It's not that I don't like the idea of zombies. I do. I think it's both hilarious and terrifying. Prepping for the zombie apocalypse is one the things my roommate and I do best. However, things with zombies in them tend to be decidedly disappointing.
It's partly to do with the worldbuilding and the zombie set-up itself -- anybody with the faintest idea of science and how virus' spread and work can figure out why zombie things wouldn't work, so even though there's a suspense of disbelief, I like it to be at least somewhat scientific in nature as to how it began.
For example, Julie Kagawa's The Immortal Rules does that with how vampires came into control -- though they always existed, they didn't come into power until a virus began spreading and wiped out most of the human population alla the Black Plague and they turned to the already existing vampires for help. Explain to me that the human population was succumbing to other things first before a virus mutated or just make it a world where zombies had always been a problem. Don't just stick zombies in because you want a zombie story.
But the reason I can't stand zombie stories is just that the characters are normally so gosh darned stupid.
I liked ZOMBIELAND and I liked Susanne Winnacker's The Other Life because the characters weren't so stupid (and the world building was pretty good). But most other zombie things I just can't handle. Something is trying to kill you? You kill it! Oh, it's somebody you used to know? They're fucking dead; save your own life -- they wouldn't want you to become a zombie.
In most of the stories I read and the movies I've seen, the characters just don't use their brains. Ever. And it makes it really frustrating for somebody who puts a heavy emphasis on, you know, common sense in strange situations. They might not have a super awesome guide on how to survive the zombie apocalypse, but unlike the zombies, they do have their brains -- don't you think they ought to use them?
Maybe it's just me being jaded about characters panicking or being 'overly-human' in times where nobody is or whatever symbolism the creator is going for. But for the sake of what little is left of humanity, use common sense!
What do you think? Could zombie stories use characters with a bit more brains?
But if the characters have more brains, the zombies will eat them. Haha
ReplyDeleteI don't know. I've liked the few zombie books I've read. Something Strange and Deadly is great and the protagonist is intelligent. Also, there's no poorly explained virus, but necromancy instead. I know what you're talking about, though it I feel like the things that annoy you about zombie novels are present in books about vampires and werewolves and insert-mythical-creature-here, too.
Yeah, but I feel -- for vampires and werewolves -- I'm less worried about characters dying and more worried about them being turned into some weird kind of love sex slave in an abusive relationship...
Delete"worried about them being turned into some weird kind of love sex slave in an abusive relationship…"
DeleteFunny, I'm blogging that exact series, chapter by chapter (I assume we're talking about the same one…"
Have you read Jonathan Maberry's Rot & Ruin series? That's a good one where the characters (mostly) have brains, and the ones who don't are learning how to deal with zombies from someone who does.
ReplyDeleteI haven't! I swore off zombie books before they came out. They sound good, though!
DeleteI love the Rot & Ruin series. Way more coming of age books than zombie books!!
DeleteOHH! May I second that suggestion? Hands down best 'serious' zombie books I've read.
DeleteWe don't specifically like or dislike zombie books, but we did enjoy the FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH series, because we felt like the author was really writing about humanity and identity and choices, and zombies were more of a backdrop than anything else, like a really bad natural disaster, as opposed to being some "baddies" that require hand-to-hand combat to fight off.
ReplyDeleteIn general though, like you, we dislike when characters don't use common sense. :P
I enjoyed FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH enough to remember that I enjoyed it, but it didn't stand out to me as a book -- definitely a smarter cast of characters than some, though!
DeleteI was just about to mention Forest of Hands and Teeth as having the most brainless cast of characters in any zombie novel I've read, but then again I seem to be the only person who hated that book:P
DeleteI think they're alright -- not nearly as terrible as some I've seen/heard of/watched.
DeleteThe Walking Dead on AMC is an awesome zombie show. Very smart. And they aren't afraid to kill people they used to know. They even kill humans trying to raid them. Survive or die, right?!
ReplyDeleteI did not like Forest of Hands and Teeth because I felt like the protagonist was particularly brainless. Her family and friends are dying around her in horrible ways and she keeps on bitching about the ocean. I could barely get through it.
The Walking Dead was actually what got me to start thinking about this rant because damn, I saw the first episode and wanted to punch everybody in the face. Want to survive? You stay AWAY from supposed safe zones. You don't choose to bring a horse, made of ALL MEAT which zombies, you know, EAT, with you. You don't do a lot of the things that you should do in the first episode. Maybe it's me, but I got really frustrated with the MC.
Delete(My boyfriend watched the entire series and said the characters got smarter but infinitely less likable. Can't win!)
Well okay I'll give you that dumb move with the horse. But a few episodes later he has a good idea to smear himself with dead entrails and walk like a zombie to get to a car.
DeleteAnd yeah, the characters do get less likeable after a while. I think the writers are working on that though.
Have you read Hollowland by Amanda Hocking? It has many problems (weird character names, some editing issues, some points are hard to believe), but I'd say the heroine has brains as well as guts. Things go way downhill in the second book in the series, Hollow Men, but I liked the first one.
ReplyDeleteI haven't! I'll keep an eye out -- if it shows up in my library I might skim it. I do like strong heroines.
DeleteThe Zombie Apocolypse is my biggest fear, no joke. I finished the Forest of Hands and Teeth series and it scared me pretty good.
ReplyDeleteI actually really like zombie stories. I feel like they bring up some really fantastic questions about humanity and what it means to be human. Personally, I don't mind if a character has trouble killing a zombie that was their friend or family member. Just because the person has turned into a zombie doesn't mean they don't still look like your loved one. It's comparable to taking a brain dead person off life support. Just because they're brain dead doesn't mean it isn't hard to pull the plug.
ReplyDeleteI think it's funny that you liked The Other Life because I didn't like that zombie book. I also didn't really like The Forest of Hands and Teeth series. Like someone else said I felt like the characters were really selfish and only cared about the ocean. :P
My favorite zombie stuff is definitely The Walking Dead. Some of the characters are annoying but overall I think it's the best out there. I saw the comment you made about being annoyed with the first episode in the series and how the guy just stupidly went into a "safe zone" on a horse. The thing you have to remember is that he had been in a coma when the apocalypse started so he had hardly any knowledge of what the world was like and what was happening. How was he supposed to know it wasn't safe? He didn't presume it wasn't safe because he had no idea that the world had become that devastated. I think the series is definitely worth giving a second shot. :)
Read Jonathan Maberry books. Now. The ROT & RUIN series is amazing. For adult DEAD OF NIGHT is as real as it gets, I think. I do love The Walking Dead but it definitely requires some serious suspension of disbelief to enjoy. GET BACK IN THE FUCKING HOUSE, CARL! I'm telling you that kid should have died 4,864 times by now.
ReplyDeleteGOSH DARN IT DONNA STOP ADDING BOOKS TO MY TBR LIST.
Delete"Oh, it's somebody you used to know? They're fucking dead; save your own life" HAHAHahaha. Love this. It's true, I never understand how people have to contemplate these sort of things. It's like KILL THE BITCH SHE'S GONNA EAT YOUR FACE! and then the characters are like "but there's a glint in her eyes..." NO KILL HER!!!! Glad I'm not the only one. Of course now I have to check out Zombieland and The Other Life. I just read This is Not a Test, that has zombies in it, but is not really your typical zombie read.
ReplyDeleteZombies are much closer to a natural disaster/act of God than anything villainous. Seems like surviving them would be a matter of common sense and developing a system more than any kind of intellectual struggle. Which, inevitably, leads to authors having to make their characters idiots, so that they can die painfully and keep the books exciting. I can't stand idiot plots, which is probably why I don't like zombie stories on the whole.
ReplyDeletei'm not a fan of dystopian (because i usually find the worlds slipshod, and the characters frustrating) and as most zombies are set in dystopians, i have yet to find one i enjoy. i'll keep an eye out, though!
ReplyDelete