Zombie Survival Guide

Author Max Brooks on Zombie Origins, Symptoms & Treatment

Sep 27, 2009 Terah Talley

"The Zombie Survival Guide" by Max Brooks states that "before discussing any survival techniques you must first learn what you are trying to survive."

In the New York Times Bestseller The Zombie Survival Guide , Max Brooks informs his readers how to detect and defend against the undead. Brooks includes detailed weapons knowledge and combat techniques in order to help humanity survive the zombies' attack. This book does not teach the public to become zombie hunters, but rather how to simply survive against these "subhuman beasts."

Also by Max Brooks: World War Z

Zombie Origin

Zombie origins came from a virus known as Solanum, discovered by Jan Vanderhaven. The virus works by entering the brain through the bloodstream, using the frontal lobe cells for replication. This replication then destroys the cells and all bodily functions diminish. Solanum mutates the brain into a "new organ" and removes its dependency on oxygen. The corpse is reanimated once the mutation is complete and "this new organism is a zombie, a member of the living dead." The source of the virus remains undiscovered.

Symptoms of the Solanum Virus

*As found on page 3 of The Zombie Survival Guide.

"Hour 1: Pain and discoloration (brown-purple) of the infected area. Immediate clotting of the wound (provided the infection came from a wound).

Hour 5: Fever (99-103 degrees F), chills, slight dementia, vomiting, acute pain in the joints.

Hour 8: Numbing of extremities and infected area, increased fever (103-106 degrees F), increased dementia, loss of muscular coordination.

Hour 11: Paralysis in the lower body, overall numbness, slowed heart rate.

Hour 16: Coma.

Hour 20: Heart stoppage, zero brain activity.

Hour 23: Reanimation."

The Spread of Solanum

The Solanum virus is neither airborne or waterborne, which is great news for the human race. The only known method of transference is through contact with zombie bodily fluids, either through a bite or open wound. No research has been done on whether it is spreadable through sexual intercourse and Brooks comments that "warning against such an act would be useless, as the only people deranged enough to try would be unconcerned for their own safety." Infected flesh, when digested, is highly toxic and will cause permanent death rather than reanimation.

Treatment

Since Solanum is a virus, antibiotics are useless. Attempting to protect using immunization, which is the only way of combating a virus, will only further the spread of Solanum. Research is begin done to develop stronger human antibodies against the virus, but for now there is no method of treatment. There is a 10 percent chance of survival if the infected limb is immediately severed. Should an infected person choose suicide, they must remember that permanent death for a zombie only comes from destroying the brain. Suicide that does not destroy the brain will lead to reanimation.

References

Brooks, Max. The Zombie Survival Guide. THREE RIVERS PRESS New York, New York. 2003

The copyright of the article Zombie Survival Guide in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Fiction is owned by Terah Talley. Permission to republish Zombie Survival Guide in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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