Pre-Halloween Pondering: The Science of Zombies; LOLcraft Kickstarter

Of course, zombies don’t really exist,do they? Not even on Halloween? But just for fun, what if they did — why would they do the things they do in the movies (post-Romero/NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, that is, we’re not talking about zombies in Haitian folklore)? Like eat brains, for instance.

Well, that came up first (eating brains, that is) in RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, an “unofficial” John Russo sequel, whereas DAWN OF THE DEAD, et al., by Romero have them continue to eat folks in general, even picky about their meals to the point of turning from someone they’ve just taken a chunk out of to bite a new, marginally fresher victim. But I digress.

Or, well, brains-eating would be part of a Keto diet, being 60 percent fat and 40 percent protein, and devoid of carbs — but would also have its side effects as well. But to the main point, if you’re a reader of the WASHINGTON POST, the answer to this and other questions can now be found in “Craving brains and hangry: Zombie behavior demystified by scientists,” by Bonnie Berkowitz and Shelly Tan. Or, to quote the text: The WASHINGTON POST asked experts in several fields to address some zombie mysteries based on what is known about human bodies and brains. They busted some tropes (aww!), left the door open on others (eek!) and made educated guesses about how and why zombies do what they do.

So now you can know too, by clicking here.

Then, still pre-Halloween, Dragons Roost Press has a kickstarter out for its Lovecraftian tongue-in-cheek anthology LOLCRAFT: A COMPENDIUM OF ELDRITCH HUMOR (see October 6, August 27, et al.), including my Cthulhuesque tale of “The Reading.” One that may come true in fact as, it being Halloween season and all that (cf., also, October 5), I have two more readings myself coming up this Sunday, for poetry, and the Sunday after, on November 6, for prose.

So to check it out and/or for early ordering, plus chances for extra gifts as well, press here.