On This Page
Description
The end of the world is only the beginning as an odd band of survivors pull together to construct a modern-day castle amid the burning ruins of suburbia lost. As undead hordes and strange otherworldly monsters ravage what's left of civilization, things begin to go from worse to weird as each survivor's dark past unfolds, revealing that reality might be more than anyone ever thought, and that an ancient force from the outer dark has finally arrived to conquer. Stephen King's The Stand meets show more Lost in an epic confrontation between good and evil that spans history, time, and space. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
The Red King
by Nick Cole
Amazon Digital 2005
$0.00; 285 pages
ASIN B019S9WEHA
I don't usually read ebooks. I have an irrational love of physical books, with their scent of slowly oxidizing paper. I find that I will do almost anything to avoid reading ebooks. Thus despite having over 700 physical books in my house, I only have a dozen or so ebooks.
I picked this up because it was free. And because I liked Soda Pop Soldier. In a free moment, I pulled the book up on my phone to pass the time. I found that I could not put it down. That was a pleasant surprise. No other ebook has yet done that to me, although I don't make a habit of buying electronic versions of the books of my favorite authors. Nick Cole may just break me of that habit.
I like show more The Red King because it is a pastiche. I hope Cole won't hold that against me. I like pastiche. Especially when it is done well. And this is done very, very well. I feel like Cole and I probably read and watched the same things growing up, because I really enjoyed all those sly references to other books, movies, and videogames.
However, just because your book is a pastiche, doesn't mean you lack imagination or skill as a writer. I usually judge authors by their characters, and the ultimate test is whether I feel like a character isn't a character at all, but a person. Holiday, the hard-drinking screw-up who finds that he has survived the end of the world because he was sleeping off a bender, seems like a person to me. I am inclined to cut him some slack, because I kind of like him, even though he knows his way around a bottle.
Much of the supporting cast meets my other criterion for good characters: they seem like someone I've met. A character created to fill a role, or a slot, or a stereotype just doesn't seem like a real person. However, most real people really are pretty stereotypical, and you have to observe them to be able to represent that faithfully. Reading about people who seem like I could run into them on the street makes a book a pleasure to read, and this book was indeed a pleasure to read.
Finally, I just like the end of the world. I've been reading both fiction and non-fiction on this subject for 15 years, and it is perennially interesting. The apocalypse is about us: who we are, and who we'd like to be. Every end of the world has it's own story to tell, and I'd like to see where Cole is going with this. Oh, and look, I can got get the other books right now.... show less
by Nick Cole
Amazon Digital 2005
$0.00; 285 pages
ASIN B019S9WEHA
I don't usually read ebooks. I have an irrational love of physical books, with their scent of slowly oxidizing paper. I find that I will do almost anything to avoid reading ebooks. Thus despite having over 700 physical books in my house, I only have a dozen or so ebooks.
I picked this up because it was free. And because I liked Soda Pop Soldier. In a free moment, I pulled the book up on my phone to pass the time. I found that I could not put it down. That was a pleasant surprise. No other ebook has yet done that to me, although I don't make a habit of buying electronic versions of the books of my favorite authors. Nick Cole may just break me of that habit.
I like show more The Red King because it is a pastiche. I hope Cole won't hold that against me. I like pastiche. Especially when it is done well. And this is done very, very well. I feel like Cole and I probably read and watched the same things growing up, because I really enjoyed all those sly references to other books, movies, and videogames.
However, just because your book is a pastiche, doesn't mean you lack imagination or skill as a writer. I usually judge authors by their characters, and the ultimate test is whether I feel like a character isn't a character at all, but a person. Holiday, the hard-drinking screw-up who finds that he has survived the end of the world because he was sleeping off a bender, seems like a person to me. I am inclined to cut him some slack, because I kind of like him, even though he knows his way around a bottle.
Much of the supporting cast meets my other criterion for good characters: they seem like someone I've met. A character created to fill a role, or a slot, or a stereotype just doesn't seem like a real person. However, most real people really are pretty stereotypical, and you have to observe them to be able to represent that faithfully. Reading about people who seem like I could run into them on the street makes a book a pleasure to read, and this book was indeed a pleasure to read.
Finally, I just like the end of the world. I've been reading both fiction and non-fiction on this subject for 15 years, and it is perennially interesting. The apocalypse is about us: who we are, and who we'd like to be. Every end of the world has it's own story to tell, and I'd like to see where Cole is going with this. Oh, and look, I can got get the other books right now.... show less
If you are a fan of zombie fiction, then The Red King: Wyrd, Book 1 by Nick Cole is a must read for you. If you are NOT a fan of zombie fiction, you still need to read it. And especially so if you appreciate nerve-wracking, post-apocalyptic novels and the exploration of such worlds.
Cole has multiple story lines going on, from survivors, to special ops guys, to mysterious insiders. There's a lot of mystery going on in The Red King, such as the origin of the relentless zombies, and I'm looking forward to learning some answers.
Nick Cole never lets his readers down. He knows how to write action scenes, but more importantly, he knows how to draw readers in and have empathy for his characters. He is a fantastic stylist, and if you've never show more read The Wasteland Saga or Soda Pop Soldier, you need to put them on your reading list.
The narrator, Guy Williams, does a fantastic job with the story, bringing it to life in a way that may leave you looking over your shoulder, hoping against hope that the zombies aren’t coming after you! show less
Cole has multiple story lines going on, from survivors, to special ops guys, to mysterious insiders. There's a lot of mystery going on in The Red King, such as the origin of the relentless zombies, and I'm looking forward to learning some answers.
Nick Cole never lets his readers down. He knows how to write action scenes, but more importantly, he knows how to draw readers in and have empathy for his characters. He is a fantastic stylist, and if you've never show more read The Wasteland Saga or Soda Pop Soldier, you need to put them on your reading list.
The narrator, Guy Williams, does a fantastic job with the story, bringing it to life in a way that may leave you looking over your shoulder, hoping against hope that the zombies aren’t coming after you! show less
If you are a fan of zombie fiction, then Apocalypse Weird: The Red King (WYRD Book 1) by Nick Cole is a must read for you. If you are NOT a fan of zombie fiction, you still need to read it. And especially so if you appreciate nerve-wracking, post-apocalyptic novels and the exploration of such worlds.
By now, word has spread around the globe that we are facing Apocalypse Weird. If you don’t believe me, just go over to YouTube and search “Apocalypse Weird Teaser Trailer.” Things are strange, and will be getting even stranger, from what I’ve seen and read. And Nick Cole starts it all off right, with The Red King.
Cole has multiple storylines going on, from survivors, to special ops guys, to mysterious insiders. And The Red King is show more just the beginning. Apocalypse Weird is a shared world, and other writers, such as Michael Bunker, Chris Pourteau, Kim Wells, Eric Tozzi, Jennifer Ellis, Hank Garner, Lesley Smith, Weston Ochse, and more, are scheduled to bring the apocalypse to a reading device near you.
Five books will be launched in late February, followed by a couple of books each month after the big launch. If The Red King is any indication of what is to come, it should be a lot of fun. Cole has put web links in the story that lead to maps, further information, and other parts of the enfolding novel. There’s a lot of mystery going on in The Red King, such as the origin of the relentless zombies, and I’m looking forward to learning some answers.
Nick Cole never lets his readers down. He knows how to write action scenes, but more importantly, he knows how to draw readers in and have empathy for his characters. He is a fantastic stylist, and if you’ve never read The Wasteland Saga or Soda Pop Soldier, you need to put them on your reading list.
Do yourself a favor and give this book a try. What do you have to lose, since it’s free? But don’t blame me if you find yourself up after midnight finishing it, which I did. This is fun stuff, with much more to come. show less
By now, word has spread around the globe that we are facing Apocalypse Weird. If you don’t believe me, just go over to YouTube and search “Apocalypse Weird Teaser Trailer.” Things are strange, and will be getting even stranger, from what I’ve seen and read. And Nick Cole starts it all off right, with The Red King.
Cole has multiple storylines going on, from survivors, to special ops guys, to mysterious insiders. And The Red King is show more just the beginning. Apocalypse Weird is a shared world, and other writers, such as Michael Bunker, Chris Pourteau, Kim Wells, Eric Tozzi, Jennifer Ellis, Hank Garner, Lesley Smith, Weston Ochse, and more, are scheduled to bring the apocalypse to a reading device near you.
Five books will be launched in late February, followed by a couple of books each month after the big launch. If The Red King is any indication of what is to come, it should be a lot of fun. Cole has put web links in the story that lead to maps, further information, and other parts of the enfolding novel. There’s a lot of mystery going on in The Red King, such as the origin of the relentless zombies, and I’m looking forward to learning some answers.
Nick Cole never lets his readers down. He knows how to write action scenes, but more importantly, he knows how to draw readers in and have empathy for his characters. He is a fantastic stylist, and if you’ve never read The Wasteland Saga or Soda Pop Soldier, you need to put them on your reading list.
Do yourself a favor and give this book a try. What do you have to lose, since it’s free? But don’t blame me if you find yourself up after midnight finishing it, which I did. This is fun stuff, with much more to come. show less
If you are a fan of zombie fiction, then Apocalypse Weird: The Red King (WYRD Book 1) by Nick Cole is a must read for you. If you are NOT a fan of zombie fiction, you still need to read it. And especially so if you appreciate nerve-wracking, post-apocalyptic novels and the exploration of such worlds.
By now, word has spread around the globe that we are facing Apocalypse Weird. If you don’t believe me, just go over to YouTube and search “Apocalypse Weird Teaser Trailer.” Things are strange, and will be getting even stranger, from what I’ve seen and read. And Nick Cole starts it all off right, with The Red King.
Cole has multiple storylines going on, from survivors, to special ops guys, to mysterious insiders. And The Red King is show more just the beginning. Apocalypse Weird is a shared world, and other writers, such as Michael Bunker, Chris Pourteau, Kim Wells, Eric Tozzi, Jennifer Ellis, Hank Garner, Lesley Smith, Weston Ochse, and more, are scheduled to bring the apocalypse to a reading device near you.
Five books will be launched in late February, followed by a couple of books each month after the big launch. If The Red King is any indication of what is to come, it should be a lot of fun. Cole has put web links in the story that lead to maps, further information, and other parts of the enfolding novel. There’s a lot of mystery going on in The Red King, such as the origin of the relentless zombies, and I’m looking forward to learning some answers.
Nick Cole never lets his readers down. He knows how to write action scenes, but more importantly, he knows how to draw readers in and have empathy for his characters. He is a fantastic stylist, and if you’ve never read The Wasteland Saga or Soda Pop Soldier, you need to put them on your reading list.
Do yourself a favor and give this book a try. What do you have to lose, since it’s free? But don’t blame me if you find yourself up after midnight finishing it, which I did. This is fun stuff, with much more to come. show less
By now, word has spread around the globe that we are facing Apocalypse Weird. If you don’t believe me, just go over to YouTube and search “Apocalypse Weird Teaser Trailer.” Things are strange, and will be getting even stranger, from what I’ve seen and read. And Nick Cole starts it all off right, with The Red King.
Cole has multiple storylines going on, from survivors, to special ops guys, to mysterious insiders. And The Red King is show more just the beginning. Apocalypse Weird is a shared world, and other writers, such as Michael Bunker, Chris Pourteau, Kim Wells, Eric Tozzi, Jennifer Ellis, Hank Garner, Lesley Smith, Weston Ochse, and more, are scheduled to bring the apocalypse to a reading device near you.
Five books will be launched in late February, followed by a couple of books each month after the big launch. If The Red King is any indication of what is to come, it should be a lot of fun. Cole has put web links in the story that lead to maps, further information, and other parts of the enfolding novel. There’s a lot of mystery going on in The Red King, such as the origin of the relentless zombies, and I’m looking forward to learning some answers.
Nick Cole never lets his readers down. He knows how to write action scenes, but more importantly, he knows how to draw readers in and have empathy for his characters. He is a fantastic stylist, and if you’ve never read The Wasteland Saga or Soda Pop Soldier, you need to put them on your reading list.
Do yourself a favor and give this book a try. What do you have to lose, since it’s free? But don’t blame me if you find yourself up after midnight finishing it, which I did. This is fun stuff, with much more to come. show less
Now I'll admit I wasn't real excited about reading a zombie book, but I liked the wasteland saga so much that I gave it a try and it was free. Loved it! It was a quick read, had good characters and left me wanting more of the story.
There are mysterious pasts, zombies and glimpses of the multiverse. What's not to love?
There are mysterious pasts, zombies and glimpses of the multiverse. What's not to love?
Members
- Recently Added By
Author Information
62+ Works 1,350 Members
Series
Work Relationships
Is contained in
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Red King
Classifications
- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, Science Fiction, Horror
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 58
- Popularity
- 528,659
- Reviews
- 7
- Rating
- (4.00)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 1
- ASINs
- 3
