As the zombie genre spreads exponentially throughout the literature community, infusing other sub-genres with the new varieties of undead or living infected, so do the point-of-views in the storylines. In the past few years, POVs include stories told by soldiers, the zombies themselves, and even the Grim Reaper. Ex-Heroes, written by Peter Clines, further mutates the genre with a zombie apocalypse tale told through the eyes of super-heroes.
Readers find out right away that in this world, zombies are known as “exes,” as in ex-living. The exes also include super-hero zombies, making self-defense even more complicated. Throw in a gang called The Seventeens – basically the “bad guy” survivors, and Clines has an apocalyptic drama that unites geeks from the comic & horror fan bases.
The storyline is broken up in segments marked “Then,” and “Now.” “Then” chapters are flashbacks that include how the heroes came to possess their special abilities, as well as the initial virus outbreak, and the downfall of society. “Now” chapters update us on the remaining survivors, struggling to exist in a converted Hollywood movie studio lot.
“People could say a lot of negative things about the apocalypse, but there was no arguing the air quality in Los Angeles had really improved.”
Clines pours an incredible amount of detail into the dialogues, character thoughts, and setting descriptions, and yet maintains a fast-pace that flows smoothly between the time changes from beginning to end…graphic, horrifying…need I say more?
If you want to know more about Peter Clines, check out his blog at http://thoth-amon.blogspot.com
