‘Tis the season for horror, so I picked up this well-regarded tale of the zombie war. I remember seeing the film adaptation starring Brad Pitt many years ago, and thinking it was just OK. The book is much different, and better.
The structure is unusual — it’s a series of short sections in the form of interviews with various survivors about their experience during the zombie outbreak, set years later when the dust has settled. That structure has its drawbacks, like introducing many characters who are never mentioned again and the impossibility of a more linear narrative, but it also has some upsides. Namely, we get to experience this global-scale event from many perspectives and many locales — more than would be possible in a traditionally plotted novel. The individual accounts include soldiers, doctors, smugglers, scientists, politicians, a blind man, a Japanese recluse, etc. The locations include the U.S., Cuba, Antarctica, the International Space Station, and more.
All in all, the format was perfect for providing many perspectives on the outbreak, from its early stages through the end of the war and recovery. Despite the lack of a more linear narrative, it was still gripping, and there were enough callbacks to previously mentioned characters and plot points that it felt cohesive. A few of the personal accounts really left an impression on me. I enjoyed this book a lot.