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A review by twilliamson
Ex-Heroes by Peter Clines
3.0
Ex-Heroes is a perfect example of the post-modern mashup novel. It takes two novel ideas--superheroes and zombies--and weaves a story that, while quaint, is hardly original and lacks any clear purpose aside from mere diversion. And while the novel is diverting, it certainly isn't fantastic.
Condensed, the novel is about a band of superheroes as they make their last stand against a horde of zombies set loose upon the world by superheroic hubris. Clines seems to pose the real question of what good superheroes are at the end of the world, and while the finale is somewhat uplifting, the nature of the story being a series suggests, of course, that there's still far more to come in the lives of these characters.
Ultimately, what the book does best is invent a few interesting characters in the comic book sense--they're not very well distinguishable aside from their powers, and their motivations still seem a bit dubious, but the action is fine and the plot comes together quickly enough to make the book readable.
Critically useful? Probably not. This isn't a thinker, nor is it even an innovator. Instead, it cashes in on a now-tired zombie thrill and does so without overstaying its welcome. I don't think I wasted my time entertaining myself, but aside from being a picture-perfect example of post-modern blank parody, I'm not really sure it means anything. It isn't really critical of anything, but simply speaks in a kind of dead language regurgitated for the cover price.
Condensed, the novel is about a band of superheroes as they make their last stand against a horde of zombies set loose upon the world by superheroic hubris. Clines seems to pose the real question of what good superheroes are at the end of the world, and while the finale is somewhat uplifting, the nature of the story being a series suggests, of course, that there's still far more to come in the lives of these characters.
Ultimately, what the book does best is invent a few interesting characters in the comic book sense--they're not very well distinguishable aside from their powers, and their motivations still seem a bit dubious, but the action is fine and the plot comes together quickly enough to make the book readable.
Critically useful? Probably not. This isn't a thinker, nor is it even an innovator. Instead, it cashes in on a now-tired zombie thrill and does so without overstaying its welcome. I don't think I wasted my time entertaining myself, but aside from being a picture-perfect example of post-modern blank parody, I'm not really sure it means anything. It isn't really critical of anything, but simply speaks in a kind of dead language regurgitated for the cover price.