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Zombies: The Recent Dead
You can't kill the dead Like any good monster, the zombie has proven to be ever-evolving, monumentally mutable, and open to seemingly endless imaginative interpretations: the thralls of voodoo sorcerers, George Romero's living dead, societal symbols, dancing thrillers, viral victims, reanimated ramblers, video gaming targets, post-apocalyptic permutations, shuffling sidekicks, literary mash-ups, the comedic, and, yes, even the romantic. Evidently, we have an enduring hunger for this infinite onslaught of the ever-hungry dead. Hoards of readers are now devouring zombie fiction faster than armies of the undead could chow down their brains. It's a sick job, but somebody had to do it: explore the innumerable necrotic nightmares of the latest, greatest, most fervent devotion in the history of humankind and ferret out the best of new millenial zombie stories: Zombies: The Recent Dead.
Contents
ix • Preshamble • (2010) • essay by Paula Guran
xii • The Meat of the Matter • (2004) • essay by David J. Schow
xxii • Deaditorial Note • (2010) • essay by Paula Guran
29 • Twisted • (2009) • novelette by Kevin Veale
54 • The Things He Said • (2007) • shortstory by Michael Marshall Smith
64 • Naming of Parts • (2000) • novella by Tim Lebbon
128 • Dating Secrets of the Dead • (2002) • shortstory by David Prill
142 • Lie Still, Sleep Becalmed • (2007) • shortstory by Steve Duffy
171 • The Great Wall: A Story from the Zombie War • (2007) • shortstory by Max Brooks
178 • First Kisses from Beyond the Grave • (2006) • novelette by Nik Houser
218 • Zora and the Zombie • (2004) • novelette by Andy Duncan
239 • Obsequy • (2006) • novelette by David J. Schow
267 • Deadman's Road • [Reverend Jedidiah Mercer] • (2007) • novelette by Joe R. Lansdale
293 • Bitter Grounds • (2003) • novelette by Neil Gaiman
334 • Glorietta • (2009) • shortfiction by Gary A. Braunbeck
334 • Beautiful White Bodies • (2009) • novelette by Alice Sola Kim
342 • Farewell, My Zombie • (2009) • shortfiction by Francesca Lia Block
354 • Trinkets • (2001) • shortfiction by Tobias S. Buckell [as by Tobias Buckell ]
362 • Dead Man's Land • (2009) • shortfiction by David Wellington
378 • Disarmed and Dangerous • (2009) • novelette by Tim Waggoner
395 • The Zombie Prince • (2004) • shortstory by Kit Reed
409 • Three Scenes from the End of the World • (2009) • shortfiction by Brian Keene
420 • The Hortlak • (2003) • novelette by Kelly Link
445 • Dead to the World • (2009) • shortstory by Gary McMahon
458 • The Last Supper • (2003) • shortstory by Scott Edelman
Contents
ix • Preshamble • (2010) • essay by Paula Guran
xii • The Meat of the Matter • (2004) • essay by David J. Schow
xxii • Deaditorial Note • (2010) • essay by Paula Guran
29 • Twisted • (2009) • novelette by Kevin Veale
54 • The Things He Said • (2007) • shortstory by Michael Marshall Smith
64 • Naming of Parts • (2000) • novella by Tim Lebbon
128 • Dating Secrets of the Dead • (2002) • shortstory by David Prill
142 • Lie Still, Sleep Becalmed • (2007) • shortstory by Steve Duffy
171 • The Great Wall: A Story from the Zombie War • (2007) • shortstory by Max Brooks
178 • First Kisses from Beyond the Grave • (2006) • novelette by Nik Houser
218 • Zora and the Zombie • (2004) • novelette by Andy Duncan
239 • Obsequy • (2006) • novelette by David J. Schow
267 • Deadman's Road • [Reverend Jedidiah Mercer] • (2007) • novelette by Joe R. Lansdale
293 • Bitter Grounds • (2003) • novelette by Neil Gaiman
334 • Glorietta • (2009) • shortfiction by Gary A. Braunbeck
334 • Beautiful White Bodies • (2009) • novelette by Alice Sola Kim
342 • Farewell, My Zombie • (2009) • shortfiction by Francesca Lia Block
354 • Trinkets • (2001) • shortfiction by Tobias S. Buckell [as by Tobias Buckell ]
362 • Dead Man's Land • (2009) • shortfiction by David Wellington
378 • Disarmed and Dangerous • (2009) • novelette by Tim Waggoner
395 • The Zombie Prince • (2004) • shortstory by Kit Reed
409 • Three Scenes from the End of the World • (2009) • shortfiction by Brian Keene
420 • The Hortlak • (2003) • novelette by Kelly Link
445 • Dead to the World • (2009) • shortstory by Gary McMahon
458 • The Last Supper • (2003) • shortstory by Scott Edelman
473 pages, Paperback
First published October 18, 2010
101 people are currently reading
1314 people want to read
About the author
Paula Guran
97 books211 followersPaula Guran is senior editor for Prime Books. She edited the Juno fantasy imprint from its small press inception through its incarnation as an imprint of Pocket Books. She is also senior editor of Prime's soon-to-launch digital imprint Masque Books. Guran edits the annual Year's Best Dark Fantasy and Horror series as well as a growing number of other anthologies. In an earlier life she produced weekly email newsletter DarkEcho (winning two Stokers, an IHG award, and a World Fantasy Award nomination), edited Horror Garage (earning another IHG and a second World Fantasy nomination), and has contributed reviews, interviews, and articles to numerous professional publications.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
January 2, 2015
Like many collections of short stories, this one was a combination of hits and misses. I've realized that I'm a bit of a classicist when it comes to zombie stories. I want my zombies to be ZOMBIES; I don't want them to be seducing people in their bedrooms (are you kidding me, Kit Reed? If you want to write a vampire story, write a fricking vampire story), or having a teenage crisis about dating other zombies (no offense, David Prill, but what *was* that?), and I don't even want them to be maybe not really zombies at all, but just people who've lost all feeling or meaning in lives (a rare misfire for Neil Gaiman, sorry). I want them to be MINDLESS HORDES OF BLOOD AND DESTRUCTION, AND YOU BETTER GET YOURSELF TO A MALL OR AT THE VERY LEAST A NICE PUB AND HOPE LIKE HECK THE SWARMING MASSES DON'T OVERRUN YOU WITH THEIR SHEER POWER OF THEIR INSATIABLE HUNGER!
So what did I like? Well, I loved Tim Lebbon's Naming of Parts, a totally classic tale about a family struggling to survive the apocalypse; I enjoyed Michael Marshall Smith's cracked survival tale, The Things He Said; loved the scare-tastic Lie Still, Sleep Becalmed, by Steve Duffy; and really adored Joe R. Lansdale's Western zombie fic, Deadman's Road.
Special kudos to Alice Sola Kim's Beautiful White Bodies, because despite being not a classic zombie story at ALL, I still loved it. Awesome little jab at the culture of worshipping beauty, and definitely made me think about what I would have done in this setting (especially in my sadly unpopular teenage years).
From a previous review of mine, it's probably obvious that I think Max Brooks' WWZ is totally overrated, so it's no surprise that I found his vignette to be pretty forgettable.
Negative kudos to David Wellington's Dead Man's Land, because a story that does nothing but create a world in which women are blissfully accepting of their role as a walking womb or choose to live a life entirely alone is an utter fail. What was his point? Dystopias are usually about a metaphor, but all I took from this was the idea that "all we need is a big enough crisis, and most women will happily accept being chattel again."
Those were pretty much the high and low points for me, with all the rest being various degrees of okay or not okay. Still an interesting read, and definitely worth it just for the ones that really stood out as gems.
So what did I like? Well, I loved Tim Lebbon's Naming of Parts, a totally classic tale about a family struggling to survive the apocalypse; I enjoyed Michael Marshall Smith's cracked survival tale, The Things He Said; loved the scare-tastic Lie Still, Sleep Becalmed, by Steve Duffy; and really adored Joe R. Lansdale's Western zombie fic, Deadman's Road.
Special kudos to Alice Sola Kim's Beautiful White Bodies, because despite being not a classic zombie story at ALL, I still loved it. Awesome little jab at the culture of worshipping beauty, and definitely made me think about what I would have done in this setting (especially in my sadly unpopular teenage years).
From a previous review of mine, it's probably obvious that I think Max Brooks' WWZ is totally overrated, so it's no surprise that I found his vignette to be pretty forgettable.
Negative kudos to David Wellington's Dead Man's Land, because a story that does nothing but create a world in which women are blissfully accepting of their role as a walking womb or choose to live a life entirely alone is an utter fail. What was his point? Dystopias are usually about a metaphor, but all I took from this was the idea that "all we need is a big enough crisis, and most women will happily accept being chattel again."
Those were pretty much the high and low points for me, with all the rest being various degrees of okay or not okay. Still an interesting read, and definitely worth it just for the ones that really stood out as gems.
November 26, 2011
8 Twisted, by Kevin Veale.
Ended too suddenly. Would have liked more.
5 The Things He Said, by Michael Marshall Smith.
9 The Naming of Parts, by Tim Lebbon.
Creepy, good.
Dating Secrets of the Dead, by David Prill.
WTF?
9 Lie Still, Sleep Becalmed, by Steve Duffy.
5 The Great Wall: A Story From the Zombie War, by Max Brooks.
Loved WWZ, but out of context this wasn't so great.
7 First Kisses from Beyond the Grave, by Nik Houser.
Kinda weird. I didn't get the ending.
6 Zora and the Zombie by Andy Duncan.
8 Obsequy, by David J. Schow.
10 Deadman’s Road, by Joe R. Lansdale.
Awesome. Super awesome.
Bitter Grounds, by Neil Gaiman.
Listened to this in Fragile Things, so skipped.
8 Beautiful White Bodies, by Alice Sola Kim.
7 Glorietta, by Gary A. Braunbeck
Cool premise, did nothing with it.
5 Farewell, My Zombie, by Francesca Lia Block
5 Trinkets, by Tobias S. Bucknell.
7 Dead Man’s Land, by David Wellington.
Crappy ending.
9 Disarmed and Dangerous, by Tim Waggoner.
7 The Zombie Prince, by Kit Reed.
8 Selected Scenes from the End of the World: Three Stories from the Universe of ‘The Rising,’, by Brian Keene.
8 The Hortlak, by Kelly Link.
Plain ending
5 Dead to the World, by Garry McMahon.
9 The Last Supper, by Scott Edelman.
Really cool take.
145/20=7.25/10 so 3.625, round up for the good ones.
Ended too suddenly. Would have liked more.
5 The Things He Said, by Michael Marshall Smith.
9 The Naming of Parts, by Tim Lebbon.
Creepy, good.
Dating Secrets of the Dead, by David Prill.
WTF?
9 Lie Still, Sleep Becalmed, by Steve Duffy.
5 The Great Wall: A Story From the Zombie War, by Max Brooks.
Loved WWZ, but out of context this wasn't so great.
7 First Kisses from Beyond the Grave, by Nik Houser.
Kinda weird. I didn't get the ending.
6 Zora and the Zombie by Andy Duncan.
8 Obsequy, by David J. Schow.
10 Deadman’s Road, by Joe R. Lansdale.
Awesome. Super awesome.
Bitter Grounds, by Neil Gaiman.
Listened to this in Fragile Things, so skipped.
8 Beautiful White Bodies, by Alice Sola Kim.
7 Glorietta, by Gary A. Braunbeck
Cool premise, did nothing with it.
5 Farewell, My Zombie, by Francesca Lia Block
5 Trinkets, by Tobias S. Bucknell.
7 Dead Man’s Land, by David Wellington.
Crappy ending.
9 Disarmed and Dangerous, by Tim Waggoner.
7 The Zombie Prince, by Kit Reed.
8 Selected Scenes from the End of the World: Three Stories from the Universe of ‘The Rising,’, by Brian Keene.
8 The Hortlak, by Kelly Link.
Plain ending
5 Dead to the World, by Garry McMahon.
9 The Last Supper, by Scott Edelman.
Really cool take.
145/20=7.25/10 so 3.625, round up for the good ones.
September 9, 2017
I must admit that I liked more the second volume of this series. Not that there are bad stories here, but I felt that the other ones were at a better level than those here.
I'ved enjoyed some of them, but surprisingly there weren't any texts out of the ordinary. Good ones, true, but not at the level I've been expecting it.
I'ved enjoyed some of them, but surprisingly there weren't any texts out of the ordinary. Good ones, true, but not at the level I've been expecting it.
January 21, 2016
This is supposed to be a anthology of zombie short stories, and the stories are zombie related, but besides "The Great Wall" by Max Brooks, and maybe a few others, there is very here for the hardcore zombie fan.
The definition of a zombie is used loosely when it came to choosing stories for this book, which includes what I would consider ghost stories and other stories only tacitly zombie related.
The definition of a zombie is used loosely when it came to choosing stories for this book, which includes what I would consider ghost stories and other stories only tacitly zombie related.
November 22, 2010
I'm going to rate this like I usually do with anthologies. Otherwise it'll all be forgotten. Here goes so far:
(2 stars) Twisted by Kevin Veale - Not so much. I liked the two main characters and I think I like the premise but the prose wasn't for me at all.
(3 stars) The Things He Said by Michael Marshall Smith - better than the first IMO and definitely a shocker and I again liked the premise.
(5 stars) Naming of Parts by Tim Lebbon - This may be the best one yet. Lebbon does a great job tackling feelings and the family aspect can't not tug at your heart. Loved the relationship between brother and sister. Definitely interested in more by him.
(4 stars) Dating Secrets of the Dead by David Prill - what can I say about this? I guess I can no longer claim to be new to the zombie genre. I am, however, still new to the zombie humor subgenre. I wouldn't have ever guessed I'd be interested but then again, I'd have said the same for any zombie book a few years ago. So... this is downright funny. I refuse to use the word 'realistic' but...
(4.5 stars) Lie Still, Sleep Becalmed by Steve Duffy - This has been the most terrifying for me so far. It may stay in first place. Zombies are a scary lot by themselves but throw in the water aspect and I'm done. I'm already scared shitless of any large body of water (this can be determined by whether I can stand and/or see bottom) and this is just a nightmare in writing. I may have been open to getting on a boat before... IF it wasn't going to be far from shore but definitely not now. I'll be thinking of this if anyone ever asks me.
(4.5 stars) The Great Wall by Max Brooks - anyone familiar with World War Z will feel right at home here. It's very, very short and made me want more. Like when I finished WWZ.
(4 stars) First Kisses From Beyond the Grave by Nik Houser - this was a lot like Dating Secrets for me and they both showed me I'm interested in more. Different from anything zombie related I've come across and there are numerous great aspects.
(5 stars) Zora and the Zombie by Andy Duncan - Wow. just wow. I was reminded of how very little I know about zombie fiction, folklore, etc. when reading this. For instance, I had never even heard of Tell My Horse. (Will be going out of my way to find that soon.) I'd love to read something full length by Duncan.
(4 stars) Obsequy by David J. Schow - I love the wide variety in all of these short stories. There are some that I wouldn't read an entire book about but that's personal taste. They're all so very different. This is another that tugs at your heart. Very scary to even imagine. I'm interested in maybe finding something else by Schow.
(n/a) Deadman's Road by Joe R. Lansdale - I skipped this. "Western" anything isn't my cup of teat so cowboy/zombie stories do nothing for me.
(2.5 stars) Bitter Grounds by Neil Gaiman - Even though I've never read any of Gaiman's books I've heard of him. I think you'd have to be living under a rock to have not heard of him. I've always related him to genres I don't really read so when I saw his name here I thought it may be one I'd skip. I didn't skip it and I did enjoy it but it wasn't one of the best for me. I think I just don't mesh well with his writing. I'm sure any Gaiman fan will adore the story.
(4.5 stars) Beautiful White Bodies by Alice Sola Kim - Whoa. This, if it hasn't already, would make an awesome full length book. I'm going to find out if it has been, or maybe will be. It's a crime to keep this a short story. I can't say much without giving the story away and I won't do that but it's definitely not one to be missed.
(3 stars) Glorietta by Gary A. Braunbeck - This one is very short, I'd have liked it to be longer. Some stories are easy to get a grasp of when they're this short and some aren't, this is an 'aren't' for me. I'd be more than willing to read the whiole book of this if it's out there.
(4 stars) Farwell, My Zombie by Francesca Lia Block - Block is another author I've heard of but haven't read until now. I'd definitely read more. I like the main character in the story, Jane, and even as short as it is I really started to feel for her. Not an easy feat for a story all of 11 pages.
(4.5 stars) Trinkets by Tobias S. Buckell - Definitely, definitely would read the entire story. Would love to read an entire story here. I love the premise of a freed slave taking revange on slavetraders. Love it. And I love the execution - it could have been pulled off in any number of ways but the manner here is just above and beyond.
(5 stars) Dead Man's Land by David Wellington - Awesome! I'd read an entire story around this in a second! Love the Wal-Mart aspect. Love the two main characters. This is a great addition to the anthology.
(3.5 stars) Disarmed and Dangerous by Tim Waggoner - This was a little too sci-fi for me. It's one of those stories where 50% of you loved it and 50% of you didn't. Papa Chatha and Matthew are great characters and I loved the twist with Maera butthere are some other parts that just didn't do it for me.
(2.5 stars) The Zombie Prince by Kit Reed - This was one of the stories I liked least. I can't put my finger on what made this so.
(2.5 stars) Selected Scenes from the End of the World by Brian Keene - This 'short story' consists of three even shorter stories. Maybe other people like this sort of thing but how can a story consisting of 3 pages pull me in? I saw the potential in each and I think I'm interested in reading more but I can't say for sure. A few paragraphs doesn't make a story for me, it makes a few paragraphs.
(4 stars) The Hortlak by Kelly Link - This is so, so different. When I started I was thinking I wouldn't like it much and it was fairly confusing for me, especially in the beginning. Eric and Batu make for some intense characters and even though the plot stayed somewhat confusing for me I was most definitely invested in the story.
(4.5 stars) Dead to the World by Gary McMahon - This is the kind of story that haunts me the most, the kind of story I gravitate towards in this genre. The personal, familial aspect pulls me like a magnet. That makes, IMO, this far more scary that any monster that could be thought up. This is another one I'd love to find a full length story about.
(4.5 stars) The Last Supper by Scott Edelma - Wow, I don't even know what to say about this one. It's shcokeing to be sure. I don't want to say too much because it's a killer last story and I don't want to ruin it for anyone. It's one of the best for sure.
Overall this is a great collection of stories. This is only the second zombie anthology I've read and I'm eager to read more. I only wish that more of the shorts would be chosen from novels. If that were the case readers could then find the authors/stories they liked the best, seek them out, and commence to reading to their hearts content. It's not a great feeling to fall in love with a short and then hit a brick wall. But, such is life and this is something I must deal with.
I definitely recommend for zombie lovers who like short stories. If you're more into the entire story stay away, you'll only piss yourself off. Luckily I can go both ways right now. :-)
(2 stars) Twisted by Kevin Veale - Not so much. I liked the two main characters and I think I like the premise but the prose wasn't for me at all.
(3 stars) The Things He Said by Michael Marshall Smith - better than the first IMO and definitely a shocker and I again liked the premise.
(5 stars) Naming of Parts by Tim Lebbon - This may be the best one yet. Lebbon does a great job tackling feelings and the family aspect can't not tug at your heart. Loved the relationship between brother and sister. Definitely interested in more by him.
(4 stars) Dating Secrets of the Dead by David Prill - what can I say about this? I guess I can no longer claim to be new to the zombie genre. I am, however, still new to the zombie humor subgenre. I wouldn't have ever guessed I'd be interested but then again, I'd have said the same for any zombie book a few years ago. So... this is downright funny. I refuse to use the word 'realistic' but...
(4.5 stars) Lie Still, Sleep Becalmed by Steve Duffy - This has been the most terrifying for me so far. It may stay in first place. Zombies are a scary lot by themselves but throw in the water aspect and I'm done. I'm already scared shitless of any large body of water (this can be determined by whether I can stand and/or see bottom) and this is just a nightmare in writing. I may have been open to getting on a boat before... IF it wasn't going to be far from shore but definitely not now. I'll be thinking of this if anyone ever asks me.
(4.5 stars) The Great Wall by Max Brooks - anyone familiar with World War Z will feel right at home here. It's very, very short and made me want more. Like when I finished WWZ.
(4 stars) First Kisses From Beyond the Grave by Nik Houser - this was a lot like Dating Secrets for me and they both showed me I'm interested in more. Different from anything zombie related I've come across and there are numerous great aspects.
(5 stars) Zora and the Zombie by Andy Duncan - Wow. just wow. I was reminded of how very little I know about zombie fiction, folklore, etc. when reading this. For instance, I had never even heard of Tell My Horse. (Will be going out of my way to find that soon.) I'd love to read something full length by Duncan.
(4 stars) Obsequy by David J. Schow - I love the wide variety in all of these short stories. There are some that I wouldn't read an entire book about but that's personal taste. They're all so very different. This is another that tugs at your heart. Very scary to even imagine. I'm interested in maybe finding something else by Schow.
(n/a) Deadman's Road by Joe R. Lansdale - I skipped this. "Western" anything isn't my cup of teat so cowboy/zombie stories do nothing for me.
(2.5 stars) Bitter Grounds by Neil Gaiman - Even though I've never read any of Gaiman's books I've heard of him. I think you'd have to be living under a rock to have not heard of him. I've always related him to genres I don't really read so when I saw his name here I thought it may be one I'd skip. I didn't skip it and I did enjoy it but it wasn't one of the best for me. I think I just don't mesh well with his writing. I'm sure any Gaiman fan will adore the story.
(4.5 stars) Beautiful White Bodies by Alice Sola Kim - Whoa. This, if it hasn't already, would make an awesome full length book. I'm going to find out if it has been, or maybe will be. It's a crime to keep this a short story. I can't say much without giving the story away and I won't do that but it's definitely not one to be missed.
(3 stars) Glorietta by Gary A. Braunbeck - This one is very short, I'd have liked it to be longer. Some stories are easy to get a grasp of when they're this short and some aren't, this is an 'aren't' for me. I'd be more than willing to read the whiole book of this if it's out there.
(4 stars) Farwell, My Zombie by Francesca Lia Block - Block is another author I've heard of but haven't read until now. I'd definitely read more. I like the main character in the story, Jane, and even as short as it is I really started to feel for her. Not an easy feat for a story all of 11 pages.
(4.5 stars) Trinkets by Tobias S. Buckell - Definitely, definitely would read the entire story. Would love to read an entire story here. I love the premise of a freed slave taking revange on slavetraders. Love it. And I love the execution - it could have been pulled off in any number of ways but the manner here is just above and beyond.
(5 stars) Dead Man's Land by David Wellington - Awesome! I'd read an entire story around this in a second! Love the Wal-Mart aspect. Love the two main characters. This is a great addition to the anthology.
(3.5 stars) Disarmed and Dangerous by Tim Waggoner - This was a little too sci-fi for me. It's one of those stories where 50% of you loved it and 50% of you didn't. Papa Chatha and Matthew are great characters and I loved the twist with Maera butthere are some other parts that just didn't do it for me.
(2.5 stars) The Zombie Prince by Kit Reed - This was one of the stories I liked least. I can't put my finger on what made this so.
(2.5 stars) Selected Scenes from the End of the World by Brian Keene - This 'short story' consists of three even shorter stories. Maybe other people like this sort of thing but how can a story consisting of 3 pages pull me in? I saw the potential in each and I think I'm interested in reading more but I can't say for sure. A few paragraphs doesn't make a story for me, it makes a few paragraphs.
(4 stars) The Hortlak by Kelly Link - This is so, so different. When I started I was thinking I wouldn't like it much and it was fairly confusing for me, especially in the beginning. Eric and Batu make for some intense characters and even though the plot stayed somewhat confusing for me I was most definitely invested in the story.
(4.5 stars) Dead to the World by Gary McMahon - This is the kind of story that haunts me the most, the kind of story I gravitate towards in this genre. The personal, familial aspect pulls me like a magnet. That makes, IMO, this far more scary that any monster that could be thought up. This is another one I'd love to find a full length story about.
(4.5 stars) The Last Supper by Scott Edelma - Wow, I don't even know what to say about this one. It's shcokeing to be sure. I don't want to say too much because it's a killer last story and I don't want to ruin it for anyone. It's one of the best for sure.
Overall this is a great collection of stories. This is only the second zombie anthology I've read and I'm eager to read more. I only wish that more of the shorts would be chosen from novels. If that were the case readers could then find the authors/stories they liked the best, seek them out, and commence to reading to their hearts content. It's not a great feeling to fall in love with a short and then hit a brick wall. But, such is life and this is something I must deal with.
I definitely recommend for zombie lovers who like short stories. If you're more into the entire story stay away, you'll only piss yourself off. Luckily I can go both ways right now. :-)
September 11, 2022
In a nutshell this book is a compilation of short stories about zombies. An amalgamation of creative minds and storylines surrounding the idea that is zombies.
Some stories were great, some were gross but great and others just downright boring. Honestly, for a lover of anything zombie-related this was a smorgasbord of zombie worlds you could enter and leave. A select few could be a really good standalone novel.
I enjoyed reading this book and recommend it especially for zombie lovers.
Some stories were great, some were gross but great and others just downright boring. Honestly, for a lover of anything zombie-related this was a smorgasbord of zombie worlds you could enter and leave. A select few could be a really good standalone novel.
I enjoyed reading this book and recommend it especially for zombie lovers.
April 8, 2021
a lot of good stories. hoping to read more of some of the writers at some point.
October 25, 2021
A very interesting read. There were a few stories that were MEH, but other than that, a great read.
October 4, 2021
As you would expect from a collection of short stories, it's hit and miss. There were some great stories, and some terrible one. There were some that had some great ideas and others where I was going "What was the author thinking?" Three stars.
June 25, 2012
I like Zombies. I like Short Stories. Zombie short stories? Sure, why not? Yeah, I picked this book up because I love zombie/post apocalyptic novels and feel that sometimes all you need is a short concise story. I wanted to like it, but......
This book lurked in my list for a long time. I would read a story (I really only found one I tolerated) and then put it off to the side, coming back every so often to bite a small chunk off, get bored and then put it aside again. So I would say I slogged through this book. And this is short story compilation, it shouldn't be like this, where every bite was just not satisfying, but it was. But I rarely give up (from determination or hope, but I rarely quit anything once I started it, be it real life or reading) so I finally finished it (3 months later!).
I will say that the last story was one of the best, so it didn't finish on a truly sour note. But the best thing about this book? That I don't feel compelled to read it any more.
This book lurked in my list for a long time. I would read a story (I really only found one I tolerated) and then put it off to the side, coming back every so often to bite a small chunk off, get bored and then put it aside again. So I would say I slogged through this book. And this is short story compilation, it shouldn't be like this, where every bite was just not satisfying, but it was. But I rarely give up (from determination or hope, but I rarely quit anything once I started it, be it real life or reading) so I finally finished it (3 months later!).
I will say that the last story was one of the best, so it didn't finish on a truly sour note. But the best thing about this book? That I don't feel compelled to read it any more.
October 6, 2011
Every single one of the stories was readable and entertaining, in a lighthearted zombie way. The one novella, Tim Lebbon's "Naming of Parts" was excellent, as was "Dating Secrets of the Dead" by David Prill, "Deadman's Road" by Joe Lansdale, "Trinkets" by Tobias S. Buckell and "The Last Supper" by Scott Edelman. Recommended for those who enjoy Zombie stories that are a little bit scary and only a little bit gory.
December 6, 2011
I REALLY dislike "humorous" stories from the zombies' point of view.
June 29, 2012
BORING!! i tried again and to no avail. this book is too boring, not one of the short story hooked me in!! :-)
May 26, 2015
There are some anthologies that aren't mixed bags, that actually have more good stories than bad ones, or more bad stories than good ones. This was not one such anthology. Full review to come.
August 24, 2014
didn't finish
March 7, 2022
Another fantastic anthology of great zombie stories. Neil Gaiman and Brian Keene are worth the price of admission alone. Have fun!
May 20, 2011
The fast and dirty version is that I was entirely impressed with this anthology, and found it a thoroughly enjoyable read with some new and interesting spins on the broader zombie mythos.
Given that these are short-stories and I want to avoid spoiling anything, these are going to involve a short precis of what makes the story distinctive, before covering what I thought.
With that said, on to the details! In order of appearance, we have:
Introductory Sections
There is an introduction-in-three parts, comprising a "Preshamble" by Paula Guran that provides some crisply-written, useful context to how and where the points of tension and intersection between the modern zombie and the classical vodoun creature are. David J. Schow unpacks the concept further in his introduction, "The Meat of the Matter," which considers both a historical/literary history of zombies and modern popular culture, together with a life lived alongside the films and texts in question. A final "Deaditorial Note," also from Paula Guran, delves into the changes in the zombi-cultural landscape from 2003-2010, a period coming after the period considered in detail within Schow's piece.
I found these sections to be a very interesting start to the anthology, filling in all kinds of contextual details and references that I'd either missed or forgotten in my own encounters with the zombie mythos.
They are also clearly noted on the Table of Contents, so if you just want to skip to the stories they're hardly going to get underfoot. Personally, I found them well worth the time.
Twisted, by Kevin Veale.
This story is mine, and the fact I'm discussing it personally is a little weird. In terms of style/content, it's a 'gonzo' zombie story inspired as much by Hunter S. Thompson as by Romero or voudou. All I can say is that I really enjoyed writing it, I was delighted to be included in this anthology, and that I hope you enjoy reading it.
The Things He Said, by Michael Marshall Smith.
A powerful story with a very tight focus about the daily routine of a survivor. This is one of the pieces I found very memorable when I was reading the anthology, and it does a very good job of presenting an experience of rising dread.
I've liked Michael Marshall Smith's work since I first encountered Only Forward, and this story is a little haunting.
The Naming of Parts, by Tim Lebbon.
A tale of a twelve-year-old boy witnessing domestic apocalypses swept away by external ones. I liked this story for the protagonist's voice, and the gnawing horror that even colour seems to be dying out of the world.
Dating Secrets of the Dead, by David Prill.
An unusually dreamlike story about two dead people dating - which is a mostly redundant statement from the title, but I can't think of a better way to put it. I was intrigued by this story because it's an ambitious approach that could easily go wrong, but I thought it paid off. It didn’t grab me as much as some of the other stories, but I’m not sure that’s anything about the story itself.
Lie Still, Sleep Becalmed, by Steve Duffy.
This was another one of the stories which stood out for me: a group of friends with their own internal frictions (another tasty zombie staple) go out for a night-trip off the Welsh coast. The characters are well rendered, and you can anticipate the ways in which external stresses are going to run right into the points of internal conflict at the worst possible time. It's also got a great tenor or rising dread, with events that are internally consistent, but have a nightmarishly inexplicable feel.
The Great Wall: A Story From the Zombie War, by Max Brooks.
I loved World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, and thought this tale continues the dry tone which includes jibes at the failures of historical archivists for allowing the original treatise to be colloquially known as "World War Z." The story itself follows the creation and defence of the Great Wall of China from the perspective of a woman who is recording her memories for posterity.
It is a chillingly remorseless tale of exhaustion and desperation, yet also of cooperation and survival. Thoroughly recommended for any fans of WWZ. My only disappointment was that the story wasn't longer - not because it felt unfinished, but because I wanted to spend more time with it.
First Kisses from Beyond the Grave, by Nik Houser.
I really liked this story. It has a real energy to it, and an appropriately black comic tone for a story about a boy sent to a school for the dead due to a bureaucratic screw-up.
I also which to note that Roland the gangsta fetus is genius, as are the traditional highschool football games where the school of the dead is ridiculously outclassed at every turn...
Zora and the Zombie by Andy Duncan.
This is another one of the stories which did not grab me as much as some of the others, but where I can’t quite pin down why. It’s about Zora Thurston, a woman writing about the histories and myths of Haiti who finds herself drawn to exploring them herself. There’s no reason for the story not to have grabbed me – the concept is interesting, and the writing crisp with dark humour.
Obsequy, by David J. Schow.
An excellent story with a vicious, slowly rising burn about what happens when the dead start coming back... and haven’t forgotten a thing.
Deadman’s Road, by Joe R. Lansdale.
Another story that made a lasting impression, “Deadman’s Road” features an implacable, gun-toting, wild-west preacher of a vengeful Old Testament God who is driven to test his faith against the supernatural darkness of the world. It’s imaginative, well-characterised and sharply written.
I was left wanting more of this story, and I think I can safely recommend it for any fans of Deadlands: The Weird West Roleplaying Game. Fortunately, Joe R. Lansdale has written other stories featuring the same protagonist, and they’re being reprinted by Subterranean Press as Deadman’s Road.
Bitter Grounds, by Neil Gaiman.
A melancholy, dreamlike and delicate story about someone left emotionally dead who finds himself pulled absently into occupying someone elses’ life. The details are excellent, from the detached narrative voice through to touches of life at an academic conference that can be all too accurate. As an additional bonus within a gently-written story, the understanding of what it might be to be a zombie is one of the creepiest I’ve encountered.
Beautiful White Bodies, by Alice Sola Kim.
This is a standout story within an anthology that’s full of them: beauty seems to become infectious at a small-town school, and girls start to become so pretty that they hardly seem human anymore...
There is barbed humour here together with the genuine horror, a spiky self-awareness about the state of the media image machine, and some quotes that are perfect (and vicious) but which I’ll let people find on their own.
Glorietta, by Gary A. Braunbeck
An imaginative story that comes as a real punch to the gut. I’m not sure I can summarise it in a way that will do the tale justice, but it’s about zombies at christmas.
Farewell, My Zombie, by Francesca Lia Block
A detective story featuring a woman working as a PI who is approached by someone convinced of a zombie-kidnapping – a problem only she can help with. A well-written story with onion-layer depths to it.
Trinkets, by Tobias S. Bucknell.
A historical story with a very neat concept, “Trinkets” is another story that isn’t quite what it seems. Unfortunately, it’s also another one that I can’t quite think how to describe in a way that isn’t going to ruin the fun. What I can say is that I think it’s well done, and I enjoyed it.
Dead Man’s Land, by David Wellington.
A true post-apocalypse story, “Dead Man’s Land” is set in a fallen America where the gigantic malls see themselves as the last islands of civilisation in an unclean land, and where the protagonist is hired to squire a princess from one fiefdom to another. It’s chilling for a wide number of reasons, and the different viewpoints on society it presents is one of them.
Disarmed and Dangerous, by Tim Waggoner.
An entertainingly noir tale about a zombie PI-of-sorts trapped in a parallel city of monsters. The concept is rich, the narrative voice fits both the protagonist and the overall vibe of the story, and I enjoyed the ending.
The Zombie Prince, by Kit Reed.
“The Zombie Prince” considers the zombie mythos from an entirely different lens, producing a supernatural encounter that feels very original. It also reminds me of the film Shadow of the Vampire in terms of how it raises questions regarding who, and what, the real monsters are.
Selected Scenes from the End of the World: Three Stories from the Universe of ‘The Rising,’, by Brian Keene.
This is a trifecta of shorter pieces that imply a larger whole rather than standing alone. They’re certainly evocative, and contain some of the more directly threatening zombies I’ve run into. However, I’m not sure how effective they are in this context at making readers interested in the wider narrative that they’re part of. I did like the final fragment, ‘The Viking Plays Patty Cake’ the most, because it’s the most human.
The Hortlak, by Kelly Link.
“The Hortlak” is a genuinely fantastic story, imaginative and poetic. It’s never entirely clear what’s happened to the world, only that the protagonists work at an all-night retail store on a highway, and that they try to serve the confused and incoherent dead who wander in. It is touching, funny, sad and feels like trying to explain a dream to someone else when you’re close enough to it that it all makes perfect sense.
Dead to the World, by Garry McMahon.
A particularly bleak tale about characters eroded by years of fleeing a zombie-infested world, worn-down to survival instincts and little else. The quality of the writing and the glimpses readers can see of who the characters used to be make the ending particularly striking.
The Last Supper, by Scott Edelman.
Another tale from a zombie’s point of view, and it is a coldly desperate look at how a hungry undead thing might understand – or fail to understand – time.
So there we have it! I don’t think there’s a badly written story in the piece, just variations to what extent a particularly story is my sort of fun. There’s enough variety here in terms of style and content that I think anyone remotely interested in zombie stories will definitely find something they’ll like here.
Given that these are short-stories and I want to avoid spoiling anything, these are going to involve a short precis of what makes the story distinctive, before covering what I thought.
With that said, on to the details! In order of appearance, we have:
Introductory Sections
There is an introduction-in-three parts, comprising a "Preshamble" by Paula Guran that provides some crisply-written, useful context to how and where the points of tension and intersection between the modern zombie and the classical vodoun creature are. David J. Schow unpacks the concept further in his introduction, "The Meat of the Matter," which considers both a historical/literary history of zombies and modern popular culture, together with a life lived alongside the films and texts in question. A final "Deaditorial Note," also from Paula Guran, delves into the changes in the zombi-cultural landscape from 2003-2010, a period coming after the period considered in detail within Schow's piece.
I found these sections to be a very interesting start to the anthology, filling in all kinds of contextual details and references that I'd either missed or forgotten in my own encounters with the zombie mythos.
They are also clearly noted on the Table of Contents, so if you just want to skip to the stories they're hardly going to get underfoot. Personally, I found them well worth the time.
Twisted, by Kevin Veale.
This story is mine, and the fact I'm discussing it personally is a little weird. In terms of style/content, it's a 'gonzo' zombie story inspired as much by Hunter S. Thompson as by Romero or voudou. All I can say is that I really enjoyed writing it, I was delighted to be included in this anthology, and that I hope you enjoy reading it.
The Things He Said, by Michael Marshall Smith.
A powerful story with a very tight focus about the daily routine of a survivor. This is one of the pieces I found very memorable when I was reading the anthology, and it does a very good job of presenting an experience of rising dread.
I've liked Michael Marshall Smith's work since I first encountered Only Forward, and this story is a little haunting.
The Naming of Parts, by Tim Lebbon.
A tale of a twelve-year-old boy witnessing domestic apocalypses swept away by external ones. I liked this story for the protagonist's voice, and the gnawing horror that even colour seems to be dying out of the world.
Dating Secrets of the Dead, by David Prill.
An unusually dreamlike story about two dead people dating - which is a mostly redundant statement from the title, but I can't think of a better way to put it. I was intrigued by this story because it's an ambitious approach that could easily go wrong, but I thought it paid off. It didn’t grab me as much as some of the other stories, but I’m not sure that’s anything about the story itself.
Lie Still, Sleep Becalmed, by Steve Duffy.
This was another one of the stories which stood out for me: a group of friends with their own internal frictions (another tasty zombie staple) go out for a night-trip off the Welsh coast. The characters are well rendered, and you can anticipate the ways in which external stresses are going to run right into the points of internal conflict at the worst possible time. It's also got a great tenor or rising dread, with events that are internally consistent, but have a nightmarishly inexplicable feel.
The Great Wall: A Story From the Zombie War, by Max Brooks.
I loved World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, and thought this tale continues the dry tone which includes jibes at the failures of historical archivists for allowing the original treatise to be colloquially known as "World War Z." The story itself follows the creation and defence of the Great Wall of China from the perspective of a woman who is recording her memories for posterity.
It is a chillingly remorseless tale of exhaustion and desperation, yet also of cooperation and survival. Thoroughly recommended for any fans of WWZ. My only disappointment was that the story wasn't longer - not because it felt unfinished, but because I wanted to spend more time with it.
First Kisses from Beyond the Grave, by Nik Houser.
I really liked this story. It has a real energy to it, and an appropriately black comic tone for a story about a boy sent to a school for the dead due to a bureaucratic screw-up.
I also which to note that Roland the gangsta fetus is genius, as are the traditional highschool football games where the school of the dead is ridiculously outclassed at every turn...
Zora and the Zombie by Andy Duncan.
This is another one of the stories which did not grab me as much as some of the others, but where I can’t quite pin down why. It’s about Zora Thurston, a woman writing about the histories and myths of Haiti who finds herself drawn to exploring them herself. There’s no reason for the story not to have grabbed me – the concept is interesting, and the writing crisp with dark humour.
Obsequy, by David J. Schow.
An excellent story with a vicious, slowly rising burn about what happens when the dead start coming back... and haven’t forgotten a thing.
Deadman’s Road, by Joe R. Lansdale.
Another story that made a lasting impression, “Deadman’s Road” features an implacable, gun-toting, wild-west preacher of a vengeful Old Testament God who is driven to test his faith against the supernatural darkness of the world. It’s imaginative, well-characterised and sharply written.
I was left wanting more of this story, and I think I can safely recommend it for any fans of Deadlands: The Weird West Roleplaying Game. Fortunately, Joe R. Lansdale has written other stories featuring the same protagonist, and they’re being reprinted by Subterranean Press as Deadman’s Road.
Bitter Grounds, by Neil Gaiman.
A melancholy, dreamlike and delicate story about someone left emotionally dead who finds himself pulled absently into occupying someone elses’ life. The details are excellent, from the detached narrative voice through to touches of life at an academic conference that can be all too accurate. As an additional bonus within a gently-written story, the understanding of what it might be to be a zombie is one of the creepiest I’ve encountered.
Beautiful White Bodies, by Alice Sola Kim.
This is a standout story within an anthology that’s full of them: beauty seems to become infectious at a small-town school, and girls start to become so pretty that they hardly seem human anymore...
There is barbed humour here together with the genuine horror, a spiky self-awareness about the state of the media image machine, and some quotes that are perfect (and vicious) but which I’ll let people find on their own.
Glorietta, by Gary A. Braunbeck
An imaginative story that comes as a real punch to the gut. I’m not sure I can summarise it in a way that will do the tale justice, but it’s about zombies at christmas.
Farewell, My Zombie, by Francesca Lia Block
A detective story featuring a woman working as a PI who is approached by someone convinced of a zombie-kidnapping – a problem only she can help with. A well-written story with onion-layer depths to it.
Trinkets, by Tobias S. Bucknell.
A historical story with a very neat concept, “Trinkets” is another story that isn’t quite what it seems. Unfortunately, it’s also another one that I can’t quite think how to describe in a way that isn’t going to ruin the fun. What I can say is that I think it’s well done, and I enjoyed it.
Dead Man’s Land, by David Wellington.
A true post-apocalypse story, “Dead Man’s Land” is set in a fallen America where the gigantic malls see themselves as the last islands of civilisation in an unclean land, and where the protagonist is hired to squire a princess from one fiefdom to another. It’s chilling for a wide number of reasons, and the different viewpoints on society it presents is one of them.
Disarmed and Dangerous, by Tim Waggoner.
An entertainingly noir tale about a zombie PI-of-sorts trapped in a parallel city of monsters. The concept is rich, the narrative voice fits both the protagonist and the overall vibe of the story, and I enjoyed the ending.
The Zombie Prince, by Kit Reed.
“The Zombie Prince” considers the zombie mythos from an entirely different lens, producing a supernatural encounter that feels very original. It also reminds me of the film Shadow of the Vampire in terms of how it raises questions regarding who, and what, the real monsters are.
Selected Scenes from the End of the World: Three Stories from the Universe of ‘The Rising,’, by Brian Keene.
This is a trifecta of shorter pieces that imply a larger whole rather than standing alone. They’re certainly evocative, and contain some of the more directly threatening zombies I’ve run into. However, I’m not sure how effective they are in this context at making readers interested in the wider narrative that they’re part of. I did like the final fragment, ‘The Viking Plays Patty Cake’ the most, because it’s the most human.
The Hortlak, by Kelly Link.
“The Hortlak” is a genuinely fantastic story, imaginative and poetic. It’s never entirely clear what’s happened to the world, only that the protagonists work at an all-night retail store on a highway, and that they try to serve the confused and incoherent dead who wander in. It is touching, funny, sad and feels like trying to explain a dream to someone else when you’re close enough to it that it all makes perfect sense.
Dead to the World, by Garry McMahon.
A particularly bleak tale about characters eroded by years of fleeing a zombie-infested world, worn-down to survival instincts and little else. The quality of the writing and the glimpses readers can see of who the characters used to be make the ending particularly striking.
The Last Supper, by Scott Edelman.
Another tale from a zombie’s point of view, and it is a coldly desperate look at how a hungry undead thing might understand – or fail to understand – time.
So there we have it! I don’t think there’s a badly written story in the piece, just variations to what extent a particularly story is my sort of fun. There’s enough variety here in terms of style and content that I think anyone remotely interested in zombie stories will definitely find something they’ll like here.
Currently reading
October 15, 2023My review is for the paperback book that I borrowed from the local library.
Richard Matheson's book I am Legend is about cannibalistic vampires, they aren't zombies, I don't understand why they are always described as zombies since they are cannibalistic vampires.
It's one of my favourite books.
I'm already a fan of Neil Gaiman (I still need to read his books, but I like adaptations based on his books)
I haven't read any books about zombies, but there are classic Gothic tales about people being buried alive, returning after death by Edgar Allan Poe, and other authors that I really like.
The fact that the government could create a real or artificial drug that reanimates necrotic tissue of the dead is disturbing and creepy to me, especially if it was done for just for population control.
𝐙𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧-is the correct term for rendering a person to almost dead, very close to death by drugging them with specific plants, this renders the person to be incapable of refusing the practitioner of their desired tasks to be completed.
The person is compliant, in a"𝐳𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐞-𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞" state so they aren't dead, but they act like a zombie, but they aren't exactly a zombie, but close enough to being a zombie.
The exact method of zombification is never really spoken about due to cultural and spiritual practices that are sacred to the Haitian and African people, you have to be initiated to learn the occult knowledge, the spiritual beliefs & practices of Vodou, it is a generational heritage, it's part of their culture, way of life and it should be respected.
Reanimating the dead with Necromancy (death magick) has a high spiritual cost, which may or may not even be worth the hassle, so the Haitian/African Vodou method is lot easier.
Otherwise Galvanism was used a a method to experiment with reanimating frogs legs by applying a electrical current to the limbs.
This gave Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley the inspiration to write Frankenstein or (the Modern Prometheus) Frankenstein is the main character's Victor Frankenstein's surname, his creation made up of the limbs from the corpses of criminals never had a name.
Sadly Mary Shelley had a few miscarriages and she had a nightmare about it, this also inspired her to write Frankenstein.
Richard Matheson's book I am Legend is about cannibalistic vampires, they aren't zombies, I don't understand why they are always described as zombies since they are cannibalistic vampires.
It's one of my favourite books.
I'm already a fan of Neil Gaiman (I still need to read his books, but I like adaptations based on his books)
I haven't read any books about zombies, but there are classic Gothic tales about people being buried alive, returning after death by Edgar Allan Poe, and other authors that I really like.
The fact that the government could create a real or artificial drug that reanimates necrotic tissue of the dead is disturbing and creepy to me, especially if it was done for just for population control.
𝐙𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧-is the correct term for rendering a person to almost dead, very close to death by drugging them with specific plants, this renders the person to be incapable of refusing the practitioner of their desired tasks to be completed.
The person is compliant, in a"𝐳𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐞-𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞" state so they aren't dead, but they act like a zombie, but they aren't exactly a zombie, but close enough to being a zombie.
The exact method of zombification is never really spoken about due to cultural and spiritual practices that are sacred to the Haitian and African people, you have to be initiated to learn the occult knowledge, the spiritual beliefs & practices of Vodou, it is a generational heritage, it's part of their culture, way of life and it should be respected.
Reanimating the dead with Necromancy (death magick) has a high spiritual cost, which may or may not even be worth the hassle, so the Haitian/African Vodou method is lot easier.
Otherwise Galvanism was used a a method to experiment with reanimating frogs legs by applying a electrical current to the limbs.
This gave Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley the inspiration to write Frankenstein or (the Modern Prometheus) Frankenstein is the main character's Victor Frankenstein's surname, his creation made up of the limbs from the corpses of criminals never had a name.
Sadly Mary Shelley had a few miscarriages and she had a nightmare about it, this also inspired her to write Frankenstein.
December 30, 2022
There is nary a misstep in this reanimation of a classic genre creature, the zombie.
From Roxanne Gay's devastating traditional voodoo tale which is brilliantly turned on its head, to Eric Gregory's 'The Harrowers',which is a post apocalyptic tale via The Dark Tower, this collection shows this corpse laden landscape still has more tricks up its sleeve.
Zombies,by their nature are terrifying abominations that stand against morality, religion and science alike and yet they remain emblematic through modern TV shows and films of the way we shamble through society whilst opting out of it altogether.
The motif of a zombie as a loved one returned to us by forces beyond our control,duels with the kill or be killed rhetoric that pits loved one's against each other.
It may be the 21st Century but this meaty, thematically driven anthology has plenty to say via talented authors on what the nature of a reanimated corpse is.
The genre invented by a 17 year old girl in the 1800's has so many more ways of being explored but it takes a talented editor to assemble such a fine collection where I had to read thoughtfully,slowly and think about each tale.
Some have startling images if resurrection and survival tactics that make you question just how far you would go to make it.
And , in the end,are we not all zombies in training as we advance towards our death and desperately try to make sense of what comes next?
Highly recommended and not for the faint of heart.
From Roxanne Gay's devastating traditional voodoo tale which is brilliantly turned on its head, to Eric Gregory's 'The Harrowers',which is a post apocalyptic tale via The Dark Tower, this collection shows this corpse laden landscape still has more tricks up its sleeve.
Zombies,by their nature are terrifying abominations that stand against morality, religion and science alike and yet they remain emblematic through modern TV shows and films of the way we shamble through society whilst opting out of it altogether.
The motif of a zombie as a loved one returned to us by forces beyond our control,duels with the kill or be killed rhetoric that pits loved one's against each other.
It may be the 21st Century but this meaty, thematically driven anthology has plenty to say via talented authors on what the nature of a reanimated corpse is.
The genre invented by a 17 year old girl in the 1800's has so many more ways of being explored but it takes a talented editor to assemble such a fine collection where I had to read thoughtfully,slowly and think about each tale.
Some have startling images if resurrection and survival tactics that make you question just how far you would go to make it.
And , in the end,are we not all zombies in training as we advance towards our death and desperately try to make sense of what comes next?
Highly recommended and not for the faint of heart.
December 29, 2018
While the majority of short stories were gripping and creepy as sin with interesting characters and refreshing premises, a few had me rolling my eyes so hard it hurt. That said, the gems are so good it's all worth it. My favourites include (in chronological order);
Twisted by Kevin Veale:
Interesting premise, left me wanting more.
The Things He Said by Michael Marshall Smith:
Admittedly not the most entertaining read, however it packs a punch and gives an alarming lasting impression.
Naming of Parts by Tim Lebbon:
The beginning of the end of the world from a child's perspective. Super creepy and sad.
Lie Still, Sleep Becalmed by Steve Duffy:
Stunningly terrifying and surprisingly poetic.
First Kisses from Beyond the Grave by Nik Houser:
Highly offensive but witty and hilarious!
Deadman's Road by Joe R. Landsdale:
Very American, with guns and bibles as their weapons of choice, though a truly grisly tale.
Dead Man's Land by David Wellington:
Disturbing, yet weirdly empowering.
Selected Scenes from the End of the World by Brian Keene:
The first one of the three storylines gave me chills.
Twisted by Kevin Veale:
Interesting premise, left me wanting more.
The Things He Said by Michael Marshall Smith:
Admittedly not the most entertaining read, however it packs a punch and gives an alarming lasting impression.
Naming of Parts by Tim Lebbon:
The beginning of the end of the world from a child's perspective. Super creepy and sad.
Lie Still, Sleep Becalmed by Steve Duffy:
Stunningly terrifying and surprisingly poetic.
First Kisses from Beyond the Grave by Nik Houser:
Highly offensive but witty and hilarious!
Deadman's Road by Joe R. Landsdale:
Very American, with guns and bibles as their weapons of choice, though a truly grisly tale.
Dead Man's Land by David Wellington:
Disturbing, yet weirdly empowering.
Selected Scenes from the End of the World by Brian Keene:
The first one of the three storylines gave me chills.
April 30, 2018
Zombies: The Recent Dead is a seriocomic anthology about, well, zombies. The hefty tome (22 stories!) runs the gamut from the dead serious (an anthropologist researching santeria might have seen a real, undead zombie) to the lighthearted (High School of the Dead and Young Zombies In Love) to WTF (a group of drug addicts are convinced that staying high changes their smell enough so that the zombies don't notice them). I have to say that most of the stories were of excellent quality, even if the subject matter wasn't already done to death. Well worth your time.
November 29, 2022
As with all anthologies there were hits and misses in this collection, plus one of the narrator’s reminded me of David Attenborough which was just really odd when talking about zombies.
For me too many of these zombie stories were just okay. There were maybe three that were unique takes, about the same classic Romero zombie style and the rest were just meh, loosely related to zombies but could easily been classed as another genre.
Some people will love the stories I didn’t so probably worth a read/listen.
For me too many of these zombie stories were just okay. There were maybe three that were unique takes, about the same classic Romero zombie style and the rest were just meh, loosely related to zombies but could easily been classed as another genre.
Some people will love the stories I didn’t so probably worth a read/listen.
December 29, 2023
This book took me all year to read since I kept taking breaks to read other books. This was a pretty big book with a bunch of good stories in it. I enjoyed one so much I had to seek it out in another book where similar stories were written by the same author featuring the same character. I also read a story or two in this book, which were included in a previous anthology that I read. I love a good zombie story. Of course, there were a couple of stories in here that were not really to my liking, but they weren't too bad. Just not my thing. I am still giving it 5 stars.
December 12, 2022
This is a book of short zombie stories. Some of the stories were really good others i was not a fan of. Like many books filled with short stories you are going to find some that are just not that interesting or the writing style isn't something you like. I found more stories I liked in this book then I didn't like.
July 8, 2025
What a wonderfully creepy Zombie anthology! Of course, I loved some stories more than others, but it is definitely a collection to read. Many authors participated so there is a lot of different perspectives and tales to tell. No Spoilers! This is one chucky book that I highly recommend to everyone who loves Zombies!
November 4, 2021
In this collection, there were two standout stories, some okay stories, and some... not so okay. The editing was also not the best.
Unfortunately overall, I was not as impressed with this book I was hoping to be.
Unfortunately overall, I was not as impressed with this book I was hoping to be.
August 3, 2023
As with any anthology there were good stories and not so good stories. I enjoyed a few of them, and weirdly (for me) most of the ones I enjoyed had possibly hopeful endings, except one that took place at Christmas.
December 17, 2016
Thankfully the 2nd half of this book picked up considerably and while I still prefer the sequel, the stories in the last half helped make this book a pretty good read!
June 28, 2019
Really uneven. Enjoyed a couple of the stories but the majority of them were "meh" 😕
April 27, 2020
An excellent collection, containing a good amount of thoughtful stories. Some, though, were almost incomprehensibly weird.
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