Guest Post: More Than Your Average Zombies by Kenny Soward

What do you feel when you hear the term "Zombie Western"? Excited and intrigued, if you're anything like me! Earlier this month I reviewed Those Poor, Poor Bastards from Ragnarok Publications, and as you can see I loved it. Today, co-author Kenny Soward joins us to talk about creating the world and characters of the Dead West series, where the west is wild and the zombies even wilder.

MORE THAN YOUR AVERAGE ZOMBIES 

by Kenny Soward 

When Joe Martin and Tim Marquitz asked me to join them in writing a Wild West zombie series, I jumped at the chance. Not only could I write the type of gritty characters like those in Walking Dead and Deadwood, but I’d finally be able to draft them uniquely.

Characters aside, we realized we were about to write another zombie book...like the millions of other ones out there. So, what could we do to make our baby different from the rest? That's when our collective pea brains began churning out the possibilities. Pulling from our love of old shows like Kung Fu, we began formulating a powerful antagonist, Liao Xu, a Daoist monk bent on twisting his religion – normally a peaceful, wise faith – into a malicious force to transform the good old U S of A into a living hell.

Daoism is a mystical and philosophical religion, and Liao Xu warps it to fit his malevolent goals...and he's had hundreds of years to significantly develop his pure hatred of the living world. He wants to bring it all down, cleanse the landscape of the living and pave the way for his own foul minions to inherit the earth.

With Joe's research, Tim was able to put together a riveting outline, and I was given free rein to bust out the first draft of this unique world we were creating. The idea of combining mysticism and zombies took root in our brains, and knowing Liao Xu had a very controlling personality, we presented our 'deaduns' as an extension of Liao Xu's spirit; his hands and eyes as his evil consumes and poisons the land.

But it only made sense that Liao Xu would have much more up his sleeve than hordes of rambling, dead flesh to command. From there began a natural progression into more bizarre monstrosities, creatures crawling out of nightmares, beautiful things twisted to Liao Xu's will. Yes, deaduns are certainly Liao Xu's fodder, but he saves his best for last.

Darkness breeds its own sort of mad creativity.

And in between all those monsters are the human ones, the ones that threaten with a look, bear grudges, and sometimes knock you down just because they feel like it. The kind of people you never want to go to sleep around...and if you must, always make sure to keep one eye open.

In “Dead West”, everything is out to get you, even the cold, harsh environment of the Sierra Nevada Mountains; it can freeze you clean in just a few hours, starve you, or bare you to the wolves.

There's plenty of ways to die out there, zombies aside.

Joe, Tim, and I have been greatly pleased with the reviews for “Dead West” so far, and we hope that you'll join us as we tear shit up in the American Weird West.

* * *

The first two books in the “Dead West” series by J.M. Martin, Tim Marquitz, and Kenny Soward are available now at Amazon.com. Kenny Soward is a writer of epic fantasy and horror, and is an avid YouTube vlogger.

Book Review: Those Poor, Poor Bastards by Tim Marquitz , J.M. Martin, Kenny Soward

Those Poor, Poor Bastards by Tim Marquitz, J.M. Martin, Kenny Soward

Genre: Horror, Western

Series: Book 1 of Dead West

Publisher: Ragnarok Publications (February 19, 2014) 

Mogsy's Rating: 4 of 5 stars


I didn't think I was going to enjoy this book at first. Thank goodness I was wrong! Still, can you really blame me for having my doubts? After being inundated in recent years with the dozens upon dozens of movies, TV shows, video games etc. all featuring the same mindless gory battles against the shambling, moaning hordes of the undead, my initial thought was: been there, done that, now what more can this zombie book offer?

Well, this is the review where I happily eat my words! I should have known better anyway, because Ragnarok Publications has never let me down. As it turned out, Those Poor, Poor Bastards had a lot more to offer than I'd anticipated, in addition to that charming little title. The book did contain some of the usual trappings you'll find in a lot of zombie stories, but there were some twists as well, and I loved how the authors took the familiar and created something new. Also, while I haven't read enough of the Weird West sub-genre to consider myself a fan, a description like "Zombie Western" wasn't really something I could resist.

It is 1868, in the Sierra Nevada. The book begins with Nina Weaver and her father Lincoln riding into Coburn Station only to find that everything has gone to hell in a chuckwagon. The "Deaduns" have arisen and are sowing bloody carnage all over town, forcing the living to band together in order to survive. In typical fashion, you end up with a large, diverse ensemble cast. And like watching The Walking Dead, you just know before you even begin that many of them are going to end up zombie food before this whole thing is over.

Put a big group of people with disparate personalities into a stressful situation and you'll also inevitably get your clashes and alliances within the ranks. There are the good folks like Nina and her pa, the priest Father Mathias as well as the charming James Manning. On the other side of the fence you have the less savory types and troublemakers like the Daggett brothers or the scummy Mister Strobridge. Then there are those caught in the middle who just aren't sure. With tensions this high and a swarm of Deaduns at the door, it's the perfect set up for explosive conflict. Emphasis on explosive.

So far, with the exception of the western setting, things might be sounding rather familiar. But then, the authors work their magic and you suddenly realize there is way more to this story. Bucking tradition, we're actually given an explanation into the Deaduns and how they came to be. Their origins and motives, not to mention the actual reveal itself, were so unique that it completely threw me for a loop -- in a good way! I have to say this ended up being a delightfully fun read, in all its blood-splattered glory.

Those Poor, Poor Bastards also taught me something important about myself -- that I will never be too old or too jaded for a good ol' zombie story! What a fast-paced, crazy wild book. I think I'll just end this review with a suggestion to the potential reader: there are a lot of characters, so definitely try to tackle this novel all in one go if you can, ensuring that the dozen or so identities will always remain fresh in your mind. Besides, it shouldn't be too difficult -- because once you start reading, you just might find it hard to stop!

A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Ragnarok Publications!

Book Review: The Doctor and the Dinosaurs by Mike Resnick

The Doctor and the Dinosaurs by Mike Resnick

Genre: Steampunk, Western

Series: Book 4 of Weird West Tales

Publisher: Pyr

Date of Publication: December 10, 2013

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Mogsy's Rating: 3 of 5 stars - "Meant to be sensational and a little over the top, and in that sense the book does its job and does it well. Fun and entertaining"

The Doctor and the Dinosaurs is my first venture into Mike Resnick's Weird West Tales, and actually my first exposure to the author, period. Like many kids growing up, I went through a phase in my childhood where I was just nuts for dinosaurs. I suppose a part of that love has stayed with me all this time, because when I saw the cover and description for this one I just couldn't resist.  

This is the fourth book of the series starring Doc Holliday of American Old West fame, but if I'm not mistaken, each installment can be read on its own. We seem to be catching our protagonist at a pretty bad time though, as the book opens on Doc bedridden and coughing out his lungs in a sanitarium, dying of the dastardly consumption. But then he is visited by the medicine man and great chief Geronimo, who grants him one more year of life in exchange for a favor. 

Doc Holliday is tasked to stop two paleontologists who have been carrying out their digs on sacred Comanche burial grounds in Wyoming. Sounds easy enough. But that was before Doc learned that the two scientists involved are none other than Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh, two men who hate each others' guts and are locked in eternal competition. Time is running out and the Comanche medicine men have made things clear: stop desecrating their lands or they will unleash a horde of monsters, the kind our world has not seen in 65 million years.

A crazy blend of steampunk, fantasy, alternate history and western, this book was as much fun as I thought it would be! I've never had the pleasure of reading a "true" dime novel from the latter half of the 1800s, but I wouldn't be surprised if Mike Resnick is in some way emulating the spirit and style of the popular fiction in those days. As you would expect from the above synopsis, the book's story and characters are more sensational than deep, with an entertaining plot that contains more clever, snappy dialogue than exposition. Nevertheless, that's the kind of book it was intended to be. In that sense, it does the job and does it well.

This book was also such a treat for the part of me that still loves dinosaurs. We all know there's no shortage of stories about the Old West featuring famous gunfighters like Doc Holliday, Wild Bill Hickok, Wyatt Earp, Cole Younger, and the list goes on. But while this series also features an impressive list of shootists, I loved how this particular story directed its focus to another significant event that took place during America's Gilded Age -- the Great Dinosaur Rush. For one, the hatred between Cope and Marsh was so intense, their rivalry so frenzied, that the two men actually spawned a period in paleontological history known as the Bone Wars. It's fascinating stuff! I was happy to see a spotlight on this idea, and an entire story built around it.

Is The Doctor and the Dinosaurs a little over the top? Perhaps. But is it fun? Definitely. I picked up this book hoping for an afternoon of fun, light reading, and that's exactly what it delivered.

 

 3 of 5 stars

 

A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  

Book Review: The Arrivals by Melissa Marr

The Arrivals by Melissa Marr

Genre: Science Fiction Fantasy

Series: Stand-alone

Publisher: William Morrow

Date of Publication: July 2, 2013

Author Information: Website | Twitter

Mogsy's Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars - "Massive points for originality in this interesting and unique tale about an unusual but fascinating group of characters."

This book was a bit quirky and slightly odd at times, but for me it was like a breath of fresh air. It's different from the stuff I usually pick up, and ultimately it may have been a little too bizarre for my tastes, but I certainly don't regret reading it. When it comes to originality and interesting ideas, this book gets massive points.

My love for speculative fiction, especially when other genres are infused with a paranormal twist, is what drew me to this book in the first place. A fantasy western about a group of people from different times and places all mysteriously ending up in an unfamiliar world called the Wasteland? It sounded too intriguing to pass up.

Other than the fact this Wasteland is full of monsters and other unsavory types, however, I didn't know much else about the novel, so I settled back and prepared to let myself be drawn in. And that's exactly what the story did, thanks to the unusual but simply extraordinary ideas I found in here. The characters are a motley group made up of: Jack and Kitty, siblings from the Wild West; Edgar, a bootlegger from the time of the prohibition; Francis, a hippie; Hector, a former carnie; and Melody, a crazy 1950s housewife. And then there's Chloe, the newest addition to the team, who passes out one night in 2013 after a crazy night of binge drinking, and wakes up in the Wasteland.

These "Arrivals" were all ne'er-do-wells in the times they came from, but the most remarkable thing about them is what happens after they die -- or rather, what doesn't happen. Death isn't always permanent, but they don't find out whether it is or not until days later when the Arrival who died either wakes up good as new...or they don't. Their nemesis is a man called Ajani, a force of evil they have been struggling against ever since the first Arrival came to the Wasteland.

This is very much a character-driven novel, and their relationship dynamics form the basis for much of the story. Jack and Kitty take center stage most of the time and sometimes Chloe, even though I wished more attention could have been paid to the other Arrivals, such as Melody. I gathered she's pretty unbalanced through the fearful conversations the others have about her and their reluctance to get too close, but I would have loved to see more examples of Melody living up to her reputation. There are great characters here, but it's a pretty short book and it's just a shame the secondary characters don't get more screen time.

As I said, the book has many interesting and original ideas, and expect to have a lot of questions when reading this. If you're like me and prefer your books to also provide the answers, then you might find it a little frustrating, because at times you'll feel like you're only getting half the story. I was disappointed that there weren't more explanations, but the good news is that this doesn't diminish the quality of the world building. The Wasteland is not as desolate as it sounds, and the essence of the land and its creatures will constantly surprise you.

In many ways, The Arrivals is the kind of book you have to take as it is, and just go with the flow. I'm not a big fan of info-dumps, but I also like some explanations when they're warranted, and I have to say I enjoyed this book a lot more once I've accepted that I probably won't get answers to all my questions. What this novel offers, though, is a story of adventure about an unusual but fascinating group of people, and what they mean to each other. There's nothing out there like it!

3.5 of 5 stars

Book Review: Your Brother's Blood by David Towsey

Your Brother's Blood by David Towsey

Genre: Fantasy 

Series: Book 1 of The Walkin'

Publisher: Jo Fletcher

Date of Publication: August 29, 2013

Author Information: Website | Twitter


I usually start off my reviews with an explanation of what initially drew me to the book, and in this case it was the words "Zombies" and "Western" used to describe it that had me tripping over my feet for the opportunity to check it out. To date, I've only read a few titles from relatively new speculative fiction imprint Jo Fletcher, but they've already set themselves apart in my mind as a very special publisher, thanks to books like Your Brother's Blood which mix elements of sci-fi and fantasy with many other genres. Here, the result is something completely new and different, but I was also surprised to find this "Zombie-Western" to be quite literary and elegant at the same time.

The book is actually set hundreds of years into the future after an oft referred to but unknown apocalyptic event, and pockets of humanity now live ruggedly in small communities spread out across a vast and arid land in a style reminiscent of the Old West. A war is currently being waged between two armies, and caught in between them is the complicated matter of the dead who come back to life, those referred to as "the Walkin'".

Thomas grew up in Barkley, and at thirty-two years old he'd left to fight a war only to die and wake up again. He knows going home will put his wife and child in danger, but the pull towards love and family is too great; in the end his arrival in town sends him on the run again, with his daughter Mary in tow. It becomes a race against time as they try to evade their pursuers, because Barkley's zealots do not suffer the wicked or their spawn to live.

Other than a very few exceptions, I don't think I've come across many zombie stories that are told from the perspective of the undead, so this immediately makes Your Brother's Blood stand out for me. As a Walkin', Thomas' heart does not beat, nor does he bleed or feel a thing, but he does possess emotions, intelligence, and awareness of everything around him. He remembers Mary even though he hasn't seen her in a long time, and his love and devotion to her leads to many sad and touching scenes between father and daughter.

In this and many other ways, Your Brother's Blood is not a typical zombie novel; in fact, it shares very few similarities with other books in this horror sub-genre. Towsey's zombies aren't the mindless, shambling and brains-craving kind to be feared, and much of my enjoyment was actually the result of how much I sympathized with Thomas and related to his concerns for Mary. It's definitely a story that tugs at your heartstrings, but on the flip side there's also a sense of danger and urgency, for at the heart of this plot is the desperate-chase-across-the-wasteland factor that's so characteristic of classic Westerns.

There's just such a strange but unique mix of elements here, making this a special book unlike anything I've read before.  There's just enough detail in this book to make you wonder things like, what happened to result in this post-apocalyptic world, and what's "in the blood" that makes a person more liable to rise as a Walkin' when they die? I'm hoping future installments will explore these questions, but  I'd be okay too if some things are left as mysteries.

It's always interesting to me when I see authors take what's familiar and shake things up, creating imaginative characters and new worlds that lead to speculation. This was an enjoyable debut from David Towsey that not only surprised me with its originality, but also had a lot more feeling than I expected. I recommend it to anyone looking for something that's different, resonant and not "just another zombie book".

4 of 5 stars

"a 'Zombie-Western' that's different, original and

surprisingly full of feeling"

A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Comic Review: East of West #1 by Jonathan Hickman

East of West #1 by Jonathan Hickman

This comic starts as an alternate retelling of US history that deviates during the Civil War.

Two new leaders rose up out of that conflict, a Native American chief who becomes chief of chiefs, gaining control of all the tribes and forming The Endless Indian Nation. A former soldier named Elijah deserts the union and becomes a prophet. Soon the war escalates with attacks from the Nation and the religious, causing the it to linger on for 20 years until a comet hits the United States. Out of that event, seven territories come into being and form peace (that's probably tenuous and rife with old hostilities if I'm to judge by later panels).

Running parallel to this is a story about the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, except there are only three. War, famine, and conquest (who has replaced pestilence, I suppose) have been reborn as children who are continuing their mission with the added goal of finding Death who was not reborn alongside them. Their mission isn't quite clear to readers yet, Some readers may know the biblical significance, but we don't know how that'll play out in this story just yet. Childish glee mixed with malicious intent makes them very unsettling. The only thing we know for sure at this point is that they must find Death.

I would be lying to you if I said this makes a ton of sense at this point. It's Jonathan Hickman. I'm sure it's not supposed to make any sense right now. Hickman has a way of leaving his readers a little boggled at first, but you can always tell he's setting you up for some incredible. Even with the slight fog, the story is engaging. Hickman has combined elements of history, sci-fi, the supernatural, and fantasy with a heavy dose of the old west, giving reads an unusual blend of ingredients that are delectable together. An innocuous motorcycle turns into a metal grasshopper, saloons that appear as they would in 1800s, end time prophecies with visions and words shared among many no matter their race or affiliations--all these things ask you to continue this journey into the strange.

You want to know more about what's going on, how this alternate United States works. Some elements are cleared up by the end of the book, but then, you're left with even more questions. I want to know more about the different territories, but I am a little apprehensive about how it might be handled, especially since one of the territories is "The Confederacy, " and that could get prickly. The art is beautifully done by Dragotta, nothing short of phenomenal to be honest. The landscapes and people are darkly gorgeous. There's nothing "stock" about the art presented. Dragotta managed to pull so much uniqueness from the story presented.

My interest is piqued. I'm not sure where this story is going at this point, but I am certain that I want to follow it.

Story:

3.5 of 5 stars

Art:

4.5 of 5 stars

Final Verdict:

4 of 5 stars

The Six-Gun Tarot by R.S. Belcher

The Six-Gun Tarot by R.S. Belcher

Golgotha, Nevada 1869. Fifteen-year-old Jim finds himself in town after surviving the 40-Mile Desert, running from his past with just his horse and his father's magical jade eye in his pocket.

Golgotha has always had a way of attracting and drawing in the supernatural. With its history of unexplained occurrences, the old town is also home to many strange denizens, including Jonathan Highfather, the town's sheriff whose extraordinary luck has always preserved him despite many close shaves with death. Mutt, his deputy, is said to be the son of Coyote. Meek and prim Maude Stapleton, wife of a prominent banker, is actually a deadly trained assassin and a follower of the cult of Lilith.

It all comes to a head when an ancient evil deep beneath the old mines of the mountain is called forth into the world, and the town's motley crew of citizens must join together to defeat the sinister force and its tainted army.

On the surface, this may sound like another one of your familiar characters-get-together-to-save-the-world books, but I have to say in all honesty I've never read a book quite like The Six-Gun Tarot. And it's a great thing. I've always enjoyed westerns whenever I read them, especially when they are mixed with aspects of fantasy and the paranormal. This book was an interesting blend of all that goodness as well as elements of theology and horror.

What makes The Six-Gun Tarot stand out is its world-building and character development. Almost the entirety of the book takes place in Golgotha and its surroundings, with flashbacks to some of the characters' pasts. The town and its population is brought to life by many of these rich backstories.

In fact, at times the book almost feels overly ambitious in these areas. I think it was a good move for the author to keep a lot about the history of the town and its people unexplained to preserve a bit of mystery, but at the same time I was left with so many questions and a desire to know more.

Take Maude's past as an example. What really was the purpose of all her training? Did she put her skills to good use on any adventures between the short time she became initiated and the time she met her husband and got married? Or what about Clay the taxidermist and mad scientist tinkerer? What's the deal there and where was his backstory?

These questions were just a handful of the many that occurred to me while reading. It felt to me that there was so much potential there to be explored, and what didn't get expanded upon seemed like wasted opportunities. This book could have been longer if only to delve more into the history of these characters, since they were what made this book so unique. Perhaps then there would also have been less frequent jumping around of character perspectives, which often got distracting.

As a debut novel, however, I have to say this one was solid. I look forward to checking out more of R.S. Belcher's stuff in the future.

Final Verdict:

3.5 stars of 5