Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #38920 in Books
• Published on: 2007-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 216 pages

Synopsis
Jonah Caine, a lone survivor in a zombie-infested world, struggles to understand the apocalypse in which he lives. Unable to find a moral or sane reason for the horror that surrounds him, he is overwhelmed by violence and insignificance. After wandering for months, Jonah's lonely existence dramatically changes when he discovers a group of survivors. Living in a museum-turned-compound, they are led jointly by Jack, an ever-practical and efficient military man, and Milton, a mysterious, quizzical prophet who holds a strange power over the dead. Both leaders share Jonah's anguish over the brutality of their world, as well as his hope for its beauty. Together with others, they build a community that reestablishes an island of order and humanity surrounded by relentless ghouls. But this newfound peace is short-lived, as Jonah and his band of refugees clash with another group of survivors who remind them that the undead are not the only-nor the most grotesque-horrors they must face.

Customer Reviews

An intellectually stimulating zombie novel? Believe it
We're witnessing a veritable zombie renaissance in the horror genre, thanks in no small part to the good folks at Permuted Press and promising new authors such as Kim Paffenroth. As I've said elsewhere, this horror fan had never been that interested in zombie fiction in the past. In and of themselves, zombies are pretty darn boring creatures, just stumbling and moaning around all the time with no real sense of purpose; they're not even evil per se because they have absolutely no higher cognitive functions. Zombies themselves, with their extremely limited capabilities, really haven't changed much, so what explains my enthusiasm over zombie novels such as Dying to Live? It is the authors' newfound focus on the survivors themselves. There's plenty of kill-or-be-killed action in Dying to Live, but the book's strength is its exploration of the human condition. Questions of morality, good and evil, and theology are woven adeptly into the story, thereby earning this zombie novel the distinction of being named "a thinking man's horror novel" (one critic even called it a zombie novel for philosophers).

You have a lot of time to think when you're, as far as you know, the only living survivor of a zombie apocalypse. For months, Jonah Caine has wandered from place to place, struggling to survive on his own. Zombies are seemingly everywhere, leaving him no choice but to kill or be killed on many an occasion - but each kill rests somewhat on his conscience, for he can't forget the humans who once inhabited the horrible walking corpses. Eventually, though, Jonah discovers a group of survivors and joins their society, finding at least a measure of safety behind their museum-turned-compound's walls. There is much variety in the makeup of his new friends and allies, particularly in terms of their feelings for the zombies. Some of them could care less whether the whole thing is the result of an experiment gone wrong, divine retribution, or dumb luck; they just want to kill zombies. There are more practical warriors such as Jack, the group's de facto leader, who brings a military mind to the organized struggle for survival. There is even a somewhat spiritual figure in the form of Milton, a deep and unusual thinker who holds a unique sway over the undead.

As the next few months pass and Jonah becomes more and more a part of the society, sharing many a stimulating conversation with Milton on the theological and cultural implications of the zombie infestation, a true spirit of optimism over the future of both man and his humanity begins to emerge for the first time. Unfortunately for all concerned, however, a new threat suddenly emerges, one far more horrible and cruel than the even the worst of zombies - a second group of survivors who epitomize evil and the complete breakdown of human society.

Clearly, it is author Kim Paffenroth's background that makes for his unique, somewhat philosophical approach to this zombie-infested world. I would be willing to bet that Paffenroth is the only zombie novelist to hold a position of associate professor of religious studies. While he credits George Romero for basically defining the meaning and cultural importance of zombies in mainstream society, Paffenroth draws perhaps even more influence from the writings of St. Augustine, which explains why questions of good and evil in the human mind and soul serve as the true foundation of this impressive novel.

Just because there are all these intellectual ideas floating around, though, you don't have to worry that there won't be much action or a minimum of blood and gore. Fighting zombies and human monsters is pretty bloody work, and Paffenroth doesn't hold anything back in that department. The inhumanity witnessed in the last few chapters is particularly disturbing, so I don't think horror fans will be disappointed in the least, especially as the action moves ahead at a brisk pace throughout. You really should sit back and reflect on some of the big picture issues Paffenroth raises in the context of everything that happens, though, for that type of intellectual interaction with the story makes for a much richer, absolutely unique zombie reading experience.

Thoughtful zombie horror
Jonah is cut adrift in the world, living by his wits, trying to avoid being attacked by the walking dead who have risen up to bite and infect the living. He has lost his family, and civilisation has crumbled around him. He makes his way to a ravaged city, and there is taken in by a community of survivors who have holed up in a large museum by the river. Of course all this sounds very familiar (zombie horror is usually great stuff, but there's a limit to how many variations on it you can do!), but the author makes this a cut-above by creating resourceful, well-rounded characters, and by not being afraid to show his own intelligence.

In "Dying To Live" the main characters haven't lost touch with their humanity, even though they've witnessed horror beyond belief, such as Tanya, who had no choice but to wall up her own children in their bedroom when they became infected. Some of the relgious symbolism I could have done without (comparing Milton, the commune leader, to Jesus for example), but this doesn't detract from the story at all, and it's refreshingly differeent to have a post-apocalyptic story that gives hope for the human race. I would also have liked a bit more of how it all started though. Jonah was on a ship when the epidemic broke out, and they arrive at land to find the world has ended. (But perhaps this is a separate story, a sort of prequel, who knows?). All in all though, I'm always pleased to find an author who treats fans of zombie horror as if they've actually got some intelligence for once. Recommended.

Cerebral apocalyptic zombie novel
I have discovered a real taste for Zombie fiction recently if it's not in bad taste to say so given the appetites of the walking dead. Zombies aren't that interesting per se as they just shamble round , drooling , moaning incoherently and spoiling for flesh. You can get that in any city centre any night of the week . Yet somehow contemporary zombie fiction has made the prospect of a post zombie world alive ,if that's not an oxymoron , with different possibilities. Dying To Live , one of several zombie novels released by the excellent "Permuted Press" , isn't especially original ( apart from one plot point which is very intriguing but isn't really pursued vigorously enough) but it's more philosophical musings on his post apocalyptic existence lend it an erudite and existential air that lifts it above mere fight ,flee and survive fiction.
Jonah Caine has been wandering for months after the world went to hell , surviving through his natural intelligence , experience and avoiding major population centres. Driven by the need to find food he wanders into an un-named city where he is forced to flee hordes of the un-dead , despatching many as he goes , wondering about the human beings who once inhabited the pestilent remains that attack him .Eventually though he comes across a settlement near the river whose inhabitants save him from the ravening hordes. Here he finds a civilised society with rules and a hierarchy . Jack is the groups military leader , Sarah the caring matriarch while the enigmatic Milton is the groups spiritual leader and he and Jonah share a theological discussion on the nature of the zombie infestation that betrays the authors position of Professor of Religious studies.
Jonah is rapidly integrated into the group , undertaking foraging missions for food and the books Milton craves. He also forms a relationship with the feisty Tanya whose violent loathing of the zombies is in direct contrast to the more ruminative one taken by Jonah. Tanya is the surrogate mother to Popcorn an almost feral taciturn young boy but an extremely effective zombie killer. The groups curiously and ironically altruistic approach to other survivors leads them to investigate signs of other humans but this group turn out to be infinitely worse than the zombie masses proving yet again that man for all his embellishments is the most dangerous creature of all .
Dying To Live is a short but exhilarating sojourn through a ravaged world . It lacks the sociological and global sweep of "World War Z" by Max Brooks ( The best zombie novel) the sheer velocity and verve of "The Rising " by Brian Keene ( It's far more sophisticated though) , the basic hell for leather horror of Simon Clark,s "Blood Crazy" or the powerful socio-political scope of David Wellingtons "Monster" series. It's a fine read though , fulfilling the main criteria of horror fiction with lots of gore and inhumanity but it has a didactic bent that makes it far more than just a horror novel.