Pg.178 "How long will you have to endure this primitive existence? How long before the walking dead simply crumble to dust? How long before life can return to even a semblance of normality? Sadly, there is no exact figure. The first zombie to rise will, unless it is frozen, embalmed, or otherwise preserved, completely decompose after five years. However, by the time the undead have world domination, ten years might have already passed. (Remember, you will be fleeing when the war begins, not at its end.) When zombies truly dominate the planet, and there are no more fresh humans to infect, it will truly take five years for the majority of them to rot away. Dry climate and freezing will preserve many, keeping them functional for, potentially, decades. Bandits, refugees, and other survivors like yourself may become further prey, adding a newer but smaller generation to the older, decaying horde. By the time these turn to dust, the only undead left will be those preserved artificially or constantly refrozen with each winter. These you will have to watch for decades to come. Your children and even your children's children will have to be wary of them. But when will it be safe
to come out?"
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Vehicles
Pg. 103 "Why walk when you could ride? Americans have always been obsessed with the idea of labor-saving machinery. In all walks of life, industry struggles in an endless race to invent and perfect machines that make the chores of everyday life faster, easier, and more efficient. And what could be a greater deity of American techno-religion than the automobile? No matter what our age, gender, race, economic status, or geographic location, we are taught that this omnipotent machine, in all of its wondrous forms, is the answer to our prayers. Why wouldn't this be true during a zombie outbreak? Wouldn't it make sense to just race across hostile ground? Travel time would be reduced from days to mere hours. Equipment storage would no longer be a problem. And what danger would zombies present when you could simply run them over? These are powerful advantages, to be sure, but with them come a host of equally powerful problems."
The author here is exploring the concept of our society's fascination with technology. People now a days are obsessed with getting the newest and most expensive technologies. In this passage, Brooks identifies the automobile as our greatest creation. We work on it all the time and everyone longs to have one, or if one is already owned, to get a better one. I completely agree with him on this topic.
Brooks is saying that we waste too much time on such materialistic things. In the event of an emergency, they could even be our downfall. I think that he is right. With all the war and famine that plagues the world, our society is too caught up on meaningless possessions. Being human means we help each other, not waste $30k on a new car when you have a perfectly good one. That money could've been better used by charity and not by our own selfish greed.
The author here is exploring the concept of our society's fascination with technology. People now a days are obsessed with getting the newest and most expensive technologies. In this passage, Brooks identifies the automobile as our greatest creation. We work on it all the time and everyone longs to have one, or if one is already owned, to get a better one. I completely agree with him on this topic.
Brooks is saying that we waste too much time on such materialistic things. In the event of an emergency, they could even be our downfall. I think that he is right. With all the war and famine that plagues the world, our society is too caught up on meaningless possessions. Being human means we help each other, not waste $30k on a new car when you have a perfectly good one. That money could've been better used by charity and not by our own selfish greed.
On The Run
Pg.95 "Too often, people who have been holed up in fortified dwellings are seduced by the distractions of their initial freedom. Most of these people never make it to safety. Do not become one of these unnecessary statistics. Your mission is to escape nothing more, nothing less. Do not look for abandoned valuables. Do not hunt the occasional zombie. Do not investigate any strange noises or lights in the distance. Just get out. Every side trip, every pause in the journey, increases the odds of being found and
devoured. If by some chance you come across humans that need assistance, by all means stop to help. (Sometimes logic must give way to humanity.) Otherwise, keep going!"
In this passage, the author is describing how one can never be safe in a world run by zombies. He shows how small things such as a safe home are no longer luxuries that humanity can afford. He alsoi gives his two cents on how to stay safe by constantly being on the move. He also warns of making hunting into a game. His reasoning is that any risk one takes that's unnecessary could very well be that person's last mistake.
This passage explores the question of what it means to be human. I think Max Brooks does an excellent job with this. As a human, we all someplace we can call home. This place needs to be safe and somewhere where one could escape to when overwhelmed. Max Brooks is urging the audience to disregard our instincts and desires to be safe and cope with the burden of always being on the run. He also urges us to never forget that we're human and that we should always help our fellow man if we are to stumble upon a poor soul who is in trouble.
devoured. If by some chance you come across humans that need assistance, by all means stop to help. (Sometimes logic must give way to humanity.) Otherwise, keep going!"
In this passage, the author is describing how one can never be safe in a world run by zombies. He shows how small things such as a safe home are no longer luxuries that humanity can afford. He alsoi gives his two cents on how to stay safe by constantly being on the move. He also warns of making hunting into a game. His reasoning is that any risk one takes that's unnecessary could very well be that person's last mistake.
This passage explores the question of what it means to be human. I think Max Brooks does an excellent job with this. As a human, we all someplace we can call home. This place needs to be safe and somewhere where one could escape to when overwhelmed. Max Brooks is urging the audience to disregard our instincts and desires to be safe and cope with the burden of always being on the run. He also urges us to never forget that we're human and that we should always help our fellow man if we are to stumble upon a poor soul who is in trouble.
Fire
Pg.51 "The living dead have no fear of fire. Waving an open flame in a ghoul's face will do nothing to slow or impede its advance. Zombies who have caught fire will neither notice nor react to the engulfing flames in any way. Too many humans have met with tragedy for failing to understand that fire is no deterrent to zombies! As a weapon, however, fire is still humanity's greatest ally. Complete incineration is the best way to destroy a zombie once and for all. Burning eliminates not only the body but all traces of Solanum. However, don't think a flamethrower and several Molotov cocktails are the solution to all your problems. In actual combat, fire can be as deadly a threat as it is a protector. Flesh-human, undead, or otherwise-takes a long time to burn. In the minutes or hours before a blazing zombie succumbs, it will become a walking-or to be perfectly accurate, a shambling-torch. Several
cases have been recorded in which burning ghouls have done more damage, even caused more deaths, than they would have with only their fingernails and teeth. Fire itself has no loyalty. Consider the flammable nature of your surroundings, the chance of smoke inhalation, the possibility that a blaze will act as a beacon for other zombies. All these factors must be considered before such a powerful and unpredictable weapon is unleashed. For this reason, fire is mainly considered an attack or flight weapon, and rarely used for static defense."
Max Brooks provides a piece of wisdom here that is very useful. Not only is it useful for any zombie invasions, but also any kind of problem that one would solve with fire. Fire is a wild card in the sense that no one can control it. It's strange and unpredictable ways make it a last resort in case of an emergency.
Max Brooks once again, uses imagery as a strong vehicle for his message. His descriptions of burning ghouls and the effects of it are very spot on. The author must have pondered for much time on what to write about in this book, since everything is so precise and well described. The imagery helps us to imagine what could happen in a world like this one, and it also helps the audience connect the author since we can visualize what he's writing.
cases have been recorded in which burning ghouls have done more damage, even caused more deaths, than they would have with only their fingernails and teeth. Fire itself has no loyalty. Consider the flammable nature of your surroundings, the chance of smoke inhalation, the possibility that a blaze will act as a beacon for other zombies. All these factors must be considered before such a powerful and unpredictable weapon is unleashed. For this reason, fire is mainly considered an attack or flight weapon, and rarely used for static defense."
Max Brooks provides a piece of wisdom here that is very useful. Not only is it useful for any zombie invasions, but also any kind of problem that one would solve with fire. Fire is a wild card in the sense that no one can control it. It's strange and unpredictable ways make it a last resort in case of an emergency.
Max Brooks once again, uses imagery as a strong vehicle for his message. His descriptions of burning ghouls and the effects of it are very spot on. The author must have pondered for much time on what to write about in this book, since everything is so precise and well described. The imagery helps us to imagine what could happen in a world like this one, and it also helps the audience connect the author since we can visualize what he's writing.
Outbreak
Pg.25 "A hue crisis. Class 3 outbreaks, more than any other, demonstrate the clear threat posed by the living dead. Zombies will number in the thousands, encompassing an area of several hundred miles. The duration of the attack and a possible lengthy mop-up process could last as long as
several months. There will be no chance for a press blackout or coverup. Even without media attention, the sheer magnitude of the attack will leave too many eyewitnesses. This is a full-blown battle, with law enforcement replaced by units of the regular military. A state of emergency will be declared for the infested zone, as well as the neighboring areas. Expect martial law, restricted travel, rationed supplies, federalized services, and strictly monitored communication. All these measures, however, will take time to implement. The initial phase will be one of chaos as those in power come to grips with the crisis. Riots, looting, and widespread panic will add to their difficulties, further delaying an effective response. While this is happening, those living within the infested area will be at the mercy of the undead. Isolated, abandoned, and surrounded by ghouls, they will have only themselves to depend on."
The author in this passage talks about the zombie apocalypse coming about EXACTLY as I imagined it. I was stunned at how detailed this description of the outbreak was. When reading it, it almost felt as if I was present in the future.I thought this really cool and it helped me identify with the passage.Again, this falls under the category of biotech and genetics.
The author's precision with all his predictions really sells his idea to the audience. If the author weren't so detailed and didn't use imagery so effectively, this book would have been complete garbage. Luckily, he did a good job with all of these things. These depictions of the future show how frail our society's morals are. At the first sign of trouble, we resort to violence to solve our problems. It's scary that the author can predict this and the audience know such a horrible thing is a very likely possibility. I believe that Max Brooks was targeting our society when writing this, in an attempt to open the eyes of the audience and remind us of our morals.
several months. There will be no chance for a press blackout or coverup. Even without media attention, the sheer magnitude of the attack will leave too many eyewitnesses. This is a full-blown battle, with law enforcement replaced by units of the regular military. A state of emergency will be declared for the infested zone, as well as the neighboring areas. Expect martial law, restricted travel, rationed supplies, federalized services, and strictly monitored communication. All these measures, however, will take time to implement. The initial phase will be one of chaos as those in power come to grips with the crisis. Riots, looting, and widespread panic will add to their difficulties, further delaying an effective response. While this is happening, those living within the infested area will be at the mercy of the undead. Isolated, abandoned, and surrounded by ghouls, they will have only themselves to depend on."
The author in this passage talks about the zombie apocalypse coming about EXACTLY as I imagined it. I was stunned at how detailed this description of the outbreak was. When reading it, it almost felt as if I was present in the future.I thought this really cool and it helped me identify with the passage.Again, this falls under the category of biotech and genetics.
The author's precision with all his predictions really sells his idea to the audience. If the author weren't so detailed and didn't use imagery so effectively, this book would have been complete garbage. Luckily, he did a good job with all of these things. These depictions of the future show how frail our society's morals are. At the first sign of trouble, we resort to violence to solve our problems. It's scary that the author can predict this and the audience know such a horrible thing is a very likely possibility. I believe that Max Brooks was targeting our society when writing this, in an attempt to open the eyes of the audience and remind us of our morals.
Disposal
pg.19 "Studies have shown that Solanum can still inhabit the body of a terminated zombie for up to forty eight hours. Exercise extreme care when disposing of undead corpses. The head in particular possesses the most serious hazard, given its concentration of the virus. Never handle an undead corpse without protective clothing. Treat it as you would any toxic, highly lethal material. Cremation is the safest, most
effective way of disposal. Despite rumors that a pile of burning corpses will spread Solanum in a cloud of smoking plague, common sense would dictate that any virus is unable to survive intense heat, to say nothing of an open flame."
Upon my reading of this passage, I thought that this author was writing about this topic in such a unique way. I've personally never read a book, like this one, that has been so specific towards the future and how to avoid it/live with it. Max Brooks is giving advice on the most effective way of disposing of a zombie after killing this already undead creature. I believe this falls under biotech/genetics, due to the fact that these creatures were derived from humans through their meddling with science.
The author gets his message across via imagery. His descriptions of the disposal of a zombie would make it seem as if he has experience in this area. Upon further thought, one can realize that Brooks can't possibly have experience in this area, because zombies don't exist. His use of imagery prompts the reader to put more faith in his word and follow his quest through this imaginary world.
effective way of disposal. Despite rumors that a pile of burning corpses will spread Solanum in a cloud of smoking plague, common sense would dictate that any virus is unable to survive intense heat, to say nothing of an open flame."
Upon my reading of this passage, I thought that this author was writing about this topic in such a unique way. I've personally never read a book, like this one, that has been so specific towards the future and how to avoid it/live with it. Max Brooks is giving advice on the most effective way of disposing of a zombie after killing this already undead creature. I believe this falls under biotech/genetics, due to the fact that these creatures were derived from humans through their meddling with science.
The author gets his message across via imagery. His descriptions of the disposal of a zombie would make it seem as if he has experience in this area. Upon further thought, one can realize that Brooks can't possibly have experience in this area, because zombies don't exist. His use of imagery prompts the reader to put more faith in his word and follow his quest through this imaginary world.
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