United States of Apocalypse

Wait, No Zombies? What the....?

What did you love best about United States of Apocalypse?

The whole new take on Mike and BT - it's a great dynamic between those two.

What did you like best about this story?

Well..... Here's the thing, when I first heard about then saw it available for pre-sale, I didn't really read exactly what it was about. I knew the authors body of work and that's all I needed to know to press the BUY button. When I started listening I recognized Julia Whelan from another series and I was uber excited to get in to, what I thought was going to be a zombie book. Well much to my surprise it wasn't.Hmmmm, could I still love this book? Hell YES!What I loved best was that, between Armand and Mark's story and Julia and Sean's narration, this was a great TOTAL experience. I'm guessing this is going to be a series similar to A Shrouded World and I'm really excited where these two take the story. If you are familiar with their podcast, Arm n' Toof's Dead Time Podcast, and have listened to their interaction you'll recognize the dynamic in the story. Totally looking forward to more.

Which character – as performed by Sean Runnette and Julia Whelan – was your favorite?

Loved BT, he's been a favorite since ZF1 and love where Mark took his character in this book.

Julia Whelan take on Darlene Bobich was great, Armand you gotta keep her as your voice of Darlene!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I always laugh with Armand's and Mark's books - they create awkward, tense situations that end up with something to laugh at - be it nervous, sad or sarcastic laughter.I also talk to the characters throughout the story - you become so comfortable with these characters, it's like you own them your opinions, thoughts and help.

Any additional comments?

It was an excellent book, the story line was exciting and easy to follow between the 2 story lines.The narration was stellar, Sean Runnette and Julia Whelan are both favorites of mine and to listen to them together was awesome.

10 of 11 people found this review helpful

not a complete book

No plot line is complete at the "end" of this book. The book stops abruptly with no resolution whatsoever. Buyer beware - you can't buy this book as a standalone.

23 of 27 people found this review helpful

rich in dialog that is realistic

The writings of Mark Tufo and Armand Rosamilia separately are interesting and action packed, but putting them together in one story – WOW!  Split into two sections running concurrently, the stories fit together well presenting a wider view of the nuclear disaster and ensuing rioting.

Michael Talbot, a small time petty criminal, and Officer Lawrence Tines, a big – really big cop, pair up together when all hell breaks loose after Korea and China send over nuclear bombs detonating in Yellowstone National Park followed with the ok to bomb more places sending America to their knees.  These two banter like siblings with sarcasm and wit aplenty!  Old characters are introduced and give that comfortable and fun feeling.   Oh, and yes, Mike keeps getting into trouble or rather trouble has its way of finding him!

A distant cousin of Michael Talbot, Darlene Bobich is in a small isolated town running away from New York.  She is much closer to the nuclear site and together with an older man she just met who runs the local gas station and his wife, they band together to build a fortress and defend their lives and their small bit of American soil from the invaders.  World War III has happened!

Both teams are fraught with bands of terrorists and danger; will they both make it through their own troubles to fight the incoming insurgents that are bearing down on them?  The terrorists who have so far successfully isolated America from her allies?

The writing styles of Tufo and Rosamilia complement one another making the story lines flow well together.  As in most good series, Tufo and Rosamilia leave you with big cliffhangers for the next book in the series.   Stayed tuned, someone is going to get their comeuppance!

United States of Apocalypse is rich in dialog that is realistic, character developments that leave no room for doubt, and a story line that blends well between the two authors.  SPOILER:  There are no zombies!  There are however, some terrorists, mindless humans blindly following their leader.  However, there is a lot of fast-moving action and hilarious banter.  Individually the authors are excellent but putting them together … well, you will LOVE this one; best of both worlds.

Tufo writes clearly and develops his new characters slowly and steadily, making them even more realistic.  His old characters – Mike Talbot, Officer Lawrence Tines and Tracie – are just as we remembered them – sassy, sarcastic, fun, loud, and as realistic as seeing oneself in the mirror.  The new ones are just as vivid and rich with slime and evilness oozing from every pore of their being.

Rosamilia developed his characters and delivered his plot line well written.  He wrote the connecting information between the two stories, binding their outcomes together in a future way.  Rich in vocabulary one could envision each person, each action clearly and precisely.

As usual Sean Runnette is a perfect narrator in Mike Talbott’s world.  The cadence, emotion and energy he puts forth are perfect.  One cannot pick up a Mike Talbott story without hearing Runnette running through your head. I was excited to see that Julie Whelan narrated Rosamilia’s section as she is excellent as well.  Clear and soothing, listeners would have no trouble connecting her to Darlene’s world.  Whelan projected the correct emotions on just the right level – doubt, fear, concern and trepidation.  Both of these narrators brought the book and its characters to life.

There were no issues with production, everything went smoothly.

Audiobook was purchased for review by ABR.

Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog

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21 of 26 people found this review helpful

Getting Some Classic Tufo and THE Best Narration

Written with humor and with attention to the detail that Tufo fans admire and love, this first installment leaves me typically yelling at my device for more! B.T., Talbot, Tracy, and a cast of new characters welcome you to a world of conflict, survival, and uncertainty. Tufo and Rosamilla capture perfectly the fundamental question that some of humanity wrestles with on a daily basis: how to decide to act based not on what we can do but rather what we should do. Excellent read.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Mark Tufo does it again

A great book, i loved the Tufo chapters the best, but Rosamilia chapters are good in their own right. Just love the BT and Michael banter. Good to see them together again. Funny how Tracey is even more of a bad ass in this universe. Wonder if Trip will make an appearance too.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

another grand slam!

if your a fan of either author, this book is a must! from the very first page to the last, is nonstop awesome!

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

next book please!!!

I can't wait until the next one is out! great story Talbott rocks! love this book

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Zombie Fallout Prequel

DO YOU EVER NOT TALK?
This is my favorite book starring Mike Talbot. The book is divided into two narratives. One follows a young woman traveling across the States and she is in Wyoming, when a nuclear bomb goes off in Yellowstone and the rioting is almost immediate. Talbot is 25 years old, living in New York City and is a PETTY CRIMINAL. Talbot has a run in with Tines, a New York Cop. Tines is arresting Talbot when the poop hits the fan. The two end up befriending each other and saving each other's lives. The back and forth between the two is hilarious. Unlike some of the other books, the book is not a steady flow of one liners. Having it split into two separate stories helps with that. Mike meets Tracie in this story.

THERE ARE NO SUCH THINGS AS ZOMBIES, BUT MOLE MEN.
This is obviously the first in a series and as of yet there are no Zombies, but a lot is explained on how the United States runs amok. If you are a Zombie Fallout fan, this book is a must. If somehow you are not familiar with the series, this is a good place to start.

28 of 39 people found this review helpful

Sean runnette has done it again!!

If you loved zombie fallout you will love this. Action packed filled with humor and of course who doesnt love killing the undead.

10 of 14 people found this review helpful

Talbot multiverse, New Story line

If you love the Talbot stories, you'll enjoy this. It's a different Mike, but the same old Mike. :) Some new characters and different angle on the end of times. I can't wait for the next book.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful