Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - Dawn of the Dreadfulls

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - Dawn of the Dreadfuls

by  Steve Hockensmith

    

    Every story has a beginning, the Dreadfuls weren't always just a part of an English girl's life. Even the five Bennett girls had a regular life at one point in time. Yet to their mother's horror it wasn't their fate to just grow up to be proper young ladies with nice families. They were meant to protect themselves and England.
     This story takes place before the events in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. It shows when the girls all took up their swords and first learned about the threat of Dreadfuls to there world. We see them grow into themselves and accepting who they are as the rest of there world is also forced into accepting them too.
     Their father is a more central character in this story, with their mother just being there to swoon in the background. He accepts what must be done much better than anyone else. The girls go along with this new path that is presented to them.
     I love the way Mary and Kitty continue to be so completely girls, tittering and gossiping while still chopping off zombies' (Dreadfuls! a lady doesn't use the Z word) heads. But on a whole the story is a bit disappointing. It doesn't have the wonderful Jane Austen feel that the original had, nor use language in the same beautiful way.
     It's a fun book but it doesn't quite match the wonderful parody that the first one created. Though that book did set the mark very high.

Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter by Seth Graham-Smith

Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter 

by Seth Graham-Smith

     Abraham Lincoln was Bad Ass! We all know this to be true. The truth of HOW bad ass now that is completely new news. The fact that his fight against slaves was not only because of his belief in the ideas of america and that all men (and women) have an inherent right to be free, but also because of his oath to rid America of Vampires and the hold on the south that the slaves gave them.
    The story is told by Seth Graham as he tells us about a set of Journals that were given to him for this very purpose. Those connected to the events felt it was about time we know what really happened. The life and death situation that was truly fought over during the American civil war.  How one amazing man effected us all.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

by Jane Austen and Seth Graham-smith

     "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains." How can a book starting with such a perfect statement of fact not be wonderful.
     England has been hit with some kind of deadly sickness which gives the dead and buried the power to dig themselves out from the ground and wonder around England in search of brains. But even in such condition this doesn't prevent nice young ladies, who are very able to protect themselves and there home, from the expected curtsies of the proper social code.
     It is hard to say what really makes this story work so well. Every part of it fits so very well. The language and setting feel realistic and natural. The way the people feel towards the plague is acceptance and annoyance. Zombies are just part of the way of England now. They are a bit of an annoyance but they are nothing to be frightened of, good for a nice country hunt. I love the calm acceptance of every incident with them. They are so everyday and unexciting, barley to be taken notice of. Especially when compared to men and a marriage.
     The end of the book asks Some scholars believe that the zombies were a last-minute addition to the novel, requested by the publisher in a shameless attempt to boost sales. Others argue that the horde of living dead are integral to Jane Austen's plot and social commentary. What do you think? Can you imagine what this novel might be like without the violent zombie mayhem? No zombies I say? Who would ever want to read a story about silly girls trying to please some man who is higher in status then them... The violent zombie mayhem brings the whole story a reason to happen... or at least me a reason to read it... though I might check out a copy without the zombies, if someone were so inclined to write such a tale.

(P.S Did you know that Zombies commonly mistake Cauliflower for brains? Apparently it makes great bate in Zombie traps since they stop to devourer it and then you can shoot them in the head.)