Odd Men Out

Betts’s debut, one of the launch titles for Raw Dog Screaming’s science fiction imprint, is a shallow, fast-paced adventure set in the United Nations of America, where the formerly warring Union and Confederacy have reluctantly joined forces to battle a plague of zombies. After Cyrus Spencer runs afoul of the Sons of Grant, a pro-North terrorist group, he finds refuge aboard the Leonidas Polk. The airship is commanded by the Office of Military Operations, a U.N. agency. The ragtag crew of the Polk is promptly swept up in efforts to thwart the Sons of Grant, who plan to steal a mysterious superweapon and rekindle the war. Zombies, giant lizards, and other bizarre threats further complicate the matter. The stakes are high and the action and surprises are nonstop as Betts skillfully mixes elements of steampunk, alternate history, science fiction, and horror. (Aug.)