Edited by D.L. Snell & Elijah Hall The Undead

The Undead

Edited by D.L. Snell & Elijah Hall

Permuted, 2006, $13.99

ISBN: 0976555948

These twenty-three short stories focus on zombies in all walks of life (pun intended) as the authors provide insight into the various ways of the "Living Dead". Each tale is well written as the contributions go way beyond Romero's Living Dead films. The entries were predominantly written in 2004 with three in 2005; two as ancient as 2001, and one in 2003. As far as this reviewer can tell, these have not appeared in print before. Most of the authors are relatively unknown (how can they be otherwise with zombies running wild in places like West Virginia and San Francisco) though Brian Keene has won a Stoker Award. Their entries are solid fun, as we learn how to properly dine on human leg that tastes remarkably similar to a chicken wing. The compilations range from fresh human meat struggling to survive in a world in which the superior being is the undead to zombies in outer space to reality zombie TV. Some tongue in cheek, some science fiction; all are fun horror thrillers that showcase the various lives of zombies beyond the usual stereotyping of flesh eating slobbering slobs. Sub-genre fans will definitely want to read this tribute to zombie mania while most other horror readers will also appreciate these dining on human gourmet collection.

Harriet Klausner