Collision with a deadly meteor. War with extraterrestrials. Massive solar flare. The inevitable rising of the robots. Personally, if I was a betting librarian, I’d wager that the world is going down in an unholy apocalypse of the undead. That’s right, folks: zombies.
If you agree, you’ll be glad to know that Westlake Ace Hardware has an online Zombie Preparedness Center. Whether you are still human or have crossed over to the other side, you’ll find helpful resources to zombie-proof your home or help delay the decay process. Even the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has downloadable posters for you to distribute among your friends, family and coworkers because prevention through education is key.
What is fueling this awareness of zombie-related health risks? I blame Robert Kirkman, author of “The Walking Dead,” an insanely popular comic that has been turned into a television series on AMC. My friends and I are so captivated by this show that we host a watch party nearly every Sunday. Sadly, though, the second season just ended, and we are in need of zombie-related entertainment until the next season airs in October, just in time for Halloween.
So, if you, like us, you feel that this eight-month hiatus from “The Walking Dead” is almost too much to bear, stop by the library to check out these riveting, and sometimes humorous, reads that offer various takes on the living dead.
Legit fiction (books that may leave you sleeping with the light on and a weapon near your bedside):
- “World War Z” by Max Brooks
An account of the decade-long conflict between humankind and hordes of the predatory undead is told from the perspective of dozens of survivors who describe in their own words the epic human battle for survival. - “Dead of Night” by Jonathan Maberry
Injected by a prison doctor with a formula designed to keep his consciousness awake after death, a condemned serial killer experiences unforeseen, contagious side effects and emerges from his grave to begin a murderous rampage that is combated by two small-town cops. - “Hater” by David Moody
When ordinary people throughout the world suddenly transform into violent killers, one man struggles to retain normalcy and recognize who is trustworthy in a society escalating out of control. - “The Living Dead“
A collection of short stories about zombies includes contributions by Clive Barker, Laurell K. Hamilton, Stephen King and Neil Gaiman.
Reads for Fun:
- “Zombies! An Illustrated History of the Undead” by Jovanka Vuckovic
- “The Proper Care and Feeding of Zombies” by Mac Montandon
- “The Zombie Autopsies: Secret Notebooks From the Apocalypse” by Steven C. Schlozman
- “Zombie High Yearbook ’64” by Jeff Busch
- “A Zombie’s History of the United States From the Massacre at Plymouth Rock to the CIA’s Secret War on the Undead” by Worm Miller
- “The Zombie Combat Manual” by Roger Ma
No matter how the world ends, the Maya feel strongly that this event is going to happen on December 21, 2012. Just a reminder: that’s a Friday, so you might consider taking vacation and making it an apocalyptic three-day weekend.
The Missouri Department of Conservation has also provided a helpful guide to dealing with this invasive species. Learn about zombie ID and safety precautions. http://mdc.mo.gov/zombies
Excellent! You can’t be too prepared . . .