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Book Review: Z-Boat by Suzanne Robb

Z-Boat(Z-Boat Book 1) by Suzanne Robb

Permuted Press, 2013

ISBN-13: 978-1-61868-2-345

Available: Trade paperback, multiformat ebook edition (Kindle,Nook, Smashwords, Kobo)

Experienced submarine captain Brian Kingston has accepted a search and rescue mission– a simple enough job for him and his crew. The huge payoff– half up front and half upon completion– is enough to silence any warning thoughts. The target is The Peacemaker, one of the most impressive submarines in any fleet, that is essentially an underwater laboratory. A distress call had gone out from the scientists inside, sent to study decayed things underwater, and Kingston’s orders are to find The Peacemaker, obtain an unidentified item and collect any survivors.

The idea behind ZBoat was really cool. In addition to the events of the rescue mission, the personality conflicts and intensity of emotions in a closed environment built up the tension, and I wondered how the story would play out in the submarine. While the action was fast-paced, it didn’t feel like the story took off until well into the book. Too much time was devoted to setup and background: I wanted to get on the zombie sub long before the author let me.

The description was well-done, and the characters Robb developed were interesting, although there were so many characters that occasionally they blended together for me. The biggest issue is that the book needs editing. There are multiple instances of missing words and odd turns of phrase that really made it tough for me to get into the story. There were also a couple of instances where the captain’s name, Brian,  was misspelled as “Brain”: funny and ironic but not appropriate. Overall, Z-Boat is an okay read with an interesting scenario that needs a bit more work. I have not read this author’s work in the past.

Contains: Gore, Swearing

Reviewed by Aaron Fletcher

Women in Horror Fiction: Suzanne Robb

Image of Suzanne Robb Suzanne Robb is an editor and the author of the zombie novels Z-Boat (being re-released 2014 Permuted Press) and Contaminated: A Zombie Novel (2012 Severed Press), as well as the e-book short story collection Werewolves, Apocalypses, and Genetic Mutations, Oh My! (2014 Dark Continents). Her short stories have appeared in anthologies including Tales of Terror and Mayhem (2012 Evil Jester Press), Canopic Jars: Tales of Mummies and Mummification (2014 Great Old Ones Publishing), Bigfoot Terror Tales Volume 1: Scary Stories of Sasquatch Horror (2012 Coscom Entertainment), Read the End First (2012 Wicked East Press) and Women of the Living Dead: A Zombie Anthology (2012 Open Casket Press).

 

1. Can you give our readers a brief introduction?

I am horrible at talking about myself. I just want to make that clear in case I start to write about my dog or LEGO’s for no apparent reason. On that note, I have been writing for several years. I started out doing fiction articles on anxiety. A friend mentioned an anthology to me and the premise sounded interesting and that was how it all started. I enjoyed writing short stories, but after a year or so, my stories were getting too long. I moved on to write a novel titled Z-BOAT, and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

2. Why do you write horror?  What draws you to the genre?

I write in multiple genres. The horror stories I do usually have an element of something else in them. Paranormal, humor, science-fiction, and fantasy. When I have written a story with horror in it, it is usually because I felt it was the best way to get across what is in my head (Not a pretty place in there sometimes).

 

3. Can you describe your writing style or the tone you prefer to set for your stories?

I have no style, and that totally came out wrong. I write whatever comes to mind. If I had to pinpoint some particular tone, I would say it is dark humor. I like to write a funny line, or have a character come up with a funny comeback at a serious moment. I think there is also a very strong message about how we are screwing up the world, and possible results. At least I like to think that is what I am doing.

 

4. Who are some of your influences?  Are there any women authors who have particularly inspired you to write?

Christopher Moore. I love that man. I hope one day to be 1/10 as funny as him. I also like early Dean Koontz (Lightning, Watchers) Jasper Fforde, and Gregory Maguire. There were some very influential female writers when I was younger, Madeleine L’Engle and Enid Blyton being the two at the top. Because of them I became a voracious reader and as an only child would scribble little stories down to keep myself occupied.

 

5. What authors do you like to read?  Any recommendations?

I like to read a variety of authors. I like Suzanne Collins of The Hunger Games fame. As for horror writers, I have read fantastic stuff from are Emma Ennis, Hollie Snider, Rebecca Snow, Tonia Brown, and Jessica Meigs, to name a few.
6. Where can readers find your work?

I have a collection of short stories on eBook on Amazon called Were-wolves, Apocalypses, and Genetic Mutation, Oh My.

In March, Permuted Press will be re-releasing my novel Z-Boat, and later in the year Z-TOPIA and Z-END will be released.

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Thanks, Suzanne, for participating!

Interested in learning more? Visit Suzanne Robb’s Amazon page, her Facebook page, or her blog.