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Book
Blurb:
Red
Dust is a series of zombie western short stories.
Red Dust: The Fall is the first trilogy of short stories in the Red Dust series. These stories are The Lost Party, Feud and The Last Rider.
The Lost Party
When a party of settlers go missing on the Wasatch Mountains of 1846 America, a lone mountain man tasks himself with finding the lost pioneers. Upon the discovery of the remnants of a diary, George Masterson finds himself pulled into the dark story that befell the ill-fated travellers.
Feud
America 1853, seven years since the disappearance of the lost party, the undead have emerged from the wilderness crossing the Great Plains to assault the civilised world. Communication has broken down and settlements now stand alone as the Rising Plague spreads across the eastern border.
In the town of Little Rock inhabitants of the New World thrive to create normality in the midst of chaos. With the arrival of a mysterious rider named Griffin, the true dangers of the town become clear. The illusion of civilisation quickly dissolves as Griffin’s appearance sparks the violent conclusion of a deep-rooted vendetta.
The Last Rider
The Rising Plague continues to spread mercilessly across America, leaving the remnants of the US government to lead a desperate defence in defiance of the undead. Yet in the face of their doom, the beginnings of a civil tension arises, as the Southern State’s succeed, leaving a dire split across the US and its people hopelessly divided.
Isaac, a young courier, volunteers himself to deliver a mysterious package for the Union military. His task will lead him deep into the heart of the unknown, through the decaying civilisation of a country that he can no longer call his home, as his eyes are opened to the horrors of the New World.
Red Dust: The Fall is the first trilogy of short stories in the Red Dust series. These stories are The Lost Party, Feud and The Last Rider.
The Lost Party
When a party of settlers go missing on the Wasatch Mountains of 1846 America, a lone mountain man tasks himself with finding the lost pioneers. Upon the discovery of the remnants of a diary, George Masterson finds himself pulled into the dark story that befell the ill-fated travellers.
Feud
America 1853, seven years since the disappearance of the lost party, the undead have emerged from the wilderness crossing the Great Plains to assault the civilised world. Communication has broken down and settlements now stand alone as the Rising Plague spreads across the eastern border.
In the town of Little Rock inhabitants of the New World thrive to create normality in the midst of chaos. With the arrival of a mysterious rider named Griffin, the true dangers of the town become clear. The illusion of civilisation quickly dissolves as Griffin’s appearance sparks the violent conclusion of a deep-rooted vendetta.
The Last Rider
The Rising Plague continues to spread mercilessly across America, leaving the remnants of the US government to lead a desperate defence in defiance of the undead. Yet in the face of their doom, the beginnings of a civil tension arises, as the Southern State’s succeed, leaving a dire split across the US and its people hopelessly divided.
Isaac, a young courier, volunteers himself to deliver a mysterious package for the Union military. His task will lead him deep into the heart of the unknown, through the decaying civilisation of a country that he can no longer call his home, as his eyes are opened to the horrors of the New World.
My review:
★★★★☆
I completely lost myself in this book. The three stories are all set in the 1800s and involve zombies. What can be better than that?
I admit that I was slightly confused by the ending of the first story. I think I understand what the authors were getting at, but kinda wish they had added either a little more explanation, or had it work out differently.
Other than that, the three short stories were a treat to read. I really love the idea of zombie western stories and these were all very well written. The stories are very descriptive and the authors are very good with detail. I almost felt like I had watched a movie when I was finished reading the book because it was so clear in my mind. Once you start reading any one of these you will be hooked. I look forward to reading more by these writers.
I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a good zombie read. Also to anyone that likes short stories that grab your attention and leave you feeling pleased with yourself for having read them.
Read on for an excerpt. The authors' bios, and a giveaway.
Enjoy!
Excerpt:
They
would say that he came from across the sea.
The
lone figure astride a horse emerged from the emptiness of the hot,
dusty plains that expanded like a sea encompassing the solitary town
of Little Rock. In the dying light of the evening sun, it was those
who survived on the border of the settlement who witnessed the rider
first. The poor and the sick, all victims of the time in which they
lived, now stood transfixed, mouths agape and eyes wide as the
stranger cantered through the slum like area of ragged tents and
rotten cabins, oblivious to the absurdity of his arrival. Even
as he trotted right pass them, the borderland residents still
believed he could have been a mirage, that their minds had finally
betrayed their rationality in the madness of this new world. No one
had come from the plains in months, and never before alone, it did
not belong to the living anymore.
Upon
passing through the fringe of the shanty town, the Stranger made his
way down the central road, riding into the heart of Little Rock,
passing the traffic of people as they closed shops and businesses
before escaping to the false refuge of homes or the ignorant bliss of
drinking holes.
Silently
and furtively, he studied the canvas that opened up around him,
mapping everything to detail in his head. The stranger knew what
types of side arms the people carried. He could see from a man’s
eyes who would fight, who would run, and who he would have to kill.
He did not want to have these thoughts, not anymore, but they were
innate, created by a nightmare of past experiences, fighting down in
the mud and hell below.
Buy
Links:
Ben
Dixon and Sam Campbell are friends who met during University studying
History. We have had a few different ideas including graphic novels
and fantasy novels but the work we started with was Red Dust, a story
of the Wild West plagued by zombies. In between working our regular
jobs we try our best to write and publish.
Author
Links
Ben
Dixon's Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7048364.Ben_Dixon
Sam
Campbell's Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7341632.Sam_Campbell
Giveaway:
Sam
and Ben are giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card. Open internationally.
The giveaway starts 11/13/13 at 12 am eastern time and runs through
12 am eastern time 11/21/13.
Disclaimer: I received a free ebook copy for review purposes. Regardless, all opinions are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
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