The story of the undead in Zombie Fallout starts like many other pandemic narratives out there: a man-made virus. And to make things even more unsurprising, the virus first came into existence in CDC, as part of the experiment to find a cure for H1N1. The virologists at CDC were initially thrilled to have finally found an effective cure for the swine flu, only to discover that it was a real turning point for the world as we knew it, in the worst possible way imaginable.
People simply didn’t know that the CDC had been under a lot of pressure from the highest office in the country to expedite the experimentation and deliver meaningful results. The research basically turned into a rush job, which led to two glaring mistakes: the scientists used a live virus to conduct the experiments, and they didn’t have time to test for side effects before approval. Within just days after the research was completed, hundreds of thousands of ready-to-use vaccines were sent across the world.
Unaware of the reckless job by the CDC, everybody was waiting in line to get a shot. As expected, it didn’t take long until the CDC heard and saw disturbing things about the vaccine. In just a matter of hours, about 95% of people who received their shot died from the live virus used in the vaccination. As if that wasn’t terrible enough, the dead bodies soon reanimated and wandered around the streets looking for fresh meals: the irresistible taste of human flesh. And this brought us to the beginning of Michael Talbot’s story in the first volume of the Zombie Fallout series.
Whether it’s a coincidence, Talbot is a self-proclaimed survivalist, or a prepper, if you prefer the catchier term. In a story where the cannibal undead are actively searching for the next victims, being with a survivalist can indeed bring a sense of relief and safety, no matter how small it might be.
Mark Tufo, the author, does a pretty good job of adding some new elements to the classic zombie truism. For example, the zombies can move quickly (while this isn’t a new thing now, remember that Zombie Fallout first came out 14 years ago) and there’s also zombie/vampire hybrid species – both add to the sense of urgency and level of peril in the tale. You even get children zombies, which are not less dangerous than the adult ones.
But the old way keeps a firm presence here: it’s apparent that Tufo still likes his zombies in their normally perceived unnatural state. They are essentially walking corpses that cannot help but hunt aggressively for the living. Despite their rotting faces and bodies, sometimes Talbot can still recognize them at first glance. They were once humans, after all – they used to be normal people who had families, jobs, hobbies, favorite movies, and any sort of individual peculiarities. And then suddenly, they’re now running beasts whose only intention is to devour him. The zombies’ past lives as humans allow the story to be an effective (or reflective) examination of the society at large, making Zombie Fallout feel like Talbot’s personal journey to get a better understanding of human conditions.
At its core, Zombie Fallout remains a survival story. The novel chronicles the plight of a few human survivors as they try to outrun and outmaneuver the zombie hordes at every corner. At first, Talbot refuses to see that the zombies are likely targeting him specifically, but he will gradually take on the new reality as the story progresses. While other survivors don’t always fare better than he does, the realization makes Talbot’s situation even more precarious than ever, although it also gives them somewhat of an advantage.
Zombie Fallout isn’t exactly a complex novel. The plot line is not actually that hard to follow, despite the sheer amount of characters Talbot encounters during his exploits. Many of those characters come and go quickly, never to be seen again in the book. What the novel lacks in complexity or sophistication, it more than makes up for in dark sarcasms as an attempt to make light of bleak situations.
We think there’s a good mix-and-match of monsters put into the storyline. For a book that clearly says “Zombie Fallout” on the cover, you get a lot more than you expect. For sure, the conventional zombie apocalypse elements are still present, but there are enough twists and turns to lead the narrative to the presence of vampires, werewolves, zombie/vampire hybrids, and undead children to name a few. Navigating the treacherous landscape with a fair share of dark jokes here and there, the main character effortlessly lets you know that he’s not afraid of many types of zombies, and that’s a straightforward good thing to have in a hero. The book isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s enjoyable if you don’t take it too seriously.
Do you think Talbot’s plan as a prepper will work as intended? Is it just a coincidence that Mike Talbot, who is a prepper, survives the initial outbreak? We’d love to hear from you.
Other Things You Might Want to Know
Zombie Fallout book series in order (ongoing):
Zombie Fallout: Zero (2010)
Zombie Fallout (2010)
A Plague Upon Your Family (2010)
The End.. (2011)
Dr. Hugh Mann (2011)
The End Has Come and Gone (2011)
Alive In A Dead World (2012)
‘Till Death Do Us Part (2012)
For the Fallen (2013)
An Old Beginning (2014)
Tattered Remnants (2015)
Those Left Behind (2017)
Etna Station (2018)
Dog Dayz (2019)
The Perfect Betrayal (2019)
The Trembling Path (2020)
Sifting Through The Ashes (2020)
Hiraeth (2021)
The Lost Journals (2022)
Altered Destinies (2022)
Unearthed (2022)
Shores Of Despair (2023)
Burden of Time (2023)
Bridging the Gap (2024)
The Broken Road (2024)
Zombie Fallout 25 (2024, upcoming)
Other book series by Mark Tufo:
Indian Hill (7 book series)
Lycan Fallout (7 book series)
Dystance (3 book series)
The Book Of Riley A Zombie Tale (5 book series)
Devils Desk (2 book series)
Timothy (3 book series)
Some other humorous zombie books to read:
Zombie Haiku: Good Poetry For Your … Brains By Ryan Mecum
The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead By Max Brooks
Zombocalypse Now By Matt Youngmark
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies By Jane Austen, Seth Grahame-Smith
