As you all probably know, I happen to be a Zombie afficianado, so this book was right up my alley. Max Brook's tale comes from a global perspective on the undead, told by the people who were there. Each chapter is comprised of individual stories each told by a survivor. These stories are compiled chronologically in order to retell the events of "The Great Panic," the annihilation of "Zack" in the United States, and Worldwide "Total War."
Max Brooks writes to add even more legitimacy to the genre, nearly eliminating the need for senseless blood, guts, and violence. The novel or "oral history," goes to the lengths that films like 28 Days Later or Shaun of the Dead have done for the genre. It helps to steer this part of American Folklore away from the endless and laughable sequels to George A. Romero's classic. WWZ is smart, funny, and sure to go into history as another classic example of Zombie lore.
Brooks takes the few musts around the creature and twists it to seem truly horrible on a global scale. The trouble begins with a mysterious infection. The head must be destoyed in order to kill it. They have an unquenchable thirst for human flesh. The infection is spread from bites or blood transfusion. But "Zack" can survive underwater, invading California beaches in Normandy-like fashion. Conventional warfare is utterly useless against the undead hordes. These zombies freeze in winter only to thaw again in the spring. Not to mention the living threats of "Quislings" and feral animals and children.
It is really nice to see the Zombie genre used for artistic interpretation as opposed to a vehicle for bad Hollywood blood and guts thriller. Brooks really add a humanist element to the undead, virtully without the need to shower his audience in blood. Though the book does not serve to satisfy intellectual whims, it is an excellent gateway to the imagination. I can't wait to go back and read Brooks' Zombie Survival Guide.
30 December 2007
14 December 2007
An Internal Threat
Milk prices have soared to over $7 per gallon over the last week in response to the recent turmoil in America's Heartland. The National Guard and Army Reserve have been called up to battle what the President has called, "our most pressing internal threat." This marks the only threat to have surpassed terrorism in national security terms since September 11, 2001.
The bovine insurgency began last Wednesday when Wisconsin Governor, James Doyle, Jr. (D), declared a state emergency as dairy cows began rising up and destroying milk production plants. "What many people don't realize is that once they get riled up, they are a 600 pound force to be reckoned with," said Nebraska dairy farmer Rick Sand. It seems that collectively the species, Bos terus, just decided that they would no longer be exploited for economic and idyllic purposes and fought back the only way they knew how. So far an estimated $60 billion in damages to dairy facilities have been caused by sows across the nation. This figure does not include the lost revenue of the lost livestock.
The self-liberated cows have been found roaming the countryside from Vermont to California. Residents of the Breadbasket and Heartland regions of the United States are advised not to approach the roaming and apparently feral packs of animals. The runaway beasts are to be considered extremely dangerous. Several vigilante groups have formed over the past week, many of which have been reported missing.
The National Guard was dispatched throughout the region last Friday, with an additional 30,000 Army Reserves called up by the President. They are dealing with the situation very delicately, using methods to attempt to capture the groups alive, while taking a "dead or alive" stance on suspected ringleaders. Though reports show that cattle insurgency is very active throughout the nation, President Bush is expected to make a victory speech later on this weekend.
The Chicago Mercantile Exchange estimates that prices for other dairy-based products such as Cheddar and Yogurt will rise by between 100 and 300% by Monday. Commodities Exchanges in China and Japan are expected to align with the US Market once the decision is made to begin importing these products while the US Dairy Industry is rebuilt.
The bovine insurgency began last Wednesday when Wisconsin Governor, James Doyle, Jr. (D), declared a state emergency as dairy cows began rising up and destroying milk production plants. "What many people don't realize is that once they get riled up, they are a 600 pound force to be reckoned with," said Nebraska dairy farmer Rick Sand. It seems that collectively the species, Bos terus, just decided that they would no longer be exploited for economic and idyllic purposes and fought back the only way they knew how. So far an estimated $60 billion in damages to dairy facilities have been caused by sows across the nation. This figure does not include the lost revenue of the lost livestock.
The self-liberated cows have been found roaming the countryside from Vermont to California. Residents of the Breadbasket and Heartland regions of the United States are advised not to approach the roaming and apparently feral packs of animals. The runaway beasts are to be considered extremely dangerous. Several vigilante groups have formed over the past week, many of which have been reported missing.
The National Guard was dispatched throughout the region last Friday, with an additional 30,000 Army Reserves called up by the President. They are dealing with the situation very delicately, using methods to attempt to capture the groups alive, while taking a "dead or alive" stance on suspected ringleaders. Though reports show that cattle insurgency is very active throughout the nation, President Bush is expected to make a victory speech later on this weekend.
The Chicago Mercantile Exchange estimates that prices for other dairy-based products such as Cheddar and Yogurt will rise by between 100 and 300% by Monday. Commodities Exchanges in China and Japan are expected to align with the US Market once the decision is made to begin importing these products while the US Dairy Industry is rebuilt.
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