Review by Braktooth -- The Ultimate Guide to Zombies

[Braktooth]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Ultimate Guide to Zombies" by Dave Robertson.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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The Ultimate Guide To Zombies by Dave Robertson might not be the ultimate book on zombies, but it sure makes a good attempt at it. Robertson is an experienced writer who has written horror-based books before and I think he does a good job with this one.

The Ultimate Guide to Zombies goes in depth on a lot of different zombie-related topics. It starts off by explaining how the zombie mythology started in Haiti, what zombies were in the beginning and how their stories slowly spread from there and worked their way into mainstream culture.

During this spread, what zombies were perceived to be changed several times. In the beginning, zombies were people who, through socialization and being administered a carefully concocted amount of specific drugs, were mentally destroyed to the point where they were sluggish, mentally damaged and extremely compliant. Robertson makes the point that at this time zombies weren't the real threat, the people making zombies were. The earliest books and movies that were concerned with zombies reflected this.

After many years, thanks mainly to George Romero and his movie Night of the Living Dead, that view of zombies changed. Now zombies were a threat, still slow moving, but relentless and aggressive in trying to kill normal people. The means of their creation also changed, which Robertson also explains. From here, different forms of zombies appeared, some interested in eating brains, some very fast and aggressive, some not even dead.

Robertson gives comprehensive information throughout the book about zombie-related books and movies, detailing how they influenced both zombie mythology and how they helped make zombies more popular in mainstream culture. This includes the first zombie movie (White Zombie, 1932), the first book to detail how Haitian zombies were made (The Serpent and the Rainbow by Wade Davis), the tremendously influential Romero movies and modern takes on zombies like The Walking Dead. Robertson also goes into different ways of protecting yourself against a zombie horde, the kind of weaponry you'd want to use, some basic tactics and even where you can get some of the weapons and armor you might prefer.

All in all, The Ultimate Guide to Zombies is an entertaining read that flows more like a detailed conversation than a pedantic lecture that is full of information for people who have a passing interest in zombies while still providing some nuggets of information even die-hard zombie fans might not have known. I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. Read it and feel better prepared for the coming zombie apocalypse!

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The Ultimate Guide to Zombies
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Like Braktooth's review? Post a comment saying so!

[kandscreeley]

It does sound like an interesting book at least to just look through. Thanks for the review.

[Donatelloo]

Zombies , my ultimate love ???
I love such books
Admirable review

Do check out my latest review and share your views. I will be glad to see you there