Reread Review, March 2017: 
 This was a really interesting rereading experience for me. Because it's been five years since I first read this, I probably would've been able to tell you that I remembered liking the style and atmosphere of the book, but not much else. 
 Truthfully, the characters are a little forgettable. Partially I think it's due to the narrative style, but also I think it's just a weakness of the writing. Not that it necessarily detracts from my enjoyment, but it might for some. 
 In reality, this book is still all about the atmosphere for me. And I'm pleased to say it holds up in my memory. There's this unsettling tension that builds through the first half--you know something is going to go horribly wrong. And when it does, it's deeply disturbing. 
 I still think the book has its flaws. I would've liked to see a whole lot more from the Freeborn squad, for example. And the ending still feels a bit rushed... I wish it could've been drawn out more. Maybe viewed from a few more perspectives. And I had some complicated feelings about the portrayals of some of the diverse characters... but I can't really seem to formulate anything coherent to say. 
 Interestingly, I didn't mind Cormac and his squad as much as I apparently did before. I noted in my first review that I didn't really find his pieces as engaging, and I wouldn't have necessarily said that this time around. I wonder if that's because I realized that my enjoyment of the book isn't really tied to the characters. 
 Anyway, this definitely gets 4.5 stars from me again. I'd definitely recommend it still. And maybe I'll actually get around to reading the sequel in short order this time around. 
 - - - 
 Original Review, May 2012: 
 I think it's only fair to compare this book to World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, because its execution is very similar. First-person narratives, describing the events "as they really took place". It was rad. Perhaps not as good as Brooks' narratives, but still, damn satisfying. 
 The imagery in this book was also so vivid. And terrifying. Like, honestly, there was a point last night when I had to go out and I was legitimately afraid to get in the elevator in my apartment building. Because of a killer elevator in the novel. I'm serious! And I'm also pretty sure my subconscious kept me up half the night on alert against the machines. So, if that's not a shining endorsement, I'm not sure what is. 
 The book has its flaws, certainly. Interestingly, save for the very end, all the events featuring Cormac and his gang were probably the least engaging for me. And I think the ending could've been stretched out a bit more. But overall, none of my minor nitpicks are enough to take away the fact that this book blew me out of the water and kept me crawling back for more. I tore through it like someone possessed. I HAD to keep reading. 
 And if any of this sounds even vaguely enticing, I'd encourage you to give this book a shot. I'm really glad I picked it up last time I was at Chapters.