The End of the World as We Knew It

By: Nick Cole

Narrated by: Mare Trevathan, Guy Williams, Doug Tisdale Jr.

Length: 7 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

In the future, an artist specializing in historical records creates a piece of art based on three separate accounts of the pandemic. What follows is a patchwork tale of survival and horror as two lovers struggle to survive the undying dead and the collapse of an America turned charnel house. Told as memos from Ground Zero, and later in the journal of a dark tower-like quest by train and foot across a nightmare landscape of ruined cities and raving corpses, the three accounts reveal more than just the grim realities of society's collapse. The Notebook meets The Walking Dead in this stained-glass depiction of the end of the world as we knew it.

©2015 Nick Cole (P)2015 Nick Cole

different and good zombie story

Solid zombie adventure that touches the heart of how an apocalypse can create distance between two people in love, but fail to stop them from searching for each other. Very well written by one of the top writers in this genre, but unfortunately I was left wishing it had been different. There is emotional investment into the characters and their search for their love, but both the way it was told and the path it took didn't quite meet my high expectations. The transcription and journal elements didn't work as well for me as they have in other books. As to the path, I can't say without spoiling the read. This is still recommended, but not in my list of favorite zombie books, unfortunately. The narrators do a great job, though the audio journal format in the beginning would have been better suited for sound effects instead of having narrator read them off. Those inserts took me out of the story a bit.

a different take on the "zombie apocalypse"

Three people, three different stories of the apocalypse.  This is their stories told by them through messages and journals. Follow along as they attempt to survive this new and scary world.

The narration for this was done by three different narrators, Doug Tisdale Jr., Guy Williams, Mare Trevathan, one for each character.  They all did a wonderful job, and it really helped moved the story along that each one was done by someone new.  I didn't have any issues or problems with the production or sound quality.

So, three different stories of the same event told by three different people.  The thing that made this different is that they weren't back and forth like a lot of stories like this can be.  There were three stories told separately.  Three stories that all related in one way or another, but different and unique in their own ways.

The first story I really had a hard time getting into her characters mind.  Don't get me wrong, the writing was well done, but the way that the author wrote her personality really rubbed me the wrong way.  But, perhaps that was done on purpose.  I can never tell if someone is meant to be abrasive, or if that specific character just rubs me personally the wrong way.

The second story within was really well done.  The back and forth between what he saw and had to do to survive was a really nice touch and added a lot to his character building.  The relations between the other characters was something different too.  I didn't catch it right away, but after I did I was like "woah!'"

The third (an incredibly short) story included had a crazy ending.  A wonderful way to end the entire novel.

Overall, the book was a different take on the "zombie apocalypse" compared to some of the other books I've read.  It takes a new spin and makes it much more personal.  The "recordings" or journals made this feel like you were actually following along with the logs of people who really live through this.

Way Better then I expected.

I was going to give the story (4) stars because of part one's main character being so annoyingly whiny..

Then it occurred to me that if the Author could create a character that got under my skin like that while delivering a great book, well, He deserves a good review... 5 Stars.

very good!

Didn't think I would like a "diary" book -I was wrong. This was really enjoyable and put you right in the story-can't decided if it's a happy or sad ending!

Good

I liked it, it wasn't my jenre but I liked it all the same, good

The remains of the days

It seems strange to write these words about a book filled with the horrors of a zombie apocalypse but, and here it comes : this book is beautiful. With deceptive simplicity, Nick Cole tells the story of two young people, Alex and Jason, separately caught up in the conflict. The book is separated into three sections, in the first of which we learn about Alex, caught at the epicentre of the outbreak, as she relates her thoughts and experiences on her mobile phone and in the second it is Jason's personal diary that continues the story. By the use of a journal format, we are taken straight into their worlds to see through their eyes and into their hearts as it happens. The final chapter is a summing up, a retro look at what remained.
Beautifully written and perfectly interpreted by the narrators, this is not the usual zombie book. Unmissable.

sweet n sad

poignant and deeply human a story. gold and brass and dust we be...
thank you nick for the reminder...

Exceptional audio interpretation

Bloody amazing!

Really ..... More than I expected.... & I always expect the exceptional from Herr Cole!

This retake on the overdone Zombi Apocalypse genre is unbelievably fresh and exciting, but what really grabs the reader is the emotional 'love story' which winds it's way through this three part story.

I read this story firstly in August 2015 & now I have just finished the audiobook version. It's a very impressive adaption, with three different reader for each part of the book, which works brilliantly!

Highly recommended reading & listening folks,

Powerful

Where does The End of the World as We Knew It rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the top 10 and I've been an Audible member since 2006

Who was your favorite character and why?

Alex and Jason both were fantastically fleshed out.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

They were all so good that it was hard to put down,

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Almost did read in one sitting, completed in two days.

Any additional comments?

Wish that there was more like this

A tale well told

Loved the book and finished it a week ago, wondering if I'd got the most from it. Bought this version and enjoyed the richer telling of a very human tale.