Reading level: AdultGenre: Horror/Science Fiction
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Quirk Books
Release Date: July 28th, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-1594744631
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone
Source: Amazon Vine Program
Rating: 5/5 stars
I got a copy of this book through the Amazon Vine program. It just looked too quirky and funny to pass up. I expected something moderately humorous and a bit silly, but what I actually got was something way, way better than that. This is an absolutely awesome book. It is very well written, intelligent, and actually really, really funny. This book is just non-stop action from the beginning to the end and it takes an interesting and creative twist that ties Star Trek nicely in with zombies.
Jim used to be a huge Star Trek fan, but after a tour of duty in Afghanistan he doesn't give much credence to Star Trek's overall message anymore. Now Jim works as a bell hop at a hotel. Jim's hotel is going to be the site of GulfCon; a Star Trek convention known for the most obscure Star Trek costumes ever. When Trekkies at the convention start sprouting evil third eyeballs and chomping on people things at GulfCon get more exciting than they ever have been. It will be up to Jim, a pre-med student modeling as Princess Leia, and a small group of Trekkies, to escape the hotel save themselves and possibly even the whole human race.
I have to say right off of the bat that the cover for this book and the title really don't do it justice; I think the cover is just a bit too campy given that this was an absolutely awesome book. Jim is just your average guy but he has a dry sense of humor, a bleak outlook on life, and some wicked soldier training to back him up in his zombie struggles. His sidekick, Leia is just as awesome. Leia prances through the book in her metallic Princess Leia bikini costume and Enterprise slippers, tasering zombies, holding her own, and speaking in Star Wars quotes when she gets nervous. There are just a ton of quirky, yet totally awesome, characters in this book.
The writing is wonderful, engaging, and packs a lot of story into this short book. This book was incredibly hard to put down and a very fast read. The action is non-stop and the little mini-cliffhangers at the end of each chapter pull you right through the book. I read the first two-thirds of the book in an hour or so and had an incredibly hard time stopping even though it was too late at night. There is a lot of humor in this book but it never goes over the top and stays more in the realm of dark humor and irony.
I loved that the zombies in this book were different than in previous zombie books that I have read. These zombies have more of a hive-mentality and the third eye they develop makes for extra mystery. I loved the explanation behind how these zombies happened and enjoyed how the authors tied that in seamlessly to the Star Trek theme.
All the funny play-acting and dressing up of the characters as Star Trek characters was highly amusing and it was a great way to have normal every day human characters obtain weapons and attitudes that you wouldn't normally see.
The book was fairly upbeat for a zombie book; it was refreshing to read a zombie book that was tons of fun and left you feeling good at the end of it all.
Overall this is one of the best, if not the best, zombie book I have read all year. I just cannot get over what a great time I had reading it, how creative the story was, and how witty and enjoyable it was. If you are at all a fan of pulp fiction, humorous horror, zombies, action, or Star Trek pick up this book. The only other zombie book I have read this year that even comes close to touching this one was The Reapers are the Angels
by Alden Bell and Alden Bell's book is much more serious, talking a lot more at the philosophy of life and human nature.This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
- Speculative Fiction Reading Challenge Book List
- The 100+ Book Reading Challenge
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