Book: FEED by Mira Grant

Since reading Max Brooks’ amazing World War Z, I’ve been trying to track down quality zombie novels that take place well after the zombies have decimated the population, when society is trying to survive/rebuild. I also require that any zombie lit I read is at least somewhat scientifically plausible. The solid FEED by Mira Grant fit both those requirements nicely.

Sister and brother team Georgia and Shaun Mason, along with tech expert Buffy Meissonier, are a team of blog-based journalists (now a legitimate news medium, with classifications and levels) covering a presidential candidate’s campaign 26 years after the Uprising, when the mutated combination virus “Kellis-Amberlee” swept over earth. FEED is a “zombie political thriller”, combining dirty political dealings with daily attacks and the many routines people have to take to survive, such as blood tests and decontamination upon entering a building or secure area. Yes, the science is speculative, but it’s grounded in facts. There are also some nice cultural homages in the novel. For example, many children born after the uprising are named either George, Georgina, or Georgette (after George A. Romero), or Shaun (as in Shaun of the Dead). Risk takers who get thrills out of poking zombies with sticks are called “Irwins”, after the late alligator hunter Steve Irwin. Journalists are categorized as Newsies (straight up reporters) or Stewarts (commentators, after Jon Stewart).

FEED is a stellar (and largely gore-less) and unpredictable work of apocalyptic fiction that I tore through quickly. It is supposed to be the first book Grant’s “Newsflesh” trilogy, although I haven’t been able to find out a release date for the next book, BLACKOUT.

Orbit Books has a full site for FEED, including the entire first chapter, meta-sections such as The Wall memorial of fallen bloggers, and tips on surviving as an Irwin.