Comments on: 5 Must-Read Zombie Books

By: Torsin

Torsin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:26:00 +0000

Heya, thought I’d weigh in as Zombies are my passion also!
(Find me anything zombie related, good or bad, and I’ll give it a try!)

Firstly, I definitely agree with WWZ, Zombie Survival Guide (own both) and Monster Nation as excellent books. I understand the sentiment about WWZ being human focused, but I like that it focuses on quite a lot of small stories in the overarching apocalypse, whilst also maintaining the realism feel Brookes was after.

I have a couple of reading suggestions as well, firstly Day By Day Armageddon. Similar to WWZ, but a personal account and very well done, keeps you engrossed. I was disappointed with the ending (it basically just stops) but there is supposedly a sequel. If there is, that’ll probably improve it’s enjoyability! Still a good book though.
The other I would suggest is getting the Mammoth Book of Zombie Comics.
I got given it as a present for my last birthday (Zombie presents = win) and it’s pretty damn good. It’s got 18 comics, some long, some very short. About half are meh/average, about a third are good, the rest are very good and one is absolute GOLD! The longest comic in it is by far the most superior, incredibly beautiful artwork, great characters and development, fully engrossing and just overall very well put together.
I’d recommend the whole book just for that comic! (That comic is called “Dead Eyes Open” by Matthew Shepard (story) and Roy Boney Jr (artist))

Well that’s my input, definitely enjoy reading all the articles on here (I’m a lurker!)

By: Ameron

Ameron — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:44:02 +0000

@Sniderman
I’ll confess, part of my motivation for writing this article is to get some good recommendations. I’ve added The Living Dead anthology to the wish list. Thank you.

The reason I have two books from Max Brooks on the list is because I haven’t read a lot of other zombie fiction I’d recommend. Besides, I felt they both earned a place on my short-list.

@Sandman
You’re not the first one to recommend the Zombie Survival Guide (or World War Z) as an audio book. From what I’ve heard it lets you experience the stories in a whole new way.

@Anythinghorror
It was the human take that appealed to me so much when I read this. Knowing that these were all stories told after the fact didn’t bother me, but I can see how it could ruin any suspense.

@by_the_sword
I’d be ok with that.

@Mike Greene
Thanks for the recommendation. I’ve added The Final Infection to my wish list.

@Spam
I think Anythinghorror said it better than I ever could.

@inkpenavenger
I got Death Troopers for Christmas but I haven’t read it yet. I’m looking forward to it.

By: inkpenavenger

inkpenavenger — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 03:28:48 +0000

Here’s one that’s good for fun:
DEATH TROOPERS
It’s Star Wars zombie novel.

By: Anythinghorror

Anythinghorror — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:06:10 +0000

Oh wow Spam …. you must have been PISSED before you found out there was a sequel to it!!! You read the entire book and get no payoff. I really liked City of the Dead too.
Anythinghorror´s last blog ..Blog Update: New Features

By: Spam

Spam — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:23:16 +0000

I really enjoyed The Rising…great book, terrible ending….until I found there was a sequel…I’m looking forward to reading it!

By: Mike Greene

Mike Greene — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:10:33 +0000

I enjoyed the Max Brooks zombie books, but my favorite zombie fiction novel is The Final Infection by Charles Clemons. It isn’t cheezy like most I’ve read and even with some blood and gore it was done with taste. It’s long, but well worth the read!

By: by_the_sword

by_the_sword — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:00:51 +0000

Just wait. Zombies are becoming the new vampires.

By: Anythinghorror

Anythinghorror — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:26:19 +0000

Great list although I go back and forth about just how important World War Z actually is. I did enjoy it, but it’s more of a “human” novel and less a “zombie” novel. Yes its a zombie apocalypse that is the engine behind the entire novel, but the zombies are very marginalized. There really aren’t many horrific scenes that will have a horror fan going back and re-reading it over and over again.

I also found the style having a positive and negative effect. The “real life accounts” approach was a really unique approach. BUT I found that by simply having a guy being interviewed and telling us (the reader) what happened, it kind of took me out of the story. I was very aware I was reading a book and never got swept up into the book (unlike another book on your list, The Rising. I was completely involved and blown away with that one!!!).

World War Z is definitely worth reading and I did enjoy it, but I don’t know if I’d agree that its “the best zombie novel written to date.” I love your page!! I haven’t played D&D in a long time but would love to get back into it!!!
Anythinghorror´s last blog ..Blog Update: New Features

By: Sandman

Sandman — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:44:31 +0000

The Zombie Survival Guide is also available as an audiobook, I think it’s a good alternative if you have your MP3 player with you all day like I do. I’ve listened to it and it’s enjoyable too.

Good review by the way.

By: Sniderman

Sniderman — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:36:59 +0000

Don’t forget The Living Dead – an anthology of zombie tales in Romero’s universe written by big names like King, Ellison, Barker, Lansdale, etc. Great stuff!
http://tinyurl.com/ygszxbv

One note: Two of your books were written by Max Brooks, so another tome may have been appropriate.
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