Politics Is a Real Horrorshow in Mira Grant’s Feedback

This is one tense, thrilling example of dystopian horror. It’s set during the events of the first book, but you don’t need to have read it in order to make sense of this one: intrepid reporters good, zombies bad, politicians…probably worse. The characters and events of Feed are only tangentially related and briefly referenced, making Feedback a perfect place to jump into the series.
We begin, again, in the fallout from a zombie uprising that occurred 20 years before the start of the novel. Humanity thought they’d bested Mother Nature with cures for cancer and the common cold, but our made science also created a monster: a plague of undeath that turned anyone infected into a mindless flesh-eater. Our heroes are a gaggle of bloggers following the Democratic side of a post-apocalyptic presidential campaign when they stumble upon a story much, much bigger.

Feed drew plaudits for its brash, unforgettable narrator, uncompromising journalist Georgia Mason. Feedback gives us another: Aislinn, a brash and brilliant take-no-prisoners Irishwoman, in the US by way of a bit of green card trickery. She’s fearless, and seems to relish throwing herself into harm’s way in the name of landing a story.
The supporting cast is among the most diverse I’ve encountered in a long time. There is a lesbian, a genderfluid individual, bisexuals, and multiple people of color. It’s incredibly refreshing and hardly tokenism; it makes sense for these characters to be in these situations together.
Diversity aside, this is a dynamic bunch, bantering with one another with an ease that will delight fans of Joss Whedon or, well, Mira Grant. In a novel so tense and densely packed with plots and conspiracies, a cast of vibrant characters is essential. Their humor and snark provides a welcome respite from the horror and danger.

There’s something deeply cathartic about reading a zombie novel set in the midst of an American presidential election. I can firmly say this one is a fantastic panacea to the overload of real-world insanity happening all around us in 2016. Everything’s better with zombies! Or is that worse? At the very least, it’s no less insane. It’s a perfect blend of political shenanigans, zombie gore, and dystopian horror, expanding upon an argument that began in Feed, showcasing how vital journalists and free speech are, and what terrible things can happen even from the most noble of intentions. Cure cancer, get zombies. Ain’t that just a kick in the head?
Feedback is available now.