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The Infects
A feast for the brain, this gory and genuinely hilarious take on zombie culture simultaneously skewers, pays tribute to, and elevates the horror genre.
Seventeen-year-old Nero is stuck in the wilderness with a bunch of other juvenile delinquents on an “Inward Trek.” As if that weren’t bad enough, his counselors have turned into flesh-eating maniacs overnight and are now chowing down on his fellow miscreants. As in any classic monster flick worth its salted popcorn, plentiful carnage sends survivors rabbiting into the woods while the mindless horde of “infects” shambles, moans, and drools behind. Of course, these kids have seen zombie movies. They generate “Zombie Rules” almost as quickly as cheeky remarks, but attitude alone can’t keep the biters back.
Serving up a cast of irreverent, slightly twisted characters, an unexpected villain, and an ending you won’t see coming, here is a savvy tale that that’s a delight to read—whether you’re a rabid zombie fan or freshly bitten—and an incisive commentary on the evil that lurks within each of us.
Seventeen-year-old Nero is stuck in the wilderness with a bunch of other juvenile delinquents on an “Inward Trek.” As if that weren’t bad enough, his counselors have turned into flesh-eating maniacs overnight and are now chowing down on his fellow miscreants. As in any classic monster flick worth its salted popcorn, plentiful carnage sends survivors rabbiting into the woods while the mindless horde of “infects” shambles, moans, and drools behind. Of course, these kids have seen zombie movies. They generate “Zombie Rules” almost as quickly as cheeky remarks, but attitude alone can’t keep the biters back.
Serving up a cast of irreverent, slightly twisted characters, an unexpected villain, and an ending you won’t see coming, here is a savvy tale that that’s a delight to read—whether you’re a rabid zombie fan or freshly bitten—and an incisive commentary on the evil that lurks within each of us.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2012
About the author
Sean Beaudoin
18 books138 followersSean Beaudoin is the author of five Young Adult novels, including the rude zombie love story The Infects, and the black comedy rock and roll love story Wise Young Fool. Sean likes love stories almost as much as he loves to talk about himself in the third person. Welcome Thieves is a short story collection that will be out March '16 with Algonquin Press.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews
September 17, 2012
So, check it.
This book is far from perfect. There are ambiguities in the story itself that the author chose to leave unexplored for whatever reason he deemed necessary. Even so, I gave this book five stars and I am going to attempt my very best to tell you why. The ratings for this book here puzzles me; but for once, I see a role reversal of some sort. Usually, I'd be scratching my head because of a book's history of high rating in which I disagree. This time, however, I'm on the flip side of the coin.
The Gist: Troubled teens serving 3-6 months in a reform camp. Genetically enhanced, chemically induced chicken. Zombie apocalypse. Think - Lord of the Flies with zombies killing kids and no (human) kids killing kids. Think - Zombieland but funnier. Think - This is Not a Test without the angst of a suicidal teenager. Makes sense?
The Review: Well, shit. I think I’ve touched my last KFC original recipe fried chicken. Scrap that. I think I've touched my last piece of chicken EVER. Sean combined humor and gore in a way that you'd realize you're not supposed to be laughing at the sad circumstances in which people - both young and old - were dying in the most bloodied, spectacular way. But hey, I've never been one for normal reactions anyway.
There is a subtle brilliance in Nick's wry, more often, sarcastic voice. It was full of mockery and potshots against the society as a whole. If I were an intelligent reviewer or a much deeper reader, I’m sure I can connect the bee hive mentality of the zombies to those of the teens roaming the caf, quad and hallways of their education establishment. But because I’m not, I think I’m gonna go with what I know here and just give you some highlights (in bullet form, no less) why this book DID NOT SUCK.
* Nick/Nero. Socially awkward, quiet but bad-ass. An unassuming hero who only ever wanted what other sixteen year-old boy would: to finally man-up and speak to a girl he’s been jonesing with for a while. To not have to work the night shift at a chicken slaughter house so they won’t get evicted…or to not have to worry about his little sister who prefers the company of a hand-held game and to have her speak normally. Lastly, for The Dude to finally act like The Dad.
* There is something unequivocallydisturbing intelligent about Nick’s outlook on things. I could literally fill this review up with musings and observations that are most often funny, quirky and true.
* The build-up to the gore-fest was genius. You’ll more than likely get bored with the first fifty pages of the book because you’d think nothing is happening. But I digress; all the events that lead up to the contagion and its source is like background noise as you read through Nick’s banal, boring, and cumbersome life. Chances are, you'd probably ignore the signs if you're not paying attention.
* Violence, blood, gore, brain matter, exposed intestines, creative ways of killing zombies, seemingly hormonal zombies (see Swann) and even more hormonal boys (humans).
* The Rock. Yes, the wrestler…”If you smell-el-el-el-elllll what The Rock is cooking…” appearing as the inner voice of reason and kick-assery in Nero’s head. Just imagine how freaking awesome this book would be in FILM. And seriously? As I read through The Rock’s parts, I was imagining the flare of his nose and the waggles of his brows while he more or less called on every single one of Nero’s bullshit.
*The opening went like this:
The neighborhood was trashed, funeral pyres in the distance burning against a raw pink sky. Half the street was in rubble, from Thompkins all the way to Main. The high school was gone.
Sounds like a nice set-up for a post-apocalyptic party, eh? Well, it is and it isn’t.
Verdict: Reminiscent of Shaun of the Dead, the Infects is fun as it is gory, funny as it is thought provoking. If you’re a fan of zombies in literature, this offers just enough change (humor) in the long line of books with similar subject matter. It was like watching a dark comedy with zombies in the co-starring role.
This book is far from perfect. There are ambiguities in the story itself that the author chose to leave unexplored for whatever reason he deemed necessary. Even so, I gave this book five stars and I am going to attempt my very best to tell you why. The ratings for this book here puzzles me; but for once, I see a role reversal of some sort. Usually, I'd be scratching my head because of a book's history of high rating in which I disagree. This time, however, I'm on the flip side of the coin.
The Gist: Troubled teens serving 3-6 months in a reform camp. Genetically enhanced, chemically induced chicken. Zombie apocalypse. Think - Lord of the Flies with zombies killing kids and no (human) kids killing kids. Think - Zombieland but funnier. Think - This is Not a Test without the angst of a suicidal teenager. Makes sense?
The Review: Well, shit. I think I’ve touched my last KFC original recipe fried chicken. Scrap that. I think I've touched my last piece of chicken EVER. Sean combined humor and gore in a way that you'd realize you're not supposed to be laughing at the sad circumstances in which people - both young and old - were dying in the most bloodied, spectacular way. But hey, I've never been one for normal reactions anyway.
There is a subtle brilliance in Nick's wry, more often, sarcastic voice. It was full of mockery and potshots against the society as a whole. If I were an intelligent reviewer or a much deeper reader, I’m sure I can connect the bee hive mentality of the zombies to those of the teens roaming the caf, quad and hallways of their education establishment. But because I’m not, I think I’m gonna go with what I know here and just give you some highlights (in bullet form, no less) why this book DID NOT SUCK.
* Nick/Nero. Socially awkward, quiet but bad-ass. An unassuming hero who only ever wanted what other sixteen year-old boy would: to finally man-up and speak to a girl he’s been jonesing with for a while. To not have to work the night shift at a chicken slaughter house so they won’t get evicted…or to not have to worry about his little sister who prefers the company of a hand-held game and to have her speak normally. Lastly, for The Dude to finally act like The Dad.
* There is something unequivocally
* The build-up to the gore-fest was genius. You’ll more than likely get bored with the first fifty pages of the book because you’d think nothing is happening. But I digress; all the events that lead up to the contagion and its source is like background noise as you read through Nick’s banal, boring, and cumbersome life. Chances are, you'd probably ignore the signs if you're not paying attention.
* Violence, blood, gore, brain matter, exposed intestines, creative ways of killing zombies, seemingly hormonal zombies (see Swann) and even more hormonal boys (humans).
* The Rock. Yes, the wrestler…”If you smell-el-el-el-elllll what The Rock is cooking…” appearing as the inner voice of reason and kick-assery in Nero’s head. Just imagine how freaking awesome this book would be in FILM. And seriously? As I read through The Rock’s parts, I was imagining the flare of his nose and the waggles of his brows while he more or less called on every single one of Nero’s bullshit.
*The opening went like this:
The neighborhood was trashed, funeral pyres in the distance burning against a raw pink sky. Half the street was in rubble, from Thompkins all the way to Main. The high school was gone.
Sounds like a nice set-up for a post-apocalyptic party, eh? Well, it is and it isn’t.
Verdict: Reminiscent of Shaun of the Dead, the Infects is fun as it is gory, funny as it is thought provoking. If you’re a fan of zombies in literature, this offers just enough change (humor) in the long line of books with similar subject matter. It was like watching a dark comedy with zombies in the co-starring role.
Shelved as 'dnf'
January 10, 2013The voice and humor just weren't doing it for me. DNF, I'm afraid.
May 17, 2012
So. Three stars.
Here's the thing. I liked this book. It had Zombies, which I love, and some interesting characters, including some kick butt young women. Also a plus.
I thought the books edgy, quirky and trippy. It was a brave, bold storytime and twist.
So why three stars?
I think that the story had a lot of elements that weren't completely explored. There were bits and pieces of story flesh hanging from the blackly oozing, if quite animated body of the story.
Again, I am an adult reader.
I will be handing this over to my son and second critic and wait to hear his thoughts.
Summary: Young Nick works for an evil empire chicken processing plant. When he accidentally hurts himself on the job, he halts production, causing the company a loss in dirty chickens. For that crime he is sentenced to a wilderness survival boot camp.
An outbreak of a zombie virus causes the campers to flee with a twist at the end, and then another.
Spoiler:
Who know zombieism was caused by chicken and that it could be cured by those immune? Why are they immune? How could the government "cure" people who are oozing black stuff? Why would people want to return to it and hey...there were some interesting characters you started to develop...what about them?
In the hands of Libba Bray this would have been a Printz worthy idea, but I am sad to say that this left me wanting more...um...brains.
Here's the thing. I liked this book. It had Zombies, which I love, and some interesting characters, including some kick butt young women. Also a plus.
I thought the books edgy, quirky and trippy. It was a brave, bold storytime and twist.
So why three stars?
I think that the story had a lot of elements that weren't completely explored. There were bits and pieces of story flesh hanging from the blackly oozing, if quite animated body of the story.
Again, I am an adult reader.
I will be handing this over to my son and second critic and wait to hear his thoughts.
Summary: Young Nick works for an evil empire chicken processing plant. When he accidentally hurts himself on the job, he halts production, causing the company a loss in dirty chickens. For that crime he is sentenced to a wilderness survival boot camp.
An outbreak of a zombie virus causes the campers to flee with a twist at the end, and then another.
Spoiler:
Who know zombieism was caused by chicken and that it could be cured by those immune? Why are they immune? How could the government "cure" people who are oozing black stuff? Why would people want to return to it and hey...there were some interesting characters you started to develop...what about them?
In the hands of Libba Bray this would have been a Printz worthy idea, but I am sad to say that this left me wanting more...um...brains.
February 20, 2022
Much like Shawn of the Dead, this author is obviously having fun here. The story is primarily concerned with high energy banter, clever snarkiness, and puns, but still manages to make some existential and societal commentary. My favorite part is Nick/Nero's family, especially his sister. I seriously got Stranger Things vibes, imagining Lucas and his little sister kicking zombie booty.
I was really engaged, laughing out loud at least half the time. At other times, I could appreciate the patter even when I found the jokiness wearing thin. Less appreciated was when the humor devices into crudeness instead of cleverness. There were a few things that were nicely self aware, while others should've been called out as equally problematic. And it had an ending that I did not predict 👍👍
Overall, a refreshingly different zombie apocalypse adventure!
I was really engaged, laughing out loud at least half the time. At other times, I could appreciate the patter even when I found the jokiness wearing thin. Less appreciated was when the humor devices into crudeness instead of cleverness. There were a few things that were nicely self aware, while others should've been called out as equally problematic. And it had an ending that I did not predict 👍👍
Overall, a refreshingly different zombie apocalypse adventure!
December 3, 2019
Sean Beaudoin definitely has a unique style that you cannot confuse with anyone else. It is like when you see a movie and you know who the director is - that is how distinct Sean's writing is. And what he does so well is keep his style yet still has characters that have distinct voices that you can distinguish between. He actually reminds me of John Green in that way; however, Sean Beaudoin is more of the underground, quirky, dry twisted humor sort of way. This book also reminded me of the humor you found in Libba Bray's Beauty Queens in that it is very much a parody of qualities of pop culture and primarily emulated at zombie flicks such as Zombieland and Shaun of the Dead.
Once you get used to Beaudoin's style, the story sucks you in. An incomparable cast of characters takes us through a survival guide against those who want to eat you. You lose some you care about, you cheer when some turn and many will dream about one particular female. Between the cast of characters, the humorous plot line and Beaudoin's style, many will eat up this novel.
Mentor text: Voice, Style, Humor, Parody, Allusions, Word Play, Vocabulary
"But Petal Gazes was a whole other universe, a different orbit, a brighter sun. She was a tenth straight espresso, pure feedback, wet-toe-in-socket beautiful.
At least to him.
Which went directly against Nick's long-standing policy: Never Want Anything.
Treeless Christmas? Eggless Easter? Toastless morning?
It's hard to be disappointed when you don't give a crap.
But now he really, really wanted something.
Petal Gazes." (p. 8)
Also, LOVE pg. 35, 160-161, 88, 170, 227, and Ch. 22 title!
Once you get used to Beaudoin's style, the story sucks you in. An incomparable cast of characters takes us through a survival guide against those who want to eat you. You lose some you care about, you cheer when some turn and many will dream about one particular female. Between the cast of characters, the humorous plot line and Beaudoin's style, many will eat up this novel.
Mentor text: Voice, Style, Humor, Parody, Allusions, Word Play, Vocabulary
"But Petal Gazes was a whole other universe, a different orbit, a brighter sun. She was a tenth straight espresso, pure feedback, wet-toe-in-socket beautiful.
At least to him.
Which went directly against Nick's long-standing policy: Never Want Anything.
Treeless Christmas? Eggless Easter? Toastless morning?
It's hard to be disappointed when you don't give a crap.
But now he really, really wanted something.
Petal Gazes." (p. 8)
Also, LOVE pg. 35, 160-161, 88, 170, 227, and Ch. 22 title!
October 12, 2012
Whoa! What a trip!
Three and a half stars: A zombie book with some big surprises!
Nick heads out to work ready to endure another monotonous day at the chicken processing plant. Today, though, there is a surprise in store: he gets a promotion and a pay raise. He is now the special butcher for the new line of chicken products. Perhaps now he will finally have the guts to talk to Petal Gazes, the girl he has a major crush on, or not. Unfortunately, for Nick the monotonous line of chickens on the belt and the endless work cause him to lose focus and he accidentally slices open his hand. Blood gushes out from the deep wound, but he is too afraid to pull the emergency button. The chickens fall to the floor and blood splatters.....The next thing we know, Nick is charged and prosecuted with destroying thousands of dollars worth of poultry. His punishment is a three month stint in a wilderness adventure camp with a bunch of other juvenile delinquents. Three months isn't so bad, that is until the campers wake up to find their counselors munching on human flesh. A zombie plague is upon them! Nick and the others battle for their lives........Surrounded by zombies the survivors wonder if it might just be better to let a zombie nibble on your hand and end it all........
What I Liked:
*This is a zombie book that at first plays out like a typical zombie infestation. People going about their normal lives until the day they wake up and find all hell breaking loose as friends, neighbors, co workers, family, etc. are now the walking dead with a need to eat flesh. So admittedly, I was a bit bored with the familiar story line, one where a cast of characters fights to survive and one by one they are picked off as the zombie hoard multiplies. I was thrilled when I reached the three quarters mark of the book and hit the twists and then the story took on a whole new life. I loved the ending and that the author provided explanations for the infection and added some unique and thrilling aspects that I was not expecting. If you are wanting a zombie read that is different check this one out, keeping in mind that the good stuff is further toward the end.
*I enjoyed the author's unique sense of humor. This book is full of snark and it has lots of off the wall humor, which is hard to describe unless you read it. If you like books that beat to a different drum, you will like this one. There is quite a bit of crude jokes, considering that the majority of the book revolves around a band of teenage boys. I also appreciated all the weird inclusions, such as: police reports, chicken menus, lists, flashbacks, etc.
*This book has some memorable characters. I personally enjoyed Nick's father, The Dude, he is a out of work hippie reminiscent of The Dude in The Big Lebowski, and he totally made me laugh. I also really liked Amanda, Nick's younger sister who supposedly has Aspergers. Amanda at nine years old, spends hours endlessly playing shoot 'em up video games. She has a few surprises up her sleeve. Finally, Nick, a.k.a. Nero, the unlikely hero. He is a quiet, somewhat shy nerdy kid who channels the Rock in his head. He is one of those unassuming guys that you can't help but to root for.
*I appreciated that this book was not overly gory and gross. Yes, of course, there are plenty of zombie munching scenes but the blood and guts descriptions are not too horrific so If you are a bit on the squeamish side you will be okay. If you are looking for a book packed with blood and guts, you might be a bit disappointed. For me, it was the right amount.
And The Not So Much:
*This is not a smooth read. At times, it is a bit disjointed and I was puzzled as to why I kept reading about chickens and all of the other extraneous stuff that seemed to have nothing to do with the main plot. At least, the numerous flashbacks are labeled so you know you are reading a flashback. The story flow is choppy, but I was pleased that three quarters of the way through that everything starting snapping in place and making sense, but up until that point the book was a bit confusing at times.
*I never felt like I had a good grip on all the supporting cast. Nick spends the majority of the book with this band of juvenile delinquents, but I didn't feel like they were well developed and I had trouble keeping them all straight. At the end, there is a bunch of added in police reports that go over the details of each boy's arrest. Perhaps it would have been better to interject them sooner so I had a better idea of the characters. The Dude was by far my favorite secondary character and I was disappointed that he didn't have a bigger role. He certainly added some flair to the story.
*I was a bit bored through the middle sections of the book as it fell into a well worn, familiar zombie story: people fighting for their lives and then they fall one by one to the zombies. Even the author jests at this typical plot as numerous times the characters refer to what happens if you are in a zombie movie, but it pays off and the ending was worth the wait!
The Infects provides something a bit different in the zombie genre. While the zombie infestation and attacks are a bit trite, the final revelations and the explanations behind the plague are new and unexpected. I was thrilled to discover an ending with some big surprising twists. If you are a fan of zombie books, I suggest you give this one a try. The Infects with its unique humor will make you laugh and give you some new ideas to consider regarding zombies.
Favorite Quotations:
"Except that she was also wearing the kind of two-toned blood mask you could only get from burying your face deeply into another person, a demarcation line just below the eyes, the spot where teeth could reach no further."
"Nick Sole, texturbating. Pathetic."
"Nick felt unusually suave his antibacterial slippers and hairnet, sporting the same Guns N' Roses T-shirt for God knows how many shifts, Axl smelling even worse than he probably did in person."
"There is no cool in Zomb-A Pocalypse," Yeltsin said. "There is only survival, or to be an appetizer."
"That sounds of frustration and hunger from outside were muted, the highs and lows cut out, resulting in a steady middle of want. Which somehow made it even worse."
"He looked like a guy who wanted to kick sand in your face and then kick you in the face for swallowing sand."
"Splitting up is just a cheap way to kill off the secondary cast, and I am totally part of the first cast."
"The price of leadership is that your raw materials are chosen for you."
"Things to Trust: Your gun. A dead bolt. A wrench. A strong piece of rope. The flammability of a can of diesel. The edibility of a can of tuna. Bass knuckles. A survival knife. Things Not to Trust: Everything and everyone else."
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for and honest and fair review. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Rainy Day Ramblings.
Three and a half stars: A zombie book with some big surprises!
Nick heads out to work ready to endure another monotonous day at the chicken processing plant. Today, though, there is a surprise in store: he gets a promotion and a pay raise. He is now the special butcher for the new line of chicken products. Perhaps now he will finally have the guts to talk to Petal Gazes, the girl he has a major crush on, or not. Unfortunately, for Nick the monotonous line of chickens on the belt and the endless work cause him to lose focus and he accidentally slices open his hand. Blood gushes out from the deep wound, but he is too afraid to pull the emergency button. The chickens fall to the floor and blood splatters.....The next thing we know, Nick is charged and prosecuted with destroying thousands of dollars worth of poultry. His punishment is a three month stint in a wilderness adventure camp with a bunch of other juvenile delinquents. Three months isn't so bad, that is until the campers wake up to find their counselors munching on human flesh. A zombie plague is upon them! Nick and the others battle for their lives........Surrounded by zombies the survivors wonder if it might just be better to let a zombie nibble on your hand and end it all........
What I Liked:
*This is a zombie book that at first plays out like a typical zombie infestation. People going about their normal lives until the day they wake up and find all hell breaking loose as friends, neighbors, co workers, family, etc. are now the walking dead with a need to eat flesh. So admittedly, I was a bit bored with the familiar story line, one where a cast of characters fights to survive and one by one they are picked off as the zombie hoard multiplies. I was thrilled when I reached the three quarters mark of the book and hit the twists and then the story took on a whole new life. I loved the ending and that the author provided explanations for the infection and added some unique and thrilling aspects that I was not expecting. If you are wanting a zombie read that is different check this one out, keeping in mind that the good stuff is further toward the end.
*I enjoyed the author's unique sense of humor. This book is full of snark and it has lots of off the wall humor, which is hard to describe unless you read it. If you like books that beat to a different drum, you will like this one. There is quite a bit of crude jokes, considering that the majority of the book revolves around a band of teenage boys. I also appreciated all the weird inclusions, such as: police reports, chicken menus, lists, flashbacks, etc.
*This book has some memorable characters. I personally enjoyed Nick's father, The Dude, he is a out of work hippie reminiscent of The Dude in The Big Lebowski, and he totally made me laugh. I also really liked Amanda, Nick's younger sister who supposedly has Aspergers. Amanda at nine years old, spends hours endlessly playing shoot 'em up video games. She has a few surprises up her sleeve. Finally, Nick, a.k.a. Nero, the unlikely hero. He is a quiet, somewhat shy nerdy kid who channels the Rock in his head. He is one of those unassuming guys that you can't help but to root for.
*I appreciated that this book was not overly gory and gross. Yes, of course, there are plenty of zombie munching scenes but the blood and guts descriptions are not too horrific so If you are a bit on the squeamish side you will be okay. If you are looking for a book packed with blood and guts, you might be a bit disappointed. For me, it was the right amount.
And The Not So Much:
*This is not a smooth read. At times, it is a bit disjointed and I was puzzled as to why I kept reading about chickens and all of the other extraneous stuff that seemed to have nothing to do with the main plot. At least, the numerous flashbacks are labeled so you know you are reading a flashback. The story flow is choppy, but I was pleased that three quarters of the way through that everything starting snapping in place and making sense, but up until that point the book was a bit confusing at times.
*I never felt like I had a good grip on all the supporting cast. Nick spends the majority of the book with this band of juvenile delinquents, but I didn't feel like they were well developed and I had trouble keeping them all straight. At the end, there is a bunch of added in police reports that go over the details of each boy's arrest. Perhaps it would have been better to interject them sooner so I had a better idea of the characters. The Dude was by far my favorite secondary character and I was disappointed that he didn't have a bigger role. He certainly added some flair to the story.
*I was a bit bored through the middle sections of the book as it fell into a well worn, familiar zombie story: people fighting for their lives and then they fall one by one to the zombies. Even the author jests at this typical plot as numerous times the characters refer to what happens if you are in a zombie movie, but it pays off and the ending was worth the wait!
The Infects provides something a bit different in the zombie genre. While the zombie infestation and attacks are a bit trite, the final revelations and the explanations behind the plague are new and unexpected. I was thrilled to discover an ending with some big surprising twists. If you are a fan of zombie books, I suggest you give this one a try. The Infects with its unique humor will make you laugh and give you some new ideas to consider regarding zombies.
Favorite Quotations:
"Except that she was also wearing the kind of two-toned blood mask you could only get from burying your face deeply into another person, a demarcation line just below the eyes, the spot where teeth could reach no further."
"Nick Sole, texturbating. Pathetic."
"Nick felt unusually suave his antibacterial slippers and hairnet, sporting the same Guns N' Roses T-shirt for God knows how many shifts, Axl smelling even worse than he probably did in person."
"There is no cool in Zomb-A Pocalypse," Yeltsin said. "There is only survival, or to be an appetizer."
"That sounds of frustration and hunger from outside were muted, the highs and lows cut out, resulting in a steady middle of want. Which somehow made it even worse."
"He looked like a guy who wanted to kick sand in your face and then kick you in the face for swallowing sand."
"Splitting up is just a cheap way to kill off the secondary cast, and I am totally part of the first cast."
"The price of leadership is that your raw materials are chosen for you."
"Things to Trust: Your gun. A dead bolt. A wrench. A strong piece of rope. The flammability of a can of diesel. The edibility of a can of tuna. Bass knuckles. A survival knife. Things Not to Trust: Everything and everyone else."
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for and honest and fair review. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Rainy Day Ramblings.
August 28, 2012
There really isn't much that Sean Beaudoin can do wrong. His novels have a definitive signature that screams THIS IS SEAN BEAUDOIN. It usually involves some level of noir, exceptional find-fuckage and a snarky cynicism that is like the brand of Sean on all of his books. THE INFECTS fit nice and snugly into this mould although I have to say it's the least mind-fucked of the SB books I've read. In fact it was downright tame in comparison to the likes of FADE TO BLUE. But that doesn't mean it was bad.
Yes, THE INFECTS is a zombie novel but it's not your standard zombie novel. It's not really a world-wide pandemic of zombie proportions and the zombies have a habit of evolving, thinking, picking the more favorable pieces of your body to eat as opposed to just chomping at random. There are different levels of infected, from the full-on zombie to something a little more human to a lot more human to total meat sack meal. This isn't a simple zombie novel despite the humor that Sean involves. Yes, it's funny, but he's taken zombie lore and expanded it to something a bit more terrifying than just having to deal with your regular ol' shambling zombies.
Of course THE INFECTS has all the seriousness of a Simon Pegg movie, background events being carried out in a rather hilarious background humor fashion while the SERIOUS things happen in the foreground. Never mind the guy running around with a severed arm in his mouth. WHAT'S FOR LUNCH? It is truly a Sean Beaudoin novel for that reason, along with the demented reality that takes it that many more steps away from being grounded. It's not just a chicken restaurant but it's what everyone thinks of when they think of a chicken restaurant, the menu showcasing full servings for fried random chicken parts and a chicken surprise pack with some kind of unhealthy gravy mess. It is as much of a satire as a satire can be even moving beyond the restaurant. LIFE has elements of the familiar with added doses of ridiculous to elevate the story into the absurd but still managing to keep it relatable. Everyone wants to survive the Zomb-A-Pocalypse, right?
Nick/Nero is the spearhead of the group, much to his chagrin. His only objective is getting to Petal. People just happen to want to follow him around while he completes it. He's not comfortable with it but he makes due. With Sean's books you don't necessarily have likable or unlikable characters; they either are characters or aren't. It's all in the way they're written, that satirical pulp style that makes caricatures of everything, to one extent or another. So you'll either think the characters are too far out there (like the twins) or they're readable (pretty much everyone else). Unless they get killed. And Sean has no qualms about putting the kibosh on the pulses of any of his characters. So be warned: if you favor one more than the others, it'll probably end up with some teeth in its neck.
Reading this, though, I couldn't help but think there was some kind of message here, about over-processed and genetically engineered food, unhealthy eating habits, complacency in what we're being forced fed. Messages aren't something I picked up on in other Sean books so it took me aback a bit. Couple that with the relatively toned down (for him) style and I think it was a bit different from what Sean usually writes. Not as wild and with more of a purpose, however slight. Still incredibly enjoyable but veering off the path a little.
THE INFECTS is not your typical zombie novel, filled with atypical zombies and anti-heros and an ending that will make your head spin. Sean's snark is not for the faint of heart and the satire is for those only able to take big blasts of the absurd at a time. The level of mind fuck is lower than in previous books with the story being far more straight forward and the characters being more contoured and easy to grasp. The subtleties of it are what will make you laugh, hidden in a well-timed background element in a greater scene. It forces you to pay attention because you'll miss snippets of gloriousness if you're just reading it for what the surface provides. If you like trippy, off the wall tales riddled with snark that will make you laugh and gag in the same sentence, you'll most likely love THE INFECTS. It brings with it the familiarity of the zombie trope but Sean just comes right on in and fucks it all up. But in a good way, like always. And that's why I keep reading him. Not only is he a fantastic storyteller but his voice is so epically unique that you can't help but latch onto it and drool love all over it.
Yes, THE INFECTS is a zombie novel but it's not your standard zombie novel. It's not really a world-wide pandemic of zombie proportions and the zombies have a habit of evolving, thinking, picking the more favorable pieces of your body to eat as opposed to just chomping at random. There are different levels of infected, from the full-on zombie to something a little more human to a lot more human to total meat sack meal. This isn't a simple zombie novel despite the humor that Sean involves. Yes, it's funny, but he's taken zombie lore and expanded it to something a bit more terrifying than just having to deal with your regular ol' shambling zombies.
Of course THE INFECTS has all the seriousness of a Simon Pegg movie, background events being carried out in a rather hilarious background humor fashion while the SERIOUS things happen in the foreground. Never mind the guy running around with a severed arm in his mouth. WHAT'S FOR LUNCH? It is truly a Sean Beaudoin novel for that reason, along with the demented reality that takes it that many more steps away from being grounded. It's not just a chicken restaurant but it's what everyone thinks of when they think of a chicken restaurant, the menu showcasing full servings for fried random chicken parts and a chicken surprise pack with some kind of unhealthy gravy mess. It is as much of a satire as a satire can be even moving beyond the restaurant. LIFE has elements of the familiar with added doses of ridiculous to elevate the story into the absurd but still managing to keep it relatable. Everyone wants to survive the Zomb-A-Pocalypse, right?
Nick/Nero is the spearhead of the group, much to his chagrin. His only objective is getting to Petal. People just happen to want to follow him around while he completes it. He's not comfortable with it but he makes due. With Sean's books you don't necessarily have likable or unlikable characters; they either are characters or aren't. It's all in the way they're written, that satirical pulp style that makes caricatures of everything, to one extent or another. So you'll either think the characters are too far out there (like the twins) or they're readable (pretty much everyone else). Unless they get killed. And Sean has no qualms about putting the kibosh on the pulses of any of his characters. So be warned: if you favor one more than the others, it'll probably end up with some teeth in its neck.
Reading this, though, I couldn't help but think there was some kind of message here, about over-processed and genetically engineered food, unhealthy eating habits, complacency in what we're being forced fed. Messages aren't something I picked up on in other Sean books so it took me aback a bit. Couple that with the relatively toned down (for him) style and I think it was a bit different from what Sean usually writes. Not as wild and with more of a purpose, however slight. Still incredibly enjoyable but veering off the path a little.
THE INFECTS is not your typical zombie novel, filled with atypical zombies and anti-heros and an ending that will make your head spin. Sean's snark is not for the faint of heart and the satire is for those only able to take big blasts of the absurd at a time. The level of mind fuck is lower than in previous books with the story being far more straight forward and the characters being more contoured and easy to grasp. The subtleties of it are what will make you laugh, hidden in a well-timed background element in a greater scene. It forces you to pay attention because you'll miss snippets of gloriousness if you're just reading it for what the surface provides. If you like trippy, off the wall tales riddled with snark that will make you laugh and gag in the same sentence, you'll most likely love THE INFECTS. It brings with it the familiarity of the zombie trope but Sean just comes right on in and fucks it all up. But in a good way, like always. And that's why I keep reading him. Not only is he a fantastic storyteller but his voice is so epically unique that you can't help but latch onto it and drool love all over it.
October 7, 2015
Huh. Words that describe my experience with The Infects: weird. confusing. flat. undeveloped.
Sigh.
Review to come mid-August, but gentle readers be warned, I was not happy with this zombie effort.
Sigh.
Review to come mid-August, but gentle readers be warned, I was not happy with this zombie effort.
September 1, 2012
REVIEW ALSO ON: http://bibliomantics.com/2012/08/31/n...
Last month, I was lucky enough to get my hands/paws/vestigial tail on not one but two versions of The Infects, getting sent a digital copy through NetGalley and winning a physical copy through LibraryThing (let’s be friends!). Which was great because I could literally read Nick’s story whenever and wherever. Pretty damn necessary for a book this good. BONUS: the cover is pure book porn. And the interior chapter titles are equally gorgeous, complete with blood splatter that gets more and more visceral as the violence progresses. Literally. You’ll definitely want to buy the physical book to enjoy these fun interior details. Or to clutch to ward off impending apocalypses. You can beat a zombie with an eReader, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
In addition to great little artistic touches, Beaudoin’s writing style is fresh and unique and he gives us an atypical look at the zombie genre. From characters who are immediately aware that they’re dealing with zombies and how to kill them to the modern take on the genre, there is so much originality to love and appreciate. Of course teenagers would take their cue from zombie films! Dark and gritty, he’s the young adult Chuck Palahniuk. Easy to see why his work would be touted as “cutting edge”. And empurpled. <– New favorite word. It doesn’t have to make sense! Empurpled.
Our protagonist is Nick, who despite being a teenager also works in a chicken slaughter plant named Rebozzo’s to help provide for his family. A plant where his own father used to work genetically creating specialized chickens to be consumed by the public. There’s a great satire on the fast food industry weaved throughout the narrative with a focus on the chain Fresh Bukket and Rebozzo’s manufactured Sole Fryers. Specifically the American way in which mass consumption through fast food restaurants are turning us into mindless zombie slaves. Insert joke about running after brains being the equivalent of fast food here.
Nick’s life is thrown into chaos when a horrible and blatantly misconstrued accident at Rebozzo’s- after an equally strange and sudden promotion- costs Nick his freedom (DAMN YOU CORPORATIONS!) and he is sent to a special juvenile camp called “Inward Trek”. At the camp your name is taken away and you are instead referred to by your nickname. Taking away a person’s identity is fun at IT. Nick is given the name Nero, which proceeds to plenty of jokes about Roman emperor Nero who famously fiddled while Rome burned. Hence his other nickname Fiddler. Sadly, he has no penchants for standing on roofs and singing about rich men.
What makes Nick so fun is his inward quirks throughout the narrative. He has a penchant for making lists inside his head and having conversation with a disembodied omniscient voice. The weird thing? The voice isn’t his own but that of the wrestler turned “actor” the Rock.
“You hear voices?”
“Actually, just one. The Rock.”
“The Wrestler?”
Um, actor? Um, product spokesperson? Also, I write poetry.
If in some strange twist of fate or in another alternate universe this is made into a movie (not that in a million years I think it would actually work in another medium) my hope is that the Rock would play himself. It’s not exactly the brilliance of Tim Gunn for Cinna but it’s nice to dream.
As for our cast of characters who are not Nick, there’s his love interest Petal Gazes (amazing name!) who looks like she, “Just stepped out of [a] sexy apocalypse…”, his Dad whom he calls the Dude: a useless, crazed ex-scientist who may or may not be straight out of The Big Lebowski and Nick’s sister Amanda. Amanda is a video game savant with Aspergers whom Nick loves more than anyone in the world. There’s also Nick’s evil boss and all around crazy person Captain Fud, and his “Inward Trek” buddies, Tripper, War Pig, Yeltsin, the “twins” Idle and Billy, Mr. Bator, Heavy D. and Estrada. Not to mention the ladies of IT: Cupcake, Joanjet, Sad Girl, Raekwon, Lush and heiress turned zombie extraordinaire Swann. Some people were just born to be zombies.
The teenagers/convicts/innocent yet somehow proven guilty are forced to take things into their own hands when the “Inward Trek” is taken over by a horde of zombies and they must fight together in order to survive. It’s Lord of the Flies meets zombies. Nick peppers the narrative with so called Zombrules, that is rules for surviving the Zomb-A-Pocalypse (the kids’ emphasis not mine). For example, you will never have what you need, don’t turn your back, don’t go to sleep, never let your guard down, etc. Most importantly, “Self-sacrifice is for chaste vampires, widowed uncles, and grizzled detectives with only one week left to go until retirement.” Also: double tap.
Beaudoin’s zombies are terrifying, dripping just the right amount of gore to make a horrifying counterpoint to Nick’s ever present dark humor. Particularly naked zombie leader Swann, who is intent on spreading infection and possibly Ztockholm Syndrome. It’s okay, you can slap your knee in amusement/excitement now. And the ending cannot be topped. I promise.
Last month, I was lucky enough to get my hands/paws/vestigial tail on not one but two versions of The Infects, getting sent a digital copy through NetGalley and winning a physical copy through LibraryThing (let’s be friends!). Which was great because I could literally read Nick’s story whenever and wherever. Pretty damn necessary for a book this good. BONUS: the cover is pure book porn. And the interior chapter titles are equally gorgeous, complete with blood splatter that gets more and more visceral as the violence progresses. Literally. You’ll definitely want to buy the physical book to enjoy these fun interior details. Or to clutch to ward off impending apocalypses. You can beat a zombie with an eReader, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
In addition to great little artistic touches, Beaudoin’s writing style is fresh and unique and he gives us an atypical look at the zombie genre. From characters who are immediately aware that they’re dealing with zombies and how to kill them to the modern take on the genre, there is so much originality to love and appreciate. Of course teenagers would take their cue from zombie films! Dark and gritty, he’s the young adult Chuck Palahniuk. Easy to see why his work would be touted as “cutting edge”. And empurpled. <– New favorite word. It doesn’t have to make sense! Empurpled.
Our protagonist is Nick, who despite being a teenager also works in a chicken slaughter plant named Rebozzo’s to help provide for his family. A plant where his own father used to work genetically creating specialized chickens to be consumed by the public. There’s a great satire on the fast food industry weaved throughout the narrative with a focus on the chain Fresh Bukket and Rebozzo’s manufactured Sole Fryers. Specifically the American way in which mass consumption through fast food restaurants are turning us into mindless zombie slaves. Insert joke about running after brains being the equivalent of fast food here.
Nick’s life is thrown into chaos when a horrible and blatantly misconstrued accident at Rebozzo’s- after an equally strange and sudden promotion- costs Nick his freedom (DAMN YOU CORPORATIONS!) and he is sent to a special juvenile camp called “Inward Trek”. At the camp your name is taken away and you are instead referred to by your nickname. Taking away a person’s identity is fun at IT. Nick is given the name Nero, which proceeds to plenty of jokes about Roman emperor Nero who famously fiddled while Rome burned. Hence his other nickname Fiddler. Sadly, he has no penchants for standing on roofs and singing about rich men.
What makes Nick so fun is his inward quirks throughout the narrative. He has a penchant for making lists inside his head and having conversation with a disembodied omniscient voice. The weird thing? The voice isn’t his own but that of the wrestler turned “actor” the Rock.
“You hear voices?”
“Actually, just one. The Rock.”
“The Wrestler?”
Um, actor? Um, product spokesperson? Also, I write poetry.
If in some strange twist of fate or in another alternate universe this is made into a movie (not that in a million years I think it would actually work in another medium) my hope is that the Rock would play himself. It’s not exactly the brilliance of Tim Gunn for Cinna but it’s nice to dream.
As for our cast of characters who are not Nick, there’s his love interest Petal Gazes (amazing name!) who looks like she, “Just stepped out of [a] sexy apocalypse…”, his Dad whom he calls the Dude: a useless, crazed ex-scientist who may or may not be straight out of The Big Lebowski and Nick’s sister Amanda. Amanda is a video game savant with Aspergers whom Nick loves more than anyone in the world. There’s also Nick’s evil boss and all around crazy person Captain Fud, and his “Inward Trek” buddies, Tripper, War Pig, Yeltsin, the “twins” Idle and Billy, Mr. Bator, Heavy D. and Estrada. Not to mention the ladies of IT: Cupcake, Joanjet, Sad Girl, Raekwon, Lush and heiress turned zombie extraordinaire Swann. Some people were just born to be zombies.
The teenagers/convicts/innocent yet somehow proven guilty are forced to take things into their own hands when the “Inward Trek” is taken over by a horde of zombies and they must fight together in order to survive. It’s Lord of the Flies meets zombies. Nick peppers the narrative with so called Zombrules, that is rules for surviving the Zomb-A-Pocalypse (the kids’ emphasis not mine). For example, you will never have what you need, don’t turn your back, don’t go to sleep, never let your guard down, etc. Most importantly, “Self-sacrifice is for chaste vampires, widowed uncles, and grizzled detectives with only one week left to go until retirement.” Also: double tap.
Beaudoin’s zombies are terrifying, dripping just the right amount of gore to make a horrifying counterpoint to Nick’s ever present dark humor. Particularly naked zombie leader Swann, who is intent on spreading infection and possibly Ztockholm Syndrome. It’s okay, you can slap your knee in amusement/excitement now. And the ending cannot be topped. I promise.
February 18, 2024
I found this one to be quirky AF, but I really enjoyed it and love the cover art!
December 18, 2014
How to Survive and Enjoy The Infects: The Complete Guide
The Infects by Sean Beaudoin features Nick Sole being placed in a juvenile delinquent retreat after screwing up his new job. Once far in the woods his counselors go from bulwarks to a cancer that spreads like wildfire. Nick and his other delinquents must make their way out of a frenzy of teeth, hands, tongues and blood to attempt to find salvation. It touches on the idea of what is humanity, and what it means to be human. Its an amazing idea that there might be a second side of humans that we have yet to see, and could be more powerful than us.
After finishing the book, I couldn't stop going through the suspenseful and thrilling scenarios in my head, so I had to create a guide.
ZombRule #1: Knowing Your Allies.
It is likely you have a tough road ahead of you and many challenges will be throw your way. You are not unwavering and can be changed, just remember it can be for the better. It is also important to keep a sense of self , and remember your past.
ZombRule #2: Know Your Surroundings.
Zombie Apocalypses’ never occur in cities filled with sunshine and happiness, and if so they won't be like that for long. Expect to trek through damp sewers, journey in the darkest woods, and explore the emptiest wastelands. Bring a flashlight.
ZombRule #3: Don’t be Afraid.
Your likely never going to get anything done if you are sitting in a corner quivering. Sometimes you just have to go for it and hope for the best. Walking though a horde of zombies calmy “The Infects came from all directions...’Calmy. don’t make eye contact.’”. Try something new slouch.
ZombRule #4: This Isn’t a Movie.
It’s a book. If you expected this to be a waltz in the park you have another thing coming. Your best friend isn’t going to come back after being bit like this is a kids cartoon on Sunday morning. Out here people die. Friendships broken. People eaten. It is the sad but true reality, Tell me what it’s like to be one of them, will ya?
ZombRule #5: Brains over Brawn.
Did anyone ever win anything by smashing something to a pulp? Muhammad Ali is a different story. The answer is no. Try rubbing what brain cells you have together and try to come up with an idea better than beating up every single zombie with you bare fists. Maybe a way to gather supplies, or a contraption to protect yourselves. Just don’t be the one who dies because they were playing fetch with an infected trying to tame it. Hows that saying go again, sticks are bones?
ZombRule #6: Friends are There for You.
Friends are there to help you along the way, just as you are there to help them. They can give recommendations on what to do in a pinch, and help in a invasion. You’ve always got each others back in this sick civil war. Learn from Nick that in a crisis most will help rather than hurt.
ZombRule #7: Friends are for the Dead.
They are probably more greedy that you which is saying something. They are just waiting for you to turn your back, so they can stick a knife in it. They see you as just another resource, and one thats not going to last forever, but hey they know that. Estrada knows what it feels like to be thrown under the horde, but the feeling is mutual, right?
ZombRule #8: Always Continue
“No way I’m just giving up. No way I’m letting myself be bit.” Nero states when a fellow survivor suggest to get bitten on purpose to feel less pain. But Nero proves he can overcome most obstacles and continue. This life isn’t some simple computer game, no restarts, only game
SPOILERS AHEAD. Only continue if you have read the book.
ZombRule #9: Your Love Interest is Always a Zombie, Always.
May it be your long term husband or the girl who practically needs a restraining order against you, they are a zombie. Or at least part infect “after being given an antidote. Made from Petal’s blood.” You know you are going to have to save them, and be willing to give up more than life in the process.
ZombRule #10: If you can’t beat Them Join Them.
Infects can be very overwhelming and sometimes are just too much to handle. But being one can be too bad, no pain, no need to eat, and the ability to communicate with your fellow flesh eaters. As Nero states “it was a blessing… No agenda and nothing to lose… Darwin with a twist”. Wait what was the down side again?
The Infects by Sean Beaudoin features Nick Sole being placed in a juvenile delinquent retreat after screwing up his new job. Once far in the woods his counselors go from bulwarks to a cancer that spreads like wildfire. Nick and his other delinquents must make their way out of a frenzy of teeth, hands, tongues and blood to attempt to find salvation. It touches on the idea of what is humanity, and what it means to be human. Its an amazing idea that there might be a second side of humans that we have yet to see, and could be more powerful than us.
After finishing the book, I couldn't stop going through the suspenseful and thrilling scenarios in my head, so I had to create a guide.
ZombRule #1: Knowing Your Allies.
It is likely you have a tough road ahead of you and many challenges will be throw your way. You are not unwavering and can be changed, just remember it can be for the better. It is also important to keep a sense of self , and remember your past.
ZombRule #2: Know Your Surroundings.
Zombie Apocalypses’ never occur in cities filled with sunshine and happiness, and if so they won't be like that for long. Expect to trek through damp sewers, journey in the darkest woods, and explore the emptiest wastelands. Bring a flashlight.
ZombRule #3: Don’t be Afraid.
Your likely never going to get anything done if you are sitting in a corner quivering. Sometimes you just have to go for it and hope for the best. Walking though a horde of zombies calmy “The Infects came from all directions...’Calmy. don’t make eye contact.’”. Try something new slouch.
ZombRule #4: This Isn’t a Movie.
It’s a book. If you expected this to be a waltz in the park you have another thing coming. Your best friend isn’t going to come back after being bit like this is a kids cartoon on Sunday morning. Out here people die. Friendships broken. People eaten. It is the sad but true reality, Tell me what it’s like to be one of them, will ya?
ZombRule #5: Brains over Brawn.
Did anyone ever win anything by smashing something to a pulp? Muhammad Ali is a different story. The answer is no. Try rubbing what brain cells you have together and try to come up with an idea better than beating up every single zombie with you bare fists. Maybe a way to gather supplies, or a contraption to protect yourselves. Just don’t be the one who dies because they were playing fetch with an infected trying to tame it. Hows that saying go again, sticks are bones?
ZombRule #6: Friends are There for You.
Friends are there to help you along the way, just as you are there to help them. They can give recommendations on what to do in a pinch, and help in a invasion. You’ve always got each others back in this sick civil war. Learn from Nick that in a crisis most will help rather than hurt.
ZombRule #7: Friends are for the Dead.
They are probably more greedy that you which is saying something. They are just waiting for you to turn your back, so they can stick a knife in it. They see you as just another resource, and one thats not going to last forever, but hey they know that. Estrada knows what it feels like to be thrown under the horde, but the feeling is mutual, right?
ZombRule #8: Always Continue
“No way I’m just giving up. No way I’m letting myself be bit.” Nero states when a fellow survivor suggest to get bitten on purpose to feel less pain. But Nero proves he can overcome most obstacles and continue. This life isn’t some simple computer game, no restarts, only game
SPOILERS AHEAD. Only continue if you have read the book.
ZombRule #9: Your Love Interest is Always a Zombie, Always.
May it be your long term husband or the girl who practically needs a restraining order against you, they are a zombie. Or at least part infect “after being given an antidote. Made from Petal’s blood.” You know you are going to have to save them, and be willing to give up more than life in the process.
ZombRule #10: If you can’t beat Them Join Them.
Infects can be very overwhelming and sometimes are just too much to handle. But being one can be too bad, no pain, no need to eat, and the ability to communicate with your fellow flesh eaters. As Nero states “it was a blessing… No agenda and nothing to lose… Darwin with a twist”. Wait what was the down side again?
September 7, 2012
Seventeen year old Nick Sole works in a chicken slaughter house for a famous fast food restaurant to support his deadbeat, lazy dad (who he calls the Dude) and his little sister. After a horrible (and embarrassing) accident, Nick is charged with felony destruction of property and sentenced to Inward Trek boot camp with a bunch of other juvenile delinquents, including the girl he really loves, Petal. Everything is going horribly, as expected, until things get a whole lot worse. The counselors turn into flesh-eating zombies and continually attack the group of mischief makers the first night of the trek. Now, Nick is stuck in the middle of a forest with other teen criminals, separated from civilization and technology, trying to survive the zombie outbreak.
The Infects is a very different type of zombie novel than I usually read. Most of them are fairly bleak and focus on harsh realities of zombie apocalypse life. This one focuses on dark humor and sarcasm over that depressing realism. The novel is peppered with fun horror movie and punk rock references. The delinquents realize fast that the zombie apocalypse is upon them and draw upon their zombie film expertise to formulate the "zombrules" to stay alive. The characters are delightful and varied. I like seeing this world through Nick's eyes. Teen books are very frequently told through the female perspective and it was nice to see the masculine side for once. Plus Dwayne "The Rock: Johnson gives him advice in his head. The other delinquents are interesting and some of them are very annoying. They do develop through the novel and are very memorable, so they don't get lost when the pace speeds up. I really like the end where we get to see what all of their crimes were, which fills out these characters. I'm tempted to reread the book so that I can keep their crime and past in mind when reading about them.
The social commentary underneath the satire and humor is fairly serious. The real life evils of big corporations and the fast food industry are portrayed with the over the top evil chicken company Rebozzo AviaCulture. They will do anything in their power regardless of its legality to make money and keep their misdeeds hidden. Nick's dad, The Dude, worked for them as a scientist and they took his invention for their own after kicking him to the curb. Their chicken also turns people into flesh-eating zombies. This concept isn't new and has been seen as far back as George Romero's classic zombie films, but that isn't the extent of the zombies here.
The zombies in this book are really different. They are the flesh-eating, violent variety, but keep some sort of sentience and intelligence through the seemingly mindless and very gory attacks. There are some glimpses of intelligence and even strategy on the part of the zombies throughout the book, but especially at the end. Spoilers ahead!!!! Rebozzo cures and rehabilitates all of the zombies they can find in the end that don't die from their wounds. Their solution is to keep them in a sealed facility for the rest of their lives. Nick understandably angry at Rebozzo (for this and numerous other things) and has his girlfriend infect him again. They reinfect everyone who wants to be and seek to join a the rest of the zombies that escaped Rebozzo's grasp to change the world. I really like this ending. Nick and his girlfriend Petal choose to be zombies and in essence join the winning team. Who's to say that it's any worse than being human? Maybe it's the next step in evolution. Whatever it is, I am convinced and I hope this book gets a sequel so we can enjoy Nick and Petal's adventures in the next book.
The Infects is a really fast read that makes homages to horror films, skewers big business and the fast food industry, makes me laugh, has some serious zombie carnage, and produces some quality characters. It manages to acknowledge the old, classic zombies and the tradition for social satire while reinvigorating the zombie genre with something new. I love the writing that is very easy to read and has its own stream of conscious like rhythm and style. I will definitely read all of Sean Beaudoin's other works and anything else he writes in the future.
The Infects is a very different type of zombie novel than I usually read. Most of them are fairly bleak and focus on harsh realities of zombie apocalypse life. This one focuses on dark humor and sarcasm over that depressing realism. The novel is peppered with fun horror movie and punk rock references. The delinquents realize fast that the zombie apocalypse is upon them and draw upon their zombie film expertise to formulate the "zombrules" to stay alive. The characters are delightful and varied. I like seeing this world through Nick's eyes. Teen books are very frequently told through the female perspective and it was nice to see the masculine side for once. Plus Dwayne "The Rock: Johnson gives him advice in his head. The other delinquents are interesting and some of them are very annoying. They do develop through the novel and are very memorable, so they don't get lost when the pace speeds up. I really like the end where we get to see what all of their crimes were, which fills out these characters. I'm tempted to reread the book so that I can keep their crime and past in mind when reading about them.
The social commentary underneath the satire and humor is fairly serious. The real life evils of big corporations and the fast food industry are portrayed with the over the top evil chicken company Rebozzo AviaCulture. They will do anything in their power regardless of its legality to make money and keep their misdeeds hidden. Nick's dad, The Dude, worked for them as a scientist and they took his invention for their own after kicking him to the curb. Their chicken also turns people into flesh-eating zombies. This concept isn't new and has been seen as far back as George Romero's classic zombie films, but that isn't the extent of the zombies here.
The zombies in this book are really different. They are the flesh-eating, violent variety, but keep some sort of sentience and intelligence through the seemingly mindless and very gory attacks. There are some glimpses of intelligence and even strategy on the part of the zombies throughout the book, but especially at the end. Spoilers ahead!!!! Rebozzo cures and rehabilitates all of the zombies they can find in the end that don't die from their wounds. Their solution is to keep them in a sealed facility for the rest of their lives. Nick understandably angry at Rebozzo (for this and numerous other things) and has his girlfriend infect him again. They reinfect everyone who wants to be and seek to join a the rest of the zombies that escaped Rebozzo's grasp to change the world. I really like this ending. Nick and his girlfriend Petal choose to be zombies and in essence join the winning team. Who's to say that it's any worse than being human? Maybe it's the next step in evolution. Whatever it is, I am convinced and I hope this book gets a sequel so we can enjoy Nick and Petal's adventures in the next book.
The Infects is a really fast read that makes homages to horror films, skewers big business and the fast food industry, makes me laugh, has some serious zombie carnage, and produces some quality characters. It manages to acknowledge the old, classic zombies and the tradition for social satire while reinvigorating the zombie genre with something new. I love the writing that is very easy to read and has its own stream of conscious like rhythm and style. I will definitely read all of Sean Beaudoin's other works and anything else he writes in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2015
This book was OK. It wasn’t what I expected it to be. I gotta admit I’m a little disappointed with the book.
I guess it has a lot to do with the writing. A lot of it didn’t make sense to me especially when the characters were talking. Some of the characters use such a weird slang that teenagers today don’t use at all. For example one of the characters said “they came in mad waves. But check it –it was epic.” Another character said “Dude a Zach thresher.” What the hell does that even mean? The book was just full of sentences like those that made it mind numbing to read. I seriously have no idea what the characters were saying for around half of the book because they talked like idiots. No one really talks like that in real life.
Also the book half the time didn’t make any sense in what was going on. In the beginning you’re introduced to Nick and his family. His sister, Amanda, has problems but no one really even knows what she has. I gather from the book that the doctors don't know whats wrong either so they said she has Asperberg's and gave her meds and no more is said on the subject. She is obsessed with these palmbot video games (which I don't even know what that is)and she talks in questions which drove me crazy to read. Here is a sentence on how she talks: "Okay, three things? One, do I have to? Call you Nero? {..}Thank you for? Sticking up for? Mr. Bator?" In my head she sounds like a robot. After awhile I got a headache from her talking.
Then there's his dad who he calls the Dude that its awhile before you even realize he's Nick's father. He's also cuckoo and talks to things like the appliances, checks and pens. For some reason he is unemployed and makes Nick work instead of getting off his ass and finding a new job. Nick ahs to work night shifts at a chick factory cutting up chicken to pay for rent and his sister's meds. His mom left them with the father. She was a real bitch about it too. She took them to the mall and left them there.
There are also a lot of flashbacks to Nick's life as he's running from the zombies who aren't zombies (Oh yes you heard right). I guess the author wanted you to get to know Nick and his life through these flashbacks but they really had nothing to do with they story and should have been left out. After awhile they kinda annoyed me. There would be some action going on and then then next chapter would be a flashback. Its like when your watching tv and the show is getting good then it cuts to a commercial and your like "Oh hell! WTF?"
I had no real feelings about Nick as a character. He was ehh for me and I didn't really care about him or his love interest who was freaking weird also. Nick was also a little nuts himself. After his accident at work caused him to be sent to a delinquent camp where they have to go on a trek in the forest/mountains. On the bus to the trek sight, Nick begins to hear a voice in his head and its none other than Dwayne, The ROCK, Johnson. I mean gimme a break here. I know it was done to be funny but it really wasn't. So Nick was hearing The ROCK in his head....yeah that's normal.
The only thing the book had going for it was the zombies. When they came it was gory and sick and twisted and that made the book bearable. I liked the scenes that were described in bloody detail telling you how the zombies were eating people and such. It was awesome...until you find out that the zombies are not really zombies......I won't say more in case anyone is going to read the book.
If you are confused about my review don't worry...your just as confused as I am...
This book was just a big mess..not my cup of tea.
This review is also posted on Spantalian's Book Reviews
I guess it has a lot to do with the writing. A lot of it didn’t make sense to me especially when the characters were talking. Some of the characters use such a weird slang that teenagers today don’t use at all. For example one of the characters said “they came in mad waves. But check it –it was epic.” Another character said “Dude a Zach thresher.” What the hell does that even mean? The book was just full of sentences like those that made it mind numbing to read. I seriously have no idea what the characters were saying for around half of the book because they talked like idiots. No one really talks like that in real life.
Also the book half the time didn’t make any sense in what was going on. In the beginning you’re introduced to Nick and his family. His sister, Amanda, has problems but no one really even knows what she has. I gather from the book that the doctors don't know whats wrong either so they said she has Asperberg's and gave her meds and no more is said on the subject. She is obsessed with these palmbot video games (which I don't even know what that is)and she talks in questions which drove me crazy to read. Here is a sentence on how she talks: "Okay, three things? One, do I have to? Call you Nero? {..}Thank you for? Sticking up for? Mr. Bator?" In my head she sounds like a robot. After awhile I got a headache from her talking.
Then there's his dad who he calls the Dude that its awhile before you even realize he's Nick's father. He's also cuckoo and talks to things like the appliances, checks and pens. For some reason he is unemployed and makes Nick work instead of getting off his ass and finding a new job. Nick ahs to work night shifts at a chick factory cutting up chicken to pay for rent and his sister's meds. His mom left them with the father. She was a real bitch about it too. She took them to the mall and left them there.
There are also a lot of flashbacks to Nick's life as he's running from the zombies who aren't zombies (Oh yes you heard right). I guess the author wanted you to get to know Nick and his life through these flashbacks but they really had nothing to do with they story and should have been left out. After awhile they kinda annoyed me. There would be some action going on and then then next chapter would be a flashback. Its like when your watching tv and the show is getting good then it cuts to a commercial and your like "Oh hell! WTF?"
I had no real feelings about Nick as a character. He was ehh for me and I didn't really care about him or his love interest who was freaking weird also. Nick was also a little nuts himself. After his accident at work caused him to be sent to a delinquent camp where they have to go on a trek in the forest/mountains. On the bus to the trek sight, Nick begins to hear a voice in his head and its none other than Dwayne, The ROCK, Johnson. I mean gimme a break here. I know it was done to be funny but it really wasn't. So Nick was hearing The ROCK in his head....yeah that's normal.
The only thing the book had going for it was the zombies. When they came it was gory and sick and twisted and that made the book bearable. I liked the scenes that were described in bloody detail telling you how the zombies were eating people and such. It was awesome...until you find out that the zombies are not really zombies......I won't say more in case anyone is going to read the book.
If you are confused about my review don't worry...your just as confused as I am...
This book was just a big mess..not my cup of tea.
This review is also posted on Spantalian's Book Reviews
October 27, 2012
After a short successful foray into zombie-land in his Fade to Blue, Sean Beaudoin ventures much deeper into that dark yet potentially hilarious zone in The Infects. The trip is once more a success.
The novel is a special treat for pop culture fans, with references ranging from the literary to the cinematic to the musical to the game-oriented. Zombie lore is equally rampant and wide-ranging, with scholarly attention paid to such vital topics as the two major species (slow vs. fast) and how to handle the inevitable Zombapocalypse. I particularly enjoyed the interspersed survival tips and the appended interview with Z-expert Dr. Henry E. Kyburg.
Nick (Nero) Sole is a thoroughly sympathetic and resilient protagonist, who starts out making the best of a bad situation (gone Mom, Dudified Dad) and then steps up to deal with an even worse one as more-or-less leader of the Z-bedeviled Inward Trek survivors. His love interest Petal blooms into a titanium-steel magnolia, while the other Trek delinquents play both amusingly and engagingly to their calculated stereotypes, with a couple (Estrada, especially) transcending them. I was particularly fond of Nick's younger sister Amanda, whose halting interrogatives go from poignant ("You're going? Nick? Where? Don't?") to oratorical ("People are always terrified? When the change comes? You think they didn't cower? At the edge of the Renaissance?")
What Renaissance, you ask? Good question, for what can possibly follow the aborted zombie takeover? At first the epilogue is a return to the normal and normative, with infects and their victims interned in reclamation facilities and the big bosses who started the plague still in charge. However, the epilogue leads, it would appear, to a new beginning, with those rascally viruses doing what they've always done. That is, assisting willy-nilly in evolution. Here, perhaps, in the evolution of a new Homo. Necrosapiens, anyone?
Maybe Beaudoin will let us know in a sequel? Pretty please, with Fresh Bukket nuggets on top?
The novel is a special treat for pop culture fans, with references ranging from the literary to the cinematic to the musical to the game-oriented. Zombie lore is equally rampant and wide-ranging, with scholarly attention paid to such vital topics as the two major species (slow vs. fast) and how to handle the inevitable Zombapocalypse. I particularly enjoyed the interspersed survival tips and the appended interview with Z-expert Dr. Henry E. Kyburg.
Nick (Nero) Sole is a thoroughly sympathetic and resilient protagonist, who starts out making the best of a bad situation (gone Mom, Dudified Dad) and then steps up to deal with an even worse one as more-or-less leader of the Z-bedeviled Inward Trek survivors. His love interest Petal blooms into a titanium-steel magnolia, while the other Trek delinquents play both amusingly and engagingly to their calculated stereotypes, with a couple (Estrada, especially) transcending them. I was particularly fond of Nick's younger sister Amanda, whose halting interrogatives go from poignant ("You're going? Nick? Where? Don't?") to oratorical ("People are always terrified? When the change comes? You think they didn't cower? At the edge of the Renaissance?")
What Renaissance, you ask? Good question, for what can possibly follow the aborted zombie takeover? At first the epilogue is a return to the normal and normative, with infects and their victims interned in reclamation facilities and the big bosses who started the plague still in charge. However, the epilogue leads, it would appear, to a new beginning, with those rascally viruses doing what they've always done. That is, assisting willy-nilly in evolution. Here, perhaps, in the evolution of a new Homo. Necrosapiens, anyone?
Maybe Beaudoin will let us know in a sequel? Pretty please, with Fresh Bukket nuggets on top?
December 31, 2014
I received this book to review for a magazine, and at first glance I wasn't that hyped about it. However, once I started it I absolutely *loved* it and finished it in well under a day. I kept coming back to the thought that it's a gory, vulgar mix of Louis Sachar's novel "Holes" and the film Zombieland...and that's a GOOD thing. Nick is sentenced to 3 months of rehabilitation at an outdoor wilderness camp for juvenile delinquents and re-christened "Nero". As he and his fellow inmates begin the long hike that is supposed to transform them into model citizens, their guards are instead transformed into bloodthirsty zombies. As quick as you can say "no one ever expects the zombie apocalypse!" Nero and his ragtag band of young felons are fighting to stay human and avoid the chompers of the zombie hoard. This novel is full of dark humor and irreverent references to punk rock and horror movies, offering a series of "zombrules" to the reader. Nero has an periodic stream of advice from Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson that only he can hear. In this case, The Rock says follow the zombrules, know your role and read this book! (Recommended for older teen readers and adult fans of zombie awesomeness).
March 25, 2015
Overt sexual innuendos, an almost non-existent plot, and little depth amount to an overall ho-hum book. It's a very basic splatterpunk novel - and perhaps a good indication that the zombie-apocalypse sub genre is running out of gas (or, in this case, brains).
July 5, 2017
bad books shouldn't be allowed to have good covers.
March 4, 2022
Infects by Sean Beaudoin is a very complicated book. When I first started reading this book, I thought it was going to be about a boy living his daily life with zombies. Unfortunately, I was wrong.
This book starts out with Nick getting a new job at Rebozzos, this is where he works everyday after school frying chicken. One day he is promoted to the “blue room” where he cut up whole chickens; this came with a $12 raise. He worked so much that he eventually stabbed his hand, due to lack of sleep. He was later shipped off to juvenile detention, getting the new name of Nero. A very fatal virus is spread to almost every person who ate this chicken. Many people, including many of Nero’s inmates, got this disease. They struggled for 90 days until help had come. They were later sent to a rehab center, where they tried to get help with the spread of this disease.That did not happen; the virus got worse. This is where the book ends; throughout the book it goes from first, to third person multiple times, making this book very confusing. I would suggest you not read this book.
April 25, 2019
I absolutely loved this book. The suspense and gore kept me on edge the whole time to the point where I’d start reading at 8:00 and find my mom forcing me to put the book down at 12:30. The characters were really well detailed and the book had a great plot with a twist ending to satisfy any avid reader. 100/10
Read
July 3, 2022I'm guessing one needs to be a teenage boy to enjoy this one. Since I am not, it should be no surprise that I can not even award one star. I'm really not even sure of the point of the whole story. Maybe the point is that it didn't have a point. I usually love zombie stories but not this one. There was not a single likable character and the plot didn't work if one managed to connect the dots.
February 5, 2022
That was weird bro
May 5, 2018
Oh I got sucked in by an amazing cover! I saw a copy of this on display at the library that didn’t have the protective plastic covering they put on library books. And I had to get it cuz I like zombie books but that cover with the colors and the glossy paper was just so gorgeous! Unfortunately the insides weren’t as good. Although there was plenty of good juicy zombie gore, I just wasn’t a big fan of the writing style and the overly juvenile male humor.
October 2, 2012
“Nero crawled past where the bodies of the hunters were. At least where he thought they were. With each foot, the smell got worse. It was hot and fetid. Stink blanketed his sinuses, settled in his nose. It bought furniture at IKEA, adopted a puppy, got a job, met other stink, went on a date, and talked about moving in together.”
Nick spends his high school days caring for his younger sister, who has Asperger’s, and his father, who has lost his touch with reality after losing his R&D job at Rebozzo’s chicken production facility. Nick also works part-time at that same facility, where he debones birds, and pines away for Petal, a classmate who also works at the factory. When Nick accidentally cuts himself, and bleeds rapidly and grotesquely all over the place, he is convicted of property destruction and sabotage. As punishment, he is sentenced to three months’ time at Inward Trek, a juvenile boot camp. Nick is assigned a new name (Nero), and loaded onto the van with eight other boys, for some wilderness counseling and rehabilitation.
Once in the woods, high up in the mountains of northern California, things rapidly take a turn for the worse. For unknown reasons, some of the IT party turn into zombies overnight, quickly mauling and infecting others in the group. No one on the mountain seems unaffected, and hikers, children, and high school cheerleaders and football players soon appear as part of the ravenous hoard. Nero and a few survivors try to outrun and outlast the zombies, and eventually locate a hunting lodge near the mountain’s peak. There, they meet some of the surviving Inward Trek girls’ group, and work to fight their way out of the encroaching flesh-eaters. It’s after their rescue, however (not really a spoiler), that things take some turns which set this book apart from the normal zombie fare.
This is just a fun, entertaining read, and you have to be in the right frame of mind (i.e., vulgar, pitch-black sense of humor, not easily grossed out) to truly enjoy it. Beaudoin is a very skilled writer, with sharp, witty dialogue and *extremely* vivid depictions of zombie violence. Again, not for the squeamish. Really. There are plot lines left hanging, and many characters not fully developed, which is fine for those who are quickly killed off, but not for others. For example, my favorite secondary character (Yeltsin) needed a bit more backstory, and I was sorry to see him go, then reappear, then have his head ripped from his body. But that’s what you should expect from a zombie novel. The way Beaudoin ties up some other plot points happens a bit too conveniently, and the last 50 pages or so are open to some debate. Still, this book offers extremely sharp cultural skewering – from fast food to commodification culture, Beaudoin takes it all on, in an over-the-top fashion slightly reminiscent of Libba Bray’s Beauty Queens. Not for younger readers, not for the faint of heart, but highly recommended. I could not put this one down. Extra hilarity points for the many “Zombrules” throughout the text, which provide helpful tips for surviving a zombie plague, as well as the arrest sheets of the different IT boys at the end of the book.
Nick spends his high school days caring for his younger sister, who has Asperger’s, and his father, who has lost his touch with reality after losing his R&D job at Rebozzo’s chicken production facility. Nick also works part-time at that same facility, where he debones birds, and pines away for Petal, a classmate who also works at the factory. When Nick accidentally cuts himself, and bleeds rapidly and grotesquely all over the place, he is convicted of property destruction and sabotage. As punishment, he is sentenced to three months’ time at Inward Trek, a juvenile boot camp. Nick is assigned a new name (Nero), and loaded onto the van with eight other boys, for some wilderness counseling and rehabilitation.
Once in the woods, high up in the mountains of northern California, things rapidly take a turn for the worse. For unknown reasons, some of the IT party turn into zombies overnight, quickly mauling and infecting others in the group. No one on the mountain seems unaffected, and hikers, children, and high school cheerleaders and football players soon appear as part of the ravenous hoard. Nero and a few survivors try to outrun and outlast the zombies, and eventually locate a hunting lodge near the mountain’s peak. There, they meet some of the surviving Inward Trek girls’ group, and work to fight their way out of the encroaching flesh-eaters. It’s after their rescue, however (not really a spoiler), that things take some turns which set this book apart from the normal zombie fare.
This is just a fun, entertaining read, and you have to be in the right frame of mind (i.e., vulgar, pitch-black sense of humor, not easily grossed out) to truly enjoy it. Beaudoin is a very skilled writer, with sharp, witty dialogue and *extremely* vivid depictions of zombie violence. Again, not for the squeamish. Really. There are plot lines left hanging, and many characters not fully developed, which is fine for those who are quickly killed off, but not for others. For example, my favorite secondary character (Yeltsin) needed a bit more backstory, and I was sorry to see him go, then reappear, then have his head ripped from his body. But that’s what you should expect from a zombie novel. The way Beaudoin ties up some other plot points happens a bit too conveniently, and the last 50 pages or so are open to some debate. Still, this book offers extremely sharp cultural skewering – from fast food to commodification culture, Beaudoin takes it all on, in an over-the-top fashion slightly reminiscent of Libba Bray’s Beauty Queens. Not for younger readers, not for the faint of heart, but highly recommended. I could not put this one down. Extra hilarity points for the many “Zombrules” throughout the text, which provide helpful tips for surviving a zombie plague, as well as the arrest sheets of the different IT boys at the end of the book.
May 17, 2012
First of all, I want to say, this e-galley did NOT like me. There were 10-ish pages that *refused* to load on my Nook toward the beginning, so I have no idea how Nick ended up from the chicken factory to being on the bus. I also don't know if the 'end' was the end I read, because the ending of the book kept screwing up, too. I felt like I was missing a chapter or two, but I have no clue. I tried opening the e-galley on my computer and had the same issues.
So, that being said...
Cover: 3/5 Interesting design, easy on the eyes, matches the story well. I can't say it's a cover I would've stopped in the store for, but it goes along with the book.
Characters: 3/5 There were some really fun and interesting characters. I loved Yeltsin and Swann the most, I think. And Nero/Nick and his sister. Sadly, there were so many half-developed characters that were on the brink of being explored and then...it kind of cuts off and drops a lot of character-building things.
Plot: 3/5 I loved the concept. LOVED. It was the execution that flunked for me...in places. This was a fairly long book, all things considered. The Infects don't even show up until around page 100, which means we have 100 pages of Nick working, being at home, getting arrested, etc. 100 pages to get to zombies...in a zombie novel. Had the beginning been cut down to 30-50 pages, it would've made the pacing so much better.
There were parts that were awesome...parts not-so-awesome and a little hard to follow. The idea that a company has gone through this contamination problem not once, but MANY times, is fascinating, and that it spreads so quickly via a fast food chain everyone loves. (Imagine if the beef at McDonald's got contaminated. How fast would that spread in a single day??)
Writing: 3/5 THE INFECTS has very entertaining writing. I loved the voice of it, the poeticness of the narration...but sometimes it could be a bit hard to follow. Especially in the mountains, and again in the house trying to fend off the Infects, I felt sort of lost as to who was where and what kind of room they were in. The writing wasn't terribly clear. But, again, great voice and some of the phrasing, Nick-to-Nero and back again, was lovely.
Overall: 3/5 This was a fun book. A heavier read than, say, THE OTHER LIFE, or other zombie novels I've read, but still fun and worth the time to read. I do wish the e-galley hadn't screwed up so much, and I wish some parts had a little more clarity and explanation. But if you want a good male POV book with gore, zombies, and plenty of typical-teenaged-boy humor, you'll enjoy this one.
So, that being said...
Cover: 3/5 Interesting design, easy on the eyes, matches the story well. I can't say it's a cover I would've stopped in the store for, but it goes along with the book.
Characters: 3/5 There were some really fun and interesting characters. I loved Yeltsin and Swann the most, I think. And Nero/Nick and his sister. Sadly, there were so many half-developed characters that were on the brink of being explored and then...it kind of cuts off and drops a lot of character-building things.
Plot: 3/5 I loved the concept. LOVED. It was the execution that flunked for me...in places. This was a fairly long book, all things considered. The Infects don't even show up until around page 100, which means we have 100 pages of Nick working, being at home, getting arrested, etc. 100 pages to get to zombies...in a zombie novel. Had the beginning been cut down to 30-50 pages, it would've made the pacing so much better.
There were parts that were awesome...parts not-so-awesome and a little hard to follow. The idea that a company has gone through this contamination problem not once, but MANY times, is fascinating, and that it spreads so quickly via a fast food chain everyone loves. (Imagine if the beef at McDonald's got contaminated. How fast would that spread in a single day??)
Writing: 3/5 THE INFECTS has very entertaining writing. I loved the voice of it, the poeticness of the narration...but sometimes it could be a bit hard to follow. Especially in the mountains, and again in the house trying to fend off the Infects, I felt sort of lost as to who was where and what kind of room they were in. The writing wasn't terribly clear. But, again, great voice and some of the phrasing, Nick-to-Nero and back again, was lovely.
Overall: 3/5 This was a fun book. A heavier read than, say, THE OTHER LIFE, or other zombie novels I've read, but still fun and worth the time to read. I do wish the e-galley hadn't screwed up so much, and I wish some parts had a little more clarity and explanation. But if you want a good male POV book with gore, zombies, and plenty of typical-teenaged-boy humor, you'll enjoy this one.
December 27, 2016
I give this book 4.5/5 stars!
Think Holes meets Zombieland. The Infects follows a teenage boy, Nick Sole, who works at a chicken processing facility. One day, he finds himself accepting a promotion to work in the mysterious Blue Room, as a butcher. A little while later, he is so exhausted from butchering day after day, that he lands his knife right into his palm. Nick freaks and instead of hitting the emergency stop, he starts removing the chickens from the belt. He winds himself in juvie camp for destruction of property.
Then things start going a little funny. Enter zombies!
I really enjoyed this book. The book is told from Nick's point-of-view. I find it so easy to read the male perspective and Beaudoin really captured the spirit and humor of a teenage dude. I found myself laughing, really snorting and guffawing, at many parts in the book. I love how it started out - I was sucking up every single word of the beginning and pleasantly surprised when it was unveiled (no spoilers for you all - you'll just have to read it to see what I mean :P). It's really easy to get attached to the different characters and really want to know what happens next. You have Nick's love interest Petal, who is kind of mysterious, and then you have Swann, a total badass, crazy b@#$h, who you kind of love to hate and hate to love. There are flashback chapters to Nick's childhood, that give you so much insight on Nick's life. Not to mention, I am in love with how each chapter has a chicken and with each passing chapter, there is a blood splatter header that gets bigger and bigger. Plus the ending is just killer!
Beaudoin weaved a super awesome zombie story that I think is unlike any zombie tale I've ever seen, heard, or read! I highly recommend it to anyone who likes zombie stories or humorous books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for the opportunity to read this book!
Think Holes meets Zombieland. The Infects follows a teenage boy, Nick Sole, who works at a chicken processing facility. One day, he finds himself accepting a promotion to work in the mysterious Blue Room, as a butcher. A little while later, he is so exhausted from butchering day after day, that he lands his knife right into his palm. Nick freaks and instead of hitting the emergency stop, he starts removing the chickens from the belt. He winds himself in juvie camp for destruction of property.
Then things start going a little funny. Enter zombies!
I really enjoyed this book. The book is told from Nick's point-of-view. I find it so easy to read the male perspective and Beaudoin really captured the spirit and humor of a teenage dude. I found myself laughing, really snorting and guffawing, at many parts in the book. I love how it started out - I was sucking up every single word of the beginning and pleasantly surprised when it was unveiled (no spoilers for you all - you'll just have to read it to see what I mean :P). It's really easy to get attached to the different characters and really want to know what happens next. You have Nick's love interest Petal, who is kind of mysterious, and then you have Swann, a total badass, crazy b@#$h, who you kind of love to hate and hate to love. There are flashback chapters to Nick's childhood, that give you so much insight on Nick's life. Not to mention, I am in love with how each chapter has a chicken and with each passing chapter, there is a blood splatter header that gets bigger and bigger. Plus the ending is just killer!
Beaudoin weaved a super awesome zombie story that I think is unlike any zombie tale I've ever seen, heard, or read! I highly recommend it to anyone who likes zombie stories or humorous books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for the opportunity to read this book!
October 20, 2012
First Impression:
The only thing I expect from Sean Beaudoin is to entertain me immensely in a way I never expected to be. I have enjoyed everything I have read by him and couldn't wait for this zombie tale.
While Reading:
Nero is in a really strange situation. He lives with his little sister who is definitely on the autism spectrum from her behaviors and his dad does not work. So it's up to Nero, who works at a chicken factory. The one that produces all of the chicken for a very popular fast food place. He gets promoted to being a butcher and for some reason hurts himself and ends up ruining thousands of dollars of equipment in the process. So, he's off to a juvie camp that is in the wilderness. Unfortunately for them, his counselors have been infected thanks to the chicken, along with the one female prisoner they have ended up taking on.
Nero and the other boys have to get away before they are turned into flesh-eating zombies. But these zombies are a bit different from your usual ones. At least some are, like the girl prisoner who seems to creep up on Nero when you are least expecting it and has seemed to taken a liking to him in a sense other than eating. Strange, right? This book was insanely entertaining and I read it in a night. The characters are fantastically written, the situations are insane and a little strange. I just loved every minute of it.
Final Verdict:
Beaudoin always has the most unique books and this really stood out. It's more than just a zombie survival novel. It's sexy, gorey and insane all at once but also really captivating. Definitely a book that will turn the wheels in your brain and take you for a ride.
The only thing I expect from Sean Beaudoin is to entertain me immensely in a way I never expected to be. I have enjoyed everything I have read by him and couldn't wait for this zombie tale.
While Reading:
Nero is in a really strange situation. He lives with his little sister who is definitely on the autism spectrum from her behaviors and his dad does not work. So it's up to Nero, who works at a chicken factory. The one that produces all of the chicken for a very popular fast food place. He gets promoted to being a butcher and for some reason hurts himself and ends up ruining thousands of dollars of equipment in the process. So, he's off to a juvie camp that is in the wilderness. Unfortunately for them, his counselors have been infected thanks to the chicken, along with the one female prisoner they have ended up taking on.
Nero and the other boys have to get away before they are turned into flesh-eating zombies. But these zombies are a bit different from your usual ones. At least some are, like the girl prisoner who seems to creep up on Nero when you are least expecting it and has seemed to taken a liking to him in a sense other than eating. Strange, right? This book was insanely entertaining and I read it in a night. The characters are fantastically written, the situations are insane and a little strange. I just loved every minute of it.
Final Verdict:
Beaudoin always has the most unique books and this really stood out. It's more than just a zombie survival novel. It's sexy, gorey and insane all at once but also really captivating. Definitely a book that will turn the wheels in your brain and take you for a ride.
September 3, 2012
I received this book from NetGalley.
Nick is your typical teenage boy. His parents are divorced, his dad has gone off the deep end so Nick helps take care of his sister Amanda who has Aspbergers, when he’s not in high school or working at Rebozzo Aviraculture. (aka a chicken factory) Things in his life are moving along: There’s a girl he wants to ask out, he gets a promotion at work, slices open his hand, gets fired- then arrested and sent to a camp for troubled youth where he is given the handle Nero. And if that’s not enough, the camp's attacked by zombies. Nothing too strange, right?
The Infects is an unusually awesome book that is funny, irreverent, campy and clever. And I love clever. The story is told in a great, masculine, voice that is very authentic. You want to hear more from Nick/Nero and get his take on things. Where many teen/YA books are geared toward girls and romance, this story will grab both male and female readers a like. Girls will most definitely want to date Nick, and the guys will want to follow him into the next book.
If you want to go on a wild ride through a zombie filled camp for troubled youth, this is your book.
If you want to read a book that looks at the world from the view of a teenage guy, this is your book.
If you love chicken, laughter, adventure, gore, girls and zombies, don’t walk, RUN out and get this book. But keep one eye open for zombies when you do…
Thanks for Reading my Mind!
Check out my blog http://readingmymindreviews.blogspot....
Nick is your typical teenage boy. His parents are divorced, his dad has gone off the deep end so Nick helps take care of his sister Amanda who has Aspbergers, when he’s not in high school or working at Rebozzo Aviraculture. (aka a chicken factory) Things in his life are moving along: There’s a girl he wants to ask out, he gets a promotion at work, slices open his hand, gets fired- then arrested and sent to a camp for troubled youth where he is given the handle Nero. And if that’s not enough, the camp's attacked by zombies. Nothing too strange, right?
The Infects is an unusually awesome book that is funny, irreverent, campy and clever. And I love clever. The story is told in a great, masculine, voice that is very authentic. You want to hear more from Nick/Nero and get his take on things. Where many teen/YA books are geared toward girls and romance, this story will grab both male and female readers a like. Girls will most definitely want to date Nick, and the guys will want to follow him into the next book.
If you want to go on a wild ride through a zombie filled camp for troubled youth, this is your book.
If you want to read a book that looks at the world from the view of a teenage guy, this is your book.
If you love chicken, laughter, adventure, gore, girls and zombies, don’t walk, RUN out and get this book. But keep one eye open for zombies when you do…
Thanks for Reading my Mind!
Check out my blog http://readingmymindreviews.blogspot....
May 19, 2015
THE INFECTS is a fun fast-pasted zombie book that's sarcastic and rib-tickling. It's the type of book I'd suggest to a friend who wanted something that wasn't scary or mind-taxing, just entertaining and clever.
The story is about Nick. He's a teen who's father has gone off the deep end. Nick and his little sister refer to him as The Dude, and since he lost his job, Nick has been supporting the family by working at a chicken slaughter house. If that's not strange enough, the girl Nick is ga-ga over works there too, and they eye one another over the hacked up remains of chicky-nuggets-to-be.
Nick's family is struggling along until one day Nick gets put on a special line. This not only means a big raise for him, but his dad gets asked back to the plant to work. Woohoo! Good times at last. Unfortunately they don't last very long. Before he knows it, people are acting strange and Nick finds himself arrested and sent to a juvie-outdoors retreat. That's were the zombies first appear.
From there out it's kids versus zombies. The plot twists this way and that, with a different sort of ending.
If you are in the mood for an off the beat Z-read, The Infects could be just the book you're looking for. I found it enjoyable and well worth the time.
Pam T~
mom/blogger/z-lover?
The story is about Nick. He's a teen who's father has gone off the deep end. Nick and his little sister refer to him as The Dude, and since he lost his job, Nick has been supporting the family by working at a chicken slaughter house. If that's not strange enough, the girl Nick is ga-ga over works there too, and they eye one another over the hacked up remains of chicky-nuggets-to-be.
Nick's family is struggling along until one day Nick gets put on a special line. This not only means a big raise for him, but his dad gets asked back to the plant to work. Woohoo! Good times at last. Unfortunately they don't last very long. Before he knows it, people are acting strange and Nick finds himself arrested and sent to a juvie-outdoors retreat. That's were the zombies first appear.
From there out it's kids versus zombies. The plot twists this way and that, with a different sort of ending.
If you are in the mood for an off the beat Z-read, The Infects could be just the book you're looking for. I found it enjoyable and well worth the time.
Pam T~
mom/blogger/z-lover?
October 29, 2014
Booooored.
So here's a lesson that maybe some authors - or just people - need to learn: Just writing about a thing, while pointing out the flaws or inconsistencies or cliches in that thing, isn't satire. And it's not particularly entertaining, in and of itself. It's just... lazy.
I get that this was supposed to be a satire of zombie novels. But instead it was just weak writing, depending on pointing out cliches in an attempt to be snarky or satirical, while in fact depending on those same cliches. The characters were nonexistent, blending together enough that I had to keep flipping back to the page where they were all described (in a numbered list) to remember which one was which. The plot was painfully thin, and mostly nonsense.
Also, Middleman already did it. Better, and more entertainingly, and with more internal consistency.
It wasn't atrocious - there were some witty turns of phrase, and a decent stab at diversity (for all that the characters were indistinguishable in terms of behavior). But all in all? Weak sauce. It could have been a lot more than just dull filler, with a better plot, better humor, or better.... well, anything, really.
At least it didn't try to tackle science?
So here's a lesson that maybe some authors - or just people - need to learn: Just writing about a thing, while pointing out the flaws or inconsistencies or cliches in that thing, isn't satire. And it's not particularly entertaining, in and of itself. It's just... lazy.
I get that this was supposed to be a satire of zombie novels. But instead it was just weak writing, depending on pointing out cliches in an attempt to be snarky or satirical, while in fact depending on those same cliches. The characters were nonexistent, blending together enough that I had to keep flipping back to the page where they were all described (in a numbered list) to remember which one was which. The plot was painfully thin, and mostly nonsense.
Also, Middleman already did it. Better, and more entertainingly, and with more internal consistency.
It wasn't atrocious - there were some witty turns of phrase, and a decent stab at diversity (for all that the characters were indistinguishable in terms of behavior). But all in all? Weak sauce. It could have been a lot more than just dull filler, with a better plot, better humor, or better.... well, anything, really.
At least it didn't try to tackle science?
June 30, 2016
2.5*
The Infects was a book I had a hard time liking. I really didn't care for the writing. It seemed a bit boring for me. I wanted more zombie action. I needed more action period. Instead of the characters being interesting I found them a bit boring. No real character development for any of them except the main character and his family. The only character I seemed to like was Amanda. She's not in the book nearly enough.
I liked all the gore and that there were some badass chicks. But the book ended up being something I just wanted to finish and get over with instead of wanting to read it because I was enjoying it. It was too slow for me. I was expecting a fast pace zombie ruling world. I got some of that, but not enough. A lot of people liked the book and thought it was amazing. I'm not sure what exactly I missed that they read in the book for it to be amazing. There was plenty of gore and all, but I didn't get the creepy-scary zombie book I wanted.
The Infects was a book I had a hard time liking. I really didn't care for the writing. It seemed a bit boring for me. I wanted more zombie action. I needed more action period. Instead of the characters being interesting I found them a bit boring. No real character development for any of them except the main character and his family. The only character I seemed to like was Amanda. She's not in the book nearly enough.
I liked all the gore and that there were some badass chicks. But the book ended up being something I just wanted to finish and get over with instead of wanting to read it because I was enjoying it. It was too slow for me. I was expecting a fast pace zombie ruling world. I got some of that, but not enough. A lot of people liked the book and thought it was amazing. I'm not sure what exactly I missed that they read in the book for it to be amazing. There was plenty of gore and all, but I didn't get the creepy-scary zombie book I wanted.
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