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Zombie
In 'Zombies', the absurdity of both life and death are on full display as the best and brightest of a high school prep school become tragically addicted to the latest drug craze - electronic shocks from cardiac defibrillators.
Funny, caustic, bizarre, poignant - this story represents everything listeners have come to love and expect from Chuck Palahniuk.
©2015 Chuck Palahniuk (P)2016 W.F. Howes Ltd.
Funny, caustic, bizarre, poignant - this story represents everything listeners have come to love and expect from Chuck Palahniuk.
©2015 Chuck Palahniuk (P)2016 W.F. Howes Ltd.
10 pages, Unknown Binding
First published November 1, 2013
5 people are currently reading
4963 people want to read
About the author
Chuck Palahniuk
168 books132k followersWritten in stolen moments under truck chassis and on park benches to a soundtrack of The Downward Spiral and Pablo Honey, Fight Club came into existence. The adaptation of Fight Club was a flop at the box office, but achieved cult status on DVD. The film’s popularity drove sales of the novel. Chuck put out two novels in 1999, Survivor and Invisible Monsters. Choke, published in 2001, became Chuck’s first New York Times bestseller. Chuck’s work has always been infused with personal experience, and his next novel, Lullaby, was no exception. Chuck credits writing Lullaby with helping him cope with the tragic death of his father. Diary and the non-fiction guide to Portland, Fugitives and Refugees, were released in 2003. While on the road in support of Diary, Chuck began reading a short story entitled 'Guts,' which would eventually become part of the novel Haunted.
In the years that followed, he continued to write, publishing the bestselling Rant, Snuff, Pygmy, Tell-All, a 'remix' of Invisible Monsters, Damned, and most recently, Doomed.
Chuck also enjoys giving back to his fans, and teaching the art of storytelling has been an important part of that. In 2004, Chuck began submitting essays to ChuckPalahniuk.net on the craft of writing. These were 'How To' pieces, straight out of Chuck's personal bag of tricks, based on the tenants of minimalism he learned from Tom Spanbauer. Every month, a “Homework Assignment” would accompany the lesson, so Workshop members could apply what they had learned. (all 36 of these essays can currently be found on The Cult's sister-site, LitReactor.com).
Then, in 2009, Chuck increased his involvement by committing to read and review a selection of fan-written stories each month. The best stories are currently set to be published in Burnt Tongues, a forthcoming anthology, with an introduction written by Chuck himself.
His next novel, Beautiful You, is due out in October 2014.
In the years that followed, he continued to write, publishing the bestselling Rant, Snuff, Pygmy, Tell-All, a 'remix' of Invisible Monsters, Damned, and most recently, Doomed.
Chuck also enjoys giving back to his fans, and teaching the art of storytelling has been an important part of that. In 2004, Chuck began submitting essays to ChuckPalahniuk.net on the craft of writing. These were 'How To' pieces, straight out of Chuck's personal bag of tricks, based on the tenants of minimalism he learned from Tom Spanbauer. Every month, a “Homework Assignment” would accompany the lesson, so Workshop members could apply what they had learned. (all 36 of these essays can currently be found on The Cult's sister-site, LitReactor.com).
Then, in 2009, Chuck increased his involvement by committing to read and review a selection of fan-written stories each month. The best stories are currently set to be published in Burnt Tongues, a forthcoming anthology, with an introduction written by Chuck himself.
His next novel, Beautiful You, is due out in October 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
January 12, 2021
3.5*
"Sin ofender a Jesús, pero los sumisos no heredaran la tierra. Los reality shows son muestra clara de que los más escandalosos lo obtendrán todo. Y yo opino que lo permitamos... Permitamos que se peleen por el control del asqueroso mundo real"
"En Química Orgánica podría hablar de la teoría de cuerdas hasta quedar anóxico, pero lo que él realmente quería era ser feliz. No solo no estar triste, quería ser feliz en la forma en que un perro es feliz. No ser arrastrado de un lado a otro por mensajes instantáneos irritantes y cambios en la ley federal de impuestos. Tampoco quería morir. Quería ser, y no ser, pero al mismo tiempo. Así de genio pionero era él"
"Ser o no ser. El regalo de Dios para los animales es no tener opción"
Este relato es una feroz critica social.
Como los medios de comunicación generan los problemas y luego pretenden solucionarlos. Ocultan y tergiversan.
De las fachadas detrás de los gobiernos. y como procuran mantener a la gente amansada.
Habla de los parámetros generales que te impone la sociedad...
Rumbo a mantener a todos iguales,sin personalidad, sin brillo,haciendo lo mismo, consumiendo lo mismo ...como "zombies"
El relato en si no es nada extraordinario . Es una manera inteligente de plantear ciertas cosas
Pero me quedo con la critica y algunos conceptos...
La felicidad es algo muy amplio y no hay que seguir un parámetro determinado o impuesto . No es nada que se pueda diseñar y en cierta forma es un accidente .
"Sin ofender a Jesús, pero los sumisos no heredaran la tierra. Los reality shows son muestra clara de que los más escandalosos lo obtendrán todo. Y yo opino que lo permitamos... Permitamos que se peleen por el control del asqueroso mundo real"
"En Química Orgánica podría hablar de la teoría de cuerdas hasta quedar anóxico, pero lo que él realmente quería era ser feliz. No solo no estar triste, quería ser feliz en la forma en que un perro es feliz. No ser arrastrado de un lado a otro por mensajes instantáneos irritantes y cambios en la ley federal de impuestos. Tampoco quería morir. Quería ser, y no ser, pero al mismo tiempo. Así de genio pionero era él"
"Ser o no ser. El regalo de Dios para los animales es no tener opción"
Este relato es una feroz critica social.
Como los medios de comunicación generan los problemas y luego pretenden solucionarlos. Ocultan y tergiversan.
De las fachadas detrás de los gobiernos. y como procuran mantener a la gente amansada.
Habla de los parámetros generales que te impone la sociedad...
Rumbo a mantener a todos iguales,sin personalidad, sin brillo,haciendo lo mismo, consumiendo lo mismo ...como "zombies"
El relato en si no es nada extraordinario . Es una manera inteligente de plantear ciertas cosas
Pero me quedo con la critica y algunos conceptos...
La felicidad es algo muy amplio y no hay que seguir un parámetro determinado o impuesto . No es nada que se pueda diseñar y en cierta forma es un accidente .
February 7, 2021
This short story can be found online, for free, here: https://playboysfw.kinja.com/zombie-a...
It took only 10 meagre pages for Chuck Palahniuk to craft a story that went from bleak, to bizarre, to beautiful. The title do not dictate the contents in the traditional way and so I'd recommend going into this one blindly. There is a sorrowful satire on our own contemporary society depicted but a hopeful final message provided and both are delivered in the entirely bonkers Palahniuk way.
It took only 10 meagre pages for Chuck Palahniuk to craft a story that went from bleak, to bizarre, to beautiful. The title do not dictate the contents in the traditional way and so I'd recommend going into this one blindly. There is a sorrowful satire on our own contemporary society depicted but a hopeful final message provided and both are delivered in the entirely bonkers Palahniuk way.
July 17, 2016
"Ignorance is Bliss"
This is a great short story and offered free to read. Another brilliant satire of one of humankinds condition; the condition of being self conscious. Most notably, the awareness of our mortality. Intelligence comes with a price. Yes, wouldn't it be nice to be able to run down the street, nude, like a blithering idiot, not giving a damn what people think as you yank your wanker. Hah! I just remembered we have an AED hanging on the wall where I work.
December 10, 2013
3.75/4 Stars
As much as I enjoyed this story, I couldn't give it a full 4 stars. This is the second recent short-Palahniuk-story I've read today and I do have to say, this one comes ahead by a landslide.
The whole idea of becoming a living zombie, just to find some peace in this mad world made for a truly grasping tail. Although only ten pages, this story packs a punch. As a younger adult, recently out of college, I feel like the ideas that the kids in this story latch on too are the same ideas, the same fears, that come along with growing up in my generation. The story really was relateale - although I would never do the things that these kids did to cope.
The only down side of this story was the ending - I don't mean to be cynical or dark but I was not expecting a Palahniuk ending to be so "happy". That being said, it did make for a powerful piece and, by the end where the crowd was chanting, I could hear - I could feel - their chants.
As much as I enjoyed this story, I couldn't give it a full 4 stars. This is the second recent short-Palahniuk-story I've read today and I do have to say, this one comes ahead by a landslide.
The whole idea of becoming a living zombie, just to find some peace in this mad world made for a truly grasping tail. Although only ten pages, this story packs a punch. As a younger adult, recently out of college, I feel like the ideas that the kids in this story latch on too are the same ideas, the same fears, that come along with growing up in my generation. The story really was relateale - although I would never do the things that these kids did to cope.
The only down side of this story was the ending - I don't mean to be cynical or dark but I was not expecting a Palahniuk ending to be so "happy". That being said, it did make for a powerful piece and, by the end where the crowd was chanting, I could hear - I could feel - their chants.
May 27, 2015
Have you ever felt that all your problems might stem from being too smart, and that life would be easier if you were lobotomized?
Well, yes, most people would find self-administered lobotomies pretty terrifying and repulsive, and that's what this story of it becoming a fad/epidemic among disaffected teens hinges on.
Well, yes, most people would find self-administered lobotomies pretty terrifying and repulsive, and that's what this story of it becoming a fad/epidemic among disaffected teens hinges on.
May 20, 2020
I was going to give this 5 stars, 4 stars minimum until the ending rolled up. This is the worst way to end such a fascinating hypothetical situation. All ruminations, social reactions get thrown out the window for silly sentimentality. Feel like giving 2 stars but the story started out really well. Really disappointed with this shoddy ending.
May 6, 2021
In this poignant short story, Chuck hits the nail on the head with his descriptions of the crippling depression and existential dread that only the intelligent seem to suffer and the lack of a remedy for it other than suicide or brain trauma. Happy idiots.
August 19, 2025
Misanthropic son or AED lobotomized daughter?
Interesting concept and a very quick read.
Interesting concept and a very quick read.
January 2, 2014
If it's not clear from just glancing at my goodreads profile, (than you may have already took a defibrillator to your head) I ADORE CHUCK PALAHNIUK. He is a brilliant writer and my biggest writing inspiration. Zombie is only "ten" pages long and I read it in like ten minutes, so it's easily worth the read to invest this small amount of time. And it is extraordinary how MUCH Palahniuk can say with so few words. I am truly in awe of him after every read.
*Zombie is basically about these seniors in high school starting this national trend of dyi lobotomies using defibrillators attached to their temples. They purposefully lose their IQ to make the world a more simple, beautiful, lazy, care-free place. It's...shfha;;hagohelihgal
*Zombie is quite different from all of the novels I have read by him, because I was not physically sickened and my heart was never beating really fast at any point while reading this, which is one of the things I usually crave when reading his work. This one is different. It's softer. It's lacking those trademark elements (GUTS) without taking anything out of the story for me. I was surprised with how okay I was with not getting the in-your-face grotesqueness like usual.
*Zombie does, like the rest of his works, immediately put your brain into action. It caused me to think the whole time while reading it and after. And honestly, I'm ready for round two. I'll probably read this story several more times this week.
*This was scarily relatable. And really thinking about it, that makes it all the more provocative. Man! I just cannot get this book out of my head. EVERYONE SHOULD GO READ THIS. If you press on the title, there is a link in the top description that will lead to the short story for free. Thank you Playboy.
*Zombie is basically about these seniors in high school starting this national trend of dyi lobotomies using defibrillators attached to their temples. They purposefully lose their IQ to make the world a more simple, beautiful, lazy, care-free place. It's...shfha;;hagohelihgal
*Zombie is quite different from all of the novels I have read by him, because I was not physically sickened and my heart was never beating really fast at any point while reading this, which is one of the things I usually crave when reading his work. This one is different. It's softer. It's lacking those trademark elements (GUTS) without taking anything out of the story for me. I was surprised with how okay I was with not getting the in-your-face grotesqueness like usual.
*Zombie does, like the rest of his works, immediately put your brain into action. It caused me to think the whole time while reading it and after. And honestly, I'm ready for round two. I'll probably read this story several more times this week.
*This was scarily relatable. And really thinking about it, that makes it all the more provocative. Man! I just cannot get this book out of my head. EVERYONE SHOULD GO READ THIS. If you press on the title, there is a link in the top description that will lead to the short story for free. Thank you Playboy.
September 9, 2017
I was at the library and I was looking for reviews on Zombies: A brief history of decay, the great news was this short story flagged up.
http://playboysfw.kinja.com/zombie-a-...
I'm a huge Palahniuk fan and generally the short stories are disgusting and disturbing. The modern work isn't the great shock work I'm use to but this short story was very good. The zombie lifestyle might solve a generation growing up in a world built on consumerism, socialism and capitalism. This is Palahniuk doing what he does best and this really short story is worth checking out. I enjoyed the humour and the ending, not bad for an incorrect search. The link is the correct one as the one in the description section failed.
http://playboysfw.kinja.com/zombie-a-...
I'm a huge Palahniuk fan and generally the short stories are disgusting and disturbing. The modern work isn't the great shock work I'm use to but this short story was very good. The zombie lifestyle might solve a generation growing up in a world built on consumerism, socialism and capitalism. This is Palahniuk doing what he does best and this really short story is worth checking out. I enjoyed the humour and the ending, not bad for an incorrect search. The link is the correct one as the one in the description section failed.
July 11, 2017
Ujo Chuck píše veľmi divne, používa zvláštne prvky. Vo svojej poviedke rozobral tému života a smrti a ako hlavný prostriedok využil defibrilátor.
Veľmi dobré :)
Veľmi dobré :)
June 30, 2019
El miedo es una sensación que todos hemos experimentado a lo de nuestras vidas, cada uno de diferente manera. Pero el miedo a lo que nos espera en el futuro, a lo desconocido, es una constante. Aveces podemos hacer que este temor no pueda afectarnos, reducir su poder sobre nosotros, pero esto no siempre se logra.
En algunas ocasiones los problemas que nos rodean, inseguridades y miedos. Pueden ser demasiado pesados para nosotros, incluso pueden hacer que no seamos capaces de ver un futuro claro. Con todo esto el camino más rápido e incluso el que se podría pensar el mejor es olvidar los problemas o simplemente ignorarlos, entrar en un estado de indiferencia en el que resulte más fácil voltear a otro lado o encontrar nuestra propia salida del mundo, en el que nisiquiera querramos enterarnos de las dificultades que nos rodean y por lo tanto no tener el mínimo interés en intentar solucionarlos.
Al final no estamos solos, siempre habrán otros ahí afuera que se encuentren en una situación similar a la nuestra que nos puedan entender, así como familiares y amigos en los que se podrá confiar. Junto a ellos podremos recorrer nuestra vida con mayor claridad, confianza y con menos temor.
En algunas ocasiones los problemas que nos rodean, inseguridades y miedos. Pueden ser demasiado pesados para nosotros, incluso pueden hacer que no seamos capaces de ver un futuro claro. Con todo esto el camino más rápido e incluso el que se podría pensar el mejor es olvidar los problemas o simplemente ignorarlos, entrar en un estado de indiferencia en el que resulte más fácil voltear a otro lado o encontrar nuestra propia salida del mundo, en el que nisiquiera querramos enterarnos de las dificultades que nos rodean y por lo tanto no tener el mínimo interés en intentar solucionarlos.
Al final no estamos solos, siempre habrán otros ahí afuera que se encuentren en una situación similar a la nuestra que nos puedan entender, así como familiares y amigos en los que se podrá confiar. Junto a ellos podremos recorrer nuestra vida con mayor claridad, confianza y con menos temor.
November 22, 2013
I love Palahniuk, but his work is usually crash-bang-violent-sexfueled-crazy. Which, like I said, I love.
This isn't. Well, that's there, a little. But this is actually a gorgeous little story (I know, I was shocked Playboy still publishes decent fiction, as well) with actual emotion in it. Enough that I had tears upon finishing it. It's softer than his usual work, and more timely; it's got more of the emotion of Fight Club in it, if I had to categorize it, than you see in his more recent work.
You can read it for free, if you poke around on the internet; you don't even have to go buy a Playboy and be all shamefaced and tell the checkout lady you're getting it for the fiction, dammit, THE FICTION!
If you're a Palahniuk fan, read this. It's not very long, and it's so worth your time. (And if you're not a Palahniuk fan? This might be a good place for you to start reading his work.)
This isn't. Well, that's there, a little. But this is actually a gorgeous little story (I know, I was shocked Playboy still publishes decent fiction, as well) with actual emotion in it. Enough that I had tears upon finishing it. It's softer than his usual work, and more timely; it's got more of the emotion of Fight Club in it, if I had to categorize it, than you see in his more recent work.
You can read it for free, if you poke around on the internet; you don't even have to go buy a Playboy and be all shamefaced and tell the checkout lady you're getting it for the fiction, dammit, THE FICTION!
If you're a Palahniuk fan, read this. It's not very long, and it's so worth your time. (And if you're not a Palahniuk fan? This might be a good place for you to start reading his work.)
September 14, 2015
Decided to start reading this as I waited an hour in the doctors office without a book. At first I didn't like this short story but it grew on me. I can relate with just wanting to live and be truly happy about the simplest things. The ending was also a little surprising, being that humanity doesn't quite seem like that anymore.
January 13, 2014
This is beautiful in a way that goes against most of Chuck's work but still retains his voice and dark sense of humor. Excellent.
November 4, 2017
Have you ever wanted to give yourself a lobotomy because you feel the pressure of being smart in a world of idiots is just too much? Rather drool all over yourself like a zombie in ignorance than have to worry about war or depressing news stories? How easy it would be to take an AED machine to your own head and shock away your intelligence, how simply blissful you would feel. How much you'd love to be a potato.
The best and the brightest teenagers become "addicted" to a new drug, electric shock from cardiac defibrillators to avoid the anxieties of what to do after highschool.
The best and the brightest teenagers become "addicted" to a new drug, electric shock from cardiac defibrillators to avoid the anxieties of what to do after highschool.
December 3, 2024
nota: 3,75
li por indicação do meu namorado, que eu acredito ser um dos principais fãs do Palahniuk kkkkkk
enfim, é uma história extremamente curta (me ajuda a chegar nos 100 livros, obrigada)
vale a pena a leitura basicamente pela mistura de humor sarcástico e da crítica social
é bom, é curto e poderia facilmente ter sido um livro inteiro
li por indicação do meu namorado, que eu acredito ser um dos principais fãs do Palahniuk kkkkkk
enfim, é uma história extremamente curta (me ajuda a chegar nos 100 livros, obrigada)
vale a pena a leitura basicamente pela mistura de humor sarcástico e da crítica social
é bom, é curto e poderia facilmente ter sido um livro inteiro
December 27, 2025
An interesting concept.
October 14, 2020
Un cuento corto e interesante. Plantea la extraña posibilidad de cambiar a un estado mental en el que ya no importa nada y todas las preocupaciones desaparecen, aunque para ello hay que renunciar a todo pensamiento y la propia voluntad.
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October 8, 2018და თუ ეს შეუძლებელი რამ მართლა შეიძლება მოხდეს,მაშინ ვინ იცის,კიდევ რა შეიძლება მოხდეს ?
January 11, 2016
I used to be such a Chuck Palahniuk fan around a decade ago. I devoured Fight Club, Survivor, Invisible Monsters and Choke probably as quickly as I've read anything in my life. But I drifted away halfway through Diary and I just never really came back.
Reading this, I feel I've made the right decision. It's not that it centres on something vaguely shocking, or that the main character is just talking at you the whole time, "anymore," it's the fact that everything reads samey, like the same protagonist could be in almost any Palahniuk story. For some people this is surely a strength and it's perceived as style, but for me it feels lazy.
Reading this, I feel I've made the right decision. It's not that it centres on something vaguely shocking, or that the main character is just talking at you the whole time, "anymore," it's the fact that everything reads samey, like the same protagonist could be in almost any Palahniuk story. For some people this is surely a strength and it's perceived as style, but for me it feels lazy.
September 11, 2015
Another journey to a level of psychosis I hope I never accidentally find myself in as so many of his characters do...
July 31, 2021
Not the way I expected this to finish. And that's a good thing.
February 19, 2024
I thought this was going to be like guts or cannibal but now I just want to hug my 16 y/o self and tell her everything is going to be ok
June 12, 2018
What I took from this paper was the thing I'm constantly trying to improve upon. My need to electrify my brain, killing my brain cells ever so slowly on a daily basis. We all plug in to check out, and I have a constant battle with myself to unplug and check in to my own reality, before I plug in one too many times and become the senseless zombie. It's too easy to become the zombie today. We are inundated with the means to liquefy our minds with the constant flow of senseless dribble that plagues our digital existence. Hopefully I can keep fighting the good fight, before I too become the zombie that so many have already become.
February 17, 2018
I don’t tend to give 5 star ratings lightly, but wow. This book is so viscerally real, I mean, I think most of us are walking around feeling like this all the time and it’s crazy! You hear people talk about how things used to be slower back in the day but now it just feels like everything is on fast-forward and we’re just hurtling on to the next thing. I can see how this could really connect in today’s culture.
March 9, 2022
I would advise to get into this story blindly without more exposure to truly enjoy the bleak melody that Chuck Palahniuk crafts into this short.
The commentary behind the satire is very interesting and forever pertinent, and it's quite impressive to see such an idea be explored in so many ways in such few pages.
The commentary behind the satire is very interesting and forever pertinent, and it's quite impressive to see such an idea be explored in so many ways in such few pages.
March 18, 2024
This is the story begins with students in high school. They do exactly what is shown them by their piers. Even when their actions lead to death, they are revived and return to their friends. They continue to follow each other and mimic. It becomes clear that even individuals who are not students are taking part and following the lead of everyone around them.
September 22, 2024
If you’re a fan of Chuck Palahniuk’s work, this a must read. It’s his classic twisted way of writing about real issues. It’s amazing what he can do with a short story. If you have never read his work, well, it’s only 10 pages long (26 minutes on Audible) so give it a try. Definitely one of his best.
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