World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
Book Review: A great "what-if" zombies took over the world scenario.
Summary: 5 Stars
This book truly does an amazing job going down the what-if zombies took over the world scenario. It doesn't read like your typical work of fiction, but is arranged as a series of interviews with some of the protaganists or antagonists who have survived (or even prospered) when a deadly epidemic sweeps the world turning most of the population into the living dead who feed off the living. The main reason why this book works so well is that like most good horror novels it is so firmly grounded in reality that you truly believe that something so horrific could actually happen or is happening. In fact the reality here is played-off so effectively against current events and references (direct or indirect) to present day political reality that you have to remind yourself somewhat regretfully that it is a work of fiction after all. Brooks' use of footnotes peppered liberally to explain some fictional militaristic jargon or colloqualism is highly effectual in creating the journalistic ambience of the novel. The description of zombie warfare and the explanations for why it is so hard to fight them even with all the modern strategy and technology at hand is evidence that Brooks has thought and played the scenarios out carefully and logically. And logic is really the key here, what-if scenarios often breakdown when the logic is exhausted but here it is maintained with a straight face right through to the end. George Romero revealed a little of this hyper-reality juxtaposed against zombies in those news footages he interspersed in his "dead" series but I think Brooks has really taken that to a whole new level. There are a few "interviews" which feel a little contrived, especially the Japanese experiences which seem right out of some bad samurai flick. But the scope of the book is quite international and not so ethnocentric which makes it all the more impressive. The only question I would have for him is: What happened in North Korea? Book Review: Cool concept
Summary: 4 Stars
Looking to read something off the beaten path completely different? Max Brooks science-fiction novel presents itself as a chronicle of the battle for humanity between humans and their undead foes. Writing in the guise of firsthand accounts of survivors and veterans of the war, Brooks tracks his story from the first Zombie rising in China, through the harrowing "Battle of Yonkers" and then finally to humanity's last stand to recapture their world from the lurching, moaning undead. Some ripe political satire and a few obligatory gross-out scenes keeps the pace moving briskly, as Brooks cloaks his prose as true fact, at times emulating non-fiction books like The Greatest Generation." At times this one-trick-pony does go off the rails a little bit, but the author should be congratulated for taking a novel concept and making it work. If you like "outsider" fiction, this is for you. Book Review: Dawn of the Dead meets Studs Turkell
Summary: 5 Stars
The Zombie Survival Guide: a straight-faced book about a whimsical subject. Then Max Brooks decided to take the world that George Romero put on film, and write about it in the way that Studs Terkel took on the Working world. The result is a truly surprising novel that subtly grabs you, then before you know it has you in a vice grip, and won't let you go. Brooks tells little stories of the global pandemic that come together to paint a plauseable oral history of political arrogance, social collapse, individual frustration, horror and bravery. After several of the "interviews" I found myself pausing, letting the characters' words and emotions sink in. Sounds silly, and noone was more surprised than I. If you are a fan on the films of Romero, or find yourself wondering exactly what went on in the 28 Days before Jim woke up from his coma, read this book. You won't be disapointed.Book Review: A Survivor of the War
Summary: 5 Stars
As a survivor of the bloody massacare, that is now referred to as World War Z, I highly recomend Max Brooks history of the conflict. It happenend much faster than we could have ever imagined and lost so many people to the rampages of the maurading zombies. It was a total government failure on all levels, that led to an escalating international conflict. With all the conspiracy theories swriling around the government and its actions in the war, its good to hear a voice of reason in Max Brooks. Now I am not trying to be all political here, but we need answers, and Max dug deep and heres the information he dug up.
Now many are accusing Max Brooks of insensitivity, that this book is too soon after the conflict, and many people are still suffering the results of the devastating war, but I say it's not. Max is just trying to keep the masses informed on the conflict, and letting us know the Truth!
I lost several family memebers in the War, including my pet ferret, which was not a preety sight, when I had to decapitate him. I also lost several siblings, and also my lawyer, which, come to think of it wasn't too bad of thing to happen. I am speaking as one who had direct impact from the Zombies, and I see myself as qualified to speak on bahalf of all zombie sufferers.
Max Brooks book is highly recomended, and is possibly one of the greatest and most important realeases on factual history this century, at least since The Da Vinci Code.
Book Review: Wish I'd Thought of It
Summary: 5 Stars
Not the best zombie book I've ever read, but certainly the most original. This takes the view I've always wanted a book or movie to take: the global view. What does a zombie apocalypse look like as a global phenomenon? How does it develop? What are the political and military responses? These were the places where this book went. Whereas most zombie tales focus on a small group of people and only give glimpses of what's going on in the rest of the world, this one is all about the rest of the world. Fantastic. The "oral history" approach is also very original!