Customer Reviews

Naming of Parts

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
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First off, this isn't a typical Amazon title, rather it is the product of PS Publishing, which puts out limited, signed editions by various science fiction and fantasy authors. Specifically, "Naming of Parts" was limited to 300 hardcover and another 500 paperback copies, all of which have long since sold out from the publisher. That said, there are copies available on the internet, and should the opportunity to acquire a copy present itself, I would strongly recommend doing so.

Generally speaking, I'm not really a fan of zombie fiction (assuming zombie refers to the living dead); the premise strikes me as so absurd, so beyond the realm of possibility, that I just can't suspend my disbelief and enjoy the story. However, in "Naming of Parts", Tim Lebbon had produced a novel that is so perfectly conceived, it is impossible not to be enthralled by it.

First and foremost, his narrator is a twelve year old boy, Jack. By telling his tale through Jack's eyes, Lebbon is able heighten the horror of the situation. To a young boy, the world is full of possibilities, many of them grim, and by choosing a boy as his narrative focus, Lebbon is able to strip away the incredulousness of the adult reader. Secondly, Lebbon only alludes to the cause of the zombie infestation without getting into explicit causes. As such, there is the implication that there is a scientific explanation for what happened. In this regard, "Naming of Parts" is strongly reminiscent of Matheson's "I Am Legend" which uses biology to explain vampires. By taking this approach, both authors are able to ground the unbelievable in some semblance of reality, which makes their writing all the more menacing.

Finally, Lebbon's zombies are pervasive; everything in nature, from the grass to squirrels to humans is alive in appearance, but already dead inside. There is a sense of winding down, of inertia, about Lebbon's creations. While they are menacing and dangerous in their own right, there is at least the possibility for Jack and his family to carry on because the zombies seem to lose their edge with every passing minute.

All of these elements are key to the success of "Naming of Parts", but what really makes it stand out is the relationship between Jack and his parents. Neither a child nor an adult, Jack's in between age makes him perfect main character. In particular, in a world turned on end, Jack both wants to protect and be protect by his parents. In fact, the book takes its title from Jack's attempt to be brave and adult by naming the parts of his fears (i.e. the window blowing, the tree tapping on his window, etc.), but how does one name the unbelievable? Such sentiment could easily be overblown and maudlin, but Lebbon deftly captures the poignancy of this interaction without bogging down in Hallmark card sentiment.

The first of a projected four part series for PS Publishing, "Naming of Parts" is a must read for fans of apocalyptic or zombie fiction. Lebbon explores genres that are full of retreads from entirely new angles, and his writing is superb. Containing the perfect blend of tension, fear and hope, this is a tale that is well worth seeking out.

Jake Mohlman

This is an emotionally gripping, nail-biting little zombie tale about a family living way out in the country who are suddenly plagued by the living dead. The story is told from the point of view of pre-teen Jack whose current and past fears haunt the story. Unlike most action-packed, gore filled zombie tales this one concentrates more on the emotions of its characters. And also unlike most zombie stories the zombies aren't the only ones who appear to be affected by whatever has infected them. The grass, the trees, the bugs, everything seems to be decaying on the inside and the animals are eerily quiet. . . All of this sets a haunting mood that never lets up. Not exactly uplifting but great stuff all the same! I'll have to rescue the rest of Lebbon's stuff from my tbr pile.

This is a zombie novella that tells of a family on the run. They live in the country and have to flee their home, and they try to find their daughter in the closest town. The perspective is told by the young boy, and the story goes back and forth from the present to the past, where the relationship between the boy and his older sister takes form. They eventually get to the town and it ends in the usual horror fashion. In other words there was no unexpected ending. The one thing of note is the zombies are everything, like beetles, ants, etcetera, just as Keene's world of zombies, and they also move fast like Keene's. Other than this interesting similarity, this is only an average novella by Lebbon. White, The Unfortunate and Meat are examples of better Lebbon writing. But this is still a fun and easy read. Even though it's not his best work, its still Lebbon which means it's worth the read.

I stumbled across this Author a few months ago when I was on a zombie book reading binge. I had read world war z, dead rising, dead city, and many others. I heard this book was good and did some searching, and found a copy. The reviews didnt do it justice. Its a great book written from the perspective of a boy at the beginning of a 'zombie apocalypse' its not your average zombie book. It kind of reminds me of 'The Road' by Cormac Mcarthy in the way it is written. Its a relatively short read compared to most novels, so its great for a casual reader, or a road trip etc. These books are also autographed, limited numbered copies... so take care of them if you get one. There arent many out there in print.
Well worth the read.

This is a great book, though too brief! I love this author's prose and description and the way the flashbacks are handled (not too difficult to follow). I'd love to read more by Lebbon.

I'm also a fan of "last person in the world" stories and this is one of the best I've ever read.