Book Review: Outpost by Adam Baker

Title: Outpost
Author: Adam Baker
Genre: Dystopian Thriller
Publication date: 14 April 2011
Author’s website: http://darkoutpost.blogspot.com/
Source: My own copy

Goodreads blurb:

They took the job to escape the world.
They didn't expect the world to end.

Kasker Rampart: a derelict refinery platform moored in the Arctic Ocean. A skeleton crew of fifteen fight boredom and despair as they wait for a relief ship to take them home. But the world beyond their frozen wasteland has gone to hell. Cities lie ravaged by a global pandemic. One by one TV channels die, replaced by silent wavebands. The Rampart crew are marooned. They must survive the long Arctic winter, then make their way home alone. They battle starvation and hypothermia, unaware that the deadly contagion that has devastated the world is heading their way.

My thoughts:

This is a zombie apocalypse book with a difference.  Normally we are knee deep in zombie killing and lots of never ending, heart-in-your-throat zombie action.  Outpost is a more subtle story, set on a oil rig that has gone out of commission some time ago.  The skeleton crew consists of all sorts of misfits and outcasts and the story is about survival (both physically and mentally) when all you are doing, is waiting.  But don’t be mislead, there are lots and lots of action as well.

Our heroes are Jane, a obese and suicidal Catholic priest that has lost her faith and a cannabis growing Sikh, called Ghost. 

They definitely do not want to take charge but pretty soon it becomes impossible to let things just lie.  The days start stretching into weeks with no relieve ship arriving.  TV channels show unbelievable images before dissolving into static.  The Artic winter is coming.  And most importantly, their food supply is dwindling. 

On radar they see a ship nearby and everyone is cheerful – rescue is at hand.  But why is there no response from the captain?  Jane and Ghost set out to find out and have their first encounter with the zombies that has taken over the world.

What also make this a unique read for me is that we are let into the dissolving mind of one of the zombies (a member of the rig that gets infected) for a few chapters.  First time that I felt sympathy for a zombie!

There are lots of interesting twists and turns and you will be not be disappointed by Outpost.  If you love dystopian, apocalyptic, zombie novels, this one is for you.