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The Tilian Virus (The Pandemic Sequence Series) Kindle Edition

by Tom Calen (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 410 ratings
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In a single day, everything can change . . . The first in a stunning trilogy of horror, survival, and transformation.

There are days when the wind is so biting one can barely curse the cold through chattering teeth. There are days when the sun bakes down and complaints can only roll slowly off weary tongues. There are days filled with superstition; days marked in history; days of remembered significance.

This was not one of those days. There was nothing remarkable about it. Even the weather was too average to elicit comment. It was any day. It was every day. And, in many ways, it was the last day.

When Mike Allard, a high school history teacher in rural Tennessee, arrived at work, there were some murmurs of illness; students and teachers absent with signs of flu. Even for a newly employed teacher like Mike, a half empty class was a welcome gift. By that night, though, the murmurs grew more panicked. Every television station broadcast wall-to-wall coverage of the sudden outbreak. Before midnight, the word “pandemic” had become insufficient. The Tilian Virus had swept the globe with incomprehensible speed. The government urged patience—explaining that while the symptoms were severe, recovery seemed likely.

But then the victims changed. Mothers and fathers, sons and daughters lost what made them human and reverted back to the predatory instincts at the core of existence…In this chilling novel spanning seven years, Mike Allard will lead a small band of people to an unknown end, as he struggles with the futility of survival in a world of withered decay.
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  1. Print length
    252 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Permuted Press
  5. Publication date
    November 24, 2013
  6. File size
    2885 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
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  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"An amazing saga, from a strong new voice." -The Plasma Infusion

About the Author

Tom Calen is the author of the bestselling science fiction series The Pandemic Sequence, as well as the new novel Torrance. A NYC native, Tom worked in the world of business before abandoning all reason and deciding to write full-time. 

From Narnia to Arakis, Middle Earth to Westeros, Tom eagerly devours as many science fiction and fantasy novels as time allows. He credits George RR Martin, Robert Jordan, and Frank Herbert as the major influences on his style.

Tom is currently working on the next volumes in the new series, What Followed After.

For more, visit TomCalen.com

You can contact him at tom@tomcalen.com.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09GB4ZF79
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Permuted Press (November 24, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 24, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2885 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 252 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 410 ratings

About the author

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Tom Calen

Tom Calen

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Tom Calen is the author of the bestselling horror series, THE PANDEMIC SEQUENCE, as well as the science-fiction series, SCARS OF TOMORROW. His books THE TILIAN VIRUS and THE TILIAN EFFECT both reached #1 on Amazon's Bestselling Science-Fiction Series list, and both were the #1 Hot New Release in horror and science-fiction.

A New York City native, Tom holds a degree in English and spent several years toiling in the world of business before abandoning all reason and deciding to write full-time. He finds the worlds in his novels far less frightening than the corporate world.

From Castle Rock to Arakis, Middle Earth to Westeros, Tom eagerly devours as many science-fiction, fantasy, and horror novels as time allows. He credits George R.R. Martin, Robert Jordan, and Stephen King as the major influences on his style.

Tom is an Active member of the Horror Writers Association, and International Thriller Writers, Inc.

He is currently living in Nicaragua, where he is working on his next book.

For more, visit www.TomCalen.com

You can contact him at:

Email: tom@tomcalen.com

FB: www.facebook.com/tomcalen

Twitter: @tomcalen

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
410 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Tanzall
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for Any Zombie Fan!
Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2012
Verified Purchase
I read all three books and waited to write my review. As I type, I almost don't know what to say, but I do have tears in my eyes after finishing the last book. The character development was the best I've ever read in a zombie book, just enough, but not too much to slow the story down. This won't be one of the best reviews because I'm still speechless, but man were those three books good. I read them with one day between and it was hard to not just jump into book two and three. The kindle book three has typewriter font, I didn't care!!!! The book was just too darn good! Hands down the best zombie book I've ever read. Here's some others I've read.
Area187 - Almost Hell - Fantastic, very well written, however, didn't leave me with the positive feelings from The Tillian trilogy and less people died, go figure
The Rising Hord (1&2) and The Gathering Dead (didn't read Left with the Dead yet) - another really interesting take on zombies and a very interesting read.
The Shannon Mayer books - Bound, Dauntless, etc - fairly good - interesting enough
Zombie Fallout 1 & 2 - sometimes funny, better than ok, but no Tillian
Into the Badlands - great read, dark and a little depressing for me, but very good
Mountain Man (book 1 & 2) - Book 1 was really, really good, with only a few characters, book 2 was depressing and not nearly as good
Deadlocked Series (books 1,2,3) - Book 1 & 2 were very, very good. Interesting reads for sure, a little gory at times. Book three was just ok and sometimes boring.

Well, that's it for me, the Tillian books were the best zombie books I've read so far!!!! I fell in love with Mike, Paul, Derrick, and Michelle, I really did.
7 people found this helpful
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Chad
4.0 out of 5 stars Starts wobbly but finishes strong....
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2012
Verified Purchase
I am an avid reader of zombie genre and this book is a good addition to the numerous books on the market. This one has your fast moving zombies as opposed to the old school stumbling "Brains!!" type. The Tilian Virus is believable as a cause, and I like how the author seems to be taking this one in the direction that it may not be permanent event.

The story follows a young school Teacher as he is thrust into the position of leading a group of students thru the apocalypse. It shows the point of view of the main character, Mike Allard, and how he handles being cast as the leader of a band of refugees. The story shows how Mike develops from a carefree single guy into a trusted leader. The book is written in a past/present format, meaning it switches back and forth from the early stages of the virus to the present time in which six years have passed. I initially found this rather irritating, I did not like the switch points and felt the author was not giving me enough of either time. Eventually the switches become very smooth and provide much more character depth to the story. He really develops the character of Mike and I like him; he is a normal everyday guy with no military training but uses his intelligence to survive.

There is a conversation in the book that to me really makes his character human to me.
*****SLIGHT SPOILER*****
Sarah: "We all owe our lives to you, Mike. You may not think it, but you're the leader we all look to."
Mike: "What if I don't know what I am doing?"
Sarah:"Fake it. We won't know the differences."
******END SPOILER******

I had to persist in starting this book, like I said the time jumps had me a bit frazzled, but I stuck with it and I am so glad I did. This really is an entertaining story with plenty of potential. I look forward to parts two and three.
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Gunny
3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad.
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2012
Verified Purchase
Following the phenomenon of the Zombie genre, while attempting to provide a logical basis for it, Mr. Calen has provided an interesting read. I am somewhat torn between liking it and disliking it.

First, the plot: The story concept drew me in and kept me wondering what was going to happen next. Unfortunately, it wasn't until most of the way through that I got the idea of the Cuba exodus (or any activity, for that matter), and by that time the story had more or less regressed into a type of "Day-in-the-life-of-some-zombiepocalypse-survivors".

Second the writing: Well written in that it doesn't dwell on drawn-out explanations or exhaustive background, and the movement through the action sequences is well timed. There is, however, no real sense of hardship or suffering. Most emotions are like cardboard. Feelings are written but not felt.

Third, the characters: I liked that the main character (Mike) is not depicted as a superhero, but rather an average guy thrust into a leadership role with all that entails, unlike sooooooooo many where the lead is Special Forces or a CIA operative. Not enough surprises to explain Mike's hardened exterior, entirely too thought out and predictable. Other characters are somewhat stereotypical, and I got no real feeling from them. All are entirely expendable with no loss or benefit to the story.
And of course, everyone in the main group are nice, kind, upstanding, responsible citizens while other groups are A) Cannon fodder or B) murderers, thieves, and rapists with no common sense and a penchant for bad English.

And fourth, realism (yes! even in a zombie story!):
1) The whole two-handed pistolero thing is straight from the B-movie scripts (BTW: there are VERY FEW accurate two-handed shooters in the world),
2) The one-handed thigh-slap reloading (try it sometime! Another B-movie mechanism) of the
3) "silver Glock 17s" with external safeties... (FYI: Glocks are black and do not have external safety mechanisms aside from the trigger safety. -More research needed-),
4) A dearth of ammo at his fingertips (Seriously, 20 33-round mags (660 rounds) plus more in his pack: try packing that around for a day or two!).
5) Also, a bit fantastic on the whole spacial concept: Several weeks of food and other supplies for 70+ people in the backs of two SUVs? Must be those new 2000 calorie, nutrition-packed tootsie-rolls and dehydrated toilet paper (Hmmmm....).
6) When going into Zombietown, why does no one think to wear protective clothing? Gloves? Heavy leather to avoid bites? maybe a bit o latex to avoid blood?
7) And if these Baddies can be killed as a normal human can be, can they starve to death? With only a handful of humans to feast on, and fewer every day, are they getting the 15-cent mac and cheese from the grocery store to supplement their diet....

But I digress...

Bottom line, if you are looking for entertainment to pass the time with, a good choice. For anything deeper, Cormac McCarthy's "The Road".
24 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Franco
4.0 out of 5 stars Virus
Reviewed in Italy on April 16, 2015
Verified Purchase
Abbastanza buono nel suo genere: buona la divisione in due tempi degli avvenimenti. Ma non abbastanza per seguire il resto della serie
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J. Caddick
5.0 out of 5 stars Hooked from the start.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 5, 2014
Verified Purchase
Being an avid Walking Dead/zombie/apocalypse fan I wondered what it would be like to read a story like this instead of watching it, but as I managed to get the first trilogy installment free, I thought I would give it a go. I am so glad I did! Was hooked right from the start and as soon I had finished one book I had to buy the next to see what happened. You connected well with all the characters and the story was rounded up nicely at the end. Finally finished the saga at one this morning. Don't hesitate to get this book, but make sure you have plenty of time as you won't want to put it down!
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Helen Hill
4.0 out of 5 stars The Tilian Virus
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 30, 2014
Verified Purchase
Good read , keeps you interested till the end. Now reading the second book which picks up where the first one finished and so far so good.
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D. C. Norman
3.0 out of 5 stars Watch out.,
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 28, 2014
Verified Purchase
Good plot line for a zombie rag spoilt by bad grammar and awful editing. Who does this? A room of chimps? I understand now, the spell checker does not like english words like spoilt.
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BigTom
4.0 out of 5 stars Good story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 19, 2014
Verified Purchase
Nice book, good story line and a trilogy which what I like. Can't wait to finish reading them on my kindle and move on to the sequels
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