Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Severed Press (2012), 202 pages
Description
It began with stories of undead Taliban rampaging through Afghan villages, and faster than anyone could have anticipated, the darkness spreads through the world. In a world laid waste by this new terror, four unlikely companions have been thrown together: a seventeen year old boy dealing with the loss of his family; a US Navy SEAL trying to get back home; an aging, lonely writer with no one to live for; and a young girl trying to keep her three year old brother safe. When they discover that the smallest amongst them holds the key to removing the scourge that threatens to destroy their world, they begin an epic journey to a rumored safe zone high in the Himalayas. A journey that will pit them against their own worst fears and the most terrible dangers--both human and undead. A journey through a wasteland now known as Zombiestan.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Tanya-dogearedcopy
Zombiestan is a bildungsroman that takes place in the zombiefied country of India in a post-911 world. Mayukh was a seventeen-year old gamer without much responsibility and few concerns when, far away in Afghanistan, bio-hazmat materials that were being delivered to the Taliban were ignited by
Mayukh is not alone as he makes his journey: There is a U.S. Navy SEAL, an older woman with a dual identity as a professor and a romance novelist, a teen-aged girl and, the girl's little brother who may hold the secret to an antidote. All the characters in Zombiestan have an arc of development as each rises to the occasion of the crises they find themselves in. While the temptation always lurks to take the easy way out, this cast of characters, individually and together, clings to their inner sense of what is right. One of the great things about Zombiestan is that, unlike may zombie-apocalyptic novels, this one keeps hope alive in the story: There are survivors; There are people who help; There is the idea of a future. The story faces forward even while conditions worsen.
Zombiestan is a fun novel, full of action and a unique take on zombies. The writing is a bit rough, with a number of repetitive descriptions and cliches; but the plot never stalls and scenes are strongly depicted. Mainuk Dhar may have taken the concept of zombies a bit far afield in depicting them with rapidly evolving sentience, organizational and strategic skills and an ability to learn and adapt; on the other hand, Dhar's terrorist zombies make an obvious political statement if you want to go there.
John Lee, the British-American narrator who won an Audie for his reading of White Tiger (by Aravind Adiga), brings his Indian accent back for Zombiestan. John Lee has a highly enunciated style of delivery and brings well-delineated characters into play. His Americans pretty much all sound like cowboys; but since the Americans in Zombiestan are all U.S. military personnel, it works :-)
Redacted from the original blog review at dog eared copy, Zombiestan; 05/29/2012
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drone-delivered bombs. The chemical reaction created an infectious compound that found its first victims and carriers with the Taliban members who followed up at the site to see if there was anything to recover. Moving on from the site, these would-be terrorists ended up spreading the contagion as they boarded planes. The rate of the infection spread exponentially and manifested itself in necrotizing humans, rendering them virtually invincible and, transmitting Taliban sympathies into the memories of the newly dead. As the contagion swept into India and black-turbaned Taliban zombies posed an increasing threat to societal structures and personal safety, Mayukh was goaded into action. In a trek towards safety, Mayukh gets a hyper-accelerated lesson in growing up. Mayukh is not alone as he makes his journey: There is a U.S. Navy SEAL, an older woman with a dual identity as a professor and a romance novelist, a teen-aged girl and, the girl's little brother who may hold the secret to an antidote. All the characters in Zombiestan have an arc of development as each rises to the occasion of the crises they find themselves in. While the temptation always lurks to take the easy way out, this cast of characters, individually and together, clings to their inner sense of what is right. One of the great things about Zombiestan is that, unlike may zombie-apocalyptic novels, this one keeps hope alive in the story: There are survivors; There are people who help; There is the idea of a future. The story faces forward even while conditions worsen.
Zombiestan is a fun novel, full of action and a unique take on zombies. The writing is a bit rough, with a number of repetitive descriptions and cliches; but the plot never stalls and scenes are strongly depicted. Mainuk Dhar may have taken the concept of zombies a bit far afield in depicting them with rapidly evolving sentience, organizational and strategic skills and an ability to learn and adapt; on the other hand, Dhar's terrorist zombies make an obvious political statement if you want to go there.
John Lee, the British-American narrator who won an Audie for his reading of White Tiger (by Aravind Adiga), brings his Indian accent back for Zombiestan. John Lee has a highly enunciated style of delivery and brings well-delineated characters into play. His Americans pretty much all sound like cowboys; but since the Americans in Zombiestan are all U.S. military personnel, it works :-)
Redacted from the original blog review at dog eared copy, Zombiestan; 05/29/2012
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LibraryThing member Veeralpadhiar
Hey what's this?! Is this really a work by an Indian author? Then why is he not writing contemporary fiction or more cliched historical fiction like most of the Indian authors? Hell, why is he not writing fantasy which is a kind of rage nowadays here?
I still can't believe that this is an author of
I still can't believe that this is an author of
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Indian origin who actually ventures in the post-apocalyptic fiction sub-genre. To be more precise, Zombie Fiction! (sub-sub-genre?). Wow! I am impressed, sir! Three stars in advance for making this happen in the first place. Additional stars when and after I read this (I am definitely going to as soon as possible). Show Less
LibraryThing member MashaK99
I'm not into horror in general or zombies in particular, but the idea of Taliban zombies just sounded too intriguing to pass up. I'm glad I took a chance on this one. The characters are realistic (and, unlike most horror stereotypes, actually SMART). The action is non-stop, and the fight scenes are
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clearly written and exciting. I liked it being set in India instead of yet another American suburb. I liked that the American soldier is portrayed as heroic; that growing up and taking responsibility is is a major theme; that the male lead does not immediately "hook up" with the female. And yes, I did like the innovative origin of the zombies that made them extra scary. I expected more humor, but this is essentially a straightforward horror story, done with little irony and a lot of heart. The one character I didn't much care for is the child. He was not written consistently, to the point where I was completely confused about his age (he needs a diaper but speaks in complete sentences, obsesses over a toy car yet is entirely cool and collected when the plot requires it). Some people might have a problem with the ending, but I thought it was perfect (then again, I am not generally a horror fan, so take it for what it's worth). The editing could have been better, but did not take away from the enjoyment. Recommended to lovers of zombie genre, military thrillers and coming-of-age stories. The author may actually consider marketing it as YA (13 ) since it is actually very clean and not as "gross" as one might assume from the zombie premise. Show Less
LibraryThing member HenriMoreaux
Zombiestan is a different take on the whole zombie genre, in this book the plague begins not from some mysterious virus or otherworldly undescribed circumstance but rather an attempt by the Taliban in Afghanistan to create a biological terror weapon. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) for them
As with most virus based novels the infection quickly spreads around the world thanks to a delayed onset and air travel. The primary focus of the story is a small group in India who are attempting to reach a safe haven.
It wasn't too bad a story, there were a couple of editing errors and I found it a little bizarre that the author called the ammunition magazine in a rifle a 'magazine' but the ammunition magazine in a handgun a 'clip'... both are magazines.
Regardless, it was quite an entertaining romp through the streets and mountains of India with several curious interactions with other survivors making for an interesting reading experience.
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this attempt is interrupted by an attack by the US military that kills all those involved in the strategy meeting about such where the weapons were on site being delivered. Unfortunately for everyone else, the weapon is released by a missile attack by the US military and subsequently contracted by the Taliban who go in to collect their leaders remains.As with most virus based novels the infection quickly spreads around the world thanks to a delayed onset and air travel. The primary focus of the story is a small group in India who are attempting to reach a safe haven.
It wasn't too bad a story, there were a couple of editing errors and I found it a little bizarre that the author called the ammunition magazine in a rifle a 'magazine' but the ammunition magazine in a handgun a 'clip'... both are magazines.
Regardless, it was quite an entertaining romp through the streets and mountains of India with several curious interactions with other survivors making for an interesting reading experience.
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LibraryThing member ShriVenne
This book is about 5 people Mayukh a son of a government official who losses his family in the tyrrant zombies, a seal soldier David, Hina a history teacher, swati and abhi sister and brother duo. This new type of terror attack off making people alive after they are dead making them zombies make
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these 5 people come together as it's the survival of the fittest situation. Abhi the small kid being bit by the zombies does not make him turn into zombies. This makes the zombies target abhi for their survival. The zombies in this book are not only alive from dead but also they are learning new things every night. They can talk, they can use their mind which is a new concept in this book. Author has brilliantly designed the story and he has a strong hold of the story till the end. It makes the reader to not stop. The concept of this story is unique like his other book 3:02. It's about the adventure this 5 make to reach a airforce base in ladhak.I would suggest all readers to read this book. Overall i would say it's a very good Goodread.. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
202 p.
ISBN
098724003X / 9780987240033