Night of the Loving Dead [Paperback]

The concept for this novel is based on any number of zombie books and movies. For whatever reason, supernatural or scientific, the dead rise and stalk among the living to quench their dreadful hunger. In James Futch and James Newman's cojoined imagination, however, the zombies aren't hungry for flesh or brains, they're hungry for sex. Their carnal appetites are loosed upon the world each night within the confines of the Grady Memorial Hospital morgue, where rumor has it ancient, arcane practices that predated the hospital's construction still haunt the site and cause the nightly resurrection.

"Night of the Loving Dead" could have been a clever twist on the zombie genre. But no, Futch and Newman take the concept entirely too far, coating themselves and their readers in blood, bile and other bodily fluids. The detail with which they describe grotesque and graphic zombie sex -- and the sexual damage the undead can wreak on themselves, their zombie partners and any living humans who get in their way -- tells me these two lads spend an unhealthy amount of time imagining this sort of thing -- right down to its festering core. Believe me, they will detail for you exactly what body parts will tear, what will break and what will burst in a viscous explosion.

Come on, boys, you can dress it up in occult trappings, but rape is never funny, even if the character is drugged and/or is someone we're not supposed to like. Don't be fooled by the hype that makes "Night of the Loving Dead" sound like a comic horror romp. It's vile.

On the other hand, if the thought of sex with dead things appeals to you, this book is just your thing.

by Tom Knapp, Rambles.(n e t) editor

In this novella, you get exactly what you hope for: a raunchy ride through a horror tale. Like watching a great zombie flick or listening to some kick ass music, this book by James Futch and James Newman is loud, extreme, but pleasing to the soul. Definitely not a read for younger fans, more mature audiences should take this for what it is. All the time I was reading this, it felt like I was actually watching a better version of Return of the living Dead and couldn't get the Lordi song Night of the Loving Dead out of my head!

The writing is engaging. The story is just plain wild. Yes, it's a bit gory and a little disturbing but I, for one, get tired of the "safe" tolerant politically correct trash pushed our ways these days.

Shelia is working a night job at the local hospital on the graveyard shift, hoping to pay her tuition. Alex, her main squeeze, is a videographer for a local, low budget adult film company. Shelia discovers that things are going on that are hard to believe but impossible to deny. Alex, with his trusty camera,swoops in to save the day, supposedly...but is blinded by dollar signs and a little too much Mary Jane.

People, this is plain and it's fun. It was just the right length and can be read over a day! Pick it up now and have a Night of the Loving Dead!