The Enemy

Author(s): Charlie Higson

Publisher: Puffin Books

Publication Date: 2009

Name of Reviewer: Mark ‘Wally' Wall

Review: Every adult has been infected by a plague and the only people who remain human are the under 14's. They have to fend for themselves and fight off any advancing plagued adults, who are out for a quick snack. Two crews of kids set up camp in Morrisons and Waitrose, which they have turned into forts to keep out the onslaught of adult attacks. This is until a strange kid comes knocking on the door promising a safe haven across the other side of London. The crews join forces and take the treacherous journey through the streets of London to escape the adult hordes.

 

Zombie Fear Factor: 4 Brains out of 5

The adults, technically, aren't zombies. They didn't die and they don't turn the kids into zombies if they get bitten. They are merely adults who have contracted a virus, which has wiped out their previous memories and has turned them into child munching monsters. The fear factor is still very real from these fiends. Especially since this is the first time the children have had to fend for themselves in the real world and, in some cases, have had to fight and kill the people who have nurtured them.

Zombie Behaviour: 3 Brains out of 5

I've only given this 3 stars as although, I mentioned above, they're not really zombies; they're about as close as an infected human can get to being one. They shamble, they run and their main goal in life is to find food, which seems to only come in little child shaped packages. Points have been deducted by what is hinted at near the end of the book. I shan't go into this, as it will spoil it for everyone, but let's just say that rules have been bent due to these being ‘non-zombies'.

Zombie Threat: 5 Brains out of 5

The threat is huge from these ‘zombies'. They're the people who looked after the kids and now they're turned on them. The oldest people to look up to now are the 14 year olds, who in turn, take charge of the situation and appoint leaders within the groups. Some of the adults also seem to be able to set up rudimentary traps for the children, boxing them into rooms, or waiting down alleys etc to pounce on them.

Gore Content: 5 stars

Gore Content: 5 Brains out of 5

Technically, this is a book for teenagers, but that doesn't detract from the fact that Mr. Higson has gone all out on the gore. He describes every little detail of puss, blood, piss and sweat and never holds out on the good stuff. Boils and guts are what teenagers love to read about (I know I did when I was one and I still do) and this book is full of it. Even some of the characters you grow to love in this story meet their sticky end in one way or another.

Overall Quality: 5 Brains out of 5

This book had me hooked from the first chapter and I didn't put it down until I'd finished it. That was except for when I went to get it signed by Charlie Higson, himself. What a thoroughly nice chap! This may not be to all zombie fans' tastes, as it's not really a zombie book and it's written for teenagers. I found that neither of these factors detracted from the fact that this is a brilliantly told story in a new series and I am definitely looking forward to next year's follow up in the series.

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