The Culled (The Afterblight Chronicles) and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more

Kindle Edition
 
   
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
AFTERBLIGHT CHRONICLES: CULLED (The Afterblight Chronicles)
 
 
Start reading The Culled (The Afterblight Chronicles) on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

AFTERBLIGHT CHRONICLES: CULLED (The Afterblight Chronicles) [Paperback]

Simon Spurrier (Author)
3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)


Available from these sellers.


Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition $5.99  
Paperback --  

Book Description

The Afterblight Chronicles September 26, 2006
The world has been devastated by an epidemic. Although there are pockets of an attempted continuation of civilisation, the truth is that the world has gone to hell in a handcart. The reason for this is a disease that has wiped out most of the world's population. It kills almost all those who are not of the blood group 'O neg'. Those people who survive are untouched. Everyone else dies. Infrastructures have collapsed. Mobs run rampant. The only kind of law that exists is that imposed by the people with the biggest guns. In this devastated and chaotic world who can bring hope and order? The Blight arose from nowhere. It swept across the bickering nations like the End of Times. As the numbers thinned and societies crumbled, the survivors picked their way between silent streets and looked out on the squalid new order. Hotheaded religion and territorial savagery rule the cities now. Somewhere, amidst the chaos, a damaged man receives a signal, and with it the tiniest flicker of hope. This is the chance to rediscover the humanity he lost, long ago, in the blood and filth and horror of the Cull. He mustcross the Atlantic, defeat warrior gangs in New York and seek out the location of his missing love.

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought


Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Simon Spurrier is an award-winning writer of novels and graphic novel fiction. He's worked extensively for the UK's talent-factory title 2000 AD, has published novels with Abaddon, the Black Library and Black Flame, and has won a series of accolades and prizes for screenwriting. He's worked as a cook, a bookseller, a BBC Art Director and a film student. He lives in London because the night sky is a far better shade of green than anywhere else.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Abaddon; paperback / softback edition (September 26, 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1905437013
  • ISBN-13: 978-1905437016
  • Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,041,659 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

 

Customer Reviews

12 Reviews
5 star:
 (1)
4 star:
 (5)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.1 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Bloody, good fun., June 23, 2009
This review is from: AFTERBLIGHT CHRONICLES: CULLED (The Afterblight Chronicles) (Paperback)
In The Culled, the first of the Afterblight Chronicles, Spurrier introduces a post-apocalyptic world that's vicious, deranged, horrific and a whole lot of fun. Spurrier channels the golden age of splatterpunk in describing a disease-ravaged land populated by cannibals, cultists and drug-hazed maniacs.

The main character is an ex-SAS assassin type - exactly the sort of bullet-chewing hard man/action hero that the book needs. There's not a lot of subtlety going on - but that's not what the book requires. Spurrier takes the reader on a trans-atlantic, flashback-littered journey through the world of the Culled, keen to show off as much as possible before the ink runs out.

As a result, the plot (such as it is) takes a bit of a backseat. There are clearly defined good guys and bad guys (whew), so the reader doesn't really need to know why anything is happening as much as sit back and enjoy the show. And, again, it is a pretty spectacular show. Explosions, lunatics, super-violence, more explosions, car chases, man-hunts, gladiators, cannibals... anything that can blow up and/or lose a head appears during the course of the book. The result is surprisingly creative (and a very good time).

My one objection is the vague inference of the supernatural. Spurrier carefully mocks the rise of cult-like religion, while empathetically explaining how it came about. However, one of the sidekicks (a minor protagonist in his own right) is a Native American survivor of the Cull - chosen to go on a spiritual dream-quest by his tribal elders. He's plagued by mystical omens (some of which derive from his ultra-powerful drugs) and curious portents. It is a little over-the-top, and comes close to ruining an otherwise 'science fiction' style thriller. There's also the random editorial decision that allowed entire chapters to be written in italicized text - style aside, this was a (literal) headache.

Overall, a fun, filthy (in a good way) book. The Cull is shaping up to be a great shared world from a publisher that's not afraid to take risks. The second book (Kill or Cure) is fantastic, and I look forward to pressing on with the third!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Nice escape from the world for a few hours, December 22, 2007
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: AFTERBLIGHT CHRONICLES: CULLED (The Afterblight Chronicles) (Paperback)
I enjoyed the heck out of this book. Love the idea of looking at the new world after global "destruction" without zombies or vampires! It was a great way to pass hours at a time in a hospital waiting room over the weekend and the reason for the adventure was one I was not expecting at the end. Worth adding to your 4 for 3 Amazon deal!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


53 of 77 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Not sure about this book (I wonder about the sequels), May 9, 2007
By 
vladimir998 "vladimir998" (Home town of a fine Lutheran synod) - See all my reviews
This review is from: AFTERBLIGHT CHRONICLES: CULLED (The Afterblight Chronicles) (Paperback)
Simon Spurrier, who I never heard of before stumbling across this book, is apparently an British horror writer. Having always been interested in "End of the World" stories, I immediately got Spurrier's book and began reading. Overall, the novel was average. I do not think you will necessarily regret reading it if you are a horror or end-of-the-world fan, but there are several aspects of the book I found particularly annoying.

Please forgive me for focusing on my pet peeves, but...

1) The F-bomb is used repeatedly - I mean REPEATEDLY. It's used as a noun. It's used as a verb. It's used as a modifier. It's used too often.

2) Once again, as seen in way too many end-of-the-world/sci-fi books, the military is evil.

3) Once again, as seen in way too many end-of-the-world/sci-fi books, the Christianity is evil.

4) The hero is far too perfect in terms of his ability to survive, defeat superior odds, fight his way out of impossible situations, etc. He might as well have a big red S on his chest and be able to leap tall buildings.

5) The way that the hero locates a message from his long lost love is just so over the top, although it is a lead in for a sequel. Alas, a sequel.

I have no idea if I am going to bother reading the sequel.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews










Only search this product's reviews



Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
comms room, cover the angles
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, John-Paul Rohare Baptiste, Apostolic Church of the Rediscovered Dawn, Jasmine Tomas, Wheels Mart, Snow Hand, United Nations, Central Park, Lake Eerie, Vauxhall Cross, East River, Fort Wayne, South Bass Island, Sergeant John, Truck World
New!
Concordance | Text Stats
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 
(11)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums



So You'd Like to...



Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject