When it comes to reading, there is just so much choice out there and sometimes it can quite difficult to know what to read. But when it comes to comedy zombie stories, if the balance is right, there is something uniquely entertaining about them. They combine the dangerous tension and horror of a world overrun by the undead with the kind of humour that helps readers laugh in the face of the absurdity. The best examples remind us that even at the end of the world, people remain wonderfully flawed, funny and unpredictable. Which brings me to The Milks by Louis Urbanowski – it delivers a distinctly British zombie adventure filled with dark humour, memorable characters and a surprising emotional depth.
The Milks is mainly set in the Hertfordshire town of Stevenage (about 30 miles north of London). It follows 29 year old Tom Novak, a man whose life is already drifting aimlessly before him. After a night out he wakes up waiting for his mother to arrive and cook him the greatest of hangover cures, the fried breakfast. But the breakfast doesn’t get eaten as a bang on the door sees his mother eaten alive. What he has actually woken up to is the collapse of civilisation! He suddenly finds himself at the centre of an apocalypse that is unlike any other. The dead have returned, yes ravenous zombies are roaming the streets, but these are not your traditional zombies. Leaking a white milky liquid, Tom starts to call them “The Milks”. The Milks have an unsettling ability to mimic voices and sounds from their intended victims and communicate with a series of clicks – and they are on the hunt!
Tom has no idea what to do, but remembers a drunken survival plan he came up in the pub the night before – a plan that his mates have followed. Tom decides to join them but must cross ten miles of the apocalyptic concrete hellscape that is Stevenage to find them. But the Milks are learning are the journey is not as simple as it sounds.
Overall, while zombie novels are not my go to novels, I absolutely loved reading The Milks. The zombies are different from your run-of-the-mill flesh-eating rising dead – while they do love a good munch of a fresh bit of human flesh, that isn’t their goal and the milky, oozing white substance adds another dimensions to their murderous intent. But between the horror of the walking dead, the story is littered with dark humour and comedic moments. It’s a comedy-horror which is more about self-discovery and growth than zombies roaming through Stevenage.
Tom as the protagonist is a likeable character and I thought he was excellent – he has qualities that people will be able to relate to. He is far from perfect, quite ordinary in fact. His pub bravado is confident and loud, while he is actually quite lazy and relies on others to do things for him. Thrown into being a survivalist is a massive change and sees him having to think about who he – his own fears, regrets, lack of direction and having to grow up fast. This gives the story a strangely believable feel, even if slightly absurd with the dead leaving milky trails (and bodies) all through Hertfordshire.
The horror element is eye-poppingly great with flesh-eating zombies that devour flesh with delicious bites. The comedy is not overdone, but blended in subtly and while it relieves some of the tension, it also helps to elevate it. It is the contrast between the horror and comedy that gives the story a relatable edge, making it very enjoyable reading.
I loved the writing and the story itself. Told in the third-person by Tom, it is packed with dry observations, self-deprecating humour and sharp, witty dialogue, capturing a recognisably British atmosphere. The horror is well balanced with comedy, never descending into silliness. It has laughter, heartbreak, scares and thrills while examining themes of grief, regret and taking responsibility, even looking at asylum and immigration. And the pacing is excellent, it never feels rushed or dragged out – Tom has an objective that keeps the story moving along and while he only has to travel 10 miles, it is not all done over one day. The pacing allows for some great character building and development as well as those all-important unexpected encounters and comic situations.
The Milks may be an entertaining apocalyptic, end-of-the-world (or at least Stevenage and it surrounding towns), comedy-horror zombie tale but it is so much more. It also examines themes of loss, friendship and personal growth. It delivers thrills, scares, laughter and emotional resonance in equal measure.
The Milks is a thrilling and enjoyable read. With scares, laughter, emotional scenes and self-discovery it is a wonderful tale for fans of horror and dark humour.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £10.99 (Paperback) / £4.99 (Kindle)
For more information, visit urbwrites.com. Available to buy from Amazon here.
