I can without a doubt say that Tribe 8 may pretty well be the paragon of the post-apocalyptic fantasy genre. Dream Pod 9's taken most of the themes and fitted them snugly in a coherent, well-built and polyvalent world. I'll make it short: If you like the genre and don't own it, go buy it.
Horror of the Z'Bri (HotZ) aligns itself within the Interlude part of the series, at what it succeeds brillantly, but not entirely.
Meant to describe some part of the Tribe 8 universe as well as state some advancement in the "Meta-Plot", HotZ turns a cold and descriptive eye on the Z'Bri, extra-planar Anti-Christs for the 8th Tribe and the T8 universe as a whole.
Sufficient description is made of all the Z'Bri houses. Sangis, Koleris, Flemis and Melanis. Useful gaming information, applicable from the first minute of play involving those gut-wrenching, stomach-turning creatures. Descriptive and clever narrative guides us effortlessly through Z'Bri culture and intrigue. A very well induced interest, without a doubt.
On a long reading run, the DP9 habit of making the book "speak" rather than use an omniscient narrator makes reference difficult about fine points in the history of the Z'Bri houses. Clearer headers and more structured exhibition would be appreciated.
One of the unforseen gems of the the book comes with the description of "Other Horrors", splinters to the main Z'Bri outlook which are a powerful tool to any GM in search of "out-of-the-norm-but-not-alien" intrigue. So many variations really are a unforseen gift, and should be used liberally in any playing sessions.
The system Chapter is pretty useful in itself. DP9 made it clear from the start that Rules wouldn't get in the way of Storytelling, and black-or-white GMs will be disappointed.
A note on the writing style: a few typos, some language quircks, but DP9 evidently has come a long way from initial Language Problems (obviously a longer way than me...).
HotZ comes a little short on its original Interlude mission. You do get a comprehensive description of the Z'Bri, but that's all. Quite possibly, this is enough, but it really is ALL. More developpement, a few links to the Fatima enigma, to the 8th Tribe and a little developpement would have been greatly appreciated.
All in all, a very good addition to the T8 product line, one all fans of the monstrous Z'Bri should be getting. If you're not really interested in Z'Bri lore, don't bother. But you should be, for you own sake.
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