by Francis Jock

Created on: May 23, 2010   Last Updated: May 02, 2012

Fans of Zombie books and movies will love the idea behind Joe Schreiber's book Star Wars: Death Troopers. The book is true to the ever-popular horrific living dead theme, delivering blood, guts and gore from an endless supply of the Empire's clones. The most fascinating twist to this story is the evil purpose for which spawned the  Zombie Storm Troopers in the first place.

The stories characters are a departure from other Star Wars books, although the plot follows the Star Wars legend accurately enough to lend it credence. The story begins by spinning a yarn about how two young brothers came to be held in the bowels of an Imperial Prison Ship. Then the screaming begins and it everything gets much worse before it gets any better. These are not force-fueled Jedi Knights of the Old Republic, either. Their determination to survive is what makes them interesting characters to follow for as long as the story takes them.

The prision ship's medical officer, with her own issues about life and death, fits well into the story as the Zombie plague inexorably takes hold, spreading throughout the ship and turning every living organism aboard it into a horde of blood-thirsty, meat-munching monsters. Imagine being aboard a cruise ship where everyone is suddenly Zombiefied and there's no escape. Your only hope is an anti-zombie vaccination that the good ship's Doctor has just developed and tested. If only you can reach her on time.

Meanwhile, two familiar Star Wars characters emerge from the deepest, darkest and most secure prison cells. That "devil-may-care because I don't have a clue" Hans Solo and his loyal, life-bonded Wookie sidekick, Chewbacca. Everything's going to be all right, you think to yourself. These guys know their way around impossible situations and are coming to rescue. Well, maybe, maybe not. Zombies, after all, are creatures from a Galaxy, Far Away and Long Ago that just don't die that well. With a little bit of luck, Hans and company might escape the Zombie horror and save the Galaxy. Then again, maybe not.

Star Wars: Death Troopers is a respectable, if not somewhat humorous at times, attempt to combine two fright-night legends, Zombies from the past and Storm Troopers of the future-past, together. Mix this concoction up with interesting characters and stir the imagination. Serve with a couple of Star Wars heroes with blasters, and you have a story. As far as Star Wars stories are concerned, this would rate a seven, although it's nice to know that Zombies can be found everywhere you look. Zombie lovers are sure to love it.

If you would like to read Star Wars: Death Troopers by Joe Schreiber, you can find a great deal at Amazon.com. It is available in paperback, audio download and audio CD.

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