Plague of the Dead (Morningstar Strain Series #1)

Written By the Undead?

Arf. I wanted to like this book, but it was resolutely determined to be the worst read of the last ten years. I read lots of zombie and horror genre, and I allow a wide berth when it comes to plot contrivance, etc., but this thing reads like a short story that needs an editor.

We begin with a hyperbolic introduction. Our heroes are two groups of characters tied to each other on the first page and destined to... never, ever meet for the next 249 exclamation point-riddled pages. Massive plot holes don't even get a cursory explanation. Mood is dictated by punctuation marks. Characters and relations are hinted at and never developed. These are the high points.

It reads like an earnest creative writing workshop outline/first draft with one sequence roughly fleshed-out. Or, some kind of timed writing excercise with an ending so ridiculously abrupt that it was inspired by nothing more than the classroom bell ringing.

Skip it.

8 out of 12 people found this review helpful.

fresh unique twist to the zombie mythos

The Morningstar Strain virus was first seen in Africa and Anna DeMilio of the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases is the foremost authority on it. Nobody heeded her plea to quarantine every person anywhere who comes down with this illness. Now it is out of control spreading globally, but also when one dies they are reanimated. Egypt is lost to the reanimated so the United States makes a stand at the Suez Canal, but thousands of carriers break through the front line. Only luck enables Special Forces General Shannon and some of his squad along with a Red Cross volunteer Julie to escape by ship to America where like the rest of the world the virus owns the metropolis areas to include much of suburbia. Anna desperately continues her research hoping to find a miracle elixir while Shannon and his remaining force wonder how to fight an insurgency from within. --- This first book in the Morningstar Trilogy contains a fresh unique twist to the zombie mythos with an Ebola like virus that reanimates its dead victims. Z.A. Recht has created characters that seem real especially the medical researcher and the general as neither is used to failure, but that seems to be their common thread at this time. PLAGUE FOR THE DEAD is apocalyptic fiction at its thrilling best. --- Harriet Klausner

6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

Zombie Lovers Delight

The End of the World has begun. It is called Morning Star. A virus of unknown origin and is unlike anything the world has ever seen. Those who are infected are subject to favor, chills, and very violent behavior. As the virus further takes hold those who are infected become incoherent and insanely violent. Their only will in life is to destroy any human that isn't a carrier of the virus. Those who are infected will eventually die but the virus isn't done. It reanimates the carrier who then rises and walks the earth seeking warm human flesh. Destruction of the Brain is the only way to bring the carrier down for good. Anna DeMilio of the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases has studied the virus. She knows it has the power to destroy mankind, and she is trying to warn the world. She knows that if it isn't quarantined to Africa the whole world will soon be overrun. Her warnings aren't heeded in time, and after a military operation in North Africa fails to contain the virus soon the entire world finds itself in the middle of a massive pandemic that cant be stopped. All the major nations of the world start falling into chaos. The carriers are roaming the streets of all the major cities, and there is nothing that can be done to stop it. Anna with the help of a reporter and a rogue NSA agent escapes a burning Washington DC in hopes of meeting up with a rag tag military unit. She hopes to find a safe place to continue her research. She is on a mission to find a cure before all is lost. America is in chaos now and they all know that the journey ahead will be pure Hell. I have said it time and time before, but I will say it one more time. I am a sucker for a good zombie story. I have also come to expect nothing but the best from Permuted Press releases. They publish the best Zombie Fiction, so when I got my copy of Plague of the Dead I was expecting nothing but the best, and Surprise Surprise I was blown away once again. Plague take off early and the action doesn't stop till the last page. I started and finished it in two days. It has some of the best action scenes you will find in a Zombie Story. The Suez Canal fight scene had me literally on the edge of my seat. I didn't want it to end. Mr. Recht has written one hell of a story and I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that Plague is only the first installment of this story. He is going to make a trilogy out of this story and I cant wait for the next installment. I am salivating for it now. I Highly recommend Plague of the Dead to all Zombie Fiction Lovers. Plague is 28 Days Later meets Dawn of the Dead. It has something for everyone. Go grab yourself a copy and I can promise you that you wont be sorry.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

This series is a must for zombie fans and ranks with Day by Day

This series is a must for zombie fans and ranks with Day by Day Armagedon and Zombie Fallout.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

best zombie novel

tThis book was so amazingly written and thought out. the characters were very relatable and amusing. The story was one that makes you sit on the edge of your seat holding your breath in fear at times. The story doesnt take long to pick up and it is just one of the most clever and thrilling zombie stories i have ever read. It is perfection and i think if possinle that it would make an incredible movie.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

One of the best so far...

Finished it in two days...man, the story hooks you and you immediately want to read the second installment, Thunder and Ashes, which I hope to have sitting at my doorstep in two days. Story moves fast for the most part - it's a mix of 28 days later and Romero's classic zombie story. Can't wait for part two to arrive!

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Tedious, bordering on painful, to read

**Spoiler Alert**

I am an avid reader of this genre and have been for some time, but I could hardly make it through this book without cringing.

Sprinkled with cliches and awkwardly injected profanity, the book has the feel of someone whose vision of military culture is taken from movies, video games, and (bad) books, rather than personal experience or extensive research. For example, no one who has ever served in the Army or Marine Corps would dare refer to a Command Sergeant Major simply as "Sergeant."

The dialog is weak and so is the story, with many glaring holes, predictable plot twists, and random/bizarre events ("NSA Agents" kidnap an Army scientist and hold her incommunicado in a dungeon for intelligence on fighting the Morningstar Strain?).

I purchased the first two books at the same time, so I can only hope that the series gets better in the second installment.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

not a fan

The story is all over the place. Theres no focus on a particular character and seems scattered (not organized well like WWz's style). Although some of the action parts are fun to read, I dont think the story tied well... maybe i have to read all three?

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Enjoyable Read For The Zombie/Survival Fan

One of the best zombie novels I've read. Good story and characters. The explaination of two zombie types and having two ongoing character groups really gets the reader involved in the action. Highly recommended for the zombie afficionado.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Terrible

This is one of the worst books I've ever read. The writing is amazingly terrible. The dialogue is mostly made up by cliches, and not in a funny way. The descriptive text is uninteresting and predictable. Total garbage.

1 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

GREAT !!

I read both installments of "THE MORNING STAR STRAIN" and enjoyed every page. I can't wait for the third installment to come out in 2009. Keep up the good work!!!!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A reviewer

I wish I'd found out about this AFTER the rest of the trilogy / saga came out. Brilliant read leaves me wanting more (a bit too much). Leaves the majority of the genre for dead (pun not intended).

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Even Better The Second Time Around!

I just finished reading 'Plague Of The Dead' for the second time, and must admit that I found it even more enjoyable this time. 'Plague' is one of those rare combinations of action, horror, and intellect that come around once in a blue moon. I hope to see much more from Mr. Recht in the future, and would highly reccommend this book to anyone, not just fans of the horror genre.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

APPLAUSE FOR PLAGUE OF THE DEAD!!

Awesome,thriller of a book! z. A. Recht is truely a skillful,insightful writer. Without bias, k. Recht

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Great Read

I really do like this book and the story line describes how the infection would take some time to take over the world. Instead of the turning everyone into zombies over night, you see how it begins in one area and then spreads, rapidly, but not over night like most zombie novels. Then you continue on a journey with a purpose to find a cure/immunity for the infection. I will be getting book #2 of the series and so on to finish the journey.

Wow

I love the way he crafts the story with an air of mystery and violence, too bad he died. It qould have bbeen gret if he had finished the 3rd one.

Wow

This book is well written i could not put it down .non stop action and compeling story . This book pulls you anf makes you feel like youre there the charectrrs are believeable and likeable . It is an edge of your seat ride . It is so sad that the writer took his own life . He had great talent and s great concept of what zombie lovers like to read . Im so sad that i wont get to read his writing again . Rest in peace ZA

Sonshine Girl

Good book! Really enjoyed it

great book

I really enjoyed this book. I am looking forward to reading the sequel.

very entertaining, just like watching a movie only better

I will surely by the series as soon as I finish reading this one. The cover on the book is kinda lame but the writing is very inticing. Especially for true Zombie fans. Its great fun.