I recently published my first novel, The Undying Love, which is about a young couple that finds themselves fighting for their lives after the living dead crashes their wedding. I had a lot of fun writing this book, but when writing about the undead, I was surprised at how many ethical and moral questions zombies raised, especially in regards to zombie killing.
If a zombie is perusing you, then of course you can kill them out of self-defense with very little remorse. That’s a no-brainer. I think the really difficult question is: if your spouse was a zombie, could you kill them? Or better yet: if your spouse was a zombie and endangering the rest of your family, could you kill them?
I’ve seen a lot of zombie movies and read a lot of zombie books, and many times I see characters offing close family members with such flippant ease, usually justifying by saying, “Well, they’re already dead anyway.â€
The other (and probably more realistic) side of this is when I see people in movies and books who can’t kill their recently zombified family member. They either cart them around in a wheelbarrow, or keep them locked up and feeding them flesh, or better yet, restrain them in anticipation of some improbable cure.
Personally, I feel pretty confidently that I could dispatch an undead friend or acquaintance or business associate. I’m certain, especially if they were endangering my family, that I would have no problem painting the sidewalk with said zombie’s brains. However, I think that would all change if it was my spouse or an immediate family member threatening me. Daydreaming about the zombie apocalypse is fascinating and entertaining, but if it really happened in real life and my spouse was infected, I don’t think I could “put her out of her misery.â€
First of all, I would be absolutely devastated that my lovely wife was a mindless flesh-eating corpse, so I don’t think my decision making processes would be very rational. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I’m positive that I could not “put down†my wife if she became a zombie.
Some people may think I’m being selfish and some people might think I’m being morbidly romantic. But really, I think it just comes down to the fact that I wouldn’t have it in me. I would probably be the guy you see in the books and movies that is pushing his undead wife around in a wheelbarrow, or keeping her in a barn and feeding her live animals.
Or better yet, I could take a cue from the hilarious zom-com, Shaun of the Dead, and chain her to the couch and make her play video games with me all day. Yes, she’d certainly have to be a zombie for me to pull that feat off!
The Undying Love by Greg McCabe
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Synopsis:
For Diane and Jackson, life is just about perfect. They’re healthy, happy, and madly in love with one another. Unknown to them, a virus is sweeping across the globe that instantly kills the infected and turns their corpses into mindless, murdering cannibals. In short: zombies have taken over the planet.
Diane and Jackson find out about the epidemic the hard way when their wedding is crashed by friends and family who have succumbed to the virus. Now, fighting for survival, they’re faced with unthinkable decisions.
Follow their story across Southeast Texas as they meet unforgettable characters and face challenges that will put their love, and lives to the ultimate test.
Purchase Links:
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About the Author:
Greg McCabe is a proud Texan. He was born and raised in Midland, Texas, received a degree in Speech Communication from Texas A&M University, and currently resides in the Lone Star State. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Mandy, his daughter, Annabelle, and his dog, Walter, as well as traveling, sports, movies, reading, and writing. He enjoys all genres of fiction, but seems to gravitate towards horror and science fiction. The Undying Love is Greg’s first book.
