Plague Nation is the second Ashley Parker novel and follows Plague Town. The third book, not out yet, is to be called Plague World so you can see how things are progressing.
I reviewed Plague Town nearly a year ago and enjoyed it. It was a zombie novel that would appeal to zombie fans while offering plenty to keep geeks interested. I remember having mixed thoughts about the hero – Ashley Parker. She is a wisecracking wildcard – that’s someone who is immune to the zombie plague and, luckily enough, earns enhanced strength, speed and senses from her encounter with it.
It’s the same Ashley Parker in Plague Nation and it’s the same wisecracking but for whatever reason I am happier with the character. Perhaps she’s grown on me. Perhaps it’s because I’ve more sympathy for the stress caused by your world being ripped apart by zombie hoards. I actually suspect it’s because Fredsti hit her stride with the character and the dialogue feels stronger and more natural. That said, in Geek Native’s interview with Dana it’s clear to see that the author didn’t find the book all that easy to finish.
Plague Nation moves the characters in terms of geography; out of the small town and into a big city. As any zombie fan will know – it’s not easy moving around. That’s the adventure for the book.
In terms of moving the plot forward the clue is in the name. Just as the wildcards work for an organisation determined to keep the zombie threat in check there turns out to be shadowy powers with other plans and they also have people working for them.
At the end of Plague Town you thought things might get back to normal. At the end of Plague Nation you know things will never be the same again.
I like the plot direction Plague Nation takes us in. It takes it from taking part in an event (an adventure scenario, if you will) to a world building exercise. In fact, making roleplaying game comparisons could well be appropriate for Plague Nation as Fredsti is a LARPer. In fact, there’s a scene in the book in which someone wonders whether our group of heroes might actually be a band of lost LARPers.
Perhaps that’s the real reason why I’m warming up to Parker. She may deny it – but she’s really one of us.
Favourite scenes in the book? That time the characters weigh up the chances of encountering zombie clowns. There’s even a scene where on the new characters fakes the famous “Fly, you fools!” Gandalf scene on the Bridge of Khazad-dum. Geeky memes for the win.
That said; there are scenes I wasn’t so fond of. Actually, they’re not “scenes” as such but entire chapters (small ones). In order to illustrate the growing spread of the zombie plague we occasionally pop away from the main action to read about the fates of others.
These interludes are all in italic and I quickly came to the conclusion we wouldn’t encounter any of these zombie fodder folks in the main book. I dismissed these sections as padding and in the dim light I was reading the book in (always read zombie horror in the shadows) I skipped quickly through them. Imagine, then, my surprise when the plot loops some of the new characters in. I had to go back and re-read some sections. There are two dangers in Plague Nation; zombies and assumptions.
Plague Nation updates my recommendation for the series. If you nearly bought Plague Town but just backed away at the last minute then come back and give the book ago. I’m ready for Plague World.
Plague Nation blog tour
This review is part of the Plague Nation blog tour. For the opportunity to win a copy of the book, simply tweet:
“I would like a copy of Plague Nation @TitanBooks @zhadi1 #plaguenation”.
Find out more about the book and the tour at: www.titanbooks.com/plaguenation.
My copy of the book was provided for review. Plague Nation, by Dana Fredsti. £6.99, 26th April 2013, Titan Books.
