Writer: Max Brooks
Publisher: Duckworth
Specifications: Paperback, 320 pages
World War Z – An Oral History of the Zombie War (Duckworth) is Max Brooks’ follow up to his highly acclaimed 2004 book The Zombie Survival Guide - Complete Protection from the Living Dead. The book’s introduction sets the scene, stating that twelve years have elapsed since VA day was declared in the United States, barely ten since “Victory in China Day” and the entire planet is still struggling to come to terms with the aftermath of “The Walking Plague”.
“[…] global life expectancy is a mere shadow of its former pre-war figure. Malnutrition, pollution, the rise of previously eradicated ailments […]; there are simply not enough resources to care for all the physical and psychological casualties.”
In WWZ Brooks sets himself up (or at least, sets the book’s fictional author up) as someone originally put in charge of interviewing survivors for the United Nations Post-war Commission Report. The material that was collected was however, deemed too personal with “too many opinions [and] too many feelings” to be included in the final report. After protesting at this, it was suggested to the author that he was free to create his own manuscript using the unedited interview transcriptions, thereby preserving the “human factor” which had been white washed from the original report.
WWZ is, in some respects, more of a short story anthology than a traditional novel. Yes, there is an overall story arc and yes, we do re-visit certain characters and settings but, there are many chapters of the book which easily stand up on their own as self contained, masterful works of horror fiction. Indeed, there is an undeniable delight in picking up on those key words, phrases, place names and dates that run through the book like stitches; holding together the over all narrative sturdily yet almost invisibly.
Taking us from the account of the doctor who treated, or at least met with, “patient zero” in a remote Chinese village right through to a post-war, shell shocked America, WWZ manages to conjure not only an epic battle but also its socio-political side effects and after effects.
There are far too many spine tinglingly good moments in the book to single any out for special mention … Oh go on then, how about the tale told by a freelance peacekeeping agent about his time working as a guard in a Big Brother style house full of celebrities; the live feed showing the rest of the world just how concerned they are as they weep crocodile tears over the poor plebs out in lich city. How did they cope once the complex came under attack? Well, you’ll have to read the book to find out. Readers familiar with Brooks’ previous book (which even gets a mention in WWZ although, it’s decried as being “clearly written by an American” with no understanding of the resources available in other countries) will already be aware of many shocking facts about the undead: their ability to walk or float around in a body of water for prolonged periods of time without suffering any adverse effects, for instance. Or their ‘survive’ being frozen solid in the winter only to become mobile again when the thaw comes. Many of these ingenious and well reasoned scenarios come into their own in WWZ as we read accounts of people doing battle with “Zack” in the most unlikely, awkward, remote and terrifying situations.
Living dead devotee that I am, I have absolutely no hesitation in saying that WWZ actually supersedes, not only all those pretenders and wannabes out there but, even George A. Romero himself (especially given the disappointing undead-evolution, “zombies have feelings too”, inexplicably Mad Max looking car crash that was Land Of The Dead). Max Brooks has revitalised a genre by redefining its boundaries; illustrating the fact that sticking to the rules doesn’t have to mean playing safe.
Thanks to Max, it seems that there’s plenty of life left in the undead yet.
You can read John Reppion’s interview with World War Z author Max Brooks over at www.RevenantMagazine.com.
John Reppion was born in Liverpool, England in 1978.
His writing career began in 2003 when he collaborated with his wife Leah Moore on a proposal for a six issue mini series entitled Wild Girl. The proposal was accepted and the series was published by Wildstorm in 2004/05.
John's interests in Fortean phenomena, esoterica, folklore, philosophy, theology and horror have led to his writing articles and reviews for numerous magazines and periodicals including Fortean Times, Strange Attractor, The End Is Nigh and Revenant Magazine.
He continues to script comics in partnership with his wife and hopes to do so for many years to come.