What’s The Great Consumption About?
****** PLEASE NOTE: The Great Consumption is being released as a series of monthly episodes, each between 5,000 and 10,000 words. ******
Starting in late April 2014, a terrible sickness – eventually known as The Great Consumption – started spreading around the world. Within a few short months, billions were turned into mindless consumption machines by a brain-wasting parasite called The Mantis.
A year later, a group of less than 30 survivors is taking refuge on board the RGL Fairweather, a cable-ferry that, in its past life, did the short run between Gondola Point and Reed’s Point, New Brunswick, Canada. Known as the Fairweather Friends, the group has worked hard all winter to set up a secure, self-sufficient camp.
But their leader, Mort, (aka Chief) is starting to get restless. Things appear to be settling into a lower gear, but he’s not the type to just sit back and relax. He’s planning to make a controversial pitch at the next security meeting, but first he has to go out on patrol.
What does Mort have in mind, and how will it affect the close-knit group? Become consumed by the story and find out.
Our The Great Consumption Episode 1 Review
Serialized novels annoy the hell out of me.
There.
I said it.
I’m also saying it preemptively so any negatives I may mention are clear from the get go. I already am an avid comic reader so when I set down to read a novel or novella I want something I can really sink my teeth into.
Clearly what I’m trying to say here is that I found this far too short. I read it on the train ride into work after finishing the last chapter of the novel I was reading before this.
Now then aside from being far too ridiculously short Mathieu Gallant has put together what I felt was a great introduction to his ‘The Great Consumption’ story. He’s crafting something pretty fun here as we are focusing on the leader of a group of survivors and how he’s been handling how they live.
We begin the story as Mort, the leader of the group, does a mix of a recap of how things have come to be as they are in journal style. The entire story is not told via journal and it’s done in a good mixture. In the beginnings of the journal he explains that his ability to survive, as well as everyone else’s, is due to humans all possessing super hero powers. When he goes on to describe them it’s really just the right mix of talent, luck, and durability to survive the ‘zombie’ apocalypse that has taken hold in the world. It’s a good idea that can either make you think that they are super heroes, he’s losing it, he has delusions of grandeur, or he’s grasping at straws to explain how his group has survived when so many have fallen to the wayside.
Speaking of his group he’s got about 30ish people all who are helping keep watch in his little sanctuary and help with crops and lifestock. While everyone seems to get along and take his lead some of those who are on guard duty are starting to show signs of resistance. As there have been less grunts (zombies) they have been thinking that patrols need to be fewer and farther between. Apparently Mort has another plan that we are not privy to in the first episode but it’s one that will change everything.
Onto the zombies or what pass as them in this world. It appears that some kind of insect is controlling these ‘grunts’ to behave as they do. It’s not clear if this insect is a mutation, home grown, or some kind of an alien species though from some of the writing I’m leaning towards an alien influence at some point. It’s too early to really say for sure though.
The setup itself has a good premise: group of survivors, new take on zombies, internal drama. If it wasn’t for how short I felt it was I’d immediately tell you to go out and pick this one up. If you want a well written new twist on zombies I’d say pick this up though be prepared for picking up multiple episodes that are nowhere near being complete.
Where can you buy The Great Consumption Episode 1?
You can buy The Great Consumption Episode 1 on Amazon.
