When will you rise? FEED roundup.: seanan

When will you rise? FEED roundup.

Last week was a big, big week for me, at least if you categorize "Seanan is running around in circles screaming like an idiot" as "big week." How big? Well, for starters, The Onion A.V. Club reviewed Feed. YES. I AM IN THE ONION. FUCK YEAH, SEAKING. Ahem. The reviewer says:

"Set more than two decades after an uprising of the living dead, Feed uses meticulous world-building to shape a narrative that's believable, thrilling, and instantly clear. From examining the political consequences of a world constantly under siege to detailing how blogging and Internet news feeds would develop in the face of the threat, Grant's creativity and thoroughness give her narrative an unshakable credibility."

...if you'll excuse me a minute, I'll be in my bunk.

Not that I'll be staying there for long, because io9 also posted a review of Feed. Holy cats. They call Feed "perfect summer apocalypse reading," and say "This fast-paced undead thriller will be great for people who enjoy their zombie slaughtering with a hearty slice of social commentary." The whole review is worth reading, but those were the quotes that really buttered my biscuits. (io9 also did a fun and awesome post on the book website. Check it out.)

The Book Smugglers are frequent reviewers of my material, and I was thrilled when Thea gave Feed a review. She says "More than anything else, I loved the amount of thought Ms. Grant put into writing this book. Feed is INCREDIBLY detailed; George's world is fleshed out, from the genesis of the deadly pathogen to the constant vigilance required living with this airborne virus. Ms. Grant's vision of a future American ravaged by KA is grimly complete." Yay!

I also did what's called an "Inspirations and Influences" post for the Book Smugglers, talking about what inspires me, what drives me to write, and where the Newsflesh trilogy came from. The giveaway is over, but the interview remains.

Jenn Brozek has posted a combined review and interview at the Apex blog, and says "Feed is the best zombie book I have ever read. It is smart, fast paced, and intriguing. What could have been a run-of-the-mill zombie farce is, instead, a near future political thriller with twists and turns that you can see coming but only in retrospect." Glee.

Anna has entered Feed in her book log, and says "I’m not sure what impressed me more, and there’s a lot to impress here: the backstory of the Kellis-Amberlee virus; the various complex social and political changes that happen in America as a result of the Rising; the fact that in this world, George Romero is considered a national hero; or the upsurge of bloggers as a source of organized journalism. Either way, it makes me very much want to up the ante on my own writing efforts. Take note, my fellow writers. This is how worldbuilding is done."

Victory is mine, victory is mine, joy in the morning, victory is mine. I have drunk deep from the keg of glory.

Glee.

dave_gallaher

May 17 2010, 15:14:16 UTC 7 years ago

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Congratulations! (I picked up a copy yesterday at the Fremont Borders.)

Has Hollywood come calling yet? They're always looking for new zombie movies.

seanan_mcguire

May 17 2010, 20:19:37 UTC 7 years ago

Not yet, but here's hoping! ;)

Deleted comment

May 17 2010, 20:19:49 UTC 7 years ago

Awesome!

That means I win. :)

May 17 2010, 20:21:06 UTC 7 years ago

Clearly!

actoplasm

May 17 2010, 15:46:11 UTC 7 years ago

I'm glad that everyone seems to be seeing what I saw when I read the book: long deserved positive feedback for a great book.

May 17 2010, 20:21:16 UTC 7 years ago

Thanks, hon. :)

rhoda_rants

May 17 2010, 16:21:08 UTC 7 years ago

I am love, love, loving Feed so far. I'm about 200 pages in, and it just gets better and better.

Also--did you know May is official Zombie Appreciation Month? I didn't, but I'm doing my part!

May 17 2010, 20:21:27 UTC 7 years ago

I did! May is awesome.

7 years ago

besanderson

May 17 2010, 17:48:23 UTC 7 years ago

LOL, you're quickly becoming my new writer-crush. Feed is amazing, you're an awesome author and... well, I'm gushing. You deserve it, though. I'm only halfway through and I'm blown away. I would've finished last night, but I had to force myself to put the book down and get some sleep. This afternoon will be totally mine for reading. Here's hoping I remember to cook dinner. ;o)

Thanks for another incredible read, Seanan. =o)

May 17 2010, 20:30:47 UTC 7 years ago

Try not to starve, and please enjoy the rest of the book! You're very welcome, for the read, and I am honored to maybe be someone's new writer-crush.

saoba

May 17 2010, 18:10:41 UTC 7 years ago

FYI- in the soundtrack in my head, any of your posts with Rise in the title cause this- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcaNuUuDqWQ- to start up on endless loop.

(What do you mean they didn't mean zombies? Of course they did!)

May 17 2010, 20:31:14 UTC 7 years ago

I love that song. :)

popfiend

May 17 2010, 19:52:53 UTC 7 years ago

Go you.

May 17 2010, 20:31:33 UTC 7 years ago

Glee.

netdancer

May 17 2010, 19:55:38 UTC 7 years ago

Feed blew my sox off. I read it as feverishly as I read Jim Butcher.

wendyzski

May 17 2010, 20:22:01 UTC 7 years ago

and damned Seanan just as much on finishing FEED as I damned Jim on finishing CHANGES!

theashgirl

May 17 2010, 20:12:48 UTC 7 years ago

FUCK YEAH, SEAKING!

I currently have two copies of FEED sitting in my bedroom. One is mine (my precious!) and the other is to be gifted to my Con Law professor because we discussed zombies in class, and he also does research into the Constitutional issues involved with technology and the internet. So I'm hoping to create a new Mira Grant addict. :D Now to figure out how to give it to him without looking like I am trying to bribe him (thank god our exams are graded anonymously) or like a schoolgirl with a crush.

And man, I really need to upload my FEED icons.

asphaltangel

May 17 2010, 20:45:02 UTC 7 years ago

I finished reading it last night (it was my first post-grad school read!)... I'm an army brat, I was a presidential staff blogger when I was twenty, and I love all things zombie-related, so this book was BRILLIANT to me. Congrats for the positive reviews (and, yay, West Wing reference at the end of your post!)

May 18 2010, 14:50:04 UTC 7 years ago

You were a presidential staff blogger?

You have made my day.

phoenixsansfyr

May 17 2010, 23:26:43 UTC 7 years ago

You quoted Firefly, and as if I couldn't love you anymore, my love has now grown. You like Pratchett, you're a giant freaking dork who will describe any sort of mayhem and madness as being FOR SCIENCE, and you like that which is disgusting in this world. I. Love. You. Just sayin'. In a reader-to-author-fangirl kinda fashion.

May 18 2010, 14:50:42 UTC 7 years ago

I do that! I even write songs about Wash's dinosaurs. I'm weird that way.

And all mayhem IS for science. Just sayin'. :)

phantomdancer

May 17 2010, 23:52:01 UTC 7 years ago

Shall we bring you the finest muffins and bagels in all the land?

May 18 2010, 14:50:48 UTC 7 years ago

Yes.

amanda_nye

May 18 2010, 00:44:28 UTC 7 years ago

woohoooooo!

May 18 2010, 14:51:00 UTC 7 years ago

Glee. I has it.

georgiamagnolia

May 18 2010, 02:45:50 UTC 7 years ago

I will admit up front that I am not a zombie connoisseur, though I do own all three Resident Evil movies (but no games, I just like Mila) and I have read no other zombie books. (so obviously I am not in the habit of reading ZombieFic) That said, I loved Feed and it broke my heart into tiny itsy pieces. I bought it because I loved the first two Toby books and, well, I like to support people I 'know', even if only on the intarwebs. (and I like your writing style, a whole LOT) I took it home with me to read while I was taking care of my mom after her recent surgery and I have to say that the ensuing low grade dread was as disturbing as it was delicious. My parents live out in the middle of the sticks in rural Wyoming (Ok, everywhere in Wyo is the sticks and rural, but hey, you get the drift) and every horse ranch I passed gave me a shiver. I wonder if I had read the book while still home in my MetroPlex (Denver) if I would have had the same lizardbrain reaction, maybe. But I do get a little wary in crowded grocery lines now that I am home again in the city.

You deserve every excellent review and more. The underlying social commentary is spot on (or maybe I am reading too much into it? No, I think not). Your world building skills are nonpareil and I can't wait to see what happens next in both of your worlds.

May 18 2010, 14:51:15 UTC 7 years ago

Thank you so, so much. I'm really glad to hear this.

idancewithlife

May 18 2010, 03:14:00 UTC 7 years ago

My copy is still at my PO box because I'm using it to bribe me to finish my thesis work for the quarter. I'm not allowed to start it til I do. Sigh. SO looking forward to it.

You da man! (another West Wing accolade).

May 18 2010, 14:52:53 UTC 7 years ago

Hee. And yes. I da man.

torrain

May 18 2010, 14:48:28 UTC 7 years ago

Deepest congratulations. :D

Okay. None of my brick-and-mortar bookstores I can make it to have Feed at the moment, and before I get the local one to order it in for me, I was wondering if there was any place that you'd prefer I'd buy a copy; do you have a referral link or anything like that?

May 18 2010, 14:55:13 UTC 7 years ago

I don't, really. I refer a lot of people to mail order through Borderlands, since that means you can get a signed copy, and I'd prefer brick-and-mortar if possible, but no single store is better than the others. Thanks for checking!

wordswoman

May 20 2010, 21:55:42 UTC 7 years ago

You made me LOSE SLEEP, woman, because I could not put this book down! I am bleary-eyed and exhausted today because I had to finish it, HAD to...and now I am deeply sad because there are no more pages.

Hands down the best zombie novel I've ever read. And right after work I'm headed straight to the bookstore for the October Daye books, pre-empting my planned read of the new Lee Child thriller. Yep. You're THAT good. And I will be telling all my friends so.

A million thanks for a fabulous read, and the anticipation of many more.

May 21 2010, 16:45:55 UTC 7 years ago

AWESOME.

Very welcome!

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