Book Review – Zombies For Zombies
Author David Murphy’s Humorous Look at Life as a Zombie
Oct 11, 2009
Omaha author David Murphy “hosts” an advice and etiquette book for the living dead. Fittingly, as theatergoers gear up for Halloween with Zombieland and cities across the nation continue zombie walks through streets, the fascination with the living dead continues to grab audiences.
What makes Murphy so engaging is his ability to find humor in all of it. He recognizes that some people really believe in this stuff! As a non-science fiction or sub-culture fan, some readers might find this a bit daunting, or even completely off their radar. Not so.
Interestingly enough, Murphy is also a life-long singer songwriter. His cadence and timing is evident as each (often sarcastic) chapter out zings the previous. His first book is worthy of accolades.
Zombies For Zombies Advice and Etiquette for The Living Dead is fun and one doesn’t have to know anything about the recently bitten to get it. Although, it does help to imagine a world where a massive virus, the Provo Virus, has infected populations and the dead are living.
What is a Zombie?
The dictionary definition is “a dead body that has been brought back to life by a supernatural force.” Popular culture has “infected” folklore to mean everything from Voodoo rituals, to chemical spills and a virus outbreak.
Author Murphy offers a simple indicator checklist for zombies:
- Have you ever been bitten, scratched, or mauled by any known Provo Virus carrier?
- Do you have a strange wound that’s turning dark green and you don’t know where it came from?
- Have you recently been on a cruise ship?
- Have you been sweating excessively? Do you reek of sulfur and not know why?
- Did you, at any time within the last several weeks, take one of those subversive “Club Z Vacations” to a Containment Zone?
- Has your tongue turned blue?
Daniel Heard’s illustrations are the perfect marriage to Murphy’s sarcastic and tongue-in-cheek words. In Chapter 7’s “Change Your Clothes: Change Your Post Life” the magazine covers are aptly named, as well as simple to the point.
Chapter 8’s “The Koma Sutra: Wake Up Your Sex Life” is as equally funny as it is a train wreck that one can’t turn away. Heard’s drawings are neither distracting nor crude. Like Murphy’s words, they are in good taste.
Other Helpful Tips
Murphy’s wit extends beyond menu and fashion choices, as he leads the reader through other avenues like…
- Skin-care
- Sports (reader, pay special notice to the hilarious Reboot Camp chapter; what activities to avoid!)
- Care & Grooming
- Dancing
- Affirmations (meditations, too)
Published by Sourcebooks, Inc., Zombies For Zombies is 272 pages of relief from reality. Found at major booksellers and Amazon.com, this guide is worth the read.
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