Undead and Uneasy (Queen Betsy, Book 6)

Book Description

Weddings are never easy. But when you're Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor, they can become downright deadly...

In the days leading up to The Big Day, Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor seems to have a full house and the wedding guests have yet to arrive. Along with her human buddies, there's a ghost, a werewolf, and a Fiend crashing at her place. And though her fiancŽ, Vampire King Eric Sinclair, conveniently disappears when the conversation turns to seating charts and flower arrangements, he does manage to make his oh-so-sexy presence known at other moments.

Cold feet are no surprise, especially with an undead groom. But when Sinclair truly goes missing-and not just to avoid wedding preparations-along with most of her friends and loved ones, Betsy is frantic. Alone and afraid for the fate of everyone she loves, Betsy can't trust anyone as she tries to find them and whoever is behind all the disappearances. And what happens next will shake the foundation of the vampire world forever.

Customer Reviews:

Strange edition in the series.......2007-10-08

This book, seems to wrap up many of the loose ends and bring in the Wyndham wolves. The problem is that this book just doesn't seem like it really wraps up many of the issues. Why does Betsy survive so much damage? What's with the librarian? Interesting, but I think I'll stick with paperback in the future.

Undead and Uneasy.......2007-09-03

Betsy Taylor, the Queen of the vampires, is getting married to her wonderful Eric Sinclair. But all is not coming up roses.

There's the issue of the dress, since white doesn't exactly suit a vampire's coloring, her best friend is battling cancer and Sinclair is less than thrilled about helping with the wedding plans.

And then, things go really bad. Betsy's father and stepmother are killed in an accident, Sinclair disappears, as do several of her friends, and Betsy is left to plan the wedding by herself, and wonder where everyone is. Add in some visiting werewolves who are looking for a missing pack member and you've got a wedding that is to die for.

Despite the turmoil in the book, Undead and Uneasy was an interesting and entertaining read. I've always liked Betsy and the way she deals with things. This volume of the series allows her to grow and shows that, while she's a relatively young vampire, she's the queen, and not to be messed with.

Lovers of the Undead series will enjoy this latest installment as much as I did. Seeing Betsy come to grips with things was enlightening and entertaining. My only complaint would be that the yummy Sinclair wasn't around enough. Undead and Uneasy is a great addition to the Betsy series.

Amelia
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Betsy grows up.......2007-09-02

Ms. Davidson has done it again. Betsy gets just what she wants, and then has to learn how to deal with it. Betsy actually grows up while dealing with the issues in this episode. Without giving away anything to do with the outcome of the story, I think it is safe to say that you should always be careful what you wish for. All in all a worthy edition to the series.

Vampire Vows.......2007-08-13

Betsy Taylor, Queen of the Vampires, is down to the wire on the wedding plans; she has just two weeks to the big day and she has yet to pick out a wedding dress. Her groom isn't being very helpful, Sinclair feels that the wedding is unnecessary as the Book of the Dead already recognizes them as married. He is getting grumpy and Betsy and he are not getting along.

While she finalizes the plans she faces one of her biggest obstacles to date. Unfortunately when Betsy needs everyone the most, no one is there for her; everyone has disappeared, leaving the Queen of the Vampires alone. Betsy is forced to fend for herself for the first time since she woke up Undead.

The best part of this book to me was the visiting Werewolves. While Betsy struggles through her days solo, we get an unexpected visit from Antonia's Werewolf family, the Wyndhams. The initial meeting between Betsy, Michael, Jeannie, Lara and Derik, was hilarious and fun. I hope they make a habit of appearing as I have missed them.

While I enjoyed this book, I couldn't love it like I have all the other Undead books. With Betsy's eclectic entourage MIA, the story was missing a lot of the laughs and action each of them usually draw. I really felt the void each character's absence left.

The ending was a bit anticlimactic to me and I couldn't help muttering "duh!" when Betsy finally put the pieces together. There was also a bit of unfinished business; Derik has an odd reaction to BabyJon and we never find out why. This is still very good read but not quite the great read I am used to by Ms. Davidson or this series. I gave this a 4 star rating, but I would say it is more 3 ½ stars.

Story gets better & Better.......2007-08-13

Sixth book in the series and it's as fresh as ever. Betsy the vampire queen is definately a journey you want to go on.

The Good, the Bad, and the Undead (Rachel Morgan, Book 2)

Average customer rating:

First Time 'Fantasy' genre reader
Kim Harrison does it again
Super Reader
they are getting better
Another Lively Mess

The Good, the Bad, and the Undead (Rachel Morgan, Book 2)
Kim Harrison
Manufacturer: HarperTorch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0060572973
Release Date: 2005-01-25

Book Description

Rachel Morgan's back, and in more trouble than ever! Fans of Laurell K. Hamilton and other vampire novels won't want to miss the second novel in Kim Harrison's addictive supernatural series.

Former–bounty–hunter Rachel Morgan has it pretty good. She's left the corrupt Inderland Runner Service and started her own independent service. She's survived werewolves, shape–changing demons, bad–hair days, and sharing a church with her vampire roommate Ivy. She even has a cute (if human) boyfriend–what more could a witch want?

But living with a reformed vampire isn't all it's cracked up to be, particularly when your roommate's very bad ex–boyfriend wants her back, and wouldn't mind you in the process. And especially when he's six feet of sheer supernatural seduction, and you've got a demon mark that makes vampires literally hotter than hell....

To save herself and Ivy, Rachel must confront the vampire master–and the dark secrets she's hidden even from herself.

Download Description

"1 Hollows Timeline 2 Of Vampires -- Living and Not So Living 3 Pixies and Fairies. Yes, There is a Difference 4 Music as My Inspiration

It's a tough life for witch Rachel Morgan, sexy, independent bounty hunter, prowling the darkest shadows of downtown Cincinnati for criminal creatures of the night.

She can handle the leather-clad vamps and even tangle with a cunning demon or two. But a serial killer who feeds on the experts in the most dangerous kind of black magic is definitely pressing the limits.

Confronting an ancient, implacable evil is more than just child's play -- and this time, Rachel will be lucky to escape with her very soul.

Customer Reviews:

First Time 'Fantasy' genre reader.......2007-10-17

I read the first book with hesitation being that I've always been a fiction reader. i realized when reading Kim Harrison's books, it's like getting a bad car started; first it's hard to turn it on and ya gotta keep checking and rechecking the ignition, finally when it's started it's predictably smooth sailing with a few shut offs here and there. What i'm trying to say is, The book i find is a GREAT read, but the beginning chapters are always awkward. I wish that she would explain certain words she uses in Inderland language. Assuming what she's talking abotu can get a bit tiresome.

Now, to my favorite character, Ivy. Ivy is not given any justice as far as her character is concerned. I feel that she Harrison does not give us a strong sense of who Ivy is. One minute she's cold and stable minded, the next she's crying on the floor or shy like a little girl. I would have liked a stronger sense of Ivy.

Rachel, everyone, pretty much has said what i was thinking. She is clever but not intelligent. Most people cant relate to her, becuase she doesn't think. And it can get quite annoying when she's acting like a stereotyped blonde. Her freaking out every time ivy walks in the room is SOO annoying. i felt like screaming "Oh get over it already!!" Rachels c

Kim Harrison does it again.......2007-09-03

I absolutely love the Rachel Morgan series. I cannot say enough good things about it.

Super Reader.......2007-08-26

Let's see. You have dead vampire and live ones. That is one problem. Rachel has both kinds that want to shag her, bite her, do both, or some combination of them. This includes her roommate and her roommate's boyfriend. There is also a demon that wants to do considerably worse things than that.

She ends up helping the human investigator types deal with a case that is out of her league, by going undercover to witch school, basically.

they are getting better.......2007-07-23

I got the first book, read it, and was not sure I would read any more.
However thought I would at least try the next couple books.
They get better with each book and the lead character starts becoming more.
The lead character sometimes gets on my nerves with her childish reasoning,
but it gets better less reactive and more thoughtful.
I will try the next 2 with hopes that she becomes even better.

Another Lively Mess.......2007-07-05

The Good, the Bad, and the Undead (2005) is the second Urban Fantasy novel in the Rachel Morgan series, following Dead Witch Walking. In the previous volume, Rachel finessed threats from Inderlander Security by gaining support from the Federal Inderland Bureau -- and blackmailing Trent Kalamack -- but her former IS boss was still out to get her.

In this novel, Rachel is looking for a stolen tropical fish. She locates an extra fish in the tank outside the office of Mr. Ray, a Were Alpha known for his fish collection, and gets it out of the building. Yet the Were pack is searching the area and spots her. Rachel only gets away by coopting a FIB car and its driver.

Unfortunately, Detective Glenn has been looking for Rachel. Now Glenn won't let her out of the car. She is on her way to the FIB building for a meeting with Captain Edden regardless of her feelings on the matter.

Luckily, Edden likes her and only wants help interrogating a warlock. Sara Jane is the secretary of Trent Kalamack -- Rachel's bete noire -- and she has reported the disappearance of her boy friend. Dan Smather is also a warlock and has been missing since Sunday. Sara Jane is convinced that his absencee is associated with the witch hunter murders.

The witch hunter has been killing witches experienced in ley line magic. Edden not only wants Rachel to assist in the interrogation, but also to start checking out the ley line aspect. He has enrolled her in the same course that Smather was taking.

In this story, Edden assigns Detective Glenn to work with Rachel. Jenks disparages the whole idea; he doesn't like Glenn and has already pixed him once. Rachel also objects, but is trumped by Edden admitting that Glenn is all that they say, but is still his son. Glenn joins the team, at least temporarily.

After Glenn takes them home, Rachel calls the Howlers to report her success in recovering the fish. Despite some confusion -- caused by the name of their firm -- Rachel passes on the message and is told that the fish was not really missing. She has risked her life and they say they are sorry, but them are the breaks. Apparently the Howlers are not going to pay her fee.

Since Sara Jane is not yet available to show them Smather's apartment, Detective Glenn stays over for supper. When Ivy comes home, she is surprised to see Glenn, but he is really upset to see a vampire. Then he says a few things out of fear that are better left unsaid and Ivy's eyes go black. Rachel talks Ivy out of her mood, but Glenn freaks out to the point of drawing his pistol. Finally Rachel gets him unwound and Ivy back to normal.

As thing are settling down, Ivy asks about the presence of Glenn in the church and Rachel eventually tells her of Sara Jane. Ivy seems to accept this news calmly, but is adamant that Rachel is not going to take the case. Like Jenks, she thinks that it is all a setup by Trent. She gets violent after learning that Rachel plans to interview Piscary. Glenn draws his pistol again and everything goes to pieces until Jenks returns and gets Glenn out of the kitchen.

At the University, Rachel is feeling the usual awkwardness of a newcomer in a tight group of students. Outside the classroom, she encounters Denon -- her former boss -- and receives the usual threats. Then she meets Dr. Anders . . . again. Naturally, Dr. Anders remembers her and informs her, in a definite tone of voice, that she will be flunked out (again) if she doesn't get a familiar.

This story involves Rachel in some convoluted magic. She finds an old grimoire in the church that contains a spell for producing a familiar. She faithfully follows the directions and the spell works, but not quite in the way she expects.

The Vampiric Charms crew introduces Glenn to tomato products. Ever since the great dying, humans have been terrified of tomatoes. At first, Glenn is too horrified to eat anything with tomatoes in it. Eventually, he is coaxed into a first bite and he likes it. Now Rachel is buying him tomato products on the sly.

As you may have noticed, Rachel Morgan has a definite problem with planning. Most of the time she just goes with the flow and improvises, but sometimes she tries to plan ahead. Yet she only takes favorable circumstances into account; she seldom considers that something might go wrong. When something usually does, she is forced to wing it.

Rachel assumes too much and seems to have never learned about the term "assume". No wonder older characters try to take her under their wing and explain the facts of life! Even Jenks -- the eighteen year old pixie -- has more common sense than she does! Still, her flaws are very familiar to anyone with a twenty-something daughter.

Highly recommended for Harrison fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of high magic, mysterious deaths and contorted relationships.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Libris Mortis: The Book of the Undead (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying)

Average customer rating:

A Guide for Clerics
A great book for players and DM's!
Lovely little book of Undeath
Dead on!
Overrated

Libris Mortis: The Book of the Undead (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying)
Andy Collins , and Bruce R. Cordell
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0786934336
Release Date: 2004-10-14

Book Description

An art-filled sourcebook about undead in the D&D world.
This title takes a comprehensive look at undead creatures and characters in the D&D world. It includes information on playing undead characters and how to run or battle undead in a fight. There is new information on traditional undead creatures (liches, zombies, and so on), as well as new monsters and information on customizing monsters to any adventure. There are new rules, feats, spells, and prestige classes, as well as ready-to-run undead characters for instant play. Extensive story and campaign elements and flavor information add interest and dimension to playing or fighting undead. The book itself will be designed in prestige format, with heavy use of art throughout, a full-painted cover, and construction from premium materials.

Customer Reviews:

A Guide for Clerics.......2007-07-16

Libris Mortis: The Book of the Undead should be in the library of any self respecting Cleric of any deity or alignment.

It will inform you of what each type of undead can do and therefore ensure you will be properly prepared when facing them. If you're more inclined to seek controlling such creatures, Libris Mortis will also help you in deciding which kind would be best suited to your needs.

Happy Undead Hunting.

A great book for players and DM's!.......2007-02-22

This book is an outstanding resource for dm's and players alike. It has several different functions, without going into the specifics of chapter by chapter reviews (which has already been done).

First, it includes a section on the various "ecologies" of the undead. This is an outstanding tool for designing new undead, designing campaigns and plot hooks for players. Several techniques are described for how undead feed and their effect on the undead psychology.

Second, the book provides for a way to rapidly return a player to the game. Nothing is worse than having a character die early in the session and having to wait for your character to be raised or to make a new character to continue play - with this manual, you can rapidly join back in the game AND have a quest to complete at the same time - either the destruction of your sire, or the raising of your corpse. Much in the spirit of Ghostwalk, this manual allows for the game to go on even when your characters' pulse didn't.

The book also contains a selection of new items and feats geared toward undead. Whether your character hunts undead or is one himself, there is something in here for them. In addition, it is useful for DM's in the same fashion to "bulk up" one of the villians with these additional feats and powers and thus suprise the players.

All in all, another outstanding product from WOTC.

Lovely little book of Undeath.......2007-01-22

Where to begin? I suppose I should begin by saying that if you can't stand the sight of cysts, and disembodied heads being swarmed and eaten by rats, then you shouldn't get this book. Also, if you can't stand the thought of children perishing then being brought back and being used by an evil Necromancer to sow chaos, then you might steer clear of this book. But if the aforementioned doesn't bother you, or already has your mind filled with a million and a half ideas for your campaigns, then let's talk.

Firstly, let's talk about... oh, I don't know... say, the monsters. There's fluff and there's crunch, first of all, or if you don't know what that means, things that are overall useless and things that have you saying, 'bout time. Brain In A Jar? Who needs that? Grave-Dirt Golem? I know what you're thinking, 'Oh, No! Not another Construct!' but bear with me, while it's not necessarily necessary, it is fun to have a Golem made of dirt, with bones of people who perished and were unlucky enough to have their graves used for the Golem. Besides, it fits a Necromancer, or any class, really, who builds Constructs for whatever reason who likes to hang around graveyards. So yeah, like I said, fluff and crunch. Also, there's fluffy, crunchy creatures including the Slaughter Wight, the Wheep, and the Spectral Lyrist. I'll leave it to you to decide what's fluff and crunch among those, and every other new monster in the book.

Secondly, let's talk about the prestige classes, there's classes like the Death's Chosen, the True Necromancer, and the Pale Master. Now, those aren't the only classes in this book, there's also the Dirge Singer and the Master of Radiance. I'll talk about those. The Dirge Singer, as you've probably guessed, is a prestige class for the Bard who specializes in songs that fill their enemies with sorrow and dread and, by my gathering, I haven't read in detail yet, can control some undead. The Master of Radiance is a prestige class for a druid, but you also have to have some levels as a cleric, at any rate, the Master of Radiance can use spells that channel sunlight and destroy undead who are destroyed by sunlight (blasted vampires). And on the subject of Clerics, I know, they're lame, let's not kid around here, about all they can do is heal and turn undead. But in this book, they can also summon undead. Yes, Clerics of Nerull, rejoice. You can summon undead to do your dirty work, while you use your Inflict spells to keep them at full strength (Instead of doing damage, Inflict Grievous Wounds recovers a lot of damage for that Huge Skeleton you summoned).

Thirdly, and the last I'm going to write about, is the nuts and bolts of campaign planning included in this book. The people who made this book were generous in giving several sample undead to use as minor villains, or use as the big baddie for your newbie players if your a DM. They also included a few scenarios to use if you're running an undead-centered campaign, including World of Shadows in which undead and the living coincide in day to day life, and Undying Rulers where powerful undead like a lich or a vampire rules the land. Needless to say, if you're the DM, you can change things about these and the other campaign over-views presented as you see fit. Do the undead and the living live in harmony and work together in World of Shadows? Did that lich just recently come into power after a very long line of undead in Undying Rulers? It's up to you. Of course, they're not stand alone. You can use these campaing overviews in conjunction with others described not only in this book, but others, as well, but you'd have to be pretty crafty to interweave a whole bunch of them.

It's ultimately up to you whether you want this book or not, I'm just trying to point you in the right direction if you want an undead-centric campaign or at least to incorporate undead into your campaign. Also, it's a pretty good read as is.

Dead on!.......2006-06-19

One close look inside this book and you will quicky see that it was written for the Dungeon Master. This does not detract from it's sincere reading enjoyment for everyone. I find the prestige classes offered to be interesting, but mainly for NPC's, the true necromancer was a big disappointment, and has no where near the flavor of the Dread Necromancer presented in Hero's of Horror. Great art thought. I contrary to others am interested in detailed descriptions of the Undead, such as eating habits, this can really enhance the role playing of such creatures, and deepen plotlines. As a PC, you can make good use of some of the items presented here, whether you are a Cleric of Nerull or a Paladin or Pelor. Will you use this whole book in its entirity? probably not, but you will probably use some of it. If you use a lot of undead in your campaign, then this book is dead on for you.

Overrated.......2006-03-29

I would say that this book is greatly overrated.

A lot of the rules laid out are bland or silly-do we really need rules codifying the eating habits of the undead? Further, the majority of the new undead are absurd and the feats have struck me as... lacking.

More time could have been spent on fluff material instead of trying to cram in as much weird new crunch as possible.

That said, some of the prestige classes are fun to use for antagonists. There are undead varients and premade liches that can provide quick adventure material. I wouldn't say I'm sorry I bought this (I got it cheap), but a good half of the book is useless to me unless I want to make use of the gross-out factor mosters.

Undead and Unemployed (Queen Betsy, Book 2)

Average customer rating:

Light and funny with a good heart
Equally entertaining sequel to "Undead and Unwed."
Undead and Unemployed
Boring
Undead and Unemployed

Undead and Unemployed (Queen Betsy, Book 2)
MaryJanice Davidson
Manufacturer: Berkley Sensation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0425197484
Release Date: 2004-08-03

Book Description

Being royally undead isn't all it's cracked up to be--there are still bills to be paid. Luckily, new Queen of the Vampires Betsy Taylor lands her dream job selling designer shoes at Macy's.

But when a string of vampire murders hits St. Paul, Betsy must enlist the help of the one vamp who makes her blood boil: the oh-so-sexy Sinclair. Now, she's really treading on dangerous ground--high heels and all.

Customer Reviews:

Light and funny with a good heart.......2007-10-06

This is the second I've read in this series of books and I really enojoy them. The plot is light, funny and fast paced. The heroine, Betsy, is a nice humorous twist to the typical type of gal we see in this type of book. She's a little bit shallow, very practical, and clearly swimming out of her depth in her new role as Vampire Queen, but the reader still see a good heart underneath it all. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys the paranormal fiction/romance genre or "chick lit".

Equally entertaining sequel to "Undead and Unwed.".......2007-10-03

This entertaining vampire romance is the second of a series which incongruously combines chick lit romantic comedy and vampire thriller. Think "Sex in the City" meets "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," from the viewpoint of a new vampire.

The "Queen Betsy" series currently consists of six books, as follows:

1) Undead and Unwed
2) Undead and Unemployed
3) Undead and Unappreciated
4) Undead and Unreturnable
5) Undead and Unpopular
6) Undead and Uneasy.

The book begins with a police record of an interview with a taxi-driver, who describes how he witnessed a supernatural attack, and how a mysterious, tall, very pale, and very beautiful girl had driven off a vampire. Those who have not read the first book will have no idea what is going on, but those who previously read "Undead and Unwed" will recognise Betsy Taylor from the description.

The book is mostly told in the first person by Elizabeth Taylor, who prefers to be called Betsy for obvious reasons and is a most unusual vampire. Unlike other vampires, Betsy can say the name of God, and touch the bible or holy water without being burned or hurt.

At the end of the previous book, Betsy was proclaimed as Queen of the Vampires, but she doesn't want the position. Instead she goes looking for her dream job: as death has not changed her fascination with expensive shoes, Betsy tries to wangle herself a job working on the night shift selling designer shoes at top store Macy's.

But although Betsy would prefer to turn her back on her title as Queen of the Vampires, the other undead are not ready to turn their backs on her. A gang is murdering vampires, and the others want Betsy to do something about it. This kicks off a chain of events which soon becomes hysterical - that is, hysterically funny ...

Mary Davidson has great fun with the incongruity of mixing up the vampire genre with chick-lit romantic comedy. An interesting comparison with other authors who have written entertaining comedies by combining incongruous genres would be with Marianne Mancusi and Robert Frezza.

In the same way that this series gets plenty of laughs by combining chick lit with Vampires, Frezza write two very funny books which combined Vampires and Science Fiction ("McLendon's Syndrome" and "The VMR Theory") and Mancusi combined chick lit with time travel in "A Connecticut Fashionista at King Arthur's Court" and "A Hoboken Hipster in Sherwood Forest." Anyone who likes the "Queen Betsy" series is likely to enjoy all four of those, and vice versa, if you have read and enjoyed one of those books you may well enjoy this one.

OK, this is never going to win the Booker Prize or any other great award for classic literature but if you have the right sort of sense of humour, it is pretty good fun. I can recommend both "Undead and Unwed" and "Undead and Unemployed," and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Undead and Unemployed.......2007-08-31

MaryJanice give a new twist to vampire stories....not the usual dark love novel , or getting out of control Anita Blake series - just a great story.

Boring.......2007-07-26

I have been reading this book for a few days now and CAN'T seem to get through it. I don't think it is funny and find it to be rather boring. I was thinking about giving up on it until I came on here and read the reviews. I guess I have to stick with it since so many people raved about it--PAINFUL!!

Undead and Unemployed.......2007-03-29

Oh no, no no no no (she says shaking her head) another series of books I just HAVE to read, the first two where consumed with great zest, they are halarious with some raucuous laugh out loud moments ..... the credit card, it really has to go !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! shopping (she says in defeat)

Undead and Unpopular (Queen Betsy, Book 5)

Average customer rating:

The first 4 were a lot better
Dead Like Me Again
A Murder and Mayhem Bookclub review
Series comes back stronger.
Betsy Series

Undead and Unpopular (Queen Betsy, Book 5)
MaryJanice Davidson
Manufacturer: Berkley Sensation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0425215997

Book Description

This New York Times bestselling author's Undead series is more popular than ever!

With her birthday coming up, Betsy isn't in the best frame of mind to face the powerful European vampires who have finally come to pay their respects. Playing politics is not her strong suit, especially when she finds out her best friend Jessica may have a life-threatening illness. Sure Betsy can save her life by taking it-isn't that what friends are for?-but the choice isn't in her hands.

With her fiancé Eric dodging all the wedding plans, Betsy's plate is full-and not with birthday cake. But who has time to pout? Not even a reluctant vampire queen, who is taking it one high-heeled step at a time in MaryJanice Davidson's creative, sophisticated, sexy, and wonderfully witty series.

Customer Reviews:

The first 4 were a lot better.......2007-10-17

I haven't enjoyed book 5 very much. It feels as though the author lost her steam...the first 4 were great though!!!

Dead Like Me Again.......2007-10-14

This was actually my introduction to "Queen Betsy". Apparently it is book 5 but it stands alone quite well. I was never lost or confused.

The unabridged recording consists of 5 CDs nicely performed by the extremely talented Nancy Wu.

If you've seen the TV series "Dead Like Me" the narrative formula will be familiar to you. If you liked that series you will like this book.

If you have young children be forewarned: Betsy has a potty mouth and an explicit sex life. Don't play the CDs on your boom box or your kids will be running around trying out fun new words.

The humor is excellent and builds up to the hilarious "Royal Prayer" scene. A fun, surprising, clever read.

A Murder and Mayhem Bookclub review.......2007-10-08

Ah, the troubles of being queen. Betsy Taylor hasn't quite got her fangs around the idea of vampire diplomacy just yet, being new to the whole ruling class thing, but she's learning fast. Dying last year and turning thirty, two major stresses in any girl's book, kind of took Betsy's attentions for a long while. It however cannot be delayed any further and the European delegation of vampires is allowed to visit in order to pay their (insincere) respects to their new leader. It's hard to parlay with those that have been cool with the whole walking dead scene a lot longer than you, and Betsy never did have a lot of patience. Included in the European ranks is a vampire who took the life of one of her own people, and in doing so created a new vampire. What to do, what to do?

Clamping down on the urge to rip off a few ancient heads, Betsy calls upon her inner calm to get her through some new and tricky situations. And there wasn't a lot of inner calm there before she was dead, let alone now that she is. Trying very hard not to drink blood is making Betsy very tetchy, and it is near impossible to push that partiular discipline on a race of blood-drinkers. Throw in a squawling baby, a zombie in the roof and the annoyed lead-footheadness of her gorgeous vampire fiance - Betsy feels the walls closing well and truly in.

UNDEAD AND UNPOPULAR moves the vampire queen Betsy Taylor just a little bit further down the line to being married, and to being more like a reigning monarch over her people. This little read is very much a one room drama - the characters hardly leave the house and spend their time bumping into each other in the hallways to throw out some sass and then move on. As will be the wont with vampire novels, there isn't a lot further up in the predatory chain to a competant vampire so therefore there's no threats coming from above. The warring factions approach has been attempted here but it is all so haphazard and casually done that you would feel a greater sense of tension from not remembering where you last saw your bookmark.

This series had an explosive start, and suffers now from the problem of what to do with Betsy. The marriage card can only be dragged out so long, and it's hard to feel much for two people who drink blood from each other anyway. This book is more of a quick character catch-up for the regular readers with a barely-there plot which would do little to draw in a new readership.

Series comes back stronger........2007-09-21

MaryJanice Davidson, Undead and Unpopular (Berkley, 2006)

Undead and Unpopular gets the Queen Betsy series back on its feet in a grand way; it's the first adult non-graphic novel I've read in a single day in months. What's really impressive is that, like Undead and Unreturnable before it, this is another novel that focuses more on Betsy's personal life (and that of her housemates), but it's got a much better command of pace and captures the attention a great deal better than that one did. Davidson hooks us with the first sentence (George telling Betsy there's a zombie in the attic), and then proceeds to come back and play with that hook a few times during the ensuing madness, which includes a delegation from Europe, a friend who wants to turn her boyfriend into a vampire, the impending publication of Jon's tell-all book (which is, of course, called Undead and Unwed), and major complications with Jessica. Two hundred pages later, we finally get around to the zombie (which Betsy, being who she is, mistakes for a surprise birthday party). Unlike the serial killer storyline in the last book, which seemed like it was there solely to pacify readers who weren't fond of the series' soap-opera aspect, this one works. I'm not sure what she did differently, but whatever it was, it worked.

A previously fine series has gotten fine again. *** ½

Betsy Series.......2007-09-14

I read the whole series and can't wait to read the next book. I liked it so much I started reading her Fred mermaid series. She is hilarious! Some of their conversations sounds like something out of my own journal not that I am a vampire or would want to be. I caught myself laughing out loud.

If you like Betsy try FRED! I liked them so much I am buying the books for my home library so I can read them again and again.

Undead and Unreturnable (Queen Betsy, Book 4) (Berkley Sensation)

Average customer rating:

Undead and Unable...to keep my eyes off these entertaining books!
Not as strong as the first three.
Queen Betsy Rocks!
Disappointing
Betsy and Christmas Shopping - A Deadly Combination

Undead and Unreturnable (Queen Betsy, Book 4) (Berkley Sensation)
MaryJanice Davidson
Manufacturer: Berkley Sensation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0425210812

Book Description

Queen of the Vampires Betsy Taylor is in the middle of planning the perfect wedding to drop-dead gorgeous vamp Eric Sinclair. But all is not bouquets and bridal showers-Betsy is plagued by ghosts who demand her help in rectifying their past mistakes, and a serial killer is on the loose. With his victims all being tall, blond women, Betsy fits the profile exactly.

Customer Reviews:

Undead and Unable...to keep my eyes off these entertaining books!.......2007-09-30

Those of us who were hooked on Maryjanice Davidsons Queen Betsy series from the start tend to sometimes be a little more critical of them than others. I've seen other reviews that complain the novels are growing complacent and uneventful. I happen to be one of the few who disagree with that sentiment.

In Undead and Unreturnable, we find Betsy getting used to her newfound love for the sneaky Eric Sinclair (a man she had originally sworn to loathe forever after he tricked her into becoming Vampire Queen, while simultaneously making him the Vampire King, and her consort). But (finally) Betsy realized she really loved Sinclair, and he truly loved her, but navigating the murky waters of her relationship with him is harder than she thought it would be -- not to mention the added problems of dealing with the fact that her half-sister, Laura, is actually the devil's daughter who is fated to take over the world (and is currently starting to show some of her darker insticts), her King and consort is avoiding her after she had shockingly revealed to him that she can read his thoughts when they are in their most intimate moments, the Ant just had a baby, and bizarrely relies on Betsy to babysit every waking minute, a former vampire killer is now hanging around the mansion making lovesick puppydog eyes at her, and a very grumpy ghost named Cathie is following Betsy around and harrassing her, demanding that Betsy catch and punish the serial killer who murdered her -- plus, Christmas is fast approaching! To put it bluntly, poor Queen Betsy has her royal vampire hands full!

This latest Queen Betsy novel dutifully upholds the legacy that the previous novels have set down -- namely, it is meant to continue the same lighthearted and entertaining wit. These books should never be taken too seriously. If you are wanting them to be something they aren't, you will always be sorely disappointed. Appreciate them for the light and easy read that they are. The merits of the plot don't bother me, as long as the characters I love continue on in their array of crazy vampire hijinks, which they do!

If you like how the series has gone so far, then you'll like this one as well (although now that Betsy and Sinclair are officially a couple, you should definitely be prepared for far more sex scenes.

Not as strong as the first three........2007-09-17

MaryJanice Davidson, Undead and Unreturnable (Berkley, 2005)

I had forgotten how fiercely readable the Queen Betsy books are in the two years between my finishing the third and picking up the fourth. I've had a lot going on in my personal life the past few months, and as a result, books that would normally take me a couple of hours to finish have been dragging on for weeks. Undead and Unreturnable, though, sucked me (no pun intended) right in, and I finished it in a couple of lunch breaks at work. I still hate MaryJanice Davidson for writing chick lit that has me hooked.

We pick up the story with Betsy and Eric, having finally resolved their differences, planning a wedding. Yes, a big affair, with flowers and catering and all that. (Betsy has graciously agreed to give up the church part, given that it would probably cause Eric to burst into flames before he could say "I do".) Real life, however, has to get in the way sometimes, and in this case, it comes in the form of the Driveway Killer, a serial killer terroizing Minneapolis. Betsy, her Satanic half-sister Laura, and the ghost of the latest victim of the Driveway Killer have to hunt the guy down before he claims another victim.

The plot, however, takes a backseat to the soap-opera aspects of the series in this book. Along with wedding planning, Betsy, Jessica, and Laura are taking turns babysitting Antonia's new kid, the wedding's getting planned, the leader of the Bees is staying over at the house while executing a hare-brained scheme to write a biography of Betsy and pass it off as fiction for his biography-writing class, and the Book of the Dead has mysteriously tuned up again. With all that going on, how can a serial killer get enough face time? The plot suffers as a result, but this is still a compulsive page-turner, as the rest of the books have been. *** ½

Queen Betsy Rocks!.......2007-08-09

One of the best vampire series ever created. Besty Taylor, Queen of the Vampires is one of the most captivating characters of all time. A top notch addition to this series. Complete with sexy characters, intrigue, and steamy relationships; it's dialogue is skillfully written and is also laugh-out-loud funny! Undead and Unreturnable is a wickedly written and simply fun romp.

Disappointing.......2007-06-14

I loved the first three books, apparently I loved the sexual tension between Eric and Betsy. The fourth book fizzled with a loud zzzzzzzzz. I was just annoyed throughout with the cliches, and it didn't keep me hooked.

Betsy and Christmas Shopping - A Deadly Combination.......2007-05-14

As Christmas approaches, Betsy has more on her mind than Queenly duties. There's still shopping to be done, a Christmas tree to put up in Jessica's house (to the horror of the vamps that reside there!) and her new baby step-brother. There's also a wedding to plan (she keeps pushing back the date she'll make it official with Sinclair), the matter of former-Bee Jon wanting to write her life's story for a college class, the reappearnce of vampire librarian Marjorie who wants her to write a column for the new vamp-based newsletter, and that god-awful Book of the Dead.

Add to that some other problems--there's a murderer called the Driveway Killer loose in Minneapolis, Sinclair isn't too happy about finding out that Betsy can hear his thoughts during their "intimate" moments, and Jessica is dating Detective Nick--and you have another comedy of errors starring the Queen of the Vampires.

This book is typical MaryJanice Davidson; funny, sarcastic, and full of snarky dialogue. Add to that Eric Sinclair's delicious "metrosexuality", and it's another winner.

Average customer rating:

Good Zombie stories
Dead good
A vanguard presentation of short zombie fiction
Dead on
Entertaining read.

The Undead: Zombie Anthology

Manufacturer: Permuted Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0976555948

Book Description

"The Undead" is a stunning collection of 23 tales of the living dead by zombie fan favorites and up-and-coming authors. "The Undead" includes classic tales of survival in a world populated by the living dead as well as an array of unique takes on the zombie genre: zombies as reality entertainment, glimpses from inside the "life" of the undead, intergalactic war with humanity's own dead turned against us, and everything in between. "The Undead" will leave zombie fans hungry for more!

Customer Reviews:

Good Zombie stories.......2007-06-09

Many different genres and styles represented. A great read. It was over much too soon.

Dead good.......2007-05-16

Very well done. Bring it on and give me more!! Mr Keene put together a nice collection of stories and look forward to the next installment. Cheers!

A vanguard presentation of short zombie fiction.......2007-04-23

I'm teaching a class on zombies in literature and film. Film zombies are all too easy to find, but what of literary zombies? The answer to my prayers was this anthology from Permuted Press (which publishes excellent long-form zombie fiction as well). The Undead: Zombie Anthology is a smorgasboard (sorry) of stories about zombies written from every conceivable angle: What if the zombies had *more* intelligence than we in some ways? What if Frankenstein's monster were real, and saw fighting zombies as his (tragic) chance for acceptance by the humanity he loved and loathed? What would a blind Black girl do when confronted with both zombies and a band of bloodthirsty rednecks? There are a couple of duds in the collection, to be sure, which don't add anything to Romero's mythos of the cannibalistic, infectious living dead, but these stories are far outnumbered by the clever, inventive, even heartfelt stories of life after the plague of the walking dead. A BRILLIANT ACHIEVEMENT!

Dead on.......2007-01-19

Zombie fiction at its finest. These are some of the best stories I've read on the genre in a while. Great stories by some very fine writers.

Entertaining read........2007-01-13

I really enjoy an anthology that shows some variety. This anthology wasn't too heavy - plenty of dark humor mixed in with more serious stories. The contributors were somewhat uneven. Some were excellent, where others appeared to have been written by a 13 year-old (werewolves fighting zombies). I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, entertaining read

Average customer rating:

The Queen Is Here
Amusing comic tale of Chick Lit and Vampires
Perfectly awful...
CHECK OUT Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse Series for the real deal
Vampire secretaries are cool.

Undead and Unwed (Queen Betsy, Book 1)
MaryJanice Davidson
Manufacturer: Berkley Sensation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 042519485X
Release Date: 2004-03-02

Book Description

First Betsy Taylor loses her job, then she's killed in a car accident. But what really bites is that she can't seem to stay dead. And now her new friends have the ridiculous idea that Betsy is the prophesied vampire queen, and they want her help in overthrowing the most obnoxious power-hungry vampire in five centuries.

Customer Reviews:

The Queen Is Here.......2007-09-12

Betsy is queen of the dammed without even knowing it. She was nibbled by strangers one night while leaving a high garlic restaurant and then is killed by accident, of course after loosing her job and trying to get her cat back into her house. She awakens wearing hand me down shoes, not her designer ones, and a pink dress. She is pissed and ready to kill being humiliated like that on her funeral day. As she progresses through her realization about being dead she meets hot ancient vampires and creepy overly melodramatic vamps. She finds out quickly that there are factions and she is caught in the middle. The middle of a vampire world, her old life and of course her pain in the butt step-mother.

This story is amazingly fun and a quick read. Talk about a perfect beach book.

Amusing comic tale of Chick Lit and Vampires.......2007-09-06

This entertaining vampire romance is the first of a series which incongruously combines chick lit romantic comedy and Vampire adventure - from the viewpoint of a new vampire.

It is the first of a series which currently consists of six books

1) Undead and Unwed
2) Undead and Unemployed
3) Undead and Unappreciated
4) Undead and Unreturnable
5) Undead and Unpopular
6) Undead and Uneasy.

The first line of the book is "The day I died started out bad and got worse in a hurry."

Told in the first person by Elizabeth Taylor, who prefers to be called Betsy for obvious reasons. Betsy is a former model and is still a fashion fanatic: at the start of the book, on the morning of her disastrous 30th birthday, she is working as a secretary. Her main interests are designer shoes, designer clothes, and her cat. In quick succession she loses her job, loses her cat, and is killed in a car accident. It is a great surprise to her when she rises again as a most unusual vampire.

Mary Davidson has great fun with the incongruity of mixing up the Vampire genre, as in Laurell Hamilton's "Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter" series (or "Buffy the Vampire Slayer") and Chick-Lit romantic comedy. This book is way over the top and very funny. Perhaps the author goes slightly too far when she has a group of rebel vampires bribe Betsy to take on the local evil Master Vampire by offering her a neat line in designer shoes, but the book is always good fun.

An interesting comparison with other authors who have written entertaining comedies by combining incongruous genres would be with Marianne Mancusi and Robert Frezza.

In the same way that this book gets plenty of laughs by combining chick lit with vampires, Frezza write two very funny books which combined vampires and science fiction ("McLendon's Syndrome" and "The VMR Theory") and Mancusi combined chick lit with time travel in "A Connecticut Fashionista at King Arthur's Court" and "A Hoboken Hipster in Sherwood Forest." Anyone who likes this book is likely to enjoy all four of these and vice versa: if you've read and enjoyed one or more of the other books I have just mentioned you hav e a good chance of enjoying "Undead and Unwed".

OK, it's never going to win any of the major awards for classic literature, but if you have the right sort of sense of humour this is quite good fun. I can recommend "Undead and Unwed" and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Perfectly awful..........2007-08-26

Could be a good teenage girl book if it wasn't for the two or three graphic sexual encounters.

OK, she's invincible and she knows it - where do you go from there?

Don't waste your time on this one...

CHECK OUT Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse Series for the real deal.......2007-08-01

Anyone who found the Queen Betsy books disappointing should check out Charlaine Harris' excellent Southern Vampire series starring Sookie Stackhouse. It has a similar theme - modern vampires - but much better character development, writing, humor, plot... basically everything is better! Book # one is Dead Until Dark.

Vampire secretaries are cool........2007-07-18

I like how Queen Betsy fawns over designer shoes and how she drives the other vampires batty by always questioning vampire rules. Betsy armed with her keen fashion sense and allied with her friends are about to modernize vampire society into the 21st century. Hope you enjoy reading the book.

Undead and Unappreciated (Queen Betsy, Book 3)

Average customer rating:

A Breezy, Hilarious Breath of Fresh Air
-Undead and Unabashed-
gggggrrrrr
The Latest in the Perils of Betsy
Wow

Undead and Unappreciated (Queen Betsy, Book 3)
MaryJanice Davidson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: B000EUKR1S

Book Description

Fans can't get enough of author MaryJanice Davidson and her topsy-turvy world of the undead with its newly-crowned queen, Betsy Taylor.

Now, Betsy continues her reluctant reign while being bedeviled by family secrets.

Customer Reviews:

A Breezy, Hilarious Breath of Fresh Air.......2007-10-10

When I started this book I felt absolutely awful. I'd had a bad week, I didn't feel well, and I was downright cranky. So, having read the first two books of the Queen Betsy series and enjoying the heck out of them, I picked "Undead and Unappreciated" off my "to be read" shelf. By the end of chapter one I was laughing out loud and was completely relaxed. MaryJanice Davidson has a way of getting me caught up in the book, giggling constantly at truly funny jokes and situations (not just randsom silliness) and caring about realistically drawn characters- a tall order when most of them are vampires.

Unlike the first two novels, this one isn't quite as plot based but mainly about building on past established relationships and introducing Betsy to an important new one. We get a major peek into Betsey's evil stepmother's past life, and if you thought she was disgusting before she just looks downright evil in this book- and she's just a regular human! I polished this book off in a day, and closed the book with a huge smile on my face. With this series I always know I'm in for a fun, hilarious ride and they're perfect for reading in-between "heavier" books, I can't recommend this enough!

-Undead and Unabashed-.......2007-07-12

Yes, indeed this is food for the fangs: And as my existence has forever bled no small amount of empathy towards anything bearing the fate of being simultaneously undead and unappreciated, without ado does my pulse quicken in adoration of this book.

I first was made aware, whilst flitting here & about on Amazon, that there existed in some or other realm of reality a Vampire named Betsy. I found this to be a most singular matter of fact. So, in short, when I happened upon this title, I set about acquainting myself with this particularly fetching bit of literature...um, most precipitously. Now, after having read all the books in this series (though not in order: UNDEAD AND UNAPPRECIATED was the first) - I find myself quite convinced that Ms. Davidson must have had some experience with vampires...

Betsy is certainly no pour of the pump Vampire- She's a tall, blonde beauty hailing from (of all places)- Minnesota - She's neither a voracious reader, a brooding dreamer, nor a thirsty fiend - her number one passion is designer shoes, in fact. And though she's fervently loyal to her friends, she considers most of the Vampires of her acquaintance to be- well, weirdos- at best...

In this episode of her (after)life, Betsy encounters a good number of nearly insurmountable problems. First of all, her nasty stepmother Antonia ("the Ant") is pregnant with her half-sibling, and she's just found out that she has a half sister named Laura, now a 20-year-old church-going college student who'd been raised by a minister, whom the Ant had given birth to while possessed by the Devil- (Unfortunately, not once during the entirety of the Ant's nine months of Satanic dominion did anyone notice any change in her personality). To further complicate matters, a heavy volume made of human flesh and blood called THE BOOK OF THE DEAD foretells that Betsy, Queen of the Vampires, and Laura, Spawn of Satan, will someday rule the world together. Betsy sets about reading THE BOOK OF THE DEAD for a few hours, in search of some or other loophole that would serve to thwart this prophesy. Unfortunately, reading THE BOOK OF THE DEAD for more than 15 minutes in one sitting induces madness. So Betsy proceeds to raise all manner of havoc upon those closest to her: her roomates & good friends Jessica & Marc, her Vampire friend Tina, and her Vampyric King Consort Eric Sinclair.

Betsy's troubles do not by any means stop there: She also has a nightclub filled with disgruntled vampyric employees to manage, as well as a den of fiends to attend. The whole of it plays out into one of the more humorous tales of my reading repertoire. Betsy proves again and again, throughout the six books so far in this series, that a passionate sense of humor can get one through just about anything...

-And for that, I most certainly do appreciate her-

gggggrrrrr.......2007-06-29

Absolutely adore this series!! Betsy, her friends and her world is a brilliant creation and i really thank Mary Janice Davidson for thinking it up!!! Haven't laughed over books so hard in.... i don't think ever!! :-)

The Latest in the Perils of Betsy.......2007-05-14

Elizabeth "Betsy" Taylor, Queen of the Vampires, is having yet another bad day. Her stepmother, The Ant, is pregnant with her half-sibling, and still as unlikeable as always. Her dad, stopping by to encourage her not to make an appearance at the baby shower, lets it slip that Betsy has another half-sibling that was given up years ago. Determined to find out who this brother or sister is, Betsy goes on a reading binge, locking herself in the library with her copy of The Book of the Dead.

Totally forgetting that too much vampire book in one sitting can make you insane, Betsy reads until common sense is pushed by the wayside. She attacks her best friend, Jessica, verbally harangues her friend Marc, tells off Tina, the vampire king's right-hand-lady, and jumps Sinclair's bones.

To make matters worse, Betsy discovers that her long-lost half-sister, Laura, is more than just the adopted daughter of a minister and his wife--she's also the daughter of the Devil, who took over The Ant's body while she was pregnant.

Talk about a bad week! The latest installment of the life and times of Betsy is as funny as ever, filled with MaryJanice Davidson's one blend of sarcastic wit. I can't wait for the release of Undead and Unreturnable (Berkley Sensation), to pick up Betsy's life where this book left off.

Wow.......2007-02-12

Another good one in the series, I cannot wait for the next book(s) to come out. If you like the book Undead and Unwed, or are a fan of MaryJanice Davidson, you will enjoy this book!!

Gospel of the Living Dead: George Romero's Visions of Hell on Earth

Average customer rating:

Worth reading, but there's room for improvement
Worth it for the summaries
A nice addition to any Romero fan's library
I only wish I could discuss this face to face
Another "me too" on Romero

Gospel of the Living Dead: George Romero's Visions of Hell on Earth
Kim Paffenroth
Manufacturer: Baylor University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1932792651

Product Description

Winner of the silver medal in popular culture for the 2006 ForeWord Book of the Year Awards. This volume connects American social and religious views with the classic American movie genre of the zombie horror film. For nearly forty years, the films of George A. Romero have presented viewers with hellish visions of our world overrun by flesh-eating ghouls. This study proves that Romero's films, like apocalyptic literature or Dante's Commedia, go beyond the surface experience of repulsion to probe deeper questions of human nature and purpose, often giving a chilling and darkly humorous critique of modern, secular America.

Customer Reviews:

Worth reading, but there's room for improvement.......2007-07-03

If you enjoy zombie movies, especially the work of George Romero, I recommend that you read this book. It's a pretty quick and easy read and holds some interesting insight -- sociological, economical, philosophical, religious, and otherwise. However, it wasn't exactly what I expected going into it, and while I made some pleasant discoveries while I read, I also met with a bit of disappointment.

Based on the title and the description in the book jacket, I was expecting more talk relating these films to Dante's "Inferno", which the author mostly mentions in passing. I think "Inferno" is one of the most interesting and unique pieces of literature around, and I would have liked for him to focus a bit more on the similarities between it and the zombie movies. If someone were reading this book who had little or no knowledge of Dante's "Inferno", I'm sure the parts where he mentions it could be pretty confusing. He doesn't elaborate on it enough for those who like "Inferno", but he doesn't ignore it enough for those who don't know much about it either.

One reviewer wrote, "At times, I felt this book was overreaching a bit in its textual analysis, which irks me." I agree. While George Romero's movies certainly have plenty of Christian undertones, I feel that Paffenroth overthought and over-analyzed a couple of his interpretations. For example, he interprets Big Daddy and the other zombies in "Land of the Dead" crossing the river to Fiddler's Green as analogous to the Israelites crossing the Red Sea with the help of Moses in the Old Testament. I can certainly see why one would make this analogy, but the zombies crossing the river could be more easily and simply interpreted as a purification process, such as a baptismal ritual. Earlier in the book, he interprets the human desire to bury the dead, zombie or not, as a human desire to have a personal relationship with God. This is also a fair interpretation (merely one sub-par out of many great ones), but I just feel like Paffenroth grasps at straws sometimes in this book. Most every culture has some sort of burial ritual, and they do not necessarily seek a close relationship to the Christian God.

These are really my only complaints about this book, but I feel they are significant ones. If I could give this title 3.5/5 stars, I would. If you love zombie movies and seek deep, philosophical and/or religious insight into the world of zombie movies, it is definitely worth your time. But just check it out at the library and give it a quick read, rather than buy a copy to keep on your bookshelf.

Worth it for the summaries.......2007-06-13

At times, I felt this book was overreaching a bit in its textual analysis, which irks me. Still, I really liked it. The idea is great, and the movie summaries are worth the price alone. I think some Christians might be upset by Paffenroth's compassionate, anti-Fundamentalist Christian beliefs, but I guess if you're buying this book that probably won't be an issue. (It actually really pleased me to find that that was the case.)

A nice addition to any Romero fan's library.......2007-05-05

Paffenroth's treatment of Romero's films offers much by way of theology, something that [....] before in this great of detail. Anyone who has studied/read about Romero will naturally have heard some points made here, but the insights and comparisons to Dante's INFERNO are quite interesting. This one gave me a new interest in the DAWN remake (04), and a new respect for LAND OF THE DEAD (05), despite it being the weakest of the series.

Some people have complained about all the footnotes presented here (there's about 50 pages worth), but I believe it strongly enhances the book, and serves as a fine bibliography (although there's one included, too) for those seeking more material on Romero.

I only wish I could discuss this face to face.......2007-04-22

Reading this book gave me a good perspective on one man's views of the works of George A. Romero and the zombie movie genre as a whole. Dr. Paffenroth presents a well researched analysis of these stories as they relate to faith and religion in our society of today.

Books such as this and "The Philosophy of the Undead" are intriguing to me because they provide both insights and opinions that I can appreciate on the undead. I have my own views on the meanings behind it all, since I have read quite a few stories and seen many, if not all, of the movies out there related to zombies. I do not spend a great deal of time on message boards/chat rooms pouring over the minutia of these works though. I also do not have any personal friends or family members who have any interest at all in the genre. So grabbing a book like this and studying it adds shades of complexity to my own understanding of these dead things that have come back to life and how they impact our own society and world.

Does this mean I agree with everything Dr. Paffenroth states in this book? Definitely not, but gaining new insights means you come from a different place than the person who offers new information. Kim did a great deal of research and his proposals are well thought out on the religious and faith based ramifications of Romero's works. I am no academic and I am also a lapsed Catholic so to say I have a different perspective is probably an understatement. But that makes this book all the more interesting because of that.

Zombies are interesting protagonists. They hold up a gritty and cracked mirror, perhaps of a fun house variety, to us and we get a look at what we potentially could become, or maybe already are. The Romero movies all used a pretty harsh tone of criticism of western civilization and more specifically American culture. Our take on religion and faith are a part of that and this books taps into it.

I myself like a good debate. Not just arguing to prove someone else wrong, but being able to just present my own views and go back and forth with someone else. A book vs. face to face is not as satifying for debating various points of interest, but it still gives me something to gnaw on as far as the undertones of the zombie genre.

Another "me too" on Romero.......2007-04-12

Like most studies of Romero's oeuvre this one struggles to find anything truly new or insightful to say. Those familiar with the director and his work will not get a great deal out of it. Particularly disappointing is the author's misguided reading of Day (the best written, best acted and most thought-provoking entry in the series by a country mile). This is, however, made up for to some extent by one of the best explorations of Land written to date.

One thing I should point out is the text's hugely irritating reliance on constantly referring the reader to footnotes at the back of the book. Some single pages have dozens and flicking backwards and forwards while trying to follow the thrust of an argument is very wearying.

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