'Exit Kingdom' - Alden Bell (Tor UK)

Zombie fiction has now officially taken on the guise of the creature that it focuses on. Hundreds of books (well, it feels like it) encroaching on the last bastions of 'zombie free' horror shelf space. Some of these books are clearly only recently deceased, still showing some signs of individuality and an ability to do what the rest cannot. And the rest? Rotting carcases of books that could easily be mistaken for another zombie book entirely. No individuality, no flair; just a relentless chunk of sub-genre that absolutely refuses to stop. What will the 'post-zombie' horror landscape look like once the sub-genre has burnt itself out? I'm thinking something along the lines of Atlanta in the 'Walking Dead' show...

So why do I still carry on reading zombie fiction if (as you have probably already guessed) I'm getting a little bit sick of it? Mostly force of habit I think and I'll bet you can all understand that on one level or another (a post for another day perhaps?) There's also the fact that I have found some real gems in the past (undead gems?) and sometimes it's worth ploughing through some mediocre stuff to get to the good books. Call it a zombie treasure hunt! :o)

I'm talking books like Alden Bell's 'The Reapers are the Angels'; an absolutely awesome book that, for me anyway, redefined what zombie fiction was all about. A 'literary zombie read'? Absolutely. I could wax lyrical about this book all over again but I did all that over at the other blog so have a look over there to see why I enjoyed 'Reapers' so much. As for this blog, lets just say that when I found 'Exit Kingdom' waiting for me I was in a bit of a rush to pick it up. So why was I ultimately a little disappointed? Have some blurb first before we go into all that...


In a world where the undead outnumber the living, Moses Todd roams the post-apocalyptic plains of America. His reprobate brother, Abraham - his only companion - has known little else. Together, they journey because they have to; because they have nowhere to go, and no one to answer to other than themselves. Travelling the bloody wastelands of this ruined world, Moses is looking for a kernel of truth, and a reason to keep going. And a chance encounter presents him with the Vestal Amata, a beguiling and mysterious woman who may hold the key to salvation. But he is not the only one seeking the Vestal. For the Vestal has a gift: a gift that might help save what is left of humanity. And it may take everything he has to free her from the clutches of those who most desire her.

At first glance, 'Exit Kingdom' looks like a worthy prequel to 'Reapers'. Or is it a sequel? Two stories are being told here, past and present, so you could make case for either really. I'd go with 'prequel', as that story takes up most of the book, which creates problems that I'll go into a little later on. It certainly looks good on the surface though with those wide open American spaces hiding little pockets of weirdness (I'm thinking of the airport here) as humanity deals with zombies in any number of ways. There's plenty to see here and it feels like the best kind of roadtrip, miles of empty road in front of you and nothing to do except watch the scenery.

There is a story though, of course, but it almost feels a little redundant given the fact that the book is a prequel. We've seen 'what happens next', we know that the zombies are still very much a problem by the time Moses comes to tell his tale. The tale of the Vestal Amata feels a little pointless then. Her relationship with Moses makes for interesting reading (as he constantly tries to do the right thing by someone who is a real chaotic force of nature) and the plot is driven by her ability to get into trouble. What is the point though if we know that she doesn't save humanity from the zombies? Maybe that is the whole point but that kind of approach doesn't hook me and want to carry on reading. Why did I? Mostly because of the gorgeous scenery but I'm digressing here. I could make a similar argument about Moses' brother (we all know what happens to him) but don't want to repeat myself too much. Lets just say that I still can't get my head round the idea of people writing tthe sequel first...

I also wasn't a hundred percent sold on the idea of Moses as the main character. His relentless implacability made him the ideal foil for Temple in the previous book as they both did their part in driving the plot. Here though? Apart from a couple of interesting hints (his wife and child), there just isn't enough to Moses to make him a chracter that can carry a book from beginning to end. All he wants to do is get from A to B and that introduces a linear tone to the book which it could really do without. I was strangely heartened though to see Maury still in tow.

I get the feeling that if you enjoyed 'Reapers' then you will more than likely enjoy 'Exit Kingdom', not me though. While I can appreciate that there was still a story to be told, the execution wasn't as effective as last time round. I'm fighting the urge to make a really bad pun about 'exiting' this series but would probably read another book if there was one. I just wouldn't pick it up as quickly as I did the other two...