Steve’s Comments (group member since Dec 18, 2009)

Steve’s comments from the Zombies! group.

Agree, R.S. Like those books and series where the zombies are almost the easiest part. It’s getting what you need to survive and other survivors.

I was finding TWD tedious and the unnecessary deaths of certain characters at the beginning of the current season was the final straw. I'm no longer watching the show. On the other hand, I find Fear the WD entertaining and love the fact that it always surprises me.

Damn, looking back I realized that I left out Game of Thrones! How could I possibly forget that?

I'm watching all The CW Arrow-verse shows (Flash, Arrow, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow), Fear the Walking Dead, Z Nation, Dark Matters (which I am sorry to see SYFY dropping), Preacher, Wynonna Earp, Scorpion and Stranger Things on Netflix. The only 'comedy' I'm currently watching is Fox's The Orville with Seth MacFarlane, which I'm enjoying and hoping it finds an audience.

Most of the other stuff are various cooking and 'reality shows' for which I'll set the DVR, like Top Chef, Ink Masters, Forged in Fire and Leah Remini's show on Scientology and American Ripper. When I'm channel surfing I'll stop on whatever mindless stuff that catches my interest.

Let me recommend Night of the Living Trekkies. Fun for both Star Trek and zombie fans. Even mixes on a bit of alien invasion.

Randy wrote: "Steve wrote: "The zombies in Z-Nation, for instance, seem faster than those in The Walking Dead."

Especially when they're on drugs. :)

Not sure how that works since they don't have a working dige..."

I give Z-Nation some leeway with this. It has more of a fantasy element to it than the more realistic Walking Dead. It's such a fun show.

I believe I answered this before, but I think it depends on what the writer is trying to do with the zombies. I like how in some books the undead begin with the speed they had prior to passing, but slowly as their body decays they become slower. The zombies in Z-Nation, for instance, seem faster than those in The Walking Dead.

I agree with Utterly and Luke. After a character has been established it can take you out of the book to suddenly have that person do something 'out of character'. Unless, of course, it is later established that it was done for some reason (the character was not who they appeared to be, etc. and were acting in a manner to be accepted by the group). The worst is when a character that has been portrayed as competent and skilled does something she/he normally wouldn't just to let the author endanger the group or pad the story. This happens more often in a series, but sometimes in a single novel and ruins it.

Mike wrote: "Day by Day Armageddon #1 by J.L. Bourne
Tooth and Nail by Craig DiLouie
The Morning Strain Series by Z.A. Recht"

I really enjoyed "Day by Day" and agree it would probably be a decent film, if the director stuck to the story.

I think Gerald Rice's THE ZOMBIE SHOW would be a kick-ass movie. It takes place after the zombies have mostly been controlled and illegal zombie 'shows' are taking place. These involve people being drugged and put in with zombies (some real, some actors) for entertainment. Undercover agents are sent in to stop one and break up the gang responsible. Pretty good book, with a nice twist on the zombies. Part of the story is even 'narrated' by one of the living dead.

Your typical zombie could not devour a person in so short a time. Also, the zombie is only going for the fleshy bits and I don't believe could gnaw through the bones.

Good points on a good book being more than a genre story. If the tale depends too much on just getting in the expected hits (I.e. child in peril gets saved at the last minute, for example) you start not caring.

Does sound like a different take and something I'd look forward to reading. I'll leave space on my Nook. :-)

As I said in my earlier posts, writers & filmmakers pick and choose the characteristics of their creatures, so in a way it is difficult to have one 'right' answer.

Personally, I'd have the traditional werewolf (picture Lon Chaney, Jr. in the role) and your classic Romero slow Zombie. In any book or film the sympathy would go to the werewolf, simply because he/she would be outnumbered and very, vulnerable during the day.

D.L., your 'change at will' werewolf would have more of an advantage, unless caught off-guard. With his speed, strength and agility he could easily stay ahead of the hoard. He would probably only have to physically confront the undead at his own choosing.

I tend to agree with D.L.'s point. I would think that unless the folks who become werewolves were able to hide out all day the zombies would certainly have an advantage. Also, depending on the 'werewolf mythology' (film-makers and novelists seem to pick and choose when and how often the individuals turn) the werewolves would only have an advantage for six-eight hours each night or only several nights a month depending on the phases of the moon.

You also have to consider any wounds/bites the werewolves might receive in their transformed state. Once they revert back to human, wouldn't the bite of a zombie turn them into one of the undead?

According to Seth Grahame-Smith, who wrote the novel, a script by David O. Russell and Marti Noxon has been completed. Grahame-Smith is currently promoting the film, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and a director for the zombie spoof still hasn't been chosen. I think there is going to be a wait.

Just curious, Glenn. Which version of 'The Crazies' do you mean. The original from Romero or the one from a couple of years ago. Personally, I liked the Romero film, but never got around to seeing the remake.

Had not heard that before about Quarantine, Randy. Just assumed it was a remake as most reviewers said it was. I've never seen REC, so can't compare them, but I hope to see it eventually.

Brendan wrote: "Hey all!

Could we use THIS discussion topic to hold all the self-promotions?

They're becoming increasingly tedious and turning off some of we zombie-lit fans. It's wonderful to have active a..."

Unfortunately, not everyone seems to be limiting their promtions to this thread. I seem to be skipping more and more threads in a number of groups, since it seems more "writers" are posting than readers. I don't know if I'd pick up Stephen King if he was pushing as hard as some of these folks.

Orange, CA