This Is the Way the World Ends

An Oral History of the Zombie War

By: Keith Taylor

Narrated by: Matthew Crow

Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

***SOON TO BE A MAJOR TV SERIES***

For thousands of years the virus lay dormant, trapped beneath the Siberian permafrost. Then we decided to dig in the wrong place.

FEBRUARY, 2031: The global population stands at just 400 million, and the scattered survivors bear the scars of our decade-long struggle to defeat an enemy few once believed could exist. Some nations have emerged from the war stronger than ever. Others hang by a thread. Some no longer exist at all.

In the aftermath of the zombie pandemic Keith Taylor, noted pre-war author of post-apocalyptic fiction, traveled the world to interview survivors from every walk of life, culture and stratum of society, ranging from American political leaders to Scottish oil rig workers, from Mongolian miners to members of India's homeless underclass, each with their own tale of survival against an enemy that feels no remorse, fatigue, fear or mercy; only insatiable hunger.

These chilling eyewitness accounts chart the course of humanity's most brutal war. They lead us from the emergence of the virus in the Siberian wilderness to the visceral, horrifying Shibuya footage, through the panic and chaos of the evacuations to the disastrous consequences of the UN's sweeping refugee amendment. They end with us battered and broken, diminished but not defeated, in the fragile peace we now enjoy.

Together these interviews represent the most illuminating and complete commentary to date of humanity's loss.

From these candid accounts emerges an image of early 21st century civilization as it truly was: imperfect, divided and wholly unprepared for a disaster on such a scale. This Is the Way the World Ends: an Oral History of the Zombie War takes an unflinching, uncompromising look at the world we had and lost; a look at the pain we suffered due to our inability to accept a single, simple truth:

Zombies are real.

©2017 Keith Taylor (P)2022 Keith Taylor

A Gripping Odyssey Through the Aftermath

In the haunting echoes of a world decimated by the relentless march of the undead, Keith Taylor's "This Is the Way the World Ends: An Oral History of the Zombie War" takes us on a profound journey of survival, resilience, and the human spirit. Narrated by the talented Matthew Crow, this audiobook delivers a visceral and captivating experience that stands as a testament to the power of storytelling.

At its core, Taylor's narrative is a masterful homage to Max Brooks' iconic "World War Z," a fact acknowledged by the author himself as he dedicates the work to Brooks. Yet, in the same breath, Taylor breathes new life into the genre with a fresh perspective on the zombie apocalypse. The audiobook, skillfully narrated by Matthew Crow, brings this reimagined world to life in a way that is both chilling and unforgettable.

The story unfolds in the aftermath of a global zombie pandemic that has left the world forever changed. The population has dwindled to a mere 400 million, and survivors from diverse backgrounds share their harrowing tales with Taylor, offering an oral history that spans the globe. The interviews, brilliantly narrated by Matthew Crow, provide a mosaic of human experiences, from political leaders to oil rig workers, miners to the homeless. Crow's ability to infuse each character with distinct personality and emotion elevates the audiobook to a realm of immersive storytelling rarely achieved.

One of the standout features of this audiobook is Matthew Crow's exceptional narration. His voice, with its rich timbre, serves as the perfect vessel to convey the gravity of the tales being told. Crow seamlessly transitions between the role of narrator and the diverse array of characters, breathing life into their voices and emotions. His storytelling prowess adds depth to each survivor's account, making the listener feel the intensity of their struggles, triumphs, and heartbreaks.

The unique storytelling approach, reminiscent of "World War Z," sets "This Is the Way the World Ends" apart. The use of survivor interviews paints a vivid picture of a shattered world pieced together by fragments of humanity. Crow's adept narration enhances this narrative technique, making it a compelling auditory experience. The bold font used for the narrator's perspective, along with the detailed descriptions of interview settings, mirrors the style of "World War Z," but Taylor's narrative takes on a life of its own, with original stories and a distinct plot surrounding the zombie virus.

Crow's narration skillfully captures the essence of each character, making the audiobook an emotional rollercoaster. From uplifting and funny anecdotes to heart-wrenching moments filled with despair, Crow's nuanced delivery captures the nuances of the human experience in a post-apocalyptic world. His ability to embody the diverse array of characters creates a rich tapestry of voices that resonate long after the audiobook concludes.

The audiobook not only pays homage to its predecessor but also innovates within the genre. Taylor introduces fresh perspectives on the origin and resolution of the zombie virus, weaving in modern issues that add layers of complexity to the narrative. Crow's narration adeptly navigates these elements, making the audiobook a dynamic and thought-provoking experience.

"This Is the Way the World Ends" stands as a captivating testament to the enduring appeal of the zombie apocalypse genre. Keith Taylor's storytelling prowess, coupled with Matthew Crow's exceptional narration, creates an audiobook that is both a thrilling homage and a distinctive work of its own. If you were enthralled by "World War Z," prepare to be equally captivated by this haunting oral history brought to life by the unparalleled talents of Matthew Crow.

Really enjoyed this!

This is a very unique way of telling a 'Zombie' story, by using interviews of survivors. It gave a different voice to the survivors and the victims alike.
I listened to the audiobook version of this book and Matthew Crow is one of the best narrators out there. His voice, the timber, is one I really enjoy listening to, but his ability to tell the story in the narration and then become the different characters is amazing. I never get tired of listening to his narrations.

Great story, bad narration

The author calls this an homage to World War Z in the foreword. That is an apt description. It has some fresh takes on various aspects of the zombie apocalypse, which is cool. The format is much like WWZ: author interviews with people around the world.

The narrator is not great at accents. He didn't do a good job shifting between characters and narration. That would've been hard for anyone, though. The audio book would have benefitted from an ensemble cast like WWZ. The thing that really bothered me about the narration is how often he mispronounced words. It's fine to not know how to pronounce "Oaxaca, Mexico," but if your job is to narrate an audio book with that chapter title, you should look it up. It wasn't just proper nouns, either. Editors need to do a better job of catching and fixing mispronunciations before release.

Great tribute to WWZ

A great story with compelling characters. As the author states, this is a wonderful tribute to the book WWZ

A good world war z clone

I liked the book, didn’t really love the politics but that’s okay. Definitely good if you enjoyed world war Z.

Great Book Narration Mediocre

The book is well done and is a great tribute to Max Brooks’ WWZ. I bought the audiobook because I loved the physical book so much. The narrator is articulate and enthusiastic, his accents are almost non-existent. He sounds like an American male at all times. His female voices don’t sound female at all. The voices from characters in the UK sound nothing like that, one sounds like he could have been from the UK as a child and immigrated to the US young but that’s as close as he gets; the character from an oil rig off the coast of Shetlands, the narrator doesn’t even try to sound anything but American besides throwing in a couple of UK colloquialisms. Don’t even get me started on the characters from the rest of the world… horrid. You can however tell the different characters apart. The story itself carries the whole thing.

Stylistically similar to WWZ

Author did a good job matching the style. Not quite as gripping as the original, but enjoyed it more than many books in the genre.

Worth it

It’s very entertaining You won’t regret listening to this amazing book if you are a zombie fan

Pale imitation but still a good effort

The author admits that this book was inspired by world war z. Overall it’s not bad but it lacks a few things. First WWZ was organized by sections, this book is not. This kind of gives it a disjointed feel. Second, the voice acting isn’t as great. I mean WWZ had and all star cast so…. Third, the stories don’t feel fleshed out and coherent. This goes back to the over arching narrative that WWZ weaves by how it is organized. This story doesn’t do that, it doesn’t build the same way. It tends to jump around more. It feels like it you better organized and punched up the stories it would be much better. This makes us a pale competitor to WWZ but worth a read.

a little too close

I'm a huge lover of Max Brooks world war z. so much so I almost know the novel by heart. sadly, this story resembles it almost comedically. it calls to mind the pirated versions of Disney movies we've come to know and recognize. instead of the Little Mermaid it would have been Small Fish Girl. That is not to say that this author has no talent. he is actually incredibly talented and I've enjoyed his other novels