George L. Cook III's Blog, page 31

Review of BBC zombie series "In the Flesh" Season 1

With season two of "In the Flesh" on the way I recently watched Season One of the BBC show "In the Flesh". The first season was only three episodes so you can check the entire season out relatively quickly. I found the first three episodes on YouTube. ( you can check out episode one here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QcgkE3r6qE. ) Unlike US TV shows each hour long episode is actually 56-57 minutes long giving you almost three whole hours to digest.

In the Flesh has a very intriguing premise. Here's the synopsis:

Set in the fictional village of Roarton, Lancashire, after The Rising, in which teenager Kieren Walker was re-animated along with thousands of people who died in the year 2009. There quickly followed 'The Pale Wars' in which the zombies were hunted and killed by armed bands of militia. After months of rehabilitation and medication, the zombies (now referred to as partially deceased syndrome (PDS) patients by the government, but pejoratively known as "rotters") are judged ready to return to society, their homes and families. They are given cosmetics and contact lenses, so they can 'pass,' and to conceal their partially deceased status. They must maintain a strict programme of medication to avoid going "rabid" again, which is one injection a day. Many are haunted by returning memories of the atrocities they committed while rabid. In the extremist village of Roarton, PDS sufferers face prejudice from the villagers upon their return.

I AM NOT GOING TO GIVE ANY SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW! That being said "In the Flesh" is a great TV show let a alone a great zombie show. After the episode one opening the show does not feature much in the way of actual gore and blood. That doesn't mean that it is not scary in other ways. It could be called a thinking person's zombie show. As with many great zombie stories it's about much more than the zombies. The show is about family, love, loss, and intolerance.

The writers do an excellent job in the three episodes of dealing with the reactions of the living when the once dead return to society and vice versa. The show constantly has you thinking of what you would do if you were in that situation as either a family member of one of the once dead or as one of the "rotters".

One of the best parts of the show is the great acting. The cast takes a premise that could quickly devolve into camp and turn in some great performances.

Luke Newberry as Kieren "Ren" Walker has a difficult role to play as he has to make the audience care about someone who was once a zombie who killed his neighbors. He does that and at times has you forgetting what he is and even rooting for him.

Another good performance is turned in by Harriet Cains as Jem Walker, Kieren's sister. A role that could have been played as the bratty woe is me little sister/annoying teenager is fleshed out and oh yeah the character's a zombie killing bad ass.

In a show filled with great performances Steve Evets as Bill Macey is the stand out here. He plays a character that hates the rotters but then is conflicted when something happens. ( remember I promised no spoilers ). How his character copes is what drives the last and best episode in the series. He brings both a sense of confidence, doubt, and then confusion to role that could have well been a one note performance.

If you are a zombie fan I strongly suggest that you check out the shows first season and then checking out season two when it premieres on BBC America,May 10 at 10PM ET.

What would be your zombie killing theme song?

Okay folks here's the scenario. A zombie apocalypse has devastated the planet and you are one of the last remaining people on Earth. Depending on who you are that may or may not be a good thing but that's another issue for another time. Right now your dumb ass has gotten yourself trapped in a broom closet while attempting to get a Kit Kat bar off a dead doorman in a hotel lobby.

About twenty of the walking dead await outside the closet door and a few are attempting to get through the door. You have no choice but to fight your way out. You being the bad ass you are have two pistols and an assault rifle and are proficient will all three.

Here's the question people. When you go Billy bad ass and kick the door open what song will be playing in your head? Hey, every tough guy needs their theme music.

I have picked four songs below in the poll but you have the option of adding your own song too. So what will you be blasting zombies to?

What's your zombie killing theme song?

Does the race of the hero in a book matter to you?

Does the race of the hero in a book matter to you?

Recently a friend and I were talking and he wondered allowed if the fact that our books feature black protagonist might be limiting our sales. I don't believe so but I was wondering what others think.

Read more here: http://www.thedeadwarseries.com/2014/...

Does the race of the hero in a book matter to you?

Recently a friend and I were talking and he wondered allowed if the fact that our books feature black protagonist might be limiting our sales. I had never really thought of it from that standpoint as I write in the horror/sci-fi genre and I was more concerned about how to market my books to a black audience who might be reluctant to read it.

I know with comic books a hero's race can be an issue with some readers but at the same time comic books are a much more visual medium than fiction books/ebooks. Not much is left to the imagination there.

Now I'm a little naive so I still have faith in most readers. I believe that most readers don't care about the hero's race as long as the story is good and they can become engrossed in it. I also believe that at some point many forget the race of the character or find it irrelevant after a while.

So instead of me just guessing if a hero's race matters to readers I'll just ask you. Does it? Feel free to answer the poll below honestly. No one is judging anyone here.

Does the hero's race matter to you?

Walking Dead Book Series to Expand With Four New Novels

[ SOURCE ] Following the mega success of their first four “Walking Dead” novels, “Walking Dead” show creator Robert Kirkman and writer Jay Bonansinga are collaborating again on another four-part book series.

According to Entertainment Weekly, the first novel, “The Walking Dead: Descent,” will focus on recurring comic book character Lilly Caul as she returns to the doomed town after the Governor’s assault on the prison.

“There is quite a bit of unexplored territory left in the “Walking Dead” universe and I think people are going to love what Jay brings to this world in this medium,” Kirkman told EW. The first book of the expanded post-apocalyptic horror series will be released on Oct. 14.

Syfy bring new zombie series, Z Nation to the small screen

[ SOURCE ] Z Nation, a 13-episode zombie series, is coming to Syfy in Fall 2014. From production company The Asylum (Sharknado), the action-horror series depicts the epic struggle to save humanity after a zombie apocalypse. The series will be produced by The Asylum and sold internationally by Dynamic Television.

Z Nation is a dynamic ensemble drama that will plunge viewers into a fully-imagined, post-zombie America and take them on adventures with a diverse group of richly-drawn characters. Getting to know the reluctant heroes, their flaws, idiosyncrasies, and moral dilemmas will ultimately become the heart of the show.

Z Nation starts three years after the zombie virus has gutted the country, a team of everyday heroes must transport the only known survivor of the plague from New York to California, where the last functioning viral lab waits for his blood. Although the antibodies he carries are the world’s last, best hope for a vaccine, he hides a dark secret that threatens them all. With humankind’s survival at stake, the ragtag band embarks on a journey of survival across three thousand miles of rusted-out post-apocalyptic America.

Karl Schaefer (Eerie Indiana, Eureka, The Dead Zone) will serve as executive producer and showrunner.

That's Not your Mommy Anymore: A Zombie Tale

Look we all know a zombie apocalypse is going to eventually happen, right? While much attention is paid to getting adults ready not much is paid to those who would be the littlest zombie fighters, the children. So to avoid our children becoming zombie munchies early on or turning out like The Walking Dead psychotic little demon child Lizzie we should get the kids prepared also.

That's why I'm happy to introduce you to the children's book, That's Not Your Mommy Anymore by Matt Mogk. Here's the synopsis

In the ongoing effort to warn an unprepared world of the rising danger from zombie attacks, one vulnerable group has been left out — small children. That's Not Your Mommy Anymore offers social workers, counselors, and educators a helpful new tool to communicate with hard-to-reach at-risk youth. This inviting and entertaining story helps early readers understand for themselves that a mom who has fresh brain casserole in the oven instead of her usual meatloaf is probably not their mommy anymore.

This utterly twisted and incredibly funny take on the classic children’s book genre tells an entertaining story in rhyming text even as it teaches other telltale signs that mom has been bitten by a zombie! Rabid zombie fans will be highly entertained by this hilarious parody that adult readers are sure to love as much as the real children books they enjoyed as kids.

Changes to The Dead War Zombie Series

Hi all this is George L. Cook III the author of The Dead War Zombie Series. I am writing this to let you all know about a few minor changes and one major change to my series of zombie books. - See more at: http://www.thedeadwarseries.com/2014/...

Changes to The Dead War Zombie Series

Hi all this is George L. Cook III the author of The Dead War Zombie Series. I am writing this to let you all know about a few minor changes and one major change to my series of zombie books.

First let me state that there will be more books in The Dead War Zombie Series. They will be released soon but not too soon. I have spent the last year and change writing The Dead War Zombie books and need a slight break.

Because of that I have made a few changes to answer reader questions from the first three books.

The first change has nothing to do with the story line but with the title. The official title of the series is now The Dead War Zombie series as opposed to The Dead War Series. That is because another author also has a Dead War Series and I believe that it was confusing the readers. It also helps to have the word zombie in your title if potential readers are searching for zombie books. LOL.

Here are the minor changes:

* Sgt. Richards finally gets a first name. It's now spoken once in book two by Sgt. Liu.

* Readers finally learn the source of Duncan's utter hate for humanity.

* We learn why Drake is so important to Devak.

THE MAJOR CHANGE!

The major change involves the ending of The Dead War Book Three: WAR and gives a big hint as to what the Special Forces Scouts are. The ending will also make fans of Sgt. Richards much happier than the original ending.

Zombie Book Of The Day: Day Zero By Charles Ingersall

Marine Corps sniper Sergeant John Walken hitchhikes home after being discharged with a career-ending injury.

Along the way he is picked up by Sebastian, a retired Jarhead truck driver. They travel to the small New England community of Rainier Island for a routine gas station delivery.

While John waits, a bloody and muddy young girl stumbles into the center of town and attacks one of the residents.

The police department quickly barricades Rainier from the Main, trapping John and Sebastian. But isolating the bridges and using John's special skills may not be enough as the island is plagued with unexplained deaths from within and human threats from outside its borders.

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