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60th out of 669 books
—
2,900 voters
Zombies Vs. Unicorns (Killer Unicorns)
by
Holly Black (Goodreads Author) ,
Justine Larbalestier , Alaya Dawn Johnson (Goodreads Author), Maureen Johnson (Goodreads Author), Carrie Ryan (Goodreads Author), Scott Westerfeld, Meg Cabot (Goodreads Author), Garth Nix (Goodreads Author)
,
more…
It's a question as old as time itself: which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? In this anthology, edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier (unicorn and zombie, respectively), strong arguments are made for both sides in the form of short stories. Half of the stories portray the strengths--for good and evil--of unicorns and half show the good (and really, really ba...more
Hardcover, 418 pages
Published
September 21st 2010
by Margaret K. McElderry Books
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A solid collection of zombie or unicorn themed short-stories. Sadly, there was only one story that featured both, which let me down a little. Of course, when I think about it, a bunch of stories that only were about zombies fighting unicorns would have gotten old fast, but I really would have liked to see just one zed/uni battle. Just one. Somebody write this for me, please? I did not like the “humorous” “banter” between the two “Teams” - it felt like semi-witty Internet banter which is hilariou...more
Dec 05, 2011
Catie
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Catie by:
Tatiana
Beatles vs. Rolling Stones. Cats vs. Dogs. Coke vs. Pepsi.
Zombies vs….Unicorns? Who knew? Apparently this is the divisive question of our time. And now, thanks to this anthology of stories, there’s a handy rubric for determining just how you should answer.
I listened to the audiobook, which was excellent. Phil Gigante, who some of you may be more familiar with as the voice of Jericho Z. Barrons, delivers many an eargasm as master of ceremonies. Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier provide their o...more
Zombies vs….Unicorns? Who knew? Apparently this is the divisive question of our time. And now, thanks to this anthology of stories, there’s a handy rubric for determining just how you should answer.
I listened to the audiobook, which was excellent. Phil Gigante, who some of you may be more familiar with as the voice of Jericho Z. Barrons, delivers many an eargasm as master of ceremonies. Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier provide their o...more
Zombies...
Unicorns...
How could this possibly go wrong?
I mean, they're just so awesome!
I'll review what I've read so far and update as I go.
The Highest Justice by Garth Nix.
Nix! You're one of my favourite authors! This story was kind of awesome in that I felt like this should have been the beginning to one of your amazing big adventure series. Instead, just as it got started and became exciting, it ended! It was too big an idea squeezed into too small a story that you just couldn't do it the jus...more
Unicorns...
How could this possibly go wrong?
I mean, they're just so awesome!
I'll review what I've read so far and update as I go.
The Highest Justice by Garth Nix.
Nix! You're one of my favourite authors! This story was kind of awesome in that I felt like this should have been the beginning to one of your amazing big adventure series. Instead, just as it got started and became exciting, it ended! It was too big an idea squeezed into too small a story that you just couldn't do it the jus...more
I'm a sucker for amusing zombie stories. No really, I am. And I grew up on The Last Unicorn, bad singing and all. So when I heard of the concept of this book, what makes better fiction, zombies or unicorns? I had to smile. What a fun idea for a short story anthology.
I cracked the cover thinking "zombies for the win, all the way." I never laugh when I read, crack a smile at most, but not laugh. The introduction alone, a debate between editors Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier about the benefit...more
I cracked the cover thinking "zombies for the win, all the way." I never laugh when I read, crack a smile at most, but not laugh. The introduction alone, a debate between editors Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier about the benefit...more
Zombies Vs. Unicorns and who is the winner?
Zombies! Thanks to Carrie Ryan's Bougainvillea. Undoubtedly the creepiest, most spine-tingly zombie story I have read since... well, since Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Haters of that book shouldn't be dissuaded though. This story is lacking the angst and lurve triangles found in Forrest. Instead, we get complex, unique, sympathetic and believable characters in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. And of course a healthy dose of the zombie horror t...more
Zombies! Thanks to Carrie Ryan's Bougainvillea. Undoubtedly the creepiest, most spine-tingly zombie story I have read since... well, since Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Haters of that book shouldn't be dissuaded though. This story is lacking the angst and lurve triangles found in Forrest. Instead, we get complex, unique, sympathetic and believable characters in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. And of course a healthy dose of the zombie horror t...more
I'm not a big anthology reader, because there are usually as many stories I don't like as ones I do, and it's easy to put them down between stories. As far as I can recall, I liked every single story in Zombies vs. Unicorns, and I couldn't put it down even between stories. Chances are, if you're a YA SFF reader, there are at least a few authors in here you love; there was only one name I didn't recognize.
Special mentions to Naomi Novik's awesome New York-set unicorn story; Diana Peterfreund's co...more
Special mentions to Naomi Novik's awesome New York-set unicorn story; Diana Peterfreund's co...more
so, i'm not really a huge fan of short story collections, as i'm not really a fan of short stories. however, a lot of my favorite YA authors have chosen this year to be part of anthologies (Diana Peterfreund, Claudia Gray, i'm looking at you!), i have found myself reading more of them.
which makes them a little hard to review - having so many different stories and authors.
however, i think this is the best collection i've read in a long time. first of all, you have zombies, which usually means t...more
which makes them a little hard to review - having so many different stories and authors.
however, i think this is the best collection i've read in a long time. first of all, you have zombies, which usually means t...more
Note: As part of Zombies vs Unicorns month, I will be updating this with the new stories that I review. They will be reviewed in "bunches" (2+ reviewed together). The rating will be from what I have read so far (so it may change)
Review of Inoculata by Scott Westerfeld & Cold Hands by Cassandra Clare
From Uglies and Mortal Instruments... to zombies! Seems like everyone is converting to zombies! I don't blame them, team zombie really is where it's at!
Scott Westerfeld and Cassandra Clare's stor...more
Review of Inoculata by Scott Westerfeld & Cold Hands by Cassandra Clare
From Uglies and Mortal Instruments... to zombies! Seems like everyone is converting to zombies! I don't blame them, team zombie really is where it's at!
Scott Westerfeld and Cassandra Clare's stor...more
Anthologies are so difficult to review because they're a mixed bag, ya know? So even though this anthology had a handful of brilliant stories I'd have to say it was all sullied by a short story that contained bestiality. Oh, yeah, and all the zombie romances--between zombies and humans (What the what?!). Ew. And so, so wrong. So wrong.
If I have time I'll review each short story separately.
***
Why it has taken this long for such a book to be conceived and written is beyond me. I know I've spent...more
If I have time I'll review each short story separately.
***
Why it has taken this long for such a book to be conceived and written is beyond me. I know I've spent...more
This is so cool!
Are you Team Zombie or Team Unicorn?
Are you Team Zombie or Team Unicorn?
This book was one of the best fantasy books I've ever read. It has all the perfect stories compiled all in one book. The things I like best about reading books with lots of short stories is that if you don't like one or is getting tired of it, its over withen the chapter. Also it has just great sarcastic/humerous writing throughout it and I feel that keeps it fresh. This book goes through all the stereotypical thoughts about Unicorns and Zombies. Then it steps out into a complete different zone,...more
Something's not right with the audiobook, as it launches straight into the first story without saying the name or who it's by, and there isn't the debate between editors about zombies or unicorns being the best. Will keep listening, though haven't been very taken with anything so far.
Okay, I have to make one thing very clear, and that is that my rating is for the audiobook, and the book might have got a significantly higher rating if I'd read instead of listened. The audiobook is not good. The '...more
Okay, I have to make one thing very clear, and that is that my rating is for the audiobook, and the book might have got a significantly higher rating if I'd read instead of listened. The audiobook is not good. The '...more
Apr 19, 2012
Skyla
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Fans of Zombies and Unicorns
Recommended to Skyla by:
Indirectly Scott Westerfeld
Since the dawn of time…one question has dominated all others: ZOMBIES or UNICORNS?
Since I told J about this book on Tuesday, and he got it from W H Smiths, one question has dominated all others: Why aren’t there more anthologies like this one?
I mean think how awesome it would be to have other supernatural beings go head to head. We could have Zombies vs. Vampires, Unicorns vs. Mermaids, Mermaids vs. Werewolves…the possibilities are endless and this would be a hell of a lot more interesting than...more
Since I told J about this book on Tuesday, and he got it from W H Smiths, one question has dominated all others: Why aren’t there more anthologies like this one?
I mean think how awesome it would be to have other supernatural beings go head to head. We could have Zombies vs. Vampires, Unicorns vs. Mermaids, Mermaids vs. Werewolves…the possibilities are endless and this would be a hell of a lot more interesting than...more
When I began, I thought for sure that I would be Team Zombie! Well, I think that I am still Team Zombie, but I must admit that I have more respect for unicorns now. As shown in some of the stories, they would be useful pets.
My favorite story was "Children of the Revolution", a zombie story. The best unicorn stories were "Princess Prettypants" and "The Care and Feeding of Your Baby Killer Unicorn".
The worst stories were "Thousand Flowers" and "Highest Justice". They were 1. really stupid, and 2...more
My favorite story was "Children of the Revolution", a zombie story. The best unicorn stories were "Princess Prettypants" and "The Care and Feeding of Your Baby Killer Unicorn".
The worst stories were "Thousand Flowers" and "Highest Justice". They were 1. really stupid, and 2...more
It's a question as old as time itself: which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? In this anthology, edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier (...more It's a question as old as time itself: which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? In this anthology, edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier (unicorn and zombie, respectively), strong arguments are made for both sides in the form of short stories. Half of the stories portray the strengths--for good and evil--of unicorns and half sho...more
Let the debate begin! With a collection of 12 short stories, from 12 different authors, I'm sure this is one debate that will continue on for some time. Zombies vs Unicorns gives fans 12 stories, with every other story alternating from the Zombie Team and the Unicorn Team. Readers will enjoy short stories from Cassandra Clare, Carrie Ryan, Diana Peterfreund, Meg Cabot, Libby Bray, Maureen Johnson, Scott Westerfeld and more. The debate gets even wittier as Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier's d...more
The KitKatPandaBatWolf came up with a marvelous solution to the question posed by the title. She will turn the unicorn into a zombie, and use its razor-sharp horn as a bottle-opener to crack the skulls of her victims, enabling her to easily eat those delicious brains. And as a bonus, she can ride the unicorn and not have to drag her decaying flesh around all by herself.
***
When she asks her 3rd-grade classmates "zombies vs. unicorns" apparently they ALL respond "zombie unicorns!" Third graders FT...more
***
When she asks her 3rd-grade classmates "zombies vs. unicorns" apparently they ALL respond "zombie unicorns!" Third graders FT...more
I don't usually read short story collections but this one blew me away. Some of the stories (of course) were stronger than others but all of them were enjoyable. It might be my personal macabre leanings, but I thought that the zombie tales were particularly strong and tended to have a bit more to say about the human condition (but how can zombie stories not reflect the human condition). For those who enjoyed these tales as well, I also recommend Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion.
Very interesting and funny book. This book is actually cut up in different chapters written by different author's. Some authors describe the unicorns and how they are better than zombies and the other authors describe how zombies are better than unicorns. Hilarious, especially if you look at the cover, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read something interesting about peoples opinions about zombies and unicorns, especially if the book is written by several authors, the author's...more
You guys. You guys. From the moment I first heard about this book—on Twitter, many moons ago—I thought it sounded ridiculous. Stupid. Trendy and pandering to all the worst things about young adult literature.
And, eh, okay, maybe it is trendy. And maybe—well, definitely—it’s ridiculous. But I haven’t even finished it yet, and I’m already going to heartily recommend it to you based only on the two stories I quoted above. Not every selection in this anthology is so great (some are pretty lame, if y...more
And, eh, okay, maybe it is trendy. And maybe—well, definitely—it’s ridiculous. But I haven’t even finished it yet, and I’m already going to heartily recommend it to you based only on the two stories I quoted above. Not every selection in this anthology is so great (some are pretty lame, if y...more
How many times have you asked yourself 'which is the better creature, Zombies or Unicorns?' Now you can wonder no longer as this anthology puts that question to rest, or slays it with a sharp pointy object depending on your view point. Then again it may just dig up a whole pile of gross human remains which only goes to spark this debate once again.
Zombies, although only born in more recent times, have a wide reaching appeal. But not all zombies are slow mindless creatures, although some certainl...more
Zombies, although only born in more recent times, have a wide reaching appeal. But not all zombies are slow mindless creatures, although some certainl...more
There isn't a plot to an anthology, however, there tends to be a trending theme. If you cannot guess the trending theme of "Zombies vs. Unicorns", however, I'd be a little concerned. It's fairly simple- stories about zombies and/or unicorns. The two authors who compiled it explain that it stemmed from an argument(s) they had over which was better than the other, in all aspects possible. Despite the fact neither actually wrote a story for the anthology, they both do their best to convince you to...more
!Warning This Book Drops the F-word. Alot!
It's a question as old as time itself: which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? In this anthology, edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier (unicorn and zombie, respectively), strong arguments are made for both sides in the form of short stories. Half of the stories portray the strengths--for good and evil--of unicorns and half show the good (and really, really bad-ass) side of zombies. Contributors include many bestselling teen authors, includ...more
It's a question as old as time itself: which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? In this anthology, edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier (unicorn and zombie, respectively), strong arguments are made for both sides in the form of short stories. Half of the stories portray the strengths--for good and evil--of unicorns and half show the good (and really, really bad-ass) side of zombies. Contributors include many bestselling teen authors, includ...more
Pitting the flesh-eating undead up against the rainbow-sparkle monoceros, the various stories contained within the pages of Zombies vs. Unicorns are a fun debate. Team Unicorn offers some traditional and some out-there takes on its subject of choice. A royal family's unicorn helps a daughter avenge her murdered mother, a subversive modern-day unicorn seeks help from a drunken heroine in rescuing abducted baby unicorns, and an unnatural union between mythical beast and virgin creates chaos in med...more
for me, a fair to middling anthology with a few outstanding exceptions (naomi novik, carrie ryan - with some reservations) and a few outright insults/affronts to my intelligence (diana peterfreund, cassandra clare). before i started reading this i would say i was indifferent to zombies and actively disdainful of anything involving unicorns. having read it all, i am now enthralled with the former and even more actively disdainful of the latter. part of this has to do with what justine larbalestie...more
Oh man...I was EXCITED for this! Libba Bray? Cassandra Clare? Garth Nix? Libba Bray? SCOTT WESTERFIELD? Carrie Ryan(oh she is so doing a zombie story) LIBBA BRAY. Haha. And then I bought it. And read it. It started out beautifully. Like a genius artist. LIKE VAN GOGH. (He's a perfect example here) It was humourous and bright with that great touch of morbidity we all love in a good zombie story. The unicorns were nearly all unconventional, which was new for me(in middle school I fawned over The U...more
This was one of the first recs from the friendly Pittsburgh reccing machine, but one i didn't read right away. (It was expensive at my Barnes & Noble and I wasn't sure about it.) However, I am really very glad that I finally got around to finishing it. There are some real stand-out short stories in this book, and a lot of the writing is top-notch.
I went in thinking that was going to be firmly on the side of Team Unicorn, because I had always loved them growing up, and really, how much can y...more
I went in thinking that was going to be firmly on the side of Team Unicorn, because I had always loved them growing up, and really, how much can y...more
Review: The concept: love it. A straight out war between zombies and unicorns, fought by some familiar faces and other...I’ve never heard of. This is an interesting, refreshing and funny break from the more popular Vampires vs Werewolves debate. And conveniently, it is set out in a unicorn story, zombie story, unicorn, zombie format. Let the battle commence.
Gave each story a score, final score of book is the average.
Round 1:
Team Unicorn- The Highest Justice by Garth Nix. Its a unicorn who end...more
Gave each story a score, final score of book is the average.
Round 1:
Team Unicorn- The Highest Justice by Garth Nix. Its a unicorn who end...more
As I started to write my review for this (amazingly fantastic) book, I realized that writing it all together would be completely impossible. It would be like trying to review twelve different books at the same time. Therefore, allow me to present My Reviews in a Sentence:
The Highest Justice by Garth Nix (Unicorn):
I loved it and wished I could have had more of the story, but it was my first short story so I soon became acquainted with the fact that they often just end.
Love will Tear us Apart b...more
The Highest Justice by Garth Nix (Unicorn):
I loved it and wished I could have had more of the story, but it was my first short story so I soon became acquainted with the fact that they often just end.
Love will Tear us Apart b...more
First, there was the strange yet intriguing debate of Pirates vs. Ninjas. Now, editors Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier present Zombies vs. Unicorns, an anthology of six zombie stories and six unicorn stories selected to answer that ages-old question: do the undead have what it takes to beat those one-horned wimps to the title of “fan favorite”? Or will the power of rainbows wipe the floor with our brain-munching friends? The anthology consists of a wide variety of interpretations on these c...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZOMBIES OR UNICORNS | 18 | 47 | Nov 28, 2012 08:27pm | |
| Young Adult Book ...: "Love Will Tear Us Apart" by Alaya Dawn Johnson | 42 | 175 | Nov 17, 2012 09:47pm | |
| Young Adult Book ...: "A Thousand Flowers" by Margo Lanagan | 26 | 139 | Nov 01, 2012 08:22pm | |
| Young Adult Book ...: "Bougainvillea" by Carrie Ryan | 14 | 130 | Nov 01, 2012 08:20pm | |
| Young Adult Book ...: "The Children of the Revolution" by Maureen Johnson | 12 | 95 | Oct 29, 2012 06:10pm |
Holly Black is a best-selling author of contemporary fantasy novels for kids, teens, and adults. She is the author of the Modern Faerie Tale series (Tithe, Valiant, and Ironside), The Spiderwick Chronicles (with Tony DiTerlizzi), and The Good Neighbors graphic novels (with Ted Naifeh) The Poison Eaters and Other Stories, a collection of short fiction, and The Curse Worker series (White Cat, Red Gl...more
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“The job of every generation is to discover the flaws of the one that came before it. That's part of growing up, figuring out all the ways your parents and their friends are broken.”
—
70 people liked it
“Holly: Seriously, you don't like unicorns? What kind person doesn't like unicorns?
Justine: What kind of a person doesn't like zombies? What have zombies ever done to you?
Holly: Zombies shamble. I disapprove of shambling. And they have bits that fall off. You never see a unicorn behaving that way.
Justine: I shamble. Bits fall off me all the time: hair, skin cells. Are you saying you disapprove of me?”
—
54 people liked it
More quotes…
Justine: What kind of a person doesn't like zombies? What have zombies ever done to you?
Holly: Zombies shamble. I disapprove of shambling. And they have bits that fall off. You never see a unicorn behaving that way.
Justine: I shamble. Bits fall off me all the time: hair, skin cells. Are you saying you disapprove of me?”
Dec 08, 2012 04:39am
Wow. I don't...more
Dec 08, 2012 09:43am