World War Z

World War Z
source
Author	Max Brooks
Country	United States
Language	English language
Genre	Horror fiction, Apocalyptic fiction
Publisher	Crown Publishing
Publication date	2006
Media type	Print

World War Z is a novel by Max Brooks, published in 2006 by Crown Publishing, which explores a global Zombie apocalypse through a collection of interviews with survivors, including United Nations officials, United States Army soldiers, and Red Cross volunteers, such as Doctors Without Borders and International Committee of the Red Cross. The novel is presented as a report by the United Nations Postwar Commission, chaired by Kofi Annan, and includes accounts from individuals like Colin Powell, Boris Yeltsin, and Nelson Mandela. The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world, where the zombie outbreak has devastated countries like China, United States, Russia, and India, and features organizations like World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Institutes of Health.

● Background

The concept of World War Z was inspired by Max Brooks's earlier work, The Zombie Survival Guide, and his experiences as a writer for Saturday Night Live, where he worked with Lorne Michaels and Tina Fey. The novel was also influenced by George Romero's Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead, as well as Richard Matheson's I Am Legend, which features a vampire apocalypse. The zombie genre has been explored by authors like Stephen King, Clive Barker, and Anne Rice, and has been featured in films like 28 Days Later and Shaun of the Dead, directed by Danny Boyle and Edgar Wright, respectively. The novel's success can be attributed to its unique blend of horror fiction and apocalyptic fiction, which has been compared to works like The Road by Cormac McCarthy and The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, published by McClelland and Stewart and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, respectively.

● Plot

The plot of World War Z is presented as a collection of interviews with survivors of the zombie apocalypse, including United States Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, and Russian President, Vladimir Putin. The story begins with the initial outbreak in China, where the zombie virus is first identified by World Health Organization officials, including Dr. Margaret Chan and Dr. David Heymann. The virus quickly spreads to other countries, including United States, Canada, and Mexico, and is tracked by organizations like Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health. The novel follows the efforts of United Nations officials, like Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon, to coordinate a global response to the crisis, including the establishment of refugee camps and quarantine zones, with the help of organizations like Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders. The story also explores the experiences of individuals like Colin Powell, Boris Yeltsin, and Nelson Mandela, who play key roles in the global response to the crisis, and features events like the Battle of Yonkers and the Siege of Jerusalem, which are pivotal to the plot.

● Characters

The characters in World War Z are diverse and include individuals from various countries and backgrounds, such as United States Army soldiers, Red Cross volunteers, and United Nations officials. The novel features characters like Todd Wainio, a United States Army soldier who fought in the Battle of Yonkers, and Paul Redeker, a South African mercenary who developed a strategy to combat the zombie apocalypse. The characters also include Christine Martos, a Greek doctor who worked with Doctors Without Borders, and T. Sean Collins, a Canadian soldier who fought in the Siege of Jerusalem. The novel's characters are often inspired by real-life individuals, such as George S. Patton, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin, who played key roles in World War II, and feature organizations like NATO and European Union.

● Reception

The reception of World War Z has been largely positive, with praise from authors like Stephen King, Clive Barker, and Anne Rice, who have written for publications like The New York Times and The Washington Post. The novel has been compared to works like The Road by Cormac McCarthy and The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, and has been featured in lists like The New York Times Best Seller list and The Guardian's 100 Best Books. The novel's success can be attributed to its unique blend of horror fiction and apocalyptic fiction, which has been explored by authors like Richard Matheson and George Romero. The novel has also been praised by organizations like World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which have recognized its potential to raise awareness about pandemics and global health.

● Adaptations

The adaptations of World War Z include a film directed by Marc Forster and starring Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, and Fana Mokoena, which was released in 2013 by Paramount Pictures and Skydance Media. The film features a different plot than the novel, with Brad Pitt playing a United Nations employee who travels the world in search of a way to stop the zombie apocalypse. The novel has also been adapted into a video game developed by Saber Interactive and published by Paramount Digital Entertainment, which features a similar plot to the film. The novel's success has also led to the development of a television series produced by Brad Pitt and Jeremy Kleiner, which is set to be released on Netflix.

● Themes

The themes of World War Z include the global response to a pandemic, the importance of international cooperation, and the human condition in the face of apocalyptic events. The novel explores the experiences of individuals and communities affected by the zombie apocalypse, and features organizations like World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Institutes of Health. The novel's themes are often compared to those of other works of apocalyptic fiction, such as The Road by Cormac McCarthy and The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, and have been explored by authors like Stephen King and Clive Barker. The novel's success can be attributed to its thought-provoking exploration of global health, international relations, and human nature, which has been recognized by organizations like United Nations and European Union. Category:Apocalyptic fiction