Jonathan Maberry discussion

Here is a place to discuss Rot & Ruin.

I just read the 13 page prequel to Rot & Ruin I found at http://www.simonandschuster.com/admin...

I really enjoyed the part about Tom, it was really cool to see what happened after he ran. What a bad ass!

Thanks for the link. Been waiting for this prequel to be written before I read Rot & Ruin. "Six months after I was born, the world died." Cool.

Funnily enough, most people tell me that they're glad they read the prequel AFTER reading the novel. Go figure.

More prequel & First Night freebie stuff to come. There will links to it in my newsletter (which is free. You can sign up for it on my website: www.jonathanmaberry.com)

Does it answer questions that are integral to the plot of the book? I may be obsessed with reading chronologically, however...

All it does is answer Benny's question as to whether his brother was a coward or not. Otherwise, no.

I am glad I read it after, because I was totally surprised when I found out how bad ass Tom was. When I was reading it I thought Tom was going to be a minor character and that Benny was going to run away and work with the Hammer.

That would have made for a different story.

I thought it was really funny how Benny was so in to the zom cards at the beginning of the book. It reminded me of myself at that age.

Me, too. I collected Marvel Cards by the ton. The publisher comissioned six, and we'll probably do more for the future books.

Yeah, exactly Marvel cards. I still have them in a box in my closet.

Me, too...though I don't think I ever got any of the cool 'chase' cards. So, my collection is ho-hum.

My best friend growing up was rich, so he always got them by the box, and he gave me his doubles.

Nice.

Depending on how well the next book in the series does, the publisher is considering commissioning an entire series of Zombie Cards. I may even illustrate a couple (though there are many better artists!)

That would be awesome. I'll have to get my hands on those.

Jonathan wrote: "Funnily enough, most people tell me that they're glad they read the prequel AFTER reading the novel. Go figure.

More prequel & First Night freebie stuff to come. There will links to it in my n..."


I was one of those people that think I enjoyed the prequel more after reading the book. I would also love to get my hands on some Zombie Cards.

ROT & RUIN is a nominee for the DEAD LETTER AWARD! Official ballot here: Vote for you favorite zombies NOW! https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewf...

Check it out guys, I made a zom card http://www.twitpic.com/4536x4

So cool!

NEWS: Rot & Ruin has been nominated for a Bram Stoker Award! http://jonathanmaberry.com/the-bram-s...

Michealbank wrote: "Check it out guys, I made a zom card http://www.twitpic.com/4536x4"

That is pretty cool.

I wanted thoughts on this series being classified under young adult.
I have 2 minds about it. I understand that the protagonist is a young adult so it makes sense in that instance to put it in that cat. Having said that, the thoughts and ideas in the book have enough depth and maturity that it easily translates into adult fiction.
It's like Ender's Game to me. I read it at as a young adult and loved it, but have sense revisited it on several occasions and found so much more within the pages.
I found this book from a recommendation and may have never read it, because I don't generally peruse the Young Adult section. I would have missed a gem. Thanks for any responses. Sorry if this is long winded, but it says I have 11243 char left to type with.

Comparing it with others of Maberry's works, it's less violent and the language is toned done. To me that also makes it YA. YA doesn't have to mean lower quality writing. I like how Rot and Ruin doesn't talk down to its audience and yet creates great characters and an emotional story.