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Zombie Walkabout
Thrill rides? Safari? A cruise? Why waste your time (and money) when the best way to spend your holiday is at ZOMBIE WALKABOUT!
Our staff has packages available for whatever your desire. Planning a memorable bucks party? Check. Want to pray for the souls of the victims? Check. Looking to retrieve medical samples for all the innovative research in zombie medicine? We have a lab on our premises! We can even set you up with a trip to visit the Aboriginal Australian tribes living among the dead.
But zombie hunting sounds dangerous! No worries. Our state-of-the-art armor combination is scientifically proven to keep you one hundred percent protected. Here at Zombie Walkabout, we pride ourselves on our flawless safety record. The only concern you'll have is how all subsequent holidays will never live up to this one!
So hurry up and commit, mate. Book this summer to meet American mix martial artist Sam "Pounder" Ponsness. This rising star will augment our staff for the season.
Zombie Walkabout. Where the dead give you a reason for living!
Our staff has packages available for whatever your desire. Planning a memorable bucks party? Check. Want to pray for the souls of the victims? Check. Looking to retrieve medical samples for all the innovative research in zombie medicine? We have a lab on our premises! We can even set you up with a trip to visit the Aboriginal Australian tribes living among the dead.
But zombie hunting sounds dangerous! No worries. Our state-of-the-art armor combination is scientifically proven to keep you one hundred percent protected. Here at Zombie Walkabout, we pride ourselves on our flawless safety record. The only concern you'll have is how all subsequent holidays will never live up to this one!
So hurry up and commit, mate. Book this summer to meet American mix martial artist Sam "Pounder" Ponsness. This rising star will augment our staff for the season.
Zombie Walkabout. Where the dead give you a reason for living!
399 pages, Paperback
First published November 23, 2019
5 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Phillip Murrell
10 books68 followersI'm a lifelong reader and fan of stories in every medium. I started writing for fun in the second grade (I think my mom may still have my school-assigned short story "The Frozen Eyes," which I shakily wrote on lined paper). I'm also an Explosive Ordnance Disposal officer in the United States Army. While on my second deployment to Iraq, I began to write again. First, I wrote screenplays, then moved on to writing novels, the first being "Bystanders."
I've been married for over sixteen years to my amazing wife. I also have three children. Thankfully, they also love sci-fi, fantasy, and roller coasters as much as I do.
During my free time I'll either be reading/watching TV/playing video games or I'll be spending my hard-earned money doing something that produces copious adrenaline, such as skydiving or whitewater rafting (neither of which are as much fun as a day riding roller coasters!).
I've been married for over sixteen years to my amazing wife. I also have three children. Thankfully, they also love sci-fi, fantasy, and roller coasters as much as I do.
During my free time I'll either be reading/watching TV/playing video games or I'll be spending my hard-earned money doing something that produces copious adrenaline, such as skydiving or whitewater rafting (neither of which are as much fun as a day riding roller coasters!).
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 14, 2025
The Zombie Apocalypse has come...and gone. But the fun is here to stay.
This book is dedicated to Patient Zero apocalypse. Your sacrifice will lead to these adventures.
While there's no denying that Australia was among the worst-hit continents, they are pulling themselves up by their bootstraps and are making the best of a bad situation.
A woman's blood-curdling scream pierced the night sky.That's right, it's open season.
"God, this is corny! Is this really what we're spending our money on?"In this world, you can sign up for a Zombie Walkabout - whether it be bachelor party, weekend getaway or bucket list.
For the right price, you can rent the gear and suit-up to help terminate the remaining zombies as part of the all-inclusive stay.
But what will the corporations do once they run out of their product?
This was a surprisingly fun take on the apocalypse aftermath.
I loved the high-adrenaline action and the gore flying every which way.
It kept true to the zombie genre - with just the right balance between classic horror and campy fun.
The characters...I adored some of them but the infighting at the beginning did wear on me a bit.
Overall, this one was a fun, snappy take on the zombie apocalypse!
A huge thank you to the author for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review
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spfbo7
October 2, 2021Read this as a guest judge (With FanFiAddict) for SPFBO 7.
July 11, 2020
Zombie Walkabout is not about a zombie apocalypse but the aftermath. What happens when the corporations take over afterward and attempt to monetize the zombies? How about zombie safaris? Zombie hunting made safe (for the hunters) and profitable.
After the zombie outbreak in Australia is contained, the Zombie Walkabout company commercializes zombie hunting. Sam, an American who is training to be a professional fighter, goes on a zombie safari with some friends. He can't wait to split some zombie skulls and get film footage of the carnage to put online. Maybe it will even go viral and raise his profile as an up and coming fighter through the roof. After the trip, Sam comes back to Zombie Walkabout to work as a guide. But after a few zombie hunts, Sam has second thoughts about killing these things that used to be people. Second thoughts turn to complete disillusionment. Sam can't wait for his tour as a guide to end. The only reason he stays is a love interest he's developed with one of the zombie researchers. Studying zombies can lead to medical breakthroughs. Sam's character grows in complexity as the story unfolds. Sam begins to question all his choices. The question is, can Sam find a way to save his relationship with the researcher before he has to go back to America?
Zombie Walkabout is a love story and in some ways a coming of age story. If you want a different take on zombies and appreciate a deep dive into a character reaching for maturity, take a trip down under to Zombie Walkabout. You'll be glad you did.
After the zombie outbreak in Australia is contained, the Zombie Walkabout company commercializes zombie hunting. Sam, an American who is training to be a professional fighter, goes on a zombie safari with some friends. He can't wait to split some zombie skulls and get film footage of the carnage to put online. Maybe it will even go viral and raise his profile as an up and coming fighter through the roof. After the trip, Sam comes back to Zombie Walkabout to work as a guide. But after a few zombie hunts, Sam has second thoughts about killing these things that used to be people. Second thoughts turn to complete disillusionment. Sam can't wait for his tour as a guide to end. The only reason he stays is a love interest he's developed with one of the zombie researchers. Studying zombies can lead to medical breakthroughs. Sam's character grows in complexity as the story unfolds. Sam begins to question all his choices. The question is, can Sam find a way to save his relationship with the researcher before he has to go back to America?
Zombie Walkabout is a love story and in some ways a coming of age story. If you want a different take on zombies and appreciate a deep dive into a character reaching for maturity, take a trip down under to Zombie Walkabout. You'll be glad you did.
June 23, 2020
Zombie Walkabout is a valiant effort that unfortunately falls short. If you're going to write another zombie book, it had better be innovative, and Phillip Murrell has surely succeeded with that. The story, set in Australia after a zombie plague has ravaged the country, stars an American ameteur MMA fighter named Sam Ponsness (aka Pounder). Sam has joined some friends who are honeymooning at Zombie Walkabout, a business that specializes in taking tourists into the outback to kick zombie (ZB) butt. The zombies are pretty weenie, except for the fact that they can infect you with the zombie virus, but Zombie Walkabout takes care of that by encasing the tourist in impregnable armor and providing well-trained guides to supervise the carnage. After participating in a hunt, Sam decides to sign on with ZW as staff for six months, to gain some publicity to help him break in as a professional MMA fighter. Unfortunately, Sam falls in love...
The main problem with this book is that it tries to do too many things, which ultimately causes the story to drag. It gives a detailed depiction of Australian life before and after the Zombie plague, and develops Sam into a complex character. It analyzes the economic and scientific benefits of the plague, and rather successfully develops the zombies into pathetic characters. It recounts several expeditions into the outback by zombie hunting groups with different agendas - trophy hunters, scientists, stupid tourists and more. It's also a love story. If that sounds like a lot to pull off in one book, it is. And Murrell almost does it, but not quite.
Mostly, I enjoyed reading Zombie Walkabout - it was just that I became frustrated when the story dragged, which I wouldn't have done if I didn't like the book and the ideas underpinning it. Give it a try - maybe you won't have the same issues that I did.
The main problem with this book is that it tries to do too many things, which ultimately causes the story to drag. It gives a detailed depiction of Australian life before and after the Zombie plague, and develops Sam into a complex character. It analyzes the economic and scientific benefits of the plague, and rather successfully develops the zombies into pathetic characters. It recounts several expeditions into the outback by zombie hunting groups with different agendas - trophy hunters, scientists, stupid tourists and more. It's also a love story. If that sounds like a lot to pull off in one book, it is. And Murrell almost does it, but not quite.
Mostly, I enjoyed reading Zombie Walkabout - it was just that I became frustrated when the story dragged, which I wouldn't have done if I didn't like the book and the ideas underpinning it. Give it a try - maybe you won't have the same issues that I did.
June 3, 2020
Let's begin with a disclaimer. I'm not one for zombies. In fact, I've never seen a film or series depicting zombies in my life, and I don't plan to do so soon, either. But zombies are all the rage, amiright? So... maybe I've been missing out and didn't know it (admitted: serious case of FOMO here)? SO, I decided to dip a toe into the pool by starting out with something I can control / curdle at will given my imagination. I mean, how haunting can a book be, right?
Fortunately, Murrell ensures I am in for a surprise -- the good kind. Because this isn't (probably?) your average walking dead work of fiction. This is an invitation to the Jurassic Park of zombie enthusiasts... and all are welcome (if you're over 14 at least).
I wouldn't visit a second time, but if zombies and comedies are your thing, I recommend this book wholeheartedly. With a wide and colorful cast of diverse and some amusingly argumentative characters (my one qualm is that it took me quite a while to pinpoint everyone, especially as some of the names resembled each other), Zombie Walkabout is predictably more than an adrenaline-pumping series of encounters with the walking dead, and I appreciate how Murrell invests in his characters enough to support the many threads of the story-line.
And the story itself? It's gut-wrenching (literally, because there's --surprise!-- gore), heart-pounding, heart-warming, and fall-off-your-seat hilarious in turns. I also loved the Australian idioms and dialect, which I realize I need to read more of. Just makes me happy, apparently.
"Now the pandemic of the past offers you the adventure of the future. Thank you for your interest in Zombie Walkabout. I know you’ll remember this amazing experience for the rest of your life. If any of you are having second thoughts, this is the last chance to bugger off and still receive a full refund. Although you may be dressed in the most state-of-the-art armor, zombie hunting is still inherently dangerous.”
Are you ready for it?
Fortunately, Murrell ensures I am in for a surprise -- the good kind. Because this isn't (probably?) your average walking dead work of fiction. This is an invitation to the Jurassic Park of zombie enthusiasts... and all are welcome (if you're over 14 at least).
I wouldn't visit a second time, but if zombies and comedies are your thing, I recommend this book wholeheartedly. With a wide and colorful cast of diverse and some amusingly argumentative characters (my one qualm is that it took me quite a while to pinpoint everyone, especially as some of the names resembled each other), Zombie Walkabout is predictably more than an adrenaline-pumping series of encounters with the walking dead, and I appreciate how Murrell invests in his characters enough to support the many threads of the story-line.
And the story itself? It's gut-wrenching (literally, because there's --surprise!-- gore), heart-pounding, heart-warming, and fall-off-your-seat hilarious in turns. I also loved the Australian idioms and dialect, which I realize I need to read more of. Just makes me happy, apparently.
"Now the pandemic of the past offers you the adventure of the future. Thank you for your interest in Zombie Walkabout. I know you’ll remember this amazing experience for the rest of your life. If any of you are having second thoughts, this is the last chance to bugger off and still receive a full refund. Although you may be dressed in the most state-of-the-art armor, zombie hunting is still inherently dangerous.”
Are you ready for it?
June 14, 2020
By the cover of Zombie Walkabout, I expected an Australian flavoured Sean of the Dead. But Phillip Murrell’s unusual take on post-apocalyptic Queensland is something different.
Professional fighter Sam arrives in the post-zombie remnant of Australia with his ‘friends,’ all dying to bash zombies at the famous attraction Zombie Walkabout. Sam’s friends are selfie-snapping fools who mock and taunt each other, display jaw a dropping lack of empathy, and reek of spoiled American, people I'd normally avoid like a zombie plague. Amazingly, their trip is a bridal shower/bachelor party because everybody wants to celebrate their upcoming wedding whilst covered in zombie gore. I barely made it to the end of the chapter and felt disappointed the zombies hadn’t relieved the world of at least one of these idiots.
But I persevered to learn that Sam, enamoured by the opportunity for unchecked violence, accepts a temporary position as a Zombie Walkabout guide. The attraction’s Australian staff continually hazes their new colleague, proving just as odious as Sam’s friends. But various events ensue, and Sam begins to grow.
And Sam’s emotional growth is the heart of this novel, as far as I’m concerned. I’d classify Zombie Walkabout as a fine example of social satire. Sam’s problem isn’t the zombies; it’s the crass, callous, social media-obsessed people, undistinguished lager and greasy onion rings of our shared culture.
A few caveats: I might not be the intended readership and this review may be a minority opinion. I scare easily, so I avoid Zombie entertainment, and I’m not a fan of insult humour. Because an unkind thought lies at the core of every ‘taking the piss’ riposte. And I just don't see the point of being unkind. Other's opinions may differ.
Professional fighter Sam arrives in the post-zombie remnant of Australia with his ‘friends,’ all dying to bash zombies at the famous attraction Zombie Walkabout. Sam’s friends are selfie-snapping fools who mock and taunt each other, display jaw a dropping lack of empathy, and reek of spoiled American, people I'd normally avoid like a zombie plague. Amazingly, their trip is a bridal shower/bachelor party because everybody wants to celebrate their upcoming wedding whilst covered in zombie gore. I barely made it to the end of the chapter and felt disappointed the zombies hadn’t relieved the world of at least one of these idiots.
But I persevered to learn that Sam, enamoured by the opportunity for unchecked violence, accepts a temporary position as a Zombie Walkabout guide. The attraction’s Australian staff continually hazes their new colleague, proving just as odious as Sam’s friends. But various events ensue, and Sam begins to grow.
And Sam’s emotional growth is the heart of this novel, as far as I’m concerned. I’d classify Zombie Walkabout as a fine example of social satire. Sam’s problem isn’t the zombies; it’s the crass, callous, social media-obsessed people, undistinguished lager and greasy onion rings of our shared culture.
A few caveats: I might not be the intended readership and this review may be a minority opinion. I scare easily, so I avoid Zombie entertainment, and I’m not a fan of insult humour. Because an unkind thought lies at the core of every ‘taking the piss’ riposte. And I just don't see the point of being unkind. Other's opinions may differ.
August 22, 2020
The premise is hilarious. This is the story of Sam, an ultimate fighter who is introduced to Zombie Walkabout at a friend’s destination bachelor-bachelorette party. The zombie outbreak happened in Australia and was eventually contained after many died. With zombie-bashing being everyone’s favorite pastime (at least gamers) an industry sprang up that let well-armored groups enter the quarantined area and hunt zombies — choose your favorite weapon! Sam’s career is in limbo, so he decides to take a job at Walkabout to re-energize and is host to a parade of would-be zombie killers.
I enjoyed Zombie Walkabout. It is well written and the dialog is razor sharp, though the customers were sometimes annoyingly stereotyped. The friendship that develops between Sam and his two handlers is wholly believable. I was, however, always subtly nagged by the hope that each chapter would begin the story advertised by the title and cover. I thought the book would be a humorous zombie tale like Shaun of the Dead, but the laughs weren’t there. I thought it might be a zombie thriller like World War Z, but the suspense never came. Instead Zombie Walkabout morphed into a romance. It had at least one too many themes running through it. The romance theme won out in the end and I believe the story would have benefitted by a bit more romantic support at the start — say, if the opening chapter were Sam being dumped by his girlfriend, and his friends saying, “Forget about her, man, come bash some zombies with us!” That, and maybe a cover and title change. Recommended for its writing and sheer inventiveness.
I enjoyed Zombie Walkabout. It is well written and the dialog is razor sharp, though the customers were sometimes annoyingly stereotyped. The friendship that develops between Sam and his two handlers is wholly believable. I was, however, always subtly nagged by the hope that each chapter would begin the story advertised by the title and cover. I thought the book would be a humorous zombie tale like Shaun of the Dead, but the laughs weren’t there. I thought it might be a zombie thriller like World War Z, but the suspense never came. Instead Zombie Walkabout morphed into a romance. It had at least one too many themes running through it. The romance theme won out in the end and I believe the story would have benefitted by a bit more romantic support at the start — say, if the opening chapter were Sam being dumped by his girlfriend, and his friends saying, “Forget about her, man, come bash some zombies with us!” That, and maybe a cover and title change. Recommended for its writing and sheer inventiveness.
July 7, 2020
I really enjoyed this unique and humorous story. It follows a group of American friends who are set to partake in a Zombie Walkabout together in Australia. This book has a little bit of everything, a little zombie gore, a lot of humor, some romance, and various moral dilemmas, I really enjoyed the way the author was able to weave all of these elements together.
I felt like the unique setting of a zombie theme park in the outback was so original, and all of the details were well incorporated. The most interesting thing about this story for me were the ethical quandaries that the author introduces, including the humanity of... zombies?! Of course if there were a zombie apocalypse, there would be some humans that would find a way to turn it into a money making venture! I loved this concept & it actually made me think about the 90's movie "Natural Born Killers" where the film makers introduce the absurd concept of human suffering as entertainment.
I don't tend to read many books in this genre, so some of the zombie gore gets a little boring for me, but it was definitely essential to the story and admittedly did add to the story/humor throughout. The dialogue and general writing style of this author reminded me of Andy Weir / The Martian. So if you liked reading that, I'd say you'd probably enjoy this too. Zombie Walkabout succeeded in wetting my appetite for more stories of this kind, so I will be sure to recommend it to my friends who devour anything involving the undead. If this is your genre, this one is well worth reading.
I felt like the unique setting of a zombie theme park in the outback was so original, and all of the details were well incorporated. The most interesting thing about this story for me were the ethical quandaries that the author introduces, including the humanity of... zombies?! Of course if there were a zombie apocalypse, there would be some humans that would find a way to turn it into a money making venture! I loved this concept & it actually made me think about the 90's movie "Natural Born Killers" where the film makers introduce the absurd concept of human suffering as entertainment.
I don't tend to read many books in this genre, so some of the zombie gore gets a little boring for me, but it was definitely essential to the story and admittedly did add to the story/humor throughout. The dialogue and general writing style of this author reminded me of Andy Weir / The Martian. So if you liked reading that, I'd say you'd probably enjoy this too. Zombie Walkabout succeeded in wetting my appetite for more stories of this kind, so I will be sure to recommend it to my friends who devour anything involving the undead. If this is your genre, this one is well worth reading.
May 27, 2020
Okay this was hilarious. I expected this one to be just a comedic story that takes place in an apocalyptic zombie-infested world, I was wrong. Or rather, I was partially wrong.
This is the story of a group of American friends who travel to Australia to join a trip in which they kill zombies for pleasure while they are clad in protective armor. I thought this approach of a world with zombies was original and unique, believable (in a sense that humans would try to get profit of it) and yet unexplored.
This book has a powerful introduction, showing us the promotional video of Zombie Walkabout, with which It made me laugh out loud more than once. The author is not afraid of joking with the Hollywood stereotypes with brilliant moments suchs as this one "fate had ensured all her intimate anatomy was conveniently covered", so true.
It was a nice ride, lots of comedic moments and a great interaction between characters. The book is narrated from the perspective of one of the friends, Sam, and they really felt like a bunch of buddies having fun.
Some of gore here and there, which fits being a story about a killing zombies for fun.
It was hard for me at the beginning to not to get confused with the characters since lots of them have similar names Eli, Cammy, Calli.. it got a bit confusing. A minor issue once I got used and got to know them though.
A fun zombie story, highly recommended.
This is the story of a group of American friends who travel to Australia to join a trip in which they kill zombies for pleasure while they are clad in protective armor. I thought this approach of a world with zombies was original and unique, believable (in a sense that humans would try to get profit of it) and yet unexplored.
This book has a powerful introduction, showing us the promotional video of Zombie Walkabout, with which It made me laugh out loud more than once. The author is not afraid of joking with the Hollywood stereotypes with brilliant moments suchs as this one "fate had ensured all her intimate anatomy was conveniently covered", so true.
It was a nice ride, lots of comedic moments and a great interaction between characters. The book is narrated from the perspective of one of the friends, Sam, and they really felt like a bunch of buddies having fun.
Some of gore here and there, which fits being a story about a killing zombies for fun.
It was hard for me at the beginning to not to get confused with the characters since lots of them have similar names Eli, Cammy, Calli.. it got a bit confusing. A minor issue once I got used and got to know them though.
A fun zombie story, highly recommended.
May 2, 2021
"Zombie Walkabout" quickly leaves the expected path far behind and moves into realistic, if difficult, territory. Sam "Pounder" Ponsness is an amateur American MMA fighter who joins a zombie safari corporation to build his market value. He has rich friends and family, the zombies are pretty wimpy, and the armor eliminates any possible contagion risk. So, why read it?
Science Fiction lets us examine with distance; that distance allows looking at a question without emotional triggers. Sam is a successful MMA fighter but has not integrated his warrior career into his true nature. He finds a woman worth loving but taps out every time there's a chance to build a real relationship. He has the glittery promise of his first professional match, but he is not fully himself. Stepping into the professional ring will end him.
Throughout the story, Sam grows to understand the underlying pain of his Australian friends. Every zombie they meet was a person. A citizen. Now rich people kill them for ego boosts and selfies. Sam slowly loses the "us versus them" isolation and, in the end, has more sympathy for a zombie than an arrogant customer. While the story is slow, exposure to zombies deepens Sam's humanity. This is the crucial thought examined; if we truly understand nature of our enemies, can we continue to see them as nothing more than objects to be hated?
If you want to understand why soldiers often struggle after coming home, this might help.
Science Fiction lets us examine with distance; that distance allows looking at a question without emotional triggers. Sam is a successful MMA fighter but has not integrated his warrior career into his true nature. He finds a woman worth loving but taps out every time there's a chance to build a real relationship. He has the glittery promise of his first professional match, but he is not fully himself. Stepping into the professional ring will end him.
Throughout the story, Sam grows to understand the underlying pain of his Australian friends. Every zombie they meet was a person. A citizen. Now rich people kill them for ego boosts and selfies. Sam slowly loses the "us versus them" isolation and, in the end, has more sympathy for a zombie than an arrogant customer. While the story is slow, exposure to zombies deepens Sam's humanity. This is the crucial thought examined; if we truly understand nature of our enemies, can we continue to see them as nothing more than objects to be hated?
If you want to understand why soldiers often struggle after coming home, this might help.
July 17, 2020
3.5
I have read many zombie novels, so I was hesitant reading this, would it be like every other zombie book?
The answer is no! This story was very pioneering for the genre. The idea of a business that specializes in taking tourists out into the outback to kill zombies ( bash ZB’’s) is interesting and funny.
It felt like it was a throwback to game hunters of old, while I don’t like the idea of that in general this was a way to get that Safari feel and not feel sorry for the “animals.”
The zombies weren’t particularly scary, but I am tired of the traditional raaaaawwwr zombie stuff, anyway.
The MC Sam, wasn’t a complex character, but he was a likeable one. The story really picks up when Sam decided to sign on with the company, though I did find the story a little slow throughout.
While funny, this is a darker book with strong language (I don’t mind that) and had a surprising love story, while also being almost a coming of age tale.
I found the writing good, the plot interesting, and unique. Also the cover art is great! If you like zombie books and especially zombie video games I highly recommend it.
Like this? Find more at
I have read many zombie novels, so I was hesitant reading this, would it be like every other zombie book?
The answer is no! This story was very pioneering for the genre. The idea of a business that specializes in taking tourists out into the outback to kill zombies ( bash ZB’’s) is interesting and funny.
It felt like it was a throwback to game hunters of old, while I don’t like the idea of that in general this was a way to get that Safari feel and not feel sorry for the “animals.”
The zombies weren’t particularly scary, but I am tired of the traditional raaaaawwwr zombie stuff, anyway.
The MC Sam, wasn’t a complex character, but he was a likeable one. The story really picks up when Sam decided to sign on with the company, though I did find the story a little slow throughout.
While funny, this is a darker book with strong language (I don’t mind that) and had a surprising love story, while also being almost a coming of age tale.
I found the writing good, the plot interesting, and unique. Also the cover art is great! If you like zombie books and especially zombie video games I highly recommend it.
Like this? Find more at
September 9, 2021
Biggest thing to know before you decide to read or not read this book: it's not a classic zombie story with dumb humans and endless hordes of zombies as the villains. It’s really much more a story of several people dealing with the trauma of a national-level tragedy in Australia, as viewed through the eyes of an affable but very human American character. The gimmick of the “zombie hunting company” is used effectively, but at no point do they become the antagonists, while even the human antagonists are much more mundane and aggravatingly believable in their simplicity.
If you like strong cast chemistry, a believable romance, and Star Trek-style moral discussion, read this thing. You’ll enjoy it. The main character of Sam is well rounded, multi-faceted, and dynamic; no, he’s not Tallahassee from Zombieland AT ALL, but he’s still *very* good as a lead. His two biggest support characters are his coworkers and survivors of the Australian Zombie Apocalypse, while his love interest is a highly motivated doctor who’s unconventional attractiveness causes her some issues that Sam helps with. They must deal with a much more rational dystopia than most Zombie fiction: bureaucracy, apathy, and corporate exploitation.
This creates an experience that the readers must judge for themselves.
If you like strong cast chemistry, a believable romance, and Star Trek-style moral discussion, read this thing. You’ll enjoy it. The main character of Sam is well rounded, multi-faceted, and dynamic; no, he’s not Tallahassee from Zombieland AT ALL, but he’s still *very* good as a lead. His two biggest support characters are his coworkers and survivors of the Australian Zombie Apocalypse, while his love interest is a highly motivated doctor who’s unconventional attractiveness causes her some issues that Sam helps with. They must deal with a much more rational dystopia than most Zombie fiction: bureaucracy, apathy, and corporate exploitation.
This creates an experience that the readers must judge for themselves.
February 10, 2020
Zombie Walkabout is a rare breed of zombie story. While there is violence and gore, as is unsurprising in the case of zombies, the heart in this one stands out. There have been a few others to shine light on the fact that, despite being infected and technically dead, zombies are still human (ie the Rot and Ruin series and Warm Bodies) this digs into the humanity that was left behind as well as the realization that, while hunting the undead sounds like fun, they were once living, breathing humans. Which I enjoyed.
The characters were fun and well constructed, with their ow interests and pasts. The romance promised by the genre takes quite a bit of time to be introduced, but it takes nothing away from the story. In fact, I felt having less romance in the beginning and turning it into a slow burn allowed for more of the other and (to me) mire intersting plots that mostly centered around the Jackal and other characters you should definitely meet.
The ending felt a bit sudden, but it wasn't a bad one. All in all, this is a very human, heart-felt story despite its claim of being a comedy.
The characters were fun and well constructed, with their ow interests and pasts. The romance promised by the genre takes quite a bit of time to be introduced, but it takes nothing away from the story. In fact, I felt having less romance in the beginning and turning it into a slow burn allowed for more of the other and (to me) mire intersting plots that mostly centered around the Jackal and other characters you should definitely meet.
The ending felt a bit sudden, but it wasn't a bad one. All in all, this is a very human, heart-felt story despite its claim of being a comedy.
June 22, 2020
I was excited to read this book because it seemed very fun. Zombie safari in Australia? Yes please! However, once I started reading, I found the initial characters, including the main character, Sam, very hard to like. Sam is arrogant and egotistical, and way to proud of his body and his abilities as a fighter. I mean, his goal in life is to be a prize fighter, which is the over-the-top ridiculous type of hyper-toxic-masculinity I'd expect from a shallow idiot. Yet, Sam has one redeeming feature that makes this book interesting--he knows (or at least discovers) that he's a shallow idiot, and over the course of the book seems to have a genuine change of heart.
In fact, as the books goes on it seems to change from a silly adventure to a heartfelt book about genuine friendship and dare I say it, love? Without giving too much away, I really liked the ending, and I enjoyed reading about Sam's transformation as he learned more about the Bugger, the zombies, and the brave people who stayed in Australia to fight for their country. The author's created a truly original and interesting depiction of a zombie outbreak, one that I enjoyed reading.
In fact, as the books goes on it seems to change from a silly adventure to a heartfelt book about genuine friendship and dare I say it, love? Without giving too much away, I really liked the ending, and I enjoyed reading about Sam's transformation as he learned more about the Bugger, the zombies, and the brave people who stayed in Australia to fight for their country. The author's created a truly original and interesting depiction of a zombie outbreak, one that I enjoyed reading.
July 3, 2020
Zombie Walkabout by Phillip Murrell is ludicrously imaginative and painfully slow. I wonder what does it achieve by taking readers into a Zombie world, which is visited by tourists “to bash ZB’s”, by trophy hunters to gloat over their achievements, by scientists to collect samples and by religious fanatics to pray for them. If you think it is fun, if you consider it adventurous, if playing games with zombies seems exciting to you, I would call it sadistic pleasure. To me it seemed like a sickening video game. I was shocked at the profane language that is used liberally, not by zombies but humans of tomorrow!
This book lacks flow though the tone is quite convincing. I am giving it three stars solely because it may appeal to those who take pleasure in atrocious dark fiction. I really struggled with it; as such books give me nightmares. The characters are wedged in one timeline and therefore don’t have any scope of development. If you like erotic comments and immodest titillation, this book could be for you. I didn’t like it.
This book lacks flow though the tone is quite convincing. I am giving it three stars solely because it may appeal to those who take pleasure in atrocious dark fiction. I really struggled with it; as such books give me nightmares. The characters are wedged in one timeline and therefore don’t have any scope of development. If you like erotic comments and immodest titillation, this book could be for you. I didn’t like it.
September 3, 2020
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It's got almost everything- humor, action, romance, Australian slang, zombies. There's really only one thing the story is missing, and that's stakes. I can't believe I'm saying this about a zombie book, but there's almost no stakes at all. Throughout the story, the characters continually run into situations that have the potential for big stakes and high drama, but even when tension starts to build, it's never held for more than a few paragraphs before every character breaks into laughter.
I get that it's a rom-com, and so I'm not asking for the world to need saving at the turn of every page, but even the romance is risk free. The main characters meet, instantly like each other, flirt a lot, they grapple with the difficult decision of "your continent, or mine?" There's not even a rival suitor competing for the girl's heart for us to hate.
That said, it's a fun read with some good laughs and enjoyable characters. Worst case scenario, after you read it you'll catch yourself saying "too right," and calling your friends "tossers."
I get that it's a rom-com, and so I'm not asking for the world to need saving at the turn of every page, but even the romance is risk free. The main characters meet, instantly like each other, flirt a lot, they grapple with the difficult decision of "your continent, or mine?" There's not even a rival suitor competing for the girl's heart for us to hate.
That said, it's a fun read with some good laughs and enjoyable characters. Worst case scenario, after you read it you'll catch yourself saying "too right," and calling your friends "tossers."
December 21, 2020
So, when I saw the cover (awesome by the way) and read the description, I still had it in my head that this was going to be another Zombie Apocalypse book. Boy was I wrong. Zombie Walkabout is actually what happens in the aftermath, once Big Corp, steps in and tries to capitalize off a bad situation. Oh, come on, we all know it would happen.
This book had almost a video game vibe, and while that would be my typical vibe, I was still into it. Sam, the MC, wasn't necessarily a complex character, but that ended up being okay in this situation, and he was very likable. I loved that this was a funny take, but still dark, and while some might mind the language, I did not. I thought it only added to the story.
This was definitely a unique telling, and I was relieved because like I said, I was prepared for same old same old. The book is very imaginative, so Kutos to the Author.
5 stars for a unique telling!
This book had almost a video game vibe, and while that would be my typical vibe, I was still into it. Sam, the MC, wasn't necessarily a complex character, but that ended up being okay in this situation, and he was very likable. I loved that this was a funny take, but still dark, and while some might mind the language, I did not. I thought it only added to the story.
This was definitely a unique telling, and I was relieved because like I said, I was prepared for same old same old. The book is very imaginative, so Kutos to the Author.
5 stars for a unique telling!
June 28, 2020
Zombie Walkabout is quite an entertaining book with plenty of raunchy humor and a romance through a guy's perspective. The book is set in Australia after a zombie outbreak has occurred. There is a lot of tongue=in-cheek humor and some gory details involving tourists hunting the zombies and further dismembering the already dismembered. The book does address some ethical implications of such a thing, as the main character deliberates over his own morality and his place in this process, so that was an interesting thinking point. Some of the dialogue and plot seems a little too heavy on unimportant characters, but that is just my opinion, and I truly did enjoy the book overall, and I got a few laughs out of it. (I am a fan of absurd humor). If you have an open mind, yes, I recommend you read this!
December 28, 2020
Zombie Walkabout is a light hearted zombie tale with a bit of romance and a lot of juvenile male fantasy. Themes include professional wrestling, potty jokes and admiration for men with hard bodies, dancing pecs and large amounts of money.
There is a sort of tension between enjoying whacking off zombie heads and sympathy for the zombies, objectification of women and admiration of the love interest’s intelligence. The main character does undergo a transformation of sorts.
I think one aspect of this story deserves a mention, only because I found it so disturbing. The author differentiates between two types of women in the oddest way. The love interest’s display of her double Ds is presented as both sexy and endearing, while the “slut’s” brandishing of her double Ds is disgusting. Huh?
Some readers will likely find this tale entertaining while others may find it rather offensive.
There is a sort of tension between enjoying whacking off zombie heads and sympathy for the zombies, objectification of women and admiration of the love interest’s intelligence. The main character does undergo a transformation of sorts.
I think one aspect of this story deserves a mention, only because I found it so disturbing. The author differentiates between two types of women in the oddest way. The love interest’s display of her double Ds is presented as both sexy and endearing, while the “slut’s” brandishing of her double Ds is disgusting. Huh?
Some readers will likely find this tale entertaining while others may find it rather offensive.
May 25, 2020
This was a neat twist on the zombie genre. I love zombies and so I've read pretty much every take on them, this however, I've not seen done in book form before. There was a b movie without the comedy slant but considering how saturated the genre is that says a whole lot for how creative the idea was. I liked that it focused more on the characters than the zombies and mayhem as that allowed for me to get more invested in what happened. The pacing was a touch slow for the genre, but I think that was mostly due to the plot not being super tight, which I think was deliberate as it felt like a 'walkabout.' That in itself added to the humor which was laced here and there throughout. Overall, I can easily recommend this fun zombie jaunt as something that will give a giggle.
August 9, 2021
I found Zombie walkabout to be very different from other zombie books and movies. A zombie walkabout reminded me of Jurassic Park! It is very clever and innovative. However, the story is slow and drags with repetitiveness. I did not like Sam as I got tired of reading about his muscles and his love interest is lacking a connection I did not see. I did not feel for the characters, they were just names in a book. However, this does not take away from the fact that Zombie Walkabout is a unique take on the usual zombie tales. I laughed at times and that is worth a lot. I would recommend you give it a try!
March 18, 2020
Once a zombie hunting tourist in the land of down under, Sam Pounder returns to work at Zombie Walkabout for one summer. What ensures is a story that captures the best and the worst of people in a changed world.
I recently had the pleasure to read this unique, well paced and enjoyable post apocalyptic story. The prose were engaging and light hearted. I stayed up late a few nights not wanting to put this book down. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes a bit of comedy in the face of adversity.
I recently had the pleasure to read this unique, well paced and enjoyable post apocalyptic story. The prose were engaging and light hearted. I stayed up late a few nights not wanting to put this book down. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes a bit of comedy in the face of adversity.
January 20, 2020
This was a great book. It has very real, believable characters and a good plot with an unexpected ending. There is a bonus short story at the end of the book which is just as good as the book itself. There is also a preview from the Bystander series. Both extras are well worth reading. You won’t regret buying this book.
August 7, 2021
The blurb sounded like Jurassic Park, but with Zombies! The overall premise was nice and something we haven’t come across in this genre before. However, we weren’t able to relate to the characters or the prose. The cast was very unlikeable (outside of the MC) as they came across a bit exaggerated. Presume that if the humor clicks, then readers would enjoy this more.
April 6, 2020
This started out very interesting but quickly developed into a documentary where they forgot to turn the cameras off. I kept waiting for a plot to form but it never happened. It’s a decent distraction during a pandemic.
February 7, 2021
You can see this review and others on my blog at thebookdragon.blog
Note: I received a free print copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger Warning: Contains graphic violence, adult language, and some sexual content.
Despite the cartoonish cover with a young girl taking a selfie bashing a zombie with a red frying pan, that is not what this book is about at all. And that’s a good thing. Don’t let the cover turn you off! In fact, this novel is much more than that. American Mixed Martial Artist Sam takes a trip with his friends to Australia to participate in the Zombie Walkabout–an area walled off for the very rich to fight some zombies without fear of being infected themselves. But after the trip is over, he ends up taking a job as a tour guide for a few months as his PR manager tries to get him into the fight of his career back in the States. As he works and grows acquainted with the Aussies, he realizes how devastating the zombie predicament was to their country. This headstrong, rash young man slowly finds his morality and empathy in Australia, not to mention a lovely lady to pine over. But those in the States are not as inclined to his soft-heartedness.
Pros:
The character-building was phenomenal. Who Sam became by the end of the book was completely different from the man that he had been in the beginning. Not to mention the friendships that blossomed throughout the story and the intricacies that went into each of the side characters. Every person in this book felt real. Tangible.
Humor and Australian-slang abound. I love learning about different countries and cultures, and Murrell gives us a little taste of Australian life in this novel. There are bits of slang, different idioms, and a brief snapshot of what life is like Down Under. I enjoyed the writing immensely, if just for this. There is also a lot of humor interspersed on each page. Zombie stories can get rather depressing quite quickly, and the circumstances of this world are no exception. But the humor keeps it hidden and allows readers to continue the story without a need for mental breaks.
Unique take on the Zombie story. I’ve read so many zombie stories and watched so many movies and TV shows about them that I’d thought I’d seen it all. I was wrong. Murrell breathed new life into the Zombie genre for me with his completely different take on the beasts.
Cons:
There’s a love interest. Normally, I am all for romance in any and all books! Especially ones where you wouldn’t normally have a lot of love. But this one just doesn’t seem to do it. Sam for some reason pines over this woman for months, never does anything about it, and barely even says two words to her. Why does he love her? There’s no common ground, no connection. It’s a bit too similar to the insta-love trope for me.
The plot can drag on. I love the premise of the story, and it is actually a fresh take on the overdone zombie story. But even knowing that this is not the classic run-for-your-life zombie story, it can get a bit boring at times. And it’s a hefty book. There’s not much action, fear, or external conflict. Instead, most of it is internal. Great for character building, but can get repetitive after chapters and chapters of variations of the same thing.
Overall, this was an entertaining read! I went into it with faulty expectations, but rather than be disappointed by my mistake, I was excited to get into a book with substance. Perfect for anyone wanting to break out of their traditional zombie story and into a unique take!
Note: I received a free print copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger Warning: Contains graphic violence, adult language, and some sexual content.
Despite the cartoonish cover with a young girl taking a selfie bashing a zombie with a red frying pan, that is not what this book is about at all. And that’s a good thing. Don’t let the cover turn you off! In fact, this novel is much more than that. American Mixed Martial Artist Sam takes a trip with his friends to Australia to participate in the Zombie Walkabout–an area walled off for the very rich to fight some zombies without fear of being infected themselves. But after the trip is over, he ends up taking a job as a tour guide for a few months as his PR manager tries to get him into the fight of his career back in the States. As he works and grows acquainted with the Aussies, he realizes how devastating the zombie predicament was to their country. This headstrong, rash young man slowly finds his morality and empathy in Australia, not to mention a lovely lady to pine over. But those in the States are not as inclined to his soft-heartedness.
Pros:
The character-building was phenomenal. Who Sam became by the end of the book was completely different from the man that he had been in the beginning. Not to mention the friendships that blossomed throughout the story and the intricacies that went into each of the side characters. Every person in this book felt real. Tangible.
Humor and Australian-slang abound. I love learning about different countries and cultures, and Murrell gives us a little taste of Australian life in this novel. There are bits of slang, different idioms, and a brief snapshot of what life is like Down Under. I enjoyed the writing immensely, if just for this. There is also a lot of humor interspersed on each page. Zombie stories can get rather depressing quite quickly, and the circumstances of this world are no exception. But the humor keeps it hidden and allows readers to continue the story without a need for mental breaks.
Unique take on the Zombie story. I’ve read so many zombie stories and watched so many movies and TV shows about them that I’d thought I’d seen it all. I was wrong. Murrell breathed new life into the Zombie genre for me with his completely different take on the beasts.
Cons:
There’s a love interest. Normally, I am all for romance in any and all books! Especially ones where you wouldn’t normally have a lot of love. But this one just doesn’t seem to do it. Sam for some reason pines over this woman for months, never does anything about it, and barely even says two words to her. Why does he love her? There’s no common ground, no connection. It’s a bit too similar to the insta-love trope for me.
The plot can drag on. I love the premise of the story, and it is actually a fresh take on the overdone zombie story. But even knowing that this is not the classic run-for-your-life zombie story, it can get a bit boring at times. And it’s a hefty book. There’s not much action, fear, or external conflict. Instead, most of it is internal. Great for character building, but can get repetitive after chapters and chapters of variations of the same thing.
Overall, this was an entertaining read! I went into it with faulty expectations, but rather than be disappointed by my mistake, I was excited to get into a book with substance. Perfect for anyone wanting to break out of their traditional zombie story and into a unique take!
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