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Unkillable
Unkillable is the story of a young man named Dan who is killed and brought back from the dead for a shot at revenge. He doesn't have superpowers or supernatural forces on his side. He can be hurt. He can be maimed. The only thing he's got going for him is that he is Unkillable.
93 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 30, 2010
6 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Patrick E. McLean
14 books156 followersPatrick's work ranges from the autobiographical, to the absurd and fantastic. Describing himself as a "writer raised by Economists" his perspective on the world is naturally unusual. From violent revenge and musings on the value of life from a character who is dead (Unkillable) to the rage and frustration of a consultant who grows so sick of having his advice ignored that he decides to take over the world (How to Succeed in Evil) Patrick's work is high-concept, penetrating satire that manages twists and turns while never shorting true psychological insight into fascinating characters caught in desperate situations.
In 2005, feeling that "he wasn't putting any torque through the axle of the world" he started the Seanachai podcast (http://www.theseanachai.com) He wrote and produced an original short story or essay every week for a year.
Among his influences, Patrick cites Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, Mark Helprin, S.J. Perleman, H.L. Mencken, Albert Jay Nock, Hafiz, Homer and George RR Martin.
In 2005, feeling that "he wasn't putting any torque through the axle of the world" he started the Seanachai podcast (http://www.theseanachai.com) He wrote and produced an original short story or essay every week for a year.
Among his influences, Patrick cites Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, Mark Helprin, S.J. Perleman, H.L. Mencken, Albert Jay Nock, Hafiz, Homer and George RR Martin.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 23, 2019
I enjoyed this audiobook as a series of podcast episodes. This was a trippy sentient zombie type of voodoo-infused Mcguffin type of tale that reminded me of Neil Gaiman's "American Gods" somewhat. I thought the story was interesting overall, but I was also saddled as a reader with tolerating a semi-unlikeable protagonist who basically failed his way up throughout the novel. We all know this type of dude. Please tell me you are also annoyed with this type of dude.
May 3, 2023
The comparisons to Neil Gaiman's work are warranted. But I'm not a fan of Gaiman, so this wasn't quite my cup of tea.
Four stars because it was strange and original. And short. I do think there is an audience that will love this.
Unlikable main character. That is always a problem for me as a reader.
Four stars because it was strange and original. And short. I do think there is an audience that will love this.
Unlikable main character. That is always a problem for me as a reader.
November 10, 2018
I really liked the first half of this short book. I don't know what happened after that.
October 7, 2012
MAN, I tore through this one once I got started; I could have finished it in one night were I not newly motivated by the awesome game HealthMonth to stick to my bedtime. As it was, only the thought of losing life points got me to tear myself away from my Kindle for the night -- nicely ironic because, well, look at the title.
And indeed, the protagonist of Unkillable has become so, but only after being brutally murdered with a screwdriver. I'll attribute to this sad fact said protagonist's rather annoying repetition of the refrain "how screwed am I" since really it's one of only a toddler's handful of flaws in this macabre romp of a novel.
Unkillable borrows an old chestnut from comics and the movies, the hero who has to solve his own murder (see Deadman, Haunt, The Mask, etc and ad nauseam) but turns it ever so slightly on its head to make it feel fresh and fun. Our ne'er do well, Dan, knows perfectly well who killed him and dispatches the killer's accomplices with gleeful abandon almost immediately after coming to life (via another hoary old chestnut, the pact with the Devil, in this case, a Rat), but getting to the bad guy himself is another story. Of course.
But what sets Unkillable apart from the run-of-the-mill revenge tale isn't the supernatural trappings (though the voodoo stuff is fun), but McLean's voice. McLean is a scotch-swillin', wise-crackin' sonofabitch, and it's his cleverness and wordplay ("how screwed am I" repetition aside) that propelled me through the story. He's a craftsman and a humorist and his prose is a pleasure to read.
Funny as he is, though, McLean shines, too, in more serious and emotional scenes, where he comes through with unexpected depth and wisdom -- unexpected not in that I don't expect it from McLean, but that I wasn't prepared for it in this tale. What has been a fun, snarky romp finds a real heart and center about 2/3 of the way through, so that by the end I cared as much about Dan's fate, and that of his companions (an apprentice undertaker [who lets Dan drive the hearse, yuk yuk] and a reluctant voodoo queen) as I did about anybody in a certain set of GRRM doorstops. And those fates -- I did not see those fates coming.
And that's why I picked up my Kindle again, first thing this morning, and tore through almost nonstop to the end. And then tore through to give it five stars on here GoodReads.*
And then started hoping for a sequel.
*This from someone who hates bestowing stars.
And indeed, the protagonist of Unkillable has become so, but only after being brutally murdered with a screwdriver. I'll attribute to this sad fact said protagonist's rather annoying repetition of the refrain "how screwed am I" since really it's one of only a toddler's handful of flaws in this macabre romp of a novel.
Unkillable borrows an old chestnut from comics and the movies, the hero who has to solve his own murder (see Deadman, Haunt, The Mask, etc and ad nauseam) but turns it ever so slightly on its head to make it feel fresh and fun. Our ne'er do well, Dan, knows perfectly well who killed him and dispatches the killer's accomplices with gleeful abandon almost immediately after coming to life (via another hoary old chestnut, the pact with the Devil, in this case, a Rat), but getting to the bad guy himself is another story. Of course.
But what sets Unkillable apart from the run-of-the-mill revenge tale isn't the supernatural trappings (though the voodoo stuff is fun), but McLean's voice. McLean is a scotch-swillin', wise-crackin' sonofabitch, and it's his cleverness and wordplay ("how screwed am I" repetition aside) that propelled me through the story. He's a craftsman and a humorist and his prose is a pleasure to read.
Funny as he is, though, McLean shines, too, in more serious and emotional scenes, where he comes through with unexpected depth and wisdom -- unexpected not in that I don't expect it from McLean, but that I wasn't prepared for it in this tale. What has been a fun, snarky romp finds a real heart and center about 2/3 of the way through, so that by the end I cared as much about Dan's fate, and that of his companions (an apprentice undertaker [who lets Dan drive the hearse, yuk yuk] and a reluctant voodoo queen) as I did about anybody in a certain set of GRRM doorstops. And those fates -- I did not see those fates coming.
And that's why I picked up my Kindle again, first thing this morning, and tore through almost nonstop to the end. And then tore through to give it five stars on here GoodReads.*
And then started hoping for a sequel.
*This from someone who hates bestowing stars.
February 25, 2013
This is not really a zombie story. That is the first thing I want to say. And for that I am really grateful. I have never really been a fan of the while zombie thing.
No, it isn't a Zombie book, Unkillable is a book about a guy who dies. He dies and he is dead. Until he's not at any more. So in that way it it a zombie story. Dan, is really dead, he has part falling off him, he even has a shambling walk, but he is no mindless, ravaging brain hungering zombie.
There is still a fair amount of killing and anger, figuring things out, and realizing what life might really be about. Which is what takes this book from being a zombie book, to being something completely different. It is a book about life, or dead, or is it really life?
Mr. McLean's story telling style, while it can be a little dark, is spot on as always. He draws a picture of a world that you just can't ignore, as dark and unlikable as it might be. There is an underbelly, there are things that you might not understand, that are even things you don't want to understand, but each of those things has a story. It seems to be Mr. McLean's job to tell you these stories. Honestly, there isn't anyone else I would want to tell them to me.
I listened to the podiobooks version of this story , and have to say that Mr. McLean has a voice that just makes these stories come alive. If you enjoy audio books at all, this is the way to get this story.
No, it isn't a Zombie book, Unkillable is a book about a guy who dies. He dies and he is dead. Until he's not at any more. So in that way it it a zombie story. Dan, is really dead, he has part falling off him, he even has a shambling walk, but he is no mindless, ravaging brain hungering zombie.
There is still a fair amount of killing and anger, figuring things out, and realizing what life might really be about. Which is what takes this book from being a zombie book, to being something completely different. It is a book about life, or dead, or is it really life?
Mr. McLean's story telling style, while it can be a little dark, is spot on as always. He draws a picture of a world that you just can't ignore, as dark and unlikable as it might be. There is an underbelly, there are things that you might not understand, that are even things you don't want to understand, but each of those things has a story. It seems to be Mr. McLean's job to tell you these stories. Honestly, there isn't anyone else I would want to tell them to me.
I listened to the podiobooks version of this story , and have to say that Mr. McLean has a voice that just makes these stories come alive. If you enjoy audio books at all, this is the way to get this story.
May 8, 2013
If you haven't the time to read American Gods, but are in the mood for something with the same feel to it, pick this up. It has its issues and faults, but for a novella, it's quite good.
What McLean did right: if you're going to have humor in the writing, make it accessible and not dated (Moore, I'm looking at you, buddy.) If you want to have characters that your audience is going to hate, make them grow throughout the story, so there's emotional connection. And, if you're going to be misogynistic, do so in such a fashion that your audience knows that your character is the asshole, not you. McLean did all of that. Yes, there were plot holes and unanswered questions (how did the MC know Vlade's name, anyway?) There was poor editing that should have caught such things like "their/there." But, on the whole, the craft of the story overshadowed those faults.
What McLean did right: if you're going to have humor in the writing, make it accessible and not dated (Moore, I'm looking at you, buddy.) If you want to have characters that your audience is going to hate, make them grow throughout the story, so there's emotional connection. And, if you're going to be misogynistic, do so in such a fashion that your audience knows that your character is the asshole, not you. McLean did all of that. Yes, there were plot holes and unanswered questions (how did the MC know Vlade's name, anyway?) There was poor editing that should have caught such things like "their/there." But, on the whole, the craft of the story overshadowed those faults.
April 21, 2014
The author takes a unique stance on an old story. In a round about way the main character sells his soul, and the tails(pun intended) of his adventures after doing so.
It is a non-conventional approach to the story of selling your soul to the devil idea. Instead of absolute power to exact revenge, he is actually given powers that seem more of a detriment than an actual advantage.
Sure, he is technically unkillable, but that doesn't mean he is invincible, or even immune to damage. To complicate things, he has a time frame to fulfill his contract with the rat(devil). This story is well worth your time, if nothing more than to experience the incident in the city morgue. That kind of comedy deserves a spot on Saturday Night Live.
It is a non-conventional approach to the story of selling your soul to the devil idea. Instead of absolute power to exact revenge, he is actually given powers that seem more of a detriment than an actual advantage.
Sure, he is technically unkillable, but that doesn't mean he is invincible, or even immune to damage. To complicate things, he has a time frame to fulfill his contract with the rat(devil). This story is well worth your time, if nothing more than to experience the incident in the city morgue. That kind of comedy deserves a spot on Saturday Night Live.
July 30, 2012
Yeah, fine, it's kind of a zombie book (and sure, zombies have kind of jumped the shark...or shambled over it), but like Arrested Development, they remain awesome post-shark-jump/shamble. But only technically a zombie, this main character, in that he is dead and wandering about. This is starting to get confusing. Listen, it's a zombie cross-bred with a Make Them Pay story. Double-awesome, and that's that.
September 28, 2013
A well-written twist on a zombie story told from the perspective of the zombie. Dan led a mediocre life that ended in a pointless murder in an alley. A rat offers him a deal, two weeks to kill his murder. Seems pretty simple, right. But things are tough when you’re dead. Dan learns the meaning of life after he is dead. Now he has to make his death meaningful and time is running out. Surprisingly insightful story.
December 2, 2011
I really enjoyed this book; had a bit of a problem getting the podcast files in the right order, but when I did, I was pleasantly awarded with a bit of a twist on the undead phenomena. This was a fun story with ties back to Haitian voodoo, and traditional Zahmbi culture. The book had a cleverly done ending that opens up the possibilities for sequels, but does a good job of concluding the story.
September 1, 2012
More a novella than a novel, with an interesting twist on the story of how a man learns to grow a heart these days. Not sure why he had to go,to,such lengths. All Dickens had to do for Pip was start him rowing.
October 4, 2011
How screwed am I to be hooked on a book being released one chapter at a time?
November 1, 2011
My eyes! The goggles do nothing!
December 10, 2011
Absolutely loved it. I'd just finished How To Succeed In Evil and immediately picked this up because I enjoyed McLean's storytelling ability so much - and was not disappointed. Read it.
October 1, 2012
Another great story froma great author. Very creative and fun. Nothing like dying to restart ones life.
November 3, 2012
Eh, it was ok. Not boring but not really a thriller either.
November 20, 2012
Cool inside to being unkillable :)
March 2, 2014
An interesting look at undeath and dark magic.
August 7, 2014
Interesting take on a zombie story from the zombie perspective.
August 4, 2015
This was an okay book. Not to scary but not dull. It was a fast read and makes me wonder if things like this really happen in life. This touches on voodoo and what people believe in.
September 21, 2013
Spooky, weird, readable thriller.
November 5, 2015
Found on podibooks.com...not memorable
August 23, 2017
Eh, this was just okay. It has a few scary and gross moments, but I can't say I'd call it horror. It has a few mysteries, but I can't call it suspense either. I could have really done without the repeated lines "How screwed was I?" And "The hits just keep coming".... and the way the novel gets preachy towards the end about anger, redemption, and regret in this edgy teenager-in-a-fedora kind of way..... If it was written subtly, I wouldn't have minded so much. I did enjoy the first few chapters, and the reoccurring side character Bruce (who is a much more real and likeable than the main character is despite his flaws) .... all in all, just okay and not something I'd really recommend.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews