The only way the Guide might be essential to WWZ is how it explains how people become zombies-what the virus that causes it is. But you could also just go in to read WWZ not knowing anything about the Solanum virus and you can still tell it is all caused by some virus. WWZ makes the occasional reference to the Guide as well.
I've decided to post my full review for this book now that I've finally got it written. I wanted to do it proper, so here.
"This is probably going to remain my favorite book for some time to come. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from World War Z. I mean, I knew it was about zombies, but I didn't know how the story would be told. The method Brooks used though in his book, it could not have been any more appropriate.
I think one reason a lot of zombie movies have failed with me was because the group (there's always a group) of survivors trying to make it to safety are always so typically suited for different roles. You may have the natural leader, the rebel, the brawny no-brains muscle guy, the useless dispensable guy, maybe a preggo, the apathetic person, the stupid hysterical woman with no common sense who wants to rescue her fucking cat, etc. Give or take some of these types. I just described the remake of Dawn of the Dead and possibly many other similar groups in other zombie movies.
But whatever the composition of the group, they're usually the overall same mix of people with one sole objective: to either flee to an island, or make it to some supposed bastion of safety.
I realize that would be many people's objectives, to get to safety, somehow. In World War Z, however, it's not always as obvious as that with is characters (and there are plenty). The story is told in a journalism format, where a journalist travels the world in the aftermath of World War Z-a global conflict in which millions became infected with Solanum, and became zombies. Many people from different walks of life are interviewed. People such as small town residents, soldiers, doctors, even astronauts. Imagine learning of the experiences of someone stationed aboard the International Space Station watching from above as the Earth below is engulfed in flame and ashes. And it is not just how he is feeling about what is happening on Earth, but wondering how he is going to survive in space since his government can do nothing to pluck him from his post and bring him home.
Other incredible stories include a Chinese submarine commander who effectively steals one of the most advanced Chinese submarines with his crew and their family and flee the continent in hopes of surviving; and despite all the terrible things happening on the continent, the Chinese government still insist on hunting these rogue military and their families.
Or imagine even a typical American family, packing up in a panic and fleeing north because they heard it was safer up there, only to have to resort later to the most horrific means of survival such as cannibalism.
What makes World War Z so compelling is not just the idea of zombies walking the Earth by the millions, but also the stark realities of human nature and the measures governments are willing to take in order to salvage what they can or isolate themselves from the rest of the world.
There is indeed quite a bit of social and political commentary in World War Z. But it's not as if the author has some sort of agenda of his own. He merely did exhaustive research into the historical, political, geographical, religious, and cultural aspects of several different locations of the world, and tried best to project accurately what would become of those places if such an apocalyptic event were to occur. For example, it may seem unthinkable for Cuba to become the world's newest economic superpower. But in the conditions described in World War Z, one could easily conclude actually that Cuba would become such a place. Or, what would need to happen in Russia to turn it into a religious state?
Whether one thinks the world is already changing fast or not, the kind of changes World War Z make of the world are so vast and dramatic that this is one of the other unexpectedly scary parts of the book. It also reminds the reader of just how precarious civilization really is. An unexpected virus spreading worldwide at a rapid rate, with governments are trying to conceal it or isolate themselves. Imagine the refugees. Imagine the return to a hunter/gatherer society in former developed countries. Imagine mass suicides, nuclear strikes, entire paradigm shifts that turn back the clock for some parts of the world, while moving forward others.
These are just some of the things that make World War Z so fascinating and terrifying to read. I'm trying to think of some negative things to say about the book. Since this is basically a book of short stories, interviews with WWZ survivors, you may find yourself becoming enthralled with a particular character and their story, only to have it suddenly end and move on the to next. I had several moments like this in the book where I wanted to continue reading about this one character but the author just had way too many other things to get to.
I even kind of wished my own hometown or state would be mentioned in this book as one of the many featured locations worldwide, but that was just wishful thinking on my part. It's easy to wonder what would happen in your own corner of the world if this sort of outbreak occurred. You would wonder what the local government might do, or how the cultural aspects of your community would impact your chances for survival. You would just wonder about all kinds of things like that.
At least Brooks still covers a wide range of all kinds of interesting scenarios in as many locations. And it's not just your typical group of jerkoffs trying to get to a tropical island. It's all kinds of people from many different walks of life and their stories are haunting, endearing, memorable, sometimes they're even funny as hell.
Horror can't all be just scary things and blood and gore. The people in it also need to feel real. You need to be able to relate to them or at least their circumstances. None of these people or their circumstances ever felt contrived. It was an amazing book and I didn't want it to end."
I've decided to post my full review for this book now that I've finally got it written. I wanted to do it proper, so here.
"This is probably going to remain my favorite book for some time to come. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from World War Z. I mean, I knew it was about zombies, but I didn't know how the story would be told. The method Brooks used though in his book, it could not have been any more appropriate.
I think one reason a lot of zombie movies have failed with me was because the group (there's always a group) of survivors trying to make it to safety are always so typically suited for different roles. You may have the natural leader, the rebel, the brawny no-brains muscle guy, the useless dispensable guy, maybe a preggo, the apathetic person, the stupid hysterical woman with no common sense who wants to rescue her fucking cat, etc. Give or take some of these types. I just described the remake of Dawn of the Dead and possibly many other similar groups in other zombie movies.
But whatever the composition of the group, they're usually the overall same mix of people with one sole objective: to either flee to an island, or make it to some supposed bastion of safety.
I realize that would be many people's objectives, to get to safety, somehow. In World War Z, however, it's not always as obvious as that with is characters (and there are plenty). The story is told in a journalism format, where a journalist travels the world in the aftermath of World War Z-a global conflict in which millions became infected with Solanum, and became zombies. Many people from different walks of life are interviewed. People such as small town residents, soldiers, doctors, even astronauts. Imagine learning of the experiences of someone stationed aboard the International Space Station watching from above as the Earth below is engulfed in flame and ashes. And it is not just how he is feeling about what is happening on Earth, but wondering how he is going to survive in space since his government can do nothing to pluck him from his post and bring him home.
Other incredible stories include a Chinese submarine commander who effectively steals one of the most advanced Chinese submarines with his crew and their family and flee the continent in hopes of surviving; and despite all the terrible things happening on the continent, the Chinese government still insist on hunting these rogue military and their families.
Or imagine even a typical American family, packing up in a panic and fleeing north because they heard it was safer up there, only to have to resort later to the most horrific means of survival such as cannibalism.
What makes World War Z so compelling is not just the idea of zombies walking the Earth by the millions, but also the stark realities of human nature and the measures governments are willing to take in order to salvage what they can or isolate themselves from the rest of the world.
There is indeed quite a bit of social and political commentary in World War Z. But it's not as if the author has some sort of agenda of his own. He merely did exhaustive research into the historical, political, geographical, religious, and cultural aspects of several different locations of the world, and tried best to project accurately what would become of those places if such an apocalyptic event were to occur. For example, it may seem unthinkable for Cuba to become the world's newest economic superpower. But in the conditions described in World War Z, one could easily conclude actually that Cuba would become such a place. Or, what would need to happen in Russia to turn it into a religious state?
Whether one thinks the world is already changing fast or not, the kind of changes World War Z make of the world are so vast and dramatic that this is one of the other unexpectedly scary parts of the book. It also reminds the reader of just how precarious civilization really is. An unexpected virus spreading worldwide at a rapid rate, with governments are trying to conceal it or isolate themselves. Imagine the refugees. Imagine the return to a hunter/gatherer society in former developed countries. Imagine mass suicides, nuclear strikes, entire paradigm shifts that turn back the clock for some parts of the world, while moving forward others.
These are just some of the things that make World War Z so fascinating and terrifying to read. I'm trying to think of some negative things to say about the book. Since this is basically a book of short stories, interviews with WWZ survivors, you may find yourself becoming enthralled with a particular character and their story, only to have it suddenly end and move on the to next. I had several moments like this in the book where I wanted to continue reading about this one character but the author just had way too many other things to get to.
I even kind of wished my own hometown or state would be mentioned in this book as one of the many featured locations worldwide, but that was just wishful thinking on my part. It's easy to wonder what would happen in your own corner of the world if this sort of outbreak occurred. You would wonder what the local government might do, or how the cultural aspects of your community would impact your chances for survival. You would just wonder about all kinds of things like that.
At least Brooks still covers a wide range of all kinds of interesting scenarios in as many locations. And it's not just your typical group of jerkoffs trying to get to a tropical island. It's all kinds of people from many different walks of life and their stories are haunting, endearing, memorable, sometimes they're even funny as hell.
Horror can't all be just scary things and blood and gore. The people in it also need to feel real. You need to be able to relate to them or at least their circumstances. None of these people or their circumstances ever felt contrived. It was an amazing book and I didn't want it to end."
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