The Unkillables by J. Boyett

Blending genres is a popular approach in modern literature, as these fusions have endless potential for new revelation, so clearly shown in The Unkillables, a surprising dark horse of a novel that pits cavemen against zombies, with a few time travelers thrown in for good measure.

Gash-Eye and Chert stand at the center of this strange story – she a clever Neanderthal prisoner, and he a stubborn Cromagnon ruler, bound by a child and their determination to survive in a rapidly changing world of zombies and death. Romance takes a distant backseat to the action of the tale, but their relationship works as an odd foundation upon which this bizarre story can grow.

With so much going on in the same book, it could have easily devolved into a chaotic mess – directionless and packed with loopholes – but author J. Boyett boasts a patient pen and a sharp wit. He tells this intensely human story of Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon, of time traveler and zombie, of unity and discord and loyalty and love. The obvious allegories don’t induce eye rolls, but there is a welcome amount of tongue-in-cheek commentary on society, brotherhood, and humanity’s traditional treatment of the “Other.”

The writing could be polished and edited a bit more, as some sections slip into an overly casual tone, but as a whole, the creativity of the plot makes The Unkillables a worthwhile and memorable read, in a genre all its own.

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