World War Z

[Antonio_Bay]

Having just finished reading Spiral, by Koji Suzuki, I'm on the lookout for something new to tickle my interest. I heard a few months back some production company had bought the rights to a novel called World War Z, by Max Brooks - a story about a world wide all out zombie war. From what I've read into it, it sounds good, but I’m not entirely convinced.

Anyone at the Quick Stop read it? Is it worth buying??

[FanGirl]

My friend is reading it now. Says it's awesome. Max Brooks wrote the Survival Guide to Zombie Attacks and is Mel Brooks' son. It's on my reading list. Unfortunately, it's like 5 or 6 down in my list.

[FanGirl]

So I was at Boarders yesterday and I saw there was an unabridged audiobook available. Since the book is all interviews, they got different people to do each story. When I saw the list, I believe my initial response was "Holy F**king shit. You have got to be fucking kidding me." I immediately purchased it and I'm one disc in. HOLY CRAP! You all need to either read or listen to this immediately. My God it's good. My friend says it just gets better. I'm impressed as hell just with the first set of stories.

So, who is on the disc that would have me dropping $24 (you can also get it from amazon for $19)? Well, let's see John Turturro, Henry Rollins, Mark Hamill, Alan Alda, Carl and Rob Reiner and a bunch of others... and Max Brooks as the interviewer.

[Antonio_Bay]

That’s an impressive cast.

I finished it a few weeks back and your right, it’s brilliant. Out of all the stories there were one or two duds, but some of the stories were quite disturbing, especially one concerning the dead ruling the ocean seabed.

I’m following it up by reading the Zombie Survival Guide which is pretty entertaining too. I’m really getting my teeth into it.:D

[JK]

So I was at Boarders yesterday ...

Is that a pirate store? ;)

[Jason_Brown]

I prefer to shop at "Hop-ons", myself.

http://www.courttv.com/graphics/onair/shows/hollywood_heat/new/photos/AD_staircar208.jpg

[Antonio_Bay]

Not really book news, but related to the book concerning the movie adaptation:

From Dark Horizons:

J. Michael Straczynski, the man who created what remains one of TV most complex serial dramas "Babylon 5", is set to write the adaptation of "World War Z" by Max Brooks for Paramount Pictures reports IGN.

The novel, a clever collection of retrospective interview anecdotes, covers the accounts of nearly four dozen people from all walks of life who played different parts in a virus pandemic that turned most of the world's population into zombies and threatened to overwhelm the globe until we fought back.

Various chapters have some strong political bents - an ex-Apartheid official develops an inhumane but effective solution to the zombie plagues, Israel undergoes a controversial self-quarantine, North America becomes a wasteland whilst Cuba prospers, and China is essentially responsible for the outbreak thanks to the ecological disruption caused by the Three Gorges Dam.

"I'm adapting that for Paramount. For Brad Pitt potentially -- we'll see what happens. He might be the star in it. It's very political, very smart, very cagey" says Straczynski.

The main problem of course is structure - each chapter deals with a different character in a different situation so he is constructing the film around the interviewer who will travel from place to place visiting people.

He adds "I'm being very faithful to the book, letter by letter when I can, and I'm on about page 70 right now and I'm really happy with it".

[FanGirl]

So cool. I'm reading the actual book now. I'm almost halfway. There were a few stories I would have liked to have heard on the audiobook. I thought the Russian way of helping morale was awesome. I did a little research because of it and found I've been misusing the word decimation and cohort all these years, but apparently so do most people.

[phit_demon]

J. Michael Straczynski, the man who created what remains one of TV most complex serial dramas "Babylon 5", is set to write the adaptation of "World War Z" by Max Brooks for Paramount Pictures reports IGN.
I read his The Complete Book of Scripwriting.
It's the best one of its kind that I've come across.

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/1852868821.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Highly recommended to anyone interested in writing.

[Aaron]

J. Michael Straczynski, the man who created what remains one of TV most complex serial dramas "Babylon 5", i
Don't forget butchering every modern Spiderman comic

[FanGirl]

Are you on crack? He wrote some of the best current Spidermans. The one where it explains why all of Spiderman's villians are animals was fantastic and explains why certain villians go after certain heroes.

[phit_demon]

all of Spiderman's villians are animals was fantastic and explains why certain villians go after certain heroes.
Huh? Was he speaking metaphorically? Explain further please...

[/ignorance]

[FanGirl]

I won't be able to do it justice. It was basically saying: ever wonder why Spiderman has animal villians, batman has psychological unbalanced villians, X-Men have other mutant villians, etc.? Then it explains why these things are.

[Aaron]

Are you on crack? He wrote some of the best current Spidermans.
yeah because the Evolve Or Die storyline was greaaaaaaat

[phit_demon]

I won't be able to do it justice. It was basically saying: ever wonder why Spiderman has animal villians, batman has psychological unbalanced villians, X-Men have other mutant villians, etc.? Then it explains why these things are.
I know I'm just playing nitpicker's advocate here, but the last time I checked Sandmen, Kingpins, Goblins and Electros weren't animals.

Ye know what?
Just gimme the name/s of the relevant issue/s and I'll find out for myself. If they're all bunched togther in a nice, convenient trade paperback that would be even better. Thanks. :)

[Antonio_Bay]

Just gimme the name/s of the relevant issue/s and I'll find out for myself. If they're all bunched togther in a nice, convenient trade paperback that would be even better. Thanks. :)

Do you order comics via online, or do you have a local comic store? I have no stores near me, and when I browse online I can never find a decent comic suppliers. If you know of any, and could point me in the right direction, that would be much appreciated.

I can buy trade papers from the big stores, such as WaterStones, but I miss having my monthly fix of comic issues to read.

[phit_demon]

Do you order comics via online, or do you have a local comic store? I have no stores near me, and when I browse online I can never find a decent comic suppliers. If you know of any, and could point me in the right direction, that would be much appreciated.

I can buy trade papers from the big stores, such as WaterStones, but I miss having my monthly fix of comic issues to read.
I have a pretty sizable Forbidden Planet down the road from me, and a smaller shop called Sub-City a little further. Living the the city rules! :D

[Antonio_Bay]

I have a pretty sizable Forbidden Planet down the road from me, and a smaller shop called Sub-City a little further. Living the the city rules! :D

I think the nearest F.Planet to me is in central London. I wasn't aware they sold that wide a range of comics. More memorabilia/movie stuff, etc. Do they deliver through an online service? (I shouldnt be so lazy, and just go to their site and check for myself! :D )

[phit_demon]

I think the nearest F.Planet to me is in central London. I wasn't aware they sold that wide a range of comics. More memorabilia/movie stuff, etc. Do they deliver through an online service? (I shouldnt be so lazy, and just go to their site and check for myself! :D )
I don't know about their online services, I just peruse their shelves and occasionally something calls to me. I'm not a huge comics person, but I am getting more into them recently, especially Preacher. I'm still waiting for the ones I ordered to arrive. :(

[FanGirl]

I finished reading the actual book last night. Gods bless that is one awesome book. I think it is getting promoted to my favorite book of all time. It should be required reading by everyone. I didn't think there were any dud stories. They all a key part in giving the overall picture. There are a few stories I wish he wrote a whole book about. The North Korea story was one of the most creepy.

[Antonio_Bay]

I thought there was one dud story, but it escapes me at the moment. It's been awhile since I read it.

I visited the official WWZ site in the hope a follow book may have been announced. On the site, there’s a Risk Calculator (http://www.randomhouse.com/crown/worldwarz/) to see if you would survive a Zombie war. Although it’s primarily designed for those who live in the US, I received a 38% chance of survival.

...which sucks.

[FanGirl]

Funny. I got 38% chance of survival. I usually score within the top 85% on othe zombie survival tests.

[phit_demon]

Funny. I got 38% chance of survival. I usually score within the top 85% on othe zombie survival tests.
I got 31%, but who cares? I got Kirk on the Star Trek test. w00t!!
I'd rather die as Tiberius than live as Ensign Ricky. :D

[Jason_Brown]

I only got a 34% survival rate, but I mostly attribute that to the lack of an "Are you a robot?" question.

[BizarroPunisher]

I got 31%, but who cares? I got Kirk on the Star Trek test. w00t!!
I'd rather die as Tiberius than live as Ensign Ricky. :D
Ensign Ricky would never live.
http://echosphere.net/star_trek_insp/insp_expendability.jpg

[phit_demon]

Ensign Ricky would never live.
Good point. :D

[Antonio_Bay]

Ensign Ricky would never live.
http://echosphere.net/star_trek_insp/insp_expendability.jpg

Going off topic, but, this one is my fav:

http://echosphere.net/star_trek_insp/insp_diplomacy.jpg

:)

[BizarroPunisher]

http://echosphere.net/star_trek_insp/insp_captkirk.png

[phit_demon]

How many of those are there, and where did you guys get them? They are the dog's bollocks!

[Antonio_Bay]

How many of those are there, and where did you guys get them? They are the dog's bollocks!

Here (http://echosphere.net/star_trek_insp/star_trek_insp.html) you go, sir.

[By-tor]

They are the dog's bollocks!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cnasnflwrgrl/animals/dogs/dog_balls.jpg
No, sir. These are.

[phit_demon]

Here (http://echosphere.net/star_trek_insp/star_trek_insp.html) you go, sir.
Many thanks dude. My favourite is:

http://echosphere.net/star_trek_insp/insp_kirkspock.jpg

[harry84]

It's a great book. I read it in three days. The ending will suprise you!

[FanGirl]

Why do you say the ending was surprising?

[yakkern]

Great book, lets hope they dont screw the film.

http://static.flickr.com/115/285416048_e79fc0e001_o.jpg



Solid Gold!
http://a7.vox.com/6a00cd96fa8c7d4cd500cdf7f2fcf7094f-320pi

[looking4answers]

Yes, indeed, gentlemen (and lady). World War Z has proven to be quite a good read. Only on chapter 3 now, but it really draws you in.

And what "happens" in North Korea...?

[Antonio_Bay]

And what "happens" in North Korea...?

Keep reading and you may find out!!

* adopts sinister voice * Or maybe you won't....




:)

[marksiwel]

*SPOILERS*

Basically North K, goes into Bunkers they built under some mountains.

It was supposed to be incase America invaded, and it can hold ALOT of people. but some of the infected got in, and basically their might be millons of ZOmbies underground waiting to get out.

[Thinman]

43%, hmmm... that's higher than i thought it would be.

[marksiwel]

http://echosphere.net/star_trek_insp/insp_captkirk.png
I printed that out and framed it on my wall next to my wedding photos (wife was pissed)

[By-tor]

You da man!!! ;)

[Threadkiller]

Yes, indeed, gentlemen (and lady). World War Z has proven to be quite a good read. word!

[looking4answers]

New Respect for Archaeological Institute of America
They published this article: Zombie Attack at Hierakonpolis (http://www.archaeology.org/online/features/hierakonpolis/zombies.html)

Which discusses the first zombie attack in history and uses Max Brooks, author of World War Z, as a reference.

"They are, or were, people who were infected by the Solanum virus. The virus creates a zombie by eating away the frontal lobe of the brain for replication, thus destroying it. The virus mutates the brain and allows the brain to remain alive but dormant and without the need for oxygen. Once the mutation is complete, approximately 23 hours from infection to fully functioning zombie, the ghoul will be on the unending search for living human flesh, thus spreading the infection (Brooks 2003: 2). "

This is a well written article and there is no hint around the article that this is anything less then serious unless you actually realize what they are talking about.

Archaeological Institute of America, I salute you!
-FanGirl

[Aaron]

Archaeological Institute of America, I salute you!
-FanGirl
Fangirl ate L4A!
AAAAAAAAaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh