Nights of the Living Dead

May 22, 2017
In this somewhat overwhelming collection of zombie fiction, 20 authors return to the world first seen in Romero’s 1968 film, Night of the Living Dead, to explore the original zombie apocalypse in all its gory glory. Romero himself and the film’s cocreator, John A. Russo, both contribute, as do authors directly inspired by them and those who have further solidified and expanded the genre, such as Jonathan Maberry, Mira Grant, Chuck Wendig, Carrie Ryan, and Neal and Brenda Shusterman. The stories show zombies invading myriad settings—even outer space—and decades, from the 1960s to the present. With so many tales revolving around a specific theme, there’s a great deal of repetition in terms of mood and outcome, and the underlying theme of terror and despair can feel suffocating. As in the film, horrible things happen to good people and bad alike, and there’s plenty of visceral carnage (including a truly horrifying scene with a zombie baby in David J. Schow’s contribution). The anthology is the perfect homage to the zombie movie that started it all, but it lacks a fulfilling degree of variety. Agent: Sara Crowe, Pippin Properties.

While horror fans will find plenty to love here, this audiobook is written by and intended for fans of George A. Romero's seminal 1968 film NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. Introductions written and read by Romero and Maberry, respectively, set the scene, providing sensational insight into the film and its wide-reaching impact. Each of the stories explores the mysteries and the gruesome realities of a sudden zombie rising and the lives of those caught in their sights. The full cast of narrators captures the dread and shock listeners might well expect, but they aren't afraid to explore the humor, heart, and humanity present in each story as well, making for a collection that is both chilling and oddly charming. B.E.K. 2018 Audies Finalist � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine