or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Sorry, this item is not available in
Image not available for
Colour:
Image not available

 
Share your own customer images
Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book.
Tell the Publisher!
I’d like to read this book on Kindle

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

This Dark Earth [Paperback]

John Hornor Jacobs (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
Price: £9.62 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Only 1 left in stock (more on the way).
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon. Gift-wrap available.
Want it Friday, 21 June? Choose Express delivery at checkout. Details
Books Trade-In
Amazon.co.uk Trade-In Store
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Special Offer until June 30, 2013: Receive an additional £5 promotional Gift Certificate, when you trade-in at least £10 worth of books. Learn more.

Product details

  • Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Gallery Books (3 July 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1451666667
  • ISBN-13: 978-1451666663
  • Product Dimensions: 20.9 x 13.8 x 2.2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 127,602 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

More About the Authors

Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
John Hornor Jacobs
John Hornor Jacobs

Product Description

The land is contaminated, electronics are defunct, the ravenous undead remain, and life has fallen into a nasty and brutish state of nature. Welcome to Bridge City, in what was once Arkansas: part medieval fortress, part Western outpost, and the precarious last stand for civilization. A ten-year-old prodigy when the world ended, Gus is now a battle-hardened young man. He designed Bridge City to protect the living few from the shamblers eternally at the gates. Now he's being groomed by his physician mother, Lucy, and the gentle giant Knock-Out to become the next leader of men. But an army of slavers is on its way, and the war they'll wage for the city's resources could mean the end of mankind as we know it. Can Gus become humanity's savior? And if so, will it mean becoming a dictator, a martyr . . . or maybe something far worse than even the zombies that plague the land?

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?

› Explore similar items

Customer Reviews

5 star
2
4 star
0
3 star
0
2 star
0
1 star
0
5.0 out of 5 stars
2 reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Not "just another zombie novel" 8 Oct 2012
By Dean
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
That was my worry, if I'm honest - like the Twi-hard copyists, there does seem to be a glut of zombie fiction out there at the moment. I'm not complaining and if it's selling, good for them; whatever rubs your Buddha. And I'm not ruining the book for you by telling you this: there's zombies in it it - lots and lots of zombies.

What I liked about John's second book was that everything changes when the zombies arrive and yet, everything stays the same. Humans don't change over night into a bunch of plucky Brits battling the Hun during the Blitz (and frankly, there were bad apples during the war, too) and helping each other survive. Okay, there will be some, but there'll be the opportunists and exploiters who ooze out of the woodwork at the slightest provocation, working out the angles and the best way to make themselves kings amongst the debris of the former world.

I digress. Jacob's second book centres around a young boy named Gus and his mother, Lucy, who's a doctor. Gus is some kind of prodigy, with a brain seemingly uniquely adapted to coming up with ways to stay alive in a world where most of the population has turned into zombies. I'm also not giving away anything by saying he comes up with a unique idea for how to live without getting your brainz eaten by a zombie: build your new colony on a bridge. Or on the end of one. Seems like a good solution and John makes it work for him.

I enjoyed this book, in much the same way I enjoyed his last, Southern Gods - if you haven't read it, go buy it now - I took it on holiday and devoured it in a very short time. I like his characters and the way he develops them through the events happening in the book.... Read more ›
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
5.0 out of 5 stars A winner 30 Mar 2013
By David D
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a fan of Post-Apocalyptic based novels, I have read some winners and some losers. This Dark Earth finds itself in the winners paddock as far as I am concerned. A quick paced novel with some interesting concepts in the genre, I couldn't put it down. My only mild gripe is that it reads like it should have been longer. It has the feel of a sprawling epic, without the sprawling epicness. I was left more than once with that feeling of "I'd like to know more about that'. However, it reads like the start of a series, and I sincerely hope it is! More please Mr Jacobs.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com: 4.5 out of 5 stars  43 reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent example of thoughtful, intelligent, and action-packed story telling. 10 July 2012
By Andrew Schoessel - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
Zombies aren't just undead husks of the living, they are the representation of a dead and decaying world and the struggle to rise above the chaos to keep a grasp on what makes living humans different from slavering barbarians. Most zombie movies are exciting and action packed, but they don't always explore the psychology of the post apocalyptic world as much as I'd prefer (but don't get me wrong, I LOVE zombie movies). I haven't read much zombie literature before This Dark Earth, but something tells me that other titles in the genre won't be able to live up to my expectations now. Although it can definitely keep you on the edge of your seat, the book isn't just a zombie-bashing adrenaline rush. It reads similar to a journal, but it feels more like you're right there with the heroes. This Dark Earth is constantly rolling through the action via the eyes of various characters, providing different perspectives, timelines, and struggles in their post-apocalyptic world. The characters are well fleshed out individuals, striking in their reality and the depth of their personalities. The reader spends most of the novel within the characters' heads in the first person present narration, and is thus exposed to their inner moral struggles that will leave anybody's mind full of thought. I think I'll be hard pressed to find another title in this genre that is equally as thought-provoking as it is a thrilling epic (at least until the sequel comes out).
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars I Can't Think of a Zombie Book I've Enjoyed More... 2 Oct 2012
By Lincoln Crisler - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition
CAVEAT: I've known the author for several years, and he consulted me regarding some of the novel's military content. He even sent me the copy I read. Having said that, I wouldn't have reviewed the book if it sucked, and that's about all I figure I'd owe him. I think John would agree.

I've read a lot of zombie books, and I'll probably never stop reading them. THIS DARK EARTH does contain a few of zombie fiction's tried and true plot devices--mainly because acting as though the the zombie apocalypse WOULDN'T bring out the worst in humanity is the height of idiocy. It also contains several great characters--Lucy, Knock-out, Gus, Tessa, Broadsword and Wallis, to name a few. Every part of the book is heartfelt and possessed of a sensitivity I wouldn't have expected from John--and which, along with John's unique style of writing, sets the book apart from the rest of the zombie genre.

There's a slim chance I've read a zombie book as good as this one before--like I said, I read a LOT of zombie fiction. THE RISING is probably this good, if you really need a comparison. The Woodbury (Governor) story arc of Kirkman's WALKING DEAD (though that's really comparing apples and oranges). But nothing comes to mind as being better. If you're a horror fan, and even if you're growing tired of the living dead, pick this one up.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, a great zombie story 18 Oct 2012
By Kevin R. Wallis - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
Since genre fiction has thankfully shifted from sparkly vampires to zombies, novels about the walking dead are a dime a dozen. This is both good and bad. Bad because zombie novels are a dime a dozen, and most of them suck. Good because every once in awhile a book like TDE comes along and reaffirms my faith in the undead. Jacobs flat out nails the subject matter. He has all the elements of classic zombie literature, but injects enough original plot points, creative characters, emotionally impactful scenes, and wry humor to put TDE head ad shoulders above any horror novel I have read in a long time. His ability to write from multiple characters' POVs is nothing short of masterful, and I cannot recommend this novel enough for fans of the genre.
Were these reviews helpful?   Let us know
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

There's a problem loading this menu at the moment.

Learn more about Amazon Prime.

    Your Shopping Basket is empty.

    Give it purpose -- fill it with books, DVDs, clothes, electronics and more.

    If you already have an account, sign in.

    There's a problem previewing your shopping basket at the moment.

    Check your Internet connection and go to your cart, or try again.

    View Shopping Basket (0 items)

      Customer Discussions

      This product's forum
      Discussion Replies Latest Post
      No discussions yet

      Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
      Start a new discussion
      Topic:
      First post:
      Prompts for sign-in
       


      Active discussions in related forums
      Search Customer Discussions
      Search all Amazon discussions
         
      Related forums

      Listmania!

      Create a Listmania! list

      Look for similar items by category

      Feedback


      Amazon.co.uk Privacy Statement Amazon.co.uk Delivery Information Amazon.co.uk Returns & Exchanges