The Zombie Effect
Image courtesy of AMCTV.com
Zombies seem to be popping up everywhere. Yes, those undead creatures who hunger for brains or intestines just can’t seem to stay underground. Many large cities host Zombie Walks/Crawls, where folks dress as zombies and parade down the street, or most likely, from bar to bar. The new tv show that everyone is talking about is AMC’s The Walking Dead. Max Brooks’ book World War Z has made quite an impact on the literary world, and even Jane Austen isn’t safe from the zombie craze. Zombies take center stage in movies such as Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland. In a recent New York Times article, Chuck Klosterman talks about the appeal of zombies and how our fascination with them may stem from that their way of life mirrors our own. And it gives us a chance to think, “What would I do if a zombie(s) were after me?”
Last night, after months of patient waiting on my part, it was finally my turn to pick up the movie Dead Snow from my local library. This movie can be summed up in two words: Nazi zombies. It’s a Norwegian indie film from 2008 that made quite an impact on the Sundance Film Festival in 2009. A group of med students on a break head to a remote cabin. Snowmobiling, snow tubing, drinking, and debauchery eventually leads to an attack on the group from an army of Nazi zombies. As the acquisitions editor in charge of paranormal books, it frankly takes a lot to freak me out. This movie isn’t that scary, but you definitely see a lot of blood (which contrasts so nicely on the snow) and intestines (human and zombie). It’s much funnier than I expected, and I was laughing out loud as the end credits started rolling. The movie was amusing, but I did learn some rather interesting things.
*If caught in a zombie attack, the best weapon of choice is a chainsaw.
*Don’t sneak up on a compatriot during a zombie attack.
*A snowmobile is a great form of transportation, and it can also be used to kill zombies in a variety of ways.
You may laugh, but you never know when these bits of knowledge will be applicable to your life. I have a friend who often thinks, “What would I do during a zombie attack?” I’m all about being prepared for situations, and it’s interesting to think of what you would do in a similar situation.
Llewellyn hasn’t published any books that involve zombies as of yet, and there’s been a bit of a debate. Are zombies in our realm? Yes, we publish books on vampires, werewolves, and other monsters, but zombies are a monster we haven’t tackled as of yet. What’s your take on zombies? Pure fun and camp, or is there more to the walking undead?
After taking the Walking Dead’s survival test, I am a natural leader. Good to know.
I got Father Figure. Interesting.
I have taken many survival -post apocalyptic- type tests. While all are in good fun they say the same thing: prepare for the worst, pray for the best, and get the stupid people killed first!
The fun thing I like about The Walking Dead is that it focuses on the human aspect of survival, that its very difficult to go it alone, and the more resources you have at a moments notice the better prepared you are. This doesn’t mean for disaster only. This means for life in general.
You have to talk to your neighbors, family, co-workers, school kids etc. Who cares that your preparing for Zombies oor the next attack on US soil. Be prepared!
And while you’re at it take the fun “how long would you survive the Zombie apocalypse! Get the books! Be creative and have fun!!!
Zombies play a part in the Voodoo culture, as there have been many reports of loved ones seen working or out and about several weeks after their funerals, usually in places like Jamaica, Haiti, even in Louisiana. It is interesting to think about, and even to read up on some of the more public aspects of Voodoo that are available. I am a believer in other planes of existence, but I am not sure what to think about a body being reanimated, especially if I am not sure of the method in which it was reanimated, or the reason for it. There are a lot of unanswered questions as far as Zombies go, so I think I shall take my own advice and go do some reading, or even some interviewing of zombies’ families or witnesses. Who knows what we will find?
Next year we’re publishing a NEW edition of Monsters by John Michael Greer – there is a whole new chapter Zombies! Watch for it in fall of 2011. If you’re at a bookstore, you will be able to tell the difference because the new edition will say “Tenth Anniversary Edition – Revised and Expanded” on the cover.
I’ve been writing about zombies for a few years now and always tongue-in-cheek… literally. I think zombies are great because they are so close to humans and we can poke fun at our foibles. If we take ourselves too seriously, it sucks the life right out of you faster than those vampires people are still talking about. #teamzombie