Fiend: A Novel

This debut novel is certainly has a unique premise. The zombie apocalypse takes place, and the only ones not to succumb to the mysterious virus are meth addicts. It's certainly a unique take on the popular zombies, but the book actually has less to do with zombies than the true nature of drug addiction. That's not to say that there isn't plenty of battling zombies - it's a gruesome book, with guts and gore. But beyond the violence and the walking dead, it's a dark book. Chase Daniels, the narrator and "hero" becomes more and more unlikable as the book progresses. What starts off as an offbeat, intriguing and even humorous narration, devolves as what feels like Daniels' true nature begins to come through.

And what starts off as a fast-paced and action-filled plot, quickly becomes repetitive - as a search for drugs leads to battling the "Chucks" (in Stenson's dystopia, the zombies all chuckle as they chase their prey, hence their nickname) keeps happening over and over. It drags down the pacing, and since the characters all prove that drugs are the most significant part of their lives, it is hard to genuinely care about any of their fates. The author's theme on the similarities between drug addiction and zombism is well hammered in, but is perhaps the main reason why there isn't much to root for here. Chase's narrative - despite its initial charm amongst the language and his desires - takes a dark, downward spiral that really sucks out the fun, entertaining factor out of the book. I just expected a much lighter zombie story - and the beginning really hit that tone, but that tone is not maintained throughout the novel. Which feels a bit at odds with its overall premise. I really wish that the earlier balance of humor and violence had been consistent throughout the book.

Prior to reading Fiend, I had read mixed reviews in the media. Many readers felt that this dealt more with meth addiction than with zombie horror. As a result, I was a little hesitant to read it.

I'm glad I decided to go for it.

Fiend is hard edged horror. It's devastating, not only as a zombie gore-fest, but in terms of the psychological terms of addiction. Now, my knowledge of meth addiction is strictly in terms of fiction, but this book put me right there in the throes of addiction. Sometimes it wasn't clear who was scarier - the zombies or the meth-heads.

Short as it is, the book isn't simplistic. Chase, the main character, deals with some heart-rending decisions along the way, tempered by the times when the next hit is all that matters to him.

And as a zombie book? It worked. The zombies are creepy and very, very hungry.

So what kept this from being a five star read? No spoilers, but I didn't love the ending. It made sense given who these characters were, but left me unsatisfied.

Peter Stenson’s Fiend: A Novel had just enough verve to keep me reading, even though the initial premise of the book seemed thin or lacking. In Fiend, meth users are the only people to survive a zombie apocalypse. Stenson pulls this novel off largely by not straying from the mark. I admire this kind of writer, one who stays true to his or her vision. In the end, it provides the ballast for a story.

A note: a sloppy read of Fiend makes using meth seem a romantic or enhancing experience. It is neither, so please don’t read the novel in a sloppy manner!

Through a tragic, apocalyptic world, Peter Stenson paints a picture of the human condition using a drug addict to tell the story of the end of humanity. In Fiend, humans have turned into walking dead, and the only people who are still alive are those who use methamphetamines. Something in the meth fends off the virus that has taken over the general population, and the meth heads are left to their own devices to survive.

Even though Fiend is only his first novel, Stenson creates a story that speaks true to humanity. He creates characters that come alive. Such characters are true to the reality of humanity because they leave the reader questioning the characters’ reliability.
The main character, Chase Daniels, is a mid-twenties high school dropout who has ruined his life--his relationship with his parents, the girl he loves, and his sobriety--for any chance to get high. The only friend he has left is John, a. k. a “Typewriter,” who is a fellow junkie.

In the beginning, Chase is with Typewriter getting high when they see a little girl eating a dog. At first, they attribute this strange incident to their spun minds, but when they go outside and take a look around, they realize something is wrong with the world. When they figure out that only fellow junkies are alive, they make getting their next hit a number one priority.
Part of what makes this novel so good is how it portrays sobriety and addiction. Stenson creates a world where people cannot be clean and sober even if they want to be because the meth is what keeps the virus, or whatever has taken over humanity, from taking over the addicts. Such a world accurately deconstructs the loss of control that comes when you succumb to addiction.
Chase Daniels is the classic anti-hero. He has drained every resource and every opportunity in his life. He is left with nothing but a meth addiction. Stenson appeals to the readers’ emotions when Chase remembers simpler times, before he gave up control of his life.

The novel doesn’t ever use direct quotations, which pulls the reader further into the narrator’s world. Dialogue is all paraphrased by Chase, which leaves his thoughts uninterrupted. This allows readers to focus on Chase’s character, and it brings his flaws to light. At one point he steals a small amount of meth just for the sake of stealing it. Then he blames the missing meth on someone else.
It causes the reader to ask, “Why is Chase this way?”

The answer isn’t simply because he’s a junkie: it is because he is selfish. It is because he is a human who gives in to his desires.
The bigger picture shows that the problems are not about addiction and addicts, but about humanity itself. Being controlled by any substance is detrimental to anyone’s success, which makes this novel something anyone can relate to. The problem comes when your vice becomes what is keeping you alive. It is the ultimate loss of control, because even if you want to stop, you cannot.

Chase and his friend John aka Typewriter sober up from a week long binge on meth to discover that the world has changed. What they find when they venture outside is worse than their worst drug induced nightmares. The world is basically a dead zone. The problem is that the dead are reanimating and have only one purpose in life - to feed on the last of the living. What follows this discovery is a fast paced, white knuckle thrill ride through probably the grittiest horror novel I've ever read. To stay alive, Chase and his friend along with an ex-girlfriend and her new lover must stay "spun" on meth. It's literally what is keeping them from turning into zombies. They don't know why it works only that it does and they can't give it up. None of them know how to cook it so they have to find someone who can supply them. Their desperate struggle to fight off the walking dead and to fight their own inner demons of addiction makes for a gripping and gruesome story. This is not a book for the faint of heart of anyone easily offended by crude language. Chase and the other characters act and speak in a manner that is very raw and real. There is continuous profanity. There is brutal violence and there is constant drug abuse detailed down to the actual point of inserting the needle into an arm.
Chase's initial motivation is to try and find safety for himself, Typewriter and the love of his life, KK. His devotion to her especially is touching. As time goes on and the drug use escalates, nobler intentions begin to wane. Even his commitment to saving KK seems to fall by the wayside.
This is not a book that you walk away from with a good feeling. It's harsh and depressing but it is honest. Anyone who's dealt with an addict will recognize how real these characters are. The language and the action are lightning fast and the reader is drawn in as a voyeur of the train wreck that the lives of this group is becoming.
I happen to be a fan of zombie/post apocalyptic fiction so I am somewhat acclimated to violence and gore. That doesn't usually phase me. This novel, however, did manage to get under my skin because of the way it is described by the main character, Chase. It's haunting.
I recommend this novel with caveats. If you are squeamish or offended by crude or profane language, skip this book. If you find the very vivid depiction of drug use upsetting, don't read this. If however, you enjoy fast paced, gut punching action/horror novels, Fiend will satisfy.

After finishing, I was not glad I had read Fiend. Although I didn't consider it a waste of time either - mainly because it is a fairly quick read. The story starts out with two meth heads on a week long run who emerge from their drug den to find a changed world. A world full of Zombies. The how or why behind nearly everyone being a zombie is never filled in, nor is it even an aspect of the storyline more than a passing thought. Instead, the story completely revolves on how two meth heads plan to survive and who they meet along the way.

There is plenty of creepy zombie stuff in this book. If you are looking for shotguns, splatters, gushing bodily fluids and exposed internal body parts, you will find it here. After all, it is a zombie book. There is some building suspense for added enjoyment.

What is missing is a story. There is no real journey here. The characters don't have any real destination. They are not on a physical journey other than finding drugs and avoiding zombies and they are not on a personal journey of change or redemption or whatever. They are just surviving.

To his credit, Fiend excels at getting into the head of meth fiends. I work in a detox center and Stenson does a really good job of giving readers a taste of the mind games and personal relationship hell experienced by some hard core users.

Before you decide to read Fiend, please be aware that this book deals with extremely heavy drug use (needles/shooting, snorting, smoking), addiction, death, violence, and strong language.

The world is ending, and Chase is one of the only few people left alive. The others are meth addicts, just like him. Terrified and craving his next hit, Chase must now fight his way through the living dead and conventional addicts to find safety and possibly, redemption and love.

There are a lot of survivalist stories out there about people losing their humanity and becoming the enemy against those few survivors left on earth, but not many offer such visceral, frightening, and intensely personal moments as Fiend.Fiend is the type of story that holds on and doesn’t let go—at almost three hundred pages, it’s easy to complete in a few hours because the plot moves at a furious pace that dares the reader to pause before reaching the end. When not reading, it’s likely you’ll be thinking of blackened, bruised skin and little girls ripping apart dogs. When reading the book, it’s possible your hands will go just a little numb from the descriptions of drug abuse alone. However, wiithout these descriptions, Stenson’s story would be just another zombie book. Instead, Stenson manages to take the traditional apocalypse story and twist survival into a heartbreaking and painful instinct, rather than an honorable and desirable decision, leaving readers asking, “Is this really worth it?”

If you’re interested in Zombies, shows like The Walking Dead, and can stomach the horrors of drug-abuse and the degradation of humanity, pick up Fiend. You won’t regret it.

Between the hard look that Chase takes at himself and his friends, the messed up stuff that he does and all the meth that they smoke it’s just a strange story. Chase and his fellow group of addicts don’t really have any redeeming qualities among them and when it started out I thought it would be more funny than serious but as the story goes on it doesn’t go that way and the more you get into the story the more it feels as if you’re in the head of a meth addict as they justify and scheme. It’s an interesting story which is well written and full of gore for the traditional zombie lover while the new take on the zombies makes it feel very original. I probably would have given this four star if I just didn’t come out of it thinking “WTF was that?”.

Fiend, by Peter Stenson, is one of the craziest books I have ever read. I couldn't decide what to think about it exactly, but I do know I liked it. What happens when a bunch of meth addicts are the only survivors of the zombie apocalypse? Well, a whole bunch of running around and trying to stay alive, only they can't function in normal society so it's not even more easy during the apocalypse.

This book was unique in so many ways. It was funny, suspenseful, heart warming, and heart breaking. This group of druggies can't decide if they are in hell or heaven on earth. They can finally use with absolutely no judgement from anyone. Survival is the goal and scant/Tina/crystal/meth is the prize to find. There wasn't a dull moment, they were constantly running for their lives and I honestly couldn't put the book down.

I would Fiend a 4.5 out of 5 stars and an R rating for gore, violence, language, and sexual content. This is for sure an adult book, not for a younger sort. Also, I would certainly recommend this book. I was like Breaking Bad meets The Walking Dead in novel form.

I received this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for an honest review.

"Fiend" by Peter Stenson is my very first Zombie novel. I wanted to see what all this walking dead craze was about. Surprising to me, I loved this book! It's a quick read that is just as addictive as the Meth the characters are smoking, shooting up, and snorting.

Meth Tweakers vs Giggling Zombies, who knew? It's such an odd premise but, so well crafted this twisted tale actually works. Written with the flow of words as meth users would speak them. I couldn't put this book down.

While I was reading this book I heard several little girls playing outside who were giggling about something for the longest time. Really creeped me out! I kept hearing those giggles in my head as I continued reading.

I must warn those with sensitive ears, er, eyes that there are several f-bombs scattered throughout the book.

This is not your typical zombie novel. If it didn't have zombies in it, I probably would not have read it (not that I don't read books without zombies, but because I am not a fan of the style of writing that does not utilize quotation marks. That being said, this was a fascinating read with a great opening sequence, and while I had to read it in small doses because the no-holds-barred description of the world of meth was really hard to take, read it I did every day until I finished it. Chase, the narrator, is both despicable and sympathetic, and one of the most original protagonists I've come across. The scenes in the prison are both the most disturbing and the creepiest, and the ending... Well, no spoilers but it left an impact. I'm probably in between 4 1/2 to 5 stars for FIEND, but I can't decide if the fact I had to keep putting it down because it disturbed me is a good thing or a bad thing. I think it's probably a mix of the two.

When the zombie apocalypse comes, have your plan set in advance. Keep your bug out bag ready. Keep your pistol well oiled. Know of places where you can hide out in safety. If you are a drug addict, none of this will be a concern to you.

Chase and his best friend Type are nearing the end of a meth binge when Chase looks out the window and sees a little girl eating a dog in the street. It's not a bad trip, as he hoped. It's the end of the world. So begins their search for more drugs.

Initially, I doubted that "Fiend" by Peter Stenson would remain interesting for its duration, but it did. It stayed fresh and spooky, especially when Chase's paranoia crept in.

Fortunately I haven't had any personal experience with drug addiction, first or second hand, but I've read some biographies where addiction was a major, if not focal, point and, of course, seen plenty of "Intervention" episodes. It seems to me the behavior of the characters in the book was very realistic: always thinking about the next bump, making big plans, hiding a little for yourself, constantly justifying using, and so on.

The zombies in this story are a bit different than anything I've read before, but they are still sinister and frightening, and really fit in perfectly with the drug-fueled world of the narrator. They do take a back seat and are more like background noise for a fair amount of the book. They're probably used less than some would like, but Stenson never allows us forget they're there, ever-present.

The writing is very raw and gritty; there's nothing flowery about it and that's due to both the nature of drug use and the narrator's unhealed broken heart that gets ripped open when his ex joins the story.

It's not easy to like the characters in this book -- even though I did, somewhat begrudgingly, like Chase -- but it was very easy for me to sympathize with any of them and root for them to keep surviving, to find another source of meth. What would a zombie apocalypse be like for meth addicts? I think "Fiend" is more realistic and truthful than you might suspect a story with such an unrealistic premise could be.

This book had a lot of promise that was unfortunately not realized. The basic premise of the book (meth heads survive the apocalypse while everyone else becomes zombies) is a clever way to turn everyone on earth into a zombie, whether plague-induced or chemically-induced. The writing style is stream of consciousness and vulgar, but it's appropriate given that the narrator is a drug addict. Don't let the style dissuade you, because the prose is very readable.

However, the book was billed as "Science Fiction and Fantasy," and it doesn't belong in that genre. A good sci fi or fantasy book would explore questions such as where the plague came from, why the meth heads survived while the regular people didn't, how that knowledge could be used to defeat the zombies, etc. In other words, there would be some kind of framework around which this alternate universe was organized, albeit using different rules than our world. The characters would make discoveries that would allow them to battle the zombies and have a chance to rebuild civilization. Maybe they would even become more human themselves in the process.

Unfortunately, all of that was lacking here, and the book is not a satisfying sci fi and fantasy story. There is no real attempt to make sense of this world. The characters are completely flat and undeveloped. The reader is given no reason to even care whether humanity continues on or not. In fact, given that most readers would probably have ended up as zombies, it might be just as well if civilization as we know it did end. :-P

"Fiend" by Peter Stenson is my very first Zombie novel. I wanted to see what all this walking dead craze was about. Surprising to me, I loved this book! It's a quick read that is just as addictive as the Meth the characters are smoking, shooting up, and snorting.

Meth Tweakers vs Giggling Zombies, who knew? It's such an odd premise but, so well crafted this twisted tale actually works. Written with the flow of words as meth users would speak them. I couldn't put this book down.

While I was reading this book I heard several little girls playing outside who were giggling about something for the longest time. Really creeped me out! I kept hearing those giggles in my head as I continued reading.

I must warn those with sensitive ears, er, eyes that there are several f-bombs scattered throughout the book.

This is not your typical zombie novel. If it didn't have zombies in it, I probably would not have read it (not that I don't read books without zombies, but because I am not a fan of the style of writing that does not utilize quotation marks. That being said, this was a fascinating read with a great opening sequence, and while I had to read it in small doses because the no-holds-barred description of the world of meth was really hard to take, read it I did every day until I finished it. Chase, the narrator, is both despicable and sympathetic, and one of the most original protagonists I've come across. The scenes in the prison are both the most disturbing and the creepiest, and the ending... Well, no spoilers but it left an impact. I'm probably in between 4 1/2 to 5 stars for FIEND, but I can't decide if the fact I had to keep putting it down because it disturbed me is a good thing or a bad thing. I think it's probably a mix of the two.

When the zombie apocalypse comes, have your plan set in advance. Keep your bug out bag ready. Keep your pistol well oiled. Know of places where you can hide out in safety. If you are a drug addict, none of this will be a concern to you.

Chase and his best friend Type are nearing the end of a meth binge when Chase looks out the window and sees a little girl eating a dog in the street. It's not a bad trip, as he hoped. It's the end of the world. So begins their search for more drugs.

Initially, I doubted that "Fiend" by Peter Stenson would remain interesting for its duration, but it did. It stayed fresh and spooky, especially when Chase's paranoia crept in.

Fortunately I haven't had any personal experience with drug addiction, first or second hand, but I've read some biographies where addiction was a major, if not focal, point and, of course, seen plenty of "Intervention" episodes. It seems to me the behavior of the characters in the book was very realistic: always thinking about the next bump, making big plans, hiding a little for yourself, constantly justifying using, and so on.

The zombies in this story are a bit different than anything I've read before, but they are still sinister and frightening, and really fit in perfectly with the drug-fueled world of the narrator. They do take a back seat and are more like background noise for a fair amount of the book. They're probably used less than some would like, but Stenson never allows us forget they're there, ever-present.

The writing is very raw and gritty; there's nothing flowery about it and that's due to both the nature of drug use and the narrator's unhealed broken heart that gets ripped open when his ex joins the story.

It's not easy to like the characters in this book -- even though I did, somewhat begrudgingly, like Chase -- but it was very easy for me to sympathize with any of them and root for them to keep surviving, to find another source of meth. What would a zombie apocalypse be like for meth addicts? I think "Fiend" is more realistic and truthful than you might suspect a story with such an unrealistic premise could be.

This book had a lot of promise that was unfortunately not realized. The basic premise of the book (meth heads survive the apocalypse while everyone else becomes zombies) is a clever way to turn everyone on earth into a zombie, whether plague-induced or chemically-induced. The writing style is stream of consciousness and vulgar, but it's appropriate given that the narrator is a drug addict. Don't let the style dissuade you, because the prose is very readable.

However, the book was billed as "Science Fiction and Fantasy," and it doesn't belong in that genre. A good sci fi or fantasy book would explore questions such as where the plague came from, why the meth heads survived while the regular people didn't, how that knowledge could be used to defeat the zombies, etc. In other words, there would be some kind of framework around which this alternate universe was organized, albeit using different rules than our world. The characters would make discoveries that would allow them to battle the zombies and have a chance to rebuild civilization. Maybe they would even become more human themselves in the process.

Unfortunately, all of that was lacking here, and the book is not a satisfying sci fi and fantasy story. There is no real attempt to make sense of this world. The characters are completely flat and undeveloped. The reader is given no reason to even care whether humanity continues on or not. In fact, given that most readers would probably have ended up as zombies, it might be just as well if civilization as we know it did end. :-P

Before reading this book, my answer to the above would have been "Who cares?" You see, I don't much like zombie novels, and I don't much like meth addict novels. However, I found myself laughing and occasionally shivering through this one. If I liked the genres, I would undoubtedly give this five stars. I can go along with zombies being a laughing matter, but I can't laugh at the antics of meth heads, so this does get four rather than five stars from me.

If you want any kind of realism, forget this one. That shouldn't be any problem since I don't figure anyone demanding realism will give this work a glance.

I do need to give you a warning if you haven't already guessed the following. If you can't tolerate total gross out violence and/or excessively foul language, this sure isn't for you.

I picked this book up randomly at Barnes & Noble one day while browsing, and I am so glad that I did! Most of these reviews have already summarized this book pretty well, so I'm here giving a major 'hats off' to the author Peter Stenson! I freaking LOVED this book. It was fast paced in the best way. Even when there wasn't action, it was effectively gripping and full-speed ahead. Surprisingly, I wan't sure how this would end. When I was within the very last few pages, there were so many paths the story could take (though the ending was perfect). Stenson's writing style is a major hit with me, and I'll be watching for more from him! (Not that I see them often, but I'll never look at umbrella socks the same way again!)

Fiend is a first person narrated novel about a meth junkie whose witnessing the end of the World and his only fellow survivors are motorheads like himself. But is everything as it seems? Remember, these are speed freaks who live a destitute lifestyle in squalor with nothing to do but score more meth. Is it the end of the World as they know it? Who is the real "Fiend"? To find out you'll have to take a chance and pick up the novel Fiend.

One thing that bothered me about the novel is the way it was written. I don't mind first person narrations but the structure without quotations or formal structure took some getting used to. An interesting twist on the post-apocalyptic genre with a little twist.

REVIEW SUMMARY: The zombie apocalypse has never been more engrossing, heart-wrenching, or personal. I rooted for this hero with held breath.

BRIEF SYNOPSIS: A pair of drug addicts open their window to a zombie apocalypse, run for their lives and fight for what they'll love more: sober life or death.

PROS: Front-to-back engaging; phenomenal ending; emotionally powerful characters; scary zombies; survivalist setting.
CONS: The sexual descriptions, while consistent with the gory details throughout, were more than this reader preferred.
BOTTOM LINE: Best read of the year. Best zombie book, ever. Masterful illustration about how painful and overwhelming addiction can be - over love, over family, and over being a good human being, even in the face of losing one's life to a zombie horde.

The cover image of Peter Stenson's Fiend and the combination of meth addicts in a zombie apocalypse created hesitancy in whether this book would be right for me, making me wonder if I was hardcore enough. I guess I am, because I absolutely loved this book. Major credit goes to Peter Stenson, Colorado State University's MFA program, and the editorial team at Crown, because this story, that did not seem like a good fit, was too seamlessly well-written to let me out until the end, and my appreciation has only grown since.

Fiend has everything: the main character is heart-breakingly flawed, addicted to a drug that cost him the love of his life and what he sees as the approval of his parents (and that's only where he starts the novel, it gets much worse from there); a best friend that is equally endearing, one of the better buddy flick type stories; an adventure through zombie territory where the twist on survival -- including finding more meth -- made Fiend feel fresh in a stale genre; truly scary zombies (an impressive feat after reading and seeing so many); and a love story that packs a punch well after the pages end.

While I began this book curious to know whether I'd enjoy reading about addicts, I soon realized that I could relate to the feeling of letting people down, of wondering what my ceiling of achievement could be after life mistakes and missed opportunities, and of wanting the woman I love to love me back and to be good enough for her. Within this inner battle of the main character, there is fast-paced, high-conflict action trying to find shelter and necessities amidst a world overrun by Chucks -- zombies who chuckle when they get excited about fresh meat, a horror element that the author plays off to perfect terror. The ending will surprise and was the perfect resolution to this story.

As mentioned above, the only real point of disinterest was the level of detail regarding sex. It was real, though, and consistent to the detail of the addicts picking scabs and the visceral description of getting high. This book makes you feel through the characters highs and lows, sexually, fearfully, while intoxicated, in the depths of depression and self-loathing, when they felt like they could take on the world and be true heroes, and the rush of excitement to see what would happen next and if they'd survive.

I want every book I read to enthrall me as consistently and emotionally as Fiend did.

We've had the world destroyed by giant monsters, mysterious darkness, ominous domes, deadly viruses, serious meteors, nuclear wars, and loads and loads of zombies. What is seriously annoying is the repetitive nature of all these tales. Yes, it's true there are no new ideas, but there ARE new deliveries, and I'm glad to discover a new voice in a common thread.

In FIEND, we're introduced to a loathsome hero in the post-apocalyptic life. And it is not only refreshing, but very well told. Welcome our protagonist and his, seemingly, only friend "Typewriter" who happen to be scraping the bottom of the gene pool. Both are all-out junkies who live life looking for their next fix. Even Chase (our narrator) knows they're bottom feeders. He know that they need to get clean. He realizes that there is more to life than this narrow existence, but cannot seem to take the appropriate steps to get clean.

Until the zombie apocalypse.

Thinking the described scene above is nothing more than a hallucination (the little girl devouring a Rottie), Chase and Type decide the best course of action is to slaughter the little girl, burn their house and set off to Mexico - just in case the hallucination might be real. And real it is. What ensues is a discovery of the blurred lines of fact and fiction.

Y'see a zombie apocalypse has ensconced the world we know (even junkies have perceived reality). In this world, the zombies are nicknamed "Chucks", short for Chuckles, which is a signifying mark for this breed of undead. From learning how to shoot guns to self discovery, "FIEND" works on so many different levels.

It is a wryly funny book (albeit dark, dark humor). It is an action-packed yarn that spans over the course of a matter of days. In some respects, it is a dismal romance and bromance. However, at it's core, FIEND works because it is one of the most real portrayals of altered reality. We've seen it altered from the idealistic. This time it's quite the opposite and that is the most honest rendition the genre has had.

My only complaints are the following:
The style it's told in is often hard to follow. Maybe I'm not as scholarly, and that's my slight aversion. I will utter this truth: it's is a lot like Shakespeare. Once you're in the thick of it, it's quite easy to follow.

The other is the characters telling this yarn. It's hard to root for these characters. We don't want to like them. We want to rehab them, we want to cure them, we want to turn our head and forget they exist. Maybe that's the charm, though. That we don't want to cheer, but we have to because they may be the only hope we have left. Scary, I know.

Ultimately, FIEND works on every level. It is equal parts Palahniuk and Burroughs and the undead. I think I, like many others, will go for that.

I read this pulse pounding zombie/drug novel in two big gulps. I don't normally like stories about strung-out meth heads, but this was also a zombie story that managed a fresh take on the genre.

Point one: these zombies giggle. I really dug that. Why shouldn't they giggle? We don't know that being undead isn't fun. At least someone is having a good time. And I like the creepy sensation by the end that hearing laughter should make the hairs on your hackles rise.

Point two: Everyone without meth in their veins dies or reanimates. Methamphetamines become the savior of humanity? Besides having delicious irony, deeper concepts are raised about what it takes to keep humanity going into the future.

Point three: talk about an unreliable narrator. By choice AND necessity, our hero is blindingly high for the entire novel. Did any of this even happen? It doesn't really matter, does it? But it did add a level of curiousity for me. There was a Buffy episode that ended on that kind of note, and I did appreciate the concept.

I will note that this isn't a funny novel. It's played straight, even though the concept is darkly humorous. There are some beautiful passages - such as the pond swimming scene - followed swiftly by heartbreaking pathos. Our heroes make some terrible, rotten, dumbwitted choices, too. They ARE junkies, after all. The ultimate sense of hopelessness is about as funny as a meth scab.

And yet, somehow I enjoyed all this. It's a true zombie story, with everything one expects from the genre. There's even possibly room for a sequel, depending on how one interprets the ending.

A solid four stars, recommended for zombie enthusiasts who don't mind seeing the apocalypse through a haze of drugs.

Fiend
Peter Stenson
Trade Paperback
Publisher: Crown
Publication Date: July 9th, 2013
ISBN-13: 978-0770436315
304 pages

Fiend by Peter Stenson is a zombie story I think you just might become addicted to. It’s a fast-paced, Zombie Apocalypse, crystal meth, quest-driven, drug-tweaking story of survival. You know the usual…

Narrated by a pair of meth addicts who’ve discovered survival means scoring crystal meth, Fiend adds an interesting drug-addiction twist to the genre. The apocalypse is in full swing, hungry, giggling zombies roam the planet in search of human flesh, and oh, by the way, the only survivors are meth addicts. When the world goes to hell in a hand-basket how does a meth addict get his next fix? For Chase Daniels and his friend Typewriter a quest to locate meth or find a cook becomes survival. Scoring crystal meth, evading zombies, and living and dying in the mad streets of the apocalypse is a challenge but what happens when the drugs run out?

Aptly titled, Fiend could refer to almost every element of this story. The zombies are the fiends. Or, the meth addicts (metaphorical zombies) are fiends. Survival in a violent world is a fiend. The pace of the story is a fiend. No matter how you read it though Fiend is a horror story, an apocalypse story, and perhaps a cautionary drug addiction tale as well. Raw and vulgar Fiend is another great addition to my zombie book/graphic novel/comic collection (which grows daily).

File with: Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, zombies, horror, apocalypse, meth addiction, and survival.

4 stars out of 5

The Alternative
Southeast Wisconsin

Meth freaks meet the zombie apocalypse! As a matter of fact, the only humans immune to the zombie plague are serious meth users. Told from the point of view of one of them, the novel describes the (largely futile) actions of Chase and his friends to escape the zombie horde and maintain their supply of drugs. Drug addiction is the perfect metaphor here for the zombie plague (or is it the other way around?). The novel is very cinematic in its approach--have films rights been optioned?--and could only have been written by a (recovering) drug addict. Recommended for the non-squeamish.

Another reviewer already compared this to Breaking Bad meets Walking Dead but lets face it, that is basically what we have here. Peter Stenson is able to capture the feeling of a user, the confusion of what is real and what is the drugs, and make it understandable to a reader who may not know the rush of drugs. Throughout the book I was waiting for Chase to snap out of some drug dream or coma or something that would ruin the story Peter was telling and was thrilled that wasn't the case. If you prefer Jessie Pinkman as an addict and wounder what it would be like to see him face the walking dead this is the book for you.

This is unlike any zombie novel I have ever read. It is a strange and brilliantly interwoven tale of zombies and addiction.

The first person narrator is a meth addict named Chase who has been on a week-long bender with his friend Typewriter when the zombie apocalypse begins. At first they don't even realize that they are among the very few survivors -- they think the first zombie they see is a hallucination. Gradually they realize their addiction and their survival are connected -- the only people not killed or turned by whatever happened (the characters don't spend any time trying to figure that out) were using meth. Survival in this zombie thriller requires both escaping the zombies (called Chucks -- short for Chuckles -- for their constant giggling) but also maintaining a steady supply of meth.

The writing style is like a stream of consciousness from inside of Chase's head. There aren't any quotation marks and not an abundance of the "Type said" dialogue markers one customarily finds. Reading this book is like having a direct and uncensored feed from Chase's mind.

This is not a feel-good kind of book. It's a little uncomfortable to think the only survivors of the human race -- the ones the reader is meant to cheer for their continued survival -- are hooked on a drug with such damaging consequences that it gets PSAs and billboards dedicated to it. And over the course of the book, the reader learns what his addiction has cost Chase and other characters.

As may be expected in a book where addiction is as much of a theme as zombies, there is a lot of drug use. A LOT. This may make you feel uncomfortable; I think it is intended to do so. Given those themes and who the characters are, there is also an abundance of foul language and violence (you can't really have a zombie novel without a lot of violence). And there is some sex. I note these things because I think this would be a great book to use with high school kids but anyone assigning it should know about the content.

Intermingled with scenes of escaping the Chucks and getting high are some really poignant scenes. A couple parts were so touching I had to read them a few times: where Chase goes to see what happened to his parents and another place where Chase finds a baby in a house they have broken into.

This book is brilliant and uncomfortable and you should read it.

I read to be entertained, not depressed. I was looking forward to this book, it had been rated an the store best of the month and usually I like those. While it's an interesting and original idea for a book (the only reason for 2 stars instead of 1), I kept expecting something to happen. Don't get me wrong, a lot happens, but then again, a lot doesn't.

I found the constant meth descriptions and highs just tedious and boring after a while. I assume part of the point of the author, it's all about the getting high, feeling high, the next high.

Way too monotonous for me.

I honestly had a few reservations going into this novel, what with the whole zombie angle being about as over-done as the entire vampire genre. However, Fiend grabbed my attention, and kept it, from the very first page. In this tale of a zombie apocalypse, our anti-hero ruminates over the wreck of his so-called life as he tries to overcome a horde of the living dead. Moving from one drug fix to the next, he sees himself as nothing more than a zombie- that is until very real, and very deadly zombies start to show up, and while at first motivated to survive just for the sake of survival, he quickly finds a purpose to his otherwise wasted life when he embarks on a mission to save the life of his druggie ex-girlfriend, eventually becoming a leader of a rag-tag group of meth addicts, who, because of their addiction,have strangely enough survived the apocalypse.

There's thrills, chills, shoot-outs and gore a-plenty in this book. There's also a bit of reflection on what it means to be a drug addict, and why it is that those who become addicted stay that way (as opposed to getting clean). Overall, this was a good, solid work of escapism, and I hope that the author has a few more of these in the works.

I feel like zombies are everywhere lately, but this book stood out for me. In this zombie apocalypse, one day people don't wake up, but when they eventually do, they have become freaky laughing zombies. The only people who haven't turned are those on scante (aka meth). The "hero" Chase Daniels and his friend, Typewriter, work their tweaked way through a week or so of crazy events in hopes of staying high, alive, and finding a safe place to be. This book is as much about meth as it is about zombies and while some have noted that it is kind of like Breaking Bad meets The Walking Dead, I felt there was more to the story than that. Fiend gets inside the mind of a meth addict (or really any hardcore addict in general) and delves into the feelings they have about their addiction, love, and loss. A definite page turner and an interesting addition to the zombie genre.

A conversation between junkies which, if possible, was more boring than a real one. No character development, no plot line and topped off with horrible writing. This was not a syfy
novel this was a drug porn essay. the store I will not be ordering anymore syfy . Do not order this book!!!

This novel explores not only the scary setting of a post-apocalyptic zombie horror scene, where humans are devouring humans, but the horror that drug users and addicts face as they turn themselves into zombies- zombies only concerned with getting the next score, no matter the financial or personal cost.

This novel pulled me right in from the first page, addicted! I would not hesitate to explore other works by Peter Stensen. I've read where people have called this book a mix of The Walking Dead and Breaking Bad, and while I agree, it is so much more- the dark humor, the fight for survival against both zombie plagues (the one that turns people into mindless killing machines, and the Meth addiction), with the ruminations of the protagonist... amazing!

Go read this book!

I received a copy of this book for an honest review from Blogging For Books.

I really wanted to like this book. I thought the concept was fairly original, and the world was pretty interesting too. I just got so burnt out by the increasing amount of unlikeable characters. Most horror stories make the narrative work by instilling just a little bit of hope, where as Fiend went out of its way to make it very clear that there was never going to be a victory to be had.

I'm still glad I read it, its not often you see a fresh vision on dead eyes. I do respect that this wasn't watered down, but was over all not impressed by the experience.

Twist on a now popular trend - end of world zombie apocalypse. This time only the junkies survive. Our story is narrated by a young meth head. The dialogue rings true but at time the lack of quotations does make it a bit of a harder read. Great flow and action. I would warn older readers (i.e. my mom - lol) language is quite vulgar and explicit at times.

All in all interesting take for this genre. Worth a read.

This book has its pluses and minuses. I would guess that anyone that would order this book is not looking for authenticity and scientific explanations for anything, so you might not be disappointed. I didn't take the book seriously, but it had its good points. The zombies and the addicts have their own special craziness. It is hard to tell which one is worse. This book is clearly written by a beginner and that can be irritating, but in the end it was no worse than other newbie books. I had a decent time reading it, but I didn't get anything from it. I found it best for bedtime because it can be just boring enough to put you to sleep at times. Just remember not to have high expectations and you might enjoy it.

If Rick Grimes and Walter White had a lovechild that they allowed James Frey to carry to term, it would look a little like Fiend. More effective than anything out of even the most daring of Nancy Reagan's dreams without being the slightest bit preachy, Stenson's novel is a balls-to-the-wall, emotionally resonant story of what it might look like if the only people to survive the apocalypse were junkies. (Trainspotting 28 Days Later, anyone?) Fabulously bleak, this is not a story of the unconquerable soul, so if you're looking for that kind of thing stay home and read "Invictus." Everyone else: enjoy the rush.

I liked it. Even though the zombie genre is completely played out for me (as of 2017) this put a new spin on it that still made it interesting. I have never been an addict, but he paints a pretty convincing picture of what drug addiction must be like.

i liked the premise: the only people who survived the zombie apocalypse were tweakers who survived because they weren't asleep with the *whatever* happened so they didn't turn into zombies. so now the only people living on the planet are a bunch of paranoid tweakers.

i tried, i did. i just... got over it... i guess faster than the book moved. i mean, it's an interesting concept, but i don't know that it's sustainable. i put it down about 1/3 of the way through and most likely will not be picking it up again. maybe if you have more patience and can ride it out to the end it might appeal to you more...

The first third of this book starts out pretty well and is entertaining. However, the story doesn't go anywhere and the characters are never really developed into what I think the author had in mind. This book is probably 2.5 stars.

Could not imagine this actually happening but, WOW! This would be a wild ride. Not that I would want to do drugs but what a way to go. Wish that there was a little bit more zombies in this story but the ending was left wide open. Hofefully for a book 2. This is not a kids story. Contains alot of drug use in it.

I really liked the first person drug use perspective of the main character not a good person just a person trying to survive hope there is an interesting followup. if not crank can't be the only motivator. i hope. cheers.

Imagine spending your days scoring, doing meth, stealing begging whatever you can to get more meth, rinse repeat. Then you see people eating each other. Wtf? Bad trip? No. It's the end of the world and now it's time to come down, detox, stay clean, and stay, the hell, alive.

Zombie tale with an interesting twist: there's something in meth that keeps you from turning into a zombie, so only junkies survive. Like most good horror movies, the real villian here isn't the undead, it's human nature, specifically the nature of drug addicts that keeps them trapped in a downward spiral.

Probably not to everyone's taste, but I enjoyed the author's voice and characters. Ideal for those who think The Walking Dead isn't dark enough :)

Fiend follows the story of a drug addict named Chase and his friend Typewriter as they try to survive the start of a Zombie Apocalypse.

Fiend is definitely not your average Zombie story and frankly that is what drew me to it in the first place. Through the years reading Zombie books I've seen serial killers, momma's boys, crazies, housewives, military men and women etc as survivors but I can only recall a handful of times where I've seen a Drug Addict the hero of the story and even then they didn't usually last long.

When I started Fiend I expected the characters to be high but as the world turned to sh*t I really hoped to see the withdrawal process as drugs became scarce and surviving, not getting high became the characters priority. However, this book actually surprised me. The Author decided to keep his characters high. Sure they'd have moments of lucidity where they weren't shooting up, popping pills or smoking something but those are few and far between. Now before you ask, No he's not glorifying drug abuse. The characters actually have a legitimate excuse for being and staying high. Of course you'll have to actually read the book to find out why this is.

Now while being high all the time made the characters hard to relate to, I could of easily dealt with it. What I found to be the real killer of this book was the narration itself. Like Andrew McCormac's The Road the Author chose to write without punctuation. This makes it incredibly hard to follow who is talking and whether they are excited, depressed or just feeling horny. I know the narration (least I'm assuming) is supposed to resemble the erratic minds of being high but it just did not work for me. To me the book felt unpolished and I just gave up trying to care about what was going on and instead just tried to focus on finishing the story instead.

Another thing I didn't really like were the characters. Chase goes on and on about this girl named KK and then when we meet her she's barely better than a crack whore and she looks like a prepubescent boy. Seriously? What the hell does he see in her. It's surely not looks, brains or personality given by how he describes her and the way she acts. Also the characters were like really, really obsessed with genitals. When they weren't talking about getting high it was Vagina this or Penis that. I just didn't understand the fascination. Maybe I'm just to straight edge to "get it".

Surprisingly, as far as Zombie stories go I actually really liked that aspect of the book. The Zombies were scary and the fact they had a bad case of the giggles totally added a level of creepiness to the story that I wasn't expecting. Least when a normal Zombie is killing you they don't do it while giggling happily about it.

Overall, I just couldn't find myself caring about the story or the characters. Fiend was a great idea that in my opinion just was lacking in poor execution. Even the ending which I found actually interesting couldn't save this book for me. Would I recommend it? Eh, no but if you really want to try it then I highly suggest borrowing before buying. With that being said, I will be rating Fiend by Peter Stenson ★★.

*Review copy provided by Edelweiss. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way for providing them.

More a story about meth addicts than zombies, I didn't find it interesting once I got past the initial concept. Running around looking for drugs isn't all that compelling and neither were the characters.