Now that the holiday frenzy has died down, and you’ve started deciding which unfulfilled book/movie wishes you want to spend your gift cards on, your neighborhood Zombrarian would like to point out two things:
1. You can probably get that book/movie you’re eyeing for free at the library. (Note: If the library doesn’t have it, ask about interlibrary loan options, you’ll look super smart.)
2. Newer and flashier stuff is bound to have a wait list.
While you’re waiting for your turn with the shiny stuff, here’s some literary gems that may have flown under your radar, but are worth the read:
Brooks, author of The Zombie Survival Guide and a writer for Saturday Night Live, moves away from funny and into an incredibly well thought out horror novel. Told through a series of interviews with survivors, soldiers, politicians, and scientists, we are given a firsthand account of the war from start to finish. Brooks shows true literary chops with this one, as his ability to give each character a distinct voice might just convince you that you’re reading a real history book.
Why It’s Good: This is a very smart and fresh approach to zombies. One of my favorite bits was the underwater zombie cleanups. Because, well, if zombies can’t drown, then they’re bound to infest underwater areas too. And the unexpected places where storylines overlap make my literary heart sing.
Written and illustrated by the creator of Starchild, this series is tons of fun for anyone who loves fantasy classics…and I can’t tell you why, it’s a spoiler. I will tell you that the basic premise is that every imaginary land that ever existed in literature is real, and hidden away in a place called the Archipelago. The Imaginarium Geographica is the only existing atlas to the Archipelago, and there are always Caretakers from our world who keep this important book safe. The first book, Here There Be Dragons, is the story of how three new caretakers assume their roles.
Why It’s Good: Tons of referential nods to fantasy readers, and one or two sci-fi references thrown into later books. If you don’t say, “That’s from (insert fantasy classic here)!” at least once, you needed that library card more than I thought. The illustrations are also a huge plus, since they bring back fond memories of the old Illustrated Classics many of us read as kids.
Kriana insists that this is not a sci-fi book, but I couldn’t bear to leave it off this list. From his hot air balloon high above the clouds, Cory Doctorow has bestowed his answer to 1984 upon us mere mortals. Set in San Fransisco in the near future, our hero Marcus and his friends sneak out of school for an afternoon of gaming and instead get caught up in the aftermath of a terrorist attack. Declared a person of interest by Homeland Security, Marcus still decides to fight back. He and his army of hackers are soon wreaking havoc wherever they can, trying to win back the freedom of the city.
Why It’s Good: Hacking, Gaming, Flash Mobs, Hippies, Constitutional Law, Terrorism, and even a little bit of Romance make this an action movie in book format. Except it’s an action movie where the geek is the hero, not the sidekick.
- I hear you say. “But Zombrarian, I do not read novels! I read comic books!”
If you’re strictly a comic book sort of person, rest assured! Many libraries have started graphic novel collections. You may have to go to the teen section to find them, but do not be afraid! If you feel like a creepy old man hanging out with the teens, ask a librarian for help. Then you’re just a comic book geek, not a potential felon.
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