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Parables From The Apocalypse #1
Endings: Parables From The Apocalypse
Mankind is losing their biggest war ever. The one war they can't afford to lose.
Decorated war hero Colonel Chaz Sheperd wasn't used to being beat, and this time it wasn't just the enemy making his life miserable. With even his family turning on him, he'd have to make some hard choices. Knowing where his loyalties lay wasn't as easy as it used to be.
In a crumbling world trusted alliances were essential but fleeting. Chaz would find answers where he least expected. Answers not only for him, but the entire planet.
Decorated war hero Colonel Chaz Sheperd wasn't used to being beat, and this time it wasn't just the enemy making his life miserable. With even his family turning on him, he'd have to make some hard choices. Knowing where his loyalties lay wasn't as easy as it used to be.
In a crumbling world trusted alliances were essential but fleeting. Chaz would find answers where he least expected. Answers not only for him, but the entire planet.
70 pages, Paperback
First published June 20, 2014
13 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
About the author
Norman Christof
30 books176 followersNorman Christof is the pen name for Chris Campbell - an amalgamized name of his father Norman and his own.
Born, raised and still living in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, Chris started writing sci-fi adventure stories about aliens, robots and flying saucers as early as age seven. More "practical" career choices filled Chris's life for many of his adult years, but eventually he found his way back to the wonderful world of writing.
His first series "Parables From The Apocalypse" is destined to be a favorite, as he begins to explore the dystopian world of fiction. Inspired by the worlds of Frank Herbert, J.R.R. Tolkien, Phillip K. Dick and others, when Chris isn't writing or reading about writing (or actually reading and writing), you can often find him doing both on his sailboat.
You can find more about Chris and his writing at his website: http://normanchristof.com/
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/NormanChristof
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Norman-Christof...
Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/user/NormanChr...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NormanChristof
Born, raised and still living in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, Chris started writing sci-fi adventure stories about aliens, robots and flying saucers as early as age seven. More "practical" career choices filled Chris's life for many of his adult years, but eventually he found his way back to the wonderful world of writing.
His first series "Parables From The Apocalypse" is destined to be a favorite, as he begins to explore the dystopian world of fiction. Inspired by the worlds of Frank Herbert, J.R.R. Tolkien, Phillip K. Dick and others, when Chris isn't writing or reading about writing (or actually reading and writing), you can often find him doing both on his sailboat.
You can find more about Chris and his writing at his website: http://normanchristof.com/
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/NormanChristof
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Norman-Christof...
Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/user/NormanChr...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NormanChristof
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 22, 2014
Zombies - not a genre I would gravitate towards normally, but this one was a free read and I was curious.
A decorated American colonel (Chaz Shepherd) is fighting a losing battle with the rolly-eyed ones and goes off on his own to find his estranged wife and family. On a perilous journey, he finds he has several distractions preventing him from his ultimate goal, including zombies who have mutated back into humans. The explanations for why the country has collapsed and the human cost, down at grass roots level, is convincingly told, and his descriptions of abandoned cities and suburban streets are brilliant. I loved the elderly couple who had turned into a crack sniper team!
Okay, take a breath. This is a story about a man. An imperfect, lonely, disillusioned man in a world rapidly going to hell in a handcart. And I was seriously impressed with it. Right from the get go, you feel for Chaz, and you get the feeling you're in safe hands with the author's writing. It is very readable, and I found I was actually interested in what was going to happen next (something I wasn't really expecting, to be honest.)
Be warned - There isn't an ending as such, as the book is the beginning in a five part series, so if you want more, you'll have to read the next one. (see comments below.)
Yes, there are a few formatting issues, namely spaces appearing between paragraphs where maybe there shouldn't be any, but that's a minor quibble (worth mentioning though.)
Now for my major quibble. I'm very happy to give four stars for writing quality and story, plot, dialogue, etc. (which is all really high,) but I'm not sure I want to fork out another wopping $3.00 each (prices do vary) for the next four books, especially if they are as short as this one. I read it in two sittings (178 pages.) I'm guessing this is a "taster" a loss leader, as it were, in order to tempt you to buy the next one, but if it were me, I'd get the bumper edition with all five volumes.
In fact, I am very tempted to do just that, as I loved the author's imagination and writing. I haven't read any other zombie books, but this one hasn't put me off. Not by a long way.
A decorated American colonel (Chaz Shepherd) is fighting a losing battle with the rolly-eyed ones and goes off on his own to find his estranged wife and family. On a perilous journey, he finds he has several distractions preventing him from his ultimate goal, including zombies who have mutated back into humans. The explanations for why the country has collapsed and the human cost, down at grass roots level, is convincingly told, and his descriptions of abandoned cities and suburban streets are brilliant. I loved the elderly couple who had turned into a crack sniper team!
Okay, take a breath. This is a story about a man. An imperfect, lonely, disillusioned man in a world rapidly going to hell in a handcart. And I was seriously impressed with it. Right from the get go, you feel for Chaz, and you get the feeling you're in safe hands with the author's writing. It is very readable, and I found I was actually interested in what was going to happen next (something I wasn't really expecting, to be honest.)
Be warned - There isn't an ending as such, as the book is the beginning in a five part series, so if you want more, you'll have to read the next one. (see comments below.)
Yes, there are a few formatting issues, namely spaces appearing between paragraphs where maybe there shouldn't be any, but that's a minor quibble (worth mentioning though.)
Now for my major quibble. I'm very happy to give four stars for writing quality and story, plot, dialogue, etc. (which is all really high,) but I'm not sure I want to fork out another wopping $3.00 each (prices do vary) for the next four books, especially if they are as short as this one. I read it in two sittings (178 pages.) I'm guessing this is a "taster" a loss leader, as it were, in order to tempt you to buy the next one, but if it were me, I'd get the bumper edition with all five volumes.
In fact, I am very tempted to do just that, as I loved the author's imagination and writing. I haven't read any other zombie books, but this one hasn't put me off. Not by a long way.
October 13, 2014
Well written and fast, but I think Norman tries to do too much in too few pages. Zombies that are expert maksmen, zombies that talk, exploding zombies, zombies that revert back to human form. And no explanation for any of it except for some deus ex machina when the main character suddenly remembers a rumor or two he might have heard while in Washington.
Maybe he fleshes it out some and answers some of the questions in later books, which would be good. But I wouldn't recommend it as just a stand alone read.
Maybe he fleshes it out some and answers some of the questions in later books, which would be good. But I wouldn't recommend it as just a stand alone read.
August 19, 2014
Not a great story but does have some initiative to one. Does get a bit insane in parts making you wonder ok if it is this bad can anyone really survive the apocalypse? The story changes numerous times and gets a bit weird but hey aren’t all zombie novels just a bit weird? I would recommend this read to under 18 because of the weirdness factor alone. As for a zombie novel with some differences it may just be what you’re looking for!
November 17, 2014
hmmmm. well I am still trying to decide if I like Chaz or not. I definitely will be reading the other books because I want to like him and feel for him. Plus I gotta find out what happened to the stuff in the case.
January 29, 2015
Suffers from the fact that is is obviously a story 'sample' and not a complete novel. Easy to read, and the Zombie evolution concept is so intriguing that I will probably give the next instalment a go! For lovers of this genre only!
February 5, 2015
Zombies running, talking, snipiing, then morphing from flesh-eating to human, like a chameleon... ? Not to mention paragraph structure was as ghastly as the storyline! It all left me uninterested in the follow-up. The covers are TOTALLY AWESOME though.
October 20, 2014
OMG, I've never been so freaked out in my life reading. This is just so out there in terms of Zombie fiction. You gotta check it out.
January 4, 2015
page Turner that makes you want to buy the next 4 books
January 25, 2015
Amazing, very entertaining, I can't wait to read the others in the series, This would make a great movie or mini-series
June 25, 2015
In another war against a zombie plague story, ‘Endings’ by Norman Christof introduces a few parameters that set it apart from the mainstream zombie concepts. As the author proudly proclaims, “If you're looking for the usual dumber than a stump in the middle of a shopping mall zombie thriller, you've come to the wrong place.” This is a valid statement concerning the zombies. They are indeed smarter than a stump and there are no shopping malls (that I can recall). Unfortunately, that is almost the sum total of what the author has going for him in this story.
Three things struck me in a negative way. The first was the character, Colonel Chaz Shepherd. After many years with the military, I must say that COL Shepherd was an affront to every military officer I’ve had the honor to know. OK, he’s a character in a book but, even fictional characters should bear some resemblance to their real life counterparts. Other than rank, Shepherd shares nothing with a real military officer. That brings me to the second point—verisimilitude. It is my opinion (shared by many) that realism or the appearance or semblance of truth is incumbent to any work of fiction. An author, any author, expects his readers to suspend disbelief as he relates his story. That requires verisimilitude from his characters to their actions, from the premise to the execution of the plot and sub-plots. Every facet of the story must be believable.
Finally, number three, the plot and conclusion of the book. Apparently, I read the original version in which the ending wasn’t one, and the primary plot line wandered off into never land, while another completely different storyline took center stage. With the three strikes I’ve mentioned, I would normally rate this book two stars and move on. Mr. Christof, however, is obviously an author who cares about his readership.
After he’d received several reviews blasting the conclusion, he admitted it was indeed less than adequate and changed the ending. I haven’t read the changed version, but the fact that the author listened to his readers and reacted positively is commendable. This is also a story that many readers, less discerning or nit-picky as I, will come to love. Who am I to piss on their parade? No one.
So, three stars, Mr. Christof and an “E” for effort. I wish you success in the future.
Three things struck me in a negative way. The first was the character, Colonel Chaz Shepherd. After many years with the military, I must say that COL Shepherd was an affront to every military officer I’ve had the honor to know. OK, he’s a character in a book but, even fictional characters should bear some resemblance to their real life counterparts. Other than rank, Shepherd shares nothing with a real military officer. That brings me to the second point—verisimilitude. It is my opinion (shared by many) that realism or the appearance or semblance of truth is incumbent to any work of fiction. An author, any author, expects his readers to suspend disbelief as he relates his story. That requires verisimilitude from his characters to their actions, from the premise to the execution of the plot and sub-plots. Every facet of the story must be believable.
Finally, number three, the plot and conclusion of the book. Apparently, I read the original version in which the ending wasn’t one, and the primary plot line wandered off into never land, while another completely different storyline took center stage. With the three strikes I’ve mentioned, I would normally rate this book two stars and move on. Mr. Christof, however, is obviously an author who cares about his readership.
After he’d received several reviews blasting the conclusion, he admitted it was indeed less than adequate and changed the ending. I haven’t read the changed version, but the fact that the author listened to his readers and reacted positively is commendable. This is also a story that many readers, less discerning or nit-picky as I, will come to love. Who am I to piss on their parade? No one.
So, three stars, Mr. Christof and an “E” for effort. I wish you success in the future.
February 27, 2015
not your average Zombie tale
Better than what I expected. I have a stereotypical view of zombie tales, and so it's obvious I don't read them. BUT, I was delighted and surprised by the quality and ingenuity of Norman's story.
A great read. I recommend to anyone who loves a good story.
Better than what I expected. I have a stereotypical view of zombie tales, and so it's obvious I don't read them. BUT, I was delighted and surprised by the quality and ingenuity of Norman's story.
A great read. I recommend to anyone who loves a good story.
September 3, 2015
This book hooked me from the first paragraph! I love sci-fi and what could happen to the world, books. Zombies are my current fav!
June 22, 2015
Good book if you're in to zombies
The price was right. If you like zombies then this is for you. Well written with a cliffhanger ending. Good read.
The price was right. If you like zombies then this is for you. Well written with a cliffhanger ending. Good read.
September 18, 2015
Sometimes the ending does not happen over night. Sometimes there is a long fight. Sometimes that fight is lost. What do you do when it fighting is still going and you know it is lost.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews