The Walking Dead: The Fall of the Governor - Part 1

The Walking Dead: The Fall of the Governor – Part 1 by Jay Bonansinga

Review by Gerti

I love the television series “The Walking Dead” on AMC, but I don’t like reading graphic novels, so Jay Bonansinga’s novelized books about “The Walking Dead” with Robert Kirkman are a wonderful way to check in on my favorite characters and settings, as well as see some action the TV series ignores or changes to make it more palatable for a wide audience.

For example, in “The Walking Dead” on AMC, the treatment of the katana-wielding female character Michonne is very different than what happens to her in the graphic novels, and also here in “The FOTG – Part One”. I understand why, because the sex and violence in these books is way beyond what you could or would want to show on TV, given the wide age-range of the series’ fans. There are several protracted scenes here where the Governor, Philip Blake, takes revenge on Michonne after she, Rick and Glenn stumble into Woodbury. When she is finally freed by one of the Governor’s henchmen, instead of escaping, she sets out to find the Governor and gets her own perverse payback from him. It’s that kind of a world after the zombie apocalypse, but it’s definitely more “Fifty Shades of Gray” than the made-for-TV revenge viewers get on AMC.

This book also stays true to the graphic novel plot, where the Governor takes off one of Rick Grimes’ hands, which also does not happen on TV. In this book, Rick spends time in the infirmary with Dr. Stevens and nurse Alice, who show him that Woodbury is an evil place, and the Governor is a madman. Therefore when the opportunity to escape arises, the whole group follows Martinez, the Governor’s unhappy henchmen, out of the complex after rescuing Glenn and Michonne.

A character completely ignored by the TV series is Lilly Caul, who takes center stage in Bonansinga’s “Descent”, which shows Woodbury after the Governor. In this book, unlike others by Bonansinga, she is lulled into a false sense of security by the Governor, and spends her time sleeping with her boy toy, and getting pregnant. I’ll have to read “The FOTG – Part Two” to see why she isn’t pregnant in “Descent”. Here, however, she is not a likeable character at all, and could have been completely written out without me missing her.

“The Fall of the Governor – Part One” is a terrific read, although like so many “part one’s” these days (Harry Potter and The Hobbit, for example), there is a sense of dissatisfaction when it ends. Bonansinga writes in a clear, exciting way, and I felt swept along with the action, although the graphic sex and violence are not for pre-teen or sensitive readers. I can’t wait to read “Part Two”, but still resent that what should have been one book was split into two parts, probably just to garner the authors more money. It’s a great storyline and they deserve to be paid for their creativity, but why rip off the audience?

The Walking Dead - Book 7

The Walking Dead – Book Seven by Robert Kirkman

Review by Gerti

I have been a fan of the AMC series “The Walking Dead” since it first premiered a few years ago. That said, however, I am not a fan of the graphic novel format, preferring Kirkman’s story on the screen to the bleakly colored page. But this season, where Rick Grimes and his ragged group of survivors entered Alexandria outside of Washington DC, had me too anxious to wait for the next televised episodes to find out if yet another post-apocalyptic Eden was too good to be true.

As a result, I chose to read “The Walking Dead – Books 6 & 7” in graphic novel format, hoping that I would be far enough along in the series to catch Rick’s group as they entered the zombie-free Virginia enclave. My timing was just right. It is in Book Six where the survivors I have come to know and care about approach DC. But this review is about Book Seven.

Reading “ahead” like this showed me that the little paradise that Rick and his people stumble onto does not stay one – and that is their fault to some extent. Former law enforcement officer Rick comes to find that one of the inhabitants of Alexandria is being abused by her doctor husband. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that that is the same lady that widowed Rick is attracted to. And knowing Rick as fans of the story do, it is not at all surprising that the situation between the two men comes to a head, with violence being the only solution. He is, after all, “one-strike Rick” now. There are no second chances for these people who have been living with violence and death for so long.

The other fact that is revealed in Book Seven is that the walls that looked so secure early on are much like Alexandria themselves – partially illusory – as the survivors from outside find out too late that some of the posts holding the walls up were not sunk in concrete, and therefore, likely to come down if a herd of zombies large enough pushes on them. We’ve seen the solution they try here before at the Georgia prison where the group holed up, parking trucks against the sagging walls, and therefore readers know the walls will eventually come down before the characters do.

Disaster strikes, and Rick and company try their best to fight off the un-dead interlopers, but Carl is seriously injured in the last few pages. I’m not sure what that means for the show this season. Carl has already been shot once, a few seasons ago, so perhaps they won’t shoot him again on TV. In the comic-book storyline, Rick has one arm and his baby is dead too, so the print world may be more brutal than the producers are willing to show their vast television audience. But I anxiously await both the arrival of Books 8 and 9 for me at the library, and Sunday night, so I can see what twists and turns Kirkman’s story has next.

The Walking Dead - Book 6

The Walking Dead – Book Six by Robert Kirkman

Review by Gerti Zaccone

I have been a fan of the AMC series “The Walking Dead” since it first premiered a few years ago. That said, however, I am not a big fan of the graphic novel format, preferring Kirkman’s story on the screen rather than on the bleakly colored page. But this season, where Rick Grimes and his group enter Alexandria, had me too anxious to wait for the next episodes to find out if this post-apocalyptic Eden was too good to be true.

As a result, I chose to read “TWD – Book 6”, hoping that I would be far enough along in the series to catch the group of survivors as they enter the zombie-free Virginia enclave. My timing was just right. It is in Book Six where the survivors I have come to know approach DC.

What I find fascinating about this graphic novel is not so much the story, however, but how this story differs from the one being told on TV. I’ll wander into fan-talk when I say that I was interested that the leader of the oblivious village of Alexandria is a man in this story, while on TV it is a woman, named Deanna. Several characters that I love who have died on the series, like Dale and Andrea, are still here in Book Six, while others that I love on the series like Carol and Darryl, don’t appear in this book. Other decisions are also different – here Michonne is the one who creates a scene at the cocktail party, while on AMC it is Sasha who begins to shout.

I don’t know why the creators of the TV series decided to make these changes, but I would love to know. I think any fan of the show would also like to read this graphic novel. However, I prefer the portrayal of Rick on TV. Who wouldn’t prefer sexy British actor Andrew Lincoln to the skeletal one-handed Rick drawn in these pages? I think of reading these books as a supplement to my enjoyment of the show, but it truly makes me appreciate the genius that went into casting the actors who bring my favorite characters to life every Sunday night.

Siege

Siege - As the World Dies: Book Three

by Rhiannon Frater

Reviewed by Gerti

Rhiannon Frater’s zombie apocalypse trilogy, begins with “The First Days” and ends here with “Siege”. The second book is called “Fighting to Survive” and is to my mind the best book of the three, as “Siege” spends too much time bringing back the dead as ghosts, rather than zombies. It stretches credibility too far!

The trilogy centers around former prosecutor Katie, who helped out housewife Jenni when the zombie apocalypse hit urban Texas. After trials and tribulations, the pair end up in a walled fort in Ashley Oaks with about a hundred other survivors of the turn. Katie is now pregnant by Travis, a former architect who has successfully fortified the town against the undead, as well as human raiders eager for their resources. Jenni, who lost her abusive husband and small children to the zombies, is now living happily with Juan, and her stepson Jason. Her reputation for mad zombie killing has led Juan to nickname her “Loca,” and she lives up to her reputation for crazy stunts in this book.

Frater obviously loves the entire zombie genre, as she introduces us to another survivor colony out at a former shopping mall, in a nod to Romero’s classic zombie movie. Jenni and another survivor from Ashley Oaks named Bill, get kidnapped and taken to this Madison Rescue Center after an attempt to get medical supplies and equipment from a local hospital goes sideways. The mall has about 400 survivors, but is surrounded by zombies and run by a power hungry former senator, who just happens to be related to a bitchy beauty queen expelled from Ashley Oaks after killing her husband, shooting Juan, and trying to steal a Hummer. The senator, Paige Brightman, is more interested in capturing Ashley Oaks (which would make her look good to whatever US government officials are left) than she is in securing the safety of her fellow human survivors.

The two groups decide to talk, Ashley Oaks in order to get back their people, and Brightman in order to take over the fort and its inhabitants. But when the mall’s citizens decide they would rather be in the fort which has more resources and is being far better managed than Brightman’s military operation, Brightman decides to bail and in the process, lets a flood of zombies into the mall. It’s heartbreaking to read graphically about all the carnage, including the demise of some main characters, but Katie and Travis save as many mall-dwelling humans as they can and take them to their fort.

The final drama of this book has a zombie horde of over 10 thousand headed their way, which causes planning, panic and prompts some rabid religious followers to desert the fort. My main objection in this novel is all the ghost sightings that go on, but it’s a good enough conclusion to the saga. I love Frater’s memorable characters, and admire how she brings Ashley Oaks to life.

Fighting to Survive

Fighting to Survive - As the World Dies: Book Two

by Rhiannon Frater

Reviewed by Gerti

“Fighting to Survive” is the second book in Rhiannon Frater’s zombie apocalypse trilogy, and perhaps the best. She began the series with “The First Days”, which is delightful thrill ride but flawed in a number of ways. She ended the saga with “Siege”, which I just finished this afternoon, and which to my mind spends too much time bringing back the dead as ghosts, rather than zombies.

“Fighting to Survive” is my favorite novel of the group. The storyline is about former prosecutor Katie helping out housewife Jenni when the zombie apocalypse hits urban Texas. After trials and tribulations, the pair end up in a walled fort in Ashley Oaks, with about a hundred other survivors of “the Turn”, as it’s called. While the first novel sets Katie up as a lesbian, in this book she finds herself attracted to Travis, a former architect and the man who is trying to fortify the town against the undead. Jenni came from an unhappy marriage, and her husband and children are all zombies now, so she also finds a man. He is named Juan, and he is Travis’ best friend. She is so mad at the zombies and so foolhardy when she attacks them, that he begins to call her “Loca” or crazy.

In all these post-apocalyptic stories, the zombies are never the only enemy of the survivors. And sure enough, here bandits have been spying on the fort, and are eager to take out this group, which they see as competition for resources. The bandits are really evil men, who are also target other groups of survivors of the zombie onslaught, clued in to their existence by their ongoing communication with the Ashley Oaks group. Luckily, the fort’s residents catch on to what’s going on, and attempt to rescue the other bands of survivors before the bandits can rape and torture them. And since the citizens of Ashley Oaks also know they are under observation, they plan a diversion for their rescue missions, and a trap for the bandits when they come a’knockin’.

“Fighting to Survive” has its ups and downs, but its great characters and effortless storytelling were lively enough to keep me interested. I’m impressed by author Frater, who apparently started writing her novels on-line, but has luckily now gotten a contract to publish all three books. I urge all lovers of the zombie genre to head directly to Ashley Oaks, the town where civilization is trying to rebuild itself despite a hoard of reanimated dead people, and very nasty live ones! You won’t be sorry that you entered the world created by talented newcomer Rhiannon Frater.

The First Days

The First Days - As the World Dies: Book One

by Rhiannon Frater

Reviewed by Gerti

I have been reading Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga’s zombie novels for the past few weeks, so it is with great joy that I have discovered a strong, new voice in the genre – Rhiannon Frater. Her “The First Days” is delightful in a number of ways. First, her writing is strong and clear, and the image she draws in the first pages of the housewife whose zombie baby is trying to reach her – with the little fingers peaking beneath the door – is truly haunting. Second, she has female protagonists, which is something Kirkman and Bonansinga dabble in with their “Walking Dead” novels, but Frater (being a woman!) does it better.

However, that said, there are some rough patches in the novel as well. While I like the storyline about prosecutor Katie helping housewife Jenni out of town when the zombie apocalypse hits urban Texas, I got tired of the constant references to Katie’s lesbian lifestyle. I also wearied of the weaker Jenni consciously thinking about how she can’t be apart from Katie, because Katie is her protector now, taking the spot vacated by her now zombie-fied husband. Those passages seemed either grating or whiny, depending whose brain we were picking, to use a phrase zombies might appreciate.

Ultimately, however, the book is the story of each woman discovering her strengths and through their partnership, accomplishing feats, like rescuing other people, that truly weak individuals would not be able to manage. There is a level of realism, like when she shows the workers at the rural gas station who don’t believe the end of the world has arrived, and the rich idiot who still wants to throw his weight around in a world where money and what kind of car you drive no longer matters. These people all get killed, while our adaptable heroines carry on, first finding safety in a gun shop and then in an isolated, fortified town.

“The First Days” is a thrill ride, and a great first effort from author Frater, who apparently started writing the novel on-line, but has luckily now gotten a contract to publish all three books in her zombie trilogy. Having finished the second book, “Fighting to Survive”, by this time, I can say that it is even stronger than this one, and does not share the “rough patches” that I had trouble with in this initial offering. So I would advise readers who love the zombie genre to pick up this book, put up with its shortcomings, and plow on to Ashley Oaks, the town where civilization is trying to rebuild itself in the midst of a hoard of reanimated dead people. You won’t be sorry that you entered the world that talented newcomer Frater has created.

Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith

Reading Level: Adult

Submitted by Gerti

I’ve read Steve Hockensmith’s “Dawn of the Dreadfuls” twice now, but it has enough witty language and raunchy humor in it to make for an entertaining trip even the second time through. While there are some parts I find annoying (mostly the training with the Master and his dand-baithaks), the characters remain so true to the Jane Austen original (“Pride and Prejudice”) that it is a delight to revisit them even under these unfortunate, near-apocalyptic circumstances.

The protagonist in this book, like in the classic English novel “Pride and Prejudice”, is Elizabeth Bennet, the 2^nd oldest daughter of a man who, we learn here, is skilled in the art of killing zombies. Only a polite person does not use the “zed word” in at this time period, so they are called dreadfuls or unmentionables. Except they need to be mentioned frequently, as even the quiet countryside of Meryton is being overrun by the undead. Because of Mr. Bennet’s connection to the previous war against zombies, he is able to send to the war office for help for his small community after a man cut is half by a carriage refuses to remain dead, shocking the mourners during his funeral. Mr. Bennet is also forced to begin training his 5 daughters in some Oriental arts in order to defend their home and neighbors against the zombie hordes to come, even if it does get them uninvited to parties.

Like in Austen’s original, the eldest daughter Jane is beautiful and sensitive. Her younger sisters, Mary, Lydia and Kitty, retain their quiet and boy-crazy personalities, respectively. It is delightful to see how each girl reacts to the zombies… and though nothing in Austen’s time could have prepared that author for such a situation, Hockensmith handles the girls antics and dialogue how Austen would have. Master Hawksworth comes from the east to help training the Bennet girls, but when he develops a crush on Elizabeth, his true cowardly nature comes to the fore. She finds a second suitor when crazed scientist Dr. Keckilpenny seeks to end the zombie scourge through research, with her help.

Even Mrs. Bennet, remembered for her match-making blather which caused so much embarrassment in “Pride and Prejudice,” has a romance here in “Dawn of the Dreadfuls” when her old beau Captain Cannon comes to town. He has lost all his arms and legs in the previous zombie war, but is wheeled around by 2 fellows he calls his limbs. Yes, much of this book is wildly funny and crazy, but it retains some of the wit of the original, and in that, it is miles above many of the Austen retakes I’ve read. “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” is brilliant because it uses mostly Austen’s text, with the word “zombie” added to each page. Hockensmith’s sendup is a devilishly clever prequel to that book, and well worth you reading it too!

Dust by Joan Frances Turner

Reading Level: Adult

Submitted by Max

Dust is an excitingly fresh look at the frequently explored genre of the post-apocalyptic zombie world.  As an added bonus, the story takes place right here in Northwest Indiana.  But that is only one of the pleasant surprises Turner has in store.  Unlike most zombie novels, movies and TV shows, this tale is told from the perspective of a zombie!  Our undead one-armed heroine Jessie has settled somewhat comfortably into the zombified world.  In this world the zombies can communicate quite well with each other, and besides craving raw meat and shambling along, are very much still conscious beings.  Following the infection of the area, most of the humans have fled to fortified towns, and science teams work along the lakeshore in an attempt to find a cure.  But just as things began to settle down, a new disease is introduced by the scientists that brings unforeseen consequences.  It was meant to exterminate the zombies by destroying their digestive tracks, and it does that.  But it also gives them regenerative abilities that allow them to plague the humans more than ever before.  But that's not the beginning of it, as the disease will kill humans after making them as ravenous as the zombies.  As the carefully balanced world begins to fall apart, Jessie and her undead friends try to reach the lakeshore.  An aging undead had told her that the sands had healing powers, and could preserve them.  As a last resort they trudge through the newly devastated world, while deception, betrayal, and the disease itself tear them apart.  Giving the zombies feelings and a voice between each other makes them seem even more human than the survivors, and it brings a new side to the genre.  As touching as it is entertaining and engaging, Dust is a well-written mix of dark humor, unexplored concepts, interesting story and emotional moments that will make you want to get to the last page much faster than a zombie can walk.  It is a one of a kind book, and i recommend it to anyone hungry for a good zombie book.

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Reading Level: Young Adult
(4 out of 5)

The library for some reason doesn't own this in book format. It just has it available on audio CD. Listening to a book isn't my first choice but I have to tell you that listening to this story was awesome. The woman that reads the book does an outstanding job in my opinion. She does the voices and brings the story to life. I felt like I was watching a movie. Of course that has a lot to do with the authors writing. Ms. Aguirre's writing is very visual and it's easy to imagine it as a movie. Some of the scenes are very graphic. Just to forewarn.

Welcome to the Apocalypse

You are never really told what happened to generate the Apocalypse you just know that the world that we are used to is no more. I'm not sure what year it is either. In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.

As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. The tunnels are the subway tunnels and the Freaks are people who eat other people. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.

Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first she thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she’s never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.

When Deuce and Fade get banished from the only home Deuce has ever known the real adventure really begins.

The sequel titled Outpost comes out in the fall of 2012. I'm looking forward to it

Die For Me by Amy Plum

Reading Level: Young Adult
(4 out of 5)

When Kate and her sister Georgia find themselves orphans they move to Paris to live with their grandparents. Kate's life and heart have been shattered by the death of her parents and she is trying to pick up the pieces when she meets Vincent. Vincent is mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming. He's too good to be true. Vincent has a secret he's willing to share if Kate is willing to keep it.

When I was reading this book it reminded me a lot of Twilight. The interactions between Kate and Vincent's friends reminded me of Bella's interactions with the Cullen's and the other werewolves. I like the easy banter. When I was on Ms. Plum's website she said she was inspired by Twilight so I thought that was pretty cool.

I think there is going to be another book. I hope pretty please, pretty please. From one of Ms. Plums blog posts she mentions that Until I Die needs to be sent to her editor. I pray that Until I Die continues this world that has been opened up for me. I want to know more about Kate and Vincent. Also about Ambrose, Jules, Charlotte, Charles, and all the rest. I loved this book!

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Reading Level: Adult
(Haven't Read it Yet)

This is one of the books in my pile just waiting to be read. I love a good zombie story or movie. So I'm looking forward to reading this one. Because I'm not sure when I will get to it I wanted to put it on the blog in case someone else out there loves zombies too.

R is a young man with an existential crisis–he is a zombie. He shuffles through an America destroyed by war, social collapse, and the mindless hunger of his undead comrades, but he craves something more than blood and brains. He can speak just a few grunted syllables, but his inner life is deep, full of wonder and longing. He has no memories, noidentity, and no pulse, but he has dreams.

After experiencing a teenage boy’s memories while consuming his brain, R makes an unexpected choice that begins a tense, awkward, and stragely sweet relationship with the victim’s human girlfriend. Julie is a blast of color in the otherwise dreary and gray landscape that surrounds R. His decision to protect her will transform not only R, but his fellow Dead, and perhaps their whole lifeless world.

Scary, funny, and surprisingly poignant, Warm Bodies is about being alive, being dead, and the blurry line in between. (Taken from the Book Jacket)