To begin, I believe a quick summary is needed for World War Z. Rather than just creating a simple zombie story, Max Brooks created an oral history of the zombie apocalypse. Different people from around the world were interviewed, as their views on the zombie infection were recorded. This is a very interesting way of telling a story that has been told so many times. Towards the beginning of the story, people are told to believe that the infection is merely “African rabies.” This was the government’s way of getting people to not panic. Eventually, even a group of doctors created a “cure” for African rabies, because that is what they were told it was. They knew it was much more than that, but they figured they could make a lot of money off of selling the medication for rabies.
This is where World War Z differs from other zombie stories. Most zombie apocalypse novels are about the last group of survivors, just fighting through their daily lives. The only thing that is of any importance is staying alive, and just trying to make it to tomorrow. However, in World War Z it is still very much a functioning society, even after Israel warns the world that it is more than rabies. There is still a government, and people still care about making money and going to work. And of course, when the people learned of a zombie infection, they blamed the CIA. It isn’t much like other zombie stories, because in this one the government actually does a decent job of quarantining the infected and keeping people safe.
The story even interviews a man who is considered a mercenary. He left his job, and began working to protect others. He knew how to kill if he had to, so he figured it was perfect to keep some rich people safe during “the war.” That’s another interesting part of the story, and a good way to explain society. It was like a zombie apocalypse. It was more like there was just a war going on. Government still existed, and people still threatened to sue each other to get more money, even though a zombie infection was spreading.
In my story, I want to create more than just a couple of people trying to survive and live off of the Earth’s resources. I want to still find a way to create some type of society, where the world can still function.
