Author: David Moody
Book: Autumn
Year: 2001
Pages: 284
Part of Series: 1st of 6 books on the Autumn series
Reading Time: 8/10/2021 to 9/10/2021 (2 days)
Rating: 8 Stars
This was my second reading of this novel. I've read this novel when it was released online back in 2002. I was not working so i had no money. I didn't even read in English that much. I have no doubt that this was one of the 10 first books I read in english so there is a connection.
First of all let me say that this novel was written in 2001. If you know anything about zombie books I will say upfront that this was one of the first authors to write zombie stories. That's how important this is.
Is this the best book in zombie fiction? Nope. But you cannot deny the importance. It gave rise to a bunch of author horror writers write zombies. To put in perspective World War Z (2006), Mira Grant Newflesh (2010), Carry Ryan The forest of hands and teeth (2009); Walking dead (2004), Stephen King's Cell (2006); Joe Mckinney (2006) or Brian Keen (2007). BTW I am not saying that there aren't zombie books before - Resident Evil is one example, Lovecraft probably the first with Reanimator. But in terms of literature as zombies as plagues in book fiction this is it.
So credit should be given when credit is deserved - yeah!
Some spoilers, well full spoilers to be quite honest....
In this tale we follow three people Carl, Michael & Emma. In one instance 99% of the population of earth died. Survivors started to come together (where these 3 meet) and initial they are just buckle up waiting for rescue. Then some of the dead, started to rise (after some days). Those three characters start wondering that this was not a safe place and wanted to go to another place. They arrive at a empty farm where they amass food and other supplies and try to cope with everything. This is where the psychological part takes place and we see Carl falling deep and deeper in depression because he had lost his wife and child. As time progress the dead are changing, they seem now to follow some patterns, joining in bands and so on - still not attacking. Carl, starts pondering that maybe they should not be there and he goes back to where all it started where he finds everyone dead. He comes back but it seems the noise is drawing the dead - after all, with all silence a small noise echoed throughout the night. The dead are now thousands surrounding the house. Carl is almost delusional, without purpose to live, only to get revenge and die whilst the other characters want to live. Carl do something stupid like opening a door and its engulf by the dead but that gave possibility for Emma & Michael to escape and thus our story ends...
What is interesting about this?
Well, it's simple, it focus on characters psychological effects - most zombie fiction don't dwell more on the psychological effect of seeing everyone you love dead. This one really focus on that. It focus less on survival skills.
The writing is nothing to brag about - it is fast pace - I read 160 pages in 1h (which is awesome to me) and I notice some repetitions reading - It seems in Britain everyone says "Bloody Hell". It's your favourite swear expression?
Asking, is there a finish line ? Well yes and no. Its open ended but you can read and never read the second - I read this in 2001 and never read the second and still remember fondly of it.
Don't expect this to be like Brian Keene or some zombie movie. It's not. There is none or almost none zombie killing (by both parts). it's slow but good. Solid 4 stars. I cannot give a full 5 stars because , the writing is not the best there is, the characters sometimes behave some very "WTF" moments - like doing something that was not supposed to be that character that should be saying that (I notice this in the beginning when we've got 10 characters). Other thing was the action scenes which were confusing. Hey it was his first book. I will read the next 2 ( I can't seem to get the human condition which is 20€ plus - used)
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