From the Library Book Review: Plague of the Dead (2006)
Plague of the Dead (2006)
Publisher: Permuted Press
Written By: Z.A. Recht
Review By: Kayley Viteo
Nowadays, it is easy to run into a bookstore and slam right into a stack of the newest addition to the zombie/post-apocalyptic book world. In fact, you’re lucky if you don’t trip over the huge display standing in the center of the store. In a sense, this newfound popularity is nothing but a good thing, although it does make the gems of the sub-genre that much harder to find. For the most part, the challenge of finding a truly superb zombie novel has been vastly entertaining being that one of the greatest aspects of zombies is that they’re so damn fun. And that’s exactly what Plague of the Dead is – fun.
Plague of the Dead is the first in the Morningstar Saga by Z.A. Recht. Splitting the focus between the struggle to contain the plague in Africa before it spreads across the globe, and collaboration between a Colonel and journalist to leak the truth to the American public, Recht weaves an intelligent and intriguing version of the apocalypse. As the story evolves and new characters emerge, Recht has a handful of interesting and relatable personalities on his hand that contribute to a fun, easy read.
What sets this book apart from many other zombie novels is the subtle differences from the typical zombie book (or movie). For example, where most authors choose between the “slow” and “fast” zombie, Recht simply uses them both in rather unique twist. The book is violent, although in a sort of generic way, and it could just as easily be entertaining for a horror fan as it could be for someone who simply likes action.
There’s nothing that particularly stands out to me about this book or Recht’s writing. I hate to say it’s nothing special because not every piece of zombie fiction has to be zombie literature, if such a thing actually exists any place other than my twisted mind, and the book is good … just not great. There are a few chapters that are more than a bit depressingly boring and the sense of dread that permeates most of the other pages is lost, which ultimately slows the pace down and loses the much-needed momentum. Still, even if Plague of the Dead isn’t anything particularly special, this is some quality entertainment. There’s also no way you can finish this book and be in a bad mood – it is, after all, a series and that means more entertainment is on the horizon.
Next up in the series is Thunder and Ashes, but first I have to finish the behemoth that is Stephen King’s Under the Dome.
