• This Dying World

  • The End Begins
  • By: James D. Dean
  • Narrated by: Eric A. Shelman
  • Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (120 ratings)

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This Dying World  By  cover art

This Dying World

By: James D. Dean
Narrated by: Eric A. Shelman
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Publisher's summary

It was always a joke. The what ifs and the planning were just conversations to have fun with. Who would be the first to go? Where would people be safe? Who would survive the zombie apocalypse?

No one is laughing anymore.

Awakening to a nightmare, Dan Foster is forced to flee his suburban Chicago home. Together with his wife Abby and little girl Katie, they begin a dangerous trek across the wintery Midwest in hopes to reconnect with his brother in the heartland of Wisconsin. Dan soon discovers the ravenous hordes of undead are not the only things out there that threaten the lives of his family. Can he stay the man he is, or will he need to become something more dangerous in order to protect the ones he loves?

In the end, how much of Dan's humanity will survive this dying world?

©2015 James Dean (P)2015 James Dean

What listeners say about This Dying World

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent book for zombie enthusiast

Once upon a time Dan Foster, his brothers and best buds thought a zombie apocalypse might be something to prepare for; little did they know. Living in a row of joined townhouses with his wife and daughter sounded like a good idea – it was!   There’s nothing like waking up in the middle of the night and discovering a roaring out of control fire zipping from home to home and there are flesh eating zombies outside too!

Dan, Abby and his daughter, Katie must fight their way to their car then to the family farm to escape the deadly monsters roaming, hunting them.  Along the way, they encounter a church filled with zeds and a trio of “scum of the earth” brothers who are bikers.  Now they have to deal with deadliest of humans as well as zeds.  Leaving the cities far behind, they head off to the countryside of Wisconsin to join his brothers and friends.

Faced with decisions that eat away at his humanity, Dan fights for the lives of his wife, daughter, brothers and friends.  No longer able to be the fun-sarcastic-always has a joke; Dan faces life head on becoming the man he must be to keep everyone safe!

James Dean vividly places his listeners in the mind of Dan Foster, showing us how he goes from mild mannered man to deadly protector.  I enjoyed how Abby and Dan was a couple, their playful banter and importantly, how she could calm him during those moments when the deadly protector made his appearance.  Eating beans out of the can was so well described that I won’t be able to see a can of beans without thinking of Dan.  Dean also places his listeners directly in the story through his character and plot development.

The other characters in the book were well developed as well.  You knew right away that Adam was going to be the proverbial thorn that would take everyone out of paradise (well, what passes as paradise in a zombie apocalypse). I thought Dean did an excellent job of coming up with a unique feature of the zombies thus providing some new twists.

Eric Shelman, narrator was able to whip out those sarcastic, fun comments as if they were second nature.  His ability to read the book with enthusiasm and getting caught up in the action was solid and enjoyable.  Shelman voiced all the characters in rich tones that made the reading more enjoyable.  Shelman presented each voice placing them with the right character and was steady in his reading.  He read with confidence and projected the inner strength of each character.

There were no real issues with production although there was an instance or two where it sounded like Shelman was speaking from a tunnel.  It did not take away from the book, it was just something I noticed.

Excellent book for zombie enthusiast!  I thoroughly enjoyed both the book and hearing Shelman – I couldn’t stop listening and made times when I could listen uninterrupted!  I look forward to more books written by James Dean and read by Eric Shelman!

Audiobook was provided for review by the author.

Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog

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7 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • ST
  • 09-01-15

great zombie storie

I really enjoyed this zombie story had some great funny parts. Of course lots of nasty gore and zombie auctions some very sad parts and some what the hell come one man :)
For a first book this was really amazing i recommend it to any zombie fan.
I sure hope he writes more books will be buying them all
The Narration was wonderful Eric did so good giving everyone there own voice and some fun sounds for radio parts of it I can listen to him tell a story any day. Great job

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

great story

This story is one of the better stories I've heard in a long time. There are many different emotions that run through me. Fear funny anger grossed out ect. It was all woven in an outstanding story that I will be adding to my favorites. Eric Shelman did an outstanding job with the story. Both the story and Eric's narration had me in stitches at time.
I eagerly await the arrival of the next story in this word.
One last word: BACON :-)

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic!

A very well written and narrated book. The attention to detail made picturing everything while reading so easy. Full of snarky humor which I love. A must read for anyone who loves the zombie genre.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

couldn't put it down!

loved the book! could not put it down, the narrator was awesome and held my attention. He kept the characters fresh and entertaining. can't wait for book 2! There has to be a book 2!

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

This Dying World-not bad.

What did you love best about This Dying World?

Not the best part, but I did like that information about what was going on in the world was relayed in the first book.

What did you like best about this story?

It gave us an explanation, somewhere to start, with regards to the virus and whats going on.

What does Eric A. Shelman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Very easy to listen to. I listen while I work and his voice is not annoying.

Any additional comments?

Overall, first book I've listened to from this author and I look forward to the second. I will recommend this book. You wont be disappointed.

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4 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Very good story

Not the best nor anywhere near the worst zombie novel I have heard of late. I do wish writers would stop advertising their next work at the end of the current piece with the heavy foreshadowing, but it is what it is. Worth the credit if you enjoy a good book.

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2 people found this helpful

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Listener received this title free

just excellent

This book took me by surprise on how good it is, it has it all, and when I say the I mean parts that hit ya right in the feels!!!

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

amateur narration...

Got good near the end but for most of it you have to endure the constant not funny humor of the main character.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

One hell of a ride.

I purchased this book on recommendations from a few friends and I was not disappointed. The author did am amazing job bringing the characters to life and the story itself is solid. I recommend reading this book, it's a ride well worth taking. I'm off to start the second book.

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