PRESS RELEASE: Zombies of the World by Ross Payton

For immediate release

Zombies of the World: A Field Guide to the Undead

The first definitive scientific and historical guide to the many species of zombies

Zombies menace humanity, yet we barely understand them. There are treatises that show you how to kill the undead but this is the first study to explain the importance of zombies.  Zombies of the World reveals the undead to be a valuable part of our ecosystem and the key to new discoveries in medicine and technology. No other book covers these topics. No other book covers these topics. Most lump all the undead into one horde of identical ghouls, but Zombies of the World brilliantly documents how evolution has led to a wide variety of species. Few outside the scientific community even realize that creatures like the Egyptian Mummy (Mortifera mumia  aegyptus) are actually zombies. Some species are even harmless to humans. The Dancing Zombie (Mortifera immortalis choreographicus) only seeks to thrill humans with elaborate dance routines. Destroying the undead isn’t always the answer.  

Even if we could annihilate all zombies, we would lose knowledge potentially vital to our own survival. After decades of research, we have no idea why zombies never tire or stop. They possess an endless source of energy to shamble or (in some cases) sprint after us. Unlocking this mystery could benefit all humanity. Only Zombies of the World tackles this issue and many other paradoxes. This ground-breaking book describes:

• 20 prominent zombie species with scientific names, habits and range
• 60 full color illustrations of zombies, historical documents and the undead in action
• Project RESURRECTIONIST, the U.S. Government’s secret zombie research program
• The mystery of the zombie’s animating force and what we have learned about it
• How to deal with the greatest threat in a zombie attack: other human survivors
• Theories of zombie evolution and migration
• Cutting edge technology to harness clean renewable energy from the undead
• The world’s only sign language program to communicate with an Egyptian Mummy
• A historical perspective of humanity’s interaction with the undead
• Longevity research aided by studying the secrets of the zombie

Learn the truth behind the undead now before it’s too late!

Trade paperback / $18.95 / 112 pages / 6x9 / Color throughout / June 2011 / Science Fiction & Fantasy / Comedy / Horror / ISBN 978-0-9827265-0-1
Planned Media: Web Series, social media, convention appearances and author events
Dedicated blog at http://www.zombiesoftheworld.com/zombies-of-the-world-blog/

Web series at http://www.youtube.com/user/zombiesoftheworld

Slang Design

4067 S. Franklin
Springfield, Missouri 65807

Contact: Ross Payton, authorzombie.studies@gmail.com / 417-234-2921

How to Survive the Zombie Holidays

Team Unicorn's Holiday PSA. Sadly, no singing but a little bit of violence:

REVIEW: Night of the Living Trekkies by Kevin David Anderson and Sam Stall

Night of the Living Trekkies by Kevin David Anderson and Sam Stall
Publishing information: Paperback; 253 pages
Publisher: Quirk Books; 28 July 2010
ISBN 10: 1594744637
ISBN 13: 978-1594744631
Standalone
Copy: Out of Pocket
Reviewer: Tyson

Back of the Book: "Journey to the Final Frontier of Sci-Fi Zombie Horror!

Jim Pike was the world's biggest Star Trek fan—until two tours of duty in Afghanistan destroyed his faith in the human race. Now he sleepwalks through life as the assistant manager of a small hotel in downtown Houston.

But when hundreds of Trekkies arrive in his lobby for a science-fiction convention, Jim finds himself surrounded by costumed Klingons, Vulcans, and Ferengi—plus a strange virus that transforms its carriers into savage, flesh-eating zombies!

As bloody corpses stumble to life and the planet teeters on the brink of total apocalypse, Jim must deliver a ragtag crew of fanboys and fangirls to safety. Dressed in homemade uniforms and armed with prop phasers, their prime directive is to survive. But how long can they last in the ultimate no-win scenario?"

Not long ago I asked a question. "Do book trailers sway you in purchasing a book?" Normally, they do not, but the trailer for Night of the Living Trekkies is an exception. While not a huge Star Trek fan (more of a Star Wars guy), I do enjoy watching the films and still try to catch Star Trek: The Next Generation when I can. That being said, with Halloween just around the corner this was a great book to read for the holiday and kept me laughing.



Night of the Living Trekkies starts off as nearly all Zombie stories start, a disaster occurs and slowly humanity is overwhelmed by the living dead. The difference this time is that the chaos occurs during the Southwest's biggest Star Trek Convention. As our hero Jim's sixth sense starts to pick up a vibe that things may not be as they seem, he and his companions must survive undead Klingons, Romulans and Starfleet captains who intend to make them a snack.

The authors know a lot about Star Trek and Star Wars and use that to their advantage as they use their knowledge to great many funny and awkward moments in the book. Even though I am not a huge Trekker or Trekkie, I was still able to follow their "logic" and had a great time with the book. Admittedly, I had a much easier time with some of their jabs at Star Wars that they through in from time to time. However, the many inside jokes about Star Trek were also easy to understand and I found myself chuckling a few times out loud at some of the moments in the book.

Even though this is a book based on the fans of Star Trek, it is also a great zombie book as the undead horde descend on the book's two star hotel the convention is being hosted at. As the story unfolds we learn how the zombie horde was created and how it all started. A lot of zombie novels and movies tend to have the zombies appear out of nowhere, they just come to be without explaining their origins. Night of the Living Trekkies does a great job of explaining how the zombies came to be and the plot behind them. It was a nice little twist that made the book all the more enjoyable.

The characters, the pacing, and the humor of Night of the Living Trekkies makes for a great book to read regardless of the season or holidays coming up. However with Halloween right around the corner, it seems like the perfect book to read to get you in the mood to dress up as Commander Riker (beard included) and head over to your neighbors and demand some candy. The book is not all that scary and it isn't meant to, be but if you are looking for some entertaining reading that will have you laughing at the absurdity. Then this is right up your alley. Highly Recommended.

Plot 9
Characters 10
Style 10

Overall 10/10