The Solanum virus reprograms the donor's CNS to zombie status
Headshots scramble the donor CNS, body shots have little effect,
as 95 percent of the "human system" is non operational
The other effective option is emolation
http://www.randomhouse.com/crown/zombiesurvivalguide/
Max Brooks
Title: The Zombie Survival Guide : Complete Protection from the Living Dead
Publisher: Three Rivers Press
Genre: Humor (although not really)
Release Date: 09/16/2003
By: Mark 'Daedalus' Tobin
I rarely buy things without at least some prior research, so the ever-abundant “impulse cash-flush†doesn’t overtake me very often. Upon seeing The Zombie Survival Guide come up out of nowhere, however, my defenses lowered. “Zombies,†I think, “I love zombies. They kick ???.†As a result, I cradled the book lovingly and sampled some of the text. My girlfriend glanced at me not unlike the glance she would give a homeless man fishing around in his underwear. Since her eyes did all of the speaking, I replied to them with a “shut up, bitch,†and slid the book under my arm to claim it.
I’m glad I did. This block of paper has gone into more loving depth of the zombie physiology than even Romeo’s work in film. While certainly having a light base in George’s work, it seems to take a broader look than just a couple films. It takes into account nearly everything ever created on the subject, including extensive research on “real life†zombie findings. The result is a very compelling theory that is the most logical, scientific and thorough one yet. It surrounds around the idea that zombies are a result of a distinct virus that takes over the frontal lobe of the human brain. As such, it throws every “magical†or inexplicable idea in the trash, such as dead rising from the grave.
In my experience, some people find this to be blasphemy. I find it necessary to the tone.
On the back, the category is labeled as “humorâ€. This is wrong. Realistically, it’s more of a faux text book. Written with seriousness that never, ever, ever breaks face, Brooks almost convinces the reader that every word from his fingers is 100% true. Backing up his arguments with “proof†comparable to that of a book on cancer, a moldable mind wouldn’t think twice before loading the old rifle and preparing for the impending zombie menace.
Want a rulebook on how zombies work? This covers every angle. Even if he somehow doesn’t describe something, the official website for the book allows you to probe the author with any question you may have. Considering how much research the man has done, his own guidelines never fail him in his answers. The logic matrix he has created is impressive. Completely meticulous.
As a survival guide, it works in various situations in which the world is reduced to anarchy. Of course, should the world BE overrun by the undead, reading this book would indeed save you a lot of trouble. It functions as an extensive weapon guide, survival guide, and home defense manual. Namely, it’s based on more than just flesh-eating deceased people.
70% of the text is very strong. A few sections slouch and fail to live up, while the entire back-end of the book is lacking in detail and substance. The entire section on “real life zombie attacks†is more of an afterthought than an actual, required piece of reading. If true, it’s interesting enough in its own right, but seems as fractured as history itself. Could this be attributed to a lack of documentation? Possibly. As with the rest of the book, it’s very difficult to separate what may be fact with what Brooks made up in his late-night caffeinated mind.
Highly recommended for horror and zombie enthusiasts. Not recommended for those looking for laughs. Anyone who doesn’t love this material will find it redundant. Zombie-lovers, on the other hand, may have a new Bible on their hands.
http://www.jivemagazine.com/review.php?rid=468
Just give me an iron sighted AR and I'll be happy.
