World War Z

In Max Brooks’ World War Z, Brooks provides a zombie narrative that is truly unique in its combination of recent events and politics with the disaster of a zombie pandemic. Max Brooks, as an author, takes an extremely realistic approach towards the zombie narrative; just like his first book, Zombie Survival Guide, Brooks takes an almost journalistic approach towards the zombie subject. With a journalistic approach, Brooks is able to show us our own faults in today’s modern society concerning various political conflicts, religious conflicts, and certain behavioral traits that become ugly/problematic in a difficult situation that has dire consequences.
The reason why this zombie is narrative is so unique is Brooks’ decision to construct this book by using interviews between fictitious characters, who have survived the zombie apocalypse. By using interviews, Brooks is able to keep the interest of the reader by keeping him/her wondering where the story was going to go next. Also, this approach provides a reader to quickly read through the story. It also allows Brooks to introduce a multitude of characters that convey to a large variety of people. It also allows Brooks to use his writing ability to show a multitude of personality traits and characteristics that can define a person positively or negatively. For example, the interview on page 54-59 displays a common trait to exploit fear to make money. After the tragedy of 9-11, fear became a profitable commodity; Brooks addresses this with the concept of Phalanx and vaccines for the zombie virus. Fear has always sold; look at the numerous multitudes of “vitamins”, extravagant and unnecessary security systems, and any other extravagant commodity that makes one feel safe.
Another great insight that Brooks provides the reader occurs on page 36-44, where a Palestinian describes the turmoil of Palestinian-Israel relations in a Zombie pandemic. The speaker, a Palestinian man, describes how Israel invited any refugees to join their country and find shelter from the Zombie pandemic. The speaker describes his distrust of the Jewish infidels’ proposal and thought it was a trick to capture Palestinians. As the interview progresses, the speaker describes the constant distrust he felt and shame in his father’s decision to flee to Jewish protection; however, the speaker begins to tell about the violence that occurs. Not from Palestinians, but from Orthodox Jews that were frustrated with the decision to abandon the holy land. This interview describes the stubbornness and difficulty one has in changing their beliefs and attitudes that one has their entire life in a difficult situation.
Another aspect I found incredibly unique in this novel was that the hostility between Pakistan and India saved their lives in the zombie pandemic, but nuclear countries that were once allies found themselves fighting each other because they did not have the same extensive amount of communication that former enemies once had in a pre-zombie pandemic culture.
One of my favorite interviews in this story involves the mercenary who describes his protection of a group of celebrities. This interview shows the egotism of certain people that even in difficult situations, they want to flaunt their wealth and popularity. His employer builds a fortress and weapons cache that could allow them to survive the apocalypse, but they decide to allow television cameras to film and display them live on television. Their decision to film a reality show ultimately makes them the hope and sanctuary of the “common people” and that is where people flee to during the zombie pandemic; as a result, the celebrities’ fortress ultimately crumbles under the weight of their own vanity and egotism.