Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
question
Do you think it is a new positive idea to "modernize" Classical novels adding vampires or zombies?
Asia
Jul 04, 2012 01:41AM
I realized how hard it is to find a book that truly captures my attention. It feels like the majority of novels that are at the top of the list of newly written novels in libraries have to do with zombies/vampires or this kind of general fantasy. I must research deeply to find novels that do not argue these topics. Although some are truly well written and turn out to be great novels, but then it is positive to modernize classical novels? I find it interesting, and in some cases also fun. I read pride and prejudice too many times and I found that it was a bit disappointing the zombified version.
reply
flag
A lot of this is being taken too seriously. When I saw the title "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" at no point did I think about what a shame it would be if the inclusion of traditional zombie tropes worked against the need to accept the book as a valid and viable pastiche of the post-Regency genre, with its nod to justice and manners and behaviour. Oh no, ladies and gentlemen, I thought "Hope to God this is a bloody good laugh!" And by laugh I don't necessarily mean that LMFAO kind of chair-wetting hysteria, I mean enjoyable, fun, diverting. I knew enough about the original to get some traction on the story, thanks to the BBC. And let's not forget that Jane Austen herself went for some laughs (quite successfully too) with "Northanger Abbey", itself a pastiche and often a bit of a hoot. It comes around and it goes around - the mash-up isn't even that new, if you remember Abbot and Costello meeting Frankenstein. (You may wish to pound that thought down into the sand, I know I do!) Anyway, it's all in fun isn't it? It'll go on until we want it to stop. So, Asia, to address your essay question, is it a positive idea? It's certainly not a bad one, and plenty of people are having a good time with it. And you know what? If this gets people reading the so-called classics as a result, as I should certainly do more of, it may even have a small (here comes that word again) positive outcome.
This seems more in the vein of an homage than any sort of modernization/bastardization. I don't see it as an effort to revitalize a tired classic so much as a fun little activity for fans to enjoy together.
Ex. In the case of this one in particular the people I know who have read it did so because they're fans of Pride and Prejudice, not because they are fans of zombie fiction - in fact a lot of my friends who like zombies aren't interested in reading this book.
I feel like in response to your question this could only really be a negative effect if people are choosing to read only the altered version without the original because as it stands the only risk it's running is people choosing the newer one over the original in preference.
Likewise for the smaller number of people who only read the new one for the zombies (smaller number by my observation only of course) the only negative effect could be that they don't go on to check out the original which would have been the case with or without this novel. Some might find themselves wanting to read the first novel (who knows if they'd actually get through it though) which to my view can only be a good thing.
I think in short while the entire concept is a little laughable it's all in a fun sort of way and as long as these novels remain respectful and so obviously fond of their originals we should be glad to see this clever little subgenre. I for one am getting into alternate history as a genre because of these books and I'm finding it pretty rewarding.
Ex. In the case of this one in particular the people I know who have read it did so because they're fans of Pride and Prejudice, not because they are fans of zombie fiction - in fact a lot of my friends who like zombies aren't interested in reading this book.
I feel like in response to your question this could only really be a negative effect if people are choosing to read only the altered version without the original because as it stands the only risk it's running is people choosing the newer one over the original in preference.
Likewise for the smaller number of people who only read the new one for the zombies (smaller number by my observation only of course) the only negative effect could be that they don't go on to check out the original which would have been the case with or without this novel. Some might find themselves wanting to read the first novel (who knows if they'd actually get through it though) which to my view can only be a good thing.
I think in short while the entire concept is a little laughable it's all in a fun sort of way and as long as these novels remain respectful and so obviously fond of their originals we should be glad to see this clever little subgenre. I for one am getting into alternate history as a genre because of these books and I'm finding it pretty rewarding.
Well, I have yet to see it done right.
P&P&Z was a flat-out gimmick. It did absolutely nothing with the possible mash-ups, and in fact did not mash-up at all. Instead, Seth simply threw zombies in wherever he thought there was too much Austen; if we were in a chemistry class I would call it a mixture, not a solution. He COULD have combined the two in an artful way, but instead he spent his time explaining that, in boring old England, "WHOA MAN THERE ARE NINJAS NOW," making people vomit more often, and doing crappy puns about the male genitalia. I certainly hope this hasn't set the standard, because if it has then I will not touch any of these "modernizations" with a ten foot pole.
I would offer advice to any would-be writer that is planning on taking a leaf out of Grahame-Smith's book: write your own story. You probably know it better, and it's less likely to come off as a shameless cash-in that makes challenging and intelligent literature fair game for random Internet culture.
Then again, if you don't care about creating art, and are only in it for the cash, do exactly what Seth did. Heck, he probably wrote a chapter's worth of material across the entire book, and now he gets to sell it as his own.
P&P&Z was a flat-out gimmick. It did absolutely nothing with the possible mash-ups, and in fact did not mash-up at all. Instead, Seth simply threw zombies in wherever he thought there was too much Austen; if we were in a chemistry class I would call it a mixture, not a solution. He COULD have combined the two in an artful way, but instead he spent his time explaining that, in boring old England, "WHOA MAN THERE ARE NINJAS NOW," making people vomit more often, and doing crappy puns about the male genitalia. I certainly hope this hasn't set the standard, because if it has then I will not touch any of these "modernizations" with a ten foot pole.
I would offer advice to any would-be writer that is planning on taking a leaf out of Grahame-Smith's book: write your own story. You probably know it better, and it's less likely to come off as a shameless cash-in that makes challenging and intelligent literature fair game for random Internet culture.
Then again, if you don't care about creating art, and are only in it for the cash, do exactly what Seth did. Heck, he probably wrote a chapter's worth of material across the entire book, and now he gets to sell it as his own.
You know, I love Jane Austin. I'm a pretty big fan of zombies...but these two should not have gone together, even as a joke.
It would have been one thing if the author--and I use that term loosely--had actually revamped the story to include zombies. Instead, all he did was insert things, and it just didn't work. I get the sense that he was trying to shock the audience, and while I guess there's nothing wrong with getting attention, the writing would have needed to be a lot better to actually KEEP my attention.
This was liking watching a Lady Gaga performance. Sure, I watch for a few seconds, just because she's always dressed like a clown, but then I move on to something actually worth my time.
It would have been one thing if the author--and I use that term loosely--had actually revamped the story to include zombies. Instead, all he did was insert things, and it just didn't work. I get the sense that he was trying to shock the audience, and while I guess there's nothing wrong with getting attention, the writing would have needed to be a lot better to actually KEEP my attention.
This was liking watching a Lady Gaga performance. Sure, I watch for a few seconds, just because she's always dressed like a clown, but then I move on to something actually worth my time.
I enjoyed this book--it was a clever idea; but continuing to add zombies and vampires to old books, and even writing new books about them, is becoming tired. Writers need to find new things to write about and publishers need to stop publishing the same things over and over.
I actually found the book to be really interesting even though I am an Austen fan. I just felt it updated the book in a way that was quite amusing.
I liked the idea to combine such far away topics, but this book is terrible! So disappointed!
I also thought that this change to the book was not the better thing that could have happened to it. However, it added a touch of modern humor to the classic. Still prefer the classic one 110% more than this.
Asia wrote: "I realized how hard it is to find a book that truly captures my attention. It feels like the majority of novels that are at the top of the list of newly written novels in libraries have to do with ..."
I agree, the zombified version of Pride and Prejudice was funny for the first couple of pages, then quickly turned boring. In fact, I later found myself becoming slightly infuriated by the fact that the Austen characters I loved were so significantly changed to make sense in a zombie-Regency scape.
Don't mess with my Austen!
But with regard to your question - I think it's completely fine to add supernatural creatures to classic novels. Like any fan fic, however, I feel that it should be very well written if it's going to be published. I would argue that Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was not particularly well written.
I agree, the zombified version of Pride and Prejudice was funny for the first couple of pages, then quickly turned boring. In fact, I later found myself becoming slightly infuriated by the fact that the Austen characters I loved were so significantly changed to make sense in a zombie-Regency scape.
Don't mess with my Austen!
But with regard to your question - I think it's completely fine to add supernatural creatures to classic novels. Like any fan fic, however, I feel that it should be very well written if it's going to be published. I would argue that Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was not particularly well written.
The question begs further investigation. After reading the series, I was struck with how well the story can be adapted to fit many scenarios (to me the mark of a good story). Using gruesome zombies to contrast against the social mores of the time, highlighted characteristics of each person in the story, giving me more appreciation for their role. I loved the interplay between Lady Catherine De Bourg and the Bennet sisters, each having a background in the martial arts. I felt the books were less of a betrayal than the movie with Kiera Knightly- a Victoria Holt ending to a Jane Austen novel.
I dont see anything wrong with it as long as its done right. Annnnd this book aint one of them!
I absolutely love Pride and Prejudice and P&P&Z only made me love it more. I had a good laugh over it but with all these different versions out, I think it's a bit much.
what does anyone think of Abraham Lincoln vampire hunter? I think it kinda intering that books like this and pride and prejudice and zombies are given a new twist.
I´m a huge Austen fan and read "Pride Predjudice and Zombies" out of curiosity. I truly enjoyed it, laughing the whole time. I confess I had never read a single Zombie book in my life but I found this mash-up truly fun. I dont think the book would be entertaining on its own, if there wasnt the original novel, but as a parody (read by one who knows the original dialogues) is really funny.
I tried to read Sense Sensibility and Sea Monsters cause it sounded like a great idea but I must confess that it bored me and put it away. I guess the fact that I liked PPZ was a one time wonder.
I tried to read Sense Sensibility and Sea Monsters cause it sounded like a great idea but I must confess that it bored me and put it away. I guess the fact that I liked PPZ was a one time wonder.
And when I say contemporary pop elements, it need not be only zombies, vampires and werewolves. There's a virtually unlimited gamma of pop elements that can be used in mashup lit.
First and foremost, people who want to understand this new literary genre (how often can you say: "hey, there's something new in the literary panorama!"?) would do well to visit the wikipedia page of "Mashup lit". Read it, read the "See also", and please click on the footnotes and keep reading.
Mashup lit was born out of Fan fiction, yet with a grand difference: where fan fiction merely strives to create more storyland within the original universe created by the author, Mashup lit strives to rewrite the same universe using contemporary pop culture elements that are aligned with the original plot while respecting (and emulating, that's the goal) the author's original style. As in any other genre, there's good mashup and there's bad mashup.
Mashup lit was born out of Fan fiction, yet with a grand difference: where fan fiction merely strives to create more storyland within the original universe created by the author, Mashup lit strives to rewrite the same universe using contemporary pop culture elements that are aligned with the original plot while respecting (and emulating, that's the goal) the author's original style. As in any other genre, there's good mashup and there's bad mashup.
oh yeah..i happened to fuggin love the movie!!! seen it several times :)
If the zombie version had been written by someone who understood P&P and actually liked it, it might have been a fun good story that brought more people into it. But it was a badly written, racist, sexist, romp through boring disturbia instead.
There are plenty of modern versions of Austen novels already out there (and of Shakespeare and other classics), just not as readily apparent. There's something to be gained from the classics and the new stories, because it's putting a new twist on it. And whenever someone writes an idea, even if it's the same idea, that person is going to write it differently.
So nothing wrong with the concept, but this particular example is just not good.
There are plenty of modern versions of Austen novels already out there (and of Shakespeare and other classics), just not as readily apparent. There's something to be gained from the classics and the new stories, because it's putting a new twist on it. And whenever someone writes an idea, even if it's the same idea, that person is going to write it differently.
So nothing wrong with the concept, but this particular example is just not good.
people say it's disrespectful and i have to disagree. i've read the books, and i've seen the movie Abe Lincoln, vampire hunter... as long as they get all the facts & history in there i see nothing wrong with throwing some vamps or zombies in the mix. i can not wait for the new book about the 3 wise men lol. i believe it gets kids interested also. without this new twist it would just be too boring!! so carry on, i say!
Also pretty sure zombies are a new trend so therefore it is modernized.
Unless you know of a good zombie book(intended not contrived)from the turn of the century or before.
Unless you know of a good zombie book(intended not contrived)from the turn of the century or before.
I will say it is a terrible thing,because i pretty sure it is not the original authors intent to have them good this way. Even though i can't stand Jane Austen,i have the good respect to leave it alone unless I can confirm the author would approve of the "homage". Just try and do it to Tolkien sometime,I'm sure the estate would have something to say about that.
It's a trend that needs to be stopped before it gets out of hand.
It's a trend that needs to be stopped before it gets out of hand.
You know, The thing about this is that I would likely have never read Pride and Prejudice. Add "Zombies" and what do you know, you got me reading a Jane Austin book. Well done sir, well done.
I don't have anything against the original book, but just never appeared nor really had any chance of appearing anywhere on my "to read" list.
How many other people out there are like that?
I don't have anything against the original book, but just never appeared nor really had any chance of appearing anywhere on my "to read" list.
How many other people out there are like that?
I liked the book and I think it was a great idea. These books contain a lot of the original text and I think it will open these stories to people who would not have originally even considered reading the originals, and that can not be a bad thing.
However it is getting a bit overboard now. While I own this book, Sense and Sensibility and Seamonsters and Little Vampire Woman I will probably not get any others.
I also bought mine in the humour section
However it is getting a bit overboard now. While I own this book, Sense and Sensibility and Seamonsters and Little Vampire Woman I will probably not get any others.
I also bought mine in the humour section
This is spoof not modernized. I bought mine in the humor section, so there you go.
I like the concept - I almost preferred the Zombie version to the original, actually (blasphemy, I'm sure). I love revisionist sort of takes on events but I think the other "modernized" takes are starting to stretch it a bit.
deleted member
Jul 04, 2012 09:35AM
0 votes
I think it generated a bit of a trend, actually. One that, in my opinion, is getting a bit tired.
I remember that what drove me to look for this book was reading the opening line in some website and it sounded really ludicrous and, quite simply, fun.
Then you started to get abrahalm lincoln vampire hunter, sense and sensibility and sea monsters, android karenina...And a whole bunch of others I haven't the slightest interest to read.
I remember that what drove me to look for this book was reading the opening line in some website and it sounded really ludicrous and, quite simply, fun.
Then you started to get abrahalm lincoln vampire hunter, sense and sensibility and sea monsters, android karenina...And a whole bunch of others I haven't the slightest interest to read.
I didn't enjoy this version, but I have read and do enjoy the original. My boyfriend, however, will not touch the original with a bargepole, but really enjoyed this one. He now has Android Karrenina and Sense and Sensibility and Seamonsters to read, which he would not have done originally.
He didn't "modernize" classical novel: if you pick up the original in the library you'll notice that it stayed pristine.
all discussions on this book
|
post a new topic
