Dead on My Feet

Halflife Chronicles #2

by Wm. Mark Simmons

The living dead were making his life a living hell-the hilarious sequel to One Foot in the Grave . First time in paperback.

A year ago, Chris Csejthe (pronounced "Say-thee") was completely human-then a blood transfusion with the Lord of the Undead changed everything. Now he is a hunted man, sought by human and vampire alike for the secrets he knows and the powers that his mutated blood may bestow. So far he's dodged undead assassins, werewolves, a 6,000-year-old Egyptian necromancer, and Vlad Dracula himself. But now he's really got problems. The dead are turning up on his doorstep after dark to ask for justice and the police want to know where all those corpses are coming from. Undead terrorists are testing a doomsday virus on his new hometown and he's caught in the crossfire between a white supremacist militia and the resurrected Civil War dead. His werewolf lover, jealous of his dead wife's ghost, has left him. And the centuries-old and still very beautiful (and very deadly) Countess Bathory is determined to have his uniquely transformed blood for her own dark purposes. Now, more than ever, life sucks!

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Vampires, Fantasy, Fiction, Werewolves, Horror, Supernatural

592 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 2003

About the author

William (Wm.) Mark Simmons was born in 1953 and spent his formative years in Independence, Missouri, the hometown of President Harry S. Truman and fantasy author Jim Butcher.

He has had a varied career as an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, musician, and entertainer.

His first novel, In the Net of Dreams, was a finalist for the Compton Crook Award and made Locus Magazine’s “Best List” in 1991. To date he has published seven novels and one novella in the United States with translations in Russia and the Czech Republic. His unique blend of humor and plots that unfold "like an origami sculpture designed by M.C. Escher" have won him the title of “master of twisted humorous fantasy and horror.”

Mark currently resides in the town of Hutchinson, Kansas, not far from the world famous Cosmosphere Space Museum. For the last 13 years of his 40-plus years as a broadcaster and a journalist, he was the Music Director for Radio Kansas and heard as the network’s morning Classical host throughout nearly half of the Sunflower State up until his retirement in 2018. His eighth novel, "A Witch in Time," was released in April of 2019. He currently serves as Game Warden for the nature preserve that is his back yard, wrangles cats, and is working on two new novels in his now copious free time.

(source: http://www.sff.net/people/wm.mark.sim...)

Reviews

[Beth]

Well -- the magic came into the plot with a vengeance.

I did find myself skimming through some sections -- it is still an interesting spin on the paranormal. :)

[Alex]

This is urban fantasy with a difference. Like the rest of Simmons' work, Dead on My Feet eschews gothic atmosphere in favor of realism (at least to a degree) and cleverness. There's some Whedon-esque quipping, which may or may not be your thing, but it's worth putting up with if you like very well-done vampire fiction that delights in showing off how well-researched it is.

[Julien L]

Much better than the first book, probably because it had more room to breathe with the higher page count. Really enjoyed when the book delved into metaphysical and philosophical discussions of the undead.

[Charl]

Another fun, entertaining read. It lagged a little, and I did skim a couple of the lengthy metaphysical discussions, but overall, I enjoyed it.

[Rev. Craig A. Lantz]

Very good except several very long, rambling, pseudo theological discussions.

[Michael]

Very amusing.

[Tasula]

This is the sequel to One Foot in the Grave, about a man who is accidentally changed into a quasi vamp (didn't die before getting vamped). After his adventures in book 1, he settles down (ha!)and starts new adventures. Our hero (Chris Csejthe) is smart alecky, but fights to retain moral standards. (Reminds me a bit of Harry Dresden). In this book he encounters more and different undead- zombies, ghosts, more vampires. Lots of fun. I look forward to reading the next book, Habeas Corpses.

[David]

Halflife, book 2. Still good fun, but I found some of the plot points to be heavy-handed this time around. That's probably part of the point. This time, besides the vampire stuff, Simmons takes on New Orleans voodoo and eugenics.

[colleen]

read 02.04.07

[Wetdryvac Wetdryvac]

I love this series entirely too much, as much for the horrible aspersions upon the language as for any other reason.

[Marty]

Laugh out loud funny! Plus full of horror and gore.

[Rachel]

Did get a little long winded.