel of PPZ. But when given an opportunity to read the book, I thought I'd give it a try. I found that if I could let all my inhibitions go and just enjoy the book for what it is, it's incredibly fun, original, bizarre and fabulous.
Set four years prior to the events of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, the Bennett family is attending a funeral, when the corpse suddenly starts moving. Mr. Bennett finds that his worse fears are coming true: the dreadful are returning. He decides to thoroughly train his daughters in the warrior ways so they can be prepared to fight off the dreadfuls and keep them from overrunning the land.
Fans of the parody/monster mash-up will eat up PPZ: Dawn of the Dreadfuls. While haters of the original PPZ won't be converted, skeptics of this prequel really should just give it a chance. This is horror/comedy/parody at its best.
Can't wait for the PPZ graphic novel next month and Android Karenina this summer.
While I'm a huge fan of Austen's original novel, I was won over by the original Pride and Prejudice and Zombies thanks to its quirky, absurd and just downright fun premise. I was a little uncertain when Quirk announced the prequel, primarily because there was no Austen novel to build the plot from. Instead, the entire thing would just be, essentially, a fan fiction prequel of PPZ. But when given an opportunity to read the book, I thought I'd give it a try. I found that if I could let all my inhibitions go and just enjoy the book for what it is, it's incredibly fun, original, bizarre and fabulous.
Set four years prior to the events of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, the Bennett family is attending a funeral, when the corpse suddenly starts moving. Mr. Bennett finds that his worse fears are coming true: the dreadful are returning. He decides to thoroughly train his daughters in the warrior ways so they can be prepared to fight off the dreadfuls and keep them from overrunning the land.
Fans of the parody/monster mash-up will eat up PPZ: Dawn of the Dreadfuls. While haters of the original PPZ won't be converted, skeptics of this prequel really should just give it a chance. This is horror/comedy/parody at its best.
Can't wait for the PPZ graphic novel next month and Android Karenina this summer.
May 30, 2017
Me encantó!!!! Me llevé una gran sorpresa con este libro, me encantó la narración, los diálogos, los personajes (la manera en que les dio vida el autor y no les cambió la esencia original sino que a partir de la misma las potenció) me reí mucho, me ilusioné, y no pude parar de leer hasta terminarlo. Lo recomiendo!!
June 5, 2011
See my review on my book blog: http://quirkyreader.livejournal.com/1...
August 23, 2017
Literatura popcorn de la cual nada se debe pretender y esta perfecto.
December 31, 2019
Regency romance meets zombie fiction in this mash-up prequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I really wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading, but it turned out to be strangely entertaining.
Read
January 15, 2023rtc
February 19, 2020
3,5 Esto es un guilty pleasure en toda regla :D Al principio no me decía mucho y me parecía bastante tonto, pero conforme iba avanzando la historia y todo se enredaba y aparecían más zombies y etc, seguía siendo tontillo, pero me iba enganchando muchísimo y molando a tope. Y total, que me ha gustado bastante y ahora hasta puede que lea la continuación.
March 3, 2010
In Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, we witnessed one of literature's favorite heroines, Elizabeth Bennet, fall in love while fighting valiantly against the zombie menace that had overtaken England. Now, in this lively prequel, PPZ: Dawn of the Dreadfuls, learn how the hoardes of unmentionables became said menace, and lively Lizzie found herself becoming one the British Isles foremost warrior-maidens.
There are going to be some of you reading this review who are going to be surprised that I decided to read this. You may recall from my review of Seth Grahame-Smith's Pride and Prejudice and Zombies that I was, shall we say, less than pleased. You're thinking, 'Why would she even bother if she didn't like the first one?' It's simple: Dawn of the Dreadfuls has a different author. It was a risk I was willing to take.
It was worth it.
PPZ: Dawn of the Dreadfuls blew the socks off the first book. Now, Steven Hockensmith did have some advantages in that writing a prequel was a bit more of a clean slate; though he did have to remain faithful to the world and characters created, he did not have to try to work his words into those of another and make it seamless. That's not to say he had an easy task. He still had to mimic Austen's writing, create a believable prequel that could plausibly lead up to both the original text and Grahame-Smith's altered one, and he still had to find a way to strike a balance between Regency-era novel and zombie romper. I think he did admirably on all counts.
In PPZ: DOD we get to watch as the dreadful plague, thought vanquished for years, returns to England. The Bennet girls find themselves in a peculiar situation, as their father intends them to learn the ways of the warrior, whilst their mother (and society) wishes them to go to balls and marry well. Young teens all, they've never been faced with the zombie menace -- or the handsome, red-coated officers who come to Meryton to battle them. The resulting mash-up of their experiences -- learning how to wield battleaxes and practice the Pouncing Panther and remain demure, proper English ladies at the same time -- makes for exactly the type of story Quirk Books is trying to present: fun parodies of literature's Greats that hit the mark without being condescending, insipid, or utterly ridiculous.
The best compliment I can give Hockensmith is that there were times, in the midst of the ridiculous Regency zombieness, that it felt like Jane Austen could have written it. Nearly all of the things I didn't like in the first book were well done in this prequel. Unlike G-S, Hockensmith captured her tone and liveliness and humor well, and he remained faithful to the characters and world she created. Lizzie is both the sharp girl of Austen's classic, and the budding fierce warrior of Grahame-Smith's parody. Her sister, Jane, is as charming and sweet-natured as ever, and Mrs. Bennet is ever anxious that her daughters marry well before someone fall victim to the unmentionables and leave them all ruined. He kept their characters and personalities intact, while skewing the story just enough to make their actions still make sense in much-altered circumstances.
All told, there's a little something for everyone: fans of Jane will find a fun twist on her work, and a real effort to stay true to her and her language, with little surprises planted for those familiar with her most famous work; fans of zombies will find brain-munching dreadfuls in abundance; fans of romance will find some romantic plot twists and general funness; fans of strong female characters will certainly love Elizabeth. If you didn't like the first one, I think you'll like this. If you did like the first one, I think you'll like this more. And if you've been unsure of whether to try one of these lit parodies that's suddenly all the rage, I think this is a good place to start. I would recommend getting your hands on a copy in time for Helluva Halloween II...(yeah, it's coming).
There are going to be some of you reading this review who are going to be surprised that I decided to read this. You may recall from my review of Seth Grahame-Smith's Pride and Prejudice and Zombies that I was, shall we say, less than pleased. You're thinking, 'Why would she even bother if she didn't like the first one?' It's simple: Dawn of the Dreadfuls has a different author. It was a risk I was willing to take.
It was worth it.
PPZ: Dawn of the Dreadfuls blew the socks off the first book. Now, Steven Hockensmith did have some advantages in that writing a prequel was a bit more of a clean slate; though he did have to remain faithful to the world and characters created, he did not have to try to work his words into those of another and make it seamless. That's not to say he had an easy task. He still had to mimic Austen's writing, create a believable prequel that could plausibly lead up to both the original text and Grahame-Smith's altered one, and he still had to find a way to strike a balance between Regency-era novel and zombie romper. I think he did admirably on all counts.
In PPZ: DOD we get to watch as the dreadful plague, thought vanquished for years, returns to England. The Bennet girls find themselves in a peculiar situation, as their father intends them to learn the ways of the warrior, whilst their mother (and society) wishes them to go to balls and marry well. Young teens all, they've never been faced with the zombie menace -- or the handsome, red-coated officers who come to Meryton to battle them. The resulting mash-up of their experiences -- learning how to wield battleaxes and practice the Pouncing Panther and remain demure, proper English ladies at the same time -- makes for exactly the type of story Quirk Books is trying to present: fun parodies of literature's Greats that hit the mark without being condescending, insipid, or utterly ridiculous.
The best compliment I can give Hockensmith is that there were times, in the midst of the ridiculous Regency zombieness, that it felt like Jane Austen could have written it. Nearly all of the things I didn't like in the first book were well done in this prequel. Unlike G-S, Hockensmith captured her tone and liveliness and humor well, and he remained faithful to the characters and world she created. Lizzie is both the sharp girl of Austen's classic, and the budding fierce warrior of Grahame-Smith's parody. Her sister, Jane, is as charming and sweet-natured as ever, and Mrs. Bennet is ever anxious that her daughters marry well before someone fall victim to the unmentionables and leave them all ruined. He kept their characters and personalities intact, while skewing the story just enough to make their actions still make sense in much-altered circumstances.
All told, there's a little something for everyone: fans of Jane will find a fun twist on her work, and a real effort to stay true to her and her language, with little surprises planted for those familiar with her most famous work; fans of zombies will find brain-munching dreadfuls in abundance; fans of romance will find some romantic plot twists and general funness; fans of strong female characters will certainly love Elizabeth. If you didn't like the first one, I think you'll like this. If you did like the first one, I think you'll like this more. And if you've been unsure of whether to try one of these lit parodies that's suddenly all the rage, I think this is a good place to start. I would recommend getting your hands on a copy in time for Helluva Halloween II...(yeah, it's coming).
August 4, 2011
"Half the soldiers whirled away to do as he asked, desperate for any excuse to put distance between themselves and the unmentionable about to sprout like some ghastly flower. The other half simply stared with their mouths agape." (p. 175)
The hamlet of Meryton has been in a state of peace for years since The Troubles. It seems an ordinary day for an ordinary funeral where most of the town is in attendance. Suddenly, the dearly departed is no longer at rest and sits upright during his own funeral. The congregation is shocked, yet unsure of what to make of the scene before them. Mr. Bennet, however, realizes before anyone else what is happening. Having fought during The Troubles himself, he recognizes that Mr. Ford has become one of the sorry stricken. As the church empties of frightened mourners, Mr. Bennet calls upon his daughters to help him with the corpse of the former town apothecary. Thus begins the return of the dreadfuls to Hertfordshire. Mr. Bennet spares no time in beginning the training in the deadly arts for his five daughters. He sends word to the military and to his former Masters informing them of the zombies as well as asking for assistance. Soon a Master Hawksworth comes to Meryton to aid in the Bennet girls' training. As Elizabeth and her sisters accomplish their training and slay the sorry stricken, it is clear that more dreadfuls are coming. Elizabeth learns the ways of a warrior all while contemplating her feelings for her Master and the new Dr. Keckilpenny who believes he can stop the zombies by examining them. The Bennets prepare for war against the walking dead and for the ball; because in regency England, there will always be a ball.
Dawn of the Dreadfuls is set to take place about five years before we meet the Bennets in Pride and Prejudice. To enjoy this read, one cannot be an Austen purist. There is no continuity pertaining to Pride and Prejudice, nor Pride and Prejudice and Zombies for that matter. I chose to view it as the Bennet family has been plucked from the pages of the classic and placed into a zombie novel during regency England. The characteristics of each member of the Bennet family largely hold true, this story is far from providing plausible history of Lizzy and her family. One point that bothered me was Mr. Bennet's attitude toward Mrs. Bennet. Yes, Mrs. Bennet is annoying and Mr. Bennet remarks on it in his dry humor, but Austen always had affection hidden under his words, in my opinion. This Mr. Bennet seems too cruel, though passionate about his daughters especially Lizzy and Jane.
When I started Dawn of the Dreadfuls, I assumed it would be a true prequel to the first story by Seth Grahame-Smith. I could not find hardly any continuity between the two. There is no mention of the girls going to China to learn the deadly arts. The readers are only informed that Mr. Bennet did study in China.
Having won this book through First Reads giveaways, the book was accompanied by a poster of the cover. I must say that it was my favorite part of the package. It was a fun read, but not a favorite of mine. The creepily elegant poster of the young girl with bloodied hands and mouth proudly hangs in my apartment. =)
The hamlet of Meryton has been in a state of peace for years since The Troubles. It seems an ordinary day for an ordinary funeral where most of the town is in attendance. Suddenly, the dearly departed is no longer at rest and sits upright during his own funeral. The congregation is shocked, yet unsure of what to make of the scene before them. Mr. Bennet, however, realizes before anyone else what is happening. Having fought during The Troubles himself, he recognizes that Mr. Ford has become one of the sorry stricken. As the church empties of frightened mourners, Mr. Bennet calls upon his daughters to help him with the corpse of the former town apothecary. Thus begins the return of the dreadfuls to Hertfordshire. Mr. Bennet spares no time in beginning the training in the deadly arts for his five daughters. He sends word to the military and to his former Masters informing them of the zombies as well as asking for assistance. Soon a Master Hawksworth comes to Meryton to aid in the Bennet girls' training. As Elizabeth and her sisters accomplish their training and slay the sorry stricken, it is clear that more dreadfuls are coming. Elizabeth learns the ways of a warrior all while contemplating her feelings for her Master and the new Dr. Keckilpenny who believes he can stop the zombies by examining them. The Bennets prepare for war against the walking dead and for the ball; because in regency England, there will always be a ball.
Dawn of the Dreadfuls is set to take place about five years before we meet the Bennets in Pride and Prejudice. To enjoy this read, one cannot be an Austen purist. There is no continuity pertaining to Pride and Prejudice, nor Pride and Prejudice and Zombies for that matter. I chose to view it as the Bennet family has been plucked from the pages of the classic and placed into a zombie novel during regency England. The characteristics of each member of the Bennet family largely hold true, this story is far from providing plausible history of Lizzy and her family. One point that bothered me was Mr. Bennet's attitude toward Mrs. Bennet. Yes, Mrs. Bennet is annoying and Mr. Bennet remarks on it in his dry humor, but Austen always had affection hidden under his words, in my opinion. This Mr. Bennet seems too cruel, though passionate about his daughters especially Lizzy and Jane.
When I started Dawn of the Dreadfuls, I assumed it would be a true prequel to the first story by Seth Grahame-Smith. I could not find hardly any continuity between the two. There is no mention of the girls going to China to learn the deadly arts. The readers are only informed that Mr. Bennet did study in China.
Having won this book through First Reads giveaways, the book was accompanied by a poster of the cover. I must say that it was my favorite part of the package. It was a fun read, but not a favorite of mine. The creepily elegant poster of the young girl with bloodied hands and mouth proudly hangs in my apartment. =)
April 4, 2010
Ok, surprisingly, this was pretty good. I didn't know how I was going to feel reading a prequel of P&P without the angst of Darcy and Lizzy but I found that with a good enough premise, an already existing solid novel and the character development that even Ms. Austen would appreciate, I could get over not seeing Darcy.
This book begins with Lizzy about to "come out" to the ton and the Bennett's are all assembled for a funeral for one of their neighbors. It starts off with Mr. Bennett's POV and I never thought I would like the man more than I did when I read the original novel, but the long-suffering, slightly negligent father has his reasons as we see as the book progresses.
Anyhoo, the monotony of a funeral is broken by the deceased making the grave miscalculation of etiquette of coming back to life and trying to eat people. Well, Mr. Bennett decides to take advantage of this situation by correcting a mistake he long ago made - allowing his daughters to live the life of privileged women as opposed to warriors as he had sworn long ago.
Well, upon seeing the 'dreadful', he realizes two things. One, the plague that affected England not so long ago, is back. Two, his daughters seriously need an education on how to be warriors.
Enter the "Master". About 18 and solidly trained, he becomes the Sensei to both Mr. Bennett (because it is apparent that he has forgotten his training) and the young ladies. It wouldn't be an Austen mash-up without the hint of romance. And who do you thing the Master has an eye for?
As a foil, please enter Doctor K. The exact opposite of brute force, the Doctor is a thinker and he hopes to tame the zombies so that he can learn from them and turn the plague away by re-civilizing the undead.
While all this is happening, the dead are rising from their graves, Mrs. Bennett is trying to get Jane married to a notorious letch and oh and let's not forget that Lizzy still has not come out yet and frankly with the girls taking up swords, nobody wants anything to do with them.
Until they find that they have need for the 'poor crazy' Bennett girls.
This is the prequel for P&P and Zombies and it is a good prologue to the series (if there's a series, I don't know but I'd like to see Lizzy and Darcy's marriage while kicking zombie ass). It explains a lot about Mr. Bennett, the girls and the Dreadful plague that so infected England in the P&P/Zombies book.
While it's weird to not hear of hind nor hair of Bingley and Darcy, this book is simply not about them. While the book does veer off to different POV's (all entertaining), the book is about Elizabeth and her journey from naive young woman to strong capable warrior woman.
It's funnier than PPZ and is has more illustrations and simply put, it's entertaining. If you like Austen and you can appreciate a good mash-up, this is a must read.
This book begins with Lizzy about to "come out" to the ton and the Bennett's are all assembled for a funeral for one of their neighbors. It starts off with Mr. Bennett's POV and I never thought I would like the man more than I did when I read the original novel, but the long-suffering, slightly negligent father has his reasons as we see as the book progresses.
Anyhoo, the monotony of a funeral is broken by the deceased making the grave miscalculation of etiquette of coming back to life and trying to eat people. Well, Mr. Bennett decides to take advantage of this situation by correcting a mistake he long ago made - allowing his daughters to live the life of privileged women as opposed to warriors as he had sworn long ago.
Well, upon seeing the 'dreadful', he realizes two things. One, the plague that affected England not so long ago, is back. Two, his daughters seriously need an education on how to be warriors.
Enter the "Master". About 18 and solidly trained, he becomes the Sensei to both Mr. Bennett (because it is apparent that he has forgotten his training) and the young ladies. It wouldn't be an Austen mash-up without the hint of romance. And who do you thing the Master has an eye for?
As a foil, please enter Doctor K. The exact opposite of brute force, the Doctor is a thinker and he hopes to tame the zombies so that he can learn from them and turn the plague away by re-civilizing the undead.
While all this is happening, the dead are rising from their graves, Mrs. Bennett is trying to get Jane married to a notorious letch and oh and let's not forget that Lizzy still has not come out yet and frankly with the girls taking up swords, nobody wants anything to do with them.
Until they find that they have need for the 'poor crazy' Bennett girls.
This is the prequel for P&P and Zombies and it is a good prologue to the series (if there's a series, I don't know but I'd like to see Lizzy and Darcy's marriage while kicking zombie ass). It explains a lot about Mr. Bennett, the girls and the Dreadful plague that so infected England in the P&P/Zombies book.
While it's weird to not hear of hind nor hair of Bingley and Darcy, this book is simply not about them. While the book does veer off to different POV's (all entertaining), the book is about Elizabeth and her journey from naive young woman to strong capable warrior woman.
It's funnier than PPZ and is has more illustrations and simply put, it's entertaining. If you like Austen and you can appreciate a good mash-up, this is a must read.
December 30, 2010
Okay guys this is my first Giveaway on my blog and it is being offered through Quirk Books!
I read and enjoyed both "Pride and Prejudice" and "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" (PPZ). So when I heard that a prequel to PPZ was being released I was excited. I mean, finally, we get to learn all about how Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters got their awesome fighting skills. I got a copy of Dawn of the Dreadfuls through Quirk Books. I actually enjoyed this book more than PPZ; Hockensmith has created some great tongue-in-cheek characters and the book was very well done!
This book follows the Bennet family as they discover the first dreadful rising (out of a coffin at a funeral), through training the Bennet girls receive, to the inevitable massive zombie attack.
Hockensmith did a great job in keeping the tone of the story similar to PPZ. Mrs. Bennet was definitely the Mrs. Bennet from PPZ and Jane and Elizabeth also maintained their character very well. I thought the story actually flowed much better than PPZ; probably because Hockensmith got to control the storyline this time and could match it to the characters better. Hockensmith has created some fabulous character additions. Master Hawksworh (the Bennet's instructor in the deadly arts) and Dr. Keckilpenny (a doctor who seeks to cure the dreadful affliction) are a lot of fun.
The fighting scenes are well done and more inclusive than in PPZ, again I think that being able to incorporate the action scenes fully into his own story helped Hockingsmith out on this one. The plot takes some interesting twists and turns towards the end of the story which I really enjoyed.
My only complaint would be at times the characters are a little bit over the top. This is a small complaint. I know these over-the-top characters are there for humor, and many times, they are very funny. At times though it goes a bit over-board and feels forced. The dialogue is witty and entertaining enough all on its own; it didn't need any more than that to be funny.
Overall I liked this book even better than PPZ. It was entertaining, engaging, and had me chuckling a number of times. Hockensmith did a good job staying true to the main characters nature, even if the additional characters sometimes went a bit over-the-top with their actions.
I read and enjoyed both "Pride and Prejudice" and "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" (PPZ). So when I heard that a prequel to PPZ was being released I was excited. I mean, finally, we get to learn all about how Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters got their awesome fighting skills. I got a copy of Dawn of the Dreadfuls through Quirk Books. I actually enjoyed this book more than PPZ; Hockensmith has created some great tongue-in-cheek characters and the book was very well done!
This book follows the Bennet family as they discover the first dreadful rising (out of a coffin at a funeral), through training the Bennet girls receive, to the inevitable massive zombie attack.
Hockensmith did a great job in keeping the tone of the story similar to PPZ. Mrs. Bennet was definitely the Mrs. Bennet from PPZ and Jane and Elizabeth also maintained their character very well. I thought the story actually flowed much better than PPZ; probably because Hockensmith got to control the storyline this time and could match it to the characters better. Hockensmith has created some fabulous character additions. Master Hawksworh (the Bennet's instructor in the deadly arts) and Dr. Keckilpenny (a doctor who seeks to cure the dreadful affliction) are a lot of fun.
The fighting scenes are well done and more inclusive than in PPZ, again I think that being able to incorporate the action scenes fully into his own story helped Hockingsmith out on this one. The plot takes some interesting twists and turns towards the end of the story which I really enjoyed.
My only complaint would be at times the characters are a little bit over the top. This is a small complaint. I know these over-the-top characters are there for humor, and many times, they are very funny. At times though it goes a bit over-board and feels forced. The dialogue is witty and entertaining enough all on its own; it didn't need any more than that to be funny.
Overall I liked this book even better than PPZ. It was entertaining, engaging, and had me chuckling a number of times. Hockensmith did a good job staying true to the main characters nature, even if the additional characters sometimes went a bit over-the-top with their actions.
May 30, 2010
DAWN OF THE DREADFULS is the prequel to PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES and takes place when Elizabeth is sixteen. After a zombie arises during its funeral, all the Bennett children learn, that their father fought zombies during the previous zombie infestation. Now, the Bennett children must learn quickly and take up arms against the enemy. To aid the girls in this endeavor a ninja master, Master Hawksworth, is sent and the fun begins.
As a rabid Jane Austen fan, I enjoy reading most anything having to do with her books, especially my favorite--PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. DAWN OF THE DREADFULS is no exception, mainly because I, also, enjoy cheesy horror books and movies, that don't take themselves too seriously. I found myself chuckling during parts of this book and wish that a movie could be made of it along the lines of SHAUN OF THE DEAD. That would be a real hoot. While I really enjoyed this book, some Jane Austen fans might not appreciate the gore and, as stated above, cheesiness. Now, I need to read PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES.
As a rabid Jane Austen fan, I enjoy reading most anything having to do with her books, especially my favorite--PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. DAWN OF THE DREADFULS is no exception, mainly because I, also, enjoy cheesy horror books and movies, that don't take themselves too seriously. I found myself chuckling during parts of this book and wish that a movie could be made of it along the lines of SHAUN OF THE DEAD. That would be a real hoot. While I really enjoyed this book, some Jane Austen fans might not appreciate the gore and, as stated above, cheesiness. Now, I need to read PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES.
August 17, 2016
2.5 stars of meh-ness. While this is an occasionally entertaining prequel, approximately 80% of it feels incredibly out of character. Honestly, I would have been far more interested in reading about the ORIGINAL rising of the dreadfuls and Mr Bennet going to China to learn how to fight them than I was reading about the reappearance of the dreadfuls four years prior to P&P&Z.
There were occasional entertaining moments, yes, and I enjoyed it more than Dreadfully Ever After. But for the most part, it was just sort of meh and full of random male characters that you basically know are destined to be killed by zombies in order to make way for Darcy and Bingley. And yet, somehow it seems to be more about their stories than it is about the Bennet girls becoming warriors. Sigh.
There were occasional entertaining moments, yes, and I enjoyed it more than Dreadfully Ever After. But for the most part, it was just sort of meh and full of random male characters that you basically know are destined to be killed by zombies in order to make way for Darcy and Bingley. And yet, somehow it seems to be more about their stories than it is about the Bennet girls becoming warriors. Sigh.
June 4, 2021
I absolutely loved this prequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. This novel contains plenty of zombies, gore, and humor sprinkled with a bit of romance. It contains strong female characters who are unconventionally trained to kick zombie butt. If you love zombies, quirky situations, and British humor, you’ll enjoy this thrilling tale that is set back in 19th century England.
November 7, 2014
This is a gem of hilarity. Listened to it on tape at work and burst out laughing far more often than seemed proper. Mrs. Bennet's frivolity and all the humor at her expense was my guilty favorite thing, beside the random "dreadfuls" that kept popping up in the middle of everyone's polite conversations. Really fantastic, and the narrator I listened to (Katherine Kellgren) gave a highly amusing performance. Loved this!
July 2, 2021
Just a lot of gratuitous gore and sexual innuendos . I had hoped it would give a detailed explanation as to why the strange plague came to the shores of England, but It just says it did and proceeds to get into the training of the Bennet sisters.
December 18, 2020
This had virtually none of the wit and humor of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. 2* because it was just OK enough that I managed to finish it.
June 29, 2016
Very amusing zombie story! On to the next one!
February 19, 2024
written by a man :/
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