A Zombie by any other name
588891
I lucked into this little known flick and am glad I did. I am a dedicated horror fan and Zombie films are what I cut my blood-soaked teeth on. Dawn of the Dead(1979) still ranks as my favorite horror flick and since then Ive gotten hold of whatever Zombie flick I could. What Ive learned from that is that there are alot... I mean alot of derivative or just plain bad zombie movies out there. Im somewhat of a traditionalist, I prefer the Romero zombie type but have really enjoyed movies like the Dawn remake or 28 Days Later(contention for whether or not thats really a zombie movie-BEGIN!!)because they did somehting different, showed a side that wasn't standard typical zombie fare. Well if those seemed like departures, wait until you take a gander at this one.
  Simply put, this is a zombie film in the fact that the dead have returned. Thats pretty much where the comparison stops. Yes the dead have returned, in fact the movie starts with the streets of a small French town flooded with almost angelic looking people that very quickly we realize have been dead for years in most cases. They look exactly the same as they did before they died, as if nothing had ever happened and basically try to pick up where they left off. This of course is complicated by the fact that their loved ones have moved on, none of them remember dying and while they all look like themselves,they all have something almost sinister behind their eyes. Also presenting a huge problem for everyone around them-what do we do with them. The questions of why and how these people have returned are quickly replaced with how are they going to become active members of society again. Soon after semi resuming their lives, the returned start clamoring to escape the lives they came back to. They are driven by a need to leave. Some of them meet secretly at night planning something that doesnt materialize until the last few minutes of the movie. I don't think that revealing it would ruin the movie, but Im not gonna say anyway,nyah nyah.
  I can understand anyone seeing this movie and disputing that it is horror. Its not in the traditional sense. Not once is there a jump scare, no gore, they all look and act like completly normal people. What made it count to me is that it plays on more basic human fears. The whole reason(as far as the filmakers are concerned I think) is not to have us afraid of physical monsters that might eat us, its to make us afraid of what we have inside us every day.. fear of the unknown,loss,lonliness the true fear of having what you want given to you only to find out its not what you thought it was. It even plays the terrorism angle at one point. What would you do if someone you loved turned out to be capable of violent acts for their own agenda? But its not played that heavy as there are no real victims of the "acts of terrorism"(to quote myself) in the film. Its more rumination on life and letting go than it is anything else and what struck me was that in those cases,those scenes rattled me in a way that horror movies usually don't. Basic human emotion can be just as scary as any monster.
  The film itself is beuatifully shot and all the acting is great. It is a pet peeve of mine when movies of this type go the exra mile to explain whats happening instead of dealing with it and the fact that the reason the dead came back is not touched on makes it more mysterious and eerie and the reactions by the characters around them add to that atmosphere. Everyone in the movie realistically portrays what is almost impossible to imagine. What would you do if someone you loved dearly had passed away and you had just started getting on with your life and there they were. The best example of this in the film is a middle aged couple who've had their son returned to them and the difficulty it creates in their relationship. As they realize their son wants to leave again, all their guilt,anger with each other and desire to do whats best for their son(or themselves) comes bubbling to the surface. You don't see that in Resident Evil.
3563659
This is sort of a different take on the zombie apocalypse. Years have passed and new towns have sprung up. Most of the zombies are contained in big cities, but there are still some loose.
Now someone is trying to revive the virus for their own diabolical purpose and it is up to the "collectors" to find out what's going on.
I like the way this series is going and I'm off to read the next book!
3380771
A little quick on the main bad guy, but that does leave room for many avenues to branch out to. All in all a decent Zombie read, gonna be interesting to see where the author takes this
479515
This is the first Zombie I've ever heard of that has a brain or at least half of one and uses it.  Funny short story about a Zombie that loves waffles.
4062309
I liked that the zombie had a human friend named Steve. Especially since I am the character Steve in Minecraft.
1308305
'Dead Rage' is a white-knuckled ride into the jaws of the zombie apocalypse, where friends become enemies... and every step could mean life or death.
A full length stand alone novel. i stole this from the review, but it is accurate. a very good stand alone zombie book.
2249310
I prefer my zombies to be at least remotely plausible, and this book fulfills that need admirably. The zombies themselves are the slow, shambling, Romero brand, as opposed to being impossibly fast. There are no "supernatural" causes (like angry ancient deities or modern-day curses) for the zombies. Rather, a couple of man-made viruses - one meant to cure cancer, the other to prevent the common cold - accidentally combined to create Kellis-Amberlee. Kellis-Amberlee is now ubiquitous in mammals, and any mammal that weighs over 40 lbs can "amplify," or become a zombie.

The story takes place in the future, with resulting technological advances over our own time. The main characters are three 20-something bloggers who are chosen to accompany a presidential candidate on his campaign. Over the course of the campaign, they uncover a conspiracy that threatens the candidate and possibly themselves.

I would definitely not classify this as a horror novel. With the tech and science advances, I consider this a sci-fi novel.

Highly recommend!
2727139
This is target identification for zombie hunters.  Yes, it does get into the different types, and their history, with a bit of back story.
1828323
The writer handles this subject with a new twist,  beside zombies,  there are also aliens! Well done! I enjoyed this author and will check out other books by this writer.
3262421
I liked this story. It was your typical zombie carnage. This one could use some editing but not a bad effort overall.
1497039
The zombie subgenre has really taken off in the last ten years. Personally, I thought it would have died five years ago, but today it's still running strong. The zombie is like the vampire. Both creatures are undead, and yet we love them. We love them so much that it might take another ten years before we finally get bored of them, if ever.

Fifteen years ago, zombie literature was scarce. Today it's everywhere. This brings me to Gerald Rice and his short gem of a novella, Fleshbags. The title of this book itself reeks of the undead, and what Gerald has managed to do with this story is not revolutionize the zombie market so much as help it evolve. His undead creatures are a different beast from your typical zombie, and it is really welcoming.

What I liked most about Fleshbags, however, were the interesting characters that populate the story. Loman is on a mission to get to his daughter from school and save her from the sudden outbreak that makes people strip naked and their stomachs to look like translucent sacks filled rotting organ tissue. Along the way he teams up with a person who wears all leather and a motorcycle helmet, the latter of which he/she never takes off. Ms. Mila is a teacher at Loman's daughter's school who hates the children she teaches. Bill and his wife, Sarah, notice that Mr. Anders is home early from work, which he never is, and that there seems to be something wrong with him. When Bill goes over to investigate, he finds much more than a sick man.

I once had a conversation with a friend about how zombies can be used for any metaphor the writer chooses, and Gerald Rice does a marvelous job of doing so in Fleshbags. The story, I thought at least, is about the dark things we store and lock away. Beneath the skin of every individual, there is something darker, perhaps even dangerous, lurking. There's a secret behind every locked door you pass ignorantly by every day. Not only has Gerald created his own zombie, but he put them in a setting that was easy to believe, amongst humans, everyday people we all know, love and hate.

My biggest criticism is that this is a novella with a large cast. It was difficult at first to remember who was who and what they were doing, but once I caught on, it was one hell of a ride. I also would have liked it if some of the subplots were smoothed out more. But don't let these things deter you from what is very much a fun read. If you like zombies and the zombie subgenre, then I invite you to give Fleshbags a try. Do so, and you just might meet some interesting people.
3010662
A short collection of zombie tales that follow three different people in a zombie apocalypse. Each one with their own secrets, each one with their own past, and all just trying to survive. These tales locked in this collection are entertaining, as well as enjoyably gory.
4437847
I was looking for a good zombie book to read and a friend recommended Mark Tufo's The Book Of Riley...  I loved It!  A terrier, a bulldog, cat, a  girl and a baby face the zombies together.  It's a different take on the zombie apocalypse and I enjoyed every second of this book.
742881
Thunder and Ashes follows three groups of Morningstar Virus survivors. When infected the virus causes you to become the living dead. The first set is lead by a couple of military men who are trying to get to Omaha. Over the course of their travels they find themselves helping a survivors village deal with some ruthless bandits. The second group contains the doctor who is considered an expert on The Morningstar Virus. She is attempting to get to Omaha so she can work on a vaccine. Survivor groups one and two hope to meet up at the research facility in Omaha. The final set are sailors from the USS Ramage. They've abandoned ship, and while exploring an abandoned town they find themselves in possession of a seriously hot commodity.

Ok, I did it again. I read a series out of order. I didn't realize this was a sequel to another book. I saw zombies and thought Heck Yeah! Thankfully, reading this without reading the first turned out not to be a big deal. Background info was provided, and I pieced together what had occurred in book one, Plague of the Dead.

The husband and I are both a little zombie obsessed. We have a group of friends who we've planned our survival strategy with. Yes, we roll nerdy. So when I discover a new book starring the undead I have to read it. Thunder and Ashes portrayed the reanimated in a different light than I've seen so far. You have two types, shamblers and sprinters. The names are pretty self-explanatory. Shamblers move slowly so you can usually get away. The sprinters are the scary ones. They can catch you. Once they've let out their roar to alert other undead in the area you better make yourself scarce. They hunt like a pack. Zombies are scary, but the thought that they would be coordinated enough to actually hunt together and sprint after you is seriously unsettling.

Kudos to the author for pointing out the virus is in the blood, and having character decontaminate themselves after a bloody battle with the undead. I hate when folks are out bludgeoning zombies in books or movies with little concern for blood splatter. Hello! Get some protective gear. Last thing you want is zombie blood or brain matter in your eye. Nice group of characters featured in this one. They could have been a little more developed. The pacing could have also been better. An extra 30 pages would have provided a meatier story, and maybe not such a rushed ending. Even with the minor flaws I was enthralled. This would make a fantastic movie. Seriously scary stuff, and if you're looking for something to make you sleep with the lights on this is it.

I plan to backtrack and read the first book in this series. While I was researching the series further, I was sad to learn the author had passed away. A ghostwriter is working on finishing the third book in this series which is titled Survivors
2713547
This series, as I stated in my book one review, is better than most in the genre.
Those looking for the typical zombie story won't find it here. It's more about a man's journey within the zombie apocalypse than it is about zombies.
Sometimes I wish there were more zombies. In a world decimated by the zombie virus, one would expect to encounter more infected persons.
As I also stated in my book one review, I'm waiting (still) for Dr. K to get back to work. Will he ever......??? Not thus far.
1059143
This isn't your normal zombies against the few remaining unaffected humans tale which may disappoint some, but at the same time may be refreshing for others.  It doesn't have the high level of action, senseless killing of the undead, survivor cults, armed gangs controlling the supermarkets and streets and the other staples you come to expect with the zombie genre, I can understand why some people who want to reread those things over and over again don't like Autumn. I'd previously read David Moody's Haters series which is brilliant if you haven't checked it out yet.  That series even though it doesn't have zombies or the undead in it all, is often mistakenly categorised as zombie novels, but what I found interesting when that series is compared to the first book in the Autumn series, is that Haters has more typical elements of a zombie novel than this one does.

There's some brief spoilers in the following.  I liked how in this one the survivors have no idea what is going on in relation to what wiped out their families, friends and 99% of the population. Also like in real life they really have no idea what they should or need to be doing. I liked how the dead didn't rise straight away but instead go through stages of becoming animated.  I liked how they weren't really a threat to humans being as how deteriorated and slow there movements are, as a corpse would be if this ever happened in reality.  That they are even when able to walk, still decomposing and full of maggots also adds to the authenticity. Although being that they are so easy to fend off does make you wonder why the three main characters are so scared of them down the track. If a motorbike can crash through them and not come off balance why not just plow over all the ones in the vicinity in your 4WD until they are not a threat?  Also living on a boat in deep enough water so the zombies can't get close never occurs to any of the three.

What I think holds the story back a little from being as good as the Haters books is that the three main characters aren't very likeable or interesting.  I also had trouble distinguishing for the first half of the book between Michael and Carl since they were pretty similar and remembering which one had the family and kid.  Emma is pretty much just like a bit of furniture in the room, she doesn't do anything.  If her age was revealed at the start, when there were more characters, I didn't remember it, but I pictured her as an old woman from an era where she does whatever the alpha male tells her, and blindly follows whatever he says not understanding why and getting angry at everyone else who isn't towing the line. Also she was supposed to be studying something in the medical field but was disturbed when asked to do anything in this area, even as simple as gather medical pills and supplies.  Maybe if she was younger her age could have added a bit of tension between the male characters who both might have wanted to sleep with her down the track (neither seems to have any desires in that direction).  With all three character leaving the teenage girl behind in an environment where she is likely to be killed also made them a bit unlikeable in my eyes.  If they had forced her for her own good to join them she would have had a lot to add to the storyline once she had calmed down and maybe fastly matured in the real zombie filled world.

Autumn does hook you into this version of a zombie filled world.  I'll definitely check out Autumn: The City and the following books in this series, where hopefully a few more interesting characters join the living.
3402541
This is a book about a zombie apocalypse, but it is also about how humans can't help being humans, even in the face of the end of the world.

The story starts with a teaser and you're not quite sure how it plays into the overall novel because it isn't mentioned again until the very end of the book.

Then the normal sickness and dying start, people don't believe zombies are real, and the virus spreads out-of-control.  A small group of survivors makes its way to an amusement park/zoo at the top of a hill, where they find some semblance of safety and another small group of survivors.  That's when the real problems start.  Even in the face of overwhelming catastrophe and the end of the world, these survivors just can't seem to figure out how to live together.  There are power struggles, as they would occur in the normal world, but in the apocalyptic world, they truly are senseless.  Will humans ever figure out how to live together in peace or is the urge for dominance built into genes?

The book comes full circle as we find out how and why the virus started, which is truly disturbing.

Some of the characters are very well-written, but there are others I couldn't distinguish from one another.  There were several times a female character was mentioned, and I had to think, "Now, who is she again?"  The zombie attack scenes are also well-written.  At first, I thought they were confusing, but then I realized, how else could a zombie attack be?  People are fighting for their lives, but the zombies just keep coming, and all it takes is one bite.  And the zombies never get tired.

This is an good story, but the lack of female character development was distracting and there were also too many coincidences.  Then, when I finished the book, I saw it was the first book of a series.  Maybe I should have known that beforehand, but I didn't, so I was annoyed.  I don't mind the serial nature of books, but I do mind the cost.  Yes, Kindle books are inexpensive, but that changes when it turns out you have to buy book after book.  I don't know how many books are in this series, but I know I won't be buying them.

This is a fairly good book, though.