Title: Zeus is Dead
Author: Michael G. Munz
Type: Fiction
Page Count/Review Word Count: 444
Rating: 9/10
Michael G. Munz – Zeus is Dead
Disclaimer: While I aim to be unbiased, I received a copy of this for free to review.
First up, I should explain how I know the author – Mr. Munz used to be published by Booktrope, the now-defunct hybrid publisher that released by debut novel, No Rest for the Wicked. I always liked Booktrope because of the quality of their books, and this has passed on to Munz’ new publisher, Red Muse Press.
The book itself was a hell of a lot of fun, and Munz’ style reminds me of a mixture between Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett. He’s often irreverent and occasionally self-referential, and while it does occasionally pull the reader out of the story, it works well 95% of the time, and it’s all part of that style that he has that sets him apart from other people.
That’s why I gave this book a 9/10. It really was a fantastic read, and I even dropped the author a message to let him know that it had helped to get me through a bit of a tough time. His writing really transported me out of reality and into his world, which was quite the accomplishment, and it kept me flicking through the pages right up to the end of the book.
Michael G. Munz
So, the story line. Loosely speaking, it follows the story of what happens when the Greek gods make their triumphant return, after Zeus is murdered and the rest of the gods announce their return via a press conference. See, that’s the gimmick here – it’s set in our modern world, and so the gods have blogs and Twitter feeds. It’s interesting to see how Munz was able to blend the classical with the contemporary, and it works really well.
Of course, there’s a whole story line set to this backdrop, and our heroes (because after all, that’s what they are) need to deal with all sorts of horrors along the way, including the worst horror of all – flying kittens with sharp teeth, who are perfectly designed because humans stop to stare at how cute they are just before they’re torn apart.
Overall, this is the kind of book that I’d recommend to anyone, because it’s such a great read and because it crosses genres easily without feeling artificial. And, as a bonus, it reflects the world that we live in. I often find that references to social media can feel artificial in some books, but it works well here and is, in many ways, required for the story to be what it is.
Michael G. Munz
