Radioactive Communist Zombies

by S. Evan Townsend

They live among us. We know they are there. No government can control them; no authority can stop them. Some are evil. Some are good. All are powerful. They inhabit our myths and fairy tales. But what if they were real, the witches, wizards, and fairy godmothers? What if they were called "adepts" and were organized into guilds for mutual protection and benefit? And what if they started mucking around with the affairs of "lessers" (that is, those humans not able to match their powers)?

During the height of the Cold War, Michael Vaughan is a rogue without a guild. He survives by working for the CIA as NOC (Non-Official Cover). Shortly after the funeral of President Joe Kennedy, Jr., he is sent to Cuba to assassinate Castro. There he finds himself in a cat-and-mouse game with adepts working for Fidel.

Radioactive Communist Zombies follows Vaughan from his playboy days in Havana to a violent confrontation with Che Guevara and the defeat of the adept who banished Vaughan from his guild.

234 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 18, 2010

About the author

S. Evan Townsend is a writer living in central Washington State. After spending four years in the U.S. Army in the Military Intelligence branch, he returned to civilian life and college to earn a B.S. in Forest Resources from the University of Washington. In his spare time he enjoys reading, driving (sometimes on a racetrack), meeting people, and talking with friends. He is in a 12-step program for Starbucks addiction. Evan lives with his wife and has three grown sons at various stages of getting out of the nest. He enjoys science fiction, fantasy, history, politics, cars, and travel.

Reviews

[Voss Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was, for me, a pleasant surprise. I admit, I picked it up with horribly low expectations--I don't like zombies, and I saw no reason for them to be radioactive or communist in nature. I grabbed it because it was a local author.

I then proceeded to devour it in three days between graveyard shifts. Is it going to go down in history as a great American novel? No. But it serves its purpose beautifully. It's a fun, light read with a pretty darn compelling plot, to boot. Personally, I believe it could have gone with another pass through a beta-reader, but it's still on my list of books to reread, which isn't easy to get on. If you see it in a book store, at least strongly consider buying it. If you see it in a secondhand store, I insist you buy it. If you find it in the library, check it out immediately.