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Zombie Fallout (Zombie Fallout #1)

by Mark Tufo (Goodreads Author), Sean Runnette (Narrator)

4.12 of 5 stars 4.12 · rating details · 2,251 ratings · 332 reviews

It was a flu season like no other. With the H1N1 virus running rampant throughout the country, people lined up in droves to try and attain one of the coveted vaccines. What was not known was the effect this largely untested, rushed to market, inoculation was to have on the unsuspecting throngs. Within days, feverish folk throughout the country convulsed, collapsed and died...more

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Published March 26th 2012 by Tantor Media (first published February 5th 2010)

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Zombie Fallout (Zombie Fallout, #1)
by Mark Tufo (Goodreads Author)

**Tantor Audio**MP3 CD**
**Currently in development with Illuminandi Media.**
Late Fall - 2010
Reuters - Estimates say that nearly three thousand people…more

[close] **Tantor Audio**MP3 CD**
**Currently in development with Illuminandi Media.**
Late Fall - 2010
Reuters - Estimates say that nearly three thousand people nationwide, and fifteen thousand people worldwide have died of the H1N1 virus or Swine flu and nearly eighty thousand cases have been confirmed in hospitals and clinics across the United States and the world, the World Heath Organization reported. The influenza pandemic of 2010, while not nearly as prolific as the one that raged in 1918 still has citizens around the world in a near state of panic.
New York Post (Headlines October 31st) - Beware! Children Carry Germs! - Halloween Canceled!
New York Times - (Headlines November 3rd) - Swine flu claims latest victim - Vice President surrounded by family and friends at the end.
Boston Globe - (Headlines November 28th) - Swine Flu Vaccinations Coming!
Boston Herald - (Headlines December 6th) - Shots in Short Supply - Lines Long!
National Enquirer - (Headlines December 7th) - The Dead Walk!
There would be no more headlines.
It started in a lab at the CDC (Center for Disease Control), virologists were so relieved to finally have an effective vaccination against the virulent swine flu. Pressure to come up with something had come from the highest office in the land. In an attempt at speed the virologists had made two mistakes, first they used a live virus and second they didn't properly test for side effects. Within days hundreds of thousands of vaccinations shipped across the US and the world. People lined up for the shots, like they were waiting in line for concert tickets. Fights broke out in drugstores as fearful throngs tried their best to get one of the limited shots. Within days the CDC knew something was wrong. Between 4 and 7 hours of receiving the shot roughly 95% succumbed to the active H1N1 virus in the vaccination. More unfortunate than the death of the infected was the added side effect of reanimation, it would be a decade before scientists were able to ascertain how that happened. The panic that followed couldn't be measured. Loved ones did what loved ones always do, they tried to comfort, their kids or their spouses or their siblings, but what came back was not human not even remotely. Those people that survived their first encounter with these monstrosities usually did not come through unscathed, if bitten they had fewer than 6 hours of humanity left, the clock was ticking. During the first few hysteria ridden days of The Coming as it has become known, many thought the virus was airborne, luckily that was not the case or nobody would have survived. It was a dark time in human history. One from which we may never be able to pull ourselves out of the ashes from. [close]

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May 12, 2013 The SciFi Chick Muses rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: apocalypse, supernatural-beings, zombies, books-in-a-series, horror

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I really wanted to like this book. Really!!! And after reading all the great reviews I didn't hesitate to purchase. Unfortunately, I did not like this book. To start off with I had a hard time to adjusting the "humor" that everyone else praised in their reviews. For me, it was like when you watch a movie and the lovers stop to "make out " as danger is about to overtake them. It was infuriating! I really disliked being in the middle of an action sequence and I would be forced to stop to listen to...more

6 likes · like · see review

Mar 17, 2012 Cheryl rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library

The Zombie Fallout Series by Mark Tufo thus far consists of Dr. Hugh Mann (a prequel), Zombie Fallout, A Plague Upon Your Family, and The End.... Although distinct books, I am reviewing them together because that is the way that I read them. Once I finished each book, I was so wrapped up in the story that I immediately purchased the next. Cumulatively, they are an epic apocalyptic tale, which reminded me of Steven King's The Stand and Robert McCammon's Swan Song.

If you read the first book, and

...more

If you read the first book, and are anything like me, you'll feel compelled to read the entire series. I recommend that you read the prequel Dr. Hugh Mann after the third book. It makes perfect sense then, but is a different story and style from the rest of the books. Zombie Fallout (book 1) sets the stage and is a better starting point.

Told in diary format primarily from the point of view of Mike Talbot, a tough and crude ex-Marine and self-proclaimed survivalist, the series follows a small group of family and friends (and the amazingly flatulent bulldog Henry) who are doing their best to survive a zombie apocalypse caused by a tainted swine flu vaccine. Led by Mike, they stay one small step ahead of the zombies who turn out to be a bit more complicated than George Romero envisioned. Mike's perspective is hysterically funny, primarily because he is a bundle of contradictions - a big tough man afraid of germs and bossed around by his wife, a survivalist who makes plans that are so half-baked that he calls them "ideas" instead of plans, and a ruthless killer who is tender, fiercely protective of his family, and takes incredible, spontaneous risks for strangers. Mike is a down to earth, farting (but never in front of his wife), and beer-drinking man. As such, the humor is sometimes a bit crude, but this makes the story ring true. Mike is also unfailingly loyal, which is endearing, as he cares for a motley collection of friends and family. His friends, particularly the enigmatic Tommy, make for an interesting supporting cast.[return][return]In the first book, Zombie Fallout, Mike encounters his first zombie while wearing a towel. The zombie is licking the peephole in Mike's front door, which outrages the germophobic Mike. This sets the precedent for the tone of the book. Mike's first priority is to rescue his son from Walmart, where he was working when the zombie breakout occurred. He also rescues Tommy, the "slow" door greeter who has an infectious grin, incredible girth and strength, and an unfailingly good nature. Tommy joins Mike and family, and the rest of the story is about their retreat to their gated community and their attempt to establish a safe haven. Along the way, Mike encounters a female zombie who he senses is somehow especially evil, and he begins to suspect that they are dealing with more than just a simple zombie outbreak.

Elements of horror, paranormal, supernatural, and dark humor elevate this series beyond your typical zombie fare. These elements, along with Mike's quirky personality & fierce, protective love of his companions, make this series poignant and worth reading. Highly recommended.(less)

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Sep 13, 2012 Boss rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-books, resources-for-adults-class-reads

Resources for Adults Horror Selection

I saw this book on a list of Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century. I've never thought of zombie novels as science fiction, but there are several on the sci fi lists, so maybe I'm the anomaly. In any case, Zombie Fallout had great ratings on goodreads, and the audio book was available for download from my local library, so I thought I'd give it a try.

After listening to it, I'd say it's a better fit for horror than sci fi. Even if it is sci fi, it doesn't b...more Resources for Adults Horror Selection

I saw this book on a list of Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century. I've never thought of zombie novels as science fiction, but there are several on the sci fi lists, so maybe I'm the anomaly. In any case, Zombie Fallout had great ratings on goodreads, and the audio book was available for download from my local library, so I thought I'd give it a try.

After listening to it, I'd say it's a better fit for horror than sci fi. Even if it is sci fi, it doesn't belong on the "best of" list! (It has since been bumped, which makes me wonder if it was spam-voted to the list in the first place.) More on that later.

Zombie Fallout begins with a swine flu epidemic, circa 2009. In desperation, the CDC releases an untested flu vaccine that cures the flu but (surprise!) also turns recipients into zombies. The plague spreads quickly, and before long human survivors are outnumbered. Our protagonist, Mike, is an ex-marine survivalist who has been stockpiling weapons and MREs for years, just in case of apocalypse (zombie, or otherwise). The townhome complex where he lives with his family becomes a makeshift safe-haven for human refugees, with Mike as one of the more skilled and outspoken leaders. Most of the book is setup: excursions outside the compound to rescue survivors and gather supplies hint that these zombies are not the "mindless" zombies of horror flicks. Although the undead are slow-moving, their attacks seem coordinated. Predictably, a zombie horde descends on the compound and eventually breaches the defenses; they're not as dumb as they look, those zombies! Still, I hope I'm not giving too much away in saying that Mike and his family escape. (Hint: there are six sequels so far.)

The story itself is interesting enough, but the storytelling is distractingly bad. It's told in first-person from Mike's point of view. His narrative style is amusing: he's manly and self-deprecating and full of corny jokes. Initially, I wanted to give the author (Mark Tufo) the benefit of the doubt and assume that any narrative awkwardness was intentional -- just part of Mike's casual, everyman style. Eventually, though, the painful phrasing ("from which he came from") and syntax/grammar errors ("penultimate" to mean "ultimate") were more than I could overlook. Even the sections that were told in another voice were painful. (Mike's wife narrates briefly, and there is (inexplicably) a section in the middle that is told from a third-person omniscient point of view.) This book needs an editor. Badly.

Still, it was an amusing diversion during a long car ride. I just don't care enough about Mike to keep reading.

I can see this book appealing to fans of zombie fiction who want a series they can stick with for a while. It's got humor, gore, action, and a protagonist with wit and charm. But unfortunately, it's so poorly constructed, I can't see myself recommending it very enthusiastically.
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Jan 25, 2013 Brice Meerman rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: goodreads-firstreads

***I WON THIS BOOK FOR FREE THROUGH GOODREADS FIRST READS***

Wow what a very good book. 3.5 stars.

This isn't your average everyday Zombie book (and or first book in a series either). Main character is a former marine and a survivalist. Now before you go and say...isn't that just convenient...yes, obviously it is, but why wouldn't someone like Mike " don't call me Michael" Talbot write a journal about his experiences during an apocalypse that he's been preparing for for nearly three decade? When...more

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Apr 02, 2013 Di_turner rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-books, science-fiction, favorites

This type of book is not new - people get virus, die and turn into zombies, wander around trying to eat people, take over the city; people build protected community to keep zombies out, do runs to get supplies, eventually get run-over and need to leave protected community. I guess what sets this book apart is the humour of the whole book - it really appealed to me, that's why it gets four stars instead of three!

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May 09, 2013 John Podlaski rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Laughing out loud while reading a zombie novel? "Zombie Fallout" is like that. The Talbot family are survivors and help to defend a gated community against the zombie onslaught. The protagonist, Mike Talbot, is witty - both in thought and spoken word, sometimes causing the reader stop for a moment to compose himself after a deep belly laugh. On occasion, he and other survivors leave the safety of the compound to scrounge for food and other supplies; as an ex-military soldier, he takes it upon hi...more

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Mar 30, 2013 Twainy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

OK don't buy this book if you are looking for a perfectly written, grammatically correct, literary masterpiece. IT'S A JOURNAL!! It's written by a guy on the run from zombies! I loved the humor!! It's his coping mechanism. That and the fact that he doesn't necessarily filter his thoughts gets him into trouble. If you take away his humor, boorishness & all of his psychoses all you would have is a strait up military man. Don't get me wrong, his foibles are occasionally frustrating but it seems...more

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Mar 13, 2013 Kurt Marquart rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Joe Peragino

I bought the first five of this series when Audible had a sale around Halloween. I never got around to listening to them until now, and I am hooked. The first person narrative lends itself perfectly to the zombie genre. I would regret getting the audio versions because now I want to read them too, but Sean Runnette's voice is perfectly suited to the main character. That, and working while I listen means I can listen to the rest of the series outside of "reading time." There's never enough of tha...more

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Aug 29, 2012 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After spending months trawling through some of the worst written books centred ont he zombie theme i still hadn't manged to scratch the itch of needing a good zombie book, then i found zombie fallout. There are too many good things wiping through my mind right now to even begin to know where to begin, lets see, okay, firsty there is Mike the main character, Marks style of writing has brought him to life i have added him to the list of people that if they were real i'd add to my dinner party invi...more

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Aug 22, 2012 Laine rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It seems Mark Tufo has a lot of fans, but I just didn't care for this book.

Maybe it was the style- it felt like I was reading the first draft. Even though it's a journal style (which, really, who has time to keep a journal during an apocalypse?), it still should have been edited. Some sentences were just hard to follow, and some felt like a completely different writing style than the rest of it. Definitely needs an editor.

Perhaps part of it was the cliché- it's nearly impossible to find a zombie...more

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Aug 01, 2012 Anthony rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My comments are for the entire collection of Zombie Fallout. I'd say Tufo gets it in his treatment of the zombie genre. The fight of the everyday people in the face of adversity and daily struggle for survival out side the walls of a safe family home. Tufo offers depth to his characters. A welcome relief in a world of cookie cutter stylized personalities seen in ninety percent of our mass media. Zombie Fallout is also light on the militaristic format too which I appreciate. I like the protagonis...more

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Jun 25, 2012 Daniel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: horror

I love me some zombies. And I always appreciate the hangman's humor in any "The End of the World as we know it" type of story as I am pretty sure that is how I would handle it.

I really do like the narrative voice of the main character, Michael Talbot. As a military guy I can relate, and the really funny bit is that Mike is a zombie fan in the novel. So unlike some stories where apparently all the characters are dumbfounded that zombies exist, with no knowledge of the lore and stories that surrou...more

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Jun 20, 2012 Susannah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: thrillers, zombies, adult-apocalyptic

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I wasn't sure if it would really be my kind of thing, although I've read a number of zombie novels recently which were excellent! (check out the Newsflesh series by Mira Grant, and Alison Hewitt is Trapped by Madeleine Roux) I was quite put off by the cover when I first checked out the reviews for the series... I'm really more interested in the survival aspect of this kind of fiction than the blood and gore. Then a friend passed his audiobooks on to me an...more I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I wasn't sure if it would really be my kind of thing, although I've read a number of zombie novels recently which were excellent! (check out the Newsflesh series by Mira Grant, and Alison Hewitt is Trapped by Madeleine Roux) I was quite put off by the cover when I first checked out the reviews for the series... I'm really more interested in the survival aspect of this kind of fiction than the blood and gore. Then a friend passed his audiobooks on to me and I figured I'd give them a go, not wanting to judge a book by its cover. It turned out to be quite funny in a dry way, with a good reader. I got into it quickly, within just the first few pages, and was rarely bored throughout the book. The characters could have been written with a bit more depth, but they were likeable, often funny, and mostly very interesting. There was enough action to keep things well paced, without loading it so heavily that there was no room for anything else. The story had enough unique qualities to make it stand out.

I read a lot of reviews here that talked about bad spelling and grammar that was off-putting, but luckily the audiobook didn't suffer from that fate, for obvious reasons, so perhaps if that kind of thing annoys you, try the audio version instead!?

There were a few things that marked my rating down. Firstly the abundance of body-humour, like fart jokes - though really that was more of a slight irritant than a full on annoyance. Along with that was a bit of a too-much-information problem. I mean, really, I don't want to know about every time a character has an unfortunate toilet accident!

Mostly though, I was disappointed by the lack of a strong female lead. The women in the book were almost without exception happy to stand back and let the brave, strong men do, well, pretty much everything!!! Honestly, if my kids were under threat of death by zombie, I'd be doing everything within my power to protect them, whether I wanted to hide in the house or not! Pick up a freaking gun, learn how to use it, then go do something useful... Or at the very least be on top of things on the home front!!! *Rolls Eyes*

Lastly, the book suffered a little from a tendency of the characters to miss obvious solutions to things simply because it served the story for them to do so. That really frustrated me at times. They weren't stupid, so why on earth were they acting so dumb?

All that said though, it was an enjoyable read and I'm going straight onto the second book in the series... I'm very interested to know where things go from here and whether perhaps some of the issues I had with this first instalment might resolve as the series progresses. :)

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May 10, 2012 Joshua Munson rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Some people find it difficult to bash a Kindle book that only cost them $.99. I, however, am not one of those people. The only enjoyment I received from this book was that apparently I'm not alone in legitimately wanting a Z apocalypse to happen. After that heap of praise it should be noted that there is a HUGE difference between juvenile humor and lame, cringe-worthy attempts at humor. The first chapter alone reminded me of watching a stand-up comedian and literally looking away because I was s...more

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Apr 25, 2012 Sara rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I love to read. I read a LOT. I read books in a wide variety of genre. I confess a preference for the paranormal and horror, so why have I not come across Mark Tufo’s books before?

Zombie Fallout is the first in a series and begins just after the plague starts. It is written in the form of a journal, which is narrated by the main character, Michael Talbot. Mike is forced to become the Man of the Hour when an untested H1N1 vaccine turns thousands into the walking dead. He’s healthy, he’s strong, h...more I love to read. I read a LOT. I read books in a wide variety of genre. I confess a preference for the paranormal and horror, so why have I not come across Mark Tufo’s books before?

Zombie Fallout is the first in a series and begins just after the plague starts. It is written in the form of a journal, which is narrated by the main character, Michael Talbot. Mike is forced to become the Man of the Hour when an untested H1N1 vaccine turns thousands into the walking dead. He’s healthy, he’s strong, he’s a former Marine, he’s got a good dose of common sense, and he has a sense of humor which helps in the sanity department. Being a touch paranoid, uh, I mean being a survivalist, he is prepared. He just never quite expected that he needed to be prepared for zombies, but he can adapt on the fly. Relying on his training and skills, Mike sets out to do whatever he can to save his family, friends, and as many of the still-living as possible.

Along the way, Mike meets quite the variety of characters, both heroic and vile. His cause is aided in unexpected and sometimes unexplainable ways by those you’d assume to be a liability rather than an asset. Ryan Seacrest lends a hand, in a unique way. People who could be of great help show their worst side, and choices have to be made. Somewhere along the line Mike also figures out that these zombies may be dead, but they’re not quite brain dead.

I found Mr. Tufo’s writing style to be refreshingly “real”. By that I mean he writes the way ordinary people talk – at least how people with Michael Talbot’s background would talk. Is the grammar and sentence structure perfect? No. Would your grammar and sentence structure be perfect if you were dodging zombies? Probably not. Mike’s wife and sons make what I’ll call “guest appearances”, taking over chapters when Mike is occupied elsewhere and unable to keep us up to speed on what’s happening. These chapters are written in an obviously different style, which to me proves Mr. Tufo’s intent.

At any rate, Zombie Fallout is an easy read. Gory? Yes, but it wouldn’t be a zombie story without some gore, right? It’s ok though, the sense of humor throughout brings balance to the blood and guts. This isn’t the kind of story that’ll give you nightmares, but it IS the kind of story that’s going to make you want to read Zombie Fallout 2 right away!
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Apr 07, 2012 Deni Skeens rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Zombie Fallout was fun. I enjoyed reading a well written, good voiced and nicely expressed, self pubb'd Zombie adventure.
I would have to point out that the narrative voice, by far, is one of the quirkiest and strongest that I had read in a while, and certainly plays a key factor in my caring for the character and his/his family's/his fellow survivors development. I found much humor in alot of the words and prose, descriptions for other characters, and if I have smell anymore of what the author w...more Zombie Fallout was fun. I enjoyed reading a well written, good voiced and nicely expressed, self pubb'd Zombie adventure.
I would have to point out that the narrative voice, by far, is one of the quirkiest and strongest that I had read in a while, and certainly plays a key factor in my caring for the character and his/his family's/his fellow survivors development. I found much humor in alot of the words and prose, descriptions for other characters, and if I have smell anymore of what the author wants me to smell... well... It was realistic and modern with most cases; though I would have loved to have seen the main character go a little more military heavy, since he is ex-, afterall.
The story itself is pretty standard as far as Z-day events can go, and that in itself is fine. The pacing is quick, the zombie encounters are many, many and more, and there are some good intensity stagings that kept me clicking the button on my Kindle even though my eyes were spent.
My only, and biggest gripe for the novel was the formatting and editing. I have read tons of self pubb'd editions in the last few months in my quest to make up on my own on the decision, and have run into one of the reasons that tend to steer negatively.
The layout wasn't formatted correctly and could be quite a destracting change when re-adjusting to the justification scheme. (almost like it was left or justified, then center aligned) If you're like me and immerse completely, then something as simple as the visual flow can be a bit off putting at times, but it doesn't kill (no pun intended) the enjoyment.
I do think that the story could have been edited down a bit. There were later chapters that tended to get a bit wordy and heavy with inessential information and that dropped me from the scene, which lost some compelling momentum, but again for the story it wasn't a "game over" screen.
All in all, good read, especially if you like quick, quirky, zombie action, and fun. (yeah so, I'm a little off and tend to think Zombie = fun. Takes all kinds? Ok, maybe not! ;)
I have already purchased the follow-ups and am looking forward to enjoying the series.(less)

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May 06, 2011 Chris Walker rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Very new to novels of this genre(although huge fan of everything Zombie on Film), but after enjoying World War Z(Max Brooks)& Warm bodies (Isaac marion) in paperback, and with the arrival of my Christmas present kindle i read numerous Zed novels with great reviews on amazon.What can i say??? There is some Pure Crap out there!! Hence Zombie Fallout was to be my last foray into the Genre and i did not hold much hope..... Oh how i like to be proved wrong, this book was a revelation. Mr Tufo has...more

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Aug 28, 2012 Debra Lowman rated it 3 of 5 stars

Zombie Fallout is the first in a series of several titles written by Tufo and is narrated by Sean Runnette. Runnette sounds, to me, just like Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond), which is fitting, actually, in this low-end zombie apocalypse romp.

Mike Talbot is an ex-marine, self-proclaimed survivalist, husband and father. When the H1N1 vaccine turns millions into zombies, Mike must leave the safety of Turtle Hill housing development, find his children and bring them home safely all while blast...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Mike (the Paladin) rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In a way here I could just scream...and not from horror of zombies. No, I could scream from frustration. I've not been drawn into the midst of the overwhelming flood of movies, video games and of course books revolving around the "zombie apocalypse". I think it can be a good idea, even a workable one, but I've just never found a version of it that drew me in.

This did at first. A pretty good character and a plot that at least isn't a carbon copy of all the others (though I have seen the idea used...more

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Jun 27, 2012 Dan Gilbert rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Before I get started, I should admit that I only could make it halfway through this book because it was so bad, so I'm only reviewing the first half. However, I doubt that the second half could have done anything to redeem what I already endured.

I really can't understand all the good reviews of this book. The writing was horrible... inconsistent, juvenile in many cases, and packed full of grammatical errors. There were cultural references that were simply wrong... saying that the American Expres...more

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Feb 03, 2013 Matthew rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I wanted to like this book going into it, but that simply didn't happen. I pushed myself through it, reading poorly composed sentence after horribly composed jokes. There were constant references to fill you in on just how funny the main character Mike is supposed to be. It was a book full of poop jokes which I can laugh at usually, but they got in the way of the flow throughout the entire piece. I don't mind humor in serious situations and I don't need jokes to be intellectual to find them amus...more

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Jan 08, 2012 Sarajane rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm not great at leaving reviews, but I have to try. This book was an amazing read. If you find it hard to read a book with grammatical errors or run on sentences or even paragraph long "thoughts" from the main character, is book is not for you. Unless of course, you are an avid zombie lover like myself. I loved how the author wrote this book. It's a refreshing change to the perfect writing of most authors. You can actually relate to the person. Mark Tufo writes, how most normal people think and...more

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Mar 06, 2013 Allison Alvarado rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 01, 2013 Peter Heinrich rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, horror

A few years ago I read David Wellington's Monster Island on a recommendation and it was great. It offered a fresh, original perspective on zombie mindlessness and was written well, so I finished the trilogy and even gave Wellington's vampire series a try.

Of course, now my shelf has a bunch of monster books on it. People see this and think, "Whoa, you're really into monsters. I'll remember that around Christmas. And your birthday. And whenever I find a vaguely monsterish-looking paperback at the...more

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May 16, 2013 Nora rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Highly disappointing! I was all set to enjoy a good old-fashioned zombie book - full of gore and violence, but what I got was a big heap of misogyny. The two main female characters, family members of the protagonist, a self proclaimed survivalist, don't even know how to load a gun. There is a whole section of the book devoted to their hi-jinks, from fiddling with the guns, to decided to go on a "cigarette run" in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, to running into a "pornstar-look-a-like slut" th...more

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Mar 12, 2013 Travis rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I won't bore you with a plot details or favorite characters. For all intents and purposes, this is a zombie story told from the perspective of a normal, everyday devoted father of three with a ball busting wife, a soft spot for the family dog and a doomsday preparedness hobby. Sounds cut and dry but there's much more going on that the book slowly reveals and foreshadows.

I prefer, what I like to call 'oral' narrative novels. Allow me to elaborate. An 'oral' narrative is first person with a natura...more

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Sep 09, 2012 Kristy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I usually go for books with at least 300 or more pages, but while surfing Barnes & Noble online I ran across this one which is a couple hundred pages. Being a fan of "The Walking Dead" series and all things apocalyptic that includes zombies, I decided to give it a whirl! I was immediately enthralled with the book, the author writes with a great sense of humor but also has a way of describing everything the characters are going through that makes you feel like you are there and zombies are b...more

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Mar 07, 2013 Travis Simmons rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was easily a four star book. I didn't find much wrong with it, except sometimes the flashbacks happened at certain points that ruined the flow of the story. AND they seemed to happen at a point of some pretty awesome action. Mark also had a flare for some over description in this book, and at points he would dwell on the description to the point you just wanted to say "OK the horse is dead." With that being said, the description didn't kill the story.

Zombie Fallout is a journal (mostly) wri...more

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Jan 31, 2013 Suzette rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am not really sure what to say about this one. I appreciated SOME of the humor. Much of it was like a 13 year old had written it, and a 13 year old with a fixation on flatulence and little or no respect for women, gays, etc..

The book might have been really good with the benefit of a good editor. The grammar was bad, words were misused, general cultural information was just wrong. There were inconsistencies in the story line that were glaring. I'll give a couple of examples (though there were f...more I am not really sure what to say about this one. I appreciated SOME of the humor. Much of it was like a 13 year old had written it, and a 13 year old with a fixation on flatulence and little or no respect for women, gays, etc..

The book might have been really good with the benefit of a good editor. The grammar was bad, words were misused, general cultural information was just wrong. There were inconsistencies in the story line that were glaring. I'll give a couple of examples (though there were far more than this):

Within an hour of the zombie breakout worldwide there were empty streets and rotting people with only a couple of survivors on the roof at Walmart and apparently no traffic of any kind except the family that the story centers on.

More than a week after the outbreak, the time frame is a little fuzzy, the hero enjoys ice cold milk and cookies. I'll buy the ice cold since it was winter but why would a dairy still be operating or where did they get a cow?

I was appalled by the portrayal of women as weak, stupid, self centered, and so much more. I find it hard to believe that the dogs got a better role in the story than the lead character's wife or daughter. Every woman, dead or otherwise, wanted a piece of the lead man and I'm not talking about violence. It was ridiculous.

I was laughing out loud at some of it and not at the intended humor while at other times I was speechless with outrage at the completely warped depiction of women.

The writing was almost schizophrenic. At times it was very fluid, being told from the first person view of the lead man, and even with the grammar issues it wasn't hard to follow. Every now and then it was as if one writer was switched out with another with a larger vocabulary choosing long words where short ones would have seemed more in character (and often using them incorrectly) and using flowery prose rather than comparing everything to something in popular culture with a joke.

I am going to give the next book a try in the hopes that the author gained an editor or at the very least a friend over 14 years old to read the book before publishing it. I can only hope that he has a female in his life that set him straight about the skewed view of women in his writing as well. My fingers are crossed but I'm not holding my breath. (less)

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Apr 23, 2011 Anthony rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I won't bother outlining the plot of this one other than to say it's a typical zombie outbreak scenario. It focuses on an ex-marine and his family as they try to survive the zombie apocalypse. I've read dozens of zombie books and enjoyed nearly everyone. The problem I have with Zombie Fallout isn't with the story. The problem is the writing.

The book is overflowing with spelling and grammatical errors. In something that is self published, it's not surprising to find a few mistakes here and there,...more

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