Finding Meaning in Zombies
Jessica Robinson
Nonfiction/Pop Culture
Publisher: Booktrope
October 31, 2014
Cover Artist: Greg Simanson
Amazon
Jessica Robinson's obsession with
zombie films started when she was in junior high. Horror films are a great lens
to examine concerns society has about modern science. Let’s face it, when it
comes to horror movies, science has a bad reputation. Blind ambition,
experimental serums, and genetic experiments are often blamed for the giant
monster terrorizing the city or the reason aliens are taking human prisoners or
the cause of the dead rising from the grave to consume living flesh.
Using film, literature, and
interviews with experts, Robinson examines how zombies portray real-world fears
such as epidemics, mind control, what may or may not exist in space, the
repercussions of playing God, and the science behind the fears. Robinson's goal
is to explore how zombies become a metaphor for our fears of science and what
could happen if science gets out of hand.
Guest Post by Jessica Robinson
Surviving the Apocalypse
The best defense against zombies is avoidance, and doing the
opposite of everything I have ever seen in a zombie films. After the apocalypse, I’m going to become a
hermit, allowing no one but my family and close friends into my
shelter—assuming they haven’t been bitten.
Everyone else will be shot on sight.
However, once I find shelter, I’m not going to board up the
windows and doors. According to Night of the Living Dead, that’s an
incredibly ineffective way to keep the creatures out. Plus, I wouldn’t be able to see anything
coming. No, I’ll probably just booby
trap the land around my house—maybe dig some holes, put out some bear traps and
snares, or other things to entangle zombies.
I wouldn’t even have to camouflage them.
The zombies wouldn’t know what they are.
After the creatures are trapped, I will dispatch them at my leisure.
I also plan on avoiding other humans at all costs. Again, in pretty much every zombie film you
watch and The Walking Dead TV series,
they are just as dangerous—if not more so—than the undead. With zombies, you at least know that they
want to kill you and eat you. The
humans, their motives are a bit more covert.
Best to avoid them all together.
I’m also going to make sure I have a bunch of supplies
stockpiled in a safe place. In any
zombie film you watch, attempting to get supplies from the store opens you up
to a slew of attacks—from both the undead and the living.
Stay alert, stay alive.
My Review: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review
Undead Obsessed is an interesting, in-depth look into zombies in popular culture. I admit, I'm a huge zombie fan, find everything about them fascinating. In this book, Ms. Robinson takes the reader on a journey to learn about all aspects of zombies, from science to religion to outer space.
Many zombie movies and books are discussed in depth to the point that even if you haven't seen them, you won't be lost. The author also takes a look at the popular TV show, The Walking Dead.
Ms. Robinson really did an impressive amount of research in the creation of this non-fiction book. I enjoyed her trip to the water treatment plant and the veterinary center. Undead Obsessed is well-written and engaging. It read like an intimate conversation with the author. I really enjoyed this book, though I will admit there were a few sections that I skimmed through just because I got a tad tired of the long film recaps.
If you like zombies, then this is a must-read. If you want to learn about zombies, again a must-read. If you want to survive a zombie apocalypse... well you have a lot of planning to do...
Many zombie movies and books are discussed in depth to the point that even if you haven't seen them, you won't be lost. The author also takes a look at the popular TV show, The Walking Dead.
Ms. Robinson really did an impressive amount of research in the creation of this non-fiction book. I enjoyed her trip to the water treatment plant and the veterinary center. Undead Obsessed is well-written and engaging. It read like an intimate conversation with the author. I really enjoyed this book, though I will admit there were a few sections that I skimmed through just because I got a tad tired of the long film recaps.
If you like zombies, then this is a must-read. If you want to learn about zombies, again a must-read. If you want to survive a zombie apocalypse... well you have a lot of planning to do...
About the Author
Jessica Robinson is an editor by
day and a zombie-killer by night (at least in her books). Since the first time
she watched Night of the Living Dead, she has been obsessed with zombies and
often thinks of ways to survive the uprising. In addition to her nonfiction
book, under the pen name Pembroke Sinclair, she has written YA novels about
zombies and the tough teens who survive the apocalyptic world. She has also
written nonfiction stories for Serial Killer Magazine and published a book
about slasher films called Life Lessons from Slasher Films.
You can learn more about Jessica
by visiting her at http://pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3522214.Pembroke_Sinclair
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pembroke.sinclair
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pembroke.sinclair
Calling all Zombie Apocalypse Fans!
You know you've thought about
it. You know you've planned it out. How
would you survive the zombie apocalypse?
I’m un-dying to know! Send your
essays (500 words or less) or videos to pembrokesinclair[@]hotmail[.]com or use
the contact form at www.pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com . Please don’t send attachments. I won’t open them. Please paste your story or link directly in
the body of the email or the contact form.
Thanks!
Terms: Sending your stories/videos to Pembroke
Sinclair/Jessica Robinson gives her permission to post them on her blog,
Twitter, Facebook, or any other social media sites (including, but not limited
to, Google+, Goodreads, etc.). You
retain copyright, but give her permission to share with others for no
compensation. This is totally voluntary
on your part.
You warrant that you are the sole
owner of the work or have been assigned exclusive rights to the work; that the
work is original and that no part was taken from or based on any other
literary, dramatic, or musical material, or from an film or graphic arts,
except identified in writing by author; that the work does not contain any
material of libelous, pornographic, or obscene nature.
You agree to hold Pembroke Sinclair/Jessica
Robinson harmless and indemnify her against any claim, demand, action, suit,
proceeding, or any expense whatsoever arising from claims of infringement of
copyright or proprietary right, or claims of libel, obscenity, invasion of
privacy, or any other unlawfulness based upon or arising from the publication
or any matter pertaining to the work.
Submission of your work means you
agree to these terms. Pembroke
Sinclair/Jessica Robinson reserves the right to decide what will be published
on her blog and other social media sites and has the right to refuse any work.
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