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103rd out of 855 books
—
2,629 voters
Zombies: A Record of the Year of Infection: Field Notes by Dr. Robert Twombly
by
Don Roff (Goodreads Author),
Chris Lane
The year is 2012, and what starts as a pervasive and inexplicable illness ends up as a zombie infestation that devastates the world's population. Taking the form of a biologist's illustrated journal found in the aftermath of the attack, this pulse-pounding, suspenseful tale of zombie apocalypse follows the narrator as he flees from city to countryside and heads north to Ca...more
Paperback, 144 pages
Published
October 14th 2009
by Chronicle Books
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I actually enjoy reading Zombies. I thought the pictures were really well done. Whoever drew them knew what they were doing. Just think about it. There are zombies everywhere. There are zombies outside the door, and you still have the concentration to draw these pictures! Mine would've looked like a toddler drew them! On second thought, I wouldn't have been drawing at all. I'd have probably been in a corner crying.
Zombies (the book, not the people group) helped me to realize that as much as I l...more
Zombies (the book, not the people group) helped me to realize that as much as I l...more
Loved it! I think the idea of tainted food makes the most sense with the Zombie Apocalypse. Also loved the little Canada insert
Okay, so I actually had never heard of this before and picked it up at random, because, hey, I love zombie stories. Anyway, turns out that this is actually an audiobook of a graphic novel. If your first reaction to that is "lol whut" then we're totally on the same page. I really never would have thought that a graphic novel would convert so well to a picture-less format, but they did a wonderful job with this, considering that I didn't figure that out until later.
There is so much zombie stuff ou...more
There is so much zombie stuff ou...more
Let's face it- while zombies are awesome, they can be a little overdone. Many movies & literature feature the same clichés & stereotypes of zombies, so it's nice that lately there are quite a few books & movies that are breaking the mold, so to speak.
`Zombies' is quite literally, a picture diary about zombies, written by one of the last human survivors- a doctor named Twombly who is "lucky" enough to have been in a relatively well enough stocked office/lab setting to last him a few...more
`Zombies' is quite literally, a picture diary about zombies, written by one of the last human survivors- a doctor named Twombly who is "lucky" enough to have been in a relatively well enough stocked office/lab setting to last him a few...more
Jenny came home last week with a new zombie book for me. She said she considered it the "me" equivalent of flowers. Isn't that nice? Zombies is crafted as a journal that a scientist/birder keeps during his time trying to survive a food-additive-driven (perhaps) zombie outbreak. He has both narrative and sketches in the book, along with an involving tale. Some thoughts:
* It's a lovely book, with great zombie art and character sketches. The writing is crisp and economical, but tells the story wel...more
* It's a lovely book, with great zombie art and character sketches. The writing is crisp and economical, but tells the story wel...more
While written like a journal, this book is filled with interesting and life-saving facts about zombie behavior and survival tactics. Gas = good. Shell-shocked survivors = bad. Dogs = good. Dogs also = bad. There are lots of good pictures to identify the fresher (and thus more dangerous) zombies. Experiments showing how zombie blood attacks human blood on contact, proving that proper eye protection is necessary when clubbing zombie skulls.
I had my kid reading this over my shoulder quietly, unnoti...more
I had my kid reading this over my shoulder quietly, unnoti...more
9 likes · like · see review
Jun 25, 2010
Ceridwen
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
You know who you are.
Recommended to Ceridwen by:
Walker Library
Truth be told, I haven't really been interested in reading much other than the back of the tonic bottle after pouring a G&T,* and I've kind of been wallowing in comic books and zombie trash when the mood does strike me. I'm not going to review even half of the books I've read, because so much has been chucked after a couple of chapters. Oh, you're that kind of zombie book, the nihilistic kind that's a thinly disguised screed of hatred towards modern culture? Toss. Or the kind that wants to s...more
27 likes · like · see review
Oct 31, 2009
Ryan Dwyer
added it
The book I read was kind of an underground book. It is called Zombies, The Year of Infection, by Dr. Robert Twombly a.ka. Don Roff. This was a different type of a novel, instead of being a big story, it was a bunch of field notes about the end of the world with zombies destroying everyone and taking over. It was based in 2012; it was about a two month period of time. It was following the story of a doctor whose hospital got overrun by zombies and he had to flee in order to survive. He meets qui...more
It's hard to imagine anyone picking up this book who isn't aware of the massive resurgence of zombies across pop culture the last few years. From film (28 Days Later, Shaun of the Dead, Zombieland, etc.). to fiction (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, HIstory is Dead), to mock non-fiction (Zombie Survival Guide, World War Z), to comics (The Walking Dead, etc.) to video games (Zombie Apocalypse, etc.), zombies have become an unavoidable cross-platform genre. It seems like the only thing holding zom...more
“Zombies, A Record of the Year of Infection” written by Don Roff and illustrated by Chris Lane is a book categorized as horror novel, but has no characteristic element of the genre. There is no novella, no short story, nor documentary.
It’s written as it’s presented as a diary, as daily notes with illustrations. It’s a very interesting project, a new and innovative approach to a subject that has been turned on all sides, an original way to present an old idea. Zombies... the story of the resuscit...more
It’s written as it’s presented as a diary, as daily notes with illustrations. It’s a very interesting project, a new and innovative approach to a subject that has been turned on all sides, an original way to present an old idea. Zombies... the story of the resuscit...more
The story here is nothing much—Roff basically follows the rules of Max Brooks’ zombieverse, with the (admittedly creepy) addition of the infection initially arising from chemically enhanced food. The ending is annoyingly abrupt, especially as it denies the reader any information about how the rest of society survived, despite it being clear from the introduction that it did. The story is like a small zombie aperitif (brains on a cracker?) without any main course.
The art, however, is fantastic. I...more
The art, however, is fantastic. I...more
4 likes · like · see review
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Although this book lacks any imagination, and stays true to the scenarios we have had tattooed on our brains for the last several decades; I kept on reading. This book isn't about modifying our perception of the fantasy Zombie world we have grown to love, it is about a normal man trying to survive the end of the world. There are no super human survivors who can do triple back flips and throw knives. He is just a guy; not much different from myself, trying to out run Zombies, and he happened to k...more
It's true . . . look at any other work of Zombie-ness in pop culture, and this will look like a blatant rip-off. The zombies are seen mindlessly returning to shoping centers (Dawn of the Dead), an evil corporation accidentally set of the pandemic (Resident Evil), even the road trip aspect was seen in last year's Zombieland, there's also a little World War Z thrown into the mix. It isn't filled with new, creative, or clever ideas.
However, Don Roff and artist Chris Lane, make the infection and jou...more
However, Don Roff and artist Chris Lane, make the infection and jou...more
My husband does not understand why I enjoy zombie stories. I think it is for the humor (most of the zombie stores I read lately are humorous) and the survivalism. It is intriguing to see how people figure out what to do in the end of the world scenario.
Anyway, this is a very quick read, written in journal style, with awesome illustration (not comic book either). The story ends abruptly, leaving the reader to imagine the possibilities.
This was standard zombie-lite fare. I would recommend it, even...more
Anyway, this is a very quick read, written in journal style, with awesome illustration (not comic book either). The story ends abruptly, leaving the reader to imagine the possibilities.
This was standard zombie-lite fare. I would recommend it, even...more
Very well written narrative. Great illustrations. An engaging read. I finished it in one sitting.
I read this, which says something, because I do not care for zombies. But the format was perfect for a quick read, and I started it in the library and finished it by the time I got home.
Good art, sorta. Sorta pointless and sketchbookish, and one gets the feeling that he was just writing a narrative to put some college drawings together, like "what if my design portfolio was invaded by ZOMBIES???" But I read it, so it worked. I'm also tempted to try it; seems like a fairly easy way to make a book...more
Good art, sorta. Sorta pointless and sketchbookish, and one gets the feeling that he was just writing a narrative to put some college drawings together, like "what if my design portfolio was invaded by ZOMBIES???" But I read it, so it worked. I'm also tempted to try it; seems like a fairly easy way to make a book...more
Good. But not as good as Zombie Haiku.
Presented as the journal of a doctor (and amateur artist) kept throughout a zombie plague, this can be a pretty gory and unsettling book. As a good zombie book should be. The sheer (clinical) detail of the drawings may stretch credibility, but Roff really went the extra mile with the written journal entries. I'm used to reading journal-style books with lengthy dialog that nobody would ever really remember, and consistently perfect grammar. Not so here. There's little enough dialog, and most conv...more
My favourite illustration, of Jeri's grief.
A readable, clinical and superficial journal with illustrations and diagrams from Dr. Robert Twombly covering the period Jan 5 - Mar 28 2012. On the whole, this doesn't contribute anything new to the world of zombies. Hypothetically, the cause of the outbreak is said to be from a food additive. As it builds up in your system, most reach a fatal level and display flu-like symptoms, die after developing breathing difficulties, then snap back to life. Thes...more
I have a lot of zombie lit favorites, and it would be pretty hard to choose a single favorite. But this book here is definitely in the running for the number one spot (probably tied with World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War)
The concept is great, basically a field guide to zombies. But, the genre being what it is, that kind of needed some narration being zombies would be, well, trying to eat the guide writer. So what we get is what starts out as a birding sketch book but then chronicles...more
The concept is great, basically a field guide to zombies. But, the genre being what it is, that kind of needed some narration being zombies would be, well, trying to eat the guide writer. So what we get is what starts out as a birding sketch book but then chronicles...more
A kinda gruesome graphic novel staged as the personal sketch journal of a Dr. in the nascent days of a Zombie Apocalypse...there were not any new tropes to the genre, it is not groundbreaking, but the watercolor artwork is stellar. The narrative follows Dr. Twombley as he tries to figure out what has happen to the world, to how to survive it (spoiler alert: he doesn't make it, duh!); it's a "found media" historical fiction, so you knew he was gonna get it.
if you like zombies you'll like it.
if you like zombies you'll like it.
Mostly, it was really well illustrated. Well, it wasn't so much the art itself than the atmosphere of the paintings and the graphic nature of it all. :3
I like how it was vaguely scientific, but I wish they had a bit more solid science in it! The scientific observations at the beginning made it promising, but that sort of disappeared as the journal progressed, leading more to your usual zombie apocalypse fanfare. ^^;;
The biggest letdown was the cause of the zombie infection(?), as it all seemed r...more
I like how it was vaguely scientific, but I wish they had a bit more solid science in it! The scientific observations at the beginning made it promising, but that sort of disappeared as the journal progressed, leading more to your usual zombie apocalypse fanfare. ^^;;
The biggest letdown was the cause of the zombie infection(?), as it all seemed r...more
Harrowing. Heartfelt. Honest. (Also, always avoid alliteration.)
This one sticks with me in my mind. The nightmarish world of "Zombies" is a simple one, which makes it that much easier to understand and let in. Straightforward, quick, and emotional despite the protagonist's seeming lack thereof, this book is highly recommended.
In addition, the illustrations are disgusting, beautiful and haunting. They infinitely add to the tension and feeling of this book.
This one sticks with me in my mind. The nightmarish world of "Zombies" is a simple one, which makes it that much easier to understand and let in. Straightforward, quick, and emotional despite the protagonist's seeming lack thereof, this book is highly recommended.
In addition, the illustrations are disgusting, beautiful and haunting. They infinitely add to the tension and feeling of this book.
Very short, more of a picture book than a novel. But the illustrations are well-done and I liked the scientific aspect explaining how/what zombies are. It even managed to send a chill through me a couple of times, which is a good achievement, given that zombies don't scare me. Zombies, for me, are an intellectual study: if this happened, how would mankind survive? I *love* end of civilization scenarios! But that bone-deep, afraid-to-turn-out-the-lights-and-go-to-sleep chill doesn't come with zom...more
The illustrations made the book about a gazillion times better to read. The realistic writing was superb and really tense and the ending was also very realistic (at least in that type of situation). Zombie apocalypses aren't really my thing but this book/journal was amazing! I would, however, have liked to have been given some information about how Robert, the main character, meets his end but other than that, it was fantastic!
this book defines ZOMBIE.It is great but if you dont like horor movies like saw or other such movies this isnt for you. as if you were right next to the narater the whole time the way he describes stuff is just implausible like a few pages into the book and he breaks a hydrochloric acid bottle of his zombified friend and describes how the head and brains melt away as the acid eats at it. the realism in this book and the makeshift every thing is pure perfect.
2 likes · like · see review
Although the subtitle says a record of the year of infection it actually only covers 3 months. The book is beautifully illustrated. I don't buy that someone in the middle of a zombie outbreak who is trying to treat patients and determine the cause will take time during the day to write about it or make sketches, but I'm willing to let it go. It's a short but fun read.
¿Qué no sabremos, a estas alturas sobre los zombies? Muy pocas cosas, en verdad. En el record del año de la infección no es que aporten muchos más nuevas y pese a que la lectura del diario del Dr. Twombly no es nada de otro mundo, vale la pena detenerse en las ilustraciones y la forma tan original de su composición. Como si fuese un diario real, en toda regla.
Neat little journal-styled book, with illustrations every other page. Nothing groundbreaking or surprising in the terms of zombie stories, but it has some good artwork and a solid, satisfying story.
Compare to Gnomes.
Compare to Gnomes.
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| Movie Version | 25 | 17 | Jun 10, 2013 09:25pm |
Don Roff is the author of over 14 books including–Scary Stories, Zombie Tales, Dragon Adventures, Werewolf Tales, and Zombies: A Record of the Year of Infection. His new short story collection, the first in a series, Heebie-Jeebies: Volume One, contains six terrifying tales and is available as an eBook. His screenplay GRAVITY 3D, a high-octane suspense thriller, is currently in development. He is...more
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May 17, 2012 10:42am
May 17, 2012 10:49am