Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
Paul Is Undead: The British Zombie Invasion
by
Alan Goldsher (Goodreads Author),
Simn Vance
Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to really meet the Beatles. This is a delightfully gory retelling of the Beatles' U.S. tour that reimagines the Liverpool foursome as bloodthirsty zombies who take over the world... literally!
Audio CD
Published
June 1st 2010
by Blackstone Audiobooks
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
1,134)
Jun 24, 2010
Zetta
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
reviewd-for-ny-journal-of-books
This is one of the funniest books I've read this year.
I have written a review of this book for The New York Journal of Books, but here's a wee teaser:
Take every bit of fact, fiction, or myth uttered about The Beatles as a group or as individuals and throw it aside. Paul Is Undead has rewritten history in such a way that is almost convincing enough to be gospel.
Unfortunately, working with or being a fan of The Beatles can be deadly as documented in the events that happened in The Cavern Club, She...more
I have written a review of this book for The New York Journal of Books, but here's a wee teaser:
Take every bit of fact, fiction, or myth uttered about The Beatles as a group or as individuals and throw it aside. Paul Is Undead has rewritten history in such a way that is almost convincing enough to be gospel.
Unfortunately, working with or being a fan of The Beatles can be deadly as documented in the events that happened in The Cavern Club, She...more
I am a big fan of the Beatles and was entertained by My Favorite Fangs so I decided to read this book. It was an entertaining, quick read. I liked how Goldsher blended the actual history of the band with his own twisted zombie spin.
Jan 10, 2011
Bill Sleeman
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
zombies-and-superheroes
An entertaining - and a bit strange - book is "Paul is Undead: the British Zombie Invasion" by Alan Goldsher. While I am not a fan of zombie lit I am a Beatles fan so the idea of them as three zombies (John, Paul and George) and one "seventh-level, eternal Ninja lord" (Ringo) was too intriguing to pass up. Presented in an interview style the work traces the origins of the band from Liverpool where John, the original zombie, transforms Paul who in turn tranforms George into fellow members of the...more
I have yet to find a zombie parody that I can stomach to its fullest potential, and I had hoped that Paul Is Undead would be the one to break the mold. It started off well, but eventually I simply did not care for the interview format. I think that it might have gone a little better if it was a "story" story where we follow John as he goes about and makes zombie Beatles - not interviews from various people who recollect the making of the Beatles. It did not help that I am not a Beatles fanatic,...more
An oral history of the world's first "zombie" band, The Beatles, Paul is Undead has the capacity of being one of the most groundbreaking works of rock music reportage to date.
Instead, the book consists of anecdotes of three zombies and a ninja beating the crap out of each other. Very little focus is given to the music of The Beatles, save for a scattered song title reference or concert date. No, this is just about the in-group physical altercations - which may sound amazing at first, but as Geof...more
Instead, the book consists of anecdotes of three zombies and a ninja beating the crap out of each other. Very little focus is given to the music of The Beatles, save for a scattered song title reference or concert date. No, this is just about the in-group physical altercations - which may sound amazing at first, but as Geof...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Anyone that knows me knows that I find great humor in these little mashup stories. Combining Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte with Zombies and other fun creatures just makes for one hilarious story. The newest mashup to cross my path is PAUL IS UNDEAD by Alan Goldsher, the story of The Beatles...with zombies!
Paul is the fabulous leader of this foursome, turning people into zombies right and left. He recruits his band members, including the ninja warrior, Ringo, to cause mass chaos and play aweso...more
Paul is the fabulous leader of this foursome, turning people into zombies right and left. He recruits his band members, including the ninja warrior, Ringo, to cause mass chaos and play aweso...more
Jun 24, 2010
Theresa
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Older teens through Adult
I enjoy somewhat off-color humor, so I jumped at the chance to read this book. I was prepared to snuggle down with a fun story about zombie Beatles, but was disappointed. This book is done in an interview style, between a writer and each of the Beatles as well as other important people involved in the Beatles lives.
To be honest, I just couldn't "get into" the story. I didn't care for the interview style of writing. Why? I'm one that will skim over interviews as I find most of them boring. That w...more
To be honest, I just couldn't "get into" the story. I didn't care for the interview style of writing. Why? I'm one that will skim over interviews as I find most of them boring. That w...more
What do a famous music band, The Beatles and zombies have to do with each other…a lot when Paul is Undead! Yep, you read this right. The Beatles may have come from England and but they were they were not of this world.
John Lennon was already a zombie when he helped formed the Beatles. He was getting better at turning others into zombies without anyone suspecting anything was up. John later recruits Paul. They both go in search of Ninja warrior and talented drummer, Ringo. Eventually, the group o...more
John Lennon was already a zombie when he helped formed the Beatles. He was getting better at turning others into zombies without anyone suspecting anything was up. John later recruits Paul. They both go in search of Ninja warrior and talented drummer, Ringo. Eventually, the group o...more
Jul 26, 2011
Matti Karjalainen
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Shelves:
kauhu,
huumori,
kotikirjasto,
vaihtoehtohistoria,
aikuiset,
zombit,
beatles,
in-english,
2000-luku,
usa-kans
Seth Graheme-Smithin yllätysbestselleriksi kohonneen "Pride and Prejudice and Zombiesin" (Quirck, 2009) jälkeen kirjamarkkinoille on tulvinut uudelleenkirjoitettuja klassikkoromaaneja, joihin on sotkettu mukaan vampyyreja, merihirviöitä ja muita kauhuaineksia. Mutta mitenkä mahtaa käydä, kun aiheeksi otetaan maailmankaikkeuden suurimman bändin - The Beatlesin - tarina ja mukaan sotketaan eläviä kuolleita?
Musiikki- ja urheilujournalistina leipäänsä ansainneen Alan Goldsherin vitsikkäästi nimetty...more
Musiikki- ja urheilujournalistina leipäänsä ansainneen Alan Goldsherin vitsikkäästi nimetty...more
This book is another mashup, this time of the Beatles themselves. It is a humorous book in the vein of all those humor movies and books on zombies. It is written like a tell-all biography endorsed by the Beatle zombies themselves (oh, and Ringo who is a living Ninja Lord). You also get some insights into other icons of the Rock era like Mick Jagger, Roy Orbison, and even Elvis. There is a story within all the "revelations" and humor which moves the book along.
I do caution those that are die-hard...more
I do caution those that are die-hard...more
This was my first Zombie book. Ever. I found it funny and charming at first, but I admit by the end the zombie stuff was getting old. I don't know if it was the fact that the Beatles were Zombies, or just the Zombie genre...but I don't think I could read too many zombie books. I found myself getting grossed out by the eating of brains, lol. This from a girl who lived on Stephen King through the 90's. He never did gross me out. But I digress. There was also an awful lot of sexual antics and detai...more
Whether or not you love The Beatles and zombies- this brilliant rendition of what music and history would be IF The Beatles were brain junkies will have you rolling.
I don't even have much to say about this book, I simply loved it- don't want to spoil anything for readers. I really went into this book rolling my eyes, but I'm glad I read it anyway! Hilarious. Ninjas! Zombies! Rock 'n Roll! This is the best mockumentary I have experienced since watching "Best in Show" back in 2000. We have all th...more
I don't even have much to say about this book, I simply loved it- don't want to spoil anything for readers. I really went into this book rolling my eyes, but I'm glad I read it anyway! Hilarious. Ninjas! Zombies! Rock 'n Roll! This is the best mockumentary I have experienced since watching "Best in Show" back in 2000. We have all th...more
If you are a Beatles and or a zombie fan, this book is one for you! Alan Goldsher, reporter and Beatles maniac creates a mock version of the biographies of each of the Beatles. He begins with John Lennon, who was turned into a zombie on the day he was born. John met Paul McCartney and George Harrison in his teens. All three had a knack for rock and roll and thus the Beatles were officially a band. John, who was brain-hungry turned Paul into a zombie during a band practice. Then Paul turned Georg...more
Oct 16, 2011
Victoria
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fantasy-science-fiction
This may be the most ridiculous, goriest, and silliest book that I have read this year, but I enjoyed every page of it! The premise of re-writing Beatles-history with the premise of John, Paul and George as zombies (Ringo, as usual, gets a bit left out, but his Ninja Lord status doesn't completely sideline him) was definitely unique and I think that many Beatles fans (those with a sense of humour and a strong stomach) will get a kick out of reading this alternative oral history. The book doesn't...more
Aug 17, 2011
Ruby Tombstone
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
bloody-shamblers-of-course
Okay, I'll be honest. I didn't even get halfway through this. I actually started reading it to my cat when she was in hospital for a month, but I couldn't do the accents. From what I have read, I'll say that Beatles trivia geeks would probably really enjoy this book, and at the very least would understand a lot more of the references than I did. The whole zombie mechanics outlined in this book are just absurd and overly complicated, and really don't add to the story. For example, to turn a perso...more
When you think about The Beatles, your mind may think heartthrob at first but in this book, you can see them in a whole new light. If you see them, you better run! John Lennon is a zombie who has a knack for turning others into zombies without anyone noticing. Oh and did I mention that he's forming a rock band? He and Paul are ready to find other members to complete their zombie band. They run into one slight problem. Mick is a zombie slayer making music with the undead. Can you think of anythin...more
1 like · like · see review
view 1 comment
Imagine John's a zombie
It's easy if you try
Some hell around us
Since he will never die
Imagine all the zombies
Living for today
You may say that he's a dreamer
But he's not the only one
He hopes someday you'll join him
And the world will be as one
So John Lennon becomes a zombie. Then he meets McCartney and thinks Paul should be one, too. They start a band and soon find George Harrison and turn him into a zombie. But Ringo? Nope, he's a 7th Level Ninja Lord and is too valuable for his defensiv...more
It's easy if you try
Some hell around us
Since he will never die
Imagine all the zombies
Living for today
You may say that he's a dreamer
But he's not the only one
He hopes someday you'll join him
And the world will be as one
So John Lennon becomes a zombie. Then he meets McCartney and thinks Paul should be one, too. They start a band and soon find George Harrison and turn him into a zombie. But Ringo? Nope, he's a 7th Level Ninja Lord and is too valuable for his defensiv...more
I bought this as an audiobook. I really liked what they did with the various voices to distinguish the main narrator from the interviewees and the interviewees from each other. It was a very interesting and amusing concept: the Beatles were zombies! The whole thing is done as a mockumentary. I don't know much about the Beatles, but I strongly suspect that the author closely followed the actual timeline surrounding the actual group in question. Were I a Beatles fan, I probably would have loved th...more
Maybe I just expect to much from my zombie lit now-a-days, or I'm not enough of a hard-core Beatles fan. This book just didn't do it for me. There were some funny parts (especially towards the end) but it was nowhere near as good as WWZ or PP&Z. It did give me a better appreciation for Ringo though.
***I have been talking about this book with some friends, and I think I realized why I didn't really like it. The event in the book happens within the first few pages, so I don't know if it count...more
***I have been talking about this book with some friends, and I think I realized why I didn't really like it. The event in the book happens within the first few pages, so I don't know if it count...more
Jul 26, 2011
Ron Arden
added it
For anyone who likes the Beatles and wants a good laugh, this is the book for you. Alan Goldsher interviews the Beatles and all their cohorts over the years for this memoir. The catch is that in this version of reality, 3 of the 4 Beatles are zombies. Ringo is a 7th Level Ninja and not undead.
It all starts with John Lennon in the 1950s. He turns Paul and then George and then a lot of people who I always suspected were probably zombies. The story recalls all the Beatles major events, like their f...more
It all starts with John Lennon in the 1950s. He turns Paul and then George and then a lot of people who I always suspected were probably zombies. The story recalls all the Beatles major events, like their f...more
This is on odd book for me to read... I don't particularly care for horror, and I'm not really a music fan-boy for any genre or group. While I lived through the British Invasion, and remember watching the Beatles on Ed Sullivan (live!), I certainly can't relate the history of the Beatles from memory.
But the book was laying around staring at me, the cover promised humor (which I do love), so I thought I should at least give it a try, and in I plunged. And for all the reasons I've related, things...more
But the book was laying around staring at me, the cover promised humor (which I do love), so I thought I should at least give it a try, and in I plunged. And for all the reasons I've related, things...more
This is a fun, silly read that takes as its premise the idea that the Beatles are zombies (except for Ringo, who is a seventh-level ninja). The book is chock-full of Beatles puns and zombie puns, as you might expect, along the lines of references to the “British zombie invasion” and of course the title itself, “Paul Is Undead.” Told in the form of fake interviews and newspaper articles, the book chronicles the rise and fall of the Beatles and their attempts to turn the entire world into zombies...more
Feb 05, 2011
Sterling
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Beatles fans, zombie fans, anyone who likes silly alternate history
Imagine, if you will, a world where zombies and humans live together in if not perfect harmony, at least a sort of balance. A world where, in fact, zombies are considered a racial minority. Now imagine what would happen if certain celebrities and media icons were zombies? Football players, sprinters, Olympic athletes. What about movie stars? Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Jeff Bridges. How about musicians? Green Day, Pink, Madonna.
What about the Beatles?
This is exactly the question that Paul Is Und...more
What about the Beatles?
This is exactly the question that Paul Is Und...more
Yes, zombies are all the rage now. The simple truth is I can't say no to a zombie book. I totally went for this book based on its title and cover art. That and the fact that the author is a Chicagoan. I thought, worst case, there will be something worthwhile in it.
There was. This isn't high art, this is a revisionist tale of the British Invasion as a true invasion. Parts of it are funny and parts of it are stupid and parts of it try to be sly with varying rates of success.
Overall it's fun and...more
There was. This isn't high art, this is a revisionist tale of the British Invasion as a true invasion. Parts of it are funny and parts of it are stupid and parts of it try to be sly with varying rates of success.
Overall it's fun and...more
The Fall of the House of BeatleZ
It's easy to shrug off this novel as a funny book about the most famous and influential rock band of all time. Look deeper. You'll see scribe Alan Goldsher veils stunning truth behind humorous fiction in his tome, "Paul Is Undead."
Were three of the Beatles really zombies? Before shaking your head no, examine the connection between the band and author Edgar Allan Poe. In his immortal 1967 song "I Am the Walrus," John Lennon cries out, "Man you should have seen them...more
It's easy to shrug off this novel as a funny book about the most famous and influential rock band of all time. Look deeper. You'll see scribe Alan Goldsher veils stunning truth behind humorous fiction in his tome, "Paul Is Undead."
Were three of the Beatles really zombies? Before shaking your head no, examine the connection between the band and author Edgar Allan Poe. In his immortal 1967 song "I Am the Walrus," John Lennon cries out, "Man you should have seen them...more
So, this was an interesting read.
Part hilarious, part horrifying, part history lesson; Paul Is Undead is an alternate history to the Beatles' career in which the Beatles are actually zombies. Well, three of them. Ringo is a Ninja.
Despite being about supernatural brain-eaters, much of Paul Is Undead seems to be rooted in history. I couldn't say for sure, because while I adore the Beatles' music, I've yet to achieve an encyclopaedic memory of their shows, interviews, and various escapades, but the...more
Part hilarious, part horrifying, part history lesson; Paul Is Undead is an alternate history to the Beatles' career in which the Beatles are actually zombies. Well, three of them. Ringo is a Ninja.
Despite being about supernatural brain-eaters, much of Paul Is Undead seems to be rooted in history. I couldn't say for sure, because while I adore the Beatles' music, I've yet to achieve an encyclopaedic memory of their shows, interviews, and various escapades, but the...more
Boring!!! Alan Goldsher is a reporter who is chronicling the history of the Beatles--their start in Liverpool, Shea Stadium, Dylan, the Maharishi, Yoko Ono, the butcher cover . . . they're all retold through interviews. I didn't mind the interview format, but every character sounded the same. The Beatles are zombies--that's why Paul is undead. What do zombies do? They eat brains. They also tear off each others limbs, throw people real far, ejaculate dust, and turn people they like into zombies....more
This is already starting out as a fairly dumb book (and this is only 15 pages read). Yes, I do realize that it's a total spoof and really lame humor, but I've never been big into vampire/zombie story plots and plus being somewhat of a comedy about Zombie Beatles (and Ringo as a Ninja) is quite stupid as the author attempts to jump haphazardly onto this particular genre.
There is another Beatle spoof book out there called Paperback Writer (which is long out-of-print cir: 1978) and it was written...more
There is another Beatle spoof book out there called Paperback Writer (which is long out-of-print cir: 1978) and it was written...more
Review refers to audiobook version
Paul Is Undead is exactly what a musical biography zombie mashup should be… HILARIOUS! How can you go wrong with a story about three undead zombie rockers and their Seventh Level Ninja Lord bodyguard?
These are not the typical mindless, moaning (“Brains.. brains.. “) zombies that I’ve become accustomed to. The Beatles are the result of the “Liverpool Process” that develops zombies with heightened artistic talents and exaggerated zombie powers. They are also virtu...more
Paul Is Undead is exactly what a musical biography zombie mashup should be… HILARIOUS! How can you go wrong with a story about three undead zombie rockers and their Seventh Level Ninja Lord bodyguard?
These are not the typical mindless, moaning (“Brains.. brains.. “) zombies that I’ve become accustomed to. The Beatles are the result of the “Liverpool Process” that develops zombies with heightened artistic talents and exaggerated zombie powers. They are also virtu...more
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Alan Goldsher is the author of the acclaimed Beatles/horror remix novel, "Paul Is Undead: The British Zombie Invasion" and the forthcoming "The Sound of Music" mash-up "My Favorite Fangs: The Story of the von Trapp Family Vampires."
He has written nine other books, including "Hard Bop Academy: The Sidemen of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers" and "Modest Mouse: A Pretty Good Read." Written as A.M....more
More about Alan Goldsher...
He has written nine other books, including "Hard Bop Academy: The Sidemen of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers" and "Modest Mouse: A Pretty Good Read." Written as A.M....more
Share This Book
1 trivia question
More quizzes & trivia...
“I said to him, "State your business, mortal!" There was no need for me to call him "mortal" or to speak like a sixteenth-century knight. It just sounded cool.”
—
16 people liked it
“George had taken off all ten of his fingers and tied them into a bundle with what appeared to be either his own small intestines, or a guitar string; as I walked into the room, he lovingly placed the bundle on his head.”
—
8 people liked it
More quotes…
