Zombie Apocalypse!

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All right, zombie fans. That’s my list of the 25 best zombie books. I’m sure I’ve left off some of your favorites, so be sure to let me know what you would add to the list in the comments section. Looking for a list of the best zombie books ever written? Me too! In fact, that’s what motivated me to create the list you’re reading right now.

The Splits, by M.V. Clark. A journalistic take on the zombie genre, M.V. Clark’s The Splits offers what some readers have called a “grown-up” and intelligent contribution to the genre. No horror list is complete without at least one Stephen King novel. So here’s the King novel for you, zombie fans. You’ve probably heard that cell phone can give you cancer, but did you know that they can also turn you into a zombie? That’s the premise of King’s book. Mobile phones become the harbinger of technological warfare, wiping users’ brains and leaving them with nothing but aggression and desire for destruction. You know that one aunt you have that’s still so smug about not owning a cell phone? She’s going to love this book. plague of the dead by z.a. recht Speaking of romance and zombies, I give you Warm Bodies, a zombie book that gives a not-so-subtle nod to Romeo & Julietwith the romantic leads being named R and Julie. See what they did there? Unlike some of the more serious romance-y horror books on this list, this is another book I would put in that zom-rom-com category that is definitely a thing. Equal parts funny and sweet, this novel tells the story of a zombie man who falls in love with a human woman. Together, they discover the transformative powers of love. If you’ve already read Warm Bodiesand enjoyed it, the sequel The Burning Worldwas just released last year. warmth by sumiko saulson And while it was written long before COVID, it resonates more deeply in the wake of that pandemic. The Reapers Are the Angels: A Personal Favorite Monster Island, by David Wellington. First published online in serial format, this 2006 novel tells the tale of a zombie who has retained his human intelligence.I think what I loved most about the book is M. R. Carey’s artistry of the slow-reveal. At the start, you aren’t fully informed of what Melanie’s ‘gifts’ really are, leaving you guessing. In addition, most characters are multi-faceted with well-written dialogue between people. The book also pivots between a sense of hope and hopelessness, engendering tension throughout.

World War Z, by Max Brooks. Though it’s not for everyone, World War Z is one of the best zombie books of all time for the way it chronicles humanity’s (often flawed) response to the apocalypse.

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Is this another entry into the zom-rom-com genre? I think so! Sarah and David’s marriage is going through a bit of a rough patch. Will the zombie outbreak be enough to tear these two apart once and for all? Or will slaying the undead all day bring them closer together? Much like any rom-com, you’re probably pretty confident you know the answer to that question. But what’s most interesting about this novel is this couple’s journey, which is both hilarious and touching, again very much like a good romantic comedy. monster island by david wellington For those who like their zombies more goofy and less scary, this book is one for you. Andy Warner is a brand new zombie, still lamenting the loss of his past life and still trying to figure out the ins and outs of undead existence. When he ends up at an Undead Anonymous meeting, Andy meets a group of friends who help make his transition into the world of the undead a whole lot easier, including the whole eating human flesh part. The book is described as a zom-rom-com (zombie romantic comedy), and I love that so much that I hope one day that becomes a real sub-genre (I can already think of a few other books that would fit that description). husk: A Novel by corey redekop But enough of this administrative minutiae. Let’s put the appetizers away and sink our teeth into the meat. I now present to you, the ultimate list of best zombie apocalypse novels based on popular opinion. 15 Zombie Books Worth a Look (Alphabetically) This book is more of a thinker than a thriller, though it does have some gripping scenes spread throughout. It’s a thoughtful, contemplative exploration of what might really happen to the world if a zombie outbreak occurred. You might have thought it was cool when Westworldmashed up two of your favorite genres: Western and Science Fiction. Well, in her Zombie West series, Angela Scott mashes together Western and (you guessed it) zombies. When a redheaded cowgirl called “Red” saunters into a saloon, Trace knows that he has to join her in her zombie-killing adventure. All he knows about the cowgirl is that she’s the sharpest shooter he’s ever seen. What he doesn’t know about “Red” is a much longer list, including secrets Trace is not prepared for. married with zombies by jesse peterson