So I finally broke down and bought World War Z

[Thorn]

I am a Romero Purest, my life in "zombie land" revolves around" his movies. While I know many other offerings stay true to the "Romero Rules" I have been hesitant to read a lot of the lore and fiction that is out there. Free fiction here on the forums sure, I can just click that off and not have wasted money. More over the majority of it seems to hold true to Romero Rules anyway.

I am about 40 pages in.

I find it a decent read thus far, his character development is "okay" but the most lacking off all of his talents, I appreciate the way he wrote the book the format... not because I am a fan of it but because I think it hides his weaknesses as a writer.

How many of you have read World War Z and what are your spoiler free thoughts and opinions? It is you my brothers and sisters in Zed that I turn to in such matters.

Thanks in advance!

[capncnut]

The audiobook is pretty good also. Decent cast too; Alan Alda, Jurgen Prochnow, Mark Hamill, Henry Rollins, John Turturro, etc.

[archivesofthede]

It's probably one of the better books. Not as good as Day By Day or Morning Star Strain.

[Danny]

The audiobook is pretty good also. Decent cast too; Alan Alda, Jurgen Prochnow, Mark Hamill, Henry Rollins, John Turturro, etc.

aye i prefer the audiobook, mark hamil rocks.

[sandrock74]

I've read the book and I like it! Lots of fun. I really want to hear the audiobook, I always hear how cool it is.

[3pidemiC]

I really enjoyed the book. It gets better and better as you get farther into it.

[EvilNed]

While this is definetly tainted by my love for zombies, but I think it's the best book I've ever read.

[bassman]

I might have to look for this thing. Particularly the audio book. Good actors/voice artists on that one.

Where the hell do you buy audio books, anyway?...

[AcesandEights]

Where the hell do you buy audio books, anyway?...

Larger book stores or Amazon.com, would likely still have this audio book in stock.

[3pidemiC]

I'm reading reviews on itunes that say that Audio book version is incomplete? WTF is that?

[AcesandEights]

I'm reading reviews on itunes that say that Audio book version is incomplete? WTF is that?

Dunno, but I just got it for Christmas not too long ago, so if they mentioned what part is incomplete (the end?) I could look into it and report back. The store bought version is multiple discs, of course, so they may have snagged an online copy somewhere that was incomplete. Maybe...

[EvilNed]

From what I heard, the audio book omitts some chapters.

[Staredge]

I thought it was a great read.

For those of you with iTunes, do a search for World War Z and look in the podcast section. Don't know if they're still there, but at one point in time there were chapters from the audiobook available for free.

[DawnGirl27]

I enjoyed it - liked the different points-of-view. It was one of those books I found hard to put down. I would like to check out the audio book, as well.

[Thorn]

Where I am now it seems a bit slow, and I am looking forward to it picking up. It is interesting though for sure and I can see where it is going.

As to audio books even if your "mega" bookstore (good bye shop around the corner) does not have it in stock they will gladly order it for you. All you have to do is ask.

[SRP76]

I enjoyed it simply because it reads a lot like our "what happens in an outbreak" threads around here. You get to see what's happening to a lot of different people, all in different situations.

I don't like audiobooks at all; I prefer to actually read. I can't just sit and listen to yakking for hours on end.

[Thorn]

I have been reading it on my lunch break, and forcing myself to not pick it up at home. It is giving me something to look forward to. So as I sit here watching the clock for lunch time rocking back and forth I have visions of zombies dancing in my head.

[DjfunkmasterG]

I had to shut the audiobook off by CD #3, it was so boring and overdone. The GF I was dating at the time loved the book, When i finally did read it I thought, eh, Brian Keene's "The Rising" and "City of the Dead" are better.

[clanglee]

I had to shut the audiobook off by CD #3, it was so boring and overdone. The GF I was dating at the time loved the book, When i finally did read it I thought, eh, Brian Keene's "The Rising" and "City of the Dead" are better.

Wow. .really? They were ok. . but nearly as good as WWZ. To each their own.

I just downloaded the audiobook. So far it's great. Really Really good voice actors. I listen to NPR all the time, so this feels like a very creepy special report. Giving me the spooks it is. It if very heavily abridged though. They have cut a number of very interesting chapters.

[DjfunkmasterG]

Wait til Henry Rollins comes on, you will cringe.

[AcesandEights]

Wait til Henry Rollins comes on, you will cringe.

Oh, no...he can be a bit...uhhh, over the top, shall we say. Now I'll have to give a listen to it this weekend for sure.

[kidgloves]

I think it's superb. Can't think of any other zombie book i've read that gives you a snapshot of what would happen around the world in different countries.

[clanglee]

Wait til Henry Rollins comes on, you will cringe.

Nope. . thought he was quite good. And I am currently listening to Mark Hamil's bit. . . . The battle of Yonkers. . .badass!!!

[MoonSylver]

Oh, no...he can be a bit...uhhh, over the top, shall we say. Now I'll have to give a listen to it this weekend for sure.

Rollins? Over the top? I have a hard time believing that....

http://thepig.homeip.net/rants/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/rollinsdva00-thumb.jpg

[capncnut]

Nope. . thought he was quite good.
Quite agree, Clang. One of the best parts I thought.

[MoonSylver]

Quite agree, Clang. One of the best parts I thought.

I love his voice & speaking style. Have all of his spoken word stuff & have been to a couple of the shows. Always impressive.

[capncnut]

I love his voice & speaking style. Have all of his spoken word stuff & have been to a couple of the shows. Always impressive.
I got a few of his spoken word CD's. I thought The Boxed Life was great.

[Thorn]

POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW PLEASE TURN BACK NOW

It has picked up a little and is getting more interesting to me. The part about the smuggler was informative, but to be honest I didn't give a crap about him or his story. How it might have caused the spread sure.

I just found the part well written and the character not interesting at all.

The part with the kid running through the Shantee town was very interesting, and the part with the mother and her children in the corner was well done and believable.

I loved the Israel parts, made perfect sense to me in the current geopolitical climate.

There were no parts with wenches however which made me a sad panda.

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n7/rand555/pandas75za.jpg

[otisbenny]

I loved the book. Has anyone secured the movie rights? At one point I heard Brad Pitt had optioned it but I could be wrong. It would need a huge budget just to cover the locations and large cast. Plus, if it incorporated all the various storylines it'd be something like 4 hours long.

[MoonSylver]

I have visions of zombies dancing in my head.

"Cuz' this is THRILLER! Thriller night...." :stunned::eek::p:D:lol:

[CornishCorpse]

World War Z is a great read especially since alot of the zombie writings Ive read have been pretty sub par but thats highlighted by "Reign of the Dead"
: Shudder : my three year old cousin has written better things. The hpotd fiction section though is awesome, bodysnatchers particularly not sure if there are still up there? Any ideas where I could download a copy of the whole series?

[Thorn]

Okay quick update...

I have been slow to read through this book, very much hammered (at work ... not in a good way) and no time to read. I did just make some headway into it.

A few thoughts and be warned there be spoilers a foot.




The scene in the mental hospital for "feral children" in which she details the events i nthe church? Yeah, I am not afraid to say it... brought a tear to my eye. I got a little emotional. BUT IN A MANLY WAY.

Then after that the part I have heard so much about from you, the Battle at Yonkers. I am not quite through it, it is thankfully a lengthy bit. It is awesome.

Looking forward to lunch today. So you know lunch for me is sitting in my truck with a book... it is -8 degrees here. So I will be wrapped up like only a New Yorker can be in the middle of winter laying down in my truck, reading a zombie book.

God I love America.

[AcesandEights]

I am not afraid to say it... brought a tear to my eye. I got a little emotional. BUT IN A MANLY WAY.

So when you got all choked up, did you ball up a single fist and beat it against your chest as you made ineffable, Staloneish sounds of grief?



So you know lunch for me is sitting in my truck with a book... it is -8 degrees here. So I will be wrapped up like only a New Yorker can be in the middle of winter laying down in my truck, reading a zombie book.


God bless ya, Thorn. It must be a NY thing, because I've done the same thing in winters past. Enjoy your reading. I look forward to hearing more of your opinions on World War Z!

[Thorn]

So when you got all choked up, did you ball up a single fist and beat it against your chest as you made ineffable, Staloneish sounds of grief?

Um sorta like that but with more of the "I must have some thing in my eye" action going on.




God bless ya, Thorn. It must be a NY thing, because I've done the same thing in winters past. Enjoy your reading. I look forward to hearing more of your opinions on World War Z!

NY PRIDE!

[Wyldwraith]

One Concept,
The South African "Plan". Think it was called the Redecker Plan or something similar. That was some ice-cold stuff there. Smart, but definitely along the lines of "If we do this do we really deserve to survive as a species?"

I love the parts about the retraining of the military forces for zombie-fighting. (Like using a metranome to teach firing speed/reloading), and about the American president trying to convince the rest of the world to reclaim the White Zones for the sake of future generations, and the defeatist message they'd be sending to those generations if they didn't do it. It struck me as incredibly realistic that the majority of humanity would be willing to sit on their hands and ignore a deadly threat to species survival if the ones making the decision(s) were currently safe and well-supplied.

The Battle of Yonkers was cool, but I had a hard time believing that the military would be that gullible about their battle deployment. I mean in the real world there's always been some sort of air support/massive anti-personnel contingency for the infantry/front lines being overrun. The lack of incendiaries, air support, and intelligent ammo loadouts for the tanks was depressing. Plus, where were the rally points or predetermined route(s) for a possible withdrawal. It sort of felt like a "What the military might do when facing zombies if lead by a 12yr old" scenario.

[Bruiser235]

It's probably one of the better books. Not as good as Day By Day or Morning Star Strain.

Definitely agree. WWZ had some good parts, some bad parts, and some REALLY bad parts. Ok, overall. ** out of ****

Day by Day Armageddon and Plague of the Dead were much better, though, IMO.


Nope. . thought he was quite good. And I am currently listening to Mark Hamil's bit. . . . The battle of Yonkers. . .badass!!!

I found the Suez Canal fight from Plague of the Dead more engrossing.

[Thorn]

I will have to check them both out next. I bought Left 4 Dead the other night, it is starting to get weird. There is possibly TOO much zombie in my diet right now. Movies, Trade paperbacks, video games, websites, artwork, novels... next I will be LARPING.

[AcesandEights]

next I will be LARPING.

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m77/fairbanksf/Stuff/larp.jpg

[Danny]

indeed sir, serious indeed.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/khazrak/larp.jpg

[SRP76]

...and business is good.

[MoonSylver]

...and business is good.

...or Not...LIGHTNING BOLT!!! LIGHTNING BOLT!!!

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/j_ekugPKqFw&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/j_ekugPKqFw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[Thorn]

The lightning bolt video has to be one of my favorite all time viral videos. Seriously. I find myself wondering what people were thinking as the sat around watching that scene unfold.

Couple of Zombie Specific LARP sites...


http://www.terror4fun.com/zombie_LARP_zombiefest.html

http://www.zombielarp.com/

http://zombielarp.ning.com/

[LoneCrusader]

i've read the hell out of it on wikipedia. i really wanna read it.

[Thorn]

Finished it yesterday, some of it is really good. Some of it moves very slow.

Some thoughts...

1) His level of research is astounding. He went out of his way to research items to ensure that he captured real enough to life facts about places, and things to make it seem believable. This is so key in a work of reality based fiction. To help the reader lose herself in it.

2) The writing style make it hard for there to be a lot of character development. Since it is "restricted" to these chapter views you have very little real estate within which you can draw the reader in. The write does a good job in this, it is not his failing but a failing of the style he selected. As I mentioned elsewhere very few chapters did I emotional connect to the characters in. One was with the Chopper pilot, one was the item already mentioned by me earlier in the thread when I was misty eyed. Not much other than that.

3) I think we could have used a closer look at some of the battles in which free areas defended themselves against the horde. It was interesting, and having it mentioned... thinking about their plight. I would like to have seen some of that in raging detail.

4) Loved the bit about castles and queens.

5) As one who has long maintained that melee weapons would play a very important role if there was an uprising, it did my heart good to see that remain true in many cases.

My next book is the road, not a zombie book but after that I will keep back to zombie books.

I just need slow moving non super zombies, with good character development written by someone with a brain.

Suggestions?