World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
EGP180.00
Book Summary
The Zombie War came unthinkably close to eradicating humanity. Max Brooks, driven by the urgency of preserving the acid-etched first-hand experiences of the survivors from those apocalyptic years, traveled across the United States of America and throughout the world, from decimated cities that once teemed with upwards of thirty million souls to the most remote and inhospitable areas of the planet. He recorded the testimony of men, women, and sometimes children who came face-to-face with the living, or at least the undead, hell of that dreadful time. World War Z is the result. Never before have we had access to a document that so powerfully conveys the depth of fear and horror, and also the ineradicable spirit of resistance, that gripped human society through the plague years.
Ranging from the now infamous village of New Dachang in the United Federation of China, where the epidemiological trail began with the twelve-year-old Patient Zero, to the unnamed northern forests where untold numbers sought a terrible and temporary refuge in the cold, to the United States of Southern Africa, where the Redeker Plan provided hope for humanity at an unspeakable price, to the west-of-the-Rockies redoubt where the North American tide finally started to turn, this invaluable chronicle reflects the full scope and duration of the Zombie War.
Most of all, the book captures with haunting immediacy the human dimension of this epochal event. Facing the often raw and vivid nature of these personal accounts requires a degree of courage on the part of the reader, but the effort is invaluable because, as Mr. Brooks says in his introduction, “By excluding the human factor, aren’t we risking the kind of personal detachment from history that may, heaven forbid, lead us one day to repeat it? And in the end, isn’t the human factor the only true difference between us and the enemy we now refer to as â€کthe living dead’?â€
Note: Some of the numerical and factual material contained in this edition was previously published under the auspices of the United Nations Postwar Commission.
Eyewitness reports from the first truly global war
“I found â€کPatient Zero’ behind the locked door of an abandoned apartment across town. . . . His wrists and feet were bound with plastic packing twine. Although he’d rubbed off the skin around his bonds, there was no blood. There was also no blood on his other wounds. . . . He was writhing like an animal; a gag muffled his growls. At first the villagers tried to hold me back. They warned me not to touch him, that he was â€کcursed.’ I shrugged them off and reached for my mask and gloves. The boy’s skin was . . . cold and gray . . . I could find neither his heartbeat nor his pulse.†—Dr. Kwang Jingshu, Greater Chongqing, United Federation of China
“â€کShock and Awe’? Perfect name. . . . But what if the enemy can’t be shocked and awed? Not just won’t, but biologically can’t! That’s what happened that day outside New York City, that’s the failure that almost lost us the whole damn war. The fact that we couldn’t shock and awe Zack boomeranged right back in our faces and actually allowed Zack to shock and awe us! They’re not afraid! No matter what we do, no matter how many we kill, they will never, ever be afraid!†—Todd Wainio, former U.S. Army infantryman and veteran of the Battle of Yonkers
“Two hundred million zombies. Who can even visualize that type of number, let alone combat it? . . . For the first time in history, we faced an enemy that was actively waging total war. They had no limits of endurance. They would never negotiate, never surrender. They would fight until the very end because, unlike us, every single one of them, every second of every day, was devoted to consuming all life on Earth.†—General Travis D’Ambrosia, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe
From the Hardcover edition.
Language: English
Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Three Rivers Press (2011)
ISBN-10: 0307888681
ISBN-13: 9780307888686
Genre: Sci-fi & Fantasy
Shipping Weight: 44 grams
Condition: New
Out of stock
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War Book Description
Readers will discover a chilling archive of survivor testimonies that span every continent. Max Brooks traveled from ruined megacities to isolated arctic outposts, recording the raw voices of men, women, and children who faced the living dead. This oral history captures the terror of the Zombie War and the unbreakable will that kept humanity fighting. The book offers a vivid, first‑hand look at how societies crumbled, adapted, and eventually began to turn the tide.
The story moves from the infamous village of New Dachang in the United Federation of China, where a twelve‑year‑old patient sparked a pandemic, to the frozen northern forests where desperate refugees sought temporary shelter. It also follows the controversial Redeker Plan in Southern Africa and the western Redoubt beyond the Rockies where the North American fight finally shifted. Each account adds a new layer to the global picture of the conflict.
Most readers will feel the human dimension of this epochal event with haunting immediacy. The raw, vivid anecdotes demand courage, but they also remind us why remembering history matters. As Brooks writes in his introduction, ignoring the human factor risks repeating the same horror. The book therefore forces us to confront the living dead—and our own capacity for resilience.
Key Features of World War Z
Inside this 432‑page paperback, readers can explore dozens of interviews conducted by Brooks across the United States, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The narrative blends personal drama with factual data, some of which originated from the United Nations Postwar Commission. Each chapter presents a different perspective, from a doctor in Greater Chongqing describing the capture of “Patient Zero,” to a veteran infantryman recounting the “shock and awe” failures outside New York City.
Additionally, the book includes stark military analyses, such as General Travis D’Ambrosia’s warning about an enemy that never tires or surrenders. Meanwhile, the Redeker Plan’s moral dilemmas illustrate the extreme choices societies faced. The mix of eyewitness reports and strategic commentary gives readers a comprehensive view of the first truly global war.
Why Read This Book?
Fans of apocalyptic fiction will enjoy the realistic, interview‑style storytelling that sets this work apart from typical zombie novels. Moreover, the book serves as a cautionary tale about how quickly civilization can unravel when faced with an unstoppable threat. Readers can learn how ordinary people responded with courage, ingenuity, and sacrifice.
Because the accounts are presented in a documentary format, the reading experience feels like listening to a survivor’s podcast. The narrative’s fast‑paced, short sentences keep the tension high while remaining easy to follow. Therefore, both casual readers and hardcore genre fans will find value in the balanced mix of horror, strategy, and humanity.
About This Book
Published by Three Rivers Press in 2011, World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War is a mass‑market paperback in excellent new condition. The ISBN‑13 9780307888686 ensures you receive the correct edition. With a lightweight 44‑gram shipping weight, the book is easy to ship and store. Explore this compelling chronicle of survival, sacrifice, and the indomitable human spirit.
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