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The Zombie Bible #2
What Our Eyes Have Witnessed
WHAT OUR EYES HAVE WITNESSED
Father Polycarp has a Gift. He can bring peace and rest to the restless dead.
At his touch, each hungering corpse lies still at last. But to do this, he must first look into each one's blind eyes and find the remnant of the soul caught within the shambling corpse. He must witness each one's secrets, each one's suffering -- all that each had loved and feared and regretted in their brief lives. Only then can he absolve them and set them free. Only then will they cease to walk and feed.
But Polycarp may be burned for it.
In this alternate history of second-century Rome, the lives of the early martyrs are retold as a chapter in humanity’s long struggle with hunger and with the hungry dead. This isn’t your parents’ Sunday School. It isn’t your college bible study or history class. It’s the old stories coming back, with teeth, carved open so you can see every beat of their hearts. The Zombie Bible is a lethal series that wrestles with the violence of human hunger and the power of hope. This novel is its second installment.
PRAISE FOR THE FIRST VOLUME
"A good novel should go for the throat; this novel goes for your heart, rips it out, and eats it before your eyes. It elevates this genre from blood and guts spilled for amusement to something with a greater meaning." - from a review (5/5) by Lucinda Rose at RoseReads
"It's compelling and heart-pounding without being overly graphic or exploitative. It’s a page-turner that I could not put down. There are scenes that break your heart, that make you angry, that make you want to (I’m sorry) slap the author upside the head because you don’t want THAT to happen." - from a review (5/5) by Amy Marshall at A Diamond in the Dark
"This story was both original in its premise and terrifying in its no-holds-barred type of truth. This book is not wrapped up with a pretty bow at the end. We get heartbreak and we are shocked and horrified by the conclusion. ... This book will disturb you, it will enthrall you. It's a new take on the zombie craze that has a deeper meaning. I was literally speechless for a couple minutes after I turned the last page." - from a review (4.5/5) by Jennifer Bielman at Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy
Father Polycarp has a Gift. He can bring peace and rest to the restless dead.
At his touch, each hungering corpse lies still at last. But to do this, he must first look into each one's blind eyes and find the remnant of the soul caught within the shambling corpse. He must witness each one's secrets, each one's suffering -- all that each had loved and feared and regretted in their brief lives. Only then can he absolve them and set them free. Only then will they cease to walk and feed.
But Polycarp may be burned for it.
In this alternate history of second-century Rome, the lives of the early martyrs are retold as a chapter in humanity’s long struggle with hunger and with the hungry dead. This isn’t your parents’ Sunday School. It isn’t your college bible study or history class. It’s the old stories coming back, with teeth, carved open so you can see every beat of their hearts. The Zombie Bible is a lethal series that wrestles with the violence of human hunger and the power of hope. This novel is its second installment.
PRAISE FOR THE FIRST VOLUME
"A good novel should go for the throat; this novel goes for your heart, rips it out, and eats it before your eyes. It elevates this genre from blood and guts spilled for amusement to something with a greater meaning." - from a review (5/5) by Lucinda Rose at RoseReads
"It's compelling and heart-pounding without being overly graphic or exploitative. It’s a page-turner that I could not put down. There are scenes that break your heart, that make you angry, that make you want to (I’m sorry) slap the author upside the head because you don’t want THAT to happen." - from a review (5/5) by Amy Marshall at A Diamond in the Dark
"This story was both original in its premise and terrifying in its no-holds-barred type of truth. This book is not wrapped up with a pretty bow at the end. We get heartbreak and we are shocked and horrified by the conclusion. ... This book will disturb you, it will enthrall you. It's a new take on the zombie craze that has a deeper meaning. I was literally speechless for a couple minutes after I turned the last page." - from a review (4.5/5) by Jennifer Bielman at Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy
232 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 14, 2012
19 people are currently reading
599 people want to read
About the author
Stant Litore
49 books216 followersStant Litore is the author of Ansible, The Running of the Tyrannosaurs, The Zombie Bible, and Dante’s Heart. Besides science fiction and fantasy, he has written the writers’ toolkits Write Worlds Your Readers Won’t Forget and Write Characters Your Readers Won’t Forget, as well as Lives of Unstoppable Hope and Lives of Unforgetting, and has been featured in Jeff Vandermeer’s Wonderbook: An Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction. He has served as a developmental editor for Westmarch Publishing and holds a Ph.D. in English. He lives in Aurora, Colorado with his wife and three children and is currently at work on his next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 1, 2012
Zombie Bible: What Our Eyes Have Witnessed
by Stant Litore (Review)
This second volume of the Zombie Bible takes the events (loosely) of the Martyrium Polycarpi in the second century AD and weaves a possible story around the recorded event. You can use Google, I know you've learned how.
Mr. Litore finishes his Acknowledgments with a single line, “And to all of you, my readers, - it is you who make these stories breathe.” I have to be honest…I feel as if this story has ‘breathed’ into me. I was mesmerized by its urgency, the ‘living’ characters, and the splendid prose. His story of ‘living’, historically placed, zombies left me feeling physically exhausted and a bit lost emotionally. Not for bad reasons, but for good ones. I closed the final page of his second “Zombie bible: What Our Eyes Have Witnessed” feeling as if I had lived through the adventure. Well, maybe…I’m still reeling and a bit unsure if I survived the final assault or not. I can tell you that I enjoyed it very much.
I don’t want to give too much of the story away, but I have a couple of quotes to share that touched me deeply:
“The man breathed a soft moan – not the hunger-moan of the prowling dead, but the exhaustion-and –relief moan of a man letting go of a burden too long carried.”
“Our hearts are such small things. There is in the world both too much beauty and too much suffering for a human heart to hold.”
It is for the above examples that I’m giving it five stars. I hate to do this to the author because it means he will really have to impress me with his third book. Good Luck Mr. Litore. I will be reading Volume Three with great anticipation.
Devlin Scott (Lyshan Press)
by Stant Litore (Review)
This second volume of the Zombie Bible takes the events (loosely) of the Martyrium Polycarpi in the second century AD and weaves a possible story around the recorded event. You can use Google, I know you've learned how.
Mr. Litore finishes his Acknowledgments with a single line, “And to all of you, my readers, - it is you who make these stories breathe.” I have to be honest…I feel as if this story has ‘breathed’ into me. I was mesmerized by its urgency, the ‘living’ characters, and the splendid prose. His story of ‘living’, historically placed, zombies left me feeling physically exhausted and a bit lost emotionally. Not for bad reasons, but for good ones. I closed the final page of his second “Zombie bible: What Our Eyes Have Witnessed” feeling as if I had lived through the adventure. Well, maybe…I’m still reeling and a bit unsure if I survived the final assault or not. I can tell you that I enjoyed it very much.
I don’t want to give too much of the story away, but I have a couple of quotes to share that touched me deeply:
“The man breathed a soft moan – not the hunger-moan of the prowling dead, but the exhaustion-and –relief moan of a man letting go of a burden too long carried.”
“Our hearts are such small things. There is in the world both too much beauty and too much suffering for a human heart to hold.”
It is for the above examples that I’m giving it five stars. I hate to do this to the author because it means he will really have to impress me with his third book. Good Luck Mr. Litore. I will be reading Volume Three with great anticipation.
Devlin Scott (Lyshan Press)
November 19, 2012
To be honest, I was this close to done with the zombie thing. I loved World War Z but by this season of Walking Dead I was kind of praying someone would cut the head off the zombie trend. No need! Litore has opened a beautiful new path on the flesh-gobbling zombie trail.
Beautiful writing makes all the difference. Litore keeps the horror alive in his descriptions of the ravenous shuffling dead - gruesome imagery and palm-sweaty tension had me jumping at any rattle on my windows. But it's the humanity in contrast that makes the book (and the series so far) a cut above your average zombie story. Litore captures the social and cultural tension of 1st Century Rome - the claustrophobic poverty and despair of the Subura versus the elegant decay and apathy of the Palatine villas; the struggle to maintain dignitas for the Roman patriarchs versus the ecstasy and anxiety of the fervent hidden Christians. His depiction of all these social habits, the maddening habit of humanity to exclude and judge, has you wanting to punch the page and yell 'They're coming!' Because Roman or Greek, Christian or pagan, slave or patriarch, Litore makes it nauseatingly clear that we're all tasty to the starving dead.
This is much more than a zombie book. This is a book about humanity - what makes us human, what keeps us human. It's a well-painted slice of time and history with plenty of nail-biting and "ewww" scenes to keep horror mongers like me happy. This is a series to book mark for sure.
Beautiful writing makes all the difference. Litore keeps the horror alive in his descriptions of the ravenous shuffling dead - gruesome imagery and palm-sweaty tension had me jumping at any rattle on my windows. But it's the humanity in contrast that makes the book (and the series so far) a cut above your average zombie story. Litore captures the social and cultural tension of 1st Century Rome - the claustrophobic poverty and despair of the Subura versus the elegant decay and apathy of the Palatine villas; the struggle to maintain dignitas for the Roman patriarchs versus the ecstasy and anxiety of the fervent hidden Christians. His depiction of all these social habits, the maddening habit of humanity to exclude and judge, has you wanting to punch the page and yell 'They're coming!' Because Roman or Greek, Christian or pagan, slave or patriarch, Litore makes it nauseatingly clear that we're all tasty to the starving dead.
This is much more than a zombie book. This is a book about humanity - what makes us human, what keeps us human. It's a well-painted slice of time and history with plenty of nail-biting and "ewww" scenes to keep horror mongers like me happy. This is a series to book mark for sure.
August 10, 2012
I very enthusiastically picked up this second installment already expecting great things. And once again, Mr. Litore failed to disappoint. His writing is superb. His imagery is engaging. Once again, I was punched in the gut, but most definitely in the soul, with the depth of his story telling.
Whereas in the first book I relished in the zombie deliciousness of gory images and death, and faintly attuning into the surprisingly profound story of its main character, I was fully prepared for it in this book. Yet, even so, this book took me by surprise, and stunned me with its incredible underlying plot line of such well developed characters whose faith was tested, again and again, and stood strong before the utter hopelessness of their situation.
Set in Roman times in this installment, we follow different characters now. One man who struggles with his love for Rome, and his idea of honor while he faces the horrors that surround him and threaten to break him. Another man who has been entrusted by God with an amazing gift, and persecuted for it, even though it can prove to be Rome's salvation. A woman who yearns for stature, and betrays those that took her in for a richer piece of clothing. Another, who was a slave and treated worse than a mangy dog, who found love and a sense of self whose unwavering faith makes her stronger than the strongest Roman. All intricately woven into a fantastic story that keeps you on the very edge of your seat.
One paragraph in this book hit me deeply. Made me think differently of what I was reading. I have a hate and love relationship with Zombies. I cheer for their demise, the dirty rotting walking fiends, may they die a thousand pulverizing incredible deaths!! But this paragraph changed my perspective forever.
" It is a fearful thing, yet something each of us yearns for - to be naked before God or before another human being. To be intimate and loved for who we truly are. And if this is so with you who live, it is so, too, with the dead. Think of how burdened your hearts are. Those who die so burdened yearn and hunger even in death. Desiring intimacy, they rise and devour, for consuming another is the only way they know to take another into themselves. But I think there is one very great difference between the dead and the living. If I were to touch one of the dead and gaze into its eyes, it would be far readier than any of you to lay down its burdens and rest. "
How amazingly profound, that paragraph. Each rotting corpse was once a person too, with dreams and hopes... and now all they can do is shamble about in horrible hunger.
Sigh... Thanks Stant. Now I feel that unwelcome feeling of sympathy. Now you have made me think profoundly and with sadness about those poor souls...
** For full review please visit http://bookluvrshaven.blogspot.ca/201.... **
Whereas in the first book I relished in the zombie deliciousness of gory images and death, and faintly attuning into the surprisingly profound story of its main character, I was fully prepared for it in this book. Yet, even so, this book took me by surprise, and stunned me with its incredible underlying plot line of such well developed characters whose faith was tested, again and again, and stood strong before the utter hopelessness of their situation.
Set in Roman times in this installment, we follow different characters now. One man who struggles with his love for Rome, and his idea of honor while he faces the horrors that surround him and threaten to break him. Another man who has been entrusted by God with an amazing gift, and persecuted for it, even though it can prove to be Rome's salvation. A woman who yearns for stature, and betrays those that took her in for a richer piece of clothing. Another, who was a slave and treated worse than a mangy dog, who found love and a sense of self whose unwavering faith makes her stronger than the strongest Roman. All intricately woven into a fantastic story that keeps you on the very edge of your seat.
One paragraph in this book hit me deeply. Made me think differently of what I was reading. I have a hate and love relationship with Zombies. I cheer for their demise, the dirty rotting walking fiends, may they die a thousand pulverizing incredible deaths!! But this paragraph changed my perspective forever.
" It is a fearful thing, yet something each of us yearns for - to be naked before God or before another human being. To be intimate and loved for who we truly are. And if this is so with you who live, it is so, too, with the dead. Think of how burdened your hearts are. Those who die so burdened yearn and hunger even in death. Desiring intimacy, they rise and devour, for consuming another is the only way they know to take another into themselves. But I think there is one very great difference between the dead and the living. If I were to touch one of the dead and gaze into its eyes, it would be far readier than any of you to lay down its burdens and rest. "
How amazingly profound, that paragraph. Each rotting corpse was once a person too, with dreams and hopes... and now all they can do is shamble about in horrible hunger.
Sigh... Thanks Stant. Now I feel that unwelcome feeling of sympathy. Now you have made me think profoundly and with sadness about those poor souls...
** For full review please visit http://bookluvrshaven.blogspot.ca/201.... **
August 11, 2012
Set in a Rome a generation or two after Nero, the book follows the parallel stories of a Roman official struggling to cope with the rising of the restless dead, and the leader of an underground Christian (never referred to by that name) sect trying to deal with the dead according to his own faith, while also trying to protect his flock from the persecution of said official.
As with the first volume in the Zombie Bible series, "What Our Eyes Have Witnessed" treats both the religious themes and the issue of the undead with a depth and sincerity the name "Zombie Bible" would not have led me to expect. Looking at the zombie crisis through the faiths and cultures of Roman ancestor worship and fledgling Christianity -- very different from each other and from the Hebrew perspective given in the first book -- is fascinating, and the Christian leader Father Polycarp's faith and emotional turmoil was compelling, even moving, and I'm as non-religious as they come. I anxiously await the next installment in the series.
As with the first volume in the Zombie Bible series, "What Our Eyes Have Witnessed" treats both the religious themes and the issue of the undead with a depth and sincerity the name "Zombie Bible" would not have led me to expect. Looking at the zombie crisis through the faiths and cultures of Roman ancestor worship and fledgling Christianity -- very different from each other and from the Hebrew perspective given in the first book -- is fascinating, and the Christian leader Father Polycarp's faith and emotional turmoil was compelling, even moving, and I'm as non-religious as they come. I anxiously await the next installment in the series.
April 7, 2019
Exquisite writing and a compelling story. I was unable to put down this gritty, sometimes difficult to read, piece as I just had to know the fate of the characters and their story. This author has such an eloquent writing style and his desire to share this story shines through throughout the book. Evidence of a great amount of research is found throughout. Highly recommend.
January 28, 2012
The Good
If I was going to write a one word review, it would be WOW. Just like the previous book, I was speechless when I finished What Our Eyes Have Witnessed. Litore once again surrounds us in a world so realistic, so horrific that you want to shield your eyes from the words that so effortlessly paint a picture of hope, despair, and hunger.
Father Polycarp has seen the withered souls of the walking dead in their sightless eyes. He knows what causes the dead to rise and devour without thought. It is the very people of Rome that curse themselves. In a time when Rome was fresh with rising power, its people appeased their dead ancestors with food while men, women, and children wasted away on the streets for circumstances beyond their control. Their dismal placement in the caste hierarchy dictates their future. A future of slavery, of hunger, and of death. But if the people of Rome could only see that it's this very separation, their rejection of people who they consider lower than themselves that has brought the very destruction they so helplessly want to end, then maybe Rome could thrive. Polycarp sees this. His followers see this. Regina, his closest friend, follower, and insula manager sees this. But the person who could do the most good, initiate the most change refuses to see. Cauis has lost too much already to yield. No, he will see the destruction of Polycarp no matter the consequences.
You can't help but admire Polycarp's determination and courage in this story. He looks the dead in the eye, sees their true selves, and sets their tortured souls free. He helps those who others throw away. He provides for those who cannot provide for themselves. And he stands up to his convictions even when faced with the possiblity of a horrific death by fire. And even when it is obvious that Cauis and the jury of his peers refuse to see the truth, Polycarp holds firm to his beliefs and faces the prospect of death with stoic calm and grace. This is a man I could truly admire.
I wanted to hate Cauis. A man with power who refuses to do what's right. But I found that I could easily sympathize with him. Because to him his acts of violence and unreasoning are the right solutions. Forcing himself to be blind to alternatives, he truly believes that the destruction of Polycarp, the desecrater of Rome's ancestors, the man who spreads his mass delusion to the youth of Rome, is the answer to silencing the dead that bang on the doors of the living. He is driven by the atrocities in his own life, and he truly wants to save Rome and its people. He is simply ignorant and rigidly set in his ways. To change the very social structure of Rome is unthinkable. He would rather hold onto the lies that Rome lives on while Polycarp would rather face the truth head on and find a resolution that benefits all. Cauis will always do what he thinks is best for Rome's aristocracy, even if it dooms them all.
Personally, I think this story is truly about Regina. The freed pleasure slave that has found a home in Polycarps insula. There she is domina, the head of the household. Her love for the man who freed her, Polycarp, is a love of depth, gratitude, and admiration. Though Polycarp may struggle with his attraction to Regina, he never allows such lust to come to fruition, even though Regina may wish it otherwise. In Polycarp's eyes she sees a better future for herself and all of Rome. I fell in love with Regina's character very easily. Her emotions are so strong and heart-wrenching that I almost wept for her pain. Her faith in Polycarp and his God may be tested, but she never fails to amaze me with her courage to stand up for what she believes in when it is most important. I loved the underlying tone of female empowerment in this book. In a time when women were considered almost worthless, Regina shows that women can also have the power to make a difference.
Litore has created a cast of characters like no other. They all have honor, strength, and devotion in their own way (well, almost all of them). Their faith, valor, and love are all tested, and in the end, each one comes out a hero (even Cauis in a small way) through their actions and words.
Though What Our Eyes Have Witnessed provides us with an alternative biblical history, it is not a religious story. It is a story of poverty, injustice, human frailty, as well as hope, courage, and belief in oneself. Oh, and zombies. Can't forget the zombies. Litore has a way of writing action scenes so chilling and real that you can feel the breath of the dead warm the back of your neck. There were many times that I couldn't help but hold my breath as zombies made their presences known. Their moans becoming louder as they neared. The sight of their disfigured bodies as they reached for another victim. This book was definitely chock full of zombies to satisfy any zombie-loving reader.
The historical content was abundant and obviously thoroughly researched. The characterization was superb, as well as the detailed description.
The Bad
There really wasn't anything bad about this book. I loved reading every minute of it. I don't know how Litore did it but it even surpassed the first book of the series, Death has Come Up into Our Windows.
The Snuggly
I loved the sexual tension in this book. It was nothing risque, it was actually quite charming.
Overall
I still can't get over the beautiful horror of Litore's writing. This is a story of tragedy but with a glimmer of hope for the future. Regina was a breathtaking character that stole the show for me. She, and people like her, are what Polycarp is fighting for, and I can only hope that his teachings will show up in Litore's future Zombie Bible books. What Our Eyes Have Witnessed was another awe-inspiring take on the zombie genre that truly changed me as a reader. Even as I write this review my eyes mist over because Litore has created a world that even today slightly holds true. Looking past the zombies, you will find that Litore writes about the very core of human error and it has both humbled me and made me appreciative of the life I live. Highly recommended.
Quotes
The alley was filled with dead. The light of the lamp Polycarp held brought them out of the dark, showing the gashes and bites in their gray skin in stark detail. For a moment, his hand shook, and the light guttered. The dead slouched and slid along the wall of the insula toward him; several milling at the outlet to the Via Aquae Bruneae turned their heads with unnatural slowness, and their eyes reflected back the lamp. Their mouths opened, filling the alley with the low groaning of their hunger.
~
The guardsman slid his captives from his shoulders; Regina felt the pavement hit her back and rump hard, and sucked in her breath. The fourth walking corpse bent and snatched at her hair. But the guardsman’s knife slid from its sheath in a song of metal, and he drove his blade into the creature’s chest. That did not slow it. Regina cried out as she felt her head lifted by the hair, her wrists tied helplessly beneath her. The thing’s face a shadow above her, its teeth reaching for her. She tried to speak, to beg, to scream – no sound came.
~
"We are all on trial,” he cried. “Our dead are here to demand answers, and we are out of time. We have to choose, now, this day. Will we have a City divided into the eaters and the eaten – a City populated in the end only by the hungry dead! – or will we build a City where we break bread together, all of us, Roman and Greek and Syrian, male and female, master and slave, not feeding on each other but feeding and sustaining each other? Give me your verdict, please, then let me rest. The past few days have been more exhausting than any in my life. I will admit that I would rather die in my bed than in a fire. But now, if you can’t manage to look at the truth and decide what to do about it, I am done talking with you.”
http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy....
If I was going to write a one word review, it would be WOW. Just like the previous book, I was speechless when I finished What Our Eyes Have Witnessed. Litore once again surrounds us in a world so realistic, so horrific that you want to shield your eyes from the words that so effortlessly paint a picture of hope, despair, and hunger.
Father Polycarp has seen the withered souls of the walking dead in their sightless eyes. He knows what causes the dead to rise and devour without thought. It is the very people of Rome that curse themselves. In a time when Rome was fresh with rising power, its people appeased their dead ancestors with food while men, women, and children wasted away on the streets for circumstances beyond their control. Their dismal placement in the caste hierarchy dictates their future. A future of slavery, of hunger, and of death. But if the people of Rome could only see that it's this very separation, their rejection of people who they consider lower than themselves that has brought the very destruction they so helplessly want to end, then maybe Rome could thrive. Polycarp sees this. His followers see this. Regina, his closest friend, follower, and insula manager sees this. But the person who could do the most good, initiate the most change refuses to see. Cauis has lost too much already to yield. No, he will see the destruction of Polycarp no matter the consequences.
You can't help but admire Polycarp's determination and courage in this story. He looks the dead in the eye, sees their true selves, and sets their tortured souls free. He helps those who others throw away. He provides for those who cannot provide for themselves. And he stands up to his convictions even when faced with the possiblity of a horrific death by fire. And even when it is obvious that Cauis and the jury of his peers refuse to see the truth, Polycarp holds firm to his beliefs and faces the prospect of death with stoic calm and grace. This is a man I could truly admire.
I wanted to hate Cauis. A man with power who refuses to do what's right. But I found that I could easily sympathize with him. Because to him his acts of violence and unreasoning are the right solutions. Forcing himself to be blind to alternatives, he truly believes that the destruction of Polycarp, the desecrater of Rome's ancestors, the man who spreads his mass delusion to the youth of Rome, is the answer to silencing the dead that bang on the doors of the living. He is driven by the atrocities in his own life, and he truly wants to save Rome and its people. He is simply ignorant and rigidly set in his ways. To change the very social structure of Rome is unthinkable. He would rather hold onto the lies that Rome lives on while Polycarp would rather face the truth head on and find a resolution that benefits all. Cauis will always do what he thinks is best for Rome's aristocracy, even if it dooms them all.
Personally, I think this story is truly about Regina. The freed pleasure slave that has found a home in Polycarps insula. There she is domina, the head of the household. Her love for the man who freed her, Polycarp, is a love of depth, gratitude, and admiration. Though Polycarp may struggle with his attraction to Regina, he never allows such lust to come to fruition, even though Regina may wish it otherwise. In Polycarp's eyes she sees a better future for herself and all of Rome. I fell in love with Regina's character very easily. Her emotions are so strong and heart-wrenching that I almost wept for her pain. Her faith in Polycarp and his God may be tested, but she never fails to amaze me with her courage to stand up for what she believes in when it is most important. I loved the underlying tone of female empowerment in this book. In a time when women were considered almost worthless, Regina shows that women can also have the power to make a difference.
Litore has created a cast of characters like no other. They all have honor, strength, and devotion in their own way (well, almost all of them). Their faith, valor, and love are all tested, and in the end, each one comes out a hero (even Cauis in a small way) through their actions and words.
Though What Our Eyes Have Witnessed provides us with an alternative biblical history, it is not a religious story. It is a story of poverty, injustice, human frailty, as well as hope, courage, and belief in oneself. Oh, and zombies. Can't forget the zombies. Litore has a way of writing action scenes so chilling and real that you can feel the breath of the dead warm the back of your neck. There were many times that I couldn't help but hold my breath as zombies made their presences known. Their moans becoming louder as they neared. The sight of their disfigured bodies as they reached for another victim. This book was definitely chock full of zombies to satisfy any zombie-loving reader.
The historical content was abundant and obviously thoroughly researched. The characterization was superb, as well as the detailed description.
The Bad
There really wasn't anything bad about this book. I loved reading every minute of it. I don't know how Litore did it but it even surpassed the first book of the series, Death has Come Up into Our Windows.
The Snuggly
I loved the sexual tension in this book. It was nothing risque, it was actually quite charming.
Overall
I still can't get over the beautiful horror of Litore's writing. This is a story of tragedy but with a glimmer of hope for the future. Regina was a breathtaking character that stole the show for me. She, and people like her, are what Polycarp is fighting for, and I can only hope that his teachings will show up in Litore's future Zombie Bible books. What Our Eyes Have Witnessed was another awe-inspiring take on the zombie genre that truly changed me as a reader. Even as I write this review my eyes mist over because Litore has created a world that even today slightly holds true. Looking past the zombies, you will find that Litore writes about the very core of human error and it has both humbled me and made me appreciative of the life I live. Highly recommended.
Quotes
The alley was filled with dead. The light of the lamp Polycarp held brought them out of the dark, showing the gashes and bites in their gray skin in stark detail. For a moment, his hand shook, and the light guttered. The dead slouched and slid along the wall of the insula toward him; several milling at the outlet to the Via Aquae Bruneae turned their heads with unnatural slowness, and their eyes reflected back the lamp. Their mouths opened, filling the alley with the low groaning of their hunger.
~
The guardsman slid his captives from his shoulders; Regina felt the pavement hit her back and rump hard, and sucked in her breath. The fourth walking corpse bent and snatched at her hair. But the guardsman’s knife slid from its sheath in a song of metal, and he drove his blade into the creature’s chest. That did not slow it. Regina cried out as she felt her head lifted by the hair, her wrists tied helplessly beneath her. The thing’s face a shadow above her, its teeth reaching for her. She tried to speak, to beg, to scream – no sound came.
~
"We are all on trial,” he cried. “Our dead are here to demand answers, and we are out of time. We have to choose, now, this day. Will we have a City divided into the eaters and the eaten – a City populated in the end only by the hungry dead! – or will we build a City where we break bread together, all of us, Roman and Greek and Syrian, male and female, master and slave, not feeding on each other but feeding and sustaining each other? Give me your verdict, please, then let me rest. The past few days have been more exhausting than any in my life. I will admit that I would rather die in my bed than in a fire. But now, if you can’t manage to look at the truth and decide what to do about it, I am done talking with you.”
http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy....
December 27, 2018
An Intriguing Experience
The author is definitely a skilled wordsmith and clearly researched the times of 2nd century Rome enough to give a descriptive world and to effectively get into the heads of his characters. The biggest problem with the book might be that he spent too much time in the heads of his characters; although, it is also in those spaces he gives us some quotable golden nuggets of wisdom.
My biggest beef with the historical bit is probably in some of the ways he describes the church. The author clearly has a Roman Catholic background and imagines into the early church Roman Catholic practices and theology that I, being Baptist, would rather imagine out of the early church. This kept me from being able to fully embrace the author’s particular depiction of it.
On the zombie side of things, I appreciated that the author does not explain their existence so much as he gives us the characters trying to understand it within their own worldview. It would be anachronistic for there to be talk of viruses. The explanations then lie in the characters understanding of the spiritual and supernatural. Which is the sort of thing I generally prefer when I read speculative fiction.
The challenge for me in writing this review is that I don’t normally read zombie stories. In fact, this was my first one. I was drawn to it more for its historical fiction element. I love church history and the thought of a novel with Polycarp as the main character was too intriguing to pass up. The flow of the story was unlike any I’ve ever read. I’m not sure if it is standard for Zombie novels or the author’s own creative bent. I didn’t mind it. It is a more reflective story telling pace, but as such was not written in such a way as to be a page turner. I sometimes had long periods in which I did not come back to the book. However it was still interesting enough that I would find myself back in it eventually and have now finished the work. Similarly, I am not eager to jump into the rest of the books in this series, yet I find myself curious enough that I might find myself in them still.
Ultimately I suppose that this story is for a particular niche of readers: devout Roman Catholics who also like zombie stories; however those like myself who have a more loose connection with one or the other may find enjoyment in it as well.
The author is definitely a skilled wordsmith and clearly researched the times of 2nd century Rome enough to give a descriptive world and to effectively get into the heads of his characters. The biggest problem with the book might be that he spent too much time in the heads of his characters; although, it is also in those spaces he gives us some quotable golden nuggets of wisdom.
My biggest beef with the historical bit is probably in some of the ways he describes the church. The author clearly has a Roman Catholic background and imagines into the early church Roman Catholic practices and theology that I, being Baptist, would rather imagine out of the early church. This kept me from being able to fully embrace the author’s particular depiction of it.
On the zombie side of things, I appreciated that the author does not explain their existence so much as he gives us the characters trying to understand it within their own worldview. It would be anachronistic for there to be talk of viruses. The explanations then lie in the characters understanding of the spiritual and supernatural. Which is the sort of thing I generally prefer when I read speculative fiction.
The challenge for me in writing this review is that I don’t normally read zombie stories. In fact, this was my first one. I was drawn to it more for its historical fiction element. I love church history and the thought of a novel with Polycarp as the main character was too intriguing to pass up. The flow of the story was unlike any I’ve ever read. I’m not sure if it is standard for Zombie novels or the author’s own creative bent. I didn’t mind it. It is a more reflective story telling pace, but as such was not written in such a way as to be a page turner. I sometimes had long periods in which I did not come back to the book. However it was still interesting enough that I would find myself back in it eventually and have now finished the work. Similarly, I am not eager to jump into the rest of the books in this series, yet I find myself curious enough that I might find myself in them still.
Ultimately I suppose that this story is for a particular niche of readers: devout Roman Catholics who also like zombie stories; however those like myself who have a more loose connection with one or the other may find enjoyment in it as well.
June 26, 2020
The second installment of the Zombie Bible is longer than the first but just as potent. As usual, Litore shows an extensive knowledge of the time and society he's writing about, this time an early Christian congregation in ancient Rome. Remarkably, its not at all a preachy book, and he doesn't once mention by name the man who started the whole religion. In my opinion there's absolutely no reason for the reader to be Christian, or even pro Christianity, to enjoy this story about charity, freedom, bravery and sacrifice.
And of course, zombies! But Litore's take on them is something I've never encountered anywhere else. As expected his zombies wakes horror in me, but also deep pity. Zombies as tragic figures, who would have known? Also his living characters are fleshed out and believable, and no one is completely good or bad. Recommended as a educational, chilling, moving and thought provoking read.
And of course, zombies! But Litore's take on them is something I've never encountered anywhere else. As expected his zombies wakes horror in me, but also deep pity. Zombies as tragic figures, who would have known? Also his living characters are fleshed out and believable, and no one is completely good or bad. Recommended as a educational, chilling, moving and thought provoking read.
February 28, 2019
6CD Talking book borrowed for car travel and to try something different. Didn't work for me but played all 6 CDs to the end.
May 14, 2015
The second in the Zombie Bible series managed to leave the chronological biblical spectrum entirely, and take us to ancient Rome.
Caius, the head of the Roman Praetorian guard, is charged with the religious as well as the logistical protection of Rome. Thus far, the walking dead are but a distant, albeit audible afterthought, confined to ravishing the destitute lower classes in the outskirts–known as the insula.
When these barriers are breached in horrifying fashion, certain revelations begin to come with that moment—that all is not well inside the inner rings, and really—haven’t been for quite some time. And Caius knows this better than anyone.
Meanwhile, a Christian sect, led by Polycarp, is being held accountable for the outbreak, primarily for the crime of polluting Rome’s theological mashup with undiluted monotheism, and all the baggage that comes with a faith that exalts not the dead, but feeds the living and celebrates life after death. Roman culture, while expending its firsfruits to the dead who could not partake of them, completely ignored the living that could. Polycarp’s earthly mission involved chipping away at this behemoth. And the unity of communion—the breaking of bread is the accord in which this is brought to bear.
Caius is unable to hold the center, and is faced with personal traumas along with political decisions meant to allay the rage of vox populi –I won’t go into what those are here, because it gives away too much.
Polycarps’s band of devotees are gathering—at great personal risk—in the catacombs, a feature which helps undergird the horrid rumors that the communion they are taking isn’t symbolic—but cannibalistic—a major point in the ultimate prosecutorial proceedings against him.
But the book isn’t about logistical gamesmanship scenarios. It’s about relationships. Inside the isolated, patrician orbs of Rome, the people are hoping to hedge their hopes against the undead by the protections given them by their class distinctions. In the catacombs of devotion, those congregants are shedding, or subjugating their statuses for the sake of unity, and feeding the hungry, and opening themselves to the gifts that may give the undead a proper release from their torment and hunger.
Within this unified body, Polycarp gives authority and leadership to a young woman named Dora, a scarred, publicly-shamed pleasure slave. Upon paying a price for her, he sets her free, and then exalts her to his right hand with a new name.
As I said, the story involves relationships. And this one is key. It will touch your heart.
I fear of giving away more than this. It’s a beautiful and powerful story, rich in the historical nature Rome. But if I have to walk away with one message, I can say this. The idea of the walking dead as a horror linchpin alone is and has been fascinating for me ever since I was a kid. But to see them as literal and metaphorical statements simultaneously gives these ones extra power. They can be seen as the simple, raging specters in the Via sanctus, or they can be seen as the composite boiling down of a nihilistic end, devoid of meaning—yet they are somehow starving for it.
In the inner circles of Rome, the barriers are physical. Assumptions of impregnability cause lethargy of spirit and lack of preparation for the ultimate breach. And when that day comes, all men are equal in the grip of the walking dead—and instead of being internally prepared for a glorious resurrection that saves them in the long term, they are externally destroyed by an aberrant resurrection in the short one.
In the margins, the poor and destitute, though hungry physically, also know that the physical hedge for them is improbable, if not laughable. Their equality amongst each other, however, was established in their communion with—each other, making death—in all its forms equal in scope—and an unworthy adversary against the Apostolic Gift, something that is only housed behind hedge of a pure and honest faith—the greatest hedge of all.
Caius, the head of the Roman Praetorian guard, is charged with the religious as well as the logistical protection of Rome. Thus far, the walking dead are but a distant, albeit audible afterthought, confined to ravishing the destitute lower classes in the outskirts–known as the insula.
When these barriers are breached in horrifying fashion, certain revelations begin to come with that moment—that all is not well inside the inner rings, and really—haven’t been for quite some time. And Caius knows this better than anyone.
Meanwhile, a Christian sect, led by Polycarp, is being held accountable for the outbreak, primarily for the crime of polluting Rome’s theological mashup with undiluted monotheism, and all the baggage that comes with a faith that exalts not the dead, but feeds the living and celebrates life after death. Roman culture, while expending its firsfruits to the dead who could not partake of them, completely ignored the living that could. Polycarp’s earthly mission involved chipping away at this behemoth. And the unity of communion—the breaking of bread is the accord in which this is brought to bear.
Caius is unable to hold the center, and is faced with personal traumas along with political decisions meant to allay the rage of vox populi –I won’t go into what those are here, because it gives away too much.
Polycarps’s band of devotees are gathering—at great personal risk—in the catacombs, a feature which helps undergird the horrid rumors that the communion they are taking isn’t symbolic—but cannibalistic—a major point in the ultimate prosecutorial proceedings against him.
But the book isn’t about logistical gamesmanship scenarios. It’s about relationships. Inside the isolated, patrician orbs of Rome, the people are hoping to hedge their hopes against the undead by the protections given them by their class distinctions. In the catacombs of devotion, those congregants are shedding, or subjugating their statuses for the sake of unity, and feeding the hungry, and opening themselves to the gifts that may give the undead a proper release from their torment and hunger.
Within this unified body, Polycarp gives authority and leadership to a young woman named Dora, a scarred, publicly-shamed pleasure slave. Upon paying a price for her, he sets her free, and then exalts her to his right hand with a new name.
As I said, the story involves relationships. And this one is key. It will touch your heart.
I fear of giving away more than this. It’s a beautiful and powerful story, rich in the historical nature Rome. But if I have to walk away with one message, I can say this. The idea of the walking dead as a horror linchpin alone is and has been fascinating for me ever since I was a kid. But to see them as literal and metaphorical statements simultaneously gives these ones extra power. They can be seen as the simple, raging specters in the Via sanctus, or they can be seen as the composite boiling down of a nihilistic end, devoid of meaning—yet they are somehow starving for it.
In the inner circles of Rome, the barriers are physical. Assumptions of impregnability cause lethargy of spirit and lack of preparation for the ultimate breach. And when that day comes, all men are equal in the grip of the walking dead—and instead of being internally prepared for a glorious resurrection that saves them in the long term, they are externally destroyed by an aberrant resurrection in the short one.
In the margins, the poor and destitute, though hungry physically, also know that the physical hedge for them is improbable, if not laughable. Their equality amongst each other, however, was established in their communion with—each other, making death—in all its forms equal in scope—and an unworthy adversary against the Apostolic Gift, something that is only housed behind hedge of a pure and honest faith—the greatest hedge of all.
October 1, 2012
Let me say first that Stant Litore is a friend of mine, and that I received a free copy of What Our Eyes Have Witnessed in exchange for writing an honest review.
WOEHW (which should be pronounced Wow! In my opinion) is the first entry in the Zombie Bible series. The title The Zombie Bible is sort of a double-edged sword: on one hand, it’s very descriptive: this is a series featuring Biblical characters fighting zombies. And yet, that title has a sort of jokey, ironic feel to it, as if we could expect to find in these pages David pelting zombie Goliath with his slingshot, or Samson bashing in the skulls of 300 zombie Philistines with the jawbone of an ass. That is not what WOEHW is like. At all.
WOEHW takes place in first century Rome, when the Christian church is still literally meeting underground. This Rome has an even bigger problem than rogue religious sects, though: the dead are walking the streets, looking to feast on the living. The no-nonsense Roman authorities make the obvious connection: clearly the adherents of this new religion, with their strange rituals in which they claim to eat the body of their dead founder, are somehow causing the dead to rise. The Romans' solution is to stamp out the cult, starting with their leader, Father Polycarp. But what if Polycarp is the only one with the power to end the plague of walking dead?
The action in WOEHW builds slowly. Very slowly, at first. After a few chapters I started to wonder if we were ever going to get to see any serious zombie action. Don’t worry; the action comes. And when it does, you’re fully invested in the characters facing the zombies. Not only that; Stant actually makes you feel the pain of the zombies themselves. These aren’t just soulless, animated corpses – they are real people who hunger for something in death that they were unable to find in life. And the climax and denouement – well, I’ll just say that it’s worth the wait.
There are some definite religious themes here, but no overt “message” or dogmatism. Rather than tacking a religious message onto a conventional humans-versus-zombies story, Stant rebuilds the zombie mythology from the ground up, making the zombie phenomenon part of a larger spiritual milieu. It's hard to imagine anyone, either the most devout Christian or the most ardent atheist, being offended by this book. And despite the scary cover and potentially gruesome subject material, there is relatively little gore. Highly recommended.
WOEHW (which should be pronounced Wow! In my opinion) is the first entry in the Zombie Bible series. The title The Zombie Bible is sort of a double-edged sword: on one hand, it’s very descriptive: this is a series featuring Biblical characters fighting zombies. And yet, that title has a sort of jokey, ironic feel to it, as if we could expect to find in these pages David pelting zombie Goliath with his slingshot, or Samson bashing in the skulls of 300 zombie Philistines with the jawbone of an ass. That is not what WOEHW is like. At all.
WOEHW takes place in first century Rome, when the Christian church is still literally meeting underground. This Rome has an even bigger problem than rogue religious sects, though: the dead are walking the streets, looking to feast on the living. The no-nonsense Roman authorities make the obvious connection: clearly the adherents of this new religion, with their strange rituals in which they claim to eat the body of their dead founder, are somehow causing the dead to rise. The Romans' solution is to stamp out the cult, starting with their leader, Father Polycarp. But what if Polycarp is the only one with the power to end the plague of walking dead?
The action in WOEHW builds slowly. Very slowly, at first. After a few chapters I started to wonder if we were ever going to get to see any serious zombie action. Don’t worry; the action comes. And when it does, you’re fully invested in the characters facing the zombies. Not only that; Stant actually makes you feel the pain of the zombies themselves. These aren’t just soulless, animated corpses – they are real people who hunger for something in death that they were unable to find in life. And the climax and denouement – well, I’ll just say that it’s worth the wait.
There are some definite religious themes here, but no overt “message” or dogmatism. Rather than tacking a religious message onto a conventional humans-versus-zombies story, Stant rebuilds the zombie mythology from the ground up, making the zombie phenomenon part of a larger spiritual milieu. It's hard to imagine anyone, either the most devout Christian or the most ardent atheist, being offended by this book. And despite the scary cover and potentially gruesome subject material, there is relatively little gore. Highly recommended.
November 20, 2016
What Our Eyes Have Witnessed is the second novel in author Stant Litore's "Zombie Bible" series, which is more or less what it sounds like - zombie stories with Biblical themes. The first installment (Death Has Come Up into Our Windows (The Zombie Bible)) was set in Old Testament times, while What Our Eyes Have Witnessed takes place in Rome in the earliest days of Christianity.
The book focuses on three main characters - a Christian leader named Polycarp with a unique power to affect the living dead, his disciple Regina, a former slave, and the Roman official trying to quell their nascent movement while at the same time dealing with the fact that zombies are roaming the streets and feasting on Roman citizens.
Zombie 411: The zombies in this book are straight-up Romero-style "shamblers." No sprinting, using tools, etc.
Where the first Zombie Bible novel was long on theology and short on zombies, What Our Eyes Have Witnessed pushes the formula much more towards the action and horror elements. To be sure, Litore uses the book to examine the motivations of people in that place and time, the emergence of early Christianity and how Roman reverence of their ancestors could be...problematic when said ancestors are undead monsters, but we get plenty of intense action to go with it. There's a particularly harrowing sequence involving Praetorian Guards battling zombies in the streets, not to mention a powerful ending. Litore once again delivers very memorable characters and in a style that's both poetic and engaging. That's no mean feat, and when you consider the subject matter it's even more impressive.
If you've only read Death Has Come Up Into Our Windows and are on the fence about whether to stick with the series, I highly recommend giving What Our Eyes Have Witnessed a try. And since these books can be read individually without any previous exposure to the series, it makes a great introduction to Litore's moving series.
The book focuses on three main characters - a Christian leader named Polycarp with a unique power to affect the living dead, his disciple Regina, a former slave, and the Roman official trying to quell their nascent movement while at the same time dealing with the fact that zombies are roaming the streets and feasting on Roman citizens.
Zombie 411: The zombies in this book are straight-up Romero-style "shamblers." No sprinting, using tools, etc.
Where the first Zombie Bible novel was long on theology and short on zombies, What Our Eyes Have Witnessed pushes the formula much more towards the action and horror elements. To be sure, Litore uses the book to examine the motivations of people in that place and time, the emergence of early Christianity and how Roman reverence of their ancestors could be...problematic when said ancestors are undead monsters, but we get plenty of intense action to go with it. There's a particularly harrowing sequence involving Praetorian Guards battling zombies in the streets, not to mention a powerful ending. Litore once again delivers very memorable characters and in a style that's both poetic and engaging. That's no mean feat, and when you consider the subject matter it's even more impressive.
If you've only read Death Has Come Up Into Our Windows and are on the fence about whether to stick with the series, I highly recommend giving What Our Eyes Have Witnessed a try. And since these books can be read individually without any previous exposure to the series, it makes a great introduction to Litore's moving series.
January 20, 2013
Father Polycarp has a Gift. He can bring peace and rest to the restless dead.
I just completed my second helping of Stant Litore’s incredible series “The Zombie Bible.” I didn’t immediately fall in love with What Our Eyes Have Witnessed as I did with Death Has Come Up into Our Windows…at least not at first. I’m just not a fan of second century Rome. But let me tell you something: whether you like Rome or not, Litore’s masterful hand will drop you directly in the middle of the Eternal City and guide you about - taking you from the heights where the rich and the politicians dwell, down to the squalor at the bottom where the very poor suffer and the early Christians shield their presence from the soldiers and the hungry dead.
You might think there could be no beauty to be found in a zombie tale, but you’d be wrong. This is both an epic story of survival and a well-crafted study on the human condition, as we see the thoughts and feel the emotions of the rich and the poor, the weak and the strong, the good and the evil. We see their motivation, their heartache and their last moments as the dead desperately reach for them with their insatiable hunger.
As a writer of Christian themes myself, I cheered the ending of this piece as all of the beautiful symbolism came together, along with all of the splendid plotlines, to become a shiny red bow to decorate a truly inspired entry to “The Zombie Bible.”
I just completed my second helping of Stant Litore’s incredible series “The Zombie Bible.” I didn’t immediately fall in love with What Our Eyes Have Witnessed as I did with Death Has Come Up into Our Windows…at least not at first. I’m just not a fan of second century Rome. But let me tell you something: whether you like Rome or not, Litore’s masterful hand will drop you directly in the middle of the Eternal City and guide you about - taking you from the heights where the rich and the politicians dwell, down to the squalor at the bottom where the very poor suffer and the early Christians shield their presence from the soldiers and the hungry dead.
You might think there could be no beauty to be found in a zombie tale, but you’d be wrong. This is both an epic story of survival and a well-crafted study on the human condition, as we see the thoughts and feel the emotions of the rich and the poor, the weak and the strong, the good and the evil. We see their motivation, their heartache and their last moments as the dead desperately reach for them with their insatiable hunger.
As a writer of Christian themes myself, I cheered the ending of this piece as all of the beautiful symbolism came together, along with all of the splendid plotlines, to become a shiny red bow to decorate a truly inspired entry to “The Zombie Bible.”
December 30, 2013
I feel like I wasted my time with this book, and have no idea what those good reviews were talking about.
I had low expectations for this book just because of the topic, but I was pretty disappointed by the quality of writing, and the narrative.
You can tell that the writer got this idea from knowing someone else who is probably obsessed with ancient Rome, and they got together and said, "Hey, what if zombies were in Rome?" and then wrote this book. Sprinkle a few historical words in there to make it sound like he knows what he's talking about, spread over skeleton thin character development, and dust with an air of unwarranted pretension and you get this book. Oh yeah, and zombies.
You can also kind of tell that he got rushed towards the end, in order to either meet a deadline, or finish before he just started to ramble on with chapter after chapter of thin, zombie crap. I'm guessing he ran out of time, and only had an hour or so at the end to actually work on his project, and editing it would just tear holes in his story, so he submitted it and said, "Good luck."
The only thing worse than the book was the acknowledgements, and the fact that he named his children after characters from Firefly. Good show, but now you know that he's "that guy."
I had low expectations for this book just because of the topic, but I was pretty disappointed by the quality of writing, and the narrative.
You can tell that the writer got this idea from knowing someone else who is probably obsessed with ancient Rome, and they got together and said, "Hey, what if zombies were in Rome?" and then wrote this book. Sprinkle a few historical words in there to make it sound like he knows what he's talking about, spread over skeleton thin character development, and dust with an air of unwarranted pretension and you get this book. Oh yeah, and zombies.
You can also kind of tell that he got rushed towards the end, in order to either meet a deadline, or finish before he just started to ramble on with chapter after chapter of thin, zombie crap. I'm guessing he ran out of time, and only had an hour or so at the end to actually work on his project, and editing it would just tear holes in his story, so he submitted it and said, "Good luck."
The only thing worse than the book was the acknowledgements, and the fact that he named his children after characters from Firefly. Good show, but now you know that he's "that guy."
September 14, 2016
I wanted to like this book more than I did, but it's the weakest of the three Zombie Bible books I've read so far.
The problem was the frequent use of flashbacks, which interrupted the story's sense of urgency without providing any payoffs of genuine surprise or illumination. The plot would get to a crisis point, then jump back in time to provide more information. But with the exception of the meeting of Polycarp and Regina, the events all took place within a few days. The flashbacks felt like a stylistic choce that didn't actually serve the story.
The other weakness was that the sense of mythic power was nowhere near as intense in this book as in the others. In both "Death has come up into our windows" and "I will hold my death close" the horror of the zombies is balanced by the intensity of the portrayal of Divine spiritual power. I missed that balance, and I missed the powerful sense of the sacred as an active, living Presence.
Despite these two weaknesses in the story, Littore is an excellent writer. The three pov characters are unique and interesting, and his sentences are clear and often beautiful. I wish this book could be re-edited.
The problem was the frequent use of flashbacks, which interrupted the story's sense of urgency without providing any payoffs of genuine surprise or illumination. The plot would get to a crisis point, then jump back in time to provide more information. But with the exception of the meeting of Polycarp and Regina, the events all took place within a few days. The flashbacks felt like a stylistic choce that didn't actually serve the story.
The other weakness was that the sense of mythic power was nowhere near as intense in this book as in the others. In both "Death has come up into our windows" and "I will hold my death close" the horror of the zombies is balanced by the intensity of the portrayal of Divine spiritual power. I missed that balance, and I missed the powerful sense of the sacred as an active, living Presence.
Despite these two weaknesses in the story, Littore is an excellent writer. The three pov characters are unique and interesting, and his sentences are clear and often beautiful. I wish this book could be re-edited.
March 17, 2012
Here's the thing I've found about the two books in this series so far: although they involve zombies, and the awful horror of having the living dead walk through your life and your town, the subtext is a lot deeper.
In this instalment, Stant Litore examines what happens when a rigid man cleaves to what he considers to be his honour, even while his actions cause destruction and heartbreak. He looks at what happens when a truly honourable man comes up against the belief system of the world he lives in - ancient Rome - and how the grinding stones of politics attempts to destroy him. He looks at two women, both broken in their past, and how they deal with the present when it starts to devolve - one retreats into a false vengeance and betrayal, another finds her courage and her loyalty shaken through fear, but never shattered.
As in the first book, zombies are the catalyst for events, but the characters drive the story into places that haunt you. Set in a time long dead, this book makes the people of the time real in every sense.
In this instalment, Stant Litore examines what happens when a rigid man cleaves to what he considers to be his honour, even while his actions cause destruction and heartbreak. He looks at what happens when a truly honourable man comes up against the belief system of the world he lives in - ancient Rome - and how the grinding stones of politics attempts to destroy him. He looks at two women, both broken in their past, and how they deal with the present when it starts to devolve - one retreats into a false vengeance and betrayal, another finds her courage and her loyalty shaken through fear, but never shattered.
As in the first book, zombies are the catalyst for events, but the characters drive the story into places that haunt you. Set in a time long dead, this book makes the people of the time real in every sense.
October 15, 2015
I enjoyed this read. Even knowing how it was going to end for the most part I still found myself drawn to the atmosphere and style of language.
It was difficult to read about people blaming the zombie plague on certain religious groups, knowing that this happens so much still. None of the characters in these books really take any responsibility for the predicament they're in except those that are fortunate to have a direct link with "God". I put that in quotation marks as I'm agnostic myself. However, it didn't distract from my enjoyment of the read. More than anything this is a story about acceptance, forgiveness, and judgment. The zombies are truly a secondary fixture in this series.
Although this is called the "Zombie Bible", it really isn't about religion at all and the zombies take a side-step to allow for the human condition to be the main part of the story. Another great thing is that these can all be read as stand alone stories, they don't follow the same characters and, even though the timeline does flow forward, there are no overlapping stories.
It was difficult to read about people blaming the zombie plague on certain religious groups, knowing that this happens so much still. None of the characters in these books really take any responsibility for the predicament they're in except those that are fortunate to have a direct link with "God". I put that in quotation marks as I'm agnostic myself. However, it didn't distract from my enjoyment of the read. More than anything this is a story about acceptance, forgiveness, and judgment. The zombies are truly a secondary fixture in this series.
Although this is called the "Zombie Bible", it really isn't about religion at all and the zombies take a side-step to allow for the human condition to be the main part of the story. Another great thing is that these can all be read as stand alone stories, they don't follow the same characters and, even though the timeline does flow forward, there are no overlapping stories.
November 28, 2014
I had been wanting to read one of Stant Litore's books for some time, and so I naturally gravitated to the one set in ancient Rome.
I'm so glad that I did! This was a very thought-provoking read about the want and hunger in all of us. For me, however, it was more about the test of the characters' faith. The author has done a good deal of research, it seems, into early Christianity. It was very interesting to read a book about one of the early church fathers, St. Polycarp in this instance.
If you are looking for a slasher kind of zombie novel, this will not be the book for you. However, if you are looking to read something that calls beliefs into question, that tears at your heart, and then makes you come out of the ordeal a stronger person, then perhaps you should give this a try.
A unique and recommended read.
I'm so glad that I did! This was a very thought-provoking read about the want and hunger in all of us. For me, however, it was more about the test of the characters' faith. The author has done a good deal of research, it seems, into early Christianity. It was very interesting to read a book about one of the early church fathers, St. Polycarp in this instance.
If you are looking for a slasher kind of zombie novel, this will not be the book for you. However, if you are looking to read something that calls beliefs into question, that tears at your heart, and then makes you come out of the ordeal a stronger person, then perhaps you should give this a try.
A unique and recommended read.
March 15, 2015
GREAT writer but
What a REALLY awful story! Ancient Rome destroyed by zombies?! You gotta be kidding me! I only read it to see what the author's writing was like, wondering if it would be worth the money to buy the Ansible stories. I believe his writing is terrific, even if the subject material is trendy garbage. It does sell and there's no sense in starving (yes, huge pun intended).
The author is a young man and like my son, is mesmerized by the on-going but fading zombie fad. I will buy his existing sci-fi novels because I like his writing style and the way he has with words - very painterly writing! But I truly hope he dumps the Z crap and fast.
Two stars. One for good writing. The other for his fantastic imagination. I can't wait to read his sci-fi.
What a REALLY awful story! Ancient Rome destroyed by zombies?! You gotta be kidding me! I only read it to see what the author's writing was like, wondering if it would be worth the money to buy the Ansible stories. I believe his writing is terrific, even if the subject material is trendy garbage. It does sell and there's no sense in starving (yes, huge pun intended).
The author is a young man and like my son, is mesmerized by the on-going but fading zombie fad. I will buy his existing sci-fi novels because I like his writing style and the way he has with words - very painterly writing! But I truly hope he dumps the Z crap and fast.
Two stars. One for good writing. The other for his fantastic imagination. I can't wait to read his sci-fi.
June 9, 2013
I got this book for free for signing up for something thru Amazon. I'm not a fan of zombie stories but this one caught my eye because of it taking place in ancient Rome.
The first day, I read half the book already.
This is actually the second in a series of three books but they work as stand alone stories. The premise is that the "plagues" of historic periods were actually episodes of zombie infections run amok. In this tale, it is the Christians that bring the "Apostles Gift" to Rome which offers a solution to the problem. Of course, the Romans see the Christians as a problem-causing cult.
I enjoyed the story & it's been a surprising page-turner.
The first day, I read half the book already.
This is actually the second in a series of three books but they work as stand alone stories. The premise is that the "plagues" of historic periods were actually episodes of zombie infections run amok. In this tale, it is the Christians that bring the "Apostles Gift" to Rome which offers a solution to the problem. Of course, the Romans see the Christians as a problem-causing cult.
I enjoyed the story & it's been a surprising page-turner.
January 20, 2013
Better than I anticipated-not your stereotypical "zombie" book. It does look like it will be based on some semblance of history and science, and it will be a series of books. That being said, I would recommend reading this first book. You will either like it enough to continue, or be bored and never read the rest of the series. I enjoyed it enough to get the 2nd book, for whatever that may be worth as a review.
September 4, 2012
I loved this book.
Love love loved it.
It's a fun little romp through ancient Rome, which is now overrun with zombies.
This book balances character development and historical detail with zombie gore. It is perhaps the best zombie novel I've ever read.
If you like zombies, and you like well written books, you'll love this book. Highly recommended.
Love love loved it.
It's a fun little romp through ancient Rome, which is now overrun with zombies.
This book balances character development and historical detail with zombie gore. It is perhaps the best zombie novel I've ever read.
If you like zombies, and you like well written books, you'll love this book. Highly recommended.
July 13, 2013
The good reads listing says this is the 2nd book! I have really been confused about order on these, but it didn't really seem to matter much when reading the individual stories... and I actually read this one 2nd!
The main characters of this story are relatable, yet tragic. Fascinating. Funny too how a twist of facts can give a whole different spin on history. Something to think about.
The main characters of this story are relatable, yet tragic. Fascinating. Funny too how a twist of facts can give a whole different spin on history. Something to think about.
June 9, 2014
An innovative addition to zombie literature that manages to be respectful of religion as well. Further comments may be found on my blog: Sects and Violence in the Ancient World.
June 24, 2012
The second in the series by Stant Litore. The first was a masterpiece of social criticism. It's part of Amazon's Kindle singles e-book collectin.
October 19, 2014
Another great read from Stant Litore. The best zombie book yet. Keep them coming Stant.
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January 8, 2014stopped reading it
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