Twenty years after the zombie-apocalypse put an end to life as humanity knew it, blogging has changed its face. Now purveyors of quality news, bloggers are qualified journalists who have to be in possession of extensive licensing to practice their craft in a meaningful way.

Shaun and Georgia Mason are adoptive siblings who have grown up part of the news, and their occupations as head Newsie and head Irwin of the After the End Times blogging consortium bears that out completely. Attached at the hip since their adoption by the ratings-hungry Masons, they work together, laugh together and live together, and this doesn’t change when they get to follow the campaign of presidential candidate Ryman.

But there is a conspiracy afoot, and suddenly zombies are the least of their worries as they battle relentlessly to uncover the hidden plot that seeks to destroy the public’s ability to know the truth. Along with their Fictional friend, Buffy, they have unwittingly embarked on a quest into the lion’s den. Who will emerge, and will they be victorious?

Let’s play it straight. I picked this book up because Waterstone’s had a 2 for 3 deal on. Post-zombiepocalyptic bloggers? Please. It seemed like it would be good, cheap fun. I stand corrected, and I have recommended this book to everyone I know since finishing it, as the tears were still drying on my face. Zombie-lover or not, you need to buy Feed, and you need to do it yesterday.

Many writers, whatever their medium, use outlandish circumstances to justify their plotlines. Think of a superhero who randomly develops whatever super power he needs to get out of the next sticky situation, or the alien race that just happens to have the right weapon to destroy their otherwise indestructible enemy. Witches are hard to get rid of – unless you happen to have some water to hand, of course.

Mira Grant (a pseudonym for Seanan McGuire) built a strange and dystopian future, but the story and its setting interlock in such a way that neither becomes an excuse for the other. This lends Feed a credibility most – if not all – zombie novels can only dream of.

The future blogging world, separated into Newsies who deal – predictably – with the news; Irwins who, named for Steve Irwin, go out and poke the hungry wildlife with sticks on camera; and Fictionals who write fictional stories and poetry, doesn’t stand in the way or enable the story but creates an atmosphere wherein roles are clearly defined and the professionalisation of the trade becomes eminently realistic.

The characters are so real you’ll find yourself attached to them, and the emotional developments, often dramatic, are understated in a way that gives them a disquieting realism.

Pick up a copy. I promise you won’t regret it. And despite the ridiculous idea of post-zombiepocalyptic bloggers… You’ll find yourself needing the next installment in the series posthaste.

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