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Zombies of the World
Zombies have plagued humanity's nightmares for centuries, but fortunately, the scientific community has created this detailed and completely serious guide to the undead. Only Zombies of the World tackles this issue and many more, so you might want to read up before a zombie tackles you!
Zombies menace humanity, yet we barely understand them . There are books that show you how to kill the undead, but this is the first field guide to explain the importance of zombies to us. Zombies of the World reveals the undead to be a valuable part of our ecosystem and the key to new discoveries in medicine and technology.
Zombies of the World uses captivating illustrations to document how evolution has led to a wide variety of species . Few outside the scientific community even realize that creatures like the Egyptian Mummy ( Mortifera mumia aegyptus) are actually zombies. Some species are even harmless to humans. The Dancing Zombie ( Mortifera immortalis choreographicus ) only seeks to thrill humans with elaborate dance routines. Discover how our history has been affected by the undead and what we can learn from “scientific” research. The answer might surprise you!
Zombies menace humanity, yet we barely understand them . There are books that show you how to kill the undead, but this is the first field guide to explain the importance of zombies to us. Zombies of the World reveals the undead to be a valuable part of our ecosystem and the key to new discoveries in medicine and technology.
Zombies of the World uses captivating illustrations to document how evolution has led to a wide variety of species . Few outside the scientific community even realize that creatures like the Egyptian Mummy ( Mortifera mumia aegyptus) are actually zombies. Some species are even harmless to humans. The Dancing Zombie ( Mortifera immortalis choreographicus ) only seeks to thrill humans with elaborate dance routines. Discover how our history has been affected by the undead and what we can learn from “scientific” research. The answer might surprise you!
112 pages, Hardcover
First published June 15, 2011
2 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
April 17, 2020
What an interesting take on zombies! The book explores the origins, different types, survival tips etc. I always have been fascinated with the mystery of the undead. While Hollywood has wooed the audience by showing – a romantic, loveable zombie and merciless, hungry creatures with gory details and let’s not forget the famous hilarious zbie apocalypse survival movie, none of them have even scratch the surface.
The informations provided in this book has been categorized in such an exclusive format that it was not only helpful but also doubt free because the reader begins with the most asked, basic question about zombies. There are various illustrations, documents and many other other important evidence in here which suggests that there is a lot more to this mystery that what we are initially aware of. I was astounded with the copius amount of researches that were and are conducted to determine something that we think is a fictionalized world serving its purpose for entertainment only. My favorite section throughout the book was Surviving Zombie Encounters.
If you are someone who is enthusiastic about zombies then I highly suggest you pick up the book and start reading. And I’m sure you will find viable points which you can use in a discussion.
Thank you netgalley, the author and the publishers for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #Zombiesoftheworld
The informations provided in this book has been categorized in such an exclusive format that it was not only helpful but also doubt free because the reader begins with the most asked, basic question about zombies. There are various illustrations, documents and many other other important evidence in here which suggests that there is a lot more to this mystery that what we are initially aware of. I was astounded with the copius amount of researches that were and are conducted to determine something that we think is a fictionalized world serving its purpose for entertainment only. My favorite section throughout the book was Surviving Zombie Encounters.
If you are someone who is enthusiastic about zombies then I highly suggest you pick up the book and start reading. And I’m sure you will find viable points which you can use in a discussion.
Thank you netgalley, the author and the publishers for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #Zombiesoftheworld
May 24, 2020
A "fake non-fiction" book studying zombies and everything about them. Their origins, types, science, ways to avoid them and more. This books is written in a very serious note with a good scientific approach, that would make someone doubt himself and might believe in some of the info in the book. I just would've preferred it if it was more humorous. The humor was dry, and for something like this, I needed to laugh about zombies.
I think my favorite part was the types of zombies part, with each zombie's description and habits and a drawing of them. I think it would've rated it higher if it was more humorous!
I thank Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishingfor the digital ARC.
I think my favorite part was the types of zombies part, with each zombie's description and habits and a drawing of them. I think it would've rated it higher if it was more humorous!
I thank Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishingfor the digital ARC.
June 20, 2012
Short but sweet sums up this book well.
It had a dry humor, it really felt like book the Audubon Society would publish. That is if they studied Zombies.
It had a dry humor, it really felt like book the Audubon Society would publish. That is if they studied Zombies.
May 15, 2020
4 out of 5 🌟 Let's talk pseudoscience
'Zombies of the World' pretends to be a non-fiction encyclopedia of the undead around the world. The book consists of a few parts. My favorite was field guide, where (just like in other field guides!) each species is described with a schematic picture, characteristics, range of occurrence, and conservation status (yes, some of them are endangered species!). There are also zombie encounters in history, a survival guide, chapters about the science of undead, social studies, and many more. As a consequence, this title is an eclectic mixture of everything that is currently known about zombies in the universe created by Ross Payton and it's served with grave seriousness that makes me laugh more than once.
I greatly enjoyed the illustrations of each zombie species with their cartoonish gruesomeness. Since the book is a mixture of sources, also graphical design differs from chapter to chapter, and the rest of the illustrations aren't that good, as if created in a hurry. Nevertheless, I had so much fun reading this book, from laughing out loud to admiration for coherent details. 'Zombies of the World' are detailed and full of information that actually makes sense from a logical standpoint. Zombies are treated as dangerous yet useful creatures that have remained a scientific mystery for ages. Although - just like every textbook or encyclopedia - it's a title to enjoy in small pieces, hence reading it all in one sitting isn't an option. As a consequence, I categorize it as a 'great book for a gift' or 'good to have on my shelf' and not something to read before bed.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and feelings are my own.
'Zombies of the World' pretends to be a non-fiction encyclopedia of the undead around the world. The book consists of a few parts. My favorite was field guide, where (just like in other field guides!) each species is described with a schematic picture, characteristics, range of occurrence, and conservation status (yes, some of them are endangered species!). There are also zombie encounters in history, a survival guide, chapters about the science of undead, social studies, and many more. As a consequence, this title is an eclectic mixture of everything that is currently known about zombies in the universe created by Ross Payton and it's served with grave seriousness that makes me laugh more than once.
I greatly enjoyed the illustrations of each zombie species with their cartoonish gruesomeness. Since the book is a mixture of sources, also graphical design differs from chapter to chapter, and the rest of the illustrations aren't that good, as if created in a hurry. Nevertheless, I had so much fun reading this book, from laughing out loud to admiration for coherent details. 'Zombies of the World' are detailed and full of information that actually makes sense from a logical standpoint. Zombies are treated as dangerous yet useful creatures that have remained a scientific mystery for ages. Although - just like every textbook or encyclopedia - it's a title to enjoy in small pieces, hence reading it all in one sitting isn't an option. As a consequence, I categorize it as a 'great book for a gift' or 'good to have on my shelf' and not something to read before bed.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and feelings are my own.
April 15, 2020
This book has it all: Classification of different zombie species, the history of zombie-related research, a section for survival tipps including mortal groups you should not trust.
Zombies of the World: A Field Guide to the Undead is an informative entryway into zombie myths from around the globe, starting in ancient Mesopotamia and reaching till the present day. It's a mockumentary, disguising as a pamphlet by NANRI, the North American Necrological Research Institute that has two goals:
1. Protecting humans
2. Protecting vulnerable species of zombies from extinction
Knowledge is power. If you want to prepare yourself for a possible future or just want to have some fun, this one is the right pick. I could have read a book twice this size, to be honest. Maybe there will be second part with more species in the future? Who knows.
I would read it.
I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Zombies of the World: A Field Guide to the Undead is an informative entryway into zombie myths from around the globe, starting in ancient Mesopotamia and reaching till the present day. It's a mockumentary, disguising as a pamphlet by NANRI, the North American Necrological Research Institute that has two goals:
1. Protecting humans
2. Protecting vulnerable species of zombies from extinction
Knowledge is power. If you want to prepare yourself for a possible future or just want to have some fun, this one is the right pick. I could have read a book twice this size, to be honest. Maybe there will be second part with more species in the future? Who knows.
I would read it.
I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2020
A fun premise, ok-ish execution.
Was really hard for me to finish reading this one. I was nodding off at times. Zombies of the World: A Field Guide to the Undead tries to be really scientific, like Sapiens, but with zombies.
Some descriptions were fun and relevant to what's going on in the world right now. The illustrations were ok. Book overall was just meh for me.
Review copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Was really hard for me to finish reading this one. I was nodding off at times. Zombies of the World: A Field Guide to the Undead tries to be really scientific, like Sapiens, but with zombies.
Some descriptions were fun and relevant to what's going on in the world right now. The illustrations were ok. Book overall was just meh for me.
Review copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 17, 2021
As a lover of living dead genre, this book was one I couldn't put down. The evolution of zombies and different historical eras were the most interesting sections of this book. The study of zombies and focusing on the pros and cons of them was another interesting aspect to focus on.
I would definitely recommend this book to those who love this genre of living dead and movie history.
I would definitely recommend this book to those who love this genre of living dead and movie history.
June 18, 2015
If you told me to make a coherent world where Lovecraft’s ghouls, Jason Voorhees, and the zombies from Thriller coexisted… well, it’d take a lot of coffee. It’s good for my bladder that Ross Payton went and done it first.
They’re coming to get… um. I think you've been helped already, Barbara.
All that I've mentioned exists in this book, along with the Deadites, undead Vikings, yokai, and shark-punching zombies. An average writer would throw all these references together and all it a day, but Payton creates a compelling societal narrative that attempts to put this cultural smörgåsbord together. Does he succeed? I’d say yes, with the understanding that even his tongue is firmly in cheek sometimes.
Zombies of the World focuses on twenty species of zombies, each written up as an engaging one-page write-up and a full-page illustration. Conservation stasus is amusingly listed as Least Concern, Endangered, Extinct, and Must Exterminate.
When I heard that there were only twenty, I had second thoughts, thinking the book would be too brief. Damn, was I wrong! Not only do we get an incredible variety, but the book doesn't end there. We get chapters on zombie evolutionary origins, encounter strategies, a history of human-undead relations, and the state of undead-derived technology. There’s a quirky aside that illustrates the nine survivors most likely to kill you in an uprising.
As a middle school teacher, this description is totally accurate. I can prove it with math.
Taken with all of this and more, twenty species is quite enough. The key to it is the incredible world-building, from the scientists teaching a mummy to use sign language to a well-educated ghoul that acquired celebrity in Victorian London.
Then we have the Aztec mummies. Dear Glob, the Aztec mummies.
I refuse to ruin the best running joke in the book, but the reason the Aztec mummies are extinct is hilarious. I knew the exact movie he was referencing, but even if you don’t you’ll be giggling at the ridiculousness of it. I got very weird looks from the other Denny’s patrons when I started cackling in public.
That’s the great thing about Payton’s references. Every one is built into an existing framework. There will never be a time where someone who’s ignorant of horror will stare at a paragraph, “not getting it” because they lack the pop culture knowledge required to parse the writing. No, the references are sprinkled inside a working narrative; if you get them, they’re just a bonus. Believe me, as I Lovecraft fan, I got a lot of bonuses.
And excellent advice, too.
In his preface, Payton shares his love of books that take fictional topics and treat them with the care and seriousness of nonfiction. Luckily for us, Zombies of the World achieves the care without ever getting too serious. I’m going to give this book the highest compliment I can: I’m buying a second copy for my classroom’s reading shelf. Maybe that poster, too…
They’re coming to get… um. I think you've been helped already, Barbara.
All that I've mentioned exists in this book, along with the Deadites, undead Vikings, yokai, and shark-punching zombies. An average writer would throw all these references together and all it a day, but Payton creates a compelling societal narrative that attempts to put this cultural smörgåsbord together. Does he succeed? I’d say yes, with the understanding that even his tongue is firmly in cheek sometimes.
Zombies of the World focuses on twenty species of zombies, each written up as an engaging one-page write-up and a full-page illustration. Conservation stasus is amusingly listed as Least Concern, Endangered, Extinct, and Must Exterminate.
When I heard that there were only twenty, I had second thoughts, thinking the book would be too brief. Damn, was I wrong! Not only do we get an incredible variety, but the book doesn't end there. We get chapters on zombie evolutionary origins, encounter strategies, a history of human-undead relations, and the state of undead-derived technology. There’s a quirky aside that illustrates the nine survivors most likely to kill you in an uprising.
As a middle school teacher, this description is totally accurate. I can prove it with math.
Taken with all of this and more, twenty species is quite enough. The key to it is the incredible world-building, from the scientists teaching a mummy to use sign language to a well-educated ghoul that acquired celebrity in Victorian London.
Then we have the Aztec mummies. Dear Glob, the Aztec mummies.
I refuse to ruin the best running joke in the book, but the reason the Aztec mummies are extinct is hilarious. I knew the exact movie he was referencing, but even if you don’t you’ll be giggling at the ridiculousness of it. I got very weird looks from the other Denny’s patrons when I started cackling in public.
That’s the great thing about Payton’s references. Every one is built into an existing framework. There will never be a time where someone who’s ignorant of horror will stare at a paragraph, “not getting it” because they lack the pop culture knowledge required to parse the writing. No, the references are sprinkled inside a working narrative; if you get them, they’re just a bonus. Believe me, as I Lovecraft fan, I got a lot of bonuses.
And excellent advice, too.
In his preface, Payton shares his love of books that take fictional topics and treat them with the care and seriousness of nonfiction. Luckily for us, Zombies of the World achieves the care without ever getting too serious. I’m going to give this book the highest compliment I can: I’m buying a second copy for my classroom’s reading shelf. Maybe that poster, too…
July 14, 2011
http://librarianaut.com/2011/07/14/bo...
Zombies of the World: A Field Guide to the Undead is Ross Payton’s “non-fiction” book about how to deal with the zombie menace facing the world. It’s an enjoyable read.
Payton is a roleplaying gamer (he wrote a couple of supplements for Monsters and Other Childish Things, an Arc Dream game I really like) and it shows. There are lots of good hooks for stories in these pages along with an evident sense of humour. There are several references to types of zombies that have a distinctive style of dress, and how strange it is that part of that zombie species’ characteristics is the ability to find such odd vestments. There are also a few references to Temporally Displaced Robots who caused the Aztec mummies to go extinct.
The book is filled with full colour illustrations in a clean comic-book style. Evidently there were a bunch of artists, but the pictures work very well together. I also really liked the advertising pamphlets from the North American Necrological Research Institute, who are out to understand the zombies of the world and communicate with them.
The writing style is clear and conversational, never dry. There might be a few too many winks to the reader (including the whole idea of the dancing zombie, which I do love) to really take it seriously as a fake reference book. You could completely use it in a contemporary roleplaying game as the work of a crank that turns out to be useful.
One of my favourite things about the book is how it describes a world in which zombies are a menace but haven’t driven humanity to an apocalypse. It’s very hopeful. There are people who are concerned about preserving them as a species (and not solely because they’re the source of almost unlimited energy, if the secret could be cracked).
It’s not quite as “practical” as something like Max Brooks’ Zombie Survival Guide but I really enjoyed Payton’s book and would recommend it to fans of zombies in general, but especially if they’re gamers looking for a good undead-centric setting book.
Note: I received a free review copy of the book from the author.
Zombies of the World: A Field Guide to the Undead is Ross Payton’s “non-fiction” book about how to deal with the zombie menace facing the world. It’s an enjoyable read.
Payton is a roleplaying gamer (he wrote a couple of supplements for Monsters and Other Childish Things, an Arc Dream game I really like) and it shows. There are lots of good hooks for stories in these pages along with an evident sense of humour. There are several references to types of zombies that have a distinctive style of dress, and how strange it is that part of that zombie species’ characteristics is the ability to find such odd vestments. There are also a few references to Temporally Displaced Robots who caused the Aztec mummies to go extinct.
The book is filled with full colour illustrations in a clean comic-book style. Evidently there were a bunch of artists, but the pictures work very well together. I also really liked the advertising pamphlets from the North American Necrological Research Institute, who are out to understand the zombies of the world and communicate with them.
The writing style is clear and conversational, never dry. There might be a few too many winks to the reader (including the whole idea of the dancing zombie, which I do love) to really take it seriously as a fake reference book. You could completely use it in a contemporary roleplaying game as the work of a crank that turns out to be useful.
One of my favourite things about the book is how it describes a world in which zombies are a menace but haven’t driven humanity to an apocalypse. It’s very hopeful. There are people who are concerned about preserving them as a species (and not solely because they’re the source of almost unlimited energy, if the secret could be cracked).
It’s not quite as “practical” as something like Max Brooks’ Zombie Survival Guide but I really enjoyed Payton’s book and would recommend it to fans of zombies in general, but especially if they’re gamers looking for a good undead-centric setting book.
Note: I received a free review copy of the book from the author.
January 26, 2018
This is a fun little volume that describes the different species of undead ranging from the relatively harmless dancing zombies to mummies to unstoppable revenants. It's in full color and the art is bright and a lot of fun to flip through.
There are multiple sections, from explaining the current scientific understanding of zombies, a social history, and reminders about what to do and what not to do when encountering zombies. There's also a brief guide to the survivors you might meet during a zombie incident and how they can be more dangerous than zombies.
The result is sort of an alternate history book that covers what world history would look like if zombies had always been present. The writing is quick and snappy and there a ton of in-jokes and references for a dedicated zombie film/fiction fan. All of them are delivered absolutely straight-faced, to the point of including a bibliography of fictional sources. I loved this sly overview of zombies in pop culture - I didn't get every single reference but I had a lot of fun looking for them. I don't want to give them away, because the references and citations provide a lot of the enjoyment of the book. The social history of the undead was to the point but one of my favorite sections of the book.
Besides the history, the actual field guide portion includes a full-page illustration and a write-up of the zombie. These write-ups include the range, abundance, common behaviors, and other information about the species. You will never confuse the different varieties of ghouls or a grey shambler with an English foaming zombie again if you keep this book handy.
It's a very appealing book physically, with glossy paper that shows off the vibrant art and a nice dust jacket. The art is wonderful throughout; I love the field illustrations, the picture of a zombie power plant, and especially Melnoth the ghoul. As a bonus, I ordered direct from the author's gumroad site and my copy came signed.
If you're not at all familiar with zombie films and stories, this won't be quite as enjoyable, though it might inspire you to check some out. But if you've already seen Evil Dead, Night of the Living Dead, and own the Zombie Survival Guide, this is absolutely a book that deserves a place on your zombie shelf. It's fun, funny, and a quick read.
There are multiple sections, from explaining the current scientific understanding of zombies, a social history, and reminders about what to do and what not to do when encountering zombies. There's also a brief guide to the survivors you might meet during a zombie incident and how they can be more dangerous than zombies.
The result is sort of an alternate history book that covers what world history would look like if zombies had always been present. The writing is quick and snappy and there a ton of in-jokes and references for a dedicated zombie film/fiction fan. All of them are delivered absolutely straight-faced, to the point of including a bibliography of fictional sources. I loved this sly overview of zombies in pop culture - I didn't get every single reference but I had a lot of fun looking for them. I don't want to give them away, because the references and citations provide a lot of the enjoyment of the book. The social history of the undead was to the point but one of my favorite sections of the book.
Besides the history, the actual field guide portion includes a full-page illustration and a write-up of the zombie. These write-ups include the range, abundance, common behaviors, and other information about the species. You will never confuse the different varieties of ghouls or a grey shambler with an English foaming zombie again if you keep this book handy.
It's a very appealing book physically, with glossy paper that shows off the vibrant art and a nice dust jacket. The art is wonderful throughout; I love the field illustrations, the picture of a zombie power plant, and especially Melnoth the ghoul. As a bonus, I ordered direct from the author's gumroad site and my copy came signed.
If you're not at all familiar with zombie films and stories, this won't be quite as enjoyable, though it might inspire you to check some out. But if you've already seen Evil Dead, Night of the Living Dead, and own the Zombie Survival Guide, this is absolutely a book that deserves a place on your zombie shelf. It's fun, funny, and a quick read.
June 12, 2020
Zombies of the World: A Field Guide to the Undead by Ross Payton is a humorous reference book. Zombies have plagued humanity's nightmares for centuries, but fortunately, the scientific community has created this detailed and completely serious guide to the undead which reveals the undead to be a valuable part of our ecosystem and the key to new discoveries in medicine and technology. Zombies of the World uses captivating illustrations to document how evolution has led to a wide variety of species. Few outside the scientific community even realize that creatures like the Egyptian Mummy (Mortifera mumia aegyptus) are actually zombies. Some species are even harmless to humans. The Dancing Zombie (Mortifera immortalis choreographicus) only seeks to thrill humans with elaborate dance routines. Discover how our history has been affected by the undead and what we can learn from “scientific” research.
Zombies of the World is an interesting take on zombie lore. Written as a non fiction book it is the story of zombie evolution, classification, and explanation. I think the illustrations were very well done, and a perfect pairing to the text. I like that the history and science possibilities are heavily featured. The approach is rather like the mermaid mockumentory from a few years back, that might have some readers wondering if there is truth in the book rather than fiction. I also enjoyed the dry humor that is inherent in this style of writing, but it might fall flat for those looking for a more obvious humor. The descriptions of the zombie varieties were my favorite part of the book, and the section I think are the most universally appealing. I rather liked the approach, but think that it is best suited to serious zombie fans.
Zombies of the World is an interesting take on zombie lore. Written as a non fiction book it is the story of zombie evolution, classification, and explanation. I think the illustrations were very well done, and a perfect pairing to the text. I like that the history and science possibilities are heavily featured. The approach is rather like the mermaid mockumentory from a few years back, that might have some readers wondering if there is truth in the book rather than fiction. I also enjoyed the dry humor that is inherent in this style of writing, but it might fall flat for those looking for a more obvious humor. The descriptions of the zombie varieties were my favorite part of the book, and the section I think are the most universally appealing. I rather liked the approach, but think that it is best suited to serious zombie fans.
April 21, 2020
Pretending to be a spotter's guide to zombies and the undead, this non-fiction/fiction hybrid is OK, but just so devoid of humour it has to go down as a failure. It gives the twenty types and species of zombie it covers full Latin names, which include nods to the people that made them famous – Mortifera immortalis Fulci for the Italian variant, for example. It pretends the films and books we've enjoyed (if that's the word) that have these things in are sightings, so the Aztec one is hounded to extinction – evidently when it was in some trashy B-movie I can't be bothered to look up – by a robot, and Reanimated ones were first noticed by the chap Lovecraft had create them. Otherwise this section has none of the in-jokes and cultural references I expected of a book such as this – although a later section does cram in a rewrite of zombie fiction history as echt zombie history, revisiting Melmoth the Wanderer, etc. The section that points out which human companions are likely to survive or struggle in a world with zombies obviously spins off Hollywood, but again is too ineffectual. We get an extended introduction, too, that tells us how they actually came about – there's a specific set of GHUL genes, and something else that actually allows for them to live eternally yet barely get a savoury bite to eat. But I was left hungry by this – its dryness was a disappointment, it proved really quite repetitive, and it could have borne so many more nods and quips to liven things up. Two stars is slightly generous, but the artists did their part well.
July 16, 2020
Zum Inhalt
Zombies have plagued humanity's nightmares for centuries, but fortunately, the scientific community has created this detailed and completely serious guide to the undead. Only Zombies of the World tackles this issue and many more, so you might want to read up before a zombie tackles you!
Zombies menace humanity, yet we barely understand them. There are books that show you how to kill the undead, but this is the first field guide to explain the importance of zombies to us. Zombies of the World reveals the undead to be a valuable part of our ecosystem and the key to new discoveries in medicine and technology.
Zombies of the World uses captivating illustrations to document how evolution has led to a wide variety of species. Few outside the scientific community even realize that creatures like the Egyptian Mummy (Mortifera mumia aegyptus) are actually zombies. Some species are even harmless to humans. The Dancing Zombie (Mortifera immortalis choreographicus) only seeks to thrill humans with elaborate dance routines. Discover how our history has been affected by the undead and what we can learn from “scientific” research. The answer might surprise you!
My Opinion:
... this bok is a bummer for Halloween, with its different kind of Zombies and where to find them, and other needful informations. Nice idea and nice illustration, recommendation for Geeks =)
Note 3+ or B
thanks for letting me read this ARC, so I know hoe to fight Zombies and what to do =)
Zombies have plagued humanity's nightmares for centuries, but fortunately, the scientific community has created this detailed and completely serious guide to the undead. Only Zombies of the World tackles this issue and many more, so you might want to read up before a zombie tackles you!
Zombies menace humanity, yet we barely understand them. There are books that show you how to kill the undead, but this is the first field guide to explain the importance of zombies to us. Zombies of the World reveals the undead to be a valuable part of our ecosystem and the key to new discoveries in medicine and technology.
Zombies of the World uses captivating illustrations to document how evolution has led to a wide variety of species. Few outside the scientific community even realize that creatures like the Egyptian Mummy (Mortifera mumia aegyptus) are actually zombies. Some species are even harmless to humans. The Dancing Zombie (Mortifera immortalis choreographicus) only seeks to thrill humans with elaborate dance routines. Discover how our history has been affected by the undead and what we can learn from “scientific” research. The answer might surprise you!
My Opinion:
... this bok is a bummer for Halloween, with its different kind of Zombies and where to find them, and other needful informations. Nice idea and nice illustration, recommendation for Geeks =)
Note 3+ or B
thanks for letting me read this ARC, so I know hoe to fight Zombies and what to do =)
June 11, 2020
Well, I can say that Zombies of the World was not what I was expecting at all. I sort of went in to this book expecting a graphic novel type thing but actually this is basically an academic textbook! I know, I know..... I hear ya.... You think I'm crazy. Whoever heard of an academic textbook about zombies! BUT...... I promise you, it's a thing. There are sections covering the types of zombies that can be found around the world, their natural habitats, their looks, behaviours, population.... all sorts of useful info. Then we get the history behind zombies and how they have lived amongst humans and how some are even valuable, yes valuable, to our eco-system. Oh and let's not forget the scientific and medical research going on in labs across the globe!
I mean, the level of detail and thought that has gone in to this book is incredible. The author took a fictional being and wrote an entire history, culture, fact file and even diagrams / photographic evidence. I honestly haven't come across any other books that have done this to such depth before. It's mind blowing.
Readers have to go in to this book the same way they would a textbook. This isn't a story where you connect with characters, get caught up in the plot etc. This is a book that you read when you want to 'learn' something. It's in an easy format for readers to dip in and out of with clearly defined sections and overall was just a fun and interesting twist on zombies.
I honestly loved it and would highly recommend it to fans of the zombie genre.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I mean, the level of detail and thought that has gone in to this book is incredible. The author took a fictional being and wrote an entire history, culture, fact file and even diagrams / photographic evidence. I honestly haven't come across any other books that have done this to such depth before. It's mind blowing.
Readers have to go in to this book the same way they would a textbook. This isn't a story where you connect with characters, get caught up in the plot etc. This is a book that you read when you want to 'learn' something. It's in an easy format for readers to dip in and out of with clearly defined sections and overall was just a fun and interesting twist on zombies.
I honestly loved it and would highly recommend it to fans of the zombie genre.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.
didn-t-finish
August 13, 2020I really wanted to like this one, but it just fell flat. It's hard to successfully pull off the tongue-in-cheek fiction as non-fiction book. If done properly, it's great. But, this one was a bit too silly for me. And what I mean by that is that it felt like fluff. There wasn't a lot of actual information, just repeating the same tired theories. And the hardest part was that I knew they were making references to zombies from different movies and TV shows, but I had NO IDEA what they were actually referencing. Was the dancing zombie supposed to be from Thriller? I assume so??
I really appreciated Payton's enthusiasm, but the whole thing was sort of DOA for me.
I really appreciated Payton's enthusiasm, but the whole thing was sort of DOA for me.
April 27, 2020
Funny, entretaining and creative. A must-have for zombie-lovers. This book made me smile more than once with its references and "facts" about the types of zombies there are in the world, not to mention the art is incredible. Why the feck didn't we have Melmoth in the cover? Really, I liked that part of the book a lot and would like to know more about such a character!
Full review in my blog (April 28): https://tintanocturna.blogspot.com/20...
Full review in my blog (April 28): https://tintanocturna.blogspot.com/20...
May 8, 2020
Probably one for serious zombie fans only, this illustrated spotter's guide to zombies and the undead gives a vast amount of detail on twenty different species, but I feel many of the references went over my head. With no real humour, I found it pretty dry and repetitive and I ended up skimming most of it.
May 21, 2020
A very well written book about zombies, the different species and their place in history. The details are very extensive and the book is great for any big zombie-enthusiast.
I should note that my personal rating is 3.5/5 stars, as halfway through the book I realized I'm personally not that big of a zombie-fan to read so much information without getting a little...bored. But I was still intrigued by the species listed and was interested to learn about them.
I still do find that the content is quite interesting and unique and the illustrations and photos are an amazing fit. It feels like you're reading a legit zombie text-book, which is impressive.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.*
I should note that my personal rating is 3.5/5 stars, as halfway through the book I realized I'm personally not that big of a zombie-fan to read so much information without getting a little...bored. But I was still intrigued by the species listed and was interested to learn about them.
I still do find that the content is quite interesting and unique and the illustrations and photos are an amazing fit. It feels like you're reading a legit zombie text-book, which is impressive.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.*
July 24, 2021
Underhållande.
July 4, 2020
A smart, creative book that serves as your field guide to the world of the undead. It contains details about different types of zombies, their diet, habits, and origins. Most importantly, though, it tells you how to save your skin when facing these shamblers!
It was interesting and the accompanying illustrations only added to the book’s charm. My only problem with it was that it had a lot of text on each page. It made reading it in a graphic novel format quite a chore for my eyes. Other than that, I’m ready to sample other stuff by the author!
January 1, 2012
Sometimes, you need a little junk food for your brain. This book was a lot of fun — if you’re a zombie junkie, you’re going to love it. Ross Payton is someone who has spent waaaaay too much time thinking about the undead among us. In Zombies of the World: A Field Guide to the Undead he has created a whole new zombie ‘verse: there are different zombie species, a history, even ads for clinics doing zombie research. It’s a fun romp through Zombieland.
The book starts with a section on the origins of zombies and current research into their condition. Zombies as a source of cheap, clean energy? Why not!
“Zombies expend tremendous amounts of energy moving their corpse bodies, as their decaying systems operate more inefficiently than a living human…Yet, they walk endlessly until slain. Once the secret of the Omega Anima is cracked, the possibilities are endless: immortality, endless clean energy and more.”
I can’t imagine why no one ever thought of designing cars that run on zombie power!
The best part of the book is the illustrated section on zombie species. There are full-color drawings of all the major zombie varieties, from the Common Gray Shambler and the Chinese Hopping Corpse to the English Foaming Zombie and the North American Cabin Lurker. There is information on their habitats, their habits, their reproduction and their Conservation Status. (The Common Gray Shambler is ranked as Least Concern, since they have a viable, stable population, while the Preta, found only in Asia, is Critically Endangered. The English Foaming Zombie is labeled Must Exterminate – a species which is inimical to human life.)
There are also helpful tips on surviving zombie encounters. Obviously, knowing what species you’re dealing with is a great help, since you would know that to escape the Western Mall Zombie, you just need to distract them with a display of consumer electronics.
“Aim for the legs: Killing a zombie is harder than you might think but disabling one is much easier. If you can knock out a zombie’s knees, you will be able to flee or dispatch it safely. Not applicable to specimens that lack legs.”
Finally, there is The Social History of the Undead, covering ancient zombie myths, Renaissance zombies and the Zombie Rights Movement.
Obviously, this is not going to appeal to the spoilsports who think we are already too zombie-obsessed. But zombies are a classic! I love zombie movies, old and new, and they are certainly more entertaining than sparkly vampires. I was really impressed with the amount of imagination that went into these species descriptions (I’m pretty sure that in most cases, you’ll be able to name the zombie movie from the zombie species profile) and the social history. There are even ads for the North American Necrological Research Institute. This is a great beach read for those of us who don’t want a romance novel and want to use our sunbathing time to get prepared for the zombie apocalypse.
The book starts with a section on the origins of zombies and current research into their condition. Zombies as a source of cheap, clean energy? Why not!
“Zombies expend tremendous amounts of energy moving their corpse bodies, as their decaying systems operate more inefficiently than a living human…Yet, they walk endlessly until slain. Once the secret of the Omega Anima is cracked, the possibilities are endless: immortality, endless clean energy and more.”
I can’t imagine why no one ever thought of designing cars that run on zombie power!
The best part of the book is the illustrated section on zombie species. There are full-color drawings of all the major zombie varieties, from the Common Gray Shambler and the Chinese Hopping Corpse to the English Foaming Zombie and the North American Cabin Lurker. There is information on their habitats, their habits, their reproduction and their Conservation Status. (The Common Gray Shambler is ranked as Least Concern, since they have a viable, stable population, while the Preta, found only in Asia, is Critically Endangered. The English Foaming Zombie is labeled Must Exterminate – a species which is inimical to human life.)
There are also helpful tips on surviving zombie encounters. Obviously, knowing what species you’re dealing with is a great help, since you would know that to escape the Western Mall Zombie, you just need to distract them with a display of consumer electronics.
“Aim for the legs: Killing a zombie is harder than you might think but disabling one is much easier. If you can knock out a zombie’s knees, you will be able to flee or dispatch it safely. Not applicable to specimens that lack legs.”
Finally, there is The Social History of the Undead, covering ancient zombie myths, Renaissance zombies and the Zombie Rights Movement.
Obviously, this is not going to appeal to the spoilsports who think we are already too zombie-obsessed. But zombies are a classic! I love zombie movies, old and new, and they are certainly more entertaining than sparkly vampires. I was really impressed with the amount of imagination that went into these species descriptions (I’m pretty sure that in most cases, you’ll be able to name the zombie movie from the zombie species profile) and the social history. There are even ads for the North American Necrological Research Institute. This is a great beach read for those of us who don’t want a romance novel and want to use our sunbathing time to get prepared for the zombie apocalypse.
September 4, 2011
I always find it interesting when someone decides to make a non-fiction style book relating to a fictional subject. It’s always interesting to see what elements of the specific myths they’ll pick up on, and how they’ll present it.
This is set out like a proper non fiction book, with a introduction, and a thorough guide to zombies of the world to the author’s view. It gives a full insight into what makes a zombie reanimate, how it interacts with humanity, where they came from and so on. It then gives twenty zombie profiles, one for each of the main species of zombie, and gives a thorough view of all of them, providing information as to where they crop up and how endangered they are. Then it gives you advice as to how to survive a zombie encounter, with lots of tips that could be useful. Then there’s a history of the undead and how they interact with humans throughout various points in time, such as being seen as demons in the olden days. Finally there is a chapter on how science is tackling zombies, in terms of things like energy supplies, and immortality. A lot happens.
I really do think that if zombies were real, then a book on them would turn out somewhat like this. The language was always really informative and descriptive, like a real non-fiction book would need to be.
I love the range of zombies covered in this. Some of them seem to be ones that we tend to encounter in the zombie novels of today, and some others are ones from various other mythologies, and some I think are completely new ones made up for this book. The guide section was consistent offering the same information for all of them, unless the information is “unknown”, which while being realistic, was kind of annoying. I wanted to know about these zombies!
The illustrations were brightly coloured and consistent, not just greys and greens and reds, what you would expect a zombie book to be like, but quite a lot of colours to make it interesting. The photos included are also relevant.
Overall: Strength 3 tea to a book that would be worth consulting as a good source of information if zombies were real
This is set out like a proper non fiction book, with a introduction, and a thorough guide to zombies of the world to the author’s view. It gives a full insight into what makes a zombie reanimate, how it interacts with humanity, where they came from and so on. It then gives twenty zombie profiles, one for each of the main species of zombie, and gives a thorough view of all of them, providing information as to where they crop up and how endangered they are. Then it gives you advice as to how to survive a zombie encounter, with lots of tips that could be useful. Then there’s a history of the undead and how they interact with humans throughout various points in time, such as being seen as demons in the olden days. Finally there is a chapter on how science is tackling zombies, in terms of things like energy supplies, and immortality. A lot happens.
I really do think that if zombies were real, then a book on them would turn out somewhat like this. The language was always really informative and descriptive, like a real non-fiction book would need to be.
I love the range of zombies covered in this. Some of them seem to be ones that we tend to encounter in the zombie novels of today, and some others are ones from various other mythologies, and some I think are completely new ones made up for this book. The guide section was consistent offering the same information for all of them, unless the information is “unknown”, which while being realistic, was kind of annoying. I wanted to know about these zombies!
The illustrations were brightly coloured and consistent, not just greys and greens and reds, what you would expect a zombie book to be like, but quite a lot of colours to make it interesting. The photos included are also relevant.
Overall: Strength 3 tea to a book that would be worth consulting as a good source of information if zombies were real
August 6, 2011
If you're like me, you probably never knew that there were different types of zombies other than "dead" & "really dead". Ignorance of the different species can not only be deadly but it can also lead to the extinction of several rare & intriguing zombie kinds. By shooting first & asking questions later, you might be missing out on the chance to watch the the well choreographed Dancing Zombie. Or you could anger a Revenant, which is insanely hard to kill & will most likely end with you being a greasy smear on the pavement.
Fortunately for you & I, this book covers at least 20 species of the undead. We're given not only a brief synopsis of the specific species's history but also images telling us where they can be located & how plentiful they are. (Joining a zombie sight seeing tour is discouraged without properly checking their credentials, year the company was formed, & their CorpseFax, which details all of the skirmishes, fatalities, & infections they've had. More than one person has lost their lives by signing up with a fly-by-night zombie tour!) The book also lists which humans (living ones, not dead ones) you should try to avoid if you're trapped in a zombie attack. If you're reading this book (or this review) then your chances of survival are already far better than that of the uninformed citizen.
We're also treated to a brief but highly informative history of the zombie race in general, starting from its ancient beginnings to the present day. Author Payton also treats us to a bright, hopeful vision of the future where zombie science will eradicate death, illness, & enable us to lead better and happier lives.
However if you're one of the skeptics who insist that zombies aren't real & that this book is nothing but a novelty item, you might still find this guide useful for role-playing games. It's a valuable resource that you can use to heighten your game playing experience. It might also save your life when the "fictional" zombies break in during your Friday gaming night.
(Reader Copy provided by the author.)
October 15, 2011
Some time ago I realized I was a geek. No I do not bite the heads off chickens but I do have a fascination with Monsters and things that go bump in the night. Yea its odd but its me. I dive into every dragonology, vampirology and other monster ology book I can find. So when I saw the blurb for “Zombies Of The World” I knew it was meant for me. Well I had a feeling I would thoroughly enjoy it and enjoy it I did.
ZotW (Zombies of the World) is a factual books about fictional creatures, this means that the information, although it is about creatures that do not exist (as far as I know), is presented in an entertaining but factual method. It is similar to a wild life guide only it is about zombies.
The book is well organized and easy to follow, it is also filled with tons of detailed graphics – which I must admit were rather hard on my e-reader. But that was my only real complaint about the book.
ZotW is an interesting and informative volume that is fun to read. I feel a little more prepared for a zombie apocalypse (heehee).
My favorite zombie has to be the Western Mall Zombie. I cannot help but giggle every time I look at the picture, tho I hope I never meet one in person, at least not without a large weapon LOL.
I definitely recommend Zombies Of The World to anyone who is interested in learning more about zombies. As well as to any role players who want to introduce new “meat” into their zombie genre games.
http://hampton-networks.com/book-revi...
ZotW (Zombies of the World) is a factual books about fictional creatures, this means that the information, although it is about creatures that do not exist (as far as I know), is presented in an entertaining but factual method. It is similar to a wild life guide only it is about zombies.
The book is well organized and easy to follow, it is also filled with tons of detailed graphics – which I must admit were rather hard on my e-reader. But that was my only real complaint about the book.
ZotW is an interesting and informative volume that is fun to read. I feel a little more prepared for a zombie apocalypse (heehee).
My favorite zombie has to be the Western Mall Zombie. I cannot help but giggle every time I look at the picture, tho I hope I never meet one in person, at least not without a large weapon LOL.
I definitely recommend Zombies Of The World to anyone who is interested in learning more about zombies. As well as to any role players who want to introduce new “meat” into their zombie genre games.
http://hampton-networks.com/book-revi...
July 15, 2015
Most people probably know by now that I am not a huge fan of zombies. So I was a little sceptical about accepting Zombies of the World to review. I also thought that it might be interesting to see how the book described different species of zombies.
Zombies of the World is a fun, satirical look on the zombie world. Ross Payton really did a lot of research on zombies, and then with a good imagination filled in the rest. In this book you learn about where zombies might have originated from or migrated too. How to survive a zombie attach (I find the Run from a zombie to be the best approach!) I also found it very interesting to learn a little about the different types of zombies, from Haitian zombies to Domesticated Gray Shamblers (I actually think I seen some of those at work the other day..lol)
I think that this is a must have for anybody who is a die hard zombie fan (zombie girl, this is for you!) If you have any type of interest in zombies I think it is well worth the price to add to your zombie collection. Though it still has not made me a fan of zombies, I did find it interesting.
Zombies of the World is a fun, satirical look on the zombie world. Ross Payton really did a lot of research on zombies, and then with a good imagination filled in the rest. In this book you learn about where zombies might have originated from or migrated too. How to survive a zombie attach (I find the Run from a zombie to be the best approach!) I also found it very interesting to learn a little about the different types of zombies, from Haitian zombies to Domesticated Gray Shamblers (I actually think I seen some of those at work the other day..lol)
I think that this is a must have for anybody who is a die hard zombie fan (zombie girl, this is for you!) If you have any type of interest in zombies I think it is well worth the price to add to your zombie collection. Though it still has not made me a fan of zombies, I did find it interesting.
November 9, 2011
I had been itching to read this book ever since it made it's way onto my waiting list and believe me, I was not disappointed. This book, is fantastic. It will mostly appeal to those of us who enjoy all things zombie, but is a fantastic book overall as it manages to be both funny and wildly interesting the entire way through. Even if you aren't a huge zombie fan yet (or even better, if you don't know much about zombies at all), I recommend picking this one up just for the sheer entertainment value.
Read the full review at http://www.siftreviews.com/2011/11/zo...
Review by: Kellie of Sift Book Reviews
Sift Book Reviews received a free copy for review from the author. This has, in no way, affected the reviewer's opinion.
Read the full review at http://www.siftreviews.com/2011/11/zo...
Review by: Kellie of Sift Book Reviews
Sift Book Reviews received a free copy for review from the author. This has, in no way, affected the reviewer's opinion.
February 17, 2013
This is seriously a fantastic piece of meta-fiction and if you love horror movies, you owe it to yourself to read this. The book is written in academic style but don't let that fool you. If you're sharp, you'll catch the references that the author makes to some of your favorite movies. And on top of it, the art work included in the book is fantastic. Do yourself a huge favor and pick this one up. It's a great read!
March 30, 2016
This was an entertaining read with (expectedly) not much depth. Payton does well at presenting this as if zombies were real, and the entries were generally unique, although some seemed very similar. Payton includes little random jokes, which overall I appreciated although some are almost too random (Aztec zombies were hunted to extinction by time-traveling robots?). Anyway, a solid read for any fans of the genre.
February 24, 2016
A fun, tongue-in-cheek look at the world of zombies, from identifying the different types of zombies to what you should do if you come in contact with one. Ross Payton obviously did a lot of research to make this as realistic as he did.
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