by Carrie-Ann Campbell

Created on: July 30, 2008   Last Updated: April 15, 2012

Any book with a title like "The Zombie Survival Guide" begs to be read. Seriously. I admit it, I bought the book as a kind of a personal joke; if I'm honest, I had to wonder what kind of (forgive me) nerd would publish a survival guide in the event of a zombie epidemic.

The admittedly small sampling of people I have met who have such a vehement obsession with zombies divide into two groups; those with a gore fetish, and the weird people who pray for a zombie invasion because they think they would survive (Hmmmm, ok.)

I thought Max Brooks must fit into the latter of these two groups (the nature of which was revealed to me on a date, no less. Having a man confess he desperately loved zombies—"I even have cardboard cutouts!"—on our second meeting was one of my life's least successful dates).  However, I stand completely corrected. (With regards to the book at least.)

The book is well written, with touches of humour and so very very unsettling. It is written in a documental fashion, stating "facts" clearly and well. However, the touches of personalisation where the author was clearly addressing the reader add a touch of warmth and familiarity as well as comedy.

On the other hand, one could argue this results in justification for my aforementioned "eccentric author" theory- a man who lives like a hermit with a hatchet and a crowbar up a tree, awaiting the zombies.

Not to be unkind, I was prepared to sneer, however; I was entertained.
The "research" into zombies sounded utterly convincing, historical sightings also... that the entertainment rapidly vanished and became replaced with... well... uneasiness.

While in the throes of reading the book, I realised that while the idea of zombies invading a shopping mall near you may be considered eccentric, the survival tips and instructions are in fact excellent and well thought out. They are practical and realistic.

Not a mention of escaping to Murmansk to commandeer a nuclear submarine.
(If I'm honest, that's what I was expecting; I expected the book to be written for teenage nerds, with the subliminal messaging of "Rebel! Rebel! Blow stuff up!" in there. I was expecting the recommendations of learning how to fly a helicopter in two days, stealing nuclear warheads and buying a laser in manner of Moonraker.)  Not once during the reading of the novel, did I snort and say "Ha! As if that could happen!"  In fact, by the time I finished, I was thinking "What's this guy's address? If I see dead

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