Review: Zombies of the World: A Field Guide To The Undead by: Ross Payton
Ross Payton’s Zombies of the World is an interesting take on the undead genre. Written as a guide book to help identify the walking dead, Payton has some comic fun with the cataloging of zombies into a classification of their natural habitat, roaming patterns and identifying characteristics.
Zombies of the World is an A-Z guide for those stalking or touring the famous zombie haunts. Starting with a brief introduction of the Project Resurrectionist and moving into the Origin of the Species, Payton takes the reader through history and explains how the zombies have been with us in every major historical event since the dawn of man.
With one entire section dedicated to identifying the various species of the undead including migratory patterns, distinctive clothing, mannerisms and motives, Zombies of the World is an incredibly well written field guide.
Of course, what field guide wouldn’t be complete without a section about how to survive a zombie encounter? Hysterically funny parts mixed in with pseudo-science makes this book well worth paging through and adding to the library of any zombie fan.
Payton has taken considerable time and effort to intermix historical record with his book. This is what makes the Field Guide so much fun to read. Who wouldn’t want to read about zombie outbreaks in 7000 BCE all the way to present day? This is described within the section, A Social History of the Undead.
I can’t say enough about Payton’s writing as he had taken a fictional genre and turned into something that would be right at home in the travel section of any major book or recreational store. Zombies of the World has the feel and look of a well researched guide book. I got the impression that it could have been a documentary on Discover or the History Channel. But, it’s not all bland boring facts. There are some very funny descriptions such as the North American Necrological Research Institute or NANRI for short. The excerpts showing NANRI personnel at work with the undead is, at times gut busting funny.
The descriptions of some of the undead are really ingenious and comical. The Chinese Hopping Corpse is a good example. Talking Zombie lurking in New York City. (As if anyone would notice?) Taking the carious species and classifying them into categories such as Extinct, Must Exterminate, Critically Endangered, Vulnerable and Least Concern. By itself, these classifications will mean nothing to those who haven’t read this field guide. Those that do read it will have a several laugh out loud moments.
With this classification of the undead I just had to pick out some favorites. The zombie species that made my personal list are, The Gray Shambler, The Reanimated Zombie, The Dancing Zombie and the Talking Zombie. Who wouldn’t like the Talking Zombie? This is the only species of zombie that actually cares for its appearance. Its common habitat is pretty much every major city of the world. The Dancing Zombie is one that can also be found in almost every major city worldwide. Who hasn’t seen a Dancing Zombie? (Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ video featured several Dancing Zombies that were contracted to perform within it.) I’m sure you can find one or a nest at any dance club as their preference is anything from traditional folk dance to the latest fad.
Overall, Ross Payton has done a wonderful job cataloging and identifying the numerous and various species of zombies that are or were roaming the earth.
Available on Amazon.
