"Monster" series General Discussion - spoilers, obviously

[Zach]

First off, can't believe there isn't a thread for this already. I've seen a couple, but they were just pointing out factual errors. Shame. Time for some praise.

I really can't get enough of this story, which sucks, 'cause I just finished the third book (yeah, I know, but I only found the series recently).

This series has got to be the most original concept of zombies I've come across. The idea of a more "fantasy" based zombie didn't sit well with me at first. I'm used to my zombies being a social commentary backed up by quasi medical/scientific explanation, but I was hooked after Gary dug the bullet out of his noggin in the first book.

The idea of a self aware zombie was interesting enough on its own, but those few pages really showed off the author's ability and forced me to accept whatever he was going to throw at me next. (doesn't hurt that Gary is my favorite character and I've spent many a discussion defending his character - "I have a right to exist.")

I could go on, but then it isn't a "discussion", is it? That'd be rambling.

[Thomas F Brown]

zach, you are right about the monster series. i read planet first and was blown away! i am a traditional slow but numerous zombie fan ala romero, but i can understand the need in the 21st century for "fast zombies", which frankly, scares the hell out of me. people rarely survive the slow ones, let alone those that can run faster than a living person with professional athletic prowess. davids introduction of aware zombies, self created zombies, psionic zombies, and all of the other assorted plethora of monsters that the world has always offered but ignored. i love the term slack for the pawn zombies and the hooded psion that commands them and of course the ultimate zombies, mael and the mummies. amazing turn and twist that noone has ever come up with. its been awhile since i read the monsters and will revisit someday, but who was the skull with feet again? that was another awesome character that shows the interminable condition the world could face if it doesnt take living seriously. i also think the polders, present in a lot of davids work, which is great because it creates a great crossover gateway. their powers cannot be underated. as a good thing and possibly as a bad thing. i always say, Damn, I wish I wrote these books. History needed David. a new prolific, fantastic writer with a mission.

[Zach]

The skull was what remained of Gary after the conclusion of the first book (and after Dekalb's killing and inadvertently restoring him over the years).

The final battle in Planet has him transformed into a 10+ foot tall skeletal spider with scythes for feet, a dozen barbed spines, a body covered in spikes, a scorpion's tail and a grisly mouth opened up in the side of his... um... exoskeleton (I guess) with his skull perched somewhere on all that.

Wow. Typing it all out in one sentence probably just put some child in therapy somewhere.

[Thomas F Brown]

hopefully no children reading this. I forgot about Dekalb and Gary's symbiotic relationship. I actually confused Gary for the sympathetic character that was Dekalb. Thanks for the reminder.

[Zach]

I loved their relationship in Planet: Dekalb's guilt, Gary's determination to survive. It was also, for me, a comparison to the first book in a way. Here the entire world has become overrun and the main characters of the first book are rendered practically insignificant - so much has left them behind. They're still fighting the same old fight for twelve years and the rest of the world has been reduced to isolated camps of starving refugees.

[Zach]

I literally just finished reading the monster trilogy and i am impressed by how good the books were. Although i still think of Gary as a monster i sympathize with him in a way, he tried to just survive in monster island and unfortunately, due to fate being unkind to him, he turned into the monster we all know. I hope that Wellington decides to make another book in the series cuz i would be the first one to read it if he did lol. Overall, amazing trilogy of books and i loved every second of reading them.

[Drew Koehler]

David I must say that your trilogy of books has made such an impact to my affection for zombies that I can never safely read or watch another zombie story without thinking about your books.
I would have never thought it possible to add such a supernatural concept to the idea of zombies but it meshes so well with your story. I would love to understand more of your inspiration for the concepts you displayed in the Monster series. What gave you your ideas?
I will say that Ayaan was a bit of a disappointment. With being a devout muslim and then buying in to what the Tsaravich's plans were was a little off-putting. It worked, don't get me wrong. I would have liked to see here as more of a hero than just another casualty.
Thanks so much, if you ever decide to write any kind of prequel to the story, or a side project, you have my cash in hand.
Thanks.