Monster Nation and Undead Patriotism: A Book Review

*here be some spoilers.

Author: David Wellington.

The novel reviewed here is the 2006 Running Press edition, with the book cover shown left. Monster Nation is the second novel in a trilogy and the first book has been reviewed here (Monster Island Review). Monster Nation primarily follows characters Nilla, a recently turned, intelligent zombie and Bannerman, a Captain of the military. Tasked with defeating a spreading zombie plague, Bannerman must face Nilla and a supernatural presence known as Mael Mog Och. Meanwhile, the United States devolves into chaos, with various characters competing for your mostly horrified attention.

In the conclusion, the reason for a spreading zombie epidemic is attached to a growing source, which houses a biological component, turning the living undead. The disease is launched by a maniacal doctor a la Frankenstein. Those on the western seaboard fall first, with a prison in Colorado one of the central hubs of infection. Here, Bannerman attempts to supplicate an apparent prison riot. The catastrophe is a little more broad, as the prisoners have turned into cannibals. Queue a fascinating and detailed battle through Colorado and horror fiction fans will find enough intensity here, in Monster Nation, to keep their attention glued to the pages.

Moving on, Nilla is a central character and her involvement in a car crash is caused by the spreading undead illness. Her missing shoulder, covered in bites is evidence of this. Instead, of becoming just another ravenous flesheater, Nilla retains her consciousness. Sought after by Och for his devious plans, Nilla is constantly being torn between serving the just Bannerman and the dark presence of Och. Seeing into the mind of one of the undead gives the spreading apocalypse more mystery and Nilla's goal in this chaotic world, is to reunite with the source, for unknown reasons.

Through the source, a repeating character from the first book emerges centrally, Och. His purpose is to destroy mankind. Later, Cpt. Bannerman is tricked by one of Och's accomplices, known as The Civilian and Wellington structures the book in such a way as to look into the spreading infection through news reports, while Nilla is given half of the novel and Bannerman the other half. Wellington goes back and forth between these two characters primarily. However, Och, The Civilian, various military personnel and civilians e.g. Shar (a friend of Nilla's) are given space as well and this book reviewer kept hoping for more attention placed on Bannerman and his military exploits, rather than some of these minor characters. There just seems to be a little too much going on in this read. Yet, most everything evolves as a novel should, while the conclusion ties all the characters together. The ending is still a little too open-ended, though.

Monster Nation is structured with much more complexity than Monster Island, but this reviewer liked the focus on the protagonists in the earlier novel and the action therein. Nilla seemed like a distraction in this second novel, whose purpose is still not know at the end of this read. There is action here and Wellington writes best when in the center of a brutal fight. The power struggle between Bannerman and Och is never really settled, which left this reader wanting a little more closure in this second novel. However, plans are already underway by this book lover to read the final novel in this series, titled Monster Planet and most fiction fans will enjoy the semi-unique supernatural source of a chaotic zombie catastrophe.

Overall: 6.75 out of 10 (interesting characters, tense, the purpose of some characters is not totally fleshed out, the conclusion was not satisfying).

An excellent review of this novel by Scott Shoyer at Anything Horror:

Monster Nation Reviewed at Anything Horror



Advertise Here - Contact me Michael Allen at 28DLA

 |  |  |  |  | 

Subscribe to 28 Days Later: An Analysis by Email

Posted in: 2006,2011,book cover,book review,undead,undead hordes,united states