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Dawn of the Living-Impaired and Other Messed Up Zombie Stories by Christine Morgan, Justin T. Coons
semperlunaris's review
5.0
Part of my catch-up on my 2023 book challenge, I'm falling miserably behind schedule!
This collection of Zombie-themed short stories is something that's waaaaaay out of my comfort zone but I really enjoyed the short-story format: a lot of different worlds and themes could be explored that way.
Of the nine stories, my favourites were: The Barrow-Maid, Be Brave, Tower to the Sky, and Good Boy. I did find some of the zombie eating bits a bit squicky for me (one of those hours that makes your stomach heave but you can't stop reading) but there was plenty to distract. The squickiest for me was Seven Brains, Ten Minutes and that was only story number two so I was worried I might tap out, but The Barrow-Maid acted as a nice palette (haha) cleanser and then the rest of the stories weren't as gory in the same manner. I think we all hear 'zombie' and put it in out modern day/ an apocalyptic near future/ a post-apocalyptic hell scape, so to have some stories take place in more ancient times was a nice, refreshing take for me.
To sum up the stories in a semi-vague way:
Dawn of the Living-Impaired: Talkshow about Zombie being given 'addicted and in need of our help' status.
Seven Brains, Ten Minutes: I think this is the 'MadMax-esque' one, to escape you gotta be the zombie you see in the world.
The Barrow-Maid: Have yourself a fun Viking saga. Pretty sweet, actually.
Cured Meat: But what if we were the zombies and made our own society?
Be Brave: It's World War II, but not in the way you think it's going to be
Family Life: Brady bunch meets Stepford Wives, but I've never seen either of the things I'm comparing it to it's just the vibe I get from various memes?
A Tower to the Sky: How many miles to Babylon? three-score and watch for rogue zombies!
Good Boy: He is the gooiest little boy (also the twist got me smiling!)
Thought he was a Goner: Tim Burton would make a film of this if he could, and we'd all still watch it despite it being a bit bland compared to the stories we've just had.
This collection of Zombie-themed short stories is something that's waaaaaay out of my comfort zone but I really enjoyed the short-story format: a lot of different worlds and themes could be explored that way.
Of the nine stories, my favourites were: The Barrow-Maid, Be Brave, Tower to the Sky, and Good Boy. I did find some of the zombie eating bits a bit squicky for me (one of those hours that makes your stomach heave but you can't stop reading) but there was plenty to distract. The squickiest for me was Seven Brains, Ten Minutes and that was only story number two so I was worried I might tap out, but The Barrow-Maid acted as a nice palette (haha) cleanser and then the rest of the stories weren't as gory in the same manner. I think we all hear 'zombie' and put it in out modern day/ an apocalyptic near future/ a post-apocalyptic hell scape, so to have some stories take place in more ancient times was a nice, refreshing take for me.
To sum up the stories in a semi-vague way:
Dawn of the Living-Impaired: Talkshow about Zombie being given 'addicted and in need of our help' status.
Seven Brains, Ten Minutes: I think this is the 'MadMax-esque' one, to escape you gotta be the zombie you see in the world.
The Barrow-Maid: Have yourself a fun Viking saga. Pretty sweet, actually.
Cured Meat: But what if we were the zombies and made our own society?
Be Brave: It's World War II, but not in the way you think it's going to be
Family Life: Brady bunch meets Stepford Wives, but I've never seen either of the things I'm comparing it to it's just the vibe I get from various memes?
A Tower to the Sky: How many miles to Babylon? three-score and watch for rogue zombies!
Good Boy: He is the gooiest little boy (also the twist got me smiling!)
Thought he was a Goner: Tim Burton would make a film of this if he could, and we'd all still watch it despite it being a bit bland compared to the stories we've just had.
sea_caummisar's review
4.0
I don't read too many zombie books.. I used to, but then all the stories seemed to run together. I felt like I had read every possible zombie storyline.
I was wrong.
There are some fresh takes in this book. A few of the stories really stick out. I skipped two stories after a few pages because I couldn't get into them.
My favorite was a particular tale involving a dog. I'm not usually emotional when I read, but that one made me want to cry..
Over all, this is a good book. Just because I skipped a couple doesn't mean everyone would. I'm picky about what I read, yet still found this to be a satisfying read
I was wrong.
There are some fresh takes in this book. A few of the stories really stick out. I skipped two stories after a few pages because I couldn't get into them.
My favorite was a particular tale involving a dog. I'm not usually emotional when I read, but that one made me want to cry..
Over all, this is a good book. Just because I skipped a couple doesn't mean everyone would. I'm picky about what I read, yet still found this to be a satisfying read
reads_vicariously's review
4.0
Man, Christine Morgan did a fantastic job breathing new life into what I considered to be a mostly dead genre about, well, the mostly dead. I'll be honest, I've mostly stayed away from zombie stories just because I feel like the genre had been overdone (at least for me). I enjoyed Train to Busan, Blood Quantum, One Cut of the Dead, and The Living Dead - and that's about it in the last few years. I think it's partly also because I feel like it's hard to bring anything new to the table. That is, until I read this collection!
The nine stories presented here are fantastically varied in their settings, style, and plots. You've got viking zombies, WWII zombies, stories from the zombie's perspective, and so much more. Short story collections are generally hit or miss for me, but this one was pretty much all bulls eyes. Below I'll give a quick, spoiler-free look at each story.
"Dawn of the Living-Impaired" - six months into the zombie apocalypse and humans are adjusting to new way of life; TV anchor interviews a zombie rights activist and then chaos breaks out on set; a fun premise but completely overshadowed by all the awesome stories that follow it.
"Seven Brains, Ten Minutes" - incredibly disgusting (even for this collection) story about a boy pretending to be a zombie to save a girl.
"The Barrow-Maid" - epic viking revenge story told from the perspective of the wife of a fallen hero; I was completely invested in all of these characters, and Hildirid is the best.
"Cured Meat" - possibly my favorite story; told from the perspective of a zombie as he goes about daily life in his "clain"; fantastic writing style with kennings galore!
"Be Brave" - set during WWII and switches perspective between a young girl named Klara and a embittered rebel named Jakob; great character building, but it felt like it was cut off when the story was just beginning (I need a whole novel about Klara's coming of age in the zombie apocalypse).
"Family Life" - a hilarious story told from the perspective of zombies a la a sitcom/comedy with an unexpected twist at the end.
"A Tower to the Sky" - interesting take on the Babylon story from the Christian Bible.
"Good Boy" - super sad story about a loyal dog (told from his, Baxter's, perspective) trying to protect his disabled owner; why is it always sadder when animals are involved??
"Thought He Was a Goner" - a fun/funny look at what young Herbert West might have been like in school, told from the perspective of a crush.
The nine stories presented here are fantastically varied in their settings, style, and plots. You've got viking zombies, WWII zombies, stories from the zombie's perspective, and so much more. Short story collections are generally hit or miss for me, but this one was pretty much all bulls eyes. Below I'll give a quick, spoiler-free look at each story.
"Dawn of the Living-Impaired" - six months into the zombie apocalypse and humans are adjusting to new way of life; TV anchor interviews a zombie rights activist and then chaos breaks out on set; a fun premise but completely overshadowed by all the awesome stories that follow it.
"Seven Brains, Ten Minutes" - incredibly disgusting (even for this collection) story about a boy pretending to be a zombie to save a girl.
"The Barrow-Maid" - epic viking revenge story told from the perspective of the wife of a fallen hero; I was completely invested in all of these characters, and Hildirid is the best.
"Cured Meat" - possibly my favorite story; told from the perspective of a zombie as he goes about daily life in his "clain"; fantastic writing style with kennings galore!
"Be Brave" - set during WWII and switches perspective between a young girl named Klara and a embittered rebel named Jakob; great character building, but it felt like it was cut off when the story was just beginning (I need a whole novel about Klara's coming of age in the zombie apocalypse).
"Family Life" - a hilarious story told from the perspective of zombies a la a sitcom/comedy with an unexpected twist at the end.
"A Tower to the Sky" - interesting take on the Babylon story from the Christian Bible.
"Good Boy" - super sad story about a loyal dog (told from his, Baxter's, perspective) trying to protect his disabled owner; why is it always sadder when animals are involved??
"Thought He Was a Goner" - a fun/funny look at what young Herbert West might have been like in school, told from the perspective of a crush.
pbanditp's review
5.0
How do you revive the overdone zombie genre? Let Christine Morgan take charge and she will not only give it life but she will come up with nine unique stories. A splattering of settings, points of view, and time during the apocalypse lead to tales that have interest and feeling. With humor, heartache, gore, and tension Morgan entices you in just a few sentences and you find yourself buried in her world craving more.
Game shows, zombie gladiator games, Vikings, and regular old zombie family life are just a few of the plot settings in these entertaining stories.
“And I’ll tell you one thing...it may be hard to believe, but a burnt zombie stinks worse than a regular one.” 4.5 stars.
Game shows, zombie gladiator games, Vikings, and regular old zombie family life are just a few of the plot settings in these entertaining stories.
“And I’ll tell you one thing...it may be hard to believe, but a burnt zombie stinks worse than a regular one.” 4.5 stars.
readingvicariously's review
4.0
Man, Christine Morgan did a fantastic job breathing new life into what I considered to be a mostly dead genre about, well, the mostly dead. I'll be honest, I've mostly stayed away from zombie stories just because I feel like the genre had been overdone (at least for me). I enjoyed Train to Busan, Blood Quantum, One Cut of the Dead, and The Living Dead - and that's about it in the last few years. I think it's partly also because I feel like it's hard to bring anything new to the table. That is, until I read this collection!
The nine stories presented here are fantastically varied in their settings, style, and plots. You've got viking zombies, WWII zombies, stories from the zombie's perspective, and so much more. Short story collections are generally hit or miss for me, but this one was pretty much all bulls eyes. Below I'll give a quick, spoiler-free look at each story.
"Dawn of the Living-Impaired" - six months into the zombie apocalypse and humans are adjusting to new way of life; TV anchor interviews a zombie rights activist and then chaos breaks out on set; a fun premise but completely overshadowed by all the awesome stories that follow it.
"Seven Brains, Ten Minutes" - incredibly disgusting (even for this collection) story about a boy pretending to be a zombie to save a girl.
"The Barrow-Maid" - epic viking revenge story told from the perspective of the wife of a fallen hero; I was completely invested in all of these characters, and Hildirid is the best.
"Cured Meat" - possibly my favorite story; told from the perspective of a zombie as he goes about daily life in his "clain"; fantastic writing style with kennings galore!
"Be Brave" - set during WWII and switches perspective between a young girl named Klara and a embittered rebel named Jakob; great character building, but it felt like it was cut off when the story was just beginning (I need a whole novel about Klara's coming of age in the zombie apocalypse).
"Family Life" - a hilarious story told from the perspective of zombies a la a sitcom/comedy with an unexpected twist at the end.
"A Tower to the Sky" - interesting take on the Babylon story from the Christian Bible.
"Good Boy" - super sad story about a loyal dog (told from his, Baxter's, perspective) trying to protect his disabled owner; why is it always sadder when animals are involved??
"Thought He Was a Goner" - a fun/funny look at what young Herbert West might have been like in school, told from the perspective of a crush.
The nine stories presented here are fantastically varied in their settings, style, and plots. You've got viking zombies, WWII zombies, stories from the zombie's perspective, and so much more. Short story collections are generally hit or miss for me, but this one was pretty much all bulls eyes. Below I'll give a quick, spoiler-free look at each story.
"Dawn of the Living-Impaired" - six months into the zombie apocalypse and humans are adjusting to new way of life; TV anchor interviews a zombie rights activist and then chaos breaks out on set; a fun premise but completely overshadowed by all the awesome stories that follow it.
"Seven Brains, Ten Minutes" - incredibly disgusting (even for this collection) story about a boy pretending to be a zombie to save a girl.
"The Barrow-Maid" - epic viking revenge story told from the perspective of the wife of a fallen hero; I was completely invested in all of these characters, and Hildirid is the best.
"Cured Meat" - possibly my favorite story; told from the perspective of a zombie as he goes about daily life in his "clain"; fantastic writing style with kennings galore!
"Be Brave" - set during WWII and switches perspective between a young girl named Klara and a embittered rebel named Jakob; great character building, but it felt like it was cut off when the story was just beginning (I need a whole novel about Klara's coming of age in the zombie apocalypse).
"Family Life" - a hilarious story told from the perspective of zombies a la a sitcom/comedy with an unexpected twist at the end.
"A Tower to the Sky" - interesting take on the Babylon story from the Christian Bible.
"Good Boy" - super sad story about a loyal dog (told from his, Baxter's, perspective) trying to protect his disabled owner; why is it always sadder when animals are involved??
"Thought He Was a Goner" - a fun/funny look at what young Herbert West might have been like in school, told from the perspective of a crush.
jandrews560's review
5.0
Book Review time, my undead minions!!!
Dawn of the Living-Impaired & Other Messed Up Zombie Stories by Christine Morgan
Dawn of the Living-Impaired & Other Messed Up Zombie Stories by Christine Morgan
nwreader's review
4.0
This was a fun, gory mess of zombie stories. I loved the uniqueness of all of them and the grossness. I laughed quite a lot while reading this.
biancarosesmith's review
4.0
I must admit, I’m not the biggest fan of zombie horror but I am open minded so I will step outside of my comfort zone. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this diverse collection of stories. Christine Morgan brings something fresh and unique to the zombie sub-genre and has a compelling storytelling voice.
This collection ranges from zombies trying to assimilate into human society, Viking death rituals and Norse mythology, a Holocaust inspired story with emotional undertones, curses and plenty of gore. My personal favourite was The Barrow-Maid, the Viking inspired story.
This was an incredibly fun introduction and taster into Christine Morgan’s work. I look forward to reading more. Even if you aren’t a big fan of zombie horror I highly recommend you check this collection out!
This collection ranges from zombies trying to assimilate into human society, Viking death rituals and Norse mythology, a Holocaust inspired story with emotional undertones, curses and plenty of gore. My personal favourite was The Barrow-Maid, the Viking inspired story.
This was an incredibly fun introduction and taster into Christine Morgan’s work. I look forward to reading more. Even if you aren’t a big fan of zombie horror I highly recommend you check this collection out!
acouplereadss's review
4.0
For someone who loves zombie movies I never really dove into books about zombies (aside from two I can think of). But I’m SO GLAD I joined @mother.horror and the horror crew on #bookstagram to read this book. This was such a visceral collection of stories. I had a lot of fun reading these and was impressed with the range of the authors writing. There were laugh out loud funny stories such as the title piece and guttural bad ass viking zombies, but most impressive was being able to set a zombie story during WWII. Descriptions were vivid and jarring with an underlying commentary on society. My favourite was The Barrow Maid, the aforementioned viking zombies and I really enjoyed Cured Meat, a story from the point of view of the zombies.
If you’re a fan of zombies in general I highly recommend you pick up this book! I was sucked in right away and the writing is excellent, 4✨! You’ll be impressed with how unique each story is.