Book of the Dead (anthology)

Book of the Dead is an anthology of horror stories first published in 1989, edited by John Skipp and Craig Spector. All the stories in the anthology are united by the same premise seen in the apocalyptic films of George A. Romero, depicting a worldwide outbreak of zombies and various reactions to it. The first book was followed three years later by a follow-up, "Still Dead: Book of the Dead 2", with a new group of writers tackling the same premise, though the second book put the stories in order according to their imagined chronology of the zombie takeover.

The "Book of the Dead" compilations are regarded as classic anthologies in the horror and splatterpunk genres, featuring a great number of famous names including Stephen King, and foreworded by George Romero and Tom Savini. They are likely the first anthologies of zombie-themed tales ever printed, and have been cited as perhaps the first true "zombie literature" as such. [http://scifipedia.scifi.com/index.php/Zombies] [http://www.mania.com/52736.html]

According to author Ian McDowell, a third anthology was planned back in 1991. However bad luck led to it going "through many permutations and publishers over the years. I've been paid for my story by two different publishers and I've proofed two different sets of galleys." Cemetery Dance finally released it under the title "Mondo Zombie" in 2006. [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.horror/browse_thread/thread/2700dfc9eb3fd804/a5719cc805aecc63?lnk=st&q=rec.arts.movies.current-films+%22book+of+the+dead%22#a5719cc805aecc63]

Anthology contents

Book of the Dead

# Foreword by George Romero
# "Introduction: On Going Too Far, or Flesh Eating Zombies: New Hope For The Future" by Skipp and Spector
# "Blossom" by Chan McConnell
# "Mess Hall" by Richard Laymon
# "It Helps If You Sing" by Ramsey Campbell
# "Home Delivery" by Stephen King
# "Wet Work" by Phillip Nutman
# "A Sad Last Love At The Diner Of The Damned" by Edward Bryant
# "Bodies and Heads" by Steve Rasnic Tem
# "Choices" by Glen Vasey
# "The Good Parts" by Les Daniels
# "Less Than Zombie" by Douglas E. Winter
# "Like Pavlov's Dogs" by Steve Boyett
# "Saxophone" by Nicholas Royle
# "On The Far Side Of The Cadillac Desert With Dead Folks" by Joe R. Lansdale
# "Dead Giveaway" by Brian Hodge
# "Jerry's Kids Meet Wormboy" by David J. Schow
# "Eat Me" by Robert R. McCammon

till Dead: Book of the Dead 2

# Foreword by Tom Savini
# "Introduction: Nineteen New Ways to Kick Ass" by Skipp and Spector
# "The Old Man and the Dead" by Mort Castle
# "DONt/Walk" by Chan McConnell
# "Necrophile" by Nancy A. Collins
# "Rise Up And Walk" by K.W. Jeter
# "One Step At A Time" by Glen Vasey
# "The Ones You Love" by Skipp and Spector
# "This Year's Class Picture" by Dan Simmons
# "Night of the Living Dead Bingo Women" by Simon McCaffery
# "Abed" by Elizabeth Massie
# "Come One, Come All" by Gahan Wilson
# "The Prince of Nox" by Kathe Koja
# "Beer Run" by Gregory Nicoll
# "Prayer" by Douglas Morningstar and Maxwell Hart
# "Calcutta, Lord of Nerves" by Poppy Z. Brite
# "I Walk Alone" by Roberta Lannes
# "Undiscovered Countries" by J.S. Russell
# "Moon Towers" by Brooks Caruthers
# "Passion Play" by Nancy Holder
# "Bright Lights, Big Zombie" by Douglas E. Winter

Bibliography

* "Book of the Dead", eds. John Skipp and Craig Spector. New York: Bantam, June 1989. Paperback. ISBN 0-553-27998-X

* "Still Dead: Book of the Dead 2", eds. John Skipp and Craig Spector. New York: Bantam Falcon, August 1992. Paperback. ISBN 0-553-29839-9

External links

* [http://www.amazon.com/BOOK-DEAD-John-Skipp/dp/055327998X Book of the Dead on Amazon]
* [http://www.amazon.com/Book-Dead-2-Still/dp/0553298399 Book of the Dead 2 on Amazon]

ee also

*Zombie
*Zombies in popular culture
*Splatterpunk