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2013 Book Review #16: Feed
Title: Feed
Author: Mira Grant
Genre: Post-zombie apocalypse political thriller
Thingummies: 5
Synopsis: The zombie apocalypse happened twenty some years ago. More importantly, a blogging team is covering the presidential race!
Thoughts: Well, here's a new one--this book isn't about the day the dead rose. That's old news. Fine, there are zombies, sure, but life went on. This is about how politics and the media relate to each other when the living dead are the background noise. Sure, this changes some of the issues--the death penalty is a very different matter when the executed immediately tries to chow down on the guards--but it's surprising how much of the game stays the same.
Georgia and her brother Shaun are bloggers who manage to land a plum assignment of covering a presidential hopeful. Things get complicated fast. It's shockingly well done--funny, scary, and heartbreaking at the same time. George is an engaging character, sarcastic and earnest at the same time. The secondary characters--their screwed up parents, the surprisingly likeable candidate, the slightly blase bodyguards, the slimy running mate--make for some compelling interactions.
Also nice is how well thought-out the world-building is. The reason for the plague makes at least some sense, and the full repercussions of the method of transmission is explored in detail. The effects on society, psychology, and politics are also mapped out in ways that both seem logical and build for a coherent and interesting narrative.
Grant writes a great action scene, starting with creepily effective mood setting and ramping up to high drama. While some twists are perhaps a little predictable, how you get there never is. This is a page-turner with serious thought behind it.
Author: Mira Grant
Genre: Post-zombie apocalypse political thriller
Thingummies: 5
Synopsis: The zombie apocalypse happened twenty some years ago. More importantly, a blogging team is covering the presidential race!
Thoughts: Well, here's a new one--this book isn't about the day the dead rose. That's old news. Fine, there are zombies, sure, but life went on. This is about how politics and the media relate to each other when the living dead are the background noise. Sure, this changes some of the issues--the death penalty is a very different matter when the executed immediately tries to chow down on the guards--but it's surprising how much of the game stays the same.
Georgia and her brother Shaun are bloggers who manage to land a plum assignment of covering a presidential hopeful. Things get complicated fast. It's shockingly well done--funny, scary, and heartbreaking at the same time. George is an engaging character, sarcastic and earnest at the same time. The secondary characters--their screwed up parents, the surprisingly likeable candidate, the slightly blase bodyguards, the slimy running mate--make for some compelling interactions.
Also nice is how well thought-out the world-building is. The reason for the plague makes at least some sense, and the full repercussions of the method of transmission is explored in detail. The effects on society, psychology, and politics are also mapped out in ways that both seem logical and build for a coherent and interesting narrative.
Grant writes a great action scene, starting with creepily effective mood setting and ramping up to high drama. While some twists are perhaps a little predictable, how you get there never is. This is a page-turner with serious thought behind it.