book review of world war z
That’s not stupidity or weakness, that’s just human nature.”, Political views also make their way into the zombie world. One moment you’re listening to an unscrupulous pharmaceutical rep detail the amusing story of his sudden windfall and the next you’re caught up in a French soldier’s unnerving recollection of battling undead in the catacombs beneath Paris. WORLD WAR Z AN ORAL HISTORY OF THE ZOMBIE WAR. Is there another zombie book you think I'd like? These dramatic shifts in tone keep the reader invested and amid the ludicrous (and often hilarious) scenarios is a profound seriousness that’s indicative of the writing’s maturity. I’m addicted to murder, and that’s about the nicest way I can put it”. Through his writing, Brooks comments on how people would not be ready for a zombie apocalypse if it were to happen in real life. You can imagine some readers being offended by these less than flattering depictions of their homeland and yet it’s hard to argue with the author’s subtext seeing as it’s a mere extrapolation of leanings from real-life history. Also, Cuba becomes the leading economic breadwinner in the world. Kirkus Prize winner. What zombies have gained in terms of widespread appeal though, they have undoubtedly lost in terms of horror cred. This information about World War Z shown above was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. This frustration comes through loud and clear in the voice of every superb and utterly compelling character, but like the satire seen in the Starship Troopers movie, World War Z is more critical of the system than of its soldiers. World War Z book. This book is a must read for zombie enthusiasts, as it depicts a post-apocalyptic world that suffered from a zombie plague which started in China, after a twelve year old boy iss bitten by something while fishing with his father. by Max Brooks bookshelf The phrase “tour de force” could have been invented for this audacious novel. What makes World War Z so blasted entertaining to read is the multitude of short stories that all resonate with the common plot. Extra: Read CelJaded’s review of Closure, Limited – the sequel novella to World War Z. Hay•dash. The geographical and topographical landscape was forever changed. for Every Budget, World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War; Book Review and Look Ahead at the Upcoming Movie. THE INSPIRATION FOR THE MAJOR MOTION PICTURE “Will spook you for real.”—The New York Times Book Review It was made into a famous movie, with a sequel soon to be released. implies an inevitable “Z War Two.” For me, it will always be “The Zombie War,” and while many may protest the scientific accuracy of the word zombie, they will be hard-pressed to discover a more globally accepted term for the creatures that almost caused our extinction. The bestselling novel World War Z by Max Brooks (Mel Brooks' son) started a bidding war right out of the gate, and unfortunately it's been turned into a sloppy, dull summer action flick. The Zombie War came unthinkably close to eradicating humanity. Here is a book that reveals our hidden strengths whilst eliciting a strong distaste for our worst tendencies. Anyone lacking the physical skills to help rebuild humanity is labelled as such before being assigned menial tasks such as digging graves and clearing rubble. In most cases, the reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. World War Z – review Brad Pitt's bloated, boring zombie action thriller is another example of Hollywood turning a complex book into a shambling, snarling parody of itself Peter Bradshaw Our Verdict. World War Z the film was a complete departure from the book that inspired it. Max has received hundreds of awards and honorary degrees from around the world. (Okay, so in this case, it is obviously the right course of action.). critics consensus. While I have no doubt in my mind that this movie is going to be an awesome film, I am a little skeptical with regard to how true to the novel it will be. We also learn that Canada opens their borders to all who want to escape the zombies via the cold of winter–typical Canadian awesomeness, if you ask me! World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, written by Max Brooks (son of GENIUS filmmaker Mel Brooks), was released in 2006. It’s funny to think that as far back as a decade there were people lamenting the oversaturation of zombies in the mass media. From what we can tell in the trailer, the movie appears to focus on he Gerry Lane (played by Brad Pitt) in New York City. This leads to the creation of a new hand weapon called the Lobotomizer–awesome! We also see a swing in political power after the end of the zombie war. Brooks explores many themes here, chief among them being fear and ignorance and the untold things that happen because of those very human sensations. This book is … World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War Max Brooks, Author. More By and About This Author. The Zombie War came unthinkably close to eradicating humanity. The Good: When the infected start attacking as a mass of humanity, it is very well done and creepy. What World War Z is best at is really making you think – about a lot of things. “Imagine what could be accomplished if the human race would only shed its humanity” says the heartless strategist Paul Redekker, and the irony and truth in that statement shouldn’t be lost on anybody. It’s clear that author Max Brooks wanted to address this foible of pop culture, not just by rediscovering what makes zombies scary, but also what makes them relevant. Book Review Of Mark Brook's "World War Z" (Essay Sample) Instructions: The novel, World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks is comprised of some very compelling concepts regarding technology, and human interactions under plague like conditions. © 2014-2021 CelJaded. After the boy is bitten, the military is unable to contain the outbreak and it spreads throughout China before traveling to the rest of Asia and then the United States. …, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md6Dvxdr0AQ, Mel Brooks Gets Serious About Political High Anxiety and Endorses Joe Biden, Fear the Walking Dead Features an Impressive Zombie Apocalypse Response Time, World War Z: surfing a wave of internet cynicism, The best sci-fi books available on Audible, Unboxing The AndaSeat Marvel Gaming Chair, Coming to America: Ranking Every Eddie Murphy Character, The Star Trek: The Original Series Episodes That Best Define the Franchise, The Best PSUs for PC Gaming From be quiet! Humanity survived the zombie apocalypse and it wasn’t because of some miracle cure or divine intervention, it was because of the hard work and tenacity of ordinary men and women (and dogs!) Summary: World War Z is a thrilling four-player cooperative third-person shooter featuring massive swarms of zombies that recklessly rush their living prey. But, hey, thanks for your money, right? Book Review: World War Z. For one, the audiobook is one of the best audiobooks I have ever heard–and I’ve heard a plethora of audiobooks. It achieves what it sets out to do, but the content offered is vanilla, and if there were any chances to be taken, Saber clearly didn’t notice. While a great zombie tale at face value, clearly Max Brooks had some political and social commentary he wanted to share with the world, as well as general commentary on the current state of the zombie genre. World War Z (PC) REVIEW – Brainless Fun It's not revolutionary by any means, but World War Z is a fun zombie shooter that actually surpasses the movie on which it is based. It’s ultimately just another part of what makes this novel so frightening, not only because it encourages us to ask tough questions about ourselves, but also because it’s depressingly easy to imagine the end of the world actually going down this way. The nations of the world are held up to intense scrutiny throughout. Indeed, World War Z offers up a cynical view of modern civilization; one where everything from our disaffected children to our job titles are criticised for their effect (or lack thereof) on human society. the world over. Or, would the world crumble under its own selfish blindness? World War Z is currently being made into a big blockbuster film starring Brad Pitt with a script written by none other than Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski. World War Z as a film starring Brad Pitt in it, a film adaptation of the book World War Z by Max Brooks was an enjoyable film, but more memorable book. Each story is an interview from a new character (s) all over the globe and every story touches on the consequences of the outbreak on such things as religious, environmental, and political views. The zombies in World War Z are slow movers and usually in large groups, although the zombies don’t work cooperatively. Israel closes its borders to all outsiders except Jews and Palestinians. Zombies become Iceland’s top export, as the country is filled with millions of zombies and no humans are left. While not along the same line of terror as I Am Legend was, World War Z takes a more artful and tactical approach to the telling of the zombie apocalypse; the book has something more to say. You can watch the World War Z official trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md6Dvxdr0AQ, Robert Bernstein | North Korea becomes completely void of all life. Whether you’ve read any of Max Brooks’ other works or not, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in apocalyptic or zombie novels. The now cult-classic World War Z has led to the creation of other mediums than a New York Times bestselling novel. From its roots in China to its awakening in the United States and far beyond, the undead virus has shattered countries as we know them with barely a single patch of earth or body of water remaining unscathed. China initially tries to cover up the zombie outbreak in their territory, America would like nothing more than to coast by in a stupor of denial, whereas Pakistan and Iran outright obliterate each other in a mutual nuclear exchange born of miscommunication. World War Z is a powerful and ambitious book, impossible to put down. World War Z is a flawless work of fiction and like all good zombie media, it presents a magnificent irony; that human beings can be far worse than the undead could ever be. Have you guys read the book? Here are my thoughts on World War Z by Max Brooks. Max Brooks' (son of Mel Books) classic novel of the zombie apocalypse is being made into a movie starring Brad Pitt and the trailer is out now! Max Brooks tells individual stories instead of one, overarching narrative. While it is always a treat to have the actual author reading the book that they have written, Random House also included many other actors to give the audio a more conversational feel during the interviews within the novel. Book Review: World War Z. World War Z | Author: Max Brooks | Publisher: Crown Publishing Group | Genre: Horror, Post Apocalyptic Fiction | Year: 2006, World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War. "World War Z" plays as if somebody watched the similar "28 Days Later" and thought, "That was a good movie, but it would be even better if it cost $200 million, there were millions of zombies, and the hero were perfect and played by Brad Pitt." Yes, a zombie wants to shamble towards the nearest human and devour their flesh. All Rights Reserved. Max Brooks’ apocalypse might be familiar in this way, but there’s a compelling honesty in how he chooses to take us all down a peg. But a zombie in World War Z is never a clown, never a joke, and never anything less than something to be feared. The young computer geek who describes the naked body of his dead neighbour speaks volumes about his confusion and inner despair. World War Z is also satirical of government ineptitude with many paragraphs detailing how Earth’s leaders mismanage the crisis. Kirkus Reviews' Best Books Of 2015. Instead of deeply human tales about surviving and overcoming the zombie apocalypse, we got a relatively generic Brad Pitt led action film that had one standout feature: massive zombie swarms that were more akin to raging ant colonies than the slow hordes featured in other zombie titles. World War Z borrows the rules from Night of the Living Dead as much as they extend to what a zombie actually is and what you can do about it. World War Z is a marvellous production and a triumph for everyone involved.” author=”Audiobook Jungle” user_review=”5″ min_review=”1″ max_review=”5″ ] Tags audiobook review , max brooks , world war z , zombie apocalypse World War Z is a flawless work of fiction and like all good zombie media, it presents a magnificent irony; that human beings can be far worse than the undead could ever be. There is light at the end of Brooks’ zombie-infested tunnel and we need only put aside our greed and self-interest long enough to see it. He was once described as a "complex individual" and absolutely took it as a compliment. Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! Secondly, and most importantly, World War Z has spawned a movie adaptation coming in June 2013 that is directed by Marc Foster (Quantum of Solace, Monster’s Ball). Alex is a professional UX Designer who writes about video games past and present. The data executives, producers, and project managers who once ruled our corporate landscape are classified “F-6” in the wake of the mass hysteria. He is known as “Patient Zero” in the novel–shouldn’t he be “Patient One” though? Max Brooks, driven by the urgency of preserving the acid-etched first-hand experiences of the survivors from those apocalyptic years, traveled across the United States of America and throughout the world, from decimated cities that once teemed with upwards of thirty million souls to the most remote and inhospitable areas of the planet. While it diverges from the book quite a bit, I like the direction. World War Z’s biggest crime is a lack of ambition. World War Z Review. World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks Published by Crown Publishing Group on September 12th 2006 Pages: 342 Buy on Amazon Goodreads. It starts with New York City falling and then South Africa taking charge with their idealogy to segregate people into small safe zones that have been cleared of zombies. Yes, zombies are undead corpses reanimated from the previously living. ... BOOK REVIEW. Such themes are especially poignant, but they do not limit the novel’s variety or sense of mystery one bit. We don’t see any aspects in the trailer that would suggest scenes taking place in China or South Africa, which almost makes me doubtful that the movie will follow the book entirely. The Zombie War came unthinkably close to eradicating humanity. Whether they’re regretful, optimistic, or just downright aggressive, every interviewee delivers their anecdotes in a sincere and believable way. Read 4 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, written by Max Brooks (son of GENIUS filmmaker Mel Brooks), was released in 2006. World War Z was adapted to the screen with a 2013 film directed by Marc Forster and starring Brad Pitt. Max Brooks is the author of World War Z and the prescient The Zombie Survival Guide. World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War is a post-apocalyptic novel structured as a series of interviews conducted by an anonymous, first-person narrator with individuals from across the globe. For one, what would really happen if the world became overrun by zombies? DEVOLUTION. World War Z analyses the concept of a zombie pandemic from every imaginable angle, from genesis right through to conclusion. We will have to wait until summer of next year to know if this will be a masterpiece of zombie theater or a bloody box office bust. The preface makes it clear that this conflict wasn’t the end of humanity, but it was damn close! The book’s title isn’t just for show either. For example, China becomes a democracy and Tibet becomes the world’s most populated city. They are only killed via shot to the head. A well written idea and a solid performance from Brad Pitt. Now a major motion picture! The story unfolds as a series of verbal transcripts between Brooks’ narrator and the various survivors he interviews. He thoroughly enjoys all things video gaming related, Zombie slaying and preparing for apocalyptic survival. And yes, zombies can most definitely be destroyed by swinging a massive pickaxe into their skull. One of my favorite quotes from the book is, “Most people don’t believe something can happen until it already has. Seven years after Patient Zero, leaders from around the world have a meeting to discuss possible courses of action. Arriving with a hefty price tag in the vicinity of $200 million, World War Z proudly brandishes its blockbuster bona fides. However, millions die due to starvation. A young woman who speaks of forced cannibalism is a similarly tragic figure, as is the forlorn mercenary who opens with the powerful admission: “I’m addicted to murder, and that’s about the nicest way I can put it”. Never before have we had access to a document that so powerfully conveys the depth of fear and horror, and also the ineradicable spirit of resistance, that gripped human society through the plague years. Author: Max Brooks Released: 2006 Summary from GoodReads: The Zombie War came unthinkably close to eradicating humanity. With Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz, James Badge Dale. It's uneven and diverges from the source book, but World War Z still brings smart, fast-moving thrills and a solid performance from Brad Pitt to the zombie genre. National Book … Here is a book that reveals our hidden strengths whilst eliciting a strong distaste for our worst tendencies. It’s an inescapable fact that’s hard to bemoan because of how excellent zombies can be as source material. Also, pharmaceutical companies try to capitalize on human fear by selling “anti-zombie” drugs, which are only placebos and, sadly, do not work. Naturally, in typical American fashion, the U.S. President suggests war against the zombies. If I had a dollar for every time I've read this book I would have $23, enough to buy a new copy to replace my worn one! ... World War Z is a competent but basic shooter that seems designed to foster those sorts of memorable moments, and that is surely its greatest strength. The book also brushes with political cover-ups, as it turns out the Central Intelligence Agency in Virginia knew about the situation in China and ignored it. World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, Max Brooks World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War is a 2006 zombie apocalyptic horror novel written by American author Max Brooks. Would countries band together against a common enemy? Max Brooks' (son of comedian and director Mel Brooks) World War Z is the kind of book that offers social commentary more direct than that of Catch 22 and an entire world of stories told by engrossing characters. Furthermore, we see zombies moving like frenzied ants in the trailer, which doesn’t go along with Brooks’ “zombies don’t work cooperatively” mindset. These personal accounts of survival create a larger picture in the zombie world. But, until then, “Only ‘the gods’ know what awaits us at its end.”. World War Z's campaign spans the world, following different sets of four characters trying to survive in the United States, Israel, Russia, and Japan. GET IT. @ThirstiestGamer, Bobby is our former head geek who can definitely geek out. The cast also includes Mireille Enos (who gave a stellar performance in AMC’s The Killing) as Gerry’s wife, Karen. Former United Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop a zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments and threatens to destroy humanity itself. This honesty extends to the characters themselves as people are no longer concerned with saving face. For every Walking Dead there’s a Plants vs. Zombies, and between all of the ‘runner’ and acid-spitting variants as seen in video games like Left for Dead, the monsters themselves are frequently distanced from their Romero-inspired roots. The tale of a young Japanese survivor is a bit more fanciful than usual and the remarks about events such as the Flight 575 air disaster or the fate of North Korea are wonderfully enigmatic. Which is another way of saying that if you need proof that sometimes more can be less, here you go. World War Z is the result. Directed by Marc Forster. Crown $24.95 (342p) ISBN 978-0-307-34660-5. They’re instantly recognisable as characters, they’re always a believable threat, and as works like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies helpfully illustrate; zombies rarely stand for any of that copyright malarkey. World War Z is a damning assessment of the human condition then, but it’s not one that has abandoned hope altogether. Matthew Fox (Lost), Eric West (Hawaii Five-o) and David Morse (The Green Mile) also are a part of the cast. The Forgotten 500: The Untold Story of the Men Who Risked All for the Greatest Rescue Mission of World War II by Gregory A. Freeman | Sep 2, 2008 4.7 out of 5 stars 3,736 For more great book reviews, check out my list of some of the top-selling zombie novels.