2007, Hadrian Publishing


Gregory Solis has a lot of fun with the currently fashionable Zombie sub-genre in his recently released trade paperback novel, RISE & WALK. Solis posits a not exactly unfamiliar, space-born viral plague, delivered via meteorites, that transforms the living into the living dead. The contagion is then spread in the "familiar way" - via a bite from the infected, who hunger for human flesh.


The heroes of the novel are Jack Mason and Tony Sanchez, a pair of thirty-ish best friends, conveniently trained in various martial arts, and with extensive outdoor survival skills, who are competing in a team paintball competition in the mountains of California. During the course of the novel, they meet and eventually hook up with two attractive young female employees of the local Camp General Store, Veronica and Nikki. The struggle of these four to survive the local contagion and abundance of zombies, while attempting to make their way out of the wilderness to the nearest local city, comprise the central theme of the novel.


No, this novel is not a sophisticated examination of man's place in the universe, or other philosophical, existential, or metaphysical questions. The dialogue is rarely truly scintillating, nor is there any substantial "new ground" broken in the treatment of zombies in author Solis' tale. However, the novel IS professionally written, fast-moving, and entertaining. RISE & WALK offers a pleasant diversion for those readers who enjoy "Zombie-Horror" - they will not be at all disappointed by the novel, and are certain to enjoy it. The novel ends in a nifty cliff-hanger that virtually cries out for a sequel, and indeed, a sequel entitled RISE & WALK: PATHOGEN, has been announced for release before the end of this year. RISE & WALK offers zombie fans, as well as potential zombie fans, a quick, fun read and is recommended.



Order Rise & Walk through Gregory Solis's website.