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Raising Stony Mayhall

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Raising Stony Mayhall

By: Daryl Gregory
Narrated by: David Marantz
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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. Genre Fiction Horror Psychological Science Fiction Funny Heartfelt Witty Scary

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)

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Zombies have been a potent cultural force for decades. Something about the concept of a ragtag crew of survivors facing off against endless masses of shuffling brain-munchers really seems to speak to people! There are hundreds, if not thousands, of zombie-themed stories out there. But which ones are the very best? And which zombie audiobooks will have you double-checking the locks and sleeping with a baseball bat next to your bed?

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Daryl Gregory's Raising Stony Mayhall (2011) read by David Marantz is an absorbing audiobook: moving, humorous, and, amidst the legion of undead books and movies out there, original.

In Part One, in 1968 on a snowy night in Easterly, Iowa, a zombie baby is found by the Mayhall family, mother Wanda and her three daughters. They must raise him in secrecy, because the boy, nicknamed Stony, is a "Living Dead" or "LD," and earlier in 1968 (the year of George Romero's "documentary" Night of the Living Dead) an outbreak of a mysterious disease that turned people undead hit the eastern USA. Though the contagion was seemingly stopped by the rapid and rabid reactions of civilians and authorities, if Stony were discovered he would be exterminated. The rest of the novel depicts his attempts to understand himself and the undead and living human condition.

Gregory dryly revels in the ramifications of the zombie premise: an undead physiology by which LDs do not eat, sleep, breathe, bleed, heal, decay, or stink; an undead philosophy focused around the conundrums of life and death and of how the undead may make prosthetic wooden limbs move; a resistance LDA (Living Dead Army) working through cells and safe houses; an undead representative government comprised of factions like one that wants to spread the disease all over the world and one that wants to avoid violence no matter what; and so on. He also works out the personal ramifications for Stony. Is he human? Can he love? Does he have a soul? If so, where is it? In heaven, hell, or purgatory (because he is dead), or in his body (because he is alive)? For that matter, where is his conscious self? Confined to his bones and flesh, or limited only by his will and imagination?

In addition to the possibilities of the zombie genre, Gregory is interested in the relationship between science and the supernatural. He also writes interesting and human characters (especially the undead ones). And he also wittily works in references to the popular culture of each of the eras through which his narrative moves, from 1968 until 2011.

Reader David Marantz enhances the situations, conversations, emotions, and ideas of the novel with restraint, reading the different voices for the male and female, old and young, educated and ignorant, living and undead characters without exaggeration and with a twinkle in the eye of his voice.

When you finish this entertaining audiobook, if you listen to the prologue again, more things will become clear and many touches will move you.

A Pacifist Zombie Tries to Keep It Together

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I was pretty skeptical about reading a "zombie book", but this was a lot of fun and a good story. The narration is the perfect tone, great balance of seriousness and lightness when it is called for. I would read more by the author and listen to more from the narrator.

Great story, great narration

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What did you love best about Raising Stony Mayhall?

The unraveling of the storyline. It was more like listening to a great movie than traditional storytelling

What was one of the most memorable moments of Raising Stony Mayhall?

The climax when he joined the rebellion and then again when he was captured. Edge of my seat.

What about David Marantz’s performance did you like?

Sound quality was 100% perfection, His diction and pronounciation, the clear distinction between characters because of his tones and inflections.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

His sympathy and love for his humans

Any additional comments?

Great book great narration

Great story and great narration

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Never expected an optimistic zombie! Somewhat simplistic perhaps, but I didn't miss the angst that could have filled a zombie story. I loved Stony and even liked the ending! Looking forward to more by Daryl Gregory. Thanks for this one.

I just loved this one.

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You'd think that a story involving a dead-but-alive person would be really stupid, but the characterization is so well done that it really gets interesting, and even believable. "Stony" is a hero that you root for on page one and continue for the rest of the novel. It's super entertaining, and wonderful for a teen to adult audience. David Marantz does his narration job well.

The best "zombie" story ever, Not stupid

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