From Film To Page – The Journey Of The Undead
For many fans of the zombie genre, there is a defining moment. There is a single instant in time that, like a large boulder dropped in a small stream, changes the course of things for all times. Years later, that boulder is an important and real part of the landscape. It becomes impossible to see the stream without that boulder. For millions, the American-Zombie is that boulder. The zombie is entrenched in our lives.
Most of you are aware that the zombi originated in the Caribbean. They aren’t too terribly exciting, and are mostly mindless automatons bent to the will of their masters. Hollywood allowed the creature to make various appearances, many holding to the general premise of the island mythos. But really, do we care? When we stare at the beauty of the Grand Canyon or a majestic, snow-capped mountain peak, we are appreciating the here and now. Who needs a geologist explaining tectonic forces that took hundreds of millions of years to form them? The same goes for the zombie we all know and love. And he made his debut in a Pennsylvania graveyard. George A Romero created our world in 1968 and we’ll always thank him in our acknowledgements. The movement had begun, and over time it would grow, morph, mutate, and strengthen.
Gone for the most part was the mysticism. In fact, the creatures of Night of the Living Dead (1968) are not referred to as zombies, but rather ghouls. It was the Italian title Dawn of the Dead (1978) that probably tipped the scale on the use of the ‘zed-word’. We’re really just nic-picking here. What matters here is that the release of Dawn changed the world. The boulder was in place. It would take time, but slowly, very slowly at first, the landscape would change. Other boulders would fall: 28 Days Later (2002)—not really zombies, but the newbies don’t know any better; Zack Snyder’s remake of Dawn of the Dead (2004)—the film that divided so-called purists (a party I am mostly affiliated with) and the non-traditionalist when the undead were bestowed the gift of sprinting; and of course, the Resident-Evil series based on the popular video game. This burgeoning popularity would now cause the stream to carve out a more defined branch that would have been nothing but a trickle for over three decades…The Written Word.
As a fan of the zombies since 1979, and an avid lifelong reader, I can attest to the lack of zombie horror in print during the Eighties and Nineties. The first written story I found quite by accident, was David Wellington’s Monster Island. It was the first crack in the dam. Almost overnight, the flood came. I cannot say how much was out there before reading Monster Island. I’d stopped looking at some point. Still, I have to say that any fan of zombies who hasn’t read the first book in Wellington’s Monster trilogy is missing out on something special. It certainly wets the pallet. Unfortunately, my hunger would not be satiated by much of the available fare I managed to locate immediately following. Then, I found Brian Keene’s the Rising.
Keene gave zombie fans a new twist. Like Wellington, he was unafraid to create his own mythology. After so much empty-calorie fare, once again there was meat on the table. Even for a self-professed purist, there could be no disputing the quality of the story. Like the shambling icon of the undead, I awoke to a hunger that I could not satisfy. And it was beautiful. No longer would I have to line up my DVD’s and go on a binge of watching twentyfour hours of the undead: Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, and Day of the Dead, all followed by the remakes, Shaun of the Dead—if you don’t absolutely love that film then get out of my tree-house. 28 Days Later—still not a zombie movie but damn good nonetheless. Mix in some one-offs: Night of the Comet, The Evil Dead series—because Bruce Campbell is cool and the eventual add-ins of late: Land of the Dead and Diary of the Dead. As a matter of full disclosure, I must admit to a slight OCD problem. I can’t toss a book once I’ve started it. What I mean is I am compelled to finish every book that I start (that and I have to wipe out my sink after every use). Much to my dismay, there are a lot of unsatisfying entries out there. That is why I tend to gush over the becoming-less-rare finds in the genre.
Permuted Press was my next discovery. Finding them was like being a prospector in the California Gold Rush. Lucky enough to strike a vein that was sufficiently large and merited the exclamation “Eureka!†I’m not saying that there weren’t a couple of titles cursing my disorder, but there was definitely ‘gold in them thar hills!’ JL Bourne, Kim Paffenroth and others served up many a delicious morsel.
I am not ashamed to say that Eden is my favorite offering under their label. Now, before the critics jump on my back and discredit me, let me acknowledge that the editing could have been better. But it was the story that captured me. I was so blown away that, on a whim, I asked the writer, Tony Monchinski, to preview my own debut novel Zomblog and write a blurb for the back cover. I asked two others as well, expecting no reply. After all, I’m an unknown. The other two either declined or never responded (I will get back to that later).
While Permuted is more than just zombie fiction, it is where I turn to first in the genre. Their anthologies and full-length offerings are consistently some of the best. For a non-corporate, small press, they are the model. Many of their titles are finding their way into re-issues by big houses. That is a wonderful indication that the Zombie Apocalypse is drawing nigh.
Another sign that the zombie is going mainstream, is personified by one of my favorites—Rhiannon Frater. Step aside lads, a woman has entered the fray and throws a helluva punch. Yes, there are others of the female persuasion in the mix, but she was my first and we all know the specialness of that, don’t we? Her full-length trilogy, As the World Dies is a treat. To be completely honest, I felt she got soft in her finale. It is the only negative thing I have to say, and it is merely a personal opinion. She still weaves a wonderful story and even more original, the main protagonists are female. You will not find any wilting flowers or damsels in distress. Ms. Frater’s women are strong and capable. Still, she allows them to show their femininity throughout. If you want to know how she pulls it off, purchase the books. Still, the male dominated realm best recognize that the genre’s voice is changing. To maintain the adolescence, testosterone-enhanced fantasy is to be left alone like the guy who can’t leave behind his high school years.
I’ve put it off for as long as I can, but can refrain no longer. If you’ve not read Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead graphic novels, then come out from under your rock. I am a multi-dimensional geek: zombies, frpg’s, Kiss, Star wars…and so on. However, I never got into comic books. (and you comic book geeks can bristle all you want, but in my opinion a graphic novel is just a really long comic book.) This series is zombie-crack. He cannot put them out fast enough for me. His story has extremely excellent depth. What’s more, for those of you who aren’t aware, AMC (the home of breaking bad) is turning it into a series! Hello mainstream!
Since I have now broached mainstream, it is only fair that I bring up the genre’s two entries into the New York Times best seller list. World War Z by Max Brooks, and Pride, Prejudice, & Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame–Smith. The Brooks entry has been optioned by—if you believe the rumors—none other than Brad Pitt. This is our beloved flesh-eater in his Sunday Best. It is a piece of fiction that is wonderfully written and can appeal to a broad audience. It does not rely on gimmicks, overt gore, or seemingly obligatory sex at inappropriate times. It is a well-crafted story that leans on its substance. Pride is simply an ingeniously campy and fun read. It is done so well, that chapters of the Jane Austen Society have invited Mr. Grahame-Smith to their dinners as a guest. English Lit teachers have thanked him for producing a story that they can actually get sixteen and seventeen year old boys to read and write reports about. Of course they have spawned a dearth of imitators, most of which do not seem to comprehend his premise for writing the story. He actually studied Ms Austen’s style and then melded his words into the original manuscript—which remains 80% intact! Still, these are leaps forward for the beloved zombie. Surveying the landscape, there are many small-press publishers out there championing the cause. The plethora of ‘dead’ presses can be mind-boggling to the neophyte as well as seasoned lover of all things zed-related. The fact that you are here at this site is proof. New ones pop up every day (my own is just getting its toes damp) it is up to you, The Reader, to wade in and pick the fruit you find to your liking. It is especially important that you ‘spread the infection’.
Much like the zombie plague, this is communicable. It is not important that you try to put a bullet in the head of every piece that doesn’t suit you as it is to be a champion of the ones you ‘discover’ and love. For you, The Reader, there are many treats to discover…tiny gobbets to pick off and consume greedily. I’m just like you, searching for the next thrill. However, not everything you consume will be savory. So spit it out! Perhaps someone else will come along and find it to their liking. We Zed heads are a community. Over the next few years, we are likely to see our numbers swell as many so-called experts proclaim that zombies are the new vampires (I scoff at that since zombies will never be cutesy teen heart-throbs.) You, The Reader, have a responsibility now. Shove a dog-eared copy of your favorite zombie book into the hands of one of the uninitiated. Welcome others to our world. Once the infection takes hold, and it will, they will seek out the source. Direct them to the Permuteds, Library of the Living Dead Presses, Buy Zombies, and (if I can be so bold) the May December Publications. Live vicariously through the newbie. As their discoveries reinvigorate your own passions.
That brings me to The Writers. We are a community as well. And our responsibility is growing. Not only to our readers, but to our fellow writers as well. Our readers deserve quality, not quantity. As for the new up-and-coming writers (of which I aspire to be labeled) the stalwart veterans should recall the days when they were getting to their feet. It is likely that tomorrow’s writers are/were your readers. Sift through the independents out there and perhaps find just one. Extend your hand.
Together, we can all shamble into the darkness. Together, we can spread our sickness.
