zombies or something else?

Other · Feb 11, 2010

My current WIP features creatures that I'm not sure how to define. I think they are zombies, but people have told me that they are too different and will alienate those readers who expect traditional zombies. They argue that I should define them as something else. I don't really want to, and if I must change things to accomodate closed minded readers I don't know what I'll do!

There are two basic types.

The first are pretty close to normal zombies. They do not necessarily look dead, unless they haven't eaten for a long time. They are a slow moving, hungry horde who says "Brains." They do what you expect from usual zombies. However, under the influence of super zombies they will do some surprising things.

The second type are super zombies. I know this idea is not new, so I'm not sure why some people are so against it. These guys don't look dead either. These zombie don't tend to say "brains." They can be fast, smart, or both. Some have super strength and speed. A few even have mental powers. One of them, my MC, wants to save humans from extinction, despite her undeniable craving for human flesh.

What do my fellow horror writers think?

ether · Feb 11, 2010

If the world really were to be taken over by a race that were, technically, dead, and ate humans/human flesh/whatever, I think people would associate 'zombie' with those creatures. Likewise, there have been a lot of "zombie" mobies that aren't actually traditional zombies. (28 Days Later, for instance.)

And when I hear "super zombie," I think Resident Evil, but that's just me.

Those zombies were extremely fast and very hard to kill. When RE started straying into creatures that were zombie-like but maintained human thoughts and intelligence, they gave them different names.

Uh, anyway. My opinion is that if it's dead/appears dead, lacks the ability for coherent/rational thought, and eats humans, then it's close enough to a zombie. I'm not sure what I think about the super zombies you mentioned, though, especially if they have things mental powers.

Shara · Feb 11, 2010

I am quite fond of zombies, personally (especially Resident Evil zombies...).

I think it can be argued that as there are so many zombie stories out there already, it's good to do something different to make your zombies more interesting. The same can be said for vampires, but that's a different story...

So I would be in favour of zombies doing some non-traditional things. It sounds like you've got a mix of both in your story.

I always think the difficulty with zombies is explaining what causes the zombification...there has to be some reason, even if it requires a stretch of the imagine. Are there different viruses/infections/mutations that defines why some of your characters are zombies and some are super zombies?

Shara

icerose · Feb 11, 2010

Have you thought about making the smarter ones necromancers? Traditionally speaking they are death magic weilders who are able to control and raise the dead.

FOTSGreg · Feb 11, 2010

How about making the rulers/directors lichs (wizards of such enormous power that their spirits keep their bodies animated well after death - I can see an argument for the leader zombie in that movie Land of the Dead being a lich)? Lichs are smart, capable, powerful, and grow more powerful the longer they remain in their position.

icerose · Feb 11, 2010

Yeah, I forgot about a Lich. Some lichs in stories were so powerful that if you looked into their eyes you'd instantly have your soul taken over.

Anyway, you have lots of options.

Other · Feb 11, 2010

Thanks, guys. Especially thanks to icerose and FOTSGreg for the suggestions about necromancers and Lich. I'd never heard of Lich. I'll have to do some research in that direction.

shaldna · Feb 12, 2010

Other said:
My current WIP features creatures that I'm not sure how to define. I think they are zombies, but people have told me that they are too different and will alienate those readers who expect traditional zombies. They argue that I should define them as something else. I don't really want to, and if I must change things to accomodate closed minded readers I don't know what I'll do!

actually that's not exactly what we told you.

The issues we raised were with the ~~sue~~ superzombie, and the zombie errotica.

The issues regarding your 'zombies' as a definatition was that they seemed more like the vampires from I am Legend (the book, not movie).

Zombies come in many shapes and forms, as was explained in previous posts.

At the end of the day it's your novel, do what you want.

The second type are super zombies. I know this idea is not new, so I'm not sure why some people are so against it. ?

One word - Sue

shaldna · Feb 12, 2010

A lich is a good idea actually. Scary and intelligent. But not very sexy.

BigWords · Feb 14, 2010

Left 4 Dead had super-zombies. It wasn't particularly well-done super-zombies, but they had to up the ante from the other zombie games on the market... My way of looking at any not-a-zombie-but-really-a-zombie characters is simple = if it looks like a ~~duck~~ zombie, ~~quacks~~ talks like a ~~duck~~ zombie, and moves like a ~~duck~~ zombie, it probably is a ~~duck~~ zombie.

Sometimes people try waaay too hard to convince me that the zombie isn't a zombie (28 Days Later is a prime example) although the explanations never quite manage to make me shake the fundamental problem of the fact that the audience decides what the audience decides. You can call them Willups for all the difference it will make - if people think they are zombies, they'll call them zombies.

Rhoda Nightingale · Feb 15, 2010

I second everyone saying that anything new you can bring to the zombie genre is a good thing. And I'm quite fond of necromancers--I played one in my last round of D&D. An undead necromancer could be a cool spin on both ideas.

To that end, I did some research for a trunk novel into Egyptian magic and came across a *lot* of cool spells and charms closely focused on the land of the dead.

Bottom line: Zombies are hot right now. You'd be nuts not to try to make yours stand out.

theDF_underground · Feb 18, 2010

I'm finding myself a lot more intrigued lately with the influx of "zombie-like" crazies than the traditional zombies. Zombies have been done and done and done to death, and I'm liking me some of the fresher spins that evoke the zombie mentality without necessarily presenting the same old, slow-moving, shoot-'em-in-the-head, seen-'em-a-thousand-times undead dullards of yore.

Other · Feb 19, 2010

I love the idea of an undead necromancer, too. That would have never occured to me! I think my novel deffenetly has more going on than the average zombie story. Now I just need to figure out how to convey that in my first chapter, in the first paragraph, if possible.

zombies or something else?

Other

ether

Shara

Fix it in the Rewrite

icerose

Lost in School Work

FOTSGreg

Today is your last day.

icerose

Lost in School Work

Other

shaldna

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

shaldna

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

BigWords

Geekzilla

Rhoda Nightingale

Vampire Junkie

theDF_underground

Other