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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
Zombies! so far so what? But how would a Buddhist society and especially a Buddhist Monk seeking Nirvana(not the band!) approach and deal with a zombie apocalypse? As badly and terribly as the rest of society and worry not there is a fair amount of shooting, decapitating and setting on fire of Zombies to suit the most ardent zombie apocalypse fan.
The author however in picking this setting of Tibet makes the genre go in a slightly different direction and with a different cultural perspective. I wasn't too sure until the end about the battle Nun who doesn't speak but actually on reflection this character does work quite while and her silence adds something to the story that a lot of dialogue wouldn't.
Dorje the Monk in exclusion on the brink of enlightenment is drawn to the village nearest as he has had nightmares/visions of the "Hungry Ghosts" he arrives just in time to watch the horror start to unfold. While there is plenty of action there is definitely more dialogue and more thoughtful dialogue at that covering Tibetan culture, the Chinese occupation, Chinese attitudes to the Buddhist beliefs and of course a potential Buddhist approach to zombies.
It certainly makes for an interesting and enjoyable read and the inclusion of the lone surviving child of the village in the party trying to escape surfaces interesting tensions between childish beliefs, Chinese politics and Buddhist teaching. In many ways Chodren is the real voice of this story without it feeling childish in any way.
It says number 1 in the title no sequel to date but for me it works well as a stand alone story and while the ending hints at a sequel it works well as a simple ending of an interesting story. Though I do feel there is more to tell now that Dorje is a Buddhist Zombie and Chodren is away into the hills.
I'd return for a sequel.
The author however in picking this setting of Tibet makes the genre go in a slightly different direction and with a different cultural perspective. I wasn't too sure until the end about the battle Nun who doesn't speak but actually on reflection this character does work quite while and her silence adds something to the story that a lot of dialogue wouldn't.
Dorje the Monk in exclusion on the brink of enlightenment is drawn to the village nearest as he has had nightmares/visions of the "Hungry Ghosts" he arrives just in time to watch the horror start to unfold. While there is plenty of action there is definitely more dialogue and more thoughtful dialogue at that covering Tibetan culture, the Chinese occupation, Chinese attitudes to the Buddhist beliefs and of course a potential Buddhist approach to zombies.
It certainly makes for an interesting and enjoyable read and the inclusion of the lone surviving child of the village in the party trying to escape surfaces interesting tensions between childish beliefs, Chinese politics and Buddhist teaching. In many ways Chodren is the real voice of this story without it feeling childish in any way.
It says number 1 in the title no sequel to date but for me it works well as a stand alone story and while the ending hints at a sequel it works well as a simple ending of an interesting story. Though I do feel there is more to tell now that Dorje is a Buddhist Zombie and Chodren is away into the hills.
I'd return for a sequel.
***received this copy free via Goodreads giveaway.
Honestly, just not my cup of tea. I really just felt blah while reading it, and it really left me not caring about the continuation/conclusion of the survivors. I have not read any zombie fiction, but I do enjoy some of the zombie movies/shows. However, I felt that zombie/Buddhist combo really did not add anything to genre.
Honestly, just not my cup of tea. I really just felt blah while reading it, and it really left me not caring about the continuation/conclusion of the survivors. I have not read any zombie fiction, but I do enjoy some of the zombie movies/shows. However, I felt that zombie/Buddhist combo really did not add anything to genre.