“When there is no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth.”

There isn’t a more iconic line than this in all of the zombie world. I have to admit that I have done this backward. I saw the movie many, many years ago and have finally gotten around to reading the book. In my opinion, George A Romero reinforces his title as the “Godfather of all Zombies”.

I love what zombies do, and zombie books are never really about the zombies, but their effects on human nature and society. Zombies reset the playing field and put our moral compasses back to zero. They make us question what is right and what is wrong. Is it morally right to kill a person who is dead, but walking? Is it illegal to take something from someone who may or may not be dead so that you can survive? George A. Romero made us ask ourselves these questions when he unleashed his undead hordes upon the earth.

Enough about the big picture stuff, let’s get down to the book, Dawn of the Dead. I loved it! I felt like I was part of the story, going through the same turmoil as Roger, Peter, Stephen and Fran. I was brought back to a time when I was sitting in my parents’ basement watching a movie I wasn’t supposed to be watching, and yes, nostalgia does count for a lot. The tension was high and the monsters were simple, allowing the focus to truly rest on the characters.

I don’t care if you think that you know the story or that you’ve read too many zombie books. Dawn of the Dead is a must-read for any zombie lover.

*5 Stars