| Title | : | Slowly We Rot |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1508839638 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781508839637 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 309 |
| Publication | : | First published March 1, 2015 |
"Sure, there are flesh-eating zombies in Bryan Smith’s gut-punch of a novel, SLOWLY WE ROT, but in telling the tale of one man’s nightmarish journey through a post-apocalyptic landscape, Smith reminds us of the most brutal truth of all: the worst monsters dwell inside us."
– Tim Waggoner, author of LIKE DEATH and EAT THE NIGHT
Slowly We Rot Reviews
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Noah lives by himself in a cabin in the mountains in the waning days of the zombie apocalypse. When he's forced out of his idyllic nest, what will the world hold for him? What happens in a world ravaged by a zombie plague when most of the zombies are gone?
As I stated in my review for
The Rising, I thought I was over zombies until recently. After The Rising, I was hungry for another bite. When Brian Keene tweeted that Slowly We Rot was only 99 cents, I pounced on it like flesh eaters on a bunch of hapless teenagers.
"So what happens to the survivors?" seems to be the theme of Slowly We Rot. Noah is wrenched out of his mountain paradise and decides to go searching for the girl who got away. It has some thematic similarities to The Rising but it's a much deeper book.
Slowly We Rot is a book about dealing with substance abuse almost as much as it is one about dealing with the everyday menaces of a zombie apocalypse. It took awhile for Noah's backstory to unfold. By the time I understood the scope of his addiction, he was far away from home, too far to turn back. I understood things weren't as they seemed past a certain point but not the depths of which Bryan Smith had hoodwinked me up to that point.
In my eyes, Smith crafted a pretty accurate account of what would happen in the dying days of humanity after the zombies die off, from the scavenging to people being utter crapheads to each other. It's the uncertainty of what was real and what wasn't that really docks Slowly We Rot a star. The break from reality took me out of the story. Somewhere around the 75% mark, my enthusiasm wore off. While I enjoyed the latter part of the book, the previous 75% was five star material.
That's about all I have to say, I guess. For a zombie book that didn't have all that much zombie action in it, Slowly We Rot is a pretty great read. Four out of five stars. -
What happens after the zombie apocalypse ? 98% of the world is dead. There is no more electricity unless one has a generator, but, there is little or no fuel left and no one to make any more. The zombies have little or no human flesh left to eat, so they are rotting away into shambling piles of bones. Bryan Smith looks at the apocalypse from a new angle and takes his main character on a quest to find lost love.
But nothing is that simple. We all have weaknesses, drives and demons which make up our character. And those people that are left alive are mainly the criminals and crazies that prey on those that have survived. Zombies are the least of the problems faced out there in the world.
Bryan Smith presents a powerful and thoughtful journey across a devastated landscape populated by small bands of survivors, and it ain't pretty.
This is copy 14 of 72 signed numbered copies. -
SLOWLY WE ROT is a "zombie novel" that's NOT actually about the zombies. This is the story of Noah, a young man who has been surviving in the mountains for years after the apocalypse. Noah's life has been plagued by addictions since before the end of the world as he knew it. Surviving now, with only his own mental capacities and books to keep him company, has taken it's toll. There are parts where Noah's memories are particularly lucid, and others where it's obvious his mind is "making a reality" to mask things that he wishes to remain hidden.
Noah eventually embarks on a quest to find his past love--having no idea if she's survived the zombies, or what other horrors out there await him. This was a very fast-paced, engaging read. Noah's character is one that you can't help but feel for, and his trials and quest will have you rapidly turning the pages in an attempt to reach the end with him.
One of the more spectacular endings I've come across in a long time!
Highly recommended! -
Quite simply, the absolute best zombie novel I've ever read, and the book Smith was born to write. A masterpiece of modern extreme horror.
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An excellent story about loneliness, despair, isolation, hopelessness, alcoholism, insanity, and zombies. Then the mood gets much darker.
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Slowly We Rot is easily one of the best zombie stories I have read. A lot of time has passed since the zombie outbreak, and there aren't many zombies left. They have become a low level threat for the most part. One could argue this is more about a man and his demons than it is about zombies. Either way, Noah has some baggage and it is interesting to see how all of it plays out in the reality of his surroundings. The bleak setting, and the accompanying themes of freedom and solitude add to a book that I did not want to put down. The idea of actually having a post apocalyptic world at your fingertips to do with as you wish, at least to a certain extent, is fascinating.
As far as the writing goes, I could mention the tactful transitions between past and present, or the sincere and easy way readers will identify with the characters amongst many other strengths. It is done masterfully.
I have always been fond of trips on my own to creepy forgotten places, and enjoyed this book most when Noah was alone, trekking across the country on what will most likely be a fruitless quest. And yes, the ending will surprise you and is a great way to close. These are some of the quickest 324 pages I have read. -
4.5 Stars
Full Review:
Wow, I don’t even know how to start this review. This was what I initially posted on Goodreads after finishing:
“I feel like I should be annoyed that I don’t even really know what happened for a good portion of the book, but instead I kind of just feel like laughing and crying at the same time. Is it normal to feel that way after finishing a book? How on earth am I ever going to write an actual review for this?”
And you know what? I still don’t know how to write an actual review for this, but I’m gonna try.
First of all, though there were some zombies, this was not a zombie book. It was an after-the-zombies-have-mostly-gone book. It was a people-are-the-real-monsters book. It was a psychological-mindfuck book. It was an exploration-of-a-character’s-inner-demons book.
You see, Noah was a legitimately flawed and messed up character… but I just so happen to love flawed and messed up characters. I mean, he wasn’t a bad person, he cared about people, etc., but sometimes he did things that no one in their right mind would do, like calmly and unemotionally taking a shower while someone he knew was dead in the next room—and that was before the apocalypse, when dead bodies weren’t even a normal thing. But that’s just it, I guess, he wasn’t in his right mind. Even then, he was struggling with alcoholism, obsession, maybe even delusion, and who knows what other psychological problems. And, not surprisingly, the apocalypse didn’t magically make those struggles go away. So he may not have always been the best person, but he was still someone I could empathize with, and he was fascinating to read about. I will admit it was a little strange how introspective and self-aware Noah was, but it just kind of worked, especially since, for much of the book, Noah was alone and his thoughts were really all the reader had. The way it was written put me really deep in his mind, so I was ok with it.
Not only that, Noah’s psychological downward spiral, his descent into a booze/drug-induced stupor, was written amazingly well in a way that really portrayed the situation and also made me feel for him. He became a rather unreliable narrator as well, considering the haze he was living in and the constant blackouts.
Noah’s downward spiral was also where the mindfuck part of the book came into play. Generally, I’m not a fan of those types of books in which I don’t know what’s real and what’s not, and I would’ve liked to get answers to a few specific questions at the end. While it was happening though, I was completely intrigued—confused, but intrigued. That scene portrayed on the cover? It’s actually in the book, purple sky and everything. So that should give you some indication of how surreal things get as the book progresses. And eventually you will reach this point in which you stop and think, he’s finally cracked, this can’t be real… but you still won’t be sure. The author gives a little info in the afterword though, so there’s at least a definitive point up until which things happened as described and a definitive ending. Well, kind of. I guess you never really know, but I felt like I got closure.
Ultimately though, this book made me feel, and I can forgive a certain amount of grievances for that. It was dark, emotional, unsettling, and intense, and when I finished, I felt emotionally overwhelmed and not sure how to even process everything I’d read. But when a book can make me feel that way, I definitely consider it a good thing, so I couldn’t be more glad I decided to give this book a read!
Recommended For:
Anyone who wants to read something dark, emotional, and unsettling. Anyone who likes psychological books that mess with your head, extremely flawed characters, and heavy topics such as alcoholism.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight -
Not your typical Bryan Smith book. An incredible read. The title is very appropriate. Think about being set in your ways living a comfortable life but just going through the motions to survive.
Think about an event that tosses all that up and causes you to reevaluate what you have become. Noah the main character has such a life and has such an experience. This book is phenomenal. A must read. I don't want to give to much away as this is one of those stories better left to the reader to unravel.
The only other thing to say is go get and go read. This one definitely will make my top 10 for the year. -
This was so good. It's not the traditional Smith your used to. Definitely a nod to The Walking Dead. But there are a ton of twists and turns and amazing character development.
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4 Stars
Slowly We Rot is a post apocalyptic novel by Bryan Smith. This is a book with zombies but it is not really about them. I am already a fan of Smith and have enjoyed other of his works. I have done my best to stay away from the genre for a while now. In today's Walking Dead world, there are far too many zombie stories that offer very little reward for your time or your money. Thanks to the mainstream overdue, I have come to be more annoyed with the undead shufflers than I was previously with the blood suckers.
Slowly We Rot is in the end a story about the human condition. It is a story about loneliness and what we might due to alleviate it. It is a story about the darkness within and how easy it is to simply let go.
The story is all about Noah, a young man who loses his whole family and lives in isolation atop a mountain. Noah is a lonely man on the verge of a break down. Things change for him one day and he sets out on a cross country quest to California. He puts everything into this adventure and his state of well being rides on it. Like all post apocalyptic novels Noah comes across many obstacles that are nothing that we haven't seen before.
Slowly We Rot works by keeping the story focused on Noah and his well being. The world has already come and went and we are witnesses that get to observe Noah's attempt to keep him from doing the same. Bryan Smith is a good writer and knows how to write about people. He uses tension and suspense. This is a good book worth your read. -
Arguably, SLOWLY WE ROT by Bryan Smith is his best work to date, plain and simple. While this reviewer tends to shy away from zombie apocalypse stories, simply because we've all read these types of stories before, or watched them, but being huge fan of the author's work, I couldn't resist.
And I wasn't disappointed.
Twenty something Noah lives alone in a remote family cabin, the sole surviving member, in the Smoky Mountain region. For years he sees no one, not even zombies. He barely exists, but thanks to the survival skills taught to him by his long dead father, Noah gets by. Then inexplicably, someone shows up and his solitary existence is thrust into a surreal cross country nightmare journey to seek out his lost love...and the worst monsters out there aren't the zombies.
While there isn't much to deviate from with popular shows like TWD, or the spinoff, what makes this novel so incredibly haunting and terrifying is the personal aspect to it, as Noah struggles with his personal demons and the possibility that his tortured mind may be coming apart.
The shocking climax, while not entirely surprising, was fitting as it was poignant. Highest of recommendations. -
The zombie story that's not a zombie story. Well, not as much as you'd think. So, you're probably thinking to yourself, "Well, that sucks. Why would I want to read a zombie story that doesn't focus on the zombies?" I'll tell you why - it's a great story. The zombie apocalypse, that the story takes place in, provides the desolate setting and feeling of hopelessness that permeates through the story for our protagonist, Noah, to navigate through.
Noah is a mid-twenties college drop-out from alcoholism and a lost love when the apocalypse hits. After holing up in the family cabin in the rustic Smokey Mts, he loses his family and is alone without contact with any people for 5 years. He sits around most days getting high and thinking about losing his college girlfriend day after day. When his sister shows up, out of the blue, and goes off on him for not coming to look for her, guilt overcome him and he begins drinking again. This triggers his desire to trek across the country to see if she's still alive. His drinking quickly gets out of control and he narrowly escapes peril numerous times. His poor decisions followed by strange happenings makes him question his sanity along the way.
This is where the reader has to pay attention. Things begin to not make sense and you wonder if they really happened, is it delusions from his excessive drinking, or is he losing his mind? The story is around 300 pages and they go by amazingly fast. Smith is a wonderful storyteller and even though he backs off the throttle on the gore in this one, the story doesn't need it. It's a wonderful testament to Smith's versatility.
4 whiskey bottles out of 5
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2J1... -
Няма такава книга за зомби апокалипсиса.
Години след избухването на пандемията, Ноа е затънал в рутината на провинциалната вила, самотата, ганджата �� уискито. Зомбитата отдавна са се превърнали в бавни, едва кретащи мумии. Тогава се появява сестра му, която е вярвал, че е починала преди години, по време на избухването на вируса.
Озлобена сестричката го държи отговорен за кошмара, който е преживяла и Ной трябва да напусне убежището си.
Единствения сносен мотив за съществуване намира в издирването на стара любов от колежа.
По пътя през целите Щати разбираме, че Ноа си има големи проблеми и зависимости, които се завръщат с пълна сила, докато преминава през празните градове, с някой друг оцелял психопат там. По някое време главния герой преживява нервен срив и илюзии, делириум тременс, мечти и отрицания се сливат с действителността.
Това беше най-добре използваното първо лице единствено число за разказване. Читателят постоянно не знае какво става, защото главният герой е мръднал. Макар и книга за зомбита, главното тук са хората. Много, много добра . -
Loved this book all the way through. It was a zombie book, but it wasn't a zombie story. I felt like that zombie angle was used for the setting. The character was completely destroyed and somehow surviving at the same time. The use of the past enhanced the story for me and there were plenty of WTF moments. I couldn't figure out how it was going to end, but the ending was perfection! I also like the author's note at the end. I felt like it was written specifically to my wonderings. A solid 5 stars from me and I would highly recommend.
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Slowly We Rot takes the reader on an unforgettable journey and carries an emotional depth not normally present in modern horror fiction. This is damn near a masterpiece and exhibits a writer at the apex of his storytelling abilities. Highly recommended.
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Bryan Smith's new book, Slowly We Rot, is receiving a lot of acclaim for taking a different approach to the zombie genre. Instead of the regular bucketful of blood and guts you usually get with zombies, Smith treats this story as a character piece that just happens to be set after the zombie apocalypse. I think people are even more surprised at this because prior to this book, Bryan Smith was mostly known for his extreme and graphic horror. And I must say, I very much enjoyed this departure from Smith's usual work. It shows his growth as a writer and storyteller and proves that Smith does not have to spill blood on every page to tell a good tale.
The pacing and tone of the book is quite excellent in the first half and I was completely submerged in the lonely world of Noah, alone in an isolated cabin, living day to day for no particular reason. Basically, like a zombie. While the catalyst for Noah's departure into the new and dangerous world felt a bit forced, I had to believe that any possible life other than the one he was living was worth the risk.
With this book, Bryan Smith has finally proven that he can hang with anyone in the genre and has earned his right to be taken seriously. While I wasn't completely sold on the last third of the book, I understood where Smith was going and I accepted the journey, even though moments of obvious unreality were a bit heavy handed. In the end, it was a satisfying read and I look forward to Smith working outside his comfort zone again. One of the better zombie books in recent years. -
Bryan Smith has done something few other authors could make me do...finish reading his novel without putting it down more than a handful of times...in 2 weekdays, no less. His composition of the story was solid overall, and I kept wanting to read more about what happened to Noah as he set out to find his lost love. As the story entered its second half, the narrative dragged and shambled a bit, and became disjointed. In the end, the story left me feeling a bit disturbed, which was the point of it all, I suppose. As far as executing an idea via storytelling means, I'd say Smith did a spot-on job. Would I recommend it to my fellow readers, one and all? No. This book was written as a take on the Apocalypse from a different angle, and in that regard, the author definitely brought to mind things that we don't all consider when reading apocalyptic fiction...as for being a story that I felt was well-executed through and through, I'd say it had some pacing issues...intentional pacing changes by the author, mind you, but for me it could've been told a bit more tightly. If this review sounds conflicted, that's because it is...Smith set out to disturb us in a new way, but the way his character Noah and his struggles pulled me into this novel--to the point at which I almost dared not put it down until finished--also left me feeling unfulfilled, at its end. 3.5/5
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I'm really not sure what to think about this book. Seriously, what in the actual fuck just happened? I threw it down when it was over. But, I still read the entire book in a day, so that's pretty telling.
I'm stuck between 3 and 4 stars. It's a 3 now, but that may change tomorrow.
What the fuck?! -
Strong story about the human side of a post-apoc scenario. Not action packed with tons of zombies, which is probably why I enjoyed it more than the standard fare. Good look at a man with some personal issues and how those problems might escalate or manifest in a vastly different world from the norm.
7/10 -
Read this book after reading and enjoying "Depraved", so I was amped to read this one. The story starts out interestingly enough, but soon the protagonist become an insufferable, obnoxious piece of garbage and halfway through the book he turns into an unreliable narrator, making the entire story feel like a long, drawn out fever dream. By the last 50-60 pages I was skimming through it trying to get to the end so I could move on and read another book.
The first 1/3 of the book was pretty good though and thats the only reason Im giving it 3 stars. -
Time taken to read - 2 days
Pages - 309
Publisher - Thunderstorm books
Source - bought - Amazon kindle
Blurb from Goodreads
Long after the zombie apocalypse wiped out most of the human race, a young man named Noah resides in a remote mountain cabin. Several years have passed since he last saw another human being. The long period of isolation and loneliness has fostered a deep despair in Noah, who also struggles with suicidal impulses. But Noah is a man who was struggling even before the end of the world, a seemingly helpless slave to his addictions. When the vindictive sister he has long believed dead unexpectedly returns, events transpire that prompt him to leave his mountain refuge and embark on a cross-country trek to find the lost love of his life. It doesn’t matter that she’s probably long dead. He just needs a purpose again and this is it. Along the way, he experiences moments of hope and profound tragedy. Soon Noah’s sanity begins to fray and his ability to distinguish between fantasy and reality starts to disintegrate. Through it all, he keeps trying to reach the one he lost long ago. And he’ll continue no matter what, even if it costs him his life, because it’s a big, empty world and this is all he has. "Sure, there are flesh-eating zombies in Bryan Smith’s gut-punch of a novel, SLOWLY WE ROT, but in telling the tale of one man’s nightmarish journey through a post-apocalyptic landscape, Smith reminds us of the most brutal truth of all: the worst monsters dwell inside us." – Tim Waggoner, author of LIKE DEATH and EAT THE NIGHT
My Review
Noah is settled, out of the way in a family cabin in the woods. It has been a few years since the zombie apocalypse and about the same since he saw his family and any other humans. A turn of events causes Noah to head into the world, such as it is, facing the destruction of humanity - not just the zombies but the humans that managed to survived and what they have become.
So guys this is a zombie book but with not a whole lot of zombies, it is more of a one mans personal journey and what and who he encounters out and about in the world. Humanity such as it is, personal flaws, addiction, suicide, rape, violence - all of the dark sides and some glimpses of light/redemption.
If you want something with a smidge of zombies but more about the dark sides of humans in a post apocalypse them I think you will love this. I got so annoyed with Noah, he is seriously flawed and some of his choices had me screaming REALLY?!?!?!? but we know how very flawed humans can be. Some of it had echoes of "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy and I think fans of that will appreciate this book for what it is, 3/5 for me. -
Slowly We Rot takes place in the zombie post-apocalypse, but it is not a zombie apocalypse novel. If you are looking for page after page of gut munching and head shots than you would be better off finding another book (don't worry, there are scores of books that are just what you are looking for). The zombie situation provides the backdrop for the story, which is one of loneliness, addiction, guilt, and despair.
I admit I was surprised at first. Bryan Smith has a well earned reputation for literary mayhem, plus the novel takes its name from a classic death metal album (by Obituary), so I expected a gore soaked action fest. As the story developed and it became clear that this was something different I put my expectations aside and went along for the ride.
The story of Nick's cross country journey across a dead continent is told at a slow pace but is never boring. Occasional flashbacks to pre-apocalypse times give insight in to the character and grant the reader insight in to why he reacts the way he does to things in the present. Subtle events in early stages are important later, so careful reading is recommended.
I was a little disappointed at first that this wasn't the Bryan Smith novel I thought I was getting, but those feelings changed as I continued and now I think it is my favorite book from him. It takes courage to step away from what readers expect and I thank Mr. Smith for that and for this brilliant work with so much to say. 5 stars, highest recommendation. -
The story of Noah
When someone sets forth to name the best in zombie fiction, World War Z and Dead Sea seem to rise above all others. Bryan Smith has written a novel to sit among those two great works in Slowly We Rot. Like the previously mentioned novels there is far more to this story than just shambling corpses. Smith gives us a character with flaws both fatal and common. Noah is a man broken well before the zombie apocalypse even occurs.
Years of isolation, survivors guilt and substance addiction are only exasperated by traumatic events and mental illness, not to mention Hell's last mile. There is much emotion and tragedy to be found among these pages. There is also careful metaphors, allegory and social commentary abound. This is Bryan Smith's most complete work of fiction yet, and he is certainly no slouch.
I have always loved the nods to pop culture, both old and new, in Smith's books and he does not disappoint here. I have enjoyed his references over the span of several works but here they become an actual part of the story. There is some passages to decrypt and a timeline to examine where things truly went pear-shaped and this adds to the charm of the experience.
I read rather religiously and can say with certainty that this is my best read of the new year thus far. -
Wow. Just wow. I need time to think about this book in order to fully articulate my feelings about it properly. Slowly We Rot connected with me on a deeply personal level I was not expecting. Though this is a zombie, post-apocalyptic journey across America, at the heart of this novel it's really a story about alcoholism/addiction and being consumed by ones demons of all kinds. Addictions and mental health issues slowly rot us from the inside out.
As someone in recovery from alcoholism, I have yet to come across a story (aside from one or two of the Tales of Addiction horror short stories and some aspects of The Shining book) that truly gets it right without there being judgement, becoming an inspiration porn story, or becoming either a cautionary tale or one where the character is magically cured once they decide to stop drinking and go to rehab.
This one does alcoholism and the despair of loneliness and isolation so realistically that I am just blown away by it. There is a lot of surrealism this story (especially after Part 2) that might confuse some readers, but upon a reread combined with the Author's Note at the end, you can piece everything together in the story so it makes sense. This is not a lighthearted story but it's so compelling and I know I will be thinking about it for a very long time. -
A zombie apocalypse story that stands out from the many books in this genre.
The main character, Noah, sets out on a cross country journey in the aftermath of the apocalypse.
Reminiscent of The Walking Dead, it gives a more personal account of the struggles of survival in a drastically changed world.
As well as struggling to survive, Noah is also struggling with alcoholism, which gives the tale real character.
Getting blackout drunk in such a dangerous world is fraught with peril.
A real page turner, I got thought this book pretty quick.
This is my second Bryan Smith book and I am fast becoming a fan.
Don't go past this one as just another zombie apocalypse novel, Slowly We Rot gives the tired genre a new life.
Still lots of head splaterring kills, but also a story that will have you thinking long after the last page has been read. -
wow! what a ride.
"Fear and loathing in Zombieland" but without much zombies.
I'm sick of zombie novels, but this one was hell of ride.
on the surface, it's seems like another survival post-apocalyptic
one-man journey, but underneath it all there are so much going on.
i won't spoiled it, but the journey you will take with the characters
are worth it and will be with you much after you've done reading.
this is going to be on the best horror list of 2015.
highly recommended!!! -
Slowly We Rot is the book your looking for
One of the deepest hard hitting tales I've ever read. As with all Bryan Smith books plenty of blood, sex and intensely. Be prepared for an intense emotional ride that will knock you down and before you can get up punch you in the back of the heads. -
That one was a fast read. A character study of a survivor after the zombie Apocalypse. Think Fox's The Last Man On Earth mixed with The Walking Dead. Tightly written and emotionally stimulating. Recommended, of course.
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Fairly good zombie story but the unsympathetic main character and the nonsensical ending left me underwhelmed.
