Blackout

The Newsflesh Trilogy, Book 3

By: Mira Grant

Narrated by: Paula Christensen, Michael Goldstrom

Length: 17 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

The explosive conclusion to the Newsflesh trilogy from New York Times best seller Mira Grant - a saga of zombies, geeks, politics, social media, and the virus that runs through them all.

The year was 2014. The year we cured cancer. The year we cured the common cold. And the year the dead started to walk. The year of the Rising.

The year was 2039. The world didn't end when the zombies came, it just got worse. Georgia and Shaun Mason set out on the biggest story of their generation. They uncovered the biggest conspiracy since the Rising and realized that to tell the truth, sacrifices have to be made.

Now, the year is 2041, and the investigation that began with the election of President Ryman is much bigger than anyone had assumed. With too much left to do and not much time left to do it, the surviving staff of After the End Times must face mad scientists, zombie bears, rogue government agencies - and if there's one thing they know is true in post-zombie America, it's this: Things can always get worse.

More from Mira Grant:

Newsflesh

• Feed
• Deadline
• Blackout
• Feedback
• Rise

©2012 Hachette (P)2012 Mira Grant

Critic reviews

2010, NPR's Top 100 Killer Thrillers, Winner

2010, Romantic Times' Best SF Novel of the Year, Nominated

2010, John W. Campbell Award, Winner

"Astonishing ... a fascinating exploration of the future."—New York Times

Great job guys.

I loved every intense moment of this final book. You guys made my work days fly by. Thanks Again.

Action Packed Zombie Adventure!

I found this series late, which is a great thing, because I could read through the series without waiting. There were many times when I felt myself holding my breath. There is never a dull moment, which adds to the realism: How could living in a zombie filled future ever be dull? The world building is believable. Only few things have changed in the future... except for the zombies, of course! The characters are well developed. One thing that I didn't like was the lack of understory on the Mason sibling's actual relationship. I wish that there was more. Mira Grant's novellas help with the withdrawal.

zombies be damned

I wouldn't normally read a book about the zombies but these zombies take second stage to the well developed characters fighting them.

zombies are fun and the actors are amazing

loved this book so much great trilogy would recommend to every one I know fun

Newsflesh, Book 3 - Thumbs up on a great finish!

Would you consider the audio edition of Blackout to be better than the print version?

Although I have not read the print version, I consider the audiobook version as a better medium for the telling of this tale as there are constant break-aways to cameras that might be confusing at first in the print version.

What about Paula Christensen and Michael Goldstrom ’s performance did you like?

Excellent voice acting by both performers.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, definitely.

Any additional comments?

This was almost as good as the Book 1 and definitely better than Book 2. Great storyline coupled with a few surprises along the way. Loved the medical detail; I felt it added to, rather than detracted from the overall story.

sorry to have it end

I waiting 1 year before listening and reading the final book because I knew it would be over. the story came around and the ending is justified. but oh god do I wish it was only the begining.

from Lost for Words a post from jz February 23 2017

Awesome series!

This was a great third and final installment to this trilogy. I couldn't help but listen to it at every opportunity. Thank you, Mira Grant, for writing a story that allowed me to feel as though I was a part of it.

A little bit extra, but very good. New Narrator :(

There is a new Narrator for Shaun/Amir/etc.
He does a good job, but I could hardly stand it after listening to almost an entire book from Shaun's perspective with someone else.
Personally, I had a lot of trouble not being distracted by it. I have been bingeing this series and this is the only book that has taken multiple days to finish.
... I actually looked to see if there was another (not Audible) edition using the previous narrator and would have bought it.
I tried to return this, but wasn't able to.
I pressed on because I needed to get this story. That was absolutely NOT disappointing.
One plot element is a bit more of a step into scifi, but it's still a solid story. [spoiler]


Other than the cloning, It has the same scientific believability we've come to expect. Despite the changed narrator, the characters perspectives and personalities are consistent; their development through this book and the ending are reasonable.
I got a little tired of the repetition of Georgia 2 explaining and struggling with her identity being separate from dead Georgia. However, it is inkeeping with the thoughts you'd expect in a person processing the situation.
There was a similar issue with Shaun talking about his insanity, how far gone he is, and what is keeping him going. Again though, it makes sense in context.

There are more changes in perspective, as well as a collage of background/supporting information given in the first person, but I didn't find it hard to follow. Part of that is what the scope of the story demands... there's A LOT of material covered. I think it's a well-executed convergence of people and events to wrap up the story. There is, of course, a good percentage of the book before the "climactic situation" and not enough time spent afterward. That's a common stylistic thing and pervades the genre, but yeah... it's noticeable.

Over all, I really enjoyed the book singularly and as a conclusion to the series.

Not quite as excellent as it could have been

Wow. Conspiracy anyone? About 3/4 of this book is even better than the middle book, which was about twice as good as the first book! The only thing I like better than a well-written conspiracy theory is a well-written conspiracy theory that involves zombies! Or medical interventions that 'accidentally' end up creating zombies anyway...

Was it as excellent as it could have been? Not quite... there was just a bit too much "coverage" of Shawn's insanity. I think there must have been a couple dozen mentions of how crazy he was and how one didn't recover from insanity in a day. Then at the end, the insanity just disappears, or, at least, it just stops being mentioned. The wrap-up is quite hasty as well... considering we had 3 books to get us here, it was all said and done in only a chapter or two.

It also had a bit more feel of a journal-style book than the earlier ones, and we see the same event/time period through the eyes of more than one character via these journal-like entries. It caused the suspense level to suffer a bit, but, otherwise, it was a nice way to see what was going on in other people's heads.

Overall it was a believable (and yet, thankfully, still far-fetched) and satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. Do you have to suspend disbelief? Duh, of course, it's a zombie novel... but it's quite a bit more thoughtful (conspiratorial) than the typical hack 'n slash. The narration is fine, but I preferred the male narrator of book two.

A good (ending?) to a great series

I think this series has been my favorite in the zombie genre overall, and this is a good solid ending to the series. The plot line resolution with the parents was well done, and a lot of the loose ends tied up. I didn't think this one felt as fresh, as fast, or as hip as the earlier two in the series but it was still a good read.