Zombie fiction has become one of the most popular genres in modern literature. From World War Z to The Walking Dead, readers have been captivated by post-apocalyptic worlds where humanity fights for survival against the undead hordes.
In this article, we will explore 25 of the best zombie books that every fan of the genre should read. Whether you’re a seasoned reader or new to the world of zombies, these books offer thrilling adventures, heart-pumping action, and unforgettable characters.
1. Breathers: A Zombie’s Lament by S.G. Browne
Breathers is a novel written by S.G. Browne that follows the story of Andy Warner, a human who becomes a zombie after a car accident that killed his wife and left him with amnesia.
As Andy begins to remember his past, he finds himself being pursued by a group of humans who believe that all zombies should be eliminated. The book explores themes of discrimination, acceptance, and the struggle for survival in a post-apocalyptic world.
2. The Rising by Brian Keene
In The Rising by Brian Keene, a particle accelerator experiment gone wrong opens a portal to another dimension that allows demons to possess the dead. The story follows Jim Thurmond, a construction contractor in West Virginia who seeks refuge in a bomb shelter during the apocalypse.
When he emerges to search for his son in New Jersey, he discovers that the undead have gained intelligence and can use weapons and set traps for humans.
3. Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
Warm Bodies is a post-apocalyptic young adult novel that follows the story of Nick, a high school student who gets bitten by a zombie during a party, and Cassie, a cheerleader. The two fall in love and embark on a road trip, but soon realize that not everyone shares their desire for immortality. The novel explores themes of love, loss, and the human condition in a world overrun by the undead.
4. City of the Dead by Brian Keene
In Brian Keene’s novel “City of the Dead,” the story begins with Jim finding Danny alive, but they are quickly surrounded by the living dead. Frankie and Martin arrive, only to find themselves trapped in the attic. The zombies set fire to the house and everyone except Frankie escapes by climbing down a ladder between the two houses.
Unfortunately, Frankie falls two stories into a swimming pool below. Don, Martin, Jim, and Danny regroup and escape in Don’s Ford Explorer. Along the way, they find Frankie fighting zombies in the front yard, badly injured and in shock. The group comes to her aid and continues their journey to safety.
5. World War Z by Max Brooks
World War Z is a book by Max Brooks that tells the story of a worldwide outbreak of the Solanum virus that leads to a near-apocalyptic downfall of the entire planet. The book follows the journey of one man who travels across the globe, interviewing survivors about their experiences and tracing events back to the earliest days of the outbreak.
The book is considered by many to be a much better story than the film adaptation that was released a few years ago.
The story begins with the outbreak of the virus in China and its rapid spread across the world, bringing back the dead and causing widespread panic and chaos. The book explores the themes of survival, human nature, and the consequences of global pandemics. It is believed that the events in the book lead to the creation of The Zombie Survival Guide.
6. Day by Day Armageddon by JL Bourne
Day by Day Armageddon is a novel that portrays the perspective of a survivor in a post-apocalyptic world infested by zombies. The book is written in the form of a journal that provides a personal account of the protagonist’s daily struggles and experiences. The story is presented in a realistic and immersive manner, making the reader feel like they are living through the events themselves.
7. Love & The Zombie Apocalypse by Chelsea Luna
Love & The Zombie Apocalypse is a series of three books that tells the story of Rachel Cole and her sister Morgan, who is attending a science camp when a biological terror attack causes the dead to reanimate and attack the living.
Rachel and her group of friends embark on a journey across the country to rescue Morgan. The books are set in a post-apocalyptic world filled with danger, suspense, and romance. The series has gained popularity among fans of the zombie apocalypse genre and has been praised for its well-developed characters and thrilling plot.
8. Zombie Fallout by Mark Tufo
Zombie Fallout is a popular book series that delves straight into a zombie outbreak caused by a government vaccine against H1N1. The series comprises 18 books and is highly recommended by avid zombie readers.
The plot is simple and straightforward, with no unnecessary fanfare. The series offers a classic pulp-zombie experience that fans of the genre will love. Its popularity is a testament to its ability to deliver a clean break from reality and immerse readers in a thrilling and terrifying world of the undead.
9. This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers
This is Not a Test is a young adult novel that follows Sloane Price and a group of troubled teenagers as they navigate a zombie apocalypse. The book explores themes of survival and mental health as the characters struggle to stay alive while dealing with their own personal demons. Courtney Summers’ writing style keeps the reader engaged and on the edge of their seat throughout the entire novel.
10. Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Mary lives in a town surrounded by walls with only woodland beyond. The Sisterhood and the Guardians rule over the town and claim that it is the last human settlement on the planet. There are only three routes through the fence, all of which are gated and surrounded by fencing.
These gates are used to allow sick people to escape, but nobody knows where the two pathways will lead. Mary has grown up hearing stories of life before the zombie apocalypse from her great-great-great-grandmother.
She is fascinated by the water and believes that if she can reach it, she will be free. The novel explores Mary’s journey as she tries to escape the confines of her town and uncover the truth about the world beyond.
11. Husk: A Novel by Corey Redekop
Husk is a comical novel by Corey Redekop that tells the story of Sheldon Funk, a struggling actor who dies in a bus lavatory only to come back to life as a zombie.
The novel follows Sheldon as he tries to navigate his new life as a zombie while also dealing with the challenges he faced before his death. The story is set in the winter streets of Toronto and is full of hilarious and unexpected twists and turns.
12. Generation Dead by Daniel Waters
Generation Dead is a novel that explores the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse. Unlike other zombie-themed books, Generation Dead focuses on the lives of three teenagers as they struggle to cope with the new reality.
The book is set in a world where a mysterious flu has spread through the population, causing people to turn violent and attack each other. As a result, many people die off, leaving behind only those who are unable to fight. The book follows the three teens as they navigate this new world and try to stay alive.
13. Devil’s Wake by Steven Barnes and Tananarive Due
Terry and Kendra find themselves stranded in the northern United States as winter approaches. To survive, they must travel a thousand miles in a dilapidated school bus through dangerous territory, facing both ravenous hordes and ruthless human raiders. Despite the bleak circumstances, they unexpectedly find love amidst the chaos.
14. Feed by Mira Grant aka Seanan McGuire
Feed is a post-apocalyptic zombie novel set in a world where a virus called Kellis-Amberlee has infected all mammalian life. The virus is a combination of two man-made viruses, a cancer treatment, and a common cold cure.
While the virus is usually harmless, it can “go live” or “amplify,” turning any host animal above 40 pounds (18 kg) into a zombie. Amplification can occur in three ways: through the death of the host, interaction with a living specimen (such as being bitten by a zombie), or spontaneous conversion.
Those who haven’t had their infection amplified remain lucid until the virus has had a chance to propagate throughout the body. Afterward, they experience a lack of pain sensitivity, memory loss, and eventual conversion. The novel explores the lives of a group of bloggers who are reporting on a political campaign during the zombie apocalypse.
15. Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry
In “Patient Zero” by Jonathan Maberry, Joe Ledger is recruited by the Department of Military Sciences to prevent a terrorist attack on the United States. The terrorists have created a prion disease called “Seif al Din” that kills its victims and then reanimates them with limited brain function, turning them into carriers of the disease.
The terrorists plan to unleash a newer and more potent strain of the disease on Philadelphia. Joe Ledger and the Department of Military Sciences must intervene to stop the terrorists and prevent a catastrophic outbreak.
15. The Reapers Are the Angels by Alden Bell
In a post-apocalyptic America, a deadly plague has turned most of the population into cannibals. The survivors are enslaved by ruthless gangs known as “Reapers”. Juno, a 14-year-old girl, runs away from home to join the Reapers and meets their enigmatic leader, Reaper Pope.
The Reapers Are the Angels is a thrilling and thought-provoking novel that explores the complexities of human nature and the desperate struggle for survival in a world gone mad.
16. Clickers vs Zombies by JF Gonzalez and Brian Keene
In this novel, humanity faces two simultaneous invasions: the Clickers, mindless creatures that destroy everything in their path, and the Siqqusim, an alien race of beings that animate the dead. The two groups have the same goal: to eradicate humans.
As they converge, the survivors must fight for their lives against both the hungry Clickers and the ravenous zombies. The novel explores the consequences of what happens when these two formidable foes meet.
17. Monster Island by David Wellington
The novel Monster Island by David Wellington centers around the story of Dekalb, a former UN peacekeeper whose daughter is being held by a warlord in Africa. In exchange for his daughter’s freedom, Dekalb embarks on a dangerous mission to retrieve critical AIDS medication from a zombie-infested island.
18. Plague of the Dead by Z.A. Recht
In “Plague of the Dead” by Z.A. Recht, a global epidemic breaks out after a failed military attempt to eliminate the undead. The book explores the fundamental requirements of existence in a world where modern comforts no longer exist.
The story revolves around a battle-hardened general who leads a group of survivors, including a young doctor, a seasoned photographer, a boisterous Private, and scores of refugees, all under his authority thousands of miles from home. The book is a gripping tale of survival, where the only options are to kill or be killed.
19. Braineater Jones by Stephen Kozeniewski
Braineater Jones is a book that falls under the genre of Zombie-Noire. The story revolves around the protagonist, Braineater Jones, who wakes up dead with no memory of how he died. Along with his smart-aleck partner, a severed talking head, Jones dives into the undead ghetto to solve his own murder. However, he also needs to fight his own addiction to human flesh while solving this mystery.
20. As the World Dies: The First Days by Rhiannon Frater
“As the World Dies: The First Days” is a zombie novel that follows the story of two women, Katie and Jenni, who are brought together by fate during a zombie apocalypse. The two women become a deadly zombie-killing team as they rescue Jenni’s stepson, Jason, from an infected campsite.
Seeking refuge in a small Texas hamlet, they discover that they are drawn to Travis, the leader of the survivors. However, the refugees are forced to kill individuals they know who have returned in zombie form. The novel highlights the struggle for survival and the difficult choices that must be made in a world overrun by zombies.
21. Cell by Stephen King
Stephen King’s “Cell” is a post-apocalyptic horror novel that centers around Clayton Riddell, a struggling artist who witnesses the global mobile phone network broadcast a signal called “The Pulse.” The signal turns all cell phone users into mindless murderers, causing chaos and destruction to erupt everywhere.
As the “phoners” attack each other and anyone in their path, society collapses. Despite being one of King’s less serious works, “Cell” offers a thrilling and terrifying story that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
Summary
This article highlights some of the best zombie books that are sure to give readers a thrilling experience. From classic horror novels to modern-day dystopian tales, these books are perfect for anyone who loves a good scare.
Some of the top picks include “World War Z” by Max Brooks, “The Walking Dead” comics by Robert Kirkman, and “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” by Seth Grahame-Smith. Each book offers a unique take on the zombie genre and is guaranteed to keep readers on the edge of their seats.