Flu by Wayne Simmons (on these 'ere boards) is a zombie post apocalypse tale.No nonsense with the book plunging the characters into the after- effects on society of the dread "flu" a disease like bird flu, mad cow and other foodey scares but this one not only kills the victims but then ressurrects them.
It's all set in Northern Ireland which adds some nice polictical tension to the whole proceedings usually missing from zombie books.
The chapters are nice and shortish (which I like) and the characters
all too human in their failings (which are many).
A decent read and the characters not only change but so do the zombies and there is a creepy atmosphere throughout with the zombs juxtapositioned with the heroes trying to get out.
Mmm the ending was particularly good and frankly looked like a set up for a "Flu 2". Which would be no bad thing.
You'll never look at anyone sneezing in quite the same way... :o
I havent read this yet and i hardly read any fiction whatsoever apart from comics but i am seriously tempted by this mostly because of the subject matter.
Wow, thanks for the review, Zarjazzer! You must have ploughed through FLU fairly quickly, which is a good sign! :)
You're right, of course; I'm hoping to write at least one more book in the FLU series, maybe more - depends on whether the publisher feels this one did well enough!
If you got a chance to post the review on the Amazon.co.uk page, I'd be really grateful:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flu-Wayne-Simmons/dp/1906727198/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1271610452&sr=8-1
Quote from: Peter Wolf on 18 April, 2010, 05:20:37 PM
I havent read this yet and i hardly read any fiction whatsoever apart from comics but i am seriously tempted by this mostly because of the subject matter.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on it, Peter, and hope you get around to reading it some day.
Thanks again, Zarjazzer! :)
Just finished this this morning and have to say I really enjoyed it. I've put some thoughts about the book over at the 'Whats everyone reading ?' thread
http://www.2000adonline.com/forum/index.php/topic,24633.msg533888.html#new (http://www.2000adonline.com/forum/index.php/topic,24633.msg533888.html#new)
so I'll not repeat myself here. Excepting to so I can heartly recommend this book to fans of zombie's horror and most importantly great characters.
Thanks Wayne.
Colin, it's really encouraging when someone not only enjoys my book, but also gets what I hoped readers would get from it: I'm particularly delighted that you enjoyed the characters, and the realism I try to inject into them. That's what's most important to me in my writing.
Thanks for your review and for posting it onto Amazon - that really helps draw more readers in.
You're a gentleman, sir. Thanks again. :)
gonna give this a go soon...also nice little interview with hoo haa in this months sci fi now.
Quote from: mogzilla on 04 August, 2010, 09:04:18 PM
gonna give this a go soon...also nice little interview with hoo haa in this months sci fi now.
Thanks, mate! :)
And... er... Page 78 for those who pick up a copy.
I had a read of that page in Smiths today, well done!
Quote from: COMMANDO FORCES on 13 August, 2010, 07:40:50 PM
I had a read of that page in Smiths today, well done!
Thanks, mate. They were very generous with the space they gave me.
By the way, after a brief hiatus (between selling-out the first edition and printing up the second edition), flu is now back in stock at good ol' Amazon UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flu-Wayne-Simmons/dp/1906727198/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281729772&sr=1-1
Best grab it now before it goes out of stock again!
(Don't say I didn't warn ye!)
bought it today! only started but very good so far! and theres no zombies yet!!!
"...like marbles in a tin" dunno why, but loved that bit!!!
looking forward to the ride mr simmons.
Any chance of me grabbing this over on this side of the pond? (Toronto!) If not, i'll look for it next time in the U.K.
Quote from: mogzilla on 15 August, 2010, 06:49:17 PM
bought it today! only started but very good so far! and theres no zombies yet!!!
"...like marbles in a tin" dunno why, but loved that bit!!!
looking forward to the ride mr simmons.
Thanks for picking it up, man! Where did you get it? Oh, and fear not - there'll be zombies along anytime soon...
Quote from: Gibson Quarter on 15 August, 2010, 07:18:12 PM
Any chance of me grabbing this over on this side of the pond? (Toronto!) If not, i'll look for it next time in the U.K.
Absolutely - and with free shipping to boot! :D
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9781906727192/Flu
Hope you get a chance to grab it, mate.
Quote from: HOO-HAA on 15 August, 2010, 08:41:27 PM
Quote from: mogzilla on 15 August, 2010, 06:49:17 PM
bought it today! only started but very good so far! and theres no zombies yet!!!
"...like marbles in a tin" dunno why, but loved that bit!!!
looking forward to the ride mr simmons.
Thanks for picking it up, man! Where did you get it? Oh, and fear not - there'll be zombies along anytime soon...
Quote from: Gibson Quarter on 15 August, 2010, 07:18:12 PM
Any chance of me grabbing this over on this side of the pond? (Toronto!) If not, i'll look for it next time in the U.K.
Absolutely - and with free shipping to boot! :D
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9781906727192/Flu
Hope you get a chance to grab it, mate.
waterstones in southport ! got to the zombies now and "balaclava" excellent stuff, "dog blood" will just have to wait for a read i'm afraid.
FINISHED IT TODAY!!! al i can say is wow and whens the follow up [spoiler]will lark and geri and the kid make it off the roof?[/spoiler] posted a review on amazon we have to get more reading this...honestly without sounding like a total suck up the most enjoyable cant piut down book ive read in ages well donwe sir!
Quote from: mogzilla on 17 August, 2010, 08:04:19 PM
FINISHED IT TODAY!!! al i can say is wow and whens the follow up [spoiler]will lark and geri and the kid make it off the roof?[/spoiler] posted a review on amazon we have to get more reading this...honestly without sounding like a total suck up the most enjoyable cant piut down book ive read in ages well donwe sir!
Mogzilla.... thanks so much for posting your thoughts! I'm delighted that you enjoyed the book so much, man. Really makes my day. As a new writer on the scene, all I can hope for is a guy like you telling others about how much you enjoyed my book - so thanks! And please spread the word! :)
To answer your question - I'm working on the sequel, FEVER, as we speak, for a 2011 release. It will address your question, being both a prequel and a sequel.
Thanks again, man, for your feedback. Hopefully see you at a con or something where I'll take great pleasure in signing your book.
I salute you! :)
Hey Paul, thanks for your wonderful review of flu on Amazon UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/1906727198/ref=cm_cr_dp_hist_5?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&filterBy=addFiveStar
'...serious drama on the lines of "the walking dead"...'
High praise indeed, sir! I'm not worthy! :)
Quote from: HOO-HAA on 20 August, 2010, 07:14:21 AM
Hey Paul, thanks for your wonderful review of flu on Amazon UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/1906727198/ref=cm_cr_dp_hist_5?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&filterBy=addFiveStar
'...serious drama on the lines of "the walking dead"...'
High praise indeed, sir! I'm not worthy! :)
no probs...well,its true... :-[ also note my first book review on there usually writing about the varied plastic crap that litters(ed) my house....
any way, casting for the movie
lark...luke tittensor or his brother whichever is out of trouble first
pat...bob geldof (thats how my minds eye saw him for some bizzare reason
norman...gotta be ray winstone
balaclava....dunno yet
geri...karen gillan
thats as far as i got.
Hey Wayne, don't know if you knew about this but the CDC seems to be using the art for your book:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/05/19/cdc_zombie_apocalypse/
Incidentally, do you have Kindle friendly versions of your stuff available?
Quote from: chilipenguin on 20 May, 2011, 09:51:07 PM
Hey Wayne, don't know if you knew about this but the CDC seems to be using the art for your book:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/05/19/cdc_zombie_apocalypse/
Incidentally, do you have Kindle friendly versions of your stuff available?
Typica gubment! ::)
Nah, it's a stock image, mate. Pretty much the norm amongst publishers so you'll see the image pop up loads in various forms. I see it as cross-promotion :)
Oh and the Kindle? My publisher, Snowbooks, are working on that as we speak. Shouldn't be too long now, mate :)
Ah, that would make sense. Thought I'd found my Watergate.
Look forward to reading the books on my new Kindle.
Quote from: chilipenguin on 20 May, 2011, 11:47:35 PM
Look forward to reading the books on my new Kindle.
Thanks - I'll keep you updated on this thread :)