From the Bookshelf of The Sword and Laser…

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War

Max Brooks

Start date: June 7, 2010

Finish date: July 15, 2010

Discussion: 2010 Reads

Why we're reading this: Our next book, as voted by our members!
[close] Our next book, as voted by our members!

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 143 topics — 1,986 comments total

2010 Reads

WWZ: Favourite characters in zombie Movies and T.V. shows
By deleted member · 1 post · 12 views

last updated Sep 21, 2015 12:11PM

SFU: Architectural concepts in Science Fiction
By Anika · 17 posts · 58 views

last updated Sep 02, 2015 08:18PM

showing 10 of 54 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Jul 31, 2009 Eric rated it really liked it

Shelves: signed, science-fiction, post-apocalyptic

Max Brooks's World War Z has no business being as realistic as it is. It was not what I expected from a book subtitled "An Oral History of the Zombie War," and I mean that as the highest compliment.

There was little to no cliched explanation for the disease and its origin (i.e. -- no monkeys infected with "rage"), there was little unnecessary gore, and it did not come off as tired for such a well established pop culture genre.

What it was, was a fresh take on our society. The walking dead, or "Z ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Nov 13, 2012 Shannon rated it liked it

It seems weird to call a book about the zombie apocalypse a "light, fun" read, but that's ultimately what this is. I picked it up expecting something similar to Stephen King's The Stand, a book that's stuck with me even though it has one of the single hackiest endings I've ever read. But there's not nearly as much meat to World War Z. It's a series of vignettes, each well done, but short enough that you don't end up really getting attached to any particular characters. My favorite bit involved t ...more

Like · see review

Mar 23, 2009 Andrea rated it liked it

Shelves: humor

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War is an oral history of an alternate universe in which the zombie apocalypse has taken place. I was really expecting this book to be a lot more silly and less serious. I also wasn't expecting to enjoy it, not being a big zombie fan, but I can honestly say that I was never bored listening to it.

Instead of being the usual comic romp with Zombies, World War Z is more of a social and political commentary on today's society and our suggested reaction to "A ...more

Like · see review

Apr 11, 2009 Francis x rated it really liked it

Shelves: book

I just watch the last Scifi channel,Battlestar Galactica(2004) ,which got my mind wondering if the zombie virus came from the star(150,000 bc). overall it is a good read.

Like · see review

Jan 24, 2011 Joanna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: post-apocalyptic, favorites

This book is awesome. As the title suggests, the oral history is a series of interviews in chronological order. Fascinating and really well thought out.

Like · see review

Jan 15, 2012 William rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, horror

There are few books I've read as quickly as World War Z. It's not the excitement of a zombie "apocalypse" (although it has that), it's not the short bite size chapters that leave you wanting the next one (although it has that too). It's the ability it has to take a cliche-ridden genre that has become so overdone and empty and overflow it with such perfect examples of human spirit.

This is a good book, and I recommend it. ...more

Like · see review

Jun 28, 2010 Jan Kimbrough rated it really liked it

Excellent. The premise of this book is that a mutated virus turned people into real zombies. This book imagines what might have happened around the world as people tried to combat them. It's no stretch to see how their efforts might parallel a real war against a devastating disease. ...more

Like · see review

Dec 15, 2009 Jason rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: library, audio-book

This is closer to 4.5 stars. It is an excellent book. I love the post-apocalyptic stuff and this really hits the mark. Like Earth Abides kind of book, but short and only interviews with survivors. But these interviews had great stories. ...more

Like · see review

Jun 24, 2009 slightlyfoxed rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2010, ssrc2010

Started this an audio, ended in text--either way, wow! Presented in a series of "interviews," the most horrifying part of this book is not the zombies (although they are REALLY scary), but how humans treat each other (and animals and the environment) in a survival situation. Needs a glossary, though. ...more

Like · see review