Elevating the genre to literature
I finally broke in an bought World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War. I saw it over a year ago at the bookstore, but since I was (and still am) hating on oversized books, I was waiting for it to come out in mass market. I gave in yesterday and went ahead and bought it anyway, and I'll have to say it was worth it. The extra money, the extra shelf space required, the angry twitching when I need to rearrange shelving...
The entire book is written in an interview, oral report fashion arranged in chronological order of the outbreak from the viewpoints and stories of a range of people -- soldiers, officials, ordinary people, the rich and famous, all across the world. Now I can't say that I read a lot of books about zombies. They translate better to film, with the rotting and the tearing, and the gore, they lend themselves more to campy movies; but this book was really quite excellent. Well written, organized, and with a strong emotional impact. With complexity! And depth! Do you know how seldom I have the chance to say any of these words with my taste in movies/literature/artwork?
First person accounts covering the initial outbreak, the information bungling and shutdown, the subsequent Great Panic, and recovery. Each government handled it differently, had different cultural, societal, geographical difficulties to deal with, terrible choices. Each individual, the same. The best and worst of humanity, individually and collectively. Socio-political conflict, political motives that are read into every action, fear-profiteering, the military disaster fighting a foe that feels no fear and needs no supplies, feral children psychologically damaged beyond recovery. Amazingly realistic and complete account of an entirely fantastical war, it gives off a feel similar to books and documentaries on WWII.
I actually regret reading it so quickly. I may re-read it again this week <-- I DON'T DO THIS!
The entire book is written in an interview, oral report fashion arranged in chronological order of the outbreak from the viewpoints and stories of a range of people -- soldiers, officials, ordinary people, the rich and famous, all across the world. Now I can't say that I read a lot of books about zombies. They translate better to film, with the rotting and the tearing, and the gore, they lend themselves more to campy movies; but this book was really quite excellent. Well written, organized, and with a strong emotional impact. With complexity! And depth! Do you know how seldom I have the chance to say any of these words with my taste in movies/literature/artwork?
First person accounts covering the initial outbreak, the information bungling and shutdown, the subsequent Great Panic, and recovery. Each government handled it differently, had different cultural, societal, geographical difficulties to deal with, terrible choices. Each individual, the same. The best and worst of humanity, individually and collectively. Socio-political conflict, political motives that are read into every action, fear-profiteering, the military disaster fighting a foe that feels no fear and needs no supplies, feral children psychologically damaged beyond recovery. Amazingly realistic and complete account of an entirely fantastical war, it gives off a feel similar to books and documentaries on WWII.
I actually regret reading it so quickly. I may re-read it again this week <-- I DON'T DO THIS!