Customer Reviews

The Book Of All Flesh

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This anthology has got to be the best one around. Namely, because there aren't that many zombie books in print (why is this?), but also because the stories are realistic and very creepy. Aside from a few stories that borderline on being a bit too cerebral (remember, zombies are of a survival/apocalyptic based genre), the book has an overall scary thrill to it. Aside from one story that might be considered blasphemous, the book is great. Very, very spooky, and definate scary read.

hey, lets give em' a hand.
not everyone is trying this.
the book has some entriguing moments.
one complaint i have is that all the good stuff is in the first half.
lets get it straight-zombie stuff isn't rocket science.
for those of you out there that beleive it is......i'll..take..it..slow..
for real though, most of the authors got it right in this edition.
i would say that 60% of the stories were good, 10% being outstanding.
sorry to say i wouldn't feed the other 30% to my brain damaged 3 legged dog.(although, next to rotten meatballs that would be his favorite dish-SH!TTY ZOMBIE STORIES!)
so buy it already, we won't get another 10% until you do......

I've read a number of zombie books, but most of them were essentially a "Night of the Living Dead" knock-off. Not so with "The Book of All Flesh". The stories contained therein are both well-written and innovative. They're not just more "Oh-no-we're-trapped-with-a-horde-of-flesh-eating-zombies-outside" schlock. For gamers, it's also a great companion to a great game.

You can't trust anyone's opinion on editing if they spell it with two t's. The Book of All Flesh is surprisingly good for an anthology of zombie stories. It could have easily been nothing more than a George Romero rip-off, but the stories are much more than that. They range from the humorous "Middles" to the disturbing "Susan" to the creepy "Murdermouth". There's a science fiction zombie story set on the moon, a pulp detective zombie story set in Hollywood in the thirties, and even a superhero story with zombies in it. Despite the occasional odd juxtaposition of genres, all the stories work. There are certainly some stories that I liked more than others, but there weren't any that I found disappointing.

I found the Book of All Flesh to be a wonderfully fresh and macabre take on the living dead genre, made famous by George A Romero. The book features some heavy hitting talent, including Robert E Vardeman, co-author of the War of Powers series of novels. The stories are tight and well though out, making the book a stimulating read from the first story to the last. Two of the stories, Prometheus Unwound and Dawn of the Living Impaired have been nominated for Origins awards.
Although most of the stories lend themselves to the "shoot them in the head" theory, made popular by many Living Dead movies, the settings and styles of the stories are all excellently vivid in their detail and dark in their subject matter. There were a few typographical errors, but not enough to detract from the total enjoyment of the book.
I give the Book of All Flesh high marks for its imaginative styling and its wonderful examples of this lesser known and under appreciated genre. I highly recommend the anthology to anyone who loves the genre, enjoys horror and the macabre in general, and likes the feeling that a good horror story gives them when they're up reading late at night; and with this book, you will be.

Not entirely sure what A Reader was reading, but it was obviously not BoAF. Someone who can't spell editing should not be criticizing it. Yes, this book is something of a niche title, as the entire anthology's theme is stories that have to do with the living dead. If you don't like zombie stories, no this book will probably not convert you. If you don't like zombie stories I sincerely doubt you'd buy a book with the words "Zombie Anthology" on the cover either. With that stated I will review the book from the perspective of it's target audience.

The stories vary in quality, from decent to exceptional. The stories range in setting from film noir (Hollywood Flesh) to modern setting horror (most of them) to Super Hero (Prometheus Unwound).

As far as the previously posted review says about editing quality, maybe he was mistaking freedom of hand given to the authors for lack of editing. Each story has a distinct voice. They all have a different feel, which means if you don't like one story, try another, as the editor never forced the author to change their style to match the other stories in the collection.

As I'm running out of time to type this up, I'll sum up my views as follows-If you are a horror fan, especially if you are a fan of stories that involve the Walking Dead, then by all means get it. The anthology format makes it ideal for quick reads during lunch breaks, bathroom runs, or other times where you don't have the time or energy to invest in a full fledged novel.

Though the writing in this is of decent quality, the editting is atrocious. Compared to similar anthology books, this is severely lacking. Save your money... or spend it on one or more of the other titles which outshine this one.