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| Black Redneck vs. Space Zombies epic cover art. |
by Steven Roy
Published by Monster Fight
August 7, 2013
The Devourer and the space zombies she creates have destroyed countless worlds. Those worlds didn't have the Black Redneck.
Jefferson Balladeer is an African American who was adopted as an infant by the Balladeer family of Picayune, Mississippi. When Ma and Pa Balladeer die in a car crash, it’s left to Jefferson’s older brother, Big Beau Balladeer, to raise Jefferson.
While Big Beau is large of heart and body, he’s not the ideal caregiver for the naturally intellectual Jefferson. Big Beau teaches young Jefferson the only thing he knows, how to be the ultimate redneck.
Jefferson grows up to be a rodeo star and an expert marksman, and, as Big Beau would say, a certified, grade A ass-kicker. Jefferson becomes known as the Black Redneck.
When Jefferson is seventeen, he begins to question what he wants to do and who he really is. To further complicate matters, he finds out Pa Balladeer told everyone that he adopted Jefferson so he could haul watermelons and cut wood.
Jefferson puts Picayune in his rear view mirror and doesn’t plan on ever stepping foot in Mississippi again.
Twelve years later, Big Beau gets himself killed in a drunk driving accident, and Jefferson learns he is the sole heir of Balladeer farm.
Jefferson decides to turn the massive plot of land into a huge subdivision. The people of Picayune are not happy.
Jefferson’s plan is going great until a creature known as the Devourer falls from the sky and begins turning the good people of Picayune into Space Zombies. (Don’t you hate when that happens?)
What Jefferson thought of as a major inconvenience turns into a struggle for survival against a creature that has destroyed countless worlds.
Now, if Jefferson hopes to survive and save the world, he’ll have to remember all his rodeo and shooting skills. He’ll have to take one last ride as the Black Redneck.
My Thoughts
I just read a book titled Black Redneck vs. Space Zombies. Yes, you heard that right. This book has it all: a black redneck, which is probably what you’re thinking and space zombies, which is most likely NOT what you’re thinking.
Once I started, I couldn’t put it down, and knocked it out in two days! What an exciting, emotional ride!
I’ll start with Jefferson, the black redneck. He, of course, is our loveable hero. I mean, who wouldn’t love a black guy raised in the Deep South who ends up being a rodeo winning child prodigy? He is by far the most interesting book character I’ve ever met. He is likeable, even with his mistakes that he realizes is too late to make right.
Adopted by a white family as an infant, he cured them of their “prejudice, not KKK prejudice, but, you know, the regular sort.” Because, it seems, “prejudice is no match for love."
Okay, I admit it, that chapter put a lump in my throat and made me tear up. But there were plenty of laughable and fun moments, too.
Each of the characters has their own story, and they are all full of life. From the foul-mouthed child, Mary, whose feet are black because she never wears shoes, to the quiet Pearl, who faints at the slightest sign of trouble. Imagine what happens when she comes face to face with space zombies.The flow of this book works well, with only one exception: the flashbacks. I don’t mind that they are there. They are even placed at the right spot so that we glean just the right amount of information to know exactly what is going on in the characters’ heads - past and present. My only issue is that they are too in your face. Instead of announcing, “START FLASHBACK” and “END FLASHBACK,” I would have appreciated them being a tad more subtle. However, that is my only issue with the book, aside from a handful of grammatical errors, which seems to be the norm in any published book.
I gave this book 4.5 stars, which I rounded up to 5, simply because it was so much fun to read! And I want more. Steven Roy wrapped up the story nicely, but I see potential for a sequel.
If you love aliens, zombies or, hell, even cowboys - or a combination of any of those - you've got to read this book! You won't be disappointed. Connect with Steven Roy:
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