Zombie Lit Hit List

Let's face it. The fuckers are everywhere. You know. Shamblers? The walking dead? Corpse munchers? Zombies! Yeah. Hence this little reading hit list featuring more undead than you can pepper shotgun pellets with. I've compiled a private list of some of the most noteworthy stories from my own journal and am sharing the ones I like best here with you. Some of them are on my personal to-get reading list (1 asterisk) and some of them I just got to have soon (3 asterisks). The rest I simply offer here with much amusement and enthusiasm for the genre. So ready your twin 9's and M-4 Assault Rifles. It's gonna be a LONG time 'till the dawn.

Fictions

Some of the best, or at least most promising, stand-alone stories out there.

"World War Z" by Max Brooks ***

Like this one needs an introduction. Purportedly the foremost book of its type, World War Z is a compilation of survivor's tales recollecting the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse. Taking stories from across the globe, Max Brooks puts forth a terrifying rendition of what could be should the impossible ever happen. Present are numerous analogies regarding past and current politics. As sad as it is to admit, I have yet to read this masterpiece but seeing as my reading list is a mile high already it's no wonder. Definitely ranks as a top priority though.

"Dying to Live: A Novel of Life Among the Undead" by Kim Paffenroth *

This tale follows a lone survivor looking for a place to rest his head in a post-apocalyptic setting. He soon stumbles upon a holdout where others like himself reside but soon realizes that the living dead are the last of his worries. I've heard lots of good things about this one. Another I'm looking forward to.

"The Collapse" by Jeff Stanfield ***

Written by an ex-cop and former Marine, this book is apocalyptic in every sense of the word. Set in present day U.S. in a world on the brink of WWIII, the dead rise. But in this story the real fear is less from the zombies and more from the invading forces of North Korea and China. Added on top of that every foreign sleeper cell organization, gang affiliate, crap pot, and survival jockey comes out to play. Mass chaos, total disorganization, and a police state ensue. Seriously awesome storyline if you ask me.

"Day by Day Armageddon" by J.L. Bourne

Zombies the Romero way. Starts out with a viral outbreak in China and a cover-up that raises a lot of dead shamblers. Written in a minimalistic, journal-type format kept by an anonymous U.S. Naval Officer, this story is a "right now" tale of survival.

"God of the Dead" by Max Denno

Another near edge WWIII tale only this time it concerns the Russians and the Chinese. What makes this story an oddity is that it was written as script and published in paperback. The U.S. economy has collapsed, immigrants are flooding the borders, and the dead walk. The lead character, for some reason, is a mob member from Pittsburg. I've heard this story's a bit disjointed and at times gets a little preachy when it comes to one of the lead characters (who is none other than a priest), but the tale itself sounded a tad original so I figured it mention worthy.

"Eden" by Tony Monchinski and Tommy Arlin

A zombie for every "body". No matter your type, this book has your favorite version of the living dead. Lots of typos though and told through tons of flashbacks. Follows a man trying to solve a murder within the confines of the last safe place on Earth amidst the undead.

"Infected" by Scott Sigler

A slice of sci-fi horror. Not exactly a zombie novel per say, but rather deals with an alien infection that results in the hosts becoming screaming, homicidal maniacs. Weird but with great reviews.

"Patient Zero" by Jonathan Mayberry ***

A bio terrorist weapon that, when release, can turn everybody and their brain-chomping mother into zombies? Check. A hard-assed detective recruited by the military to vanquish said weapon? Check. A potential for all out hell to break loose at any moment? Hell yes! Bring this one on!

Anthologies

If you're like me and suffer from small bouts of ADD whenever you read, here's some shorties to still keep you satiated.

"History is Dead: A Zombie Anthology" edited by Kim Paffenroth *

A unique anthology that starts with tales that stretch from the beginning of man all the way till present day. Very good ratings by many who have read it.

"The Undead: A Zombie Anthology" edited by D.L. Snell and Elijah Hall

A zombie anthology eclectic in EVERY way. Stories span from the 1700's all the way to futuristic outer space. Another high-rater.

"The Living Dead" edited by John Joseph Adams

An A-Lister compilation, with Stephen King, Clive Barker, and the like. I'm not much of a fan of King's newer stuff but really enjoy Barker and a couple of other authors mentioned. This one was a hard sell for me and still is but I figured it was worth a mention due to the content.

"Bits of the Dead: A Zombie Anthology" edited by Keith Gouveia ***

Short, sweet, fast paced, gory, and tons of stories (38 to be exact, but still compact with many 2-pagers). What more could one ask for? Good for the bus trip downtown or sneaking behind a textbook in lecture hall.

"Zombology: A Zombie Anthology" edited by Rebecca May ***

I want this, like, BAD. All kinds of undead stories that anyone could ever want or imagine. From many different authors, it scored better than the book with Stephen King. 5 star rated and cool cover, if I should be so shallow.

"Dead Worlds: Undead Stories" edited by Anthony Giangregorio ***

Fast paced, action oriented. Many of these stories come on strong and finish just as well. One of the better anthologies out there, or so I've heard.

Religious

Being not religious whatsoever, I found it odd I actually discovered some interesting undead tales with the God-twist. Dogma aside of course.

"Jesus Freaks" by Andre Duza ***

A tad bizarre, this one got mixed reviews but personally, I think it sounded absolutely awesome (mainly because it sounds much along the lines of something I'd write). Follows a gritty detective, two potential Christ figures that may either save or lay waste to the world, a body hopping serial killer, and of course, zombies.

"Gospel of the Living Dead" by Kim Paffenroth

A non-fic zombie work reveling over Romero's life works, written by an Associate Professor of Religious Studies. I'm kind of missing the religious angle here but whatever. Lots of Dante's Inferno allegories.

"The Dead" by Mark E. Rogers

A theologian-style Armageddon fest. The rapture has come and the dead are walking alongside survivors that must find their way in this relig-o fest venture. A "wrath of God" type tale that gets a bit too preachy for its own good but the content is what's important and the reviews are mixed. Some will like it, others will hate it, but here it is nonetheless.

Romance

All you need is love *gag*. The dead it seems are no different.

"Breathers: A Zombie Lament" by S.G. Browne *

Zombie romance? Yeah, that's what I said. But this one sounds too cool. An expose following a 30-something walking corpse that resides in his (still living) parent's basement and attends AA meetings for the dead. All the while he has the hots for an undead chick and soon both meet, wallowing in their solitude from "normal" society in a world where the zombies have no rights. That is until the protests start. Lots of ACLU for the damned and more cheery than other zombie fictions, it still sounds fun enough to pick up and give a glance at.

Trilogies, Sagas, and Series

Sometimes a good story can't be told just once.

The Morningstar Strain Series: "Plague of the Dead" and "Thunder and Ashes" by Z.A. Recht *

An undead journey with a military twist. Follows lead characters all serving in the armed forces battling both political red tape and a swath of walking death let loose by viral strain from Africa tuned pandemic. World chaos meets secret squirrel stuff meets a zombie plague. Sounds like good material to me.

"Monster Island", "Monster Nation", and "Monster Planet" by David Wellington

I'm sure by now many have heard of this one. A post-apocalypse zombie filled world that starts out in the city and progressively sweeps across the globe.

"As the World Dies" by Rhiannon Frater *

A femme fatales type story dealing with two rocking heroines that toss action into every scene they're in in this zombies-infesting-the-world gig. Some romantic undertones but nothing too overdone. This nearly unheard of trilogy has got next to nothing but good things said about it.

Graphic Novels

I love horror comics. Stop calling me a nerd! Here's some cool ones to prove it.

"The Walking Dead" (all books/volumes) by Robert Kirkman *

Very Dawn of the Dead in its approach. A cop wakes from a long coma to find the world has been all shot to shit and a complete zombie takeover has ensued. Now all he's got to do is find is wife in the mess.

"Criminal Macabre" by Steve Niles (I own it all)

What? You honestly expect me to talk about zombie comics and not mention Criminal Macabre? Really. Chocked full of the undead with "intelligent" zombie-types that call themselves ghouls. Follows a hard-grit P.I. that goes around bashing everything inhuman in sight, his ghoul buddy aside. Oh, of course there are regular zombies and every other kind of undead as well.

Counter & Pop Culture, Philosophy and Manuals

"The Zombie Survival Guide" by Max Brooks ***

Another Max Brooks fan favorite. How to survive a zombie apocalypse made in much the same way as The Worst Case Scenario line was published. Fun and definitely a must have for any enthusiast.

"The Undead and Philosophy" by Richard Greene ***

Oh, god how I wanted this book (yes, I said book) since I spotted it in the local comic shop. A speculative compilation regarding how a true zombie horde should be treated if ever we were to come up against one, i.e. are they still really considered human? Deals with moral issues and questions, but also has lots of wit and some stuff on vampires as well.

"The Zen of Zombie" by Scott Kenemore

How to enjoy life and work by shambling through it like all the rest of your undead counterparts. Original and humorous. Great for that "dead" end desk job.

"Zombie CSU: The Forensics of the Living Dead" by Jonathan Mayberry ***

A crime scene investigators handbook to the undead. Covers all aspects of zombie crime scene investigation and the science behind the shamblers. Sounds like fun already.