Alive for Now

Infected Dead Series, Book 1

By: Bob Howard

Narrated by: Graham Halstead

Length: 8 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's Summary

Set on the coast of South Carolina, an unknown infection has caused people to die and come back to life as reanimated corpses, attacking any living person.

This is the story of the survival of one man who was the benefactor of a shelter that helped him to live through the onslaught of the infected dead. Beginning with the initial days of the apocalypse, Ed Jackson watches the world die from the safety of his shelter, but there are others who are also trying to stay alive as they seek refuge. He must decide who he will take into his shelter and who he will reject, and those decisions will help him to form the bonds he did not have even before the end of the world. He and his new friends are faced with the dangers of the dead world as they are forced to leave the safest shelter anyone could possibly have in order to do more than simply exist in a zombie-infested world.

©2016 Bob Howard (P)2019 Tantor

Comfort Zompoc

If you've read a bunch of Zompoc/Apoc literature where the author keeps killing off the characters you've grown fond of (I'm looking at you, Sarah Lyons Fleming!), then think of this as the "comfort food" version of zombie literature.

Sure, bad things happen, and bad people happen, but somehow the characters we've grown fond of seem to get really lucky. This series does require a certain suspension of belief, and there are times you'll think to yourself "Really?!" but still. Think of it as comfort-food. It's yummy and comforting and maybe doesn't challenge you but that's okay sometimes. (If you liked "The Last Tribe" by Brad Manuel, you'll probably like this one, too.)

The characters are likeable, and there's enough action through the series (I'm now on book 4) to keep you going, but if you're really into militaristic shoot-em-up type apoc lit where the action is non-stop, this probably isn't going to be your type of thing.

The narrator is excellent. I always find male narrators difficult for female voices but this one's bearable, and the main male voices are very well distinguished. He has a comfortable voice, too, which helps with the whole comforting feeling of this series.

Really, there's a pandemic on right now, and I'm turning to books that make me feel, well, reassured. Cheered. If you like zombies but are tired of everyone dying all of the time, then give this series a try.

Hmmmm....

I'm always down for a good Zombie book, however.. the act of prepping and survival of any emergency takes a lot of work, The lead character was simply handed everything he needed to survive without having to work for it. learning more about the uncle who was the one who had survival instincts and set up the island, would have been more interesting to me. I Love Graham for the narration, he always does a pretty good job.

Completely disappointed

I can appreciate a story where the lead character has a fair share of luck on their side. However, this book is too much! I mean everything was neatly provided for this guy. The lack of conflict at the start of the book definitely sets up a dull story. I do not recommend this book, unless you're in the market for mind numbing boredom.

How convenient

No real struggle here, nothing unique, and so many moments of "how convenient" happening that this story should be a hard pass to anyone thinking of getting it. Graham's narration is spot on as usual and the only reason I stuck through the whole story. The story itself was lame, seriously, don't bother.

boring writing

In world where the apocalypse has come to fruition; I introduce you Ed the man who literally has the best luck in all of the world.. what's that your bunker that you inherited literally a few days before the apocalypse fell on humanity has three rooms your unfamiliar with and various motors that need maintenance you dont know how to do. no worries a boat with three people whom all pocess those exact skills is literally floating toward you. The main characters near obsession over video games feels forced and even maybe as an added after thought. I am gonna get a refund on this credit it was a waste. Narrator did a great job tho

sucked bad. stupid story line and people were bad

hated it could tell what was going to happen though. out the story the end

A Main Character that you can root For

If you can suspend belief in the logic of some of the MC choices then the adventure has a plot that both entertains, but does not
overwhelm with mean spirited violence much of the genre is subjected with.

The start of a great ride ☺️☺️☺️

This series is one of the best in the ZA. With endearing characters, the story builds from one to the next. A little humor and lots of action keep me wanting more! Great storytelling combined with fantastic narration make this a winning combo 😊

Story is good, characters are terrible

This reads like your uncle planned out his perfect zombie apocalypse plan and thought so well of it that he wrote a book about it.

There is nothing special about any of the characters. They hive-mind think and fall into the most generic stereotypes for characters in a zombie tale.

They laughed hysterically at things that were mildly humorous and said the most off-brand things at the strangest times, making the dialogue unrealistic and phoned-in.

Of course, in any horror story, characters have to make poor decisions to progress the plot, but the decisions they make arent necessarily poor... just unrealistic given the situation.

Suspending disbelief is essential in fictional stories, but in a contemporary zombie apocalypse story on current day earth, suspending disbelief of physics is a big ask.

Like strapping a boat shuttle to the bottom of a small 4-person sea plane and flying it to where its needed. Wouldnt work in any way shape or form. Couldnt take off or land without crashing. Probably couldnt keep the thing in the air either.

These sort of reality-breaks dont happen often in the story, but enough that it aggravated me to read them.

I was more interested in the downfall of society painted by the author than what happened to the characters.

I dont want to listen to the next book to find out what happens to the characters... they could die in a horrible fire and id give mild interest. No, the only thing keeping my interest is what happens with the group eating the infected seafood.

But i have a strong suspicion the next book is centered around the other hostile groups with the zombies becoming a background nuisance, as seen in the later episodes of "The Walking Dead" tv show.

I was hoping for more of a "The Remaining" story. oh well. Thanks for helping me kill time Bob, but this is a missed opportunity for me.

Gram Halstead is my favorite narrator

So far I've loved every book he's narrated. It makes the work night go by allot faster.

very entertaining

I enjoyed the story and the characters. I want to know what happens next so will definitely be buying the next book in the series. I recommend this one.

great

yet again another great book really pulled me in ..yes its not the best but loved it all the same