Product Description

Jonah Caine, a lone survivor in a zombie-infested world, struggles to understand the apocalypse in which he lives. Unable to find a moral or sane reason for the horror that surrounds him, he is overwhelmed by violence and insignificance. After wandering for months, Jonah's lonely existence dramatically changes when he discovers a group of survivors. Living in a museum-turned-compound, they are led jointly by Jack, an ever-practical and efficient military man, and Milton, a mysterious, quizzical prophet who holds a strange power over the dead. Both leaders share Jonah's anguish over the brutality of their world, as well as his hope for its beauty. Together with others, they build a community that reestablishes an island of order and humanity surrounded by relentless ghouls. But this newfound peace is short-lived, as Jonah and his band of refugees clash with another group of survivors who remind them that the undead are not the only-nor the most grotesque-horrors they must face.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3452 in Books
• Published on: 2007-04-01
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 216 pages

Jonathan Maberry, author of "Ghost Road Blues"
"Dying to Live is not just a thinking man's horror novel, it's a zombie book for philosophers. There's plenty of action--and we enter the story while it's already in gear--and we get inside the head and heart of a moral man trying to understand the cosmic implications of the apocalypse."

Brian Keene, best-selling author of Dead Sea, The Rising, and City of the Dead
Dying To Live is an engrossing, exciting read--a zombie novel with heart and brains. A high-octane, thinking man's horror novel with beautiful and gruesome imagery. I absolutely loved it!

Jonathan Maberry, author of GHOST ROAD BLUES
DYING TO LIVE is not just a thinking man's horror novel, it's a zombie book for philosophers. There's plenty of action--and we enter the story while it's already in gear---and we get inside the head and heart of a moral man trying to understand the cosmic implications of the apocalypse.

Customer Reviews

Good book, allusions are heavy handed
In another of my zombie-fic feeding frenzies, I picked up "Dying to Live" by Kim Paffenroth. Another independently-published Permuted Press offerins, I had moderate hopes for the book. Being able to read the first chapter in Amazon had me convinced to buy it.

Overall, Kim puts together a good story. There's enough gore and splatter to keep zombie fans engaged, and he does a good job with plot development and dialog. Character names are simple, and are limited to first names only, so there aren't a bunch of cheesy names in the book (well, almost).

Kim Paffenroth does try to spin a bit of a morality play here as well, particularly around the Christian ethos, and his use of character names in some cases are a bit of a heavy handed allusion to characters in other books. The lead character is Jonah Cain (two characters from the bible), and the leader of the compound is named "Milton" (who created "Paradise Lost"). Add to this the death of one of the minor characters in a very Christ-like manner (spear to the side), and you'll quickly see the Christian influences of the nove.

The book is not preachy, however, and the not-so-subtle subtest doesn't detract from the overall story.

Finally, the book scores a 4.5 out of 5 on my grammar-o-meter. I gave it a quick read, and I'm sure there are a few misplaced commas, sentence fragments, and run-ons in there-- however, they aren't glaring, and none of them scream "amateur!" Well, except for the one that keeps this book from getting a 5 out of 5 on the grammar-tron (or was it the grammar-o-meter?).

Kim, if you're reading this: it should have been "cut the cord" not "cut the chord." My guess is that it was a simple typo missed by the Word spelling checker, and uncaughted by your faithful editors.

Overall, if you are a fan of the genre, I definitely recommend this book for the story, dialog, character development, and unique approaches to survival in a post-zombie-apocolypse world.

Paradise Lost.
When I was a child, I used to beg my parents to stay the night up in my tree house because when I was inside it I was in a different world. I could imagine any scenario, and it was protected by scrap lumber and being 10 feet off of the ground (well that and I was obsessed with Swiss Family Robinson). I loved that Dying to Live started in such a tree house because to me it was a nod to those days of childhood when you climbed down on the ladder and had to face reality again.

I don't make it any secret that I am in love with all things undead, zombies, vampire's .George Romero is as much a part of my growing up as Kraft Mac and Cheese was. I think I watched Dawn of The Dead so many times on VHS that my TV started to decay. I eat up every book on the subject I can get my hands on, but I never set my expectations up to high because I will get knocked back down into disappointment. I really liked this book, not quite in love, but a good first date and it was a quick one. With the undead there is always the proverbial depiction, and Kim didn't stray from that at all thank goodness. I actually like when authors put a religious aspect in the story, when humans are put in this kind of horrific situation there are inevitably going to be thoughts of some higher power, I know that if it were me I would want answers and guidance and really you're going to have A LOT of time on your hands, if religion doesn't come up its unrealistic.

There is a great protagonist, a shuffling stinking pod of antagonists and a couple of prisoners gone Lord of the Flies on prune wine. I loved the character of Milton, I found myself reading his name and thinking of John Milton the poet who wrote Paradise Lost, and how in it Satan observes Adam and Eve discussing the Tree of Knowledge and he tries to tempt eve into eating from it. After expelling Satan from heaven, God creates another world and the angel Raphael again warns Adam to not eat from the tree for "in the day thou eat'st, thou diest;/ Death is the penalty imposed, beware,/ And govern well thy appetite, lest Sin/ Surprise thee, and her black attendant Death" Science is the pursuit of knowledge, and science created the zombies, and man was expelled out of the garden of Eden.

I cannot wait for the sequel, I am sure it will be a marvelous second date.

A great read, Kim Paffenroth did it again
I'm going to keep this very short, as i do not want to write a synopsis, but rather give my opinion on the book itself. With the many things the characters face in this book and the way they happen it keeps the reader stuck into this book, not wanting to put it down. If you're a diehard zombie fan, this book appeals to you because of the traditional zombie feel, and the helplessness you feel because of the situation. If you're a fan of post apocalyptic novels, this will appeal to you because of the way the survivors deal with they're new situation. If you like just plain old action, this may not be for you, but it has its moments of suspense, explosions and fighting of more than just the undead. In conclusion, this book is most definitely worth the price.