Status
Available
Call number
Call number
F Kir
Genres
Collection
Publication
Thomas Dunne Books (2011), 308 pages
Description
"In The Walking Dead universe, there is no greater villain than The Governor. The despot who runs the walled-off town of Woodbury, he has his own sick sense of justice: whether it's forcing prisoners to battle zombies in an arena for the townspeople's amusement, or chopping off the appendages of those who cross him. The Governor was voted "Villain of the Year" by Wizard Magazine the year he debuted, and his story arc was the most controversial arc in the history of The Walking Dead comic book series. Now, for the first time, fans of The Walking Dead will discover how The Governor became the man he is, and what drove him to such extremes"--
Original publication date
2011
User reviews
LibraryThing member ThomasFuzia
The Walking Dead: Rise of The Governor by Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga was released October 11, 2011. This book is a spin-off of Robert Kirkman’s graphic novel The Walking Dead. Jay Bonansinga who assisted writing the novel is the author of many horror novels. The book is the tale of The
This book tells the story of brothers Philip and Brian Blake, Philip’s daughter Penny, and Philip’s two friends Bobby Marsh and Nick Parsons. It takes place in Georgia at the beginning of the zombie apocalypse. It has been a week since it all started and the group is making its way towards Atlanta. The book is a captivating and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Robert Kirkman has a unique style of writing that not many authors have. This is one of his first novels but his graphic novels are very well written and popular.
I greatly enjoyed reading this novel. Robert Kirkman has a style of writing that draws you into the book. This is a very well written book that you can chew through in a day or two. Any zombie fans of any age would enjoy this book. All in all I would give this book a score 5 out of 5.
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Governor from The Walking Dead. This book is a great read for a rainy weekend. Even if you haven’t read The Walking Dead this book is still a great read.This book tells the story of brothers Philip and Brian Blake, Philip’s daughter Penny, and Philip’s two friends Bobby Marsh and Nick Parsons. It takes place in Georgia at the beginning of the zombie apocalypse. It has been a week since it all started and the group is making its way towards Atlanta. The book is a captivating and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Robert Kirkman has a unique style of writing that not many authors have. This is one of his first novels but his graphic novels are very well written and popular.
I greatly enjoyed reading this novel. Robert Kirkman has a style of writing that draws you into the book. This is a very well written book that you can chew through in a day or two. Any zombie fans of any age would enjoy this book. All in all I would give this book a score 5 out of 5.
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LibraryThing member sublunarie
I just got blown away by the end of this book. Basically changes everything you thought you knew about TWD.
Kirkman, how do you do this sorcery?!
Kirkman, how do you do this sorcery?!
LibraryThing member Draak
I won this book from Goodreads and to be honest never even heard of the comics by the same name. Did not know what to expect. I was in for a surprise on how much I enjoyed reading this book. The book is about zombies of course and you follow brothers Philip and Brian along with Penny, Philips
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daughter and 2 friends as they try to make their way to a refugee center in Atlanta Georgia. I will say that the descriptions of how they killed the zombies was pretty graphic for my taste but all in all a very good read that was hard to put down. If there is a second book I will be buying it because now I have to know what happens. This book has made me a fan. Show Less
LibraryThing member aethercowboy
You have less to fear from the dead than you do from the living. This is true in real life, but also strikingly true in many recent works of zombie literature. Rise of the Governor is no exception.
This book follow the trials of Phillip Blake and what’s left of his family and friends as they set
While Kirkman, with the comic series, relied on imagery to convey the grim reality of Frank Grimes and company, Bonansinga (who I presume did much of the actual writing, with Kirkman providing story and notes in a vein similar to his role as a comic writer), not having imagery to “paint a thousand words,” paints them himself, in shades of grey, and green, and red. In the end, his descriptions of the living dead are not for the squeamish, and at times, can be more unsettling than the illustrations of the living dead in the comics. Much like when they redid Psycho as a shot-for-shot remake, the introduction of color really took something away, in this book, the introduction of prose really took something away.
This book, being a prequel, falls into the spoiler paradox. If you read it beforehand, you get spoilers for the comic, but if you read it afterwards, you get spoilers for the book. In this book, though Kirkman and Bonansinga really, really try to zing the reader by throwing a curve ball in the last chapter. While I understand this was to prevent the spoiler paradox from taking full effect, at the same time, it really felt like a cop-out, and didn’t jive well with the actual comic series. While it was an interesting turn of events, I felt that it was out of place in this book.
In the end, if you’re a die-hard (and hopefully you are if the zombies ever plague us) fan of The Walking Dead, you may find that you need this in your collection, but I myself found that this history behind one of comic-kind’s top 100 villains probably would have been better as a standalone comic. It was all right, but not my cup of tea (or anything else I’d want to put in a cup, for that matter).
This book follow the trials of Phillip Blake and what’s left of his family and friends as they set
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out trying to make better lives for themselves in a recently zombie-plagued world. It takes place a little before the events of the Walking Dead comic series, and, being that it’s cowritten by the series writer, can safely be considered part of the series.While Kirkman, with the comic series, relied on imagery to convey the grim reality of Frank Grimes and company, Bonansinga (who I presume did much of the actual writing, with Kirkman providing story and notes in a vein similar to his role as a comic writer), not having imagery to “paint a thousand words,” paints them himself, in shades of grey, and green, and red. In the end, his descriptions of the living dead are not for the squeamish, and at times, can be more unsettling than the illustrations of the living dead in the comics. Much like when they redid Psycho as a shot-for-shot remake, the introduction of color really took something away, in this book, the introduction of prose really took something away.
This book, being a prequel, falls into the spoiler paradox. If you read it beforehand, you get spoilers for the comic, but if you read it afterwards, you get spoilers for the book. In this book, though Kirkman and Bonansinga really, really try to zing the reader by throwing a curve ball in the last chapter. While I understand this was to prevent the spoiler paradox from taking full effect, at the same time, it really felt like a cop-out, and didn’t jive well with the actual comic series. While it was an interesting turn of events, I felt that it was out of place in this book.
In the end, if you’re a die-hard (and hopefully you are if the zombies ever plague us) fan of The Walking Dead, you may find that you need this in your collection, but I myself found that this history behind one of comic-kind’s top 100 villains probably would have been better as a standalone comic. It was all right, but not my cup of tea (or anything else I’d want to put in a cup, for that matter).
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LibraryThing member dpiacun
This is ic stthe back story about how the man called the Governor became a villian. This is a good social/psycological story showing how bad events can change a person.
LibraryThing member TheVoid666
Great back story for the super villain, The Governor
LibraryThing member DarkFaerieTales
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: The Walking Dead infamous Governor’s humble beginnings.
Review:
The Walking Dead has a tremendous following, rising from its humble comic beginnings to hit television show. Now fans everywhere have the rare opportunity to learn more about the man
I have the opportunity of not just reviewing The Rise of the Governor, but getting to cover its audiobook. Audiobooks have both pros and cons to them. Some of the better advantages are their relatively hands-free nature. I can “read” while driving (I get car sick if I read on the road) and while being forced to do massive house cleaning. The downside is that the narrator can only go so fast, so books that would have taken me 4 hours to read turn into 18 hours of listening. That time may feel like it’s going faster if said narrator’s sensuously low voice wraps around you and cradles you within the horrors of his tale.
Fred Berman brings his exceptional acting skills to the narration of Rise of the Governor. Phillip’s disassociation from the grisly events around him comes through in the deep and even commands that he gives. This is enhanced by the terror and weakness Brian, his brother, shows with every syllable uttered. Though Berman’s variations for each character may be hard to distinguish from each other, you can always tell the speaker from the emotions in their “voices.”
The one downfall of this particular audiobook is that it does not give you notice when the CD ends. In my case, I worry that I broke something when the narration goes silent. It may sound like I am over-exaggerating, but I really do have a flare for electrical failures. While I am positive that this is not a deterrent for most, I was disappointed not to have the notification.
Overall, Berman did justice to the novel from Robert Kirkman’s dark and desolate Walking Dead Universe. I would be very interested in learning how the “voices” of these characters match up for a reader that read the book first.
FTC Advisory: Macmillan Audio graciously provided me with a copy of Rise of the Governor. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payment received came in the form of hugs and kisses from my little boys.
Quick & Dirty: The Walking Dead infamous Governor’s humble beginnings.
Review:
The Walking Dead has a tremendous following, rising from its humble comic beginnings to hit television show. Now fans everywhere have the rare opportunity to learn more about the man
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they love to hate: The Governor. What atrocities led such a person down this lonely and bloody path?I have the opportunity of not just reviewing The Rise of the Governor, but getting to cover its audiobook. Audiobooks have both pros and cons to them. Some of the better advantages are their relatively hands-free nature. I can “read” while driving (I get car sick if I read on the road) and while being forced to do massive house cleaning. The downside is that the narrator can only go so fast, so books that would have taken me 4 hours to read turn into 18 hours of listening. That time may feel like it’s going faster if said narrator’s sensuously low voice wraps around you and cradles you within the horrors of his tale.
Fred Berman brings his exceptional acting skills to the narration of Rise of the Governor. Phillip’s disassociation from the grisly events around him comes through in the deep and even commands that he gives. This is enhanced by the terror and weakness Brian, his brother, shows with every syllable uttered. Though Berman’s variations for each character may be hard to distinguish from each other, you can always tell the speaker from the emotions in their “voices.”
The one downfall of this particular audiobook is that it does not give you notice when the CD ends. In my case, I worry that I broke something when the narration goes silent. It may sound like I am over-exaggerating, but I really do have a flare for electrical failures. While I am positive that this is not a deterrent for most, I was disappointed not to have the notification.
Overall, Berman did justice to the novel from Robert Kirkman’s dark and desolate Walking Dead Universe. I would be very interested in learning how the “voices” of these characters match up for a reader that read the book first.
FTC Advisory: Macmillan Audio graciously provided me with a copy of Rise of the Governor. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payment received came in the form of hugs and kisses from my little boys.
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LibraryThing member clockwork-serenity
If you have read The Walking Dead graphic novels and can’t get enough, then this book is the next step. This book contains the backstory of the legendary character The Governor. The ruthless villain that Rick Grimes and his crew are battling in a long story arc within several of the graphic
I found the first 100 pages slow going, but then the story really picked up and I was sucked in till the riveting end. Is it my favorite zombie book? No, not by far. However, I love the graphic novels and feel this is a worthwhile addition as a lover of the series. If you feel the beginning is lackluster, I say stick with it because it will be worth it in the end.
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novels. In this book we follow Phillip Blake, his young daughter Penny, and his older and much less intimidating brother, Brian Blake. In this bleak post-apocalyptic world, a rag-tag family struggles to survive.I found the first 100 pages slow going, but then the story really picked up and I was sucked in till the riveting end. Is it my favorite zombie book? No, not by far. However, I love the graphic novels and feel this is a worthwhile addition as a lover of the series. If you feel the beginning is lackluster, I say stick with it because it will be worth it in the end.
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LibraryThing member suzemo
I received this ARC free from St. Martin's Press.
I'm not sure what I expected from this book. It's simply written, it covers the creation of the man that becomes "The Governor." There's nothing more special or twisted that happens to him that doesn't happen to *everyone* in the Walking Dead
I will say I don't appreciate the rampant rapey-ness. Once was enough, but the rape-torture-porn was more than I really needed. I feel like they took the chance to write in more stuff than they could probably get away with drawing.
I give this book a resounding meh. I prefer the graphic novels.
I'm not sure what I expected from this book. It's simply written, it covers the creation of the man that becomes "The Governor." There's nothing more special or twisted that happens to him that doesn't happen to *everyone* in the Walking Dead
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universe, so I don't know why it would be that he's so much more of a bad-ass than anyone else.I will say I don't appreciate the rampant rapey-ness. Once was enough, but the rape-torture-porn was more than I really needed. I feel like they took the chance to write in more stuff than they could probably get away with drawing.
I give this book a resounding meh. I prefer the graphic novels.
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LibraryThing member NCDonnas
The Walking Dead Rise of the Governor is a story about survival in a world that has lost all semblance of civilization and one man’s journey as he becomes what some would consider a diabolical madman. The zombie apocalypse is happening and pockets of survivors are doing what they need to do to
I only heard about this series after being offered this audio to review. If you, like me, are unfamiliar with the wildly popular comics, graphic novels, and TV series, this is a perfect introduction. The Walking Dead will deposit you right in the middle of all of the undead chaos and introduce you to the small band of survivors attempting to make a life in this suburban nightmare. It was fascinating the way the book explored the emotional reactions of the group. Most of the reactions were quite understandable, but it really makes you wonder what you would do, say, feel if you found yourself in an unbelievable and terrifying new reality. The Walking Dead, didn’t lack for action either! In this world where the normal rules no longer apply, the zombies are at least the one danger in which you know what to expect, the humans are another story altogether. You would think that the struggle with the zombies would be action enough, but The Walking Dead contains some shocking twists and an ending that will leave you speechless.
The audio was narrated by Fred Berman who does an incredible job of bringing The Walking Dead to life in the most gruesome way possible. Fred Berman perfectly communicated the terror of the group trying to carve out a place in this altered world as well as conveyed each gory detail in a way that brought images to my mind that I may be a long time erasing. This is definitely a perfect audio for someone with a strong stomach and a love for zombie mayhem!
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exist amidst all the carnage. One man in particular, along with his brother, daughter, and a few friends have found themselves in a suburbia gone mad and may find themselves going mad along with it. I only heard about this series after being offered this audio to review. If you, like me, are unfamiliar with the wildly popular comics, graphic novels, and TV series, this is a perfect introduction. The Walking Dead will deposit you right in the middle of all of the undead chaos and introduce you to the small band of survivors attempting to make a life in this suburban nightmare. It was fascinating the way the book explored the emotional reactions of the group. Most of the reactions were quite understandable, but it really makes you wonder what you would do, say, feel if you found yourself in an unbelievable and terrifying new reality. The Walking Dead, didn’t lack for action either! In this world where the normal rules no longer apply, the zombies are at least the one danger in which you know what to expect, the humans are another story altogether. You would think that the struggle with the zombies would be action enough, but The Walking Dead contains some shocking twists and an ending that will leave you speechless.
The audio was narrated by Fred Berman who does an incredible job of bringing The Walking Dead to life in the most gruesome way possible. Fred Berman perfectly communicated the terror of the group trying to carve out a place in this altered world as well as conveyed each gory detail in a way that brought images to my mind that I may be a long time erasing. This is definitely a perfect audio for someone with a strong stomach and a love for zombie mayhem!
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LibraryThing member thehistorychic
Bought for Myself
Overall Rating 3.00
Story Rating 3.00
Character Rating 3.00
Audio Rating 2.00
NOTE: The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor is a hard one to really rank as there were parts that totally rocked but the constant changing of POVs really distracted from the story. I haven't read the comic
Audio Review: I wouldn't recommend listening to this on audio--the narration was a little flat. Fred Berman did a decent job but with all the switching POVs, I think it would have been better suited to multiple narrators.
What I Loved: I am finding that I am really loving watching the Zombie Manifestation through the children's eyes. In this case, it was Penny. Whether the story was from her POV or just the adults watching her--it was very chilling. It is amazing how a kid can change your strategy at any given time. All of the men (her dad and "uncles") really do try to make this as easy for her as possible. Unfortunately, this is not an easy time. Her journey directly effects each of the characters and really does bring a level of emotional endearment to the story.
What I Liked: I am always fascinated in Zombie stories at what the point is of surviving. The emotions that one must go through: fear, anger, perseverance, giving up, and finally acceptance. It is what happens after the acceptance that always just gets me. How do you live in a world where this is now the norm? Rise of the Governor did a fantastic job of going through everyone's acceptance and their reactions.
Complaints: To many POVs for me and it was darn right distracting.
Why I gave it a 3.00: This is mostly due to the POVs. However, I think I would have felt more connected to the story had I read the comic books.
Overall Rating 3.00
Story Rating 3.00
Character Rating 3.00
Audio Rating 2.00
NOTE: The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor is a hard one to really rank as there were parts that totally rocked but the constant changing of POVs really distracted from the story. I haven't read the comic
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books so I had no connection to these characters in advance.Audio Review: I wouldn't recommend listening to this on audio--the narration was a little flat. Fred Berman did a decent job but with all the switching POVs, I think it would have been better suited to multiple narrators.
What I Loved: I am finding that I am really loving watching the Zombie Manifestation through the children's eyes. In this case, it was Penny. Whether the story was from her POV or just the adults watching her--it was very chilling. It is amazing how a kid can change your strategy at any given time. All of the men (her dad and "uncles") really do try to make this as easy for her as possible. Unfortunately, this is not an easy time. Her journey directly effects each of the characters and really does bring a level of emotional endearment to the story.
What I Liked: I am always fascinated in Zombie stories at what the point is of surviving. The emotions that one must go through: fear, anger, perseverance, giving up, and finally acceptance. It is what happens after the acceptance that always just gets me. How do you live in a world where this is now the norm? Rise of the Governor did a fantastic job of going through everyone's acceptance and their reactions.
Complaints: To many POVs for me and it was darn right distracting.
Why I gave it a 3.00: This is mostly due to the POVs. However, I think I would have felt more connected to the story had I read the comic books.
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LibraryThing member jimocracy
This was weird one for me because it was good but some parts were predictable. There was definitely a plot point or two that took me by surprized and I enjoyed the story. But the characters were two-dimensional and unlikable (even the little girl). The ending was more than I expected but not
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surprizing. All in all, I liked the book but don't plan on reading the sequel. Show Less
LibraryThing member schatzi
Ugh. I really wanted to like this book more than I did, but I just couldn't get over the abuse of horrible similes and metaphors (there was at least one clunker on every page, I swear). And the general rape-y tone of the book (at least two, with a possible third that was about to start, as well as
Things I did like about this book:
1) I found out what happened to Penny.
2) I found out more about the Governor (although, to be fair, I don't care much for comics!Governor, because he's so cardboard feeling to me).
3) I did not see the ending coming, and the ending totally changed my perspective. It did not, however, save this book in my eyes.
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vague allusions to "taking advantage of women" multiple times). Things I did like about this book:
1) I found out what happened to Penny.
2) I found out more about the Governor (although, to be fair, I don't care much for comics!Governor, because he's so cardboard feeling to me).
3) I did not see the ending coming, and the ending totally changed my perspective. It did not, however, save this book in my eyes.
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LibraryThing member kayceel
This was incredibly tense and brutal. The story of two brothers' survival, one who has spent his entire life being rescued by his younger, more capable brother, and the younger brother's young daughter, Penny. As they scramble and hide from the living dead, the older brother, Brian, eatches as his
This was very unsettling and brutal, including graphic deaths, rape, murder and torture. Only for those desperate to know what happened to "create" the creepy Governor character from the Walking Dead TV show.
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younger brother, Philip, becomes more and more brutal in the terrifying new world.This was very unsettling and brutal, including graphic deaths, rape, murder and torture. Only for those desperate to know what happened to "create" the creepy Governor character from the Walking Dead TV show.
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LibraryThing member ChristineEllei
I am a big fan of the Walking Dead television series, but I do not enjoy reading graphic novels (never really liked comic books as a kid either), so when the television show took the turn into this perfect little town where everyone seemed so happy despite the “walkers” outside their gates, I
This book was definitely a quick read, which was good because when it finished I couldn’t wait to move on to the sequel. Although the book does explain about Philip Blake, Penny and Woodbury (if like me, anyone else was a little confused about the television series) for fans of the series it leaves a little bit of a void because the familiar names and faces are not there. I suppose that’s where the graphic novel readers have an advantage. I good read none-the-less.
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was a little lost. Where did this town and this “Governor” come from? Well, this is the book to answer that question. This is the story of Philip and Brian Blake, Philip’s daughter Penny and their friends Bobby and Nick. After many trials and tribulations (and blood and guts and zombies, yay!) they end up in Woodbury and despite the seemingly idyllic safety of the town, something was still not quite right.This book was definitely a quick read, which was good because when it finished I couldn’t wait to move on to the sequel. Although the book does explain about Philip Blake, Penny and Woodbury (if like me, anyone else was a little confused about the television series) for fans of the series it leaves a little bit of a void because the familiar names and faces are not there. I suppose that’s where the graphic novel readers have an advantage. I good read none-the-less.
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LibraryThing member mstrust
We meet Philip Blake, his seven year-old daughter Penny, his two high school buddies Nick and Bobby, and Philip's older brother Brian, just days into what appears to be the Apocalypse. The majority of the population have died and come back as cannibals, walking the streets looking for the last of
Philip is a 32 year old widower who will do anything to keep his daughter safe. He's big, smart, tough and quickly becomes the leader of his little group. His older brother Brian is small and fearful, Nick turns to God and Bobby only looks to Philip to tell him how to stay alive. In their search for a safe place in Atlanta, the group meets other survivors, like Tara and her family, a band of junkie bikers, and the barely protected community of Woodbury.
This is an excellent read, not just for fans of The Walking Dead, but I'm sure someone who watched seasons 3 &4 of the show will get more out of the ending, which has a real surprise. And fans won't be able to stop picturing actor David Morrisey as Philip.
As I read, I was thinking this was a solid 4.5, because I didn't want to put it down, but the last 20 pages or so turned it into a 5 stars for me.
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the living to devour.Philip is a 32 year old widower who will do anything to keep his daughter safe. He's big, smart, tough and quickly becomes the leader of his little group. His older brother Brian is small and fearful, Nick turns to God and Bobby only looks to Philip to tell him how to stay alive. In their search for a safe place in Atlanta, the group meets other survivors, like Tara and her family, a band of junkie bikers, and the barely protected community of Woodbury.
This is an excellent read, not just for fans of The Walking Dead, but I'm sure someone who watched seasons 3 &4 of the show will get more out of the ending, which has a real surprise. And fans won't be able to stop picturing actor David Morrisey as Philip.
As I read, I was thinking this was a solid 4.5, because I didn't want to put it down, but the last 20 pages or so turned it into a 5 stars for me.
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LibraryThing member thelibraryladies
I am a casual fan of “The Walking Dead” television show, and I used to be a huge fan of the comics (that is, until I found that moment that just made me say ‘okay, this is far too depressing now, I’m done’). One of the most jarring, upsetting, and well thought out storylines from the
Kirkman achieves giving one of his most notorious villains a back story that both humanizes him and shows just how he could turn into the monster he becomes. And I mean a monster. In this book we follow Philip Blake, his brother Brian, and his daughter Penny right after the zombie infection has taken hold. So we get to see Philip turn from doting father with a sweet daughter into a blood thirsty murderer/rapist who is toting his zombified daughter around on a chain leash. How fun. But even though it’s incredibly depressing and incredibly dark, giving The Governor a back story ultimately does a service to the character. It’s not that we feel sorry for him after all of this has happened. I mean, we do, but that doesn’t excuse his actions. What it does do is show how even a normal guy like him can be so transformed and so mutated that you don’t even recognize him anymore. Philip’s relationships with his companions are all intricate and special in their own ways. Yes, he has a touching relationship with Penny (I will never, ever not be saddened by sweet innocent Penny), but I also liked the complexities and realism of the relationship he has with his older brother Brian. Brian is a very fascinating character as well, and his point of view is the other dominant one in the book. He’s a man who has always been seen as a loser and a black sheep before the world ends, outshined by and dependent on his little brother. And when he finds himself in a new world, he too starts to slowly transform from kind of a weenie, into a protector (as he is the one who cares after Penny the most), and finally into a hardened and cold person who is on a dark, dark path. The transformations of the two brothers are slow and agonizing, and I found myself aching for them both knowing what was coming. After all, The Governor has no brother to speak of in the comics, and you get attached to Brian as the voice of reason and the guy who is just trying to keep everything together. But even then, Kirkman manages to surprise his readers, as this story isn’t without it’s twists to keep us on our toes. I had an inkling that not all was as it seemed, but the fact that I could still just be gutted by the big reveal near the end (no spoilers) really goes to show how Kirkman relentlessly goes for the jugular.
That said, while I did enjoy the background given to The Governor, and while it made me want to smother myself because of the feelings, this book sort of reminded me why I gave up on these comics when I did. I was able to get through some of the darker arcs in the series, The Governor included, but there were many times that I was so disgusted and upset that I had to pace myself through the panels lest I feel sick, until I just said ‘okay, that’s enough’ and just set it down for good. And this book was a grim reminder that Kirkman pushes boundaries and doesn’t hold back. So I have to give this book a lot of trigger warnings, not the least of which being graphic depictions of rape. There are two rape scenes in this book, both of which are brutal and very hard to listen to or read, depending on your medium. Like many people, I have a hard time when it comes to rape in storylines, and I am always very conscientious to try and disseminate to what end it is being used in regards to the story. While I know that these two separate scenes are important turning points in Philip’s arc, that’s just the problem: they are all about him and never about the women that he is victimizing. That isn’t to say that it isn’t absolutely horrible; I never felt that it was exploitative or titillating. But I did feel that Kirkman used rape as a way to show how horrible Phillip is, when there were PLENTY of other reasons to think that he was horrible. I don’t know. I have a hard time. It didn’t feel totally distasteful like some portrayals in recent pop culture. But it certainly didn’t feel necessary either.
Finally I should note the format. I did listen to this on audiobook, not sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised by how it turned out. The narrator, Fred Berman, did an excellent job. His voice was malleable enough that he could change it effortlessly. All of the characters had distinct tones and voices, and he managed to believably play Penny, which I have to give him serious props for. Not all grown men can pull off the voice of an eight year old girl and not sound at least a little ridiculous.
This book isn’t for the faint of heart, but then again, what “Walking Dead” fan is faint of heart? “The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor” is a great addition to the universe, and I think that all fans who enjoyed the Governor storyline should give it a go. Just be warned: it goes about as gruesomely as a Governor story could possibly go.
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comics, and probably the show too, was that of Woodbury and it’s despicable leader Philip Blake, aka The Governor. While he is an antagonist in both mediums, I would say that I probably prefer him on the show as opposed to the comics. In the comics, The Governor is supremely evil, but almost in an over the top kind of way and just there to shock and disgust you, without having any depth or dimension to him. On the show he was more complex and nuanced, so while he was still reprehensible in a lot of ways, he at least remained interesting. And plus, it helped that David Morrissey played him and made him super easy on the eyes. I’ve known about the prequel “Governor” trilogy for awhile, but I just decided to give it a go recently because it’s been awhile since I’ve read the comics, and I sort of wanted to see if Robert Kirkman was going to make him a bit more rounded by showing how he became the monster that he is. The first in this series is “Rise of the Governor”. Going into it I knew to expect something dark and nasty. I guess I just wasn’t prepared by how dark and nasty it was.Kirkman achieves giving one of his most notorious villains a back story that both humanizes him and shows just how he could turn into the monster he becomes. And I mean a monster. In this book we follow Philip Blake, his brother Brian, and his daughter Penny right after the zombie infection has taken hold. So we get to see Philip turn from doting father with a sweet daughter into a blood thirsty murderer/rapist who is toting his zombified daughter around on a chain leash. How fun. But even though it’s incredibly depressing and incredibly dark, giving The Governor a back story ultimately does a service to the character. It’s not that we feel sorry for him after all of this has happened. I mean, we do, but that doesn’t excuse his actions. What it does do is show how even a normal guy like him can be so transformed and so mutated that you don’t even recognize him anymore. Philip’s relationships with his companions are all intricate and special in their own ways. Yes, he has a touching relationship with Penny (I will never, ever not be saddened by sweet innocent Penny), but I also liked the complexities and realism of the relationship he has with his older brother Brian. Brian is a very fascinating character as well, and his point of view is the other dominant one in the book. He’s a man who has always been seen as a loser and a black sheep before the world ends, outshined by and dependent on his little brother. And when he finds himself in a new world, he too starts to slowly transform from kind of a weenie, into a protector (as he is the one who cares after Penny the most), and finally into a hardened and cold person who is on a dark, dark path. The transformations of the two brothers are slow and agonizing, and I found myself aching for them both knowing what was coming. After all, The Governor has no brother to speak of in the comics, and you get attached to Brian as the voice of reason and the guy who is just trying to keep everything together. But even then, Kirkman manages to surprise his readers, as this story isn’t without it’s twists to keep us on our toes. I had an inkling that not all was as it seemed, but the fact that I could still just be gutted by the big reveal near the end (no spoilers) really goes to show how Kirkman relentlessly goes for the jugular.
That said, while I did enjoy the background given to The Governor, and while it made me want to smother myself because of the feelings, this book sort of reminded me why I gave up on these comics when I did. I was able to get through some of the darker arcs in the series, The Governor included, but there were many times that I was so disgusted and upset that I had to pace myself through the panels lest I feel sick, until I just said ‘okay, that’s enough’ and just set it down for good. And this book was a grim reminder that Kirkman pushes boundaries and doesn’t hold back. So I have to give this book a lot of trigger warnings, not the least of which being graphic depictions of rape. There are two rape scenes in this book, both of which are brutal and very hard to listen to or read, depending on your medium. Like many people, I have a hard time when it comes to rape in storylines, and I am always very conscientious to try and disseminate to what end it is being used in regards to the story. While I know that these two separate scenes are important turning points in Philip’s arc, that’s just the problem: they are all about him and never about the women that he is victimizing. That isn’t to say that it isn’t absolutely horrible; I never felt that it was exploitative or titillating. But I did feel that Kirkman used rape as a way to show how horrible Phillip is, when there were PLENTY of other reasons to think that he was horrible. I don’t know. I have a hard time. It didn’t feel totally distasteful like some portrayals in recent pop culture. But it certainly didn’t feel necessary either.
Finally I should note the format. I did listen to this on audiobook, not sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised by how it turned out. The narrator, Fred Berman, did an excellent job. His voice was malleable enough that he could change it effortlessly. All of the characters had distinct tones and voices, and he managed to believably play Penny, which I have to give him serious props for. Not all grown men can pull off the voice of an eight year old girl and not sound at least a little ridiculous.
This book isn’t for the faint of heart, but then again, what “Walking Dead” fan is faint of heart? “The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor” is a great addition to the universe, and I think that all fans who enjoyed the Governor storyline should give it a go. Just be warned: it goes about as gruesomely as a Governor story could possibly go.
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LibraryThing member SharonMariaBidwell
Unsure what I expected from this. Being a fan of the graphic novels and the television series, I stumbled across this the first in a series of novels second-hand. Much of this first book contains what the producers used in a flashback episode in the series though with some differences. In this
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‘the Governor’ Philip has a brother who comes across as the anthesis of Philip’s strength. As those travelling together fight to survive and Philip descends into madness, there are some unexpected twists that, though not part of the graphic novels or the series, throw a different light into the mix. I can’t say more without giving too much away. Show Less
LibraryThing member StarKnits
So I love the TV series and picked up this book. I think anyone going through this type of thing would end up a little crazy if not totally crazy. It's very dark but I liked the background on the governor.
LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
I will start off by saying that I am a big fan of both the Walking Dead graphic novels and the television show, both of which featured the character of “The Governor” so I was very interested in reading this novel which supplies his backstory. The story opens and we find ourselves following a
Philip doesn’t start the book as the sadistic, hot-headed, power-hungry character that we know from the comics and the TV show, but the seeds are definitely there. He is the leader of his group and doesn’t take well to any criticism or questioning of his motives. As they experience the many horrors that the world now offers, including the fact that often other humans are more dangerous than the zombies, the whole group undergoes personality changes. While one becomes even more timid, another turns more to his religion, and Philip becomes quite unhinged. As the twists and turns in the story deliver a series of blows to the group, Philip emerges as the dark villain that becomes known as the Governor.
The Rise of the Governor is the first book in a series that follows this character. Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga have delivered a dark horror story with many moments of terrifying tension that take place in this nightmare world. I listened to this as an audible book as read by Fred Berman who did an excellent job with both giving each character an individual voice and in narrating the bone chilling action. If you like to read zombie stories than this is a good one.
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group of characters, Philip Blake, his young daughter Penny, his brother Brian and his two friends Bobby and Nick as they struggle to survive in this new world that is ravaged by zombies.Philip doesn’t start the book as the sadistic, hot-headed, power-hungry character that we know from the comics and the TV show, but the seeds are definitely there. He is the leader of his group and doesn’t take well to any criticism or questioning of his motives. As they experience the many horrors that the world now offers, including the fact that often other humans are more dangerous than the zombies, the whole group undergoes personality changes. While one becomes even more timid, another turns more to his religion, and Philip becomes quite unhinged. As the twists and turns in the story deliver a series of blows to the group, Philip emerges as the dark villain that becomes known as the Governor.
The Rise of the Governor is the first book in a series that follows this character. Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga have delivered a dark horror story with many moments of terrifying tension that take place in this nightmare world. I listened to this as an audible book as read by Fred Berman who did an excellent job with both giving each character an individual voice and in narrating the bone chilling action. If you like to read zombie stories than this is a good one.
Show Less
LibraryThing member TheYodamom
Audiobook- Fabulous narrator*
Omg!!! Shocking twists and truths revealed. if you think you know The Governor you don't till you read this book. He is not who has portrayed himself to be. I think I might have sprained my jaw it dropped so far when I got the truth about who he is. Holy Crisps, I could
This first book stats with Phil, his brother Brian, his living daughter and two high school friends. The plague has just driven them from their hometown to search for the safe zone. They are unprepared for the horrors they face and the deaths that will happen. Phil was never a very nice guy, he seems to have alway had a dark shadow looming around him. Brian his brother is the older, kinder brother always at a disadvantage under his brothers power. Phil does some horrific things, and has worse thoughts. His friends muddle along with him on this ride of survival, not really standing out just following till...
If you are a fan of this show you do not want to miss this book. Toe tingling excitement and edge of your seat terror.
I am off to read book 2 in this trilogy. :D
Omg!!! Shocking twists and truths revealed. if you think you know The Governor you don't till you read this book. He is not who has portrayed himself to be. I think I might have sprained my jaw it dropped so far when I got the truth about who he is. Holy Crisps, I could
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barely catch my breath.This first book stats with Phil, his brother Brian, his living daughter and two high school friends. The plague has just driven them from their hometown to search for the safe zone. They are unprepared for the horrors they face and the deaths that will happen. Phil was never a very nice guy, he seems to have alway had a dark shadow looming around him. Brian his brother is the older, kinder brother always at a disadvantage under his brothers power. Phil does some horrific things, and has worse thoughts. His friends muddle along with him on this ride of survival, not really standing out just following till...
If you are a fan of this show you do not want to miss this book. Toe tingling excitement and edge of your seat terror.
I am off to read book 2 in this trilogy. :D
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LibraryThing member ToniFGMAMTC
I've read most of the comics and watched all of the show. I wasn't really interested in reading the Governor's story, but I'm surprised by this. I liked it more than I assumed I would. Also his story isn't what I was expecting. You never know how someone will change or what personality is going to
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come to the front during an apocalypse. I definitely recommend it to any TWD fan. Show Less
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