Typhoon

August 1, 2019
This Walking Dead tie-in novel from Chu (Time Siege, 2016) depicts the effects of the world-wide zombie plague on China and the struggles of the few surviving human communities to withstand the periodic "typhoons" of the risen dead emanating from now devastated city centers. Zhu, a former farmer, and his girlfriend Elena, an American stranded in China after the outbreak, are both now foragers and scouts for the Beacon of Light, a survivor community run by a remnant of the government and military. Tensions between the Beacon and other survivor groups, between Zhu's loyalties to his former village and to the Beacon, and between Beacon scout leader Hengyen and the camp's official leader Secretary Guo combine to destabilize the camp's chances for survival. While being a fan of Kirkman's graphic novel series or the TV show based on it will certainly enhance the reading experience, the narrative easily stands on its own and has enough fast-paced, action-oriented prose to satisfy those looking for a fun and diverting entry in the survival horror genre.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)