When two worlds collide…
Jack Walker and Michael Talbot come from two worlds; the same, yet different. They both find themselves transported into an alien one, where things aren’t as they seem. While it appears similar to the ones they come from, there are some terrifying differences. Is it a dream? Or has reality been somehow warped?
Jack comes from a world filled with nocturnal creatures that were once human, but now seek to destroy the last vestiges of humanity. Mike, living under a constant threat from hordes of the undead, arrives with a companion, John the Tripper. Ripped away from their family members and thrown into the unknown, they find that the nightmares from their worlds have preceded them. Survival becomes moment to moment as they encounter old dangers, and new.
Each wants nothing more than to be reunited with their loved ones. With dangers lurking around every corner, they seek to unravel the mystery that brought them. It may be a long road ahead, but they begin by taking the first step, hoping the next one will be the one that takes them home.
Publisher: Devil Dog Press, August 6, 2014
Print Length: 242 Pages
Review
I gave A Shrouded World-- Whistlers 5 out of 5 stars on Amazon
Purchased from Amazon for the Kindle
I know I am not the only one who was eagerly waiting for Mark Tufo and John O'Brien to finish and publish this joint venture. Apparently, it had been in the works for quite a while. Two of my favorite zombie fiction writers? My favorite characters? Together? There was no question: I would be getting this book.
Then I read the synopsis. My initial reaction was something along the lines of, "How the heck are they going to pull this off?"
There's a reason Tufo and O'Brien are among my favorite authors. The simple truth is, they are talented at their craft. They successfully intertwined their characters and antagonists, making an entertaining-- and often comedic-- story.
What I enjoy most about this book, besides... well... everything, is clearly seeing each author's unique "voice" with the alternating perspectives of Mike and Jack. Tufo and O'Brien each bring their own style to the book and they complement each other well.
Mark Tufo's overt sense of humor is not lacking as he tells the story of Michael Talbot in this strange, new reality. John O'Brien's more subtle sense of humor also shines through brightly as he tells the story through Jack Walker's experience. The two styles together are refreshing and make the story a fun, exciting read.
Speaking of humor, it was great to see O'Brien's lighter side emerge once again. Although all of his books are amazing, the last couple books in his series have been very intense and I've missed his dry, subtle humor. He brought that side back in this book, and then some! There's this one scene where John the Tripper needs to... uh, well... you'll have to read it for yourself. I'm sure you will crack up as much as I did! I'm still laughing, just thinking of it.
Do I recommend this book to fans of Mark Tufo and John O'Brien? Absolutely! Do I recommend it to those who are unfamiliar with one or both of the authors? Again, absolutely! It would probably help to read a few of them first, just to get the gist of the unique stories behind the characters, but it's not mandatory. Even if you've never read anything by either of these authors, you will not be disappointed. A Shrouded World-- Whistlers is able to stand on its own... just be prepared for a wild ride!
About the Authors
Mark Tufo
Mark Tufo was born in Boston Massachusetts. He attended UMASS Amherst where he obtained a BA and later joined the US Marine Corp. He was stationed in Parris Island SC, Twenty Nine Palms CA and Kaneohe Bay Hawaii. After his tour he went into the Human Resources field with a worldwide financial institution and has gone back to college at CTU to complete his masters.
He has written the Indian Hill trilogy with the first Indian Hill - Encounters being published for the Amazon Kindle in July 2009. He has since written the Zombie Fallout series and is working on a new zombie book.
He lives in Maine with his wife, three kids and two English bulldogs.
Follow Mark on Facebook and Twitter Mark's blog: Zombie Fallout and Website
John O'Brien
John O'Brien is a former Air Force fighter instructor pilot who transitioned to Special Operations for the latter part of his career gathering his campaign ribbon for Desert Storm. Immediately following his military service, John became a firefighter/EMT with a local department. Along with becoming a firefighter, he fell into the Information Technology industry in corporate management. Currently, John is writing full-time on the series, A New World.
As a former marathon runner, John lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest and can now be found kayaking out in the waters of Puget Sound, mountain biking in the Capital Forest, hiking in the Olympic Peninsula, or pedaling his road bike along the many scenic roads.
