Synopsis
When scientists with warped imaginations accidentally unleash an experimental bioweapon that transforms Britain's animals into sneezing, bloodthirsty zombies with a penchant for pre-dinner sex with their victims, three misfits become the unlikely hope for salvation. Abattoir worker Terry Borders' love life is crippled by the stench of death that clings to his skin from his days spent slaughtering cows; teenage vegan Geldof 'Scabby' Peters alternates between scratching furiously at his rash and baiting his overbearing New Age mother; and inept journalist Lesley McBrien struggles forlornly in the shadow of her famous war correspondent father and the star journalist at the "Glasgow Tribune". When Britain begins a rapid descent into chaos and ministers cynically attempt to blame al-Qaeda, Lesley stumbles upon proof that the government is behind the outbreak. During her bumbling quest to unveil the truth, she crosses paths with Terry and Geldof, and together they set out to escape a quarantined Britain with the evidence and vital data that could unlock a cure for the virus. Standing in the way are rampaging hordes of animals, a ruthless security agent and an army ready to shoot anybody with a case of the sniffles on the off-chance the virus has mutated. Three losers. Overwhelming odds. A single outcome: the world is screwed.
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About the Author
Michael Logan is a Scottish journalist, whose career has taken him across the globe. He left Scotland in 2003 at the age of 32, has lived in Bosnia, Hungary, Switzerland and Kenya, and reported from many other countries. His experience of riots, refugee camps and other turbulent situations helps fuel his writing. Apocalypse Cow is his first novel. His short fiction has appeared in literary journals and his piece We Will Go On Ahead and Wait for You won Fish Publishing's 2008 international One-Page Fiction Prize.He currently lives in Nairobi and is married with two young children. More information can be found on his website: www.freelancelogan.com.
From Booklist
*Starred Review* Co-winner of the inaugural Terry Pratchett Anywhere But Here, Anywhen But Now First Novel Award (which seeks out stories set in a recognizable but alternate version of Earth), this startlingly funny novel imagines a contemporary Scotland in which animals are infected with an experimental virus that turns them into crazed killing machines and makes them damned near impossible to kill. Yes: zombie animals. And not just cows, but also rats, dogs, cats, sheep, and more. Battling for survival against this army of undead animals are a domineering vegan, her perpetually stoned husband, and their scrawny son, an untalented journalist; joining this unheroic-seeming family are a scientist who helped created the virus; a survivor of the bovine uprising that started the virus’ spread across the nation; and the survivor’s unpleasant cousin, his mousy wife, and their two obnoxious children. This ragtag crew is being chased by a government guy who will do anything, especially (and rather gleefully) commit murder, to keep the truth about the virus from getting out. This clever and very funny twist on the traditional zombie novel is exceedingly well executed (it approaches but never quite steps into parody territory), and it ends with a scene that pretty much demands a sequel. Great stuff for horror and fantasy fans. --David Pitt
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