Here We Stand

Infected, Volume 1

By: Frank Tayell

Narrated by: Theodore Copeland

Length: 7 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

The outbreak began in Manhattan. Within hours, the quarantine was sabotaged, but it was too late. Nowhere is safe from the undead.

Tom Clemens has been living in the shadows for years, searching for those responsible for the death of his family. Framed for murder, he is on the run when the first outbreak occurs. With thousands of others, he fights his way out of New York, and joins the exodus searching for a safe refuge in America. On that journey he learns the identity of those responsible for the betrayal of the species, and of a scientist who might be able to stop the living dead. So begins his quest to save humanity.

Here We Stand 1: Infected and Here We Stand 2: Divided are part of the post-apocalyptic series Surviving the Evacuation. This story of patient zero and Sholto's attempts to halt the collapse of America can be listened to before or after Surviving the Evacuation Books 1-7.

©2016 Frank Tayell (P)2017 Frank Tayell

Zombies in America, with a Twist!

The Surviving The Evacuation series crosses the pond in this first book of a two part series. This story tells the events you of the Zombie Apocalypse from the perspective of Tom Clemens in America. It is a fast paced adventure with characters I’ve become invested in and really care about.

If you’ve read or listened to Bill Wright’s journal of the Zombie plague and evacuation of London and all inland UK cites, then this is a must listen! The reading is solid, with different voices used for different characters, and great inflection and tone matching the story.

Best so far

I have enjoyed all of Frank's books, but this one was by far his best in my opinion. The pacing is absolutely perfect and I was kept on the edge of my seat for the entirety.

Church lady voice

I enjoyed the story of how the infection started in the US and the story of how Bill's brother began his way to find him. However; Heleana's voice reminds me if the Church Lady from SNL. I really had a hard time liking her character for that reason.

The author, narrator and entire series is great.

I have enjoyed the authors work in this series. The narrator brings to life each character. I'm enjoying this series immensely.

Okay

Okay story just not sure if I want to or are interested in reading book two.

Stand Struggles but Holds Up

Any additional comments?

Stand tells the back story Santos; a shady character from Tayell's Evacuation series (for which this is the prequel). Santos (who goes by Tom here) has fallen from grace while trying to prove that a small group of powerful elites has initiated a conspiracy to rule the world. They have to destroy it first (with zombies) but once its in chaos they will control everything. There are some problems in that logic but as Santos himself says, "they are crazy."

Tayell's writing is good and he has obviously thought the conspiracy itself through well enough. The plot is slowly revealed as Santos, pursued by minions of the conspirators, escapes NY just before it is quarantined and heads for the home of a scientist he knows that may be able to solve the riddle of the zombie plague. The weakness lies with his actions while on the run. Although he figures out early on that zombies are attracted by noise and motion he proceeds to make as much noise as possible fairly often, bringing he and his companions into danger. While camped out at a secluded cabin he shoots a lone zombie, several times, which of course draws in all the others in the area. Later, although safely barricaded at a motel in the mountains they choose to gun down all the zombies walking down the road... which of course just brings more. Santos is supposedly a smart guy, why waste ammunition and make all that noise? Especially, when they could just hunker down, be quiet and let them walk on by. It makes for good action sequences but not without a high 'why did they do that?' factor.

Theodore Copeland does an excellent job with the narration which helps hold up the story despite it's weaknesses. I enjoy Tayell's writing and am already listening to book 2 so the flaws are annoying but not that big of a deal.

Monotone and boring

The narration is absolutely awful. He offers no emotion, and he makes the women sound like a man on estrogen. Immediately after beginning this audio book, I regretted the purchase. 100% not even close to the way Shalto was portrayed in the Surviving the Evacuation series. Maybe this narrator is new, I don't know, but it makes me want nothing to do with the other two Here We Stand books.