I love zombies. I have little affection/patience for short stories. Reading this book was therefore going to be an interesting experience.I love this anthology. Adore it. Wish it was twice as long because 90% of the stories within are brilliant, entertaining, thrilling and gorey. I was skeptical as to just how much originality they would have but fear not! They are some rehashes of favourite scenarios as well as these whacked out, off-the-wall stories.
I love my monsters to be monstrous, not kissable. I'm also a bit of a sook, despite loving horror. There were only two stories that I had to skip because the violence got too much for me, and interestingly enough it was violence perpetrated by humans, not zombies. Human cruelty really gets to me. Zombies having a good old chomp, on the other hand, is awesome.
Can you see how often I'm starting paragraphs with "I love"?
Standout stories were "What Masie Knew" by David Liss, "Life Sentence" by Kelley Armstrong, "In the Dust" by Tim Lebbon, "Family Business" by Jonathan Maberry and "Second Wind" by Mike Carey. Armstrong and Maberry's stories made this anthology for me. Top-notch nomming.
Standout disappointments were "Copper" by Stephen R. Bisette, a thoroughly self-conscious "literary" piece with far too much obtuse literary jargon; "Closure, Limited" by Max Brooks; and "Twittering from the Circus of the Dead" by Joe Hill, which demonstrates that a story composed entirely in tweets can be entirely annoying. (Did sort of like the end though. I'll give it that.) Max Brooks's story was the most disappointing because I love his World War Z. (Brooks also demonstrates in that novel that military jargon need not be obtuse. Take note, Bisette.) I mean, LOVE. I really hope the film adaptation gets made.
Zombie: An Anthology of the Undead is great zombie fiction and may even have endeared me to the short story. Sheer miracle.
This book is also called The New Dead elsewhere in the world.
I like it already. Zombies are great, well to read about, don't want to meet any in real life. LOL. Anyway, I may even read this one.
ReplyDeleteSounds like fun! :) I've never read any zombie work so this would be a good place to start. thanks for the tip.
ReplyDeleteHighly recommended, you'll love it!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you enjoyed ZOMBIES, Rhiannon. We all had a marvelous time cooking up new zombie tales for the book.
ReplyDeleteAwesome story Jonathan! Thanks for stopping by :D
ReplyDelete*gasp* I must read this! Great review Rhiannon (I'm psyched to find someone who shares my love of zombies), can't wait to check this out.
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