World War Z

[hot564231]

I've been listening to the audio book, I'm on track 62 atm, very interesting book.


People often tell em the part of the battle of yonkers is the best part of the book (a part in which the army fights hordes of the undead only to find there weapons are ineffective to a degree)

Depicted here:

Although I must disagree, it was a good part of the story, although I found the South Africa part of the story the most interesting. In which they depict a man with no ethics to save what was left of the country, a dark part of the story imo,

Another part of the story was when the woman tells how her whole family heads north to avoid the zombie outbreak, at first it seems to be alright then human natural kicks in, along with the cold, and then drives them all to cannibalism.

the story I probably liked too is the story of the Merc hired to protect the rich from the zombies, but battle of yonkers is above it, this one depicts him as just a hired gun, while the great panic is going on, they sit around in a mansion with other rich friends watching the world falling apart, and then talks about them filming a web show of them throughout this, and him being sicken by this. and then the shit hits the fan.

All the other stories seem to be ok, but its good to have other perspectives I suppose, well off to listen to the rest of the book.

You thoughts on the book?

 

[Kadayi]

You thoughts on the book?

Clever ideas regarding Zombie scenarios and peoples solutions to them, sorely let down by well worn cultural clichés/racial stereotypes, weak dialog and predictable outcomes as well as broad overtones of the good ole USA being the rescuing cavalry towards the end (whilst everyone else is buffooning around..save the Israelis...). Frankly it starts off well, but later on it goes to shit. The writer has imagination, but if you're going to write about a place and a people, it helps if you actually go there and experience it rather than trade off western stereotypes. Stiff upper lipped Englishmen, Terse Russians, Samurai sword wielding Otaku, head wobblingly polite 'goodness gracious' Indians, the list goes on.....

 

[nurizeko]

I thought it was a good read TBH. It was a little unbelievable in places but so are all zombie movies and books to a degree, to make the zombie apocalypse seem more believable.

My favourite parts were on China (dunno if you've got to that bit or not) and a Chinese submarine.

The book was a nice little collection of stories, and the whole post-war slant of it was enjoyable to.

The Russian bits are good to.

All in all if you enjoy Left 4 Dead or zombie movies in general and you can actually pick up a book and read (I know not everyone is a big reader) then World War Z is a must, even just to see if you will like it, because if you do like it you'll be hooked from start to finish.

Clever ideas regarding Zombie scenarios and peoples solutions to them, sorely let down by well worn cultural clichés/racial stereotypes, weak dialog and predictable outcomes as well as broad overtones of the good ole USA being the rescuing cavalry towards the end (whilst everyone else is buffooning around..save the Israelis...). Frankly it starts off well, but later on it goes to shit. The writer has imagination, but if you're going to write about a place and a people, it helps if you actually go there and experience it rather than trade off western stereotypes.

A good point and wortth considering.

I just figured the tone of the book wasn't that serious to begin with (almost joking in a way) and playing off the stereotypes was part of that but I could be wrong.

I think it was a pretty good offering given that the author wasn't an expert on global cultures and societies.

The fact the Americans didn't get chowed to hell and back seemed a bit off, dunno if this counts as a spoiler, suffice to say one swathe of the country magically being safe from the zombies when they are such high population area's seems a bit unbelievable.

I could actually believe Israel going into lockdown but who knows.

 

[hot564231]

My favourite parts were on China (dunno if you've got to that bit or not) and a Chinese submarine.

The Russian bits are good to.

Hmmm... seeing as it's Abridged Audio Book, I think the Chinese submarine was cut, I know the parts where the stories of the boy as patient zero are there, consider the audio book is almost 6 hours long, i can understand it being cut and I don't remember any russian bit eithers.

Clever ideas regarding Zombie scenarios and peoples solutions to them, sorely let down by well worn cultural clichés/racial stereotypes, weak dialog and predictable outcomes as well as broad overtones of the good ole USA being the rescuing cavalry towards the end (whilst everyone else is buffooning around..save the Israelis...). Frankly it starts off well, but later on it goes to shit. The writer has imagination, but if you're going to write about a place and a people, it helps if you actually go there and experience it rather than trade off western stereotypes.

also, I agree the stereotyping is everywhere in this, its a bit over the top.

 

[Jintor]

The best bit was the Chinese Submarine, tbh.

More like a political thriller with added zombies.

I think to some degree the stereotyping is admittedly over the top, but I can... well I can't 'see it happening' so to speak but it doesn't break suspension of reality to think of the Chinese reacting this way, the Israeli acting this way, (the Russians were ridiculous, but then again I don't know too much about Russia), etc. The absolute worst place was the two Japanese guys' stories.

So it's certainly not a reliable guide to human nature re ethnicity but for zombie-related shennanigans it's pretty damn good.

 

[Eejit]

It was entertaining enough, but could have been a lot better.

 

[nurizeko]

It was entertaining enough, but could have been a lot better.

Hear, hear. :cheers:

 

[MJ12]

Most of the stories were great and very interesting in their own semi-realistic way. However, the ending was very, very, very dull.

I remember the North Korea (It was NK right?) story, about how they shut down all communications and no one ever really knew what happened with them. That story for some reason had a lasting impression with me, because it was so creepy and left much to wonder.

 

[Sulkdodds]

I agree with the general concensus here. And the author's insistence on shoehorning in references to his favourite things (read: Iron Maiden) gets irritating. But it just about avoids being mawkish in its everyone pulls together schtick, by strongly repeating that a) pulling together doesn't work if you don't plan really ****ing well and extra-****ing carefully, and b) often pulling one group of people together requires sacrifices. Human sacrifices.

 

[hot564231]

might buy the book now just to read the missing parts.

 

[Kadayi]

might buy the book now just to read the missing parts.

Don't, you'd encourage the author to think he has real talent and cause more trees to die

 

[Jintor]

Twilight is popular Kadayi, you've lost that battle

 

[Kadayi]

Twilight is popular Kadayi, you've lost that battle

Pretty Mr Brooks didn't write Twilight if you check your facts :dozey:

 

[Jintor]

Yes but it's utter shite is my point

In case you don't get it further, we already lost the forests of three continents to publish that drivel, there's no point trying to save any more of 'em

 

[Eejit]

Not to mention the rainforests cut down for all the other shit series of books: Drizzt novels, Warhammer novels, Star Wars novels, Star Trek novels, Dan Brown's books, Tom Clancy's books, Anne Rice books... The list of high-selling trash is enormous.

I didn't even mention my pet peeves here!

 

[Jintor]

Star Wars novels

Hey. Hey.

Timothy Zahn is awesome.

 

[Eejit]

Tell that to the judge.

Bake 'im away, toys.

 

[hot564231]

Don't, you'd encourage the author to think he has real talent and cause more trees to die

Well alright then, I'll pirate it then, make him look like a no talent hack!

 

[Sheepo]

I didn't even mention my pet peeves here!

And I was totally expecting you to! Curses!