Raising Stony Mayhall

By: Daryl Gregory

Narrated by: David Marantz

Length: 12 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

From award-winning author Daryl Gregory, whom Library Journal called "[a] bright new voice of the 21st century", comes a new breed of zombie novel - a surprisingly funny, vividly frightening, and ultimately deeply moving story of self-discovery and family love.

In 1968, after the first zombie outbreak, Wanda Mayhall and her three young daughters discover the body of a teenage mother during a snowstorm. Wrapped in the woman's arms is a baby - stone-cold, not breathing, and without a pulse. But then his eyes open and look up at Wanda, and he begins to move.The family hides the child - whom they name Stony - rather than turn him over to authorities who would destroy him.

Against all scientific reason, the undead boy begins to grow. For years, his adoptive mother and sisters manage to keep his existence a secret - until one terrifying night when Stony is forced to run, and he learns that he is not the only living dead boy left in the world.

©2011 Daryl Gregory (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Stony [is] the best zombie character ever....More than many novelists, Gregory's work not only withstands but grows richer with re-readings and sustained attention." (SF Signal)

"Raising Stony Mayhall should add to Daryl Gregory's reputation as a dazzling innovator....a fast-paced, exciting narrative laced with both humor and moments of pathos." (Locus)

"Part superhero fiction, part zombie horror story, and part supernatural thriller, this luminous and compelling tale deserves a wide readership beyond genre fans. Highly recommended." (Library Journal)

Glad I Gave This One A Try!

I really enjoyed this story. I am not into horror zombie or vampire stories which this is NOT, so I'm glad I gave it a try (based on the excellent reviews). It is actually a very heartwarming story about an unusual zombie (I guess that's sort of an oxymoron) that tries very hard to live in a normal world. You like Stony from the start and the story has enough twists and turns to keep you listening, and listening. It was also told in a light hearted tone interspersed with humor, which I really enjoy. I like happy endings and was a bit afraid this one would disappoint, but it did not. It's so frustrating to listen for 12-15 hours and then have the ending either leave you hanging or depressed. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for something different. I will look forward to listening to another book by this author.

You had right up to the ending

If you could sum up Raising Stony Mayhall in three words, what would they be?

family to rally behind

Any additional comments?

Loved the story. You won't be disappointend in this read. The Walking Dead has made zombies cool, yet again, but Stony is no

Forrest Gump meets The Walking Dead

Would you listen to Raising Stony Mayhall again? Why?

Yes I would listen again (not immediately, but sometime in the future). The story covers such a span of time that the flavour and scenery changes enough to keep it fresh.

What did you like best about this story?

It was one of the most original takes on the "differently alive" that I have read / listened to. In my extensive zombie reading, only David Worthington's "Monster Island" series had as left of field take on how the undead live.

Which character – as performed by David Marantz – was your favorite?

That would have to be Stoney himself

Any additional comments?

I agree with the comment that convinced me to buy this book..."You will never live as much as this dead boy".

Unique story

The story started off a little slow for me. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to sit through it. It picked up a couple of chapters in and I couldn’t stop listening. One of the better zombie stories. I really enjoyed it.

The Best Zombie Coming of Age Story Ever

This was the second Daryl Gregory story I've read and it met and exceeded my expectations. I love it when an author fearlessly pushes at the boundaries of a genre, especially my favorite genre -- horror.

John "Stony" Mayhall was found as an infant zombie in his dead mother's arms and raised by Wanda Mayhall and her three daughters in secret. Now, in this world, the zombie uprising happened and was put down. George Romero created a famous documentary titled "Night of the Living Dead" and most school history books give it a few pages before moving on. However, fear of another zombie uprising remains foremost in the American government's minds if not in the American people's.

Daryl lays the groundwork for the last third of the book -- which seemed to have confused or turned off a lot of readers -- in the odd events in Stony's life. Besides the things one expects of a coming of age story, it is also an exploration of what Stony is and by extension what all the zombies are. It is an important part of the story -- it is what sets this novel apart from, say "Warm Bodies" or "Nekropolis" -- and makes it so fun and engaging.

This is not a hack and slash bloodbath of a horror novel (not that there is anything wrong with those novels, I love them too) but rather a very literate horror novel that pays off patience with awe and wonder and dollops of horror.

David Marantz was a wonderful reader and added excellent characterization to the story with his voice. I love his take on Mr. Blunt and the scientist who tries to befriend (i.e. use) Stony. (yeah, his name escapes me. Sorry)

Fun read

Definitely a new take on the zombie apocalypse theme. Novel and entertains. Make a great beech read this summer. Well done performance.

Not what I expected

Not what I expected, I really enjoyed this and I may have found another favorite author :-)

second half painful to get through

What did you like best about Raising Stony Mayhall? What did you like least?

The beginning was great and interesting to think about. I loved his time with the family.

Any additional comments?

The last third of the boon became painful to get through. I wish the author would have stayed focused on the family and built on the relationships in Iowa. That would have been better than the direction the book went.....It got weird.

Not your standard Zombie novel, but better

I am not really into zombie novels, however, this one was different. In it you have a child that is raised not knowing that he is a zombie. He knows that he is different, however, he does not know why.

The story is very unique and the author did a great job writing about the characters. I really liked the main character Stony. I also like the women in the novel, especially Stony's adoptive mother.

This is the first book that I have read by the author Daryl Gregory. I have recently read good reviews about his book "Pandemonium" and look forward to reading it.

The narrator, David Marantz, was perfect. I highly recommend this zombie/living dead novel.

Epic Surprise

You have to get through the first 2 hours and 45 min before the book really starts to take off but when it does, it is quite enjoyable. This is an epic story of a very unique zombie and all the phases of his life and his family's life.