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Alaskan Undead Apocalypse #1
Infection
If this is the end of the world, what do you do? Do you have the will to survive? And in surviving, what or who are you willing to sacrifice? With their city overrun by a plague of Biblical proportions and the dead rising with a preternatural and cannabilistic hunger for human flesh, a group of survivors is forced into answering those questions for themselves. In the sheer act of survival, our heroes are pushed to the brink and expose the rawest essence of human nature and how it affects their relationships with one another and themselves.
About the Sean Schubert lives in Anchorage, Alaska, and writes part time. He is the proud father of two wonderful children and is married to the coolest wife he knows. The author earned a degree in English from Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana. He and his wife moved to Anchorage in 1993 for the summer and have been living there ever since. Publisher's Web strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/In...
About the Sean Schubert lives in Anchorage, Alaska, and writes part time. He is the proud father of two wonderful children and is married to the coolest wife he knows. The author earned a degree in English from Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana. He and his wife moved to Anchorage in 1993 for the summer and have been living there ever since. Publisher's Web strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/In...
252 pages, Paperback
First published August 6, 2010
22 people are currently reading
322 people want to read
About the author
Sean Schubert
8 books30 followersSean Schubert has lived in Anchorage, Alaska since 1993. After earning his degree in English from Wabash college that year, Schubert immediately relocated to Alaska.
It's clear that he enjoys and appreciates his new home. Schubert makes Alaska itself an integral part of his unfolding series. The people of Alaska respond to hardship with equanimity.
Sean Schubert says: "Alaska poses its own set of challenges separate from the unfolding zombie plague. The cold, the wildlife, the environment, and the distance all challenge its residents; the addition of zombies to the mix just ups the ante. I try to introduce the elements without being too heavy handed about it. Alaskans typically take things as they come with regard to those environmental challenges, so the growing cold, the gathering darkness, and even zombies are, after certain adjustments, taken in stride. It’s just part of the survival mentality of the Last Frontier."
It's clear that he enjoys and appreciates his new home. Schubert makes Alaska itself an integral part of his unfolding series. The people of Alaska respond to hardship with equanimity.
Sean Schubert says: "Alaska poses its own set of challenges separate from the unfolding zombie plague. The cold, the wildlife, the environment, and the distance all challenge its residents; the addition of zombies to the mix just ups the ante. I try to introduce the elements without being too heavy handed about it. Alaskans typically take things as they come with regard to those environmental challenges, so the growing cold, the gathering darkness, and even zombies are, after certain adjustments, taken in stride. It’s just part of the survival mentality of the Last Frontier."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
March 15, 2022
'Infection' is a highly entertaining and exciting first book in the Alaskan Undead Apocalypse series. In typical form, a group of survivors comes together as the epidemic is just getting started. All are unsure exactly of the seriousness of the problem and just exactly what they are up against. There is a doctor, children, women and men. One of them is clearly "off" and is causing concern within the group because of his inappropriate actions and conversations. By the end of this edition, several survivors will have meant their unfortunate demise while the rest of the group takes off in the hopes of finding somewhere safe. Can't wait to find out what happens next in book #2.
Narrator Daniel May is phenomenal. He easily kept me on the edge-of-my-seat from start till the nail-biting conclusion.
Narrator Daniel May is phenomenal. He easily kept me on the edge-of-my-seat from start till the nail-biting conclusion.
December 21, 2012
I started to read this book, but really couldn't finish it. I wanted to like it. I like zombie fic and the premise of having a pre-historic zombie melt out of a glacier was original. I also thought the cover was good.
At first I thought the cheesy writing was because it was aimed at a MG audience, but the swearing quickly showed that this was supposed to be an adult novel.
My main issues were that the story was rushed and the character development was irregular. I didn't need to know a lot about characters that were going to die within the next page, but I did want to get to know characters that were going to be with us for awhile. I felt like characters were behaving in ways that weren't consistent and I actually found myself reading bits to my daughter who is a zombie fanatic.
I really, really wanted to like this book. I just didn't. I think the premise was good, but there was no follow-through.
At first I thought the cheesy writing was because it was aimed at a MG audience, but the swearing quickly showed that this was supposed to be an adult novel.
My main issues were that the story was rushed and the character development was irregular. I didn't need to know a lot about characters that were going to die within the next page, but I did want to get to know characters that were going to be with us for awhile. I felt like characters were behaving in ways that weren't consistent and I actually found myself reading bits to my daughter who is a zombie fanatic.
I really, really wanted to like this book. I just didn't. I think the premise was good, but there was no follow-through.
January 3, 2022
4.25/5
This was a great, fast-paced start to a series. All the characters but one was handled well and the action was well done as well. As a bonus for me, the book was set where I live so that was a blast.
This was a great, fast-paced start to a series. All the characters but one was handled well and the action was well done as well. As a bonus for me, the book was set where I live so that was a blast.
September 4, 2012
I picked this up because I adore zombie lit and I adore Alaska, where I live. I had been warned by, oh just about everyone, that this was a pretty sub-par book and that it was full of typos. Was it? Yeah, it was. But in spite of all it's flaws I ended up enjoying it far more than I thought I would. I think this primarily came from the fact I was so easily able to visually where the events of the book take place, being I have physically stood in pretty much all the specific locations mentioned in the book.
I think if I had not lived in Anchorage I would have detested it and probably not finished it. It has a slow, weird start. The ending is a real let down (although maybe just leaving it open for a sequel). The middle was pretty engaging though, but again I doubt it would have been had I not been familiar with the locations where it was happening.
I think if I had not lived in Anchorage I would have detested it and probably not finished it. It has a slow, weird start. The ending is a real let down (although maybe just leaving it open for a sequel). The middle was pretty engaging though, but again I doubt it would have been had I not been familiar with the locations where it was happening.
January 6, 2025
loses a star for the man who thinks he can do what he wants when someone says no.
January 31, 2012
YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY! Another editing project is now a published book! More zombie goodnessssssssssssssssss. And don't forget to watch for the sequel, Containment, out later this year.
April 29, 2012
Infection: Alaskan Undead Apocalypse takes place mainly in Anchorage, and begins with a family of tourists from Minnesota who are traveling to Alaska on vacation. The younger boy, Martin, has brought along a friend, Danny, and the family plans on spending time out in the woods at a cabin near a glacier. Almost immediately upon arrival at the cabin, Martin, his sister Jules, and Danny discover what appears to be a dead body stuck in the melting glacier. Thinking it is a caveman, they pose next to it, taking pictures. When the caveman turns out to be a thawed zombie, and Martin gets bitten, the family races back to Anchorage to a hospital as Martin’s health rapidly deteriorates. All hell breaks loose when the boy ends up dying in the hospital, gets back up, and attacks everyone around him.
Things rapidly spin out of control from there, with a plague of undead spilling outside the walls of the hospital and onto the streets of Anchorage. Within a matter of hours, the entire city is under siege by a horde of fast moving undead devouring and infecting everyone in their path.
Throughout the course of this book, the first in a planned trilogy, we are introduced to the people that make up two main groups of survivors. One group is led by Dr. Caldwell, who was treating Martin at the hospital, and the other lead by Neil, an office worker who witnesses one of the first zombie attacks outside of the hospital (and the two surviving children-Jules and Danny-end up with him as well). The pages telling the story of these characters are intermingled with various graphic scenes of carnage as Anchorage is ripped to shreds and the police and military are unable to do much to stop the tide of death rushing over them.
Infection: Alaskan Undead Apocalypse is a fun, fast-paced tale of zombie mayhem that barely gives you time to breath, and zombie fans who crave plenty of gore and undead action should enjoy it. The main characters are well developed and give the reader a few folks to root for as well as one in particular to loathe, which keeps things interesting from start to finish.
As I always try to do, I point out areas of concern with a story, and I have a couple of them with Infection.
The first is a minor point, but one that I feel deserves mentioning. Alaska appears in the title of the book, and as such, I expected this story to bring some unique elements to the table based on the locale. Unfortunately, while the author knows Anchorage like the back of his hand, the city felt no different than any other place on the map. Perhaps the sequels will insert more of the distinctive ‘flavor’ of Alaska in them that will make this story stand out more.
My second issue has to do with one particular character, a police officer. I felt that he would have been far more intriguing character if he wasn’t a cop, but I found it hard to buy into him being an officer of the law. From the beginning, he makes no effort to take a leadership role in a crisis situation, letting Dr. Caldwell handle that role in a non-medical crisis. All I know is that if I were trying to flee from the impending apocalypse and I was in a group with a police officer, I would be looking to him for direction, not a doctor (even as you are racing down the halls of a hospital). But strangely enough, no one calls him on this until well into the book, and by then, I was wondering how this guy ever passed whatever psychological test is required to become an Anchorage cop in the first place. Again, he would have been a far more interesting character were he not a cop.
Overall, I felt that this story has the potential to be a solid zombie trilogy. Infection doesn’t really bring anything new to the table-there are no big surprises to be had for zombie fans here-but my hope is that the author turns things up a notch in the sequels to give this story a flavor of the northlands that leaves a lasting impression.
Things rapidly spin out of control from there, with a plague of undead spilling outside the walls of the hospital and onto the streets of Anchorage. Within a matter of hours, the entire city is under siege by a horde of fast moving undead devouring and infecting everyone in their path.
Throughout the course of this book, the first in a planned trilogy, we are introduced to the people that make up two main groups of survivors. One group is led by Dr. Caldwell, who was treating Martin at the hospital, and the other lead by Neil, an office worker who witnesses one of the first zombie attacks outside of the hospital (and the two surviving children-Jules and Danny-end up with him as well). The pages telling the story of these characters are intermingled with various graphic scenes of carnage as Anchorage is ripped to shreds and the police and military are unable to do much to stop the tide of death rushing over them.
Infection: Alaskan Undead Apocalypse is a fun, fast-paced tale of zombie mayhem that barely gives you time to breath, and zombie fans who crave plenty of gore and undead action should enjoy it. The main characters are well developed and give the reader a few folks to root for as well as one in particular to loathe, which keeps things interesting from start to finish.
As I always try to do, I point out areas of concern with a story, and I have a couple of them with Infection.
The first is a minor point, but one that I feel deserves mentioning. Alaska appears in the title of the book, and as such, I expected this story to bring some unique elements to the table based on the locale. Unfortunately, while the author knows Anchorage like the back of his hand, the city felt no different than any other place on the map. Perhaps the sequels will insert more of the distinctive ‘flavor’ of Alaska in them that will make this story stand out more.
My second issue has to do with one particular character, a police officer. I felt that he would have been far more intriguing character if he wasn’t a cop, but I found it hard to buy into him being an officer of the law. From the beginning, he makes no effort to take a leadership role in a crisis situation, letting Dr. Caldwell handle that role in a non-medical crisis. All I know is that if I were trying to flee from the impending apocalypse and I was in a group with a police officer, I would be looking to him for direction, not a doctor (even as you are racing down the halls of a hospital). But strangely enough, no one calls him on this until well into the book, and by then, I was wondering how this guy ever passed whatever psychological test is required to become an Anchorage cop in the first place. Again, he would have been a far more interesting character were he not a cop.
Overall, I felt that this story has the potential to be a solid zombie trilogy. Infection doesn’t really bring anything new to the table-there are no big surprises to be had for zombie fans here-but my hope is that the author turns things up a notch in the sequels to give this story a flavor of the northlands that leaves a lasting impression.
October 15, 2017
Escludendo l'ambientazione non c'è niente di nuovo sul fronte apocalittico zombiforme.
Tanti personaggi introdotti, molti eliminati dopo poche pagine o dimenticati del tutto. Pochi quelli che seguiamo fino alla fine, un insieme di cliché che colpiscono poco e riescono pure ad infastidire.
Da quel che ho letto in giro, la descrizione dell'ambientazione è perfetta ma, se non si conosce Anchorage, si perde metà del divertimento. Non un punto a sfavore ma, per i non locali, neppure positivo.
L'epidemia in sé parte bene. Originale che il paziente zero sia un cadavere appena scongelatosi da un ghiacciaio... ma la velocità con cui il contagio si trasmette è troppo veloce e, a seconda delle necessità di trama, troppo variabile.
Non mi è piaciuto che uno dei primi personaggi introdotti, un adolescente in piena crisi ormonale, sia stato abbandonato al suo destino (e con uno zombie mezzo scongelato su cui nutre sentimenti di vendetta), soprattutto considerando le possibili ripercussioni.
In circa 24 ore, non si riesce a seguire lo scorrere del tempo, la città di Anchorage è zombificata... e non una volta qualcuno (anche il narratore onniscente sarebbe andato bene) pensa a quello zombie mezzo scongelato, libero di fare altrettanti danni nel resto dello Stato.
Il finale è un altro punto negativo.
Quando, come sempre, per i protagonisti arriva il momento di lasciare il posto sicuro... l'epilogo ci avvisa che nel secondo episodio scopriremo cosa è accaduto.
Se lo stile fosse stato meno approssimativo, se i personaggi fossero stati in grado di trasmettere qualcosa, se non si fosse trattato solo di uno scarso nuovo primo capitolo di una nuova saga, forse la curiosità di proseguire poteva essere in qualche modo stuzzicata.
Ma, visto l'effetto globale dato dalla lettura, se Amazon non metterà il secondo capitolo in offerta a 0.00 euro dubito che proseguirò.
Tanti personaggi introdotti, molti eliminati dopo poche pagine o dimenticati del tutto. Pochi quelli che seguiamo fino alla fine, un insieme di cliché che colpiscono poco e riescono pure ad infastidire.
Da quel che ho letto in giro, la descrizione dell'ambientazione è perfetta ma, se non si conosce Anchorage, si perde metà del divertimento. Non un punto a sfavore ma, per i non locali, neppure positivo.
L'epidemia in sé parte bene. Originale che il paziente zero sia un cadavere appena scongelatosi da un ghiacciaio... ma la velocità con cui il contagio si trasmette è troppo veloce e, a seconda delle necessità di trama, troppo variabile.
Non mi è piaciuto che uno dei primi personaggi introdotti, un adolescente in piena crisi ormonale, sia stato abbandonato al suo destino (e con uno zombie mezzo scongelato su cui nutre sentimenti di vendetta), soprattutto considerando le possibili ripercussioni.
In circa 24 ore, non si riesce a seguire lo scorrere del tempo, la città di Anchorage è zombificata... e non una volta qualcuno (anche il narratore onniscente sarebbe andato bene) pensa a quello zombie mezzo scongelato, libero di fare altrettanti danni nel resto dello Stato.
Il finale è un altro punto negativo.
Quando, come sempre, per i protagonisti arriva il momento di lasciare il posto sicuro... l'epilogo ci avvisa che nel secondo episodio scopriremo cosa è accaduto.
Se lo stile fosse stato meno approssimativo, se i personaggi fossero stati in grado di trasmettere qualcosa, se non si fosse trattato solo di uno scarso nuovo primo capitolo di una nuova saga, forse la curiosità di proseguire poteva essere in qualche modo stuzzicata.
Ma, visto l'effetto globale dato dalla lettura, se Amazon non metterà il secondo capitolo in offerta a 0.00 euro dubito che proseguirò.
July 18, 2011
Small children vacationing in Alaska find caveman coming out of a glacial ice-block. One gets bitten and that's pretty much it for Alaska. Kid rapidly infects the hospital staff and patients and you soon have a fast-running zombie horde. A store clerk, businessman, two kids, cop, doctor and a couple of others are on the run in two separate groups that eventually converge. No real ending to this one.
Eh. The writing was a little stiff, self-conscious. Characters were not especially engaging and we didn't feel a lot for them. I think the author tried to make them personable but they just didn't have the depth. Zombie action was fairly standard - nothing exceptional, nothing really bad. Kind of how I feel about the whole book. I read it with interest, being a zombie afficionado, and was entertained, but didn't feel there was much new ground in this one. Try Craig DiLouie's book by the same title, instead.
Eh. The writing was a little stiff, self-conscious. Characters were not especially engaging and we didn't feel a lot for them. I think the author tried to make them personable but they just didn't have the depth. Zombie action was fairly standard - nothing exceptional, nothing really bad. Kind of how I feel about the whole book. I read it with interest, being a zombie afficionado, and was entertained, but didn't feel there was much new ground in this one. Try Craig DiLouie's book by the same title, instead.
June 3, 2013
At most times, it felt more like I was reading a synopsis for a novel than a novel itself. There were characters added, presumably to give the reader a feeling for how terrible this apocalypse was and how it took them unaware; however, for me, it detracted from the story and the main characters and felt unnecessary. I'm left wondering what happened to the older brother, Alec; what happened to him? I can't bring myself to read the second in this series because, quite honestly, I just don't care about any of the characters! Even when .
All in all, it's another zombie novel and if you're nuts for zombie novels, have at it, but frankly, I've not seen one done well in a while and will move onto something else.
All in all, it's another zombie novel and if you're nuts for zombie novels, have at it, but frankly, I've not seen one done well in a while and will move onto something else.
December 28, 2012
I actually liked this book. It was very fast paced and the author kept it ( imo) realistic. Even though the zombie "infection" in the book happened current day ( as described in several parts of the book) some of the characters have seen zombie movies so they are not completely blind or dumb.
Other part in book that I like was that the characters in the book didnt automatcially "know" to shoot zombie in the head. Mistakes were made (deadly) mistakes that cost lives because of it.. but gradually throughout the book the characters were realizing that like the movie the zombies did have to be targeted in the head for them not to get back up.
Anyway ..so thats my thoughts
Other part in book that I like was that the characters in the book didnt automatcially "know" to shoot zombie in the head. Mistakes were made (deadly) mistakes that cost lives because of it.. but gradually throughout the book the characters were realizing that like the movie the zombies did have to be targeted in the head for them not to get back up.
Anyway ..so thats my thoughts
April 7, 2014
No word has been conceived yet to aptly describe how damn amazing this book was. It literally blew me away. Incredibly, deep characterization, with realistic reactions and fears. No gun toting heroes here.
Just terror, brutality, and utter dread.
It is a ZA book which begins with the outbreak, which i enjoy more, and quickly descends into hell on earth. Sean puts you in his world and you feel the fear, and the hopelessness.
By far one of the best books i've ever read.
Just terror, brutality, and utter dread.
It is a ZA book which begins with the outbreak, which i enjoy more, and quickly descends into hell on earth. Sean puts you in his world and you feel the fear, and the hopelessness.
By far one of the best books i've ever read.
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August 10, 2021well if you like the start of a zombie apocalypse type of a story this is that kinda of story.with the location being in alaska you would just think it would be a few people involved and even though it is it still has alot going on. starts off as a family going on their yearly vacation to alaska staying in a cabin off to its self in the wood mom,dad,daughter ,son and a friend from school who they also bring. the kids decide to take a walk to the pond on down from the cabin to show their friend around where they will be staying. upon finding this spot they see a frozen human in the water that think must be a cave man so they all wanna take a pic next to it because after all they found it first. when the brother get to close for his pic the thing bits him and from their he not only gets so sick they have to go to the hospital bit its the start of a new life for not only them but for the whole town. an out break statrs in the hospital after the boy wakes up from the dead and bites his mother who in return bites some one else. two groups start to form in the story one from the hospital and one from the out side world of people who are trying to make it out of the small but overly infected town. this book has more books as to what happens as the ones living make their way to a safer place. cant wait to red the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2020
His artist page says he's lived up there since 1993 but the garbage story info makes you wonder if he's ever paid attention to the days up there. It's summer vacation, but the days are getting short? One of the characters backstories was that he worked with his uncle as a guide in the summer but the days were really short? Seriously? 19 hours of sunlight in the summer is a short day? Only a couple hours left in the audiobook and this was the biggest issue that finally made me say enough is enough. That and the fact that the book is so darn boring I spaced out through much of it, and none of the characters are interesting. Then he goes and makes the Christian police officer a rapist. Yeah, I'm done, and I'll never pick up another of his books ever. What a waste of time. It did start out promising with the family on vacation and a kid getting bitten, but suddenly the kids are almost an afterthought and there are too many other characters to give a crap about any of them. Stephen King wrote a very good book on how to write, maybe this guy needs to read it and learn how to write a story.
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December 10, 2024Criminally underrated zpoc, one of the best.
This is a dark, grim, character driven tale full of loss and hardship. There's little in the way of human gang warfare, more of a survival tale at the end of the world, the dead being the main threat.
I never really got into book 1 that much initially, the story without a doubt improves come book 2, but the more I listen to book 1 (Daniel Thomas May is excellent), the more I love it also.
This is a dark, grim, character driven tale full of loss and hardship. There's little in the way of human gang warfare, more of a survival tale at the end of the world, the dead being the main threat.
I never really got into book 1 that much initially, the story without a doubt improves come book 2, but the more I listen to book 1 (Daniel Thomas May is excellent), the more I love it also.
November 13, 2024
It's been a while since I enjoyed a good zombie apocalypse. I liked the fast pace of how it started, I didn't have to wait long for the zombies to start attacking. I do wish the dog could of went with them. On to bk.2
November 3, 2017
Not a great book. But highly entertaining to read about a zombie apocalypse in your home town...
May 3, 2021
Pretty good read. the infection is "frozen in time" in an iceberg in the Alaskan wilderness. Good take on this genre.
August 17, 2022
Good book, fast pace, keeps you interested
September 16, 2022
I don't normally read zombie stories, but the setting was my home state, so I couldn't resist. It was actually pretty good. Being able to follow the landmarks was a treat.
October 15, 2023
Was fun to read a book based in my home town. Character development was good. Storyline moved quickly. Have t decided if I’m going to continue the series.
July 19, 2012
This is one of the few books in the genre that place the outbreak in Alaska. For most people, when they hear Alaska they unconsciously think that it’s always snow and cold. True, there are places in Alaska where snow stays year round but for the most part the state has sun, rain and even times when snow doesn’t cover the ground.
Keeping that in mind, Infection- Alaskan Undead Apocalypse follows the story of an eclectic group of survivors. We have children, doctors, officer workers and retail store managers to name a few.
The novel starts out mild and lulls the reader into a sense of complacency with a family vacation to Alaska. There’s the Houser family, Alec the older brother, Martin the middle brother and Julie the sister along with mom and dad Houser, and Martin’s friend, Danny Mahoney, all together to spend a nice vacation getaway in the wilds of Alaska. Picture and experience the melancholy feeling of hearing birds chirping, seeing fish jumping in the stream and deer and elk grazing in yonder meadow.
Then, as it must happen, the shit hits the fan when Martin, Danny and Jules find something that might have been encased inside a glacier but now is partially thawed out in the spring weather. This made me think back to the bodies that were shipped to Alaska following the Influenza outbreak in 1918.
Martin is unlucky enough to be bitten by whatever it is facilitating a mad race to the hospital.
Martin’s condition worsens until he dies. Or does he? He become reanimated and attacks people in the hospital spreading whatever he was exposed to around for all to share. Give the gift that keeps on giving. The outbreak spills out from the hospital and we’re introduced to Neil Spencer, an office worker in a building a short distance from the hospital. Neil is the kind of guy who shows up early at work to start the coffee and have those few precious moments alone before the rest of the staff shows up.
This morning, he’s witness to the erupting chaos caused by Martin and his biting frenzy.
Rescuing a fellow worker, Neil decides that retreat is the better part of valor for we all know that he who runs away lives to fight another day. Neil and Rachel, the rescued worker, head to Fred Meyer's to stock up and then head for a safe location if there truly is one. It’s at Fred’s that they run into Meghan, the store manager who upon hearing the shit storm that is happening outside, helps them stock up and then joins their merry little band of survivors along with Danny, Jules and Jerry who have escaped the horror of the hospital now turned charnel house.
Thus that’s how Infection-Alaskan Undead Apocalypse continues. Unlike other works in this genre, there are no high-speed, highly trained soldiers that appear to save the day. It is utter chaos and well played by Sean Schubert.
The reader is thrown into the overall helplessness of an outbreak caused by a small child. An outbreak that occurs in a facility that is relatively safe, a place one would go for help not horror. From there the story spins off into separate plots as groups of survivors attempt to get out of the city and seek refuge somewhere far away from the undead horde.
One other nice twist is the authority figure that becomes mentally unstable. Kudos for that one as not everyone can handle that kind of stressful situation no matter how well trained they may be.
Two minor issues and I do mean minor. There is a mention of Blackhawk gunships. OK I can see that. The reference is to the UH60 Blackhawk helicopter used by the military. Sure you can arm them with door guns making them armed troop transports but they don’t really fit into the category of gunship unless you’re referring to the BattleHawk which is a dedicated weapons platform.
The other item is pulling back the hammer on the machine gun. In this context it’s a vehicle mounted heavy machine gun and they, unlike handguns, do not have a hammer to pull back. They have a charging handle on the side that chambers the first round in the linked belt.
Again, these are minor issues I just wanted to bring them to the attention of the author so that they are aware of this. By no means do these issues detract from the overall reading enjoyment, it’s just me being anal about technical details regarding military equipment, vehicles and weapons.
I found Infection-Alaskan Undead Apocalypse to be a very entertaining read and look forward to the next book in the series.
June 6, 2014
Anyone who has ever looked at my reading list will know that I have a love hate relationship with the genre of Zombie fiction. When it is good, it can be a well written and entertaining. But so often in these days of self and e-published novels that should have never seen the light of day, picking up a “Zombie novel” should come with Vegas odds as to how bad it will be. Fortunately for every double zero that comes up on the wheel, I will also find a novel like Infection: Alaskan Undead Apocalypse by Sean Schubert, while if not one of the best zombie novels I have ever read, is at least near the top of the middle of the pack.
To be honest, I never had much hope for this novel, with expectations that low; Sean Schubert would have had to have written complete crap to have met my expectations. And that was because of the title; or more specifically the subtitle, “Alaskan Undead Apocalypse.” To be honest I was expecting some kind of piss poor rip off of Kurt Russell’s classic movie “The Thing.” The novel started out meeting my low expectations. Three small children while on vacation in the woods of Alaska find what they think is a caveman frozen in a glacier. While posing next to it, one of the children was bitten because, Surprise!! It was a zombie encased in that ice. And here is where I started to be pleasantly surprised by Infection; I suddenly realized that this was actually a very well written novel. I felt sorry for the characters, and what was about to happen to them. This was not a novel of Alaskan survivalist thriving in the zombie outbreak, but was a story of average people struggling to survive. We see characters surprisingly rise to the challenge and others collapsing under the pressure.
My only real disappointment for me was the ending. I know that this is the first novel in a series, but the ending of this first novel felt less like a cliff hanger and more like the author had written a much larger novel and just decided to cut it in half. I guess the word that best describes it would be abrupt. The ending was too abrupt. Still I plan to go another round with this author.
To be honest, I never had much hope for this novel, with expectations that low; Sean Schubert would have had to have written complete crap to have met my expectations. And that was because of the title; or more specifically the subtitle, “Alaskan Undead Apocalypse.” To be honest I was expecting some kind of piss poor rip off of Kurt Russell’s classic movie “The Thing.” The novel started out meeting my low expectations. Three small children while on vacation in the woods of Alaska find what they think is a caveman frozen in a glacier. While posing next to it, one of the children was bitten because, Surprise!! It was a zombie encased in that ice. And here is where I started to be pleasantly surprised by Infection; I suddenly realized that this was actually a very well written novel. I felt sorry for the characters, and what was about to happen to them. This was not a novel of Alaskan survivalist thriving in the zombie outbreak, but was a story of average people struggling to survive. We see characters surprisingly rise to the challenge and others collapsing under the pressure.
My only real disappointment for me was the ending. I know that this is the first novel in a series, but the ending of this first novel felt less like a cliff hanger and more like the author had written a much larger novel and just decided to cut it in half. I guess the word that best describes it would be abrupt. The ending was too abrupt. Still I plan to go another round with this author.
November 24, 2016
Previously self-published and now reissued by Permuted Press, Infection: Alaskan Undead Apocalypse is the first book in a projected series by author Sean Schubert. The book starts when three children on vacation in Alaska discover a mostly-frozen man in the woods. They believe it's a preserved caveman corpse...until it takes a bite out of one of them. The victim is rushed to a local hospital, where you can guess what happens next. One bite leads to another and soon the whole town is in full-on zombie apocalypse mode.
Zombie 411: Schubert's zombies are more or less the Romero-style undead. They're quicker, but the basic rules seem to apply.
The good - Aside from what I normally expect to see done well with this kind of book (namely a brisk pace and well-choreographed violence), Schubert also did a great job introducing his characters. He provided some background and insight into each character - even the ones with less than a page to live - and did it in a way that wasn't awkward or forced, which is not an easy thing to do. The dialogue was solid and (mostly) believable as well.
The not so good - While I don't have any issues with the characters or overall execution, the fact is Infection reads like just about every other zombie book out there. The infection hits, people panic, the army and police are useless, only one person in the whole town has ever seen a zombie movie, isolated survivors soon form a group, and then it abruptly ends. The only box that isn't checked is first person narration or a journal entry format. The only real distinction I see is the setting, and even that didn't seem to play much of a role in the story.
Infection: Alaskan Undead Apocalypse is a solid enough story, but there's just nothing here that sets it apart from a very crowded pack. If you're a major fan of all things zombie it's worth reading, but it's not a story that will stay with you the way World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War or Ex-Heroes do.
Zombie 411: Schubert's zombies are more or less the Romero-style undead. They're quicker, but the basic rules seem to apply.
The good - Aside from what I normally expect to see done well with this kind of book (namely a brisk pace and well-choreographed violence), Schubert also did a great job introducing his characters. He provided some background and insight into each character - even the ones with less than a page to live - and did it in a way that wasn't awkward or forced, which is not an easy thing to do. The dialogue was solid and (mostly) believable as well.
The not so good - While I don't have any issues with the characters or overall execution, the fact is Infection reads like just about every other zombie book out there. The infection hits, people panic, the army and police are useless, only one person in the whole town has ever seen a zombie movie, isolated survivors soon form a group, and then it abruptly ends. The only box that isn't checked is first person narration or a journal entry format. The only real distinction I see is the setting, and even that didn't seem to play much of a role in the story.
Infection: Alaskan Undead Apocalypse is a solid enough story, but there's just nothing here that sets it apart from a very crowded pack. If you're a major fan of all things zombie it's worth reading, but it's not a story that will stay with you the way World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War or Ex-Heroes do.
November 26, 2012
I read a lot of independent apocalyptic fiction and I have come to expect certain things. Things like editing and writing experience come into play but I don't expect 5 star fiction in this genre. I look for two things: originality and good characters.
Originality - The only thing about this book that was original was the setting, you don't see a lot in this genre written about Alaska. I was disappointed to discover though that this could have been set in any city. The fact that it was Alaska seemed really unimportant in this book. It could have been Denver, Colorado and it would have been the same story.
Characters - The book featured a lot of cliched characters. There always has to be a cop but I liked that this one was bat shit crazy. Kids without parents - check; gay guy - check; girl in love with gay guy - check; guy who hasn't had the best luck in life turns out to be the hero - check, hot girl who likes him despite his self loathing - check.
If I were a first time reader to the genre, I would have probably really liked this book. I didn't dislike the book and I will read the second book in the series for no other reason than I really hope that the Alaskan setting plays more of a role in the book. I just don't think this book added to the genre.
Overall, I did actually enjoy the book and I can't put my finger on why I did. It made for some brain dead reading which is all I am looking for some times.
Originality - The only thing about this book that was original was the setting, you don't see a lot in this genre written about Alaska. I was disappointed to discover though that this could have been set in any city. The fact that it was Alaska seemed really unimportant in this book. It could have been Denver, Colorado and it would have been the same story.
Characters - The book featured a lot of cliched characters. There always has to be a cop but I liked that this one was bat shit crazy. Kids without parents - check; gay guy - check; girl in love with gay guy - check; guy who hasn't had the best luck in life turns out to be the hero - check, hot girl who likes him despite his self loathing - check.
If I were a first time reader to the genre, I would have probably really liked this book. I didn't dislike the book and I will read the second book in the series for no other reason than I really hope that the Alaskan setting plays more of a role in the book. I just don't think this book added to the genre.
Overall, I did actually enjoy the book and I can't put my finger on why I did. It made for some brain dead reading which is all I am looking for some times.
January 6, 2013
This was recommended to me by a student of mine. I do like the Walking Dead TV series and thought it would kind of be fun to read something about Anchorage and Zombies, a light read. This it was. Don't be looking for superior writing and a dynamite plot. This doesn't have it, however, it'll pique your interest enough to keep you entertained. Sometimes we all desire an easy quick read and this would be perfect for that. I read the second book, Containment quickly after this one. It gets better. I think the author begins to realize the potential he has with the characters he develops and builds them more so in the second book.
Be patient, it's different, and it'll ramble on for awhile in some parts, but all in all it's a good light read.
Definitely not a Pulitzer prize or book of the year, but it doesn't try to be either.
Be patient, it's different, and it'll ramble on for awhile in some parts, but all in all it's a good light read.
Definitely not a Pulitzer prize or book of the year, but it doesn't try to be either.
October 31, 2012
I get books on kindle now and really only buy those that are at least 300 pages. But i bought this because he donated a signed copy for a auction for Zack Mohs..It was kind of cool reading a book where you know all the places, the roads, streets, stores and hospital. Would have gave it a higher rating but it seems all books today are shorter and left open with no ending so they can make book 2,3,4 on and on...i like more books in a series but not if there is really no kind of ending and if the book is short just to make another. The book was pretty good though...the best thing about kindle is getting to read these books you might never have gotten to..p.s favorite part was the part about blowing up the bridge to Palmer....lol thanks for writting.
August 31, 2015
Because I live in Anchorage, Alaska and because I enjoy apocalyptic-type stories, I think these were the main reasons why I enjoyed reading this book. Sure there were times when I thought the writing was a little weak, the characters cliché and the scenarios with how the zombies quickly overwhelmed the authorities (despite their training and firepower) and spread were unrealistic, but then I realized that I was still enjoying the book despite these things. I liked how the author references actual locations in the book (so far my neighborhood has not been mentioned) and I think this adds to the story for those that are familiar with the area. I look forward to reading the next installment...
May 28, 2013
Infection is your run of the mill Zombie book. It has a lot of flesh tearing action, but doesn’t add anything to the genre or some great character to separate itself from other zombie books. Most of the characters are pretty quick to realize what is happening which is the only way they survive, but there is nothing that draws you to these people and many of them aren’t likable. Finally the book doesn’t really resolve anything. It needs to be read as a series so you have to commit to more than one book. If you’re looking for another Zombie gore book stop here and get ready for a ride. If you’re looking for something more I would move on.
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