• MOVIE FACT: Dan Waltz (IMDB) played a zombie in the film Zombie Apocalypes; Redemption, Directed by Ryan Thompson and starring actors Johnny Gel (Knox), Angelique Sky(Cienfuegos) and Fred Williamson (Moses) in 2011. Acting as a zombie in this movie served as a research project for Viral Bound.
BOOK REVIEWS!
***** 5.0 out of 5 stars - Review by Cory Polom
A Zombrific trip down a new avenue for the zombiology:
"The novel Viral Bound by Dan Waltz is a Zombrific trip down a new avenue for the zombiology. His take on the life of the early day survivors was amazing and he creates a world that can be visually seen in your mind. His characters are well developed and he keeps them evolving and growing throughout the book. The twist and turns throught the book keep you engrossed in the book the whole time. Dan uses the perfect amount of visuals while not completely using common day gore factor. This book jumped up my favorites of all time list and sits near the top of the list. I easily rate this books twist and turns an amazing 5 out of 5. Everything about this book is amazing including the cover art and the use of social media. His drive and passion can be seen with each word in this gripping novel. He has inspired me to push myself harder to finish my own book and pursuing my dream. I can't wait to read one of his next books and look forward to seeing what is to come from this amazing author and artist.”
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From Author Caroline Gebbie, UK:
Just finished Viral Bound by Dan Waltz, this is a great horror book especially if you like Zombies. It uses social media in a unique and compelling way. Why don’t you give it try?
***** 5.0 out of 5 stars - Review by C. Gebbie
An Almost Addictive Zombie Novel
An almost addictive read. The facebook post made this seem real, and pulled you into the story much like facebook does itself. The book follows a group of survivors as they try and escape the Zombie apocalypse. It is full of grit, gore and humor that keeps you turning the pages.
The author uses social media to pull you into the story from facebook post to twitter and blog feeds. The blog from the young boy trapped in his car is particularly compelling.
The book ends with an unexpected twist, or does it, is it just beginning?
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***** 4.0 out of 5 stars - Review byDiane (Belle Rouge)
Viral Bound was one heck of a ride.
Dan Waltz takes you on a journey that shows how even the most innocent of things adds to the chaos when the world in going to pieces.
Relatable characters help give depth to this zombie tale and helps the reader really get into the storyline. Of course some of the characters are more likable then others and there are one or two that you just want to smack upside the head and ask them what they were thinking. But all in all the characters really define the story. Giving it that extra little bit that takes it out of the "Just another zombie story" category.
So, Mr. Waltz...what's next?
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***** 4.0 out of 5 stars - Review by Justin Goff
Viral Bound
First, let me start off by disclosing that I received a copy through the Goodreads First Reads program.
Viral Bound is, without a doubt, one of the more entertaining zombie books I've read to date. Unlike most zombie books that I've read, which usually only consist of gore for gore's sake, Viral Bound follows a small group of survivors, including one who accidentally causes the virus to be unleashed, as they try to escape to safety after the military and government both get involved.
However, there are a small number of things with the book that kept me from giving it 5 stars.
1. The cancer cure plot at the beginning feels almost abandoned after the outbreak starts; although, to be fair, people were being turned into zombies, and the cure plotline returns toward the end in an interesting and unique way that I wasn't expecting.
2. At the beginning Steve is diagnosed with cancer, but this is quickly dropped and his cancer is not mentioned again as the plot picks up. This, along with the fact that most characters' last names aren't mentioned, made me wonder if Cancer Steve and Main Character Steve were one and the same, or if they were two different characters who just happen to have the same first name. This is answered, though, in an unexpected and amusing (at least to me) plot twist at the very end.
3. There is one point where a zombie bites a mortician's jugular vein, which sprays blood onto the walls. Veins generally don't carry enough internal pressure to spray blood. It's more likely the zombie hit the carotid artery.
I realize these are minor and I'm probably just being nitpicky, but that's just me.
All nitpicking aside, this is one of the best books I've read in a while, and one I look forward to re-reading.
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*****5 out of 5 stars - Review by W. Haas (Switzerland)
Another great "Z" novel that you will not lay down before the end.
There are a lot of good Zombie-Novels out there on the market and I think it is a pretty underestimated genre that deserves more attention. "Viral Bound" is one of those heavily entertaining books that you don't really wanna lay down anymore, once you started to read. It takes a little until it shifts into full gear, but once the main characters are established it is a satisfying ride with a twist. There are a few things that lift "Viral Bound" above average and one of them is the inclusion of Social Media within the story. Everybody on the net knows, that it plays a vital part in today's communication, sharing and rumor spreading. Nothing without Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Co. ;). And the author paid attention to this development..
It is also refreshing, that Waltz does not try to add anything like "fast zombies" to the genre. His "Zoms" are classic Romero style and still feel like a threat. That one of the biggest dangers in a situation like this are fellow humans with their egoistic and violent behavior is not really new, but with the idea of "bounty hunters" there is a new addition to the baddies in those kind of apocalyptic themed novels.
That the zombie infection spreads fast not only through bites and bruises but also via animal carriers is realistic, haunting and not only since the plague a real threat. That it is science that unleashes this deadly virus upon human kind also makes sense though it does not really happen because of the scientists direct mistakes,for once. I was a little bit reminded of "Outbreak" there, which is a good thing because it is a very thrilling movie.
The characters itself are down to earth and not those military heroes and gun obsessed freaks, so many other writers involve into their Zombie Novels. And there is this mean twist at the end that let's you rethink the whole story (at least it happened to me) :)
"Viral Bound" is not perfect, but as the 5 Star rating says, it delivers more then well and not only fans of the genre should give it a try. Besides Mark Tufo's "Zombie Fallout" Universe, the great "Dead World" Novels by Joe McKinney and the Spanish highlight "Apocalypse Z" by Manel Loureiro, this is one of my favorites and I am craving for more. And that is definitely worth 5 Stars :)
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***** 4 out of 5 stars - Review by Pauly_q07
Easily Entertaining
If you are a fan of the Walking Dead (graphic novel and/or AMC television series), chances are high that you will thoroughly enjoy Dan Waltz's, Viral Bound. Unlike Dead, Waltz provides a reason for the zombie outbreak, but it's unclear at first to the average reader. The quickness of the outbreak is realistically tragic. It reminded me of films such as 1995's Outbreak, and the more recently, Contagion, which both illustrate the severity of pathogens and air borne viruses. Likewise Waltz respectfully crosses the Dead line by placing his readers in situations where the television series has only shown us with the character Sophia. Many of Waltz's situations involve children who have turned; including a scene where Steve, our adult protagonist, stumbles upon an entire school that has been afflicted. What happens to the still-human children on the bus is almost more tragic that what has happened to all the children who were not able to escape the lockdown of their safe, secure school. These images resonate with this reader who tends to read nightly before bed. Overall this novel is a captivating read for any fan who enjoys the flesh-eaters known only as 'zoms' in Waltz's tale.
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*****4 out of 5 stars - Review by Katie Kindle
Not what I was expecting!
In fact I was pleasantly surprised to find this book is quite different from the majority of books in this genre. Lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing, and it was cool to see how the author ties in social media and stuff concerning how the government would handle such a situation, it all felt like it could really happen in the way he portrays it in Viral Bound. Pretty scary to think about! Scary, but fun! The book zips along at a fast pace and I found myself not wanting to put it down, so I literally read it in one day. This was definitively one of the better zombie books I've read. I hope there will be a sequel!
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*****4.0 out of 5 stars - Review by Beau Sisson
This zombie tale will make you believe... it's possible.
Just finished the book. With all of the modern day distractions, it's been awhile since I've taken time to read a book in one session. This was one of those rare stories that pulled me in on page one and kept me there until the end. I highly recommend this book!
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***** 4.0 out of 5 stars - Review by Kris Logousi
BREAKING NEWS!!
BREAKING NEWS: We are reporting live to bring you the news that finally there is a cure to cancer!
BREAKING NEWS: This just in, Atlanta General Hospital as succumb to a deadly virus that has spread through the patients and the staff. In an effort to contain the virus, Atlanta Hospital is issuing a lock down, no one in no one out.
BREAKING NEWS: It appears that the sleepy town of Bear Creek is suffering the same fate as those that were affected by the virus at the Atlanta General Hospital. Widespread panic is taking to the streets as people who have been in contact with the virus appear to be in a zombie state, aimlessly wandering around in search of others to attack and….eat. That’s right, people are attacking and eating each other and it seems the only way to kill these…zombies…is to destroy the brain. We know this much and that the virus can be spread by bite or scratch. As of right now, we are unaware of where this virus came from and so with the speed at which it is spreading person to person there is no sign of a cure. The CDC and the National Guard have issued a red alert….
Survival is key in this zombie novel just like any other zombie book, movie, comic, etc. What I feel sets this zombie book apart, is the way the author unfolds the story. This book reads like a screenplay (and if Hollywood was smart would have used this book to model World War Z after; cause they obviously didn’t go by the actual book anyway) and it flowed amazingly. Waltz ability to capture the human nature of people’s ability to survive is shown throughout the book. When it’s broadcasted that a cure for cancer has been found, the author intertwines texts, blogs, and tweets to the story so that the reader gets a glimpse into what everyone else is feeling and or thinking about this cure. As the news about the cure for cancer is quickly replaced with the fast spreading brain melting virus, Waltz intertwines more blogs on the subject. Thankfully, the author doesn’t overdo it with this tactic but just enough to make the reader really feel like they are a part of what is going on. The characters are well played, Steve, the main character is my favorite but I swear to god I could have reached into this book and strangled Sarah. That slap happy bitch annoyed me from start to finish. It was a minor annoyance given the fact that the author really did a wonderful job of jumping from scene to scene if you will to gives us more and more back story of the virus. His ideas on the virus not affecting animals outright but just making them carriers added to the paranoia of pet owners who didn’t know that a lil rough housing could lead to their own demise. The author illustrates humanity’s different approaches to survival, from looters, to bounty hunters, along with touching on the emotional devastation a virus like this can cause. One of my favorite passages is when Steve is explaining that even if the virus did not completely destroy the person inside, even IF there is some resonance of that person once was, there is no cure, there is only peace, so killing them would take them out of whatever misery they are currently in. I think if more people gave that speech in zombie movies then less people would hesitate at the idea of killing their “loved ones.”
As the story unfolds, Waltz brings you full circle as to where the virus came from and how it was spread. As you read, it is no wonder how the virus spread like wild fire. I enjoyed the ending, I guess…there is a twist, and it was all right, but I think I wanted a bit more of a solid ending. All in all, really impressed with this book.
------- Horror Society Review
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***** 5.0 out of 5 stars - Review by J. Paul
Viral Bound is success bound!
When I first started reading Viral Bound I wasn't sure what to expect as I've never read a Zombie book before. I was in for a pleasant surprise right from the cool beginning. This story is fast-paced with real-time experiences. The way the author mixed in facebook and twitter usages was brilliant and made reading more fun. Some of the military references made me curious but the whole cancer tie-in made it work for me. I read this book over the course of two days, which is fast for me, but I just wanted to see what would happen next and how it would end. If other zombie books are as good as this one I will have to read more.
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***** 5.0 out of 5 stars - Review by Jamison
Not so typical...BETTER!
Viral Bound was an excellent read! I thoroughly enjoyed that the book was in real-time. I loved that the author really tried to take into consideration how every-day people, media, social networking and the government would handle an outbreak situation. Genius! Viral bound is very well written, easy to follow, yet keeps you on the edge of your seat! I do not read often, but this book was so good I read it in just a few days! I could NOT put it down!
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***** 5.0 out of 5 stars - Review by Mikey D
Viral Bound
I cant say enough good things about this book, The author held my attention from the very start till the end of the book, I love how he incorporated social networking in to the book, The way it's written makes one think that it's very possible that this could happen for real, You need to have this book!!!!
