Damn it all if FAB Press hasn't done it again! Forgive me while I wax overzealous for a moment...Jamie Russell's "Book of the Dead: The Complete History of Zombie Cinema" is, in my mind, the top contender for "horror film reference book of the year"! I'm projecting that lofty designation onto this book not only because it follows the FAB trend for producing uniformly excellent genre reference works; Russell's book certainly does that. No, "Book of the Dead" is pretty much perfection between two covers (or as near as damn-it when those covers aren't bedsheets, and the contents aren't a beautiful woman, but I digress). Lots...and I repeat lots of books have been written on this subject, notably Jay Slater's "Eaten Alive!", but whereas that book covers only Italian-made and produced films, and includes both zombie and cannibal movies, "Book of the Dead" stays on track by focusing only on zombie films, but zombie films made all over the globe. So, what's behind this seemingly Herculean task? Read on...
Clocking in at 320 pages, "Book of the Dead" achieves greatness not only because of its sheer heft, but also because of its thoughtful and logical presentation. It works as both scholarly dissertation and Friday-Night-Video-Guide...both history book and harbinger of things to come. Starting with the origins of cinematic zombie mythology in the Caribbean, and moving swiftly but with great detail through to recent entries in the zombie canon like Shaun of the Dead, Land of the Dead, and even Zombie Honeymoon, the book is as complete an account of zombie cinema that I've ever encountered.
Whereas the first major section of the book deals with the history of zombie films, the second part is equally valuable. It presents us with an "A to Z" listing of damn-near every zombie movie ever made. This section is as astounding in its simplicity as it is in its usefulness. I can see myself using this book as a checklist, as I add more and more films to my "seen" list.
As with every book from FAB Press, "Book of the Dead" is an overachiever on the visual front as well. Hundreds of pictures, from rare stills and promotional images to box art and movie posters, grace these pages. It's this encyclopaedic approach that makes FAB Press books so wonderful, and "Book of the Dead" doesn't dissapoint. It is, if you'll excuse the minor pun, a visceral feast for the mind and the eyes.
"Book of the Dead" isn't just a dry dissertation, though...it's probably the wittiest, coolest, and most fascinating genre reference work of the year. One proviso, though...you'll likely want to buy two copies of this book: one to peruse and allow to get all dog-eared as you reference it time and again, and one to put up on the shelf, preserving for your kids...this book is that good. Oh, you are going to introduce your kids to zombie films, aren't you?
Damn it all if FAB Press hasn't done it again! Forgive me while I wax overzealous for a moment...Jamie Russell's "Book of the Dead: The Complete History of Zombie Cinema" is, in my mind, the top contender for "horror film reference book of the year"! I'm projecting that lofty designation onto this book not only because it follows the FAB trend for producing uniformly excellent genre reference works; Russell's book certainly does that. No, "Book of the Dead" is pretty much perfection between two covers (or as near as damn-it when those covers aren't bedsheets, and the contents aren't a beautiful woman, but I digress). Lots...and I repeat lots of books have been written on this subject, notably Jay Slater's "