Zombie Novels, Short Stories, Comics, etc.

Just thought I would start a new thread as a spin off from the Walking Dead thread. Those of us that go into that thread have often discussed the comics, novels and books that we've read. I figured that we need a thread for the discussion of zombie books and comics, aside from the TV show the Walking Dead thread was dedicated to.

I think like most threads of this nature, we should include the text "Spoiler" before revealing whatever we were going to talk about, and then code it white or yellow, to make it hard for others to read without highlighting the text with the mouse.

I know one of the zombie novels on everybodies favorites list is World War Z, by Max Brooks. It's a great book that comes off as more of a compilation of short stories, but condensed into one "report" by the UN reporter/main character. There are many scenes I would love to see on the big screen adaption, like the story that takes place in India and the story that takes place in Japan. I won't go into detail as to not spoil these stories for anyone who just picked up this novel and are beginning to read it.

Anyway, talk the books, comics, novels, authors, etc. that you have loved and tell TW about them. I am always on the lookout for new zombie novel material, so hopefully one of you guys has some recommendations!

 

Recently finished World War Z. Great read. There are a couple of chapters that linger in my mind weeks after I've finished reading it. I'm not sure how they'll make a movie out of it, but am interested to find out.

I haven't checked out any others yet, but probably will after reading that one.

 

the walking dead comics are the best zombie comics ever!! I have them all from issue one to current!!! I also just finished reading day by day Armageddon. it was freaking awesome. Its actually two books very entertaining read. please dont flame me to bad for this but I just read all the hunger games books and they were awesome. no zombies but still good.

 

Yeah, unfortunately the movie version of World War Z won't have any of the witness accounts from the novel. It is more of a "based on the novel" type of movie. It sucks, but I am still glad it is even being made, and with a big budget to boot.

Since you just finished World War Z, here are two authors I would suggest you look into next.

The first author is J.L. Bourne. His first book is Day by Day Armageddon and the sequel is Beyond Exile. These are the first two of the series with another due out this fall. Both books are fantastic and are told really well. The author reaches to his military background for a lot of the tactics and gun descriptions in his books.

The second author is Joe McKinney. His series is called the Dead series, and begins with Dead City. The sequel is Apocalypse of the Dead, and the third is Flesh Eaters. The way the stories are told, there seems to be a lot of room to continue the series for another few books. McKinney has become my favorite zombie novelist as I really enjoy his writing style. He is another writer with a background to pull resources from. He has a masters in English literature and was a patrol officer in the San Antonio Police Department, a homicide detective, a disaster mitigation specialist, a patrol commander. Quite the background for a zombie novelist!

 

The Hunger Games?!?! For shame!!




j/k

 

I recently came across another zombie comic series called 68'. It takes place during the Vietnam war. I read a teaser from the first comic, and it was sooooo good! lol

Here is a descirption of 68' issue #1:

On February 13, 1968, during the darkest days of the Vietnam conflict, the gates of hell opened wide, unleashing new and hungry life into the countless war-torn dead. The horrors of war take a back seat as an American tunnel rat crawls into a Viet Cong warren turned undead slaughterhouse, rotting snipers fire their final bullets from treetop perches, and freshly filled body bags twitch and rise from the slab. There are zombies in the razor wire... Horror comics creators Nat Jones, Mark Kidwell and Jay Fotos return to the jungles of Vietnam, expanding the zombie epic started in the original one-shot '68 with this four-issue mini-series of undead military horror. Each issue features multiple covers by Jones and Fotos, full 22-page stories in series continuity and a bonus 4-page short that expands on the zombie-infected world of 1968 by horror titan Tim Vigil. Welcome to 1968... and the end of the world.

 

I wasnt really a fan of world war z.

I did just finish reading the first two books of "Day by day armageddon" and it was great! the third book comes out in october.

The hunger games were great! probably my favorite books to date.


probably starting in july we will start planning our 3rd annual downtown zombie crawl

 

That sounds fun. Time to start the Joe McKinney novels now!

 

Check out a book called The Passage by Justin Cronin. The creatures aren't really 'zombies' or 'vampires' but have characterisitcs of both and tells the story of an apocolyptic world after they are released. Very gripping read, and a sequal is in the works, as is a movie adaptation.

 

Anybody read "Adrian's Undead Diary"? It's an awesome blog. It's finished now, but it is written in diary format. really good stuff.

I guess I like reading zombie stuff more than watching movies about it. The movies always come out cheesy to me I guess.

 

Thanks OP for making this. Like I said in the The Walking Dead thread I am currently reading the 1st compendium and I am hooked (unfortunately I have almost finished it). Can't wait to read some more good zombie books and comics.

 

Yay, the thread is getting life again!

How much was the 1st compendium of TWD again? I plan on buying it for the wifey. IIRC, you guys got it off Amazon right?

There are a few listed in here that I think you will thoroughly enjoy. I have read numerous zombie novels and there are some really great ones out there, including some very terrible ones. Obviously I won't list any of the terrible ones, unless it's precluded by "Stay away from this book!"

 

I've seen that listed on a few different sites I visit. I really need to give it a look!


Yes, the books are great because they can be darker and more terrifying than anything put on film. Like take Quarantine (or the original version ROM) for example, from watching the film I was more or less unimpressed with the film, however I bet in book format it would come off a lot better.

Another series of zombie novels to be on the lookout for are the ones by Kim Paffenroth. He is a really good novelist and I have read the first two books of his series, Dying to Live. The second novel has a twist in it and delves into the mind of a zombie. It's really quite fascinating and makes me wonder why more novels were written from this perspective.

 

It was a gift from the girlfirend for Christmas. I believe she got it at Barnes and Noble but I am sure Amazon will have it as well. It hasn't taken me very long to get through it either lol

 

Cool. Amazon has a pretty good deal. I may have just found her a Mother's Day gift.

 

Haha winning.

 

I second the Day by Day series! Awesome reads!

 

Bump since zombie books are being talked about again, and there are some good recommendations here

 

I second Adrian's Undead Diary. I was hooked for about a month reading this non stop. Its a really really good story.

 

I'm adding a response to revive the convo. Here's my small list:

World War Z: I read it last summer and really enjoyed it, have shared with a couple of friends, looking forward to the movie but disappointed with the approach suggested by the trailer

Zombie Survival Guide: felt like a Boy Scout book or something I could have written myself, stories were entertaining, rest was relatively commonsense but interesting to work through

The Passage: glad to see someone else posted this one as it's not so much a zombie book, it did linger with me though after completion, good read, sequel is out now but only in hardcover so far

TWD Compendium One: I just got this and am only through comic one, surprised to see how many differences there are already, love the art, enjoying it so far

I like the sounds of some of those others posted here and will check them out soon. Cool forum topic!