The Oral History of the Zombie War (World War Z - Max Brooks)

Member Name: ElleSait

Product:	World War Z - Max Brooks
Date:	17/01/09 (55 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Riveting read and utterly believeable.

Disadvantages: There can be some confusion to the characters, due to the sheer volume of them.

This book is breathtaking.

World War Z is written as the gathered collections of survivors of the 'Zombie War'. Set ten years after the war, the book recounts tales from all over the world, from the first outbreaks, to the 'Great Panic', to humanity's attempts to fight back.

The Zombie War takes place at some indeterminate point in the near future. Written from several different angles, the book manages to thoroughly investigate this fictional war. It may seem that such an idea as a zombie war is absolutely ridiculous, however Max Brooks manages to keep the reader on the edge of their seat with plausible explanations and reactions. This style of book is usually only found in war recollections - with different people telling their own tales to accumulate a greater perspective - and this style only serves to make the book more believeable.

I don't want to reveal too much about some of the stories, but the characters are as diverse as a bodyguard to an unnamed celebrity, an astronaut on the International Space Station, and a group of Chinese submariners. There are some sly references to people such as Paris Hilton, Jon Stewart and a surprise appearance by a zombie fighting Michael Stipe!

Sadly, the variety of different characters and voices does mean that some tales don't continue as far as you wish they would. It also means that in the final chapter, where some of the previous characters say their final words, the reader can become confused as to who the characters are.

Despite this small flaw, it's so realistic you'll be battening down the hatches and looking for your weapons. When the dead rise, this is a book to have already read.

Summary: One of my favourite books.