10 Zombie Books to Read in 2018
There's a lot of junk literature in the Zombie Apocalypse genre of science fiction. Of course there are a lot of great rated zombie classics like World War Z and The Zombie Survival Guide, but there are lots of good books being published every month by new authors. Here is a good list of some of the most highly rated new Zombie Apocalypse books.
#10 Extinction War
An army advances...
In Europe, Master Sergeant Joe Fitzpatrick and Team Ghost return from a mission deep into enemy territory only to find that the Variant army has grown stronger, and they are advancing toward the EUF's stronghold in Paris.
On the brink of Civil War...
Back in the United States, President Ringgold and Dr. Kate Lovato are on the run. The Safe Zone Territories continue to rally behind the ROT flag, leaving Ringgold more enemies than allies. But there are still those who will stand and fight for America. Captain Rachel Davis and Captain Reed Beckham will risk everything to defeat ROT and save the country from collapsing into Civil War.
Humanity may be its own worst enemy... pick up the series that D. J. Molles said "delivers unrelenting, unmerciful action" before it's too late!
#9 Slow Burn: Sanctum
Will Any Sanctuary Stand? With both the Naked Horde and the Survivor Army destroyed, Zed and Murphy make their preparations and head to College Station to do their small part in salvaging humanity’s future. But the post-virus world isn’t kind to humans or their plans and nothing they find on their journey is what they expected. Slow Burn Zombie Apocalypse Series Book 1 – Zero Day Book 2 – Infected Book 3 – Destroyer Book 4 – Dead Fire Book 5 – Torrent Book 6 – Bleed Book 7 – City of Stin Book 8 - Grind Book 9 - Sanctum
"The author continues with a great series. I won't summarize because 1) spoilers and 2) if you read this series, the author does the readers a great service by beginning each book with a quick synopsis of each previous installment... a very helpful service that I wish all series authors would adopt.
Slow Burn 9 is on the same quality level as all previous installments - I can't think of a single weak entry in the series. If you're new to the series, really start at the beginning! It'll be worth it. If you've followed along, you will not be disappointed by this book. Well. perhaps a bit by how quickly you read through it to find out what's happening with our protagonists."
#8 Zombie Fallout 9: Tattered Remnants
In a world overrun by zombies, one family struggles against all odds to hold on. With three vampires closing in can the Talbot family withstand the coming onslaught? Or will they become a footnote in the history of the apocalypse.
The long awaited continuation of Zombie Fallout and Talbot's comedy of errors that is his life continues. While I thoroughly enjoyed this installment, it is a bit darker than the previous ones. But it is still Michael Talbot and there are enough laughs, chuckles and tears to keep every Talbot/Tufo fan happy.
The Eliza saga is over which led to the Demense group and the wild ride that left us breathless. But it was all a prelude for what was to come. ZF9 is the beginning of another twist in the life, past, present and future of Michael Talbot. At the end of ZF8 we get a glimpse of Payne, Charity and Sofia, the three vamps that are determined to learn who is responsible for Eliza's death.
Do they care, no but they are curious and three curious vamps are three too many. (possible spoilers) They arrive and humanity, what is left of it, will tremble once again. The Talbot clan has regrouped and do what they do best, survive. But not without a serious confrontation that will leave everyone reeling on so many levels.
However we do see the beginning of another twist in the Talbot saga, a small hint of what is to come. If you've been following our intrepid hero then you will immediately know as he is reminded of other realities and perhaps a glimpse of what the future holds for him. New players are slowly introduced that will undoubtedly reveal more but for now all we can do is wait for the next installment to learn more about the mystery that is Michael Talbot.
#7 Zombie Patrol
Los Angeles County park ranger, Jack Carter, is about to discover that not all is as it seems in his tranquil life. Once responsible for patrolling the many public parks, in particular the popular Griffith Park with its famous observatory and zoo, Jack is about to discover that a whole new kind of animal roams his woods.
Good characters. Basic zombie plot until a unique twist makes this a bit more than expected. I was a little disappointed we didn't get further into the apocalypse. The premise is so played out I could have done with a little less "this is how we got there" and a little more of "this is what we're doing to survive."
I like the main character and can easily root for him in the apocalypse. A little like season 1 Rick Grimes if you're a TWD fan - very concerned with keeping everyone safe, protecting family, dealing with stuff you can't possible think you'll ever deal with. The daughter is a bit whiny and a know it all but I guess someone has to be super brilliant when the world goes to heck in a handbasket. I do think the Agent in Black thing is a bit much - I can hear Rod Sterling's voice in the back of my head when we get to his POV. He's too "unbelievable" to be taken seriously.
#6 Mordacious (The City Series)
Sylvie Rossi has the loner thing down pat, with the exception of her best friend, Grace. But when the two are trapped in a hospital during the last gasp of a dying city, alone time is no longer an option. A nurse’s offer of sanctuary promises Sylvie the supplies she needs to survive the zombie apocalypse–it’s the coexisting with people that might do her in.
Eric Forrest will do whatever it takes to get into the dead city for his sister, including ending up dead himself. He’s used to taking risks, but with every mile he travels death looks likelier and likelier, and finding his sister may be his only prospect for survival—if he can make it home. Sylvie doesn’t need more than food, water and shelter. Eric wants only to find his sister. But sometimes what we think we need isn’t what we need at all, and what we find is more than we expected.
Mordacious starts off with Sylvie in the hospital with her mother, that is in the later stages of death. What I loved about this story was that the author gave Sylvie a connection with the first series - in a round about way in the beginning- by connecting Sylvie and Grace with Maria (Penny and Anna's mother). Then enter Eric - Cassie's brother. I'm so glad this series focuses on NYC because we know in the first book that Eric was trying to get to Cassie, but due to loss of communication devices, we never knew what happened. This book takes you on a ride, but it's so good.
You don't have to read the first series first to begin this book. They each have their own entities, but at some point I do recommend it. The characters are very well written and it's an wonderful adventure of survival as is this one. I patiently await the second book- Peripeteia - but it is going to be a long wait until 2017. Until then, read this series and the other- it's well worth the read!! 5 stars
#5 Abyss: Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse
ABYSS: SURVIVING THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE "A gut-wrenching, hard hitting series that will leave you breathless." John O'Brien - Best-selling author of the New World series "Shawn Chesser is a master of the zombie genre."
Outbreak - Day 1 Presidents, premiers, entire governments disappeared instantly, like a fragile house of cards in a hurricane. Some hid deep underground or holed up in fortified strongholds, but most were swallowed up by the dead, never to be heard from again. abyss NOUN A deep or seemingly bottomless chasm. A wide or profound difference between people. The regions of hell conceived of as a bottomless pit. A catastrophic situation seen as likely to occur. For Cade Grayson—doting father, faithful husband, and patriotic Delta Force operator—the above definitions are much more than mere words following a dictionary heading: They all make up his new reality. Following a successful mission to the nation’s former capital, Cade returns to the compound in rural Utah to find his life irrevocably altered. Five days later and still reeling from the catastrophic event that pushed him physically and mentally to the edge of the metaphorical abyss—Cade sets out to fulfill a longstanding promise: escort his daughter, Raven, outside the wire to begin the long process of honing the skills she will need to survive the zombie apocalypse. But things happen while they are away that put the integrity of the compound and the lives of its survivors in jeopardy. After unknown entities make a surprise appearance outside the Eden compound wire, and suspicions arise among the survivors that one of their own may not hold the group’s best interests at heart, Cade sets out on a new mission saddled with many more questions than he has answers for. Will Cade find outside the wire all that he is searching for? Will the Eden survivors discover a traitor in their midst while Cade is away? Most importantly: After looking into their own personal abyss, will the denizens of Eden ever be the same? Discover who has what it takes to survive the Zombie Apocalypse ... and who doesn’t.
#4 The Apocalypse War: The Undead World Novel
Just when you thought it was safe...
The people of the Estes Valley have found their peace destroyed as they are attacked by the single greatest army left in the world. Not only do they have to contend with an army of men equipped with the latest hi-tech military gear, they also have to battle a horde of undead half a million strong.
But, perhaps worse than all of this, they have to deal with a seven year old girl--Jillybean. Cruelly coerced into helping her enemies, Jillybean bends her mind to the destruction of the valley, the death of kings and the loss of her own soul, and when Jillybean puts her mind to something there's no saving it, ever. Against this overwhelming force is pitted the iron in Grey's muscles, the quickness of Sadie's feet, the determination in Deanna's steel blue eyes and...and small and weak Neil Martin whose greatest gift is seeing the good in people and ruthlessly killing them if he has to. The Apocalypse War is upon them and survival is all that matters.
#3 Conspiracy Theory (The Zombie Theories)
Immunity. Everyone wants it. One man has it. Our hero, if you can call him that, must escape from the government facility he is incarcerated in. Escape the certifiable, alphabet-agency super-spook who seized him and dragged him across the country. Elude an army of doctors and soldiers who think he is the answer to the plague of the living dead. Flee back to his friends, a continent away.
Can he safely traverse a ruined United States crawling with insatiable, infected cannibals? Should he stay in the impregnable fortress, do his duty, and submit to the testing in hopes he can save everyone?
What’s an immune, arrogant, rude, criminal to do?
"Once you read enough of this genre, it becomes clear most books follow one of a handful of formulas. Nothing wrong with that. However, on the rare occasion, a writer takes a chance on something outside the norm and makes it work. I was not completely sold after the first book, but there is no question now. This is an excellent series that I cannot wait to continue."
#2 The Apocalypse Executioner: The Undead World
The war with the Azael has left the people of Estes Valley weakened and isolated in their mountain retreat. Supplies of fuel and ammo are dangerously low and yet Neil bets most of what he has left on a gamble to find Jillybean, who was last seen in the forests of Missouri.
Neil is the only one who sees in the little girl a chance at a new beginning. He hopes to harness her genius for the benefit of the valley, but when the gamble fails he must send the only two people he can trust out into a dangerous world to gather more supplies.
Sadie and Captain Grey set off with a squad of soldiers…and are not heard from again.
For Jillybean, months alone without the endless danger, the mind-shaking explosions, and the screams that haunt her day and night have left the wounds on her psyche, tenuously scarred over. She can function and her mind is as razor sharp as it has ever been, but now she is cold and grim.
She’s also as desperate for love as always, and on her own, she finds her way back to the valley, only to discover that the rumors of her murderous past have grown and the people of the valley have been turned against her.
With nothing to lose and her family in desperate trouble, some missing, some on the edge of banishment, she agrees to go on one more adventure. It’s an all or nothing gamble with her life and the lives of anyone foolish enough to get in her way, on the line.
#1 A Place Outside The Wild
"This might be one of the best zombie books I've read."
"You WILL NOT be disappointed!"
"(A) refreshing new twist to the traditional zombie apocalypse tale."
"World War Z meets Rot and Ruin."
From the back cover:
Eight years after Z-Day, the surviving remnants of mankind face the unknown. The fences and walls kept the ravenous undead at bay until they wasted away. A once overwhelming foe has turned feeble and weak, and a world gone wild seems ripe for reclamation.The scars of the long war run deep. And hope is a dangerous thing when the real enemy might just be the survivors themselves.
They survived "Z-Day" and have begun rebuilding civilization. But can they overcome the enemy within in time to triumph over the re-emerging enemy outside? This is no cheap horror story where you'll cringe at the stupidity of helpless, hopeless victims. Instead, Humphreys portrays heroic survivors rebuilding civilization and defending it against threats internal and external. Check it out!
Red Pill Zombie Apocalypse Survival Tips
Be armed before the apocalypse starts.
You don’t want to be looking for guns and ammo when there is chaos all around. Exercise your 2nd amendment right. And practice with your tools.
You do not want to face zombies and be unarmed, even if they are not so smart or quick or powerful, they will be too dangerous to fight bare handed. Firearms are good, but you should also have some side weapons you can use if you run out of bullets, or if they get too close. Anything’s good: knives, swords, axes or even poleaxes if you know how to use one properly. Blunt weapons are also good, but you must wear protection goggles and a mask, or something to protect your face from the splash.
Get Food and Supplies
Again, ideally you would have most of the basics before the apocalypse begins. You don’t want to have to worry about scavenging for food when the streets are full of blood. Make sure you have necessary medical supplies for your family, as well. Especially if they are vital to their health. Ideally, have enough food and water for at least 6 months. That’s not too hard to do and it can be done cheap, as long as you’re willing to eat to survive and not be picky about your calories.
You can store rice, beans, pastas and lentils very easily. And they are cheap to buy. All you need to do is add water and season and that will be enough to sustain you.
Test: Would you Survive the Zombie Apocalypse?
Decide whether you are going to bug-out and get out of Dodge, or if you are going to bug-out in place.
This really depends on if you are in a major city or not. It also depends on if you can beat the rush out of the city. That is why you need to be decisive. Once it looks like the undead horde is real and not a hoax, you need to make the decision Time Now. Because if you hesitate and stay just an hour or two too long, then you will get stuck in a major traffic jam on all major roads.
Then you are zombie bait.
If you bug-out, get out early. Bottom line.
If you decide to bug-out in place, then make sure you are prepared and equipped to stay in-place and ride out the worst in the city. It will be bad for several weeks. If the zombies prevail, they will be everywhere.
If they are killed out, then there will be brigands and bandits everywhere. Looting, killing and raping. Trust no one that comes to your home during this time.
Barricade your home.
If you decide to bug-out in place and stay in your home, then you need to fortify it. Shutter all windows. Reinforce garage doors and sliding glass doors especially.
Use Armor
Zombies bite and spread infection that way. Make sure when you are preparing to go out on the streets that you have the proper attire to help you survive an unseen ambush.
Get a neoprene wetsuit, not leather or metal. It's lightweight and made to withstand small fish bites (sharp teeth), so it'll fend of ex-human teeth. Yes, I have and use one for ocean swimming when there aren't any zombies around. Sports manufacturers also make hoods and gloves.
Get Survivors
After you have enough supplies, and your home and the surroundings are safe, you should start searching for survivors. Even if you are the only one of your group still alive, you’ll end up going mad if you remain alone. Start with the small towns around you. It will be quite easy if you have a zombie proof car. Just go to the town limits and honk. If zombies are there, they will head in your direction and you can just leave; alternatively you will recognize the survivors and can form a group. Safety in numbers!
Best Red Pill comment on this subject:
“Remember you’re not the only person leaving the city. Highways and Interstates were created for the military to travel on (look it up if you don’t believe me); so they will most likely be closed off for the quarantine the city will be in. If you have that Invincible-Man syndrome, where you think nothing can stop you and you’re the most badass killer in the world, and try to get past an active military blockade; you are dead.
Experience, if you have a group, figure out the strengths and weaknesses of the group.
Example: I am a woman, 26 years of age and work at as Human Resources in a hospital; That is what can be said on the outside, ask about background experience; my background experience is I was a police marksman (or sniper as some people call it) for 4 years. Sun Zhu: "Know thyself, Know thy enemy, 1000 battles, 1000 victories".
Weapons, what do you know about your weapon. If your weapon was to jam or misfire do you know how to fix the problem? Knowing your weapon is as easy as reading its instruction manual and taking it apart and reassembling it for an hour. Availability of ammunition is also a factor to think about, look up how much a single case of .44 mag or .45 ACP costs. If the zombie attack happened, it is already to late to go to the gun store, because no less than 10000 people are heading to the gun store you wanted to loot.
Practice with you weapon at your convenience so you know how it fires. Also remember: Steady position, proper sight picture, proper breathing, and proper trigger.
Those fundamental will improve your accuracy, but I am not saying to sit close to the zombies and slowly shoot them, common sense is required.
Trust no one outside your group at first. When you meet new survivors be cautious, they could have whatever caused the zombie plague or they could be looters. "Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet".
Remember zombies will not be your only enemy, sooner or later you will run into people who want what you have.
In conclusion, if you believe this will ever happen have a plan with Abc alternates. Use common sense like: weight of equipment, noise factor, and everything else. Know your needs and wants; such as, survival needs and wanting a new T.V. Understand sooner or later common services will go down, these are: Electricity, Water, and Fuel. Outsmart the common survivor by using your common sense and knowledge. Good luck on surviving everyone, that’s if something like this even happens.”
Other Good Ideas: I don't know if these will work against zombies, but it doesn't hurt to experiment:
Fireworks: If the zombies aren't blind, they would just stand there, hypnotized, and suddenly it's time for target practice. You can even fire it directly at them!
Meat: Rotten or not, a zombie's sense of smell(if they have one) would mistake it as human flesh, giving you ample time to shoot its brains(again, if the have one) out while it's having its mid-day snack.
Pitfalls: Cover it with big leaves, lure a zombie to it, then it becomes your zombie trash can! The deeper, the better, as the zombies starve to death while trying to climb or dig out of there.
Gasoline: Turns the act of rubbing two sticks into the act of incinerating a town's worth of zombies. Any other flammable chemicals work too.
So many ways to kill a zombie, too bad there's only 6.5 billion of them.
When there is a zombie attack, all you need to do is get small crew together (4 or 5 people, and I would suggest a dog if you want) dogs can sense danger and zombies have no interest in animals. and you shouldn’t carry big suitcases of food and supplies. if your using a car you can carry a lot if you need but at some time you’re going to need to abandon it. and learn how to use a weapon, train with it and work out a lot. Also, in WWZ you’ll only need to survive for about 5 years because all a zombie is, is rotting flesh so there going to decompose. A safe place to be is on a lake, on a boat but not a island because zombies don’t have to breath and can walk under water to the island, also if you’re on a boat don’t use an anchor. I hope this helps you when the time comes