deadwrtr
10-Feb-2007, 08:58 AM
Deathbreed: A Review
By Deadwrtr
Deathbreed: A Zombie Novel. 2007 Written by Todd Tjersland.
Let me start by saying I hated this book. I hated the characters, the dialogue between the main characters, hell, even the setting rubbed my senses raw, like sand in my urethra. A deja vue mind screw like you wouldn't believe. The book irritated me in many ways, but most probably because I couldn't put it down.
Yep. There it is. I couldn't put the damn thing down.
The story takes place in 1991, shortly after the Rodney King Fiasco, which plays nicely into the theme. The location is Olympia, WA in a convenience store called the Lucky Mart. Several details in the story brought me back to that era, a literal time travel in culture. I thought this was a great idea, of which the book had many. It was scary, funny and thrilling all at the same time.
Oh, it had problems. I could barely stand the main character, and so wanted him to be eaten by the zombies that were so late in arriving. You knew they were coming, but they didn't even show up until page 73, and even then you couldn't be sure. Jimmy Nyberg, world class loser and the guy you can't help but hate is the main character in this story, and throughout the book he refers to women as bit*hes and ho's, p*ssy and so on, and his main drive, even during the zombie apocalypse was to score with any woman who caught his eye... even if she happened to be dead. He hates everyone, feels "retards" should be put down at birth and throughout the book, this becomes a mantra. Jimmy is plagued by something akin to irritable bowel syndrome (which is explained, unnecessarily in great detail several times in the book) which becomes a serious threat to his well being. Small details about Jimmy's home life are explored, the author dropping little tidbits of information about how poorly he was raised, but by the time this info was provided, I couldn't care less and kept reading in hopes of finding some zombie mayhem perpetrated on this loser.
His boss is a racist scumbag who you just know is going to buy the farm. The author makes it very clear right away that Bryan, owner of the Lucky Mart, hates everyone who isn't pure and white. This theme went on a bit too long and started to make me wonder if it was ever going to end. Page after page of racist ranting continued, and at certain points I just skipped ahead. Hey, I'm as tolerant as the next guy, but I learned a few racist tags that I didn't know before after reading this book, and I hate that.
A character I wish had been developed more was that of Ace, Jimmy's sidekick of sorts who is a cross between the Fonz (of Happy Day's fame), Vinnie Barbarino from Welcome Back Kotter and the worst wigga' you ever set your eyes on, yo. (the author's description...) It was an odd mix, but it worked. The preview of the next novel (aptly named Deathbreed II) seems to focus a bit more on Ace and his adventures outside of Jimmy's shadow... I'll be looking into that when it becomes available.
The zombies were modeled after those in Romero's universe, fast moving (referred to as Fast Eddie's by Jimmy... a name that didn't really catch but did make me giggle as I remembered my Iron Maiden days) zombies shortly after infection, then shamblers later in the game. The explanation for the resurrection was hinted at, but wisely, the author didn't give a reason for the zombie surge, letting the reader form his or her own opinion. The descriptions of the zombies were dead on, the author nailing the tiny details that made the zombies scary. Throughout the book are props to Romero, a nice touch. The zombie attacks were fantastically orchestrated; I could almost feel what the main character was feeling, his hopelessness, his absolute terror. Fantastic writing here. His little nicknames for the zombies were excellent. Boob job, Barbeque head, Frenchula. All these names will make sense once you read the book.
The book was weak in some areas and excelled in others. It's strength came from the fact that the author doesn't really care if you like the characters or not. If they offend, then they did their job.
And believe me, they are offensive. I'm not a zombie, but I would have taken great delight in tearing out the throat of the main character with my own teeth.
And I do recommend reading it. It's a great story, one I loved to hate.
You will too. Give it a chance.
3.5 stars out of 5
By Deadwrtr
Deathbreed: A Zombie Novel. 2007 Written by Todd Tjersland.
Let me start by saying I hated this book. I hated the characters, the dialogue between the main characters, hell, even the setting rubbed my senses raw, like sand in my urethra. A deja vue mind screw like you wouldn't believe. The book irritated me in many ways, but most probably because I couldn't put it down.
Yep. There it is. I couldn't put the damn thing down.
The story takes place in 1991, shortly after the Rodney King Fiasco, which plays nicely into the theme. The location is Olympia, WA in a convenience store called the Lucky Mart. Several details in the story brought me back to that era, a literal time travel in culture. I thought this was a great idea, of which the book had many. It was scary, funny and thrilling all at the same time.
Oh, it had problems. I could barely stand the main character, and so wanted him to be eaten by the zombies that were so late in arriving. You knew they were coming, but they didn't even show up until page 73, and even then you couldn't be sure. Jimmy Nyberg, world class loser and the guy you can't help but hate is the main character in this story, and throughout the book he refers to women as bit*hes and ho's, p*ssy and so on, and his main drive, even during the zombie apocalypse was to score with any woman who caught his eye... even if she happened to be dead. He hates everyone, feels "retards" should be put down at birth and throughout the book, this becomes a mantra. Jimmy is plagued by something akin to irritable bowel syndrome (which is explained, unnecessarily in great detail several times in the book) which becomes a serious threat to his well being. Small details about Jimmy's home life are explored, the author dropping little tidbits of information about how poorly he was raised, but by the time this info was provided, I couldn't care less and kept reading in hopes of finding some zombie mayhem perpetrated on this loser.
His boss is a racist scumbag who you just know is going to buy the farm. The author makes it very clear right away that Bryan, owner of the Lucky Mart, hates everyone who isn't pure and white. This theme went on a bit too long and started to make me wonder if it was ever going to end. Page after page of racist ranting continued, and at certain points I just skipped ahead. Hey, I'm as tolerant as the next guy, but I learned a few racist tags that I didn't know before after reading this book, and I hate that.
A character I wish had been developed more was that of Ace, Jimmy's sidekick of sorts who is a cross between the Fonz (of Happy Day's fame), Vinnie Barbarino from Welcome Back Kotter and the worst wigga' you ever set your eyes on, yo. (the author's description...) It was an odd mix, but it worked. The preview of the next novel (aptly named Deathbreed II) seems to focus a bit more on Ace and his adventures outside of Jimmy's shadow... I'll be looking into that when it becomes available.
The zombies were modeled after those in Romero's universe, fast moving (referred to as Fast Eddie's by Jimmy... a name that didn't really catch but did make me giggle as I remembered my Iron Maiden days) zombies shortly after infection, then shamblers later in the game. The explanation for the resurrection was hinted at, but wisely, the author didn't give a reason for the zombie surge, letting the reader form his or her own opinion. The descriptions of the zombies were dead on, the author nailing the tiny details that made the zombies scary. Throughout the book are props to Romero, a nice touch. The zombie attacks were fantastically orchestrated; I could almost feel what the main character was feeling, his hopelessness, his absolute terror. Fantastic writing here. His little nicknames for the zombies were excellent. Boob job, Barbeque head, Frenchula. All these names will make sense once you read the book.
The book was weak in some areas and excelled in others. It's strength came from the fact that the author doesn't really care if you like the characters or not. If they offend, then they did their job.
And believe me, they are offensive. I'm not a zombie, but I would have taken great delight in tearing out the throat of the main character with my own teeth.
And I do recommend reading it. It's a great story, one I loved to hate.
You will too. Give it a chance.
3.5 stars out of 5