The Living Dead 2 [Paperback]

John Joseph Adams (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 14, 2010

Two years ago, readers eagerly devoured The Living Dead. Publishers Weekly named it one of the Best Books of the Year, and Barnes & Noble.com called it "The best zombie fiction collection ever." Now acclaimed editor John Joseph Adams is back for another bite at the apple -- the Adam's apple, that is -- with 43 more of the best, most chilling, most thrilling zombie stories anywhere, including virtuoso performances by zombie fiction legends Max Brooks (World War Z, The Zombie Survival Guide), Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead), and David Wellington (Monster Island).

From Left 4 Dead to Zombieland to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, ghoulishness has never been more exciting and relevant. Within these pages samurai warriors face off against the legions of hell, necrotic dinosaurs haunt a mysterious lost world, and eerily clever zombies organize their mindless brethren into a terrifying army. You'll even witness nightmare scenarios in which humanity is utterly wiped away beneath a relentless tide of fetid flesh.

The Living Dead 2 has more of what zombie fans hunger for -- more scares, more action, more... brains. Experience the indispensable series that defines the very best in zombie literature.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. You don't have to be a zombie-lover to enjoy this outstanding follow-up to 2008's The Living Dead. Anthologist extraordinaire Adams has assembled 43 stories that showcase strong writing and imagination. Unexpected settings include a lost world with surviving dinosaurs (Brian Keene's "Lost Canyon of the Dead") and a pirate ship (Amelia Beamer's "Pirates vs. Zombies"). Steven Barnes and Tananarive Due's "Danger Word" and David Wellington's "Good People" contain powerful depictions of humans facing extinction at the hands of the undead. Cherie Priest revisits the walled, zombie-infested Seattle of her Clockwork Century books in "Reluctance" and Mira Grant adds to her Newsflesh trilogy with "Everglades." For the most part, the authors convey horror through suggestion rather than graphic gore. Readers will hope for many further additions to the series even after the zombie craze passes.
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Review

"There are tons of themes and riffs that I've never encountered before. This collection is recommended for zombiephiles of all stripes ... [I]f you're looking for a showcase for the subgenre's versatility, or proof that short-form horror is the place to find true innovation, this is it." - Rue Morgue

"Overflowing with dark and evocative stories. [...] This is the definitive collection of zombie short fiction. Or, at least, it is until John Joseph Adams unleashes volume three on an unsuspecting world." - San Francisco Book Review

"A wonderful, rotting smorgasbord. Dig in!" - Library Journal (Starred Review)

"Zombie completists need look no further than The Living Dead 2. Editor John Joseph Adams has put together an impressive collection." - The Washington Post

"'Unliving' proof that it's the tellers, not the tales, that count. [...] It's not simply an excellent zombie anthology, or a testament to stellar horror writing. What it is, simply, is an excellent book [...] runs the gamut of undead storytelling: pathos and pain, blood and guts, humor and horror. It's a sensational collection that reanimates and reinvigorates the decaying dead back to exhilarating and entertaining life." - Fangoria (Named Fangoria's Book of the Month)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 500 pages
• Publisher: Night Shade Books; Reprint edition (September 14, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1597801909
• ISBN-13: 978-1597801904
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.5 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,431 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars GOT IT RIGHT THIS TIME September 24, 2010

By Ian S. Hamilton

Format:Paperback

So far I am half way through this book and it's already 100% better than the first. The first was ok but alot of the stories were repeats from another anthology style book. This one has more zombie ZOMBIE related stories and not so much the stupid voodoo style zombies. just a much better read, just wanted to put this on here for those of you like me that were put off by the first living dead, had some good stories in it just not enough this one has a lot more and by some better authors..kinda wish j.l. bourne had done one too but i'll take brooks, maberry,kirkman, keene,and moody.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Much Stronger Collection than Volume One October 15, 2010

By Jeffrey Swystun

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The popularity of zombies is undeniable given the raft of books, films and now an AMC television series. And my own enjoyment of the zombie genre is a bit of a mystery (more so to my wife though). That is why I like the introduction by John Joseph Adams who states these reasons for the popularity, zombies are:

- an enemy that used to be us, that we can become at any time;
- a canvas writers can use to comment on almost anything;
- a morality-free way to fulfill a world-destruction fantasy; and
- a monster that remains scary and cannot be easily romanticized.

I would add that much of my own fascination is based on how I think I would do in a zombie-infested world. Would I survive?, would I survive with honor?, would I be a leader?, and what would I gain or lost of my own humanity? Deep huh? In actuality, I just love these books as thrilling escapes. And I applaud this collection which is stronger than Volume One.

Standouts for me included: Kirkman's Alone Together which has a forlorn twist, Barnes & Due's Danger Word that explores loyalty, Wellington's Good People that provides fun formula, Keene's Lost Canyon of the Dead that could have been co-written with Douglas Preston, Brooks' Steve and Fred which explores heroism versus survival, Fingerman's The Summer Place features a lead character one can empathize with, Edelman explores an anti-terrorism angle in The Human Race, and McAuley's The Thought War will get you thinking.

The editor provides interesting information on each contributor along with a thoughtful introduction to each story. I found this helpful as it provides other titles from these authors to seek out. Definitely great entertainment overall and practically speaking a solid value for the dollar as there over forty stories.... I am looking forward to Volume Three. Read more ›

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars 2 times the charm March 29, 2011

By Zombie_Gunslinger

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you were to read the reviews I gave for John Joseph Adams other anthologies ("The Living Dead" and "Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse") you would understand my reluctance on purchasing yet another collection edited by him. However after other positive reviews and my growing library of zombie fiction, I caved and bought his newest: "The Living Dead 2".
And fortunately it is an entirely different monster (pun intended).
Of the 44 short stories collected in this anthology, 22 were some of the best stories of zombie horror I have read.It should come as no surprise that the well known authors in here prevailed: Brian Keene's ("Lost Canyon of the Dead"), David Welington's ("Good People"), Max Brooks's ("Steve and Fred") and Robert Kirkman's ("Alone Together") works were outstanding but to me it was some of the lesser known, obscure and new authors on the block whose stories captivated me the most. Having already read both of Joe McKinney's novels ("Dead City" and "Apocalypse of the Dead"), the fact that his short story "Dating in Dead Town" was incredibly rich and entertaining was of little surprise to me. "Who We Used to Be" by David Moody and the disgusting, yet highly enjoyable "Zombie Gigolo" by S.G. Brown (a story that won 3rd place in the annual Gross out Contest in the 2008 World Horror Convention) take the reader into the mind of the undead, answering the questions of what the undead feel, think, and do.
With so many good stories, its hard to find the best works but I believe the best piece(s) ,for me anyways, comes to a 2 way tie between Gary A. Braunbeck's "We Now Pause for a Station Identification" and the fantasticly written and original "The Rapeworm" by Charles Coleman Finlay.... The former, a radio broadcast by who is perhaps the last man on the planet, the later, a take on a zombie plague brought on by something from outer space.
The problem with "The Walking Dead 2" though comes in those other 22 stories and even those arent that bad when compared to some of the works from the first anthology. Where "Dead 2" really starts to loose it's readers comes at the end. Of the final 3 stories (All of which are probably the weakest of the bunch) the killer is the John Skipp and Cody Goodfellow piece, which is a real shame when considering Skipp is the grandmaster of all things zombie fiction. Unfortunately that story is so bizzare, so convoluted and completely horrible that it becomes the "Neuromancer" of zombie fiction (read my review of Neuromancer to understand where I am coming from). Couple that with the ridiculously boring "Category 5" , the completely strange (and Brian Keene-esque ripoff) "The Skull faced Boy" and the much too long "He Said, Laughing" and "The Living Dead 2" looses a very possible and much earned 5 star rating.
So is "The Living Dead 2" worth your time and money? Absolutely. Where else are you going to get 44 different takes on the zombie genre for only a measly 16 bucks. Sure a few of the stories in here are flops, but who knows, maybe you will like them. For any zombie enthusiast, I say this: "Buy it". If nothing else, it'll look good on your bookshelf. Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars For those looking for a fix between seasons of Walking Dead May 22, 2012

By John Hasty

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I love anthologies, especially zombie anthologies, but they are not all created equally. Some promise flesh eating fun, but MANY deliver out of print stories or other such gems that either read horribly dated or in some cases have absolutely nothing to do with zombies. Living Dead 2 doesn't cheat the readers. The Skull Face City, Are You Trying to Tell Me This is Heaven, Danger Word...these are just 3 of the stories that had me looking at the book's cover & wondering "Where the hell do these people get their ideas?". Some stories are whimsical, others harsh & vulgar while many are simply sad & filled with a person's desperation in trying to survive in a world taken over my walking corpses. There are several author's names you'll recognize on the front cover, but many more who you will look for after sampling their handwork. A must have for zombie lovers!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Mixed but harrowing December 28, 2011

By William Doonan

Format:Paperback

I've been thinking about zombies for two days straight now, having polished off this second volume. There are some great pieces here. Though nothing came close to the shear horror of Michael Swanick's "The Dead" from volume I, the best story hear, by miles is Jamie Lackey's, 'The Other Side.' Four pages, no fighting or biting, not a single zombie makes an appearance, but it was absolutely gripping. Can't wait for volume III, but I'm off to recheck my door locks.

William Doonan
author of 'Grave Passage' and 'Mediterranean Grave'