A solid zombie novel, but nothing that makes it really stand out in such a large genre other than the location. If you are from or familiar with Seattle and the surrounding area it definitely enhances the quality of this read.I listened to it as an audio book, which seems to be a good thing. Reading some other reviews there was a lot of writing quirks that I didn't notice too much as an audio book. I'm not sure if this is Long's first novel, but it has that feeling of an early book that isn't all that great but where you can see that a few books down the road the author is going to be pretty good.The four narratives were hard to follow at times which detracted from the story early on. Later on in the book as the four narratives drew closer in location and situation there was some definite pay off, and it seems like a strong set up for the sequel which I plan on starting right away. Some of the characters were really hard to like. The metal head and the douche drug dealer were both characters that were believable but so far removed from people I would happily have in my life I found there stories at time painful to read. The stand out character is the complex serial killer turned zombie slayer and I strongly hope she gets far more time in the sequel. This book had the potential for more stars, but fell short with some lack of substance and too many characters. The apocalypse unfolds nicely, as word of a "gas leak" and a government coverup. Totally believable even if you get a little frustrated with the refusal of many to believe it. The main heroes are explored very well- with the exception of Ginder- who is absolutely useless to the whole plot. Mike, who has suffered his own loss of his young son some year prior, adds a component of loss before the really loss starts. Kate is an interesting character as a serial killer with a somewhat dissociative identity due to abuse as a child. Even Lester, the pothead drug dealer is a character you may root for, who for once in his life, it forced to get up and fight. Even short excepts of characters who are about to become deaders are interesting, but I still wanted more. I wanted to feel the loss of certain characters who were central to the story along the way, and it seemed with their lack of definition they were already dead.
What do You think about Among The Living (2009)?
Digging the universe, and I definitely want more. There's some flaws, but as a whole, I dug it.
—cottoncat
Intersting dark characters that are living through a zombie apocalypse.
—Tora
This is my first novel. It is getting great reviews.
—prashansa
