Writtenyes: Matthew Barber
Max Brooks is a name familiar to horror fans everywhere. Along with Robert Kirkman and Brian Keene, he is perhaps the biggest contributor to the public’s current obsession with zombies. World War ZBrooks’s take on the end of the undead became an instant classic and inspired numerous imitators. Some now rank the book as one of the top ten horror novels of all time.
However, World War ZZombies, written in 2006, is not the author’s first foray into zombie literature. In 2003, Max Brooks published Zombie Survival Guide. It is part encyclopedia, part DIY manual, and part history book. Zombie Survival guide All known information about the nature of the disease, past outbreaks, and how to survive is provided.
Although this is a mystery novel, the story reads like a technical report. This may be off-putting to some readers, but behind this dry delivery lies the brilliant insights and social commentary that Brooks is famous for. He explains why the likelihood of a global zombie outbreak has never been higher. He examines the transportation options of mountain bikes and SUVs in the event of an undead appearance. Brooks even details specific events of the undead appearance, as well as successful and failed strategies for stopping the undead.
Credibility is key Zombie Survival Guide. Brooks cites real-world examples when arguing the effectiveness of commercial shotguns versus M-16s. He knows history. Zombie outbreaks are not fantasy stories, but historical fiction created using real events, places, and characters. For example, Brooks connects the construction of Hadrian’s Wall to the zombie outbreak in Caledonia, Scotland. Another example details the role that the walking dead played in the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya.
This attention to detail makes this book truly fascinating, and while Zombie Survival Guide is Brooks’ first foray into the zombie genre, he surprisingly makes few mistakes. World War Z Although not a direct sequel, many of the concepts of his later masterpieces were at least partially realized in this early work. Zombie Survival Guide This is a must read for fans of zombie horror.
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score: 4/5
