Dead Things [Kindle Edition]

Matt Darst (Author)

Book Description

Nearly two decades have passed since the fall of the United States and the rise of the church to fill the void. Science is heresy, and the dead must be decapitated to avoid an unholy resurrection. When a plane crash strands Ian Sumner and a band of survivors miles from the fortified walls of the church state, survival depends on secrets too dangerous to speak aloud.

"Matt Darst is a truly original talent. His quick pacing, encyclopedic grasp of literature and history, and spellbinding mix of social commentary and jaw-dropping action make Dead Things a first-rate triumph. With a dash of Bradbury, hints of Huxley and Orwell, and heavy dollops of smart pop culture, Darst is taking the zombie novel in a really cool new direction.” -Joe McKinney, author of Dead City and Apocalypse of the Dead

“A first-class zombie story which takes place in a beautifully realized post-apocalyptic world. In many ways a spiritual cousin to Matheson’s classic I am Legend, this is a fantastic and surprising horror tale. Highly recommended.” - David Moody, author of Them or Us and Autumn

“Matthew Darst is a writer who shares my Romero-esque love of zombies. Ever true to the vision of the zombie holocaust brought to us by Night of the Living Dead, Darst brings the collapse of civilization up to date. Darst brings us a startling real glimpse of the cause of the zombie contagion.” -Iain McKinnon, author of Domain of the Dead and Remains of the Dead

Product Details

• File Size: 365 KB
• Print Length: 222 pages
• Publisher: Grand Mal Press (April 2, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007R0ION6
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #299,106 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars zombie suprise October 2, 2011

By Iain

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I loved this book. Without giving anything away, I am now generally concerned about a zombie outbreak.
The author takes us on a roller coaster ride through the deep south and gives a believable explanation of how a society would have to deal with the reality of a zombie outbreak.
This is not my preferred genre, but I found myself riveted and invested in the characters.
I would highly recommend this book to all zombie and non-zombie fans alike.
The author has a refreshing style of writing that makes you want to continue to turn the pages.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great novel with lots of interesting facts January 3, 2012

By Suzanne Robb

Format:Kindle Edition

When I first started to read this book I was a bit lost as the POV is an omnipresent one. We know what everyone is thinking. Usually this works against a story, but NOT in this case.

The story is very much character and plot driven. This is not your typical zombie apocalypse. It has come and gone, and what this writer does is weave a world pieced together by bits of the aftermath. What he imagines is something that is scarily possible, though I will not spoil it for you as to what happens.

The main character is likable in his naivety and loyalty to those around him. He is the best friend we count on. His best friend is someone you at first dislike because of his know it all stance on things, then again we all know that person.

The characters are strong, and well-developed and one of my favorite things in this book.

The strongest point of this book was the massive amount of research that was done. There were parts so interesting I did not know if I should take notes or go and learn more. From blood types, to mythology, to Star Wars V. Dune, there is something in here for everyone. The one part about comets did seem to slow that section down a tad but took only a few paragraphs to pick right back up.

The ending was bittersweet, albeit inevitable and I would have liked to know more about the father and what he did all those years.

All in all a creative read for those who like stories that are character driven with new takes on an old theme.

This is not a gory hack and slash zombie story, so if that is what you are looking for, this might not be for you.

However, if you are looking for something intelligent, realistic, and incredibly well thought out with a unique story - this is for you.

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars BORING! May 7, 2012

By pineapple67

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I forced myself to read 75% of this book. I finally had to put the book down, I was so frustrated.

I, like some of the other reviews, think the story line could make for a good read, but this author is all over the place. He jumps from the present to the past in places of the story that it makes absolutely no sense. You don't know where you are or who he's talking about half the time.

The author spends an entire chapter discussing haloween and how the characters used to dress up in different costumes; the pros and cons of being a clown for halloween even though the characters that are envolved in the discussion were babies when the zombie apocalypse began.

The author also spent half a chapter discussing the plagiarism of George Lucas Star Wars and the 1984 movie Dune. This is where I finally threw up my hands and said ENOUGH! Half the chapter is listing the similarities between the two movies. What does that have to do with a zombie apocalypse?

I should have read the 1 star reviews before I bought this book. I seriously don't get the reason behind all the 5 star reviews. Maybe friends of the author? Save your money.