The Undead: Part 2

By: R. R. Haywood

Narrated by: Dan Morgan

Length: 12 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's Summary

A deadly infection spreads across Europe. The Undead series: a terrifying account of one man desperately struggling to survive this harrowing event day by day.

Part two - days four to six. With a plan to rescue Howie's sister from London, Howie and Dave travel to Salisbury army training barracks to find an armoured personnel carrier that will see them safely through the densely populated and infected towns that lead into the capital.

Howie takes charge of a group of young army recruits they find at the barracks and leads them into battle, killing swathes of the undead. They meet Big Chris, an enigmatic former soldier who is leading a hastily erected commune in London. Joining forces they agree to help each other, going first for valuable medical equipment.

But the cost of rescuing Sarah may be too much. One of their own, Darren, has been turned...it may be the end of everything for which the group has fought.

©2012 R. R. Haywood (P)2015 Audible, Ltd

Great series that took a turn I didn't like

I will begin by saying I'm a zombie genre snob. I was looking for a fresh take and found this series. Book 1 was awesome. Book 2 started pretty strong and then without giving away too much, took a turn for the worst. STOP READING HERE IF YOU DON'T WANT A SPOILER.

SPOILER ALERT...

....when the zombie virus starts thinking, not the zombies themselves but some ethereal zombie virus collective and jumps to animals that try to walk like humans but fail... I started to lose interest... and... As a general rule of thumb - if the virus jumps to animals, rats for instance, then there really can't be any kind of hope for survival. 7Billion people, then 10-15 billion rats,... eating everything = no hope. The no hope theme is central to several zombie series but I didn't really get that vibe from this series. A little disappointed and won't buy the next book. I stopped listening about 2/3 of the way thru.

Disappointed in book 2

The first book was great, a nice change from the american 'my gun's bigger than yours' approach. But as so many other reviewers have also noted, the single drop infection of one soldier when they are all constantly covered in various body fluids was a poor, unbelievable story line. The infection's rapid sentience and Howie's constant internal hate and glory pep talks got tiresome very quickly, I zoned out in the last 2-3 hours of the book. I'm really disappointed because I thought I'd finally found a good apocalyptic series after several failed ones ( Mountain Man is still my fav) but I won't be continuing with this series.

A decline from the first book

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No. I dislike the "intelligent virus" angle the book puts in. Beyond all of that it just gets insane, the first book pretended to be a survival book, but this books just goes to far out in left field. Beyond being an attempt of going for unrealistic body counts (even for fiction) the world and characters are out there as well.

Would you be willing to try another book from R. R. Haywood? Why or why not?

Not after book 3, book 2 was bad, but I hoped for redemption.

What about Dan Morgan’s performance did you like?

He was a good reader, used lots of variance and attitude in his characters.

Could you see The Undead: Part 2 being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Only by the ScyFy channel with a small budget and no name actors.

Any additional comments?

It just goes down hill fast, but then I like some sense of reality.

You have got to be kidding me.

What did you like best about The Undead: Part 2? What did you like least?

Spoiler alert. The group goes out and fights hundreds of zombies at a time with hand weapons. They get totally drenched in blood every time. Yet a single microscopic drop of spittle from a zombie infects one of them. I know, its a zombie book, go with the flow.

Would you ever listen to anything by R. R. Haywood again?

Possible. Not sure.

Long slog gets too unbelievable

Spoiler alert:
Others have mentioned the virus becomes sentient,. That was far fetched but tolerable. I quit listening when the soldier got infected by a tiny drop of saliva. The characters get covered in gore fight after fight. Darrens infection was just too far fetched to keep me interested.

At times, painful to listen to

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The infection, describing it as human. It was so bad. And that cat, I was so grateful when that cat died!!! I know you have to suspend your disbelief to a certain extent to listen to zombie books, but there are parts of this book where you have to plug your ears and sing "La-la-la"!

What do you think your next listen will be?

This book left a sour taste, so I think I will avoid zombie books for a bit.

What does Dan Morgan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He is amazing. If it weren't for this narrator, I believe I would have put this audiobook down mid-way and never picked it up again. He gives Howie and Dave life. I hope he narrates more books soon!

Was The Undead: Part 2 worth the listening time?

There were parts that were really, really good and there were parts that were so bad they were unbearable. I don't feel like I wasted time listening to it, but I can't imagine listening the Part 3. I fully expect that in the Part 3 the "infection" will begin writing his memoirs. Honestly, it's ludicrous.

Some good parts

It is ok, but the inconsistencies drive me crazy. One drop of saliva tuns Darren into a Zombie, but the others never get infected after extended battles. It is just a bit goofy with a declining story line.

Splatter, Spew, Hack, OK, We Get It.

I'm really enjoying this series - the story is a great take on the zombie genre, and Dan Morgan's narration makes it. R.R. Haywood is a good writer, though he's overdoing it on the gore factor - every time he describes a battle scene, it's splatter, hack, spew, brains, intestines, blood, gore, etc.

I don't mind gore - I listen to some pretty gross stuff, but this...it's overkill (pardon the pun) and it's detracting from the overall power of the story.

It's like he's trying to make it longer, which is a waste of his talent and our time.

I will keep listening, though, and just continue glazing over during the battle scenes.

EXPLODING COW

TOM, DICK AND ZOMBIE
The book has three story lines. Howie, his sister and THE INFECTION. IT WATCHES AND IT LEARNS. I like the fact that Howie is a grocery store manager (Just like the characters in Once Bitten, by Christopher Moore) Dave was hilarious in Part one, but it is already getting old. I like that the characters admit they like killing. I did get tired of the constant shoot-em ups with very little new or different. The sister was okay, but nothing spectacular. What kept me listening was THE INFECTION. It develops a personality and has a mind of it's own. The last chapter was real, real good. It is a shame we could have not had more of that in the whole story. Koontz, King, Battles and others can give you surprise after surprise. Haywood was only good for one and that was his cliff hanger.

Zombie Lite
This could also be considered Young Adult. The young British keep a stiff upper lip and don't seem to get too emotional, when they do it seems put on. Your eight year old can read this and not get nightmares. All the characters are likeable. This is not for the series hard core Zombie fan.

My Campaign
This has nothing to do with the review. I am starting a campaign to get Horror as a major category. Almost everyday a new Zombie book comes out and their are many of us that love Zombies. They might be under Fiction/Horror or Sci-Fi/Contemporary or Mystery Thriller/Suspense. I would like to be able to browse Horror/Apocalyptic and Zombie to find all these books. When I want extreme gory, bloody, horror, I want to be able to go to Horror/Extreme. When I want a short story or anthology of horror, I should be able to go to Horror/Short Story and Anthology. Other subs could be classic, paranormal, etc... If you agree would you please e-mail audible. Would you also put out a request at the end of your reviews? Thank you. Spread the Word.

Couldn't Finish

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

While the writing quality was fair and narration quite good, the story itself devolved apparently as fast as the 'infection' evolved.

Would you ever listen to anything by R. R. Haywood again?

Loved the first book in this series, and the second started out fine, but just became a mess of silly situations and unnecessary risks.

What about Dan Morgan’s performance did you like?

Great voice - great clarity. Thoroughly enjoyable, and will look for books narrated by Dan Morgan.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Undead: Part 2?

Too many to list, but here are a few:

***spoiler**

Suspension of disbelief is one thing, but the hive mind/ collective intelligence of the 'infection' combined with its ability to evolve and adapt, jumping from species to species, is just too much. As well, Mr. Howie and the crew choosing to engage manually - ending each melee covered in blood, viscera, and brain matter - without any consequence, yet a single bit of spittle that lands on the lips of one of the young soldiers was farcical.

Too much head-hopping; while this can provide perspective, in this case it was just a jumbled mess.

Any additional comments?

It's a pity - the first in the series was quite good.

The Undead: More bloodbaths

Any additional comments?

This book reads like a video game, with the reader being shunted from one shallow victory to another, yet bizarrely it can be compelling stuff. Haywood takes us from one testosterone fuelled zombie encounter to another, with a boss level appearing at regular intervals. I listen on the way home from work when I want to put my brain on ice and give me something vicious to take on the other loonie commuters. The writing can get repetitious, with some gags that are unworthy of one outing, receiving several. How many times will the hero forget the acronym for APC? Repeat until funny? No. Repeat until the wordcount ticks over to justify releasing another instalment. As as for the 'banter' between the raw squaddies? That just takes Haywood's juvenilia to a new level.

On the other hand, Haywood's initiative in describing how the virus’ metamorphoses into a sentient, human baiting infection is original and clever. I've been switching between this, Fleming's Casino Royale and Dante's Divine Comedy which has made for some suitably odd drives recently. I have gone through the Undead Book 1 and am near the end of book 2. Will there be book 3? I don't know. Largely because I'm not sure how many more times I can listen to another visceral description of the hero cleaving another zombie through the head with his B and Q axe.

That said, my commute is pretty arduous and I can see me needing another instalment of 'Tesco Guy & Mute’ fairly soon.

I fear I am slightly addicted.

The infection gains intelligence

Generally a good story. You've got action, you have banter and you have zombies. This time round, we follow Howie as he gains status and rank involuntarily as he continues his endeavour to save his sister. I like that there's a point of view from the infection that adds a level of complexity to the story.

One thing that I have to hold against Part 2 is the inclusion of pointless and indirect homophobic banter on behalf of the recruits. While I can understand that it's something that can be common in a school setting. It a bit crude and unnecessary. There is a whole conversation where they joke about raping a man as a means to coerce him. It's not funny and it's very awkward to listen to. The constant reference to a recruit have desires for a male genitals is out-dated and both these points has lowered my opinion of the story quality.

fantastic zombie apocalypse

thought it was a fantastic zombie apocalypse sTory and the narrator put some much passion into the reading

Ok mate , yeah mate, splat, splat, splat

The premise was good....man and very strange but useful ex army friend try to reach London to save his sister from zombies. But it was just one zombie splatfest after another with a group of "mates" (and if I heard that word one more time I would have preferred dealing with a zombie) . The dialogue was poor, in between the splatfest so there was nothing to really get interested in. I missed some of it due to lack of concentration.

Good all round book to continue on from Part 1

What made the experience of listening to The Undead: Part 2 the most enjoyable?

Enjoyable listen while I go out jogging. Doesn't make too much sense from the perspective of an intelligent thinking virus that works as some sort of "hive mind" controlling all the zombies at the same time (human and animal alike) but a fun idea! Does get a bit carried away with the fighting scenes and not much in the way of the hiding / suspense from Part 1 but still good nonetheless.

Brilliant.

This is such a great story and it's surprisingly well written. It's a bit laddish, so beware the gay jokes and casual sexism. I found myself rolling my eyes. But it's worth putting up with because the story is so good. Onto book 3!

the undead part 2

excellent cannot wait for book 3 good story with lots of detail and holds interest

A Boy’s Own yarn

This book is not targeted to an older woman with pacifist tendencies. It is very sweary with lots of gratuitous violence and casual homophobia. Having said that, I listened to the end and unlike a lot of these books, it did have good characterisation and a story. It was very well narrated. I won’t be rushing to buy the next one.

Absolutely brilliant series!!!

I have listened to the whole series! Absolutely loved it. I was thrown with the new narrator half way through the series as Dan Morgan was fantastic, however, after persevering, the 2nd narrator became equally good. Thoroughly enjoyed the series.

Ok

I loved the first book but this one was just long unbelievable drawn out fighting scenes over and over. I found myself only continuing as I was drawn to the character of Dave above Howie. I then found out there is at least 10 books in this series and I can't justify using my one credit on this per month on this. The virus evolving and what it becomes isn't believable (as zombie stories go) and this put me off. The narration was excellent and I really enjoyed listening to it but not drawn in by the story as I did in book 1