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Rot & Ruin (Benny Imura #1)

by Jonathan Maberry (Goodreads Author)

4.16 of 5 stars 4.16 · rating details · 9,806 ratings · 1,619 reviews

In the zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America where Benny Imura lives, every teenager must find a job by the time they turn fifteen or get their rations cut in half. Benny doesn't want to apprentice as a zombie hunter with his boring older brother Tom, but he has no choice. He expects a tedious job whacking zoms for cash, but what he gets is a vocation that will teach h...more

Paperback, 458 pages

Published May 3rd 2011 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (first published September 14th 2010)

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Community Reviews

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Jun 07, 2011 Lyndsey rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: about-zombies-purple-people-eaters, reviewed-2011, reviewed-3-stars, reviewed-2010

You know when you see yourself in a picture and think, "Ahhhhhhhh! Is that me?"

You just don't look right because you're used to seeing yourself from a different angle in the mirror. That's how this entire book felt because I thought I was seeing it all wrong. Something just seemed off. But more on that later *long drawn out dramatic pause*............ Dun, dun, duuuuuuun.

Beware! Minor Spoilers are afoot (and tagged). That's if you can spoil something that's already 'Rot'ten and 'Ruin'ed to begin...more

44 likes · like · see review

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Lyndsey Okay thanks :-) I have the sequels and I'd like to read them just because I'm a huge fan of zombie fiction, but I'm not sure I can muster up the enthu...more
Nov 12, 2012 07:10am

Randi Barrow I actually don't agree at all. I think thy said "god" too much in it.. would have sounded better if it were "oh my god" but that's just a slight imper...more
Dec 11, 2012 04:33am

Jun 11, 2010 Kat Kennedy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fun-fantasy, kat-s-book-reviews

My little brother and I generally get along very well. Except for an occasional intellectual disagreements on ethics, morality, religion or politics we're pretty close. However, he can sometimes be a naive pain-in-the-butt. Until reading Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry, I assumed this was something that would have to be cured by time, experience, and several well-timed and well-placed blows to the head.

However, parents and old siblings can now breath a sigh of relief because Jonathan Maberry...more My little brother and I generally get along very well. Except for an occasional intellectual disagreements on ethics, morality, religion or politics we're pretty close. However, he can sometimes be a naive pain-in-the-butt. Until reading Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry, I assumed this was something that would have to be cured by time, experience, and several well-timed and well-placed blows to the head.

However, parents and old siblings can now breath a sigh of relief because Jonathan Maberry has devised the perfect solution to our problems with snot-nosed, idiot teenagers!

In ten easy days your temperamental child can be transformed from shit-head to SMART-head! That's right. For only $49.99 plus postage and handling, to be paid in three easy installments you can have your very own zombie apocalypse! Guaranteed to straighten out and rectify almost any maladjusted behavior in children (excluding violence and extreme fear) and turn them into useful members of society. And if it doesn't work out - the zombies clean up the mess FOR you and nobody needs to know... CALL NOW for 250,000 extra zombies FREE for the price of 6,837,452,001!

Rot & Ruin is a great first installment in a zombie dystopian future about a boy named Benny and his older, exasperated brother Tom. This book is well written. Benny is a great character and his friends Chong, Morgie and Nix are good for a chuckle.

Tom, his dashing, debonair brother is lovable and... well, kind of hot really. Trying to deal with Benny as a fifteen year old and regular pain-in-the-ass and build some kind of relationship between the two of them, he drags Benny out of their safe town and into the 'Rot & Ruin'.

Benny's adventures there lead him to new insight into human nature and zombie nature. When things turn bad for his girlcrush, Nix, ("Oh no!" Benny says, "Don't tell people I have a crush on her! It's embarrassing and I might get cooties!") Benny has some quick growing up to do.

I really liked this story. It was such a refreshing difference in both the genre and in terms of the books I've been reading lately. The big romance in this book is not really between Benny and Nix or Benny and Lilah. It's a bromance between Benny and his brother Tom as they come together to heal their relationship and bring their small family back together.

The story is packed with action, adventure, zombies, gore and violence. That's why we read it, right? But it's also filled with loving, tender moments between the two brothers as they learn and discover new things about each other.

Nix and Lilah, the two girls in this story, are kick-arse and I give Maberry full credit and appreciation for developing two complex, intelligent and capable characters that totally own this book. From Nix who is strong and thoughtful, resourceful and compassionate, to Lilah who is cold, intelligent, capable, resourceful and dangerous. I want to see more women like this in fiction.

All up, this book is a fun, wonderful read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I can't wait to read more from Jonathan Maberry! Oh, and if you call now, I'll add in ANOTHER 250,000 zombies to that offer. 555-ZOMBIE-YEY-111. That's, 555-ZOMBIE-YEY-111.(less)

44 likes · like · see review

Jul 29, 2011 Trudi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: zombies, young-adult, 2011-reads, apocalyptic-types, survive-this, group-in-peril, series, books-i-want-to-marry, my-boys, infection, science-fiction, horror

I have been on a zombie reading frenzy lately – I see a zombie book and I must read it, I can’t help myself. And the books are coming fast and furious, especially in the YA area. Some are good, some are awful, and some are outstanding. Jonathan Maberry’s Rot and Ruin falls somewhere just shy of outstanding. It reeks of EPIC WIN.

So yeah, I love this book and before I go all fangirl over Tom Imura and squee my head off let me highlight why you should start this series:

1) It is very well-written -...more

25 likes · like · see review

May 10, 2011 Penny rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is what I learned from reading Rot & Ruin:

1. Zombies iz people too. So they should be treated with respect, yo. (more about this later)

2. Books containing zombies can be really irritating and boring.

You see, I didn't know this was a possibility. I mean, it's zombies we're talking about here. How could zombies be boring? Turns out all you need to do is add a lame teenage romance and BAM! What really matters (ZOMBIES!) gets shoved onto the backburner in favor of the not-so-important (lo...more

54 likes · like · see review

Nov 20, 2010 Morgan F rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, pulse-it, zombies, dystopian-apocalyptic, fantasy, 2010, good-sized, goodreads-author, its-a-boy, read-2010, e-book

I am. I so am. BRING IT

I'm just kidding. When there is a zombie apocalypse (no, not if), I'm about 98% sure I would not survive. I would be like those chicks in horror movies who get killed off in the opening credits. But there is the 2% I do survive initially, and then after that, I have a plan.

I am skilled in no way shape or form. I hate the wilderness and physical activity. I am not a quick thinker and I panic under pressure. So basically, I am screwed unless I find Tom Imura. Tom Imura was...more

36 likes · like · see review

May 23, 2012 AH rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Young adults, boys

Shelves: dystopian, zzread-feb2011, zombies, young-adult

Is the zombie apocalypse close at hand?

Are zombies the new vampire? Both are undead. Both bite. Unfortunately, zombies have gotten the short end of the stick. Zombies are not glamorous. They are not sexy or sparkly either. Zombies are just ….well ewww.

I must preface this review with the fact that I usually don’t like zombies. I don’t go out of my way to read about zombies, or watch *shudder* zombie movies. I get squeamish at the sight of blood and gore.

Rot & Ruin is a great read. Aimed at...more Is the zombie apocalypse close at hand?

Are zombies the new vampire? Both are undead. Both bite. Unfortunately, zombies have gotten the short end of the stick. Zombies are not glamorous. They are not sexy or sparkly either. Zombies are just ….well ewww.

I must preface this review with the fact that I usually don’t like zombies. I don’t go out of my way to read about zombies, or watch *shudder* zombie movies. I get squeamish at the sight of blood and gore.

Rot & Ruin is a great read. Aimed at the young adult market, I can certainly see my 14 year old son getting a kick out of this book. I loved its underlying theme: zombies are just like people except they’re dead (and they may want to bite you). I despaired at the world of Rot & Ruin, a world of abandoned technology and zombies.

Rot & Ruin is the story of Benny Imura and his legendary brother Tommy. Benny barely remembers First Night, the night the zombies took over. Benny is just your average 15 year old boy who must find a job in order to keep receiving his food rations. The job market in the zombie post apocalypse sucks, probably worse than today’s job market. Benny tries some truly horrid jobs, but never lasts. He finally takes the last possible job – his brother’s apprentice. Tommy is a heroic zombie hunter and well known throughout their world. I really liked how Benny’s view of Tommy changes significantly during the book and how Tommy allows this change of attitude little by little.

I loved how Benny is portrayed as just a regular teenager, with teenage angst and issues. Benny’s friends are also very entertaining. I loved Morgie and Chong and enjoyed reading about their job hunting woes. Nix was another interesting character and I loved how all the boys wanted to date her. I was intrigued by the Lost Girl Lilah. For a girl who grew up on her own, she was fierce, lethal and very resourceful. The bad guys in this book are especially heinous. Charlie Pink-Eye and Motor City Hammer are very unscrupulous zombie hunters.

I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to the next installment of Benny and Tommy Imura’s story.

Guest post on Paranormal Wastelands

Update 1/15/12 - Prequel to this story is posted on this link. Click on the banner that says Bonus Material (in the middle of the page).

Update 5/23/12 - Rot & Ruin is now on the Badass Book Reviews' Best Badass Zombie Books List. Check it out!
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20 likes · like · see review

Jan 17, 2012 Lou rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: other-beings, ya, june-read

http://more2read.com/?review=rot-ruin-benny-imura-1-by-jonathan-maberry
This story is about two brothers, The Imura brothers, Tom the bounty hunter and Benny the not so yet bounty hunter. Benny since First Night, the time when the Zombie outbreak began has not yet killed, has now come to the stage in his life where he's going to have to make some big decisions. Will he embrace the path of a bounty hunter like his brother or not? What sets Benny on a stepping-stone to his chosen destiny is the sea...more

21 likes · like · see review

Nov 07, 2010 Janina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Janina by: Tina & Teccc (don't you love how this sounds with the title?)

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, dystopian-apocalyptic, read-in-2010, titles-i-love, the-zombicalypse, pure-entertainment, male-pov, series-lost-interest

Rot & Ruin was the first zombie book I ever read and judging by how much I liked it, I think it won't be the last (recommendations are welcome; I'm not exactly an expert). I would categorize it as middle grade, though, so if you're looking for a 'hard-core' ;) zombie book, you might want to look elsewhere.

First of all, I really like the makeup of this book: We have an eye-catching – and slightly creepy cover – and then on the inside we have some 'zombie-cards' (the kids in the story collect...more Rot & Ruin was the first zombie book I ever read and judging by how much I liked it, I think it won't be the last (recommendations are welcome; I'm not exactly an expert). I would categorize it as middle grade, though, so if you're looking for a 'hard-core' ;) zombie book, you might want to look elsewhere.

First of all, I really like the makeup of this book: We have an eye-catching – and slightly creepy cover – and then on the inside we have some 'zombie-cards' (the kids in the story collect them) of famous people and a 'zombified' author portrait. Laughed out loud at some of this stuff. And the best: The book's interior – the story – can actually keep up with that. Too many other books with awesome covers disappointed lately.

About the story:
The US in the near future: most of the country has been deserted; people live together in small towns behind huge fences, shielding themselves against millions of zombies. Benny Imura lives in Mountainside, together with his half brother Tom, a zombie hunter, after his parents were killed and resurrected as zombies on First Night – the night the dead began to rise and threw the whole world into chaos.
Although he believes his older brother to be a coward and their relationship isn't exactly a good one, Benny joins the 'family business' and begins to hunt zombies together with Tom. Soon he has to learn that the dead aren't the real evil out there.

Despite the fact that this novel is clearly plot driven and includes a fair amount of violence and gore, it also has its quiet moments and there were even a few scenes that made me get a little teary-eyed. This novel is about so much more than 'going out killing zombies' – it focuses just as strongly on relationships of all kinds. At the centre of attention is Benny’s development after his first trip out into the Ruin: to be honest, he comes across as quite a pain-in-the-ass in the beginning, though he clearly has a good heart. But when his friend Nix is in danger, he is forced to mature quickly, sheds his know-it-all attitude towards his older brother and does everything possible to help those close to him.

I loved how the relationship between Benny and Tom developed, how Benny slowly began to realise what was behind his brother's mask of indifference and started to admire the way he did his job. Their relationship is what keeps this story going. The occasional banter between them was fun, and their 'bonding moments' were moving.

Also, hats off to Jonathan Maberry for writing two female characters who clearly own this story. Both of the girls are resourceful and strong in their own way, they don't need any rescuing and are perfectly able to make – and defend – their own choices. I would really like to see more girls of this type in all genres.

And most of all, I appreciated that all these characters dealt with traumatic experiences as I would expect real people to do. They suffered and didn’t move on quickly after a few moments of sadness and anger. They carried those experiences with them, and they have changed their ways of behaviour and altered their personalities.

Although this novel clearly has its own ending and could be read as a stand-alone (no mean cliff-hanger here), there clearly is the potential for a sequel. Will be checking out Dust and Decay (which is just a great title, by the way)!
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May 20, 2011 Mariel rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: the three r's

Recommended to Mariel by: retch & roll

I don't really have anything new to add about Rot & Ruin other than throwing in my voice to chime with the naysayers in a bored "Nay!" I may even be lip synching. I'm not feeling the effort at all.
Imagine the most stereotypical response of a fifteen year old boy and apply that to any points the zombie killing concept/teenaged boy living in a post apocalyptic world can dredge up and that's your book. Stir in a dash of "I should have cared all along!" and generic teen friendships story. Add a...more

7 likes · like · see review

Oct 27, 2012 JennyJen rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: A therapist. Maybe they could wade through all the "feelings" and bro love.

Recommended to JennyJen by: Sadly, myself.

Shelves: abandoned, and-it-all-falls-down, ayfkm, blah, books-i-want-to-drop-kick, booooring, braaaaiiins, disappointing, dnf, expected-so-much-more, eye-strain-from-copious-rolling, facepalm, i-m-over-it, lackluster-series-start, male-pov, meh, no-soup-for-you, not-my-cup-of-tea, oy, potential-down-the-shitter, read-2012, somebody-slap-that-protagonist-pls, stoopit, wanna-kick-hero-in-the-balls, wtf, young-adult, zombies, mc-sucks-ass, reviewed

AND YOU CALL YOURSELF A ZOMBIE BOOK?

HOLY DUMB SHIT, BATMAN.

**Mild spoils marked.

For the record, I read half of this book. Zombies appeared twice. Two times. Two measly times for maybe one boring, emotionless minute each of those times. I mean, seriously, can't I get one Zombie Happy Meal in half a damn zombie book?

What am I saying? I'm blaspheming on behalf of zombie lovers everywhere. This isn't a zombie book, so much as it's a tale of two boring-ass brothers, one of which is an annoying, vapi...more

8 likes · like · see review

Dec 24, 2012 Book Chick City rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, zombies, book-list-2011, horror

"Rot & Ruin" is a difficult review to write. It took me almost a month to finish and yet I really enjoyed it. It's quite a lengthy novel but for the first 250 pages, not very much happens other than a lot of ground work and characterisation, which I must say is out of this world.

However, although the first half took me weeks to get through due to putting it down, reading something else and then picking it up again, the second half of this book I gobbled up in two days, and now I've finished...more "Rot & Ruin" is a difficult review to write. It took me almost a month to finish and yet I really enjoyed it. It's quite a lengthy novel but for the first 250 pages, not very much happens other than a lot of ground work and characterisation, which I must say is out of this world.

However, although the first half took me weeks to get through due to putting it down, reading something else and then picking it up again, the second half of this book I gobbled up in two days, and now I've finished it I have to say that "Rot & Ruin" is a pretty sensational young adult novel.

Benny is a fourteen year old boy who lives with his older step-brother, Tom, in a fairly small community which banded together after 'First Night' when zombies took over the world. The humans that survived still really don't know what caused the rise. Benny is old enough now that he needs to find a job and so joins Tom in the family business of killing "zoms".

Benny's character arc is just fantastic. He begins the novel as an annoying child that really doesn't understand much of what is going on around him, and interprets memories as he sees fit. But as the story moves forward Benny learns a lot and begins to understand his brother Tom and by the end of the novel Benny is a true hero, much more mature and certainly more likeable.

Tom is a great character and I identified more with his character than Benny's but I think that is because he is more my age. He's strong, talented with a sword and has a good soul. He kills "zoms" not because he finds it entertaining like a lot of the other bounty hunters but because he wants to give families of the damned closure and he does it with as much dignity as the situation and circumstances allow. His character is very central to Benny's as Tom helps him understand and grow. Tom teaches Benny a lot knowingly, by directly trying to teach and show him things, but also unknowingly, by his actions and attitude.

The characterisation is superb. The descriptions of the surrounding desolated, zombie ridden landscape is vivid and the community the characters live in is described well. You can tell that each character has had time spent on them; fleshing them out so they are realistic and believable. As well as Benny and Tom, there are many other characters that make up this novel and give it its depth. They are all crucial to my overall impression of "Rot & Ruin" and without them I'm not sure the characters of Benny and Tom would have worked so well.

"Rot & Ruin" isn't all about the zombies. In fact there's not a lot of zombie action, it is mostly about the human interactions and confrontations which occur because of the messed up world they live in. It is very thought-provoking.

I knew what was coming at the end, in the epilogue, but it was incredibly effective all the same. The ending moved me and brought tears to my eyes. It really is a fantastic ending and yet leaves the story open to more books in the world of The Ruin.

VERDICT:

"Rot & Ruin" is a fabulous novel that has much more to do with the characters and the world they live in rather than just undead brain munchers. However, although I would have preferred a bit more zombie action, this novel is amazing and I would definitely recommend it to everyone - but be patient because it's totally worth it.(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Dec 11, 2010 Lucy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: zombies, young-adult, disappearing-parent-syndrome

To say I am a fan of zombie books and films would be putting it mildly. As a small child in church, I'd sit on the kneeler and watch people going up for communion and imagine who I would want in my post-zombie village.

Another fact you should know: I read half of Jonathan Maberry's Patient Zero and I just wasn't into it. I kept putting it down and stopped picking it up, not because it was bad, but because I didn't really care about what happened next. I remember finding the dialogue awkward and u...more To say I am a fan of zombie books and films would be putting it mildly. As a small child in church, I'd sit on the kneeler and watch people going up for communion and imagine who I would want in my post-zombie village.

Another fact you should know: I read half of Jonathan Maberry's Patient Zero and I just wasn't into it. I kept putting it down and stopped picking it up, not because it was bad, but because I didn't really care about what happened next. I remember finding the dialogue awkward and unnatural, especially when the author was going through FBI measures, but I can't say for sure without a re-read. However, Rot & Ruin, on the other hand, I read in a single day.

Writing caliber wasn't my problem with Maberry's first novel. He does write well. He has a good pace and rhythm, makes excellent word choices and, at least in Rot & Ruin, his dialogue rarely felt stilted or false. He has a lot of talent and I can see he's still polishing it into something particularly remarkable. Rot & Ruin captivated me so much I might even give Patient Zero another shot, although I'll have to buy a second copy since I gave away my first. I will, however, be keeping my copy of Rot & Ruin.

The story was pretty original, the lead character's voice strong and clear, and the minor characters were charming. I'm a fan of Sarah Rees Brennan's Demon Lexicon because in a sea of YA fiction about unhealthy supernatural romance Brennan wrote about a family, about love and sacrifice. Rot & Ruin had similar wonderful markers. The important relationship was between the two brothers, while the rest of the story circled around them in perfectly timed movements.

Some zombie novels suffer from having the zombies be a distant, obscure part of the universe that you rarely see. Other zombie novels are annoying, non-stop action with little character development. Rot & Ruin had an excellent balance of both along with some original plot lines and world building. The only turn off was the elder brother, Tom, went over the top with the lectures way too often. It was when my attention was most likely to stray. I'd recommend the book for anyone ages 12 and up. Some violence would make me hesitate over handing it to anyone younger.(less)

12 likes · like · see review

Jan 25, 2011 Isamlq rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Benny Imura has a couple of days till turning fifteen. Fifteen year olds in his post apocalyptic world are expected to contribute to society otherwise they find their rations cut in half (Everything I’ve said happens in the first couple of pages.) He also lives with his half brother, Tom Imura, whom he loathes. Why? You’ll just have to read on. Things get really exciting as he looks for a job only to find that the only viable option is to go into the “family business” with Tom who happens to be...more

9 likes · like · see review

Dec 21, 2010 Aaron Vincent rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystocalypse

Originally posted on Guy Gone Geek.

This was the birthday gift some of my bookish friends gave me last October. What kind of friends does give you a book that is entitled ROT & RUIN, which may also imply their birthday wish for you? Only the best kind, that’s what. I’m guessing that they gave this because they’re interested in the book themselves and wanted to know my reaction first before they read it. Geez, I’m a guinea pig now, thanks guys! Well, I’m happy to report that ROT & RUIN is...more Originally posted on Guy Gone Geek.

This was the birthday gift some of my bookish friends gave me last October. What kind of friends does give you a book that is entitled ROT & RUIN, which may also imply their birthday wish for you? Only the best kind, that’s what. I’m guessing that they gave this because they’re interested in the book themselves and wanted to know my reaction first before they read it. Geez, I’m a guinea pig now, thanks guys! Well, I’m happy to report that ROT & RUIN is an awesome zombie book zombie aficionados should never miss.

It’s been 13 years since the First Night, when the dead rise from their graves and wreak havoc among the living. Benny Imura, now 15 years old, has only one vivid memory from that night: Tom, his older half-brother, running away while carrying him from their ‘turned‘ parents. He hates Tom for this. It doesn’t help that everyone in town thinks that Tom is one kickass bounty hunter. Ben thinks he knew better. Tom is a coward and no one or nothing can change that perception of Ben for him. That’s what he thought. It was about to change as Tom brings Benny into the Ruin to show him how the ‘Family Business’ really works. Ben wasn’t prepared for what he is about to see.

ROT & RUIN wasn’t the kind of book I was expecting, and I mean it in a good way. The cover blurb at the back of the book saying that it’s a zombie book with a heart isn’t an exaggeration at all. This is not to say that it lacks guts and gore some zombie fiction fans are looking for. Don’t worry, you can find lots of those. It’s just that besides the kickass zombie killings that brings the oohs, the aahs, and the occasional aragh gabba gamz, there is also an unexpected tenderness that will tug at your heartstrings

It’s not an exaggeration too when I say that this novel changed the way how I see zombies. When you see their decaying bodies ready to munch the life away from the living, its easy to see past the fact that once they were human too. I was horrified when I realized how willing I was to kill them for entertainment, much like the bad guys in this book. This made me question where does my conscience lies — or if I have anything at all. It sounds silly, I know, but I think knowing where we stand once zombie-apocalypse happens defines how human we are now.

I could go on and on praising Jonathan Marberry with his superb writing and well-rounded, outstanding characters, but I want to put emphasis on the themes tackled by the book so I’d rather stop here. Let me just say that ROT & RUIN is a very welcome addition in the already populated zombie-fiction genre. I am certainly looking forward to DUST & DECAY that will come out next year(around my birthday again, to whom it may concern.. kidding!). I encourage you to read it. I can’t believe I will say this on a zombie book but I want to be honest, don’t judge me: ROT & RUIN, in its own and unexpected way, changed my life, maybe it will change yours, too(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Jan 14, 2012 Kristin (MyBookishWays Reviews) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-horror

Rot & Ruin has zombies. Lots and lots of zombies. It also has all of the good stuff that usually accompanies zombies, thrills, chills, and of course, kills. However, Rot & Ruin is not a zombie book, not in the traditional sense. It’s a coming of age story in a time where everything is dangerous, and nothing is quite how it seems, and about the birth of a hero.
The book begins about 15 years after First Night, when the dead started coming back to life, and focuses on Benny Imura, 14, and h...more Rot & Ruin has zombies. Lots and lots of zombies. It also has all of the good stuff that usually accompanies zombies, thrills, chills, and of course, kills. However, Rot & Ruin is not a zombie book, not in the traditional sense. It’s a coming of age story in a time where everything is dangerous, and nothing is quite how it seems, and about the birth of a hero.
The book begins about 15 years after First Night, when the dead started coming back to life, and focuses on Benny Imura, 14, and his older, zombie hunter brother Tom. Benny is about to turn 15, and that means he’ll have to get a job, or his food rations will be cut in half. I’ll be honest, at the start of this book, I thought Benny Imura, our 15 year old star, was a whining, moody little brat and was actually worried that I wasn’t going to like him at all. On the other hand, his older brother Tom was a quiet, kind, strong presence that eventually grew into a much bigger role later in the novel. Benny tries his hand at a number of jobs before deciding, kicking and screaming, to go into the “family business”, aka zombie hunting, or as Tom prefers, becoming a “closure specialist”. Benny has fuzzy, vague memories about Tom running away with him and leaving his parents to the mercy of the zombies on First Night, and has nursed bitter resentment for him ever since. Benny idolizes the obnoxious, loud mouthed bounty hunter Charlie, and thinks his brother is a coward, not only for what he perceives happened on First Night, but because Tom rarely talks about what he does to put food on the table.
It’s only when Tom takes Benny out into the Rot & Ruin (the zombie infested area beyond their fenced in town), that Benny begins to realize just what his brother does on a daily basis, and his entire world view is turned upside down, and when his friend Nix is kidnapped by zombie hunters with the most evil of plans, Benny has to look inside himself to find courage he never knew existed.
This book was hard for me to review, because I recently read Patient Zero, and The Dragon Factory, both by Jonathan Maberry, and I absolutely could not put them down. So, perhaps unfairly to this book, I expected more of the same, just toned down for a Young Adult audience. Rot & Ruin took a bit longer for me to get into, but that was ok, because the payoff was worth it! There’s plenty of guts and action to please boy readers, and the characters show much more insight and maturity than many of the YA titles out there right now. There was also plenty to please this girl reader, and there were some heartbreaking moments that really made me love the characters. I wavered between a 4.5 and a 5 on this one, so I’ll give it a 5! I’ll eagerly look forward to the next Benny Imura novel!

For parents: I would feel comfortable letting my 11 year old daughter read this, although I think the 13-and-up set would get the most out of it. There’s no sexual content aside from some kissing, and some slightly dirty 14-year-old boy thoughts, but nothing overt. However, there are adult themes that will probably invite some questions, so if you’re a parent that relishes that, like I am, then be sure to grab this title! I would also recommend getting your hands on a hardcover copy, because it’s a treat!
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Nov 15, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: trt-gold-star-award-winner, trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Karin Librarian for TeensReadToo.com

Benny just turned fifteen. In his world, that means he must find a job in order to continue receiving his rations. The problem is, Benny can't find a job he likes. He and his best friend, Chong, waited too long to get one and all the easy jobs are gone. What's left isn't very appealing. He's tried being a locksmith, a fence tester, a fence technician, a carpet coat salesman, a pit thrower, a crank generator repairman, a spotter, a bottler, and an e...more Reviewed by Karin Librarian for TeensReadToo.com

Benny just turned fifteen. In his world, that means he must find a job in order to continue receiving his rations. The problem is, Benny can't find a job he likes. He and his best friend, Chong, waited too long to get one and all the easy jobs are gone. What's left isn't very appealing. He's tried being a locksmith, a fence tester, a fence technician, a carpet coat salesman, a pit thrower, a crank generator repairman, a spotter, a bottler, and an erosion artist. It seems like the only option left is to join the family business.

Benny's brother, Tom, is one of the most respected and successful zombie killers. The problem is, Benny doesn't know why people think Tom's that great. He's never seen Tom do anything especially exciting or impressive - in fact, he's actually turned away from violence, which makes Benny think Tom's a coward. Tom is nothing like the totally cool Zombie Killers like Charlie Pink-Eye and Motor City Hammer. Benny has never intended to do what Tom does. He's always said no every time Tom asked him to become his apprentice. But, his lack of success in any other job has left him no choice.

Benny learns a lot while out in the Rot & Ruin with Tom. He learns about his own past, what it is that Tom really does, and what separates man from monster. Benny's outlook on life completely changes as he begins to realize there might be more to life than just his small town of Mountainside.

ROT & RUIN is a perfect choice for readers who enjoyed THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH. Both books take place in a small town of survivors surrounded by fences that keep the zombies out. ROT & RUIN is set in a time when people still remember what happened when the zombies started rising, so the reader gets some first-hand accounts of First Night (the night the world changed). ROT & RUIN also gives us some of the blood and gore that we sometimes want in a zombie novel.

Jonathan Maberry did an excellent job developing the characters and creating an interesting setting. The reader can get lost in Benny's world. ROT & RUIN gets the Gold Star Award because I couldn't put it down. In fact, I stayed up until 3:30 A.M. one night to finish. This story caused me to cringe, gasp, chuckle, and cry. Absolutely amazing! (less)

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

Likes:

Oh man, I think I could go on for awhile on what I liked about this book. The writing was fun and the author sucked you right in with on the first page. It flowed so well. Not a single part of this book drags or slows down. The author does a wonderful job of explaining what has happened in the world without it being a huge info bomb. The characters were wonderful and very easy to like. Especially Tom. I really enjoyed his this book really gives you a different perspective about zombies and...more

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Jan 24, 2013 J rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: my-favs, jonathan-maberry

This story sheds light on human nature and what society is willing to ignore, good or evil, as long as it does not happen in their backyards. Some people are CONTENT to live in their own happily-ever-after as long as the world's twisted way of living does not affect them. Some people are more human than others, while others are simply monsters as they harness their idea of justice around the innocent and the guilty. "All of us carry our own monsters around."---Richard Pryor

Are we any less human...more

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May 20, 2011 Stephanie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Loved this! It was zombie killers a la Clint Eastwood. There was a western flavor to this that I really liked.

Benny Imura is fifteen years old and looking for a job. His older brother Tom is a bounty hunter but Benny can't stand the idea of working with him because Tom is a coward. What kind of "man" would run away from his parents and not try to save them from the zombie horde? But that's just what Tom did, taking his infant brother Benny with him.

Now, fourteen years later, they live in the rel...more

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Jan 16, 2012 Sonia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: have, e-book

Tom Imura is a badass, but a noble and humble one. He has the unfortunate habit of being all zen and spiritual, but I forgive him because of his sheer badass-ocity. (It should be a word - really.) Further in my imagination he was super hot like Keanu Reeves, but even if he wasn't hot, what woman doesn't love a man who returns from the dead riding a horse to save the day by slaying scores of the walking dead?

Benny is alright. Like a fungus, he grew on me. Even the secondary characters were convi...more

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Nov 12, 2012 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: pretty-rad, young-adult

This book side by side w/ The Forest of Hands & Teeth really highlights the difference between male & female YA authors. Carrie Ryan spent a lot of time internally with character development, which made Forest of Hands & Teeth sort of a 'chick' zombie book, though the series seriously ramps up on the zombie gore by book 3. Rot & Ruin wastes much less time internally, and the backstory dump in the first 50 pages annoyed, as did the main character's cliched 'angsty teen' voice. Tha...more

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Jul 16, 2011 Jason rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-books, read-2011

5 Stars

This is a very different Maberry novel in that Benny Imura, our main protagonist, is just a 15 year old, somewhat naive and innocent boy, about to grow up into a man. There is no Joe Ledger or Malcolm Crow in this one, and that is just fine.

Clearly written to have the YA appeal, and to be current with one of today's most popular genres, that of Zombies. Maberry's fresh take on this is apparent right from the start and from the characters that he portrays.
As many other reviewers have alrea...more 5 Stars

This is a very different Maberry novel in that Benny Imura, our main protagonist, is just a 15 year old, somewhat naive and innocent boy, about to grow up into a man. There is no Joe Ledger or Malcolm Crow in this one, and that is just fine.

Clearly written to have the YA appeal, and to be current with one of today's most popular genres, that of Zombies. Maberry's fresh take on this is apparent right from the start and from the characters that he portrays.
As many other reviewers have already stated, readers that enjoyed The Forest Of Hands and Teeth series by Carrie Ryan (I absolutely loved) will find this one to be right up their alley. Think of it as the male take on the post apocalyptic small town genre.

This is a story that centers on character development much more than it does the plot or the world building. The zombies are just one aspect to life after the "First Night". Benny Imura is our main young man and he really hates zombies. "The way that Benny saw it, was that when your first memory was of zombies killing your parents, then you had a license to hate them as much as you wanted." Benny also has a great dislike, and resentment towards his older half brother as he blames him for his mother's death and their subsequent running away.

The town that he lives in is kept safe by fences, rules, and curfews. People are required to sleep alone at night in locked rooms that can prevent a recent turned from eating the rest of the family. Benny needs to find a job as he is now of age and is required by law to work to receive full rations. Many different jobs invovling waste management... Farmers, laborers, and other town like jobs were no interest to Benny. He tried out to be an "Erosion Artist", an artist that takes pictures of people and then zombieifes them to show what they would look like as zoms., but he did not have what it takes. His brother Tom is a Bounty hunter, a person that is employed to find loved ones out in the "Rot and Ruin" and to then put them to rest.

Even in this awful post apocalyptic world, our heroes strive to make a good life for themselves and to hope and dream of better times. Benny said "It's just that I'm fifteen, and I have the crazy idea that I might actually have a life in front of me. I don't see how it's going to do me much good to believe that the world is over and this is just an epilogue." This is a powerful theme throughout this book and it works. Benny reminds me a bit of Temple, my favorite protaginist from last years wonderful novel The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell.

Maberry continues to try and paint a bright spot on this bleak canvas by giving us bits and parts of Tom Imura as the story progressed. Tom is an honorable, respectable, and fearless bounty hunter that changes how is brother looks at the world, and how we the reader look at the zombies. There are several pauses in the story where more about Tom, his past, and his present are told to us. These moments are the most impactful of the book and they shape Benny into a young man. I really liked the way that Maberry took his time and used the entire novel to tell us about Tom...

I am a huge fan of Maberry's and feel that he is a master at the written action scene. There are some good ones in here, but those that are seeking more should look to his Joe Ledger books, and the amazing Ghost Road Blues trilogy. I am impressed with Maberry's ability to tone down his writing to be suitable for the YA crowd and to potentially have a bigger audience. But, make no mistake this book will appeal to most fans of the zombie genre, and his fans will not be let down.

I am glad that this is just book one in a series and really look forward to book number two next month. Jonathan Maberry is one of my favorite authors, and if you have not read him before, I give him my highest recommendations.(less)

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Apr 07, 2012 Beatrice rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

GREAT series- couldn't put it down even when I wanted to!! Works for boys or girls. Can't wait for book #3,

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Feb 27, 2013 Harold Smithson rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: best-antagonists

Nom nom nom

One of the reasons that I find the YA horror subgenre so intriguing is that it has not yet produced a book that truly defines the genre itself. Whereas there are some fairly famous books produced, such as The Forest of Hands and Teeth, A Living Nightmare, and Coraline, there is yet to be a pinnacle of YA horror, unless you count Lord of the Flies, which I feel does not apply in this case.

Though some people might look at this as a negative, there is actually a very large upside to this...more Nom nom nom

One of the reasons that I find the YA horror subgenre so intriguing is that it has not yet produced a book that truly defines the genre itself. Whereas there are some fairly famous books produced, such as The Forest of Hands and Teeth, A Living Nightmare, and Coraline, there is yet to be a pinnacle of YA horror, unless you count Lord of the Flies, which I feel does not apply in this case.

Though some people might look at this as a negative, there is actually a very large upside to this: Nobody writing YA horror ever tries to emulate the same thing as someone else. All cliches began as popular books that were considered good by a large majority of the readers. YA dystopia emulates Hunger Games, YA fantasy emulates Harry Potter, and YA paranormal romance emulates Twilight. (Which in turn emulates Vampire Diaries, but that's not entirely relevant to the point) What you get is that many books in a genre begin to not only resemble each other, but also meet a similar level of quality by virtue of copying similar ideas. The YA horror genre is largely different from this due to its lack of a defining work. Of course, you have basic cliches and tropes in the books, but these too vary from book to book.

That being said, I found Rot and Ruin to be an interesting take on the zombie subgenre, particularly in its portrayal of zombies as former people who should be respected just as the dead are. The zombies are not particularly scary; they are more of a force of nature that is simply indifferent to humanity. I found this to be refreshing, as I have never thought of zombies as villains.

I also enjoyed the portrayal of the human aspect in this book. Forest of Hands and Teeth dealt with humanity by portraying hope as something trivial and death as the status quo. Benny Imura presents hope as relevant and living well as possible provided that humanity work together to reclaim their home from the apocalypse. The Lost Girl was easily my favorite character. The closure scenes were not only original and thoughtful, but also fairly emotional. They were quite easily the highlights of the book.

Is Benny Imura flawless? No, not really. At times I found the main characters (By which I mean Nix and Benny) to be somewhat annoying and wished that we would be spared the "teenage dialogue", but I did enjoy this book and am looking forward to Dust and Decay.(less)

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Jul 19, 2012 Jianne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: class-library, fell-in-love-with, fangirl-for

Under the the new roof of our new flat, I sat down on the wood-splinted floor (having no furniture yet) and was enticed into reading Rot & Ruin in the empty room, my only company are the four walls, my little brother and the book. Because there was no clock, I wasn't able to keep track of the time, but by the time I took out my cellphone I realized that I have finished the book and also realized something was grumbling inside of me. I was hungry and I didn't even realized it while I was busy...more

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Dec 28, 2011 Judith Weaver rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Yes. Middle school on up will love it. This is much more than another walking dead book.It uses the catastrophe of a plague that changes people into zombies to explore some bigger issues. Book is much like an onion: you start off with the classic horror movie situation-- small community of survivors surrounded by a world of zombies, then the first layer of the story comes off and you start to see that some people are moving past the cringing horror mode and exploring the world of the zombies. Th...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Regina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Regina by: Wendy F

Shelves: zombie, ya, post-apocalyptic, dystopia, listened-to-audio-only, only-listeneed-to, audio-also-listened-to

4.5 Stars -- I LOVED this book.

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Sep 27, 2012 Marita Hansen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: edgy-ya, zombies, survival

When I went into reading Rot & Ruin I did not expect to find it so engrossing. I’ve only read one other zombie book, Outpost, and liked it, but that one was a totally different look at the zombie lore. In Rot & Ruin zombies act like expected, but apart from that, the author doesn’t present his zombie story like others. Instead, he takes it from a very human angle, following the lives of Benny, his brother and friends. We get down to how life is for Benny, what it is like to live in a tim...more When I went into reading Rot & Ruin I did not expect to find it so engrossing. I’ve only read one other zombie book, Outpost, and liked it, but that one was a totally different look at the zombie lore. In Rot & Ruin zombies act like expected, but apart from that, the author doesn’t present his zombie story like others. Instead, he takes it from a very human angle, following the lives of Benny, his brother and friends. We get down to how life is for Benny, what it is like to live in a time where the old conventions of the world are no longer viable. In school, amongst their studies they learn how to handle zombies. When they reach 15 they have to start working so they can keep their rations. Because they live in an enclosed town, where it is supposedly safe from zombies, he has only a limited choice of jobs he can pick from, of which most he considers boring. So, in the end he ends up becoming an apprentice to his half-brother Tom, who is a bounty hunter (a closure specialist to be precise). At the beginning of the book Benny will annoy you, because he acts like a selfish teenager that unjustly blames his brother for things. He admires the wrong kinds of people, two other nasty bounty hunters, when he should be admiring, instead of hating, his brother. But as the story proceeds events happen one after the other and his affected and preconceived notions about how things are starts to be questioned, then falls completely away.

What I loved about this book was the way the author didn’t make the zombies out to be the real villains. The zombies act on instinct, they have no hate in them, just need, you can’t judge them on a human level, because they are no longer human and are basically animals that don’t know any better. But the bounty hunters (apart from Tom) are the real villains. They know what they are doing, are supposedly with feelings, yet they do the vilest things: like preying on the zombies and young children for their own amusement. They’ve created a Gameland where they barter money to see which children can survive in a pit (and other scenarios) against zombies. They also hack at zombies for their own amusement, playing with them, and forgetting they were once people, people that were loved. This is Tom’s view of zombies, which is why he’s a closure specialist. He gets contracts from families to go put their loved ones (who have become zombies) to rest in a humane manner.

Because of what the bad bounty hunters do they have made enemies not only with Tom, but a girl who roams the wilderness. When the worst of the bounty hunters attack people that Tom and Benny love, taking one of them, the brothers go looking for her (Nix, and Benny’s love interest). Along the way the lost girl joins them, leading to an explosive climax. And the epilogue is so perfect, really moving.

This is just a fantastic novel, well worth your time reading. I’ve been told that this book and its sequels are being turned into movies, which I would absolutely love to see.

5 very well deserved stars. I highly recommend Rot & Ruin.
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Jun 01, 2012 Amanda (MarvelousCatoReviews) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopian, favorites, zombie

This book was not at all what I expected. I expected a humorous zombie story, but what I got was a book that really makes you think about what humanity really is. This book made me cry on numerous occasions, but not for the reasons you might expect.

I honestly don't even know how to review this, because it was such a different and beautiful book.

The character development in this story is phenomenal. Benny takes an emotional and mental journey throughout this book, and the really great thing is th...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Tina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Inhalt
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Benny Imura lebt in Mountainside, einer kleinen Stadt die von Zäunen geschützt inmitten des "Lost Land" liegt. 14 Jahre sind vergangen seit es den ersten Zombieausbruch gab und die Welt völlig verändert wurde. Innerhalb von Mountainside herrschen strenge Regeln, ab einem Alter von 15 Jahren muss sich ein junger Mensch selbst den Lebensunterhalt verdienen.
Benny probiert dabei so einiges aus und entschließt sich letztendlich doch dem Familienunternehmen beizutreten. Sein Br...more

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Rot and Ruin will be a movie!	5	47	May 18, 2013 06:29pm
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About Jonathan Maberry

JONATHAN MABERRY is a New York Times best-selling and multiple Bram Stoker Award-winning horror and thriller author, magazine feature writer, playwright, content creator and writing teacher/lecturer. His books have been sold to more than a dozen countries.

His novels include the Pine Deep Trilogy: GHOST ROAD BLUES (Pinnacle books; winner of the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel in 2006), DEAD...more JONATHAN MABERRY is a New York Times best-selling and multiple Bram Stoker Award-winning horror and thriller author, magazine feature writer, playwright, content creator and writing teacher/lecturer. His books have been sold to more than a dozen countries.

His novels include the Pine Deep Trilogy: GHOST ROAD BLUES (Pinnacle books; winner of the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel in 2006), DEAD MAN’S SONG (2007) and BAD MOON RISING (2008); the Joe Ledger series of action thrillers from St. Martin’s Griffin: PATIENT ZERO (2009, winner of the Black Quill and a Bram Stoker Award finalist for Best Novel), THE DRAGON FACTORY (2010; now available), THE KING OF PLAGUES (March 2011), ASSASSIN’S CODE (March 2012), EXTINCTION MACHINE (2013); THE WOLFMAN (NY Times bestseller from Tor, based on the Universal Pictures film starring Benecio Del Toro, Emily Blunt and Sir Anthony Hopkins; winner of the Scribe Award for Best Adaptation); the forthcoming standalone zombie thriller DEAD OF NIGHT (Oct 25 2011); and the Benny Imura series of Young Adult dystopian zombie thrillers from Simon & Schuster: ROT & RUIN (2011; named in Booklist’s Ten Best Horror Novels for Young Adults, a Bram Stoker and Pennsylvania Young Readers’ Choice Award finalist; winner of the Cybils Award, the Eva Perry Mock Printz medal, Dead Letter Best Novel Award, and four Melinda Awards), DUST & DECAY (Aug 30 2011), FLESH & BONE (2012) and FIRE & ASH (21013).

Jonathan was an expert on the History Channel documentary on zombies scheduled to air October 26.

His nonfiction works include: VAMPIRE UNIVERSE (Citadel Press, 2006), THE CRYPTOPEDIA (Citadel, 2007 –winner of the Bram Stoker Award for Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction; co-authored by David F. Kramer), ZOMBIE CSU: The Forensics of the Living Dead (Winner of the Hinzman and Black Quill Awards and nominated for a Stoker Award; 2008), THEY BITE! (2009 co-authored by David F. Kramer), WANTED UNDEAD OR ALIVE (2010; Bram Stoker nominee; co-authored by Janice Gable Bashman), and THE VAMPIRE SLAYERS FIELD GUIDE TO THE UNDEAD (2001, written under the pen name of Shane MacDougall).

He writes a variety of projects for Marvel Comics involving CAPTAIN AMERICA, BLACK PANTHER, DOOMWAR, WOLVERINE, DEADPOOL, THE X-MEN, FANTASTIC FOUR, the NY Times bestselling MARVEL ZOMBIES RETURN, MARVEL UNIVERSE vs THE PUNISHER and MARVEL UNIVERSE vs WOLVERINE. All of Jonathan’s comic book collections are released as Graphic Novel collections within a month or two of individual comic publication.

Recent short stories include “Pegleg and Paddy Save the World” (HISTORY IS DEAD, Permuted Press 2007), “Doctor Nine” (KILLERS, Swimming Kangaroo Press, 2008; and reprinted in THE STORIES (in) BETWEEN Edited by Greg Schauer, Jeanne B. Benzel, and W.H. Horner. Fantasist Enterprises, 2009), “Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Greenbrier Ghost” (LEGENDS OF THE MOUNTAIN STATE 2, Bloodletting Books, 2008), “Clean Sweeps” (AND SO IT BEGINS, Dark Quest Books, 2008), “Family Business” (THE NEW DEAD, St. Martin’s Press, 2010), “Like Part of the Family” (NEW BLOOD edited by Patrick Thomas and Diane Raetz, Padwolf Press, 2010), “Zero Tolerance” (THE LIVING DEAD 2, Night Shade Books), “Flint and Steel” (GI JOE: COBRA WARS, 2011), “Saint John”(THE MONSTER’S CORNER, 2011, St. Martin’s), “The Death Song of Dwar Guntha” (Under the Moons of Mars: New Adventures on Barsoom, 2012, Simon & Schuster), and “The Wind Through the Fence” (an original e-story available for all e-readers). His essay, “Take Me To Your Leader” will be included in the nonfiction book, TRIUMPH OF THE LIVING DEAD: Robert Kirkman's Zombie Epic on Page and Screen edited by James Lowder (BenBella Books/Smart Pop, 2011).

All of Jonathan’s novels are available on audio, including the audio-only collection, JOE LEDGER: THE MISSING FILES (Blackstone), which includes the short stories “Countdown”, “Ze(less)

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Quotes from Rot and Ruin

“There are moments that define a person's whole life. Moments in which everything they are and everything they may possibly become balance on a single decision. Life and death, hope and despair, victory and failure teeter precariously on the decision made at that moment. These are moments ungoverned by happenstance, untroubled by luck. These are the moments in which a person earns the right to live, or not.” — 117 people liked it

“Often it was the most unlikely people who found within themselves a spark of something greater. It was probably always there, but most people are never tested, and they go through their whole lives without ever knowing that when things are at their worst, they are at their best.” — 74 people liked it

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