Zombieland
I’m probably going to open up the floor pretty quickly because everyone has a fun opinion on this.
Whether you like zombies or not, most people are aware of them. They’re a staple of survival horror, which can seem rather repetitive. How many times can you watch a hero run away from a shambling horde? Well, some people can watch it hundreds or thousands of times. For the rest of us, we might be left wondering why zombies are so common in survival horror stories.
I actually wondered about this many years ago when I got a critique. The person was complaining that I had zombies in Windemere. Apparently, zombies weren’t seen as a fantasy monster, but a horror one. Makes all those D&D games I fought zombified creatures rather strange. I guess the person had a point though because zombies tend to be pigeonholed into one genre. That would be survival horror. So . . . Why?
- The Uncanny Valley– This is the theory that humans are made uncomfortable and sometimes even scared of anything humanoid. These are beings that look and act human, but clearly aren’t human. Usually, this is used in regards to androids, but it works for zombies too. After all, a zombie is a rotting person, so it has human features and movements. Yet, it’s clearly not, which makes it unnerving.
- Infection– Similar to werewolves and vampires, zombies usually turn humans with a bite. The difference is that one doesn’t get any useful powers and gradually becomes a mindless, rotting, groaning corpse. That means there isn’t even a slight upside to being infected. It also tends to look rather painful when one turns, so there’s an added fear of an excruciating death.
- Cannibalism– If you aren’t turned into a zombie, you’re devoured. This has to trigger our instincts from when we were hunted by predators in the wild. The idea of being pounced on, torn apart, and eaten sends chills down many spines. It’s even more gruesome when you remember that zombies aren’t like animals. They won’t kill you first and then start munching. You’re alive when they eat you. An added horror is the possibility that they leave enough that you become a partially eaten zombie and have to drag yourself along the ground for eternity.
- Swarms– I’ve read a few articles about how humans don’t like swarms. We can tolerate them if we prepare or get used to them, but there’s a limit. A beekeeper being around bees while in a protective suit can be calm. They’re trained, experienced, and protected from being stung. That typically isn’t the case when zombies are involved. You have a mob of shambling or sprinting human corpses, who might have been stirred into action by a loud noise. Even if you get into a safe place, you’re trapped and have to hope they don’t get in and go away before you need supplies. I guess you can compare them to Hollywood’s version of piranha, which doesn’t makes things better.
- Partial Invulnerability– This isn’t a big one, but it could be a factor. Most zombie stories require that you damage their brains. So, shots to the torso won’t do more than push them back a bit. Arm shots are useless for the most part. Leg shots can be helpful, but it only means you have crawling zombies. Those can be forgotten and get you by the ankle if you’re not careful. So, you can’t really go plowing through zombies unless you have a vehicle, chainsaw, or rocket launcher. Oh, and flamethrowers sound like a good idea until you consider that you might just have fiery zombies trying to tackle you.
So, those are the reasons I think zombies are big in survival horror. What do you think?
Legends of Windemere 
I’m amazed that people quibble over what’s horror and what’s fantasy. Do they think the genres never blend or something? I’ve definitely seen zombies and even vampires used in high fantasy books besides yours. Even Googling “zombies and vampires in high fantasy” will net several book titles.
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Some people create a rigid definition of genres based on their own likes and dislikes. They end up thinking this is the only standard. So, any attempts at deviation results in them getting upset.
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So many books blend genres. There was a trend several years ago of authors taking actual historical eras and blending fantasy elements into them. Like what would happen if magic and dragons existed during the Napoleonic era? I really enjoyed the books I read where that happened. I also like the blend of fantasy and horror. 😊 Stephen King wrote FAIRY TALE, which has been on my wish list awhile.
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It’s how new sub-genres are made. Surprised so many people are against that happening.
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I think being afraid of our own kind makes Zombies terrifying. Yeah, that idea of being eaten alive does not sit well either.
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Basically, the uncanny valley?
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Certainly there’s a yuck factor, but also the idea that you can’t kill what’s already dead. So the partial invulnerability, I guess.
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True. Even the ways to kill them is difficult because you need precise shots. Tends to be blunt force, which requires getting close.
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I hate zombie tales–both in films and books. I started reading a book that started off fine. Then zombies appeared. I stopped reading.
I don’t know why I have this antipathy to them. It’s not because I find them particularly scary.
I have undead in my Wolves of Vimar fantasy books. They appear in Book 1, The Wolves of Vimar, not as zombies, really, as they aren’t mindless, but their spirits have been bound to the corporal world to act as guardians.
In Book 4, there are more conventional zombies who are the dead from a battle, raised to continue fighting.
So I see no reason why they shouldn’t be in Windemere. I had no problem when I read it.
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Zombies don’t seem to be for everyone. Never got into their stories beyond Zombieland and Resident Evil. They just never hooked me. I think most times they’re more background or setting too. Zombie stories focus more on the humans surviving and the cause of the outbreak from what I can tell.
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I’ve written mine and am proud of them. I used a cast of recycled characters and went to town. Funny you should mention flame throwers…
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Flame throwers are always a fun addition to zombie stories. Far too easy to find and use though.
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