Terminus - Review

Terminus by Adam Baker

Outpost book two.

Available now

www.hodder.co.uk 

What's it about?

The world has been overrun by a lethal infection, ravaged by a pathogen that leaves its victims locked half-way between life and death. New York, bombed to prevent the spread of the disease, has been reduced to radioactive rubble. A rescue squad enters the subway tunnels beneath Manhattan, searching for the one man who can create an antidote. The squad battle floodwaters, lethal radiation and infected, irradiated survivors as they race against the disease that threatens to extinguish the human race.

My review

Terminus was another gripping read from Adam Baker, its the conclusion to his brilliant Outpost trilogy and I feel like I've been waiting forever to get my hands on it, in truth it was just a few months but I was THAT excited.

Terminus has a similar theme to the other books, its a small group of people stuck in an impossible situation, trying to survive and not all are completely sane characters, making the task that much harder. In ways, it reminded me of the other books, I found the mix of characters to be similar and of course, its the same kind of situation. However, Mr Baker writes an incredible, heart pumping story, full of brutal action with no characters being 'safe.' So you really don't know what will happen next, and some of the things he came up with in this were beyond anything you'll have found in the previous books and will have you cringing back in your seat and your eyes glued to the page.

In all, Terminus is a great conclusion to the story and the author managed to scare the pants off me yet again, I really can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

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666 Followers giveaway

I got up this morning to find I'd gone up 3 followers and hit 666! I knew that was a milestone I just couldn't let pass me by so here's a little giveaway to celebrate!

As 666 is a creepy number I've picked my favourite two horror books and one lucky winner will get to choose which of the two they would like.

Choose from IT by Stephen King or Outpost by Adam Baker

It's international as long as the book depository ships to you so be sure to check first that they do if you're unsure. You can do that HERE.

Just fill in the form to enter.

<a href="http://bookaholicsbkcl.blogspot.com/2012/03/666-followers-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb343/Misty_Price/666.jpg"/></a>

Author interview - Adam Baker

I'm so excited today to have Adam on the blog, for those of you unfamiliar with him, he's the author of the brilliant Outpost and the equally great prequel Juggernaut, which is out today.

There are tons of books and movies about Zombies, but your unique 'metal' Zombies stand out from the crowd, I'm sure you’re asked all the time but where did you get the inspiration for them?

-I’ve loved zombies since I was deliciously traumatised by a crappy ZHS of Dawn of the Dead as a kid.  Turning the zombie infection into a visibly invasive, parasitic tumour seemed a good way to emphasise the body-horror aspect of any illness (I worked very briefly on a cancer ward).  Adding over-tones of collective consciousness seemed to emphasis one of the anxieties that zombies personify: loss of individuality. Being over-whelmed and absorbed by a crowd.

What made you want to go back in time and write the prequel Juggernaut?

-Having written a story set in the Arctic, I wanted to create a mirror-situation set in a desert.

There is something compelling about bleak, harsh terrain. So much of life is boring trivia. Survival stories are a chance to contemplate existence striped back to bare essentials.

I noticed you've had a variety of different jobs, do you think you'll settle as an author now (Since you’re so good at it!) or will you try your hand at something else in the future?

-I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I had an office job, but spent most of my time secretly writing novels on a memory stick. I was a cinema projectionist, a fantastic chance to scribble stories in a notebook while the films were running. These days, I get up each day and please myself. Long may it last.

When working on a book, do you have any particular rituals to get you into the writing mood?

-Each morning, I drink a big mug of coffee. Then I drink a mug of coffee. Then, just to get myself going, I drink coffee.

Do you have a particular track list in mind for either of your books, like songs you think are suited to certain scenes?

-I have a handful of CDs on my desk, the same soundtracks I return to time and again. A bunch of John Carpenter movies: The Fog, Escape From New York, Assault On Precinct 13, The Thing, and Halloween. It’s a way of returning to childhood and adolescence, reconnecting with stories that thrilled and excited me, narratives I aspire to emulate. It’s also a way of circumventing writer’s block.

When deciding to write a book, what made you choose to write A. In the adult genre, and B. Zombies?

-I have young kids, and hold children’s authors in very high esteem. I’ve read The Gruffalo aloud so many times I know it by heart. It is an extraordinary concise and well-structured piece of work. Maybe, one day, I will write something for my kids.

Why write an end-of-the-world tale? Because we have so little control of our lives. We commute, punch the clock and pay our bills. It’s easy to feel totally infantalised, totally bossed around. It’s fun to picture a scenario in which we are thrown back on our own resources, forced to take control of our fate. It’s a seductive daydream.

Do you have a particular favourite character to write, either from Outpost or Juggernaut?

-I always find myself rooting for the bad guys. Not sure what that says about me.

Who are your writing inspirations?

-HP Lovecraft, Mervyn Peake and Conan Doyle. Each of them created a wonderfully complete fictional world.

James Ellroy and Thomas Harris. Incredibly lean, muscular thrillers.

David Mamet. His collections of essays teach more about the art of dramatic writing than any other books.

Do you have a favourite quote from either of your books?

Outpost:

‘Mayday, mayday. This is Kasker Rampart broadcasting to the Arctic rim, is anyone out there, over?’

Juggernaut:

‘Only a sucker would stay honest in the middle of this s***storm.’

What are you currently working on? Could you give us a sneak peek?

-I’m currently writing a third novel in the series. The story follows the fate of a rescue team as they enter the ruins of New York in an attempt to retrieve a cure to the infection.

And lastly, are you a Bookaholic?

-A chronic bookaholic. Still addicted to the tactile pleasure of turning pages, I’m afraid. I can’t quite bring myself to switch to Kindle.

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Check out my reviews

Outpost

Juggernaut

Juggernaut - Review

Juggernaut by Adam Baker

Outpost book 0.5

Available 16th February 2012

http://www.hodder.co.uk/

What's it about?

Iraq 2005 Seven mercenaries journey deep into the desert in search of Saddam's gold. They form an unlikely crew of battle-scarred privateers, killers and thieves, veterans of a dozen war zones, each of them anxious to make one last score before their luck runs out. They will soon find themselves marooned among ancient ruins, caught in a desperate battle for their lives, confronted by greed, betrayal, and an army that won't stay dead...

My review

Wow!... That's about the extent of my review because I don't know what other words I could use to justify how much I loved this book!

Readers of Outpost will already recognise Bakers signature writing style starting this book, if you haven't read Outpost, don't worry these can be read out of order, the author has a really unique way of writing that really adds an extra effect to his chilling novels.

Juggernaut is every bit as stomach clenching and nail bitingly scary as the first book and just left my head spinning at the end, I really had to collect myself before I could pick up another book.

I will admit however, for me it took a little getting in to, not because it's bad just because I know nothing about the military so all the lingo and the different weapons just went over my head, I even had to find out exactly what a Mercenary is because I wasn't sure, but yeah, that was my problem lol At the same time though, I'm glad there wasn't descriptions of all the weapons and what the guys were talking about because I think it would have slowed down the story and added a big chunk to the book, I figured it all out for myself as I went and as the story was set up and the book started flowing I was completely hooked.

As the pace speeded up I came closer to the edge of my seat, my stomach in knots as I awaited the conclusion, I could feel the desert heat sizzling off the page.

There's plenty of 'infected' action and some really great insight into how the infection came about, something I know I was dying to learn about after finishing Outpost and I know others were to, and it's good!...

I enjoyed all of the characters, we don't learn a whole lot of backstory about most of them but I enjoyed how they interacted with each other, you can tell that the core group have been friends a long time... although there are some great twists along the way! There was also a good mix of characters, good, bad and really bad that made a good dynamic to the book.

Adam Baker is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors and for those that don't know there is to be another book to follow in this series, which I'm pretty sure is set after Outpost and I cannot wait to get my hands on it and be back in this world that sends chills up my spine.

My thoughts on the cover

I love this cover, it fits in so well with the cover of the first book and is super creepy with those faces at the top, the orange is the perfect colour for the books setting in the desert, I love the guy in the fatigues and the people/monsters in the distance.

Favourite quotes

'It's a matter of will. Put a man in a fiercely hostile enviroment like the desert or leave him marooned in Artic wastes and you'll soon see what lies in his heart.' - Jabril.

'Lucy will have no choice. he will turn homicidal. She will have to kill him, or be killed.' - Jabril

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UK vs. THE WORLD! (5)

UK vs. THE WORLD is a weekly feature that I've recently started.

Each week two UK book covers will battle it out against their foreign counterpart as we judge them and decide which we like better because who doesn't love judging books by their covers!



UK                                vs.                     Germany



Outpost by Adam Baker

Oupost book one.

('Die Wandlung' translates to 'The conversion' - According to Google translate)

Mist: Whilst the German cover is pretty I just don't get the Zombie feel from it... at all. That's why I'm voting UK, I love the cover anyway with the lone man and the shock of red at the top but it also gives that creepy feel that I know, having read it, the book has, the tagline is also pretty awesome.
The blue on the German cover is gorgeous but all the fish don't do much for me.

Ninfa: I like the UK cover, really love the tag on it, makes it really interesting and makes me curious about the plot.

I don't get the German cover with the fishes...it's a little confusing for me and doesn't really tell me anything about the book.
UK wins :)



UK                                 vs.                     Australia

Embrace by Jessica Shirvington

The Violet Eden chapters book one.

Mist: Oh this is hard, they both pretty, but I think I'm swayed slightly more by the Australian cover, the girl is just more interesting and with her eyes open you can see there is a story she wants to tell, I love the purple to.
I do like the UK cover, the colours are lovely but I'm not sure if the girl is asleep or falling or, er something else.

Ninfa: That's got to be an Aussie win for me, both covers are very pretty but the Australian one is really sweet and I love the exspression on the model and the faint outline of the wings.

Which do you prefer?

Outpost review

Outpost by Adam Baker

Available now

www.hodder.co.uk

What's it about?

They took the job to escape the world.
They didn't expect the world to end.

Kasker Rampart: a derelict refinery platform moored in the Arctic Ocean. A skeleton crew of fifteen fight boredom and despair as they wait for a relief ship to take them home. But the world beyond their frozen wasteland has gone to hell. Cities lie ravaged by a global pandemic. On...moreThey took the job to escape the world.
They didn't expect the world to end.

Kasker Rampart: a derelict refinery platform moored in the Arctic Ocean. A skeleton crew of fifteen fight boredom and despair as they wait for a relief ship to take them home. But the world beyond their frozen wasteland has gone to hell. Cities lie ravaged by a global pandemic. One by one TV channels die, replaced by silent wavebands. The Rampart crew are marooned. They must survive the long Arctic winter, then make their way home alone. They battle starvation and hypothermia, unaware that the deadly contagion that has devastated the world is heading their way...

My review:

5/5

I have to be honest and say at first I had trouble getting into this book, it's written so differently to anything else I've read, there's not a whole lot of description, it's mostly dialogue, here's a little example:

'Eight men in the Zodiac. The boat rode low in the water.Overloaded. The outboard laboured. They weaved between pack ice.'

Had this not been a review book I might have given up on it but I can say I've never been more glad that I never gave up because by the end the book was amazing! I was still thinking about it all through the next day and the writing just adds to it's uniqueness.

The book is simply brilliant and the characters are great, we see the biggest transformation in Jane as she loses her faith and a lot of weight, falls for a great man and becomes a leader, I really liked her.

I really enjoyed the more realistic potrayal of people because in real life people don't always run into burning buildings to rescue their friends, I thought it was good that our little survival crew were divided and had their own ideas of how to keep going and how to get home. The book really makes you think and asks the questions 'What would you be willing to do to survive? Would you screw over your friends, or would you lay down your life to save them?' 'Would you be able to keep it together in a post apocalyptic world where everyone you knew back home is probably dead, or would you go crazy or be driven to suicide from despair?' All of these issues are tackled throughout the book making for an exciting read with some shocking twists and turns I genuinly didn't see coming.

It's the scariest book I've read sonce Kings IT, the zombies themselves are really creepy and I'm not ashamed to admit I couldn't turn out the light and go to sleep for about half an hour after staying up until 1:30am to finish it. They do have a difference to other zombies and an explainer as to how they're walking and talking when they're dead which is interesting and totally believeable, I can't wait to find out more about them and what happened in future books as this one is mostly speculation as it mostly about the crew on their fight to survive during the arctic winter.

The book is definitely dark and scary, not one I'd recommend giving to your kids! It's clever and honest and a welcome debut in the book world.

My thoughts on the cover:

This cover sums it up completely, the lone man standing in the snow, the darker colours represent the tones of the book and the trapped people at the top screaming shows how scary it is, I love it! I also like the bit of red at the top that adds a splash of colour to the rest of the monchrome setting.

Favourite quotes:

'A persons life is their own,' said Jane. 'It's not your job to save them.'

She lay waiting to see if the boat would shake itself to pieces. She waited to see if the bolts and welds would hold. She waited to see if she would live or die.

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What I'm reading?

Outpost by Adam Baker

Blurb



They took the job to escape the world.
They didn't expect the world to end.

Kasker Rampart: a derelict refinery platform moored in the Arctic Ocean. A skeleton crew of fifteen fight boredom and despair as they wait for a relief ship to take them home. But the world beyond their frozen wasteland has gone to hell. Cities lie ravaged by a global pandemic. On...moreThey took the job to escape the world.
They didn't expect the world to end.

Kasker Rampart: a derelict refinery platform moored in the Arctic Ocean. A skeleton crew of fifteen fight boredom and despair as they wait for a relief ship to take them home. But the world beyond their frozen wasteland has gone to hell. Cities lie ravaged by a global pandemic. One by one TV channels die, replaced by silent wavebands. The Rampart crew are marooned. They must survive the long Arctic winter, then make their way home alone. They battle starvation and hypothermia, unaware that the deadly contagion that has devastated the world is heading their way...

 

My thoughts

So this will be my second "end of the world" book in a row but its ok, you all know i love my dystopia! It does, however, actually sound a little different to the books I generally read so I'm looking forward to reading something a bit different and it sounds awesome and exciting and seems like one of those ones that's actually a bit scary because it could really happen.

 

What are you reading?