Dying to Live: A Novel of Life Among the Undead | 
| Author: Kim Paffenroth
Creator: D.l. Snell
Publisher: Permuted Press
Category: Book
List Price: $12.95
Buy New: $11.95
You Save: $1.00 (8%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  59 reviews
Sales Rank: 4460
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 216
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8.8 x 6 x 0.7
ISBN: 097897073X
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780978970734
ASIN: 097897073X
Publication Date: April 1, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Softcover. Slight shelf wear. Ships the next business day, with tracking and delivery confirmation sent to your email.
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Product Description
Jonah Caine, a lone survivor in a zombie-infested world, struggles to understand the apocalypse in which he lives. Unable to find a moral or sane reason for the horror that surrounds him, he is overwhelmed by violence and insignificance. After wandering for months, Jonah's lonely existence dramatically changes when he discovers a group of survivors. Living in a museum-turned-compound, they are led jointly by Jack, an ever-practical and efficient military man, and Milton, a mysterious, quizzical prophet who holds a strange power over the dead. Both leaders share Jonah's anguish over the brutality of their world, as well as his hope for its beauty. Together with others, they build a community that reestablishes an island of order and humanity surrounded by relentless ghouls. But this newfound peace is short-lived, as Jonah and his band of refugees clash with another group of survivors who remind them that the undead are not the only-nor the most grotesque-horrors they must face.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 54 more reviews...
 Pretty decent. July 24, 2008
Liked Day by Day Armageddon better, but this was a pretty decent book in itself.
 Bring on the sequel!!! July 24, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book is hands-down (in my opinion) the BEST zombie book I have read yet. I've been on a bit of a zombie kick for a while. I've read Brian Keene, and all of the Zombie Anthologies from Permuted Press. In fact, Permuted Press should be absolutely commended for the incredible talent they are bringing to us lucky readers. I really enjoyed the hell out of the anthologies, but this book, is the best by far.
I will spare you the usual detailed plot-spoiling review. In short, this book centers on the protagonist Jonah Caine, and is told from his perspective. From page one I was hooked (a rarity for me), and the cast of characters grows after Jonah meets up with a small clan of survivors holed up in a heavily fortified museum. Each of the characters is interesting, and the story reminds me quite a bit of "The Walking Dead" comic series by Robert Kirkman...that's a good thing in my opinion.
The zombies in this book are the classic "Romero" zombies...the slow-moving, and stupid ones. Honestly, they are the ones that I find the creepiest.
From the beginning to the end, I felt myself interested in the characters and on edge with every page. That is what I'm looking for in a book, especially a zombie book.
In fact, the only problem I had with the book at all was that it ended. I don't know if the end left room for a sequel, but I hope there is one in the cards. If not, I'd really be interested to see what else Mr. Paffenroth can do with this great zombie universe he created.
Well done. Blows away Brian Keene's books in my opinion. I liked Keene's books, but I LOVE this one.
If you like zombies, don't think about it, just BUY IT.
Good book, allusions are heavy handed June 21, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
In another of my zombie-fic feeding frenzies, I picked up "Dying to Live" by Kim Paffenroth. Another independently-published Permuted Press offerins, I had moderate hopes for the book. Being able to read the first chapter in Amazon had me convinced to buy it.
Overall, Kim puts together a good story. There's enough gore and splatter to keep zombie fans engaged, and he does a good job with plot development and dialog. Character names are simple, and are limited to first names only, so there aren't a bunch of cheesy names in the book (well, almost).
Kim Paffenroth does try to spin a bit of a morality play here as well, particularly around the Christian ethos, and his use of character names in some cases are a bit of a heavy handed allusion to characters in other books. The lead character is Jonah Cain (two characters from the bible), and the leader of the compound is named "Milton" (who created "Paradise Lost"). Add to this the death of one of the minor characters in a very Christ-like manner (spear to the side), and you'll quickly see the Christian influences of the nove.
The book is not preachy, however, and the not-so-subtle subtest doesn't detract from the overall story.
Finally, the book scores a 4.5 out of 5 on my grammar-o-meter. I gave it a quick read, and I'm sure there are a few misplaced commas, sentence fragments, and run-ons in there-- however, they aren't glaring, and none of them scream "amateur!" Well, except for the one that keeps this book from getting a 5 out of 5 on the grammar-tron (or was it the grammar-o-meter?).
Kim, if you're reading this: it should have been "cut the cord" not "cut the chord." My guess is that it was a simple typo missed by the Word spelling checker, and uncaughted by your faithful editors.
Overall, if you are a fan of the genre, I definitely recommend this book for the story, dialog, character development, and unique approaches to survival in a post-zombie-apocolypse world.
Paradise Lost. June 20, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
When I was a child, I used to beg my parents to stay the night up in my tree house because when I was inside it I was in a different world. I could imagine any scenario, and it was protected by scrap lumber and being 10 feet off of the ground (well that and I was obsessed with Swiss Family Robinson). I loved that Dying to Live started in such a tree house because to me it was a nod to those days of childhood when you climbed down on the ladder and had to face reality again.
I don't make it any secret that I am in love with all things undead, zombies, vampire's .George Romero is as much a part of my growing up as Kraft Mac and Cheese was. I think I watched Dawn of The Dead so many times on VHS that my TV started to decay. I eat up every book on the subject I can get my hands on, but I never set my expectations up to high because I will get knocked back down into disappointment. I really liked this book, not quite in love, but a good first date and it was a quick one. With the undead there is always the proverbial depiction, and Kim didn't stray from that at all thank goodness. I actually like when authors put a religious aspect in the story, when humans are put in this kind of horrific situation there are inevitably going to be thoughts of some higher power, I know that if it were me I would want answers and guidance and really you're going to have A LOT of time on your hands, if religion doesn't come up its unrealistic.
There is a great protagonist, a shuffling stinking pod of antagonists and a couple of prisoners gone Lord of the Flies on prune wine. I loved the character of Milton, I found myself reading his name and thinking of John Milton the poet who wrote Paradise Lost, and how in it Satan observes Adam and Eve discussing the Tree of Knowledge and he tries to tempt eve into eating from it. After expelling Satan from heaven, God creates another world and the angel Raphael again warns Adam to not eat from the tree for "in the day thou eat'st, thou diest;/ Death is the penalty imposed, beware,/ And govern well thy appetite, lest Sin/ Surprise thee, and her black attendant Death" Science is the pursuit of knowledge, and science created the zombies, and man was expelled out of the garden of Eden.
I cannot wait for the sequel, I am sure it will be a marvelous second date.
A great read, Kim Paffenroth did it again June 13, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I'm going to keep this very short, as i do not want to write a synopsis, but rather give my opinion on the book itself. With the many things the characters face in this book and the way they happen it keeps the reader stuck into this book, not wanting to put it down. If you're a diehard zombie fan, this book appeals to you because of the traditional zombie feel, and the helplessness you feel because of the situation. If you're a fan of post apocalyptic novels, this will appeal to you because of the way the survivors deal with they're new situation. If you like just plain old action, this may not be for you, but it has its moments of suspense, explosions and fighting of more than just the undead. In conclusion, this book is most definitely worth the price.
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