Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Romero + Keene + A Gun Shop = Wet Work, Nov 28 2005
This review is from: Wet Work (Paperback)
I had read that Philip Nutman's "Wet Work" was based on his story from "The Book of the Dead" so I assumed the zombies would be George Romero-style. Well, it's true some of the zombies are slow, mindless flesh-eating drones. But, to my surprise and delight, Nutman has also thrown smart, fast zombies in the mix (somewhat like Keene's "The Rising") as well and most of the book centers on them. The novel follows a Washington, D.C. cop and a black-ops type assassin as the society of the living crumbles and the dead rise due (apparently) to the earth passing through the tail of a strange comet. While the events of the book are not particularly groundbreaking in the zombie genre (flesh is eaten, loved ones are separated, lead characters become zombies, rinse, repeat), Wet Work is well written and the military style action is fast and furious. Probably the only virgin territory Nutman ventures into is the establishment of a new government by the undead, for the undead, which results in some amusing scenes between the smart dead and the living. If you're a zombie fan you won't find anything particularly surprising in Philip Nutman's "Wet Work" but you will have a good time in a familiar landscape. For more reviews from The Reader Reviews visit http://www.thereaderreviews.com
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Romero + Keene + A Gun Shop = Wet Work, Nov 28 2005
By The Reader Reviews - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Wet Work (Paperback)
I had read that Philip Nutman's "Wet Work" was based on his story from "The Book of the Dead" so I assumed the zombies would be George Romero-style. Well, it's true some of the zombies are slow, mindless flesh-eating drones. But, to my surprise and delight, Nutman has also thrown smart, fast zombies in the mix (somewhat like Keene's "The Rising") as well and most of the book centers on them. The novel follows a Washington, D.C. cop and a black-ops type assassin as the society of the living crumbles and the dead rise due (apparently) to the earth passing through the tail of a strange comet. While the events of the book are not particularly groundbreaking in the zombie genre (flesh is eaten, loved ones are separated, lead characters become zombies, rinse, repeat), Wet Work is well written and the military style action is fast and furious. Probably the only virgin territory Nutman ventures into is the establishment of a new government by the undead, for the undead, which results in some amusing scenes between the smart dead and the living. If you're a zombie fan you won't find anything particularly surprising in Philip Nutman's "Wet Work" but you will have a good time in a familiar landscape. For more reviews from The Reader Reviews visit http://www.thereaderreviews.com
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Zombie reading, July 15 2002
By Dennis Duncan - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Wet Work (Paperback)
Let me start by saying this book is a classic for any zombie fan but I have always been a George Romero fan and these zombies were not what I expected. In this book there is different stages of dead if that makes sense. Some of the dead in this book can drive cars and function almost normally, but others are less intelligent and have hard times doing basic tasks. The whole scenario of a comet passing over and killing the immune system of the living and bringing the dead back to life was really cool but it wasn't totally original. Watch the movie NIGHT OF THE COMET and you will know what I am talking about. The book was a little short and very bleak at the end. It leaves no hope for humanities survival, but a great book all in all. I recommend this book highly but only 4 out of 5 to me.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Thanks Philip..., Mar 9 1999
By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Wet Work (Paperback)
I found Mr. Nutmans book at my local used bookstore and bought it really not expecting too much. I read the book that same week and I must say that I was very happy about my impulse buy. Mr. Nutman paints a very vivid picture of the end of the world and I would like to say to those out there who condemn the splatterpunk genre, that they should read this story before making a fool of themselves furthur. Richly descriptive and horrifying, this is what horror fiction is all about. Its like a nightmare written on page with all the claustrophobia and despair of a zombie invasion present. I have to make a personal confession. I rarely remember my dreams, but I sometimes do when they are nightmares. My worst nightmares have been about the living dead taking over the world and consuming the living. Its like Mr. Nutman took the anarchy, terror, and hopelessness of one of these dreams and made it his own. The characters are well structured, the pace of the tale furious, the story well realised. The only drawback: too damn short! I can only imagine what an epic length would have brought forth, such as the scale of the Stand or Swan Song. Mr. Nutman, do me a favor. Write more more more!
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