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I, Zombie
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Horror (2012)***WARNING: NOT FIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION***
This book contains foul language and fouler descriptions of life as a zombie. It will offend most anyone, so proceed with caution or not at all.
And be forewarned: This is not a zombie book. This is a different sort of tale. It is a story about the unfortunate, about those who did not get away. It is a human story at its rotten heart. It is the reason we can't stop obsessing about these creatures, in whom we see all too much of ourselves.
This book contains foul language and fouler descriptions of life as a zombie. It will offend most anyone, so proceed with caution or not at all.
And be forewarned: This is not a zombie book. This is a different sort of tale. It is a story about the unfortunate, about those who did not get away. It is a human story at its rotten heart. It is the reason we can't stop obsessing about these creatures, in whom we see all too much of ourselves.
295 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2012
309 people are currently reading
3754 people want to read
About the author
Hugh Howey
151 books57.6k followersI'm the author of WOOL, a top 5 science fiction book on Amazon. I also wrote the Molly Fyde saga, a tale of a teenager from the 25th century who is repeatedly told that girls can't do certain things -- and then does them anyway.
A theme in my books is the celebration of overcoming odds and of not allowing the cruelty of the universe to change who you are in the process. Most of them are classified as science fiction, since they often take place in the future, but if you love great stories and memorable characters, you'll dig what you find here. I promise.
A theme in my books is the celebration of overcoming odds and of not allowing the cruelty of the universe to change who you are in the process. Most of them are classified as science fiction, since they often take place in the future, but if you love great stories and memorable characters, you'll dig what you find here. I promise.
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August 27, 2014
ZOMBIES AS LITERATURE
There are conventions that are common to each type of monster story: vampires suck blood, werewolves grow hair, and zombies are mindless, out-of-control creatures whose only thoughts—if they can be said to have any at all—are to kill and eat living people.
But what if zombies were not exactly like that… mindless, I mean. What if a zombie’s brain was a still-functioning, still-thinking organ trapped within a body that it couldn’t control, a body that obeyed its own primal instincts (and, yes, hungers) irrespective of what that body’s conscious mind wanted it to do?
The mind, the consciousness, the *person* within that shuffling hulk would be forced to watch as that body stalked, killed, and ate anyone in its path—friend, foe, or family alike—all the while screaming silently in horror, disgust, and despair at its own inability to prevent the inevitable.
This is the affliction that Hugh Howey gives us in his novel I, ZOMBIE, and it is a monstrous affliction, indeed!
Mr. Howey is a truly talented writer. That is not to say that I, or anyone, would like everything that he writes, but he is, without a doubt, one of our greatest living storytellers. As he puts down his well-chosen words he places you, the reader, firmly within the story that has created, whether you want to be there or not, whether you are comfortable with what you are experiencing or not, and he doesn’t let you leave until he’s damn good and ready.
I, ZOMBIE is a long, thorough, and well-thought-out examination of what it would be like to be a zombie of that aforementioned type: a mindful brain within a mindless body. The book’s tone, its emphasis on character more than on action, its examination of the motivations of those characters rather than merely the mayhem that they cause, all serve to drag this book, kicking and screaming, out of the usual mash of genre trash and into the lofty legions of—dare I say it—the literary novel.
It is a lonely loft, that of the literary zombie novel. Mr. Howey’s book is one of only two of which I am aware, the other being ZONE ONE by the Pulitzer-nominated, MacArthur-Fellowship-winning novelist Colson Whitehead. The fact that Mr. Howey’s zombie novel has not received the same attention from the same mainstream publications that Mr. Whitehead’s book has (those being the likes of Esquire and The New York Times) is, I believe, not because of any perceived difference in the quality of the writing. I have read both books and, to my mind, there is none. There is, however, a distinct difference in point of view—that of the survivors in Mr. Whitehead’s novel, that of the monsters in Mr. Howey’s—and that difference makes all the difference. It’s bad enough to be living through a zombie apocalypse, even vicariously as the reader of a book. To experience it as one of its perpetrators, however unwilling that perpetrator might be, will undoubtedly be just too much for some.
Which brings me to this: I, ZOMBIE is not an easy novel to read. That is to say: it is not a comfortable book, even of its kind. But it is, without a doubt, one of the most intelligently written zombie novels to be found anywhere.
There are conventions that are common to each type of monster story: vampires suck blood, werewolves grow hair, and zombies are mindless, out-of-control creatures whose only thoughts—if they can be said to have any at all—are to kill and eat living people.
But what if zombies were not exactly like that… mindless, I mean. What if a zombie’s brain was a still-functioning, still-thinking organ trapped within a body that it couldn’t control, a body that obeyed its own primal instincts (and, yes, hungers) irrespective of what that body’s conscious mind wanted it to do?
The mind, the consciousness, the *person* within that shuffling hulk would be forced to watch as that body stalked, killed, and ate anyone in its path—friend, foe, or family alike—all the while screaming silently in horror, disgust, and despair at its own inability to prevent the inevitable.
This is the affliction that Hugh Howey gives us in his novel I, ZOMBIE, and it is a monstrous affliction, indeed!
Mr. Howey is a truly talented writer. That is not to say that I, or anyone, would like everything that he writes, but he is, without a doubt, one of our greatest living storytellers. As he puts down his well-chosen words he places you, the reader, firmly within the story that has created, whether you want to be there or not, whether you are comfortable with what you are experiencing or not, and he doesn’t let you leave until he’s damn good and ready.
I, ZOMBIE is a long, thorough, and well-thought-out examination of what it would be like to be a zombie of that aforementioned type: a mindful brain within a mindless body. The book’s tone, its emphasis on character more than on action, its examination of the motivations of those characters rather than merely the mayhem that they cause, all serve to drag this book, kicking and screaming, out of the usual mash of genre trash and into the lofty legions of—dare I say it—the literary novel.
It is a lonely loft, that of the literary zombie novel. Mr. Howey’s book is one of only two of which I am aware, the other being ZONE ONE by the Pulitzer-nominated, MacArthur-Fellowship-winning novelist Colson Whitehead. The fact that Mr. Howey’s zombie novel has not received the same attention from the same mainstream publications that Mr. Whitehead’s book has (those being the likes of Esquire and The New York Times) is, I believe, not because of any perceived difference in the quality of the writing. I have read both books and, to my mind, there is none. There is, however, a distinct difference in point of view—that of the survivors in Mr. Whitehead’s novel, that of the monsters in Mr. Howey’s—and that difference makes all the difference. It’s bad enough to be living through a zombie apocalypse, even vicariously as the reader of a book. To experience it as one of its perpetrators, however unwilling that perpetrator might be, will undoubtedly be just too much for some.
Which brings me to this: I, ZOMBIE is not an easy novel to read. That is to say: it is not a comfortable book, even of its kind. But it is, without a doubt, one of the most intelligently written zombie novels to be found anywhere.
January 25, 2013
I really enjoy Hugh's writing, and he delivers exceptional prose here. I am glad I purchased this book, and will gladly buy anything else Hugh Howey writes in the future.
However, I did not like this book overall, hence the low review. There were some stellar things to it, however:
1. The premise is absolutely wonderful.
2. The book opens grand. First couple introduction chapters are lovely.
3. The book isn't "really" about Zombies. In the same way most good Zombie books aren't really about Zombies.
4. Hugh writes wonderfully unflinching horror. Some really depraved scenes in this one, and I love that.
If this were a novella or short story, I think it would be grand. As a novel, however, it didn't work for me. It was a chore for me to read, and it took me significant time to finish.
None of the characters were free to do anything, not even bat an eye. OK; I get why. But what makes me want to read on about them? I don't care about their thoughts because they can't influence their actions. I felt like a passive observer the entire time I was reading, and this made me feel bored.
Once I got past the first section, it was all much the same. Different stories, different people, different backgrounds--different specifics, but same theme, same story.
I enjoyed the characters before they turned, when they could still make decisions and act. But after the first section I got the helplessness of the zombies, understood their situation and plight.
I kept expecting the book to move past this. For something to happen and let me stop being a passive observer. But at the end, I feel like I could have stopped reading after the first section and not really missed much.
This is an ambitious book, to be sure. Like I said, the premise is golden.
I just need some kind of carrot to keep me interested and engaged. I hate to say this due to how much I love the Wool series, but this book just felt flat and a bit boring to me.
However, I did not like this book overall, hence the low review. There were some stellar things to it, however:
1. The premise is absolutely wonderful.
2. The book opens grand. First couple introduction chapters are lovely.
3. The book isn't "really" about Zombies. In the same way most good Zombie books aren't really about Zombies.
4. Hugh writes wonderfully unflinching horror. Some really depraved scenes in this one, and I love that.
If this were a novella or short story, I think it would be grand. As a novel, however, it didn't work for me. It was a chore for me to read, and it took me significant time to finish.
None of the characters were free to do anything, not even bat an eye. OK; I get why. But what makes me want to read on about them? I don't care about their thoughts because they can't influence their actions. I felt like a passive observer the entire time I was reading, and this made me feel bored.
Once I got past the first section, it was all much the same. Different stories, different people, different backgrounds--different specifics, but same theme, same story.
I enjoyed the characters before they turned, when they could still make decisions and act. But after the first section I got the helplessness of the zombies, understood their situation and plight.
I kept expecting the book to move past this. For something to happen and let me stop being a passive observer. But at the end, I feel like I could have stopped reading after the first section and not really missed much.
This is an ambitious book, to be sure. Like I said, the premise is golden.
I just need some kind of carrot to keep me interested and engaged. I hate to say this due to how much I love the Wool series, but this book just felt flat and a bit boring to me.
August 21, 2012
Originally published at http://www.fantasyliterature.com with 4 1/2 stars.
Imagine a zombie. An image springs instantly to mind. A rotting corpse, shuffling along, arms held out clumsily, grunting and groaning as it makes its way inexorably forward. Now imagine you, yourself, your ego, inside that zombie. You are that zombie, your consciousness trapped inside a brain that no longer has control over your body, your life, your insatiable hunger. You watch yourself feast on the flesh of those who are no longer survivors of the plague that has infested New York City, revolted by the feel and taste of human waste in your mouth as you gorge yourself on intestines and flesh. You pray for release from this un-life, but you are trapped, a passenger along for the ride on a body you no longer control.
In I, Zombie, Hugh Howey has created a top-notch horror novel and a metaphorically resonant examination of the human condition. I don’t normally read horror novels because I have an overactive imagination and tend to have nightmares from simple ghost stories told around a campfire. But I trusted in the skilled hands of Howey to make this zombie story more than a simple horror tale and I was not disappointed. I devoured I, Zombie in a single day, staying up late to finish the last chapters. As I laid in bed, trying to fall asleep (with the lights left on so the zombies wouldn’t get me) my mind turned from the horror of zombies mindlessly seeking the living to satiate uncontrollable desires to the people trapped in those flesh coffins.
Howey aptly titled the book I, Zombie, because this vividly told tale will force the reader to see the zombie in themselves. Told as a series of first person narratives, the people confined in the shambling hulks examine how they have lived as zombies in their own lives. Addiction, coercion, fear, mindless routines, failing to make a choice as an illusion of choosing, hunger for someone else to fill them with meaning, the slow decay of relationships as distance — emotional and physical — separates the human from the animal.
There is a lot of symbolism in I, Zombie, but it is easily done, placed into a background that informs and illustrates without being heavy-handed. Some books are easily spotted as being “serious fiction” but this book is a quality piece of storytelling that just so happens to be capable of being read at multiple levels. I can easily see this being assigned in classrooms at the college level (or older high school students because of the gross factor) as a study of what it means to be human and alive, rather than just another animal that is living.
There were a few hitches for me. There are some grammatical errors that should have been caught in editing (I read the Kindle edition.) And while Howey is writing over a dozen first person narratives, and manages to give each person their own distinctive voice, some of the vocabulary and idioms used for each character repeated enough that I wasn’t sure if it was intentional, a linguistic circling that illustrates the confines of each person’s lexicon and therefore experience and understanding of the world, or just careless writing that should have been refined in the revision process.
I, Zombie is revolting. And yet, I highly recommend it. I know there’s a joke waiting to be made about this being the thinking woman’s zombie story and BRAAAAIIIINNNNSSSS!!! but I can’t quite figure out how to make it work. There were times reading I, Zombie that I had an actual physical reaction, typically a dry heave, to what was going on in the book. And yet, even in a series of disconnected narratives, the plot advances so deftly that I was never bored (and was frequently holding my breath wondering how it was going to play out), and while the grossness factor remains in the background, the confrontation between the physical and the mental, the soul and the flesh, the instinct and the will, is what remains at the forefront after finishing the story.
And I dreamed about zombies all night.
Imagine a zombie. An image springs instantly to mind. A rotting corpse, shuffling along, arms held out clumsily, grunting and groaning as it makes its way inexorably forward. Now imagine you, yourself, your ego, inside that zombie. You are that zombie, your consciousness trapped inside a brain that no longer has control over your body, your life, your insatiable hunger. You watch yourself feast on the flesh of those who are no longer survivors of the plague that has infested New York City, revolted by the feel and taste of human waste in your mouth as you gorge yourself on intestines and flesh. You pray for release from this un-life, but you are trapped, a passenger along for the ride on a body you no longer control.
In I, Zombie, Hugh Howey has created a top-notch horror novel and a metaphorically resonant examination of the human condition. I don’t normally read horror novels because I have an overactive imagination and tend to have nightmares from simple ghost stories told around a campfire. But I trusted in the skilled hands of Howey to make this zombie story more than a simple horror tale and I was not disappointed. I devoured I, Zombie in a single day, staying up late to finish the last chapters. As I laid in bed, trying to fall asleep (with the lights left on so the zombies wouldn’t get me) my mind turned from the horror of zombies mindlessly seeking the living to satiate uncontrollable desires to the people trapped in those flesh coffins.
Howey aptly titled the book I, Zombie, because this vividly told tale will force the reader to see the zombie in themselves. Told as a series of first person narratives, the people confined in the shambling hulks examine how they have lived as zombies in their own lives. Addiction, coercion, fear, mindless routines, failing to make a choice as an illusion of choosing, hunger for someone else to fill them with meaning, the slow decay of relationships as distance — emotional and physical — separates the human from the animal.
There is a lot of symbolism in I, Zombie, but it is easily done, placed into a background that informs and illustrates without being heavy-handed. Some books are easily spotted as being “serious fiction” but this book is a quality piece of storytelling that just so happens to be capable of being read at multiple levels. I can easily see this being assigned in classrooms at the college level (or older high school students because of the gross factor) as a study of what it means to be human and alive, rather than just another animal that is living.
There were a few hitches for me. There are some grammatical errors that should have been caught in editing (I read the Kindle edition.) And while Howey is writing over a dozen first person narratives, and manages to give each person their own distinctive voice, some of the vocabulary and idioms used for each character repeated enough that I wasn’t sure if it was intentional, a linguistic circling that illustrates the confines of each person’s lexicon and therefore experience and understanding of the world, or just careless writing that should have been refined in the revision process.
I, Zombie is revolting. And yet, I highly recommend it. I know there’s a joke waiting to be made about this being the thinking woman’s zombie story and BRAAAAIIIINNNNSSSS!!! but I can’t quite figure out how to make it work. There were times reading I, Zombie that I had an actual physical reaction, typically a dry heave, to what was going on in the book. And yet, even in a series of disconnected narratives, the plot advances so deftly that I was never bored (and was frequently holding my breath wondering how it was going to play out), and while the grossness factor remains in the background, the confrontation between the physical and the mental, the soul and the flesh, the instinct and the will, is what remains at the forefront after finishing the story.
And I dreamed about zombies all night.
December 7, 2014
Just when you think you've heard every type of zombie story imaginable, in walks Hugh Howey with I, Zombie.
See, this isn't a story of survival. Its a group of chilling memoirs on what it's actually like to be a zombie. On the outside, they're mindless monsters feeding off the flesh of the living. But on the inside? Their minds still work. They know who they are, where they came from, and they feel every pain that we, the living, would feel.
The novel is broken into parts, following around different people in different parts of New York. None are survivors... at least, not for long. They're the living dead; broken, lost, and full of pain.
I won't lie. There isn't much that actually happens in this book. It's not very action-packed, and there is nothing to root for. There aren't good guys and bad guys, there are just not-so-mindless thoughts of what is happening as people die and succumb to the "shuffle". However... GOOD LORD, the writing was spectacular! I've heard of multiple novels by Howey, but this is the first I've read. It will NOT be the last. A lesser writer could never pull this off. He has created wonderfully tragic situations, absolutely disgusting action, and never ONCE hit a place of monotony. With the way this book takes shape, that is a glorious feat.
A few characters that grabbed me the most:
Michael Lane, the junkie that fed off his mother, had his leg shot off, and ended up dragging himself through the streets.
Chiang Xian, the young girl who was trapped in her parents' shop until a family arrived to give her "friends".
Jeffrey Biggers, the boy who saved a baby just to lose himself.
Rhoda Shay, the woman who was two days away from giving birth and locked in her office building. This was one of the most gruesome scenes imaginable.
If you're as big a zombie fan as I am, you need to experience this book. And for everyone else, maybe skip this one. But find something else to sink into by this amazing author. I know I will!
See, this isn't a story of survival. Its a group of chilling memoirs on what it's actually like to be a zombie. On the outside, they're mindless monsters feeding off the flesh of the living. But on the inside? Their minds still work. They know who they are, where they came from, and they feel every pain that we, the living, would feel.
The novel is broken into parts, following around different people in different parts of New York. None are survivors... at least, not for long. They're the living dead; broken, lost, and full of pain.
I won't lie. There isn't much that actually happens in this book. It's not very action-packed, and there is nothing to root for. There aren't good guys and bad guys, there are just not-so-mindless thoughts of what is happening as people die and succumb to the "shuffle". However... GOOD LORD, the writing was spectacular! I've heard of multiple novels by Howey, but this is the first I've read. It will NOT be the last. A lesser writer could never pull this off. He has created wonderfully tragic situations, absolutely disgusting action, and never ONCE hit a place of monotony. With the way this book takes shape, that is a glorious feat.
A few characters that grabbed me the most:
Michael Lane, the junkie that fed off his mother, had his leg shot off, and ended up dragging himself through the streets.
Chiang Xian, the young girl who was trapped in her parents' shop until a family arrived to give her "friends".
Jeffrey Biggers, the boy who saved a baby just to lose himself.
Rhoda Shay, the woman who was two days away from giving birth and locked in her office building. This was one of the most gruesome scenes imaginable.
If you're as big a zombie fan as I am, you need to experience this book. And for everyone else, maybe skip this one. But find something else to sink into by this amazing author. I know I will!
March 29, 2024
If people know author Hugh Howey, it is from his sensational novel series, Wool Omnibus. I was thrilled that this zombie novel was available from my local library. The storyline in this book is a truly horrific thought. What if the consciousness or soul, for lack of a better word, of people infected with a zombie virus were still aware, but were suffering from a form of "locked in syndrome"? Being aware of what your body was doing, but being unable to stop or control it, is a special kind of hell. This book was the epitome of horror to me. Good job Mr. Howey!
This is part of Abbadon Publishings "Tomes of the Dead" Series.
This is part of Abbadon Publishings "Tomes of the Dead" Series.
August 27, 2012
I've been a fan of Hugh's since Wool 1 was a giveaway, since we demanded he keep writing. We the public who said to Hugh, "don't you dare stop writing or we will find you and make you keep at it."
I guess we only have ourselves to blame.
I pre -ordered this book, as an Ebook, so I've had it for a few days now. A few days for this book to take on a physical presence in my house. To speak to me, a voice that asks me, "what do I think I'm doing?". I try to answer this voice, "hey man, I really need to wash these dishes, but after dinner, after dinner I'll finish the book, I promise." I'm actually lying to a fiction voice in my head.
I can't read this straight through, I just can't. The closest reaction for me to this book is when I read American Psycho, something in me makes me throw this down in revulsion, thinking that Hugh was right all along, this is not fit for human consumption. I see it coming, sometimes, I just know this little vignette is not going to fucking end well, at all. So i stop, and i distract myself with chores, or errands, or whatever.
Of course something in me makes me pick it right back up, like an addict that goes back to what is ruining his life.
Like an abused spouse who hopes that it's going to get better.
Maybe if I just keep reading there will be a happy ending here.
I know there won't.
Im not holding out much hope for the baby in her belly, and i hope to god i don't hear anymore about the baby in the backpack.
It's not the gore here, it's the complete lack of choices, the being trapped inside and witnessing, of literally being the mind inside the monster.
So as soon as i post this review, and maybe go get a taco, and maybe go to the store, i'll finish the book.
O.k., after i get back from the theater tonight, then i'll finish it for sure.
Get off my back man.
I guess we only have ourselves to blame.
I pre -ordered this book, as an Ebook, so I've had it for a few days now. A few days for this book to take on a physical presence in my house. To speak to me, a voice that asks me, "what do I think I'm doing?". I try to answer this voice, "hey man, I really need to wash these dishes, but after dinner, after dinner I'll finish the book, I promise." I'm actually lying to a fiction voice in my head.
I can't read this straight through, I just can't. The closest reaction for me to this book is when I read American Psycho, something in me makes me throw this down in revulsion, thinking that Hugh was right all along, this is not fit for human consumption. I see it coming, sometimes, I just know this little vignette is not going to fucking end well, at all. So i stop, and i distract myself with chores, or errands, or whatever.
Of course something in me makes me pick it right back up, like an addict that goes back to what is ruining his life.
Like an abused spouse who hopes that it's going to get better.
Maybe if I just keep reading there will be a happy ending here.
I know there won't.
Im not holding out much hope for the baby in her belly, and i hope to god i don't hear anymore about the baby in the backpack.
It's not the gore here, it's the complete lack of choices, the being trapped inside and witnessing, of literally being the mind inside the monster.
So as soon as i post this review, and maybe go get a taco, and maybe go to the store, i'll finish the book.
O.k., after i get back from the theater tonight, then i'll finish it for sure.
Get off my back man.
November 19, 2012
I picked this one to read shortly after finishing the Wool Omnibus, based on the plot and reviews. The concept of zombies retaining their human consciousness was too interesting to pass up. And Howey can definitely write. Choice of words, imagery, and he has a way of putting us right in the middle of a story, of feeling like we're sitting beside the character or even in their head. But ultimately, I was disappointed. Different zombies, slightly different perspectives, all doing the same thing. Until it just ended.
I kept waiting for something to happen, but each chapter was more of "oh, I used to be a person, now I can't control my limbs" "Oh, I want to stop shuffling along eating these people, but now I can't control myself." I perked up a bit for Darnell's story, but then it just ended; there was no wrap-up.
Am I supposed to continue thinking about the supposed consciousness of zombies long after I've read the book? Trying to figure out what happened to all these characters? I don't get it. I like resolution. I don't want to have to figure out what happens next after I'm done reading. If that makes me a lazy reader, so be it.
Oh and the kindle version had too many typos. I lost count of how many times "were" was used instead of "was".
I kept waiting for something to happen, but each chapter was more of "oh, I used to be a person, now I can't control my limbs" "Oh, I want to stop shuffling along eating these people, but now I can't control myself." I perked up a bit for Darnell's story, but then it just ended; there was no wrap-up.
Am I supposed to continue thinking about the supposed consciousness of zombies long after I've read the book? Trying to figure out what happened to all these characters? I don't get it. I like resolution. I don't want to have to figure out what happens next after I'm done reading. If that makes me a lazy reader, so be it.
Oh and the kindle version had too many typos. I lost count of how many times "were" was used instead of "was".
September 20, 2023
Wow! This book was good, it was so interesting. Normally when I read a book that deals with zombies, it's about a virus, zombies and the people trying to kill them. The POV in this book however are from the zombie themselves. Sometimes in a very graphic nature. I liked the book, I've just never read anything quite like it before.
March 19, 2020
Ever since reading Silo Saga, I consider one of the life's great truths that there are natural born mega talents walking among us that turn everything they touch into gold. And, since it's often their very first, debut works that blew everything away (Silo Saga) that take hope from mortals they'll ever achieve something similar, it looks there's not even effort behind the scenes.
Seemingly, they turn the pipe and magic just flows.
I Zombie is a prime example of above. You think, one more zombie book. No. It's a masterpiece take on the zombies. And yes, such thing (words masterpiece and zombie existing in the same sentence) is possible. And no, even World War Z, good as it is, isn't exactly on this level. Because, this take on the zombie apocalypse is also unique, and even revealing.
Somewhere inside these pages is the clue to the secret, why are we even so obsessed with this zombie apocalypse topic, that seems so trashy on the surface? Isn't it just an old school horror gimmick that should have evaporated from public interest decades ago?
Yes, if it ever was just the rotting meat surface of dead people walking around, trying to eat the brains of the living, that we found fascinating in the first place.
That trick would get old pretty fast if it wasn't for the hidden depth, consciously perceived or not. Because, on some level, we're aware of the driver inside machine. And we are also aware of the something observing the whole shebang. Are the driver and the observer the same thing? Or is it only one of them that is the boss, while the other is "assistant to the regional manager"? If you're getting this reference, btw, that's full proof sign you're not a zombie. Yet.
While you're alive, observer is the one bossing around. After you die and become zombie, it's the driver doing the deed. You are only there to watch. And suffer, majestically. For whatever sin you committed while you were alive. As driver, that is. The king of your little domain.
Now you're less than a peasant. You're entity trapped in a bag of rotten meat, that is your own. Zero capabilities of exercising your own will, one hundred percent capacity of feeling pain and suffering. Your thinking capacities are at whatever level they were while you were still human. With maybe a little more pronounced introspection.
Broken only by occasional, completely unintentional, indulging in the raw flesh of still living.
It's a wonder nobody thought about this. It's a good thing Hugh Howey did, because execution is something only talents of his magnitude are capable of.
Seemingly, they turn the pipe and magic just flows.
I Zombie is a prime example of above. You think, one more zombie book. No. It's a masterpiece take on the zombies. And yes, such thing (words masterpiece and zombie existing in the same sentence) is possible. And no, even World War Z, good as it is, isn't exactly on this level. Because, this take on the zombie apocalypse is also unique, and even revealing.
Somewhere inside these pages is the clue to the secret, why are we even so obsessed with this zombie apocalypse topic, that seems so trashy on the surface? Isn't it just an old school horror gimmick that should have evaporated from public interest decades ago?
Yes, if it ever was just the rotting meat surface of dead people walking around, trying to eat the brains of the living, that we found fascinating in the first place.
That trick would get old pretty fast if it wasn't for the hidden depth, consciously perceived or not. Because, on some level, we're aware of the driver inside machine. And we are also aware of the something observing the whole shebang. Are the driver and the observer the same thing? Or is it only one of them that is the boss, while the other is "assistant to the regional manager"? If you're getting this reference, btw, that's full proof sign you're not a zombie. Yet.
While you're alive, observer is the one bossing around. After you die and become zombie, it's the driver doing the deed. You are only there to watch. And suffer, majestically. For whatever sin you committed while you were alive. As driver, that is. The king of your little domain.
Now you're less than a peasant. You're entity trapped in a bag of rotten meat, that is your own. Zero capabilities of exercising your own will, one hundred percent capacity of feeling pain and suffering. Your thinking capacities are at whatever level they were while you were still human. With maybe a little more pronounced introspection.
Broken only by occasional, completely unintentional, indulging in the raw flesh of still living.
It's a wonder nobody thought about this. It's a good thing Hugh Howey did, because execution is something only talents of his magnitude are capable of.
December 23, 2015
What a ride!! The first few pages were alot of eewwwws, where I'd have to shut the book. Minutes later, I'd pick it back up and once I got used to the gore of it, I was completely hooked. (Is it bad that I got "used" to the gore?!) I've never experienced so many emotions in 2 days of reading before... Shock, awe, sadness, even goosebumples at some of the human moments... This book sucked me in and I.could.not.look.away. Just when I thought I was safe, another one of those moments would pop up that would blow my mind!
This is not my typical read so when I got pulled in, I was completely surprised! I'd say I look forward to another book just like it, but I don't. I'm quite satisfied to have made it through this one!
This is not my typical read so when I got pulled in, I was completely surprised! I'd say I look forward to another book just like it, but I don't. I'm quite satisfied to have made it through this one!
September 18, 2012
How many ways did I like thee, let me count:
1. It's about Zombies....enough said
2. It ROCKS
3. It bring a perspective to the tired old Zombie genre that is like a refreshing rain on a Spring day
4. It is AWESOME
5. It had me hanging out for me next chance to delve into its pages.
6. Did I mention it ROCKS...I think I did.
Hugh Howey keeps going from strength to strength delivering one good read after the next This is one author to definitely keep your eyes on. Lets hope there is a We Zombie in the wings waiting to feed on the unsuspecting reader.
1. It's about Zombies....enough said
2. It ROCKS
3. It bring a perspective to the tired old Zombie genre that is like a refreshing rain on a Spring day
4. It is AWESOME
5. It had me hanging out for me next chance to delve into its pages.
6. Did I mention it ROCKS...I think I did.
Hugh Howey keeps going from strength to strength delivering one good read after the next This is one author to definitely keep your eyes on. Lets hope there is a We Zombie in the wings waiting to feed on the unsuspecting reader.
August 25, 2012
As a huge Hugh Howey fan, I was disappointed in this one. It gets a bump to 2 stars because his writing is so impressive. But the lack of a story gets in the way of... you know, the story. I couldn't get through it.
The great thing about Howey's books is they are so inexpensive that you don't regret trying them out, even when they end up being bad.
Looking forward to the next Wool installment.
The great thing about Howey's books is they are so inexpensive that you don't regret trying them out, even when they end up being bad.
Looking forward to the next Wool installment.
October 13, 2025
One of the most, if not the most, revolting, distgusting, disturbing story I've ever read. The tag line on the cover says, "There is no hope". That's a fact. But not only did I finish it, I stayed up late doing so. And if it was a series, I'd subject myself to the next book. That's how much I enjoy Howey.
August 15, 2012
You know that little demon in the back of your mind that you won't even admit lurks in your secret inner thoughts? He's real, he's not nice and Hugh is about to hand him a six pack of Red Bull and let him bore some holes through the "prim and proper" parts of your psyche!
First off - I am a huge HH fan and I'm sure that probably biased my ratings. As I see it, everyone is biased, but at least you now know one of mine. I will try to keep this review more about content to assist you in deciding if this book might be right for you. And in case you're wondering how I could post a review so soon after release, I won a charity auction that included an advance copy which I read last week.
I could take the funny and easy way out and simply say, "There is no hope." Hugh put it right there on the cover. Heck, he was even so generous as to post a couple of sample chapters on his website. NO HOPE! I had read the teaser chapters myself, but I was honestly not ready for the book that I just read.
What do I mean by that? Well, I was prepared to read a book written from the point-of-view of the zombies as they eat their way through the brains and bowels of the living. I was prepared to be sickened (thrilled) by graphic depictions of human destruction. I was prepared for mayhem! And rest assured, I got plenty of all of the above. So what wasn't I ready for? I wasn't prepared to read a zombie book that isn't really about zombies.
What? Um...Rrusty. The title of the book is "I, Zombie" and you just said that it is NOT about zombies?!?
You read that correctly. In another week, some of you will probably take issue with me and argue that I am a complete idiot (get in line behind my wife and three kids), but this is my review and I say this is not a zombie book. It is a book in which all of the characters happen to be zombies.
(One one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand)
Now that I've given you enough time to re-read that last sentence and become completely confused, let me clear up what "I, Zombie" is. This is a book about humanity at its very core. People who have had every shred of their personal facade stripped away and are left staring face-to-face with themselves. That my friend is WAY scarier than zombies! The whole experience is one I thoroughly enjoyed in a sick, twisted, and thoughtful sort of way. In my opinion, folks looking for lots of zombie destruction as the last bands of humanity struggle to take the world back should probably consider any one of the thousands of zombie books covering that adventure...this is a story of battling your inner self.
"I, Zombie" is very unlike any other book I've read from Hugh. I would compare the style of this book to an anthology or a collection of short stories in that it is not a flowing series of events, but rather is a group of individual stories that are not tightly interrelated. The characters are in the same city and suffering the same affliction, but otherwise each one stands apart. I think most Hugh Howey fans will like this book, but if you cannot find satisfaction from stories without a single shred of a hope then I suspect you will be disappointed in this one.
Also, this book does have very graphic depictions of human carnage. No avoiding that when zombies are involved. This book doesn't just hint at the details...it wallows in them! Horror fans will rejoice, but even though I am a huge horror fan, there is one particular scene in this book that even made me cringe (Yep Hugh...in the office building...you're gonna burn in hell for that one). If you really dislike tales containing graphic violence, I don't think your love of everything Hugh Howey will be strong enough to get you through his masterfully descriptive language.
One final thought - don't avoid reading "I, Zombie" because you aren't into horror books. Avoid reading "I, Zombie" because this is a thought-provoking book...and some of those thoughts may be things you buried a long time ago and never wanted them to return! You have been warned
First off - I am a huge HH fan and I'm sure that probably biased my ratings. As I see it, everyone is biased, but at least you now know one of mine. I will try to keep this review more about content to assist you in deciding if this book might be right for you. And in case you're wondering how I could post a review so soon after release, I won a charity auction that included an advance copy which I read last week.
I could take the funny and easy way out and simply say, "There is no hope." Hugh put it right there on the cover. Heck, he was even so generous as to post a couple of sample chapters on his website. NO HOPE! I had read the teaser chapters myself, but I was honestly not ready for the book that I just read.
What do I mean by that? Well, I was prepared to read a book written from the point-of-view of the zombies as they eat their way through the brains and bowels of the living. I was prepared to be sickened (thrilled) by graphic depictions of human destruction. I was prepared for mayhem! And rest assured, I got plenty of all of the above. So what wasn't I ready for? I wasn't prepared to read a zombie book that isn't really about zombies.
What? Um...Rrusty. The title of the book is "I, Zombie" and you just said that it is NOT about zombies?!?
You read that correctly. In another week, some of you will probably take issue with me and argue that I am a complete idiot (get in line behind my wife and three kids), but this is my review and I say this is not a zombie book. It is a book in which all of the characters happen to be zombies.
(One one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand)
Now that I've given you enough time to re-read that last sentence and become completely confused, let me clear up what "I, Zombie" is. This is a book about humanity at its very core. People who have had every shred of their personal facade stripped away and are left staring face-to-face with themselves. That my friend is WAY scarier than zombies! The whole experience is one I thoroughly enjoyed in a sick, twisted, and thoughtful sort of way. In my opinion, folks looking for lots of zombie destruction as the last bands of humanity struggle to take the world back should probably consider any one of the thousands of zombie books covering that adventure...this is a story of battling your inner self.
"I, Zombie" is very unlike any other book I've read from Hugh. I would compare the style of this book to an anthology or a collection of short stories in that it is not a flowing series of events, but rather is a group of individual stories that are not tightly interrelated. The characters are in the same city and suffering the same affliction, but otherwise each one stands apart. I think most Hugh Howey fans will like this book, but if you cannot find satisfaction from stories without a single shred of a hope then I suspect you will be disappointed in this one.
Also, this book does have very graphic depictions of human carnage. No avoiding that when zombies are involved. This book doesn't just hint at the details...it wallows in them! Horror fans will rejoice, but even though I am a huge horror fan, there is one particular scene in this book that even made me cringe (Yep Hugh...in the office building...you're gonna burn in hell for that one). If you really dislike tales containing graphic violence, I don't think your love of everything Hugh Howey will be strong enough to get you through his masterfully descriptive language.
One final thought - don't avoid reading "I, Zombie" because you aren't into horror books. Avoid reading "I, Zombie" because this is a thought-provoking book...and some of those thoughts may be things you buried a long time ago and never wanted them to return! You have been warned
March 26, 2017
You may have seen warnings about this book that it's gory and it's not for the weak of... stomach. This is extremely true. Do not ignore these warnings. Granted, I read this book while eating dinner (consisting of noodles, no less) but I have a pretty strong stomach.
This is quite a different type of zombie book, one that I have not come across before (and I've read a decent amount of zombie books!). It takes your typical flesh-eating, shuffling zombie and wonders what if the original human mind did not disappear? Basically the mind becomes a slave to the virus (or whatever, this point was not relevant in the book) that turns a normal human being into a zombie. As a human trapped inside a zombie body, you feel incredible revulsion over what your body is doing, to the point where you feel like throwing up, but the body doesn't stop and you can do nothing to control your actions.
The book was pretty unsettling and certainly is not for everyone. I'm glad that I read it but would never read it again, that's for sure.
This is quite a different type of zombie book, one that I have not come across before (and I've read a decent amount of zombie books!). It takes your typical flesh-eating, shuffling zombie and wonders what if the original human mind did not disappear? Basically the mind becomes a slave to the virus (or whatever, this point was not relevant in the book) that turns a normal human being into a zombie. As a human trapped inside a zombie body, you feel incredible revulsion over what your body is doing, to the point where you feel like throwing up, but the body doesn't stop and you can do nothing to control your actions.
The book was pretty unsettling and certainly is not for everyone. I'm glad that I read it but would never read it again, that's for sure.
August 19, 2012
Don't be afraid of what you'll become.
Be afraid of what you are.
This zombie book kind of transcends the genre. I have read a lot of zombie stories in my day, but I have never come across one that made me do more reflecting on my life than this one. As always, Hugh Howey's character development is uncanny, drawing you in and making you part of his world. I've read everything this author has written, and am an admitted fan-boy. That being said, this is right up there with his best work.
This is not the typical zombie tale in that it told completely from the zombie's perspective. There are no heroes, and there is no hope for any kind of salvation or happy ending. You see, zombies are still people. They're still in there, and their brains are still working, they just can't control what their flesh-hungry bodies are doing. They are like unwilling passengers, forced to see everything they do, but unable to exert even enough control to close their eyes.
In essence, this book is not about zombies at all, but more about free will and the way people live their lives in general. Moving about in a routine, with their heads down, and oblivious to the little joys to be found in everyday life. This book is not for the squeamish or weak of heart, but it's not graphic just for the sake of gore. It's more to demonstrate the horror these former people are forced to witness constantly, with no control over stopping it, and to show what a person's psyche can get used to given enough time.
This is definitely one I will re-read on a regular basis. The Zombie Fiction genre has been elevated by this stunningly deep story. This is definitely NOT pulp!
Be afraid of what you are.
This zombie book kind of transcends the genre. I have read a lot of zombie stories in my day, but I have never come across one that made me do more reflecting on my life than this one. As always, Hugh Howey's character development is uncanny, drawing you in and making you part of his world. I've read everything this author has written, and am an admitted fan-boy. That being said, this is right up there with his best work.
This is not the typical zombie tale in that it told completely from the zombie's perspective. There are no heroes, and there is no hope for any kind of salvation or happy ending. You see, zombies are still people. They're still in there, and their brains are still working, they just can't control what their flesh-hungry bodies are doing. They are like unwilling passengers, forced to see everything they do, but unable to exert even enough control to close their eyes.
In essence, this book is not about zombies at all, but more about free will and the way people live their lives in general. Moving about in a routine, with their heads down, and oblivious to the little joys to be found in everyday life. This book is not for the squeamish or weak of heart, but it's not graphic just for the sake of gore. It's more to demonstrate the horror these former people are forced to witness constantly, with no control over stopping it, and to show what a person's psyche can get used to given enough time.
This is definitely one I will re-read on a regular basis. The Zombie Fiction genre has been elevated by this stunningly deep story. This is definitely NOT pulp!
April 9, 2013
The warning in the summary is not just a gimmick. Seriously. It's a straight up warning!! Proceed with great caution for those with weak stomachs and even for somewhat steady stomachs. Ack!!!
After having read this book, I can still say it was definitely a test. I nearly gagged several times, & yet I kept reading. It was a bit long for the premise. It followed the "lives" of various zombies from their personal perspective, as they were still alive inside.
Although I probably could have done without reading this Howey book, I will definitely pick up his books in the future. I absolutely love the Wool omnibus & Shift trilogy. I can't wait for Dust!!
After having read this book, I can still say it was definitely a test. I nearly gagged several times, & yet I kept reading. It was a bit long for the premise. It followed the "lives" of various zombies from their personal perspective, as they were still alive inside.
Although I probably could have done without reading this Howey book, I will definitely pick up his books in the future. I absolutely love the Wool omnibus & Shift trilogy. I can't wait for Dust!!
December 10, 2012
I absolutely love the Wool series so I was interested to read more of the author's work. The concept that the zombies are self aware is great but I just couldn't get past a certain story. If you read it you will know which one I mean. I completely stopped reading the book and will probably just move on with my life!
August 20, 2012
This was great! I never thought about how the zombies might actually feel about their predicament, but after reading this, I might actually feel sorry for them....providing I escaped. I definitely recommend this for horror fiction fans.
October 18, 2012
fresh idea, but probably better suited as a short story.
April 12, 2017
i'm pretty sure this is the most disgusting book i've ever read! no regrets
August 26, 2012
Mr. Howey could market this as a weight-loss miracle: Thanks for the appetite loss, sir!
His descriptions are vivid, detailed and grotesque, painted in such a way that makes it impossible for one to self-imagine the text into a less gruesome version, or to stop reading. There is no filter, no idea shielded from the reader as the graphic scenes begin their merciless, shuffling onslaught, page after page, from the very first words to the very last.
He can’t say he didn’t warn us, right there, in the introduction.
I have to give him props. In a society that has become obsessed with graphic media, he still manages to shock. Movies, TV shows, the internet, pop culture itself with its new apocalyptic fanaticism has deadened us, desensitized us to the brutal truths of what a broken reality really could entail. With his extraordinary descriptive talent, Mr. Howey manages to jolt the reader at a primal level, not holding back, not apologizing, simply showing us a possibility in a truly horrifying, raw, and realistic way.
But the thing that truly, truly sets this work aside is Mr. Howey’s signature ability to tell multiple levels of stories. This is a finely honed skill he has shown us in his other works, notably the Wool series. He can weave a tale that, on a superficial, outside level can stand alone as simply a great read; entertaining, page-turning, and just a plain old good time. But there is a deeper level, another poignant, living truth within the body of the visible story. Hugh Howey has a greater purpose than just to entertain us. He is giving us a chance to pull back the outer layers of ourselves and have a look inside.
Within the grisly reality he has created, Mr. Howey finds away to cast a light on the things in our own selves that truly make us no different from the monsters of “I, Zombie” roaming the streets of New York. He takes on all natures and sizes of issues. To name a few: drug addiction, domestic violence, our dismal excuse for elderly care, mental health issues, 9/11, weight and obesity issues, greed, superficiality, even the simple life-sucking habits we do every moment that lock us into our same routine, day in a day out, shuffling after the things we think we want but believe will never come. These issues are the things that are deserving of our attention, our shock, and our horror.
Sure, this is a good zombie story. But the thing that makes it so much more is that there is something trapped within the monstrously disgusting, outer shell of this narrative. Something alive, something true, something real.
His descriptions are vivid, detailed and grotesque, painted in such a way that makes it impossible for one to self-imagine the text into a less gruesome version, or to stop reading. There is no filter, no idea shielded from the reader as the graphic scenes begin their merciless, shuffling onslaught, page after page, from the very first words to the very last.
He can’t say he didn’t warn us, right there, in the introduction.
I have to give him props. In a society that has become obsessed with graphic media, he still manages to shock. Movies, TV shows, the internet, pop culture itself with its new apocalyptic fanaticism has deadened us, desensitized us to the brutal truths of what a broken reality really could entail. With his extraordinary descriptive talent, Mr. Howey manages to jolt the reader at a primal level, not holding back, not apologizing, simply showing us a possibility in a truly horrifying, raw, and realistic way.
But the thing that truly, truly sets this work aside is Mr. Howey’s signature ability to tell multiple levels of stories. This is a finely honed skill he has shown us in his other works, notably the Wool series. He can weave a tale that, on a superficial, outside level can stand alone as simply a great read; entertaining, page-turning, and just a plain old good time. But there is a deeper level, another poignant, living truth within the body of the visible story. Hugh Howey has a greater purpose than just to entertain us. He is giving us a chance to pull back the outer layers of ourselves and have a look inside.
Within the grisly reality he has created, Mr. Howey finds away to cast a light on the things in our own selves that truly make us no different from the monsters of “I, Zombie” roaming the streets of New York. He takes on all natures and sizes of issues. To name a few: drug addiction, domestic violence, our dismal excuse for elderly care, mental health issues, 9/11, weight and obesity issues, greed, superficiality, even the simple life-sucking habits we do every moment that lock us into our same routine, day in a day out, shuffling after the things we think we want but believe will never come. These issues are the things that are deserving of our attention, our shock, and our horror.
Sure, this is a good zombie story. But the thing that makes it so much more is that there is something trapped within the monstrously disgusting, outer shell of this narrative. Something alive, something true, something real.
June 7, 2017
Obviously, this is a zombie book. It's not what I thought it was. It's a collection of mini stories, mostly about life as a Zombie or becoming one. These zombies have two brains: a monster brain, which their owner's can not control, and the original person's mind and memories that live as a prisoner within the zombie monster. So, the zombie might eat her own mother, but the zombie's inner human would be horrified at watching herself do it. Howey circles between telling a half dozen zombie personal accounts. I kept expecting the tales to converge into a cohesive story, but the only thing cohesive in this book are rotting zombies that stick together literally and as a shuffle (the term for a group of zombies, apparently).
July 25, 2016
Plain and simple, the most horrific book I've ever read. There, now go buy it.
In, I, Zombie, Hugh Howey, breakout author of Wool Omnibus, displays his acute observations on the spectrum of humanity's sins, desires and failures in the most horrifying and genuinely personal zombie book I've read. If this book doesn't move you to live a better, more appreciative life, than you might already be a zombie. This modern day Dante's Inferno illustrates slavery to sin through minds awakened to their sin after and while it is too late to change... so that we can.
I won't lie, I put the book down a few times. This wasn't the page burner that Wool Omnibus was, but it isn't meant to be. The book is split into six parts, each taking three or so characters and laying out the most painful experiences of their "lives," in probably the most grotesque book I've read. It is sad because these people are realizing where they failed in life, and how it is too late to change. Darnell and Lewis, I think in Part V, really put the book over the top for me. While Hugh does a tremendous job painting vastly different portraits of humility and remorse, theirs hit me the hardest. Without spoiling the best part of the book, I'll just say this couple wishes they had another chance to make their marriage what it should have been. I left reading this book glad I still have the chance to continue shaping mine the right way.
Thank you, Hugh.
In, I, Zombie, Hugh Howey, breakout author of Wool Omnibus, displays his acute observations on the spectrum of humanity's sins, desires and failures in the most horrifying and genuinely personal zombie book I've read. If this book doesn't move you to live a better, more appreciative life, than you might already be a zombie. This modern day Dante's Inferno illustrates slavery to sin through minds awakened to their sin after and while it is too late to change... so that we can.
I won't lie, I put the book down a few times. This wasn't the page burner that Wool Omnibus was, but it isn't meant to be. The book is split into six parts, each taking three or so characters and laying out the most painful experiences of their "lives," in probably the most grotesque book I've read. It is sad because these people are realizing where they failed in life, and how it is too late to change. Darnell and Lewis, I think in Part V, really put the book over the top for me. While Hugh does a tremendous job painting vastly different portraits of humility and remorse, theirs hit me the hardest. Without spoiling the best part of the book, I'll just say this couple wishes they had another chance to make their marriage what it should have been. I left reading this book glad I still have the chance to continue shaping mine the right way.
Thank you, Hugh.
August 17, 2012
i very much wanted to give this a 5 star, and I may if I ever get around to a second read, but it didn't captivate me the way Wool did. I sensed there were bigger themes lurking under the surface of the short stories within the book, and the writing by Hugh Howey is again impeccable, but the zombie-gore porn turned out to be somewhat of a distraction. As a huge fan of Stephen King growing up, I didn't think I would ever admit that shocking descriptions of violent acts and grotesqueness could distract me from the overall story, but in this case it did. Maybe it was the constant repetition (very short chapters of which point of view writing leaps from zombie to zombie) that contributed to that. But, if you can plow through the gore and focus on what Howey reveals in each one of his stories, all of which have their own original twist, you get a little something out of each one. And while they all have their own message and personality drawn from the characters point of view, the resounding message is clear: In a way we are all trapped in our own decaying shells with little hope to pull ourselves free of the masses of the trapped around us... ok, that's a pretty pessimistic view of the world I live in, but I can see how many would be drawn and relate to these types of themes, and there is something to the fact (as Hugh points out in the book summary) that we have a particular fascination with the undead flesh eaters.
September 15, 2012
I'm a Hugh Howie fan. How this guy writes so well as a new-ish author blows me away.
Despite my unabashed affection, I couldn't totally get there with this book. Two things strike me in retrospect:
- I just can't do zombies. They have a placement problem. They're supposed to exist in the world we inhabit, but they strain credulity in that setting. I can't allow for how they would come to be. I can do crazy settings; I like the worlds of Stephen Palmer. But zombies among us? My brain won't go with the artifice.
- Too much of the same thing. The notion that a normal mind exists in a zombie body is an interesting thing to explore. But it turns out zombies do the same boring thing all the time, and after we get the concept of "what do you do when you're trapped in a body you can't control?", there's only so much more to get. And after a couple of vignettes, the discourse has run its course. This idea is better suited to a shorter, more stark treatment. Or, a treatment outside the zombie context -how about an ALS patient?
I'm glad I read it. I'm glad to have paid Mr. Howie more money. I realize this was as much an homage to NYC post-9/11 as anything else. But I'd have liked to have spent less time on it, had different expectations, & moved on sooner.
Despite my unabashed affection, I couldn't totally get there with this book. Two things strike me in retrospect:
- I just can't do zombies. They have a placement problem. They're supposed to exist in the world we inhabit, but they strain credulity in that setting. I can't allow for how they would come to be. I can do crazy settings; I like the worlds of Stephen Palmer. But zombies among us? My brain won't go with the artifice.
- Too much of the same thing. The notion that a normal mind exists in a zombie body is an interesting thing to explore. But it turns out zombies do the same boring thing all the time, and after we get the concept of "what do you do when you're trapped in a body you can't control?", there's only so much more to get. And after a couple of vignettes, the discourse has run its course. This idea is better suited to a shorter, more stark treatment. Or, a treatment outside the zombie context -how about an ALS patient?
I'm glad I read it. I'm glad to have paid Mr. Howie more money. I realize this was as much an homage to NYC post-9/11 as anything else. But I'd have liked to have spent less time on it, had different expectations, & moved on sooner.
September 25, 2012
My 1/5 rating is purely a personal opinion, tailored for me, in this case more than most. Zombies, apparently, just aren't my thing. I've never read a zombie book (WWZ's been on my queue forever... that I just haven't feel the desire to start in on), but I thought the premise for I, Zombie was brilliant, and I love Hugh's previous work, so I thought I'd give it a shot. Turns out: nope, not for me. I wasn't offended, or grossed out, I just got bored reading about zombies. The inner monologue was an interesting spin... but at the end of the chapter, they're going to eat some brains (to put it simply). I got about 60% through, and fighting that far, I just power-skimmed the rest of the book just to make sure I wasn't going to miss some huge turn of events. So in my personal rating system, not finishing is an automatic 1/5... hence the initial declaration.
Hugh, if you happen to read this (as there's a semi-decent chance you may), don't worry about it. This one's on me. You totally won me over with Wool, and I really like your style of writing in general (even in this book). So, you keep writing them and I'll keep reading them (yes, even the next zombie book... I'll at least give it a shot).
Hugh, if you happen to read this (as there's a semi-decent chance you may), don't worry about it. This one's on me. You totally won me over with Wool, and I really like your style of writing in general (even in this book). So, you keep writing them and I'll keep reading them (yes, even the next zombie book... I'll at least give it a shot).
September 3, 2012
Must read for any (ADULT) Zombie fan.
This book is a different from the usual zombie fare. In I, Zombie, Howey tells a great story but this time it is from the Zombie's point of view. He does a great job of writing the zombies. Each chapter is either the name or someone who has or is about to turn. From the very first page you find out what it would feel like to be or turn into a zombie.
Sometimes it can be a bit hard to read but that is just because it feels so real. One particularly interesting chapter is one poor soul's transformation from being bitten on the foot to trying to decide what to do with his time before he turns. Somehow, you feel sympathy for these characters. That is the best compliment I can give to this book.
There are some dark parts to the book but it makes it even more believable. Yes, there is some violence toward children in this book but you wouldn't think a zombie would distinguish when it's time to eat. It is in no way gratuitous, and there are also moments of heroism as well. It just feels real.
About 20% through the book I texted another zombie fan and told him he had to read this book immediately. It is just that good.
This book is a different from the usual zombie fare. In I, Zombie, Howey tells a great story but this time it is from the Zombie's point of view. He does a great job of writing the zombies. Each chapter is either the name or someone who has or is about to turn. From the very first page you find out what it would feel like to be or turn into a zombie.
Sometimes it can be a bit hard to read but that is just because it feels so real. One particularly interesting chapter is one poor soul's transformation from being bitten on the foot to trying to decide what to do with his time before he turns. Somehow, you feel sympathy for these characters. That is the best compliment I can give to this book.
There are some dark parts to the book but it makes it even more believable. Yes, there is some violence toward children in this book but you wouldn't think a zombie would distinguish when it's time to eat. It is in no way gratuitous, and there are also moments of heroism as well. It just feels real.
About 20% through the book I texted another zombie fan and told him he had to read this book immediately. It is just that good.
August 16, 2012
First, the gore is off-putting. It's REALLY gory and graphic. But that's the only reason I took away a star. I can't recommend this to a lot of my friends who would prefer not to wade through the hip-deep viscera in order to get to the story, and that's a shame. Because the story is really good, the writing is excellent, the characters well developed. The premise is intriguing, and kept me reading despite the disgust. I felt empathy with many of the characters, and was riveted - so much so that I finished the book in only a few hours.
I understand why he hit the gross-button so hard, but I wish there had been a way to reduce the volume, so to speak - the book goes to 11 the whole time.
Still, if you can get past the gore (I warned you!) this is an excellent read, and I highly recommend it. I loved the Wool series, and Howey's voice is just as strong here.
I understand why he hit the gross-button so hard, but I wish there had been a way to reduce the volume, so to speak - the book goes to 11 the whole time.
Still, if you can get past the gore (I warned you!) this is an excellent read, and I highly recommend it. I loved the Wool series, and Howey's voice is just as strong here.
March 27, 2013
Hubby suggested two books. I read WOOL first and loved it. The idea was really cool, I liked the characters, I never knew what was going to happen next. Man, I could have kept reading long past where he ended this story. I still want to know how those kids end up. I'm finding I like books that have a slow reveal, where the curtain is drawn back inch by inch, and a larger picture becomes clear. I, ZOMBIE is the opposite of that. How could I like one book so much and not the other? Ugh, the repetition. The initial concept was different but that's as far as it went. Hubby said one part about mid-way picked it up for him but it was, for me, gratuitously crossing a comfort line. Oooh, he DIDN'T! Meh. I get it. You're dead, it sucks, move on. Sorry, this one was a bummer for me.
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