First published back in November of 2016, Matt Shaw’s novella ‘One Of Them’ formed the eleventh instalment within the ‘Year Of The Zombie’ series which saw a zombie story published (in ebook format) each month of 2016 from a variety of different horror authors. All twelve stories were later collected together and published within the ‘Year Of The Zombie’ (2018) anthology (which was also published in paperback format).
DLS Synopsis:
DLS Review:
DLS Synopsis:
When it had all gotten too much for her, when she’d contemplated ending it all, that last moment of personal choice, that last sense of control, had been taken from her. Andria Walker had been knocked out and taken off to this man’s home and now was little more than a prisoner.
Andria had woken to an overwhelming sense of loss. Captive to this man, restrained and splattered in the blood of her family, she felt truly alone for the first time in her life. Her kids, although none of them were that young anymore, had all succumbed to what was going around. The virus that changed them. Made them savage and infectious.
She remembered the caravan park had been evacuated. Only Andria’s family had stayed behind, grouping together there, figuring it was the safest place to wait for help to finally come. They had been wrong. And it had cost them their lives. Everyone but Andria.
She was the unlucky one who’d got to stay behind and bury her family. Make sure they didn’t join the ranks of the infected. Those out there now. Roaming. Them.
Bob Greary on the other hand was looking for happiness. Looking for that one special person who he knew was out there. Someone willing to love him as he could love her. And, in that single moment when Andria realised this, she knew then she wouldn’t be leaving the house. At least, not with his blessing…
British author Matt Shaw’s perhaps best known for his extreme horror writing. His dark tales often venturing into areas of torture porn, where the hapless victim is bound, restrained and at the mercy of a cruel and callous monster.
Here the monsters, if you will, are roaming around outside. Whilst inside this small pokey residence, this man – Bob Greary – is using the zombie apocalypse as an excuse to finally find love. Or as close to it as this broken and lonely divorcee can come to love in a world gone to hell.
So, which are the real monsters? I guess what we have here is that question of “would you choose the bear?”. The zombies being the proverbial bear. And as you’d probably guessed it, Andria’s pretty damn sure she’d be safer out there amongst the rampaging undead than locked up in this small pokey home with this oddball.
Is Bob Greary a misogynistic incel who hates women? Well, not really. He’s more a lonely guy who’s desperate for love. And with the zombie outbreak comes an opportunity to find what he believes is missing in his life. Something he’s prepared to force. Which as it turns out, makes him just as dangerous as the zombies – if not more so.
So that’s the concept. The plot. As such, as you’ve probably guessed, the tale’s a very character driven story. One where we’re confined to the small, almost claustrophobic interior of Bob’s meagre home.
Shaw then spends a good portion of the tale working backwards, fleshing out the tragic few hours before Andria’s snatched from the caravan park by Bob. The falling dominos of her family as the zombie epidemic does its thing. The emotional collapse of Andria… to be flung into this newfound pit of misery. A whole new fucked up scenario she needs to try to cope with.
However, the framing device Shaw utilises in the story is perhaps its greatest strength. The way the tale comes back upon itself, connecting the dots of this woman’s loss and subsequent yearning to be with the ones she loves one last time. The powerful connection she has that transcends the virus.
It’s a fucking good story. Bleak, desperate, tense and like with so many of Shaw’s offerings – hits hard upon an emotionally charged human element. It’s a good ‘un alright.
The novella runs for a total of 53 pages.
© DLS Reviews
