AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Night of the Living Trekkies
Title: Night of the Living Trekkies
Author: Kevin David Anderson, Sam Stall
Audiobook Narrator: Zach McLarty
Jim Pike is a former Star Trek nerd who's love for the optimistic franchise has been squashed by two tours in Afghanistan. When the hotel that Jim works in hosts a Star Trek convention, Jim finds himself coming face to face with his former obsession, that and a horde of zombies. Somehow, the undead have infiltrated the hotel. The more time passes, the more people get infected. Joining forces with a group of nerds (including his younger sister Rayna), Jim must find a way to stay alive and escape the hotel before it's too late.
Similar to John Scalzi's recent publication, Red Shirts, Night of the Living Trekkies is a Star Trek parody, so it really helps that you go into the book being an existing fan of the franchise. Those who enjoyed Red Shirts may find themselves a little disappointed by the story, which can feel a bit shallow in comparison. Although Night of the Living Trekkies may lack depth, it does a pretty good job of what it sets out to do: delivering a fun, fast read filled with zombie action and plenty of Star Trek references.
The humor of Night of the Living Trekkies comes from two places: witty dialogue between the characters, and purely ridiculous moments when Star Trek meets the undead. Although my knowledge of the Star Trek universe is not the most expansive (I've watched most of The Next Generation, and have seen a handful of episodes from Deep Space 9 and The Original Series. I've also seen some of the movies), I can tell that the authors have really done their homework. Each chapter is named after a Star Trek episodes and the references often venture into the obscure. Although the book is mostly fun and games, it does star a cast of likable characters, many of whom die before the book ends (although not all of them seem to get the deaths that they deserve). These occasional serious moments, give the book a gravity it elevates it from being just pure fluff. Night of the Living Trekkies also examines the trademark Star Trek optimism, and puts it to the test when dealing with less than optimistic situations.
Thought on the Audiobook: Unlike the authors, I suspect Zach McLarty is not a die hard Star Trek fan, as he does mispronounce a few things. Still, I thought he did a good job delivering this action packed story, and I was pretty happy with his variety of voices.
Final Thoughts: If you happen to be someone who enjoys both Star Trek and the zombie genre, than this parody is a good match for you. Although it can feel shallow at times, Night of the Living Trekkies has a solid balance between laugh out loud humor, action sequences, and great character moments. I'm happy I ended up listening to it. Four Stars
Author: Kevin David Anderson, Sam Stall
Audiobook Narrator: Zach McLarty
Jim Pike is a former Star Trek nerd who's love for the optimistic franchise has been squashed by two tours in Afghanistan. When the hotel that Jim works in hosts a Star Trek convention, Jim finds himself coming face to face with his former obsession, that and a horde of zombies. Somehow, the undead have infiltrated the hotel. The more time passes, the more people get infected. Joining forces with a group of nerds (including his younger sister Rayna), Jim must find a way to stay alive and escape the hotel before it's too late.
Similar to John Scalzi's recent publication, Red Shirts, Night of the Living Trekkies is a Star Trek parody, so it really helps that you go into the book being an existing fan of the franchise. Those who enjoyed Red Shirts may find themselves a little disappointed by the story, which can feel a bit shallow in comparison. Although Night of the Living Trekkies may lack depth, it does a pretty good job of what it sets out to do: delivering a fun, fast read filled with zombie action and plenty of Star Trek references.
The humor of Night of the Living Trekkies comes from two places: witty dialogue between the characters, and purely ridiculous moments when Star Trek meets the undead. Although my knowledge of the Star Trek universe is not the most expansive (I've watched most of The Next Generation, and have seen a handful of episodes from Deep Space 9 and The Original Series. I've also seen some of the movies), I can tell that the authors have really done their homework. Each chapter is named after a Star Trek episodes and the references often venture into the obscure. Although the book is mostly fun and games, it does star a cast of likable characters, many of whom die before the book ends (although not all of them seem to get the deaths that they deserve). These occasional serious moments, give the book a gravity it elevates it from being just pure fluff. Night of the Living Trekkies also examines the trademark Star Trek optimism, and puts it to the test when dealing with less than optimistic situations.
Thought on the Audiobook: Unlike the authors, I suspect Zach McLarty is not a die hard Star Trek fan, as he does mispronounce a few things. Still, I thought he did a good job delivering this action packed story, and I was pretty happy with his variety of voices.
Final Thoughts: If you happen to be someone who enjoys both Star Trek and the zombie genre, than this parody is a good match for you. Although it can feel shallow at times, Night of the Living Trekkies has a solid balance between laugh out loud humor, action sequences, and great character moments. I'm happy I ended up listening to it. Four Stars