Things Zombie

There's an upcoming novel Roses of Blood on Barbwire Vines by D.L. Snell due out in December. A great Undead stocking stuffer. Right from the very prologue (which you can read online) you know you will be in for a gore-filled aventure. Coming soon - do check out the bloody site.
Roses of Blood - Read more

Just when you think you are safe and hallowe'en's over NoTLD3D comes along. Opens Nov 10th in a limited release but wider screens depending on how it does.

Sometimes it may be difficult to distinguish geeks, gamers and comic book fans from the undead.* This is because some people only look at the superficial traits of zombies, which has in the past led to tragic results. Here are some of the most frequently confused signs:

- poor choice of apparel: frequently moldy, rarely buttoned correctly, always out of fashion
- slack jaws, vacant expression
- poor posture
- tendency to pester the living incessantly
- bad personal hygiene

One of the biggest differences between zombies and annoying living humans is the craving human for flesh (particularly brains). Check for necrotic skin and glazed eyes too.

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*since I am all of these and more, I cannot begin to tell you just how often this has happened. I can though say I've never, to my knowledge, eaten human brains.

Toronto, Canada held one of the first official Zombie Walks in October 2003. These walks allow participants to dress up as zombies and stagger along a planned route. Sometimes it is done to raise money for charity, but often it is simply done for the sheer pleasure (on the part of the zombies) to walk around dressed as the Undead.

Unlike Halloween there is no particular "holiday" to celebrate.

During the walk the Zombies stay in character and communicate in grunts, and groan and moan for Brains! (a zombies primary food source).

Zombie Walks are now held all over the USA and Canada as well. There's a great site to find out where / when / and how to participate.

Zombiewalk.com

One of the most well-known images of the Plague is the idea of the Black Death - the outbreak of plague in mid-late-14th century (killing between a third and two-thirds of Europe's population) and a well know pandemic in the 1600s. In China in the 1300s it caused an estimated 5 million deaths.

The fear of zombies and their fascination also ties in well with the idea of a pandemic. In pandemic conditions, no one is safe. It is the same with Zombies - the infected who will kill their families, friends as well as strangers. They have no taboos - and thus why zombies are often seen attacking the brain - the source of intelligence and wisdom. They are indiscriminate, mindless and voracious.

Zombification is often spread through means of a bite and the victim will most likely die and then return "to life". Many zombie movies, classics of horror, deal with an apocalyptic scenario - a plague of zombies.

When examined Zombies are a wonderful, and horrific metaphor for the current fear of pandemics. After 1350, European culture in general turned very morbid which can be seen in the artwork where death was often portrayed dancing and taking victums young and old. Zombie movies as well also reflect the darker aspects of our own contempory cultures and our fears.