SEAL Team 13

SEAL Team 13

By: Evan Currie

Narrated by: Todd Haberkorn

Length: 8 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

It’s been ten years since a mysterious, horrific incident in the South China Sea annihilated a US Navy destroyer and its Navy SEAL team. Only one man survived. Now, the US Navy is determined to put a stop to the new, frightening incidents taking place with alarming frequency.

Enter SEAL Team 13, an elite group of soldiers led by sole survivor Harold “Hawk” Masters. Everyone on the team has survived contact with supernatural forces from “the other side.” Will their camaraderie and duty to country be enough to defeat the malevolent undead forces threatening the country?

From world-building author Evan Currie, SEAL Team 13 is a dark, riveting, and action-packed tale of military intrigue and supernatural horror.

©2013 Evan Currie; 2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc. (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Gotta Love Evan Currie

The thing about author Evan Currie is that you have to expect a writing style that is very much like a B-movie, comic, or video game; if you try to take it seriously or over analyze the plot/characters, you're going to end up hating the book. Because what we have is an author who takes typical B-movie subgenres such as horror or sci fi and writes an unabashedly pulpy book full of macho men and feminine women relying on those guys. If you don't buy into the premise, it won't make an enjoyable read and you'll end up hating the cliches/homages. If you enjoy an old fashioned 1950s type of comic/B-movie, this is the book for you.

Story: a small town in Alaska is experiencing a supernatural problem sounding suspiciously like vampires and zombies. When a Seal team and supernatural expert are brought in to deal with the situation, they find more than they bargained for - and have to fight for their lives to get out.

As with other Currie pieces such as the Odyssey One series, expect an ensemble cast, not all of whom will survive. We always get everyone's perspective - from the vampire queen to the zombies, to people about to die and the veterans/heroes/heroines. I've read enough of Curries books to see that what we have are screenplays made out into full length books. I won't always say that the transition from movie format into novel format is successful; I'm sure it looks good in his brain but it is always iffy that it can be translated efficiently. But keeping that perspective in my head and enjoying Currie's books as movies makes the stories a lot more palatable. I'm reminded that while we see the Alien's perspective in the movie Alien, that doesn't mean I want to READ what it was thinking in a book. That, to me, is what always lets me down with Currie's books - as with Seal Team 13, we are given the fairly unneeded perspective/thoughts of the vampire progenitor (somehow, the bad guys always sound kind of one-dimensional and stupid). Similarly, we have the alien Drasen perspective in the Odyssey One series and it comes off as kind of silly there too. It can be very 'mustache twirling evil villain' at times.

SEAL Team 13 does for horror was Star Trek does for sci fi. Makes it a fun thing without all the chilling horror or mind numbing science; more of an adventure than an cryptic examination of the future or seat-of-your-pants terror fest. The title does sound like we're dealing with hard horror; so definitely don't expect that in this book. And although this is more adventure than horror, there is plenty of the grisly in there. But at the same time, Currie does put thought into his world building and you get sucked in somewhere in the middle of the story. E.g., I had to think twice about the realization that if you have an undead, cold, vampire or zombie, they will freeze solid in Winter in Alaska (a 'vampsickle'). It makes sense and brings up the realization of careful thought and sly humor hidden in the story.

I listened to the Audible version and thought the narrator did an decent job. I didn't particularly like the story but that was more of a personal preference since I'm not a big horror junkie (I'll stick to the sci fi). Currie does a great job with reimagining the vampire/zombie lore and giving a big picture to the menace; yet somehow this does feel more like a young adult novel for older teens than for adults. More of a fun, harmless, video game/comic/movie than a serious novel. But that's Currie's style (and appeal).

Why!?

I'm a disabled vet who reads/listens **a lot**. Of the thousands of books I've read, this is one of those few that really leaves a lasting impression. I'm not sure why Evan Currie didn't continue this as a series. It's a hidden gem.

Not quite my cup of tea

Found the plot to be okay overall. But I'm not a huge fan of hanholdy plots, so the book felt a lot longer than necessary, and overall inaccuracies to real life made it difficult to take the story fully seriously. I just couldn't suspend my disbelief for long enough periods to not find myself questioning stuff. I'm sure this book is for someone, I'd say if you like more predictable stories try it out, but I can't say I stuck with it.

Great plot and lots of action.

thuroughly enjoyed the story and wish there would be a sequel. The end of the story was left with the perfect setup for sequel.

enjoyed this story quite a lot

This was a great story I enjoyed this story very much I'm hoping Evan Currie will write more of these with seal team 13

Great Book

I can't wait until the next, but I doubt it will happen. Still, it would be a great series to read.

Good twist on an old nemesis

Story was good as was the narration, just missed something I can’t put words to

Great book.

Great book. not your typical story as you'd imagine. Kind of a cross of zombie/vamp. overall I liked it. Left me wanting a book 2.

Anticipating the next chapter for Seal Team 13

From beginning to end, this story captivates and it keeps you wanting more and more.

I'm not one much for vampires and zombies, but...

This was a decent story all the same. It is begging for another installment to address the Kraken that opened the story.