The author’s challenge in the Zombie genre

Zombie novels are, at least to me, interesting. I’ve got three published so far and have several more in the pipeline. The tough part of the zombie author is to control the transition of the cast from scared & confused refugee to Apocalypse Warrior Demigod. A lot cheat by making their hero a Navy Seal, CIA special agent, or the like, but I think that eliminates a lot of potential reader interest. Look at The Walking Dead: ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things.

Another tough issue is the danger threshold. How do you make the zombie threat level remain terrifying while the cast climbs in ability? Some choose to have internal dissention within a group cripple its capabilities from within, or throw in added Human threats from outside.

I think an overlooked issue open to writers in these situations is logistics. It is said of military operations that amateurs discuss tactics, while professionals discuss logistics, and it is true. Before World War One disease killed as many or more soldiers than combat did in many wars. An adult requires a gallon of clean water each day in temperate weather (some can be included in food), plus a quantity for hygiene. They will need a steady supply of rations, minor medical supplies (searching, fighting, hiking…all take a toll), soap, socks…the list is endless. Living off the land the survivors will have to devote a lot of time to foraging.

Then there is the aspect of carrying gear. Unlike The Walking Dead survivors will want to carry water, food, spare ammo, and medical gear on any expedition; and if they are on the move they will have to carry everything they need: clothing, sleeping gear, weather gear…it adds up. Eighty pounds is not an unheard-of load for an infantryman, and that is exactly what a survivor in an apocalypse is.

A survivor has to fight the weather, terrain, supply issues, diseases large & small, and medical issues to survive in addition to zombies and hostile Humans. Never lose sight of the need to overcome these issues.