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Dead Rage
An unknown virus spreads across the globe, turning ordinary people into bloodthirsty, ravenous killers. Only a small percentage of the population is immune and soon become prey to the infected. Amongst the infected comes a man, stricken by the virus, yet still retaining his grasp on reality. His need to destroy the normals becomes an obsession and he raises an army of killers to seek out and kill all who aren't changed like himself. A few survivors gather together on the outskirts of Chicago and find themselves running for their lives as the specter of death looms over all. The Dead-Rage virus will find you, no matter where you hide. 2nd edition
242 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
1 person is currently reading
317 people want to read
About the author
Anthony Giangregorio
151 books22 followersAnthony Giangregorio is the author and editor of more than 25 novels, almost all of them about zombies. His work has appeared in Dead Science by Coscomentertainment, Dead Worlds: Undead Stories Volumes 1, 2, 3, and 4, and an upcoming anthology (Zombology) by Library of the Living Dead Press and their werewolf anthology titled War Wolves. He also has stories in End of Days: An Apocalyptic Anthology Volumes 1 & 2. Check out his website at www.undeadpress.com.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 30, 2020
A decent read that twists the zombie genre with infected reminiscent of 28 days/weeks later and Left 4 Dead, even if it feels like a cliched SyFy movie knock-off of those properties.
Though I know Anthony Giangregorio is an awful person in real life (google him, you'll find out about his many crappy publishing tricks), he's one that I really want to enjoy as a guilty pleasure, since his books sound cheesy but enjoyable.
It's a shame his books aren't available in Kindle format though since I'd be more willing to give over money for 5 dollars apiece rather than 14, so I'm stuck buying his incredibly obscure novels on the used side of things.
This book was so decent though, I'm going to reorder Dead End, which I have two stars last time I read it, to give it a re-read since I gave away my old copy.
I've got one more Giangregorio on the way, his novel Kingdom of The Dead (hopefully with the drawn cover), which was originally published as Dead Reckoning: Dawning Of The Dead, an unofficial sequel he was selling to Dawn of the dead.
Did I mention Giangregorio's sleazy? Look at it this way: if horror writers are food, Anthony Giangregorio is chick-fila. He's got a lot of options, almost all of which are greasy, cheaply made but sold for a bit more than they probably should be, and he's kind of sleazy if you look into his business practices. Also, like Chick-fil-a, he's pretty addicting, even if he's unhealthy.
Though I know Anthony Giangregorio is an awful person in real life (google him, you'll find out about his many crappy publishing tricks), he's one that I really want to enjoy as a guilty pleasure, since his books sound cheesy but enjoyable.
It's a shame his books aren't available in Kindle format though since I'd be more willing to give over money for 5 dollars apiece rather than 14, so I'm stuck buying his incredibly obscure novels on the used side of things.
This book was so decent though, I'm going to reorder Dead End, which I have two stars last time I read it, to give it a re-read since I gave away my old copy.
I've got one more Giangregorio on the way, his novel Kingdom of The Dead (hopefully with the drawn cover), which was originally published as Dead Reckoning: Dawning Of The Dead, an unofficial sequel he was selling to Dawn of the dead.
Did I mention Giangregorio's sleazy? Look at it this way: if horror writers are food, Anthony Giangregorio is chick-fila. He's got a lot of options, almost all of which are greasy, cheaply made but sold for a bit more than they probably should be, and he's kind of sleazy if you look into his business practices. Also, like Chick-fil-a, he's pretty addicting, even if he's unhealthy.
August 26, 2009
I was somewhat...disappointed by this book. First, I have about 15 books by this author on my BookMooch wishlist that I have never purchased. One, because they are expensive and two, because there are so many, apparently they are a series, and I don't know what order they are supposed to be in. Hardly anyone gives up zombie books on BookMooch, so I sit and wait.
When this book became available, I mooched it right away, VERY eager to read it. I mean, after all, there's zombies, right? Not exactly. These were not shambling zombies, they are more of the 28 Days, mad, driven variety....not my favorite type of zombie.
I found the story stilted, not full, and rather juvenile. There is an interesting take on the "zombie" situation that I will not ruin for anyone else, but I do prefer my zombies stupid and shambling.
In addition, the plot reads nearly EXACLTY like both Hater by David Moody and 28 Days Later. There is nothing new here, and both Hater and 28 Days were WAY better.
Second, I don't think I would pay cold hard cash for his other books if they are like this one. I would definitely READ them if I got them on BookMooch (book swapping site), but I wouldn't purchase them.
When this book became available, I mooched it right away, VERY eager to read it. I mean, after all, there's zombies, right? Not exactly. These were not shambling zombies, they are more of the 28 Days, mad, driven variety....not my favorite type of zombie.
I found the story stilted, not full, and rather juvenile. There is an interesting take on the "zombie" situation that I will not ruin for anyone else, but I do prefer my zombies stupid and shambling.
In addition, the plot reads nearly EXACLTY like both Hater by David Moody and 28 Days Later. There is nothing new here, and both Hater and 28 Days were WAY better.
Second, I don't think I would pay cold hard cash for his other books if they are like this one. I would definitely READ them if I got them on BookMooch (book swapping site), but I wouldn't purchase them.
May 1, 2009
The blood drenched hammer on the cover made this a must buy/read. Though really, no one gets killed directly with a hammer (though the hammer does make a dramatic appearance in the middle). Basically the plot of 28 Days Later without all the whiny screaming--people all over the world become infected with a man made virus that turns them into psychotic unstoppable killers.
Except for a ragtag group of people that are immune and are trapped on the gravely roof of a school surrounded by maniacs. Book was filled with cliches--the strong but sometimes self doubting widower hero (they're always widowers), the sweet but sassy love interest, a Romeo and Juliet couple, the bad seed troublemaker, the little child, army gone amok (are the army ever good in apocalyptic books? seems like national forces/police are the first to turn evil) and a couple other expendable characters.
Oh and like all the books I randomly read, magic (kind of) makes a random appearance. Why must it always be magic?
Except for a ragtag group of people that are immune and are trapped on the gravely roof of a school surrounded by maniacs. Book was filled with cliches--the strong but sometimes self doubting widower hero (they're always widowers), the sweet but sassy love interest, a Romeo and Juliet couple, the bad seed troublemaker, the little child, army gone amok (are the army ever good in apocalyptic books? seems like national forces/police are the first to turn evil) and a couple other expendable characters.
Oh and like all the books I randomly read, magic (kind of) makes a random appearance. Why must it always be magic?
July 7, 2009
Stupid. Like a cheesy Sci-Fi movie. I smell a sequel.
July 15, 2023
would give one star because the writing isn't great, the characters are annoying, and the plot is very a basic zombie outbreak and expected but I give 2 stars because I could have read this in one sitting; it's like watching a shitty horror movie, you know it's not good, but you're still enjoying it BECAUSE it's not good
February 5, 2017
I felt like I read a young adult book. I have to say that it was almost like the writer just wrote something quick to be published and didn't put any heart in to it.
November 5, 2010
Anthony Giangregorio has been pumping out independent zombie novels for quite some time and has now caught the eye of Permuted Press and this is his first novel under their umbrella. Mr. Giangregorio is certainly prolific, if you look under his name here on Amazon. I have read only one of his books previous to this and while it was somewhat raw, it is hard to hide the passion this author has for apocalyptic fiction.
This is not technically a zombie book, although if you consider 28 Days Later a zombie movie than yes, this one is as well. The Rage Plague pretty much follows in that vein, with the infected not technically dead but simply losing all control and wanting to tear everyone to pieces. They still need food and water and seem to have some rudimentary intelligence, though nothing seems to get in their way of their victims.
We are thrust into the action here from the get go, being introduced to Bill and his band of survivors, stuck on the top of a school building while the infected swarm below them. Those who have tried to escape or gather food have been torn to pieces. The story follows Bill and his comrades as they try to escape through Chicago, a city covered up in infected.
We are also introduced to Dean, who seems to be normal at first but we quickly discover that he too is infected, but seems to have retained his full intelligence and ability to communicate. Unfortunately, that does nothing for his temperment, instead just giving him the patience required to rape and torture his victims before he kills them. The other infected follow him, willingly listening to his commands as he seeks out all the "normals" who remain so they can be chewed up and spit out.
The story is fast paced and entertaining but I cannot lavish the same amount of praise on it as the previous reviewers. This is mostly because while the author has turned things around a bit (the virus is airborne and the normals who remain are immune to it, not just able to avoid getting bit, which is so often the cause of infection in other stories) he uses a lot of devices used in many other apocalyptic fiction stories. Deranged scientists, inhumane/power hungry soldiers, and uncreative villains. Dean has intelligence but does nothing that one of his less intelligent counterparts can't really do except prolong the agony of his victims. It seems the only use of his intelligence is to calculate where the living might be and moving his army to destroy them. For someone who considers himself a god he does little to demonstrate that power. He has no ulterior motives, no whiff of humanity bubbling up under the surface because he retains his intelligence, nothing of the sort. It would have been interesting to see him do something more or perhaps to be tortured by the memories of being human but with the inevitable sequel perhaps we will plumb those depths in future installments.
I did like Bill and the cast of survivors. The author reveals enough about them for the reader to care about them and root for their survival and to be upset when some of them inevitably give up or get wiped out. I did feel that the conflict that could have developed between Bill and Michael, another survivor, could have been developed further but the author took a nice twist there and points these two men in different directions instead.
Overall, it was an entertaining read and I am sure we will see a sequel. I am curious to see further exploits of Bill and his team and hope there is more to Dean than (so far) meets the eye. The story is not perfect but the author knows how to keep things moving at a quick pace and kept it entertaining, that is for sure.
This is not technically a zombie book, although if you consider 28 Days Later a zombie movie than yes, this one is as well. The Rage Plague pretty much follows in that vein, with the infected not technically dead but simply losing all control and wanting to tear everyone to pieces. They still need food and water and seem to have some rudimentary intelligence, though nothing seems to get in their way of their victims.
We are thrust into the action here from the get go, being introduced to Bill and his band of survivors, stuck on the top of a school building while the infected swarm below them. Those who have tried to escape or gather food have been torn to pieces. The story follows Bill and his comrades as they try to escape through Chicago, a city covered up in infected.
We are also introduced to Dean, who seems to be normal at first but we quickly discover that he too is infected, but seems to have retained his full intelligence and ability to communicate. Unfortunately, that does nothing for his temperment, instead just giving him the patience required to rape and torture his victims before he kills them. The other infected follow him, willingly listening to his commands as he seeks out all the "normals" who remain so they can be chewed up and spit out.
The story is fast paced and entertaining but I cannot lavish the same amount of praise on it as the previous reviewers. This is mostly because while the author has turned things around a bit (the virus is airborne and the normals who remain are immune to it, not just able to avoid getting bit, which is so often the cause of infection in other stories) he uses a lot of devices used in many other apocalyptic fiction stories. Deranged scientists, inhumane/power hungry soldiers, and uncreative villains. Dean has intelligence but does nothing that one of his less intelligent counterparts can't really do except prolong the agony of his victims. It seems the only use of his intelligence is to calculate where the living might be and moving his army to destroy them. For someone who considers himself a god he does little to demonstrate that power. He has no ulterior motives, no whiff of humanity bubbling up under the surface because he retains his intelligence, nothing of the sort. It would have been interesting to see him do something more or perhaps to be tortured by the memories of being human but with the inevitable sequel perhaps we will plumb those depths in future installments.
I did like Bill and the cast of survivors. The author reveals enough about them for the reader to care about them and root for their survival and to be upset when some of them inevitably give up or get wiped out. I did feel that the conflict that could have developed between Bill and Michael, another survivor, could have been developed further but the author took a nice twist there and points these two men in different directions instead.
Overall, it was an entertaining read and I am sure we will see a sequel. I am curious to see further exploits of Bill and his team and hope there is more to Dean than (so far) meets the eye. The story is not perfect but the author knows how to keep things moving at a quick pace and kept it entertaining, that is for sure.
November 18, 2019
From start to finish this book has people smiling, laughing, giggling, chuckling, and grinning from the first page to the very last page.
Even though the main characters are constantly on the run from zombies and from the EVIL military, they always are smiling. Must be that horrible plague that is infecting everyone! To heck with the zombies, this is the real danger!
What's the strangest thing about this book is that the author seems to really have no concept of physics or gravity whatsoever. A plane falling from the sky literally takes 10 minutes to crash into the ground from a cruising altitude. And what's even crazier is that it must have been carrying a nuclear warhead because when it crashes it destroys almost an entire city. I really have no idea how the author thinks this is what happens when a plane crashes.
Another strange event is one of the children (obviously modeled after the author's own son), is 14 years old and knows how to make pipe bombs. Yep, you heard me right, a 14 year old knows how to make pipe bombs. And what's crazier is the author claims the characters can get the materials for making these pipe bombs with steel pipes and scraping the heads off of matches. You'd need an entire CRATE of matches before you'd have enough material to make a single pipe bomb this way.
Something else that is a running theme in this book (as well as the rest of Giangregorio's books), is the constant raping and sexual assault of women. Many of the women in this book are portrayed as weak willed damsel in distress types in constant need of rescuing. Also many of the men in this book are shown to want to dominate women in every sense of the word and use them for their own gratification whenever they feel like it and then cast them aside when they are done.
It really says something about the author as a person that he feels the need to put this in practically every book he writes.
I was going to wrote a very in-depth detail oriented review of this book but these are the highlights, so this should do for anyone wanting to waste their time and money with this book.
Don't bother even thinking twice about this one, look for something worth your time to read.
Even though the main characters are constantly on the run from zombies and from the EVIL military, they always are smiling. Must be that horrible plague that is infecting everyone! To heck with the zombies, this is the real danger!
What's the strangest thing about this book is that the author seems to really have no concept of physics or gravity whatsoever. A plane falling from the sky literally takes 10 minutes to crash into the ground from a cruising altitude. And what's even crazier is that it must have been carrying a nuclear warhead because when it crashes it destroys almost an entire city. I really have no idea how the author thinks this is what happens when a plane crashes.
Another strange event is one of the children (obviously modeled after the author's own son), is 14 years old and knows how to make pipe bombs. Yep, you heard me right, a 14 year old knows how to make pipe bombs. And what's crazier is the author claims the characters can get the materials for making these pipe bombs with steel pipes and scraping the heads off of matches. You'd need an entire CRATE of matches before you'd have enough material to make a single pipe bomb this way.
Something else that is a running theme in this book (as well as the rest of Giangregorio's books), is the constant raping and sexual assault of women. Many of the women in this book are portrayed as weak willed damsel in distress types in constant need of rescuing. Also many of the men in this book are shown to want to dominate women in every sense of the word and use them for their own gratification whenever they feel like it and then cast them aside when they are done.
It really says something about the author as a person that he feels the need to put this in practically every book he writes.
I was going to wrote a very in-depth detail oriented review of this book but these are the highlights, so this should do for anyone wanting to waste their time and money with this book.
Don't bother even thinking twice about this one, look for something worth your time to read.
April 14, 2010
I enjoyed reading this. I'm still so new to this type of book that I'm hesitant to say much because my knowledge is quite limited. I've read very few books that can be put into the same group as this and this isn't my favorite but it is good.
I liked the differences between these zombies versus "regular" zombies that are slow and dumb. I wish the 'why' of it were explained more - I think that could have helped out a lot because knowing why these zombies were different, for whatever reason, could have helped me get into the story more.
I don't think there was one character that didn't fit into the story, whether he was a good or bad guy, they all fit and fit well.
There will be a sequel to this I'm sure and I'll definitely read it.
I liked the differences between these zombies versus "regular" zombies that are slow and dumb. I wish the 'why' of it were explained more - I think that could have helped out a lot because knowing why these zombies were different, for whatever reason, could have helped me get into the story more.
I don't think there was one character that didn't fit into the story, whether he was a good or bad guy, they all fit and fit well.
There will be a sequel to this I'm sure and I'll definitely read it.
March 4, 2013
A timeline to this book would be helpful near the end you find out its set over a week which means the start is roughly set about 4-5 after the virus was released. Some lines in the book made no sense and sometimes the wrong words are used like vile instead of vial. It's ok if you haven't read a lot of horror survival books.
July 8, 2009
i have a feeling that this is not going to be very good, but we'll see.
a week or so later......
i was right. but, it did go by very quickly. 2 stars for the simple fact that it at least killed some boredom.
a week or so later......
i was right. but, it did go by very quickly. 2 stars for the simple fact that it at least killed some boredom.
October 13, 2011
it was really bloody and violent. it had all the makings of a classic novel for people who are obsessed with zombies
January 6, 2017
Have you ever yelled at a book? I have, The Rage Plague.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews