Geek Mama

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, a book review

September 6th, 2009

Zombies are in vogue these days. It’s used to be all about Vampires. And I readily confess that I was a big fan of all the Anne Rice novels back in the day… but what’s sexy about zombies? Rotting flesh is not a turn on. So I guess it makes sense that the main characters in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies are instead ninjas trained in the ‘deadly arts’.

Grahame-Smith began with the original text of Austen’s novel, adding zombie and ninja elements. But what bothers me about his fan-fic rendition is that he rewrote large sections of the plot. To me, it would have been infinitely more fun to have found the zombie elements within the orginal text.

Instead, we have the Wickham plotline completely changed and savage beatings that seem out of character. I guess that it was supposed to be funny that Darcy beat Wickham into a bowel-releasing mess. But it made me pity Wickham and that’s just so wrong.

And while I enjoyed the idea of the ninja fight between Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Elizabeth, it was kind of two short to be fun. I wanted more. How about her daughter, Anne, versus Jane?

I also was troubled by the Mr. Collins and Charlotte Lucas storyline. Sure it made sense that the only inducement to marry Mr. Collins would be being infected by the zombie plague, but it was odd that he chose suicide after Charlotte’s beheading. It made me mourn the character rather than laugh as the original text intended.

In addition, I expected a huge zombie attack at the end to be vanquished by the newly engaged Darcy’s that never came. Why not save all of England in addition to improving its most cherished novels?

So, it was a cute idea that was poorly executed. Still, I find myself looking forward to the next published fan fic novel, Mr Darcy, Vampyre. Call me a sucker for the blood suckers.

Entry Filed under: Personal