The Zombie Group! discussion

I've been pondering this...I was going through some reviews, of books I really liked, and ones not so much. I was definitely surprised at some reviews/comments and wondered how everyone defines a good v.s bad novel?

The weirdest complaint I ever saw of a zombie book was that it was too violent. Made me wonder what they were expecting.

lol, seriously?! I mean it can't all be blood and gore all the time, but I'm not sure how else you go into a zombie book without those expectations...

There are so many little things that can make or break a book, but for me wether a book was "good" or "bad" comes down to one simple thing: am I going to read it again. If I'm saving it on my book shelf to read again it was good. If it's going into the box to take to my local used book store to trade in, it wasn't good. Beyond that it's all details.

Holden wrote: "There are so many little things that can make or break a book, but for me wether a book was "good" or "bad" comes down to one simple thing: am I going to read it again. If I'm saving it on my book..."

Interesting Holden...To be honest, I have actually only been a fiction fan for about a year and only just started thinking about re-reading some of my books...well the ones that survived the fire that is.

Rutger, I completely agree. For myself, if I can get lost in a book-it's a gooder. Reviewing some of the reviews on Goodreads, a lot of people are coming into reading a work of fiction with extremely pretentious expectations. I'm sorry, if you are choosing to read a zombie book, it's probably not for higher learning purposes. I read fiction as escape. I read non-fiction to feed my brain.

I also agree with some authors using "the good fairy*...There have been a few books I have recently read that were just too convenient in how the characters escape. This is annoying.

I think I have only ever written one bad review, and it was more because I thought the whole story and concept was stupid, not because the writing was bad. I also don't think there' much point in being completely negative in a review, especially if the author is on goodreads. Constructive criticism folks!

This is not to say that zombie fiction can't be intellectual, I just don't really expect it. To each their own I suppose...

Here's an interesting list (from Barnes and Noble) of the best zombie novels of 2011: http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t.... Have you read any? Written any?

Beverly, that link keeps saying there is an error?

For me, what makes a book good depends of the following:

I need to care about the characters. I don't need to like all of the characters but if I don't care about them, what's the point of reading about them?

The story must stay within the bounds of the framework the author designed. If your book is about shambling type zombies and then the head zombie puts on the speed of Flo JO, that doesn't work for me.

I agree with Rutger about the good fairy swooping down and saving the day at the end. If you wrote yourself into a situation, write yourself back out. There is nothing worse than reading a book with an ending like that and you are left saying, WTH?

I also agree with Rutger regarding unique and orignal ideas, not the same old, same old. Not every story has to end with everyone living happily ever after, blah blah blah. I like books where everybody dies, LOL.

Sorry - I think that link was tied to my account. I signed out and found the article again. Try this link: http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t...

I actually did write a review of a zombie book and complained it was too violent, but to be fair the book was 300 pages of cardboard characters being relentlessly ripped apart in an orgy of gore-porn. So I guess I'm one of the "pretentious" ones, but for me a good novel is one where the characters matter to the reader and to each other, and have goals beyond just "run to the next safe place until we're chased away again" for a whole book. As for violence and gore specifically, I think they're both more effective when used sparingly - as another tool of horror, and not the only one in the box.

Incidentally, I've actually been finding it hard to find ANY good zombie novels. Any recommendations?

Beverly wrote: "Sorry - I think that link was tied to my account. I signed out and found the article again. Try this link: http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t......"

Interesting article - some I have heard of, some I have buried in my TBR and others I have read. Of the three I have read, they are all good.



Dead of Night: A Zombie Novel was an excellent 'traditional' zombie book - lots of action, pretty gory and great characters. It's one I recommend very often.

The First Days is also excellent, especially with female lead characters that are not the norm in zombie books.

Can You Survive the Zombie Apocalypse? is in the style of the 'Choose Your Own Adventure' books that I loved as kid - it's quite 'blokey' in its focus, but it's fun to see how long you can survive!

Malbon wrote: "I actually did write a review of a zombie book and complained it was too violent, but to be fair the book was 300 pages of cardboard characters being relentlessly ripped apart in an orgy of gore-po..."

I like my zombie books to have a pretty heavy dose of gore and violence, but the characters have to be strong, likeable and have some flaws to make them realistic.

If you're looking for a zombie book that has SOME of the features of a traditional zombie book with a more heavy focus on human relationships, I'd recommend Glenn Bullion's Dead Living.

Kat wrote: If you're looking for a zombie book that has SOME of the features of a traditional zombie book with a more heavy focus on human relationships, I'd recommend Glenn Bullion's Dead Living.

Thanks Kat. I'll definitely chack that out.

And don't get me wrong, I like my horror with the splatter included, I just think it should be used as an accent to a scary tone and atmosphere, and not just to replace it.

For example, I remember in It, there's a scene where Henry is recalling the death of one of his friends, and I don't remember the exact words, but it was something like "the monster pulled half his face off just like peeling an orange." That one sentence was just as effective as a whole three-page description of the face-pulling would have been, but it didn't make me feel like I might be a sociopath for reading it.

Personally Im all about character development and reading about characters I really care about, its also great when you really hate characters. Any strong emotions evoked from good writing is a plus in my book. Suspense, gore and believable situations (to an extent obviously)

When I started writing my zombie book I realized one reason people would keep reading it would be to have characters they could relate to, so I spent a lot of time thinking about who they were and what they thought. There's still some gore and craziness, but it's mostly about the people and the situation, which doesn't end with a typical apocalypse.

Interesting, Michael. Zombies in South Korea? Hungry for English teachers? Nice new twist and it looks like you can write from experience. I'll have to check that one out.

My own zombie series also has an original approach. Voyage of the Dead has a focus on survivors aboard a well equipped ship who watch the zombie apocalypse on HDTV, then rush to rescue friends and family ashore. Their adventures are contrasted with the travails of a lone survivor in a city overrun by the undead. It's more sci-fi action than pure horror, more exciting than disgusting, and more about using your brains than eating them.

I agree with most of the comments on this thread, especially about offering characters that people want to like (and a few they don't). I have also found some of the critical reviews interesting. Don't get me wrong, my book hasn't gotten less than 4 star reviews (yet), but some of them did have minor bones to pick.

For example, one of the best 5 star reviews said you need to suspend your disbelief because the lead character won hundreds of millions in the lottery and bought a former cruise/ferry ship that he filled with "toys" (like speedboats, amphibious vehicles, and a helicopter). Okay, I know that is an unlikely situation, but come on, it's a book about the zombie apocalypse! Talk about suspending disbelief! LOL. And having that ship and all those toys is what made other reviewers describe it as "Battlestar Galactica meets the Walking Dead."

Another reviewer saw through all of that and called it a "zombie lover's wet dream." But that led to a 4 star review from a woman who thinks it's a "guy's fantasy about how to survive" the zombie apocalypse. She was right, but that's what I call constructive criticism. The women will become a little more bad ass in "Flotilla of the Dead" (to be released next month).

Character development, foreshadowing, and a fresh take. Face it, if it's just a shoot 'em up story it gets a little repetitive. Although some people like that style I think the majority of readers want a good tale.

In my first book, "Parasite; The True Story of the Zombie Apocalypse" I chose an entomologist as the main character. I am about to publish the sequel and like to think my stories are driven by the characters.

Character development for sure. If you don't have a feel for character and an attachment to them who cares if they get eaten? Lots of zombie action and gore is good but you also want to see the relationships of the survivors and situations they are placed in.

I also like my books with some sarcasm and snark.

Beverly wrote: "Sorry - I think that link was tied to my account. I signed out and found the article again. Try this link: http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t......"

I've read and really enjoyed both of these:

Dead of Night by Jonathan Maberry

The First Days by Rhiannon Frater


No Zombie Fallout on that list? That's a shame. That series is awesome.

Rot & Ruin is awesome as well.

What makes a good zombie book? The unexpected, I read this book a zombie apocalypse by keith Adam and get this the main character IS a zombie.

Malbon wrote: "I actually did write a review of a zombie book and complained it was too violent, but to be fair the book was 300 pages of cardboard characters being relentlessly ripped apart in an orgy of gore-po..."
I'd like to know the title of the gore porn zombie book. What are you looking for in a story? Maybe a love story or something funny?

In a zombie book, or any other it helps to like at least two of the characters. Being that I am a girl, having some lovey dovey stuff is always good. People being average instead of military snipers who never miss a shot. I prefer not to read pages upon pages of internal dialogue is nice also.

Hipnoticraqs wrote: "People being average instead of military snipers who never miss a shot."

Except that those that miss shots die quickly.

I like books with a confident hero, but not perfect. It is good to see that they are still human. I need to either like them or like their cause so that I feel like I have a vested interest in them staying alive.

Holden wrote: "There are so many little things that can make or break a book, but for me wether a book was "good" or "bad" comes down to one simple thing: am I going to read it again. If I'm saving it on my book shelf to read again it was good. If it's going into the box to take to my local used book store to trade in, it wasn't good. Beyond that it's all details."

I do the same thing with my books. I recently had a big purge of my bookshelf. It wasn't that the books i gave away were bad; I know I won't read them again. Instead of letting them gather dust, I gave them to friends and family who wanted them.

Well it varies a lot, but in general interesting, likeable characters and interesting premise and storyline. But I think pacing is also very important. If a books too slow it can feel like I'm slogging through rather than actually enjoying it, and if it's too fast I don't get to know the characters or care about them

I think it varies a lot by genre though;
In Fantasy, in addition to the points above I also want unique world building and magic

Scifi: Also world building but focused more around how technology effects people, govt, society, etc, and if there are aliens I love me some cultural differences

Dystopian: How society is different, what's wrong with it, how does that effect people, and how it came to be that way

Zombie and post-apocalyptic: I like seeing what people have to do to survive and how people change and react when in different survival situations

Obviously this is subjective. I am curious what different people look for in different genres.

I think Beau's quote from Holden says it all. If people want to read it, it's a good book!