I've recently been reading the innovative Zombie Apocalypse!, a work of fiction deriving from multiple authors in a variety of medias such as texts, tweets, emails, letters, journals, etc. The "book" offers a fantastic form of narrative generated from such technological marvels often associated with zombie fiction though not as much with mainstream literature. It chillingly takes the reader from the beginnings of the parasite induced virus to the "Death" of the world itself.
The book encapsulates what I love about the living dead: their mutations, adaptability and the deeply personal stories associated with them. Because Stephen Jones, the creator (as so noted on the cover), drew upon the writing talents of a plethora of authors, the book has an even more genuine feel. When characters are created, their voices are stronger than one might expect or rather, we don't have an author employing a persona simply to vent his or her frustrations. The word choices, hand-writing, errors, and other personal touches, not just the media, change with every new person introduced. A thirteen year-old girl gushes over a crush while attempting to cope with the loss and terror around her. A doctor, after having been infected, locks himself up for study the affects on his body and emotional state. The two could not be more dissimilar yet the editor/creator did weave the narratives together rather fluidly through plot and scene (so far, most of the book occurs in London and centers around the site of viral origination).
For most fiction, it is in the details. This work watermarks, "staples," and bends pages when appropriate. I think because it felt so real, I experienced the need to watch something funny on TV before going to bed. I couldn't quite finish this one story because before slumber, I didn't want the end I knew was coming to arrive. Yet, I will return to the book, complete this journey of gruesome horrors and the indomitable will of humanity to survive.
Similar to one character in the book, I suppose I too turn to novels such as Zombie Apocalypse! in an attempt to study or hone my skills as I prepare for the big Z-Day. But I wonder, if I, like him, will find my meager skill set seriously lacking when I face those great demons? Are these "preparations" really going to offer guidance for us? Perhaps Max Brook's Zombie Survival Guide as it does provide practical knowledge. I think maybe for works by such as Jones, the offer a different kind of survival skill: hope. All the machetes and crossbows in the world cannot defend against despair.
So, read on zombie fiends/friends. Read on and keep your eye on that glint of sunlight shining through your bordered up windows.
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