Book Info

Children's Author 'Like-for-Like' recommendations

Synopsis

The Dead by Charlie Higson

A terrible disease is striking everyone over the age of fourteen. Death walks the streets. Nowhere is safe. Maxie, Blue and the rest of the Holloway crew aren't the only kids trying to escape the ferocious adults who prey on them. Jack and Ed are best friends, but their battle to stay alive tests their friendship to the limit as they go on the run with a mismatched group of other kids - nerds, fighters, misfits. And one adult. Greg, a butcher, who claims he's immune to the disease. They must work together if they want to make it in this terrifying new world. But as a fresh disaster threatens to overwhelm London, they realise they won't all survive.

There's a video trailer for this book below. Warning - it's very scary:

---

Reviews

Brutal, blood-soaked, full of zombies... It's ace FHM Higson has got the balance of blood and gore just right Daily Mirror Clever ... fast-paced ... inventive
Guardian

---

About The Author

Charlie Higson is a well-known writer of screenplays and novels, including the phenomenally successful Young Bond series.  He is also a performer and co-creator of 'The Fast Show' and Radio Four's award-winning 'Down the Line' series - recently made into a popular BBC2 sketch show, 'Bellamy's People'. Charlie is a big fan of horror films and is now hoping to give a great many children sleepless nights with his The Enemy series.

The Young Bond books have, to date, sold over three-quarters of a million copies in the UK and been translated into 24 different languages. The Young Bond titles are included in a recent list of books complied by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the School Libraries Association to encourage school boys to read (www.boysintobooks.co.uk). 

After studying at the University of East Anglia, Charlie formed a band, The Higsons. He then became a decorator before turning to the world of television and going into partnership with his friend Paul Whitehouse. Their successes included 'Saturday Live', the 'Harry Enfield Television Programme', 'The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer', 'Shooting Stars', 'Randall and Hopkirk, Deceased', the film 'Suite 16', 'Swiss Toni' and 'The Fast Show'.

Charlie is also a successful adult novelist and has written four thrillers, King of the Ants (1992), Happy Now (1993), Full Whack (1995) and Getting Rid of Mr Kitchen (1996).

Charlie lives in London with his wife and three sons.

Questions for Charlie Higson:

What was your inspiration for The Enemy?

George Romero’s early zombie films – Night of the Living Dead & Dawn of the Dead mostly. But there are bits of Lord of the Rings, fairy tales and the tales of the Greek heroes.

Which character was the most fun to write?

Small Sam and the Kid. They’re a good double act.

Are any of your characters based on real people?

I use my own kids and their friends for inspiration, but there is no one character
that is based on one particular person.

What was the last film that blew you away?

Pan’s Labyrinth was amazing. Special effects and fantasy are used for more than just pretty pictures.

Who would you choose to be if you could be a celebrity for the day?

That idea is just too scary to contemplate. My God, imagine !

Click here to read more Charlie Higson Q&A.

Charlie Higson loves what could be THE debut of 2011, Undead by Kirsty McKay: 'A kick-ass teen-action zombie-fest. Fast, furious, freaky, funny and seriously sick. Oh, and did I mention it kicks ass ?' 

 

Author photo: Andy Paradise

More books by this author

Share this book

---

Share this book with other net users and your friends