The Remaining

By: D. J. Molles

Narrated by: Christian Rummel

Length: 8 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

In a steel-and-lead-encased bunker 20 feet below the basement level of his house, a soldier waits for his final orders. On the surface, a plague ravages the planet, infecting over 90% of the populace. The bacterium burrows through the brain, destroying all signs of humanity and leaving behind little more than base, prehistoric instincts. The infected turn into hyper-aggressive predators, with an insatiable desire to kill and feed. Someday soon, the soldier will have to open the hatch to his bunker, and step out into this new wasteland, to complete his mission: Subvenire refectus. To rescue and rebuild.

The Remaining is the first book in the best-selling series, which tells a gritty tale of survival, perseverance and fighting to get back what has been lost.

©2012 D.J. Molles (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

The best zombie/apocalypse to date

This book series sets a new standard for post apocalyptic and survival stories. Guaranteed to be a film in the future. There is no way to be disappointed with this series.

good zombie series

great book. story line was good, narrator was easy to listen to, even played it on 1.25 speed with no problems.

A Glance at the Military Mindset

As a disabled war vet, I read (and listen) to a lot of books. I stumbled upon the dystopian / zombie / apoc genres because, in some cases, they provide a glance into military culture that can't be found elsewhere. This genre provides the opportunity to view the military profession and mindset without the inherent brutality toward humans... which frees the soldier's tongue. The glee with which someone opens up with a "ma deuce" isn't abhorrent for the typical mind because he's only killing zombies, for instance. Typically, even the most hardcore stories can't reveal the horror, even the most thoughtful stories don't reveal the brotherly love and camaraderie, even the most action packed can't capture the tenacity and capability. D.J. Molles's stories are exceptional and capture all those aspects of military culture, beginning with The Remaining series, but not ending there. Leave your politics at the door and enter his stories with a curiosity about how normal everyday men are trained to do extraordinary things to keep us safe, and how they interact with one another and the world around them. These stories are military sociology hidden behind horror fiction, and they're brilliantly done. You won't find validation of your world views or correct thought patterns here... but if you possess the ability to keep an open mind, you just might learn something about a rare and diverse species of human. I can't recommend these books more. Bravo Zulu, Molles!

Only easy day was yesterday

Awesome series I’ve listened to the Remaining series 3 times already and it’s just a great series of apocalypse books that I think most people would enjoy . If you haven’t listened to it yet I recommend you do.. you won’t be disappointed especially with the Narrator Christian Rummel and the author D.J. Molles.

Not bad

I really think this book is between 3.5 and a 4 but I guess the fact that I'm wavering means it's not a full fledged 4!
Enjoyable read with some good action and likable characters. Would recommend if you like post apocalyptic books.

Interesting Concept of What might Happen

What did you love best about The Remaining?

the twists and turns were unexpected

What did you like best about this story?

the development of the human survival characteristics

What does Christian Rummel bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

the voices fit the characters and the excitement.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The Survival of Good and Evil

good stuff

was a bit dubious about getting a zombie book. figured it would be the same old story. i was pleasantly surprised. downloading book two now.

I am hooked!

Zombies and apocolypse books are my favorite escape, and this series delivers! I went through the series one after the other because I could not get enough; then when I ran out of books, I listened to them again. The premise is unique (well, as unique as a zombie apocolypse can get) and presents different difficulties and challenges along with the usual end-of-the-world issues encountered when the zombies take over. This is not to say that there aren't a few things that bother me or that seem really illogical, but I don't know that you could keep the story going without a few ridiculous coincidences or really stupid moves. And speaking of the story, as I went through this series, I marveled at the author who could create this world, write it well and keep it going -- he is amazing, I can't wait for his next installment.

Stick With It, The Listening Rewards Come Later

I gave up on this book several times. OMG. I could not be less interested in the journal entries of a Special Forces Captain as he awaits a status report on what will be -- and this is hardly a spoiler -- the Zombocalpse. However, once Captain Harden leaves his bunker and starts carrying out his mission, we watch as if through a helmetcam the well-detailed journey.

Granted, a lot of details have to do with weapons and small-scale combat. This is not a psychological investigation of humanity's encounter with the undead or the various kinds of degradation into which some of our species fall after The End of Civilization As We Know It. There are simply the givens of the new normal in which an archetypal hero fights his way through setbacks, near-mortal wounds, treachery, and mischance to reach his grail.

The reward for listening to this book is that you will most likely be hooked and want more. Subsequent books are equally full of fast action, dangers, reversals and gritty hope. Expect the usual reductions of undesirables to laughable caricatures: the mealy-mouthed politician, the book-learned professor unsuited to survival outside his ivory tower, the incurious and easily misled dross of humanity, etc... Also expect typical female gender-roles, sadistic crooks, and the usual whiney sell-outs. Only the damaged-but-dogged military men and their gun-trained lieutenants are the natural leaders we can trust in an undead world.

Although Captain Harden and I would probably not exist in the same universe in real life, I find myself guiltily binge-listening to his progress. If I'm this susceptible to his blood-and-guts-soaked charms, I think anyone will be.

Excellence incarnate

I would recommend this series to anyone interested if you read this review then do your self a favor chip in and buy this. The book is excellent, the narration is excellent, the range of voices is excellent. Overall yep you guessed it, excellent.