The Return Man. V.M. Zito (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
Standard military-issue spoiler warning.You know what? Not everything needs a stinger. I know, I know, all the Marvel movies make it look like such a good idea, but everyone isn't required to put in an 'after the credits' thing, or in this case, an epilogue. It serves no purpose whatsoever! It doesn't cast the story in a new light, it just makes a character who was kind of an asshole seem like slightly more of an asshole. Every word written about him screamed 'I am the villain', so it's not exactly surprising to learn, after the story has ended, that yes. Yes he was the villain.It also seems kind of pointless to obscure his name (it is Osbourne), because there are three characters. I mean, there are a lot of zombies, and a handful of redshirts and plot devices with legs, but there are only three people who actually talk enough to make me care about them in any way. Which isn't specifically a bad thing; this is a zombie story after all. It's just that I don't think the story should pretend to be something it's not.What it IS, is a pretty good story about two people who hate each other with opposing goals surviving the zombie wasteland. What it really wants to be is some kind of spy-thriller, which doesn't always show, but when it does, it's really awkward.Points to the author though for making a zombie story where humanity isn't almost completely wiped out. As near as I can tell, zombies have caused a few million deaths across the western third of the United States before the whole place was evacuated and contained. So, there ARE zombies, and there's a really well-characterized reason for the main character to be out there in the quarantine zone, but for the most part, no one goes out there. It's a clever way to tell a zombie story, and I like it way more than the standard "everyone is dead" thing that the genre tends toward.Final verdict, I liked the book. I liked that the main two characters felt like actual people. I liked the survival and the travel and even the at-odds personalities of the two leads. It just felt satisfying to read.Except the epilogue. Fuck the epilogue. This was such a fun book. I had expected all of the requisite zombie moments (gut-munching, shambling pursuits, head shots, and narrow escapes) and I wasn't disappointed. But what surprised me was the original take on the subject matter. It has been a long time since I've read a book that I would describe as a page-turner...but I really couldn't put this one down. I was sad that it ended and I wanted more. Please, sir, will you write some more?
What do You think about The Return Man. V.M. Zito (2012)?
Neat combination I the Zombie and "Last man on earth" themes. Great story idea. Well done!!
—bells
Awesome!. Zito did an outstanding job and really kept me on my toes. So ready for book 2.
—Hightops
If you like zombie books, this is a fun read. Lot's of scary moments!
—shadow
Not bad, review coming to Zombies & Toys soon!
—Sebastian
