Wow! I didn't pick this up right away, because I'm not a horror or zombie fan. I finally did after seeing all the raves. It's a wild rollercoaster ride. While there's plenty of fighting zombies, I didn't feel like there was gore for gore's sake. [return][return]She creates a fascinating world that has figured out how to live with a horrific 'chronic condition': the dead walk, and attack people. People have adapted, putting defenses and double-checks into place. Everything changes, and she's thought through all the likely adaptations, and they hold together in a logical way. I stepped into suspension of disbelief, and never fell out due to a blooper. I do question the apparent level of prosperity, since all that security is expensive, but that's a tiny quibble.[return][return]The heroes are young bloggers, and they're adorable, in a Kevlar-armored, gun-toting way. They are also very, very smart. This is definitely competence-porn, which is high praise to me. I adore Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigans being both brave and supremely competent, and I liked Georgie and Shaun doing the same thing. But damn, I have to wait until May 2011 for the sequel!